Sandalwood & Chamomile

The Best of Gifts -- From Our Daily Bread

2009-12-01T13:06:00.000-08:00

Today's devotional from Our Daily Bread helped me de-stress. I'm still thinking of what to get my manita in my extended family's exchange gift. But now, I'm not pulling my hair out again.

The gift ideas below are no-good for the malls or shops. But these will always make for good memories.

Hmm. Can I give all 6 gifts before December ends?

The devotional below was written by Cindy Hess Kasper. You can click on this link to go to the ODB site.
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December 1, 2009
The Best Of Gifts
ODB RADIO: Listen Now DownloadREAD: John 1:10-13

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! —2 Corinthians 9:15

Having trouble selecting that perfect gift for someone? A friend shared with me a few suggestions:
• The gift of listening. No interrupting, no planning your response. Just listening.
• The gift of affection. Being generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, and pats on the back.
• The gift of laughter. Sharing funny stories and jokes. Your gift will say, “I love to laugh with you.”
• The gift of a written note. Expressing in a brief, handwritten note your appreciation or affection.
• The gift of a compliment. Sincerely saying, “You look great today” or “You are special” can bring a smile.

But as we begin this special month of celebration, why not pass on the best gift you’ve ever received? Share the fact that “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 6:23). Or share this verse from John 1:12, “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” Remind others that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

The best gift of all is Jesus Christ. “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Cor. 9:15). — Cindy Hess Kasper

The greatest Gift that has ever been given
Is Jesus Christ who was sent down from heaven.
This Gift can be yours if you will believe;
Trust Him as Savior, and new life receive. —Hess

The best gift was found in a manger.
--------------------

I don't know what you're going through...

2009-10-20T00:08:00.000-07:00

"You don't know what I'm going through."

--- writing prompt from Toasted Cheese

The funny thing about keeping a blog is that the more active your real life is, the less time you have to update your online journal. My life since July 2009 has not been as hectic as that of most people I know. And I do feel a sort of guilt for not putting even a sentence to tell people that, well, I'm still at it. It's like inviting people to a show, but then the main performer does not show up. Or to a dinner, and the honored guest decides to stay home.

As a stalker... erm, avid reader of blogs (thank you, Google Reader), I feel very concerned when certain strong personalities do not post in a long while. I really do not know what they're going through besides what they choose to share on their pages. Usually, it's just the details of daily life that get in the way. And I'm glad. That means they can always come back when circumstances allow them a chance to breathe. Just like one blogger who just had a medical scare with her very young daughter. I totally understand her need to keep the news to immediate family. Now that she's past her trials, she feels more free to share and joke with her online visitors.

Still, just like my mother, I can't help imagining the worst. I fear that those entertaining and lively voices might have departed our world without a final adieu to us... to me. One day, it occurred. One member of a blog team died so young, doing something he was passionate about, with the ocean waves he loved to ride. His friends haven't fully recovered, but it was very gracious of them to let their readers know. And I really appreciated the gesture.

The shock also has made me contemplate what I would like to happen when I die. I considered writing a future entry that would post at the end of my expected lifespan. But what if I pass on much earlier? Or what if I miscalculate, I forget all about the entry, and it automatically publishes while I'm still alive? That would be hilarious. Well, probably not to family members who would learn of my alleged death while I'm off traveling somewhere.

Or if I choose not to pre-write anything, what kind of memorial would my blog become? After all, my old entries would still be available. What kind of person could be gleaned from them? Would I be recognizable as the child of God that I know I am?

These past few weeks, I've been listening to a lot of BarlowGirl. If you know their music and lyrics, you might have an idea of how they wrestle with issues of faith and identity. I've woken up with their lyrics in my mind, with their songs in my heart. And every time, I go running to the Lord and He holds me.

In "Surrender," which is the song currently in my head, I see reflected my own struggle with dreams I myself had molded and guarded for years. The old saying is true, you can't really receive more if you keep holding tightly to the things in your hands. Surrender, surrender, God whispers so gently.

I think I have made peace with the impossibility of trying to control my future. So whether it's with my dreams or my finally joining my Lord, it's really not up to me anymore. And you know what, I know I'm held securely in His arms.

Heat Wave

2009-07-28T23:49:00.000-07:00

I feel like I have to document this, at least.

