Chasing the Wind

Photos: Mapiu y Santiago

larasumera — Tue, 13 May 2014 03:40:00 GMT

Chile Day 6 - Dia del las mamas

larasumera — Sun, 11 May 2014 22:13:00 GMT

It's mother's day and I miss my mommy! I put my card in the mail the day before we left for Chile, so at least there was that. Tried to call her today but our service wasn't working to get hold of her. Hi, mom!!!

We spent this morning at church. It was the first day we got to sleep in - and because I don't have my own clock here (purposefully), I had no idea what time it was when I finally decided to get up at 10:15, when our host dad woke us. Church was at 11 -- kinda love that Chileans do everything a little later. Greg spoke and it was pretty awesome to get some of that CCC preachin' goin', like the good ole days. Afterwards we went to the Calestads' home for (late) lunch, and that was muy super. We had bacon-wrapped steak, and four kinds of wine. It was so the best. Since it was our first full day kind of on our own, I decided to recruit some of the locals to hang out with us downtown, and some of us went over to Bella Vista, this very chic arts district in downtown Santiago that we didn't get to visit yesterday. We wandered around, took in some postres (dessert), pisco sours, and cafe, and just talked the night away. On the way out, we stopped in front of Pablo Neruda's home, and I got to take a photo in front. If I were goin to live in Chile, it would be in Bella Vista...maybe. It's kind of where all the hipsters of Chile live, but I don't know if I'm quite there/that. But it's a pretty neat part of town. We stopped for food on the way back home and I had a churrasco, which reinded me of a gyro-meets-hamburger, very Chilean apparently.

Tonight was the, as Greg puts it, the ritual packing of the alcohol. I got three bottles of wine from Concha y Toro from Friday's outting, and two small half liters, which all needed to be Tetris'd into my suitcase as we can't take them oin our carry-ons. We'll see if they make it back to LA with me in one piece. Good night for now. We have a whole day of travel tomorrow, so you'll hear from me again soon! Until then, good night, dear void.

Chile Day 5 - Santiago

larasumera — Sat, 10 May 2014 23:11:00 GMT

Today we explored the capital We hooked up with the other group from Simpson University, and had breakfast together at the church. We heard the testimony from Jeff, who is one of the founders of Iberamerica ministries. His parents were alcoholics, and he used to escape into drugs. But one day, in the same park that he used to go to to destroy his life, someone spoke to him about Jesus, and that's when Jeff turned his life around. Six months later, after living in his broken home with his parents, and him continuing to resent them even as a new Christian, after obeying Christ in obeying and loving his parents, he won them to the Lord. Later, he even was able to baptize his two older brothers. Now, he and his wife have 7 grandkids, one on the way, and his whole family are all are involved in the ministiry, winning over others to the love, reality, and truth of Jesus. He loves when he sees international groups cross cultures -- he says it speaks to those cultures that Jesus can bring people together. There is a movement of Latinos going into the Muslim world, and they see the power of the love of Christ among his people, and it speaks to them. It really is true that we in the body of Christ are witnesses to those around us in how we love one another.

We had our big group take the metro into Downtown and explored the various historic places, and did some souvenir shopping. We had visited a winery yesterday in the early part of the day before finishing up our work at El Faro in the afternoon, and I bought some wine there. And I bought some coffee. Of course. The only other souvenir I wanted was a Chilean flag, as I collect flags from each country I visit. We all had lunch in this big fish market and I had seabass. It. Was. So. Bomb. I am so stuffed, though. Just this week I feel like I definitely gained some poundage, and I'm so proud of it! It's crazy to think how well they treat us, or any missionary team -- I feel like yes, we do make a difference, but definitely still feel so undeserving of the blessing they are to us, when all we sought to do was bless them with our small contributions. It's humbling to feel the love of your brothers and sisters ont he other side of the world, strangers on earth, but family in heaven.

As we're wrapping up the week, another testimony from David (a different one from the one at El Faro) spoke to me about the perfect timing of the Lord. We all hopped on a small bus to tour the different churches in the Maipu area. As he told the different stories for each of these places, how they were started, and what progress is being made, he says how he was reminded in doing God's work in these places that he doesn't want to ever feel like he is ahead of the Lord, but have God lead. And it was a good reminder for myself to not get ahead of His plans for me -- I get so excited about ideas I have and too many times get ahead of myself. But God is in control, and as frustrating as His timing may be for me, it also relieves me that I just need to take one day at a time, and not be overwhelmed.

Chile Day 4 - Vino y Cafe!

larasumera — Fri, 9 May 2014 23:35:00 GMT

This morning we visited a winery called Concha y Toro. A beautiful vineyard, just at the end of their harvest. There is a part of the vineyard that they have specifically for tourists like us to come through and pick grapes off the vines. I've never done that before, and because it is a late harvest, the grapes were sweeter than normal. Our group came out of that place with boxes upon boxes of wine. We all are wondering how we are getting these bottles home without them breaking.

