Even Here We Are

Hey all!

So i know i just posted a blog, but I wrote it a few weeks ago, but the internet was screwed up so I am just posting it now. I am currently sitting in my favorite coffee shop listening to my favorite music. I posted a new playlist with new songs on it so you all can enjoy what I am listening to when you read this blog. :) Well, the Jewel concert was phenomenal. Of course. Things have been pretty fun out here. I have been keeping myself busy. I have seen 3 movies in the past month and a half! I told you (or you will read in my next older blog) that I used a ticket Mom gave me at Christmas to see "Revolutionary Road" and then the next week I went to see "The Reader." Both films starring Kate Winslet, my favorite actress. She won an oscar for her role as a former SS (Nazi) guard who goes on trial...it is a fantastic film with amazing acting...both movies quite depressing though. I tend to enjoy the dark, depressing, emotional films over others. Then last night, I went on a date with myself to see "Milk," the story of Harvey Milk and his assassination in 1978 starring Sean Penn (who also won an Oscar for the role). If you get a chance to see it, go!


Well, another way I have been keeping busy besides COSA, is I have been cleaning the house a lot and re-decorating. I cleaned out the laundry room behind the washer/dryer and swept and mopped it. No laundry room has ever been cleaner! hehe. Then i mopped the kitchen and started re-decorating the bathroom. I will put up before and after photos once i take some on my phone...first off, the color is a hideous, pinkish/beige color. and then, past VSers insted of putting nice pictures up, decided to scotch tape and duct tape old pictures from calendars all over the walls. They were scattered everywhere on the walls, collecting dust and crinkling up with age. So i took them all down, washed the walls, and put some beautiful pictures up! One that was hiding in our back computer room by local artist, a large framed photo of Yosemite and a poster of one of my favorite singer/songwriters. I have talked to the other housemates and we are going to paint it sometime soon. I can't wait! Then we will re-paint the living room. Boy does this house need it!! Everything is broken, old, or just plain ugly. HAHA! I decided it is time for a change! It is actually quite nice to clean and decorate. It gives the house a fresh feel and I get to relieve some stress and just listen to my iPod while doing something productive besides sit and watch TV.

I appreciate SO MUCH everyone in the family keeping me updated on Grandpa's recovery process! I am SO happy that things are going well Grandpa! We were worried for a minute! I cannot believe you walked 1/2 a mile yesterday! It was very nice to talk to you last week and I will try and call soon. Keep your head up and a positive attitude! We love you and I cannot wait to see you in April. Yay Jenna and Pete! I am so excited for the wedding!!!! I can;t believe it is in less than 2 months. I truly have never been so excited to come home! Even more so than before Christmas! Probably because now that I have a taste of what it feels like to come home and leave, each trip home will get better and better. :) I miss you all so dearly, it has been very hard this past month to be away from you.

It was a BEAUTIFUL day today in Fresno. A bit cloudy (now really cloudy) but it was in the 70's! I walked here to the coffee shop in a tshirt and jeans. I did a reader's theatre for the scripture this morning and sang in a quartet (#29 in Sing the Journey). It was communion Sunday and the 1st of lent. We have a beautiful banner up front and they will add a new one each week. Kelsey and Jon went to the mountains this weekend to go cross country skiing with a few church people. I decided i wanted a weekend to relax and have to myself. It was well worth it. I even cleaned a couple windows inside and out after church! Mom, you would be so proud! But if i didn't do it, no one would and it would keep collecting dust.

I think that can be it for now. If you all would like me to write about anything in particular or have questions just comment on my blog and i'll answer in the next blog. I love getting comments from you! Ok, i miss you, i love you...think of you every day. i leave you with some lyrics from a song that just played.

Even Here We Are: (Paul Westerberg) on Shawn Colvin's latest album, These Four Walls

It's a beautiful flower in your garden
But the most beautiful by far
Is the one growing wild in the garbage dump
Even here, even here we are

It's the song of the bird way up in the sky
But the most beautiful by far
Is the scream of the man who never learned to fly
Even here, even here we are
Even here, even here we are

When the sun shines bright, it's a beautiful sight
But the most beautiful by far
Is the blind girl alone, the angel of the night
Even here, even here we are

It's a beautiful flower in your garden
But the most beautiful by far
Is the one growing wild in the garbage dump
Even here, even here we are
Even here, even here we are


Amen.

jor

ps: here's a fun photo from Gulf Shores!