Christmas Music

This year at the D'Agosta family Christmas along with the task of baking cookies I have been given the intense task of making the mix cds. When you come from a family of musicians who each vehemently claim that their music taste is the only one that matters, to say this is a task is no exaggeration. Now, I have worked in retail for years and have had the pleasure of hearing some of the worst music out there (creed, I am speaking of you.) This year I have taken my task very seriously especially knowing that my cookies might be lacking and I need to step it up a notch this year.
Here you g. In no particular order, some music that does indeed, rock.

Sufjan Stevens the 4 disk Christmas album. -A warning, Sufjan is eclectic, it is perfect for your emo family members. For those of you not familiar with the term emo, it stands for emotional rock It typically involving eyeliner, by men. Yes, I also realize that this is an obvious choice that is why I put it out there early.

Beautiful Scandalous Night by the Robbie Sealy Band.

Chanticleer-I happen to enjoy choral music. There is something about a 4 part harmony that I love. I just get lost in it. They are not the best, but its free on itunes this week so i took them up on their offer.

Messiah Part II #44 hallelujah. Its Handels Messiah, it is like the steak of steak and eggs.

Mel Torme-Chestnuts roasting on the open fire.

Fools Rush In -Sinatra (Frank)

Bing Crosby

Steve Green

That is a taste of what will be playing. Any ideas to add? Always open for the suggestions.

for the soul

I realize that my postings have been more biblically based than humor lately. Jesus is moving in sweet ways in my life and this is where I am at. May you find encouragement.

Isaiah 26:3-4
" You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you,
Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord God is an everlasting
rock."

Is 26: 8-9
"In the path of your judgments,
O Lord, we wait for you;
your name and remembrance are the desire of our soul.
My soul yearns for you in the night,
my spirit within me earnestly seeks you."

who by worrying

I have been working lately on a redeeming of my alone time. I am to often apt to spend it wandering aimlessly around bookstores buying more than I have time to read or just tossing in a movie. I have been making my way through the book of Luke as of late. In it I came across Luke 12 in which part of the chapter is dedicated to worry, this was quite timely.
My mind began to wonder back to a conversation I had about a week ago with a single friend of mine. She was lamenting this fact and began to talk about her fears and her future. It is amazing how sometimes the Lord can use us to speak the very truth we need to hear ourselves to one another, He is incredibly kind. As we talked I asked the questions "if you knew, for sure, that marriage is not what he has planned for you, what would you do with your life?" Her dreams for what she wants to do are incredible, she desires to change the world.
I was reflecting on that conversation along with trying to think of it in practical terms of my own life. Karla, you who are prone to wander, what would you want to do/what would you dream of if you were totally trusting your God? Worry is an area of sin for me. I want to be reassured, not forgotten, in control. These are the things that I would do and what I dream about.
-I want to see the poor find their rest in Christ
-I would talk to my family about Jesus with tears and pleading, that they would know and love him.
-I want to have kids and adopt. To raise my children to love and fear their God.
-I would support more missionaries
-sit in silence more, be still.
-listen, not be so quick to fill the silence.
-buy less...stuff.
-make more time for people

I am not even sure what I am trying to convey in this post. As I was trying to make this list the only thing I want that keeps coming to mind is, to be known by my God, to be found in him, to belong to him. I have been laboring under this illusion that worrying will add a day to my life, as if, if I don't worry who will. I have a father who will feed and clothe the sparrows, how much more does he love us. I suppose this entry is really just me preaching to my own soul, but I hope it can do some good for you also.

i love this.

"He has a sovereign right to do with us as He pleases; and if we consider what we are, surely we shall confess we have no reason to complain; and to those who seek him, His sovereignty is exercised in a way of grace. All shall work together for good; everything is needful that He sends; nothing can be needful that He withholds. Be content to bear the cross; others have borne it before you. You have need of patience; and if you ask, the Lord will give it: but there can be no settled peace till our will is in a measure subdued. Hide yourself under the shadow of His wings; rely upon His care and power; look upon Him as a physician who has graciously undertaken to heal your soul of the worst of sickness..... Yield to His prescriptions, and fight against every thought that would represent it as desirable to be permitted to choose for yourself. When you cannot see your way, be satisfied that He is your leader. When your spirit is overwhelmed within you, He knows your path; He will not leave you to sink. He has appointed seasons of refreshment, and you shall find He does not forget you. Above all, keep close to the throne of grace." -John Newton

awesomeness, I think so

I need to get hip. I am sure there are new things out here in the world wide web but I am often to lazy to look. Or if not lazy, just lacking in time. Tonight I had some free time so here are some things I did.
1) signed up for msn chat. my email is karlarae1979@gmail.com You sign up also and we shall be friends.
2)Someone had just recommended the new tv show "Pushing Daisies" while I was hesitant at first. I know am fully on board and love it. It is actually quite artful and beautiful in its filming style. Abc.com lets you watch all episodes for free.
3) tried to download the office ringtone. failed. I am just not technologically swift, at all. But I do love technology, just not as much as you, you see.
4)In the google search engine I typed in "Awesomeness" This came up. You know what? It really is an awesome web page! I find it insightful, funny, witty and all around wonderful. Enjoy.

