closer

I did what I was going to get done for the capstone class. I analyzed and analyzed and re-analyzed using the SPSS 17.0 program and lots of excel sheets. I am so tired of looking at spreadsheets. I wrote and wrote and created my presentation and poster. I turned my documents in and now it's up to the final grading and that's not my part! I'm sure I'll do fine, I am just glad it's over. Now I just need to work on the final draft of my eating disorders paper and turn it in. I'm so tired, I think I might sleep first and work on my paper later... I have to do my lecture slides or whatever for the interns at VSU on Friday too (I'm doing the RD exam review with them). Maybe I should do that now... since I want to print it out at work tomorrow and I'm going straight to VSU tomorrow morning and then going to work afterward.

So much to do... so little time. I always feel like I pack things in even when I don't try to. I have to work this weekend too. At least I get Tuesday off to chill and teach a fitness conditioning class. I think that class will be fun.

Well, I'm exhausted. I think I'm going to sleep now and work on the paper and RD review stuff tomorrow at work. Hopefully I can get it done before I leave. At least I have nothing planned tomorrow night.

Almost there!

- run for life

types

Is there really a 'type' that everyone must have? I have always tended to be attracted to tall (5'10" or taller) guys. Generally they are Caucasians/white. I guess it doesn't matter though... what people look like, it's the inside that counts right? I think it matters to a certain extent. I wouldn't want to be tempted by other guys... but then there are tons of attractive males out there so of course there are temptations. I would have to stand firm on my commitment made before God to be a one woman person and eventually or hopefully I guess get married and vow in front of friends and family (or not, the whole eloping idea is sounding better and better, especially after all the hectic ordeal at my sister's).

I have talked to a bunch of girls who have ended up with guys they didn't think they would end up with, or in their words, "weren't their type." For them, it's worked out beautifully.

I wish I could stop obsessing over this. It's really keeping me up at night. I need to sleep. I have to get up in 5 hours and drive down to Norfolk. I need to sleep more. I'm all messed up from time zone travels, work and homework. At least all of the wedding hustle/bustle is over now. I'm praying for all of that. God answers all prayers. He will answers my current prayers in His time. Please God. Help me get through these next few weeks and on to home! 4.5 more weeks of school and 86 days till I start driving home. I can't wait. I wish I was done with school and already ready to drive home. It will be here before I know it.

-run for life.

disappointment

That sick feeling at the pit of your stomach that creeps up to your throat is very unappetizing. When tears stream and the thought that throwing up might help get rid of it? Conflicting interests flit through my mind. I should be happy.

I'm glad that God's plans are the perfect ones. All I can do is trust that it will happen in His perfect timing.

I need Your help God. I need Your help to turn head knowledge into heart knowledge. Please God. I run to You for consulation. I run to You for everything.

- run for life

the eve

Some days I wonder, what happened to decency?  I never was a huge fan of Halloween because I'm afraid of everything related to creepy-ness and being scared.  I did like the candy and it was nice that we got to visit the neighbors to get it (and now I like that kids are getting exercise).  Granted the last time I went trick-o-treating was 2006 (you thought I was going to say something like 8th grade huh?).  I never fully understood the holiday and don't really celebrate it per se, but here I am to gripe about it.

Now Halloween has morphed into yet another excuse for females to traipse around scantily clad in the cold while men gawk and bring their video cameras (literally my friend was telling me that there was a 40-ish year old guy with his video camera out on Halloween, I can only assume he was making a free 'girls gone wild' dvd for himself).

As I say this, I think of the varying standards for different parts of the world as well as different parts of the country.  I understand different attire is accepted in various places, but wearing underwear in public negates the term "under" wear, maybe it should just be called "wear" now.  We've lost the under part I guess.

On another note, yet somewhat related-today's society is looking for a 'quick fix' or short term enjoyment; in other words: lust rather than love.  People think that love is a feeling, when it is more than that.  It is a commitment, something that must be worked for, not just found.  When love fades (and I'm told it will and it does), it must be rekindled-more than just once or twice during a person's married life.  What happened to "until death do us part"?  At least that used to hold true in the old days.  Don't say it unless you mean it!  I wish that we didn't have to sign papers and have 5 million witnesses.  What happened to the good old days (I have no idea what I'm talking about, but I've read books) when a man's word was his contract?  When you could 'shake on it' and it would stand up in court?

