Tread softly because you tread on my dreams

parentals in the hood

2006-05-15T14:06:00.000-07:00

hey

my parents are here, we are having an amazing time....

last week i was on holiday with them... we went to monterey, san francisco and lake tahoe.

here is a photo from monterey aquarium, possibly the best aquarium in the world

uninspired...

2006-04-28T11:12:00.000-07:00

i'm having some problems blogging.. you may have noticed

here's a little update

- work is great

- home, in the last month we have caught many big rats and had a cracked pipe, it's not good

- i watched american dreamz at the cinema, i liked it, not an exciting story but it made me laugh, or maybe the woman sitting next to me that was laughing very hard made me laugh, it's hard to tell, laughter is so infectious

- i watched garden state again, i really like it

- i'm reading a severe mercy, written by Sheldon Vanauken with letters by C.S. Lewis. it's so beautiful and is making me cry - thanks mrs b!

i'm trying to think of something to write..

many of you know that i'm a big fan of podcasts, books on tape, music... anything i can listen to in the car, at the gym....
i recently listened to a series of sermons from Christian Assembly a Church in Eagle Rock. They are about the fruits of the spirit. I think that the one on joy is good, if you want to take a peak, they are here... go for Joy first...

http://www.caeaglerock.com/gallery/?catid=27

okay, that's it
i'm alive, i'm well, i will try and write something more interesting soon

much love all

the soliton sessions

2006-03-21T16:34:00.000-08:00

for more information and photo's of ireland, see.... www.solitonnetwork.org

irish causeway

2006-03-21T11:17:00.000-08:00

me at the moment

2006-03-20T14:41:00.000-08:00

i am living in the mountains above pasadena again, I'm house sitting until the end of march

i am reading Moab is my Washpot, Stephen Fry's Autobiography, it's good

i am listening to old XFM shows feeding the addiction to Ricky G and the lovely Karl..thanks to mr b

i am also listening to Corinne Bailey Rae, thanks to pastor kev

i am also listening to noam chomsky, thanks to my bro

i am listening a lot, you spend lots of time in your car here

i am watching the west wing, yes ....still, i have an unfortunate habit of falling asleep half way through an episode, so I have to rewatch it the next night... and often do the same... therefore, 1 episode can take me 5 days to watch

i am eating rice, bean and cheese burritos, i love them

i am teaching a computer class tonight in long beach, i have to teach excel, i need to relearn it quick

i am drinking 'life water' it has millions of vitamins... even more than 'vitamin water' which it is obviously ripping off, my friends have all been sick, i will not lose the battle against sickness.. what does B12 do?

i am grateful

that's it

more soon

to ireland and back

2006-03-14T09:38:00.000-08:00

sometimes time goes so quickly you just don't have time to log on and blog about it

i've been to ireland and back over the last 10 days, I left LA with 4 guys from the bridge community in ventura and spent 6 days having tons of fun, loads of great conversations, a good few pints of guinness and visiting some amazingly beautiful places.
our conversation focused around the gospel of hospitality and once again the soliton sessions have challenged and stretched my thinking and widened my perspective on life

I landed back in LA last week and got straight back into work which is a little tough when you're not sleeping at the right times due to jetlag...

this weekend we hosted a martini party at our house in celebration of cara's birthday, we had a fantastic night with dancing, drinking, eating and lots and lots of laughing.... we now have enough, vodka, cranberry juice, olives and other strange things to last the rest of the year... we're racking our brains to think of another reason to party next month

this week is full of work, I have meetings about the stop the traffik campaign, we have 2 teams going to build houses with habitat for humanity in houston, texas next week, we have a team leaving for brazil next month and i'm teaching a computer class

i'm also moving back up the mountain tonight to house-sit again

ok, that's all I have time for...

i be here...

2006-02-26T20:50:00.000-08:00

hey

i'm here, i really am, i've been like a bee, busy that is.... but i'm back.... like slim shady..

so what's been going on?

well, the free ricky podcasts are over.. thankfully my faithful friend has given me a replacement listen.... now you may wonder why that was the first thing I mentioned after not writing for so long, the reason is this, usually on sunday evenings (which it is at this moment) I come home from the junction and download the recent podcasts to make my monday mornings more enjoyable... alas... it is no more...

okay onto more interesting news...

work is good, we had the chalke in town last week for the national pastors conference in san diego, we all went to hear him speak and cheer loudly.. he did good... i'm hoping we are going to be reaping the benefit of publicity this week

home is okay, the plumbing is not good, I can't write more, I'm welling up, it makes me cry

i've had a very fun weekend, doing nothing but spending time with people I love spending time with, oh there was some wine, sushi, birthday cake, a premier, breakfast with the girls

i went to see brokeback mountain last week, i actually thought it was a little boring, jake is lovely but I thought the storyline was weak, i also saw winter passing with will farrell, it was much much better than brokeback

hoylus - i, like em, do not understand why she was being rude..explain please..

this week i leave for the soliton session in colerain, northern ireland, i fly on wednesday, i will post on the journey

ummm, that's all for now, it's time for a cup of tea, pj's and a sneaky episode of the west wing

bye bye

things you think people know

2006-02-09T12:51:00.000-08:00

i was talking to my very wonderful bro this morning and it struck me afterwards how often i assume that when i tell people things i expect them to retain that information, even though we are bombarded by tons of information all day everyday and retaining everything would surely be impossible even for those people with giant brains

so i want to share some basic information about me... because i have realised that i'm having problems remembering where my brother and sister in law live, work, church... you get the picture... this morning my brother reminded me they live in Mernif... but now just 3 hours later, i think i have that wrong... it's something like mernif or mernof or merkif... see... you get the point..

so here's some basic information about me to give you more of an idea about my life and to give you a place to reference every time you forget.. if you're not interested stop reading here...

PASADENA.. i live here, pasadena is located 10 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles, the city is bordered by the San Gabriel Mountains to the north.
LOS ANGELES consists of lots of cities that make up the GREATER LOS ANGELES county. This is in the state of CALIFORNIA on the west coast of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

i live in a house with 6 other people, it's a big house and here's a photo.... it's needs a coat of paint on the outside and the upstairs toilet needs fixing, it has a dodgy flush.

i drive a 1989 HONDA CIVIC SI, it's red, and a little worn.. but faithful.. it has blacked out windows done with this terrible black plastic sticky stuff.... like big sheets of double sided sticky tape... i look like a gary when I'm driving it.... it's a manual which is unusual for the here, i have mastered driving whilst drinking coffee and talking on the phone and changing gear....

i'm part of a community of people known as THE JUNCTION... you can check the website here... www.thejunction.org

i work in the city of ARCADIA which is a city directly to the East of PASADENA, I drive on the 210 Freeway for about 8 minutes to get to work each morning

ok, now you get it, right?..

any questions?

give me time and give me space...

2006-02-08T09:21:00.000-08:00

last night i went to see coldplay at the pond in anahiem, they rocked

thanks to the huge blessing that is my friends the barbers, i spent 2 amazing hours in the company of chris martin and band, they were good.

the playlist was perfect, the sound fantastic, the seats wonderful...

i don't know how i'm going to work today..

i'm not sure where the rest of the coldplay tour locations are, but if you can see them... go, it's amazing..

i had a good time...

groundhog day..

2006-02-03T01:44:00.000-08:00

hey

that post came out twice yesterday..... that's groundhog day for you... in a small, just twice way...

xxx

just another fruit....

2006-02-02T13:51:00.001-08:00

my lovely sister in law recently posted about her mac and the fact that the world isn't as equipped for those of us who have changed sides, yesterday I discovered just that...

my mac broke, died, fell sick, conked out, gave up the ghost (whatever that means)... anyway, entourage would not open (which for the non mac users is the email program - like outlook)
so i responded by making a large cup of tea and got straight on the phone to everyone in the country i know that uses a mac in a desperate cry for help..

the outcome is that after much time, tears, sweat, blood and chocolate, my mac is better but I've lost about 60% of the emails I've received in the last month... some I know I hadn't answered. (swindon hommie, is one)... so if you've emailed me and I don't reply please please please resend it... and if you haven't emailed me... you should.

thankfully the US is better equipped to help us mac fans than dubai

x

just another fruit....

2006-02-02T13:51:00.000-08:00

2 things...oh no, 3.... or is it 4..

2006-01-27T13:55:00.000-08:00

okay firstly and most importantly it's friday afternoon, we've made it through, it was looking a little uncertain for a time but it turns out since we banded together, joined forces, held hands and walked to the same beat here we are... congratulations us!

2nd - this week I have spent 7 hours selling girl scout cookies, i now know a lot about girl scout cookies..

These are peoples favourite cookies..

25% Thin Mints
19% Samoas®/Caramel deLites™
13% Peanut Butter Patties®/Tagalongs®
11% Peanut Butter Sandwich/Do-si-dos™
9% Shortbread/Trefoil

i personally like the Trefoil, along with only 9% of the cookie loving population

oh, I have been selling them because my little friend (she's 11) is selling them and i need to go door to door with her to make sure that no baddies get her...... it's not fun, it's boring and a little embarrassing, in case you were wondering

3rd - the weekend is looking very promising.. and that makes me happy..