Its about time, I've been waiting!

Oh goody! It is once again time for the annual throw down! Let wiskerino 2007 commence come Nov 1, 2007. If you wish to see the goodness for yourselves, Ladies and Gentleman allow me to draw you to our example Joshua Blankenship

For the record, I would totally support anyone I know joining in on this manly endeavor.

Now it is almost time for mustache may...BRING IT.

por terrible!

You must check out the youtube video to the left of your screen. Ladies and gentleman may I present to you: Miss Stacy Douglas, doing the best thing ever.

Neuticles

"because your dog knows what it's missing"
Oh my goodness gracious me oh my.
Neuticles.com

If you hear me use the phrase "Thats better than Neuticles!" And I WILL be using that phrase, you will know I mean it.

New Blog

It really was time, seriously. For someone who likes things to be astetically pleasing I am amazed I never thought to change my blog until today. I just could not take it anymore.



On a different note I was reading in Psalms today and I found this verse which stopped me in my tracks. I could not help but stop and reflect on it and then share it.

The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
when he delights in his way;
though he fall, he shall not be cast
headlong.
for the Lord upholds his hand.

I have been young, and now am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous
forsaken
or his children begging for bread,
He is ever lending generously,
and his children become a blessing.

I really loved the line "I have been young, and now am old yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken." It really struck me as beautiful.
For some reason it seems easier for me to love the Lord in the fall. Maybe it is the colors or the crisp weather but it just seems as though creation is on the brink of something. During this new season I am usually more reflective than normal. Last Sunday I had lunch at the usual (wonderful!) spot and met some new folk. Do you ever just meet people that you instantly want to be friends with? Instantly I was struck with the ackward state of "I like you, do you like me?" Watching Anders run around I was reminded of back in elementary school where you could just say "do you want to be friends" and that was that. Even in junior high, high school and college you had classes together. Now as adults when frankly often I don't even have time for the people I like let alone new people, you tell me how this works. I wonder if it is easier when you have kids, they are on the playground, you are on the playground...
In bible study yesterday we talked about loving the church. Not the institution but the people and then we talked about how painfully hard that can be sometimes. I get so ackward! Does anyone else literally break out in a sweat the minute we are forced to shake hands and participate in the welcoming? This strikes me as wrong, shouldn't I be really happy to meet other believers who most likely love Jesus? Instead I just get painfully shy and try to get it over with and see my friends. I am going to try and get better at this. Honestly what am I afraid of? Am I that afraid of ackward conversation (yes!)? Afterall 90% of my closest friends are people that either didn't like me or I didn't like at first. After all, that seems to have turned out well.

Seeing Jesus in Felicity

Over the course of the past year I have felt like I have been walking away from my faith. This is not something I desired or really saw coming. It started by getting lax in devotions. Then, rather than praying for the disaster I would just think of it, and get angry that said event even takes place. I felt like although I could see the events of Gods sweet provision I could not reconcile it with all the wrong I was seeing on a daily basis. I hated the hypocrisy of the Church and for a long time I was not sure if I wanted to change it or just get out. I had just become angry and I didn't even recognize myself.

The Lord has been sweet to me. He has put in me the will to delight and praise his name again. This week one of my closest friends lost the baby girl they had been expecting. I don't believe there is a way for me to write that so that I can get across what a gut wrenching loss this is. Danielle has done a much better job of expressing exactly how I have felt all week being by Molly and Aber. I can't do her post justice, I strongly suggest you read it. I do have a few things personally to add though.

Felicity has helped my heart to be captured by Christ again. In writing this I feel like a child trying to sum up a life changing week. I didn't have the right words to say, for most of the week I felt awkward, wanting to fix something I knew in my heart it was impossible to fix. I prayed a lot on my own this week, pretty constantly. It seemed as though I was privy to the worst moments of someones life, everything felt fragile and temporal. I spent a lot of time with Danielle looking at pictures from the hospital. She put together the most amazing photo album I have ever seen. Those pictures, while difficult to look at, taught me the meaning of beauty. The sacrifice of Christ, a mother and fathers pure undefiled love of their daughter, a daughter who has met her creator. Felicity was beautiful. I don't think I will even look at love or think of beauty the same way again. There have been nights where I could not sleep, the images of the pictures replaying in my head. Those were nights of sweet communion with God, where thru tears I met Jesus again. I am forever changed by the short life and death of this child whom I never actually met. I am a new creation because of a all Soverign Christ who works all things for our good even though it may hurt like hell.

Aber wrote a Poem for Felicity for the funeral. It is wonderful.

