A new Gilmore Girls and a new seasons of the Amazing Race. What a great Tuesday night. Good episode of Gilmore Girls (there is exciting news but I don’t want to spoil in case yall haven’t seen it. Lets just say, I squealed.) and a great start to the Amazing Race. This seems like its gonna be a good season. So, if you need me past 8pm on Tuesday nights… try and catch me during commercial brakes.

So its been a very cold day here at my house. This big storm that was going to come this weekend is here today. Its really dark and wet outside. At the moment its not raining but clouds are still very present. Today is also the day we got our carpets clean! To get them to dry quicker we have all the doors open. All the while this is happening, I am trapped in the kitchen in hardwood floor land. I did not prepare for the weather conditions of the kitchen so I was quite cold most of the morning. Now my mom has closed all the doors and said the heater might help it dry quicker. Oh how I wish that was thought of earlier.

As you can probably tell, I’m not finishing my weekend stories from last weekend. The moment has really come and gone. We had a girls sleepover. We TPed two houses, a boy they swear none of them likes (sure…) and the youth pastor’s newly purchased house. There was very little sleep and lots of junk food. Good times where had by all (mostly). This past weekend was not busy at all compared to last weekend. It was more of a winding show sort of weekend which is good after a week that flew by without warning.

I may complain about the cold and the rain today, but I really do like this weather. San Diego needs some rain badly I’ve heard. But its been a little too toasty for February for me. Now everyone has to wear socks again to keep warm and a nice warm jacket. Drink a hot drink and some soup to warm up the insides. Perfect reading and writing day, which is exactly what I want to do on my day off.

Wow, where did this week go? I can no believe tomorrow is Friday. Most people look forward to the weekends, and sometimes I do. For instance, last weekend I was really looking forward to it a lot cause I was off work for the first time on a weekend in forever. And I got to do fun things (and I will finish my sleep-over story soon). Maybe because its late and I’m a bit tired, but I cant recall what I did with my time which is a bit dis-concerning. It feels like it was a productive and good week, so I will settle my lack of time spent with that feeling that seems to be resonating.

Tonight I drove down to San Diego (longest drive for Gwen yet) with my friend Hayley to see Don Miller. This is the second time I have gotten to see him speak/read, I snuck (crashed, which ever way you wish to view it) into a conference he spoke at Christmas time a year or so ago. I really enjoying putting a person to all these writings I had been captured by. Hayley and I both bought copies of Don’s newest book “To Own a Dragon” which released for sale today (or so we were told. Jace got his from amazon.com a few days ago). We chatted a bit until both of us wanted to dive in a little into the book. I went straight to the chapter on girls where Hayley took the more practical step of the first chapter. While we sat next to each other and read silently waiting for 8 o’clock to roll around I was tapped on the shoulder. A girl who was reviewing the evening said that had heard we didn’t attend this school (we were at Point Loma. I must say, felt strange to be on a college campus again. It for sure has a vibe I haven’t felt in a long time) and would like to interview us. That was fun because the last time I was interviewed for a paper was for Carla, which I don’t know if she counts since we lived together after all. I gave donmillerfans.net a little exposure and voiced my love for Don’s books.

Nothing Don said shocked me, even if I did think “I cant believe he just said that”. But half the time, its what a lot of people are thinking and just don’t say. Its one of the qualities a lot of people like about his writing. His honesty in still asking questions about a faith he has called his own for many years. Apparently a couple weeks ago he was at this same college guest speaking of sorts for the writing department. I thought how cool would that be to talk with Don about writing. That’s really what makes or brakes a book for me: a voice. Not just any voice, but a relatable and strong voice. This is what I’ve read and been told in the author circles I keep. You need to have a voice, whatever kind of voice that is and have passion behind it. Don has hit that nail right on the head for me which is the main draw for me, along side the deep honesty. His witty humor is quite helpful too. I like laughing during heavy stuff. He also talked about an authors view point of the whole Million Pieces incident, which is interesting to hear from someone on the inside book loop and all. I liked that he used the word “bookdom”. That’s an awesome word.

To me, its like spending a short time with a friend almost, though I know lots about him and he very little about me. That must be very strange for someone who writes about their life. At least it would be for me, which in part could happen on this blog (all you lurkers, show yourself!). I look forward to reading “To Own a Dragon” soon. I noted how thin this book was compared to his others which kind of sadness me, so I hope another one is around the corner. Don said something about the next book being about Adam and Eve mostly which excites me cause my favorite chapter of “Search For…” was on them. Both of the times I have met Don, there is just this joyful presence that you cant ignore or help to take with you. And of course his books to remind us of a different way to look at faith we far too often take for granted.

