My brother will be working on this film if it reaches its goal of $135,000 in donations. Their goal is the deciding factor for whether it goes into production or not! Right now they are at just over $30,000, and only have 20 more days to reach their goal. The film is inspired by true stories. Read the information and synopsis, and if you can, please donate whatever amount of money you are able and willing, $1 or more. I think this looks like a wonderful film that will likely inspire and provide hope for a lot of people. Please, anything helps! Plus I'd really love to see my brother doing what he loves...being on film crew!
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jacobroebuck/camp-inspired-by-true-stores-from-camp-for-foster
Monday, August 15, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
One sappy post
I've basically settled into the fact that I'm married now. Mostly. There are still some things I'm not quite used to. The other day I was signing something and mistakenly began signing "Rupprecht." I also occasionally refer to things in our apartment as Jake's or ask him what food "he" has. It still sounds weird (but in a good way, music to my ears:) to call him my husband, or hear him refer to me as his wife.
Some of the greatest things (so far) about being married is not having to say goodbye to him at night, not having to cook for one (we shared a lot of dinners before marriage, but of course not all the time), and his goodbye kisses every morning when he leaves for work. I'm usually half-asleep when he kisses me goodbye, but I cherish them nonetheless. I am also loving our routine we've established this summer. Surely it will change once school starts for me in a couple weeks, but we watch a movie or at least some TV episodes every night before bed. This might seem boring or like it would get old for some people, but we're very much utilizing Netflix this summer, and it's been a great way to just be together and wind down.
I feel very blessed right now. We don't have a ton of money or a nice house to start off our marriage, but we do both have jobs and we have a place to live. So what if it's a small one-bedroom apartment? Of course eventually we'd like something bigger, and hope to have a bigger savings account than we do now, but our little home is perfect for us right now, and we have the abilities to start saving up.
And I know that no marriage is perfect, and no marriage goes without kinks. And we'll have some bad times. But there's no one else that I'd rather undo those kinks and navigate over the bumps with than my husband.
Some of the greatest things (so far) about being married is not having to say goodbye to him at night, not having to cook for one (we shared a lot of dinners before marriage, but of course not all the time), and his goodbye kisses every morning when he leaves for work. I'm usually half-asleep when he kisses me goodbye, but I cherish them nonetheless. I am also loving our routine we've established this summer. Surely it will change once school starts for me in a couple weeks, but we watch a movie or at least some TV episodes every night before bed. This might seem boring or like it would get old for some people, but we're very much utilizing Netflix this summer, and it's been a great way to just be together and wind down.
I feel very blessed right now. We don't have a ton of money or a nice house to start off our marriage, but we do both have jobs and we have a place to live. So what if it's a small one-bedroom apartment? Of course eventually we'd like something bigger, and hope to have a bigger savings account than we do now, but our little home is perfect for us right now, and we have the abilities to start saving up.
And I know that no marriage is perfect, and no marriage goes without kinks. And we'll have some bad times. But there's no one else that I'd rather undo those kinks and navigate over the bumps with than my husband.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
The powers of technology
I often find myself complaining about soooo much new technology and advances and iPad 4 or whatever and all these new gadgets that everyone needs, yet they fared perfectly fine with their non-smart phones. I also rant whenever Facebook has another facelift and changes everything from viewing photos to how you can post things on friends' walls. However, I recently gained a new appreciation for new technology, Facebook specifically, due to the Las Conchas fire burning so close to my hometown. 11 years ago with the Cerro Grande fire, the only ways we had for communicating with others around town and for out-of-town family getting in touch with us to make sure we were okay were phones and face-to-face. Yes, there was Internet then, and instant messaging, but nothing like Facebook.
