Me according to the internet

You Belong in Amsterdam

A little old fashioned, a little modern - you're the best of both worlds. And so is Amsterdam. Whether you want to be a squatter graffiti artist or a great novelist, Amsterdam has all that you want in Europe (in one small city).

What European City Do You Belong In?

You Should Travel to Cambodia

While you might not go all Angelina Jolie and adopt a baby... You can still appreciate Cambodia's rich history and deserted beaches.

What Asian Country Should You Visit?

Your Inner European is Dutch!

Open minded and tolerant. You're up for just about anything.

Who's Your Inner European?

You Should Spend Your Summer in the City

You're a trooper, and the summer heat doesn't really get to you. So you rather stay in the city, where you can sip iced lattes and go to midnight movies. Forget the beach! You rather be where the good restaurants and stores are.

Where Should You Spend Your Summer?

You Are Boston

Both modern and old school, you never forget your roots. Well educated and a little snobby, you demand the best. And quite frankly, you think you are the best. Famous people from the Boston area: Conan O'Brien, Ben Affleck, New Kids on the Block

What American City Are You?

American Cities That Best Fit You::

65% Chicago

65% New York City

65% Philadelphia

65% Washington, DC

55% Atlanta

Which American Cities Best Fit You?

You Belong in the East Village

A little bit arty, a little bit punk - you seem to set trends that many people follow. It's likely that you're an academic of sorts, even if it's just on the weekends.

Where Should Your Inner New Yorker Live?

Hobo-tastic

Inquiring minds may want to know what's up with the 2 week hiadis (and my inability to spell). The answer: my life has been uneventful. Fun at times, bordering on boring at others, and generally lacking anything worthy of a post or a rant. I leave for Alaska to visit Claire, Dave, and Anna on Saturday, the excitement about which fills in whatever gaps remain in my day after working two jobs and spending time with friends.
I have, however, been getting fancy with my dorm cooking, and some of you will be amused/horrified by my culinary life, so here's a little something to tide you over until something worth talking about happens in my life.

My kitchen is the second closet in my room (yes, I have 2 small closets). It contains a mini fridge, a lot of ShopRite brand products, mostly nonperishable (though I did spring for a loaf of bread and I always have tortillas), a hot pot, and 2 IKEA skillets. I have recently branched out from meals consisting of only 1 or 2 ingredients (or cans or packets) and have now made two dishes requiring 4 and 5 ingredients respectively.
1. Pasta Alfredo (4 ingredients, 25 minutes)
bow tie pasta, jar alfredo sauce, cold cut ham, canned peas. So that's carbs, cheese, meat and veggies! Go me! And I have enough left over for 2 more meals.
2. Quesadillas (5 ingredients, 10 minutes)
tortillas, shredded cheese, chunky salsa, canned corn, canned black beans. I probably have some variation on quesadillas 2 or 3 times each week. They are excellent.

The other night a few of us went to Shakespeare in the Park (a '60s rendition of Twelfth Knight) and for the picnic I contributed Portuguese rolls, spreadable cheese (the yummy little triangles, not cheese whiz), strawberry jelly, and pitas with babaganoushe (hummus-like dip made from eggplant). It was an excellent and internationally inspired meal.

Fear not for my nutritional lack, for tonight (and once each week all summer) I eat with Kevin and Alisa and their baby Hannah. Alisa was my RA freshman year, and Kevin was Claire and Bianca's. Alisa makes sure I have a truly balanced meal at least once a week.

I'm back on the school meal plan in about 3 weeks. I never thought Aramark would be a welcome addition to my life. We'll see how I feel about that in a few months.

An Ode to Frequent Flyer Miles

Soon I will fly through the air
To see my very best friend Claire.
She's married to a great man, Dave.
They to see my miles I saved.
To many distant lands I roam,
But with these friends I am at home.
There is more excitement still:
Who else will be there? Anna will!
We'll galavant and laugh and hike,
and perhaps I'll even ride a bike.
I'll see the Glacier Mendenhall,
Praising Jesus through it all.
Who knew at what a rapid rate
sky miles I could accumulate?
Now I simply wait with glee,
my three friends to so soon see.
There are many other friends I miss.
You may yourself be on that list.
I will come to Minneapolis and Scotland,
Chicago, Boston and Spokompton
I'll add to my frequent flyer miles,
To see you if only once in a while.