I hit the snooze at 5:15am on Friday morning not ready for my days on the slopes. 7 minutes later the radio awoke me and reminded me that 6 o’clock was coming soon. I rolled out of bed and into my trusty snowboarding clothes that smelled a little dusty from being in the garage rafters for years. Hair in pig-tails under a beanie and swishy pants, out the door I went, heading not straight to the church to met the gang, but to Starbucks. I needed a double shot cinnamon dolce latte before hitting the road. Unknown to me, there was a planned trip on the way up the mountain for a stop at Starbucks as well. Oh well, a triple grande ice toffee nut latte sounds great. I shared a car with Stephanie (Brian, our youth pastor’s fiancé), Catlin and Samantha. The two girls we had in our car could not be the more polar opposites of each other. Even so, we had great conversation with these first timer snowboarders.

David, being the snow expert whom lived in Tahoe offered to give a refresher/beginners class. So off we went to the “bunny hills”. Most of us had been boarding before and a run down the bunny hills reminded us that snowboarding is a lot like riding a bike. After a few runs, a couple of my girls asked if Id go with them onto an intermediate hill. Waving bye to the rest of the group off to the bigger slopes we went. On our chair lift ride up the mountain the girls started to get nervous as they saw very steep hills to our left. I comforted them with “we will just slide down on out butts if that’s where we happen to be going”. Yeah, I’m quite a comforter, it’s a gift. But the higher and higher we went the more and more nervous I become despite the comfort I try to comfort the girls. Thankfully, the hill was just our speed and the girls kept saying how it was the best ride of the day. I realized at that point how much older I am than them or more so, my knees told me. I would be riding, having a great time and then, my knees would give me pleas of pain. But I told my knees to suck it up and rode on just the same.

Towards the end of the day we all became very, very cold. Some, say the girls who worn jeans (bad bad idea), were colder than others. The sky became darker and it started to snow. At first, I thought the man made snow blowers where blowing our way, but nope, it was snowing. My girls said we should go sit inside and watch the snow. I, being the romantic that has barely seen snow fall, said “It’s snowing! You have to be outside when it snows!” I held my tongue out to catch snowflakes in my mouth (never did catch any, or felt any more so). But I did catch many snowflakes in my hand and look at how perfect they are. How they look just like the ones we cut out at Christmas time to hang.

On our drive home, our 4 hour (instead of 2 ½ like it should have been) drive home… my body defrosted and ached. Conversation sparked again in our car, not as deep but it was good. We stopped for dinner (and another Starbucks, for those of you who are keeping count, I got a grand latte, so that’s a total of 7 shots. I was tired!) I realized sitting in the car and thinking about the day that it was a very good day. A snowboarding event with Jr. Highers could have been very bad (hurt limps or lost kids) but it wasn’t, at all. After thinking about it, I think my expectations where just right. Which makes me wonder how my expectations where in the past. I don’t normally walk away with this much exposure to the kids with such a happy heart. Which sounds bad coming from a youth workers mind, but lately its been hard. But it was a perfect group of kids and leaders, well blended. That’s it, a well blended day, leaving Alisa with a happy heart and a worn body. Stay tuned for part two of my weekend: the sleepover.

Its too late tonight for the snowboarding story (tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya, tomorrow…) but I just wanted to take note on my drink that I’m really enjoying lately:

Double tall, 1 pump white mocha, 1 pump almond, 1 pump cinnamon dolce, percent with whip, latte.

That fills up every box (syrup box really full) but one. But when I get this drink at night its a:

Half decaf, grande, 1 pump white mocha, 1 pump almond, 1 pump cinnamon dolce, percent with whip, latte.

When did I get to be a high maintance barista?

Oh. my. goodness. Somehow my chin is still cold after all this time. Also, I really cant sleep with socks on my feet at night, but tonight I might have to brake that rule. My left upper leg is already screaming in pain from too many pulls at its muscles. Time to warm my worn out self with some sleep and hopefully tommorow I will get to tell my snowboarding story with a workable chin.

Months ago I bought a large bottle of Dove shampoo from Costco. I had commitment myself to finish that bottle before moving on by buying another bottle of shampoo. Then I started to heard or read about Brilliant Brunette shampoo. But I shied away from it because of the bottle of Dove that sat in my shower. The more I read the more I became curious of this shampoo that claimed to make your hair color better.

