[myrrh]anda

No, I dont want to drink Poo to Celebrate.

2012-01-28T13:29:00.000-08:00

In elementary school, my friend was known as the girl who hated chocolate. Some kids thought it was strange, but for the most part everyone just marveled at her unique preference. Yet, somehow, when I tell people I hate drinking [alcohol], no one marvels. In fact, I usually get one of two reactions:
A) The person somewhat backs away & stammers, "wh-whhyyy...." in a frightened way
OR
B) They are simply confused & then proceed to ask me the SAME question - "wait, you. DON'T. drink?" - this time, much more pronounced.

So let me explain:
Alcohol tastes like crap to me. So when you ask me why I'm not going to "have a drink to celebrate my birthday," my brain hears it as: "You don't want to drink Poo to celebrate your birthday?"
OF COURSE I DON'T!!! ESPECIALLY ON MY BIRTHDAY!
For me, alcohol not only tastes disgusting, but it makes me feel sick, makes my hands and neck itch (awkward), and makes my head feel like it is pumping blood while my heart Pogo-sticks around my rib cage. & this isn't after 4 shots of Patron and a Four Loko; this is after 6 sips of the girliest drink you can imagine. Drinking alcohol makes me feel ill, kind of like how I imagine drinking poo would make me feel. So, no thank you. I'll pass on the drinks, but I'd take that hamburger instead.

Yet, I think my actions are often misconceived - so let's straighten some things out.

I DON'T NOT DRINK BECAUSE I THINK I'M HOLIER THAN THOU:
I'm not abstaining from alcohol because somehow I think I'm holier and better than you. I just don't like alcohol. It really is THAT simple. In fact, I honestly wish I DID enjoy alcohol because then I wouldn't get so many questions, or receive such shocked responses...as if I just told people I hated happy children & baby monkeys who are friends with baby tigers. How was I suppose to know that the same liquid in an sparkling apple cider bottle would be heinous? Apple cider is so delicious...it's all so deceiving. :(

I'M NOT JUDGING YOU WHEN YOU DRINK.
Let me say that again: I'm not judging you when you drink. You don't need to turn to me after ordering a gin + tonic and say "Don't Judge Me"...because, I'M NOT. If your conscience is making you feel guilty then that's an issue you need to deal with on your own. However, I'm not judging you - unless you are just uncontrollable with your liquor, in which case, I'm genuinely just worried for you.

I DON'T DRINK TO GET DRUNK.
Besides that being filled with drunkenness is unglorifying to the Lord, I know I have a heart of sin and darkness. Why would I want the entire world to know that explicitly? I already have enough trouble discerning what I should and should not say. I 'm not about to make it harder on myself through inebriation. Otherwise, I might accidentally say something like, "I absolutely HATE IT when you don't pick up your disgusting hair out of the shower drain." OUT LOUD to your FACE with wild angry hand gestures rather than passively in a blog post. Heaven forbid.

IF I'M GETTING A DRINK WITH YOU, IT'S BECAUSE I WANT TO SPEND TIME WITH YOU.
Honestly, if I'm going out and getting drinks with you, I'm doing it because I genuinely want to spend time with you. I value our friendship and will shell out $12+ dollars so that you don't feel alone/awkward/uncomfortable/WHATEVER emotion, drinking by yourself. If I can avoid it - I will. But I understand that sometimes I just have to bite the bullet. So, when I mutter politely, "Oh yeah, this is good," I actually mean, "this tastes less disgusting than the other alcoholic drinks I've ever had in my life." Be flattered, friends. I care about our friendship. You can be nice & humor me in letting me order an extra appetizer.

SO YEAH.UN-FURROW THOSE DAMN EYEBROWS. I DON'T LIKE LIQUOR. I DON'T LIKE IT IN MY DRINKS, WITH MY MEAL, OR AS A MIDNIGHT SNACK. I DON'T LIKE IT IN A BOX, I DONT LIKE IT WITH A FOX. I DONT LIKE IT IN A HOUSE OR WITH A MOUSE. I DO NOT LIKE IT SAM I AM, I DO NOT LIKE LIQUOR & HAM!!
SO HAPPY FREAKING 22ND BIRTHDAY TO ME & CHEERS TO ALL!

Updates, Love & Architecture

2011-12-04T02:27:00.000-08:00

So...

