Music Mondays- Book of Love

This weekend was spent traveling across the country and up & down the state of California. I have many details to share once I get a moment to breathe. For now, I will share this beautiful song, which played for Brandon and Brieana Weaver's first dance as husband & wife. :)




Peter Gabriel rocks my world.

Vincent

This picture makes me want to both smile and cry




I think the finale has hit me very deeply. Those who are frustrated need to let it sink in and figure out how to let go. Fitting isn't it? :)

The end is here

I have never seen Pretty in Pink

It feels wrong.
I think I need to correct this, I just don't know when I will have time. hmmm.

the coundown

music Mondays- on a very special tuesday

LOST is almost over, and I am very very sad. I decided to post this short video on Tuesday, aka LOST day, as I begin my preparations to let go. *tear*

Paparazzi

Because I can't wait until Monday to post this:




Ridiculous. Gaga needs to step it up now ;)

Visits & Visitors

"Thank you for being a friend

Traveled down the road and back again

your heart is true you're a pal and a confidant"

As I was reviewing my calendar today, I found myself overwhelmed by how truly dedicated my friends have been since I moved. In addition to weekly (if not daily) conversations via IM or text with many people from home, and the multitude of emails/phone calls I have received each month, I have been blessed with many visitors. Between my visits home and my visitors, I have managed to meet up with people nearly every month since I moved. Here is how my last 9 months have gone:

August - visit from Noel Nocciolo (complete with a fabulous new cd). Also, I flew to Las Vegas to shoot a wedding for Christine Rodriguez, and visit with some lovely girls for Stephanie's bachelorette party.

September- visit from Alison Smidt, who had patience while I slowly crutched beside her through the city, and who took me to my first Red Sox game. Also, she got to see Ben Affleck filming. woohoo. ;)

October- Trip home to Ca for Stephanie's wedding. This also included a stay with GinaMarie in Sacramento, a stay with Matt Gilchrist in coarsegold, a ride to OC with my sister Beth (with a stop off in Bakersfield to say hello to Alisa McPherson), a visit to see my kids at the Y, chai @ alta & dinner at Ho Sum Bistro with Chelsea Gratz, and a brief overnight stay with Kelly O'Dell. Also this month, I had a visit from Bonny O'Neill. This was about a week after I was able to walk again. We got to enjoy the fall leaves, a trip to Walden Pond, and got to pull squealing mandrakes at the Harry Potter exhibition :)

November - We had no visitors in November, but we were able to host another Straggler's Thanksgiving with new friends from James's school, and I started my new job.

December - ANOTHER visit from Alison Smidt. This time I had use of my legs again. :)

January- James and I headed down to NYC to meet up with Stephanie & Stephen Bayer, who were in Philly with family. We were hosted by Kelly Novitski and the adorable Otis. Also, we managed to meet up with Noel N.

February-a visit from Jessica Behal. I like to name this weekend Beers, Treats, and Conversations.

March- Thanks to Berkelee School of Music, I had a spontaneous visit from Melody Wilson and her sister Tiffany (who was auditioning at Berkelee). It was raining the entire day, but they were troopers!

April - Speaking of Troopers... we got to visit with Trooper while he was in the area for work. :)

May- This month we will be experiencing a whirlwind trip to Ca. It starts with landing in the OC and seeing Jeremy Stafford, my kids at the Y, and staying with Chelsea, Dieter, and baby Annabelle!! :) We will then head up to Fresno with the Bayers to enjoy/photograph the wedding of Brandon Weaver, and see the many wonderful college friends who will be in attendance. The wedding is at the home of my friend Athena, whom I am excited to see again. While in the NorCal area, I will also be seeing Matt, and my Oakhurst family. Immediately following the wedding we head down to Bakersfield to say hello to James's family, then I will staying a night at Alisa McPherson's NEW house with the rest of my Spectre friends (Huffy, GMar, Jen Smith). From there, I head home, and James flies to TX to see James Pierce. All of this in 5 days. Holy Mackerel.

My summer is also full of visitors:

June: A visit from the lovely Mary Ginty.

July- We get to share a Boston 4th of July (aka the greatest kind) with Chris & Drea Hill

August: Jason & Huffy Cooper are heading our way.

