Trip to James Lick Observatory

This is part of the windy road we took up to the observatory. I would say I was driving somewhere between 10 and 25 mph, nice and slow (lots of hairpin turns).

My car, enjoying the visit.

The oldest observatory there.

A view to the bay area.

The mysterious booth. What do you think it was used for? We have a video clip to come on our guesses. Shane - do you know???

An old boarded-up house that peeked our curiosity as well. I wanted to crawl in through the basement but then one of the local workers warned us about rattle snakes (I think he was just trying to keep us away from the house).

Cousins-together at last

A view of a few observatories, I think there are nine in total.

Boring Video Blog

But since I made it, why not post it?

It's Been Ages

Okay, really, barely a month since I last posted. I just got busy with school, and then visitors, and then laziness. So whenever this happens, I seem to favors lists, so here we go:

• Did excelente in my two LIS classes, even enjoyed writing the term paper, which at first thought was terrible but turned out to be better than I expected
• Finished up my reference and instruction internship, it was needed practical experience
• Still have plenty to learn about working in SJSU Special Collections
  
• Had some cavities filled at the dentist
• Traveled with my awesome friends to Alcatraz Island (love spending time with them)
  
• Kent ladies, their husbands, and their daughters were all in town for their dad's wedding. Whoo hoo! I got to spend the evening with them at their aunt and uncle's house, trying to keep up with their daughters.
• My cousin, Rachel, made a stop-over in CA on her way back from Kentucky to WA (I'll be posting pictures and videos of our escapades later)
• Discovered that with on and off freeway driving, my car gets about 26.6 mpg, not bad I guess
  
• Saw Iron Man (twice) and Prince Caspian in the theatres
• Watched season finales for Smallville (disappointed), Bones (crushed), and Lost (still confused)

I think that's it. I'll try to be more regular but no guarantees. Here's a couple of pictures from the Alcatraz Trip (taken by Jenn Wu since I forgot my camera):

Alcatraz Island from the ferry

C Cell Block

Alcatraz Island Lighthouse (oldest on the West Coast, I think)

Nice Group Photo with San Francisco in the background

The Ladies (Jamie, Megan, Gina, and Jenn)

The View from the island

The Silly Photo

The Squirrels Gymboree

I'm sitting here at my computer and I'm supposed to be writing my term paper on Academic Library 2.0 but it is, um, not going as I would like it to. I'm taking notes on articles I've already read two or three times. I'm finding additional blogs and other online sources of new-to-me Library 2.0 information. Then I remember I have stack of books I populated with stickies and I think one of them said something important. Where was that? And it easily leads to me feeling very overwhelmed. Directly behind my computer are three good-sized windows. In the backyard that they look out upon, there is a large old dead walnut tree. In it is a dilapidated base of treehouse with a sign hanging from it that says, "Elizabeth's Treehouse." I don't think it has been played in for over two decades. Except perhaps by a few special little guests: the squirrels. As I sit here, pondering the purpose of my paper, there are four squirrels scrambling through the tree's dry leafless branches and chasing each other. If you are frustrated with an unproductive writing session, then this can be quite amusing to watch. Maybe one of these days, I'll give you a play by play using the video camera on this computer.

Just Wanted to Say, Hi!

I feel like I should be making a blog post but I don't think I have anything that significant to say. Let's see...

• Lost and Smallville are both back on TV and neither is all that great. The former for losing touch with what made the show special (the people) and the latter for really poor editing and story-writing (what the heck is going on? I can't even begin to follow).
• I sat in the sun as I was doing some school reading yesterday and my knees got burned.
• Two weeks left of school!!! Actually, only one week for one class.
• I made some yummy Mexican rice-a-roni with bell peppers and corn so I can live off of quesadillas for the next week or so.
• Today is Ben and Jerry's Free Ice Cream Cone Day. Make sure you get some. My current fav flavor is pumpkin cheesecake, but bananas on the rum is a close second.
• Still lifting weights once a week, even moved up to 50 lbs on some of the weight device thingies.

All that's all she wrote.

To Eat Meat or Not To Eat Meat

So this is a tough issue for me for several reasons, which I just don't feel like going into right now. Nonetheless, I think it is important to take a serious look at this issue. My dad sent me an article from the NY Times that I think provides some insight into the current meat situation in the U.S. and the world. I encourage you to read it.

AT&T Disconnect

So moving into Day 5 of no Internet or phone line, I'm still surviving. Fortunately, we get somebody's wireless at my parents house (must be comcast; thus, making it comcastic for me). I hope I am able to keep up with people's emails and my schoolwork so that no one has really noticed that the Internet is not at my finger tips. Hopefully, AT&T will finally fix the problem tomorrow, and I will be back to using my own computer.

I Failed and then Grace Came

I had failed, missed an important deadline that could affect the rest of my life (and I do not say this to be over-dramatic). As I read that nothing could be done, an overwhelming sense of loss hit me. I sat there trying to rejoice in God (Philippians 4:4), to praise Him, to love Him, and to know that He is good, regardless of my circumstances. I began to prepare a prayer request email, tears beginning to well. In that moment, when it seemed so hopeless, I heard the chime of a new email. In the background, I listening to a new CD given to me by Kevin: "Thy Mercy, My God" by Sandra McCracken.

Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Thy mercy my God is the theme of my song,
The joy of my heart and the boast of my tongue.
Thy free grace alone, from the first to the last,
Hath won my affection and bound my soul fast.

Without Thy sweet mercy, I could not live here.
Sin would reduce me to utter despair,
But through Thy free goodness, my spirit’s revived
And He that first made me still keeps me alive.

Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart,
Which wonders to feel its own hardness depart.
Dissolved by Thy goodness, I fall to the ground
And weep to the praise of the mercy I’ve found.

Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Great Father of mercies, Thy goodness I own
In the covenant love of Thy crucified Son.
All praise to the Spirit, whose whisper divine
Seals mercy and pardon and righteousness mine.

All praise to the Spirit, whose whisper divine
Seals mercy and pardon and righteousness mine.

Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Those words were filling my ears as I read the email that informed me that even though I was late, I was being slipped in, just in time. My heart swelled and my tears flooded as my lips moved to match the words of the song above. I did not deserve this little bit of grace and I certainly do not deserve the Grace that comes to me through the blood of Jesus Christ. Thank you, Father God, for loving me when I fail and when I fall. Hallelujah!

Black Ring Be Gone

Just a quick anecdote:
If you find that your rings or other pieces of silver have become tarnished, never fear, a quick solution is near (at least if you have a Trader Joe's nearby).
One evening as I was heading to take a shower, in the process I glanced at my hands and saw with great horror that my silver rings had turned black!!! The next morning I borrowed some of my mom's silver polish and while it did clean off the black, the rings still seemed brownish-hued. As I was leaving the house, my mom mentioned to me that I might try some toothpaste (really??? I said). So several days later, when I just couldn't stand the brownish-hue any longer, I tested out this theory of toothpaste as a silver polish using Trader Joe's peppermint toothpaste. Low and behold, it worked better! Now my rings are shiny silver => Yay!

The New Car

Is it lovely? I'm not really sure why I chose the red one but I did have a dream about buying the red and when I woke up, I was super happy. This seemed like confirmation that I should choose that color. I did, and so far (three days), I like it. I classify it as mini minivan because there is a third row and there are two sliding doors that are not automatic but still make it easier to get into the third row. It is quite a bit smaller than a regular minivan. I can't wait til it is actually fun to drive right. Right now, I'm adjusting and trying not to get in a car crash.

Lost in Circulation

I recently requested a book from the library (Library 2.0 and beyond : innovative technologies and tomorrow's user / edited by Nancy Courtney). Supposedly it was plucked off the 8th floor shelf and then delivered down to the 1st floor. It would have then sat on the requested books shelf with my last name attached to it, waiting for me to pick it up. Well, last week, when I went to collect my precious book, I found a totally different book, not at all the one that I had requested (something about fashion styles). When I took it to the circulation desk and explained the situation, the lovely lady did her best to help me. I don't want to list all the details but it suffices to say, we came up with a plan to "ensure" that I would get my book. (I had seen in the catalog that someone else also had a request for the book, and thus, if I didn't get my fingers on it, the next person in line would and who knows how long that person would have it!) They were supposed to make a special note in the system so that when they found the book, I was supposed to be bumped to the top of the list and then notified to pick it up.
Today I went into the system and I saw that that other person got it first!!! It's gone. Thanks for all the non-help. arrrgghhhhh. I didn't want to think so badly about the library but I had a bad feeling that I was not going to be getting that book first. This is why smaller libraries can be better. With a huge staff and oodles of materials, one request for one patron just gets lost in circulation. Oh well. At least, it's due back on April 4th. This means that it must have been requested through Link+ or a public patron. Anyway, that is not too far away. So that is a moment of venting. Another helpful bit is that I do my research well before the paper is due (May 7).

The Princess of Power

This year as one of my birthday gifts from my parents, I received season 1, volumes 1 and 2 of She-Ra: The Princess of Power ( at wikipedia or at imdb.com). What fun! I used to truly love this series as a kid. As I watched Princess Adora transform into She-Ra, I was entranced. So far each time I watched, I still enjoy it. Of course, in these types of cartoons, they just reuse the same reel so that it is exactly the same clip every time, and my enjoyment hasn't faded. Granted I've only watched 7 episodes so far. This gives me about 58 episodes to go. I'm thinking about having a She-Ra party for anyone interested in experiencing a flashback or catching a glimpse of the 80s they might have missed.

She-Ra, the Princess of Power: For the Honor of Grayskull.

Test Drive

So I forgot to mention that I test drove the Mazda5 yesterday. Here's what I discovered:

1) It was actually a 2007 model that I drove (he told me this afterward - thanks)
2) It is small!!!!!
3) The base of the seats are half the height of my current van seats. That was weird. They felt like mini-seats.
4) I like the beige interior more than the black but unfortunately, it will inevitably get dirty faster.
5) The side sliding doors are manual (not automatic, like my mom's 2005 Odyssey). They were harder to open but easier to close.
6) The adjustable steering wheel was a good thing. Apparently I can be quite picky about where it goes.
7) Nice storage places (i.e., under seat pads).
8) Essentially, it was what I thought it would be.

If I actually know more about cars and driving them, what that should be like, I could probably tell you more but as it is, I can't. Regardless, I think it is the car for me. I will have to do a more serious test drive. This was just preliminary one.

A Month Behind!!!

Wow! I can't believe that I did not post anything in February. I thought about it a lot but never quite got to it I guess. Now, I'm stumped on what to say...

How about a list?
1. Love my internship: learned that when patrons come to the reference with ref. questions, I have to write down their topic or in the next minute, I forget it. Sort of embarrassing. Tomorrow and Tuesday morning I will be teaching information literacy sessions to English 1B at 7:30am. This means I need to be at the library at 7:15am.
2. Learning a lot at my student assistant position in SJSU Special Collections. It is way more complicated than the regular reference desk. Lots of policy, procedures, and rules.
3. Still lifting weights but only once a week. pooh pooh.
4. I got really sick and my parents totally had to take care of me. Thanks Mom and Dad!
5. I've now lived next door for a month. The re-adjustment is going well. I think by Summer, I'll be set.
6. Oh, I love my two LIS classes. I've learned a lot of about academic higher education institutions and their libraries. Also, I've gained an appreciation for the challenges of science and technology resources.
7. I've become an ALA member again!
8. Amanda and her daughter (plus her sisters and their families) will be in town this coming weekend = Yippee!!!
9. Lost is killing me with the suspense. I think the show has been very intense and I'd even say, good.
10. Psych ended is second season in February, but never fear it will be back in July.
11. I'm going to take Amtrak to visit Katy and B at the end of the month for part of my Spring break.

Well, that is all I can think at the moment... yep, that's it. Eleven is an odd number to end on, I'm sure it would drive Adrian Monk crazy. Fortunately, he is only fictional.

How's going with you?

Video Blog Ramble

Jane Austen - love 'em all

So I admit it, I love Jane Austen novels. And, frequently, the film versions. I own at least one film version of all the novels except Northanger Abbey. However, PBS just showed the most recent BBC version. It was excellent! I thought they really captivated not only the essence of the book but also the characters. The first time I read this novel I was 20 years old and studying abroad in London. I remember that I laughed so much because the main character, Catherine Moreland, is so silly and naive. Oddly, when I watched a 1980s version of Northanger Abbey (it was horrible), I realized that somehow I missed the tone of Henry Tilney. He's quite a sarcastic character who takes much delight in teasing Catherine. Or perhaps, I had just forgotten. Anyway, for any Jane Austen fans out there, I definitely can recommend this version of Northanger Abbey.

