Photo Blog -- Johnson Space Center Highlights

Since I'm in the space mood here's a quick peek at my trip to the Johnson Space Center on August 27, 2011.

NASA -- I'm really here!

Bethany and I inside the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility

Saturn V Booster

Mission Control -- housed inside the windowless building 30 S

America's Shuttle Fleet

on the end of an era

*stream of consciousness thoughts on today's shuttle launch*

Today marks the beginning of the end. Atlantis, America's only remaining shuttle in our space program, launched this morning for the last time.

In a world becoming increasingly more global and equalized there is an element of pride knowing I live in a nation leading space exploration. For it it represents part of who we are as Americans. It is ingrained in our psyche. Part of our character. And in this space girls estimation, an integral part of our identity. In fourteen days the U.S. cedes this power to Russia and China. Maybe it's the historian in me (and a possible throwback to the Cold War), but the thought of Russia launching our astronauts for an undetermined amount of time does not fill me with happiness. Instead, it feels like something has been stolen, taken from me. And I hate that so many men and women who devoted years of their life to the space dream are now out of work.

My fascination with space goes back almost as far as I can remember. I've know who the first American female astronaut in space was since I was seven (Sally Ride). Watching a launch fills me with joy each and every time. The blue jumpsuits fascinate me. Apollo 13 still gives me the chills even though I've seen it more than ten times. And to this day I tear up whenever I see footage of the Challenger or Columbia.

When I went through my I-want-to-be-an-astronaut phase (naturally at the same time I wanted to be a nurse and interior decorator) I couldn't read enough on the subject. And when we had one of those "dress up as an historical figure and present a first person report" days in sixth grade I chose Judith Resnik, one of the Challenger Seven. To this day I can tell you her middle name (Arlene), that she was Jewish, and her ex husband's name was Michael. That was the first time I learned the astronauts didn't die when the shuttle split apart. I am one of those weirdos who will stay up late to watch a landing and who is glued to Nasa.gov watching the latest developments in Mission Control. Seeing a spacewalk live -- who-hoo!! You can imagine my excitement last August when I saw Mission Control (at the Johnson Space Center) with my own eyes. There was no way I could spend a night in Houston, Texas, without fulfilling that dream!

Which brings me back to today. I was excited to see the launch but knowing this was the final time made it more bitter than sweet. And filled with sadness. My children will never know the thrill of watching a shuttle launch as they currently exist, and I can only hope we'll be back in the game before too long. People keep saying the next chapter is around the corner. That we are still a leading force in space exploration. I sincerely hope that proves true so another little boy or girl can experience the same thrill for themselves.

Godspeed Atlantis! Long may you fly.

quote wall

An Old Irish Blessing

I'm working on a memory card for a dear family friend and ran across this in my hunt for the perfect quote. I forgot how much I liked it and wanted to share. Enjoy.

Introducing....

...the newest Bond girl!!!!!

Dear Willpower,

I know you like the idea of jogging. And I know you thought it might speed up your evening workout. But have you ever thought about how it affects us? The sudden jarring every time your foot hits the pavement? The twinge in your already sensitive hip? Perhaps next time you could stick to power walking. We would very much appreciate it.

Sincerely,

Your sore knees

i'd rather be...

...scrapbooking! But I'm not. Instead here I sit in my room writing field notes and researching proper word forms for oral histories I did two weeks ago. Why don't I do this at work you ask? Simple. It doesn't get done. The piles on my desk aren't shrinking and inevitably someone (say a student) walks in while I'm smack in the middle of documenting the terms - which requires re-listening to the interview. (yup, all 12 hours of them!) It's hard to catch words like USS Palou or ASRAT while helping students. So here I sit listening to tales about crashing planes or flying missions in Korea instead of creatively reliving Paris and Rome. Sigh.

feeling...

...fiercely patriotic.

I watched the National Memorial Day Celebration this evening; what a tearjerker. Last year at this time I was preparing to fly to D.C. for work and remember the excitement I felt knowing I would see the monuments again within a couple of days. This year I remember the memories, the thrill, and the appreciation that overwhelms me whenever I'm in our nation's capital. I recently heard screenwriter Aaron Sorkin describe his so-called love affair with Washington D.C. as being somewhat romantic. It meets his every expectation and is a thing of beauty. I know what he means. There's just something about the city that draws me in. It's humbling. Exciting. And somehow personifies what it means to be an American. Don't ask me to explain. After all these years I still can't covert this influx of emotion into words. They simply exist.

___________________________________

Today we salute the men and women in uniform who bravely serve our country.

And this Memorial Day, as with every other, I honor my grandfather who served on the USS Winged Arrow during World War II. Anchors Aweigh!

