I’LL HAVE A BLOODY MARY, A STEAK SANDWICH AAAND A STEAK SANDWICH
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HEMPZ, THE DEPRESSION & THE AROMA OF JESUS
ok, so, follow me on this one…this post has several seperate thoughts that will converge (I hope).
FIRST THOUGHT
I am really really sensitve to perfumes and colognes (I wish that most people would not wear them). Truly. You know, the guy’s cologne that after one quick hug, it’s on you for the rest of the day. Bleh. Or, how about the woman at church that has used such a strong brand that you can barely breath? Yeah, all of it is not my favorite. Due to my sensitivity, IF I wear a fragrance (which I use the term loosely), I only wear HEMPZ Pure herbal extract moisterizer: I love the smell and I love the way it feels. The problem with this particular brand/fragrance is that it costs $22.50 for 18oz. I don’t use lotion alot. ANYway, I was pondering this ’state’ in my life (the state of wishing that people wouldn’t wear perfume/cologne) and I started taking an inventory of the worship team (a group that I meet with at least 2x a week). To my delight and gratitude, I realized how fortunate I am (and have been for almost a decade) that no one on our team really wears ANY fragrances. So, every Sunday at 7am and every Tuesday at 7pm, we find other things to notice and laugh about about each other. 
SECOND THOUGHT
You know how we label people?
Well, how about the label that we give frugal people…if you use a rubber spatula to get the very last wipe out of the mayonnaise jar then you ‘must have lived through the depression’? You know, stuff like that.
I was pondering this today, as I have been nursing the last of my $22.50 bottle of moisturizer (that I’ve had for 7+ months), making sure to get every last drop in the bottle before I open the new replacement bottle. I was thinking about how my patterns have changed over the years: some good, some bad. One good one is that I really do use most things until they’re GONE (with the exception of food…soemtimes, you just need to throw it away). When did this start? I’m not sure, but i do remember one of my college jobs was working for a millionare woman who had no concept of money management (nor did she teach any to her spoiled kids) and the amount of true waste and surplus that I witnessed (as i was barely getting myself through college) was profound to me. Fast forward to today, I think through the increase in my involvement with justice based work, I have had the opportunity to be exposed to true destitution. As a result, ‘wasting’ is hard for me to do with a clear conscience (I need only to picture a 6 yr old sex slave who is starved almost to death or the 9 year old Ugandan boy who was forced, by the LRA, to kill his own brother, escaped and now tries to make it on his own in a war-torn country…and the list goes on). I guess using moisterizer is a luxury that millions of people can’t afford…so, I scrape every last tiny dallop out of the bottle..not just for my wallet, but as a reminder of all those who have need.
THIRD THOUGHT
My pastor knocked it out of the park yesterday. He said a lot, I appreciated a lot, but one main thing sticks out to me…how do i represent Christ to unbelievers in my daily encounters?…he used the illustration of 2 Cor 2:14
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.”
After people have been with me, are they left with a
1) pleasing fragrance (like my Hempz lotion)? or
2) a faint foul odor? (like when you walk into a house that cooked fish the night before) or
3) a raging, gagging stench (insert the worst stench you’ve experienced…my EMT fire fighting friends say that anything GI related is horrendous)?
CONVERGING THOUGHT?
the way I love the smell of my Hempz lotion (and nurse it and won’t waste it)…is that the same way that people respond to me because they perceive Christ in me because of my actions/words/tone/vibe/love/compassion/etc? (I doubt it) OR, do I leave the smell like all the colognes and perfumes that gag me and that i can’t stand? (probably)
I’m leaving out lots of sermon points, but 2 application points that he made that were SO convicting were (remember, this is about fragrance of Christ to unbelievers)
1) “How ya smelling these days?”
2) “Love them till they ask you ‘why?’ “
(dagger in my heart).
TOPICS I’D LIKE TO COVER
I have a list of blog topics tumbling around…here are a few of the current topics on which I’d like to do posts…
1. The winners of Christmas cards from LAST year (?) (sorry sorry sorry, for the delay )
Here’s the ORIGNAL POST that started all the fervor.
