Who am i?

Hope you weren't expecting some kind of existential entry. I just figured if this was going to be a somewhat public blog, new readers might want to catch up. ;)

I'm Malinda.


Creative, adventurous, lover of Jesus and people and beaches and stars and a whole bunch of other things. But you have a whole blog to learn about me, so i'll move on to more important details.

These are my parents.

They raised me in Ohio (with deep Kentucky roots!), and they still live back in the land of the corn. So does my sister, Claudia.
She's groovy, smart, funny- and a zillion other things. This girl has potential. So does Becca, my other sister. She lives in Seattle at the moment, doing her part to make the world a better place.

We all lived together, as families generally do, moving around Ohio as Dad pastored various small, farm-town churches. But the minute I graduated high school, i high-tailed it out of there- to stay with family in Kentucky.

Not quite the drastic change popular in the best stories, but it was a step in the right direction. After all, it was a town twice the size of what I was used to, with a new level of independence and the adventure of college life.


That college life taught me many lessons and introduced me to incredible people. However, it only took two years to outgrow that setting and look for a bigger school in a land of more opportunity....

God took me to Los Angeles!

I earned a Communications (with theatre emphasis!) degree from Azusa Pacific University, and moved in with my friend, Sophia.

Her family pretty much adopted me as their own, and i found a small, back-street church that also took me in.


The rest of the cast:



Jolie, the punk diva cat




Rosalie, Sophia's mom



















Crazy Cali grandma and grandpa

Mamaw and me





My friend Leah Ohio Grandma and Grandpa Lara, Soph, and Cans for Causes



Lots of challenges, friends, drama, joy, and even job opportunities later- i ended up here. Now I'm working at a group of radio stations as receptionist/listener services/office assistant/copywriter/anything else that needs done. I teach kids at church and help lead drama ministry. I host a weekend show at http://www.jjradio.com/ and assistant-produce a regular radio segment on an L.A. station featuring inspiring stories (http://www.fromtheheartradio.com/). I write, I dream, I create, I sing, I laugh, I love. And this is just the beginning.

life is full of crazy sadness

Never a dull moment, eh? I don't even know how to begin this entry.... I guess i can be less than creative and just give you a low-down on recent events.

- Soph's grandpa is in the hospital. He has cancer in his bladder. They did surgery this morning, and now we have to wait until Wednesday for results to know what's next. I'm actually off to the hospital in a just a little bit.

- Soph's grandpa on her dad's side passed away last night. We knew he was sick, but were surprised to get a call late last night to come to the hospital right away... we were there to see him take his last breath. Sophia's lost quite a few relatives this past year, and i know that doesn't ease her concern over her other grandpa now. And since this family has taken me in as one of their own... well, it's just really heartbreaking.

- We're supposed to go to a Clippers game tonight... there's a work event, and so i invited Soph, her mom and stepdad as a "thanks for letting me live at your house" kind of thing. We've been looking forward to it- all of us excited because it's our first professional basketball game- but i'm not sure that we're going due to all that's going on.

- On a more optimistic note, i had a job interview yesterday that looks promising. Should everything work out, i'll be a call center concierge at an upscale shopping/dining/living place just opening down the street from the radio station. It pays well, and it should open the doors for moving out soonly! Of course, it means i'll be working two jobs- about sixty hours a week- so i'll have pretty much no free time. I'm concerned about how it's going to affect church stuff, but i'm just praying for guidance and wisdom. I just want to do whatever it is God wants me to do.... and i'm just very unsure of what that is. Just when i think i've understood the plan, something happens that doesn't make sense. But i keep praying, trying.... it'll all work out, right?

