points of interest

1. School is in full swing. This might be my favorite group of students yet. Very good-natured, very funny, very sweet, very immature (on that point, no wonder I've taken to them so). I love my job. I can't say it enough.

2. I'm 28, or "officially close to 30." Thanks yaya. 28 is very, very good in case you're wondering. Had a lovely, intimate birthday gathering at the home of one Kate McIntosh Graham, themed "Claire's Favorite Things." Plenty of circus peanuts. Which brings me to...

3. I have a toothache. Also, it turns out, no dental insurance. My fault -- oops. At least it's not too late to fix this glitch before (hopefully) I need a root canal.

4. I really, really love the church that I recently memberized with. As in every week I can't wait for Sunday nights.

5. I'm now the owner of a pair of skinny jeans. This is moderately ironic on several counts. The cows have officially come home.

6. I cannot stop listening to Selah's new album - particularly "Unredeemed" and "I Will Carry You." I have been waiting on these two songs for months, months, and months. They are here. Buy them on iTunes - you shan't be sorry.

7. Who's ready to need a long sleeved shirt?

8. Dierks Bentley and Patty Griffin did a song together recently. Is anyone else disturbed by this? It's actually pretty good, too.

9. Did I ever write a review for Julie & Julia? It was absolutely fantastic. Charming every second through and through. Worth paying the hefty ticket price again, as a matter of fact. If you haven't seen it, GO.

10. I'm growing rosemary and cilantro in my kitchen - entirely too late in the herb season, mind you - and against all odds, they're springing forth from the soil in sprightly dance! The severed wasps are in flight, indeed. That was for you, Mere. :)

Happy mid-week, friends.

I've got a very important date...

...and it cannot get here fast enough. Ladies and gentlemen, Tim Burton has, I believe, embarked on the film he was always meant for. Alice in Wonderland will hit theatres March 5, 2010, and I am trembling with delight already.

With Johnny Depp (of course...who else?) as the Mad Hatter...

And Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen...

And Anne Hathaway as the White Queen...

And Mia Wasikowska (with a blond dye job, personally I think I would have been an appropriate pick, but whatever) as Alice...



How can this be anything but mesmerizing? As one who thought she was Alice as a small child, I don't think I could be more excited about this coming out. Some other images from the movie that I LOVE...



Here's the trailer...



I don't know that I have ever been this excited about a movie. Tim Burton was made for this.


Alice laughed. "There's no use trying," she said. "One can't believe impossible things."

"I daresay you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."

-Through the Looking Glass, chapter 5

this is going to be a good, good weekend...

...for several reasons. One, it's the end of the first week of school, which means I am dying to sleep in tomorrow morning - if you're thinking "but you had ALL SUMMER to sleep in......" please understand that even if I had slept in all summer, just one week of herding around 106 8th graders and trying to make them pay attention to you teach them about the preposition takes the ever living OOOMPH out of a girl.

So again, #1, tomorrow I can sleep until I wake up -- sweet goodness.

Two, I am going to see Julie & Julia, which I have been looking forward to for ages. I can. not. wait. to see this movie. I have been enthralled by design for the past several months (I suppose the inner-Bonnie in me is beginning to emerge? Are you beaming, yet, mom?) and am extremely excited to see the kitchen designs in this movie. I've seen pictures, and I'm intrigued, to say the least. Too bad I don't yet own a home to overhaul. Which brings me to Three...

I have been on the Dave Ramsey plan now for several months, and can I just say that IT WORKS?? Even on a little teacher-budget - along with Dave, an incredibly cheap shoebox of an apartment, some tried-and-true discipline, smart saving (thanks, Dave!) I will, Lord willing, be a homeowner in approximately 2 years! I mean, I'll be 30 by then. Come on. It's about time to be there, don't you think? I'm not sure what this has to do with it being a good, good weekend, but I felt like throwing that in there. On to Three.

I am joining Redeemer Community Church this weekend. Any of you who know me well will know that I've not joined a church in, maybe, never? Growing up, I was part of a church that I don't recall having an official membership roster - and since then, I haven't been a member of a church, though I've attended a church or two regularly for years at a time. I love this church and its teaching with all my heart. I love it because, obviously, like many churches, it proclaims and seeks to authentically live out Jesus' oft uncomfortable truths in very honest, real, tangible ways in the city of Birmingham. And let's be honest, I need this kind of covenant community to live these truths myself and act in obedience despite my fears.

So yes. A good, good weekend indeed.

crooked creek ranch

Finally, my computer is well again. Here's to anti-virus software! I've been waiting and waiting to post pictures from Crooked Creek - I am cameraless (it's killing me) so all of these were bootlegged from other people on the trip. I was really lucky to get such good pictures with no camera in my possession.

These nine days were incredible - I would say without hesitation that the week was a delicious taste of what life was supposed to be like all the time. Just for a little background - I am not affiliated with YoungLife, or Restoration Academy, actually. One of their teachers was supposed to go on this trip with them but ended up leaving the country for the summer, so the counselor at the school asked if I would like to go. Of COURSE I jumped on it - I love Restoration Academy, and I love what YoungLife does. Turns out, YL is looking to put together a team for this school in Fairfield. Exciting stuff, really.

