Hello, Rain!

The weather around here is finally starting to reflect what the fall season should be. I'm sure it will be short-lived, just like the overcast days we had a while back, but I'll take it while it's here. You should have seen us silly Southern Californians yesterday when it started to pour outside. We were all so surprised because it seemed like the rain came out of nowhere--about half of the office stopped working and gathered around the open door with our jaws open. It was quite funny, like we had never seen rain before. Well, we haven't seen wet weather in a long long time, so it's almost the same thing.

Oh My

There are quite a few Twilight trailers and tv spots out there right now, but here is my favorite. Not sure how I'm going to watch the whole two hour movie if I'm bursting with excitement just from this 30 second spot. Bursting with excitement and hyperventilating a little bit. My oh my. Sigh, oh Edward.

Mmm, Dumplings

Emily came up with a great idea recently: let's make and eat dumplings! Everyone loves dumplings, so how could you go wrong with an idea like that? So, at the end of last week, Ann & I hosted an International Dumpling Night at our place. Everyone was encouraged to bring different types of dumplings, and it was fun, yummy, and quite a success. Our dumpling buffet table included the following (most of which were impressively home made!):

-Apple dumplings with organic farmers market apples with ice cream, from Carley and Aaron
-Exploding plum dumplings, white people style (this was Alicia's description for her dish)
-Pumpkin dumplings, made my moi
-"Apple" dumplings. And when we say "apple", we mean asian. Filling made by Emily & dumplings hand folded by some of the ladies.
-Black bean and banana empanadas, from Shannon
-Tibetan momos, from Sarah
-Samosas, from Sabreena
-Blackberry dessert dumplings, from Catherine
-Steamed chicken and fried chicken dumplings, from Anitza and Juan
-Potato and cheese pierogis, from Ann
-White folk chicken & dumplings, from Jen
-Blintzes, from Alie

We ate, drank, ate some more and played a bit of guitar hero--the evening was great. Who knew dumplings could come in so many different forms?!

First Beaches

In honor of counting down to the Twilight movie release (25 days left!), I'm going to post some pictures from my Road Trip to the Pacific Northwest this past summer. First off are the First Beaches, a comparison between the real deal and the movie version.

On the western coast of the Olympic Peninsula, here is the real First Beach of La Push, Washington:


Found along Oregon's coastline, Indian Beach in Ecola State Park was the location they used as First Beach for the movie:


The two beaches do have their differences, but you can also clearly see how similar they are. I think the location scouts did a wonderful job in picking this beautiful site. The beach just had the right aura to it, and you really could imagine Jacob and Bella there. Interestingly enough, compared to the actual First Beach, the one used for the movie was more like what I imagined in my head while reading. After visiting this filming site, along with some others, I am so excited about the location decisions of the filmmakers--as you already know from watching the trailers, it will be a visual feast! Haha, and I'm not talking about Rob here (although that definitely is a visual feast)--I'm talking about the sets & scenery!

(Twilight) Quote-o-the-day

"It was beautiful, of course; I couldn't deny that. Everything was green: the trees, their trunks covered with moss, their branches hanging with a canopy of it, the ground covered with ferns. Even the air filtered down greenly through the leaves." -Twilight, Stephenie Meyer

All In a Day's Work

Overheard in front of an exhibit, a mother speaking to her son:
"No honey, that's not a fish, that's an eel."

...Hmmmm. If eels aren't fish, then what the heck are they?

And the Countdown Begins!

We are officially one month away from the release of the Twilight Movie!! To celebrate this day, one of my coworkers and I made a paper chain countdown for our office, so we can visually see how close we're getting. You might be wondering how appropriate it is to be placing a Twilight Movie paper chain in the workplace. In most cases, I'm sure it wouldn't be a good idea. But I've turned about 25 people--over half of our department--into fans, so it is very exciting for us all. We're all looking forward to seeing the chain get shorter and shorter! Twilight is taking over the world--well, taking over my office at least, muhahahaha. (I know, you're jealous that I work in such a fun environment. I really do work with great people, and admire the males for their ability to put up with all the estrogen and Edward-talk.)

free time, what's that?

Wow, time is flying by, I can't believe we're in the second half of October already! I've worked two 6-day weeks in a row now. Although fall is our slow visitation season, I've still had a hefty workload of projects and programs going on, so it's been busy busy. Squeezed in between all that, I've managed to stay pretty occupied outside of work also...Had our book club meeting for The Lace Reader (an interesting and quick read, although we had some issues and questions about the story line and change of voices)...taking a photography class on Tuesday nights (trying to learn how to use the Nikon D200 my dad let me borrow)... went out for Shelby's birthday (where I bowled over 100 twice! woohoo, that's quite an accomplishment, I'm always excited when I can hit 100!)... had brunch with mom and sister for mom's 60th birthday (where we saw Tipper Gore & Al Gore III, by the way)... went to SeaFare, a fundraiser event at the Aquarium (lots of fun, especially with the open bar and food samples from over 20 restaurants)... and took a rock climbing class at a the local rock gym (I've been meaning to do this for over two years now, and finally went! It was challenging, but also very fun.) Oh, there are so many things to do and not enough time (or money) to do it all!

Quote-o-the-day

"Time plays like an accordion in the way it can stretch out and compress itself in a thousand melodic ways. Months on end may pass blindingly in a quick series of chords, open-shut, together-apart; and then a single melancholy week may seem like a year's pining, one long unfolding note." -Three Junes, Julia Glass

The Art of Multi-Tasking

I've taken on a new position at work recently, so with it, everything has become incredibly busy and stressful. The position came quite unexpectedly, so a whole workload has been put into my hands, and I'm quickly learning how to balance a dozen tasks and projects at once. It is challenging work, but I'm grateful for the chance to gain so much experience and to be able to show my talents and prove what I can do. At times, it can be difficult to step outside of our comfort zone, but those are the moments that we learn and grow the most. Although I'm stressed (I keep dreaming about work and all the things I need to do), I have to remind myself that it's all a part of the experience.

All In a Day's Work

Question asked today: "Are there any algae-eating plants?"

Okay, I know there are carnivorous plants out there. But herbivorous plants?!?? Seriously?? Algae-eating plants??

Quote-o-the-day

"Sail away from the safe harbor.
Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover."
-Mark Twain

bring on the vampire weather

it's cloudy and cool out--oh what a relief, enough with the 90-degree heat we've been having! i'm loving the gloom, and hope it will stay this way for a while.

the new totally awesome twilight trailer

i LOVE:
-car crash scene--so beautifully shot!
-the quote "what if i'm not the hero, what if i'm the bad guy" it's the quote on MY bookmark (em and i designed home-made twilight bookmarks for everyone as a party favor for the breaking dawn party, and that's the bookmark i chose for myself)
-edward kicking the apple into his hands
-the kiss--so steamy!
-gazebo scene (prom at the gorgeous view point inn)
-the amazing pacific northwest scenery. sigh, i want to be back there again.

shriek!....sigh

These are just two of a whole set of new and totally awesome photos released on the Germany Twilight Movie Site (under "Bilder" and "Making Of").

*SHRIEK!* Look at how cute they are together! It's heart stopping and adorable. *SIGH* You can see the chemistry flowing in these photos--just imagine what it will be like seeing that chemistry on the big screen! Oooooo, I'm bursting with excitement for this movie!!!

It's Coming, Mark Your Calendars!

A brand new Twilight trailer is coming out Thursday, October 9th. Sweet! You can read the announcement at Stephenie's Website.

Going camping for the weekend, so I will see you all next week!