Happy Birthday Tam!

What can I say, I have the best sister in the world. I've always looked up to her for as long as I can remember. She is the such a strong, intelligent and beautiful woman! I'm really not kidding when I say that we never argued or fought with each other growing up. She always watched over me growing up and was the best big sister. She even let me hang out with her when she had friends over. I was probably so annoying but she never let me know it!

Happy birthday Tamara! I love you so much!

Okay....hello, talk about posing the same. We are still just as cute as ever. Heehaw.

Quote/Pic O'the Week

We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make our world.

-Buddha

Photo: June 2004 Brandon in the Carribean

Please vote.

As I watch the Presidential Debate tonight, I realize what a huge deal this election is for our future and the future of our children. Please vote in November for whichever candidate reflects your views. This is the beauty of America...that we have the ability to vote our leader into power. Although we don't always have the best candidates to choose from, I am so so hopeful that Senator Obama will soon be President Obama. His status on civil rights, women's rights, sustainable energy, health care, government spending, foreign relations and education are what our country needs. I sincerely hope that Americans vote for a change that will steer America in a different direction than it's been headed in for the last eight years. Four more years? Are you kidding me?? Go Obama. You are my homeboy.

Keys

Last weekend we decided to have a girl's night out so we took Trax to Keys on Main (a piano bar downtown) it was so so so much fun! By the end of the night, we were standing up dancing and singing at the top of our lungs and people were just randomly coming over to our table to dance with us...we were obviously the life of the party *wink* wink*

Brittany and Tammy

Brittany, Tammy and Danni

My friends Jen and Paul - my hair was doing this woo-hoo thing. I wish I could reach up into the picture and push it back...grrrr.

Hi Tamara!

"Pour some sugar on me...in the name of love..."

Cheese.

"And I said, heeey heeey heey heeya heey heey hey....I said Hey...what's going on?!"

"Bye Bye Miss American Pie, drove my chevy to the levy but the levy was dry.."

I love this picture because everybody's dancing or talking and Tam's just in her own little world. Sweet Tammy-poo.

"Welcome to the Hotel California...such a lovely place...such a lovely face..."
Doesn't this picture just sum up the night? We laughed so hard our stomach's hurt the next day, my voice was gone from singing all night, I had blisters on my feet and my butt was literally bruised from dancing in my chair. It was totally worth it. I love you Tamara! I love you Brittany! Thanks for the best girls night ever!

A thought about life...

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

-Mark Twain

Photo: Zumthor building in Switzerland, May 2007

Odd child?

Okay, so lately at school when I've been telling friends stories about my childhood....I kind of realized that I was an odd child. This is my proof that I was odd. Please notice that I say WAS odd. I'm totally normal now.

Exhibit A:

Peacocks are beautiful specimen...however, in my youth, I didn't make the connection that our neighbor down the street, ironically named Mr. Peacock (seriously), had a bunch of peacocks in his backyard. So when I heard the sounds that peacocks make (can you imagine it in your head right now?) I truly thought there were some demons or something in the fields behind our house calling my name..."Danielle"...."Danielle"..."Danielle". So, next time that you hear a peacock, pay attention. It's really creepy.

Exhibit B:

Kindergarten spotlight. I had to make a poster with my favorite things. My favorite food? Artichokes. My favorite animal? A horny toad.

Exhibit C:

Now, I totally remembered this recently and somehow I had kept the memory hidden far away until it all came rushing back to me. When I was little, for some reason I thought it was totally comfortable to stand with my stomach sort of sticking out, my bum sticking out (so I would have a major arch going on in my back to maneuver this) and my elbows would be bent, holding my hands up by my chest. My wrists would be relaxed so my hands just sorf of hung there. Can you imagine this? I would just walk around with my hands hanging there. It was really comfortable, I promise. I couldn't find a picture of me doing this but you have to believe me! Ask my sis, she'll confirm this.

Exhibit D: In second grade, I licked my boyfriends desk while everyone was at recess so that I could catch his cooties. Brilliant.

Exhibit E: I liked sleeping on the kitchen floor.

So, you make the judgement...odd child? I like to think of me as unique ;)

Feliz 18 de Septiembre!

September 18th is Independence Day in Chile and I have fond memories of making empanadas with Nani on Independence Day...Mmmmm...yo quiero empanadas! Feliz dia de independencia Nani y Tata! Te quiero cinquenta mas!

