It's Amazing what one can accomplish when one gets up before 9am.
It's merely 4pm - not even high tea - and look what I've already done:
-Talked to Josh
-Slept
-Made it to school on time
-Participated in Russian Lit
-Took a test in Psych
-Talked to Josh
-Ran AND showered
-Went to Costello's with my Mommy
-Cleaned up my room
-Started my laundry
-Checked blogs and email
-Started homework
I'm still not saying I like to wake up at 6am.
31.1.06
24.1.06
Where I Exist
I love the fog. A lot. I love hopping onto the bus that always takes me over the bridge into town and instead, leaving the Eastside by way of a skeletal, grey framework up over a traintrack and down, passing from mystery street to mystery street; accepting the turns as they come, picking up people as they appear. Then, on the way back, later in the day, finding the river, the buildings and the mountain in their dutiful places - though not always looking as they should. Today the river looked more like the Mississippi... or the river in Willy Wonka's factory: brown, frothy, sluggish. And the mountain was sharp and white over the layers of blue-grey foothills, oddly visible for a January day.
[Mt Hood Meadows 01.20.06]
[Mt Hood Meadows 01.20.06]17.1.06
Friendlies
Of late is has crossed my mind that I don't take enough time with my lovely friends. Perhaps with prioreties back in order I'll be able to keep this goodness up...
My dear old friend Emilina and I went a little crazy with lipstick and cameras thursday before she headed off for the far and away MidWest.
My dear more recent friend Kaylie came down from Kirkland yesterday with her friend Nate to have some time with Pammy and I. (You can check out Pamela's blog to see a cute pic of the two of them... I'm too tired to post another pic. hehe.)
My dear old friend Emilina and I went a little crazy with lipstick and cameras thursday before she headed off for the far and away MidWest.
My dear more recent friend Kaylie came down from Kirkland yesterday with her friend Nate to have some time with Pammy and I. (You can check out Pamela's blog to see a cute pic of the two of them... I'm too tired to post another pic. hehe.)
14.1.06
Thanks for the Introduction, Josh
...to Relevantmag.com.
Entertaining, educational, enlightening.
[I'm breaking a personal blogging rule with this post, so: if you too hate long posts, by all means stop reading now.]
This morning I was reading Tim Willard's article "The Paralyzing Force of Relevance" and came across some encouraging words. Maybe not encouraging in the normal sense, some of them are actually sort of depressing. The encouraging part is that someone is saying them, and saying them with the hope of arousing progress and change.
One of the first things Willard comments on in regards to the church's relevance or influence on culture is related to the church's impact on the arts.
"J. Gresham Machen, founder of Westminster Seminary, had much to say about the decay of the modern Christian influence upon culture:
Entertaining, educational, enlightening.
[I'm breaking a personal blogging rule with this post, so: if you too hate long posts, by all means stop reading now.]
This morning I was reading Tim Willard's article "The Paralyzing Force of Relevance" and came across some encouraging words. Maybe not encouraging in the normal sense, some of them are actually sort of depressing. The encouraging part is that someone is saying them, and saying them with the hope of arousing progress and change.
One of the first things Willard comments on in regards to the church's relevance or influence on culture is related to the church's impact on the arts.
"J. Gresham Machen, founder of Westminster Seminary, had much to say about the decay of the modern Christian influence upon culture:
“The loss is clearest, perhaps, in the realm of art. Despite the mighty revolution, which has been produced in the external conditions of life, no great poet is now living to celebrate the change; humanity has suddenly become dumb. Gone, too, are the great painters and the great musicians and the great sculptors. The art that still subsists is largely imitative, and where it is not imitative it is usually bizarre. Even the appreciation of the glories of the past is gradually being lost ..."
My mind tends to rest on the current role of the Church within culture. It is true we must adapt to the times we live in, but I think it folly to assert that orthodox or traditional ways of worship are irrelevant simply because they are old."
My mind tends to rest on the current role of the Church within culture. It is true we must adapt to the times we live in, but I think it folly to assert that orthodox or traditional ways of worship are irrelevant simply because they are old."
