Today I got to go on a Photo Stroll with some of the Seattle Flickrites! We met up at the Washington Park Arboretum and went around taking pics of things that caught our attention. I brought my digital camera, my Diana Mini, and my droid phone for picture taking. I just picked up my Diana Mini photos and will try to scan some on Monday to share. In the meantime, here are some of my favorites from my digital camera. Enjoy!
A Tent City spotted on the bus route to the gardens
My star ring on a branch
Greeted by bright red leaves on the
way home from the photo stroll
Red berries
I brought one of Plain Jane'scards with me
to use as a prop for some of the photos
Lilly pads in a pond
Another shot in the woods with a Plain Jane's card
I got to go to the Cake Wrecks "World" Tour (book signing event) at Third Place Books yesterday!
For those who have never heard of Cake Wrecks, basically:
A Cake Wreck is any cake that is unintentionally sad, silly, creepy, inappropriate - you name it. A Wreck is not necessarily a poorly-made cake; it's simply one I find funny, for any of a number of reasons. Anyone who has ever smeared frosting on a baked good has made a Wreck at one time or another, so I'm not here to vilify decorators: Cake Wrecks is just about finding the funny in unexpected, sugar-filled places.
I had SO much fun at the event. I got there early to grab some grub, especially since I heard there was a BBQ joint inside the Commons area. And if you know me, and by now I hope you do, you KNOW how impossible it is for me to resist BBQ. Come on now, I may have moved to Seattle, but you can't rob this Texas girl of her BBQ, unless of course your BBQ joint also sells shrimp and tilapia (but that's another blog post). And though I haven't found any good TX style BBQ yet, I'm not afraid to eat some of that yummy goodness that is BBQ. The place I went to last night, Burney Brothers BBQ, was almost Bill Miller's quality. Not quite. It was just kinda okay. I've YET to find BBQ up here that can compare to Rudy's . . . or Pok-E-Jos . . . or well, let's face it, other ones that are better than Bill Millers. Don't get me wrong, I still got love for Bill Millers, but given the choice, Rudy's wins, hands down.
I could write an entire blog about TX BBQ . . . but we'll save it. There's sweeter things at hand . . . CAKE WRECKS! So I get done eating and head into the bookstore area and buy my Cake Wrecks book :D And I start reading it and I'm just laughing out loud so hard. That book is awesome! If you have a B&N or other bookstore near you, make sure you check out the book! It's by Jen Yates.
The Q&A session was quick, but Jen and John DID get to share some of their favorites and they were some of my faves too. Then when they were done, we were instructed to get in one line and then as we passed through each station, we could go to another line. The three stations were: Book Signing, Free Cake, and the Cupcake Judging Competition. To celebrate the book signing, Jen posted a cupcake contest where people could bring in a cupcake that resembled another cake wreck from her blog. I actually got to stand in front of a lady in line whose son won one of the prizes for his "wreckplica." It was fun being surrounded by fellow CW fans. And I must admit, I was mildly jealous of a chick who was waiting in line, cause her husband was proudly sporting a HAPPY FALKERSATHERHOOD cake wrecks shirt. I thought to myself, "Oh I hope my husband wears one of those someday." We shall see . . .
So here are some pics from the event:
In front of Third Place Books. I stopped in to eat dinner at a BBQ joint inside. The service was crappy. The food was "meh." But the excitement of going to the event kept me happy :D
Got my book! It's hilarious! Lots of new content that isn't posted on the site. If you don't buy the book yourself, at least look through it at the bookstore. You'll get some good laughs :D
This chick was introducing Jen and her husband John. She was reading from a sheet of paper. It was unrehearsed and dry. But I guess it was okay cause Jen and John totally livened things up when they took the stage.
They're explaining some of their favorites and doing some Q&A. Even jet-lagged they're so fun and witty :D
The cake that started it all . . .
One of Jen's favorites- a groom's cake. it's not photoshopped. it's cake photo paper. why THAT pic? the world may never know.
A Cake Wrecks fan favorite— Naked Mohawk-Baby Carrot Jockeys! Seriously, who makes these things? Oh, Costco. That's who.
Jen judging the cupcake wreckplicas that fans brought. This was just some of them :D
Cupcake Wreckplicas! So funny!
I love the Wreckplica of the baby coming out of the flowery cake
2 bakeries joined together to provide cake for all the event attendees. it's my first time ever having cake with cardamom in it. One had cardamom, the other was a mint chocolate chip cake. they were both YUM!
