top 3 reasons why I am in a fantastic mood:

1. Brandon, Yoori, and joshjoshjosh are driving up here to spend 4th of July with me!

2. Nich brough me lunch today (which is awesome) and it consisted of these things: tuna salad (with capers & olive tapenade) on spelt bread (I'm eating gluten-free right now), cream soda, and sour cream apple pie (I didn't eat the crust).

3. I will only be at work for 7 more minutes. Give or take two minutes on either side.

newness.

It has been a flurry of activity in the past few weeks, and I am happy and and tired (but mostly tired at this particular moment).

I got a new roommate (a girl who just sold everything and left LA for Portland!), I turned down a music industry job, I'm dating a boy (!), I'm working on a few CD reviews for a website, I miss Long Beach a lot, I got sick, I miss my sisters a lot, I'm going to Boston in July, I have health and dental insurance, I saw Avenue Q, and I really ought to try sleeping a little bit more.

Needless to say, things are good. I'm not worried about much and I'm trying to take things one day at a time. I really like this city. Its been good to me thus far, and for that I am grateful.

OMG they do EXIST!

I knew it I knew it I knew it I knew it.

And yes, pictured is a unicorn nuzzling a premie (for Katie. And Myste. and Amanda)

antioxidating

In an attempt to be healthy & hydrated, I am forcing myself to drink buckets of green tea every day.

I'm horrible at drinking water, and I just realized how terrible Vitamin Water actually is for me. All that sugar and artificial coloring makes me feel lied to and alone.

So, green tea it is.
But, the thing is...I kindof hate it. It has a bitter aftertaste and when I drink it I feel like I am chewing on grass. And I don't particularly like the taste of grass.

But, alas! I think that Trader Joe's Blueberry Green Tea (with real blueberry juice) has saved the day. Its delicious and nutritious. I'd still MUCH rather be drinking a triple iced espresso, but for now my little blueberry drink will do.

However, it is now officially the start of the weekend, and there are no rules on weekends and I am going to go get myself a cup of coffee.

Happy Friday!

A list of good things:

-Last.fm radio is really quite good when you tell them that you want to listen to things that sound like the Avett Brothers. Lots of bluegrass and banjo and Old Crow Medicine Show and Neko Case. It's nice to have music at work. Finally.

-I took the Somalis swimming last night @ an indoor heated pool. I tried to take them last week but was "bad mom" and got the open swim time wrong, so I consoled the girls with McDonalds and a trip to my parent's house for cartoon-watching. My favorite moment last night was when Betulah - who is 19, breathtakingly beautiful, recently married, just had the CUTEST baby in the world, and wonderful - discovered that the waterslide was not open. In utter dismay, she walked up to the nearest life-guard and asked why the slide was closed. Mind you, Betulah is swimming in long pants, a long sleeved t shirt, a head wrap/scarf, mass amounts of gold jewelry, and she still manages to look stunning. The life guard kindly told Betulah that there weren't enough people on staff to man the slide. I could tell she didn't understand, so I walked over and tried to put it in Somali terms: "There aren't enough people working at the pool. They have no one to help you with the slide." But, this was not a satisfactory answer. Betulah looked at the life guard and said simply, "I want the slide open." He explained again, that this was not possible. I can't tell if she wasn't understanding or if she simply was being demanding...but after a few minutes of Betulah's pestering the nice young life guard offered to go ask his boss if he could leave his pool-side position and open the slide. His boss said yes, the slide was opened, and Betulah was thrilled. I love watching the girls go down the slide in all of their awkward Somali glory. They are fully clothed, sitting upright, looking slightly terrified and gleeful with huge white smiles. I loved every minute of it.

-The eggo waffles I stole from Krispin and Danielle's freezer before they left. Honestly, they are the only thing that got me out of bed this morning.

-Having Candyce in Portland all week!

Ok, there are lots more good things but I'm running out of time and steam.
Happy (almost) Friday. Lets just pretend its the weekend already.

the sisterless summer.

(Photo by: Jeremy Okai Davis. Taken in my kitchen window.)

Yesterday was a happy day, all of the Strannigan sisters were in one place for one afternoon. We celebrated the return of Candyce with fatty foods & cocktails at Claim Jumper and it was glorious.

Today is a little bit sad.
Candyce heads back to Salem (but will be back this weekend!).
Danielle & Krispin left for 2 months in China, and just when I was getting used to the whole hanging out with my married sister all the time thing. You can read about their adventures, however, on their darling little blog.

My left arm / shoulder is terribly sore from intensely playing Nintendo Wii at my new favorite place, The Tanker. They have free popcorn bowls, a free jukebox (with Band of Horses and Gogol Bordello), and free Nintendo Wii.

My (awesome) roommate has an (awesome) art show opening at Sugar Gallery on June 5th. If you live in or near Portland, you should attend. No, really, you should.

I am dog-sitting this weekend. Not sure how I feel about it, but I think it will be good for me to lay low with my new lil pals Frodo and Gandalf. (yes, you read that correctly.)

Sasquatch Festival was fun - for the one day I went. With a 5 hour drive on each end, and lots of hours in the sun/rain/sun with loud music - it was quite exhausting. It was good to see the cold war kiddos, as well as the delta spirits and a surprise appearance from Sam Owens (well, it was a surprise to ME, anyway)! The girl from Mates of State ran over my foot with her stroller and I STILL get giddy when I see Ben Gibbard. Oh, the idols of our youth!

And lastly, I am sad to report that I am not going ANYWHERE this summer. Well, to be specific, I'm not going anywhere international. Because of a number of reasons...mostly work-related...I am not able to go to Kenya this summer. :( My little heart longs for Africa and travel and little African babies, but for right now I have to stay here. My hope is to go later in the year, when the job stuff settles down.

In the meantime, however, God is good because I do get to hang out with little Somali babies right here in Portland. I'm taking over for Danielle with her Somalian refugee family and today is my first day with them on my own. I think we are going to an indoor pool with a water slide. Not exactly my cup of tea (I hate water), but the girls adore it. I'm a little bit nervous, especially as their mother terrifies me. Honestly, there is nothing more frightening than a Somali woman in all of her glory & wrath. We can just hope that I am not the recipient of any of that.

So, here's to the beginning of my sisterless summer. I was worried that it would be boring and lonely, but I must say its shaping up quite nicely. Candyce is only an hour away, I live next door to some of my best friends, I have Penelope, and now the Somalis.

And of course, I still have the month of August to look forward to, when the Strannigan sisters will rule the world. Or...at least the greater Portland area?

when flying used to be fun.

I just read an article about American Airlines that bummed me out. They will now be charging a $15 "Checked Baggage" fee for any and every bag that you check. The only way to avoid this fee is to carry on your luggage. But with all the ridiculous airport rules these days, this seems nearly impossible. Specifically the rules applying to liquids. Call me crazy, but I simply cannot fit my face wash, foundation, perfume, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, lip gloss, hair spray, lotion, and moisturizer into one measly ziplock bag.

In any case, it got me thinking. Do you remember the days of airports being glorious and exciting places? When you could walk about freely and wait for your loved ones anywhere you please? When people didn't look at you and assume you're a terrorist?

Granted, I've flown a lot in the past couple years. I hardly remember what it was like to have a good time in the airport. I remember whenever either one of my parents would fly somewhere - I would get terribly excited to pick them up. I'd wait right by the door (where they were exiting off the plane) and try my hardest to look down the corridor to see them. I loved airport reunions!

And now, we circle around and around the terminal in our cars - being careful not to stop for too long or else you will hear the shrill whistle of the guards who are out to ruin your day (or let you park for more than 3 seconds). We put our toiletries in little ziplock bags and have them inspected for explosives. We take our shoes, belts, jewelry and jackets off to go through metal detectors manned by really grumpy people. We hope and pray that our bags dont weigh over 50 lbs or we will pay a hefty fee.

