tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58055649933559876942012-01-18T14:10:11.718-08:00hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.comBlogger9061100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-23989090623718597992011-08-03T17:53:00.001-07:002011-08-03T17:53:32.641-07:00

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-51090872369282876642011-07-22T20:42:00.001-07:002011-07-22T20:42:13.924-07:00

This is the view when driving onto the campus of Eden Seminary in Webster Groves...

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-66252410034076570352011-07-05T16:38:00.001-07:002011-07-05T16:38:42.710-07:00

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-55605564080211953692011-07-03T13:18:00.001-07:002011-07-03T13:18:14.309-07:00

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0Eden Theological Seminary, 475 East Lockwood Avenue, Saint Louis, MO, United States38.591452 -90.344776tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-28029351426963463522011-04-18T22:05:00.000-07:002011-04-18T22:05:30.462-07:00

Sometimes when I see the bare arms of trees in the evening I think of men who have died without love, of desolation and space between branch and branch, I think of immovable whiteness and lean coldness and fear and the terrible longing between people stretched apart as these branches and the cold space between. I think of the vastness and courage between this step and that step of the yearning

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-12247011648327222722011-04-03T16:50:00.000-07:002011-04-03T16:50:13.333-07:00

In terms of cafes, reading rooms, and hang-outs, the Map Room is the GREATEST find this side of 2011. I highly recommend it. The sister and I arrived at 7:30ish (it opens at 5m) which was the perfect time b/c we beat the crowd. We had the whole place to ourselves and I was able to snap some photos. For drinks, we ordered the cranberry-orange sangria and the roasted hazelnut latte (creamy,

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-46576018768283742852011-04-02T21:38:00.000-07:002011-04-02T21:38:54.840-07:00

Early spring in winter... Signs of green in the midst of snow. I live across the street from this snowy field.

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-39523348180597840562011-04-01T04:00:00.000-07:002011-04-01T04:00:09.497-07:00

 This being the 1st of April, I provide here an update on Project 2011. Some success, albeit gradual and minuscule in comparison to the strength of my desire to move much more quickly (at the speed of the universe).  My grand plan to read, contemplate, and comment on Bishop Schnase's book: Successfully finished reading Chapter 1 on the practice of Radical Hospitality, as well as Chapter 2 on

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-88987133804161684722011-03-31T06:00:00.000-07:002011-03-31T06:00:03.490-07:00

One Sunday, my sister and I decided to visit a congregation that we had never visited before. Not unlike many others in this city, I think, instead of going to the one nearby, we Googled to find a church somewhere in STL that had morning services, and a contemporary one at that, and we ventured forth. On the drive to the church, I was pretty excited; it had been several years since I last

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-5397923837026248462011-03-29T04:00:00.000-07:002011-03-29T04:00:04.571-07:00

If you're just tuning into nothing but HAT's, then you should know that Project 2011 is my crazy, boring project hatched during a long, tiring car ride home from a Sunday morning church service in which I bemoaned my fate as yet one more Methodist utterly disenchanted with and frustrated by the worship experience I just recently endured. If you want the explanation from the beginning, then click

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-86634764624443271502011-03-15T21:26:00.000-07:002011-03-15T21:26:10.788-07:00

United Methodist Response to Japan Crisis Will Involve Church and Mission PartnersAn excerpt:"The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is serving as the denomination's conduit for financial contributions. A request for an offering on March 20 is being made by the denomination's Council of Bishops. The Pacific Emergency Advance number is 3021317. One hundred percent of every Advance

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-62583486668709944112011-02-14T00:00:00.000-08:002011-02-14T00:00:10.227-08:00

Image courtesy of valentine-clipart.com If you feel sorry for yourself this Valentine's Day, think of the dozens of little paper poppies left in the box when the last of the candy is gone, how they must feel, dried out and brown in their sad old heart-shaped box, without so much as a single finger to scrabble around in their crinkled petals, not even one pimpled nose to root and snort through

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-69068917890782319752011-01-25T00:00:00.000-08:002011-01-25T00:00:00.985-08:00

When Tet comes around, you must have Banh Tet or Banh Chung, but how many of you have had Banh La Chan? Banh la chan is a variation on the banh tet, and I oh so love it. Consider the deliciousness of the original cake: soft, yellow, buttery mung bean paste mixed with a morsel of pork (oh, the delicate balance between the meat and the fat!) nestled in a mold of glutinous rice so sticky that you

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-70296814551272456972011-01-24T20:21:00.000-08:002011-01-24T20:21:05.778-08:00

For 2011, I will commit to visiting 11 churches (mostly in the STL area -- at least for the foreseeable future) and to blogging about my experiences as a guest of those faith communities, using Bishop Robert Schnase's book Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations as a lay-person's guide in this church-visiting adventure. I have several motivations for initiating what I believe will be my most

