Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Computer Woes

Well, here we are again.
Last year about this time I was having similar problems with my nemesis--my computer. I deleted the post b/c it was a little too revealing of my rage than I should have shared...

Blue Screen
Flashing "Folder" with a question mark
Course Reader CD lodged in the Disk Drive...

Not a good sign.

On the up side, I have a loaner-computer from chapel. Thank you Fuller for providing equipment for me to do my job that I can "borrow" in such an occasion.
Also... if this is really the end of my previous Mac then that means this whole headache from the day we/I bought this cursed computer.
sorry for the misspelling in my second to last post... it was late... and that was NOT how wrapped was supposed to be spelled... yikes

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

little quake

4:04 am
4.4 earthquake


I was awake, I've been awake all night. Darn cold medicine... I thought you were supposed to help me sleep. Well, at least I got some more work done.


Glad it was just a little quake.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Get “wrapped” up in my love, Love

A Fleeting Inspiration for my Sermon 3/24

From John 15

I am the true Vine
Abide in me and you’ll see
Life, growth, fruit
Abide in me as I abide in you
Get wrapped up in My love, Love

Strong branches bear good fruit
Healthy vines endure the pruning knife
Cutting away, making way
For life, growth, fruit
Abide in me as I abide in you
Get wrapped up in My love, Love

The branch alone does not flower or fruit
The branch withers and dies apart from the vine
Neither can you flower or fruit
Unless you abide in me
As I abide in you
Get wrapped up in My love, Love.

If you abide in me
My words abide in you
From the dawn of day
To each dawning
May you know: if you wish it, let it be so…

God is glorified by all of this
Follow me and be fruitful
Full of my word and my way
As the Lord above has surrounded me with love
I too have loved everything about you
Abide in me as I abide in you
Get wrapped up in My love, Love

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Baklava!

So my friends were planning a pre-wedding celebration for Brian and Ally before they go get hitched in Birmingham! Congrats you two :)
We planned to have lunch together, Greek-style (Brian and Ally met in Greek class in undergrad, precious). I said I'd bring dessert so I decided to try making Baklava...
Then I got sick... it's finals week... I don't want to get them sick so here I have Baklava and no party people to share it with.
Can you tell I'm tired of being sequestered in my apartment all by myself, this is just cruel and unusual punishment for an extrovert. (And it is certainly not making me more productive on my finals work).

note to self: more filo-dough on the bottom, maybe just more filo-dough in general... And maybe some honey with the walnuts to keep it sticky together... we'll have to work on this one again to get it right.

Enjoy~

So sometimes, when you're not expecting it a 30 minute "nap" turns into ... 2 hours...
That's what happens when you have the most comfy chair in the world. Seriously.

Monday, March 8, 2010

The Price I Pay

This afternoon I walked down to one of my favorite lunch spots, Euro Pane, and ordered their famous "Egg Salad" Sandwich open face on Rosemary Currant bread spread with roasted red pepper pesto, mixed baby greens and their creamy egg salad. Additionally I had resolved to get some work done so I defiantly ordered a soy-latte, knowing that my discipline in Lent was crumbling.
The angel said to me: “Take it, and eat; it will be bitter to your stomach, but sweet as honey in your mouth.” Rev. 10:9



Now this is what I am drinking because my stomach is all upset. I should have known. I should have stayed true to my promises. I think I need to really stop loving coffee so much!

five years

I can hardly believe it was five years ago today that I was goofing off in Solvang with my girlfriend. We were staying at her grandparents and having a blast. Reading books, laying out at the pool, shopping for sassy clothes-I bought a pair of red heels I knew I would never wear but I loved how sexy they made me feel. And she bought this gorgeous green dress that made her look like a million bucks! I had resolved to leave my computer at home, and to unplug (minus my cell phone) for a few days.

We headed back to my parents place, and stopped at the Camarillo Outlets on our way. Standing by the sweaters and slacks at J-Crew (maybe Banana Republic, they're too similar to me) I received a phone call from a college friend. "Jessica, Chace is dead" is all I remember hearing. The floor fell out from under me, my heart sank as I made my way for the door. It was too shocking to really cry over, and in some really unfortunate sense it wasn't shocking at all. My friend took the keys and drove us home.

It took me years to remember the events of those following weeks. It was like I had lost a part of my substance--the part which catches on to things and remembers what is going on or what people are saying. I was like an empty tunnel, the wind just blew right on through and past me on to the next destination.

Today I am sad to have lost a friend and the years we might have had together. I am sad you never knew him. But, even more so I am glad to have had so many warm hearts and open arms to have been held in ever since. Someone once said, "death and taxes are the only certainties in life." True, but I will not remember the details of each tax form as I will cherish the memories of those I have been privileged to know and lived to loose. I pray for Marcia, Chace's mother, wherever you are. It is not fair. The hand you have been dealt is heavy and wrought with pain. I pray the Lord comforts you and brings new life into your whole being.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Confession

Forgive me Father for I have sinned. I have sinned against you and against my neighbor.
In this season of Lent the Church has adopted a tradition of waiting, preparing, suffering... I prefer to call it consciousness. Often times people give up a luxury or an indulgence (not the medieval practice of paying for the forgiveness of sins).

I chose coffee. Last year I gave up coffee as well and made it through the 40 day stretch.
This year, not so successful. I caved in.
Now, on the contrary to some this was a premeditated "sin." It was not an "impulse buy" or a "social-slip." I knew I was going to wake up this morning, brew a pot of coffee and sip that delicious nectar as I read Breuggemann and finished an assignment. It is raining outside and I just needed a little extra motivation.




Now if it were only easier to do this confession thing when it really counts.