i have neglected the blogging world...one because i hate the term "to blog" and two because it is finals week and three because I have been crazy busy with work, invisible children, and not sleeping.
broad street run this weekend.
and here are some pictures from THE RESCUE! after 27 hours, we were totally rescued by Congressman Patrick Murphy who gave the best speech ever and I was seriously almost in tears. I ended the night with Franklin Fountain ice cream and a pleasant conversation by the pier, followed by some good drinks at Tria...overall awesome weekend, can't really complain :)

beatbox boy

See more funny videos and TBT Videos at Today's Big Thing.

The Rescue..

you should read this or at least watch the videos....

Some of you may know about the organization Invisible Children...I have been following it since college and since then have been able to be apart of a couple of their peaceful protests....


Rescue Riders from Jason Russell on Vimeo.


Previous peaceful protests include the Global Night Commute and Displace me...here are some awesome pictures from displace me in DC, ask me about it and I will tell you..I will also tell you about the saltine crackers that I had for breakfast and dinner the night before....we were purposefully starving ourselves







this year's protest is right here in Philadelphia..it's called The Rescue. I am pretty excited about it and I think you should be too. I will be camping out at independence hall with hundreds of other people. The beginning of the march starts in camden and we will walk over the ben franklin bridge to independence mall to sleep overnight and start a movement by making our voices heard. If you have no idea what Invisible children is all about or the injustice going on in Uganda, talk to me about it or go to their website.
If you are the type of person who needs the DETAILS.... go here

or just watch this...

A tribute to Youtube

Along with the Sarah Palin rap (see below) there are a few videos I waste my time watching in life...and I wanted to share them with you so that you can see what I do instead of studying...

















These are the videos that waste my life. And I love them.

moose hunt

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

Design my next tattoo

The human mind is weird. You can know things, and know you know them and still not believe them. It interesting how easily you can talk yourself into or out of something no matter how much evidence falls against it. This can be a positive and negative in life I suppose. The doubter who still believes in God although everyone around him/her says not to or it can be negative in that we convince ourselves that our worth lies in what others think of us, no matter how much we know it is not true...i dont know that any of that stream of consciousness made sense. So to dumb the conversation down a little...yesterday, while I was doing laundry, I hung up some clothes I don't like to dry and realized I wear too much black.


Also, I have been seriously itching to get another tattoo....like seriously. And I have so many creative friends, I wonder why I don't utilize them more. So help me. I want it on the inside of my wrist kind of. I was thinking about using the verse Exodus 14:14 but i don't know....send me your ideas, you sketches...if i pick yours, then i'll give you credit..thats about all I can afford right now. free credit.

I can't stop listening to:
Dinner & a Suit: The Bridge
This American Life

A little late, but we heard this in church on Sunday and it's a good Easter reminder....

if the resurrection is true than nothing else in this life matters, if the resurrection is false, than nothing else in this life matters.

Today I slept until noon. That was over 12 hours of sleep because I hadn't slept in 4 days...I think my body is going to be a little off, but it was SO worth it. But now it is 1:23 and I have to work at 4:30...so basically I slept through my whole day.

Andrea and I made up a new language because of my new obsession with the song maps. The words are: They don't love you like i love you, so we're just gonna say "maps" instead of telling each other how much we adore each other...saves time, adds to my obsession. basically a win-win situation.

In closing, here are highlights of my Easter Sunday.

the run report

my knees are so swollen. Katie and I decided to do our "long run" of the week today. We were all set up for 8 miles. I ran about 7.5 of them, while she ran all 8....I have been getting pretty sick and I think I'm running on literally a total of 10 hours of sleep over the past 3 nights between socializing, writing this dag on research paper, and working the opening shifts at Karma 3 mornings in a row...I am hurting!! Needless to say...I couldn't do the last .5 miles...which in retrospect I probably should of, but I honestly think my knee caps would have fallen off...on Washington st...and that really ruins a perfectly pleasant Easter Sunday.

