Day Thirty-Two

Tonight control your dreams. Freud postulated that our dreams are essentially the recombined elements of things that had affected us during the day. Today, think very hard about these three things and see if they crop up in your dreams tonight.

The Three Things Are:
1. Hedgehog
2. Aeroplace
3. Midget

I will report tomorrow...

Day Thirty-One

Nauru Awareness Day! Nauru is a tiny island all alone in the middle of the Pacific. Today let them know they're not completely forgotten by sending the President a friendly postcard at Office of the President, c/o Ministry of Works, Yaren, Nauru.

Dear Mr. President,

Greetings to you in Nauru from the United States! I am writing to you to pass on the information that I am aware of your existence, and today I am celebrating that awareness. I look forward to celebrating your 41st Independence Day on January 31. I plan taking the day off work.

Sincerely,
Jami

Day Thirty

I have been explicitly instructed to ignore this day.

Day Twenty-Nine

Dial a phone number at random and read this script with a deep South accent

The passage starts, "You now, without Christ, without Jesus, we have no hope." And it goes on and on, and talks about the Bible, and it is much too long to transcribe here, and I didn't even read the entire thing, so...

I find it offensive and did not participate.

Day Twenty-Eight

Choose your final meal on death row and make it

-Artichoke, boiled and served with warm garlic butter for dipping
-Country Cafe (KCMO) biscuits and gravy
-Best italian lasagna you've ever tasted
-Haagen Daas vanilla milkshake
-slice of Nono's strawberry cake
-bottle of Bonny Doone "Heart of Darkness"

Day Twenty-Seven

Today you are not allowed to use the words "yes" or "no". See just how far you get

5 minutes.

:(

Day Twenty-Six

Today choose what you'd prefer to be reincarnated as. Choose and send off a $5 donation to the Dali Lama, Lhassa, Tibet.

The obvious choice would be to come back as another human. I mean, so far life as a human has been pretty great, and I definitely have no intention of letting that go if I can help it. But I've led a pretty charmed life so far, so there is a good chance that I could come back as a human whose situation isn't as pleasant as mine. But hey, being alive is better than nothing, so that's a risk I'm willing to take. Here are some other popular choices...

Cockroach: If you can avoid getting smashed, your shelf life is pretty long.

Chimp or other monkey-like primate: You're pretty much one step away from being a human, but the standards of "Decent Behavior" are severely lowered, so you would be able to get away with a lot because hey, you're a monkey.

Panda Bear: You're a bear, so you are pretty much awesome! Plus, Pandas are rare so you would always be getting set up to mate. This makes zoo life a small price to pay for all the hot Panda action that's tossed in your direction.

Bald Eagle: Anybody lays a hand on you, you're certain to be avenged. Flying would be cool too.

Day Twenty-Five

Things you will never do before you die. Tick the boxes to come to terms with the fact that you will never...

-Visit Bhutan
-Become a world chess champion
-Rob a bank
-Have a sex change (for a day)
-Become a king
-Walk to the North Pole
-Learn Russian
-Learn the Periodic Table by heart
-Work in a coal mine
-Watch all of Bergman
-Follow Mao's teachings
-Move to Japan
-Visit space
-Wear a rugsack
-Inject heroin
-Become insensitive to suffering
-Be gay
-Start a cult
-Grow a beard
-Become a fitness instructor
-Become a rock star
-Live for one year on a deserted island
-Graffiti a highway bridge
-Own an owl
-Contimplate suicide
-Invade a small country
-Disinherit your heirs
-Seduce the prom queen
-Paint someone in tar and feathers
-Smoke a cat
-Marry someone you've never met
-Star in a Hollywood Blockbuster
-Be eaten by cannibals
-Win the lottery
-Turn 117 years old
-Settle in Pittsburg
-Become pope
-Marry a prince
-Grow a tail
-Become a muslim
-Become a buddhist
-Beat Bjorn Borg at tennis
-Be the 78th person on the moon
-Be called upon by the President
-Become immortal
-Memorize the encyclopedia
-Sacrafice a goat
-Get drunk on meths
-Sup with Satan
-Track down Lord Lucan
-Get away with murder
-Travel back in time
-Apologize for existing
-Spot the invisible man
-Spell "egg" differenty
-Have sex with your clone

Day Twenty-Four

Barter Day. Bartering provides fun for all the family, bypasses the taxman, and is a useful skill to acquire in the event civilization should suddenly revert to the Stone Age.

Barter: When asked for the $4.08 for my grande soy chai, I offered a shoeshine to the cashier in exchange for the drink.
Result: A blank stare, followed by the repetition of the request, "$4.08 please."

Barter: When pulled over for speeding, I offered the officer three citizen's arrests in exchange for a free pass on the traffic violation.
Result: "Don't play around with me." and a verbal warning about my speed.

Barter: When passing a man on a bench reading a copy of The Denver Post, I offered an expired Pizza Hut coupon in exchange for all of the odd numbered pages in the paper.
Result: He kept reading.

Day Twenty-Three

Plastic Fantastic!!! How do you know you look as good as you could? Today make a no-obligation appointment with a plastic surgeon and see what he recommends.

I decided that I would not participate today because I do not believe in plastic surgery.

