winter solstice

So I'm in the Baltimore area, visiting my family. It's actually been quite busy, but I wanted to give a shout-out for the winter solstice, which was yesterday.

Hooray for the shortest day of the year! The days will get longer from here til June.

Last Saturday night, we went to Trafalgar Square in Covent Garden and sang Christmas carols to passerbys and bystanders (I chose those two words because they both have "by" in them). A few hundred stopped and joined in. It was really cold, but really a neat experience.

I have also been exposed to the British Christmas tradition of mince pies and mulled wine- both are great.

while we're on Christmas.

We celebrated Christmas together as a team tonight. The conversation strayed to favorite Christmas movies, which made me think of my own choices.

"White Christmas", of course

"The Family Stone" is a new favorite

not to forget Jimmy Stewart in "It's a Wonderful Life"

and can I slip in "Little Women" on a technicality

from thanksgiving

reused coffee holder sleeves for namecards at Thanksgiving dinner.

i may or may not have created these during our theology lectures that morning (after coffee break, obviously).

my warm drink.

In the land across the atlantic, it's all about the "hot drinks". You think France has a monopoly on the cafe?

For the first time since I got here, I went to Starbucks (don't tell departure) and got their gingerbread spice latte to kick off December. Actually, it was to console me because they don't do pumpkin spice lattes over here. The gingerbread latte was good, though.

The next day, when I came home and was faced with the hot drink dilemma, I decided to recreate and modify.

Spoonful of instant coffee in the bottom of a mug.
Cover the grounds with a bit of sugar (it took more sugar than I thought).
Add a couple tablespoons of hot water to dissolve the coffee granules.
Sprinkle liberally with nutmeg and cinnamon and stir.
Fill the rest of the mug up with soy milk and heat in the microwave until hot.

Quite good. And I'm glad to have found "my drink" over here.

what i wore

in Florida

sundress, sandals


in London

sundress, long sleeve shirt, leggings, cardigan, jacket, socks, boots

my thanksgiving in britain

The Americans planned and cooked. The Brits aided in the preparation. We did Thanksgiving a day early, Wednesday night, because we all had that night free.

I think we did pretty well, considering.

Turkey, stuffing (almost didn't work but was resurrected), real gravy, rolls, green bean casserole, sweet potato souffle, pumpkin pie (canned pumpkin shipped across the atlantic for the occasion), and cranberry butter.

help! I'm enculturating.

I have begun to understand the British affinity for hot tea.

It was cold, windy, and rainy on Sunday afternoon. But I had my lucky black boots on, which makes my feet impervious to rain.

I was heading home from central London, waiting for my bus. Several buses approached my stop simultaneously, and my bus instead of waiting for the first bus to pull out, did a half-hearted slow-down before whizzing away without new passengers.

I was too frustrated and cold and stubborn to sit and wait for fifteen minutes for the next one. So I decided to punish myself and just walk the whole way back.

As I fought torrid winds on London Bridge, all I could think about was how nice it would be to get home out of the wind and rain and sit down with a nice cup of tea.

on greatness.

Yesterday was a great day for me. It didn't start out that well. It began with me arriving at work early, which entailed me shivering in the cold and wet on the train platform until I could go get inside.

But work was fun. It is just three of us on Saturdays, which is relaxing because usually there's half a dozen staff flying around. It was slow in the morning so the three of us had time to talk, then it go pleasantly busy but not manic.

Iza always makes "Saturday breakfast" on Saturdays. Lamb sausages, hashbrowns, toast, an egg, a tomato and mushrooms -it's so good. Customers were pleasant.

When I got home, I mustered my determination and went running in the dark and in the hurricane-like wind. But it was actually a really good, long and satisfying run.

When I got back, I hobbled together all eligible ingredients and made a smoothie- the first proper one since I've been here.

working on these things.

It took me an embarrassingly long amount of time to download this font, and even now, I'm not sure how I managed it. But I'm excited that it's here nonetheless.

dear diary...

Yesterday, I had so many thoughts jumbled up in my head that I had to get them out. I just put down the key words so I'd remember them to think about later.

real Need.
home.
middling
120
blast it!
Martha Stewart job
nailclippers
lifestyle art
French Revolution
Little Women
J.J. Heller
photoshop
novels
call mom
art
haircut
cook for dinner
jo.

where I've been lately.

Usually there is a rut where my little feet trod to and from home and work daily, with some little variation through the week (hey I don't have a lot of friends yet). This past week, however, I skittered around a lot.

Okay, this was a little earlier than last week. It was also a day when we had a day of freak warmness. It was wonderful. This is me on the Prime Meridian in Greenwich Park.

This is the green, green grass of Belfast, Northern Ireland, which I saw for day. When I wasn't in and out of meetings.

The "beach" near Dover. It was the first time that I saw the North Sea.

recovering from traveling

Belfast and back to London within twenty-four hours. A lot of talking and little liquids. Today, I'm making it up to my body. Consuming within two hours of waking up:

. A tumbler of apple juice.
. A bit of soy milk in cereal.
. A glass of water.
. A mug of instant coffee.
. More apple juice.
. Another glass of water.

on birthdays and other joys.

My dear friend and former roomie (roommate for three full years! top that.) is celebrating her birthday today all the way across the ocean from me. I really miss you, Brenna Joy.

In other news, I'm not generally an observer of Halloween, but exactly one year ago today, I was navigating four little Saudi kids through a neighborhood to ring doorbells and earn candy for their costumes. Half of the time, we were trying to curtail the youngest's attempts to run out into the street, and it was a really hot evening to chase kids. But it was such a good time.


And still yet, I have had a really good week here. It's probably the best week I've had in London thus far. Several days, I've just found myself musing about how this is so unreal and how grateful I am that I am here.

current events.

The days are super-short now. I guess that happens when you don't live right above the equator. Seriously, though, we had the time change on Saturday night. Now dusk is about four-thirty and it's dark by five pm.

