Let's Play a Game

Here's how you play:

First, fill your room with stuff.  Clothes, furniture, boxes of who-knows-what that was driven out last summer from California.  Make sure you have enough to fill up both closets and the bookshelves in your master bedroom.

Next, buy or inherit furniture that you like but don't necessarily need.  Make sure you have something useless in a bedroom...like an entertainment center.  And make sure that you have a large bed.  Yeah, that will do.

Then, decide to get a roommate to share the room.  This is when it gets tricky since now you have to share the space--all of your things can only take up half the space.  Move all items from one closet into the other.  But wait, weren't they both full? Yes, most definitely.  Doesn't that entertainment center look really bulky in a bedroom with two beds? You betcha.

Now you might be puzzled as to what comes next.  Try taking everything out of its place and scatter it haphazardly throughout the bedroom.  Didn't help? No, I didn't think it would.

Finally, go to bed and try again later.  Fun game, huh? I'm sorry but these game instructions don't come with pictures. 

beck

This week I...

• became friends with my uncle on facebook. #1 facebook friend!
• saw Mohamed.  Yes, he's very much alive.  Not a ghost. 
• finished antibiotics from my random illness over the weekend.
• gave three administrative briefings since my poor international visitors arrived in late spurts.
• cursed Mount Eyjafjallajokull profusely.
• finally downloaded skype and set up my webcam.  Thanks, Michael and Erin!
• listened to live jazz in Georgetown.
• wore all black (except for my shoes) two days in a row.
• received a beautiful silver necklace from a Kuwaiti.
• learned from an Afghani woman that females in her legal profession are feared for their reputation of being honest and unyielding to bribes.
• took a picture of this crosswalk on 14th Street:

These things do not happen every week.  But they happened this week.  in DC.  In Strong Bad's words: "Yes, I'm awesome!!!"

beck

Speaking of Coffins...

I visited the grave of F. Scott Fitzgerald with some friends last weekend.  It's conveniently located in Rockville, Maryland.  We made a pilgrimage on the day that The Great Gatsby was published.  For fear of deceiving you, I should state that I am not an adoring fan of Fitzgerald.  Part of me admires him for his expat life in Paris, but I'm frustrated with him for the same reasons.  However, I must still give him credit as an American author.  I remember when a light bulb turned on while reading The Great Gatsby in high school.  There was symbolism in every page of that novel and white took on a completely new meaning for me.  He did open my mind and I am grateful. 

At the cemetery I think I expected the grave to be fenced off for fear of adoring fans defacing his resting place. 

Maybe something like this?

 (Jim Morrison's grave at Père Lachaise.  Note the fence and the absence of a bust that was stolen decades ago. Lol this picture brings back so many memories. )

But I suppose Fitzgerald's fans are of a quieter unsatisfied passion.  His grave looked like this:

Sitting in front you'll see a book of poems by Keats, dry flowers, an empty bottle of Jack Daniels, a rosary ring from Spain and two Easter eggs with candy inside.  Here's a better view:

And now a few more pictures for you.  I've mentioned this before, but I really love candid shots. 

This truck was outside my building the other day.  Can you guess what spring smells like here? Yep, a whole lotta nasty mulch. 

Lastly, and ironically in a post about coffins, I'm hoping and praying for Chad.  Read about The Life of Chad. 

beck

Maggie tagged me...

Four shows I like to watch...

1. Burn Notice

2. Desperate Housewives

3. SYTYCD...in bits and pieces

4. Bones!



Four things I'm passionate about...

1. Music and dance

2. Serving and loving for goodness' sake

3. Exploring the city you live in (or want to live in)

4. My family



Four phrases I say a lot...

1. Fo real/ Fo sho

2. Okay okay

3. Sorry...

4. Danke/Merci/Thanks



Four things I have learned from the past...

