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| and the road turns |
| 06.30.05 (4:16 pm) [edit] |
it looks like I'll be working at Eddie Bauer part-time (I'm getting a call next Tuesday after they check references). I also have an interview at Andrea's, a local boutique, as a waitress tomorrow. I've continued to swim regularly. I've been very emotional lately, crying/ getting really mad. I think some of it may be hormones, but the rest, I think I let things get to me. Last week, Kenny (my brother) was robbed on the job. He went to deliver a pizza, noone answered the door (they were suspicious of the order before they even sent him out!), and a young guy threatened him with a gun. Kenny gave him the pizzas ($40 worth) and the guy ran off. He called the police when he got back to the store, and they caught the guy! I guess the neighborhood Kenny went to was one of the worst in Kenosha- a lot of drug and gang problems. I'm having a hard time having mercy on this guy. I really hope that someone reaches out to him and shows him love and alternatives to the choices he's made. But I'm also very upset, because I think more than anything, he was being lazy. I know I'm having a hard time finding a job, but that's because I'm picky and also have money saved up and am making plans for a full-time one in a couple months. I know that if that guy was hungry, he could have gone to the soup kitchen, or gotten a job. I do believe we're responsible for caring for each other, but that does not mean taking something that is not yours. Kenny isn't even rich! He works part-time, and earns the money that he spends on car insurance. I know there are a lot of issues regarding why someone would some to the point of holding someone up, but I don't want to discuss that right now. I don't want to justify that guy's actions to the point that 'society' made him do it. That does not excuse the fact that he put my brother's life in danger, nearly gave my mom a heart attack, etc., etc..So here are some more pictures. Once again, I'm going from beginning to end, but this first set is after the bottom. It is at the KOA near Williams, AZ- and we didn't have a tent, so we stayed at a cabin, and here it is! I thought it was the cutest thing, and the closet thing to our first home (minus being married and minus owning it)! There are even irises out front. We swam and went to sleep early to get up for the Grand Canyon. Our first glimpse of it is shown here. The sky was surely pretty that day. Also, the times listed are camera-time, aka- PST. I don't remember if Arizona was PST or Mountain time. I think Arizona is a state exempt from daylight savings.  I actually think those pics at the gas station in the last blog were in California- because I thought Needles was in Arizona, but it wasn't- just near the border. Railroads, telehpne poles, and other electricty poles were all popular bystanders to I-40. Also, it was still pretty hilly in the area- notice the hill cut out in the middle to make room for the road? 
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| 6 Comments |
| road trip pics |
| 06.28.05 (12:36 pm) [edit] |
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In the next few entries, i will chronicle A's and my road trip from California to Wisconsin. the Grand Canyon takes up most of the pics because 1)it is beautiful 2)we ran out of room on the memory card. On Wednesday, June 8th, Aaron went to work by 6 a.m., I finished last-minute errands, and I picked him up at noon. It was a hot, sunny day. I thought it might be a long time before I saw that blinding California sun (it turns out it is a Southwestern sun). We managed to stop at an In-N-Out on the way out of California, where it is mostly desert and hardly (business)life. It was yummy. If you choose to go fat food, In-N-Out at least doesn't freeze anything (maybe icecream)- it's cool how they slice the potatoes that day. Anyways, we brought snacks and water, and usually one full meal a day. Now, Aaron has the actually notes on what we were thinking/noticed along the way, so ask him for details. I'll do my best with the photos. I'm starting with the beginning of the trip. so the bottom is the first set, and eventually, you'll be able to look bottom-up to experience it )kind of ) how we did, or top-down as a mad reverse of things (maybe we'll turn paler). So here it goes: This gas station-place is in Arizona- our first stop for gas, I believe. It was very hot and very windy and the most expensive gas on the trip ($2.69/gal, I believe- we got 3.5 gals- enough to hopefully get a lower price ahead). The sign for a hotel foreshadowed much of Arizona- worn down. Obviously full of life at some point decades ago. This decay has been attributed to major interstates routing drivers past the towns on Route 66. But despite this decay, many exits site 'Rte 66,' and it seems like people really want you to bring life back into their towns.  We saw many different types of landscapes- mostly hills and mountains in California and Western Arizona. Those clouds also looked cool. 
