tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38130685667069133062024-02-18T20:34:16.488-05:00Jess & Kevin~once a political blog but now the ongoing story of a girl who met a boy and fell in love~Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14639694690363220593noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813068566706913306.post-4195470610873714042015-09-08T21:24:00.001-04:002015-09-08T21:24:27.315-04:00I've moved!...on the internet, that is! It was time for a change. <a href="https://jesskiddingaround.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Check out the new page here!</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14639694690363220593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813068566706913306.post-50322683280349855292014-05-21T20:05:00.001-04:002014-05-21T20:06:29.195-04:00A blast from the...present.Because this blog is in serious need of an overhaul and maybe a couple new posts. You know, maybe.<br />
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I guess the longer you wait, the harder it gets to figure out where to start. Trust me, I have experience with this feeling! This time it's been a little over a year. I know this because Kevin and I are about to celebrate our first anniversary (which REALLY doesn't seem possible) and I still haven't posted our love story, anything about our wedding, or about our apartment, jobs, life...anything.<br />
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I knew it was bad when it took me a half an hour just to get logged in...my old account didn't work, so I switched it to my new one and in the process lost all the pictures ever uploaded to the blog. I found most of them and re-uploaded them, so it's all good now.<br />
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Anyhow, rather than try to recount everything that's happened in the last year, I'm just going to write about what's going on now. I have some recap posts planned, but this one comes first.<br />
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Kevin and I are both working at a Costco depot...but not for long! His last day is this Friday, as his new job starts the first week of June. He'll be working as a private armed security officer and I can't give any more details than that. Let's just say that after waiting over a year for everything to come through and then two weeks of training, we're both really excited to see this job start. And I'm extremely proud of him for passing all the requirements, certifications, and such.<br />
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An average work day...alarm goes off at 4:30, we get up, get ready, eat breakfast, and leave by 5:10.The commute is only about ten minutes, which is fantastic. We clock in at 5:30...he walks to the wet side (the freezing cold side of the depot) and I stay on the dry side, where I work in a department that basically sorts boxes (laptops, medicine, vitamins) to send to the 32 Costco stores that we ship to. I'm learning how to drive the pallet jack (it looks <a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRngEatN2bRa0M3csQHVOmt6Ofp4MoW_ETfV8_vLCHoVtJQVaxP" target="_blank">sort of like this</a>). Yesterday I offloaded two trucks by myself! Sometimes Kevin and I get to eat lunch together if our supervisors send us at the same time, which is nice. We're usually clocked out and heading home at 2.<br />
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We're moved into the apartment and I LOVE my kitchen. Which is good, because I spend a lot of time in there, mostly burning things. Seriously, I wish I was joking when I tell people that I burn something every night. Mostly it's because I'm impatient and have no concept of how to use an electric stove. Like, which number should I turn it to? Let's do 7, that sounds fast. Usually I just turn the stove hood fan on and open the doors and hope Kevin doesn't notice.<br />
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We've both got one-way tickets booked for Florida this Sunday at 6:25 AM. I wish that meant we were on a permanent vacation, but actually we'll be driving home in our new car! My grandpa is selling us his Prius since we'll need two cars once we have separate jobs. We'll be spending five or six days down there visiting and sunburning. It will double as our first anniversary trip, as it just so happens to fall on that week. (That's just the way it worked out because of when the new job starts.)<br />
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I'm attempting a garden this year. If I never mention it again, you'll know why. (So far my tomato plants are almost dead from lack of water because I'm just that good.)<br />
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And now, because Kevin and I are an old married couple, we're heading to bed because of that whole early morning job thing. Hoping to post more in the near future, but don't hold your breath. ;)<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14639694690363220593noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813068566706913306.post-71568331466113028552013-05-09T13:15:00.003-04:002013-05-09T13:17:21.677-04:00Freedom.On Monday, I submitted my last assignment for this semester, meaning that if everything goes as planned, I will walk across the stage this Saturday wearing what looks like a giant black garbage bag so that I can get my diploma. The gown hangs in my closet, where I'm hoping the wrinkles will just fall out so that I don't spend hours ironing it like alumni have warned me.<br />
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It's surreal. I'm graduating from college?</div>
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I haven't really had time to let it sink in though, with wedding plans and life plans at the front of my mind. </div>
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More than the graduation gown, I'm excited about putting on the wedding gown that hangs in my sister's bedroom, on a nail my dad pounded in for me near the ceiling (so that the train wouldn't drag on the floor). </div>
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Yesterday was my last day of work before my three week wedding leave started. Today I slept in embarrassingly late, and now I'm working on this post and on writing out "the story of us" that I hope to post here between now and the wedding.</div>
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My family is driving down early tomorrow morning so they can come to the baccalaureate and commencement. I'm so excited to see them! After that, we'll pack up my things and drive to New York, where I'll be until the wedding. My friend (and bridesmaid) Emily is flying out from Indiana the Saturday before the wedding so that she can help me get ready.</div>
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Kevin has to stay in Maryland to work, but he'll drive up two days before the wedding.</div>
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It's been a looong semester, with a 50-page paper, a 15-page paper and project, a 12-page paper, 240-hour internship, and a new job. Lots and lots of adjustments, but life is exhilarating. God is so good. </div>
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That's it for now!</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813068566706913306.post-4690877862298139962013-01-08T17:07:00.000-05:002014-04-29T20:03:59.036-04:00In which I become a spoiled rich kid...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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No really, that's how I feel! Very spoiled. </div>
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After living in a four-person room for three semesters on campus (and sharing a bathroom with five other girls there) and living with nine other people at home, it feels very strange to suddenly have a bedroom, bathroom, and office to myself. Living with grandmommy (what Kevin's family calls their grandma) definitely has its perks! </div>
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First off, pretty cool neighbors. ;) She lives on the same property as Kevin's family, so it's a short walk to his house. </div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Also, my own bathroom, with a double sink and lots of storage space.</span></div>
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My own shower, with amazing water pressure (stay in there too long and you'll come out bald :P) and water that's hot right away...both of those are new to me, don't judge! </div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">My own office, complete with bright orange shag carpet...um, groovy. Or something. </span></div>
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This is where I'll write my 50-page paper this spring...yay.</div>
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The office is right down the hall from my bedroom...</div>
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...which has a full-size bed. It feels gigantic to me! </div>
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Lots of closet space...this is just one of the closets in my room, but I don't really need the other one. </div>
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My bedroom window...<br />
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I'm not saying how many of these dressers are filled with my clothes...<br />
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And this is what I use to tell grandmommy whether I'm home or not. We're both gone a lot (and I'll be gone a lot more once school, work, and internship start up), so I turn this (the other side says "IN") when I walk in and out the door.<br />
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This picture is just for Erika...I thought you'd like to see my fuzzy slippers. I know, they're so not me but I know you'll approve. :P </div>
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So there you have it...I hope to post later once the semester gets going and I have a better idea of what's going on! </div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813068566706913306.post-31008297978551364152013-01-08T16:23:00.005-05:002014-04-29T20:10:36.725-04:00I'm getting married!So much has happened since my last post (July)...it's definitely time for an update!<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">This entire blog has just gone through a major upheaval. I went through and deleted a bunch of old posts, some of them dating back to 2007, when I started this blog. Much of what I wrote then is either outdated (political races long over) or just plain stupid. I mean, come on....I was 16! </span><br />
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As far as updates, I've decided that instead of writing one horrifically long post, I'll be posting a few of them.<br />
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Here are the highlights though:<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">- at the end of summer (the longest of my life), when my internship ended, my dad and brother drove me back down to Maryland, where my boy was waiting for me at the end of the road. I couldn't jump out of the car fast enough to hug him! </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">- we spent the last remaining days of summer vacation visiting his summer workplace, his grandparents, his favorite restaurants, and floating lazily around their pond. He tried to teach me how to swim (yeah, I know, I'm too old for this!)...but that project is to be continued next summer. Here we are at Baugher's, a restaurant his grandparents always took the kids to: </span><br />
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- school started back up again. Kevin and I were both promoted, me to supervisor working for the facilities department on campus and him to squad leader on campus security. The pay increase was a huge blessing, especially because I was working about 21 hours per week.<br />
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- I was taking 15 credits, including probably the most difficult class PHC offers, Principles of Biblical Reasoning. The first part of the semester was kind of intense while I got ready for my presentation/debate in that class. Kevin and I both took the same class (Film) together on Monday nights.<br />
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- every weekend, Kevin and I drove back to his house in Maryland (only 50 minutes or so from PHC) to do laundry, go to church (and teach Sunday School), do homework, and recharge.<br />
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- over Labor Day weekend, my mom and three sisters came to visit.<br />
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-for homecoming, the senior class dressed up as Romans:<br />
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- I shared a room with three super sweet girls, who put up with my early mornings and frequent disappearances to study with a certain boy. Here we are dressed up for Faith and Reason Day:<br />
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-it was two months ago today that Kevin proposed to me...and I said yes! This was over Fall Break in November.<br />
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- when we got back to school after getting engaged, my friends had a candlelight ceremony for me (a PHC tradition where all the girls gather to find out who's engaged. We pass a taper candle around the room with the engagement ring on it, and whoever is engaged blows out the candle.)<br />
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- at the end of the semester, we went to the Christmas Ball. Kevin gave me six red roses, one for each month until we get married.<br />
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- Kevin and I drove to NY for most of Christmas break. It was great to spend time with family and friends and get started on wedding planning and shopping. We spent 9 hours in Erie one day looking at dresses, veils, shoes, and jewelry!<br />
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- all together, I had 6 Christmases...with my family and relatives and his. It was great. :)<br />
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- my grandpa (on my dad's side) passed away December 30th, 2012. Kevin, his parents, two sisters, and I traveled back up for the viewing and funeral. Though I'm happy that Grandpa's free from pain and has left "this veil o' tears" (as he would say), I miss him already. He's the one on the left in this picture:<br />
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- last week, I moved to Maryland, where I'm living with Kevin's grandma for the spring semester. This is the house I'm staying in:<br />
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- wedding planning is in full swing (and the wedding dress and veil are bought!). The date is set for May 25th, 2013, and we couldn't be more excited!<br />
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813068566706913306.post-40281246426154280722012-07-20T19:35:00.004-04:002014-04-29T20:26:44.294-04:00Yeah, yeah, yeah...I know...I'm a terrible person. Honestly, I didn't intend to leave a cliff-hanger on my blog for this long. It just sort of happened that way.
