December 2009
28 posts
lately
I have been spending lots of time with friends. It has been wonderful. So much so that I have not found the time to write about it. Quick recap just so I don’t forget.
Oil change with Jenny and a walk to Yogurtland. Ordinary things, extraordinary times. Exchanging the few stories in our lives that did not occur while together. Alibi Room for kogi truck tacos, Cerritos for a reunion, red...
Today new members were welcomed into my church. As part of the process each person shared their testimony. It got me thinking about my own. I tried to reflect on times I thought I had lost my faith and that pivotal moment I first believed I did nothing to earn my faith and therefore could do nothing to “lose” my faith. What freedom was found in this realization I am still discovering....
Christmas Eve went climbing at Stoney Point with Sung and Grace. What a contrast to the first time we climbed there in Sung’s shoes. Drove to Vegas with my family and played slots for my mom. Fell asleep in front of a pirate slot machine.
Christmas Day. Ate a delicious (and free!) made-to-order breakfast and spent the day at Zion National Park. Went on a short hike to Emerald Pools....
christmas eve
I want to share my life with my mom. But I am finding it impossible. My grievances so cliche I dare not elaborate. Frustration. All I can do is cry. Pray. So that is what I did.
My mind is clearer and my heart less unsettled this morning. Yesterday my mom spoke at me, again. Instead of having a conversation, she believes she can decide things for me and that I will follow. This was never true and...
Cuppycakes.
Lark.
Hey looks it’s the Hollywood sign. How does such an ornery sign become so iconic? Tons of signs are waiting to hear.
California sky, I know no freedom as the one that exists under your clouds.
I name thee silver lake, even though we are no where near silver lake.
Precious filthy creature.
Rooftop cupcake dining.
All eyes on the cupcake. Poor creature.
...
winter break begins...with a bang.
My day began at 5:30AM in Texas. Almost missed my flight throwing in last minute items and washing the dishes from breakfast. At first the people at the counter of American Air were annoyed, chiding. You’re late, they aren’t waiting for anyone during the holiday rush. I apologized with a bag to check twenty minutes before take off. By the time I had gotten through the metal detector...
Consumed by thoughts of death yesterday. The penalty statutes, news of the suicide attempt, the email. It is good to be reminded, sometimes. How fragile we are. How we need each other.
Yesterday was the last day the climbing wall would be open until after winter break. So straight after ConLaw and before my make-up Sentencing class I went climbing. There I saw Stuart who had argued before the...
74° and sunny. I want to do a dance.
home for the holidays
Four days until I am reunited with all my loves. Hurry, Friday, hurry. Then, positively stop. Please.
“I will not use prayer to change things, but God will use prayer to change me.”
family history
It is interesting how the stories matter and somehow shape us. Even of those we never met (maybe especially those, shrouded in mystery). They are somehow important.
There is a lot I have heard from different people, but I am making it a goal this Christmas, to get the whole story on the long drive to Vegas. It’s about time I piece together the stories, replacing assumption with truth....
I don’t know why I bother. I have nothing to contribute to these conversations and nary a soul is interested in what then, instead, occupies my mind.
noko jeans →
$220 black jeans from North Korea. Three Swedish men in their 20s emailed North Korea in 2007 to produce jeans and increase contact with the hermit nation. The jeans were produced this past summer. Check out the two videos on the website.
The jeans are only being sold online right now (they were pulled from the shelves of a store in Stockholm just thirty minutes before their debut earlier this...
sanctions
Towards the end of class, Prof. International Trade Law posed the following question today, “what is less humane, sanctions or war?” Not knowing much more than what I’ve learned in class thus far, my immediate response was “war of course”.
Then Prof. ITL explained that sanctions are used to manipulate foreign governments into changing their policies by hurting their...
28° - Feels like 21°
NK Money Shift Sparks Violence →
not a phone person
Yesterday after the evening lecture I sat in my car talking on the phone. Nervous and excited with a stupid grin on my face. It was sprinkling lightly and very cold but I didn’t care. Today I laid in the dark of my living room and did the same. Expressing and laughing and listening. These are conversations I could really get used to.
This part is fun. So, so, so fun.
crack
Last night I went to Prof. Osler’s lecture on “Crack, Senators, Money and Power.” I listened to a brief history of the crack trade as it relates to sentencing guidelines framed within Prof. Osler’s personal journey. I was struck by what changed him. It wasn’t an event, it was more basic—a speech. A courageously delivered speech. Courageous only because it was...
“It doesn’t interest me
what you do for a living.
I want to know
what you ache...”
– Oriah Mountain Dreamer
I need to do this. →
Any warriors out there? This is how I would like to celebrate the completion of my second year of law school.
How thrilling when the risk turns out well. What a way he has with words.
….. :)
weekend bits
What an eventful weekend. Things have finally slowed for me to write about them.
I drove to Austin on Friday after class and climbing. The apt 5 roomies and I went to “La Contesa” and ate fancy Mexican food. I had the Sunday Chicken and it was so, so, so delicious. A marriage of simple contrasting flavors created happiness in my mouth. The sweetness of grilled onions, the...
snow
I woke up really excited by the prospect of snow. I checked the forecast and read 30% chance of snow. Shoot, what is that?! Well, while sitting in ConLaw it started to snow!!! At first the flakes were big, they looked like small bits of feather. They were blowing in every different direction. It continued to snow for about 30 minutes and the flakes got smaller and fell slower. And then there was...
This week has passed quickly, marked by the sharp chill of winter. I walk hurriedly, leaning forward, hoping to get inside. I am not used to temperatures in the 30s. A snow storm may travel through central Texas tomorrow. I’m excited by the very possibility.
I took a risk. Showed a little bit more of me. How scary! I’m holding my breath. But anything less than honest expression would...
There lies heaven in my soul.