Trav'ling Whisperer

I have been feeling so scatterbrained that I flew B's model airplane into the trash and threw my retainers into the trash.  But I thought I would be able to pull my thoughts together after what's documented below happened and write something that's meaningful to me. Tonight while at L's favorite restaurant (and it's mysterious to me why L vehemently denies this preference) L's friend passed by to say goodbye and apologized for greeting L so late because she didn't see L earlier.  L endearingly said, "well, I didn't see you until now, either.  See you tomorrow.  Who is that you're with?"  I don't think I could have loved anyone more at that moment.

(Note:  Shown in the treble clef is what arpeggios (broken chords) look like:   )   Staying in my play pretend Where the fun ain't got no end Can't go home alone again Need someone to numb share bear the pain ----- When a good thing goes bad It's not the end of the world It's just the end of one world, that you had... We live in a generation of. Not being in love. ----- Thought that I was all alone Broken and afraid But You were there with me Well, and I didn't even know That I had lost my way But You were there with me  ----- I was lost I was in chains The world had a hold on me My heart was a stone I was covered in shame When He came for me I couldn't run, couldn't run from His presence I couldn't run, couldn't run from His arms ----- This endless light shining over all It leads me to Your Glory everlasting.. You gave Your Only Son To bear my shame upon that Cross Y

Ahhhh, white elephant gift exchanges.  I have neither enjoyed nor hated any white elephant I've participated in.  I participate because I think the name is beautiful. Assuming I find desirable at least one thing...perhaps I could make the exchange enjoyable for myself through strategy to get the thing I want.   One that worked for M. who got my awesome gift last year was a) having everyone else be drunk and b) being quiet while everyone else was loud.   If my item is stolen, a strategy would be to pick an item which someone who has yet to go finds desirable (completely adapted from the Keynesian beauty contest ). A third strategy might be to want something nobody else wants. Is it possible to have a strategy to get whatever befalls me?  If it is...last year, K's "strategy" for me was choosing the biggest wrapped gift.  It was a cake pop maker, and I ended up with it.  I would say that K's strategy was successful ;) This is my wrapped gift this y

I first heard this Zulu song at Urbana 2012 (triennial Intervarsity Christian conference for college students) at an empty point in my life with J by my side. This is literally what I heard, but I came across the below precious version on Vimeo... Thinking about the song more now..I like it because the words are beautifully simple yet the music is so rich and it should be...these words contain the essence of God's merciful love for undeserving me.  (Similar to Hillsong's Awesome God and/or The Same Power less the instrumentals - this a capella style has a unique powerful character). Jesu Uphakeme from HayleyCatt on Vimeo . Here is what the children are singing in the video.  Unfortunately, I don't know the words he sings at the end. Format:  Zulu (some English translations).  _Please_ correct me if you notice any mistakes! Lead: Igama lenkosi malibongwe (Praise the Name of the King) Chorus: Malibongwe, malibongwe Malibongwe igama lenkosi

There is something magical emanating from the sound of voices singing together.  Though it's digitalized on this portable electronic grand piano, the "Choir" voice sounds beautiful!   One of my fave things:  the keys on the right sound like female voices and the left like male voices...as the notes move toward middle C, the voices sound androgynous and mystical..I want to describe the sound as transcendental...  The peacefulness I feel when listening reminds me of how I feel listening to Celtic Woman . (Technical frustration:  Blogger isn't letting me upload the video from my phone - rather, below video went from phone --> computer --> Blogger!)

In Berkeley, CA... You can find two  photicular books  (although not exclusively in Berkeley).  The most amazing thing is that A figured out how it worked.  Click on the link for a basic explanation. Wedding bliss in front of the Faculty Club at UC Berkeley! Beautiful colors on campus. Beautiful colors in the Elmwood area

"You...gave me hope, You made me whole..." It sounds so cheesy (wow, that looks really good)...  I'm a girl.  And what I know from talking to a lot of my girlfriends (and to myself) that it is easy to desire someone (_usually_ a guy) who can save them from past hurt.  I mean, come on...how romantic is it to be able to say to someone say those lines? Well, the song continues... "You..gave me hope, You made me whole At the cross... You...took my place, You showed me grace At the cross... Where You died for me." -- In my life, I can say with confidence that no guy, no amount of popularity, no amount of money, no grouping of material possessions, no measure of physical beauty has ever sustained my hope or feeling of wholeness.  Fulfilling those desires gave me volatile and unsatisfying rest from loneliness and pursuits.  I never had a purely good feeling after I was temporarily satiated by a new romance, a dinner with a friend, or a

I live in America, and Daylight Saving Time (DST) just ended on November 2, 2014.  Using DST makes more of an impact on those areas not too far or too close to the equator (for example, Singapore is very close to the equator and does not manipulate the clock).  Whether the impact is positive or negative is not agreed upon. So I guess we are in a period of Daylight Spending Time (DST as well, I coined this term poorly because the acronyms are the same), meaning working folk spend most of the daylight at work.  I'm trying to avoid any derogatory antonyms of "saving." Luckily, I was out of work before the sun went down sometime last week, and on my run, I got to see this awesome view.  I would not say this trail is gorgeous (also have been hissed at by geese on this trail)...but look at those colors!

