Birthday Celebration

In less than 5 days i turn 24...at least i think i'm going to be twenty four....with all my lying about my age online, i'm never as sure as i used to be that my age is accurate.

This year i've determined to do something completely different. I've decided to drive five hours to spend it with my brother. My decision stems from two things.

the first is i spend about as much time with my brother as the pope does with his girlfriend....so i don't ignore him, i just don't get to see him too often.

Secondly, In the past three years, i have not been with my brother to celebrate anything (besides christmas). It would be a rare but favourite treat to spend my 24ish birthday with him.

It is all just too bad that my birthday weekend also falls on Super bowl Weekend.

Rushing

I'm not exactly sure why but i suddenly have a great need to get all my sewing projects finished. THis has led to a finishing of the muffs for my bridesmaids! Hurray!!

Over the last week, all i seem to be able to do is rush. i don't know why exactly, but life just seems to have gotten much more urgent.

We can only hope that this means i'll be returning home soon.

Australia Day

Last night I was asked what my plans were for Australia day. Currently living about a million miles away from such wonders as the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, I find it difficult to plan any sort of celebrations. I look around me and see NOTHING even remotely Australia...with the possible exception of my wardrobe which seems to cause a great amount of cultural discussion. (who knew sarongs were such a novelty?)

With no hint of Australian culture in my sites, a choice for celebration is difficult. I suppose I could do go out drinking...but I'm not a drinker and as my friends continue to tell me "American beer is too ****ing close to water".

I could go to the zoo and admire the frozen Australian animals but I feel that that may only be a way of condoning animal cruelty.

So in the end, I will go to work, take my dog to the vet, nurse it back to health, and try to finish sewing a dress.

It isn't a very celebratory day, but Australia is never far from my mind.

Privacy

The US government is taking in a mouthful for this Child Online Protection Act. The Act, brought in by the Bush administration, works to make sure that sites with pornography are not available to minors. Critics of this proposal are quick to point out that the methods used to do this involve invasion of privacy for many many people. The Supreme Court declined to rule on it, saying that the decision needed to be put on a full trial to determine if it was constitutional.

This trial is causing quite a stir with subpoenas for search terms of a broad swath of the search engine's visitors. All major search engines were subpoenad. The government claimed that they wanted to find out the terms used in searching were. However, it seems that Yahoo's contribution of this information was not enough. Without actually giving all information about the searchers themselves, this information would seem to be useless. IF the government gets the entirity of the information, then it would seem that an invasion of privacy had taken place. Now, not only does the search engine have your details, so does the government.

So far, only Google is fighting back. Google is also the biggest collector of personal information. So what is next? who knows. It is the next few weeks that will determine how safe the world is from the US big brother.

Now what?

While everyone knows that the US government isn't the the brightest in the intellectual field. It was the latest report, however, that pushed the issue just that little further.

An official report was released claiming that the US had incorporated a policy of torture.

The White House spokesman, Scott Mccellan, without actually reading the 500 page report was quoted as saying. "It appears the report is based more on a political agenda than on facts. The United States of America does more than any country in the world to advance freedom and promote human rights."

I don't know of a single english teacher that would ever let me get away doing a book report on a book i've never read. It is sad when it is allowed in government. It is would also be nice if they actually did some research on some of those "facts".

Lawsuit

I am one of the first to admit that I don't trust my government. Maybe it is too many conspiracy theories or too many classes where I'm taught to be skeptical of everything. But I don't trust my government.

My faith in government dealing has not been increased by the resent acknowledgement that President Bush has misused-used his power, allowing much "eaves-dropping" without any sort of protection to the people he serves.

Recently the ACLU, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Greenpeace and several individuals came together to file a lawsuit claiming that the Bush administration has abused their privileges in office.

I suddenly feel pride again in my nation. While I don't trust my government, I feel safer knowing that a lawsuit isn't being squashed before it ever begins. At least for the moment, my freedom of speech is still being protected....at least to some degree.

one of those moments

i saw this image on post secrets and i loved it.

i suppose i should put up the disclaimer that i do not now nor have i ever endorsed mentally tormenting mothers.

now that that is out of the way, how funny is the idea of hiding your mother's (or father's) keys?!

well, i loved the idea until i realised that knowing my mother she would take MY keys instead and then actually loose mine. I would then be forced to find HER keys the next time she went out, she would then loose those keys too (for real this time) and i would be without any form of car keys for the rest of eternity...

some how that last thought just kind of ruins the whole idea of hiding the car keys....

