I've just texted you

Walked to Caversham this morning, it is quite a pleasant walk, I must admit! And I'm afraid I was a bit prideful of the fact that I'd managed to make it all the way there and without getting lost. Only had to stop once to pee as well, that's got to be some sort of record for me.

I got to see my friends Adelso and Lilian, and their daughters, Sophia and Valentina. Lili and I bonded right away when we met in February (she was my tutorial lecturer for spanish), both of us hungry for friendship. Three weeks before I arrived in New Zealand, they had moved from Canada to Dunedin - knowing minimal english. Adelso is from Venezuela; Lili was born in Guatemala. The whole family is fluent in Spanish and French, Sophia and Valentina now nearly fluent in English as well. I saw them for what I assume to be the last time. Tears. Lili hugged me so tightly.

Oh, but it was truly a fantastic day! Visiting, baking, eating fried rice, going to a cricket game, and meeting Michael's hilarious sister, Celia, over dinner. We had a grand time, the three of us, and I learned a LOT about the inner workings of Burger King. Did you know that to work at the Whopper bench, you have to be able to whip up one of the burgers in no more than 25 seconds? Or maybe it was less. I happen to know someone who could make them in 18 seconds. 4 at a time. Impressive.

Thoughts today of trusting the Lord. Hear and obey.

"Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel!

Be glad and rejoice with all of your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem!

The Lord has taken away your punishment, He has turned back your enemy.

The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm.

On that day they will say to Jerusalem,

"Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp.

The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing."

"The sorrows for the appointed feasts I will remove from you;

they are a burden and a reproach to you.
At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you;

I will rescue the lame and gather those who have been scattered.

I will give them praise and honor in every land where they were put to shame.

At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home.

I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth

when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes," says the LORD.

zephaniah 3:14-20, NIV

what a difference a day makes

On Wednesday I went to St. Kilda beach to "surf." Michelle picked me up in her sporty little two-door car and we went whizzing off to pick up Justin's boogie board and Sophie's surfboard and wetties. After driving almost completely around Dunedin, we found Sophie's house and set about loading up the gear. I wish I'd taken a picture. We couldn't fit the board into the car through the boot, the angles were all wrong. Michelle happened to have some extension power cords so I suggested we lash the board to the roof. I would hold, for dear life, onto the ends of the cords inside the car. Laughing through our terrified visions of the board flying off the roof in transit and breaking a fin/the entire board, we decided that it simply had to fit inside. With some clever maneuvering the door provided just enough room to squeeze the board in - lazing at an angle from trunk to windshield.
Picking up Christine (who had available transport), I insisted that we could fit four people into the already-reduced space in Michelle's car. On our way to pick up Luke, I tested out my proposed traveling position: lying underneath the surfboard on my stomach, my hips and legs in the boot, and my torso inside the car. My breathing was a bit inhibited, so while picking up our fourth passenger, I flipped over to lying on my back which was much more comfortable. Christine sat in a huddled ball behind and against the front passenger seat, also underneath the surfboard and just at my head. Luke sat behind Michelle, who drove. This was about the most fun part of the adventure because the waves were terrible, the wind was ferocious and I'm pretty sure I saw some ice cubes float past me in the water. Once the rips started up, us three girls quit the water and joined Luke and Michelle's friend on the beach. A bunch of Student Life guys played touch at the shore while Michelle and I went for a short beach run. We took a break and I gave some cartwheel, round-off, and handstand lessons to Michelle, but the audience was a little unnerving so we headed back.
All snug and cozy for the trip back to Dunners, Luke calmly told me that if he were to tickle my feet, I wouldn't be able to move. I had already been employing my anti-claustrophobia/scuba diving techniques to stay calm, but his statement made me realise how truly pinned I was. My hips were locked into place by the seat Luke sat on. When we dropped him off he didn't get out right away. I mentioned that I couldn't wait to get out, asking if he could unlatch his seat to lay it forward so I could escape. He stared at me with a look, similar to the one Heather gave me before flooring the gas petal that day at the puddle. When he bolted from the car I mustered all of my ancient flexibility to reach for the seat latch to release myself. Just in time I wriggled out of my bonds, and though Luke had reached my foot, he couldn't keep a grasp on my ankle. Gained a painful carpet burn and bruise on my elbow from that one.
At this point I should probably explain that Luke is the leader, yes, leader, of realise, the university student-aged group at DCBC, the church have attended this year and now dually attend with Apo. It was at his birthday (30 Bells Ball) that I taught the dances. Shame on him! Do boys ever learn?
Michelle and I dropped off the gear and a quick visit with Justin. We first tried to pretend we were there to pick up the boogie board, but Justin had seen us driving in town; we gave up in a fit of tired, sunburnt giggles. I was dropped off at home, had a thoroughly enjoyable phone conversation with Michael and slept soundly until my alarm went off at 3:56am. Idaho, (Mountain Standard Time) is currently 4 hours (actually 20 hours behind) "ahead" of New Zealand and my registration began at 8am, on the 26th of October. I spent an hour registering for spring semester classes at Boise State University, before re-entering dreamland. Ugh, is it just me, or is anyone else having restless sleeps?