We met up with Alejandro and Dulce again today as well; they came with us to the winery and then back to El Faro. They came back yesterday from a visit to Brazil, but are here in Santiago working at El Faro for a year. They arrived in October, just at the start of summer, and now it is their fall, and the winter is coming. I loved hearing about Alejandro's testimony about God calling him into mission work 10 years ago, but he kept telling God,"Sorry, I think you got the wrong number." And this went on until he met his now wiife, Dulce. Together, they decided to go, and they saved for a year and came to Chile. What stuck with me is Alejandro saying that we have the freedom to make our choices, and if it is not God' will, He will shut the door until you find the right one. In a way it is a relief, because I don't have to search for God's will, waiting and waiting until He shows up. I have to show up, and make (wise and prayed over) decisions, and see where God will walk with me. We finished up all our projects at El Faro, including painting an office, and finishing up cleaing all the debris and garbage outside. It's such a different to walk into a place that is pretty -- it is much more welcoming, especially when it is such a contrast to the rest of the neighborhood. I learned that it is illegal to have a gun in Chile, but probably most of the people that live around El Faro have one, and not to mention the heavy drug abuse that occurs throughout the neighborhood. But amidst all that, I never felt unsafe, and felt the guardians of the Lord standing guard over us, and this place.

During the night we went to Coffee Culture, founded and run by Jacob. He and his wife started it as a place for people to come and have community -- it spoke straight to my heart. He has a passion for the muslim world, and they planned to go to Egypt, but God had other plans, and they are here to stay in Santiago for a little while. I don't know what it will look like, but I want to be involved in whatever he is doing with his coffee shop, even if from all the way in LA. He buys fair trade beans, visits the sites where they are grown to be sure the workers there are treated fairly, he roasts them on his own, and he has a passion about coffee -- I want to learn from this guy! The shop is in a neighboor accessible to the community to have meetings and just hang out -- basically what you will find in LA. But most of his clientle are those who would never step foot in a church, and it is an out-of-the-box ministry that is not heavy handed in its gospel message. The message is love and acceptance, and it is beautiful. St. Francis says to preach the gospel at all times, and when necessary use words. We went when a Brazilian jazz band was playing. Sometimes there is poetry readings (...ya!). It made me revive my dream about starting my own coffee shop, with this same purpose - to invite those that have the same common denomination of caffeine addiction, live music, maybe some poetry mixed in. As I listened to the band playing, I loved seeing how enamoured everyone was in the shop, and I thought how cool was the power of music -- it speaks in the same language in our soul, and it brings people together. Throw in a love for coffee (or wine...this place serves wine too!) and you got a good little thing going, I think.

It was a great day - began with wine, I got to work with a shovel and get up in the dirt, and the day ended with a specially brewed cup of coffee. All in a different country. Kind of perfect, really.

Chile Day 3 - Las Tias

larasumera — Thu, 8 May 2014 20:45:00 GMT

Today we finished the flower bed. It was wonderful to know we were making this once broken-down place into a beautiful site where a community can come together and fellowship. At home, we take for granted how safe and relatively clean our neighborhoods are (mostly). Super cool to see the flower bed being finished from the beginning (really a pile of dirt, rock, and garbage), to the hand-mixed cement, to building up the brick-wall borders, to more dirt being moved and shoveled and moved back, to finally adding the final touches of planting the flowers. Oh, and in my enthusiasm to dig, I pick-axed through a pipe. Which I then learned how to re-pipe. (Super happy it was the kitchen pipe, and not the bathroom). We were told El Faro is located in a zone of very furtile land, so anything we plant (lucky for them as I'm involved in this) will thrive. The dirt however was full of all these rocks. But as we planted, it was a cool metaphor I think for ministry in general - we dig and sweat to get through the good soil, and find rocks along the way, but the flowers we plant still grow and create beauty for us! The tias are a great example of this!

Tia Mirella and Tia Teresa are the women who work at El Faro. They are there before any of us, and do not even eat their dinner (an early once) until after leave after we have ours. I keep speaking about the people at El Faro as having so much joy, and it is so evident in these two women. They really take care of us, and they truly love the children here. Tia Mirella came here about 12-13 years ago, having been invited to a Mother's Day service (El Faro functions as a church as well). Though not being a Christian prior, she says after that, she just never left. And Tia Teresa also was not a Christian, but she worked next to El Faro. She kept hearing the services happening at El Faro, and one day decided to check it out--also about 12-13 years ago. She kept coming back, and eventually started working at El Faro. Today, they showed us all the hand-knitted scarves and hats they have been making to sell. They are raising funds for their own mission trip to Ecuador, where they hope to teach the women there how to knit and sow and do the same to create a sustainable living.

