Dana's Days

AVATAR

2012-02-13T22:53:00.000-08:00

Yes, the James Cameron movie. Yes, the movie that’s Fern Gully: The Last Rainforest meets Thundercats meets Pocahontasmeets Dances with Wolves. I freely admit that the storyline isn’t thatoriginal and at times seems rather contrived. But, my friends, I love this movie. Yes, I really do.

I rewatched AVATAR again recently and every time I see it I fall more and morein love with it. The characters havegrown on me. I love Jake and Neytiri’srelationship and how it evolves from distrust to acceptance, trust, andlove. I didn’t really come to appreciateJake’s personal journey until recently, and I admire the writers’ ability tohint at Jake’s internal conflicts subtly and to not insult our intelligence byhaving long, drawn-out scenes of his agonizing over what he should andshouldn’t do. In fact, I think if thestoryline had been more complex, it would have bogged down the movie. Cameron was already trying to introduce us toa complex world with complex rules, creatures and peoples, and to have acomplex plot on top of all of that would have been too much for the averageaudience.

Not only do I enjoy the storylineitself, but the artist in me swoons (seriously, ha!) every time the forestlights up at night. I remember when Iwas at the midnight premier, sitting there beside my friends with my 3-Dglasses on, completely immersed in the word of Pandora, I literally gasped—asdid the rest of the audience—when we saw the bioluminescent forest for thefirst time. I still stare in wonder atthe radiant beauty of it, at the shades of vibrant blues and greens and lurid purplesand oranges of the foliage, of the creatures (especially the dragons) and ofthe alien people themselves.

Yeah, theykind of look like Thundercats, but they are gorgeous in their alien way, withtheir huge golden eyes, long, thick black hair, their slender bodies andlyrical language. I wouldn’t mind beingone of them for a day or two, running along tree branches bigger than anythingI’ve ever seen, flying on dragons amid floating mountains, being able to bondand communicate with all life on Pandora. Cameron’s Pandora is incredible and to see such amazing detail come tolife makes me believe that there has to be a world out there like it. I’ve always believed that if we can imagineit, it has to exist somewhere in the universe, and so I want to believe thatsomething like Pandora is out there among the distant stars.

Needless to say, I’m excited aboutthe sequels that will be released in the next few years. (Yes, I’ll be at the midnight premiers.) Cameron has already said he wants to explorethe oceans of Pandora…I can’t even imagine what they will be like—they’llprobably be just as exotically beautiful as the bioluminescent rainforest wewere introduced to in the first movie.

Tumblr

2012-01-17T12:58:00.000-08:00

Yes, I have one. Islanded in a Stream of Stars

I got it quite a while ago but didn't really start to get into it til now. It's a place where people join together to celebrate their fandoms, no matter what they are.

It's addicting, like Pinterest, and I love it, like I love Pinterest.

You should get one too!

Enjoy :)

<3

"Never Give Up Hope"

2012-01-08T23:20:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to share my newest graphite pencil portrait "Never Give Up Hope" featuring Laura Roslin and William Adama from Battlestar Galactica.

This portrait is from the final scene of the episode Resurrection Ship....

Laura Roslin: Congratulations, Admiral Adama.
William Adama: Thank you, Madam President. I, umm, never gave up hope, I just...stopped trying to get these a long time ago.
Laura Roslin: Just goes to show you, Bill. Never give up hope.
William Adama: Same goes for you, Laura.
(Bill kisses Laura)

"Never Give Up Hope"
Laura Roslin and William Adama from Battlestar Galactica
Graphite pencils
10 hours

Ever since completing my degree I've dived back into the series for the second time and there is so much more I'm picking up on...all the subtleties of the characters and their relationships with each other--especially those of Roslin and Adama's relationship. Even though I know what's happening this time around, this couple still moves me to tears. They don't even need to say anything to each other; sometimes the looks they share or a small touches they give each other here and there is enough for the tears to well up.

In this portrait I wanted to capture their chemistry and the specific poignant moment between them but I also wanted to somehow capture the love I have for them on paper. I did this by paying close attention to detail, like the curve of Roslin's nose against his, each scar and pucker of Adama's cheek, how his fingers hold her chin firmly enough for her skin to wrinkle a little, the small smiles that play on their lips.

God, I love this show.

<3

"The Jackals In Their Dens Tremble At Her Approach"

2012-01-02T18:07:00.000-08:00

“Come on, Grandma! Let’s play dress-up!” So I used to say to my grandma as I breezedpast her after lunch, galloping up the stairs as fast as my little legs wouldgo. Then I would burst into my mom’s oldroom and make a beeline to the wooden cabinet where my grandma kept a lot ofher costume and fine jewelry. I wouldsit next to her on the floor and together we would go through each drawer. Soon we were both bedecked in amethyst rings,turquoise necklaces, and silver and gold bracelets. I remember on one of these dress-up daysGrandma pulled out a white box I had never seen before and I peered down eagerly,wondering what sparkling treasure would be nestled inside.

It was a huge lion’s claw. The top of it was set in heavy gold and ithung from a long, thick golden chain.

I remember my jaw dropping andGrandma tells me that my eyes got so big as I stared in wonder at it. “Is it real, Grandma?” At her affirmative, I asked if I could holdit. She let me, and I ran my fingerscarefully over the smooth surface, carefully touching the sharp tip. “It’s your grandpa’s,” she told me. I loved it. I have always loved furs, naturalistic jewelry, precious stones androcks, fossils, and claws and teeth of all different kinds of animals—even atthat young of an age my imagination was captivated.

Later that afternoon I askedGrandpa if he would tell me the story of how he got the lion’s claw necklace,and here it is: When Grandpa was a young man he and a few other men went to Africa to hunt the dangerous animals that wereoverpopulating the areas where people lived. “These animals, Dana,” he told me, “are not like they portray ontelevision. It’s like they arecompletely different species from what you’ve seen on TV or at the zoo. When you encounter them in the jungle, like Ihave, and you look in their eyes you can feeltheir wildness. They are primitive, feral.” The claw came from the paw of the male lion thatmy grandpa killed. When he came back to America, he hadthe claws turned into necklaces. The oneI had seen upstairs was the biggest of the bunch.

After that day, every time Iplayed dress-up with my grandma, I would look for the lion’s claw and hold itfor a while before putting it lovingly back in its box. And even though it has been years since Ihave played dress-up, I have never forgotten the lion’s claw necklace. A couple days ago during the family’sChristmas dinner party, Grandpa, Grandma and I were sitting together in theliving room, chatting and laughing about all kinds of things. Then my cousin Max came in to show us whatSanta brought him for Christmas: a rifle. It was so cool, and as I watched Grandpa hold it, I asked him to tell usagain about his hunting trip in Africa (it hadbeen many, many years since I had last heard the story). “I remember the lion’s claw necklace,Grandpa,” I told him once he was finished. “I remember how I used to hold it and look at it all the time when I waslittle. It captured my imagination. Maybe it’s the barbarian in me,” I laughed,“but I love that lion’s claw necklace. It’s really awesome.”

I have a very special relationshipwith my grandparents. We deeplyunderstand each other and saying that we are best friends and kindred spiritsdoesn’t quite fully explain the profound and loving relationship we have. Being the beautiful, generous souls that theyare, my grandparents wanted to take me out to my favorite restaurant, PFChang’s, for a celebratory lunch in honor of my completed MA degree and studentteaching (my mom came too, which was really nice!). When we were all seated, Grandma pulled asmall box wrapped in golden paper with a shiny gold bow out of her purse andgave it to Grandpa. Then he reachedacross the table to place it in my hands, saying, “Here’s an old MoroccanProverb that suits you now that you’ve accomplished so much and will continue todo so: ‘The lions in their dens tremble at h[er] approach.’” I grinned and in my mind, I thought, No way. Not quite daring to believe, I carefully unwrapped the box, opened it,and there nestled inside was the lion’s claw necklace I’d loved for so manyyears. I remember exclaiming and lookingup at them, fingers tracing the familiar smoothness and sharp tip. “We wanted you to have this, Dana,” Grandmasaid. Gratitude welled up in my heart becausethe necklace represents so much to me and I thanked them both. Grandpa smiled and asked, “Do you want towear that now?” “Of course!” I replied,clasping it securely around my neck. Then Grandpa said, “Maybe this is more fitting for you: ‘The jackals intheir dens tremble at her (the lioness’s) approach’—the lioness is you!” “I like that, Grandpa,” I laughed, pressingthe claw against my heart. “I am a Leo,after all!”

I couldn’t stop fingering thelion’s claw necklace—now my lion’sclaw necklace—as my mom and I drove home. I was so happy and so appreciative and so aware of their pride in me andtheir love for me that I began to cry. The lion’s claw necklace is so much more than just a necklace: itsymbolizes my grandparents’ strength, their courage, their generosity, andtheir love. I haven’t taken the necklaceoff all day. And whenever I wear it inthe future I will always think of them.

Me and my lion's claw necklace. Maybe I should think of a name for it!

Gone, Yet Still With Me

2011-12-21T20:32:00.000-08:00

Anne McCaffrey, one of my veryfavorite authors, passed away back in November. When my brother told me the news, I remember tears filling my eyes—Icouldn’t believe that she was no longer with us, writing her incredible tales. She really was—and is—the Queen of ScienceFiction. Anne has transformed the SciFigenre into something completely new and exciting by creating worlds andcharacters that both men and women can relate to and love as if they are real placesand people.

