Ramblings of one who takes flight

it's an official break

2008-06-13T18:28:00.001-05:00

not that i've written on here for a while....but i am taking an official break on blogging.
i'm tired and uninspired.
and will return sometime in the future.

Latest attraction

2008-03-10T00:02:00.004-05:00

My 30th year has been an unexpected challenge. More downs than ups--emotionally, physically, mentally and most definitely financially. Along with building my character, it has brought about a renewed interest in social justice issues (something I had in college).
I've been doing some reading about poverty, it's causes, low-wages, etc. I haven't come to any world changing conclusions, but if you have any interest in these issues...check out these books:

Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America

A Framework for Understanding Poverty

And if anyway has any books to recommend...please do share!

BIG NEWS!

2008-01-24T23:08:00.000-05:00

I am now the proud owner of a Barnes & Noble Cafe ball cap. Why you ask? Because as of this afternoon, I now have a part-time job at the Barnes & Noble in West Chester! I'll be working in the Cafe and serving people spectacular coffee drinks!
I will soon be able to make my very own caramel macchiato! Now if that isn't a godsend, I don't know what is! ha ha

So once I've learned how to make these spectatular drinks, come visit me!

WICKED!

2008-01-20T22:50:00.000-05:00

for xmas, ann and dixie purchased tickets for them and my family to see the musical WICKED! tonight was the night and was not met with disappointment! (i've read the book and am very familiar with the music, so i didn't know what i'd think.) there were some fun surprises and the main characters of glinda and elphaba were well cast...and there were so many fantastic one-liners. i love wit!
at one moment i found myself closing my eyes because i was enjoying the music...and then remembered that was there to SEE the music! ha

so yes, if you enjoy musicals...i highly recommend splurging on WICKED!

phone calls

2008-01-18T00:43:00.000-05:00

tonight i received two noteworthy phone calls.

the first was from Barnes 'n Noble. they decided to hire someone else with a little more retail experience, but were so impressed with my interview that they are willing putting me next in line for any other (music or book seller) positions that become available.
no job, but i'm thankful that they called to let me know!

the second was from jackie. hooray! she decided it was time to use her phone for what it was created---calling people! (alas, i am also guilty of not calling those in far off lands.) i last saw her on july 29th, 2007 and have communicated since then via snail mail and e-mail, but no actual talking. jackie inspires me and makes my heart happy.
and leaves me wanting sebastian joe's ice cream and cloves.

character smaracter

2008-01-15T15:48:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to report that there is no news on the job front.
I haven't heard anything from Barnes and Noble yet...
and while I do believe my interview at IKEA went well, I won't hear anything for another 2-3 weeks! 'sigh'

so last night was rough for me. just being frustrated at God
and sure that i have had enough of a character building year to have this craziness continue on and on.
(actually i was much more harsh with my words, but i'll save that for my journal.)

there is nothing like a one-sided yelling match!

Nothingness

2008-01-10T13:18:00.000-05:00

So today is a BIG day. I have an interview--FINALLY! And actually, I have a different interview on Monday! Today's is at Barnes 'n Noble, Monday's is at IKEA! I love IKEA!
The interviews are for nothing fancy. Possibly working in the Cafe or in returns....but it's something. Why?
The interviews are something because I've been without a job for 2 months now. Since November my income has been earned through babysitting kids, dogs and houses. Not to mention any pity...ok pity may not be a good word...love and understanding is better...my friends and family have taken upon me.

Not a bad career move for a 30 year old!

I know i've been slacking on the blogging...
It's not because I haven't been learning a lot...in fact I have.
I've been learning a lot about nothing--that is, having nothing.
And somewhere in the back of my mind, I rationalized that sharing my learnings on having nothing might be seen as a plea to others to take pity on me and give me something.
And that is so not why I would be sharing about the lessons of nothingness.

And now that the air has been cleared...I will try to share more about nothing.

Ode to HAIRSPRAY

2008-01-06T00:57:00.000-05:00

Having nothing builds character.