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Besides, you guys know me by now...no apologies needed, right? ;)<br />
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This post isn't going to be anything too spectacular. It's just a little summertime update, letting you know what's been going on. And pictures...I have lots of those.<br />
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My summer hasn't been <a href="http://jessicassoapbox.blogspot.com/2011/08/summer-of-twos.html">crazy like last summer</a>...I'm not hopping back and forth between two jobs while trying to get ready to move on campus for the first time.<br />
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In fact, this summer's different from last in quite a few ways... <br />
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Last summer, I had just gotten home from spending <a href="http://jessicassoapbox.blogspot.com/2011/02/un-dia-en-mi-vida.html">four months in Mexico</a>. This summer, I've just gotten back from an intense but amazing nine months in Purcellville, VA, at PHC where I went from rising junior to rising senior and from single to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3643682644822.154977.1057042242&type=1&l=c32078e3bc">very much unsingle</a>. ;) (But more on that later!)<br />
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Last summer, I worked two minimum wage type jobs with a tight schedule and a lot of driving. This summer, I'm working only one job, but the pay is more than decent, I set my own hours (salaried position), I'm getting school credit (it's an internship), and I haven't done much driving (right now I work mostly from my room, actually).<br />
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Last summer, I would come home from one job late at night (around 11) and crash. This summer, I spend my evenings on google video with a certain somebody...I consider this an improvement!<br />
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Last summer flew by. This summer is draaaagging on. *cough* 25 days until I head to Maryland *cough*<br />
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Last summer, I <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=2138990868468&set=t.1057042242&type=2">went to go visit the Goldfusses in Ohio</a>. This summer, they came to see me!<br />
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Last summer, I was both excited and terrified at the idea of moving on campus. This summer, I'm actually looking forward to school starting again...thaaat's never happened before. ;)<br />
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So yeah...this summer has been a little bit different than last summer. But in a good way!<br />
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Before I dive into all the summertime pictures here, I'm guessing at least a few of you are interested in the explanation <a href="http://jessicassoapbox.blogspot.com/2012/05/pretty-sure-i-have-good-excuse-for-not.html">I promised</a> in the last post. Wouldn't want to leave you hanging, right? ;)<br />
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The scoop: Kevin and I met last fall at PHC. He and I are both rising seniors, majoring in American Politics & Policy. He lives in Maryland, he loves the Lord, he was homeschooled ("from diapers to diploma"), and has six siblings. He's very sweet, hardworking, mature, fun-loving, considerate, friendly...and um, the list goes on but I don't want anyone to gag. I've been incredibly blessed...he's a catch. ;)
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<span style="background-color: white;">We didn't really notice each other until this spring, though, when I
unsuspectingly asked him to go with me to the Sadie Hawkins dance in
March. We started hanging out more and became good friends. We watched
movies and had fun in groups of friends, but neither of us was sure what
the other was thinking. (Honestly, I was pretty clueless and confused.)
After going to his house for Easter (with another college friend), I
started realizing what a great guy he was, but I still didn't know what
he was thinking.</span><br />
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<br />
...and then he asked me out a couple
days later (April 13th) so that we could talk. After a mildly awkward
but incredibly informative conversation over turtle cheesecake, he
called my dad and got permission to date me. And we've been dating ever
since! It's been almost four months...and they've been wonderful. :)<br />
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<br />
When
the semester ended, he and his family drove up to NY with me and our
families were able to meet. After that, Kevin headed back to Maryland to
spend the summer interning for a commissioner and I started my
internship. Hence the loooong summer apart, but we've <i>definitely </i>kept in touch. <br />
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<br />
Sorry,
that's the very abbreviated, non-gushy version. But don't worry, when
the time is right, I'll post a long "story of us" that will satisfy even
the most romantic among you. :) <br />
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<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">So what have I done this summer? </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">-planted flowers on Memorial Day</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">-went to the beach</span><br />
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-talked to somebody...<br />
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<br />
-celebrated a graduation :)<br />
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<br />
-spent time with friends<br />
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-*tried* to take a normal picture...hahaha!<br />
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<br />
-we had fun, anyhow...<br />
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<br />
-went to a Memorial Day parade<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">-talked to somebody ;) </span><br />
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<br />
-planted a garden<br />
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-my raspberry patch...which has kind of died since then. but oh well. :P<br />
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-talked to somebody... (sensing a theme yet?)<br />
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-ate ice cream</div>
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-aww <br />
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-talked to somebody...<br />
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-made pies (with lots of help ;))<br />
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-more pies...<br />
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-and more pies<br />
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-and more pies. Yikes, I think I have a problem...I'm obsessed with pie.<br />
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-and went strawberry picking.<br />
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I think that's about it for now! Thanks for bearing with me. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813068566706913306.post-69288296588394123222012-05-18T09:53:00.003-04:002014-05-10T20:54:55.970-04:00Pretty sure I have a good excuse for not blogging...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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;)<br />
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[<a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3643682644822.154977.1057042242&type=1&l=c32078e3bc">click here for more pictures. </a>and yes, I promise to blog later with an explanation for anyone who feels out of the loop...]Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813068566706913306.post-54253444522540233252012-03-31T01:01:00.001-04:002012-04-01T21:38:14.698-04:00Backstage blogging...<span style="font-style: normal; ">So, (and I start this post with </span><i>so </i>only because it will bug a certain dear reader) I'm currently sitting backstage at Patrick Henry College's production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." <div><br /></div><div>*mutes laptop sound...oops*</div><div><br /></div><div>Apparently I'm a stage hand. Or something. But this 3-hour play only has two scene changes, so for the majority of the time I just sit back here in the dark and text people and read and stuff. It's an amazing play and the actors are so talented. Listening to it and watching the shadows against the back of the stage is almost as good as watching it (but I get to take a turn watching it from the audience tomorrow night). Tomorrow will be the fifth time I've sat through it, but it doesn't get old. </div><div><br /></div><div>Being back here, we're supposed to wear all black so that we're inconspicuous when we go on stage to change scenes. Which means I look like I'm dressed for a funeral...</div><div><br /></div><div>"My mistress...with a MONSTER is in love!" One of the best lines in the play...sorry, getting distracted. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not really sure what to talk about. Um, this week was kind of intense. Yesterday was the physics midterm, which I was sure I'd bomb. (It goes without saying, but God was faithful and Courtney's last minute tutoring saved my grade...she's incredible. And not just because she's helped me survive biology AND physics, although that helps. ;)) </div><div><br /></div><div>Then last night, after the play was over, I had a paper to write. Which means I may or may not be operating on four hours of sleep right now. But the paper's done and submitted and it's the weekend! </div><div><br /></div><div>Easter break is next week, which is my goal right now. I will survive! </div><div><br /></div><div>All I can think about is sleeeep. Which is not helping this blog post. Wait, pretty sure that's what I said last time. Apparently sleep deprivation is a theme of my life. Oh well, at least college life is interesting...which is more than I can say for this blog post. </div><div><br /></div><div>Aaand that is where I stopped typing and helped with the scene change. This is a lame post, but I'm publishing it anyhow. (what are you gonna do about it? ;))</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813068566706913306.post-15044039183305263942012-03-07T19:40:00.000-05:002012-03-07T19:41:38.589-05:00In the car.<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Apparently that last post was a cop-out, so this is take two. I was informed last night that I should have a post that's basically a wall of text. No promises, but I'll try...</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">Right now, I'm in the backseat of a car, heading back to Virginia and Patrick Henry College at about 65 miles per hour. Obviously I can't post this without internet (unless I steal someone's wifi as we fly by...that's not likely :P), but I have about 6 hours to think of brilliant thoughts and type them. Oooor until my laptop battery dies...which will be in about 3 hours. Actually, I might fall asleep before then. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">I'm getting distracted by passing wifi networks. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">I'm sitting between Danielle and Chelsea. It's cozy. :) Chelsea told me to title this post "In the car." So I did. She's a writer, so she must know best. (Actually, she's an amazing writer. If I had internet I would link to her articles.)</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">Danielle plays the marimba and she's going to the Olympics with her marching band from college. I'm mildly jealous. Ok, more than mildly.