4th - it's the Chinese New Year - Happy New Year!!!

xx

dreaming of ponds...

2006-01-25T09:33:00.000-08:00

when i worked in london, i needed to have my mobile/cell phone switched on during the night in case someone in another country had an emergency.. now 2 years later I still don't like switching my phone off at night.. but there is a price to pay.

last night I was peacefully sleeping, dreaming that I was showing my dad a new pond (why?! i don't know - he likes ponds?!) that had been built in pasadena

then my phone received a text message...and beeped really loudly...

and i fell in the pond....

weird

i will be positive this morning..

2006-01-23T10:15:00.000-08:00

it feels like a large percentage of my blog posts start with me complaining about monday mornings,

it is just that i desperately want to hang onto the weekend for as long as possible and even as monday morning arrives I'm still in denial that 5 mornings of getting up on the alarm are ahead...

this morning was an interesting drive to the office, the high winds last night had ripped branches and fences and trees and deposited them all over the place, our avocado tree has kindly made guacamole for us..

when i arrived at the office there was a wonka bar on my desk, those chocolate fairies are great.

okay, i will work, I will work... role on friday!!

things to do in 2006

2006-01-13T15:34:00.000-08:00

i hate new years resolutions, they are pointless and I will not bend to the pressure of making, breaking and then feeling dissapointed at myself...

but here are some things I really want to do this year

- remember my friends and familys birthdays
- be kinder to the environment
- watch the rest of the west wing
- read
- sail a boat
- invent something cool
- drink less coffee
- call people back when they leave messages on my voicemail
- write letters (preferably using a fountain pen and sealed with wax)
- worry less
- sing more

stop blogging at work?!

london again

2006-01-08T11:44:00.000-08:00

Chaotic, confusing, bloody-minded Â bloody lovely; London's a multi-faceted metropolis you can't help but love

i'm in london again

this trip has been a lot of fun but i am getting a little bored of carrying all my stuff around with me, i feel like a snail

this is my journey in a nutshell...

london 2 days
5 hour car journey to falmouth, cornwall, birth place and home of mama and papa coles 7 days
5 hour car journey to london with bro and sis in law - 5 nights different locations, 4 houses, 1 hotel!
4 hour coach journey back to cornish boarder... 2 hours car journey with parentals, 5 days
Southampton and back - 1 day, 7 hours travel time - a perfect lunch with my KB
2 hours in car with parentals, 4 hour coach journey back to london, 1 day

tonight I finish where I started, the gregorian dream flat of the lovely wayne and jon.
it's dark, cold and of course it's raining again. london rocks... but I can't wait to touch down in LA

my flight leaves tomorrow morning, there is a tube strike that has just started for the next 24 hours, getting to Heathrow could be difficult.. I'm checking bus routes.

it's a horrible cliche but life really does feel like a journey... I love spending time catching up on where people are going, have been and are dreaming of heading..

there are those here that i desperately wish I could of spent more time with, your friendship means so much to me, i hope you know that i think and pray for you often, and I will try and be more organised with my time, next time (I always say that!)

okay, this is getting sad..

i'll be in touch
yours
x

no internet time...

2006-01-03T08:33:00.000-08:00

hey all

just a very quick post to let you know that i am still alive

happy new year!

so it turns out I have very few opportunities to access the internet here. here is now cornwall, where they have only just discovered the telephone...

yesterday it was london where I did have access but no time

so, i send much love, i will be home in the states soon
mr and mrs b, thanks for the canada photo, can't wait to see you both
happy hour crew - i'll see you next week!

tons of love

landed

2005-12-21T08:25:00.000-08:00

i'm in london

it's cold and good

it's wonderful to see people

I have 30 seconds before I need to be somewhere else.. I will call you/ email/ post a letter/ text

xx

3 stags...

2005-12-15T11:06:00.000-08:00

21st December 2005

4pm onwards..

3 Stags Public House, 67 Kennington Road, London

be there or don't.. like... whatever..

but seriously, I'd prefer it if you were there.

oh and I'll be there.

xxxx

waiting for phone calls

2005-12-13T23:54:00.000-08:00

this week I've had 3 nights in a row when I've had to stay awake for phone calls from the UK. Now most days I have no problem staying awake, in fact I have been known to be something of an insomniac since living in the US... but give me a really good reason to stay awake and all i want to do is sleep.. isn't it ironic, don't you think?

when the astonites, used to live in the freezing house, we all used to wait for the very last minute before jumping out of bed, legging it downstairs and across the kitchen in the blind hope that someone wasn't already in our icebox of a bathroom.... now life resembles much the same pattern in the morning, usually due to my lack of sleep...

the joy is that it's about 1000,000000 times warmer and the bathroom isn't a hideous shade of barbie pink...

back to waiting for the phone to ring......

the wisdom of..

2005-12-13T12:17:00.000-08:00

this year my woo really inspired me to read some of Brennan Mannings work, (some of you will now roll your eyes and think 'please don't harp on about this again')

but I'm going to none the less, you don't have to stay...
for me, this stuff can't be said enough..

'When I accept in the depth of my being that the ultimate accomplishment of my life is me - the person I've become and who other persons are because of me - then living in the wisdom of tenderness is not a technique, not a craft, not the Carnegian ploy of how to win friends and influence people, but a way of life, a distinctive and engaged presence to God, other ragamuffins, and myself.
Accepting myself as one loved by God with infinite tenderness, I'm liberated from the vagaries and mindlessness that cling to a potpourri of artifacts and attitudes: the blood line, the nation, the church, money, ego, entitlement, sexual muscle, security, violence, and the paltry gods of modern life.

so it is that I reject the "prudence" of church sages from New York to California who tell me, "the love of God is a wonderful theme; just don't push it" and I cling to the God of my experience, whose love beggars belief.'

The Wisdom of Tenderness: 2002

good late nights..

2005-12-08T10:19:00.000-08:00

this week has been insane and it's only wednesday... I love it

I have not been to bed before 1am, I've been in the office everyday on time, I've even worked some extra hours in the evenings..

work hard, play hard.. that's my crazy ass motto this week.

As well as all this, I've managed to squeeze in at least 2 episodes of The West Wing before bed, I'm now dreaming The West Wing..

Last night we went to see our friends Bodies of Water (www.bodiesofwater.net) play at Mr T's, it was a great show and the venue is awesome. It's going to become my new hang out, although I did detect some English Accent mocking - they're just jealous?!

12 days until I fly back to England, I'm very excited... thanks to David and Meredith I now have my first ever Christmas CD which I'm playing in the car.. and singing loudly, it's good.

xx

this song...

2005-12-06T09:29:00.000-08:00

This song....
those lyrics must have taken some working on, but believe me, once this puppy gets stuck in your head, you cannot get it out!

Artist: Tavares Lyrics
Song: Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel Lyrics

Heaven must be missin' an angel
Missin' one angel, child, 'cause you're here with me right now
Your love is heavenly, baby
Heavenly to me, baby

Your kiss with tenderness
I want all I can get of your sexiness
Showers, your love comes in showers
And every hour of the hour
You let me feel your loving power

There's a rainbow over my shoulder (Ooh, ooh)
When you came, my cup runneth over
You gave me your heavenly love
And if one night you hear crying from above

It's 'cause heaven must be missin' an angel
Missin' one angel, child, 'cause you're here with me right now
Your love is heavenly, baby
Heavenly to me, baby

Ooh, heaven, heaven
Ooh, heaven, heaven
Ooh, heaven, heaven
Heaven, heaven

Ooh I'm captured by your spell (Ooh, ooh)
You're different, girl, I can tell (Ooh ooh ooh)
When you're layin' on my pillow, baby
Above your pretty head, there's a halo, that's why I know

Heaven must be missin' an angel (Heaven)
Missin' on angel, child, 'cause you're here with me right now (Mmm ha)
Your love is heavenly, baby
Heavenly to me, baby (Ooh my sweet little angel)

Heaven (My pretty little angel)
Heaven (I love you, love you, love you, love you, love you, baby, say right now)
Heaven

Heaven (Ooh heaven)
Heaven, heaven (Must be missing an angel)
Heaven, heaven (Missing one angel, child, 'cause you're here with me right now)

Heaven, heaven (Oh, my heaven)
Heaven (Missin' an angel)
Heaven
Heaven

You must have slipped away along the Milky Way
It's 'cause (Your kiss) your kiss (Filled with tenderness)
You came C.O.D. on a moonbeam straight to me
Just like (Showers, showers, showers, showers) showers (Showers, showers, showers)
(Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)

Your heavenly power gets stronger by the hour
Heaven must be missin' an angel
I'm captured by your spell, oh, girl, can't you tell
Heaven (Heaven) must be missin' an angel

Heaven, heaven (Ooh ooh)
Heaven, heaven (Ooh ooh)
Heaven, heaven (Ooh)
Heaven, heaven (Ooh so-so good, so-so good, so-so good, baby, mmm)

It's just so good, so good, so good (Yeah)
It's just so good, so good, so good (I love the way you move, I love the way you groove)
It's just so good, so good, so good (Uh)
It's just so good, so good, so good (Just like heaven, oh, baby)
It's just so good, so good, so good (Heaven, yeah)

Heaven, heaven
Heaven, heaven (Ooh, my heaven)
Heaven, heaven (Ooh, your love is so good)
Heaven, heaven (Oh, baby, got to have my love, yeah)

Heaven, heaven (Need it bad, Lord, baby, yeah)
Heaven, heaven (I got to have my love, yeah)
Heaven, heaven

strange things on a monday morning

2005-12-05T09:45:00.000-08:00

- 3 sets of traffic lights were not working on my way to work today, this causes problems at big junctions...people not happy... how come they can flash red but not function?