Art at The Outlet

2007-12-03T15:22:00.000-05:00

Over the last few months I have been volunteering at The Outlet. During this time there has been an art project going on called "Who Are You?" Guests of The Outlet were asked to paint on a small canvas who they are. It's been great to experience how simple things like paint and brushes can lead to hearing someone's life story.
When you have a minute, take a look at what people had to say when they were asked "Who Are You?"

2007-11-27T03:45:00.000-05:00

hm. so it's 3:30am and i'm still up.
that seems to be the norm for me, so i must be getting better.
and i even feel an anna naclick song coming on. (2 AM and she calls me 'cause I'm still awake,)
i'm eating york peppermint patties.
i've spent the last hour in bed, trying not to think about my finances (or lack of)
saying over and over again "yes, God, i trust you with getting the necessities paid"
and wearing socks that are stuffed with puffs that smell like vicks.
and as crazy as it sounds
it all makes sense.

where do you stay?

2007-11-16T02:22:00.000-05:00

OK
I know it's been a REALLLYYYY long time since I posted....so this post is for you, Caress.

this is another moment in time where i SHOULD be sleeping, but my mind is swirling with thoughts...which does not allow for sleep!

since i got back from minneapolis my life has been crazy! but not as in "busy" crazy. it's been "life is not like it has ever been" crazy. i've been living the life of a poor freelancer. unsure of what i will do each day, of how i will pay my bills, of what i will do when i grow up, and of how much money i'll have for groceries. i'm learning to redefine my version of "need" and "want." unsure if i making the right choice of being "OK" with choosing to trust that God will really take care of my physical needs--i've been blessed by my belief and humbled by my unbelief.

in early october i started volunteering at city gospel mission. on saturday mornings is a program called the outlet. it's a time and place for homeless men and women of cincinnati to hang out, play games, have some coffee, and build relationships. recently an art component was added, giving the men and women a chance to express themselves on canvas...with the eventual hope of showing the art in a gallery. (i do love how art can be used as a tool to build relationships!) i've been challenged by things i thought i was comfortable with and gained a different perspective of life.
last saturday i sat with a guy name larry. we talked for a bit, and then he proposed to me! (i must make quite the impression!) but that part of the conversation is not what has stuck with me. it was when larry ask me the question "where do you stay?" i noticed that the question wasn't "where do you live?" think about it. how do you normally phrase that question? and what a difference one word can make in the culture that you live in. and what a better understanding of people you can have if you notice the difference in phrases used.
and as i write this...i am wondering, as person who has a relationship with Jesus Christ, should i say i "live" on the earth? or that i "stay" on the earth. it kind of sounds alien-like to say "i stay on the earth", but then again...

the rough life

2007-09-18T14:26:00.001-05:00

ok
i know it's been a long time since my last post
and i wish i had a good excuse for it, but i don't

since my last post i have been busy doing the following:
-freelance work (graphic design)
-watching other people's kids
-drinking coffee
-surfing the internet
-running errands for other people
-watching movies
-reading
-surfing the internet
-drinking coffee
-watching cable tv
-trying to connect with my sister
-having lunch with people
-driving myself around and around cincinnati
-did i say drinking coffee?

anyway, you get the point!

everyday is a surprise as to how i might spend my time--and if i attempt to map out my day, it usually doesn't work out that way...i think that somewhere in the last 6 weeks i must have told God i wanted to trust Him more!
but really, i kinda like it
i like running random errands, such as returning diapers
or looking for houses
or shopping for other people
it's refreshing to not be holed up in an office
knowing that if i want to take a long lunch, i can

course the tricky thing in all this is having some consistent income
yet again, i think that's where i must have asked God to help me trust Him more
cuz while i am not working as much as i think i need to, my bills are still getting paid
crazi!

my latest adventure is learning the software dreamweaver (a web design program)
so i am currently sitting in one of the many paneras in cincinnati, drinking a coffee beverage, and using their wi-fi to download a trial version of it
yes, i know my life is rough

