Just Call Me Dr. Suess ...

... Because this morning for breakfast I dug into a wonderful plate of green eggs and ham! Add THAT to my radical acts of randomness!

My Big Debut!

The crowd will be gathering outside the auditorium and the music will be blasting pulsations tonight. When the doors open and the crowds flood in they'll be blow horns and send up yells while finding the best seats in the house. It is Genesis Weekend her at the university, where prospective students and parents will join the current crowd for a weekend of fun that will be kicked off with Nite Life--our version of Saturday Night Live--and I am in it! I am the host and "camera man" (literally) of our engaging video spoof of Survivor Outback. Can four of our school's students outwit, outplay and, most importantly, outlast eachother? We'll just have to see ... And, it's all up to me to tell all!

Weekend Wonder

This summer will be wonderous--I still have to take lab science (ugh), write an english paper and possibly study for a math exam (double ugh!), but none of that should extract too much time. I'll be working full-time, as well, but everything I'm doing will be fulfilling, exciting and expand my horizons. In my off-time I plan to do more writing (I've been engaging the world of fiction lately!) and embark on something fancy free EVERY SINGLE SOLITARY WEEKEND of the summer (which for me is a beautiful four months long--I love my school!)! I've never done this before but have always wanted to. :) I'll visit friends, experience exciting things about/in California that I have not yet done (anybody up for a bike ride through Napa's wine country??), but I think I'll kick it off with a "day spa experience" and slumber party. I want it to be a crazy fun time! So, if you're in the area, or are coming to the area, we need to do something adventurous or just plain fun together. Any ideas? Let me know. Any weekends that work best for you? Let me know that, too. HOORAH, HOORAH to a speeding semester! Live it up cuz you only have one life.

Dawn of Spring

Pushing back the rain and clouds, spring has decided to dawn early this year. Sparkling sun, blossoming cherry trees and ducks skimming across the pond are a cheery sights to one who dreads the rain (except if I'm at home passing a relaxing day watching old movies). Finding some of my dormmates relaxing on the grass outside our rooms studying their text books through sunglasses, I found myself entertaining the same notion. So, grabbing a towel, water bottle and my notes I stretched out on the grass and enjoyed the warm sun on my skin. The tickling breeze and warm air eased me into a relaxed state before having to treck off to another class. Lingering a bit too long, I walked in a little late to World Civ, but it was all worth it.

Deciding I would enjoy all the sunny days from now on, I rocked myself on the white gazebo swing this afternoon as Canadian geese skimmed across the pond and the ducks talked loudly back and forth. Finding a portion of a chocolate chip cookie left in my bag I enjoyed a sugary bite as the stress of looming mid-terms began floating away like soap bubbles in the breeze.

I'm so glad God gave us spring. No matter what craziness is going on in world, nature never seems to notice it.

Me and Michael?

Just one of the many random occurences from last week: I was asked if Michael Phelps was my boy friend ...

Modern Flirting

Chit chatting while driving in our convertable, my friend and my attention was suddenly drawn to an approaching siren. Pulling up to the red light, I looked over my shoulders and was shocked to find no emergency vehicle. "Where is that coming from," I asked with eyes scanning the down town scene. The siren blared again, but this time was followed by a voice on a loud speaker, "Hey there!" and then cat-call whistles proceeded. It was coming from gigantic black truck on our side. This continued as long as the black truck was close to us, and continued because we didn't give this ...person... the satifaction of looking. "I can't believe somebody's using a loud speaker!" I said in disbelief and annoyance. "I wish some cop would drive by--he'd SO get pulled over!" Pulling into the mall, we finally lost the guy, and hope we had also lost the opportunity to be flirted with like this forever. If it happens again, I'm hoping to have some GREAT come-back! Any ideas?? ;)

Mother of Pearl, Mother of Surprise!

If you want to make a college student run through the halls elated for an entire day despite homework, send them a care package. Yes, the little miracle called care package. It could just be a bookmark and a few chocolate chip cookies and you've transformed a student dragging their back pack up the stairs into a bright eyed, happy-go-lucky girl/guy giving all their friends high fives and shouts of, "Look what I've got!"