We're in the middle of a heat wave. *sigh* The last time, I was out of the country and came back when the heat was bearable. Now, I roast in the office, where the air conditioning unit is puny and the sun beats our thin building in all directions all day long.

The forecast is 101F tomorrow. Dear Lord, please send some cooling wind.

It's Been a While...

2009-07-12T21:50:00.000-07:00

久しぶり。

It really has been a while since I've posted anything online... other than on twitter. Oh, I've been doing drama subs or viewing youtube and been often on Gmail. But I have neglected my little space on blogger.

Finally, I got the blog a new look. It's so simple, I love it. A few tweaks and done. My kinda thing.

Music: Crazy Love by Paul from "Slow Dance" OST

Just realized something. This new look on the blog allows me to check off one thing from my 101/1001 list: #67- Get a new design for my blog "Sandalwood & Chamomile"
Should've been so easy, but easy is not easy for me. :D

In Christ Alone

2009-06-01T00:49:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite songs of all time is a modern hymn that describes the life I have gained because of Jesus Christ. Every time I hear it and every time I sing it, my heart grows bigger, and I become humbled, encouraged and emboldened. Indeed, my hope is in Christ alone, and He is my song.

I heard this sung by a choir today. My heart longs for the time when I get to sing with all the believers and the angels in worship of the one true God. I think I was made for that.

In Christ Alone

Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2001 Kingsway Thankyou Music

In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.

As Miley said, It's the Climb

2009-04-21T22:23:00.000-07:00

My dearest --H,

In a move that highlights just how different we are, you confessed your true feelings to the person you have loved for so long. I, who cower and censor my own feelings so tightly, have always been your polar opposite. But I am very proud and in awe of how brave you are. Though you may not feel confident all the time, you show a lot of courage when it matters.

There are still plenty of mountains for you to climb, but because you have conquered this one mountain, I don't doubt your future. As God promised, you will have hope and a future. After all, the Jesus who calmed the stormy seas is the same God who is soothing your troubled heart.

Keep on the brave face. I have your back.

love, gail

MZ vs KC: My Life Would Suck Without You

2009-02-13T01:22:00.001-08:00

I blame Ms. Maria Zouroudis for getting this song stuck in my head. The uber talented MZ posted an accoustic version of Kelly Clarkson's "My Life Would Suck Without You" on youtube. I've never heard of the song before. I think it's going to be on an upcoming Kelly Clarkson album.

I then clicked on KC's video of the same song. Usually, I adore Maria's interpretations, but for the first time, I find out that I'm liking the original artist's version rather than Miz Maria's. 0_O Interesting, 'no?

Kelly Clarkson seems happier in her video. And I thought it was cute when she tried to throw his fishbowl out of the apartment window, and he had to scoop the little fishy out. Her character is a bit, as she sings in the song, "dysfunctional" but the guy seemed to take it all in stride. So, after all, maybe they do like each other.

I wish I can embed KC's video here, but it's disabled. So amble along and find it on her youtube site here.

P.S. Maria also links to an online interview. Now, we know why it still says she's unsigned.

A Slice of Heaven in Pillows

2009-02-02T22:21:00.000-08:00

I'm not a pillow hoarder like my sister, and I don't even like to use one. But I do have two special pillows, which just got special treatment today. My wonderful mother made pillowcases for my body pillow (she also created for my sisters' as well).

My well-worn Jigglypuff pillow also got a wash, and it smells heavenly! I got it eight years ago when I arrived in the States. And even if it becomes super raggedy, I will still keep it. I'm thinking I'll bring it with me when I get married or move out--whichever comes first. ^_^

(I should at least take and post pictures, but I'm really lazy.)

A Very Pissy Day

2009-01-31T00:28:00.000-08:00

Ultra-foggy mornings.

Skipped breakfast.

Running late.

Mountains of paperwork.

Unanswered phones.

Unnecessary trip to airport caused by stupid mistake: thinking I already mentioned it aloud when I never did.

Completing only one thing on my errands list.

Arriving at the library to pick up hold only a short time after it closed.

Suffering a blow to the head due to a stupid choice: jumping onto the back of my unaware sister.

Denting my cellphone as I crash down after jumping onto the back of my sister.

My one-of-a-kind phone LCD is wrecked.

Finding out that I can't cry out of self-pity, even if I tried.

