tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86811862098766943722024-03-05T00:23:42.370-08:00I Always Wanted to be an ExplorerBeing human and other musings.Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748973104731924754noreply@blogger.comBlogger125125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681186209876694372.post-28987638418641372612012-04-18T08:52:00.001-07:002012-04-18T08:54:07.360-07:00Art Sale<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRzLyHJ_8nMasMjpiPb8KRniRIJ12s9YUDdZ8QghYjfBgagU2E_irp-ftdpA8ZIkavhQrPzjSR1mNzEc3NzG5BfaXGoFWuutYUbjejHeRg18K8jDlDYichccZz1MbK5pChlj_MM8RxJU8/s1600/artsaleflyer.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRzLyHJ_8nMasMjpiPb8KRniRIJ12s9YUDdZ8QghYjfBgagU2E_irp-ftdpA8ZIkavhQrPzjSR1mNzEc3NzG5BfaXGoFWuutYUbjejHeRg18K8jDlDYichccZz1MbK5pChlj_MM8RxJU8/s400/artsaleflyer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732769611671510722" border="0" /></a>Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748973104731924754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681186209876694372.post-20741812943590603832012-04-08T19:36:00.000-07:002012-04-08T19:38:54.216-07:00Buggy Surfing<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYNHNV-U2pLmHjhyphenhyphenpTi98gVuX85aFO_Yx2sM6TDPfEpNAra1zJ7kAiGaoRiehr2RpxQ3amfvKepH9ECrnLZFUa9G0i7BDSRR6tHdKmERouUEmEZw0sAFAhqhcmOz_mYr12OQdvXy4AQ8/s1600/downsize.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729224706886684114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYNHNV-U2pLmHjhyphenhyphenpTi98gVuX85aFO_Yx2sM6TDPfEpNAra1zJ7kAiGaoRiehr2RpxQ3amfvKepH9ECrnLZFUa9G0i7BDSRR6tHdKmERouUEmEZw0sAFAhqhcmOz_mYr12OQdvXy4AQ8/s400/downsize.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div></div>Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748973104731924754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681186209876694372.post-1137303189435064372012-03-29T09:48:00.002-07:002012-03-29T09:55:16.861-07:00Thing of the Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/2_By_4_Clue_Stick.jpg/220px-2_By_4_Clue_Stick.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 204px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/2_By_4_Clue_Stick.jpg/220px-2_By_4_Clue_Stick.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>2x4's. They're useful for many things, including but not limited to:<br />Building houses.<br />Making frames.<br />Stirring things.<br />Frustrating comedy sketches.<br />Walking across great spaces.<br />Hobo satchels.<br />Shade.<br />Working out.<br />SOS signals.<br />Propellers.<br />Skis.<br />Stilts.<br />Tapping someone on the shoulder who is out of reach.<br />Making a loud noise.<br />Drumming.<br />Scraping things.<br />Funny hats.<br /><br />If you can think of other uses, feel free to comment below.Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748973104731924754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681186209876694372.post-69269702735651273542012-03-19T09:15:00.000-07:002012-03-19T09:18:47.169-07:00Why I Love Kids<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPu9cUOL-KQ4qwBXwhRRc7r5IOC07MqhExjsaQdkJugFUFxNWAoH3kxCnQd04eXi2EhNEvTB6DfAHuoh3AQYoZm_wh-Ts-16dgMCSPKI3EA4ReUJw1qW4JIYWF9f_SqRisOQNen0uZqOs/s1600/downsize.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPu9cUOL-KQ4qwBXwhRRc7r5IOC07MqhExjsaQdkJugFUFxNWAoH3kxCnQd04eXi2EhNEvTB6DfAHuoh3AQYoZm_wh-Ts-16dgMCSPKI3EA4ReUJw1qW4JIYWF9f_SqRisOQNen0uZqOs/s400/downsize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721643324330130962" border="0" /></a>Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748973104731924754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681186209876694372.post-64321463126999380812012-03-10T11:08:00.001-08:002012-03-10T11:12:29.839-08:00Scenes from Spring Break<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0OR3dUclJNjTIVOJ2dJApyRIYlHa_n8mZbiP8gKMK-xQeD_S2RkIT2KroGzoiguKNYolFiAMLfxPJq4LqDd36DDkhx6lD9hbg5natHfkrvF7eIUg0posOWjFW72uoJequ57LMZZogpQA/s1600/downsize_5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718347994954942930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0OR3dUclJNjTIVOJ2dJApyRIYlHa_n8mZbiP8gKMK-xQeD_S2RkIT2KroGzoiguKNYolFiAMLfxPJq4LqDd36DDkhx6lD9hbg5natHfkrvF7eIUg0posOWjFW72uoJequ57LMZZogpQA/s400/downsize_5.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2O1NNc-WuyPvUiFgTKVgTGGG1FzZUETzy5ZeKawxiIsL7nADVSWKXtBHq41g3q6lG4yTKyrvSLw97TsRt5F2lbXZx-AnTtzK0rBTPSC7KqqT-1ArLrwVAxzkDjSrn66QmeVo4iJWiuU/s1600/downsize_4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718347985104431730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2O1NNc-WuyPvUiFgTKVgTGGG1FzZUETzy5ZeKawxiIsL7nADVSWKXtBHq41g3q6lG4yTKyrvSLw97TsRt5F2lbXZx-AnTtzK0rBTPSC7KqqT-1ArLrwVAxzkDjSrn66QmeVo4iJWiuU/s400/downsize_4.