Christmas

Merry Christmas! I know, it's Christmas Eve and the strange thing is...it doesn't really feel like Christmas. You know...the way it felt when you were a kid. The rush and thrill of presents, snow, food and family. It's a different kind of rush. Christmas snuck up on me this year. All the sun and warm weather in Seattle has kind of messed with me. In spite of that, I am excited to see my family this weekend. I'll get to see family and friends...what a great Christmas. If that's all I got, I would be satisfied. Winter break starts now! :)

Cheers!

Schmap!

I'm watching you...
Originally uploaded by kharms5253

I got an email the other day about this picture being chosen for an online map of Seattle.

This is the email I got:

I am writing to let you know that one of your photos has been short-listed for inclusion in the tenth edition of our Schmap Seattle Guide, to be published late January 2010.

I decided to go ahead and submit it...pretty cool if they end up picking my picture. We'll see what happens. I won't know if it was chosen for final publication until the thing is actually live.

-Cheers!

Perfect Light

Star of Wonder
Originally uploaded by kharms5253

Star of Wonder. Star of Night.
Star with Royal Beauty Bright.
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to Thy Perfect Light.

This Holiday Season...

Snowman II
Originally uploaded by kharms5253

I really am excited about this holiday season. There's a lot of things to be thankful for and grateful for this year. Things that have gone well...a lot of joy to share.

And yet...there's so many things that break my heart. Earlier this week I recieved notice that one of my former professors is in the last stage of cancer. She's dying. I didn't know her very well because I took one weekend seminar from her a few years ago. But that class left its mark. It changed the way I look at the world and it opened my eyes to a lot of issues; issues that take place just around the corner. Issues that we don't always think are issues because we're accustomed to how the world works.

She challenged us to think outside the box and to look at society from a different perspective. It's because of her I learned about the various issues of poversity in the states and what can and can't be done. That weekend seminar certainly brought to light a lot of things...problems that I didn't really know were problems.

To me...someone purchasing food on welfare stamps was the norm...so I didn't think anything of it. I didn't connect welfare with my belief that people shouldn't ever go hungry at night...should never have to wonder whether or not they'll have enough to make it through the week. Yet, there's a lot of families...neighbors, friends, strangers and enemies who suffer. Some would argue that there are no rights...that the right to have something provided is really not a right...it's something that society made up to make us feel better and sleep better at night. I disagree. Maybe that's because I have a Christian perspective on things...all life is valued. After all, weren't we commanded to love our neighbors and our enemies?

"With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan –– to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations. "
- Abraham Lincoln March 4, 1865 (Second Inagural Address)

This is what my professor taught. This is what she opened my eyes to see. I'm grateful for the little time I had with her and the time I spent that weekend learning and absorbing everything from that course. I feel more challeneged now than ever before to turn what I learned into action. Something more tangible than sending a check somewhere each month...rather using my time for better purposes than watching TV or reading online articles. That even the smallest act of kindness goes a long way.

It's like when I was Korea: All we did was take people out for walks twice a day. It didn't seem like much and we felt like we could do so much more with the residents. But that wasn't to be...instead, those small outings were some of the most cherished moments. They were little to use...but huge to the people we were helping.

I am excited for this holiday season...but it is a bittersweet holiday. Celebrating the birth of Christ while saying good-bye to someone who made a significant impact on my life. It seems that Winter brings that out in all of is...it's a season of celebration and happiness in the midst of cold dreary weather. If I haven't said it recently...then I need to say it now and more often. I'm grateful and thankful for everything and everyone (good and bad, known for a long time or a short time) who I've crossed paths with. Thank you for being you.

Christmas Tree

From another angle
Originally uploaded by kharms5253

I put my tree up this afternoon and began the process of decorating. Here is the star I use at the top of my tree.

The tree is about 4ft high and has multi-colored lights. I thought a white star would be a pretty addition to the tree last winter.

More Pics on Flickr. :)

-Cheers

Black Friday

Peekaboo
Originally uploaded by kharms5253

As we were waiting for dinner, some of my family decided to visit and look through the ads for Black Friday. I wasn't able to find a lot of things that I actually wanted. There were cute sweaters and significant sales on a variety of items, but nothing I was willing to get up in the wee dawn to purchase.

I was lucky on Friday. My mom bought be plates in the morning...I missed the crowds and enjoyed a beautiful Seattle day at Greenlake with my parents mid-morning and a tasty lunch at Via Tribunali. Afterwards, my dad wanted to go downtown so we ended up making a pit stop at Macy's, but at least it was after the parade and things had calmed down a teensy bit.

It's fun to see the winter spirit outside of shopping. I love seeing Christmas Lights. I just wish it could snow here and not shut the city down. To have snow and lights would be wonderful. I'd love to take pictures of that moment. Snowflakes swirling around Pike Place Market.

Later that night we went to see the new Sandra Bullock movie: The Blind Side. It's based off a book about a real NFL Player. It's Michael Oher's story and wow! It was fantastic. I think the movie was fairly accurate...there's a few things here and there...but he is a person who has an incredible story. It really makes me think about my circumstances and what I'm doing with my resources.

I set up my christmas tree today. In fact, I'm still attempting to decorate my apartment. Turns out some lights I purchased last year don't light up all the way. Tis a shame. :( Ah well, I realized my mom had given me my baby's first christmas ornament. I had thought I didn't have any special ornaments in my closet. As I pulled the bag out that she had packed for me last year, I realized my mom had given me a lot of ornaments that had memories attached to them. A clothespin angel I had made when I was little. A stuffed turtle and pink poodle that our cat would always try to rip to shreds at christmas time. Some Korean ornaments that my mom had specially bought for me when I was younger...she then got more when I was older. A moose we bought when we lived in MN. It's fun to decorate and relive those memories. I even got my bubble lights out! I love those things like crazy. Bubble lighs are like the best invention ever.

Imp

An imp is a mythological being similar to a fairy or demon, frequently described in folklore and superstition. Imps are often described as mischievous more than seriously threatening. They are usually described as lively and having small stature.

imp·ish: of, relating to, or befitting an imp; especially: mischievous

Coding

I wish I was better at it. I'm not bad, but there's just so much to learn. Right now I'm still piecing things together...little by little. Reminds me I need to fix some JS errors on a website I maintain.

I want to change my blog template colors, but I'm not exactly the best at picking colors that go together. This is why most of the art I have is black & white or overall, tends to have just one shade of a particular color. I'm not good with the mixing.

