October 2009
34 posts
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Shout out to the baby-mamas!
Tonight Jon and I had the pleasure of visiting a co-worker and his wife who just had their first child 8 DAYS ago. Meet Lily, and her mama Jamie. Adorable. Congrats Jason and Jamie! As soon as she’s potty-trained, we’ll happily babysit. Heehee.
I really don’t remember the last time I’ve interacted with such a young child. Probably not since my cousin Billy and wife Emi...
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Inspiring High School Yearbook Message, 2001
“Colleen -
Whatup! hey math was purty cool. It was fun watching your grades drop below mine. Have fun pimpin The Dairy Queen. I’m sure that I’ll be there this summer. probably under the influence of SOMETHING! You better hook me up too. Welp. Cya later.”
For the record, there’s no way my math grades were below his. Ever.
Am I surprised that this eloquent old...
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Dear Journal, 10-26-92: family drama!
On Saturday my family had a big party and all my realitives came over and only three people didn’t come. Aunt Kandi who didn’t want to come, Uncle John who wasn’t invited and Uncle Mike who was sick. We stayed up very late. Aunt Janice, Uncle Rick, Ben, and Josh were about to stay over night except they left. (They live up north.)
Also Yesterday I got to go to Beth’s...
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Perfect scripture for Orthopedics?
This week at school will be all about body joints and athletic injuries, and the verse below seems to be a perfect fit. Let’s hope the week is physically safe, though, since TWO men in our family visited the Emergency Room in different states today! Both are reportedly recovering well - hopefully the word of God wasn’t trying to divide their marrow! Ouch!
For the word of God is...
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Dear Journal, 10-22-93: tribute to a feisty dame
“Yesterday my Grandma La Boots came over when I was at school. When I got home Grandma, me, Chris, Kristen, Micheal, and Katie all played war. I won for two reasons. 1 Because Chris and Grandma quit (They were the only ones left in the game), and 2 because my Grandma wanted to go outside and I had the most cards left. She also slept over. THE END”
It’s probably a good thing that...
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Halloweenkends!
Last year we had a great inaugural East Coast Halloween experience at the Cambridge Brewing Company with the very same couple that we will see get married next Saturday! They weren’t even engaged at that point, and I consider it a mystical coincidence that one special Halloween all together in Boston will be followed by another spooktacular event in Chicago - their wedding! Where shall we...
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Simple Country Fun: BACK ALLEY DICE!
After a very long day at school, I usually screen my mother’s phone calls and decline the experience of an evening conversation with her. However, when she calls twice in a row I am instantly panicked at the possibility of total disaster awaiting me on the other end of the line when I finally answer. ANYTHING COULD BE WRONG! Heart rate rises; stomach knots.
Tonight she must have perceived...
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Awkward High School Year Book Signing, 2001
“Colleens,
I don’t know what to say thanks for being there for me your really cool and that was a really lame thing to say “your really cool” forget that! uumm……. DQ yummy side du sidity + this summer is gonna be a fun party! ttyl”
1. Great observation that I worked at the Dairy Queen. A lot. You and EVERYONE ELSE IN MY YEARBOOK seemed to make this...
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“Any Earthquake and Volcanic Explosion Endorsement applicable to Coverage A shall...”
– State Farm - Annual insurance renewal paperwork.
THANK GOODNESS - I CAN REST EASY NOW!
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"More than a one-trick pony" - article published!
Coming home late to a freshly opened and sorted pile of mail can elicit a lovely “WELCOME HOME” feeling, or an annoying plea to “PAY ME! DONATE! APPLY! RIGHT NOW!”. Tonight was thankfully the former, as I was surprised with three copies of the most recent issue of the ASDA News, with page 9 containing an article I wrote! My mother will be thrilled, since she is an even...
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How to drink 9.5 gallons of Homebrew in one night
1. Host a party on an obscure holiday that is only promoted and understood in about 3 states: Sweetest Day. I never knew that most Americans have NO idea this day exists! How sheltered I’ve been!
2. Brew up two particularly charming batches of seasonal ales, Pumpkin and Amber, that are timed properly to be ready for this obscure-holiday-party. Excellent work, Jon!
3. Promote said Homebrew...
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Silent Auction, Loud Spending!
Thursday night, Jon and I attended an annual fundraising event for the wonderful Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation. It was the second time we got to hang out with Jim Koch, founder and leader-extraordinaire of Sam Adams beer, while at the same time enjoying loads of delicious food from local restaurants and MANY Sam Adams brew styles.
Last year, Jim Koch cancelled on the event...
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“A good leader takes a little more than her share of the blame and a little less...”
– Dr. John C. Maxwell
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Dear Journal, 10-13-93
“I don’t feel like writing a poem. I’m all out of rhymes. Making choclate was really fun. I designed one called, The Unforgetable Secret. I rate it about a 3 1/2. ”
1. Don’t be discouraged by this poet’s-block, 4th grade self. As I recall, you’ll write again!
2. I never remember making chocolate, but it’s perfect timing for this reminder since...
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I'm the second "voice" listed. :) →
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“Although it may require hallucinogens, try to imagine how information flows into...”