He takes this quote simply in regards to relevance, but it got my mind going with it in multiple directions. I think that Machen is saying that because the church is no longer the big patron of the arts there is nothing great anymore. Most of you who know me would know that I disagree with that thought. But I think the more important issue that he is bringing up is simply that the church has little to no impact on the arts anymore. To me, this is the great tragedy. Our God, who not only created all this beauty in the world but lives in us, is brought praise and glory when His people use their gifts to celebrate what He has created. And somehow we just aren't doing that too well. Or too loudly. Shouldn't we, who have Christ in us (that's right), be able to have the most insight and creativity? Not to mention energy and resources since we have all the power we need. How did we let go of the arts? Hm. No good.
In the next section, entitled "Timeless Faith", Willard uses the idea of "vintage" to describe qualities that don't go out of style -emphasizingg the aspects of church tradition that can't be neglected for the sake of trying to be "cool" like the world, if you will. He makes a great point:
"Instead of coming up with ways to get unbelievers into churches and saved, might it be a better idea to get ourselves into the unbeliever'’s lives?"
What a novel idea - let's look at what Jesus/the disciples/the early church did. Willard expounds on this with comments on accountability and discipleship that are very worth reading.
He closes the article by talking about love - what could be more relevant to our world? He ends with saying that if we're looking at what God's heart is to find ways to be relevant, we will not go wrong.
Sometimes it makes me feel like a hippy when I find myself thinking, "Yeah! All we need is love!", but really... isn't that what it comes down to? It's going to take a heart of love to create the kind of art that can impact a broken world just as much as it's going to take a heart of love to step out of your boat to talk to that person you know doesn't have Jesus, right?
In the next section, entitled "Timeless Faith", Willard uses the idea of "vintage" to describe qualities that don't go out of style -emphasizingg the aspects of church tradition that can't be neglected for the sake of trying to be "cool" like the world, if you will. He makes a great point:
"Instead of coming up with ways to get unbelievers into churches and saved, might it be a better idea to get ourselves into the unbeliever'’s lives?"
What a novel idea - let's look at what Jesus/the disciples/the early church did. Willard expounds on this with comments on accountability and discipleship that are very worth reading.
He closes the article by talking about love - what could be more relevant to our world? He ends with saying that if we're looking at what God's heart is to find ways to be relevant, we will not go wrong.
Sometimes it makes me feel like a hippy when I find myself thinking, "Yeah! All we need is love!", but really... isn't that what it comes down to? It's going to take a heart of love to create the kind of art that can impact a broken world just as much as it's going to take a heart of love to step out of your boat to talk to that person you know doesn't have Jesus, right?
12.1.06
[Classe Francaise] Proverbe de la Semaine
"C'est en forgeant qu'on devient forgeron."
The closest American proverb, I believe, would be: practice makes perfect.
Huh.
Now the questions being begged is "why did I ever take a two year break from french?" Who would have thought one could forget so much so quickly. I underestimate my feeble brain. Despicable...forgetting how to conjugate simple 'ir' verbs.
Boo.
The closest American proverb, I believe, would be: practice makes perfect.
Huh.
Now the questions being begged is "why did I ever take a two year break from french?" Who would have thought one could forget so much so quickly. I underestimate my feeble brain. Despicable...forgetting how to conjugate simple 'ir' verbs.
Boo.
9.1.06
You Know Winter Quarter Has Arrived
When Pamela is back in the room kitty-corner from mine, ready to talk, cuddle, watch movies, whatever.
When my floor becomes covered with little stacks of papers and textbooks.
When Stuart and my bed become my best friends.
When my socks are perpetually wet from walking/wandering the South Park Blocks.
When I walk out of almost any given building to be greeted with the aromas of coffee, bento and smoke.
When, in the course of a day, I come across various folk - on the bus, on the street, in the blocks - carrying items such as snowshoes, snowboards and skis.
Huh. Winter is weird.
When my floor becomes covered with little stacks of papers and textbooks.
When Stuart and my bed become my best friends.
When my socks are perpetually wet from walking/wandering the South Park Blocks.
When I walk out of almost any given building to be greeted with the aromas of coffee, bento and smoke.
When, in the course of a day, I come across various folk - on the bus, on the street, in the blocks - carrying items such as snowshoes, snowboards and skis.
Huh. Winter is weird.
7.1.06
Congratulations [w00t]
To Adrian and Joy Gilmore (Capernwray Norn Iron friends) on the birth of their little bundle of joy Hannah Elizabeth-Jean.
That baby is no doubt cutest ever.
Yaaay!!
That baby is no doubt cutest ever.
Yaaay!!
