Living at home for the summer, I am surrounded by friends who are well into their adult lives. Which, surprise!, I am too. My life story has taken a different path than that of many of my peers. (Side note: a great comic about life paths for recent grads.) Mostly I don't compare. Instead, I ask myself: Am I where God wants me to be? Am I listening to Him so as to prepare for the next step? Am I living fully according to His will here and now?
When I read this article on Busted Halo, I wanted to sit down with the writer (Seth) and have a heart to heart about a year of service. "I'm glad you learned to cry, but let's take a deeper look at your year. Let's start with a deeper look at your tears." One of the most valuable things I gained from my year (and I know this is true of other volunteers I know) was a deeper understanding of human dignity. I came in with a great theory of the intrinsic value of the human person. I came out valuing individual people in a way I hadn't known was possible. Of course, this outcome was not the only, or even most valuable, grace from the year, but it is one of the easiest to explain.
All these graces together mean that my year, as Seth worries about his, was not a waste. But more than that: no time spent with Christ is a waste. So Seth's time in the soup kitchen had intrinsic value, apart from his learning to cry. My time with the VSC had the same intrinsic value -- as did my time as YACM, as does my time at Franciscan. All these times are times of abiding deeply with Christ, which is, after all, our ultimate goal.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012
Day-Maker #65
I metroed around the city today using my dad's SmarTrip Card. While I was refilling it at the end of the day, a woman approached me and offered me the use of her day pass, saying she didn't need it anymore. Someone had given it to her and she wanted to pass along the goodness.
Protests and Mandates
Remember that HHS mandate that kept popping up a few months ago? Today I went to my second rally against it. This date marks the anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights* and rallies took place across the country to fight for the rights there guaranteed. Emily and I attended the one in DC.
As always at this type of events, some speakers said great things and some spouted alarmist rhetoric. Luckily, Emily has at least as stubborn a liberal streak as I do and we could make comments to eat other. Among the good: Michelle Bachmann called us a "Gideon's Army"; David Bereit is always my hero; the representative from the Becket Fund was passionate, articulate, and reasonable.
Distracting factors: Nuns, friars, priests, not everywhere, but enough. The father and small child (about a year and a half) standing near us. A woman who passed out and left with the rescue squad. So many cameras and people posing with witty and frustrating signs.
Awkward moment of the day: I was wearing a fun, floppy straw hat. I think that is why a man with a video camera spent the last 3rd of the National Anthem focused on my face as he stood no more that 6 feet from me.
*Correction (06/09/2012; thanks to Frank): June 8 is the day that Madison introduced amendments that became the Bill of Rights.
As always at this type of events, some speakers said great things and some spouted alarmist rhetoric. Luckily, Emily has at least as stubborn a liberal streak as I do and we could make comments to eat other. Among the good: Michelle Bachmann called us a "Gideon's Army"; David Bereit is always my hero; the representative from the Becket Fund was passionate, articulate, and reasonable.
Distracting factors: Nuns, friars, priests, not everywhere, but enough. The father and small child (about a year and a half) standing near us. A woman who passed out and left with the rescue squad. So many cameras and people posing with witty and frustrating signs.
Awkward moment of the day: I was wearing a fun, floppy straw hat. I think that is why a man with a video camera spent the last 3rd of the National Anthem focused on my face as he stood no more that 6 feet from me.
*Correction (06/09/2012; thanks to Frank): June 8 is the day that Madison introduced amendments that became the Bill of Rights.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Stop II: Alexandria Cupcakes
Stop #2 on the Cupcake Tour took place in Old Town Alexandria with Emily. Alexandria Cupcakes touts itself as the "DC metro area's premier cupcake bakery." It certainly has the best location: across the street from some awesome nuns I know.
After our first stop, Virginia cupcakes had a lot to live up to. If Haymarket doesn't count as part of the DC area, then Alexandria cupcakes could have something to its claim. I ate a dark chocolate cupcake with buttercream frosting. The cupcake did not match the texture of Stop #1, but the dark chocolate was delicious. It satisfied my perpetual chocolate craving. And the buttercream lived up my high frosting standards.
On the downside, the shop was tiny and clearly not meant to be visited. I think the woman working there was confused that we stopped by just to eat and not order. There was only one table, which was awkward and even more so when a mother and her little son came in with the same plan we had.
Overall, I give them 3.5 out of 5 stars. Excellent cupcakes, but I want a nice place to eat. Larry's mom had the same rating but for different reasons:
Alexandria Cupcakes - Old Town Alexandria (King St)
3 1/2 stars
A little disappointing, nothing stood out
Little variety & none w/filling
Average to high price at $3 for average - small size cupcake.
The frosting just so-so. Cake not moist or dry
Shop - felt like we were disturbing the 1 person staff. It had 1 table w/3 chairs. It was set up or take out service more than eat-in. Bottle beverages available.
