Happiness

A chilly night + corn chowder + cornbread & honey + oranges & grapes + ouzo (opa!) + early birthday gifts + Pirate Finnadore + dreaming of Iceland + delicious red-hot sugar cookies + snuggling under a cozy quilt + Rainbow Brite = one very magical evening with the dearest of friends.

(I actually saw this movie when it was released - in the theatre - at the SeaTac Mall with my friend Anna Huff. I couldn't have been any older than eight. We were the only ones in the show and therefore felt free to do cartwheels in the aisle. It was a dream come true. What amazed me watching it again for the first time in over 20 years (!!!) last night was how much I remembered about it and how real it seemed to me as a child...what if Spectra was completely covered in that awful net?! What if earth was doomed to winter forever?! Should Rainbow choose Krys the space warrior or Brian the only person on earth that can see her (or Buddy Blue)?! Would I really rather be Stormy or Rainbow Brite? And why doesn't Indigo have more lines?)

Across the Universe

Hey, Jude...















I want to travel, fall in love, and sing...a lot.

A Loyal Ram

You know those kind-of-pathetic people who constantly relive the glory days of their high school years and you feel kind of sorry for them because they really believe that the best times in their life are behind them and they were never more of a superstar than when they were sixteen (think Uncle Rico)?

I think sometimes I'm one of those people.

Here I am in front of the newly remodeled Mt. Rainier High School. They completely demolished the old building about two years ago and built a grand new school on the site. Open House was Monday night and you better believe I couldn't wait. My best friend from MRHS said, "It may be a new school but you can bet that nobody will ever have as much fun at that school as we did." I really believe it's true. I am one of the lucky few who loved high school. I'd go back in a second. Walking around those halls and classrooms I had a very strong desire to pull a Drew Barrymore in Never Been Kissed. Go Rams!!

LBC Forever

Nine summers of our dear Steve Balee as DCM. One fabulous party to celebrate and reminisce. So much laughter is good for the heart.

1998 - 2007

"Since 1979"

Bob Only

No more Flo.

My grandmother, Florence Hanson, went home to be with her Creator and loving God this morning. Her heart had been yearning for this journey for quite some time. Rejoicing, relief, and sorrow at the empty space at our family table. Please pray for my father and his brothers and sisters who no longer have a mother, and for my grandfather whose love of 60+ years has gone on before him.

Cinemaphile

For no particular reason, in no particular order: my top ten favorite films.
(Today anyway.)

The Royal Tenenbaums
















"'Did you tell Margot about me being in love with her?'
'Did she tell you that? Yes, I did. Why would she repeat that, I wonder?'
'I would ask you the same question.'
'And rightly so.'"


Good Will Hunting
















"You're suspect! Yeah, you! I don't know what your reputation is in this town but after what you tried to pull today you can bet I'll be looking into you. Now the business we have, heretofore, you can speak with my aforementioned attorney. Good day gentlemen, and until that day comes, keep your ear to the grindstone."


The Virgin Suicides

















"What lingered after them was not life, but the most trivial list of mundane facts: a clock ticking on a wall, a room dim at noon. And the outrageousness of a human being thinking only of herself."


Reality Bites









"'I was really going to be somebody by the age of 23.'
'Honey, all you have to be by the age of 23 is yourself.'
'I don't even know who that is anymore.'
'Well I do. And we all love her. I love her. She breaks my heart again and again, but I love her.'"


The Last of the Mohicans

"...and one day there will be no more frontier. And men like you will go too, like the Mohicans. And new people will come, work, struggle. Some will make their life. But once, we were here."


Mansfield Park

"Run mad as often as you like, but do not faint. Beware of fainting spells. Beware of swoons."


Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind













"'If you wanna be with me, you're with me.'
'Okay.'
'Too many guys think I'm a concept, or I complete them, or I'm gonna make them alive. But I'm just a screwed up girl who's looking for my own peace of mind. Don't assign me yours.'"


The Graduate
















"'Would you mind telling me then what those four years of college were for? What was the point of all that hard work?'
'You got me.'"