As you'll see from looking at the pictures, I really had to do some digging to access my inner youth group cheeseball, and that was probably my biggest challenge - not because I'm not a cheeseball, but because I don't think I ever had any kind of appreciation for youth groupy cheesiness. In fact, I've always kind of made fun of it.

But getting to know these girls was a treat - we're planning to do a book study on Kai'Ro: The Journey of an Urban Pilgrim, a modern rendition of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress written by the principal at Restoration. The book is great, and it's part of a broader vision called The Kai'Ro Project. Click here to read about it - what they are seeking to do and be a part of is incredible. If you are involved in any way with urban youth, you've got to get your hands on this book.

Ok, on with the pictures...

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales or the hills in a balance?

-Isaiah 40:11-13

sweet summer

Hi, friends...lots to catch up on here! I've been MIA from Birmingham for about a month and with limited cell/internet access, so I feel like I've been in a black hole for a long time now. I've been blissfully unaware of all things CNN, cellphone and Foxnews, and it's been wonderful.

As you may know, I've not had a camera since I accidentally threw mine into a river in North Carolina awhile back, so I am dependent upon others to send pictures of the past month's jaunts. I have a few from the week at the beach with my family a couple of weeks ago - the ones I have are mostly of or with Nita, so I'll just post a few.

Check her out:Little butterball of goodness, that Nita Pita...

Dad and I went kayaking

The week was so relaxing - good times with family, the Skinners, Kate Graham, and dear Varner Stewart, who came also.

I just got back last night from Crooked Creek Ranch in Frasier, Colorado where I went to a YoungLife camp with five high school girls from Restoration Academy in Fairfield (linked on my "favorite places" sidebar if you care to read about the school -- it's awesome) and Homewood High School's YoungLife team.

I'm waiting on pictures from the week - I don't even want to try to do it justice with just words. Everything about the whole week was beautiful - the mountains, hikes, woods, weather, music, and especially these girls and new friendships.

As soon as I get my hands on some pictures, I'll post more about it...

Happy late 4th!!

Iron Chef champs, move aside

I've been practicing cooking with new recipes lately, and I always appreciate a little inspiration. When I invent my own recipes, usually that means I boil noodles and put some spray butter on them. Mmmmm.

My friend Courtney does a much better job creating new dishes (and she makes a MEAN grilled cheese sandwich), so for any of you out there who are trying to refine your skills in the kitchen, or if you love trying new (and delicious) recipes, you need to visit her blog.

You'll learn aplenty about cooking, good wine, good cheese, and the Hogwarts School of Wizardry - an excellent use of your time if you ask me.

Still at the beach - pictures to come!

wormology

FOOD-OLOGY
What is your salad dressing of choice? vinaigrette
What is your favorite sit-down restaurant? Tazikis
What food could you eat for 2 weeks straight and not get sick of it? It is not unusual for me to eat the same thing for stretches of time at least two weeks long...right now it's tomato sandwiches.
What are your pizza toppings of choice? Pepperoni, onion, olives
What do you like to put on your toast? I don't eat toast

TECHNOLOGY
How many televisions are in your house? One
What color cell phone do you have? black
What does the first text message in your inbox say and who sent it? "It is finished!" - Kelly
Who was the last person to call you? my friend Kelly

BIOLOGY
Are you right-handed or left-handed? right
Have you ever had anything removed from your body? just wisdom teeth
What is the last heavy item you lifted? a box of lit books

DUMB-OLOGY
If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die? NO THANKS
If you could change your name, what would you change it to? If I could change my name, I wouldn't.
Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000? YES. YES I WOULD.
How many pairs of flip flops do you own? two
Last time you had a run-in with the cops? Freshman year of college - dead rat - prank war - I'll spare you those details
Last person you talked to in person ? Katie
Favorite Month? October

CURRENT-OLOGY
Missing someone? Yes
Mood? sleepy
What are you listening to? dave barnes newer version of "Until You" I'll never get tired of it
Watching? nothing
Worrying about? not getting lost finding my destination tomorrow

RANDOM-OLOGY
What’s the last movie you watched? Taken. It was INTENSE.
Do you smile often? Yes
Do you always answer your phone? Only if I know who's calling
It’s four in the morning and you get a text message, who is it? Everyone I know knows better
If you could change your eye color what would it be? Fire engine red
What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic? strawberry or vanilla
Do you own a digital camera? not since I accidentally threw mine in a river
Have you ever had a pet fish? Yes, Cloudy, who lived for almost 9 years. I felt like I'd lost a part of me when he died.
Favorite Christmas song? “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” without a doubt
What’s on your wish list for your birthday? I have not thought about it
Can you do push-ups? I doubt it; my arms are pretty weak
Can you do a chin up? see above
Does the future make you more nervous or excited? It's kind of a nervous excitement
Do you have any saved texts? no
Ever been in a car wreck? two fender benders
Do you have an accent? Yes
What is the last song to make you cry? I don't know
Plans tonight? packing
Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom? yes
Name 2 things you bought yesterday. A subway sandwich and a diet coke
You ever been given roses? yes
Current hate right now? always curry
Met someone who changed your life? yes
What song represents you? according to that iPod shuffle game, "Honkey Cat" by Elton John sums me up pretty well.
What were you doing 12 AM last night? sleeping
What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? coffee