ilumina's Xanga

"In case of Emergency..."

Sat, 24 Jun 2006 02:23:18 GMT

YES...it's TRUE, the long awaited weekend is HERE!!! I am packing right now for my race this weekend. Laura, Sara and I road trip it to San Diego tomorrow AM! I can't wait! The countdown is almost over...and the money is ALMOST all in...just under $500 out of $3400!!

Friends, strangers, family and those at work have been SO supportive of me. I've been blown away with generosity and kindness!

I just love that as I'm packing, going over details, checking things off, running last minute errands, I am filling out multiple "in case of emergency" forms...ah, yes, I forget that I have to sign a waiver that recognizes that "I might be subject to drown"...

Let's hope not!!

Stay tuned...

Beached Whale

Sun, 18 Jun 2006 05:57:33 GMT

Well, apparently, in my crazy schedule, I haven't made time to keep everyone updated...but yes, it's the LAST week until my triathlon!! I can't believe it's ALREADY here. The journey has been pretty amazing.

My favorite things are the funny stories throughout the past few weeks....
1) On Memorial Day, my roommates and I went to the beach so while they were enjoying the sun, I pulled on my wetsuit, threw on my bright yellow swim cap and pink goggles. Sure, I might have appeared as a mutant to all those in their bikinis and swim trunks but I had to conquer the waves at some point. Ironically, the waves conquered me and within minutes I was thrown back onto the beach. Yet, I dove back out there...hoping to try again. I was determined to make it from Lifeguard Tower 8 to Tower 4. Yet, somehow, I'm pretty sure I swam backward...and then as I tried to swim towards shore, the waves swallowed me AGAIN and I felt like I was trapped and only 8 feet from actually touching the beach! Then all of a sudden, the water spit me out and I was thrown onto the sand like a beached whale. Pretty entertaining!

(Stay tuned for more stories...)
________________________________________________
DONATE to Leukemia Society for MY triathlon....
www.active.com/donate/tntgla/tntglaCNorman

Saturday, March 18, 2006

Sat, 18 Mar 2006 05:26:20 GMT

FOR UPDATES...go to http://ilumina.voxtropolis.com/

Friday, March 03, 2006

Fri, 03 Mar 2006 06:59:14 GMT

ABUNDANCE of LOVE....

This week I have been reading two passages again and again....Haggai and Psalm 5. One thing that caught my eye was "But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house." What is it that draws you to approach the One true and Holy God? Is it fear, is it desparation, gratitude, humility, brokenness, realization that He truly LOVES you?

Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Tue, 28 Feb 2006 16:39:13 GMT

DOES IT STOP?
I'm so grateful to have been working at my NEW job for almost a month now. Where does the time go? I am learning a ton and realizing that there is a lot more to learn. The people I work with are incredible!! I laugh a lot at my job. It's funny what I'm learning about working with a whole new group of people as well. Just when you think you've experienced it all!
My hours are pretty crazy and I find myself exhausted at the end of the day and just last night I was convicted at how little I give to my friends during my spare time in the day. There are so many people that I want to stay in contact with back in Ohio and the new friends here and my friends overseas and I just don't stay on top of things. I was much better with this when I wasn't as busy but I hate that excuse. I want to be a better friend...

Sunday, February 26, 2006

Sun, 26 Feb 2006 04:14:30 GMT

RACING...
So I signed up for TEAM in TRAINING to raise money for leukemia and cancer while racing. Feel free to check out my website for further info: http://www.active.com/donate/tntgla/tntglaCNorman.
Today was my first "ride" and yet I don't have a bike. The funny image is the thought of me running alongside bikes going at 30 mph. :) The good news is that there was another girl that came without her bike as well so we went for a run. I love that I am meeting a WHOLE new group of friends through this venue!

Monday, February 20, 2006

Mon, 20 Feb 2006 07:58:50 GMT

MAKE YOUR MOVE!
Ah, the life lessons learned from the game of chess. I am so grateful that even later in life my friend took the time to teach me this game. Yes, it takes patience. You must know your options, your opponent, the situation...but ultimately, you must make decisions. You MUST move! If it's the wrong choice, you die...if not, you make the next move.
Fortunately, in life, not each choice ends in immediate death...though some choices may be costly in the future. Even so, you still MOVE...
ONE step at a TIME!

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Wed, 15 Feb 2006 04:38:39 GMT

Pancakes and sushi....
That's what I had today, well, not together. I'm enjoying celebrating this week with my parents who got in late Sunday night. We've been enjoying a routine of breakfast in the AM and then heading in late to the office. Granted, I have to stay much later, until 8 pm. I had a GREAT VALENTINE'S DAY...funny conversation, attempted set-ups, gifts and great food!

Monday, February 13, 2006

Mon, 13 Feb 2006 06:09:39 GMT

LADY or the TRAMP?
I moved into my new apartment just a month ago. I moved into an apartment with two other incredible women, owners of two cats. Though I am an animal lover, I have not allowed the cats to come into my room because they've been known to not have much control. Every morning when I wake up, they are sitting, ready to pounce right outside my door. It's as if they know what they can't have and therefore want just that!
Just like my room, the cats are not allowed outside. Yet our cats sit right by the door, waiting for their chance to escape every time we open the door. Our cat got out last night. We definitely thought it was over...she has no tags and she has not been fixed. It doesn't help that she's in heat. We were pretty distraught. There was nothing we could do but wait.
Then I was walking around in the garage for our complex and I found her WITH another cat. BUT she is SAFE and SOUND.

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Thu, 02 Feb 2006 06:58:27 GMT

GNOCCHI, MONDRIAN and MR.BIG

There's no better way to celebrate the NEW JOB than getting a phone call from Joe, my brother-in-law, saying that he's in town for business and meeting up with him and his co-worker in West Hollywood for dinner. He showed me their swank hotel, Mondrian, on 8440 Sunset...with the sky bar. It was amazing--with the "super-size flower pots" big enough to hold trees and the huge pillows that people were actually lounging on while sipping their drinks. Then we headed to the Alligator Lounge down the street for a city skyline view, background music played by probably one of Frank Sinatra's friends and gourmet food. I can't remember the last time I had a vanilla ice cream sundae for $14. Then as we walked back to the Mondrian, waiting for my car, I saw Mr. Big (Chris Noth)...driving his Toyota.