something more...

Woohoo

2007-02-15T11:03:00.000-08:00

Please visit me at my new home.

www.lindimartin.com

Thanks.

swim...bike...run...

2007-02-05T09:27:00.000-08:00

hello there, friends. so, i've been gone from blogger for a while now, and i bet you are wondering what's new with me? well, i am competing in the captex triathlon in austin, tx on may 28 (memorial day). i will be swimming 0.9 miles, biking 25 miles, then running 6.2 miles.

this is the part where most people look at me like i am crazy. so, let me explain. all of the training and even the race itself are just a small part of the bigger picture... i am in the process of raising $2600 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through Team in Training. so far, with the generous help of friends, family, and co-workers, we have raised $950 for the cause. please help us in our fight toward a cure for blood cancers by donating to my web site at

www.active.com/donate/tntntx/lindi

no amount of support is too small, and i appreciate you just taking the time to read this message.

thank you,
lindi

the return

2007-01-08T13:48:00.000-08:00

get ready folks. it is almost time for my return to the blogosphere.

a sigh of relief?

2006-06-12T07:31:00.000-07:00

so, as i am sure you are all anxious to hear, i was accepted to UTD. woohoo. so, take the last post with a grain of salt and the understanding that sometimes people just need to vent.

as for UTD... the one class i desperately need to take this fall is CLOSED. as it would be, of course. this journey was simply not meant to be an easy one. so, now what do i do? well, i have started the ball rolling. on wednesday, i e-mailed the professor of the class with a request for special, written permission from him to appeal to the registrar for admittance into the class. my other option being wait until the start of the semester and pray that someone drops the class and i get his or her spot. it has worked before, trust me. yet, i am not so good at the waiting. especially not when my entire future (as a pa) rests on whether i gain admittance into a single class. at least things are exciting.

in other news, emily, jen and myself are supposed to find out about our duplex tomorrow. according to our realtor, we are at the top of the list of applicants for an amazing property (shown right). we get the entire downstairs, including the rad little screened-in porch. i am excited because now i will have a place to store my bicycle. let me tell you a bit more about our future (fingers-crossed) home: it has two full bedrooms and a study/den. the study/den actually works well as a third bedroom. it has a closet, lots of windows, built-in bookshelves and two doors, one to the hall outside the kitchen and one to middle bedroom. the middle bedroom is, well in the middle of the house. there is a huge kitchen with a separate breakfast nook, and fairly new appliances. there is central heating and air-conditioning. a washer and dryer! and a gigantic living room complete with a gas fireplace. oh yeah, there is also a dining room, a nice pantry, and a private driveway with covered parking, a storage shed and a lovely privacy fence and automated gate. that's right folks, we are going to be living in the lap of luxury. complete with one bathroom. for those of you who say it cannot be done. we shall prove you wrong. three girls, one bathroom, one simple rule, and voila... no worries. now let's all hope worthross gives us the home we have been promised.

here goes nothin'

2006-05-23T14:12:00.000-07:00

this post exists for no reason apart from it being a purely cathartic exercise. last night, lauren needed to stay at work late and finish a project, so i went up to his office to keep him company. we were there for approximately six hours. during that time, i completed and submitted a graduate school application. i never could have anticipated how nervous i would feel as i clicked the final submit button. for at least a month, my future is in the hands of people i have never met or even seen before. yikes. applying to school is a bit nerve-racking, when you haven't done it in a while. it reminds me of kayaking. each time i slide into a kayak, clamp my spray skirt around the lip of the boat, and push off the shore into the water, i wonder if i still know how to do an eskimo roll. i have done about two thousand eskimo rolls in my life. seriously. thousands. i used to be a kayak instructor, i have demonstrated the eskimo roll more than enough times to know that i can in fact successfully manuever my way back to safety in the event that my boat capsize.