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNhWUrdRvZfXF-0o3QKjr6AJbIU71oGYSf-hVtERrxZOIByYyV7cRXcLYGONnETAS6GGtw564kCdmSLv3MDVxpKQg1XI457KtW8LlrSTgD3bYVsDbUdk1Dg3zEisP2qNewhWZTcrOmQA/s1600/downsize_4.jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3NwezwKXuXWxQvmXcAAr-1RhcMPVgTuVdPY7UfE6WDjKlZR5HhtZg1yBv3jj3xMmYjyHBkBTZlTIsz1TZFVPliQ9koQCQJR9nJWiwQNCp_mcJVCG7B1G4PTNw9eiWudgAgiXlkdmeOVk/s1600/downsize_3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718347979624164082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3NwezwKXuXWxQvmXcAAr-1RhcMPVgTuVdPY7UfE6WDjKlZR5HhtZg1yBv3jj3xMmYjyHBkBTZlTIsz1TZFVPliQ9koQCQJR9nJWiwQNCp_mcJVCG7B1G4PTNw9eiWudgAgiXlkdmeOVk/s400/downsize_3.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis19wkiZx1DINTp6zSZsvD7TG-Q1Vu75-JUQfU8KrUPD0Ud21VaSc18sfE53fLeVhNYjjEgCUcyBWsB4s1an-pG8d-cK_METN0E0JdCpBeIw7mLFf1DuZd6NCz8wXseh0EknOPadoj80k/s1600/downsize.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718347974632430146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis19wkiZx1DINTp6zSZsvD7TG-Q1Vu75-JUQfU8KrUPD0Ud21VaSc18sfE53fLeVhNYjjEgCUcyBWsB4s1an-pG8d-cK_METN0E0JdCpBeIw7mLFf1DuZd6NCz8wXseh0EknOPadoj80k/s400/downsize.jpg" /></a>Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748973104731924754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681186209876694372.post-3949683658700019692012-02-25T17:57:00.002-08:002012-02-25T18:15:24.019-08:00Awake My Soul<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMfJpjraFPUS-qq6TQSXBjec95JMGfvq_q1Fl0DJBiIA74NUb7Yhuktu9s5y7Wk-EK1SFFHYqD4LDw2_C7STLVtq6uqQeY8WQ-Zv91cRGKc0HCAfw6wA86xM-YsJAM9dR3O0oBRAeJ5Q/s1600/southafrica.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMfJpjraFPUS-qq6TQSXBjec95JMGfvq_q1Fl0DJBiIA74NUb7Yhuktu9s5y7Wk-EK1SFFHYqD4LDw2_C7STLVtq6uqQeY8WQ-Zv91cRGKc0HCAfw6wA86xM-YsJAM9dR3O0oBRAeJ5Q/s400/southafrica.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713262099468871138" /></a><br /><br />Sometimes I just really miss beautiful places.Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748973104731924754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681186209876694372.post-29565862807184834972012-02-22T07:41:00.003-08:002012-02-22T08:11:07.092-08:00Ash Wednesday<span style="font-size:100%;">So here begins the forty days of sacrifice known as Lent. What is Lent exactly? Commonly referring to the forty days that preclude Easter, Lent exists as a sort of spiritual preparation for the celebration of the resurrection of Christ. I have pretty much always known as much, but it never really occurred to me why people give up things for Lent. I know a few people who give up things for the Lenten period without even being regular church goers or celebrating Easter publicly. Why do they do it? I suppose a lot has to do with tradition. Why have I followed Lenten practices all these years? Because it's just what you do.<br />When I began to think about </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >why</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> we sacrifice things during Lent, my immediate thought was a selfish reason- so that we consider it a "good deed" or "death to self" matter. That is not far from the truth, but I was missing the bigger picture.<br />The whole point of Lent is to spiritually prepare for Easter, as I have stated above. Easter is the most meaningful holiday on the Christian calendar; if Christ had not risen from the dead and put to death our debt with God Christianity would not exist. Our entire faith is wrapped up in the death and resurrection of Christ. That in itself commands a good amount of reflection. The fact that the celebration of Easter is so important calls us to be prepared spiritually for it so that we can attempt to grasp the full meaning of it when we come together to celebrate.<br />Where does the Lenten practice of sacrifice come into play? Prayer, reflection, and discipline are three highly important parts of spiritual prep. In order to put those into practice, self-sacrifice is necessary. Not saying that you must give up something in order to live your Lent to the fullest, but just in general we are called to die to ourselves in order to have a deeper relationship with God. Lent is a way to make a physical manifestation of that- of the sacrifice that the Christian faith requires.<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />That being said, what am I giving up? Funny faces.<br />Yes, you read that correctly the first time.