Just call me Melissa Poppins

I haven't blogged in a while. Not a lot has been happening since I got back from Oregon.

I've been nannying, which is great. In the last week I have done the following: Played mini-golf, played probably 10 games of Monopoly (we've declared Mondays "Monopoly Marathon Monday," played lots of other games, seen "The Bee Movie" in the theater, made sugar cookies, read a lot of books out loud before nap time, watched a group of 4-year olds at "Princess ballet camp," been to the pool a few times, done arts and crafts, tutored math and spelling, played on the monkey bars and trampoline, blown a lot of bubbles, made homemade popsicles, and given a few time outs...

All in all, I'm really enjoying it. The kids are well-behaved (minus occasional sibling rivalries and typical 4-year old tantrums), and we have a lot of fun.

In other news, Michael is down to only a couple weeks left of school. His official last day is August 13th (besides the online classes for the fall). We're still working on our field placement, but we think we have a pretty good idea where we might be going. As soon as we know for sure I will post on here. In the mean time, we are planning on heading back to Oregon at the end of the summer, when I'm done nannying. We'll probably take our time and make a trip out of it again. If everything goes as we think it may, we'd be in Oregon for a while (maybe a month or two?) before we head overseas.

As our time here comes to an end, we've been realizing how much of a community we have built among the other graduate students and spouses in the program. A couple weeks ago Michael and I started hosting a weekly gathering of food and hanging out, just to make the most of the last few weeks here. The talk lately is of everyone packing up and heading out; we're having a mutual garage sale before we leave, and very soon. That makes it seem very real.

Home Sweet Home

I'm home from Oregon.

I had a lot of fun, although I missed my husband tremendously. I knew he was missing out on all the fun and seeing all the family, (especially the nieces and nephews) so I tried to take pictures of everything we did (some of which will follow shortly).

The biggest bummer, besides missing Michael, was getting a speeding ticket on the way to a wedding. NOT fun!

It was so fun to see all FIVE of my nieces and nephews, including my newest nephew who was born June 6th.







Isabelle loves her new favorite toy Elmo, from Uncle Mike. She also loves to wear her shirt we sent her from PA.

A couple of Oregon sites I miss:




Beach time with the family:








We made these beach bags. Even Isabelle got one!



The girls won mini-golf.



I took this picture of me eating Tillamook ice cream (to show Michael what he was missing out on). I got a triple scoop for the first time ever, and people kept staring at me!



Is there anything more adorable?




Chicken Ranch Pizza from Upper Crust. Another shot I took for Michael. Pizza on the east coast is no good.


My brother's two kids.



Our "adopted" nephews. Our best friends' two boys. We moved to Oregon two weeks before Hudson was born, so this was the first time I got to see him.


I was able to go to two weddings.

The first one was a friend from George Fox. The four of us girls lived on the same floor for two years.



The second wedding was a Fox/Twin Rocks friend. It ended up being almost half of our staff from 2003 were there (including our directors), a mini-five year reunion! Such a blessing.




I had a wonderful week. It was so fun to see a lot of people at Twin Rocks that were there for camp that week. We even got to see our pastor who was staying next door! I am home rejuvenated and ready for what comes next: an internship overseas. (When we know where we are going, I promise that I'll post something).

Oregon Here I Come!

I'm leaving tomorrow for Oregon! I'm really excited, except for the part where Michael has to stay here while I go hang out with all his family.

Today I was officially asked to nanny for a family for the summer. I interviewed over the weekend, and ended up watching the kids yesterday and today. And it's been so fun! The kids are super well-behaved, we do some schoolwork, crafts, play games, and we'll be going to a park nearby lots this summer, as well as the pool at the YMCA. There are three kids, two boys (10 and 8) and one girl (4). They are all fun ages for different reasons. I'm already thankful this has worked out this way because I feel like I enjoy myself much more with these kids (than with the other family I was possibly going to work for) and just have a lot more peace about the situation. And, the timing works out so great because I can start right when I get back from Oregon.