My dear mother has been the giver of such sunshine to me this year in school. I'll fly into the mailroom from class and find a package from her with all my favorite snacks and other surprises thrown in for my enjoyment. Last semester one of these great surprises was the Love Comes Softly DVD (what fun my friends and I have had with that!) and this semester I received the most amazing carmel tea, the coolest little tropical water globe paper-holder-upper (you know, so you can look at your paper and type at the same time and not kill your neck--the name escapes me), and, get this, a beautifully cheery croqueted blanket--yes, she made it! My mom is amazing!

When I think of my parents I realize how blessed I am. Whether they pass along words of comfort and encouragement on the phone or send me a care package, I can almost always feel their loving hugs reaching me from far away ... Yes, my mother of pearl is a treasure from God --and a gift of surprise.

I Will Not Be Left Out!

Innaguration 2001-Ah! The Memories ... Since everyone and their grandmother is writing about their Innaguration 2001 memories, I began feeling left out. :/ So, I'm joining in! So many memories. Here are mine: I WAS THERE! There ya go.

No, really, it was a very amazing experience that I will never forget, very special memories--hey, I even had my first "date" there (very quote unquote!). Try and beat that! Well, you can go here and read a litle more (although it's written rather slopily!) of my mems and here to see another pic of me on this historic occasion.

Hopin' to go again someday,

O.J. =:-D (p.s.-photo curtousy of my friend Sarah's collection)

Baby, Baby!

Life has been taking many interesting turns for me lately, including one today down the baby food isle at the grocery store. Yes, you heard right. The baby food isle. It was a hesitant turn, too. Since I only look 18, I didn't want anyone thinking I was a "teenage mother," but making my way to the cans of mashed sweet potatoes and purree plums I went. My face flushed as a woman in her 40s glided past.

Not to go into detail, but to help heal my bod I currently have use for soft foods, and many of the softer fare in the adult section, I am allergic to. So, as I began remembering all the times I fed my baby brother when I was 12 and 13, I recalled one thought that has always stuck with me, Gerber's purreed plums were not that bad. In fact, they were so good I remember sharing them with my brother. So, I decided I'd give baby food another try! Now, before you decide that I've gone and lost my mind, know that I would never, ever eat mashed vegatables unless I was desperate! Well, maybe the sweet potatos ...

So, back to today ... After choosing my baby fare, I caught one of the women at the check-out staring at my fingers. I think by that time I had gotten over the initial embarrassment, so, while still while in a slight hurry to exit the store, I was able to find her imploring looks and staring quite funny. Wow!

Anyway, if you haven't yet had a baby and want to know what baby food tastes good, I highly recommend the apple/blueberry sauce and banana pudding!

Jo and O

Call me silly, but I have recently taken a great interest in the life of Louisa May Alcott. After all, I am a writer, love history and simply adore studying people. Every time I watch or read Little Women, "Lu's" autobiographical novel, I am absolutely shocked at how similair I am to Jo/Alcott. In fact, while watching the movie last night (the wonderful 1994 version) I continued hearing chuckles followed by, "That's Olivia!" I think the only real differences between Jo and myself is that she is a slightly more gutsy, independent and feminist. And, the biggest difference, I WOULD HAVE MARRIED LAURIE, you pathetic Jo, you!!!!! Ehem, excuse me. Anyway, yes our personalities are very similair indeed. We're both very dramatic, ecentric, restless, imaginative, emotional and burst forth into whatever. We also both (btw, I use the present tense here since Jo is also a literary character, and literary characters are to be written about in the present tense) had issues with change in good relationship dynamics with family and friends (e.g.- getting married).

I also find it funny that Alcott and I both began secret clubs in our house's attics, acted out our own dramas and both moved to Concord when we were older. And, how about this, my Concord was directly named after her Concord in Massachusettes! However, I don't live next to an orchard ...

