Congrats to My Sister!!

I would like to publically congratulate my sister for her work with Cal Aquatics. This summer Holly has been shadowing under the world's top sprint coach, Mike Bottom, helping Cal's men's swimming team gear up for the World Championships--and the guys are stroking to high placings, including golds and silvers. Woo hoo! She's a great helper and is learning a lot. Love you, girl--and good job!

The Bread with a Bite

While unloading groceries this afternoon into the freezer, I read the label on one of the loafs of bread: "Great-White Bread." Boy, better off keeping that one in the freezer--yikes! Dun-dun-dun-dun-dun, dun, dun, DUUUUUUN!

Hangin' Out In the Freezer

You know summer weather has finally hit when people start campin' out in their freezer. Chatting with my sister in the kitchen earlier this week, her head all of a sudden disappeared, like an ostrich into the sand, when she stuck it right into the freezer. Same thing happened when I was talking to my mom yesterday ... I've even done it. (We don't have AC, just fans.) Thank the Lord He has answered my prayers, tho: this summer has not really been hot with the exception of this week. But, I believe it's just a hot spell that will pass ... Fhew! For, as refreshingly cold as the freezer is, it's just not that ... comfortable ... ;)

With plenty of ice to go around-- O.J. =:-D

You Can Now Post a Comment

I set my blog up so that annonymous readers could post comments to my threads, but for some reason it changed. I have now set it back so that annonymous users can post comments again. Sorry! All better now ... :)

Dumb Blonde in A Red Car

Since I was little I've always been one to lock car doors, in bad areas, in safe areas, in covered cars and ... in convertables? Force of habit. Running an errand for my parents on Saturday I stopped at ACE to pick up a flag holder. Stepping out of the red convertable I let the airy feeling reign and left the top down. About to push the heavy door closed, I flicked the automatic lock and began strolling toward the store.

An elderly gentleman then called out, "Miss!"
I turned to look at him, "Yes?"
Smiling, walked up to me. "Do you find it helpful to lock your convertable door when the top is down?" Still smiling good naturedly.
"Oh! Force of habit ..." I giggled embarrassed that he caught me.

What I didn't tell him was that I had quickly realized what I'd done (however, I usually don't notice and usually have to unlock the converable, chiding myself...) and switched it back to unlock. When I got back to the topless, however, I realized it was still locked ... hehe I guess I am just a dumb blonde! (at least I have an excuse ...)

It Come Allll Da Way From Seattle!

O.J.'s Random Acts continued ...

I've always found it amusing when I'm, say, in D.C., to remark, "My, my, I haven't brushed my teeth since I've been in Chicago!" or in Baltimore to say "Golllly! I haven't eaten since I've been all the way across the continent in San Francisco--I'm starved!" I guess this is because I'd never experienced such speedy means of travel until I was 16 and loving my first, and long-awaited, plane flight. Before that I'd only ever been outside California twice--to cross a little over the boarder of Nevada just to say I did. :) So, when my sister called me while on a recent lay over in Seattle and asked me if I wanted her to buy me anything I answered, "Ohhh, just a post card, I suppose." Then, thinking for a moment, I changed my mind, "No! How about buying me something to eat... Then, I can say, I ate fare that was in Seattle this very day when I'm allll the way down here in San Francisco!" Life is full of simple pleasures ... ;) Love it.

PurityGirls.com and Update on Girls

For any girls out there who are still single, this site (which I've been pretty affiliated with since its inception and write a column for) is a great resource and INSPIRATION. It was formerly named BarlowGirl.net, but now had a new name and has had yet another face lift (think this one is my fave!). :) Go check it out!

And, speaking of girls, the two gals from the accident who had to remain in the hospital are doing better. They have both moved to hospitals closer to home. One still remains in a coma (but I'm praying she will!), but I think is at least a tad bit better) and prayers for her life are still needed, and the other one is still paralyzed, but is showing some positive physical signs. It is not expected that she will ever recover for paralyzation completely, but she can at least move part of her arm and shrug her shoulders and move her head. She has had feeling in other spots when they have tested her with a needle, so that is very exciting! Mentally she is one of the most resiliant persons I have ever know or heard of in my life ... She, from the beginning, has accepted what has happened and most of the times has remained in great spirits, even asking for other people's prayer requests! She's smily and bubbley and one of the highlights of this time for her has been when Joni (sp?) Erickson Tada called her and chatted for awhile! My whole family is in awe of God's huge miracle not only in her physical being, but also in her mental state--this type of mental recovery would not be possible with out HIM!! His love is unfathomable and good things are springing from this situation. I'd ask for your continued prayers. THANK YOU...and THANK GOD!! :D

To the Castle!

