The Other Bubblegum Alley

Bet you didn't know there was a first one. Yes the first one is a disgusting looking alley in SLO. The one in Seattle is more like a wall, but let me assure its still just as gross.

The Infamous Pink Snuggie

Today we travelled to San Francisco to leave from SFO airport to Washington. We stayed at Jessica Uhl's house and there we found the pink snuggie. Fun fact - Nicole proceeded to wear this for the next hour. Apparently its comfortable and creepy looking.

The Stalker Lens

I borrowed my friend Christina's 55-200 mm lens and I nicknamed it the stalker lens because it takes great pictures from far away. This view is from the ground far up into the tree and it looks so clear, I love it.

Sick Day

Guess where I spent a majority of my day? Yes in that lovely spot in the corner of my room known as my bed. That's what happens when you wake up and feel like your head is full of grossness and wants to stay in there (like the creepy mucus commercials...). So in an effort to get better (because I have no time to be sick) I took the day off and stayed in bed.

Fredericks Street

This is my new parking spot. Well down the street that is. It's about a half a mile from campus because our town is strange (or smart depending on you look at it) and many of the streets around campus are permit parking only. You know so students don't take spots belonging to residents (My mom would love that, she is very possessive of the spot in front of our house). 

The Road Not Normally Taken

I was driving along the 58 coming home from Bakersfield - a slightly different route than I normally take because Sir Reginald Crumpet (my GPS) told me to go this way. And while I was frustrated with all the turns in the road - when I saw this, the entire trip home was worth it. It was a beautiful day, one where you don't want to be stuck in a car.

Only drive this route if you are not in a hurry to get anywhere and want to look at the scenery. (And you don't need to go to the bathroom). 

The Right Moment

I wasn't in charge of the wedding portraits but I did manage to follow Sarah (the other photographer) around and got some great candid shots of the bride in between shots. This is my favorite of Jamey and her bridesmaids.

Funny story about one of the bridesmaids. The girl in the short hair on the bottom right, Molly, is the niece of my elementary school's receptionist. Crazy small world.

Decorations

I was in Bakersfield for the wedding of one my close friends from my summer project in Fresno three years ago. She asked me to help take pictures of her wedding and this is the first one released publicly. I loved the way they decorated the church, and closed off the center aisle for everyone but the bridal party.

Poppies Everywhere

These are everywhere in SLO. On campus. Off campus. In yards and bushes, and anywhere else a flower should be - they exist. No wonder this is the state flower.

Finally!!!

It only took two quarters but the construction is 90%. We had our first concert in the UU plaza (which of course I couldn't go to because of work) but still - I can finally walk through this instead of all the way around the bookstore.

Parking Lot Find

This is what happens when you live in SLO and get clouds.

Makes you want to live here doesn't it?

My New Best Friend

Meet my new best friend: Virginia Woolf. Yes I know she's dead - but I spend more time with her books than I do real people some days. I guess that's my own fault for taking a Virginia Woolf seminar. (And yes - by the end of the quarter I will have read all those books you see stacked up there).

Dodgers vs. Giants

This is was seriously one of the best Sundays ever.

Wake up early (not so fun)
Drive in a car with awesome people (Meghan, Sarah, Marissa, and Sydney)
Play AWESOME car games that involve the alphabet
Go to the Dodger vs. Giants
Watch Manny hit the game winning 2 run home run
See the sad Giants fans as they loose
Eat the best Armenian food ever

Exchange

So I after going to Bill's Party, I decided to take home some of the beer that I brought (seeing that their house had enough and didn't need mine). Then I decided to exchange the Newcastle I brought for some others. Red Seal is on the left. I can't remember what's in the middle and Newcastle is on the right. It will take me a long time to go through all four of those - I've drank at lot less since I gave it up for lent.

Noise Violation

Thanks to our awesome dance party/Bosnia fundraiser the Palace got its first ever noise violation under our reign. I don't know if I'm surprised that it took as a year and a half to finally get one or our neighbors finally became lame. But there go: proof that our neighbors don't like noise at midnight.