And heaven forbid you lose your ID whilst on vacation! I did that once and it was not pretty. They make you wait in all sorts of special lines and give you special stamps and they scrutinize you and distrust you. Its really quite terrible.

The moral of the story is: I hate airports. I hate flying.
And this is just one more reason why.

trunk doors, 'tinkerbell', & tacoma

My weekend was lovely. The sun was in full force in the Pacific Northwest, with temperatures as high as 90 degrees (!).

I attended Danielle's college graduation on Friday night; which was long and arduous (Sorry, sis. You were great...the graduation was a snooze fest). Dave and I played the role of supportive parents (while Krispin played the role of supportive husband), due the fact that my parents couldn't make it to the ceremony. They couldn't make it, because Danielle decided the day BEFORE graduation that she was going to walk. Go figure.

We traipsed out to Hillsboro for cherry limeades and fatty foods, although I went for the Straberry Limeade and Krispin tried the Cranberry Limeade. I think Cranberry wins.

Saturday morning, the whole fam brunched at the Bread & Ink. I am teaching my family the supreme importance of Saturday brunch. Thankfully, Portland is a brunch kind of town. My current favorites are the Cricket Cafe and the Waffle Window at Bread & Ink.

And Saturday afternoon I took a mini road trip to Tacoma. I went up for one night, to hang out with Kelly - as she was in town for her sister's graduation. Its only a 2 hour drive and Kelly is one of my dearest friends - AND my parents let me trade cars with them. I got to take the miata! Let me tell you, nothing sounded more glorious than a 2 hour drive in the sunshine in a snazzy little red convertible. I donned my cutest lil red sundress, borrowed some sunblock from a hippie in a gas station, and hit the road.

About 15 minutes into my drive, I realized it was a bit warmer than I expected. My dress was sticking to my back and my dress started to show signs of 'persperation'. I drank two bottles of water (which were really really warm by the end of the drive - like drinking hot tea! without the tea, of course), listened to the music loud, and dreampt of stopping for an iced americano.

I decided to hold out until the Tacoma area to get my iced americano. That way I could change my clothes, so as not to be a sweaty mess when I arrived at Kelly's parents house. I finally arrived at the blessed Starbucks (its Tacoma, I had no other options). I was indeed a mess. I got out of the car, embarassed of the state of my once-cute, now-soaking sundress. I went to the trunk to get out my change of clothes. I put the key in the lock, turned the key and the trunk opened - right as I pulled the key out and realized I only had HALF of a key. It broke in half! And the other half was still in the key hole.

If we're being really honest, this is the moment when a number of choice words flew through my infuriated little brain.

I bent over, in disbelief, to inspect the damage. The right strap on my sundress decided to diasattach itself from my dress. More choice words in my head. I go to the ignition, hoping and praying that the half key will magically start the car. I have no such luck.

I walk into Starbucks, bewildered and with a broken dress. Its 90+ degrees, but I put on a jacket to look (slightly) less disheveled. Thankfully, I had a change of clothes and Starbucks was delightfully airconditioned. I called the locksmith and was given the mind-blowing estimate of $200! Considering I'm not 'well-off' by any means, I did what any NORMAL person would do -- I paid Dave Reichle gas + food + friendship fees (equalling about $70) to drive the spare miata key up to me in Tacoma.

Kelly and her dad were kind enough to pick me up (I was 10 minutes from their place), take me to dinner, and Kelly and I lazed about and watched a Top Chef marathon. Dave and his friend Aaron showed up at 10 pm or so, handed me the key, and we went to celebrate at a local Mexican restaraunt. This resulted in one of the better nights I've had in ages. We sang karaoke with the crazy locals (large barefoot women in camoflauge and one man-ish looking lady with Lucille Ball makeup and a teal sweatsuit who went by "Tinkerbell" and only sang really slow Madonna songs), we danced, we ate food, we had a margarita.

Needless to say, it was good to see Kelly. I love that girl to bits. And, the drive home was much more pleasant due to cooler tempteratures. No back sweat!

because I never seem to grow tired of lol.

more cat pictures

Happy Friday. :)

There is a man at my work who eats a Healthy Choice brand frozen dinner for breakfast every day. More specifically, he eats the Garlic Shrimp & Pasta frozen dinner for breakfast every single day.

I'm not going to lie, the smell of shrimp and garlic is not something anyone should have to deal with at 8:40 in the morning.

why saturday was the best day of my life:

1. I moved into my new (and awesome) apartment!
2. I bought a new (and awesome) bike. Its a vintage Schwinn and its yellow and zippy.
3. My dad bought Reichle & I lunch at McCools where we attempted to drink mint juleps and watch the kentucky derby (However, McCools doesn't serve mint juleps and the derby hadn't started yet. Oh well, I still got a French Dip out of the deal.)
4. I magically got into the Tim and Eric show for $14 (6 dollars under face value).
5. Ran into my good pal Jeremiah after the Tim & Eric show, and he bought me a PBR at the Backstage...where we saw Tim and Eric having beers with Stephen Malkmus and one of the guys from the Shins. (Side note: I've had "Think about your dad" stuck in my head for days now.)

The sun has been shining in Portland, and that is a beautiful thing! I adore the area I live in, and Danielle called my room "magical". I live next door to Dave, and joey, and Chris...and they are some of my favorite people in the world. I've been drinking boatloads of iced espresso, which is just grand.

All in all, I'm just beginning to feel settled. I'm getting the hang of the job, I'm getting more involved with Truly a Polar Bear, I'm working with the Somalis on a regular basis, and Tick Talk Radio is going well. I keep busy, this much is true.

Oh, and we've been hanging out with this crazy/amazing family. The father is Indian, the mom is American. Their daughters are absolutely gorgeous, and I am just taken with their 6 year old, Arunika. She's tiny with huge brown eyes, long black ringlets, and she's missing her two front teeth. The kid is just mesmerizing. When you hear her story about how they had to kill their "wooster" because he was fighting with the other "wooster" you'll know what I mean. And the mom makes amazing Dahl and Lamb Korma and I drank buckets of home made Mango Lassi.

Lastly, thank you for all the reading suggestions! Its so lovely to actually have time and energy to read. I have quite the list, so it may take me awhile to get to some of them...but I really do appreciate the input.

Good night,
Lindsay

the eager reader.

I love Portland for making a book worm out of me.

Currently I am reading:
Solidarity Will Transform the World (about Catholic Relief Services)
The Long Lonliness (autobiography of Dorothy Day)
Jesus For President (turned my sister into a Pacifist)

Here is my reading wish list, and I am frustrated because I cannot read fast enough. I want all this information to be in my brain now!

The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky
The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton
Letters and Papers from Prison by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Oh The Glory of It All by Sean Wilsey
The Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Sabon
Where I'm Calling From by Raymond Carver
Anything by John Fante
I want to re-read all the Salinger

What are you reading? What should I be reading? What books are changing your life? I'm thoroughly enjoying everything I'm reading and I'm eager to read more and learn more and be full of words. Please do share your suggestions.

The day after Tim and Eric day is not great, to say the least.
Yesterday was great - I mean, it was Tim and Eric day! How could it get any better?

But today is all doom and gloom for the following reasons:
1. The Hillary win in Pennsylvania
2. The obscene price of gasoline
3. The radio report about Biodiesel using all our resources and adding to the skyrocketing food prices
4. Tried dating for a week, which ended poorly.
5. My stomach hates me (and subsequently whatever I put into it).

But I'm having wine and cheese with my mom tonight (hooray!), and I'm going to watch some Tim and Eric Awesome Show...and you know what? I'm going to feel better.

For your health...have some!

Today marks the release of the Tim and Eric Awesome Show (Great Job!) on DVD - Season 1.

