tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60747012011-04-21T11:32:32.794-07:00Dream, always dream...D. Brookenoreply@blogger.comBlogger801100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-22259368936057120482008-12-25T01:05:00.000-08:002008-12-25T01:22:57.083-08:00

Seems like I never update...it's hit and miss...like so much of life. But today, let me again borrow my friend's model for a list of things I'm grateful for corresponding to the date of the month:1. My grandma's 90 amazing years of life2. Her fried chicken3. The weepies "Somebody Loved" song4. Mary's photo-shoot of our family - all four gens present5. My kid sister that's taller than me...her

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-23423483090026742652008-07-12T16:44:00.001-07:002008-07-12T16:46:10.062-07:00

Today I went to a funeral for childhood friend's father that passed away at the unfortunate and early age of 48. On the way to my seat, I talked to the father of yet another childhood friend. The last time I saw him was at his son's funeral. Everyone is so grown up now. I remember when the wife of the deceased was pregnant with her youngest. She looked to be about 14 now. I thought about all the

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-69731697170451446152007-10-22T23:54:00.000-07:002007-10-23T00:11:36.442-07:00

Thankful. Inspired by a friend, I sat down to list 23 things I was grateful for. Here's what I came up with...Note that the order is not a ranking system... :)1. My Mom's smile2. My Dad's hugs3. My sister's innocent, whole-hearted loyalty as my sister; her unconditional love4. Sleeping with Casey (family's golden retriever) by the wall heater downstairs when I'm home for Christmas5. Vanilla

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1165393453076927962006-12-06T00:13:00.000-08:002006-12-06T00:25:16.783-08:00

That title sounds like a mouthful, huh? Yup. It's true. It's an old hymn whose lyrics and even title are a bit outside the normal modern conversational style for the way we like to put words together now-a-days...But we sang this song tonight and one line just wouldn't let me go..."Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee."I don't want to love Jesus b/c it's the "right

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1164430654403884632006-11-24T20:43:00.000-08:002006-11-24T21:21:42.563-08:00

I asked the universe (aka Google) to define "being in love" for me and to my semi-shock, it failed. Google couldn't answer that question. So I asked Wikipedia and they did a little better, offering:"Love is described as a deep, ineffable feeling shared in passionate or intimate interpersonal relationships."Still, wanting something more scientific, I scanned further to read about the chemical

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1164090929183906852006-11-20T22:22:00.000-08:002006-11-24T21:31:46.590-08:00

So today, I spent about 7 hours on an airplane 'bound for Mexico. Sounds like the first line to some Country song I suppose, but's it'd really not so much that as my traveling down to Guadalajara for Thanksgiving with my aunt. See, I worked out a deal, well more of an arrangement, well actually more like an announcement, to/with my mom that I'm often going to travel on Thanksgiving, but always be

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1163149559763809972006-11-10T00:31:00.000-08:002006-12-06T00:27:22.110-08:00

Seems like we like to chop life into little bite size pieces...pretty little boxes that we can throw people and ideas into, slap a quick label on and move on... Seems like we're pretty dumb and shallow. Life is so much more complicated than the four letters that comprise the word or the action of the lungs to pull air in and push it out combined with the pump action of the heart to get blood to

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1162537077565945942006-11-02T22:45:00.000-08:002006-11-05T20:43:33.220-08:00

Hmph! So I went to the gym today. Figured I may as well, I mean I've had a membership since late August and have been a total of four times now. In all fairness, I have been gone several weeks on travel, but seriously, I HATE IT THERE! I go to one of these shi-shi super nice, fairly expensive South Bay gyms and here's what it feels like:Enter average space nerd girl who believes Dr. Pepper is a

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1162458594573135952006-11-02T00:51:00.000-08:002006-11-02T23:01:35.356-08:00

Not much to say tonight, just a few thoughts, ever so scattered.Welcome into the window of the chaos of my mind...if only every act of love was reciprocated with anotherif only every charitable thought was lovingly executedif only every friendship would be sustained throughout the trialsif only every heart would heal faster than breakingif only life was materialized good intentions instead of

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1162363689746875562006-10-31T22:39:00.000-08:002006-10-31T22:50:22.063-08:00

