Tuesday, June 22, 2004
two good days in a row... a good way to finish off break...
Yesterday was a good day at church, at home. and at Suzanne's. And today was a good day too. Yesterday's highlights... singing w/worship team (led by Danette on vocals/guitar, Hubert on vocals, Tiffany on vocals, Uncle Eddie on drums (yea!), Uncle Arthur (or B.B) on bass, and Janet mastering the keyboard). It was actually a lot of fun to work w/Dan's uncles for the first time. Hard work but fun! Dan always has a way of puttin' together sets I love too. I got to share a bit about mission in church too. After church we had a BBQ for Father's Day and although we had some confusion as far as plans go, it was really nice to have some time w/mom, dad, Sharon, Butch, and baby Aaron (who always has a way of stealing the show). (We got daddy "The Claw" which is this really cool gardening tool. It really works!) Then we all just kind of vegged for a while and later that night Afua and I went to the Wais' place to watch "Never Been Kissed" w/Suzanne. I actually really liked it. (Alot of people told me I would.) Suzanne's place has always been sort of like a second home to me so it was nice to hang out there again. Oh yeah! And then there was a "Tae Bo" session too that was a lot of fun! BonBon called at 1:20am and I got to talk w/her for more than an hr.
Today Dan and Richard played tour guides to Afua and I. Afua (who's from the D.C. area) wanted to go to Rodeo Drive. So first we went driving thru the Garment district in L.A., then we stopped at the Cathedral (really intriguing place), and then we stopped at the Walt Disney Concert Hall (bittersweet for me cuz it makes me miss the classical music world big time-- but I'm glad we went), and then finally we hit Rodeo Drive. I actually bought something in Beverly Hills! (A $15 pink-- very pink-- sweater!) Finally we ended our day w/a very nice meal at McCormick and Schmicks for dinner. *sigh* Man, we have really good food in L.A.
Agh...it's now 12:01am on my computer. Maybe it's gonna read as Tuesday the 22nd instead of Monday the 21st...on well...a new day...
next blurb will be on Bonnie, I think...stay tuned!
Yesterday was a good day at church, at home. and at Suzanne's. And today was a good day too. Yesterday's highlights... singing w/worship team (led by Danette on vocals/guitar, Hubert on vocals, Tiffany on vocals, Uncle Eddie on drums (yea!), Uncle Arthur (or B.B) on bass, and Janet mastering the keyboard). It was actually a lot of fun to work w/Dan's uncles for the first time. Hard work but fun! Dan always has a way of puttin' together sets I love too. I got to share a bit about mission in church too. After church we had a BBQ for Father's Day and although we had some confusion as far as plans go, it was really nice to have some time w/mom, dad, Sharon, Butch, and baby Aaron (who always has a way of stealing the show). (We got daddy "The Claw" which is this really cool gardening tool. It really works!) Then we all just kind of vegged for a while and later that night Afua and I went to the Wais' place to watch "Never Been Kissed" w/Suzanne. I actually really liked it. (Alot of people told me I would.) Suzanne's place has always been sort of like a second home to me so it was nice to hang out there again. Oh yeah! And then there was a "Tae Bo" session too that was a lot of fun! BonBon called at 1:20am and I got to talk w/her for more than an hr.
Today Dan and Richard played tour guides to Afua and I. Afua (who's from the D.C. area) wanted to go to Rodeo Drive. So first we went driving thru the Garment district in L.A., then we stopped at the Cathedral (really intriguing place), and then we stopped at the Walt Disney Concert Hall (bittersweet for me cuz it makes me miss the classical music world big time-- but I'm glad we went), and then finally we hit Rodeo Drive. I actually bought something in Beverly Hills! (A $15 pink-- very pink-- sweater!) Finally we ended our day w/a very nice meal at McCormick and Schmicks for dinner. *sigh* Man, we have really good food in L.A.
Agh...it's now 12:01am on my computer. Maybe it's gonna read as Tuesday the 22nd instead of Monday the 21st...on well...a new day...
next blurb will be on Bonnie, I think...stay tuned!
