Observing Lent 2014

I had never observed Lent until I was in Korea and attending Jubilee Church during the spring of 2012.  I am Protestant, and Lent always seemed like a strange Catholic ritual, but thanks to Jubilee, I have such a greater appreciation for it.

If one is truly devoted to something, something you know is good, it makes sense to develop a thirst and a need for it (e.g. exercising, drinking water, learning).  In my spiritual journey, this constant desire for God is something I've rarely had.  As I observe Lent, I will fast from something I love and feel that I need in order to turn my heart to what I should love and truly need, but participating in Lent last time didn't automatically made me a better Christian (or whatever you'd call it), and this will always be my struggle.  In fact, when I fasted from social media in 2012, I just found other time sucks to occupy myself with.

Second Sushi Date

This time we didn't learn to make sushi, but we did get to eat it.

Thanks to a Facebook ad, I heard about Ra in Midtown.  I signed up for the the emails and got a $20 gift certificate for my half-birthday month!  So, on one of the last days of February, Caleb and I headed off for some sushi.  After an appetizer of potstickers, we ordered the Salmon Asparagus roll (fresh tasting and yummy), the Rainbow Roll (my favorite of the night), and the Viva Las Vegas Roll (just stupid, do not recommend).

The restaurant's atmosphere was cool and sexy.  It has some great happy hour deals that don't just include drink, which is pretty neat.  We chose our appetizers and sushi rolls from the discount menu and got everything for a great price!  Unfortunately, we didn't find out until after we'd eaten everything that the gift certificate didn't apply to discount food, but it wasn't too expensive, so it was all good.

Recommended for February

Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable. Be honest and transparent anyway. - Mother Theresa

Hobbit fan?  Check this out.  Fans + actors reacting to each other.

Jason Brown's energetic Nationals performance that secured him a spot on the USA's figure skating team

In Response to "5 Great Reasons Modern Women Should Celebrate the Death of Chivalry"

via the article via HBO

I just read this article, "5 Great Reasons Modern Women Should Celebrate the Death of Chivalry."

#1 I hope for fairness and justice for everyone, regardless of their gender.

#2 I believe everyone should be treated with respect, civility, and kindness.

#3 This article made me sad.

Because of the wide breadth of everything the term Feminism encompasses, I'm learning that I can't just simply call myself a feminist and expect my stance to be understood by whomever I'm talking with.  Turns out there are different areas/ideas/subgroups of Feminism that I strongly disagree with.  Some Feminists think women are better than men, some think no thought should be given to the (obvious and true) differences between men and women, some thing the concept of chivalry is toxic to a developing society.  Um, no.

Another Asian Atlanta Adventure

I want to share about the sushi class Caleb and I went to for Valentines Day!

Me, eating the first sushi roll I ever made: the California.

Caleb found sushi classes available for $80/person at Sushi House in Doraville, Atlanta.  (Here's their Facebook page.)  He's been wanting to learn how to make sushi for a while now, so this was a no brainer for our Valentines Day date.

Lunar New Year in Atlanta's China Town

At the end of January, I somehow discovered through Facebook that Atlanta has a China Town and that the community was going to throw a Lunar New Year celebration!  Caleb had planned to work on learning a new coding technique that day, so my sister-in-law Hope and I headed out to Doraville for the festivities.

There was a tent at the celebration site.  It cost $5 to go in, and I know there were tasty foods inside and I think some crafts and cultural dances, but Hope and I stayed outside.  We mainly came for the Lion Dance and Dragon Dance, which were being held outside anyway.

Things I'm Loving Right Now

Happy Valentine's Week, my friends!
(I like how my guy works to make the day special, but everything else about Valentine's Day kind of sucks in my mind. )

I am so excited about what Caleb and I have planned!  We're going to a sushi making class!  We'll learn how to make sushi, we'll get to take a kit home with us, and we'll get to eat sushi and have some miso soup at the class!  How awesome is that?!  I'm so jealous of future me!

Caleb has Saturday planned, and I have Friday planned.  It will be much more mellow and cozier.  Blizzards from Dairy Queen (there's a new red velvet flavor I want to try), Amélie on Netflix (I've been trying to convince him to watch it with me), and bath with nice smelling salts (perfect for the nasty, cold weather we've been having).  I'm looking forward to a relaxing and chill evening!

Some other things I'm loving right now: