How to Increase Your Blog Readership

Tip #235: Announce your engagement!


Where did you all come from?!
DAAAAANG!

Say It Ain't So, Jack.

NEW YORK -- The writers strike has struck down the Fox thriller "24."

"24" is absent from the network's revised, strike-affected schedule for midseason. In its announcement, Fox explained the "Day 7" season for the series would be indefinitely postponed to ensure an uninterrupted run.

Thanks for the heads-up, Bobby. Sadly, I was counting on Jack to entertain me while stuck inside on those c-c-cold Minnesota Monday nights. NOW what am I going to do??

(Don't go there. Tsk Tsk.)

I've Got The Blues

Blue MEN, that is. Check out my superstar drumming friend, Kirk, as he tears it UP at Universal Orlando. In the piece at the end, he is the one with the drumsticks.



RAWK.

Welcome, First Timers!

Hi friends!
Thank you so much for all your wonderful congratulatory wishes! Some of you are stopping by this blog for the first time...so I'd like to say WELCOME! Many of you are coming from links on the Facebook and MySpace communities, and others of you are friends and family of Chris and I. You'll find the engagement story in the post just below this one. Thank you for being invested in our lives. : )

I have nothing notable to blog today...I'm still luminous from this weekend's activities. My flowers are still adding some beautiful scents to my office, and there is a sparkle coming from the keyboard vicinity that is new to me...I'm loving all of it.

I did want to share this little tidbit from Ralph Waldo Emerson with you today in light of our studies at church and the pursuit of becoming a "revolutionary":

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”

Be blessed, and be a blessing today.

THE DETAILS!

"Here's Your Hug"

On Friday (Nov. 2), I left work a little early to arrive at the Doctor's office in downtown Long Beach before they closed for the night. Upon arrival at Kaiser's front desk, I found that I was a MINUTE too late and they would be unable to help me. I was utterly frustrated, since the day before I had attempted to get to the aforementioned doctor after work, but was thwarted by a stopped train in my path. Realizing I would AGAIN have to take work off to see the Dr. brought me to tears.

Of course, this was on the heels of six weeks without seeing Chris...the longest we've ever been apart by FAR. It was starting to get a little painful. When Stephanie and Stephen called me for dinner on Friday night, I just wasn't in the mood. I was upset. I was lonely. Chris had been privy to several emotional breakdowns on my part over the last couple weeks. Add one more BIG one to the list. I just wanted a HUG from my BOYFRIEND, and that's what I sobbed to him over the phone as I walked up to my apartment. With a tear-stained face, I opened the door to find CHRIS sitting on a stool in front of the door with a huge bouquet of roses to the side of him. "Here's your hug," he said.

After a good LOOOOOOOOONG hug, he sat me down on the couch, got on one knee and asked me to marry him. Of course, I said yes! He put a beautiful diamond solitaire on my finger and told me to get packed...

"Good luck in THAT line."

Steph and Stephen drove us to the airport (LAX) where Chris had booked us flights to ??? (it was still a mystery to me). We arrived at the United terminal only to find about 70 people with their whole LIVES packed on small carts headed to San Salvador on a flight that evening. We stood in line for nearly 2 hours as the SLOW attendants processed their baggage. An antsy Chris counted down as we watched our scheduled flight slip away as we stood in line. Some phone calls to cancel reservations had to be made, and we had to reconcile that we weren't going anywhere tonight.

Plan B was to stay near LAX to catch the earliest flight out in the morning, and that we did.

"Car 54, Where Are You?"


On Saturday morning, we arrived in MONTEREY where a weekend of romance and relaxation was thoughtfully planned out. Chris was disappointed in our designated rental car, which resembled an unmarked police car. This may have explained why traffic slowed down as we approached. He MUCH preferred the golf cart we were assigned when we arrived at our posh resort on the beach! After some lunch (where we announced our engagement and received a free milkshake!) and a short nap, we hit some of my favorite places- Pebble Beach. 17-mile-drive. Chris had made reservations at my favorite restaurant at Spanish Bay Golf Course, and we arrived just in time to hear the bagpiper wail a few melodies as he walked across the green into the sunset. Perfection. After dinner, we were able to rest by the fireplace, watch a movie, enjoy the ocean, just BE together...something we don't take for granted at all.


"Thank You, Daylight Savings!"
He had taken care of EVERYTHING this weekend, including my absence at Revolution on Sunday morning. Additionally, God contributed to our weekend by expanding our time together! Daylight Savings afforded us an extra hour to enjoy. We needed to be back at the airport midday, so we left fairly early on Sunday to drive to San Jose. Fortunately, our flights were leaving from the same terminal, so we could share some breakfast and coffee before parting to board our separate flights. It was much easier leaving this time, knowing I'll be seeing him again in a couple of weeks. Whew!


It was absolutely beyond anything I could have dreamed of for the perfect engagement. I feel cherished, loved, and certainly spoiled! And I'm still wrapping my brain around the fact that I get to feel like this...for the rest of my life. Awesome.

Some MAJOR shout-outs are due on this posting, so if you're not a "read the credits" kind of person, you can probably stop reading here. :) Thank you STEPHEN AND STEPHANIE, who have been co-conspirators during this whole process. You dirty, rotten liars...I LOVE YA! Thanks, KAELYN, for letting Chris practice the "big question" on you, and for saying "no" so that I could have him! Thank you, CHRISTOPHER LYTLE and KEITH DICKSON for taking care of my Sunday morning responsibilities so I could enjoy this weekend. You are SNEAKY! Thanks to REBECCA, ERIC, JENNY, RACHEL, JESSICA, KIM, MOM, DAD, DEREK, BETH, CARRIE, and ALLLLLLL the rest of you who KNEW the plan, yet managed to keep it a secret from me. Well done. Mission accomplished.

And thank you CHRIS STAVENGER. I am a happy, happy girl. :)

Tomorrow. . .

Stop by.

It's Coming...

Two days.

It's Like Liquid Christmas.

That's right...it's the grand return of all things GINGERBREAD today at St. Arbucks. And THIS YEAR, the holiday goodness is offered SUGAR-FREE! But who wouldn't want a little sugar to commence our favorite season?? If you're more of a Peppermint Mocha or Eggnog Latte person, don't worry. Your favorites are also now available.

Run, Run, as fast as you can...

A Little Poetry for a Cloudy Thursday

The day is done, and the darkness
Falls from the wings of Night
As a Feather is wafted downward
From an eagle in his flight

I see the lights of the village
Gleam through the rain and the mist,
And a feeling of sadness comes o'er me
That my soul cannot resist:

A feeling of sadness and longing,
That is not akin to pain,
And resembles sorrow only
As the mist resembles the rain

Come, read to me some poem
Some simple heartfelt lay
That shall soothe this restless feeling,
And banish the thoughts of day.

Not form the grand old masters,
Not from the bards sublime,
Whose distant footsteps echo
Through the corridors of Time.

For, like strains of martial music
Their mighty thoughts suggest
Life's endless toil and endeavor;
And tonight I long for rest

Read from some humbler poet,
Whose songs gushed from his heart,
As showers from the clouds of summer,
Or tears from the eyelids start;

Who, through long days of labor,
And nights devoid of ease,
Still heard in his soul the music
Of wonderful melodies.

Such songs have power to quiet
The restless pulse of care
And come like the bendediction
That follows after the prayer

Then read from the treasured volume
The poem of thy choice
And lend to the rhyme of the poet
The beauty of thy voice.

And the night shall be filled with music,
And the cares, that infest the day,
Shall fold their tents, like the Arabs
And as silently steal away.

---Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Babies and Blooms

Makes for lots of smiles at the office! And, BOY did I need them today!

Little Miss Audrey Grace came by for a visit...

...and the flower delivery man visited once again, with another beautiful bouquet from Chris to brighten my office!

Aren't I the lucky one...

Professor Petersen

I have hit the BIG TIME...
My name now appears on the "Rate My Professors" website!
Thank goodness I'm doing well so far...

RATE MY PROFESSOR

Let's hear it for the Hotness Factor! Whoot!

It May (cough....cough....)

