Little Guy's First Photo Shoot

 
 
 
 

I beat Grant to the picture post... introducing Puppy Paige. Chad and Grant decided to get a puppy and this is him... he has yet to be named but I spent a good part of yesterday and today with him and I absolutely LOVE him!! Hope everyone is well!

<3 Meg

Good Luck My Free-Sprited Muse <3

Today I hugged and bade farewell to one of the most wonderful and inspiring people I've ever known. She is off to make a difference in the world (yet again) and this time it will be an extended work... in Thailand. She is no stranger to travel, selflessness, long hours, discomfort or homesickness. She is in a word, inspiring... and I am going to miss her dearly.

I remember the first time I met her... it was the first day of choir tour in winter of 2002 and she was sitting in front of me on our bus reading Lovely Bones. My friends and I decided that on the first day of such an exciting experience, a nice girl like her should be socializing -not reading. So then it was that I happened to start pestering her. Over the past few years I watched her change from a nice girl to a very strong and moral woman; I watched her do selfless act after selfless act in a very true, open altruistic manner.

I've been jealous and proud of all the things that shes accomplished. She's built houses, educated others, organized events to help less fortunate people, volunteered months of her life at a time to help where she could AND she still kicked my bum when it came to school work. I have no idea where she found the time or energy (I function only after a minimum of 10 hours of sleep -I need 12-15 if you expect anything close to "chipper".)

I'm not saying that she is anything but human but to encounter such a human is daunting indeed and I can't say I've ever met another like her. I've always thought (and still do) that people like her live in movies and books -but rarely in real life.

I didn't intend to sound so in love with her when I thought to write this but I can't help it, I do love her very much and I pray that God continue to rain blessings upon her and all that she sets out to do. In her 24 years she's done more for this world than 90% of us and I am SO proud to know her.

Good luck in Thailand Brit, I love you. Have a wonderful time shaping minds and come home safely to us.


Your friend,
Megan

August 2008

I've had a fun couple of weeks... rather than boring you with my descriptions that do the experiences little justice, I'll recap with pictures!! I wish I were a better writer (like Grant or Aro) but I'm not... alas, it takes more concentration than I am willing to give and it never feels adequate.

Recently Grant and I (see below) went to see Radiohead at the Hollywood Bowl. I brought a camera because I realized that I haven't taken a single picture for months.

We had just finished 2 hot dogs and 4 beers... Grant wouldn't let me take a picture of the aftermath of that though. Let it be said that Hollywood Bowl hot dogs are super good!

After we finished eating we hiked (literally) to the very top of the Bowl to our seats. This is the view from our seats... I should have taken a picture of what was behind us: 2 more benches for seating and a wide walkway. Yea... we were far out... BUT still IN the Bowl. Yeeeaaa! Woo!

We could see the Hollywood sign pretty well though... I bet the people at the bottom couldn't see that! Hah!

Oddly, we also saw a super big crucifix that lit up when the sun set. I took pictures of that too but they didn't come out clearly.

When the sun sat the show got AWESOME. If you want a more in depth description, check out Grant's blog. The event was spectacular and memorable and my only regret is that we didn't talk all of you, our friends, into coming with us because it would have been amazing to you too -I guarantee it.

This is one of my favorite pictures. They had a rainbow color scheme that was mesmerizing. White and the following picture represent the most breath-taking displays in my opinion... it's a shame that more colors didn't look right on my camera. (PS. This is at 10x zoom and my holding my breath to steady the camera -Appreciate the effort!!)

I think I'll add another post tomorrow but it's 10:15pm and I have work at 8:30am so I'm off to bed! Hope you enjoy the pictures!

<3>

Hallo!

Hay-yo friendlies!

Please palliate my torpid behavior and any bombastic portions of this blog... I am taking a salubrious break from my quest for wisdom. (AKA. I am studying for my GRE's... prognosticate which subject I am practicing for!) Wow... that took a while to write... I came up with the idea of incorporating the most common GRE terms into a blog for practice and future reference but I sound more pompous and I think I'll stop now.

How is everyone? I'm doing well... just updating the blog from my parents' house. I had a pleasant day and am just wasting a bit more time before Grant is supposed to get off work... then I will be on my way to Brea.

Not too much to report that I think anyone aside from my family and Grant would be too interested in. Life is going well... I received some adorable pictures of Skylar Grace DiSalvo yesterday in the mail. Mike and Wendy certainly did bring a beautiful being into the world! I am looking forward to driving out to see her in Phoenix this fall. I had planned to go out this summer but thought better of it after considering the age and mileage my car has acquired, the price of gas and the heat of the drive to AZ... so that is on hold for a short time. I am REALLY looking forward to seeing Radiohead on the 25th of August. Grant and I bought the tickets ages ago and yet time has flown by so quickly.

