do you hear what I hear?

Yeah man.

Did I ever mention that I have mad hackey sack skills? *nods head* yup.


I love my family.
I love riding.
I love playing the piano. (I like the drums now too....*bum bum CHING ching bum bum CHING...* < Thanks tons Will and Cydney!
I love the mercy and grace and forgivness that is dumped on me in abundance.

-E.G.E.


Now Playing: Some Andrea Boceli cd?

and then the snow came.

I am utterly exhausted today.
I woke up at 6, left for work at 7, and got there at 7:30. Ed was preparing the fruit, but let me finish it, as well as make the Apple-Cheese pancakes, (which by the way, were completely awesome, it was a new recipe) and the bacon, and set the tables, make muffins, and an abundance of other things besides, all to do in an hour. AH! It was awful. But I managed. And then Margie came down at 8:20, (we serve breakfast at 8:30)
"I'm so sorry Esther! I meant to come down earlier!"
"Oh, thats ok..."
"Look at you, everythings done, Ed, I might as well just go back to bed!"
*I Groan as Margie laughs...*

She made a lovely cider glaze with cinnamon to go over the top of the pancakes. I ran out of riccota cheese for them, so I used the rest with cottage cheese, but they tasted great. They had grated apple in them, nuts, egg whites, nutmeg, and many other wonderful spices.
I must state my passion for cooking bacon. It is a wonderful thing to cook. I don't like the greasy stuff. I can only cook it one way, unless somebody prefers it with some fat on it, or burnt slightly. I like to cook it cripsy with no fat on it.
Ed likes fat on it. Margie likes it burnt. So they don't like it when I cook bacon. LOL.
Everything came together fine, even though I was very very busy this morning. I also lost track of time, I was polishing the brass sink fixture in the green room, then I realized that it was already 2, and that I was supposed to be done by 3, and I still had a couple more rooms (they usually take 1/2 hour each), empty the dishwashers, vacuum, set tables, laundry, washing the floors, the list goes on and on. So I did the last two rooms in record time, 15 minutes each. : D
All this rushing for what purpose? So that I could go to the gym and work out with Nate. Wow. How ironic. I was so tired on the way to the gym. Haha. Nate tried to turn off on our road, he wanted to go home, so I was like "NO NO PLEASE NO! NO NATE WE HAVE TO GO TO THE GYM! PLEASE NO!" ( I was slightly whining )
So he passed our road, and I smiled deviously. He almost turned around and went back home. But we went to the gym. It was great to work-out, even though I was tired.
I was on the treadmill for 20 min. I ran for 15 of that. 2 miles. Not bad since I haven't been running lately. Last summer I ran every morning before I went to work. I was devoted. I got up so early. I bought nice running sneakers. Nikes. I do NOT pronounce Nikes NIK-IES... I pronounce it like "NIGHTS" except with a K. Thats how you're supposed to say it. Just so everyone knows. I got that from "Friday Night Lights". LOL YEAH JON! Great for watching during thunderstorms. I cried the first time I saw that. I think I cried the second time too. "Man! wahat ya doin wearin ADIDAS?! Dont ya know the shoe is nikes?"
Ok, I got nice sneakers.
Oh, I got on this bike machine thing, it was weird, but I decided to do the endurance one, and I almost died. It was SO wicked hard. But, I want to do a lot of bikeing in the summer, as well as running. Nate and I started doing some.
I enjoy working out in the great outdoors. Its very nice. I find it so much more enjoyable than running on a treadmill. You actually GO someplace. We have awesome trails around our house. The night Jackie came and told me Prez died, I needed so badly to get out, and Dad and I discovered several different paths. Of course then, I couldn't see very much, I just sort of stumbled behind Father, I was crying quite a bit. But I do remember one scene very clearly. We going up a hill, it was in the woods, and I turned around, and there was this open field, with an old barn at one end, and the sun was setting. It was pretty. It was getting late though, and Dad was nervous about cyotes, so we had to go back.
I didn't want to go back.
It was a couple weeks before I went back to the barn, because Jackie was gone to New England Morgan in Conneticut. Or is it Mass? No. thats Mass Morgan. I can't remember where New England Morgan is. But it was a Thursday night and I had been shaking the whole day. And crying quite a bit. I was at work, and it was horrible, because I had to serve breakfast and smile. I had to weed out front, and tons of people were walking by because it was induction weekend. So then, I went to the barn. Nobody was there, and I walked halfway down the aisle, and I couldn't go any further, because I didn't want to go any further. I knew I wouldn't see his nose pokeing out in between the bars, sniffing for peppermints. His ears wouldn't perk up when he saw me and I would never have those crazy CRAZY rides. LOL, Man I can't believe I'm still alive sometimes...Great memories.
So I pretty much collapsed and then I remember Joce's arm around me. She's awesome.
I rode her horse, Flagship for the show. I rode him that night, the night after that, and the next night, and then I showed him at Eastern District, and I got first twice in a row. And then my fam, Kyle and his family, and Jackie, and Kirsten and Annie and me, we all went out to dinner by the showgrounds, and Kirsten and Annie drew on their place mat, and said something to the affect of "congratulations". But there was a star, and in the middle of the star it said; "And we won't forget Prez." It was so cute, I have it in my scrap book. Then we went to the hotel, and I was SO dead tired. I had good rides the next day too, not as good as that night though. It was an awesome weekend. It was raining really hard the second day of the show, and Kyle and I wanted to go see the pictures from his and my classes. There was one umbrella, so we shared, and sang "Singin' in the Rain" While I jumped Massive puddles the size of cars! Don't ask where that came from. Actually, the photographer got a candid of us discussing and critiquing the riders in the ring. It was funny. My face was twisted around and I was scrunching my nose. This year, Annie and I were the only ones that showed. But its such a fun show, I think more of us should do it next year. I hope that I CAN do it, its in the beginning of August. I shouldn't be at school already, hopefully. I hope that if I go to Bob Jones, I can find a nice riding stable outside the city.
All this came from...working out? Wow.
Well, tomorrow I am going to school in the morning, but we won't be doing school. We're going to "practice" for the Christmas concert this saturday. It will be loads of fun. I can't wait till the play next semester.