The back-story for El Faro is that it was founded around the same time the tias came to be there. They have seen several changes of leadership in that place. The first was due to the pastor opening the doors and giving and giving and giving to the community. But eventually, when that pastor left, even with new leadship in place, the people had come to expect to keep getting what the former pastor gave (mostly meals). The problem with that was not encouraging the people who came to sustain themselves. El Faro shut down for a while after that. With David, he is very intentional in teaching people to work for things, to understand consequence, and to be there for people to help them through things, and not just give handouts.

The tias, and David, are some of the hardest working people I know. They do it completely out of the love for Christ, and for the community they are serving in that place. Their trip to Ecuador will cost 4 months of the tias' salary, but they are so creative. They make these scarves and hats (a good portion of which my group bought, and have orders in progress to be finished before we leave!), and sell empanadas in la feria.

La feria is the farmer's marrket that takes place every Thursday and Sunday right on the street in front of El Faro. We took a stroll right before lunch through la feria and it was such an amazing sight to see all the organic produce, all those colors, and every single vendor smile and say hello to you. Chile is not exactly third world, but nor is it first world. The streets around El Faro are not very clean, and there is graffiti everywhere. The transformation happening at El Faro has the community curious, and they ask about what goes on there, and El Faro is becoming exactly that - the lighthouse. Today's note was from Sean, another community group friend, and his prayer for me was to learn more about God this week, to grow closer to Him. And I am! I see Him in how faithful the people are, day in and day out, first in, first out, to serve others. How am I doing this in LA?

Chile Day 2 - Mezcla!

larasumera — Wed, 7 May 2014 20:00:00 GMT

Today's task was all about the mezcla y cemento! My favorite. ...no, but really. I remeber being in the Dominican Republic and surprising all the machismo muchachos with my enthusiasm with mixing cement by hand, having no problem getting up in that business, and just feeling completely free to get down and dirty. Yesterday some of us spent time digging holes for the garden (my parents will be surprised I'm not allergic to gardening...I do not ever touch their beautiful garden when I visit), and we finished up another part of El Faro. Then it was to the mezcla, and I was muy excited for that! Now, I haven't really working out, so when I went all out today, I could feel it in the parts of my body that I forgot existed. I fell asleep sitting up after lunch. Some of us went to go work with the children, but opted to go back out into the world of sweat and cement. Not sure how tomorrow morning will go . . .

As for the food, this country is all about el pan (bread). There are different kinds, but some are fluffy, which I love, and some are super dense, which I try to stay away from just because ...well let's just say my fiber pills haven't kicked in yet. Then there's this stuff called majar -- aka, heaven in your mouth. It's kind of like nutella, but kind of carmel-ier. Yesterday we had pollo con arroz, the best rice that I've ever had, which probably had something to do with all the digging we were doing out in the sun all morning. But I'm pretty sure it is amazing in any case. Today we had prok chops, the best pork chops I have ever had. Chileans also have this thing called "once" -- Spanish for "eleven". Pretty much means they have some kind of snack/meal/food type dealio around 11pm. Last night, we had once about 11:40pm. This is typical. And to no surprise, as Chile is quite European. Their main and biggest meal is lunch, and they typically an early once in the early evening, and then again late at night. I don't think I'll have a problem reaching my 10-pounds-gained in Chile in the next few days.

Today we met Luis. He works at the church, mostly during the night, putting the computer lab together for los ninos. He works for Entel, one of the largest phone ccompanies in Chile, and he was responsible for getting all the computers donated for the kids of Casa de Esperanza. And right before lunch, he called us into the computer lab he had just spent all night trying to put together, and asked us to pray. He has no degree, only, what he says, what God gave him, and the passion of his heart. He told his story of how he came to El Faro, and in that he said that Sometimes God gives us periods of suffering so we can go at life full force. He said the life of a missionary is hard, and when God alls us to places, often we lose ourselves.

When he said that, initially I thought of losing oneself as a bad thing -- we can go to a mission field and forget why we're there, forget who we are even, and even lost our passion for the things we had loved. But later on, when I revisited his words, it occured to me -- that is the point. Jesus calls us to lose ourselves to find ourselves. We often think of this as a bad thing. But surely when we are called to do God's work, we are certainly going to face trials of sundry kinds. Luis says his journey was hard, but God makes a nobody like him (his words) into somebody. He never received a degree, but he works with engineers from all over. We all saw the joy and excitement in his face as he talked about the children, and how he cares for them, and he does them for them for God's sake. And I walked away thinking how alive we become if only we do not live for ourselves.

Today's note was from sweet Melody. She cited one of my favorite verses: "The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by his love; He will exult over you with loud singing." Zep 3:17. I believe this of God for all his children. But I see the people of El Faro, and the work our missionaries do here, and certainly He is rejoicing with song over these faithful and good servants.

