Good morning!

I woke up early this morning so I wouldn't sleep in (until 11:30 like yesterday), and usually start my morning with coffee and the previous night's episodes of the Daily Show and the Colbert Report. Oh, yes. I'm such an adult.. beginning my day with hot, black coffee at 6 am and watching the news.

Wait. I drink my coffee with lots of creamer, I didn't wake until 8:45, and I watch pseudo-news. My mistake.

Neither of the shows are on Hulu yet, so I seem to have woken up for nothing. There was an ad for a new show called Mental, so I turned that on to its pilot to see what it is like. So far, I don't really have much of an opinion, but there was a very, very interesting monologue that Dr. Jack Gallagher, new "boss" to the hospital performs at his first staff meeting.

I've been thinking about the Church lately, and what it means to have church on an ongoing basis. Of course, I enjoy the hours-long conversations both in order to get to know others and to discuss different topics within Christianity, the worship and fellowship; but I've been wrestling with as if it is adequate. Yes, it is adequate for ME; me, personally, benefits greatly from this.. to a point. We have to, as Jesus did, dine with others who are not at all like us. In this, I believe we will encounter incredible intelligences and thoughts on our own behavior and the works of Jesus. In that, our conversations could be so much more interesting, even than they are now.

This isn't to say that every meeting of the Church should be with others, outside of our comfort zone. Or maybe it is. I'm sure it has to come from a gradual move to that. Maybe not. For me, it seems to be about comfort, which is.. null and void, in my opinion.

Back to the monologue. I think it fit very well.

Dr. Jack Gallagher, to his new staff at his first staff meeting.
"First staff meeting. Hot coffee, juice, jelly doughnuts. The problem is we're in here, and they're out there."
"Who's out there?"
"Patients. See gang, I'm thinking this whole secret society thing isn't the best way to go. So, starting today, I've invited a few of the patients to sit in."
"You want us to discuss diagnoses and treatment in front of the patients?"
"Bang on! There's a tendency, and I'm as guilty as anyone, to wall ourselves off from the people we're here to help. But it's really more their hospital than ours. We work for them. They have the right to be involved in their own recovery."
"But we're MDs, not social workers."
"MD! Medical doctors, not medical deity. It's their heads."

I will update this soon.

Perhaps tomorrow, because I know you all are dying for something new to read ;)

I ran a lot today, and my eyes are very tired. I'll go to sleep now, and wake up refreshed and ready to write.

The Boring Continues

Wesley would hate me for this title, since I'm currently watching The West Wing.

But let me explain. I have caught up on The Office (all that are on Hulu), watched all the Gilmore Girls that are online (perhaps numerous times), and now I'm finally watching The West Wing, which is something Wesley has been telling me to do for years.

I am so ready to have a job. And I'm so tired of that sentence.

Today, I finally slept past ten. This is the first time since I've been here. Not because I didn't want to, but because I physically couldn't sleep past eight.

Despite my severe boredom and pending bankruptcy (maybe a little overexaggerated), I don't want to leave... I'm already beginning to try to find a way for myself to stay, though right now it looks like I would come back next Spring. Here's a pseudo-plan: Spend a fantastic summer here, go back to UTT to finish and graduate, then return here for an internship and some more classes (online, I hope) at UCLA. That'd be sweet, and I have nothing else to do.

I don't want to be shoved into a job at 21.5 years old, just because I've graduated. I want to experience things I can't later. So why not? Why not just do something? I did by moving here, but I don't want this to be my only adventure.

Back to today. I want to cut my hair, but I need a place to go. Umm, I'll probably go run in a few. I also would like a bike. The one I am using now is for a 14 year old boy, so obviously it doesn't fit me too well.

Adios for the morning.

Day One (Eleven)

www.wime2009.wordpress.com

Wesley, Kristen, and everyone else left yesterday morning for Paris, then Amman, Jordan. It is 10:10 pm there, so a ten hour time difference. It was a little sad to see them go, but I know they're going to have a wonderful time, and it's definitely going to be the experience of a lifetime.

Kris, Sarah, and I are sitting at the duplex, just kind of relaxing. I may go run again today, maybe sit by the beach and read or something.

We spent the day down on State Street yesterday, after the group left for LAX. We went to the Apple Store, which had its grand opening, and got a (few) t-shirt(s). Technically it's one per person, but we found a way around that. Then we just kind of walked around, and I got an interview at Gap tomorrow, and also turned in that application at Starbucks. I slept for the most part of the day after that, and then Sarah's friends Ashlee and Stephen (?) came over and we just hung out for the night.

So, I was looking on CNN this morning, and saw the article about Racing the Planet Limited, which stages 150-mile footraces across crazy terrains. This one is in Namibia, and it starts today. Each person must bring with them everything they'll need for the six days, and it costs $3,100 to enter. It looks absolutely nuts, but incredible, and probably the highlight of one's life. I would do that, if I could get into shape. That would take years and years, but perhaps I'll try..

An Even Newer Adventure

I'm currently not feeling like I thought I would be at this point (eight hours away from Wesley leaving for the Middle East for thirty-five days). Perhaps it's because I simply haven't had the time to think about it.

We've been getting ready to go all day. We had more people over tonight for a Eucharist dinner, and it was a potluck sort of deal. We had some great food. I attempted to make fried rice (canned peas don't do as well, but there were no fresh), and Wesley and I also made lasagna, rotini, and banana pudding. Odd combination, but remember: we're poor and it was potluck.. go with it.

We've been packing since around eleven. We finally got things put in the backpack(s) he's bringing, and he's now doing some research.

I'm still waiting on a job.. And I'm going to follow up tomorrow.

Also tomorrow includes the opening of the Apple store (which Wesley just told me that there is already a line [?!?!?!?] but only of five people). Hopefully, Sarah and I will be able to get a t-shirt. This is all, of course, after we drop and see the M.E. travelers off at Westmont at nine a.m. Then we'll hang around downtown, I may apply at Starbucks, and I'll probably try to go run, because we had lots of yummy, fattening food tonight :) BTW, Sarah and I could probably eat comfortably for a week on just the leftovers from tonight.

I wish I had a tape recorder in my mind, for everything I thought about today. I feel like I had a lot of interesting thoughts, but they seem lame now.

I'm enjoying cooking more than I thought I would. Hopefully, I can just get better at it.

I'll do that and read new books this summer.

Oh, and, Emily (bf) sent me her bridesmaids dress options for her wedding in December. It is such an honor to be included in her ceremony, and I absolutely cannot wait to help her in any way that I can. This is an exciting new time in our lives, and it is wonderful. Love you, Emily.

Realization Number Three and Accomplishment Number One

The sun is not forgiving in California.

I gave directions today, to the beach. I'm proud.

Thursday Morning

Back in time.. Wesley and I made tacos for dinner yesterday, they were fantastic. Then he, Sarah, and I went and saw Star Trek. I was impressed. It was very good and not really what I expected. An easier storyline to follow for me than even Star Wars was. The storyline was easy, but the character personalities weren't as much.

We came back to the duplex and had a great time for Brittany's birthday with a good number of people.

I'll probably finish my book today, possibly on the beach. I think it's warm outside, so that'll help.