Well, tonight I'm off to go see 27 Dresses at 9:35pm. And tomorrow I work in SJSU Special Collections, 1-5pm. Yippee!

The First Dance of Mr & Mrs. Titus

I recorded Philip and Megan's first dance.

The Garage Go Bye-Bye

This is where Lehein and I painted our boat for the 8th grade boat wars. As you can see, it was poor design. Basically just a box that was waterproof. Oh well. Shane at least did better when he competed. Below is a video and some commentary about it. :D

Guess what? I'm moving!!!

Sort of ... I'm moving next door into my neighbor's house. They live in WA most of the time and would like to have someone in their house, keeping it warm and home-like. So all their stuff will still be in there. Also, they will come home occasionally and I will have to move back home. I'm not even sure how much of my own stuff will go with me. This is sort of an interesting arrangement. Guess I'll figure it out when I actually move over there. The best part is that I can start having dinner parties again - yay!!!!

Hope to see you soon at my new house (he he he).

Star Trek and Trees Without Leaves

A little poem for the new year...


Star Trek and Trees Without Leaves

Sharing the oddities and the quirks
Chewing the fat
Leaning back, relaxed
Remember when
Isn’t it funny?
Can there really be time bubbles and warp speeds?
Do you see math when you see trees without leaves?
Imagination, Fantasy, Creativity
Why do we have these gifts?
Snuggle in the bedsheets – so comfortable
Clouds that can’t be touched
Clouds that seem so soft
Can we converse?
Can we laugh together?
Seasons come
Seasons go
And seasons come
Remember when
Music hits the soul and – it swells up
Fierce
Starships, space stations, and shuttlecrafts
Transport me away to be in your presence forever
Now is not enough, I want the Everafter
The Great Mathematician of the Universe
Lover of my Soul
Pursue me and never let me go
I strike out and yet you stay
I curl and hide, you unfold and reveal
Beauty in the stars, Beauty in the trees, Beauty in me
How can it be?
IN you, FROM you, BECAUSE of you… Jesus.

Merry Christmas!!!

It Happened Again

I was listening to the radio on the way to a Christmas Tea when suddenly I heard a familiar sound. I turned up the volume and listened to each voice carefully. There was no doubt... it had to be the Backstreet Boys. That was AJ's scratchy voice, then Nick's nasally (not in a bad way, I just don't know how else to describe it), then Brian's smooth one, and finally Howie's sweet voice. (No Kevin because he left the group.) They sounded older but I could still recognize them. I made sure to memorize some lyrics so that I could look up the song on the Internet, like "house of cards." Fortunately, when the song was over, the radio announcer came on to say it was a new song, "Helpless When She Smiles" by the Backstreet Boys. Whoo hoo!!!! A new CD, yippee! Yes, I know I am quite talented. You are all so impressed by BSB detector.

Oh, and my interview went well today. I sort of fumbled the last question. It was one of those darn recall questions (describe a time when you had a leadership role... ). I can never remember "a time when" except like three hours later. *sigh* This time I would have talked about how I organized and coordinated the Katrina Relief team from SJSU. Instead I mumbled something about coordinating MPE. I totally lost my train of thought by the end of my answer. Horrible horrible. The rest of it, I think I handled well.

What Doesn't Work and What is just darn tootin' Swell

Allowing a massive graveyard of ants to collect on your sink does not keep new ants from visiting. Grrrr......

I got the Reference/Instruction Internship at the SJSU King Library - "WHOO HOOO!!!!!!!" doesn't say enough.

And for good measure, I thought I would attach a fun picture Shane scanned onto his computer.

That is me, Karen, and Shane in my dad's 1965 Mustang. My guess is this is 1994 or so.

Video Blog - Testing...

So I realized that with my computer and the fancy Photobooth application, I can record videos of myself, when then led me to think about posting a video blog. As I just discovered this is easier said than done. When you watch it you will see it was really hard for me to articulate myself and even sort of focus on what I wanted to say. I considered re-recording a more planned version, but hopefully this uncut and unedited version will provide some amusement.



In case you are wondering, that red spot on my nose is from rubbing my glasses up my nose. I took them off for this video because they were very "reflectory."

iMac Happiness

Yay! My iMac is here, whooppeee! Now I still have some more downloads and updates but I thought I should have a little bit of fun with it. Here are some silly photos:

"It's here and it's working!!!"

P.S> I LOve you, Rachel, and I'm very glad that you called me today.

The Haircut

So about every 2 and half years or so, I cut about 10-12 inches of my hair off and donate it to Locks of Love. They make wigs from the hair for kids who have lost their hair due to an illness. I believe it is a very worthy cause and I'm glad that I can contribute. This time, however, I had intended to hold out until after Megan and Philip's wedding but I just couldn't do it. Long hair is so much work to maintain and it is really heavy. In the shower, I had to comb out all the knots with the conditioner and a strong pick. Putting my hair up in a ponytail or a bun felt like it was adding 5 lbs to my head. So all that to say I gave in and what was supposed to be a trim turned into the chop. So here are some before and after photos.

Found My Baptism Video

This is my baptism, done at First Baptist Church in San Luis Obispo on February, 2002. I have to say that there was a lot of talking before I was baptized. Pastor Tom asked me to explain how I came to be a follower of Jesus; however, because my camera could only hold 20 seconds worth of video, Katy was only able to get the dipping part. So it may look like he just dipped me and then tossed me away but there was more leading up to it than appears. Once we became wet, he didn't want us to be wet for too long.
(There is no sound, this digital camera was not that sophisticated.)

Academic Library 2.0 conference

Yesterday, I went to my first professional conference: Academic Library 2.0 hosted by UC Berkeley. It was excellent and I can say for certain that I learned quite a bit about my soon-to-be career. Next, is to type up a summary and critical analysis of the experience. I may post a portion of this when I get around to doing it. I am hoping to include this experience into my e-portfolio.

One of the "new" technologies I encountered was www.librarything.com and so now I have decided I must put all my books on the site. So far, I think have about 6 or 7. You can see on the right, the new display of some of the books. I think I might have to dig up some of my math books, so I can add them to the list. fun fun.

