the world will never starve for want of wonders, but for want of wonder

sometimes i miss being at wheaton where i was constantly in an environment of being challenged-- in my faith, in my studies, in my ability to withstand cold temperatures. other times not. but i hung out with a friend from wheaton yesterday and it made me miss it ever so slightly.

i've been studying for the GRE these last couple of weeks and it's making me feel like my mind is mush and i am totally not smart at all. and then i look at my poor little neglected blog and wonder where all the thoughtfulness and my contemplative nature went? i used to always have things to say. i don't really think it disappeared, i just realized a blog is not always the place to be so thoughtful about one's personal life. or at least, it's not the place where *I* want to be thoughtful about my personal life. i do like reading about other people's lives though, so if you are one of those people, please, continue.

anyway, in my attempt to relive my wheaton glory days, i picked up c.s. lewis's "the weight of glory." now, at wheaton i feel like i started hanging out with these kids who were like "blah blah blah, lewis is soooo overrated and you should read _______ (insert obscure author here, like the christian kids version of being hipster) instead," but the reality is that he is so popular because he's awesome. so you can set aside your potentially negative feelings about lewis and read what i have to say about him. or rather, you can read the quote that i wanted to share. because i don't have much more to say on the topic.

here's some context for those who may not have read it in awhile/ever: lewis is talking about our desire for heaven, even though none of us here on earth have experienced it.

the books or the music in which we thought the beauty was located will betray us if we trust to them; it was not in them, it only came through them, and what came through them was longing. These things-- the beauty, the memory of our own past-- are good images of what we really desire, but if they are mistaken for the thing itself, they turn into dumb idols, breaking the hearts of their worshippers. for they are not the thing itself, they are only the scent of a flower we have not found, the echo of a tune we have not heard, news from a country we have never yet visited.

come quickly, Lord Jesus.

the office in real life, part 15

just another lunch time get together at work today

the office in real life, part 14

Dave has pinkeye, but he won't go home, so he is quarantined in his office and having his meetings through the window. no joke. you can't make this stuff up.





Here is the sign I made for his door that he added to...

The office in real life, part 13 (part 2)

Dav's desk is all better now, for those who were concerned.

the office in real life, part 13

Dav's desk fell apart:



Thankfully his stuff wasn't on it...

i'm shouting at the mountains; if something happens i'll be the first to believe

hey everybody! it's been awhile. here's what i've been doing with my life, for those who care, or wonder why i'm always tired, or why you have to schedule time with me 3 months in advance. July 3-August 4: here are some highlights.

-watched nick and keri get hitched
-saw death cab at the hollywood bowl with the LA phil and fireworks and tegan and sara and the new pornographers
-visited my parents house while they were out of town and reported for jury duty for the first time in my life
-spent a weekend in santa barbara with emily
-started teaching a photo class to mika kids on monday nights!
-went to the fair
-made a new, unexpected friend
-watched my niece walk on her own for the first time
-attended 3 weddings in 9 days (matt in san diego, ashley and rodney in huntington, and dan and whit in seattle)
-took a trip to portland/seattle and surrounding villages and mountain towns
-attended a taping of late night with conan o'brien
-said goodbye to emily and jeff. i don't want to talk about it.

there you go. i am soooooo interesting.

here's some music i've been listening to recently. some is old and some is new but i think you should check it all out:
-castledoor "shouting at mountains"
-fanfarlo "reservoir"
-regina spektor "far"
-yeah yeah yeahs "it's blitz"
-matt costa "songs we sing" or "unfamiliar faces"
-metric "fantasies"
-camera obscura "my maudlin career"
-bang gang "ghosts from the past"
-vhs or beta "bring on the comets"
-elizabeth and the catapult "taller children"
-fun. "aim and ignite" (aka the format)
-sleeping at last "storyboards"

i'm sure there's more but i'm tired now.

on another's sorrow

He doth give his joy to all:
He becomes an infant small,
He becomes a man of woe,
He doth feel the sorrow too.

Think not thou canst sigh a sigh,
And thy Maker is not by:
Think not thou canst weep a tear,
And thy Maker is not near.

Oh He gives to us his joy,
That our grief He may destroy:
Till our grief is fled an gone
He doth sit by us and moan.

--william blake