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-72260365704003784042011-01-08T21:56:00.000-08:002011-01-08T21:56:23.323-08:00

www.thiepdientu.net The time has come for us to begin preparing for Tet Nguyen Dan... It is right around the corner: Feb. 3, 2011. To get started: For the Vietnamese, 2011 is The Year of the Metal Cat: For more information, click here. (This is my dad's year.) In Chinese, 2011 is The Year of the Golden Rabbit: For more information, click here. Our dates for this year:  02/03/2011 - 01/22

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-8710047596589393672011-01-08T21:32:00.001-08:002011-01-08T21:32:52.018-08:00

Walk around feeling like a leaf. Know you could tumble any second. Then decide what to do with your time. -Naomi Shihab Nye

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-88743316105750732092010-11-26T20:54:00.000-08:002010-11-26T20:54:04.766-08:00

At 96 years old, Ong Noi has developed a new night-time routine. In the middle of the night, he would get out of bed and roll both legs of his pajama pants up to his knees like he was about to go catch blue crabs in the rice paddies. For light, he would always unplug his desk lamp, tucking it under his arm like the lantern he used to carry on those nights back in the '50s. To prevent him from

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-83202218412259773572010-11-07T21:39:00.000-08:002010-11-07T21:39:42.883-08:00

Colors of autumn discovered at every turn Ever since I moved to Saint Louis from Berkeley, I've been guilty of reliving the glory days of living in northern Cali. I am unable to resist speaking nostalgically about how great life was back in the Bay Area: the weather is temperate and the landscape is gorgeous; geographical diversity is unsurpassed (imagine being surrounded by ocean, desert,

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-65465216104541125752010-09-16T21:30:00.000-07:002010-09-16T21:30:01.191-07:00

From the first day I started this new job (actually, since I first interviewed for the job), at least 15 people have asked me why I was willing to leave beautiful Berkeley, CA, to move to Saint Louis. "It's so humid, and so bland," they said. Well, one reason is because I now live near a sibling who is willing to venture into a peach orchard to pick peaches under the killer midwest sun. If you

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-33704054970785765132010-09-12T00:10:00.000-07:002010-09-12T00:10:56.167-07:00

Hide 'n Seek Print When I was young, although I played it quite often with my young church friends, I did not enjoy the game of Hide and Seek. The trouble of searching for well-hidden friends was always too tiresome, and the risk of not being found always made me a bit scared of hiding too carefully. Even scarier was the possibility that my young friends with their short attention spans, having

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-26689568867123478752010-09-10T21:36:00.000-07:002010-09-10T21:36:33.281-07:00

African women find God at prayer tree - UMC.orgAn Excerpt:Edith Bwawa, 49, and Rachel Mukoyi, 48, do not break stride as they veer to the left, along a smaller path barely visible under the tall grass on both sides. Reaching the side of a large hill, they wind their way up large rocks and slippery stretches of loose stones and dirt, holding on to bushes and boulders for support. Nearing a

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-34576639474148251362010-09-10T04:00:00.000-07:002010-09-10T04:00:04.752-07:00

One year from today, I will be celebrating 9/10/11. Thank God for the many blessings that have been showered upon me (deserved or not). Thank God for my family and for my friends. Thank God for a roof over my head and a beautiful home to enter at the end of a long day at work. Thank God for a pitiful white Sentra that faithfully takes me to work and back home. Thank God for good books filled with

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-80269104330352721982010-08-29T04:00:00.000-07:002010-08-29T04:00:01.283-07:00

"The Poor Invited to Feast" In this Sunday's Lucan lesson (Luke 14:1, 7-14), Jesus advises that when we are invited to dine, we ought to take the lowest seat possible, not the seat of honor, in case someone else comes along and bumps us down a notch. At its simplest, Jesus's story is a lesson of humility: live humbly so that no one has to serve you humble pie. The story is not about a

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-21986945722286806852010-08-26T04:00:00.000-07:002010-08-26T04:00:04.999-07:00

A few weeks ago, we moved into a different house -- a rental that is considerably larger than the one in which we had been residing. There are twice the number of rooms which need to be furnished, and there is almost twice the amount of yard work that will need to be tended to. I'm not quite certain how we finaggled this deal (using our sweet, charming personalities?), but here we are! As we

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-55177920316224411412010-08-25T19:15:00.000-07:002010-08-25T19:15:00.649-07:00

One of the wonderful side-effects of the unbearable Saint Louis heat is more art and culture for Saint Louisans. Because, well, what do you do to hide from hot summer weather? Go to a museum or art gallery! The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts is neither a museum nor an art gallery, but its current exhibition is very worth seeing.  The current exhibition installed at the Pulitzer is Ann

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-85309072438440576802010-08-24T13:33:00.000-07:002010-08-25T18:32:31.677-07:00