Shakespeare was a smart man.

today was one sunny day. Had to wear two different outfits (jeans: also nonconducive to hiking), went on three walks, had four big talks, and ate five times.

1. The weather was glorious, a slight wind providing the balance for the intense sun.
   
2. Jeans and cardigan pulled off the look this morning, with a tank top and shorts ensemble for the remainder of the day.
   
3. A delightful jaunt around a bit of the Otago harbour, half-way up to Flagstaff (through thick foliage - complete with all sorts of pokey stickers and thistle-y type growth. trail was discovered in time for decent), and up Baldwin 1.5 times more than exceeded my "30-minutes-of-exercise" hoy.
   
4. This day just wouldn't be complete without conversation! Michael, Greg, Denise and Meade all recieved an earfull and contributed to my life.
   
5. Kicking off the day with my homeade porridge, I followed this up with a short white, a scone, a banana, and a fantastic black bean burger dinner created by my flatmate, Nicole. Dinner hit the spot.

The End.

viernes (14) y sabado (15) de Octubre

In anticipation of impending doom (exam study), I allowed myself a brutally busy-with-play weekend. Friday commenced with a delightful phone call from home. After talking for a couple of hours (I don't afford calling home anymore, so home calls me), flatmate Claire and I were off to update the WOF on Uncle, our cruise-liner of a car. While we sat in the sterile little waiting room with the complementary mangled magazines, I relished reading 'The Atonement Child' by Francine Rivers (I better enjoyed 'Redeeming Love,' though both novels are a bit cheesy and unrealistic). I returned, solo, with the car (Claire narrowly missed being hit when she jumped out of Uncle at a traffic light) and took a 40 minute nap before going for a run.
This day I visited the cemetary; I love old cemetaries. The gravestones seem so magnificent, yet useless. It makes me sad, though, to see how people memorialise their forefathers today in contrast to the past. Why do we so often insist on pragmatism?
On the way back through the botanical gardens, I ran into a group of Student Life girls, with whom I was going to Port Chalmers for the end-of-year swimming party. I made it to my flat with just enough time to pack some things for the swim party, but also to stay the night at Long Beach for the Dead Poet's Nite!
I didn't have time to shower after my run, so I was the token stinky person in the van on the way to Port Chalmers (my apologies, Abbie). The pool was wonderful, though, and Danny had planned some great relay games. For one relay we were split up into teams of about 6 and given a number of items - floaty mat, tube, kayak (no paddle) - and had to move them, along with the entire team, from one end of the pool to the other. The first run I was in the kayak with Bonnie pushing me. I started to go sideways across the pool while watching Lucy zoom, backwards, to her destination. And yes, we all played whirlpool. Amazingly effective considering we only used one end of the pool.
An array of food met us outside - yum sausages, potato salad and a multitude of hot chips. Little Olivia joined in the touch rugby that began on the grass. All the big guys were so sweet, making her feel like a real part of the game!
As everyone was moving inside to continue the festivities, I had to go to catch my ride out to the beach. It was at that moment that everyone realised why I'd brought my tramping pack to the pool :o)
Additional note: this was my last contact with Aaron and Connie. They've left for the States for three months and I'm going to miss them muchmuch.
It was a full-van trip to Long Beach. Eight highschool and uni aged folk laughed and chatted wildly on the way. It was so loud that I had to text my friend in the front seat as he couldn't hear me from the back. Ok, I probably didn't need to take such drastic measures but just for once I'd like to meet my 500 texts/month limit! At this moment I've only 64 texts left. I'm thoroughly impressed with that. Not sure why except that I prefer to get my full money's worth. Sorry, I can't seem to stay on task. So much to consider and many important decisions to make.
A roasty fire was glowing and everywhere people were munching on lollies, marshmallows and damper in golden syrup or jam. I was requested to start singing to get everyone's attention, so I hopped on"stage" (a large crate) and blasted the audience with Shirley Temple's "On The Good Ship Lollipop." Then began the readings and recitations. A scene from Braveheart was acted out for the kick-off. There was a skit, some original pieces and sweet, funny childhood rhymes. I read "Ozymandias," by Shelley. Singing, ahh, was sporadic during the evening. Most of it terrible, or so I've heard. As I'd forgotten food for the next day, I bartered with my American marshmallows for some breakfast.
Just about the time the high school students had become 'one' with the sugar they'd consumed, I was getting drowsy. Caleb had recommended sleeping in the cave a short distance away - the sand was cleaner and it stayed warmer with it's low ceiling. Mike, Susan, Caleb and I moved into the cave and set up sleeping zones. We wanted to get up in time to see the sunrise, so the alarm was set for 5:40am, although it was nearly 1:30am. It was cold night on the hard sand, complete with serenading from a nearby penguin (whose lovely noises had scared the crap out of me earlier in the evening). When the alarm went off we layered up and ran outside to see the sunrise. Mysteriously dark for a sun that was supposed to come in 4 minutes. Caleb said,