I think I'm going to Binghamton Friday night, to go see "Pride and Prejudice with a dear friend of mine. : )
I'll probablly be back sometime Saturday, and then Sat. night is the concert.
Brittany wants to do another concert too. But the dates I have for choices, I don't think will work. Its very sad, because I want to do another one so badly. I will miss her very much when she leaves me.

I had everyone sign my red high-top cons last week at school. Andrew refused to sign them, but I forced him to. We go back too far for him not to sign my shoes. I think me, Tim, and Andrew are the only ones graduating. And Will! Why is it that I ALWAYS forget Will?! I'm sorry Will.
And then some people I didn't know signed them too. That was fine though. I will try to get to know them better tomorrow afternoon. Sam Zaengle's sis signed my shoe! I don't know her very well, but anyone that is a friend/relative of Sam's is a freind/relative of mine! Right Mr Twisty!? I promise, I will try to go roller skating with you this month! I didn't say I'd be there, but I will try. To be there.
I miss roller skating. Jon used to be able to empty those claw machines. And nachos and cheese. And giving the D.J. guy weird and random cd's to play.
Watch, I go, and no one else will show up.
I remember there was always this guy there, he was older, and he would go out there and roller blade around the ring with his hands behind his back, his head up in the air, and his eyes closed. He never wiped out either. This is me going around the ring. I hug the wall. The wall is my best friend. I sort of, INCH my way around. And then if I get comfortable enough, I turn away from the wall, and let one hand balance me, while the other never lets go of the wall. Security purposes. Maybe if I tried gliding along, instead of picking up each foot and walking, I would get better at it. It just makes me so scared. I'm scared of heights.
I used to be awesome at ice skating. I think I was 5 then. I remember racing Robin around the ring, and whizzing past Micah and one of his freinds, and him saying "Thats my sister Esther." I was so proud.
Then I fell.

I better go. Its getting late. Its almost Teusday. : )

"Good Night my sweet little clementines."

Thanks Cydney.




-E.G.E.



Song of the Week: "La Luna" - Sarah Brightman La Luna

Photo Friday: "Yellow"

Happy Thanksgiving to my Fam

I love you all and miss you all so much!!
We're going to rock the house down...yeah man! We've got to have one of the best family portraits in the world. If you think yours is better, feel free to challenge me, but this is pretty classic.
Micah and Ruth; I think a walk next door to the Mt. Vision Cemetary is in order..."Crandall! It was MY fault!"
Oh goodness. Incase nobody got this part yet... I CAN'T WAIT!

I am Reepicheep

I am Reepicheep.

"As Reepicheep the mouse, you are valiant, brave and daring. It's not the size that counts! But although you are polite and kind, people don't mess with you!"

Your Brain's Pattern

You're a simple thinker, and this is actually a very good thing. You don't complicate matters when you don't have to. You look for the simplest explanation or solution, and you go with that. As a result, your mind is uncluttered and free of stress.

What Pattern Is Your Brain?

It is an evening for quizzes I geuss...