<br />I am giving up my self-defense practice of screwing up my face in order to provoke laughter. My goofiness is used as an evasive tactic when I am feeling unsure of myself. As much as I try to live away from a spirit of fear, I find myself unintentionally putting up a front of happy-go-lucky so that people do not look any further than my cross-eyes and smushed-up mouth. As silly as it sounds, I am being completely serious. For Lent I am giving up the wall I've built around myself. Of course, my mom hopes that the lack of facial gestures will attract a nice guy that I might've run off previously. I don't have such hope nor do I want it!<br /><br />Fr. William Saunders pretty much summed it all up on the Catholic Education website:<span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Although the practices may have evolved over the centuries, the focus remains the same: to repent of sin, to renew our faith and to prepare to celebrate joyfully the mysteries of our salvation.</span><br /><br />I hope I am able to use my sacrifice of funny faces for self-discipline during this time of preparation!</span>Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748973104731924754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681186209876694372.post-46364004424274078122012-02-18T10:05:00.002-08:002012-02-18T10:20:53.898-08:00PlaylistSince my running partner was out sick, I had to run the 1/2 marathon this morning by myself! Well, if you can call running among hundreds of others down shady paths surrounded by deer and trees "by yourself." I was not planning on listening to my iPod before, so I had not come up with any special playlist for the race. So I plugged in, put my iPod on shuffle, and here below is recorded one of the weirdest song lists I've ever listened to.<br /><br />Two Birds - Regina Spektor<br />Names - Mates of State<br />Beware - The Willowz<br />Today - The Ponys<br />Shallow Means, Deep Ends - Cursive<br />Heavy Weather - No Knife<br />Disc 1, Track 16 of Assasination Vacation - Sarah Vowell<br />Twist - Goldfrapp<br />Blame it on the Sun - Stevie Wonder<br />What I Could Stand For - Mates of State<br />Us - Regina Spektor<br />Can I Live - Jay-Z<br />Ain't No Nigga - Jay-Z<br />Revival - The Allman Brothers Band<br />Bad Diary Days - Pedro the Lion<br />Warship - The Willowz<br />Debbie Loves Joey - Helen Love<br />Straight into a Storm - Deer Tick<br />Embassy Row - The Broken West<br />Hello Kitty Menendez - The Mr. T Experience<br />Never Had Nobody like You - M. Ward<br />Evil Son - The Willowz<br />Heartbeats (The Knife) - Jose Gonzalez<br />Genius Next Door - Regina Spektor<br />Arming Eritrea - Future of the Left<br />Secret of the Easy Yoke - Pedro the Lion<br />Ambuscade - The Broken West<br />Feel Good, Inc (Gorillaz) - Editors<br />Friend or Foe - Jay-Z<br />26 LIVE 2009-03-27 nyctaper - The Mountain Goats<br />Unfinished Sympathy (Massive Attack) - Tina Turner<br />Red Sea, Black Sea - Shearwater<br />Predictable - The Mr. T Experience<br />Boys Don't Cry (The Cure) - Placebo<br />Cristalline Green - Goldfrapp<br />Dear Ghost of Angie Lee - Cub Country<br />Strict Machine - Goldfrapp<br />Feelin' It - Jay-Z<br />Kicker of Elves - Guided by Voices<br />We Shot the World - The Ponys<br />Drink Nike - Future of the Left<br />Where Have all the Rude Boys Gone? - Ted Leo and Rx<br /><br />I skipped several songs when they seemed too "slow", so some haven't been listed and some that were listed weren't necessarily listened too, at least not for very long. I finished out the race to Ted Leo and set a new PR for myself, so all in all I'd say the tunes were a success!Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748973104731924754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681186209876694372.post-79589345008878210002012-02-17T06:34:00.000-08:002012-02-17T06:35:16.056-08:00Poem from EricaThere once was a girl named Bonnie<br />Who liked her men tall and brawny<br />She dated a guy<br />With a Patch on his Eye<br />Whose name was Freddy McBobby.<br /><br />"Freddy," she said<br />And blushed crimson red,<br />"You really are awfully sweet<br />But before you,"<br />she sighed<br />With a tear in her eye<br />"I had a love that was true."<br /><br />"He had curly hair<br />And a hell of a stare<br />and he sang without a band...<br /><br />"Oh No!" Cried Freddy<br />Getting nervous and sweaty<br />"Could it be you're leaving me?"<br /><br />"I'm sorry to say<br />Bonnie said, turning away<br />"Josh is coming for me at dawn."<br />Freddy gasped and fell<br />But it all ends well<br />He met a new girl before long.