The English Patient


















"The heart is an organ of fire."


The Secret Garden











"I can't go outside; the spores!!"

The enthralling fashion adventures of one Erin K. Hanson

Gwen and I went on a shopping spree Saturday...the Factoria Nordstrom Rack!

I found my boots:

Maybe not exactly what I described below, but they do have a 3 1/4" heel and are just the exact right height for an ankle boot. I'm so excited to wear them with tights and dresses (or skinny jeans.)

I also bought something I've wanted for a very long time...a Marc by Marc Jacobs dress. (Bridget, you pushed me over the edge with your lovely perfume. I wanted something Marc too!!) I scored a great deal on a dress from last fall's collection. The feather pattern is similar to the below...I couldn't find a picture of the dress itself but imagine a v-neck, empire-waisted, cotton sateen, knee-length merlot-colored dress with a turquoise feather print...(looked great with the boots, too.)

But the pièce de résistance of the day was the dark grey cotton jersey tennis dress I found silkscreened with a print of tennis rackets and the face of Richie Tenenbaum. I am indebted to the designer as I believe it is now my very favorite piece of summer clothing.

"Go, Mordecai!"

Super-Outrageous

Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquiere, Fall '06 Runway:
























Ever since I saw this collection, I have had in my mind an illogical desire for some totally over-the-top, crazy-high black platform ankle boots to wear with very black tights and skirts and/or dresses. Don't be silly, I told myself. You're already 5'10". Those boots would make you 6'3" at least! You'll be a giraffe! (A long, tall, elegantly glamourous and edgy giraffe.) Alas...it seems they're back again for this fall and winter, haunting me from the pages of Teen Vogue. Black tights and superhigh soled ankle boots for back to school. I want some! I want some crazy shoes! I want some I can afford. Ah, yes. If anyone sees anything like this floating around out there at Target or Urban Outfitters or Topshop...let me know.

Speak, Pictures...

This week, I saw...

...and if you can believe it, even more. These are some of the people who hold pieces of my heart. What a blessed life I have...

We soldier on

Life on earth is such an unpredictable affair. Who can know if a day will bring great joy or devastating sorrow, reconciliation or dischord, hope or despair? It is these times when I do feel exactly as though a wave tossed about the sea that I am so thankful I can cling to a God who is steady and unchanging, faithful and true, unmoving and gracious. My emotions have run the gamut these last couple of weeks as I've struggled with a strained relationship in my life. The morning brought the golden warmth of sunlight through the clouds...restoration, peace, forgiveness, hope. This same day I heard the news of two unexpected deaths that have left some I love so much grieving deeply. My own raging emotions seem so petty in the light of what others must face. My heart is both heavy and light today. Trusting and bewildered. Always such balance and paradox.

But I praise the Lord. One day we shall see clearly. And He is so good to gather us under His wing when our hearts cry out in pain.

Struggling to Fly

Psalm 27:2-4

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

surely I have a delightful inheritance.

I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;

even at night my heart instructs me.

I have set the LORD always before me.

Because he is at my right hand,

I will not be shaken.

My goal this autumn and winter is to read more books. Food for the mind and soul; nourishment of thought. At the top of my list? The Bible. It seems ridiculous to me how I have neglected this book as of late. I asked a friend this summer, "If you had to choose only one way to know the heart of God, which would it be: prayer or the Bible?" Without hesitation he said, "The Bible." Without hesitation I said, "Prayer." But then I was struck with the truth - we don't have to choose, because we have both. And I have been enjoying the riches of prayer while ignoring the potential riches of God's written word. Both together...joy, peace, love, comfort, mercy, can only multiply!!

Duh.

Tropical Storm Erin...

...is threatening the Gulf Coast. Watch out, Texas! Read about it here: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/15/storms/

Refiner's Fire

Ephesians 1:16-19a

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel.
Proverbs 27:9

A summer of camp ministry drawing to a close, a new youth group year beginning in the fall, and my thoughts turn to the Lord's great faithfulness throughout the years and generations. My greatest desire is to know Him more and to pour out the infinite love of His heart on all that come in contact with me. I am so blessed by the friends who have journeyed with me thus far and cannot express in words what an encouragement you are as I attempt to march this long road with the sword of truth held high. His banner over me is love!

