Girl Friday

More fun things to add...

2011-08-10T14:53:00.000-07:00

So last post I mentioned the mac'n'cheese additions. Here's another one - Corn. Ya. You read that right. It adds a really sweet unexpected texture to the mac. I just use part of a can of regular unsweetened, unsalted corn.

The other day I was making a white sauce for some pasta. Starting with the basic roux (butter and flour) I added milk until I had the consistency I wanted and then added the sauteed mushrooms, onions, and garlic. I wanted some kind of bite that you get when you add really sharp cheese or parmesan. Not having much of either and wanting a creamier texture I added some feta cheese and cream cheese. It was so yummy! My husband really liked it too - and he isn't a big fan of feta. A+ for ingenuity that night!

Comfort Foods

2011-06-04T13:09:00.000-07:00

Often these days, when I don't know what to make for dinner and don't even know what I want to eat, I've been turning to the old mac'n'cheese - from a box.

Growing up, I had never heard of Kraft mac and cheese - or any other boxed mac and cheese for that matter. When I first tasted it I was in my mid-teens at a babysitting job. Kraft M&C was on the menu for dinner and I ate with the kids. I was not impressed.

To tell the truth I still don't like it...which is why I add all sorts of things to make it really yummy!

Last night I added sauteed mushrooms and of course the required extra cheese. This time instead of adding the usual sharp cheddar, I tried adding pepperjack. Wow! It was fabulous! Definitely my kind of comfort food! :)

Other times I have added chopped fresh parsley with or without mushrooms. But always I add an extra 3/4 - 1 cup of shredded cheese. Usually sharp cheddar.

It always hits the spot!

Render to Caesar...Render to God

2011-06-02T15:54:00.000-07:00

Mark 12:17

"And Jesus answered and said to them, 'Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.' And they marveled at Him."

A familiar text. And one that I always smiled and thought: 'Way to go Jesus! You got them again.' - and went on to the next verse.
This past Sunday my pastor preached on this passage and opened it up in a way I had never considered. The coin that they brought to show Jesus as He asked, the denarius, was pressed on one side the picture of Caesar and the inscription under identified him as the "son of the divine". Jesus asks who's picture is on it, and given the response "Caesar's" Jesus tells them to render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's.

What does God have to do with Roman taxes paid to Caesar? Why did Jesus include that last phrase?

In Genesis, man was made in God's image. (Gen 1:26-27) His image is pressed into us.

We are like the coins - except we have God's image pressed into us not Caesar's.

Jesus is telling us to render ourselves to God...

Because we are His. Bought with the blood of Christ.

God is good and faithful

2011-05-22T18:57:00.000-07:00

By virtue of the fact that my car was blocking my husband Tom's in the driveway, we drove my car to church today.
Later in the afternoon we drove it again to prayer meeting. On our way Tom, who drove, noticed the alignment of my car was pulling to the right. I thought it must have been knocked out when I went over a particularly high speed bump at 6mph instead of 5 - literally.
Anyway...
I decided I wanted to drive home. I had the option of going local or the Expressway. Because of where we had parked Tom suggested local. O.k - sure, it's prettier that way anyway. I like babying my accelerator to save on the gas mileage - so I didn't really mind that I'm stuck behind a slowpoke. The closer we get to home the more my car alignment is pulling to the right. Also there is a weird squeaking coming from the foot pedals. I remember that a few days ago I'd thought that right front tire was low. We decide to check it just as we get to the house. Oh yeah. It's REALLY low. Tom and I drive it a couple blocks to the nearest gas station and fill it with air. I'll take my car in tomorrow and have it patched. (I found where there is a nail in it)

On the way home I thought back over the day how God was gracious to us.
*The traffic was slow on the Expressway on our way to prayer meeting.
*I like to baby my accelerator.
*We went local streets on our way home.
*The air was free at the gas station.

If we had not taken my car today I would possibly not have noticed the leak until after I was at the college tomorrow. Or on the way to the college.

I have a very thankful heart this evening.

Sunday School

2011-05-22T18:35:00.000-07:00

God has free will. But he cannot sin because it is outside of His nature.

The unregenerate sinner has free will. But he cannot not sin because it is outside of his nature.

Shakespeare - How can you miss?

2011-05-17T05:52:00.000-07:00

You can't really miss with him. I'll be performing with a group called 'Cerddorian' in June. One of the sets we are doing is a set of 4 Shakespeare sonnets put to music by James Bassi accompanied by harp - absolutely fantastic combo! Here is one of the sonnets we are doing:

Sonnet 128
"How oft, when thou, my music, music play'st
Upon that blessed wood whose motion sounds
With thy sweet fingers when thou gently sway'st
The wiry concord that mine ear confounds,
Do I envy those jacks that nimble leap
To kiss the tender inward of thy hand,
Whilst my poor lips, which should that harvest reap,
At the wood's boldness by thee blushing stand!
To be so tickled they would change their state
And situation with those dancing chips
O'er whom thy fingers walk with gentle gait,
Making dead wood more blessed than living lips.
Since saucy jacks so happy are in this,
Give them thy fingers, me thy lips to kiss."

The poetry to a couple of musical works I will be performing this semester.

2008-03-16T17:05:00.000-07:00

ISRAFEL (Edgar Allan Poe)

In Heaven a spirit doth dwell
"Whose heart-strings are a lute;"
None sing so wildly well
As the angel Israfel,
And the giddy stars (so legends tell),
Ceasing their hymns, attend the spell
Of his voice, all mute.

Tottering above
In her highest noon,
The enamoured moon
Blushes with love,
While, to listen, the red levin
(With the rapid Pleiads, even,
Which were seven,)
Pauses in Heaven.

And they say (the starry choir
And the other listening things)
That Israfeli's fire
Is owing to that lyre
By which he sits and sings-
The trembling living wire
Of those unusual strings.

But the skies that angel trod,
Where deep thoughts are a duty-
Where Love's a grown-up God-
Where the Houri glances are
Imbued with all the beauty
Which we worship in a star.

[Therefore thou art not wrong,
Israfeli, who despisest
An unimpassioned song;
To thee the laurels belong,
Best bard, because the wisest!
Merrily live, and long!] Stanza omitted from the work

The ecstasies above
With thy burning measures suit-
Thy grief, thy joy, thy hate, thy love,
With the fervour of thy lute-
Well may the stars be mute!

Yes, Heaven is thine; but this
Is a world of sweets and sours;
Our flowers are merely - flowers,
And the shadow of thy perfect bliss
Is the sunshine of ours.

If I could dwell
Where Israfel
Hath dwelt, and he where I,
He might not sing so wildly well
A mortal melody,
While a bolder note than this might swell
From my lyre within the sky.

FERN HILL (Dylan Thomas)

Now as I was young and easy under the apple boughs
About the lilting house and happy as the grass was green,
The night above the dingle starry,
Time let me hail and climb
Golden in the heydays of his eyes,
And honoured among wagons I was prince of the apple towns
And once below a time I lordly had the trees and leaves
Trail with daisies and barley
Down the rivers of the windfall light.

And as I was green and carefree, famous among the barns
About the happy yard and singing as the farm was home,
In the sun that is young once only,
Time let me play and be
Golden in the mercy of his means,
And green and golden I was huntsman and herdsman, the calves
Sang to my horn, the foxes on the hills barked clear and cold,
And the sabbath rang slowly
In the pebbles of the holy streams.

All the sun long it was running, it was lovely, the hay
Fields high as the house, the tunes from the chimneys, it was air
And playing, lovely and watery
And fire green as grass.
And nightly under the simple stars
As I rode to sleep the owls were bearing the farm away,
All the moon long I heard, blessed among stables, the night jars
Flying with the ricks, and the horses
Flashing into the dark.

And then to awake, and the farm, like a wanderer white
Withe the dew, come back, the cock on his shoulder: it was all
Shining, it was Adam and maiden,
The sky gathered again
And the sun grew round that very day.
So it must have been after the birth of the simple light
In the first, spinning place, the spellbound horses walking warm
Out of the whinnying green stable
On to the fields of praise.

And honoured among foxes and pheasants by the gay house
Under th new made clouds and happy as the heart was long,
In the sun born over and over
I ran my heedless ways,
My wishes raced through the house high hay
And nothing I cared, at my sky blue trades, that time allows
In all his tuneful turning so few and such morning songs
Before the children green and golden
Follow him out of grace.

Nothing I cared, in the lamb white days, that time would take me
Up to the swallow thronged loft by the shadow of my hand,
In the moon that is always rising,
Nor that riding to sleep
I should hear him fly with the high fields
And wake to the farm forever fled from the childless land.
Oh as I was young and easy in the mercy of his means,
Time held me green and dying
Though I sang in my chains like the sea.

Mystery Photo

2007-11-16T18:35:00.000-08:00

Who can identify it? I shall be very impressed if any one can.

