Author: Trish

I Went to a Greek Women’s Conference about Joy

Trish1 Comment

Two of my co-workers are on a committee that creates a yearly inter-denominational conference for Greek Christian women.  When they invited me to join them by saying, “It’s at a resort by the beach, and the cost of €100 includes two nights in a 4-star hotel plus six buffet gourmet meals,” it was very easy to say yes.

IMG_1107

Dina drove me to Euboea, a massive island near Athens, and we got to the resort hours before the 200+ women who were attending the three-day conference.  Due to poor planning on the part of the resort, about half of us had to spend the first night at a nearby sister-hotel.  Dina dropped me off there while she worked, and I had virtually AN ENTIRE HOTEL to myself for five hours.  It was AMAZING.

Later that first night, the buses full of women arrived.   Continue reading →

David and Bathsheba

TrishLeave a comment

David’s life is exemplary throughout his childhood and early adulthood. He trusts God to defend His people when fighting the giant Goliath (1 Sa 17). He trusts God to give him the kingship in His timing rather than take matters into his own hands by killing Saul (1 Sa 19, 1 Sa 24). In a beautiful culmination of his intimate relationship with God, David promises to build a house for God, and in turn, God promises to build an eternal house for David and his descendants (2 Sa 7). It is surprising, then, that soon after this exchange, David becomes an adulterer and a murderer.  Continue reading →

Sunday Summary #27: What’s On the Internet

TrishLeave a comment

Articles

1|  This piece by “lapsed-Catholic” Sady about the balls-to-the-wall bravery of Joan of Arc, likening her to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and highlighting the tragedy of her murder because of her queerness is SO GOOD.  I need to study up on the saints!

Videos

1|  Kristen Bell is one of my favorite actresses, and I love that she was brave enough to speak openly about her struggles with depression and anxiety.

A Week in Greece #18: Settling In, Captain America, Weekend Adventure

TrishLeave a comment

Settling In

Moving never ends!  On the one hand, I have been incredibly blessed.  My bed, refrigerator, oven, dining room table, and washing machine were all donated.  I’m pretty sure a bed for the second bedroom will be given in the next couple weeks.  BUT.  Even with the big things donated, there are so many little purchases that go into furnishing a home, and while spending money on cute appliances was fun at first, I am TIRED of watching money leak out of my bank account.  And I still need living room furniture and rugs and dining room chairs.  *sigh*

But also – it’s so fun!  The one thing I have not tired of buying is plants – which are slowly taking over my bathroom, to my great enjoyment.  And I have some little projects in place, which is nice.  And it’s so encouraging to have people helping me out (with furniture, with installing, etc etc).  But also it’s so hard to rely on other people!  It’s super weird to move into a new house and not have a car for last-minute store runs or not have a tool box to figure things out on my own.  AND I’m feeling some weird homesickness that’s manifesting in “WHAT is going on with this oven!?  Why is it different from what I’m used to??”

It’s a roller coaster.  Bottom line: I love my home, I hate the process of making it my home.

Captain America  Continue reading →

Captain America: Civil War REVIEW

Trish4 Comments

This review is an emotional outpouring, so there will DEFINITELY be spoilers. If you want to go into Civil War with an empty mind, kindly wait to read this until after you go to the theater. Don’t worry, I’ll wait.

#TeamCap

This movie was advertised as #TeamCap vs. #TeamIronMan, and from the beginning I knew which side I would be on. Even though Captain America was the world’s most boring superhero to me for much of Marvel’s first movies, he is now nearest and dearest to my heart. This is 100% because of CA: Winter Soldier, and in particular, the scene in which his rousing speech encourages Nameless Tech Guy to do The Right Thing despite having a gun to his head. His loyalty and optimism are MY JAM, and I will follow him to the end of the line.

The weird thing is, I don’t think the movie wants us to root for Iron Man. Tony Stark becomes increasingly paranoid and emotionally compromised throughout the film, and whatever good motives he had in the beginning quickly reveal themselves to be based in fear and anger. Plus it’s never a good sign when the people you’re aligning yourself with frequently refer to people as weapons (as the Secretary of State What’s His Name does about Scarlet Witch, the Hulk, AND Thor).  Gross.

Steve Rogers never forgets that people are people. I am in love with his ideology that commits to trusting in the best of people – even if he is let down by a person here or there (even to catastrophic results), he refuses to give up on believing that people are capable of change and of good. OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN.

