It Gets Uglier Every Year...

Things turned out a little differently this year with the ugly sweater party. Although the intention was to go to the Stanley Park Christmas Train, it ended up closing because of the ridicolous weather. We didn't let this keep us down.

Instead, we headed to a house where the man had synchronized the thousands of lights on his house to music, which he was broadcasting from a radio tower atop his house. Yes, true story. A real Clark Griswold situation if I ever saw one. There was also "snow" that shot out every 10 minutes from a machine. Needless to say Gina danced in the bubbles (we might need some more pictures later). After this we headed downtown to the Old Spaghetti factory. Pretty awesome to be walking around downtwon in that thing. People were definitly "enjoying" us.

All and all, it was pretty different than years past, but a good time was had by all. Expect a return to the traditional next year. But one thing I must mention. It appears we have started a revolution: Commodore Ballroom Sweater Party. Next year we should go, we would rock those guys....

Leave it to Jenny to take a hip photo - even at an ugly sweater party.
Leave it to me to take a horrific photo - my childsized Christmas tutu.

Yes, it is true.

Ladies in Red....

On the front of Lavonne's sweater - the Eiffel Tower. On the back - "Joyeux Noel". For all you Americans out there - thats Merry Christmas in French. She's so cultured that Lavonne.

I think we tried to take a picture about 10 times and then realized, we are wearing awful sweaters - how are we supposed to look good?

The Winners of Christmas Sweater Party 2006:

Geoff Stewart - Modified for "Ski-Jump"

Katie Schafer - Stock for "Teacher Vest"

Interesting to note that both of these winners are champions of years past. The great part was our server "John" as pictured above, did the choosing. He even gave an honorable mention to Melissa for her Pig sweater. Three cheers for John.

This makes me happier than I can even say...

hugh grant. love actually. one of the best rom-coms of all time.
every time this movie ends, i pull out the controller and put this scene on again. at least twice. enjoy.

This is just getting ridiculous….

Okay, I am that person I just never thought I would be.
In the middle of studying for exams, I have found yet another source of online procrastination.

I got Facebook.

Yes, I know. I now have a blog, a myspace, two email accounts and facebook. It will be a wonder if I communicate with anyone in real life.

Funny anecdote about facebook – I got a little confused during the profile and instead of typing that I was a woman, I typed that I am interested in women. Uh oh. Now I think facebook informs everyone when I change something. So all of my friends (which currently stands at a grand total of 3) will see that in one day I changed from being interested in women to men. Good thing for Matt....

Oh geez. That’s what I get for adding yet another internet communication device.

Better. Sweater. 2006.

12.15.06
Come one, come all.

This year featuring:
Dinner and Stanley Park Christmas Train.

......

(Want to come? Didn't get the evite? I probably don't have your email. Let me know. I want you to come...)

Let's Play Name that PostSecret....

Who does this remind you of?

.......

Ever seen a PostSecret that is soo much like someone you know that you can't even handle it? Don't worry, I have more rounds coming. I expect participation here.

In case you are behind, Postsecret is an online blog where people from all over North America send in their secrets, and they are published every Sunday

Play for yourself (www.postsecret.com)

Hold Me Closer Tiny Dancer...

This weekend I had the rich pleasure of spending time with some England Capernwray girls - affectionatly titled: the CP's. And these women deserve the title, because they are so cool it is hard to believe sometimes. The weekend was filled with moments of art, beauty and life. Honestly, I am shocked they even keep me around. It is amazing to be apart for so long, and to fall back in, like you never left. So for them I am truly blessed. Blessed to have gone to Capernwray, to have met such truly unique women, and to still know them now....well I couldnt ask for more.

The whole team, in a cheesy Starbucks photo.

But who is that on the end?

It's Marcy! We walk into Chapters Langley,

and we run into a fellow Capernwrayer from England.

What are the chances?

************************************************************

the.cps.

Me - either cool or creepy, you decide.

Jamie Spiro - the superstar.

Kristina Janzen - the beautiful

Bonnie Dowling - bringing sexy back.

how emo are we?

it's good to laugh this hard.

These photos are not mine, they are theirs. They know how to work that camera. There needs to be credit where credit is due. Thanks guys.

Shoot!

Remember that Matt & Nat purse money given to me by Brandon and Lindsay? Well I got the purse, and I am excited. But today, I was so excited to win the auction that I rushed to the computer and waited until the last second. I "won" the auction this afternoon.