HTML colors are hex characters...so...everything looks like: #fff or #f6f6f6 or something. Now if only I could figure out how to put some together in an aesthetically pleasing way... :-\ This is nothing like choosing pillows for a couch. Or maybe it is...but I'll never have a website that's gold with crimson accents. :-P

This made me laugh today

Sicky

I hate being sick. I cough...I sniff...I generally feel awful. I've been fighting off a cold for the past week...I think my body is beginning to give in. I had my normal bought of sneezing over the weekend, but now I'm feeling weak and unhappy. Perhaps it's time to stay home. :-(

In other news...I had a fantastic weekend in Spokane. A part of me wants to live there so I can spend time with Bean all the time. But then there's the part of me that loves being out here. Someday I will make up my mind and figure out where I want to go and what I want to do. I took a lot of pictures this weekend. It was so much fun to have a model or two for pictures. I got to try quite a few new things...night photography has never been my strength, but I'm quite thrilled with how some of the pictures turned out.

We drove around for forever...trying to find lights that I had seen on the drive to Bean's apartment from the airport. When we excursioned back out...Bean made a few wrong turns...we ended up in a really creeptastic area of Spokane. But we survived and trekked on...eventually decided to just go out I-90 towards the airport. Turns out the trees with lights were the driveway entrance to the Hampton Inn in Spokane. I got to run around like an idiot taking pictures and standing in odd positions while Bean sat in a warm car. My hands were definitely jealous. It also snowed this weekend in Spokane so it was really exciting to be able to go out in the snow. You can't really do that in Seattle. LAME!

The white lights were beautiful in the snow...if only there had been more to have a fight or build a snowman. I saw a group of kids rolling a ball around...it was mostly full of leaves. fail.

Nonetheless...check out my Flickr Pics!

I am the Queen

I am the Queen
Originally uploaded by kharms5253

A day at the park with the Queen. Yes, she's very strict. ;)

-Cheers!

Lights

Lights
Originally uploaded by kharms5253

I just happen to like this picture too. :)

-Cheers

On Fire

On Fire
Originally uploaded by kharms5253

New Pictures! It snowed and so we had an adventure looking for lights. Check out my Flickr Account!

-Cheers!

Glow

Glow
Originally uploaded by kharms5253

New pictures. Check it out! i'm practicing my picture taking. :)

Tech Software

Need I say more?


Malwarebytes
Great for removing malicious software from your computer. Malware should not be consfused with a virus, though a lot of malware behaves similarliy to many computer viruses out there. It's free and awesome! Doesn't take much system resources and there is a paid for version if you're interested.

CD XP Burner
If you have anything older than Windows 7, then you can't burn ISO images from your computer. Bummer dude. If you need to burn an ISO image, then this is probably one of the better options next to upgrading to Windows 7. :)

Security Essentials
If you don't have the money to purchase a full Antivirus Sweet, Microsoft Security Essentials is a good place to start. It's a light program (doesn't take up too many system resources) and it does a good job at removing what it finds. There are other free pieces of Antivirus out there, but they'll include pop-ups and some companies don't update their products often enough. Coupled with some malware removal tools you'll be set.

Screen Capture Software
Lets you take screenshots of your computer with one click.

That's all for now.

Award?

Apparently I got an award for my blog. This seems to be a little bit like chain emails, but why not? I also picked my own picture because the other one was awful. The conditions for this tag are as follows:

1. Thank the person who gave this to you
2. Copy the award.
3. Post it in your blog
4. Tell us 7 things your readers don’t know
5. Link 7 new bloggers
6. Notify winners of the award with a comment on their blog
7. Keep being awesome.

So here goes...

Thank you Lee Ryan for tagging me. Here are my 7 things:

1. I'm an impulsive shopper, but it doesn't come around too often. Otherwise I'd be really broke by now.
2. I think Fake Flowers can be just as nice if not better at times than the Real Ones.
3. I watch Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice (they are not my favorite shows, but I'm almost always caught up on what's going down)
4. I like going out for night drives...not day drives. Late night drives means there are no other cars on the road and all - well, most - things are quiet.
5. I like playing practical jokes, but I rarely do them because I have this built in thing in my system that keeps me "responsible, always"
6. I love LOLCATS and will always interject poor grammar and spelling into conversations (speaking, chatting, email) when possible.
7. I like watching Anime (sorry). Stuff like Inuyasha, Fullmetal Alchemist, Gundam Wing, GunXSword, Ghost in the Shell and some other feature length movies.

Seven Bloggers for Seven Awards

1. Whitney Hanna for her beautiful pictures
2. The Story of My Being an Itinerant for being my roommate for so long, but not right now...too bad she doesn't update at all. :-\ But she's my BFF so I guess I can forgive her of that since we talk nearly every single day.
3. Perichoretic Living for writing beautiful posts and making fantastic coffee at Muse Co. Coffee Shop
4. Pastoral Musings From Rain City for being someone who speaks truth into society and challenges us to become better people and to step into this amazing story and move forward rather than stand still.
5. To InfinitEAT and Beyond for blogging about food. Eating is definitely a hobby. :)
6. ETC Magazine - it's from SPU and contains a lot of information about how to get involved at SPU and what's going on in Seattle
7. Saturday Morning from my Study because it's Dr. Eaton and he's the president of SPU.

I'm not going to email everyone to let them know about this award so I guess I'm breaking the chain. Or I might get struck down dead. I don't know...but I don't believe in Karma so whatever. If you see this, you should take a look at blogs because they really are good.

Twitter

Follow me on Twitter if you like. It's where I do updates the most. There's a lot or random stuff in there, but sometimes you might find something useful.

Computer Stuff

I've done it! I've finally convinced my Grandma to upgrade her computer to Windows 7. It's amazing to see how people respond to technology. My job is to help people learn how to use technology to make their lives just that much easier...be more productive, take less time...be less frustrated at the end of the day. I always seem to be teaching at times when the person has hit panic mode. In this case with my Grandma, she had no clue her computer was taking its last steps.

I used to think that I wanted to be a teacher. Many people told me I'm great with kids and have a natural gift for teaching and explaining things. Maybe that's true...maybe it's not. I have spent a lot of time in the classroom, but sometimes I wonder about my patience level. I can easily get frustrated when I need to explain things over and over to the same person. Maybe teaching isn't my cup of tea. On the other hand...explaining something to someone so they can understand how something functions and seeing their reaction is incredible. At the end of the day, I love my work.