6.1.06
And the Fifth Little Pig Cried "Wee wee wee wee" All the Way Home
42 and raining lightly. Bags open, contents vomited on the floor. Its back to the real world of phone calls, work, filing, driving, school - but no ever-present boy to talk to and hold and just be with.
3.1.06
26.12.05
Xmas Eve Musings
Psalm 65:4b - We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple. 66:5 - Come and see what God has done. How awesome His works in man's behalf! 66:20 - Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me! Luke 2:9b - and the glory of the Lord shone around them. 2:16a - so they hurried off. 2:20 - The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Come and see what God has done. Jesus, here: on earth - in my heart. His glory everywhere, just as you have heard and seen!
Today I have seen Him in a family's hospitatily, candle light flickering on a child's wondering face, a timely, loving voicemail from my sister, and a calming peace in my heart.
Come and see what God has done. Jesus, here: on earth - in my heart. His glory everywhere, just as you have heard and seen!
Today I have seen Him in a family's hospitatily, candle light flickering on a child's wondering face, a timely, loving voicemail from my sister, and a calming peace in my heart.
13.12.05
Thought Tracks
I'm not so much writing my thoughts down in lists to give them better readability, or to look special, but rather because I can't get my mind around them any other way. Logic, vocabulary, basic vernacular: it's all out the window. Between finals being over and the reality of my very near departure to the East Coast, my brains are just a little blobby and dissipating. (But! not insignificant... like some people we know. Hehe.)
Good things for a Tuesday:
-no school.
-post-christmas fun. [new books to read, gift certs to spend, haribos to eat, clothes to wear, etc.]
-good phone convos. [so exciting.]
-chocolate.
-finding my phone in my bed. [talking to josh till I fall asleep then calling him as soon as i wake up.]
-seeing old friends, past friends, new friends.
-family time.
-long-johns and skirts.
-queuing up at the post office.
Good things for a Tuesday:
-no school.
-post-christmas fun. [new books to read, gift certs to spend, haribos to eat, clothes to wear, etc.]
-good phone convos. [so exciting.]
-chocolate.
-finding my phone in my bed. [talking to josh till I fall asleep then calling him as soon as i wake up.]
-seeing old friends, past friends, new friends.
-family time.
-long-johns and skirts.
-queuing up at the post office.
11.12.05
Weekend Reading NOT For Uni
[I found this amusing.]
"On every bookstall, in every magazine, you may find works telling people how to succeed. They are books showing men how to succeed in everything; they are written by men who cannot even succeed in writing books. To begin with, of course, there is no such thing as Success. Or, if you like to put it so, there is nothing that is not successful. That a thing is successful merely means that it is; a millionaire is successful in being a millionaire and a donkey in being a donkey. Any live man has succeeded in living; any dead man may have succeeded in committing suicide. But, passing over the bad logic and bad philosophy the phrase, we may take it, as these writers do, in the ordinary sense of success in obtaining money or worldly position. These writers profess to tell the ordinary man how he may succeed in this trade or speculation - how, if he is a builder, he may succeed as a builder; how, if he is a stockbrocker, he may succeed as a stockbroker. They profess to show him how, if he is a grocer, he may become a sporting yachtsman; how, if he is a tenth-rate journalist, he may become a peer; and how, if he is a German Jew, the may become an Anglo-Saxon. This is a definite and business-like proposal, and I really think that the people who buy these books (if any people do buy them) have a moral, if not a legal, right to ask for their money back."
-from "The Fallacy of Success" in All Things Considered by G. K. Chesterton
"On every bookstall, in every magazine, you may find works telling people how to succeed. They are books showing men how to succeed in everything; they are written by men who cannot even succeed in writing books. To begin with, of course, there is no such thing as Success. Or, if you like to put it so, there is nothing that is not successful. That a thing is successful merely means that it is; a millionaire is successful in being a millionaire and a donkey in being a donkey. Any live man has succeeded in living; any dead man may have succeeded in committing suicide. But, passing over the bad logic and bad philosophy the phrase, we may take it, as these writers do, in the ordinary sense of success in obtaining money or worldly position. These writers profess to tell the ordinary man how he may succeed in this trade or speculation - how, if he is a builder, he may succeed as a builder; how, if he is a stockbrocker, he may succeed as a stockbroker. They profess to show him how, if he is a grocer, he may become a sporting yachtsman; how, if he is a tenth-rate journalist, he may become a peer; and how, if he is a German Jew, the may become an Anglo-Saxon. This is a definite and business-like proposal, and I really think that the people who buy these books (if any people do buy them) have a moral, if not a legal, right to ask for their money back."