Jen signing my book :D
Me and Jen photo op! She's so SWEET and witty! I read cake wrecks every morning and her humor just adds to my day! :D
Cupcake Wreckplica of the Naked Mohawk-Baby Carrot Jockeys!! :D
My fave Cupcake Wreckplica! the Original post told about a mom who ordered a Transformers cake for her son. But she said instead of having Optimus Prime on there, she wanted Bumblebee instead. The cake she got had the Transformers logo and colors . . . and this bumblebee on it. ;) guess they've never seen the movie. ;)
Seriously though... those are indeed my FAVORITE pair of pants. :D well..so far anyway.
I finally got to buy my new book: THE NARCISSISM EPIDEMIC last night. So far I'm really enjoying it. I think I may just finish it up this weekend. But we'll see... I also want to get a lot of screenwriting done this weekend.
Here's a little excerpt from the book: Understanding the narcissism epidemic is important because its long-term consequences are destructive to society. American culture's focus on self-admiration has caused a flight from reality to the land of grandiose fantasy. We have phony rich people (with interest-only mortgages and piles of debt), phony beauty (with plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures), phony athletes (with performance-enhancing drugs), phony celebrities (via reality TV and YouTube), phony genius students (with grade inflation), phony feelings of being special among children (with parenting and education focused on self-esteem), and phony friends (with the social networking explosion). All this fantasy might feel good, but, unfortunately, reality always wins. The mortgage meltdown and the resulting financial crisis are just one demonstration of how inflated desires eventually crash to earth. ... The narcissism epidemic seems to have hit girls especially hard. Who knows—by the time our daughters graduate from high school, one of the most common graduation presents might be a breast augmentation. (We're not kidding; the number of teens getting breast augmentations jumped 55% in just one year from 2006 to 2007, and some parents do indeed pay for them as graduation gifts).
Tomorrow is my 2nd softball game of the season and I'm really hoping I don't have to be catcher again. ;) we'll see. In the meantime, have a great day!
First news to report: I BOUGHT MY TICKETS TO SEE THE FRAY AND JACK'S MANNEQUIN CONCERT!!! Woo hoo!!! I'm so freakin' excited!!! Seriously!! It cost a pretty penny...but those two...together... I couldn't resist!!
Okay, now that I'm done hyperventilating... on to the rest of the blog post:
I spent some quality time at Barnes and Noble today...which is something I do a whole lot. If you know me, this is not news... but if you don't, believe me...I'm not exaggerating. I'm pretty sure I've reached a new level of dork-dome by letting my inner bookworm run free for hours at Barnes and Noble... but oh well. Could be worse I guess... (I hope) ;)
So I read a couple of books, but one that really stood out to me is BRONX MASQUERADE. It's very "Freedom Writer's" esque. If I didn't think it would be overkill, I might look into buying the rights a little later down the road and developing it into a screenplay. But I think it's been done (the type, not the actual book) and done and done again... see also: Dangerous Minds, Stand and Deliver, Freedom Writers, The Class, Take The Lead. But I was really inspired by the poems and stories of the individuals in the story. And I like that it's got the Slam Poetry going for it. Pretty neat. Here's an excerpted poem from the book:
In case I forgot to tell you, I'm allergic to boxes: black boxes, shoe boxes, new boxes you boxes, even cereal boxes. boasting champions. (it's all a lie. I've peeked inside and what I found were flakes.) make no mistake, I make no exceptions for craker Jack or Christmas glitter. Haven't you noticed? I'm made of skeleton, muscle and skin. My body is the only box I belong in. but you like your boxes so keep them. Mark them geek, wimp, bully. Mark them china doll, brainiac, or plain dumb jock. choose whatever box you like Mike. just dont put me in one, son. Believe me, I won't fit.
If you're looking for a good, quick, cheaply priced read, I recommend it. :D
Time for some new stuff to check out! Here are 3 songs, 3 books and 3 movies I recommend you listen to/ read/ watch. :D
3 songs:
Breakable by Ingrid Michaelson
Wonderwall (cover) by Ryan Adams
You're Not Sorry (CSI Remix) by Taylor Swift
3 books:
A Bright Red Scream: Self-Mutilation and the Language of Pain by Marilee Strong "...explores this hidden epidemic through case studies, startling new research, and the insights of self-mutilators themselves...an essential resource for victims, their families, teachers, doctors, and therapists."
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen "A wonderfully entertaining coming-of-age story, Northanger Abbey is often referred to as Jane Austen’s “Gothic parody.” Decrepit castles, locked rooms, mysterious chests, cryptic notes, and tyrannical fathers give the story an uncanny air, but one with a decidedly satirical twist."