I know I'm just annoyed because I do wear clothes and I get annoyed because the girls not wearing any get more attention.  I have to keep telling myself that I don't want that kind of attention.  I keep telling myself that God has something/someone planned for me, someone worth waiting for.  Someone that will appreciate that I don't "flaunt it because I got it" or "shake what yo mamma gave ya" for the world to see.  God's plan is the perfect plan.  Anything worth anything is worth trusting in Him and waiting for.

-run for life

sparks

My stomach was full, the weather tepid and humid. Sweat dripped into my eyes as I ran through the trees. I saw a spark. I blinked, brushing the sweat from my eyes. I glanced around to see if anyone was smoking near by. Another small streak of light whizzed by in my peripheral vision. I rubbed my eyes. Maybe I needed them checked.

Rounding the corner by the golf course I sped up. The two small bridges beneath my feet made a clopping sound as I trod across and down the path. Making my way around the course and back toward the park I saw a another spark. Fear flitted through my thoughts. Flames and images of the wildfires roared to the forefront of my mind as I saw more sparks light up and disappear.

There were definitely sparks in the forest at night. I had seen lightning bugs/fireflies for the first time.

-run for life

assumptions

I never realized that it rained during the summer nearly everywhere except where I lived. I just went through life assuming that California weather was the norm. I guess I have done that with a lot of things. I assumed that if someone proclaimed that they were a Christian-that they were. I take people at their word, only to get burned, trampled on, and disappointed. I am so glad that God will never cease to love us, to be faithful, and keep His promises.

-run for life

ramblings/brief update

I wonder sometimes if I trust too much. Con: I end up getting burned a lot because I expect that people will keep their word. Pro: I have never been much of a worry wart. People are always amazed when I mention things I've done or what I am planning to do. I tend to think the best about people. I believe there is good in everyone. I befriend anyone who wants to be my friend and I always stick by my friends. I would say that I can go anywhere and get along fine - part of that is knowing where I can and can't go at certain times of the day or what to wear and how to act while I am there.

I was sorting through free t-shirts and old clothes, deciding what to donate and what to keep. I took pictures of all the fronts and backs of the shirts. I thought it was funny that I could follow my life through free t-shirts from all of the events I've done, volunteered at, schools I've gone to, and races I've run. If anyone who knew me saw the bag of stuff I was donating, they would know right away that they were my old clothes. I put tons of old Cal Poly, San Leandro High, gymnastics, running, sports, and other random shirts into the large garbage bags we will take to the Salvation Army/Goodwill.

I've been home for about a week, mostly hanging out with my half-brother's family - going to the Oakland Zoo, SF, and other places you can only go to in the bay. They flew out of SFO yesterday, so I will have more time now. I went to a few A's games with friends and have more planned. I love California. The weather is perfect for running, it's not too hot, nor too cold. There are hills for me to run and places for me to bike and cross train. Catching up with friends from high school and college has been wonderful. So much has happened since then in all of our lives. Seeing my cousins' children again reminds me that time flies, especially since the last time I saw them, they were babies and couldn't even hold their heads up themselves. Now they are talking and coming up with their own ideas. As great as it is to hang out with family and friends, I have only hung out with one friend who is a Christian. It's difficult to maintain a clear focus without support from others.

Right now I am nearing the quarter of a century mark. As I look around me, it seems like some people have given up big goals or dreams in exchange for the daily grind. I sometimes feel like I've fallen into that pattern myself as I go to school day after day or create my own routine. Luckily God's plan doesn't seem to have me in a rut. When I focus on Him and His sacrifice, I am astounded at everything around me. The calming waters of the lake or the ocean, the beauty of the plants and leaves dangling from branches shading the ground, smiles on people's faces as I pass them on my runs saying 'good morning' or an encouraging word or two to them. I am so thankful for what I have been given and that He is in control of my life. I do wonder what is in store for me, especially because I need a job to support myself, but I know that whatever it is, it's better than I could have ever imagined.

Now to bike to Alameda with one of my best friends. Tucker's here I come! Oh how I have missed thee. [Tucker's is an ice cream parlor in Alameda around the corner from the gym where I did gymnastics. When we won meets our coach would buy our whole team ice cream.]

-run for life friends

rekindle

Light the fire once again.  Throughout my life I have realized I am a "doer."  When I say I am going to do something - I do it.  I have found many people do not share my enthusiasm or zest for life.  People second guess, get scared, or change their minds so often I don't understand.  I was looking at my friend Matt's pictures of his travels through Mexico, Nicaragua, Belize, Guatemala, and Costa Rica (the waterfall is one of his from Costa Rica).  My heart was filled with longing.  I miss the volcanos surrounding Antigua's cobblestone streets.  I have always wanted to see the world and oh, it was so lovely.  I need to backpack across Europe and I need to find someone who's "hardcore" enough to do it.  I don't want the frills, I want to live with the people, I want to live out of one backpack for a month or more and see everything.  The only thing that holds me back right now is money, I need to get a job for at least a few years that will repay my debt to my parents and start scraping and saving for traveling in the future.