Gwyneth, is that really you??

I'm sorry, but I just have to re-post this little piece from my very favorite guilty-pleasure blog, http://www.gofugyourself.com (I know I am probably not doing the linking or credit properly, and for that I apologize - I'm still such a blog novice.)

I feel like I make an embarrassing revelation in this space about every three weeks. The whole Ghost Whisperer thing being the most embarrassing thus far. But here's another one: I like Gwyneth Paltrow. I know she's been accused of snobbery, pretentiousness, being an unbearable beeyotch, being annoyingly obsessed with macrobiotics, being the first major celeb to widely publicize the Brazilian and thus dooming legions of women to the agony of ripping out every hair they have with hot wax, etc, etc, etc and I don't doubt that all these things are true. But I think she's pretty, and I (used to) love her hair (would it kill her to get a trim?), and Apple was my most favorite celebrity child until Suri Cruise came along and bewitched me with her adorableness, and her outfits in The Talented Mr Ripley are AMAZING.
Which is why I was rather stunned to see her looking like this on the cover of W:

She is literally unrecognizable. I know her name is right there, splashed across her chest, but I am still not entirely sure that this is her. I feel like it might actually be a dude. A totally fierce dude, yes, but a dude just the same. And while I actually long for the day when a totally fierce dude lands on the cover of W, I really don't think Gwynnie wanted people to have to stare at her face for twenty minutes, reconfiguring it in their minds, so as to convince themselves that it was actually her. If this is the way she's gearing up for a comeback, as the cover promises, that comeback is going to crash and burn.

Um, seriously. Who is this woman?! We are no longer sisters, I fear. Oh Gwyneth. And yet still I will buy it for my collection. (Yes. I have a Gywneth Paltrow Magazine Cover Collection. Are you embarassed to know me yet?)

Light the fires

What a strange summer we've had, all a jumble of blue and grey skies, sunshine and rain, brilliance and fog, warmth and chilliness. These low grey clouds make me feel ready to prepare for hibernation: withdraw to a quieter social schedule, books, fires, poetry, melancholy music. I can never decide which I like best, summer or autumn. I think the truth is I love them both more because of each other. Summer is all heady experience and autumn is all remembrance. When the summer is closing I feel as though another year has passed...and what have I learned, how have I grown, what loves are richer? My heart feels full and prepares to sleep a bit while my mind (in the crispness of the air) takes over to process all that has happened...back to school, wool skirts, tights, fuzzy sweaters, intellectual stimulation, smoky days and early twilight. I love the line in "You've Got Mail" where Tom Hanks writes he'd buy Meg Ryan a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils. I need to watch that again. It's one of the only "romantic comedies" that I truly like.

I took a course in Modern Poetry my first quarter at the UW and discovered my favorite poet, Denise Levertov. I recited this one in front of the class on a stormy January afternoon:

Ancient Airs and Dances

I

I knew too well

what had befallen me
when, one night, I put my lips to his wineglass

after he left -- an impulse I thought was locked away with a smile

into memory's museum.

When he took me to visit friends and the sea, he lay

asleep in the next room's dark where the fire

rustled all night; and I, from a warm bed, sleepless,

watched through the open door

that glowing hearth, and heard,

drumming the roof, the rain's

insistent heartbeat.

Greyhaired, I have not grown wiser,

unless to perceive absurdity

is wisdom. A powerless wisdom.

II

Shameless heart! Did you not vow to learn

stillness from the heron,

quiet from the mists of fall,

and from the mountain -- what was it?

Pride? Remoteness?

You have forgotten already!

And now you clamor again

like an obstinate child demanding attention,

interrupting study and contemplation.

You try my patience. Bound as we are

together for life, must you now,

so late in the day, go bounding sideways,

trying to drag me with you?

I crave a quieter life.