THE "P" party

2007-08-12T14:10:00.000-05:00

i believe i am coming back around to be the social butterfly that i am.
ha
OK, maybe not. but life is starting to feel more normal.

i have started doing some freelance work for a friend of mine who lives in town.
for now it's nice to have the job, but not be totally committed to a weekly 40hr job.
-----------------------------------------------------
this weekend was THE annual piano party that ann holds for her piano students. (it's her alternative to a piano recital.) jazmyne is one of ann's students, so i attended to hear her melodious playing!

the Piano Party in ann & dixie's backyard

ann sporting a Purple wig!

having fun with trinity

ann & jazmyne

pretzels & peanuts on a purple tablecloth

mom making popcorn

a new/old city

2007-08-02T13:10:00.000-05:00

yep, i'm back in cincinnati--and laying low for now.
a little overwhelmed with what to do next.

as for the minneapolis bridge collapse---crazy!
especially since i've been on that bridge!
but the good news is that no one i know was involved in the collapse.

another week in pictures

2007-07-29T23:56:00.001-05:00

it's been another crazy week!
and actually my time in minneapolis is about over.

*monday: st. paul cathedral and capital, and potluck with the family

* tuesday breakfast at the bad waitress with the fam

* thursday: goodbye dinner at the greenhouse

* friday: bridal shower for liz @ ikea!

* saturday: last hoorah pool party!

* sunday: introducing lindsay to sebastian joe's ice cream (in addition to having lots of fun)!

out and about town

2007-07-22T22:52:00.000-05:00

i'm not even sure how to cover the last week of my life...

how dramatic do i sound?!
ha

actually, it's been really busy, so i think i'll keep the words few and the pictures many

the drum and easel intensive week with the enter the worship circle crew and many other new friends

the indie film fest

the art fest (what we've spent a lot of the summer preparing for)

the arrival of my family to see what i've been up to in minneapolis

a pool party to celebrate the completion of the art fest

and now i am off to bed because tomorrow involves more time with the family as we tour st.paul and then take part in monday night potluck.

2007-07-18T23:55:00.000-05:00

i'm covered in paint again.
happy, but really tired!

bird woman

2007-07-18T00:36:00.000-05:00

this is it--a collaboration between jackie and i!
it will be hanging in the fallout gallery for this year's artfest.

and it's actually cooler in person (or at least that's my opinion!).

also, today was the first of drum and easel.
it was great--really it was!
i was moved to tears many times, and i'm not even sure why.
(course i'm not really sure if that is a surprise!)

normal, mn

2007-07-16T20:57:00.001-05:00

the last three days have seemed quite normal to me--and it's been nice.

saturday i worked all day at the fallout. my job for the day was to put together the program for what artists (and their pieces) are being shown in our gallery. this involved moving text from one place to another--something that i did as a graphic designer. and for some reason, i enjoy moving text from one place to another! plus is was cool to learn more about the artists as i read their bios and what inspired the making of their pieces.
jackie and i enjoyed dinner at taco bell and then went shopping. (jackie needed a dress for a wedding rehearsal dinner.)
on our way we ran into autumn (she gave us a ride to cornerstone), autumn's drum, and a guy named brian. thus began 30 minutes of out of the ordinary people interaction.
autumn was drumming to earn money for concert tickets. brian was telling her how pretty her eyes are. and then "cat" came up asking for change to get a pop. i say "cat" because jackie and i didn't get her name, but "cat" was taped to her baseball cap. cat is a sweet older woman who doesn't seem to be completely with reality. she tugged on the strings of jackie's shirt for a while and then gave her a hug. then cat moved over to me and gave me a kiss on the cheek and a hug. but we still didn't have any change for a pop--and water wasn't cutting it for her. cat then proceeded to take autumn's harmonica and play at people. and suddenly brian was telling jackie how pretty her eyes are!
then jackie and i met benjamin who was also playing to earn money for concert tickets. and not long after that, "germ" (who we've seen before at monday night potluck and the salvage yard) and his puppy came up. they had been pan handling for money to go on a trip to the west coast.
eventually brian started asking us for drugs...and well, we had to disappoint him that we didn't have any. benjamin, a former addict, asked him to stop talking about it...but not long after that brian started asking for pot and was shocked to find out we didn't have any, because pot isn't really a drug and everyone does pot.
wow.
and somehow the "party" broke up and everyone disbanded. except jackie and i who head to urban outfitters. and that i find ironic.
jackie found a few dresses at "everyday people"--and is seen here sporting the "carol brady." and then onto target (which is a place i visit quite often)!

