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Quick Update

I'm here in NoLa and have been since Saturday. I started the Summer Training Institute last Monday. Let's just say that it has been a very long week, and I can't believe it's only Thursday and I still have another day. But things are going well. I actually start "student teaching" this coming week for a high school English class at summer school. I'm sure it will be the cream of the crop as far as students are concerned, but I'm excited to see how what I've been learning translates to a classroom.

This afternoon at lunch, I drove around town trying to find a cafe, but instead stumbled upon the City Park, a place I had never been. Trees dripping with Spanish moss, camellia bushes, fountains and the loudest thunderstorm I have ever heard made it an ideal spot for lunch. I had to leave when the rain came. In the same manner, I also discovered the house Edgar Degas lived in while in New Orleans. I love exploring the city and finding my way around and making it home.

I don't yet have wireless access to the Internet, so while I have tons and tons of photos from my trip out here and photos from the first couple of days, I have no way to blog about it yet. I'm working on that, so stay tuned.

Trip Twittering

Just a quick note to say I've been trying to be better at twittering whilst on my trip, so you can read all my exciting thoughts while on the never-ending roads of New Mexico and Texas. I'm currently spending the night with Kyle and Jenn in Galveston before ending my roadtrip in New Orleans tomorrow. It'll probably be a while before I can blog for reals.

8 Years Apart

Eight years ago today I left to serve an 18-month mission for my church. The photo on the left was taken the day before I entered the Missionary Training Center. I was a reluctant missionary. I didn't know why I was going, other than I felt compelled by God in a way I can't explain. I was alway uncomfortable proselytizing, but I loved meeting people. I know serving a mission benefited me more than anyone else, although at the time, it was often difficult to see the benefits.

On Tuesday, I leave for New Orleans to take up what I view, in some small way, as another mission. In many ways it's similar. It's challenging and frightening and I'm not always sure I want to do it, but underneath all of that, there is the drive of doing something that I believe will be worthwhile. It's a commitment to a two year period (at least) where I know that often the commitment I am making will be the only thing keeping me in the game. It's recognizing the power of what I will be teaching to change lives. I truly believe in education. I believe in literature as a means to shape and influence life. One of the main differences is that I learned to swear on my mission, and now that I'll be living with Mike and Amanda, I'll probably have to curb that. I guess we all have to make sacrifices.

Inspiration of Late

I keep a number of design blogs on my Reader. I've started paring them down to just the ones that I really like though. Most of the time, design blogs just make me feel less cool and unmotivated. I have a very articulate rant involving theories of photo consumption etc.I can deliver on the subject when the mood strikes me. Fortunately for you, I don't really want to go into all that right now. I just want to share two things I've really loved lately.

First, from The Sartorialist

I don't know what this Jazz-Age Lawn Party on Governor's Island was, but I am so desperately disappointed I didn't get to go.

And second, from swissmiss I learned about an exhibit from the photographer, Andrew Bush, where he took photos of the car next to him. I think I might do that during my drive to New Orleans.

A Real Feel for Fashion

I found this photo while packing up today. It was our 5th grade fun photos where we could bring props or do something else more unique than the regular school photo. You know, to show off our personalities. In my other pose, I am holding my viola, but I guess the fun quality about me that I'm showing off in this photo was my awesome style sense.

Still not as awesome as my 6th grade photo, which included a bronze blazer, lace-cuffed leggings under cut-off jean shorts and the biggest earrings you've ever seen, but I'm digging the pegged white leggings under culottes... yes, that was a culotte jumpsuit.

To redeem myself I'll post another picture that fell out of a book I picked up to loan to Izzy (it was How to Be Good by Nick Hornby, btw, and it's v. good).

I must be about three or four in that picture, and I'm helping to give my little brother a bath. Sorry for the lousy quality on these. Photo of a photo again, I'm afraid. I really have to get my scanner working again.

Summer Evening at the Park

Awhile ago, Kylie and I realized that we didn't have any of those traditional BFF photobooth photos that you're supposed to take all the time from the ages between 13 and 18. You know, when you're hanging out at the mall and stuff like that. I don't know why we never did that because we were definitely at the mall. We decided that it was about time we had some. The only place in Utah that has the old school photobooths are KMarts, so we ventured over to the Draper Big K last Friday for some portraits.

The photobooth has an example of how much fun it can be to take photos with your best friend. See:

Kylie and I took that into consideration, but regretfully, we didn't have a stuffed bear. We had to rely on our faces.

We added Jonathan and Basil in some and then they took a family photobooth portrait.

Afterwards, it was such a delightful evening that we ended up at Draper Park, where the light was just perfect for some self-portraits

We took some photos while lying on the grass. Basil wasn't happy about it.

Then we tried to relive a photo from when we were 16.

It didn't quite work, but I still liked it. Okay, now I really need to get back to packing.

True Princesses Climb Trees

Today Claire turns five. Donner and Blitzen (the reindeers) are her imaginary friends, and Donner is always getting her into trouble. She loves to play any combination of princess (princess and pirate, princess and dragon, princess and puppy, etc.) and will pretend to let you choose your role, but she always comes up with an excuse as to why she should play the princess. I'm worried she might have a bondage fetish when she grows up because she is always tying herself up somewhere and requiring to be rescued. Her shout of "Katie!" whenever I come to visit is one of the best sounds I can hear. She really is a delight.

p.s. She didn't really climb the tree. Mikey put her up there the other day. Probably not the best decision because it was much harder getting her down.

Divine Hammer

Kylie didn't need to worry about me blogging about the Breeders show before her. I'm so behind on my blogging and I don't expect it to get better any time soon. But it's Sunday night, and I'm relaxing at my mom's house, waiting for the lasagne to come out of the oven. It's a good time to catch up. The show was last Tuesday at the Depot. I felt old. Everyone there probably listened to Last Splash in high school. And I have to admit, Kim and Kelly were looking a little older, too. Still didn't keep them from rocking out. (Does using that phrase also make me old? yes, yes it does.)

My only complaint - other than a couple rowdy and obnoxious concert goers (see? old) - was that they didn't play one of my favorite songs. So I'll post it here instead.

Do You Love Me Now?