Friday, June 18, 2004
home sweet home...
things i love about being back in LA....the beach. *sigh* i finally made my semi-annual night trip to the beach. i used to take long drives up the PCH at crazy hours when i was a student at UCLA-- usually when i had a lot on my mind or on my heart and i needed to just get away from everyone and de-stress. i can't think of any other place where i've gone back to so regularly to pour out my heart and to regain sanity. it's my place where i'm always reminded to turn back to God. how can you ignore Him when you're sitting right there on the rocks listening to the mighty crash of the waves staring out an endless ocean? most of the time i go by myself-- my place of solitude. a few other times i've gone w/a small group of friends. and other times i've taken a privileged friend/confidante. tonight i took my friend Afua.
actually, i've been thinking about friendships a lot lately and i thought it would be really cool to highlight a friend every blog or every other blog or however it turns out. i figure it's a great way to remember/honor my friends and to be grateful to God for those He's put in my life. and for those who read my blogs, it's a great way to "get to know" my other friends and to see what and who it is that's helped to shape me into me. so i guess i'll start here w/afua...
Afua Soyini-Malika Smith...my friend from Covenant Players who's currently spending part of her break w/me...we toured together her first tour (my fourth) back in Fall 2001 (which was a very tumultous tour for me) and then again Fall 2003 for half a tour. Afua is very well-known in CP for her incredible gifting/talent/skill/passion for singing and she uses it mightily to praise the Lord. she loves the Lord very very (have i said "very"?) much and is quite a prayer warrior. she's also a walking drug store. she introduced me to MSM (no, not LSD) for my various aches and most recently Valerian for those nights where i can't get my brain to shut off. i wish i had pictures to put up, too. oh well. she's got this dazzling smile that goes w/her dazzling personality. one other thing that sets Afua apart from most of the rest of the world is that she refuses to compromise her beliefs when it comes to what she believes is right and pure in the Lord's eyes. she has such a hunger for holiness. she's the kind of person who'll walk out of a movie if it's got a lot of explicit language/scenes. i have a lot of respect for that. my CEFC friends will have the opportunity to meet her this Sunday. or maybe even Friday night.
oh yeah...one other place in LA i love (and i got to go to on Tuesday): Disneyland!!! yea! thanks to danette's auntie joies, a few of us were able to get in for free. that was a huge blessing to me b/c i've been wanting to go for quite a while and for one reason or another it hadn't worked out the last couple of breaks. i didn't go on all the rides i wanted to go on and it's different everytime i go (depending on group dynamics of the people i'm with) but i still had a wonderful time. "Phantasmic!" remains one of my favorite attractions there. danette and i (i'll have to do a little blurb on danette some time) looked like giddy teenagers, i think. *sigh* there's just something about that powerful combination of stunning visual effects, live performers, and heart-stirring music that makes your heart (at least my heart ) soar. i feel like i'm flying high (--no, i'm not on drugs) and my heart's melting and my soul's inspired all at the same time. ok, i know i sound lame and cheezy but that's really how it makes me feel. i'm such a dreamer. i know it.
things i love about being back in LA....the beach. *sigh* i finally made my semi-annual night trip to the beach. i used to take long drives up the PCH at crazy hours when i was a student at UCLA-- usually when i had a lot on my mind or on my heart and i needed to just get away from everyone and de-stress. i can't think of any other place where i've gone back to so regularly to pour out my heart and to regain sanity. it's my place where i'm always reminded to turn back to God. how can you ignore Him when you're sitting right there on the rocks listening to the mighty crash of the waves staring out an endless ocean? most of the time i go by myself-- my place of solitude. a few other times i've gone w/a small group of friends. and other times i've taken a privileged friend/confidante. tonight i took my friend Afua.
actually, i've been thinking about friendships a lot lately and i thought it would be really cool to highlight a friend every blog or every other blog or however it turns out. i figure it's a great way to remember/honor my friends and to be grateful to God for those He's put in my life. and for those who read my blogs, it's a great way to "get to know" my other friends and to see what and who it is that's helped to shape me into me. so i guess i'll start here w/afua...
