Bat Dog

My dog Henry.
This makes me laugh every time I see it.

Random thoughts on current politics

Oh I am so obsessed with politics right now, well I guess I am always obsessed with politics but this is the rare time where I get to make a choice. I keep an eye on politics all of the time and not just during election season. I think that helps create my choice. I know that during election season things get hyped and turned around and 1/2 of what you hear isn't true.

I do know that this current administration has helped to ruin lives of people who are near me and has also had it's horrible affects on my family as well. I may feel it more since I live in Michigan. I do know that I don't agree with much of what W does, maybe 2% which is a lot less than McCain, so I won't be voting for him.

I think it's interesting that 100% of McCain's current commericals are negative, and mostly attack Obama's character, where Obama's commericals are 33% negative and attack issues. I mean if we are going to attack character, I certainly wouldn't choose a man who cheated habitually on his handicapped wife and left her for a rich beauty queen and also was involved in one of the largest politcal scandals of the last 30 years. I am just sayin.

I think it's interesting that people keep saying that Republicans are against big government, yet McCain proposes more taxes than Obama. Also how is it big government means, don't touch my money but it's okay to make moral judgements. I certainly know I don't want politicians in Washington telling me what is morally right, or is good for my family.

Anyway those are just a few of my thoughts as of this moment. I could go on and on and on.

Obedience

The last two weeks have been insanely busy for me. September 21st was the Detroit AIDS Walk. I have poored my heart into this event, into the people that participate, into that people it effects. As a Christian I sometimes get so upset that we (as a group) judge way too much and love way too little. I feel that the gay community feels this quite a bit from the Christian community. Jesus loves them and so do I. This years AIDS Walk was amazing. It's been 5 years of Royal Oak Vineyard Church, being obedient and being involved. It hasn't always been easy but God did use us this year and it was so wonderful. We served hotdogs to over 500 people and had a rocking band and people stopped to eat and dance.
The next weekend following was the The Cause conference, which is a regional church planting conference for the Vineyard churches. Our church hosted and put on the conference. I lead the hospitality. And like me, I went beyond what I should have and wore myself out. I think it was a good conference from the moments I did get to see.
This week I have been so tired. I can't wait for Saturday. I am not doing anything, and I don't plan too. I can't wait.

That we may be SAVED!

Restore us, LORD God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.
Psalms 80:17

This is my new favorite bible verse. I think I pray it like 50 times a day, and that's only a slight exageration. When I pray this I can visualize the Lord shining down his beautiful light of truth and freedom on me and saving me. He sets us free from bondage and sin and that is restoration! I love this verse, did I mention that yet? I love God better.
The other day the Lord told me to draw this verse. Excuse me what? I don't draw, I can barely color in the lines. But I did it, and it was amazing. Not the drawing, not at all, but the experience. It was like I was experiencing his light shining in a whole new way. Visual stuff is good for people like myself. Sometimes being obedient to silly things often are the most amazing moments. He restores, and he saves! He does, just ask. And if your not in a place where you can pray this for yourself, ask me, cause I will pray this for you!!!!

Canadian mermaid

If mermaids were real, I would be one. Seriously.
This weekend I went to Oliphant, Ontario which if you don't know your Canadian geography, and even if you do know your Canadian geography you probably still don't know where Oliphant is. It is in the south portion of the Bruce Penninsula and is on the coast line of Lake Huron. I went with four of my dear girl friends and we stayed at my friend Allie's family cottage. The cottage was beautiful and relaxing and I had a wonderful time hanging out with the girls, shopping, playing silly games, eating good food, and giggling a lot. My favorite part of the weekend though was swimming in lake Huron with Allie and Christina. The water was so clean and warm. And for some reason I feel so free and most like myself when I am in water. One reason is, I don't have much physical pain when I am in water. Also it is so refreshing and relaxing. If my body would let me, I think I could live the majority of my life in water. I would be a real good mermaid. Really.