For some stupid and irrelevant reason, I have that "it's a hard-knock life" song stuck in my head. You know the one. It's sung by that little kid in that seasame-street-sing-song voice. Well, it's wierd, b/c it's not a hard-knock life...not tonight. Tonight it's Halloween, but even more than that, it's my Papa's birthday. I came across his birthday card that turned into his painting/birthday

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1162278297728052062006-10-30T22:56:00.000-08:002006-10-31T22:33:56.260-08:00

Most people talk about the calm before the storm or even during the storm so commonly referred to as its "eye." Ya, well, I'm not most people and today there's no calm before some seemingly upcoming weather upset but rather the opposite. Today I sat, or rather tried to sit at my desk at work today, but when you move three offices into one room, it felt more like I moved my desk into a storage

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1162191801963554142006-10-29T22:52:00.000-08:002006-10-29T23:10:17.466-08:00

Tears still streaming down my face as my heart, once again, has been effortlessly torn wide open by a child. Despite my tough "i'm going to be a career woman, dang it" exterior that I work so feverishly to portray, children kill me just about everytime I let them. It happened not too long ago in India, when I went to study sitar and found myself hopelessly owned by 40 boys in the nearby hostel

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1156487531185852192006-08-24T23:26:00.000-07:002006-08-24T23:32:11.196-07:00

I saw the strangest thing today and it struck me as so odd. Once common, now practically obsolete. I watched someone use a pay phone and it seemed so weird, so out of place, like it was a scene from a movie. Do people really still use pay phones asked the girl who never leaves her cell...random...other than that, i got a new cell today. downgrading from the clunky blackberry double email/phone

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1155015970510397642006-08-07T22:31:00.000-07:002006-08-07T22:47:58.516-07:00

what if fact were the fiction we created?what if reality were the dreams that we stated?what if love was predetermined, not decided?what if pain was brutal, then subsided?what if we surrender instead of fight it?what if embraced instead of chided?what if we deliberated instead of hated?what if we explored instead of conquered?what if resources were stored and not whore'd?what if we savored not

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1152350375507928762006-07-08T02:10:00.000-07:002006-07-08T02:19:35.536-07:00

Hi Friends!I just think you're cool and want to share the news with you. This is a pix of the SpaceShipOne Replica in the Bakersfield terminal. It was awesome and the videos below are pretty cool. Thanks so much to all the hard work, dedication and passion of those that made it happen...it goes without saying that we could not have done it without you.I attended the ceremony yesterday, as did

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1151479840686203512006-06-28T00:16:00.000-07:002006-06-28T00:30:40.700-07:00

I was listening to a little bit of "pink" today...generally not an indicator that i'm in a good mood. or feeling great about certain situations...but the lyrics go like this (and trust me I'm sneaking up on a point here):"when all is goneand the glitter fades awaythey'll get theirs eventuallyand i hope i'm there..."Not very nice, I know, but, there are other lyrics in the song that were more

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1150873961409519312006-06-20T22:58:00.000-07:002006-07-18T10:31:48.000-07:00

I've sat here for a few minutes and waited to see what would come to me and got a whole lot of nothing. Exhaustion battles the caffeine induced, jittery awareness that shakes my limbs and begs my body to surrender...but I digress...or perhaps not...that is the actual current state of affairs...i've been thinking lately that there has to be so much more to life than work...what do i really want to

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1149231586349351952006-06-01T23:34:00.000-07:002006-06-02T00:09:49.126-07:00

I caught the last 10 minutes or so of ER tonight, just bear with me on this one as I have to set the scene a bit. There's been some tragic airplane accident and the female doctor has been in the field saving lives, she's inhaled a potentially dangerous level of smoke, worked 16 straight hours, been through a major trauma event, and is exhausted. Her friends are begging her to stay at the

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1148225908775482712006-05-21T08:29:00.000-07:002006-05-21T08:38:28.793-07:00

So, I've been feeling rather uninspired and unimpressed lately. However, yesterday was just what I needed - day to just chill out. Did a little cleaning, a little sleeping and a little shopping. As I was coming out of the last store it was about 7:30 pm. The Target is located at the top of a sloping parking lot facing west, about 10 blocks from the beach. Anyhow, this was the moment, I stepped

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1147563196613709592006-05-13T16:14:00.000-07:002006-05-13T16:35:03.553-07:00

So, I saw my first live NBA game last night. Game 3 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals, not a bad way to start and it was a great game to boot! Neck and neck the whole game and then right at then end, when it counted the Suns burned the Clips! So, it seems to me that this whole concept of professional sports and the amazing potential for smack talking that exists within that realm is gold mine

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1147482791250845682006-05-12T17:48:00.000-07:002006-05-12T18:43:52.923-07:00

lately, everything has been cloaked in the same dreary haze that has settled upon our fair city of angels. Everywhere I look people are trying to shine, to pop, to sizzle, to somehow stand out as the next best thing... But really it's just a lot of happy noise from sad people, new clothes on old sorrows, and good commercials for bad products. Where are the genuine? The real? The precious?