I couldn't help noticing the last week and a half how much Facebook has changed the way we keep in touch...okay, that's the understatement of the decade I'm sure, but specifically, how it has changed the way a community communicates in times of crisis. Sure there was plenty of emotional support and mutual feelings of loss and sadness and hope during the Cerro Grande, along with much volunteer work, but I observed and was amazed by how quickly and effectively the community came together via Facebook, how quickly news spread and updates were given, and how much support has been shared through this network. Out-of-town friends and family could know what was happening immediately, people could know where their friends and family were going upon evacuation, how close the fire has come to different locations...but mostly how community members came together to share grief, fear, and hope on a wide and large scale. A simple status like "We need more lunches made for the firefighters" brings countless volunteers; pages are created to show support and gratitude for the firefighters, police officers, and national guard, and to keep community members updated on the status of the fire.
Facebook can't stop the fire or protect the town or mountains, but it can sure change relationships throughout and among Los Alamos and other surrounding communities for the better.
I couldn't help noticing the last week and a half how much Facebook has changed the way we keep in touch...okay, that's the understatement of the decade I'm sure, but specifically, how it has changed the way a community communicates in times of crisis. Sure there was plenty of emotional support and mutual feelings of loss and sadness and hope during the Cerro Grande, along with much volunteer work, but I observed and was amazed by how quickly and effectively the community came together via Facebook, how quickly news spread and updates were given, and how much support has been shared through this network. Out-of-town friends and family could know what was happening immediately, people could know where their friends and family were going upon evacuation, how close the fire has come to different locations...but mostly how community members came together to share grief, fear, and hope on a wide and large scale. A simple status like "We need more lunches made for the firefighters" brings countless volunteers; pages are created to show support and gratitude for the firefighters, police officers, and national guard, and to keep community members updated on the status of the fire.
Facebook can't stop the fire or protect the town or mountains, but it can sure change relationships throughout and among Los Alamos and other surrounding communities for the better.
Monday, June 27, 2011
On a lighter (and hilarious) note...
My last post about the fire was a downer. It is very saddening, but I do have something pretty dang funny to write about, and I think it will cheer me up and anyone who needs a laugh right now.
I've discovered I married a sleeptalker. Several nights he's woken me up with his talking, and so far it's been nonsensical. Not long ago I woke up in the middle of the night and came to the realization that he has been working at a call center too long. His mumbling was along the lines of, "Don't stress about your phone plan. Don't worry. We're here to accommodate you...we're here to accommodate you..."
He's said some other funny things in his sleep, but nothing compared to last night.
I woke up to this noise (sort of a whistling, but more airy), and saw Jake with his hand in the air, moving it back and forth. It made me think he was dreaming he was playing with a toy airplane. But then he started talking. Here's what came out of his unconscious mouth:
Jake: "Look at the floud." (Yes, floud, pronounced like "cloud")
Me: "What?"
Jake: "The floud. I see a floud."
Me: "A floud? What's a floud?"
Jake: "You know! A floud, a ring floud. Like where we put our rings. It's big and black."
Me: "A ring floud? Like a ring pillow?" (me thinking of our wedding rings and the ring pillow for the wedding)
Jake: "No, a floud!"
Me (as I burst out laughing): "You are dreaming! What the heck is a floud?!"
Jake: "No I'm not!! I see it outside! It's black like a cloud!"
Me (still laughing uncontrollably): "You're dreaming! You're talking nonsense!"
Jake (now hurt with me because I don't understand): "No!" (in a whiny voice, and he rolls over away from me).
It took me a few minutes to stop laughing into my pillow. Before I fell asleep, I vowed to remember every detail of this conversation so I could tell Jake about it in the morning. This morning, he didn't remember any of it of course. Funniest thing I've ever heard in the middle of the night.
Maybe I should write down all his unconscious pearls of wisdom. Hope you enjoyed it this one :)
I've discovered I married a sleeptalker. Several nights he's woken me up with his talking, and so far it's been nonsensical. Not long ago I woke up in the middle of the night and came to the realization that he has been working at a call center too long. His mumbling was along the lines of, "Don't stress about your phone plan. Don't worry. We're here to accommodate you...we're here to accommodate you..."