Okay, now, 5 hours later, I am on ebay, and the exact same purse is listed for 30 dollars cheaper. Oh no, not 10, not even 20, but 30. I just about want to die. Not even on a bid, but on a "buy it now". The guy is just giving that away. I am just telling myself "oh well you would have paid that in a store". But c'mon how brutal is that. Oh well, I guess we win some and loose some, but MAN do I feel ripped off. At least it was birthday money.

Herein lies the love/hate relationship with ebay.

Snow and Scrabble...

"Oh the weather outside is frightful, but no school is so delightul, so since I have no place to go, Let it snow...."

Yes, I should have spent the evening writing one of my three papers. But scrabble with my mom, and Love Actually on TV were just too tempting. Hey - it was snowing outside.


It's snowing. Like crazy. My family woke up and braved it to church. I just loved that. The solidarity expierenced by those actually at church was astounding. I just love that feeling. It was like we all a part of somehing.

Sadly though, the snow can also be awful. I left my car at Matt's last night and he drove me home. Then today, when Matt and my dad went to retrieve it, it took them like 2 hours shovelling it out. It didn't go anywhere and had zero traction. Too bad for a brand new car eh?

But despite all of this, the snow is magical. Matt and I took a long walk in the snow last night, just enjoying it. Something about it makes everything look romantic, even boring suburban streets. That and everywhere children are laughing. Matt said he saw one little girl come outside and twirl yelling "snow, snow!". I think I can symathize with this small girl, tommorow morning, when I don't have to drive to school. Oh yes.

If Ang Can Do It....

....so can I.

Here I am, a little red haired sleeping child. It's grad yearbook time, so the parents were uploading pictures. Sometimes, its hard to imagine that we were that little. But we were. How do parents even deal with kids growing up? Thats what what I would like to know.

Traveling is the schoolmaster of understanding...

.....so Brenda and I are heading to school....

August 19th - September 27th.
Europe.
I hear they are still accepting applications.
Want to come?

**Above title quoation was written by Wes Drewlo. He wrote that today. So eloquent....

Reasons Why I Love my Starbucks...

1. Sometimes we break things, like this snow man's nose for example. And since we are not a big fan of "the man", we think its pretty funny. Oh, and apparently we need some clarification. WRI is White Rock One. That is the code name for Peninsula Village Starbucks. I think its because we were the first Sbux in White Rock. That would make sense huh? And the Roman numerals, ya I don't really know why that is.

2. I like these people a whole lot - to the point, that I even like hanging out with them in my spare time! Case in point, staff crew at the WAG. Good times Martini night.

3. The Power team - Katie, Sharelle and Ashlee. Picture this, a weirdo comes in. (about every 3rd person) They leave. Then we all look at each other going "what the heck just happened there?". Without them, it would just be weirdos, but with them its funny funny times.

4. Trevor Conkey - come in sometime, and ask him to sing "Me and the Tree are One". I don't know why, but he reallly likes it.

5. Ridicolousness - I don't think thats a word, but it's what goes on. Toilet Paper. Check. Empty roll. Check. "Happy Birthday" Princess Tiara. Check. Good times had by all.

No but seriously, I really do love my Starbucks. I mean, at times its ridicolous, and busy, and customers are crazy. But I couldn't ask for a better minimum wage workplace. Its like people watching all the time, but with funny co-workers who enjoy it. There is nothing worse than a truly random moment, with no one to enjoy it. Okay, maybe there are some things worse, but c'mon that's not fun at all. So there you go, a little snapshot into White Rock I.

Christ as the Artist...

I don’t know if any of you will find this as interesting as I did. It seems like a funny transition to go from dirty water to this, but here is the passage my proffessor read. Oscar Wilde described Jesus as an artist, connecting him closely with the romantic movement. So, if you find that vaguely interesting, or if you like Oscar Wilde at all, read this passage on this fine rainy afternoon. Its just beautiful.