Domesticated

As the date of my wedding draws closer and the date of my departure looms overhead, I have been busy making sure all projects are finished up. This includes my 4 (unfinished) sewing projects. It is strange that as one begins nearing the end, more and more things fall into the way to prevent the completion of these projects. This last week it was the sewing machine that decided to end its life with a power surge that killed its wiring. I found it particularly interesting that it chose now to die....but I found a way around this small glitch. I borrowed an even older sewing machine from a neighbour. It is fun to sew on but I must admit, it is a lot more difficult to handle. Thus my sewing adventures are much slower. But, hopefully, I'll slowing get thru my many projects by the end of next month!

Life in context

Celebrity gossip seems to be something that the vast majority of the population just can't get enough of. It is something that we seem to crave to know. We MUST know who is pregnant, who is getting married and who is getting divorced and why! I was particularly appalled when one show mentioned the "painful" divorce of two (unnamed) celebrities. The host then went on to announce that full details of these divorces could be found at their website. What has become of our society when we market the pain of other people?? Have we reverted back to the days of the coliseum?

I've been reading about ancient European Kings and Queens. I was shocked to find the same sort of carnivorous nature displayed hundreds of years ago in royal palaces. Royal and noble families were the target of all manner of gossip, some true some false. Not only was gossip used for entertainment, it was used as political motivator and as justification for less than noble acts.

But what is the point today? Why do we need to know all the intimate details of celebrities lives? Some have suggested that we find out own lives so completely boring that we must immerse ourselves in something that is more fascinating than us. We forget that we have taken ordinary people, given them money and made them into our gods. We don't see that our need for this idol illustrates a hole that desperately needs to be filled.

And like the biblical Joshua, I cry "choose you this day whom you will spend time watching. But as for me I will spend my time enjoying a full life!"

Internal Musings

I was a dark and stormy night when I lay my head against my pillow to sleep. The rain continually beat at my window creating strange shapes that morphed and then submitted to gravity's command, sliding down to collect on my seal.

The clock said 11:30 but it was wrong. As usual the clock had been set for 5 minutes ahead. I don't know why. It must be a family trait. I have often found that I, a million miles away from my father's particulars, set my clock fast. It is just one of those things.

The clock ticked past. Time apparently was moving but my mind was standing still. Every second dragged out like hours and hours were millennia. Would morning ever come?

Questions now poured into my soul from some outside source. The source threatened to drown me. How would I get back? When would I get back? What would it be like when I got there? Would it be like it was before? Should I find a job now? Should I hope for a job later?....The questions only continued and answers stayed at bay.

Time and life are intertwined but for that moment, they did fray.

Is this "American sentiment"?

I was raised to believe that my birth country (the USA) worked for the freedom of all its citizens. I was brought up believing that freedom of speech was encouraged. I was taught that the United States of America wanted people to think for themselves. They encouraged other countries to think for themselves by helping to establish democratic governments. I was taught that the USA worked to include all people. Printed on the statue of liberty are the words:

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me.
I lift my lamp beside the golden door."

I believe that once this ideal was not only believed but aimed for. Somewhere along the way, however, the desire for "perfection" has turned the country into the very thing it once fought against.

The birth of the America's began with a war. They fought against a country that wanted to control trading arrangements to the benefit of itself. Today, the USA does the same thing.

If the USA continues on its current path, it will become the very entity that it has fought so long against. It will become a theorocracy, a dictatorship, and a burden. The latest choice for Supreme Court Judge proves this. I do not rant against my country of birth, I rant against the personal freedoms that are being sacrified for "religious" reasons. Was this country not founded on the principle that church and state are separate?

But maybe I am just old fashioned. Maybe I am out of tune with what is needed in this country. Maybe I just don't belong.

Bridesmaid Dress

dresses2
Originally uploaded by narnia_k.

