Author Archives: lauholder

Aug 20 2008
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new wheels

no, not a car.

i gotta say, for having lived here only 2.5 months, i have some pretty awesome friends. one of which called the owner of “my” local bike shop today (who happens to train some of my triathlon friends) and filled him in on my situation. when i arrived with my poor bike (which is maybe 15 years old), mr. bike man hooked me up with a free (used) wheel and free (used) tires too. i told him i’d been considering moving over to a lighter tread tire, being that i was on sidewalks more than mountain trails, hoping to make my rides through town a bit faster and easier. my bike looks hilarious now, like a drag-racer, says mr. bike man. skinny tire on front, thicker tire on back, but it’s a good combination for my needs. when all was said and done, he waved me out of the store with a smile, telling me to come back when i’m ready to buy a road bike… and start training… hmmm… train?

i’m suffering a bit of delayed shoulder pain today, i guess from bracing myself at impact, which i’m hoping is extremely temporary.

other than that, i’m back on the road tomorrow. score.

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Aug 19 2008
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lauren splats… almost

so much for not blogging…

i got hit by a car tonight on my way to the gym. i was riding my bike on the sidewalk (i’m told this is not illegal and much safer than riding on the road), going against traffic (again, i’m told this is safer), when i came to an intersection. i slowed down, noted the stopped car, checked the green light and the pedestrian crossing, and continued forward into the intersection. i saw the stopped car start into a right turn, realized what was about to happen, swerved, and CRASH. they clipped my back tire, knocking me over, but i caught myself and the bike. i have a few minor cuts and bruises, but nothing major. sadly, my bike will need a little TLC before i’ll be able to ride again (slight problem when it’s your primary means of transportation), but still nothing major. the lexus that hit me will have to get a new bumper, though… yikes. i didn’t get the driver’s contact information since 10% of me was scared i didn’t have the right of way. i can’t afford a lexus bumper. the couple that hit me was more concerned about my ability to walk than anything. i think the little lady in the passenger seat was more shaken up than i was.

anywho… my dad thinks i should get a car.

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Aug 17 2008
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onion love

one of my favorite people in the world, who happens to be horrible at updating her blog or sending emails, yet wonderful at “superpoking” and keeping up with my blog, is engaged. i found out via text message last night… oh, how times have changed.

i’m going to call susanne as soon as i finish typing this post to check the facts, but i believe she and ryan met online… and not just any old internet dating service… but the classifieds on the onion. the onion, if you don’t already know it, is one of america’s oldest ironic news sources. it is the mother of all pop-culture political satire that has peppered our media this past decade. and thank goodness… one needs a sense of humor to survive.

i have friends that have met online and married before… but this is the first onion love i know of. makes me wonder if my friends’ threat to give me an online dating membership for my birthday wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

naaah.

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Aug 15 2008
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time out

my readership has cut in half since i returned to the US… as have my posts… but i’m thinking i’ll take the month of august off blogging.

that being said, here’s one quick story that furst thought i ought to share.

i went to a wlu party last sunday (alumni function) and met lots of great peeps headed to lex to join the best student body in the world. i was often asked by other adults if this would be my freshman year as well, which made me feel better about my 28th bday last week.

anyway, i barely met this one guy, but he was kind enough to give me his calling card when we parted ways. no, i don’t mean business card. i mean he handed me a card with his name and number, likely on crane’s cotton paper… very nice. i looked at him and said, “seriously?” my friend lat said the same to me in the car when i said, “i’m intrigued. i think i’ll have to call this calling card guy.” “seriously?”

so i did. i called him wednesday and asked him questions like, “would you say you’re an eccentric person?” still, i was intrigued, so i accepted his invitation to a theme party this weekend… maybe…

i’m curious if this calling card concept yields greater returns than business cards. i did google the guy before calling (i’m not stupid) and he’s an investment banker with a major bank. they’re a dime a dozen here. so maybe the calling card is where it’s at?

Aug 07 2008
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au naturale

i’ve been experimenting the past few weeks with deodorant. see, antiperspirants are bad for you. really bad. anything with aluminum is bad. this is an especially sensitive topic for peeps with close ties to alzheimer’s, which definitely applies to my family. i’ve disposed of all aluminum pots and pans in my possession, and the next move is from antiperspirants to deodorant. i mean, honestly, i tend perspire with an antiperspirant anyway. i’m okay with that. i’m over it.

i’m currently trying out dr. hauschka’s floral deodorant. it smells like roses. but i’m not sure i do. so a lot of effort goes into discreetly smelling myself (not that discreet if i’m blogging about it, of course). if you’re near me in the coming weeks, feel free to comment on my aura, if you catch my drift. i’d appreciate the feedback.

