Screen on the Green

During the summer HBO presents films at various location throughout DC and Northern Virgina. It is a lot of fun. Tons of people (at least a thousand) come with treats, picnics, popcornto watch a movie on a huge screen. I went with a bunch a friends to see Arsenic and Old Lace as it showed at the National Mall. I was a lot of fun. As we waited for dusk my friends and I played Phase 10.

My friends Amanda, Kate, Megan, Adrienne, and few new friends.

Just some more fun photos

My roommate gave me these photos after I blogged the event. After our bike ride we went over to Amanda's for smoothies, the yummiest chocolate cookies ever and a relaxing time by the pool.

Word choice

Sometimes I wonder if people really mean what they say. I've encountered in my simple existence countless times when people make promises that they just can't keep, and sometimes I think that they never intended to. I don't make promises to people, because if I say I'll do something then I intend on doing it, unless there has been an option of one thing or another.

I am surrounded by people because of the limited knowledge of the English language they have to use vulgarity to express themselves. Or maybe they have come to the point where no other word could justify, or intensify to the degree of which they are feeling certain emotions. I feel most times that people just want to be understood. I sure do. Maybe people don't want pity but they want someone to have empathy (which the word itself by definition is understanding and entering into another's feelings) and compassion. Cry with me, don't pat me on the back and say you'll be fine. There have been times in which I wanted to shout profanity at the top of my lungs because I was exploding with an emotion, and feeling that I couldn't relay to the person I was speaking to just exactly how I felt and they failed to understand me. But I didn't because it wasn't going to help them empathize with me.

There have been times in which I have said things in ways which offended others. Yet if that person really understood how dearly I cared about them they would know that my choice of words wasn't meant to offend, or battle, or belittle, or position myself against them. Yet many times I have taken offense because of a choice of words by another. There are times in which someone may offend another, but then again why take offense by others words...as long as you don't believe them. We chose our battles. I've had to learn the hard way. Why choose battles against those that we know love us when there are so many battles and hardships already all around us.

The only person I believe that ever was perfect when he spoke was Christ. He truly knew the perfect meaning of all of our words and how, where and when to place them. Every time I read scripture the passages can mean something different but something equally good, uplifting, and insightful. Why because the words that he chose have multiple meanings. I'd love to quote and give example but instead of providing the evidence...it is there in scripture for everyone to read for themselves.

So no pictures today but two cents from Simone. Take or leave it.

BURK LAKE SATURDAY AFTERNOON BIKE RIDE

Virginia’s Little Lakes…this is Burk.

A few girls and I decided to go for a bike ride. I haven't been biking in ages and I miss it! We had a great time riding around the lake...TWICE!!!

ACHTUNG!!! There were a couple of crazy cyclists who thought the trail was a race track.

Suiting up for the adventure. A helmet is a must! I think this might have been the first time I've worm a helmet, bike riding at least.

A little train, bikes with bells, and a conditioning course!!!

A beautiful flower tree that I took a picture of!!!

WANDERING DC...JIM HENSON'S EXHIBIT & WWII MEMORIAL

World

War II MEMORIAL


We took a dip in the fountain!...well our feet.

Nothing like a yummy popcicle on a hot hot day!!!

Smithsonian's International Gallery, Washington
July 12, 2008-October 5, 2008

The incredibly prolific mind of Jim Henson (1936-90) was a veritable celebration of ideas for wondrous creatures and characters, stories, songs, and imagery. From the earliest age, Henson drew pictures, wrote jokes, built mobiles, and planned whole worlds. He thought in three dimensions and experimented in a huge variety of media, both with still and moving images. He was fascinated with how ideas are formed, how they interconnect in the mind, and how they can be shared through the visual and performing arts.

Organized with The Jim Henson Legacy, Jim Henson's Fantastic World offers audiences a rare peek into the imagination of this brilliant innovator and creator of Kermit, Big Bird, and other beloved characters. The exhibition documents Henson’s process of “visual thinking” through works of art, photographs, documents, puppets and other 3-D objects, and film and video clips. Museums may create a separate activity center with the educational and interactive resources provided.

"As all children live in a world of imagination, of fantasy, for some of us that world of make-believe continues into adulthood!"

"tHERE ARE NO RULES, AND THOSE ARE THE RULES!"

CAN YOU SEE ME? I BLENDED RIGHT IN DIDN'T I?!

Wandering DC

My roommates photos of us wandering DC on steamy Saturday afternoon.

Sometimes you gotta look outside of the box

"The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers".

M. Scott Peck

A friend posted this quote on her blog...I don't need to explain myself.

The HUMANRACE!!

A new addiction...shoes AND TARGET!!!
So I walked into Target the other day to grab a few necessities and I happened to pass by the shoe section. I always hung onto the excuse that I don't wear cute shoes because they don't come in my size...or I can't wear heels because they make me a giant. But I've started something new, out with the old and in with the new. I've been looking for something fresh and clean for quite a while. As I perused the shoe section to my dismay although there were many shoes that caught my eye there wasn't a shoe in my size. As I stood there looking at the shoe racks, a thought came to my mind...'what about target.com?' When I got home I checked out the website...sure enough I found the shoes I liked in my size online.

