tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27734048466591135992024-03-13T13:42:30.585-07:00It's Poux To YouA handy little page to keep savvy on the relatively interesting life of meAnne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779946579555607966noreply@blogger.comBlogger282125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773404846659113599.post-5057900998582277722011-07-26T07:28:00.000-07:002011-07-26T08:27:39.854-07:00LaodiceaHonestly, I was pretty weary about this day simply because I’m not the best automobile traveler and 4 hours <i>one way</i><span style="font-style:normal"> is a long time – not to mention that we had practically been living on the buses already.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But as it turned out, it was one of the easiest travel days. I had some really fantastic conversations with my fellow travelers, getting deep with them and learning about who they are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Plus, our tour guide not only gave us some great info (which I have neglected to really mention, but he had been doing all along), even throwing in a pretty hilarious story about his wife and daughter (which began with, “My wife, the other day she…she…(and here he was searching for just the right word)…she really </span><i>pissed me off!</i><span style="font-style: normal">” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was pretty funny. Additionally, we had a pit stop about half way there where we indulged in Turkish Delight (a chewy gelatin-like candy covered in powdered sugar…think Applets & Cottlets, only considerably better), apple tea (a local favorite) and fresh squeezed (over-priced) orange juice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I think all the sugar rejuvenated us because we made the trip in what felt like no time at all.</span> <p class="MsoNormal">The church at Laodicea was located up on the tippety-toppety of the mountain, which overlooked the entire valley region below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was a city and culture of absolute opulence and the people of Laodicea looked down on others much in the same way their city looked down over the valley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As such, the letter to the church in Laodicea (in Revelation 3:14-22) begins with a harsh word, warning them to be either hot or cold instead of the lukewarm to which they have become accustomed. Interestingly, we learned that due to the natural surroundings, both hot and cold water were easily attainable for the people living in the valley below Laodicea, but that because of the plumbing system the rich Laodiceans only ever had lukewarm water – which is good for nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Imagine making coffee with lukewarm water, or trying to relieve yourself from the heat with lukewarm water – ugh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Thus, Jesus warns them that instead of comparing themselves to others whom are cold and considering themselves hot, they ought to be one or the other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">After Pastor Mark’s teaching in this incredible site, we made the short drive over to Hieropolis, a historical site with a somewhat funny juxtaposition of recently excavated buildings and a modern café.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Additionally (and most interestingly) there were also naturally formed pools in the ground there, covered completely with some kind of calcium carbonate (honestly, that’s probably wrong – but I wasn’t really listening as I was in total shock at the white substance covering <i>everything</i><span style="font-style:normal">.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It looked like snow on a mountaintop from a distance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was the most shocking thing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In order not to damage the natural formations, we had to take off our shoes, but we were allowed to wade in the pools and enjoy the water (too bad it was lukewarm – ha!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>No but seriously, it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Such a tease – it looks cold and refreshing, but it was like bathwater.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And after enduring the near 100 degree weather….torture).</span><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">After exhausting ourselves in the sun (and exploration) we piled back onto the bus for our four-hour journey home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The ride home wasn’t quite as jam-packed with fun as the ride there, but mercifully, it went quickly enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We made it home in time for a late dinner and fell into bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>With only one more day in Izmir, it was promised to be the best yet! Tomorrow: Ephesus.</p>Anne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779946579555607966noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773404846659113599.post-75428842921521091802011-07-25T08:56:00.000-07:002011-07-25T08:57:55.239-07:00Philadelphia & SardisOn our second day of touring, we loaded back onto the bus for a 75-minute drive to see the ancient remains of the Lydian city Sardis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Once there, we were rewarded with several different (much more intact) sites including a gymnasium (which is really like a gigantic “high school”), the synagoge, as well as ancient shops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Think of lots of columns and arches with a fair amount of greek writing and marble everywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Because there are so many earthquakes in the area, there were no complete buildings still standing and certainly no existing roofs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Still, there was plenty to see under the boiling hot sun and with the help of two greek dudes in our group, we were able to understand some of the ancient greek writings on the walls (of course, I don’t remember what any of that says <i>now</i><span style="font-style:normal">…)</span> <p class="MsoNormal">After perusing the ruins, we traveled a few minutes drive to another site to hear Pastor Mark preach on the letter to the church at Sardis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Found in Revelation 3:1-6, this church receives a harsh word of Jesus as he calls them spiritually dead. It seems that Sardis is doing everything “right” on the outside – he doesn’t criticize their doctrine or their immorality – but on the inside, there is nothing: no passion for Jesus, no genuine love and affection for their neighbors and the world around them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Sardis is its own worst enemy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They have become apathetic and satisfied with the routine of faith instead of taking true joy in the rituals of faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They simply don’t care. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">This sermon was a particularly good one (though to be honest, they were <i>all</i><span style="font-style:normal"> quite good) and has an easily applicable message into my own life: where have I become spiritually dead? What do I just not care about anymore? As part of the message, Pastor Mark talked about the difference between deadness and dryness as well. The latter being a season in which I’m not connected to Jesus or the church, </span><i>but it bothers me</i><span style="font-style:normal">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am disconnected and uncomfortable about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Deadness, on the other hand, results in no discomfort at the lack of Christ in my life. Good stuff, eh?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">From there we ate lunch nearby and then settled in for another 75-minute drive to the teeny remains of the church of Philadelphia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Similar to the church at Thyatira, what remained was literally the shell of the ancient church, fenced in and tucked away within a city square. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This letter, found in Revelation 3:7-13, acknowledges the church’s ability to keep to the Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However, Jesus admonishes them to keep the strength and to not give up, as they have been doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In a later sermon, Pastor Mark informed us that the small church of Philadelphia did in fact heed Jesus’ words and remained faithful for hundreds of years, until eventually the Turks invaded (during the Ottoman Empire) and wiped them out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What a legacy: to have remained faithful for so many generations!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As an American with such a short national history, it can be difficult to fathom that kind of faithfulness.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">After snapping a few pics, we (again) filed back onto the bus to escape the relentless sun and made our way back to the hotel for dinner and to rest up for Laodicea tomorrow: four hours away. (Yikes!)</p>Anne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779946579555607966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773404846659113599.post-20068581288143925502011-07-23T13:52:00.001-07:002011-07-23T13:52:07.790-07:00Pergamum<style><!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Times New Roman"; panose-1:0 2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-parent:""; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <p class="MsoNormal"></p> <p class="MsoNormal">For our first adventure in Turkey, we headed for ancient Pergamum (Bergsma) about 90 minutes from the hotel for our first taste of pagan ruins and to visit the ghost of the church at Pergamum. </p><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">As we arrived at the foot of an enormous brown mountain, we entered the site (complete with turnstiles, as though walking into Disneyland) and boarded an eight-seater cable car to the top of the dry, brown crag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Once atop, we ascended further by step-climbing huge slabs of marble on a path to the foot of the foundational rubble once known as the Temple of Zeus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">After learning a brief history from our guide, Ibrihim (the Turkish version of Abraham), we climbed the final few feet of marble path and rounded the edge of the face of the hill to see an amphitheatre built into the side of the hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was a massive site in and of itself, seating at least 10,000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After momentarily gaping incredulously, we turned to see the view from the seats: a fantastic view of the valley below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What a sight!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Once the bubbling excitement quelled, we scurried down the steps toward the front of the theatre for a front row seat. The film crew was already set up and Pastor Mark was preparing to begin the first sermon of the series, the letter to the church at Pergamum (Mars Hill is filming all of the sermons on the trip to use as part of the Ephesians series next year). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Even though it was probably nearly 100 degrees and I could feel the sweat running down my back and pooling under my thighs, I hardly noticed. It was something truly incredible to read scripture and learn the history of a place <i>while you are sitting in the midst of it.</i><span style="font-style:normal"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">In his letter to the church at Pergamum, Jesus commends the believers there for enduring suffering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However, that suffering doesn't give them the right to sin and sadly, the church has become steeped in sin, namely false doctrine, sexual sin and apostasy (professing faith but not practicing it; don't worry, I didn't know what that meant either).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Pastor Mark taught on the letter to Pergamum (which can be found in Revelation 2: 12-17, by the way) and then followed up the sermon with a Q&A. I learned a lot and all in all – between the location, the view, and the context – it was pretty amazing.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">From there we climbed the 218 steps from the bottom of the theatre to the very top and surveyed the few remaining ruins before heading back down the mountain to board the bus and head to our next stop: Thyatira, the smallest of the seven churches. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">After an hour-long bus ride and the fantastic morning, the teeny-tiny remains encircled by the fenced wall in the middle of a city block was….well, let's just say <i>less</i><span style="font-style:normal"> impressive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Nevertheless, we read the letter to the church in Thyatira (Revelation 2: 18-29) and reflected on the warning about false teaching and sexual immorality. Interestingly, despite being the smallest church, Thyatira received the longest letter.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">At this point we were pretty wiped (and still jet-lagged) as we filed back onto the bus for the 2+ hour bus ride home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After a quick dinner at the hotel and a glorious rainfall shower in our rooms, we were passed out for the night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> Anne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779946579555607966noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773404846659113599.post-21707826900289019652011-07-22T14:41:00.000-07:002011-07-22T14:42:00.932-07:00Turkey: Missing in Action<style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Times New Roman"; panose-1:0 2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-parent:""; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Times New Roman"; panose-1:0 2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-parent:""; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <p class="MsoNormal"></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I know, I know – where've I been?? </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">So, here's the thing: I desperately want to give you a detailed account of everything that I am seeing and doing here in Turkey, however, the task up to this point has simply been too daunting!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Our days here are filled to the absolute <i>maximum</i><span style="font-style:normal"> </span><i>capacity</i><span style="font-style:normal">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Each day begins with a 5:30 wake-up call, 6am breakfast and 7am departure time (I know that sounds simply dreadful, but when your body already has no idea what time it is or what it </span><i>ought</i><span style="font-style:normal"> to be doing, it's actually not so bad). From there we ride the bus from anywhere for 60 minutes to 4 hours to our destination for the day (usually with one pit stop to use the WC, buy a snack, and rub elbows with the locals).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Then, once we arrive at the site, we either tour around for a bit or head directly to wherever Pastor Mark is set up to teach. Usually our bus is the last one to arrive, so we often head straight to the site (and let me clarify – all the sites are ancient ruins. Some are actual amphitheatres, while others are the rubbled remains of churches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>All of them are super cool and outside in the direct sunlight of the boiling hot 90-something degree day).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">As you may know, the whole point of this trip (er, at least <i>most</i><span style="font-style:normal"> of the point of the trip – because let's be honest: traveling is just neat in its own right) is to visit the seven churches of Revelation in Asia Minor (PS – did you know Turkey is in Asia*?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I'M IN ASIA!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I still can't quite get over this.) </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><i>*Okay fine, smarty pants: 97% of Turkey is in Asia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A very small portion (including part of Istanbul) is in Europe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But still.