2. An endorsement of a reliable IT guy (that’s not Adam Powell…he’s slammed these days: school, church, fiance , upcoming wedding).
3. My recent trip to Beaumont for a 3 day get-away to Gramma & Papa Harvey’s house
4. An encouragement to everyone to hurry and vote for the Pumpkin Carving Title over on The Flower Blog …some of them are FANTASTIC! and the polls close on Sunday 11/2.
5. U.S. Presidential+ voting and our responsibility to vote whilst living in a country that allows us a voice
6. Recent thoughts on abortion; words of wisdom from my mom; a video of a testimony from saline solution abortion survivor…
7. Almost ready to give a book review
8. Other stuff…
399…SINCE ‘06
My wordpress acct. just told me that the administrator of Musings (me) has created 399 posts on Musings, as of this moment.
Huh.
That sounds like too much to me.
But, then I reflect on how I only post about 1/1,000,000,000 of what I actually think about.
It blows my mind that so many thoughts, wonders, ponderings, etc. can go through the human mind….and the kicker….? Our minds are wee and pea sized in strength and understanding as they bow in contrast to the mind of God.
Whoa.
Who can know the mind of the LORD or offer Him any counsel? Who has given to God that He should repay?
(IRONIC SIDENOTE, considering my post on Klondike Bars and societies bombardment of crap values… though I’ve created 399 posts, the spam blocker count is at 8,839… the world will devour us if we let it.)
OH RICKY, YOU’RE SO FINE, YOU’RE SO FINE YOU BLOW MY MIND, HEY RICKY
As some of you know, I care for Ricky Gervais and his comedy (most of it) a great deal. So do Rob & Sarah. Ricky had only 2 tour locations: LA & NY. Rob’s keen eye allowed us to book tickets last March, when we began planning our ‘Ricky Gervais’ day. It was well executed yesterday. Highlights
LEADING UP TO
-arrived at Ikegami’s (in Hollywood) approx 11:30am; hung out; ate from a delicious spread prepared by Sarah (thanx); rec’d my first Dive Review Book (thanx again Sarah), ‘Divers Speak Out’; prepared ourselves for the second season EXTRAS marathon
-Took a marathon break and went for a free slurpee run at 7/11 (since it was 7/11). Came back and finished the last few episodes of EXTRAS..we laughed alot…RIcky, Steve Merchant, ‘Maggie’, guest stars…ALL genuis!
-ran into AJ Tigner & his wife as we were walking to dinner (and then to the Kodak theatre). I hadn’t seen them in 6 (?) years
-Chinese food for dinner…tried cream cheese wontons…whoa…who thought of that?
-2nd Mezzanine seating for the show (not bad)
-opening act so-so
-Ricky….
RICKY
-His entrance (WWF style), complete with cape, crown, HUGE lit letters saying ‘RICKY’, was hilarious! and very ‘Spinal Tap’ style…like an omage to the stonehenge bit (?)
-60% of his comedy was pure genuis and totally repeatable. The other 40% left me cringing inside…and pondering a 1,000 ‘by product’ thoughts. The hilarious themes: his charity work, autisism, obescity is not a disease, morals of children’s stories (humpty Dumpty, the industrious mouse and the lazy mouse, etc), the history channel/the discovery channel, sharks and Nazi’s, animals…
-His subtle hand motions, eye movements, tone of voice…SO much genuis.
-His ‘dialogue’ with other characters …hilarious (ex. Niche & Hitler!)
POST SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
-As we were hanging out in the lobby we noticed the stairs down to the first floor was roped off. As we looked down at what appeared to be a crowd chatting and mingling outside a VIP room, Rob began recognizing the people. It was like watching animals at the zoo: matthew perry, jason bateman (!), Harry shearer (!), Brett & Jermaine from flight of the conchords, Kathy Griffin… weird and cool. No cameras, no crowds, just them off in the distance laughing, talking, pushing each other into the bushes.
As we debriefed the night on our walk home and back at the Ikegami’s place, we noted the good and the bad. It was a GREAT day…it’s cool when a plan comes together!
If you don’t know who Ricky Gervai is…shame on you.