Word on the street is that its only $12.99 at Best Buy.

I am so happy. I am so very happy!

Go, buy it, you need it, it will change your life or make you laugh until you cry or throw up or something.

Notes on Portland life.

Well, I'm a working woman now.
I work in the book world, and while its FAR from glamorous ("event planning" is really something like sending 5 books on medieval ireland to some medieval studies conference) it is challenging and new and different and gives me plenty of time to start my own company on the side.

However, I'm tired all the time. I have to get up before 7 am (gasp!) and I still go out til 2 (most) every night. I'm too social for my own darn good.

I'm seeing Down South Sallie tonight, Drew Grow tomorrow night, and The Avett Brothers on Thursday.

The Bipartisan Cafe is my second home. They have better coffee AND decor than Vientos. And I'm already a regular there. I absolutely love being a regular in as many coffee shops as I possibly can. I have strange goals of being able to walk into any number of coffee shops and have them make my Double 8 oz cappuccino without me even having to say a word. But, when its cold outside I want cappuccinos, and when its hot out I want iced espresso. So I guess that's where it gets tricky. That, or my baristas need to have good memorys and a strong sense of temperature.

I'm reading Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and I think that Oskar Schell is the best written character since Holden Caulfield.

That's all for now, kids. Talk soon.

1. As of tomorrow, I am gainfully employed.

2. I saw Be Kind, Rewind today. It made me want to create cool things. And it made me laugh, a lot.

3. I saw The Kite Runner today. It made me cry and made me want to rescue and adopt children from all over the world.

4. I am going to Kenya this summer (officially) !

5. Its been snowing and hailing and slushing all week. Its freezing and gross.

I'm nervous about the job, it will be the first time I've "started" at a job in a long time. I'm working for a small marketing company who works for small International publishers. I'm coordinating Events and Conferences for them. I have NO idea what I am doing, but its a job and I'm grateful for that. And I'll get to read a lot of books, which is great. And, I'm still doing Truly A Bear on the side (writing bios, press campaigns, booking tours, etc) which is also great.

So that is my lil update for now. I'm going to bed early tonight. I feel like a kid before the first day of school! I'm not quite sure what to expect, but this is a bizarre and good chapter of my life. I like Portland, Penelope likes Portland, things are good. And I finally have a job. Phew.

So, my mom and I's lil Etsy shop is up and running -- and quite adorable, if I do say so myself.
Many props to Myste, who introduced me to Etsy -- and is the ruling queen (in my opinion) on the site.
But, if you have a moment - check out the old STRANTIQUES (yes, I came up with the name myself.)

Secondly, I got one of (if not THE) strangest presents I've ever received from a boy.
I got this present in the mail. It was supposed to be a going away present, but the boy who bought it for me never bothered to get together with me before I moved away. No matter, I had just met him and I think we went out once, maybe twice. If you count mid-afternoon dessert with his best friend. In any case, he asked me for my address so he could send me the going away present. And lo and behold, two days ago I got this in the mail, with this inscription: "Lindsay. To kick start your rock and roll heart."

Yep. I don't get it. I mean, nothing says "I'll miss you" like Motley Crue, right?
Ug.

Still on the job hunt.
Starting to work on a few Truly a Polar Bear Projects.
Starting to get really poor.

But tomorrow is Easter, and Sherwood and Reichle and Candyce and Danielle and Krispin and Linda and MORE will be here.
And as afraid as I am right now (unsure about life, unsure about jobs, etc etc), tomorrow is a celebration.

He is risen, He is risen indeed.
These words ring true, and I know that its going to be ok.
Happy Easter, everyone!

"JUICE!"

Two days ago I had an interview with a marketing firm.
I did my homework, looked up the company, and pieced together that they were primarily a company that deals with Sports and Entertainment marketing. I could handle that.
The first interview was awesome. The girl conducting the interview really seemed to like me and offered me an interview on the spot. Considering I had heard the secretary set up like 8 other interviews while I was waiting, I figured this was good. I was already standing out amidst the billion applicants.
Then she tells me this: I need to come in for my second interview, and can I come in tomorrow? Am I free from the hours of 10 am to 8 pm ? I'm told to dress professional (no jeans) and wear comfortable shoes. I'm also told that I won't be doing any of the glamourous sports type stuff she's just told me about, that it will be entry level tasks with some of their other clients. The second interview is more like 'job shadowing' and one on one time with one of the employees. They ask me questions, I ask them questions, etc etc.

I was ok with all of that.
So I'm set for my 10 hour interview.
I show up this morning at 10:15 (which is precisely when they wanted me).
I sit on their leather couch, watching Home Improvement, for 45 minutes. The secretary apologizes for the wait. I'm strangely ok with it and am enjoying Tim The Toolman Taylor.
I can hear noises coming from one of the office rooms. There's the occasional cheering and clapping.

Finally, 11 am. The doors open and the dudes come flooding out. They are high-fiving and yelling and clapping and exclaiming "Bro! Dude! We are gonna kill it today! Are you ready, bro?". There are more high fives. And a lot of yelling of the word "JUICE!".

I am filled with immediate concern. What am I doing here?

I'm paired with my "bro", Jared. Apparently he's their top rep, 6 weeks running! I'm told that I am lucky to be shadowing such a man.

Jared starts off with a series of inane questions. "So, Lindsay, how would YOU define marketing?" I'm great with interview questions, I pass all his silly tests with flying colors. Then we get to his car. We load up with other marketing bro's and another 'shadower', like myself.

Jared tells me that today, we are working in home improvement. Which is strangely ironic, given my morning entertainment. This means we are telling people about various home improvement services that their clients offer. Windows, Roofing, Doors, Cabinets, etc. I know nothing about any of these things, and the day is beginning to sound like drudgery. Then Jared asks, "So, where do you think the best place is to find s homeowner?" I answer, "Home Depot". It seemed like the right thing to say. Jared says "Well, yes. But the BEST place to find a homeowner is in their home!"

Begin Lindsay's inner monologue: OHMYGOSHYOUHAVETOBEKIDDINGME. door to door? we are going door to door ? GET ME OUT OF HERE.

But I carpooled. WIth all these eager and bro-tastic sales reps. I'm totally and completely stuck with them.

Jared launches right in, and we go door to door. We go to 100 houses in 3 hours, and each time he gives the same obnoxious pitch. While walking from house to house he fills my ears with nonsense about upper management and growth potential and crap like that. We got yelled at by a lot of old people, we swindled a few more old people, and my feet were aching in my red boots.

I was a door to door saleswoman for roofing, siding, and windows. And I wasn't getting paid for my time. This was an 'interview', mind you. It is now almost 2:30 and its time for lunch. As we are walking to the car to pick up the other reps in other neighborhoods, I just come out with it.

"Jared..."
"Yeah?"
"I've come to the decision that this is not a job I can see myself doing. I think it would be a waste of the company's time and resources to continue training me today."

I was supposed to stay til 8, so we could all meet back at the office for "Atmospheres" - a time where we all talk about how GREAT our days went. I made it til 2:30.
Those were the longest 3 hours of my life.

I made Jared drive me back to my car at the office immediately. I thanked him for his time and I sped off as quickly as I could, thankful that I would never have to see any of those people ever again.

Seriously. The guys were giving high fives and yelling "juice!". What more can I say ?

WE PUT UP ALL THIS WICKER, JUST FOR YOU

CUPCAKES & COASTS

I went on a miniature road trip to the Oregon coast this weekend.

Krispin (my sister Danielle's new hubby) and I drove over to Yachats (pronounced YA-HOTS) early Sunday morning to meet up with Danielle and her best friend, Tiffany. It was a 3 hour drive through weird burnt out Oregon towns (Philomath: home of the Philomath Frolic!) and Krispin listened to a lot of hardcore. I tried to show him Black Mountain but he didn't like it. We did agree on Sufjan, however, so that worked nicely for the rest of the drive.