Crawling up the hill at a snail's pace, the castle rose into fuller view. Gazing not only over the mighty Pacific Ocean, this castle also stood in a strange medeval majesty over it's only entrance, a hill reaching more narrowly and steeper toward the clouds than any traversed even in nearby San Francisco. Finally cresting over the top on my galliant mustang, or, uh, rather in the Ford Mustang my dad was driving, my brother and I piled out and made good stride toward the fortress walls. Peering in through the strong iron gate our eyes met with cold stone statues, earthy stained glass windows and tiered courtyards. Having always wondered about this strange abode in the midst of seeming normalcy, I found out from a television program that the owner collected pieces from silver screen movie sets--in fact, one gigantic bedroom was essentially the recreation (using the real high four-poster bed) of King Henry's (or was it George?) stony chambers chambers from a old classic movie. Though slightly eery, finally seeing the bastion up close transported me in time to the 1500s. From the castle walls we could see what it must have been like to watch the majestic armada return from a valliant voyage, or to wonder what loomed just over the horizon. Thanks, dad for this interesting and amazingly unique experience!

(This same day we had a delightful time vacationing at our family beach in Half Moon Bay with good friends, food and a frisbee :). After noticing I like to close these type of days with a bang, my dad surprised me with a visit to the castle I had always passed, curiously wondered about and was itching to see all growing up. Thanks, dad! :D)

The Invisible Single?

I nearly decided to sneak out, but reconsidered when I decided it might be a bit rude. So, instead, I sat almost as far back with as many blank seats around me as I could. An hour before I was beeming with the prospect of attending this "singles sunday school class" to make new friends (most of mine have all moved). Who knew? Maybe even Mr. Right would be there ... I had heard this group was teeming with 20-somethings. Right, who knew? I sure didn't. Upon opening the door to the class, many divorced 50-year-old faces glanced over my way. Quickly scanning the room I discovered I was the youngest one there--and I'm 26! Nearly everyone there was either old enough to be my parent, and, quite a few, even my grandparents. I immediately wished I had Miss Incredible's invisibility powers ...

Making it through the entire service with only a couple of older folk introducing themselves to me, I began to quietly, yet swiftly, make my way to the door, when a voice over the loud speaker filled the room, the brunt of it seeming to move with me. "Oh! I forgot...do we have any visitors?" Only five feet from the door I wasn't sure whether or not I really had to raise my hand, but then every eye turned on me. Crumination! I slowly slipped my hand slighly above my head with a hesitant stinting my face. I was quickly handed a piece of paper so that they could collect all of my information and folks from all around bidded their welcome. "Sneak in more often," one said. "We have a lot of fun here!" Now, I LOVE older folks, but don't want to consistently hang out with a group of them just with the intention to hang loose. As mentors, second moms, neighbors, one-on-one friends or wise church women, that's great. That's wonderful and valuable! I'm sure these singles are great people, but personally I'd rather volunteer with the church's high school group to have fun that way. Immediately following the piece of paper incident, the voice on the loud speaker informed me that they were going to take me out to Chevy's for lunch since it was my first time there. Since this time I at least wasn't wearing loud clomping clod hoppers like I was the last time I tried sneaking through a church service, I decided to politely make my exit ...

We Need a Roller Coaster!

I decided that our family needs a roller coaster in our back yard--one that flips people upside down. Cedar Point amusement park, from just one year alone, collected nearly $10,000 in coins underneath rides--I could pay off my college debt in just a couple years that way! That or make our front yard a rest stop with about 20 couches. Hmmm...

Farmer's Market "San Francisco Style"

Stepping onto the BART train this morning I felt all smily because I was headed to the San Francisco farmer's market that busts with business along the Embarcadero at the Ferry Building. A few weeks back my brother and I were watching the Food Network's "Food Finds" and discovered that every Saturday S.F. has a vibrant and bustling farmer's market at the Ferry Building near Pier 2. I love stolling down farmer's markets, basking in the atmosphere of luciously bright hydrangeas, fresh cherry samples and gaily wrapped juniper soaps. There are also terribly fascinating people to watch. From the program I learned that S.F. does this on an even grander scale, one that includes exotic venders inside the hisotric Ferry Building. Put all this together and add S.F.'s vibrantly beautiful and energizing atmosphere and you've got yourself quite an experience--I couldn't wait to go.

I don't have many friends here in the Bay Area, so I boarded the car by myself, but nevertheless, I had quite a fun and unique experience. I don't like to be by myself, especially when I go out on excursions, so I called my mom and told her all about the unique stands (my favorites were the ones dedicated to French yogart and goat cheese), yummy food and wonderful "Old World" feel. Seriously, the two-some playing the accordian and violin looked as though they had just stepped off a ship at Ellis Island in 1905.