Westbury Gardens, NY vol 2

2007-09-22T19:44:00.000-07:00

Rose Garden

Ghost Walk

Walled Garden

Temple of Love

Boxwood Garden

West Porch (proof that I was there)

For those of you who would like to know...

2007-09-07T17:09:00.000-07:00

Anna has survived her first week of college. She enjoyed it so much that she is considering adding a class that conflicts with her German class but it is still possible to take them both. (Shocking I know) The class that is a possible add is 'Applied music'. Apparently for a music major degree you need to have 4 semesters of applied music. It would be nice to just get that requirement out of the way. (There is another music student taking both)

Another class Anna is taking is American History. Which promises to be a lot of fun judging by the character of the instructor. :)

The only other class (besides the choirs) that I'm taking is Theory 1 and Musicianship 1. The are taken together and count actually at two, 3unit classes. This class I believe will be a bit more challenging. This weekend I hope to memorize all of the key-signatures. I know. I should know them already with all of the piano and singing years I have under my belt. I should but I don't. But I will.

With the new semester of choirs comes the old challenge of not being willing to perform on Sunday. Somehow my director doesn't remember semester to semester. Rather frustrating. This semester instead of the one concert that I would miss there are now 2 concerts which I will not be singing in. Plus the kids choir's concert is on a Sunday. That just means I can help the kids learn the material but I can't help them perform it.

On the whole not only have I survived, but I am still excited about it. I don't know though, that might change once I get my first full week in.

Westbury Gardens, NY

2007-07-30T14:26:00.001-07:00

These are a couple of pics of the house. More of the gardens later.

View of the front

View of the back

Bother!!!

2007-07-19T18:01:00.000-07:00

I'm having difficulties with blogger. I'll try to post more later.

New hair color (a side trip)

2007-07-08T21:21:00.000-07:00

So what do ya'll think???

A closer look.

I like this one.

New York

2007-06-28T17:04:00.000-07:00

So much has happened I'm not sure what to write about first. I guess the beginning would be the best!

Wednesday the 13th of June I flew out of San Jose airport to JFK. Of course flights these days often being what they are my plane was about 2 hrs late. Oh well. The next couple days were spent relaxing mostly, but Sarah and I did have a chance to do some shopping! Not much as we had the kids with us and there is only so much that 3 children 4 yrs and younger can take. :)

Saturday I headed into "the city" (Manhattan) by way of LaGuardia airport where I met up with a couple of the TAs. We were to early to be able to check into the Grand Hyatt Hotel so we checked our bags and started walking. And walking. We were able to kill about 5hrs before having to be back at the hotel. My Uncle, Aunt, and cousin arrived later and we crashed.

Sunday was a big day. There was a practice for the choir in the hotel and we sang through the music. (I got to sing the soprano solos in the practice-so I can say I did sing a solo in NY) We got done earlier than expected, but not quite early enough for me to get to the AM church service. :( Ben (bro-in-law) was at GA and Sarah had gone upstate to her in-laws. I spent the early part of the afternoon deliberating as to whether I would be able to make the evening service and whether I could do it alone. :0 I mapped out my route carefully and asked questions of the front desk personnel, and decided to tackle it!
The route was as follows: From Grnd Cntrl Stat. I took the Shuttle to Times Squ. From there I took the subway 1,2 or 3 downtown to Penn Stat. Catch the Long Is RR for New Hyde Park. Picked up by a lady from the church and remember the instructions backward to be able to get back o.k. Nerve racking yes, but lots of fun!
The pastor welcomed me from the pulpit mentioned my two sister's names so everyone would make the connection, and announced that I was single. Can anything be more embarrassing? O.k. I know there are things more embarrassing than that, but I sure could feel myself color up!
I did make it back to the hotel safely after only one wrong subway ride. The whole experience was most instructive and I am happy that I had a grand adventure so early in my NY stay.

There were more grand adventures but my internal clock is still on NY time. I shall have to save the telling of them for another post.

I got an F

2007-04-30T18:12:00.000-07:00

But I can hit an A above that.

What!!! You actually thought that I would get an F in my grades?!!!

Actually what I have done is to sing an F above high C ~ in an actual song not just in a lesson. What I have done in my lessons is to hit the A above high C.

For those of you who don't know as much about musical notes, you shall have to have someone show you on the piano what I mean since I can't exactly show you on this post. :)

Oh, and by the way Emmy the sun is quite nice down here. A couple weeks back I got a major burn. I am still recovering-sort of. The color stayed but I peeled really bad.

Beka, as soon as I have a 'good hair' day I shall post a pic.

Kid's Choir at Cabrillo College

2007-04-02T18:32:00.000-07:00

New song being taught.

TA to the kids: Does anyone know what a triplet is?

One of the kids: Does that mean you have to sing it three times?

Gotta love it!!! These kids can either drive you nuts or make you bust up laughing!

The Poetry of "The Peace of Wild Things" Vol. 3

2007-03-05T19:48:00.001-08:00

The last 3 ~ here goes!

"The Year Turns Away From Me" by Morton Marcus (This one is kinda cool ~ it is another womens 3 part choral piece)

The year turns away from me,
I'm here on the other side of the hill,
Where winds are flames, blue wings in the meadow,
Tall steeples of ashes diminish at the meadow's edge
And far down the hillside
A deep chorus of boulders is singing the pebbles awake.

"The Stars" by Morton Marcus (and my personal worst)

The stars are grains of salt thrown over God's shoulder
They fly from us and we fly after
But the heart that dark star, the heart that heavy planet
Is all that we can know of heaven.

"may my heart always be open" by e.e. cummings (I'm not sure I make sense out of this one either)

may my heart always be open to little
birds who are the secrets of living
whatever they sing is better than to know
and if men should not hear them men are old

may my mind stroll about hungry
and fearless and thirsty and supple
and even if it's sunday may i be wrong
for whenever men are right they are not young

and may myself do nothing usefully
and love yourself so more than truly
there's never been quite such a fool who could fail
pulling all the sky over him with one smile

One of the practice nights Morton Marcus (who lives in Santa Cruz) came to talk to us about the poetry. Never have I spent a more boring 3 hours! There was more than one person who wanted to know what he meant in "The Stars" And after his expounding I was thoroughly confused. He said there was no heaven in the poem for one thing. I thought it was actually funny at that part because after he explained the poem he asked if that made sense. There were a few noises of meaningful accent around the room while I was more lost than ever! I wasn't the only one in that boat either. :)

The Poetry of "The Peace of Wild Things" Vol. 2

2007-03-02T15:09:00.000-08:00

"Returning" by Wendell Berry (this one is probably my favorite piece of music in the whole work)

I was walking in a dark valley and above me the tops of the hills
had caught the morning light.
I heard the light singing as it went among the grassblades and the leaves.
I waded upward through the shadow
until my head emerged,
my shoulders mantled with the light,
and my whole body came up out of the darkness,
and stood at the new shore of the day.
Where I had come was home,
for my own house stood white where the dark river wore the earth.
The sheen of bounty was on the grass, and the spring of the year had come.

"i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)" by e.e. cummings (This one is a trio for women's voices and I do like this one.)

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)

i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

And one more for this post:

"The Old Country" by Morton Marcus

Below the steep slopes inside us
There are mountain valleys with red-tiled roofs
Surrounded by plowed fields
Staked patches of grapevine
And domed churches in whose tiny graveyards
the slim cypress trees spiral toward memory

The Poetry of "The Peace of Wild Things" Vol. 1

2007-02-24T18:56:00.000-08:00

These are the first three songs of the work that we are doing in Carnegie. There are nine in all. Personally I really don't care for them. They have their redeeming qualities which is mostly in the actually music and the picture painting that the notes themselves to.

IF (among) by e.e. cummings

if (among
silent skies
bluer than believing) a
little gay
earth opening
is all the flowers of his eyes
:april's they
this if now
or this (young
trembling any) into flame
twig or limb
explodes and o
each living ablaze greenly thing
;may has come
love (by yes
every new
bird no bigger than to sing)
leaf is wing
and tree is voice
most leastfully than i am you
,we are spring

"The Peace of Wild Things" by Wendell Berry

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief.
I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light.
For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

"A Song Sparrow Singing in the Fall" by Wendell Berry

Somehow it has all added up to song--
earth, air, rain and light,
the labor and the heat,
the mortality of the young.
I will go free of other singing, I will go
into the silence of my songs, to hear this song clearly.

BTW: I can't really make sense of the poetry. But it is modern and apparently you are supposed to find your own interpretation.

Random Thoughts on a Valentines Night

2007-02-14T21:45:00.000-08:00

How long can caffeine last in the system?

For me...a bit over 2 days. So if I have any it's: 'LOOK OUT WORLD, I'M ON A ROLL!!!'