Speaking of Easter...I will post pictures soon of the shenanigans that took place at 2228 when the Larrivee's decided to pay a visit for the holiday...just not now. Now I must write about Asperger's Syndrome.

wait...they dont love you like i love you

My latest obsession is.......skateboarding. I want to really learn so bad. I always say that and I get on a board and I ride for a while and then 3 years go by and I do it again. I need consistency. I need a longboard. I am serious about this.



Also. I am trying to write a graduate level research paper in one night. not a good idea.

And i love rain, just not at 6am when I have to walk to work...i know the old saying april showers bring may flowers...but enough is enough.

another sidenote...i am OBSESSED with the yeah yeah yeah's song: maps. i know im like 2 years late or whatever..but i cant stop listening.

My brightest diamond

When I was in Colorado I used to retreat a lot. I was under a lot of stress, but as long as I "got away" (aka out of the city) then I was fine. It was just something I did, I didn't realize it was something I had to do.
I went on a retreat yesterday. I started the day with prayer and then I discovered Wissahickon Park right outside of Philly. A Lot of people have been telling me I needed to go if I like to be outside or hiking but I never felt like I had time. But the stressors of life proved to be greater than expected during my time in Philly and no stress reliever I had found so far seemed to be working as well as when I would "get away" in Colorado. So I went. And this is what I discovered.










I walked, wandered aimlessly for hours. I prayed. I read. I reflected. I was refreshed. There were no people and no building and no cars and no noise. It was a beautiful oasis and it was exactly what I needed. I had been feeling a little overwhelmed and heavy burned over the past couple days, it had been a hard week, but Wissahickon delivered something beautiful. A diamond in the rough if you will..

Afterwards, I had lunch with Haley, which always brightens up my day, sat in traffic for 2 hours, had class, and then went to the Maundy Thursday Service at Liberti. Incredible. Sometimes I think its easy to forget what Easter is actually about. We prayed and reflected on the gravity of the cross and what Jesus celebrated, sacrificed, and accomplished over these past 4 days...(the last supper, the death, and the resurrection). What a beautiful extreme show of love. It is something I don't quite understand, but being in that room with the candles, the scripture and the other people made me feel like I wasn't alone in this confusion and glorious gift that He so freely gave all who believe (Ephesians 2:8). This is a much bigger weekend than most people give credit to...I'm glad I went yesterday to reflect on it.

Then I watched one of the best episodes of the Office I have seen in a long time (Click on the link to watch)

And ended the night at this little bar with Jojo and Richard and all of his co workers called Sugar Mom's in Olde City and it was actually really fun. Jo discovered some old connections, Robbie showed me how to bust a move and told Jo she had no skills. We also found an old favorite, photo hunt...so all in all my night could not have been much better.

all signs point to serve

Today I had all day off with no plans and my only plan was to start and finish my research paper for my class due at the end of the week...did i do that? no. i did not. But i did get a cool new nose ring



but i did rediscover my yearning and desire to serve others in a tangible way. I had a slight taste of it today and all I can say is I want more. Its like a drug for me. I feel as though God is showing me a great calling of mine is to serve and when I'm not doing it I feel a bit like a fish out of water....or like a joel without a guitar, a haley without some honey, a andrea without dance, a katie without music, a Jo without Ralph Lauren, well you get the picture..

i miss my time here.

Crossing

tomorrow at 1505 Kater at 6pm...you should come see this movie. Free pizza and beer. come on. AND come to church before at 4...

I don't think I could make one more list of all the things that I need to get done in the next 2 weeks. Its overwhelming and all I want to do is sleep, so I keep putting things off and being too social. I gotta cut that out. I wish I could major in talking.

The other day I got home from my run when I realized the steel bar on the side of my knee brace had come out the bottom. I was not about to buy another one, so I decided to sew it up. But I thought to myself...this thread will just unsew itself yet again and I will be annoyed. So I put my thinking cap on and I remembered back to my ballet days of sewing pointe shoes and remembered dental floss. Thats right. I always sewed my pointe shoes with dental floss because it doesn't break! And the worst thing in the middle of a performance is having your ribbons/straps come un-sewn. But all I use now is green minty dental floss. So now my brace smells like mint and is partially green down the side...at least im helping it practice good hygiene or something.