Piña colada Trifle

Okay, I have come up with a really easy, no bake, yummy summer dessert that I expect you all to try and report back to me on. Sorry that I don't have any pictures. I will take pictures the next time I make it, promise.

1 Sara Lee or Entemans pound cake or you can use about 20 lady fingers
some rum ( I say some because we all have different levels, I like a lot, about a cup)
1 large packet of vanilla instant pudding
3 cups of whole milk
2 cups of sweetened shreaded cocunut
1 can crushed pineapple
1 large container of cool whip

Poke holes in your cake with a toothpick and drizzle at least 2 shots of rum on the cake, and I like to add a little rum to the pudding, if you are using lady fingers dip the cookies in the rum in a pie dish.
Make the vanilla pudding with the 3 cups of milk and rum (optional) and mix in 1 1/2 cups of cocunt.
Layer the trifle with cake, pudding, pineapple, cool whip in that order, about 3 layers.
Toast the remaider 1/2 cup of cocunut and top trifle. You can also put some marcino cherries on top as well. Told you it was easy.
Oh and it doesn't matter what kind of rum you use, I use light or pineapple rum.

Tanks

I haven't posted in a while. The main reason is because I have started a new job and when I get home I don't really spend a lot of time on the computer. It's summer baby, lots to do.
I first want to say that I feel really blessed and very thankful to the Lord. I feel like things are finally starting to make sense. It's a good thing. I am also thankful to my Dad and his friend Sue who worked really hard to get me this job. And the good news is I like the job, a lot. I feel productive and it's nice not having people yell at me all day. I am working at General Dynamics, they are a defense contractor for the government. I work for the Land Systems part of the company, we make tanks. I don't personally make the tanks, but without me the tanks wouldn't get made. Well without someone doing my job. I am not a big fan of war, so this was an interesting job for me to take, but I do believe in defense and know that what I do and the choices the government makes are not the same.
The best thing about my job is that it's not micromanaged hell. It's weird being able to go to lunch when your hungry and to get up from my desk when I need to without people keeping time of how long I've been away. I feel like I am much more productive which is what the micro-managers think is what they produce but they don't.
It's been a busy summer, but fun for the most part. Hope you are all enjoying your summer.

The girls enjoying the summer sun!

Happy 4th of July

I hope you are celebrating your independence today. I am working. It is my last day working for Perot systems, my last day taking calls from angry VW owners. I am very excited. I start a new job on Tuesday. I am really excited. I feel like I am getting a new start, it is really exciting. I used the word excite a lot.
I will be going to the lake and hanging out on the boat after work and enjoy some fireworks. That should be good times. Have a safe and happy holiday weekend.

Being Created

This week I had a revelation from the Lord. It was so energetic to me. The Lord told me that he is still creating us. Sounds simple huh? For me, I guess in my mind it was like the Lord created me, I was born, he drew me to him and now I do my best to follow him. Sounds about right too? But I felt like the Lord said he never stopped creating me. It's this process of creation and it doesn't stop when your born. And amazing things happen when you let the Lord create. It's not easy for us because we are creatures of habit and get comfortable and find idenities in being something or another and God keeps creating. The Lord showed me that our idenity in him means that our idenity as a person is never the same because he is constantly working and if we are rooted in him we are moving and growing and changing. So it's okay to have growing pains, and be unsure sometimes about ourselves because it's part of being created.

Chicken Fried Bacon

Only in Texas! I think this is illegal in some states.

I didn't know pets sweat!

And if they do why would you buy it in a bottle, I am thinking that this is lost in translation!

Break

I finished the spring quarter! Not sure I did great on the final, but I did learn some stuff, so that's good. I am taking the summer quarter off. I am a little overwhelmed with life right now and am trying to set limits. I am coordingating the AIDS WALK event for my church again this year which is a big event and takes a lot of time and effort. I love this event though and am excited about it. I am also on the planning committee for a conference our church is hosting and I just took over leadership for the hospitality team at church. Not to mention I do have a job and a family. SO I have been busy. Busy is good, especially when you are doing things you love. I don't have an major summer plans, as you can see I will be too busy to go away but I am sure there will be little trips and activities.