My Grandma is nearing 80 and I'm amazed at her progress. She sends emails, scans pictures and does nearly everything the average computer user does. When I told her I was able to find her a free computer (new to her, but three years old) she was elated! Excited enough that she decided to buy a new keyboard. :) So, I'm spending my Thanksgiving weekend working, but it's well worth the few hours on my part to make sure my Grandma can do everything she wants and needs to do on her computer. Windows 7 is certainly going to be a learning curve (she's prepared herself by purchasing a Windows 7 for Dummies book), but in the end I think she will be happier.

Her response is a reminder that while people may not show me that same response at work, that it doesn't mean I didn't do my work well or that I didn't resolve their problems or answer all their questions. It's important to teach no matter what field you're in. No one is intuitive and you can't expect anyone to know exactly what's going on. And if you've been explaining things over and over, then it's time to change tactics. Maybe someday I will be a teacher.

Oldies but Goodies

Queen Ann Gate
Originally uploaded by kharms5253

I finally got around to posting some of my older B&W pictures. I added 10 new ones that weren't previously on flickr.

-Cheers!

San Francisco

So I'm going to San Francisco this winter. I'm pretty excited to go since I haven't been there before. Katie and I will tour around to see all the sites. We currently have tickets to go to Alcatraz Island.

Everything I know about Alcatraz is from either A) The movies or B) Mythbusters. Hahaha, so not much. :) Doing a quick readup on the island...it was first discovered by a Spaniard who called it: La Isla de los Alcatraces - rough translation, Island of the Pelicans. I guess there's a lot of birds in the area. Wouldn't surprise me...not since SPU developed a demonic crow population.

We all know Alcatraz was a former prison...but what you may not have known is that we didn't set up the island for miliarty purposes until the end of the Mexican-American War. Makes sense since that's when we got the Alta California and Santa Fe de Nuevo Mexico territories at that time. The Island was then used as a Military Fort at that point and the earliest prisoners were put there during the Civil War (1861). Dang! From there it turned into a Federal Prison in 1933. I guess that history is the stuff that most of us know...the various escape attempts and notorious prisoners held there like Al Capone, The Birdman and more.

I'm terribly excited to go...and I can't wait to see more of San Francisco.

Busy Busy Little Bee

Oh there's so much going on right now :) All good things, but I'm a more forgetful now than I have ever been before. Staying on top of things is hard. Now I know why some people live in Outlook...calendar appointments and reminders to do things all day. I don't know how I survived through college...maybe my brain is just getting old.

Even Winslow misses me because I'm never home anymore and when I am I zone out or sleep. lol, poor cat needs a friend. It's bad enough that he attacks my feet...he has no one to chat to all day long so he's really talkative all night.

I've really enjoyed my Live from the Mountain Music Lounge disc by the way...it's great music to listen to and it helps calm me down. The tension just melts away when I listen. I slow down for a little while to just enjoy the music. :)

What to do with my time?

I have a lot of time on my hands now that I'm done with school. I can't decide if this means I should start studying for the GMAT to get into the MBA program...blah...homework...or if I should look into buying a condo so I can do housework...or something else. Perhaps pick up a new instrument or something. I'm starting to get a little bored at home...and I have very few nights at home already.

I feel like I need something to work on...learning new piano pieces has helped me get by for awhile now, but it's time for something new and exciting. More school? Homeownership? Travel? Instrument? But what...I realize I can be a bit lazy at times so starting school/studying doesn't sound entirely pleasing to me, but once I'm in a class I enjoy the work. Hmmm...

Welp, the weekend has been quite nice...a Show on Friday night in Ballard...a trip to the SAM on Saturday and a relaxing Sunday. I really can't complain here...especially with all the sun. It's cold...but the sun just makes these cold days that much better. :)

Barcode!

Day of Common Learning

I can't wait for this year's Day of Common Learning. I like Lincoln. I think he's a fascinating person in our history. His personality, his approach to people and how he applied what he knew to the circumstances he was put in. This doesn't just apply to the Civil War, but also so how he approached life. He was steadfast in his beliefs...sure people make a big deal about him, but how can you not when here was a person who, from very humble beginnings, made some of the biggest changes in our nation's history.

Yeah, I'm in awe of the man. I wonder what he would do in today's society. If he would be the same person...if he would be as steadfast in his beliefs as he was when he lived.

Of all the people I could meet, he is certainly one of them. I'd also like to meet the Disciple Paul, Teddy Roosevelt as well as FDR and his wife Eleanor. Just to name a few. :)

Pretty sure...

...That the Twins got one of the coolest stadiums. I read that they're testing the lights right now...they will be on thru Friday. Awesome! I remember watching games in the old Marshmallow Metrodome. Can't say I'll miss it too much...kind of reminded me of watching games in the Kingdome.

Yellow!

Yellow!
Originally uploaded by kharms5253

I went to take pictures on campus today. It was a nice day and there was a smattering of color with all the trees changing. I found this beautfiul yellow tree outside DH.

Check out my flickr account for more pictures from the excursion.

-Cheers!

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P.S. It's also my 100th post! HOORAY!!

Consider Me Gone

Fall Colors

Fall Colors
Originally uploaded by kharms5253

New Pictures. The leaves are turning and the nice weather is going away. Thought I'd spend my day off today taking pictures around QA Hill today. All of my shots today were from QA and different "lookouts" from my 3.5 mile loop around the hill.

Cheers!

Nothing New

I don't really have a lot to write about right now. Things are a little hectic in life as of late, but that's expected. School has started...our cat died (not the one I currently own) but Boots...and a few minor things here and there.

I'm sad to lose a pet of 18 years. I sure hope Winslow sticks around for at least as long. I kind of like him. :)

With school starting it makes me want to return to school and start the MBA program. I don't have much else going on, so why not? I'll study for the GMAT this year and take my test. Next fall I hope to be accepted into the program at SPU.

For now though, I will enjoy playing soccer on Monday nights...crossing guard duty on Sundays and whatever else happens to come my way. I'm excited for the year...but at the same time worried about all the changes too.

----

In other news...a little lonliness is creeping back in. Kind of like last winter when everyone had moved away. I guess things come in cycles...I'm not sure. But it's back. Which, I'm not really lonely for lack of friends...I'm lonely for lack of a partner in life. I started volunteering at church like my mother insisted and perhaps that will turn something up. It seems strange that this is the lonliness I'm feeling now because it's never been a big deal. Never been something that bothered me til now. I've always been pretty content to be single and have enjoyed life that way. I'm sure I'll have more thoughts on this subject at a later date...