The Royal Mail strikes one or two days a week recently. I did get some "post" today, so that was exciting. I need to send out a card to my sweet former roomie who turns twenty-four at the end of the week (it might get there a little late Brenna, because of me not because of the strikes, hopefully).

Discipline is forever dogging me. The worst part is that it's not some elusive virtue, it's me having to choose to what my best intentions would have me do. It's choosing to do the better thing, even in the small things. And I think the small things might actually be the big things.

I am coming home for Christmas. Originally, I bought my ticket for December, thinking I could change if I were unable to tear myself away from the wonderful city, but now I am really glad that I will be able to go back to the US and be able to spend Christmas with my family. And "go shopping" in my own closet and change up my wardrobe over here.

Today I am on day duty- the day where a team member stays at the flats, cleans up the place and cooks dinner for everyone. I really like this day. Cleaning is usually fun (at least for geeks like me), and I am embracing the challenge of cooking a complete meal for several people. Tonight there is supposed to be a crowd- 15 people- yikes!

But I'm doing the girly-Betty Crocker thing and looking up recipes and recording what I make and trying to be creative. I even bought a little cookbook the other day. Hey, it was only two pounds. I'm keeping it simple and delicious tonight. Plain, banana, and chocolate chip pancakes with eggs and potato wedges.

little boy along the thames

still novel

Even though I live just a few minutes from the Tower Bridge, I am still finding any excuse to walk over the bridge. It's just so spectacular. And cool.

my new life in the uk

So here I am, in the UK for just over a month.

I have a flat, 2 flatmates, and 10 housemates. I have a 40 hour work week, a small collection of clothes to keep me warm in this increasingly cold weather. It doesn't feel like home yet.

I love the river Thames. I love the Queen's Walk. I am knitting, and I reading books for recreation again. Currently, reading Vanity Fair (Sarah would be so proud of me). I know how to make cappuccinos and lattes. I am trying not to drink too of such, as we make them with whole milk. I still will probably whiten my teeth when I come home for Christmas.

I am working on my goals for the year, trying to grow and learn in practical matters and the transcendent.

I like it here, most days. The food has been mostly good; I still miss my old norms. I can't wait for Thanksgiving (is that random). The Americans on the team are planning on doing it up right.

What I've been thinking about today: What does it look like for me to be the best possible person I can with where I am right now?

anthropologie hits UK

Forgive me, I know that Anthropologie is the most over-blogged about store in the blogosphere, but I too am a fan.

Anthropologie is preparing to open their first-ever store in the UK in this very city - London, of course. It's set to open on Regent Street in a few days!

near the thames

We have found a great little breakfast place by the river Thames with the most perfect coffee.

List of London

Watch these lists throughout the year. Hopefully the first list will shrink and the second will grow.

Things to see and do:
. Borough Market by London Bridge.
. London Eye.
. St. Paul's Cathedral.
. Inside the Tower of London.
. National Gallery.
. Greenwich Park.
. British Museum.
. A play at the Globe Theatre.
. Covent Garden.

Things seen and done:
. Tower Bridge.
. Houses of Parliament.
. Big Ben.
. Buckingham Palace.
. Trafalgar Square.
. Tate Modern Museum.
. Natural History Museum.
. River Thames.
. Westminster Cathedral.
. Hyde Park.
. Piccadilly Circus.

what I miss.

It's only been two weeks, so this list may change. But currently, this is my miss-list of America.

1. The prices. Things really are cheaper in the States, especially with the exchange rate. Most of anything I deem I need is getting recorded in my "diary" to get when I am in the States for Christmas.

2. Grocery shopping. Seriously, that is one of my errands in my other life. We're eating really well, but it's still not the same as getting things and making preparing yourself. I'll be cooking for our team at least once a fortnight, so that at least will be a fun challenge.

3. My clothes. Deciding what to bring was tough, and I think I did pretty well with my selections, but there have been more than one morning when I've gotten up, planning what to wear and then realized that that particular whatever was left behind.

4. Familiarity. It's a lot harder to do anything when you don't know where anything is.

5. Driving. I don't miss my car per se, because of all the issues I had with it before I left, but I do miss barreling down the highway and the thrill of quickly accelerating.

feeling it

I may be the only one here, and if I am, that's okay. So I may be the only one, but when I am extracted from my normal spheres of people and situations, my self-perception gets a bit of jolt. I don't really have an identity crisis, but rather a crisis of how to explain myself to people.

Can I say truthfully that I am "into music". Can I be into music even if I have a small list of people I like?

Do I need more time to myself or do I not?

How much time do I need to feel comfortable amongst completely new surroundings?

Am I am the only one that feels this way?

In a way, I think humans are always morphing, and I think that it is best. I find the most intolerable people are the ones who are unyielding to change and adaptation. The times can just be trying. Two weeks ago, I only knew one person in the whole of Britain.

Sometimes, it'd be so awesome if I could just write a screenplay that is my life and then just live it. Because sometimes I just want to know how it will all turn out.

Mythopoetic goes to London

Me in front of the Tower Bridge.

If I were a tree

If I were a tree, I imagine myself seeking damp soil. Earlier, I had begun prying up my roots, one at a time, now many of my key veins are above ground. The deepest and the most important ones remained intact.

But I have swiveled around, and have started replanting myself in a different direction. I feel a little faint because of the loss of the nutrients in the ground and a little shaky from being transplanted.

My new view is lovely. I can see exciting new horizons, and I am sure that this is a better position for my roots. At least for a year. But sometimes I wonder how I will do in this strange new place.

A la London.

straight from the UK

It seems a bit surreal, but geography, accents, and landmarks tell me I'm in the UK.

My program began today, kicked off a week long orientation, really. But I'm excited. My team seems like it will be excellent, and I am so excited to be here.

orwell on trees

"I am not suggesting that one can discharge all one's obligations towards society by means of a private re-afforestation scheme. Still, it might not be a bad idea, every time you commit an anti-social act, to make a note of it in your diary, and then, at the appropriate season, push an acorn into the ground."

- George Orwell in Shooting an Elephant



{my brother, Andrew}

those waking hours

Seems I quit my job to instead do the kind of work that you don't get paid for, 'cepting that I am raising support to send me to London (shout out to all of my ministry partners!). But I'm not going to lie folks, it's been kind of a trying week since I left Florida.

I love my family. It's nice to see them. But, um, I've been working on this London thing for just about a year now, and I'm uber-anxious to finally get there.

My half-packed suitcases, temporary bedding, refusal to unpack my suitcases are all testament to the temporary situation. I'm kind of in denial too. I've been cycling through a minute portion of my wardrobe, just because I want to pull out as little as possible. This is, of course, completely irrational, because one day this week, I'm going to have to throw everything out of the two suitcases and repack from the bottom-up.

Oh, and my airline now only lets you bring two 50lb bags internationally, instead of the old 70 lb rule, so I'll be forced to whittle down my wish-list of belongings to be bring to London. I did just get a hiking backpack as a late graduation present (thanks, Mom and Dad!) that should meet the specifications for a carry-on bag. That should help.


But I've had some fun too. We spent Saturday and some of this morning down at my paternal grandparents' place on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. The trip was complete with crabs for lunch on Saturday.

scarcity

I expect to posting but rarely for the next week.

On Thursday I fly off to London and will need a day or two to recover and put myself back together. Also to find a converter so that I won't blow this baby that I type my posts on for you.

Before then, it's going to be packing and doing things with family. I had forgotten how your time is not your own when you actually are with your family.

This weekend, we're headed down to the eastern shore of Maryland to see my dad's parents. Pretty excited about crabs for lunch tomorrow.

time differences

Eastern Standard Time :: Saudi Arabia
8 hours

Eastern Standard Time :: London
5 hours

Eastern Standard Time :: Washington state
3 hours

at the present...

thinking seriously: contemplating what I've committed to for a year

waiting with anticipation: waiting to go get my dad at the airport when he calls to say he's landed

quietly excited: can't wait to finally get to England

reminiscing: this might be my last stay down at the house in the country. Thanks again for everything, MB.

life is funny.

on the unpredictable.

I grew up in a highly structured house, for which I largely have my mother to thank, or blame, for (hi, mom!). Naturally, growing up that way, I figured that it was not only completely normal but also that it was the way the rest of the world also functioned.

It appears not. Now, being out on my own, I am constantly finding that if I want any structure, I must largely manufacture it for myself. The world is full of chaos but seeking order, perhaps?

Thankfully, things like jobs and classes aid in the breaking of time into units and provide basis building parameters of time. "Fixed" events help me schedule and manage my time better than a carte blanche day.

My car has been consuming the lion's share of my time, which is infuriating. But I must sell it, and I must invest the necessary time to do so. My week is hurriedly running out, though, and my room, though a mess, is most certainly not packed.

But I must have some boundaries! Packing must happen. I already have some mandatory errands, though, so I shall have to content myself with trying to devote half the day to my suitcases.

In the mean time, I'm trying to do this flexibility thing and at the moment am consoling myself with a break from the car and doing laundry while watching A&E's "Pride and Prejudice" (the only real version).

right this second.

.working on getting my car ready to sell.

.doing a deplorable job of packing.

.praying my visa will arrive on Friday or Saturday.

.running a bit (thankfully).

.waiting anxiously to get to Maryland and relax.

last week in Florida

It's my last full week in Florida. On Saturday, my dad will fly down and then help me move all of my belongings up to their house in Maryland. My list of things to complete for the week is slightly smaller than the "A to Akebu" volume of the encyclopedia (Akebu, subsequently is a language).

This Saturday I took a little break and relaxed. As you can see, I attempted a little dive in the jacuzzi on the porch at the house in the country. Unbelievably, it was too cold for me to handle, but at least I got the picture above out of it.

I picked up a book instead. I had nearly forgotten how to read; maybe college does that to you. However, I managed to get into it before long. I'm now very excited to see how Hard Times turns out. Don't tell me the end.

the tragedy of moving on.

[Peter, one of the daily presences at work]

I love my job. I love my co-worker. I love the morning routine. I like my department. I like the organization. But I quit. Boo hoo.

It was collateral damage, the price to pay for moving to another country. Before I started working there a year ago, I knew maybe 5% of what there is to know about the organization, and now I know maybe 60%. It's terrible exciting to get to know something better when you enjoy it.

Wycliffe, don't forget me! I will be back in town in a year!

rocking the vocab

Am I just a nerd or do you love when someone compliments you on your language use?

I really like the English language, and I especially love those words that express a whole concept in one, succinct, little word. When I say something and nail it exactly as I wanted it expressed, it's very gratifying.

I'm not always the best at this, but it seems the trick is to use a middling-size impressive word, not one so great and long and archaic that you sound like a snob.

trolling (as in fishing around for something specific). Yesterday's word.

anomaly. Today's word. Not that impressive but yet someone noticed

his name is andrew

Andrew, my younger brother, turned seventeen yesterday. Andrew is one of my favorites. I think he and I are more alike than either of us are alike our two other siblings. And he likes a lot of the same things I like, which is great, since we both like them.

He's great and smart and really funny. He's working at a boy scout camp this summer with one of our cousins. Talking to him the other night, we realized the week I'll spend up north with them before I take off for London will mostly just be with him.

The rest of our family does the job thing, you know. But Andrew will be done working at the camp and not yet back at school for his senior year. We have plans to capitalize on this wealth of number 2 (me) and number 4 (him) time.

If we're on the same page, I'm thinking daily book club meetings (somehow his summer reading list is every book I've been meaning to read lately), climbing the humongous rock at the nearby park, exploring streams, cooking dinner for the working people, and other greatness.