Gummy Bear Anatomy

David Sedaris is so funny!

Your new book has a painting by Vincent Van Gogh on the cover of a skeleton smoking a cigarette. How'd you pick that?
DAVID SEDARIS: I got a postcard of it when I was in Amsterdam. I kept that postcard for a long time, and I kept pulling it out and looking at it.

Did you go see the actual painting itself in Amsterdam?I like museum gift shops, not the museums themselves.

Why?
Because in the gift shop you can walk out with something. In the museum you can't. [Laughs] Anyway, I think people will be shocked to know that it's a Van Gogh painting. Best thing he ever did. Army bases don't want to carry the book, or don't want to display it. Because they think it's a joint the skeleton is smoking. The publisher at Little Brown had to explain to them that this was before joints. This is just what cigarettes looked like. What's funny is the idea, Oh, we don't want to corrupt those Army men. [Laughs raucously]

Song Writing

My friend Allie and I have been talking about writing a song together for months. This Sunday we finally got together to write a song, and my mind was blank. Thanks to Rebecca and Allie pulling out all the stuff God is doing in my life, a song appeared. We wrote a worship song! The exciting part is I acutally like it, no I love it. It's raw and real and still glorifies God. My other friend Allie, (yes I have two friends named Allie and they are best friends) thinks that it may not be congregational becuase it is personal.( she by the way thinks that is okay) So I started thinking about all the worship songs that we sing at church and think that some of the best ones are the personal type. What do you think? Do you think worship songs sung at church need to be congregational ( worship to God from the group) I really want to hear. Also maybe the song will be on here soon, hopefully.

Luke and Maya

Here are some new pictures of my nephew and niece. They are so cute!!!!!
Maya doesn't like the sun or the wind, so she has to wear her floppy hat and sunglasses when outside. Why this face, why not?

The MOLE

Okay, so tonight my favorite reality show is back! The Mole! I loved this show, a little sad Anderson Cooper is not hosting, but I will still be watching. If you love this show and are interested in watching together let me know! When it used to be on I used to watch with a group of friends and it was really fun! I love the Mole because it is a game and is very similar to Clue which is the only board game I really liked as a kid.

Gifts

I had this dream the other day (yes I have a lot of dreams)and I can't get it out of my mind. In the dream it was a long hot season and I hate the heat, I mean hate! I am rarely ever cold but always warm, I am hot blooded. (And I am glad that I got the song in your mind) Back to my dream, I am wanting a swimming pool so that I can have moments of relief from the heat and I really enjoy swimming but I can't afford a pool and my backyard is not set up for a pool due to weird wires (which is actually true) and I am praying for relief, and I look over to my neighbor and they are digging a huge hole in their ground. I walk over to my neighbor and I ask "what's going on with the big hole?" My neighbor answers, "we are building a pool." And I answer, "wow, I thought that you couldn't afford a new pool" and the neighbor says "we can't but we can't handle heat so we decided to build a pool" And I leave upset that they didn't invite me to share the pool and that they get relief and I don't. But I decide to keep praying and wait it out. The next day I wake up and look over to the neighbors house and they are almost done with the pool, but the workers have all stopped digging and are sitting there starring out into the distance and I walk over and look and it is the most amazing picture ever, I see a blue ocean surronded by beautiful snow covered mountains and beautiful flowers surronding the ocean. It was amazing and beautiful and right in my backyard. I know, wow right? I am going to be super honest here, there are so many things I want for my life that I feel like I have been praying forever for and I keep being told to wait, and it's getting hard seeing others around me either getting or taking what they desperatly want or need. But then I have this dream and I am reminded that what I can give myself is nowhere near what God has in store for me and that He sees me, and he knows that I am waiting. I love the part in my dream that my gift from God can be enjoyed by others too, my neighbors can enjoy the ocean and mountains. I feel this is true for the gifts God gives. I am praying that I will be able to hold tight to the things he has for me and I pray this for all my friends that I see who are desperatly needing something from the Lord.