- another ant took a dip in my tea... obviously an English ant.... I fished him out and he staggered off across my desk.. it really puts me off drinking the beverage I've so lovingly made,

- I cannot stop singing a tune we heard in the car on Saturday night, it was the first thing that popped into my head when I woke up this morning.. I've got to change the song.. it's bad, believe me.

must work now...

it's oh so funny...

2005-12-04T23:45:00.000-08:00

A friend is visiting from London.

He's brought with him DVD's of Extra's and The Peep Show..

I am in British Comedy Heaven. I cannot blog.. there is too much humour to catch up on..

that's the reason. I will try this week to write

happy first week of december you all

me xxxx

Thank you turkey

2005-11-29T09:31:00.000-08:00

It was Thanksgiving here last week.. there are people I need to email and haven't because Thanksgiving means that you eat so much turkey that you cannot move.. you cannot type... you cannot do anything.. except......

play games!!!

over 4 days I have played..

- hand and foot (involving cards.. not body parts)
- Dominos
- Rumikub
- Cluedo (or Clue for my US buddies)
- Scrabble!
- Jenga

yes.. I'm well on my way to retirement when all I will do is play these games, and pop my false teeth in and out, like your grandma..

On a serious note there are some things I am very thankful for, here's some

- my wonderful family, that support me and love me, no matter how far I wander and how crazy my ideas of jobs and life are...

- my friends, same as above really... I love you all very much, the old brits and the new americans. you rock my world

- jesus, I'm so grateful my Mum told me about the big J.

wow I'm starting to feel like I'm giving my oscar winning speech... I'll stop here.

Thanks All!

My Space

2005-11-23T21:06:00.000-08:00

English Friends - I do love you....

but you are missing out on this gem of amazingness...

MY SPACE

Californian has gone crazy, everyone has a 'myspace' the groove is to link eveyone together and leave messages, comments etc..

so here's mine http://www.myspace.com/jocoles

the only problem is that I only have 9 friends, because my English buddies don't have myspace, some of my US friends, have 300 friends... I'm looking lame! help me out.. start the craze in England, you know when it does eventually take off, you'll be able to say that you've had your 'my space' forever..

do it, it's fun, honest... I'm not a geek!

The West Wing

2005-11-23T16:11:00.000-08:00

so because of my 'all the DVD's you can watch in a month' gift, I have worked my way through so many films that I'm now really enjoying rewatching episodes of The West Wing, they're bite sized in comparison to a movie but so very satisfying....

I recently read what Clive James had to say about The West Wing and thought I would share it with you, this guy is good...

"The irony here is that the White House of The West Wing 's fictional President, Jed Bartlet, and the White House of the actual president, George W. Bush, have little in common beyond their colour-scheme and architecture. A different language is spoken in each. In The West Wing version of The West Wing the frantically energetic inhabitants speak modern American English in its highest state of colloquial eloquence. Crafted in the Bush administration's West Wing, a holding area for somnambulists, any speech by the President sets a standard so low that Donald Rumsfield is elevated to the oratorical status of Edmund Burke. When the Founding Fathers were addressing the question of a national language, German and Hebrew were both considered. After they finally realised that the language in which they were discussing the matter was probably the best candidate, English won by default. Bush and the rest of the boys make you wonder how it happened. How long does it take them to wish each other good morning? Condoleezza Rice, whose gift for languages includes her own, must feel like an epidemiologist dealing with a mass outbreak of lock-jaw"

oh how I wish Jed were in charge!

what water?

2005-11-22T16:20:00.000-08:00

cara and i got a big box of this stuff on the cheap and I have to confess I've developed an addiction.

i have always been a child of modern day marketing, I constantly see things on billboards or commercials and immediately realize how much I need that thing... the new ipods haunt my dreams, those levi's creep into my head in the middle of the day.. why can i not get this stuff out of my head... I, like so many realize that new things do not make you happy.. that stuff is meaningless in comparison to the value of life, friendships, love, etc.. but still I want that ipod...

I think we have had so many years of being made to think this way that we now consider it as completely normal, I can remember watching saturday morning television as a very small girl and really wanting those crazy toys that are sold to small children in the advert time.. especially at this time of year.. letters being written to santa and all that... (my grandma wrote back for many years, until we matched santa's handwriting with grandma's birthday cards..cunningly done mum!)

back to the vitamin water, we have a crate, it's amazing, it's water, it tastes nice and it gives you all the vitamins you need for the day ahead.... sold, i need it, in fact i think everyone must need it, i can't imagine how I lived without it...

clever thing marketing

xxxx

friday night....

2005-11-18T22:05:00.000-08:00

it's 10:05 on friday night and we going to a party at a friends house, except we seem to have been waylaid with DVD's, dinner, showers, the dog, general faffing around the house, you get the picture

at this rate we will get to the party at 11:00, I have to be home by midnight otherwise my honda will turn into a soggy mushroom, my driver a small posom and my cute jacket back to a binbag.. or is that cinderella?

xx

clutch me up

2005-11-17T15:02:00.000-08:00

so the sweet honda needs a new clutch... she's a 1989 so I guess she's done pretty well on her clutch thus far...

the worst thing about this whole saga was standing in front of the mechanic being lectured about pushing my clutch in when I change gear.... did this idiot man really think I've been slamming my car in and out of gear oblivious of the fact I have a clutch?
does he not know I come from a country where we all drive 'stick' 'manual' cars... we love the clutch.

anyway I'm picking her up at 3:30, my bank manager will be crying..

my sweet honda

2005-11-16T09:38:00.000-08:00

is sick...

this morning she does not want to get in gear (I know how she feels).
she's parked in the garage and when I try and put her into reverse she makes this horrendous screeching noise..it's bad.

some days are crap, this morning I got up at 5:15 to have breakfast with a friend, who called me at 5:45 to say they were sick and wouldn't be having breakfast.... by this time I was already in Pasadena, barely awake. Thinking that none of my other friends would appreciate a 6am breakfast phone call, I decided to head back to The Raymond House to save driving the miles back up the mountain.. now my car is stranded at the house, me along with it... perfect..

in response to this disaster, I've coped in a very dignified manner... in a strong salute to women, I've cried, called a guy friend to sort it out and now have just eaten 2 bowls of Lucky Charms which I'm praying belong to Cara and not anyone else!! Those foamy little bits of marshmallow work a treat when you're upset.

I realise that all this isn't that much of a disaster, but this week is crazy busy week, I have a ton of things I should be doing that involve my car and I'm now sitting at my table contemplating what to do... the fact that I'm living half way up a mountain isn't helpful.....

wireless internet access does at least mean I can work from home.. or blog from home... whatever...

I think the tow truck has just pulled up... joy!

to blog?

2005-11-15T09:59:00.000-08:00

I've been chatting to a friend of in England this morning, we'll just call him Matt.. since that's his name.

Myself and Matt were discussing the realm of the blog.. are they really a place for peoples random thoughts or do people sit around trying to think of random interesting things to write on their blogs.
I know my US friend Matt inspired me to start this and then promptly stopped blogging himself... weird.

If we wrote what we were really thinking would everyone run?

I'll come back to this.

save me from mondays

2005-11-14T13:09:00.000-08:00

another monday morning beaten.. only just.. it took me setting my alarm on the other side of the room and cara shouting for me to get up to motivate me to lift the ultra heavy duvet..

i think my loathing of monday's is a long standing psychological problem, i can remember feeling like this getting up for school.. my mum would take to blow drying her hair outside of my bedroom door to drive me from my pit!

it's silly really, monday mornings are not really any different from any other morning, i don't know why I'm such a child about them.

had a really nice weekend, very low key, we're still housesitting in the mountains and we got to enjoy some time in the nice house rather than just running in at 11pm going to sleep, getting up at 7am and running back out the door.. the only problem is, the dog hates me.. I know it's dramatic but I'm positive she does, you see she usually sleeps on a mat in the bedroom with her owners, but myself and cara are both kinda allergic to her hair so we let her sleep in the living room, but she's pissed about it. She wants in with someone. Last night she was wandering around the house on the wooden floors making an ungodly scratching/ clicking noise with her nails all night.
It's becoming a little tiresome, I'm tired and hence I become tiresome.. not good. maybe I should put a couple of pairs of socks on her paws so at least I won't be able to hear the wandering.

what else... oh yeah, The Best of Moyles podcast from BBC Radio 1 is probably one of the funniest things in my life at the moment, if you are a fan of the podcast you have to listen to this..

okay, back to work, hope you have all made it through monday morning too..

loads of love
xxxx

Jo needs...

