good news item #1: a big 'welcome to the world, kid' goes out to the newest addition in the burk family. news this morning is that little noah was born 4 weeks early (don't freak out lara), weighs in at 7lbs 3oz and 20", and is doing well, along with his mama. while i'm a little annoyed that they stole one of my names :D i couldn't be more excited for corey and jill! as a sidenote, corey's response when i gave him a hard time about the name was 'first come, first served'. :)
good news item #2: after much persuasion, cajoling, brow beating and begging (okay, maybe that's a tad dramatic) my family has decided/agreed/succumbed to having christmas '09 in california. i can't necessarily explain why it is that i'm sooo excited about this, except that i can't wait to show them the place i live and have come (quickly) to love. that and hanging out with kendyl at disneyland, of course! already i'm trying to decide what my favorite favorite california things are, and it's tough whittling it down. it's definitely a break in tradition, but i think and hope it will be a fantastic experience for everyone!
good news item #3: i am finally done with t-mobile. the phone company, not the blog title. i switched to them a year ago thinking it would save me money. yeah, not so much. not only has it not saved me money, but some date entry punk inputted a completely different social security number than my actual one when my account was set up. so i have spend hours upon hours both in the store on the phone trying to make the correction so that i could actually 'manage' my account. the only thing i have been able to do is pay my bill (shocker), but i haven't been able to make any changes to my account (which would have helped with the whole money thing). i finally was able to get it fixed yesterday when i told them that whoever's ssn it REALLY was, was going to be pretty ticked when their credit rating got screwed up by an account they never had. somehow magically, it was all fixable after that. and since my contract is up, and the ssn corrected, i was able to get out. so for my t-mobile friends (all two of you) no more mobile to mobile...sorry. to my att family and friends, i'm here, call me ;)
good news item #4: i am loving loving loving tamara's little 'project blog'. tam and i go way back now (see, i even call her 'tam'), although we've still never met. i am constantly amazed at her eloquence and perspective, but most recently i am completely entertained and grateful for the reminder that single ain't so bad--especially when you take yourself out of the dating pressure cooker once in awhile, and open yourself up to new experiences people. her 'project' was to take on 31 dates in 31 days, to commemorate her recent birthday and try something new. she's blogging her dates here, and you should check it out! she's well underway, but it's not too late to join the bandwagon - you won't regret it.
good news item #5: i'm grateful for the things i done. you can no longer go up or inside kukulcan's temple at chichen itza (stupid vandals). you can no longer visit the statue of liberty's crown (stupid terrorism) and you can no longer snowmobile in yellowstone (stupid nature. um. well, not stupid nature, but you know what i mean). all things i've done that people can't DO anymore. i'm grateful for a family who loves to explore and experience and for the memories these have left behind.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
what i missed
once you hit about 2:24, in the middle of the screen behind the piano player, there is a bearded man, who after taking a photo walks away. yeah. that's my dad. and for the record. i. was. in. orlando. but i'm not bitter.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
bicoastal rambling
one of my favorite things about growing up in the dc metro was its diversity. it always seemed to me the most perfectly positioned place to experience history, art, music, and the dichotomy that is the great outdoors. free museums were common and easily accessible to a teenager via metro. beaches and mountains made for great day or weekend trips. good food was always in abundance, and ethnicity had no bearing in my life. it did not impact who my friends were or how i treated or was treated by other people. i will always feel blessed to have been surrounded by those realities in my formative years.
i have come to learn that california is equally diverse. but though it shares some commonalities with my eastern home (beaches, mountains, good food, etc.), it is vastly different. for one thing, it's a really big state. really big. which means the 'to do list' is much larger than any of my previous homes (va, nc, ut). sometimes, it's a little daunting. to check off many of the things on that list, a weekend is a requirement, not an 'option.' fortunately however, there is enough close (or relatively close) at hand to keep me entertained and exploring while i plan those weekend trips in the un/forseeable future.
i've had the opportunity to visit santa barbara several times over the last couple of years, and i'd have to say that it's become one of my favorite places (although learning that there is no target or best buy has put a slight damper on my affection for it). :D last weekend jesse and i decided to take another shot at butterflies-- particularly since i was armed with a longer zoom lens (thanks to my parents christmas generosity). you may remember that back in november we visited what i now know to be the coronado butterfly reserve. each year up to 100 million monarch butterflies migrate to california and mexico. they are habitual, returning each year (or the ancestors of the previous generation, rather) to the same locales. the result is that in each of these locations an unknown (to me) quantity (a really lot lot lot) settle in for the winter.
