Window With a View

Pictures of Little Miss Bean (Madeleine Emma)

2007-08-19T21:18:00.001-07:00

The Crib

2007-08-19T21:14:00.000-07:00

Now that we have the bebe and are (gradually) moving into our new place on Aberdeen we have affectionately named our residence The Crib. If anyone wants to visit "Greg" aka Madeleine or Bean, you can now find us at 254 Aberdeen Ave., Apt. #5. Good times.

Short and Sweet

2007-08-01T09:20:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's high time I blog. Well, here I am, blogging. The good news is, I have a baby girl in my arms.

Update

2007-07-04T07:21:00.000-07:00

It appears that since this baby has decided to make itself comfortable in my womb until the turn of the new century the only two people who have a gleam of hope for winning the baby pool are Jay and Rich Oosterhoff. Thanks to the rest of you who gave it a go, but the baby is obviously more than willing to take its sweet time. Definitely a Legg baby.

You know, it isn't fair. When you have your babies is supposed to be strongly correlated to genetics: if your mother or relatives are inclined to have their babies early or late you will likely be predisposed that way as well. Well, not only did my mom have me ten days early, but all the women on both my mom and dad's sides had their first either on the due date or early. The latest was only one day past her due date. So why me? Anyhow, just ranting. I really don't want to have to be induced next week so if you could keep that in your prayers....

Back to waiting.

The BLT: The Non-Depraved Sandwich?

2007-07-03T17:55:00.000-07:00

Apparently, Locke Street Bakery is renowned for its BLT bagel which has a reputation for inducing labour in multiple women. I would like to think that this is because bacon, as I have discussed with numerous friends, is the food of the New Earth. Has it escaped the fallenness that the rest of creation is inevitably tainted by? I wonder. It is creationally normative to long for bacon and, therefore, children in utero long to be part of the world of bacon consumption. This is why the BLT induces labour; this is why I ate one today.

For Felix, Laura and Gayle

2007-06-27T09:00:00.001-07:00

So I still haven't had the baby which means either I will be over a week late (please, Lord, no) and you will still get to be there and see the baby brand new, or you will get to see the little Legg when it is a week or a few days old and just as cute. I am hoping for the latter because otherwise Jason's life will be miserable for the next two weeks. Have fun in B.C.!!!!!!

BAH!

2007-06-25T15:47:00.000-07:00

Ok it's time to put your prayer-warrior suits on and pray this baby out of me! I know my due date has not even come yet, but I am getting beyond bored and frustrated with the myriad pains of childbearing. Could you put your requests in for tonight? That would be great since Laura, Felix, and Gayle are leaving on Wednesday and they are anxious to meet the little Legg as well. So yeah, tonight would be good.

And the winners are...

2007-06-16T06:31:00.000-07:00

As of right now:

Madeleine Emma
Elliott Benjamin

MIA

2007-06-15T19:40:00.000-07:00

Pretty much going to be MIA for the next couple of weeks (or until this baby is born). After venting to Jay tonight I realized that I am fairly miserable company and that I have this (natural? nesting?) urge to never leave the house. So aside from a couple of plans that we have made, expect to hear little or not at all from me. And to see me less. I still love you. It's actually because I love you that I am protecting you all from the she-bear that is exposing itself in these final weeks. Rawr! Rawr! She-bear!

Seriously

2007-06-15T15:29:00.000-07:00

Could I get any bigger? I don't think so. I am now getting to the point where everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, agitates me. The other day Mira and I were shopping and I wanted to slap around some of the sales clerks just because they said hi to me and I didn't like their retail insincerity. I am hyper-sensitive about people saying things like, "Oh, your first baby? Probably be late, honey, sorry" or "Just enjoy your time to yourself right now." Oh yeah, sure. Easy for you to say when you aren't truckin' around an extra and sudden 40 lbs., when your back isn't constantly in agony, when you can't sleep because of pain, and when your hormones aren't entirely out of whack! And why do complete strangers feel it's necessary to turn me around, look me up and down, and assess whether I am having a boy or girl based on whether I am carrying a lot in my butt! Hrrmmmmpppffffffffffffffffffff!!!!!! Stop the insanity!!!!!!

Ok, I'm done. For now.

Two New and Exciting Things (No, I Haven't Had the Baby)

2007-06-12T08:23:00.000-07:00

The other day Jay and I were eating lunch at the ever-so-sketchy, not-so-palatable and slightly nauseating Buffet World and I got a fortune cookie whose fortune read: "A surprise announcemement will free you." Hmmmm...interesting. I don't know how much of a surprise it will be, but at this point in time it will certainly be liberating for my back when I have the wee baby.

Secondly, Jason and I have found a new apartment! It is on Aberdeen in between Queen and Locke and we really love it. It has two bedrooms which are kind of essential for the baby-ness and a roof-top patio which is kind of essential for our social-ness. So when we move in mid-August we want to have a little get-together and invite y'all out. You dig it?

Yep, so that's the big news so far. Hoping to have some real big news, real soon.

Don't Get Comfortable

2007-05-31T10:32:00.000-07:00

Not long now...

2007-05-31T09:19:00.001-07:00

Jay really wants to give our son (if we have a boy, that is) the middle name "Bean" which in gaelic means "life." What do we think of this? Bean? Honestly? Elliott Zachary Bean Legg. Um....someone has got to sell me on this if you are on Jay's side, because I really don't think so.

P.S. My husband is creative, unique and wonderful and this post does not reflect any opinion otherwise---just concern with extent of creativity in this one instance.

Baby Pool

2007-05-19T21:12:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am obsessed with the coming of our little one and very likely will be blogging with that in mind frequently. So you can expect a recurring theme. And thanks to Christy Bloemendal (I am sorry if I butchered that spelling, Christy and James) I now have set up this awesome baby pool that actually allows you to guess the weight, gender, length, time and date of birth. Then once the baby is born and I enter in the correct information it will calculate an overall winner as well as winners for particular categories. So while I feel a bit like we are gambling over my child's entrance and existence, it is all too much fun and entertaining for me to see what you all anticipate for the little Legg's big day. The prize for the overall winner is two-fold: 1.) The comfort and pride in your sheer awesomeness and 2.) Beer and pizza party with friends (on us, of course) at your friendly neighbourhood Legg's house to celebrate the birth of baby and your immense foresight. And if you live far away then you may just have to be content with your awesomeness. So, enter in your guesses! It's going to be fun no matter how you look at it. Thanks guys!

Yuck

2007-05-12T19:41:00.000-07:00

I hate centipedes. Saw two tonight running across my floor. That's two too many. Moelker and I believe that they are setting up a conspiracy against mankind. They are smart and wait until you are most vulnerable to make an appearance. At that point they can gain the greatest scare factor and eventually take over the world once it is in chaos. I can feel them winning.

Awesome

2007-05-10T09:25:00.000-07:00

Jay and I have decided to hold a "The Coolest Friend Competition." The criteria for the competition are as follows:

*buy this (or any other Homestar Runner themed things) for our baby: http://homestarrunner.stores.yahoo.net/poopsmith.html

That's it.

Disclaimer: There is no such thing as "The Coolest Friend." We love you all very much and are only trying to get things we really like for our baby that our parents will not buy for us. We thought this guise was a very clever approach to achieving our aims. You will still be incredibly cool whether or not you buy things for our baby. However, our baby may grow up to be cooler if you do.

A Lovely Sight to an Expectant Woman

2007-04-29T18:09:00.000-07:00

Audrey and Micah Tavares dropped in today to show off their one month old little bundle, Mercedes. I had never seen Jay with a baby before so once I saw him with her in his lap, absolutely consumed with her, tickling her feet and generally swooning over every cute thing she did I also began to swoon a little. It is so weird that we are going to be parents. But I think our time with Mercedes today made us ever more excited!

Yep.

2007-04-27T09:23:00.000-07:00

Kate and Andrew Riley have a daughter named Ireland. Now that's hot. Ok, maybe I'm biased.

A Girl?

2007-04-25T20:13:00.000-07:00

According to the Chinese Lunar Calendar, I am having a girl. It is supposed to be 93% accurate. It is also, like, a million years old. I don't know.....

