Oh my god, Vegan ginger cookie from New Leaf, I loooove youuuuu! Mmm and Hibiscus Kombucha with a hot meal from the organic buffet in a little box. You all plus 30 rock Season 2 Netflix marathon = happy me.
"Where do you invest your money Liz?
I have a like 12 grand in checking...
What are you an immigrant?"
Monday, March 22, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
A voice...
I cannot stop watching a performance by one of my best friends'. Erin sang this past Friday in the UCSC Gospel Choir Winter Concert. I have always known Erin to have a beautiful voice. When we first met she was constantly humming around my apartment, singing Broadway tunes as we walked downtown, and carrying a beautiful melody which would often fly away with the wind to wrap itself around people across the street who would turn their heads in the hopes of finding the source of the beautiful tune.
When you're near Erin the air around you seems lighter. At any moment you expect bluebirds, squirrels, deers, and other woodland creatures to prance around her and start cleaning your house. Knowing Erin she would be happy if they did. An animal lover to the core you can hardly restrain her when a creature of any kind catches her line of vision. A walk around the neighborhood can be interrupted up to 10 times by "KITTY!!" or "LOOK! A SQUIRREL! I WANT IT!".
Erin is a ray of light. Really, I can't think of a better way to describe her. She just lights up a room. Her beautiful smile, big beautifully round eyes, fair skin, and devilishly divine figure reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe just makes you want to hug her. Her brown pixie cut hair, her large dangling earrings, and her love for my dark red scarf are some of the things I find irresistible about her. She is always caring. Never for a second think that Erin doesn't care.
Her intellect and firm grasp on everything about anthropology has led us to many a night in which we discuss -among other things- gender roles in India, ceramics and the origins of pottery, different groups of ethnic bone classifications, and her oh so powerful fear of monkeys that she developed after she began studying anthropology, which is matched by my fear of birds. Erin and I have had many a girl's night where we cling to bread, cheese, salami, olives, and Tuaca. She has been my lifeline in times of struggle, and sometimes it feels as if we have the same brain.
Erin is the reason people began using the word beautiful. When you are around someone that is so graceful, funny, intelligent, and most of all a real human being how can you not use such a word. Now I see why humans invented such a word.
Alas, I am digressing from what I really wanted to discuss. Her voice. Like I said I had heard Erin's voice from the moment I met her. A hum here, a hum there, and I couldn't resist the longing to hear more. Once she joined the Gospel Choir with me in my senior year I finally got a chance. She landed a solo, and sang the last song of the concert. An upbeat striking song about how we need to literally stomp our demons away. It was amazing seeing the audience go from a state of skepticism with the announcement of the next soloist, to a state of worship. People literally jumped out of their seats. The choir director continued the song well past its ending just so Erin could keep going. Erin however, didn't realize that in gospel music improvisation is key when the energy skyrockets in the room, and thinking that the song was over tried to put the microphone back, and humbly go back to her place with the sopranos. That is what I love about Erin. She is so humble. She knows she can sing, but she never gets cocky about it. She never lets it get to her head.
With the solo on Friday I was so excited to hear her sing, and to see the reaction of the audience. I don't know how to describe it, she definitely made me cry, and sometimes people may not feel it, but during her song, God was in that room. What stood out for me was her connection with the song. The song is about almost giving up. Being in a place where you almost let your life slip from your fingers, but you find something within yourself to pull it back. You gain the strength to finally pull your life back together. Her connection with that song is something you cannot mistake in her performance. God has given Erin an amazing gift, and when she uses it, people don't even know what to do with it. They just stand there and scream, applaud, cry, and feel compelled to come up to her with their embrace and words of amazement. How incredible is that? To have something so powerful within you that people feel the need to come up to you, and tell you how they made you feel.
One of my favorite stories of the concert though, is a moment that Erin's fiance Tim experienced. Tim was sitting near the band by himself because I stupidly forgot to save him a seat. Somehow I think that is better so he could enjoy her alone. Witness the beauty he is around daily. One of my favorite things is to watch him watch her, because in that moment you can see just how much he loves her. In that moment he can't hide or fight nor would he want to restrain just how much he loves this beautiful woman.
Well Tim was sitting to the left of the stage, and when Erin walked out before her solo, he heard an elderly gentleman behind him whisper to his wife, "You see that one? That's the one I've been waiting for." What an incredibly beautiful moment. This gentleman that Tim said had to have been around 80 must have attended our concert last year, and came back to see Erin. He was waiting for her the entire time. He knew she would be there, and this time he brought his wife to see her! What an amazing gift. What a touching moment. Erin you have touched a life! Someone came and waited throughout the entire show in anticipation just to see you. This man knew you would have a solo because of your gift, and came back because you brought beauty into his life. Never let that go. Never deny that you are a beautiful talented human being that has a purpose in this world. Thank you for sharing your gift with the world.
