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Kaysi



Last Updated: 12/1/2009

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Gender: Female
Status: Single
Age: 28
City: SPARKS
State: Nevada
Country: US
Signup Date: 10/10/2005

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November 7, 2008 - Friday 

Current mood:  thoughtful
As most of you know, I did not support Obama in this year's election. I still have concerns about him, but I also recognize the need to move forward. While I still feel a sense of great disappointment that McCain & Palin were not elected (hey, it's only been two days), I have already chosen to commit to pray for Obama in the days to come.

I came across an article today about America's attitude towards George W. Bush that I found EXTREMELY interesting & insightful, especially since it was written by someone who interned for John Kerry's legal team. I haven't been thrilled with all of Bush's decisions over the past eight years, either, but I believe the author of this article hit the nail on the head. I highly encourage everyone to read it.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122584386627599251.html

I sincerely hope those of us who did not support Obama before the election will do a better job of supporting him in office than did Bush opposers. I encourage those interested in praying for Obama as we move towards his inauguration to check out the following link and sign up to pray.

http://www.presidentialprayerteam.net/77days/1.html
Currently listening:
Beyond Measure
By Jeremy Camp
Release date: 2006-10-31
8:20 AM 
2 Comments
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October 31, 2008 - Friday 

Current mood:  focused
First things first: I am NOT well-versed in politics.

With that said, I just want to briefly share my election story. Two months ago at this time, if you'd asked who I was voting for, I'd have said I wasn't sure. But in my head I'd have thought, "I'm leaning towards Obama, though."

Why?

I couldn't say, to tell you the truth. I didn't know much about him. He just seemed hopeful & inspiring, and I liked that.

However, if you would ask me today who I was voting for, I would tell you my vote is undoubtedly going to McCain.

Why?

It started when my friend's mom wanted to watch some of the Republican National Convention while visiting a couple months ago. Though I felt very skeptical of the whole thing to begin with, I was very impressed by a couple of things Sarah Palin said in her speech, and that was what led me to seriously consider McCain.

As the weeks have gone by, I've recognized that while my views don't match either Obama's OR McCain's perfectly, I definitely have more in common with McCain -- most of all in our shared view of the sanctity of life -- and thus, that is where I will cast my vote.

(As a side note, I don't even like "playing the pro-life card," as I'm sure many would see it, but when you get right down to it, what matters more than that? As a friend of mine argued yesterday, "once you cross that line -- where you decide who's fit to live or die, there's no end to it. Next it's the elderly.... then it's the disabled... and THEN, it's you when someone decides you're not fit to live." For the record, I do also agree that a pro-life stance should extend to ALL life, not just that of the unborn, but also that of people across the world whose circumstances pose a threat to life. For an excellent piece on that, check out Cameron Strang's "First Word" column in the upcoming issue of Relevant Magazine. I'd post a link but it's not online yet.)

Anyway, I'm not here to argue that you should be voting for McCain/Palin. I'm here to urge you NOT to do what I almost did and vote for Obama simply because he seems inspiring. To be honest, I think part of why I initially leaned towards him was that I was feeling some sort of need to prove that I don't just blindly follow some kind of right-wing agenda. I was NOT coming into this election with my mind made up. Everyone had a chance in my book, even before the primaries. And "the Left" probably had even more of a chance to win my vote, because I so wanted to feel the "independence" of having cast my vote in a different direction than what I'd been surrounded by all my life. But to have based my vote on my desire to "prove" something would have been a great mistake, and I am thankful that's not what I settled on doing.

While watching Good Morning America today, I was shocked at how many people interviewed were STILL undecided about who they're voting for. That's why I decided to post this, because perhaps a person or two reading this still aren't sure who they're voting for, and I want to encourage any such person(s) to make an EDUCATED decision. Don't just go for the hype. Check the facts, think about what you really believe in, and cast your vote based on that.
Currently watching:
Pushing Daisies - The Complete First Season
Release date: 2008-09-16
12:56 AM 
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October 12, 2008 - Sunday 

Current mood:  bored
I fully expect not one single person to read this whole thing, but there is absolutely nothing on TV tonight and I'm bored, so I'm passing the time with this billion-question survey. 

time started: 9:52 pm
you stole this from: jesse rayner
full name: kaysi genevieve hastings
nickname(s): sister, kaysidawn, kaysiga, kaysi tuna, kays
birthday: 8/18/81
where were you born: florida
zodiac sign: leo
height: 5'2"ish
weight: even if i knew, i don't think i'd be posting it!
hair color: super dark brown
eye color: brown
shoe size: 8.5
ring size: i think 9? not sure...
skin type (freckles, tan, albino, etc.): fair
blood type: i don't know
grade: high school graduate
GPA: i would guess my final gpa was somewhere in the vicinity of 3-3.5
siblings: the one, the only, cassidy!
tattoos: none, i hate needles!
piercings: ears
hobbies: movies, tv, music, myspace, facebook, organizing, occasionally reading & writing