Needless to say, the coast ruled. We attempted to explore the Sea Lion caves, but then decided against it because it cost $10 to take some crappy elevator down to where the sea lions were. We asked the uptight man (think Dwight Schrute) at the counter if there was any way we could walk to the sea lions and not pay the $10, but he was really insulted that we even asked. Apparently this is THE largest sea cave in the world. Well worth our 10 dollars. But we'll never know, because we didn't go. We just played with creepy seal puppets in the gift shop.

We then decided to tour the Heceta Head Lighthouse . Because that was FREE. and we only like touristy things that are free. I actually stayed outside the lighthouse with Tiffany's yellow lab puppy, Oliver, while Danielle, Krispin and Tiffany toured the lighthouse. I was cornered by a creepy lighthouse volunteer named Greg who wouldn't leave me alone during the TWENTY minute tour. He kept asking me if I had a boyfriend and it was weird. And 20 minutes is way too long for anyone to tour a lighthouse.

Then we ate Huckleberry ice cream. Then I took a plastic cup of wine to the beach and reach my book on the sand. Then we flew killer kites (literally, the kites were trying to kill us.). Then we made rosemary flank steak and drank champagne and played Scrabble and Apples to Apples and watched 30 rock. Then I fell asleep on the most comfortable bed I have ever slept on and woke up to the sounds of the ocean outside my window.

And, to top it all off I went to breakfast at Lil Sambos in Lincoln City, OR this morning and had Coconut Pancakes.

annnnnnnnnd, as if that wasn't enough...tonight we celebrated Danielle's birthday at home (my parents place). My dad grilled steaks and we had Lemon-buttered asparagus, mashed potatoes, and wine. And for dessert I made all organic Lemon Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting and pink sparkle sugar sprinkles.

Best. Cupcakes. Ever.

So this post is a lot about food, I realize. I've been watching too much 30 Rock and have become Tina Fey, I think.

Good news: I have like 3 job interviews this week. One is for the coffee shop at my dad's old church (Its part time and EASY), One is to be an event planner for a Scholastic Book company (sounds kinda up my alley?) and one is for an organization that works with the developmentally disabled (Dungarvin) - the latter of which I am pretty excited about.

Oh, and my mom and I are starting an Etsy shop. So you all better watch out, Strantiques is takin over. :)

PORTLAND, OR, AND SLOE GIN FIZZ

Well, I suppose Chad is right. I haven't really written anything in a long time.

Granted, most of my "writing" has been directed here lately...

But here is the latest and greatest with me and my Northwest adventure...

It looks like I'll be working part time for a freight and shipping company, just for now, to pay the bills. I don't really like the idea (that's my pride talking), but hey, I'm broke and this is a job. Beggars can't be choosers I suppose.

On the upside, I am starting to write reviews for a blog and I've been writing bios for bands on the side (if you know anyone that needs a bio written, send them to me!) - so I don't feel like I've totally thrown it all to the wind. I know I'll be quite involved in music here, it just might take a minute. For now, I just need cash.

I attempted karaoke last night, and it was depressing. Its just not the ole Prospector.

I have more friends here than I remembered -- it seems I've been out every night, which works out well when you're a social butterfly like me. I've gotten really creative with how to go out without spending ANY money - for example, last night I ate a bag of potato chips for dinner. ugh.

The positives would be as follows:
- Penelope is adjusting marvelously, and my mom LOVES her and spoils her to bits.
- Free food! My mom and I went on a Trader Joe's shopping spree and I got to pick out all the food and she paid for it all. It ruled!
- The city of Portland. The bridges, the buildings, the coffee, the bookstores. I love love love love the look and feel of this city.
-Free shows. I still don't pay to get into shows here. So far I've seen The XYZ Affair and British Sea Power, Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, and Angels and Airwaves. I am NOT proud of the last show, but I had a bunch of friends in town from LA/NY as they had bands on the tour.
-Absolute total coffee insanity. I thought I drank too much coffee before, and now its just worse. And I love it!
- WAY cheaper car insurance

There are many, many other positives. But those are the ones that stand out at the moment. All in all, so far all is good. I'm curious to see what will happen next.

Fun fact about Portland: I learned that Baristas are a BIG deal in Portland. In fact, I was told that Barsitas are more well known than rock stars in this town. There's this one guy named Billy and apparently he's a big deal. Weird.

I'M CONVINCED...

that no one reads this here blog anymore.
Just sayin.

I MADE IT!

Here, I am in the great frozen Northwest.
The drive was BEAUTIFUL, I got to see some old friends along the way (and by old friends I mean the Cabazon dinosaurs AND friends from high school. What more could I want???)

And, yesterday, I saw FOUR rainbows. And yes, I listened to In Rainbows a lot.

Here is a pic I took from my phone (more of these on the ole facebook)...

Here I am, its Sunday.
Its the start of a new week. A big week. A sad week.

This is my last week in California.
I leave on Thursday.

And, try as I may, I cannot shake this sadness. My apartment is empty and sad, my boxes are (nearly) packed, and I've said most of my goodbyes. My head hurts more than I can say, and I'm alone in my living room watching the Apex logo bounce back and forth across the TV screen.

Here are the things I wished I'd have done while I lived here:
1. Visit the San Diego Zoo
2. Salvation Mountain
3. Griffith Observatory (since its re-opening)
4. Gotten a cabin in Yosemite (like we always talked about)
5. The Long Beach Aquarium (I never went!)

Here are the things I will miss the most:
1. Vientos y Aguas
2. Fingerprints
3. Taco Surf, Hole Mole, Taco Loco, The Secret Spot, and various other cheap amazing mexican food.
4. 2 Buck Chuck (its $3 in Oregon!)
5. Racquetball (tho I've not played in AGES)
6. Going to lots and lots and lots of shows for free.
7. LOST nights (and Project Runway nights, and Deadwood, and Big Love, and OC...)
8. Riding Bikes
9. The sunshine
10. My friends. I will miss them more than I can say.

I was looking around the other night at our 'house cooling party' and I had a realization. We have an amazing and expansive group of friends. I really do think we have something special.

While it started with a few friends from the Biola days, its expanded into an incredible community. We are really blessed to have such an expansive network of people who love and support each other -- and who love God and appreciate the arts. And I'm happy to see us expanding into other communities (Chicago, NY, St. Louis, Idaho, Portland, etc). I think this is a good time for us.

So, while I leave with sadness -- I know its not the end. In fact, I'll probably be back someday. And, my plan is to get the craziest job ever and get rich and fly down here every other weekend. Cool ? Either that or Erica and Cameron will get rich and I'll become their nanny. Either way, it works out.

So, for now, I guess that's all.
I'll miss you, Long Beach.

Sincerely,
Lindsay

GARAGE SALEYS!

We are having a Garage Sale on Saturday (2/23) from 8-3.
We are getting rid of lots of good things.
I will have beverages and snacks if you want to come hang out on a lawn chair.

Should be good times.
I need to get rid of this stuff. Come and get it!

Sincerely,
Lindsay

LIKE A BIRD ON A WIRE

Valentines day has come and gone, and I hope you all had a happy one. Some like to protest the holiday, I just try to ignore is as best I can. I always seem to be delightfully unattached this time of year, so I usually have a date with Jack Shepard.

This year, I spent the big V-day with a few old friends. I had lunch with Maust at Taco Surf, met Cameron and Sycz at Amoeba, and then headed with Sycz to the Orpheum Theater downtown. We spent our night with this guy and this guy. It ruled. Highlight(s) include: Mike grinning like a schoolboy while shaking Kris Kristofferson's hand, and Mike and I chilling with Brian Wilson in his dressing room after the show as he nervously asks us (repeatedly) if he sounded OK, if his hair looked good, and if his dance moves were alright. Of course, the answer to all the questions was YES.