The Perfect Name

2007-04-25T15:23:00.000-07:00

Jay and I spent some time today trying to figure out a middle name for the baby if it so happens to be a little girl (which I still think would be near-miraculous considering the odds). We love Madeleine for a first name; however, Steve and Maria are set on that name for a girl as well and seeing as they are due first (by three days) and that our children will likely be growing up together (as in seeing each other on special trips and occassions and being good friends), we don't want duplicate names. Supposing Madeleine were the first name...that's as far as we have progressed! We can't seem to find a good, meaningful second name. We don't want to do the whole "inherit a family name" thing because that just gets complicated. We want the name to be beautiful and have a nice (not necessarily Christian) meaning. I am tired of looking through baby name books.
Here is what we have thus far come up with (and none really grab us):

1. Alina (means "bright" or "fair")
2. Poopsmith (means "poopsmith"--Jay is particularly fond of this one)
3. Isabella (I don't know what it means)

So what I am wondering is if any of you know of, or have heard of, some unique, beautiful names that might suit a Legg baby with the first name Madeleine. Greg/Kris do not count.

Ireland

2007-04-19T08:15:00.001-07:00

Check out facebook for some awesome Ireland photos!

For Future Reference

2007-03-16T17:05:00.000-07:00

If you ever ask a Northern Irish person how much accommodation is at their bed and breakfast and they say "twenty pints," don't be fooled. They are really saying "twenty pounds" but it sounds funny. I was sure it was just some good ol' Irish drinking humour.

Few Things Funnier Than Kitsch

2007-03-12T14:39:00.000-07:00

You HAVE to check out this site if you want to have a really good laugh over some Christian kitsch. Come on, procrastinate. You will laugh your head off. Make sure you read the comments under each pic.

http://www.goingjesus.com/easter/easter.shtml

An Insomniac's Thoughts

2007-03-06T23:27:00.000-08:00

Well, I can't sleep. I have to get up tomorrow at 6 am and I can't sleep. I have to go to Toronto tomorrow morning to deal with this birth certificate thing so I can re-apply for my passport. Thank God for expedited services. I am also really hungry and it won't stop. I ate supper at 8:30. Then an apple, a yogourt and just now (at 2 am) a cup of warm milk and some arrowroot cookies. My tummy is still grumbly like I haven't eaten in two days. Arrghhh!

So while I sit here trying to get tired, I should also clear up the details of my last post. First of all, one friend commented on my post saying "What do you play?" after I had adamantly stated that in order to come to the Music Night you must play. This is fair since I do not play. To clarify: if you do not play an instrument, you may still attend but must either sing acapella or find someone to accompany you or do something musical of some kind. I did not make these rules, but I am told I have to abide by them. Mainly this is because of lack of space at the Studio.

Also, I wanted to note that in the spirit of LStew's blog, I will also be a cool parent. I did the little test and am not posting the results here. But, I can assure you it said I will be cool. That is reassuring.

Ok, I should attempt sleep again. Just some ramblings.

This Weekend

2007-03-04T18:19:00.000-08:00

This weekend produced a number of memorable pictures that I thought you might like to see. Some are from our music night at the Studio (which you can come and join us for next time IF you play something...NO EXCEPTIONS) and the other are just us goofing off at my house taking pregnant pictures of me. Enjoy, friends!!!

Emo Baby

2007-02-07T23:18:00.000-08:00

Jay and I went to our very first ultrasound today and were in awe of the little life growing inside of me. This baby already exhibits how it is a by-product of us: the child is stubborn, let me tell you, a natural angsty protester. We suspected since it is a Legg, it would be active (definitely a Legg trait, not Epps as much). And so it is. First of all, I think I have a bruise on my tummy from all the shaking that ultrasound woman did with the proby thing to get the baby to move its arms (which were crossed over it's face like an 'X') so we could see its face. The baby absolutely refused. Even after I moved to either side and the woman continued to abuse my tender tummy from those angles, little baby Legg refused to surrender its angsty, emo stance. Then, we were shown images of the baby lying on its side and while the rest of it remained fairly motionless, its little stubby legs (in comparison to the length of the rest of the body) were just motorin'. The child was obviously trying to propel itself out of the womb. Either that, or those are indeed soccer "leggs." If its arms and hands are equally as active, we can expect a little musical prodigy on our hands. Oh, and the baby had chosen the position du jour this afternoon: to rest its tiny cranium upon my bladder making the day an awkward one.

All jest aside, WE ARE SO EXCITED!!! Our baby is healthy! And no matter what people say to try to calm you, you go into that ultrasound expecting the worse for some reason: the baby has three heads, or six eyes, or no spine, or is not human. To see our little one just being its feisty Legg-Epps self was an immense relief. And also we were told that all measurements are right on par and the heart beat is healthy and normal. Praise God for those beyond-our-control-and-trust-in-Him wonderful blessings!

Some Things I've More Recently Noticed I Love About Some of the People I Love

2007-02-01T20:10:00.000-08:00

1. Jason's bum-chin (or face-bum...that dimple in his chin for clarification), warmth and strange quirks.
2. Melissa Kuiper's laugh and sense of humor.
3. Mira's spontaneity and generosity. And she's my Ukrainian kindred spirit.
4. Ashley's ability to open me up.
5. Katrina's warm hugs (when you least expect them).
6. Felix's unmatchable wit.
7. Laura Stewart's random caresses, bum squeezes, and many other gestures of love (ie. sticking her finger up my nose).
8. LMo's amazing ability to listen and share at the appropriate times.
9. Gayle's all-around ease (ie. her ability to make me calm).
10. Amanda V.'s spiritual influence and strength.
11. Cass's willingness to always keep me company. And buy baby things.
12. Mikey's approachability and openness.
13. Dan's people-ness and the way he treats Mira and loves my cats.
14. Rich's hospitality and many talents and our shared love of Jason. Don't deny it, Rich.
15. Elora's ability to be both immensely calm and wildly fun and girly.
16. Kristel's authenticity and affection.
17. Emmi is my Finnish other half.
18. Emily Darling's over-all joy and the open arms she always has for me.
19. Annie's sweetness.
20. Dylon's honest-to-goodness love for everyone and kindness.
21. Arvo and Sara's furry-ness and purr-ness. And cute little heads.

a special category for my mom and dad:
Mom: Seriously the best listener and wisest woman I know. My very best girl friend ever. Where would I be without her?
Dad: My earthly strength and one who requires no explanation from me. He just gets me.

I also love many other things about many other people, but that list would just go on forever.

The Keg

2007-01-27T21:35:00.000-08:00

Ouch. My stomach hurts because we just got home from the Keg where we were celebrating my mom's 50th birthday and I ate a huge steak and a lot of other things. I now feel like I am having two children (based on the size of my abdomen) and I think baby is quite unhappy with me. It's shaking it's tiny little angry fist in my direction. Which is really any direction from its perspective, I suppose.

Picture Time!

2007-01-27T14:29:00.000-08:00

For those of you who have facebook you will have seen some of these pics probably by now, but since I have been very nostalgic lately I wanted to post them here too. Seeing Jay with long hair may bring back some funny memories of us dating for some of you, and here is the article Mikey wrote about our Rec Centre concert before we even knew him. I am pretty sure he refers to our musical chemistry as, "...they fed off each other like pidgeons scavenging for food in the winter." It's very touching. There are a couple here that you can tell are more recent, but the others are from just before dating or very early on in our dating relationship. These are super fun!

Water Fit

2007-01-23T20:46:00.000-08:00

Last week a bunch of us girls went to AquaFit at a recreation centre on Duke St. It was awesome. This is an invite to all you ladies who want to have some fun getting fit on Tuesday nights for a meagre $3.25. It's a great bonding time as well. Love to see you there!

weather warning

2007-01-14T22:27:00.000-08:00

There is a weather watch warning just issued this morning for freezing rain that will take place over night amounting to up to 10 mm of rain and making for very dangerous driving conditions in the morning. Here's to hoping that we finally get a snow day!!! When was our last??

Charter of Rights

2006-12-15T23:25:00.000-08:00

Well, it is 2: 30 a.m. and I just recently returned home from a smashing good time at the Studio where a Christmas bash carried us into the night with carolling (led by the charming Matt McKenna), games, chocolate, gag gifts (some of which were pretty sweet), and laughter. It was good times. I now have to finish studying for my exam that is at 9 am tomorrow morning. How's that? Because I slept until 3 p.m. this afternoon and it was glorious. I feel no shame.

I am always really glad, if I happen to say something that seems racist, politically incorrect, and generally insensitive comes out, that usually only my dearest friends hear it. Here it is: I'm sorry, Felix, Africa, and Native Americans. But, in Canada, you are covered by the Charter of Rights, so what I say really doesn't matter :) And my heart really is full of love for you.
Felix, your face doesn't look weird all the time.

Ok, I'm tired and now I am just procrastinating. Man, I wish I was eating chocolate and singing with my dearest friends.

In a Name

2006-12-05T19:36:00.000-08:00

Jason in Italian is Giasone (Gee-ah-sohn-ay..I'm guessing but this is the coolest). From now on everyone calls him that. Either that or Jazon (Ya-zon) which is Slovene. Also, "leg" in Italian is "gamba" so put those two together you have one awesome name. We also just discovered that in Hebrew "Rachel Legg" would be "Rachel Regel" which sound almost the same and even have two of the same consonants. And here I was thinking that nothing rhymed with Rachel. The things you do when you should be writing a paper....

Christmas Song for my Friends (Inspired by Phoebe Buffay)

2006-12-04T20:14:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas, Jason!
I hope you get more than a raisin!
Glad tidings and joy for Mira!
Have many, many a beer-a!
Christmas cheer for Dan!
One bubbly, bright cheery man!
Happy Holidays, Kat-face!
May your joy fill every place!
Rejoice for Christmas, Ash!
We will have a holiday bash! (it was either that or Smash.)
Melissa, may you be joyful!
And always pronounce it choy-ful!
For all the festive Lauras!
We will always adore yas!
For Kristel and Gayle!
May you find a boxing day sale!!! (At Vera Wang or in the vegetable aisle)
Amanda, you will be glowing!!
When on Christmas day it's snowing!!!
Mikey and Felix Lam,
Santa Claus is a sham (I'm sorry)
For Adam in Ukraine!
Christmas again and again!
Cheerful Oosterhoffs!
This Christmas will be tops!
For all my jubilant friends!
With you, Christmas never ends!

No More Chocolate!...Ok, one more...

2006-12-04T20:05:00.000-08:00

Is it just me or does everything get messier while I get fatter during paper season. Oh the joys of the messy, fatter paper season prior to the spoiled, affluent, fatter Christmas season.

Last Night

2006-11-15T13:07:00.000-08:00

Jay and I went out for supper at the Slainte last night. It was a lot of fun. The food was really good and we shared bread pudding with a coulis (also known as monkey) that was super yummy. We sat in front of the fireplace and chatted it up which we haven't done in ages. So much fun. Today=suck because I am so tired and have too many tests in one day. Must sleep but no time and now I am grumpy and cranky-faced.

The Trend Continues...

2006-10-19T13:25:00.000-07:00

Here's what comes up when I put "Rachel needs" in to google search...it's scary how some of them are true. SOME! Read number four....

1. Rachel needs to have blush that is very bright and colourful

2. Rachel needs some good thoughts

3. Rachel needs guidance and normal supervision

4. Rachel needs help when she enters Manhattan's meat-packing district to help three transvestite hookers find out who murdered one of their friends

5. Rachel needs to throw more bacon parties

6. Rachel needs to get over herself and she needs to do it NOW!

7. Rachel needs to be killed the joker.

Too good

2006-10-16T13:37:00.000-07:00

I am pretty sure someone (LStew most likely) posted things of this nature on her blog a while back but I came across some more of these silly (yet actual) metaphors found in essays by teenagers across Toronto. Sorry for any overlap, but truly these are hilarious even the second-time around.

1. He spoke with the wisdom that can only come from experience, like a guy who went blind because he looked at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it and now goes around the country speaking at high schools about the dangers of looking at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it.

2. She grew on him like she was a colony of E. Coli and he was room-temperature Canadian beef.

3. Her hair glistened in the rain like a nose hair after a sneeze.

4. They lived in a typical surburban neighbourhood with picket fences that resembled Nancy Kerrigan's teeth.

5. The young fighter had a hungry look, the kind you get from not eating for awhile.

6. He was as lame as a duck. Not the metaphorical lame duck, either, but a real duck that was actually lame. Maybe from stepping on a land mine or something.

7. He was deeply in love. When she spoke, he thought he heard bells, as if she were a garbage truck backing up.

8. She walked into my office like a centipede missing 98 legs.

9. It hurt the way your tongue hurts after you accidentally staple it to the wall.

10. Her face was a perfect oval, like a circle that had its two sides gently compressed by a Thigh Master.

Emmi

2006-10-05T22:13:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to dedicate a blog to Emmi, my dear Finnish friend, because she is a wonderful, beautiful, gifted woman and a sister to me. Em, I miss the old days. But, more than all of that, I just miss your very presence, your laugh, and your voice. I'm here for you!

My First Time Singing and Proof That I Had an Afro

2006-10-05T21:52:00.000-07:00

I was rummaging through some old photos and found this one of my Dad and I the first time I ever sang on stage when I was three. Any of you who were at my wedding may have heard the recording that my uncle played of me singing "Lonely Little Robin" back then. That was one of the most touching experiences of my life, since I didn't even know that recording existed. Also, for Ashley, proof that I once had an afro. I love pictures.

I've Got Friends

2006-10-03T18:27:00.000-07:00

Here are some beautiful pics from BVO and Jenny's wedding. There is also a random one of me dancing with my cat, Sara, to "Long December" by the Counting Crowes because she likes it when I dance with her. That is how we spend quality time together. I thought it was a cute picture and you might all enjoy it.

Things That Are Funny

2006-10-02T09:16:00.000-07:00

Some things are just worth writing on the chalkboard every year in the music room, such as:

Poop=funny [thanks to Matt McKenna, I always have the urge to write it on the board for the sake of Dr.T's awkwardness]

which spawned:

Poop= (very) funny [from Gayle]
Serenades=Death [from LStew]
Laura=Pretty[from me]
R.Legg's Face=Hot[from LStew]

and then LStew drew a picture of her death on the chalkboard because we were singing serenades. And Sarah Vedder and LStew were running around in their robes flapping their arms (like they were flying) and flashing people. And there was much laughter and much singing and some weeping and gnashing of teeth on behalf of people (Sarah V.) who could not get a robe to fit. There was also bitterness directed at those who could get robes to fit. All in all, today's robe fitting was one of the most surreal and most entertaining experiences of my Redeemer choir career.

Love and Tenderness

2006-09-27T19:58:00.003-07:00

So, I am starting to get the hint that I need to blog. So here I am! Hello blogging people! Let me just say that I am so blessed to be at Redeemer this year. Many of you who know me well, know that I went to school this year with a lot of reservations. And, it's true. It has been hard not to have you around. Very hard. But I am meeting some super awesome peeps. Choir is already shaping up (although us Sopranos are struggling...ahhhh!!! Laura and Kris, where are you?). The best thing is when I am least expecting it, I get ambushed in the hall by Laura or Kris or Mira and I have to do a double take before I realize who they are. I feel so loved though, and super popular when that happens because the first and second years get to see how cool I am for associating with alumni. Maybe I will make more friends if you guys keep popping up around school and surprising me. It seems my coolness factor is assissted in this. I love you and miss you all and even though this year is turning out to be much better than I thought, no one can replace you guys!!!

The Right Stuff

2006-09-08T15:32:00.000-07:00

I was debating with Felix this week about whether or not Marky Mark was one of the New Kids on the Block, and as a previous NKOTB fanatic, I argued that he most certainly was NOT one of the New Kids. I am just posting this to prove my point. As trivial as it might be.

"New Kids On The Block (later NKOTB) was a successful boy band of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Assembled in Boston in 1984 by producer Maurice Starr; the members consisted of brothers Jordan Knight and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood. The group went on to sell over 70 million albums worldwide, generated hundreds of million of dollars of concert revenues, and roughly paved the way for acts like Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC." (Wikipedia)

And so it is...

2006-09-05T08:12:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe school is starting up again and that today is that day. AHHHHH!!!! I am half excited and half terrified. You would think that after four years of Redeemer-going that I would just be used to this by now, but I'm not. I am particularly anxious this year because I know that I have WAY too much going on with overloading both semesters, choir and curating the art gallery. I am also really sad that so many of my close friends have departed from the Redeemer campus. I think that is the hardest part. I would have loved to spend my last year with the people who were there from the beginning. I am praising Jesus for Laura Stewart, Gayle Doornbos, Amanda VanHalteren, Adam Harris, Cass Dauphin, Emily Darling, and Annie Ling right now. They will make this final year bearable and I don't think I could do it without them. As for the rest of you, you will be terribly missed!!! And so it is upon me...

Exodus Highway

2006-09-04T22:06:00.000-07:00

This past weekend proved to me that I have very little tolerance for the impolite. Jay and I have been working for his parents at their chip truck which travels to different events in the London area this summer and our more recent experiences have been with St. Thomas. No offense to anyone who is from there or who knows someone who is from there, but that town is miserable. Every second person treated us as though we were completely incompetent. I know a few people who come from St. Thomas--absolutely stellar individuals--but after these past couple of weeks I am beginning to wonder how they could possibly be born out of that town. I got to a point where when one guy demanded his money back for some ridiculous reason, I told him he was more than welcome to his money returned and good riddance. Yep, I too have a breaking point. Just because I am covered in grease and working in a chip truck, is it too much to ask for the same respect that I would show were the roles reversed? Anyhow, that is why we need Jesus.

The point is: nothing is more refreshing than the drive home after working for 25 or 30 hours in an event trailer where you yourself feel a little deep fried and cranky by the end of it all, serving the embittered and tired, and having no where to vent about it except to yourself in the Johnny on the Spot on your 2 minute breaks.

August 14th, 2004: The Most Beautiful Day of My LIfe

2006-08-14T13:33:00.000-07:00

More pics! And there are two blogs from today below this one. I think that's a record and you should all be proud of me.

Pics of Arvo and Weekend

2006-08-14T12:45:00.000-07:00

Here are some pics. I really like the one of Sara sitting on Arvo's head. It is really representative of how friendly their relationship is. I also like the pic of Katrina the Merchaun, which will only make sense to you if you were present this weekend (and if you weren't and you really care to know, contact LStew). The rest I would say are pretty self-explanatory.

My Compy Returns on Our Two-Year Anniversary

2006-08-14T11:37:00.000-07:00

It has been a long while since I have sat in my chair, at my desk, to use my computer. It died a couple of months ago and was given a few weeks ago to BVO for a look-see. He worked wonderful, miraculous things on it (such as bumping our memory up from 128 mb to 512 mb and installing a new hard drive) all for the cheap price of us agreeing to sing at his wedding reception coffee house. I couldn't think of a more thrilling exchange!

So I am here, enjoying the back support (vs. lying down on the floor to send an email on the ghetto computer that we were temporarily using), with Arvo curled up on my lap and the joy of having nothing to do as a sweet thought to accompany my blogging.

Ahhhhhh...

On another note, Kat's cottage was one most relaxing and also vigorous good time. I have frictions burns and pulled muscles from tubing and beach volleyball, sun burn from the same, and a sore lip from when Jay accidentally elbowed me in the mouth on one of our raft battles.
And it was all soooo worth it.

On more note, it is our two year anniversary today!! Hooray! It hardly feels like two years...wow. But it has been the most glorious two years of my life.

Thanks to all of you who have been so supportive and so wise as we have encountered trials and struggles in our relationship, and also for the laughter and friendship you have given during the joyous and celebratory and fun times. We are so thankful for all of you and you have no idea how much your friendship, prayer, and example continue to uphold our marriage and give us strength. WE thank God for YOU!

P.S. We may not be accessible for awhile. Now that we have our computer back we will be engrossed in the current season of CSI. Sorry.
P.S.S. Just kidding. Sort of.

The Scoop

2006-08-04T11:58:00.000-07:00

Well, I haven't blogged in a long time but I am still safe since it has still been longer since Mira last blogged. I am just kidding, Mira. But seriously. Blog.

The news? Well, the summer has been one of ups and downs. I was without work for two months after coming back from B.C. and losing my mind. It was a spiritual trial and there were times when I felt like I failed miserably at trusting God to provide. But, despite my weakness, he provided anyway. I am now trying to balance four jobs: working for Jay's parents on weekends, working at William's and Food Services at Redeemer, at the WRF doing data entry, and now for Chris Cuthill as I prepare to curate the Art Gallery for next year. So, it's awesome! The coolest thing is that God has provided me with work where I am in touch with people I know and love in every job. I am able to strengthen relationships and grow in them. Which is a lot more than I can say working at the Undermount Bar and Grill for a week under the supervision of an anal retentive boss and waitresses who think excitement is modeling for Maxim and coming to work with a hangover. The world shocks me sometimes.

Jay and I now have a vehicle! Woo-hoo! And we also have a new addition to the family. His name is Arvo and he is a three month old tabby.

Anyhow, that is most of the news. Just an update.

P.S. Visit me at William's if you are in the area. I get so bored.

Kodak Moments...or rather Olympus Moments (You Get The Picture)

2006-06-16T09:38:00.000-07:00

Let Us Not Forget

2006-06-16T09:17:00.000-07:00

Remember how a few weeks back we were standing on a boat, the cool ocean's breeze and salty scent all around us, travelling with our closest friends on an exciting adventure?

Remember those moments when we laughed so hard we cried, when we hugged and sang, when we grew together in the Body of Christ, and when we kept on loving each other more and more every day?

Can you remember when we had the sand in between our toes, encountering God's creation in new ways, time suspended because there was no other place we would rather be?

Remember how when we left, we all knew we had new friendships that would last a lifetime, memories that would not fade, and the whole summer to look forward to spending in laughter over the good times we had?

Remember how blessed we are?

Non-arseness?

2006-06-08T13:05:00.002-07:00

So I finally got a call from a place that I would love to work at. It's a home for girls and I think the experience would be amazing. My interview is Wednesday so once again I am going to ask for your prayers! I will need them especially for my nervousness that makes me act like an arse. So pray for my non-arseness.

Dear Blog, How I've Missed You

2006-06-01T10:10:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been awhile, to say the least. Choir Tour and camping in B.C. (both of which hold some of the best memories of my life) set me back a few weeks and then I just didn't feel like blogging once I got back. But, here I am, ready to get things rollin' once again.

So this is where I am at (I just feel like venting a bit): Once I got back from tour and camping, I was feeling sorely peopled out--I am an only child, what can I say?--and yet I still, for the next week and a half, surrounded myself EVERYDAY with people. I was beginning to feel like I was poor company to everybody so I decided to take a few days to just breathe and recompose myself. So, on that note, if you haven't heard from me, or wonder if I no longer love you, don't worry! I still love all of your faces ("face," if you don't know, is an affectionate term). I was just beginning to wear out badly. And that equalled grumpy.

I still don't have a job, and I am beginning to feel a little anxious. Please keep an eye and ear open for anything that is available. And prayer would be awesome. Thanks guys! That's it. I feel better and I think I will go now. Better, brighter, and more sunshiny blogs to come!

The Judas Gospel

2006-04-09T09:49:00.000-07:00

In the Toronto Star yesterday, the front-page story was covering the break-through translation of an old document found in the 1970's. The crumbling papyrus tells the story of an enlightened Judas who has been given special knowledge by Jesus Christ and paints him as the good guy; the guy who fulfilled his calling by surrendering Christ to the guards. According to the document, Jesus was not the Son of the Creator (since the earth was actually created by an evil force to trap spirits passing through) but the Son of the Omniscient God. So really, Jesus was just passing through earth as a spirit trapped in a human body and he needed Judas to "betray" Jesus so that he could be set free. A Gnostic text? Yes. Disturbing? Yes. Do I want to set it on fire? Yes.

Jellyfish in an Awkward Place

2006-04-07T14:46:00.000-07:00

I received an email from my Dad this week about a guy who won the "Worst Day at Work" competition for a radio station. This guy is a diver who repairs drilling rigs and so he is having to swim deep in the sea even in chilly weather. The way this is remedied is through a pump that sucks the seawater up and heats and then pumps back through a hose that the diver sticks into his suit so that warm water fills his suit and keeps him warm. Unfortunately, on this solemn occasion the diver felt a burning pain on his butt. It wasn't long before he realized that the pump had sucked up a jelly fish that was now firmly lodged not on, but in, his butt. The pain of the stinging jelly fish was agonizing, but worse, he had to radio the guys he worked with on shore and tell them that he had a jellyfish "issue." When he got up to the shore (finally) he was butt naked from having stripped everything off. He was only wearing his diver's helmet.

His concluding remarks were "so, if you think you are having a bad day, just be thankful that you don't have a jellyfish in your butt."

That is my new personal motto.

MEHBLEH?

2006-03-28T16:21:00.000-08:00

Right now I feel like my head is going to explode. You know that place you get to where you have so much to do but you have no idea where to even begin to begin and so you shut down and just don't do anything? That's me. Right now.