In the midst of all of this, we have seen either my dad, or our whole family in Maine, at least 8 times. :)

Like I said, it is a blessing to have people in my life with such dedication. Be it on this coast or back west, we find ways to see each other. How lucky am I?

Music Mondays- Sim Drama

I was looking for a music video to this song, and came across this one created with a Sims program. I think the creator needs a hug.

My Golden Records

My darling and fantabulous friend Alisa Bernal recently posted a list. This list was of the 28 albums that most influenced her over the (almost) 28 years of her life. I immediately knew this was something I had to do. The list also did not take me much time. I already have an idea of what I will add after my next birthday.

Sigh. I heart music.


the 28...


1.Raffi- Singable songs for the very young
2.MWS- Change your world
3.Paul Simon- rhythm of the saints
4.U2- Joshua Tree
5.The Lion King soundtrack
6.Steve Miller Band- fly like an eagle
7.Amy Grant- Heart in Motion
8.Sarah McLachlan- Fumbling towards ecstasy
9.Alanis Morrisette- jagged little pill
10.Weezer- Blue Album
11.Smashing Pumpkins- melloncollie and the infinite sadness
12.Phantom of the Opera Soundtrack
13.AC/DC - Back in Black
14.Five Iron Frenzy- Our Newest Album Ever
15.Propaghandi- How to clean everything
16. Jennifer Knapp- Lay It Down
17. Dave Matthews Band - Crash
18. Ben Folds - Rockin the Suburbs
19. Jimmy Eat World- Clarity (still my fave album of all time)
20. The Get Up Kids- Something to Write Home About
21. Dashboard Confessionals- Screaming infidelites
22. Radiohead- OK Computer
23. John Mayer- Room for Squares
24. Damien Rice- O
25. The Swell Seaon- Once soundtrack
26. Imogen Heap- Speak for yourself
27. Greg Laswell - 3 flights from Alto Nido
28. Jeff Buckley- Hallelujah (yes, I listed the single and not Grace, which was also phenomenal. Single is just more fitting)

All of us are LOST

This is my favorite LOST promo. They ran it in the UK for season 1, and I am jealous that our promos never seem this beautiful.

Squeeeeeek squee squeeak (thhhhbpt)

So right now things are pretty good, but I'm feeling the stresses that still come with a full life. I am cramming a lot into this month. I need my ankle to stop hurting so I can jog again and clear my head. My final is done (thank goodness), but after work/photo/church mtgs, I have a total off 2 days off between now and when I leave to california. In those few hours I am getting each day, I need to find an apt, find a new car, learn how to use my new flash (damn my procrastination), and a bajillion other little errands and duties to wrap up. Like I said, life is good... it's just FULL.

I am seeing my patience wilt away. I think this will greatly improve upon having our own home. In the mean time, I find myself having little left to spare outside of my time with the girls and with James. I'm not sure why people think now is the appropriate time to get in my way (the nerve I say!! ha), but I think I need to be more open about my severe lack of time. Boundaries, you have always been my weakness. Today, I announced to a friend that my head might explode, and I kind of wanted to scream. However, when I was alone and could do whatever I wanted, I realized my description had not been accurate. I let out a silly squeak, and acknowledged that my head was not in fact going to explode, it's just was deflating. :) This made me smile again. Thank God I can make myself laugh even when I want to... well... squeal and deflate.

They will know we are Christians by our....

...Pride?
...Arrogance?
...Judgement?
...Fear?
...Lack of self awareness?
...Hypocrisy?
...Naiveté?






I have been thinking a lot recently about how Christians are viewed. I hear many excuses for it... the media paints Christians as crazy, it's the minority who is hateful and shout louder than the rest, people are putting their issues/guilt on Christians, the list goes on. While I think there is some truth to those, I believe it would be unwise to ignore the rest. Stereotypes are there for a reason. I do not think that those who are hurting the message of Christ are the minority. We can't blame those "crazy christians" who are shouting loud, if anything we should be shouting louder, and shouting a message of love. If that was truly at the heart of our lives, and evident in our actions, then i do not believe we would be viewed with such contempt. I know so many people who agree with the bible, but then can't bear to take our faith seriously because of "the people that Christianity produces". Even Ghandi has been famously quoted saying "Your Christians are so unlike your Christ". There is much more to this than we all seem to want to admit. Yet, instead of trying to fix the problem, we seem to try to become the victims instead. We encourage each other that having so many against us means that we are doing something right. I just have a hard time wrapping my head around it all.