we then went to a coffee shop called uncommon grounds where our friend carl works. he was out of town for a few weeks, so we decided to stop in and see an "old friend." rather normal if you ask me.

and nope, we weren't done with our evening! jackie and i then went to uptown diner for some waffle fries. and i guess the normality in this, is that i was eating with a person i consider to be a good friend. and i'll take that any day!

sunday we went to church at hope community church. i really enjoyed it. i guess because the service and friendly atmosphere was similar to the gathering (the evening service i attend in cincinnati). the rest of my afternoon was filled with doing laundry, cleaning and watching a movie called "auntie mame." i loved it!
in the evening, the interns were invited to amanda bunyard's home (she is one of our mentors). liz, emily and i ended up going and hanging out for several hours. we had fun snacks and simply enjoyed each others company.

amanda and liz

today was wonderful because i slept until noon! played on the computer and then went to starbucks with liz. we then went to a paper shop (i love paper!) and then to a book shop.
oh yes! and i went to the post office and was able to walk right in and get star wars stamps! HOORAY! this may seem an odd thing to get excited about...but if you only knew what i've gone through in the past to buy stamps at the post office.

tomorrow begins drum and easel art intensive week. this is what i'm trying to save all my energy for. the group enter the worship circle will be teaching workshops that we'll be able to attend, along with doing a concert on thursday night! it should be a great week! this coming saturday is the art fest! hooray hooray! another intense day---but my family should be arriving in minneapolis that day! party!

alright
i've really been rambling...so i think it's time to go for today
but i'll be back.
--------------------
and i'm back sooner than i thought

i wanted to share that last night there was a fire at a house 2 doors down from us
i managed to sleep through the chaos, but many of my house mates ended up witnessing the fire and trying to comfort the families. some of them spent the night at our house last night, and then ended up joining us for monday night potluck. be praying for all the displaced people. i snapped a few pics of the damaged building:

hospitality

2007-07-12T01:09:00.000-05:00

patti olson has an amazing gift for hospitality! she has made a point of having her house be a place for people to feel at home and at rest. you feel it the moment you walk in the door--and the moment you step into her backyard! (when i grow up, i so want to be her!)

patti invited the interns over for a time of rest and food.

(patti and i)

(amanda, chelsea, jackie, emily, katie, liz)

we were blessed by the swedish meal she made for us: potato and spinach leek soup, swedish meatballs, vegetables, cheese, crackers and fish.

for dessert we had blueberry "soup", wafers and coffee. yum!

and some pictures of her backyard garden:

and now it is time for me to rest.

cheesy gnomes

2007-07-09T16:27:00.000-05:00

this is yet another entry where i clue you into the random happenings of my life in minneapolis. along with a new found appreciation for beading:

Jimmy Jingle
remember me mentioning the studio space (also known as the jimmy jingle)that was given to us?
here is a picture of the outside and the studio space i've been hanging out in. it doesn't look like much, but it's been fun having a place to work on stuff. (liz and i actually share the space.)

jackie's space is next door. and if i haven't mentioned it, jackie's art rocks! she is into stenciling and such. my favorite piece thus far is the bird woman, which has become a personal symbol for myself. signifying the freedom of being in christ and my flying experience at cornerstone!

