daily focus...find it here.
I picked up the South Beach diet book today. Pretty stoked about it.
It's been a year of changes for me. Not just change as in new car, new job, new whatever, but changes in how I see myself, and how I address issues in my life with confidence. I can acknowledge that I need to lose weight, and be more active, without allowing that to depress me, and define who I am.
Neat, eh?
18.8.04
14.8.04
again.
Daphne says that such ans such was for Frasier's father. Frasier replies (in a derogatory manner),
"So are games with balls, domestic beer, and big trucks that run over littler ones."
Hah ahahaahah ah haaaaaaaaa!!!
I don't know what it is about those Crane boys, but they crack me RIGHT up!
"So are games with balls, domestic beer, and big trucks that run over littler ones."
Hah ahahaahah ah haaaaaaaaa!!!
I don't know what it is about those Crane boys, but they crack me RIGHT up!
12.8.04
11.8.04
wha happan?
I'm BAAAAAAACK!
I don't know why, or for how long, but I have been able to sign back in. Oooh, there have been so many blog-worthy moments in the last few days--who knows if I can remember any of them.
I've just enjoyed a family dinner--grandparents and all--to celebrate our collective unbirthdays. It's a cool way to celebrate birthdays together, even though we aren't able to get together 8 times a year. As part of our gift, Joanne and Dan (my grandparents) gave us each a piece of their house, or our great-grandma's house--things like crystals that hung in the windows, or to me, a tiny water colour painting. And then, as if that weren't honour enough, we each received an ancient Greek coin, from the collection of Joanne's best friend, Joyce, who passed away recently.
Yeah. Wow.
What else can I tell you? Not much I suppose. Except that, I am so thankful for my friends. Honestly, I sometimes can't believe just how many incredible people I know. And that they care for me? ... just astonishing.
I'm feeling kind of sad today, so if you're in the neighbourhood of my house or my ice cream store, stop in for a hug or 2. Nothing cures the blues like some lovin'.
one love.
I don't know why, or for how long, but I have been able to sign back in. Oooh, there have been so many blog-worthy moments in the last few days--who knows if I can remember any of them.
I've just enjoyed a family dinner--grandparents and all--to celebrate our collective unbirthdays. It's a cool way to celebrate birthdays together, even though we aren't able to get together 8 times a year. As part of our gift, Joanne and Dan (my grandparents) gave us each a piece of their house, or our great-grandma's house--things like crystals that hung in the windows, or to me, a tiny water colour painting. And then, as if that weren't honour enough, we each received an ancient Greek coin, from the collection of Joanne's best friend, Joyce, who passed away recently.
Yeah. Wow.
What else can I tell you? Not much I suppose. Except that, I am so thankful for my friends. Honestly, I sometimes can't believe just how many incredible people I know. And that they care for me? ... just astonishing.
I'm feeling kind of sad today, so if you're in the neighbourhood of my house or my ice cream store, stop in for a hug or 2. Nothing cures the blues like some lovin'.
one love.
7.8.04
c-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-check it out.
yoyo yo...
I'm back.
I went to imr tonight, thinking I could be out late, because I wasn't working 'til 1pm tomorrow. Turns out I'm working @ 10am, so I'm going to bed now.
Keats was awesome. Or maybe not awesome...I heard a blurb on the radio the other day, talking about awesome being used in reference to all that God is...so to be cautious with how we use it mundanely. But it was a very God-soaked 2 days, so I'll call it awesome.
Praise the Lord, O my soul, PRAISE the Lord.
Amen.
And gooooooood night.
ps I have the scars of a barnacle skirmish all over my hands and fingers, knees and toes. ouch.
I'm back.
I went to imr tonight, thinking I could be out late, because I wasn't working 'til 1pm tomorrow. Turns out I'm working @ 10am, so I'm going to bed now.
Keats was awesome. Or maybe not awesome...I heard a blurb on the radio the other day, talking about awesome being used in reference to all that God is...so to be cautious with how we use it mundanely. But it was a very God-soaked 2 days, so I'll call it awesome.
Praise the Lord, O my soul, PRAISE the Lord.
Amen.
And gooooooood night.
ps I have the scars of a barnacle skirmish all over my hands and fingers, knees and toes. ouch.
4.8.04
away away away.
i am going away. away to a place where for two days i will be blissfully unable to spend my money.
yes. i am going to keats.
see you later.