As I'm coming off of it I inevitably get a migraine and then it's: 'i'm fading from this world and entering the shadow lands, i will soon be a wraith.

Last Sunday morning I had some caffeinated tea in the morning. Tuesday night at choir practice I was helpless before the onslaught of pain in the right side of my brain. Stuck without any hope of relief, I was forced to endure a new soprano behind me - on the right side. She has a very piercing voice and is young still in her thinking that she has to sing louder than everyone. I didn't even have a Tylenol!

I did survive, but just barely.

To counter that:

On the way home from work today I had to pick something up for Rachel in Carmel Valley. Today the weather was absolutely gorgeous! The sun was out, the sky blue with just a scattering of fluffy white clouds here and there, and a nice cool breeze from the ocean that was positively fabulous! (This is late spring-early summer weather for WA) The hills here are just becoming green. They are no longer a dull brownish/tan. They have come alive with color! Forty Shades of Green runs through my head when I see them.

On the drive east down Carmel Valley, I passed vineyards, golf courses, a park, ranchos...passing one ranch I even saw a "cowboy" moving about 8 head of cattle in front of him down a trail. Then another road north to get home. Up and over the hill into the Salinas valley. I would love to take that drive again in a convertible. With someone with me of course so that we can exclaim over the view and the wonders of God's incredible creation. Today I almost wished I had a camera, but that would almost spoil it somehow.

Last thought:

Just wondering if "the group" went out for dessert at Anthony's for Valentines Day? I missed you all this year. I got to make dinner for Sis and Bro, and 3 little ones. Which reminds me, I need to get some pics of the older ones on here. I'll have to do that soon.

The Burdens of Being a Pianist

2007-02-05T22:05:00.000-08:00

The implements of destruction!

It's enough to break your heart! :(

My uncle wants me to play a couple of pieces with cuz Elizabeth for the special numbers in the middle of our bell choir concert. And right after I had finally grown them out nicely after my Thanksgiving concert!

Isn't he adorable!

2007-02-03T19:17:00.000-08:00

My little nephew Timothy David. Or as his daddy likes to call him: Sweet T.

That is a sucker in his hand.

Both of us.

Chillin' out.

My Favorite

The Rest of the Story

2006-12-06T17:34:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday soon before I am leaving for the day, I put the picture that my dear bro Mark sent me as a background on my computer at work. On my way out I told him to look.

I am still kicking myself that no one got to see his reaction to the picture.

Thursday was my day off. Friday morning I meet him in front of the store just as we're about to go in and start the day. After 'good mornings' are exchanged, He says: "So Anna, why did you let me believe that you have an ex-boyfriend who is black??? I am hurt that you would do such a thing..." and on, and on it went.

I finally got a little tired of it and responded with this: "Andres, I am offended that you would be hurt by this. My doing this kind of thing is proof that I like you and that I love working here! I am very much offended!!"

Andres: "Do you know what you have done? Now everything you say will go through the filter of 'is she telling the truth?'.

A couple days later.

Me: Andres, you know when you said that everything that I said would go through a filter? Well I've been doing that with everything you say ever since I met you!

Andres: Good! You better keep doing it! :)

When I tried to talk about the different things that had been discussed, he interrupted me with: "I don't want to talk about it." Hand poised toward me as if to ward off my words. Oh well. It really wouldn't be very complimentary to him.

An evening with the Thompsons!

2006-11-23T17:04:00.000-08:00

Anna: Scary thought I know! But they seem to fit right in with us. Right now there are 5 of us around the computer listening to music - new and old. New and old music not people that is! :)

Emily: We are listening to 3 guys sing in our ears, love songs no less...however, they are all our brothers...so we haven't the heart to tell them what it really sounds like.

Anna: Actually there is pretty much only one guy singing. Some Keith Whitley etc...

Emily: The Reimers and Neffs are all kinda crazy, but you know, when you just keep spending Thanksgivings with them, you start to pick up on their habits. One uncle asked me if I want to eat the turkey tail. Weird!

Anna: Emily, the turkey tail is edible. But regarding crazy people, it takes one to know one.

Emily: Don't resort to insults when you don't have anything left to say!

Anna: Have you ever known me to be speachless before! Talk about insults! Who started the name calling. BTW: she just called me a dork! Isn't that rude to call someone by such a name in their own house! Really shocking manners. Now she is making fun of my spelling. Are there any mistakes as of yet??? The difference is that she types fast and corrects everything after-sometimes that is. I on the other hand correct as I go along.

Emily: My my, aren't we defensive... Must I send out a formal apology to the entire Reimers/Neff clan? Don't hold your breath ;)

My X

2006-11-17T15:13:00.000-08:00

Some of you did't know that I have an X now did you. Quite a few of you though are aware of his existence. Here is the story of someone who did not know about him and how I made him aware of the fact.

After planning to pull one over on my boss it took a full week for an opening in his questioning for me to start the subterfuge.

Conversation with my boss on the morning at work as we are setting up the store.

Andres: So Anna, do you miss people in WA?
Me: Yes. My mom, Mark, Beka, Ben, and Kylee.
Andres: Who's Kylee?
Me: She's my niece. And I miss my X.
Andres: Your X what? (shocked look on his face)
Me: My X.

What follows is a two-week saga of my fielding questions about my "X"

A: When did you break-up?
M: Pretty much when I moved down here. (that got him theatrically clutching his heart in sympathy)

A: How old is he?
M: I'm not sure. I think he might be younger. He's around the house a lot. The whole family likes him. Well except for one of my brothers.
A: Well that's pretty normal.
M: We would go for walks together. Especially when I was upset and he would calm me down.

Kim: Andres, I found out something about Anna's X. He's black.

A: Really! So Anna, do you think that different backgrounds and different nationalities can work in a relationship?
M: Yes.
A: What kind of job does he have?
M: He is in the exterminating business.
A: Is he able to support a family?
M: I'm not sure.
A: That is very important and it is something you should know about anyone who is interested in you. If he does not have the means to support a family then he has no business in starting a relationship someone. (This answer is probably paraphrased because it has been a while since we had this discussion.)

A: I am hurt that you could work here for so long and you have not told me about him!
Kim: Me too!
M: Well I did mention him but with a different name.
A: You haven't heard from him since you moved down here.
M: No. He doesn't write letters, and has no e-mail address.
A: And what about the telephone?!
M: He doesn't like telephones.
A: What's his name?
M: Nope. Not telling. I'll have my brother take a picture and e-mail it to me.

The picture of my X that my brother sent. I guess he couldn't get a better one.

For those of you who don't know, My cat's name is Exnihlio, which is Latin for 'out of nothing'. He just showed up one day and we don't know where he came from. I call him my Ex. Throughout all of the above answers you will find absolutely no lies. I made a point of that. After the first day I started to feel bad about the whole thing. But I told his wife about what I was doing and she told me to drag it out as long as I could! Andres was the only one who did not know who my "X" was. My co-workers Kim and Juan Jose were in on it as well as a couple other ladies in our church. Everyone I told about it were encouraging me keep going or I might not have kept it going for so long. The only one who was questioned my doing it was Mark. Mark you must not know Andres as well as the people down here.

The next post will have Andres response and our discussion as a result.

First day back at work

2006-11-17T14:49:00.000-08:00

When I woke up this morning I didn't know if I would have to go to work today or tomorrow. So I called my co-worker Juan.
Juan: Hola?
Me: Juan Jo?
Juan: Si.
Me: Ok Juan Jo this is Anna so you'll have to talk in English! :)

Yup, I did have to work. I did one of my 'get ready in 10 min'. I am in front of the store at 9:35. (Supposed to be 9:30) No one there. That's ok I'm used to it. Juan shows up at 9:45 (his normal time) and we start the day.

I am almost done setting up one of the cases when Juan comes up from the back and asks: "Are you done?" Almost. "Well you get to put it all back - they're not opening the store today." Arrg! This is ok - life is still good. The sun is shining and there is no rain on the forecast as of yet.

There is still much to do at the store. I got to clean all morning. Change the answering machine so people don't think we are supposed to be open today. I also got to go to the-

Post Office.

Everything was pretty normal except on my way out there was an old gentleman sitting on one of the benches inside. He says, "Hey young lady, thank you for wearing a dress. You look really nice. It used to be in my day that all of the ladies wore dresses. I was born in 1920. Grace Kelly wore a really nice one every time she went to visit her son. All really beautiful women wear them. I think they're making a come-back though, they're even in Walmart."

Something like that. I was standing next to the door so I wasn't able to hear extremely well from the car noise outside. He was very sweet though and he helped make my day!!!

A homey sight

2006-11-17T08:08:00.000-08:00

Four year-old Mary, is sitting on the counter watching mommy make pancakes for breakfast.

Mary: "Mommy?"