Is it just me...or is everyone getting into a relationship or on the precipice of engagement ? Should I start my purchase order on cats and rocking chairs now? The recent spike of love has really gotten me thinking about my own. Who will I fake dream kiss on New Years? Will someone other than my parents or platonic girlfriends buy me Christmas presents? Will someone invite me to look at Christmas lights, pour me hot cocoa and hold my mitten while we walk?
The answer to all of these questions is NO. I will NOT fake kiss anyone. I will NOT receive any gifts from any he-males. & No...I will personally make AND pour my OWN cocoa, hold my OWN mitten, and drive BY MYSELF to watch Christmas lights. THANKYOUVERYMUCH. And you know what, Inter-web? I'm okay with that. I really am. I'm okay with all of this. I know what some of you are thinking..."Oh Mir, Your brain is so fried from bitterness that you don't even know your own feelings anymore." Well, haterssss, let's leave the psychoanalysis to Freud, shall we? Believe me, I'm an Architecture Student.
So then, what does architecture have to do with love? Everything.
While reading 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School, Advice #29 said this: "Being process-oriented means: removing yourself from prideful investment in your projects and being slow to fall in love with your ideas." This advice is true. I've experienced it in my own architecture education. It's dangerous to cling to your first ideas too closely - you tend to lose sight of the big picture, the big context & you're stubbornly stuck with a less than mediocre plan. && almost always, you lose out on exploring other potentially better ideas. Don't love too soon.
& this is similarly how I'm currently viewing my own love life. Don't love too soon, Miranda - you'll miss out on all the other possibilities. Possibilities of just serving Christ as a single woman - an opportunity that won't last forever (hopefully...heh...nervous laughter). Opportunities to study abroad, stay late in studio, and divide my own time with no need to consider a significant other. Overall, I just feel very content and blessed to be doing all that I am doing.
So Cheers, Everyone! Cheers to all those in relationships - love and grow each other! Cheers to the engaged - I'm genuinely happy for most of you! & Cheers to all the singles - May we have the most fun we've ever had! :)

Updates from your blogger:
To be honest, following up on my last deeply emotional post was harder than I thought. I didn't want to post a jokey-joke blog entry that would take away from what I was truly struggling with, but also didn't want to drag on what I already addressed. Thus, this interlude. So let me do a short catch-up on the last 6 months. Graduate school has been in short terms: an absolute blessing. I've fully enjoyed myself in this new program. The people are awesome, my professors are creme de la creme, and I've really found my niche. My new church has been wonderful - the Word is preached every Sunday - What more could I ask for? Also, the amount of support and love I have received from everyone blew me away. I feel so so incredibly privileged to have all of you as friends. Thank you. That is all to say...this is undoubtedly the work of our gracious God. He knows what His children need and I am so humbled and thankful to be taught this lesson

The Pain of Rejection & The Comfort of Christ

2011-05-22T14:45:00.000-07:00

Mommy [May 20, 2011, 9:01PM]: Call me if you have a chance

I was in the middle of watching Disney's Oceans when I received that text from my mom. I left the room and went to call her, only to find out a few minutes later that the Southern California Institute of Architecutre (SCI-Arc) had rejected me after being wait-listed. For the past three months, I had been eagerly checking my e-mail for the Admissions Committee to send me a "Congratulations." Instead, I had to listen to my mom somberly paraphrase my last rejection letter with "SCI-Arc says that they just don't have any more room..."
I couldn't believe it.
Was there some mistake? There had to be...right? I had contacted the Admissions Committee countless times and sent countless e-mails. I was sure that Miranda Lee had become a household name by now. Desperately, I hoped my mom had misread. English is not her first language, so perhaps she had misinterpreted?
Yet, after analyzing the scanned letter in my Inbox later that night, I had to face the facts. Even my Taiwan-native mother clearly understood what I could not grasp. SCI-Arc had finally rejected me. The fifth school out of six to send me thin envelopes.
From November to March, I was predominately asked one question: "So where are you applying for school?"
I would proudly respond. "University of Oregon, Berkeley, UCLA, SCI-Arc, oh...and Yale & Columbia, just for kicks and giggles."
Then from March until last Friday, the question was replaced with: "Have you heard back from schools?"
My pride quickly turned into horror. As the rejections infected my Inbox, responding became more and more painful. On average, I was asked at least 4-5 times a day by different people and with each answer, I felt my wounded pride blister with pain. I felt like a fool. Regardless of the comforts & encouragements of my friends...I still felt extremely stupid.
So, when SCI-Arc rejected me, I cried.
And even now, while writing this blog post...my eyes still can't help themselves but get teary. SCI-Arc's rejection meant more than just not being able to attend their school. It meant that it would be another 3-4 years until I could go back to California. It meant that I was unable to be part of my home church - CCAC. It meant that I would be stuck in Eugene - where I generally feel spiritually unfed and unsharpened. Now, don't get me wrong, God has definitely grown me in the three years that I have spent here. He is faithful, there is no doubt. But, I can't help but admit that my passion and love for God's glory has waned. Most of this is probably my own fault - my own sinfulness. However, this was why I wanted to go back home. I knew that back in LA, I had a community that was wiser and godlier than I. People that inspired me to whole-heartedly run the race, to mortify my sins, and to constantly be inundated with the Gospel. I don't quite have the same accountability here. I am blessed to be living with friends who are genuine Christians who love our Lord, but it just isn't the same. It is hard to explain since I do not know how quite to put my emotions and experiences in words...but, there is a palpable difference that only one could truly understand if he or she has experienced both Christian communities.