-from "The Fallacy of Success" in All Things Considered by G. K. Chesterton
8.12.05
Misc. Things
-Finals OVER over over over over over = ridiculous joy
-Nickel Creek AMAZING + Andrew Bird = super amazing
-A lie-in + running = no coffee (did you know it was possible)
-One week till I'm in NC with Anna Stewart (ah hahaha!!!) + 2 more days = JOSHY (eeeeee!!)
-Winter break = clean room, the New Yorker, christmas programme projects with Jacie, movies, friend time, running, guitar
-Joshy = happy
-Cold weather + wind = clear view of the mt x desire to go sbing
-Nickel Creek AMAZING + Andrew Bird = super amazing
-A lie-in + running = no coffee (did you know it was possible)
-One week till I'm in NC with Anna Stewart (ah hahaha!!!) + 2 more days = JOSHY (eeeeee!!)
-Winter break = clean room, the New Yorker, christmas programme projects with Jacie, movies, friend time, running, guitar
-Joshy = happy
-Cold weather + wind = clear view of the mt x desire to go sbing
4.12.05
History of Modern Design Final
So I told some of you (okay, maybe just Daveo) that I'd post a picture of my designed final when I finished it. So here it is. 
I'm sorry I suck at taking pictures of my artwork. Seems to be a problem. The only way I could keep it from having nasty flash action was to stand it up but it's too flimsy and I'm too lazy to find something better to prop it on, so it's bent a bit in the middle. I'm sorry. I don't have the time or energy to do any better. Still haven't decided if this is exactly what it's supposed to be, but I thought it'd be a whole lot more fun to try than a 4 page paper.
Technically it's an Homage to Hannah Hoch, German Dadaist designer. I'll also post one of her works (circa 1930)
to give you an idea of what i was attempting to emulate. I was amazed to find how hard it is for me to give up my own style. I know I can immitate her photomontage style, but ... but... I want to do it my way. I hope that doesn't sacrifice my grade.
I'm sorry I suck at taking pictures of my artwork. Seems to be a problem. The only way I could keep it from having nasty flash action was to stand it up but it's too flimsy and I'm too lazy to find something better to prop it on, so it's bent a bit in the middle. I'm sorry. I don't have the time or energy to do any better. Still haven't decided if this is exactly what it's supposed to be, but I thought it'd be a whole lot more fun to try than a 4 page paper.Technically it's an Homage to Hannah Hoch, German Dadaist designer. I'll also post one of her works (circa 1930)
to give you an idea of what i was attempting to emulate. I was amazed to find how hard it is for me to give up my own style. I know I can immitate her photomontage style, but ... but... I want to do it my way. I hope that doesn't sacrifice my grade.Musica
Here is my Most awesome sister playing the piano in her Most amazing recital last friday night. If you weren't there, you seriously missed out. What were you thinking? No excuses. Well, if you beg and grovel perhaps she'll play a little somethin' for you sometime. Or, if you claim you live too far away, you can beg me to play you a little of her c.d. I will soon have in my possession. 
Hair
This is my attempt at a mirror self-portrait rather than the standard point-the-camera-at-yourself that I usually do. (Though obviously I'm not any better at this version.)But the point is - I finally got a haircut: no more grouchy morning Allison! Everyone says "yaaay!".
30.11.05
Little Things
Thanks, God, for the little things today:
-My classmates creating hilarious amateur theatre.
-The freedom that comes with not taking yourself seriously.
-Last minute hospitality.
-A middle-aged, Middle-eastern man's smile over the prospect of snow.
-Having to cut down my essay rather than draw it out.
-Hearing my jr hi-ers get their parts down for their Christmas song.
-Rosie being most wonderfully benevolent. (:D)
-Finding out that my saturday job is nearby.
Yessss. Good stuff.
-My classmates creating hilarious amateur theatre.
-The freedom that comes with not taking yourself seriously.
-Last minute hospitality.
-A middle-aged, Middle-eastern man's smile over the prospect of snow.
-Having to cut down my essay rather than draw it out.
-Hearing my jr hi-ers get their parts down for their Christmas song.
-Rosie being most wonderfully benevolent. (:D)
-Finding out that my saturday job is nearby.
Yessss. Good stuff.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
