Peace Out

My super cool sister, Meghan just called to tell me that she was accepted into the Peace Corp!  She will be reporting in late June and has an English teaching position.  She doesn't know for sure where she is going yet, but they have strongly hinted at China.

If you know my sister then you know what a perfect fit this is.  I am so excited for her and proud of what she is about to do!  And of course, I'm excited to go visit!

Vegas Curse

You remember what happened the last time I was in Vegas, right?  Car broke down, cost lots of money, had a fab time, etc.

I'm back in Vegas this week and something else has failed me.  I woke up Tuesday morning and began getting ready for the day.  I put in my left contact and when I opened the right container I couldn't find my right contact.  I must have been so tired the night before that I missed the case.  

I (of course) didn't plan ahead and failed to bring extra contacts with me so I drove around with one contact for the first half of the day (yikes) and during a break between jobs I ran to LensCrafters and got some new glasses.  They are an eggplant color!

They are super cute and it's kinda fun to be forced to return to glasses for a bit.  Yep, my mistake - but again, I'm so grateful how well things turned out.  Life is good!  (Especially being able to see!)

I got a sign today :)  I'm sooooo excited!  

(No, I can't tell you but I'm just too excited to not share this awesome PostSecret and blog about something today!)

Lover Boy

I got this email over Facebook a couple of days ago and it brings me joy  :)

rackel, that picture is fantastic, you look beautiful and very atractive. so, if you have a husband... please try to change that picture because many men surely are going to feel atracted to you just by seing your picture... I am from colombia and I know your friend eric stone, actually he was one of my favorite missionaries in my city. i would like to know you. this is my adress: leiberplay@.......

What a smooth talker!  It's pretty flattering, I suppose.  Well at least it brought a smile to my face and I hope it has done the same for you!  I hope you are having a terrific week so far!

An Amish boy and his father were in a mall. They were amazed by almost everything they saw, but especially by two shiny, silver walls that could move apart and then slide back together again. 

The boy asked, "What is this, Father?" The father (never having seen an elevator) responded, 'Son, I  have never seen anything like this in my life, I don't know what it is'. 

 

While the boy and his father were watching in amazement, a fat old lady in a wheelchair moved up to the moving walls and pressed a button. The walls opened and the lady rolled between them into a small room.  The walls then closed and the boy and his father watched the small numbers above the walls light up sequentially.  They continued to watch until it reached the last number, and then the numbers began to light in reverse order. 

 

Finally the walls opened up again and a gorgeous 24-year-old blonde stepped out. 

 

The father, not taking his eyes off the young woman, said quietly to his son..."Go get your  mother".

High School Tunes

I was listening to the radio today and a song came on that brought me right back to high school.  I think we all have those certain songs or bands that will always remind us of that awesome/awkward time in our lives.

Some of the bands that bring it all back are:

Blink-182

Weezer

Sublime

and.....

..........

.........

.........

N*SYNC

and

Backstreet Boys

Yep, and I still love all those bands!  I pity the person riding in my car when a song from any of these bands comes on the radio.

happy to infinity

In one of the stars

I shall be living

In one of them

I shall be laughing

And so it will be

as if all the stars were laughing

when you look

at the sky at night

And there is sweetness

in the laughter of all the stars..

and in the memories

of those you love.

-

The Little Prince: Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Happy Anniversary!

Three years ago marked the last time I worked outside of my field, the field I love and adore, the field that has given me so much more than I could ever give back.  The last job was at the Melting Pot (delicious, fabulous restaurant) and then I began interpreting.

I was thinking about this last night and I realized it has definitely not been a solid three years of just interpreting, I've had several long breaks in there.  If I actually break it down I've been interpreting for only 15 months!  Crazy, I know.  Interpreting is such a privilege for me and not something I take lightly.  I am grateful for all the crazy, amazing experiences I've had but I am also grateful to know that being an interpreter is not the be all, end all for me.