favorite

color: blue/green
food: hmm... i really love pizza. cracker barrel cornbread. mom's mac-n-cheese.
candy: m&m's
type of cheese: mozarella
pizza topping: definitely veggies -- onions, peppers, tomatoes, artichokes, mushrooms, etc.
salad dressing: this organic greek feta vinaigrette stuff i got at safeway
sandwich: chick-fil-a original chicken sandwich, deluxe with extra pickles
cereal: kashi strawberry fields
fruit: banana... and i guess tomatoes, 'cause ya know they're actually a fruit
vegetable: broccoli & zucchini
berry: strawberry & blueberry
cake: german chocolate upside-down cake
book: the bible, bono: in conversation with michka assayas, christy
movie: most recent favorites are "lars and the real girl" and "henry poole is here." some standard all-time faves are "the royal tenenbaums," "once," "little miss sunshine," "the darjeeling limited," and "lord of the rings."
magazine: entertainment weekly and relevant
newspaper: don't read any
tv show: good morning america, chuck, jon & kate plus 8, prison break, pushing daisies, and -- of course -- the office
website: myspace, facebook, gmail, pandora
radio station: don't really listen to the radio
font: arial
cartoon character: lightning mcqueen!
artist (painter): beth stone
actor: owen & luke wilson, steve carell, greg kinnear, christian bale, joaquin phoenix, etc.
actress: julia roberts, bryce dallas howard, abigail breslin
cd: anything live by u2, "nothing is sound" by switchfoot
song: "where the streets have no name" by u2
music group: u2 (is there a pattern here?)
music type: rock
day of the week: i don't really have a favorite
month: november -- still fall, halloween is over, thanksgiving is here, christmas is coming...
season: fall
holiday: i really love thanksgiving, but i also really love christmas...
shampoo: avalon organics lavender
conditioner: avalon organics lavender
number: 7 i guess...
phrase: yesh...
store: i love target, trader joe's, & blockbuster
weather: crisp, clear fall days
restaurant: cracker barrel & chick-fil-a
channel: abc & nbc each carry two of my favorite shows...
teacher: cassidy & pastor greg
weekend activity: movies or, occasionally, travel
hangout: home (yea, i'm boring)
house color: okay, seriously? who has a favorite house color?
sport to watch: football or basketball
sport to play: volleyball
animal: i like turtles, monkeys, & giraffes
flower: rhododendron blossoms
board game: "the office" dvd board game
party game: psychiatrist =) or catchphrase
story from childhood: the velveteen rabbit
body part: does hair count?

have you ever

been on a train: yes
been on a plane: yes, i love it.
been in a car accident: yea =(
caused a car accident: i don't think so...
run into a wall: HA yes, when i was racing my friend beth when we were little
burned a potato chip: what? how do you do that?
almost burned the house down: i don't think so...
broken the law: yes
burned a cd (if yes, the one above is yes): yes (ummm, i think that's only illegal if you copy a whole cd...)
kissed someone of the opposite sex: only family
kissed someone of the same sex: only family
gotten engaged: nope
been rejected by a crush: yeah, that was fun.
loved: well yes.
made yourself cry to get out of trouble: probably
cried in public: yes
cried over a movie: i can cry over almost any movie... notable ones were "the bucket list," "juno," "ladder 49," "return of the king," and... "the land before time," when i was like 5 years old
fallen asleep in a movie theater: haha, yes
given someone a bath: maybe when i've been baby-sitting little kids
been to a boarding school: no
been home-schooled: no
lost a valuable item: i don't think i've lost anything of great value...
bungee jumped: no way
skied: nope
met the president: nope
met a celebrity: stephen baldwin, lots of Christian bands
gotten a cavity: nope
shopped at abercrombie & fitch: i've been in there a couple times but never bought anything... ridiculously expensive and their advertising is sleazy. (at least it used to be... i'm assuming it hasn't magically gotten better over the years.)
made a prank call: long time ago
skipped school: yes, with parents' permission
faked sick to get out of school: i don't think so
climbed a tree: yep
fallen from a tree: not that i remember
sprained anything: no
passed out: haha, yes, when i got booster shots when i was like 17
made yourself pass out: no way
been to disney world: many times, it's where my parents met!
been to a theme park (not disney): yep
said i love you and meant it (not to a relative): yes, to my friends
made a model volcano (working model): yep... well actually i think it was more like my dad made it...
made a clover leaf with your tounge: nope


past

what did you do yesterday: worked, listened to music on pandora, played on the computer, watched tv, slept, etc.
memory you miss the most: my first trip to las vegas with my family when cassidy & i went to our first u2 concert... also my trip to pennsylvania/new york city with my grandparents, the wild west tour with anna & our moms, and many more...
memory you want to forget: i remember thinking july of 2006 really sucked...
something you regretted after it was done: any time i say careless things to people i love


the last

song you heard: "fix you" by coldplay
cd you bought: i think it was the "henry poole is here" soundtrack
thing you said: "i think it beeped a few minutes ago" (talking about the dryer)
time you cried: i teared up last weekend watching "lars and the real girl" although i didn't actually cry
movie seen in a theater: actually i think it was "henry poole is here" while i was in dallas... still irritated that it never came to reno...
thing you ate: chocolate drizzle trail mix from target
person who called: ummm my mom i think
nail polish shade worn: i can't remember the name of it but it's like a deep red color
time you showered: around 10:30 this morning
person who complimented you: probably mom or dad


at this moment

what are you listening to: "at the movies" on tv... because there is absolutely nothing on...
what are you wearing: brown pants, blue & white striped short-sleeved hoodie over a white long-sleeved tee
what are you thinking: i think the movie "w." looks obnoxious.
what are you scared of most: on an insignificant level, spiders & needles. on a significant level... probably that some of the people i love won't ever come to know Jesus.
how many people are on your buddy list: if this refers to an aim buddy list, then none, because i haven't been on aim in years.


