Archive for March, 2008

Life after meeting someone famous…

..is exactly the same as life before meeting someone famous, of course.  I don’t have much to say but feel obligated to blog.  I was really looking forward to the rest of the conference at my church on Saturday morning but when I woke up my neck cracked and brought on some INTENSE pain.  Not sure that I could drive myself, I went back to sleep.  My neck is still a bit sore, but thankfully getting better each day. 
I totally watched “Enchanted” again on the flat screen tv upstairs when I was home alone.  Actually, I turned it on while I baked cookies, so I didn’t really catch a lot visually.  It’s so good, and definitely going on my list of movies I need to own eventually. 
I’m starting to get antsy about the future and whatnot.  I really want to start school again soon, so I need to get on top of that.  I also need to figure out where I will live after the wedding as moving home is not an option, but is, conveniently, okay for the summer (no offense mom and dad!).  I’m contemplating living in my grandpa’s house for the month of September as he’ll be in Santa Fe.  I can’t believe I only have 6 weeks left in northern Virginia.  I want it to go by slowly so I can savor it all.
Okay I’m off to the millions of errands that await.

Happy Monday

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famous!

Yes, meeting a science celebrity is a lot like meeting a musician like say, Matt Wertz or Amy Grant.

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Who I really am: a 14-year-old science nerd

Shocking, I know. I’m feeling pretty good right now. I just finished having a discussion with “the boys” about different theories Christians hold about the origins of the Earth. You see I am going to a conference this weekend at my church on science and faith. THE FRANCIS COLLINS will be speaking tomorrow night. In case you aren’t up on your science celebrities, Francis Collins is/was the director of the Human Genome Project, where every gene in human DNA was identified! He’s a BIG deal, and I about peed my pants when he was coming to MY church. I’m totally getting a picture with him and sending it to my old college professors, take THAT! Anyhoo, I was quite thrilled to be able to talk about all these science-y things with the boys and have Alex act halfway interested for once. This explains the “science nerd” part of me.
And now? I am watching “Enchanted” while eating leftover Easter candy. I TOTALLY looked just like Gisele when I first saw New York, minus the huge wedding dress and fancy hair, but totally just as beautiful and shell-shocked. Those puffy sleeves would make Anne of Green Gables proud! This explains the 14-year-old part of me. This movie is pretty awesome.
In other news (I say that a lot), it is fully official that I am leaving. I told my boss at Starbucks on Monday. It feels good to know that everyone who needs to know about me leaving now knows. But (sidenote: DUDE! Idina Menzel is in this movie, of Broadway fame, I love her!) it also adds more people to the list of those I’m leaving, wa wa waaaa. I’m going to savor these last few weeks though!

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cradle of family

I’ve been so neglectful I know. My mom flew out this afternoon. She was originally scheduled to leave Friday afternoon but her flight was canceled due to some snow in Milwaukee. It was a delightful change of plan and allowed us to spend Easter together. We spent most of last week staying with darling Aunt Marion in McLean. Aunt Marion is someone that everyone should know, everyone needs an Aunt Marion in their life. She’s the kindest, most generous, God-loving lady! She is also a strong supporter of desserts, a stance I happen to agree with. She spoiled us rotten while we stayed with her and now I must get used to “regular” life (part of that spoiling came from the parentals too!). We were invited to Easter supper with her and her family and it was delightful! The more of my family I get to know, the better I get to like who(m?) God chose to bless me with!
Mom and I went to church last night as I had to work this morning, disgraceful I know (work, not church). The service was wonderful but kept me on quite the roller-coaster of emotion. Seriously I cried, then laughed, sang, clapped then cried some more. I feel as though Easter is such a good time for the heart. I’ve always felt that it is one of the strongest family-centered holidays and I’m glad. I can’t think of a better holiday or celebration to enjoy family though, to consider our blessings and the One who loves us so.
Here’s a lil Easter photo for you
Mamacita, Aunt Marion, C and me

Happy Easter and LOVE!

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sorry blog.

Due to the precarious situation that is my internet (currently scamming), I’ve not spent much time on xanga or thinking about what I’ll next blog, which is my default daydreaming topic of thought.  How’s that for setting the bar high.  I’m at my dear aunt’s house (she’s actually my grandma’s first cousin) and though she knows what the internet is, she can’t connect with her hand-me-down iMac, much less have WiFi set up.  Thankfully she lives in a wealthy part of the city (McLean), so I knew the chances of picking up someone’s WiFi were good.  I was right, but only one-bar right, thus the “precarious situation”.
As I previously mentioned my mom is here, and what’s better is that she is on orders to spoil me rotten.  Thanks dad!  Nothing like getting a little coddling from the parentals when the real world is kicking your butt with this “tax” business and endless car repair stuff.  There. has. been. much. shopping.  MUCH, people, MUCH.  If you didn’t already know, my mom is a turbo-shopper, the stamina of a (what has a lot of stamina?) SUPER-STAMINA-D-SHOPPER!  I’m a mild shopper.  I run out of energy about an hour into shopping, and that’s only if I have enough water to drink, I’m totally being serious.  Yesterday we conquered IKEA.  Today, the outlets.  And I still need to stop by Tyson’s tomorrow.  GAH.  I’m not complaining because hello, did you read the “spoiling” and “coddling” disclaimer above?
Tonight we went to Old Europe, that German restaurant I took Cecilia to for her birthday dinner.  Geez Luis is that place good.  The only way it could be improved would for it to actually transport us to Germany.  awesome.
Okay gotta get back to the knitting. 

