Saturday, November 27, 2010

A love for Hockey and a colorful sunrise


I am thankful for the changes and growing that I have done throughout college and within the past five months.  I am also thankful for my friendship with Dana Czapski.  I have known her since elementary school, and although we are two completely different people, we compliment one another well and find connection in our sense of humor.   We played lacrosse together, did ASB together, she drove me to school everyday, we did Saturday school together for too many tardies, and have been able to share in the happiest and saddest moments in one another’s lives.  She is a blessing to me, and is the most level headed Alpha Phi I know.
            Dana also likes hockey games, and knows a whole clan of boys who like hockey games too.  Or should I say they like Ducks games.  Dana has wanted to check something off the list with me ever since I created the bucket list.  A hockey game was the perfect thing to do.  It was a 1 o clock game at the Honda Center, or the Pond for all you old timers. Once the guys were decked out in Ducks jerseys, we hopped in the suburban with not a seat to spare and made the journey to Anaheim. 
            I was instantly in love. I love hockey. I love the jerseys. I love the simplicity of the game. I love the arena. I love the yelling.  I love the smell of hotdogs and beer. And I love when two hockey players smash into the plexi glass windows. 
            I snapped lots of pictures throughout the game, barely making it in with my camera, because the lady busted out the ruler to measure the lense.  She meant serious business. 
            The ducks lost, but I still had fun, and hope that another hockey game is in my near future.  We ended the day with a surprise birthday party for Dana.  She had no idea, and was such a pain to get back to her house, but in the end it was totally worth it! 








             

          Though this wasn’t on my list, it is worth mentioning.  Early Friday morning, I headed up Trabuco Canyon with my two amazing friends, Austin and Paul.  We did a quick 15 minute hike and found ourselves watching the sunrise.  The story goes that there used to be a house, but it burned down, and now there is just a gutted out pool.  People graffiti all over it and it makes for really awesome photos! Check em' out!




            In preparation for thanksgiving break, I fasted for two days, only eating after sundown.  To fast was on the original bucket list, however after doing it, I realize what a spiritual and meaningful experience it was for me.  To blog about it, would not do it justice, so I guess if you are curious how it went for me, ask me about it! Id love to share my reasons for doing it, and what it was like.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Good Coffee and Creepy Cars


           Well this wasn’t on the original list, but I will have you know the list is growing day by day.  It’s been a while because… well school sucks.  A 20 page paper about illegal immigration, a semester long Public Relations assignment, and some how Christian Tradition is kicking my butt.  Hence why this post is all about studying, because that’s what I have been doing.

            My mind always seems to wander when I am doing my work.  I start thinking about all the other things I have to do, and how I hope I will have enough time to make a decent dinner and go for a run.  These thoughts NEED to stop.  Sometimes I think I wasn’t diagnosed with ADHD as a child, then other times I just have to say to myself, “Beck pull it together.”

            Some places are good for busy work, some places have better coffee than others, and some are cleaner than others. It never ends… just like my homework.
            So. I began to switch it up. Library, the Living Room Cafe, Panera, Starbucks, Peets, The PBC (Point Loma’s coffee shop, and my good ole apartment. 
            
Well here it is:

1.     Library- pretty good, easy to drift, but I get to see my friends
2.     The Living Room Cafe- dirty and tables for people who are 5’2
3.     PBC- I saw 2 friends and ended up chatting for an hour
4.     Peets- Great coffee, nice people, comfy chairs
5.     My apartment- all I want to do is talk to my roomies or go to sleep

Then I got creative and sorta weird. I decided that my car, with the seats folded down parked by the ocean, would and could be the perfect place for me to clear my thoughts. I headed to sunset cliffs with blankets and pillows and my laptop.  I sat in the back of my car, listened to music, and let myself write.  It was going pretty well, until I realized the car to my left, was to youngsters escaping mom and dad’s house… if you catch my drift.  And the car to my right, was a creepy white van, that had a mysterious red laser shining from the window.  ( picture: me in my car... HA!)

           
Thus, leading me to award the most conducive studying environment to … PEETS (my dad should be proud J ) not to mention REALLY GOOD coffee... vanilla latte or chai tea in the ceramic cups... just sayin...