I strolled along with my Europeanish chocolate cake muffin, large cluster of bright pink hydrangeas, sweet pluots and water bottle. As sailboats glided by and the sun shone bright, I decided to bring someone back there with me soon!

CrAzY World I'm Lliving In!

*I am NOT a camper (anymore), but for some reason I decided to spend the summer sleeping in a tent. Long story.

*My sis is cutting her first CD today. :) After the accident, she decided to finally take some of the songs she's written and record them to cheer up one of her best friends who remains in the hospital. The recording studio wants to do it for free. God is great! She'll head to Idaho next week to present the CD to her friend.

*We're continuing to get many calls and emails asking for updates on the girls who are still in the hospital. It's just been a weird atmosphere. One of the girls, while having a rough time of it and is still paralyzed from the neck down, is showing positive signs and is at least improving. The other girl is still in very deep coma and not doing too great. Prayers are SO appreciated! Christians from around the country have been amazing in all of this--giving of their time, hearts, resources and prayers. The Christians who live in the hospital's city are AMAZING--strangers, but brothers and sisters in Christ, who sit with the family, house and drive visitors, encourage and pray.

*I became an official Wendy Peffercorn when I PASSED lifeguard training last week!! Being very stressed right after the accident, I wasn't sure I could pull it off, but God was right there getting me through. We had to go through a complete rescue drama (even had to figure out who was drowing). Not only did I have to help save someone, but I had to be someone's drowning victim who went into cardiac arrest. More about that drama later! Now, I need to answer my many calls requesting my newly aquired skills ... Three so far...and I haven't even advertised. ;)

*Can't wait 'til my brother gets his driver's license--I think I've become his chauffer. Oh well, at least I get to drive the convertible ...

*Think I'll go to the Jelly Belly factory this week ... Better return my late DVD, also!

--Stay tuned for more of my life as a "screaming skydiver" (what I sometimes feel like). :)

It's True

Tragedy could have struck our family last night. My sister was supposed to have taken a road trip with four other girls to Montana for our friend's wedding. My parents and I did not feel comfortable about her going on the trip and my darling sister remained open to God's leading. High school swim coaches rarely take on two teams, but, even so, earlier this year my sister decided to head coach two teams anyway. It was that second team that strangely enough decided to hold their awards ceremony on a Wednesday night (last night), the day all the girls were supposed to set out on the road trip. Holly loves the kids on her team and didn't want to miss the ceremony, so, feeling God was working everything out, she decided to fly , catch a different ride with someone in Washington and drive back with the girls.

Late last night we received a call that our friends on the road trip got into a serious car accident and two are in critical condition. It is a very emotional thought realizing Holly could have been in that accident. But, she listened to God. It is so incredibly true that those feelings we sometimes get that we shouldn't go somewhere, participate in a particular activity, etc., are true. That is one way God perserves our lives.

If we obey God, He is truly faithful to work out every detail. My sister set out in her flight not knowing how she would get back after the wedding, but she knew God had it under control. No more than five minutes after she stepped off the plane a friend offered her a return ticket they ended up not needing. God is good! ...And my family still has my sister around--safe and sound.

(P.S.--Pls. pray for the girls and everyone involved. THANK YOU!!)

Little Lawyer

Most little kids learning to kick and blow bubbles love pretending they are motor boats. The louder their bubbles and faster their kick the faster the motor boat goes. Their smiles and laughter are contagious, so I have really enjoyed teaching this part of swim lessons. When the little tykes stop blowing bubbles or kicking I stop them in middle of the water and exclaim, "Oh no! The motor boat ran out of gas--kick hard and blow bubbles!" Of course they immedietely do so--most of the time. The same routine happened while teaching a little 3-year-old this afternoon. Apparently, he wasn't in a good mood and didn't feel like doing hardly anything except getting out of the pool. Playing motor boat got him kicking, smiling and blowing bubbles earlier this week, so I decided to play that again. Half-way across the pool he stopped kicking and blowing bubbles. With a sly little smile and giggle he exclaimed, "The motor boat ran out of gas." The first time that was cute. But, the other 2,000 times were really annoying. That little-tyke brain had discovered a "loop hole." After about three times I became determined, looked him in the face and said, "Nope! The motor boat didn't run out of gas. I put so much gas in that it couldn't run out ... Kick! Blow bubbles!" When his mom came to the side of the pool with his towel she remarked at the large amount of patience I had, but what went through my mind was that this brilliant little mind should grow up to become a lawyer!