Should be just the thing while I'll likely be freaking out about leaving the country in mere days.

why I'm boring lately

I just realized: I'm supposed to leave the country in a little over four weeks. I'm freaking out.

Here's my laundry list of to-do's before I leave

- Sell my car (which is currently making the scariest noise in all of humanity)
- Pack up my stuff and get it up to my parents' house up north
- Get my volunteer visa
- Buy health insurance
- Get a plane ticket
- Close down my business affairs here

So I'm scared and worried and stressed and really needing to be working on these things.

strawberries in the morning

I've mentioned before that I'm a morning person. It only follows that I'm also a big fan of breakfast. Down at the house in the country, we always have great things for breakfast. M.B. loves fresh bread and fruit, so it abounds around the kitchen.

journal entry, july 26, 2009

July 2009.

"A trying month indeed for me. Petrified of getting my business affairs in order properly before I leave, both for closing my life here and securing my year in the UK..."

It's not worth rehashing more than that.

on virtual dust

If you've have visited my blog recently, you'll see that Mythopoetic is getting a new look. My blog-savy html-master friend, Anna from Blog Whimsy has been helping me out with creating a new background.

She helped me do the background yesterday, and now I am trying to carve out a nice banner. Stick around, I promise the look will settle sooner or later.

Little Resolves

• To wear a braid at least once a week
  
  
• To find someone to take the canoe out with while I still can use a canoe
  
  
• To buy a sweet little dress I can wear in London without freezing
  
  
• To scour down the house before my benefactress returns
  
  
• Finally get a picture of the sandhills cranes

my story... my hope.

on patriotism & style

I've never been labeled particularly fashionable, though I've gone considerably far from the days of untamed hair (who knew it was actually rather curly) and big nineties glasses. In high school, my best friend was super-cute, and I found her example inspiring.

In college, one of my roommates, besides being naturally gorgeous, had an incredible eye for style. She taught me all the rules and had a large closet. My wardrobe is sadly lacking since we "broke up", i.e. are no longer roommates.

So now I'm left to my own devices.




















I was pretty proud of myself when I put together this outfit on July 3, not even thinking of styling for Independence Day, which was the next day. But the next day was Independence Day, so it worked out even better.

Maybe the tide has turned.

starting off the week

.

What!? It's Monday?

here and abroad

:: I'm going to England

:: A friend is going to teach in Taiwan

:: My former roommate just got offered a nanny job in Finland

Wow. We're going to be all over.

another weekend trip

I'm off again on a little jaunt this weekend. And I took Friday off work, so we're leaving first thing in the morning. Yay for four day work weeks!

My paternal grandfather just turned 80, and they are flying my older brother and I up for the weekend for the celebration.

It sounds like virtually the whole family is going to make it. I haven't seen one of my favorite cousins in probably two years, so I'm really glad that I'll get to see her.

I will also get to see my parents' new house for the first time! Either they or I are delinquent, because I've only seen one picture of it yet also, and I'm pretty sure that was the real estate ad. Hey, life is busy.

My little brother is coming home for the weekend too, leaving the camp where he's working, my sister will be there. I'll see my parents... Seems like I'll see them now, then for maybe a week in August.

After that, I'm off to London and may or may not come back for Christmas, so it may be a while before we're all reunited. It's a good thing I rarely get homesick.

back from pensacola

Pensacola was awesome.

Usually when I've gone to stay with K. and K. at their parents', we just chill. This weekend, we managed to squeeze in quite a bit.

Friday morning we hustled out to the base to go running. We found plenty of food to eat. We did a little shopping in Alabama. I scored a smart sweater for London weather.

Best of all, I got to go sailing! Kristi's parents got a small catamaran, and I was so excited to take it out. Like always, we met a new slew of marines, air force, and navy people. I also appreciated the chance to hangout with people who are in active duty on Independence Day.

holiday weekend wishlist

My fabulous former roommate, Kristi and I are headed to the western-most point of Florida for the holiday weekend: Pensacola. The land of the Blue Angels, uniforms, and military bases.

Pensacola is practically Alabama, which you can see from her parent's dock. A dock? Sweet haven, yes. Her parents have waterfront on a small bay there. When we were there for Thanksgiving a few years back, I dragged every willing body out of bed to watch the sun rise - beautiful.

Katie will already be there, along with their parents and grandma, and Kristi and I will join the throng.

I have a lot I'm working on now, plus holding down the fort while MB is off meeting her new grandbaby. I think the dog misses her mistress, and I'm a poor substitute. My goal: work hard for the next two days and then relax for a few, before picking up the stress for another month of so.

While I'm getting a mini vacation, I hope to get a few fun and a few necessary things accomplished.

- Read a whole book. Thinking about Who Moved my Cheese? but up for suggestions
- Start making support-raising phone calls
- Mail out all out-standing thank yous to supporters
- Apply for my London background check
- Develop some photo editing skills
- Blog a bit

What are your holiday plans? Anyone want to come to Pensacola?

Psalm 73:25-26

"Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever."

Psalm 73:25-26, NIV

shout out

Here's to my two coworkers that offered to replace my radiator for me!

I mean, do I look like the kind of person that could manage to do that? No. And so you graciously offered to put my new one in for me. I couldn't have done it.

I can't tell you how appreciative I am! And next time for compensation, demand for some food more illustrious than Taco Bell, 'cause I'd be happy to get it.

feeling of the day

Monday morning. Feeling a little crazy today.

cars.

The questions I've been asking lately and the answers I've been receiving. It's all a matter of perspective. And believe me, I've been asking the questions out of necessity, not will.

Q. Coolant or water, which is superior?
A. People gave opinions, but turns out the coolant I have is already a 50/50 mix.

Q. How far can I run with a cracked radiator spewing the coolant/water I just dumped in it?
A. I didn't have to find out. Two friends replaced the radiator for me.