Masquerade, Painted Faces on Parade

2006-03-16T16:23:00.000-08:00

On a shorter note, Jay and I are hosting Banquet on Saturday and we were just informed that we have to come up with 4 ideas for giving away some door prizes. I haven't the foggiest right now. Ideas anybody?

In Every Step

2006-03-16T06:56:00.000-08:00

You know, I wake up most every morning expecting not to know what I am doing with my life. For some reason, in the past few days, I feel like my life is suddenly starting to come together and make sense. Maybe this is because I have been devoting way more of my energy into being with the Lord and I always find that that clears the fog of confusion and uncertainty from my mind. In the past I have been angry with God: "Lord, where were you all my life? Did you even care about me? Why can't I look back and see you with me?" And all of a sudden, I see those fingerprints so vividly in my life. One small example of this is how I am going through all of this education stuff to be a teacher. That has always been something that was just kind of like...yeah, I can do this. It's kind of cool. Then, I remembered how when I was little I always dreamed of being a teacher. I remembered how I would subject all my friends to spelling bees and I would "mark" math tests and put little gold stars that my mom bought me on their work. I remember how I used to actually buy those books that teachers would use for photocopying exercises out of and I would just go through and do the assignments and mark them for myself, putting comments on my work.

Then, in high school in grade nine my math teacher asked the class to consider whether they wanted to take general or advanced classes. I chose general (never expecting to be the "University" type) and she took me aside and strongly urged me to take advanced classes. Had she not done this, I would not have been able to go to University. Later, I wound up taking co-op because I wanted to get out of class in the afternoon. I started off being a directors assistant and that didn't work so I was transported to a kindergarten classroom. I fell in love with that class. Then the following year I somehow wound up in a grade 4 classroom. I loved that too. Now, as I am considering teacher's college in Nova Scotia I find a school that is, first of all, beautiful and second of all, requires a liberal arts degree for entry and not just that but mostly Social Studies courses (which is my major) and I was worried that Social Studies would not even be considered a teachable. And they have a special Graduate program in Leadership and Counselling which is something that has always been in the back of my mind.

The thing is that I am amazed at how even when I was not a Christian, I can see now that God was walking beside me and orchestrating every detail of my life. I feel a peace washing over me that I am doing exactly what God is calling me to and I see it all coming together. He truly is concerned for every step we take and does not let us go astray when we trust and sometimes even when we don't; that is a great comfort, don't you think?

Ukulele Urge

2006-03-12T20:17:00.000-08:00

In the past few months I have been thinking an awful lot about what instrument (if any) I would really, really enjoy learning. I have found that piano and guitar are both wonderful instruments, but I have a hard time getting into learning them. I have discovered that I have a love for the ukulele. It's true. And Jay just downloaded Israel Kawaoliokemekaokekiome'kwe (that is not his last name but it is something impossible like that) and that doesn't help matters any since he is (was...unfortunately he passed away in 1997 at the early age of 38) an amazing vocalist and ukulele player, and was a deeply respected musician in Hawaii. That and Jack Johnson plays the ukulele. Jay and I talked about it tonight and we have decided to save up in the summer to buy me a ukulele so that I can begin learning it. I can't believe how excited I am about this.

Check this out. I am hoping it will be my baby by August.

And some cool history...the word "ukulele" is thought to mean "jumping flea" after the first ukulele player, Juao Fernandes, arrived in Hawaii and played the instrument with incredibly rapid finger movement and natives there said it was like watching jumping fleas.

P.S. Jay just told that Israel's last name is actually "Kamakawiwo'ole." He's worth many a listen. Some of you may have heard his version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."

Tagged a long time ago...just getting to it now..

2006-03-10T12:59:00.000-08:00

Four Jobs I have had:

Clean-up crew for a cottage resort after Ice Storm '98
Dish Pit for Pelican Catering
Serving at Parkwood Estates (I'm bragging but that is where X-Men, Billy Madison, and the Tuxedo were filmed...and you probably already know that, because i have probably bragged to you about it before)
Receptionist at a hypnosis clinic

Four movies I could watch over and over

The Wedding Singer
Lord of the Rings
Princess Bride
Shrek

Four books I could read over and over

Lord of the Rings
The Cloud Sketcher
Cat's Cradle
Life of Pi

Places I have lived

Sarnia, Ontario
Sharbot Lake, Ontario
Parham, Ontario
Bethany, Ontario
Peterborough, Ontario
Campbellford, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Bowmanville, Ontario
Indian River, Ontario
Ancaster, Ontario
Hamilton, Ontario

Four Places I've been on Vacation

Finland
Estonia
Nova Scotia
A ton of places in the U.S.

Four Websites I visit daily

gmail
blogspots
canoe.ca
job bank

Four favorite foods

Turkey
Scalloped potatoes
Strawberry Shortcake
Ice Cream

Four Favorite Drinks

Strongbow
Finnish Cider
Wine (Two Oceans, Hungarian wine)
Long Island Iced Tea

Four favorite non-alcoholic drinks

Chai Lattes
Apple Cider
White hot chocolate
Orange Juice **quite conveniently all of these could be made alcoholic...

Four favorite musicians

Jason Legg
jack Johnson
Eric Clapton
Growing love for Thelonious Monk

Four places I'd rather be right now

The Sistine Chapel
The Louvre
In a hut on a beach anywhere tropical
Praying in the garden of Gethsemane

Last 4 books I have read (or reading):

Lord of the Rings
Scribbling in the Sand
Bearing Fresh Olive Leaves
Captivating

Last 4 movies I have seen:

The Constant Gardener
Forever Young
Memoirs of a Geisha
Lord of the Rings

What's on my desk right now?
Mug, lip chap, speakers, pens, papers, globe, tacks, card, stapler, hair elastics

bloggers i tag:
rich osterhoff
laura stewart

What's cuter than kittens?

2006-03-10T12:33:00.000-08:00

Here are a few pics of our newborn kittens. They still kind of look like rats, but I think they are adorable. Keep in mind...one of them could be yours for not such a low price but fully vaccinated, fixed, and with the gift of your conscience celebrating that you have helped rescue an otherwise homeless (or worse) kitten from an almost euthanized mother cat! And they are SUPER CUTE!!!

P.S. I am in the process of applying for what looks like a fantastic job at the McMaster University Club doing banquet serving etc. Prayers would be greatly, greatly appreciated.

The Ever-Emoting Epps (er, Legg...but that doesn't work with my clever alliteration)

2006-02-25T12:08:00.000-08:00

I got this thing from LStew's blog and I really like it. It's a good way to get to know how people perceive you or what your particular characteristics are most evident to others. Go here and let me know what you think. And then create your own so I can follow suit and let you know what I think! It's fun!

Take Me Home, Country Roads

2006-02-24T12:09:00.000-08:00

Here it is (finally)! Pics below in no particular order and rather large blog below...

The Pool
Ashley and I at the Olive Garden
In the hot tub...ahhhhh...
By the Kahwaha River
On the drive home
More of the drive home

Ashley in "The Lagoon"

Well, this past weekend proved to me that I've still got it. Spontaneity, that is. I was beginning to feel rather old and non-fun and then Ashley, out of the blue, says "pack your bags and be ready to leave for West Virginia at 10 am tomorrow." This was 12 hours prior to our departure. So I was going off to the motherland, so to speak. My mom is a West Virginia native and I had never been to Charleston. We had a few adventures to say the least! On the way there, Ashley coerced me into driving her car, which is standard, and I don't drive standard. I was fine in fifth, just cruising on the highway, but if I had to slow down and shift, or say, turn left at an intersection, I tended to freak out and pull over and make Ashley drive after her cardiac arrest with my episode.

Once we arrived in Charleston (safely, suprisingly) we pulled into the parking lot of the Ramada Plaza Hotel which was in the industrial, other-side-of-the-tracks area of Charleston. Yay...
BUT, the hotel was awesome! It had a comedy club (which we never went to) and a lounge (which was sketchy and often had mafia-looking guys in pimp suits hanging out in it). But the best part and probably the saving grace for the weekend was the lagoon with pool, hot tub, and exercise room. Our room was mediocre but it included a mediocre hot breakfast in the morning so it was a steal!