...be time to invest in one of these. It's getting awfully smokey in these parts! At first, it was kinda cool, walking around feeling like "it's campfire night at Summer Camp". You know the smell. Now, schools are on perpetual rainy-day indoor schedules. I couldn't eat lunch outside today because the smoke irritates my eyes. I've heard more coughing in the last few days than I have in a long time. And there is an eerie brownness in the sky that is worse than the normal L.A. haze. Last night, as I was walking to my apartment, the air smelled exactly like a Best Western hotel room...or an equally mid-range hotel that smells of smoke and cleaning products. This morning there was a layer of ash on my newly cleaned car. However, I'm thankful for my ash-covered car. It's better than having a car turned to ash. I have some friends and family in the areas affected by these fires...please keep residents and evacuees of these parts in your prayers, and especially all the fire personnel on the front lines.

And if you don't live in Southern California, enjoy your TV programming uninterrupted by 24-hour-a-day coverage of the fires and your blue skies....

Beware of Efficiency!

That's Entertainment!

This weekend crept up with amazingly few plans! Consequently, I was able to get out and enjoy some social events with friends- fellowship time that was long overdue. It was a good weekend. Of course, ANY weekend is a good weekend when it starts with getting a surprise flower delivery at the office...

On Friday night, my Stockton singing-buddy, Heather, stopped by to take some zzzzs on my couch- but not before we could enjoy a late night snack at Lucilles BBQ....mmmmmm!

Admittedly, pumpkin-carving is NOT my greatest strength. As a MAXIMIZER, I wanted to scrap the whole project and go play a song about a pumpkin...something at which I could actually be successful. However, in the spirit of halloween...er....harvest/autumn- WHATEVER- I called forth every ounce of carving artistry I had in my body and THIS was the final product. Not too shabby!

Eric, another maximizer, wasn't quite so successful. Or maybe he was...if he was trying to create a japanese vampire.

Most of us fashioned styrofoam jack-o-lanterns to donate to the children's ward at Ashley's hospital. Due to the nature of their illness, real pumpkins are not allowed.


Following the gourd-defacing ceremonies, I caught a sneak preview of the soon-to-be released film "Dan In Real Life" with my friend Suzanne. We weren't expecting much, being that we knew very little about the movie, but we found it to be quite the delightful little film! Steve Carrell has the perfect balance of likeability and comic genius. DEFINITELY catch this one when it comes out in theaters!

On Sunday evening, I visited Knott Avenue Community Church to see my friend, Shauntelle Sposto, in their production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat". I saw this musical years ago in Washington D.C., but THIS production I'm sure would rival any professional endeavor. It was AMAZING, and Shauntelle did an incredible job in her lead role as Narrator. I'm so proud of my friends!

I wrapped up the weekend by spending some time with my little buddies, Kaelyn and Kaden...and, of course, their mommy and daddy.

One Semester of Spanish Will Get You This Far.

Those of you who were conjugating verbs in High School along with me will "get" this...


Hablo español.
Appreciate the Bilingüe!

Perspective

The mission field is between your feet at any given time.

You Can Keep Your Crazy Kool-aid.

Yesterday- following a Sunday morning full of awesome, JOYFUL worship, I grabbed some lunch and laid down for "a few minutes". FIVE HOURS later, I woke up. The sun ran it's course as I was sleeping, which doesn't fare well for a normal sleep schedule. As you can imagine, I was still awake into the wee hours of the morning. So...I flipped on the T.V. as I tried to lull myself back to sleepyland. And then I saw IT.

Even in my early morning, droopy-eyed, restless delirium, I am not STUPID enough to buy into this.


Are you ready for YOUR miracle?
I hope you have "$1000 worth of faith!"

Quick Stop for Some Mad Props

I've got some friends that are FIERCE with a camera. Their wickedly awesome skills almost scare me. (Check out Beth Hutton's blog, for example, to see what I mean!)

To get you in the "mood" for fall, here are some shots snapped by the wonderfully talented Randall Gee:





He's making pumpkins the new sexy.

I Shall Return Soon...

Do not be dismayed, friends, by the BRIEF hiatis I'll be taking- I am off to Sacramento for the California Credential Analysts & Counselors conference (note the alliteration!) and I'll be away from the computer until Thursday night. Sooooo, in the meantime you can satiate your thirst for fabulous blogging by:


1) Reading some old posts from my archives! :)

2) Check out some of my cool friends on the sidebar. Some of them post regularly. Don't know where to start in your blog-stalking? Start with Bobby Marchessault or Carlos Whittaker. Good stuff on both.