Q. How important is power steering fluid?
A. It remains to be seen.

running recently?

No way.

We're in week three of major-heat-here-to-stay, it seems. Yes, I know. It's Florida, and it's supposed to be hot. But we've been just shy of 100 degrees daily. I've lived here a long time, and I know Florida heat. This is exceptional.

Finally, I manned up and went running two nights ago. I quit after two miles, because it was still nearly ninety degrees at 9:30pm.

I will perservere as much as possible. Otherwise, I'll pick back up "serious" running when I reach the cool shores of Great Britain.

job titles

Have you ever asked someone what they do and had them counter with a nondescript job title? Inevitably, the follow-up question is, "So what does that mean exactly?"

With any luck, the person can then explain what they actually end up doing every day at work.

Today at work, I was rolling through our staff directory and landed on this title: Multiskilled Generalist.

Booya.

summer solstice

It's here! The first day of summer.

Consequently, that means that it's also the summer solstice. Longest day of the year above the equator.

Wait. The longest day of the year. That's the summer solstice, also known in places as Midsummer's Day. How can it be Midsummer's Day if it's the first day of summer?

blog list

simply breakfast

Cup of Jo

Rockstar Diaries

Fly Through Our Window

Smarten!

Soulemama

Life as an Artistpreneur

behind the gate

coast to coast blog

british trivia

Do you know the geographical differences between the terms "Great Britain" and "the United Kingdom".

I used to wonder. This is what I found.

Great Britain- England, Scotland, and Wales
So all that are on the isle Britain.

United Kingdom- England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland
All that is part of the kingdom.

.

{original image here}

"when we do the numbers..."

Approximately 7,000 languages spoken worldwide.

Just 500 languages have a complete Bible.

There are over 500 versions of the complete Bible in English.

It's time to spread the love.



source: ethnologue.com

no reqiuem yet

I got it four years ago, and it was already ten years old.

I finally succumbed to the reality that it needed some attention. When it shakes like a rattle every time I stop for a prolonged period of time, it's hard to ignore.

A friend offered to take a look. "Rachel, I don't know how you're driving this." Great. It sounds like it's actually okay to drive; it just may quit at some point.

Well I just need it until I leave for London! I've emphatically informed God of this fact, and I know He will do.

Poor little car. It's so great. I had to call my little brother and tell him I don't think he's going to get a car in September, though.

soularium

I've used it before, and it can be a useful tool.

Should I buy a set of Soularium cards to use while I'm in London?

If I end up working at the arts center, it might be something I could get regular use out of. They are artisty and can be a great conversation catalyst.

foreign names

I have this thing for foreign names. It's a completely harmless fancy now. I don't know if I would ever spring them on a good ol' American baby, but I just love the sounds of the names, though not always the spellings.

Anouk (girl)

Beorn (boy) cheesy, I know

Svetlana (girl)

Johanna (girl) [pronounce: yo-ha-na]

phases

I'll save you the introspection.

The upshot is, in three weeks, these two little boys, their sister, their brother, and their parents will be headed back to the Middle East.

And I will be very sad.

text messaging.

I know, I'm so 2005, but I'm new to text messaging. It's a recent acquisition. Occasionally, I would message when necessary, but always with a hint of regret, because it was costing me. It's still costing me, but I pay less now, and I know I can use a certain amount per month.

It's amazing. I'm glad I only do have limited, because then I have to be conscientious. It's a challenge to select recipients and to carefully craft messages so convene the maximum meaning with fewest sent messages.

And I still master the technique of reading the first few characters of a message in the preview window so I don't have to pay to open it.

Suffice to say, now I understand. Texting is great.

six

Dear Mythopoetic readers,

This weekend is it. Kissing my home of three years and my four roomies adieu. We have to be out of the apartment by the end of this weekend.

I've already moved a car load down to my summer lodgings, but I must move things to my brother's to store while I'm in London, and I have to find a home for my kitchen table too. I'll get my brother to help, but he's super-busy with his graduate thesis right now too.

Usually, I have very little drag in my life. This week, however, has been colored by four repetitive themes: car issues, work, six hours of sleep, moving. Each day, I get up and repeat the steps.

Six hours of sleep, *sob. I don't know how I'll ever have kids; I need my sleep so badly. It's okay, I'll be able to sleep more tonight and Saturday night. If I can manage it, I need to stick a fifth theme into my life- finishing my support letters.

Lovingly, your harried-tired-complaining, ever-truly Rachel

london blog

You may already think I'm an excessive blogger, but hey, everyone is a geek about something.

I have launched a blog specifically for my London trip and for my friends, family, London supporters to read.

If you really like reading blogs, and if you really like reading my blogs, read this one concurrently with this blog. Believe it or not, I do intend to write about different things and maintain these as two very different blogs.

I'm calling it Picturesque from the Flat. Aptly named, I hope. But I don't yet know what the view from my flat in London will look like.

It'll be good. I promise. It already is.

bare walls

My beautiful corner is now bare. It's getting packed up. I'm finishing up my support letters, packing boxes, and trying to plan moving abroad.

Next weekend, I'll move into my summer lodgings and continue working. Anything not coming with me is intended to stay with my brother for the summer and then move up to stay with my parents' until my return.

Moving is stressful. I need a brownie. Maybe ice cream too.

(It's really not that bad).

moving blues

I don't know how to move. I have only moved twice in my life, and I don't remember the first time because I was so young. The second time was only from my parent's house to an apartment half an hour away.

Now I'm facing the big move.

My parents are gone, moved five states away. I'm facing the post-college-temporary-living-situation-before-going-abroad-move. The PCTLSBGAM move if you will.

Therefore, I'm finding my packing is falling into four difference categories: just to London stuff, here and London stuff, box it up and store it at my brother's, here but not go to London stuff. And this is why I haven't actually packed much.