A Perfect Moment

Don't you just love perfect moments? You know, the ones where everything is at peace and all is right with the world? They don't come often enough but when they do they always remind me how much life exists in a mere second. Or minute.

This afternoon I took a break from work and made a bank/Starbucks run (yes, she's resorting to caffeine to get her through 3 very late nights and 1 very early morning). My perfect moment snuck up on my in the Starbies drive-through. I was in line waiting for my drink, window down, looking up at the blue sky, and listening to my current musical obsession, Matt Monro's Impossible Dream. And I had my perfect moment. In spite of all that is wrong and sad in the world, for a few minutes everything felt right and I was at perfect peace.

Did she or didn't she?

That is the question. Yes, Ladies & Gentleman, Royals & Commoners, she did. After weeks of speculation, vacillating back and forth, and almost not doing it because of my crazy week, yours truly was up at 2:30 a.m. to watch the royal wedding. What on earth possessed me to it, you ask? Because it sounded exciting. Because it's completely unlike me. And because I now have my own Charles and Diana story to tell my grandkids...let's hope this one has a happier ending.

My plan was simple: get up at 2:30 (timed to see the Queen arrive), watch wedding, and head back to bed at 4:00. (some of us still have to work...) I followed my agenda to the letter. Unfortunately, this meant two things 1) I missed the royal exit from Westminster Abbey and 2) I should have stayed up because it took me forever to get back to sleep. However, I can now say long with billions of Earthians, that I watched William and Kate become man and wife. :-)

This lovely slipper shot is proof that I was indeed watching

the festivities on the other side of the pond at 0 dark 30.

Reasons for posting this photograph?

1) It says LIVE!

2) During our visit to the Abbey we sat in the choir cloister, 2nd row,

on the left side of the screen. Talk about memories!

By now someone was getting sleepy! (and the numerous hymns did not help)

A simple trip to the local Michaels...

...turned into another Kira grand idea extraordinaire. I went to Michaels today for the sole purpose of purchasing a few supplies intended to upgrade a little project and went home with the makings to completely revamp it! Like I need something else to do! It all began when I couldn't find exactly what I was looking for, finally stumbled across something else that had definite potential, and it all went downhill from there. The good news: I should be pleased with the end result.

*I would be more specific but since certain members of this blog readership are not allowed any details until mid-May I shall refrain from providing any...after the mystery event I shall elaborate in full. :-)

All in a days work

By now you've no doubt heard me rant and rave at some point in my life about how history is *not* all about names and dates. But...even I admit dates are important, and I thought it would be fun to share a few memorable ones that took place on April 12.

First space shuttle flight:
Launch of STS-1, shuttle Columbia
April 12, 1981

The Civil War begins:

Battle of Fort Sumter

April 12, 1861

Death of a president:

Franklin D. Roosevelt dies, a mere three weeks before the United States declares victory in Europe.
April 12, 1945

Going Nuclear:

The USSR performs nuke testing in eastern Kazakhstan.
April 12, 1983

High Orbit:

Yuri Gagarin becomes the first person to orbit the earth.
April 12, 1961

SOS:

The United States "officially" liberates Buchenwald concentration camp.

April 12, 1945

And last, but certainly not least...

Birth of yours truly :-)

Cake Pops!

In honor of a certain day of commemoration that occurs every year at this time in my honor (aka birthday) my best friend surprised me at work with an armload of tasty treats. Unfortunately, I chose that day to take an uncharacteristic, bonafide lunch break and actually ate outside with two friends. Shocking, I know. When I got back to my office I found two cupcakes and three cake pops awaiting me...all from Patty's Cakes, a local bakery in Fullerton, California. Now, my BFF knows me WELL and bought me not one but two s'more cake pops. Think moist cake, lots of delicious marshmallows, graham cracker, and chocolate coating. AMAZING!!! Talk about a delectable experience for the taste buds! Thanks a million, friend! (note: Photo courtsey Pattys-cakes.com. Someone forgot to bring her camera to work to photograph these beauties.)

on time in a day

It's 5:00 on a Friday evening. The weekend beckons...and I have SO much to do. For example, today/tonight I'd like to accomplish the following: 1. Photo shoot for new work brochure 2. Complete remaining 6 hours of work 3. Workout (ug) 4. Scrapbook (as in finish the page I've tinkered with for the past THREE weeks) 5. Finish/mail baby shower invitations 6. Housework (including vacuuming) 7. Watch another episode of Mad Men 8. Read 9. Print directions to Reagan Library for tomorrow What I've done: items 1 and 2. :-( What's left: 3-9 Now, there are simply nowhere near enough hours in the day to actually cross off each of these items. And I know I won't be watching TV or scrapbooking or reading. But hey, a girl can dream. (and wish she was Superwoman) I shall console myself with the words of Scarlett O'Hara. "Tomorrow is another day." P.S. My formatting is completely screwed up. Apparently Blogspot doesn't believe in the "enter" key. Great.

