Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Spring Break Begins

Thursday afternoon my Human Sexuality class was cancelled and thus began my spring break.  This weekend has been a lot of work (management is hard!) and I've just done a lot of cleaning around my house.  Then on Monday (yesterday) I came home to my house (my parents' house?) in San Diego.

It was a long drive but eventually I pulled up in front of my house, and to my surprise my friend Tommy was already waiting for me outside!  We grabbed a quick coffee from It's A Grind and headed to our favorite secret spot on the beach at Del Mar.  We talked about life and many great things, took photos, explored pandora, and then headed out.

The view, looking down, from our Secret Spot

Tommy, vogue.

Tis the season.

Beach Bum. 

PS- The beaches in San Diego are NOTHING like the beaches in Long Beach, except for the fact that they are beaches.  The beaches here are cleaner, the sand is finer, the air smells fresher, the water is BLUE, and it's just awesome because it is a break from the urban life, not just a watery shore placed in the middle of the city.

God is Good.


So then Tommy, being my gbf, decided he would treat me to dinner at an authentic Japanese Restaurant downtown.  So we headed to Tajima and it was wonderful.
Heading towards downtown; sun rays breaking through the clouds JUST above the San Diego skyline.

Waiting to be seated

Tempura, japanese horseradish, noodles and tofu, miso soup, edamames, and smiley-face rice, courtesy of Tommy.

Green tea - did you know it helps to process the oils and fats in the foods that you eat, which is why a lot of asian people have it with every meal?

We sat at the Octopus table.

Then we walked off our dinner at the mall nearby, did a lot of window shopping, and our favorite--pretending we are a couple.  Tommy is my gay best friend but for the past five years we have enjoyed pretending that we are dating, and seeing how many people believe us.  Call us weird (we know that we are), but we love to walk arm in arm and stare lovingly into each others' eyes while we ride the escalators.  He buys me stuff and I compliment him like a hero.

I also turned him on to the amazing-ness that it Instagram!  I am addicted.

I didn't realize how late we were out for a Monday night, but I guess I paid the price because this morning I woke up sick.  :[  Totally stuffed up and congested with a sore throat, and cramps to boot.  The nice thing is that it's like old times, being home on the couch with mom's TLC.  And what's nicer is that I don't even have to break any of my commitments to work or school.  It's a nice day of forced rest.  

I've been looking over my Padres Lineup and getting MORE AND MORE excited every day.  Opening day is this Thursday, and I'm already chomping at the bit to go to a game.  It's too bad that the Dodger/Padre opener is the same weekend as my epic girl-road-trip or else I would BE THERE at the ravine.  Chillin at home is nice, but it's also kind of lonely and boring at times.  Expect more blogs or something.
Owned.






Thursday, March 24, 2011

A Long Time Coming

Today was a day of mixed emotions, but the state that I am currently in is...EXCITEMENT!

Today I had a roller coaster of emotions, but as I was walking away from school feeling down and low I received a phone call from work.  I thought... I don't want to come in and work right now, class got cancelled and I just want to go home...but I answered anyway because I [like to think that I] am responsible.  And low and behold it was the best thing I could have done!

Rhonda: CongratulationzzZZzZz!!!


Me: For what?

Rhonda: On your new promotion!

Me: To what?

Rhonda: To Shift Manager!



I have been waiting a really long time for this day to come.  Actually, with today being March 24th, let me just say I have been waiting for this day for exactly two months when I was originally promised this back in January.
I also had another bout of excitement for this because for one of the first times in my life (though I am sad to admit that this is a first) I feel like I am doing exactlyyyyyy what God wants me to be doing.  I prayed more for this process (starting way longer than two months ago, maybe try a year ago) and for this interview than I have for any other job or opportunity.  I have thoroughly prayed night and day about the implications of this job and about my future. I have prayed for God to withhold this if it is not His plan.  I have gone down every alley of prayer and thought I could imagine, and still, I ended up with the promotion.  So here I am, fully believing this is the will of God, and thus I am letting myself enjoy it.

Anyways, I start tomorrow and I could still use some prayers.  Thank you for everyone who helped me get this far!


Wednesday, March 23, 2011

And In the Spring I Shed My Skin

Sometimes I look in the mirror and I don't know who I am.  In the best way possible.

How did this messed up, rough-and-tumble rebellious little girl turn into me?

Planners, interviews, coffee dates, high heels and slacks, living on my own, paying bills, owning a BlackBerry (and now, an iPhone), making deadlines, taking care of/sticking up for myself, and getting....wrinkles!

My mom just called me to tell me that she is proud to be my mother and she smiles at the person I have become.  That was soo nice to hear.



I'm not there yet, but I would venture to say the Ataris got it right--being grown up isn't half as fun as growing up.


Tuesday, March 22, 2011



Mac MacGuff: Look, in my opinion, the best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are. Good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what have you, the right person is still going to think the sun shines out your ass. That's the kind of person that's worth sticking with. 

Juno MacGuff: Yeah. And I think I've found that person.

Mac MacGuff: Yeah sure you have - your old D-A-D! You know I'll always be there to love you and support you no matter what kind of pickle you're in.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Dia duit, Fáilte! (Hello, welcome!)

Happy St. Patty's Day, my people!