I'll be sure to post some pictures from that. Looking back I really wish that we had bothered to take a camera in for The Cure earlier this summer. Thank goodness that Ben and Amy took theirs -at the very least we have photographic evidence of being there. I remember back 2 years ago when Grant and I took pictures of everything...we looked better back then I guess. :P

Speaking of pictures, I had a bunch taken of me last weekend at my friend Dianne's wedding. I don't know if anyone reading this will remember the woman I rented a room from back in 2005. She is a very nice woman of about 50 or 52 who owns a house in Orange over on Washington Street. It was so wonderful to live with her in that old house. I really miss riding my bicycle to Chapman every morning and having study groups in a real living room with snacks prepared in a real kitchen! I suppose I'll never be able to live with her again now that she is married and my old bedroom has been converted into an office. I am happy for her though, her husband is a wonderful, kind man who will undoubtedly treat her well and love her for the rest of her life. I'll have to post a couple of pictures from the wedding when I receive copies of those too!

No worries about the lack of pictures, I will start taking more soon because it's been far too long since I've had my own pictures to post! (And my grandma wants a recent picture of Grant and I... so lucky Grant gets to smile for the cameras soon too! Oh the perks of being my boyfriend! Haha.) Still, we've got to take it as a good sign that my grandma even wants a picture of Grant with me, right? She only met him a couple of months ago when she asked me to invite him over. Overall, I have to admit that it was a great success... my grandma's husband even set off an illegal firework in the middle of the street just for Grant. Now how many guys get that kind of greeting from his girlfriend's family??

I bet you're wondering why I don't call my grandma's husband "Grandpa", aren't you? Well... to be honest, I am still getting used to the whole situation. They only got married a couple of years ago. He's all right though... he's been living with my grandma for some 16 years or so now... I just never thought I would be asked to call him anything but "Dave". I think I'll like him more when he retires from his motorcycle gang... don't get me wrong -his "brothers" are nice guys but there are a few too many tattoos and prison records for my taste. He's in his late 60s so any year now, he'll have to retire, right?

Speaking of motorcycles, I need to practice on my own a bit more. I would like to take it on the freeway to work since gas prices are so rebarbative these days. (Hehe, sorry, I had to slip one more GRE word in!!) Since I got my license (2001) I've really ever only ridden on weekends with my dad and bother. Can you imagine how tough our "gang" would look? My dad and brother each have a black and chrome Harley with matching black ensembles... I, however, have a pomegranate red and chrome Honda Rebel and often sport a pink or baby blue cardigan. On the rare occasion that my mom decides to join us, she hops on her pearl white Vespa (which actually smokes all our bikes initially) with a grin from ear to ear. Yes, we are the quintessential hard core motorcyclin' family. (I'm the bald one in the dress.)

Anyhow, it's about that time so I am going to finish this off and hop in my car! I hope that you are all doing well! Feel free to leave me a mini-life story!! I miss everyone so much. <3

OMG! Megan Made a Post!!

Hi friends who actually still look at this blog. :)

This is so weird! I am on my laptop that I haven't opened in about 3 months and I had an urge to go to http://www.blogger.com/ and low and behold -it takes me straight to my dashboard! It didn't even ask me for a password. I guess now that I am logged in, I should change it to something that I will remember 2 years from now when I post again. :P

So what has changed since I last wrote? I'm living with my brother in Redlands now in his cute little house with his cute BIG dog, Cisco. I'm here right now using my cell phone as a modem... I mention it just because I'm amazed that I figured out how to set it up myself.

You'll note however that my picture of the house is awful because I couldn't bother to find a better picture than what google maps offers. Ah technology!

It's a comfortable house though. We all like it here and it's small enough that if we are expecting company we can have it cleaned up in 30 minutes. But I admit, I like it best when it's just me and Cisco -then it stays clean for a while.

It was an odd transition moving home to Redlands after being unaccountable to anyone but myself for 5 years and it took me a long time to get comfortable in my old role while incorporating my new personality and desire to remain independent. Two years later and I fit like an old shoe -I don't think I'm as selfless of my time as I was in highschool but I try. I'm just thankful that I was able to get over the anxiety of trying to fit in.

Grant and I are still together (which I am sure comes as no surprise to anyone reading this). We celebrated 2 years together last weekend by lounging around on Memorial Day and spending money like we could afford to. We've been bowling a bit recently. Grant is in his second-to-last class before he finishes his requirements for his Masters in Philosophy at Talbot. These last two are summer classes so I consider him done. I bought him his very own bowling ball and bag as a graduation gift and he's been making the best of it. I am considering getting one for myself just so that I look cool when we go out with his friends (who all have their own balls too). I got shoes with little white stars on them and I am looking forward to cosmic bowling so I can show them off!

