I've been meaning to blog all week, but haven't gotten around to it until now... so... this may seem like a random collection... it's basically my thoughts and events this week.
First, apartments. Ian's been looking for apartments in Philly for us, and he found one that seems very promising! It's called The Cosmopolitan. Flexible lease lengths, good location, safe, and, in our price range (he called and it's cheaper than listed on the site), all things considered (location means less gas, washer/dryer means less travel and less laundromat, etc. etc. etc.). No definites yet, but its pretty exciting! We'll see how it pans out.
Second, invitations. We got the invites printed at Copy Kats, after a week of issues with the files printing funny and lots of tweaking, they still got them finished when they said they would! And with the help of some of my lovely bridesmaids, they are addressed, sealed, labeled, and stamped, ready to go. It's so crazy to think we're at this point in everything... 68 days away, sending out invites, getting ready for dress fittings, the bridesmaid dresses should be in in a couple of weeks... We're both so excited though!
Third, politics. I just have to say, I'm incredibly saddened by Sam Brownback leaving the presidential race. I admire him — he lives and votes his values, and I agree with the ones that I care about... human rights, Africa, abortion. I think he would have made a solid president... We'll see where his political career takes him, but I hope he is able to continue effecting change in big ways. I wish we had more politicians that cared about people and making a difference. I'll have to do some serious research and evaluation to pick a candidate now... Hard to find someone that fits what I care about... I've realized I'm a blend of many parties. Although Jonas informed me in the newsroom last year he thinks I fit the Libertarian party (mainly because I said people should be more responsible for themselves, like saving for retirement, instead of spending so much extra money to have the government do it for them, and this is just one example...) ... and then my core issues also fit into Republican (moral conservatism, a.k.a. my views on marriage and abortion), Democratic (social justice, for example, although I think this is more personal — everyone should care about others because Jesus told us to, instead of government-mandated [so this doesn't exactly clash with my personal-responsibility ideas]... but in our fallen world, that doesn't happen), and Green (I believe God wants us to be responsible and take care of the environment, not just roll over it because "He made it for us to use" although I refrain from the whole don't-pick-fruit-because-it-hurts-trees extremism) parties, and I don't even think my issues fit together realistically. Ahhh, so complicated.
Fourth, fake love. I've been watching The Bachelor this season with Meg. It's great bonding... and great comedy entertainment. People think they're actually going to find true love in 6 weeks when a guy has millions of dollars and event planners for their dates... seriously. The people on the show make comments like "it's surreal" ... which nails why the relationship crashes with reality. But this time around, I realized it's tragic. They are looking for fulfillment in another person, and they won't find it, not really. They think they know what they want, but it's not what they need. God is the only one who can completely fill that void and give our lives meaning and fulfillment. A special someone is just icing on the cake. Not to take away from true love, obviously, it's huge and so amazing (yet so hard at the same time and worth everything!). I will also semi-connect this to a commercial Ian and I saw the other day for some car, talking about how society forces instant gratification on us, and then when we aren't happy we do something new. One example was a spouse, and if you stop being happy, you divorce. "What happened to commitment and standing by our decisions" it cried. Of course, this was to tout the car's extended mile warranty. But I admire it — a company who stands by the product in the long run.... and the message stuck with me. People think they should perpetually be "happy" and drop something as soon as the rush is gone. The Bachelor would definitely provide a huge infatuation high and immediate perceived happiness, but relationships (I include friendships in this too), ones that matter, ones that last, take hard work and time. They are infinitely more rewarding, as is anything you spend time, energy, and money on. On the whole, America has lost that, I think... work ethic, commitment, honesty, patience... But I hope and pray that those of us who realize this take the time to pass it on, and let it reflect in our lives. God has a higher purpose for us, and a much deeper joy, when we are who we ought to be, instead of just self-satisfaction junkies. And this really came out rather jumbled, all just to say, life can be better, it is supposed to be better, and I hope that God can use me to share that with others.
I'll conclude by saying I enjoy the new show "Pushing Daisies." Quirky, a little morbid, funny, Seussian (according to Steven, and I agree), but delightful.
10.12.2007
An interesting week...
And I mean interesting in a good way! I meant to post on Wednesday, because it was an exciting day, but I got carried away working on bulletin and newsletter stuff, and then there was small group... so, you'll get a recap. But first, today!