I need to log off here and call my mom. They sent me a dvd of old home videos... they were cute and fun to watch. It was pretty much me and my sister Becca when we were little. Though she was really cute and loveable, and i was obnoxious and all over the place. I have a feeling (from watching and remembering some of it) that it was my natural borderline a.d.d-ness combined with the instructions to perform in front of the video camera... but i couldn't help but notice how many times i was scolded to stop doing something (ok, i MIGHT have been kicking Becca... but they told us to perform our song/dance with the Barbie and the Rockers tape, and she was just spinning in circles watching her new dress! And when they said, "You're not dancing around as much as you usually do", i was just trying to be obedient! hehehehe), but Mom, Dad, Grandma, and Grandpa all loved little stuffed-up Rebecca with her pretty dresses and tights. Anyway, it was interesting to match up memories with a more objective point of view. It confirmed that I'm not crazy or remembering things completely through a skewed perspective. But i see now that people were simply reacting to my obnoxiousness. Lesson learned? Love the difficult kids, dang it! They need to be loved, too! Thinking no one really likes them just encourges them to be more difficult!

i think i'm just a bit emotional, and this is becoming whiny. The last thing i want/you need is a whiny blog entry. It's about time for me to drive to the hospital anyway. Pray for this family, guys.... how much loss can anyone take?



P.S. If you're really nice to me (and if i can figure out how to upload the video from the dvd), I'll upload a couple snippets of my childhood. The one of Becca and the cat at Christmas is priceless. And I sing a pretty mean rendition of Barbie and the Rockers.

nine minutes and counting

I’m giving myself nine minutes to post a blog, before i get back to doing something productive and work-related. Not that i’m slacking today, but now that Lent is over, I am free to play games during phone time.... and i cannot let my love of Peggle interfere with my work performance.

Oh, who am I kidding. I talk on the phone and stuff envelopes for a living. That’s not performing, unless you ARE a trained monkey.

Ok, so i’m a bit bitter and cynical lately. *shrugs* It happens. The question is, do i use the bipolar excuse, or am I just being a jerk?

I meant to post the latest Clover Watch 2008 pic... but the photo of the pot in the trash can depressed me. That’s right, I killed ’em. I took them home over a weekend so they wouldn’t dry out... and they somehow dried out. I seriously have no clue how that happened, but it did. So all six of the remaining sprouts have bit the dust. And thus ends my most recent attempt at sustaining plant life.

So this weekend was Easter... church was disappointing, as i got corralled into the chaos that is our kid’s program. I was really looking forward to actually being in the church service, too. Next week I’m going to the Dream Center, a place where no one knows my name. Normally, i think this is a horrible way to approach church life. However, if less people treated it this way, maybe i wouldn’t have to occasionally escape to another church for guilt-free praise and worship?

Due to my time limit, i will refrain from stepping on these soapboxes:
1. Church life should truly be communal and alive.
2. We have lost reverance and the appreciation for the sacred.

I am currently seeking something sacred in my life.

delinquent

I thought for sure that after the play I'd have a big ol' long entry with pictures or something. Oops. Where has my drive for blogging gone?

I think i've just been worn out. The Easter play went so so well... the kids were phenomenal, we got some a new lighting system to use from here on out, and the way people pull together is fantastic. We had some glitches with the sound, but we have ideas on how to fix that. Always growing and improving! We will develop an incredible drama ministry in no time.

So i did take some time to catch up on sleep, but i'm still running at top speed. Newest project: operation new or second job. I've applied for lots of stuff (as usual), but no interview (as usual). Today i applied at a movie theatre near work. Yesterday it was Toys R Us. I wrote some spots this week, after months of writing drought. So that's been kind of fun.

Oh, and March Madness. I think i like basketball. I've liked watching the games (few and far between) i've seen on television. And now that i've filled out a bracket, it's just been interesting. So who knew? Mal the non-sports-fan likes basketball. I'm even going to a Clippers game next Saturday....

It's ten, which isn't technically late... but i have to leave the house at a quarter til seven in the morning to meet Lara at recycling by seven thirty. I get a shorter work day (depending on various factors), then i'm babysitting. So long (but good) day ahead!