When I was in seventh grade, Grandpabought me Anne’s Dragonflight, thefirst novel in her Dragonriders of Pernseries. I was instantly captivated bythe cover which depicts a huge, golden dragon soaring across a vibrant greensky with a glowing red planet seemingly pulsing in the background. I remember wondering who the dragon and theyoung woman riding it were so I eagerly turned to the first page and wasinstantly transported to a world unlike any other I had ever visited before:

A lush and beautiful world calledPern where gold, bronze, brown, blue and green dragons live in rapport with thewomen and men they bond with. I hadnever read a story before where dragons, when they are born, choose a man orwoman to be theirs, and once they have chosen, their minds are so profoundlylinked with their humans’ that they can communicate mentally with them and feeleverything the other feels. And when thefemale dragons (gold and green) rise to mate with the males (bronze, brown andblue)…well, let me tell you (one romantic to another) it gets pretty darnsteamy since their humans are linked mentally with them down on the ground,experiencing what they are experiencing…it’s enough to make me blush. The Pernese men and women and their dragonsshare and experience everything together. It’s like they are two halves of one soul, or two souls made one—onecannot live without the other once the bond is made at the dragon’s birth, andonce the bond is made, it cannot be undone. I had never read a story before where the dragons are always the “goodguys,” battling a constant threat in the form of deadly spores that rain downfrom the sky—silvery, deadly spores that burn and absorb anything organic theytouch, turning vegetation to barren wastelands—by using their ability tobreathe fire, searing them from the sky before they can reach the ground. I had never read a story before where dragonscould teleport not just between places but between times as well (yes, I saidtime travel). I had never read a story beforethat combined elements of both fantasy and science fiction so effortlessly thatit created an entirely new genre of its own. And, come to think of it, I had never read a story before where Iactually forgot I was reading because the world of Pern, its dragons and itscharacters became so real to me—and are still so very real to me to this day.

Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey
The golden dragon is Ramoth and her rider is Lessa
Painting by Michael Whelan

I have lived and breathed thisseries that spans seventeen novels and many short stories for years. Every time I read it it’s like I’m visitingold friends. I have collected all of thenovels in hardcover and softcover. I ownall of the Collector’s and Book Club editions of the novels. I met Anne in person quite a few years agoand she signed the well-read and well-loved copy of Dragonflight Grandpa gave me. Because Anne is the inspirational woman that she is, in middle school I begandabbling in creative writing by inventing my own dragonrider characters, penningdown their stories and making illustrations to go along with them (sadly I can’tfind those stories but I still have many of the drawings). When I was in high school I joined an onlinePern-based writing club—one of the few that had been officially approved byAnne herself—and created, very thoroughly I might add, my own dragonridercharacters and wrote their stories alongside many other talented and devotedfans. I poured my heart and soul intomany of the storylines I created with the other club members, and like Anne’scharacters, my own became just as real. (Ihope to return to the club and my characters one day!)

When you love a fictional—and yetreal—world like Pern with all your heart and when you devote so much creativeenergy to play in that world…it’s hard to describe just how much it becomes apart of you. To know that the creator ofPern is no longer with us is very sad and my heart ached when my brother toldme she had passed on. However, I really can’tbe too sad because she lives on in her novels and short stories, and because I knowthat her soul is certainly in a much better place now—and she is probably blissfullysoaring across the astral heavens on her own golden dragon even as I writethis.

Anne McCaffrey

Finis

2011-12-18T22:26:00.000-08:00

“Hi, is this Doris?”

“Yes it is.”

“Oh hi, it’s Dana. I forgot if I was supposed to call you todayor tomorrow for the Comps scores.”

“Oh, well I have them right herein front of me, if you want to know…”

*deep breath* “Sure! Let’s hear it.”

“Let’s see… Dana… You got a pass.”

“I passed?”

“You passed!”

“I passed!”

Me and Molly right after taking the Comps
We both passed!

Well, my friends, after 19 years,I’m finally done with school! Thissemester I have completed the English Literature Masters Program by finishingup my last class (hooray for Beowulf!) and by passing the Comps exam with mydear friend Molly by my side; and at the same time I have also completed theMultiple Subject Credential Program for teaching grades K-8. To all those who think that you can’t completeboth programs at the same time: you can. If you have the will, the patience to apply yourself, and a positiveattitude, you can. I have. But it certainly wasn’t a cake walk. I worked very hard for the last two and ahalf years. This last semester wasperhaps the hardest I have ever worked. I didn’t draw and I didn’t read for fun and I didn’t have a social lifeoutside my one masters class and student teaching. I lived in my own world of constant lessonplanning, teaching, TPA3 and TPA4 preparation and writing, Beowulf-reading andessay writing, and Comps exam preparation. The week before Thanksgiving was the week where I began sprinting towardthe end of the semester because all TPAs and essays were due and the Comps testdate was looming—and I made it! So it’spossible, guys. I’m living proof! I want to thank all of those who havesupported and encouraged me through this final semester: God, my dear family,my master teachers Donna and Vickie, my professors Dr. van Elk, Ilan, and Mimi,my dearest friends (you all know exactly who you are :D), and my awesome studentteacher girls Kasey, Kari and Jenny. Icouldn’t have done it without all of you—thank you!

Me and Donna

I’ve grown up so much in this lastyear, and especially in this last semester. I’ve discovered new strengths I didn’t even know I had until I wastaking charge of 30 first graders and 33 sixth graders. And I’ve discovered that I really loveteaching—especially the little ones. Before I started student teaching I wasn’t sure if I would even liketeaching. I remember being so nervousabout embarking on this journey that I didn’t sleep much my last weekend ofsummer vacation because I was fretting so. It turns out that all the anxiety I felt was unnecessary. My experiences in both primary grade andupper grade were wonderful. I love bothmy master teachers. I love thekids. I love the school environment. I love teaching. The principal of the last elementary school Iwas at has given me paperwork to become a sub for the district and I am well onmy way to making my subbing license official (as are the rest of my studentteacher friends who completed this amazing journey with me)!

Jenny, Kasey, Phoenix, Vickie, Me, Michelle and Kari

So what’s next for me now that I’mdone with school? Well, getting mysubbing license is first on the list. Passingthe RICA is next. Then getting afull-time job with (hopefully!) a primary grade. But until then? Right now I’m basking in the glow of knowingthat I’m done with school. I’m reallyenjoying Christmas vacation (I’ve just finished decorating the Christmastree! I wound over 1,500 lights withinthe branches and lovingly nestled all my favorite ornaments in perfect placeswhile I sang along to Celine Dion’s Christmas album). I’ve been mentally and physicallyresting. I’ll be getting back to exercisingand eating more healthy. I’m working oncommissions and I’ll finally be drawing for myself again. I’ll be reading novels that are on the “OnceI’m Done With School” list. I’ll be hangingout with my friends. I’ll be going towork at my family’s company and I’ll be thanking God every day that I have ajob.

One phase of my life is over and anew one is just beginning. Every time Ithink about the future ahead of me I get so excited. Bring it, world! :)

Happiness

2011-11-02T22:49:00.000-07:00

Even though I’m stressing about somany things right now I’m trying to take the time to find happiness in everypart of my day and acknowledge consciously that I’m happy—and honestly ithasn’t been that hard! I’m loving whatI’m doing with my life right now. Beinga student teacher is so much fun! It’s alot of work, yes, but it’s one of the most rewarding experiences of mylife. I love the kids, both the firstand sixth graders, and my master teachers. They all make me smile and laugh every single day.

When I was with my first gradeclass their sweetness, “love notes” (little mementos they drew or wrote to me…Ihave a huge pile!), hugs and stories brightened my days. I even got a written marriage proposal fromone of them—my first marriage proposal ever!—and I quote: “Will you mereme. Can we have a date.” And he drew a house with me and him together in it. It was so sweet. I received it on my last day and the boy whogave it to me didn’t put his name on it, but I remember thinking to myself thatI had never gotten a "love note" from this boy before. I wish he had written his name! My last day with my first graders was perhapsone of the brightest days in my student teaching experience. It was bittersweet, of course, but so manygood things happened that day: my master teacher and I had our traditionalStarbucks together, we gave each other gifts (she gave me a framed picture ofus together with our first graders), there was a feast of autumnal goodies puttogether by all the master teachers since we student teachers were leaving, Iwas given presents and more love notes from my kids, and they were allespecially wonderful the entire day. Earlier that week Ihad made up little parting gifts to give to each of them (one Disney pencil andpen per student tied together with curly yellow ribbon, an AchievementCertificate: the Outstanding Scientist Award, personalized for each student andsigned by me, and I also gave each of them a really cool holographic Africananimal sticker, or “scientist badge,” made by National Geographic to wear theentire day). As I called up each studentto give them their present and award, I got hugs from them all, including theboys who tended to be so shy! Not onlydid I get hugs, I got “I don’t want you to go” “I’m going to miss you” and “Ilove you” from everyone. I had thebiggest lump in my throat but I was able to hold it together fairly well(my master teacher and I had already cried twice that day, so I was trying tokeep the threatening tears back as best as I could) but once the bell rang fordismissal and all my kids surrounded me, hugging me so tightly that I couldn’tmove, I completely broke down and cried. I reassured them that I was okay, that I was crying just because I was goingto miss them so much! And in response theyhugged me all the harder. I promisedthem I’d come back and see them as often as I could—and I will! Even though it was a sad day, it was also oneof the brightest and happiest days, if that makes any sense at all.

I haven’t had as much time yet withthe sixth grade class I’m in but I’m starting to get to know the kids betterday by day—and they’re growing on me, for sure! I really like them. They’re atthat age when their senses of humor are starting to come out and they have mesmiling and laughing all the time! When Ilook at them, I see myself in them—the kid in me. I love it when they find any excuse to get meto talk to them. They’ll raise their hands,ask a question, and then make a comment, which of course turns into aconversation…one that I usually have to cut short, but I love that they do it! I remember doing the exact same thing to myteachers (whom I loved!) when I was in sixth grade and to see that they’repulling the same stuff I did when I was little to show me that they like mereally makes me happy.