– Excerpt from the lab manual of our nearly finished Human Nervous System and Behavior course.
I wonder if taking this advice would, in fact, improve my performance on tomorrow’s massive final exam. It’s hard not to cave under the pressure of 7 weeks’ worth of wildly detailed...
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Zombieland: Better than expected!
I thoroughly resisted Jon’s plea to go see Zombieland with him…. for about two weeks. Then, I caved to my better judgment and decided that our Columbus day free afternoon could be spent in worse ways. I purposefully didn’t look anything up about the movie beforehand, to make sure that I wasn’t grossed out or disturbed to the point that I would flat out refuse my...
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Dear Journal, 10-8-92
“Today all the second grade was out on a field trip, all the third graders got to stay in the class room and we got a recess, a really hard math problem called quizzles and also all the second graders missed the whole peroid of art. The all started coming back when art was finished. The End”
Let’s work on sentence structure, third-grade-self. I’m sure you were thinking...
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Inspiring Mormon Posse
This morning, rain forced me to ride the bus to school like a proper 5th grader: cold-lunch packed, homework-folder protected, and rain-jacket properly fastened. This particular bus route is quite popular, which is why I generally prefer a bike ride to the snails-pace, over-crowded, and smog-farting bus.
I was about to settle for the standard oxygen competition called “MBTA...
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Lucky 13: a Nobel accomplishment
On Monday, a professor at school was awarded the highest honor in science: Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine. I’m sure the administration is planning a parade, special circus performance, or university-wide champagne toast sometime very soon. The earliest markers of this accomplishment, however, have been festive balloons arranged in the cafeteria to mark the occasion. There wasn’t a sign...
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Dear Journal, 10-6-93
“Today we’re making diaramas for our fairly stupid tale. I think it will be fun. Friday is picture day. Smile! We are still Meaping. It’s O.K. I think Book 2 will be harder.”
1. I told my journal to ‘Smile!’. Do you ever hope you have children just like you one day? :)
2. I remember dioramas being a very fun elementary school project - though I’m sure...
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Your wish is my command.
“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”
I Thessalonians, 4:11-12.
Yes Sir! You asked for it - and it sounds like a great recipe for leading a content life. Easier said than done, but a great...
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Dear Journal, 10-4-93
“Today Mrs. Mango is back. 4th grade gets a practice test for MEAP. I can’t wait. This week, 10 things are crossed off. It should be a fairly easy week.”
NERD ALERT! This passion for standardized tests is not normal, and should not be encouraged in children. Furthermore, evidence of time-management self-assessment in the 4th grade is a positive predictor of over-commitment in...
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God's Economy
Tomorrow night I will begin a weekly biblical financial seminar, based on the ministries of Crown Financial. Our church is putting it on through a series of small groups in the area, and I am quite excited! It will help connect our pursuit of Christ-like living with an incredibly important resource that we are trying hard to manage responsibly: our MONEY! Jesus says QUITE a bit about this in the...
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The Week of Broken Taboos
Sunday: Roman Polanski arrested for sex with then 13-year-old girl.
Wednesday: MacKenzie Phillips goes on Larry King to discuss sexual relationship with her father.
Thursday: Letterman confesses extramarital sexual relationships with employees on his own show.
This week certainly took a dark turn from the standard PG-rated Hollywood gossip reels of “GUESS WHO’S PREGNANT?” and...
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Dear Journal, date unknown
“Yesterday I went to Stephanie A.’s house because Kristen had to go to her international festival for brownies. I made a fish, cat, a bird and a horse. My mom got snowed in so she couldn’t come home.”
Exactly what did you fashion these animals from, elementary school self? Such a grandiose art project - but you leave me wanting to know more! And, for the record, my mom...
Welcome to my Future →
I can’t get enough of the series of articles running this week on slate.com, entitled The American Way of Dentistry. Love the dental press - though it’s not the most flattering on the profession as a whole. More of a call to action - and I’m thrilled to see it! READ ON!
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Auf wiedersehen Schwester!
Today my youngest sister will embark on the concluding chapter of her FOUR-CONTINENTS-IN-ONE-YEAR-SUCKAS! world tour, and land tomorrow morning in Frankfurt, Germany. It all started with a big dream to have an internship abroad, and nearly ended with an FBI interview in my mother’s sketchy living room (haha!), but she’s finally on her way. PLUS - she has finally been granted...
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Dear Journal, 9-29-92
“Today I forgot school store money but that was because I didn’t know when it was! But now I know that it is the first and third Tuesday of every month. Hopefully I’ll remember to bring it next time.”
Where was your planner, 3rd grade self? Sheesh! Get it together.
Ye be warned! Woman strong!
Courtesy of my sister Kristen, who will finally graduate from this crime-ridden educational community in December. How many stabbings have you seen from your former apartment balcony? Can’t remember.
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EMU Police Department Timely Warning to the Community – September 30, 2009 Reported Crime: Attempt Carjacking – Main Campus – Report Number 09-1565 The...