Going back to the subject of Laurie, I have always vowed with passion that I am going to re-write the end of Little Women so that Jo marries the perfect for her Laurie. Further fueling my decision is a fact I found out today: he didn't exist in her life (until she was in her 30s), so the fact that Jo doesn't marry him was purely a literary decision of Alcott's. She was a feminist that believed a woman could get along just fine without a man. In fact, she said that she wouldn't have Jo marry Laurie for anyone. She nearly avoided the Mr. Bhaer character, as well, when thinking about having Jo never marry, just as she never married. Ugh! So, I feel no qualm at all now about re-writing.

I am particularly fascinated with the Laurie and Jo dynamic of the story. So fascinating! Anyway, Alcott fashioned a matching character for her mirror image Jo, a person that would have in real life been a perfect fit for her, as well. That is probably why I have always loved Laurie so much, being that I am so similair to Jo. I also find some fashion/refined similairities between the Amy character and myself, as well. So, I'm looking for my Laurie ... If you find him, let me know. ;)
Whew-, with all that said, I'm working on my own book/movie at the moment and my sister has already written some the musical score for it. (Also met a director/screen writer the other day. Hmmm...) A period piece that is simplistically magical. When it is completed, I'll letcha know!

Realizing the small things in life are grand,

~Olivia~

All the Rage

Everybody and their great-great-grandmother have been knitting and crocheting lately. It is no uncommonality to walk into any room, including the school dining hall, and find people pouring over their yarn-work. So, seating myself a couple weeks ago at dinner it was no surprise to see girls knitting by the fire. But, I caught myself doing a double take. "Is that a ... boy croqueting?!" It wasn't just a boy croqueting, it was a totally cool boy who was apparently quite good crafting beanies. I couldn't believe my eyes. Mentioning this to one of the guys in one of my classes, he showed no surprise and said that one of the dorms is full of guys who regularly knit and croquet.
When I got home on break one of my brother's skateboarder friends was wearing his friend's beanie. Reportedly his friend, a guy, knitted it at snowboarder camp where they teach the boarders how. Hmmm...
So glad it's not looked on as sissy anymore. It's a practical thing, you know? And, I've joined in. And, I've got to say, GO BOYS! :)

AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

I'M DONE WITH FINALS!!!!! High fives all around!! As I sit back in my nice comfy blue dorm chair I'm thinking back on this major milestone in my life -- I have completed my first semester at a four-year school. God has been working some academic miracles for me lately (like how I can have my degree in just a little over a year). And, all together, this semester has been one of great personal growth. So, now I think I'll go celebrate by dancing around my room to my Amy Grant Christmas CD that is now blasting out of my stereo (and then finish that one last paper ;) ). Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S.-
I have a couple fo very fun posts I'll serve up for ya shortly. :D

"Nothing" to Now!

I was struck with a sort of epiphany (one of my favorite words!) a couple nights ago when I overheard a student ask another student, "What are you doing tomorrow?" The other student answered, "Nothing...well, homework, but..." This exchange brought to mind similair conversations I have heard, as well and that's when the epiphany came: "Homework has become so engrained in our lives, just like brushing our teeth, that studying Milton, Germanic invasions and geometry has become just the same as doing nothing!" In a way that's weird, and in a way it's sad, but all told it's very understandable ...

But, doing "nothing" is not my reason for my recent non-updated blog. Most of my academic career that would have been the culprit, but lately I have finally taken the step in doing something radical...for me anyway. The pages of my books are so well dusted off, that it was me who needed a good feather dustering. And, with God's help, that's what I began to do! It wasn't easy I assure you. But, God is here guiding me. And, it is God's revelation and conviction that brought about this change, (of course using others to send the msg. my way, as well), so it is by His mighty provision that my grades are up (I've actually been doing better in school) and I have begun to live more lately. I still need to work on this, but the shackles and chains of "nothing" are no longer keeping me from experiencing the joy of living a bright life the way they use to. And, like I said, I still have progress to make, but the step has been taken and the moment is now!

Fun Message

Reading a license plate holder recently, I thought it would be stereotypical, but it caught me off guard:

"In case of Rapture-
CARS YOUR'S!"

Love it, but not enuf to stick around after the rapture to get it!

Newsie Die-hards

Hearing a Newsie song being sung randomly is not like hearing a the very common Sound of Music song being sung. (I think Disney killed the movie before it came out, so many people have never seen it and it's usually the die-hards, like me, who watch it over and over and can repeat the movie, songs and dance moves without the movie going.) It's pretty rare. So, catching someone singing one of the movie's songs a couple nights ago in the caf I turned around and exclaimed, "I LOVE that movie!" The girls (yeah, it's mostly girls who are die-hards since the movie is full of cute really guys...well, they were when we were in high school anyway :) ) returned the passion, "Come watch it with us during open dorms on Thursday night!" So, I did. Expecting to just see 4-5 girls, I was astonished when the dorm room was packed out with both girls and guys (15-20 of 'em! crammed on the beds and floor). Many had never seen the movie before (and, kudos to the guy who began singing!) and two of the girls up on the bed with me had a very hard time keeping quiet during the songs, and, at least I know I had a problem staying still during the dancing. So, we all lip-synched through the whole thing, and, yes there were times we broke out singing, the two with the harmony, me with the melody and the accompaniment of course with the guys in the movie...at sounded so cool! We of course broke out a couple of times with the "Oh my gosh! This is my favorite part!" or "Grrr! Why doesn't he just tell him?!" type phrases. So, after the movie one of the guys looked at us three girls and said and with a big encompassing hand motion toward us said, "That is where most of the entertainment was! I spent half the movie just watching you girls." haha! Then, he looked at me later, "You know the whole movie by heart." Yeah, I do. And I also began writing a sequel back when I was 15, 'til I found out the movie was based on a true story! :D
So, yes, the history, the AMAZING choreography and music, the fight ... you've gotta see this film. Maybe someday you'll watch it wanna dance around with me!

Cal Spirit!

Over the past year I have become a major Cal fan. I love the fact that they're in my "back yard," they're friendly and I've mingled with some of the athletes/coaches and there is SO MUCH SCHOOL SPIRIT!! (My parents and sis are actually friends with some of them.) So, it didn't take long to be captured by it all at my first Cal game/meet (women's swimming, Cal vs. Standford @ Stanford) last Valentine's Day. In fact, it was so cute, Natalie Coughlin's mom and cousins were handing out "Calentines." So, I proudly displayed mine (even tho I was supposed to be unbiased since I was press ... hehe).

But, since I have been at school Cal is just a mite farther away and it's a tad harder to get to a game. But, despite that obstacle I was determined to get to a game anyway. So, taking advantage of my only non-holiday weekend at home this semester, my dad and I shared an awesome father-daughter time when he took me to a Cal football game...an especialy GREAT game being that is was against the Oregon Ducks. And, being that they had a tied record with the Bears, it made for an EDGE OF YOUR SEAT game of 28-27...drum roll...CAL!! It was almost down to the last second...fhew!

The students were always cheering and going nuts, the band triumphantly fought with the fight song and the rest of us fans yelled our heads off to distract the Oregon offense. Combine that with spectating close to the action and downing an all-American fan's meal of a hot dog and pretzyl washed down with a Coke, how could the day get much better?? Golly, I love football! Golly I love Cal! And, golly, I love my dad (and thanks for the new Cal hat! Love you!)!

Got My Sticker!

All the kids around campus were sporting their "I voted" sticker today. Very proudly, I might add, being that they're first time voters. Voting absentee I began feeling very left out...I didn't get my sticker! So, with a pouty face I expressed to the elderly woman at the poling place (right outside the caf!) that I didn't get a sticker, but I voted and I really wanted one... "Oh, honey, here's one for you right here!" Sweet woman! She gave me my sticker ... :) And I wore it proudly ... even though it was my third time voting ... :D

P.S.-- I fondly the last presidential election night ... Nov. 7, 2000 ... Nearly mid-night I was boarding a plane moving to, ironically enough, Washington, D.C. and the captain announced, "Folks, the votes are in and we have a new president, George W. Bush!" If he only knew ...