"Felicity, your mama and I've been prying since you were just a speck
that you'd be saved-that you'd love Jesus. "At an early age," we'd
sometimes pray, or sometimes we would even say, "Very soon."

We didn't know what we were asking for.

Last night, as we tried to fall asleep, for the fist time since we found out you exist, we didn't ask that God would save you. We thanked him
that he had.

The Lord has blessed you and kept you, Felicity. The Lord has made
his face to shine upon you and been gracious to you. The Lord has
lifted up his countenance upon you and he has give you peace.

If you'd been given to me longer, I'd have put my hand on you and prayed that blessing for you every night. But Jesus said "Yes" before I
got the chance to ask.

Yes, I'll bless her. Yes, I'll keep her.
Yes, I'll shine my face upon her and be gracious to her.
Yes, I'll lift up my countenace upon her, and I will give her peace.
Yes, I'll do all this for you. What's more, I'll do it for you now.

I can hardly breathe, Felicity. We didn't mean our prayers to be
answered quite like this. But here we are.

And there you are. Pleaseures forevermore. Your name could not be
truer now.

We never need to pray for you again-only about you: Dear Jesus,
thank you for Felicity."

life, ext

I have been re-reading Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller again as of late. It is a book that I always seem to go back to when I am feeling far away from God. It is a book that, rather than smother me with guilt about not being the "best Christian I can be" (which I already do, so I really don't need a book to draw that out. Thank you.) Rather he challenges me to look at the root problem of my sin. It is refreshing to hear an author acknowledge his own depravity and even tell us that he has an issue accepting grace. I find him engaging and challenging. Here is a sample of the book that has been resounding in my soul.

"We dream of Christ's love for His bride reading like Romeo and Juliet; two equals enflamed in liberal love. I think it is more like Lucentio's pursuit of Bianca in The Taming of the Shrew. That is, the groom endearing the belligerent bride with kindness, patience, and love.
Our "behavior" will not be changed long with self-disiplin, but fall in love and a human will accomplish what he never thought possilbe. The laziest of men will swim the English channel to win his woman. I think what Rick (his pastor) said is worth repeating that by accepting God's love for us, we fall in love with Him, and only then do we have the fuel we need to obey.
In exchange for our humility and willingness to accept the charity of God, we are given a kingdom. And a beggar's kingdom is better than a proud man's delusion."

+If those of you who know about it could pray: The interview is tomorrow. I am as prepared as I can be, now it is up to the Soverign God. Just pray it would be overwhelmingly obvious if this is a good match, both for them and for me. Thanks!

I have been marveling in the beautiful provision of the Lord the past few days. Words fail when describing how hard these past few days have been. I feel tired, lonely, desperate and just simply sad. Jesus has provided amazing friends who manifest his love in such a way that I am left speechless when trying to sum them up.

I was with my friend Sarah on Friday and she was asking how things were after the breakup. She asked me if I liked being single again. I was struck with two options, either lie and "save face" or just answer honestly. I chose the second and her response was incredible. She allowed me freedom of thought. Sometimes I think that we as singles are supposed to put on this brave front and act as though we are pleased with this stage of life even if we feel like this is a bitter cup. Now I do believe we are called to be content in all things, and the Lord is allowing me to find contentment in his precious name again. I am left wondering, what is with this facade that I want to put on. I do not want to dwell in anger or go down this road of bitterness. I think that I am afraid that if I do not put a funny spin on this break-up then I am just boring people with my talk and my tears might only bring an uncomfortable silence. This is closing me off from the kingdom, from Christ and from the people that he has brought into my life. I wonder if other single people feel like they are a bother? Is it just me? Sharing sin, real sin the kind that is not at all pleasing to look at has only brought freedom in the past. Bringing sin into glorious light is the only way to grow relationships deeper that I have found.

Last Sundays sermon brought such a sweet reminder of Grace. When Peter is chosen to be sifted God tells him, Peter I have prayed for you, after you deny me 3 times and you turn again may you strengthen your brothers. That is a loose paraphrase, left the bible in the car. Still, how incredible that I have a God who prayes for my strength to be strengthened, or that I have a spirit who interceeds for me with groanings far to deep for words. This God is beautiful to me. My soul adores him.