The Carver and The Pumpkin

The finished product!!!

Nelson (my brother's girlfriend's sister's boyfriend) - The Master Carver

Fortunately, all carving was completed before the earthquake and thus no fingers were lost in the creation of this masterpiece. Nelson's previous carvings: 2006 and 2005 .

Earthquake in SJ

For those of you interested or concerned, we had an earthquake here in San Jose. We had guests (Jayme & Nelson) over when it happened so my concern was more for them than enjoying the shaking and quaking. I truly thought it was in the 6 area of magnitude but it was only 5.6 (this is, in fact, a good thing). Definitely, the largest quake I had been in since October 17, 1989. A photo frame and an empty rum bottle broke. That is the extent of damage at our house. This morning when I opened up the cupboard for cereal, a couple of cans of tomatoes fell out. Fortunately, I was not in their path. So yep, that's about it.

Two Pieces

1) Another spider story: The other night when I was getting ready for bed, I had another spider adventure. (I should mention that I don't usually wear my glasses when I doing my bedtime prep routine.) So while I was brushing my teeth, I noticed in the mirror something black on my chest, right above the top of my tank. I looked away because I was sort of distracted by the teeth brushing process, then just as I was thinking, I ought to look closer to see what it was, I felt it move up my chest (it was on my skin). I looked down and it was a spider. Creeped out but with no screaming, I swiped it off my chest into the sink. Then I ran into another problem because I still didn't want to kill it (I know, I know, I'm crazy). So I had my mouth filled with foamy toothpaste and a spider stuck in the sink where I wanted to spit (the sides of the inside part of the sink were too steep and wet for him to crawl out). At this point, I realized the spider was going to need a little help if I wanted him out of my way. I tried to use my hand to guide him out but he kept slipping around it. Then I tore off a square of toilet paper and used that to guide him up and out. Phew! Finally, washed my mouth out and toothbrush off. Don't know where the spider went but he's gone now. I really have no idea how he got on my chest, except that maybe he was on my PJs when I put them on.

2) I have been reading through Galatians recently to remind myself of the freedom there is in Christ. I've been feeling sort of bound and suffocating for reasons that I would rather not go into here. I knew it was a not spiritually healthy way to be living like this and certainly wasn't something that I should ignore. Here is a paraphrasing of Galatians 5:13 that really hit home to me what I love about being one of Christ's disciples: You were called to be free; use your freedom to serve one another in love. This is what I most want to do, seriously. But of course, I face a battle within myself against my selfish pursuits (those which benefit No one, including myself). When, instead of focusing on my selfish pursuits, I focus on serving others in the love and power of Christ (for without Him, I have no strength), my breaths become deep, long, and peaceful, and I am so joyful. Today I will be visiting an elderly woman who lives by herself in a senior community center. Love INC was contacted by a social worker saying that she was extremely lonely and would be blessed by having a friendly visitor. I am so honored to have this opportunity and I pray that God would give me words of comfort and friendship to envelope her in love and care. (I have to say a word of Thanks to my dear friend, Megan, who has been such a prayer warrior for me, sending cards and letters with words of encouragement and scripture.)


Galatians 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters;²¹ only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh,²² but through love serve one another.²³ 5:14 For the whole law can be summed up in a single commandment,²⁴ namely, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.”²⁵

Tucker's Sad News

Tucker has been limping lately, so mom took him to the Vet. Turns out he has elbow dysplasia. We have been told that he has to keep his active life on a lower key: no jumping down, no running around, no playful spazzing, etc. This is sad. Tucker is all about playtime. You know, he is only four years old, so young still.

Additionally, the anesthesia that they gave him made him sick. So he was melancholy, morose, uninterested in food, and lethargic. Mom called the vet this morning and she said he should be feeling better by this evening. She said they put a note in his file that he will need different anesthesia in the future. Anyway, he has been a bit more like himself today. We got him to eat some rice this morning and he went outside afterwards, so that's good.

So if you wouldn't mind praying for our little Tucker, it would be much appreciated. He brings so much joy and laughter to our family.

Here's a silly photo of Tucker:

Here's a photo after Tucker played in a mud puddle (his favorite activity at the park):

Megan's Bridal Shower

Yay! I was finally able to make a trip up to Lakeport, CA. Long awaited, this was. And for what better occasion than Megan's bridal shower! The hostesses (can I pluralize the word like this?) did a lovely job. The theme was focused on Megan as getting the star role of a show. We interviewed by one the hostesses on Megan's new celebrity status on video. I'm sure that will provide Megan with endless oodles of laughter as we dramatized our way through it.

Anyhoo, I only took two photos and none really of the shower itself. I was just too busy eating and then making the rehearsal bouquet (from the ribbons on the gifts).

Megan, Kathleen and Jeffra (notice yummy food in background)

Megan, Jeffra and Tammy
(these two ladies are the first friends I made at SJSU Campus Crusade for Christ)

Another fabulous part of the trip was the time with the people: Megan's parents (& other family members), Steve & Kathleen, and most definitely, Tammy, who I hadn't seen in so long. All in all, an excellent way to procrastinate on the schoolwork front.

Today, I have returned to my regular routine: wake-up, eat breakfast, read, lift weights & run on treadmill, shower, eat some dried bananas & drink tropical carrot juice, finally check out email accounts & SLIS blackboard, choose schoolwork to do, eat lunch with dad, and now here I am not doing schoolwork but I am going to now, seriously. Off I go...

Not Much to Say

So I haven't posted in a long time (or at least it feels like it) because nothing too exciting has happened. Here are the uneventfuls:

*Finished one and a half assignments for LIBR 285 (have a paper and powerpt presentation due on Saturday)
*Finished 3 assignments and 6 weeks worth of readings for LIBR 250
*Still trying to figure out topic for thesis proposal in LIBR 285 (the dark cloud that hangs over my head where-ever I go)
*Have my bridesmaid dress for Meg & Phil's wedding in January (this, I guess, is actually quite a feat) & it was only $45 with no alterations necessary -phew!
*Enjoying time at church, small group fellowships, and discipleship relationships
*Getting over a cold that started on Monday
*Completed copying books 1-6 of Harry Potter onto my iTunes for listening later when I have time (ha ha)
*Still lifting weights every Monday and Thursday morning (gotta keep that shoulder from being a pain)
*Watched the premieres of Heroes, Pushing Daisies, and Smallville.