I woke up this Sunday morning desolate. I was pretty much on the verge of tears as I was reminded that 7 days after I graduate, I would be starting Graduate School at the University of Oregon. Per usual, I got ready for the day and arrived at church for the 10 o'clock service. I sat alone at the end of the row pondering what things I had to get done today. An older lady came by and asked if she could sit with me & I answered in the affirmative. We started talking and covered the usual basic topics of conversation. We chatted about my Judaic Studies major which lead to her describing her trip to Israel, then we talked about Ekklesia and our mutual love for the pastor's verse by verse preaching. We were interrupted by the start of the service and we directed our attention to the morning's worship.
During the service, I was reminded with how fortunate I really am & how prideful I had been with this whole application process. I had been praying that God would put me at a school where I would grow the most, an university where He would further sanctify me. God has placed me at the University of Oregon, but instead of reacting with gratitude and trust that Oregon is indeed the answer to my prayers, I responded with flagrant doubt. How dare I think that I know better than my Creator in what school I should attend? I did not lay the foundation of the earth nor do I know its measurements. Who am I that "darkens counsel by words without knowledge?" I need to humbly "dress for action like a man" and trust in God's decisions and plans.

As the service ended and people were trickling out, Debbie, my new friend, turned to me and asked "How can I pray for you?" I had literally just known her for about an hour&half and here she was, beseeching a way to serve me. I explained the worries of my heart and my misgivings about grad school. & she prayed for me...right then and there.

I was amazed at how Debbie was so encouraging, but I was absolutely floored at God's faithfulness to me. In the midst of hopelessness, my Father in Heaven reminded his faithless daughter that He knows what I need. He will absolutely carry out His promises to sanctify me, grow me, and stretch me...even in the most unchurched town. He will not let me go, not because I am deserving, but because Christ did not die on the cross to not see His children to completion. With such a stubborn wayward sinner such as I, Christ will sanctify me in the most unlikely city - to bring the utmost glory to Himself.

"I lay my hand on my mouth" and will now rest in the comfort of Christ. All praise to our Sovereign Father!

I am a liar. & a damaged good.

2011-05-04T13:30:00.000-07:00

Remember the time...I said I would post...but then I didn't?
I apologize! I apologize! I know that my absence has grieved all 5 of you, devout readers.
To be honest, I've been mentally posting since then, but none of these "mental posts" made it to the inter-web. & then the looming cloud of needing to write my promised review on how the detox went just made me want to run away from posting. But Alas! I will no longer be chained! I am detoxed, Hear Me Roar!! (Apparently, detoxing as also made me extremely melodramatic)
The Detox Diet actually worked out pretty well...until Valentine's Day came and I devoured 5 pieces of pizza.
In my defense, the pizza was delicious.
Needless to say, I had a stomach ache for days after. I basically did the #1 DO NOT DO rule..which is to not to slowly ease back into a regular diet. Whaattevvaaa.
My overall review of the Detox Diet is that it truly was effective in 'detoxing'. Like any spoiled Paris Hilton puppy, my stomach grew accustomed to healthy, organic foods and would throw a fit in the style of cramps, bloating, and ~~explosive diarrhea~~ pain whenever I fed it packaged items. Basically, my stomach became a prissy biatch. MAYBE, had I slowly went back to my normal eating habits...this would have never happened...I suppose I shall never know.
In other news...today, I hit my head trying to open this window.

"How?' you say? By pushing the pane too ferociously causing the window to spin and crash on my head. This is the result of
a) being too strong of a window-opener
b) being too short so that the window would hit exactly where the top of my noggin is.
I can't say I'm not a little loopy or dizzy from such an experience. I can say that I'm embarrassed of the people who witnessed such a spectacle. I must have looked so pathetic.