future

occupation: i haven't planned anything beyond church secretary
marriage site: pshhh, who knows?!
honeymoon: ???
place to live: i'd love to live in pennsylvania, but that would require moving away from my family, and i'm not too keen on that idea.
kids: i have no idea.
car: i like my toyota corolla even though she's got some battle scars.
what are you doing tomorrow: church, baby shower, trader joe's, making dinner
will there be a wwIII: if there is i hope i'm not around for it
will politics ever be truthful: i doubt it
will humanity snuff itself out: i don't know but i don't think we're doing a very good job of trying to prevent it.
can the gov. be changed: i doubt it.


friends

best friend: cassidy, erin, my mom, christen, anna, bev, tira, jessie, amber, ashley, etc, etc.
funniest: they all have their moments
silliest: again, they all have their moments
loudest: ashley =)
quietest: probably amber
craziest: ashley?
calmest: christen
skinniest: jessie
best secret keeper: cassidy
worst secret keeper: i don't know
smartest: cassidy
preppiest: anna
peppiest: maybe tira
most hyper: none of them are always hyper, but ashley is probably hyper more than most...
hottest: that's an awkward question since they're all girls except for my brother...
weirdest: cassidy =)
biggest pervert: none of them
most annoying: no comment ;o)
shyest: i don't know
most religious: my mom =)


do you believe in

heaven: yes
hell: yes
angels: yes
devil: yes
god: yes
buddha: well he was a person, right? in that sense i believe in him, but i don't follow his religion.
aliens: not really
ghosts: um, sort of
spirit (soul): yes
soulmates: maybe
reincarnation: no
love at first sight: no
karma: not really, although i like what bono says about it: You see, at the center of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, or in physics—in physical laws—every action is met by an equal or an opposite one. It's clear to me that Karma is at the very heart of the universe. I'm absolutely sure of it. And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that "as you reap, so you will sow" stuff. Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I've done a lot of stupid stuff...That's between me and God. But I'd be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge. I'd be in deep s---. It doesn't excuse my mistakes, but I'm holding out for Grace. I'm holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don't have to depend on my own religiosity.
love in general: definitely
luck: not really
yourself: sometimes


crush

who and when was your first crush: pretty sure it was ross bader, from like, probably kindergarten through about the sixth grade or so
any now: not really
a celebrity crush: strangely enough i don't really have one right now, although i love owen & luke wilson as much as ever
who do you want to be with right now: i'm fine as i am
whos number do you want: i have the number of everyone whose number i want.
what is something you dont understand about the opposite sex: there are a lot of things i don't understand about either sex.
on scale of one to ten, how romantic are you: about a two. maybe.
first thing noticed about the opposite sex: i don't know.
what do you look for personality-wise: sense of humor, kindness
biggest turn on: paying attention to me, lol
biggest turn off: i don't know, immaturity, rudeness
what do you wear on a coffee date: whatever i wear any day
is cyber cheating: uh, yes!
are eyes the passegeway to the soul: i think some people can hide things.
who would you like to take to the prom: i don't think i'll be going to any proms any time soon.
do you want to hug somebody right now: not particularly.


describe

mellow: relaxed
melancholy: how do you describe melancholy? i don't know, kind of seeing the serious side of things and thinking a lot about everything. my personality is melancholy.
the perfect date: well my favorite thing to do is watch movies, so mine would be terribly typical & probably boring to most people.
the perfect mate: i don't know what the perfect mate would be?!?
why manhole covers are round: i don't know?


one or the other

coke/pepsi: water
sprite/7-up: sprite
boxers/briefs: hmmm...
gold/silver: silver
vanilla/chocolate: chocolate
flowers/candy: giftcards to blockbuster, ha!
book/magazine: i want to say book, but i'd probably be more likely to read a magazine
tv/radio: tv
glass half empty/half full: how about a full water bottle -- my water bottle with the green top =)
democrat/republican: nonpartisan
colored pencils/markers: markers
coffee/tea: coffee
sun/moon: moon
day/night: hmmm, depends
hot/cold: cold because you can always put on more clothes & blankets
dog/cat: cat
button/zipper: button
cotton/feather pillow: feather
blue/purple: blue
plumber/trashman: what?
jeans/shorts: jeans
long distance relationship/none: depends on if you've got the right person.
mechanical/regular pencil: mechanical
matt/ben: who are matt & ben?
kelso/eric: eric
donna/jackie: donna
bart/lisa: lisa
romeo/juliet: blech
romantic comedy/thriller: romcom
nsync/bsb: neither
peanut butter/jelly: peanut butter & banana
waffles/pancakes: egg on toast
letter/email: letter
florida/california: california (i feel like a traitor saying that, but florida is so stinking humid.)
pizza/burgers: pizza
hat/visor: hat
football/rugby: football
iceskating/blading: i don't know?
movie at home/in theater: i like both, it depends on what i'm in the mood for.


first thing you think of when you hear

yellow: "look at the stars, look how they shine for you..."
red lipstick: sarah palin
socks: warm feet
cowtipping: tommy boy
moulin rouge: "come what may, i will love you, until my dying day..." great song.
greenland: cold
iceland: green
harry potter: wizard
red: berries
blackberry: ice cream (what?)
rose: bud
rooster: cock-a-doodle-doo
taxes: money
bill clinton: raspy voice
whipped cream: cherry
george w. bush: dubya
lollipops: oh lolli-lolli-lolli
dreams: "when you're dreamin' with a broken heart..."
love: is a battlefield
guys: and dolls
south park: stupid
boy bands: boo
pengiuns: happy feet (which i never saw)
girls: just wanna have fun
death: grim reaper
spoons: soup
junk mail: envelopes
dairy: milk
your father: awesome
pizza: delicious
britney spears: sad
vitamin: d


are you

happy: for the most part
sad: no
religious: i suppose so, but that word has such negative connotations anymore...
crazy: haha, probably
messy: sometimes
mad: no
slacker: sometimes
nerd: geek
bookworm: not really
jock: definitely not
preppy: no
selfish: yes
giving: sometimes
obsessive: and compulsive
violent: not really
calm: sometimes
peaceful: sometimes
mellow: sometimes
eccentric: probably
caring: yes
untrustworthy: no. (why doesn't this just say trustworthy? "why begin a statement with a negative? it's like saying you don't disagree. just say you agree." -ned in "pushing daisies")
loyal: usually
patriotic: yes
perverted: not really
colorful: great song by rocco deluca
11:50 AM 
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October 8, 2008 - Wednesday 