He’s the creator of the British show called ‘the Office’, after which the U.S. version was fashioned. He went on to create another series called EXTRAS. Reserved only for true comedy afficianados.
LIKE YOU’RE ON VACATION…SUMMIT HOME TOUR… $575,000
For all the pics and tours… CLICK HERE …
I’ve had a couple comments of feedback, but would love more.
If you or anyone you know would be interested in purchasing this home…call or write!
35 + 31= RUTH’S CHRIS STEAKHOUSE
OK, so, as many of your know, as you get older, birthdays get less and less eventful.
In fact, this year we decided to combine my birthday (35) and Eric’s b-day (31-which was today!) and go somewhere that we’ve been joking about going to for years now….Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in Pasadena. It was eventful!
If you’ve never been there, you should…whoa…
Turns out that Jennene and Eric and I had all been to RCSH before, but it’s such GREAT food, that we were gleefully prepared to throw down the usual $100/plate again. As Providence would have it, they were running a rare special of 2-three course meals for only $89!!!! So, we took advantage of 2 of these specials and shared the following feast, served by our animated server, Stanley…
-Salads: 2 ceasar salads, house salad, gumbo (with shrimp/crab)*
-Appetizers: creamed spinach, potatoes au gratin, fresh broccoli, julienne potatoes
-Entrees: filet, stuffed chicken, 2 3-item entrees (crab cakes*, beef, stuffed chicken)
-Dessert: cheese cake, duo chocolate, creme bruele
(I tried all the seafood dishes too!)
For 2 hours, we paused, groaned, laughed, commented like we were judges on Top Chef…the food was mouthwatering and never ending. We had all worked out hard in the morning and eaten very little all day so that we could enjoy the feast to the fullest. I even had 3 fillings done at the dentist…nothing could prevent us from enjoying such great food. Thanks, God. Thanks for making some food taste really really really good.
The conversation was fun, the atmosphere was nice, the food was …well, you know, and the price was great for all that we got. After we sat back and marveled at the 2 hours, we made our way over to a theatre and saw a really complex and interesting film called In Bruge (disclaimer: there is a lot of swearing and blood). There were some really good themes going on: redemption, sin, guilt, judgement, etc.
It’s probably not for everyone, but certainly it was for us (most of it).
All in all, the celebration of God giving Eric & I a combined 66 years of life on this planet, was an honor to spend with cherished friends (J, E, Ruth and Chris)!
DENTAL LOVE
2 topics:
1) My dentist and why EVERYONE should love him.
2) My new toothbrush and why i love it.
Ok, so how can I simplify this?
A few weeks ago, I went to a new swanky dentist in Valencia (my former dentist, whom i LOVED, had left his office and I didn’t know where he’d relocated to, hence the new dentist). The new guy was GREAT, spent 2 hours with me, state of the art equipment, amenities like paraffin wax whilst getting your teeth worked on….blah blah blah. After the 2 hour consult he gave me a few recommendations: get my teeth cleaned, consider using a new toothbrush that they sell in their office and a mouthwash that they also sell. Oh, AND, get $2,100 of dental work done on my top fillings…get them all replaced. Huh.
Last week, I went back for a cleaning and the hygenist used to work for my former beloved dentist. We spoke of him with the highest regard and I learned where his new office is. After my cleaning (she was FANTASTIC, by the way), I drove over to my former dentist’s new office. He made time for me and said that he’d give me a 2nd opinion (free of charge). Today was that appt…and now I am COMPLETELY reminded why I LOVE him. He checked all my teeth and gave me his opinion: I only need 3 fillings done (1 new, 2 replaced fillings) instead of the SEVEN that the swanky dentist recommended. The total cost will be $321. Tran offered to write down the teeth numbers so that the other dentist can do just those. No way! I am a Tran Fan till the end!!!! Tran is trustworthy and kind and a GREAT dentist! I get my new fillings on Tuesday.
God answered my prayers…my prayers of ‘How will I pay for $2k of dental work?’. He answered my prayers with my beloved dentist from the past, Dr. Andrew Tran….if you need a dentist (for any reason), PLEASE do yourself a HUGE favor and book an appt with Tran!