I need to go pack. One good thing about me traveling alone is I don't have to worry (as much as I would if Michael was coming) about having my apartment clean before I leave, as my mother-in-law and sister-in-law are so worried about (though I did try to stock the fridge and freezer with easy meals for my husband and our new roommate.)

Update

The past few weeks have been pretty eventful. Here's a highlight of what's been going on and what's coming up:

Two weeks ago Michael had his Commissioning Ceremony (sort of like graduation but not). Michael was chosen by his classmates to speak and did a great job. It's crazy to think we're down to a couple months left.



Last weekend we went to a wedding up in New Hampshire. We also got to visit friends from Oregon in Boston, and we stayed with some friends from Eastern in Maine. Here are some pictures from the trip:




Cheers Bar in Boston



The Johnsons and the Chapmans



Wedding in NH



This would have been a cute picture...



Our friends from Eastern. This is a lighthouse in Portland, Maine. Now we've been to both Portlands! (Are there more than two?)

My nanny job fell through, so I'm working on finding something else to do for the summer.

Michael starts his final Summer term next week. We still aren't sure about where we are going for the Fall. It's been a frustrating process trying to find a job placement. There are a few other couples in the program that are in the same boat we are, but no luck so far.

I'm flying home on July 4th to spend a week in Oregon. I'm super excited to see friends and family, (including all my nephews and nieces), and I am going to 2 weddings, which works out really well. Can't wait!

Here is a video of me that was made by one of the teachers at the school where I sub. I thought some of you might enjoy this.

Supreme Court Decision chips away at Bush's Executive War Power

A couple of months ago I read a book (Five Years of My Life: An Innocent Man in Guantanamo, by Murat Kurnaz) about an innocent man held in Guantanamo Bay for five years. (I also blogged about it here). The book prodded me to learn more about the situation there, and I was stunned and mortified at the U.S. government for its role in placing prisoners there, as well as individual military members and their lack of respect for basic human deceny.

Yesterday the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of basic Constitutional rights, regardless of what country a person calls home. Basically, the ruling gives detainees a chance to defend themselves and challenge their detention. Since 2004, this issue has come up three times in the courts, and each time the ruling has been against the government's (and our president's) claim that "enemy combatants" are not subject to the same rights as U.S. citizens, and the ruling made it clear that George Bush's war on terrorism tactics are illegal and beyond the scope of his power as President of the United States.

As a country with a loud voice (the loudest) in this world, and one who espouses democracy and equal rights to all citizens, we have a duty to extend these rights beyond our borders. If not, why should other countries be bound to be decent to us when we are trespassaing in their domain?

School's out for the summer...sort of

The heat has become bearable again. On Tuesday night there was a crazy thunderstorm. Our lights kept flickering, and thousands of people lost power, possibly for a few days. I guess around here it stays humid and hot until the thunderstorms break the heat. The storm was in and out within a number of hours, and the weather is more pleasant (still in the upper 80s).

Tomorrow is my last day of substituting! That's a cause for celebration. But more importantly, tomorrow is Michael's Commissioning Ceremony. It's sort of like Graduation, in that they wear a cap and gown, and go through the motions of a graduation, but they are not receiving a diploma, yet, because they still have to finish this summmer term, plus another summer term, plus the classes and the internship in the fall. But I'm really looking forward to it because Michael was nominated by his classmates to give a speech, and it's going to be great! (I know he's nervous but seriously, I have so much confidence that everyone will be touched by his words). I felt a little badly about it because I may have sort of guilted him into accepting the nomination, but it's only because I knew he'll have the right words to say. So honey, good luck tomorrow! Break a leg! Knock 'em dead!

Heat wave

Here on the east coast we are in the middle of a heat wave.