The Gospel according to John

I just had a test on Tuesday on the Johnnine books, which are all the books written by the Apostle John which are the Gospel John (maybe, there is discussion if he actually wrote it), 1John, 2John, 3John and Revelations. We had this amazing lecturer who had this idea that Lazarus could be the beloved disciple and not John. After re-reading John, I find myself thinking it could of been. They call Lazarus "the one Jesus loved" every time they mention him, and there was most likely more than the 12 at the last supper, ( the beloved was at the last supper) and the kicker is the beloved was with the Mary's at the tomb, but it says the 12 ran back, so it would be weird that John left and than came back to the tomb. Anyway just a thought. It is cool to think that maybe there are things that are left to explore. I find myself loving the theology of the bible much more than I ever thought I did. It's kind of weird. I remember liking the topical classes before when I was in Master's Commission, now it's just the opposite. I guess people really do change.

Nacho Nacho

It was a great birthday party! It was a Nacho - Nacho birthday! The first picture is a bunch of us wearing Mexican moustaches and the second picture is Josh and I blowing out birthday candles. There was 2 pinatas and we watched Nacho Libre on my garage. As my niece Maya says "FUN!"

Also for some reason I think I look really cute in the bottom picture, in a young fun person way!

Luke napping

Looking to Hannah

"The LORD brings death and makes alive;
he brings down to the grave and raises up."


My life given over to him
the passions and joy
love and sorrow
he restores my soul
listens to my cries
holds me close
and gives new life

she returned the gift
sacrificed with a joyful heart
knew his plan was better
layed down her hope
rejoiced in giving the love of her life
to him

wanting, seeking, needing to be like Hannah

Swell Season

This saturday I am going with a group of friends to see the Swell Season show. I am so excited! If you have seen the movie Once, than you know the music. If you haven't seen the movie Once, go rent it right now! Seriously, I love this music. This movie is so fresh, and the music is amazing and the characters are relatable and lovable. So thank you Cheryl Lynn who lives in Chicago and told me that the show was coming to Royal Oak Michigan.

Sunday the fam will be celebrating mother's day/my birthday in which I plan on making mango belinis. Oh yes. I will be celebrating the birthday a few times this year. My friend Josh and I are having a big old Fiesta May 17th, if you want to come and I for some reason did not send you an evite, or you never opened your evite, let me know!
So it's a celebrating few weeks to come and I am ready!

One word

In college we did these poems with one word lines, and they are my favorite! So here is a new one!

hallow
wasted
week
sometimes
holy
focused
hopeful
future
seeking
clouded
taken
stand
tall
beyond
hype
further
happiness
soft
joy

A little late

April is poetry month, so I thought I should write something. I will try to add a few more this week, my poetry month will carry over to May, which is my birthday month! If you have a poem, attach it, I would love to read it!

Enough

not so bright eyed
enthusiasm has faded
truth has settled
I know this is going to be work

no easy choices
but choices indeed
to allow them to see inside
even if just for a moment

stregnth lies strong inside me
it has shown true in the past
but my will lies dead
show me how to revive it