Rachel: "What Mary?"

Mary: "Mommy, I just, I, I, I just got a, I just smashed a fly, I just grabbed it out of the air and squished it."

Rachel: "I hope it was a small one."

Mary: "Ya, Ya it was."

Rachel: "That's good or it would be yucky!"

Mary: "Oh, I just, I just dropped it on the floor."

Rachel: "Oh good so we get to step on it!" (Rachel is barefoot)

Mary: "It, it just, it just went under the kitchen cabinets."

My siblings will probably know about Mary's way of go, stop, go, stop, go, way of talking. :) As if she is still figuring out what to say- as she is saying it. And then halfway through she realizes a better way to say it and starts over.

I am soon to be back to work. 2 1/2 weeks of vacation is ok if you have something to do or somewhere to go besides school that is. So I'll be glad to be back to work.

Some of my life

2006-11-06T11:07:00.000-08:00

My life revolves around a triangle.

Not that kind to triangle. I mean that at one point of the triangle there is work, at another college, at the last Home. All separated by an approximately. 45 min. drive. Depending of course on the time of day as there is rush-hour times down here. (No, it isn't caused by a tractor; just a lot of people trying to get somewhere)In consequence I do a lot of driving and I am now of the opinion that I would have no problems driving long hall. (My mother might have a problem with that though) I am 1 car in a sea of CA license plates. Though every now and then there is a different plate of someone vacationing-especially around Carmel. Ya'll should have seen the smile on my face when I saw a British Columbia plate! I almost waved at them! But quickly decided that since I now have a CA plate myself, they would have no clue as to who that idiot was waving and smiling like she just found a long lost friend!

My Birthday

2006-10-04T14:33:00.000-07:00

Tuesday in fact was THE day. But in my busy schedule I was unable to post on the actual day.

I have completed my 25th year. Quite shocking I know. But true none-the-less. It began very well ~ and for the most part just got better as the day went on! To start it was sunny outside in the early morning, which is not very common in Salinas, but when it does happen it promises to be fine all day.

I work from 9:30 to 1:00. The last thing to do on my work list that day was the bank run. When I got back my boss's wife and co-worker Kimberly were there. (This is not uncommon for them to come by during a work day, also it was Kimberly's day off) I thought nothing of it until I walked to the back and found that my desk had been transformed into a party table w/ tablecloth, cake, and gifts! The only thing that had stayed in the relativly same position was my mug. The only thing we waited for was for Melissa (boss's daughter) to arrive. Once she did, what proceeded was a very loud rendition of happy birthday ~ in spanish ~ with the window that looks down on an outdoor restaurant area wide open. I heard applause from below after they finished singing! After everything had started to come toward a close, ie: gifts opened and admired, cake mostly eaten, etc. Andres (my boss) askes me what my birthday wish is. "Only one?" I ask. To which he replies "yes, you can only have one man."!!! He tries to get my goat alot but then I got him really good about a week ago...I'll save that for another post. Anyway, the first birthday wish that popped into my mind was that Beka would come down here and give me a haircut! :D Andres' response was: "that's an expensive haircut"

I had various calls and e-mails throughout the next couple days incl. Nathan on Wed morning while I was trying to find my way out of the San Jose airport onto Hwy 1 S. :D Emily left me a voicemail with her singing. Mom called Tues evening and she and grandparents and Auntie sang. Poor Elliot thought he was the first to wish me a happy birthday (over e-mail @ 12:06) but actually it was Alicia. They were all up late packing that night and weren't in bed until after 12. At 12:04 she got the first one out of the day! Sorry Elliot! :) BTW: this is a thank you to every one who called or e-mailed with best wishes. So it also incl: Kristi, Andrea, Ethan, Johanna, Grandma, & Ron in addition to those mentioned above. Thank you all!!

Oh just to let you all know, I think Emmy was going to plan a party in my honor for you all up there! I'm not sure how far she has gotten. :P

Carnegie Hall

2006-09-25T17:18:00.000-07:00

Yes indeed. I have the opportunity of singing there with my college choir this coming June. So if I can scrape up the required funds for the group package payment I will be there. I still can't quite believe it myself ~ but I am very excited and praying for guidance.

This is my BIG news.

Where is she? What's she doing?

2006-09-20T20:29:00.000-07:00

I have moved to CA. For those of you who didn't know. I am living with my oldest sister Rachel, Bro-in-law Joel, and the kids Mary, Justus, and dear little Timothy. Cousin Alicia also is living here to help Rach out with the kidos.

I moved here primarily to go to school at Cabrillo College in Aptos and take voice lessons from my U. Stan. Right now I am in two choirs at the college and in my Uncle's church bell choir. To fund this move I have a part-time job at a jewelry store in Carmel. The owners go to the church here.

I am missing my life up there in WA but the family and church family are helping alot.

God willing I will probably be down here for at least two years. I will try to be a little more consistant with my blogging so that you can stay up to date with what I am up to.

BTW I am having alot of fun too!!!

Copied from Brandy~Thanks!!

2006-08-19T15:52:00.000-07:00

Can anyone tell that I am missing WA???
I had to compensate with a very long post. But one composed only by me would take too long. So many thanks to Brandy!!!

- Name: Anna
- Nickname: Annabeth,
- Single or Taken?: Single
- Zodiac Sign: I haven't a clue.
- Male or Female: Female
- Ipod: No, but I would like one.
- How many buddies on your list: I haven't made a list, it would probably be too long. :)
- Screenname: Do you mean the name I would have if I was on stage??
- Hair Color: Brown-with some blond highlights from the sun.
- Hair Long or Short: Long, I might cut it.
- Eye Color: Blue
- Are you health freak: Some people would think so - I don't.
- Height: 5'5" approx.
- Do you have a crush on someone: No.
- Do you like yourself? I have to agree w/ Brandy that this is a very weird question.
- Braces? I had braces about 5 yrs ago. Had them for 1 1/2 yrs. I told the ortho. that I wanted them off early for my sister's wedding. So I had an tightening appt. every week and a week before the wedding off they came! :)
- Think you're awesome? Again I am in agreement with Brandy another weird question.
- Piercings: My ears are pierced
- Tattoo: No thank you.
- Righty or Lefty: Lefty

---Your 'Firsts'---
- Surgery: Does having your wisdom teeth out count?
- First piercing: Ears.
- First best friend: Alicia
- First Award: Blue ribbon at the fair for a doily-or was the first one a baby dress that I made? I got best of division on that one.
- First Sport You Joined: Church league softball.
- First pet: I had a cat named Kitty. He was the most spoiled outdoor tom in the NW!! I miss him.
- First vacation: The first vacation that I remember we all (my whole fam.) went to CA for a couple weddings and did a bit of visiting around while we were there.
- First Concert: Handel's Messiah ~ Lynden Choral Society. I have seen other things as well! :) incl, Whatcom Symphony, Abbotsford Symphony, as well as some other nice occations.
- First love: I was 5, he was 6. His younger brother pushed me down in the church parking lot. He went and told his mom and little brother had to apologize.

---Favorites---
- Favorite movie: I like alot of movies. I have probably seen too many! A few of the favorites are: A&E Pride & Predudice, (Actually any Jane Austen movie) Lord of the Rings, Newsies, Pirates of Caribbean, Christmas in Conneticut, Hollywood Canteen, Pied Piper of Hamelin, The Secret Garden (Hallmark), The Inheritance, The Scarlet Pimpernel, the list goes on...
- Favorite TV show: Does this include old TV shows? I like Hogan's Heros & I Love Lucy. Jeopardy works for a new show.
- Color: Deep blue.
- Music: Favorite would probably be classical. Although I listen to country, some Christian, oldies, some pop, Just about anything that is really musical and not just noise, like rap and hard rock.
- Drink: Mostly water.
- Body part: Hands. This may be strange and I might blog later about it so if you have questions let me know.
- Cartoon: Emporers new groove. But I am sure it could get old if watched too many times.
- Piece of clothing: For what occasion? I have alot of nice clothes right now because of my new job. You can't wear jeans to a jewelry store.
- Brand of clothing: I wear alot of Worthington.
- What do you sleep with: A pillow and a blanket. Yes I am confessing :) I have a blanket that I stole from my little brother when mine wore out. It is now used for under my lower back.
- School: Cabrillo
- Animal(s):Horses, Cats, Dogs, just about any animal.
- Book: Bible - it just keeps getting better!
- Magazines: I don't really read any.

---Currently---
- Eating: No
- I'm drinking: No, but I want some water.
- I'm about to: Get some water. :)
- Listening to: Friends in the background on the phone, talking to my cousin.
- Waiting For: J&R to come home, kids to wake up.
- Watching: The computer scene
- Wearing: Shorts, tanktop.