The friend I went with is #TeamIronMan, and she joked that I was only on Cap’s side because he is hot. This is a ridiculous accusation, because absolutely everyone in this movie is hot, which brings me to…

Hot People!   Continue reading →

BEFORE Captain America: Civil War

Trish2 Comments

My priorities are 100% out of order.  For the last four months, one of my primary worries has been:  WHO WILL WATCH CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR WITH ME???  I am not exaggerating when I say that every time I meet a potential friend, I steer the conversation toward superheroes.  And every time, the answer is, “Marvel?  I think I’ve heard of…Iron Man?  But no, I don’t watch them.”

As May drew ever nearer, I resigned myself to watching the newest Marvel movie alone.  This is especially sad because Captain America: Winter Soldier is my FAVORITE Marvel movie so far.  I’m so excited for its sequel!  And okay, so my priorities aren’t SO weird.  Finding someone who could share in my excitement felt like finding a real friend.  For four months, I didn’t have someone with whom I could share this nerdiest side of myself.

Until Luciana!  My part-time coworker at HD loves video games, indie music, and superhero movies.  I AM THRILLED, and we are going to see CA: CW tonight!  In honor of the truly momentous occasion, I’m going to share my review of CA: WS, which is, if I say so myself, a masterpiece of fandom.

*FLASHBACK*

Captain-America-The-Winter-Soldier-PosterI have a new obsession, and it is Captain America: Winter Soldier.  This is surprising, because his first movie is my least favorite in the Marvel universe, and he was by far the least interesting Avenger in The Avengers.  I went to see his newest movie out of brand loyalty, but I went to see it a second time because I fell in love.  This film covers all of my interests, creating a perfect storm of a story that draws me back again and again (and again?).

Hot People   Continue reading →

Apartment Decoration Goals

TrishLeave a comment

I am horrible at decorating, but I’m excellent at saying, “Ooo, yes!” to pictures of rooms online.  Now that I have an apartment of my own to furnish and decorate, I’ve been spending a lot of time doing just that.

I have very little money and I don’t like DIY projects, so I’m doomed to staring wistfully at my computer screen while my own walls stay bare and white.  BUT.  I thought I would share some pictures of what I WANT my apartment to be if I had the money, talent, and motivation to make it happen.

w620_h480
Domino

THIS BATHROOM.  I love plants, I love green, I love that if your shower sprays everywhere, you can just pretend you meant to be watering your plans.  Bonus: this idea is actually feasible.  I think I have it in me to buy both pots and plants and set them on every available surface.  Aahhh, my heart feels happy just thinking about it.  Stepping into the bathroom like you’re stepping into a garden.  *sigh*   Continue reading →

“Calculate Your Economic Risk” – Uh, Okay!

Trish2 Comments

The New York Times created an economic risk assessment that allows you to calculate your risk of living in poverty in the next five, ten, or fifteen years.  Hilariously, it is called “Chasing the American Dream,” and you can try it for yourself by clicking the link.

I’m always a fan of attempting to predict my future, despite (or because of?) the possibility of it adding to my list of anxieties, so let’s go!

Thoughts Before

As a white middle-class graduate school educated individual, I’ve got race, class, and education on my side.  But I’m also a single woman who currently relies on fundraising (though I don’t know if that will even be considered).  So who knows?  I’m definitely curious whether my privilege will win out.  Continue reading →

A Week in Greece #17: MOVING WEEK!

Trish2 Comments

Sunday

13138834_853384190892_3221903881934835706_nYou may or may not remember that when we left off in last week’s A Week in Greece, I was spending the night at Kendra’s apartment after a midnight Easter service.  Her cat cuddled with me through part of the night, which sent me into paroxysms of joy.  When I move into my own apartment, I am probably almost definitely going to get a cat.  THEY ARE SO GREAT.  Speaking of apartments and cats, I spent Sunday morning doing the dishes from our party the night before (Kendra left early in the morning and kindly let me, a stranger, sleep in).  I’d offered to do the dishes in thanks for her hospitality, and it is a sign of how desperately I miss having a home that I thoroughly enjoyed the mundane household chore.  Plus, the cat kept following me around and flopping down at my feet, so – enjoyable!

I met up with Rosie, Damaris, and Mercy around 1:00 p.m.  Most of the city was shut down for Easter, so we walked to the center where a few places were open for tourists.  Restaurants were roasting the traditional Easter lamb on a spit in the middle of the road, and we commented at one, “But these won’t be ready for a while.”  The opportunistic host at the next-door restaurant called, “Ours is done!” and sure enough, their spit was empty.  We ate a delicious lunch and continued to get to know one another.  I really like them!  I want to be in their friend group.   Continue reading →