<br /><br /><br />by: EricaBonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748973104731924754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681186209876694372.post-19632222040633254772012-02-10T17:58:00.000-08:002012-02-10T18:02:14.043-08:00Winter BreakI am turning my brain off. No, seriously, I am going to be a vegetable. Nothing semi-intelligent or understandable will come out of my mouth. From my lips will dribble utters and mumblings that will mean absolutely nothing. I am SO EXCITED!Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748973104731924754noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681186209876694372.post-76988970296998395402012-02-02T18:51:00.001-08:002012-02-02T18:51:53.517-08:00Raise Yer Hands and Throw Yer Head Back<object width="560" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cqJJdiG61jo?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cqJJdiG61jo?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748973104731924754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681186209876694372.post-71399789113993967692012-02-01T19:28:00.000-08:002012-02-01T20:27:10.653-08:00That You'd be Reminded...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_UkX6EHaeSs-tWSRwV50e0IxfgmsRP0G-dw8078KAQC3sMWhBd8F8IEE354ZtvmShncubbUB0SLehBLb5db6RXXcO4SCXD6AAo75wdtWYUt2ctQAlkqlErF1reumlupSRP2o1EWM9WOQ/s400/how-to-make-your-own-rain-water-catcher.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_UkX6EHaeSs-tWSRwV50e0IxfgmsRP0G-dw8078KAQC3sMWhBd8F8IEE354ZtvmShncubbUB0SLehBLb5db6RXXcO4SCXD6AAo75wdtWYUt2ctQAlkqlErF1reumlupSRP2o1EWM9WOQ/s400/how-to-make-your-own-rain-water-catcher.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I had written a rather lengthy post but deleted it. Why? Because it wasn't very good.<br />K.I.S.S., after all.<br />Observations today:<br />Rain brings out the best smells. And the worst, but today was only the best.<br />Sometimes you need a good morning to make up for the bleak/blergh afternoon. <br />The sidewalks along the river were very muddy today. <br />If you need to burp, Vanilla Coke is the way to go. Plus, it's just the best soda ever.<br />That's all for today.<br />Wait...........<br />God is good.<br />Now that's all.Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748973104731924754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681186209876694372.post-67316529553909564632012-01-30T19:02:00.000-08:002012-01-30T19:03:23.996-08:00Dear BonniePlease get over yourself.<br /><br />love,<br />BonnieBonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748973104731924754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681186209876694372.post-6619055554287442162012-01-23T05:59:00.001-08:002012-01-23T06:00:19.012-08:00What a deal!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndInEx3skoBBrVJAWT4eehm62-y3zzwGgOvTxNk_4H65cGC6FlnFGEvOODGF5YvecRoPISZa3RnC2AhgaPbfCq4bhksH3O2efMk43JY6J-SoiuZ01iV4CFaqVb2paHp_CLNDGJtMII3k/s1600/possum.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndInEx3skoBBrVJAWT4eehm62-y3zzwGgOvTxNk_4H65cGC6FlnFGEvOODGF5YvecRoPISZa3RnC2AhgaPbfCq4bhksH3O2efMk43JY6J-SoiuZ01iV4CFaqVb2paHp_CLNDGJtMII3k/s400/possum.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700826958033883842" /></a>Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748973104731924754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681186209876694372.post-53416427143220288742012-01-17T17:52:00.000-08:002012-01-17T17:54:51.299-08:00Song of the Night<object width="560" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bsdiQdUKoiA?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bsdiQdUKoiA?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748973104731924754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681186209876694372.post-20906837172127544762012-01-15T05:56:00.000-08:002012-01-15T06:21:11.525-08:00ClassWow, what a first week of school! From the slightly boring beginnings of American Literature to gessoing a 5x5 foot canvas, I've experienced it all this week.<br />Here's a breakdown of my classes for future reference:<br /><em>Intro to Bible</em> A run-of-the-mill commom core class. Extremely intelligent, soft-spoken professor. Assignments include critical essays on specific books on the Bible.<br /><em>Writing for Electronic Media </em> Small class, awesome professor. Practical lessons on writing in a job-seeking and self-promoting way that will be put to use both now and post-college. Assignments include creating a resume, CV, and website.