I am so grateful to have found Deaf Studies - it makes sense to me and and makes me feel like I have a purpose.  I had always wondered why I loved interpreting but was never super motivated, I now know it's because I am meant to be both - an interpreter and involved with Deaf Studies.  I have never cared about certifications, interpreting for certain people or gathering certain experiences and I am so glad that I know why.  It would be torture if I didn't!

So, happy 3rd anniversary of being in the deaf related work field, and happy 15 month anniversary of interpreting!  I have a long way to go in both and I am SO excited to get going!

Like Mother, Like Daughter

I have never understood why so many women resist becoming like their mothers.  It's inevitable, we all become like the woman who raised us and instilled in us her values.  

I guess I have never resisted it because I was never embarrassed by my mom, I wanted her at all my events and activities because I love her and I look to her for a lot of strength.  Being on the volleyball court during a stressful game and being able to look over to the stands and see my mom more nervous than me was always the boost I needed to play harder and be better.  

I want to be like my mom, she's fantastic!  Although I have unfortunately inherited her minor hoarder tendencies, I am eternally grateful for her good qualities I have as well.  I have often told friends that I'm terrified of being a mom because there is no way I could compare to the amazing job my sweet momma did. 

It's not worth the fight, we all become them so why not embrace it!  I'm just glad she's not insane! 

"Some people are color blind to red flags"

-Ashley Gosselin

Any One Else SUPER Excited?

Two days until the Olympics start!  I LOVE the Olympics and find myself glued to the TV when they are on.  The summer Olympics two years ago were amazing (Hannah, remember the opening ceremonies were my last night in DC!) and I expect nothing less from Vancouver.

Go Team USA!

Back!

I feel like I've been gone forever!  Eliza and I have been back from our fabulous vacation for over a week and I have not allowed room for any blogging motivation to creep into my "busy" schedule.  Here goes....

Our flight to Fort Lauderdale left from Las Vegas so Eliza and I drove my car down and were planning to leave it at my friend's house while we were gone.  Right as we were pulling into Vegas my car started to make a growling noise that I had heard before.  I reassured Eliza that I had heard it before and to keep driving.  Then it got loud.  Then the car jerked.  Violently.  We thought we dropped something off of the car.  Long story short, we died at the top of the I15 and Cheyenne Ave exit.  Here's Eliza at said exit, keeping a positive attitude about everything -

I decided that if the repairs were over $500 I would just buy a new car so I started making calls, etc to get that in order.  I got a referral for a guy who buys cars through auctions and then charges a minor finders fee.  Yeah....I blew a hole in the engine block so I'm the proud new owner of a lovely, lovely, lovely 2008 Hyundai Elantra.  Color - black, of course.  Everything worked out so perfectly!  I still can't believe that we broke down where we did, that I had a referral for someone to find me a car in Las Vegas and that I had so many amazing people working toward getting me new transportation.  What a blessing!

The trip was awesome, if you have seen me lately you can see how tan I am!  We started out with 2 days at DisneyWorld and then a 7 day western Caribbean cruise.  Here are some pictures of our adventures and more fun stories in the coming days.  If this bores you, don't read it.  I miss you!  PS - this is the DisneyWorld portion of the trip, cruise pictures to be posted shortly!  

Waiting for us at our Disney hotel....we squealed!  Wouldn't you???

We both loved the Epcot Center the most!  

I'm not going to lie, I got choked up more than once at DisneyWorld.  The first place was in the Pixar area of the park.  There is just something about so many good memories flooding back all at the same time that brings a tear to the eye.  It was wonderful!

In Morocco in Epcot.  I loved it!  I may need to plan a trip to the country sometime soon.

The man and the Mouse.  I love this statue :)

Inside Small World, I just loved these goats, they are pretty funky.

Again, inside Small World.  How cute are they?!?!

There is the most incredible mosaic inside Cinderella's castle!  These are some of my favorite scenes.  I wish my camera (and memory) could do it justice, oh well.  Plan a trip and see it for yourself!  It's worth it!

"As much as we need a prosperous economy, we also need a prosperity of kindness and decency."

- Caroline Kennedy