Current mood:  touched
This weekend I rented Lars and the Real Girl and I liked it so much I'm actually watching it for the third time right now. I was somewhat interested in the movie from the time I first heard about it, but then it seemed whenever I was renting movies, I wasn't in the mood to try this one... until this past weekend.

The concept is definitely bizarre and perhaps a little creepy -- man falls in love with life-size doll. But I found that's really not what the movie's about at all. I mean, yes, that is the premise of the movie if you only look at the surface. But there is so much more to this movie than that.

It's so endearing to see how the people in Lars' life surround him with unconditional love & support even as he seems to be completely losing touch with reality. I have to admit I questioned whether it would be very wise for an entire community to "play along" with someone's delusions, but by the end of the movie the sensibility of that question paled in comparison to the beautiful outpouring of love this community showed Lars, and that was all that seemed to matter.

This movie isn't really about some creepy, deranged guy thinking an inanimate object is real. It's about a man with a painful past who is struggling to overcome his insecurities and let go of his fear. And it's about the people in his life who see past his strange behaviors, who love him through them and in spite of them, who are endlessly patient and willing to risk their own reputations as they wait in hope that this person they love will one day be okay and find a sense of normality in his life.

Am I capable of this kind of love? Would I be willing to set aside my own sensibilities in order to offer unconditional support & acceptance to someone who is drawing stares and smirks with their strange behavior? I don't know... I wouldn't be as good at it as Lars' friends & family, I know that.

I love that this movie portrays a church family as part of the community that loves & supports Lars, and I think, unconventional subject matter aside, this offers one of the best pictures I've ever seen of what the Church ought to strive to be. We aren't responsible for where a person ends up, for their overcoming whatever may be holding them back in life. Our responsibility is simply to share the unconditional love of Jesus with them, caring for them the best way we can, exhibiting patience and acceptance even as we lovingly encourage them through whatever they're dealing with. Hopefully these people do eventually find their way out of whatever darkness they're experiencing -- hopefully we ALL do, because we all have our own struggles with darkness. But we can't base our love on that, because we can't be certain someone will find their way out. All we can do is hope & pray for that, as we love them, regardless.

There are specific things I love about this movie... I love the humor in how the people in Lars' life gradually bring Bianca to life almost as much as Lars does; I love the funny awkward moments throughout the movie when people aren't quite sure how to react to things; I love the sweetness of Margo's patience & kindness toward Lars as she waits to see if he will get past his delusional romance; I love the understanding exhibited by the doctor/psychiatrist as she works with Lars week after week; I love Karin's persistent, relentless pursuit as she tries to bring her brother-in-law into the land of the living, so to speak; I especially love the tenderness of Gus owning his part of the responsibility for where Lars is in his life. But all these specific things stem from the central, overarching theme of unconditional love that has made such an impression on me in this movie.

This is one of the best movies I've seen in quite some time.
Currently watching:
Lars and the Real Girl
Release date: 2008-04-15
11:03 AM 
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September 10, 2008 - Wednesday 

Current mood:  triumphant
I love my mornings.

Don't get me wrong. It's never easy for me to drag myself out of bed when my alarm goes off. And recently I'd gotten into a bad habit of sleeping until the last possible minute. (Really I was sleeping later than that, even, because I'd been running a few minutes late for work pretty consistently. Bad Kaysi!) But if I do make the effort and just pull myself out of bed, I absolutely love mornings. Last week while Christen was here we got to enjoy some relaxing mornings where we sat around, ate breakfast, read, journaled, etc., at our leisure, and it motivated me to start dragging myself out of bed earlier once again so I could actually enjoy my mornings on a regular basis instead of just rushing through them.

So today I got up at 5 (okay, 5:10) and worked out for the first time in quite a while, then after I showered & got ready I was actually able to go through my old routine (from last summer) of having a scrambled egg on buttered toast for breakfast -- with a glass of apple juice -- while watching Good Morning America... And I have to say I totally geeked out over my egg on toast & GMA! I was so excited to be watching Robin Roberts & Chris Cuomo & Sam Champion & Diane Sawyer again -- in the great city of New York, of course -- that I think I actually squealed a little. I know it's dumb, but it made me so happy.

They do say it's the small things in life, right?
Currently watching:
The Office: Season Four
Release date: 2008-09-02
10:41 AM 
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August 21, 2008 - Thursday 

Current mood:  nostalgic
Here it is, at long last! Highlights & Quotes from Santa Cruz...

Highlights

- When we were pulling into Manresa, Jeff radioed the other cars and told them Jesse had thrown up on me. No one seemed to care, but everyone in our van was laughing SOOO hard!

- I loved Bryan & Rebecca's beagle, Chloe. She was adorable and I thought she looked exactly like "Buckley" from The Royal Tenenbaums.

- The first night we were down at the beach for worship & teaching, we saw dolphins swimming just off shore!

- That first night of worship on the beach was so awesome. It was one of those moments were life just seemed to make sense. I remember when we were singing "Hallelujah (Your Love is Amazing)" I just thought, "I wish everyone in the world could have a moment like this..." -- sitting on the beach around a fire with people you love, singing "Your love makes me sing" along with a guitar & djembe, listening to the waves crash on the shore, feet dug into the sand, a cool breeze blowing... It was great.

- Amber's awesome dance

- Worship at the kitchen site on Friday morning was special because another small church group heard us singing and ended up joining with us (which was exactly what had happened two weeks earlier when Cassidy & Erin & Jon & Dana & I had gone to scope out our campsites -- we joined in with another church group as they worshiped!). It is always sweet to share fellowship with "strangers" -- who are not really strangers at all, but family.

- I LOVED Beach Day. I was so relaxed, lying on the beach in my comfy sweats reading and napping... It was fantastic.

- SKUNKS. When we walked back to our kitchen site after worship & teaching on the beach Friday night, there were two skunks wandering around. We stood and watched from a distance until they FINALLY left. Icky.

- Hanging out with my tent girls all afternoon at the Boardwalk on Saturday and buying matching bracelets

- Lindsey singing "Everybody's got their somethin'" a billion times

- Hearing Jesse sing "Rescue" by Seabird while we were getting ready for dinner on Saturday night... Great song (thanks, Jessie Marie, for introducing me to it!), and it made me happy to know it was catching on with other people!

- Singing "In the Light" with Ashley in the van on our way home -- AWESOME.

- Butchered song lyrics: "You're schmoozin' your family..." (Ashley) "They all fall like a million rainbows..." (me) "Why ya holdin' judges in old grars..." (Ashley AND me!) So funny!

THE QUOTES Part 1 - Quotes from TV & More

From Grey's Anatomy:
Seriously?
Seriously.

From The Office:
Michael, what did I tell you about yeppers?
Yeshhhh.

From Mr. Roger's Neighborhood/Jim Gaffigan:
Meow meow meow meow meow meow meow!

From Saturday Night Live:
I'm just kidding, I'm just kidding, I'm just kidding, I'm just kidding.

From Jon & Kate Plus 8:
Nobody did it.

Collin did it; Joel did it.

Hannah pooped in Hannah's underwears.

Him will throw up on your hands.

Enjoy YOURself!

THE QUOTES Part 2 - Original Quotes

What are these stupid quotes?
-Christian

This is why I can't have kids. I can't deal with the screaming and the pooping.
-Jesse

Some people sleepwalk. I accessorize.
-Krystal (on waking up to find her necklace around her ankle)

Things are attracted to my leg hairs... Especially bugs.
-Jesse

Where's my sock?!
-Ashley

It ventured into the horrible wood of Jesse's leg hair... Once you go there, you never come back.
-Jesse

(In unison)
Liz: That smells really good.
Ashley: It stinks!

Back to bobble-ing in no time!
-Ashley (on Dwight)

I did not paddle a sister!
-Amber

Let's gather up the ships and get the fleet outta here!
-Ashley

You kill bug.
-Liz (in our tent the first night)

The distance from my nose to my ears must be really short...
-Krystal

Corrupt the wee one!
-Ashley

It looks like I have sandal tan lines, but really they're sandal sand lines.
-Krystal

You don't have to show me how to do it; you can just do it for me.
-Tracey (on the monkey paw key chains)

They're chasing birds, fetching rocks - kinda like dogs.
-Dana (on the boys during beach day)

I'm the muse of the world.
-Krystal

I like it better on the map. It's very more much memorable.
-Jessie Marie (on the quote list)

Kaysi: You look happy... And thoughtful.
Krystal: Or high.
(on a picture I took of Liz)

Liz: So what's happening?
Jessie Marie: There's a... whale fire.
(on what the park ranger told us)

Carmex has menthol in it, and menthol is smoothing. Soothing.
-Ashley

Jon: Can you carry my guit-fiddle?
Cassidy: Are you serious?
Jon: Yeaaaa but I can carry some of your crap!

They stand up on their hind legs and pull their butt up over their head.
-Cassidy (on how skunks spray, HAHAHA!)

If that was a bear, we wouldn't be nearly this worried.
-Jon (on the skunks)

Did everybody see it? Well let's go back to our own tent.
-Lindsey (again... on the skunks)

No more high school llama. It's college llama.
-Danielle

Look, chinshield wiper!
-Ashley

Hey, I found another shell! Oh, it's a peanut shell.
-Jessie Marie

Oh my gosh, Happy Birthday, Steve Carell!
-Lindsey

Lindsey: Where are all these people coming from?
Jessie Marie: China.

We're all a little bit of you.
-Jessie Marie (on our bracelets -- mine was rainbow; everyone else's was one color)

Isn't China that way?
-Lindsey

If you're not going to play by the rules, then neither am I.
-Tracey

I'm proud of myself, I haven't pooped [he actually said "puked" -- we misheard him] today!
-Jesse

Hey, my nose is cold, too. Rabbit!
-Kaysi

Jon: This is crazy lemonade!
Cassidy: That's not lemonade.

Don't break my lemur's butt!
-Ashley

Kaysi: Walnuts are good for you.
Lindsey: But fudge is not.
Kaysi: Butt fudge?

There was a noise, and it scared me, and I ran all the way here.
-Jesse

Lincoln's bust is burning!
-Danielle (on the penny in the fire)

Isn't it supposed to be, like, dark?
-Jesse

You should be more tolerant of other people's muffins.
-Tracey

I'm in the Snail Rescue Brigade!
-Amber

Can we evaluate the evaluation forms?
-Jake

You've got llama on your bottom.
-Danielle

Kaysi: Did we realize your mom's name was Margo when we watched The Royal Tenenbaums?
Ashley: What? I thought my mom's name was Mom!