Well, here it is. This is what two of my bridesmaids will look like at out wedding. Click the picture for more pictures of these dresses!

flooding

creek2
Originally uploaded by narnia_k.

i told you i was going to post more pics.

here is a view of the canal directly behind out house. sadly, the poor tree gave its life rescuing much rubbish out of the canal.

i had a look out back today, however, and the canal has gone down. there doesn't seem to be as much water EVERYWHERE as there was a few days ago.

i have much hope that we won't get washed away!

flooding

It started last friday and just hasn't had a chance to really stop. The rain continues to fall and the waters continue to rise from northern california all the way through Oregon. While Oregon's flooding isn't as bad, we're still quite concerned about the rising water level in our canal behind our house. (i'll put up pics later)

But just so you know, there seems to be no immediate threat to us and the only inconvience it seems to have really brought is the fact many roads are closed due to land/mud slides.

Sadly, this is probably the biggest excitement i've had since the Syndey fires that forced me (and a few friends) to stay in Sydney overnight.

But we must be grateful for even the little things;)

Peter Pan

This afternoon I fulfilled a childhood dream, seeing Peter Pan on stage. The Northwest Children's Theatre put on the play with included a huge cast!

The sets were amazing. They were movable sets that turned into all sorts of scenes! It was truly inspiring.

The script was a bit strange. Mainly because the dialog hadn't been updated for nearly a hundred years. This caused a bit of long-winded speeches. The script made up for it by having a lot of choreography. When the Indians were introduced, they did this war dance. It looked really cool.

Speaking of Indians, I was really worried about Princess Tigerlilly. She didn't wear much in the way of clothes, which I may assure you was not a wise idea on a cold day (like today).

over all, I really enjoyed myself. Hurray for children's stories*.

*This in no way indicates that I want children, but merely that I enjoy a good children's story.

Speaking of weddings...

As an admirer of the movies, I had no idea that batman ended his batchlor-hood. Turns out he and catwoman got it on! WHO KNEW?!

When to Marry

My grandmother gave me a poem about weddings. i think it was supposed to be sweet...











WHEN TO MARRY

Marry when the year is new
Always loving, kind and true.

When February birds do mate
You may Wed or dread your fate.

If you Wed when March winds blow,
Joy and sorrow both you'll know.

Marry in April when you can,
Joy for maidens and for man.

Marry in the month of May
You will surely rule the day.

Marry when June roses blow
Over land and sea you'll go.

They who in July do wed
must labour always for their bread

When ereer Wed in August be,
many a change are sene to see

Marry in September's shine
Your living will be rich and fine.

If in October you do marry
Love will come, but riches tarry.

If you Wed in bleak November
Only joy will come, remember.

When December's show fall fast
Marry and true love will last.

Road trip

too cool
Originally uploaded by narnia_k.

The trip to grandma's house was a very exciting 10 hour trip. we saw fog, frost, and snow. Thankfully the roads were pretty clear so no accidents.

AND dad only got lost once!

;)

wanna see more pics of our trip? click the photo!

Praise Santa

I have often heard that Santa Clause and God were thought to be very similar individuals. I have sometimes wondered if Santa Clasue was the "god" we hoped we would find.

Like God, Santa is supposed to judge. He (santa) makes a list of good girls and boys.

Unlike Santa, however, God doesn't give out gifts according to our actions. Santa only gives good little boys and girls gifts. (and isn't it interesting that every parent says that their child is "good"??) God looks at us, realising that we have "all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God". Yet in his mercy, he still grants us the gift of eternal life, if only we want it.

In my human nature, however, i want a judge that will be "fair". i want my enemies to *pay* (prefereably with their own blood) for the sins against me they have committed. Santa, while not taking blood, leaves a lump of coal. Coal, left long enough will turn into diamonds. The gift seems to say, "Just like the coal, your not quite good enough to be worth much". We like the idea that the bad people will have thier nose rubbed in their sins. Yet somehow, we are always the "good" children. We see ourselves as always worthy of the gifts we recieve on christmas. When we perchance get a gift that isn't quite what we wanted we cry out "unfair!" we point to all our noble deeds and claim that we deserve better.

Christ gives His gift to us all. The Christ child was given not just to those who would do what they were supposed to, He was given to all who have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

Homosexuality

What is it with a society that is terrified of the homosexual male? I was up at my grandparent's house this weekend and found out that while they tolerated homosexual females there was something unacceptable about the homosexual male.