He's said some other funny things in his sleep, but nothing compared to last night.
I woke up to this noise (sort of a whistling, but more airy), and saw Jake with his hand in the air, moving it back and forth. It made me think he was dreaming he was playing with a toy airplane. But then he started talking. Here's what came out of his unconscious mouth:
Jake: "Look at the floud." (Yes, floud, pronounced like "cloud")
Me: "What?"
Jake: "The floud. I see a floud."
Me: "A floud? What's a floud?"
Jake: "You know! A floud, a ring floud. Like where we put our rings. It's big and black."
Me: "A ring floud? Like a ring pillow?" (me thinking of our wedding rings and the ring pillow for the wedding)
Jake: "No, a floud!"
Me (as I burst out laughing): "You are dreaming! What the heck is a floud?!"
Jake: "No I'm not!! I see it outside! It's black like a cloud!"
Me (still laughing uncontrollably): "You're dreaming! You're talking nonsense!"
Jake (now hurt with me because I don't understand): "No!" (in a whiny voice, and he rolls over away from me).
It took me a few minutes to stop laughing into my pillow. Before I fell asleep, I vowed to remember every detail of this conversation so I could tell Jake about it in the morning. This morning, he didn't remember any of it of course. Funniest thing I've ever heard in the middle of the night.
Maybe I should write down all his unconscious pearls of wisdom. Hope you enjoyed it this one :)
Deja Vu
Eleven years ago, Los Alamos and White Rock (my hometown) were evacuated due to a raging wildfire, the Cerro Grande, blazing in the beautiful Jemez Mountains. Now, a raging wildfire has once again prompted evacuations (for now, just voluntary), and my parents and my sister, brother-in-law, and niece are staying in Albuquerque.
This feels eerily similar. I am five hours away, yet I still feel the exact same stress I did at 2 in the morning the night my family packed up our most precious belongings and our pets and drove to stay with my grandparents in Nambe for 6 days or so. The drive took about 6 or 7 hours, which usually is only about 25 or 30 minutes. The traffic stayed on our street for about 4 1/2 hours. Which was kind of good, because we kept remembering things we should have packed and walked back to the house to retrieve them. This stress I feel is very specific, and I have only felt it these two times.
The Cerro Grande fire burned 47,000 in about 2 weeks. The present one, the Las Conchas fire, has gotten up to nearly 45,000 acres, and it's only been 24 hours. My heart is breaking. I love those mountains; they're just as much home to my family and I as our own house is. I know that fire is somehow good for nature; it provides the means for new life and growth. But it still deeply saddens me.
One of the saddest, most haunting, but also most beautiful sites I have ever seen was a few days after we came home after the Cerro Grande fire. It was not completely out, but contained enough that residents could return home (the lucky ones, at least. Too many homes were lost). My family and I drove up the middle road from White Rock to Los Alamos. Burned trees and ground everywhere. Closer to when we got to Los Alamos, I looked out my window and there, standing among the trees that were now black sticks, with the sunlight casting a dazzling yellow light, was a lone doe staring at us on the road. It broke my heart, but it was still beautiful. I was the only one who saw it. I imagine the deer was confused, lost perhaps, not knowing what to make of the new scenery (which may not have been the case at all, but that's how I thought of it). That site still haunts me.
I should feel grateful that I'm not there right now (it would probably upset me even more seeing it live rather than just through pictures), but I would give anything to be with my family. I feel so helpless here.
We need rain, desperately. And less wind. It cannot be said enough.
This feels eerily similar. I am five hours away, yet I still feel the exact same stress I did at 2 in the morning the night my family packed up our most precious belongings and our pets and drove to stay with my grandparents in Nambe for 6 days or so. The drive took about 6 or 7 hours, which usually is only about 25 or 30 minutes. The traffic stayed on our street for about 4 1/2 hours. Which was kind of good, because we kept remembering things we should have packed and walked back to the house to retrieve them. This stress I feel is very specific, and I have only felt it these two times.