NEXT..my new toothbrush…
So, the swanky dentist recommended that I start using a particular toothbrush. I’d wanted an electric one for over 5 years, but have always held off…seemed frivolous. After his pitch and the disclaimer that they can only be purchased at a licensed dentist’s office, I went home and researched it. WHoa! Did NOT know that this is THE toothbrush that dentist’s everywhere recommend. Soooo, I beseeched my trusty friend Ebay and found myself a brand new Rota-Dent for half the price. I use it 2 times a day (sometimes 3) and really do LOVE the way it feels/works, but I did not know just how effective it is until this happened….though disgusting, it was a great example that allowed me to really appreciate it…
On Monday, I forgot to brush my teeth before I left the house (mostly because I used to brush them in my morning shower and so the new routine/electric toothbrush system does not happen in the shower and I seemed to be thrown off). ANYway, it was around 9am (1st period at La Mesa) when i realized I hadn’t brushed my teeth. Other than my breath (which was remedied with a stick of gum), my teeth still felt like I had JUST brushed them (from the night before)…and that’s how they feel ALL the time. It’s pretty incredible! Soooo, though my time with the swanky dentist has come to an end, I am FOREVER grateful for his toothbrush guidance!
GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT!
It seems that many of you readers enjoy the stories that I live through my substitute teaching experiences. I agree, it’s good stuff. So, here are some highlights/lowlights from my last 3 days subbing for the Spring ‘08 semester. Spoiler Alert: some graphic moments
THE SCENE: 7th grade science classes at La Mesa Junior High; the last week of school
1. I generally don’t look , in advance, at the worksheets that the teacher gives me to handout…in this class, she’s a good teacher and they usually know what to do with the information…so, I learned the hard way that the worksheet topics this time were ‘HIV transmission’….journey with me…
the class is quietly working on their own, I am at the desk reading real estate materials and I get the following questions (and my replies and/or the classmate replies)
Q (nerdy male student)-asked sincerely, ‘Miss Neylan, what’s anal penetration?’
A (me)- furrowed brow, trying to quickly and subtley figure out why I’d be asked this question…as I realize it’s a worksheet question, ’seriously?’
Q-’yeah, what is that?, I’ve never heard of it’ (as the other students are snickering, rolling their eyes, and waiting for me to answer)
A-I tilt my head and regrettably say ‘it’s from behind’, my internal monologue begins the diatribe as to why the state should not be involved in sex ed
Q-’From behind? what do you mean?’
A-neighbor girl student irritatedly says ‘dude, it’s in the butt’…the asker looks astonished and gets that shamed look on his face and giggles
Q-my inner monologue continues with the backwardsness of state ‘education’ and how this little 7th grade boy was just forced into a realm of life that he was clearly not ready for…where are parents? etc etc etc
2. Again, everyone working quietly
Q-(7th grade girl, dressed like a scank with the body of a 22yr old hottie on MTV), asked in a genuienly confused manner, ‘Miss Neylan, it says that one way to avoid getting HIV is abstinence from sex until you’re married…and then only having sex with your spouse. What does marriage have to do with anything? Why are they talking about marriage when they talk about HIV…what do they have to do with each other?’
A-(me) ‘Well, in a perfect world if everyone waited to have sex with just their spouse, very few people would actually have HIV..obviously there are other ways of getting it, but it would be dramatically lower if people only had sex with their spouse..only… ever…’
Q-’but what if you have HIV before you’re married?’
A-’well, again, in a perfect world, you wouldn’t have it before you’re married because no one would be having sex except with their spouse..so they could not have gotten it..well, besides in a transfusion or a needle.’
Q-(genuinely confused and thinking it’s absurd), ‘I just don’t see what marriage has to do with any of it, why does it matter if you’re married?
A-someone else chimed in and she just rolled her eyes and didn’t buy that you should have sex only with the person you’re married to
I also took the opportunity to tell them how powerful the spread of HIV has been (on the heels of having sex with whomever you want)…when I was in 7th grade it was drug education and HIV was RARELY even mentioned because it wasn’t really a problem..so, in just 20ish years HIV has become pandemic…hmmmm, I wonder if it has something to do with the choices most people are making.
