[best of] BMI 2008

Sunrise Challenge. BMI wins, of course.

Pirate Day.

Rave Day.

[re]New Year's Eve Day.
Last In-Service [sad day].

A Month Late

I had planned on posting these pictures last month with the title "This Time Last Year..." Due to some technical difficulties however, it hasn't happened until now! (I decided this will be the starting point for my book. So after this, I will be posting pictures from last summer and then finish up with pictures from this April)

Okay so the top row from left to right: 1) night snorkeling! we attached glow sticks to our snorkels, that's the light you can see. 2) start of the night hike. by the time we got to the top of the mountain it was completely dark and the clouds cleared out- perfect for star gazing, which is what we did. 3 and 4) our awesome instructors did a little show of polynesian fire dancing. seriously, they were so cool. i wish i was as cool as them (Ashley and Kelly).

Bottom row: 1) crab anyone? i didn't get a picture of the smart little octopus in the other tank, or all the other fun stuff in there. my hands were wet. and smelled weird, so i didn't want to touch my camera. 2) Ashley Leany and me. We were 2 of 8 people who chose to go snorkeling on the last day. good choice! clearest water, got to swim on the opposite side of the dock and saw way more fish, even a jellyfish. after snorkeling we pulled out the seine net. on our second try we caught 2 little fishies (can't remember their names...) and one totally rockin' guitarfish. everyone [who chose not to come] was jealous. as they should be. 3) John [fitz] and me on deck waving goodbye to our instructors and the island. 4) me sittin' on the Wadley kid on the boat back to California. 

I -heart- CIMI.

Foursquare fun.

Alright, who remembers this game? It is hands down the best recess game ever. I was rather obsessed with it back in the day. Courtney, Aubrey, myself, and Court's dad- Rob, would play all day long. Life was bliss.
Well, tonight around 8:30 I get a text from Courtney. It reads: So somehow Trevor (her 9 year brother) found out about our old obsession of four square. He just challenged me to a match (him and his other 9 year old compadres).
So of course I rode down to the Robbins house and spent the last 2 hours reliving some of my childhood and played foursquare in their backyard. It.was.awesome. I was afraid I was going to be completely out of "foursquare physicality", but I wasn't too bad. Rob, on the other hand, well let's just say he's older than he used to be. hahahahaha. :)

and one random picture: Spring 2007. Mom and me on Ellis Island with the Manhattan skyline behind us. (it was windy. and rainy.)
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! I LOVE YOU MAMMA!

Read this.

An email from my Aunt Jolynn (she is awesome) that I wanted to share:
The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.

My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees.. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to...
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves. Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein

Giulia...

Will be back soon. :)

Craft it forward (?)

The first 5 people to leave a comment on this blog will receive something made by me. However there are some limitations:

1. I make no guarantee that you will like what I make.
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It will be done this year.
4. You have not a clue what it is going to be; poetry, shoes, bags or a little invention of my own. I may even bake something and mail it you! Who knows? Not you that's for sure!
5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange. It may blow your mind!

Here's the catch... if you choose to do this, you must post this on your blog and be ready to make something for five people too. This will be fun! And, when you receive the fabulous item I make you, you must post a picture of it on your blog. Or if you don't have a blog, send me a photo and I will post it!Ready....Set....Comment!

I got this from Shelly's blog. :) I really will do it!

One week ago.

Giulia looked like this. ssscaree.

But today, the beast is GONE!!! Just a tad of scab and scarring going on. Mom, after you called me, Breezy and I went to Smith's and got some Neosporin- it's worked miraculously. Don't ya think so? :)

I know this ugly thing is all I've really blogged about for a week, but if you've ever had one, you know how they consume your life! I had fun with this one though, taking pictures every day and watching it go through the stages. Sorry if it grossed anyone out. :)  And, it healed really fast! I was afraid it was going to last about two weeks because it was so huge, but it's healed quite nicely. Does anyone have a record for their longest lasting coldsore? or worst coldsore story? Please, do share. Meanwhile, I will be studying. Don't you love the feeling of finals week? so fun. 

a note to any follower who is a non-blogger person (like Daniel, or Casee): you can leave comments too! :-) just click the anonymous button.