Soph just brought me ice cream and jello. Yay sugar before bed. *shrugs* Sounds like a plan to me. I'll restart my diet (yet again) tomorrow.....

how this ended up being the best day ever

i was supposed to go to a taping of Ellen's show today. i had work off and everything. So when things didn't go as planned and i realized there was too much work to be done on the Easter play set, i was disappointed that i had to cancel plans for the show.

We were up until two this morning painting a backdrop and helping when a family situation came up. Thankfully, we were able to sleep in today... and that in itself was beautiful. I like sleep, but don't get to do it often enough (yet i sit here blogging knowing i have to be up in- four and a half hours?! Crap!!). Sophia ended up taking her grandpa to the doctor, so we couldn't start working on the second backdrop until they were back. This gave me enough time to finish a book i've been reading... and sleep some more. :)

We spent the day on Cali grandma and grandpa's back porch, painting the second backdrop. I have a picture, but i'm too tired and lazy to mess with uploading, so you'll have to wait. We hung out with cousins and grandma and grandpa. We listened to the Wicked soundtrack. We were OUTSIDE where it was warm and sunny. I got to hold the baby for a bit. There was no reason to rush anything or deal with crazyness.... it was a really good day. Of course, my birthday/seeing Wicked/etc is still technically the first on the "best day ever" list, but you get what i'm saying. ;)

i need to upload the latest clover pic as well.... maybe tomorrow... or next week when things are quieter. ;) You're not missing much, though. It's almost as though they stopped growing. Meanwhile, Doris Taylor was still losing leaves. A plant-knowledgable co-worker said she needs a heck of a lot more sunlight than random field trips to the window provide. So i had to say goodbye to Doris Taylor... my boss took her home to plant her among other thriving cacti..... sigh.

Which brings me to the question of the week. What is the plural of Jesus? Jesuses? Jesi? Anyone know?

Maybe i should take the direction of the blog as a hint that i need to get up in FOUR HOURS AND 24 MINUTES and i am nuts for even being online.

the last thing i should be doing

It's Friday!! And the day before my birthday! Happy times! :) Today is a flurry of activity- work stuff, Easter play stuff, JJ radio stuff- all HAS to be done by 5:30 so i can record the shows as efficiently as possible. We're having a birthday dinner tonight at Soph's grandma's, and i need to be there as soon as traffic allows. I'm looking forward to it, mostly because i've missed family dinners lately... due to family members being sick, me working late, or things going on....

Then tomorrow morning I'm hanging out with coworkers Jenny and Pamela for a morning of beauty... hehe.... Meaning, I'm getting a haircut. :) Don't worry, there shall be photos. And after that, i'll be ready to go see Wicked!! I promise a full report Sunday or Monday. I'm excited. :)

But before I go back to answering listener emails, show prep, and costume/prop organizing, here's the latest on Clover Watch 2008!

Day 12 with the fake orchid at my desk. I like the orchid because i can't kill it, and it looks pretty realistic. I'm hoping its tallness encourages the clover to grow.

Day 13 (today)- the young clover with Doris Taylor- who, by the way, doesn't seem to be looking so hot lately. Some of her leaves (do you call them that?) are falling off.... :-l So both plants are in the conference room windowsill, in hopes that the nutrients from the sun perk them up (Also pictured: my cappucino).

got old dvds?

That's Ruth. She's from Georgia. For her fourth birthday, she collected dvd's to send to Kid Flicks- an organization that provides movies to children's hospitals. Wanna help?

Kid Flicks was started by two girls here in Southern California who were cleaning and realized that they had a lot of movies they'd outgrown. Instead of just throwing them away, they remembered a friend who had leukemia and watched movies to help pass time in the hospital. So they gave their outgrown movies to the local children's hospital that treated their friend.

It didn't stop there, and they've been collecting dvd's ever since! Everytime they collect 100 dvd's, they send it to a different children's hospital. And you can be part of it! Check out http://www.kidflicks.org/ for information on making the movies you don't watch brighten the day for a sick kid.