Emergency Car Kit Update

Remember that emergency car kit I started a few months ago? Well, not much has happened with it since. (except for one brief change of residence from my trunk to my friend's new place. Fortunately, it was recovered without incident.) However, as of last week I am now the proud owner of a very cool LED flashlight -- now part of my box of emergency treasures. Thanks to my awesome aunt and uncle for this fabulous find! Next on the list: food & water. Obviously, they aren't as important as a flashlight.

Tweet less, Kiss more

My sentiments exactly...
_____________________________________

Tweet Less, Kiss More
By BOB HERBERT
Published: July 16, 2010
I was driving from Washington to New York one afternoon on Interstate 95 when a car came zooming up behind me, really flying. I could see in the rearview mirror that the driver was talking on her cellphone.

I was about to move to the center lane to get out of her way when she suddenly swerved into that lane herself to pass me on the right — still chatting away. She continued moving dangerously from one lane to another as she sped up the highway.

A few days later, I was talking to a guy who commutes every day between New York and New Jersey. He props up his laptop on the front seat so he can watch DVDs while he’s driving. “I only do it in traffic,” he said. “It’s no big deal.”

Beyond the obvious safety issues, why does anyone want, or need, to be talking constantly on the phone or watching movies (or texting) while driving? I hate to sound so 20th century, but what’s wrong with just listening to the radio? The blessed wonders of technology are overwhelming us. We don’t control them; they control us.

We’ve got cellphones and BlackBerrys and Kindles and iPads, and we’re e-mailing and text-messaging and chatting and tweeting — I used to call it Twittering until I was corrected by high school kids who patiently explained to me, as if I were the village idiot, that the correct term is tweeting. Twittering, tweeting — whatever it is, it sounds like a nervous disorder.

This is all part of what I think is one of the weirder aspects of our culture: a heightened freneticism that seems to demand that we be doing, at a minimum, two or three things every single moment of every hour that we’re awake. Why is multitasking considered an admirable talent? We could just as easily think of it as a neurotic inability to concentrate for more than three seconds.

Why do we have to check our e-mail so many times a day, or keep our ears constantly attached, as if with Krazy Glue, to our cellphones? When you watch the news on cable television, there are often additional stories being scrolled across the bottom of the screen, stock market results blinking on the right of the screen, and promos for upcoming features on the left. These extras often block significant parts of the main item we’re supposed to be watching.

A friend of mine told me about an engagement party that she had attended. She said it was lovely: a delicious lunch and plenty of Champagne toasts. But all the guests had their cellphones on the luncheon tables and had text-messaged their way through the entire event.

Enough already with this hyperactive behavior, this techno-tyranny and nonstop freneticism. We need to slow down and take a deep breath.

I’m not opposed to the remarkable technological advances of the past several years. I don’t want to go back to typewriters and carbon paper and yellowing clips from the newspaper morgue. I just think that we should treat technology like any other tool. We should control it, bending it to our human purposes.

Let’s put down at least some of these gadgets and spend a little time just being ourselves. One of the essential problems of our society is that we have a tendency, amid all the craziness that surrounds us, to lose sight of what is truly human in ourselves, and that includes our own individual needs — those very special, mostly nonmaterial things that would fulfill us, give meaning to our lives, enlarge us, and enable us to more easily embrace those around us.

There’s a character in the August Wilson play “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” who says everyone has a song inside of him or her, and that you lose sight of that song at your peril. If you get out of touch with your song, forget how to sing it, you’re bound to end up frustrated and dissatisfied.

As this character says, recalling a time when he was out of touch with his own song, “Something wasn’t making my heart smooth and easy.”

I don’t think we can stay in touch with our song by constantly Twittering or tweeting, or thumbing out messages on our BlackBerrys, or piling up virtual friends on Facebook.

We need to reduce the speed limits of our lives. We need to savor the trip. Leave the cellphone at home every once in awhile. Try kissing more and tweeting less. And stop talking so much.
Listen.

Other people have something to say, too. And when they don’t, that glorious silence that you hear will have more to say to you than you ever imagined. That is when you will begin to hear your song. That’s when your best thoughts take hold, and you become really you.

A version of this op-ed appeared in print on July 17, 2010, on page A19 of the New York edition.

Quote of the Day

"I'm stubborn. I don't like it, but I am."