From Oscar Wilde's De Profundis:

I see a far more intimate and immediate connection between the true life of Christ and the true life of the artist. He who would lead a Christ-like life must be entirely and absolutely himself, and had taken as my types not merely the shepherd on the hillside and the prisoner in his cell, but also the painter to whom the world is a pageant and the poet for whom the world is a song

Nor is it merely that we can discern in Christ that close union of personality with perfection which forms the real distinction between the classical and romantic movement in life, but the very basis of his nature was the same as that of the nature of the artist - an intense and flamelike imagination. He realised in the entire sphere of human relations that imaginative sympathy which in the sphere of Art is the sole secret of creation. He understood the leprosy of the leper, the darkness of the blind, the fierce misery of those who live for pleasure, the strange poverty of the rich. Some one wrote to me in trouble, 'When you are not on your pedestal you are not interesting.' How remote was the writer from what Matthew Arnold calls 'the Secret of Jesus.' Either would have taught him that whatever happens to another happens to oneself, and if you want an inscription to read at dawn and at night-time, and for pleasure or for pain, write up on the walls of your house in letters for the sun to gild and the moon to silver, 'Whatever happens to oneself happens to another.'

Christ's place indeed is with the poets. His whole conception of Humanity sprang right out of the imagination and can only be realised by it....

***If you want to read the whole thing, it's here. Slightly controversial at points, but I really like the ideas. What do you think?

Don't Drink the Water...

So yesterday they announced a "water alert". The above picture is not my water, but actual tap water from Vancouver. Gotta say though - tap water in Richmond is looking pretty bad too. I am not about to take back all the things I like about storms, but I must say, this is going to make for a NO FUN day at Starbucks. Everyone that is writing about it seems to be commenting on how "Starbucks has no water". Yes, because that is the biggest concern here...Oh boy...

So Novacom is next door to "Canadian Springs Water". So I go next door to get some clean water. They are absolutley going crazy! There were two news stations there, cameramen, the whole thing. People were all lined up...to buy water! A bad day for Vancovuerites, a GOOD day for Canadian Springs.

Update: The whole thing's off, unless you live in Vancouver proper, or North Van. As of 1.00 pm. I'm trying for most informative post here, who wants to nominate me? C'mon, a pressing issue, so relevant...haha.

The Power's Out....

And the power's out in the heart of man,

take it from your heart

put in your hand.

Name that song title. I just kept thinking of it today, as the words "power out" were everywhere. There are some things about power outages that really suck, like driving for one. There you are, on the streets, and no one seems to know how to function without little lights directing them. There were tree branches everywhere, accidents. Yet the thing is, there is this aspect of power outages that I just love. This afternoon was sort of magical in a way. No power at all at TWU. So we had Nineteenth Century Novel in the dark. It was amazing. It felt like we were all in on something. Then I walked out of class talking to my prof about Oscar Wilde, and how he considered Jesus to be an artist. As I walked through the English department, they were all smiling. Leave it to us literature keeners to romanticize the storm. We just can't help ourselves.

I think power outages are supposed to remind us, that sometimes we just need the dark. We need to sit in a house in the dark, and realize all the things we fill our lives with. I did this for about ten minutes. I would like to tell you that I did all night, with my night off (classes were cancelled!). But the thing is, I didn't. I convinced Matt and Kira to try and drive to a movie with me. The theatre was all black, closed. That'll teach me.

It does make you wonder though.
A world without power, a world without light.
Maybe thats all we needed.
To be reminded, that life is more than

computers,

plug ins,

lights

movies.

So, you think you are busy...

I don't know if you are a student.
I am, and I feel pretty damn busy most of the time.
But my prof pointed something out today...

"You will never have more time than you do now"

I don't know if this thought should be beautiful or depressing.
I am living in the most glorious state, being able to study and think with great minds everyday.
But I feel like I don't even have time for life (in paper season and most of the school season)
So, if this is most time I will ever have, something is going to have to be sorted out better.
Or is he just refering to those that are students without volunteer work and two jobs?
I don't know,
But at least in one way the man is right

This is a golden time.

Let's remember that as we stay up all night writing this paper on medieval history, or whatever your subject matter of choice might be.

So People Love the Cons...

So my friend gave me a pair of brand new converse. Never before, did I have a desire for these shoes, and there is no way I would have gone out and bought them myself. But now that I own them, it seems like converse is a way of being. haha. Honestly, every time I wear them, someone comments or gives me some sort of affirming nod. Its like the people that drive buses, motorbikes, or VW bugs, they wave at each other. Like they are in this special little club. I can't even believe I got free membership into this club....

A club that I didnt even know existed.

You think I am kidding. I am not.

Today in class, the guy next to me (super cool masters student) points at my shoes..."sweet shoes" he says. I look down at his shoes. Buddy has got cons on. Through the course of the lecture he nudges me and points to the guy down our row. Yup...cons. "Love it"...was all he said. Its like I made a new friend.

