Monday, July 30, 2007

groveling and gaining ground

so tonight was supposed to be the BIG NIGHT-for moving in-that is..
laura and i went over to scope it out before help arrived only to find that the carpets still hadn't been cleaned and no painting had been done...
so we put a call into our landlord, who now thinks that we're breathing down his neck, and he came over.
after some groveling and compromise we were allowed to move into the bedrooms and the hope is that tomorrow we will be able to actually take over the rest of this place we are so eager to call home...


oh and we got our first batch of mail at the new place-thanks mom for the book :0)

and this quote i must share with everyone because it's SO TRUE:

"The limits to pleasure are neither known nor fixed." -Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1775-1826)
(this is one thing that delights my heart)

so my challenge to all is find something that brings your heart pleasure and thank God for the blessing.

Saturday, July 28, 2007

cheesecake and moving

this afternoon we went over to janelle and andy's apartment for pizza and cheesecake-yum




and we finally got permission to move into the garage-so we did-boy will our landlord be surprised how much stuff we put in there! now we can actually clean our house too cuz we have room to move around what's left.

so annoyed

our landlord has been a total flake and decided that we couldn't move in until monday night-and FORGOT TO TELL US...so we had 5 people here to help at 3pm-when we were expecting to move in-waited two hours-called the work phone number i had for him, emailed him and then stalked him in the phone book to get his personal phone number. he showed no concern for our schedule even though he had told us it would be saturday. arg-we can hardly move in our house and everything is packed up-this is ridiculous. i'm not really even sure what i'm going to do tonight because i'm so annoyed at the situation...

Friday, July 27, 2007

pictures of piles

here's a glimpse of what my house looks like right now-yikes.


an entire vitamin store-thanks mom!:0)


hmmm...gonna have to dig a bit to get to bed tonight...

Thursday, July 26, 2007

today

hit the snooze button about 5 times this morning...
drew a CAD plan for a building that didn't have one-unthinkable!
learned about modular walls with custom tiles and sliding doors.
grabbed lunch with the designers-while having a discussion about cars :0)
i am still stuck on the Lexus SC430 in Ivory with Chrome trim-ahhh-so sexy.
back to drawing a second building's CAD plan-except this one is really tricky cuz there's all kinds of weird angles and the dimensions i took on site aren't matching up-arg....so i think i'll have to go remeasure some of it...
kinda falling asleep and finding it hard to think about staying here until 5pm.
nicole comes down tonight-so excited to see her (it's only been 4 days-i know, i'm ridiculous).
oh and i'm incessantly checking blogs when i want a break from figuring out how long a wall should be or why that column juts out like that or why on God's green earth an architect would design a building like this?

all in a day's work.

tonight will be more packing, throwing things away :0), and cleaning-the scent of bleach, simple green and windex never gets old...until i pass out from inhaling the fumes, that is...

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Straight from the horse's mouth

Nearly 3,000 refugees have made the precarious journey on foot from south Darfur into neighbouring Central African Republic.
All came from the commercial town of Darffak, which in mid-May was the scene of Antinov air strikes blamed on Sudanese forces.
The BBC's Karen Allen in CAR spoke to refugees at the Sam Ouanja camp about their experiences. (www.bbcnews.com)

Khamis Mahammed, Darffak mayor
They started to bomb Darffak from the air. We fled on 14 May. The strikes continued as we headed for the border. It took nine days to reach Sam Ouanja in Central African Republic.
I can't tell you how long I will stay. If there is peace in Darfur I will go back. Life is tough here - there aren't enough shelters or food, but it is safe here.

Isadine Select, medical worker
The most common illnesses we are seeing amongst the refugees are malaria, gastric diseases, malnutrition and sexually transmitted diseases.
We have virtually no drugs and if we need to perform an operation we have to hunt for anaesthetic - we don't have any here. I’ve been sent here from the capital, Bangui, and I've never seen anything like it.

Hamra Juma Abdulahi, mother
It took us nine days to get to this camp. On the fourth day Safia [my two-year-old daughter] got sick. She and I were the last two to leave the town - my other children had run on ahead as soon as they heard the planes. I didn't know where I was running to but I just kept running.
Safia later died at the Sam Ouanja camp.

Dalil Saboun Bruma, shopkeeper
I thought my wife was going to go into labour while we were travelling but thank God she gave birth once we arrived at the camp.
It took 15 days to get here - we didn't get a chance to pack, I've left a lot behind. I had some shops in Darffak and also a house. I managed to lock them before leaving but I doubt I shall ever return.