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| 8 Comments |
| from what I remember |
| 06.25.05 (7:43 am) [edit] |
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Last night, I dreamt of something I'll try to pull together for you. The people involved were Hope, Tan Dave, Chuck, and me. All I can remember now is that it was a big adventure and we were in a big city, but the worn-down part of town. I also remember a big parking structure, and the dimensions of it, how we started out on one side, went through it to our adventure in the city, and upon returning, went through a different way, and it was dirty and possibly dangerous, but we made it back to the place we were staying for the night, which was an old apartment that was falling apart. There was a sense that we often went on adventures together, or at least that we were on a big one at the time- and we were all good friends, with no romantic anything. The apartment had two bedrooms, and I didn't see the guys' but Hope and mine's had white walls, and I opened a door to a rather big bathroom, with a tub and everything, it had a lot of stuff in it (towels, etc., thrown about), but I guess it wasn't ours to use- it was like at hotels, when there are two locked doors, but if they're both open, you can walk in both wings . . . except there was only one door, and it was broken- it was about 5 inches to narrow, and when we locked it, there was a big gap that anyone could see through or probably get through to us and I was scared. The end for that. I think water is one of the best things in the world!! Yesterday, it was in the 90s (normal high this time is upper 70s- we made new records!) And very windy. If it wasn't windy, I don't know what I'd do!! The laundry dried really fast on the line. I guess that humidity also isn't as high as it's going to be soon. After I job-searched and came home, I swam and it was one of the best feelings ever! My dad came home from work shortly after, and joined me, and we listened to Benjamin Gate. I'm hoping to hear back from the school district- to possibly be a clerk for summer school. My mom has the day off, and we plan on going to the Farmer's Market and a local craft fair. I don't know if we'll find anything, but since my mom normally works on Saturdays, it's nice to go to places she normally can't. She and my dad are canoeing. I could have gone with, but I opted out, hoping they'd have a good time alone. |
| 8 Comments |
| here and now |
| 06.23.05 (5:28 pm) [edit] |
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Here are some ways in which my life is how I have and have not expected it to be: Family: They're fun and loving. I forgot what it was like to live under someone's rules. It's fine doing chores and helping out- I want to, but there's also a pressure to stay around here or work for a big-name company. It is nice getting dental-work done.(under my dad's insurance). So for the time-being I feel like I'm in the right place- spending quality time with my family. I get enough sleep- I'm asleep by 11, and wake up at 5:30- which seems like what my body wants. now just to get a job . . . Work: I thought I'd be in Africa by now. Being a missionary always fascinated me, and a teacher. I think I've wimped out on both- they take so much work- and do I have what it takes? I still want to go teach overseas- hopefully soon- but I'm tired of moving- i love new people, new things, but won't someone come with me? Do I have to go alone? Some openings this fall in Poland look particularly appealing, but with still no job this summer, I feel bad looking for work in the fall. Plus, I don't feel like I know who I am or what I should be doing. I miss California, but can I go back is my career's not going anywhere there, and I don't have insurance? Boyfriend: Sharing has been good- not boyfriends, but food, etc.. When I was in fourth grade, I had to imagine high school, and I imagined going to the mall with friends and sharing a shake with a boyfriend. That didn't really happen. I started dating my senior year in high school, but it wasn't like that- it was hanging out with minimal physical contact- I wore a baseball cap so he had to stay inches away from me at least. Anyways, it's always great sharing food and shakes with Aaron. We had a cherry one in Texas. I think we have half a stomach each. I never imagined relationships taking so much work- how important talking was- not just talking with words, but expressing feelings, things deep-down. It's hard. Friends: My friends are great- smart, fun, good to talk with. I am just very inconsiderate way too often. For example, when I move to a new place, it's pretty easy for me to start over, meet new people, but maintaining contact with established friends is always a struggle. When I remember them, I don't immediately call or e-mail, I just think about them and pray for them, and then feel guilty I haven't talked with them for so long, so the clock keeps ticking . . . It's not an excuse, but I've found that it's much easier for me start something than to continue it. As far as finishing something, if it's getting over someone, or clear-cut,I can usually do it with a clear cut (but maybe not closure). The example I'm thinking of is boyfriends. For the most part, I've known when they're not right for me, and have broken up with them rather quickly- I've only been dumped once. It's just once I've gotten into