The delightful, grand and frustrating: my last two months

My sister Claire informed me that I need to update my blog. Has it really been two months since I wrote last? Here are some highlights:

My list of students has grown to 14 from 2. Praise to God for this since I was really wondering if I would be able to get students at the start of summer. I have a nice mix of kids, teens and adults. They are a pretty interesting and fun lot.

Finished Spring quarter and that darn American Lit. Class -what a waste of time! I appreciate a lot of American authors (like Nathaniel Hawthorne, Willa Cather, Edith Wharton, Mark Twain) but in this class, we read and discussed more fashionably elite and politically acceptable writers whose works focused primarily on how their ethnicity, background, dysfunctional family and/or strange ideas of reality has left them damaged and unable to be productive and happy. Every short story we read dealt with the seamy underside of life in America: it distorted the country I know and love into a land of oppression, injustice and idiocy. I won't deny all absence of these things but sheesh- there are good qualities too! Argh. That class was frustrating.

Attended the Bradrick family picnic this past weekend! I so enjoyed meeting some new and old friends and hearing about their lives and dreams. There are godly young people out there who have character, intelligence and creativity- these people are inspiring! A low point of the day was when Sarah Cowles and I tried the three legged race and lost horribly- sorry Sarah, that was quite an embarrassment. The high point was when I tied for the grand prize in the pie contest. What a shocker! I had labored over a pecan chocolate chip pie (wish I'd taken a picture now) but more with the hope that I wouldn't be terribly put to shame by the other bakers. Imagine my joy to hear that I had tied for top prize! Claire took 1st place in the "other" category (non-fruit) for her lemon cream pie so we have two beautiful ribbons at home. Here's the truth though: I was pressed for time when I made the pie so I used a pie crust MADE BY CLAIRE from the freezer. Obviously, top prize really goes to Claire.

Here's to a productive summer! I am going to start posting some pics soon (wow, I am so high tech) since I've decided that pictures really make a blog more interesting. Kudos to Paige, Allison, Sherri and Claire for showing me the way to a better blog!

Books + People = A Cool Life?

I heard a quote recently and I've been turning it over in my mind; I think it is an interesting and profound thought. Read it for yourself and tell me what you think:

"A man or woman is the same person a year from now except for the books they read and the people they meet."

It was said at the Christian Heritage Conference by Doug Phillips, one of the speakers. I think he attributed it to his dad.

So, reading...ya, I agree with this one! And meeting people...what a great way to learn! The only thing that I wonder about is the discounting of experience as a teacher. I've always thought that just by living and walking through different situations I would learn; of course I have to have an attitude to learn in every situation and a willingness to change but human experience is a powerful thing.

Or is it? Is it necessary to live to learn? Is it just as valuable to read from the wisdom and folly of mankind, read the true words of God in the Bible, to meet as many different people as possible as it is just plugging along in my everyday routine?

Perhaps by introducing good books and wise people into a normal routine, one's life can become better. Maybe that's more what the quote is talking about. Interesting!

International Night At WCC

I'm playing at the college's International night tonight- I'm excited.

Also, my brother Jia Tai just learned to say his abc's...check my sister's link for the video of it (Claire's on my blogroll).

I'm drowning in a sea of assignments to get done before next Thursday.

Groaaaan.

And now I'm 26.

Yep, crossed over into the second half of late 20's land, early Monday. Near as I can tell things look alright from here, though I swear I can see more wrinkles on my face.

I celebrated over a couple of days- Sunday in Seattle with a new friend, Nanako. Breakfast at Cafe Besalue in Ballard, lunched in Fremont at Roxy's, had two donuts at Top Pot downtown and then ended with dinner at Thai Tom's on the Ave near the U. I was stuffed by the end. Oh, and three different coffee drinks. Yikes. Hey, you only turn 26 once.

Monday, I had school and homework but my aunt and uncle and Stephen and Paige made me a delicious dinner: crab cakes and salad and chocolate madelines with coconut ice cream.

I started exercising today.

In other news, there are new residents at the Bee Hive...which I thank God for. I was starting to really worry about paying that mortgage payment. He provides.

I read a great book over the weekend, "Peace Like A River". It's a must-reader.

YAHOO

Well this will just confirm any lingering suspicions about my status as an official nerd, but yes, I'm actually posting here the fact that I just got a letter saying I made the Dean's List at Whatcom. :) I'm so happy about that!

Oh and an update on cost: Another textbook I didn't realize I needed:

$86.00

Tuition update- another milepost is in front of me.

Tomorrow begins another segment of the life in pursuit of a degree. Winter quarter and I'm looking forward to it! I love starting things...not so good at finishing. Anyway, I wanted to update anyone interested on my tab of the real cost of a college education in the U.S. today. So, here it is:

17 credits= $974.00
Books= $77 math book (ebay)
$27.50 humanities book (ebay)

Fortunately I get to use the expensive accounting book from last quarter (the one whose price tag gave me a heartache almost!) for another class. Good.

So...this quarter comes to: $1078.50

I'll try and write more often. My life is fun but I don't keep track of it like I'd like to!

On the loose

A poem.

Ahem.

My alarm clock is a lion
Prowling on thickly padded feet
Lurking on the edge of my
Soft contented dreams
Until, ferociously attacking, he
Growls right in my ear