3) Take a break from the computer and GO DO SOMETHING OUTSIDE! The weather is stinkin' beautiful.

Admit it...you'll miss me.

Lessons from a Desperate Housewife.

I have a confession to make....
I watched "Desperate Housewives" for the first (and possibly last) time last night. It wasn't intentional, but my little TV has no cable and programming was slim-pickings on Sunday night. As with any hour-drama, there are a billion subplots occuring at the same time. One such storyline involved Teri Hatcher and her very pretty TV husband. Teri's teenage daughter was interested in attending a party, which later became a cause of contention. Teri's new husband did not want her to go to this party, and to keep a united front with her hubby, Teri insisted that her daughter refrain from attending the hoopla. Well, in an effort to remain the "cool mom," she later went behind her husband's back and permitted her daughter (in secret) to go to the party. As you can imagine, things got uglier from there.

The original intention here was to keep a united front, however, one half of the front was not fully committed. Because of this, the entire decision was negated in the eyes of that teenage girl. As I was reading this morning in Ephesians, I was reminded of the importance of unity within the church.

"We will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does it's own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love." -Eph 4:15-16

When I make a poor decision, not only is that a reflection on me, but it hinders the purpose of the church. It shows that I'm not committed. It shows that it's not worth the sacrifice. It shows that hypocrisy runs in the veins of the church. And it's not that I claim to be perfect- I am most certainly not. I ask myself: AM I contributing to the united front of Christ's message, or am I hindering it? When people look inside the figurative "windows" of the church, what do they see?

Do they see bickering amongst one another? Usually what people hear about us (the church) is that we are fighting amongst ourselves.
Are they arguing about what style of music we should worship with?
Are they griping about the way the message is presented?
Are they complaining about how much they have to surrender?

Or do they see imperfect people trying to mold their character into that of Christ? If someone stumbles, the church is the place to be picked up and set back on track towards the Lord.

IS UNITY a big deal to God? YOU BET! It's not something that just sounds nice- for Christians to have a heart toward oneness- but it's very vital in God's economy, and it is the KEY INGREDIENT in us magnifying Him with the loudest possible voice. I'm confident that God LOVES it when His kids praise Him harmoniously.

It's all about the MAC.

See...dogs don't like PC's, either.

Bring on the Funk.

This is the best commercial. Ever.


Now, go spread the robot love.

BLT and BFL

A couple random thoughts to throw your way today (as if you needed any more thoughts cluttering your head...)
First, I ordered a sandwich for lunch today (a BLT with Avocado, to be exact) and the server/food service attendant/whatever-you're-supposed-to-call-them asked me if I wanted Lettuce and Tomato on my sandwich. I thought to myself, "that's a funny question, since the lettuce and tomato compose two-thirds of the BLT and are, therefore, the essence of the sandwich.") I didn't even have time to answer before the guy working next to her said, "It's a BLT. Duh." She seemed really surprised by this, and defended her original question. "Maybe not everyone wants lettuce and tomato." It is my personal opinion that if it's in the title, then you can assume that I want it- unless I state otherwise. For example, "I want an order of Spaghetti and meatballs...with no meatballs."

I would, incidentally, never say that. Meatballs are awesome.

So as I was enjoying my BLT WITH lettuce and tomato, I found this little ditty on the comp. Ben Folds is kinda quirky, but this song just makes me happy. If you love a good, 'ol fashioned hootenanny, take a listen. And have a great Wednesday.




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Outtakes from S-Town

Here's some of our "less sophisticated" pictures from our visit to First Baptist last Sunday. As you can see, Chris had a lot of fun on the tour!

Karen adds some adornment to Chris' coif in the Bridal Room.

It's Spiderman! In flip-flops!

Daniel and Anne-Marie take a run down the walkway.

We discovered a wrestling ring on our visit to the youth center....it's ON!

I won't say who "won" that match. : (

Anne-Marie may have been a little disturbed by our wrestling antics. Good thing Auntie Karen was around!

Chris ditches his successful wrestling career to take up the snack business. "Would you like a pop?"

Freedom.

Today, I made my final payment on a credit line I've had since college.
Ooooh, that feels good.

For the record, Gateway sucks.