2005-11-08T16:43:00.000-08:00

some may call this a waste of time and childish, I bet they still do it...

go to google, type your name and then the word 'needs' and see what you need:

- Jo needs your help
- Jo needs to make decisions quickly
- Jo needs vendors (umm. not sure I do)
- Jo needs a 17" powerbook (heck yes)
- Jo needs some room to be used powerfully
- Jo needs to get ready for a photograph in Haiti
- Jo needs to present a coat of arms

I really do need to present a coat of arms... anyone want one?

tons of tuesday love...
x

magic numbers, the honda, Dr Higgins and much more..

2005-11-06T23:42:00.000-08:00

this week, I feel like it's been one of those weeks that's about 3 weeks rolled into one...
It's been hectic but there have been some pretty sweet moments.

On Tuesday night, we saw The Magic Numbers play the first gig of their US tour at the Troubadour in Hollywood, they rocked the place big time, I think it was the best gig I've seen this year.. see them if you can.

On Wednesday my Irish friend Dr Gareth Higgins was in town and it was loads of fun to catch up with him, he runs an amazing organization called zero 28 www.zero28.org check out what they are doing in Ireland.

On Friday I saw my friend Buz play at The highlands in LA, they also did an amazing job, we then came home around 11pm and called some friends to come and cook dinner, dinner was served around 1:30am and we rolled into bed around 4am. Just the way a Friday night should be.

Saturday we got up and the girls arrived with breakfast, momossas started our weekend with omelets and fresh bread... yummy, we ran errands around Pasadena in the afternoon, we had some coffee and then we went to prep for Mrs B's 30th Hoe-down, she is my favorite of all the Bj's in the world. The party was great, good job Mr B!
I then had to go and pick Dr Higgins up from a wedding in Malibu which was an adventure trying to find a secluded ranch at 11:30pm..

Today (Sunday) we all slept late again, we drank coffee, we had a loooong lunch with the girls and then went to Church and then the airport to deposit the Higgins for the next leg of his journey....

I realize that it sounds like I've had a fun filled partyin style week and I have, intermingled with some hard work, some boring work and some great work...

I wanted to leave you all with some pearls of wisdom for your week ahead....

then this quote from Rudy's blog popped into my head..(who knows why?!)
anyway wisdom it's not, funny it is...

Which reminds me, I'd give the 2005 quote of the year to Donald Rumsfeld for the below quote, except I think he may have said it in 2003:

There are known knowns. There are known unknowns.
Then there are unknown knowns, and unknown unknowns.

Precisely

heck yes...

2005-10-27T21:57:00.000-07:00

do I love my job?

a question asked to me today by a top LA state litigator..

I was shitting it today as I sat on the train on the way to our meeting, what on earth would I say? Why was this person even interested in what we are doing?

it turns out that earning a bucket of cash and having great status, is really not what it cracked up to be (I secretly knew this...)

God is pretty amazing, I prayed my socks off that the meeting would go well, that she wouldn't see through me for the phony I so often feel and that she would catch something of my dream for justice and poverty relief in this unbalanced world. I think she did, I'm meeting again the week after next... we're in desperate need of a legal mind. Please let this be the one!

Tomorrow I pick up a good friend from Belfast and spend the weekend retreating from the Rat race in Ventura, I'll be back on Monday... Happy weekends all.

much love to you
xx

Psalm 93

2005-10-25T21:56:00.000-07:00

Psalm 93

GOD is King, robed and ruling, GOD is robed and surging with strength.
And yes, the world is firm, immovable,
Your throne ever firm--you're Eternal!
Sea storms are up, GOD,
Sea storms wild and roaring,
Sea storms with thunderous breakers.

Stronger than wild sea storms,
Mightier than sea-storm breakers,
Mighty GOD rules from High Heaven.

What you say goes--it always has.
"Beauty" and "Holy" mark your palace rule,
GOD, to the very end of time

sick, Jo xx

a little bit of rain goes a long way...

2005-10-25T14:53:00.000-07:00

So I haven't posted for a while, the reason......the first rain fell in Pasadena last week and our rather shody phone wire box thingy at the office got all wet and now the phone doesn't work, which means the wireless doesn't work, which has resulted in myself, boss, coworker and other coworker all relocating to Hyper Coffee in Arcadia.

Hyper Coffee gives free wireless internet access all day, we are thinking of setting up permanently, although I'm having trouble typing due to the caffeine jitters from the 50 cent refills!

what else....

I'm house sitting for the next 2 months, this week I have the house to myself whilst my little buddy house sits elsewhere, we are in high demand for house sitting. The house is great, it's right up in the mountains and it's so quiet.. but kind of cold. This morning I had a hard time getting out of bed due to the freezing wood floors (not that getting out of bed is ever easy for me!)

I'm still watching DVD's although it's had to slow a little as my work has been a little hectic of late. This week:

Lords of Dogtown
Steel Magnolias
Best in Show
Fever Pitch (the original and best!)

Tonight it's Rushmore

We watched Elizabeth Town at the weekend with Orlando and Kirsten. I really liked it a lot. It's girly but great. I know the old Aston Road boys will love it...the dunst factor!

one bad thing about house sitting, i have to use the 'Pooper Scooper'... past posts have pointed out my utter hatred for doggy poop... oh well, It can't all be roses!

much love
x

Here's a couple of random thoughts...

2005-10-17T22:43:00.001-07:00

Firstly,

Moonlight Mile is a very good film even though few people seem to have watched it. Dustin Hoffman, Susan Sarrandon and that gorgeous hot guy from Donnie Darko make a pleasing combination and the general message behind the film is good. So watch it... now, do it, you know you want to.....

secondly,

what was with those hail stones today?, we've had no rain for 6 months and then today, hail stones the size of ping pong balls fall from the sky.... I thought the world was ending.... actually what I really thought was 'I hope these huge hails don't break my buggering wind screen.... (I was driving at the time of the hail attack).

Thirdly,

I'm watching Scrubs.. I have no DVD's today... more tomorrow.. life will be worth living...

fourthly,

My hot friend Jess plays at the Troubadour tomorrow, supporting Matt Costa (who supported Jack Johnson) so come to the gig 8:30 - Bodies of Water or just check them out on www.bodiesofwater.net

Fifthly,

Monday is over and I lived... it was looking 50/50... turns out I made it

Sixthly,

Don't feel bad hoylus.... hunting sbloggers is still legal and honorable....

seventhly,

I'm done... I love you all

xxx

monday mornings...

2005-10-17T09:35:00.000-07:00

I'm not good with Monday mornings. It's a fact.

This morning just to really put the icing on the Monday morning cake, I sat at my desk with a cup of coffee only to notice a dead ant floating on the top... yummy.

not wanting to make a second trip outside and across the car park to the other building, I scoped it out and put it in the bin... I'm contemplating whether to drink the coffee....

more movies...

2005-10-15T22:39:00.000-07:00

anyone that reads this blog regularly will know that this month, I have a month of free DVD rentals thanks to ms Synder and boy am I taking advantage of it.....

Here's an update on the latest movies I've rented and watched..

-You Can Count on Me
-Election
-Monty Python, Holy Grail
-Crash
-The Accidental Tourist
-A crazy British movie, which I can't remember the name of... love affair in Scotland between an Irish music teacher and a guy of Indian descent...... anyone anyone.... Buller Buller.... anyone???
-The Bob Dylan Story
-7 plus... a strange British documentary I watched in school...
-I'm with Lucy

I really enjoyed Crash, which surprised me, actually looking at the list I really enjoyed them all... You Can Count on Me was a little lame...

Anyway, Saturdays rock, had breakfast with one friend, spoke on the phone to best English friend from her hospital bed for an hour and then went and hung out with another friend.
Came home and watched a movie with wonderful housemate.
My eyes are very square but I go to bed happy in the knowledge that I'm once again culturally relevant.

being hunted... on lunch breaks..?!

2005-10-14T15:19:00.000-07:00

mmm.. they're onto me, i should run..

Stop the Sex Trade...

2005-10-14T12:11:00.000-07:00

This week has been insane, to quote Charlie 'it was the best of times, it was the worst of times'

There's so much to say and such a short lunch break to say it all.

My good friend Joel has just got back from Russia, he was visiting with orphans and sent me the 'Stop the Sex Trade' message, he and the community in Ventura are about to launch some cool initiatives to get involved with Human Trafficking, watch this space....

It's still hot hot hot in Pasadena, for those of you in England, I hope the weather is fair!

Please continue to pray for Charl, those of you who are aware.

KB. you rock my world.

more soon, I'm being dragged off for Friday sandwiches!
xxxx

so the ants have moved on....

2005-09-30T13:17:00.000-07:00

they've gone... yesterday they were all over the desk.. today nothing..

strange.. I'm not complaining... maybe they're having a long weekend away....

my eyes are square...