You only live once.  I want to experience all of God's creation.  I'm hoping that I'll get married some day and I'm hoping my future husband will have a passion for God's world and traveling like I do.  I'm thinking of looking for jobs in Europe or other countries.  Spain would be sweet and I could become fluent in Spanish that way.  Oh, even a year or two abroad would be glorious.  I doubt it would quench my thirst for traveling, but I don't know if anything can.  God please, if it's Your will, let it happen, and provide me with the means and the fellowship.  All in Your timing of course, I don't plan on going right this moment, but I will if You want me to!

- run for life friends.

i don't wanna grow up

"From bikes to trains to video games, it's the biggest toy store there is... I don't wanna grow up cuz if I did... I couldn't be a Toys 'R' Us kid." Remember the good ol' days when you could sleep all day during the summer if you wanted? Those lazy Saturdays when you could wake up, maybe watch Saturday morning cartoons and eat a bowl of cereal. The days of no responsibility. Life flies by so quickly. I'm glad that I know there is something beyond this and something to look forward to afterwards. I guess I should try to savor each moment (other than homework) because I've only got this one life to live for Christ and if I just let it slip by ...when it's over, I won't know where its gone.

I spoke with the new program director at camp today. I feel a lot better about the safety and the spiritual growth of my children and staff now. I pray that God will be there and show Himself to my kids who don't know Him and to those who do know Him so that they will put their trust in Him especially during this pivotal season in their lives. It'd be so easy to go back to camp; I don't want to get a real job. Sigh... I know that God has something better in store for me. I just need to keep following His will with recklessness.

**Today is Anita's birthday, my favorite sister! Hooray! I wish I could be home, but I am glad that she only has to work half a day and that she will be surrounded by people who love her. Happy birthday sister.**

On another note (as if anything I wrote about so far has anything to do with each other), I visited an elementary school today to do a plate waste study. I was talking to some second graders about what they were eating when a particularly bold 7 year old piped up her own rendition of "Don't Cha" by the Pussy Cat Dolls. I thought I was hearing things and I must have had a weird look on my face because she said, "what's wrong, don't you know that song?" and began singing the real words. Let me tell you I was just as appalled that she knew this song at such a young age as I was that I knew it too.

What is society teaching our children? Adultery, sex, and succumbing to temptation is good and acceptable. What other message could a song that has 2nd graders singing the lyrics "don't cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me?" possibly be trying to send besides poor grammar/vocabulary lessons? Do what feels good? (I don't understand that at all because our feelings are so changeable and inconsistent - or maybe that's just me.) I never liked the song but I know it because they played it dt when I was back in SLO and went out with my friends. I am becoming more aware (and afraid) of all the media, songs, and lyrics... ones that are glorifying sin and the things that God despises/detests (see Proverbs 6). Subconsciously evil messages are being repeated incessantly in our minds. Satan can take hold if we believe them and do not fight them with truth. I don't know why I was so shocked that a 7 year old knew the song, it's not like parents can filter the radio (I doubt most of them even care). This lead to a "whoa, I am glad I was already thinking about home schooling my children" thought that freaked me out because I want to go home and I had grown up thinking all the kids who were home schooled were weird and had poor social skills. (I thought this based on my experience with the limited amount of home schooled kids I met in California, prior to my introduction to home schooling in Virginia. Obviously my views on the home schooling issue have changed since many of my friends here have been home schooled.) I can honestly say that I want to go home. It would be easy to find a place to live, to get a job in the bay area (as my dad says, there are people who need help everywhere), to visit my friends and family, and the weather is gorgeous pretty much year round. There is another part of me that really believes God wants me to stay and grow with this new church family He has brought me to.