Happy Birthday Kyna (like a key)

Today is the birthday of Kyna-kyna-bo-beena, my lovely friend who says things like "honey, I'm home!" and "Get a grip."
Kyna and I lived around the hall (yes, it is possible to live around a hall) from each other in Tiki our freshman year at Whitworth. We were 2 of the 5 people who faithfully attended hall dinner and hall activities and took over the RA apartment on Thursday nights. We bonded over a crazy semester with LDS missionaries (more about that is available on the not internet), and were birthday buddies that year. She threw me a little fiesta, and I don't rememer what I did for her, but there was probably chocolate involved. Other fun memories of Kyna: stealing (er, borrowing) SAGA trays and going sledding on them in the Back 40; making fun of the first Harry Potter movie in the theater, though I have since been converted to a lover of the Potter; going to Didier's with Lactaid on Tuesdays; Urbana; walking from the Chicago Art Institute to Navy Pier in the frigid cold with our Urbana luggage because they wouldn't let us take it in the Art Institute (okay, so we're both still a little bitter about that, but warm drink at Navy Pier were very welcome); family dinner; venting; food and coffee when I visited last April; more food and coffee before Claire's wedding; and most recently talking late into the night at Mary's mom's house after Fishy's wedding then spending the next morning at the beach in Edmonds (see pictures a few posts ago).
Kyna is pretty much just awesome. She is encouraging and loving and real and an all around great friend and I miss her a lot. I feel at home with her, and I hope she come to see me very soon. I also hope she returns my calls and emails me her mailing address so I can send her card, which will now be late ;)

In other news, Jeni has the internet now! Which means she can call the US super cheap so we got to talk this morning!!! :)

Little Miss Sunshine

I just got back from seeing Little Miss Sunshine. I kid you not, I have never laughed so much at a movie in my life. It's smart, well-written, brilliantly acted and HILARIOUS. You must go see it. I laughed so hard I gave myself an asthma attack. Scamper off now and be entertained.

Aural Update

While having dinner with my field ed. supervisor the topic of my ear surgery came up. In true small town pastor form, Peggy was familiar with Dr. Farmer and his recent split from Dr. Kay's practice. Apparently the reason for the split was fishy. She contacted a friend who is a nurse at the hospital and learned that Dr. Farmer is aging and suffering from the natural effects of age such that she would not recomend my having him perform the operation. Sheesh! So yesterday I found another doctor in the area, Dr. Goldfarb, who seems younger and more reputable. Peggy is checking with her friend for confirmation. In the mean time, I have an appointment with Dr. Goldfarb tomorrow, and am still hoping to be able to get the surgical portion of this adventure taken care of before school starts. Stay tuned for more adventures in Miranda's aural orifice!

In other news, tomorrow is Claire's 23rd birthday!!! She doesn't get a blog tribute because she doesn't read my blog, being significantly less attached to the internet than most of us, but y'all know I love her and you love her too (or at least those of you who know her do).

A Birthday Tribute to My Jeni

I love Jeni! That's how I've greeted my Jeni since sometime freshman year, and it continues to be the most accurate way to describe my reaction to seeing this dear friend of mine. My little heart just swells with happiness every time I see her lovely face.
Here are just a few of the reasons I love my Jeni, in honor of the beginning of her 24th year of life (as in it's her 23rd birthday).
1. She is one of the very few people who has made me laugh so hard that I almost peed my pants.
2. She is the my only female friend who's taller than me and thus I have no qualms about the running leap hug (except for the time I did it not knowing that her back was messed up).
3. She is one of the most beautiful women I know, truly a unique and wonderfully crafted woman.
4. She is unfailingly generous, even when she's broke and out of time.
5. She loves, and shows it.
6. She is a sister in Christ, and a faithful companion in the journey we're both on.

Not only do I love Jeni, I admire and respect her for many reasons, among them being:
1. She just moved across the world with only her husband and the dream of becoming a large animal veterinarian. I've done a lot of travelling, but I don't know that I'm brave enough to do that.
2. She works her hiney off, but doesn't let her school work own her.
3. She loves her husband and friends very much.
4. She loves the Lord, and doesn't put up a front about her spiritual life. She's honest about her joys and struggles.
5. Her interests and expertise are broad (unlike mine). I don't know many people who could be equally successful as a poet or a research scientist, a medieval literature savant or a castrator.

Finally, a few favorite memories of me and my Jeni:
1. Telling life stories in s-group.
2. Driving to LA and going to the Ren Fair in San Bernardino.
3. Jamba.
4. Family dinner nights, especially blindfolded night and pirate night.
5. Staying up all night at our s-group slumber parties.
6. Her wedding (of course), and the preceding festivities.
7. eating our way across NYC last February after her Glasgow interview.
8. Hanging out in Spokane in April and July, and realizing that we don't have to do anything special or make big plans because we are family and just being in the same place is special enough.

For all this and more, I love Jeni, yes I do, I love Jeni, how 'bout you?