Looking for a Date?

I'll Lead You Home

Wandering the road of desperate life
Aimlessly beneath the barren sky
Leave it to me, I'll lead you home
So afraid that you will not be found
It won't be long before your sun goes down
Just leave it to me, I'll lead you home

Chorus:
Hear me calling, Hear me calling
Just leave it to me, I'll lead you home

A troubled mind and a doubter's heart
You wonder how you ever got this far
Leave it to me, I'll lead you home
Vultures of darkness ate the crumbs you left
And you got no way to retrace your steps
Just leave it to me, I'll lead you home

Chorus:
Hear me calling, Hear me calling
You're lost and alone
Leave it to me, I'll lead you home

So let it go and turn it over to the one who chose to give his life for you
Leave it to me, I'll lead you home

So let it go and turn it over to the one who chose to give his life for you
Just leave it to me, I'll lead you home
Leave it to me, I'll lead you home

-Michael W. Smith and Wayne Kirkpatrick

View from the Clearing

View from the Clearing
Originally uploaded by kharms5253

This weekend I hiked up Granite Mountain with my Dad and his brother and sister. What a great view towards the top. This was from the clearing where we stopped for lunch. It was a beautiful day and a difficult hike.

I'm definitely paying for the hike today. My legs and back are incredibly sore. I have my first soccer game tonight too...I have a feeling I won't make it the full 90 minutes. I'll do my best though. :)

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Information about the hike: Granite Mountain

Highlights: Steep hike through forest and meadows to fire lookout with tremendous views.
Near: North Bend, WA
Scenery: Distance: 8 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 3800 ft
Hike Time: 5.5 to 7 hours
Difficulty: Strenuous
Trail Condition: Well maintained trail
HikeType: Out and Back

Summary: The trail starts off in the forest and climbs quickly. Although it is steep, it's a consistent elevation gain and there are many switchbacks, so the grade is not too terrible. At about one mile, the trail splits. Go right. You'll be in trees for another 1/2 mile. Then, the way opens up to switchbacks galore. Finally, the trail turns towards the right and you have a chance to admire the views. It is flatter here, too. The trail eventually turns back to the west. You'll come to several tarns with at least one campsite. Stay to the east of the tarns and to the north and east of the rocks. The trail will run close to the rocks and eventually climb through them, bringing you to the fire lookout at the top. Look for Rainier, Baker, Stuart, and the peaks around Snoqualmie Pass. You can also see a number of lakes.

Caution -- Avalanches can be a problem here until July.

Trailhead: Take 1-90 east from Seattle to exit 47. Take a left (north). Cross highway, go left (west). Trailhead is 0.5 miles ahead at the end of the road. Trailhead is shared with Pratt Lake trailhead. (Lat:47.397 Lon:-121.486)

There are more pictures from the hike in my flickr account. Just click on any of the photos to view my account and photostream.

-Cheers!

Why Stay Single?

This post explains why: http://melodymaker.posterous.com/the-reason-some-girls-stay-single-very-funny

Listen to the sound clip. It's totally worth your time. :)

News Flash or Update...whatever you want to call it

I haven't played in years...the last time I played I was doing 4 or 5 on a side soccer with girls. I haven't played a full field with 11 players in awhile. But I'm totally stoked for my first game on Monday. I know it won't be anything like the competitive soccer I played growing up, but it will still be a lot of fun and a good learning experience.

The team's name is Yo Mamma's Cleats and we're playing Co-Ed Division 5A soccer. Which means we're kind of competitive I think...not the types that have never played before. hmmm...Should be an interesting season. Games go through November and hopefully those who are playing this year will want to continue on in the years to come. :)

In other news...It's a three day weekend for me. Which translates to...time to clean and make my apartment look nice. Elisa is coming to visit this weekend. There's an opportunity to take pictures at the Korea Cultural Festival tomorrow...Sunday is hiking day. I think I just might die going up Granite Mtn, but who cares? I get to spend the day with my dad! He's driving all the way over from Idaho just for a day hike. I'm sure he'll be exhuasted but we're both pretty excited. Dave and Josh are coming too! It will be a great day and the weather is supposed to be nice and sunny all weekend long.

The start of school is just around the corner. I'm not ready, but I don't think I've ever really been prepared for what the new year brings. There are new faces, new problems to be solved and this year, add a team merge in and things will just be exciting and unpredictable.

----

Today is also the anniversary of those terrible attacks 8 years ago. 9/11. What sad numbers. Forever attached to something that still haunts us all. I remember that day well, I was living in Minnesota at the time and about to take a biology test. Someone came in to tell us the news, but we continued on with the test anyway. When class was over I went to English next and from that point on the TV was on the rest of the day in all of my classes.

Seeing the footage was surreal. I kept thinking that can't be real...it's like the movies. But no...planes crashed, buildings collapsed and people died. These things have happened all over the world but never in the U.S. We were all shocked that something like this could ever happen to us. In fact, today when I see news about terrible things abroad...it still doesn't register the same way 9/11 did. It's a world away.

The event brought up a lot of quesitons about God and religion. For awhile it seemed that we were all clinging to something that would make sense...something that would explain these events. Many of us probably didn't get an answer or we didn't get one that satisfied us and made the pain go away. I know I hate it when that happens and I'm sure everyone else does too. It's a daily struggle to believe in something or someone that doesn't give me the answers and reasons I want to hear.

The problem of evil is something I ponder often. I still don't understand why evil exists...why people get hurt and why people who do nothing wrong suffer while some who do everything wrong receive great things. It's upside down isn't it? Someone I knew in college just received word that his cancer came back. I cry when I think about what he's going through right now. It's certainly not fair. I don't know what the larger plan is, but I think there is one. God can turn something bad into something good even if the results aren't right now. I have hope for something better and something more. There is something more isn't there?

The Weekend

My three day weekend was great! Got to try a new restaurant, spend time with old friends, made a new friend and was able to take pictures at the zoo and drink copious amounts of coffee. What's not to love?

I'm a little nervous about the start of school, but I really am excited to see changes in my department. I think a lot of my student workers may be surprised at what happens. I know I will be. I'm sure things will exceed what my expectations are. I think this next year will be great. :)

In other news...I have limited basic cable! I can now watch the Discovery Channel, the News and a few other things. I had a digital converter, but I didn't even get the basic channels after the switch from analog to digital. Sad day! I'm happy to have something to watch and it was incredibly cheap to add it to my wireless service.