2011-02-09T01:27:00.000-08:00

don't worry guys. I haven't died from detox yet. still alive & kicking...but barely. kind of pulled an all-nighter yesterday so I didn't get to update on Detox Diet Day 2. It's been a "go go go" kind of week for me so far. Promise I'll update soon.

DD1

2011-02-06T23:46:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again where the cold weather, rain, and endless hours of homework cooped up in a coffee shop can lead to major food binges. Two weeks ago, for example, I ate seven cookies as a snack. Yes, Seven...like the number of days it took God to create the universe & then rest. And I'm not talking about dinky Oreo cookies, I'm talking seven good palm-sized homemade cookies. So, in fear that by the end of winter term an industrial crane will be the only thing able to get me out of my room, I have decided to go on a Detox Diet. I know, I know...those words evoke a certain image - a prissy Juicy jumpsuit wearing girl...but, nevertheless, I will forgo my pride and try this Detox diet anyway.

I'm going to be attempting the 11 Day Detox Diet called The Fast Track by Ann Louise Gittleman. I admit, the cover is obxious and extremely embarassing, but my amateur google research showed that it got decent reviews & was at least worth a try. Plus, two of my friends have graciously agreed to detox with me so it'll be great accountability.
The Detox Breakdown is something along the lines of this:
7 Day Prequel - where you eat foods from specific categories (the categories are so random so I'm not going to post them here, but basically you must eat a certain amount of food that help nourish certain organs such as the liver, the colon, etc.)
1 Day Detox - where you eat absolutely nothing but this "miracle juice" that's basically cranberry juice + a sundry of spices. (sounds a bit killer, but at least it's only 24 hrs)
3 Day Sequel - Similiar to the Prequel
Avoiding: Dairy, Coffee, Mold, Gluten, Sugars

Personal Thoughts: This first day of the Detox has actually been quite wonderful! The salad was great. I don't usually put dressing on my salads so the plainness didn't bother me, but for those of you who like an extra kick, I would suggest more pepper or salt. The spaghetti squash was delicious and super easy. Just simply cut the squash in half & pop it in the microwave for five minutes & scrape the inside out. All in all, I'm excited for this detox. Stay tuned tomorrow for Detox Day 2!

Trader Joe's Snack Breakdown.

2011-02-01T21:10:00.000-08:00

Midterm season is upon us & thus, stress levels have teetered to 'dangerously high'. I did a little preventative mid-life crisis Trader Joe's shopping to make sure my sanity stays in check. Here's my personal run-down on the following snacks:

1. Chocolate Raspberry Sticks: This is what Turkish Delight should taste like. The Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe made it seem like Turkish Delight was some wonderful sell-your-soul-to-the-devil treat, but it actually just taste like sick chewy fruit cake. Um. I digressed. These Chocolate Raspberry Sticks are splendid. Soft jelly inside & delicious chocolate on the outside.

2. Biscotti: I LOVE hazelnuts, so my opinion might be a little biased. But, these tiny biscottis are so perfect with coffee or just to snack on.

3. French Roast Coffee: I was forced to try the French Roast when the usual Trader Joe Dark beans were sold out. Nevertheless, I was pleasantly surprised! These beans are really rich in flavor. The only downside is that these beans are a little more spendy than the original Joe Dark... I think they were run around $7.

4. Lemon Heart Cookies: I saw these Lemon Cookies on the shelf - the colors & the little girl sold me. I am such a sucker for adorable packaging. Plus, just LOOK at that Victorian girl. She is so awkward. I love it. I love it all. The cookie itself is actually just all-right. These lemon cookies are pretty generic, they have a hard texture and a slight lemony taste. Pretty meh.

5. Gummy Bears: Okay. How can you not adore these? They even promote family love!! Those bears are holding HANDS. It's too cute for words. These gummy bears are by far my favorite in terms of the gummy bear world. They're a bit more al dente than the average gummy bear - but I enjoy the chewiness.

Okay! Back to memorizing Islamic Architecture dates & writing about the Jews in Speyer. Oh dear, Goodness.

Baby Bladder

2011-01-14T18:14:00.000-08:00

This might be a 2011 Blog Overshare, but I'm going to go ahead and post anyway. This is my blog afterall, darn it! I post whaadda want!

Okayokay, sorry...got sidetracked.
Yes, I have a super small bladder! I don't know when this phenomenon started, but man, it is a bit detrimental. I've been doing some Jew history reading in Starbucks for the past 4 hours and I have gone to the bathroom 6 times!!! SIX, PEOPLE, SIX!!! I did the calculations & that's a bathroom run every 40 minutes! I swear, the baristas here probably think I have some kind of problem. I have gotten so self-conscience about my frequent toilet visits that I'll literally sit here and wiggle for some time before I need to make a run for the loo.
Oh C'est la vie!