Who even knew?

Today I feel asleep in my library carell.
I missed a meeting

I had a big mark on my face from the books I was sleeping on.
But I ran into my two favourite on campus girls in the process.
Who both bought me food.
Sometimes things happen for a reason....

It's beginning to taste a lot like Christmas....

The first one of the year.

"Tall Half Sweet Gingerbread Reduced Fat Eggnog Latte".

Did that make you want to punch yourself?

Well think again, because this will be one of the best lattes

you will ever have in your life.

Both Gingerbread AND Eggnog. It doesnt get much better than that.

Christmas too early? Hey its the first day of November, and I love this latte, so I'm fine with it.

Hiking is Over...

Well, Rebecca and I headed out last Saturday on our last hike. No more waking up on Saturday morning stupidly early. Okay... I recognize the value of the expierence, I was forced to get outside and that was good. I must admit, somtimes the smell of the cool morning air, mixed with the fresh smell of the woods was pretty amazing. I also realized that I don't hate hiking, I just really like slow hiking. Its no fun when you are running. This all being said, I won't be hiking for a while.

So Bec and I picked right. Buntzen Lake was the easiest hike yet. If you are more into hike-walking as opposed to just hiking, choose this one. The whole thing only took us like 2.5 hours (slowly...haha). Oh yeah...

Floating bridge...reminsicent of Qwanoes sinking into the water.
Straight out of a Dickens novel. Fog on the landscape...

Welcome to the forest...

At the end of the trip, our instructor Daryl took us all for ice cream. And not just any ice cream, but DQ. He says "get anything you want". So of course, to me this doesnt mean "go crazy", it means get a blizzard. So I did - a small. But Bec and are looking around and people are getting ENTIRE meals (girl next to window). What the heck? People are so funny. We were all feeling pretty great about this free food until we realized: it was the leftover of our student fees.

These people are EATING my fees!

...hehe. No really, it was great, randomly sitting in the DQ with my hiking class. Oh TWU....

I guess what I love about school is....

that here

no one thinks you are crazy

when you say

you might want a PhD.

I sat with two girls today who both said that they thought they would pursue a PhD or graduate education. What a gift we have recieved to study. I just cannot imagine the joy of being able to do this for the rest of my life. I wonder if I am cut out for graduate work?

Something inside of me thinks teaching at high school isnt going to be the end. But a Masters...more than a Masters...how scary. I feel so unworthy and so incapabable. Is this just all dreaming? All kinds of academic "non real world" imagainings? Or is this it...is this where am I meant to be...what I am meant to do. I am just sending that question out to the void....

Let's pretend that is me...

Okay, so I did not expeirience that seminal moment at the top of Elk Mountain, but I did sit and eat my lunch in that exact spot. Isn't that a beautiful picture, and a beautiful view? Three cheers for flickr.

So I think hiking is getting better each time. There gets to be this point where you think you can't make it, and you then you realize you can. I realized something about myself though, I am not a fast coming down person. I don't run. I just don't. I tried at a few spots, but I am just too dang scared. I mean, I am clutzy, and there is a lot of stuff that I could be tripping on. I am just not willing to take that chance.

Only one more hike to go. And then an exam. What could be on a hiking exam you ask? I don't even know....

Does the Internet Suck?

Okay, today I was flipping through Macleans Magazine (ya I don't know why either). Anyway, the headliner article was on how and why the internet has devalued, corrupted and killed our society. Now, I realize how ironic it is to be posting this commentary on the internet, on a blog of all things, but I just need to know:

What are your thoughts?

This guy accused blogging as being a forum for "the cult of the amateur....which suggests mistakenly that everyone has something interesting to say". Now beyond the dripping elitism in that remark, does anyone else have any problems with this? I mean, is it idealisitic of me to say, that people writing about their life, their viewpoints and their world is a valuable thing? And sure, this might happen in an online journal. But I pose this question: without a blog, would we write this much? Would we know this much random information about our friends that are far away (or close for that matter)?

And to be fair. I will grant the man some points. Yes, the internet has allowed con artists and perverts of all kinds to run amuck. It is easier for them to find their prey. There is also a ton of garbage on the internet. But, how are these facts any different than anything else in our world? I mean you could go out and buy an important news magazine (like Macleans..haha) or you could go buy People, or the Province? Do you see what I am saying? Its so much more what we choose to read and get sucked into, then it is the actual content provided.