There's probably a few others that have slipped my mind but that's what happens when the dark cloud is following you.

Bark in the Park

Well, a late posting is better than none at all. I seem to operate on this principle but it is not entirely my fault (slow computers, bad connection, schoolwork, etc.). Regardless, here is a photo and a video clip from Bark in the Park. And you would be right to notice that there is no sound with the video. I used my mom's camera and it does not record sound.





The volunteer crew of the Ticket Booth, Bark in the Park 2007, 1-5pm-ish: Brady, Jeffra, Nelson, Jayme, and Mom (taking the photo). There were a lot of tickets buyers this year.

Good stuff.

Where did it go?

On Sunday, I went with Karen to the mall. She tried on some clothes in desperate need of new clothing for work. I tried on a few tops (I hate to use the word "blouse") but basically I am too thrifty to actually buy anything. Because of this trip to the mall, a memory was inspired to return to the forefront of my mind. As I was falling asleep that night, I suddenly recollected buying a dressy top at a mall store with my cousin and her daughter at some point in the past (I rarely buy any clothes from the mall). Now, instead of falling asleep, I was trying to remember anything and everything about this top. I remembered it was maroon and black, probably had stripes of some sort, scrunched to the side or something like that, a material other than cotton, 3/4 length sleeves, and I just couldn't envision the neckline. I struggled to remember the last time I had seen it or worn it. I also couldn't seem to recall when I had even bought it. Finally, I got up and began looking through my clothes in the closet but to no avail. I finally decided I just needed it to put it aside and fall asleep, which somehow I managed to do.

The next day, I made a more thorough go through of my closet. And guess what? I found it! The top had become stuffed away in the corner in a plastic organizing unit (from my Cal Poly dorm days). Since the tag said "hand wash only," I probably intended to wash it separately from my regular wash. Anyway, I mostly had the correct memory of it. I have a suspicion that the last time I wore it was probably in the picture below, taken on June 15th, 2005. Only over two years ago. So basically, I feel like I have a new top! Yippee!


I hope you enjoyed my silly silly story. Now it is back to school (gotta write a critique of a case study and do a comparison of the Informal Education website and the required readings).

Hmmm, people say that I have red hair and I guess in this photo, it kind of looks like it. Wow! My hair was short. *sigh* I can't wait until I get to cut my hair again...

My Saturday Morning Hike

My new activity and way to spend some restful time with God is to go on a hike on Saturday mornings. For two weeks in a row, I have enjoyed exploring Calero County park. It is a rather dry park as you can see. My shoes get covered in dry dirt but I wear my camelback so I am supplied with plenty of water to keep me from dehydration.


Here is a picture of a part of the Los Cerritos trail, I believe. Horses also travel on these trails, so you have to keep your eyes on the ground if you care about the bottom of your shoes. I like this picture because of the flowers in the front. I don't recollect that these were blooming when I came the Saturday before.



























The golden hills filled with old oak trees. This particular part of California has such a distinct smell. Unfortunately, I don't really have the gift of written description so I can't really do it justice. I would say it is a baked wheat sort of smell. The oaks seem to add a more poignant smell, just a little bit of bitterness. Of course, there is a dry dirt smell mixed in as well. But I love it all.


















I started out with a visor on but then decided I just couldn't see as well with it on. I don't just go on the hike for the exercise of it (though those steep uphill parts of the hike certainly are a workout), I want to really enjoy my surroundings and the beauty of nature. I like to stop on the way and just breathe it all in. Lovely, lovely.

The Cave We Talked About

Here are some photos of the cave that Rachel and I mentioned in our video clip:

It was black black black in the cave. I tried using my cell phone light to see anything but to no avail, so I decided to take a photo because the flash would brighten it up. One photo above was normal distance, the one below is zoomed in as far as I could.



I turned around to get a shot of Rachel and she was comment on the interesting surface of the cave. There is a tiny bit of green in the background, that is the great outdoors, the small opening where we entered the cave.


Really, really really wish I had a flash light. I need a mini mag light to carry in the hiking backpack.

See Below

So I finally was able to add the final video clip but I guess since it was a draft I started on back on August 25th, that is where it was posted. So you have to scroll down to August 25th entry to see the video. Sorry for any confusion.

:D

Back to School

So today I consider my first regular day of school, even though it technically started last Thursday. So here is what I did on this exciting day (approximations on timings):
7:30am Woke up to Spanish radio alarm
8:30am Called Math Dept to check on how things were going with the first day to add the Math Computer Lab
8:40am Walked onto campus to use the weights in the Sports Center (my second time, I might be getting better at this but for the most part I am pretty clueless)
10:00am Read Chpt 3 of LIBR 285 textbook
12:30pm Ate lunch (leftover spaghetti)
1:00pm Finished LIBR 250 Introduction paper and posted to Blackboard
2:30pm Printed articles for LIBR 250 and LIBR 285 (possibly also some putzing around the Internet-oh! that reminds me I need to read For Better or For Worse at gocomics.com)
4:30pm Read LIBR 250 article
5:22pm Talked with Amanda on the phone (heard Mekdes in the background)
6:00pm Ate dinner with mom
7:00pm Read another LIBR 250 article and talked with a Math professor about our Math Ed Info Lit project
7:45pm Here I am writing this...

I'll probably close out the night reading Galatians but I have to be in bed early since I have discipleship time with Luann at 7:30am. It is so weird to be just doing school. I haven't done this since Fall 2004, three years ago!

Good night all!

So good (and slightly frightening)

I just sent this email to a few of my friends and then I thought, why not post my little tale? (though this may lead some of you to be ashamed to say that you know me or are related to me)

I was listening to K-LOVE (a Christian radio station) on the way to church this morning. As I was listening to one of the songs, I began to realize that there were multiple artists performing. And as some of you out there know, I am always trying identify the singers (to some people's annoyance - no names will be mentioned here). Well, I became quite certain that one of the singers was a Backstreet Boy. I checked it out right now and guess what? I was right, Brian Littrell sings a verse or two. Ha! What do you know? My BSB radar still works! ;D I thought I would share this delightful news with you.