The Cerro Grande fire burned 47,000 in about 2 weeks. The present one, the Las Conchas fire, has gotten up to nearly 45,000 acres, and it's only been 24 hours. My heart is breaking. I love those mountains; they're just as much home to my family and I as our own house is. I know that fire is somehow good for nature; it provides the means for new life and growth. But it still deeply saddens me.
One of the saddest, most haunting, but also most beautiful sites I have ever seen was a few days after we came home after the Cerro Grande fire. It was not completely out, but contained enough that residents could return home (the lucky ones, at least. Too many homes were lost). My family and I drove up the middle road from White Rock to Los Alamos. Burned trees and ground everywhere. Closer to when we got to Los Alamos, I looked out my window and there, standing among the trees that were now black sticks, with the sunlight casting a dazzling yellow light, was a lone doe staring at us on the road. It broke my heart, but it was still beautiful. I was the only one who saw it. I imagine the deer was confused, lost perhaps, not knowing what to make of the new scenery (which may not have been the case at all, but that's how I thought of it). That site still haunts me.
I should feel grateful that I'm not there right now (it would probably upset me even more seeing it live rather than just through pictures), but I would give anything to be with my family. I feel so helpless here.
We need rain, desperately. And less wind. It cannot be said enough.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Candles
Here are the three candles I made yesterday and today.
This one has three wicks in it. Clear gel with orange-ish gem stones. I like this one so I'm keeping it for myself :)
This is the one that I talked about in my last post, you know, the one that looked like urine? I dug out the gel and remelted it, added some red, and made it orange instead.
This one I put into a cute little tin that my mom gave me for this purpose. It has blue gel, silver gem stones at the bottom, and a green ribbon around the lid.
I kind of want to sell these (and a lot of others, obviously) at an arts and crafts fair sometime.
This one has three wicks in it. Clear gel with orange-ish gem stones. I like this one so I'm keeping it for myself :)
This is the one that I talked about in my last post, you know, the one that looked like urine? I dug out the gel and remelted it, added some red, and made it orange instead.
This one I put into a cute little tin that my mom gave me for this purpose. It has blue gel, silver gem stones at the bottom, and a green ribbon around the lid.
I kind of want to sell these (and a lot of others, obviously) at an arts and crafts fair sometime.
Truthful Friday!
I haven't done this in a while, make a list of some random "truths" about me. They can be about me in general, or about me specifically in this minute.
1. I decided today that I want to make it a goal to visit one national park in the US each year. Maybe sometimes it will be just with Jake, maybe with some of his family or some of my family or later with our children. So far I've been to Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, Great Sand Dunes, Hawaii Volcanoes, Carlsbad Caverns, and Grand Canyon (although I hardly remember it; I was very young). I may have been to Arches and/or Canyonlands; we've been to that area near Moab but not sure if we were actually in the parks. Only about 50 to go :)
2. I have mixed feelings about being a housewife for the time being while Jake is working and I'm waiting to start teaching my online class next week. I am definitely appreciating the break and it's actually been kinda fun being a homemaker, but I do go a little stir-crazy when I run out of things to do.
3. I am very nervous about my second year in grad school. Because it means thesis (or comps; I'm leaning toward thesis but the thought of it stresses me out). I feel like I should be starting it now...
4. I changed my mind (again) about where I want to live. Oregon.
5. I'm totally obsessed with our wedding pictures right now. We got our prints a few days ago, and I've been filling sooo many frames with them. Our apartment is bombarded with wedding pictures. That's normal, right? Being obsessed with them for a while? I'm sure eventually I'll take some down and replace them with other photos...
6. I already want to go on another vacation. Going from beautiful tropical humid weather and sandy beaches and warm ocean water to dry, hot, desert and wildfires isn't fun.
7. Yesterday I went on a gel candle-making frenzy because I was trying to distract my mind from something. One came out really cute, one I'm going to finish today, and one came out the color of pee. So I put a pinkish-colored ribbon around it to try to make it look less like pee. Now it just looks like decorated pee. Darn.