A Vacuum?!

Okay, I TOTALLY don't feel like finishing my last post, but I WILL say that I happened upon a big crime scene with a helicopter and everything that night ... Wow! THAT'S merely one of my random acts for last week, that and bowling with my professors ... :)

ANYway, tonight. It's Open Dorms, room checks and my friend is coming for the weekend, so I have been trying to get our one floor vacuum for hours, right? Well, almost at room check deadline the vacuum finally appears and I hall it over to my room. And, whatdayaknow, after a few swooshes -- BOOM, it's dead. "I can't believe it ... So, I had to double over and use my hands. Oh, glorious day ... Gotta love dorm life! Really. :)

"You Crack Me Up!"--in a Very Un-Post-Modern Way

Stuffing mini-fridges, to "Ghetto Bowl," to bowling with english professors, to post-modernism, to "Ghetto Denney's" to a crime seen! This describes the second half of my day... Wow. I don't think I've had such a random day in awhile ...

Actually, the first half was way different, too. Not to mention very cool. Not only did I SLEEP IN, but I discovered a really hot guy on campus I've weirdly enough never seen before, but I kinda lolly-gagged slightly and finished my essay (that I thot might take all day) by noon (and had fun doing it--SEE, I am intellectual!). Wow! So, that meant I got to grab a friend and go shopping for my new and needed mini-fridge. After deciding Best Buy was just that, the best buy, I purchased my prized stainless steel mini-fridge for my dorm and proceeded to my car with it on a cart thing. Well...I didn't ask a tall, buff Best Buy guy to take it off the shelf for me for no reason, so I don't know why he didn't follow us out with it because getting it into car proved a challenge. Now, my car is big, but it's no station wagon or anything... My friend and I decided the only option was to put it in the front seat. After squeezing and pushing and heaving and hoeing we finally got it in--and to the driver's seat I went...but before I sat down I realized that I with the fridge riding shot-gun I could not see my right side mirror...and that's kinda illegal I think... So, what to do! We somehow got it out and tried squeezing, pushing, hemming and hawing it into the back seat to no avail. What to do?! "Would it fit in the trunk?" my friend asked. I didn't think it would, but we were desperate. So, after managing to get it over to the trunk and clunk it in we realized the trunk lid would not close over it. Great! A lot of unheroic guys smiled at the attempts of two girls to get it back out of the trunk. We were like a comedy routine...and really couldn't help bursting out in laughter ourselves. When was the last time you were almost crying of laughter in a Best Buy parking lot??

Well, the laughing didn't stop there. Finally squeezing it in somewhere legal we made it back to the our dorm-sweet-dorm and I decided to lug it up to my room myself...Across a parking lot, up two flights of stairs and through 1,000 doors. Where was my hero that was supposed to come to my rescue??! The guys dorm isn't that far away...!! But, for whatever reason that never happens for me. :( Anyway, when my floor-mate heard very loud scootching noises coming down the hall she popped out of her room and cried, "What are you doing?!" Hemming and hawing, I replied, "Well, I've allll-most got it...the--re..." Of course she came to the rescue helping me get it into my room with a "You crack me up!" Yes, I crack a lot of people up, even myself ... And, the rest of my day was no let down. More to come!

And, Katie, my excuse is that of very un-post-modern thinking... I was only trying to win a hero! I took the traditional approach by using my intellectualism ... I'm told Damsels in distress are very attractive...haha! ;)

I'm an Intellectual!!

After reviewing a mandatory annalysis of myself here at the university, I discovered that I am an intellectual after all! I scored much higher than the average college student, so I guess that is why I find it one of my hobbies to annalyze random people. Did you know that I can tell what stop on BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) a person will exit just by looking at them? My sister and I actually both have a lot of fun people watching/reading. You wouldn't believe the elaborate stories we come up with just watching the people in the convertable stopped next to us at a light. They're so intesting ...

Anyway, I am very happy to now know that I am an intellectual...yet another thing I have in common with my brother ... ;) Life is grand.