I Voted

I voted in the special elections on the 8th. I always feel very privledged to be able to vote in this country, and I took advantage of the opportunity.

Performance

Spare time is becoming more and more slippery.

Yesterday the Women's Chorus that I am in had a performance. We did very well, so I've heard. It is kind of hard to tell what we sound like since I am in the middle of it. It was the first performance of the season, and we have three more next month. I am a 2nd soprano.

Two days ago I finished the book 'Jane Eyre' by Chorlotte Bronte. I enjoyed it alot, and it was suggested to me by my mom. Now I am reading (besides the Scriputres) 'Mere Christianity' by C.S. Lewis.

the Midway

Last weekend my dad's sister and her husband came to visit for a couple days.

Of course we had to do something special (besides staying up late and playing games) so on Saturday we spent the day in the San Diego harbor.

We toured a retired Aircraft Carrier - the Midway. It was absolutely fascinating. While going through the tour, we recieved the inforamation that always accompanies these trips in a different way than I have participated in before. We each had headsets. As we entered into a new area, such as the Galley, it would have a yellow sign posted within sight bearing a number. The Galley was 17. We would then press the numbers one and seven on the digital headset and a voice would narrate the information, and interviewed sailors would share a memory on the subject. They had numbers 1-38. I thought this was very clever, and easier to learn, rather than one straining their ears to hear the tour guide and missing half of what they said. Also, we basically had free roam of the vessel, with of course the exceptions of the restricted areas.

After that we boarded the Suprise, (from the movie 'Master and Commander') but some of us had been on it before, so we did not stay long. However they had some actors and actresses whom had just boarded, and they were re-enacting 1800's dancing. We watched that for a couple minutes, then moved on.

The next item was a Russian submarine, and this vessel was very interesting. It was small and in order to go from one section to the next, you had to duck through a smallish circle, probably about four feet in diameter. I was excited about this authentic experience.

We left promptly after a quick stop at the gift shop, and arrived back home after picking up pizza and talking about what game we would play first. The interesting and enjoyable experience we had there was behind us as quickly as the Aircraft Carrier receded behind the once battle ready jets after take-off.

Labor Day

My Labor Day was enjoyable. I visited my Grandparents with some of my family and had a good time.While I was there, I learned how to can peaches and pears, which was kind of interesting.

Monday was fun but I was slightly disapointed that I couldn't go to my classes that day, because I like all my Monday classes. At least there are plenty others to look forward to.

"Well, I'm back"

I know that it has been a million years since I've posted but I admit that the lengths of time in between post will probably be longer than before. My access to the internet is not as plentiful here, back home. But I am glad to be back.

Right now I am in a choir class, a church class, and a photography and art - design class.

You know what? I want to learn violin. I'm going to look into that.

Anyways, until next time...

Another Dinner

Okay, tonight I cooked and Indian dinner. It was kind of hard to make, but it turned out pretty good. I made Tandoori Chicken, Indian Fry Bread, and Mango Lassi, and then we had a salad. The Mango Lassi was easy to make and very good, so here's the recipe!
1 Mango
1 cup plain yogurt
1/4 tsp. Cardamom (optional)
add sugar to taste
a few ice cubes
mix together in blender

Try it, it's good; especially for a hot day!

p.s. I got a 'suitcase' for Clint :D (a container to keep her in on the airplane)

Dinner

Tonight was kind of crazy because I cooked dinner. I'm not a good cook at all and I really don't enjoy cooking very much, but I did it as a favor so I was happy to oblige.

I made Fajita Chicken with tortillas (I didn't make the tortillas =P) and Jalapeno Cornbread and corn. It was actually pretty good, so I was proud of myself.

Well got to go, so Adios.

Clint

I have a gold fish and it's name is Clint. The reason why I call my fish "it" is because I named it Clint (a male's name) before it layed eggs and I found out it was a female. My sister suggested that I call it Clintina.