My brother says that it stems from the idea that girls are touchy-feely with eachother anyway, so it doesn't matter when they turn lesbian. Maybe men find the idea of lesbians sexy and thus find it more tolerable. With men, it is a different story. Could it be that they can not find anything sexy about guy on guy and thus can not deem it, in any way, acceptable?

IF this were true, a conclusion that we humans are ruled not by what is right and wrong, but rather by where our hormone levels reside. A case could be made for this argument. According to the National Institute for Working Life, many homosexuals who were working in "manly careers" such as the air force or army, were heavily discriminated against. "manly careers" are also careers that have long held a high level of testosterone and sexual drive.

But National Institute for Working Life also mentioned that homosexuals were also heavily discriminated in church offices. In the church, however, discrimination was much more hidden. Information and meeting times/dates were not given to those known to be homosexual. They were not spoken to. The homosexual, both male & female, was left in nearly complete isolation.

As Christians we are called to love our neighbours. Sadly, Christ forgot to mention that we are only supposed to love our heterosexual, white, Christian neighbours. Any one who doesn't' fit into our pre-conceived notion of "neighbours" is naturally left to the world to devour. But maybe this is just a fitting condemnation for those *stupid* enough not to agree with us.

happiness

Your mad at the dogs
Your mad at me
Your mad at her
But really your mad at you
And until you will realise this,
you will be mad at the dogs
you will be mad at me
you will be mad at her

And you will never be happy

sex & politics

More controversy over the proposed .xxx internet address. The internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers (iCANN) is trying to establish an internet "red-light district" by creating a .xxx, similar to the .com or .net. But controversy has arisen from conseratives in the USA. They claim it will only legitmise the porn industry.

Personally, i embrace the concept. The idea that all porn would be relegated to one area means that not only would it be an easy way to monitor whats the family computer is being used for, it also makes for easy blocking.

True, probably not ALL porn sites will go to the new .XXX sites, but at least it will make stumbling upon is less frequent!

Earthquake

Africa has joined this list of nations struck by natural disasters. The latest event was a 6.8 earthquake in the Congo.

First reports are suggesting that most casualties are children who have had parts of buildings fall on them.

Maybe I'm just more aware of the devastation that is around us now...but it sure seems like the earth is no longer as submissive as it once was...

First Snow

Yesterday was this year's first snow fall. The cold weather has finally yelded a snow! As i always say, if its going to be cold, it better bloody SNOW!

Sadly, while we did see snow for more than an hour, it turned to falling slush and finally rain. No proof of the snow fall remains. and i am yet again, depressed.

Soccer Dog

Yesterday was a family day. We took the dogs out to the park for a bit of a run and some fun! while the weather was quite cold we enjoyed kicking a soccerball around...or we enjoyed it until misha, our German Shepherd stole the ball!






See what i mean?

11:00 am Wednesday morning. The cars are packed. We are ready to go. We wait in stalled silence for mother to arrive home at 12:45 so that we can leave for grandmother's house.

11:30 am Wednesday morning. Mike (my bro) and I decide that this isn't worth sitting around and waiting all day for. We find errands we can run.

12:00 pm Wednesday afternoon. Mike and I realise his car oil is dangerously low. He adds more and finds that "something" is dripping and making a puddle under his car. We ignore it and head off down the road.

12:50 pm Wednesday afternoon. We make our way on the freeway only to find traffic moving at 5 Kilometers an hour. Car accident. We drive this way for the better part of an hour. By this time, my mother and father have gotten on the freeway and are somewhere *way* behind us.

2:00 pm Wednesday afternoon. mike and I detour off the freeway to a deserted highway (at the parent's bidding) to "take a short cut".

[please raise your hands if you've seen horror films that start out this way]

4:30 pm Wednesday afternoon. My parents call to inform us that their car is making strange "musical" sound. They stop at a mechanic. We also stop just as we realise that Mike's car is overheating. After 5 minutes with the mechanic for parent's car, family decides NOT to go visit grandmother.