something, it's hard to maintain (is it for everyone?) because the hard work and the not-so-fun hits. This causes me to run, or at least want to. That does not help the situation. I hope to make more friends with women at church. Health: I never expected to have root canals done, ever, because I never really thought about it 'til it happened. Brushing and flossing didn't save me. By the end of this summer, I'll have a total of 5 done in my life. The good thing is that I'm covered by my dad's insurance 'til the end of the summer, and I'm in a state that I can use the insurance. Even with money in savings, i don't have enough to cover what the bill would have otherwise been, and if I get a full-time job this summer, it might have evened it out, but again, I'd have nothing left- which is OK because a lot of people are in that situation, and I'm not above anyone. Other than teeth, I think I'm pretty healthy- I could exercise some more, and take my vitamins (Christmas gift). Sanity: I've been sad and angry and confused lately. I don't know why I don't have a job yet, etc. I'm about as sane as I've ever expected. hopefully things will make sense as time progresses. |
| 7 Comments |
| Stipanuks |
| 06.18.05 (1:30 pm) [edit] |
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Aaron and I made it to Wisconsin around 4:30 last Saturday- in time for the annual 'Ruffalos Reunion.' It's the Stipanuk side of the family, my dad's mom's family. Her parents (my great-grandparents, and the oldest of the kids came from Ukraine 80+ years ago. A couple things that characterize these relatives are that they are tall (even the women reach 6 feet) and are smart (I think a majority of them are or have been teachers). I'm tired of computers and am hungry, so that's all about them for now, except that we eat pizza every year together, and at other times, go to one of my aunt's houses. these particular relatives live in Canada (the older ones) and the couple with the girl live in Texas. The dad/grandpa is Clark Pinnock, a doctor/theologian who's written books even found in NCU's library (one's about grace). The daughter/mother is my second cousin, and I've always looked up to her. I remember when I was in elementary school, I thought we looked related, and I was excited because we both liked sausage pizza. She and her husband, Nile, have traveled a lot, and now live in Texas, and are still getting used to having a child (she's almost 2). You can really tell the little girl's parents are smart because of all of the clever things she says, she just seems very aware of what's going on. So that's it. here they are: 
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| 12 Comments |
| down South |
| 06.16.05 (9:32 pm) [edit] |
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one of my best friends, upon my return to my hometown, asked me if we'd (aaron and i) had gone south on our roadtrip. my mind must have grown perverted, because i really thought she was asking if we had had sex (no) so i hesitated because that seemed like an absurd question, but as i started to answer, it was clear that she was talking about the southern states, specifically rural Alabama, where she had heard scary stories about. ignoring m mind being in the gutter, it could be that my family and friends here tend to be much more subtle than my Californian friends. Aaron pointed that out- all of the facial expressions, etc., hold so much meaning- and we often say so much with little or new words. This helped aaron understand m background more, and it made me more aware of it. I don't have a solid history of communicating. it's definitely improved through the years, but mostly out of necessity. I still have a hard time getting over the (false) notion that if someone wants to talk about something important, than it's a sign that things aren't working or I'm doing an awful job or something similarly devastating. I can be so paranoid and uptight sometimes! i've gotta get going- I've been rearranging my bedroom. my CA boxes and bags are half-unpacked, so the room looks a wreck. I've got the furniture where I want it now, so it's beginning to take form. the next room project will be decorating- I've got posters, etc., and I'll see if I can tie my girlhood with my 20s. Kenosha's good, my family's fun, and tomorrow I'll probably get new tires. |
| 3 Comments |
| a wedding |
| 06.16.05 (12:39 pm) [edit] |
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Saturday, June 4th, I witnessed a beautiful wedding of a few friends of mine. And by 'I,' I mean a good number of us. Brett and Autumn are very uplifting, easy-going people. I knew them both through Circle Church, and through friends. Brett lived in the 'guys house' where Aaron also lived. Autumn was in Aaron's math class. They are both in the church band, etc. It had been cloudy and cool in the days proceeding the Big Day. I was a little worried. There was a Bachelor's party the same night as the Bachelorette's. The guys went to an arcade/restaurant and the girls hung out at Autumn's place. It was fun, and the guys showed up when it was beginning to get late. Everone just hung out and talked, and I was really warm and tired, so before long, we headed out. We may have ended up at the movies that night (Madagascar- definitely a lot of adult humor, a movie I wouldn't take a kid to, because I don't think there are enough kid-jokes to make it worth it; I laughed a