Eat This Not That! Supermarket Survival Guide by David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding With this simple illustrated guide to thousands of foods—along with the nutrition secrets that lead to fast and permanent weight loss—you’ll make the smartest choice for you and your family, every time!
3 movies:
THE WIZARD - an 80's classic that will make you cry and smile really big! It also features a cameo of a very young Tobey Maguire!
THE COLOR PURPLE- a sweet tearjerker flick that brings so much hope
PAN'S LABYRINTH- a very artsy flick with a great story. It truly is a fairy-tale for grown-ups
So this is my 1st post about my trip to Colorado! I hope you enjoy!
So as I was walking around here at the Salt Lake City airport, I stopped in at a bookstore/newstand place and they had an entire section called, "READ THE MOVIE" where they featured books that have been turned into movies. Books like:
Revolutionary Road The Reader He's Just Not That Into You Twilight Watchmen and The Spiderwick Chronicles
and it got me to thinking about books that I've read that I really WISH would be adapted for the big screen. So I wanted to take a moment to share with you 5 books from that particular selection and why I would want to see them on the big screen.
FOLLOW THE DRINKING GOURDby Jeanette Winter - One of my FAVORITE books about the Underground Railroad!
FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC by V.C. Andrews - a movie was made of this like... years ago, but a newly updated one, would rock! In the older one, the mother is just not "hateable" enough for me, in accordance to the agony and duplicity of the mother in the book.
THE INFERNO by Dante Alighieri - this is by far one of my most favorite books ... ever! A small portion of it was introduced in the movie WHAT DREAMS MAY COME, and then recently re-done in a popsicle stick paper animation type thing...where it was modernized and such..but as far as this book goes, i say do it up, classic! Use modern technology to seep out the classic imagery that Dante provides and it could be so amazing! Don't cheapen it, don't animate it, don't modernize it. Too good of a book to do that! ;)
THE LITTLE PRINCEby Antoine De Saint-Exupery - a CLASSIC in my mind! I know they did an older version that looks really generic 80s craptastic. With such a beloved, important story like this, it definitely needs to be updated!
and
BLACK + WHITE by Dani Shapiro - Such an intricate story about dealing with family. If it were made into a movie, it would win an Oscar! ;) well, at least I would want it to! ;)
So that's my list! And I must admit, that one of my favorite kid's books is FINALLY being made into a movie. Yep, WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE is in production and I cannot wait to see the finished product!!
PS: random traveler's rant...
If you are at an airport with limited electrical outlets for...well you know...plugging in computers... and you DON'T HAVE A COMPUTER... please find a place to sprawl out onto your 4 chairs in a place FAR AWAY from the outlets. I think it would be better for the both of us... you can take up your entirely unnecessary amount of chair sleeping space and I don't have to keep my laptop dimly lit to salvage battery power because you're freakin' sleeping right in front of the outlet! Thanks. just. thanks.
If you've ever been a part of the MCA Media team, you would know that one of my biggest appreciations for art for the past couple of years has been PostSecret. [click link to learn more]
What is PostSecret you ask? Well, here is some info from Wikipedia:
PostSecret is an ongoing community mail art project, created by Frank Warren, in which people mail their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard. Select secrets are then posted on the PostSecret website, or used for PostSecret's books or museum exhibits.
The simple concept of the project was that completely anonymous people decorate a postcard and portray a secret that they had never previously revealed. No restrictions are made on the content of the secret; only that it must be completely truthful and must never have been spoken before. Entries range from admissions of sexual misconduct and criminal activity to confessions of secret desires, embarrassing habits, hopes and dreams.
There are currently 4 POST SECRET books available at Barnes and Noble/Borders. They are: PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives My Secret: A PostSecret Book The Secret Lives of Men and Women: A PostSecret Book A Lifetime of Secrets: A PostSecret Book
Sometimes, instead of sending in their secrets, many people take their postcards to a bookstore and discreetly hide them between the pages of a Post Secret book. This spin-off activity means that the eventual purchaser of the book gets an unexpected secret to keep.
It's so great to read some of the postcards and know that you're not alone. And I think it's even more beautiful because it is real average people, who take time to decorate and illustrate their deepest secrets and be transparent with the world around them. Here are some of my favorites:
They're so popular, that even The All American Rejects used the concept for their music video, DIRTY LITTLE SECRET. And to be quite honest, I've used the concept in a promotional video before as well. They are both posted below:
If you have never done it before, I recommend sending one in. You never know who you'll inspire. I haven't yet, but I hope to soon.