Wisdom Winter

2011-01-13T00:09:00.000-08:00

This just about sums up my winter break. Got my wisdom teeth out. Bloody Mess. Swelled Up. & realized that my teeth are abnormally gigantic. How was yours?

Mutually Exclusive

2010-10-23T19:18:00.000-07:00

Some things in this world are mutually exclusive. Water & oil, Weight Watchers & delicious pastries, the popular high school crowd & the A.P. crowd - just to name a few.
But today, I pondered... a hard college major and attaining a husband - are these two things indeed mutually exclusive?

As I sit here in Starbucks, alone, the resounding answer seems to be yes. Sure, I suppose I could study with other people, "potentials" even, but one must admit that at THAT point, you're pretty much striving after the husband goal rather than the 4.0 GPA goal. Effective studying demands solitude and solitude demands singleness. Thus, every senior college girl must come to a crossroads where she has to choose - a demanding field or a husband? A ring or a prestigious job?

Oh, the choices.

Coming Out of the [Utilities] Closet @ the Nunnery

2010-09-16T17:21:00.000-07:00

Last school year, I literally lived in a closet.

It was an old utilities closet that roughly had the dimensions 17 x 4.5 feet. I actually ended up loving the room, but for this school year I decided to leave the closet living to Harry Potter & take the opportunity to upgrade.

Welcome. Welcome. Welcome to my Oregon home!

This was an old tri-delts sorority house that was bought by First Baptist Church for Christian collegiates! It is now known as the Trinity House. The rumor is that our house is actually listed under "Nunneries" because it didn't fit in the Greek Life category. The sky pretty much looks like this 90% of the year.

Some photographs of the room prior to a new coat of paint.

These In-Process photos were taken after a new paint job & after some thrifted furniture were moved in. The glass table on the left corner was a table that my house didn't want so I got it for free! One of the problems of this room was the amount of random holes on the wall and the awkward outlet placement.

We went to Ikea and bought some of textiles to cover up the hideous holes and to also frame the bed. Posters, potted plants, and other decorative accessories were used to help make the room have a warmer ambiance.

Come Visit!!!

2010-08-24T23:53:00.000-07:00

" Christian: Yes, said Christian, for that was his name, because that all which you shall forsake is not worthy to be compared with a little of that that I am seeking to enjoy; and if you will go along with me and hold it, you shall fare as I myself; for there where I go, is enough and to spare: Come away and prove my words.
Obstinate: What are the things you seek, since you leave all the world to find them?
Christian: I seek an Inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, and it is laid up in Heaven, and safe there, to be bestowed at the appointed, on them that diligently seek it. Read it so, if you will, in my Book. "

Pilgrim's Progress, John Bunyan

The War On Mold & Other Life Lessons I've Learned Thus Far

2010-08-17T01:59:00.000-07:00

My time in the Bay Area has sadly quickly come to an end. Tomorrow I start my drive back down to L.A. I have learned a lot in these past eight weeks and I thought it might be helpful for me to share some of the things I have acquired - though simple and possibly superficial as these life lessons may be.

So brace yourselves, friends. Here are the Five Life Lessons of my 2010 Summer:

1. Costco Produce is not for the available Singles.
I, Miranda Lee, am an avid Costco shopper. My wholesale purchases used to only entail things like batteries, socks, lactaid pills, and shampoo&conditioner. However, this summer I decided to go big and buy my produce at Costco. This poor life decision has resulted in the mold-terrorism of innocent lettuce, string beans, cucumbers, and corn. Which brings me to my next topic...
2. Be Killing Mold or Mold Will be Killing You.
After throwing out $20 worth of food due to the evil white fuzzies, I finally had had enough when I saw my corn starting to turn strange colors. I refused to let mold win. It was clearly time to fight back. Fifteen minutes and what seemed like a corn massacre later, my corn looked brand new! Despite the slight tingling sensation my tongue experienced after the corn consumption, I'm pretty sure I won this war.

3. Start Superstitions, Get What You Want.
I've come to the conclusion that the best way to prevent anarchist students from rebelling is to create superstitions. The sporadically placed Berkeley golden emblem NEVER gets stepped on. Why? Because rumor has it, if you step on the gold plaque, you'll ruin your chances of ever getting a 4.0 GPA. I think this is a pretty brilliant move on behalf of the university administration. Dear Future Roommates, rumor has it that if you leave your dirty dishes unwashed, you gain 15lbs. I'm just sayin', I'm just sayin'.

