Friday, October 31, 2003

Countdowns
56 days 'til Scott's in town
4 days 'til Belle & Sebastian in Lawrence, KS
3 days 'til Shakespeare test
14 hours 'til Halloween party

Thursday, October 30, 2003

I'm young, I know
But even so
I know a thing or two
I've learned from you
I've really learned a lot
I've really learned a lot
Love is like a stove
Burns you when it's hot

Love hurts

Some fools think of happiness
Blissfulness
Togetherness
Some fools fool themselves, I guess
But they're not fooling me
I know it isn't true
I know it isn't true
Love is just a lie made to make you blue

Love hurts
-Gram Parsons


Tuesday, October 28, 2003

Grievous Angel

I have a new dead pop star crush.



Gram Parsons.

Here's a fascinating story for all you who like fascinating stories.*
Gram Parsons (The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers) and one of his buddies had an agreement that whoever lived to see the other die would somehow get the body and burn it at Joshua Tree National Monument. Well Gram died first and his friend actually followed through on the pact. He talked the funeral home into giving him the body (and how is great question) and burnt it in the park, drinking a beer, while watching his friend's body "sizzle."

I bought two Gram Parsons albums yesterday after reading this story.

Someone (I wish I could remember who) said in response to the death of Elvis, "Great career move." I have to say to you, Gram Parsons, the same thing. You just gained a fan.

Great career move.
*Story taken from "In the Country of Country" by Nicholas Dawidoff.



[EDIT]~The answer to "how", above, Parsons' friend stole his dead body:

"Kaufman called the funeral parlor in the town of Joshua Tree and managed to learn that the body would be driven to LAX and then flown on Continental to New Orleans. He called the airline's mortuary service and found out that the body would arrive that evening. Kaufman recruited Michael Martin, who knew about the pact, and commandeered a hearse of Dale McElroy's, which she and Martin used for camping trips. It had no license plates and several broken windows, but it would do. They tried on suits, but decided they looked so ridiculous that they changed into their tour clothes -- Levi's, cowboy boots, cowboy hats, and jackets with the legend "Sin City" stitched on the back. They loaded the hearse up with beer and Jack Daniels and headed for LAX.
Kaufman and Martin arrived at the loading dock just as a flatbed truck rolled up with the Parsons casket. A drunken Kaufman somehow persuaded an airline employee that the Parsons family had changed its plans and wanted to ship the body privately on a chartered flight.
While Kaufman was in the hangar office, signing the paperwork with a phony name, a policeman pulled up, blocking the hangar door. Kaufman was sure his operation would be shut down, but the officer didn't do anything -- he just sat there. So Kaufman walked out to him, waved his copies of the paperwork, and said, "Hey, can you move that car?" The officer apologized, moved the car, and then, remarkably, helped Kaufman load the casket onto a gurney and into the back of the unlicensed, liquor-filled hearse." MORE...

Saturday, October 25, 2003

And though this world with devils filled
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear for God has willed
His truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim
We tremble not for him.
His rage we can endure
For lo, his doom is sure;
One little word shall fell him.
-A Might Fortress Is Our God


I'm loving hymns in my life right now.

Friday, October 24, 2003

TMI Packet Verse of the Day

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage. Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee, whithersoever thou goest.
Joshua 1:9

"withersoever thou goest." Whether thou goest into unknown territory, or to a big test, or into sin, the Lord thy God is with thee. So I shall not be afraid nor dismayed. Not any more.

Thursday, October 23, 2003

I discovered a friend of a friend's blog today and what he has to say about prayer really spoke to me today. Praying isn't hard. I think it's hard because I think I'm having to convince someone of something. How ridiculous am I? So today's post is to just direct you to Benj's post.

Tuesday, October 21, 2003

*New Updates
My roommates, Ingrid and Amanda, have blogs now. You can view them by clicking on their links to the left on my sidebar. It's Xanga, and Xanga sucks, but they can't help it if they just aren't that cool. Check them out and leave them "props" whatever the hell those are.
Basically I'm only making this post because I am sick of seeing that cuddly picture. I posted way too many of those quizzes in a row. I'm so sorry.