I’m learning so much about how tobe a successful teacher and I’m learning all over the place: in the classroom,in the lounge, in parent-teacher conferences, in staff and grade-level meetingsand in talks with both my master teachers. These two women inspire me, and I mean that with all my heart. It’s hard to explain why they inspire me…but I’mgoing to try to put it into words… They’rewitty, clever, intelligent, funny, honest, genuine, caring, appreciative,supportive, encouraging, positive, multi-talented and open-minded. They’re great story-tellers. They give me really awesome advice, and notjust about teaching but they also offer it to me in other aspects of life. They make me smile and laugh and I’m reallyhappy when I’m around them. There is nodoubt in my mind that God had His hand in placing me with them at this point inmy life and I’m blessed to know them.

Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica.

2011-09-11T23:23:00.000-07:00

I know right? BattlestarGalactica. Like the rest of thecharacters in the show The Office, and everyone else who watched The Office, Itoo laughed at Dwight for liking the show because I knew it had the reputationof “being that scifi show that was really nerdy.” But I really shouldn’t have scoffed at him oranyone else (fictional or real) who likes it because it’s all I’ve beenwatching since the summer began. Yes, myfriends, it is that good. My friend Samrecommended the show to me last winter, telling me I’d probably enjoy it so Ishould try it. I trust Sam’s word, so thatChristmas I went ahead and bought the first season on Amazon.

I was completely hooked in thefirst 5 minutes of the pilot.

I couldn’t look away. Everything about the show drew me in: the sets,the music, the writing, the acting. Thecast is incredible and this paired with such excellent writing createdcharacters who became real people to me. I watched the entire first season by myself last winter and knew that Ihad to finish the journey through the next three seasons—I had to know how thestory ended, but I didn’t want to travel the path alone. Once the insanely-busy Spring semester wasover and summer finally began, I convinced my family—including my awesomegrandparents—to watch it with me and now they are just as in love with it as Iam!

The plot of Battlestar Galactica isn’t new. We’ve seen the same premise before in Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, Ridley Scott’s movie Bladerunner, the Wachowski brothers’ The Matrix, and countless other booksand films: humanity decides to play God by creating a new race of sentientbeings and pays the ultimate price for their arrogance and conceit. BattlestarGalactica is the tale of the war between the twelve colonies of humans andthe cylons they created to be their slaves. Humanity, however, is at an extreme disadvantage when the show beginsbecause the cylons have destroyed most of the human race, leaving only 50,000humans left. This saga is about howthese people, these survivors of a terrible holocaust, deal with the threat ofextinction on a public and personal level.

Not since The X-Files and LOST haveI cared so deeply and so passionately about a show and the characters in it,both cylon and human. These charactersof Battlestar Galactica have becomereal people to me and I love trying to get inside their heads to figure themout. They fight, they bleed, they makemistakes, they play cards, they drink, they smoke, they have affairs, they die,they try, they pray, they cry, they conspire, they stand tall, they try to dothe right thing, they laugh, they love. Ifyou know me personally then you know what a romantic I am, so of course theprofound romances that develop between many of the characters have especiallycaptured my imagination. But the onerelationship between my two favorite characters of the show, William Adama andLaura Roslin, is the one that has captured my heart.

William Adama is the commander ofthe battlestar ship Galactica. He is a fatherand warrior. He is brave, strong ofheart and mind, honorable and loyal. Heloves his people. He faces his fears anddoes what is hardest to do. He is thekind of man men want to become and thus has not only the respect but the loveof his people. Laura Roslin becomespresident of the colonies after the cylon attack that wipes out most ofhumanity on the twelve planets. She is poised,intelligent, clever and sharp-witted. LikeAdama, she is brave and strong in heart and mind. She believes in her convictions and doesn’tback down even if her beliefs are unpopular. These two characters have their flaws, of course—they’re human, afterall—and I love seeing them acknowledge and face these flaws of theirs. It’s part of what makes them so intriguing.

At the beginning of the series,Roslin and Adama are wary allies. But asthe series progresses, their relationship slowly unfolds from this cautious allianceto a partnership of mutual respect and trust, which develops naturally into a deepfriendship and then into a love so profound that it has brought tears to myeyes many times. Theirs is the kind ofromance that inspires me because it isn’t rushed. It takes the entire series for these two toget from point A to point D and I loved seeing them get closer and closer everyepisode. As I went through the seasons Ilooked forward to every scene they had together, wondering what they would sayto each other this time, or what little touch would one bestow on the other, orhow they would look at each other. Ilove this couple because they trust each other, because they danced together,because they share a love of books, because she knows what’s best for him,because he tells her what she needs to hear, because they find an inner peacewhen they are with each other, because they make each other laugh, because theymiss each other, because they understand each other, because he sang to her, because they have their disagreements, because they forgive each other, because their walls come down when they are with each other, because her home is where he is, because they are there for each other,because he read to her, because he left the fleet to find her, because they gothigh together, because she told him her dream, because he brought her dream tolife, because she made him believe, because they have their own song titled “Roslin and Adama” on the seriessoundtrack, because you would be a complete and utter fool to cross them,because they are each other’s strength and weakness, because they kissed,because they made love, because one cannot live without the other, because theylove each other.

So…moral of the story: do yourselfa favor and watch Battlestar Galactica. And don’t scoff until you've watched the pilot. I made that mistake already and have laughedat myself ever since! The show exploresso many themes and life lessons relevant to life today that you might take something more fromit than just the satisfaction of watching a TV saga of quality. And if you do watch it, I hope you love it—and I hope you love Adama and Roslin as much as I do!

My Journey with Harry Potter

2011-07-17T19:16:00.000-07:00

Everyone has their Harry Potter story. This is mine.

My long and epic journey with Harry Potter began back in 1997 and I have my dear Grandpa to thank for it. He had always—and still does—encourage my love of reading. When I was a little girl he’d take me to Barnes and Noble (then called Bookstar) and would set me loose among the shelves to find novels I wanted to read. After watching me browse, he would get a feel for what genres I liked and would go on his own hunt for me…and would eventually come back with his arms full of all kinds of books. Together we would kneel down in an aisle and would go through the back of each one. Grandpa would always help fill my basket up—sometimes we even needed two! It was Grandpa who had heard about the new British author, JK Rowling, and how her book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone had captured the hearts and imaginations of so many children. Since Grandpa knew I loved books with magic in them, he went to Bookstar on his own one day and bought Sorcerer’s Stone and gave it to my mom to give to me.

It was one of the best presents Grandpa has ever given me. Harry Potter isn’t just a book series. It’s so much more than that. It’s a phenomenon, and I’m not sure how you can explain a phenomenon. I know I can’t really find the words to explain how much the series means to me and why. It’s a mystery, it’s magical, and it’s a story in which you can connect emotionally with each character, whether they are major or minor. It’s a story about good and evil, love, loyalty, bravery, and sacrifice. When I first started reading it I could not put it down. I remember staying up long past my bedtime because I had to unravel the magical mystery of Harry Potter.

As the years passed and I got older, Harry got older with me. When the fourth book came out a couple of my childhood friends, my brother, my mom and I went to Barnes and Noble for the first ever Harry Potter midnight book release. I remember the employees pushing giant carts filled with nothing but copies the book down the aisles to the cash registers—but the tops were covered because the dustjacket and title were supposed to remain a secret and a surprise for everyone until the stroke of midnight. I remember being absolutely delighted with the cover once it was unveiled, and we all were trying to predict what would happen and who the new characters were on the ride home. When we all got back to my house that night we read together for at least an hour before going to bed.

As I entered into high school the first movie came out in theatres and the fandom reached a new, incredible high. I’m proud to say that I have taken part in every part of Harry fandom, have taken an actual Harry Potter class to fulfill a GE requirement during undergrad, and have gone to all the midnight premiers of the movies and the books. I have three very favorite Harry Potter memories. One was when I went to the midnight book release of Deathly Hallows. I went to the Bella Terra Barnes and Noble Harry Potter party with my high school friends, my cousin and my brother and we all had a blast! The store was decked out in Harry Potter decorations: banners of the four houses were hung from the balcony and golden snitches were hung from every ceiling panel. People, young and old, either came in Harry Potter-themed home-made or Hot Topic shirts or came in costume—one kid even brought his pet snake! When the clock stuck twelve pandemonium erupted in the store. The excitement and happiness was palpable—and you should have seen the parking lot! Hundreds of people were milling around the outside of the store, waiting for those who had reserved copies to hurry up and finish purchasing so they could have their turn. Both my brother and I stayed up into the wee hours of the morning that night to read it—and we both finished it the following night. I remember weeping non-stop during the last few chapters. My bed was riddled with Kleenex and I can remember my heart breaking when I finally learned the Prince’s Tale, when Fred, Lupin and Tonks died, when Harry spoke to the spirits of his dead family and friends before going to Voldemort to die, and when Dumbledore came to Harry at King’s Cross.

In the same year that Deathly Hallows was released, my brother and I were two of 2,000 people who won tickets from Scholastic to go meet JK Rowling and have a book signed at the Carnegie Hall in New York. That was an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I will never forget!

My third favorite memory was going to the midnight premier of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II last week. I went with two of my dearest friends, Sam and Molly, and Molly’s family. I decided to bake Harry Potter “Puppet Pals” cupcakes for the occasion and as I baked I remembered how bittersweet it had been to hold the final book in my hands back in 2007 because I knew it would be the last time I’d be adventuring with Harry, Ron and Hermione. But at the time I had consoled myself with the fact that there were still the movies to look forward to—but now the movies are over. I enjoyed every moment of waiting in line for the movie that night—even though I was very aware that it was the last Harry Potter event, I didn’t let it subdue me. It was so much fun to talk with my friends about our favorite moments in the books and movies, to take pictures with the giant cardboard cutouts of the characters, and watch those who had come in costume. Some guy dressed up as a dementor battled it out with a stormtrooper. Yes, a stormtrooper. From Star Wars. It was hilarious!