You should make a list of quotes from this trip...
-Liz
Currently listening:
Til We See the Shore
By Seabird
Release date: 2008-06-24
10:40 AM 
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August 20, 2008 - Wednesday 

Current mood:comforted
First of all, let me just assure everyone who is anxiously awaiting the magnificent Santa Cruz Quotes Blog, it IS coming. Hopefully tomorrow night. But for the time being I had something else to post.

***SPOILER ALERT!!!***

If you haven't ever read The Horse and His Boy and you plan to read it some day and you don't want to know a major plot point that comes towards the end of the book.... You probably should stop reading now...

I read the following excerpt on Saturday while lying on the beach in Santa Cruz enjoying the cool ocean air (cool enough that I was comfortable in sweats). That afternoon was a very nearly perfect moment in time for me, and the particular chapter I was reading was probably one of my favorite things I've ever read. I could so relate to Shasta's feelings of sorrow to begin with -- I've been there myself so many times -- and then it was so very comforting to read his conversation with "the Voice" (who, of course, turned out to be Aslan) because it reminded me that even when I feel lost & alone, there is a Hand lovingly guiding all the events in my life to lead me to the exact place where I am supposed to be, even if that place sometimes leaves me wondering if I've made a wrong turn somewhere. I'll be revisiting this passage for the rest of my life, I think, as one revisits an old friend who brings comfort by simply being present...

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"I do think," said Shasta, "that I must be the most unfortunate boy that ever lived in the whole world. Everything goes right for everyone except me. Those Narnian lords and ladies got safe away from Tashbaan; I was left behind. Aravis and Bree and Hwin are all as snug as anything with that old hermit; of course I was the one who was sent on. King Lune and his people must have got safely into the castle and shut the gates long before Rabadash arrived, but I get left out."

And being very tired and having nothing inside him, he felt so sorry for himself that the tears rolled down his cheeks.

What put a stop to all this was a sudden fright. Shasta discovered that someone or somebody was walking beside him. It was pitch dark and he could see nothing. And the Thing (or Person) was going so quietly that he could hardly hear any footfalls. What he could hear was breathing...

"Who are you?" he said, scarcely above a whisper.

"One who has waited long for you to speak," said the Thing. Its voice was not loud, but very large and deep...

Once more he felt the warm breath of the Thing on his hand and face... "Tell me your sorrows."

Shasta was a little reassured by the breath: so he told how he had never known his real father or mother and had been brought up sternly by the fisherman. And then he told the story of his escape and how they were chased by lions and forced to swim for their lives; and of all their dangers in Tashbaan and about his night among the tombs and how the beasts howled at him out of the desert. And he told about the heat and thirst of their desert journey and how they were almost at their goal when another lion chased them and wounded Aravis. And also, how very long it was since he had had anything to eat.

"I do not call you unfortunate," said the Large Voice.

"Don't you think it was bad luck to meet so many lions?" said Shasta.

"There was only one lion," said the Voice.

"What on earth do you mean? I've just told you there were at least two the first night, and --"

"There was only one: but he was swift of foot."

"How do you know?"

"I was the lion." And as Shasta gaped with open mouth and said nothing, the Voice continued. "I was the lion who forced you to join with Aravis. I was the cat who comforted you among the houses of the dead. I was the lion who drove the jackals from you while you slept. I was the lion who gave the Horses the new strength of fear for the last mile so that you should reach King Lune in time. And I was the lion you do not remember who pushed the boat in which you lay, a child near death, so that it came to a shore where a man sat, wakeful at midnight, to receive you."

"Then it was you who wounded Aravis?"

"It was I."

"But what for?"

"Child," said the Voice, "I am telling you your story, not hers. I tell no one any story but his own."

"Who are you?" asked Shasta.

"Myself," said the Voice, very deep and low so that the earth shook: and again, "Myself," loud and clear and gay: and then the third time "Myself," whispered so softly you could hardly hear it, and yet it seemed to come from all round you as if the leaves rustled with it.

Shasta was no longer afraid that the Voice belonged to something that would eat him, nor that it was the voice of a ghost. But a new and different sort of trembling came over him. Yet he felt glad too...

-CS Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Horse and His Boy
Currently listening:
Never Going Back to OK
By The Afters
Release date: 2008-02-26
1:45 PM 
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August 10, 2008 - Sunday 

Current mood:  relaxed
After being covered in smoke for much of the summer, Reno's air finally seems to be clear again, so I slept with my window open last night for the first time almost all summer. Right now it seems to be super windy outside, but the sun is shining and it feels good to have fresh air in my room. Oh, how I love it. 

I am enjoying a lazy Saturday morning right now... While I in no way expect the next few weekends to be a "storm" in a scary or foreboding sense, I do consider this weekend to be "the calm before the storm" in that I'm about to plunge into a whirlwind of activities over the next four weekends. I'm SO excited about everything that's coming up, but I'm relishing the opportunity to relax this weekend before I hit the ground running.