2005-09-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

so, this week I've been house sitting and dog sitting.

both have been pleasurable in many ways..
the house has the biggest bath tub (a rare thing in LA) and my friend has signed me up for a month of free movies.. so basically I've become a recluse this week.
I've spent many hours after work soaking in the tub and then many more hours watching.. yesterday I watched 'Born into Brothels', which is an excellent documentary on the issues of prostitution in India and then 'The Notebook', which is a little slushy, but nicely done non the less, and very enjoyable... how I love a happy ending (not that it's happy if you haven't seen it.... or maybe it is... who knows)

Tonight I watching Finding Neverland, which is now one of my top ten films this year, Johnny Depp has rocked my world again and how I cried (not that it's sad, if you haven't seen it)

I now have to return the movie quick so that i can get my next fix... since it's free, this month I will mainly be watching DVD's!

The dog sitting has it's ups and downs... I love the fact that someone is so totally overjoyed to see me when I get home from work, he literally laps the house with excitement. i've also really enjoyed walking him, especially up the mountains.

I HATE THE POOP! I cannot pick the stuff up without literally throwing up... I could not have a dog because of this issue...
I also hate the fact that the back seat of my car in covered, and I mean totally covered in dog hair and slober!

Also on a final note about the dog, I was driving home with him in the car a couple of nights ago and he..... how can I say this...... he farted! doggy fart...... oh my goodness........my eyes began to water, I thought I was going to have to pull over..... here I am driving along with my head stuck out of the window..... I thought the dog was supposed to do that..... urgh... just thinking about it makes me feel sick!

ok, going to bed, to dream of Peter Pan...

ANTS!

2005-09-29T11:18:00.000-07:00

I have just got into the office and there are ants all over my desk... lovely.

One has just had the audacity to walk across my keyboard!
I've squished a good number of them, why don't they get the message that ant corpse across the desk means that the rest should run if they want to continue living!

I came in very focused today, now I have been distracted... Darn those little beasties!
x

Death Cab For Cutie

2005-09-27T15:08:00.000-07:00

I've been listening to the album in my car and I love it

I drove to Long Beach this morning, singing all the way... the people passing me on the freeways probably thought I was a nut!

that's all.... must keep working.. must not be distracted by internet!
xxx

too late and still no good posts

2005-09-24T00:13:00.000-07:00

I don't know what's going on with life. I have a huge back log of emails, I have a ton of phone calls to make and I'm late sending stuff for 3 birthdays!

I just got back from Texas and now all this crazy stuff is happening in Texas. The friends who gave us their floor to sleep on have evacuated. The evacuees have been evacuated! what is going on? it blows my mind.

work is great but I need to spend some time getting on top of things and not running around the country

life is sweet, went to a wedding today of some good friends, it rocked big time.

this weekend I'm going to try to write all my emails to the people I love
I'm going to wash my clothes.... I'm down to wearing the bottom of the wardrobe stuff!

and I'm going to sleep for 8 hours straight, something I haven't done in a long long time.

I will also try and post more... (yeah I know I've said it all before!) I will try!

In America

2005-09-14T00:42:00.000-07:00

have you seen the film? 'In America' you should watch it, it's amazing....

I got back from Ventura on Saturday night, It was life changing, some awesome people taught me some lessons I won't forget and will blog about later this month.

Tomorrow I'm going to Houston, Texas to assess and work with the hurricane victims, I hope I have what it takes....
It's totally last minute and my head is spinning with the preparation.

A lot of people have talked about whether God has something to do with the hurricane in New Orleans, like somehow it's payback for all the crazy shit that goes on in that town.
I personally think that we are to blame for the radical changes in the weather systems, we pump millions of toxins into the air, we fill rubbish sites with plastics that won't go away, we use gas and electricity like it's going out of fashion.... we're playing with the delicate and perfect balance of our planet.

Do I think it was God telling us something?... No I don't..... God gave us the ultimate message when He sent His son to the cross, he sacrificed everything to tell us we were forgiven and whole in Him. I think it's about time we take responsibility and start behaving in a more accountable manner...

I'll get off my soapbox.. it's just what I think..
xx

the house is great....

2005-09-08T19:02:00.000-07:00

I'm loving Ventura and the Soliton Session, the people here are awesome. The house is not scary, it's lovely.

Grinnell, I will get back to you, yes of couse you can come visit..

KB...have stuff to share with you over wine at Christmas..
Woo... you posts inspired some thought trains for my talk which went down a treat, thank you.

that's all for now, more soon

I'm feelin the love, can you tell?!

away again

2005-09-07T12:26:00.000-07:00

I'm in Ventura, which is about an hour and 10 minutes away from Pasadena, I think west... ish..

I'm here for the Soliton Sessions (www.solitonnetwork.org) and for some other work stuff. I stayed in a really scary hotel last night, tonight I'm being given a house.. I hope it's not soo scary!!

I like working away, the challenge, the new stuff, so much to see, so much to do.. but I'm also already missing home.. crazy I know.

anyway, I'm here until Saturday and I do have some internet access so I'll try and post a bit more, I've been a slacker of the largest kind lately.

been reading White Teeth, that book rules!
xx

back from hosting...

2005-08-29T12:44:00.000-07:00

My visitors have gone.....

It's been so much fun having people in town, but I'm glad I get a chance to do some 'normal' stuff, like washing my clothes, cleaning my car and those kind of things that all get put off when you have guests staying.

My little woo posted this for me on her blog in response to my email about becoming bored with the routine and normality that life sometimes requires of us.. I love it.. Thank you xx

'The gospel of grace calls us to sing of the everyday mystery of intimacy with God instead of always seeking for miracles or visions. It calls us to sing of the spiritual roots of such commonplace experiences as falling in love, telling the truth, raising a child, teaching a class, forgiving each other after we have hurt each other, standing together in the bad weather of life, of surprise and sexuality, and the radiance of existence'.

(Brennan, Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel)

ps. don't know what happened to my comments, but they're back!

wee sisters....

2005-08-15T23:52:00.000-07:00

my little foster sister is in town with her boyfriend, it's wonderful to see her but once again I'm really busy trying to be a good host and continue with some semblance of a normal life.

All is well - to the ones I love in the UK, I miss you like crazy and please keep emailing me, I will get back to you really soon.

xxxxx

sitting on the porch

2005-08-09T11:52:00.000-07:00

I love sitting on the porch at night, especially when it's been really hot during the day. I even love the fact that in our neighborhood you can almost constantly hear the sound of a police helicopter circling overhead searching for a scallywag.

a couple of nights ago I was sitting out with a roommate when the police drove down the street shining a spotlight in the bushes... it's exciting stuff.. better than watching the tv.

other than sitting on the porch in the evenings, I've also taken to watching too many episodes of Scrubs, thankfully I've nearly watched the entire box set and I can resume my normal sleeping patterns.

more soon
xx

in my 26th year......

2005-08-07T12:56:00.000-07:00

I will....

- put my seatbelt on as soon as I get in the car
- be better at keeping in touch
- wear my glasses more and my contact lenes less
- start buying christmas presents early
- try to oversleep less
- not stay up till 4am watching DVD's when I have work in the morning (linked with above)
- make the Americans appreciate tea more
- not make unreasonable demands of myself (it's ok if I don't make it to UN secretary general this year)

okay, I think this is enough for now...

boy, at this rate I'll be perfect by 30!

xxxx

a time to be still

2005-08-03T10:06:00.000-07:00

I have realised over the last few days that I struggle when life is calm and 'normal'.

I love adventures, I love doing spontaneous things, I love spending time with people and laughing a lot.
I really enjoy seeing new places and people....I guess what I'm saying is that I find life tough when I have to get back into everyday life.
It's not that I don't enjoy my day to day stuff, work is amazing, I love where I live, I have a wonderful group of friends... I can't put my finger on why I feel a little dissatisfied and unsettled this week.

is fun addictive? should laughing have a health warning? "excessive participation will lead to extreme withdrawal symptoms"

are there any solutions?

i don't want to live my life waiting and anticipating the next fun thing, I want to enjoy it all. The dull, the mundane, the ordinary... can anyone help?

xx

life moves pretty fast

2005-07-31T16:46:00.000-07:00

I know I always seem to be writing this.... I'm really busy!

i really really am, it's all good though. I've had a ton of fun this weekend. I have a friend from England staying, we've been tourists and we've partied like the Californians.

i will post later in the week, when I've got a moment to spend some quality time with my laptop.

love to you all
x

all over the place.

2005-07-25T01:16:00.000-07:00

this is going to be a very quick post, it's 1:17am and I should be sleeping, I have to get up in 3 hours to take a friend to the airport. I must be mad!

This week has been crazy... I've been in South LA for the last 4 days, just off Crenshaw and Slauson, a notorious gang area. It's been an amazing few days.

I'm now back at home and it's great to be getting to sleep in my own bed. Sorry If I've neglected any of you with emails this week, I haven't had much access.

I will post more this week.

much love to you
xx

ps - pray it gets a wee bit cooler here, it's difficult sleeping when it's so stinking hot!

Burgled by a badger

2005-07-21T12:33:00.000-07:00

It seems that it's not only Pandas that enjoy a little petty theft, but badgers too... thanks to Woo for this... it really happen this week.... here's the link in case you want to check it out..

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=355776&in_page_id=1770

'It was one o'clock in the morning and Pamela Mackie was just about to go to bed when she heard something which rapidly changed her mind.
It was the sound of her bedroom window breaking - followed by shards of glass falling past the sitting-room where she was watching TV.