Yesterday the temperature was 99 degrees, with a heat index of more than 105, and today is likely to be the same. And it's humid. Michael and I are definitely not used to the humidity out here. (I was already sweating at 6:30 this morning as I was getting ready for work). Luckily, on Friday we finally fixed the A/C in our car, and also got a unit for our bedroom from some friends. It makes a world of difference. I have a feeling we will be spending most of the summer in our bedroom, where it's nice and cool.

This weekend we went camping and on Sunday afternoon as we were home and both getting ready to head to work, the power went out. I have to say that the power going out because of the heat (overuse of A/C units, etc.) is a new one for us west coasters. There were a few blocks around us that lost power, in fact, the restaurant I work at went out. I arrived to work and they let me leave (and a half an hour later the power came back on, but I was long gone).

Yesterday the school I work in let out early because the local elementary schools have no A/C, and it is unbearable for them in this heat. Today most schools all over the Philadelphia area are having half days, including mine, which means that tomorrow is my last full day of subbing (Thursday and Friday are half days).

I saw on the news yesterday that today's air quality levels are reaching very unhealthy for our area, and it is encouraged to stay inside when possible. There is an "excessive heat warning" in effect until 8:00 tonight.

All this heat and humidity makes me miss Oregon...

A run to the gym anyone?

Today I stumbled across this nifty bit of info.

What do you think is the #1 Worst Food in America?



Take a guess....



What's your guess?



Well, I'll tell you.

This is extra interesting to me because most of the items in the top 20 Worst Foods are foods I've never eaten.


But this...


I used to work at this restaurant...and I LOVED these...


Weighing in at a mere 2900 Calories

AND

182 grams of fat

AND

240 grams of carbs...


Drum roll please...




Outback Steakhouse Aussie Cheese Fries with Ranch Dressing

But really, what was your guess for the #1 Worst Food in America?

Tag! I'm it.

Denise tagged me, so I thought I'd reply, if only to spice up my blog.

5 things in my bag:
(I'm going with my school bag, which is more interesting than my purse)

1. Book of Jumbo Crossword Puzzles-I never know what I will be doing on a given day, so I always try to have these with me to escape complete boredom.

2. Book of Sudoku puzzles. (See Number 1)

3. God's Politics, by Jim Wallis. (Also see Number 1). I've been working on it for a while, and it's a great book, but I have to be in the right "mood" to read it.

4. Hot pink Nalgene from Yosemite Sierra Summer Camp (where Michael worked during college) with an Obama sticker I picked up while visiting Hope, PA.

5. My cell phone, with a picture of my niece, Isabelle, as my wallpaper.

5 Things in my Bedroom:

1. A mattress on the floor. We don't have a box spring because we couldn't fit one up our very narrow staircase. We planned on finding a split box spring, but 8 months later it still hasn't happened...

2. Bookshelves. We use these as dressers. They are much cheaper than dressers, and also serve as a night stand.

3. A chair and ottoman. Recently we discovered we can get Internet from one very specific corner of our bedroom when we put the ottoman in front of the window with an upside-down egg crate on top. This way the laptop is level with the window, and makes for excellent wi-fi signal. (Um...in case you were wondering, yes, we're getting Internet from an unsuspecting neighbor. Not sure the moral implications there...)

4. A wall hanging from China. When we lived in Alaska for a summer our friends we were living with traveled to China and brought this back for us.

5. A quilt. My mom made us a quilt for our wedding, and it's currently on our bed. We have a heavy comforter for the winter, but recently we switched to this lighter quilt, because we live on the second floor of a non-air-conditioned apartment, in a place with high humidity.

5 Things I have always wanted to do:

1. Travel to more European countries. I visited France, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany during college, but I'd love to see Italy, England, Ireland, and actually, I'd love to visit some of the same places as before, especially Paris. We lost our backpack towards the end of our 3-week trip, and along with the backpack we lost our camera and all the film from the trip (we didn't have digital yet).

2. Live in another country. This will probably be happening in a few short months.

3. Have a healthy baby. Be a mom.

4. Be really disciplined about working out and eating well. I'm always working on that. I have a little problem with self-control, and a soft spot for sweets, and the two often go too closely together. But, I think I've worked out more consistently this past year than I have my whole life (not including being a part of an athletic team), and it's easier to eat better when we're on a tight budget and create weekly meal plans.