Hmmm. I bet I forgot to change my GPS unit over for daylight savings. Well, I'm going back to bed for an hour!

A sleepless, shivering hour later we were up again, this time faced with a bright, but overcast, morning sky. Sigh.

Fact for the day: When your bladder is full, your body fights to keep the contents warm, often dropping your body temperature just slightly. This can produce that chilled feeling, though you are, in fact, warm enough to survive...just not sleep.

After finding a toilet, I crawled back into my sleeping bag and enjoyed glorious, warm sleep for the next 90 minutes. Yay for morning!

I've encountered just about the most wretched trick online ever.

Mean, mean, mean!
My flatmate had this little link on her website. It's for a survey/predictor thingy regarding your "love life." Very hilarious, thought I, so I tried it. Entering all sorts of personal information and fudging my email address, I hit the enter button.

Ha! You've been fooled! A copy of your entry has been sent to your friend!
Hope you don't mind. If you want to fool your friends, click here.

I'm never doing anything online "just for fun" again.

Rain, STAY! ...If I've got a change of clothes.

I will update on the adventures of last weekend, but here are two funny rain stories first. Inspired, of course, by Justin's blog. I never claimed to possess creativity.

Spring of last year, after a long day of classes and work at uni, I found that it was rather puddly outside. Although it was still cold and I was wearing jeans (most comfortable when worn dry), I decided to have fun in the dreary weather by running through the puddles on the way to the carpark. The few passersby witnessed my excitement blossom as felt my sneakers go all squishy. The entire time I was arguing with my mommy voice -you'll be cold and miserable on the drive home! You could get sick!- Thankfully, I've come to learn that you have to do some of the fun things regardless of silly "reasons" not to, such as having wet clothes (which would dry when you got to the car where you could run the heater for free). Anyway, I had been feeling pretty healthy.
Then I decided just walking through the puddles wasn't enough; I needed to jump. I was only wet from about the calves down, it was great!
The big puddle was coming up...oooh, it's deep!...a fellow student was approaching, I knew it was then or never. I thudded into the deepest part of the water and the splash was SO satisfying! However, not only was the water spent splaying in all directions around me, it was sent straight up the inside of my legs. That one student just smiled as I looked down at the result. Continuing the "peed-my-pants" theme I have here on my blog, that's exactly what it looked like. I then felt free to attack the rest of the puddles I encountered before my car. It was a good day.