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Now playing: The Postal Service - Natural Anthem
via FoxyTunes

A Trip to the Zoo

Jaguar
Originally uploaded by kharms5253

let sleeping cats lie...I took a trip to the zoo today. :) Had a lot of fun! Feel free to take a gander at a few of the pictures.

Hope your weekend was great!

-Cheers!

Dahlia

Size of your head

Originally uploaded by kharms5253

My Grandma cut me a Dinner Plate Dahlia from her yard today while I was visiting. I couldn't resist taking a picture because they're beautiful flowers. The color is fantastic and Dahlias are just amazing!

There's a few more pics of the flower uploaded to my Flickr if you want to see more.

-Cheers!

----------------
Now playing: Paul McCartney - See Your Sunshine
via FoxyTunes

The Nine Tailors

Kurt

Originally uploaded by kharms5253

Had another show in Fremont. I didn't get many pics that turned out well. I'm a little sad, but the pictures that did turn out look great in black & white. A little grainy, but that's part of the effect. :)

-Cheers!

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Now playing: O.A.R. - Whatever Happened
via FoxyTunes

Lies Lies Lies

Lies Lies Lies
Originally uploaded by kharms5253

I took some pictures at the SAM. I know I take a lot of pictures there, but I do like the park. Bean was in town too so I wanted to show her more of Seattle. :)

Enjoy!

New Pictures

CASEY
Originally uploaded by kharms5253

Thought I'd finally get around to uploading some of the pictures I took with a 35 mm film camera this past year. I unfortunately developed 8 rolls and while I have prints of each photo, i don't have digital images of each print. The company screwed up and I have multiple copies on CD's of the same roll! AHHHH! I have 4 discs that have the same 20 some pictures.

On the other hand...these pictures from the film camera turned out pretty well. The Fort Casey pictures are from a weekend getaway in February and the rest are well...Christmas and other winter-time photo ops. Thank you Pfaus for letting me "borrow" your camera for such a long time. I'm happy to have a DSLR now, but your 35 mm SLR certainly kept me busy. I'm glad you helped me refine my hobby during the winter months.

-Cheers!

Lee Street

Lee Street
Originally uploaded by kharms5253

Yup, This is for my reader Lee. I saw this sign and thought of you while walking around QA this weekend.

Cheers!

Looking for a Laptop?

If you're looking to buy a new laptop, read this article by CNET. It's a quick read and you'll learn a lot. It boils down to the fact that purchasing a laptop is all about your habits and how you intend to use the laptop. It's not necessarily going to be about the latest technology. It's all fine if you have a fast computer, but if you hate the keyboard and have trouble typing; was it really worth the money?

Buy a laptop

New Muse Song

Is this your name?

Learn some fun facts about my name...or yours...

A Weekend Well Spent!

The Gingerbread Factory
Originally uploaded by kharms5253

This weekend was well spent! I drove to Leavenworth, WA after work on Friday for a weekend of camping and summer theater in the mountains.

A beautiful drive...reminds me of highway 12 as it snakes along the Selway River. It's been pretty grey on this side of the mountains lately and when I got up and over Steven's Pass, it was like morning all over again. The sky was so bright and blue! Quite the change from the grey overcast stuff I had left that afternoon/evening.

I enjoyed a nice morning of shopping, an afternoon of golf (putting green - 18 holes - somehow my mom had the best score...) and an evening of Singing in the Rain at the Leavenworth Summer Theater out by the fish hatchery. Leavenworth has a great setting for outdoor theater...I really enjoyed the stage version of Singing in the Rain and perhaps in another four years I'll make it back to Leavenworth for another show. Leavenworth is certainly a cool town to visit, but I can only take in so much "Bavaria" before I get tired. I'm set for the next few years. Next time I'll try floating down the river though...There were quite a few people out on the water yesterday. I was a little jealous, but it was nice to get some sun on the golf course.

As always, time with my parents was welcome and enjoyable. They are both quick to tease and full of life. If you ever get the chance to meet them you'll love them. I sure do!

With that, I leave you with a picture of The Gingerbread Factory in Leavenworth. You must taste their gingerbread cookies! Delish!

-Cheers!

Wordle!

http://www.wordle.net/compose

Make your own!

It's funny...

How does God always have the words you need to hear, right when you need to hear them. It's amazing how that works. Just about every single time I'm struggling in life or am disenchanted by this world, there is a reading or a sermon that speaks straight to my heart.

Today it came from My Utmost for his Highest. It's a daily devotion written by Oswald Chambers that I received upon my graduation from LHS. I dearly needed it today...

In the world, you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world - John 16:33.

Or as the Message Remixed says: ...But I am not abandoned. The Father is with me. I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world.

Oswald writes:

...you will certainly encounter adversities....God does not give us overcoming live--He gives us life as we overcome. The strain of life is what builds our strength. If there is no strain, there will be no strength. God never gives us strength for tomorrow, or for the next hour, but only for the strain of the moment. Oiut temptation is to face adversities from the standpoint of our own common sense. But a saint can "be of good cheer" even when seemingly defeated by adversities, because victory is absurdly impossible to everyone, except God.

These are the things on my mind today...From the song I'm listening to:

I've looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall
I really don't know life at all

----------------
Now playing: Joni Mitchell - Both Sides Now
via FoxyTunes

Who's gonna be there...

I'm finding more and more that there's a distinct difference between great or best friends than regular hangout friends. I currently have 3 maybe 4 best friends who all live in different areas of the world. The reason they're great friends is because when I'm hurting or in trouble, they will call, email or visit me in the blink of an eye. This is distinctly different from the ones you call who ignore your call and never return it to talk to you.

I was sad on Friday after returning from my grandparents house. It wasn't that the visit didn't go well or anything like that. I had a marvelous time down there. But grandma wanted to talk about my older brothers and then we started talking about death and it just made me sad. I know my grandparents are getting older, but that doesn't mean I enjoy talking about death or even want to think about the day they're gone. I don't like the idea at all. So on my way home I called a friend because I just wanted to get these things off my mind. Well, they never returned my call. Mad? A little...I thought they were someone I could talk to if needed. I only called because I couldn't think of anyone else in the area. So with that I went to bed early.