Fall is coming...

With Fall around the corner, I wanted to post one of my favorite quotes. I think that so many of life's questions can be nswered just by simply looking at nature. As the leaves begin to turn to vibrant colors in the next coming weeks, I hope you'll think of this quote and it will make the changing leaves even more beautiful!

"Leaves teach us how to die. They teach us how to die. One wonders when men with their boasted faith in immortality will lie down as gracefully and as ripe."
-Henry David Thoreau, Walden.

Congrats Antonio!

Congratulations on passing the bar exam Anthony! (and on your first try) All of your hard work has paid off!

So much changes....but we all stay the same.

Photo: Chile circa 1997

Photo: Oregon 2008

As I looked at these two photos, I thought to myself, "Wow, so much time has passed and so much has changed between these two pictures." But then when I really think about it...not much has changed. Over ten years, we all got older, we got married, we had children, we graduated, we started new careers, we moved away from each other, but when I look at these two pictures taken a decade apart, I see that so much is the same. We laugh, we cry, we hope, we learn, we love, we enjoy, we live.

I just wish Michael was in this pic! I'm reminded of the song "We Never Change" by Coldplay. I'll add it to my playlist actually...great song!

Hola

Welcome to my 2008 edition of getting to know me.

My sister Emily tagged me...I know I'm doing two surveys in one week, but really, can you get enough of me? I didn't think so.

I want to see your answers too!

1. What time did you get up this morning? 7 am but I went to bed at 1am after doing school project. I'm very tired.
2. Diamonds or pearls? meh
3. What was the last film that you saw at the cinema? The cinema? What is this 1930? I think it was Mamma Mia!
4. What is your favorite TV show? Wipeout makes me laugh really hard
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? yogurt or oatmeal
6. What is your middle name? Lee...my grandma's maiden name
7. What food do you dislike? Nothing really...maybe beets?
8. What is your favorite CD at the Moment? um....Radiohead, In Rainbows
9. What kind of car do you drive? XTERRA
10. Favorite sandwich? caprese sandwich
11. What characteristic do you despise in others? ignorance and superficiality
12. Favorite item of clothing? jeans
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Tour of Europe
14. Where would you retire to? Coast
15. What was your most recent memorable birthday? Hmm...probably Keys on Main Bday 24
16. Favorite sport to watch? football w/ B
17. Furthest place you are sending this? Infinity and beyond
18. Person you expect to participate first? You
19. When is your birthday? June 16
20. Are you a morning person or a night? Definitely night. Not morning.
21. What is your shoe size? 6ish
22. Pets? Chicarica
23. Any new exciting news you'd like to share with Us? Um...I'm really really cool.
24. What did you want to be when you were little? singer
25. How old are you today? 24
26. What is your favorite flower? gerbera daisies
27. What is a day on your calendar that you are looking forward to? Fall break!
28. What is your full name? Danielle Lee Burrellee Clarkee
29. What are you listening to right now? People in my class
30. What was the last thing you ate? tomato soup
31. Do you wish on stars? No but they are pretty.
32. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Extremely Orange Orange
33. How is your weather right now? fallish
34. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Brandon..he's home sick :(
35. Favorite soft drink? no thanks
36. Last place you ate out? U of U...exciting, I know.
37. Hair color? Dark brown
38. What was your favorite toy as a child? my little cloth doll
39. Summer or winter? SUMMER!
40. Hugs or kisses? all of the above
41. Chocolate or vanilla? Swirled.
42. Coffee or tea? coffee
43. Do you want friends to participate? Si
44. When was the last time you cried? I don't really remember
45. What is under your bed? none of your business
46. What did you do last night? built a model of a skyscraper
47. What are you afraid of? heights a little
48. Salty or sweet? salty
49. How many keys on your key ring? too many
50. How many years at your current job? 1.5
51. Favorite day of the week? Saturday.
52. How many towns have you lived in? 1.5
53. Do you make friends easily? Sure!
54. How many people will you send this to? ?
55. How many will respond? Everyone who loves me
56. Do you like finding out all this stuff about your friends? Like totally.
57. What is the last book you read? Tweak
So, will you play?

Here is some inspiration for you...