Over Here, Over There

It's a small ironic world after all. Just the other day I received an email from a good friend of mine in D.C., Carrie, saying that she's moving out here, and then, just yesterday, I called to say goodbye to a good friend of mine out here, Sunshine, because she was hopping on a plane to move out to D.C. Stranger still, yesterday, when Sunshine flew across the continent, marked the same exact day I flew to D.C. for the first time. Anyhoo, it'll be really exciting to have my East Coast friend back again and to have my school chum to hang out with in D.C. But, all of this really makes me miss the magic and peaceful atmostphere of Virginia. Too bad Sunshine couldn't pack me in her carry on! Oh well, hopefully I'll get out there next summer. :) For now I'm just excited to have my EC friends moving to the West! Keep'a comin'!

"Coach Olivia"??

Deciding a long time ago that I was the "ugly duckling" of my swimming family, hearing myself referred to as coach this week was really weird. Five swim teams call some memeber of my family head coach, my sister alone accounting for three of which. My brother, at 14, is obviously not a head coach, but even he is on a coaching staff (he is amazing...!) and teaches competitive swim clinics and lessons. He's got LOADS of talent there--just like everyone else in my fam. My family also owns a thriving swim academy and on-line swim newszine. With all of the "swim talk" penetrating the house, I decided I should just name "swimming" another member of the family (one I often get annoyed with since I am not as stuck to swimming as everyone else). I, on the other hand, am a writer. I became respetorally (sp?)allergic to chlorine in high school, swim decently and usually only find world and university swimming the interesting part of the aquatics spectrum. Last year I began writing for the newszine--which has been great and it has allowed me to get to know swimmers of world esteem. But, I knew I would never coach, teach lessons or be terribly involved. I'm the sun bather on the side of the pool who lays back on the towel covered lounge chair day dreaming and concocting stories and board kicking just to keep in shape (remember, I'm allergic).

This summer has dramatically changed everything. It had always been a cool, but far away dream to be a life guard and, if everything goes according to plan, next Thursday I should walk through the door a regular "Wendy Peffercorn." :) In addition, I became a swim lesson instructor last week. I actually really enjoy that. How amazing is it that my chlorine allergy is going away, also?! Next thing you know I'll be taking part in swim team activity. Hmmm ... Either way, I am still not real excited about my "swimming sibling," but I have warmed up to it a bit. And, it was kinda cool being called "coach." :)

Ian Thorpe for Men

Okay, I can kinda understand the underwear line, but Thorpedo's cologne? No offense, but all I could think about when I read that Ian Thorpe is diving into the fragrance market is "sweat and chlorine." (Yes, swimmers sweat--ya just can't see it or smell it, but you can feel it.) Not that swimmers smell bad, but I also wouldn't want my man dabbing it on for a night on the town ... Thorpe says his frangrance line is "woody," but, even if it was Phelps', I just couldn't push that sweat and chlorine bottle vision out of my head. :) Oh well, at least he's thinking outside the pool ...

The Point of Need

Does God ask us to change all of our problems and issues at once? One of my latest reality checks: not only do people have to change in layers, but they also, many times at least, have to be at a point of major need. God allows certain circumstances to develop which create a major, sometimes desperate need, to envelop our hearts that create a great desire to shed a sinful or hurt layer. Then God pushes us to the next layer. I think we would go crazy trying to change many things, let alone all things, at once. Praise God for His goodness and love despite our many soggy layers.

Du Du Daaaaa!!

Some random acts and newsy stuff:

1) I am finally becoming a life guard. :) (Now I just have to learn to surf...Chris??) And, I've got war stories already--I'll have to blog about those soon!

2) I drank algae--and liked it! (Before you think I'm crazy, it is in my special "green health drink.")

3) And, the results for the psych study I took part in: according to researcher Melissa Hicks, the more extrovertic (is that a word?? if not, add another to O.J.'s book of vocab) you are, the more stimulating the music is that you desire. Some of my absolute fave is alternative, so I guess I'm kinda middle ground or a bit more. I guess.

4) And, some of the biggest news?! I AM NOW A SENIOR!!! Finals are over and I can now do all sorts of things, like in-stress my in-scape...stroll the farmer's market...or watch the Today show. Oh, the bliss.

Extreme days are ahead ... =:D

A Sign Left Behind

He wasn't there. Nearly everytime I pull in and out of the Raley's parking lot I see the same man carving wood with his I'm-in-financial-need-please-buy-a-carving sign (I've always been impressed that he doesn't just simply beg for money). Pulling out of the parking lot Friday after buying supplies for my room I saw what I assumed was his cardboard sign laying on the dirty ground. He wasn't there. As my brain began processing, I decided that since the sign was lying near the convenience store (that also borders the parking lot) that he bought a ticket and won the lottery!!! Good for him. :)