Me and Meriwether: The Secret Diary of William Clark

JULY 4, 1804
To mark our first Fourth west of the Mississippi, Lewis directed me to powder the keelboat's cannon so he could fire it. I would have liked to shoot it too, but that's OK. Lewis is so much fun, and such a leader too.

AUGUST 1804
Today I learned that it is better to own a rifle than to major in debate at Harvard. At a fork in the river, Lewis and I agreed that the southerly route was better, while the men insisted on heading north. "Anyone who doesn't follow me will be shot," Lewis said, with admirable firmness. Though I wish he'd said, "Follow us."

OCTOBER 1804
Lots of Indians. Lewis told me to find a "safe place" for a fort. We were outnumbered 90 to one; for my next trick, I will walk on water. Anyway, you don't need a presidential commision to figure out what we need to build on the OTHER side of the river.
Tonight I asked Lewis if he would consider hyphenating our mission, so that it will be known as the Lewis-Clark Expedition. But he was already asleep. I think.

DECEMBER 1804
Sacagawea, an Indian woman who joined our corps last month with her husband, asked me, "How come you're always second? C comes before L." I complimented her on her knowledge of our alphabet but said no more.

FEBRUARY 1, 1805
I asked my slave, York, whether he thought our mission should be called the Clark and Lewis Expedition. "Ask me again when I'm allowed to vote," he answered.

APRIL 1805
As we sent off some more artifacts to Washington, it was impossible not to notice that I contributed more of them than Lewis, and better ones too. After dinner I asked that he consider using an ampersand in our mission's name. He said that would make us look like a dance-hall team.
An observation: There is no I in "team." There is an I in "Lewis." LewIs. LewIs. LewIs.

JULY 9, 1805
Killer rapids on the Columbia River. For once, I'm glad I'm number two. If Lewis' canoe doesn't make it, I'll give him a nice eulogy and order the men to begin portaging. The Clark Expedition will then proceed.

LATE SEPTEMBER 1805
"Follow me," the great one commanded. We did, and we nearly starved to death before reaching Idaho. Would love to see THAT in the history books.

NOVEMBER 15, 1805
We saw the actual Pacific today.
But I saw it before Lewis did.

APRIL 1, 1806
At breakfast Lewis showed me a letter he is sending to Jefferson. It closed with:
Respectfully,
Meriwether Lewis
The Clark and Lewis Expedition.
I bowed my head and said, "Thank you, captain." Then he tapped the letterhead's date with his finger. "April Fool," he shouted, cackling so loudly he spooked two horses.
MY two horses.

JUNE 20, 1806
So we've seen the Pacific. Mapped the West. Climbed the Rockies-again. We're almost home!
Today I tamed a squirrel and named it Lewis. Then I shot it. Delicious.

SEPTEMBER 23, 1806
St. Louis. Big crowds, chanting: "Lewis! Lewis! Lewis!"
I no longer care. He and I are two guys who walked a long way, and received bonus pay. Pretty basic. Ten years from now we'll be forgotten anyway.


By Bob Balmer


I got this in my latest issue of Smithsonian. Am I the only one who laughed hysterically while reading it...


Have an awesome Thanksgiving!

-E.G.E.

she's absolutely gorgeous and she knows it. meet coffee, if you haven't already...a precious little gem.. : ) she's a sweetie.  

The infamous Brittany Tissiere... : ) 

Mother, Dad and me 

The Templeton Lounge 

. 

"Sugar Cane" Rag... awesomeness...haha! 

before the concert.  

. 

A Song in my heart. Quite a few...

The following hymns will probablly never impact you exactly the way they pricked me yesterday.
I've heard them over and over again, and they've never hit me like they did. It was incredible. When I play the prelude for church, I just sort of sit there and play whatever hymns come to mind. But yesterday I opened up the hymnbook and it opened to this hymn first.

Sometimes we wonder and wonder and ask and say; "Why am I here? What is my purpose? When I'm ridden with trials and confusion and discouragement, what could possibly be the purpose?" Then I hear the answer. Sometimes its through the beauty of the world, the creation, the way the sunrise lilts across the sky, reminding you. That you aren't supposed to know everything.

"I know not why God's wondrous grace
To me He has made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.

I know not how this saving faith
To me He did impart,
Nor how believing in His word
Brought peace within my heart.

I know not how the Spirit moves,
Convincing men of sin,
Revealing Jesus through the Word,
Creating faith in Him.

I know not what of good or ill
May be reserved for me,
Of weary ways or golden days
Before His face I see.

I know not when my Lord may come
At night or noonday fair,
Nor if I'll walk the vale with Him
Or meet Him in the air.

BUT
"I know whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I've committed
Unto Him against that day."