---Your Future---
- Want Kids: Definitely
- Want to Get Married: That comes first.
- Careers in Mind: Helpmeet, Homemaker, Proverbs 31 woman. Right now I'm working on a music degree.

---Which is better with the Opposite Gender---
- Lips or Eyes: Eyes, right now.
- Hugs or Kisses: Hugs, right now.
- Shorter or Taller: Taller please, I consider myself short.
- Romantic or Spontaneous: Not sure, sometimes spontaneous can be romantic.
- Nice stomach or nice arms: What?! I don't think this is extremely important.
- Sensitive or Loud: Sensitive. But you can be both at the same time.
- Hook-up or Relationship: Relationship.
- Sweet or Caring: Again you can be both at the same time.
- Trouble Maker or wannabe: No thank you.

---Have you ever---
- Kissed a Stranger: No.
- Drank bubbles: Do you drink bubbles or just swallow them?
- Lost glasses/contacts: I don't wear any.
- Ran Away From Home: No. I did just move away from home though.
- Broken a bone: I'm not sure. I might have broken a toe.
- Got an X-ray: When I had my braces.
- Broken Someone's Heart: Not that I know of.
- Turned Someone Down: Yes.
- Cut yourself: Yes. Those veggie peelers will do it every time. :P
- Cried at school: Homeshooled so I shall have to say yes.

---Do You Believe In---
- God: Yes.
- Miracles: Yes.
- Love at first sight: No.
- Magic: No.
- Heaven: Yes.
- Santa Claus: No.
- Kissing on the First Date: No.
- Angels: Yes.

---Answer Truthfully---
- Is There someone You Want To be with right now: Yes. Just about any of my family members or friends in WA will do.

Alaska Vol. 1

2006-07-15T14:13:00.000-07:00

I have decided that I shall have to blog in segments. We just did too much on the trip to put it all into one post.

The first experience of the trip was that I was on a different airline on the way up there. (It was cheaper) My flight got into AK about an hour after the other 3 had already gotten in. It was misting outside, (which I was told was rain) and even though it was quite late we went to a nearby restaurant to have dinner. We were also waiting for the speaker’s flight to come in. (It did pore down rain while we ate) The food was good as well as the company but I was a bit worn out from the long day so I was relieved when we left for our lodgings for the night. We dropped the guys off, (Brian and the speaker: Roth) at the house where they were staying and we did waste any time going to the Long's home where Jackie, Shawnee, and myself were bunking in with Lisa and Julie.

The following morning hiking on a glacier was on the schedule. We packed a lunch, picked up the guys and headed out. It was quite the drive and I was in the Saab with the two potential motion sick people. Lisa - driving, and Shawnee in the front. BTW: All of the Long's drive Saabs.

The scenery along the drive was incredible and I found that in Alaska you don't seem to have any flat lands or plains, you have big hills and mountains. So if you happen to be driving along straight and flat it is because you are driving along a ridge or through a valley.

We had lunch before we hiked out with ski poles and footgear to help us out.

I started this post a while ago and I don't have the pics to finish it. Mark can you help me? The pics are on the computer up there. Can you size them down and e-mail them? Pretty please? I know like you have nothing better to do! :)

Patience!

2006-07-02T22:03:00.000-07:00

Allright I get the picture Mike and Beka! I shall try to blog this comming week. Stay tuned!

My new car!!!

2006-05-10T17:50:00.000-07:00

Sorry a picture will have to come later.

Nathan came the closest! I loved Ruth's sug. but I think that might mean a mustang and that would mean another Ford! I don't think I'll need a truck untill I get my ranch. :)

It is a 2005 Dodge Stratus, 4dr, automatic, silver, still under warrenty

Pretty nice huh?

Many thanks to every one who had a hand in me figuring out what vehilce to get! :)

Car troubles

2006-04-26T18:10:00.000-07:00

I need a new car.

My car is dying. CV joints need replacing and the transmition is going out. Anyone want to buy a fix'r'up car?

So what do you think? Do you see me in a truck, car, SUV, etc...?

Hi everyone

2006-04-16T20:43:00.000-07:00

Just a note to let ya'll know that I'm still alive and kickin'.

My life has slowed down since the play is finished. But have no fear it will pickup again! I am watching the theatre's website for the next play and I have ice-skating testing coming up. This is only testing no program so it will be very boring to watch.

The Lynden Choral Society's spring performance is coming up this weekend though. We shall be performing pieces from Handel's "The Messiah", Mendelssohn's "Elijah", & Beethoven's "Hallelujah". It should be a fabulous program. E-mail me or Beka, or Mark for specs on how to get there and times.

Aren't they cute!

2006-01-23T22:05:00.001-08:00

I have to relate an incident that happened just this evening. As many of you know my sister and her three children are up visiting from CA. Mary the oldest at nearly 4 is quite the talkative little girl. She is very smart and pronounces her words for the most part very precisely and correctly.

This evening my Uncle Steve came by for a visit. As he was leaving, Mary comes around the corner and says, "Hey big guy, where you going?" In keeping with the mood Uncle Steve replied with a, "Hey little girl!" I can only guess that she had not known what his name was or had forgotten it. I was so surprising to hear 'big guy' come out of my 'prim and proper' niece! Mom aptly dubbed it "one for the history books"

Transcript

2005-12-23T23:14:00.000-08:00

I just have to brag a little bit and share my excitement! I received a 4.0 grade for the music class that I took at WCC!!! Woo-Hoo!!!!!!!!

Vacation

2005-12-19T15:33:00.000-08:00

While everyone else is out there working and doin' the ol' grind, I am having a very wonderful time with my sister and bro in the beautiful state of California. Joel is at his office and the little ones are down for their naps, so Rachel has a moment to pack and I have a moment to let ya'll know how I'm doing.

You will recall on a previous post I mentioned I was playing the piano in a wedding. Well the wedding was this past Saturday and very beautiful it was too! The music which was fun to play had a couple of "oops--oh well"s in it. But on the whole there were no dramatic pauses that left everyone hanging on the edge of their seats. (where they weren't supposed to that is) My hands which have a tendency to shake when I play in front of people stayed very steady and I stayed calm. Until after the ceremony, then my knees began to knock and the rush of adrenaline went through me like a locomotive. The rest of the weekend was very relaxing and I anticipate the rest of my time here to be just as wonderful.

BTW: The weather down here is really nice! It rained yes but it is very warm compared to Washington. Now the sky is mostly clear.

Iceskating results

2005-11-29T22:00:00.000-08:00

I did it!!!
I had fun and skated to the music and didn't fall...well...that is I didn’t fall until after I had taken my bow! So it doesn't count as part of the program. Oh yes it was quite embarrassing. I had just turned and was starting to skate off when my right toe-pick caught somehow in the ice and I...well, I went flying head first into 2nd base! (in front of the grandstands no less) *sigh* Oh well, I did get up laughing, waved and skated off. The girl who skated right after me though was doing a jump in that same corner of the ice and she fell too! So I am going to blame this whole incident on the ice. There must have been a rut that was just waiting for someone to catch it!

Other than my rather unique finish, I had a wonderful time. Right now I am paying for flying/falling. I bruised my left knee rather badly and right hip as well. (yeah that's how flat I fell) My muscles (biceps, triceps, shoulder, neck) are rather sore as well from the shock of the impact and my arms going out to brace my fall. I didn't exactly want to skin my nose!!

My dear friend Emily caught my program on her video camera and unfortunately the fall as well. She had been just about to turn off the camera when- "SPLAT”! Then she of course had to keep the camera rolling for my reaction. So only a select few will be allowed to watch the video in its entirety! Right my dear Emmy??? I won’t hold you to a promise but you must tell me who you show it to without me there.

Still alive and kickin'

2005-11-07T22:58:00.000-08:00

Although I'm not kicking as hard these days! The ankle still complains. I can land my jumps (on ice) now, which is good since I have a recital coming up in Dec. It is on Monday the 5th. I am not sure of the time as of yet. I'll try to let everyone know before too much time goes by.

I have been keeping very busy over the past few weeks. Over Reformation Day our church as many of you know had a dinner where it was encouraged to come in costume of that period. I ended up being involved in some way in about 9 different costumes. I did end up pulling a couple of "almost" all-nighters. And the poster board I was supposed to do on Zwingli got neglected so much that there was only a picture of him. Oops!! I was also on the decorating committee with Andrea,(you can see some pics on her blog) and I had some small hand in the music that we had for the evening. I had loads of fun though, and as far as I have heard there has only been positive feedback from those who attended and everyone had a wonderful evening.

My music class has been going well as far as I know. I am still enjoying it, which is good. I have a report to write before the 17th though; and everyone who reads my blog knows how much I love to write!! :D

The class is not the only music involvement I have right now though. I am once again singing with the Lyn. Choral Society performing Handel's 'The Messiah' in December. There are two performances this year, on the 1st and 2nd. Actually, we just had practice tonight and there were also auditions for the solos. I tried out for a couple of them.