I've never been one to cling onto fashion designer shoes, or clothes for that matter and I've found myself impressed lately with some of the style that Target has come out with. I just went to Target last night and came back with two new dresses, two shorts, and a shirt.

Talking to friends there are a lot of websites that sell shoes for cheap, with great styles and such. So I think I'll be doing my shoe shopping online. The great thing about getting it from Target is that if I don't like it I can return it in the store instead of paying shipping.
Like I said out with the old and in with the new...Color, style, and elevation (I got two pairs of heels)!!!

JUST SHOWING OFF HOW PHOTOGENIC MY NIECES ARE!!! AND THEY BOTH HAVE PERSONALITIES TO MATCH. THEY SHOULD BE THE NEXT TOP BABY MODELS...EITHER THAT OR MY SISTER-IN-LAW HAS THE EYE FOR A PHOTO.

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD!!! WHERE WOULD I BE WITHOUT THEM!!!

MAY 2008 MY DEAR BECCA SILVA BECAME BECCA BANFIELD. IT WAS A GLORIOUS DAY! I WAS SO VERY HAPPY FOR THE TWO OF THEM. THEY ARE A BEAUTIFUL COUPLE THAT BRINGS THE BEST OUT IN ONE ANOTHER.

AND I GOT TO SPEND THE WEEKEND WITH A FEW OF MY MOST CHERISHED FRIENDS. THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR ME TO CELEBRATE THE GOOD TIMES, AND TO PICK UP THE PIECES WHEN I HAVE FALLEN APART. THESE FRIENDSHIPS I KNOW ARE ONE OF THE FEW THINGS I CAN CALL 'GIFTS FROM GOD.' SISTAS FROM ANOTHER MISTA...SIMONE, EMILY, BECCA, PATRICIA, DIANA, AND SARAH-DAWN.

WE HAD SO MUCH FUN ON THE BEACH, GETTING MANI/PEDI, BONFIRE ON THE BEACH, ROASTING MALLOWS, SINGING, DANCING, PLAYING, PRAISING AND LOVING. AND HANGING OUT AS IF IT WERE STILL COLONY DAYS BACK AT BYU.

Monet?!

Well my dad has had a little time to dabble with some of his old hobbies and one of them is painting. He happened to pick on of my favorites…monet and sunflowers.

Maybe I inheritied that talent as well…it is one of my dreams to be able to find the time to take an art class. Learn how to draw, learn how to paint. I wonder if there are still tv shows that teach how to paint…I remember them as a kid, what about now.

NEW YORK CITY...WALK TILL I DROP

I GOT A WEEKEND AWAY FROM HOME AND HEADED OUT TO NEW YORK TO VISIT A FRIEND, AYUMI AND SEE THE SIGHTS THAT I HADN'T ALREADY SEEN LAST TIME I WAS IN NYC. I HAD A LOT OF FUN WANDERING AROUND...THIS WAS A TASTE TESTER WEEKEND FOCUSED ON EATING AT POPULAR PLACES. FRIDAY WE ATE AT THE SHAKE SHACK, A CHEESY FRIED MUSHROOM BURGER AND EVER-SO RICH COOKIE TRUFFLE SHAKE. SATURDAY WE HAD PIZZA. NOT THE HUGE NEW YORK STYLE LIKE I HAD IMAGINED, BUT NEW YORK PIZZA ALL THE SAME. WE WENT TO MAGNOLIA, THE FAMOUS CUPCAKE PLACE (WHICH WERE THE WORST CUPCAKES I'VE EVER HAD BUT THE MINI CHEESECAKE WAS DIVINE). DINNER WAS THAI, AND THEN WE ENDED THE NIGHT WANDERING AROUND A ENORMOUS CANDY STORE WHILE WAITING FOR OUR RESERVATION AT SERENDIPITY. I WANTED TO TRY THE INFAMOUS FROZEN HOT CHOCOLATE.

SO I WAS A TOURIST DOING TOURISTY THINGS BUT YOU WOULDN'T HAVE CAUGHT ME WITH A MAP BECAUSE I HAD AYUMI. I LOVE THEATER!!! I AM SO GLAD THAT AYUMI ALSO WANTED TO SEE MARY POPPINS. THERE HAS BEEN MIXED REVIEWS BUT I'M REALLY NOT THAT GREAT OF A CRITIC SO MAYBE MY OPINION SHOULDN'T BE AS HIGHLY VALUED AS ANOTHER'S. I LOVED IT!! THE SINGING AND ACTINGS WAS ALL DONE VERY WELL. IT BROUGHT BACK MEMORIES OF MY CHILDHOOD. JUST A SPOON FULL OF SUGAR!

Virginia is for LOVERS!!!

What a great state to live in!!! WHY? Cause Virginia is for LOVERS...so what about the rest of you guys?!