i have been a student for the better portion of the last 20 years of my life. and yet, this limbo period between submitting an application and receiving a letter from an admissions office seems to keep me in a slight state of panic. what if i don't get in? what if UT-D doesn't think i am good enough to take three classes before continuing on to a masters' degree? these nervous thoughts should not dominate my every waking moment, and yet, there are butterflies in my stomach. i think i have just gotten to used to the idea of instant gratification. i have become impatient. i do not want to wait. i want to know right now, UT-D: are you going to let me into your school? or have i toiled for naught? i think if i was indifferent toward becoming a PA, i would not care at all what UT-D had to say about things. i would shrug off an acceptance letter, as though they were handed out like tracts at a screening of The DaVinci Code. just as likely, i would receive a rejection as a sign of what was simply not meant to be. but this is not the case. i want desperately, from the core of my being, to become a physician assistant. it is the perfect career for me. too bad the program is so damned competitive. everyone keeps telling me there is no way i won't be accepted to pa school. my response to such encouragement is merely more inner turmoil. what am i going to do if i don't even get accepted to UT-D? or if i go to UT-D (therefore forefeiting my very high-paying job, and health benefits) and don't get into pa school, what in the world do i do then?

The Lost Art of Conversation

2006-03-22T08:58:00.000-08:00

So, I am currently listening to the Diane Rhem show on KERA 90.1. Her guest is Stephen Miller; he is the author of a new book of essays titled, Conversation. The essays detail the history of the art of conversation, and how conversation is rapidly declining during the current era. He is completely correct on this issue. The first known conversations ocurred in Ancient Greece between Socrates and Plato, yet conversation did not reach its peak until the 18th century, specifically in Britain. In the 1700's it was terribly important to incorporate conversation into every aspect of life. Conversation was the centerpiece of each component of life, be it at home, in business, or at a social function. The key aspect of the British mastery of conversation is the emphasis on politeness. Please note politeness had a much more significant connotation in the 18th century. It meant more than just simple decorum; 18th c. "Politeness" is better defined as a will to be good humored. It is mutual respect and interest between all participating parties. If you do not believe this argument, pick up a novel by Jane Austen, or perhaps one of the Brontes, Oscar Wilde, or even Thomas Hardy, then tell me that conversation was not relished by 18th century Brits. Skipping a few hundred years to present day... Where has the art of conversation gone? It is becoming lost in this virtual world. We have traded straight-forward, face-to-face conversation and sociability for our cell phones, internet, iPods, and E-mail. Take my office for example: E-mails are sent from offices literally two or three feet away from each other. There is an utter lack of true social interaction. We would rather sit in our comfy office chairs, staring up at our computers, than walk across the hall or even next door to sit down and have a conversation with another human being. Now, I am not disregarding the positive benefits of being a part of a mobile society. I enjoy E-mailing Lauren all day long since we are across town from each other. I enjoy getting instant messages from Patti (at my office), when it may not be feasible to have a face-to-face conversation. But I still love to engage in conversation. I was raised in a family that required all five members be present for family dinners each week night. When I was in high school, I may have found this to be über lame, but now I look back fondly on the times I was blessed to have had robust discussions with my parents and brothers. Lauren and I make it a point to devote time every day to just sitting and talking with each other. It has been easy for us because conversation has always been such a fundamental part of our relationship. We enjoy talking with each other. We enjoy discussions. We do not have all of the same view points, and we have very different backgrounds, so our conversations are always interesting and thought-provoking. We are very much engrossed in this virtual world, with Lauren's Palm Treo and my iPod Nano, but we still appreciate the benefits and beauty of quality conversation. So, where am I going with all of this? Simply to encourage the public at large (or the two or fewer people who actually read this blog) to participate in robust conversation. Find a friend who is a good conversationalist and enjoy discussion once again. Let us not let our society squash the brillance of conversation. Let us not allow ourselves to become habituated to anonymity. Let us all rediscover the amazing and thrilling facets of the art of conversation.

Ode to Lauren

2006-03-03T14:02:00.000-08:00

i am fairly certain that i have the best boyfriend in the entire world. he is sweet and kind and hilarious. and this morning at 07:00, he delivered a handmade fresh-fruit arrangement to my house for no particular reason whatsoever. he is just wonderful like that.

2006-02-24T08:49:00.000-08:00

i don't really want to blog anymore.

Home

2006-02-17T13:36:00.000-08:00

This weekend I almost got to go "home". And by "home", I mean my brothers' house in Norman, Okla. I have never lived in their house; I have only been there once; but I sure do love it. My brothers, Scott and Reid, are there. Our dogs, Gunner and Renagade (that is the proper spelling), are there. And on Saturday, my parents, Bob and Pam, were going to be there with their new puppy, Bently. It was going to be a joyous reunion, but has unfortunately been postponed. It is probably for the best, since 3/5 of my family (including myself) have been ill this week.

I have decided that since I do not get to see my family this weekend, I will just write about them in my blog (or bog, if the word "blog" gives you chills). Here they are in order of their births:

Robert Lynn Martin (Father): My dad is the greatest dad in the world. He is caring and gentle, and he loves his family more than anything in the world. He is brave, trustworthy, honest, giving, compassionate, and kind. He is athletic, and in excellent shape for his age. He is silly and sarcastic, playful and witty. He is my daddy, and I love him.

Pamela Jean Prather Martin (Mother): My mom is the most wonderful mother of all time. She is the most loving person I know. She would do anything for her family, no matter what it meant for herself. She is always thinking of others and how she can help. She is sweet, generous, and has a heart for those who hurt. She is fun, she is serious, she is warm, and she is sincere. She is my mom, and I love her.

Scott Matthew Martin (older-younger brother; middle child): Scott is effing awesome. He is becoming a most amazing young man. He is a junior in college at the University of Oklahoma, and he is an über athlete. He is good at pretty much everything he does, and by good I mean excellent. He is sweet, caring, strong, fearless, and loyal. He will do great things with his life; I am excited to see what is in store for him. He is my brother, and I love him.

Reid Michael Martin (youngest brother; youngest child): Reid-0, Reider, Reidy, the baby. Reid and I have always been friends, probably because we are five years apart in age. He is charming (the kid could sell spiders to an arachnaphobe), articulate, smart, loving, funny, crazy, daring, and full of spirit. He is young, but he is growing up. He is not really the chubby, little five-year-old that used to follow me around, but he will always be my baby brother, and I love him.

Well, that is my family. I think they are pretty wonderful. If you haven't met them yet, you should.

On Fire

2006-02-02T14:37:00.000-08:00

They tell you where you need to go
They tell you when you'll need to leave
They tell you what you need to know
They tell you who you need to be
But everything inside you knows
There's more than what you've heard
There's so much more than empty conversations
Filled with empty words

And you're on fire, when He's near you
You're on fire, when He speaks
You're on fire, burning at these mysteries

Give me one more time around
Give me one more chance to see
Give me everything You are
Give me one more chance to be... (near You)
Cause everything inside me looks like everything I hate
You are the hope I have for change
You are the only chance I'll take

I'm standing on the edge of me
I'm standing on the edge of everything I've never been before
And I've been standing on the edge of me
Standing on the edge
And I'm on fire when You're near me
I'm on fire when You speak
I'm on fireBurning at these mysteries
You're the mystery

happiness

2006-01-31T12:09:00.000-08:00

today, i learned an important lesson. happiness is entirely subjective. it is possible to be at work, even at a job you do not enjoy, and be happy. it is all a matter of perspective. being happy at work is about finding happiness in the small things like: gmails, going to lunch with a wonderful boyfriend, laughing with people who are bored as well, listening to a great cd, and knowing you have health insurance and benefits. i may not like my job, but i don't have to be miserable every day. even this job can be fun.

thanks to: pete yorn, doves, the thrills, gregory maguire, james hegar, karen mauldin, patti weig, russell slack, kristy jones, potbelly, starbucks, microsoft publishser, and especially lauren smith for helping me discover fun in the midst of one heckuva boring day.

boo the blogger

2006-01-12T12:31:00.000-08:00

well, i wrote the most wonderful post titled, "ode to argyle," which was deleted forever when i tried to run a spell check. i am sad. stupid blogger piece of crap.

The Call of Wisdom

2006-01-04T07:38:00.000-08:00

Proverbs 1:
20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street,in the markets she raises her voice; 21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: 22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? 23 If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.

שְׁלֹמֹה
Solomon- the wise.

If God offered you any power you desired, what would you choose?

I only wish I would have the humility and sense of purpose to ask for an understanding heart with which to discern what is good and what is bad. Solomon did not ask for genius; he asked for wisdom, which is the sum of a brilliant mind, sound judgment, discipline, a true heart, and righteous intent.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you all!