Chile!

larasumera — Tue, 6 May 2014 23:45:00 GMT

May 6, 2014

Day 1 – We probably went to bed around 1:30, and I work up at 7:15 this morning. We're 3 hours ahead of California. Our team went to El Faro this morning, a church/school building on which we are doing renovations. It is the building they use to do the program they call Casa de Esperanza, “House of Hope.” Kids anywhere from 5 to their teens go there as a hang out. They have various ways they minister to the youth of Maipu, the town in Santiago in which El Faro is located. One of these ministries is a skate park, there's also an afterschool program that we've helped with the smaller kids doing crafts and whatnot, and there's even a computer lab that was donated for kids to use.

We were warned that the kids were very aggressive. David runs El Faro, a very gentle, quiet man, who has a noticeable joy in the work he does. As he gave us the tour of El Faro, he told the story of one boy who would come to El Faro and talk back to him, act out. One day, this boy even threw a skateboard at him. David told this boy he couldn't come back until the boy apologized, and when the boy finally did, David let him back into Casa de Esperanza. Later, David took the boy aside and asked about his home life, did he have a mom? No, the boy said, she is dead. Your father? No, he's in jail. Only his 15-year-old brother took care of him and his siblings. David comes across these stories all the time, and his heart is full for the children of Maipu for it.

For children whose parents are both gone, the government pays for their housing, as long as there is some extended older relative (sometimes just an older sibling not much older) can care for them, usually an aunt, uncle, or grandparent. El Faro, appropriately named, as it is translated “The Lighthouse”, is sorely needed in neighborhoods like Maipu where gangs have the run of the town, and cocaine is dealt throughout. My takeaway from today was seeing the importance of just showing up, and being present. David kept saying today that when God puts something on your heart, He will provide to see it through. David has this community on his heart, and Casa de Esperanza is important, and it impacts the people who see the love that comes from it. The women that help run it are amazing – such a picture of such hard, and dedicated work that comes from a place of absolute love. There are a lot of hardened youth that come through those doors, and no surprise given the broken homes they come from; but hope is not too far away when there are those that can show them a little love.

I know I am blessed to be here. But sometimes I feel that what I'm doing here is so small, how can we really make a difference? But I was reminded in two and separate ways today that we are just here to plant seeds, and God makes those seeds grow. Today's card from my stack of going-away notes was from my friend Taylor, and she recounted her story of her experience serving on skid row in downtown LA, washing the feet of the homeless, for hours. By the end she said it felt like what she was doing wasn't really helping, but was then reminded that only Jesus can fix the broken of this world. We are here to plant seeds, not grow them. And tonight, when Greg gave a talk to a room full of local church leaders, he described our life as seasons – Summer for abundance, Fall for change, Winter for loss, and Spring for new beginnings. He said that we often think of Spring as new beginnings in sprite of the loss we have felt in Winter, but really Spring happens because of Winter—our losses make new beginnings happen. Only in our broken can we be lead to restored wholeness. And so many times I make that all about me, and because we are all precious to God, I do know he cares for me as an individual. However, there is so much more than this life, my life, and it is amazing to know that God is taking care of all of us, and this world, in ways that are higher than my thoughts and far exceeding my imaginations. Greg says that brokenness is part of the journey, and God uses that dark time for us to long for something new, and in Him, and to hear things from Him in new ways. So whether in Maipu, or in my own feelings of brokenness, or in wanting to “fix” someone – in the end, it is all about God, not about me—He does the growing and the fixing. Sometimes our stories and experiences are not even for us in the end, but for someone else to hear and to know they are not alone.

Heading to Chile

larasumera — Mon, 5 May 2014 14:54:00 GMT

Travel Day

We've been traveling for the better part of about 15 hours now. We're in Panama City at the airport waiting for our flight to Santiago. I'm tired, but still so excited. This last flight was about 3 hours long, but it was a ghost flight, not full, so we each got our own row to stretch out on. I have to say, being little does have its perks sometimes.

I hate that it is taking a whole day to get to Santiago—I just want to get started!--but being in transit with this team has been fun. Greg, our pastor, is the only dude with all these chicas. It's actually been so fantastic getting to know the half of the team that I didn't know previously, and then having the time to do this with Greg, Brittany, and Vickie who I have known since moving to SoCal some 7 years ago. I went with Greg to Kenya with our church in 2008, and I have also traveled with Brittany who met up with me right after that Kenya trip in Rome – that was a strange transition, let me tell you. Those stories are in this travel journal if you want to look up (way way way back) past posts.

I have no concept of time. I think we've been through 3 different time zones already. I turned off my service once we left Houston, and I didn't bring a watch. It's like Vegas hanging out in these airports for so long—I think we would have been waiting about 9 hours in 3 airports—and just not feel the time. Except we don't have slot machines.