I think that despite all the hardships that have cropped up this week, it ended on a good note.  Today I woke up to many people appreciating my Irish-ness, and as I walked to class I listened to the Boondock Saints II soundtrack and felt like I was flying over the rolling green hills of Ireland.....  Ok well not really but I wish that was how it went.  I even ate a potato for dinner!

At school I had to take my Human Sexuality midterm, and you can probably guess what's been on my mind all day.. But to reward the fact that I actually studied for this one, I am bribing myself/giving myself an incentive.  I found this today and I think it's TOTALLY ME:


So when I receive my grades, if I have gotten an A, I will be the proud owner of this awesome mug.  

I've got a long weekend ahead, and lots of heavy things on my mind, so if you are stumbling across this post and you've got some extra time, feel free to send up a prayer for me and all of these circumstances.

Hope you are having a GREAT St. Patrick's Day!




Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Satan Must Be Having A Party

This whole "making my walk my own" thing has not been easy and has not been a short trip.  I mean, I still haven't arrived.  But I can tell you that there have been a few key players that have been instrumental in getting me this far; people that have spoken into my life and changed the way that I see things, enough that I can now base my entire life on something that I cannot even see with my own two eyes.

One of those key players is my pastor from home in San Diego -- Barry Minkow.  If you are a lil bit older than me, or if you are just extremely savvy when it comes to cultural history, you might know that Barry comes from a dark past, but has reformed his life and is one of the most amazing speakers I have had the opportunity to listen to.  His messages have literally changed my life.  My church-journal is chalk full of his sermon notes and I often hear his catchphrases in the back of my mind as I go throughout life.

Tonight I was informed with the terribly sad news that he has stepped down as senior pastor due to a mess of sticky extenuating circumstances.  He is stepping down in order to stay above reproach because he is being accused of a crime, and churchgoers don't take that kind of thing lightly.  It is too soon to judge what is to come, and to be honest I don't know many of the details, but my heart is breaking tonight for all of the members of CBC (Community Bible Church) and a little bit for myself.  Like I said, Barry is an amazing man and his words have changed the lives of hundreds of people.  He knows the Bible like the back of his hand and he has a magical way of teaching the gospel effectively to anyone that will give him five minutes of their time.  I am near tears as I write this because of the pain I know this must be causing back home, and because of what this might mean for my church.

Please be in prayer for my church and my pastor's family.


Dear Church Family,

   Today Barry resigned as our Senior Pastor as he is no longer qualified to be a Pastor. Pastor Barry no longer considers himself above reproach as he has agreed to plead guilty to a criminal count related to the Lennar law suit. As we obtain additional information that we can share we will certainly share it with you. The Elder Board and the Pastoral Staff is meeting tonight to put in place the necessary actions as we, as the CBC church family, adjust to this most devastating event. 

   We would encourage everyone to remember that CBC is the Lord's church and as the Lord told Peter in Matthew 16:18, "I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it." so please be diligent in prayer. Pray for Barry, Lisa and the boys. Pray for our Pastors and lay leaders as they continue to serve our local body as they faithfully have been doing. Pray for our local body as we go thought this transition KNOWING that the Lord is in control and that the Lord will direct and provide. We take comfort in knowing that CBC is our joint family and it is times such as these that your fellow believers most need you/us/each other.

  As noted above, the Board and Pastors are meeting tonight and we will keep everyone informed on the details of the transition as we seek and follow the Lord's guidance relative to who he has already selected to be our Lead Shepard.

   If you have related questions please contact one of the Elders (Greg Bell, Lloyd Brown, Mark Soriano, Howard Hughes, Tony Nevarez, Ray Sims and Alan Stewart). If you do not have they contact information please call the church office and they will get you in contact with them.

In Your Service,

Elder Board

Monday, March 14, 2011

Life is here and Life is now.

I am finding out the hard way that the more I try to make this about homework, or promotions, or getting my house cleaned, the more God screams in my face "life is here, life is now!"  I feel I am blessed to count on both hands the number of people that I have deep emotional friendships with, but with that comes responsibility in love.  We take care of each other.  Sure, lately I have needed to receive more than I have been giving, but when I am needed I feel as if I can't do anything else.  God put me in these people's lives for a reason, and vice versa.  Yes, I have a 7 page paper due in twelve hours.  Yes, I have neglected to do my independent study for the week.  Yes, I am low on sleep and my house is a mess..... So what?!

God is showing me new things every day; some more personal than others.  While I have responsibilities in life, I also have to acknowledge that life is happening as we speak (or, as I type).  People are real and they hurt too.  We are called to love them and to take care of each other.  Here's to another semester with straight A's thrown to the wind!

Thursday, March 3, 2011

This is creepy, but beautiful at the same time.

Being in Child Development, Human Development, AND Human Sexuality classes makes me the most ambivalent person in the world when it comes to having children.  Some days I am solid in the fact that I will never have one of those things, then other days I wish I was pregnant, like right now.  Beside the fact that I can't be pregnant right now, sometimes I think it would be fun to apply all my learning right now.

Doing my last minute cramming before midterms today I keep stumbling across the same photo in all three of my classes.
This is a fetus at 9 weeks.  This gets aborted every day, because "it's not a baby yet."

Creepy looking, but amazing.



PS- I know I said I would do a biography month, and I DO have some already in the works that I never published, but as far as February is concerned it was just too short and went by too quickly and I was too busy.  I shouldn't be on here right now, I should be studying, but I wanted to share what was on my mind.

Ciao!


 
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