I shared my second puddle encounter with Heather. It was the afternoon and I was on my way to her house. A major storm was brewing. The wind was howling and a slushy rain was falling. The rain turned into hail and cars sought protection under the trees lining the street. Windshield wipers couldn't run fast enough to allow visibility. I made it to Heather's during the few calm let-ups in the storm. Flying from my car to the house, I made it inside at the same moment an amazing rain began.
Heather and I stood at the windows and watched the torrents fall. Some areas of the road now had small rivers flowing across them. What do you do in situations as these? You can't just ignore them. Not when one of you has a 4WD vehicle.
The rain lasted long enough to create treacherous driving conditions (though it doesn't matter how long it rains - everyone still forgets how to drive in it). Heather and I decided to go driving. We found a few giggle-inducing roadside ponds before finding the mother of all puddles. The parking lot was empty and the drain must have been blocked because there was a puddle the size of Texas...there in our own private Idaho.
We drove through the edges a few times, screaming with laughter. The middle was actually so deep that we could've seriously damaged the jeep if we'd gone through it quickly. The weather was starting to warm at this point, so I decided I wanted to go for a wade to break in my chacos. Heather drove to the middle to drop me off, but I was pretty sure the water level was higher than the door. After getting out of the vehicle at the edge of the water, I made my way to the depths - past my knees - holding up my trousers so they wouldn't get soaked. Heather was slowly driving around and I was signaling to her how deep the water was.
But there's this funny thing about dear friends, you can read intentions in their eyes.
Heather was starting to drive, aiming the jeep just to the side of me. My jaw dropped and I began to muck my way out of the water while shrieking, "Heather NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"
Although she sent a wave of admirable size over the place I had been standing, I wasn't caught in it. But I did manage to drench myself by running to get away. As I approached the jeep with death in my eyes, I could see Heather, bend over the steering wheel, tears streaming down her face. She could hardly speak she was laughing so hard. She told me the look on my face was priceless as I realised what she was going to do, but my frantic running in knee-deep water rivaled for humour.
We laughed until it hurt. It was then that we saw something black floating in the puddle - one of the plastic guards from under her jeep had broken off. We scooped it up and headed back to her house.
It was another good day.

That was NOT the desired outcome.

Last night I thought to use a hottie which would, theoretically, allow me to fall asleep easier and sleep deeper. It hasn't been particularly cold in the flat, at least not on the second floor, thought the ground floor is still quite freezing at times. But, tired as I was, and in light of the late hour, I figured it was a great idea! I quickly multitasked, simultaneously brushing my teeth and filling the kettle. After the hottie was filled, I tested to see if the plug was leaking still. Only a little.
Once in bed, I journaled for a while with the hottie creating a toasty, woasty, and warm bedding environment. I had to hop up for that last bladder emptying (in hopes that I would make it through the night - I have a 7minute bladder...approximately - sort of like that 7minute silence, or awkward moment, in conversation.) when I discovered my pajama pants were a little damp. No, I hadn't had an accident; the hottie had been leaking.
I tried to tighten the plug and test for further leakage. It seemed watertight at that point. I then placed it at the foot of my bed so I could have roasty toes all night. But I distinctly recall being aware of it every time I turned over in my sleep.
In conclusion, not only did I have to get up and pee early this morning (it comes down to the decision of whether or not I'll sleep better ignoring the pressure or just getting up to relieve it) but the hottie actually made for a terrible night's sleep. Disappointment.
Today was great, though! Denise and I went for a good walk this morning. We walked to where I had been housesitting last week so I could pick up my 1/3 loaf of bread I'd left there. No one was home, but I did find an open window. I was more than tempted, but I didn't. Not that it would have been the first time I've broken and entered into a friend's house.
I took a short, hottie-less rest after the walk before heading off for skit practice at uni. I've been a part of the skit team for Student Life this semester. Well, really, half of this semester. This was our third practice for one 3minute skit. Only because it was a musical. After practice we (Justin, Michael, and I) popped out of our dinky room at Clubs and Socs to take part in the $3 lunch which the Hare Krishnas put on. Today's meal: choice of leftover pasta from yesterday or lentilish soup, fresh-baked bread roll, and a slop serving of chocolate _______. I forget what it's called. Something 'sem...' But it looks like nearly pureed refried beans. Despite its nasty appearance (Michael told the server it looked repulsive), it was completely yum. I scored a helping from Justin who thought it too sweet. My own lunch was brought from home: a hexagonal glass jam jar filled with frozen peas and slices of marinated tofu from the Dunedin Farmer's Market. As to be expected, I received endless teasing for it. I am so misunderstood.
The last Student Life meeting of 2005 was a little sad as it's yet another "last" for me in NZ, but our performance of Monty Python's "The Lumberjack Song" was a big hit. We're expecting to receive our Grammy nomination soon. For my participation in the skit team I was gifted a movie ticket for Hoyts, the posh cinema in town. And for my participation in the audience today, I was gifted a nice welted bruise on my forehead by a crazy flying lolly of the most disgusting flavour ever: imitation banana. Not even students flatting stoop low enough to eat that.

