affirmation

This afternoon I watched What Not to Wear as always whilst eating my lunch. In the final reveal, the makeover recipient wore a little ditty from H&M that I in fact own. I guess that means I know what to wear.
Check it:

fire

photo by nivex6

There was a fire in our apartment complex last night. It wasn't our building and we are okay, but about two dozen people are without a home right now. The above picture was taken by another resident. The journalist in me is kinda disappointed because I missed all the action--I was asleep!

I came home from work and wasn't feeling too swell so I took a nap. In my sleep, I kept hearing sirens but being asleep and not thinking coherently, I didn't make much of it. Plus we live fairly close to a highway. My darling husband was working on the computer and didn't think to look outside either. So I wake up, we eat dinner and I was watching the CNN YouTube Republican debate, and it's not until about 9:00 that I look out the window and see tons of firetrucks and police cars and stuff! We couldn't see what was going on, only all the trucks and cars. We called our friends who live closer to where all the action was and they told us about the fire.

According to the news reports the fire started about 6:30 and took an hour to get under control. Luckily no one was seriously hurt. But the building is unlivable right now. Some people lost everything. There is no word yet on how the fire started. I'm so glad it wasn't worse though. There are a lot of trees around and it could have been very bad had it spread. I feel so bad for those people who don't have a home right now. I can't imagine. It really makes you think about what's important.

*Update: So we went to go check out the damage for ourselves. Pretty crazy. It's even worse than I was expecting. The entire top floor is destroyed. It was getting too dark when I got home to take any decent pictures, so I stole this one from online. It was taken by Jonathan Stotts for WRAL. I wish we could see the other side of the building. I think it's more damaged on that side. If you click on the picture you'll be able to see it bigger.

Copyright 2007 WRAL

reclaiming my former self

Image from www.julianadupree.com

That title sounds all deep and dramatic doesn't it? I doubt this post will actually live up to that impression, but I can suck you in with the deep and dramatic title, right?

I used to be a dancer. For most of my life, dancing took up a major chunk of my time. From the ages of 2 to 18 I defined myself as a dancer. For several years there I even thought that's what I would be "when I grew up". But at some point my extremely balanced and practical self won out, and I realized the crazy lifestyle that would entail wasn't for me. But dancing remained a huge part of me.

My favorite was always ballet, although I did tap and jazz as well. But I loved ballet's grace and discipline and strength. I loved using my body to tell a story. I loved feeling so connected to my body. I loved the feeling of defying my body's natural tendencies by stretching it higher and further. Of almost defying gravity by lifting and jumping and standing on my toes.

Then about halfway through my senior year of high school, I needed a break. I had injured my foot the spring before and gotten a bit out of shape, and then I just couldn't seem to get excited about it again. I stopped taking classes. And I haven't taken a ballet class since.

In college, I took a few ballroom classes here and there. I flirted with the idea of taking other dance classes, but I never made room in my schedule. And here I am, 6 years after I quit dance, dreaming of dancing again. Do you know what else? All these years I have dragged my dance stuff around with me. I still have my pointe shoes and ballet slippers and jazz and tap shoes. I still have leotards and tights and cozy dance sweaters. They are all in a bag that I have kept with me for six years. Because in my body, I am still a dancer. I've just been ignoring it. But I really do miss dancing. I'm sad that I let it go for so long. I feel like I've lost a part of who I am, even though I know it's still in there somewhere.

So can I still do it? How far have I regressed? Will my body remember what it was once able to do so easily? I have looked into taking an adult class around here. But it's expensive, and I'm not sure that I'm ready for people to see my body in a leotard and tights again! So I'm going to try to get a feel for my dancer's body again. How? With a little dvd called New York City Ballet: The Complete Workout, Vol. 1 and 2. I have requested it for Christmas. Do I expect to miraculously reclaim my 17-year-old dancer's body? No. But I'm hoping to feel strong and limber again by doing some plies and arabesques in my living room. And heavens knows I need to exercise more! It's a start, right?

