Oh, the Places You'll Go!

One picture every day for a year. Hello, 2012.

"On and on you will hike,
and I know you’ll hike far
and face up to your problems whatever they are.
You’ll get mixed up of course,
as you already know.
You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step,
step with care and great tact.
And remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.
Will you succeed?
Yes you will indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)
Kid, you'll move mountains!
So... be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ale Van Allen O'Shea,
you're off to great places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So... get on your way."
-Dr. Seuss

Permalink February 17, 2012 And my food blogging continues! My roommates and I had a little post-midterms celebration. Shaved ice…so yummy!
Permalink February 16, 2012 Michelle, aka momma Michelle, treated me to dinner and then I treated her to Milk and Honey. It was really cool getting a chance to talk to someone who’s already graduated and has the experience to have different perspectives on everything, compared to most of the people I usually talk to who are still in college. Talking to her really made me think about how unpredictable life is and how, no matter how much I may try to plan now what will happen after I graduate from UCI, there really is no telling where I’ll end up, and that means literally in the geographical sense (Norcal? Socal? East Coast? Who knows?) but also in the mental, emotional, and spiritual sense. Only time will tell. It said on my cup from Milk and Honey: “That unique…” And to me, I read that and thought about this unique life we each live, unpredictable, scary, chaotic, but exciting, too. All we can do is just take it step by step.
Permalink February 15, 2012 After something like 10 million years, I finally got to Skype with Brian, who is all the way on the other side of the world studying abroad in Spain. He told me about his exciting travels in Spain, Morocco, and Paris, and I just sat there, seething with jealousy. Just kidding! But really though, I always enjoy hearing about his adventures and listening to him makes me even more determined to travel to Europe sometime soon. It was just really nice catching up and talking to him for a long time because I miss him terribly and can’t wait until he’s back in California so that I can hang out with him and eat cookie dough. But I’m so proud of him and know he’s having an amazing time abroad learning, experiencing, and spending time with his “Step-daddy.”
Permalink February 14, 2012 For many people across the world, this day is known as Valentine’s day. But for us, it has become VaLINtine’s day! And to celebrate, we had some encouragement time at small group - have I mentioned how super sweet and wonderful these girls are? - and we also surprised our brother group with home-made muffins and signs. Annissa’s “Whale you be my Valentine?” sign was the main attraction and watching her get so excited and enthusiastic about it was the cutest thing. Definitely a great VaLINtine’s day full of love and mushiness!
Permalink February 13, 2012 After much coaxing, Vanessa finally agreed to let me buy her Cha. She is so stubborn. But it was so fun finally meeting up with my accountability partner and just talking about everything from overbearing parents to snowboarding to Vampire Diaries. I love that we never run out of things to say to each other, and I can’t wait to keep meeting up with her and just getting to know her so much better.
Permalink February 12, 2012 I missed church this morning so I ended up just watching it on livestream in bed. Even though I wasn’t physically there at church, I have to say the message was probably one of the best ones I’ve heard in a while. Brubaker is the bomb. One of my favorite parts from the message was when Dave Gibbons said that since we’re all made in God’s image, the things we create have an essence of God in them. Believe or don’t believe in God all you want, but you can’t deny that some of the most beautiful, unique, thought-provoking, and breath-taking things that humans create - paintings, music, books, buildings, movies, speeches - are nothing short of god-like. It all manages to leave us in awe and makes us wonder, “How did a person come up with this?” I personally find inspiration in all of it. “For in him we live and move and have our being.” -Acts 17:28
Permalink February 11, 2012 After a long week of midterms and late nights, Rosa and I rewarded ourselves with Chipotle and retail therapy. We apologize to our bank accounts for any damages done! Oh well. Good times hanging out with mija, who always makes me laugh until my stomach hurts. Highlight of the day: “Wait…what is this??? This looks like Forever 21!” “That’s because it is.”
Permalink February 10, 2012 Time is flying. And I kind of wish it would stop.
Permalink February 9, 2012 This past week, Nicole has said, on two different occasions, that I look like I have Down Syndrome and a tumor on top of my head. This picture shows why she said the latter. Who needs enemies when you have a friend like this, right? Or more importantly, who needs high self-esteem when you have a friend like this keeping you grounded! Good grief, what a verbally abusive roommate.
Permalink February 8, 2012 My little study partner. Too bad he is no good whatsoever in helping me study or even motivating me or keeping me focused. Instead he just sleeps, which kind of makes me feel like he’s doing it on purpose to rub it in my face that I can’t just do that. What a little butt!