Second graders say the funniest things. One little 2nd grader said, "you remind me of Mulan" (Mulan is pictured above) and another a few tables down said, "you're pretty." When the 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders came through (they ate lunch by grade) I was just walking around asking them if they were going to eat their fruit and vegetables. Some of them wondered why I was there and how old I was. They aren't bashful about asking questions or voicing their opinion either. When lunch was over I determined the majority of elementary school kids "don't like fruits and vegetables" as one 2nd grader announced fearlessly while eating nacho cheese and chips, wrinkling his nose at the apple on his tray. The snacks they allow in elementary school are terrible because they give the children an option that is unhealthy - most of the kids would eat the chips and not eat their lunch rather than supplementing their lunch as a snack. I would say that 1st-4th graders threw away 40-60% of their lunch (60% in lower grades and less as they got older). Even the 5th graders were throwing away perfectly good sandwiches and opting for chips and cookies.

Ugh, how the world has bought into short term satisfaction. With food, sex, laziness, and any other thing that can become a temptation or an idol in our lives. It breaks my heart to see children having role models that have no purpose for their lives. Why is our culture so obsessed with famous people and what others are doing? I read an article last year that voiced the opinion that it was because our population is so lonely these days and they feel like they "know" the famous people because they see them on television and read intimate details about their personal lives. I think it's partially because they're lonely as the article stated and partially because they are truly lost and do not know what they are supposed to do with their own life. They do not know that there is a God who loves them, who knows their inmost being and sacrificed His beloved Son on their behalf.

The world needs a Savior and they know it. I hear non-believers questioning the meaning of life and their purpose in life but they don't want to give up ownership of their own lives. They feel like deserve something. They want to live for themselves rather than glorify a God they cannot see or feel. All I can do is pray for my kids back home, my friends, my family, those I don't know, those I worked with and will work with... that God will reveal Himself to them and transform their minds and hearts. Lord I entrust those I love to You, please use me where You will to Your glory.

back in action

Jac is back! I just got the system disks in the mail today from Jeff and am importing all my iPhotos from my external hard drive and making sure all my documents are up to date. External hard drives rock my world. I am so glad I got one. I have over 5,000 pictures that I would have lost if I didn't have one! Crazy. I lost my entire address book and a bunch of school stuff but my pictures are the most important to me. I would have lost a lot of good memories - road trip, Virginia times. I did post some on fb but I have over 4k just from my road trip alone. God is good.

I am going to a girl's discipleship group tomorrow morning. I'm actually really looking forward to it. I know God is working in my heart and changing me to want to prepare myself as Kathy says "to cleave from my family" and befriend more girls so that I can share with them and not have to worry about crossing over into grey areas that I have often had to be indiscreet or very blunt about with my guy friends. Luckily God has empowered me to do so in the past and I have not had many problems telling guys that we're just friends and nothing more. I don't know if that's good but I have had some friends tell me thank you for being so honest albeit it was years after the sting of the initial blow. God is gracious and always looking out for me. How sweet and pleasant it is.

ps. More prayers answered! Sister just found out (it's about 10PM EST) she passed the board exam for optometry school! Praise God for that too. Wow, seriously, I feel like me and God have some amazing connection I never want to lose. I feel like we're more in sync than ever. Coolest experience of my life. Thank you God!

beware of what you wish for

...and of what you give as gifts or promises; make sure you are specific.

In an effort to save dinero this Christmas, I made coupons for the Richardsons (the family I live with). I washed dishes for Gabe on the 2nd - the first working day of the new year (he saved them up from the whole day so there were a lot!). Tonight (it's really late and I should be sleeping but I am awake for some strange reason) Hannah used one of her coupons. She knocked on my door while I was doing data entry for our research project and was holding a small white slip of paper - glancing up I asked "dining table cleaning?" as I rose from my bed. She grinned, shaking her head from side to side, and exclaimed "piggy back ride!" with glee. I sprained my ankle on Saturday, it's not bad, but it's still blue and painful. I've been trying to take it easy - I haven't run since I sprained which takes me a lot of restraint. I laughed a little and said "all right, get on" as she climbs on my back and we head downstairs to "run around the kitchen" per her wishes. I assumed it would only last maybe 15-20 minutes and I could get back to the exciting world of data entry.

The coupon reads "Dec 24 2007 - To Hannah Richardson - This coupon is good for 1 piggy back ride any time/distance you choose - happy Christmas! [snowman picture I drew & signed by me next to the X] not valid unless signed - expires 4-25-08." When I made the coupon, I knew she liked piggy back rides because I had given her many in the past. I gave her two because her chore was dining table cleaning and that's easy. I gave Josiah and Gabe one chore each; dishes and living room cleaning respectively and Kelly and Scott got 3 nights of babysitting with a clause of when Jill's homework and schedule permit. [Lucky for them, I don't really have a life and I don't mind watching the kids unless I have a huge project/paper.] Back to the piggy back coupon: I was thinking that any time/distance might be to Sunday Park, from the van to the church/church to van, while we were on a hike, or something random like that. Silly me.