When you can't know everything
Rest in what you do know. I know that I'm saved by grace and that will never change.
I know who I have belived.
I know that He is able.
I know He holds it all in His hand.

The next hymn I flipped to was just as convicting.

"There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Immanuels veins,
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose ALL their guilty stains:
Lose all their guilty stains,
Lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day,
And there may I,
Though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away:
Wash all my sins away,
Wash all my sins away;
And there may I,
Though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, Your precious blood
Shall NEVER lose its power,
Till all the ransomed church of God
Be saved to sin no more...

Ever since by faith I saw the cleansing stream
Your flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme
And shall be till I die:
And shall be till I die...

When this poor lisping, stammering tongue
Lies silent in the grave,
Then in a nobler, sweeter song,
I'll sing Thy power to save:
I'll sing Thy power to save.
I'll sing Thy power to save;
Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I'll sing Thy power to save.


Extremely Self-Explanitory. Words will only distract from the beauty and power of these two hymns.


-E.G.E.

I saw a man walk by staring at his coffee.

I am going to give an update on my life, for all of you who are deeply interested...
I am starting my career as a wedding photographers assistant! I'm very excited. Most of the weddings will be taking place in the New Jersey area, just outside of NYC. I was asked to help photograph one this wednesday, in West Orange, at The Manor, but I had to decline, since I would have to go into Port Authority by myself, and miss my last Thanksgiving at home. The guy I am going to be working with takes awesome pictures, and has a great eye. He works with photoshop, and is constantly telling me that I need it. I'd be happy to have it, I just can't afford it. My college education is taking priority right at this moment. : )
The concert went great! Brittany and I had a blast, and everyone really seemed to enjoy themselves. Our encore was awesome...haha, we did a rag by Joplin. The "Sugar Cane" to be precise. I had so much fun. It was nice to perform for fun for a change. Now I get to get ready for the state competition in April! Oh Joy! I'm going to do the third movement of Beethovens "Pathetique Sonate". As Micah phrased it; "Pathetic." Hmm. He's an interesting fellow. But I won't get into that right now.
Hopefully Brittany and I will be doing another one, either at the SCC College, or at her church if we can't get in at the college. That will be nice, and for that one, a friend of hers might join us on the guitar for the tango peice, since we'll be closer to where he lives.
Work is normal. It really is great though, I love my job. I've been enjoying it more, especially since I know its my last winter working for them. I enjoy ironing Ed's shirts in the waiting room, while Margie paints, and I definetly enjoy it when Pete and Jenn are gone, the owners of the Landmark, because then I get to spend some quality time with Scooby, their huge white lab. He's absolutely adorable. I take him on walks a lot, or *ahem, he takes ME on walks! He has huge head. I talk to him a lot too. He likes that. He likes his ears pulled on too. He sits there and leans on you and you pull his ears. He's a good boy.
Most times now, I usually walk to the library or the lake, or Dannys Market, an awesome deli on main street. The lake is my favorite though. Its so gorgeous. And I won't be able to walk down much longer once it gets too cold. I'm sure I will though. There's not many people there when its so cold. So its nice. You can just sit on a bench and drink it all in. The library is nice. They have some old leather chairs in front of a fireplace. And they have a mac...haha. And nice big ladders that are attached to the ceiling, and they roll all the way around the room so you can climb up to get the books on the top.
I wish it wasn't so cold, because then I would sleep outside. Because the stars are SO awesome. It was incredible last night. When we got home from church, I just couldn't stop staring at them, and then I saw my breath making wispy smoke and it was pretty against the dark sky. Nate had me crying laughing, as usual. We saw these two blinking lights of a plane, and he goes; "Look! It's Grandma's Eyes!" And then he said;
"Do you see those three stars up there?"
"Yes." (I didn't know which ones he was talking about)
"Thats the Old Man's Cabin and his chainsaw!"
LOL, he's too much. He's really funny though and he makes me laugh. So thats nice.
I'm sick again, but its not too bad, because I can still work and everything. But I wake up with a really sore throat that fades slightly as the day goes on, and my nose is runny and I sneeze a lot. It's sad. But if I don't overwork myself, and I take things slow, I should save myself from getting too sick. But I highly doubt that will happen. I'm working today, then tomorrow I'm going to school, then the gym with Abby, then back to school to rehearse for the Christmas Concert, then bible study that night, Then wednesday I work, and then prayermeeting that night. Then Thursday I get to have the day off. Mom's working in the morning so I'm going to put the turkey in and cook it. Friday I am hopeing to go to the barn to ride ForgetMeNot, because I haven't ridden in SO long. AHHH! I feel deprived! Then Saturday I get to work again. I don't have time for piano this week so I have to cancel. Dad is ordering the tickets for the Messiah Concert in PA. I've never been to one so that will be cool. It will be a really late night/early morning. We probablly won't get back til 2.
Well, its 7:17. I have to start walking down to the White House in about 5 minutes. And pass the old man who gets his paper and waves to me. And the middle-aged man next door who gets in his truck, and blocks the sidewalk and waves to me. And the kid my age who dresses up in a tux to go work at the Otesaga as a valet. And the lady in the Yellow house who always plays her harp. And Mr. Kuhn/Santa Clause, who is always doing something with the front lawn to make it look even more immaculate.
I will drink in all these familiar sights and enjoy them. The sky, the ground, the sidewalk. The houses. Everything. I will try my hardest to always remember them in this way. They are all my friends. : ) Ahhhh sentimental me.. I will go now.