Framing for Change: Creating Memes and Stories that Matter by Doyle Canning and Patrick Reinsborough of smartMemeAn excerpt from the article:"Collective, cultural stories are embedded with powerful frames that define cultural norms and shape common perceptions of what’s possible. The mythologies and memes of Plymouth Rock, Manifest Destiny, 40 Acres and a Mule, and the American Dream are the

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-18665205035603474232010-08-17T10:34:00.000-07:002010-08-17T10:34:18.318-07:00

Evening (by Rainer Maria Rilke) The sky puts on the darkening blue coat held for it by a row of ancient trees; you watch: and the lands grow distant in your sight, one journeying to heaven, one that falls; and leave you, not at home in either one, not quite so still and dark as the darkened houses, not calling to eternity with the passion of what becomes a star each night, and rises; and

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-19697108260045224952010-08-02T04:00:00.000-07:002010-08-02T04:00:04.372-07:00

 I was disappointed to discover (1) despite the sign, Pi pizzeria was not available at the STL Science Center, and, (2) Miss Saigon on Barack Obama Blvd (formerly Delmar) is closed.

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-68124519481663701122010-08-01T04:00:00.000-07:002010-08-01T04:00:04.288-07:00

We ventured out to the riverfront and the Arch at about 11pm one night. I had never seen the arch or the Mississippi River at night, and we were awarded with a brilliant, yellow full moon. The little point-and-shoot Canon that I carried failed miserably in trying to capture the rich colors of the night, yet, there is something slightly magical in the blurry images. It makes me feel like we're in

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-5032387734587653082010-07-31T04:00:00.000-07:002010-07-31T04:00:04.983-07:00

The story of the Laumeier Sculpture Park and Museum began in 1968 with the gift of 72 acres of open land. Now, there are over 60 large scale sculptures scattered throughout the 105-acre open-air sculpture museum. We visited the Laumeier one evening, and took some amazingly funny photos. However, to protect the copyrights and creative licenses of the many internationally-known and

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-39008383046382081172010-07-30T04:00:00.000-07:002010-07-30T04:00:09.094-07:00

If you have not read any accounts of the magnificent 1904 World's Fair held in Saint Louis, then you must visit the Missouri History Museum. I went to see the exhibition and it was fascinating. I wish I had been there at that time to witness what humanity deemed to be the splendors of progress and innovation.

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-53913883494598547752010-07-29T04:00:00.000-07:002010-07-29T04:00:00.858-07:00

While driving through downtown Saint Louis one day, I saw this building with the circular windows. For some reason, the three round portals called to me in a peculiar way. Perhaps it was because the scene looked like the windows has somehow captured some essence of the blue sky and the white clouds, like they had been trapped inside all that brick and mortar...

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-28778783542279451552010-07-28T04:00:00.000-07:002010-07-28T04:00:02.320-07:00

I am a happier woman now that the very first Peet's Coffee & Tea has opened in Missouri. Actually, it has been open for a little while now, but still it feels like it's brand new. Because Starbucks and the St. Louis Bread Co. basically have the monopoly in Missouri, it is hard for Peet's to get a toe in the door (this is what a Peet's employee told me). So, in all the state of Missouri, there is

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-91441031048871949052010-07-27T04:00:00.000-07:002010-07-27T04:00:01.392-07:00

I believe in doing everything we can for cleaner air. You can do this in several ways: Breath less air (more for me!) Carpool Take the bus Take the train or subway Ride a bike Walk

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-47699051989222454592010-07-26T23:45:00.000-07:002010-07-26T23:47:42.067-07:00

Go here to see my first view of the Arch. For more scenes of Saint Louis, click on the HATtag "St Louis" at the bottom of this post.

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-38147970218844987722010-07-26T04:00:00.000-07:002010-07-26T04:00:04.004-07:00

3.14159 26535 89793 23846 26433 8327 A few days ago, we heard from a very reliable foodie that Pi was the place to go for great pizza. We also heard that the owner of Pi was invited to bake Pi pizzas for the Obamas in 2009. (More interesting press about Pi can be found here.) So, the Sister and I went to the Pi location on the Loop (other locations can be found here), the street which

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-27829177007984670812010-07-24T20:31:00.000-07:002010-07-24T20:31:06.159-07:00

Earlier today, I visited for the first time the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts. Intentionally built in the developing district known as Grand Center of Saint Louis (go here to read more about the Pulitzer's urban context), this magnificent gem brings together the arts and architecture, inviting all visitors to re-imagine, no, re-invent, our preconceived ideas of creativity, art, culture, space.