4. Pudding Only Works with Milk
There's not much of an explanation that goes along with this one. I tried to make pistachio pudding with soy milk & it never thickened. Thus, after 5 minutes of stirring & direction following, I was left with pistachio flavored green soymilk with the occasional chunks of actual pistachios. Sometimes, life can be really hard for the Lactose Intolerant.
5. Remember People's Faces So You Don't Lose Yours.
There's not much to say about this one either. Remember people's names & faces - especially the important people in your life. For example, oh...I don't know, maybe like a church elder or something. Just so you don't ever find yourself in an utterly humiliating situation where maybe you're trying to check him & his wife in at a wedding to tell them what table they're sitting at & and you can't find them on the list cause your brain has completely comatosed their first & last names. No amount of self-pity will be able to help you recover as you have to slowly turn to the godly couple and utter the disgraceful words, "I'm sorry, I have completely forgotten your name."

Previously On....

2010-07-17T00:40:00.000-07:00

I've been mentally blogging since my last post in early June, but haven't actualized any of my cognitive posts. Now, I face a conundrum: which post to choose? what is the blogger protocol for the max number of posts in a 24hr period? what to do? what to do? After realizing that contemplating this issue was a dumb use of my time, I have simply decided to fix up a tasting menu of my life in the past month & a half.

Sleepless Spring Studio: I don't think I have ever slept so little in my life. I traded mornings for late nights, weekends for studio incarceration, handbags for just...well, bags under my eyes, and more. The studio project for Spring was to create a bathhouse for the Laos people.

Posing with my expensive children.

Natural Hot Spring: On the drive back to California, my mom and I went to a natural hot spring in Oregon. Fantastic fun! There was, however, this man with a hatchet off in the distance(across the river)...my paranoid mom was convinced that he was a potential danger & could possibly come kill us. But then...he suddenly got naked & we realized he was just using the hatchet to dig a hole to sit in by the hot spring. We felt safe once again.

The Bay: Currently at Berkeley taking Physics & lurking around in their architecture building. I shamelessly stalk the Wurster halls. Every time I see anyone above the age of 35, my heart beats faster & I...

a) wonder if they are part of the faculty &

b) if I should casually strike up a conversation. I have yet to muster up the courage to do so...although, perhaps this type of boldness is something I should not try to cultivate because I can foresee me scaring everyone rather than wooing everyone. bah humbug.

Otherwise, as some of you may have heard, I'm completely in love with the Bay. It truly is the perfect combination of the Oregon-esque scenery with the hustle & bustle of L.A. But, I think the best part of this all is being able to go to a church that is so saturated with the Word. Soaking in God's Word from the pulpit every Sunday has been an unbelievable blessing.

I haven't had much time to explore the area since most of my time has been sucked away by classes, but today I was able to venture to the Berkeley Rose Gardens with a good friend. We asked this nice couple if they would be so kind as to take a photo of us. After doing so, the man told us we looked "so cute together." We were both left puzzled & alarmed with whether the remark meant that we were cute human beings or cute as a couple....

The Fine Line

2010-06-05T15:51:00.000-07:00

As with all things...there is a fine line. A fine line between a creeper and an artist.
This is the fine line I am struggling with today.

Currently at Borders trying to bust out a final ten page paper while out of the corner of my eye, I see an adorable old man lounging in a black leather couch. Mid-seventies, I suspect. Blue jeans, wool gray sweater, burnt umber dress shirt with a 50s pattern, suspenders, walking cane decorated with American flags. Oh my Oh my, he just pulled out a pocket watch! He's all things adorable.
And thus, when he started eating his purchased Seattle's Best pretzel and tea, I couldn't help but snap photos with my camera phone. Yes. photoS. Plural. I think I captured at least six or seven...

I want to try to sketch these photos later for my portfolio...do a series of drawings on this man eating, drinking, and reading on a sunny Saturday. This all sounds dandy on a blog post, but in reality, I'm pretty sure this old man sitting at 11 o'clock is on to me...because now he's shooting me these intense looks. The once cute beady eyes are now surprisingly menacing. . .

So where is the fine line drawn? Is it in the media?
Pencil & Sketchbook = Okay
Stealth Camera Phone = Predator?

Goodness, I'm nervous. I don't want to see that patriotic walking stick turn into an old-fashioned taser. I have put my camera-phone down. no more photos. no more photos.