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1147334229339147732006-05-11T00:44:00.000-07:002006-06-15T10:45:13.150-07:00

what really needs to be said here? I have the coolest weekend job EVER! This weekend, like total rockstars we went on tour with Zero G....3 cities...Burbank...Vegas...San Jose...6 flights...0 gravity...my personal zeroG time pretty much doubled and I had a blast. Words and creativity both fail me at the moment due to total exhaustion, but I defer my 1,000 words to the picture above and bid you

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1146034177453009242006-04-25T23:14:00.000-07:002006-04-25T23:49:37.466-07:00

french eclairs in Indiathings that don't belong togetherdo not overcomplicate, underestimate or further contemplate this blogyou owe meBIGHiCHappy last day of finals

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1145857378010909342006-04-23T22:36:00.000-07:002006-06-15T10:48:46.203-07:00

Buckminster Fuller's words challenged me today..."dare to be naive"we should try it.dare to be guileless...dare to be childlike...dare to be the person who doesn't know any better than to give someone the benefit of the doubt...dictionary.com had this quote on their site under the entry 'naive:'-- "Untutored in the perversities of some particular program or system..." --hmm. how often are we so

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1145695580723894892006-04-22T01:43:00.000-07:002006-04-22T03:06:07.823-07:00

i can't think about how it might have beenbecause i know how it isand like or leave itthe truth tends to cleave itself to realityawhile ago, it seems so closeand yet so vastly out of reach...not finished yet.mind's appetite whetby music of Caspianwith words left unsungtheir sorrowful stringsplayed with intensitydrummed on...the soundtrackto my mind's monologuemy soul is saturated with

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1145599398504146602006-04-20T22:41:00.000-07:002006-04-23T22:49:49.533-07:00

Know what this is? It's a photo-shop distortion of a picture of my eye. Currently, my eye is pretty much swollen shut and so I've been having to tell folks cute things that make them feel less awkward like "oh, you should see the other guy" or "ya, I was seeing this guy and things didn't really work out" etc. You get the idea. Tonight I went to a girls nite out and the theme was cowgirl...so I

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1145427232693075062006-04-18T22:53:00.000-07:002006-04-18T23:19:54.516-07:00

So, it turns out that I am NOT the most devoted blogger. In fact a cursory glance at my logs reveals huge gaps, sometimes spanning about a year. I have just been all over the place and not in a space of life where blogging was a priority. My friend Nick, however, just keeps blogging away. I used to be a link on his site but my lack of activity resulted in my being removed from the site (

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1145341643479144512006-04-17T22:51:00.000-07:002006-04-17T23:30:05.106-07:00

I love reading Voltaire, not sure why but so many of his quotes just grab me and won't let go. For an excessive number of months this saying was my tagline:"The burning of a little straw may hide the stars, but the stars outlast the smoke."Imagine how many times I had written this, read it, said it, thought about it, and then BANG! today it hit me in a new light. I so often thought of that pesky

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1145258043588001202006-04-16T23:51:00.000-07:002006-04-18T23:15:49.460-07:00

Today I was captivated by the sea. Her frothy majesty calling to me. Beckoning me to steal one more glance, and again, yet again... As I drove up the Mexican coast, I was attracted to gaze upon the ocean as if I were checking out that cute guy to make sure he really was as attractive as I thought on first glance. Madam Ocean did not disappoint, after a few days of rain, today was exquisite and I

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1144975835292937852006-04-13T17:43:00.000-07:002006-04-13T17:50:35.300-07:00

Here...this is where I have been for the last 2 months...lost in the eyes of children like Sawhill and Romi. Hoping that somehow each night I could make a difference...hopelessly aware that whatever I could possibly give them would be powerfully overshadowed by the love with which they received me and the manner in which they absolutely captivated my heart...

