Christmas Day

Me, my mom, my stepdad and the dog (OT)

Christmas Quiz

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Mmmm...hot chocolate. Every year I think I am going to like egg nog, so I have some, but never like it.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them around the tree?
He just sets them out. And then stuffs the stockings also.



3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
No lights at my house this year. And no tree.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
Depends. If I find some and if I'm around someone I want to kiss.

5. When do you put your decorations up?
I didn't this year.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
Rolls

7. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
What Truth? I think I was really old. My parents had to sit me down and tell me about Santa, the Tooth Fairy and everything else. And I didn't believe them. I had them explain how this happened . . . and how this got built and, and and ... see #12

8. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Growing up we did family gifts on Christmas Eve and Santa gifts Christmas morning.

9. What kind of cookies does Santa get set out for him?
Whatever kind I make!

10. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
Love it, when inside looking at it, or snowboarding. Dread driving in it.

11. Can you ice skate?
Yes (Ever heard of Kristi Yamaguchi, I'm not her, but I can skate)

12. Do you remember your favorite gift?
One year my parents built me a treehouse. It was the best surprise ever! They planned it perfectly. We were gone all day, while it was being built then they parked in our lower driveway so I would not see it when we got home. Then Christmas morning I had tools under the tree and was very confused, until they took me to see my very own TREEHOUSE!

13. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
Family and friends

14. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
Dessert! My dad makes the best fudge n the world!

15. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Every year my mom gets me an ornament. When I was little I got to pick out my own, but now she gets me a daughter one.

16. What tops your tree?
An angel, she beautiful!

17. Which do you prefer Giving or Receiving?
I get Really excited about both!

18. What is your favorite Christmas Carol?
Little Drummer Boy

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum, When we come.

Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum, On my drum?

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum Me and my drum.

19. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?
Yum!!

20. What is your favorite holiday?
Thanksgiving. It is just the one holiday that is about being with family and being thankful!

The Meaning of Life

I recently saw the movie I heart Huckabees I had heard good and bad things about the film and decided to check it out for myself. Overall it is a good film that raises many interesting and thought provoking questions. If you have not seen it this is the premise: Existentialism. A man hires these “existential detectives” (Dustin Hofman and Lily Tolman) to investigate a man that he “coincidentally” ran into three times, this sets off a serious of events leading to finding the meaning of life, figuring out purpose and connection, and how to solve the worlds problems. If you haven’t seen the film you may want to but, film watcher beware there are some explicit scenes and some severe bad language.

So existentialism! If you are not familiar with this concept this is a BRIEF overview of what it is: Existentialism is a philosophy that emphasizes our freedom to choose what to make of our circumstances. It revolves around a process of searching for the value and meaning in life. The view on human nature is that humans are in a constant state of transition, emerging, evolving and becoming. The focus is on self-awareness, freedom and responsibility, creating identity and establishing meaningful relationships with others, as well as searching for meaning and purpose. The concept also deals with anxiety as a condition in living and the awareness of death and nonbeing. (adapted from Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy notes).
Existentialism is the questions such as “who am I, and who do I want to be?” “Are humans and the events around us all connected?” “Are we alone in this universe, just floating atoms?’ and “does anything really matter?” I think it is human nature to ask and ponder these questions and I think it is healthy.

Here is my answers to these questions at present time (but if we take into account the philosophy of existentialism we will remember that Humans are never steadfast but constantly recreating themselves through new experiences and projects.) I do not believe that we are here on random, nor do I believe everything is random and meaningless. I believe that I am here for a purpose; to do God’s will. (Isn’t that a cliché answer and phrase?)

I think that God has a plan for me, however I do not think or believe that it is as specific as what I am eating for breakfast, or that he cares about which way I travel to work (although by random “coincidence” or the “divine hand of God” I have missed accidents that I have not know about by traveling a different way and by being earlier than usual.) I know for sure that I am meant to love and serve God with all my heart, soul and mind. And I know that I am to follow Him no matter what. Ultimately how I follow Him is up to me (at times I may be called to go or do something specifically, or I may be lead to independently choose). Through serving Him I am “transitioning, emerging, evolving and becoming.” He is my creator, my sculptor, my savior, my all.

I also do not believe that Humans are just randomly bumping into and against each other. Others are here for the same purpose I am; to serve God and to serve each other. As I look back I can point to people and tell you the specific reason they were in my life. I can name series of events in my life that have occurred for some reason that at the time I did not understand but now know the purpose the event(s) served and how it has effected me. I could go on and on about what it means to be human.

I know not everyone has the same viewpoint as me and if you actually got though this meandering I would love to hear you thoughts, comments and views on human nature and existential philosophy.

The Meaning of Life Pics

I tried to include these in the last post, but had great difficulties. Enjoy!

Gym Meandering Part II: Hip Hop

So the other day I took my first hip hop class at the gym. This was my first hip hop class ever. Now, I have taken actual dance classes before and I have rhythm and know a few things about dance, but hip hop is a whole other world!

The first half of the class was spent “learning” the routine. I say “learning” the routine, but I was the only one who was learning it. The rest of the class had been a part of it from the beginning. So the rest of the class had already learned the dance and was very good. Now, I wasn’t terrible, overall I got the dance but I wasn’t very good either. The hardest part was the shoulders. I don’t know how our instructor moves his shoulders like that. It reminded me of the PUMP kids and their amazing talent to dance and move in ways that I just can’t. (Anyone who saw Julie and I challenge the dancers at PSP in 2002, know what I am talking about.)