Well, I'm here in the break room at the Washington State Convention Center, having finished up working yet another Event Force. I was so honored to have been asked to jump on board with Master's Commission of Austin to work this conference. I got good money for easy jobs...which is very hard to come by. I've learned so many things this past week. It's been a quite enjoyable experience and though I'm sad to see the MCAustin team leave, I'm excited that I will get to see them again in 5 more months when they graduate! :D I've made new friends and many new acquaintances here, as well as connecting with some familiar faces. The only big complaint I had is that the coffee they served throughout the convention and in the break room was TULLY'S coffee...not Starbucks. :( boo. But it was fun being a room monitor and getting to brighten peoples' days. But now it's all over...and I'm heading back to the hotel once I get to say goodbye to some of the MC team. They have really worked so hard and it's been fun hanging with them around downtown Seattle and at the Executive Lounge in my hotel. In other news, I am still looking for a full time job. I have gotten back a few emails from different companies that I've sent resumes to saying that they are processing applications...so I'll have to wait to see how that pans out. In the meantime, I will be going tomorrow afternoon to various places around home where I can apply... like at the Northgate Mall or at Barnes and Noble or something. :D I guess I will check back in with you guys more tomorrow. I would go into more detail, but I am under rule of the company that hired us out to keep confidentiality about things here. But who knows what adventure awaits me tomorrow. :D
I did get to start reading a good new book that P.Dan let me borrow. It's called THE HIDDEN POWER OF ELECTRONIC CULTURE by Shane Hipps (and no, they don't lie ... hahahahahaha!!)
So I bought the latest issue of Psychology Today, and came across a really good article. And it reminded me of some stuff I have been researching lately. And it's all about girls. The pressure and expectations on girls in modern day society. It's a topic I've actually researched for a while. From reading books about the initiation process that girls have when joining a gang, to the expectations put on girls for big events like Quincineras and Sweet 16 parties, to girls bullying girls in school. The subject really interests me, mainly because I've been in those shoes, and I have a feeling that if you're female and reading this post, you've experienced some of the crazy "expectations" put on girls by society, and even our own families.
I remember a time when I was in like, the 4th or 5th grade when I was over at my aunt's house because all the fam was having their annual poker night. Me and my cousin were just running around the house playing and then I went to get a snack from the kitchen. And my grandma made the stern comment, "Look at you. You're getting so fat. You need to lose weight." I remember just feeling so disgusted with myself. I was just a kid. But for the longest time, those words stuck with me. And it took me what seems like FOREVER to be able to look at myself in the mirror and actually be in love with the person staring right back at me. To be able to look in the mirror and say, "You are beautiful." But now that I can, and do frequently (and totally mean it!) I realize how freeing it is to be completely unique, and completely okay with the person that I am.
I am finally comfortable in my own skin!
So it makes so much sense that I have this desire to help mentor girls of all ages who have low self-esteem and who deal with major stress issues and to give them encouragement and hope and love and life. I recently was doing some research on some various song lyrics of songs I've heard here and there and just made notes to look up the lyrics and meanings to. Tori Amos wrote a song once called CORNFLAKE GIRL, and it's this really obscure song, and a lot of her stuff has some crazy meanings, so I looked into it and I was really really inspired by what she said about the song:
"I read the Alice Walker book, Possessing the Secret of Joy, and there's umm, in that book, the mothers take the daughters to the butchers to have their, let's say their genitalia removed. And even though it's a patriarchal culture that she's talking about, and that this custom was put into practice a long, long time ago by the patriarchy, it's the mothers that take their daughters. And, what I was singing about was, it's funny how from generation to generation women really betray each other in the ladies' room. There is a whole secret society that happens, and a lot of times a mother will say 'I'm doing this for your good' whether it was binding the feet in the Eastern cultures or whether it's marrying your daughter to this gangrene, smelly-breathed, old, decrepit, rotting scumbag that's 80 years old with dough. 'You know, this is really the best for you,' when the truth is, it's the best for everybody else. And, that's an extreme of women's relationships brought to just like, your girlfriend that you're hanging out with, but betrayal is betrayal, and I was thrown in to many situations as I was reading that book where girls, my girls, we were just dissin' each other. The things that we were doing, umm, it's like I would have never imagined that we could be so unsupportive of each other, and it was just happening while I was reading this book, and Cornflake Girl is the betrayal really of girls." -- Tori; 99X Radio Interview, 08/05/94
And after reading that, it just reminded me of so many things I've researched where it all comes down to this innate societal expectation and feeling of women trying to be better and to be the best and to be the prettiest this and the cutest this and the smartest that, and all the while, failing to just be comfortable in their own skin. And knowing there are parents and older and younger sisters judge them depending on what they look like, or how popular they are in school and how many boys are interested in them. And I just can't help but be so angry with that.