Quote courtsey of Downton Abbey. I must say, I identify with this more than I (sometimes) care to admit!

Why

Why is it so easy to want what we don’t have?

Why does the grass appear greener on the other side?

And why is it so difficult to appreciate life as it is and not what we think it should be?

Thought of the day

Sometimes I wonder how I can be so misunderstood by those in power.

Update: Emergency Car Kit

Objective: Create emergency kit for car

Purchased: one 18 quart container

Acquired: gray sweatshirt retreived from goodwill donation pile (from closet project)
Christmas blanket that for the first time since it's creation now has a purpose

Should old acquaintance be forgot,and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot and auld lang syne ?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne
We'll take a cup of kindness yet
For auld lang syne.

Dear Blogsphere:

Here we are at the last day of 2010, and for the first time ever, I am not sorry to see it go. Usually I get sentimental at the end of a year and face January 1 with a mixture of happiness and a wistful sense of what I leave behind. Not this time. This year has been full of obstacles, both small and great, that challenged me more than I ever though possible. And despite all of the good things that happened I am ready for the new. 2011, you had better not disappoint.

Thanks for sharing in the journey. Here's to an amazing new year.

-Little Dreamer

Suggestions gratefully accepted

Recently, I decided that I ought to carry an emergency kit in my car. (trash bag full of goodwill donations does not count) It seems to be one of those simple suggestions I fully intend to implement...and never do anything about. So, I decided to make 2011 the year this changes. I've done some research about basic necessities to have on hand, but I thought I'd reach out to the blog world. Do you have a car kit? If so, what did you include? Anything you don't have you wish you did? I don't plan on spending a lot of money to get started but I can certainly add to it over the next few months. (and that fleece sweatshirt I planned to get rid of just might come in handy in my little endeavor!)

Update: Day Two

I'll say this for a major cleaning project, it does clean out the sinuses! I don't think I've sneezed this much in ages! Today I tackled the Bermuda Triangle of my closet. Unfortunately, I still haven't found my limited edition World Championship Angels hat, and things were more organized that I expected. Nevertheless, I managed to toss a few things, add some more to the donation pile, and flip-flopped half of my clothing. That will be particularly fun the morning I'm late for work and can't find my pants. :-/ I just hope the American Cancer Society does a donation drive soon. Otherwise I'm toting a trunk full to goodwill.

It's that time of year again

Yup, it's time. The job I both look forward to and dread. It's time for "spring cleaning" or, in my case, winter break cleaning. The CSUF campus is closed for the week, and while I'm working from home I am not putting in a full week...leaving time to accomplish those little tasks that comprise my lengthy to-do list. You know, the one that keeps growing and growing and growing? (think Energizer battery) At the top of the line: clean out my closet! (no comments from the peanut gallery, Christina!) Suffice it to say, the thing is a gigantic mess and is in desperate need of a little TLC. I spent a couple hours tackling this monumental task and made it through 1/5 of the job. Before you say that's not much, bear in mind this included taking out and reorganizing (by color) each article of clothing, moving loose shoes and those housed in boxes aside to vacuum carpet, and agonizing which pair I really don't need anymore. Unfortunately, my donation pile was rather pathetic. Here's hoping the rest of the job yields more results. (Unlike my super organized cousin, I will not be posting before and after pictures, but I will keep you appraised of my progress. :-) ) In addition to the slightly overwhelming monster of a closet, I also have to:

*catch up on laundry

*wash my curtains

*pick up clothes at the dry cleaners

*write Christmas thank yous

*prep for NYE party (still have to purchase decorations, plan appetizers, and plan wardrobe)*organize digital pictures*and, since I'm not tied to an office, make time for lunch/coffee dates with friends!

I have four days to accomplish all this and play my little game of El Toro catch up. Totally doable...right?

Letter from Jesus

A friend forwarded this to me the other day, and I thought the message was worth sharing. (Since it's making the e-mail rounds it might as well join the blogsphere, however beware the spacing. It seems to be a little off!)

~Merry Christmas~

_____________________________

A letter from Jesus about Christmas that I thought you would appreciate.

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own.I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town. Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1-8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing to the president complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up... It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary--especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine. Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest.

Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love; and remember that I LOVE YOU. JESUS

Reflections

It was my first semester of college. I was an overwhelmed, stressed out newbie carrying 12 units, working part-time and fast realizing there simply weren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. So, I came up with a plan: get up earlier. By week three I was waking up between 5:45-6:00 to put in extra reading time before my day “officially” began.