Happies&Crappies

2010-04-10T21:07:00.000-07:00

Crappies
+ made impulsive decisions on DuckWeb and accidentally signed up for 2 classes - one of them being a 24hr Studio
+ had to actually do the 24hr studio with graduate and third year students while feeling totally incompetent. A very humbling experience to say the least.
+ went to the baseball stadium site of my architecture project & sank in the mud due to the combination of the poor drainage system, the rain, and then followed by hail. Had to sacrifice my canvas shoes in the process
+ my bladder was realllyyy full when I came home - not having time to unzip my jeans all the way, I decided to simply pull them down...just in time to hear the zipper pop and completely derail. I was so tired at this point I decided to just walk around the rest of the day with my fly down. I know...so unlady-like.
+ Accidentally bought the Jewish Passover cup at Target that didn't have Hebrew on it. :(
+ While experimenting with my other studio project that involved incense oils and water balloons, a 'Bamboo Jasmine Scent' balloon detonated on me...transforming me into a walking air freshener for the rest of the day.
+ My gray UGGs attracted all the sawdust in the woodshop today...turning them a permanent brownish-gray. If you thought UGGs were ugly before...you should see mine now.

Happies
+ Sunshine!!
+ Finished the 24hr Design Studio. Thank.The.LORD.
+ Met some really cool people doing the 24hr studio.
+ Even though I bought the wrong cup, the cup that I DID buy was not only on sale (78cents) but was still pretty adorable. I was quite surprised as to why these cups were on sale...why WOULDN'T anyone want a Jewish cup?
+ I worked in the woodshop for the first time today. I felt so manly (but in a feminine way) & awesome.
+ Killed two gnats with my BARE HANDS. Chuck Norris has got nothin' on me.

I guess my crappies heavily outweigh my happies this week. Not surprising...this week was a s.t.r.u.g.g.l.e. Oh well...pish, posh, Sunday begins a new week!

What were your happies and crappies this week?

My Brainchildren

2010-03-26T02:27:00.000-07:00

Meet my brainchildren. Some were created from hours of labor and agony, others were birthed within an hour or so. Not all brainchildren are created equal, I suppose.

Preliminary Abstract Work

One of the firstborns: Villa Site for a Poet of the Student's Choosing - thus, this became a Villa Site for John Piper.

Second Child: John Piper's Writer's Hut

Final Quarter Project: Weekend Villa

The Adopted Others: Pineapple Cupcakes, Pineapple Upsidedown Cake, Apple Tart
Recipes from Ina Garten & Emeril

Happy Spring Break!

2010-03-17T21:55:00.000-07:00

No time to marvel at his sheer luck: Larry just ran.

[Image&Caption via: Unhappy Hipsters]

2010-02-03T18:48:00.000-08:00

"A perfect man would never act from a sense of duty; he’d always want the right thing more than the wrong one. Duty is only a substitute for love (of God and of other people) like a crutch which is a substitute for a leg."

-C.S. Lewis

The Curse of the Nubbed Carrot.

2010-01-12T19:24:00.000-08:00

Today was an off day. Incorrect. Today became an off day only after the discovery of a nubbed carrot in my small Ziplock bag. The following events are based on true incidents - names may have been changed to protect the emotionally scarred victim of The Nubbed Carrot.

Liranda Mee found a nubbed carrot in her lunch today. It was a peculiar little thing...much too peculiar to eat. So, like any other normal girl, she decided to save the nubtastic thing. Unforunately, a series of miserable events followed soon after.
1) She forgot her wallet at home. Thus, she had to break the $100 dollar bill she was suppose to deposit to buy the $8.00 charcoal.
2) In an effort to stuff all $92 dollars into her backpack, she forgot her charcoal at the store.
3) Somewhere in the process of walking from the Duck Store to Gerlinger Hall, Liranda hit metapose and had hot flashes during the entirety of her Body Sculpting class. This resulted in a puddle of sweat on the floor which made it really difficult to maneuver around, not to mention awkward when everyone else was probably wondering how such a small girl can make such a large puddle during a not so hard workout.
4) Red Bra. No, that was not a typo...I did in fact mean to write 'Red Bra'. What I did NOT mean to do...was have it fall out of my backpack onto the floor of an all guys' house for almost two hours. Nothing screams red more than an intimate article of feminine clothing against a black backpack. On a side note, I am still currently pondering whether or not there was a connection between the incident with the red bra and how unusually friendly the guys' cook was to me.
5) In the process of writing this post, Liranda Mee was hit by a swinging door.