This is a matter of principle.

Day Twenty-Two

Today agree to meet someone in 10 years' time. Fill in this coupon (below) and hand it to a stranger or someone you hardly know.

Day Twenty-One

Patriotism Day! It is the duty of every citizen to be patriotic. A country is one's soil, one's blood, one's tears, one's roots. Here is a list of countries along with their strong points, so you can choose which one to feel patriotic about today (France, United Kingdom, China, Russia, Nigeria, Moldova)

United Kingdom
Language: English
Anthem: "God Save The Queen"
Military Record: Good, although the English Channel has undoubtedly helped.
Patriotic Potential: Wide choice of tones, from Churchhill to football hooliganism.

Other Fun Facts:
1. Until the first Divorce Court was established in 1857, it was common practice for men to trade their unwanted spouses like any other possession.
2. The British ship Carpathia was the first ship to sail to the aid of the 'unsinkable' Titanic.
3. Sir Francis Drake once claimed California for Queen Elizabeth I of England in 1579.
4. The success of public lavatories used at the Great Exhibition, held at Hyde Park in 1851, led to the widespread installation of public toilets in London.
5. The Bank of England is also known as 'The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street'.

Day Twenty

Today everyone is to send in a line to create the world's longest poem. They will be collated as they are collected (via email, listed in the book) and the result published across the whole world as soon as a suitable final line is deemed to have been found and we think of a good title. The opening line is: "Mercy, cried the popinjay to the pope." Use iambic pentameter.

"oh how perfect is the morning daylight?"

Day Nineteen

Pretend to be a secret agent. No one can know. This Book was a pretext to get in touch with you. Your government needs you. Don't look up now, they are watching. Meet at 13:00 today outside work. Wave at the gray car. It will pick you up and take you to the secret redenzvous. Good luck. P.S. Tear this page out and swallow it.

I should preface the following by stating that if you read this post you will be killed...
I started the day by listening to "Secret Agent Man" by Johnny Rivers to get in the mood. I also donned a mask, but I couldn't find a wig. At 13:00 hours, I went outside to wave to the gray car. They waved pleasantly, but did not stop. A second gray car passed several minutes later. Again, a friendly return wave, but they did not come back for me. I went out into the middle of the street, to force the issue. When I saw the next gray car approaching, I jumped out in front of it. It came screeching to a halt, and I waved. This driver was not as friendly as the previous two. Then, a police car came onto the scene. Knowing that the lowly local cops are not often included in "Federal Business" I knew I needed to escape. I darted off the road and barrel rolled into some shrubbery. Unfortunately, I landed on my keys. That really hurts.

Day Eighteen

Kill Something Day. So-called Western Civilization suppresses our legitimate aggressive impulses. Cast off the chains of narrow morality and stamp out the sad life of a member of some inferior species today: an ant or perhaps a gnat of some kind. Indulge your dark urges before they overwhelm you. After all, as top Russian anarchist Mikhail Bakunin declared: the passion for destruction is also a creative passion...

-I stepped on and PURPOSEFULLY killed a weak, small spider today.

-I felt big and mighty.

-Now...I can't hold back from taking over countries.

Day Seventeen

Eat nothing but asparagus today to ascertain just how noxious your pee can get

I have to admit, I do like asparagus...but (WARNING...TOO MUCH INFORMATION APPROACHING...) my pee is not affected by asparagus in the slightest, so I decided to not participate in today's task.

I truly believe that my life will be not change do to my lack of participation. (Or change for that matter...)

Day Sixteen

Discreetly give the finger to people all day today

Totals:
12 discreet fingers given*
2 blatantly clear fingers given
0 repercussions


*If you are reading this, I am discreetly giving you the finger right now...

Day Fifteen

Be gay for a day! As James Dean said, why go through life with one hand tied behind your back?

Day Fourteen

A day of compliments. Flatter someone today and see if it does indeed get you anywhere.

"Gee, that sure is a splendid mustache comb."

"Your dress makes me want to puke...in a good way!"

"You certainly are as sweet as something that is tremendously sweet."

Day Thirteen

Send a letter to a mass murderer

Charles Manson
California State Prison
B - 33920, 4AR-23
PO Box 3479
Corcora, CA 93212, USA


I was actually a bit afraid to send this letter...but I did it anyways.
I'm not sure why I had such a fear. In the end it was liberating.
I hope it really made it there. I asked what he will ask for on his last meal for his last request. I hope it got him thinking about the end.

Day Twelve

Day 12: What's your type? Tick it here today as a reminder at drunken parties; beefcake, mr. nice guy, loaded, married with kids, sleazeball, handsome prince.

Well, consider what I have. I'd like to think I've scored "my type".
Nick: Mr. Nice Guy + Handsome Prince = man of my dreams
:)

Day Eleven

Today, introduce yourself to someone you know but never speak to.

The transcript of this conversation between me and a woman from the office next door, as it occured in the copy room in the afternoon.

