wil and kris (and gracie and ava)

just an update on life:

my most recent architect of choice is richard neutra…sidenote: my fav architect usually changes every two weeks or so.

wil and i raked it in at my shower on saturday…and surprisingly enough, we didn’t have to ship anything back. yay for my superpacking skills. but all selfishness aside, the shower was amazing. so many people showed up; lots of distant family and friends that i hadn’t seen since i was probably a little girl came to show support and encouragement to our upcoming wedding. but with over thirty people there, it was fairly overwhelming and hectic. for a quiet homebody like me, i was definitely exausted and ready to curl up on the couch by about 8 pm that night.

i learned on saturday that one of my childhood traditions has been made famous by “the oc.” little did i know that the balboa bars that i have come to love over the past couple decades have their own spot on the show. cool, i guess.

while walking through the airport on sunday in dallas, a pilot walked up next to me and said, “let me guess, you are going to nashville.” i thought that was pretty good guessing, being that i am not a native. maybe the south is finally rubbing off on me. and then, once i was boarding the plane (that same pilot was for my flight), he preceded to call me “sparkles” with that little twang in his voice. oh i love the southern charm.

but the wierdest thing is as i was walking to my seat, a man in front of me pointed at me and said “sasha cohen,” as if i looked like her. what? honestly? for those of you who know me, you can definitely vouch for the fact that i do not whatsoever look like her. i wish i could skate like her though.

when i go longer than a couple weeks without sitting down to write something for a class or even for myself, i tend to forget how much i love it.  one of my favorite feelings is when i am able to sit down, wherever, be stress free and completely focus on whatever i am writing on my computer.  even when…. no…. especially when i have no point to what i am writing, having the freedom and ability to express my thoughts into words on paper sets me into a trance that draws me in deeper, and deeper.

i am absolutely mesmerized by the concept of ‘writing.’  we are able to take small squiggly letters that have virtually no meaning when stated alone and we can mix them together to make words that represent objects and actions.  but even further beyond that, we can mix those words together and create phrases that pass along information and stand as a means of communication.  and still further, we can mix those sentences to choreograph uniform, thought provoking and emotional material to convey ideas and stories!

my advanced composition course is doing well to stretch me as a writer.  now, i know i shouldn’t compare myself to others, but many of the people in my class are far better writers than i.  all my life i have used those around me, who are better than me, to improve my style and learn.  i can form my own ideas about my writing style by sampling a bit of my fellow classmate’s works.

this semester we are required to read a book called the i ching for writers.  it is an interesting book but has helped me improve more than anything.  there are several small passages in this book, and after each passage are a few ideas to try out a different style of writing.  i have written a short memoir, a creative poem, several essays about myself and even a few haiku’s!  i am learning a lot about incorporating many different styles of writing into the pieces i write for class.

one part of my writing style that i know i need to improve on, is my use of dialogue.  i wish i was good at using it, but whenever i do, it seems so awkward and forced.  i think i just need more practice.  i’ve tried to write stories and essays without dialogue, but there is just something that it has that adds a different aspect to the story.  it captivates the audience and draws them in more so than a simple statement could do.

my professor, dr. cox left us with a great quote at the end of class last friday.  we were talking about dialogue and how useful and cohesive it can be to a paper and she stated, “dialogue is the multivitamin to your narrative.”

love and peace,

-simple

first look at the photo:

this is a scan of our actual receipt from grabbing some groceries on saturday at kroger (checking out at the self-scan kiosk)…yes you are right, wil and i not only bought our $13 worth of groceries putting in one dollar bill at a time, but after we got near the end and it ate one of our dimes without crediting us, we searched our pockets, wallets, and purse for more change to find no more!!! with a balance still due and no more cash, i am proud to say we made a new record. we actually pulled out our debit card to charge 16 cents. w00t!

on top of that, we didn’t even notice we were in the express self-check out. while we were laughing with each dollar bill fed into the machine, you know the guy behind us was just cringing at us two silly “youngins,” totally oblivious to how much time we were taking.

ahhhh, these little goofy moments help bring a bit of joy into an otherwise depressing week.

you have led me to the sadness
i have carried this pain
on a back bruised, nearly broken
i’m crying out to you

i will sing of your mercy
that leads me through valleys of sorrow
to rivers of joy

when death like a gypsy
comes to steal what I love
i will still look to the heavens
i will still seek your face

but i fear you aren’t listening
because there are no words
just the stillness and the hunger
for a faith that assures

i will sing of your mercy
that leads me through valleys of sorrow
to rivers of joy

alleluia, alleluia

while we wait for rescue
with our eyes tightly shut
face to the ground using our hands
to cover the fatal cut

and though the pain is an ocean
tossing us around, around, around
you have calmed greater waters
higher mountains have come down

i will sing of your mercy
that leads me through valleys of sorrow
to rivers of joy

alleluia, alleluia

i will sing of your mercy
that leads me through valleys of sorrow
to rivers of joy

valley song- jars of clay

god totally uses music in my life; during a recent time of utter emotional exhaustion, he enveloped me with his peace, through this song. pain, suffering and sickness suck, but god’s mercy and sovereignty are perfect.