I ended up running around the kitchen from 8:47PM until 9:50 when I dropped her off in her room. Josiah wanted a turn; I tried to explain that it was Hannah's "coupon time" but he didn't understand/care and cried for a good 15 minutes. Jo followed us around and hit Hannah on the bottom with various items ranging from weights [I quickly put an end to that], pillows, spatulas, and his hands. I picked Jo up, tickled him and threw him onto the couch, but the little guy is really persistent. Gabe joined in eventually and threw a pink bouncy ball at us which I picked up with my foot and passed off to Hannah so she could throw it back. Jo and Gabe discovered the joy of hitting their sister and I with pillows and I retaliated by stealing their pillows and defended... eventually just whomping them back since they wouldn't stop. Hannah even brushed her teeth while perched atop my back.

I have to say that was a workout - the most unconventional one I've ever completed in my life. I was so glad when Kelly announced bedtime was in 5 minutes... although 20 minutes passed before they were actually sent to bed. Literally dripping from my face; searing pain running up the outside of my ankle - it was fun, but I was glad I fullfilled that coupons' Christmas gift. Normally when I give piggy back rides it's for ~10 minutes at a time, but idiotic me wrote "any time/distance you choose," [the sprained ankle didn't help any]. It's a good thing God created me to enjoy children! I was thinking as I was quickly showering off that I want to be able to do that with my own children one day and if I don't have kids within the next few years... I guess I will have to stay in really good shape so I can, otherwise I will be too weak to run around with 65 pounds of child on my back while carrying another 56 pound child to be dumped on the couch.

one down...

This is going to be a bunch of random stuff... Finished my whole clinical rotation. 10 weeks done. Bunch more weeks to go. I was driving home from Farmville and I almost stopped to take a picture of the tractors with lights outlining them. Only in Farmville. I pulled my left gluteous maximous! It hurts really bad! Apparently one of the receptionists at the hospital has planned out how many kids we're going to have... too bad I'm not interested and have told him so [I am brutally honest sometimes]. I am tired but I can't go to sleep. I'm not looking forward to entering data into the computer for hours tomorrow. I am looking forward to getting the research project done. I need to work on that and work on my clinical case study this weekend. I have a lot to do. I am glad I can go to the Johnson's care group Christmas party on Tuesday because I will be in Midlo instead of Farmville until January. I wonder what my psych rotation will be like. I wonder if my weight loss plan is going to work. I pray God will take care of all my worries, hopes and fears. I pray that God will move in the hearts of everyone I know and don't know during this holiday season.

snow

It's snowing in Farmville! I ran around outside for a little bit in the snow fall. It's not "sticking" to the ground as Madonna said, but the mini flakes are like microscopic ice balls... It's not necessarily "fluffy"... its not super cold, it's kind of like really light rain because the flakes melt right when they hit you or the ground. So, I now have seen my first snow fall. Neato.

heart stopper

I was going downstairs to lock the door after letting the dog out for the last time tonight... and I saw a monster spider that rivaled a baby taurantula. It had to be as big as a potato bug (the big ones that look like ants but gianormous)... about the length of my thumb which is 2 inches. I killed it with the dog's bone because that was the closest object that I could crush it with without a chance of touching it. I was barefoot so I couldn't even stomp on it. I felt a bad for half a second before Gerd just grabbed her bone off the ground and carried it around. I don't think she even noticed the giant spider guts on the underside of one of the knots... Then I looked for a broom... but there wasn't one so I used a sponge mop and took 5 minutes to brush it's crumbled body off the carpet out the front door. Wow. I'm glad I'm still young otherwise something like that might give me a heart attack. I definately felt my heart skip a beat! Time to sleep. Two posts in one day! I'm on fire... or just really scared of GIAGANTICAL spiders that are crawling across the front room carpet...

yoga-ng

Yoga was really fun. We had to relax our entire bodies for one part and I was REALLY relaxed... and I ripped a big one and I almost started laughing but I thought to myself... everyone will know it was me if I laughed ... so I tried to relax again and then I almost fell asleep, but man-that was hilarious. I wasn't embarassed and it didn't smell, wow, that was so funny.

Oh, and it was cool because I knew another girl there, one of the physical therapy girls goes to yoga on Wednesday and lives in Farmville too. I was kind of shocked that I knew someone there since only 12 people were there and I didn't think I knew anyone in Farmville, ha ha.