Think about it.... you remember watching your favorite Disney cartoon when you were home sick. It was comforting. Imagine feeling really bad from side effects of a tumor or chemotherapy. You're in a hospital- a far cry from your own comfortable bed with your own sheets and pillow.... It might help if you could just watch, say "The Little Mermaid" or your favorite Spongebob episode.

This is great for you guys with kids as your kids grow up and quit watching the movies they used to love. Or maybe you're moving and need to lighten your load. http://www.kidflicks.org/ Happy stuff. :)

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Clover Watch 2008!


Day nine was on Monday, and look how they've grown! On the far left you can see a little one that's creeping up the side. There's also one hidden from view that is growing kind of sideways. So far, none of my clovers have died- thus an accomplishment so far. :)

I'm going to see Wicked in three days!!!!!

ant lipstick

I got a postcard this morning from a co-worker who's visiting Europe. The postcard is from France and features ants carrying a tube of pink lipstick. After consulting with Margaret, it is determined that the point of the postcard is that the company that makes the lipstick is being more environmental (or something along those lines). Regardless, it made me smile. It's nice to get something addressed to me when i'm sorting mail for everyone else.

Who watched the Oscars last night? Granted, it's just another awards show- Hollywood telling each other how great they are- but it's kind of like candy... empty calories, yet it tastes good so you eat it anyway. I used to watch it faithfully every year, until one point in high school where my parents grounded me from it until i wrote one of their stupid essays on "respect" or something (read: kiss parental butt in 700 words or more). After that, i was a tad bitter. I've caught the show for the past couple of years, though. I plan on attending one of these days. ;)



Clover Watch 2008!!

They are growing! Check out the latest... six and half little clover sprouts!

Day Three

















Day Six (today)


Close-ups with my camera phone aren't too bad... though I'm still considering carrying my camera daily. I'm sort of scared to lose or break it, but honestly, at this point in life, i think i'm responsible enough to take care of it. It's on my closet shelf, so i'm using it as incentive to hurry up and clean my closet already.




If you haven't already, check out http://www.pandora.com/. It's a radio station that you make yourself, sort of. Basically, you plug in an artist, and they make a "station" that plays a mix of your artists and similar musicians. And i've recently discovered that it's free to register for unlimited listening.

Keep praying for our Easter play! We actually had a 99% full cast rehearsal on Saturday, and I'm encouraged by their hard work! We have a lot of work to do in three weeks, but it's quite doable. The way everyone is working together and really doing a great job gives it the potential of a good show. My project this week is the "flannelgraph powerpoint" and editing some voiceover narration we recorded this weekend. And coordinating with the crews on the set, costumes, props, sound.... hehehehe.... Good thing i love production! :)

Yikes, typing this took a lot longer than expected (yay interruptions). Gotta run to lunch (also known as "time in which Mal can be productive while eating"... teehee)!

newsletter style

There are small blurbs of random things i wanted to share, so consider this an edition of the Mal Weekly?

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Tuesday night- House of Blues on Sunset- The Myriad and Third Day

GREAT SHOW! Not only was it festive hanging out with Sophia, Lara, and co-workers Jenny and Reba, but the House of Blues is fun and the artists are fantastic. I always forget how much I like The Myriad, and i dropped a hint to Soph that their cd would make a handy birthday gift. Third Day had some new music, but obliged loyal fans with old stuff, too. Experiencing a little praise and worship in a mainstream venue is always nifty. Oh, and a new band, Revive, opened.... they're in from Australia and this was only their second show ever in the U.S.... but they're pretty good. Keep an ear out for Revive. :)

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Cranky Caller Not So Bad

As the full moon approaches, my offbeat calls increase (I'm so serious. We've documented it. It's weird, but true). A young lady called me yesterday looking for Steve Harvey. She was in such outraged disbelief that i did not know what station or what time she could hear him, that she called back a second time. As she started scolding me, she said, "Don't you listen to anything but your Christian music?? You don't listen to ANY other L.A. stations?!?!" I replied honestly, "Here and there, but I usually listen to cd's." Suddenly her voice got softer as she said, "Oh. You're just like me."
The call ended soon on a friendly note.