My friends Wendy and Mike had their first child last Monday May 26 @ 12:45pm so I'm an auntie!! It was a girl and they named her Skyler Grace DiSalvo. I like it. :) I heard the baby on the phone but haven't made any plans to visit yet. My dad and brother are out of town on vacation right now so I'm tied to the house to watch Cisco and tied to the office because 2/8 people in the office are out (dad and brother). Hopefully I'll get out there in late June... ew... Arizona in June. Oh well.

I don't think I have much else to report. Life is good despite the recession that sucks and the fact that George Bush is the biggest idiot I've ever seen. His father should have been neutered... but then hindsight is always 20/20.

I read a news report on Times yesterday that said in Europe (London specifically) gas prices are anaverage of $8.00 (US) per gallon. This weekend in Redlands gas has been posted at $4.33/gallon unleaded. Truck drivers and fishermen have been staging protests to gain the attention of their government. The French President Scarsozy has a plan to reduce taxes per gallon but said that it would require a unanimous vote from the UN. In the meantime, these protests are costing other motorists to sit in traffic. Shameful.

On that note: happy day!

<3

Alcohol Worse Than Narcotics

Yes, I am a noob when it comes to Blogging so I didn't make this link all fancy and crud. Deal with it. At least I didn't cut and paste the whole article...hmm...maybe I should. What if the link expires? Oh well: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1602252,00.html

So Alcohol and Tobacco are more harmful than Cannabis and Ecstasy... interesting. I'm somewhat familiar with the properties of all of these substances (despite the fact that I've not partook of half of them). Fortunately I reap the benefit of "educational models".

Healthwise, it is easy to come to the same conclusion as these researchers. Socially speaking, I am not so sure this study has the soundest foundation. I think that most of these drugs should be considered "socially acceptable". Alcohol makes people amusing, as do cannabis and ecstasy typically. To my knowledge, none of these are credited with enciting war or violence for that matter. I may be wrong, feel free to make a reference and I'll consider revising my position but until then...

I say "most" for a very selfish reason: I am not a fan of tobacco. Why? Well, I'll give you two reasons: cancer and my susceptibility to inherit it through secondhand smoke (because I enjoy the smell). While I don't want to smoke and I wish that no one else did, I can't jump on the liberalist band wagon and demand it's prohibition.

It's naive to think that just because something isn't technically allowed, it won't happen. It will. Believe me, it will. I do believe, however that some substances should be legal. Legalization wouldn't solve all of the world's problems but it might relieve some people of unnecessary actions (IE: illegal dealing, arrests, government bills for trials over drug possession charges etc.)
No, I am not a super liberal person. I am actually pretty much down the middle... leaning left or right as I see fit.

Off topic: I believe I am a good representation of a Republican and Liberal union. It's hard to be hardcore when your parents directly oppose eachother politically 99% of the time. To speak candidly and very not P.C., I am not white enough to be republican nor unprivleged enough to be a liberal. I am in a very interesting position which suits me fine...I've always seen myself as more of a moderator than anything else.

Back on topic: This study was interesting enough for me to post it. Hopefully 10 years down the road I'll remember it and come back to compare. Stay tuned...I'll be back...


(in +/-10 years)

Lola

I had a dream last night that I bought a puppy. She might have been a pit bull but I'm not sure...she kept changing. I liked her a lot though. One moment she was tiny and would curl up in my lap and snuggle. The next time I glanced at her she was about the size of Cisco and rolling around in the living room. And other times she was pretty much the size of a Chihuahua but not all yippy or anything. I surprised myself with her name though: Lola.

Not really a name that I would consider normally. But I've learned that Dream Megan and myself don't always see eye to eye. Her name reminds me of a song, titled "Lola" appropriately enough. Here are the lyrics I can recall:

Whatever Lola wants Lola gets,
And Little Man,
Little Lola wants you
Make up your mind to have no regrets,
Refine yourself,
Resign yourself,
you're through.

When I was younger I used to change the name to Meggie and sing it to myself. I always wanted to be a "Lola". I don't really think the name fits me but I always wanted to be a girl who could pass for a Lola if she felt like it. "Meggie" isn't a name I usually go by either in fact it irritates me to a certain degree. The only people I ever allowed to call me that without a fuss were my mother, father, and grandparents. Occasionally I'd let Kevin call me that but only if he let me call him "Kevie".

I also dreamed about meeting a long lost friend. I felt so happy and content being with her. Don't you hate it when you have a longing to be near a specific type of personality but you can't think of a single person you know who would fit that description? This friend was female, slightly older, supportive, nurturing, not related, and just beautiful in general. I was bursting with questions about life and she had it all figured out. Basically, she is the person that I would like to grow into someday.

Perhaps these dreams were serving as a reminder that I am not there yet. (As if I needed a reminder.) Someday I'll have a place I'll call home and I won't have to choose which version of "home" I feel like spending the night in. Someday I'll be that person I long so much to be around so much -I'm not claiming that I'll have any of it figured out but perhaps I'll get closer...and maybe I'll even get my Lola.