-E.G.E.

Song of the Day: "Try" Bebo Norman

My Family

The quality of the digital is pretty good, the lighting could have been better. I will work on perfecting that. : ) I love my family.

Family Pictures

I shot a few pictures of the family that is currently together today. I took them with my camera, but since those ones won't be developed for a little while, here is a sample on the digital. It turned out nice, I like the shape of it. Hopefully I'll be able to post more pictures from Maine and all that.

-E.G.E.

Photo Friday: "Imperfection"

I did an experiment a couple Sundays ago. I had three pictures left on a roll. I had maybe 4 rolls left in my camera bag. So I said to myself : "I am going to pretend these 3 pictures are all I have left. No more film. I'm through." So as a result, here is Picture # 1 "Blades and Trees" 

Picture # 2 "Chip It To Me" 

Picture # 3 "Communication" 

This lovely bengali shawl given to me by my beloved brother, Nate, has made my illness more bearable. It has given me a sense of nobility while I play and made me feel very ill and sick. If it weren't such a dull, drab, and rainy day, I would walk amongst the flowers and read a bit. But playing suits me just as well, and this wonderful rich garment that may be draped whichever way you please, has made my day pass by more quickly. Mother and Dad are used to me floating about in it, and acting rather...aloof. Thanks Nate. : ) 

I'm giving in...

I have a good reason though, I am not feeling good and bed-ridden. That should be the only reason you do this.
I will give Micah the credit for being a Trend-setter. *sigh/groan*


Esther needs it to all fit together

All Esther needs now is a mullett and some legwarmers.

Esther needs to experience for herself life's turbulent emotions..

Esther needs her first shock treatment

We will do whatever Esther needs us to do... ( I like that one )

Esther needs preperation to fufill her own destiny

Esther needs a lot more help in mathematics

Ahasuerus needs Esther!

We need people like Esther, who breaks the law to get justice for her people... (oh goodness. LOL)

Esther desperatly needs arms

Esther needs to add strength modifer to weapon damage

Esther needs to be needed

Esther needs to venture more into the inner city, the outer banks, the corriders of the Louvre, the sidewalks of...



I cannot believe I just did that.



-E.G.E.

quote of the year

"No, no it wasn't a mall. It was a lot of stores inside a big building."
-Dad

How do you like it? How do you say it?

I like it with one scoop of mint ice cream and one scoop of cotton candy, in a waffle cone please.

Instead of pronouncing it "ba-lon-i", I prefer to say; "bo-log-na". Exactly how its spelt.


I'm really hungry




-E.G.E.

Table For Two

...Well this day's been crazy
But everything's happened on schedule,
from the rain and the cold
To the drink that I spilled on my shirt.
'Cause You knew how You'd save me
before I fell dead in the garden,
And You knew this day
long before You made me out of dirt.

And You know the plans that You have for me
And You can't plan the end and not plan the means
And so I suppose I just need some peace,
Just to get me to sleep