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">Chelsea's mom is driving, and she is not speeding. Yet. In the passenger seat is a guy named Rick. I don't know much about him, so I'm going to make it up. He's probably in his late forties. He has cool sunglasses. He knows where I live, but only because I told him. In his spare time, he probably plays the ukelele and...I don't know...it's hard to base everything off the shape of his left ear. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">I'm honestly not sure what's happened since I wrote last. Classes are...the same. You know. Tests, papers, grades, the usual. I haven't failed out of physics yet, mercifully. I have wonderful friends who help me, otherwise I'm pretty sure I would have thrown my physics textbook into Lake Bob before now.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">Speaking of throwing things into Lake Bob, I went to my first Bobtism this semester. Bobtisms are a PHC tradition where a recently-engaged guy is captured, prayed over, and then thrown into the lake (the girls have an adorable candlelight ceremony instead...it's much cleaner and warmer).</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Lydia says I always make lists of things in my blog posts, but I don't know how else to summarize large chunks of time without writing for hours. So, </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">This semester I've...</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">-collected earthworms off the sidewalk with Courtney and Esther to put in someone's bed...poor Blake. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">-went to Virginia Beach for the Reagan Symposium.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">-proposed to someone on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leap_year#Folk_traditions">Leap Day</a> (and got soundly rejected, though I wouldn't have it any other way...).</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">- finished a physics test (it was a big deal).</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">- wrote a nine-page paper in a much shorter time than I thought possible.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">- made about 3 gallons of atole </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">(basically hot chocolate...I've mentioned it here before) </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">with Esther and had like 30 people come down with their mugs to drink it with us. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">-went through the terrifying ordeal which is asking someone to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadie_Hawkins_dance">Sadie Hawkins dance</a>. A GUY. (But he said yes and I didn't die asking).</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">- An amazing <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/20666761">Faith and Reason lecture</a>. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">- A beautiful valentine's dinner put on by the faculty.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">- A fondue party at our wing parents' house. So much chocolate! </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">- Home for spring break, with so much crammed into four days (I saved the sleeping part of break for later). </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">Ok, we're stopping at a gas station. Back later...</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">Aaand back! Only this time with FIG NEWTONS. Chelsea's a dear. (I was reaaally craving fig newtons on the way back home but we stopped at a gas station that didn't carry them. Tragedy.)</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">Now Rick's driving so I could base my critique on his right ear. Also, he's obviously a huge fan of pretzels.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">I forgot about the rear view mirror. He can see me laughing at him now. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">He says, "I hope this is a blog. I want to be famous for being stupid. And I want more than fifteen minutes. Who are you writing to or is this like a term paper? Is it due when you get in?" </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">Hmm. What else has transpired...</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">I went dress shopping with Courtney and Emmery and discovered Ross. Good thing we don't have those in New York...or at least not in my part of the state. (I would probably go broke...or at least, more broke than I am now. :P) It was a successful trip, though. I now own a dress for the upcoming dance. (Which is considerably better than NOT owning a dress for the upcoming dance, I might add). </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">Speaking of the dance, there's a grocery bag in the back of this car filled with nutmeg, flour, sugar, yeast, and other such baking things. I stole them from our kitchen back home so that Courtney and Emmery and I can make dinner next Saturday for the guys before the dance. It's kind of exciting.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">I've managed to lose my room key. The replacement fee is something like $150, so I'll be turning my room upside down to find it once I get back. Fortunately my roommate hid her key somewhere so that I can get into my room today (I'll be the first of us four roommates to get back to school). It will be weirdly quiet in the room until they get back later in the week. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Ok, I'm seriously sleepy now. And I can't think of anything else to write about. Except, now I have gum. I don't know what kind it is, but there was a picture of a kiwi on the outside of the package. That bodes well, I think. Oh, and pineapple and orange. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">We're still heading south. Pennsylvania is inordinately large.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">I should write about my break now, I guess. Those four days <span style="font-size: 100%; ">packed in so much. Like...</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><div>...going to bed at 1 AM on Saturday, getting up at 4 and packing, and driving home almost without stopping from 5 AM until 12:30 PM. It was so worth it...I wanted to see if I could drive the whole way by myself on three hours of sleep. (And for those praying for safe travels, thank you!)</div><div>...watching my little brother lose his first tooth while doing math on my bed.</div></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">...listening to Katrina read about Sam and Pam and the bass, pronouncing each letter separately and then blending them together. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">...finding a huge bag of chocolate in my room when I got back and learning that it was a Valentine's Day gift that my dad bought but hadn't been able to mail. (aww!)</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">...making three kinds of homemade ice cream in one afternoon with sisters and a friend, and then eating it and watching LOTR with more friends.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">...cleaning the upstairs at my grandpa's house and watching it become safe for democracy (or something like that). He's in the hospital right now and we think he might need someone to stay with him when he comes back, hence the cleaning. (See <a href="http://lordsheritage.blogspot.com/">Erika' blog</a> for details about why he's in the hospital). </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">...going to church with Jenn, Reuben, and Elizabeth and eating South Dayton donuts.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">...going for a freezing cold walk with Joanna, Josh, and Katrin</span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">a, during which we walked backwards because of the wind. I feel like a wimp...Mexico and Virginia have spoiled me and I'm no longer used to the cold. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">...driving friends home and then just sitting in their driveway talking forever because it's better than saying goodbye.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">...taking three of the kids to their piano lesson and nearly falling asleep on the floor in the music studio.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">...going to Awana and being surprised that some of the Sparkies remembered me. aww!</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">...doing laundry twice just because I could...without using quarters!</span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">...eating Elizabeth's </span>cappuccino<span style="font-size: 100%;"> muffins with Erika and Annetta and talking for hours. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">...cleaning the bathtub with Josh and Katrina and realizing that when I tell them to "dump a little dishsoap in," I'll be rinsing suds out of the tub for a half an hour...</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">We're crossing the Susquehanna now. In case you were wondering. I was about to start writing about the fig newtons that just landed on my shoulder because of a sudden turn, but then I realized that I should sleep instead. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">So, the end. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">And now I am back in my room, sitting on the floor next to my completely unpacked bags. I just re-read this post. It's ridiculous, but I'm posting it anyways. Consider it the thoughts of a sleepy backseat rider. Also, to those without facebook, here are <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3188674629906.146513.1057042242&type=1&l=5377f46c4d">some recent pictures</a>. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">Thanks for putting up with me. :)</div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813068566706913306.post-18382586389315002522012-02-05T23:12:00.001-05:002012-02-05T23:14:58.181-05:00I'm a jerk.<div><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em"><b>"Me</b>: ok, well, just so you know</span></div><div><span style="display:block;float:left;color:#888"> </span><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em">I was planning to blog tonight</span></div><div><span style="display:block;float:left;color:#888"> </span><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em">BUT</span></div><div><span style="display:block;float:left;color:#888"> </span><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em">I just realized I have a twelve page paper due Tues</span></div><div><span style="display:block;float:left;color:#888"> </span><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em">that I haven't started</span></div><div><span style="display:block;float:left;color:#888"> </span><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em"><span style="font-weight:bold" dir="ltr">Erika</span>: hahaha</span></div><div><span style="display:block;float:left;color:#888"> </span><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em"><b>Me</b>: so I'm kinda freaking out</span></div><div><span style="display:block;float:left;color:#888"> </span><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em">plus I have an exam Wed</span></div><div><span style="display:block;float:left;color:#888"> </span><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em"><span style="font-weight:bold" dir="ltr">Erika</span>: haha</span></div><div><span style="display:block;float:left;color:#888"> </span><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em"><b>Me</b>: and a book chapter summary</span></div><div><span style="display:block;float:left;color:#888"> </span><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em">and AHHHH</span></div><div><span style="display:block;float:left;color:#888"> </span><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em"><span style="font-weight:bold" dir="ltr">Erika</span>: hahaha</span></div><div><span style="display:block;float:left;color:#888"> </span><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em">Clay will be happy, though</span></div><div><span style="display:block;float:left;color:#888"> </span><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em"><b>Me</b>: why?