I realize that to a lot of people, my niece is just darling. But when I talk to her and hang out with her, I think it's so important for me to remind her that she is beautiful. That she is smart. That she is amazing. That she is loved. And I make it a point to let her know that no matter what, she is all of those things. There was a time when I was visiting in November and she wanted to wear a dress and it was REALLY cold outside, so I told her she should put on pants. And she started crying and said, "but Daddy likes this dress!" And she was so distraught. 4 years old, and stressing about what to wear already! So I told her she could wear both, but that she should know that no matter what she wears, she's beautiful and daddy will love her anyway.
After reading the article and reading some statistics, I thought to myself, how I wish I could hug every girl out there and tell her that. That no matter what, just because she is, she's beautiful and she deserves to know how wonderful she is.
Here are some of the statistics I've come across:
- Only 2% of women around the world describe themselves as beautiful
- 81% of women in the US strongly agree that "the media and advertising set an unrealistic standard of beauty that most women can't ever achieve."
- 7 in 10 girls believe they are not good enough or do not measure up in some way, including their looks, performance in school and relationships with friends and family members
- 75% of girls with low self-esteem reported engaging in negative activities, such as eating disorders, cutting, bullying, smoking or drinking when feeling badly about themselves (Compared to 25% of girls with high self-esteem)
- 57% of all girls have a mother who criticizes her own looks
In the Psychology Today article, Steve Hinshaw, author of a soon-to-be-released book titled: THE TRIPLE BIND, states:
"...girls today are subjected to unrealistic pressures from society and the media, and their once-private identity struggles are now public, thanks to the internet. Girls are still socialized to be nurturing caregivers but are now pressured to excel academically and athletically as much as boys- all while remaining thin, sexy and beautiful."
Through the years, girls have been subjected to the magnifying glass of society more and more, and have been made to live over-scheduled, overtaxed, over-sexualized lives and they tend to take it out on one another in traditional competition style. And to add insult to injury, some are even finding it easier to take it out on themselves. I believe that it is our responsibility as human beings to care for one another. And if that means simply telling someone genuinely that they look beautiful, or that they are smart, or that they are worthwhile, let's do it!
There are just some things in life that I don't get. I don't understand. I can't even begin to wrap my brain around it. So here are 5 things that I just don't get. I'm sure there are over a million things I just don't understand and maybe as time goes by, I'll post more on the 'ol blog. So let's start with these 5:
1. PUTTING THINGS BEFORE PEOPLE. I don't think I've ever honestly understood this. I remember when I was younger, we were living in this house and it was me, my brother, my sister, my mom and dad, and my aunt and uncle, their 4 kids, my grandma and grandpa. (crazy, i know) and one Christmas, my parents bought us tons of gifts...they were like...spreading out from the base of the tree into the wide open living room. And my aunt and uncle's family was more strapped for cash, and they watched while we all opened our gifts, but they didn't have many gifts, if any at all. But I remember feeling sad. Because I didn't think it was right for me to get so many cool new presents when the others who meant so much to me didn't. Christmas is always a tough time for me because I understand that getting 'stuff' is cool. But when getting 'stuff' means more than loving people, and sharing life with them, i just DO NOT understand. I cannot understand how it's okay to put more priority on things than we do on people. Take for instance, Black Friday...which...i think is a GIANT nightmare! People pushing and shoving and knocking others down and being so rude, just for stuff....not taking into account that the person they are pushing and shoving and knocking down is a PERSON, and not a cardboard cut out. I just...don't get it. PS: Political wars and the immaturity developed by some of it also falls in this category.
2. THE APOLOGETIX. Let's get real for just one moment. The Apologetix are ridiculous. Just. Plain. Ridiculous. Instead of trying to be the "Weird Al" of the Christian world, make your own music and make it mean something. Throwing out kitschy phrases like, "I Love Apostle Paul..." Instead of "I love Rock and Roll..." ... REALLY?? just. REALLY? Okay, here's a video of them in concert doing a parody of Weezer's "BEVERLY HILLS."