Saturday though...I went to look a condo. It has a lot of work and is probably not something I want to purchase right now. It was listed as a 1 bedroom but in reality it's a studio with a loft for a bedroom. Still no call back. I'm not expecting this person to be a best friend, but the decency of a call back would've been nice.

After looking at the condo that I started chatting to one of my friends who I've known since elementary school. In the midst of chatting she kept trying to come up with ways she could see me. On Friday I had wanted to drive all night to just get out of town. She offered to meet me for a late dinner in Ellensburg, but we decided or mostly she decided that she would drive out to see me on the 21st. I have a date for a wedding AND I get to see one of my closest friends. I'm grateful for her and for all the years we've been friends. She has certainly gone the extra mile this time...now if only I can find a way to do the same for her when she's in need of a close friend. With that all I can say is Thank you...from the bottom of my heart.

----------------
Now playing: Jimmy Eat World - Hear You Me
via FoxyTunes

Pictures from the Show

Sethalicious playing Guitar
Originally uploaded by kharms5253

I posted some new pictures from the show last night. The band sounded great and looked great.

The venue was a bit hot, but nonetheless a great show!

Perusing email...

I was looking back through previous emails today and came across a funny one...

Cable problem solved; Front porch light not working still; Hall closet/bedroom doors not working still; Also, just noticed that the Master bedroom light is hanging off the ceiling which should not be happening

Otherwise, all is well!!! Please let me know if you would like me to submit these issues to CIS myself and I will be happy to do so on Wednesday when I am over there.

I work at a Computer Help Desk. As you can see, this person is a little confused as to what types of things we fix...ceiling fans, porch lights and door knobs are obviously controlled by the computer department

The Internal response was even better:

Please forward all illumination issues, incandescent or otherwise, to the Server Management Team. Enclosure breach concerns (i.e. doors, doorknobs, striker plates, loose jams) should be forwarded to the respective Faculty/Staff Support Rep ASAP.

----------------
Now playing: Fireman - Sing The Changes
via FoxyTunes

Heat in Seattle

Sunlight Reflection
Originally uploaded by kharms5253

Boy! It's been incredibly hot over here lately. I can't believe we've had temperatures in the 90's and will continue on this way until Thursday evening.

Seattle has two Severe Weather Warnings in effect right now, one for Stagnant Air and the other for Excessive Heat. Us Seattlelites are not used to this suffering!! Make it stop! It's not even cooling off at night!

Without any central air (AC) the days pass much slower than they should. Even my poor cat has been sleeping on the floor in front of the fan. Poor little furball. With all his fur I'm sure this heat isn't making him happy either. :(

Tomorrow is the CIS BBQ at Golden Gardens. I'm excited to get out to the beach for a little while. I might even wear a swimsuit to go wading. It's hot enough that it might be worth it to stick my toes in the freezing cold water.

Welp, with that in mind, there are a few new pics up today. From my weekend excursion to Kerry Park and Alki. These are pretty common tourista places, but Sarah was/is in town til tomorrow, so I thought it'd be worth it.

Cheers!

EP Release for The Nine Tailors

The Nine Tailors are having an EP Release in Ballard tomorrow! I'm excited to hear them all play. I've seen some of their shows before, but not since they added Seth to the mix. I hear he's a good guitarist. :)

For more information, go to http://www.theninetailors.com/ or http://www.myspace.com/theninetailors

In other news, I also found another good local band this weekend. Hey Marseille is a good local band. I took classes at SPU with one of the members, Patrick. Quite a good band: http://www.heymarseilles.com/ so have a listen! :) You will be pleasently surprised.

Playing with color

Playing with color
Originally uploaded by kharms5253

The process of editing pictures can be quite fun!

Cheers!

10 things about me

10 things about me
1. I listen to music every day...doesn't matter what I'm doing, it's never quiet in my apartment.
2. Now that I'm done with college, I still haven't figured out what I want to do for a career.
3. The older you get, it seems like it's harder to meet people, but really...you're just set in your ways.
4. My spiritual gift is helps...that and mercy and hospitality...Top 3.
5. I love watching the movie Gettysburg.
6. I can easily grow tired of crowds (or helping/dealing with a lot of people in a short amount of time), so I spend a good deal of time by myself or with a small group of friends.
7. I hate vacuuming...even though it's so easy.
8. i'm a worry wart of everything. I over think things.
9. I care so much about not hurting other people, that I'll avoid doing things that can actually help them be better.
10. I never wanted to be known as a "good girl" or a "nice girl" but it's hard to not be one.

9 words that describe me
1. Quiet
2. Calm
3. Resiliant
4. Friendly
5. Sarcastic
6. Easy-going
7. Disorganized...yet organized..."organized chaos?"
8. Responsible
9. Dependable

8 things that make me happy
1. My Camera
2. Spending time with friends
3. Breakfast - eggs, waffles, sausage...
4. Coffee
5. The Sun
6. Cuddling
7. Music
8. Winslow, my cat

7 more random things to say to people
1. A lot of people talk about making changes, very few atually make a change
2. Going to college isn't necessary to succeed...but it often helps
3. There is context to everything people say
4. Decorating is harder than you think
5. I don't like politics, but that doesn't mean I don't have opinions on how things should be
6. I started this blog as a journal...it still kind of is...a journal and more!
7. I like reading romance novels that have strong female leads...like Jane Austen books. The women do not compromise on who they are just to attract men or be viewed differently by society.

6 things you like to do
1. Drink coffee
2. Get up early
3. Gardening
4. Listening to music
5. Go for walks
6. Watch movies

5 things you did today
1. Slept in
2. drank coffee
3. did laundry
4. listened to Paul McCartney's album: Electric Arguements (SO GOOD)
5. Cleaned my kitchen half-heartedly

4 confessions
1. If trust is broken or strained, it will be hard for someone to get it back. (pretty normal I think)
2. I have a body image issue that is not about weight.
3. I had a hard time motivating myself to work hard in college because I failed a class and received bad grades during my first year.
4. I still count on my fingers, yet I took College Algebra and two Statistic Classes.

3 things you want to achieve.
1. A Masters Degree - MBA or ISM
2. I would like to have a family of my own someday
3. I want to be able to talk/display my feelings better than I currently do...including dealing with anger and frustration in a positive manner.

2 things you regret
1. Not keeping in touch with people I care about
2. How I've behaved toward certain people

1 message to people who read this
Thanks for reading.