<br /><em>Drawing II</em> Not much to say here since I have no idea what makes Drawing II different than Drawing I. Study of drawing in relation to textures and line; assignments include blind contours.<br /><em>Zumba</em> My choice for the required HPE class. Extremely fun considering I'm in there with a few friends and I'm not the worst dancer. Good workout, laugh-inducing booty shakes.<br /><em>American Literature II</em> Survery of American Lit from roughly Civil War days to present. From all accounts, a volatile professor. Hum-drum class. Assignments include weekly quizes, author presentations, and a day of teaching class.<br /><em>Advanced Composition</em> A class centered on writing in it's most writing-est form. Semester theme is "Cultures", emphasis on personal sub-culture for whole of semester. Research paper approach. Professor so much like my older brother that I really can't help but love him. Professor sadistically claims loving to put his students to hard work. Assignments include 20+ page research paper on personal subculture and weekly reader responses and writing activities.<br /> <em>Advanced Painting Workshop</em> Highest level of painting class prior to senior research. At this point, I get to do whatever the heck I want, as long as I turn in a certain number of inches at three different points this semester. Professor has been advisor, painting, and drawing instructor since freshman year. Assignments include turning in a weekly summary and reader response per chapter of <em>Art and Fear</em> by Bayles and Orland. This class is basically fun-time for me.<br />There they are- the sources of my upcoming stress, sleepless night, incurable joys, and hopeful victories.Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748973104731924754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681186209876694372.post-62456969506188858182012-01-10T17:35:00.000-08:002012-01-10T17:42:06.793-08:00Boom Boom<object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rOyj4ciJk34?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rOyj4ciJk34?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748973104731924754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681186209876694372.post-59327359641622969622012-01-07T11:31:00.000-08:002012-01-07T11:41:55.413-08:00Bedfellows<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicfqwZ2nb4PGIWMt3pRiW3KR6xfUf-lByQ_V8utgEkvv9AfTLyQD7t9aqxVpNd4YPhyZGXEUeXgVmXyqocmk30fXkyrH6lielVrprF-lc1-bLqjqrliRGh78CnFkmy_PI6Mm80SKcFGBU/s1600/P1012684.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694977450641096978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicfqwZ2nb4PGIWMt3pRiW3KR6xfUf-lByQ_V8utgEkvv9AfTLyQD7t9aqxVpNd4YPhyZGXEUeXgVmXyqocmk30fXkyrH6lielVrprF-lc1-bLqjqrliRGh78CnFkmy_PI6Mm80SKcFGBU/s400/P1012684.JPG" /></a>Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748973104731924754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681186209876694372.post-30672807010968563532012-01-05T18:31:00.000-08:002012-01-05T18:39:20.719-08:00ThankfulHaving to go to the doctor twice in one week due to a nasty case of strep throat and pink eye doesn't exactly make one in the mood for gratitude.<br />However, I can be thankful because:<br />I have not spent money on gas for outside-the-house excursions because I haven't felt well enough for outside-the-house-excursions.<br />and....I can't think of any others.<br />But always look on the bright side of life!<br />and<br />whenever life gets you down, Mrs. Brown...<br /><object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/buqtdpuZxvk?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/buqtdpuZxvk?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748973104731924754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681186209876694372.post-79806968161942846722011-12-30T11:59:00.000-08:002011-12-30T12:58:52.963-08:00Meditations/ResolutionsSo we near the New Year, and 2011 will be officially over.<br />It was a great year for me, with living in a beautiful country for the spring semester, good experiences in school and getting to bid "Good Journey" to my brother and sister-in-law as they traveled to do God's will in the Middle East. After a painful 2009 and 2010, I'd say 2011 is one of the best years I've been able to spend.<br />What am I thankful for in this year of 2011?<br /><em>My financial troubles</em><br />An odd one, and one that required a ton of time and a day-to-day renewal of gratitude. The fact that I am working a lot less than I used to and have had monstrous car problems made my bank account practically negative and my wallet empty. Because of that, however, I've learned the necessity of complete trust in God, the importance of financial responsibility, and a thankfulness for parents who allow me to live at home with free room/board.