5:30 pm you-know-which-bloody-day. New plans are made to visit the friends who are quite conveniently close for the holidays. Parent's car is found to need new brake pads. Mike's car cools and we begin our trip to the Jackson house.

So much for a fun filled holiday full of family bitchiness. I feel quite disappointed.

Thanksgiving

After 4 years without it, I'm now celebrating Thanksgiving again. It is so very odd how easily I fall back into it. Mashed potatoes, gravy, roast, carrots, bread rolls...I remember the menu perfectly. This year is going to be different though. For the first time in my entire life, we're going to my grandmother's for Thanksgiving.

I love my grandmother to death. Unfortunately, as those who have met her will tell you, she isn't the friendliest person in the world. She has an incredibly sharp tongue that often lashes out at the nearest victim unexpectedly. This causes comments like, "well, haven't you gained a lot of weight!" This strikes fear into the very heart of my father.

So why are we going? Well, the basic reason is that she asked, I was excited about it, mother didn't say "NO!" so dad accepted. Everyone (including my grandmother) was shocked!

Today we will get in the car and drive 8 hours to her house. We'll pray that it works out. We'll pray no one dies...but in the end, it will be a miracle that gets us all thru in one piece.

a 2 hour blessing

Last sunday my mum and brother took a one hour drive north to portland. We squished ourselves into the small cab of our pick-up truck and took off. About 1 hour later we arrived at Mills End. Mills End is a fabric store that has a HUGE selection. Having failed to find fabric suitable for my wedding cape thus far, i had decided that a large (overpriced) fabric store was just what the seemstress ordered.

Taking out the wedding dress, we hung it on a coat rack (what was convinently placed in the bridal section). We started the search for the perfect wedding cape fabric. we ended up with 10 bolts of material. The first few were okay, but nothing fabulous. it was by a fluke that my mother walked past a discounted table and found the beautiful velvet-like white fabric.

Amazingly enough it was EXACTLY the right amount we needed for the cape!

With our great find in hand, we headed home. Three of us, squished in a truck for another 1 hour 25 mintues home...

life

This week is the beginning of a class i will be teaching until Mid-December. I'm teaching a song in ASL (American Sign Language) to grades 3-4. We are learning "One Small Child". So far, after only one day, the kids have learned half the song. None of the parents, children, or relatives of the kids are deaf, so i've decided to make the song more performance centred rather than language based. While they will be using real signs for the song, i've divided into groups that will move around as the song progresses. It is going to look AWESOME! but it will be the blacklights andwhite gloves that will make the look complete!

I can hardly wait for the Christmas Program!

(who knew i could get this excited over a children's program!)

The official report!

Good news! i'm fine. Turns out that it was a syst, but that isn't a big deal. I'll be in a bit of pain, but it isn't any thing serious. I also have a bit of muscle strain...possibly caused by helping my mother shappoo the carpets.

But i'm fine!! HURRAY!

So far so good

2nd round of tests today. So far everything is looking "normal". I have one more appointment this afternoon. But so far, all looks like it was a fluke thing...

sick

Why is it, about the time you start feeling on top of the world, the world changes positions?

Last Friday i began to notice that my stomach wasn't feeling great. I pushed it off as being overly sensative to dairy products. On monday, the pain increased. I began to notice that it was painful to stand in certain positions. It was more painful to sit.

I decided to go into the doctor at 11:00 am. The doctor sent me to the Urgent Care department. They took blood. They did a full check up. Ran several tests. All my tests came back okay, but they aren't sure what it causing the pain.

My mum thinks its probably an ovarian syst. She's had them before. She says they become very painful and there is nothing to do about them.

THe doctor is fearful it could be the beginnings of an apendix problem.

Generally, i'm scared. Keep me in your prayers.

Amazing Mule Story

A friend of mine sent me this. i found it so interesting i had to post it to you!

A couple from Montana was out riding on the range, he with his rifle and she (fortunately) with her camera. Their dogs always followed them, but on this occation a Mountain Lion decided that he wanted to stalk the dogs you'll see the dogs in the background watching.

The man got off the mule with his rifle and decided to shoot in the air to scare away the lion, but before he could get off a shot the lion charged in and decided hew anted a piece of those dogs. with that, the mule decided he wanted a piece of the lion and took off. That's when all hell broke loose....for the lion.