unlock my fear of staying
being just enough

Serving lessons

This Sunday we had our first Servefest at church. We met for about 2 worship songs, prayed and then separated in groups to serve the community in different ways. I helped in two different groups. I made cookies Sat night for the kids to take to the fireman. They first frosted them of course. I also helped with the brunch we hosted for the homeless and people who may have less. A different group actually comes in and serves lunch every Saturday to this same group of people at our church. We serve every quarter and I usually am a part of that group. We just served a few weeks ago so I had remembered quite a few of the people. One of the ladies who was there a few weeks ago was there again yesterday. This lady was kind of harsh to a few of us last time we saw her. This time was totally different. She brought up our church announcement sheet and asked about the singles mom dinner we host and if she could come and I told her of course. And then she said something that has been repeating in my head all day, "your church is spoiling us, you know we are going to get used to this" It was sweet and sad at the same time. We have fed her and her friends a few times and have learned her name and shared grace to her on maybe a not so great day and this is "spoiling." I receive grace and kind words everyday and I expect it. It's a challenge to me, not only to reach out to my community more and all the people who are a part of the community but to not take advantage of the kindness that is given to me so freely by others.

My favorite Brunch Recipe

I have taken a recipe for Creme Brulee french toast and made it my own, here it is

1 stick of butter
1 cup dark brown sugar
2 T light corn syrup
1 loaf of round Hawaiian bread
5 large eggs
1 1/2 cups of half and half
1 T Grand Marnier
1 t vanilla
1/4 t salt
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

In a small heavy saucepan, melt butter with brown sugar and corn syrup over medium heat, sturring, until smooth. Pour into a 13 by 9 by 2 inch baking dsih.Place nuts on top of syrup if using. Cut 1 inch pieces of bread. (I cut the loaf in half, cut of the edges and use the 1 inch slices) Arange bread sllices in one layer. In a bowl whisk together eggs, half and half, vanilla, Grand Marnier, and salt until combined well and pour evenly over bread. Chill bread mixture, covered, at least 8 hours. I always make it the night before.

Preheat oven to 350 degress and bring bread to room temp. Bake uncovered in middle of oven until puffed and edges are pale golden, 35 to 40 min.

The best thing about this recipe besides the taste is that you make it the night before and all you do is bake it the next day. I like to serve with fresh berries and fresh whipped cream!

God loves Oprah!

I am not sure why so many Christians hate or shall I say extremely dislike Oprah. It seems like a lot of people feel threatened by her. I know that a lot of her beliefs are not Bibical, but why is that suprising? I think it may confuse people that she says she is a Christian but then she supports new age ideas. That is not that new though either. Oprah has a lot of influence on people and I think that is the threatening part. I understand that people are concerned that she is like a wolf in sheeps clothing and that she says she is a Christian and that she gives a lot to good causes but then she tells people to read new age stuff. But here is the thing, as Christians if we did our part by living lives that support what we say we believe than it wouldn't matter what Oprah said.
I don't mind Oprah at all. She keeps me on my toes and challenges me to back up my words with actions. I try not to let Oprah beat me out in giving (you can give without always giving money) or being kind. Of course giving and being kind doesn't make you a Christian, but it sure does make people ask questions. It comes down to I trust God for everything, so I can trust enough to give to others when possible, and I can trust that God is bigger than Oprah.

Because I have the CUTEST niece!

I love this picture and had to share with the blogging world!

Connecting to Ezra

THE GARDEN

En robe de parade.
Samain

Like a skien of loose silk blown against a wall
She walks by the railing of a path in Kensington Gardens,
And she is dying piece-meal
of a sort of emotional anaemia.

And round about there is a rabble
Of the filthy, sturdy, unkillable infants of the very poor.
They shall inherit the earth.

In her is the end of breeding.
Her boredom is exquisite and excessive.
She would like some one to speak to her,
And is almost afraid that I
will commit that indiscretion.


Ezra Pound

Dreams of Prophets

I started reading Ezekial last week and it is amazing. Ezekial has a dream (I have a feeling C.S. Lewis got some of his ideas for the creatures of Narnia from this dream) where 4 creatures come out of a fire ball, each creature has four faces and four wings, hoofed feet and the four faces were one of a human, lion, ox and eagle. The creatures have tongues of fire and a wheel of diamonds echo every move they make. Then comes a throne surronded by fire and the voice of God calls to Ezekial. The voice of God calls Ezekial to speak to the Israelites while they are captive in Babylon.