And one more choir!! I am also participating in a women's ensemble. That is made up of allot of girls who were in the homeschool choir. We are doing some gorgeous pieces and as soon as I have concert dates for that I shall let you know.

And last but not least I am Lord willing going to play the piano for a wedding coming up in December in CA. So I am and will be practicing like mad on those pieces!

Birthday (slightly revised) :)

2005-10-12T18:02:00.000-07:00

For once it was a good thing that it took me over a week to blog about something! Thanks to everyone who came to the party for me, and those who wished to be there and couldn't: ya missed a grand ol' time!

I shall have to start the telling of my birthday experiences to you, by recounting to everyone what happened prior to the Saturday evening party.

Monday the 3rd was the official day and at work I kept it pretty much under wraps. A couple of my co-workers knew but it was not broadcasted everywhere. That evening after I got home Mom called me and told me to meet her and Beka in Bham. The result was an outing for dinner at Anthony's. It was a marvelous evening complete with delicious food, incomparable service, lovely company, (of course) and the whole ambiance of the place is the best in Whatcom County that I have experienced! I can definitely recommend the place to anyone; anyone who enjoys seafood that is. But they do have wonderful desserts as well. (I have been there once before just for dessert and it was a delightful experience as well.) We went home and they let me finally open the gift that had been in the car but I was not allowed to touch. It was a CD player. Very nice!!

On to Friday! Friday evening, as most of you know, I played soccer at the Sportsplex with quite a group of friends. Early on in the game I got kicked in the ankle. Not fun but I just figured I'd have a bruise the next day and kept playing. About an hour later I had a major limp and was in a bit of pain. So I got off the field and sat out the rest of the time.

From subsequent swelling and bruising I was unable to skate on Sat and actually was unable to walk very well at all! This, I was to find out a bit later, played right into my devious sister and mother's hands as I went upstairs to 'lie down and rest my foot'. Around 6:30ish I was getting hungry but from a few things I had seen I didn't want to go downstairs a possibly spoil something. A look out my aunt's window removed the 'possible' and I decided to freshen up before I would be (undoubtedly) fetched. Mom was the one to get me and I was quite thrilled with the assembled group. I was for the most part relegated to a chair for most of the proceedings, but I had a wonderful time regardless.

Thanks again to everyone who took time out to visit the cripple! You all brightened her day!! And after my injury, I needed it.

And of course a big thanks to Mom and Sis who managed to keep me in the dark until the day of! That was a big feat! My congratulations!

Update

2005-10-02T17:23:00.000-07:00

I'm Going Crazy!! - And loving every minute of it!!!

For those of you who don't know, I am taking a night class at WCC. This is the second class I have done but this time I got to do something fun- music! My class is Tues and Thurs nights for 2 1/2 hrs. The homework is reading the textbook and listening to the music assigned. And since we are basically going through the history of music, I get to listen to the kind of music that I grew up with and still love! We have already touched on 'Gregorian chants' and the 'renaissance' era; next class we will look into the 'baroque' period. The only difficult part of the class, I think, will be the reports that I have to write. There are at least two reports, and anyone who knows me or reads my blog will know that I am not a very great writer, and don't do it very often. :) My little bro and sis got were blessed with that ability. They love to write! --Why?

I am still ice-skating and there is going to be a 'recital' in December that I am hoping to be in. I shall endeavor to get all my readers the actual date of that. I did manage to fall yesterday at the ice rink, before I even got on the ice! I won't go into the details of how I managed to do this only that no one saw me and I fell flat! Hard!! I am very sore, my neck especially. I think I gave myself a case of severe whiplash. Not fun.

Singing is about to commence with the Lynden Choral Society and the woman's ensemble. It will be a lot of fun singing so often again! I am also practicing my piano and violin. The violin not so much any more but it is not forgotten.

I never can figure out how to end these posts gracefully so I shall just stop writing.

Learning

2005-09-11T20:56:00.000-07:00

There are many things to learn in this life. I am learning the proverbial 'something new every day' at my work. And I have been there for 3 1/2 years. You'd never think there was that much to know about glass and windows and doors. Also, I am hoping to take more classes this fall at WCC. I'm till praying and plugging away in the hopes that some day I just might get that music degree! But that is another blog for another time!

The most recent thing that has come to my attention is I Cor. 13:4-8a

"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy: love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." NKJV

I can take each one of those phrases and totaly be discouraged at how far I am from succeeding to love my family and friends. Think about that for a bit and then follow that up with remembering that Jesus told us to love our enemies as well. Ouch!! Me I don't think I have any enemies that I come in contact with so the main source of my frustration is trying to love my family and friends in the way described in this passage.

I won't go on and bore any of my readers with my specific struggles with these verses, or go on to preach to ya'll about each phrase. I just wanted to give everyone food for thought on this passage that might often get put in 'oh, that's sweet' catagory.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Little Bugs

2005-08-26T21:06:00.000-07:00

Mosquitoes!

Those pesky little winged creatures that love to eat you up! Flying just out of reach when you take a swipe at them! Oh the frustration! They are so quick! You reach out to snag one then open you hands to find...nothing. Arghh!!!

Actually this is a frustration that is new to me. Usually I have about one bite per year or two. This year however, these little bugs seem to have fallen in love with me! I on the other hand have gone the opposite direction. I have only had about four bites this year but with each one they get bigger and bigger. Forcing me to come to the conclusion that I am allergic to them! (To a certain degree.) How 'lovely' is that!!!

I do have to say that I did get one of these irritating creatures, but only after it got me! :( That bite was on my right hand and it swelled up my whole finger!

Next week is conference. Oh boy, I am going have to find a good repellant!

Photo

2005-08-02T22:07:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! I finally got a picture!! I am moving up in my knowledge of the 'blog thing'! Actually the whole computer thing. My brother just helped me get signed onto msn. Don't ask me when I will do it since in the evening Mark is usually online. But it will be fun anyway!!

TTFN

Sore

2005-07-25T12:48:00.000-07:00

I am in pain. I have never been this sore from ice-skating before but it seems that landing a jump for the first time comes with a price! Yes, I have added a jump to my repertoire. It is the 'flip'. No not a back-flip. Before, all I could accomplish was a 'half-flip'. Yes I am moving up in the world! But I wish it didn't hurt so much! I am not sore from any falling, it is from trying to land it so many times! Landing on my right leg, with a bent knee, over and over. My quad is killing me! I had hoped to skate again this evening but I not sure if I should. I'll probably wait for the soreness to ease a bit before I try to land so many jumps at once again!

Baking

2005-07-22T21:51:00.000-07:00

Has anyone of my readers ever tried to make anything with phyllo dough? As a warning to those who have not...be prepared for the long haul! For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about phyllo dough is extremely thin (basically paper thin) sheets of dough that you can get in various sizes. The phyllo dough that I was working with was "Approx. 14 X 18". For those of you who do know what phyllo dough is, please ignore the explanation above. :)

Last night I started to make some baklava at about 9:30. Had I known how long it was going to take I don't think I would have even thought about starting it. I didn't get to bed until after 12. Most of that time was spent assembling the baklava. (Baklava is a very sticky, layered pastry, made with nuts, cinnamon, and of course phyllo dough and sweetened with honey) When you take the sheets of phyllo dough out of their packaging you have to keep them covered with a damp paper towel so that they will not dry out. And then there is the difficulty of pulling them apart. I had to pull very slowly or I ended up tearing holes in the sheets. The sheets of course have to be put in the pan one at a time, brush it with butter, put another sheet on, brush w/ butter sprinkle with some of the nut mixture, and then repeat the whole process all over again. And again, and again...till you have used up all of your 22 sheets. My brother-in-law Joel would be so proud of me! The baklava itself turned out very good!!!

This was the first time I had ever used phyllo dough so I don't know if the sheets sticking together and ripping was normal and just part of baking with it, or whether a better experience is in store for me, if I ever decide to use it again!

Aren't you all so proud of me! I posted twice in two days!!

Chewing the Cud

2005-07-21T17:32:00.000-07:00

Is it just me or do some other people out there think too much about past conversations? I sometimes seem to be thinking about conversations that are up to a week old! I try to tell myself to 'just swallow it and forget about it!' 'Quit thinking about it!' 'You're only going to stew about it or blow things out of proportion!' And do I take my own advice? Well...Sometimes.

This is probably one reason why I don't blog as much as I would like to. I take to long to think about it, and I end up not bothering to write it. Right now I have ideas for 4 totally unrelated items to blog about. When will I write them down? I dunno. Maybe it has a lot to do with being a perfectionist and a little to do with being a bit of a procrastinator.

You know what, I think I think too much.