</span></div><div><span style="display:block;float:left;color:#888">23:09 </span><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em"><span style="font-weight:bold" dir="ltr">Erika</span>: he's off the hook</span></div><div><span style="display:block;float:left;color:#888"> </span><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em"><b>Me</b>: oh</span></div><div><span style="display:block;float:left;color:#888"> </span><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em">dang it</span></div><div><span style="display:block;float:left;color:#888"> </span><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em">well, was there a time limit on that deal?</span></div><div><span style="display:block;float:left;color:#888"> </span><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em"><span style="font-weight:bold" dir="ltr">Erika</span>: yep</span></div><div><span style="display:block;float:left;color:#888"> </span><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em">51 minutes from now</span></div><div><span style="display:block;float:left;color:#888"> </span><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em"><b>Me</b>: like if I blog next week, will that not count?</span></div><div><span style="display:block;float:left;color:#888"> </span><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em"><span style="font-weight:bold" dir="ltr">Erika</span>: you could just copy paste this chat and post it as an explanation...</span></div><div><span style="display:block;float:left;color:#888">23:10 </span><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em">I mean, the part of the chat that applies...</span></div><div><span style="display:block;float:left;color:#888"> </span><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em"><b>Me</b>: YES!</span></div><div><span style="display:block;float:left;color:#888"> </span><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em">wait, will that mean he has to blog?</span></div><div><span style="display:block;float:left;color:#888"> </span><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em"><span style="font-weight:bold" dir="ltr">Erika</span>: technically</span></div><div><span style="display:block;float:left;color:#888"> </span><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em"><span style="font-weight:bold" dir="ltr">Yo</span>: because we didn't say WHAT I'd blog...</span></div><div><span style="display:block;float:left;color:#888"> </span><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em"><span style="font-weight:bold" dir="ltr">Erika</span>: Exactly</span></div><div><span style="display:block;float:left;color:#888"> </span><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em"><span style="font-weight:bold" dir="ltr">Yo</span>: hahaha</span></div><div><span style="display:block;float:left;color:#888"> </span><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em">I like how you think"</span><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em"><br /></span><span style="display:block;padding-left:6em">Hunter, it's on....muahahaha.</span></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813068566706913306.post-8646713748354106342012-01-25T13:21:00.004-05:002012-01-26T12:08:41.000-05:00Update<div><span ><b>Edit: haha, just to eliminate any confusion, I didn't actually write this post (apparently Erika and Hosanna did) and a good portion of it is hilariously untrue. I really hope that's evident though.... :P I'll hopefully post something from the real me eventually, with *pictures*!</b></span></div><div><br /></div>Hey guys!! Whoa, it's been a looong time since I've posted! Christmas break was great, and I'm back at college for the second semester of my junior year.<br /><br />Break flew by way too fast. I missed my family SOOO much (especially Erika and Hosanna...they're my favorites. I mean, I missed everyone, sorta, I guess, but especially them), so it was great to see them all again. Our hamster Pip died while I was at college, and I missed her so much...she was so sweet and cuddly. So I was absolutely thrilled when Leo joined our family at Christmas! He's a dwarf hamster who reminded me so much of a special friend that I was missing from college (you know who you are, dear <3). I loved cuddling with Leo, and I even took him to Awana to help with the Sparks counsel time...he did an admirable job, as I knew he would.<br /><br />My friend Arielle got married, and it was exciting being in her wedding as the maid of honor. I mentioned the bridal shower last post...that was sweet, and the wedding was also very sweet. I only made it through the ceremony by looking at Hosanna's grinning and angelic face in the audience, sending me support and encouragement as I tried not to a) breathe, or b) fall over.<br /><br />This picture is from the reception, when Aaron and I were giving the toast. You can hardly tell how late we were up the night before sitting in that bar...heh.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mrMkHqbZuS8/TyBNdkqdF8I/AAAAAAAAAvs/oun3bI5XpE8/s1600/jess_aaron.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 290px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mrMkHqbZuS8/TyBNdkqdF8I/AAAAAAAAAvs/oun3bI5XpE8/s320/jess_aaron.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701642298704336834" border="0" /></a>My 21st birthday also fell during Christmas break. I can't really remember much after that.<br /><br />The first week or so of college was kinda intense...splitting headache the whole time, but I'm doing better now. So yeah...college is going fine. Oh, gotta run...dining hall is closing soon, and I promised I would sit next to-- never mind. See ya!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813068566706913306.post-89607774014321452502011-11-27T09:30:00.000-05:002011-11-27T09:31:00.927-05:00Oh...um, hi.As always, I was trying to evade typing into this empty white box, but I promised myself that I'd write <i>something </i>here over Thanksgiving break (after all, break is supposed to be when you're, you know, NOT busy and such...). <div><br /></div><div>So, here I am, flopped on my own bed at home, trying to sum up everything that's happened since October 26th. I have to say, it's actually pretty impressive how recently I've blogged. </div><div><br /></div><div>Basically, this college student's life has been predictable: homework, class, work, repeat. I won't bore you with the particulars, but if you're ever wondering what I'm doing, chances are it's one of those three. Ohh, also sleep. I do sleep. Really. Sometimes in bizarre places like the laundry room, as previously mentioned, or at weird times (seriously, who falls asleep in the lounge at EIGHT PM?? heh...).</div><div><br /></div><div>Actually, that reminds me. Sleepwalking...I thought I had outgrown it because I managed to sleep like normal people the whole time I was in Mexico. But nooo....I think it's something about the stress of deadlines. Anyhow, twice this semester I've sleepwalked. Once I managed to shower and get partly ready for class before realizing that it was like, 2 in the morning. Good thing my roommates are sound sleepers.</div><div><br /></div><div>And then a week ago, I actually managed to call the PHC security desk...and then awkwardly hung up on them...while sleepwalking. See, I was working on homework down in the D3 lounge and fell asleep around 2. I became vaguely aware around 3 that I should be sleeping in my bed, so I stumbled up the stairs to my room. As I was opening my wing door, I woke up rather abruptly to the sound of a guy voice...coming from my phone, "hello? hello? security!" and I stood there, blinking at my phone screen: "Call with PHC Security: 0:13...0:14...0:15..." Knowing that I am incapable of forming coherent sentences when I'm barely awake, I hung up. And then I was embarrassed and went to bed, feeling like a little kid who had called and hung up on 911 or something. </div><div><br /></div><div>Haha, right now I'm sitting here wondering why I transcribe my most ridiculous moments on a public blog. :P</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyhow...I should probably wrap this up. The suitcase I dragged home with me is only partially packed and it needs some serious attention before we start the trek back to college in about three hours. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, quick summaries of college and break...</div><div><br /></div><div>-Emily G. and I have learned that it is possible to listen to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE-U5e78WHc">the same song</a> on repeat for literally hours on end while writing papers. </div><div>-Fall break was...intense but so good. I was in Sterling, VA (not that far from college), helping lead a Generation Joshua Student Action Team. We had a great team (AND THE HOTEL HAD A HOT TUB) and I felt like I was in my element...campaigning. <3 </div><div>-Even getting up at 3 AM to put up signs (and staying up all day) on Election Day was so worth it.</div><div>-College is a growing experience, in more ways than one. Apparently I grew a half an inch this semester (YESS! I always wanted to be 5' 6"...that dining hall food must be good for something... ;))</div><div><br /></div><div>As for break, it's been SO good to be home. Coming back is always surreal but awesome. This time I hadn't been as far away or gone as long as the trip to Mexico, but I definitely still missed my family and friends. </div><div><br /></div><div>Home has included:</div><div><div>-a starbucks eggnog latte, shopping, and so much catching-up with Jenn. :)</div><div>-laughter</div><div>-good conversations</div><div>-sploshing through puddles with the little kids</div><div>-being treated like a celebrity in my own home, haha.</div><div>-singing with siblings at the Thanksgiving eve church service.</div><div>-two Thanksgiving dinners</div><div>-an abundance of cranberry sauce</div><div>-making a lemon meringue pie with Katrina.</div><div>-listening to Annetta, Lydia, and Hosanna's piano recital pieces that are being frantically practiced.</div><div>-testing my mom's new coffee experiment (pretty amazing, btw).</div><div>-going out to lunch with Annetta and Rachel and feeling way too grown-up (since when can we do this stuff by ourselves?! haha)</div><div>-"hosting" a bridal shower. Hosting is in quotes because although I'm the maid of honor and technically threw the shower, Erika, Annetta, and Elizabeth did all the preparation work while I was at school. (I love them.) They briefed me when I got back so that I'd have some clue about what was going on. :P</div><div>-cleaning the bathtub and washing dishes...is it weird that I missed that?! </div><div>-sleeping (yeah, I think I'm caught up now...).</div><div>-being an in-person big sister again and calling Katrina by her old nickname ("I like it when you call me punk." aww...she remembered!)