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-14502828659030812112010-07-24T19:28:00.000-07:002010-07-24T19:28:54.867-07:00

If you've never been to Bailey's Chocolate Bar in Lafayette, MO, then you are missing out on a delicious bit of decadence, and you must, must drag yourself there immediately. After reading this blogpost, get into your car and drive to the Chocolate Bar post haste because it closes at 1:00 a.m. The Chocolate Bar is a full bar and restaurant that has all things chocolate and everything seems

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-66348587677822091032010-07-23T18:30:00.000-07:002010-07-23T18:30:00.675-07:00

Hom nay nho den cac ban o ben phuong xa. Cac anh chi van khoe chu? Moi su tot dep, vui ve, an lanh? Sao khong nghe thay tin tuc cua cac anh chi em gi het... co let o xa nen minh it lien lac voi nhau. Tiec lam la khoang cach that xa lam minh phai dan dan ma mat lien lac voi nhau. Co rat nhieu dieu minh muon chia se, tim hieu va hoc hoi ve cuoc song o que me, que nguoi. Nhung, khong le luc nao

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-51511362840220203572010-07-23T09:21:00.000-07:002010-07-23T09:21:59.774-07:00

No doubt many of us are overwhelmed by the plethora of social networks available for our perusal these days. Since there are too many to recommend, it has been a long while since nothing but HAT's introduced a site to its readers. As some of you might have noticed, though, I was recently contacted by one of the editors at Christian.com, asking to cross link our sites. I'm happy to oblige... For

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-59256472136388474912010-07-21T22:00:00.000-07:002010-07-21T22:00:02.584-07:00

On the last Wednesday of June, we went to see Dawn Weber and the Electro Funk Assembly perform as part of the 2010 Whitaker Music Festival at the St. Louis Botanical Garden. The weather was cool and breezy, and because we arrived super early, we snatched a great patch of grass to the left of the stage, in the sun but partly shaded. Lovely. It sort of made me forget that I was no longer in the

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-80576199244734834282010-07-21T21:45:00.000-07:002010-07-21T21:45:00.731-07:00

The lawyer was a party crasher who attempted to entrap Jesus in answering: What is the greatest commandment (he thought he knew he answer to this one)? Who is my neighbor (maybe he was caught off guard by this question which sort of rose out of nowhere)? Jesus was telling the lawyer to go out of his comfort zones to find/located/define/acknowledge all who are his neighbors; that is, don't just

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-84838786644535101062010-07-21T21:30:00.000-07:002010-07-21T21:30:00.043-07:00

Do you know what toxins are put into the cosmetics that you use and which eventually seep into your body? To learn more about The Story of Cosmetics, go here. To know more about the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, go here.

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-88071639363167393642010-07-21T21:25:00.000-07:002010-07-21T21:25:08.644-07:00

To say that I am made in the image of God is to say that love is the reason for my existence, for God is love. Love is my true identity. Selflessness is my true self. Love is my true character. Love is my name. If, therefore, I do anything or think anything or say anything or know anything that is not purely for the love of God, it cannot give me peace, or rest, or fulfillment, or joy. To

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-17378985113350252252010-07-20T08:41:00.000-07:002010-07-20T08:41:46.632-07:00

Behind the scenes at The Great Paris Review Poetry Purge of 2010: part 2.: "This is Part 2; Part 1 is here.On July 16, just days before Lorin Stein sent out an email to several poets to un-accept their work, he remarked to the New York Observer that he was “putting together what he hopes is a “holy shit” poetry section for his first issue on September 15.”In June, Mr. Stein oversaw the transition

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-13528069719841110332010-07-20T07:48:00.000-07:002010-07-21T21:26:43.404-07:00

An excerpt from a piece by Joe Conason at Salon.com: To clear the air clouded by all these noxious effusions, it’s important to understand some basic facts about the project — and about the Constitution that Palin, Williams and the rest of the Tea Party movement claim to defend.  The victims of 9/11 included numerous Muslims, as anyone browsing the memorial sites can see. Most of them were

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-79846862685319644232010-07-19T20:15:00.000-07:002010-07-21T21:27:08.488-07:00

Somewhere in Tilden Park is this quaint little pond which my friend and I stumbled upon (twice) as we meandered our way through the trails. It was a hot, hot, hot day, and we two were traipsing about in our sneakers and walking shoes, with no water bottles in hand, and only a little bit of sunscreen and a digital camera. I miss Tilden Park, and I miss Berkeley, and mostly, I miss the weather!

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-38810071581122652522010-07-19T13:00:00.000-07:002010-07-19T13:00:00.406-07:00

For the better part of Sunday, I was mulling over the sermon that I heard preached at the UMC church I attended yesterday morning. The Gospel lesson was taken from Luke (our oft-times unreliable narrator), a favorite among many, and the story we hear in chapter 10 is about two sisters, Martha and Mary, who are, in their own right, veritable Mistresses of their Domain. The sermon generated so many

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-7041714302818330912010-07-17T20:44:00.000-07:002010-07-17T20:44:02.209-07:00

Big beasts: "How elephants have shaped human history"Here's one example of how art and culture and modern media can come together to save an animal from extinction (we hope). Read on...!