Here's her solo:
When you're near Erin the air around you seems lighter. At any moment you expect bluebirds, squirrels, deers, and other woodland creatures to prance around her and start cleaning your house. Knowing Erin she would be happy if they did. An animal lover to the core you can hardly restrain her when a creature of any kind catches her line of vision. A walk around the neighborhood can be interrupted up to 10 times by "KITTY!!" or "LOOK! A SQUIRREL! I WANT IT!".
Erin is a ray of light. Really, I can't think of a better way to describe her. She just lights up a room. Her beautiful smile, big beautifully round eyes, fair skin, and devilishly divine figure reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe just makes you want to hug her. Her brown pixie cut hair, her large dangling earrings, and her love for my dark red scarf are some of the things I find irresistible about her. She is always caring. Never for a second think that Erin doesn't care.
Her intellect and firm grasp on everything about anthropology has led us to many a night in which we discuss -among other things- gender roles in India, ceramics and the origins of pottery, different groups of ethnic bone classifications, and her oh so powerful fear of monkeys that she developed after she began studying anthropology, which is matched by my fear of birds. Erin and I have had many a girl's night where we cling to bread, cheese, salami, olives, and Tuaca. She has been my lifeline in times of struggle, and sometimes it feels as if we have the same brain.
Erin is the reason people began using the word beautiful. When you are around someone that is so graceful, funny, intelligent, and most of all a real human being how can you not use such a word. Now I see why humans invented such a word.
Alas, I am digressing from what I really wanted to discuss. Her voice. Like I said I had heard Erin's voice from the moment I met her. A hum here, a hum there, and I couldn't resist the longing to hear more. Once she joined the Gospel Choir with me in my senior year I finally got a chance. She landed a solo, and sang the last song of the concert. An upbeat striking song about how we need to literally stomp our demons away. It was amazing seeing the audience go from a state of skepticism with the announcement of the next soloist, to a state of worship. People literally jumped out of their seats. The choir director continued the song well past its ending just so Erin could keep going. Erin however, didn't realize that in gospel music improvisation is key when the energy skyrockets in the room, and thinking that the song was over tried to put the microphone back, and humbly go back to her place with the sopranos. That is what I love about Erin. She is so humble. She knows she can sing, but she never gets cocky about it. She never lets it get to her head.
With the solo on Friday I was so excited to hear her sing, and to see the reaction of the audience. I don't know how to describe it, she definitely made me cry, and sometimes people may not feel it, but during her song, God was in that room. What stood out for me was her connection with the song. The song is about almost giving up. Being in a place where you almost let your life slip from your fingers, but you find something within yourself to pull it back. You gain the strength to finally pull your life back together. Her connection with that song is something you cannot mistake in her performance. God has given Erin an amazing gift, and when she uses it, people don't even know what to do with it. They just stand there and scream, applaud, cry, and feel compelled to come up to her with their embrace and words of amazement. How incredible is that? To have something so powerful within you that people feel the need to come up to you, and tell you how they made you feel.
One of my favorite stories of the concert though, is a moment that Erin's fiance Tim experienced. Tim was sitting near the band by himself because I stupidly forgot to save him a seat. Somehow I think that is better so he could enjoy her alone. Witness the beauty he is around daily. One of my favorite things is to watch him watch her, because in that moment you can see just how much he loves her. In that moment he can't hide or fight nor would he want to restrain just how much he loves this beautiful woman.
Well Tim was sitting to the left of the stage, and when Erin walked out before her solo, he heard an elderly gentleman behind him whisper to his wife, "You see that one? That's the one I've been waiting for." What an incredibly beautiful moment. This gentleman that Tim said had to have been around 80 must have attended our concert last year, and came back to see Erin. He was waiting for her the entire time. He knew she would be there, and this time he brought his wife to see her! What an amazing gift. What a touching moment. Erin you have touched a life! Someone came and waited throughout the entire show in anticipation just to see you. This man knew you would have a solo because of your gift, and came back because you brought beauty into his life. Never let that go. Never deny that you are a beautiful talented human being that has a purpose in this world. Thank you for sharing your gift with the world.
Here's her solo:
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Post Terrorism Haiku
Let us remember...
We are the land of the free,
Not of the vengeful.
Let us remember...
It is in God we trust,
Not in bombs and guns.
Let us remember...
Peace grows from a gentle heart,
Not one filled with spite.
-Mattie Stepanek, September 2001.
We are the land of the free,
Not of the vengeful.
Let us remember...
It is in God we trust,
Not in bombs and guns.
Let us remember...
Peace grows from a gentle heart,
Not one filled with spite.
-Mattie Stepanek, September 2001.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Beautiful
It is possible to love someone you don't know this much? Cuuuzzz I kind of worship the ground this beautifully powerful woman walks on. Love. Her.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Nervous!
