boys will be boys

Pictured is Patrick and I on our recent excursion to space, helping Buzz Lightyear defeat archnemesis Zurg (Zorg?). Patrick beat me by thousands of points, then begged througout the day to go back to the ride so he could beat his score. What?!? No! We're at DISNEYLAND! There are OTHER THINGS to see! Ha! Oh wait...I can't post that picture. BOO!! Sorry...

So, Disneyland was amazing. It wasn't too crowded in the morning/afternoon thanks to school being back in session. Lines weren't more than 15 minutes for a long time, but when it started getting dark the park was exploding with people, probably b/c of the fireworks and light shows.

The fireworks were, by far, the best part of the whole day. Musical accompaniment featured such favorites as the Indiana Jones theme, the Star Wars theme, When You Wish Upon a Star, the Mainstreet Electrical Parade theme, and some cheezy song they wrote that said "wishes" every other word (which, consequently, was set to a minor 3rd...a musical paradox of sorts). Anyway, any fireworks show that makes good use of John Williams is #1 on my list!

Other favorites included: Space Mountain! Woohoo!!, Pirates of the Carribbean, now updated with Johnny Depp look-alikes that are SCARY REAL, pineapple whip in the Tiki (tiki tiki tiki tiki) Room, the PARADE!, having the barbershop quartet sing "Happy Bday" to me, and re-living moments from last time I went in third grade, like when I got lost and decided to stay right next to the Sword in the Stone, sitting on Matt and Steve's shoulders for the parade, making fun of Amanda b/c she was more scared of things than I was, avoiding the Jungle Cruise, and singing into Snow White's wishing well, mimicking her whiney little voice.

It really IS the happiest place on earth!!!!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Happy Birthday to me (almost). What happens when you're 22? Nothing? Not so! Your age is perfectly symetrical for the first time in 11 years! I'm pretty sure this is going to be the BEST birthday EVER...except for when I was 5 and I got my Willow bowl and spoon set with the pack of lifesavers attached to it. Not sure how I remember that so clearly...but...

...like I was saying, BEST bday EVER coming up tomorrow! I'm driving to Bakersfield where Patches has promised "surprises" of Burzlaff proportions. Then on Sat it's off to the HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH where there is going to be an incredible FIREWORKS show set to MUSIC!! Deb?!?! Can I get an "AMEN!?!?"

Then Sunday I'll be having a joint bday celebration with Jess, who celebrated her 24th yesterday...waaaaaay excited to welcome Jess and Chris back from their European adventure!

Patrick always makes fun of me for turning my birthday into a week-long celebration, but I this year I'm pretty sure HE'S the one doing all the hyping. Thanks baby. ;)

Paige Protector

I am pleased to announce that there is a man that has vowed to be my BFF, Husband, and, yes, PROTECTOR for the rest of our lives. YAY I'M GETTING MAAAAAARRIED! Patrick Burzlaff asked me to marry him on July 30 and I said YES YES YES.

He was very cute about the whole thing, and creative, which he had to be since I knew it was coming. Patrick had just attended his brother's wedding in CA, picked up the ring on his way back from the airport, and proposed less than 24 hrs later. I guess he was in the wedding spirit.

We cooked dinner and took a walk around Luther, following a little game he had conjured up involving clues, roses, and our favorite places on campus. This all led us back to my place at Baker, where the was a card that said the sweetest things imaginable, including "will you marry me?" uh...yes.

So yes, the youngest Brant is finally to be married. No more holidays where mom makes all of the "families" stand together so she can take a picture (uh...aren't we all ONE family? COME ON!!), no more blank spots on the marriage wall (good thing I'm getting married...THAT would have been awkward...) It's actually funny b/c my family was expecting that I would get married soon(ish?) but Patrick's was all, "WHAT? Don't you need at least 5 years worth of steady income first?!" Whatev. We'll be poor and happy.

In other news, I've moved to Ventura and am typing from my very own desk. But, seeing as I have this thing where I can only dedicate one topic to each post, I'll do the whole new job thing later. Promise!

Velkommen!

It's that time of year again in Decorah! This weekend was the 41st Annual Nordic Fest: a festival at which Decorah celebrates it's Scandinavian heritage with music, dancing, traditional food, arts, and crafts. This event draws basically three crowds of people: a generally older population of people wishing to celebrate their heritage, about 50% of the Luther College population (students and recent grads) and actual Scandinavians that FLY IN for some AmerScandi fun.

Last year I was the housing coordinator for Nordic Fest, so it was a bit tainted for me by all the hard work, but this year I was able to relax and enjoy the festivities. My personal favorite moments of the wknd:

• Live music and dancing at Sabor Latino
• Diving contest at the pool (i won!)
• Grilling out at Greg Peterson's house (Luther's college organist)
• Nordic/Swedish dancers
  
• Free lemonade at La Rana
• NOT going to Roscoes
  
• The best fireworks I've ever seen from the lookout point at Dunning Springs!
• Church this AM at First Lutheran with Rachel and Brittney
  

The best part of the wknd, of course, was seeing people that I'm not going to see again for a really long time. Ironically, this was also the worst part.