The 78-year-old widow was then terrified to hear heavy footsteps crossing the room above - and dialled 999 in panic.

In the 20 long minutes that followed, Mrs Mackie held her breath in case she could hear the intruder coming down the stairs, but she was still unscathed when two policewomen arrived at her home in Swindon.

They went straight upstairs to investigate and discovered not a burglar, but a very angry badger.'

It's a crazy world!
xx

those pesky pandas...part 2...

2005-07-20T20:39:00.000-07:00

A gorgeous friend sent me this on Monday...

"Rescuers of a wild giant panda which wandered into a Chinese city were led on a day-long chase before capturing the animal.
The panda was first seen and pursued by residents in Dujiangyuan, in south-western Sichuan province, who thought it was a burglar.
It escaped by scrambling over roofs, and was later seen swimming a river before climbing up a tree.
It was brought down by firemen using a tranquiliser dart and a rope.
It was then taken to the province's Wolong giant panda research centre.
"The panda was amazingly agile and totally different from those at the zoos," a witness was quoted as saying by state news agency Xinhua.
The giant panda is one of the world's most endangered species, with fewer than 1,600 living in the wild in western China.
Experts quoted by Xinhua said the panda in this case was a four- to five-year-old female weighing about 60kg (130 pounds) which could have been looking for a mate or had been driven from its home by its mother.
Li Desen, a zoologist at the Wolong centre, said the wandering panda was suffering from liver and kidney disease, and had hurt its paws during the chase"

"looking for a mate" - Typical!

xx

I didn't find Elvis...

2005-07-18T10:24:00.000-07:00

So I'm back in LA.

We left Vegas a 6am this morning and drove top speed outta that town, just got into Pasadena at 10.
4 hours, pretty darn good...and we would've been quicker if it wasn't for the darn traffic on the 210!

I've had a great weekend; work on Sunday went really well, although I have some questions bubbling in my head about short-term mission trips (I've been here before).
It was hot... at 7am this morning it was 94o, that's insane. Yesterday it hit 120o.

I managed to avoid getting stuck or being diverted so that was a bonus.
And. last night we got to hangout in Old Town Vegas, which is far more seedy and enjoyable than the new stuff.. I did walk through Wynn’s new hotel and wanted to vomit.

ummm that's about it for now, I need to go and return the 'rent a car' (my honda wasn't up to the Vegas challenge) then get in the shower... driving through the desert is hard work.

More soon
xx

oo and I took some pictures.. watch this space..

Back to Vegas...

2005-07-15T09:24:00.000-07:00

I'm working in Vegas again this weekend, it should be fun.... except it's 118o in the desert at the moment, i will surely cook!

I've been working away a little too much lately, last week it was Boston this week it's Vegas.. the strange thing is that on my way to Boston I got stuck in Vegas... I wonder if I'll get stuck in Boston on my way to Vegas?!!

Today (Friday) i have to work from home because I'm waiting on Mr Fedex to deliver 4 passports to the house. The people that need the passports fly tomorrow so I'm praying that they will arrive soon.. if they don't, I'll be driving very quickly to Chicago to get them!

a man has just arrived to fix the washing machine, I thought he was fedex... such a disappointment... I'll keep you updated.

those pesky pandas...

2005-07-14T12:53:00.000-07:00

so last month a very wonderful friend gave me a copy of Tiger, the new operating system software for Macs. With this comes a whole host of widget opportunities.. see previous blog entries for the joy they have given me!

a widget that has made it onto my laptop is the 'pandacam' at San Diego zoo, this fantastic widget means that you can sit at your desk and watch the pandas playing all day long.... and boy those guys are funny...

except... when it's really hot, like now. Then they look so sad, and they are all lethargic... I feel the need to call San Diego zoo and tell them to improve the A/C in their compound. I mean if starbucks can provide their customers with arctic temperatures then I'm sure the zoo can. If you're feeling hot today, spare a thought for the pandas, they have to wear a hoofffing great furry coat...
xx

Is anyone else excited?

2005-07-13T14:51:00.000-07:00

I can't wait for the new Willy Wonka movie, I really loved the 1971 movie when I was a wee lass. My big brother didn't. I can remember the fights about what we were going to watch... He always wanted to watch The Canon Ball Run or The Great Race. I wanted Willy Wonka.. That's a gender difference for you...

My love affair with chocolate has remained true, maybe one day I'll get a golden ticket....

what a glass of wine can do

2005-07-11T21:07:00.000-07:00

Sorry if I caused you guys alarm by sounding so miserable last week. I really didn't mean to worry anyone! I've made it back to LA and once more life is full of sunshine.

I arrived yesterday, went to my lovely Church, sat in the garden post Church drinking wine and talking with some very wonderful people.

I will post again about the adventures that lie ahead for this week...

by the way, there have been some huge answers to our prayers. Thank You God!

a difficult week

2005-07-09T21:30:00.000-07:00

what to post...

I can't really think of adequate words for this week.

I was woken at 3:30am on Thursday, a text from my brother, it said..."explosions in London, myself and Em (his wife) are fine" I got up and put the news on, and wept as the breaking news came through in LA. There are no words to explain the feelings you get at those times.

4 hours later I flew to phoenix on my way to Boston, I got stuck in phoenix for 8 hours, when they cancelled my flight, I was then flown to Las Vegas where I spent another 5 hours, I then flew to Boston. I arrived 1.5 hours before I was due to speak at a conference. I can honestly say that I sat in a bathroom in Boston airport and prayed that God would make the conference be cancelled, not a single bone in my body wanted to go, I just wanted to crawl into bad and forget about the world.

anyway... 2 days later, I'm still in Boston, I did speak, it went okay. I'm due to fly home tomorrow and I can't wait.
this week has been full of prayers, my friend caroline needs some for her dad, my friend bex needs some for her bones, my fellow Brits need some for healed hearts, I need some for courage, I don't feel very courageous and life is tough.

no apologies for the somber post, necessary I think.

Richard - we'll miss you!

2005-06-27T11:57:00.000-07:00

During 3 years of university, I spent most afternoons watching Countdown along with a very large percentage of the rest of the UK's students. I'm sure that my brain was challenged more by this than by many of the very boring lectures we sat through.

Richard Whiteley is a hero of the greatest sorts and a legend. He will be very sadly missed. I am sad.

maybe I don't want to go to Glastonbury.....

2005-06-24T15:55:00.000-07:00

That's English weather for you.... I love it!

glastonbury festival...

2005-06-23T09:47:00.000-07:00

It's the beginning of Glastonbury Festival today, I wish I could be there.

4 years ago, under the cover of darkness, myself and 6 friends crawled through a tunnel under one of the 6" fences... we threw the tent, sleeping bags, toilets rolls and beer (the beer broke - the tent and sleeping bags smelt bad the whole time) over the fence before going under. I do now see the wrongs of breaking and entering without buying tickets, but we were very very poor and we had just finished university and the rules were meant to be broken.

For those of you who aren't familiar with Glastonbury, it's one of the biggest music festivals in the UK, you camp for 4 days, the toilets are always incredibly bad, you don't shower and you listen to some of the best bands... here's the website...www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk

Look at the line-up for the main stage:

Adjagas
The Subways
The Undertones
John Butler Trio
The Thrills
The Zutons
Elvis Costello
Doves
The Killers
White Stripes

Saturday, June 25

Hayseed Dixies
Taj Mahal
Goldie Lookin' Chain
Kaiser Chiefs
Ash
The Coral
Keane
New Order
Coldplay

Sunday, June 26

Yeovil Town Band
Bellydance Superstars and the Desert Roses
James Blunt
Jools Holland
Van Morrison
Brian Wilson
Garbage
Primal Scream
Basement Jaxx

why hasn't someone invented a teleporter?

xx

no more wireless at home

2005-06-18T15:44:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted all week

I think our lovely neighbors have finally realized that they were providing me with fantastic high speed internet and have subsequently cut me off! bummer!

I've had such a great week off, my sweet friend landed on Monday, on Tuesday we explored the Getty Center, on Wednesday we rented bikes and rode like wild things along the bike paths of Venice, Santa Monica and further..

on Thursday we shopped (sorry about the detour KB - love driving the 5) and hiked up a mountain...

and on Friday she left, I'm a little sad today. Post English Friend Blues..

but the sun is shining, it's Saturday afternoon and I'm drinking beer with a friend exploring the joys of Tiger and new widgets, I can now sing along to all my itunes with the lyrics widget...... and Wimbledon starts on Monday - 2 weeks of Tennis joy!

more soon, got to go find more widgets...

the weekend has landed...

2005-06-11T00:41:00.000-07:00

It's Friday night, the weekend is here, I'm so excited.

I have a really nice weekend ahead and then to top it all off, my lovely lovely friend from England is coming to stay with me on Monday and she's here until Friday. I have 4 days off work, the weather WILL be nice and life is GOOD!

oh, and I have booked my Californian Driving Test, I took the online test today....and failed. Some of the road rules are whack! gonna have to read the manual before I go for real. but I consol myself with the fact that there are some really horrible drivers here and they must have passed, how hard can it be!