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1135409745330623632005-12-23T23:16:00.000-08:002006-04-13T17:52:46.346-07:00

here's the thingtwo days before christmaspresents still left unfinished...no energy to focuson the so called christmas spiritquite frankly i can't afford itit's too much to keep up with the jones'i just want to look at the manger,but wait, that's my pagergoing off againmore meetings to planmore cash to spendwhen does it end?used to be about a boynow we try so hard to avoidpolitical

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1123740775118371682005-08-10T23:06:00.000-07:002005-08-10T23:12:55.123-07:00

on the promenadecookie cutter blondesall so alikeall so withoutwindows openlights outno depthonly bottled beautyplastic masks have nothing to hidelife rattles on to the latest pop songblaring from their ipodssome country girldolled up to fit the moldand be the latest best thingtraffic blocks my carlike these shallow peoplecrowd my spiritcan't stand to be in another fake festhope i don't have to

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1106943555004685982005-01-28T13:15:00.000-08:002005-01-28T12:19:15.003-08:00

Is there really anything new under the sun? Solomon's words echo through my being as I work my butt off trying to create something unique and epic. My fear is that, maybe, at the end of it, I'll just be tired, poor and unoriginal. That would stink. So I suppose the solution would be to keep trying as long as I'm enjoying and learning from the process, but let's remember balance - family,

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1103525085632499782004-12-19T22:28:00.000-08:002004-12-19T22:44:45.633-08:00

Ah yes, the Christmas season is upon us... In kitchens across my tiny town, the mamas are baking delectible delights and the papas are raising trees and putting up lights. Tonight, was for singing carols around the neighbourhood to seniors and newbies, spreading cheer or laughter, depending on the abilities of their ears to dicipher melody or merely a cacouphiny! Not much has changed around here

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1103453803837070682004-12-19T02:33:00.000-08:002004-12-19T02:56:43.836-08:00

Hmmm... yes the hour is late alone, i contemplate fate and the curious collection culminating in this new direction... tho cancer would ravage and rage i pause, wisdom sprinkeled, yet far from a sage no fear in love and love have i much... that which would kill now used to heal a body once broken by deeds better left undone, words best left unspoken... a disease whose purpose is death now

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1103267902953442392004-12-16T23:02:00.000-08:002004-12-16T23:18:22.953-08:00

So, I'm upstairs about to settle down with my book of the week and I'll I can see is the words from Will's email expressing his sentiment regarding my, shall we say tardiness, at updating my blog site. Hence, warm cozy book thoughts are overshadowed by the "KEEP YOUR WORD AND UPDATE YOUR BLOG" freaky almost ghost of Christmas past type whispering... :) life is still beautiful. life is still

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1094192844714030692004-09-02T22:57:00.000-07:002004-09-02T23:30:50.480-07:00

So what's the big deal about life? Why is it so beautiful, crazy, adventuresome, daunting, amazing and incredible? How can it burst with sunshine only to be drenched by rain? Some days reality drips with tangible texture yet somehow seems simulataneously surreal? How is it possible that the one word capturing the complete multi-faceted complexity of our human existence be so elusive, just beyond

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1094112381984369512004-09-02T01:03:00.000-07:002004-09-02T22:57:08.356-07:00

If fact forms fiction then does reality create dreams?

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1094107923049176712004-09-01T23:31:00.000-07:002004-09-01T23:52:03.050-07:00

It seems like I just take a breath and then come to find that it's MONTHS later and yet another chunk of my life has been marked absent by the passing of time. C'est la vie, I suppose. The one word summary of my summer is: INCREDIBLE! A few other words on the same topic: Exciting Restless Sleep Deprived Commitment Passion Drive History Change Dreams Reality Beaches Sunsets Volleyball Jezebelle

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1084741427848664232004-05-16T13:34:00.000-07:002004-05-16T14:03:47.846-07:00

So the live we live It's like a crazy gift. It's extreme and exciting Although sometimes a bit frightening, So Nick, here's my tribute to life and to you Sleep well, Honor God, Love Krista and life too! Nix Mix Restless, I sigh Earlier soaring high Emotions now rolling Like the ball we send bowling Highs and lows in rhythmic patterns In actual unison, though appearing quite

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1083782912517602242004-05-05T11:48:00.000-07:002004-05-05T11:52:57.606-07:00

As all good things do Our project's ended We're finally through But stay a sec for the credits We promise you won't regret it And you can bet it'll Be worth your while So without further adieu, I present it to you. Watch, listen, laugh, and smile Then, have a good day, Work's over; go play

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1083037139707141632004-04-26T20:38:00.001-07:002004-04-26T20:43:13.216-07:00

Bri = hero of the day for amazing technical support, and mostly for a sweet email inquiring about my first day!

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1083037093077103212004-04-26T20:38:00.000-07:002004-04-26T20:42:26.610-07:00

Ok, so it was an amazing first day. After hitting very little LA traffic, i made it down in no time (literally) Shhh. don't tell mom! The problem was that as I wasn't able to reach my new roomie before leaving for the concrete jungle, I wasn't sure if she'd be there to let me in. Of course that's exactly what happened. After stopping at an Am/Pm for coke, AMERICAN Oreo cookies, bathroom break,

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1080057777630892052004-03-23T08:02:00.000-08:002004-03-23T08:06:24.106-08:00

As I leave my flat, it's overcast The sun's not out or here to play Looks like it'll be another rainy day I go to board the tram for school Oh, boy, another day at ISU Too tired to fully wake I depend on my daily caffiene intake Then chocolate comes, the whole world hums And now I'm super-hyper girl Space policy is all worked out Total commercialization plan Without a doubt Problems will come

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1079382730716876242004-03-15T12:32:00.000-08:002004-03-15T12:36:44.340-08:00

Relax. Tape a deep breath. That’s right. It’s over. For the last month my mind has been constantly pondering, procrastinating and preparing for one thing…my final exams at ISU. Now, after 3 ½ hours of emptying my mind through my pen onto the 25 pages that I submitted to my program director, I am half-way through this ordeal. The disciplinary exam consisting of 14 essay questions on topics ranging

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1076497696923866172004-02-11T03:08:00.000-08:002004-02-11T03:10:46.750-08:00

By Naomi Owens Here is a story about a beautiful life. A long, long time ago, almost fourteen years ago, a baby was born, a beautiful baby. She had a heart transplant. The day she was born, her parents, Todd and Barbie Owens, found out that she had a heart problem and that she needed a new heart. So after twelve days they finally found a match from a little girl in Oklahoma that died. Soon

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1076497653186789532004-02-11T03:07:00.000-08:002004-02-11T03:10:03.013-08:00

Right. So I am indeed aware of the fact that I've been the biggest blog slacker ever! Updates are in progress, but not yet. In the meantime, I'm turning over my webpage to my kid sis, Naomi. She has just written a brief autobiographical summary and it's awesome. So here it comes...

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1074551675638971552004-01-19T14:34:00.000-08:002004-01-19T14:36:34.090-08:00

It is a fact that it is cold in Strasbourg. It’s been gloomy and overcast and most of us are feelin’ it. Many students are probably borderline depressed. Where is the stinkin’ sunshine??? I miss my family. I miss my friends. I’m just holding to the thought that in a little while I’m going to step off that plane, make my way through the crazy checkpoint counters and round that corner into the

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1074470970417109762004-01-18T16:09:00.000-08:002004-01-18T16:11:27.983-08:00

Happy 14th Birthday to Nomes!!! As I gaze out my kitchen window through the accumulated condensation on the glass and shudder at the chill that overtakes me, I cannot help but imagine the T-shirt weather my family is experiencing back home, nor the birthday lunch they’ll be enjoying at Casa Corona, nor the look of excitement and gratitude on the face of my little sis as she unwraps her presents

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1074124829795096982004-01-14T16:00:00.000-08:002004-01-14T16:10:19.856-08:00

WHOOOOHOOOO!!! This just in!!! We just got our exam grades back from the killer exams we had at end of term. Thank you Lord! I not only passed but also significantly improved my score from last time!!! But enough of that! So I was sitting in class today learning about satellites, transponders and antennas, etc., and in all honesty, the presenter from NASA Glenn was great. He took a fairly boring

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1073995908894645602004-01-13T04:11:00.000-08:002004-01-13T04:12:10.190-08:00