One the same note as the 2nd paragraph, I was talking to my roommate Holly and Matt tonight and we came up with some thoughts that I would like to share. Some back story to begin. I have never been one of those women who believe that my life begins when I get married. I have lived an amazing life and I have loved it although it marriage is something that I desire. I moved in with Matt and Holly instead of getting my own appt because I really thought I would end up in TX. I felt sure this was for transition only. When (my former) Matt and I broke up one of the first things that entered into my mind was shame. I am 28 years old living with some friends in a spare room. Why don't I grow up and get an apt? Holly and I discussed that tonight. It has been an amazing blessing living with them and sharing life. Single people have an incredible opportunity to minister to their married counterparts (and not just through bad dating stories that make them glad they have found someone!) and married couples to singles. I believe we sequester our selves off waiting until we become "better Christians" before we truly live in community. Suprise, you will never be better. Sanctified, yes. Better, no. The thoughts just came up that oftentimes we can hardly stand to think of our spouses seeing our sin, but we can accept that, heck we even signed up for that. But for a stranger or a friend, that is a level of intimacy we are not used to. I guess I can only speak for expierence but as hard as living in community has been (and trust me, sometimes it is painful) they are some of the sweetest times of intimacy and love that I have ever gotten the opportunity to be involved in.

That is it, a glimps into my overworked brain this week. Hope everyone is well.

Anatomy of a Breakup

Here is whats up friends.
-I am back in Mpls. It has been an interesting and amazing time. I have never doubted it but I have the best friends in the world. (Ya'll are absolutly incredible!) Mpls has been a different city than I remember, in the best ways. I remebember not really knowing my place here, feeling ackward. I had friends and a direction but I was feeling sort of disconnected. Now I am realizing that I am not the girl I was when I left. I feel more secure, more grounded. Things have changed here, rightly so, you can't expect peoples lives to wait for you for 2 years. But now instead of expecting things to stay the same I am loving just living life and being enfolded again. I am most richly blessed.

-I work as a executive assistant for a local massage company. I love it. I work with some amazing people, I just found out 1 of them is a believer and we laughed at the face that a few years ago we would have told everyone right away that we knew Christ. Now, we love Jesus and we don't want to reflect badly on him! Basically it was worth the stress of no job to wait for this one. Actually my manager asked me to think about helping her open another francise and possibly running the old store.

-I am applying for school at Hamline Univ. I would love to finish my bachelors and there is an amazing program to teach English as a second language. We shall see, here is hoping. FAFSA, just for your information...my love for you is totally TOTALLY contingent on you giving me money. Just so ya know.

-Matt and I broke up. It was really hard (especially the breaking up, getting back together and then breaking up again in the same day!) I have nothing but respect for him, he is an amazing man. Our lives were just not going in the same direction. I don't think I need to put my relationship details on the internet!

Is that enough for the last 3 weeks since I moved!! Oh actually, Chris Fink (friend of 10yrs) took me on a bikeride around Mpls last night. It was amazing! 11pm, the lights of downtown, photography, it was amazing. I will be buying a bike...soon, very soon. Anyone want to go? Mpls is a photographers dream. Aside of the road construction, I love it here.

ummm also 1 confession while I am at it. I bought (a few) comic books. I went to this store "Big Brain Comics" highly recommended by the way. I had a $50 gift certificate, I asked the guy there what to buy. He recommended "Summer Blonde" by Adrian Tomine, he was right. Then he asked me out. I am beginning to wonder if I have a stamp on my head. You know, I dated one guy who loved comics now...I am one of them. But, I am not. I am not.

Trashed?

I feel confident in saying that I shall be posting more than say, 1 post in the last 6 months! For now, enjoy this posting that Christina Teichroew (an amazing wedding photographer in her own right!) posted on her facebook from the New York Times. This one is my favorite

It come from http://www.facebook.com/share_redirect.php?h=fa5641d6a5ac4cc6d5e6842f63c712f2&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2007%2F06%2F10%2Ffashion%2Fweddings%2F10trash.html%3Fex%3D1339128000%26en%3Dc7f4b16320865921%26ei%3D5124%26partner%3Dfacebook%26exprod%3Dfacebook&sid=2393442027 where the NYT took photos of brides who are right up my alley and would rather do something amazing and lasting with this dress rather than look at it in a box. Not that there is anything wrong with that! Enjoy.

David France!

ok, so if you are a fan of the following...
violin
hip-hop
violin mixed with hip-hop
David France and his insane skills
or just awesomeness in general check out.http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

-I went to bbc with David for some years...he has an amazing heart for Christ, and he is a wonderful man-

whaaats happening

Well I am glad you asked.
Life here in the Noog' has been moving at a moderate speed. I feel like I should say things are crazy but really every day is about the same with some slight variations and I am really enjoying it. I am going to post again next week so for now lets enjoy the bullet points shall we?
-I am in love. He is wonderful both for me and to me.
-I am moving back to Mpls on June 26th.
-My birthday is June 28th, I will be 28...ohh golden b-day. We should celebrate with presents.
-I NEED TO SELL MY CAR!!!! HOW HARD IS IT TO UNLOAD AN 800 DOLLAR CAR THAT RUNS GREAT!!!
-I have a week and some change left at work.
-I am sad about leaving the Noog'
-I have learned more about faith, grace, and Christianity working among drug addicts for 2 years than at 25 years in a suburban church.
-Those 25 years at the suburban Church gave me a wonderful foundation for preparing my heart.
-I don't know where I am going to Church when I move back.