I'm in the clear...

2005-06-08T22:57:00.000-07:00

Just in case there is anyone out there that was worried that I may have TB, I got my results today and I'm clear...phew!

All fingerprints have been recorded, as a lovely friend told me today, if I assult a child with my baby finger, they will still be able to catch me!!!

Now waiting on the phone call to go and meet the lucky lucky child that I will mentor... starting to feel nervous about this, what if she doesn't like me... I will bribe her with candy (that's chocolate to the fellow Brits).... if I was a child I'd be won over with suger highs...

more soon, it's late..

TB testing and Middle Schools

2005-06-06T17:24:00.000-07:00

I've been accepted to mentor a child from a Middle School in Pasadena.

I had been thinking about how I could get involved in my local community without violating any of my visa restrictions and this opportunity plonked itself in my lap...don't you just love those times.

so today I had to go and get a TB test, geez I hope I don't have it!
It was one of those slightly frustrating scenarios - I checked the clinic times - open between 8am - 3pm, so I turn up at 2 (in my lunch hour) and then get told all the nurses are in a meeting from 2-3... aaahh.. it actually worked out okay as I used that hour to go and look at the school I would be working with, it's a real real hole.... I kept thinking I was in a prison.. I've never seen such a bland colourless school - no wonder the children are failing.

Went back to get my TB test at 3. Told the nurse that I had already been tested, had the vaccination, been tested for a second time, had the vaccination for a second time, got tested for a third time........ apparently this is not enough even though I have my vaccination certificates..... she stuck a needle in me again. I have to go back on Wednesday for them to look at my arm... I had 2 questions.. 'what are you putting in my arm?' and 'what's it going to do if it's positive/ negative?' ..... she wouldn't answer either questions... slightly dodgy I feel.... been looking at my arm every 20 minutes, hope it doesn't fall off!

I also have to get my fingerprints taken on Wednesday.... again, they already have them on record at the immigration department alongside my retina scan. Maybe they would like to plant an electronic chip in me now and be done with it.

seriously, I'm chuffed that I get to hangout with a child for an hour once a week, I've already planned 6 months of things to do.... I hope she likes Ice Cream.

too tired to blog...

2005-06-02T17:10:00.000-07:00

okay so it's been ages since I've posted...I've been getting up at 4am every morning this week and I'm about to have a tiredness breakdown!
I will come back and tell you why I've been up so dang early.....

when my fingers don't feel like they are unattached from my hands...

it's getting hotter

2005-05-19T16:51:00.000-07:00

Today they are installing air conditioning in the offices we work in...

oh no hold on... let me rephrase that. Today they are installing air conditioning in all of the offices surrounding our office - but not our office! why? I hear you ask, I have no effing idea..

so not only have I had to put up with the sound of drilling all day (which by the way now feels like someone’s drilling my brain) but I have to live with the fact that I'm going to continue to drink 50 gallons of water a day from now until the summer is over to save myself from dehydration.

well, that's my end of the day moan... I'm off to drive home in my car that doesn't have air conditioning to my house, which also doesn't have air conditioning. I think I may move into Macy's Department Store - It's bloody freezing in there.....

the consequences...

2005-05-18T01:18:00.000-07:00

The problem with having a day off during the week is that everyone else is at work. There's no one around to have fun with, therefore if you are me, you end up not doing very much, desperately trying not to spend any money and then by 1:21am you're still wide awake because you've done sod all, all day.

Now, I know this sounds ungrateful, and really I'm not, I'm now blogging out of shear frustration because I can't sleep.
This problem escalates, I want to go to the gym with the guys tomorrow, which means getting up at 6:30, the chances of this happening are reducing every minute I'm still awake now.

Well there's my dilemma, thank goodness this is the only real issue I have to deal with at the moment!

Okay, I'm going to go and try and count sheep or something.. I did go on the hunt for some chamomile tea an hour a go, alas I only have English tea and that's loaded with caffeine.

I hope all my US friends are sleeping soundly and I pray all my British friends are in work by now and have happy Wednesdays!

a day off

2005-05-17T14:34:00.000-07:00

I have a day off today, I worked all weekend (in Vegas - what a hardship).

I was going to write a really interesting post on my blog but it's 2:30pm, I'm still wearing my pyjamas and I've now taken to eating Cookie Dough Ice Cream for my lunch.

I will try and be productive with my free day and come back and write about it!

Honey, we're gonna be up five hundy by midnight! VEGAS, BABY! VEGAS!

2005-05-16T15:13:00.000-07:00

yes - I've been in Vegas this weekend, I'm now only quoting lines from Swingers.....

Actually it was work, but it was also fun! I drank Margaritas, I watched dancing water fountains and I saw half naked men swinging around the roof of a casino - all very random!

I will write more, I should be working...I’m also (like Ted) trying not to blog in work time

xx

Are you technosexual?

2005-05-05T16:40:00.000-07:00

My friend emailed the below article to me today. He found it on the Guardian's technology blog and it reminded him of me! I'm in love with Mac products... I know it's not big or clever but it's true... I'm seeking help...Beautiful Technology Obsessives Anonymous is running in the Pasadena area.

Are you a technosexual?

First things first: I'm not one. But I am intrigued by the idea of the
"technosexual"; defined by the excellent Wordspy as "A male(?) with a strong
aesthetic sense and a love of technology".

How is it different from geek? Look again at that "strong aesthetic sense".
Real geeks never care what their technology looks like; it's almost a badge
of honour to have an ugly box running some elegant code. What fascinated me
more than the term itself was the linguistic process of transmission. The
word's been knocking around on sites like AlterNet for over six months, but
hasn't, that I can see, made much impact on the mainstream British media.

I bumped into it on the website of the Barcelona daily La Vanguardia, where
it's joined by the related term "technomacho" - we have a few of them in
this office. The Spanish innovation seems to me the more interesting term;
technosexual sounds like a Mac user, but technomacho has a thrillingly
dangerous edge of alpha geek to it. How I wish I were one.

ELECTION DAY

2005-05-05T16:15:00.000-07:00

It's nearly over and it looks like the Labour party has won their third term in the driving seat. I just pray that Tony has his eyes on the road and his hands on the wheel!

It's a really close call. I think the Labour party is going to have to pull its finger out if they are going to keep the confidence of the British people. No more wars....if you please.

I love saturdays

2005-05-01T00:51:00.000-07:00

Today has been fantastic - I woke up, I felt great, I lept out of bed (okay, I didn't leap - but in my 'movie playback' life I would of!) I went to the gym ?!! I did stuff in town, I came home, I read the newspaper and drank tea, I talked to my housemates, I read a book, I wrote some e-mails to my hot friends accross the ocean, I pretended to read a book but actually had a snooze on the front porch...and then this evening I watched Garden State which I really really really loved....

If everyday was like this I would be very happy, or maybe get very bored, because I realised that I didn't do anything magnificent today, I didn't spend any money, I didn't make a significant difference to mankind but then I think life should be more about enjoying the little things. Maybe because...

last night I watched Salaam Bombay which was shown at Fuller Seminary as part of their Children at Risk series, it's a good film but I wasn't as impressed (or disturbed) by it as I wanted to be. I have been in Bombay a couple of times and I felt that it glossed over some of the real horrors of the lives of the street children. However it was still a massive reminder to how bloody fortunate we are to live here in southern California.........
I'm not really into quoting numbers but when 1.2 billion people live on less than a dollar a day you can't help but appreciate the fact that you can put quarters in your car just to pay for parking meters.

okay this could turn into a rant... I'll stop...except to say I've been back in Pasadena for 3 weeks and I'm still loving it..I miss you guys in the UK, if you could all move here my life will be perfect!

The 10 biggest dangers to Earth...

2005-04-29T16:05:00.000-07:00

What a way to go

(10 = making humans extinct, to one = barely having an impact on our lives).

1: Climate Change
Danger score: 6

2: Telomere erosion
Danger score: 8

3: Viral Pandemic
Danger score: 3

4: Terrorism
Danger score: 2

5: Nuclear war
Danger score: 8

6: Meteorite impact
Danger score: 5

7: Robots taking over
Danger score: 8

8: Cosmic ray blast from exploding star
Danger score: 4

9: Super-volcanos
Danger score: 7

10: Earth swallowed by a black hole
Danger score: 10

Want to know more...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/feature/story/0,13026,1458536,00.html

Eddie, Chocolates and it's nearly the weekend..

2005-04-22T15:31:00.000-07:00

This week has gone so quickly.....I will blog over the weekend...honestly..