I found this at the end of my professor's email. I don't exactly know what it means or how to interpret it, but it is powerful.

"Yield and overcome. Bend and be straight."

-Julio Bermudez

Photo: Mercedez Benz Museum designed by UN Studio. Stuttgart, Germany. May 2007

Survey Time

I found my long lost friend Cami on blogger and I'm so excited to keep in touch with her this way! I found this on hers and tagged myself...pathetic I know, but I like these things.

Four random things I like about my husband:
1- He is the greatest friend to everyone. He is so sincere and truly cares about other people. He never wants to leave anyone out or make anyone feel uncomfortable.

2- He loves the outdoors and nature - I love that we both have such a desire to go outside and explore! Great memories!

3- He is honest. Seriously. He's not the kind of person you can ask a question to if you really want him to lie to you and make you feel better. He will not lie - so if you're like, "My hair looks so weird today. Huh?" ...and you're expecting him to say.."Oh no sweetie, your hair is perfect every day." He'll say, "Um yeah, what the hell is up with it today?"

4-He's so patient with me and my bad habits...and he ALWAYS scratches my back. I love it. He does it like every night!

Four Jobs I've had:
1- SnoShack. I quit after a week because my hands got too cold.

2- Secretary for my singing teacher....easy!

3- Telemarketer for five years...I have to say I learned SO much at this job. About people, sales, finances, etc.

4-Intern Architect...definitely the best job so far :) I love being creative and doing something different every day.

Four movies I have watched more than once:
1- Kill Bill
2-Dumb and Dumber
3-Big Fish (I LOVE this movie)
4-300...B and I watch this a lot. I think we're kind of obsessed. It's so cool though. And the endless parade of airbrushed six packs is nice too. Teehee.

Four tv shows I watch:
1- Friends (we watch it on dvd a lot)
2- America's Next Top Model. B probably doesn't want all to know, but we love this show. A bunch of catty models living together and competing together? Talk about endless entertainment.
3-American Idol. When is this show going to end?
4- The Office

Four places I have been:
1-Germany or otherwise known as Deutshland (sp?)
2-Chile. I want to go back and take B!
3- Caribbean...I love cruising!
4- New Orleans...great experience.

Four of my favorite foods:
1- Artichokes
2- Nani's food...empanadas, peude...mmmmm
3- caprese salad...or anything with a combo of fresh mozarella, tomato and basil
4- Berries...any kind...blueberry, rasberry, strawberry....my mouth is watering now.

Four places I would like to visit:
1- Italy
2-Egypt
3- Greece
4- Sweden

Four things I am looking forward to in the coming year:
1- Graduating with my masters degree! Wooooo!
2- Cruise with B's fam to the Caribbean
3- Christmas at the cabin with the fam
4- San Francisco in just a few weeks with B, Tam and Dave! It'll be a blast!

I am tagging you. Yes you, reading this right now (unless you're Cami, because you already did it). Especially if you read my blog and never leave a comment. Yes people, a comment is nice every once in a while. It makes me feel loved. It gives me warm fuzzies inside. Thank you.

Good ol' Marysvale

For Labor Day weekend, we headed South to Marysvale to spend time with family and we had a blast! Somehow my camera didn't make it out too much, so for a full update, please visit this lovely lady's blog. I love getting to see the Fierros, Avitals and Baers and banjo-playing Jimmy at least once a year!

You may wonder what this picture is but let me explain...my mom has the most beautiful flower garden surrounding the cabin. She puts so much love into the beautiful flowers and the hill is always bursting with color. If you don't know my mom that well, the story of this picture tells a lot...this plant and about three others like it, grew randomly and wildly in the middle of the gravel road that leads up to the cabin. Rather than tear it out or allow the cars to drive over the lonely plant, my mom waters it and clears the weeds and rocks around it, allowing it to bloom and grow in the place it chose to land. My mom is the most patient, loving, unselfish, accepting and nurturing person you could ever meet.

Isabella and chica...Chica loves exploring the property!

Water fight! I designated myself as the official photographer of the waterfight so that I couldn't get wet...teehee.

Inspirational Quote/Pic of the Week.....

I took this image in the Guggenheim Museum in NYC by Frank Lloyd Wright. Beautiful Space!

AND

I saw this quote on my sister-in-laws fridge on a magnet and I love it!


"Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."