3. Again, everyone working quietly
Q-(asked by a mouthy rat male boy), ‘Miss Neylan, why did they name it semen?’ (he snickers)
A-matter of factly, like I talk about semen everyday, ‘mmmm, I have no idea. Why don’t you look it up? MIght want to refer to the ancient greeks or italians’
Q-’oh. well, it sounds like someone who works on a boat’
A-(knowing he’s just showing off), ‘Oh yeaaaah, same sounding word, spelled differently, S-E-A-M-A-N
Q-nodding in understanding, ‘oh’ (clearly discouraged he didn’t get a rise out of me)
4. Last year, I taught an SAT prep class last year after school. The kids were great, hard working, and many of them passed the SAT’s on their first try (with high scores for a 7th grader). One of the girls came in to my classroom on Tuesday and asked me to sign her year book. Awwwwww. While she’s the size of the traveling gnome, she speaks to me like she’s 43 years old. She’s unique in the sea of average 7th & 8th graders at La Mesa. She wished me a great summer, asked what I was doing, thanked me for teaching her SAT class and science classes, and left with her little yearbook. I’m pretty sure she’s going to discover the cure for cancer or HIV or something on par.
5. Alex has trouble doing his work, being respectful, not mouthing off, etc. Alex has this problem EVERY time I teach this class..so for a year I have experienced this behavior. On Tuesday, Alex earned 6 paragraphs due to his incessant disrespect etc. (he started with one, then he mouthed off and earned another then he refused to do them and therefore earned a total of 6). He refused to answer my questions about why he was making these choices etc. I gave him a mini-lecture about righting wrongs, offered him the opportunity to apologize (he refused) etc. He refused so vehemently that I offered to wipe out the 6 paragraphs if he would simply apologize for what he had done (and had always done). He refused on a level that was astounding. I gave him 4 different opportunities to stop writing and just apologize. Nope. He didn’t finish the 6 paragraphs so he earned lunch detention, wherein he was supposed to finish the parapgraphs. Next day, he didn’t have his paragraphs and had to do them in class…still refusing to apologize.
I thought to myself, that this is how I must look to God. He wants the best for me, I do something that is bad for me AND deserves punishment, He offers me a free and gracious way out if I would simply humbly confess it, I refuse and make it worse…huh.
Anyway, if soemthing doesn’t change, Alex has a real rough road ahead of him in life (and so do all the authorities that are in his future). He’s also little in stature, so I’m hoping that he gets his butt whooped by some bullies soon. Sometimes that helps kids like him. Sometimes.
Kind of like how some of us have to get knocked around by life/our choices before we yield to God’s best.
6. A nice enough kid, trying to be cool by wearing long saggy pants with the crotch at his knees (but can’t pull off the gang banger attitude that goes with it)…I watch him as he walks across the room after sharpening his pencil and I chuckle to myself about his efforts to be cool… but dude, saggy pants are not cool when they’re denim white. I kid you not. His ghetto-gang banger pants were white denim. It was like West Side Story, but not. Awwww, he’s sweet for tyring.
Well, that’s it for Spring 2008. I assume the sub stories will resume again in September.
SOME FUN DISCOVERIES & RECENT UPDATES
I love when Todd Bolen does posts of random finds..so, in the spirit of ’sharing’, here are a couple of fun discoveries
1. Feedback from consumers on almost any ‘info-mercial’ product…knowledge is power.
2. Be your own doctor; check your symptoms
3. Gift ideas for moms, grandmas, people who like unique stuff
Beyond that, I’ve had a reasonable week:
1. Have done some grading with Jennene (grading is boo, btw)
2. Had a birthday (35th)… it had some funny elements of ‘you know you’re old when…’
-had my teeth cleaned at my new dentist (and learned SO much from my new hygenist)
-ran errands
-my new camera and Rota Dent toothbrush arrived!
-reconnected with my former AWESOME dentist, Dr Tran, for a 2nd opinion
-full of many fantastic b-day wishes (including 2 ‘early’ ones due to international time zones-thanx Bruce & Jessi)!