BEST VALENTINES DAY EVER. No, really. I mean it.

Our "house cooling" party was lovely - it was so nice to see so many people I love under one roof. Its all starting to hit me that I'm leaving in TEN days. Everything seems so final, and each day brings me closer to this new chapter of my life.

I'm already homesick, and I haven't even left Long Beach.
I love this place, but I know I have to leave for awhile.

Anyway, enough of that for now. Just needed to get that off my chest.

So I bought a website this week. There's nothing to look at YET...but there will be.

My last day at work is Friday.

I've been at a show EVERY night this week. In LA, nonetheless.

Black Mountain is one of the better shows I've seen in a long, long time.

I'm unemployed in two days.

My sisters and I started a blog; I'm quite sure it will be the makings of a glorious book.

Today is Ash Wednesday. I gave up sugar and forgot to eat anything sugary yesterday.

I'm absolutely exhausted, and I have a few more days. I just gotta put my head down and power through...

And then its 3 weeks of vacation and hanging out with all y'all.

Lets get coffee?

WHY THIS WEEK RULES.

1. Lost is back on tonight! I am stupidly excited.
2. Karaoke jams this week were Piano Man and Shout (Isley Bros version).
3. I got free tickets to Gogol Bordello in Portland on March 12, which is incidentally Danielle's birthday.
4. The bronchitis meds worked, I feel mostly back to normal.
5. Penelope has been strangely cuddly. I think that she senses a change coming.
6. I saw The Diving Bell and The Butterfly last night, which was amazing. I cried a lot, but I was ok with that - the tears were well warranted. Please, you all should see this movie.
7. I'm almost finished with What Is The What, and I absolutely love it.

I think there are more good things that I am forgetting, but in any case -- you get the point. Its been a good week. I am grateful.

SAMAMIDON

Samamidon - "Pretty Saro"
I already loved this song. The video made me love it more.

So come to find out, the plauge (or the "cloverfield") is really bronchitis, and there is a tornado watch in long beach, and we dont have weather stripping, and my super-powered cough syrup hasn't kicked in yet.

I would really like some sleep tonight.

THE "CLOVERFIELD"

Ug, I am SICK.

I realized today that I haven't left my apartment in 3 days.
I go to bed at night, wearing the same thing I woke up in.
I transfer from my bed to the couch and then back to my bed.

Honestly, this is the worst flu-virus thing I've had in ages. Its coughing, sneezing, fevers, chills, sore throat, and vomiting. NOT FUN. AT ALL.

In any case, I'm getting a little bit stir crazy. I've been couped up for 3 days and I feel like the walls of our stuffy apt are closing in on me. I actually left the house to go to Rite Aid and buy more cold remedies today, so that was crazy. I've watched more television than I should have: 30 rock, Project Runway, Big Love, etc.

In any case, I apologize to Mike and Erica, who I may have possibly infected with the plague. Or as Mike is dubbing it, the "cloverfield" (the three of us got violently ill shortly after seeing this film together). If you want to know what the monster is, its whatever is attacking my immune system. So there, I spoiled it for you.

So I'm attempting to go back to work tomorrow, we'll see how that goes. Currently I still can't speak without coughing and wheezing, so I'm sure it will be all kinds of fun. Oh, and I have a phone interview tomorrow for a job in Portland, so lets pray I can get my act (and/or voice) together before then.

Its been a busy week, I'm slacking on the BLOGGIN.

Two things:

1. When choosing a karaoke "jam" one should always take into consideration the length of the song. Total Eclipse of the Heart makes for an awkward 6 minute karaoke sesh, FYI.

2. I am moving to Portland. Officially. March 1st. I'll tell you more about it later, but I honestly couldn't be more excited.

HAPPY FRIDAY INDEED

Rock Plaza Central - "My Children, Be Joyful"





This makes me so incredibly happy.
Enjoy!

SPORTS!

So I have a LA Clippers hookup all of the sudden ?

I got 4 floor tickets for the game today (vs. The San Antonio Spurs) and it was SO MUCH FUN!

I don't know what is happening to me, I sort of enjoy sports?

But only sortof. Mostly I like the hot dogs and the nachos and the heckling and the glitz and glamor. The sports is only secondary.

So, uh, GO CLIPPERS ! ? !

BEST & WORST OF 07

Well, here we are in 2008.

I'm not going to lie, 2007 was a rough year; but it had its moments. So I will do my best to compile those moments for you right here...

Here is my random (and rough) list of the best and worst of 2007.

Top 10 albums of 2007.
1) M.I.A - Kala
2) Menomena - Friend and Foe
3) Beirut - The Flying Club Cup
4) Radiohead - In Rainbows
5) Feist - The Reminder
6) Kanye West - Graduation
7) Band of Horses - Cease To Begin
8) Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
9) Lovedrug - Everything Starts Where It Ends
10) Avett Brothers - Emotionalism

Very honorable mentions:
The National - Boxer
Andrew Bird - Heretics
The New Frontiers Tour EP (not counting because its not a full length)

Top 3 songs of 2007 that I'm ashamed to admit that I absolutely LOVE:
"Beautiful Girls" - Sean Kingston
"So Much Love" - The Rocket Summer
"Soulja Boy" - Soulja Boy Tellum


HIGHLIGHTS of 07.
*Started riding my bike to work
Bridge School (TOM WAITS!)
*Went to Uganda! Met Resty (my African daughter)!
*Threw an awesome 3 day party @ SXSW (with Mew and Sondre Lerche and Tilly and the Wall and more).
*All the lovely weddings I was lucky enough to be a part of: Becca and Darren, Myste and Phil, Danielle and Krispin...
*Lots and lots of free shows (thank you, booking agent friends): Beirut, Band of Horses, Arcade Fire, Jesus and Mary Chain, M.I.A., Morrissey.
*I read a lot more books (thank you, McSweeneys).
*I joined a small group, got more involved in the Long Beach community.
*Any and all things "LOL". Specifically, Lol Cats and my own creation and personal favorite, (along with Cameron, Amanda, Dan, and Myste) Lol Lost.

Best invention of 2007: KITTY WIGS!

Best YouTube video of 2007: The Phil Collins Gorilla

Great additions to my life in 2007:
Tim and Eric While I don't actually KNOW them, I feel like I do.
Vientos y Aguas. Best coffee in Long Beach.
Penelope. Best Cat in the world.
All the new people I met & befriended: Kelly, Jess, Will, Mike K., Craig, Yoori, Jackie, my Uganda Team, my small group, and so many more.

Disappointments:
*The new Wilco
*The new White Stripes
*People who steal bikes
*People who drive SUV's and almost run over people on bikes.
*My car getting hit while I was in Africa.
*The further dispersement of the "Triniti" (Becca moved to St. Louis, Linda moved to Portland), and having to say goodbye to Becca and Linda on the same day. I miss them terribly.
*Still broke. Still single.

I'm sure I'm missing a million things from this year, good and bad alike, but you get the idea.

Here's to 08.
Here's to change.
Here's to not having it all figured out at 26, and being strangely ok with that.

THE STRANNIGAN & MAYFIELD WEDDIN'

My sister's wedding was awesome.

We laughed, we danced, we cried, we threw a darn good party.

Honestly, it was so beautiful. Danielle was glowing, Krispin was terribly dapper, and I wasn't even stressed out.

Here's a photo for y'all. There's plenty more on my mom's blog.

A WEARY WORLD REJOICES

"A thrill of hope, a weary world rejoices. For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn."

Merry Christmas, everyone.
It is a weary world, indeed. But we have the hope of Christ! And I celebrate the day that He was born to die.

PLANES, TRAINS, AND MORE PLANES

Can you guess what state I was in on Thursday, Dec. 20th?

a. California
b. Oregon
c. Idaho
d. Washington

Well...
...