I start tutoring today. I'm really nervous actually. I don't really remember a lot from training so I'm going to go over my materials. I need to pick up some highlighters too. There are so many things on my mental To-Do List right now!
-Highlighters
-Quote for health insurance
-Sign up for second temp agency
-Deposit pay check from 1 day assignment
-Change the plates on the "new" car.
-Pack some clothes just in case I end up staying at Noam's tonight
-Write a message to my housemates telling them Noam will be coming over on Saturday
-Do some freaking laundry!
-Do the dishes
-Take out the trash
And some more stuff I can't think of right now. =)
Last night I applied for an Administrative Assistant position at the Food Network. I want this job more than anything. It's in New York, and it's with the freaking FOOD NETWORK!!! It would be amazing if I could work my up, and achieve my dream of becoming a food writer. Heck, even being any kind of executive with the Food Network would be amazing. It just made me realize how close my goals are to me, and how I really can achieve what I want in life! So I'm going to be creating a separate blog on here about food. My housemates and I are doing The Biggest Loser challenge in our apartment so I'm trying to eat more healthy foods. Hopefully this new blog will allow me to do that, and refine my food writing skills.
I'm so excited to explore this path!! I am most definitely going to take some cooking classes. I need to revamp a copy of my resume and cover letter, and I need more writing samples. I also need to check the mail to see if Giada's cookbook has arrived yet. I want this more than anything right now, and I really hope it happens.
The only thing that scares me about this opportunity is that I will for certain be in New York for a very long time. That is where the Food Network is, and where pretty much all publishing agencies are. So with Noam wanting to stay in D.C., and me being in New York, I'm a bit worried about how things will turn out. However, all I can do is send prayers and positive future vibes into the world. I want to hold faith in whatever higher being lies in the stars, and that there is no way our achievements will brings us apart.
Back to the more important matter though: I AM SO EXCITED! I was sitting in bed this morning, and it just all clicked. I need to keep applying for jobs like this, I need to write more, I need to MOVE!
I need a job here first to even think about moving. I think I might get a Barista job somewhere. I need some work to support myself right now. I pretty much have enough for this month's rent and that's about it. I don't think my tutoring will be able to pay for it all, so I'll have to find other options. I really want to work mornings too because that would make my schedule purrrfect. We'll see what happens.
...With everything.
Now I must get out of my very warm bed, and start this crazy day!
I hope this kid is in my class...
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
This week has been... well pretty terrible to be honest, but then I got to see Noam last night.
It sounds silly, or at least he would say it sounds silly, but when he opened the door, my frustrations washed away. I felt his soft quick kiss, and everything was better. We were going to a dinner with his best friend's parents. Which is interesting considering I've never eve had a sit down dinner with Noam's parents, but no matter.
As we left for Mike's house he stopped at the door, turned towards me, and gave me a kiss that was so many things. It was not a fierce kiss, but it was not as soft as the first. It was caring and warm. It made every grievance I had frozen solid inside of me thaw and melt away. Then he squeezed my hand and told me he missed me. What could be better than that? Seeing the person you love and having them dissolve every angry cell in your body into love.
I can't think this, or remind myself enough: I am so SO completely head over heels, backwards, can't find my way out nor do I want to- in love.
It's a really special time for me right now. I talk about it this relationship a lot, but that's because this is the only thing that's been steady lately. It seems that everything in my life these days has been thrown into the air by a tornado and is currently twisting and turning all around me. But this, this is steady and planted. Its roots are growing deeper, and I hope they continue to dig deep. I never want them to be pulled up. I hope this stability with Noam will remain in my life for a long time.
So we can do this in Italy...
Goodnight moon...
It sounds silly, or at least he would say it sounds silly, but when he opened the door, my frustrations washed away. I felt his soft quick kiss, and everything was better. We were going to a dinner with his best friend's parents. Which is interesting considering I've never eve had a sit down dinner with Noam's parents, but no matter.
As we left for Mike's house he stopped at the door, turned towards me, and gave me a kiss that was so many things. It was not a fierce kiss, but it was not as soft as the first. It was caring and warm. It made every grievance I had frozen solid inside of me thaw and melt away. Then he squeezed my hand and told me he missed me. What could be better than that? Seeing the person you love and having them dissolve every angry cell in your body into love.
I can't think this, or remind myself enough: I am so SO completely head over heels, backwards, can't find my way out nor do I want to- in love.
It's a really special time for me right now. I talk about it this relationship a lot, but that's because this is the only thing that's been steady lately. It seems that everything in my life these days has been thrown into the air by a tornado and is currently twisting and turning all around me. But this, this is steady and planted. Its roots are growing deeper, and I hope they continue to dig deep. I never want them to be pulled up. I hope this stability with Noam will remain in my life for a long time.
So we can do this in Italy...
Goodnight moon...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)