The movie itself was amazing. We fans cheered when we recognized the famous lines characters had said in the book (such as Molly Weasley’s “Not my daughter, you bitch!” to Bellatrix), and we wept when Snape was murdered, when Harry gathered his tears, and when we saw into his memories of his relationship with Lily. Alan Rickman is incredible and he will always be Snape—no other actor could ever be him. Ever. Tears streamed down my cheeks when Snape held Lily’s lifeless body in his arms and I had to pull out the Kleenex from my purse and share it with my girls.

Once the movie ended and the credits started rolling the applause was deafening. We were all laughing and wiping away our tears and I remember just living in the moment, soaking it all in, since it was the last time all the fans and friends would be together united in Harry Potter love.

Thank you, Jo Rowling, for a wonderful 14 years. I have stuck with Harry until the very end and have enjoyed every moment. You’ve created a world that is unique and special and I consider myself blessed to have been a part of the magic.

Instagram

2011-06-25T23:54:00.000-07:00

I love Instagram. It’s my favorite iPhone app. Molly first introduced me to it last semester and I thought to myself, “Self, when I get an iPhone, I will get this app!” When I finally bought my iPhone last week at Walmart for a really good deal it was the first app I downloaded—yes, I even downloaded it before the Facebook one!

Instagram brings out the inner-photographer in me. This app is not just a camera—it’s an *artistic* camera because it has several different filters you can choose from to put the photos through to make them appear brighter with high contrast, or more subdued and soft with a romantic feel. I’m really enjoying documenting my days using Instagram. I like working on training my eye in how to make the every day things artsy and fun. Since I don’t have a lot of time to draw, this helps me tap into and explore my artistic side.

Some photos to share...

Summer Reading

2011-06-08T22:03:00.000-07:00

Probably like most college graduate students, summer is my reading-for-fun time. Even though I work 40 hours a week, go out with my friends and take care of family responsibilities on top of all of that, I always make time to read every summer night before bed. Reading relaxes me and it allows me to escape the mundane of every day life (because, let’s face it, every day life can get a little boring sometimes!) into time periods lost to history, or into different worlds filled with the fantastical.

I’m the type of summer reader who likes to devote her time and energy to one book at a time. However, since I belong to two book clubs this summer I’ve had to adapt—and I’ve done so very willingly! Right now I’m reading Bleak House by Charles Dickens with one group (there are six of us) and with the other (there are only two of us) I’m reading Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte. I haven’t started Agnes Grey yet (it’s coming in the mail!) but I have started Bleak House and I love it! It’s Dickens’s best work. If you haven’t read it I highly suggest picking it up, or if it’s too daunting for you, I recommend watching Bleak House the BBC mini series starring Gillian Anderson as Lady Dedlock. The mini series is what got me completely hooked into the intricate mystery of Bleak House—not surprising, since the screenplay is written by the genius Andrew Davies (he’s the one who wrote screenplay for the beloved Colin Firth version of Pride and Prejudice) so you will not be disappointed I promise!

In addition to these two books I’m reading for my book clubs, I’m also reading a historical fiction novel called Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman and The Witches of Eileanan fantasy series by Kate Forsyth. Kate is an Australian author and even though this series was first published back in the 1990s I’ve just discovered it this year. I’ve been searching and searching for a new fantasy series to cherish as much as I cherish The Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey and Melanie Rawn’s Dragon Prince and Dragon Star trilogies. I remember browsing Barnes and Noble a few years back, scouring the book shelves for another fantasy series that wasn’t cliché, and suddenly came across one of Kate’s novels called The Tower of Ravens. The cover depicted a blue-black, horned, winged mare flying over wild, mountainous terrain with a bold, young woman riding on her back, a bow and a quiver of arrows slung over her shoulder. Now, I’ve always loved horses, and as a young one I loved stories about pegasuses (pegasi?) and unicorns, and of course that love has carried over into my adult life, so I picked it up, read the back, thought it seemed promising, and bought it.

As is the way of the world, life happened and I forgot about The Tower of Ravens until I came across it on my bookshelf last semester. So I picked it up…and couldn’t put it down! Kate has created the world I’ve been searching for: Eileanan, a fantastical land that mingles both the eastern and western cultures, a land that is overflowing with Celtic, Scottish and Indian lore, magic, dragons, winged horses, satyrcorns, witches, warlocks, merpeople and fantasy creatures I hadn’t even imagined until reading this series. All of characters are three-dimensional, the main plot and subplots are woven together with such finesse, and rather than just telling me her story, Kate shows it to me using detailed descriptions and allowing me to see into the intriguing minds of her characters. There are nine books in the series (Dragonclaw, The Pool of Two Moons, The Cursed Towers, The Forbidden Land, The Skull of the World, The Fathomless Caves, The Tower of Ravens, The Shining City and The Heart of Stars). The Tower of Ravens, The Shining City and The Heart of Stars actually take place after the first six, and when I realized this I went back to Barnes and Noble to start at the very beginning like I should have done so in the first place—but found out that the first six were out of print here in America! So I made a mad dash to a used bookstore in Fullerton and couldn’t find them there, or even on ebay. Amazon had a couple of them for sale starting at $15.00 and I wasn’t about to pay that much for a used paperback no matter how much I wanted to read it. So I waited. Bided my time for weeks on end—and my patience finally paid off this week because I found all six novels being sold by the same person on Amazon for $2.00 each and I snatched them up before anyone else could!

My friends, Kate’s rare novels are USPSing their way to me as I write this and I’m so excited! As much as I love reading classic literature, there will always be a part of me that adores well-written and thought-provoking fantasy novels just as much. I’m very happy to be reading both genres this summer.

I Wanna Dance With Somebody :)

2011-05-25T23:26:00.000-07:00

So, my dear friend Danaé is getting married soon and I can’t wait to dance at her wedding. Seriously. I love to dance, but I’m the first to admit that it’s not my number one talent. My sense of rhythm is kind of lacking—unless the dance is choreographed, or if it’s line dancing, or if it is one of the traditional ones that I can do with a man (because then I’m like, “I got this!”). Thank God for the cotillion classes and the hula and tap lessons I took in grade school, the dances I signed up for during my high school Red and Gold days, and the concerts I've been to because they have given me the basics and keep me from looking like a complete newbie out on the dance floor. Even though freestyle dance isn’t my thing, if you give me a little while, I’ll eventually ignore that fearful, insecure voice in the back of my mind that wants to hold me back and I will dance the night away!

What got me thinking about dancing today were two songs I heard on the radio: Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance With Somebody and Chris Brown’s Forever. I love these dance songs. Whenever I hear them on the radio I find some way to dance to them, either with my fingers taping on the steering wheel or with my foot tapping on the floor (but not my gas pedal foot!). I grew up listening to I Wanna Dance With Somebody and I can remember jumping around in my room as a little one, wearing my special “dance costumes” (which were long full skirts and silken scarves wrapped around my arms, neck and hair), waving the Ribbon Dancer around and belting out the lyrics at the top of my lungs (I obviously wasn’t as self-conscious then as I am now…but what child isn’t self-conscious at the youngster age, right?). Whitney Houston’s song brings back so many flashes of happy childhood memories to me and it’s that wistful nostalgia that keeps my love for that song strong. I first heard Forever on the episode of The Office when Jim and Pam finally got married. I’d been waiting for that marriage since Season 1 and when it finally happened I was so excited! Of course, I didn’t understand that The Office was spoofing a youtube video until after the episode was over—but once I saw that youtube video I loved the song even more! I’m still not quite sure how I feel about the bridal party rocking out to that song as they dance down the aisle in a church of all places…it’s really not very respectful…but the concept was original and I can forgive their lapse because they looked like they were so happy and were having such a good time! Then I heard Forever at Molly and Bryce’s wedding when we were all out dancing in the nighttime air in-between the gardens covered in Christmas tree lights. That was another special moment because the joy was palpable…everyone was smiling and laughing and dancing and even singing along!

Whenever I hear those two songs I always think of all of the happy moments they are now always and forever associated with, and I know my husband and I will dance to them at our own wedding. But until then, I hope Danaé plays them at hers so I can dance to them (and hopefully with somebody)!

<3

Here's that youtube video!

Thoughts On A Conversation Overheard

2011-05-22T21:57:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday, after my friends and I parted ways to walk to our cars after our last Renaissance class, I fell behind two girls, both younger than me, walking in the same direction. Now, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop but they were talking pretty loudly so I heard everything they said. And what they were talking about made me so angry that I remember that I clenched my jaw and actually winced. One girl (I’ll refer to her as Girl A) was saying she wanted to dump her boyfriend—things weren’t working out because of respect issues. I could understand that. But my respect for her instantly dropped when she went on to say how she didn’t really want to break up with him because she was having fun and she didn’t relish the thought of being alone. Her friend (Girl B) laughed and said, yeah, it’s fun until you get knocked up, and you really don’t want that! (The fact that they referred to a baby as “knocked up” in such a laughing, disrespectful tone made me see red). They shared some inane giggles. Then Girl A said, yeah, I don’t want that, and even though I’m having fun I don’t know if I can keep on with him. Girl B replied, well, if you do break up with him, you can just get a rebound guy. They’re not hard to come by and you can totally use him and have fun! More inane laughter.

Thank God they veered off in a different direction at this point because I don’t think I could have taken any more of it.

My friend Erin was telling me just a couple weeks ago how so many girls use guys physically and emotionally and then throw them away once they’ve had their fun. When she was telling me this I remember thinking how I’ve never seen or heard of that happening—not that I didn’t doubt her, I'd just never seen it. Even though I’ve been on the college campus for six years I have never heard such selfishly blatant and ugly remarks coming out of someone’s mouth, and that includes both girls and guys—until, of course, I overhead Girls A and B. It made me sick inside to hear what they said. Shame on them for making light of using someone for their own, selfish amusement. Yes, they were laughing over a hypothetical situation, but the fact that they even thought it and giggled about it shows that they could put their words into practice if the opportunity ever arose. What makes it even worse is that Girl A said her boyfriend didn’t respect her, and yet she laughed about how easily she could use a rebound guy—not date him, but use him. Tell me, how is using a guy respecting him? Hypocrite.

