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D.C. State of Mind

laurenadler — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:39:03 +0000

I’m off to Washington DC later this afternoon with the rest of Pierce College Puyallup Student Government. We’re off to attend a national conference on Student Councils retuning on Wednesday. I am very thankful and excited for this opportunity — I have never been to Washington DC and this is only my second time on the East Coast! It will be fantastic to see our nation’s capitol and see where history is made — almost everyday!

It is my hope to post during my trip, but realize it may not happen. If I don’t post before my return, I wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving. Take the time to enjoy your friends and family — and of course give thanks! Then, next Friday, kick off the Holiday season!! Black Friday is one of my FAVORITE days of the year!

Stay warm!

A new look, a new name

ahaines — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:16:48 +0000

My blog has been a bit spastic lately. I’ve changed its appearance several times this week, trying out a variety of looks and styles until settling on this one, and I’ve finally come up with a name. The boring “Amanda Haines” title was simply a placeholder while I waited for something creative to percolate. It’s just taken me longer than I expected.

So, let me explain the new look and the new name.

First, the photo above is one I took while hiking with my stepmom Betsy in the hills south of Medford, Ore., last January. It was a great day and we caught a beautiful view. I love this photo. Plus, I grew up in that area and it reminds me of being a moody, creative teenager.

Second, the new name is one I’ve been cooking up in my brain for the past few weeks. It stems from an actual experience I had while running south of Eatonville. I got home and found a pine needle in my underpants. I have no idea how it got there, but it was a fantastic and unexpected surprise. Life often feels like having a pine needle in your underpants. It’s kinda funny. Kinda strange. And always unpredictable.

Plus, I think “underpants” is my favorite word of all time. It’s so wonderfully childish. Anything is funny when it has the word “underpants” attached to it. For example, “mass casualties” sounds awful, but “mass underpants casualties” sounds like a story I want to hear. (Maybe I should write that story? Hmmm.)

Let me know what you think of the changes.

IG Clubhouse Linux Debut

Kurt — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:38:11 +0000

I have always wanted an open-source Clubhouse – with computers running Linux.. SO…..this Friday, the dream has started to come true, at the Intergenerational Clubhouse (Lakewood Presbyterian Church) we will be showcasing a new Puppy Linux that is LOADED (I mean really loaded) with games for all ages. We will also be showing folks how to put this awesome operating system on their own computers. How cool is that?

We will have some special visitors from the local Linux Users group helping us out so I need people to come by. Of course we will also have fun playing foosball, fighting boffer battles, eating, etc..

This is phase one for the IG Clubhouse. Phase two will be installing a more formidable version of Linux that we can learn from and tweak to our hearts content. But that comes later. I hope to see you all on Friday, 4:00-9:00 pm.

A Few Tunes

laurenadler — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:37:05 +0000

Anyone who knows me knows that I love, love, love music. It’s a really weird obsession I have – seriously, I listen to all music (except Country) from all time periods. I am so thankful that I grew up having music a large presence in my life because music is definitely what gets me through my days. I have songs for all different times of my life and any given song can remind me of a certain time, place, or person. Music is great for nostalgia, too — which is something I fall under quite often.

I thought I would share some songs that I’m really into right now. Some are new, some are old. However, they all have some sort of meaning to me… or have some sort of memory attached.

Snoop Dogg (feat. The-Dream): Gangsta Luv
Britney Spears: 3
Lady Gaga: Bad Romance
General Public: Tenderness
Jay-Z (feat. Swizz Beats): On to the Next One
Kanye West (feat. Mr. Hudson): Paranoid
Paramore: When it Rains
The Veronicas: Untouched

Take time to enjoy the music in your life. Whether you create, write, or just listen to music — I’m sure it has an important place in your life.

When in doubt, list

ahaines — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:28:49 +0000

Sometimes, a gal just needs to make a list. Here’s mine.

Things I Love Right Now

• CSI: I tend to run five to seven years behind in movies and TV, and this is a perfect example. I only recently discovered this show and I’m hopelessly addicted. Luckily, it’s in syndication and can be found on almost any channel around the clock. I love how disgusting and graphic it is, and how it kinda makes me barfy if I’m eating and watching at the same time.

• Solitaire: I’m not talking about that newfangled solitaire on the computer. I’m talking about real solitaire with real cards and no auto-shuffle. It’s very relaxing and makes me feel like a really boring Don Draper. Of course, like my grandma, I play until I win every night.