For My Daddy

Dad, I stole this from my friend's website. I thought it described you perfectly in the morning. I still remember Mom telling me, Daniel, and Sarah to give you space because "Dad hasn't had his coffee yet."

Oh what a beautiful morning! :o)
ps - I'll never be able to watch "Oklahoma" without cringing. I liken it to the alarm going off. But it's a good memory to have, you coming down the hallway singing that song. I always attempted to create a lightproof and soundproof cacoon out of my blankets by clamping them between my body and mattress when I heard you coming. It never worked. I love you, Dad

It's true, these are therapeutic

TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF - The Survey
Name: Elizabeth
Birthday: 8 January 1983
Birthplace: Costa Mesa, California
Current Location: Central Library, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Eye Color: Brown and Green (hazel?)
Hair Color: brown most of the time
Height: 5'6
Right Handed or Left Handed: right
Your Heritage: Swedish, Irish, Indian...regular Heinz 57
The Shoes You Wore Today: 2nd hand maroon shoes with two orange stripes a piece.
Your Weakness: op shops and bookstores
Your Fears: they're irrational - generally anything that would end in my causing my demise, such as throwing myself off a cliff or driving into oncoming traffic. Oh, and not knowing where something or someone is. I hate suspense.
Your Perfect Pizza: HEAPS of veges and some ham.
Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year: finish writing up and turn in my Congressional Award paperwork. Then Res wouldn't hate me forever.
Your Most Overused Phrase On an instant messenger: "Well, I really need to go now."
Thoughts First Waking Up: "Am I still tired? I'll just drop my head here until I decide."
Your Best Physical Feature: skin tone, eyes, ears
Worst Physical feature: my arms when I'm not fit
Your Bedtime: anywhere from 10pm - 2am lately
Your Most Missed Memory: dinners as a family
Pepsi or Coke: gag. blech. grotty.
MacDonalds or Burger King: Whoppers are the bestest!
Single or Group Dates: group...so long as they're not really dates. I'll stop there.
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: I pretty much only drink water
Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate!
Cappuccino or Coffee: Coffee Breyers
Do you Smoke: no
Do you Swear: Yes, but rarely on purpose. Slips out too often.
Do you Sing: If you know me you know I don't stop singing. Though I sing considerably less in Dunedin than I do in Idaho. Something about flatmates wanting peace and quiet, I suppose.
Do you Shower Daily: if there's time. Otherwise I employ the old bball cap.
Have you Been in Love: Not romantically.
Do you want to go to College: Desperately want to graduate. someday.
Do you want to get Married: Definitely (today is adverb day).
Do you believe in yourself: Nope. I know that there is nothing good in my flesh.
Do you get Motion Sickness: only ever since I rode that roller coaster three times in a row when I was 17.
Do you think you are Attractive: Yes.
Are you a Health Freak: My brother would say so. I am in the Pharisee sense.
Do you get along with your Parents: Si.
Do you like Thunderstorms: Yes!
Do you play an Instrument: I want to learn to play the guitar and piano.
In the past month have you Drank Alcohol: Ginger wine...mmmmmmm.
In the past month have you Smoked: No.
In the past month have you been on Drugs: Nope.
In the past month have you gone on a Date: Oh yeah! If you call going to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with a 12 year old a date.
In the past month have you gone to a Mall: Pretty sure I have
In the past month have you eaten a box of Oreos: No, but I did have an Oreo taste testing session with the flatties in which we compared US, Canadian and NZ oreos. No competition - Canada wins, hands down. US is a far second and NZ oreos? Well, they're just sort of sawdusty. No offense.
In the past month have you eaten Sushi: It was offered to me, but I turned it down. Not a big fan.
In the past month have you been on Stage: Have I ever!
In the past month have you been Dumped: No.
In the past month have you gone Skinny Dipping: Sadly, no.
In the past month have you Stolen Anything: I looked at the two bags of apples in my flat this morning (belonging to the flatmates) and thought to take an apple because I didn't want to trek up to the second floor to get one of my bananas. I didn't take an apple. I was just being lazy.
Ever been Drunk: no
Ever been called a Tease: Yes but I never liked it, so I try to avoid deserving that title.
Ever been Beaten up: Only verbally.
Ever Shoplifted: I stole pieces of 3 cent candy when I was about 9yrs old.
How do you want to Die: "The Jordan is waiting for me to cross through" - I don't care how (though I feel selfish for preferring a painless route)
What do you want to be when you Grow Up: wife, mother, grandmother, auntie, obstetrician/gynaecologist, someone who is ready for anything.
What country would you most like to Visit: Africa with my sister.
In a Boy/Girl..
Favourite Eye Color: Doesn't matter
Favourite Hair Color: No preference
Short or Long Hair: Short
Height: taller than me
Weight: whatever's healthy for him
Best Clothing Style: whatever looks good on him
Number of Drugs I have taken: Codeine when the wisdom teeth came out 5 days before my 21st.
Number of CDs I own: No idea of the actual count - more than 50?
Number of Piercings: two, have had 4
Number of Tattoos: none, I wanted a tiny freckle-coloured freckle (just so I could say I was a tattooed woman) but then I dreamt I'd gotten it and I was devastated. I remember that overwhelming feeling every time I consider a tattoo.
Number of things in my Past I Regret: They've been conquered at the cross, I don't dwell on them.