When I went through my own break-up it never occurred to me to use a guy to get over the sense of loss. I would never do that to a man. Not ever. When I'll go out with a man I'll be with him because I genuinely like him and want to get to know him. Spend time with him. Laugh with him. Love him. I’m so ashamed of and disappointed in the girls who use men so selfishly. I guess it could be argued that the guy could know the girl’s intentions and still allow her to use him so it could all be “okay,” but this only perpetuates the immoral cycle of manipulative depravity. How can anyone gain anything good from being used and from being a user? In the big picture of things I don’t think it’s possible that anyone can gain anything good from that.

Over the weekend, I watched two of my favorite chick flicks, Return to Me and When Harry Met Sally, to wipe the residual grime of last week’s memory away. I absolutely love these sweet romances—they make me so happy. If you haven’t seen them, you should definitely watch them when you have some free time.

Awesome Memories

2011-05-17T23:36:00.000-07:00

Well, my second Spring semester as a grad student is almost over and I’m rather sad to see it end! I have had so much fun this Spring—from science field trips such as boating on a stormy day, visiting tide pools and petting swell sharks (yes, I did pet actual sharks, and no, I wasn’t scared!), to my friends and I laughing over discovering what is probably one of the first “yo mamma” insults ever in one of our Renaissance plays The White Devil by John Webster…it all has been an absolute blast! Sure, I experienced stress, just like I do every semester (this time around was perhaps a little more stressful than usual because I took five classes, two language, one English Lit and two more for my teaching credential, all of them work-intensive, and on top of all of this I also worked 20+ hours a week). But all of the stress I went through was totally worth it because of all the laughs and good times my friends and I shared.

As I have told my girls, all I remember of last semester is darkness. But new and bright light came back into my campus life this Spring and I have God, my family and dear friends to thank for that! I’ve been so happy this semester and I’m really going to miss sitting and chatting outside LA1 and LA2 with my friends, soaking up the sunshine while sipping on my nonfat white chocolate mocha (or my sweetened iced green tea!). I’m going to miss the late night Tuesday librarybucks chatting dates with Molly and the spontaneous runs to Deli News for $5 medium pepperoni pizzas. I’m going to miss the random, spur-of-the-moment lunch dates with Danaé, “What’s Happening Hour” with Bobbie and chillin’ out with Sam. I’m going to miss frantically trying to finish the reading I couldn’t get done the night before an hour before class starts—and then, after reading as far as I could, getting the Melissa-ized version for the rest! I’m going to miss Kat’s sweetness and snark, Melissa’s and Rachel’s stories, and the discussions Erin and I have about American Girl, men, Harry Potter, and retail therapy. In fact, I’m going to miss all of the conversations I share with my girls! I’m going to miss the fun science experiments, such as making ice cream using nothing but spoons, plastic bags, sugar, vanilla, milk, rock salt and ice. I'm going to miss my professors teasing me. I’m going to miss the hilarious times in my Spanish class and the “I can’t believe this is real life” looks my tablemates and I shared during our math class. I’m going to miss Old English (not necessarily the translating part…I could do without that ;D) and the great one-liners my professor had (“thinky thing,” anyone?) and the conversations about how Beowulf and Grendel’s mother are like the pro-wrestlers we see on TV, ninjas fighting unicorns, unicorns fighting ninjas, and how the Anglo-Saxon people are misconstrued by the general public as hoards of peasants eating turnips.

Oh, how I love school! I’m going to miss it so much when I finally graduate with my masters and teaching credential next year. But I will forever have these awesome memories to take with me on my journey through my adult life and I’m sure they’ll make me beam with just as much joy then as they make me do now.

PS: In case you want to read one of the first ever “yo mamma” insults…

Monticelso [to Vittoria]: I shall be plainer with you, and paint out

Your follies in more natural red and white

Than that upon your cheek.

Vittoria: Oh, you mistake.

You raise a blood as noble in this cheek

As ever was your mother’s.

(3.2.51-56)

Love it.

I'm an American Girl Who Loves American Girl!

2011-05-13T13:12:00.000-07:00

My love for the American Girl doll collection started when I was a little girl in second (or was it third?) grade. Back then when American Girl was still owned by Pleasant Company before the Mattel buy-out there were only five dolls and their sets of stories you could collect. Each doll represented an era of American history:

1) Felicity Merriman: a spunky, spritely girl growing up in Virginia in 1774, just before the Revolutionary War. Felicity grows impatient doing the "sitting-down kinds of things" that colonial girls are expected to do. She much prefers to be outdoors, especially riding horses! Felicity learns about loyalty and responsibility - to her family, her friends, and her country - and what it means to be truly independent.

2) Kirsten Larson: a pioneer girl of strength and spirit growing up in Minnesota in 1854. After a long, dangerous voyage with her family from Sweden to America, Kirsten finds it difficult to get used to a new country and a new way of life. But as she makes friends and discovers what her new land has to offer, she learns the true meaning of home.

3) Addy Walker: a proud, courageous girl who escapes from slavery with her mother in 1864. Together they embark on a dangerous journey to the North, hoping one day to reunite their family. Addy learns to read and write, makes new friends, and discovers what being free really means.

4) Samantha Parkington: a bright, compassionate girl living with her wealthy grandmother in 1904. It's an exciting time of change in America, and Samantha's world is filled with frills and finery, parties and play. But Samantha sees that times are not good for everybody. That's why she tries to make a difference in the life of her friend Nellie, a servant girl whose life is nothing like Samantha's.

5) Molly McIntire: a lively, lovable schemer and dreamer growing up in 1944. The world is at war, and she misses her father who is overseas caring for wounded soldiers. Molly doesn't like many of the changes the war has brought, like rationing rubber, eating turnips for dinner, and not seeing Dad on Christmas. But she learns the importance of getting along and pulling together - just as her country must do to win the war.

(Descriptions courtesy of http://curtdanhauser.com/AG_Collecting/Main.html)

When I was little I really wanted the Kirsten doll and my family gave her to me for either my birthday or for Christmas—I can’t remember which. But I do remember the absolute excitement and happiness I felt when I opened the box and saw that I finally had my very own American Girl Kirsten doll. My friends and I all had dolls from American Girl and we would always play with them. We were creative girls and we took our dolls on adventures through beautiful, enchanted forests and magical landscapes that were inhabited by faeries, unicorns, gryphons, various other mythical creatures, and animals that could talk. I took very good care of Kirsten and of course I still have her, her books, and many of her original outfits and accessories.

Inevitably, as these things happen when you’re growing up, I stopped collecting American Girl and found new hobbies to explore (such as model horse collecting, among other things). But I always had a soft spot for American Girl. Whenever I would see the books in Barnes and Noble, or when I would come across a catalogue in the mail, or when I would see Kirsten tucked safely away in my closet, I would get a little wistful and remember all the fun times I had playing with her. I knew then that when I had children (hopefully a daughter or two!) I would want them to play with her and create their own wonderful American Girl memories.

When I was in eighth grade my whole class and I went to the east coast and traveled from Williamsburg all the way up to New York City in two weeks. We explored all of the major historical sites and I absolutely loved them all! My favorites, though, were Williamsburg, Mt. Vernon and Monticello. It was on this trip where the love that I have now for the Revolutionary War era of American history blossomed. Ever since the East Coast Trip I’ve loved studying and reading about the Founding Fathers and the birth of my beloved country. I remember the fleeting thought passing through my mind when I was traversing the Williamsburg grounds: I should have been more into Felicity when I was little! While I love Kirsten and her story, Felicity is really the doll that represents the period of American history that I love the most. And so, as I graduated eighth grade, I got it into my head to buy my own Felicity when I was older.

Flash forward to ten years later...

A couple weeks ago, my friend Erin and I were reminiscing about American Girl (it turns out she was just as into all of the dolls as I was!). I shared with her that I really wanted to buy Felicity one day, especially since I found out last year that American Girl was going to retire her soon. (American Girl has slowly been retiring all the historical dolls and is going more mainstream with their sales of modern-day dolls that “can look like you!” It makes me a little sad to see all of the historical dolls, who were such a wonderful part of my childhood, disappear year by year). I told Erin this and she told me she wanted to buy Felicity too! The next day I saw Erin’s message on my facebook wall: “I can’t find Felicity on the American Girl website! Is she gone?? PANIC!” I rushed over to the site to check—and sure enough, Felicity was gone. Just like that. Retired. No longer available anywhere!

Except on ebay. You can find anything on ebay.

So I then rushed over to ebay and did a little research on the Felicity doll, both the pre-and-post-Mattel models. After a day or so of debating with myself over whether I should buy her or not now, I decided to commit to a purchase (as did Erin!). Since Felicity is now retired, her value as a collector’s doll is going up—and will continue to do so as the years go on. So, with a beaming smile, I bought an original Pleasant Company pre-Mattel Felicity doll and excitedly awaited her arrival for a whole week.

My friends, Felicity finally came yesterday! She really is a beautiful doll with a pretty, round face, lovely green eyes and bright copper-red hair.

Erin and I have decided that we are going to continue collecting Felicity’s original outfits and accessories. We’re really excited about owning Felicity (finally!) and starting our American Girl collections back up. I have such wonderful memories of American Girl when I was a little girl playing in my room and out in the backyard with my elementary school friends, and it will be so fun to create brand new American Girl memories with more friends as an adult. Erin already has a great ebay story about how she got into an intense bidding war with someone else over Felicity’s Christmas gown—I’m sure there will be many more stories like that in the future! I can’t wait to share all of these stories and my love of American Girl with my future daughter(s) one day.

(Reposted, since blogger crashed and lost it the first time around!)

Renaissance Faire Adventures!