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-65465693724442001002010-07-12T21:58:00.000-07:002010-07-12T21:58:33.390-07:00

Earlier today, I went to Lowe's (on Hanley) to purchase a couple of items for our gardening venture. While browsing the aisles of plants in the nursery, I decided to look for a pink-nerved or silver-veined fittonia. Several months have gone by since I left Berkeley, and while I'm here in hot & humid St. Louis, my two little fittonias are still sitting on my old desk in my old office of my old job

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-17603210144172885722010-07-11T16:38:00.000-07:002010-07-11T16:38:30.189-07:00

Those of you who have been to my apartments over the past few years prior to cable would remember the wonderful little tinfoil rabbit ears that I used for my little t.v. antennae. They served me well, in most cases, because I didn't even have basic cable, and with those little gadgets, I've had a lot of luck tuning in to many great shows. Whenever there was a threat of rain or wind which could

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-74643667892972505532010-07-08T09:35:00.000-07:002010-07-08T09:35:14.769-07:00

Dear President Obama, Secretary Salazar, Secretary Vilsack, and Senators, As people of faith, we understand Creation as the opportunity to be surrounded by the work and being of God. The network of wild lands throughout the United States provides congregations and communities the opportunity to experience God, and to dwell in the beauty of all that God called “good.” As people of faith, we seek

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-9028341545633857242010-07-06T23:35:00.000-07:002010-07-06T23:35:50.852-07:00

We drove back to STL from GR today (from visiting Ba Me this past weekend on occasion of July 4th), and from I-55 southbound, I snapped some of the following out-the-window shots a Canon point-and-shoot. The sky was beautiful -- right before we dashed headlights-first into two huge, ginormous rainstorms. [There are two shots that I really love and hope you can spot them in the slideshow.] I

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-62842781025594704252010-07-04T00:00:00.000-07:002010-07-04T00:00:03.115-07:00

About two years ago, in anticipation of Independence Day, I asked a friend -- at that time, an acquaintance -- whether there were any special plans for his holiday weekend. He responded, with a very charming smile, "It's not my independence, so why should I celebrate it?" And that, my friends, is what many Americans are asking today. They are raising similar questions because at this time,

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-25760291770717382802010-06-30T01:05:00.000-07:002010-06-30T01:05:34.354-07:00

Sometimes, you are caught off-guard by the most profound thing, and surprisingly, it had been in front of you all along.  Earlier this evening, a friend and I were deep in conversation about the usual important things in life -- God, spirituality, work, marriage, careers, etc. -- and my friend suddenly interrupted our discussion to say she just emailed me something that I must see immediately.

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-40996224870244619362010-06-29T03:16:00.000-07:002010-06-29T03:16:22.883-07:00

The last few months have brought me much anxiety surrounding a variety of issues. One concern which is foremost in my mind is my recently adopted state of unemployment. The decision to leave my post working at the Episcopal seminary in Berkeley was an extremely difficult decision to make -- one with varying levels of positive and negative consequences -- and I am still transitioning and

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-26750312531916824632010-06-28T00:19:00.000-07:002010-06-28T00:19:22.028-07:00

Cac ban men, da lau roi HAT khong len dien dan nay de viet loi chao tham. Cung lau roi khong viet blogpost de tam su voi cac ban. Co le nhieu ban da buon chan va da quen mat nothing but HAT's. Neu that nhu vay, thi minh hieu va se khong trach. That ra, tinh ban ma khong duoc nuoi duong thi se dan dan ma tan bien. Minh fai vun(g) tuoi that nhieu va dieu dan, de khu vuon tinh ban se khong bi kho

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-60402566510908242762010-06-27T15:30:00.000-07:002010-06-27T15:30:09.726-07:00

Today, as SF celebrates its 40th anniversary of the Pride Parade, St. Louis also held its own celebration (as I'm sure many other cities have done/are doing). At 10:30ish this morning, we headed to Tower Grove Park and joined a group of Episcopalians who gathered for Mass on the Grass* across the street from St. John's Episcopal. The weather was cooler than yesterday, with frequent breezes, and

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-64172282519354988352010-06-26T18:55:00.000-07:002010-06-29T13:01:12.215-07:00

Look here, folks: this is what it takes to speak out in support of something that is life-giving and life-changing. Stand for something good and make a positive transformation in this world. When Governor Brewer of Arizona makes blanket statements (see here) that are foolish and untrue, we need to speak out. When ignorant and racist and biased people have the louder voice in government, then we

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-60922742700617417462010-06-26T14:17:00.000-07:002010-06-26T14:18:28.179-07:00