2006-01-03T13:12:00.000-08:00

I realized this year that I have the best friends in the world! I have the best life-long friends, the best new friends, and the best boyfriend who came together to give me a birthday weekend better than anything I could have ever imagined. Thank you to Emily and Lauren for putting together an amazing party, and for your wonderful gifts and sentiments. Thank you to Jones and Eryn for driving in from Tulsa, just to be with me. You are amazing friends, as you have been for as long as I can remember. Thank you to Angela, Ashley, Ruth, Christian, Jason, Jen, David and the Creth for making the party as enjoyable as it was. Thank you all for the numerous kind words, gifts, and other celebratory gestures.

Neonatology

2005-12-27T14:19:00.000-08:00

I want to become a doctor. I am afraid of applying. I had a bad experience once; let me explain. During my "bonus" year of college, I participated in the Pre-Health Advisory Program Pre-Interview Process, which is nothing more than a long name for "mock medical school admissions" program. The process consisted of filling out the mother-of-all applications- an almost exact copy of the AAMC application- and participation in an interview with the Pre-Health Advisory Board, headed by Dr. Pamela Hathorn (who HATES me).

The application...
The packet itself took me almost two weeks to finish, then I had to write the essay. I have never had writer's block so bad in my entire life as I did when I sat down to write my medical school admissions essay. I wrote one, finally. It was crap.

The interview...
Let's just say it felt like being bound to the Great Stone Table and having the Jadis herself stab me in the heart with a crooked dagger, all while having to answer such ridiculous questions as "What would you tell an 80-year old patient who wanted to get pregnant?" And, "There is no possible way you can get into medical school; why are you even bothering to try?"

And so I died. Or at least, my strength and will and pursuit of my dream died. I have yet to be ressurected, but the beginning of a re-birth is stirring in my soul.

Emily is a wonderful nurse. A talented and compassionate Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU: pronounced nick-you) nurse. She helps struggling little babies survive their rocky starts, and comforts the ones who are bound to return to Jesus. She loves them all. What a truly beautiful endeavour, to provide life and love to those in need. To put it plainly, that is what I want - to feel worthwhile. To feel that what I do has a positive impact on some small part of the world, to some small percent of humanity. And so, a fire in my heart-of-hearts is rekindled. God-willing, the strength, passion and dedication necessary for action will follow suit.

For Emily:

2005-12-19T14:10:00.000-08:00

Emily has given me a list of suggestions for blog entries. I have chosen to write on each topic, but not all at once.

Suggested topic #1: "My love affair with dear Mr. Darcy"

I first met Fitzwilliam Darcy in the Spring of 1997. I was fifteen years old. He entered my life through my ninth-grade english teacher, Mrs. Wade. I did not like Mr. Darcy at first. He appeared presumptuous and cruel. I did not learn his true character until much later, at which point I was ashamed for believing him to have ever been less than charming, compassionate, and simply amazing. Once his true character was revealed to me, I fell deeply in love with his wit, his inability to socialize with those whom he is unaquainted, and his aptitude for being completely misunderstood. We have been through our share of joys and sorrows together. And now, almost nine years later, he is still very much a part of my life. His cinematic debut has not tarnished what we share. He has not become proud or boastful. He is still the same, wonderful Fitzwilliam Darcy he has always been.

As I once wrote on Xanga, I have always loved Mr. Darcy...I will always love Mr. Darcy.

Dumbly Struggling

2005-12-15T12:34:00.000-08:00

"If you cannot express yourself on any subject, struggle until you can. If you do not, someone will be the poorer all the days of his life. Struggle to re-express some truth of God to yourself, and God will use that expression to someone else. Go through the winepress of God where the grapes are crushed. You must struggle to get expression experimentally, then there will come a time when that expression will become the very wine of strengthening to someone else; but if you say lazily - "I am not going to struggle to express this thing for myself, I will borrow what I say," the expression will not only be of no use to you, but of no use to anyone. Try to state to yourself what you feel implicitly to be God's truth, and you give God a chance to pass it on to someone else through you.

Always make a practice of provoking your own mind to think out what it accepts easily. Our position is not ours until we make it ours by suffering. The author who benefits you most is not the one who tells you something you did not know before, but the one who gives expression to the truth that has been dumbly struggling in you for utterance."

Oswald Chambers

My Utmost for His Highest