<br /><em>Study abroad</em><br />This should come as no surprise. Those who have spent any time with me this summer, fall, and winter have heard countless stories about my time in Cape Town, South Africa and how it has changed my life. Simply studying abroad was amazing, yes. To be able to step dramatically out of your comfort zone and to live in a different environment for half a year is life-changing in and of itself. While I sure didn't plan it this way, I had just come out of a tumultuous on-again-off-again 2 year relationship before I left for Africa. While I left America with spiritual depression, emotional and physical hurt, and a heaping desire for something new, I came back to Georgia with a realization of God's infinite and all-encompassing grace, healing from my physical and emotional scars, and even <strong>more </strong>of a thirst for new things. It all couldn't have happened in a better place than South Africa. I could go on and on and on but for the sake of this list I will keep it short!<br /><em>Three Rivers Community Church </em><br />Being able to have an anchor like Three Rivers has been so encouraging. Hearing a lesson every week not doused with politics and opinion makes me so excited to be able to engage in God's word. My small group is the same- fellowshipping with <strong>down-to-earth</strong> families in prayer, food (!), laughter, and bible study has been real spiritual nourishment. It's so awesome to be able to watch these families, as well, because it really sets a good model for how I want my future family to walk in the light of Christ. I love how each one of us is so <strong>human</strong> yet we all are connected by a desire to know the being of Christ and what he wants for each of us. I consider myself to be very "human" and have huge weaknesses for certain things and the stubborness to go after them, but this group keeps me in check and in focus on the things that really matter.<br /><em>Running</em><br />To challenge myself in the way of running has been super hard this year. I didn't run a lick while in South Africa, but once I returned 15 lbs heavier and eating Butterfingers all the time, I figured it was time to take up running again. I picked it up pretty quickly and began training for the St. Jude Half Marathon, which I nicely completed at the beginning of this month. I have a great running partner who challenges and encourages me, so I'm lucky to be able to glean from his wisdom every long run! Running has been a huge help with my anxiety, and I welcome the life-style change.<br /><em>New friends</em><br />I've brought this up before, but I need to say it again. Thank God for friends! They are like beautiful, beautiful cupcakes. Delicious and rewarding. My friends are like mocha cupcakes with rich, dark chocolate frosting swirled into perfect peaks. Mmmmmm...<br />Back to friends. New friends from South Africa. New friends from Germany. New friends I met in South Africa but who live "far away" in Maine, Minnesota, etc. The arrival of the new ceramics professor at school brought a new friend for me. My internship brought a whole family of new friends. The new addition to my small group at church brought a new, and fun!, friend. It's the little things in life that matter, and new friends are one of those little joys.<br />Ok, my entries are getting longer. I promise I'll keep the rest shorter:<br /><em>Hard cider</em><br />It's a beautiful thing. Hard cider was aplenty in South Africa, equally popular as beer. I miss Hunter's Dry like I miss Josh Groban on a world tour.<br /><em>Stoney</em><br />While we're on the topic of beautiful things, Stoney Ginger Beer in ZA was one great drink.<br /><em>Goodwill</em><br />Where 99% of my dresses come from, and at least 75% of the rest of my clothes and shoes.<br /><br />Ok, knowing all of that, how do I wish to apply my gratitude to 2012?<br /><em>1. Be responsible with my money</em><br /><em>2. Be fearless</em><br /><em>3. Be involved in my church's Young Moms Ministry</em><br /><em>4. Run harder</em><br /><em>5. Be a good friend</em><br /><em>6. Drink more hard cider </em>(maybe there is a better way to apply that. Like...drink responsibly! that's a good one.)