Me: Hello, I'm Jami.
Her: Hi.
Me: Making copies, huh?
Her: Yes.
Me: How's that working out for you?
Her: What?
Me: The copies.
Her: What about it?
Me: It never stops.
Her: What?
Me: Work. What if it did?
Her: Well, I suppose that would be pretty bad...(starting to back away)
Me: As bad as madcow?
Her: What are you talking about?
Me: Work. Madcow disease.
Her: Okay, I'm going to leave.
Me: But you didn't answer my question.
Her: What was that?
Me: How's that working out for you?
Her: What!?
Me: The copies.
Her: Fine. (Turns and walks away)
Me: Glad to hear it.

Day Ten

Meet Jonas Day! This is Jonas Jansson, a courageous fellow who has agreed to follow The Book's injunctions to the letter. In this, his first week, he has already been arrested once and lost his girlfriend. Go Jonas!

Day 10 is just a ploy to draw visitors to the Benrik website, which I am not going to link because (a) I was disappointed by this day's task, and (b) I am lazy.

Day Nine

Do something before breakfast today.

I am not a morning person. I have no problem getting up on time, but I require certain specific arrangements and a strict routine each morning to avoid aggravation. I require the near complete absence of light. I need just enough to turn on the television. That's why I love fall and winter; the sun doesn't rise until I am leaving the house. Anyway, I was not feeling terrifically creative this morning, and today is a Saturday...so I decided to find out what's on TV at this hour. (which mind you is noon....and yes, I have breakfast at noon on Saturdays)

I flipped to TBS. It was the Saved by the Bell where Zack sets it up so Slater gets caught joyriding in the driver's ed. car but Kelly is implicated and Zack has to take the blame or else driver's ed. will be cancelled by Belding and he fears Kelly will leave him for Slater because he has to take an F and retake the class next year but she is touched by his martyrdom and stays by his side.
Oh how I loooooooved Saved By the Bell in the 90's.
How could you not love this face:


Anyways, I reminisced for a while then got on with my day of lounging...

Day Eight

Addiction free day. Your body is your temple. Cut out addictive substances for the day and see how much purer you feel.

I will admit, in my "born to be mild" weekday existence, my body is already pretty pure, sustancewise. I don't smoke, and I don't drink coffee an it wasn't hard to avoid alcohol at work. I normally spend my weekend ingesting mass quantities of red bull and add a few beers here or there, so I use the first few days of the week to "purge toxins" in a very pseudo-zen manner that basically involves a lot of fiber and cleanses.

With that being said...I abstained from the few "addictions" I do have (caffine, chocolate, red bull, bad reality shows), and I don't feel like a better person.

Oh well....

Day Seven

I choose not to participate today...just won't.

Day Six

Today write the opening sentence to your debut novel.

"I woke up one day thinking who I am meant to be is greater than who I think I'd like to be."

Day Five

Mass social experiment. Cut out and stick this sign:


on any item of public infrastructure you might encounter today, including but not limited to: elevators, garbage trucks, cranes, phone booths, toilets, ventilation units, escalators, entrances to subway stations. The aim is to achieve comprehensive social breakdown across the US.

I placed this sign on three different places:
1) My computer at work...NO MORE WORKING!!! (a-ha-ha!)


2) Blue...a fellow employee at work...NO MORE WORKING FOR BLUE!!!


and finally, 3) the toilet in the women's bathroom...NO MORE WOMEN IN THERE!


Social breakdown...look out...

Day Four

Today's task asks me to color in a map of the world based on where I have or would like to visit.
Green = Been there, done that.
Blue = Intend to go there this year.
Yellow = Intend to go there before I die.
Red = Happy never to set foot there in my whole life.


Green: US of A, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, England, Ireland, Senegal, South Africa.

Blue: Sadly, no countries make this list, unless you count the US. I would like to say that I will be going to China or Romania next year, but I just don't think I can swing it...not yet

Yellow: Germany (because of my heritage), Scotland, France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Romania, Switzerland...Actually, you might as well include all of Europe, but the aforementioned places are the only essential ones. China, Japan, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, India, Czech Republic, Israel, Moracco, Egypt, Kenya, Congo, Russia, Brazil, Chile. Definitely Cuba, and I might as well throw in some other Caribbean island. You go ahead and pick one, they all seem the same to me.

Red: This list isn't very long. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE TRAVELING, so there aren't many place I don't want to see. However, I will definitely never see: anywhere in the Middle East (with the exception of Egypt, Isreal and Dubai) or the middle of Asia (ie Mongolia, etc).

Day Three

"Throw away something you like."

This wasn't too bad...ever since moving around so much all over the US, I have learned to throw things away if they aren't continually used for months at a time.

When it came right down to it, I managed to rid myself of some old photographs. This part was hard for me...because I am very sentimental and keep EVERY picture, no matter what or who I was involved with. So I did it. I purged and threw out every picture of a certain 2.5 years of my life...every physical photo and even the digital ones on my laptop. I want to leave that piece of my past where it belongs, in the past.

This is my new life...and I don't plan on looking back.

Day Two

"Gaze at everyone wondering whether they might be the one true love of your life, the one destined for you and you alone, and whether you might be passing them by forever...Act in consequence."

I spent the better part of my day at a trade-show for work (ick) or napping on my couch...the following resulted from the limited glance-exchanging I managed to fit into my schedule ...

*The nice boy working the Starbucks drive through: Asks, "where you off to so early?" (i had to leave for the trade show at 6 am...ick)

*The disgruntled middle-aged man who works for a random client of mine: Quickly glanced away with an uncomfortable look.