The last time I was out of the country was in 2012 to Cannes for work, but I didn't get to see anything, not really. Before that I was able to travel to several countries, and explore most of the U.S., lots of that was for (fun) work as well. Some of it was due to some (arguably) questionable decisions in convincing friends to backpack through Europe with me. I love that my story has so much traveling interspersed throughout the last decade of my life. I know I have been blessed to see and experience more than many, and not of any merit on my end, but by the grace of God and the support of so many loved ones.

Emily gave me a stack of cards yesterday before I left. I wasn't sure what I would find in them, but had instructions to only open one a day, the first to be opened on the plane. On our first leg of flights, I discovered the first note was from my sweet mom. Then I knew what I would find in each, and I didn't want to wait to open the rest, knowing (guessing) I would find words from different people I loved for each day. What a beautiful, and thoughtful gift. I'm not one for tokens or keepsakes anymore, but words I hold onto. Brittany is on duty to make sure I don't open all of them at once! I opened today's when we hit Panama City. It was from Jeff. Of all the people in my circle of friends that come from our community group, I have known him the longest, and I love that I have a note from him.

While reading each of these, I know I have and will have the biggest grin on my face, full of the joy of knowing that though I do miss this – the crazy bohemian life, traveling through strange countries and airports, meeting the most eccentric people, trying the most bizarre foods, not having an “adult” life that requires me to “stay” – I do love this season of my life that I have now, and I find myself finally wanting to stay. In LA of all places. ...for now in any case. I love what I get to do each day for work, which I know is a rare blessing as well. But most of all, it's living in community that makes me feel the fire of God in my heart to love people as He does, and to receive that love in return. We are all here as sojourners for a short, blink-of-an-eye time in the perspective of our big God that abides outside of any kind of linear existence. How awesome.

California for a while.

larasumera — Wed, 12 May 2010 14:27:00 GMT

So that's it. A tour of Kenya, the Mediterranean, and then of the USA, over about the course of two years, and now I am back and ready to be a grown up.

Tour ended on Monday and I have thoroughly cleaned the remains of my property to get ready to make the move to Pasadena. I'll be starting Act One in Hollywood in June, and I am so excited. The Program is 14 months, so for at least that long I'll be USA-soil-bound. But I'm okay with that.

I don't know when the next time will be that I will adventuring abroad, but I feel blessed for the immediate journal ahead.

Until next time, good night for the last time in a while, dear void.

Last Round of P-Town

larasumera — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 10:24:00 GMT

Beaverton, OR. I'm really sucking keeping this up. But here we are.

Since my last entry we've been to Seattle again for a couple of days (where we actually came in via ferry--so cool!--and had a view of the Space Needle from our hotel window), and I flew down to Southern California to see one of my best friend's starring in her University's opera, The Elixir of Love. It was so fantastic, and she was so phenomenal. I'm glad I flew down.

I have to say I like PDX (Portland International Airport). On the little cubbies that you use to stash your stuff through check-in/security says that it’s the #1 airport in the nation. I wonder if that’s true. By the way, it always feel like a crowd of people all changing after a one-night stand getting through the check-in point. We’re taking off belts, taking off jackets, securing our valuables, only to get it all together again so quickly.

Anyway, the other reason why I like PDX is that there are bathrooms everywhere. And there is nothing like a good dump. I've always wanted to write that somewhere and discuss this, because it's so true, am I right?! Anyone that says anything against that must have never taken a good dump before. If anything, I’d like to be more regulated! It’s a great feeling knowing you are getting rid of so much! Especially on the road, and traveling overseas, where there is so much potential of bowlels gone wrong. The big D and C.

It’s funny too because people are so conservative when they are in the restroom. I mean, I do it too. Honestly, who wants to hear a loud crash of the excrement hitting water? Not to mention the grunts of effort and sighs of relief. But performance anxiety, as I’ve heard it termed and like to use that phrase, I feel is like a suppression of a good and natural state. Everyone’s got to go. You know more often than not it’s not a quiet act. Social norms are funny.

The rest of the weekend post-opera night was really nice and chill. Spent some time with some of my favorite people, and it got me excited to come back. But I figured, I'm moving back down to LA soon, might as well get as much of up here as I can.

Via Home

larasumera — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 13:53:00 GMT

San Jose, CA. I haven’t blogged in over a month now! Suffice it to say the last month has consisted on much obsession over Scrabble, biking, and running. Work has been slow, but we’ve had the awesome privilege of hanging out in some cool places, ie. Seattle, Portland, and, currently, San Jose!

Yes, I am home and have been home for about a week now. It was fortunate that our schedule worked out perfectly for me to be home in time for the Alica Keys Freedom Tour Concert in Oakland last Saturday. We had an afternoon show in Washington state on Friday, drove to Portland for the night, and left the area around 7AM and made it to Oakland after 12 hours on the road with the help of coffee and Red Bull. It is so warm and sunny here (gotta love Cali), it's hard to believe we came from a land of clouds, rain, and cold. It makes me want to be outside all day--rode my bike for 15 miles today, or a little more...so much fun! We head back out tomorrow for Washington. We found out our official end-of-tour date--May 10. We'll end in Salida, CA.

