faith + portuguese

So tired. Wednesday was the beginning of the mask photo shoots... sure I'm not taking pictures, but I have to be there. I'm so tired. I help out with the mask for most of the day, and then I go to my office and work my regular 30 hours a week. My room is a wreck at home. Clothes are everywhere. This week has been quite a challenge. I'm relieved that school is starting tomorrow.

I am so glad that everyone is back here in Walla Walla. I keep seeing friends everywhere and it's so great to catch up with all of you. I'm so happy that I my registration has been finalized. Friday night I came home and I checked to see what my down-payment to get into school this quarter was. I just about died when I saw it. I really felt completely hopeless. I stayed up another couple of hours worrying. I called my mom and we prayed about it. I don't know why it is that I have so little faith. God has been working miracles for my family for years, and yet I still never believe. I am so caught up in this world. I'm used to taking care of myself, doing it all myself, taking on the world, just all by myself. Even the littlest bit of faith can do wonders. We've been told this, time and again as children growing up in the church. Have faith.

As horrid as it may sound, I need times like this to show me my lack of faith. I need a slap in the face to recognize my error. To realize that I need to have more faith. There is no way that my faith will grow if I do not at first notice a lack of it. A verse comes to mind. I don't know where it is found. To be honest, I don't really read my Bible. I know I should. I make excuses of not having the time, etc. Believe me, I really want to read it. Anyways, a verse comes to mind that goes something like this:

"I rejoice in weakness and in hard times, for in those times I am made strong through Christ." 2 Cor. 12:10

I looked it up on google to see where it was found, but this is in my words and how I have interpreted it. Not many verses in the Bible have stuck in my head, but this one will always have it's place. I find it applicable in just about any situation. With school starting up, me taking 16 credits, working 15 hours a week, and being in charge of my finances, this verse will be often thought of.

On a lighter note (literally—but not intended to be taken as humorous) I have been listening to some fun music from the soundtrack of the movie Thicker Than Water. Most of it is Jack Johnson, of which I'm not really a huge fan of, but there is this artist called Smoke City. There is one song on the soundtrack called 'Underwater Love'. It is gorgeous. It is sung in both English and Portuguese. I've often heard that Italian is the most beautiful language in the world, but in my humble opinion, Portuguese is the most beautiful language I have ever heard anyone utter. Smoke City had a few singles released in the late 90's and I believe one last album released in 2000. They are from the U.K. but have Brazilian influences. So beautiful.

As for other recording artists that sing in foreign languages, I really enjoy the group Brazilian Girls. The vocalist can sing in at least five different languages including English, French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese. I really enjoyed their first self-titled album the most, but their second album 'talk to la bombe' also has a grungy, coarse charm about it. I recommend both.

the past forever...

Things I've been up to: Nothing. Well, actually something. Last weekend I was lazy and cleaned my house. I refused to drive to portland even though I had tickets to a concert. Sunday I woke up and went grocery shopping. I happened to run into this girl from my work who asked if I was going to the wedding. I forgot that this girl I work with is getting married, and I had previously said that if I was in town, I'd make an appearance. I decided that I'd be nice and go. I dragged Dennis as a 'people watching' accomplice and had a better time of it than I would have alone.

After the wedding I decided firmly that I couldn't/wouldn't stay home when I had tickets to a fun concert and that I would drive 500 miles... well not that many, but a significant amount of miles to see Wolf Parade. I drove the three and a half hours. It was a nice drive. I had time to think, which is a luxury these days. Also had time to shuffle through the new music on my iPod. Some good stuff.

I'm pretty much in love with Bishop Allen, Band of Horses, and some album called The Swell Season, by some people who I can never remember their names. I love driving for long periods of time after I've gotten new music. It gives me time to listen to it all and filter through what I like and don't like.

The concert was great fun. I got there earlier and heard the first band... I wasn't impressed so I left and ate some dinner at Whole Foods, and then went to Powell's for a while. I could live in there. So many books... so little time. :) By then, the first band was done and I went to hear this other band called Holy F*ck... I didn't think I'd like them due to their lack of taste in name, but I enjoyed their fresh beats and great... well, it was electronic and I'm not entirely sure that I know how they were making some of the noises that they were... but it was very good. I liked it a lot. This one guy had this thing that was like a piano crossed with a trumpet... and instead of blowing into it, he blew into this tube that was attached to it... I can't explain it. It was something to behold. Very fun.

Finally wolf parade came out and played. I was in love. They played a bunch of new stuff that I hadn't really heard much of yet, but they mixed in enough of 'apologies to the queen mary' to please me and most of the crowd. I was wearing flip-flops and almost died when kids around us started to jump around... apart from some of the claustrophobic feelings I experienced, I had a great time. For the encore they played my favourite song, I'll believe anything... I loved it. I was deaf afterwards, but it was definitely worth driving there and back and losing sleep over.

Work this week was awful. Somehow it's Friday and it's all over. I'm so relieved. Neighbors moved into the house next to mine. Now I'm living between my boss and the lady who used to be my dean... life should be interesting.

I've been freaking out about school starting in like 10 days because I got a financial audit from the Student Finance Dept. but it looks like everything is in order so I should be attending yet another year of college... shame it wont be my last. I have an extra quarter, and then I have to come back for 2 upper division classes... how does this happen? I don't know.

Latest music I have come to love: 'photograph' by Eagle Seagull... I like them... a lot. Almost as much as I love New Young Pony Club... but not quite as much. :)


Ps: I finally cleaned up that bike behind my house. It's hot. I want to ride my bicycle, but the breaks don't work and it needs more air in the tires. I am going to wait a while before I fix it further. It is clean and free of spiders for now. So cute!!!