Edit to my post below

Video

I think this blog post will confirm how human I am...

We just had an earthquake hit with a 5.8 magnitude. That's large, potentially damaging, but still on the moderate side of the Richter scale.
I have experienced earthquakes before, but this one was strange and possibly because I was in the loft of my apartment which is already on the upper level.
I was at my computer and I suddenly had my computer screen almost topple over and the whole apartment was creaking and I saw the walls shaking, and my body was shaking, and my plates were rattling, something fell from the counter downstairs, etc. Usually the earthquakes last for a few seconds, but this gave me time to think.
What am I supposed to do in an earthquake?
I remembered earthquake drills in school so I quickly put myself into "quick earthquake action mode" and flattened myself to climb down the stairs holding onto the rails very carefully, and I found a doorway that I stood in.
When it passed moments later I was shaking, while also wondering to myself "did that just happen, and if so, what just happened?"
Unlike a tsunami or a volcano eruption or a tornado, with earthquakes there is very little prediction capability. Even though a fault seems to be active it is difficult to predict whether it will just settle down, or continue to shift, or the magnitude that it will move. So, when out of the blue everything starts to rattle and shake, you kind of wonder "what just happened?"
So my cellphone wouldn't work because--my theory is that everyone else wondered 'what just happened' too, and decided to call someone else. Therefore, At&T was completely tied up.
And here's where the human part comes in (well I guess it all has been). I was really shaky and kind of freaked out, and I couldn't dial out to anyone, and it just feels good to tell someone, but because I couldn't, writing is the next best thing... So whoever reads this is my human listener since I can't be comforted by telling anyone directly :)

Thanks

I got a new imac yesterday.
My parents gave it to me as a graduation gift (I didn't get it two years ago because we were leaving for China).
I am so thankful for their generosity. It is something I will never expect or take for granted. I really can't stop thinking about how nice they are (not just because they give me things) but because it is an investment in my dream to write and therefore an extension of their love and support.
And, onto the computer (which came with an ipod touch and a printer) it's amazing!!!
I spent all day writing without hurting my back, burning my legs (from the heat of my old laptop), or straining my eyes.
It has the basic features of a Mac that I love, and has an amazing version of imovie. I used to make movies in high school, and even included one for a History Day project. It will be fun to have a computer with the capacity to make movies again.
I was supposed to be writing today, but during one point I got bored and wanted to experiment with my applications.
Here is a very basic sample of all that this computer can offer. With just a little imagination, and too much free time, you too can do this...

OK - - -> CA

Kristin came to visit and we had so much fun!

We walked up very steep hills, made granola bars twice, went to the beach almost every single day, went looking at surf shops, ate at In-N-Out, went boogie boarding, used up two bottles of spf 50 sun screen, drank a lot of coffee, played Nertz, challenged our muscles, talked about good things, watched a movie, played Smashball, and sang loudly. 10 days wasn't long enough :(

Kristin bought me these flowers, and they even came wrapped in brown paper. I loved them!!!










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