So anyways I stuck with the dance but every now and then I would get lost (especially when we danced to tempo!) When I was lost I would result to just jumping around, moving my body and throwing my arms around (nice picture, hun?) At one point the instructor commented on my improvisation and joked that he would include it in the routine (whoops! Everyone can see what you do in the big mirror in front!) Anyways, I had fun in the class and got a work out and was able to release some energy. After the class the instructor induced himself and told me that I did very well. What? He told me that they had been working on the routine for 5 or 6 weeks now, and I did very well for just jumping in. Well at least there’s that!

Funnies!

Many of you know that I am a huge fan of corny jokes. Here are some good ones that were sent to me from a friend! In my opinion these are some of the best!

1. How Do You Catch a Unique Rabbit?

Unique Up On It.

2. How Do You Catch a Tame Rabbit?

Tame Way, Unique Up On It.

3. How Do Crazy People Go Through The Forest?

They Take The Psycho Path

4. How Do You Get Holy Water?

You Boil The Hell Out Of It.

5. What Do Fish Say When They Hit a Concrete Wall?

Dam!

6. What Do Eskimos Get From Sitting On The Ice too long?

Polaroids

7. What Do You Call a Boomerang That Doesn't work?

A Stick

8. What Do You Call Cheese That Isn't Yours?

Nacho Cheese.

9. What Do You Call Santa's Helpers?

Subordinate Clauses.

10. What Do You Call Four Bullfighters In Quicksand?

Quatro Sinko..

11. What Do You Get From a Pampered Cow?

Spoiled Milk.

12. What Do You Get When You Cross a Snowman With a Vampire?

Frostbite.

13. What Lies At The Bottom Of The Ocean And Twitches?

A Nervous Wreck.

14. What's The Difference Between Roast Beef And Pea Soup?

Anyone Can Roast Beef.

15. Where Do You Find a Dog With No Legs?

Right Where You Left Him.

16. Why Do Gorillas Have Big Nostrils?

Because They Have Big Fingers.

17. Why Don't Blind People Like To Sky Dive?

Because It Scares The Dog.

18. What Kinda Of Coffee Was Served On The Titanic?

Sanka.

19. Why Did Pilgrims' Pants Always Fall Down?

Because They Wore Their Belt Buckle On Their Hat.

20. What's The Difference Between a Bad Golfer And a Bad Skydiver?

A Bad Golfer Goes, Whack, Dang! A Bad Skydiver Goes Dang! Whack.

Gym Meanderings Part I

*DISCLAIMER-some of the comments made in this post are stereotypical. I am merely making observations NOT judgment calls. If you are at all offended by this post I am sincerely sorry.*

Recently I joined the gym. A good and healthy thing to do in my mind. But it has occurred to me that I am not a Gymite. The definition of a Gymite is as follows:
Gymite verb, adj. Noun Someone whose spare time is spent becoming trim, slim and “beautiful.” They live to go to the gym and can’t wait till the next time they get to go to the gym to hang out with all of the other Gymites. They would define themselves as health conscious. Gymites are “with it,” they take their vitamins and research all the latest health articles and frenzies. I am not one of these people.

My first gym class was titled “Powerflex.” I was running a few minutes late, but from past experience with class you could just jump right in. When I got to the class it had already started and everyone was already set up and I quickly realized that I could not “just jump right in.” Each "Gymite" had more equipment then I knew what to do with. They had their mats (one cushy for laying on and one flat for the equipment to lay on (don’t ask me!) They had dumb bells and a stair and a bar (you know the long ones used for bench press and the likes) and they had different increments of weight for the bar.

I did not let any of this discourage me. So I spent the first 20 minutes or so running around the gym like a mad woman gathering all of the necessary supplies. I built my stair and guesstimated to what weights I would need, and got two mats (one for my equipment and one for me!) I did all this while the Gymites, who were trying to enjoy an evening of Powerflex, watched and occasionally flashed dirty looks. Once I got ALL set up I joined the workout only to realize that some exercises I did not have the proper weight (either too much or too little) so I was continually running back to the corner which held the weights and guesstimating how much more of less weight to get. The whole class continued this way until I had huge pile of weights and dumb bells lying on the flat mat (and think I got the best work out just by running around to set up and then put it all back!)

My Blog

Two years ago en route to China I met a man who introduced the blog concept to me. (Here comes the bunny trail story) This man and I talked the whole flight and he not only introduced me to the blog concept but also lifted my spirit and eased my nerves as I prepared to be in China for the next four months. As I told him about my trip he told me that I should create a blog to post stories and pictures for all my friends and family to keep up on my journeys. I said to him “what is this strange blog thing you speak of ?” And hence my first knowledge of the blog world.

As you may have guessed I did not set up a blog while in China, nor when I got back. And now two years later I can hardly go anywhere without hearing the world blog. I quickly realized that just about everyone I know has a blog and there is a whole blogmunity! I have become enthralled with blogs, reading them whenever I get a spare moment and work (sshh don’t tell anyone!) And for several months now wherever I go, whatever I do I eventually think up blog topics. So I have been writing them down and just now am starting to present them to blogrld (aka blog world). So I am very glad to finally present to you my blog!

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