For those of you who pray:
-sell car.
-get job (Thanks to Emery I have an AWESOME resume.)
-the boy
-longer term housing.

See those of you who actually read this still soon!

gots myself tagged

Well, well, well. I got tagged. What does this entail you ask? Read on my friends, read on.


I got tagged...
Here are the rules: Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

I hate not exploring all aspects of the "special scenes" of movies before I watch them, it is really actually painful.
I sang at the opening on the Mall Of America with Bel Canto Voices. We sang Minnesota Morning and I had to wear an ugly blue dress with a bow on my butt. I did however get free rollercoster rides.
I hate rollercosters.
I read the last 2 chapters of books first.
I like steamed broccoli but HATE cold broccoli.
I sometimes cry when I'm awake after 11pm.
I get emotional for no logical reason at all! I am type A, so as you can imagine this angers me to no end.
I can spend an entire day in B&N reading and eating a chicken sandwich, combine that with a walk and the boy and throw a movie in the mix makes me happier than you can know.


EMERY
LEEANN
MATT
JOSHUA
AARON
ANIE

Couch Surfing

I had lunch with Howell the other day and we began talking of travel. The one thing I dislike about travel is hotels, they feel impersonal and as if I am really a turist not able to fully immerse myself in the culture. This website may change that. Couch surfing, simply genius. You sign up, get verified through a check and balance system and begin to restore your faith in humanity. Seriously, how great! You can catch a plane to Peru and you have 358 "friends" allowing you to crash on the couch (FREE!!) and willing to take you to a pub to meet their friends. You immerse yourself with your guests, do some dishes, save some cash and not look like a total fool with a fanny pack and glassed over eyes with fear. I am totally down for this, once I am in my own place consider me "surfed."

photo de (soon to be) Mrs. Blankenship

Try to Blend In
Originally uploaded by Joshua Blankenship.

So, there once (still is) this boy named Joshua who moved out to TX to be with this girl (Mandy.) He takes pretty pictures, you should check out his stuff. Once he gets married he claims there will be a store to buy some stuff. Me, color me skeptical, but if it happens it will be radicalness personified. This photo is one example of the stuff he shoots.

Imagini

Thanks Emery!
This is really cool, it is is like a visual DNA. There are really amazing pictures also, mine really sums me up.

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

N.T. Wright

I was surfing the net and reading up on blogs that I love. Came across this quote on Jonathan Dodsons blog by N. T. Wright, enjoy, be convicted.

The point of of following Jesus isn't simply so that we can be sure of going to a better place than this after we die. Our future beyond death is enormously important, but the future of the Christian hope is such that it plays back into the present life. We’re called, here and now, to be instruments of God’s new creation, the world-put-to-rights which has already been launched in Jesus and of which Jesus’ followers are supposed to be not simply beneficiaries but also agents.

N.T. Wright, Simply Christian

-hey, can anyone summarize for me what the deal is with Piper and N.T and the "new" Pauline epistles? I have just heard mumblings of it down in the Noog.

Brother Ron Fender BSG

This is a letter written by "our monk" Brother Ron Fender BSG (brotherhood of St. Gregory.) I post this on the Internet because it is so true, my co-workers are incredible. I have never worked at a workplace before where they actively shun gossip. I am most blessed.

"TO MY CO-WORKERS-
This morning, as I sat in our staff meeting, I looked at the faces of my co-workers gathered around the table. We are, in all honesty, an eclectic rag-a-muffin bunch of people. We get tired and frazzled and sometimes, truly overwhelmed. We see things that most people pray never to see. We deal with things that most people choose to ignore. We try our best everyday to love the unlovable and to bring hope to the hopeless. Not everyone has the capacity to do this work and I believe we recognize a kindred fire in one another. I further believe that this is the Light of Christ. I see a bumper sticker around town that says: Reality Bites. I take this to mean that reality is very un-cool, man. I second that emotion. We live in some really crazy times and there are people bleeding and dying every day. The globe is warming, the war is raging and the homeless...well, don't get me started. But, as the summer bears down on us, and reality rears its ugly, sunburned head, I find comfort in the amazing people who come here day after day, each one committed to doing whatever they can to make someone's life a little better. The staff members here at the Community Kitchen will never be famous, or wealthy. But, when I come to work every day, I am in the blessed company of saints. Why do I call them saints? Because they are cheerful when it would be easier to be miserable, patient when they want to scream, and they come here everyday when it would be so much more pleasant somewhere, anywhere else. Our reality is hard, but it does not bite."

I really love my job, despite, or perhaps because of how hard it is. Please be praying as I prepare to move that God would raise up the perfect job for me. Please pray for the transition, for my co-workers, for a replacement and for all the small things to make leaving easier. These people have made more of an impact on me than they could ever know, they have changed my life. They are now my family, I love them.

