March 29, 2007
Landslide!
This landslide happened yesterday morning around 9 am or so on the westbound Sunset Highway, just past the Vista Ridge Tunnel and where SW Jefferson merges onto the highway. All lanes of the westbound Sunset were closed until about 5:30pm last night. I took Naito to Beaverton-Hillsdale, which was completely jammed, then up some random road to Terwilliger, cruised past the Chart House, enjoyed a beautiful view, then got back on Beaverton-Hillsdale. Crawled through Hillsdale until I found Shattuck, then to Hamilton, then to Scholls-Ferry, then finally to the Sunset Highway at the Sylvan interchange. When I got home, my mom was still stuck close-in on Beaverton-Hillsdale. I broke out my handy AAA map of Portland and guided her up Sunset Blvd. to Dosch Rd. to Patton, (by Council Crest) and then to Scholls-Ferry and finally to the Sunset. It was sunny and bright outside, no rain, no snow or ice, so I considered this a nice little friendly drill in preparedness--what to do if the Sunset westbound was blocked due to some more catastrophic or traumatic disaster. Also, I had nowhere to be since I'm on a school break for two weeks, plus I had my iPod so I didn't have to suffer through radio, so my stress level was pretty low. Yay.
Big Lots Across the Street Closing! Oh No!
In more catastrophic news, the Big Lots across the street from my house is closing! I am so sad! Where else could I have obtained a watch with big numbers to attach to my oil/lotion holster for Clinic for $5?! Where else can I get my favorite shampoo for $1.19?! Where else can I get a pack of 20 bottled water for $4?! This is a sad day indeed. Payday is tomorrow, I will stock up on something in memorium.
And now for a little amateur spiritual mapping exercise...
click thumbnail for ginormous zoom-in action (not rec'd for dial-up users)That poor strip mall is a black hole of commerce though. The problem is obvious: Coach's bar and off-track betting, the Lamplighter Motel, which is a highly sketchy establishment mostly due it's proximity to the Sunset Strip. So yeah, it's basically a Triangle Of SinTM and it's very difficult for respectable businesses, suitable for families, to stay in business.
Going to the opera!
Anyhoo, it's Thursday, can you believe it? Tonight I'm going to the opera with my Uncle Glen, who is both a Great-Uncle and a great uncle. His date had to cancel due to the flu, so he called me last night to see if I was free. Happily, I am. We will be experiencing "The Flying Dutchman." Should be fun!
Stay tuned for more school-break excitement!
Indeed! I have pictures-a-plenty from my trip to Seattle and Lacey this past weekend. I will post those in the coming days.
Until then, happy Thursday!
March 20, 2007
Another Anti-Climax
Well...last night was the last night of Clinic for me. Another surreal anti-climax. My life seems to be full of them these days. 12 months ago I declared arrogantly, "This year will go so fast." But inside I had to convince myself to believe it. But it did go fast. It's here. "One year later" is here. Now all the things I said I'd think about in a year are here, knocking down the doorstep to my mind. "Get your license." "Figure out your work schedule around day classes." "Start your practice." "Learn X, Y, & Z". Etcetera, ad nauseum. So now I'm "happy" because I'm supposed to be happy...but I've got this contradictory glaze over my eyes and this self-defeating heaviness that retaliates against my will to get up in the morning. And now I'm torturing my gentle readers with philosophical musings about my 'so-called-life.' :) Oh brother.
Not to worry, a break is near. I have a two-week term break starting next week. I'm headed to Seattle and Lacey at the tail-end of this weekend (Sunday and Monday) to confer with my brothers and sisters-in-law and spend time with my nieces, which is always healing to the soul.
March 18, 2007
A Spontaneous Spring Visit
Seth, April and the girls were in town this weekend, but I wasn't expecting to see them because they were visiting April's family in Sherwood. But at the last minute, Mom, Dad and I went over Sunday afternoon and had a wonderful little visit with them. Pictures are posted at the Gallery here.
And don't miss the Sista Sandwich over on my Vox!
Also...there are a couple quick little movies of Zoie on my vox too. Very cute, if I do say so myself. :) Here's "Zo-Zo, The Flying Baby" and "The Zoinator, aka Zoie Faith".
Enjoy!
March 17, 2007
Siri's take on being a cross-cultural Christian
Just got Siri's e-mail newsletter in my inbox and read her article, "Faith Without Borders: 7 ways to become a cross-cultural Christian". Go check it out.
If you want to dive in more into Siri's thoughts on how culture shapes our faith in ways we don't realize, check out her fiction. Start with Kissing Adrien. Incidentally, Siri's newest book, Moon Over Tokyo is coming out this summer.
Links:
.Happy cross-culturalizing. :)