I expressed before that I am tired of hearing "love the sinner, hate the sin", because I do not think we know how to separate the two. To really "love the sinner", our immediate responses should not be disgust, insults, or judgement. To truly love the sinner should lead people to respond with compassion, empathy, being broken as we witness the brokenness of others. I am heavy hearted when I observe the immediate need to judge others. Yes, to judge is inevitable, and is not always a bad thing. However, this judgement I see is quick and harsh. I watch (and participate) in discussions about people where it can take endless back and forth; pointing out people flaws, quoting scripture to back up why the individual/group in question is wrong, speaking out against these people/groups, and only in the end are many battered into saying they deserve love (but of course, hate for the sin), and that they aren't bad all around, and that OF COURSE there is good in them (why would anyone question that), and so on. I just feel that what is at the heart of someone is obvious in their initial reactions. We, as Christians, are so trained in Christianese that we feel we can speak as harshly as we like as long as we end saying "oh, but God loves them, and so do I". This often is simply rattling off what we "need" to say. I just find this to be so backwards. It is no wonder that people do not want to hear about God's Love when it is simply tacked onto a list of why they are wrong. We may not want to admit it,
but that is very telling about what is truly in our hearts.

I believe that we are supposed to hold people accountable. However, this is done through relationship. It is through that relationship, and that genuine love we build within a relationship, that we are given the right to judge and hold those in our lives accountable, and hopefully they can feel free to do that in return. No doubt, even within relationships, there are some people who do not want to hear the truth and can only consider criticism to be mean. To/about those people... I do not know what to say. I just do not understand how we feel we can place ourselves above other so quickly.

The superiority is something that continually baffles me. Yes, it is true, I believe that my faith is the "right one", and that it holds truth. However, I have been reminded time and again what that means. It means that I believe that I am so flawed that had to have a saviour. Someone needed to make a huge sacrifice for me because I am incredibly broken. How can I believe that, and somehow also feel that I am superior for believing that? It makes no sense!

Allow me state the way that I view sin. I believe that God made a list of Do's and Don'ts. However, I do not believe that list says how "good" a person is. I believe that God cares deeply for us all, and he knew what habits and behaviors could bring us much pain and suffering, and he asked we do not do those because he wants us to have the best life possible. I do not believe God asks for us not to do things for no reason. I also know that God loves us no matter what we do. I believe he hurts when we do not listen to his advice, but that he hurts for us. The lives we lead are not the lives that he intended, but they are our choices. Seeing that we all makes colossal mistakes, who are we to approach others about their sin with anything other than love and grace? This is not always fluffy and pink with dancing bunnies... love can show itself in many different ways. It may be uncomfortable, and it may be difficult, but if it comes from a place of empathy and wanting to help, and TRULY caring for someone, that will be obvious in the delivery. It is what is at the heart of these matters that is important. That is what we should be showing the world. I truly think that if we lived out that example, and did not distort it so heavily, we would be seen very differently by the world.

This has been on my heart for many months now, but I was reminded again of this topic during church last week. We ended our service singing the hymn "They will know we are Christians by our Love". My heart sank as I read this, because I did not feel it spoke much truth anymore. The words are so simple and beautiful. Please read through this and let the words sink in. It is my hope and prayer that one day I can sing this with confidence and joy.


We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we'll guard each one's dignity and save each one's pride
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

By our love, by our love

And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand
And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

By our love, by our love

And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

Love is patient, love is kind
Never boasts, not full of pride
Always hopes, always trusts
The evidence of Christ in us

Music Mondays- omg DMB

James and I love ourselves some Dave Matthews, and we like to sing this together. I like to sing the "yeah"' parts and dance around.
We are a bit silly. :)

Entertainment Weekly

Jen Smith bought me a subscription to Entertainment Weekly for my birthday last year. I have to say, I will miss my weekly entertainment fix once the year runs out. At times the magazine tortures me as I learn about all of the upcoming movies I will not be able to watch. However, I deeply love all things entertainment, so most of the time it feeds my need for pop culture knowledge.

Here is a long blog about what I am currently reading, watching, listening to, and more. For those who like this stuff.