Here is the song in case you were curious:
http://www.hughchou.org/ccm/byhiswounds.html

In other news, I have been trying to post the last Kentucky video clip but it keeps giving me an error message that I don't understand. I'll keep on trying.

Final Clip (Rachel and Jeffra)

Our Last Report from Kentucky.




It worked, finally!!! Enjoy our last moments together. I love you, Rachel. Thanks for being an excellent host.

Clip # 8 (skipped # 7)

I wonder if I will run out of of blog posting space? Anyway, Rachel is the narrator on this clip.




Unfortunately, I was cut off because I ran out of room on the memory card. I deleted some photos and video clips that were not needed, and we made one final clip (soon to be posted).

Clip # 6 (on the Natural Bridge)

Yes, we made it to the top! What a view!

Clip # 5 (skipped 4th)

Surprise! How did we do that?




Apparently God had a different plan for our hike than we did. We were quite amused. Can you tell?

The In Between

As a break between the clips, I wanted to tell you about the Prayer Retreat I went on. On Saturday 8am, 11 other women and I arrived in the Santa Cruz mountains to a day away from crazy San Jose, a day with our Heavenly Father. We started with an artistic endeavor to sort of loosen up our creative juices. Then we moved over to the chapel for some focused prayer time. At this point, I still had a lot of my mind that I was trying to leave behind. After the chapel time, it was free time to spend with the Lord. I took a nature walk through a trail in the mountains. I felt so joyful to be there, absorbing in the different aspects of the environment as I walked by a creek and the darks greens of the forest to top of the hills with the dry grass and oak/walnut trees. It was lovely. At lunch we discussed what we had experienced thus far. We had another two and half hours after lunch to be by ourselves. I chose to carry chair out into the forest, off trail, to a more secluded location. Here I journaled about all the sounds I heard, wrote out some of the issues I was having at the time that were keeping me distanced from God, and just took time breathe in and out the air and observe the beauty of God's creation. Have you noticed how forests are filled with life and death, growth and decay? It is an interesting contrast. We had another intimate time in the chapel, and then ended with dinner at a small Italian restaurant in Los Gatos. What an excellent day!

Anyhoo, more movie clips will be coming soon (I think there are at least 4 more).

Third Clip (skipped 2nd)

Rachel and Jeffra at lookout point.

A Clip (testing)

Rachel and Jeffra at Natural Bridge Park, KY.

My Visit with Rachel the Ruthless (my cousin)

Well, I just returned from visiting my cousin in Kentucky. I plan to post some video clips of our adventures but I don't know how to do this, so it will have to wait. But here are some spiffy photos to hold us all over.

Friday morning treat: Eating waffles at the Waffle House (one of my favorite parts of the Eastern/Southern US, we went here when we were in Missippippi).

The staircase the Shaker village we visited on Saturday.

After the uphill hike at the Natural Bridge park. Good times.

Video Clips to come...

Precious Time with the Babies

This is a photo of me with Elodie Ann and Sara Amanda-Kate (daughters of my best friend's sisters, who are all pretty much family to me). Aren't they beautiful? Although I was not able to see Amanda's daughter (see photos at her blog), spending time with these ladies was well worth the trip.

New Car?

So it looks like my van (1995 Chrysler Grand Voyager) is at the end of the line (lose bearing in the differential of the transmission-does that make sense?). Jonathan said I should "run it to the ground." He might be right.

Anyway, it seems like I will have to go car shopping. Here's what I think would be best but feel free to post your opinions (you guys are so verbose, it is hard to keep you down): I want the car to last for the next 10 years with only a few repairs; decent gas mileage; at most 2 years old; and somewhere in the cost of $10,000 - $20,000.

So what car should I buy? *help* *help*

Walk the Grand Prix

If you live in South Bay, please consider registering for and donating your time to walk around the Grand Prix track, bringing awareness to the Prevention of Cancer.

Here is what is said about it:

This is the first year public access will be granted on the track before Champ Cars! Be the first to walk one lap around the Redback Raceway as soon as it is closed to vehicular and through traffic on Wednesday, July 25. Tell your friends you were on the same racetrack the Champ Drivers will whirl down at speeds over 180 mph on Race Day!

This twilight memorial walking lap will symbolically “Light The Way” as we recognize the strides being made in the early detection of cancer.

Learn how the Canary Foundation is affiliated with the San Jose Grand Prix, and the urgency of supporting this important work.

Preliminary Event Flow (subject to change)

7:00 – 7:45 pm Check-in, Registration

7:45 – 8:00 pm Canary Foundation Introduction

8:00 pm Enter track at Chavez Park gate (Market Street & Park Avenues)

8:00 – 8:45 pm One Memorial Lap walked on the Redback Raceway

8:45 pm Event officially ends

Sign up here! I'll be there and I hope see some friends.

Adventuring through iTunes ... again

So last April 2006, my hard drive on my PowerBook died totally. I had a three year warranty that allowed me to get it replaced with a new one for free (yippee!) but I lost everything that I had collected during the three years that I had it, including over 4,000 songs on my iTunes. Now I am trying to bring my iTunes back up to speed. Today I broke 2,000 and I still have over 200 CDs in the basement to bring up and copy. I think this will take the rest of summer. I also might copy some of my dad's CDs.

*Happy 4th of July!*

"It is interesting, as someone has pointed out, that every single religion known to man is a religion of works -- except the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Hinduism tells us that if we renounce the world and relate ourselves to the 'spirit of the universe,' we will at last find our way to peace. Buddhism sets before us eight principles by which man is to walk and thus find himself on the way to salvation. Judaism says we must keep the Law absolutely and inflexibly and then we will be saved. Islam says that a man must pray five times a day and give alms and fast on the month of Ramadan and obey the commands of Allah. All are ways of works. Unitarianism says that man is saved by having good character. Modern humanism says salvation is by service to mankind. But in every case salvation is said to be achieved by something we have to do. But the good news of the Gospel is that Christ has done it! He alone has done what no man can do for himself and thus has set us free.... True freedom is to be expressed in loving service for one another. This is truly life."

Ray Stedman, Galatians: Don't Submit Again to the Slave's Yoke (DP #249)

I love my life of freedom in Christ. I love being free and empowered by the Holy Spirit to love people even when my own nature challenges this blessing. It is a worthy cause and I am most honored to pursue it.