This was a trick question.

The answer was "e", for "all of the above".

In an airline debacle that I will not soon forget, I was routed from LAX to San Jose (CA), to Boise ID, to Seattle WA, to Portland OR. All in one glorious day. I woke up at 3:30 am, was supposed to be Portland by 10:30 am and didn't get into Oregon til 4pm. I was very tired and VERY fussy by the time I arrived. Oh, and they managed to break one of the wheels off my bag.

However, beer and wine is free on Horizon flights. So that was awesome. But I didn't figure out that perk til the very last flight I was on. Bummer.

Anyway, I made it. And I'm quite happy to be here. I've already been snow-shoeing, thrift store shopping (got some great martini glasses), I've cuddled with the kitten, cuddled with baby bunnies, baked sugar cookies, and slept a lot. Oregon is awesome.

PICS!

Here's a few photos (compliments of Andy Barron) of the 826 event!


1. Th' Time Travel Store!



2. Mister Norton, looking smashing with specks of gray.



3. Bartendin'



4. Lil Brudder (aka Brandon) on door patrol.

Holy smokes, what a busy week.

I thought my week was bad, and then the weekend was worse. I threw a dance/Christmas party on Friday night, volunteered at an 826 LA Party on Saturday night, and saw Magic Lantern on Sunday night. In between those things I baked a triple batch of shortbread, finished my Christmas shopping, played Balderdash with the Bryants, went to church, went to the WESC sample sale (and got a winter coat!) and managed to get most of the roommate Christmas cards mailed out.

(Side note: for those of you who don't know, 826LA is Dave Eggers non-profit organization that focuses on tutoring kids in Creative Writing. They just opened a new tutoring center and Time Travel Store in Echo Park on Saturday, and I was fortunate enough to be the bartender for the event.)

Highlights:

1. Meeting Dave Eggers. Having Dave Eggers personally thank me for volunteering with 826LA. Having Dave Eggers remember who I was later in the night and thank me again.

2. Serving Edward Norton a Ginger Ale. Having Edward Norton apologize to me profusely for only having Canadian money.

3. Pictures with Santa at the Magic Lantern show - I got the latest Cure album on Vinyl as my gift! And th' Lantern sounded awesome.

4. Giving Jenny Lewis a pep talk before she went onstage, as she was terribly nervous. She's really little and really nice.

Lowlights:
1. Knowing that Jason Bateman was at the 826 LA event, but never seeing his lovely face.

2. I got an average of 5 hours a sleep a night. Result: I'm sick. ug.

Overall, an amazing weekend.
I AM SO TIRED.
Thankfully, Portland is just around the corner.
I'm out of here on Thursday, kiddos!

THREE THINGS

1. Going on a cruise to Mexico today! I'll be back on Monday. Adios!





2. Militia Group Christmas party with Free Peroni on the 14th. Its free! Come!





3. I cut my hair off. And I like it. (Sorry for the cheesy mirror photo, its all I've got!)

ALL I NEED

this makes me incredibly happy and terribly sad simultaneously.

video by J. Tyler Helms (not the actual Radiohead video. Just a fan video). Footage from 1996 French Film, "Microcosmos".

I left my heart in Portland, OR.

Well, I know its not quite the new year, but it should be. I'm ready for this one to be over with. So, I'll do what I can in the meantime and revamp the blog. I hope that you like it.

My Thanksgiving was perfect.
I cooked the Turkey, made homemade cranberry sauce, savory apple rosemary stuffing, ginger apricot glaze, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables and much, much more. Linda and Reichle came over, my parents and sisters were there (of course) and a myriad of Candyce's YWAM friends. We played scrabble. We played Squabble. We toasted over the $15 champagne the man at Safeway recommended. All in all, it was glorious.

I braved the Clackamas Towne Center on black friday. I got two shirts and a necklace at Forever 21 and I got my bridesmaid's dress for Danielle's wedding at Macy's. While the mall is no place to be the day after Thanksgiving; really, it was much better than I expected. I didn't even have to kill anyone for a parking spot.

My mom got a kitten. Despite my protests, her name is Pilgrim. I wanted to name her Ludmilla. In any case, I just called her "kitten" a lot. And I didn't move for like three days straight because she would lay on my belly and purr and sleep and who can move when a kitten is purring on their belly?

And, now for the bad news.
I am back in Long Beach. And I am back at work.
I love Long Beach. I love work.
But today my heart was heavy.

I miss my family, I miss my house, I miss my cat, I miss the simple life.
I live in two places, and I'm not quite sure how to reconcile the two. I always promise that I will move back someday - but I dont know when and I dont know how. And I've been in southern california for 6 years.

And, as if the troubles of the day were not enough; I left my office at 5:30 to find that my new Schwinn road bike had been stolen. It was vintage and maroon and beautiful. I loved that bike. And some jackass cut my lock in broad daylight in front of the valet / parking attendant.

I know its just a bike, but it felt like being punched in the gut. Welcome back to California, eh? It was a long day; and walking outside my building to find nothing but a severed lock cable was sickening and depressing.

Thank the Lord for kittiens and Christmas and vacations and cruises and family and red wine and coffee and chocolate. These are my saving graces.

An excerpt I particularly enjoyed from "Everything Is Illuminated" by Jonathan Safran Foer:

He awoke each morning with the desire to do right, to be a good and meaningful person,to be, as simple as it sounded and as impossible as it actually was, happy. And during the course of each day his heart would descend from his chest into his stomach. By early afternoon he was overcome by the feeling that nothing was right, or nothing was right for him, and by the desire to be alone. By evening he was fulfilled: alone in the magnitude of his grief, alone in his aimless guilt, alone even in his loneliness. 'I am not sad.', he would repeat to himself over and over, 'I am not sad.' As if he might one day convince himself. Or fool himself...He would fall asleep with his heart at the foot of his bed, like some domesticated animal that was no part of him at all. And each morning he would wake with it again in the cupboard of his rib cage, having become a little heavier, a little weaker, but still pumping. And by midafternoon he was again overcome with the desire to be somewhere else, someone else, someone else somewhere else. 'I am not sad.'

HAPPY FRIDAY. I AM READY FOR THE WEEKEND.

I'll be chilling hard this weekend. like this guy.

things that get me through the day (and/or week).

1. Tim and Eric.
2. Double tall iced egg nog lattes
3. The new Radiohead, Beirut, and M.I.A
4. Any/everything related to Christmas (the spirit of giving, christmas carols, egg nog, Jesus, vacation, family, and everything GOOD ever.)
5. Knowing that I get to go home in two weeks.
6. 3 day weekends (even tho I have to work a half day on Mon., I'll take it)
7. "Bad Kitties" Calendars (thank you, brandon. best gift ever.)
8. My new bicycle (I bought a beautiful old Schwinn for ten bucks!)
9. Vientos Y Aguas
10. Penelope (pictured). She really is the cutest kitty ever.

UPDATE

Tim and Eric were life changing.

Side note: I have 43 unheard voicemails. WHAT IS MY PROBLEM???

HERE SHE COMES

Tim and Eric are doing stand up comedy. In LA. Tonight.
I hope I hope I hope I hope we can get tickets.
I have come to the conclusion that they are, in fact, the funniest people on the planet.

a brief recap (if you will) .

New York was awesome (and exhausting).




San Francisco was awesome (and beautiful and Tom Waits was magical).








Halloween was epic (Sparklehorse may be my best costume ever? Yes.).









Hooray for a magical month!
Hooray for a weekend with no set plans or shows!
Hooray for 15 hours of sleep last night!

AT HOME AT THE END OF THE WORLD (?)

I'm looking outside my window right now, and its all very apocalyptic. All I can see is brown sky and leaves and debris blowing about in the streets.