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Aug 06 2008
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dog flips

i finally joined the ymca yesterday. it’s a good 2.5 mile uphill battle on the bike to get there (and back… now i understand the “uphill both ways” concept), meaning i’m exhausted by the time i bike there, work out and bike back. but i’m hoping this will turn into a healthy routine.

i kinda shocked myself at the yoga class yesterday. this is only the 3rd class i’ve attended in over a year (though i toyed with yoga on my own in benin). this next phrase will make no sense to non-yogis… but we were in down-dog with one leg up and over when the instructor said, “now flip your dog if you want.” boom! i flipped my dog! without even thinking about it! that move used to scare me, and here i just stumbled into it quite gracefully. always nice when your body surprises you. i wonder if anyone saw the look of shock on my face.

posts like this will probably lead to an increased drop in readership, but it was seriously one of the highlights of my week.

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Aug 04 2008
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happy bday benin

benin just celebrated 48 years of independence, as this article states, in nonsensical english. the writer’s last name is assogba… wonder if he’s related to my friend mathieu? the famous singer and genius behind this video?

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Aug 01 2008
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garden of the gods

being the international woman of mystery that i am, i run into friends just about everywhere i go. while staying outside of monument, colorado this week (near colorado springs) i had visitors just about every day. kim came up monday, sharing with me the VERY exciting news that she and scott are pregnant! then art and lois came up on tuesday, taking me to the exact same restaurant as the previous evening (but i didn’t tell them that because i loooove mexican food). then leslie came up wednesday (she only just moved to colorado two weeks ago) and we ventured off to garden of the gods.

you may remember leslie visited me in benin back in march. it was great to talk to someone that had actually witnessed the craziness of my life abroad. we had a lot of good laughs. we also took a lot of ridiculous pictures, fitting in to tight crevices, acting like idiots, the usual. it’s great to have friends all over.

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Jul 31 2008
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identity: mine and God’s

hmm. 7 months without posting. maybe i should give “phos” up and stick to my journal. but just in case…

i did a little exercise this week, discerning both my identity and God’s. i basically answered two questions:

1. what have you learned about yourself as a result of your experience with God?
that i can withstand more than i think; that i’m extremely unique and unusual; that it’s better for me to rely on God than on myself or others; that i can be quiet, be alone and be slow–and enjoy it; that lessons are harder and hurt more when i’m stubborn; that i like the sunshine; that affirmation doesn’t satisfy me like God’s love does; that in any given moment, i have enough; that i don’t have all the answers–and that’s okay; that i’m easily distracted by relationships; that i struggle with pride; that my worth is not determined by others; that i’m amazingly complex and beautiful all at once–a mystery.

2. what do you know about God as a result of genuine encounter with yourself?
that God loves me and lavishes blessings on me; that God hears me and knows my needs better than i do; that God thinks i’m special; that God will patiently challenge me again and again till i learn God’s truths; that God is always present; that God loves me better than anyone; that God is sufficient; that i hear God best when i’m humble; that God is so much more interesting than i make God out to be; that God is not afraid to put me in danger; that God’s dreams are bigger than mine are; that God is everywhere–but in my stillness especially; that i’m relieved God doesn’t fit in a box; that nothing can shake God or take me from God; that God is big enough to cover all questions, hurts and losses; that God is freakin’ hilarious at times.

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Jul 28 2008
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totally sucks awesome hated it beautiful

yes, this week i’m exploring a series of paradoxes with a bunch of other missionaries just returned from the field. a little thing called “debriefing and renewal” in the mountains of colorado. some people have come “home” for good, others are just here for a year before returning to assignments abroad. all are totally grateful for their experiences and are struggling now with varying degrees of home-sickness (for “adopted” countries) and identity crisis. yet all have been burned, bruised, and battered; the side of being a missionary that is rarely shared outside the safest of circles. this place is definitely a safe one, and i’m glad i made it out here, albeit (slightly) grudgingly.

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