HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

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Malibu Fire

We just heard the very saddening news about all the fires in Malibu, affecting many of our dear friends there who have had to evacuate. We hope and pray that it does not become worse than it already has been. Please take care and keep us posted. We pray for the best. I can hardly believe these pictures I am seeing all over the news. Right there at Pepperdine even!

I am glued to the news right now.

Chicago Tribune News Pictures

Chicago Tribune Live Video

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School Bus Driver Appreciation Day???

In my school days, I've told my school bus drivers thank-you just as much as the next guy. But it wasn't until just recently, as a coach of my high school's cross country team, that I have had to actually drive one myself. It has given me a whole new appreciation for school bus drivers. Not only do I lack any experience with driving large vehicles (men always seem to take over the wheel when I've used U-Hauls), but add 20 kids into that mix, and the crazy roads of DC, and wow! I've tried to look at it more as funny than terrifying, although I'm not sure how reassuring it is to the cross country kids when I tell them that. But it is exactly this perspective that got me to agree to give one of the kids door-side service on the way to taking everyone else back to school (I'm not sure why I find that so funny...maybe because that's what everyone really wants their bus to do, but would never expect to happen). I felt so empowered by driving the school bus, that I was just about ready to take a detour to Disneyland with them instead.

The biggest lesson that I've learned so far from this experience is this:
If you are driving a massive object with 20 kids packed into it, traveling quickly downhill, and you find yourself upon one of those yellow lights that has you questioning whether to hit the brakes or to speed through it... don't pick the braking option. Just don't. Trust me.

Cross country has kept me busier than usual lately, and I'm awful at remembering to take our camera with us places, which is why I haven't updated for a while. But then, yesterday I discovered that my school laptop has Photoshop on it. And now my lack of actual pictures problem is solved forevermore!

Rob's family visited last week so that they could go with Brittany to brief meeting with President Bush. She had to quit her job as one of his speech writers when she got married this summer, so this meeting was arranged so that he could thank her for her work.
They all thought it was pretty cool, but weren't allowed cameras inside the office. But that is not a problem. I've got it covered.

Rob and I are now playing in a soccer league together every week. It's a lot of fun to finally get to play with him, rather than just cheer on the sidelines. I love it! Although, I don't think my body is used to doing things other than biking anymore, because since I've started cross country and soccer, I have pulled my hamstring twice, pulled my groin, gotten an asthma attack (haven't had one in a decade), and injured my ankles. I think I'm aging.
My good friend Anna Kelso took me to a show at GW by Garrison Keillor, of "A Prairie Home Companion". Too be honest, I haven't listened to his radio show before, and I was a little worried when we walked into the autitorium and saw were the only people there who didn't qualify for the senior citizen discount, but I really enjoyed it. Having the old man on my right startle himself awake from his own snoring several times throughout the performance, the lady in front of me wearing one of those really great banana clips in her hair that girls wore in the 80's, smelling all sorts of bad old lady perfum,and listening to old people hack up their lungs throughout the performance just made it that much more of a night to remember. And Anna is just the type of friend you would find yourself with in such an out-of-the-ordinary situation having a great time. Thanks for taking me with you, Anna! Garrison Keillor has the most amazingly soothing barritone voice, and it got me thinking it would be nice to listen to him read me a bedtime story every night.
I thought he reminded me of someone, and now I know exactly who it is. Dwight Shroot, anyone?

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Links:

So if you look to the right of this blog, you will notice a list of links. They are either Lorena's friends, family, or mutual friends of both of us. But there are no links from my friends. Why is this you ask (and yes, I do have some exclusive friends)? I have several theories, none of which are humorous enough to share on the blog. In any case, I am issuing all of my friends a challenge: Start a blog, losers. I know some of you have myspace pages, and that is soooo 2006. And don't get me started on facebook. At least make something up so I can post a link and not let Lorena dominate the ole' blogosphere. Thank you.

UPDATE: The Burts (Jason and Ashlee) have a blog. They are now on the links. My challenge still stands for the rest of you.

UPDATE II: Mike and Sara (and Max, not quite sure of his typing skills, though...) now have a blog. Holla!

UPDATE III: Scott and Sophie, welcome to the fun!

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