A Less Likely Cognitive Entry... but still.

Hello! So when I first started this blog I told myself I want to write at least 2-3 posts a week. I think that failed the first week. I promise I am a very pensive person with many wandering thoughts during the day that I would love to turn into thoughtful posts. But because time is a luxury I feel like I rarely have, I end up doing other important things like spend an hour and a half uploading 85 mobile pictures onto face book..... (Mobile Uploads with little reception suck). 

This week was kind of a cloudy dismal week in the Soh hood household. On July 14 11:57 a.m. a member of our clan, Nemo, our goldfish of three and a half years passed. This was no ordinary goldfish. (I guess it was in the sense that we won it at an annual Hometown fair in Manhattan Beach by wasting two to three dollars at a game booth to claim our 10cent prize.) He really was a survivor and fighter until the very end. We are all convinced that he died and resurrected in... 1 day. Literally. I'm not kidding! My mom gives herself credit for being Nemo's life support. He was doing the half floating half swimming thing most fishes do right before they die. And suddenly my mother starts hollering at the fish tank (Oh and this is when he received the name 'Nemo.' He didn't have a name before. My mom just started calling him Nemo.) yelling, "NEMO. YOU CAN LIVE! YOU CAN DO IT NEMO." My dad, Jeremy, Meg and I just sat there thinking... "Who's Nemo?" and "Our mother has seriously gone crazy." Little did we know that my mother's encouragement and supportive words actually resurrected our nearly dead fish and thankfully he was with us for another year. Good bye Nemo. You can never be replaced and you are with us in spirit. =(

GOOD NEWS THOUGH: The same week Nemo passed, we discovered a new home on our backyard heat lamp! A beautiful bird has built a nest and is currently laying her eggs there. Yay!!! New Friends :D

Here's a glimpse of what this week looked like:

The devastating text our family received. =( Please ignore my brother's insensitivity.... (But honestly. My dad is kinda ridiculous.) 

Good bye Nemo. You will be missed. :(

New Beginnings. :') Her name is Bella named by Megan Soh. :) 

"Studying" for midterms...

Spent sweet time with my sister from another mister, Isabel. Made banana cream pie and watched How I Met Your Mother for the first time. Learned about the Olive Theory. Nice. 

Went kayaking and had lunch at Angelo's Deli. Good company... good food. :) 

Lol. He is so distracted... Had dinner with Matt, my cousins and sibs at Bucca Di Beppo. :) All I remember was him saying, "Erin. You're being weird and embarrassing me in front of me new friends!" ... WOW pfft.


I shall write again soon. Till next time, keep it real folks. 8)

mon bel été

My to-do list so far for the summer: (Yes I know. I probably won't accomplish it but oh well).

1) Resolved Conference in Palm Springs
2) Get through summer school and volunteer
3) Master 3 dinner dishes
4) Bake once a week
5) Go to a bed and breakfast
6) Scrapbook 1st two years of college
7) Brush up piano and guitar and... perhaps viola
8) Day trip to San Diego
9) KOIN retreat
10) Europe- Mediterranean cruise
11) Mexico Caravan Missions (August 13-16)
12) Dance class (jazz) and Bikram yoga (We can do this Michelle...)
13) Finish knitting my 2 scarves I started in the winter...
14) Joshua Tree Camping trip
15) Visit SF
16) Train for Triathlon in October

Let my sweet mon bel été (beautiful summer) begin! :)

Watching sunrise during a 6am hike with awesome sisters. Reminded of our faithful and all powerful giver and creator and His beautiful creation He graciously gives!

Sweet Treat to Retreat

Lately I've been finding myself gravitating towards I guess what I consider some of my hobbies I enjoy daily. I forgot how joyous it is to have so much free time on my hands. The first two days of summer I admit... I've squandered my time sleeping, eating, showering, sleeping and eating. A few days ago I slept at 8p.m. and awoke at 10a.m. It was glorious. But lately I'm able to enjoy quality time with what I like doing most which are:

1) Scrap booking: When people first think of a scrapbook they immediately think "An overwhelming, time-constraining, perfectionistic, girly and elaborately decorated photo album composed of scattered baby pictures that were extricated from the depths of mom's closet..." I guess... this is partly true. But there's something magical, almost therapeutic to it as well. The greatest thing about scrap booking is that it preserves the stories and memories behind each photo, memorabilia, and quote. It's almost as if you've been transported to a different world of imagination and adventure as you place yourself back to the captured image of your 1st day of school in the 3rd grade with the pink roller backpack and pony tailed hair. Or back to pretty prom night where you and your high school girl friends got dolled up all to flatter each other since you had no date to impress. (Sigh yes. That was me.) Anyways, I just started my college scrapbook and within the last three days I finally finished the first page!! YAY =) (Time-constraining... Say what??)

2) Watching basketball: (Specifically NBA basketball) NBA finals ended last night with a devastating Thunder loss. Although I'm not proud to say it, Congrats to Miami Heat. Lebron finally delivers his promise and won for the first time in three final appearances. When asked in an interview last night what the title meant James said, "It meant everything." Everything. Wow. All that talk about the poor trade, seasons of unrest and adjustment, time, sweat,and tears finally earned him the title he deserves. Let's be honest... he'll definitely never have more rings than Kobe and certainly no more than Jordan. But for what it's worth, Lebron deserves an applaud. Or I guess a golf tap will do. =) Something about watching basketball is so fascinating and enjoyable to me. Partly because you never know what's going to happen. The game is so unpredictable. One play can change the dynamics of the game. It can spur momentum, motivation and in minutes the odds can forever be in your favor... The game itself makes me so energetic and raises my team spirits for the Lakers. My dad tells me I change into a total different person. Apparently I was standing on the couch hollering at the ref for a bad foul call...? o_o

3) Baking: I recently got really into baking to the point where the thought of baking once a week seemed absurdly limiting... The genius concept of baking is that you take individual ingredients (that taste terrible on its own) and create something amazing. You can make anything you'd like really... the sky is your limit. :) The whole process is enjoyable- it's pleasurable with appetizing aroma, tactile ingredients, pleasant working environment (I like being in the kitchen) and hopefully delicious, satisfying results that bring pleasure to others as well. I guess it also gives you a reason to brag about the yummy goods you've produced as well. I guess this was totally the case for me 2 days ago... The picture says it all.

This was my sister's face after she tried the cranberry scones I made. Some baking days are better than others I guess...  =(

I leave to Resolved conference in Palm Springs soon for the next three days to have a look at what God has to say about His Church. I am super stoked! =) Some of the speakers include: Johnny Mac, Al Mohler, Steve Lawson, C.J. Mahaney, Rick Holland, Jonathan Rourke and Austin Duncan. I hear it'll range from 105-110 degrees and I also hear there will be good food. I will return round and brown and owned in the face but hey! God is good. =)

Tootles!