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Wed-NES-day

Don’t ask my what’s up with my “title” because I do not know.  I do know that you can have an ACTUAL title to your xangas if you enter text in that lovely field with the “Title” next to it, however, I started my xanga before they had such fancy inventions so I feel like I should keep to my simple ways. 
It is very likely that my mom is in D.C. at this moment.  I haven’t received a call or text saying she has landed, so I’m not sure.  I’ll probably get a knock at my door and there she’ll be, she likes to surprise me and I don’t mind being surprised by her.  I’m so excited to not be working full-time for the next 1.5 weeks, yes I know I’m rather spoiled, thank you for pointing that out. 
I’m still adjusting to post-NYC life.  If I were to indulge my dramatic side I would tell you all that the hope of going again VERY soon is the only thing that keeps me going.  Seriously, it’s not the ONLY thing, but I am very excited about the next trip.  Thanks for that link Julia, we’re very seriously considering taking the bus next time, it’s cheaper than DRIVING!  woo
This weather makes me very happy.  Welcome spring, we’ve missed you, and though you are rather late (no excuses about that groundhog either), I say better late than never! 
Okay must tidy up a bit more before mom gets here.

LOVE!

What’s that?  You’d like to see more NYC pictures.  Oh well, I suppose I could accomodate you this time!

to demonstrate how close we were while watching Rent (5th ROW!)

Cecilia at the Hershey’s Store

Rockefeller Center.  When we got there, a lone skater was being cheered on by a group of kids.  The skater was maybe 12 years old and doing some fancy moves.  I can’t wait to see this place at Christmas someday!

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everything

Okay, New York was wonderful, I absolutely fell in love with the city.  When I have something big coming up, I oftentimes build up such anticipation that afterwards it takes me a while to recover.  I get sad after my event is over and a tad unconsolable.  New York wasn’t like that, Wicked DEFINITELY wasn’t like that.  If anything, I’m recharged, ready to go again soon, because I already miss it.  It is one of those times where I feel so full of hope, the possibilities for the rest of my life are limitless that I can’t help myself.  I keep having flashes of both plays, OH, we saw Rent on Friday night, I think I forgot to tell you, and flashes of the city, reliving every savored moment.  On one hand, I can’t believe I’d never been to NYC in all my 24 years, but on the other hand, there was no way I could take it for granted, it was so special to me because I hadn’t been.  I can’t describe much of what I’m feeling, so I’ll just set up some pictures for you guys and go to bed and dream of New York and Broadway!

The Wicked stage, before I realized it was illegal to take pictures.  The set/scenes were so amazing and well done!  The center of this map was sparkling at us, and the dragon on top would move and flying monkeys would, at times, be all over, one even swaying over the audience, freaking the heck out of me and C.

Times Square: where NO space is wasted.

having a snacky at the Hershey store

excited and blurry me in front of Radio City but under the awning at NBC studios

blurry me again at Rockefeller Center

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Cue the Debbie Downer music

We didn’t go back into NYC today because of the torrential rain.  Torrential rain + cold + wind + lots of walking = miserable Mandy.  I would really not like to remember how miserable I was my first weekend in New York City.  So we made the call this morning, saved ourselves roughly $50 by staying in what I fondly refer to as “Jersey”.  There was much napping and bumming, as is appropriate for ridiculously rainy weather.  Erin’s parents generously made us a steak dinner tonight, and kept it exciting by cuing the electricity to outage.  Just kidding, they don’t control that stuff.  But the electricity DID go out before/during dessert, came back on and went out for a WHILE.  We resorted to playing Scrabble, which was a pretty great last resort as far as last resorts go.  Good day. 

We’re totally coming back to NYC before I move home.  I’m stoked.

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…….

Because there aren’t really words for what last night was like. Who am I kidding, of course there are words! We had to take to the New Jersey Transit to NYC, which took 45 minutes, but you can’t really see NYC from the train, so there wasn’t much building anticipation for me. I was acting a tad blase about it all while C was really excited. Once we got off the train and got above ground, it was a different story. I couldn’t stop looking up, NYC is so bright and sparkly. I think I saw more people last night than every other day of my life combined. We had to hurry a bit to get to the show in time, but we passed right by Times Square (whoa). I was stunned, to say the least.

Okay, the show? was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! Life will never be the same now that I’ve been to a Broadway show. I’m used to seeing show at Starlight, which is always wonderful and I love shows, but Broadway is approximately 50 times better than Starlight. They had so many backgrounds and the set design was incredible and overwhelming (in a good way). I honestly started to cry twice during the show. Finally seeing a Broadway musical after 24 years, well, it’ll do that to you, especially when you L-O-V-E musicals. I’m still reeling from the experience, reliving the show in my mind.

Okay we are off again. I won’t be able to post pictures until Sunday, but I promise to do so when I can!

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Start spreading the news

WE’RE GOING TO NEW YORK!  My first time!  I’m SOOOO excited.  I’m going to see Wicked in less than 8 hours.  When it begins I think I’m going to simultaneously start to bawl and pee my pants.  I secretly long to be on Broadway, so this is a big deal. 

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