Tuesday morning. September 11, 2001 dawned and I awoke before 5:45. I remember lying in bed waiting for my alarm to go off. I had slept with the windows open and noted the crisp feeling of fall in the air. I had no idea the world as I knew it was about to change. At 5:45 I dragged myself out of bed, grabbed my How to Succeed in College textbook, and snuggled back under the covers to learn more about how to manage my time. I was consumed by my own little world. How was I do know the events unfolding on the other side of the country. It was close to 6:20 when I heard the garage door open. I knew my parents were home from the gym. I expected the usual routine: my mom would hop in the shower, Dad would prep his lunch, and at 6:30 I would join the duo beginning my beautification process. However, this morning was different.

“Kids, there’s been an attack!” World Trade Center? What was that? And moreover, where? I flew out of bed (highly unusual for species such as myself) and within seconds stood in front of the television. What I saw I would never forget. Two towers, tall, formidable, on fire. News reports were still coming in, and I wasn’t sure exactly what happened. But, like thousands of Americans, I knew we had been attacked. 8:46. 9:03. 9:37. Timestamps that became all too familiar in the days that followed. 9:59 - glued to the TV I watch with millions of others as World Trade Center 2, the South Tower, collapses. Looking back, I think that was the moment I realized this was serious. The towers weren’t supposed to fall. 10:03 – reports of a plane in Pennsylvania come in soon after. 10:28 – Tower 1 collapses.

We all know what happened next. In our own way we picked up the pieces and marched on. Nine years later, the events of that fateful Tuesday have grown more and more polarized. Everyone has an opinion on what went wrong and how we should fix it. However, I believe we should set aside our differences, rise above partisanship and sensationalism, and recognize this day as we have in the past: as a tribute to the men, women, and children who are no longer with us. This is a time for remembering, for honoring those who lost and gave their lives on September 11. And to pay homage to the thousands of volunteers who, to this day, pay the price for their heroic efforts in the months that followed.

Now I have my own “where were you when…” moment. My own Pearl Harbor, presidential assassination, V-E day. Did I want it? Did any of us want it? No, but we didn’t realize that until it happened. One day my children will ask me, “Mom, where were you on 9/11?” just as I asked my parents about JFK. To this day I sometimes tear up when I think about that day. The emotions come flooding back, and suddenly I’m a frightened 18 year old again. I remember seeing United 93 with my brother and within ten minutes tears were flowing down my cheeks. The passengers depicted in the film hadn’t even boarded the plane yet, and I was an emotional basket case. Adam and I shared something very special that day. We bonded, and I will never forget that moment.

Just as we will never forget.

"Once again we meet to commemorate the day we have come to call 9/11. We have returned to this sacred site to join our hearts together, the names of those we loved and lost. No other public tragedy has cut our city so deeply. No other place is as filled with our compassion, our love and our solidarity." -Mayor Bloomberg

"Let today never, ever be a national holiday. Let it not be a celebration," said Karen Carroll, who lost her brother, firefighter Thomas Kuveikis. "It's a day to be somber; it's a day to reflect on all those thousands of people that died for us in the United States."

10 Things I've Learned about New Orleans

1) There is such a thing as humidity so thick you can cut it with a knife.
2) Beignets are good but overrated. Cafe au lait on the other hand...
3) Rue Bourbon doesn't have much of a nightlife during the week.
4) A/C is an absolute must during the summer.
5) People really do talk like Cajuns.
6) I am as much in love with all things Parisan as ever.
7) Venetian masks are best purchased in Venice. They lose their charm in the States.
8) The Mississippi is prettier in Iowa.
9) Staying in the French Quarter is an absolute must.
10) I plan to come back one day! (hopefully, with Adam!)

Velodrome d'hiver

I'm sure most of you know I love to read, however it seems the only time I have to truly lose myself in a book is while traveling. So, on my latest airline adventure I grabbed one of my newest acquisitions, Sarah's Key. Its World War II storyline proved to be a natural attention grabber, and I eagerly settled into what I hoped would be a riveting tale. I was not disappointed. While technically a work of fiction, the book is based on the mass arrest of Parisian Jews known as the Vélodrome d’hiver. In short, over 13,000 Jews were arrested over a two day period (July 16-17, 1942) and sent to the notorious Auschwitz concentration camp. This was not the only time the Vichy regime conducted a mass round-up of Jews, however, "this event is particular for a number of reasons, foremost being its scale. Because they had not developed the reflex of hiding, women and children were this time involved. The action was part of the vast deportation plan of European Jews...The Vél’ d’hiv’ Round-up was a concrete case of execution of the Final Solution."

I don't want to give too much away, but let me just say that as often happens with historical works of fiction, Sarah's Key introduced me to an event I knew little about prompting further research on the part of this historian. And in a Sophie's Choicesque ending that is both heart wrenching and unforgettable, the horror of a past genocide and its present day impact bring the story -and the reader- full circle.

