East to Weston (the Original)

15 July 2020

Re:💲[Heidi Weston] (10)

I never would have thought it possible!

https://bit.ly/3f4KJct

Heidi Weston

Posted by hjw at 5:08 AM | Permalink | Comments

11 July 2020

Re:📩[Heidi Weston] (0)

I never would have thought it possible!

https://bit.ly/3f86Oab

Heidi Weston

Posted by hjw at 6:03 AM | Permalink | Comments

18 June 2007

monday, monday

MAN, I'm tired today. Its 9:14, I'm at work ... and I think the only reason I haven't fallen asleep on my keyboard is the rather intense fear of embarrassment that would ensue ... with impressions of letters and numbers and the shift key all over the side of my face, drool leaking into the keyboard. Why am I so tired today? I didn't have an overly busy weekend (though I wasn't really home much). I was asleep by 10:30 last night. I actually started to wake up BEFORE the alarm went off at 5:40 this morning ... and yet I sit here at my desk wondering just how I got here. I don't remember showering, dressing, driving to work. And yet here I sit, my desk riddled with piles expecting me to make them smaller.

Could it just be that its Monday? I mean, Monday has always been a troublemaker. When you add to that the fact that I have to be up in the early morning, its sometimes a lethal combination. Could there be a worse time of the week than Monday Morning? I propose there is not.

I think I need to go get some coffee. Be right back.

Mmmmm ... that's better.

Experience has taught me the only really tried and true way to kick the Monday weariness is to get to Tuesday. I think Tuesday might be one of my favorite days of the week, simply because its not Monday, and it means Monday is another 6 days away ... the farthest away you can get from Monday.

But just what is it that makes Monday so ... Monday? I think a big part of it is I wish I had more weekend. Weekends are about rest, sleep, getting things done I don't otherwise have time to get done, tossing responsibility to the wind and staying up late, sleeping in late, reading magazines and watching movies. You see, Monday cuts my weekend shorter than I think it should be. By Sunday night I'm just getting into the groove of the weekend and then BAM! its 5:40 Monday morning and the alarm goes off and no matter how gently my husband tries to nudge me out of bed, I still consider him the meanest person I've ever known. (I'm so sorry! Its the sleep talking!)

The coffee (though decaf) is beginning to work its magic. Monday is now 9 1/2 hours over, and I have Tuesday to look forward to. As I begin to finally wake up, that thought alone is helping me push through the morning. Tomorrow I also intend to remember that Joel (my coworker) and I had made a decision last week to dress casual this week. I simply can't be expected to remember things like that on a Monday morning as I go through the motions, putting on my dress slacks and heels. But tomorrow, blessed Tuesday, I will remember. I can't wait to remember, and put on my jeans and tennies tomorrow morning, blissful in the knowledge that I survived yet another Monday, and I don't even have to face one for another 6 days. Yes, Tuesday promises to be happier ... I'm just sure of it.

Posted by hjw at 9:13 AM | Permalink | Comments

12 June 2007

so much activity

Life has been pretty busy of late. Last week was one of the busiest I've had in ages. I had one free night in ten. Here's what I've been up to lately.

As you know, last weekend we had Caleb and Lindley staying with us all day Saturday and Sunday.

On Monday night I attended a shower for my friend Cori and her new baby Hailey.

On Tuesday night, Caleb and I went to an Angels game with Amy and her boyfriend Hans.

Wednesday night was our night at home, and we watched Blood Diamond.

Thursday night some of my friends and I went to a "Take N Bake," where we prepared meals for the next couple weeks, all in one fell swoop (we're eating them now, and they're really good).

Friday night we babysat Caleb's nephews in our home.

Saturday Amy and I spent the day shopping and setting up for Rachel's shower, and then we celebrated Julie's birthday Saturday night.

Sunday afternoon we threw Rachel her Lindley Family Bridal Shower, which was a blast.

All the things going on in the past week were definitely worthwhile and fun, but so far this week, I've spent most of my evenings sitting and staring at the wall. Sometimes the brain just needs a break, you know?