I did manage to fill one small box with books. I need more boxes, though. And I need to give away my last few pieces of furniture. Anyone want a kitchen table? Pick it up and I'll give you a good deal.

monday rainy monday

We don't get a lot of them, but it looks to be officially a rainy day.

{ If I were at home, I would go run around in it.

{ If I were in a reading mood, I'd probably read George Orwell.

{ If I were really motivated, I'd make the craft I've been putting off.

{ If nothing else, I'd say I was practicing for London weather.

As it is, I have packing awaiting me when I get home. Errands to run when I'm able. And some adorable little kids to watch tonight.

country outline

I love geography.Can you guess what country this?

back to the pavement

Family, graduation, upheaval. Those things can keep you from your running schedule. So can the dreaded spike to average temperatures for the southeast. 90 degrees across the board the past week.

I'm no wimp but when it's 90 with high humidity at 5:00pm, I can't usually take it. I want to live.

Anyway, I finally managed to go after work yesterday, finishing just before a torrent of rain. I knew it'd be rough after a week's absence, but man! my body has the shortest memory ever.

When I started, my legs were like, "Oh, we're still doing this?"

just me.

It's just me.

Things are different, though.

Assuming I get my diploma mailed to me, I am a B.A. now. I don't like thinking about it as "the past four years have culminated, bringing you to this point... graduation!"

It's not like that for me. It wasn't all for an end. Barely a means to an end. Just part of a larger thing- my life.

But things are different. Change is here. In two short weeks, I will have to have my belongings packed and will move out of the cozy flat where I've hung my keys for the past three years. Let's not even talk about the four girls I will have to cease living with.

I don't feel any different. But I'm forced onto "the next stage of life". I'm pretty excited about it, don't get me wrong. But this time is over, and it was a good time.

"The World in Words"

This podcast seems to have been hand-designed to interest me. I like everything they talk about, probably because they are talking about everything I like.

It's a podcast all about language.

A weekly podcast exclusively about languages around the world! It's put on by the BBC and Public Radio International (PRI). Patrick Cox is the guy who does the podcast.

He even came to Wycliffe to interview the president about the work Wycliffe does!

I have exhausted all of the episodes on my ipod. But, thankfully, I just discovered this podcast, and it's been going for a while, so I will have a while before I'll hit the only-one-weekly wall.

You can subscribe to it on itunes or find it at theworld.org

[nonpolitical] change!

My life will never be the same.

I can control what I listen to in my car. My AM radio doesn't work. FM radio is largely terrible. Poor me. No longer!

My roommate had one of those tape adapter things and gave it to me yesterday. So I tried it out. Hooked up my little baby ipod to it.

Like magic! I could play stuff on my ipod over my speakers. My podcast consumption rate is about to sky-rocket. Recommend your favorites, because I need to subcribe to more.

My commute this morning was awesome.

the monday list

The exams are taken. The last papers are written.

Honors banquet on Wednesday night; family flies in Thursday; graduation ceremony on Friday.

Thus should conclude my undergraduate career, culminating (at least for me) with receiving my diploma in the mail. Is it ridiculous that I still worry that something will happen and they'll tell me I missed something on my degree audit?

My graduation is at 8:30 in the morning, which is swell. I haven't tried on my cap and gown yet, which I should do, just in case, you know. Then I'll make sure I know where I can park, where I have to go, so I kiss my worries good-bye.

I'm excited about seeing the family, though. Haven't seen my two younger sibs or parents since
Christmas. One set of my grandparents are also coming down.

I work Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, which is great. So today, I am trying to use my free time to do anything I can that needs tending.

Loooong to-do list. But at least there's nothing too terrible on it. See, I'm still smiling.

bit of london litany

So perhaps you recall me talking a bit about London? At least mentioning?

I certainly hope so, because I feel like I've talked about it several times. It's almost one of the themes of this blog, in my mind. And if it hasn't been evident, it ought to be soon.

London's the plan. That is "what I plan to do when I graduate". I've been accepted to the program, I'm finishing a support letter, and I hope to leave in early September.

There are far too many unknowns to gush about the trip now, not to mention being preoccupied with this whole graduating thing, but I am terribly excited about this plan.

I'll be living two teensy-eensy miles from the Thames and London Bridge!

this one starts with a little quiz.

.
Digo. Tira. Guanano. Mewkwaki.
.

These are:
a. the names of four cities in Guatemala
b. four types of plants in the Amazon
c. four ancient Mayan gods
d. the names of four languages

Your answer please.

Today at Wycliffe, they had a Scripture celebration. They dedicated Scripture for 11 different languages that were previously without any Scripture or what they had was little or poor.

One of these 11 was actually for a language in the continental US (didn't know we had languages left here, did you?). They have completed several Scripture portions in the Meskwaki language, which is the language of the Algonquian people.

A lot of Algonquians live in the Iowa area, and the languages has just several hundred speakers today. Having the language written down and having literature in the language will help encourage literacy in the language and keep it from dying out.

This is just absolutely incredible. Thousands of people can now hear God speak to them in their own language through his Word.

That's 11 down for Vision 2025!

c. list

I love coffee always, but I have an on-again, off-again relationship with it (don't want to get dependent on it). Lately, we have been very on.

:: Tuesday :: Starbucks Breakfast Blend, home-brewed; French vanilla cappuccino from machine at work. Possible stop after work: 50 cent-coffee day at Dunkin' Donuts.

:: Monday :: Grande cappuccino from Starbucks

:: Sunday :: Starbucks Breakfast Blend, home-brewed

:: Saturday :: Left-over Barnie's Irish creme, home-brewed.

da jesus book

“God wen get so plenny love an aloha fo da peopo inside da world, dat he wen send me, his one an ony Boy, so dat everybody dat trus me no get cut off from God, but get da real kine life dat stay to da max foeva.”

You might know it more along these lines: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

It’s John 3:16 in the Hawaiian Pidgin language.