The excitement begins on Thursday morning when we leave for Santa Cruz with the youth group. I had been feeling VERY apprehensive about the trip, because I am not much of a camper. I don't mind being outside -- even sleeping outside -- but I like having a good shower every day and being CLEAN. I don't like being dirty. The campground we're staying at does have showers (otherwise I probably would have refused to go, lol... but seriously...) but I still wasn't too sure about things. Last weekend Cassidy & Erin & Jon & Dana & I drove down to Santa Cruz for the night and stayed with some of Erin's relatives (who were awesome, by the way) so we could scope out our campsites the next day. I got to see the showerhouse, and it was actually MUCH better than I was expecting. (I was expecting something along the lines of a row of showers separated by curtains, but each shower is actually in its own separate room with an open space for dressing in addition to the shower!) I felt more hopeful after that (until we walked down to the ocean and I got my feet wet, then dirty, which drove me CRAZY... I'm just planning to either stay dry or take extra towels so I don't have to deal with wet-dirty. Can't handle it.), but then after the long drive back home I was having doubts again. I think I was mostly just DONE with being in the car so long in such a short time -- in the heat, with five people in five seats. Anyway, so I was kind of back-and-forth about the trip until Sunday, but then after Eric's message at church (the one I talked about in my last blog) my perspective was turned upside-down -- not just on Santa Cruz, but on life in general! Seriously, I have felt more at peace with my life this past week since hearing that message than I have felt in I couldn't tell you how long! Anyway, but as it relates to Santa Cruz, ever since Sunday afternoon I have been truly excited about it. I am looking forward to spending time with the youth group, being away from everyday life for a few days and having a chance to relax and see what God has in store for us while we're there... All of that just to say again that the fun begins Thursday when we leave!

We come home from Santa Cruz next Sunday. Monday I turn 27, and if Henry Poole is Here is playing in Reno (though I'm afraid it won't be yet), then I definitely want to go see it that night after work.   That would be the perfect celebration, as far as I'm concerned! Tuesday night we have a staff barbecue... Then three days later, on Friday, I fly to Dallas for the weekend!! I am SO excited to see Tira! (It's been almost two years -- way too long!) I'm not sure what all we'll do while I'm there, but we'll definitely be going to see the American Idols Tour on Monday, the night before I leave. And whatever we do while I'm in Dallas, I am just excited to see an old friend and a new place!

I fly home from Dallas on Tuesday morning. Then on Friday night, Crystal Dawn and Katie and Yvonne (I think, since Jane won't be able to make it now -- We'll miss you, Jane!) fly into Reno!!!!!!! They'll be here over Labor Day weekend so we'll get to go to the "Best of the West Rib Cook-off" while they're here, plus, of course, we'll spend some time at Lake Tahoe and do some other fun stuff around town. I am only going to work one day the week they're here, so we're also going to spend a couple of days in San Francisco. And before they leave on the following Saturday, we get to wake up at the crack of dawn to see the Great Reno Balloon Race!!

After I see Crystal Dawn & Co. off at the airport (on Saturday, September 6), my whirlwind of activities will officially be over... And I'll probably come home and collapse. Like I said, though, I am SO excited for the next few weekends -- but I AM happy that I have THIS weekend to relax before it all begins. I'm going to chill out & enjoy it.

PS I am listening to The Golden Rule E.P. by Golden State. Good stuff! Sadly, I couldn't find it in the music search, so I have to make note of it myself!
1:09 AM 
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August 4, 2008 - Monday 

Current mood:  grateful
Our church service was SO good this morning. Our senior pastor is out of town right now but the guy who preached today, Eric, gave an AMAZING message that I actually really needed to hear. I went into the service in a bit of a funk, just from over-thinking some things in my life. It was one of those mornings I was kind of wishing I could be somewhere else... But I am SO glad I wasn't.

Eric talked about why church is necessary, why we can't really say "I'm a Christian but I don't need to go to church, I can just do it on my own." A few years ago this would have really grated against my thinking, but today I recognize it as a true statement.

One of the illustrations Eric used in his sermon really stood out to me. He showed a series of pictures, beginning with an abstract photo of blurred colors. He said that photo was like looking at what God had done in his life in the past week -- which was good, but not a clear or complete view. The next photo was of his son's face. Eric said that was like looking at what God had done in his life over the past year. Better, but still not complete. Next he showed a full-body shot of his son, which represented what God had done throughout Eric's entire life. Even better, but still not complete. After that he showed a collage of pictures of some of his family & loved ones, which represented what God had done in the lives of the people surrounding him throughout his life. The best yet, but STILL not complete. Finally he showed a great collage of many, many pictures that formed an image of Jesus... And THAT was the complete picture. THAT is what it's all about. THAT is what we gather together to remember each Sunday.

Like I said, a few years ago, I was really questioning the necessity of being at church on a weekly basis. To me, Christianity was a personal thing, and I didn't necessarily feel that church attendance was all that important. Thankfully my job as church secretary carried an unspoken expectation that I attend regularly, and through my obligatory commitment, I've realized that it IS important and even necessary to be a part of a church family -- to make church attendance a priority. So often the times I least feel like being at church are the very times I find the most encouragement (as was the case today).

The thing is, it's not about me. Eric talked about the fact that going to church is not about singing the songs we like or hearing a message we like. It's about coming together to remember what Christ has done. "The service could be lame," he said, and it should not matter.

How true.

I don't think dissatisfaction with the church service is something I struggle with very much, but I definitely struggle with dissatisfaction with my life at times. And just as Eric said the quality of the service doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things, so the little things in my life (though they sometimes seem big in my mind) -- the things that don't work out the way I hoped or expected -- aren't significant in the grand scheme of things, either. The whole service today just gave me a completely renewed sense of perspective. I remembered that there is much more going on in God's plans for the world than my own little life, and getting a glimpse of that "bigger picture" -- which I've glimpsed before, but it seems like it's been quite a long while -- was a huge encouragement that my own disappointments are not the end of the world, and that God has a bigger purpose for EVERYTHING that happens, even when it appears that things are broken & falling apart from MY limited perspective.