So here's a story for you.
Not to be read by June Ross.

Horseradish Blues
When I was in Scotland/Wales this summer, I went to the Ross's house after church one Sunday for lunch. June made some yellow dish and piled our plates high with this concoction. One bite of it made me want to puke. It wasn't the dish itself, but the seasoning, whatever that seasoning was. I had never tasted anything like it, but it was killing me. I wanted to be polite so I tried my hardest to keep eating it, but with every bite I felt an almost uncontrollable urge to purge. I held my breath with each bite and swallowed as quickly as possible. Finally Stevie said, "You don't have to eat it if you don't like it." I was embarrassed but relieved that I'd been let out of the misery.

From that point on, anytime I smelled that smell, I got sick to my stomach. (I'm sick just thinking of it now.) I came home and hoped I'd never experience that taste or smell again.

Today we had an "Advancement Team Development" meeting, with lunch provided. I chose the Tuscan Chicken sandwich, and Jackie chose the Asiago Roast Beef. I unwrapped my sandwich and was disapointed. It did not look good to me at all. However, it looked good to Jackie, and she offered to switch. I gratefully agreed for the roast beef and took a bite. There it was!! That taste! Right there in my roast beef sandwich!! I felt that stomach tightening as I fought desperately to get it swallowed and out of my mouth. I was so disapointed. I began meticulously exploring which part of the sandwich contained that taste-- it was not in the cheese, the bread or the roast beef. Hmm. I took another bite, maybe I'd completely imagined it. Nope, there it was again. It was in the mayonaise. The mayonaise? I was confused. Then I spotted the oh too familiar black specks. It wasn't in the mayonaise, it was in the pepper. I was crushed. Immediately I decided that all pepper in the United Kingdom must taste like this, and I'd never get to eat pepper again if I move there. Not to mention the fear is struck in me that this pepper had somehow made its way into the United States. I took apart my sandwich and ate it without the bottom piece of bread or the bottom layer of roast beef.

Heading back up to my office I made a comment about it in the elevator. Stephanie asked me which sandwich I had. I told her the roast beef. She then nodded and knowingly explained that it was horseradish. Horseradish!!! What kind of person puts horseradish in their food?! It suddenly all made sense, the yellow dish in Scotland, the sandwich, the smell in other random places-- horseradish.

I discovered today that I do not like horseradish, and that Scottish pepper is most likely just like our pepper.

Friday, October 17, 2003

cuddle and a kiss
cuddle and a kiss on the forehead - you like to be
close to your special someone and feel warm,
comfortable, and needed


What Sign of Affection Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

How cute.
How true.

Unfortunately, this week was a very unhappy week for me. Lori has not been very cheerful or optimistic but perhaps there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow or a silver lining around this cloud or an A paper at the end of this term...


Thursday, October 16, 2003

Haircut(e) Blues

So here's the deal.

I've been growing out my hair now for over two years. I know, I know, some of you are thinking how not long that is. But it's been long for me. I've suffered through two years of my hair being in that awkward stage between the cute inch long pixie style to the finally it reached my shoulders style. My plan was to grow it out much longer, halfway down my back and have beautiful, luxurious cascading hair.

But as Jessica Newcomb put it, I feel like I'm living a lie.

I'm a short hair kinda girl. I like my hair short. I feel cute. I feel fun. I like to cut my hair anytime I need a change in my life. I've realized this about myself.

So what do I do? Do I persevere until my hair is long in hopes that I will be fulfilled? or do I cut it and finally feel cute again after all these years?

I know, its a ridiculous post. Sorry.


entrancing
You have an entrancing kiss~ the kind that leaves
your partner bedazzled and maybe even feeling
he/she is dreaming. Quite effective; the kiss
that never lessens and always blows your
partner away like the first time.