</div><div><br /></div><div>That pretty much covers break...as for looking forward: 16 days until the semester is OVER and my family comes down to get me. SO looking forward to Christmas break and Arielle and Matt's wedding! </div></div><div><br /></div><div>Knowing me, I probably won't be blogging again until I'm home for Christmas. So STOP REFRESHING THIS BLOG. A new post will not appear, I promise. ;)</div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813068566706913306.post-63011450224032024002011-10-26T00:16:00.000-04:002011-10-26T00:16:33.859-04:00My life as a semi-stressed, caffeinated, sleep-deprived, ON CAMPUS student. :DGuess what, everyone? I'm in college!!!!111!!1!1 [insert obnoxious emoticons here]<br /><br />There, consider yourself updated.<br /><br />...<br /><br />...<br /><br />Honestly, if I posted that, I think I would be legitimately concerned about lynching. Or something.<br /><br />But I'm really not sure where to start. Obviously, I haven't blogged since I left for college. Which means that a lot has happened, although at least not a whole semester has gone by. But basically, I moved in, was orientified, spent a stressful first week trying to drop and add classes and figure out my schedule, started my job here, studied like mad, met lots of cool people, studied like mad, went to two dances, studied like mad, took exams, experienced the phenomenon known as homecoming, studied like mad, wrote papers, and made it through midterms. And also, studied like mad.<br /><br />So that's the Reader's Digest edition.<br /><br />Sadly, it's just not possible to exhaustively cover every week and every experience I've had. Which means I'm gonna resort to the shortcut that I seem to always fall back on: bullet points of the highlights.<br /><br />What I've learned so far:<br />-It is possible to act civil and even talk coherently on 1 1/2 hours of sleep.<br />-I've broken my record for staying up late studying...5:30 AM is the new record. Heh.<br />-Study groups are awesome.<br />-Coffee is also fantastic. (Even if it doesn't actually keep me awake, it's good for the studying atmosphere, you know?)<br />-Seniors and their wisdom are invaluable. Especially their study guides and exam advice.<br />-I can drive a golf cart without killing anyone.<br />-I have learned how to mop with sooo little water and to tie beautiful looking trash bags. Don't ask...<br />-The radio that I use for work makes me feel important, even if I never use it...<br />-I've only lost my key card once...and then found it in a classroom. :)<br />-I haven't failed anything. Yet.<br />-Capture the flag in the dark is way cool.<br />-It's weird how exciting a kitchen and the potential for making REAL food is after so much dining hall food.<br />-Swing dancing is epic.<br />-High heels should be more comfortable.<br />-It's hard to remember to turn off my phone in class. The only time it's gone off though was Christian Study Group...during prayer...while <span style="font-style: italic;">I </span>was praying. Kind of distracting...<br />-Study sessions right before midterms are the best. And whiteboarding (filling white boards with info for exams) is super helpful. You should see my Public Admin drawings... :P<br />-I literally fell asleep in the laundry room the other night. Totally disturbed my roommate who found me in there and thought there was something seriously wrong with me...<br />-It rains a lot here. Aaaand guess who didn't bring an umbrella?<br />-Also, the fall leaves are not nearly as bright as NY. Not that I'm complaining about the weather...it's been SO warm and sunshiny!<br />-I've only slept past the beginning of my 7:15 work shift once...and I managed to be clocked in within six minutes of the wake-up phone call. :P<br />-I got to go campaigning!!!! (I missed it tremendously.)<br />-My major (American Politics and Policy track of the government major) is officially declared, and I'm registered for spring classes!!<br />-Market Street coffee shop is a happy place. And it's within walking distance. And I neeeeever get lost walking back to campus from there. Oh no.<br />-It's totally possible to do three midterms and two work shifts within twenty-four hours. God is good.<br />-Homecoming is fun. I dyed my hair black and dressed like a hipster...(temporary dye, btw). :P<br />-It's nice to have real-life professors. And I definitely go to their offices and bug them.<br /><br />Aaanyhow, I'm going to leave it at that for now. Hopefully I'll do a post with pictures sometime this semester. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813068566706913306.post-61015287497998719132011-08-13T08:55:00.002-04:002011-08-13T10:05:35.847-04:00A summer of twos...<div style="text-align: left;"><i>[Twos </i>is a funny-looking word. It looks spelled wrong...but it's not! Moving on.]</div><div>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Basically, I need to blog. I promised I'd write about my summer, but I think I should also do an update on my life coming up...the next chapter that I've been so eagerly anticipating for...about four years. Wow.</div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So, first the wrap-up of summer/day in my life...</div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I feel like my summer has been divided into two parts.</div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I've had...</div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">...two jobs</div><div>
<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HBdYJa3MtBU/TkVeaEXPzOI/AAAAAAAAAvk/S4QmRLzxwdE/s1600/0811111701-00.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HBdYJa3MtBU/TkVeaEXPzOI/AAAAAAAAAvk/S4QmRLzxwdE/s320/0811111701-00.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640017910292270306" /></a>
<br />
<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CR5BwgpsjnQ/TkQVOX2dLzI/AAAAAAAAAtE/hXZgujWRpG8/s1600/0805110856-00.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CR5BwgpsjnQ/TkQVOX2dLzI/AAAAAAAAAtE/hXZgujWRpG8/s320/0805110856-00.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639655970039476018" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">...two time clocks (I enjoy clocking out. Muchly.)</div></div><div>
<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tS2fDcEmBnA/TkQYwFvfsrI/AAAAAAAAAvM/4uCbDkYj2zw/s1600/clockout.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tS2fDcEmBnA/TkQYwFvfsrI/AAAAAAAAAvM/4uCbDkYj2zw/s320/clockout.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639659847828878002" /></a>
<br />
<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IwRDtOyWfdM/TkQWOK_CzDI/AAAAAAAAAuE/Vbe3q3hyNII/s1600/0809111509-00.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IwRDtOyWfdM/TkQWOK_CzDI/AAAAAAAAAuE/Vbe3q3hyNII/s320/0809111509-00.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639657066097462322" /></a>...two work schedules to balance (I like how both of these schedules have "last day" written for me. YAY!)
<br />
<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gO-gCsggWwQ/TkQWOnS0v5I/AAAAAAAAAuU/fspexyeZZDM/s1600/sched2edit.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gO-gCsggWwQ/TkQWOnS0v5I/AAAAAAAAAuU/fspexyeZZDM/s320/sched2edit.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639657073696620434" /></a>
<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lW4QDePv77A/TkQWOWO2hxI/AAAAAAAAAuM/LkPIfaThghg/s1600/schededit.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lW4QDePv77A/TkQWOWO2hxI/AAAAAAAAAuM/LkPIfaThghg/s320/schededit.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639657069116557074" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">...two bosses (heh, I don't take pictures of them.)</div></div><div>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">...two sets of co-workers (I get to work with Erika at Comfort! Which is nice because she packs lunch. And as for the other picture...let's just say I like feeling tall and NO I was not standing on a chair or anything!)</div><div>
<br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fi4uEYTkPdI/TkQVr8vyHyI/AAAAAAAAAtk/JJ2y5Dc6b9c/s1600/0805111233-01.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fi4uEYTkPdI/TkQVr8vyHyI/AAAAAAAAAtk/JJ2y5Dc6b9c/s320/0805111233-01.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639656478159806242" /></a>
<br />
<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g-E6Mk4SYwI/TkQXWW_Ax3I/AAAAAAAAAuc/5C8KymHmN8w/s1600/0810111817-01.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g-E6Mk4SYwI/TkQXWW_Ax3I/AAAAAAAAAuc/5C8KymHmN8w/s320/0810111817-01.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639658306269136754" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">...two work uniforms (I know, I know...I look creepy in both of these. All black is really <i>not me</i>, and the mirror picture is such a fail. STOP LAUGHING.)</div><div>
<br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JpnqqzIB_fE/TkQVr5VnSbI/AAAAAAAAAts/QZw7qi2qC3I/s1600/0805111637-00.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JpnqqzIB_fE/TkQVr5VnSbI/AAAAAAAAAts/QZw7qi2qC3I/s320/0805111637-00.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639656477244737970" /></a>
<br />
<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RjwkCofzIw8/TkQVrttPlrI/AAAAAAAAAtU/1cM_uktvUe4/s1600/creeeepyedit.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RjwkCofzIw8/TkQVrttPlrI/AAAAAAAAAtU/1cM_uktvUe4/s320/creeeepyedit.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639656474122622642" /></a><div>...two sets of work policies to keep straight...</div><div>
<br /></div><div>...and two paychecks (Fridays are doubly good!).</div><div>
<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dWCnoRdWR9w/TkQY9sYOEpI/AAAAAAAAAvU/fM_GPm8D0ng/s1600/0811111352-00.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dWCnoRdWR9w/TkQY9sYOEpI/AAAAAAAAAvU/fM_GPm8D0ng/s320/0811111352-00.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639660081538536082" /></a></div><div>It's been rather exhausting, actually. But I don't want to complain! I definitely realize how blessed I've been to have two jobs in an economy where many people can't even find one. Even though the two work schedules have conflicted occasionally (I can only work one at a time!!!), it's been pretty perfect as far as money-making goes. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Lat Friday was the day that I chose for the "day in my life," so I will proceed to tell you all how that day went down...</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Because Erika had to do breakfast at the hotel, we got up a little earlier than normal because she had to clock in by 8:00. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>I think we were up by 7:00, showered, ate breakfast, packed lunch, and out the door by 7:30 or so. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>I drove so that Erika could finish eating her breakfast...
<br />
<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b7SfzYGXzcM/TkQVNvYAvLI/AAAAAAAAAsk/OUMzelapvWs/s1600/0805110737-00.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b7SfzYGXzcM/TkQVNvYAvLI/AAAAAAAAAsk/OUMzelapvWs/s320/0805110737-00.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639655959174364338" /></a>Erika headed into work at 8:00 and I had an hour to kill before I was allowed to clock in to start cleaning rooms.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>So, I did my makeup...
<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fpWyvlBGkck/TkQVN5WebsI/AAAAAAAAAss/AwZ87idXjoE/s1600/0805110809-00.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fpWyvlBGkck/TkQVN5WebsI/AAAAAAAAAss/AwZ87idXjoE/s320/0805110809-00.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639655961852276418" /></a>wrote a letter...</div>
<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-njo4A4rNHmo/TkQVN_mLcPI/AAAAAAAAAs0/p-Z-BLCT3Gs/s1600/0805110817-00.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-njo4A4rNHmo/TkQVN_mLcPI/AAAAAAAAAs0/p-Z-BLCT3Gs/s320/0805110817-00.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639655963528753394" /></a>and read my Bible.