The Office part duex

So, when you join the website known as facebook you can join groups. Basically these groups are made up of things you enjoy and I believe anyone can start one. Anie started one in reference to her shoes even called "Chacos rock my face off." I digress, I am a member of one called "I am a little bit in love with Jim Helpert" you know, from the office. They asked us to write in our favorite Jim quotes and one girl posted the longest although funniest diatribe I have witnessed. Enjoy, try to picture Jims deadpan face, it makes them all the more classic. By the way, the one with the nickles...just simply beautiful.

[Michael reads off complaints filed by Dwight]
Michael Scott: OK, so Dwight, in your own words: "Someone replaced all my pens and pencils with crayons. I suspect Jim Halpert."
Michael Scott: Everyone has called me "Dwayne" all day. I think Jim Halpert paid them to.Jim Halpert: [to camera, laughs] Yes. Five bucks each, and it was totally worth it.
Michael Scott: This morning, I found a bloody glove in my desk drawer, and Jim Halpert tried to convince me I committed murder. I think he may be the real murderer.
Michael Scott: Jim Halpert said there was an abandoned infant in the women's room, when I went to save the child, I saw Meredith on the can.
Michael Scott: This morning, I knocked myself in the head with the phone.Jim Halpert: [to camera] That actually took a while. I had to put- uh, more and more nickels into his handset until he got used to the weight, and then I just took them all out.
Michael Scott: Every time I typed my name, it said "Diapers".Jim Halpert: [to camera] Just a simple macro. You know, these actually don't sound that funny, one after another. But he does deserve it, though.
Michael Scott: By the end of the day, my desk was about two feet closer to the copier.Jim Halpert: [to camera] Yeah, I just moved it an inch every time he went to the bathroom, and that's how I spent the entire day that day.

Update

Robbie has been moved to critical condition. When our Monk saw him the other day he was in a lot of pain so they had shot him up with "a lot" of morphine. From what we have heard he will make it. Now it is time to pray that this would only intensify his prayers and ministry, not break it.

"whom have I in heaven but you, O Lord, and earth has nothing that I desire beside you. My flesh and my heart may fail O Lord, but you are the joy of my heart."

Side note: I saw a 3 year old (zeniah) fall off of a couch today. Right after he yelled, "Pimp down, I is a pimp and I am down." I busted out laughing. Zeniah made my day.

Robbie

I am not sure how this is going to sound, all I know is that I am frusterated, scared and really angry and this seems like as good as venue to release these emotions as any.

I came into work today and within 15 minutes we just got dumped on. It is the end of the month, money is out which means there is no money for crack, emotions are high, things were tense at the mission. Our monk came in to the kitchen and called a prayer mtg for a man named Robbie. Robbie is a former client of ours that had gone to the Salvation Army Shelter (about 3 blks from us) to recover in their respit room from kidney surgery and from a broken leg. He had become something like an institution there, moving from a client to a full time volunteer. He is a sweet, kind man who would (and has) given the clothes off his back. Since the Salvation Army is usually full and there are no empty beds, Robbie has fashioned himself as a protector, or people and of the building. Yesterday he was taking his morning walk arounds and about 6am (still dark) he saw the spark of a lighter and a stem of a crack pipe. He called out "Hey you can't do that here" and before he knew what was happening he was jumped. He was beaten so badley he is in emergency care bleeding internally, and with a ruptured spleen. Because Robbie only has one kidney and his immune system is already "stressed" this has put him at a place where he is fighting for his life. There is also some foreign object, they think a tooth chip that was swallowed during the fight and they are worried about a puntured lung. They don't think he will survive this. Again, someone was checking on everyones saftey and now he is fighting for his life. I am grieved.

I was reading habakkuk 3 during lunch and God has been such a comfort.

"16I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us.
17Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. 19 GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places.

In this senseless tragedy may we see the provision of the Lord, needless to say there has been major ramifications here, if you can pray for him and us.
++side note: I sprained my foot, not important but it hurts and it needs to get better so I can work efficiently, please include in prayers++

finally, sorry this is so rambled, I am at lunch break and I just sat down and wrote.

a stunning portrait

this blog has been an incredible blessing to me. The author works in non-profit with the homeless and he manages to shed light to it that I can only dream of. Spoken with a sweet spirit, a gentle rebuke and a true love of Christ, this blog tells of daily life within the homeless community. My favorite part is the scriptures that point to social justice. Read this blog, be blessed. It has been manna to a hungry soul.

literally without speech.

Christian Clowning-a how to video tutorial.
Here We Go (this is Kevin Cawleys blog, it is part way down, you will see it. It is worth the effort.) Honestly, I really feel for the elderly after watching this. Can you imagine not having anywhere to run? Spoken by someone with an actual phobia of clowns, yes clowns and fish. I rock.