So this is sort of a pre-amble to a longer blog to come later today. It seems that I have made a gross error and in keeping with my strict adherence to a standard of high accuracy in blogging, I have laid everything aside to remedy the problem. MAD BLOG PROPS go to SARAH, fellow aviation enthusiast and the apparant source for the so highly acclaimed FLYING magazine sent to me earlier!!! Also,

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1073496956237095002004-01-07T09:35:00.000-08:002004-01-07T09:41:09.370-08:00

Well, well, well. I guess we’ve established that some folks are sore losers!!! Like my unnamed Seattle friend who emailed me just to tell me that we’re no longer friends. Jeesh! Can you believe the nerve of this guy? I even sent him French chocolate for Christmas but all he can say is we are no longer friends…AH, but in reality, he called last night so getting to talk with an old friend made me

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1073330020282503532004-01-05T11:13:00.000-08:002004-01-05T11:13:59.476-08:00

Good Morning, Good Morning!!!! To All my North American Friends, that is. And it is a good morning indeed, isn’t it? Why, you may ask. Well for those of us who enjoy football (not soccer for all you daft Europeans who just don’t get it) but real AMERICAN football. Anyhow. Hear ye, Hear ye, and let it be known henceforth throughout the land that the PACKERS sent the Seahawks packing right back to

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1073232787245916082004-01-04T08:13:00.000-08:002004-01-04T08:13:26.143-08:00

Master And Commander Ahoy, Maties! So, listen all you sea-lovin’ folks out there. If you dig boats and/or Russel Crowe go and see Master and Commander. I saw it last night with the usual suspects and just the fact that it was in sweet English was good for me, but it was a good movie too. Clean even, I think my mom would dig it! Lots of adventure, swordsmanship and gunnery. Be careful though,

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1073159345153215882004-01-03T11:49:00.000-08:002004-01-03T11:49:23.333-08:00

Crazy Times… What is that Jars song, “these are the crazy times?” Ya, well, welcome to New Year’s in Strasbourg!!! I was looking forward to a fairly mellow kick-back get together with 5-7 fellow friends stuck in Strasbourg for various reasons… ya, right! After Ollie and I went shopping for snacks and Champagne, etc to ring in the New Year, we realized that we indeed already had enough to feed

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1072837942203849502003-12-30T18:32:00.000-08:002003-12-30T18:32:39.636-08:00

Howdy Folks! So, I know I've been the hugest blog slacker, ever! I just got back from Prague and have been working on some new entries for the Christmas break and the rest of the semester. I'm not quite finished yet, just please know they're coming as of course I will blog about Christmas (Brian)! Tomorrow, I'll get to meet Ruey's Dad and Sis for lunch to thank them in person for Canada sweater

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1071842382078737122003-12-19T05:59:00.000-08:002003-12-19T05:59:56.160-08:00

yo! So sorry about not updating this thing in like forever. And don't get excited, this isn't really an update either. This is just a quick note to say that I have officially completed 2 of 5 modules of my master's degree. after 8 grueling hours of exams testing my knowledge (or lack of) on remote sensing (which i decidedly hate), psychological effects and countermeasures of spaceflight, space

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1070305268282729762003-12-01T11:01:00.000-08:002003-12-01T11:01:18.523-08:00

So, it’s a crazy time here at ISU. The literature review deadlines are steadily sneaking up as are the dreaded exams and my internship is begging to be settled. Basically what this translates into is me living at ISU and eating more McDonald’s than I care to admit. I’ll tell you one thing, though, when I return to the States, I will not eat McDonald’s for like years to come!!! The most exciting

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1070146484092121412003-11-29T14:54:00.000-08:002003-11-29T15:04:37.080-08:00

Should've been Saturday, 22 november, but hey I'm in school here too, ya know!! videos coming soon Let me just start by saying that if a picture is worth a thousand words, then a video leaves me speechless…almost. Basically, what I’m going to tell you now is a true story; no names have been changed to protect the innocent. There is however, a video, which will be available soon so please check

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1069456072157766862003-11-21T15:07:00.000-08:002003-11-21T15:07:59.656-08:00

Hope Deferred Makes the Heart Sick, But When Dreams Come True at Last There is JOY! So I've been begging the front desk about the so-called package that was promised as having been sent over two weeks ago. Every morning I ask, every morning I walk away empty-handed. This morning my defeat witnessed a new level. After inquiring about my package, the kind receptionist informed me that there was

