Reee-jected!

I got my first official rejection letter from a bona-fide publisher a few weeks ago.

I should and could be upset, but really, I am thrilled. You always read about authors and their stacks of rejection letters...so, here's the first of (I'm sure) many!

I don't know why I can't rotate it! :(

An ode to Eleanor

When I was a kid, my idols included Beverly Cleary and Eleanor Roosevelt...alongside my sisters and mom, of course.

I read biographies about both women, and recently I re-read the book about ol' Elle. She's a remarkable lady, with countless accomplishments and a real trailblazer for her time.

As I often find myself scrambling to get a million things done in a day, one of her quotes really stood out to me:

I have never been bored, never found the days long enough for the range of activities with which I wanted to fill them. And, having learned to stare down fear, I long ago reached the point where there is no living person whom I fear, and few challenges that I am not willing to face. 

What a woman!

The year of the wedding: Those I had/have to miss and the 'lost' photos

Throughout the course of my wedding spree, there have been a few (yes, a few) I just couldn't attend.

My friend from grad school Melanie and her husband Bryant got hitched July 16 in Lubbock, Texas. Unfortunately, their wedding day conflicted with not one, but two bachelorette parties for two very special brides. I served as a bridesmaid in both their weddings, so I simply could not miss their big send-offs.

The best of the best from grad school: Katy D., Melanie, and Missy (who also got hitched this summer!).

In August, my college teammate Lindsey (Egeland, also known as Ege) married her husband Curtis August 21 in San Diego. My brother and his wife got hitched the day before, so there really wasn't a chance for me to make it to this party.

Ege and me in Venice, Italy, back when I was a freshman in college, and she was a senior. Ege was my recruiting host when I first visited WSU. The best!

Fun internet find of Emma and Ege.

Then, in September, my buddy Grant (featured many-a-time on this blog during my time in Texas) wed his lovely wife Misty September 23 in Viva Las Vegas. As you might recall, that was the same day as Troy and Christie's wedding. Gah! What's a girl to do, right?

Grant and me in Waco, at a WSU-Baylor basketball game back in '07.

The guy can throw down some barbecue, I tell you what!

Sadly, I will be missing my friends Sheena and Chris's wedding on New Year's Eve in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It would have been my first trip to our northern neighbors and my first fancy New Year's Eve party, not to mention the joining of two simply fantastic friends.

Like many of my lifelong friends, Sheen and I met at WSU, where she competed alongside my besties on the swim team. Sheena was a couple years older than me, but we became fast friends for many reasons, including our love of bargain fashion finds, Starbucks, and random humor (I almost wrote "humour" because that's how Sheens would write it, that crazy Canuck!).

Sheena has been like a big sister, always helping me along and offering advice. She and Chris have been together for many years, and we always used to call him "Dad" because he was just so dad-like. :) It breaks my heart that I won't be there to help ring in the new year and the first day of the rest of their lives together, but because of my current state of employment, I just couldn't turn down the chance to pick up shifts at work.

Sheena and Chris on a random college couch...this must have been taken in 2004???

Circa-2004 with Sheena.

'04-'05???

I swiped this engagement shot of C & S off Sheena's Facebook. So sue me. You two look cute!

Cheers to all of these fantastic couples. I am so fortunate to have friends like you! Congratulations!

Oh! I also forgot to add the following pics, delivered from the fabulous Courtney Harvey following the Miranda-Bienemann nuptials: 

This has to be one of my favorites because it's my two best buds from college and their fantastic counterparts. Love these girls. Love these friends! Love it!

Who invited the Beav?

Saturday marked the ninth year in which my family felt just a bit torn in cheering for the Beavers...the day the little varmints from Corvallis tried to (and rather successfully, I might add) bully my beloved "always the underdog" Cougs in Seattle at Century-Link Field.

Even though the Orange and Black blood runs rather deep in the Benz Bunch, everyone became instant Coug fans the day I signed on to compete for the Crimson and Gray. Yeah, no one had or has a problem wearing gifted Cougar gear until the day the Cougs play the Beavs. All bets are off when the two schools face-off.