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>ASIA!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This bottles my mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My mind is bottled.</i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">What the heck are the seven churches?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I'm so glad you asked! In something like 70AD (don't quote me on the date, I am guesstimating from memory here people) the apostle John was the only remaining apostle (all the others had been martyred by then) and living on a small island called Patmos (just off the coast of Turkey) when he received a revelation from Christ (which he later wrote down…hence the title of the book).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As part of that revelation, he received seven letters to seven churches of the early church in Asia Minor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Each letter follows a similar pattern: greeting, descriptions of Jesus, praise, criticism, warning, exhortation, and promise. Neat, eh?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">So as you may have guessed by this point, we are traveling to each of the remains of the seven churches to see exactly who Jesus was talking to as well as to learn from their past successes and failures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Part of the awesomeness is that Pastor Mark is reading the letters to the church as we <i>sit in that very location</i><span style="font-style:normal"> and teaching on the letter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It's a pretty cool way to learn biblical history and spiritual wisdom (I highly recommend it). </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">After the 45-minute sermon and a Q&A period, we get the chance to check out the site (if we haven't already). From there we usually head out for lunch (some place not too far away) and escape the heat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After lunch we get back on the bus and travel to a second site for the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This is usually at least another hour away. On the way our guide teaches us more about Turkey and/or we nap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We tour the second site, take our pics, and pile back onto the bus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Usually there is a substantial bus ride ahead of us before we get back to the hotel for a late dinner and a shower before we crash into bed and do it all over again the next day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Whew!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>(PS – can you say, <i>jetlag!?!</i><span style="font-style: normal">)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">So can you see why I'm having trouble? There is so much to tell – and I haven't even mentioned the food or the people yet, ack!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It's all too overwhelming!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Okay, okay – I don't want you to think that I'm complaining because, com'mon, I'm in Turkey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So let's just say I haven't quite had the free time (not to mention the energy) to keep you abreast of my journey as I might have liked. However, what I'm realizing is that this doesn't necessarily have to be a day-to-day account.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Now that you've got an idea of the landscape of my days, perhaps from this point on I'll just fill you in on the details and not necessarily the chronology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Sound like a plan?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Great, I'll get right on that for tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Right now it's sneaking up on 2am in Turkey and that wake-up call is looming closer and closer….</p> Anne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779946579555607966noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773404846659113599.post-30469411963761192962011-07-20T11:51:00.001-07:002011-07-20T11:51:23.061-07:00Day #2: Travel<style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Times New Roman"; panose-1:0 2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Wingdings; panose-1:0 5 2 1 2 1 8 4 8 7; mso-font-charset:2; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 256 0 -2147483648 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-parent:""; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <p class="MsoNormal">After our Chicago hiatus, Krista and I were staring several straight hours of travel in the face, beginning with a ten hour, forty-five minute leg from Chicago to Istanbul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Generally I'm a good sleeper on flights <i>and</i><span style="font-style:normal"> I had some sleeping pills with me to boot, so I figured I'd be good to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Despite being terribly drowsy while taxing the runway, we initially hit some stomach dropping turbulence (I'm not going to lie – there might have been some screaming; though, not by me) that sort of jolted me out of my sleepiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I settled down pretty quickly, but it messed with my mojo and I slept fitfully at best for about 3 hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When I decided to give the cramped slumber a break, I felt like we had to be at least 8 hours into our flight by now: imagine my dismay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In any case, I survived (barely) and we successfully landed (something I'm genuinely thankful for).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>By this time we had met a few people on the tour and despite the fatigue, enjoyed chatting with our new companions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">My first glimpse of Turkey, I'm sorry to say, was less than impressive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was approximately 5:00pm local time and pretty much all I could see was the airport and a few brown hills amongst the flat landscape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was very….eastern Washington.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In fact, it felt a lot like Yakima.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But I decided to not rush to judgment – heck it's not like SeaTac boasts Seattle's best landscapes either.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Our final destination for the day was Izmir, Turkey's third largest city (by population), where we will be staying for the majority of our stay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So in our brief 90 minute layover we purchased a visa (it's a stamp like a <i>postage</i><span style="font-style:normal"> stamp, not a rubber stamp – neat, eh?), cleared customs, purchased those pesky Turkish Lira (and got a $1.65:1 rate, yahoo!!), sped walked halfway across the airport to make our connecting flight, and zipped through security (again!) just in time for the final boarding call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was tight, but again, Providence was on our side and we didn't hit a single snag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Our final flight was only an hour long and I managed a solid nap and awoke to learn our in-flight "snack" was really a mini sandwich, tubuli and chocolate-banana mousse (yum!). </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">From there we deplaned, met up with the rest of our group and checked into the hotel. Uh, can you say "five stars"?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Yeah, it's okay <span style="font-family: Wingdings;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings">:)</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We didn't mind the rainfall shower or access to the spa or full-on fitness rooms (!) either.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language: EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Tomorrow the touring starts for real – Pergamum, here we come!<br><br>PS - I know I usually try to post lots of pictures, but as it turns out (long story short), I do not have access to the blogger webpage at all, so I'm posting these via email. That means I have no idea how to incorporate pictures, so those will have to wait until I'm home. But I'll try really extra hard to be entertaining with words instead!