...we have (still) a great need for a saviour, and a great saviour for our need...
--derek webb
yes. i am going to keats.
see you later.
...we have (still) a great need for a saviour, and a great saviour for our need...
--derek webb
2.8.04
waiting
well well well...I'm not wearing my glasses, and the screen is a wee bit blurry.
Hang on...there, that's better.
*phew*
Not much to report, really. (A quick note: the "shing, sparkle, sparkle" bit is something I got from spongebob squarepants. It's in an episode where plankton is trying to get the recipe for crab cakes, and he gives s.b.s.p. a golden spatula...and makes the noise "shing, sparkle, sparkle" when he hands it to the unsuspecting sponge).
That's all about that.
Now...onto more important things...such as...
MIKAEL is home! Woot, woot!
Pete is moving to north van. *sigh, tear*
Ummm...I have a show on Friday @ work, and one in January...which will bring in some little blings...
I sold 2 copies of my album today...
I'm going to cry, I think. Sometimes, not seeing my friends is unfortunate, but even moreso is seeing them when they've all been together for a few days...and hence...don't need...me.
Yeah.
Pity party. My house. Now.
Hang on...there, that's better.
*phew*
Not much to report, really. (A quick note: the "shing, sparkle, sparkle" bit is something I got from spongebob squarepants. It's in an episode where plankton is trying to get the recipe for crab cakes, and he gives s.b.s.p. a golden spatula...and makes the noise "shing, sparkle, sparkle" when he hands it to the unsuspecting sponge).
That's all about that.
Now...onto more important things...such as...
MIKAEL is home! Woot, woot!
Pete is moving to north van. *sigh, tear*
Ummm...I have a show on Friday @ work, and one in January...which will bring in some little blings...
I sold 2 copies of my album today...
I'm going to cry, I think. Sometimes, not seeing my friends is unfortunate, but even moreso is seeing them when they've all been together for a few days...and hence...don't need...me.
Yeah.
Pity party. My house. Now.
1.8.04
diva 101 continues...
hi y'all.
opera camp is over. *sighs*. no more diva training...for now.
the results of this week:
my voice is BiggER.
my confidence is More...
Judith Forst told me i sang well.
some new friends and a sunburn from reading in the rose garden.
a tired voice and tired abs and an overflowing of joy and song.
i want to go to ubc.
good nite.
*sparkle, sparkle*
opera camp is over. *sighs*. no more diva training...for now.
the results of this week:
my voice is BiggER.
my confidence is More...
Judith Forst told me i sang well.
some new friends and a sunburn from reading in the rose garden.
a tired voice and tired abs and an overflowing of joy and song.
i want to go to ubc.
good nite.
*sparkle, sparkle*
29.7.04
brush with fame! brush with fame!
I was flushing the water fountain @ ubc, before filling my water bottle, when I saw it....
the sign on the locker read:
VACATED!!
name: Alana Worsley
SHIIIIINNNNGGGG! *sparkle, sparkle*
the sign on the locker read:
VACATED!!
name: Alana Worsley
SHIIIIINNNNGGGG! *sparkle, sparkle*
27.7.04
and matthew says...
"well hey when those saplings push through the ground it's so exciting."
carpe diem. ich liebe es.
carpe diem. ich liebe es.
diva 101
To her he says, "Part of diva 101 is learning to fill the space with your sound."
To me he says, "Developing a voice is like a [potted] plant. It's something you grow, not build. I get the impression that your voice is a sapling."
That sort of direction is all at once sweet and crushing in its honesty.
To me he says, "Developing a voice is like a [potted] plant. It's something you grow, not build. I get the impression that your voice is a sapling."
That sort of direction is all at once sweet and crushing in its honesty.
26.7.04
i spend too much money.
thoughts:
pretty girls don't always have pretty lives.
my boss came into the store the other day and said, "geez, it's hotter n' the edge a' hell in here!". (brilliant!)
and lastly....there is NO SHAME in singing loud and long in italian, french, english, czech or german. so that is what i shall do.
and lastly...i might get a new car stereo. woot woot waaaaah.
pretty girls don't always have pretty lives.
my boss came into the store the other day and said, "geez, it's hotter n' the edge a' hell in here!". (brilliant!)
and lastly....there is NO SHAME in singing loud and long in italian, french, english, czech or german. so that is what i shall do.
and lastly...i might get a new car stereo. woot woot waaaaah.