I have never once colored my hair and probably wont till I start going grey. I like my hair color though time to time I wish I leaned darker or lighter, usually depending on the season. Also, I really don’t want the high maintenance that highlights or roots would give me if I did color it. I’m always for improving my hair whether it’s making it healthier, softer, more volume or the color. Last week I was at Target and saw that Brilliant Brunette was on sale. My first thought was that I didn’t need it, even it was on sale because I have shampoo. But then the reviews I had read, all these great things about this shampoo flooded me and bought it anyways (sorry Dove).

I had already taken a shower that day, but I was really close to taking a second one (really not needed, it wasn’t a dirty day for me) just to wash my hair. I restrained myself to wait till the next day to lather up. Once I did, I realize less is more when it comes to this shampoo. With lots of bubbles and lots of volume for my hair to get clean on every single strain. I had high hopes for this shampoo as I dried my hair as I usually do. Once it dried, I really didn’t notice a difference which was disappointing. I returned to the great review I had read seeing if I had missed something. Really didn’t see anything I was doing wrong (its just shampoo right?). But I still paid for this shampoo, tossed Dove to the side for the sake of this experiment so I can’t get up on just one day. So day two, wash, rise and dry. Even tired different lighting, but saw nothing really noticeably different. Few more days of no real change, until today. Unwrapping my hair from my towel turban, parted it as normal and started to dry. The blow dryer reveals a new hair I didn’t know I had. I thought maybe I was feeding myself something to justify buying this shampoo. But then my mom noticed my hair looked different, it wasn’t styled different but just looked different, darker, “more brown”. My hair looks fantastic and its thanks to my new shampoo. What girl doesn’t love a good hair day?

You know what I recommend? Go to your local Starbucks (or coffeeshop, where ever you wish) and get a shot espresso, some whip cream and caramel on top. And if you really want to make a perfect snack, add one of those bite size pieces of milk chocolate at the counter. Soooo good and under 2.50 I think. I made that very thing just now and sipping on the last bit of it over a Dove candy heart. If nothing else, today is a day to over do it on the sugar and I am all for that.

I’ll admit, Hallmark has gotten to me over the years. I always like going down that red and pink isle to see what new or classic Valentine’s items to purchase. Growing up I remember getting those cheap box of Valentines to sit at the kitchen table and write my classmates name on them. Even the kids I didn’t like, it was a rule, if you brought them, you had to bring them for everyone. In six grade I had a crush on a boy named David Kent. David Kent looked just like a blonde hair and blue eyed southern California boy that every girl thinks of. I remember keeping his Valentine long past when I should have. Nevermind every other girl in the class had gotten one from him, I got a Snow White card that read “Your the fairest one of all”. What 11 year old girl who had a crush wouldn’t keep a card like that?

I’m a sucker for a good card. I had a lot of fun picking out cards for my friends and family this year. I buy box cards that are cute all the time, even if my drawer is full of other ones. As much as people think badly of Hallmark for making lots of money just because its February 14th, well, I’m part of the problem. I love giving cards as thank yours or if I just happen to be thinking of someone. I hope Hallmark is here to stay in this e-card day in age. Now saying today is the only day to express your love for someone is baloney. But think of how you felt the last time you got a thoughtful card in the mail from a friend. Weather they live in the same town or states away, its nice to know someone is thinking of you. At least, that’s what I think of when I pull out old cards from over the years and remember those special times or just the special thought someone sent my way.

Happy Valentines Day.

Today is one of those days I wish I lead another life. I guess not extreme as that, but more in how I make my living. Usually when I feel that way I’m melancholy over cute babies and wanting to be married. Today, that is not the feeling. I wish I didn’t have to go to work in a couple hours, instead stay here next to my window and good music and write. Secretly I want to be a writer and tell different stories in so many different ways. Even I laugh at that dream because of my reputation for poor spelling and not ever proof reading anything. But that isn’t to say I don’t want to spend hours typing away all these different pieces of stories inside me. The idea of me having a book on a shelf somewhere, seems really far fetched. Lauren Winner said she would spend hours in bookstores and think “I could write a book.” although I think she has a much more interesting story to tell than I. Not that the stories I have to share are my own, but fiction ones. Which I personally think is a lot more fun to write, this coming from a girl who reads a lot of bios or memoirs. I read many writer’s blogs, have acquaintances in the business and its not easy. So as romantic I like to make being a writer, which I don’t consider myself at all, it sounds fun. Still, I find it a crazy dream of mine to craft a story that would actually relate to other people. I truely only think it could happen with lots of time, patience, and encouragement. Those things coming from others who know what they are talking about and myself. I think that’s the first step, actually thinking this is something I could do and follow through with it. I think it goes back to a universal struggle, failure. Who really wants to fail at something they pour their energy into? No one. To me, I just don’t see a better time in my life to jump of this cliff.