For some reason a few years back, I remember many conversations considered "deep" were about being creative.  I used to be anxious about being creative because I didn't think I was innately creative.  I once boldly told a lady I was quirky, and when she asked me how, I went blank.  That's how creative I was...and felt.  And then BY GOD'S GRACE, I sometime somehow stopped caring if I was or was not creative. I think that sometimes creativity is as simple as thinking about how you need to eat more vegetables, and so you grab some vegetables out of your fridge, wash them, put them into a microwave, throw some cheddar cheese on top halfway because it _will work_, spread half an avocado onto a tortilla, and wrap the other microwaved vegetables in. I'm not sure of the exact nutritious content, but I think it has all the basics.  And I'm full.  BAM.

Going to miss Saturdays in this apartment complex. Run.  It's finished raining, right? (Yes, the following is a Google "Auto Awesome" photo, but still...it's pretty.)  Also, it was raining at this point, but tip!  If you run in the rain, wear a hat!  It does wonders for visibility. God rays (coined by S, adopted by me)!  I should have taken this pic earlier so you could see more.  But just...like whoa :) I sent this snap out.  M & S let me borrow their AWD van, and I was able to fit three tall ladder shelves in there (thank you K and W for helping me lug them down).  Though my perspective has totally shifted on the usefulness of vans, I'm not sure if I would get one.  M said he went through the same dilemma...but I'm different (cue 2 Chainz).

There's nothing like playing tennis with people who've known your weak spots in the game since you all were 8.  T, S, and I played intensely rusty games, but ultimately rested a lot (it was hot that day, and it's even hotter on the courts!).   Here's one of our resting sessions..exhibiting how inflexible we all are!  (Yet S seems to be able to touch her toes without too much effort...).  Stretch, people!

Mo is endlessly handsome and charming.  He tactfully expresses his displeasure at another one of D's silly costumes!

I'll be up front and say that figuring out how to rotate photos on the computer was somehow always hard for me.  I don't know how to do it here, so enjoy some sideways photos. The days of high school orchestra concerts were always crazy all-day rehearsals, with a quick break to get lunch and dinner.  I guess grown-up community orchestras are a little different...the Board actually trusts you to know your stuff!  With all the time I had, I decided to make some garlic parmesan pull-apart bread .  (Before you freak out about the amount of butter used, nobody who I told the amount of butter to was concerned.).  This is the best recipe because I totally botched it making it a few months ago (freezing, unfreezing WHILE rising...and people even ate it half-baked hahaha) yet people fell IN LOVE with it.  Like "send me that recipe now" love. Before sprinkling parmesan & parsley on top: All the raw ingredients + parmesan and parsley on top:  The burnt-lo

Stoked in Santorini Red Sand Beach via ATV: Downtown Fira (L was right, I do have the weirdest poses): View from da volcanoooo: Wine tasting: Parthenon: Oia sunset: And...Monaco!  Haha:

In anticipation of a quick and easy move to another city, I've started following the minimalism subreddit.   It's easy to identify that I, like many other men and women, have more clothes than I need.  I love pinning outfits to the "My Style" board on Pinterest, and it's not helping.    Project 333  provides an interesting challenge to build a 33-piece wardrobe.  I've started sorting out clothes today and am very excited about what the future holds, but that's not what this post is about.  Hm, this is 14 things, but I do work 5/7 of the week... This post is about what to do with the extra clothes:  donate or sell?! I know many people who sell their gently-used clothing to Crossroads or eBay users.  I know good friends who have found something perfect for them at Crossroads or on eBay.  It is mutually beneficial.  When _I_ think about selling my clothes, I think about the extra cash I can have so that I can buy a piece of clothing or jewelry.  I ca

I ate a lot of cookies and ice cream this weekend.  On another note...Monterey, CA is so lovely!  K, K's parents, and I went on the famous 17 mile drive.  Along the way, we stopped at one of my favorite parts of nature: Pebble Beach!  I found some interesting specimens..... This isn't a specimen, but it's me stomping in the sand (with boots)  WaAaAaAaAaAaAaves  There might be a sea otter in there.  Wouldn't you like to golf with this in the background?  Mo' beach.  Old Fisherman's Wharf at Monterey.

There are these beautiful mosaic steps in San Francisco's Sunset district, called the Moraga Steps.  The coolest part, J reiterated, is that the community came together to donate money and build these steps.  That's why you'll see names on the mosaics. Yes, there are a lot of steps, but you will stop so many times to read names or admire the art that it will be fun.   When you get to the top of the stairs, go up some plain gray concrete steps and then some wooden steps to get a breathtaking view of the city - assuming Karl the Fog isn't clouding your view.  Majorly worth it to go during a sunny time, worth it to go any other time when there is still natural light. Moraga Steps "If You are the Sun, I wanna be the moon..." - Phil Wickham Wooden steps to get to the nice view.. Panorama of the view!  Enjoy a beer!  See Karl coming in...?  Descent

There is a wonderful place in Marshall, CA called Tomales Bay Oyster Company .  I saw other parties bring sausages, veggie platters, etc., but A and I went minimalist and brought nothing - I mean, we did arrive 20 minutes before closing.  The employees were more than gracious in accommodating us:  Two shucking knives ($10 deposit, get your money back if you return the knives), a bag of small oysters ($15), some Tabasco sauce (for A), and a lime. If you are going from the south, consider taking this way north, it's a really fun drive (wide and gentle curvy roads).   If you have time and are going south, drive on the 1 so that you'll drive through Stinson Beach - it's beautiful, especially if you catch the sun setting. A view on the drive up. Minimalist oyster shucking.