Bonding
after an evening of church at the salvage yard. liz, jackie and i enjoyed ice cream at sebastian joe's and made a late night run to taco bell. followed by much silliness!

gnome party
jim's birthday party celebration was sunday afternoon. the theme: cheese and gnomes.
the birthday boy is on the right (with the gnome on his shirt). the other two are eric and chris.
in the spirit of the cheese and gnome theme, brian came dressed up as a gnome--and mandi made a brain cheese.

exploring
today emily (the roommate) and i went exploring at minnehaha falls & the nicollette mall. along with a intermission as "Sinbad's", and arabic deli.
minnehaha falls is a wonderful place to be! it's green and peaceful, and only a 10 minute drive from me! emily and i asked a couple standing near us to take our photo...well, they thought we wanted to take their photo! ha!!! so i did AND THEN emily and i had our photo taken.

nicollette mall is downtown. lot's of nice restaurants and skyways. by the way. nicollette mall street is only allowable for buses. when i first got to minneapolis i found that out the hard way! for all you panera fans...the building with the pillars is the panera downtown!
OK. it's time for me to make something for monday night potluck. tonight i am introducing these minneapolis vegetarians to skyline chili dip--it's sure to raise some eyebrows!

drum & easel rocks!

2007-07-05T21:47:00.000-05:00

tonight we did a drum & easel!
this entails taking hand drums and paint easels to an particular area (the streets or a homeless area) and playing and painting away. the hope is to interact with whomever is around through the drums and art.

a local church was giving away food (think cereal, laundry detergent, crackers) to people in their neighborhood. our "job" was to play the drums and paint while people were waiting in line. it was cool because people came up wanting to play the drums with us, and a lot of the kids that were there came over to paint with us. :-)
i even tried my hand at juggling, but somehow one of the kids walk away with the third ball. 'sigh'

the great surprise and encouragement of the evening was that the church had an excess of food, so we were able to go through the line and take some for ourselves. we were all grateful for God blessing us that way!

in a little over a week, we have several days of drum & easel events. i'm really looking forward to the interaction that will come from that!

the rest of the story

2007-07-03T11:00:00.000-05:00

in case you're wondering, i didn't spend all week at cornerstone flying.

Monday and Tuesday of cornerstone were pretty rough. it was close to 100 degrees and our camp site was situated next to the rock stock stage and close to two generator stages...all of which played mostly metal! i spent a majority of the time wearing ear plugs and wandering around the camp to find quieter places. (of which i was successful) oh yes, and the shower water ran out on Tuesday evening...which led some people in my group to take showers in the rain that came Tuesday evening. all this led me to believe that the week of cornerstone was going to be REALLY ANNOYING.

but Wednesday was better. the Tuesday evening rain cooled the air and more events began to happen around the camp. i went to see the suitcase sideshow: a traveling Mariette show about Jesus that will be taken throughout Europe.
and i worked in the Source booth which was in exhibition tent 1:

and as i looked around at the merchandise, all i could think about was jesus showing up in fierce anger at the amount of items being sold in "His name."
interesting.

the rest of the week was a blur as far as what happened each day.
highlights included:

seeing the David Crowder Band, Over the Rhine, Rosie Thomas and Photoside Cafe

(the last two being totally new to me)

meeting and listening to Shane Claibourne

watching my first full-length anime movie (made in 1979)

experiencing the prayer labyrinth

looking in the art gallery. these were my two favorite pieces. the photo is called "swazi prayer" and shows the children imagining what it would be like to have God hug them! the second is a painting of jesus from isaiah 52:14, "But many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man."

hanging out with friends. note: eric was born without a sternum, so he has what he calls a "chest bowl". and another side note: liz's boyfriend josh surprised her by appearing at cornerstone...and then proposing to her! (she said yes)

observing all the different people:

hanging out in the kid's art tent:

and of course, taking pictures:

and that is my cornerstone story.

the day i flew

2007-07-01T20:42:00.000-05:00

what you are about to see is the most amazing experience that i had at cornerstone.
knowing that i am free in christ made me want to fly...so i did!

cornerstone music festival

2007-06-24T18:22:00.000-05:00

tomorrow we leave for the cornerstone music festival.
we'll be camping out with 20,000 others...listening to music, attending seminars and manning the source booth.
seeing that i've never camped for more than 2 days at a time--this will be quite the adventure!