I bought a bike in Portland two and a half weeks ago. It’s an entry-level Scattante R-330 made by Performance Bikes. If I were permanently living in a certain city, I most definitely would have wanted to buy local. But as it is with the travel, I’m happy to go with Peformance. They offer great service, and (my favorite) dividends! REI does this too, that if you are a member, you get 10% of your purchase towards a future sale. It’s a brilliant scheme. It keeps you coming back to your store because you always have credit!

I also went for my first shoe-fitting at a specialty running shoe store. They analyzed my gait while I ran on a treadmill and they recorded it, and played it back for me as they showed me my over-pronation. I got shoes that would compensate for my pronation issue, and...get this...a 6.5! I was kind of proud, to be honest, that I didn’t get a little boy –sized shoe, as I had ignorantly done in the past. Of course it makes sense that you should get a shoe a half size or whole size larger for running or hiking because your feet swell. Otherwise I just buy in the kid section because it fits just snuggly enough. But now I have big-kid feet ;) Haha, all this is trivial to you unless you know me.

So in the last month I got a new road bike (including accessories) and someproperly fitted running shoes. With all this going towards fitness, I better freakin’ look awesome for my friends’ weddings this summer! Hahaha. Also, on top of all our other non-work activities, we've been watching a lot of Biggest Loser--it's so inspiring! Makes me wanna go work out.

Oh, and in other news, I got into this Producer program in Hollywood that I’m really excited about starting in June. It means I’ll be living in SoCal again! It’s for 14 months, and hopefully I can find a permanent job to stay for a while! Life is good.

Until next time, good night, dear void.

Onelove.

Seattle, but no McDreamy

larasumera — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 11:45:00 GMT

I still haven't seen the Space Needle. I don't feel like I'm really in Seattle yet.

We are staying just outside of downtown. Yesterday we headed to Pike's Place Market, which was so fun. So many food smells and sights. It reminded me of San Francisco. We ate a water view restaurant overlooking ferry boats while enjoying fish 'n chips. Good times.

Last night was the Pacquiao vs Clottey fight, and though we called and searched for a sports bar that would be showing the fight, none that we called were. And I was so looking forward to eating some chicken wings while I watched the Pacman deliver the smack down.

Today we are venturing to try a Brazilian restaurant. We went in yesterday and it smelled divine. I hope they serve Brazilian style with the meat on the big skewer swords.

We stayed up another night in a row til 1:30 playing Scrabble. This is becoming a problem.

We came a few anti-Obama protesters on the streets of downtown yesterday. I asked a first guy, why? He just pointed to a piece of paper he was holding--Wanna read? Um, if you can't tell me, what are you doing out here? Then another dude I tried get more out of and all he could give me was, "Well, he's worse than Bush," and "The health care bill," and "He didn't deliver much help to Haiti." ???? Christina and I were confounded. None of the responses by these dudes had much conviction. We walked away more confused than when we asked them of their protest (with, btw, a large cardboard poster with a Hitler mustache drawn on it--c'mon, how old are you?!). We decided if get the Haiti response again, Christina is going to pose as a Haitian and praise Obama, and see what these guys do about that. LoL. Wow, we have too much time on our hands.

Until next time, good night, dear void.

Scrabble Freak and Filipino Food

larasumera — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:30:00 GMT

Tacoma, WA.

Last week was a beautiful week of mom's home-cooked food. She was up visiting her mom, my grandma, in Pullman, WA. She cooked up a storm for the family every day, and it was wonderful. It threw off my calorie count for the week--in fact, I didn't even bother caring--but well worth it. At least there was an Anytime Fitness in this little town (by the way, San Jose doesn't have one!). I'm convinced that beneath Christina's black skin, she is somewhere deep inside Filipino. She, like my family, has become obsessed with Scrabble, and, like me, has become enamored with my mother's cooking. Good stuff.

We found a nice little coffee shop in little Pullman called the Daily Grind. As a ritual, we went there every day for our daily dose of caffeine and internet (both are addictions, apparently). Life on the farm didn't have wireless (weird...who doesn't have wireless these days? haha). There was a open mic poetry night on Friday, and my mom decided she wanted to come along to get a break from cooking (we chained her to the stove). So she came along and I decided to go up and read one of my originals. It wasn't really the kind of poetry vibe I was used to--it seemed more like class assignment to read something you wrote for the professor. A lot of it was dark, deeply rooted in some angry sentiment. It makes me sad that it is so prevalent in our youth, but simultaneously makes me happy to hear it it expressed in an art platform such as an open mic. To paraphrase a line from 'Love Jones,' it's amazing what you are willing to speak in front of strangers that you won't speak to the people in your life that really need to hear it.