<br> </span> Anne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779946579555607966noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773404846659113599.post-86130891679470286002011-07-20T11:39:00.000-07:002011-07-20T11:45:41.702-07:00Chicago – a mini adventure!<style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Times New Roman"; panose-1:0 2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-parent:""; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <p class="MsoNormal"><br></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Our connecting flight to Turkey was out of Chicago, so Krista (my roomie for the week) and I decided to make a day of it and catch the earliest flight we could to the windy city for a day of fun before we met up with the rest of the group. </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">After waking at the crack of dawn, we boarded our plane with little trouble (they made me throw away my yogurt!) and in the nick of time (apparently everyone is "early" for the first flight of the day – who knew?)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Our first mission upon arrival was to convert our dollars to Turkish Lira, but we were skunked out immediately, as they didn't have any.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After learning the conversion rate was $1.43:1, we shrugged it off and headed off for mission #2: where to stash our bags?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We had both decided, rather than risk becoming separated with our belongings in a foreign country, we would carry-on our luggage and pack light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Genius! Except for the fact that we were in Chicago with 10 hours on our hands and not particularly excited about lugging our bags around with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Why didn't we just stick them in a locker and call it good?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Because evidently, lockers in airports only exist in movies like Get Shorty or The Saint and not in real life (something about the possibility of a bomb….I dunno).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Who knew, right?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">But my dad came up with the most brilliant solution – there is a Hilton attached to the O'Hare airport – why not ask the bellman if they'll watch our bags while we're gone?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As it turns out, my father <i>is</i><span style="font-style:normal"> a genius as we did just that. Even though we weren't guests, bellman Frank was kind to us and accepted our bags anyway (we made sure to tip him on our way out).</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">From the hotel, we hopped on the Blue Line and 45 minutes later were smack dab in the middle of Chicago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Our plan was to hit up Millennium Park, see "the bean," and do a little shopping and eating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And that's precisely what we did overall, a complete success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A quick 7 hours later we were sweaty, tired, and hungry (again), so we made our way back to the airport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal">All in all, a fantastic day of Chicago fun. </p> <br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Click it - it'll be fun! <a href="http://itspouxtoyou.blogspot.com/">http://itspouxtoyou.blogspot.com/</a><br> Anne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779946579555607966noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773404846659113599.post-5217578650196468022011-07-18T16:14:00.000-07:002011-07-18T16:34:35.156-07:00I'm Going to Turkey!!Hello dear readers!!<br /><br />I know it has been unforgivably long since I last posted anything of substance, and for that I apologize. But it is with <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">great</span> excitement that I am (belatedly) happy to tell you that I have the incredible opportunity to travel in Turkey for 10 days!! <br /><br />Here's the scoop: <a href="http://marshill.com/">Mars Hill Church</a> (my new church home in Seattle) is taking a group of folks from all over the world (172 of us, to be precise) on an expeditions tour of the seven churches of Revelation (See <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=revelation%201-3&version=ESV">Revelation 1-3.</a>) The apostle John wrote seven letters to the early Christian churches at the time to both encourage and discipline them. We will be seeing a number of the early churches as well as studying both the biblical history and the accompanying scripture (mostly the book of <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+1&version=ESV">Ephesians</a> and Revelation 1-3).<br /><br />We will be spending the first week in Izmir, using the city as our hub as we venture to a new site each day. For the final three days we will travel to Istanbul and explore the enchanting metropolis. <br /><br />I can't tell you how <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">thrilled</span> I am to be traveling again and on the precipice of sharing my new adventures with you, dear reader. While this won't be <span style="font-style: italic;">quite</span> the same type of free-styled adventure I had in Italy, I'm confident the experiences will be no less memorable. My hope is to post daily and share my Turkish adventures as they unfold. (My <span style="font-style: italic;">secret</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">hope</span> is that I can easily fall back into the habit of blogging again and not have another year-long radio silence...heh heh. But we'll just have to see how that goes.)<br /><br />So stay tuned! There is more to come - beginning with a day-long lay-over adventure in Chicago...Anne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779946579555607966noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773404846659113599.post-59023874749385837732011-06-08T13:36:00.001-07:002011-06-08T13:37:03.832-07:00Who Wants To Go To Paris?Came across this cool contest, thought it was worth a shot: <a href="http://ohhappyday.com/2011/06/goes-to-paris">http://ohhappyday.com/2011/06/goes-to-paris</a>Anne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779946579555607966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773404846659113599.post-67373988000579735112010-10-28T14:10:00.000-07:002010-10-28T14:16:39.161-07:00FunSo I was looking through the pictures on my camera the other day when I came across this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/TMnnRG70qEI/AAAAAAAABU0/5KZS16JBaMg/s1600/IMG_0478.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/TMnnRG70qEI/AAAAAAAABU0/5KZS16JBaMg/s320/IMG_0478.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533207898306684994" border="0" /></a>I've been having a bit of a rough go of it today (you know those days when you just don't have the patience to tolerate the normal peskiness of a day? Yeah, I'm having that day today) and this just made it a little bit more tolerable.<br /><br />I came across a <span style="font-style: italic;">number </span>of fun pics so I'm thinking it may be time to update the sidebar pics as well. Hmmm...Anne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779946579555607966noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773404846659113599.post-24472759500405540112010-10-12T21:36:00.000-07:002010-10-12T22:18:08.351-07:00Blank and Bare (aka The Before)I've had my hands full moving and unpacking over the last several days and even though I'm not done yet (blame the head cold I picked up in the mean time) I thought I'd give you an eye-full of the place in all it's naked glory. So here's the tour:<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/TLU6kxMjYUI/AAAAAAAABUo/rIjazZ1cX-w/s1600/IMG_0524.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/TLU6kxMjYUI/AAAAAAAABUo/rIjazZ1cX-w/s400/IMG_0524.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527388521022841154" border="0" /></a>As you come in and look to the left, you will see my teeny, tiny kitchen. (Jane says it's more efficient this way...I hope she's right!) Like most apartments it's a galley kitchen, meaning, it has a narrow runway with a row of appliances/cabinets on both the left and right. The picture above is what you see on the left side of the kitchen. (Note the lack of microwave, tiny counter space, and sparse cabinets *sigh*).