More, you demand? Gladly:

“So den, wat bout us guys? All dose peopo dat wen trus God befo time, jalike dey all wen run one race. An now, jalike dey all stay standing aroun us, watching us run da race, an showing us how fo do um. So we gotta gemo all dat stuff dat make us run slow, you know, dat bad kine stuff dat jam us all up. We gotta hang in dea an finish da race dat God wen pick fo us.” - Fo Da Hebrew Peopo 12:1

Source: Da Jesus Book. Wycliffe Bible Translators. 2000.

you can't beat a good morning

I think I should have dubbed this blog something about mornings. I feel like that's all that I write about. What can I say?

Mornings are the best part of the entire day. The 6am to 8am block is my absolute favorite block of time.

Funny, I expected this morning to be a trying one, especially citing my unanticipated 1am to 6:30 sleep bracket last night.

It was worth it, though. I ran in my third-ever 5K last night. The run went through downtown and it was the biggest 5K the city has ever seen. I ran with 11,000 other people!

Other contributions to the morning's greatness:

{ A delightful phone call at 6:45. Don't worry, I didn't wake the roomies.

{ Warm bagel and cream cheese for breakfast. Hey, I just ran 3 miles last night and walked at least another four.

{ I rediscovered an awesome shirt in my closet and wore it to work.

map of the world

So I ran around campus a lot yesterday. Truly, it was an unprecedented amount for my usual traffic patterns. I had two classes plus a myriad of errands. Check out my mad skills with Paint.

A map of my campus that I marked to show my route.

good things to photograph

Easter festivities on Saturday with my friend's kids.

They have been one of the best parts of my entire year.

appreciation

I'm kind of grumpy this morning. My personal term for this state is "disgruntled", but not everyone knows what I mean when I say this.

It started this morning when my alarm went off. Usually, I shut it off, stretch and awake up for exactly two minutes and then bound out of bed. This morning, I couldn't will myself up until ten minutes after it had gone off.

When I ventured out of the bedroom's double doors, the wonderful feature that gives Bethany and I extra privacy, every little thing annoyed me. That one roommate had left the couch disheveled, the lamp wasn't working, and, disastrous of all, my already-prepared breakfast was missing.

The evidence of me making it last night was there, so I'm not psychotic, but it was gone. Either I slept-walked and ate it in my sleep or someone else ate it or I was dillustional in my search this morning and I'll find it stuffed somewhere when I get home. Weird in any case. I'm usually very methodical.

Funny of our (my) state of being well relies so incredibly much of schedule and detail and how one or two things can derail me for the entire day. Don't tell me humans aren't fragile!

In tandem with my feeble efforts to manage my own life, here is my plan to get me back on a smooth mental/emotional course for the rest of the day:

:: Work hard.

:: Go running after work and before class if I can possible manage it

:: Work on my support letter for London

:: Read The Hobbit on my lunch break. I finally borrowed it from the university library!

:: Think about happy things like french brackets, typed words, and sylfaen and georgia fonts.

first times for everything

I can't say that my life is particularly challenging daily. Thankfully, I'm incredibly blessed and many realms of my life work pretty smoothly. Upsets and just change, even minor, challenge me. Unfamiliar things kind of upset me, until I have "conquered" them.

I dislike my level of discomfort with the unknown. Lately, I have been working on keeping rational even through uncharted events. As my roommate says, "What's the worst that can happen?" Usually it's not that bad. And what I have to fear anyway. In communication, they call it a need for 'uncertainty reduction'.

I'm learning all sorts of great things and conquering new territory. What are some of these firsts? Changed a headlight all by myself. Got my eyebrows waxed; no tweezers for a good long while now! Got rearended for the first time. Dealing with insurance companies by myself. Driving a rental car (scared to death) for the first time.

And I just met Steve Saint. That counts, right? It's the first time that I met him. He's the son of Nate Saint, the famous missionary pilot who was killed by Waordani indians several decades ago. Maybe you've heard of End of the Spear? It's a really good movie and tells about those four men.

what I want to read.

The Hobbit. It's strange. I've had this craving to read it for a few months, but the pangs haven't been great enough for me to take any action to acquire a copy. Today, it's killing me. I must get my hands on a copy asap.

It's detrimental to ignore these sorts of urges. You could permanently damage your psyche or lose some brilliant blossom of an idea that is yet unrealized. Or so I find.

I love that book. I have the utmost respect for JRR Tolkien, and I suppose that you could call me a moderate fan of The Lord of the Rings (geekish, I know), but I'm more a fan of the brilliant author and the genius of his linguistic crafts.

I am very familiar with The Lord of the Rings books, though I've never read any of the three in their entirety. But I've read The Hobbit. I really like it. It's shorter, lighter, and more "happy" than the other three seem. I like how it's one complete story in one book, instead of a massive and complex story spread throughout three books.

It's a great adventure story and the good English it's written in along brings enough pleasure to merit a read. Anybody wanna lend me their copy?

.excerpt.
"'What do you mean?' he said. 'Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you fee good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?'" - The Hobbit

work for the weekend

I like this type of work. It's different from the rest of the week.

I've managed to do a million errands, and now I have to settle down and do homework.

:: Take an online test

:: Finish an excel assignment

:: Do paperwork for London

:: Start drafting a support letter

:: Go running

:: Finish watching Chocolat

:: Pull out my mad cleaning skills and clean up the flat

the theatre

I'm not a huge movie person. I rarely go to the theater; I go see maybe six movies a year in theaters. The last movie that I went to was Slumdog Millionare (I could write several blog posts on that movie, and it totally deserved to win Best Picture at the Oscars). But besides my obsession with Mamma Mia, I haven't really been watching anything.

So it's kind of strange that I am craving a movie night.

It's great to see new things, but, I really like a nice, familiar movie. I have been considering these two:

- Dan in Real Life

- Evening, a little-known movie with Claire Danes

- The Village

Any other suggestions?

the ipod

I am now the owner of a baby-blue 8 gigabyte ipod nano.