TravelLog: Manhattan, NY

Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, you read that right. For third time since November 2009 I am flying to New York City. However, this time instead of visiting my best friend (who, I'm happy to say, is back in my neck of the woods!!) and automatically having a place to stay, I became intimately acquainted with the majority of hotels located in Manhattan. And let me tell you, there are hundreds to choose from. You can imagine the fun I had. Anyway, I'm going with two friends, one of whom has never been to New York City. Should be oodles of fun introducing her to one of my favorite places.

What's on our agenda?

Sunday: Lady Liberty & Ellis Island

Monday: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Tuesday: Broadway musical!

Misc: I also want to finally visit Strawberry Fields, tour more of Central Park, and as an extra added treat, I must go back to the City Bakery to taste the world's best hot chocolate. Plus, there's the usual tourist hot spots: Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Flatiron building, Times Square (and Starbucks!), Chrystler Building, UN.....

Small Things, Big Results

Small Things, Big Results
by Leigh Anne & Sean Tuohy


The Oscar-winning film The Blind Side tells the story of the Tuohy family and their adopted son, professional football player Michael Oher. Now, the Tuohys tell their story in the new book In a Heartbeat. This week’s Words of LIFE comes from their book.

If the message you take from our experience is that a rich white family tried to save a black kid, then you will totally miss our story’s meaning. It has nothing to do with where we were from, ow we lived, or how much money we had. It’s not important what color we were, whether we had glasses or didn’t have glasses, what kind of shoes we wore. All of that is irrelevant. Some people have tried to make it relevant – but they emphasize the wrong thing.

It so happened that when we first met him, Michael was a black, sixteen-year-old male. But those words are just adjectives that describe the person we tried to help and ultimately came to love. Making him a part of the family was an unconscious act, and it happened in a heartbeat.
It’s equally true, however, that the outlook on life that allowed us to open our hearts and home to Michael was developed over the course of our lifetimes. If the impulse was sudden, the two of us had been thinking for several years about our philosophy of giving.

One of our deepest beliefs is beautifully captured in the Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians, or 2 Corinthians. The seventh verse of the ninth chapter of 2 Corinthians reads: “Each must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” After many years of attending church together, and helping to found one of the fastest-growing congregations in Memphis, Grace Evangelical, we came to believe that a cheerful, spontaneous offering, no matter how small, could be increased and made powerful by God. Our faith helped us understand that it was up to us to be generous and make ourselves available to be used by others.

We also became convinced that in order to really give, we had to get our hearts right. We had to learn that it was important to let go of any particular agenda. What were we hoping to achieve when we gave? We knew that it couldn’t be “We’re looking to go out and help a fourteen-year-old Hispanic boy today.”

So many people we knew wanted to make a difference and yet they waited for a really important cause to come along. Or they waited for their big bonus check to come in. they said to themselves: “I want to save Africa.” Or: “I want to save the American Indian.” They had an agenda. But why is it necessary to have an agenda? Because it relieves our conscience? Or makes us look good to our bosses? Or makes us feel good about ourselves? Because it makes us more appealing to the congregation? Or gives us more points on our Visa card? Or means the United Way is going to give us a plaque?

The more we thought about the nature of true charity, the more we realized there’s a paradox in Americans’ general attitude toward giving: as a citizenry we are at once charitable and stingy. According to the National Philanthropic Trust, 89 percent of American households give to charity. Sounds impressive, but think about this: on average, we donate just 1.9 percent of our household income. To be frank, that’s miserly. Especially considering how enriched some of us are, that percentage is well below what it should be. And by biblical standards – as most Christians would undoubtedly agree – it’s downright shameful.

As we reflected on our ways of giving, we came to see that we often approached charity too formally. Giving shouldn’t always be a prescribed ritual or ceremony: it doesn’t need to be accompanied by properly stamped paperwork. If we worried less about the procedures and methods of giving and concentrated more on a giving state of mind, we might have more to offer than we know.

It pained us to realize that we too often failed at the simplest kind of giving. While we were waiting for a great cause, or focused on an agenda, we chose not to notice someone standing right in front of us. We looked right past the woman in the grocery store taking things out of her basket because she was short on cash or the elderly disabled man in line at CVS.

Ultimately, we agreed that by embracing a smaller and more cheerful kind of giving, we might ease a lot of everyday problems. It took several years but slowly, informally, we found ourselves arriving at a simple conclusion: it wasn’t important to do something great.
Instead, we decided to take this approach: do small things with great love. If we could do that, little opportunities to give might grow beyond our wildest dreams.