<br /><em>6 (edited). Drink responsibly</em><br /><em>7. Remember good times and create new ones</em><br /><em>8. Be humble</em><br /><em></em><br />I figure if I can make those happen, 2012 will be just as chock-full of learning experiences as 2011 was. I encourage each and everyone of you out there to do the same. Reflect on the things you've done and learned this year and meditate on them. God used the incidents in my life, both good and bad, and even the stupid ones that were results of my stupid decisions (boy are there plenty of those) to teach me something and to sharpen me. Like ultra-sharp cheddar cheese....mmmmmmm<br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Happy New Year!</span>Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748973104731924754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681186209876694372.post-91559830031171202782011-12-26T07:58:00.000-08:002011-12-26T08:13:42.333-08:00Merry post-Christmas!<div align="center"><em><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;">'Tis the day after Christmas, and all through the house,<br />We sit with our books, me with my Faust.<br />My sister's in bed, sick with sore throat,<br />my brother's exploring in his cardboard boat.<br />Pancakes for breakfast, cooked by my dad,<br />mom woke up late, needed sleep she had had,<br />we devoured the food, licked syrup off our plate,<br />oh what joy it was to eat breakfast so late.<br />I walked to the dryer to get my clean clothes<br />excited to see my new underwear and hose.<br />To get new bras most people wouldn't be happy<br />but as for me I was glad 'cuz my underthings were scrappy.<br />My big gift was a pair of good running shoes<br />wearing them in a race I surely can't lose!<br />New bangles and bracelets and scarves for my hair,<br />I'll look like a gypsy, but little I'll care.<br />Excuse me while I go back to my book,<br />to the words of Goethe I'll bestow my keen look.<br />So Merry post-Christmas, and to end I'll say,<br />Merry post-Christmas, and have a good day. </span></strong></em></div>Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748973104731924754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681186209876694372.post-25013343075514232952011-12-19T07:47:00.000-08:002011-12-19T07:48:56.085-08:00The StuffMy sister and I watched <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090094/">this</a><br />last night. Boy was it _______ (fill in adjective of choice).Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748973104731924754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681186209876694372.post-23667108307496030662011-12-14T08:07:00.001-08:002011-12-14T08:33:19.583-08:00I went to Toys R Usand that made up the exploration of the day.<br />Here are some incredible things I found:<br /><br />My Keepon: a Dancing Yellow Robot. <object style="height: 390px; width: 640px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tCTu1lukX7M?version=3&feature=player_profilepage"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tCTu1lukX7M?version=3&feature=player_profilepage" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="360"></object><br />First of all, while I like the idea of dancing robots, I prefer my robots looking more like the robot in this: <br /><a href="http://www.doyoufeelloved.com/blog/robot.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 1002px; height: 1319px;" src="http://www.doyoufeelloved.com/blog/robot.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />A squishy, organic-looking robot the color of sunshine compels me to say that the "Keepon" should've been named the "Creepon" instead.<br /><br />How bout Calico Critters of Cloverleaf Corner? This had me nearly in tears from an overwhelmance of adorableness. <br /><a href="http://www.tamaboutique.com/image/Pic5F3B.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 287px; height: 286px;" src="http://www.tamaboutique.com/image/Pic5F3B.png" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />And what about the incredibly awesome Muppet Whatnot Kit? MAKE YOUR OWN MUPPET!!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGmM0ubs9v_TX-J-FtyAeo4uVX0Gd63Z5_RLF9aEqNuugOXk2k4cRZERmdK66Ja-KboWrIqr5q7wwODtLuKRH5bpfeISInXtMXGvWxThURuGHdzS1H5xL8IbK2_0TiquyP_vwckphBZss/s1600/muppet.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGmM0ubs9v_TX-J-FtyAeo4uVX0Gd63Z5_RLF9aEqNuugOXk2k4cRZERmdK66Ja-KboWrIqr5q7wwODtLuKRH5bpfeISInXtMXGvWxThURuGHdzS1H5xL8IbK2_0TiquyP_vwckphBZss/s320/muppet.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686020045741431506" /></a><br /><br />Those are really the only things that stuck out at the toy store.<br /><br />Now, at World Market, a few things stood out:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhl4HZOnqrKU_EieZ0DvW5scslD23YCR0X0v3o9WjcNfbc3PEXzuxNycpfGHy3Fc76JmHmOPZKd0iQCKuHtsk8XMGIJDM0WwlgumHycBuh3vldUiEXZyr4TvqeCRKnU_tdqTmSiwxnsRs/s1600/beers.