Monday, July 23, 2007

moving weekend #1


nicole's family was moving to a new house this weekend, so i drove up north to lend a helping hand. here's a few photos of us all LATE at night after having inhaled an abnormal amount of dust and dirt as well as paint fumes. we were tremendously successful at getting 3 rooms painted in one night and packing and subsequently unpacking anything that wasn't built in or bolted down. i'm very tired but 'many hands make work light'.

Nicole and Krista (sisters)


whoops-we might have picked the wrong thing to paint!


Nicole's mom, Shawna-she is sooo good at edging paint!


Curtis, who gouged his forhead open with a crowbar-we thought it was really bad at first but the butterfly tape seems to be doing the trick so far.


Lois, James' mom, who brought over fresh out of the oven cookies-yum!


Jennifer, James' sister, and Krista trying to move an exhausted James to an undisclosed location-the operation failed-miserably-ha!

ah...the joy of knowing that i get to do this all over again next weekend is thrilling!!

Friday, July 20, 2007

TGIF

IT'S FRIDAY!!! i'm really excited for no particular reason except that i have two free days coming up...:0)LOVE THAT.

this is me at my office right now ;0)

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

NEW APARTMENT!!!

laura and i got a new apartment! it's right across the street from our house which will make moving immensely easier-we are so excited!
because i'm a design dork and because things are a little slow at work right now, i drew the floorplan-so take a peek and let me know what you think!
p.s. you can click on the picture and it will become much larger and you can actually read it.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

going bananas!!


I know some of you have already seen this but i thought i would pass on the good news about this fruit...you will be amazed!!
-------------------------------------------------------------------

A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about
bananas. He said the expression "going bananas" is from the effects of
bananas on the brain.

Read on:

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!! This is interesting. After
reading this, you may never look at a banana the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose
combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial
boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a
strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one
fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also
help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions,
making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst
people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a
banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains
regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of
hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in
potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much
so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood
pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were
helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break,
and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the
potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help
restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without
resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a
banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach
and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels,
while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if
you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep
blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing
the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it
amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous
system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in
Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like
chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal
disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw
fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also
neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling"
fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of
expectant mothers.. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers
because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up
smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and
magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine
withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the
heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water
balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing
our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a
high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine,
eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by
strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. Maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

One more item: Do you want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of
the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth.
Amazing fruit !

Sunday, July 15, 2007

reality check

"no one tells an orphan how to cry."
-Salih Bob (a commander of the Sudanese Liberation Army (SLA))

service and glory


tonight at church, our pastor Richard was speaking on service and a few things hit me pretty hard-so this is me processing it all.
In the Word, Christ says if you want to see the Father, look at Him (i'm paraphrasing) and whenever i think of living like Christ, i picture a rich life. Tonight Richard challenged us to live in posture of Emptiness-at first i was confused but he went on to explain that in doing so, we are free to move, serve and hear from the Lord, rather than getting caught up in our own agenda. I thought this was a really unique way of looking at it and frankly, i can so easily get caught up in "filling my life with good things" that i lose sight of what God might want to move me towards. i also think it is critically important to hold space in our hearts for the unexpected that this journey with Christ inevitably brings our way. Space for reflection and introspection-so that our hearts become more like Jesus'; space for service and outreach-so that we are reminded of what He did for us; space to see God and to let others see Him in our lives.
Service, as a word, can be thrown around and slapped on all kinds of activities within the church. it makes us all feel better to be "serving" when we are participating in a church activity. Now, don't get me wrong; i think service is very important and can be done with the right state of heart, so often. But when i look at John 13, when Christ washed the disciples feet, my heart feels conviction at how 'easy' my service is to do. What Christ did that night was unheard of in that society. He was among the top social class, as a Rabbi and Teacher, and subjected himself to the job of the lowest servant. i know i've heard this story so many times and been inspired in the past but somehow the significance of how truly humble and unpleasant His act was hit me. This was a dirty, humiliating task and yet He did it and then challenged us to do the same (Jn 13:14). how can i not, after watching my Savior do this out of love?
last, one of the worship songs we sang tonight had the line "when Satan will flee from the Sovereign God" in it, and instantly an image of Darfur popped into my mind. an image of God commanding the evil out of that place and declaring His Lordship over those precious people. I teared up at the thought of those people "beholding the Glory of God"-praying that in small ways even now, they are welcoming our beautiful Savior and the redemption He promises. I hold onto hope for those people that their suffering will not go unnoticed nor unredeemed because "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:10)

p.s. i've added Richard's blog to my Blogroll in case you are interested in his musings.