-Caedmon's Call

40 Acres

When The Bee Stings

Today I had piano lessons at 8:30. I missed my turn-off and said to myself; "Thats ok, I'll just do the next one about 100 feet up here..." Missed that one too. So I took River Street, had no idea where I was. Then I finally figured out where I was, rolled into piano lessons at 8:29. HA.
Lessons were good. I ripped up the back of my knuckles pretty bad, as well as my right hand thumb nail, and the right side of my right hand, trying to do a "black key gliss."
After that, I whisked over to the barn, on my way I realized I forgot my boots, and my extra sweater, so I drove home, because I knew I would not last long at the barn dressed the way I was. Especially the red converse. Spurs don't do well with Converse. And they don't really help if your foot slips through the stirrup and gets stuck, and you fall off and are dragging. And they aren't very warm.
I rode ForgetMeNot, (of course) She was awesome (of course) :>D
Then, for the first time in my life, I walked around the ring for about 10 minutes (cooling her off), and rode her with no stirrups. Ever since I fell off Charger, nailed into the wall and got the wind knocked out of me, I lost my confidence completely with that. I felt very proud of myself. I was extrememly confident. Even when the Lapinel kids came tearing in. I didn't worry about them spooking her or anything. It was really, really neat.
Barbara Medina came and I met her for the first time. She owns several of the horses at the barn. I rode her horse Bentley for awhile. Barbara...hmm. Think Aunt Bea meets Southern Belle, meets the most bubbly person you've ever met in your life, meets most "worried-over-nothing" person you've ever met, and you've nailed it. She's so funny. Jackie was riding her horse Riley when she came in, and she's like "SHOULD I LOOK?! DO I DARE?" So I was trying to get her to come see, I'm like; "Barbara, he's doing awesome, he's adorable, you can look." LOL, she's great. She's taking her mare, Daisy home. She learned how to put the leg wraps on her. That was interesting.
Barbara: "So, she'll just stand there, she won't do anything?"
Jackie: "No Barbara. She'll be fine."
Barbara: "She's moving her leg! Am I hurting her?!"
Jackie: "No Barbara. She's fine."
Barbara: "So, she won't do anything while I'm wrapping them. She'll just stand there?"
Jackie: "Yes Barbara."
Hmmm. That went on for much longer.
Meg came and I pretended I didn't know her since I haven't seen her in so long. She was getting Spunky ready to ride.
Meg:"Look at him pinning his ears, he's all mad."
Me: "No he's not. He's happy. Life is fullfilled for him."
Meg: "Know why he's mad? 'Cause he thinks I'm going to ride him. Well- I am."
Anyways. The concert is a week from Friday and I'm wicked nervous. I'm trying not to be. I've got to call Gordon Clarkson, the director of Conference Services, at the Hotel. It's intimidating. It being at the Otesaga. It's so big. And fancy. And intimidating.
I have a lot to do. I'm going now.
Good Evening

-E.G.E.

random conversations from a family that is...well...random.

To truly get the essence of the following dialougues, you must know my family. If you don't, you might still laugh. But it won't be quite as funny.

Nate and I sitting in the car waiting for mom.

Nate: "Can I listen to you ipod?"
Esther: "Yeah. It's on Chopin right now. It's my favorite peice by him."
Nate: "Wow. It is really pretty."
Esther: "Isn't it? It makes everything seem..."
Nate: "It makes it seem like we're all just sitting here, frozen in time, and the world is rushing around us, but we're just sitting here and nothings moving."

Mom at the Gas Station.

Me: *laughing really hard*
Mom: "What?"
Me: "Oh, I was just thinking about all those conversations at the Gas station with you saying; "Honey, I smell gas!" and acting very alarmed.
Mom: *writing in her checkbook, and saying this in a VERY serious manner* "You know what, I do."
Me: *laughing even harder*

Nate on the way home driving past Krazy Toms Carpet Buisness.

"I know that Tom......he's a crazy guy."
(After the above statement, he bursts out laughing thinking that its the funniest thing in the world. I just keep driving. Mom doesn't say anything either. We let Nate crack up at himself. ; )

Discussion about building a retirement house.

Nate: "We could build it up on Dutch Hill. Thats an incredible view!"
Mom: "NATE! Thats "Tornado Alley!"
Nate: "Mom, they've had one Tornado there, and that was six years ago."

Dad, driving through town. Keeping an eye out for the gas prices.

"WHAT?! IT'S $2.52 THERE!!! BJ'S HAD ME PAYING $2.55!!!"

At Subway...

*Nate is picking every pepper off his sandwich and his mouth is burning up*
Dad: "Whats the matter? Too hot for you?"
Nate: *ahhhh* "Yeahhh, which ones are these?" *pointing to the red peppers*
Dad: "Yep. Those are Red Peppers."

*a little bit later in the conversation*

Nate: "I just saw some type of larva float by."
Mom: *sort of distant* "Ohhhhhh..."
Nate: "The kind that rests in unclean places and breeds in rancid meats."
Mom: *munching on a chip, looking off into the distance* "Ohhhhhhh..."
Me: LAUGHING HYSTERICALLY!

On the way into town...
Mom: "Nate what are you going to get Ruth for her birthday?"
*A Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Truck drives by..*
Nate: "I was thinking maybe some Pepperidge Farm Goldfish."


That was all in one afternoon.

-E.G.E.

Sunday Thoughts

A mask on my face
Everythings in place
The game is set
Are you ready to bet
On how long I'm gonna last
Before it's in the past
And gone forever
I can't undo it...