After our first stop, Virginia cupcakes had a lot to live up to. If Haymarket doesn't count as part of the DC area, then Alexandria cupcakes could have something to its claim. I ate a dark chocolate cupcake with buttercream frosting. The cupcake did not match the texture of Stop #1, but the dark chocolate was delicious. It satisfied my perpetual chocolate craving. And the buttercream lived up my high frosting standards.
On the downside, the shop was tiny and clearly not meant to be visited. I think the woman working there was confused that we stopped by just to eat and not order. There was only one table, which was awkward and even more so when a mother and her little son came in with the same plan we had.
Overall, I give them 3.5 out of 5 stars. Excellent cupcakes, but I want a nice place to eat. Larry's mom had the same rating but for different reasons:
Alexandria Cupcakes - Old Town Alexandria (King St)
3 1/2 stars
A little disappointing, nothing stood out
Little variety & none w/filling
Average to high price at $3 for average - small size cupcake.
The frosting just so-so. Cake not moist or dry
Shop - felt like we were disturbing the 1 person staff. It had 1 table w/3 chairs. It was set up or take out service more than eat-in. Bottle beverages available.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Summer Words
From Julia's tumblr:
“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.”
~F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.”
~F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
Sunday, June 3, 2012
High Standards: Cupcake Heaven
Larry's mom and I have started a summer quest: a cupcake tour of Northern Virginia. I'll be posting our reviews on here as we hit up cupcakeries across the region.
We started off at Cupcake Heaven. It's a cute cupcake and coffee shop in Haymarket. My aunt, sister, and I walked in after a morning of hiking and winery-touring. It was pink and fluffy and immediately welcoming (in spite of my general aversion to pink and fluffy). As we stood indecisively, the women working helpfully pointed out various menu options, including those that tended more toward meal than dessert. I knew I wanted a cupcake for lunch, however, and (as soon as I saw the option) a latte.
I got a chocolate raspberry champagne cupcake (a flavor of the week, not a constant) because what is more delicious than chocolate stuffed with raspberry filling? To drink I ordered a latte, which is my test for coffee shops. (Ana and I visited many in St. Louis and I evaluated them all this way.) Cupcake Heaven won on both counts. The chocolate cupcake was moist and sweet, with delicious raspberry filling and frosting that complemented the cake. And my latte was a frothy, espresso-filled win.
Even better, the atmosphere made me want to sit and linger. I ate slowly and sipped with care so that we wouldn't have to leave. I miss non-Starbucks coffee shops when I am in NoVA, and this one filled my heart. Even before I discovered the shelf of Jesus-books and the canned food drive.
In the enthusiasm of the moment, I think I gave the place 8 of 5 stars. My aunt provided a more grounded review:
Cupcake Heaven - Haymarket VA , main street (Washington St)
4 1/2 stars
Perfect size,
Not too sweet
Good variety - filled & unfilled
Very satisfying to eat
Reasonably price at $2.50 for slightly larger than average size
Shop felt welcoming both from the decor & staff. It was cheerful & bright w/some interesting items to browse through. A nice array of beverages.
We started off at Cupcake Heaven. It's a cute cupcake and coffee shop in Haymarket. My aunt, sister, and I walked in after a morning of hiking and winery-touring. It was pink and fluffy and immediately welcoming (in spite of my general aversion to pink and fluffy). As we stood indecisively, the women working helpfully pointed out various menu options, including those that tended more toward meal than dessert. I knew I wanted a cupcake for lunch, however, and (as soon as I saw the option) a latte.
I got a chocolate raspberry champagne cupcake (a flavor of the week, not a constant) because what is more delicious than chocolate stuffed with raspberry filling? To drink I ordered a latte, which is my test for coffee shops. (Ana and I visited many in St. Louis and I evaluated them all this way.) Cupcake Heaven won on both counts. The chocolate cupcake was moist and sweet, with delicious raspberry filling and frosting that complemented the cake. And my latte was a frothy, espresso-filled win.
Even better, the atmosphere made me want to sit and linger. I ate slowly and sipped with care so that we wouldn't have to leave. I miss non-Starbucks coffee shops when I am in NoVA, and this one filled my heart. Even before I discovered the shelf of Jesus-books and the canned food drive.
In the enthusiasm of the moment, I think I gave the place 8 of 5 stars. My aunt provided a more grounded review:
Cupcake Heaven - Haymarket VA , main street (Washington St)
4 1/2 stars
Perfect size,
Not too sweet
Good variety - filled & unfilled
Very satisfying to eat
Reasonably price at $2.50 for slightly larger than average size
Shop felt welcoming both from the decor & staff. It was cheerful & bright w/some interesting items to browse through. A nice array of beverages.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)