The first night consisted of crashing after watching "House, M.D." and snacking. And then it happened. Ashley saved my life in the middle of the night. I woke up to Ashley gripping my shoulders firmly and rocking me towards her. Naturally, I was kind of freaked, so I said, "Ashley, Ashley...are you okay? What's going on?" She let go of me and mumbled, "uh, but...you..um..you were crying..." to which I replied, "Was I? oh okay." The next morning, after not sleeping because of the ice machine coming on every 30 seconds in the hall and sounding like the eternal vacuum, I brought up the little nightly adventure and Ashley hid her flushed face and said, "I was having a dream that you were falling off a cliff and I was saving your life. And you should feel special because usually I attack people in my sleep. I hoped you would have forgotten about it. " I laughed. "Well, I'm honoured." The funny thing is that it happened again the next night and I turned to her, "Um, Ashley..." and she said, "How many times in one weekend can this happen..." Yet, she doesn't remember saying that.

So, on Saturday: Target, Olive Garden, and a couple other stores. Why? Because it was actually -10 rather than the 19 degrees celsius it was supposed to be according to the Weather network. And we double checked...it definitely said celsius!! Arrrgghhhhhhh....So, there was NOTHING to do in Charleston. It consisted of the golden-domed capitol building and numerous other stately buildings, and a few plazas nestled into the mountains. But, I wouldn't recommend a road trip to W.V. in February if you actually intend to DO things there. So that is why the pool/hot tub came in rather handy. I did score a nice jacket on our trip and our unlimited soup, salad and bread sticks at the Olive Garden were pretty yum. That night we went to a little Mexican restaurant next to our hotel to have dessert for supper. We got bold and decided to try REAL Margaritas. Big mistake. They have three shots of Tequila in each as well as a shot of Jose Cuervo, which I later found out is also Tequila. I tried to tell our non-English speaking Mexican waiter that I couldn't drink it because it was making me sick and I was patting my belly. Then he asked me if I was pregnant. The flan was good.

So we headed out fairly soon on Sunday to come back home. The trip back was much more quick. I drove...somewhat more successfully. We stopped at the Cracker Barrel, but not at the Jelly Belly factory :o( because it was closed. Pooper. But we had a great and safe trip and we were able to shop at the duty free! YAY! It was good times. Ashley is certainly a fun person to go on a road trip with. It promises adventures no matter where you go!

Nah, I Just Want My Canadian February...

2006-02-14T21:39:00.000-08:00

My in-law mom and dad, Pete and Mae, have just returned from their glorious vacation upon a glistening cruise boat touring the coast of Central America. One of the places that Pete had always wanted to visit was Belize and they were able to spend some time there on their vacation. There is a chance that they may one day settle to a Belizean island which would mean that Jay and I would have to, of course be obliged to, visit them there. Too bad, really. I mean, who wants to spend a week in a sunny, tropical destination with expenses paid anyway.

And I quote...

2006-02-06T00:07:00.000-08:00

Over the past few days I have heard some pretty awesome phrases coming from the lips of those whom are dear to me. I just have to post them so that they are forever inscribed on this pixeled parchment for all time. Also including some of the highlights from the weekend at OUCF. If you remember more quotes or fun times do post on comments! :

Kristel: Congratulations Mikey! You have emotions!
Mikey: Yes. I'm a tenor.

Random girl: Somebody lost this faux diamond brooch. Does it belong to anyone here?
Dr. T: Mikey?

Melissa: My brothers used to make fun of me like, "Do you know what your name spells backwards?"
Jason: "ass-lissa?"

Mira: Jay and Rach used to be the size of...
Jay: Mangos?

~coming in late and everyone acknowledging us then
~singing rounds like in kindergarten
~the multiphonic/overtone singing guy...AMAZING!!!
~being serenaded by Felix and Jay in "multiphonic" voice. The quotation marks are intentional.
~10$ sandwiches. What? Oh...not a highlight.
~getting ready for banquet in a frenzied hurry with many girls in a small space.
~banquet! and that one gregarious table of JUST Redeemer students...
~cabbage rolls
~Ukrainian hall
~dancing in a clique-y circle. admit it. it was fun.
~"home for a rest," "rasputin," "stayin' alive"
~going home early to bed
~hanging out in the sunday school room
~singing like hot singers do
~having the Gloria over with
~the girls (Kat, Laura, Mary-Beth) and the amazing jobs they did!
~going home!

How Unorthodox of You...

2006-02-01T22:50:00.000-08:00

I want to share something with you that I found rather humorous and relevant to my life as I am taking and throughly enjoying Payton's Eastern Orthodoxy class. Please refer to Jeremy's blog (Jay's brother). If you look at the side bar there is a slide show available. Click on slide show and full view and look for the picture that says "Fasha" beneath it. If you look closely in the background you will see Jason in a most becoming iconic stance. I laughed my butt off the first time I saw it. Then again it could just be because I am in Eastern Orthodoxy. At least I know Gayle will appreciate it. And hey, if you feel like that was a huge waste of time there are a bunch of other really amusing shots in Jer's slideshow. Including some extra magnificent pics from a wedding I was at. Or in. Or the Bride.

Lonely

2006-01-28T15:55:00.000-08:00

Today is a sad day. Somebody wanted to adopt our loveable little Zak. And so the agency came today and took him away. I cried right in front of the ladies. I feel like there is a little Zak sized hole in my heart. We are getting another cat to foster tomorrow, but I don't know if it's wise for me. I know, I am a huge sap. We still have little Sara. And she is still a bundle of sweetness. We made her adoption official today, so that's good news. Anyhow, I just wanted to say that.

Soup Fest and ABBA

2006-01-24T18:22:00.000-08:00

So, tonight, and rather out of the blue, Ashley invited Jason and I to join her and Gayle at the Living Rock Fundraiser, "Soup Fest." It was held at Liuna Station which, by the way, is a gorgeous building if you have never been. It was a lot of fun! When you hear "Soup Fest" I am pretty sure you don't think "oh, I bet there will be about 20 different kinds of soup to choose from, live music, and pretty twinkling lights and displays!" But that's exactly what it was! I got to eat "Funky Limon Tiger Shrimp, Asian Pear and Coconut Rum Soup" (that's all in one) while listening to a choir sing "Dancing Queen" by ABBA. I couldn't think of a better way to spend an hour. The real winning soups were the Butternut Squash (which had a dollop of whipped cream on top and maple syrup) and the Guinness with Lamb and Winter Vegetables. I wouldn't recommend the Smoked Aligator Soup. Unless you like the flavour of the Mississippi River and ashtray. But, GO TO SOUP FEST next year. It's definitely worth 8 bucks. And it's for a GREAT cause.

I love karaoke

2006-01-16T19:32:00.000-08:00

I must say there are a few things that I love that I probably shouldn't. A few good examples of these things would be the following:

-Saved by the Bell (Zack Morris, ladies, Zack Morris)
-Metallica and Nirvana
-early '90's dance music
-anything worn in the '80's

However, perhaps of all the things I love that I shouldn't, the greatest of these is karaoke. I happen to be a, shall we say, a connoiseur (sp?) of the hippest places to do karaoke. Now, doingkaraoke is an art. Everyone who understands the way in which karaoke can grip your life knows that there is a certain individuality one possesses when practicing this art, as with any art form. Each person develops a finesse or flair in the midst of the passion for karaoke. I have seen those who sway their hips out-of-control. There are those who choose songs they only know the choruses to just so that they can hum the verses and then belt out the chorus. Then there are those who perform their songs interpretatively, and the best of these occur when Boyz II Men ballads are selected. In any case, these are all done from the heart and with no alcoholic assistance whatsoever.

The man pictured above understands what it means to be a karaoke artist with the ardor I'm talking about.

My good friend, Ashley and I have come to a point in our karaoke careers where we realize that the only place to go now is to pursue this dream with the devotion of our lives. We deserve the honoured title: Lifer. Everywhere we go, people will know us by the one song that we sing every Sunday night at the Snooty Fox. They will eagerly wait for the following week when they can return to the karaoke haven and hear us, the accomplished lifers, sing our single song repertoire once again.

Those Hands That Shaped Me

2005-12-20T10:53:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to dedicate this particular blog to the two people in my life who have been there from the beginning (besides the Lord, of course) and have been the epitome of what supportive and loving parents should be. How could I express the gratitude?
HAPPY 30th ANNIVERSARY, MOM AND DAD!!!!

Irish Drinking Prayer

2005-12-13T10:20:00.000-08:00

Prayer

I would like to have the men of Heaven
In my own house:
With vats of good cheer
laid out for them.

I would like to have the three Marys,
Their fame is so great.
I would like people
From every corner of Heaven.

I would like a great lake of beer
For the King of Kings,
I would like to be watching Heaven's family
Drinking it through all eternity.