This might not seem news-worthy to a lot of people, but getting an ipod is a big deal for me. I have never owned one before, and I was anti-ipod for a while (philosophical reasons). I've been a proud hold-out.

Finally, I got over myself. Radio music is frustrating, and my AM station isn't working. I was actually given the money for one at Christmas but kept waiting to find what I wanted.

Finally, I saw what I wanted at the Apple store. I really like this color, and I wanted the rectangle-shaped nano, since it is larger and seemed like it would be harder to lose. And I bought a refurbished one because they are cheaper.

I just my new computer up and running now, so I'm terribly excited about getting all my files back. And new computer means itunes again, so soon little baby blue will have songs! Now if I could only find some earbuds that will fit well in my little ears.

sum up

Well it's not quite over, but here's a report of the weekend. It must have been busy, judging by the pile of clothes and unkempt bed I can see.

:: The race went well! I ran the whole thing, which was my goal. My time was 29:47.

:: The kids were great! They are so handy to have around when you need a hug or a kiss.

:: Homework was turned in, sufficiently, I hope.

:: The out-of-town guests were delightful.

I just made a plate of killer-good pasta. Except that I topped it with white sauce, it couldn't have been that bad for me. I put spinach with a bit of lemon juice on the plate and then mixed the noodles with cooked asparagus, cherry tomatoes, and pine nuts.

weekend list

It's going to be busy but good too.

:: Complete a super-confusing xhtml project for a class

:: Run my 5k

:: Take a quiz for another class

:: Have dinner with an out-of-town friend

:: Hangout with four very energetic kids

:: Do laundry, the dishes, and tidying

daily muse

If you want something to mull over today, here are some light thoughts on gender inequality and perspective on it from another part of the globe. I promise it's interesting and not a rant.


And otherwise, here's a picture to make radical feminists recoil: two of my roomies sheathed in aprons.

{L: Katie in my IKEA apron. R: the newly-become Mrs. Anna Pryor of Fancy is Free}

st patrick's prayer

Read the previous post first, or after this one. Either way, don't miss it.

A prayer, authorship generally credited to St. Patrick:

I arise today
Through a might strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayer of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightening,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.

Christ to shield me today
Against poison,against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.
Christ with me Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a might strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.

{as appeared in Philosophizing from the Flat on May 20, 2008}

st. patrick

I'll post this now so you may be adequately prepared to observe tomorrow.

St. Patrick was not Irish. I know, bummer. Fold up the four-leaved clovers wall decorations and save the money you'd have spent on beer. Just kidding. About the beer.

I'll put some links below, so you can get the scintillating details. But here's the skinny:

He grew up in Britain and was kinapped from his village by Irishmen when he was in his teens (this was all towards the end of the fourth century). He had grown up with a strong Christian family, but by his admissions, was a rather wild kid. It was while he was in Ireland working as a slave that he grew to know God.

Years later, he escaped from Ireland. One night, he had a vision in which the Irish were calling out to him to come and work among them again, God telling him to return. Some of what happened in the time between his escape from Ireland and his return to it seem disputed by scholars. But he did return.

Patrick and his monks are largely attributed the credit for lessening the influence of the pagan worshippers and also for spreading Christianity over the island.

These give you some more of the meat: Good, better, best. Seriously, Patrick was one cool dude.

{appearing concurrently in Philosophizings from the Flat}

{spring equinox}

What is March 20th? Why, yes, it's the first day of spring.

It's the spring equinox also.

There are two solstices and two equinoxes yearly. The summer solstice seems to get the most publicity but the rest are just as cool.

Look this stuff up for your own edification, but I will tell you about the things I remember from my own research.

The equinoxes are when the days and nights are equal in length. The summer solstice is the longest day and the winter solstice is the shortest day. Of course, this is all more dramatic if you live very far from the equator, near the poles.

I can totally understand why some Scandinavian countries want to celebrate Midsummer after suffering through near darkeness for the winter months.

I do my utmost do mark all important (especially worthy, obscure) holidays. I'll let you know what plans I cook up.

Glossary of everything- linguistics

During my undergrad career, I took Introduction to Linguistics. It was fascinating. I never had realized how much about language one could study. I couldn't believe that I got to learn this stuff. I couldn't believe how unbelievably difficult it was to understand.

Seriously, we studied syntax, sematics, morphology, phonetics, phonemics, and I think one other one. The only one I could understand a little was semantics. I made it through the class respectablely enough, and scraped out with a B+, mostly thanks to a friend in the class who had been through a similar class and had a better grasp on things.

I still think linguistics rocks.

If you have never heard of the International Phonetic Alphabet, stop reading this post right now and run over and look at this chart. IPA is a chart that represents every known sound in every known language. Each symbol represents an language-sound. It's so cool.

When I was especially obsessed with my major, I started compiling all the interesting terms and concepts into this master glossary, divided up by subject matter. I made such a file for linguistics.

My computer is dead right now, and I had commandeered my out-of-town roommate's for the week (thanks, Katie! hope you don't mind!). But I stumbled across a printed out copy of my linguistic file. As a reward for reading such a long introduction here's a sampling:

Code switching- the way people change their way of speaking depending on different environments

Dialect- variation of a language (we all speak dialects)

Phonetics- the study of speech sounds; studies raw sound

Phonology- the interaction of speech sounds in an environment

Phoneme- word

Okay, that was pretty easy. Here are some of the crazier concepts.

Fricative- with friction

Diphthong- two sounds standing together as one, but is a single sound "(ex. "I")

Flap- the name of the "r" sound in the word "water"

Voiceless- vocal folds relaxed; buzzing at base of larynx, (ex. "s")

Africate- begins with complete closed vocal tract and ends with vocal turbulence, i.e. friction (ex. "judge")


Yup, linguistics for you.