Category Archives: Memories…

Jul 28 2012

my favorite Olympics moment

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We enjoyed watching the Opening Ceremonies of the 2012 Olympics in London last night. The Olympics have always been a part of my life, and I completely missed the last Olympics in China, so I’m excited to get the chance to watch them this time. :-)

I have been reminiscing of Olympic moments that have stood out to me. For sure, the 1996 games in Atlanta are the highlight of my memories. We were on furlough that year, and we – along with the entire city – had Olympic fever. I was 13, so old enough to understand and have memories.

Of course, my favorite was gymnastics. And 1996 was the year of the Magnificent Seven. We followed the competition closely. It was so exciting that everything was taking place only an hour away! And who could forget Kerri Strug’s amazing vault that clinched the team medal for the United States? Tears still spring to my eyes when I watch it.

Apr 3 2010

can't believe it's been 5 years

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Five years ago today, I loaded up my Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera, waved goodbye to my parents, and headed north. Fresh out of college, I had accepted a job in Atlanta doing graphic design work for a small advertising agency. I was so excited to be starting my post-college life, yet so scared. I knew I was lucky to be able to land a job in Atlanta even though I wasn’t living there, with very little experience in my field and graduated from a college that very few in Atlanta are familiar with. I was excited to get my first apartment, decorate it how I wanted, and make a home for me and my kitties.

I was also very scared. Little girl in a big city! So many unknowns, so many things to figure out without my parents or close friends nearby.

It all turned out well, as you now know. I can’t believe it’s been 5 years since I made that move! I remember writing to my future boss, when he asked me why Atlanta. I remember trying to capture in words the love I felt for the city I was born in and always wanted to return to, someday. That first year after I moved here was such a great year, full of growing and strengthening. And here I am.

I still get a little thrill every time I see the skyline of Atlanta – my city, my home! I love learning new things about this place. I love being part of the community that’s here. I love the friends I have made, the relationships I have formed, the bonds I have created.

Who knows what God has in store for us in the future? But for now, it’s been a fun five years! I feel like I’ve grown up soooo much since that day I drove up to start my new job.

Jul 28 2009

Feliz Dia Peru!

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Today is Peru’s independence day!

It’s a big holiday in Peru, as in the United States. We would dress in red and white and go watch parades. One time we got to see the President of Peru drive by in one of the parades! That was exciting.

This month marked 8 years since I moved back to the States from Peru. I can’t believe it’s been that long. Pretty soon (next summer) I will have been back longer than I was living there. I miss living there a lot of times; I wish we could go back to visit more often. I want to take Paul places, see more of Peru than just Lima. I like reconnecting with all my MK friends from Peru on Facebook… Those friendships, those people I grew up with, a country that we all share. There’s a comfortable “home” feeling there.

So how does one celebrate Peruvian Independence Day? (Also known as “el 28 de julio“.) For dinner you should make a typical Peruvian dish, like Lomo Saltado (Look! Here’s the recipe!). To drink you could open up the soft drink, Inca Kola. It’s a Peruvian soda that is bright yellow and tastes like bubble gum. (I hated it until I came back to the States, and now it reminds me of home.) If you’re looking for a less bubbly drink, I recommend getting some chicha morada. It’s made from purple corn and is sweet. Sometimes it also has bits of apples and cinnamon in it too! Mmmm. Be careful though – in a lot of areas in Peru it’s a fermented drink!

If you’re not up for cooking a Peruvian meal, you could always check out a local Peruvian restaurant!

A few years ago I wrote up a post about 10 things you probably didn’t know about Peru. (Check out #5!)

I also wrote this short story about one of my last few days living in Peru, before I left and went to college in Indiana.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Peruvian day!

Nov 15 2008

it's your lucky day!

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Oh boy, do I have a treat for you!

Actually, the people who will appreciate the treat are mostly my fellow classmates from Taylor, but this will give others a glimpse at what life at my college was like.