As the lion approached the dogs, the mule snatched him up by the tail and started whirling him around. With every pass, banging its head on the ground. Then he dropped it, stomped on it and held it to the ground by the throat. The mule then got down on his knees and but the cat all over a couple of dozen times to make sure it was dead, than whipped it into the air again, walked back over to the couple and stood ready to continue his ride as if nothing had happened.

Even though the hunter didn't get off

An Aussie Gentleman

differences between rugby and american football

lesson from the boondocks

For the past several weeks this comic has been discussing the Bird Flu panic that is beginning to hit America. As the boy points out, if the bird flu does become a serious event, we will have to decide the people who are worth the resources it takes to sustain them...

question: if the country descends into anarchy, what use does a politician have?

The American Constitution

I was listening to a semi-local talk radio program today. The host was discussing the American constitution. He was suggesting that no laws should be passed that go against the Constitution, even if the majority of the public vote it in. He used as an example that slavery was against the Constitution and thus, was unconstitutional. Meaning that the American government supported a policy that was unconstitutional for many years.

This stance puzzles me. Didn't the "founding fathers" own slaves when they wrote the Constitution? Where they themselves suggesting that they give up their way of life many decades before our famous president Lincoln "set the slaves free"??!! Or could it be that the Constitution has been set in a light that previously only the bible has shared, that being infallible?

By no means do I suggest that we do away with the Constitution, but neither to I purpose that it is a device that will be relevant for America for all eternity. I can not suppose to give the perfect answer to this dilemma but perhaps more forethought from the radio host would have been appropriate.

Nightmare

I had a horrible nightmare last night. I dreamt that Chris and i held out wedding here in the States. It was the day of my wedding and a thousand things were going wrong. First my dress wasn't quite finished. Then out of my four bridesmaids only one showed up and i had one person fill in. Chris' family never even showed up! After the wedding, neighther one of us knew where our reception was going to be held, let alone if there was even going to BE a reception.

I woke up with one of those horrible feelings in the pitt of my stomach. You know the one that tells you that something is about to go horribly wrong....[insert creepy music here]

I got 'em!

The date has been set! 16 July 2006! For everyone who has been *dying* to know the wedding date, it is now set. Excluding any unpleasantness (like no visas) the day will go down in history as the most beautiful wedding ever to grace the cooranbong area...or at least a day when Kristin didn't wear black.

Twinkle Twinkle

Star gazing has always interested me. I especially like closer views of heavenly bodies. This weekend looks like the time to see them!

Mars will be making a pass of earth coming a mere 43.1 million miles away. (everybody wave at the martians!)

Now doesn't this pic look like a jack-o-lattern?

Where am I??!

Today is the first day of the rest of your life....or at least I think that is how the quote goes.

today I found out that the visa I wanted to apply for, I am (yet again) unable to apply for. Thus, I am frustrated. I am not sure how to get back to my home. I just want to come home. Why can't the Australian government SEE that!!!

damn terrorist paranoia!

wedding moments

Over the weekend, my sis came to visit. Being that my mum is a very driven person, she decided that even though becky would only be available for one day of shopping, we would spend that day searching for brides maid dresses for becky (as well as luggage for her 2 international trips next year). As many times happens when brides maid dresses are being considered, we went to bridal stores.

I was asked at every one, "are you the bride?"

"Yes" i replied kindly.

"Are you excited?" they would ask.

It is at this point i'm not quite sure how to respond. i mean, the obvious answer isn't the right one, because if it was, they won't have asked the question. so i pondered over which response to make:

"no. its an arranged marriage. i've never met the man."

"not really. my last 3 wedding weren't that exciting either".

"My father sold me to a man for three magic beans, so a wedding isn't as exciting as the beans"

"Yes, but i expect the wedding night to be a real drag!"

What was I thinking?

I've agreed to help my mother by doing some relief teaching for her. While I find the job easy, you will not find me doing this long term. Somehow the idea of spending more than a week with grades 3 & 4 sends chills down my spine (and not in a good way!).

I must congratulate my mother. She has taught these children VERY well. They listen, obey, and think through problems. I'm so proud of them.