Superstition tells us that bad things come in threes, but when a nubbed carrot gets thrown into the mix - there's no telling how many unfortunate events will occur. Word of advice? If you find a nubilicious carrot, hold on tight, strap on your ~~bra~~ seatbelt, and prepare for a wild ride.

Appetizers Aplenty.

2009-12-28T20:53:00.000-08:00

Seven days till I head back to Oregon. One month till I turn 20. The clock keeps ticking and as I've painfully learned over and over again, time stops for no one. With the second, minute, and hour hand ambitiously moving onward, I can't help but feel asphyxiated. Wait! Just for a moment! Please, I'm not ready yet. Just let me rest. But alas, Ephesians 5:15-16 rings true again, "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." Indeed, the days are freakishly evil. Trying to grasp for air to avoid suffocation, I desperately turn to the comforts of the Word and a Romans 9 marathon of Piper. Marathons of John Piper are the best, but also the most dangerous of marathons. Every sermon opens the opportunity for either a furthering of my soul's sanctification or a hardening of my heart. Oh God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

In my own quiet reflections on Romans 9 I meditated on a specific point that Piper addressed in his sermon, namely that God did not create the world as a temptation to idolatry, but as appetizers and pointers to the feast of God's glory. How sweet and savory this reminder has been to me today! I distinctly remember this truth revealing itself three years ago when I first stepped foot into Oregon. Tall skinny trees, soaring into the skies infinitely, completely enveloping me. Forests of trees, all literally pointing to the Heavens. "Look upwards!" they screamed. "Fix your eyes on the Heavens above, feast on the glory of God, inhale your Creator's majesty!"

May my life always be like the trees - forever pointing to Christ and His glory.

Prosperity Gospel - The 'gospel' that teaches that those who have faith in God will then in return be blessed with money, success, and riches in this life

2009-12-07T13:53:00.001-08:00

The ideology seems silly, unbelievable and ignorant. I've heard about this blasphemous gospel mentioned throughout sermons, blogs, and articles hundreds of times. And despite the fact that the prosperity theology has become a hot button debate topic over the years, I have always seemed to bypass the discussions - believing that it did not warrant much of my attention. After all, with my reformed conservative Christian theology, wasn't I impervious to such wrong thinking? And yet again, by the grace of God, my own humanity and sinfulness have revealed that I am not unlike the others. Sure, I don't go to a multi-mega church, my pastor doesn't have a huge silver globe on stage, and I don't own any "christianized" self-help books - but, despite my reformed theology, I have found that underneath some of my thinking lies the prosperity gospel. Countless times I have caught myself believing that because I did not do my quiet times that morning, I was then punished with a complication in my life. Or on the flip side, any victories or gifts in my life were because I had tithed, read, and seemingly had the Christian life together. Personal triumphs or not - the Lord whom I serve still remains the same God. A God who's relationship with His people does not require deeds to merit His love. Praise the Lord that His mercy and favor rests not on my own doing, but through His Son Jesus Christ.

If I had a Twitter, these would be my tweets for the past 3 hours..

2009-11-09T03:13:00.000-08:00

MirandaLee: [read from the bottom up]
+ Decided once & for all, coffee is probably not the best drink of choice in the evenings. Bad life decision.
+ Face almost ate pavement due to improper stair lighting.
+ Started a new unhealthy obsession with Taylor Swift & her brilliant SNL hosting. La La La, Ha Ha Ha.
+ Realized that Taylor Swift doesn't hate the public, she just looks angry. Made amends.
+ Thug Story is the new white noise - never gets old, only gets better, defies the limits of being overplayed - I would know. Thank you, YouTube for letting me indulge.

Good Evening & Good Morning.
Goodbye Sunday night. Hello Monday morning.

Hello in 7139 words.

2009-11-05T23:31:00.001-08:00

I made this blog circa 2008 yet never actually used it until today. Not quite sure of my original reasoning behind creating a blog & then neglecting it to collect internet dust for a year, but I suddenly feel inspired to blow off the powder bunnies & officially step into the blogging world.

Oh, but forgive me! Where are my manners? Let me start off with an introduction of 'myrrhanda' & of yours truly. The idea behind this blog is quite amorphous at the time being - perhaps the combination between the e-versions of a personal journal, a sketchbook, and the inner monologue of a nineteen year old college student...it's all in the works as they say. As for me? like the saying goes, "a picture is worth a thousand words." Thus, I present to you, my 7139 word autobiography.

[from left to right: 2 of my favorite posters. me. journals, Bible, Hebrew Bible. 2 of my all-time favorite stuffed animals. prayer jar. macbookpro.]