San Buenaventura (Ventura)

Translation: City of Good Fortune, and rated one of the United States' top 5 "most livable small towns". This is where I'm going to be living in a little less than 1 month. Seeing as I've never been to Ventura before, I thought I'd do a bit of research. My findings, compared with my hometown, are summarized below.

Population

• Ventura: about 104,000
• Marshalltown: about 27,000

Median Household Income in 2005

• Ventura: about 58,000
• Marshalltown: about 39,000

Median Gross Rent

• Ventura: $1,094
  
• Marshalltown: $464
  

Registered Sex Offenders

• Ventura: 0
• Marshalltown: 68

Average Daily High Temperature in January

• Ventura: 68
• Marshalltown: 28
  

Average Annual Snowfall

• Ventura: 0 inches
• Marshalltown: 31 inches

There are so many people that say they've always dreamed of living by the ocean. I've never been one of those people, but here I am, moving to an apartment on Preble Ave just 5 minutes away from the Pacific.

Yeah, it'll be nice...but that doesn't make up for the lack of snow during Christmas.

Bala-la-la-laika

Scheduled for occupancy at Baker Village for July 8-14 is the Balalaika and Domra Association of America. "Balalaika", I have learned, is the name for Russian folk music as well as an actual type of instrument used in Russian folk ensembles. Usually Baker is scarcely populated, which is nice since I live here, but for the past week it's been alive with music, christmas lights, cell-phone conversations in foreign tongues, and some guy that likes to read outside in the sun like I do.

Today I joined the BDAA Russian Liturgical Choir, led by Tim and Sandra Peter--2 of the 3 choral conductors at Luther. They've been practicing all week so Patrick, Kelley, and I are latecomers. The Peters' seemed grateful for our contributions, though, especially since most of the choir is better at playing triangle-shaped instruments and wearing funny clothes.

Singing in a choir again was like therapy for my soul. Especially since we were singing Rachmaninoff's Bogoroditsye Devo, Raduisya. There are some pieces that go straight into you and turn everything you thought was complicated into one humble little ball. This is one of them. I can't think about choir too much yet, or, more specifically, the fact that it's over. I've put it in a drawer, so to speak. It has come out of the drawer only once...only to go right back in. Someday I'll deal with it. Or not. Better to just live vicariously through Patrick, who will be involved in choir for the rest of his life.

But back to the choir...we, of course, don't sound as good as the Robert Shaw Festival Singers, and it doesn't help that I've never sung in Russian-ever-but it's the thought that counts. The BDAA Russian Liturgical Choir will be making it's debut (and final performance) tomorrow night at 7pm in the CFL. Tickets are $10, which means no one is going to come.

While the Russians are kind of quirky and have block parties and jam sessions every night, they are still WAY more enjoyable to have around than the wrestling camps that throw their sheets, pillows, and cans of pop out the windows. Maybe the Russians will invite me to their block party tonight. I would totally invite the girl from Oslo 1 that lives all alone to come jam with me.

Day Off!

I'm at work ALL THE TIME. Well, not all day, but certainly every day. Since events usually come in on weekends that means I'm working during them. However, although I worked for 1.5 hrs today, I would consider this a day off. I LOVE DAYS OFF! Here's how I spent it:

• Slept in till 9:30!
• Started a new book: Inventing the Abbots by Sue Miller
• Took a bubblebath
• Watched 2 episodes of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents"
• Browsed foodnetwork.com, then remembered I bought a cookbook at a garage sale
• Found recipe for muffins in said cookbook. Bought muffin tin, milk, eggs, and one orange to make cranberry almond muffins with orange zest!
• Burned CDs: one of my recital for Grandpa, and one of John Williams' American Journey to listen to as I...journey across America! (note to Deb: this music is reminiscent of Disney World)
• Shared a special/holy moment with Patrick and Vanessa at the office. It was 7:07:07 on 7/7/07, the 7th day of the week, and there just happened to be 7 people in the office.
  

Tonight...who knows? I think I might have to watch Citizen Kane before it's due on Monday. I'm kind of embarrassed that I haven't seen it. Actually, I watched the AFI top 100 movies while I was at home and was appalled at the number of them that I haven't seen! I have a problem with that list, by the way...where was "Forest Gump"?

Random Memory of the Day: My sister Elizabeth walking into my room at night, as I'm about to go to sleep: "Goodnight, Paige! Have a good sleep!" (as she comes to the side of the bed to hug me goodnight...) "Do you want me to sing you a lullaby?" (as she starts to stroke my hair she begins to sing sweetly...) "I'm coming out so you'd better get this party started..."