New Photos

Seattle Weekly
Originally uploaded by kharms5253

This is one of many pictures taken downtown along the waterfront. I'm excited to have some new pictures up...it's been great to have Sarah in town. I usually take more artistic shots when she's around. Some of the new photos in my Flickr account were taken by her.

It's another lovely day in Seattle! :)

Cheers!

Another good email...

This email was sent out from Building Maintenance...Notice the name after from...

Apparently we now have food services in Building Maintenance. I should really make it over to their lunch room.

-----Original Message-----
From: Food Services [mailto:workcontrol@]
Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 4:26 PM
Subject: Work Request...

Now that I'm up, I'll shred your drapes while you sleep

Now that I'm up, I'll shred your drapes while you sleep
Originally uploaded by kharms5253

This is my little terrorizer...Winslow. As you can see he has beautiful green eyes, but they look like they're going to rip me to shreds for "womanhandling" him to take the picture.

It was for a worthy cause...this photo. :)

Songs my brother listens to...

Personality Mapping

Personality mapping is a curious thing. I find it interesting that people have taken the time to pick out different traits about me. So far, these are the results. Quite a bit different from how I picture myself. I chose 5-6 words about myself and then other people chose the 5-6 words that best matched me. Some are coworkers, some are old classmates...the rest well, they're anonymous. :)

Arena (known to self and others) adaptable, caring, introverted, observant, quiet

Blind Spot (known only to others) able, accepting, bold, calm, cheerful, complex, confident, dependable, energetic, extroverted, friendly, giving, happy, helpful, independent, intelligent, kind, knowledgeable, logical, loving, modest, nervous, organised, powerful, reflective, relaxed, religious, responsive, searching, self-assertive, self-conscious, sentimental, shy, silly, spontaneous, sympathetic, trustworthy, warm, witty

Façade (known only to self) patient

Unknown (known to nobody) brave, clever, dignified, idealistic, ingenious, mature, proud, sensible, tense, wise

Dominant Traits

54% of people think that Kjharms is intelligent

All Percentages

able (13%) accepting (9%) adaptable (9%) bold (9%) brave (0%) calm (4%) caring (27%) cheerful (27%) clever (0%) complex (18%) confident (18%) dependable (13%) dignified (0%) energetic (9%) extroverted (4%) friendly (27%) giving (13%) happy (4%) helpful (4%) idealistic (0%) independent (22%) ingenious (0%) intelligent (54%) introverted (22%) kind (9%) knowledgeable (13%) logical (9%) loving (4%) mature (0%) modest (9%) nervous (9%) observant (4%) organised (4%) patient (0%) powerful (4%) proud (0%) quiet (4%) reflective (9%) relaxed (4%) religious (18%) responsive (4%) searching (4%) self-assertive (13%) self-conscious (22%) sensible (0%) sentimental (4%) shy (9%) silly (9%) spontaneous (4%) sympathetic (4%) tense (0%) trustworthy (22%) warm (31%) wise (0%) witty (22%)

Created by the Interactive Johari Window on 20.7.2009, using data from 22 respondents.
You can make your own Johari Window, or view Kjharms's full data.

Steve's Hands

Steve's Hands
Originally uploaded by kharms5253

Went to Discovery Park today. Unfortunately the trip was cut short due to band practice. Oh well. :) I was able to get a few good pictures in such a short amount of time. I'm quite thrilled with how Steve's hands turned out. They're very photogenic, no? ;-)

Seattle has been enjoying quite a bit of good weather recently. I'm thrilled to have all this sun!

Cheers!

Sunday at Church

Today the power went out during church. It was odd because some of the buildings still had power, but the main sanctuary had none. It was during the last song and I can't remember what it's called, but the moment brought tears to my eyes.

The power went out and the music continued. A full sanctuary...500 some people probably singing and lifting their voices in spite of not knowing the words. The pastor then preached...it all felt raw and genuine. None of the extra technology that "aids" us with the work we're doing. Jut the raw human voice and voices lifted to the heavens.

Over and over the words of the song:

Jesus, I'm amazed by you...How Wide, How Deep, How Great is Your Love.

Unfortunately, power wasn't restored before the service was done. But I can't get the image out of my mind...repeating the words over and over about how great and amazing God's love is for us. And at the end of it all, singing Come Thou Fount. Beautiful.

Songs my brother plays...

My brother played this over and over again on the phone one night to me while we were talking. I think the lyrics describe how he feels and where he's at. It's a good song and yes, Only God know why things are they way they are...why bad things happen to good people. But you gotta keep moving with your head held high.

Panic Attack!

The crows are having a panic attack on campus today. Swarms of them are flooding the trees in the loop. You can't hear anything other than their chatter. Maybe the gods are angry and the gateway to hell opened above SPU.

On a side note, crows are considered to be luckky in East Asia. Maybe it's a sign that the campus is blessed and we'll have a profitable year.

Crows also show signs of intelligence. They can learn and adapt their behaviors easily. A study about a crow versus a squirrel showed each animal pushing a quarter in to get food. When the quarter was placed elsewhere the crow was able to find the quarter and push it in while the squirrel just gave up because it didn't know what to do. The crow had learned that the quarter was the giver of food.

Either way, it's a nightmare. The crows swoop down on people as they walk through the loop...dive bombing whoever comes close to their trees. The demon crows have returned in full force!

Pictures from the Weekend

The Nine Tailors

I'm going to see The Nine Tailors perform...however, there are only four. The band members:

Kurt Schuler – vocals, guitar, shoes, syntax, bus, ties…
Steven Hardin – drums, vocals, keys, coffee, shower, BBQ…
Zach Cartwright – bass, keys, tuba, couch, WOW…
Seth Moore – guitar, keys, bicycle, inspiration, scotch…

From the website:

Emerging in the summer of 2008, The Nine Tailors draw heavily on the literary influences of Southern Gothic writer Flannery O' Connor and Ernest Hemingway. Named for the traditional tolling of nine low-ringing bells following the death of a man in 18th- century England, long time acquaintances Steven Hardin and Kurt Schuler began forming their tight knit friendship in 2008 while pounding out haunting melodies in a makeshift practice space in a Greenwood garage.
Borrowing from the stark simplicity of cult favorites like David Bazan and Mark Kozelek, as well as the eccentric energy and lyrical phrasing of Modest Mouse, The Nine Tailors craft eerily beautiful songs that take you out towards the rugged coastlines and evergreens of the Northwest, to the desolation of the Pacific.