SERIOUSLY? And you're proud of your wittiness or lack thereof? even better, are you proud of your 'witness'? it doesn't take a lot of creative energy to write a parody of a song. But to attach a spiritual hanger onto it...is silly. And this is just my opinion... but really. Even Weird Al knows that he's a dork because he does parodies of songs. But here's the kicker....his are actually REALLY FUNNy...The Apologetix...not so much. One time a friend from church asked me if I wanted to go to one of their concerts. I was afraid to just bust out laughing, so i just said no thanks. But inside, I was really screaming a big "HECK TO THE NO! I'D RATHER SHOOT MY EYE OUT!" yeah. so. I'm not a fan. I don't understand. They're not cool. They're not witty. They're not "wowing" the non-believing crowd with their talent. I think they should change their name from Apologetix to Just Plain Sux.
3. TWILIGHT PSYCHO FANS. So in a moment of honesty, yeah. I will admit. I AM A TWILIGHT FAN. Whether that makes me deranged or "unholy" i don't know. But I am. That's all there is to it. I love the way the books are written. I love the way the story progresses. And I love the way it's like a twisted remake of Romeo and Juliet. Very romantic and very intense all at the same time. And it gives some great twists on stereotypes of characters and even vampires themselves. But here's the thing. There's being a fan of something, and then there's being a ridiculous maniac. I've been reading articles and watching interviews with some of the key actors and hearing the stories...it's beyond ridiculous. For instance, girls scratching their necks until they bleed...as a sign of affection for the lead actor, Robert Pattinson. SERIOUSLY girls? That's how you show love? That's how it works, eh? Yeah, I don't think so. You just come across looking desperate and well...psychotic. And then, there's this one mom who brought her baby to the set, asking the actors to bite her baby's head. REALLY? YUCK. And don't even get me started on Tyra "Pervy" Banks' show featuring Taylor Lautner and Robert. I felt so bad for Taylor. I mean, just watching his face, was so sad. And when Robert bit Tyra...SERIOUSLY...what's with the asking him to bite people?? He's not a friggin' vampire. In fact, VAMPIRES AREN'T REAL! Yeah...just...ugh. I mean, seriously. I'm a fan of the books, a fan of the movies, and definitely a fan of Robert Pattinson. But a simple letter expressing appreciation (as a dare to myself) is all I sent. I don't think I'd ever be able to look at myself in the mirror with any sense of normalcy and pride in my human worth if I did anything beyond that. yeesh.
4. YE OLDE BOOK BAN. This kinda goes along with the previous. So, being surrounded in a 'churchy' environment, I've really had to push myself to get out of the habit of reading just "Christian Inspiration" and Leadership books. Don't get me wrong, some of them are really quite good. But I love reading... and I love challenging my imagination... and I love the written word. And sometimes, I need to change things up. So I read Dante's Inferno, and Twilight, and Sybil, and some Stephen King stuff. But here's the thing, when people who run in the same 'esque circles go around judging you for what you read...it's kinda lame. pretty silly actually. I remember working this event and some random chick came up to me and was like, why is everyone in your group reading all this religious stuff? Is this a religious conference? And I'm like...um... I'm reading The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. And my friend is reading a Stephen King novel. I think that when people come up to you and judge you negatively based on what you read, it's quite silly. For instance, I recently started reading Dante's Purgatorio. Does that mean that my religion is messed up cause now I believe in Purgatory? No. It simply means I like poetry and I like Dante's imaginative thinking. If I read a Harry Potter book, am I going to start casting spells on people? No. That's silly. If I read Sybil, am I saying I experience Schizophrenia? No. I just want to learn more about Psychological stuff. I don't think it's right to say that one person is or is not spiritual based on what they read. Books are made to expand your imagination, to challenge your mind to gain more knowledge, and to give us a deeper appreciation of the English language. Again, sometimes I just don't get what the big deal is.
5. MY OWN PERSONAL MATCHMAKERS. This is a biggie for me. Here's the thing. I DO want to get married. I don't want other people to do my "shopping" for me. I'm highly capable of exploring the world of guy-dom without the help of others. I get really frustrated when married people, especially, feel like I have to be married to be fulfilled. Look, I know marriage is awesome! I look forward to it! But here's the thing...I want to go about it on my own terms. I don't need people picking out who they think is "PERFECT" for me, because honestly, a lot of the suggestions I've gotten, couldn't be further from what I find PERFECT in a possible husband. Oh, and especially when you offer to "work on them" for me. Seriously? No thanks. I don't want someone to "work on" my future husband. Chances are, I think he's pretty awesome WITHOUT your help. You know what I do LOVE? The fact that I am blessed with a best friend, who is married, and still doesn't feel the need to play matchmaker for me. You know what she does? She listens when I tell her I'm worried I might make a bad choice about a certain someone. She prays for me that I wouldn't "settle" for just any joe schmo simply because society or my own hormones say I just NEED someone for the time being. I LOVE THAT! I must say, though, that my favorite is when my own mom tries to get me interested in guys and she's like, "Well what about so and so?" And I'm like, "You mean Ramon's (my bro) friend ______?" And she's like, "Yeah, he's a nice guy" and I'm like, "Yeah, I'm sure he is, when he's not being a boozie crack dealer. No thanks. I prefer someone who doesn't live life in a haze of dope dealing and crack smoking." So here's the thing, leave the shopping to me and "Big guns upstairs." We got this.