Yesterday they started learning about Australia. The books that are available to them seem to portray that NZ and OZ are the same country. One little girl said to me, "I know how to say war dance in Australian. Haka!"

Turn your knob to BOB

As I desperately try to figure out what radio stations play decent music around here (aka ANYTHING besides country) I came across BOB FM. It has a slogan that nearly caused me to run my car into a tree when I heard it.

"Turn your knob to bob!"

Now that phrase may not cause much of stir for Americans but for anyone who has been outside the USA and heard the word "knob" used for parts of the male anatomy, you can imagine my disbelief when I heard it! I couldn't stop laughing!

Sigh...the price you pay for having a slightly different vocab.

Maryhill Museum of art

Who would have believed that a beautiful place like this is nessled in the bleak plains of Washington/Oregon? This is an art museum. A beautiful place!

Here i saw a plethera of Chess sets from all over the world and throughout many different time periods.

I found beautiful carvings/busts/ and paintings that all made me wish i could create great works of art.

Art from Native American Indians were on display, as were historical pieces from Sam Hill, an inventor and thinker in the 1800s. Facinating stuff.

Mini dresses

I definately didn't intend to set off the alarm, but i did. Maryhill museum of art has a collection called theatre de la mode. It features dresses by french designers right after WWII. Very facinating. All the dresses were sewn to fit a miniature doll (see above doll). The buyers would choose their dress after looking at the miniature and the dress would be ordered. This saved on fabric, something that was not readily available.

Now how did i set off the museum alarm?? Simple. By reaching out and touching the hem of the dress of one of the dolls. OOPs! the security guard appeared immediately and shook his finger at me.

"I'm so sorry" i said pitifully. "i wasn't thinking!"

uh DUUUH!

i felt so stupid! It didn't help that the security guard, my mother, AND her friend all were laughing at me.

Born into Brothels

Born into Brothels is a documentary by Zana Briski. It depicts the lives of a few calcutta children who have been born into brothels. Zana teaches these children to take photos. She gives them cameras. She tries to get them out of the brothels and into schools.

It is a powerful story that really moved me. I love how these children see their lives change and are grateful.

It is my hope that i will not only be grateful to the people who have positively changed my life, but also be willing to help change the lives of others for the better.

QUOTE

Over the past weekend i saw old friends and met a few new ones. The best quote of the weekend, though was Jodi's. She saw that her flatmate (who is mildly allergic to nuts) had eaten a chocolate that contained walnuts. Her immediate question was:

"Are you going to die??!!"

Blah blah blah wedding

I think i should change the name of the blog from "where is the justice?" to "where is the wedding?" For some reason my whole world seems to be turned upside down trying to figure out what colour is best for a wedding! oi!

But i thought i would ask a question of my dear readers...

Chris and i have not yet decided on where to have our wedding. we know we want it near Cooranbong so our college friends can come...we also know we DON"T want it in college church...Thus we are stuck trying to decide where we are going to have it. Jillian suggested we have it in the stone chapel at the asylum. "It has a lovely view of the water and kangaroos!"

She's right. it is a lovely view. Beautiful place too...but an asylum???

Any ideas guys?

More Wedding ARG

href="'http://www.source1one.com/'">

Adele brought up an interesting delema. What do we have for music? Finding "just the right music" is hard! how do i know it is "right"? Do we only pick songs we like? cause if we do, we probably won't have many love songs. (sadly, there aren't many i like)

Do we pick the best of the love songs? We we use old or new? oi...i wish chris was here...(or i was there) and we could do this more smoothly...as a team. This sending stuff back and forth is proving to be a real pain.

ARG!

Weddings. they are of the devil. I've only been working on mine for a couple of weeks and already i feel frustrated at them! Lets start with the wedding dress:

Do i want white? off white? white with a pattern?

What colour of white should the bridesmaides where?

Should i order the fabric online or from the store?

Should i order the trim for the dresses now or later?

Should the capes be velvet or satin or just some cheap black fabric?

What sizes should i make the capes?

Should i use the accent colour on the capes?

should i use our accent colour on the dress?

Should i request that the bridesmaides dresses have a hint of the accent colour???

Should they carry flowers or something else?

Should i carry flowers or something else?

And just think...i haven't even gotten to the colour of the table clothes yet:P