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/TLU5OYEgS7I/AAAAAAAABUY/ie9BlUddy5Q/s1600/IMG_0525.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/TLU5OYEgS7I/AAAAAAAABUY/ie9BlUddy5Q/s400/IMG_0525.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527387036809448370" border="0" /></a>The picture seen above here is the right side of the kitchen. On the left side of the photo, you are seeing a sliver of my washer and dryer. That's right: I have a washer and dryer in my unit. That's right: I have a washer and dryer in my kitchen. You may also notice that I have a dishwasher in my kitchen (YAY!! A DISHWASHER!!) And though you can't see it, there is also a disposal in that sink. Bliss!! (You may also have noticed that the washer and dryer look conspicuously like they're in the pantry. That's because they are and I have no pantry. Feel free to scroll back up at that previous picture and review just how little storage space I have. Yep, I'm becoming an efficiency queen.) As you can see, the kitchen sink also looks out into the living room.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/TLU5ETyengI/AAAAAAAABUQ/Lc4yL-S_iJ4/s1600/IMG_0526.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/TLU5ETyengI/AAAAAAAABUQ/Lc4yL-S_iJ4/s400/IMG_0526.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527386863861407234" border="0" /></a>This picture is obviously of my bathroom. It is directly across from my kitchen and is what you see if you immediately look to the right after walking into the apartment. (Let's review: kitchen on the left, bathroom on the right. Got it so far?) And no, you're not imagining things - that toilet is pretty low to the ground. I..don't...know. Whatev, it works.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/TLU49DO9JvI/AAAAAAAABUI/lWQs7Hv7iMo/s1600/IMG_0527.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/TLU49DO9JvI/AAAAAAAABUI/lWQs7Hv7iMo/s400/IMG_0527.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527386739158361842" border="0" /></a>This is the view of the kitchen from the living room - it's much cuter when viewed this way. I'm just sayin'.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/TLU4zGdyapI/AAAAAAAABUA/EGNuLTf_5MM/s1600/IMG_0528.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/TLU4zGdyapI/AAAAAAAABUA/EGNuLTf_5MM/s400/IMG_0528.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527386568227187346" border="0" /></a>So this funky door is what the entrance to both the bedrooms look like. That's right, one whole wall of each bedroom is comprised of floor-to-ceiling sliding fiberglass doors - crazy right? It's totally funky and reminds me of a geisha-house door. If I were sharing this space with someone, I don't think it would be very sound-preventative or private (um, hello? You can see right through the door, duh.) But since I'm not, I think it's totally neato! I mean, fun - right?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/TLU4pjjHNsI/AAAAAAAABT4/rblJhtcyQZg/s1600/IMG_0529.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/TLU4pjjHNsI/AAAAAAAABT4/rblJhtcyQZg/s400/IMG_0529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527386404235458242" border="0" /></a>If you're standing next to the tiny counter over the sink (which for all intents and purposes is a "bar," but really...com'mon) and look toward the right, this is what you'd see. This is the door to the spare room (sewing room/bonus room) as well as the sliding glass door that leads out to my spacious balcony. (BALCONY!!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/TLU4gQxFbZI/AAAAAAAABTw/G4RFYpjMH_M/s1600/IMG_0530.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/TLU4gQxFbZI/AAAAAAAABTw/G4RFYpjMH_M/s400/IMG_0530.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527386244574965138" border="0" /></a>If you're standing in the same spot I just mentioned and looking to the left, you'll see the rest of the living room. Lots of windows for light, eh? Oh and did I mention this is a corner apartment? This corner is also the corner of the building. (Not that that means anything, I just thought you might like to know. See - you can see houses out the window. No staring a brick walls or the underside of stairs for me!)<br /><br />From here, if you were to take a few steps to the left, you'd see the door to the "master" (read: slightly bigger than my queen bed) room. It's door is exactly like the sewing room door: über-cool. <br /><br />Both rooms have generous closets, but there are no other closets in the apartment. (For every pro, there's a con, eh?)<br /><br />So far I have the kitchen unpacked, my bed set up and am currently tackling the bonus room. Still so much to be done, but between being sick and working I just haven't had the time. I'm hoping to be totally moved in (and sleeping there) by this weekend.<br /><br />Once I have it all set up, I'll take you on a second tour. Stay tuned!Anne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779946579555607966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773404846659113599.post-84851512283110617712010-10-07T16:37:00.000-07:002010-10-07T16:38:39.038-07:00I love lampI have an apartment - yaaaaaaay!! I sign the lease tomorrow - more details (and pics!) to come...Anne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779946579555607966noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773404846659113599.post-4494978925294918742010-09-30T09:24:00.000-07:002010-09-30T09:25:09.177-07:00It's a BustAaaaaaaand, I'm officially apartment hunting.<br /><br />(Nuts.)Anne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779946579555607966noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773404846659113599.post-22105577973794129132010-09-27T21:49:00.000-07:002010-09-27T21:56:54.155-07:00Still WaitingNo signature from the investor approving the deal today...<span style="font-size:85%;">*</span>sigh<span style="font-size:85%;">*</span><br /><br />Jane says not to give up hope until it's really, <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> too late, but truth be told, the odds are slipping.<br /><br />And yet, there's still time for a miracle. ;)Anne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779946579555607966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773404846659113599.post-60408547981580582392010-09-27T10:43:00.000-07:002010-09-27T10:51:29.571-07:00Join me on the Edge of my SeatSo after spending the day mourning the loss of potential Seattle home-ownership, Jane got an email from the wily bank-negotiator (who was conspicuously absent during the final necessary hours before the deal had to be closed) which said, "Oh! I can get this deal done - I'm too busy to do it now, but I'll email you on Monday."<br /><br />Aaaaaaaahhh!!<br /><br />So after pulling her hair out in frustration, Jane talked to the lender and asked if we got all the paperwork to him on Monday, was there still a chance we could close in time. His response?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">May</span>be. <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">IF</span></span> the paperwork gets to him by Monday morning, it <span style="font-style: italic;">could</span> still happen.<br /><br />Oh the stress of it all!!<br /><br />Update: There have already been <span style="font-style: italic;">several</span> emails fluttering around today and the gist of it is, if the lender can get the paperwork in time, we have about a 50/50 chance of closing in time. However the bank negotiator said he has already sent TWO requests to the investor to sign off on the paperwork and he hasn't seen it yet. The deal definitely won't close without the investor sign off, so....<br /><br />Stay tuned!!Anne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779946579555607966noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773404846659113599.post-74059354854585882742010-09-23T20:04:00.000-07:002010-09-23T20:08:18.420-07:00Aww, nuts...Just found out today that the deal on the 2 bedroom condo in Greenwood I was trying to buy fell through.