in november it was obvious that the migration was just beginning. though at that time, it was still the largest collection of butterflies i've ever seen in one place, this weekend was so far and above what i could have ever imagined. numbers aside, i was surprised and pleased that the butterflies were so active. the late morning sun seemed to be a draw and many of the monarchs were flying relatively low to the ground. the result was an absolutely magical experience, and of course, a phenomenal photo opp. i don't have the words, or frankly the photos, to do it justice, but that won't stop me from posting my favorites anyway!
there are moments, memorable moments that stick with you. i've come to believe that it is in large part because those moments surprise you or exceed your expectations. my most memorable moments vary from family adventures like snowmobiling in yellowstone or making a movie together to world adventures like galloping an arabian stallion through the siq in petra or getting (okay CAUSING) a flat tire on an irish country road. for me, this was one of those moments. i don't know that anything like this exists anywhere but here, and that feeling of magic and wonder will not easily be forgotten.
this'll teach him
the rest of the photos, including our stop at the santa barbara mission can be found here.
in a similar vein on a different body, one of the things i miss about dc is that feeling that you get every so often that you live at the center of the universe. the history of our country is constantly being written there, and next week will mark one its most significant chapters, no matter what the future holds. whichever side you fell on in our recent election, no one denies the importance of what is about to take place. and though i'm content to watch from my sunny southern california home (or technically from my orlando florida tradeshow), i am both sad and envious that my immediate family will all be reunited, along with some extended family additions to experience this memorable moment together.
my experience will be different. i will be watching it on my dvr, probably a week after the fact, once i've returned home from florida, and my biggest event of the year. despite the self-pity, and since i probably won't blog again beforehand, let me say to all my family and friends who plan to participate: be safe (seriously) and have patience. be grateful and humble. be a witness, but be MORE than a witness: record your experience. blog it, email it, tell it, whatever, so that those of us who are unable to share your front row seat, can still benefit from your experience. and most importantly, have fun without me, ya bums. :D
i have come to learn that california is equally diverse. but though it shares some commonalities with my eastern home (beaches, mountains, good food, etc.), it is vastly different. for one thing, it's a really big state. really big. which means the 'to do list' is much larger than any of my previous homes (va, nc, ut). sometimes, it's a little daunting. to check off many of the things on that list, a weekend is a requirement, not an 'option.' fortunately however, there is enough close (or relatively close) at hand to keep me entertained and exploring while i plan those weekend trips in the un/forseeable future.
i've had the opportunity to visit santa barbara several times over the last couple of years, and i'd have to say that it's become one of my favorite places (although learning that there is no target or best buy has put a slight damper on my affection for it). :D last weekend jesse and i decided to take another shot at butterflies-- particularly since i was armed with a longer zoom lens (thanks to my parents christmas generosity). you may remember that back in november we visited what i now know to be the coronado butterfly reserve. each year up to 100 million monarch butterflies migrate to california and mexico. they are habitual, returning each year (or the ancestors of the previous generation, rather) to the same locales. the result is that in each of these locations an unknown (to me) quantity (a really lot lot lot) settle in for the winter.
in november it was obvious that the migration was just beginning. though at that time, it was still the largest collection of butterflies i've ever seen in one place, this weekend was so far and above what i could have ever imagined. numbers aside, i was surprised and pleased that the butterflies were so active. the late morning sun seemed to be a draw and many of the monarchs were flying relatively low to the ground. the result was an absolutely magical experience, and of course, a phenomenal photo opp. i don't have the words, or frankly the photos, to do it justice, but that won't stop me from posting my favorites anyway!
there are moments, memorable moments that stick with you. i've come to believe that it is in large part because those moments surprise you or exceed your expectations. my most memorable moments vary from family adventures like snowmobiling in yellowstone or making a movie together to world adventures like galloping an arabian stallion through the siq in petra or getting (okay CAUSING) a flat tire on an irish country road. for me, this was one of those moments. i don't know that anything like this exists anywhere but here, and that feeling of magic and wonder will not easily be forgotten.
(internal monologue: somehow this post is going from a weekend recap to the inauguration. weird.)
this'll teach himthe rest of the photos, including our stop at the santa barbara mission can be found here.
in a similar vein on a different body, one of the things i miss about dc is that feeling that you get every so often that you live at the center of the universe. the history of our country is constantly being written there, and next week will mark one its most significant chapters, no matter what the future holds. whichever side you fell on in our recent election, no one denies the importance of what is about to take place. and though i'm content to watch from my sunny southern california home (or technically from my orlando florida tradeshow), i am both sad and envious that my immediate family will all be reunited, along with some extended family additions to experience this memorable moment together.