New Baby in the House

My friend, Elizabeth and her husband, Dave, had their first child on Monday night. Elizabeth had similar problems to to her sister, Katie, and so also ended up having a C-section. But the best part is, both mom and baby girl are doing well!!! After several days of deliberation, a name was finally chosen: Elodie Ann House. In case you are wondering, the first name is pronounced like melody but without the m. Lovely, lovely. I can't wait to meet her, which should happen in early August. Yippee!

Democrats and "Faith"

I read an transcript from a Presidential Forum on Faith that included the upcoming 3 Democratic candidates (Edwards, Obama and Clinton). It was enlightenling and darkening at the same time. I had no idea what their relationships with God were like. Now I at least have an inkling. However, it wasn't really possible to compare the candidates because they were each given different questions. I would have been curious to see how they answered some of the same questions (I think poverty might have been addressed by all three candidates in some way - I favored Osama's answer because he tied the issue to education, which I think is key. Educated people tend to be more thoughtful and careful in their actions because they have a broader understanding of the world around them. Nonetheless -You know, I am going to say a little more in this parathetical moment because I can- when people talk about poverty and homeless, I don't know if they realize that there are some people -many of those I meet regularly in the homeless shelter- that are not mentally capable of getting themselves out of being homeless or keeping a job. For whatever reason -perhaps through their own fault but I don't think that should matter- they are regular residents of the homeless shelter and seem to be incapable of keeping a job. How do we help these people? I'm not even sure). Anyway, I am glad to have read the transcript since I am not a Republican or Democrat but I would like to have an understanding of both sides' perspectives. I agree with each in some ways and vehemently disgree in others. Thus, it can feel like when I vote that it is a lose-lose situation because I am never truly represented by my vote.

November 2008 is still some time away. Good to be up on the news but not necessary to have a decision made yet. (Okay, since this isn't the most elegant or thought-out posting, I suppose my opinions could change tomorrow but so it goes...)

Jello Arms

After my fifth visit to the chiropractor, I have jello arms. This is because I had to lift 10 pounds of weight and sometimes less than that (3lbs). This only confirms what I already know: I have NO arm strength.

I guess the theory is that at some point I will be able to lift more than that. We will see. I think the only time I have ever strengthed my arms was when I was swimming.

I don't really have anything more to say than that. Hmmmm, Heroes was very sad last night. Poor pitiful Gabriel.

Forced to Gmail

Well, I avoided it for as long as I could but Blogger forced me to do, so now I have a gmail account. Whoopee!

Wish I could have had jeffra@gmail.com. Nice and simple. Oh, well, I guess settling for second best isn't too bad. At least this way it should be clear that I am female and my name is not Jeff.

Anyway... not a very exciting blog.

You know what I realized? (I stole your phrase, Kevin.) I have NOT seen a movie in the theaters since Pirates of the Caribbean 2. Oye! Maybe I will see Spiderman 3 but that hasn't gotten the best reviews. Perhaps I should wait for Pirates 3 but that doesn't look much better.

Movies I want to see in the theaters (not in any order):
Spiderman 3
Oceans 3 (just because)
Pirates 3 (just because, probably go with CP friends)
Bourne 3 (liked first director better & books are better)
Penelope
Ratatouille
Enchanted (maybe?)
Nancy Drew
Hairspray
Stardust (maybe?)
maybe a few more that I can't think of at the moment

confession: I watch the trailers as they are released on iTunes...

It's Happening in Soledad.

Can you believe it?

So where is Soledad? Why, it is between Gonzales and Greenfield. Not sure where those lovely towns are, then let's try between Salinas and King City. Still mystified, umm, between San Jose and San Luis Obispo? How about between San Francisco and Los Angeles? Fiiiiiiiine, let's go with somewhere in the middle of California, on Highway 101, okay?

Anyway, back to Soledad. So there has been, for the last 5 years or so, a large billboard on 101 going South that says, "It's happening in Soledad." I'm still not sure about this but I can now say at least that something is happening in Soledad. How do you know when something is happening in a small town? Perhaps it is the new Longs Drugstore? Close, but not quite there. I'll give you a hint: it involves green and a star. ... Yep, it is a Starbucks. Not just a regular Starbucks but a drive-thru Starbucks. Oo la la.

Thus ends my exciting report from my trip to visit Katy and Brian in Atascadero. What? You don't know where Atascadero is either. *sigh* Fortunately, there is Google Maps, and the world is right again.

Cricket

Apparently today was a big cricket match, or so my Indian Student Assistants informed me. Something like the Superbowl for us... Right now outside my work window, a group of Indians are playing cricket. They seemed to be having lots of fun... and now I have to go back to work.

Did baseball come from cricket? They are similar and yet different...

Crime of the Month

A Crime, a horrible, most horrible crime has been committed… FoxTrot has been removed from the San Jose Mercury News!!! One of my favorite strips, gone! I just cannot believe it, how can they justify that?
I normally read FoxTrot in Spanish online, then read it in English but they haven’t been posting the English version lately, which has taken the challenge to a whole other level.
I wish I knew what I could do to remedy this situation. Who do I write to? Is there someone to call? Anyone know?

On another more delightful note, I saw two great musical performances this last Friday: JJ Heller and Cele De. Check out their myspace music to hear their amazing sounds. I’m not good at describing it, just enjoying it and being awestruck by their talent.

No Black Coat

It's true! I have not worn my big black coat all week!!! We have had 80 degree weather so I suppose it would have been weird but I wasn't expecting to put it aside so early.

Last night I was driving home from a Bible Study and I had a really bad headache. I turned off the radio, which I usually always have on. Driving home in the silence, it was surprisingly peaceful. As I exited the freeway and neared home, all the sounds reminded me of late nights returning home with my family. Since I drive the same minivan that my parents used when I was younger, every sound was the same. As I braked, as I accelerated, as I waited for a light to change, as I made all the same turns to get home...

Praise for a Bed

Okay, so I just love having a cozy warm bed to sleep in. There are many nights where I get into bed, and I just couldn't be happier. Thank you, God, for blessing me with this immense comfort. I don't deserve it and I don't even always appreciate it but I am so grateful when I do. I wish everyone in the world could experience this comfort but I know that they don't. Maybe I should start a campaign: Beds for All.