2011-05-08T23:06:00.000-07:00

Me, Melissa, Kat and Erin

Yesterday I shared my first Renaissance Faire experience with my close friends from my Renaissance Drama class: Katrina, Melissa and Erin (her boyfriend Ben and Kat’s boyfriend Tu came too). We all had so much fun! We arrived at the Faire early and purchased our discount tickets. My change came back in “gold” dollar coins—that was much more Faire-esque than paper money! I felt like a legit Faire-goer with those in my wallet. Then Melissa and I were asked by a woman dressed as a peasant if we wanted to buy “fine carrots grown in the Shire”—we declined…we were more in a “Sin on a Stick” (a rather bawdy name, isn’t it? But it’s actually frozen cheesecake dipped in chocolate on a stick), fish and chips, meatpie, pasta, turkey leg, chicken and quail kind of mood than a veggies mood. (We were definitely looking forward to eating all of that famous Faire food!)

My hairdo

The first thing the group of us did was to go to “Braids for Maids” so I could get my hair done up in swirling French braids, ribbons and flowers. The maid who did my hair was quite skilled in her craft. It took her about 20 minutes to gather my hair up and twist it into two fancy braids and adorn it with pretty ribbons and flowers—it was well worth the money! When we were all there a group of Puritans came inside and did a Biblical skit for us. …There was a unicorn in it. And an ark. And that’s all I remember about it! I tipped my hair dresser maid and she yelled out “God save the Tipper! All Tippers go to…(and the rest of the people chimed in)…Heaven!” That was hilarious. All day, whenever someone would tip the Faire workers (who were always “in character” by the way), they would either yell “God save the Tipper” or “Huzzah for the Tipper” or “All Tippers go to…Heaven!” Loved it.

The weather stayed blissfully cool until about 12:30 in the afternoon. But even after 12:30 the weather didn’t get too hot. The wind blowing in from across the water kept the temperature inside the Faire grounds relatively cool despite the sunshine beating down on us. I still got a little sunburned (no surprise there, thanks to my Irish heritage!) and we got parched enough to shell out the money to get “Cold Drynks” as we traversed the Faire grounds. We girls had a blast stopping at all the booths to ogle the pretty jewelry, try on skirts, peasant blouses and gypsy shawls and sashes. The girls talked me into trying on a beautiful green, short-sleeved peasant blouse. When I pulled back the curtain, they oood and ahhed over how I looked in it, then Melissa and Kat told me I had to “whore it up” and they pulled the sleeves down until they were off my shoulders (and showing much more skin than I’m used to!). I felt feminine wearing it that way though—and we all decided that next year we’re going to try to make the effort to dress up in peasant blouses, corsets and full skirts! Can’t wait.

Of course, you can’t go to the Renaissance Faire without having someone say something inappropriate to you. A peasant woman with a basket full of flowers came up to us and told us we needed flowers for our bosoms. I blushed and told her no, no, I really didn’t. I was good. And she insisted that men wanted to see flowers tucked away in our cleavage, and I told her, no, I’m pretty sure they don’t care. (But maybe they do? Who knows!) Besides, my chest isn’t that big…the flowers probably wouldn’t have stayed even if I did buy some! The girls were cracking up over my embarrassed responses to the peasant woman. Later that day, Melissa was accosted by a drunk pirate who wanted to find her “treasure” and her “booty.” He actually had a treasure map and laid it over her chest, and then tried to lay it over her bum. Special, right? And I was hit on by a Renaissance Archer Guy who I think was supposed to be Robin Hood. Or something. I felt him looking at me, and I purposefully did not look back, but he came over anyway and asked me, “Do you know why blondes have more fun?” And I thought, Uh-oh, but decided to play along. I smiled sweetly at him and said, “I…don’t know. Why?” And he replied, “Because there aren’t enough redheads to go around!” *facepalm* Special. I’m pretty sure I flushed but I handled him as well as I could and told him “Thank you?” and was then rescued by the girls (thank you, girls!). Later that afternoon we had a Yeoman “escort” us for 10 minutes or so. Nevermind the fact that we had two guys with us—he just wanted to flirt with us girls. I let Melissa, Erin and Kat handle him and I just laughed inside. Eventually Melissa escaped him to walk with me. Like Melissa said, these Faire workers have it pretty good: getting paid to flirt with girls? Not too shabby of a job for a young buck.

We all bought some things at the Faire, besides the seriously delicious food. The girls bought jewelry, hair decorations, coronets and gypsy shawls, and I bought a half-wreath of cream-colored flowers with a pretty ribbons and greenery woven through them to wear on my head. I felt like a princess wearing that! While we were out shopping, Queen Elizabeth I went by with her train of nobles, including Shakespeare and Marlowe. We girls slipped into “crowd character” and cheered and waved and shouted “Hi!” to her. She met our eyes and waved and shouted “Hello!” back. That made our afternoon. Also, I almost got run down by the Pub Crawl. Do take note: when going to the Ren Faire, don’t get in the way of people and their booze! Thank you.

The last thing we all did was watch the jousting. We were cheering for the black and white knight (I think he represented England) and it was a joust to the death! We were totally into it. We yelled and booed at the three knights we wanted to lose, and screamed and clapped for our knight. He ended up being run through by two swords (bummer)—but at the end he lived again and came out of the gate galloping on his steed so it was all good! Once the jousting was over we got to meet our knight and pet his horse. I absolutely love horses. I always have. I love to ride them—trail riding or trotting or cantering, I love it all (and I’m a fairly good rider too, if I do say so myself!). The horses these knights rode on were rescue horses, so I donated money to their cause.

Also, I must share two of my favorite signs I saw: "Laundry Service: Drop Thy Britches Hither" and "Children Left Overnight Will Be Sold" Hah!

So, moral of the story: Go to the Ren Faire! It’s really fun, especially when you’re with a really awesome group of friends.

Kiss kiss! Maybe he'll turn into a prince!

Simple Joys

2011-05-05T20:17:00.000-07:00

Even when I’m feeling stressed about all of the projects and tests and papers I have due at the end of each semester, I always try to take the time to appreciate the simple joys each day brings. This week has been a week of many joys. Here’s a few I’ll share~

~An impromptu Deli News pepperoni pizza and chit-chat date with one of my dearest friends

~The gorgeous, warm weather

~Sitting outside between LA 1 and LA 2 and enjoying the warm sunshine on my face and the cool breeze in my hair

~Drinking a Starbucks sweetened green iced tea

~Making ice cream in class—and then getting to eat it

~Drawing
~Laughing and chatting with my dear friends before class starts and after class ends

~Finding out I have another month to earn more money to put towards Fall tuition

~The taste of fresh, homemade whipped cream

~Turning on the whole-house fan at night and listening to my two sweet little parakeets warble happily to the sound
~Talking on the phone with three of my other dearest friends

~Reminiscing about American Girl and finally, after years of waiting, buying Felicity

~Napping in the sun

~The feeling of clean, cool sheets against my bare legs

~Falling asleep at night with the window open

~Getting complimented

~Logging on to facebook and seeing my friends link me to posts that make me burst out laughing

~Hearing Florence & the Machine’s “Dog Days Are Over” on the radio and singing along

~Having my classmate wish me Happy Star Wars Day: May the Fourth be with you

~Finding more closure and feeling peace within about it

~Reading one of my favorite, well-loved books

Take the time to appreciate the simple joys in each day. You’ll find that you can’t help but smile!

My Weight-Loss Challenge

2011-05-01T12:28:00.000-07:00

Last week was the week of carbs for me: pizza, pasta, potatoes, bread, ribs, chicken, more coffee in a day than usual, cheesecake, chocolate…you name it, I ate it. Like most women I’m an emotional eater. When I’m upset or stressed out all I want to do is eat my comfort foods. But yesterday I felt so guilty about giving in and swore I’d weigh myself on Sunday (today) and once again try to be stricter with eating right and calorie counting.

This is the dress!

So after I rolled out of bed this morning I gathered enough mental strength to weigh myself. I stepped on the scale, braced myself, and peered down at the numbers—and was actually rather pleased! Over the last month or so I’ve maintained weight rather than gained and I’m so relieved, you have no idea. I do have a rather gorgeous bridesmaid’s dress to fit into by July and the last thing I want is to gain any more weight back. It fits well now but I know it could fit even better by July, so it’s a real motivator for me to do the right thing by eating right, counting calories, and exercising as often as I can.

I used to hate exercising. I loathed it as much as I love PF Chang’s (my favorite restaurant in the whole world). But in the Fall of 2009 I overcame the mental block I had about it, especially once I could see that all my hard work with weights and cardio and effort to eat right was paying off. After seeing the definition starting to appear in my legs and seeing my waist start to shrink, giving me a better figure, I began to enjoy doing it. I liked to sweat and feel my muscles tremble and quiver because it meant I was doing the right thing. When I lost my first 10 pounds I went online and splurged on my first pair of designer Seven For All Mankind dojo-cut jeans and told myself that in another month I would fit into them. (I chose Sevens rather than True Religion because the pockets on the Sevens tend to make a woman’s behind look pretty darn good…just sayin’!) And a month and a half later I could fit into them! I was so happy and so proud of myself. I actually still have those Sevens but they are too big for me to wear now. I’ve decided to keep them for sentimental reasons…I’m sure you women out there can understand that!

I’ve been on a weight-loss kick since the Fall of 2009. Since then I’ve lost 20 pounds, a shirt size, a pant size or two depending on where I shop, and have gained a lot of confidence in myself. However, I still feel that I can do better—hence the push to lose more weight and inches off my hips, legs and arms by July. And it is a push. My body likes where it’s at right now. I know most women can relate to this—when your body likes where it’s at it’s so hard to cut back on foods you love and push yourself to exercise more. But I’m making the effort and will continue to do so even after July. For those of you who are struggling with the whole weight thing, don’t give up! As long as you have your goal in mind and you really want it, you’ll get there. We’ll make it there together :)

A Precious Moment

2011-04-23T12:44:00.000-07:00

I love kids. I always have. When I was a little girl in grade school we had to dress up for career day. My friends dressed up as nurses, doctors, firefighters, dancers, astronauts, zookeepers—all kinds of exciting things. But I didn’t want to be any of those. I already knew what I wanted to be when I grew up: a wife and a mother. I still want that. It’s a life full of fun and excitement, challenges, passion, giving, and unconditional love, and I want it more than anything else in the world.