I have really enjoyed having a Taylor friend, Bethany, live close by. She’s only been here for a few months and is moving to Connecticut after Thanksgiving. :-( That makes me super sad, but I know that God has a wonderful plan for her and her new husband! The other evening I was at Bethany’s apartment and she mentioned that she had the Airband tapes from 2001 and 2002.

Side note: Airband, for non-Taylor-people was a HUGE lip-syncing contest put on every year by our school. Usually a dorm wing or floor would get together and put on a performance, and in our case our entire dorm got together. Airband was always held at homecoming, so at the beginning of the year, and I thought it was such a neat way to unify the dorm and get the freshmen involved as we worked together for a common goal. 2001 and 2002 were significant years for Gerig Hall because those were the years we won! (Gerig won other years, too, but I wasn’t at Taylor then.) I had the privilege of being involved both years and even to this day my heart gets pumped just watching our performance.

So, Bethany lent me her Airband tapes and I put all the performances on YouTube so that everyone could enjoy! I hope you’re as super excited about this as I am!! (Disclaimer: The videos are poor quality, as is often with stage performance videos. The lighting in the videos washes people out so much you can hardly see them! And I was having trouble with a buzzing sound and the screen jumping in a few of them. I think it’s probably due to the natural degradation of VHS tapes.)

In 2001, my freshman year at Taylor, we did the song “Joyful Joyful”. I had so much fun doing it! I was one of the prop holders – the panel in the back in the middle. I tried SO SO hard to be one of the dancers, but I am SO not coordinated and I kept messing up. I think it was a mutual decision to be a backstage person. :-) Anyways, please enjoy our winning performance! (Oh and see if you can spot a VERY YOUNG LOOKING Beth!)

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/FCL-9qhZbiM" height="350" width="425" /]

In 2002, my sophomore year, we did the song “The Devil Is Bad”. It was very different than the previous year, and still amazing. Okay – I KNOW I was part of the Gerig group – I know I was backstage and all, but I cannot for the life of me think of what I did. I assume something with props, but I’m studying the stage and cannot see where I would have been. I know I didn’t dance and I wasn’t in the band. So if anyone remembers, please refresh my memory! :-) Enjoy our second winning performance!

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/V0rWkwbBWFw" height="350" width="425" /]

And here is a long link list of all the Airband videos I uploaded. I strongly recommend watching the 2nd and 3rd place winners – they were very well done as well!

2001 Airband
2001 Airband Commercials
End of My Rope (2nd Center Olson)
Willy Wonka (2nd East Wengatz)
Radio Medley (2nd English)
Rhythm of the Night (2nd West Olson)
Any Man of Mine (1st West Olson)
Wash That Man (1st East Olson)
Fame (3rd English/Penthouse)
Ninja Rap (BHONE) – 3rd Place
American Woman (3rd East Olson) – 2nd Place
Joyful Joyful (Gerig Hall) – 1st Place
Joyful Joyful (Gerig Hall) – Winners Announcement and Encore!

2002 Airband
2002 Airband Commercials
Michael Jackson Medley (2nd West Olson)
Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend (3rd Center Olson)
It’s Raining Men (2002 Seniors)
I Need A Hero (Swallow Robin Hall)
Different Now (2nd English)
Oh So Quiet (3rd East Olson)
Sk8er Boi (3rd West Olson)
Son of a Preacher Man (1st East Olson/3rd East Wengatz) – 3rd Place
Smurfs/Blue (1st East Wengatz) – 2nd Place
The Devil Is Bad (Gerig Hall) – 1st Place
The Devil Is Bad (Gerig Hall) – Winners Announcement and Encore!

Hope you all enjoy your little treat and walk down memory lane! And if anyone has 2003 and 2004, would you mind letting me borrow it? I’d love to see it!

May 2 2008

aww, how cute

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At work we were asked to bring in a baby picture, to have a contest of guessing who was who. This is the picture I turned in:

Long day!

I think I was about 2 in that picture? Not sure exactly… I was trying to find a picture that didn’t show off my red hair as much since I am the only redhead in the office.

I had fun going through baby pictures. I uploaded a bunch of both Paul and me here. Did I pick the right one to submit for our office contest?