From One To The Other

So, today has been an extremely nerve-wracking day. You would think after having both skydived and bungy jumped, and traveled to a random country without knowing anyone that I would not have been nervous on my first day back at Colorado College. Unfortunately, you would be wrong. However, loss of sleep managed to calm my nerves as I was too dazed to be affected by the stampede of acquaintances that I have not seen in 8 months. Having a schedule again has also helped calm my nerves, yet has frazzled my brain, which is wondering why I ever missed the intensity of the block plan. To break another nerve, I finally entered my essay into Nicholas Kristof's Win-A-Trip on the day of the deadline. This essay has been a long time coming (the contest was announced a month ago) and I do not believe I have much chance of winning. However, I can say that I learned a lot about myself and confirmed the general direction that want to head in life. It also gave me a lot of new ideas for this blog and youtube page, so get pumped!

Today's photos are of Spirit's Bay in Northland, New Zealand. For the Maori, it is where the spirits of the dead head off for their journey to the afterlife. Considering the pain, rubble, and shock in Haiti right now, I feel that showing images of this amazingly peaceful place brings a little hope that though we are in pain on earth, those who have left us are no longer suffering (and are perhaps, better off).

Stand Tall

Cape Reinga, New Zealand

Let Your Heart Take Over Your Mind

I decided not to post a photo of mine today because I cannot find one that adequately expresses my emotions. I am utterly devastated by the earthquate in Haiti, a country, that friends and family know, I have been trying to reach for 4 years. Now, more than ever my body yearns to follow my heart there. For a country that was just beginning to feel the signs of slight progress and hope, complete destruction. Minds cannot begin to comprehend the situation, but perhaps hearts can. Please think with your heart rather than mind and help out the way you feel is best, ignoring this tragedy is not an option if you listen to your soul.

Here are some links to help us all help out (during the initial response and long term recovery) and stay informed:
Anderson Cooper
Nicholas Kristof
Yele
Partners in Health
Huffington Post
Care.org
Charity:Water
Heifer International

First Meeting

Well, I'm not too sure who, but people say that "they" say the holiday season is the busiest time of the year and I'm not going argue. Christmas at my grandmother's house, full of introducing the puppies to the wonders of life outside of a kennel (see above), unpacking from Colorado College's spring semester and Auckland University's last semester, then packing to head out to Colorado again has taken up my life the past couple of weeks. Add in a road trip from South Carolina to Colorado during a winter storm and record lows (don't remind me), plus moving into a new house, and it's been slightly hectic over here on my side of the blogosphere. However, no worries, I am back on a schedule and ready to post some great photos to visually stimulate your emotions. So, basic message of this post: bookmark my blog and check it every day for updates because I'm back to work!

Exploring

I know, I know, I haven't written in awhile. My apologies. It has been a rough transition back into life in g-vegas. However, after a rough patch, my sister got home and a few days later we both went to the Greenville Humane Society and each got a puppy. In fact, we adopted sisters! So, I went from not wanting to write while sad to not writing because I was having too much fun playing with my new best friend. My sister's dog (Goose) will live with her while she finishes law school and mine (Koru) will move out to Colorado with me while I finish school out there. So even though they have to be separated, at least they'll still get reunions.

I've been nervous about how Koru will enjoy the snow and the cold. Luckily, I got to test out how Koru would like snow when my Grandmother got snowed in North Carolina and I got to drive up to rescue her (my car is the only one in the family that has 4WD). I took Koru up with me and her reaction to the snow was priceless - she pounced on every shadow, ran up hills only to slide down them, tried to eat the snowballs thrown at her head as they dissolved, and overall never wanted to leave. Seems like she'll fit right in.

I wish everyone a wonderful night and day tomorrow (whether you are celebrating Christmas or not). The best part about all of this Holiday madness is that it reminds us about how time, understanding, and fun with the family are important to happiness in life. I give everyone my love and cheer. Y'all deserve only the best.

My Christmas presents for your eyes are these amazing Flikr photostreams: Bladerunner, Lightmechanic, BlaisOne, Tackyshack, & Biskitboy. This is also cool: Space Collective.

Also, I'm pretty sure these are mandatory to watch every Christmas season: PC Xmas, 12 Days of Christmas - Straight Chaser, & Improv Handbells.

New Zealand Christmas Tree

A pohutukawa tree outside of Auckland.

Run & Jump

While my parents were planning their trip to visit me in New Zealand, I made sure that they put Wellington on our itinerary. After all, since learning all about Peter Jackson in my New Zealand cinema class, I felt the need to stalk him (with the hope that we would meet and he would discover how passionate I am about good films and decide to give me a job... as you may have guessed, this occurrence only happened in my dreams). My parents patiently stopped by the Weta Cave with me as I drooled all over the displays (I feel like this happens a lot - the staff was ready with mop in hand). Then they wanted to go to Te Papa, the national museum of New Zealand, so I fulfilled my daughterly duties and went with them. Don't get me wrong, I am all about learning new things, they just need to be either (1) on the discovery or history channels with cool graphics and reenactments or (2) interactive. I soon discovered that Te Papa is highly known for the latter :) I took this photo near the end of our adventure through the museum. It's an interactive map of New Zealand that shows one how each part of the islands was formed when one walks over certain locations (you can see my lovely parents in the background pointing out Wellington). Call me a nerd, but it was awesome.



Now for some cool links, I know I haven't posted any in a while, so I hope these make up for it:

(1) Watch this interview by Rachel Maddow; it's a few days old, but oh so good. She schools a well-spoken but utterly simplistic thinking (is idiotic too harsh?) man: Click Here

(2) There are no special effects in this video yet it's better than half the special effects infused blockbusters. Crazy, aye? Click Here

(3) Another reason I love my generation is because of websites like this (most of us have a good sense of humor)!

(4) If anyone is concerned for my future in filmmaking, this article may not be for you... but don't worry, I'll change it all when I get there... :/