Warmth

The last couple of days have been marvelously beautiful here in South Texas. I made note that yesterday is what Christine calls her favorite sort of day. It was warm and not at all humid, with a light breeze… and only after the sun turned in for the night, did I think that I might need a light sweater. Gorgeous. I am glad that I was able to notice it.

I spent the weekend in Mexico with the Christian Medical & Dental Association, where they set up free medical and dental clinics, as a translator. I don’t know how well I actually translated, but it was quite clear to me for the first time in a long time just how some things transcend language and speech. Music is one of those things, as is the laughing of children and the smile of a new mother when a doctor tells her that her baby is doing well.

As my name amazingly became, “Gringa! Gringa! ¡Más burbujas por favor!” I thought about just how big the Church seemed at that moment. Here we were… a bunch of twenty-somethings in a foreign land, serving the medical and dental needs of people who desperately needed the help, and all I could think of was how immensely I was being served by the smiles and laughs and kidding around of children. My heart swelled with joy that I don’t know I’ve ever felt before. This was different than any other mission trip I’d ever been on, and I’m not sure why.

Here are some of my favorite photos from the weekend. To view them all, you can visit my flickr site.

(He’s checking the doctor’s ear!)

Buy Shoes. Save Lives.

If you haven’t already heard about this incredibly endeavor, please take a second and stop by their website and BUY SOME SHOES!

…and this just may be my Blogathon project this year…

ReSOLUTIONS

How cool is this?!

It is a sad day indeed.

So, the leading man of one of my favorite movies was found dead today.

Actor Heath Ledger was found dead today in a Broome Street apartment, apparently from a drug overdose.

Gun Control as a Social Problem

Well, I had an interesting little assignment for my Social Problems class.  The assignment was given, “Write your thoughts on Gun Control as a Social problem. Refer to Box 1.1 in your textbook for more information on this issue. How is Gun Control a Social Problem? What suggestions do you have for addressing this issue?”  Interestingly, my response was perfectly set up by the way that the question was (inadvertently, I’m sure) written.

My response:
I do not believe that guns themselves are a social problem.  I do believe, however, that the attempts of the government to enforce “gun control”, thus violating the constitutional rights of US citizens, is a social problem.

As Americans, we base a great portion of our social standards on the Constitution, and when those rights, especially those specifically outlined in the Bill of Rights, are violated, a problem exists.  The problem becomes even greater when the violations are brought on by acts of our elected law makers.

The phrase, “guns don’t kill people; people kill people” rings true when discussing such social problems.  The trouble is that Americans as individuals and as people groups increasingly struggle with taking personal responsibility for their actions.  Our society is always on the look out for someone to blame for the demise of our society, when the cause falls squarely on the shoulders of individual Americans who make illegal and horrible decisions to murder and steal and hate their fellow American.

Addressing the issue requires that we stop seeking ways to let one another off the hook, but rather hold one another accountable for their own actions.  Guns do not fire themselves.

W Photography

It finally arrived.  My brand new Nikon D80 SLR camera arrived yesterday in all of its glory.  I am SO thrilled!

With the arrival of my new baby, I’ve launched a new teeny tiny side business venture called W Photography. I don’t pretend to be a seasoned uber-talented photographer, but I enjoy myself a great deal, and I think I do a very good job with portraits.

So, my sweet, dear friends and family: I have a proposition for you!  In order to beef up my portfolio and get some material with which to hone my Photoshop skills, I need subjects!  If you or your family would like some portraits taken, I am willing do so for the cost of printing (pictures that you want, obviously).  My time is scarce this semester, so I may have to say no if I get a lot of responses, but I promise I’ll get to you eventually!

“We’re Here to Help”

Tom Cruise is a weirdo.  No doubt.  But is he really an incredible actor, or is he really THIS passionate?!

Man, I wonder how different things would be if I were this passionate about Christ.

Economics + Me = Disaster

Anyone who knows me fairly well can tell you that I don’t do well with money.  I’m constantly having one issue or another when it comes to my funds, so it probably doesn’t come as a big surprise that I’m totally freaked out about my two economics classes that I’m taking this semester.  I went to class last night, and sat and stared at my professor as though I were a deer in headlights.  Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to my own personal hell.  I may have to invest in an economics tutor since the SI for my class insists on meeting when I cannot. Sadness.  Anyone know where I can find one?

Well, I put so much thought into getting ready
Now I know that was the best part
It's so easy to get caught up in what I'm regretting
Forget what I got from a wounded heart

I'm the one who likes Gardenia
I'm the one who likes to make love on the floor
I don't want to hang up the phone yet
It's been good
Getting to know me more

I've been seeing all my old friends in the city
Walking alone in Central Park
Doing all the things that I've neglected
Traded 'em all in
To be in your arms

I'm the one who likes Gardenia
I'm the one who likes to make love on the floor
I don't want to hang up the phone yet
It's been good
Getting to know me more

Well, I hear my own voice
Sounds so silly
Keep on telling my story all around
Everything I lost seems so different
Well, this is how everybody gets found

I'm the one who likes Gardenia
I'm the one who likes to make love on the floor
I don't want to hang up the phone yet
It's been good
Getting to know me more

Gardenia by Mandy Moore

Wintermester: Mission Complete

I completed my final project for my wintermester class tonight: a powerpoint presentation on the advancements of portraiture since the invention of the camera.

Can we say, “mailing it in”? Mwahahaha!

Please. Enjoy Andy Warhol and a whole lot of other nonsense.

My Final Project: ARTS 1301