Satisfied

All my life long I had panted
For a draught, from some clear spring,
That I hoped would quench the burning
Of the thirst I felt within.

Feeding on the husks around me,
Till my strength was almost gone,
Longed my soul for something better,
Only still to hunger on.

Poor I was, and sought for riches,
Something that would satisy,
But the dust I gathered round me
Only mocked my soul's sad cry.

Well of water, ever springing,
Bread of life so rich and free,
Untold wealth that never faileth,
My Redeemer is to me.

Hallelujah! I have found Him
Whom my soul so long has craved!
Jesus satisfies my longings
Through His blood I now am saved.

These are a couple pics of an elopement that I photographed last weekend. I mentioned in an earlier post I believe. Mark is sending me more pictures of Deirdre and him, so once I get those, I will post them. They were a very cute couple.  

The wedding begins! 

This is a picture that Mark took of the Landmark Inn, but I thought it was nice, so I'm posting it. : )  

"...love is not a feeling in your chest; it is bending down to wash anothers feet..."

I don't know why I even post anymore. Nobody leaves any comments. It makes me so very low.

Yesterday was a very beautiful day. I was extremely tired this morning and I chose horrible music to listen to, stuff that made me more sleepy. Judy Garland, Nickel Creek, Chris Rice...
Finally, once I was almost done cleaning, I switched to Andrew Peterson. My favorite song today was "All Shall Be Well". I couldn't help but smile really big. : D
But here's the cool part; I went outside to dump the trash. The back lawn is the coolest, in the summer, I sit by the pool and read during my break. Anyways, it's pretty private, Trees sort of make a canopy and frame the sky. There was so many dry and crunchy leaves everywhere and it was really windy today. The type of wind I love... (See post: The Little Things Under: January)
So the leaves all the sudden lifted up and starting whirling around like crazy so I stared up in the sky and they were all flying way up there too. Just whirling around, being very happy.
This happened while "Mountains On The Ocean Floor" was playing, and at the part where he says; "I can't believe I landed here, I swear I swore it off. I know that I can't stand it here, still I came and took a fall. I wish that I should shake it, I wish that I was free, I wish that I was half the man I wish that I could be..."
Somehow in an odd sort of way, It fit.
Quite Perfectly.
During lunch, I played Chopins "Grande Polonaise Brillante" preceded by "Andante Spianato". That peice is absolutely gorgeous.
I was in the office in the spinny chair at the LM and I closed my eyes and spun around and it was so cool and relaxing! Sounds so weird I know...lol
After work I went back to the LM and skipped back to "All Shall Be Well" and walked through every pile of leaves I could find. HAH, and I opened the van door and sat on the floor of it and kicked my feet in the gravel and drank in all the beauty I possibly could. It was SO cool.
It would have been a good day to go to the lake in Cooperstown. I did that last year a lot. While I waited for Ruth to finish work. She would flip out that I went by myself. Lol, it's COOPERSTOWN...
I would sit and dip my feet in the water and do school. *sigh* So nice...
Last summer was so funny. One day I was walking to the LM for lunch and I noticed a sprinkler on our front lawn, ( I mean the White House ) So I come back and its now watering the sidewalk and the road. Lol, Someone moved it. Somehow, I'm thinking this is absolutely halarious and I'm laughing as I tell Mark all about it, meanwhile, Chris (his son) is staring at me like I have two heads. (Most kids my age look at me like that.) So Mark says; "Well, maybe its one of those new sprinklers that move, and adjust themselves." This sent me even more over the edge, so I say even more sarcastically; "OH! Goodness! Modern Tech! I should have known.."
So now, Marks son is looking at me like I have four heads, instead of two.
I could not stop laughing. Everyone thought I was a little looney. They still do. But thats why they all love me so much! : )
Anyways, Geuss you had to be there...
I won't even get into the story about the giant clocks...yet...

Thats all for now. I think.

- E.G.E.

Song of the Day; "Jealous of the Moon"- Nickel Creek

Oh I forgot. I spilt bleach on my shirt, It was a light blue work polo, so it didn't matter much. But its really white now.