21.7.04
a beautiful letdown
We can't write people off just because they don't "know" Christ. It is often those who haven't been taught how to think about God who think, speak, feel and live him the most profoundly. At times, it is the burden of theology, exegeting and hermeneuting, which keeps us from true intimacy, and simple truths.
We can say that God works in mysterious ways, as long as those ways don't include too much wine and cigarettes, dirt and skateshops, mess and ugliness. There is richness in a life lived in the chaos of grace, and a wealth in amongst the potholes of a difficult road. That's where the view is the best--when you come to the right spot in a valley, where you can see the sunrise, and realize that your eyes may be the first to see this part of evaporating night.
Maybe there is more redemption in a sunrise than in seeing eyes.
We take too much credit for building and deciphering this mystery. Really, it is the truth being revealed to us, little by little. Through a tattoo, or a spoken word, a prophet or a manic street preacher, a parmedic or a concrete pourer--he can speak and appear anywhere, in and through anyone. For his purposes cannot be cut off, or his voice and power silenced.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there IS freedom. Relax and be relieved that you don't have to worry about where that is.
We can say that God works in mysterious ways, as long as those ways don't include too much wine and cigarettes, dirt and skateshops, mess and ugliness. There is richness in a life lived in the chaos of grace, and a wealth in amongst the potholes of a difficult road. That's where the view is the best--when you come to the right spot in a valley, where you can see the sunrise, and realize that your eyes may be the first to see this part of evaporating night.
Maybe there is more redemption in a sunrise than in seeing eyes.
We take too much credit for building and deciphering this mystery. Really, it is the truth being revealed to us, little by little. Through a tattoo, or a spoken word, a prophet or a manic street preacher, a parmedic or a concrete pourer--he can speak and appear anywhere, in and through anyone. For his purposes cannot be cut off, or his voice and power silenced.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there IS freedom. Relax and be relieved that you don't have to worry about where that is.
19.7.04
could we start again, please?
Jesus Christ Superstar is a great, great, great musical, and Norman Jewison did it much justice on film.
Mmmhmm. I went to a church service called "mosaic" last night, and I missed most of it. At the end a woman got up and shared a bit of what God's been doing in her life, and read to us a little poetic thing she'd written the day before. The part that I remember the most is this :
My breathing is multiplied.
My thinking, personified...
Reflecting on how God's changed her being, her life, every aspect of it. It was really beautiful, and when it came to trying to remember the whole thing, that was about all I could store in my mind.
Jessica is alive and well. Just thought you'd like to know.
peace.
Mmmhmm. I went to a church service called "mosaic" last night, and I missed most of it. At the end a woman got up and shared a bit of what God's been doing in her life, and read to us a little poetic thing she'd written the day before. The part that I remember the most is this :
My breathing is multiplied.
My thinking, personified...
Reflecting on how God's changed her being, her life, every aspect of it. It was really beautiful, and when it came to trying to remember the whole thing, that was about all I could store in my mind.
Jessica is alive and well. Just thought you'd like to know.
peace.
18.7.04
nickname
'melinda the great' came about when I put some clothes on hold at the store where a friend worked. She tagged them as reserved for "melinda the great", and I rather liked it, so I passed it on to others, and it stuck. Sort of. For a while I got emails to "melinda the great, of Richmond". Anyway...my locker mate this year was Teresea the Great. Or t*rex. And I'm m*rock.
Apparently I have an arch-nemesis. Or not really. But that's what she told my friend James. It's this girl, who has a blog. Makes me feel a little...winded, because I think she seems amazing, and it sucks when wonderful people don't really like you. Or decide that you're to be enemies.
Watched "Lost in Translation" with James tonight. He's a good friend just to be with.
Apparently I have an arch-nemesis. Or not really. But that's what she told my friend James. It's this girl, who has a blog. Makes me feel a little...winded, because I think she seems amazing, and it sucks when wonderful people don't really like you. Or decide that you're to be enemies.
Watched "Lost in Translation" with James tonight. He's a good friend just to be with.