Campus Dining Ambassador

This is my shirt I get to wear for the next two days. It's a part of the new campus dining ambassador program - where we walk around campus during Open House making sure no one is lost.

And I get paid for it.

Toms

I love my Toms shoes. They are super comfortable, fashionable, and helps you save the planet. For every pair of shoe you by - you give one to a child in need of shoes. (Two for the price of one!) The quote on the shoes is:

"The human race, in its poverty, has unquestionably one really effective weapon - laughter."  - Mark Twain

Bright Waters Photography

So my friend and former small group leader Sarah took family photos of my sister and I. The cd just came in the mail today. Check out the rest of the pictures - I must say they are pretty awesome.

Small Group Leader's Handbook

Ok so when I became a leader I got the 80's version of this book was the completely lame. This year they came out with a totally new book - not just revised the words into 2010 lingo but a whole new group of authors. This book = legit. I would by it myself if I wasn't given it for free.

When You Miss the Exit

So it was raining today and the car in front of me was going slower than I wanted but just as I attemtped to pass it, it sped up causing me to miss my exit (well I could have made it but it also could have resulted in death so I decided against risking it - only because of the rain).

Anyway after taking the other exit to my house I found the most beautiful rainbow. You can't really tell from this angle but its was so much bigger. So thanks to the jerk in front of me because without him (or her) I wouldn't have had this awesome surprise.

The End of an Era

Several years ago my aunt gave me one of the greatest birthday presents. She painted on my wall the coolest post cards of tropical beaches. Thus began the beach theme for my room (which includes a fake palm tree). I just found out that my mom is painting over the wall - green no less (her entire house is green, in my opinion she should paint it blue).

I am going to miss that wall, it was awesome. And now it will just be green. Oh I am taking the palm tree with me. She doesn't get to keep that.

Twins!!

Jen and David are twins - except not really. But they look like twins don't they? This was my amazing find at Large Group tonight.

(On a side note - David is actually a triplet - his sister is named Jen. How funny!)

A Nice Dream

Can I runaway and live here forever?
No?
Ok fine - but its a nice dream.

Who Will Buy?

Yes - this awesome looking car is for sale. Right behind Splash Cafe - I didn't ask how much you could buy it for but maybe the trailer next to it comes with it.

My Front Yard Conundrum

As you can see this flower is beautiful. There are many beautiful flowers in my front yard. What you can't see is that there is giant mess of sticks and brush and shrub and whatever plant term for butt-ugly distracting the eyes from the beauty. We asked a year and a half ago to for the landlord to get rid of it. Guess what - never happened.

Well at least we have these wonderful flowers.

Rising Moon

After 40 days of no beer it was nice for a moment to enjoy Blue Moon's seasonal collection: Rising Moon. It is quite delicious. And now there are several more sitting in my fridge at home but it will take me quite some time to get to them.

He is Risen

"No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from his hand.
'Til he returns, or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand."

- In Christ Alone

SGLT

Today we had our Small Group Leader Training (SGLT - pronounced siglit, can also be pronounced saglat, seglet, soglot, or suglut) Kick off day at Agape church.

On an unrelated note (and the subject of today's picture) - I really love Agape's logo. First off, the blue is so striking, especially with the white border. I personally love words in all lower case and I I really do like the heart in the middle (agape is "love" in Greek). One of the best church names and logos I've seen. (I also like my home church because its so obvious - Lake Avenue - just name it after the street it is almost on - since technically it's on Maple).

Tangelos

So thanks to Rachel's suggestion, I bought Tangelos at Farmer's Market last night. They were some of the most amazing things I've ever tasted. I love our Thursday night Farmers Markets - the smells and sights are wonderful: BBQ, fruit, churros, creepy puppet shows, the bible quiz booth, and balloon animals all make the wonders of Farmers Market.

Self in Snow

So it has become tradition for the first day of the month self portrait and here it is. Wearing shorts near the snow isn't the best idea (ok so it was left over snow and it was only like 70 degrees out).