Today is a beautiful, cool, rainy fall day. I was going to crack out a sweater, but decided not to because of dance class later tonight... I love fall, and I love rain! I want to curl up tonight with the brown blanket (micro-fleece at Target, AMAZING!) and Ian, and read Pride and Prejudice, or watch Casablanca or something. And today's wedding update: I picked up proof copies of our invites... we'll have a little tweaking to do, but we should have final copies, cut and everything, by next Friday! Then comes the addressing... *sigh*
On to this past week.
Tuesday. Ian and I got our TV from the Herringtons. It's fun to add to our "our stuff" collection (which grows with every wedding shower!)... and it's nice to have a TV again... we can actually do group movie watching! And we get 6 channels with our antennae. CBS, FOX, ABC, a couple channels I couldn't rapidly identify, and something I can't remember what it is now. We got the armoire for it, but it wouldn't easily go up the stairs, and since it's only for 2.5 months... and the Herringtons are letting us keep it in their garage, it works well.
Wednesday. I got up from my desk to grab something from the closet, then came back to see the craziest bug behind my chair... actually right behind where my head usually is. After freaking out a little, I got Ben to come check it out. It had so many legs, and started moving. We decided it was too amazing to kill, so we herded it out the front door. And then we found it online — it's a house centipede.
According to Wikipedia, "Unlike its shorter-legged but much larger tropical cousins, the house centipede can live its entire life inside a building. Because they eat household pests, house centipedes are considered among the most beneficial creatures that inhabit human dwellings, but because of their alarming appearance, frightening speed, and painful bite, few homeowners are willing to share a home with them." But they apparently don't bite people often. And they can live 3-7 years depending on the environment. God is incomprehensibly creative!
The second exciting thing that happened Wednesday is wedding related. Ian and I had a Google chat with Micah, who has so graciously agreed to use his artistic film-related talents to capture our wedding. His ideas: "what I'd like to do is use the wedding service as kind of the base of the video but not just go right through it with just footage from there. I'd like to put in a "B roll" of stuff surrounding the day and maybe even get some shots of places in Manhattan that are important to you." Ian and I both are so excited! We don't want a boring, rather-have-teeth-pulled video to watch. I know, with Micah, it's going to be incredible and we'll watch it over and over!
Anyway, I shall leave you... the bulletins are done printing, and I must attend to Dorothy (the newly renamed folding machine, that is now working beautifully!).
Today is a beautiful, cool, rainy fall day. I was going to crack out a sweater, but decided not to because of dance class later tonight... I love fall, and I love rain! I want to curl up tonight with the brown blanket (micro-fleece at Target, AMAZING!) and Ian, and read Pride and Prejudice, or watch Casablanca or something. And today's wedding update: I picked up proof copies of our invites... we'll have a little tweaking to do, but we should have final copies, cut and everything, by next Friday! Then comes the addressing... *sigh*
On to this past week.
Tuesday. Ian and I got our TV from the Herringtons. It's fun to add to our "our stuff" collection (which grows with every wedding shower!)... and it's nice to have a TV again... we can actually do group movie watching! And we get 6 channels with our antennae. CBS, FOX, ABC, a couple channels I couldn't rapidly identify, and something I can't remember what it is now. We got the armoire for it, but it wouldn't easily go up the stairs, and since it's only for 2.5 months... and the Herringtons are letting us keep it in their garage, it works well.
Wednesday. I got up from my desk to grab something from the closet, then came back to see the craziest bug behind my chair... actually right behind where my head usually is. After freaking out a little, I got Ben to come check it out. It had so many legs, and started moving. We decided it was too amazing to kill, so we herded it out the front door. And then we found it online — it's a house centipede.
According to Wikipedia, "Unlike its shorter-legged but much larger tropical cousins, the house centipede can live its entire life inside a building. Because they eat household pests, house centipedes are considered among the most beneficial creatures that inhabit human dwellings, but because of their alarming appearance, frightening speed, and painful bite, few homeowners are willing to share a home with them." But they apparently don't bite people often. And they can live 3-7 years depending on the environment. God is incomprehensibly creative!
The second exciting thing that happened Wednesday is wedding related. Ian and I had a Google chat with Micah, who has so graciously agreed to use his artistic film-related talents to capture our wedding. His ideas: "what I'd like to do is use the wedding service as kind of the base of the video but not just go right through it with just footage from there. I'd like to put in a "B roll" of stuff surrounding the day and maybe even get some shots of places in Manhattan that are important to you." Ian and I both are so excited! We don't want a boring, rather-have-teeth-pulled video to watch. I know, with Micah, it's going to be incredible and we'll watch it over and over!