I can't help it, it is like a traffic accident and I can't help but look. Brought to you by the letter G for Godtube. Don't quite on the video before you get to the part where it states "Do not fulfill requests from patience, if they ask you to help them out of bed, or into it, the best rule is...DON'T DO IT!" (Thanks Kevin, now I feel like I need a shower.)

NO NO NO!!!

There is not seriously something called Godtube! Yet another really pathetic way at cashing in on the idea of someone else and making it "Christian." I refuse to rant, I am just going to state that I don't like this one bit. NOT ONE BIT. Godtube...seriously?

Because I can

For those especially sad days where the feeling of "I miss Karla" is so strong you almost don't know what to you with yourself, I would like to offer a suggestion. Buy me a tee-shirt of of this website. You get to support some independent workers for social justice, make me happy, and see me in a cute t-shirt, we all win.

By the way, there are some big things a brewin in this life of Karla, there are a few people more important than the whole of the internet to tell first. Just wait for it, you will not be led astray.

ti(red)

"Join us in rejecting the ti(red) notion that shopping is a reasonable response to human suffering"
AMEN! I have been pretty quiet on this topic until now, I am done. I am sick of everywhere I go (Sprint, Gap ext...) assaulting me with this glorified view of AIDS. When I use the word glorified I mean glossed over, almost not real. I understand Bono's platform, he wants to draw attention to a world wide epidemic, I applaud him for that. I even get that teenagers who mistakenly believe that they are untouched by AIDS want to look really cool and support social justice. I don't care about your fashion, I do care that the money you spend at the mall can in some way go to the relief of this horrifying disease. Where I start to get really angry is when a campaign that you spend 110,000,000 on has only brought in 18,000,000. Do you even have a clue how much that money could have eased suffering?
(I realize I am ranting, but I just wanted to write and not censor.)
I don't know, my heart is just heavy. How do you cause people to relinquish the hold that money has on them? How do you bring the issues of Human Trafficking, Homelessness, Foster Care, Adoption, AIDS, Addictions, ext...to light and have people really understand how they can make a difference. Does it take seeing the pain that the above issues bring to light? If we talked to someone with AIDS or who has been in the foster care system for 12 years, would we get it then? I am reminded of a conversation I had over Thanksgiving with my friend Terry. At that time Terry had fallen back into Alcoholism and had been drinking mouthwash, not eating, and was constantly shaking. He came to us and said he wanted to die but that God just wouldn't let him go. All he wanted to do was go home (heaven.) Michael (boss) and I had a long talk about really what did Terry have to live for. The man is 47, he has no family, he does not exist to them anymore. He can't drive, he lost his license in a few to many DWI's. He lives at a mens shelter and he know Christ and of what he knows of him, he believes he would be much better off at Christs side than here. He is right. This might be obvious to all of you but it took me a while. All I saw was the pain Terry was in, I just wanted it to end. God can use Terry's addiction, he can use a foster child that has been "forgotten" in the system, he can use Bono's cries for justice. God has not abandoned those in pain or those who want to call attention to it.

I guess to sum up, I do dislike the Red campaign, I will not be sporting a shirt but I guess I feel like it is better than nothing. I want to hear these issues spoken in the day to day life, even if it is by two vapid girls in the Gap dressing room. I also wish that instead of buying the tee-shirt that we would all donate to International Justice Mission, but you can't win them all. May the God who is the author of Lamentations 3 use the cries of the addicted, lonely, hurting and lost to not only bring Glory to his name, but to comfort others in the same state.

The Office-Americana

A conversation that took place with my friend Howell earlier today:

Me: Although I love the American version of The Office, I simply don't get the Brittish version. I just mean, sometimes I think I am to smart for the American version and maybe to dumb for the British one. It's a little painful.

Howell: Is it the dry wit that gets you?

Me: Nooo, I don't think so. I enjoy the painfully ackward situation as much as anyone. Darn it, much like the perfect pair of jeans the perfect t.v. show elludes me.

43 Things

I was meandering my way through the World Wide Web the other day and stumbled upon something called 43things. It allows us (users) to list 43 things that we wish to accomplish, being your typical "type A" I like lists, alot. I think I am on only 32 but I wanted to give ya'll a chance to see what my dreams are, along with allowing your voyer tendencies to come out and explore the site for yourself. What would be on your list?

Sweet.

Many, many of you (friends) are having children, some more than others. This is about the coolest thing I could ever get you. I, Karla Rae D'Agosta am going to give you the gift of non-crappy childrens music (cue clapping.) Can you even imagine it? No more "Mommy and Me" or "Musicgarden" instead children lullaby renditions of U2, No Doubt, The Pixies, Bjork, and RADIOHEAD. I am so happy I almost passed out and I don't even have kids. I must admit, this is really a gift for myself though, because I swear, one more baby einstein video and I will do bodily harm. That is not a threat, simply a warning.

I really just love this photo. I scammed it from Jason Kovacks, check out his blog. Even though I have not seen him or his lovely wife in a few years I am inclined to believe that they indeed still rock. In addition that their children are absolutly adorable.