-Talked to my birthday buddy, Kate Spansel-we call each other every year since we share the same b-day
-got to attend VHS graduation at COC and work the ‘diploma distribution’ station…SO, I actually got to hand Robert & Alli their official HS diplomas! SO fun (and sad that they’re moving on).
3. Worked (of course): real estate & subbing
4. Had my garage door fixed (LOVE homeownership)
5. Lots of internet research about lots of things (THANX world wide web)
6. Started a new book; will give my review upon completion
7. Talked to Mark Spansel about his family’s upcoming move to OHIO to take a Sr. Pastor position!!!!!! Happy for them, but sad that he won’t be nearby
8. Have watched the house slowly vacate, as my roommates move out today (May 31st).
9. Have had 2 responses from Craig’s List…not sure if they’re viable yet. Still praying
10. Scheduled my first ever ‘BULK PICK UP’ from waste management.
11. Started my mandatory real estate license renewal work
12. Cleaned up my ‘yard’ , also known as our patio, that had taken a beating in the winter elements (again, LOVE home ownership)
13. Went to DMV (again) and got the same rude ’service’ person. It wasn’t as bad as last week (I’m not sure I posted about it), but it sure wasn’t my favorite. Smiling is. Now work’s my new favorite.
UPCOMING WEEK (isn’t it you, Berit, that likes the ‘upcoming’ lists? )
-graduation party for one of our ICUers
-3 days of subbing a 7th grade science class (last week of school at a junior high…should be pretty funny!)
-real estate work (of course)
-a few dinner engagements; a few lunch engagements
-studying/reading: real estate, other stuff
-our ICU year-end party at Alli’s (watching War Dance & hanging out)
-NOT going out of town!!!!!! (in the last 3 months, I’ve been gone a total of 31 days)
Well, I”m off (to see the wizard).
WEEKS OF WHIRLWIND
Weeeeell, helloooooo there!
It seems that a long time has passed since I last wrote.
Here are the highlights of my time ‘away’
1. I started subbing for a 7th & 8th grade set of classes (1-2 times a week). They’re kind of considered ‘bad kids’, but we’ve found our groove (after a big up-front battle). Today was my last day with them…I’ll be back to host the ‘winners’ party (we had a behavior based class competition).
2. The Driscoll family welcomed our first great-grandchild into the world!!!
3. I went to Washington for a week to help my mom with a conference that she was running. My mom is cool and funny and awesome and I was really thankful to get to hang out with her (and her people). She also had some pretty funny quotables. Whilst in WA, I also did the following: hung out with Erin Jacobsen, Jai & Sten A, Dave & Emily V, the Musulmans, Janae L, 24 Hour Fitness & LA Fitness. In 7 days, I enjoyed Mercer Island, Bellevue, Arlington, Olympia, Seattle, Kent, and Tukwila.
4. I’ve shown lots of homes, navigated through one client’s loan approval saga (we persevered and he closes escrow this Friday!), put in an offer on a short pay last week, awaiting a few client’s timeframe for their offers.
5. Went to several graduation parties and was proud of the graduate’s hard work!
6. Read these 2 books. Loved both, but REALLY loved Under The Banner of Heaven. Wow.
Under the Banner of Heaven is about religious fanaticism, particulalry in the fundementalist Mormon polygamist camps. Incredibly FASCINATING and horrifying and humbling.
7. Met with a former RA, Courtney, who was in town for graduation..it was a delight and a blessing to share life with her. Some people are just a breath of fresh air…like water to a weary traveler!
8. Have been reconnected with lots of people from the past: Thanx, Facebook-you’re sweet. aaand, I love your flair.
Ok, while there was more, that’s enough for now! Because I am preparing to go to SF this weekend for my dear cousin, Michelle’s, graduation from UC Berkeley! We’re SO proud of her!!!! In addition to celebrating with her on Friday, our big Irish family will also be attending the Scottish/Irish festival on Saturday in Livermore! THEN, I will also be visiting the Seelyes and the Harvs! Another whirlwind!