8. There are some people who I really like and who are really awesome but are just awkward to talk to one-on-one. Or maybe I'm the awkward one and I make it awkward? Or maybe just certain personality types, when placed together in a one-on-one situation, combine to make awkwardness. My advisor is one of them. He's an amazing professor, smart, funny, and enthusiastic, and I have no problem speaking up and sometimes joking with him in class, but it's totally different when I meet with him in his office or something.
9. Have you ever had a panic attack? I have, three times in the last three years. They're crazy. Out of nowhere, you feel a sense of doom, like you're not going to make it much longer, and you start trembling and hyperventilating. Luckily, each time I've had one, someone else has been there to get me out of it. Yes this is probably pretty personal, but it's a truth.
10. I'm not a very graceful swimmer. I mean, I CAN swim, I can keep myself afloat and move as needed, it's just not pretty. Which is sad, because I used to be, when I took swimming lessons at the pool when I was younger. I could gracefully do the front stroke and back stroke and could dive straight and evenly. I lost all that. Now when I dive, I flop over and my legs flail.
And now a few photos from the honeymoon!
1. I decided today that I want to make it a goal to visit one national park in the US each year. Maybe sometimes it will be just with Jake, maybe with some of his family or some of my family or later with our children. So far I've been to Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, Great Sand Dunes, Hawaii Volcanoes, Carlsbad Caverns, and Grand Canyon (although I hardly remember it; I was very young). I may have been to Arches and/or Canyonlands; we've been to that area near Moab but not sure if we were actually in the parks. Only about 50 to go :)
2. I have mixed feelings about being a housewife for the time being while Jake is working and I'm waiting to start teaching my online class next week. I am definitely appreciating the break and it's actually been kinda fun being a homemaker, but I do go a little stir-crazy when I run out of things to do.
3. I am very nervous about my second year in grad school. Because it means thesis (or comps; I'm leaning toward thesis but the thought of it stresses me out). I feel like I should be starting it now...
4. I changed my mind (again) about where I want to live. Oregon.
5. I'm totally obsessed with our wedding pictures right now. We got our prints a few days ago, and I've been filling sooo many frames with them. Our apartment is bombarded with wedding pictures. That's normal, right? Being obsessed with them for a while? I'm sure eventually I'll take some down and replace them with other photos...
6. I already want to go on another vacation. Going from beautiful tropical humid weather and sandy beaches and warm ocean water to dry, hot, desert and wildfires isn't fun.
7. Yesterday I went on a gel candle-making frenzy because I was trying to distract my mind from something. One came out really cute, one I'm going to finish today, and one came out the color of pee. So I put a pinkish-colored ribbon around it to try to make it look less like pee. Now it just looks like decorated pee. Darn.
8. There are some people who I really like and who are really awesome but are just awkward to talk to one-on-one. Or maybe I'm the awkward one and I make it awkward? Or maybe just certain personality types, when placed together in a one-on-one situation, combine to make awkwardness. My advisor is one of them. He's an amazing professor, smart, funny, and enthusiastic, and I have no problem speaking up and sometimes joking with him in class, but it's totally different when I meet with him in his office or something.
9. Have you ever had a panic attack? I have, three times in the last three years. They're crazy. Out of nowhere, you feel a sense of doom, like you're not going to make it much longer, and you start trembling and hyperventilating. Luckily, each time I've had one, someone else has been there to get me out of it. Yes this is probably pretty personal, but it's a truth.
10. I'm not a very graceful swimmer. I mean, I CAN swim, I can keep myself afloat and move as needed, it's just not pretty. Which is sad, because I used to be, when I took swimming lessons at the pool when I was younger. I could gracefully do the front stroke and back stroke and could dive straight and evenly. I lost all that. Now when I dive, I flop over and my legs flail.
And now a few photos from the honeymoon!
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