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1069455347245768652003-11-21T14:55:00.000-08:002003-11-21T15:25:52.380-08:00

By powers unbeknownst to me I have survived my first day living in Europe WITHOUT CHOCOLATE! It’s unbelieveable, I know, but you see my mom has to quit drinking coffee for health reasons so in the name of teamwork and accountability, I agreed to give up chocolate (HUGE SACRIFICE) for 7 days to sort of try and jump start her abstinence from the cafinated substances. When I first told my colleagues

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1069354266744414362003-11-20T10:51:00.000-08:002003-11-20T10:56:01.193-08:00

Hey Ya'll Here are some pictures of the road trip.... Trip of a lifetime Enjoy!

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1069287514475262972003-11-19T16:18:00.000-08:002003-11-19T16:18:41.330-08:00

As I lay me down to sleep I pray the Lord my soul to keep If I die before I wake I know the Lord my soul will take So I'm more concerned with trying to awake! Today was no exception. In one of the frequent battles with my cheap travel alarm clock that only gives you three shots at snooze before shutting off completely today's victory lies with the machine. Succumbing to the subtle seductions of

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-10691905297600732003-11-18T13:22:00.000-08:002003-11-18T13:22:16.276-08:00

Today I wrote some emails to my Arizona friends. Two of them whose names both start with Kevin, got a sneak peek at the write-up of the road trip. It was mostly done as a joke, to get the info communicated with no regard for grammer. I sent it to a few kids at ISU and they're now putting it on their blogs. So, I figure since I authored it, I should do it here. Hopefully, Mrs. Langston, my first

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1069109462893342742003-11-17T14:51:00.000-08:002003-11-17T14:51:08.783-08:00

Today we went to an English-speaking church with Cari, Ruey, Douglas and Nick, where we met two boys from Kentucky here on a study abroad program. After the perfect set-up from travel buddy, Nick, I got to tell our roadtrippin' story to fresh faces. Ah, man, I love that story! It's so fun to tell; I just go into hyper-Cali mode and have to remember to breathe. Anyhow, after church despite the

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1069109110433368802003-11-17T14:45:00.000-08:002003-11-17T14:45:16.396-08:00

Roommates Today I woke up to the smell of one of Ruey’s amazing Saturday breakfast feasts. On random Tuesdays and Saturdays we have an open-air market down the street. Ruey ventured out while I was still sleeping and purchased all the fixings for a great breakfast. In the time I had showered, dressed and wiped the sleep from my eyes, Ruey had transformed our dining room table to a breakfast

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1069108904157802342003-11-17T14:41:00.000-08:002003-11-17T14:41:50.163-08:00

A Taste of Home: Double Doubles Animal Style & Football in the Field! During class I emailed my In N Out lady to tell her about In N Out France and the burgers we’d be enjoying today and dreaming of the real deal. Now, you may be surprised to find out that I have an In N Out lady, well I’ll tell ya. I missed it when I first got here so I wrote corporate HQ and told them that France was great,

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1069108731161582762003-11-17T14:38:00.000-08:002003-11-17T14:38:57.213-08:00

After returning from the European roadtrip of a lifetime at 0530 12 November 2003, I found myself inside my flat wondering what the heck I was supposed to do for two hours until the guys came back to return the car. We had pretty much decided that to go back to sleep would be fatal: it’d be over. So sorry, but we should die. There’d be no chance of making it to class. But then again, what else do

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1069108574087497012003-11-17T14:36:00.000-08:002003-11-17T14:36:20.183-08:00

Ok, look, I know there should be this massive update right here about how great my weekend trip to 10 countries was. It's coming, but is a work in progress. This was the trip of a lifetime so I'm puttin' a little effort into it. So just chill, A'ight yo? Anyhow, meanwhile back at the ranch....lots of other cool stuff has happened so I'm going to post those now and the motha' of all stories will

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1068851871111405082003-11-14T15:17:00.000-08:002003-11-14T15:23:25.230-08:00

Our arrival at the Jazz cafe seemed more an intrusion, yet the awkwardness of the moment gave way to the power of the music as we secured the only seats available - at the base of the stage. A jazz trio played; sax, xylophone and drums. I watched, enraptured by the music, simultaneously lost in both the wholeness of the sound and the intricacies of its components. The drummer's solo. It was like

