New Green

It's amazing how quickly things can change. This has been driven home recently by three separate families at my work being stricken with sudden loss.

But at the same time, things can change quickly for the good. I swear that last week at this time the branches were still bare, but now blooms and leaves are poking their way through to face the last weeks of winter and usher us into spring.

Nature can be cruel, but we can take hope in that its always being reborn.







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Also, Ms. Annaleise tagged me for a 4X4 survey!

1. Four places I go

*Lake Hefner
*Will Rogers Gardens
*Target
*OC

2. Four favorite smells

*Coffee in the morning
*Moonlight Path by Bath and Body Works
*Wisteria
*Soil

3. Four favorite movies/TV shows

*30 Rock
*House
*Big Bang Theory
*Pawn Stars

4. Four Recommendations

*Get out in the sun! It makes everything better.
*Floss daily.
*Give blood!
*Find a job you love. You spend most of your life there, after all.

2007 Sojies!

In the spirit of starting a tradition, I now present to you the

2007 Sojies!

1) DRINKING BUDDY OF THE YEAR
My super-Starbucks buddy, Pete. Note-- barista of the year is Kari! :)

2) LIFETIME SERVICE AWARD - LONGEST FRIEND(s)?
Rock on Nina! Since 1st grade in Mrs. Hayes class! (Still true from last year!)

3) NEWCOMER AWARD - NEWEST FRIEND?
I think most recently I've made new friends at work. We are friends, right guys? :)

3) HIGH POINT OF THE YEAR?
Joining Quail Springs church, closely followed by getting the job at OC.

4) LOW POINT OF THE YEAR?
Deciding not to go back to Brazil.

5) BEST HOLIDAY?
Labor Day was one of the funnest days of my life. We graded special-ed papers and then played in the pool for hours. Hilarity ensued. :)

6) SONG FOR 2007?
"Into the Day" by Bebo Norman

7) ANY REGRETS?
Not really...

8) BEST NIGHT OUT?
Hard one... there was this fabulous soiree... also a girl's night out on Yom Kippur... and a lot of great, late-night coffee talks.

9) WORST NIGHT OUT?
There was one night I cried on the McBride's couch for most of the evening because I was sad about job hunting.

10) WHO DID YOU SPEND VALENTINES WITH?
Me, myself and I. (Again, same as last year. Here's hoping for change in 2008!)

11) BEST RELATIONSHIP?
God and some very special friends.

12) WORST RELATIONSHIP?
Myself, I think. I spent a lot of the year really beating myself up.

13) FIRST GIG OF THE YEAR?
Partyin' in Ft. Worth with Meredith and the Martin crew.

14) LAST GIG OF THE YEAR?
Partyin' with my QSYS peeps. :)

15) BEST DECISION MADE THIS YEAR?
I don't really take credit for this, but ending up at Quail Springs church.

16) WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR?
It's in the Lord's hands. :) Nothing monumental... yet.

17) MOST STUPID IDEA WHEN DRUNK?
Homey still don't play 'dat.

18) BUTTHEAD OF THE YEAR?
Uhh... hmm. I don't think I have a butthead of the year.

19) MOST LOYAL FRIEND?
Bailey

20) BIGGEST CHANGE OF THE YEAR?
I haven't left the country or been in the hospital in over a year! Holy moly.

Woo hoo 2008! I have a feeling this will be a fantastic year. I don't "tag" people, but if you choose to fill this out on your blog, let me know.

2006 SojoAwards

The SojoBlog Awards for 2006!

aka-- another survey ripped off of Nina.

1) DRINKING BUDDY OF THE YEAR
Oh my, this can't go to anyone except Ivan. :)

2) LIFETIME SERVICE AWARD - LONGEST FRIEND(s)?
Rock on Nina! Since 1st grade in Mrs. Hayes class!

3) NEWCOMER AWARD - NEWEST FRIEND?
Lots of people from Brazil. I'm going to have to go with a three way tie between Pamela, Thiago, and Jessica.

3) HIGH POINT OF THE YEAR?
Probably when I was able to eat again or when I got my feeding tube out.

4) LOW POINT OF THE YEAR?
My near death experiences in January?

5) BEST HOLIDAY?
Thanksgiving was really great.

6) SONG FOR 2006?
"My Humps"..... no I'm just kidding. :) hahaha... I'll have to go with... hmm... "Broken Road" by Selah.

7) ANY REGRETS?
Yep.

8) BEST NIGHT OUT?
My night out in São Paulo with Thiago, Thauana, Felipe, and Guto. Too much fun. :)

9) WORST NIGHT OUT?
The night I broke my toe and sat in the freezing hospital with the mean doctor.

10) WHO DID YOU SPEND VALENTINES WITH?
Me, myself and I.

11) BEST RELATIONSHIP?
Ha, well hmm, that is a good question. There were about 3 people who truly preserved my sanity this year. I hope they know who they are.

12) WORST RELATIONSHIP?
Can I just say "the Man", and by that I don't mean a man, but you know, THE Man. :) And not God either. You know... THE MAN. The man got me down... hahahaha... :)

13) FIRST GIG OF THE YEAR?
Itu church choir. That was pretty fun! :)

14) LAST GIG OF THE YEAR?
I sang at an English class I went to visit... Oh my.

15) BEST DECISION MADE THIS YEAR?
One word-- Brazil.

16) WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR?
Forming.

17) MOST STUPID IDEA WHEN DRUNK?
None-- "homey don't play 'dat." But as for other people I saw drunk, I had a friend decide it was a good idea to direct traffic in the street. Bad idea. :)

18) BUTTHEAD OF THE YEAR?
Donald Rumsfeld

19) MOST LOYAL FRIEND?
I love you all, but I've gotta go with Meredith.

20) BIGGEST CHANGE OF THE YEAR?
Eu falo português! Então... mais ou menos... ;)

2007, here we come. :)

Book Thing and Video

1. One book that changed your life: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck made me see the true power of words and helped me fall in love with literature.

2. One book that you’ve read more than once: Leaving Ruin by Jeff Berryman. I don´t even know how many times I´ve read it, but I fall in love with the characters every time.

3. One book you’d want on a desert island: Fighting the temptation to say something smart alecky like, "how to survive on a desserted island," I will instead say Life of Pi by Yann something or other. Little Pi had some great ideas about how to stay alive.

4. One book that made you laugh: Hitchhiker´s Guide to the Galaxy. Holy moly, this book is hilarious. Blake gave it to me for my college graduation and I took it to Brazil to read, and I was laughing out loud with every page. I would read passages outloud (through fits of laughter) to my friend Taylor who appreciated the humor. Seriously, this probably one of the funniest books ever.

5. One book that made you cry: Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkein (I mean the triology in general, but really the last book-- Return of the King-- had me very teary).

6. One book you wish had been written: I have no idea.

7. One book you wish had never been written: Anything that was written by any political hack, either side of the spectrum. Oh, or any book that tries to sell a feel good or a health and wealth theology.

8. One book you’re currently reading: I have a terrible habit of reading more than one book at a time, so let me choose since now I have about 5. I am re-reading A Shepherd Looks at the 23rd Psalm. Old book, but great book. Classic.

9. One book you’ve been meaning to read: Gee, there are lots. I guess if I have to choose one I´ll go with the next Harry Potter.

10. Tag five others: Homey don´t play ´dat. ;) But if you do choose to post it, please leave a comment so I can go check out your answers.

Next installment of the Curitiba series is coming! Please be patient! But in the meantime, here is a video I took at the Botanical Gardens that I forgot to include last time.