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Google for Causes??

My friend, Aaron, introduced me to a phenomenal new website- www.goodsearch.com . Basically, it's a Yahoo-powered search engine, and a portion of the advertising dollars is given to charitable organizations. You can choose which non-profit benefits from your searching, and you can register your church or organization as well. So if everyone in your church uses the site, by the end of the year your church will have a nice check to help with ministry or expenses. Not a bad idea, eh? They also have an option where you can shop online and a percentage of the sale goes to the organization of your choice- without costing you anything extra. It's kind of like UPromise that way. So check it out, tell me what you think! (I'm currently searching for World Vision, by the way.)

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Clover Watch 2008

A couple days after planting, and still no signs of life. I water it with my letter-sealer-sponge-y thing- so it's like gentle raindrops on the soil. I'm contemplating a field trip with Doris Taylor the fuzzy cactus to a window for authentic sunlight (as opposed to fluorescent). However, i'm not sure it matters until there are actual sprouts. Stay tuned for the latest.

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Adventures a mi Iglesia

Last night at church, I did a headcount during snacktime. Our class consisted only of boys, and rowdy ones at that. I felt intimidated. However, God is good, and once the main catalyst (a boy armed with a gameboy and an attitude) was removed from the class, it all went smoothly. We did not, however, rehearse scenes from the play (again). A few of our actors have been most faithful, know their lines, and are right on track. However, due to sickness and circumstances, others are behind. But such is theater, no? This is God's production and I keep reminding Him (ok, reminding myself) that. We'll push through the next three weeks and it will be ok!!

The light and sound seem to be coming along ok.... waiting for my set crew to START building... and I'm about to create a powerpoint slide show featuring... flannelgraph!! Anyone have any old school flannelgraph of the Easter story? Even the old paper cutouts? Let me know, because i don't think they manufacture them anymore...

Meanwhile, another group at church recreated a scene from GodTube set to "Everything" by Lifehouse- and it was phenomenal. No pressure. ;)

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Lunar Eclipse!

Did you catch the eclipse last night? It was pretty clear here and neat to see. Pictures would've been cool, but not only was i cameraless, I was driving. ;) I think I'm going to start carrying my camera around everywhere... too many things have been missed or inadequately captured by my phone!

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Lunch Time!

Off to Sansai for a Cali roll and miso soup with Leah!

newest venture- desktop gardening

I am celebrating my acheivement of productivity by trying something new. Have i told you about my fuzzy cactus, Doris Taylor? Last month we had a quarterly luncheon here at work. The theme was "Southwest" and there were little cacti on the tables. I inherited one soft, fuzzy succulent, and the little info tag said "hybrid: Doris Taylor". And i figured if such a plant could survive the desert, it might stand a chance with me.

Nevermind that i'm as infamously bad with plants as i am at cooking.... even though i'm good with children and animals, plants just escape me. The last plant to cross my desk was a holiday poinsettia.... wilted and dead after two weeks (and yes, i watered it- and my boss even supervised it's upkeep!). Before that, i inherited a leafy desk plant from the previous receptionist. She moved to a position in a back office and, despite my warnings of inability to keep plants, thought it would be nice to leave her beautiful plant, with lush green leaves, with me. A few weeks later, i could barely face her as i marched back to her office holding the pot of dirt with one withered stalk left. She tried to nurse it back to health, but it was too far gone....
However, Doris Taylor has survived a month, so i am encouraged.

My friend-co-worker Danielle brought me a little pot with clover seeds (which reminds me- i owe her a dollar). I planted them today at my desk.

We'll keep an eye on them to see if they will grow... and more importantly, survive.