I have read the Bible straight through for school years ago but because it was for school I am not sure I really was focused on everything except for the questions I needed to know for the test. This time as I was reading I was blown away by this vision. I have had dreams of 4 headed animals since I read it last week. Seriously. Last night I had this dream that I was dreaming Ezekials dream and that we were dreaming at the same time and when I awoke (in the dream) I didn't hear the voice of God before I awoke but I felt his presence. I woke this morning wondering what God was saying to me. I am reading the rest of Ezekial as if there is a message in there for me. It's all so exciting and a bit scary. If you have any dream translations, bring them on!

Single and Satisfied

Last week my pastor started a sermon series on love and marriage. He started the series with a sermon called Single and Satisfied. It was very good. My friend who is single gave a "testimony" I guess you could call it that on how she has become single minded and focused on the Lord. In the sermon my pastor mentioned how as humans we tend to have a "the grass is greener" mentality. I think especially in America, it is so true. I love most things about my life. I really do. I love the freedom I have to do what I want when I want to for the most part. I mean there are limitations to everything. But if I want to go to Nashville next month and have the money to go, I can. I love how I have so many wonderful friends who I can spend a lot of time with and I can be very flexible with my schedule.

I also know that relationships are hard work, and I see people in marriages working really hard. I know that is what it takes, and to be honest sometimes I am grateful that I don't have to work that hard. This might not be a good thing, but it's true. Comprimise is hard to do when you don't have to do it that much.

There are some things that a relationship would bring that I wouldn't mind having, but for the most part the Lord fills those voids for me. I think no matter where we are in life, single, married, parents, we sometimes need to stop and think of what we have and be thankful. This single life of mine might end one day, and that is okay and it might not and that is okay. I am thankful that I am single and satisfied.

Luke Marceau Renaud

My nephew was born on Friday, April 4, 2008 at 5:02pm. He weighed 6 pounds, 6 ounces and is 19 1/2 inches long. He is adorable and I am a very proud Aunt!

Aunt again!

I am going to be an Aunt again today. My sister-n-law and very close friend is birthing my nephew today. I am so excited. I love, love, love being an Aunt! I will have more news when little boy is here. (no name yet)

21

I went and saw 21 on Saturday. Contrary to what the critics said, I thought it was pretty good. I now want to read the book Bringing down the House. I always like "stick to the man" kind of movies and stories, especailly when using brain power to bring down the system. It's the rebelious part of me.

Let the fun begin

SO I finished the quarter last night with my make up mid term. I am now semi knowledgable of the Pauline letters. SO if in the future you have any questions about monotheism and dualism in the NT maybe I can help you out. Good stuff.
It's fun to think that this weekend I can do things for fun! I plan on going to the movies this weekend, not even sure what is out. Any suggestions on what to see?

Clap your hands and say Yeah!

My boss is from the Congo and she was saying that when she moved to the US, it took her a while to get used to people clapping their hands and celebrating when they were excited. Now she claps her hands and get's excited often and it's really cute. At work we acknowlege each other and clap for each other when someone does something beyond the normal expectations, my boss said this would be abnormal in the Congo. It makes me think who started this whole celebrating publically thing, and if we do it because it is cultrally expected or if we really mean it. When I clap, I mean it or I don't clap. When I shout for joy, I mean it. I am glad that it is part of my culture or I might not fit it so well if not, because it seems I get excited a lot!

I get so emotional Baby

I don't what's going on with me, but I have been having these emotional burst that come all of a sudden and they pass pretty quickly too. I was in a meeting today at work and started crying. It was a little embarrasing and it really didn't have anything to do with anything at work and I knew that.
I am processing a lot right now and working really hard to hand it over to the Lord and not let my situtions control me. And I must admit I feel like I am not letting my health concerns take control over me but every once in a while I am reminded of my weeknesses, physical, emotional, and spiritual and that can feel a little overwhelming.