Here are some highlights of the week so far -

- completing a computer course I've been writing, I've learnt so much about Microsoft Word in the last week.
- a good mate sent me this link..... very amusing www.gbjab.com
- getting a book in the post, there are very few things better than this - I Capture the Castle, Dodie Smith. Kathie, thank you, You Rule!!! I'll let you know what I think.
- eating Ferrero Rocher Chocolates - Easter present from my Aunty in England, they're so tacky, but soooo good (after 8, you start to feel a bit sick - I tested)
- Eddie Izzard, watching Definate Article, this DVD is fantastic...watch it, you will laugh, I used to think Dress to Kill was the best, but after watching Definate Article again I'm not so sure.
- lots of hanging out at my house, new roommate, lots of laughing and Marshmallows and Tea..
- Listening to Razorlight, Up All Night - Thank you James for your recommendation - I hope the sun shines on Scotland and you this weekend
- Darjeeling at Peets with Junc people

okay I'm off, 1 hour 10 mins until the weekend officially lands...

what a week

2005-04-16T15:40:00.000-07:00

I've had such a busy week, I've not had any time to sit down and write my blog. The main cause of my being so busy is the fact that I have a new computer and I'm desperately trying to move all of my work from one laptop to another. I have learnt something about myself in this process. I love to save e-mails, I had 3560 personal e-mails saved on Outlook from just one year. Some of the e-mails were replys to e-mails I had sent and they said things like 'okay jo, see you tomorrow' and for some bizarre reason I felt the need to save those e-mails!?! why why why....... it took me nearly 8 hours just to clear my outlook account.

We've just moved one of our housemates furniture, I've just been to one of those extremely scary storage units, with the most horrible lifts, it felt like something out of Silence of The Lambs, I was expecting to see a head in a jar - was it a head, I can't quite remember.

Okay, I have nothing more to say, I will try and write more next time, I do want to thank my friend James for his rant on the UK election process, I really agree with much of what he was saying....for those who are interested www.lifeafterblog.blogspot.com

At last

2005-04-11T16:20:00.000-07:00

I'm back in Pasadena, it's fantastic, and a little difficult. I'm homesick....or actually I'm friendssick.
I've done this enough now to know that you have to ride the waves of homesickness and not pretend it's not there. I think there's an element of grieving when you leave people even if you know that you'll see them again.

On a more cheery note, my gorgeous Church are more than amazing, I'm blown away by them ..Junction I doooo love you....

24 hours...

2005-04-08T03:31:00.000-07:00

I have 24 hours left until I go to London Heathrow Airport

I have butterflies, after all the waiting and meetings and set-backs, I can't quite believe I'm going back to Pasadena tomorrow.

I hate saying goodbyes... I'm sitting in the office by myself wondering if I can just sneak away this evening without anyone noticing.

Don't ever let me get a Tattoo!

2005-04-07T04:01:00.000-07:00

I go off things.......

I cannot find a template for my blog that I like for more than 30 minutes.

I should never get a tattoo..I do want one...but I know what will happen and those babies don't come off!

So many things

2005-04-07T03:49:00.000-07:00

It's been ages since I last posted. I've been up and down the country like a yo-yo! Here's a quick update of the last few weeks...

Easter - Weekend in Bournemouth...green curry, red wine, beautiful friends. Perfect

Tuesday - Cornwall again, 6 hours on the Train next to a crazy person (I always get them)

Thursday - Funeral in Cornwall of an inspiring and amazing woman - here's to you Mops!

Saturday - Back to London, 7 hours on the train, 7,000,000 screaming children on with me!

Sunday - Missed Church due to very late night partying on Saturday night..well, who puts Church at 10:30??!!
Lunch and traditional Sunday walk on Wimbledon Common

Monday - seems to have been erased from my memory!

Tuesday - I have a flight.....repeat I have a flight!!!

Today - I'm flying on Saturday..I'm counting the hours....

Spring is in the air

2005-03-25T08:56:00.000-08:00

Spring is coming, I cannot believe that 3 weeks ago we were fighting our way through the snow and now we are sitting in the garden in the sunshine.

I've just been for a walk with my brother and his wife, the daffodils are popping up all over the place.

God has been amazing this week, I do not have time to write about all the miraculous things that have happened, I have so little faith, I'm in still in shock about how merciful God can be.

I'm off to Bournemouth tomorrow to spend some time with a friend from univeristy, we bumped into each other on our first day and knew immediately that we would be good friends - she speaks the truth and I love her. She's a new kind of Christian and is always really up for hearing about the stuff I've been working on, we have great discussions about life over great red wine. I will be back in the office on Tuesday.

On Monday I will be in Minehead at Spring Harvest, if you know what this means, you know I'll need prayer!

a pint of larger if you please...

2005-03-22T07:38:00.000-08:00

One of the very best things about being in London is lunchtimes.

There is a lunch culture in the organisation that I work for to go and drink pints of larger during your lunch break. It's not always very productive for your working afternoon but it does induce loads of great conversations and builds such fantastic friendships.

We've just been discussing the value of Bible School, 2 of the people in the pub were London School of Theology students, the other 2 people are graduates of the said institution and I have never been.

Living in Pasadena has made me a little itchy to study more, especially with Fuller Seminary being so close, I have always been a little cynical about the value of spending 3 years locked away with Christianity under the microscope, but as time goes on it's becoming more and more attractive.

Maybe Bible School mixed with lots of pints is the solution!

Another weekend is over

2005-03-21T03:00:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's Monday morning again, why do they come around so quickly?

London life continues, the weekend was fairly calm, I'm so skint it means that the options of what to do are pretty slim. I really wanted to go and see a band playing at Brixton but went for the sensible option of a night in with Ant and Dec on the TV (you've got to love those lads!)

I really didn't want to go to Church yesterday, I have those Sunday mornings when I feel a bit like I've got to go to the dentist instead of Church...anyway I dragged myself there and of course ended up having a really great morning.

The sun was still shining yesterday afternoon so myself and Charl grabbed the opportunity to walk on Wimbledon Common, anyone who knows the Common would know it's much bigger than it initially looks. 4 hours later we were tired, cold and completely lost. Thank God for Charlottes homing pigeon sense of direction, we made it out and home just before dark.

Muse - Absolution

2005-03-18T04:46:00.000-08:00

I'm sitting at my desk in a very sunny London (yes - the sun does shine in London occassionally).

I'm listening to Muse, this album rocks!
Listen to it..

is that a bus???

2005-03-16T11:11:00.000-08:00

so, last night I'm walking home from the pub (I hadn't had much to drink!) and I'm about to cross the road when a bus starts driving towards me, I'm thinking to myself..."am I on the wrong side of the road...am I thinking LA? "

then I realise the bus has no driver, it's moving by itself!!!

so...it crashes into a traffic light just in front of me and stops...

I think 'oooo what to do?' so I do absolutely nothing, a guy from another bus gets out and proceeds to try and remove the bus from being tangled around the traffic light.. I walk home amazed by the craziness!!!

life is often surreal!!!

you never know what's coming...

2005-03-15T07:40:00.000-08:00

I thought things were coming together, you can never really be sure....

I've just come out of a very disappointing meeting.
I have my visa - now I don't have a salary.

I'm 2000 English Pounds short of my salary for the year (I raise my own salary) The people in charge of me in London want me to stay put for another 6 weeks to raise this amount.

I don't want to stay in London for another 6 weeks. I'm homesick for Pasadena, I'm tired of living out of a backpack, I miss everything and everyone in LA.

Anyone have any bright ideas for fundraising?

Lord..a miracle if you will...

another day, another set back

2005-03-15T07:28:00.000-08:00

Life is never straight forward, I guess I can't complain about it being boring!

Here is the latest and probably biggest challenge, I'm 2000 pounds short of my salary (which I raise myself). Until I raise this additional amount, I'm stuck in the UK.

The people in charge of me are saying I need to stay put in London for another 6 weeks.
This feels like a eternity, I'm so homesick for everyone and everything in Pasadena. I want to stop living out of my backpack.

If anyone has any great fundraising ideas let me know..short of bank robbing and drug smuggling I'm at a loss....

on the move again

2005-03-08T03:56:00.000-08:00

I'm so happy, everything is finally falling into place and the world seems to be sparkling!

I'm leaving London today for the South West of England, my family are in Cornwall and it's time to go and see them, so I've once again packed my bags and I'm about to go and catch a coach for the 6 hour trek.

Cornwall is roughly 60 years behind the rest of the world although my parents are in the advanced crew with their dial up internet access, if you don't hear from me in a few days you'll know I'm having trouble!

Monmouth Coffee Beans

2005-03-04T04:51:00.000-08:00

I'm in love. Here's how it happened....

I'm living with Dr and Dr Knight at the moment and although the power of their two brains is fairly daunting on an academic level they are the most wonderful hosts.

This morning I met Mark for a trip to Covent Garden to a coffee shop he recommended.
I was a little doubtful that an early morning trip in the snow for coffee would be worth it but I was so very wrong.
It's called Monmouth Coffee www.monmouthcoffee.co.uk....oh my goodness the coffee was fantastic and the little cakes...wow!
I'm a big fan of Peets in Pasadena and I will remain faithful but since I'm in a different country I don't think you could call it cheating. I hope Peet feels the same!

People spotting

2005-03-03T06:28:00.000-08:00

I have nearly been in the UK for 1 month. During this time I'm sure I have seen a number of people from my Church in Pasadena.
Richard passed me on Tower Bridge (or so I thought) Josh was waiting outside of Southwark Underground Station and I'm sure I've seen Sue once or twice.

I guess there must be limited combinations of features so every now and again people end up looking the same, or do we end up noticing people with similar appearances because we miss the real people.

I guess it could be a combination of both..I like it..

I'll keep spotting.