Excerpted from the book IN A HEARTBEAT: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving by Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy, published this month by Henry Holt and Company, LLC. Copyright (c) 2010 Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy. All rights reserved.

One Moment in Time

I realized something about myself today. Something I've grappled with for a while, but this morning it hit home in a big way. I realized I haven't been living. Truly living. Enjoying each day for what it brings and treating the s0-called mundane as an adventure.

For example, my friends know I hate coming back from a trip not knowing when my next one will be. Why? Because I love the very idea of travel. Of seeing new places, experiencing new adventures, trying new food (well, maybe not so much this one), and knowing I have just expanded my view of the world. Everything does not revolve around Southern California, and as much as I love living here, there is so much more to see and do. Here is where the realization comes in. I'm always looking to the future. It's always, what's happening tomorrow or next month or in six months. I plan ahead by nature, but what happened to today? Where did right now go? I missed it because I'm looking ahead.

I believe in the perfect moment. When every sense is heightened and you experience that moment to its fullest potential. When time seems to stop, and you could almost live in that moment. Yet somewhere in the past few years I lost this. I forgot to appreciate the beauty of a rainy day or of giant white clouds in the sky or a gentle breeze skipping leaves along the ground.

So, this is my mid-year resolution. To appreciate each day, each moment for what it brings. For...

Each day I live

I want to be

A day to give

The best of me

I'm only one

But not alone

My finest day

Is yet unknown

Give me one moment in time

When I'm more than I thought I could be

When all of my dreams are a heartbeat away

And the answers are all up to me

Give me one moment in time

When I'm racing with destiny

Then in that one moment of time

I will feel

I will feel eternity

Vegas 2010

Last week a friend and I spent four days in Las Vegas. Ever since I first laid eyes on the Bellagio I knew I wanted to stay there one day. Happily, 2010 was the magic year, and it was every bit as wonderful as I hoped.

Lakeside Deluxe Room - talk about a view

Is this really Vegas?
A little pool time - lovin this place

Fountain in the middle of pool number 6. Beautiful view but the water was freezing.

Fountain show at dusk.

Part Two

9/11 Memorial at the Pentagon

Washington D.C. Photoblog

This one is for my grandpa. Anchor's Away!

The big house itself.

How to get lost on the way to the Smithsonian

No trip for the El Toro project would be complete without it's adventures...here's one:

I must begin by saying that I am not typically directionally challenged. Now I admit I can't tell you the points on the compass with the snap of a finger but I am fairly map savvy and can find my way around a new location in fairly short order. I don't what happened on American Airlines but somehow my sense of direction all but left.

The day before my interview with the general Janet and I did a dry run so I'd know what Metro to take, where the museum was in relation Metro station, and how to enter the building. Everything seemed simple enough, however day of I accidentally got on what I thought was the wrong Metro and spent twenty to thirty minutes righting my little mistake. Two transfers and one helpful patron later I was back on track only to discover that night the blue line also went to the Smithsonian. Clearly, I was not using my head and panicked just a little. Anyway, back to the story. By the time I got off at L’Effant Plaza I only had thirty minutes to spare and was a little lost. Because my map wasn’t entirely to scale and National Mall landmarks were not visible from my position (how in the world can a building hide the Washingtom Monument!!) I asked six different people how to get to the Air and Space Museum. Not one of them knew where it was! Fortunately, I found a family who looked like tourists, and they were headed in what I thought was the general direction of the Mall. I decided to follow them and after about two blocks was back in familiar territory. Of course, it was ninety something degrees with very high humidity, and I felt like one giant sweat ball! Thank God for air conditioning.

Conclusion #1: Parisans know their city better than District of Columbinans and are much friendlier.

Conclusion #2: It pays to know the city map also as a diagram of the Metro system. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it was on the other side...semi inside out, but on the back nonetheless.

Arlington Ladies

Touching.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37416579/ns/us_news-life//

Two Days

Airplane time! On Tuesday I depart for our nations capital for a work related trip. Although much of our time will be spent indoors, my co-worker and I definitely plan on putting in some touristy time, including a nighttime monument tour. Can't wait!


Misc information about the trip:

1) Attending the Marine Corps Aviation Reconnaissance Association Reunion for the purprose of conducting oral history interviews with marines stationed at MCAS El Toro and put in face time for the project.
2) Interviewing a 4-star retired general (my first!) and current director of the National Air And Space Museum.
3) Interviewing aforementioned general at the National Air and Space Museum. Am I nervous? Nah! (don't believe a word of that)
4) Returning 10:30 Friday night so I'm back in SoCal for Seth's graduation. I will be awake on Saturday.
5) I made a point to watch Breach, All the President's Men, and the National Memorial Day Concert to ensure I'm in the D.C. mood by the time we land at Regean International.