Band member, Kurt Schuler says, “It’s not about despair, but about breaking through the comfortable to a place where we can confront the inevitability of death and the urgency contained in the struggles of life.” In the process of songwriting, Schuler says he never knows what will happen. “In creating characters, the songs end up shaping themselves. I’m usually surprised at how little control I have in the outcome. What needs to happen, happens.”
Whether journeying through the minds of strange sailors and fishermen, or the trailers of the Midwest where dogs lie chained to broken- down pick up trucks, you can be sure The Nine Tailors are one of Seattle’s up-and-coming indie folk acts worth checking out.

This is my shameless plug for The Nine Tailors. If you read this blog, please head over to http://theninetailors.com for a listen. An EP will be released at the end of the this month...I think there are plans to make it available online. I'll let you know what I find out about that.

Gun Rights on Campus...

No thank you. While I'm okay with the right to bear arms, heck I like shooting guns at the target range, I don't think I would enjoy attending a campus that allowed students to bring arms to campus or have concealed weapons.

What's to keep a group from doing vigilante justice? In the event of a shooter, would there really be enough time to respond? Would students really know the difference between the innocent bystanders and the shooter(s)? Would fewer people be hurt? Who wants a shootout in a ResHall anyway?

It's not like these students who will carry arms have gone through the same training that a police officer has gone through. They'll have less knowledge about the situation and may impede and officer's ability to take down the shooter.

I'm a BEC (Building Evacuation Coordinator) and these shootings that have happened across the nation scare the crap out of me. In the event of an emergency such as this, I'm in charge of saving people. I'm in charge of those who panic and run, those who become beligerant and those who just plain don't know what to do in an emergency. Heck, most of my employees don't know how to behave in an earthquake and that's more likely to hit SPU than a shooter. During a lockdown drill I had an employee open the door because the girl was cute.

If it had been a real incident...the girl could've been the shooter. How would he know? He's just opening the door subjecting everyone else in the office to danger. Once a building is locked down it should stay locked down. There's an issue with that though...the innocent bystanders can't get to shelter and safety. That's a problem....but when you open the doors you don't know who you're letting in and what you're letting in. You've just opened the flood gates.

Before you know it, someone good is going to get confused with the bad and they'll be killed. It happens often enough that it shouldn't be magnified in place like a University.

Ride back North

tijuana.JPG
Originally uploaded by kharms5253

Picture from my trip to Baja California on the drive back north to San Diego during Swine Flu season.

Death

This layout is goign to be the death of me...

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Sentimental Journey

The B-17 was primarily employed by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) in the daylight precision strategic bombing campaign of World War II against German industrial, civilian, and military targets. From its pre-war inception, the USAAC (later USAAF) touted the aircraft as a strategic weapon; it was a potent, high-flying, long-ranging bomber capable of unleashing great destruction, able to defend itself, and having the ability to return home despite extensive battle damage. It quickly took on mythic proportions. With a service ceiling greater than any of its Allied contemporaries, the B-17 established itself as a superb weapons system, dropping more bombs than any other U.S. aircraft in World War II.

When the Model 299 was rolled out on 28 July 1935, bristling with multiple machine gun installations, Richard Williams, a reporter for the Seattle Times coined the name "Flying Fortress" with his comment "Why, it's a flying fortress!". Boeing was quick to see the value of the name and had it trademarked for use. - Wikipedia

The reason for this little history lesson is because I watched 12 O'Clock High this evening before going to watch the 20 mins of fireworks over the Snake River in Lewiston. It's a fascinating movie staring Gregory Peck and a few other notable actors of that time period (Dean Jager aka General Waverly in White Christmas, Millard Mitchell - R.F. Simpson in Singing in the Rain) as members of the 918th Bomb Group during World War II. The film is based off a book and has made it's way into the Libray of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." I would recommend watching this film.

I spent the afternoon touring Sentimental Journey, a fully restored B-17 bomber. It was an impressive sight. 4 - 12 cylindar engines, glistening aluminum, the smell of grease, the number of gun mounts and bombs! There were 6 gun mounts on the plane for the crew of 9-10 persons and the plane carried quite a few bombs. This restored plane had 8 bombs that if still functional and all that would weigh 250 lbs each. Afterwards we watched the film to see what exactly these plans could do. I was impressed and the film did a great job portraying the horrors these bomb squadrons went through during WWII. It's incredible to learn about the history behind these planes.

I first read about the plane being in town due to an article in the LMT about a WWII vet living in Lewiston who last flew in one of these planes on a mission over Germany. He was shot down and was a POW. Living history! I would love to sit down with that man and hear his story. What an incredible way to spend this year's 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July

It's that time of the year again; when grass catches on fire, firefighters spend their evenings responding to burn victims and brush fire incidents and rockets boom in the air. All in celebration of our Independence Day. For most of us, it's an opportunity to drink, watch fireworks, grill and hang out with friends during the summer. For the rest of us, it's often a time of reflection.

Today is the day in 1776, that the Declaration of Independence was signed declaring that Great Britain no longer had the power to rule us or tax us because they were, as it would seem, an entire world away. It was not fair to have a ruler who never spent time in this land to dictate what we could and couldn't do or tax us to the extreme. How wonderful it was, how right it was to declare independence. This was the beginning of the future. From this point on, we desired a free nation; freedom of speech, freedom of religion. The constitution was born in 1787 and since then we've been going at full speed.

We want our freedom of speech, we want to be able to call others stupid or have things the way we want them. How do this historical actions guide and dictate what we do today? As a strong leader we're often expected to step in and resolve other countrys' situations, but sometimes or most often we cross the boundary of being helpful or being imperialistic. We often force our own ideals on others...sometimes when they're not wanted we still cram them down other people's throats.

We think that because we're one of the strongest and that we're a democratic nation with the freedom to do most anything we want; that our way is the best way. Never mind the fact that as one of the smallest nations in terms of population we consume the most resources. Millions are left without healthcare, or that thousands of people live on the street begging for food.

Surely there's something we can do better...Every country has its problems; its pros and cons when it comes to the type of government it chooses....dictatorships are certainly not fair hence the desire to get North Korean's President out of the picture. But intead of imposing our form of government on everyone else, isn't it about time we used our resources to help those in need? Feed the hungry, care for those who are wounded and sick, give shelter to the homeless. Help provide clean drinking water, make education in the states better.

"With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan –– to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations. "

- Abraham Lincoln March 4, 1865 (Second Inagural Address)