"All Shall Be Well"

We touched down on the sound
At the top of the world
In the land of the midnight sun
Where the frozen river melts away
And breaks into a run
Into the sea, into the mighty waves
That waited just to see it
From a long way off that river thawed
And the tide ran out to meet it
“Welcome home, unfrozen river, welcome home”

‘Cause all shall be well, all shall be well
Break the chains of the gates of Hell
Still all manner of things will be well

See the quiet hearts of the children of
The children of this land
They have stayed alive in the day-long night
By the fires that warm their hands
There is a wilderness inside them
It is dark and thick and deep
And beside the fire at the heart of that wood
Is a precious missing sheep
So go on in, hold your torch, let it shine

‘Cause all shall be well, all shall be well
Break the chains of the gates of Hell
Still all manner of things will be well
All shall be well, all shall be well
The Word of God will never fail
And all manner of things will be well

There’s a light in the darkness
There’s an end to the night

I saw the sun go down on a frozen ocean
As the man in the moon was rising
And he rode the night all full and bright
With his face at the far horizon
And the night can be so long, so long
You think you’ll never get up again
But listen now, it’s a mighty cloud of
Witnesses around you—they say
“Hold on, just hold on
Hold on to the end
And all shall be well”

-AP

kaleidescope

My day started with piano lessons at 8:30, which were very excellent. Baby was there, My piano teachers dog, and he layed by my feet while I played.
I was telling Kim all my nerves about memorizing, especially the Pathetique Sonate. The second movement is so easy to memorize, but I have to do it in 17 days. Well, 16 soon. So I was nervous. He was loungeing on the couch, and said "Just play it." So I started, and I was messing up a little bit into it, and he's saying; "No, its a c....that chord is d..." I'm thinking how can he know that, he's sitting way over there.... Well, thats my piano teacher for you. Well, once I finished it, I felt a bit more confident that I had actually tried. Then he told me that I should play it, so that everyone can feel my "passionate spirituality". Hmmm. But seriously. I played it again, and I looked out the window this time, and I played it for God. Not just sitting there and saying "Well, Lord, this is for You." But thinking about Him while I played it. Meditating on Him. It was so great! Once I got home later, I couldn't stop playing it. For the past few months, I've been diggin the routine of playing with my eyes closed. Just so I can feel it. So my hands become very familiar with the keys, and that I can just feel the music and not have to be looking at my hands. So now when I play, I usually look away from the keyboard. I find that it helps me to play better. It's sort of how people who jump, don't look over the fence when they jump their horse over it. They turn their head and let the horse jump the fence, without having to worry about wondering if the horse is going to make it, when they know the horse is going to make it. Ok, I'm sure that made sense to the horse world, but for all the rest of you....
Geuss you'll just have to start riding. : )
Sometimes Jackie has me close my eyes while I'm riding too. It's really the same thing. You know the horse knows what to do. And you have to feel the connection and the balance, and whether it looks good, without looking...
You play with everything. Not your hands, arms, eyes.... You don't have to look. Because you play... hmm...
Anyways, after piano I went to my Dentist appointment, waited there for a flipping hour. I didn't care though. I just slept and chatted with the office ladies. We're all pretty good friends by now.
Then I went to Walmart and did a few things, and then I dropped off my film. So hopefully I will be posting pics soon! In abundance! : ) I had about 20 rolls.
Then I came home, (it is noon by now) and I talked to mom, and then Mrs. Boman came and we went to Mrs. Washburns house. Mrs. Washburn is an elderly lady in our church, very sweet. In the post about the lady who passed away, Leah Evans, I didn't mention that Mrs. Washburn was one of her best friends.
So it was neat seeing her, she showed me a bunch of old pictures that were incedibly cool, there was this one, with this group of people in front of a church. It must have been early, early 1900's, I could make out a model t ford in the backround, I think. But it was a great picture. So Mrs. Boman was reading this devotion thing to her, and I was just staring at the picture, then out the window, then at the picture again. It was very, very neat.
I was one of those pictures that is worth 2000 words, over 1000. I'm sure it was worth much, much more, but that is the figure that seemed to prove my point.
So we were there till three, because we got lost along the way, and had a very pleasant drive along the countryside of upstate New York, and it was very beautiful.
The clouds were so great! They spread out for miles and miles along the sky, and seemed really identical, and looked just like an army marching along slowly! So neat, I never had seen anything like it before, and I couldn't stop staring at them! They were really marching out to war! You could see it! I wished I had my camera with me, the sky was a pretty shade of blue, not too harsh, and the hills were green, with little sheep grazing. And cows. The Washburns had two baby chickens peeping like crazy. It was cute.
Yesterday I had school in the morning. Talked with my extended family... : ) And had a bible study with Abby in the afternoon. It was very good. Mark and Andrew asked me to play football with them... lol, I was wearing my plaid pants and I was wearing nicer things for once, and I'm like "Ummm, let me think about it-no." So then after they played football we chilled outside. It was so nice out. I miss all those b-ball days. They were so much fun. Our team rocks, contrary to what Quinn and Matt will tell you.
Poor Abby, I talked to Jon for about an hour during our bible study time, and she was waiting so patiently! She's a great girl. : )
Well, I think that is it for now.

-E.G.E.

Now playing: A random Jane Eaglen cd