Lemony Sniket: A Series of Unfortunate Events

I’ve been trying to come up with a witty subject for this post, but since this title keeps coming to mind I decided to use it. Fortunately, it is perfectly appropriate. Let me begin by saying all worked out but the past two days have definitely been full of little unfortunate events. Shall we begin?

Thursday night: As I mentioned in my previous post us public history chicks were L.A. bound to see South Pacific. The initial plan was to meet on campus for a 4:30 departure. That would give us plenty of time to battle rush hour traffic, enjoy a leisurely dinner at CPK, and arrive well before the 8:00 show. Perfect plan, right? Wrong! As fate would have it Amanda had a job interview…in Santa Barbara…and at 4:30 was still in Long Beach. That’s a long way from Fullerton when one is moving at a snail’s pace. Nothing to panic about…yet. Five o’clock comes. Bethany arrives. Since Amanda hasn’t even crossed the Orange County border we quickly realize we will seriously be cutting it close if we plan on eating in L.A. A solution quickly presents itself. Instead of CPK, we’ll have ourselves a little picnic in the car. Bethany and head to Subway to buy a car friendly dinner and time ticks slowly by. Five forty-five. Six. Six fifteen. By now I am seriously thinking there is no way we will make it by 8:00 and the planner in me strongly dislikes the idea of arriving late. However, as Bethany kept reminding me, it was all about being together, and we should enjoy the adventure. Well, I’m happy to report Amanda arrived at 6:30, and miracle of miracles we arrived at the Ahmanson in ONE HOUR! I’ve been driving to L.A. for years and could probably count on one hand the number of times I made such good time. And that includes me taking us on a slight detour, aka, we might have gotten a little lost. But thanks to good ole Miss GPS we were back on track and arrived with time to spare.

Three and a half hours and one terrific show later we are now leaving the parking garage. Mind you, we made took this same route in February and had no trouble finding the freeway. Not so this time. All I wanted was the 101. The only signs around were for the 110. After heading the wrong direction and battling one way streets we finally found a freeway. A freeway going north not south. However, I didn’t have much choice in the matter because the street dead ended on the freeway. To top it off construction crews are out in force, and three lanes are closed. Will this never end! It took a while but after going through three tunnels and missing a couple of awkwardly coned off exits that turned out to indicate a path off the freeway we managed to exit and get on the 110 south. I was never so happy to see Exposition in my life.

Oh, South Pacific was totally worth it. Good thing!

Up next: My latest adventure in dog sitting…

Girlz Nite!

Tomorrow night Bethany, Amanda, and I take L.A. by storm! We're celebrating Amanda's graduation (masters!!) and bidding Bethany farewell as she leaves for her prestigious internship at the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Fun times await...

Lynn Redgrave 1943-2010

I so wish I had seen her in Nightingale. She fought a good fight. Rest in peace.

I haven't blogged in a while. I've been extremely busy yet feel like I have nothing of consequence to report. Tonight I'm doing something I haven't done in ages...watching a television show as it airs! Shocking I know. Hulu is my usual television buddy but tonight tonight. 24 ends in 3 weeks. Here's hoping my favorite TV president decides to come to her senses before it's over.

One way streets are so over-rated

Picture it. Riverside. 2010.* A trio of ladies made their way to Riverside, California, to see my best friend in Pirates of Penzance. The exact details of the drive are irrelevant except to say google's directions were completely misguided, and we might have gotten a little lost...the performance itself was extremely enjoyable, and afterwards we made our way down the hill, to the car, and began what I thought was going to be a relatively easy task of getting to the freeway. Not! Might I remind the reader, there were three of us in the car, and we could not for the life of us figure out how in the world to exit the premises of Riverside City College. Not only was the signage nonexistent, but various parts of the campus were under construction making our departure even more challenging. Suffice it to say I made one or two wrong turns, and the only way to get out...wait for it...was to drive the wrong way on a one way street! I've never done that in my life! Considering it was a single lane road, it's a good thing no one was coming toward me because I had no where to go. So I kind of, sort of broke the law on a college campus, with witnesses, but at least I can say we found the freeway...in fairly short order.

*Reference to The Golden Girls. Sophia anyone?!

For all the tea in China

My dear friend Antoinette gave me a tea party in honor of my 27 years of life. It was a lovely afternoon of delicious food, delightful company, and memories to last a lifetime. Here are some photos from this lovely afternoon.

My best friend & I in our classic pose

These gorgeous flowers served as the perfect centerpiece

My place setting

Delectible favors: homemade marmalade and lemon curd

(courtesy of B.J.)