Okay, that's all the ranting for today. :D Hope I made you laugh...smile...pee your pants...or just think about things differently. laters!
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! The day has finally come, in an age of great film technology, where there is a good opportunity for WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE to become a great film! I don't know how many of you are familiar with the book, but I grew up reading it over and over and over again! It's such a great imaginative story!
For those not familiar with the book, here is the link to the Wikipedia entry for the book: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Where_the_Wild_Things_Are
And here's the IMDB link for the movie: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386117
I am really really really excited to see this book come to life! I know that a while back, a studio was trying to make it but it didn't follow through. And there really is a lot of stress to get the characters, the look, the storyline just perfect! I mean, this isn't just one of my childhood favorites, it's the same for a lot of other people!
Okay, so now that I've won the award for longest blog title, let's move on!
First of all, a great big huge THANK YOU to everyone who made my birthday special! From the phone calls to the texts, to the cards in the mail, to the FB and Myspace comments...THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! Even if you were a day late or a few days later, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!! I am realizing more and more how truly blessed my life is because I have all of you who are such an important part of my life! :D
Well, I must admit, for not having all my friends and family around, this birthday was pretty amazing! I actually had a spectacular birthday weekend & day!
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS> Friday was Halloween, and Westside Church hosted an event called CANDY ZONE for all the neighborhood families...and it was so much fun!! I dressed up as a nurse/doctor and worked the Welcome table with a new friend named Anna-Karin Roo! She dressed up like a Hershey's Kiss and it was so cute! I got to talk to Vanessa on Halloween, and she was putting on her Cinderella Costume...and she goes, "What are you going to be for Halloween?" and I was like, "I'm going to be a doctor." and she was like, "A doctor?" and I said "Yeah, a doctor" and she goes: "I want to be a doctor for Halloween!" so cute!!! But since I had sent the money home for them to take her costume shopping and she had all her Cinderella stuff, I said, "well, maybe next year. This year you can be Cinderella, okay, my pretty pretty princess?" And she said okay! I LOVE THAT GIRL!! :D Candy Zone rocked! It was so fun to be around all the kiddos and make them smile and it was awesome to connect with new people at Westside! And, as I was waiting for the bus, thinking about all the crazies that ride the bus on Halloween night, Deborah Siers (the worship pastor's wife) pulled up to the stop and gave me a ride home!! We had such a great conversation! I love her! This is a pic of me and Anna Karen:
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER>
One of my birthday presents from my Aunt Olga was a $25 gift card for Barnes and Noble, so Saturday, I went downtown and watched a movie and spent hours at Barnes and Noble! And bought some new books: Twilight, Sybil, and The Boy In The Striped Pajamas! Yes, I know, all movie books! hahahahahahahaha! While I was downtown, I also got some new stuff from Old Navy and Urban Outfitters...including...a new rug to go in my room!! And it's lime green to match the decor!! woot!
SUNDAY MORNING>
Sunday was such a great day! I had some a sweet quiet time at Loyal Heights Elementary while I was walking and praying through the park. :D Then I got to church and got to sit next to Annie, who is amazing and one of my coolest new friends at Westside! The message was really good and I was glad to get to see everyone...and some of the kids from kids church came up and gave me hugs before they went downstairs for kids church! so sweet! Then, I went home and made some lunch and got ready to head downtown for my big BIRTHDAY PRESENT to myself: THE MISSY HIGGINS CONCERT AT THE SHOWBOX down at Pike Place Market!! I had soooo much fun!!! And I got to meet new people and laugh all night at ridiculous concert commenters!! Joshua Radin opened...and he has such a good voice. :D And Missy and her band rocked the night!! Here's come pics and some video from the night...it's all borrowed cause my phone didn't capture the best footage and pics due to the crowd noise levels and the lighting. :D Enjoy!