5. Become a morning person. I don't know if this will ever be possible, because I am very much a night owl, and married to one. But, I've heard it could happen after I start having kids.

5 Things I'm currently into:

1. Listening to The Swell Season, and the Once Soundtrack (see my previous posts). Usually I can only listen to a CD a few times before I need a break from it, but I really can't get enough. It's always on in the car and/or at home on Repeat.

2. Watching Lost online. I started watching Season 1 of Lost a few months ago. It gives me something to watch on the Internet, since we don't have a TV, and also something to do when Michael is doing lots of reading for school. I'm in the middle of Season 3 right now. The only bad part is that I hear bits and pieces from this season from friends or online, and I know that some of the characters will be dying at some point...and I keep waiting...

3. Scrapbooking. Although, it's been a while since I've done it because I really need to print pictures. But I love it! It's a therapy for me. I got our entire wedding album done after our miscarriage. Like I said, it's therapy.

4. Reading. I'm always going to the local library and checking out multiple books to read. What can I say? I'm a bookworm tried and true. I usually get through a few books each week.

5. Trying to site-see as much as possible on the East Coast. We have been here for 9 months and haven't come close to visiting all the places we want to see. We have less than 3 months left, and are trying to figure out how to fit it all in with our busy schedules.

5 people who need to do this:

1. Bev. I have tagged her before, and I, like Denise, am tired of reading the same entry from almost a year ago!! (And I know you have time-You're on vacation!)

2. Michael. You need to update your blog. Seriously. You have readers and we have nothing to read.

3. Ricker. Because your posts make me laugh, and we need more of them.

4. Tim. Because your last post was in February. And because I've tagged you more than once, too. And I know I'm not alone when I say that I want to know what's in your bag.

5. Sherry. Because I like reading your blog!

If you've caught the Swell Season fever (like me)...

For those of you who want to hear what Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova from The Swell Season sound like, there are a lot of videos on YouTube you could watch. I'm not that great with uploading videos, so I thought I'd give you this link to another blog with videos posted. Also, this blog has a great review of their show in Portland from a month ago, with details that I didn't give but were the same at the show we saw. And, here's a good review of the movie, Once.

Michael and I have been playing their music non-stop-in the car and at home. I can't seem to get enough.

Pictures from The Swell Season concert

Here are the pictures from the concert we went to last night. (See previous post).

In our seats.



The lighting made it hard to get a good picture, but this was our view.



Here we are getting their autographs.



Posing for a picture.

Happy Early Birthday Michael!!

This year for Michael's birthday (which is this Saturday), I wanted to find something fun to do to build a memory, instead of just buying him random stuff that he really doesn't need, and that we may have to get rid of when we downsize again to go overseas.

I was struggling to find tickets to anything at a decent price.

And then...

Last weekend we rented the movie Once. If you haven't seen it, I recommend it. It's an Irish musical movie with amazing music and a sweet story. It's refreshing. It is rated R due to some language (common in foreign films), but there is no sex or nudity and is so easy to watch. And, if you are a music lover--even in the slightest--you will love this movie! One of the songs from the movie won an Academy Award in February 2008 for Best Original Song.

So, we watched the movie and I decided to find the soundtrack to get Michael for his birthday. On Monday I was doing some research and found out that the couple in the movie, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, had also put out another CD, The Swell Season, which included a few songs from the movie as well as a few new ones. I also discovered that they were touring in the United States. I looked at the dates and saw they were going to be in Upper Darby, PA (20 minutes from our apartment) at the Tower Theater the very next night (last night)!!

To make a long story short, I was able to find tickets on Craigslist for less than half the price, and I was able to find someone to cover both of our shifts at our jobs for Tuesday night (we were both scheduled to work).