Do you have dreams of reclaiming your former self?

a glimpse of the future

Have you seen those commercials for Honda's new fuel cell car? If you are like me, you stared at disbelief at the TV when the voice-over guy said it's only emmissions is water. Water?! How is that possible? So last night I did a little google search and checked out Honda's press releases. Earlier this month, Honda unveiled the FCX Clarity at the Los Angeles Auto Show. It will be for sale only in the LA area starting summer 2008. Of course, if things go well, it will be available more places.

So here's the deal: Instead of using gasoline, the car runs on converted hydrogen. "Hydrogen combines with atmospheric oxygen in the fuel cell stack, where chemical energy from the reaction is converted into electric power used to propel the vehicle. Additional energy captured through regenerative braking and deceleration is stored in the lithium ion battery pack, and used to supplement power from the fuel cell, when needed. The vehicle's only emission is water." How freaking, amazing cool is that?

The next obvious question is where does one get the hydrogen? Well they of course have an answer to that too. Honda has come up with the Home Energy Station which uses a home's existing natural gas supply for production of hydrogen, while also providing heat and electricity to an average-size home! "Compared to the average U.S. consumer's home with grid-supplied electricity and a gasoline-powered car, a home using Home Energy Station IV to help produce heat and electricity and also to refuel an FCX Clarity can reduce CO₂ emissions by an estimated 30 percent and energy costs by an estimated 50 percent."

I think that is pretty darn fantastic, don't you? Wouldn't it be so nice never to go to a gas station again? And the efficiency is astounding. It can heat your house! I'm not a car geek at all, but this got me really excited for the future. I think this is a fabulous step in the right direction.

holiday weekend

I wanted to take a few pictures in the restaurant, but I felt too conspicuous. We were already the only white people there after all. So I settled with these outside shots in front of the restaurant.


We are dorks. I think the people inside were probably wondering why on earth we took pictures of each other in the parking lot.

Together

Our non-traditional Thanksgiving turned out to be really great. We had our Thanksgiving feast at this great Indian restaurant where they serve this awesome buffet. Man, were we stuffed! We were also the only white people there most of the time. Then this other couple came in with their son. You know it's good ethnic food when the vast majority of the customers are ethnic. Plus, most white people are having mashed potatoes and turkey on Thanksgiving. But I liked our dinner better!

After dinner we went to the movies to see August Rush. It was pretty good. I would recommend waiting until it's out on DVD though. It had it's touching moments, but they just didn't quite pull it off. And they really stretched believability at several points. But the cast is good which made it likable. It was fun to see Keri Russell in something again. If you want to read a good, honest review click here.

Friday morning I actually ventured out into the mayhem that is Black Friday shopping. It was my first time doing so. I went to Bed, Bath, and Beyond because we have store credit there and needed some things. I got a hand mixer, a popcorn popper, a duvet cover and shams, and a full length mirror. Everything was 20% off before 10 am. Then I went into Kohl's which is next door to scope out some clothes for Jared for Christmas. They had some seriously awesome deals, and I'm having a hard time not showing Jared what I got him! In fact, I caved and gave him one shirt early. Just a plain long sleeve t-shirt though.

Saturday we mostly just hung out at home. We watched two installments of The Up Series. It's a documentary started in 1963. The filmmakers have followed the lives of 14 British school children from the time they were 7 in 1963 until now. They go visit the kids every 7 years. We only have one more to watch. The latest film was made in 2005 when they were 49 years old. It's really fascinating to see how they have grown and changed over the years and what they've made of their lives. Very fascinating. We have really started to care about these people.

Sunday, Jared and I actually sang in Church together with two other people. We sang a beautiful arrangement of Come Thou Fount. It was so fun to be able to do that together. Jared has a really nice voice. It went well. If anyone is interested, here is the arrangement we sang.