The genius of Mac

This is funny on multiple levels, one being that while it was dowloading (on someone elses dell computer) it asked me no less than 3 times is I should "cancel or allow." I love Macs, Dell...you can just leave me alone. I do not like your kind.

Music

Since I firmly believe that music does wonders for the soul, I am here to do your soul good.
God to Itunes and buy "Animal Years" by Josh Ritter. Or at least download (in this order) Good man, Wolves, and Bright smile.
If you do not trust my music taste try him out for yourself. Head to Youtube and type in the man himself.
Honestly, no album has moved me more in the past 5 years. Let me know what you think. And for Liz, ignore the cd I played at your house, in hindsite it was bad, this is not. My music taste I still insist, rocks.

Photographic Styling of

Mr. Bill Sullivan.
"At the moment that the subjects passed through the turnstile, unknown to them, I took their picture stationed at a distance of eleven feet." An ingenious portrait of humanity.
In the first row my favorite is #12, second row I love number 24, third row number 33 strikes my fancy and in the fourth row numbers 37 and 39 are fantastic. What are your favorites?

Vain narcissism

Here we go again, Mac goodness part duex.

quotes, quotes and more quotes

In any sort of good conscience I cannot recommend the website (thingsmyboyfriendsays.com) based on the fact that you would get fired (or at least written up) for viewing it at work. Basically this girl and her boyfriend live together and she has taken quotes of his and put it up on the web. Again, this is my warning that if you choose to go there I only provided the warning and the weblink, what you do with this information is your own buisness. I did however think of your young eyes and really, these are the best ones. Enjoy!

E's financial planning.
"You shouldn't buy me things. Save your money for unicorn rides or whatever it is girls spend money on."

Birthday.
me: It's my birthday soon. You'd better get me something pretty.
e: I'll get ME something pretty, and you can play with it.


It ain't over.
While watching Luciano Pavarotti on television:
"Is he wearing a cape? Aah, the fat guy outfit par excellence."

On his first million.
me: So you're going to buy me a pony, right? e: No, I'm going to buy ME a pony. Made of gold. With rockets. me: And then with the rest you're going to buy me a pony, right?
e: I don't think there will be anything left after I get my gold rocket horse

The best things are said while lying in bed.
"Know what I love about you? No, love's the wrong word. Know what I HATE about you?"

Explaining what my problem is.
"A small part of you is made of RETARD

Biguns.
me: I think my boobs are getting bigger. It must be all those bovine hormones you've been stirring into my food.
e: Yes. I got them off the internet. From biguns.com.

Vegan bread.
me: So you're all right with vegan bread? e: I wasn't aware that there were any animals in bread, unless grain has become a form of life that must suddenly be preserved. me: I'm going to make you a meal that's nothing but vegan bread, yellow mustard and flat Coke. e: Why don't you just cut off my thumbs and call it a complete evening

Photo Booth

Don't know if you are hip to the new Macs but Sember sure is. We had a blast the last two nights being completely and utterly vain and stupid. Enjoy the fruits of our labor. Or not, see if I care. More to follow...stay tuned kids.

About a Stone

time? approx 6pm. where? car after eating Imperial Gardens "Pu Pu Platter + Happy Family"

boy: I am so full!
girl: no doubt, if I go to the bathroom I will lose about a stone.
boy: (insert longish pause) do you know what a stone is?
girl: no...
boy: yeah, its about 14 lbs.
girl: ohhh...(laughs)

Emery is in town and our friend Laurie has just joined the fun. Welcome back good friends. Tonight Emery and I hit Pier 1 to buy a wedding gift (from 4 of us) for Brian and Susan and then hit the 70% off Parisian sales and went to get my ears pierced. Declined the later when we found out it was $26. I am the girl who got my nose pierced in India for 25c. Then we drove to PF Changs for dinner, declined to wait in the 2 hour(!!!!!!!) line and headed over to Mac Grill. The wait there was 1 hour, this is Chattanooga...I was not even convinced that we housed enough people for a combined 3 hour wait. So we took ourselves to Imperial Garden which was full but not booked. Went to Terra Nostra and met Kayb, Vincen, Laurie and Sarah for some drinks. Laurie and I are waiting at Emerys now, the resteraunt closed an hour and a half ago and they are still there talking. We are off to blissful sleep. Have a good night ya'll, I'm out.

ANIKA HOLST

My friend made the paper...look....isn't she pretty?
http://www.startribune.com/614/story/917837.html

Post Holiday Lovin

Men, are you in need of some post holiday lovin? May I advise buying this shirt. I imagine it will work kind of like having a copy of "Pride and Prejudice" on your bookshelf, the ladies, they will melt. Shirt actually says "Attention ladies, I enjoyed the Notebook." Click image to enlarge and see for yourself.