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhl4HZOnqrKU_EieZ0DvW5scslD23YCR0X0v3o9WjcNfbc3PEXzuxNycpfGHy3Fc76JmHmOPZKd0iQCKuHtsk8XMGIJDM0WwlgumHycBuh3vldUiEXZyr4TvqeCRKnU_tdqTmSiwxnsRs/s320/beers.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686022335558016066" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiieVekfBe_BdQA84rQtoWMH4Nn3Yr7UFXN4t210u6mi8qPGiOXVBcWZ6vOU1PnP5OgEaoJgZ0ZJAEGfGjZj_t4GbBfYe9aO9XsO5TzhUD5LVkpbp9LwpTwUjsJRKvb1p-XWnLleB1E1k8/s1600/scarf.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiieVekfBe_BdQA84rQtoWMH4Nn3Yr7UFXN4t210u6mi8qPGiOXVBcWZ6vOU1PnP5OgEaoJgZ0ZJAEGfGjZj_t4GbBfYe9aO9XsO5TzhUD5LVkpbp9LwpTwUjsJRKvb1p-XWnLleB1E1k8/s320/scarf.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686021827586201234" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsohmj42czKq1IM5JJjzzQD_gCdschtfOawImk4basuFptsAtuZTfMrglzEPLxlIBNXuD6Yf4DKHwPcVfHmmHUXWHkBoIxx-BXDugDhTcgT0kNLxVnzi5v7oZ9PTo4C_TiPymBrcrWTJ0/s1600/birdteapot.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsohmj42czKq1IM5JJjzzQD_gCdschtfOawImk4basuFptsAtuZTfMrglzEPLxlIBNXuD6Yf4DKHwPcVfHmmHUXWHkBoIxx-BXDugDhTcgT0kNLxVnzi5v7oZ9PTo4C_TiPymBrcrWTJ0/s320/birdteapot.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686021046294018722" /></a><br />As I figured, they didn't have the only ridiculous item I found in the store online- Marzipan piggies. They looked like whole dead pigs the size of your thumb. It was pretty disgusting, actually. <br />That completes Sights of the Day!Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748973104731924754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681186209876694372.post-13510349078633373502011-12-11T19:50:00.000-08:002011-12-11T20:19:59.381-08:00Hipster Christianity<a href="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-ash2/27542_112719812101235_186_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 180px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 278px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-ash2/27542_112719812101235_186_n.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>Stumbled across this blog today. </div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://stillsearching.wordpress.com/">http://stillsearching.wordpress.com/</a></div><br /><br /><br /><div>I have heard of the book he wrote called <em>Hipster Christianity</em>, but have not given thought to reading it until I listened to a few interviews with the author, Brett McCracken. </div><br /><br /><br /><div>He says that in the book he looks at how the church is attempting to be relevant to today's subculture and discusses the consequences of that.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>I am going into this book wondering how critical he is going to be on the American church and it's "dressing up" the Gospel in order to present it as palatable. </div><br /><br /><br /><div>I also wonder if he addresses the new "hipster" emphasis on self and self-expression and how that can fit in with Christianity, if it can indeed at all. </div><br /><br /><br /><div>I know I have my own opinions regarding the current movement of the worldly/trendy Church, so I look forward to reading the book...</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div>NOTE: On the website <a href="http://www.hipsterchristianity.com/quiz.php">http://www.hipsterchristianity.com/quiz.php</a> I got a 76/120. Not too high...while still maintaining a somewhat fashionable hold on myself....Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748973104731924754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681186209876694372.post-51530502521124627382011-12-08T07:27:00.000-08:002011-12-08T07:34:12.049-08:00Dedicated to the BristowsI am excited. Why?<br /><br /><br /><br />Because I beat the 4th episode of Angry Birds on my mom's Nook last night.<br />I have to admit that while I felt somewhat less of a human while I growled "Die, little piggies!" through my teeth, it felt so satisfying to see the window pop up that said "Level Completed: New High Score."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.accessams.com/victory_xl_with_person_cropped.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 890px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 1150px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.accessams.com/victory_xl_with_person_cropped.jpg" /></a><br />This scooter is called "Victory," which is what I shouted when I beat that level. My shout, unlike the scooter, was not Candy Apple Red, though.Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11748973104731924754noreply@blogger.com0