Lost: I am so excited for the finale, but I know I will have a serious time of mourning when this show ends. I have watched it religiously since the first week, and my love never faltered through the difficult times. I believe anybody who is skeptical that this season is not going to end well, or who claim to only still watch because they can't give up now, were never true fans.
Glee: I am thrilled that Glee has been given the recognition it deserves. I knew from the moment I heard about Glee that I would love it. Every week I find myself sad that I did not have a club at my school. I actually find myself loving their covers songs more than many of the originals. Plus, I have a girl crush on Lea Michelle. I have loved her since I saw her in Spring Awakening, and her portrayal of Rachel is brilliant. Her talent blows me away. But back to the show.. all I can say each week is that it is brilliant. Love. Love. Love.
CW Guilty Pleasures/aka OTH & GG: OTH has sadly gone downhill, but I still love it. I will watch it until the end (though last season should have been the end). Part of me hopes it gets one more season just to redeem itself. I normally would not admit to watching Gossip Girl, but I was sucked in by the costumes, the filming locations, and the music. It is a wonderful escape, though I admit it is pure trash!
The Office: What can I say. It has a special place in my heart and it keeps me laughing. I found out that Novak & Kransinski grew up about 10 min from where I live, and will keep my eye out for them this summer. ;)
HIMYM: This and Office are the shows James and I watch together. I came late to the party, and I think this season is flailing a bit, but I love the show. I hope that they "fix" Ted, as his personality seems to be going towards the douchey Ross years on Friends.




I am back to reading many books at once, but this is due to their nature. I still am only reading one "fun" book. The rest are... "educational". Lifestyle choices have been changed, and I'm trying to be as prepared as can be.

The Beginning Runners Handbook: I just received this book in the mail, and have already poured through a few chapters. This book was recommended to me by a friend. I will be running a 10K in the fall, and I was uncomfortable that I began training without any solid information. This book provides ample info and tips, as well as a training guide (both running and strength training). I should finish this book next week and will implement a full training program after.

Sugar Busters : I keep this book in my purse and sneak in reads whenever I get the chance. My father has followed this diet for years and always pushed me to read the book. However, I love my sugars, and I kept forgetting to read it. After discovering that my thyroid disorder has improved, and I can now control the symptoms naturally with no medication, I decided it was time to step things up. I am majorly cutting back all refined grains and sugars from my diet. This in addition to the ample exercise is helping me feel normal again. I still fall off the wagon from time to time, but the more I read, the more encouraged I am to follow this new lifestyle.

The Red Sox Fan Handbook: I try to pick this up when I get time, and will dive into it fully once the exercise/diet books are finished. I have said for years if I moved to Boston, I would become a sox fan. I also knew once I arrived, I could not take that lightly. There is no way I can remember everything I am reading, but I am beginning to understand the agony of their history (and their intense hatred of the Yankees). I have heard a few stories, but MAN did this team get screwed over. ha! Every time I read this, I learn, and I thoroughly enjoy it!

Word Freak : I read this before bed every night. I LOVE scrabble, and I now have begun researching the strategies they talk about in the book. These people are CRAZY. I love it :)






Albums on repeat: Civil Twilight (self titled), Greg Laswell (3 flights from alto nido), Everly (B-tracks), Queen (greatest hits), Jennifer Knapp (lay it down), all of my broadway music!

Singles on repeat: 4 Minutes (glee, they tore that up!), Carry Out (timbaland/JT, so wrong but I love it), You & Me (dmb), Kathleen (David Gray), Near to you (a fine frenzy), Your love is a Song (switchfoot)

Live: I just got tickets to see David Gray & Ray Lamontagne play at the Boston BofA pavillion this summer. I am beyond thrilled.





I am sad to be so close to NYC and still not been to a broadway show. However, I recently purchsed a student rush ticket to see my friend Laura perform in the National tour of CATS. The show I viewed was her audition for a full time job with the show next year, and I'm excited to say she got it! Here we are outside the stage door getting into the spirit of the show.







I never get to see movies in the theater anymore, but we DID just the netflix Wii disc. This brings much joy to my heart.


Ok. This semi pointless babble shall end now. I only have one more thing to say:

Yoda is a bad ass. Or I guess I should say "Bad ass, he is"