<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kuTJh8iibHo/TkQVODZDKFI/AAAAAAAAAs8/9ubP5ObXsjU/s1600/0805110849-00.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kuTJh8iibHo/TkQVODZDKFI/AAAAAAAAAs8/9ubP5ObXsjU/s320/0805110849-00.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639655964547426386" /></a>At 9:00, I headed into work (normally housekeepers can't clock in until 9:30, but they made an exception for me because I have to be there early with Erika anyhow). <div>
<br /></div><div>I got my housekeeping list...
<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nVcLMz1aKzo/TkQVrY9NpXI/AAAAAAAAAtM/s7xysRp6YH0/s1600/housekeeping%2Bedit.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nVcLMz1aKzo/TkQVrY9NpXI/AAAAAAAAAtM/s7xysRp6YH0/s320/housekeeping%2Bedit.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639656468552459634" /></a>12 rooms to clean....pretty average. And the most awesome thing in the world is finding a <i>Do not disturb </i>sign on the door, meaning that I can cross the room right off the list!
<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z8emnwefPrY/TkQVrsM6HjI/AAAAAAAAAtc/E04yQN0UsPU/s1600/dndedit.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z8emnwefPrY/TkQVrsM6HjI/AAAAAAAAAtc/E04yQN0UsPU/s320/dndedit.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639656473718562354" /></a>Basically, each room has to be stripped (the sheets, pillowcases, towels, and trash taken out) and the laundry taken downstairs to the laundry room. Then the beds are made, the bathroom cleaned, the room stocked with everything it needs, everything dusted, the floor vacuumed....and voila, a clean room. Not the most exciting job...but hey, a pay check's a paycheck!</div><div>
<br /></div><div>After my rooms were done, I helped Erika with hers (usually it works the other way around because she's faster), and then we clocked out and headed home around 3:15. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>We got home around 3:30, giving me an entire <i>hour </i>to eat, change into my other uniform, and head out to the restaurant. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>As it turns out, that night (of course) was completely different than any normal night, so telling you what I did wouldn't give a very good picture of the average night at the restaurant. (I had to take care of a family reunion that was being held there of about 30-35 people, so I kept about 8 running tabs for the different families represented, bringing them everything they needed. It was so. much. running! And kind of difficult because it was my boss's family and...yeah.)
<br />
<br /></div><div>So, on a normal night, I'll have anywhere between 2 and 9 tables (two being a REALLY slow night and nine being an awesome night in which I fly around non-stop).</div><div>
<br /></div><div>On Thursday through Sunday, we have a hostess who takes care of seating people in each of our sections. When she seats someone in my section, she writes out a ticket with my name, comes and finds me and gives it to me. The ticket tells me how many people are at the table and where they are...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nknF1xEepHk/TkQXWUwVGGI/AAAAAAAAAuk/4BXttqNl0-Y/s1600/ticketedit.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nknF1xEepHk/TkQXWUwVGGI/AAAAAAAAAuk/4BXttqNl0-Y/s320/ticketedit.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639658305670682722" /></a></div>Next, I go to the table, welcome them, introduce myself, tell them the specials, and take drink orders. Pretty standard. Generally after I take their drinks to them, I'll take down their meal order and turn it into the kitchen. Most meals come with salads, which the servers have to make themselves (that can get interesting when I have a table of twelve and have to make...twelve salads while everyone else is in the tiny salad space, trying to make theirs!) Also, each table automatically gets bread and butter, so I generally carry out the salads with the bread.
<br /><div>
<br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--43fyqeY9Mw/TkQXW2boe_I/AAAAAAAAAu0/lbHopWTU2PI/s1600/0810112113-00.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--43fyqeY9Mw/TkQXW2boe_I/AAAAAAAAAu0/lbHopWTU2PI/s320/0810112113-00.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639658314710678514" /></a>When their food is ready, the kitchen calls me ("JESS, YOU'RE UP!!") and I run the food out. After that I basically babysit the table...bring more drinks...bring dessert...bring the check...bring whatever...</div><div>
<br /></div><div>And <i>sometimes </i>I have really cool tables like this one. :) </div><div>
<br /></div><div>I kind of love this picture.
<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jzv3vr7wPcw/TkVeaPuhutI/AAAAAAAAAvc/pxuMGiiw57Q/s1600/AWWWW%2521%2521.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jzv3vr7wPcw/TkVeaPuhutI/AAAAAAAAAvc/pxuMGiiw57Q/s320/AWWWW%2521%2521.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640017913342704338" /></a>and then when they finally leave, it's the fun part: collecting money from the table, haha.
<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bXTuihqCclY/TkQYv7NNY4I/AAAAAAAAAvE/htCKfnjveF8/s1600/tipedit.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bXTuihqCclY/TkQYv7NNY4I/AAAAAAAAAvE/htCKfnjveF8/s320/tipedit.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639659845000717186" /></a>Nearly everyone tips with one dollar bills, which is why I end up having to torture the bank tellers by depositing literally hundreds of singles. They tell me they don't mind...
<br />
<br />So there you have it: Waitressing 101. :P</div><div>
<br /></div><div>To sum up...a day in my life this summer was roughly twelve hours of work. But it wasn't horrible...I actually enjoyed some aspects of both jobs and I had great coworkers, which always helps. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>But now...it's all over! As I write this, it's Saturday morning and last night I clocked out at the restaurant for the last time (my last day at the hotel was Wednesday). Not gonna lie, it's a good feeling.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>And now I have today to finish packing because we leave early tomorrow morning for Washington DC for a two-day family vacation, and then I'm getting dropped off in Virginia at PHC. So excited about that!!!</div><div>
<br /></div><div>I feel like I should also mention that my summer wasn't ENTIRELY filled up with work...I did have days off to do fun stuff like sleeping--oh, I mean, see friends and such. Don't believe me? Here's a link to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2008089396013.116314.1057042242&l=ba83dc7eea&type=1">my summer facebook album</a> which captures some of the fun stuff that happened this summer, including driving to Ohio with Erika to see the kids from the family I stayed with in Mexico. We totally surprised them. :)</div><div>
<br /><object width="400" height="300"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/2138990868468"><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/2138990868468" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>
<br />
<br /></div><div>Also, since I kind of left everyone hanging as far as the Spanish tests that I was so terrified of, I should probably mention that I passed them both at intermediate high, meaning that I'm totally done with PHC's language requirement. :) I'm so thankful.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>God is way too good to me.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Thanks for reading; I'll try to keep you all posted about my college life!</div></div><div>
<br /></div><div>PS: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2462700&l=6f27618be8&id=1057042242">This</a> makes me laugh.</div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813068566706913306.post-5225821228955305652011-07-20T13:22:00.001-04:002011-07-20T13:24:10.987-04:00Thoughts on worth...fueled by vanilla chai... ;)So, it's Tuesday morning at 8:07 and I'm sitting in Dunkin Donuts on my laptop, soaking up the wi-fi and enjoying a hot vanilla chai with a bacon and cheese bagel. Highly healthy. (Oh, and yes, I had to break my no-buying-coffee-all-summer vow. In case anyone I told about that is reading this and raising a skeptical eyebrow at the vanilla chai mention....) <div><br /></div><div>See, Erika is doing breakfast and laundry this morning over at the hotel (across the road from here), meaning she started work at 8. But since I'm housekeeping, I'm not allowed to clock in until 9:30. But we drove together, meaning that I have about an hour and a half to kill before I can head across the road and start work. </div><div><br /></div><div>So I'm here, blogging.</div><div><br /></div><div>This isn't actually going to be the "day in my life" post that I asked you all about in the last post. I haven't taken the pictures for it yet, but it still is forthcoming! Promise.</div><div><br /></div><div>And this isn't actually going to be the newsy, updateish post either.</div><div><br /></div><div>Instead, I'd like to talk about something that's been on my heart lately and just needs to get written. I haven't used this blog to rant or express my opinion much lately. I haven't even posted my numerous papers! It's more become a blog about my life. Which might be a good thing, because I think the old blog persona was a little dry. And just...blargh.</div><div><br /></div><div>But today is different. </div><div><br /></div><div>I need to talk about something.</div><div><br /></div><div>Actually, I hesitated about writing this because it's a rather uncomfortable subject. But this is the life we all live...real. unedited. raw. So I'm going for it.</div><div><br /></div><div>First: what got me thinking.</div><div><br /></div><div>About a week ago, a conversation at my second job--the restaurant--really made me think. I was back in the kitchen, making salads for one of my tables, when one of the kitchen workers started talking about the cost of, well, hiring a couple girls for a night. (I'd use more direct wording but I want to avoid getting weird google searchers, if ya know what I mean....).</div><div><br /></div><div>He turned to me and asked if I thought two thousand dollars was too much. Trying to stay out of the conversation, I just replied that I wouldn't know. So he turned to another guy and asked, <i>"Is any woman worth two thousand dollars?"</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>As I carried out the salads, I was mulling over his question in a broader sense. Not just for a night, but in general...is any woman worth two thousand dollars?</div><div><br /></div><div>And instantly I knew. YES. </div><div><br /></div><div>And then I was frustrated, because it bothered me a lot to think of a woman as simply a body with a price tag over her head. I started thinking about Proverbs 31 and how the virtuous woman is far above rubies...priceless, really. And how the woman whose value can't be quantified in dollar amount is the one who wouldn't sell herself for any price. </div><div><br /></div><div>So I started thinking that I should write about the crazily messed up mindset that prevails today. </div><div><br /></div><div>[Aaand this is where the Dunkin Donuts wi-fi and blogger's autosave feature absolutely failed me and I lost the entire rest of this post as I tried to publish it this morning right before heading into work. Soo, I'm typing it again...my thoughts make more sense the second time through anyways. I hope. :P]</div><div><br /></div><div>See, lately, I've been feeling kind of objectified. It's hard to explain, but through recent comments, glances, and even inappropriate physical touch [don't freak out, people! I'm fine], I have been experiencing what it's like to be viewed as not much more than a body. As if my measure of worth comes from my degree of conformity to the world's standards of physical perfection and by the number of partners I could land. </div><div><br /></div><div>And it bugs me.