Update

2005-07-14T13:00:00.000-07:00

Oh boy it has been a while. I do hope people have not given up on me! I have been busy of late, (as usual) and my little bro. has taken up quite a bit of computer time. (as usual) :)

For those of you who did not know, part of what was keeping me busy was practicing for an ice-skating program. This I performed last Saturday and it went well, if I do say so myself. I had a lot of fun and had quite a few friends turnout to cheer me on. Thank you to all that came! I was fortunate to have it videoed by a friends as well so if anyone really wants to see it let me know. It is the first program I have ever done though so be warned!

I am glad that I can see what I look like on the ice though. Now I can see what I am doing wrong and correct it!

I must find something to eat before I head back to work so I had best say adieu!

Another story from work

2005-06-22T23:05:00.000-07:00

Yep another story! Another fun one!! But then, which other stories are worth remembering and telling?

There is an old movie starring, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. It is a dumb story line but there is a pop machine in the movie that never works, it just eats your change...until near the end of the movie that is. Well ours at work can have its days as well. On the day that this incident took place; I was to feel as if I won the lottery.

It was last summer, probably around August-(A very hot day, otherwise I would not have gone to get a pop) I stuck my coins in the slot and pushed the 'Sierra Mist' button. My can came out, and then another, then another, they just kept coming!! I ended up with 9 cans of pop! Yes, I did share with anyone in the office who wanted any. Yes, we did call the company and tell them their machine was malfunctioning. No, I didn't pay for the other cans. I think it all came out even in the end, seeing as the machine usually has the habit of shorting people change. But this wasn't the end! You would almost think I emptied the machine of Sierra Mist, but the next day a co-worker who hadn't heard of the incident, tried to get a Sierra Mist and ended with 6 cans of it!!

This is probably the closest I will be to feeling like I won the lottery. Seeing as I believe that "gambling is a tax on people who are bad at math"!

Stories From Work

2005-06-10T18:01:00.000-07:00

I work as a salesman/receptionist/secretary/clerk at a glass shop. Hence the name Girl Friday! Life there can be fun, hard, stressful, and at times amusing. One of the amusing times...

I come into work on a Monday morning; not really wanting to be there after the weekend, but ready to take on the day. Walking into my office I put down my purse and notice a sticky note on the mug that I keep at work. It says 'cup'. Interesting! I look up at my desk and notice that there are a few more small sticky notes around my office. Just about everything moveable had a label on it! There was one for the desk, stapler, phone, mouse, keypad, shiny paper holder, just to name a few! I also had some pics of my niece to which was attached the label: "cutie pie"! I had a really good laugh that gave me a great start for the day! I collected them all up and saved them in my drawer for another day when I needed a laugh! But another laugh came a few days/weeks later. (I can't remember how long it was now!) One day while working I had to refill my 'shiny paper holder'. (it is a holder for 3 inch square sticky notes) I found the last label left!! This one said 'out of paper need to refill'!!

Ferries and Phantoms

2005-05-24T22:15:00.000-07:00

No it is not a mis-spelling. I went on a ferry on Monday with my friend Jackie to visit her sister JoAnna. Last year I was in Jo's wedding and have seen her only twice since.

I actually left home Sunday afternoon to catch the evening service in Oak Harbor before staying overnight with Jackie. Things got off to a rather amusing start. I wasn't sure of when their service started and when I first drove by the building at about 5:30 - the parking lot was empty. So...I continued on to swing by Jackie's. Hmm...they're not home either. So...I continue down the road to the beach where I take a few pics and read my Bible for about half hour. I had a wonderful time there! I was by myself most of the time.

One couple did show up a bit later, but they didn't disturb the 'quiet' of the shore. I check the time and head back to the church and get there about 6:20. Oh boy! Parking lot is full! I sneak in and sit in the very back bench. (BTW: I was not the last one to arrive!) After the service, another friend from the church, Jen, comes up to me and says: "What are you doing here?" Jokingly I reply "Oh, just visiting". She goes on to tell me about the next day's schedule wherein she and Jackie are going to see the new Star Wars movie. I'm a bit puzzled. I had set up the visit to Jo's place a week ago, how in the world would she have time to see the movie as well? Up walks Jackie and I hear an echo: "What are you doing here?" My reply: "Uh...You told me to come Sunday night...so I could stay over...so we could catch an early ferry..." By this time she had a look of shock on her face. Have you guessed it yet? Yup! She forgot! this was o.k. because Jo is fine with spur-of-the-moment plans and the girls could easily go another day to watch the movie. Isn't it wonderful that everyone cleared their plans for me! :P The rest of the night was great and shockingly enough, Jackie and I didn't talk the night through!

The next morning Jackie and I were up and on our way to catch the ferry at 6:50. I think the ferry we took was the 7:30 one. What CD does Jackie have in the car for us to listen to? "Phantom of the Opera" I love Andrew Lloyd Webber's music from that play! Jackie is the same way except very much more so! We listened to it and sang along when we could. At the same time Jackie is describing the movie to me and saying that I HAVE to see it!
We meet Jo for breakfast before walking a little bit around Port Angeles. A very little bit as Jo is 8 months pregnant. We then head over to her place where we catch up on news and listen to music and...watch Phantom of the Opera! We all had a wonderful time but it did have to come to an end. Jack and I had to catch the 6:45 Port Townsend ferry out of there.

We listened to Phantom of the Opera soundtrack again on the way to the ferry. We went out on the deck still singing the music from the movie. We did stop when ever someone came by though. But we weren't vigilant enough! We were in a corner of the boat in the front, outside, basically hanging over the rail singing. There is a room in the front center of the boat where you can watch where the boat is going w/o having the wind in your face. Jackie and I did not know that there was someone in that room, in our "blind spot" listening to us sing. We were singing the song "Phantom of the Opera" the duet between the Phantom and the girl. If you don't know the song it goes really high at the end. I had all of the notes until the very end where the last not has to be an E flat above high C. Very high! I did squeak it out on the second try. I did not hold it very long as people were coming by. Jackie and I decided to take a walk around the boat. Just as we were finishing our circle, we come across an older man in the aforesaid room, who asked us to sing the song from Phantom again and that he really enjoyed it!! Jackie and I just about died!!! But he was not laughing; he was perfectly serious. We talked for a little bit longer about Phantom he told us he had seen the play in some opera house, but we did not sing that song again!!

The time is late and I shall have to finish this post another time. This computer is wanted by my brother who has a paper due.

I'll be back!!

Results

2005-05-20T21:43:00.000-07:00

I got it done!!!

There were a few nerve racking moments-well make that alot of nerve-racking moments, but everything came out in the end!! I went skating on the Friday before testing after work. I went with cousin Elliott and we almost had the ice to ourselves. I had a good practice then and Saturday morning as well. After the Sat morning session I went home and stressed out while crocheting and baking. At about 4 Mom, Kylee and I headed back to the rink.

I got on the ice was at about 10 till 5. It was the warm-up for that level testing. "Preliminary moves in the field" The only thing was, I was the only one out there! The other 2 girls who were also taking the same test hadn't shown up yet. (One of them did manage to show up before the time to test) I was first up. My stomach was in knots but I put forward a calm, cool, & collected front and made my way across the ice to the judges box. (With testing you 'check in' first) Arms out, wrists up like a 'lady'. You have to skate like that to make it seem as if you know what your doing. :) As I finished the first element of forward and backward cross-overs in a figure-eight pattern, I was a little short of breath. The rest of the test went o.k. with only 2 flub-ups that I was worried about. For those of you who know a little about skating, one was on my inside spirals and the other on my outside 3 turns. But come to find out my worries were almost groundless! To pass the test 2 of the 3 judges have to give me a passing score, and that is what happened! YES!!

After that part of the test was done I went on the other test that I was there for. "Pre-preliminary freestyle" This time on the warmup there were about 8 skaters out there on the ice. I started to go through my jump: walz jump - landed, salchow - landed, toe-loop - fell, >>shock<< This one is an easy jump for me and I hadn't fallen in months on it! I did get back up and do 2 more just to assure myself that I knew how to do it! I went through the rest of the elements without mishap. (half flip, half lutz, and a 1 foot spin) In the actuall test I passed without any really big problems. The spin was a little short-only 4 revolutions and I traveled a bit with it. Overall though all of the judges passed me on this test as well! Yay!!

All told, I had a great time and now Elliott and I, Lord willing, will be working on a program (yeah, an actual program!) There is a spring/summer program that is not on a Sunday! I will be posting the progress of this program and also what the exact date of the program is.

Thank you all for your interest!!

Ice-skating Testing

2005-05-09T13:13:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! I have my times of testing! I'll be on Saturday at 5:00 and at 5:52 give or take a few minuets. If anyone wants to show up don't warn me or I will be quaking in my boots! JK :)

Work! Work! Work!