• Spray cheese: I got this for my dogs’ kongs (dog people know what a kong is), but I’ve been taking hits off it. As shameful as it is to admit, spray cheese is a strange and wonderful invention. I have no idea how it works or why it doesn’t need refrigeration, but a couple squirts on my dirty ol’ finger is darn tasty.

• Eggnog: I’m lactose-intolerant, but eggnog is totally worth the pain. Thank goodness I live alone.

• Anne Rice: I’m rereading her vampire books and loving them all over again. I read these as a teenager and, surprisingly, they really stand the test of time. Rice is a very gifted writer and escaping into an alternate reality is incredibly satisfying. (As a sidenote, I actually went to an Anne Rice book signing in college. She wore a weird wig like the one Rick James wore in the Superfreak video. It had gold braids in it and everything. She was nice, but kinda weird. I loved it!)

• “All My Rowdy Friends Have Settled Down:” This is a Hank Williams Jr. song circa 1984. I’ve heard it twice in two days and I could hear it a million more times and never be tired of it. It’s rolling through my head right now. I love it. Hank Williams Jr. turned out some good stuff back in the day (before he got all Monday Night Football). If you haven’t heard the tune, check it out.

More later, I’m sure!

Tired

laurenadler — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:09:41 +0000

This Veteran’s Day, it was definitely not a day off. I spent the day working my other job (not my Student Government job) in Lakewood. While it’s nice to get away and have a change of pace mid-week (usually I work out here on Fridays), I could have really used this day to catch up on homework and other things. However, I am reminded that so many of the Americans who serve this country go without days off for long periods at a time – so, on this Veteran’s Day, I can’t really complain for not having one extra day this week to relax and get caught up.

With that, I would like to take the time to thank all of the men and women – past, present, and future – who have and will serve this country. Without these dedicated individuals, Americans would not have so many rights and privileges. Thank you all.

Enjoy your Wednesday.

A rare serious moment

ahaines — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:13:26 +0000

This Veterans Day feels harder than any other I can remember. The tragedy at Fort Hood and the spate of shootings in the week since, combined with the loss of so many of our Fort Lewis soldiers since the summer, has made today a difficult day. There have been so many lives lost and families destroyed, just in the past two weeks, that it’s hard to sit at my desk on this day and not feel that it’s a betrayal of what this holiday is supposed to mean.

To be honest, Veterans Day has never been on my list of “real holidays.” I have no family or friends in the military, and the two wars we’re fighting have touched me in no direct way. I’ve lost no one. I’ve missed no one. I’m very thankful for that.

However, not having that direct connection has made it difficult to understand the challenges our soldiers and their families face every day. I can’t imagine what it’s like in Afghanistan or Iraq right now or how horrible it must be to spend months, even years, away from a spouse or children. I can’t imagine being in such a dangerous place, knowing I might never come back. I can’t imagine what it’s like to lose close friends in battle or not to know if the next road might be lined with bombs. I can try to understand, but the true reality of those situations is beyond my experience.

But, our soldiers are facing all of those things right now. That such brave people exist is truly remarkable. I couldn’t do it and I’m in awe of anyone who can. So, to all the soldiers out there and to all of their families, I’m sending a heartfelt thanks. Thanks for all the hard work you’ve done and continue to do. Thanks for volunteering your body and your heart so that the rest of us can go about the nonsense of our ordinary lives. Thanks for your sacrifice. Thanks for your strength. Thanks for your courage.

Taiwan

Yi-Tsan — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:32:03 +0000

I am from Taiwan. I love Taiwan so much.

Everything is cheap and awesome in there.

I keeep telling my friends that they have to start a group, and they can go to travel in Taiwan.

That will be so great. I will be your guide.

I have some link for you.

http://eng.taiwan.net.tw/

http://www.sinica.edu.tw/tit/

http://wikitravel.org/en/Taiwan

Checking out.

I will post more pictures about Taiwan more often.

Committees

Yi-Tsan — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:23:59 +0000

Just wondering

Does anyone that is interested in joining committee?

Please let me know.

I have lots of meetings now, so I need someone helps me to attend them.

Thnak you so much.

Lakewood’s Promise News

Kurt — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:43:46 +0000

The Clubhouse has been producing Lakewood’s Promise News which can be found on the Lakewood’s Promise Website. There are so many stories that we hope to cover during the year. Camera Crew and Interviewers are needed to go out and get the footage for upcoming events. Here is what’s coming up…

Friday, November 13……. Coffee with the Mayor (need a homeschool crew because it is in the morning)

Monday, November 16….. Interview the Lakewood Youth Council

Saturday, November 28 ….. Stuff the Bus

Contact Kurt or Rain if you want to help out.