All in all, it was a lovely, restful holiday weekend. Tell me, how was yours?

week of thanksgiving, day 4, THANKSGIVING DAY

On this blessed holiday when we celebrate the Pilgrims coming to America and remember to be thankful for all we have and stuff ourselves full of lots of food, I am thankful for Indians (from India), especially the ones who provided the food today with which I stuffed myself. Man, they know how to cook some yummy food. I don't really know what most of it was, but it was delicious!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

week of thanksgiving, day 3

1. I am thankful for autumn. For the beautiful leaves that turn yellow and orange and red. I grew up in Ohio where the falls colors are spectacular. And then I spent 6 autumns in Utah, where it is just not the same. Mostly because Utah is lacking the right kind of trees. And then I moved here, and I have been looking forward to fall colors all year. Unfortunately the drought has made them less vibrant that usual, but it has still been great. And I have been obsessed with taking pictures of the trees.

2. I am thankful for the wonderful relationship I have with my step-children. And also that our relationship with their mother is so good. I have heard horror stories, and I have to say that other than living far away right now, our situation is almost ideal. No court battles. No evil-speaking of the other parent. We may not be best of friends, but there is mutual respect all around.

3. I am thankful I will be seeing lots of family and friends over Christmas.

4. I am thankful for my bed. It is fantastically comfy.

5. I am thankful for my husband. He treats me like a queen. And he's really fun. And smart. And hot! And he doesn't get upset that he has yet to beat me at Skip-bo. I'm rootin for ya, honey! Next time I'm sure you'll win.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

There is a high possibility that I may not blog over the holiday. Or maybe I will. We'll see.

week of thanksgiving, day 2

1. I am thankful for my healthy body. I really need to exercise it more, but I like my body and am thankful for what it can do.

2. I am thankful that I don't have to dye my hair. Hair color is so expensive and doesn't last long enough.

3. I am also thankful that I can get away with leaving the house with wet hair. I am way too lazy to blow dry my hair when it is this long. (And in case anyone is wondering, the picture on the right was taken after I came home from the hair salon. And my hair hasn't been straight since then!)

4. I am thankful that I have always had enough to eat. And that I really enjoy food, but don't have an unhealthy relationship with it. I am grateful that I know what foods are good for me but don't deprive myself of the yummy (less than healthy) foods in life. If eating chocolate and ice cream means I'll never be a size 2, that's okay with me!

5. I am thankful for my husband's cooking skills. He is amazing. I am a very lucky girl.

week of thanksgiving, day 1

In honor of the Day of Thanks, aka Turkey Day, aka the Day of Eating-Entirely-Too-Much-Food, I am going to display some of what I'm grateful for each day here on my blog. Because it's good to be grateful. Dear old Gordon Hinckley said so.


1. I am thankful for my job. It's low key and low stress.

2. I am thankful for rejuvenating days spent mostly in bed watching movies and such with my lover. I need those every once in a while, and I got one this weekend.

3. I am thankful for movies like Amazing Grace that tell a true story of heroism. We watched this during the above-mentioned day spent mostly in bed, and I HIGHLY recommend it. Very inspiring and well-done. It tells the story of William Wilberforce, a British politician who for 20 years (1787-1807) campaigned to abolish the Slave Trade. 20 years, people! Talk about persistence!

4. I'm thankful for beautiful, inspiring music. The movie's title comes from the famous hymn, which was actually written by a former slave ship captain who became a preacher and friend of Wilberforce. That song gives me chills every time.

5. I'm thankful for my freedom. The incredible thing is that there is still slavery in the world today. An organization inspired by Wilberforce is one of several trying to raise awareness. Check it out at TheAmazingChange.com.

my parents on an adventure

My beautiful mother...

And my handsome father...

Recently spent several days backpacking through the Grand Canyon.
How cool are they?


I stole some of their pictures off shutterfly to show you.
It is so gorgeous!

I want to go on an adventure. How about you?