Oh well, either way, my fish is my friend and I am glad that I can take Clint with me on the airplane. :)

Japanese Student

Today I was excited to get off work because my Aunt went to pick up a Japanese exchange student this morning!
When I got off work I got to meet him - his name is Toma and he's 12. He is a little quiet but very nice. I know a few Japanese words so I asked him if I was saying them right and he was eager to teach me. I look forward to the next few days so I can learn more about the differences in our cultures. We found out tonight that he does not like Italian salad dressing. =P

I wish I knew a little more Japanesse though so I could communicate with him better, but it's all good.

Grief and Prayer

My heart goes out to the many people in Britain that have been closely affected by the terrorist bombing. I do not feel untruthful to say that a large portion, perhaps most, of the World has been affected by this revolting occurence, as they were at the 9/11 atrocity. My prayers are turned to the people of London and the people that were affected.

This is a picture of my eye; I did it on Adobe
Photoshop a few weeks ago. It was pretty easy
and basic, but I still think that it looks kind of
cool :)

Lennox

Yesterday afternoon I had a very neat opportunity. My Uncle was just leaving to go somewhere and I asked him where he was going. He said that he was going to a cemetery to look at some old garve sights of some of our ancestors from the mid-1800's and early 1900. Saturday night he found out that they were buried on the other side of our county.

I asked if I could go with him and he said "Yea", so him, two of my cousins and I went there. It was about a 40 min. drive and we passed through a small town that was very old but still functioning. It had an old 50's diner and old tall brick buildings right next to each other that reminded me of the old western frontier days. I would have loved to stop and take pictures.

Soon after that we came to the cemetery by driving along side an old rail road track. There was a ranch with horses right across the cemetery.

When we got there we then had to look for the grave markers of the people we were looking for. Their last name was Lennox, and they were my great-granfather's cousins. I have never been to a cemetery like this before - it was very old. Many of the grave markers were up right and half-oval slabs of grey stone like classic grave markers. Quite a few of them were difficlut to read becuase the engraved writing was weather worn or they were partially broken.

One I passed had nothing written on it at all (at least, not any more), but was a very small, about 5 in. high, grave marker made of wood. I thought that perhaps that family was very poor and could afford nothing else.

A family I passed had about five children or so, that had all died in the very early 1900's. One of them was less than a year old and was not named yet, but called 'Baby'. The children were ages something like four, seven, ten, and twelve, and then the infant baby. The parents lived longer. I suspect that perhaps they died of an epidemic or perhaps fire or something. It was very sad and solemn to look at.

Eventually we found the Lennox parents, then I found their second oldest son, then lastly, after we had probably read every other grave marker in the cemetery, we found the three other sons and one of their sons who had recieved a Purple Heart from World War II. He was 22 when he served in the war.

We left at dusk. It was a very solemn and reverent time. Each of us were speaking in quieter tones and making no jokes; I was in a respectful mood, wanting to somehow honor those many, many grave markers that had no flowers on them.

The Chronicles of Narnia

Last night I stayed up a little later than I should have, since I had to get up very early the next morning, but I'm glad I did! I finished the third book in the series: The Chronicles of Narnina. It's called The Horse and His Boy. I enjoyed it very much, beside the fact that I already love horses. I've also read the first two books of the series and I really enjoyed reading them; I can't wait to get started on the fourth book! This series by C.S.Lewis is now among a mental list of my favorite fiction books, along with The Lord of the Rings and some others.

I just love reading a good fiction book for the first time and not knowing anything about it before hand. Re-reading the book is never quite the same; reading it for the first time is so captivating for me.

If you get the chance, read The Chronicles of Narnia; they are very uplifting books too. I hadn't really had a deisre to read them, but had heard of them for a few years but just very recently I suddenly decided that I wanted to read them, and am very glad that I had the impression.

Mornings are Heaven Sent

One of the most beautiful things is a clear, cool morning. I can never sleep in when I know that there is another beautiful morning waiting for me. Have you ever seen a complete sunrise? They are magnificent.

I have a lot to do today including register for college and enjoy this absolutely lovely day. I hope everyone can notice the beauty of the day where I am at!

Going Home

I just a few weeks I will be going home to go to school again and see my family. I miss my family a lot and think of them often.

I will be studying Photography and Art; I can't wait to start school, but perhaps I will think differently once finals come along in a couple months.