<br /><br />*sigh*<br /><br />So it's back the drawing board (and likely renting) for me...Anne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779946579555607966noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773404846659113599.post-48650478120415382762010-09-14T23:21:00.000-07:002010-09-15T00:14:59.569-07:00Grape Stomp 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/TJBt7CTQnPI/AAAAAAAABSU/Bup7Kq_hQFw/s1600/grape+stomp+sign"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/TJBt7CTQnPI/AAAAAAAABSU/Bup7Kq_hQFw/s320/grape+stomp+sign" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517030404526218482" border="0" /></a>It's that time of the year again, when, for the sixth? seventh? year, we head over the mountains to the east side of the state for a mini-road trip to the Champoux Vineyard for the annual Grape Stomp Event!<br /><a href="http://theterpsblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/mini-bike-races.html"><br />Last year </a>the stomp was canceled, so we were pretty pumped to get back into action this year. However, we had a few notable changes. First of all, Uncle Joe sold the hop farm! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/TJBuCRPajhI/AAAAAAAABSc/2yDTCYgO6B0/s1600/champoux+farm"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 149px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/TJBuCRPajhI/AAAAAAAABSc/2yDTCYgO6B0/s200/champoux+farm" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517030528795708946" border="0" /></a>Tradition dictates that after work on Friday, we head east and crash for the night on Uncle Joe's many spare beds, couches, and square feet of carpet. Fortunately for us, he sold the farm to his son Jeremy (my cousin) so it all stayed in the family and we were able to keep the Friday night tradition alive - just sans Uncle Joe and (Aunt) Lila. Sadly, they took the spoils of the liquor cabinet with them when they moved (no more Jim-Beam-Mountain-Dew or Crystal-Light-"vodka" to be had, awww). But we made the best of it (read: drank beers instead) and Jeremy proved to be an equally good host.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/TJBv8ZTD5yI/AAAAAAAABS8/Dvbqt0M7yiM/s1600/grape+stomp+2010+vineyard"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/TJBv8ZTD5yI/AAAAAAAABS8/Dvbqt0M7yiM/s400/grape+stomp+2010+vineyard" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517032626902525730" border="0" /></a>Secondly, several of our regular attendees were unable to participate this year. Fortunately, I've been busy making new friends here in Seattle, so we still touted a group of 11 - half veterans, half newbies. Not quite the robust 20 we had two years back, but after a few hours together, you could hardly tell the two groups apart; everyone made a real effort to play nice. (Actually, I think they genuinely liked each other...there were a couple epic matches of horseballs and some great jokes born out of those new friendships.)<br /><br />Lastly, since Uncle Paul is still on the road to recovery from the West Nile virus, we didn't stay the night at the Chateau as we had in year's past. Instead we camped at the nearby Crow Butte Park. With access to bathrooms, a few air mattresses and french press coffee in the morning - it worked out just great.<br /><br />All in all, we walked away with a lot of fun memories, new friendships, some great wine, and - oh yeah - one of our teams took first place (but you didn't doubt that we would, didja?)<br /><br />And <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/TJBup2NNPkI/AAAAAAAABSs/R8NZ8iDigBs/s1600/grape+stomp+2010"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/TJBup2NNPkI/AAAAAAAABSs/R8NZ8iDigBs/s400/grape+stomp+2010" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517031208733457986" border="0" /></a>finally, just to tickle your senses, our team names:<br /><br />8lb, 6 oz Baby Jesus (first place)<br />Bangerang!<br />Valentine's-Day-After-Tomorrow-Never-Dies-Hard-(er)-With-a-Vengeance<br />(and one more...but I can't think of it right now)<br /><br />Though Dustin couldn't join us this year, he had several good team name suggestions for us, including (but not limited to):<br /><br />Mud-Butt<br />Full Diapers<br />Projectile Poopers<br /><br />(Can't tell he has a new baby at home, can ya?)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/TJBvg_GX6mI/AAAAAAAABS0/OD9eMFH8cx0/s1600/AMC+%26+Evan"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/TJBvg_GX6mI/AAAAAAAABS0/OD9eMFH8cx0/s200/AMC+%26+Evan" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517032156013521506" border="0" /></a>*All pictures courtesy of Evan Taylor-Hurley, from whom I completely stole them, without his knowledge, off his Facebook wall. :)<br /><br />Thanks Evan!! (You don't mind, right?)<br /><br /><img src="file:///Users/poux/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/moz-screenshot.png" alt="" />Anne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779946579555607966noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773404846659113599.post-90763662084255917322010-09-14T22:04:00.000-07:002010-09-14T23:20:04.795-07:00Mama Quilt #6: AbbyWhen I found out <a href="http://theterpsblog.blogspot.com/">the Terps</a> had a bun in the oven, immediately ideas began to swirl around in my brain for Abby's mama quilt.<br /><br />Abby and I met freshman year of college (even though she attended SPU and I was up north in Bellingham) and I can't rightly say we "hit it off." Don't get me wrong - we liked each other alright (er - at least I <span style="font-style: italic;">think</span> Abby liked me then...) but neither of us knew how long the other would be in the picture, so I'd say we started out more <span style="font-style: italic;">acquaintances</span> rather than friends, per se.<br /><br />But as the years ticked by, it became more and more apparent neither of us was going anywhere. Then she went and married Dustin soon after graduation and sealed the deal (so to speak - heh). Once we were both B'ham residents, we set about the work of actually getting to know each other.<br /><br />While some might say Abby can be a tough nut to crack - it's never been that way for me. During those first few weeks after she moved to Bellingham, when she invited me over to make several different types of cheesecake for the purpose of simply taste-tasting, I knew this friendship was for real. Abby is kind-hearted, fiercely loyal, straight-forward, thoughtful, awkward, hilarious, and - generally speaking - always right. It's been my honor to get to know her over the years; she's one of my most dearly-loved friends.<br /><br />So, for Abby's mama quilt, I decided almost instantly it would have to be strictly black and white with some kind of predictable pattern (to demonstrate her extremely logical, steadfast mind) contrasted with an unexpected burst of wild color <span style="font-style: italic;">outside the pattern</span> to demonstrate those spontaneous moments of unfettered jubilation she sometimes lets sneak out.<br /><br />Here's the final result - I so hope she likes it. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/TJBkFuNFVpI/AAAAAAAABSE/OgdQNUpp_UQ/s1600/abby+quilt.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 399px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/TJBkFuNFVpI/AAAAAAAABSE/OgdQNUpp_UQ/s400/abby+quilt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517019592993887890" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />PS - There is another, totally different, bright pink flower on the back side as well. Unfortunately, I don't have a pic of that side, so you'll just have to imagine it for now.Anne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779946579555607966noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773404846659113599.post-41363421748875899922010-08-27T10:55:00.000-07:002010-08-29T19:30:30.412-07:00Moving...(again)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/THf-H6xRLCI/AAAAAAAABRQ/fZrKRY17f80/s1600/IMG_0460.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/THf-H6xRLCI/AAAAAAAABRQ/fZrKRY17f80/s400/IMG_0460.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510152081099533346" border="0" /></a>My life is nothing, if not interesting. Well, perhaps not <span style="font-style: italic;">interesting</span> per se (other than to me), but at the very least eventful.