And that's why the Church is important. Because it helps remind me of that bigger picture. It gives me that more complete view of God's work in the world that I wouldn't get if I stayed closed off in my own little world, if I kept my faith as a solely personal thing and cut off the "corporate" aspect of it. And I am SO thankful for that perspective and the hope it gives me -- for my own life and for the lives of all those I love & care for. One of the songs we sang following Eric's message today pretty much sums it up...

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our strong Deliverer

You are the everlasting God, the everlasting God
You do not faint, You won't grow weary
You're the Defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles

Sometimes you just need to be reminded of the truth, and today was one of those days for me. I'm thankful that I have such a loving church family that is committed to "remembering together."
Currently watching:
The Princess Diaries 2 - Royal Engagement (Widescreen Edition)
Release date: 2004-12-14
4:29 AM 
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July 28, 2008 - Monday 

Current mood:  productive
Part I: Discoveries

I have made a lot of great "discoveries" in the past couple of weeks. Among them are...

1. "Rise" by Eddie Vedder - from the Into the Wild soundtrack. EXCELLENT song that somehow seems to inspire a sort of wistful nostalgia, even if you haven't seen the movie. Thank you, Ashley, for this one.

2. JJ Heller - FANTASTIC singer/songwriter. Love her voice. Thank you, Jessie, for this one.

3. Henry Poole is Here - upcoming movie starring Luke Wilson. A man who has basically lost hope tries to isolate himself, only to find his isolation disrupted by a miracle of sorts. Read more about it here. I'm so excited about this movie my expectations are probably impossibly high and I've probably set myself up for great disappointment... But maybe not!

4. "All Roads Lead Home" by Golden State - a song from Henry Poole is Here. Never heard of the band before but I love this song... and the video that goes with it! James Grundler sounds strikingly like Bono, at least in this song!

5. "Real to Reel" by Above the Golden State (different band, similar name... Weird, huh?) - Never heard of this band before, either, but Jessie discovered them and dubbed this "the 'perf' song" for me, considering my obsession with movies. Very fitting, and a GREAT song, too!

6. Elizabethtown - movie from a few years back starring Orlando Bloom & Kirsten Dunst. I watched this once before but don't recall having any strong feelings about it one way or another. I re-watched it Friday night and fell in love with it!

7. Banana Boat aloe vera gel - Okay, I didn't discover this product recently... But I DID discover that it is possible for one person to go through over half a bottle of it in less than a week.

I feel like I am forgetting some things, but I can't think of what they are at the moment.

Part II: Musings

I went to see The Dark Knight again today, and as I've thought about it even since  my first viewing, I've grown somewhat bothered by the fact that people seem to be almost glorifying the Joker. He is pure evil. Yes, he has some humorous moments in the movie, but there is nothing redeeming in anything that he does. The fact that some seem to view him as a sort of hero is disturbing. Perhaps this has more to do with it being Heath Ledger's final [complete] performance than with the actual character... I hope so, because while Ledger's performance was certainly an amazing feat worthy of acclaim, there is nothing praiseworthy about the Joker. I still absolutely love the movie, but it's because of the difficult, heroic choices & actions of Batman/Bruce Wayne, Gordon, and the other "good guys." Not to take a summer blockbuster too seriously, I just don't like the idea of living in a world where people could be so blind about what's good and what's evil...

Part III: Goals & the Number 27

First of all, today is July 27. (Side note: Happy First Anniversary tomorrow, Cassidy & Erin!) Three weeks from tomorrow, I celebrate my 27th birthday. I recently did some figuring and I think I could have my credit cards completely paid off by about this time next year. That is my goal for the next year... And since I've been wanting for YEARS to go to New York for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, I am thinking my goal should be to do that next Thanksgiving as a celebration of having my debt paid off. Whether that will be feasible or not, we'll have to see as time goes on. But right now, that's what I have in mind. I have a travel journal I bought at Target a while back with the Empire State Building on the cover. I wished I would have taken it with me when Bev & I went on our road trip back in May, but I didn't think of it then, and something in my OCD-ness feels it would somehow just be wrong to try and write anything after-the fact. So... My plan is to start using it when I go to Dallas next month -- just a few days after my birthday. I don't know why but I've always been the type to want a fresh start. If I'm behind on things, instead of trying to pick up midstream, I always wait for the beginning of a new week or month. I know it's totally a mental thing, but it just seems to work better for me. So my travel journal will start with my 27th year, as I begin to really work towards paying off my debt and fulfilling my dream of going to the Macy's Parade. We'll see how it goes!

----------

On a final note, I am going to take a break -- a "fast" -- from MySpace for the next few days. I just sense the need to remind myself that I can live without it, that I don't have to tell everyone what I'm doing every second of every day, that I don't have to know what everyone else is doing every second of every day... I don't really think I have any sort of addiction to MySpace, but I think in today's world of instant gratification, it's important sometimes to take a break and spend extra time doing more important things -- being less distracted while I'm spending time with my family, reading my Bible, praying, reading in general (I'm almost done with book 2 of Chronicles of Narnia, yay!), etc. So... I won't be around here again, starting tomorrow morning, until Friday night. Hope you all have a wonderful week!!

PS The Haunting was pretty ridiculous. But I did enjoy watching Owen Wilson wander around the scary mansion in his pajama pants.
Currently watching:
The Haunting
Release date: 1999-11-23
3:50 AM 
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