lot). I'm pretty sure that's what happened, so Aaron, Ed, Nicole, Cory- correct me if I'm wrong. Autumn wore a beautiful, sleeveless creamy ivory? color, that was very flattering with her skintone (pale, freckles & red hair). Her hair was pulled back with curls. Brett had a beard. They rented a place at someone's house- the front yard served as the ceremony, with the porch as the officiating area. The backyard held the reception. In-between were jars full of homemade cookies, and the drink area. They played a French-lovey CD most of the afternoon. The decorations were variations of purple, with a light pink and white, also. The tables looked great with ivy surrounding the white candles as centerpieces. Autumn had wrapped copperwire and a few beads on all of the candles, and they looked great. She and Brett had also made presents for everyone, wrapping boxes with decorative purple floral paper, and a ribbon and daisies and a tag that read: "He loves me, he loves me not. He loves me, so we tied the knot! Autumn and Brett June 4th, 2005" Inside were Knott's Berry Farm cookies, which are local, and knot/knott. Another cute idea they had was tying little bells onto the champagne glasses, so instead of tapping the glass with a fork, you just shook it, and you could get the couple to kiss. It's the first time I had champagne, and it's better than I expected. It was very carbonated, and had that gross alcohol flavor, but also, something sweet and fruit-like. I wasn't able to finish the glass. I decided a long time ago, but still stand by not wanting alcohol at my wedding (if I get married). Part of the reason is that my parents don't drink, and my dad's grandpa in fact died because of drinking too much. On a lighter note, the wedding was beautiful, and it was nice seeing people from church and friends dressed up. Aaron looked especially nice- with a navy jacket and a maroon (well more of a deep red, I think) shirt, glasses . . . sigh Aaron and I were able to help set up and both Brett and Autumns family were nice to work with. They're blessed to have them. |
| 6 Comments |
| here's a taste |
| 06.12.05 (8:50 pm) [edit] |
this is our road trip in pictures, the top being our final destination. Both Aaron and I "drew."   
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| 9 Comments |
| arrived |
| 06.12.05 (6:48 pm) [edit] |
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Aaron and I made it to Wisconsin safely. Sadly, we can't download the pictures here, but soon I'll write about it, and our friends' wedding the previous weekend.
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| 1 Comments |
| a short summary of a long trip |
| 06.08.05 (11:35 am) [edit] |
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Any minute now I'm finishing up last minute errands, and then Aaron and I will be on our road trip of the summer. Along the way, we get to see a fast version of the Grand Canyon (as in a half-day), and such southern states as New Mexico. We also get to experience t-storms in unfamiliar terrain!! |
| 4 Comments |
| a new place |
| 06.01.05 (2:34 pm) [edit] |
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MATH GEOMETRY TRIG MATH MATH MATH MATH!!! For as much as I enjoy math, I've had too much of it lately. I've been helping a student study for SAT II in Math, and it's been beyond me. I normally have a book or examples to work with, but this has been a lot of research on my own, which unfortunately hasn't been totally successful. There was one problem: (a+b)+5i=9+ai b=? That took me way too long. It's a prime example of me making things more difficult than they have to be. Today, I've spent quite a while on circles, searching for formulas and examples, now finally finding a bit of what I was looking for . . . (chords- basically a line through a circle that's not the diameter). So today's mostly research and tutoring, a little laundry and a Bible study. Yesterday was a big day for Aaron. It was his first official day in his new apartment (aka move everything out of old place) AND his first day at his new job (aka straightening pipes). He also was sick- pretty badly. Mostly his stomach and a fever (we read it at 100.7 at night- who knows if it had been warmer). I think he's doing alright, 'cause he said he'd call if he didn't go to work, and he hasn't. His (and by 'his, I mean 'and Ed's and Kyle's') new place is starting to look put together. Nothing's unpacked yet, but there is some furniture and enough stuff to make it look liveable. Still no fridge yet, but details, details . . . This next week will be crazy, with me having a little less work (aka in schools) but more to do. I'm trying to plan where to stop on the way to Wisconsin, but still do the trip in 3 days or so (Aaron's a working man, needs to get back soon!) I'm also trying to balance packing with a room that still looks lived in until the last minute. It makes me sad to see packed boxes. I was also sad this morning because Aaron doesn't live next door anymore, so we can't eat breakfast together as easily. It's not something we did every day, but it was so convenient to see each other. His new place is 2 miles away, and we still go to Bible studies together, so it's not bad yet- not until we're 2,000 miles away. . . But I am happy with going home for the summer. I'm also excited to be going to a wedding this weekend for Brett and Autumn, some awesome friends here. |
| 1 Comments |