During the pre-wedding preparations, our family took several trips to San Jose to run last-minute errands. On the Friday before the wedding, we drove down to SJ, but took the long route by using the Richmond bridge which eventually took us to 101 South to the GG bridge and then further down 101 to SJ. It was a circuitous route to say the least, but we were able to do the touristy thing and take

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-45067482855502878762010-06-25T00:11:00.000-07:002010-06-26T14:42:19.973-07:00

This past Saturday, June 19th of 2010, my little brother married a lovely young lady, and the Tran Clan of five increased to six. The joys and the blessings are countless, and the hours of preparation and planning have been numerous (hence my long absence from nothing but HAT's). I have stories to retell and photos to share. However, I first want to lift up a piece by Kahlil Gibran, in honor of

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-84047304667776143072010-06-13T22:17:00.000-07:002010-06-13T22:17:30.744-07:00

[What would happen if we tried to uncover the inspiration for every piece of Art? Would we go crazy with wonderment/wondering? Can there really be only "one true" motivating factor, or isn't there a multitude of influences acting upon us during every moment of creativity?]Poetry in Motion: Forensic Astronomers Solve Whitman Mystery: "Was the 'strange huge meteor procession,' as described in Walt

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-27619781732679474072010-06-12T05:47:00.000-07:002010-06-12T05:47:51.937-07:00

[I especially love that the entire school took a proactive stance in support of what they believe in, instead of against something. They chose to speak out for love, for inclusivity, for acceptance. As a community, they decided to stand/gather for something positive and peaceful. Even better, the decision-making included all constituencies of the school from administrators to teachers to students

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-75847361529777054762010-06-07T23:01:00.000-07:002010-06-07T23:01:04.645-07:00

Breaking News! $1.5B For Child and Maternal Health: "Huge, huge news: Just now, at the Women Deliver conference in DC, Melinda Gates announced that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is committing $1.5 billion in grants toward maternal, newborn and child health over the next five years. Specifically, these grants will include training frontline health care workers, introducing low-cost,

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-43192876460545529682010-06-04T18:02:00.000-07:002010-06-04T18:02:45.828-07:00

Youth Portraits of Eco Heroes: "A group of East Bay middle and high school students from Berkeley's Young Artists Workspace (YAWS) chose environmental heroes and each created their own unique artistic portraits."

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-25672064014984321382010-06-04T18:01:00.000-07:002010-06-04T18:01:53.496-07:00

Fixing Planet Earth: A Not-So-Modest Proposal: "Only a nonviolent revolution, like the one led by Gandhi, can meet the challenge of the climate crisis."

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-73383905938948659532010-05-29T07:32:00.000-07:002010-05-29T07:32:08.971-07:00

Canada cancels Congo debt: "Exciting news out of Canada today. Jim Flaherty (the Minister of Finance) just announced that the Canadian government will forgive nearly $24 million owed by the Republic of Congo. This means that Canada has now cancelled close to $1 billion of debt owed by the world’s poorest countries.“Canada’s debt relief program continues to support nations that have demonstrated a

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-74976248975177702362010-05-24T04:00:00.000-07:002010-08-29T01:12:51.354-07:00

Welcome to the world, little Maddie! At three-weeks-old, you have already stolen the hearts of everyone near and far, including mine, your long-distance godmother. I have only met you through photos, but you have taken my breath away. Every little feature -- each finger and toe, both eyebrows, that little nose, all that hair and those gorgeous, dark eyes -- is a testament of your preciousness and

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-90106678694885694492010-05-05T06:00:00.000-07:002010-05-05T06:00:07.150-07:00

This past Sunday, we read in Revelations 21 the vision, as recorded by John, of "a new heaven and a new earth". Using this text, the pastor at Grace UMC began his sermon by speaking about the World Fair which opened on May 1st in Shanghai, and compared it to the World's Fair that was held in St. Louis in 1904. Whether it be 1904 or 2010, the World Fair is designed to bring the world, all the

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-16815039867310778552010-05-03T15:45:00.000-07:002010-05-03T15:45:00.699-07:00

In early April, I attended the annual spring Convocation at Eden Theological Seminary in Webster Groves (of St. Louis), and listened to lectures given by the world-renown Phyllis Tickle and famous scholar, teacher, writer, and speaker Diana Butler Bass (both of whom have their own websites, yah). [If you have not had a chance to do so, I recommend that you now read Bass's books:  especially A

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-39878301124949685682010-04-22T04:00:00.000-07:002010-04-22T04:00:05.076-07:00

Today is Earth Day! Here are some things I'll be doing: Drink one less water bottle (or none at all!). Take shorter showers. Walk or bike instead of driving. Bring your travel mug for coffee instead of using a paper cup. Turn off the lights and use candles. Visit the NCC Eco-Justice blogpost on this Earth Day, too.