*My boss: Asked me "is that what you are wearing today?"

*The cheesy attorney at the trade show: Winked.

*Nick: always looks amazing, and yes...I contimplated love at that moment...the forever kind, and yes. He is my one true love.

To Be Continued...tomorrow...

Day One

As this was the first day, the authors suggested I "warm up with an easy task that will only change your life a little bit." I found several suggestions, along with the idea that if I wanted to really dive in headfirst I should turn to a random page and do what it says. In the interest of keeping each of the 365 days of this program original but not easing too slowly into my new life, I accomplished several of the tasks on this list. The tasks I completed, in no particular order...

-Do one press-up: I am assuming this means push-up. Done.
-Jaywalk in a pedestrian zone: Color me bad, as in badass!
-Whisper a white lie when no one's listening: Hint-it rhymes with stethoscope.
-Fantasize about your partner: Oh yeah...
-Say "Yo" instead of "hello": I do this regularly anyway, to keep people on their toes.
-Bookmark a new website: Here it is.
-Go on a one minute hunger strike: I went on strike to protest the lack of snack packs in my office. Lame.
-Choose which of your toes is the prettiest: Left foot, fourth toe.

See you tomorrow...

This Blog Will Change Your Life

A few years ago I had something traumatic happen to me and a friend gave me this book.


I tried to go through this book at the time, but ended up failing.
I recently stumbled upon this book again while going through boxes from my past that were lost in storage.

I have decided to try again.

Boasting to be "part instruction manual, part therapy, part cult, part sheer anarchy" this book offers 365 days worth of instructions for hysterical living. It just so happens my life can use a little hysteria. What will follow starting today, Friday November 7, 2008, will be a record of my daily attempts to base my life on this book. We'll see what happens...

***

In preparation to begin my journey, there are a few things to mention:

-in the front cover of this book, there is a note. it reads: "Jami- Here's to the first day of your second life. See you in Paris. I love you."

-I am so excited!

"your dreams have come true"

Date: Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:09:21 -0600
From: joshbrage@gmail.com
To: jamikylene@hotmail.com
Subject: your dreams have come true


DEPP IN ALICE AND WONDERLAND, add a soundtrack by jack white and you would explode.

http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/news/va/20080924/122231030000.html


- hosh


************

this is what greeted me this morning when i opened my email at work...
I was grumpy, I was tired, I was feeling a little icky...
But now my day seems a little bit brighter.
Thanks Hosh.

Politics Explained

FEUDALISM: You have two cows. Your lord takes some of the milk.

PURE SOCIALISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and puts them in a barn with everyone else's cows. You have to take care of all of the cows. The government gives you as much milk as you need.

BUREAUCRATIC SOCIALISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and put them in a barn with everyone else's cows. They are cared for by ex-chicken farmers. You have to take care of the chickens the government took from the chicken farmers. The government gives you as much milk and eggs as the regulations say you need.

FASCISM: You have two cows. The government takes both, hires you to take care of them and sells you the milk.

PURE COMMUNISM: You have two cows. Your neighbors help you take care of them, and you all share the milk.

RUSSIAN COMMUNISM: You have two cows. You have to take care of them, but the government takes all the milk.

CAMBODIAN COMMUNISM: You have two cows. The government takes both of them and shoots you.

DICTATORSHIP: You have two cows. The government takes both and drafts you.

PURE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. Your neighbors decide who gets the milk.

REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. Your neighbors pick someone to tell you who gets the milk.

BUREAUCRACY: You have two cows. At first the government regulates what you can feed them and when you can milk them. Then it pays you not to milk them. Then it takes both, shoots one, milks the other and pours the milk down the drain. Then it requires you to fill out forms accounting for the missing cows.

PURE ANARCHY: You have two cows. Either you sell the milk at a fair price or your neighbors try to take the cows and kill you.

LIBERTARIAN/ANARCHO-CAPITALISM: You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull.

SURREALISM: You have two giraffes. The government requires you to take harmonica lessons.

"breaking dawn"

New phenomenon (well I guess not BRAND new), but new in my life, is the "twilight saga". I have been enthralled for the past week by this series and cannot get enough of Edward >sigh<.

After much anticipation the final installment, fourth book "Breaking Dawn" will be released Saturday August 2nd.

...I think I'm in love with a vampire...

Harrismith, South Africa

Hey everyone,
As promised...here are some pics from Africa!
I'll have more up when I get home!

Base in Harrismith ("Harry - smith")


"AFRICA POSE!!"


Team on day one
(it's so beautiful here!)


Village of Qwa Qwa


Mount Everst Game Reserve


Beautiful village children!

AFRICA!

Hello HELLO from Africa!!
I finally stole a minute to use the internet here in the middle of God's creation!!
I so wanted to post a few pictures for you all to see...but the computer if circa 1980 or something...

ANYWAYS! It is AH-MA-ZING here! I arrived in Joberg (Johannasberg) on Thursday evening (Thursday morning in the states) and have been running ever since! I can't believe that I'm here....today finally sunk in for me.

I am about to run to dinner (yes it is night here).

More to come...

xoxo
-jami

behold THE LIST!