Celtic poem from 10th century Ireland

Buddha

2005-12-07T21:21:00.000-08:00

Quote of the night as I am procrastinating from working on my paper on Japanese pagoda temples:

Rach: Hey, I don't get it. When did Buddha get fat?

Jay: I don't know...after Christmas?

Honest Time

2005-12-01T15:21:00.000-08:00

1. I am afraid to tell Dr. T when I don't know my music, even when he asks for confessions.
2. I can't hold that freakin' music folder for longer than 2 minutes.
3. I hate working out. I know it's good for me but I hate it.
4. I'd rather eat all day than do anything else.
5. People never know when they make me mad unless they are close to me. Then they really know.
6. I am sick of school.
7. I only like cloudy days when I feel cloudy on the inside.
8. I love sappy. Everything sappy.
9. I cry over everything. Just ask my husband.
10. I need a hug.

These Are a Few of My Favourite Things

2005-11-30T08:32:00.000-08:00

I am having yet ANOTHER double blog day. I just remembered that I have been repeatedly asked to do, in good ol' Gideon fashion, a list of the things I love. I will start with five of them here and continue throughout the week.

1. My Lord.
2. Face. The one I married, I mean.
3. My best friends in the world--that's mom and dad
4. The other best friends in the world (the gang)
5. The Fam--extended and in-laws

That's so basic and so not at the same time.

School-schmool

2005-11-30T08:15:00.000-08:00

I've decided that school is overrated. All this learning and being equipped for the world...is that really necessary? Couldn't we all just sit around and eat cheese puffs and watch endless hours of That '70's Show or Gilmore Girls or CIS and still be prepared for the challenges of the world?

Secundum something something...in pace!

2005-11-28T20:36:00.000-08:00

So the other night I was dreaming in song. All I could hear was the Gabrielli piece ALL NIGHT LONG in my head. No joke. I think it would have helped me today in practice...except I also think I was dreaming in the wrong key....

Birthday Blahs

2005-11-18T07:46:00.000-08:00

Today is my birthday. It doesn't feel like my birthday. It feels like poop. I woke up this morning and was really sick and so I slept in a bit because I thought maybe I'd feel better in a while and could take a later bus. But, when I finally managed to drag myself out of bed, doubled over in pain, and check the bus schedule I soon realized that there was no bus that would get me to school in time for my Political Science class (which I cannot miss). So, Jay lovingly went to the store to get me money for a cab. The cab got stuck in traffic during construction, which made me late and cost me $25. Then I went into the school and my class was empty. I went to read the Time Out and my class was cancelled. And my birthday wasn't in the Time Out. I forgot my wallet. My head hurts.

Reasons for this to be a Happy vs. a Crappy Birthday:
~ Jesus Loves Me
~ My class was cancelled
~ Somebody on the William's staff wrote my birthday into the Time Out before I even got to school....so nice...
~I get to leave from the school early today
~ I have Jelly Belly's to eat for when I feel better
~My mom told me that my birthday was the (is the) best day of her life...

Today is a good day.

The Great Pyramid of Giza

2005-11-02T12:43:00.000-08:00

I just learned one of the coolest things in my art class today. Professor Cuthill was explaining the architectural significance of the Great Pyramid to the ancient Egyptians and said that some scholars today believe that it further serves as a complex Christian calendar and was ordered by the Lord. There is reference in Isaiah (20?) to a monumental structure that was erected to His glory on the border of Egypt and at the heart of Egypt. This being a paradoxical statement, makes Giza ever the more likely the spoken of structure. Egypt, being separated at the time (still is? I don't know...) into North and South Egypt has a border running right across it. At the center of this border and the heart of Egypt is Giza! Weird. Even further, Christ refers to himself as the "cornerstone." We often think of the "cornerstone" as a bottom stone in the foundation of a building. However, the cornerstone is actually the capstone at the zenith of the pyramid that connects all four corners. A pyramid is the only geometrical structure that can have a capstone. The ironic thing is that the Great Pyramid never HAD a capstone. So when Christ said that He was the cornerstone, everyone in his time would know he was referring to the Pyramid of Giza.

SO COOL!

2005-11-01T08:12:00.000-08:00

This is me posting because I am incredibly bored. Can you believe it? BORED! My Sociology class was cancelled and I have nothing due this week and reading break is just around the corner so it isn't like I feel like getting a head start on anything due next week. This is wonderful. Unusual, but wonderful.

Let me record here the things I like to do when I am bored/procrastinating:

1. Watch episode after episode of the second season of "That '70's Show"....I'm pretty sure its eating away my brain.

2. Eat lots and lots of chocolate and then shred the wrappers.

3. Sleep.

4. Read the "Darwin Awards" with friends in the cafeteria. Some people are not too bright and it is both fun and cruel to laugh at them.

5. Stare at my mailbox and wait for someone to put something in it.

6. Blog.

7. Ask people about all the homework they have, midterms or tests they are studying for, and massive papers they are trying to write. Heh-heh...

8. Read the comics in the paper as if I am reading something deeply perplexing and complicated and to look distinctly caught up in something important.

9. Sleep, chocolate, sleep, chocolate, sleep, chocolate...

10. Eat soup and baguette. I am going to go do that now. Mmmmm...

Have fun procrastinating as you continue to read blogs, all! Ciao and have a great reading break!

G-pa's and G-ma's (O-pa's and O-ma's): Our First Audience

2005-10-31T12:21:00.000-08:00

Today was Heritage Day at Redeemer. Aside from the fact that there were a lot of elderly people wreaking havoc in the halls, that we could not go into our cafeteria, and there were longer line-ups in the bathrooms everything was pretty much like any other day. Except for one major occurrence, not just in my day, but now etched for eternity in my life!!!!!!

Today was the first time this year that the Redeemer Concert Choir performed in front of people! Real live people! It was exhilarating! It was lively! It was rejuvenating! It was sometimes off pitch! And it sent my heart racing! Ahhhhhh...Redeemer.

Ahh....melodrama.

Top Ten (Eleven) Reasons Why I Love Friends

2005-10-26T09:26:00.000-07:00

10. They know to tell you that you make them feel famous when you win the William's gift basket at school.

9. They make you go into haunted houses in Niagara Falls and let you bury your face in their coats the entire time you walk through.

8. They sing Disney songs with you.

7. They are often Dutch. Or Ukrainian. And sometimes Bolivian. Or China-mite. But most often Dutch.

6. They laugh at your jokes even when they are not funny and laugh harder when the joke's on you (but with sympathetic looks on their faces).

5. They find diplomatic ways to tell you that you are sometimes really annoying.

4. They rejoice with you when you sing the right notes in choir. Finally.

3. Inside jokes that NO ONE else thinks are even remotely funny when you try to share them (and you still spend half an hour laughing about them).

2. The looks that say "I know what you're thinking. Do you know what I'm thinking? I think I know what you're thinking. But do I want to know what you're thinking? Oh man. I DO know what you're thinking. Really now."

and the number one reason why I love friends is (drum roll please)....

1. They are reading my blog right now! And that makes me feel loved...

Ok...that might be the runner-up to number 1 which is (drum roll)....

For real number 1 is.....

1. GROUP HUGS, GROUP ARM-LINKING, GROUP PILING ON THE COUCH, GROUP BAGUETTE, AND GROUP ROAD TRIPS! (okay, that's 5....but you get the idea...)
I LIKE FRIENDS! FACE!

Fine Line

2005-10-17T12:12:00.000-07:00

They say that there is a fine line between genius and insanity and I would like to list a few examples to support that statement here:

1. Van Gogh- Eventually cut off his own ear and brought it to a prostitute for safe-keeping. No one really knows why.

2. Adolf Hitler- Ingenious and unusually charismatic leader but a little weak on the side of lovingkindness and sanity.

3. Einstein- Well, by his definition that "insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results," then he is a self-proclaimed loon.

4. Beethoven- Beyond the shadow of a doubt, he was a musical genius, but he may also have been verging on the side of schitzophrenia or perhaps slightly manic.

and last but certainly not least...

5. Laura Moelker- Screams at her hands to move faster while practicing complicated pieces in the piano room. If you ever witness this, do not be afraid, for she is completely harmless. It's just that fine line...

P.S. I may, however, suffer violent consequences for blogging about this.

Not the Taylor!