T__T

Happy Lunar New Year Randomness

2009-01-30T00:05:00.001-08:00

What am I doing?! I haven't logged in an entry for the new year. Wait: It's still the week of the lunar new year, so I'm still safe.

This year, I got money in a red envelope... for the first time in my life. And I used it to eat really good Sichuanese food. Yum yum yum. Thank you, Chinese bosses!

To celebrate (kinda), I did one thing I haven't done: eat lamb, which I did not care for.

I received an email I had sent through futureme.org 6 months. It was kind of weird to hear myself ask how I'm doing at my job.

And I've finished (and enjoyed) 3 books already for my 2009 Twelve-Book challenge. My challenge journal is up-to-date as well. Yay.

But I'm still behind on some ongoing project--including my New Year's resolution. February is almost here, so I think I'll begin in Feb.

See you!

Confessions of Ms. Picky Eater

2008-12-27T01:03:00.000-08:00

Because of the snowy weather last Sunday, we had canceled our company dinner. But I guess Dec 26th was the day we couldn't resist all-you-can-eat seafood and sushi.

Although there was still plenty of slippery melting snow on the walkways and biting cold, I walked half a mile and took the bus to the Northgate mall to meet my co-workers at Bluefin Sushi and Seafood Buffet. I would just like to say that it was all worth it, and I don't even like to eat sushi.

My favorite remains the honey-walnut shrimp. One has to love a buffet where they don't scrimp on the walnuts. I love the japchae and pajeon and the kalbi. And I did try the sushi, which I didn't dislike. I'm actually surprised to be eating weird-tasting (at least to my uncultured tastebuds) food.

Since a year ago, I've been noticing changes in my food habits. Wow, me the picky eater. I've been drinking lots of tea. I guess I've grown accustomed to it, even to the fishy smelling (at least to my uncultured nose) green tea. Now, I reach for green/black/barley tea to wash down greasy food instead of Coca-Cola, which incidentally tastes 100x better these days.

I've also have been noticing cravings for sushi rolls, seaweed (nori) and kimchi. I'm not complaining. But sometimes I just go, "Whoa, what's going on with me?"

In any case, I'm thinking of using my unexpected bonus to bring my family to Bluefin. It says something good of a restaurant, if one thinks of coming back another time soon after letting out a satiated burp. ごちそうさまでした。(Gochisosamadeshita) Thank you for the good food, indeed.

Snow and Ice and Long Commutes

2008-12-23T21:18:00.000-08:00

I feel like I have to at least say something about today. It took me 4 hours to get to work this morning, when it usually just takes me 1 hour 20 minutes by bus. It felt very weird coming to work at 12 noon.

The snowstorm and icy conditions around Seattle and Portland are making my work hard and stressful. Please Lord, send rain to wash off over a week's worth of snow.

Tomorrow is another day, the eve of the remembrance of Christ's birth. Perhaps I should leave home at 5 am... maybe I'll get in at my regular time of 9 am. I hope the bus rides home won't be a killer.

#99 - Keep my hair long for 6 months

2008-12-22T12:49:00.001-08:00

Before...
Originally uploaded by gail-T

After...
Originally uploaded by gail-T

I did it! I managed to keep from getting a hair cut since I started my 101/1001 list! Eight months later, I was anxious but ready for a change. I wanted to grow it long enough to donate, so I looked for short styles that would suit me.

On December 11th, I saw Ate Jenny at Salon Stephen Craigo with a photo of Angelica Panganiban in her short hair. Twelve inches were lopped off and given away.

Another one off my list. Yahoo!

#26 and #18 -- Buy a yukata and see Issa in Japan

2008-12-06T16:59:00.000-08:00

I hit two birds in one stone during a short trip across the Pacific Ocean early October. I visited Issa on her turf: Shuzenji, Japan. Yay. So for #26 -- Visit Issa in Japan, we went to several places. According to Issa, here was our itinerary:

Day 1: Dinner at Shinagawa
Day 2: Asakusa - Ueno - Akihabara - Harajuku
Day 3: Fujisawa - Daiba - Sakuragicho
Day 4: Yotsuya - Harajuku - Shibuya - Shinjuku - Shuzenji
Day 5: Shuzenji - Winery Hills - Numazu
Day 6: Back to Seattle

For #18 -- Buy a yukata, we were able to find relatively inexpensive silk ones at Asakusa. Yay. I would have posted pictures had I taken them. Next time, when I wear it. They're soo pretty.

