Blur.

Got home Wednesday.
Hit the ground running.
Busy next 3 weeks.
Barely had time to catch my breath.

So much I want to say.
But I just don't have the pictures to show yet!

It's over.

Paz and I are still in Louisville, but New Attitude is over. It's been a crazy, but amazing weekend. Still processing through a lot. Excited about some new things. Excited about some old things. I probably won't blog about it, as there's no way to get a full spectrum of the weekend. I didn't take a whole lot of photos, but what I did, you can see here. We go home tomorrow morning (VERY early) and back into the real world.

Na.

Headed off to Louisville for Na. (That's New Attitude, not sodium.)

Keep up with photos here.

I'm going to attempt to live blog this year via Twitter. (Note the attempt. I'm one for big aspirations and I'll continue to update my normal Twitter, too, but this one will be dedicated specifically to Na.

Stay tuned for a great weekend!

Social Networking Drama

Well, I do love me some Twitter.

I love trees.

When I lived in Switzerland, Prisca and I would sit on her porch and contemplate trees, pointing out our favorite ones. There is something that has always drawn me towards trees. Something about their shape, their being. Trees, dead or alive, are a point of constant beauty for me. Recently, I compiled all my tree photos into a Flickr set, which at this point in time comprises exactly 10% of all my photos. No surprise, hey? These are a few of my favorites.

Tragically Mediocre

Went to the midnight showing of Prince Caspian and was really disappointed. Almost angry at how bad it was (hence blogging at 3am!). Overall, it was poorly done and isn't worth seeing in theaters.

There were some points of excellence, such as the production design. Costuming was fantastic. I loved the armory of the Telmarines–thought the helmet-masks were stunning. Scenery was beautiful and magical. ...and that's about it.

Because it is late, the skinny is this: I felt cheated by cheap jokes, story manipulation, ridiculous accents, long battles and rushed character development, silly contemporary dialog, and spiritual application that requires maneuvers to glean. The latter in particular...a tale of self-sufficiency? If so, where was repentance? Where was conviction? Where was the kindness and power of Aslan? Apparently, Andrew Adamson was too busy choreographing battle scenes to think through the gaping weaknesses of the film.

Everything I hoped would make me love the film was returned with clichés. I hope for better sequels and will grasp on to my love of the books more deeply.

Did anyone out there actually like it?

Happy Day

Rain.
A new computer.
Having lunch over the phone with a far away friend.
Meeting with the girls.
Dessert with Chris + Tara.
Movie at midnight.

Can this day get any better? I submit that it cannot!

What are YOU driven by?

A pursuit of Beauty is my theme.
Watching. Hoping. Wondering.
Grappling. Struggling. Emerging.

I have found rest in Redemption.
My sight is broadened to see
More deeply.

(inspired by a conversation with real-life-friend Jen. i ask the same question of my readers: what are you passionate about? what drives you?)

Jon Troast Living Room Concert

Music. Photos. Food.

Last Thoughts

Thanks to everyone who came to the concert tonight. It was a blast! For everyone else, go buy Jon's new CD and pre-order the next one while you're at it.

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I declare Jeff the winner of the caption contest with, "Hold it right there, Carmen!" Let me know what print you'd like.

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Click here for more Wisconsin Wonder.

Jon Troast Living Room Concert

Don't forget! Jon Troast is coming tonight!

And if good music doesn't get you there, delicious food by Chanelle definitely should.

Chicago Times

More Chicago photos here.

My Kind of Town

Heading to Chicago today. http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifChicago-ish, that is. Flying into Milwaukee, spending most of the weekend in Zion, with a brief jaunt into the Windy City. ...All with my April. Stay tuned for upcoming adventure reports.

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Caption Contest winners will be announced Tuesday morning. Be sure to add your two cents to the scene.

Caption Contest!

best caption gets a photo print of mine of their choice mailed in a cool envelope. maybe an extra surprise if it's really clever. (oh, and mad props if you know what maps this is!)

Not many wise. Not many noble.

"Why is it that we constantly parade Christian athletes, media personalities, and pop singers? Why should we think that their opinions or their experiences of grace are of any more significance than those of any other believer? When we tell outsiders about people in our church, do we instantly think of the despised and the lowly who have become Christians, or do we love to impress people with the importance of the men and women who have become Christians? Modern Western evangelicalism is deeply infected with the virus of triumphalism, and the resulting illness destroys humility, minimizes grace, and offers far too much homage to the money and influence and 'wisdom' of our day."
–D.A. Carson, The Cross and Christian Ministry, (emphasis mine)

Even the Dust

I was listening to this on my drive over this morning. Tears welled up, moved by foreign words, yet ones my own heart has cried out.

Prem Milan (from Amrit Vani)
Words by Chris Hale, Raman Singh, Sadhu Nitesh
Music by Peter Hicks and Chris Hale

(Translation)
The eyes long to be united in love
Wounded hearts come to your city
All, in an instant, find welcome

Thirsty, thirsty, my eyes
Thirsty, thirsty, my eyes
Show me a vision of yourself now
Do not delay

Just as the doe is restless in the forest
Just as the doe is restless in the forest
There is fire in the glance of my eyes
Do not increase my suffering

I have arrived at your doorstep
I have arrived at your doorstep
How can I go in empty handed?

Give me even the dust of your feet

Old Dreams Die Hard

I wanted to be a marine biologist up until I was 12.

...this is the only reason I can think of why I am so intrigued by watching a colossal squid being defrosted.