Yesterday after school I got home and told Michael he was getting his main birthday present early. I told him neither of us were going to work (which was a surprise-I was able to pull it off!) and that we had plans. After attempting to get a little homework done, I gave him his present. In it were two CDs: the Once soundtrack and The Swell Season CD. Then he opened the card and found the tickets to the concert.

The concert was amazing. I can't even really give it enough credit. It was the best concert I've ever been to. The music was amazing. They had a piano, a cello, a violin, drums, guitars, and the voices all blended together so well. The set of songs they played were phenomenal. It was the last night of their tour, so they came back on stage after the Standing Ovation and played for another 45 minutes, saying they weren't in a hurry since they were finishing their tour. The opening band played from 8-9, and then when The Swell Season came on stage around 9:15, they played until midnight.

Granted, our seats were pretty far back (there were maybe four rows behind us), but it didn't matter.

As we were walking to our car afterwards, we noticed a small group of about 15 people waiting around by the back entrance, right across from the tour bus. We figured they were waiting for the band, and we thought, "What the heck? Let's stick around and see if we can see them."

We waited for 30-40 minutes, during which band members slowly left the building. And then Glen and Marketa came out. Marketa got on the bus, and as we all cheered, Glen stopped, said something to Marketa, and then crossed the street towards us. We got to meet him! And then Marketa got off the bus and came over too! We met them both, asked them to sign our CD, and took pictures with them. It was a small enough group that people were talking to them and asking questions. They were very down to earth, funny, and happy to answer questions, despite the fact that it was almost 1 am and cold outside.

Basically, it was an amazing end to an amazing night of music! I couldn't have planned it better if I had tried!! If you haven't seen the movie or heard the music, trust me, it's worth your time. (I will post a picture later tonight.)

Happy Early Birthday Michael!

My husband knows me well...

Last Friday I had decided to take a little nap before I made dinner. I was groggy when I woke up and needed a little "pick-me-up." And this is why I love my husband, because he knows me so well...

As I started moving slowly around the kitchen, Michael put a CD in the player and went back to his homework. The music? None other that the Backstreet Boys. Yes, I am not ashamed of being a Backstreet Boys fan. Every time I hear that music it ignites a spark in me. I can't help it. My body starts moving to the music, and I belt out the words. Within a few minutes I was dancing and singing and wide awake.

Whenever I have to drive long distances and need to stay awake, there are a handful of CDs that I always rely on to keep me awake (because I know every word and sing out loud to them as I drive). Backstreet Boys and Dixie Chix are my staples. Michael has gotten used to my taste in music, and I suspect that at times he actually enjoys my choices, though he may never admit it!

Pictures at last

I've been wanting to post some pictures from the recent family visits.



While Nick and Lindsay were here the weather was amazing, in the 80s. Here we are eating our Philly Cheesesteaks. There was a big rally going on for a guy on a death row and we sat and watched them march by. (Not sure what's going on with Michael?)




Amy and Isabelle stayed with us for over a week, and Tim joined us for the weekend.

Whenever I had a moment alone with Isabelle, and I had my camera with me, I tried to take a picture. A sampling:









Michael also had a lot of fun with his niece:





Michael was convinced that by the end of the week Isabelle would roll over. (She did, literally a few hours before they left!)
Here he is giving her a "pep talk."





We had a lot of fun "girl days," site seeing and hanging out.



We were in Lancaster County, home of many Amish. Who could resist putting a bonnet on this adorable head?



Amish Buggy



(Tim and Michael were with us, but we took another girl pic)



Random late night...Do you think they are related?



To be fair, here's one of us all (We were playing motorboat. If you don't know what that is, you are missing out on many laughs).

Mother's Day

Yesterday was a "blah" day for me.

I can't explain it, I just felt blah. We slept in and Michael made me breakfast. I didn't really feel like going to church on Mother's Day. As I've said before, in so many ways I'm doing really well. And granted, there are a few other things going on in our life right now that added to how I was doing emotionally that day. But I just felt like staying home and spending some time with Michael. So we stayed in.