15.7.04
ah ha
didn't nap at all today. got up @ 10am, and just kept on truckin'. went to curves, almost didn't make it...but i feel all the stronger for it.
lots of jenny lovin', she's back from australia today.
woot woot.
bought some accessories and REALLY COOL birthday presents for friends with birthdays coming soon.
yes.
without the nap, i'm famished and exhausted. and so i go to rememdy those now. ta.
lots of jenny lovin', she's back from australia today.
woot woot.
bought some accessories and REALLY COOL birthday presents for friends with birthdays coming soon.
yes.
without the nap, i'm famished and exhausted. and so i go to rememdy those now. ta.
14.7.04
returned at last.
Some things to be posted:
"The echo of her laughter is the second sunrise I awaken to each day, and at night I feel it is more than stars looking down on me."
-- Jerry Spinelli, Stargirl
Devastating.
Secondly, I'm reading the chronicles of Narnia. I believe I am on book 5, Voyage of the Dawn Treader, with The Silver Chair and The Last Battle yet to come. Today I read a deliciously poignant piece of the book. I shall share it with you hence:
(A character Eustace has been turned into a dragon...)
"...Just as I was going to put my feet into the water, I looked down and saw that they were all hard and rough and wrinkled and scaly just as they had been before. Oh, that's all right, said I, it only means I had another smaller suit on underneath the first one, and I'll have to get out of it too. So I scratched and tore again and this under skin peeled off beautifully and out I stepped and left it lying beside the other one and went down to the well for my bathe.
Well, exactly the same thing happened again...how ever many skins have I got to take off?...So I scratched away for the third time, and got off a third skin, just like the two others, and stepped out of it. But as soon as I looked at myself in the water, I knew it had been no good.
Then the lion said - but I don't know if it spoke - You will have to let me undress you. I was afraid of his claws...but I was pretty nearly desperate now. So I just lay flat down on my back to let him do it.
The very first tear he made was so deep that I thought it had gone right into my heart. And when he began pulling the skin off, it hurt worse than anything I've ever elt. The only thing that made me able to bear it was just the pleasure of feeling the stuff peel off.
...He peeled the beastly stuff right off...and there it was lying on the grass: only ever so much thicker, and darker, and more knobbly looking than the others had been. And there was I as smooth and soft as a peeled switch and smaller than I had been. Then he caught hold of me - I didn't like that much for I was very tender underneath now that I'd no skin on - and threw me into the water (a bubbling well in an enchanted garden). It smarted like anything but only for a moment. After that it became perfectly delicious and all the pain was gone from my arm.
After a bit the lion took me out and dressed me...in new clothes.
And then suddenly I was back here."
-- C.S. Lewis, Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Chronicles of Narnia.
"The echo of her laughter is the second sunrise I awaken to each day, and at night I feel it is more than stars looking down on me."
-- Jerry Spinelli, Stargirl
Devastating.
Secondly, I'm reading the chronicles of Narnia. I believe I am on book 5, Voyage of the Dawn Treader, with The Silver Chair and The Last Battle yet to come. Today I read a deliciously poignant piece of the book. I shall share it with you hence:
(A character Eustace has been turned into a dragon...)
"...Just as I was going to put my feet into the water, I looked down and saw that they were all hard and rough and wrinkled and scaly just as they had been before. Oh, that's all right, said I, it only means I had another smaller suit on underneath the first one, and I'll have to get out of it too. So I scratched and tore again and this under skin peeled off beautifully and out I stepped and left it lying beside the other one and went down to the well for my bathe.
Well, exactly the same thing happened again...how ever many skins have I got to take off?...So I scratched away for the third time, and got off a third skin, just like the two others, and stepped out of it. But as soon as I looked at myself in the water, I knew it had been no good.
Then the lion said - but I don't know if it spoke - You will have to let me undress you. I was afraid of his claws...but I was pretty nearly desperate now. So I just lay flat down on my back to let him do it.
The very first tear he made was so deep that I thought it had gone right into my heart. And when he began pulling the skin off, it hurt worse than anything I've ever elt. The only thing that made me able to bear it was just the pleasure of feeling the stuff peel off.
...He peeled the beastly stuff right off...and there it was lying on the grass: only ever so much thicker, and darker, and more knobbly looking than the others had been. And there was I as smooth and soft as a peeled switch and smaller than I had been. Then he caught hold of me - I didn't like that much for I was very tender underneath now that I'd no skin on - and threw me into the water (a bubbling well in an enchanted garden). It smarted like anything but only for a moment. After that it became perfectly delicious and all the pain was gone from my arm.