1. Debt is imprisoning

2. It is difficult to stay awake while holding a sleeping baby

3. Replace the oil pressure sending unit as soon as it starts acting up

4. Don't park under trees during Snowpocalypses



Four places I want to go...

1. Marrakech

2. Beijing and/or Shanghai

3. St. Petersburg and/or Moscow

4. Stockholm



Four things I did yesterday...

1. Went to work early (yes early--not just on time)

2. Made a conference call

3. Gave six people thousands of dollars :)

4. Made a pasta dish



Four things I'm looking forward to...

1. Marriage of Figaro in two weeks

2. Work trip to Miami

3. The blessing of Baby Abby

4. Another niece/nephew in November!



Four things I love about spring

1. Seeing the color green explode everywhere

2. Wind with warmer temperatures

3. Easter

4. Smelling flowers



Four things on my wish list...

1. Garden

2. Promotion

3. An affordable apartment in the district

4. New laptop



Four people to tag...

1. Laura Grace

2. Jessa

3. Angela

4. Lauren


beck

My Imagination Builds Coffins

Florence and the Machine has inspired morbid thoughts in me.  I can't help it.  I mentioned how my mom surprised me by appearing in Kentucky this weekend. I didn't mention that I was also surprised by a voicemail message from Mohamed, whom I thought was dead.  Then Florence brought the morbid thoughts to the stage and I can't stop thinking about how I thought he was dead. 

You see, I knew Mohamed was going to work in a dangerous place.  When he never responded to my emails, I naturally assumed the worst. And I prefered to imagine him as dead rather than him just ignoring me. 

So now I'm wondering if you can sense if someone is dead before the science confirms it.  How close do you need to be to that person to sense something?  I imagine you can receive something like a spiritual confirmation once the spirit is separated from the body.  I've been thinking about the people I've known in my life who have died and whether I really noticed a difference in how I felt about them.  I think it's different when you have a concrete answer: someone (usually a doctor) telling you they're gone and then knowing (not wondering) that you won't be able to see them and talk to them in the same earthly context (I'm certain I'll see them again after this life).  I have yet to scour lds.org for some insight, but I'm sure I will soon.  You're just getting a little of the brain buzz before the research. 

beck

Sweet Disposition

I spent Easter Weekend in Lexington, Kentucky, visiting my new little niece...and my brother and sister-in-law too ;)

When I arrived at the airport, I was expecting someone who looked something like this to pick me up (minus the fussy newborn):

To my surprise and pleasure, I was picked up by my MOM!  They all tricked me into thinking she had already gone back to California.  My mom never lies so it was hard for her not to spill the beans.

Then I spent almost all weekend holding, napping with and helping to feed little Abigail Elaine.  She's so sweet and expressive.  I don't know or care of this is common for a two-week-old; I just love her to pieces! Here's a glimpse of her sweet disposition:

The scowl showed up a little here.  She's very analytical. 

Tehehe for some reason her eyes went a little cross-eyed. 

And here's the scowl in its more true form.  So funny!

The room that Abby and I shared. 

More photos of Abby here on the photographer's website. 

I got back from Kentucky just in time to see a concert at the 9:30 Club last night.  Lately I've had a slight obsession with "Sweet Disposition" by The Temper Trap so I went with a friend to see them perform.  I'm glad I got to experience the song in person, but honestly, Florence and the Machine was a better show.  And now I can't get "Cosmic Love" out of my head. 

beck

March On

Just a few highlights in photos from this last month.

A trip down to Williamsburg that included Andrew's combined birthday party that was Star Wars and dinosaur themed. 

I submit...have you ever seen fancier nail clippers? They were a gift from my Mongolian visitor. 

On the way to the Kite Festival on the National Mall.  Wilfried with Ebeneezer, David and Vanessa

Ebeneezer took a turn with the camera. 

Ebeneezer and me.  He is quite the wild child. 

Ebeneezer's photography

Some of the DC 3rd ward students who came

Ebeneezer's photography again

beck