my experience will be different. i will be watching it on my dvr, probably a week after the fact, once i've returned home from florida, and my biggest event of the year. despite the self-pity, and since i probably won't blog again beforehand, let me say to all my family and friends who plan to participate: be safe (seriously) and have patience. be grateful and humble. be a witness, but be MORE than a witness: record your experience. blog it, email it, tell it, whatever, so that those of us who are unable to share your front row seat, can still benefit from your experience. and most importantly, have fun without me, ya bums. :D
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
running to catch up
it's true that i am woefully behind in my blogging and i apologize. i just don't know where the time goes these days, although i do know that i have gotten out of the habit of logging every minute of it. such is life.
i got to spend christmas in virginia, and as usual it was a welcome vacation. every trip 'home' is different and this one was spent largely with my family (sans dylan and kelly), lara and nick, and julie and colby who came to see me from north carolina. highlights of the trip included (in no particular order):
-receiving from my folks the camera lens i had been lusting after and had no expectations of actually getting
-spending time with kate and kendyl
-putting the new lens to good use and simultaneously spending time with lara and nick
-the quality of and company with which i saw 'slumdog millionaire' (so glad it won the golden globe!), 'australia', and 'the curious case of benjamin button'. all three were amazing movies. i hit the jackpot.
-a quiet new years with no pressure, just good friends, family, food, and wii.
it was a quick trip but that doesn't mean there weren't a slew of photos. these are some of my favorites:
i got to spend christmas in virginia, and as usual it was a welcome vacation. every trip 'home' is different and this one was spent largely with my family (sans dylan and kelly), lara and nick, and julie and colby who came to see me from north carolina. highlights of the trip included (in no particular order):
-receiving from my folks the camera lens i had been lusting after and had no expectations of actually getting
-spending time with kate and kendyl
-putting the new lens to good use and simultaneously spending time with lara and nick
-the quality of and company with which i saw 'slumdog millionaire' (so glad it won the golden globe!), 'australia', and 'the curious case of benjamin button'. all three were amazing movies. i hit the jackpot.
-a quiet new years with no pressure, just good friends, family, food, and wii.
it was a quick trip but that doesn't mean there weren't a slew of photos. these are some of my favorites:
Sunday, December 21, 2008
christmas in california
my second christmas season in california, i'm finding, is significantly different from the first. i've mentioned before that it can be a stretch to feel the christmas spirit here, as lights strung on palm trees simply don't have the same effect as on trees that actually lose their leaves when the cold weather hits.
this year however due to my own efforts, the cooperation of mother nature, and the vocal talents of my family members, i am in the mood far more than last year.
the festivities begin early in the month with the community christmas celebration, held annually at mick and jenny's stake center. it's both a phenomenal display of creches and a musical delight. each night spanning the weekend a series of performances are held, and for the second time, i got to watch all of the d kids perform in their respective choirs.
an annual tradition
this year, there was an added bonus, as jenny was performing in a 'parable of the ten virgins' one act (for lack of a better description). though not technically christmas themed, it was extremely powerful. unfortunately jesse, who was visiting for the day got to see just how powerful it was for me, as i spent the last 15 minutes of the performance, and the 15 minutes following it's conclusion, weeping. oh yes. weeping. not the 'tear rolling down a cheek' action. full on weeping. poor guy.
before the weeping began
nonetheless, the month was ushered in with family, friends, and thoughts turned toward christ.
for the last two weeks, it has continued to feel like christmas as a result of actually having cold weather. while i recognize that my idea of cold weather is diferent than it used to be, i've whipped out the winter coats on more than one occasion, and that certainly helps!
i'm also grateful to actually have friends to celebrate with this year! by the time the 2007 christmas season rolled around, i had been here less than two months and had barely started attending the ward that would become my future home. i'm sure there were fun activities going on last year, i just didn't know what they were!
al and i
this year, those fun activities began with our fhe christmas party at the huntington yacht club. i had a great date for the event, who is not just any date. in fact i have known this date for many many years, and from virginia. many of you, my dear readers, will know him as well. he recently moved out to huntington from va, and i couldn't be more excited to have a familiar face from home.
matt and i
the dinner at the yacht club was excellent, the company better, but the highlight was the white elephant gift exchange, where i picked up (stole) a single girl's kit, ironically, created (unbeknownst to me) by one of my good california friends. it contained a handcrafted cd with all the songs a single girl needs, chocolate, and the '50 first dates' dvd. i couldn't resist that steal! (photos here)
the festivities peaked this weekend, first with the balboa boat parade. the parade is an annual tradition (100 years this year) which i've just discovered, and the new york times has ranked it among the top 10 holiday events in the country.
getting ready for the parade
thanks to a girl in my ward whose office sits right on the water where the parade passes, we had the perfect viewpoint with easy parking and no crowds. we turned the conference room into party central, and had the food to prove it! we ordered pizza and enjoyed eachother's company while waiting for the boats to reach us, at which point, a few of us headed out to the dock, while the rest of the group remained on the balcony of the office to watch (wimps!).