No one from my family except Taylor decided to make the trek up to Seattle for the game, so I kind of breathed a sigh of relief knowing I wouldn't have to walk around with Beaver fans. I started thinking about some oversized basketball gear I had in my closet that Taylor could wear to the game when he rudely interrupted my vision of him in crimson and gray by telling me he would be wearing Beaver clothes to the game. 

W-H-A-T?!

Apparently...since Taylor grew up just a stone's throw from Corvallis...he claims to be a Beaver fan tried and true. Bogus. I simply COULD NOT believe it when he said he wasn't going to wear my hand-me-downs to the game. I almost dis-invited him. I asked him if he knew I played basketball at Washington State. I asked him if he wanted to stay together. I mean, I really tried to get him to rethink his decision. 

In the end, I was the obnoxious fan, sore loser, and person most likely NOT to receive the "good sportsmanship" award after the Cougs' loss. 

Oh whatever, Taylor, and all the other Beaver Believers out there. You got lucky this year. I hope this win saves your season. But let's not forget we've still got basketball and baseball seasons to look forward to!

Society of former Coug baseball players graciously allow Taylor into their pre-game toast.

That's my groomsman from Em and Greg's wedding on the far right, along with Seth and Nelli.

That's Emily's husband CARRYING HER PURSE!!!

Cougar Nation alive and well.

Love the Coug flags!

Still civil...before the game.

The besties from college!!!

Nice seats courtesy of Cougar Athletics. 

Taylor and his mama...there with Tay's dad to celebrate his big 5-0!

Trying to capture the Space Needle in the background. Go Cougs.

Who is Simon Benson?

Kinda dark, but you get the idea...Tay, me, Mariel, and Mike at the Simon Benson Awards.

What do a Portland polytechnic high school, a swanky hotel, and those bubbling fountains in the city all have in common?

They are named after Simon Benson, a famous Portland philanthropist.

Last night, Taylor and I accompanied Mariel and her boyfriend to the Convention Center for the Simon Benson Awards Dinner, a fundraiser for Portland State University. We sat at Mariel's dad's table, and it was such an enlightening evening.

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice served as the keynote speaker and talked mostly about the importance of education. Repeatedly, she preached about how important it is to make the extraordinary ordinary and how you can come from humble beginnings and do great things. It was a real "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" kind of speech, and it was motivating and encouraging.

Lately...while I'm off the wedding circuit...I've been working on updating my book proposal, networking with various professionals, and trying to figure out just what I'm supposed to do with my life at this point. Listening to Condoleezza's speech and hearing about the great things the award recipients accomplished in their lives proved to be a perfect dose of inspiration for the week.

Here's to you!

I've been rather quotes-y lately, but I had to post another.

My good friend Liz Tufty gave me an outstanding Starbucks tumbler not too long ago, and it has has the best combination of words spinning across it. Unfortunately, it broke, and I am going to return it, doubtful they have another...but I had to write down the contents somewhere:

Here's to starting the day together. To rushing in for five minutes or five hours. Here's to conversations over coffee, road trips, hatching plans. Gathering with friends, sharing stories, losing track of time. Here's to running a non-errand, to cooling off, warming up, and an afternoon with no agenda. Here's to ideas bubbling up. Your novel getting written in your favorite comfy chair. Rewarding yourself for the big presentation. Finding a bit of home on the road. Here's to holiday time. Father-and-daughter time, mother-and-son time, parking the stroller, cycling club, knitting club, ukulele club. Here's to being part of something, to sharing books, movies, vacation photos, new songs, old family recipes. To always saying what you want, wishing for yourself and for others. Here's to you. 

A different Dr. Phil

At church Sunday, the message was about letting go physically and emotionally. The second reading was one my favorites, Phil 4: 6-9. With my current life situation of uncertainty and unfamiliarity, I need to be reminded of these verses over and over again, so why not post it here?

Brothers and sisters:
Have no anxiety at all, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious,
if there is any excellence
and if there is anything worthy of praise,
think about these things.
Keep on doing what you have learned and received
and heard and seen in me.
Then the God of peace will be with you.