And here's some video footage! She seriously is one of the most beautiful, talented singers/songwriters I know! And her stage presence is amazing! I got to stand at the very front of the stage...it was AMAZING!!!
Missy Higgins: SCAR
Missy Higgins: SUGARCANE
Missy Higgins: WHERE I STOOD
Missy Higgins & Joshua Radin: LONG RIDE HOME (cover of Patty Griffin song) *by the way, the person filming this was right behind me...i'm the one with the dark hair with all the bobby pins standing in front of Joshua Radin!
Overall, it was such an amazing night! I got a new Missy Higgins shirt and a Joshua Radin tank top! So fun! I went home smiling so big and just replaying it all in my head!
MONDAY, MONDAY>
Was my actual birthday!! And, the first call I got that morning was from....MY DADDY!!! all the way from Iraq!! It was soooo good to talk to him!! He told me my birthday present was dinner at Cheesecake Factory on his Check Card! So that's where I'm going for lunch this Saturday! :D Then my mom called, a few more friends called, and I even got to talk to P.Dizz my Nizz for a while, which made me super happy! My facebook was flooded with well wished and it was just a super awesome birthday!! My boss even got me a CACTUS-GRAM for my birthday! And so far, it's still alive! :D And I got some great birthday cards and other gifts that were so amazing!! It was such a fun day!! And then, to top it off, I had small groups at Westside that night, and we had a fellowship night and everyone wished me a happy birthday and Kim Normand baked me a cake!!! And everyone sang Happy Birthday to me and the Vodegel's gave me a ride home!! What a blessed day it was!!!
Again, I am just so thankful for everyone who is a part of my life! I probably don't say it enough, but you guys are all such amazing people and I'm so glad you're part of my life!!
So now I'm 27 and though I am older, I still feel so young at heart and so happy!! It's been an amazing journey so far here in Seattle and God has blessed me in so many ways through it all! Love you guys! Until later...peace out!
I am a mexican chick, born in Germany, raised in Austin, TX, and now currently living in Seattle, WA. I'm funny, weird, and just plain quirky, but then again, there's a lot of us out there. :) My favorite color is baby blue, I love pop culture trivia, chocolate, decorating, designing stuff and singing off key in public ♥ Among other things, I love family, friends, COFFEE, finding the humor in the silliest things, laughing, talking about old memories & making new ones ♥ I do NOT like cigarette smoke, wearing skirts, anything outdoorsy, the 80's, very loud people in elevators, rapists, certain shades of pink ♥ I am a daddy's girl all the way! ♥ I'm comfortable with being me ♥ I love making a difference in peoples' lives, helping, loving, teaching and watching them get to know Jesus ♥ I love my neice and hope to have kids of my own someday. ♥ I love God and I love living my life for Him and learning along the way!
In front of Third Place Books. I stopped in to eat dinner at a BBQ joint inside. The service was crappy. The food was "meh." But the excitement of going to the event kept me happy :D
Got my book! It's hilarious! Lots of new content that isn't posted on the site. If you don't buy the book yourself, at least look through it at the bookstore. You'll get some good laughs :D
This chick was introducing Jen and her husband John. She was reading from a sheet of paper. It was unrehearsed and dry. But I guess it was okay cause Jen and John totally livened things up when they took the stage.
They're explaining some of their favorites and doing some Q&A. Even jet-lagged they're so fun and witty :D
The cake that started it all . . .
One of Jen's favorites- a groom's cake. it's not photoshopped. it's cake photo paper. why THAT pic? the world may never know.
A Cake Wrecks fan favorite— Naked Mohawk-Baby Carrot Jockeys! Seriously, who makes these things? Oh, Costco. That's who.
Jen judging the cupcake wreckplicas that fans brought. This was just some of them :D
Cupcake Wreckplicas! So funny!
I love the Wreckplica of the baby coming out of the flowery cake
2 bakeries joined together to provide cake for all the event attendees. it's my first time ever having cake with cardamom in it. One had cardamom, the other was a mint chocolate chip cake. they were both YUM!
Jen signing my book :D
Me and Jen photo op! She's so SWEET and witty! I read cake wrecks every morning and her humor just adds to my day! :D
Cupcake Wreckplica of the Naked Mohawk-Baby Carrot Jockeys!! :D
My fave Cupcake Wreckplica! the Original post told about a mom who ordered a Transformers cake for her son. But she said instead of having Optimus Prime on there, she wanted Bumblebee instead. The cake she got had the Transformers logo and colors . . . and this bumblebee on it. ;) guess they've never seen the movie. ;)