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-10489000036795799072010-04-14T06:08:00.000-07:002010-04-14T06:15:51.782-07:00

Things To Do In Denver When You’re Braindead: An AWP Retrospective - The Rumpus.netI've not attended AWP since my days at UNCW. Though I miss the thrill of being so close to authors whose books I love, I know it is not a scene for me, with hundreds of writers experienced and new surging the hallways looking to (re)connect. So, I just look on from afar and pieces like this article (to which

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-78103523853155502032010-04-14T05:52:00.000-07:002010-04-14T06:15:51.785-07:00

Eleanor Ross Taylor Awarded 2010 Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize : The Poetry FoundationA listing of the previous winners of the Lilly Prize can be found here.

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-55633744023957335532010-04-14T05:44:00.000-07:002010-04-14T06:15:51.788-07:00

The Pulitzer Prizes | CitationImagine your poems being described as thought-bombs... and that's a good thing! How exciting!

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-5178687432631308872010-04-09T04:00:00.000-07:002010-04-09T04:00:02.335-07:00

Somewhere, some time ago, in a conversation to a colleague and friend, Walter Brueggeman suggested that we human beings are too often enraged with one another and then run to God for consolation, when we should, instead, be enraged at God and go to each other for comfort. Hearing this second-hand, third-hand even, I believe there is great wisdom in his suggestion. Why can't we be like the

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-30704068749749347552010-04-08T17:39:00.000-07:002010-04-08T17:39:07.529-07:00

Two weeks ago, as part of Holy Week, I attended a fantastic art exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Religious Art on the SLU campus.  Good Friday: The Suffering Christ in Contemporary Art is an exclusive exhibit shown nowhere else in the country, and it is an eye opening experience that will rip your heart out and boggle your mind. More importantly, seeing the exhibit will make you engage in

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-67658433549380552692010-04-08T16:39:00.000-07:002010-04-08T16:39:57.882-07:00

This past Tuesday, I was fortunate enough to attend the Convocation at Eden Theological Seminary in Webster Groves (of STL). For the first time, I listened to Phyllis Tickle lecture on "Church Next" -- the theme for this year's convocation. Tickle's talk (alliterative! haha!) generated a lot of controversy and discussion among the audience members. Quite a few feathers were ruffled by some of

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-65655634221085499312010-04-06T06:00:00.000-07:002010-04-06T06:00:00.606-07:00

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-5365964054259552262010-04-05T06:00:00.000-07:002010-04-05T06:00:06.210-07:00

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-49370053506148599482010-04-04T06:00:00.001-07:002010-04-04T06:00:02.566-07:00

Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia, Alleluia!

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-53513683184380868672010-04-03T06:00:00.000-07:002010-04-03T06:00:08.357-07:00

Today, we hold our Easter vigil...

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-90708619727293504342010-04-02T06:00:00.000-07:002010-04-02T06:00:10.644-07:00

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-1149268403744522562010-04-01T06:00:00.000-07:002010-04-01T06:00:08.440-07:00

Do these look like the mates to slippers worn by Cinderella's stepsisters? Read more on these orchids from Wiki.

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-12674451266532450332010-03-31T09:17:00.000-07:002010-03-31T09:17:49.344-07:00

Once thought to be rock art, carved depictions of soldiers, horses and other figures are in fact part of a written language dating back to the Iron Age. Read more here.  

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-53339888729063735882010-03-31T06:00:00.000-07:002010-03-31T06:00:11.422-07:00

"Some of the Garden's orchids date back to the early 19th century, when they were gifted to founder Henry Shaw. Others are familiar favorites, leaving the greenhouse just once a year to be publicly viewed at the annual Orchid Show.This year's orchid show is inspired by a French "Butterfly's Garden." - Missouri Botanical Garden For more info, click here.

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-39045567884077313462010-03-30T06:00:00.000-07:002010-03-30T06:00:05.435-07:00

Did you know orchids grow wild on every continent except Antarctica? These orchids look to me like cute little pinwheels... spinning round and round... For more information, click here.

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-80037408171152719982010-03-29T06:00:00.000-07:002010-03-29T06:00:10.721-07:00

Did you know that orchids are the largest flowering plant family in the world, with 30,000-35,000 species? This orchid plant looks very interesting to me, since I've never seen it before in my life. Doesn't it look like an insect? Or like a person standing with legs wide apart, with arms raised high above his/her head doing Jumping Jacks? For more information, click here.

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-62652685501876026102010-03-28T06:00:00.000-07:002010-03-28T06:00:04.018-07:00

"Orchids are extremely vulnerable to extinction in nature. All orchids at the Missouri Botanical Garden have been carefully and legally acquired in accordance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Garden researchers work throughout the world to preserve the ecosystems orchids depend upon." - Missouri Botanical Garden For more info, click here.