After a bit the lion took me out and dressed me...in new clothes.
And then suddenly I was back here."
-- C.S. Lewis, Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Chronicles of Narnia.
29.6.04
today i was attacked by the most deadly assailant of all...allergens.
yes. the beastly mildew, dust and smoke particles invaded my store via the back door, and proceeded to launch a full blown attack on my immune system.
it was a battle. i fought back as best i could, but with my physical symptoms becoming a burden and a headache, i knew i had to take drastic measures. so i closed the back door, blocking the path of the homicidal air riders, and thus giving me time to recover.
it took about an hour for my breathing and thinking capacities to return in full, but we made it.
phew. i gotta go to laundry now. peace out.
m.rock
yes. the beastly mildew, dust and smoke particles invaded my store via the back door, and proceeded to launch a full blown attack on my immune system.
it was a battle. i fought back as best i could, but with my physical symptoms becoming a burden and a headache, i knew i had to take drastic measures. so i closed the back door, blocking the path of the homicidal air riders, and thus giving me time to recover.
it took about an hour for my breathing and thinking capacities to return in full, but we made it.
phew. i gotta go to laundry now. peace out.
m.rock
26.6.04
movies to see
on the corner--playing @ capital 6.
farenheit 9/11
shrek 2
the notebook
i think those are the movies i want to see. not too many. mostly because...a lot of movies suck.
question: have you seen the commercials for 'white chicks'!? because if you have...isn't it obvious that those 2 guys undercover aren't really the pretty blonde twins?! i've never seen such ugly women. Blech. it's like people getting fooled by batman's mask. he still sounds the same! it's so obvious...
lastly...i saw a documentary on channel 5, called...espanosa ?, or in english, 'a cry for roma'. it was about the roma people (gypsies) in europe. pretty sad situation. picture the ways jews were treated during world war 2, or rather, leading up to it. minus the gas chambers, that's what these people are enduring.
i went to bed thinking this: if God has not given up on the world yet, there must be some hope left. and that, if nothing else, brings me enough peace to sleep.
farenheit 9/11
shrek 2
the notebook
i think those are the movies i want to see. not too many. mostly because...a lot of movies suck.
question: have you seen the commercials for 'white chicks'!? because if you have...isn't it obvious that those 2 guys undercover aren't really the pretty blonde twins?! i've never seen such ugly women. Blech. it's like people getting fooled by batman's mask. he still sounds the same! it's so obvious...
lastly...i saw a documentary on channel 5, called...espanosa ?, or in english, 'a cry for roma'. it was about the roma people (gypsies) in europe. pretty sad situation. picture the ways jews were treated during world war 2, or rather, leading up to it. minus the gas chambers, that's what these people are enduring.
i went to bed thinking this: if God has not given up on the world yet, there must be some hope left. and that, if nothing else, brings me enough peace to sleep.
25.6.04
MariaMail - Email driven by personality
a few things
1) Wednesday was red-and-white-striped tie day. At least for David Letterman, Paul Martin, and Peter Mansbridge.
2) I'm voting Conservative. More because of key issues than anything else. I wish I agreed with more of their platform, but I don't. OH well. True patriot love, in all thy Son's command.
3) I haven't gone to Curves yet this week. Ah well. Lots of other wonderful things have happened.
4) Not including the last few nights when I've stayed awake 'til 2am, watching TV. Ugh. Puke. Blech.
5) I've got a show! With Anna Vandas (formerly Tkachenko). Tuesday July 6 @ 9pm, @ piece of cake up in north van. So come on out to that!
6) I have to go to work now. It's been nice chatting with you.
1) Wednesday was red-and-white-striped tie day. At least for David Letterman, Paul Martin, and Peter Mansbridge.
2) I'm voting Conservative. More because of key issues than anything else. I wish I agreed with more of their platform, but I don't. OH well. True patriot love, in all thy Son's command.
3) I haven't gone to Curves yet this week. Ah well. Lots of other wonderful things have happened.
4) Not including the last few nights when I've stayed awake 'til 2am, watching TV. Ugh. Puke. Blech.
5) I've got a show! With Anna Vandas (formerly Tkachenko). Tuesday July 6 @ 9pm, @ piece of cake up in north van. So come on out to that!
6) I have to go to work now. It's been nice chatting with you.