See pictures of Satchmo on his trip to Japan here. And more pictures with my captions here. Pictures are hosted by Satchmo's owner Leylander of My Cebu Photo Blog. Buf if you're on my friends list on flickr, you can probably see more pics. :D

Current count: 24 out of 101 done! God willing, I might get to 50% of this list. Heehee.

P.S.

#45 -- Have Satchmo come visit was also completed when he arrived to me in September, and I showed him around Seattle. :D

bombshell announcements

2008-11-30T21:56:00.000-08:00

Last Thanksgiving, during the worship service with extended family, each one shared something he/she is thankful for. It took a long time because we have a big family, and there's so much to thank the Lord for.

When it was my turn, I said, "I am thankful for my boyfriend.... whom I have yet to meet. Just like what Lolo said, I have faith that the Lord will give me His best at the right time."

I followed the suggestion of my prankster uncle to make a joke out of the very thing my relatives like to poke fun at. It's quite fun to beat people to the punch. But judging from the surprised looks, belly laughs and conversations afterward, I learned something I should have already known. No one wants to be the last person to hear of something juicy. Note to self: future "bombshell announcements" should just serve as confirmation of rumors. It's funner that way in my family.

***

How was your Thanksgiving?

November Update -- should be good for the month right?

2008-11-17T01:03:00.000-08:00

Ugh, I feel terrible to realize how long ago my last blog post was. Gomenasai ne.

Anyway, what have I been up to?

A, K, F and I just saw The Drowsy Chaperone at the 5th Ave Theatre. Great fun. My cheeks hurt from laughing. Ahh, I love musicals.
Had Korean food after a long long long while. The four of us had dinner after the musical. Thank God for good food and good conversations.
Went to Japan. Yippee! I can't wait to go on another trip.
Toured Satchmo around Seattle. Toured Tokyo and Izu-shi with Satchmo and Alaska. Thanks, Ice.
Joined NaNoWriMo. But I haven't been writing. :( Oh no, the month is almost over, and I'm very far away from 50,000 words.
Tried Starbucks salt caramel hot chocolate. Yum. Good thing I no longer work near a Starbucks. Or else, I'd be chugging it the entire day.
Been very lazy lately. Very behind in keeping up with correspondence. Truly sorry, and I'm working on it.
Heard Lori Matsukawa speak at Japanese school. Took pictures with her too.
Started a little cross-stitching project. I have forgotten all the rules. :( Well, when I do get this finished, I'll move on to a slightly bigger project.
In the process of keeping my Animal Crossing town perfect for 16 days. I'm working for a golden watering can. Also I'm wondering when I would be able to shoot down a golden slingshot.
I'm missing certain someones.
Oh, yeah. I remember what unnie told me to blog about. Okay, I was in Japanese class taking a katakana (characters/writing for foreign words) quiz. I was trying to write spaghetti, but I forgot and could not remember the character for "ge"（ゲ）. I asked the substitute sensei but my seatmate volunteered to show me. Two strokes in, I interrupted him because I realized that it should be the most familiar one to me: it's one of the two characters in my name (ゲール）! The whole class erupted in laughter. It was a bit embarrassing. But another classmate comforted me, "I forget characters in my name too."

Hi and love to my silent readers, even to the one doing "ctrl+F" for "boyfriend."

Of wanting my own dressmaker

2008-10-04T16:27:00.001-07:00

I've never been comfortable going to the mall and clothes-shopping. And recently, the feeling has gotten more acute. I am not built like a model. In fact, I'm quite the opposite, short limbs, big arms, not slender form and a belly that cannot be sucked in anymore (this makes me so sad). The frustration resulting from not finding perfectly fitting (and well-made) clothes is quite nagging.

Wouldn't it be nice, I said to my friend one day, if we had our own personal dressmaker like in the olden times? Our clothes would be well-made and tailored to us. I usually don't worry about fashion trends, so having a dressmaker would essentially be having a knowledgeable stylist.

She doesn't really share my enthusiasm because she'd rather have complete control over the style of what she's wearing. That could put her at-odds with her seamstress.