Posted by hjw at 8:07 PM | Permalink | Comments

08 June 2007

more pictures from the Aquarium

I've finally posted the rest of the pictures from our weekend with Caleb and Lindley. Take a look!

Posted by hjw at 9:45 PM | Permalink | Comments

07 June 2007

the plight of Africa

Last night Caleb and I watched Blood Diamond, a movie about the illegal diamond smuggling that goes on in Africa. It takes place during the violence of the 1999 civil war in Sierra Leone, with its brutal and senseless killings, forced slavery for the diamond mines, and kidnapped boys forced to join a war that seems to have no greater purpose than one group seeking to rule over another. There is corruption in all of it, corruption that leads all the way to the Tiffany store on Madison Avenue. It is a powerful movie, artfully depicting both the beauty and the horrors of life in Africa. The main characters are well developed, dynamic personalities, showing the realities of everyday life, each from a different walk of life, each doing what they must to survive in such a tumultuous place and time. The movie does a fantastic job of portraying a world we Westerners know so little about, and giving us a glimpse at the heart and soul of Africa. (The movie is rated R, mostly for violence. I only counted 4 or 5 instances of profanity, and there was no sex or nudity.)

The plight of Africa, its poverty and its genocidal wars, has only recently begun to make its way to the headline news in other parts of the world. And yet these horrors have taken place for decades, centuries. Lately we hear about Sudan and the brutality of the Janjaweed. More than 200,000 people have been slaughtered and millions have been displaced. All over Africa you hear about the aid coming from various countries that doesn’t seem to make it past the local warlords and corrupt officials. The movie Hotel Rwanda showcased the barbaric slaying of more than 800,000 Rwandans in a fight between ethnic groups. The HIV/AIDS epidemic is widespread. And these few notes in history don’t even scratch the surface of the profound poverty, disease and violence still a part of the continent today.

As movements like the One Campaign, and countless other, often celebrity-driven, organizations start to make Africa’s travails more public, I find myself confused about what to do. The pictures in the media are heartbreaking, and the stories of war, violence and other heinous crimes against humanity can leave me shaking my head in sadness at the depravity of it all. But how do you bring an entire continent out of its long history of tribal wars and poverty? How do you feed an entire nation adequately? How do you begin to teach the younger generations to break from their deep-seeded cultural norms, which for so many generations have done nothing but harm?

The questions can be overwhelming, and I admit that’s a bit how I felt after the movie last night. The problem seems insurmountable. And though I realize things will only change with time, change still seems so ... unlikely. And while I feel like its not OK to do nothing, I can’t help but wonder just what I CAN do. What can I do? What can you do? We can write a check to a reputable charity. We can support one kid through World Vision. We can pray. We can even go and help in various ways. These tokens of outreach often seem so … small. And yet there is definitely value in helping even just one.

I’m afraid today I end my note with only questions. If you have the stomach for movies like Hotel Rwanda or Blood Diamond (they are both violent, and very difficult to watch in parts), I do recommend them. If nothing else they give us a glimpse at life in another world. And I would invite you to share your thoughts on this profound world problem of our generation.

Posted by hjw at 5:01 PM | Permalink | Comments

04 June 2007

a weekend with munchkins

This past weekend, while my cousin and his wife were in Seattle, we helped them out by taking two of their children in, Caleb and Lindley. Well, they kind of took us in, as we stayed at their house for the weekend. But did we have fun! On Saturday we took them to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, with lunch at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. After a long day out and about, we came back to the house for a movie, dinner and early bed time. Sunday morning we were up in time to get to church, and then we all went swimming at the pool in our condo complex. After just an hour or so, we were all pretty worn out. Not too worn out for Mr. Caleb and Caleb to play video games, but worn out just the same. Then back to their house for Pick Up Stix, a little cleaning and another movie. And then, once again, bed time came early, which seemed just fine by everyone. The pictures below tell the story a little better.

Amy joined us at the Aquarium. We picked her up at her apartment in Long Beach, and then she had to squeeze between the two booster seats in the back for the ride to the Aquarium.