This Quarter

This Quarter of school has been rough. I was pretty sick mid-way through and missed the midterm. I went on vacation right before the mid-term so I'm not sure if I would of done super great anyway. Also the subject matter we have been studying has been pretty dense. The Pauline letters and the life of Paul and all that involves.
Last night we were studying The Law. Good times. It sometimes makes me scratch my head in wonderment that people spend there whole lives trying to figure out how to interpret one specific part of scripture and what it all means. I mean I think this is good but there comes a time where you have to just trust God that he is leading and revealing his direcetion correctly. I mean we have to study the word, but I think the Holy Spirit is there to give us direction. Sometimes in theological study, it feels like we are studying old dead words, and I have to remind myseld that Jesus is alive and so is his word!

Easter Candy

Oh how I love Easter Candy. Candbury mini eggs, mmm, and the reeses peanutbutter egg is better than the cup. I think anyway.

Sicko

Well, I had a crazy week and a half. I went to Nashville last weekend for a short 2 1/2 days. It was so great to see the friends that I did get to see. My friend Kristina and her husband Jason were great host to me too. I wish I could of stayed like an extra month. But I tagged along with my brother on his beard adventure.

When I got home I was having a lot of pain in my back and I figured it was from the travel and what not. I went to the doctor and the next thing I know I was in the ER because my heart rate was elevated and I was having weird pains in my chest. Were not sure what happened but I am feeling better and am beginning a season of medical test and that sucks. I am really just frustrated with my back and it doing the things it does, mostly by causing me ridiculous amounts of pain. But I do believe in miracles and I do believe God is faithful and he does give me hope for change.

Bring me SOUL!

My mom told me the other day she thinks maybe I have some hidden black gene. I think she is right. Many people have told me similar things. I am not sure if it was because my dad listened to alot of Motown, or because I grew up in Motown, but I love all things SOUL! I love Soul music, especially classic Soul, like Al Green. Oh, how do I love Al!! I saw him perform live this summer, a dream come true, seriously. I love Gospel music, and soul food!! Soul food, oh my goodness, it's so comforting and good. Anyway, this is Black History month, and I really love this month. I started off with on Feb 2nd I went and saw Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. My friend Elizabeth hooked me up with amazing seats and I felt like I was in heaven for 2 hours. The way dancers move and can express so much that is going on within and outside of themselves amazes me. It was fun, beautiful and moving all at the same time. This weekend I will be going to see Abuakwa African Music and Dance Ensemble at the The Detroit Institute of Arts. I think this is a great time to expand my horizons, and because it is Black History month there so many opportunities to do so. And I promised my boss Aline and friend Yao who are both from Africa that I would make one of their favorite African dishes called Chicken Yassa. I have never had it or made it, so this will be interesting, but I am super excited to try.
I love Soul music because it is so full of passion and raw feeling and it makes you move. I wouldn't mind if someone said that about me one day too.

Party Central

This weekend was a little odd. I had my friend Rebecca over for dinner in which I made pecan encrusted cod with brown butter sauce and roasted red potatoes and brussel sprouts. It was yummy. I also made two birthday cakes. I had a killer migraine that just grew on Saturday. Saturday I made my brothers birthday dinner for Sunday and laid in bed a lot. Sunday came and I still had a migraine but hosted a lovely birthday party for my brother. My brother was sick too, so it felt okay that I wasn't my normal perky self.
Even sick, I love to host a party and all the stuff that goes with it. All the cooking and getting ready, that is so fun to me. Trying to figure out what to make, what food goes with what. Theme parties are super fun to me. My next party will be my anual pizza party. This party is crazy. I make like 10 - 15 pizza and about 40 people come to my little house. Good times. As you can tell, I have been in the party mood lately. Not sure why, but it's good.

Party over here!