As the old expression goes... "The world is going to hell in a handbasket".

The whole of southern California is burning. The Santa Ana winds are raging. I know 3 people who have gone to the hospital this week, all for different reasons. My cat, Clifford, died unexpectedly. New York was a madhouse. Late night conversations in bars about Jesus over Vodka Tonics. Old friends telling me things I never expected and didn't want to hear.

Its all a bit much, really.

My heart goes out to my friends who are grieving. My prayers are with Linda in Ohio (and Mike, and the rest of the band).

What a week. Hope you're all holding up allright.

IN NYC ALL WEEK...

And I'm really looking forward to a couple days away.

A LOLCAT IS WORTH A THOUSAND (OR MORE) WORDS

Iloveitiloveitiloveitiloveitiloveit!!!!!!

"An Open Letter to the Large Orange SUV that nearly ran me over on my bicycle this morning."

Dear bald man with bad sunglasses driving down Broadway at approximately 9:15 am this morning,

You were stopped at the intersection; you looked up. Was it my imagination, or did we make eye contact? I could have SWORN you looked me in the eye.

I proceeded cautiously. It was my right of way, after all. But you drive a big orange car, and I tend to be mistrusting of big Orange cars. Especially this particular metallic "burn sienna" brand of Orange.

You look down. Maybe at your cell phone, maybe the stereo, maybe your shoes? You look up again, but this time you are not looking at me. You are looking to make a right hand turn. You forget about my existence.

You proceed to make your right hand turn; and you do not take this turn slowly. Quite the contrary- you step on the gas!

Lucky for you, Mr. Bald SUV-driving man, I have the reflexes of a cat.

I swerve left, ramming by bicycle into the curb. I nearly eat it and narrowly avoid a telephone pole. At the last moment I recover and remain upright. I am wobbly, I am scared.

You drive off (in a huff). You do not stop to see if I am ok. You leave me to to contemplate life and death and the dangers of riding a bicycle. I think about these things for then next two blocks as I peddle ever-so-slowly to work.

And even though you don't care...let me tell YOU, sir -- I AM OK (No thanks to you!). My bike is unscratched, I'm only slightly paranoid of any/all bike riding and things that are orange, and I have one large blackish purple bruise on my thigh. Its very ugly, but I like to think of it as a souvenir.

So, if I do, in fact, have the courage to ride my bike down Broadway at 9:15 tomorrow morning -- I certainly hope I do not see your ugly orange monster barreling in my direction.

Because if I do see you tomorrow, I will fight you.

Or at least take down your license plate number and make a few phone calls to the proper authorities.

PHIL COLLINS? GORILLA ? YES, PLEASE.

Case of the Mondays.

I was told my car would be done today. Its not done yet, not sure when it will be.

I've been waking up at 6 am every day, for no reason -- even though I go to bed at 1 or 2. Needless to say, I'm tired.

Just found out that my dear friend Nick was hit by a Suburban while riding his bicycle in San Francisco. He went through the windshield, and apparently its a miracle that he's alive. He'll be in the hospital for at least a week, will need reconstructive surgery, and massive amounts of physical therapy.

Pray for Nick, please.

Not usually a fan of Mondays. Definitely not a fan of this particular one.

ITS A WONDERFUL WORLD

OHMANOHMANOHMANOHMAN

Big tip of the hat to Mike Sycz, who so graciously called me yesterday to give me the news.

Yep, that's right folks.

Tom Waits is coming to the west coast.

He's playing the Bridge School benefit with Neil Young (yessssss), Eddie Vedder, Metallica (?), Jerry Lee Lewis, Tegan and Sara, Regina Spektor, and John Mayer (ug).

Tickets go on sale Sunday @ 10 am.

I'm going, I'm going, I'm going!

Who's with me?

FEELIN LISTY

1. Who knew I sucked at online scrabble ?
2. I drink far too much caffeine for my own good.
3. Some days, work is just stressful.
4. Some days, cheesy hip hop is good for the soul.
5. Every day, Pink Berry is good for the soul.
6. Screw bikes getting flat tires. I want my car back.
7. Some days, it is good to talk to your besty on the phone. Even if she moved to St. Louis and talking to her is a constant reminder of that depressing fact.
8. Some days you just need to make lists.
9. TV shows I want to watch: Heroes, Project Runway Season 3, Friday Night Lights, Deadwood.
10. This isn't actually a list and it doesn't make much sense, but it makes me feel better, thank you.

GOOD THINGS:
*Not hot as hell today
*Coffee, blueberry museli, Proverbs 16
*The New Frontiers

BEST WEDDING CAKE EVER

FYI: I have now posted and re-posted a picture of Gogol Bordello 5 different times (tried 2 different pictures) and no matter what I do, all I get is these silly gray lines instead of a picture.

What can I say? I'm a 1 at the internet.

Anyway, I felt the need to explain myself and the lack of Gogol photo. The whole thing makes me sad as I think Eugene is fantastic to look at. I like the gypsies.

WHAT A WEEK!

TONIGHT: GOGOL BORDELLO @ THE HENRY FONDA





TOMORROW NIGHT: WILCO @ THE GREEK (W/ RICHARD SWIFT)

happy friday to me!

My car isn't totalled. I just found out today!

And it will finally be ready and driveable in two and a half weeks.

I love it.

And as much as I love the bike, I kinda miss the Passat.

I'm ready for her to be home.

MAN, I LOVE MCSWEENEYS

NO-STRESS,LOW-FUSS, HASSLE-FREE SUMMERTIME RECIPES FOR THE CONFIDENT,INDEPENDENT, SELF-SUFFICIENT GAL ON THE GO.

BY ELLIE KEMPER

Spicy Veggie Stir-Fry

If you're a vegetarian, then this is the dish for you. If you're not a vegetarian, then maybe you should consider becoming one. Could you be scaring away men with the amount of meat you eat? Veggie stir-fry is a fuss-free way to make sure you're getting your 5 to 17 recommended servings of vegetables a day. (Sound overwhelming? Eating lots of vegetables is much easier when working as a team. Try creating a sensible meal plan with your husban— Try liquefying your vegetables and pouring them in the humidifier. Presto!) Don't have a wok? Just eat three big bags of baby carrots and a can of okra. Recent studies have shown that okra is likely to reduce the chances of breast cancer, HPV, and pregnancy.* So eat up!

* Not having a male companion will also reduce the chance of pregnancy.

(Side note: there are plenty more of these gems on McSweeneys.net)

And Friends are Friends Forever...

All Michael W. Smith songs aside, today is a sad day for the Triniti (otherwise known as myself, Linda, and Becca).

Becca and her new husband are off to St. Louis as of this morning, and Linda set sails for central Oregon.

There are a lot of things I COULD say on a day like today, but I'll keep it simple. I love these girls with my whole heart, and while I'll miss them terribly - I'm excited for what the future holds. These gals are true blue and I have no doubt that they will be part of my life forever.

So, that being said...

Bon Voyage, bestys!

See you soon(ish).

BICYCLE!

I got a bike!

And I love it!

Happy Birthday to me.

Today, I woke up in a fog. My brain felt cloudy; as if I'd woken during some crucial cycle of REM sleep that my body would not forgive me for disturbing.

I sat through church, virtually a zombie.

I went to Vientos Y Aguas and pounded my triple iced espresso, and it helped. A little.

I went to Shants game day b-day party. Despite my best efforts to remain uninvolved, I participated in the gaming. I even won a round of Nerts. We ate artichokes and drank Pellegrino.

But...I'm still in a funk. And I dont think its today, I think its semi-permanent. Like I'm constantly hungover; but without any fun had the night before. honest to goodness, I don't recall a word of the sermon today. I was too busy thinking about my toothache and the prevalence of nasty canker sores on the bottom right half of my mouth. Or thinking about the future and what I'm going to do with my life. Or thinking about turning 26.