* I’m 24 years old and my birthday is on December 19th.
* I share the same birthday as Alyssa Milano, Jennifer Beals, and Jake Gyllenhaal.
* I can get pretty bitter over how my birthday gets lost in the holiday season.
* I’m the youngest child with a older sister and an older brother.
* Being the youngest has warped my persona. I’m extremely spoiled and I always get what I want!
* I love to create art. Sadly I haven’t figured out how to that passion it properly to make money.
* My dream job would be to be the owner of a dessert shop. I’d spend my downtime sampling the inventory and painting.
* I still haven’t decided what I want to do with my life.
* At one point I wanted to be an teacher. One semester of student teaching and observing the third grade made me realize I would never survive in an enviroment made to stifle kid’s imaginations.
* During my younger, “I Like school” days, I wanted to do something with math. I interned with an accountant for a few months after school. I realized I could never do that!
* If I could live in any time period, I would travel back to the late ’50s, early ’60s and live a Beatnik, Tiki-cultured existence.
* I’ve gone by many nicknames in my life: James, Jame, J, Shoe-ie, Piglet, AJ (just to name a few).
* In order to set myself apart from the crowd, I intentionally go against "the grain".
* For some reason people have a hard time with my name. After they see it, they seem to want to insist I wrote/said it wrong. They continue the conversation calling me Jammie (as in pajamas).
* I have an unhealthy obsession with baseball.
* I have an even more unhealthy obsession with baseball players.
* Even though on the most basic terms, I am a Christian I find that I have no where near the same principles as other people that use the same label. That fact scares me. I really don’t know what book these people are reading sometimes.
* My Music taste is pretty ecletic. I’ve asked my friends to describe what I listen to and they classify it as, “Wacky Crap”. Take from that what you will.
* This List is only a brief smattering of facts, and I’m actually happy that I can’t break down every aspect of my life into bullet points!

in honor

to celebrate the birthday of the late, great Nick Drake...
I plan on downloading "pink moon" today.

having it on vinyl just isn't enough...i need some ipod-age.

:)

she & him: volume one

A few months ago there was a hubbub brewing on a message board community in which I happen to be a member, about an album that was about to be released at the time (I blame one man for this entirely). That album was Volume One by She & Him or as you may know a bit better as Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward. I was a bit weary of checking out this album at first, mostly because I’m trying to kick this music addiction of mine. You would not believe the money I spend on music and relating paraphernalia.

After Diana's strong recommendation, I sampled a couple of the tracks on I-tunes (the most evil invention that I can’t live with out) and I felt She & Him warranted a full listen. After a couple quick clicks I had the album in hand, via I-pod, and I hit play. My ears danced!

The first thing that hit me was Zooey’s voice. I was in love with it, well even more so then before I heard this album. Zooey’s voice through out this album has a nice range and is quite versatile; so effortless. She switches from a Jazz vocal to a semi classic country western sound, and her voice always has this playful vitality to it that I don’t think I’ve ever heard before. This album would is worth it just to hear her voice.

The other part of M. Ward should get some praise here too. The man knows what he’s doing, he knows who the star is and does everything in his power to enhance and accompany Zooey’s vocals. Just one listen through of this album just shows the M. Ward is brilliant.

I really can’t find much wrong with this album other then it’s not enough. I desperately want a Volume Two to be released. I’m glad that I decided to listen and pick up this album. It has brought such a joy, a relief that music of this caliber is still being produced. If you are a fan of strong female vocals or just a fan of music you should pick up copy of this album or at the least check it out.



She & Him-Volume One

Five points out of Five – Must Buy

diana rothery photographic

my beautiful and wickedly talented friend diana took these rockstar photos of me this past weekend in phoenix.

last night

“There is no judgement awaiting those who trust Him…” –john 3:18

Where there is trust there is influence.
Where there is influence there is change.
Where there is change, there is growth.

So then, trust=growth.

I’m growing a bit right now.

such a BA

I'm proud to know this man...

have i mentioned...

i love interleague play...

go twins!

aaHHHHHMazing weekend!!!

Well, twins lost the series 2-1, but it was an AMAZING weekend...pics and more to follow later.......

thank you mark.

WARNING: stolen

So I stole this survey/questionnaire from Josh Mick.
I loved it...so...here it is:

The principle aspect of my personality: I try to relate to everyone and empathise consistently.

The quality that I desire in a man: Honesty.

The quality that I desire in a woman: Unconditional love.

What I appreciate most about my friends: Each has a different number on me. They read my mail each in their own way.

My main fault: Lack of a "filter" (mostly of what comes out of my mouth. I'm brutally honest to a fault)

My favorite occupation: Advocate...fighting for someone else is beautiful.

My dream of happiness: To keep dreaming, creating, and taking care of other people to the best of my abilities.

What would be my greatest misfortune?: To live my life how I think it should go without asking God's opinion.

What I should like to be: Dependable, honest, genuine, happy.

The country where I should like to live: Africa (country to be decided at a later date), Czech, Italy.

My favorite color: Red.

The flower that I like: Daisy.

My favorite prose authors: Chuck Klosterman, Kurt Vonnegut.

My favorite poets: So far: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Poe.

My heroes in fiction: Siris Black.