Afua Soyini-Malika Smith...my friend from Covenant Players who's currently spending part of her break w/me...we toured together her first tour (my fourth) back in Fall 2001 (which was a very tumultous tour for me) and then again Fall 2003 for half a tour. Afua is very well-known in CP for her incredible gifting/talent/skill/passion for singing and she uses it mightily to praise the Lord. she loves the Lord very very (have i said "very"?) much and is quite a prayer warrior. she's also a walking drug store. she introduced me to MSM (no, not LSD) for my various aches and most recently Valerian for those nights where i can't get my brain to shut off. i wish i had pictures to put up, too. oh well. she's got this dazzling smile that goes w/her dazzling personality. one other thing that sets Afua apart from most of the rest of the world is that she refuses to compromise her beliefs when it comes to what she believes is right and pure in the Lord's eyes. she has such a hunger for holiness. she's the kind of person who'll walk out of a movie if it's got a lot of explicit language/scenes. i have a lot of respect for that. my CEFC friends will have the opportunity to meet her this Sunday. or maybe even Friday night.
oh yeah...one other place in LA i love (and i got to go to on Tuesday): Disneyland!!! yea! thanks to danette's auntie joies, a few of us were able to get in for free. that was a huge blessing to me b/c i've been wanting to go for quite a while and for one reason or another it hadn't worked out the last couple of breaks. i didn't go on all the rides i wanted to go on and it's different everytime i go (depending on group dynamics of the people i'm with) but i still had a wonderful time. "Phantasmic!" remains one of my favorite attractions there. danette and i (i'll have to do a little blurb on danette some time) looked like giddy teenagers, i think. *sigh* there's just something about that powerful combination of stunning visual effects, live performers, and heart-stirring music that makes your heart (at least my heart ) soar. i feel like i'm flying high (--no, i'm not on drugs) and my heart's melting and my soul's inspired all at the same time. ok, i know i sound lame and cheezy but that's really how it makes me feel. i'm such a dreamer. i know it.
Sunday, June 13, 2004
question:
what's happened to all the comments on archived posts? do they automatically disappear once your posts go into archives???
what's happened to all the comments on archived posts? do they automatically disappear once your posts go into archives???
oh, poop. i hate when i accidentally delete something after i've just finished writing all i had to write at the moment. anyway, here we go again...it's mostly just whining so don't read if you don't wanna hear me whine!
it's been a crazy day. i just got back from alaska wednesday night but i popped back into the social scene officially last night but w/dizzying speed today. and i've been beyond "fashionably late" to everything from the time i left my house in the morning to the time i got back (nearly midnight). first it was shopping w/Suzanne (scheduled time= 10am, Amy time=10:40am). then it was off to Aldous' graduation lunch (sched. time= 12noon, Amy time= 12:50). next came a bridal shower for Sharon Leung (soon-to-be-"Weed"...sched. time= 2pm, Amy time= 3pm). next i stopped off at my big sister's place (sched. time=6pm, Amy time = 6:30). and finally i had to dart off to Tammy's graduation dinner (sched. time=7pm, Amy time= 7:30). it doesn't take a brain surgeon nor a rocket scientist to figure out that i'm not exactly famous for punctuality. call it Amy time, alaska time, chinese time, montebello time....whatever you call it, i'm just plain late all the time.
*sigh* i can't even get myself to bed on time. i was aiming for 1am and look what time it is now. flipping 5:07am. aiyaah.
perhaps i ought to lay off the caffeine late at night. perhaps i ought not try to cram 5 months of catching up on friends' lives (via blogspots, websites, etc) in the course of 1 or 2 nights. ok, i'm really gonna go to bed now...
it's been a crazy day. i just got back from alaska wednesday night but i popped back into the social scene officially last night but w/dizzying speed today. and i've been beyond "fashionably late" to everything from the time i left my house in the morning to the time i got back (nearly midnight). first it was shopping w/Suzanne (scheduled time= 10am, Amy time=10:40am). then it was off to Aldous' graduation lunch (sched. time= 12noon, Amy time= 12:50). next came a bridal shower for Sharon Leung (soon-to-be-"Weed"...sched. time= 2pm, Amy time= 3pm). next i stopped off at my big sister's place (sched. time=6pm, Amy time = 6:30). and finally i had to dart off to Tammy's graduation dinner (sched. time=7pm, Amy time= 7:30). it doesn't take a brain surgeon nor a rocket scientist to figure out that i'm not exactly famous for punctuality. call it Amy time, alaska time, chinese time, montebello time....whatever you call it, i'm just plain late all the time.
*sigh* i can't even get myself to bed on time. i was aiming for 1am and look what time it is now. flipping 5:07am. aiyaah.
perhaps i ought to lay off the caffeine late at night. perhaps i ought not try to cram 5 months of catching up on friends' lives (via blogspots, websites, etc) in the course of 1 or 2 nights. ok, i'm really gonna go to bed now...