What kind of kiss are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

NOTE: I, Lori, don't think this is true, and please, no sarcastic comments.

Tuesday, October 14, 2003

Listening to the New Belle & Sebastian

Actually that's not the topic of today's blog, but I wanted to throw that in.

The truth is, there is not topic for today's blog. I'm just afraid if I don't blog for an extended period of time, my readers will stop returning.

Also, due to the overwelming affirmative responses to my poll question, I will begin the Monthly Poll. I will try to make interesting questions. Please vote, because I'm serious about this one. I guess I can vote, too, now. But maybe I won't.

Anyway, I'm at work and I'm pretty busy today. I just got a flu shot and my arm aches. It doesn't feel like typing. But unfortunately I can't type with one hand and get anything done.

And... 73 days until Scott is here.

And... I can't wait 'til Thanksgiving.

And... that's all for today.

Friday, October 10, 2003

You're sweet and innocent on the outside but on the inside you're one wild horny bunny!
Congratulations! You're a Bunny Hug!!


What Drink Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla


I don't even know what that is. I'll have to order it sometime.

Tuesday, October 07, 2003

Looking to the Past

Three years ago when I chose to put Jesus first in my life and die to myself, I started a spiritual journal. The first entry is written 25 days after that decision. This is what it read:

10-5-00. This isn't about my Bible study or quiet time. But today I felt God use me like I've never felt before. That man *"Moses" was preaching and I just felt God lead me to say and do certain things. I don't want to act righteous- this was purely God. First the crowd was getting mean and they surrounded him. He was worried. I asked the people to be loving and back away. I talked to him about being loving to us as well. Later I felt like God was telling me to speak up so I raised my hand like he wants and he took 3 more questions. I really wanted to speak but he was done with questions. Just then God intervened. A teacher asked if "Moses" would speak in class and while they worked out the details, I shared the truth of Jesus' death and God's love. I was trembling. I could feel God speak through me.

I long for that kind of faith again. I'm still a very young Christian, but I've lost some of that. I've lost that sensitivity and trust. I want God to use me like that again. About two years later, I wrote another entry.

10-27-02. On Friday, the 25th, I stayed home from school and work and spent the morning w/ the Lord my God. I woke at around 9:30 and read the Bible (James and 1st Peter) and I prayed and thought and read most of **"Messy Spirituality." I stayed in bed doing this until about 1:30 or so. It was such a moving and inspiring and refreshing experience. I want to spend more time w/ God. I stayed home because I truly longed and hungered for Jesus... I never want to let this go. I know this "high" will drop back down to normalcy soon because it just does but my devotion doesn't have to. And I don't want it to. Ever.

I want that desire again, too. I want to hunger for the Lord like I have before. I don't want or like being cold. I miss Jesus. I miss him being my best friend. I miss him being my husband. It feels so nice that he still is those things, even when I spurn him time and time again. I don't want to neglect my Savior anymore. Lord, revive these things in me again. Take me to new places with you. Sweep me off my feet. Romance me. Cause me to grow like a dainty flower in a garden and a strong tree in a forest. I will do whatever it takes. It's just a lot of effort these days.



*Moses was a man who came on campus several times a week to "preach." He spoke things that were not true, manipulated the Bible, and infuriated people. Apparently he makes a living going from campus to campus, pissing people off, getting hit, then suing.
**By Michael Yaconelli.

Friday, October 03, 2003

Desk-gruntled

I came into work today, and when I sat at my desk, everything was wrong.

Someone had moved everything.

Nothing was greatly misplaced as to upset me, but someone had obviously been in here, trying to mess with me. My file organizer had been moved. My phone was sitting at a different angle. The work from yesterday that I set on my desk to continue today had been turned around. My post-it notes in front of me had been flipped upside down. My desk calendar was shifted. My personal notes to myself had been arranged differently.

I guess it was a funny joke. Someone had to have known how anal I am to choose me to mess with. I'm not mad. I'm just baffled.

Oh well, whoever you are, nice work.