My favorite heroines in fiction: Elizabeth Gilbert.

My favorite composers: Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Webber.

My favorite painters: Pollock, Frida Kahlo.

My heroes in real life: Bono, Jesus, Veterans (of any war).

My heroines in history: Hummm...Elizabeth I

My favorite names: Yahweh

What I hate most of all: Racism, hate, inconsideration, etc.etc.etc.

Historical figures that I despise the most: The ones that don't think for themselves (Nazis, followers...)

The military event that I admire most: Peace talks

The reform which I admire the most: Abolition.

The gift of nature that I would like to have: I would like to heal things.

How I want to die: Ready.

My present state of mind: Concerned.

Faults for which I have the most indulgence: I am impatient, which makes my indulge the want for everything I think I need right then.

My motto: All you need is love.

coincidence ....maybe.

I received this forture from facebook today:

Could this be predicting my weekend?...

...I think so! :)

"Darth Vader" spared jail in Jedi church attacks

In a recent story from MSNBC, a man calling him self "Darth Vader" attacks a "church" of Jedis.
Here are a few of my favorite lines from the story:

"A man who dressed up as Darth Vader, wearing a garbage bag for a cape, and assaulted the founders of a group calling itself the Jedi church."

"He also whacked Jones' 18-year-old cousin, Michael Jones — known as Master Mormi Hehol — bruising his thigh in the March 25 incident, prosecutors said."

"Unfortunately for Hughes, his March attack was recorded on a video camera that the cousins had set up to film themselves in a light saber battle."

"Hughes claimed he couldn't remember the incident, having drunk the better part of a 2 1/2-gallon box of wine beforehand."

Read the full story here.

arts and crafts time

In preparation for my AMAZING WEEKEND coming up...
Savannah and I have been working diligently this week on this:


Perfection right?

...yes I LOVE Joe...
...yes I would marry Joe...
...yes I will be THAT girl...
...and YES I will be on t.v.!!

Vintage

My Twins

1961 - 1971

1971-1987

1987-present


"Baseball doesn't owe me a thing. I owe my whole life to baseball." - Kirby Puckett

200

"Major League Baseball has the most gruelling schedule of all the major sports, with each team playing 162 games in 180 days." - Baseball Gambling Online

man i love those infield "chats"

just reminiscing and dreaming about Tulow getting better...>sigh<

new hair, new flair

in celebration of summer, i've decided to go back blonde for the next little while.


bring on the sunshine, beaches, baseball games, and giggles. :)

I am both appalled and very sad.

According to FOX Sports, my beloved Minnesota Twins have been voted #7 on the "Worse Franchises in Pro Sports".

"Moneyball" is to baseball what frugal is to cheap; it's a creative way of saying, "we're not going to pay for our stars or reward our veterans who have earned their keep." Sabermetrics and scientific stats are used to evaluate players and give a better indication of their worth, but teams like the Minnesota Twins use this strategy to kiss their superstars goodbye at the trade deadline or the first day of free agency. The Twins constantly sell proven veterans for prospects and draft picks, but when those youngsters finally develop, they get shipped away to start the cycle again. The Twins incessantly look to the future and winning now is not a priority. Translation: the Twins care more about the dollars than about winning.

Puzzling personnel plays: Trading Johan Santana and failing to re-sign Torii Hunter.

Remember ... 2002: A year removed from a contraction battle, the Minnesota Twins (under first-year manager Ron Gardenhire) make it to the American League Championship Series. With a solid roster and a light payroll, 2002 would have been the perfect season to sacrifice some future players to add some veteran players at the trade deadline and make a serious run. Instead, the Twins entered the playoffs with the youngest roster in the league and never stood a chance in the ALCS after beating fellow cheapskates, the Oakland Athletics, in the first round.


"Ahh, to be young and innocent enough to believe the Twins have a shot." - Says FOX Sports

I am very sad over this story...see the full list and article here.

Through it all, I wouldn't be a true fan unless I stood by my boys though thick and thin!
>Tammy Wynette sings on repeat in my head...<

"there is truth and love is real"

I was waiting for a cross-town train in the London underground when it struck me
That I've been waiting since birth to find a love that would look and sound like a movie
So I changed my plans and rented a camera and a van and then I called you
"I need you to pretend that we are in love again" and you agreed to

I want so badly to believe that "there is truth, that love is real"
And I want life in every word to the extent that it's absurd

I greased the lens and framed the shot using a friend as my stand-in
The script it called for rain but it was clear that day so we faked it
The marker snapped and I yelled "quiet on the set" and then called "action!"
I kissed you in a style that Clark Gable would have admired (I thought it classic)

I want so badly to believe that "there is truth, that love is real"
And I want life in every word to the extent that it's absurd

I know you're wise beyond your years, but do you ever get the fear
That your perfect verse is just a lie you tell yourself to help you get by?

I heart S.C.

my heart is broken...

Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki suffered a torn tendon in his left quadriceps on Tuesday night at San Francisco and could be out until the All-Star break.

Full Story

TONIGHT...!!!

>can you feel me BEAMING?!!?<


Review of tonight's show to follow....

from words to deeds

Reading thru Jesus' parables, I'm amazed by how his words can stir my heart in such a powerful manner, compelling me to act accordingly. And what's more interesting, it stops right there, giving you complete freedom, and full responsibility, to decide how you react to them.