enjoying the boats
the boats ranged in size from dingy to 'wow! they MAKE boats that big?!' yachts, and the decorations were equally diverse. we saw simple strands of lights, and elaborate christmas scenes. some boats blasted music, some passed quietly by, but nearly all had a shout of 'merry christmas' for those watching from shore. (photos here)
the light festival continued last night, on a visit to naples. though i really wish i was talking about italy, naples, is in fact an island community in long beach. this is the first time i had ever heard of it, but it is named as a result of its similarity to the 'real' naples, with houses lining canals, and yes, even gondoliers. as i learned last night, the residents of naples put on an extraordinary light show each year, complete with awards and prizes.
me and the girls
we wandered the canals, enjoying the sights, the energy, cups of hot cocoa, and the amaaaazing homes! (photos here)
this random stranger could not resist the allure of 5 beautiful women,
he simply had to be near us.
the christmas season lives on, and on christmas eve i'll be boarding a plane for virginia. i'm sure the airport madness will help me maintain goodwill toward men. or not!
this year however due to my own efforts, the cooperation of mother nature, and the vocal talents of my family members, i am in the mood far more than last year.
the festivities begin early in the month with the community christmas celebration, held annually at mick and jenny's stake center. it's both a phenomenal display of creches and a musical delight. each night spanning the weekend a series of performances are held, and for the second time, i got to watch all of the d kids perform in their respective choirs.
an annual traditionthis year, there was an added bonus, as jenny was performing in a 'parable of the ten virgins' one act (for lack of a better description). though not technically christmas themed, it was extremely powerful. unfortunately jesse, who was visiting for the day got to see just how powerful it was for me, as i spent the last 15 minutes of the performance, and the 15 minutes following it's conclusion, weeping. oh yes. weeping. not the 'tear rolling down a cheek' action. full on weeping. poor guy.
before the weeping begannonetheless, the month was ushered in with family, friends, and thoughts turned toward christ.
for the last two weeks, it has continued to feel like christmas as a result of actually having cold weather. while i recognize that my idea of cold weather is diferent than it used to be, i've whipped out the winter coats on more than one occasion, and that certainly helps!
i'm also grateful to actually have friends to celebrate with this year! by the time the 2007 christmas season rolled around, i had been here less than two months and had barely started attending the ward that would become my future home. i'm sure there were fun activities going on last year, i just didn't know what they were!
al and ithis year, those fun activities began with our fhe christmas party at the huntington yacht club. i had a great date for the event, who is not just any date. in fact i have known this date for many many years, and from virginia. many of you, my dear readers, will know him as well. he recently moved out to huntington from va, and i couldn't be more excited to have a familiar face from home.
matt and ithe dinner at the yacht club was excellent, the company better, but the highlight was the white elephant gift exchange, where i picked up (stole) a single girl's kit, ironically, created (unbeknownst to me) by one of my good california friends. it contained a handcrafted cd with all the songs a single girl needs, chocolate, and the '50 first dates' dvd. i couldn't resist that steal! (photos here)
the festivities peaked this weekend, first with the balboa boat parade. the parade is an annual tradition (100 years this year) which i've just discovered, and the new york times has ranked it among the top 10 holiday events in the country.
getting ready for the paradethanks to a girl in my ward whose office sits right on the water where the parade passes, we had the perfect viewpoint with easy parking and no crowds. we turned the conference room into party central, and had the food to prove it! we ordered pizza and enjoyed eachother's company while waiting for the boats to reach us, at which point, a few of us headed out to the dock, while the rest of the group remained on the balcony of the office to watch (wimps!).
enjoying the boatsthe boats ranged in size from dingy to 'wow! they MAKE boats that big?!' yachts, and the decorations were equally diverse. we saw simple strands of lights, and elaborate christmas scenes. some boats blasted music, some passed quietly by, but nearly all had a shout of 'merry christmas' for those watching from shore. (photos here)
the light festival continued last night, on a visit to naples. though i really wish i was talking about italy, naples, is in fact an island community in long beach. this is the first time i had ever heard of it, but it is named as a result of its similarity to the 'real' naples, with houses lining canals, and yes, even gondoliers. as i learned last night, the residents of naples put on an extraordinary light show each year, complete with awards and prizes.
me and the girlswe wandered the canals, enjoying the sights, the energy, cups of hot cocoa, and the amaaaazing homes! (photos here)
this random stranger could not resist the allure of 5 beautiful women,he simply had to be near us.
the christmas season lives on, and on christmas eve i'll be boarding a plane for virginia. i'm sure the airport madness will help me maintain goodwill toward men. or not!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)