In all, my yoga-ng experience was good. It's cool because you get a strengthening feeling when you're done, but you don't get sore! I think I still like pilates more, but it was fun to go with Pamela and see Tiffany there. I feel sleepy now though, my body is more relaxed and I like the feeling of my blood pumping through my extremities. I think I'm going to go to bed soon, even though I don't have to get up at 5:45AM tomorrow, I am still sick so I need to treat my body kindly!

lesson of the day: yoga is cool. (as Connor always says, "cool is better than sweet.")

appola

I decided to try a new recipe. Well, it wasn't really a recipe. I made what I have named "appola," I mixed oatmeal, diced apple, a little bit of brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg into a bowl and baked it in pans. It's a variation off a apple crisp recipe I made a few weeks ago... but then changed and made better and then tried to make it healthier. I cut out a lot of the sugar and put only a little butter. It's a pretty good snack. I was a fan, it tastes best warm. If you'd like to know the proportions in more detail... let me know so I can try making it again and measure at least one or two ingredients! I kind of eyeball things and taste it to see if it's going all right. I think my first variation was the best. I made apple crisp-ish desserts in muffin tins so they were individual and tasted delicious, I'm sure they weren't as healthy as my appola.

I met the lady in Farmville, she's great! I'm actually really excited to stay in Farmville and do yoga and help her get started running. God is always working in little ways and big ways in the world. Its the cutest little log cabin ever, the key is a skeleton key... I get to use a real skeleton key for a log cabin that was built 100 years ago! It's awesome. It's original too. I'm so excited. I have a new friend in Farmville of all places. I met her sister and her niece as well, they were nice too.

Anyway, I'm hoping I will get my car back on Thursday and drop off my rental Thursday so I can go to Yoga on Wednesday, but I like doing the why weight? class on Thursdays at 4:30pm, and the rental place and English closes at 5pm! Argh. I wonder if someone could pick it up for me? Hmmm... I have the check, I could just sign it off. We'll see, God help everything to work out the way You would like it to! Thanks. I should call Ken too, I will do that and go to sleep. It's LATE! I was at the Jones' house hanging out with some of the girls from church, it was fun, I need to talk less and listen more though! When I get nervous I talk though, I don't like the silence...

baseball

ps. I just have to say, all of my predictions for the Division Series have come true. I'm going to be watching the League Championships with anticipation.

2007 MLB predictions

So far my initial thoughts about the playoffs have come true, or my hopes really. I wanted the Rockies over the Phillies and the D'backs over the Cubs. Now I am hoping that the Indians beat the Yanks and the Red Sox over the Angels. As long as the Angels and the Yanks get knocked out some where, I'll be all right. I think the Indians will take the Yanks 3-1 and the Red Sox will win over the Angels 3-0.

In the NL Championships the Rockies will take the D'backs 4-3 and for the AL Championships, the Red Sox will dominate the Indians 4-0. In the World Series the Rockies and Red Sox will go to game 7 and the Rockies will win in a thriller 4-3.

World Series Champs for the first time: Colorado Rockies. That'd be sweet. I'm still disappointed the A's and Mets didn't make it to the playoffs this year. That's lame. Ah, I guess next year. Hopefully if the A's keep Chavez he'll start hitting and stop getting hurt. The Mets will still have David Wright, Beltran, and Reyes (I think).

Soymilk Quiz: Unsweetened.

You're honest. True. Sincere. But above all, you're genuine; there's not a superficial bone in your body. That authenticity shows itself in your clothes, your attitude, even your shopping habits. You either frequent the local farmer's market or wish you did more often. Not only to enjoy the freshest produce but to feel good about doing your part in helping the local economy. You check sell-by dates, read nutrition labels and cook real food with real ingredients. That's why the wholesome, natural taste of Silk Unsweetened is perfect for you and your uncomplicated lifestyle.

bounce around

I'm caught up with my journals. I like to have my traveling experiences written down, so I can remember what I did, who I met and what I saw. It's good I have five gigs of pictures to accompany my journal too.

I think I may go bounce around on the trampoline instead of run... maybe I should run. Dang. I bounced for 12 minutes earlier today and I was tuckered out. Granted it was hot and the heat is humid here, but still! I should not be tired after bouncing a 5 year old around on a trampoline. I started doing crunches again the other day. We'll see how that works out.

The journals of my trips are super long. I should probably do it daily instead of all at once. If you read them, you must have a lot of time or pretend it's like a book. Then it'll pass more quickly. Don't worry, the entries from here on out should be shorter.