It is that very transition, from words to deeds, that many men falter. It's easy to feel enlightened and moved, but it takes courage and convictions to venture a decisive act, using Kierkegaard's (o-so-poetic) phrase. God/Christ/the Holy Spirit can go far to stir our hearts, but in the end, each individual has to will himself to the ultimate expression of his faith - in his actions.

fanatic?

fanatic
One entry found.

fanatic

Main Entry: fa·nat·ic
Pronunciation: \fə-ˈna-tik\
Variant(s): or fa·nat·i·cal \-ti-kəl\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin fanaticus inspired by a deity, frenzied, from fanum temple — more at feast
Date: 1550
: marked by excessive enthusiasm and often intense uncritical devotion.

I'm very cautious as to what exactly in my life I would label myself a "fanatic" over.

Then...it happened...
I was forced to do so.

If you know me and have spent more than 20 seconds with me, you will know one thing as truth.

I AM A BASEBALL FANATIC!
(and proud of it)


ME: check
FAVORITE PLAYER T-SHIRT: check
FENWAY PARK: check

Obsessive
Main Entry: ob·ses·sive
Pronunciation: \äb-ˈse-siv, əb-\
Function: adjective
Date: 1901
1 a: tending to cause obsession b: excessive often to an unreasonable degree

Pretty sure that I can be considered obsessive at times.

My friend Chris did travel with me to Boston last fall JUST to see my favorite player play at Fenway (and no...he's not a Red Sock. :) )
Chris likes to call me delusional.

BASEBALL 2008 GOAL:
-I am attempting to see at least one game every week the entire season!


Yes I have tickets to see Joe ALL THREE games in May...yes I have already flown to KCMO to see Joe play last weekend...AND YES I'll be making a pilgrimage back to Minneapolis to see him in August!

It's going to be a great season! :)

"if i'm not hugging ya, don't stand close enough for me to hug ya" -nd

that's my boy!

'Mauer contines to grow as a leader'


FORT MYERS, Fla. -- It wasn't exactly an outfit that Joe Mauer would typically wear, let alone to a hockey game.
Donning a black tuxedo with a tall black top hat made it difficult for the normally low-key Mauer to blend in with the sea of people at the Excel Center for the Minnesota Wild game.

But being that it was New Year's Eve and he promised Justin Morneau that he would dress up for the party the two were hosting together for a group of friends after the game, Mauer somehow was convinced to wear the get-up, bowtie and all.

"There would have been no chance of that a couple of years ago," Mauer said, with a laugh about his outfit. "It took Morny awhile to talk me into it. I guess I'm just a little more reserved than most."

The Twins All-Star catcher has been a standout on the baseball field for as long as many people can remember, but when it comes to those things off the field, the St. Paul, Minn., native would rather just shift the spotlight elsewhere.

It's definitely become a more difficult task as Mauer's role with the Twins continues to grow -- along with his success. But the goal of his teammates and friends has been to find ways for the player to not totally shy away from public life.

The first few seasons he was with the Twins, Mauer said he spent his nights at home in his condo in St. Paul, trying to avoid the attention. But it was in 2006, when he began rooming with Morneau that Mauer said he really started to discover life beyond the baseball field.

"I think we were good for each other," Mauer said. "I'd get him to stay in a few nights and he'd get me to go out, which I never did before. It made for a pretty good balance."

The two are no longer roommates, with Morneau and his fiancée Krista, having bought a home in nearby Mendota Heights, but the camaraderie has continued. And it's become a sort of daily challenge for Morneau to slowly ease Mauer out of his shell.

The first baseman feels he has succeeded -- well, at least a little bit.

The recent outfit at the hockey game he feels was a start. But when asked if Mauer has become less quiet away from the field than he still is in the clubhouse or in interviews, Morneau couldn't help but chuckle and say, "No."

"He's just not outspoken," Morneau said. "But at the same time, he draws respect and guys look up to him too. He's just a good example of doing well and setting an example with your actions."

Mauer, who turns 25 in April, is entering his fifth season with the Twins. Despite all of his experience in the big leagues, he's still one of the younger players on the club's roster. But age hasn't prevented the team from looking to him as one of their leaders.

"He's definitely become much more comfortable in his role," right-hander Scott Baker said. "When he's behind the plate, you just feel like he's in control of the game and what he's trying to do. And it seems he's only getting better everyday. I don't know how much better he can humanly be, but he's doing a pretty good job so far."

Mauer may be growing as a leader, but it's unlikely he'll ever completely shed that humble persona. The soft-spoken catcher admits that the quietness has always been a part of his nature.

"Going back to high school, I was pretty much deathly shy," Mauer said. "Senior year, I started to get a little more comfortable with talking more. I started getting a lot more media because of football, basketball and baseball. Each year, I think I got a little more comfortable with it. I still don't like it a whole lot. I just like just getting out there and playing the game."

Mauer's love of baseball has been with him ever since he first started swinging the bat in the backyard with his two older brothers, Jake and Billy. Both played in the Twins' organization too, calling it quits before either reached the big leagues.