Anyway, I shall leave you... the bulletins are done printing, and I must attend to Dorothy (the newly renamed folding machine, that is now working beautifully!).
10.08.2007
Anna is tired....
Last Thursday, I started feeling a bit sick. Concerned that I was getting something more serious that's going around, I went to be ridiculously early, and drank lots of water on Friday, and felt much better — just residual throat gunk. Saturday came around, with the Sunflower State Showdown. And Anna can't not yell at a football game, especially at a huge and frustrating game like Saturday's. So I lost my voice. Audible after the game, and completely gone Sunday morning when I woke up. I went to bed at 8, woke up at 10 to see Ian, slept again until 8:15 for church, and just couldn't make a noise... except a kind of honk when I tried to say "huh." I thought the only thing wrong was I couldn't talk... no soreness, no fever, nothing. But Sunday afternoon, after seeing Sydney White, which was entertaining and lots of fun to see all the girls, I passed out in my bed for 1 1/2 hours. Now, 3:06 in the afternoon, and I think I might fall asleep at my desk. And it can't be the I-need-energy-because-it's-been-too-long-since-lunch thing, because I'm still snacking. So, apparently, no voice = drowsy Anna.
At any rate, as I wait for the kids Sunday school pictures to finish downloading so I can get them on the church web site, I'll give you a quick wedding update... *cue cheesy music!* Hah! After a wonderful chat with Micki post-game (while I still had some voice left), we figured out how to make the Arrington's flowers work, while still being very cost effective. Yay for pretty flowers! We still have to work out details, but its moving forward. The next big things on the list are getting the invites printed and addressed, hopefully this week/weekend. I cringe at the cost of postage... which I think could actually outweigh the printing/envelope costs... *sigh.* We also need to pick ceremony music so we can get it to Ben to arrange... because he's talented like that... yes, talented, even in the John-sense of the word (this is post-hour long discussion on music/art and what it's primary purpose should be... art or function, ahhh, engaging intellect). Then we have to figure out where we're getting sound equipment for the reception. We've got a lot on the to-do list this week, while Ian has a lighter school load. Yay for the break after the project! :) Yesterday, we picked out engagement pictures for our order. I'm so excited to get them! And Ian is focusing on looking for apartments in Philly for us to live... I suppose we should start researching for August, as well, since we have to pick out our apartment for when we come back before we leave. If you've got any recommendations for property managers, let us know!!
Last, but not least, a mom update. She's doing great! They switched her chemo program... they bumped down the dosage and changed it to weekly, instead of bi-weekly, so Friday was the second of those, and she's doing better. She has to take white blood cell booster stuff right after, but this way she should stay on track, instead of having to continually bump treatments back for low counts. The last time I talked to her, she sounded good! However, I haven't been able to call since then, due to lack of voice...
I shall sign off for now... the pictures are finally done downloading. I leave you with a visual of what my voice sounds like right now...
At any rate, as I wait for the kids Sunday school pictures to finish downloading so I can get them on the church web site, I'll give you a quick wedding update... *cue cheesy music!* Hah! After a wonderful chat with Micki post-game (while I still had some voice left), we figured out how to make the Arrington's flowers work, while still being very cost effective. Yay for pretty flowers! We still have to work out details, but its moving forward. The next big things on the list are getting the invites printed and addressed, hopefully this week/weekend. I cringe at the cost of postage... which I think could actually outweigh the printing/envelope costs... *sigh.* We also need to pick ceremony music so we can get it to Ben to arrange... because he's talented like that... yes, talented, even in the John-sense of the word (this is post-hour long discussion on music/art and what it's primary purpose should be... art or function, ahhh, engaging intellect). Then we have to figure out where we're getting sound equipment for the reception. We've got a lot on the to-do list this week, while Ian has a lighter school load. Yay for the break after the project! :) Yesterday, we picked out engagement pictures for our order. I'm so excited to get them! And Ian is focusing on looking for apartments in Philly for us to live... I suppose we should start researching for August, as well, since we have to pick out our apartment for when we come back before we leave. If you've got any recommendations for property managers, let us know!!
Last, but not least, a mom update. She's doing great! They switched her chemo program... they bumped down the dosage and changed it to weekly, instead of bi-weekly, so Friday was the second of those, and she's doing better. She has to take white blood cell booster stuff right after, but this way she should stay on track, instead of having to continually bump treatments back for low counts. The last time I talked to her, she sounded good! However, I haven't been able to call since then, due to lack of voice...
I shall sign off for now... the pictures are finally done downloading. I leave you with a visual of what my voice sounds like right now...
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