on a side note...i miss dance more and more...if there is one thing i regret in my life, it is not continuing to dance..i need to get back into it. now.

im pregnant.





april fools. ha

just livin the dream

Another interesting day on Christian st...let me set this up for you. I was walking to Grey's Ferry (about 3 blocks away) on Christian St. preparing myself for the "7 mile" run that was about to occur (it was really only 6) when I notice on 24th and Christian all of these trucks...I mean an insane amount of trailers surrounding this high school we have at the end of Christian. I am staring, a guy notices me staring, he stares at me.
Guy: head nod
Me: whats going on?
Guy: Movie. Jamie Foxx is in that auditorium right now.
Me: Cool, whats the movie?
Guy: ( insert movie name here, which i forget, something about citizens) about 120 extras in there right now.....pause....33 kids are gonna get shot on that stage in about 20 minutes....great movie, tons of killings. great.
Me: huh...thats cool I guess. see ya.



I came back from my run and there was a limo literally outside of my house. I asked who the limo was for and the guy casually points forward, barely moving his hand from the steering wheel and nods his head a little. He mumbles..."foxx"

Man I love Christian Street.

I also love my roommates on christian st. Last night when I got home...this is what I found on my camera and in my room...if its not Sammy, its these new freakin owls...they're everywhere..I found the third one in my underwear drawer...that was a shocker last night...I didn't take a picture of him. I need to name them all.

Anyway...heres a little treat, a night cap if you will and i am now going to ice my knees, and call it a night

schfifty Five

Oswald Chambers

A person who is a beautiful saint can be a hindrance in leading people to the Lord by presenting only what Christ has done for him, instead of presenting Jesus Christ Himself.
March 25, My Utmost for His Highest

just like a circus

Saturday night was not one of the finest for the ladies of 2228 we were kind of like our own little circus as the dumb brittany spears likes to sing about. But we will all say that it was the most epic we have had yet during our time in Philadelphia.
I would like to say one more thing before I leave this topic forever...this is for you Jo..where are the stairs?

My day started off rough with getting a little sick at school and having to leave early, falling asleep on the couch and freaking out when I woke up because I was so disoriented. Then I started work tonight at Good Karma! So exciting! I actually feel really good about it. So relaxing, so much less stress and nothing to take home with me. Awesome.

Training is non existent this week though. I actually began to feel really bad about it and wanting to get out there and run! That never happens..so I guess its good that I have the desire, but psychically I cannot do it this week. Which sucks.

And I want to leave you with this picture. Because he will truly haunt me in my sleep tonight because of the events of last night.



Last night this little owl slipped into my bed. I woke up in the middle of the night, confused as to why he was in my bed in the first place but half way thinking I was dreaming. I tossed him aside. Later on I woke up again around 5am he was literally in my face...I think he moved to creep me out. So I did the obvious thing, I took him and threw him on the floor. When I really woke up (late) around 6am I saw him lying there...on my floor...so sad but all I have to say is I never want to wake up with a plastic wind up owl in my bed again. semi terrifying, but mostly just annoying.

happy birthday to haley and jo jo!

I am so embarrassed.

I also have a lot of bruises.








This week is going to be longgg - 2 jobs, grad school, church stuff, and "training" somethings gonna give....pray for me.

its official

this blog entry may may you laugh, you may shed a tear, it may make you smile, wince even...but as always, it will keep you on your toes...

In the past couple weeks...I resigned from SGA, and got a job as a barista at Good Karma! Next week I will be working both jobs, still going to grad school, and trying to train for the marathon...needless to say I will not be doing anything social next week besides JOEY'S WEDDING!!!