P.S. My two best friends' (Karen and Amanda) sisters had babies. Liza had a baby boy, Tyler Wataru Kao, on December 7 (I think). He was one month early. Katie had little girl, Sara Amanda-Kate Glascoe, on January 11 after being 8 days overdue, long painful labor, and final C-section. Congratulations to the new families!!

Down with Macy*s

Let the Chrsitmas shopping insanity begin...

My mom and I went out for early shopping yesterday morning. We hit up Mervyn's first and then made our way over to Valley Fair. After some successful shoe and jewerly shopping at one Macy's, we trekked across the mall to the other Macy's. We were delayed with some pastry shopping first (we can never pass those up).

Since the bag we had was heavy (mom had put everything we bought in one macy's plastic bag, including the pastries she bought for Dad), Mom carried the left handle and I carried the right. As we entered the Macy's, we were discussing which direction to head to get chair pads. Then it happened: mom was falling, the bag was tearing, and I went to the ground after her. We were both in so much shock. It looked like someone had spilled their iced coffee on the floor and left it. Several people stopped to see if we were alright. One man came over and said that he had just reported the spill to one of the clerks. So we waited for someone to show up. And waited. And waited. And waited... for about 5 more minutes, which is a ridiculously long time. We were all appalled that nobody had shown up yet. The guy (Raymond) went back to the clerk to remind them about the spill and the poor lady who had fallen in it. Raymond had commented that with all the cameras around you think someone would have been there right there. You know they would if it were someone shoplifting. Raymond came back with a clerk who said her manager was on the way. One minute later, a manger showed up. Cleaning people too. Then another person to take the accident report. My mom had coffee all over her and I had it on my shoulder and in my hair. The woman who took the report was polite but not very sympathetic or empathetic. Raymond stayed as the witness. When my mom pointed out that our expensive pastries were ruined, she said she would mail us a $25 gift certificate. My mom was really upset and shaken up after all this.

I have to say that what makes me the most angry is the lack of concern and no sign of urgency. There was spilled coffee on the walkway, which they knew about and did nothing to take care of it. They had two of their customers fall in it and did nothing for at least five minutes!!!! What in the world are they thinking!!??!! I just don't get it. I always imagined that if someone fell in a store like Macys due in some way to their inadequacy, there would be a rushing of help and concern. We did not get any. Of course, my mom and I are not scene people. In other words, we just took it. We did not yell, we did not scream, or even saying anything at all with anger. We were just polite. I can't help but wonder if that caused them to be unconcerned? It kinds of ticks me off that you would have to make a big scene in order to get proper care.

Okay enough rambling. I bet Nordstroms and even Mervyns would have treated us better...

I LOve myspace music!!!

It's super fabulous! I can look up musicians, listen to their music and decide if I want to spring the 7-12 dollars for their CD. Or I can just play favorite songs over and over again for free (confession: love Christina's Hurt song, can't get enough of it). Also I can learn that I have actually heard that singer/band before (ex., James Blunt). Now I know the name of the song by Nickelback that I like so much (Far away). Sarah McLachlan's Christmas songs lean me towards buying her Christmas CD.

The only minor problem is that it can play jumpy or choppy, so it doesn't really work for the long term. In other words, if I am listening to a song that much, I should just buy the song from iTunes or the album from BMG.

So that's my peace on that.

Just a little picture I like

Jeffra and Jenn

Babies on the Way

Just wanted to say that my two best friends' sisters are having babies and both have a due date in January. However, Karen's sister, Liza, just went into labor this morning around 1am. Karen called me at 7am to tell me. She is so excited. The baby (little Tyler) is one month early but I am sure all will go well. Karen cannot wait to be an aunt. If I remember correctly (which of course, I always do), the first thing Karen told me after telling me that her sister was getting married was, "I can't wait til Liza gets pregnant and I get to be an aunt!!!" Well, she may start being Aunty Karen today. I am very very happy for her and her family.

My other best friend, Amanda, has a twin sister, Katie who is also due in January. I was blessed to be down in Orange County to go to Katie's baby shower. She has quite the baby belly but she is so beautifully happy. Amanda's other sister, Elizabeth is also expecting to be a mommy but not until June. And of course, Amanda herself is hoping to have their adopted Ethiopian baby by February. Just babies all around.

Eventful Last Weekend!

So the official First Day of Instruction for SJSU starts on Wednesday, August 23rd. This means that this last weekend was my last hurrah before the insanity begins. Fortunately, it was a fabulous weekend. My best friend, Amanda, came into town on Thursday afternoon. We had girl time together as her husband wasn't flying in until Friday evening. It is great how you can meet up with your best friends and it is just like old times.
Friday I took off from work and decided we needed to go on a little adventure. I wanted to hike but because my toes is healing really well, I didn't want to spoil that. Nonetheless, I still wanted to enjoy God's nature outside of the city. I remembered that there is a little road off from Almaden Expressway that takes you out of the city and into the hills. So I told Amanda we were going to explore this wild area of terrain. As we rumbled our way along in my boat of a vehicle, we came upon a little park called Calero county park, which is a 3,476 acre park with horse stables. It was gorgeous out there. Truly a lovely place to pray in, so we did. Later that afternoon I spent time with Amanda's family members in Los Altos. They have really adopted me into their family. I thank God for that. Finally, the night ended with seeing an old black-and-white silent Harold Lloyd film, called "Safety Last!" They even had a person there to play the organ that accompanied the movie. It was all very impressive. I loved it and can't wait to go back to the theatre.
Saturday was more mellow. Amanda, Andrew, and I spent some time together talking about we have recently learned about God and he helped me to answer a question I had. Then we went to the International Rose Market to eat my favorite food, Persian. Yummy. After they left to go to a wedding, I did some reading for school.
Today (Sunday) I didn't feel so well but at church, I had a heart-felt moment with God about some stuff going on in my heart right now. We have been having small group meetings during the church service, which has been a delightful way to get to know my brothers and sisters at NewLife covenant church. After lunch, I went to one of my newest friend's housewarming party. I love these people. They are fun, genuine, caring, and faithful people. I hope God provides me with more opportunities to spend time with them.
Now it is time for me to start getting ready for bed because tomorrow I must be at work at 7:30am as we have a Math Placement Exam. Woot woot!

P.S. Tiger won!!!!