2005-10-12T10:03:00.000-07:00

So I am going to vent here for the next 5-10 lines about how peeved I am that someone broke into our house yesterday and stole Jay's guitar. They actually kicked the door in, took his guitar and a discman (which I don't care about), checked out my guitar (which they didn't take and I was a little insulted), and left. ARRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SO MAD!!!! SO FLIPPIN' MAD!!!!!!
I feel now like not only has our security been tampered with but one of our most precious possessions has been taken. It could have been most anything else and I would be--well, not okay--but at least less upset. I know it could have been much worse and I am grateful for that. But, anyhow, just a warning to you downtown Hamilton dwellers. Apparently, Bold and Duke St. have been hit up hard these past couple of weeks and guitars (and car keys!) have been a primary target. So, Harskamp et al., triple lock your doors and protect your goods!

Fedoras, bowties, and political stuff

2005-10-05T13:12:00.000-07:00

Quote from Dr. Koyzis this morning while teaching us about particular signs and symbols of power in our society:

"I should tell you that the bowtie is a symbol of professorial authority."

Heh-heh...you gotta love that guy!

Blogblogblogblog....

2005-09-29T12:11:00.000-07:00

I miss the blogging of dear Ukrainian friends and husbands (er...husband, singular).

Hunger for Beauty

2005-09-27T11:03:00.000-07:00

In my art classes, Cuthill has been emphasizing the "hard-wiring" of the human being for the aesthetic experience; how we long fervantly after that which is beautiful and that these ideals are, in many ways, cross-cultural. This is significant in acknowledging a human "blueprint," if you will. We have for thousands of years placed Creation on an artistic pedestal and made attempts to reproduce, re-express, and even in some cases, worship it for its beauty. It is so critical as Christians, to take moments in which we stop to revel in God's creation and to see Him thus reflected in it. It is in these moments that we can perhaps receive a unique revelation of God's person, His character, and to understand God as an Artist. I wanted to record here some of my recent breath-taking moments with God and pauses I've had no other choice but to take with His creation:

1. The beautiful design of bees and their intricate relationships with one another. I don't particularly like bees, but I find it almost humorous that they dance to notify the others of a pollen source. Also, I just heard through a friend that bees determine the distance from the hive to a pollen source through spatial complexity--they gauge the distance via the complex designs that pass by their eyes. Ok, so if this isn't a fingerprint of God, I don't know what is!

2. Peggy's Cove--There is something most paradoxical about the majestically frightening and inherently soothing power of waves crashing and colliding on jagged rocks. This paradox reminds me of God's character, scripturally speaking. There was actually a sign there (at Peggy's Cove) that said something like "You are short a few screws if you go to close to the edge of the water"--and I really wanted to.

3. My dog, Ceilidh--she cannot contain her joy when I walk through the front door. Sure, she's annoying at times but her faithfulness, willingness to be at my feet at all times, reminds me of the obedience I am called to with the Lord..."even the dog waits patiently at the Master's table for the crumbs that may fall..." (paraphrased).

4. Wine--God is good! He knows our love for the delicate and intricate, even when it comes to satisfying our tastebuds. And He gave us, even through Jesus' first miracle, a fine drink to bring joy and rosyness to our cheeks, the wisdom (hopefully) to use it in a stewardly fashion, and the art of perfecting it.

Oh and the list is eternally long, isn't it?

F.O.S.C.

2005-09-16T11:36:00.000-07:00

It is a rare occasion that I have more than one thing to blog about per day. Usually, I have to try to be creative, but today I am overflowing with things I can't wait to blog about! And I figure that I should try to make up some of that lost time where I didn't blog at all. How dull is that?

This entry is about the club/gathering that Jay and I hold at our house (as of right now) called F.O.S.C. which--perhaps sacrilegiously, depending on your denomination--stands for The Fruit of the Spirit Club. We are an amateur wine tasting club. We gather bi-weekly to sample different wines from regions all over the world, to attempt single-phrase descriptions of the wine's particular flavour and qualities, and to compare wines based on various criteria. It is a rather enlightening experience and one that combines both the richness of fellowship and the socially responsible drink. I feel that Jesus would be quite pleased! We would like to incorporate a brief devotional time as well.

So this is a formal invite to those of you who are interested in participating. We would like to keep the group to minimum of 4 and maximum of say 12-15 (which would be rather large!). But, please comment if you would like more information or are curious about our Mission Statement. We don't really have one, but uh...yeah. "We like wine, we love Jesus, and this is fun" would probably sum it up.

Cheers!

2005-09-16T11:14:00.000-07:00

This is me and my twin sister with Ben Folds! Ok, that's not true. I don't have a twin. I don't even have a sister. Or a sibling for that matter. And I have never met Ben Folds. But it was fun to pretend for a moment.

But seriously...three words. Songs for Silverman.

Songs for Silverman is Ben Folds new album and it is amazing. You will love every song on the album whether you feel it is moral to do so or not. Yep.

Soupless and Post-Modern

2005-09-15T11:50:00.000-07:00

I can't get soup. Without my soup I feel like my place and status within the Redeemer community has shifted greatly. I am no longer viewed as "the girl who could get soup." I am now viewed as "the girl who has an apartment off- campus who probably has her own soup at home." That is a hefty assumption. My student-hood has lost a significant portion of its meaning. Sure, this signifies that Redeemer allows for flexibility in social mobility. But, I want soup.

Philosopher-King=Jesus

2005-09-14T06:27:00.000-07:00

I am currently taking (and rather suprisingly enjoying) Political Science 121 with Dr. Koyzis this semester. As I've been reading the first assigned chapter in the text I have come across a description of Plato's Philosopher-King. This man, being the ideal philosophic representative of wisdom and virtue, is considered by Plato to be the greatest politician and and ruler as compared to any other form of government. He would be able to rule by his own personal judgment as opposed to by rule of law or constitution, as his moral strength and wisdom would keep him from being oppressive or self-interested. As the years progressed for Plato, the idea of a Philosopher-King became ever the more distant as there were no qualified men to fulfill the position. As he became accustomed to the idea of the fallibility of the human being, he settled for the second-greatest form of government as rule of law (lawful rulership), whatever form that would be in. However, the text says that this idea of a Philosopher-King has "never ceased to haunt history."

I was struck as I read this quote. I have read (most) of The Republic and wrote a paper on it but this one thing never really stood out to me. But on the bus this morning, as I was reading this text, I thought of how interesting it is that Plato and the Greeks longed for this perfect rulership; this man who, with great virtue and wisdom, could lead a nation in such flawless harmony. That it would be in their greatest interest to have such a man in authority. Without their awareness, the Greeks were calling out for Jesus, for His Kingship and rule in their lives. He is the "Philosopher-King" that history has been haunted by, that societies throughout the world are yearning for.

Oh, hasten the day, Lord Jesus!

One of those days....

2005-09-13T13:20:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had one of those days where everything that comes out of your mouth seems to have an attitude all of its own? You wish you could grab those words, stick them back in your mouth, and swallow them? Yeah, ALL day long I have been saying things that sounded really good and intelligent while in my head, and once beyond my lips sound...well....rather moronic. How do you get past a day such as this? Do you decide never to put your hand up in class again? Never to attempt that joke that you always forget the punchline to? Never to say the first thing that enters your mind ever, ever again? I have found today, that one remedy is to eavesdrop upon a conversation where someone is expressly confessing something that they said in class that may have been much worse and more embarrassing then what you had said in your class. That will make you feel better. Guaranteed. But, probably not the most loving response to dealing with the shame.

Annum-Whatum?

2005-08-24T21:57:00.000-07:00

Well, believe it or not, I have finally given in to a summer-long struggle with trying to avoid the massive temptation to blog. It just really is not possible, is it? Since I am FINALLY coming back to school in two weeks, I thought I really should get reconnected...and what better way to do so!?

Jason and I celebrated our one year anniversary a couple weeks ago. I could not believe a year had gone by already! It was pretty nifty because although Jay took me to some swingin' hot spots (literally...we went to see a Swing Band play) I think it would be a unanimous vote that going to Chapters to buy books and CD's on learning Russian and Latin was exclusively our most cherished of memories from the weekend. Possible even from the entire past year. Welllll....it's close anyway.

As much as living in Oshawa this past summer has been an experience I will never forget, I am eagerly anticipating the sounds of Redeemerite laughter ringing through the halls of my beloved academic haven. Also, we do intend to get a cat come September and we can't decide on a name. I think Jay is really shooting for 'Nietzche' (sp?) and I am thinking somewhere more along the lines of 'Furry McFurrson' so you can understand how this causes irreconcilable domestic disputes. Perhaps some suggestions....?

Ciao (haven't started that Russian yet...)

Rach