I don't really know any dressmakers here in the U.S. I think I may have made a lot of assumptions of their roles and skills. Although I guessed that employing one would be expensive, I didn't realize that most people who can afford a personal dressmaker are socialites who have money to burn. Ouch.

There goes my fantasy.

Hataraki Man misses "Hataraki Man"

2008-10-01T02:24:00.000-07:00

First drama episode watched in a long time: Hataraki Man ep 8.

A broken heart is so painful you can't stand it
But you can't stop where you are.
Hold your head up and move forward.

A "well-duh" kind of advice, but important to be given and taken. Ahh, I miss my carefree days of marathon drama viewing and cute guys watching.

How have my lovelies been doing? I have several blog post ideas in the backburner, but now that I look back at them, they don't seem very interesting anymore. :(

I'm leaving on a jetplane in a week. I'm so excited there are no words to describe it. Waaahhh!!!

Private journal surprise

2008-09-22T01:37:00.000-07:00

Rereading my private journals, I came upon this:

But I know that the Lord understands that I need to work out on my own the details of my dilemma, so that my faith is not rendered futile and trivial, but becomes a testament of truthfulness and maturity.

Did I write that?

***
I think I've been avoiding things, hoping that they'll deal with themselves without me lifting a finger. But lists don't check off by themselves; tasks don't complete themselves; projects don't do themselves. I have to exert some kind of effort to take the first step. Indeed, "one step at a time." Thanks, Ms. Sparks.

Refreshing Springs

2008-08-23T15:47:00.000-07:00

"My old heart has carried these secret memories so long that it aches with them and would burst if I did not whisper them to you." -- C.S. Lewis in Prince Caspian

Psalm 84:6 "When they walk through the Valley of Weeping,
it will become a place of refreshing springs,
where pools of blessing collect after the rains!"

"Lord, help me to do great things as though they were little, since I do them with Your power;
and little things as though they were great, since I do them in Your name." -- Blaise Pascal

"I was the lion who forced you to join with Aravis. I was the cat who comforted you among the houses of the dead. I was the lion who drove the jackals from you while you slept. I was the lion who gave the Horses the new strength of fear for the last mile so that you should reach King Lune in time. And I was the lion you do not remember who pushed the boat in which you lay, a child near death, so that it came to shore where a man sat, wakeful at midnight, to receive you." -- dear Aslan in The Horse and His Boy (C.S. Lewis)

#82 - Finish 3 library books

2008-08-17T22:35:00.000-07:00

I used to read quickly. By staying up very late each night, I would finish several books in one week. But now, I'm happy with completing one book in two months.

I feel a tingle of envy whenever I hear of people doing book challenges or joining book clubs or just plugging along their reading lists. Sinta is doing very well in her 21-book challenge. And Gracey is reading Ms. Jane Austen, starting with the beautifully subdued Persuasion.

So, I try to read a lot during my 1.5 hour-commute to work by bus. But sleep overtakes me so I usually nap instead of read in the mornings. If I don't carpool with Sarah, with whom I carpooled way back in college, then I am able to go through a lot of pages in the 2-hour 2-bus ride home. Hopefully in this way, I'll be able to enjoy some lovely prose from my ever-growing reading list.

At the start of my 101/1001 list, I expected a lot of free time to read because I was not working. I boldly wanted to finish all 3 library books I had checked out. I finished only two. The last one was a hard read. It dealt with a history of American immigration, which was very interesting. Because I wanted to finish it, I kept it way past the due date (after renewing twice) until I got a lost notice. I owed the library $30 for the book. Immediately, I returned it to get the charges taken off.

I decided to remove a word from #82 on my list: Finish ~~the~~ 3 books borrowed from the public library. I thought that would make this task complete-able. The third book was Han Ong's The Disinherited, which I picked up because it was written about the Philippines.

The book was OK. Although the Filipinos portrayed in the book were very unlikeable, I thought the portrayals were dead on. The commentary on the collective Filipino attitude towards the West as well as to their plight is something I share. Filipino-American Ong appear to be well-versed in the rhetoric of Roman Catholicism in the Philippines. I don't find him to be unfairly critical of the Catholics in the book.

