Misadventures in Boston

Videos of the Day: Created by Genki Sudo

paulandvern — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 01:20:52 +0000

Machine Civilization

Mind Shift

World Order in New York

Bethany posted this on her buzz and I was immediately taken by the music and the choreography. Yes, it’s a little creepy bc they seemed like androids – half human, half robot. Paul and I like to think that they’re making some sort of commentary on life in the modern world, but who knows…maybe they just like to dance! The choreography in the first video is out of this world and the video set in New York made me laugh so hard. Nothing surprises people in New York, even seven Japanese guys dancing as one in the middle of Times Square. Last time we were in NYC, I saw nuns playing fast pitch softball and a guy dancing wildly to the beat he could only hear in his head…and couldn’t look away. Anyhow, watch and be amazed!

- Veronica

Citylife Retreat 2011

paulandvern — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 01:48:33 +0000

I remember writing a post a year ago after attending a retreat with our church…another good one this year. Discussed our response to suffering (both our own and the suffering around us), the love God has for the city, and the need to come humbly before God’s word. Good time meeting new friends too.

We got home around 2:30 today, and as we were exiting the elevator at our apartment, I leaned over the give Veronica a little peck on the cheek. She didn’t see me and kept walking, and meanwhile, the doors opened and one of our neighbors was standing there waiting to get in the elevator. Basically, I missed and looked pretty funny. Had to be there.

We decided to check out Staples afterwards for a desk. Actually found one we liked, and as we tried to check out, the Staples guys were having a little trouble figuring it out…Veronica ended up finding the item in the catalog, getting us a $10 price adjustment, typing in our order in the computer, finding a coupon code for a free chair…(one of the guys said, “wow, she types fast”…uhhh, yeah). Better watch out for those jobs, Staples guys.

After this little display of talent, Veronica proceeded to speed into a rotary and give me a minor heart attack. Sigh.

- Paul

The Birthday Psalm

paulandvern — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 15:34:38 +0000

Psalm 139:

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
   when I was made in the secret place,
   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
   all the days ordained for me were written in your book
   before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts,^[a] God!
   How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,
   they would outnumber the grains of sand—
   when I awake, I am still with you.

Happy 21st (+11) Birthday Paul I love you and am so thankful for you!

What’s been happenin’

paulandvern — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 17:11:49 +0000

This past Saturday, Paul and I visited Gloucester, a small fishing town by Rockport. Spent the day sitting in a small coffee shop, window shopping down Main Street…in general, just unwinding from what felt like a crazy couple of months.

The local coffee shop with awesome dark roasted coffee:

Err...what?

The highlight of this day trip was visiting the local animal agency to look at a few abandoned puppies. Paul has been trying to persuade me that now is the right time to own a dog…and I was almost convinced when I saw her:

Watch this video of her playing with a friend. Kills me.

On our way back to Cambridge, we stopped by Michael’s because I’m semi-delusional and believe that I can paint…on canvas…and hang it up in our apartment. (Note: I have never even used acrylic paint before and bought a set of 6 to begin this crazy process) Sort of reminds me of the time I joined Berkeley’s Quilting Decal because of who knows why and later found out that I was the only one in the class who couldn’t sew while everyone had learned from their grandma since the age of six. Oh well.

We also stopped by Ulta and I…finally….purchased…the Urban Decay Naked Palette! This palette has been impossible to find, being sold out in all the stores I’ve visited for the past few months. Twelve beautiful, incredibly pigmented shades that I am excited to use on friends and future brides.

My oily face and I are so excited to own this palette! Help out a gal and please let me experiment on you

And to conclude this random post, some links to blogs that I’ve really enjoyed:

Help with Prayer – Junia posted this on her buzz and I was really blessed by it. Hope that we can also pray to be “happy enough in the grace of Jesus to avoid being proud, cold, scared, and hooked.” Read on.
Following Jesus: Work and Rest – I really encourage you to check out our friend Laura’s blog. I love the Ziesels and they help me love Jesus. This post has more Keller content, and I’m thankful that Laura posted it up – reminded that I am not God, I am not in control. God is. Must remember this gospel truth everyday.

The end.

2 Bad Signs

paulandvern — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 02:24:33 +0000

I recently started magnifying webpages (ctrl, +) and setting the sound on my Blackberry to “Loud”. Hmmm, what does that sound like to you?

- Paul

Are people still reading?

paulandvern — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 03:27:53 +0000

Or are e-books destroying traditional bookstores? Either way, this is really unfortunate.

Song on Repeat: Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap

paulandvern — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 01:42:20 +0000

…otherwise known as the Diet Coke commercial song.

This is a bit of a cop out post. Had quite a few pictures from my iphone that I wanted to post, but after getting home and settling on the couch, I got a bit lazy. Blogging isn’t easy. Grateful that my my pioneer woman and I are doing it together, and excited that mrs. pakman also joined the festivities!

Anyhow, this is another song that gives me the goosebumps. I originally heard it while watching a diet coke commercial – while the ad was beautifully shot, it was really the song that made it great. Definitely has a Sigur Ros feel to it.

The original MV:

The commercial for Diet Coke:

The commercial makes me want to go get a bottle of diet coke and change the world. Ha

Song on Repeat: Hand Covers Bruise from “The Social Network”

paulandvern — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 21:24:44 +0000

When Social Network first came out, I refused to watch it because…well, because it was about Facebook! I assumed that a movie about a social networking site couldn’t be taken seriously. But I did enjoy it, although acknowledging that Jesse Eisenberg’s portrayal of a withdrawn and abrasive snob was fictional and that Mark Zuckerberg (Zuckenberg?) probably didn’t create a global social-networking site to just get with all the “hot” girls who frequented Cambridge. (Sorry, major run on sentence. I’ve been rusty with this writing thing) The film also had so many zingers that went flying by you that you assumed that all Harvard grads could rattle off jokes, literary references and spew out witty remarks a mile a minute. And it was kinda cool watching a movie that was based in the city where we currently live.

But the best part of the movie was the music. Zeng! It gave me the chills – it’s ominious, it’s haunting…it’s basically been on repeat for the past hour now. Listen, enjoy, and go watch the movie

Saturday’s Mercy Event

paulandvern — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 11:43:21 +0000

So, epic fail on day #2…but let’s move on shall we? Haha

Yesterday, some of the folks from Citylife’s university ministry participated in the Mercy Event by volunteering at the Boston Food Bank. Opportunities for the different campuses to come and serve together happen pretty infrequently, so it was great that so many college students came out to this event!

Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure:

: Yeilee and Charlene (co-facilitator) woo-hoo!

: Grace, a sweet sophomore from BC, sorting out the food

Mike...being Mike

Shinyoung, our fearless BC student facilitator. I call this my "King's Speech" picture.

Group picture of some of the folks from UM. Love!

I don’t know why I volunteered for the lifting portion of yesterday’s event (back is killing me), but all in all, we had a wonderful time The end.

The Blog Challenge

paulandvern — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 21:45:22 +0000

Today my lovely pioneer woman and I have committed to blogging everyday. We’ll see how it goes…but here’s to day #1!