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1068766548555543822003-11-13T15:35:00.000-08:002003-11-13T15:35:53.656-08:00

Ya, so basically my mom rocks! She sent the best package ever and I was the happiest kid in school! No joke, to school my mom sent a full size copier paper box of stuff and it was all - get this - individually wrapped like Christmas presents! Man, I come from an amazing community. The adventure club girls sent me a card and blowpops and Debbie sent Reece's both regular and the latest inside outs

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1068762997563951402003-11-13T14:36:00.000-08:002003-11-13T14:36:42.640-08:00

So, to my friends who are viewing this page for the first time - that's all of you. Scroll down to the bottom and read up. That should fill you in....then I'll be posting regularly... let the good times roll!

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1068762041963698312003-11-13T14:20:00.000-08:002003-11-13T14:20:47.260-08:00

Flygirl in Heaven, one of the many 'best days of my life' Probably one of the coolest things I've done in a while happened yesterday. I WENT FLYING!!!!! Go embry-riddle, but let me tell ya, I miss flight. I started a flying club at my school and we got a deal through a prior relationship with our school that we could go for 4.5 euro a flight! So awesome! About 24 of us went, nearly half our

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1068761953229153332003-11-13T14:19:00.000-08:002003-11-13T14:19:18.560-08:00

"School, Life & Other Miscellaneous Items" AND "When Sam Came to Dinner" As far as school is concerned...we've a few assignments and our major midterms which have kept us busy and at school on days starting with Sat and Sun...But it's cool. I'm learning a lot of info in a short amount of time and that's what I came here for... In keeping with traditions established with past roommates...

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1068761798903749282003-11-13T14:16:00.000-08:002003-11-13T14:16:44.263-08:00

Mount St. Odile Next up: Well we went hiking a few weeks ago in the Vosage Mountain Range up here and they're beautiful and breathtaking views of Strasbourg, Germany and the surrounding areas. I got to climb on ancient walls and castles and effectively won the Canadian Castle Challenge to make it to the highest point on this castle. Oh, ya, that was me baby. Not the highest point of the

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1068760491476146872003-11-13T14:12:00.000-08:002003-11-13T14:12:29.033-08:00

My First Jaunt into the country-side (ie. the country beside France, LUXEMBOURG) So Ruey and I had a few days to kill while waiting for classes to start and since I had been in Strasbourg nearly a week before Ruey showed up, it was time to travel. The plan was to go to Paris, see Emily and have fun. But the plan never stays the plan for long. I started reading the lonely planet guidebook to

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1068760822867237312003-11-13T14:00:00.000-08:002003-11-13T14:00:28.463-08:00

Brussels, the place where stereotypes come true! Last weekend, 5 of us went to Brussels, Belgium. It was one of the few places where the cliches are true. There really are belgian waffles-- which are amazing, belgian chocolates are so far the best I've ever had, and then there's this thing about mussels in brussels. So we did. We had mussels in brussels and i'm sure those were the first and best

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1068760770028962412003-11-13T13:59:00.000-08:002003-11-13T13:59:34.776-08:00

Beginnings: Life in France I'm still enjoying the French culture, especially when I have time to cook because it's amazing what you can find at the grocery stores here (and what you can't- baking soda for example). We live in the Alsace region which is especially noted for its wines and more german cuisine. There are several vinyards withing 30 or so km of the city. It's harvest time now, so

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1068760704556225822003-11-13T13:58:00.000-08:002003-11-13T13:58:29.323-08:00

Initial Impressions of ISU As far as academics are concerned, it seems like we've just began, yet at the same time feels like we've done so much. Today saw the completion of our first team assignment cumulating in a 10 page written report about the space policies and laws of South Africa followed by semi-formal presentations. As one of the primary presenters for my team, let me tell ya that I'm

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074701.post-1068755428262967862003-11-13T12:30:00.000-08:002003-11-13T12:30:33.406-08:00

Hey Everybody, So apparently this bloggin thing is the latest and greatest of ways to keep people updated of what's going on in your life. Thought, I'd give it a go. I'm a little late in the game here for my trip to Europe, so I'm gonna do a little back post, get right on schedule and try to keep up with it after that. My friend Carrie is about to issue me into the 21st century and show me how

D. Brookenoreply@blogger.com0