<br /><br />Spent all weekend moving into <span style="font-style: italic;">two</span> storage units and now currently occupy a spare room at the Champoux/Stratton residence (aka Poux Palace). <br /><br />The plan is to only be here one month or less. Back in April, I put in an offer on a short sale condo. If it doesn't close by September 30th - I lose the home buyers tax credit...and the ability to buy property in Seattle. The tax credit (and the fact that this condo is priced grossly under market value in order to sell) is the only reason I can even <span style="font-style: italic;">think</span> about affording it. Without the tax credit, I'll be stretched a wee bit too thin for my comfort level. So, with August 30th being on Monday (and financing taking about 30 days to roll out) that leaves only one month until my deadline; therefore, my window of opportunity is about to close. <br /><br />Unless I can pull an Indian Jones by the end of the week and eke through in time, it's back to renting!!<br /><br />Dunt-dunt-duh! The plot thickens....(but in the mean time, you can find me in Kirkland.)Anne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779946579555607966noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773404846659113599.post-16960290310682197852010-08-23T23:43:00.000-07:002010-08-23T23:46:16.885-07:00Step Up 3D*<span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >*Yes, yes, I've been gone from the blog for a while. I've been attempting to deal with grief and settle into a life in Seattle - I'll get to all that. But first: let's talk dance movie!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/THM5y5xuu2I/AAAAAAAABRI/-16lcrCYm3k/s1600/step-up-3d.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 271px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__u6NZY1vbQI/THM5y5xuu2I/AAAAAAAABRI/-16lcrCYm3k/s400/step-up-3d.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508810315869895522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>I'll cut straight to the chase: the dancing is straight-up, fantazimacaly <span style="font-style: italic;">wow!</span>, spare no expense, bang for your buck (and then some), A-<span style="font-style: italic;">MA</span>-ZING. Dare I say, it <span style="font-style: italic;">over</span>achieves. As the finale in the trilogy, it delivers. (Plus, for all you <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.fox.com/dance">SYTYCD</a> fans, there are tons of fun cameos - and who doesn't love cameos?)<br /><br />The acting, however (brace yourself) is absolutely <span style="font-style: italic;">horrendous</span>. Like really <span style="font-style: italic;">terr-i-ble </span>acting. And I'm not talking about the brand of bad acting one might normally be prepared to accept in a dance movie. We all know we're watching dancers who are simultaneously trying to act. At best, it tends to range from slightly cheesy (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Step_Up_2_the_Streets">Step Up 2</a>) to slightly stiff (the original <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Step_Up_%28film%29">Step Up</a>). I mean hey, they can't all be a triple threat like J-Lo. I get it. I <span style="font-style: italic;">accept</span> it. In fact, I know this phenomenon well. But this movie....it was almost embarrassing. (Oh and the plot stinks too.)<br /><br />I know, I know: no big surprise, right? I suppose I should've seen that coming (especially since the first two weren't Oscar winners or anything), but one can hope that the acting and plot would at least be <span style="font-style: italic;">palatable</span>. Instead, they're actually cringe-inducingly bad. Apparently the budget was only so big - and they went for broke on the dancing.<br /><br />Generally speaking, a bad, cheesy, or well-worn plot doesn't bother me. Do I hope for more? Sure. But there are plenty of circumstances where we excuse a <span style="font-style: italic;">meh</span> plot. Take for example action movies. Are the plots often good? No. But it gets our hero into and out of trouble (all with a hot babe on his arm) so at the end of the journey we are completely satisfied. Romantic comedies are no different: girl meets boy, a misunderstanding of epic proportions ensues, insert a public, heartfelt, apologetic soliloquy and all is forgiven as they live happily ever after. Sports movies to do it too: our hero has to overcome some adversity in order to win the game (and usually the morale of entire town, school, or city) in the last inning, half, minute or period - yaaaaaaay!! Often the plot is simply the vehicle to get us from point A to point B. Sure it's nice if that ride is a high class car from time to time, but most often we could care less if the car is a little dinged up; we really just need a reliable ride.<br /><br />What bothers me is a <span style="font-style: italic;">poorly constructed</span> plot. Is it so much to ask that the character's actions make logical sense? Is a little character building really so cumbersome? Take the movie <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_Home_Alabama_%28film%29">Sweet Home Alabama</a> (<span style="font-style: italic;">Gasp!</span> Yes, I said it. I know everyone seem to really like this movie, but it really, really bothers me. Rest assured, my enjoyment of Reece Witherspoon and Josh Lucas is able to quell my distaste...but I digress.) The conflict between Melanie Carmichael and her mother is established early in the movie as the result of Melanie's unwillingness to stay in the south (e.g. rejected airline tickets, refusal to see NY, disapproval of leaving Jake, etc.). However, during the height of Melanie's which-man-do-I-choose dilemma, her mother counsels her to "get out" and to "not end up like me." WHAT THE HECK!! This kind of discongruity bothers me to <span style="font-style: italic;">no end</span>. Does she want her to <span style="font-style: italic;">stay</span> or to <span style="font-style: italic;">go</span>? To be loyal to her roots or to sprout wings and fly? PICK ONE! Otherwise, the mother's entire role within the movie is absolutely meaningless; it's simply noise. If it doesn't contribute to the plot - EDIT IT OUT.<br /><br />Perhaps it's not totally accurate to say that this kind of misalignment is what troubles me so. Rather, it's when a movie has the <span style="font-style: italic;">potential</span> to accomplish something, to truly tell a wonderful tale, to really capture you and whisk you away from reality....but instead it completely pusses out and falls flat on its face. This, <span style="font-style: italic;">this</span> actually <span style="font-style: italic;">physically</span> bothers me; it <span style="font-style: italic;">offends</span> me. To be able to visualize the vastness of a story's potential and to be powerless to see it come close to fruition...ugh, it pains me. I want to shake my fist and yell, "Can you not afford a decent editor?! Can you not see the gaping holes in your story? Call <span style="font-style: italic;">me!</span> I'm not doing anything! <span style="font-style: italic;">I'll help you!!</span> YOU'RE SO CLOSE TO SOMETHING GREAT!" It's as though someone was too impatient to wait for the masterpiece and instead revealed to the world something that was simply "good enough." Who does that? What if Michelangelo had done that? (Granted, this movie is no Michelangelo, but you get my point.)<br /><br />Such is the case with Step Up 3D. Though it admittedly recycles all parts of its plot, it demonstrated the potential to be MORE than just a "dance movie." But instead of facing that challenge head on, it attempts to disguise its shortcomings with beautiful people, special effects, and killer dancing. It pisses away its poignant moments by juxtaposing them with sterile acting and a loosely strung plot line. It cheapens what could have been a fairly sweet story by forcing what should be the subplot into the lime-light.<br /><br />The two beautiful people on the movie's headliner poster? Yeah, they can't act and (are you ready for this?) have short and uninspiring dance roles in the movie. They're not even the main characters (as much as this movie tries to pretend they are.) Instead the movie is really about Moose, the skinny kid from the subplot of Step Up 2, and his best girl friend. And truthfully, that storyline is actually well done. They keep a predictable story interesting, have a few genuine moments and, of course, they dance well...but who would see a movie about him? So they cram beautiful, crappy actors into the movie to be on the poster and shove a C+ plot for them into the storyline. *Sigh* I get it, but...really? I mean, the "hot dude" doesn't even really dance! He's always in the background in the group dance scenes and most of the shots are from the waist up in the tango scene. Oh Step Up, we're too smart for that.