But unlike their little brother, neither ever had to endure the kind of attention focused on the youngest Mauer. Not only was the 6-foot-5 catcher the No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 Draft, he was selected by his hometown team. Along with the pressure to live up to expectations on the field came the constant strain for Mauer of being the "local boy-turned-star" in the public spotlight.

It's something that even Morneau, a former American League MVP, can't completely understand at times.

"It's hard to imagine, but being in that position leaves a lot of stress on him," Morneau said. "When you're in that spot, you're always thinking, 'You have to live up to this,' but [Mauer] doesn't have to be perfect. The thing is, people are going to love him no matter what he does."

Just how beloved the catcher is in Minnesota was captured in one of the Twins' most recent commercials. The spot featured pitcher Pat Neshek, also a Minnesota native, talking to a group of kids from his old high school. Instead of wanting to know about Neshek, every question was focused on Mauer -- with the girls gushing about the catcher's "good looks and sideburns."

For Mauer, the spoof was entertaining -- if a little bit uncomfortable -- considering that once again the spotlight was on him.

"It was pretty funny," Mauer said with a bit of a sheepish smile. "Pat liked it, which was the biggest thing."

That aw-shucks nature is a staple of Mauer's demeanor around his teammates and the Twins coaching staff.

Except for last season, when an injury-plagued campaign finally caused Mauer to express some of his emotion. It was a frustrating year for him following his '06 season -- when he hit .347 to become the first American League catcher to win a batting title -- with a .293 average and just 60 RBIs.

The decrease in production was due to leg injuries that kept Mauer off the field for much of the season. He missed over a month, landing on the disabled list in May. Even when on the field, the catcher was clearly not 100 percent.

But then reports started running in the local media late in the year that his teammates were questioning his toughness and whether he was truly hurt enough to sit out. And that's when the Twins saw a different side of Mauer emerge.

"He was mad about that because the way it came out, and nobody in the clubhouse came up and talked to him personally," Morneau said. "There were no names behind the quotes, it was just 'players in the clubhouse.' And he's sitting there, trying to figure out which of his teammates may be talking bad about him. But from what we found, it wasn't so much anybody really saying anything. He got a little frustrated with that whole situation. He actually got mad -- which is rare."

A rare but not completely unusual sight for Morneau, who admits he's been the culprit of a few angry Mauer moments. One of those times came early last season when the two went up to Mauer's property in northern Minnesota.

Morneau took the catcher's Tahoe for a spin in a wet field, making foot-deep tracks and leaving the vehicle covered in mud. The first baseman got out of the vehicle and laughed, only to find Mauer wasn't quite so entertained.

Mauer can now chuckle when re-telling the story, but Morneau said he had a far different reaction at the time.

"He was like, 'What are you doing? Look at the field, you idiot.' And he was really mad," Morneau said. "I thought it was hilarious, but he was actually mad at me."

Discovering a little fire behind that quiet, reserved player isn't exactly something that the Twins coaching staff considers to be bad. But Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said he doesn't expect to see any dramatic change in Mauer anytime soon.

"He's a quiet guy, and he'll always be a quiet guy," Gardenhire said. "But he's a force behind the plate and a force for us offensively. And there is no substitute for that."

i knew there was something not quite right about him....

i can hardly wait~

6 days. 6 hours. 9 minutes. 45 seconds.....44......43

becoming a christian...

Robin Russell at the UM Portal describes an article from the Baptist Standard,
explaining step-by-step instructions on how to become a Christian. After listing them, she asks,

And I wondered if a United Methodist were asked, "How do I become a Christian?" what would be the response?

A colleague here in the newsroom only half-jokingly commented: "Perhaps that's why we have problems with evangelism."

Any fresh responses out there beyond: "Um, come to church with me?"

__________________________________________________________________________________

Part of the difficulty, I think, is in the question itself. I'm reminded of the old joke, where a visitor to New York asks a local, "How do I get to Carnegie Hall?" The local, who happens to be a professional musician, replies, "Practice, practice, practice."

Christianity is not like building a bookshelf from a kit. You can't just follow a short set of step-by-step instructions -- Insert tab A "grace" into slot B "guilt," and you're done! No, Christianity is a transformation of the whole self, a journey that lasts a lifetime (and beyond).

And the roads that lead us there may be different for different people. For myself, it was a sense of loneliness, not the "lostness" the Baptist Standard requires, that paved the way for me to first experience God. And it was a mystical experience, not an intellectual understanding about Jesus' sacrifice, that started me along the journey.

I find the journey metaphor helpful in another way, too: If you're giving someone directions to get to your house, the first step is to find their starting point. "Go south on I-35 to the 119th Street exit," might get some people started on the right road, but it is likely to get other people completely lost.

Likewise, "How do I become a Christian?" is a highly subjective question. How they will get there is going to depend largely on where they are right now.

When the rich young ruler asked Jesus how to inherit eternal life, Jesus answered, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." To the thief on the cross, Jesus simply said, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise."

So how do we answer someone who asks, "How do I become a Christian?" First, we get to know them, understand who they are and where they are. It is only as we build relationships with people that we can help them answer that question. Otherwise, we may unintentionally lead them away from where they need to go.

and i do!...

my blog's been neglected lately...

sorry i've been too busy for you blog...