2005-05-07T16:26:00.000-07:00

Always working! Always waiting for Friday to come...Friday afternoon that is-5 o'clock to be exact. If any of the people who read these sparce posts I am able to come up with wonder why I don't write very much, here is my excuse: Work. I know, I know, it's a pretty lame excuse, but it works! It seems the past few weeks I haven't been able to leave work, mentally that is, at the end of the day. My work-load for some reason seems to have gotten bigger. Please don't get me wrong by these complaints. I like my job. The people are really great to work with! How many people are blessed with christian bosses and a majority of chritians working in your office? Why should I be stressed?
BTW: It isn't only my job that sometimes has me in a tizzy. No a week from today I will be taking my ice-skating testing! Because of my work schedule I am unable to practice more than once a week. I am really feeling my lack of practice and sometimes wonder if I have bit off more than I can chew!

Enough griping! I have been doing well overall, and have even managed to squeeze in a little fun into the schedule. I have attended my oldest bro. softball for the past 3 weeks and so far he hasn't lost any games. In fact a few of the games they have ten-runned the other team! I say that I have attended the games, but I actually get to see very little of them. I take care of my niece during the games and so get to watch very little.

My older bro. in Germany made my day yesterday. He called me at work! Maybe that doesn't sound like much but I had a grin on my face for about 2 hours after he called and then it finally faded to a smile. I did have one grimace that day when a customer with a very "fresh" perfume, had me finding out what he wanted really fast, and retreating to the back to send one of my co-workers up to help him. He didn't like the price that we gave him and left. But not soon enough! To dispell the lingering odor, and not having anything else to use, I opened a very large black marking pen which did the job very nicely.

I shall endeavor to keep this blog up better in the future, just so people know I'm still alive, and that things are happening in my life too!

Sara & Beka, this post was to keep you happy! :)

My Own French Maid (A Tribute To My Little Sis)

2005-04-14T17:28:00.000-07:00

You all didn't know that 'Girl Friday' has a french maid now did you! She comes in the form of my younger sister Beka! Never could I have a more convenient person in my entourage! She advises my on the arrangement of my hair, the use of cosmetics and perfume, what to wear to specific events, which shoes to put with the outfit, what ear-rings, etc... What does it cost to keep such wonderful help you ask? Not a cent! Her salary is the privilege of sometimes borrowing articles of my clothing, or jewelry when she wishes to. It is a very agreeable arrangement on both sides.

This past vacation I was without my wonderful helper and almost got to be quite independent. But now that I am back... Just last night I had a hair session with my 'french maid' and she quite spoiled me! I missed the pleasure while I was on vacation.

For those of you who don't know about my hair, let me explain a bit. When I was born I didn't have any hair. Well how many babies have a full head of hair when they are born? But you see, it didn't look like I had any hair until after I had passed my 2nd birthday! Yeah, pretty scary! It didn't help of course that my hair came in a very light blond color before it darkened. Before I was old enough to do my hair it was cut in a 'page-boy' style. When I took control of it I liked it as long as I could get it. I think I was making up for how little hair I had in my early years.

My younger sister was the first one to convince me to 'do' something with my hair other than trimming it every 6-12 months. (Yes I did get a perm about 4 yrs ago and all I can plead is temporary insanity because I didn't know how to take care of it, and got the wrong kind!) Always I have enjoyed people doing my hair. I think Beka got tired of the monotony of my hair, especially when she would do it! She is the one who helped me get passed the gut-clenching worry of "what if they cut it too short".

How did I get stuck on hair? There are many things I could say about my little sister, and not all of them are about my referring to her as a french maid. :) She is a very godly, conscientious young lady with whom I share a room, and my life! I love you girl!!

So when started writing this post, it was a humorous story about the way I enjoy my 'french maid'. As I kept writing, I had to give credit where credit was due!

Home again!

2005-04-12T21:23:00.000-07:00

I am home! After an absolutely wonderful vacation it is back to the old grind at work! But throughout today I seemed to be running on a "high" leftover from my time off. Even right now at 9:25 WA time, when I should be dropping with fatigue, I feel refreshed! Yes, I am tired though, and shall work myself to my bed very soon.

BTW: In case anyone didn't notice I have corrected any spelling mistakes that I made on my last post, and I hope that not too many people noticed them!! :)

South Carolina!

2005-04-09T13:43:00.000-07:00

SC is absolutely gorgeous in April!! All of the dogwood trees are blooming and the weather is not so hot that you can't enjoy it. The weather has mostly been co-operating but there was a MAJOR thunderstorm yesterday. Sarah and I were driving home from Wal-mart, well...trying to race the storm home, when it started raining - hard. Visibility went from clear, to 'turn the headlights and windshield wipers on' in about 10 seconds! It was thunder and lightning, and then it started to hail.
Sarah called Ben (husband not bro.) to let him know that we were on our way. She was on the cel-phone when lightning struck it seamed right on top of the car! Something must have blown because she lost the phone connection. Sarah had not put the umbrella in the car before we left (not that we would have used it anyway) so we got a soaking on our way into the house. It was really awesome! A bit later we found out that the storm had also fried Ben's computer modem.

We did survive this though and we all stayed up till about 11:30 playing Rook. Actually we played a couple of games because Ben and Ben decided we needed to start over. Their score was one of them barely over 100 the other was barely out of the red! Sarah and I were both over 700. The new game didn't make much difference though, when we quit for the night they weren't to far from the hole and Sarah quite a ways in the lead!

Sarah and I did get to shop at the not too far away out-let mall. We were there for about 4 hours! We had the kiddies with us and had allot of fun!

BTW: I am writing this to make y'all jealous especially my little sister! :) But just so you don't get too jealous:

Thursday morning: I was making up the couch, which had served the night before as my bed. As I was pulling the top sheet off a BIG BUG that looked like a cockroach but a bit more reddish in color came crawling up the wall from behind the couch. Ben M was in the other room on the computer. I said (rather calmly I thought): Ben? Can you come here? - Really fast?! By this time the bug had scooted behind the mirror above the couch. I was the brave one to remove the mirror while Ben did the task of getting rid of the BIG BUG. Sarah stayed across the room. Smart woman!

This computer that belongs to this library has popped up that my time is almost up. So I will say adieu and I will see y'all next week!

Please excuse any spelling mistakes this post might have. :)

Wedding

2005-03-15T21:38:00.000-08:00

Wow! It has been over a week already since the wedding! I guess I should update you all on how it went.

Well...The song, called "Bless the Broken Road" originally sung by 'Rascal Flats' a country western group, went well in my opinion. Ben unfortunately made a very minor flub-up. He forgot a couple words of the chorus, but I was able to cue him in very quickly and only the people who knew the song or knew music noticed. Ben felt really bad though. My piano playing had no major mistakes. Not that anyone would have noticed otherwise. The original arrangement is with the guitar and drums mostly. Piano normally would play a small role in the accompaniment. So since no one knew what the piano was supposed to sound like in the first place - I got to do pretty much what I wanted! -While keeping Ben on key of course. :)

The whole wedding had a country theme to it. The colors were Black, White and Red. The groomsmen all wore cowboy boots and new black wrangler jeans. White collar-less shirts w/ black vests completed their outfits. The bridesmaids all wore different styles of black dresses. The decorations were black & white neck-kerchiefs with candles on top of them. Red roses with other white flowers lots of greenery.

It was a beautiful wedding and reception and I was very glad to be there. Bro. Mark could almost have been called my 'date' for the occation. He did the sound at church for the ceremony. We all (Mark, Ben, and I) had lots of fun!

Piano

2005-03-04T22:10:00.000-08:00

Pianos are such amazing instruments! You can get so many different styles of music out of them. Usually I like to get a classical sound out of it or possibly a rag-time sound. And then of course there are the hymns I play every third Sunday which have there own special sound! But right now I am engrossed in trying to get a country western music sound out of a piano. And not just a regular piano-it is a key-board which at sometimes may be more fun than a regular piano but it is much harder to play by far!! But it is a nessecity because I am accompanying my brother Ben who is singing at a wedding. The song that he is to sing is written in a higher key than he can sing. So instead of trying to write the whole song out in a different key on other sheet music, -- I cheat!! :) There is a knob on the keyboard that lets me play any key signature I want - without changing the notes that I am playing! Now for those of you out there who haven't taken any sort of music lessons this may be a rather in-depth description. You'll just have to trust me when I say that it really IS cheating!! But it's fun!! The rehearsal went well tonight and all that is left to do is perform the song without any major flub-ups. I'll write again of how the song goes.

I'm Off!, no- On!

2005-03-02T13:02:00.000-08:00

I am either "off" to a great start or finally "on" the web. Either way I am going to try to keep this blog up till I am some semblance of a writer. Then it won't be work to keep it up it will be fun! Okay I'll admit: it is fun right now too. We'll be seeing how it goes!