<br /><br />Perhaps I'm being greedy: asking too much of my dance movies, holding the bar too high. But in all honesty, I don't think so. The pieces were there; sadly, they just didn't put them together.<br /><br />Now, just because I couldn't stop editing the movie in my head to make it better and more believable, that certainly doesn't mean I didn't <span style="font-style: italic;">like</span> it. I mean, <span style="font-style: italic;">pfft</span>, com'mon!! It's a dance movie!! OF COURSE I LIKED IT!! I've never met a dance movie I didn't like<span style="font-size:85%;">*</span>. I can hardly wait for it to come out on DVD so I can buy it and complete my little trilogy and watch it over and over and over and over...<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">*Except of course for </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Save_the_last_dance">Save the Last Dance</a><span style="font-style: italic;">. That movie was terrible. And not only does Julia Stiles butcher it with her "acting," she </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">clearly</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> doesn't do any of the real dancing (her stunt double has a completely different body type. Please.) I am only willing to tolerate crappy acting on account of good dancing. Alternatively, I'm willing to accept a really good dancing double if: a) the acting is quality and the main actor does at least some of it (</span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Footloose_%281984_film%29">Footloose</a><span style="font-style: italic;">), b) the movie makes a smooth and seamless effort to fool me (</span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flashdance">Flashdance</a><span style="font-style: italic;">), or c) the movie is pre-1999 when it became all the rage to do your own stunts (too many examples to site here). STLD (or rather Julia Stiles) clearly meets none of these conditions. Poor Sean Patrick Thomas.</span></span>Anne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779946579555607966noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773404846659113599.post-51309466975686267882010-08-16T15:54:00.000-07:002010-08-16T16:19:12.634-07:00Cutest. Niece. Ever.<div><embed src="http://widget-0c.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=2954361355592854540&site=widget-0c.slide.com" style="width: 400px; height: 320px;" name="flashticker" align="middle"></embed><div style="width: 400px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=2954361355592854540&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-0c.slide.com/p1/2954361355592854540/bb_t047_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=2954361355592854540&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-0c.slide.com/p2/2954361355592854540/bb_t047_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=2954361355592854540&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-0c.slide.com/p4/2954361355592854540/bb_t047_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide42.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a></div></div><br />I mean, right? Got to spend some q.t. with my niece this weekend and I think I'm in love. She's smiling and beginning to laugh and I love that I can actually interact with her. I just want to eat her up!!<br /><br />Probably the crowning moment though was when Julia was in her carseat carrier on the floor and Gracen got on his hands and knees and stuck his face right up to hers and began cooing, "Hi baby giiiiirl" just like his parents do. It was simultaneously hilarious and adorable. What is even better is that his cooing made Julia smile, which made <span style="font-style: italic;">him </span>laugh, which made <span style="font-style: italic;">her </span>laugh, and then the whole thing started over again.<br /><br />Pretty awesome. :)Anne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779946579555607966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773404846659113599.post-35719018220064245842010-06-18T10:41:00.000-07:002010-06-18T10:44:04.488-07:00HugsI love Italy and I love hugs, so you know I loved this:<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hN8CKwdosjE&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hN8CKwdosjE&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Actually, it made me cry a little. :)Anne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779946579555607966noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773404846659113599.post-91236733307699075192010-06-18T10:22:00.000-07:002010-06-18T10:41:42.738-07:00Julia UpdateForgive me for the belated update, but Julia had a check-up on Wednesday and good news abounds!! The veins they were concerned about are free and clear and functioning normally! Most of the blood has cleared (about 70%) and the doctors were actually surprised at how much it had cleared (yay!). So basically she's sitting at best case scenario. :)<br /><br />They will have another follow-up in two months and at this point, they won't be dealing with anything catastrophic. I asked Mark if this meant there were no risks for long-term effects and he said, they were only speaking with the neurologist, so that info applies only to the specific area of her brain. I think they have another doctor who will be able to address that point a little more clearly later. I'll post if I get any other news. But for now, ANSWERED PRAYER - WOOOO!!!Anne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779946579555607966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773404846659113599.post-9542804117911201472010-06-04T09:50:00.000-07:002010-06-04T09:51:46.128-07:00M's Tickets - Tonight!Hi friends!<br /><br />Turns out neither Mark nor I can make it to the game tonight, so if you're interested in going, let us know - we'd love to share! The M's are playing the Angels tonight and are in the midst of a win-streak. Should be a fun game (plus there is a train give-away tonight, woot woot!)Anne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779946579555607966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773404846659113599.post-76651804279662948742010-05-27T16:22:00.000-07:002010-05-27T16:34:15.519-07:00She's Home!!I just talked to Mark and the girls are (finally!) on their way home! Woo hoo!! They have an appointment with an extra-rad-Children's-Hospital-recommended Pediatrician tomorrow as well as some follow up appointments with, like, <span style="font-style: italic;">other</span> really smart doctors (neurologists and...other-kinds-of-ologists....), but I don't know when those are. <br /><br />But the point being: she's home!! Yay!! Praise the Lord and thanks for all your prayers!! <br /><br />Please continue to keep little Julia Jane in your thoughts and prayers and we head down the final bits of this recovery path. :)Anne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779946579555607966noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773404846659113599.post-17468956600871575082010-05-26T21:39:00.000-07:002010-05-26T21:47:49.276-07:00MRI DayMore positive news on the Julia front today! They were able to fit her in for an MRI late this afternoon (which she dutifully slept through - what a good girl!) and Mark <span style="font-style: italic;">just</span> called me to tell me that the results are unchanged (which is good news). This means that there is no continuous bleeding, so it's a very positive sign. <br /><br />Her temperature did spike a little bit today, but not enough so to even call it a fever. So due to the temperature and getting the results so late, Julia and Monica are spending one last night at Children's. They <span style="font-style: italic;">ought</span> to be able to come home tomorrow - yaaaaaaay!!<br /><br />She'll still have to go in for some follow up appointments as they aren't 100% about the cause yet, as well as to take a closer look at what's going on (once the hematoma clears up). But for now - good news! Woo hoo answered prayer!<br /><br />I'll continue to post updates as we get more information, but THANK YOU for all your prayers, emails, phone calls, texts, meals - EVERYTHING. Support means so much through something like this and you've really stepped up to the plate. It is so good to be loved. :)Anne Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779946579555607966noreply@blogger.com1