Home for Christmas

I realize it's been ages since I've posted anything. It's not even for lack of worthy content. It's mostly because I lack the motivation and/or time. That said, this may not be the best topic for my comeback post, but I just finished my Wills and Trusts outline and I'm in desperate need of a finals break. What better way to take a mental break from finals than to think about the post-finals awesomeness that awaits me? Sure I have some amazing plans for when I get to CA in less than a week (but I'm not going to talk about them), but hopefully most of those plans will be couched in eating everything I've been missing for the last YEAR. Hear that people, I haven't been in CA for an entire year! That is far too long to deprive oneself from both the friends I miss and the following culinary delights:

1. Baker's - Other than the fact that it is the place where I grew up, Baker's maybe the best reason to visit the I.E..
2. Earl Grey Tea Latte from Coffee Bean Tea Leaf
3. Avogobble (avocado and turkey sando) - and anything else with avocado I can get my hands on.
4. In-N-Out
5. Islands - Though it hasn't been discussed, I assume this restaurant will make it's appearance on my New Year's trip up to NorCal.
6. Del Taco - Chicken Soft Taco, fries, and a Cherry Coke please!
7. Rosies - Greatest burritos eva!
8. Mom's ribs - It's kind of ironic, my mom's cooking is definitely of the Midwestern variety (meat + potato + vegetable + crock pot = meal), but I can only get it in CA.
9. Mom's potroast
10. Sunday Steak - Being able to barbecue year around is not a luxury I'm afforded in MN (or ever considering I don't know how to do it). I love going home where almost every Sunday my Dad and/or Bro grills.
11. Cheeseboard - Dare I dream. Sadly, I'm not sure I'll make it to Berkeley this year and Cheeseboard tends to be closed around the holidays, but this would certainly be a New Year's week miracle! ...If I were going to Berkeley this year, this list would easily double.
12. Homemade Mexican food - preferably with sangria, made by people I love, and eaten over the course of several hours.
13. HOF's Hut - This is the post-Castle breakfast tradition that I look forward to almost as much as the night that precedes it.

Easter

This is a post from my old xanga that I thought I'd repost in part today. I wrote it during Spring break of my Junior year while visiting Emily in Paris. Below is the painting the post is about. For reference, the painting depicts John 20:1-9.


Although it sounds like I've just been goofing around for most of this trip, it's also been very "spiritual" (or whatever you wanna call it). This being Europe and all, we've managed to hit up several of the major Cathedrals and museums. It's been cool to see how each one teaches me a little something more about the gospel. I could probably write a really long entry about each of them, but that would probably be excessive (if you wanna know about the other places ask me). Instead I'll just tell you about my most recent moment at the Musee d'Orsay. There are a ton of famous impressionist works there, but I was struck by a random painting some where in the middle of an exhibit on the second floor. I can't remember who painted it or what the French title was, even though I went back to look just so I'd remember for this entry. Anyway it was a painting by some guy whose name starts with a B, of Peter and John as they were running to the tomb to see if Jesus was really gone. It was an amazing and yet simple picture. It was close, just of their upper bodies. I think what made me cry when I looked at them were their expressions. They looked excited, hurried, worried, and relieved at the same time. I was left imagining what it might have been like for the disciples to hear that Jesus was not in the tomb. Their fear that some one had stolen His body. The thrill of the thought that their best friend was really coming back to them. Jesus promised to return, but the disciples were not always the quickest of fellows. I wonder if when they finally figured it out, all of their memories of Jesus saying odd things about coming back on the third day came flooding back and clicked into place. Christ had conquered death, but even more, their best friend was back. How often do I run to Jesus with that same enthusiasm? Does my relationship with Him reflect that same amount of passion, fear, love, and expectancy? I have a God who died for me, how amazing is that? And in addition to that, He wants a relationship; He knows me and wants me to know Him in the same way. I want to run to him like Peter and John did.

Bread + Brie + Wine = amAAAzing

13. My favorite meal is brie, bread (preferably something w/ rosemary in it), and red wine...no need for vegetables (wine counts as the fruit).

This was my dinner tonight and I am very happy, especially because the brie only cost $1.99 (usually $5.99). Back in college Em and I made this meal on a regular basis and usually ate it while watching an ep of Gilrmore Girls, or part of Pride and Prejudice. Those are still some of my favorite times from college.