Until I do get married and am a mother to my own children I’ve picked a career path that will have me surrounded by kids—I’m so excited for it! I also have a few friends who are mothers so whenever I get to see them I get to be with their sons and daughters and I love that too. Children warm my heart and I can’t imagine not having them in my life. Since I’m around kids so often I’m sure I’ll have a few blog posts that describe my moments with them…and here’s my first.

Yesterday was Good Friday. To honor the day my family and I do not have work, but instead of sleeping in that morning I went to school to meet with my Old English professor about my term paper. As I walked into his office I looked around and grinned to myself. Like my bookshelves at home his are also lined with toys—but his toys are knights in shining armor riding on horses. You know you’re in good company when your professor keeps things like this in his office. Anyway, as I was waiting for him to finish his phone conversation, I heard the clip-clop of little booted feet coming down the hall. I peeked around the corner of one of the bookcases to see who was outside and it was one of my friends from class with her four-year-old son. He is seriously the sweetest little boy I have ever spent time with—and he was wearing the red boots from his Halloween costume! Of course that made me smile even more and I knelt down to give him a hug. We all three talked outside in the hall until our professor finished his phone call then he ushered us inside.

My friend told us that her son wanted to meet our professor and so, clutching his mom’s hand, he shyly introduced himself. Our professor grinned and then introduced himself, asking: “Do you like to play with toys?” The little boy nodded, “Yes.” And our professor said, “Me too. But you know what’s sad? I really don’t have much time to play anymore because I’m so busy.” He got up from his chair and picked up from the top of his bookcase one of the knights in shining armor. “This is one of my favorite toys that I don’t have time to play with anymore. I want you to play with it for me. And you know what? This knight doesn’t even have a name yet so you get to name him.” Then he gave the toy to the boy, whose eyes were so full of pure wonder and happiness that it made my heart ache a little bit. It was so sweet to see our professor connect with my friend’s son in this way and it seriously was the highlight of my whole day and one of the best moments of the semester. Even now when I think about it I smile.

Children find pure happiness in the simplest of things and this is part of the reason why I love being around them so much. Their precious happiness and delight is infectious and it warms my heart and makes me just as happy. Really, what’s not to love?

"The whole world's on fire, isn't it?"...

2011-04-09T23:00:00.000-07:00

…says Cora Munro to her lover Nathaniel in The Last of the Mohicans. The movie’s powerful theme crescendos in the background, overriding the canon blasts, musket shots and screams of the wounded and dying. They hold on tight to one another through the bars of the prison cell, Cora pressing her face against Nathaniel’s shoulder as he grasps the back of her neck, tangling his fingers in her dark hair. The blazing fire outside the fort lights their faces in an orange glow.

This is one of the many quotes—and scenes—of this movie that sends shivers down my spine. I love The Last of the Mohicans (the theatrical cut, not the director’s cut. There is a difference, I promise you). The writing is wonderful. The directing is well done. The scenery is beautiful. The acting is superb. The music is gorgeous. I actually grew up with its beautiful soundtrack. Some of my earliest memories as a child are of being in the car with my mom and listening to the soundtrack on cassette tape. When I was in middle school I finally watched Mohicans with my parents and instantly fell in love with Nathaniel, Cora, Uncas, Alice, Chingachgook and even Duncan. I watched with bated breath as the romance between Cora and Nathaniel slowly unfolded (yes, I was even a romantic then!)—and I still watch with bated breath as if I’m watching it for the first time all over again. I’m the kind of romantic who appreciates the conversation between the man and the woman and how that is far more important than anything physical that happens between them. I also love when the meaningful looks the lovers share are so charged with raw emotion that they are more significant than a kiss. This is the kind of romance that exists between Nathaniel and Cora. Later on in the movie they do kiss, but that is all they do—the physical never overshadows their true love for each other.

Mohicans is the type of movie that is becoming rarer in today’s world: it promotes the love of freedom, and liberty from tyranny; it promotes intellectual and true love over physical lust; it promotes doing what is right over what is easy; and it promotes morality, strength, courage, honor, selflessness, quiet dignity and integrity in man’s actions. Nathaniel is the kind of man I’m very much attracted to. I know he’s a fictional character but the rules of honor and integrity and strength he lives by are not fabricated, and I know that there are men out there who do embody those qualities I admire and want in a husband. Nathaniel’s love for Cora really does take my breath away when I’m watching the movie. He respects her as much as she respects him and it is from this respect that their love grows and deepens. It’s truly beautiful to watch.

My family and I watched Mohicans earlier this evening. It’s one of the only movies that I will lay still and watch all the way through without getting up for any reason. I won’t even talk during it because any disruption ruins the poignancy of each scene—especially the last 10 minutes of the movie. That last scene is one of the most powerful of any movie I’ve ever seen. I don’t think I even breathe during it—those of you who have seen it know why. For those of you who haven't seen it, it is sort of like Gladiator. It has that power that keeps you captivated until the very end. And just like Gladiator, you can’t just get up and leave when it's over—you have to stay and silently watch the credits and appreciate the beautiful music and the feelings the movie leaves you with. Tonight was no different for us. After the movie ended and the credits started rolling, my family and I were quiet for a long while, silently watching the credits and listening to the music and allowing our thoughts to linger on the feelings this movie provokes in each of us.

If you haven’t seen this movie you really should watch it—but make sure it’s the theatrical version, not the director’s cut. You won’t regret it, I promise.

LOST

2011-04-07T20:43:00.000-07:00

The almost-tropical weather we have been having today—blue skies and bright sunshine instantly turning into dark clouds and rain—reminded me of something I’ve really been missing this Spring: LOST.

Yes, the TV show.

I’m not sure if I can call myself a Lostie like I call myself a Phile (a hardcore X-Files fan) but I love LOST. Back in 2005, Grandma asked me if I was watching “this new show called LOST.” I admitted that I hadn’t seen any of the episodes but I’d heard great things. I remember her saying to me, “Oh, Dana! It’s really good! You should give it a shot.” Seeing as how I’m always open to watching all kinds of shows, and knowing that this show was acclaimed for its deep character development and its elements of mystery and science fiction (everything that I enjoy!), I decided to follow her advice and get into it. So for my birthday that summer I asked for LOST Season 1. On that warm summer night in late August my family and I settled down in the den to watch it and we didn’t (couldn’t!) stop that night until we finished disc one.

I was floored by how addicting the show was. I just couldn’t get enough! After finishing Season 1 on DVD, my mom, dad, brother and I began watching it religiously together on live TV. I fell in love with the characters: from the reluctant but strong leader Jack to the ambiguous Kate to the bad boy Sawyer to the sadistic Other Ben to the Other-turned-good Juliet—all of them. The flashbacks of these characters’ lives before the plane crash became just as important as the current trekking-through-the-jungle-avoiding-monsters-death-and-the-mysterious-Others-while-desparately-searching-for-a-way-off-the-Island plotline. Each episode focuses on one of the characters. Their flashbacks and the current Island plotline are woven together with a themed symbolism and purpose that I find innovative and provocative. The characters of LOST are not one-dimensional. Each flashback (and in later seasons, each flashforward) and action they take in the Island plotline adds layer after layer after layer to their personalities, making them real people who are good and flawed, who have loved and suffered, who have gained and lost. They are not black and white—they are shades of grey. I think that is definitely part of the reason why I fell in love with all of them and why everyone who loves the show can relate to them—because we are all shades of grey.

LOST is a show that is character-driven which is the number one reason why I love it so. But I love it for its mysteries too, both explained and unexplained. I mean, smoke monsters? Ghosts? Polar bears roaming around the jungle? Miracles? Immortality? Time travel? You can’t get much better than that! I also love it for its complicated storylines that took me on a whirlwind of a wild ride. It’s definitely not a fluff show. To quote my professor, it is a “thinky thing” because it challenges your perceptions. It didn’t really irk me that not everything was explained by the series finale. I felt that the way it ended, with unraveling threads and loose ends, was fitting for a show that was renowned for its ambiguity.

This is my first Spring since 2006 without LOST to look forward to every week and I really do miss it. I miss the feeling of excitement that used to come over me when it was 15 minutes til 9:00. I miss settling down on the sofa with my family around me, chatting about the last episode and theorizing about the mysteries unexplained. I miss talking to my friends about each week’s episode, exclaiming over the events that occurred and wondering what in the world was going to happen next. I’ve missed LOST so much that my family and I have started the series over again since we own the seasons on DVD. I love revisiting all the characters and reliving their stories with them. Even though I know what is going to happen next, I still find myself biting my lower lip nervously, clutching my blanket to my chest, sometimes groaning and snarling at the TV, and, yes, sometimes wiping away a tear or two—it’s a sign of an excellent show.

There will never be another show like LOST. Never. I count myself fortunate to have, in a way, grown up with it. If you haven’t watched it I recommend that you, to quote my Grandma, “give it a shot.”