Right now we are chillin' in a spot in Tacoma called Bertolini's. It took us about an hour to find a coffee shop that had a good vibe to it that included internet. The combination is not as ubiquitous as you would think being so close to Seattle. There is, as expected, a Starbucks on every corner, as they say.

Due to my grandmother's bad influence, Christina and I have become somewhat obsessed with Scrabble. As soon as we left Pullman, I bought us a travel Scrabble set, as well as a six-dot Dominoes set. Yesterday at Barnes and Noble, I bought a paperback Scrabble dictionary. Oh, it's on. Christina also bought a pack of Uno cards. I actually can't believe we haven't thought of games before now. We have so much free time in between shows this semester, might as well keep the brain stimulated. Oh, and just to point out the geekiness in us both, we also thought it'd be a good idea to have Spanish lessons on CD for our drives. Yes, this is going to be a learning experience!

Until next time, good night, dear void.

Life on the Farm

larasumera — Wed, 3 Mar 2010 16:06:00 GMT

Pullman, WA.

By beautiful happenstance, my mom is up in Washington visiting her mom. It was her birthday, and on the heels of just losing my grandmother's brother-and-law, there was a bit of a family reunion.

I met cousins I don't remember or never met (most likely never met) before. We share the same great-grandparents. Isn't that weird to think about? I'm related to these people by blood, but they are such strangers to me.

Christina and I are staying in the middle of nowhere out of town on a farm that my uncle Darryl inherited. In season they plant peas and barley and wheat. Interesting. Christina and I have driven all over the country seeing these farms, and once in a while we would make comments like, "It would be interesting to stay on a farm for a few days...but I could never live on one." Ha, well, it happened.

Also, apparently there are coyotes? I'm not sure, but to do our running, we go with my mom to visit my grandma in town and run on the main roads. Much more preferable. I did my first 55 minute run today. I'm surprised I ran that much (plus a couple of hills) since I took a week off to rest my quad.

We have no work this whole week. We'll make up for it next week when we have a semi-normal schedule again. I definitely need to buy a language book and learn something with all this free time.

To be honest I was a bit concerned there wasn't much out here, but Pullman has an Anytime Fitness, and we're sitting in a cute coffee shop near the University. Very small-town. (What's new?).

Until next time, good night, dear void.

Coffeeshop Hopping (I'm So Homeless)

larasumera — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:58:00 GMT

Portland, OR area.

I do love hanging out at coffee shops that are not Starbucks. I've been sitting here for three hours almost, behaving like the homeless nomad gypsy kid that I am. Does someone have an answer as to the etiquette of ordering drinks per x hours of stay?

In any case I think it's a great way to get a feel for a city and its people--better when it is a local shop. Today's venture is Iron Mutt Coffee Company.

I'm sitting here with my Mexican Spiced Mocha with my travelers cup (save the world, and all), watching the sun slowly cross the sky as the day progresses. You can be any where in the world and feel at home with comfy living-room-like chairs and a netbook at your fingertips.

There was this guy earlier sitting by the door. He brought his cute little puppy. I'm pretty sure it was to find a way to talk to ladies passing through.

We'll be in the Portland area for the next two weeks or so. We're staying with Christina's best friend's mom again, and it's nice to feel like we have our own space that is not in each other's.

Powell's is calling, and I have a few books in mind to pick up whilst there. There's an Anytime Fitness nearby as well, so despite my handicaps, I will have to venture in a few times for sure. I am trying to run every other day, or every two days, since my right leg's quad is feeling funny. When I get into the run, it feels fine after a few steps. When I walk, I look like an old lady. IBprofen is my friend.

Oregon is very beautiful, especially now with the sun out. I know it's only February, but with the east coast getting the Pacific Northwest weather we should be having, I can't help but hope spring is coming sooner than we all think. It feels like San Jose weather, and when sense of smell can trigger some powerful memories, for me it's like that with weather. If it feels like home, I feel like I should be there.

I get to see my mom in a few weeks. She's coming to Washington state to visit her mom, my grandmother, and also the family that is up here. My grandmother's brother-in-law just passed away last week and the funeral is soon. I won't be there for it, but in a few weeks my mom will still be here. So I'll get a full week of Filipino food. Ah, I miss it.

Until next time, good night, dear void.

Anytime Fitness and Anytime Couches

larasumera — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 16:43:00 GMT

Meridian, ID.

Incredible assets for being on the road are 24 hour gyms and an abundance of free places to stay.

Last semester it was all about couch-surfing. It was my personal and epic mission to travel the country on the couches (or floors, or extra beds, etc.) of strangers. There was no more than 7 days out of a month that I had to spend in hotels. People are great, and couchsurfing.com has my complete and enthusiastic support.