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-34575394830871886682010-03-27T17:31:00.000-07:002010-03-27T17:31:05.818-07:00

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-25652511180397498982010-03-27T17:22:00.000-07:002010-03-27T17:23:20.446-07:00

Folks, in about an hour, nothing but HAT's is going dark in observance of Earth Hour 2010. Join the global effort and turn off your lights for at least one hour. 8:30 p.m. local time. Do this! All the major landmarks in the world have done it, are doing it, and will be doing it! Read about how the rest of the world is unplugging for Earth Hour. Join us!

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-41452902043069397622010-03-27T06:00:00.000-07:002010-03-27T06:00:03.127-07:00

"Orchids are the Garden's largest living collection, with over 8,000 plants and 2,500 varieties. Some specimens date back more than a century, such as the vanilla orchid Vanilla planifolia (the species used in vanilla extract) which debuted in 1904. The genera Cattleya, Laelia, Epidendrum, Oncidium, Paphiopedilum, and Phalaenopsis are emphasized because they can withstand St. Louis's blistering

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-74230932963367762802010-03-26T20:14:00.000-07:002010-03-26T20:14:35.315-07:00

Today, we attended the 2010 Orchid Show at the St. Louis Botanical Garden. It was a lovely, magnificent show, and we marveled at all the colors, shapes, and sizes of these beautiful plants. This visit served as a reprieve from our daily grind, and rejuvenated our spirits to prepare for Palm Sunday weekend. I am so lucky to live so close to the Gardens! In order for you to enjoy a little of what

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-21353185128950055632010-03-26T06:00:00.000-07:002010-03-26T06:00:06.367-07:00

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-58375118633281691342010-03-24T17:01:00.000-07:002010-03-24T17:01:14.187-07:00

This was the last photo that I took before leaving the old Deanery in Berkeley. In the last few weeks before my departure, this gorgeous tree was a-blooming in the back yard, right outside the double French doors. I would stand next to this tree and look out the back yard past the gigantic trees and see the Bay Bridge. On clear days, I could even see the Golden Gate Bridge. Isn't this beautiful?

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-50917802692478587842010-03-18T06:00:00.000-07:002010-03-18T06:00:00.990-07:00

On my last Sunday at church, in sending me forth into the midwest, my beloved congregation presented me with a gorgeous prayer quilt. The women (and perhaps men?) had worked very hard and quickly, I imagine, to piece together this quilt. Their dedication, commitment, love, and tenderness overwhelms me. Each time I look at this beautiful creation, I remember that: (1) these very talent people

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-28024562673794967012010-03-17T15:52:00.000-07:002010-03-17T15:52:41.492-07:00

Although I'm unable to read Chinese (neither ancient nor contemporary Chinese), I still cherish this little red lucky money envelope that I received on my last Sunday at our church in Oakland Chinatown. It was a gift given to me by the board of admin and trustees of our church, on behalf of the entire congregation. Inside was a monetary gift for which I am grateful, but more valuable and

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-55439118517690907832010-03-17T13:08:00.000-07:002010-08-29T01:13:07.151-07:00

As godmother, I am allowed certain indulgences. It is only fair. I get to buy cute clothes (not for myself). I get to browse and read books for fun. I get to cut, color, fold, and paste things into a blessings book for my godchild. I get to join in with a wider group of people who wait expectantly for this little person to enter into the world. I get to join them in sending our blessings to this

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-72610865513620242092010-03-11T15:29:00.000-08:002010-03-11T15:29:27.208-08:00

When I pose for pictures, whether by myself or in groups, photographers, amateurs and professionals alike, are always telling me to open my eyes. They don't seem to recognize that when I smile, I can only smile WIDE, and when I smile a lot, my eyes disappear. I can't help it. I blame it on my genes passed down from my parents, because my sometimes cheery disposition often results in my eyes

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-67893102411574878892010-03-10T12:00:00.000-08:002010-03-10T12:00:03.046-08:00

Here are two links to brief instructions on how to measure for ao dai (do ao dai): courtesy of Ao Dai Cham Khanh. (This site is from a very popular higher end chain in Viet Nam, so the site is all in Vietnamese.) courtesy of Ao Dai Vinh (this is my preferred site since they show pictures and instructions for how to measure; instructions also available in Vietnamese.) From past experience,

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805564993355987694.post-48383006568276181252010-03-10T06:00:00.000-08:002010-03-10T06:00:10.808-08:00

If you are looking to buy fabric for ao dai, then you must visit Fabrics R Us in San Jose. The owner is Vietnamese, and the folks who work there speak Vietnamese, Chinese, and English. The selections of fabrics are much better than JoAnn Fabrics, and I think the materials are much better for ao dai. I've had wonderful luck shopping here. Although, a word of caution, you will borrow a bit of

hathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06235288891203357788noreply@blogger.com0