Now sure, there are about 1000 things wrong with the internet. And sure, I am a product of the "internet generation". But I feel like there is merit here, that we are just killing if we don't watch ourselves. There is my gigantic rant. Now what are your thoughts? And feel free to agree with Mr. Steve Maich of Macleans on how the internet is evil.

And hey - maybe if you are bored today, in the ol' checkout line, or at the hairdresser, read some Macleans. As you can see - it got me all riled up...

How a TWU lecture becomes fun...

My proffessor quoted...or at least attempted to quote...

...The Dead Poets Society....
In fact, the exact same quote that I posted on my blog last April. I almost wanted to put up my hand and give the exact quote. Don't worry I didn't.

...Buffalo Springfield....
He was talking about the 60's counterculture, and he started speaking the lyrics of "For What It's Worth". Something's Happening here, what it is ain't exactly clear. Again, I could have probably quoted ALL of the lyrics, but I held my tongue.

In any case, I was pleased. Sometimes those pop-culture references really do work for profs. Other times, not so much.

Fifteen Days Late...

Well 15 days after my birthday, I decide to post the "what I got for my birthday" post. The thing is, I could just avoid it all together, but heck, I downloaded the pictures and everything, so you are just going to have to read it/look at it. So just deal. haha.

Pride and Prejudice Limited Edition Box Set from my parents. My mom is so good at gifts. Images of Darcy jumping into the lake in that white shirt. Just timeless. Who wants to join me? Because my sister is awesome. Lindsay said I could go choose a Matt & Nat bag. Three cheers for girly frivolous gifts. I am pretty dang excited about this one.

I sure have a wonderful boyfriend. One time I told him, I think its romantic when boy plans a date and then buys a dress for the girl. He bought me a dress, and planned a date. The dress didn't fit (uh oh) but he took me to Griffin & Sabine on Granville Island, which was just perfect.

See wasn't that fun?

Still Hiking...

Well this past Saturday, I headed out again with TWU for Hiking class. I also had to hand in a hiking project. What could possibly be done for a hiking project you ask? Busywork - lots and lots of busywork. But to be honest, it was good in a way, I researched some hikes and walks that perhaps one day, I might do in the future (wow I dont sound too sure of myself). Anyway, this time we went to Greendrop/Lindeman Lake.

The first stretch was straight up, and I had the sense that I really was not too good at hiking. Then we reached the first lake, and it was so beautiful. I must admit, I was pretty much scared I would die the whole last hike, so I didn't really look around. This time I took it in...just beautiful.

This is the actual color of the lake...it was pretty surreal.

I was so shocked and amazed by the beautiful colors everywhere. I am such a lover of fall. Thnakfully, I was with Rebecca who is also a fall lover, and listened to my ramblings about how much I enjoyed it.



Now we come to the part I did not enjoy. There were huge portions of rocks like this, that you had to sort of make your way over.

I realized on this trip, that I don't have a very good directional sense when it comes to hiking. I am fine with maps and all, but on my own, in the woods, I would be a goner. One time, I got to a rocky section by myself, and instead of working my way across (to the trail on the other edge) I just went up. About 15 minutes in, I realized I had to work my way back down, which was quite precarious and very tiring. I always did better when there was someone in front of me determining where the orange markers where. This is where my good friend Bec Shulba came in handy. She got us out of some sticky binds.

It was so good to be with a friend this hike. The good new is, this hike was better than the last. There was a lot of wandering through the forest, which brought back all kinds of wonderful memories of camp and being outside. The next however is called "Chilliwack's version of the Chief" so its straight up, the whole time. So you know, something to look foward to...

Do I look good?

So, I switched to blogger beta.
I think it was a bad move, because my template got all messed up
So, if you are thinking of switching, be careful.
It advertises switching fonts, and then it makes them look awful.
So I just switched all together.
I want to hear some thoughts.
And I also want to know, how are people making their blogs look so good. (Spiro, Kathryn)
Are you creating your own template?
I sure dont know how that is done.
I need some tips. Send them my way.

************************************************

Okay, this is getting sooo geeky, but now I realized you can go and get templates from other places.
Are people doing this?
How?
So. So. So. Geeky.
Sorry

True Story....

I know what you're thinking: a courier logo? this has got to be a lame post. Just you wait.