found

In my abnormal psychology lecture hall I found a folded up bit of paper shoved down in the pencil groove. This is what it said,

"If you put it up to your ear you can hear the sound of the wind and the sea dancing with each other...and if you really listen, you can hear me whispering from New Zealand."

my hopeless romanticism resurfaces.

It all began with the search for toilet paper. My past came whooshing back so fast I felt my hair rustle.
In the closet of the ground floor toilet, it sat upon the shelf. Anne of Green Gables on VHS. It wasn't until I had lovingly pushed it into the VCR that I remembered exactly how much I loved it.
The first strains of The Lady of Shallot hit my ear and I joined in for the bit I know:

There she weaves by night and day
A magic web with colours gay.
She has heard a whisper say,
A curse is on her if she stay
To look down to Camelot.
She knows not what the curse may be,
And so she weaveth steadily,
And little other care hath she,
The Lady of Shalott.

The story of Anne Shirley unfolded just as beautifully as I'd memorised so long ago. There was Avonlea with all its scope for the imagination, all the lovely characters, and, of course, Anne.
I have found that re-watching my favourite films, particularly those whose main character(s) I identified strongly with, has made for a fascinating glimpse of the changes in my life. For example, I always considered myself Marianne Dashwood of Sense and Sensibility (Kate Winslet's portrayal) and COULD NOT identify with Eleanor. She was stuffy. Marianne, on the other hand, knew how to fly. She could run down the hillside chasing blue sky and if it was raining, all the better. To die for love, what could be more glorious? Emotions are meant to be experienced and obvious. The "unfeeling," such as Eleanor, must lead such heartless lives.
Anne, too, shares in Marianne's soaring. To be lost in poetry, to dance and spin about on tiptoe whilst the sun melts into the ocean, to savour simple longing. To make everything more beautiful, according to one's own ability.
I was Anne. I was Marianne. I am Elizabeth Anne.
And now I am Anne, Marilla and Matthew. I am Marianne and Eleanor. The hopeless romanticism will not die, I wonder if it possibly could. No, but now I understand more of the balance. Whereas there are adventures to be had - flitting up waterfalls, singing into the waves after sunset, kissing the stars - there are new joys. Despite the heavy pack, singing in the pouring rain, mingling raindrops with tears. Walking away from a desire that will never be, only to feel the tender caressing of my heart by the One who knows what I am, what I need, and what I will become. The releasing, the receiving; the pain, the beauty. In so many ways, things are more beautiful than ever before.
The movie holds new relevance for me today; there is a blossoming from whimsical to wise. And the adventures only get better.

"Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"... eccl. 12:1

Justin and Darren!

I've uploaded most of the pics, enjoy! Here I am working frantically on my computer with Ryan's assistance.

Well, are you?

Welcome to D-Qwon's dance grooves, are you ready to get your groove on?

Narnia and beyond

Wow. Sorry I've been so slack on my writing. The play has been over for a week, so I have no excuse! But a new website is beginning for Narnia Productions which will soon have pics up from the play. There are some amazing shots that will go up eventually. Check it out! www.narniaproductions.co.nz

ps- Happy Birthdays to my Braveheart brother Daniel who just turned 20! And to dear Aislinn, who has gone on ahead and turned 23. "Lovely woman she is." - Yoda