However, I didn't do the whole working out last semester so much. Not to bore you with some lame story about how I forgot to bring my running shoes and was too cheap to purchase more, I did not work out to deserve my holiday meals. Fortunately, this semester, I have the awesome privilege of having Christina for a co-worker and she makes me work. Earlier this week, she had me doing these ab exercises that got me grunting and yelling, which is a bit embarrassing when I think about how many people were in the gym with us. But I'll never have to see any of them again. My jello-pack I'll have to live with otherwise.

So joining Anytime Fitness has been fabulous. I can only hope they'll open one in San Jose, because the closest to my hometown is 40 minutes away, hardly worth the gas.

However, I think couch-surfing for me will have to take a hiatus. Christina isn't so much comfortable with it up here in the Pacific Northwest, which I cannot blame her for (see last entry). Couch-surfing isn't for everyone. My only regret is that CS actually shows you the beauty of people's hearts, and I'm sad someone can taint her feelings with so harsh an experience. Again, who can blame her?

In any case, with two weddings to attend, and the rest of my life to live, I can sacrifice not couch-surfing the next four months with intense fitness training with someone who knows what she is doing. Besides, it's probably better: who wants guests-you-haven't-met-before show up after a workout all funky? Ha.

Until next time, good night, dear void.

Mom and Pop's and Horrible Human Beings

larasumera — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:25:00 GMT

We got back to Meridian, ID on Tuesday. We were in a little town called Burley for a show that morning, and afterward went to a mom and pop's cafe for (my favorite) breakfast. It had been a fantastic day thus far.

However, we go to this cafe, sit down and order, and my co-worker hears a man a booth over say something like "I wish they'd kill Obama already so they can stop showing those n*****s on TV." I didn't hear this, but Christina did. With that said, she left money on the table for her coffee, got up, told our waitress to cancel her order, and left.

When the waitress came to me, I told her what had happened, and I said I wanted my breakfast to go. I couldn't sit there by myself with Christina having left the way she did.

Of course it wasn't the restaurant's fault, the waitress even called the guy a name I won't repeat here. But to be around that could understandably be uncomfortable for someone of African-American descent, as Christina is.

I just can't believe racism is so blatantly displayed still, in this day and age, and during black history month! We are all ONE race, coming from ONE blood, under ONE God.

"I'm Going to Jackson"

larasumera — Sat, 6 Feb 2010 13:06:00 GMT

So maybe this isn't the Jackson John and June sang about, but it is a beautiful place to be. On either side of me are mountains covered in the white stuff, piles of it all over the streets. The sun is shining today, so it isn't as cold as I would think it would be. Of course, my layers help a lot!

We are sitting in a little coffee shop in Jackson's downtown, and I am loving the view. I'm sitting cozy in cushy seats drinking my "chai charger" (chai with 2 shots of espresso...a little excessive, but it sounded good at the time).

I can't believe it's February, and we have four more months to go on the road. Christina and I need something productive to do while waiting out the cold months--she is going to enroll in some kind of on-line class to get certification in something I don't understand; I should pick up learning another language, maybe some audio cds for the longs drives.

Until next time, good night, dear void.

Painted Mountains

larasumera — Tue, 2 Feb 2010 21:27:00 GMT

Driving 5 hours from Meridian, ID to South Ogden, UT, we had the most amazing backdrop for our ride. The sky was completely white and the snow-covered mountains just blended into the horizon. It was beautiful. And it continues to make me believe there is a God, and He is an artist.

Tomorrow is our 6 hour drive to Fort Washakie, WY. We are watching the weather, and hoping the snow will have been cleared from the roadways by the time we have to drive through. For now, we are happily situated at our Couchsurfer host-for-the-night.

Until next time, good night, dear void.

The World as Coffeehouse and Open Mic

larasumera — Mon, 1 Feb 2010 19:51:00 GMT

Meridian, ID

One of the joys of being on the road is visiting various restaurants and coffee houses. My favorite places are restaurants that serve brunch, and coffee houses that have free internet. And what's more rare, is for me to actually be in town on the correct day an open mic is happening. Tonight, this moment as I write this, is one of those rare moments. In fact, it is the first time I would have visited an open mic while on the road.

We are in Meridian, ID, which has nothing very exciting save for the people I am here visiting (dear, dear friends for a very long time), has a gym that we went to yesterday (yes, still sore), and this coffee house called The Library Coffeehouse. It has wonderful ambiance and such a homey feel to it; it is like the one I want to open one day. There are couches all around, and a small stage in the back in the room with lots of books.

The locals get up here and play their guitar and sing their hearts. It's a beautiful cascading of community-love-life-friends-strangers-peace, all united in a moment of humanity coming together under the simple act of song. The world should be a coffee house with some open mic--everyone in turn using their God-given talents to bring creativity into the world all whilst enjoying, as Tom Hanks once said, "legal addictive stimulants."

Until next time, good night, dear void.

"The opposite of war isn't peace, it's creation." - Rent