Today something happened, that I only think happens to pastors and my mom. You know how pastors are giving a sermon, and they say "one day I was at Starbucks and I started talking to the person about ethics, morals and Christianity". And you are thinking, "no you didn't, you just got your coffee, smiled at the barista and got out of there". Okay, well this actually happened to me today....

I phoned "Quick as a Wink Couriers" which by the way, are often not at all quick as a wink. Anyway, I have phone to this courier at work (Novacom) just about everyday. Its like a two minute conversation: give the pickup and drop off details, get the confirmation number and you're off the phone. But today was a whole different story...I tell them that my envelope is going to Trinity Western to the office. And then it started.

The woman said "Oh I love Trinity, there are good people there, this world needs more good people". And she goes on to explain that her father picked up a wallet in a gas station that belonged to a TWU student, so she went out there, gave this student their wallet, and they became friends. Then she told me that this week she broke up with her long time boyfriend (yes this did actually happen). She said that he didnt have any respect, and the world needed more people like the ones at TWU who were "good people". She said "you sound like a good person". And I was like, umm...ya I hope so. Anyway, she said she had all this anger, and just today, she has decided to give it all up, because we cannot hold onto anger, and we need to find love and grace. Seriously.

So the lady explains this whole thing to me for about 15 minutes and then says "I dont know why I am telling you this...we can get back to your order". I was so shocked, so I just told her I was so happy she had found TWU, and that I hoped she came back to meet more people there. Moments in life like this, are just so unexpected. But I guess the point is, it really is possible, to be a kind of community that gets noticed, that makes a difference to people. I mean it all seems like a lot of rhetoric sometimes, but its true. People need what we have, and we have to be reminded of that some days.

Wow, that was really long, thanks for sticking it out. Has anything happened to you guys like this? It seems to happen to my mom a lot. I guess its being passed along...

Has it really been three years?

Now, I know that I just posted about Capernwray, but I'm sorry, I just have to say this:

Last weekend, here in Canada, it was time to be thankful. You know what I'm thankful for - the fact that I had a year at Capernwray. And you know, I am thankful for my life now too: for learning, for relationships, for home. Yet Capernwray will always hold this place in my heart, and I cannot even begin to examine the depths of that. Its just little moments in the day where I realize: that place changed me. I guess not the place so much, but the expierence, the people, the culture, the joy, the peace, the laughter, the growth, the safety. When I think of the moments, I smile and feel at peace. When I think of the faces, I almost want to cry, I just feel that blessed.

And tonight I realized, that I learned to love beauty at Capernwray. I mean sure I had always had an apprecation. But for the first time, I was with people who encouraged me to look around and really see beauty. Sometimes this was in art, music and literature. Yet other times, it was in something totally unexpected, like the light shining behind a tree (that ones for you Janzen). So tonight, as I sit here, I just want to say that I am thankful that I have these things to cherish in my heart. And I am thankful that sometimes, like tonight, I remember the beauty I found and it filters into my heart.

A Magical Evening....

Who says that you can't picnic after labor day? Well we sure don't. Trust Angela Haugo to pull out the stops and create one of the most magical evenings I have had in a long time. I arrive at Stanley Park and watch the sun dip over the mountain at Ferguson Point. Then the girls arrive with bags of food: specialty cheeses, crackers, crossiants, fruit, salad, tzatziki and pitas. Ang also pulled a Martha: vases light with tall white candles. See what I mean: magical.

So what did I bring? I brought the wine. I know, we are so classy. Don't ask me if I knew which wine to pick, I definitely had to phone Matt three times from the store, but thats beside the point. I did bring the wine.

The evening was wonderful. Women, enjoying one another's company, laughing, talking and taking ridiculous pictures. Could you ask for anything more than that? In the darkness, it felt like we were camping, outside in the (relative) cold. As we left, the moon shone so bright down on us, that it looked like a streetlight. Then, straight from our adventure we drove into the city to be warmed by a coffee at one of the most pretentious and wonderful places in town: Cafe Artigiano. They may have kicked us out, but at that point, I don't think it mattered anymore. Nights like this don't happen very often, but when they do, we must cherish them. And I did.

(Ang said "I'm not going to tell you what to do, just do something...this is what i did...go figure)

Photos Courtesy of Angela Haugo: because I think it's clear, I could never have taken these. You are amazing Ang.

Just when you thought the joke was dead...

Chuck Norris puts the laughter in manslaughter.

looking through the old Europe photos tonight, and I found this.
my little Euro shoe and Chuck suspended in time.
Priceless.