I really don't want to be 26.
There's some debate as to whether its mid or late twenties. Either way, I don't care. I'm not ready for this milestone. I'm not where I thought I'd be. I'm still totally broke, single, fiercely independent, over-exerted, selfish, and stubborn. I still dont know what I want to do with my life. I still don't know who I am. In some ways, I feel like I've regressed. Like I'm letting everyone down and they are all just waiting for me to snap out of it and grow up and get a real job and a husband.

I just read Danielle's blog and got terribly inspired. My little sisters are amazing people, with a zealous faith that outshines most others. Is it ok to want to be like my little sisters when I grow up? Its funny, I always it imagined it to be the other way around. But I look up to them both -- and I am ridiculously proud of them -- and I dream of the day when we will form our familie folk band and traverse the world together, as only Strannigan sisters can do.

I saw a pretty terrible movie last night, "The Painted Veil." While
mostly forgettable, there was one scene that got me. This old Nun is talking to Naomi Watts (the main character) and tells her this:

"I fell in love when I was 17. I fell in love with God. I was so passionate about Him, and He was everything to me. But since that time, God has dissapointed me; He's let me down. And now we are sort of indifferent to each other, like an old married couple who sits next to each other on the couch without speaking. But no matter how indifferent we are, He knows I'll never leave Him. I can't."


I was temped to identify with the old nun. I heard her words, and they resonated with me. And to tell you the truth, sometimes I feel indifferent to Christ. Sometimes I can't hear his voice at all. Sometimes I just don't want to hear His voice.

But the problem with the nun's logic is that Christ is not indifferent to any of us. Quite the contrary, He loves us. The only indifference in the equation would be my own.

Literally, the only thing I remember from this mornings service is the verse Pastor Lou read before Communion: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?"

The correct answer is: nothing. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.

And that is a terribly comforting thing to know.

HUZZAH!

The last two weeks have been a blur of activity. Becca's wedding, Linda in town from South Africa, borrowing cars, work, riding borrowed bikes, more work, shows, sleeping in cars, Park Pantry, Pasadena, champagne, a boy from North Carolina, haircuts, flea bites, and more work.

Despite my fascination with stress, and my tendency to be a busy-body; I've had quite my fill of such things. I'm ready to be quiet, even if only for a day.

Its Friday, and I've never been happier.

I dont have a SINGLE plan for tomorrow, and I intend to keep it that way. I have a date with my bed, a good book, and copious amounts of coffee.

I hope your weekends treat you equally as well. Huzzah, and Happy Friday!

SHE SAILED AWAY ON A WINTERS DAY, WITH FATE AS MALLEABLE AS CLAY

For some reason, I'm having trouble with words about Uganda.
So, pictures it is.

Check em out.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lindsay.strannigan/Uganda

RESTY

Her name is Resty.
She's my African daughter.

BACK!

I'm back from Africa and am currently in Portland, OR.

I have lots of tales to tell, and I'll get to that soon (I promise).

For now, here's a couple pics. There are more on the myspace.

SEE YOU SOON(ISH)

Tomorrow morning.
6:15 am.
I will officially be en route to Kampala, Uganda.

I've been preparing for months, and I can't say I'm entirely ready.

But I'm excited. And scared (but more excited than scared).

I'll do my best to post a couple times while over there - but NO promises. I have a feeling internet access will be scarce at best.

So, I'll leave you with fun Wikipedia facts about Uganda. That'll have to tide you over until I get back.

*Uganda is home to the Nile River
*The most widely spoken language is Luganda
*Uganda became and independent nation in 1962
*In 1966, the Prime Minister of Uganda overthrew the President- establishing a tradition of coups and overthrows.
*Idi Amin took power in 1977 and his rule cost Uganda around 300,000 lives.
*Their currency is the Ugandan shilling

I'm sure I'll have a few more fun facts when I get back, and alas, that is all for now.

I leave you with this benediction:

"The amazing grace of our master Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit be with us all."

Now go in that grace.

WE HAVE SUCH TALENTED FRIENDS (AND SIBLINGS)

The new Militia Group sampler is available for your personal sampling @ VIRB.com. Just click the pic and you'll magically be transported to the proper VIRB page.

I'm especially excited because my lil sis, Candyce, did the artwork for the sampler!

Hooray for woodland creatures! And for talented friends! And three cheers for talented siblings.

Kitties Can Make Films, Too.

(Thanks to Becca for sending this to me. I'm not sure why, but I found this terribly entertaining.)

BEST NEWS I'VE HEARD ALL WEEK.

Dakoda Motor Company is getting back together.

After taking an 11 (yes, ELEVEN) year break and really only having a fanbase of nerdy Christian kids like myself -- they've decided to record album number FOUR.

Read about it HERE.

OK, so its not REALLY the best news I've heard all week. And Danielle is probably the only person who will find this as amusing as I do.

But seriously, a frontwoman named Davida? She was my childhood hero. And she was all rock n' roll to me.

UPDATE:

Not so sure it was the shots that made me feel horrible?

Maybe I"m just sick? Really, stupidly, sick.

Whatever the case, I'm in the throes of full-blown illness. When I laugh, I sound like a 70 year old smoker (Its not so much a laugh, but a wheeze...).

Side note: My parents left for Nulato, Alaska today and they will have no means of contacting the outside world for a week. Considering I leave for Uganda in a little over a week and that I'm fairly ill - I found little comfort in the fact that I'm parentless for a week. You could say I had a "minor" meltdown when the realization hit me. But, then I had some iced Chai from Vientos y Aguas and Kelly bought me tennis shoes for Africa...and I'm back to better (Planet Unicorn quote? yes.).

All of that to say: its getting down to the wire. I have a lot to do, and a little time to do it. I've got funds to raise, mosquito repellent to buy, and suitcases to pack.

But you know what?
I'm gonna be OK. Because I'm supposed to go to Africa.
And that's that.

P.S. Happy Birthday Becca (aka LP). I love you to bits.

Things they don't tell you when you get Hep A, Polio, Yellowfever, and Typhoid shots:

You will feel awful, achy, terrible, sore throaty, and like someone took a baseball bat to your head, face and arms. Thank you, I'd rather just contract Yellowfever than take that shot again. (ok, maybe I'm exaggerating?)

The good news, is, that a Cat, by the name of Mr. Lee is a rather good photographer.

Check out his adventures here: http://www.mr-lee-catcam.de/

I'VE BEEN HAVING PREMONITIONS

- "The Buzz" party / Africa fundraiser was a hit. I am overwhelmed and blessed by my friends generosity. Plus, I got to do 12 haircuts in lil white high heels. Awesome.

- Mama Strannigan comes into town tomorrow. Watch out Long Beach thrift stores, we're coming for you.

- The Everybody Else show @ Mauve last night was also a hit. The beers abounded, the music was great, the art was cool, and it was only like 140 degrees in there. No biggie.

- R.I.P Dan's car. It was a good lil car and she went out in a blaze of glory.

- Drew and co. came to town, and its always good to see old friends. It made me miss Portland.

- My body does funny things when I am busy and/or stressed (currently: BOTH). I have four canker sores on the inside left lower lip. FOUR.

- Listening to a lot of Kelly Clarkson today. She gives me so much perspective.

- Penelope is the best cat ever. Just thought I'd share.

- Lollost.blogspot.com is still taking over the world.

- Yes, I missed the season finale of LOST to throw a show / event. And I'm not even that bitter about it. But I will be bitter if anyone ruins it for me before I can watch it on ABC.com

- I go to Africa in less than a month. The excitement level has stayed the same, the fear levels are rising a little bit.

- The grace of God abounds. I don't know how else to say it other than that. I am struck by His grace everyday - in the big and small things - and I am grateful for it.

That's all.