Saturday, July 14, 2007

dream shoes



today i found some of the cutest shoes i've ever seen-i bought them-i love them-they were only $10!! view them in all their girly glory and tell me that these are indeed the most perfect summer shoes for a girl that loves pink and swears that you can never go wrong with polka dots :0)

Friday, July 13, 2007

Running of the Bulls

i've always wanted to do the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain. Don't really know why-maybe because i love bull riding at the rodeo-maybe because it is a ridiculously reckless thing to do...anyway, each year there are a handful of people that are gored (go figure) and some actually die. this year happens to be especially bad. i stumbled onto these photos and have begun to rethink attending this festival although i haven't been entirely convinced not to attend...yet.

i cannot believe the bull's horn is literally all the way under this guy's skin-gross!



these brothers (from the US) will share this memorable experience for the rest of their lives-gored at the exact same time by the same bull-you could not plan that even if you tried-haha.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

controlled office environments

can i just share the joys of a controlled office environment with you?
it happens to have been about 95 degrees in seattle the past two days, so as a normal functioning adult, i dress in light/airy clothes.
yesterday, i walk into work and instantly begin growing hair as goosebumps explode out of my skin (shaving is pointless). i begin working and try to live in denial at how cold the temperature is and suffer for a few hours. (no, i didn't bring a parka to work-it's 95 degrees outside!) finally, i muster up the courage to approach the thermostat-it reads an icy 65 degrees-WHY?! why would anyone ever set it at that temperature?!! so i gingerly bump it up to 70 degrees and sit back down.
another hour passes, and i resort to scrounging for any unused articles of clothing-i come up with a black scarf. it's owner, who is wearing two sweaters,kindly lends it to me. nevermind that it totally clashes with my navy blue shirt because at this point i'm more concerned with not contracting hypothermia than matching. i make it to lunch and sneak outside for only a few minutes before becoming drenched with sweat and moving to the shade. as lunchtime comes to a close, i'm surprising glad to be back in the anarctic environment of my office, so i traipse back in, ready to welcome the icy blast.
well, something mysterious always happens around lunchtime because it is now comfortably warm in there. great!-until an hour later when i'm doing everything i can to not fall asleep as i work at my computer. multiple trips to the break room (which is at the complete opposite end of the office from my workstation) to refill my ice water and then subsequently to relieve myself prove to be effective in both hindering my productivity and probably causing my co-workers to suspect that i am suffering from a nasty bladder infection-awesome. 5 o'clock rolls around, and i hop in my car, blast the music and air conditioner and leave the parking lot in the dust.

this was yesterday.

today-i walk in to start the whole routine over again but snort out a laugh as i walk into my cubicle because there is a personal mini fan waiting for me on the desk. is this a joke? i have absolutely no reason to even think about using this contraption to increase the circulation of this ridiculously cold air! i shove it in the corner of my desk and ignore it for the morning.
a few hours later, i come to find out that HR bought them for us so that in the afternoon when it gets warm, we can stay cool. ok,ok, i recant my original assumption of somebody's ill intent and i am now pleasantly cool in my workstation as i type this post out. Thank you HR for the personal sized fans!

Sunday, July 8, 2007

weekend wanderings



i realized recently that i hadn't taken very many photos of life, so this weekend i attempted to document my wanderings...here's a few glimpses



Friday, July 6, 2007

eh....

today was not my best day...

i was running on about 4 hours of sleep because of both a late night and lack of sleep b/c of pesky allergies...

i accidentally took a drowsy allergy pill and then in an attempt to counteract that, i ran out to get coffee...absent mindedly ordered decaf out of habit...totally counterproductive...(i think my brain was missing today)...

after work, i got home to find a 'for rent' sign boldly jading my adorable front yard...it was offensive despite that fact that i totally knew beforehand that it would be there...

and the kicker was a beautifully precious letter from my grandma in NY...it was a window into her heart-a treasure that was so lovely, it pushed me into a bout of tears that lasted about an hour...

why, might you ask, would i cry about a letter? well, i'm still trying to figure that out (i think it was one of those days), but i suppose it would be suiting to say that her health is deteriorating, and well, i worry about that...

a good night's sleep will help and i'll be back to my chipper self tomorrow but for tonight, i will sink into my bed and pray that God sends a few extra angels to my grandma's bedside.

i'll also pray that my nostrils stay clear enough to breathe...

Thursday, July 5, 2007

Martha Stewart- a day late

Well, i at least bought all the stuff on the 4th of July-nevermind that i didn't make it until today...

before

during

after

YUM!

jello jiggly


78 stairs x 10 reps = jello jiggly legs (or 780 stairs, but who's counting?!)

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

ballard or bust!

laura and i are officially on the hunt for a new place to live...

sad to leave the old...

excited about a change...

stressed...

oh, and laura leaves on vacation this friday for TWO WEEKS...

-breathe--breathe--breathe-

repeat slowly to self: "everything will work out just fine"