Drawing

2011-04-03T16:11:00.000-07:00

This Spring Vacation has just flown by for me this year! I worked 40 hours last week and when I wasn’t working I was exercising, baking, seeing my girlfriends or resting and going to bed early to get the sleep I needed. But I did get to do something I haven’t been able to sit down and devote hours to in a long time—I got to draw :)

My friend Katrina commissioned me to draw a picture of her with her boyfriend Tu and I immediately accepted because she’s such a sweet friend :) It was definitely a challenging picture to draw for a lot of reasons—not to mention I was a little rusty! The only drawings I have done since the Fall of 2010 have been quick ballpoint pen sketches. The last drawing I completed with graphite pencils was one of Mulder and Scully for the heART for Charity project (http://heart.keyofx.org/) last summer. I began working on this graphite pencil drawing of Kat and Tu last week when Spring Vacation started. Last night I finished working on Kat’s face and hair and then moved on to Tu’s face. For some reason he was particularly hard for me to capture. I had a lot of trouble with his eyes, and for me, if the eyes of a portrait aren’t right, the whole portrait won’t work. The eyes are the windows to a person’s soul—I always have to get them right! I was pretty frustrated last night because I just couldn’t get Tu’s expression correct so I ended up putting everything aside, telling myself not to force something that wasn’t coming naturally. I’d try again in a day or two. Before I fell asleep that night I prayed to God for Him to help me get the drawing right.

My goal had been to finish the drawing before school started again and I knew I had to devote most of Sunday to all the homework I had due. However, I opened my WIP folder this morning and stared at the half-completed drawing, studying Tu in the reference photo and then studying my version of him. And then the inspiration came over me and I knew what I had to do to get his eyes right. I have learned that when inspiration strikes like that I can’t ignore it—that’s when the magic can happen. So I pulled out my pencils and began working on the drawing again and didn’t stop for two whole hours. I fixed Tu’s eyes, put the finishing touches of shading on his face and Kat’s, worked on the background, signed and dated it, and then called it finished :) Considering how challenging this drawing was I feel that it came out quite well and I think Kat’ll be happy with it.

I love drawing. I’ve been doing it since I could hold a pencil. When I was a little girl, I’d draw only animals, mainly horses, cats, birds and characters from Disney’s The Lion King. As I got older I began to draw fantasy creatures. In my freshman year of high school I began to dabble in drawing fairies. In my sophomore year I finally began drawing realistic people. My first photorealism portrait was of Galadriel and Frodo from LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring. Now, six years later, I can draw pretty much anything and anyone just as long as I have a reference photo to go off of.

Drawing relaxes me. It’s a way for me to explore my creative side. When I draw I turn on some music—usually New Age stuff, like Enya, Loreena McKennitt or Amethystium. I love all kinds of music but I find this kind of music the best for drawing. It’s beautiful, it’s soothing and it isn’t distracting. I’ve tried to draw to classical music before and it just isn’t the same. I don’t like it as much. I think I like New Age better because the songs remind me of Irish mythology, folklore, and the other fantasy worlds I tend to escape to when I read. As I focus in on the details of a portrait, I let my mind drift on the various celtic-flavored, mystical melodies of the songs, allowing my thoughts to fly along with the soaring and dipping sopranos of the women singing. Time passes me by when I’m listening to these beautiful songs and drawing. Now, if only time would fly by just as quickly when I’m at school or work… ;)

Friendship

2011-03-11T22:45:00.000-08:00

I work with my family and this is awesome because I love them dearly and I’m very close with them all. It’s so fun to be able to see my Grandpa every day and I’m blessed to have him in my life. He knows me well—he can look at me and he can tell how I’m feeling in that moment. It’s like he knows my thoughts. I must have had a certain expression on my face this morning because he looked at me for a long moment, got a mischievous twinkle in his eye and then said something that made me burst out laughing. He said exactly what I needed to hear in that moment to lighten my mood. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without him. Grandpa is a true friend to me, as is my mom and dad, Grandma, brother, my uncle, aunt and my little cousins. And I started reflecting on why this was since I’ve been thinking a lot about friendship over the last few months.

I’ve come to realize a lot of things over the years about friends and what makes a friend a true friend. A true friend loves unconditionally. A true friend is loyal. A true friend is intuitive and doesn’t take advantage of you or manipulate you in any way. A true friend doesn’t betray you. A true friend respects you for everything you are and doesn’t try to change you—encourage you to be a better person, yes, but not try to manipulate and twist you into something you aren’t. A true friend listens. A true friend wants the best for you, always, and is a positive influence in your life. A true friend isn’t jealous of you. Of course we all have tendencies to be a little envious of our friends sometimes. That’s just human nature. We all experience the kind of wistful envy of wanting what the other has. When I experience that wistful envy I allow myself the fleeting thought and then I make the effort to move past it. I’ve known people who did not move past the envy and allowed the green monster to fester. If envy is allowed to fester in one friend, that friendship becomes infected. How can you be a true friend if the friendship is tainted? I don’t think it’s possible. You can make all the effort in the world to be a good friend to that person but if there is jealousy festering in the other person then you can’t call them a friend. You just can’t. Eventually the jealousy will dominate and that person will end up making the conscious decision to hurt you in different ways. When this happens they are no longer giving you the respect you deserve. I’m not saying that jealousy and disrespect are always linked, but most of the time these two things are closely intertwined.

It is a person’s actions that show you who they are as a friend, not their words. They can say that they are your friend, but you’ll know by the way they treat you whether it’s true or not. Then, knowing what you know, it’s up to you whether you’re going to keep them in your life or acknowledge that the friendship has run its course and then slowly let it fade away.

Knowing what I know, I’m making the best effort I can to be a true friend.

Sail Away...

2011-02-26T23:17:00.000-08:00

“Showers in the morning. Chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.”—so said the weather channel for Dana Point last night. Considering I had to drive down to the Ocean Institute in Dana Point for a boating fieldtrip required for one of my classes, I was pretty disappointed. I don’t get to go out to sea often. In fact, I can actually count on one hand how many times I have been out on the ocean. Until I heard about the ominous gray and cold forecast I had so been looking forward to going out there!

This morning, when I looked out my bedroom window at the gloomy day and checked the online weather—again—for Dana Point, I almost considered not going. “All-day thunderstorms.” I’m a woman for 75 degree weather and constant sunshine and blue skies with the occasional white puffy cloud decorating the sky here and there—not thunderstorms! But I sucked it up, made the definite decision to go and bundled myself up in my warmest clothing. Maybe the weather would be all right. Maybe it wouldn’t rain the whole time. At least I’d get it over with.

As I drove down the 5 freeway at 8:15 (I had to be there by 9:15) the dark clouds overhead began to drift away and the warm rays of the sun shot through the sky—and when I got down to Dana Point and parked my car at the Ocean Institute, I looked up and saw that the dark clouds had formed a huge half-circle around where I stood. There was clear blue sky right above me, stretching out like a giant blanket toward Catalina, and the pale yellow sunlight felt so good on my face. I sent a silent but heartfelt thank you to God for keeping the weather nice. Maybe it wouldn’t rain after all!

There were about 15 or 20 of us that came out today. Shanette, the Ocean Institute employee who was in charge of our little group, was so pleased that we’d decided to brave the weather and show up. “I was afraid you all would bail today! The fact that you guys showed up tells me that you have a bit of an adventurous spirit in you—that’s fantastic!” And she’s right—I suppose I do!

Then Shanette ushered us onto the research boat and stuffed our hands with muffins, bagels and cream cheese, fresh fruit, croissants, coffee and hot chocolate, telling us we needed our strength. After we munched on our goodies and listened to a brief safety talk and met with and greeted the other crew members and the captain himself, the girls and I went out to the front of the boat. As we powered through the harbor, we exclaimed over the different types of birds that were nesting along the jetty—pelicans, gulls, and little birds that looked like black ducks. Did you know that the older pelicans have white heads? Neither did I, until today! I was still admiring the pelicans’ grace in the air when suddenly a blast of cold air tossed my hair into my face—we were finally going out to sea!

The sky was still a brilliant blue above and the golden sunlight was even stronger now. I went to stand near the prow of the boat with a few other brave souls who weren’t afraid of getting wet, clutching the handrail so I wouldn’t fall on my face as the boat rocked back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. The icy wind buffeted against me and the waves leapt up against the sides of the boat, lapping greedily at my pant legs—but I was hardly aware of this. My eyes were fixed on the horizon, on the faint outline of Catalina Island, on the chopping waves, the white foam stark against the black-blue water. It was one of the most beautiful sights I had ever seen.

It didn’t take long for my body to begin to sway on its own to the rhythm of the boat, and now that my balance was much more stable, I edged further along until I was at the tip of the prow. The icy wind whistled in my ears, slowly numbing my face, throwing and tangling my hair all around. The churning waves splashed up, raining down on me, soaking my jacket and my jeans. I licked my lips, tasting the brine, completely uncaring that I was drenched or that my hands were growing red from the wind and numbing until I could barely feel the rail beneath my palms. I was mesmerized by the ocean and the potent beauty of a stormy Nature.

With every dip and crash of the waves against the boat I felt my spirits get lighter and lighter. Laughter and screams of delight from the rest of the girls sounded all around me, and my own screams and laughter mingled with theirs. “Look! Look! There’s a sea lion! At 12:00!” Then, “Look! Another one!” We clapped and cheered as two sea lions leapt among the waves, spinning and twirling in midair before they slipped back down beneath the frothing water. We all were one entity, delighting in this wet and wild adventure. Then, after a while, the laughter faded and I focused on the sounds of the water and wind, losing myself in my own thoughts.

It’s hard to describe what I felt in my soul as we sailed over the water. There is something very healing about the sea, isn’t there? I have always felt there is. I love the beach and the sea. I’ve always loved it. I couldn’t live in a place without it. I have always felt closest to God when I’m at the beach. It is a place where the earth meets the heavens, one of the many places were the beauty of God’s creation takes my breath away, and therefore, for me, it is a place for reflection and introspection, to thank God for the many blessings in my life and to ask him for His guidance. Today’s experience was no different. When you look at the beauty and wonders of nature, how can you doubt God? My soul was unbound and I was free to soar in His loving majesty.

Now I’m back home, all warm and cozy and happily windburnt under a pile of fuzzy blankets. I’m so glad I went down to Dana Point today. It was a beautiful day!