I love to throw a party, always have and always will. When I was a kid I used to throw neighborhood parties all the time with Koolaid and popcorn and we would rollerskate in Karen DeCooks basement. Yes, I threw parties that were at other peoples houses. You need one person to plan things or it's all talk and no play. Last night I had a movie night. Okay so I was hoping to watch 3 movies. I had it all planned, Christopher Guest night. We started with Waiting for Guffman, one of my all time favorite movies. It is so funny, I laugh like crazy everytime I see it, and it's been like 20 times. Oh, I could do a post of quotes but that would only be entertaining to me and like 5 other people, which actually may be more than the amount of people who actually read this, hmm. Anyway, we then watched For Your Consideration, and half the people fell asleep. So we only made it through two movies again! But it's only January. I think the next movie night, will start at 4 pm and we will call it Movie day or something. But I had a good turn out and lots of goodies and fun times. If you are interesting in coming to a movie event which consist of 3 movies, even though we have not made it through 3 yet, let me know. Any suggestions for the next trilogy?

In other news, my brother and sister-n-law and niece are back from Florida, and I am so happy. I know they want to go back to the 85 degrees. I mean coming home to 8 degrees cannot be fun. But I missed them a lot. I start back in school on Tue. I think we are studying the Pauline letters and church planting. Fun times.

Movie Day

So today I am having a relaxing day. I went to lunch and to the movies with my friend Katt. We saw The Orrphanage. It was really good, spooky, but not as spooky as I thougt. It's one of the movies where after you spend a few hours putting it all together, I would love to see it again. Just so you know it's not scary like it looks in the previews. I believe it was produced by the same guy who did Pan's Labyrith. (which I loved!) I now just finished watching Once, which is a modern day musical. Very good, the music is great, it's real raw and European. I think I might watch one more movie tonight, we will see.

Airport

I went to visit my friend Banning at the airport. She had a layover on her way back to Paris. I love Banning, so I of course don't mind hanging out with her wherever she is. She is one of my friends who I can talk to for hours and it never seems long enough.

When I am at the airport though it makes me want to go somewhere. It makes me a little sad, unless of course I am the one on my way somewhere. I am ready to get out of Michigan! I am going to NY in April to see Banning dance with Mikhail Baryshnikov! Whoohoo! I have amazing friends!

Juno

I saw Juno today and thought it was super wity and warm. I really enjoyed it and it was so much more funnier than I was expecting. Elle Page is so cute and quirky, I don't know how you can't fall in love with her. I love quirky lovable people, who have an odd flair to them that make them stand out. It can be so refreshing. Like this movie, it takes a topic that can be hard and uncomfortable and makes it real yet funny and warm all at the same time. Like I said, refreshing.

I don't bend it like Beckam

Yesterday I did my first Yoga lesson on DVD. I laughed more than I exercised. My body don't do that. Seriously the lady looked like Gumby. I guess I thought it was going to be a lot of stretching but not like a rubber band. So I switched over to Pilates. Pilates is a little more pratical and it's not so spiritually weird. I am not super comfortable bowing to mountains I can't pronounce. Now the hard part is to keep doing it. You have to start somewhere right.

Updating

I am updating and adding a little flair to my blog. Let me know what you think. I am hoping to be better at all of this. I am also hoping to take more pictures and add to my Flickr site more often. Oh dreams, everyone has to have them.

Almost a Trilogy

My friend Allie, Rebecca and I have attempted to have a night of Trilogy watching two times now and have only made it to two films out of the 3. The first time we watched the first 2 of the Lord of the Rings trilogy extended version and at 3 am I was done. This time I chose the Baz Luhrmann trilogy (The Red Curtain trilogy) which contains Romeo and Juliet, Moulin Rouge and Strickly Ballroom, we didn't get to Romeo and Juliet. I have a goal this year to watch a whole trilogy at one time, I think we may need to start earlier. But I love these movie watching events. And for us they are events. We get really into it, watching them on the big screen and having thematic foods and inviting lots of people. Good times. Any ideas for the next trilogy?