I also have some AWESOME roommates who finished a project I started for the JACK house literally in DECEMBER..maybe earlier...I start two picture projects both of which got finished tonight thanks to some AWESOME ROOMMATES :)





On a more serious and spiritual note...
I have been stuck cleaning a closet at work for a couple days, with minimal human contact and no music or variety in my job..this leads only to one thing: thinking. This morning I started my day off with womens prayer group and so my mind was much for focused on Christ. I have also been OBSESSED with listening to Shane&Shane everynight too...so that probably helps. Anyway, I have been feeling rejected lately. In many way and by many people. Now if you are a friend of mine, and we have interacted at all in the past month and now you are worried that you made me feel rejected..you can cease those silly thoughts and continue to read in peace. I realized that I can be ultra sensitive when I am stressed out, and I have been highly stressed lately. I take things to heart and I misinterpret words and actions of those around me. In short, I felt rejected. I began to think about this and my thoughts immediately turned to Christ and the cross..especially with Easter being so close. Thoughts of his rejection and sacrifice began to race through my mind. And then these verses..
Matthew 27:27-31
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
27Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. 30They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

He was obedient in rejection, mocking, and even to the point of death!! I can say this with full confidence...I was humbled this morning, alone with my thoughts and the mess.

Top o the mornin to ya..or something

Fred is back. The famous snail impression I did literally YEARS ago was brought back at a birthday party tonight..complete with me on a dirty kitchen floor and a home made shell. I'm not proud.

On a side note Philadelphia is the most un-festive city I have ever lived in. On Halloween I was the ONLY teacher dressed up at school and today I was the ONLY one wearing green, in fact I hardly saw anyone in the city sporting the green. lame.

also, I have decided I am awesome at soccer. I started teaching my 5 year olds how to play and I can ALWAYS get the ball away from them. I should join a league.

Also....my roommates are the funniest people I know. seriously. funniest. HAPPY BIRTHDAY JO JO!

oh and "Jack Sawyer can suck it"

lazy sunday

My sunday was awesome.
Woke up
ran 6 miles (WHAT?!), thanks to coach fetterolf
finished all midterms
went to church
went to the devils den, because liberti likes irony or symbolism or something
and my favorite quote of the whole night was.... "you haven't really lived until you've see mark twain's pee pee" i dont even know who said it b/c so many people repeated it afterward...

on a side note, we sang this song in church tonight that makes me want to keep singing forever and i cant get it out of my head...you shouldn't get it out of yours either..thanks joel rakes, thank you.

Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

Oh praise the one who paid my debt and raised this life up from the grave..

i want a goldfish

sick...

obsessions

I have a few new obsessions as of late....
one: tattoos....i'm itching to get a new one...I don't know what or where or why, but I have been obsessed with looking at others and looking at my foot..



two: my plant. i got it from my aunt for valentines day, and I have never been much of a gardener..everything i try to grow dies, but then again i have never been much of a runner and look at me now! I honestly think you have to be mature and patient to grow anything...and my plant in my bathroom is actually growing! and i get to look at it everyday that it grows a little bit more...



three: running. I hate it and love that i'm doing it all at the same time...the fact that I run 4 times a week in a miracle in and of itself, sure my school work has taken a backseat, sure i have to ice my knees every night and wear a knee brace when i run but it will be worth it when i crawl over the finish line...still breathing.
here is our training schedule...week 3!!!



four: staying busy with things other than what I am supposed to be doing...crafting, playing play dough, games, running, hanging/ordering/organizing pictures...all things that can wait until I'm done my semester, but no i have to do them now!



five: my utmost for his highest by oswald chambers. this is a constant obsession for my crazy life when i don't make time for what i am supposed to be doing (spending time with God) I read this every night. I have now read the entire thing and I am re reading it and learning different things as I read it in different parts of my life. A couple nights ago i read this.
March 6 - When you have no vision from God, no enthusiasm left in your life, and no one watching and encouraging you, it requires the grace of Almighty God to take the next step in your devotion to Him, in the reading and studying of His word, in your family life, or in your duty to Him....And the only way to live an undefeated life is to live looking to God.

March 7 - The things we try to avoid and fight against - tribulation, suffering, and persecution - are the very things that produce abundant joy in us. "We are more than conquerors through Him" "in all these things", not in spite of them, but in the midst of them. A saint doesn't know the joy of the Lord in spite of tribulation, but because of it.

March 9 - All that is required is to live a natural life of absolute dependence on Jesus Christ. Never try to live your life with God in any other way than his way. And his way means absolute devotion to Him. Showing no concern for the uncertainties that lie ahead is the secret of walking with Jesus.