So yesterday morning (around 3:30am… ahhh) I wake up to my iPod singing. I remember thinking it was rather hard to move my neck to see to turn off my alarm. I figured my body just really wasn’t awake yet, stiffy. But as I started getting ready for the day I realized it hurt to move anywhere right with my neck. I go to work with two advil in me thinking I had just slept on my neck funny and it will go away in a few hours. Few hours later, my neck still hurts! So in the correct time apart I take four more pain meds to get my through the day. Nothing. My neck just didn’t get any better.

I get home and pull out my insurance card to call and maybe see a chiropractor (I went to one when I was younger… I remember only good things about them). Well, I had yet to set up a primary doctor with my insurance so I had to go through that process first, which was a blessing in disguise cause that is something I had been meaning to do for ages. I just don’t normally get sick enough to see a doctor so I never found a need to use my insurance, despite the year I have been paying for it. Thankfully, my insurance company had a stand-by nurse who talked to me about my pain which was nice. I got a couple of numbers for chiropractor in my plan (one happen to being the one my mom has visited and liked). I called this chiropractor and they are closed after noon on Tuesday. Lovely. So I spent the rest of the day with ice peas (and corn when later my peas started to leak, tee hee) and a heating pad taking turns on my neck.

Today, I was all ready to call the chiropractor again to see if they could fit me in this morning. My neck still being sore when I turn right (driving and wanting to turn right is a real treat, I have to move my whole body). My mom asked if I could wait another day, seeing if it just goes away on its own. Being if I don’t turn right I feel just fine, so I’m in constant pain. I’m pushing through another day hopping I really did just sleep on it really funny and it will go back to normal. Also, its only a co-pay but the chiropractor always want you to come back, so its not just a one time fixer-upper. Which is course what I want. I want my normal neck back!

Couple of weeks ago my dad held up two tickets to a concert asking “Want to go on a date with me?” We used to have breakfast dates a lot when I was in high school. We’d get up really early before he had to go to work or I had to go to school and head over to Denny’s. Looking at the tickets more closely I saw they were to a Phil Keaggy concert at our church. I told Jason later that my dad was taking me on a date to see Phil Keaggy and Jason’s reply was simply “Your dad can take me on a date.”

The concert was this past Friday and this past week I had gotten on a knitting kick again. This happened after I realized how much yarn I actually had in my knitting draw that I had not used. Plus, there’s a new yarn store I really want to visit but I cant bring myself to buy more yarn knowing how much I have at home. So, if I work on projects, using up my yarn at home I can justified buying more yarn (Do you follow me there? You girls know what I mean, right?). I was torn on weather to bring my knitting with me or not to the concert. I asked a few friends if they thought bringing knitting to a concert would be okay. In this circle of friends, Phil is the man. There is much respect for this great musician to who’s music I would apparently be disrespecting if I worked on knitting at his show. Their telling me that I shouldn’t only egged me on to bring my knitting, and so I did.

(Photo: What I completed durning the show.)

Yesterday, at a neighborhood Superbowl Party (to which I brought fresh salsa I made. I love fresh salsa and besides the smell of onions on my hands, I don’t know why I don’t make it more often)

I brought my knitting without really a second thought. After bringing it to a concert, what’s a football game, right? And so I did and there was much rejoicing… over the scarf not that the Steelers one. The gals that where their made comments during my progress “Oh that’s pretty yarn” or “Wow, that’s getting long!”. I think coming out with a scarf from a super bowl party is quite an accomplishment.

All of this to say, do not judge a women and her knitting. And if you do, watch for wrath of her needles.

(Also, there are photos from leader’s dinner in san diego a few weeks back and others on my flickr home page)

I’ve been getting into Podcasting lately, another reason why I’m falling more and more for iTunes. Jason found me a few months back a Gilmore Girls podcast , which I love. And one of the host of that show has an Indy music podcast he does called Tanfastic Podcast. I’ve been catching up on those and he has some great music to share. My most favorite thus far, whos 4 song ep I just downloaded from iTunes is Jupiter and Teardrop . I encourage you all to unclick all those familiar songs in your iTunes, download new, Indy songs onto your iPod and enjoy some amazing music we miss far too often cause we stick to what we know. Trust me, I only have 5 Sandra songs on my iPod right now to just help me branch out. Too much good music is out there to not take a little time away from old music friends and support Indy artist.

So Clark’s was having a sale and I got some new shoes.