I didn't enjoy the book as well as I would have liked to because I didn't find anyone to be sympathetic. I disliked the main character, and I didn't relate to his struggles and his relationships with the other characters. Frankly, I found him to be exploitative. The book started with this guy inheriting half a million dollars, and he wants none of it. The rest was an exploration of how hard it is to give money away. Reading that from the dust jacket, it sounded like a promising premise. But after I turned the last page, I didn't feel it was an illuminating experience. I don't even remember if the protagonist changed.

By finishing this book, I finally complete #82. Yay.

Now, on to Prince Caspian. I have to finish the Narnia books, which I borrowed 2 years ago from a friend. If he were charging me late fees, he'd be a rich man. Good thing he doesn't read my blog.

An OK wife in the 1930s

2008-08-13T21:47:00.000-07:00

You Would Make an Okay 1930's Wife

You have some of the attributes of an ideal 1930's wife... but you probably didn't intend it to be that way.

You don't buy into retro gender roles, though you do embrace your femininity at times.

A 1930's man may find you passable, but you probably wouldn't want anything to do with him.

Would You Have Been a Good Wife in the 1930s?

Sinta tagged me. It seems like I'd "make an OK 1930s wife" as well.

But why pick the 1930s? My grandparents were still young children then. I doubt I could be like my maternal grandpa's mom, who hid in the caves of World War II-era Leyte with her pigs and sewing machine. Her police chief husband had been killed, and her only child was a Japanese POW in Bataan. She was hiding from both the Japanese and the Filipino guerrillas. Although I don't know how she was, as a wife, in the 1930s, I am certain that I can't possibly compare to her as a person in the 40s.

XXIX Olympiad: What I'm Watching

2008-08-09T01:13:00.000-07:00

I love how there's so many channels covering the 29th Olympiad in Beijing. We had gotten cable in 2004, just for the Olympics. If not for the Athens Games, we would have been content without going digital.

I should be sleeping by now since I'm supposed to be leaving for church camp in 4 hours. But like 4 years ago, I'm up very very very late. Here's what I've been watching... when I get the chance.

parade of countries in the opening (only a few countries)
beach volleyball W
fencing W
air rifle W
badminton W
dressage

Let the Games begin!

2008-08-07T22:58:00.000-07:00

I started to ramble on in Ate Raissa's multiply:

i like watching the Games as well. i just can't find it in my heart to boycott it to protest the Chinese political actions. it's a celebration of goodwill among nations. i remember the 1992 olympics very fondly. taekwondo was a demo sport then, with bea lucero. (yeah, i was a wannabe taekwondo jin... in my dreams, i was an athlete. haha) oh yeah, i'm an olympic baby, as well... born in the year of the 23rd olympiad. for some reason, i remember my family in 1988 waking up so early (or staying up so late) to catch televised games. and we finally gave in to cable TV for the 2004 olympics; the parents couldn't resist the lure of the games. hopefully, i'll get to be a tourist in 2012. i'm getting chills just thinking about tomorrow. whoa. /end of rambling.

Well, I guess I'm not yet done, because I'm reprinting it here.

also... i'm really looking forward to synchronized swimming, gymnastics, taekwondo, beach volleyball, equestrian events, archery and shooting, swimming and diving, football... okay, basketball as well. haha.

i'm going to be cheering for the 15 delegates of the Philippines (although, i don't know who they all are... gone were the days when i knew each one through the news). and also for the US, as well.

***
1/2 of my favorite So You Think You Can Dance pair won it all tonight. Yep, my favorite couple was the top boy and the top girl, so Katee was surprised with 50,000 bucks. Yay. Congrats Joshua. They both rocked the show. And my favorite dances of the season were danced tonight! However, my favorite dance of tonight was Mary Murphy and Dmitry's samba to Angela Via's Baila, baila. I love that song. And those two were on the hot tamale train. haha. Great end to the best dance show on TV... yeah, and that's my humble opinion.

me at the Columbia River

2008-07-26T10:02:00.001-07:00

me at the Columbia River
Originally uploaded by gail-T

I had talked about a baro at saya day in a previous post. But I'm really most comfortable in a malong. Driving home from Idaho on a hot afternoon was surprisingly nice in the breathable fabric. Here I am at a lookout off westbound I-90 over Columbia River. You can see the Vantage Bridge in the distance.

I remember seeing the bridge for the first time (driving eastward). I literally gasped. It was awesome to see a huge body of water after long stretches of desert-like sights. I <3 bridges.