I found myself thinking about all my friends and family who have suffered some kind of loss or miscarriage, or even those friends who are currently "trying" and frustrated. To others we may not "count" as being mothers yet, but the day holds meaning to us, too.

To you I want to say, Happy Mother's Day. Our time will come.

Summer is getting so close I can almost taste it!

It's been a crazy few weeks. Today Michael will turn in his last paper for the semester, and has a break until the middle of next week, when Summer Term 1 begins.

I've recently changed my work schedule again so that I can have weekends off (mostly-I still work Sunday evenings). I'm down to three days a week and am really excited about having more time on weekends to hang out with friends and just enjoy our time here. Michael and I are both realizing how fast time has gone-we've been in PA for almost 9 full months-and have not done the kind of site-seeing we've wanted to. We're hoping to take advantage of the last few months, along with the warmer weather, to experience different parts of the East Coast.

We'd like to take a trip to Washington (As in D.C. Out here they simply say "Washington," and if ever there's a reference to the state, it's "Washington State"). We're probably going to a Yankees game (Sorry Ken!) in a couple weeks, which will be fun because they're playing the Mariners, so we can represent for the Northwest. We'll also see "the city" (New York City), as neither of us have been there either. In June we'll be traveling up to New Hampshire for a wedding and hope to see some of the beautiful sites of New England. I really want to go to Boston.

Hopefully with all these plans we'll have some pictures to post. I'm also going to try to post some pictures from the family visits we've had recently. Now that Michael is done with finals I may actually get to use the computer at home to upload pictures!

Mother's Day

This morning I was reading Jim Wallis' blog (see previous post), and I came across this discussion about Mother's Day.
According to the blog this is how Mother's Day began:

Julia Ward Howe, the creator of Mother's Day, pleaded with women to speak out against war, not only for the sake of their sons, but for the sons of mothers across the globe. Today, mothers must not only seek peace for their sons, but for themselves.

And yet another reason I have a hard time with the (especially American) military mind-set:

60 Minutes did research in the 1990s that found that domestic violence was five times more common in U.S. military families than civilian families. And that was during "peace time." During war, the numbers become far more gruesome. During the Rwandan genocide, UNICEF estimates 150,000 women were raped in the 100 days of conflict. Today, the remnants of that violence have ventured into the Congo and 27,000 sexual assaults were reported there by the United Nations -- in just one year, in just one province.

Getting into heaven

I'm reading this book right now (God's Politics: Why the Right Gets it Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get it, by Jim Wallis). It relates directly to my recent posts regarding politics and Christians. It's awesome. I've been wanting to read it for a while and finally picked it up.

In the first chapter Wallis discusses how the "conformity of many conservative evangelical leaders to the political Right and its agenda that favors the wealthy over the poor and middle class just doesn't make sense..." to Christians and non-Christians alike.

Then he shares this:

In Matthew's twenty-fifth chapter, Jesus speaks of the hungry, the homeless, the stranger, prisoners, and the sick and promises he will challenge all his followers on the judgment day with these words, "As you have done to the least of these, you have done to me." James Forbes, the pastor of Riverside Church in New York City, concludes from that text that, "Nobody gets to heaven without a letter of reference from the poor!" How many of America's most famous television preachers could produce the letter?

Food for Thought

On Poverty:
"All those people who think that food stamps are debilitating and lead to a cycle of poverty are the same ones who want to leave a ton of money to their kids."

-Warren Buffet (richest man in the world as of February 2008)

On Politics:

"I have always thought we had outlived the need for the Electoral College, and now that I am going to the Senate, I am going to try to do what I can to make clear that the popular vote, the will of the people, should be followed."

-Hillary Clinton

Is that so?

Popular vote
Obama
14,418,784 49.2%

Clinton
13,917,318 47.5%

On the election:

A Democrat and a Republican walk into a bar to discuss health care and national security.

This shouldn't sound like a joke.
(From dividedwefail.org)