Electronic Meat-Paris

My friend is in a brilliant band and I thought I'd share one of their songs...

Uncle John.

Today we had a memorial service for our dear friend (and adopted uncle) John Watson. It has been a haze this past week and a half since we discovered he was found dead in his apartment and, a day later as more was revealed, that he was murdered. His life was brutally taken...for his money. Surrealism, a sinking aching in my heart, and great lose envelope my little soul (and the souls of my family). Death is very strange. It is the most potent reminder of sin, and the most vivid provocation of the status of our security. Gone-ness can only be described as the feeling of depravity...the feeling of defeat. Praise be to Jesus Christ who defeated this discouraging hopelessness.

His lovely sister and brother in law came out from Europe (where all his family lives), and we had the privilege of meeting them and helping them through their loss.

Uncle John, you will be missed...your laughter, your wit, your accent, the value you saw in people, your energetic excitement, your appreciation for beauty, and your old blue tattered ski suit you used to wear (Dad wants to take it up with us when we go next year...) . May God's grace envelop you, and may you experience the unbounding joy of His presence. I only hope there are mountains and oceans for you to revel in.

Introducing Our First CHAIR...!

So today was monumental! We purchased our FIRST piece of furniture for our new house (which I will write about when we finally sign the lease). A knit dark gray pillow will be just the thing to complete it. Seriously, I am so excited about a summer of collecting ahead...

Alex.

I must admit a teared up a little when I was looking at old pictures of my brother. He turned sixteen last week, and it is crazy to watch the transformations that have taken place in his life! It seems like yesterday he was calling me "Anea" and saying things like "You best my buddy!" or "you scawed me hafe to deaf!" He was always running around, with his tattered blankets fluttering around his neck, chasing after the "bad guiz," that always seemed to attack our household in invisible ways. I remember growing up with the continuous "cling clangs" and "bang bangs" that would come from his room, when a full fledged battle was ensuing between his valiant action figures. Being the inventive creative children that we were, we were always making pulley systems across our street, building forts, constructing cars (or "pod racers") out of old refrigerator boxes, and embarking on plenty of adventurous romps in the hills near our house. He was so stinkin' CUTE when we were in the midst of an adventure! His eyes would grow big, he would shake with incredible excitement, and...grind his teeth :). Imaginative, heroic, creative, brave...and a defier of gravity (attempting upon multiple occasions to fly away in his buzz light year suit), that was (and still is) my little brother.

But amidst his thirst for adventure, bravery, and combating the evils of the world single handedly, he was always the most tender, sensitive, gracious, and conscientious of boys. He loved being cuddled, one on one time, and was always aware when people were sad. I remember multiple times where he'd lay his soft little hand on my mom or dad, or even (on occasion) us, his hen-pecking sisters, when in distress. He was known as the "ok" or "sure" boy as he most (hee hee) always carried a happy disposition in the obedience of tasks and general requests and he LOVED to make people happy. I never fully realized how gracious he truly was (and is) until recently, when I looked back on his little life and saw that he was always quick to forgive, make amends, and free me, and others, from our offenses. "That's ok Anea!" and we'd bolt off to play again.

He has grown all the more mature in these childhood traits, becoming a strong man of God, a defender of others and the truth, responsible and hard working, compassionate and forgiving, taller and TALLER, more humorous by the day, and so smart (smarter than me sometimes). He's even ok giving me a hug, or at least letting me "lean" on him. He is enjoyed by many, and even extends his friendship to the parents of his friends, in a very mature and confident, yet entertaining manner. He is a leader...a friend...and my favorite brother. The lady who wins his heart someday (way WAY in the future-day) will be lucky indeed! He doesn't call me "Anea" anymore, but has replaced one endearing term with another: "Ange"...I hope he calls me that forever.

All that to say, I can not imagine our family without him! He brings so much humor, fun, adventure, sincerity, and love into our lives and I am so proud of him. Now that my eyes are sufficiently dewy, Happy Birthday dearest of brothers! I love you with all my heart and can't wait to see what adventure the Lord sweeps you up on.

Mrs. Baranov

Today was my last lesson of the year from my dear Mrs. Baranov. Due to her great illness, I drove to her today in Santa Monica for my lesson. Although it was an exceptionally long drive, it was so good to see her, give her a farewell hug, and get her last little tid-bits of input before juries. It was also enlightening to see her charming, artful, oceanside home. She is such a beautiful, energetic, spunky, endearing little Russian and I adore her. Till autumn, Mrs. Baranov!

p.s. thank you for the pleasant *cough* little assignment for me to work on next semester. Chopin's Scherzo #2 is going to be a real breeze.

splendid today...why did you end?

Today was splendid...simply splendid. It was one of those days those indie girls who eat sorbet and cheese everyday and travel to Paris for the weekends experience. Alright maybe not that exotic but still...

Katherine and I decided to get away today, try a new coffee shop, and toddle about in Fullerton. After our failed attempt at dining in McClains (something about a "cash only" sign we saw a good seven minutes after perusing the selections), we went to our original, but slightly more pricey, choice...


Lets just say it was the right one and that that "cash only" sign fell out of heaven to prevent us from partaking in such a sub-par experience. The Cafe Veronese is truly the eclectic haven, run by Koreans, dubbed French, with mix-matched furniture and art everywhere, and crazy plants flowing out over your very heads as you ate. It was originally a house that was turned into a cafe, and I believe the owners live upstairs. It was quite charming and just kept on producing more little nooks and corners as we kept on exploring the garden.







I loved this shed/room! Random scraps of art and notes were pinned all over the walls, with low tables and cozy arm chairs for studying.


The food was pricey, but so delightful, and I could not get over the fact that they brought me my fruppiccino in a JAR...too good. It was perhaps the most carmelicious thing I have ever had.







After our delightful dining experience, we galavanted up the street stopping at a thrift store (with great success) and antique stores. This one antique store we went to (I forgot the name...and yet somehow I feel as though they are all simply called 'Antique Store') was so inspiring. Usually antique store shopping involves you becoming quickly overwhelmed with a bunch of old stuff that probably shouldn't be around anymore, let alone sold for $200, and, after a while, all looks the same. But this place was so useful, and the owner was so adorable! The store had hundreds of old post cards, beautiful jewelry, old pencil tins, adorable compact mirrors, and kitchen utensils. I could not get enough of this little jar with a strange lid that crushed nuts . Of course it had little roses painted on it...I mean come on! What's the good in a peanut cruncher without the roses, people?! Once we got in the car to leave, we looked at each other and said, "we're coming here every week"...and i really hope we do.

The night ended with a concert featuring Menaham Pressler, one of the greatest pianists in the world, alongside our superb faculty, in a riveting, chamber music experience. I was swimming through everything...



Could the day have been any better? I don't think so. Three cheers for simplistic pleasures that pepper life with joy and a kindred friend to experience them with.

katie, calamari, and hagen daz bars

Saturday night, Shelby, Erica and I drove down to meet Katie at Balboa for dinner. It was tonic to my missing-Katie heart. How wonderful and refreshing it was to spend the evening with someone who is so thoroughly embedded in my childhood memories. Not only was it good to see her, but it was wonderful visiting Balboa again, a memory bearer for sure. As we slowly made our way up the boardwalk of the Island, enraptured by the sailboats, quietly lapping waves, and breezy New England-esque houses on the waterfront, I was so full of contentment, as the girls chattered on. We ate at a romantic Italian restaurant, split a few dishes, caught up on on everyone's life, and ended the night in the Stater Brother's parking lot, cuddled in the car, with Hagen Daaz bars. It was a breath of the past and quite lovely, really.