</div><div><br /></div><div>Especially because I am surrounded by the tragic results of such a mentality. I work with so. many. single. mothers. One girl I trained told me her story...when she got pregnant, her boyfriend told her that if she didn't get an abortion, he would leave her. Now she's a single mother working three jobs to support herself and her (adorable) 3 1/2 year old daughter. She and so many other single moms my age and younger have a long, difficult life ahead of them, balancing work with being home to actually raise their kids. I'm not saying that these girls aren't at all to blame for the mess they're in...they are. But I feel like the girls are partially victims, especially when they are left to deal with the consequences and the guys shrug off their responsibilities. That happens waaay too often.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's also ridiculous how it's pretty much assumed that girls even much younger than me are sexually active. Virginity is rare at my age, and there is that constant, not-so-subtle hinting that it's necessary to live a fulfilling life NOW.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've pretty much always known about that mentality. But head knowledge and real life experience are completely different. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, I want to give some words of encouragement to the girls. Maybe none of you feel this pressure...maybe I just need to write this for myself. Either way, I just want to say...</div><div><br /></div><div>Girls, your worth is not measured by your looks. </div><div><br /></div><div>You are not merely an object or a price tag. </div><div><br /></div><div>You are not defined by your body. </div><div><br /></div><div>No, your existence is hidden in Christ. </div><div><br /></div><div>Let His love and His glorious purpose for your life define you.</div><div><br /></div><div>Don't cave.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's not worth it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Remember, you have <i>already </i>been <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians+6:19-20&version=KJV">bought with a price</a> (so glorify God with your body). </div><div><br /></div><div>You've been redeemed. You are loved with an everlasting love. A love that's endless and independent from the circumstances of your life. A love that reached out to you even before you loved Him (cf. 1 John). </div><div><br /></div><div>He paid the ultimate sacrifice for your redemption--giving His life. And what earthly man would do that? (cf. Romans 5).</div><div><br /></div><div>So be that priceless, far-above-rubies, passionate woman of God.</div><div><br /></div><div>Follow after Christ, not the approval of the world.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyhow, that's the encouragement I have. </div><div><br /></div><div>And for any guys who might have made it this far: kudos. I just want to say that I am blessed to know so many of you who treat girls in a pure, unselfish way. And it is SO very appreciated. Keep it up!</div><div><br /></div><div>And that's that. Now we return to our scheduled programming....sometime. ;)</div><div><br /></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813068566706913306.post-33225246190960476272011-07-13T09:00:00.002-04:002011-07-13T09:03:38.868-04:00Just wondering......would <i>anyone </i>be interested in a more updated day in my life post? Like, pictures and stuff about my jobs and what it's like to be a housekeeper and a waitress? <div><br /></div><div>Because my life isn't excessively interesting right now...work is pretty blahh...(and this post would be a far cry from the day in Mexico one!) but I'm willing to write it if anyone would read it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Comment away! </div><div><br /></div><div>:)</div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813068566706913306.post-39633702000532319012011-05-24T19:39:00.009-04:002011-05-24T21:22:04.451-04:00After Mexico...<span class="Apple-style-span" ><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; ">Ok, ok...Yes, I do realize that I have been home for *cough* a<i> little</i> while now. Roughly 17 days, actually. But the title still stands because I need to write a wrap-up post from Mexico and make a weak attempt at catching this blog (and presumably, its readers) up to speed on what's going on now as well as future plans. That sort of thing.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; ">Also, while I'm still thinking of it...this blog totally needed a makeover. Hence the background and picture change and such. Feel free to tell me what you think, but I think by now you all know how well I follow the suggestions so helpfully offered in the comments. So if you write "YOU LOOK LIKE A TOTAL MORON IN THAT PICTURE JESS!!!" (not that anyone would, but it needed to be said...haha), you will be sadly disappointed by my response...or lack thereof. Because I have a feeling that picture and this template will be there for at least a year. I'm terrible at updating! The last, bright green one was up since like, April of last year...and <a href="http://jessicassoapbox.blogspot.com/2010/04/do-your-eyes-hurt.html">I said</a> it was supposed to reflect my excitement about spring. Ha. Aaaand then it was there through all the seasons, clashing horribly with winter. So this time it's (hopefully) a more generic background so that it won't pain me to look at it through Thanksgiving and Christmas and such. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; ">Speaking of failing miserably to take the suggestions of commenters, I <a href="http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3813068566706913306&postID=5794260392969797770&isPopup=true">was informed</a> some time ago that I needed to write "a very long summary post." </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div>Right. </div><div><br /></div><div>How do I summarize Mexico?? It defies a neat categorization or definition.</div><div><br /></div><div>*sigh* </div><div><br /></div><div>I guess that's where the "long post" part comes in. </div><div><br /></div><div>Well. Mexico was wonderful. I am so thankful that I was given the opportunity and I would go again in a heartbeat if there was a need and I felt God was leading me. I loved the people, the break from the routine of life here in New York, the challenge of trying to communicate in a different language, the changed perspective that my surroundings gave to my government and literature studies, the feeling of having two families, and the chance to see what daily life is like with a missionary family. </div><div><br /></div><div>I had extremely mixed feelings when it was time to pack my things up and fly home. I never experienced homesickness (although I always figured I would), but at the end of the four months, I was ready to go home and see my family. But at the same, I really didn't want to leave Mexico behind.</div><div><br /></div><div>I hate saying goodbye...the uncertainty of whether I will ever see someone again here on earth...the feeling of finality... Yet it makes me thankful that there <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=revelation%2021:4&version=KJV"><i>will </i>be a day</a> when we won't have to say goodbye ever again! </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "><br /></span></div>Moving on...here are <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1935159052800.112468.1057042242&l=224f624a71">the last of my Mexico pictures</a> for the poor facebookless souls...you all know who you are. ;)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; ">As for life after hopping off the plane...I think I can provide a pretty quick overview of that. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; ">All but three of my family members were waiting at the airport for me...pretty sweet. :) The other three woke up to see me when we got home. I had told Josh that I bought him a turtle in a market and he was stoked about it. So, when he woke up and saw me, his only word was "turtle." Yeah, I see how I rate. :P</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PA6s1ilE22U/Tdw4BvEe1cI/AAAAAAAAApE/G-Cu31FhBfA/s1600/DSC05248.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PA6s1ilE22U/Tdw4BvEe1cI/AAAAAAAAApE/G-Cu31FhBfA/s320/DSC05248.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610420838263084482" /></a>(I <i>am </i>in this picture...although it's hard to see.)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; ">It was cute, Katrina told me (after despairing that I'd EVER return..."You ALWAYS that you're coming home soon!!") that she would do a tap dance for me when I got back...and she did:<br /><br /><object width="320" height="240"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/1935219854320"><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/1935219854320" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="240"></embed></object><br /><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; ">When I first got back, I had to unpack, re-organize my room, study for and take two finals, write one final paper, have a sleep-over to say goodbye to a dear friend who was leaving for the summer just a couple days after my return....<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D89h_Byx22Y/TdxUf9j3JYI/AAAAAAAAAq8/Vhh1TN7zpZ8/s1600/IMG_20110509_103214.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D89h_Byx22Y/TdxUf9j3JYI/AAAAAAAAAq8/Vhh1TN7zpZ8/s320/IMG_20110509_103214.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610452143874450818" /></a> make a presentation at the mother-daughter banquet...</span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8zjlto46oDs/Tdw9qHhgYtI/AAAAAAAAApU/EvQ2lk7MFmw/s1600/DSC05391.JPG" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; " onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8zjlto46oDs/Tdw9qHhgYtI/AAAAAAAAApU/EvQ2lk7MFmw/s320/DSC05391.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610427029580178130" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><i>(Actually, the church was just starting to fill up in this picture...by the time I actually spoke, there were about 120 people. Have I mentioned that I am not a fan of public speaking?!)</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; ">...wear strange-looking sombreros with my sisters at aforementioned banquet...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><br /></span></span></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZSKpqKCZBsg/Tdw9qQbD5JI/AAAAAAAAApc/SMT5at97zNA/s1600/DSC05405.JPG" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; " onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZSKpqKCZBsg/Tdw9qQbD5JI/AAAAAAAAApc/SMT5at97zNA/s320/DSC05405.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610427031969064082" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; ">...and finish a bunch of other random things...all in the course of six days.</span></span></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; ">It was slightly insane, but I have lived to tell of it...</span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; ">Life has slowed down considerably since then, fortunately. :)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; ">Yesterday I took the Exam of Horrors: the oral Spanish ACTFL test. I really don't know how I did, but it wasn't as difficult as I had been expecting. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; ">I was terrified of it though, and had been for the last year at least, since the first time I realized I would have to take a foreign language proficiency test in order to avoid Latin, Greek, or Russian (the 3 foreign languages PHC offers). If I had been any more petrified I would have fossilized. Really.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; ">I mean, I'd been studying Spanish seriously for less than a year (the little bit I took in high school hardly counts because I was only trying to finish it, not learn it, and I forgot it all almost immediately) and here I was supposed to talk to a complete stranger...on the phone...in a foreign language...for a half an hour...about any topic she chose. AHHHH!!! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; ">But, as always, God was faithful and I didn't die! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; ">After getting home from the test (I took it on a local campus because I had to find a professor there to be my proctor), I went for a walk with Joanna, trying to come to grips with the idea that I was done. DONE! Free from studying for almost 13 weeks!!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; ">It obviously wasn't sinking in very well, because I kept talking to Joanna about college- and exam-related stuff. Finally, after I said something about wanting to know my grades, she turned around and said severely, </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; ">"You are ten years old and there is <i>no such thing as college</i>!!"</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N5vGeBvKWCA/Tdw_TNqT8CI/AAAAAAAAAps/RaHrzODGeXk/s1600/20110523193715.jpg" style="line-height: 16px; " onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N5vGeBvKWCA/Tdw_TNqT8CI/AAAAAAAAAps/RaHrzODGeXk/s320/20110523193715.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610428835113988130" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; ">That settled it, of course, and we ran around in the fields...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><br /></span></div></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X-xHkuSRW4U/Tdw7a5nu6wI/AAAAAAAAApM/tPJpJ7Byngk/s1600/0523111816-01.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X-xHkuSRW4U/Tdw7a5nu6wI/AAAAAAAAApM/tPJpJ7Byngk/s320/0523111816-01.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610424569126906626" /></a></span></span></div>...picked flowers, talked about her bird-feeder plans, and took pictures.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X-xHkuSRW4U/Tdw7a5nu6wI/AAAAAAAAApM/tPJpJ7Byngk/s1600/0523111816-01.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bZijQuSqmBg/Tdw_S6XFNeI/AAAAAAAAApk/NJkZpwt9ysI/s320/0523111820-00.jpg" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610428829933057506" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; ">(yeah, failed picture, but I find it amusing.)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; ">Summer break is AWESOME!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; ">Aaaand no post of mine would be complete without a random list of...things. So without further ado...</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><br /></span></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "><i>Weird but amusing things about being home:</i></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "><p class="MsoNormal">-My parents and siblings freaking out about letting me drive again. They honestly thought I had forgotten how and would wreck the van. (FYI...it came right back to me!)</p><p class="MsoNormal">-I've been basically a celebrity in my own home. I should go away more often...jk, jk.</p><p class="MsoNormal">-I hate pillows. This is because I have discovered that I am incredibly bad at stuffing pillows into pillowcases...and I have to do it over and over at work. I need to work on getting faster...</p><p class="MsoNormal">-I am once again unable to see the tops of most guys' heads! ;) It's nice to wear heels and not feel too tall... </p><p class="MsoNormal">-I feel that I am living life on the edge simply because I drink water from the faucet.</p><p class="MsoNormal">-I can understand the conversations of random people in stores! (yay, eavesdropping.) I missed that...and the ability to talk to just about anybody. So I made up for it by striking up conversations with people in the airport. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">-I am no longer an albino in comparison to everyone else! In fact, my sisters were jealous of my tan when I got back. :P</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">-I've got my <a href="http://www.blogger.com/pandora.com">pandora</a> back! </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">-I'm loving being back with these people...<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; "><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--92FRt3wPt4/TdxLIXaKbXI/AAAAAAAAAq0/a6qZbyEJzWg/s1600/katrinaedited.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 275px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--92FRt3wPt4/TdxLIXaKbXI/AAAAAAAAAq0/a6qZbyEJzWg/s320/katrinaedited.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610441842891582834" /></a></span></span></span></p></span></div></span></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >(Katrina)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WnzkbSE8Dac/TdxGSmFdCNI/AAAAAAAAAqk/2WWgoNGUZMM/s1600/DSC05331.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WnzkbSE8Dac/TdxGSmFdCNI/AAAAAAAAAqk/2WWgoNGUZMM/s320/DSC05331.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610436521071806674" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >(Erika--This picture amuses me greatly.) </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oPe6YmHZxao/TdxGSMS5OeI/AAAAAAAAAqc/7iH9dmyH-GY/s1600/DSC05330.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oPe6YmHZxao/TdxGSMS5OeI/AAAAAAAAAqc/7iH9dmyH-GY/s320/DSC05330.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610436514148858338" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">(Joanna in a tree)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BVC3L_X4ZAg/TdxGR659-iI/AAAAAAAAAqU/f4o9zxN-Ouw/s1600/DSC05277.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BVC3L_X4ZAg/TdxGR659-iI/AAAAAAAAAqU/f4o9zxN-Ouw/s320/DSC05277.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610436509480909346" /></a></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >(I think they love me...even if they welcomed me home by dumping water on my head. :P Actually, we were just pretending, in case that's not obvious...)</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NhKBW2CpllQ/TdxGRS22lvI/AAAAAAAAAqM/NczMwlOaRuI/s1600/DSC05324.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NhKBW2CpllQ/TdxGRS22lvI/AAAAAAAAAqM/NczMwlOaRuI/s320/DSC05324.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610436498730424050" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">(Lydia)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-icEx8j5Unkw/Tdw_UeIZ6EI/AAAAAAAAAqE/v9GPWI3LJNU/s1600/DSC05259.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-icEx8j5Unkw/Tdw_UeIZ6EI/AAAAAAAAAqE/v9GPWI3LJNU/s320/DSC05259.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610428856715044930" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">(Erika, Elizabeth, Annetta, me, and Jennifer...the day after I got home.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lR6J8_Ku34E/Tdw_T3Fte9I/AAAAAAAAAp8/uqXIYU48tI0/s1600/DSC05256.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lR6J8_Ku34E/Tdw_T3Fte9I/AAAAAAAAAp8/uqXIYU48tI0/s320/DSC05256.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610428846234762194" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">(Jennifer, Annetta, Rachel, and me, catching up on life...)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span></div></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">-I love spring. And lilacs. And the cool thing is that I basically had two springs this year!</span></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fcu41-zb73c/Tdw_TTNTXMI/AAAAAAAAAp0/W4IF6IXYpds/s1600/20110523193748.jpg" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; " onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fcu41-zb73c/Tdw_TTNTXMI/AAAAAAAAAp0/W4IF6IXYpds/s320/20110523193748.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610428836602928322" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" ><div style="text-align: left;line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">Finally, as for my summer plans? Basically, work. Right now I technically have two jobs, although one of them doesn't start until this Friday. In the evenings, I'll be working as a server (waitress) just like last summer, and in the mornings/early afternoons I've been working as a housekeeper at Comfort Inn. Yep, where Erika works, as documented <a href="http://lordsheritage.blogspot.com/2011/04/day-in-life-of-ivan-kasinorarororvoravi.html">here.</a> The nice thing about starting work where my sister works is that everyone already knows all about me. ("Hi Jess, nice to meet you...how was Mexico?" Me: "Is she a mind reader?!") And the bad thing </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; ">about starting work where my sister works is that everyone already knows all about me, haha.</span></span></div></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; " ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; " >The nice thing is that I'm not taking any classes this summer, so I can just work as much as possible in order to earn the necessary money to go on campus in the fall.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; " ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; " >Anyhow, I think that about covers everything! I hope to check in here once more before I head to campus in August...</span></div></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813068566706913306.post-57942603929697977702011-04-19T13:30:00.008-04:002011-04-20T00:19:58.832-04:00*creativity fail*[Yeah, once again, I CAN'T THINK OF A TITLE! This post covers like a month of happenings...and there's just no way to sum it up in a blog post title.]<br /><div><br /></div><div>All right.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's most definitely time for another update. I've been adding things to this post for probably weeks, but you guys will never see it if I don't publish it!</div><div><br /></div><div>Since I'm kind of in a rush to get this--along with a literature post--finished in about a half an hour, it's going to be rather random.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, these are all little random occurrences and thoughts that I've had that might be semi-amusing or interesting, in no particular order:</div><div><br /></div><div>-T.S. Eliot's "The Wasteland" and roughly four hours of sleep don't mix well. Although today I'm much more cognizant, I think... That's not to say that Eliot wasn't brilliant, but I think I could write something that randomly abstract on four hours of sleep. :P But seriously, try analyzing it while falling asleep! It was pathetic.</div><div><br /></div><div>- While we're on the topic of lack of sleep...I have decided that I should talk less when I'm extra-tired. Unfortunately, I tend to talk more...which is why I informed Rachel that I can "cook by ear" and that she should put the dishes in the dryer. (Yeah, I'm confused too.)</div><div><br /></div><div>- My self-esteem has taken a nose dive after trying on clothes in Walmart in downtown Mexico City a couple weeks ago. The Mexican sizing scale is most depressing... Yeah, extra grande was too small. AHH!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><div><div><div>- The Spanish adventures continue...let's just hope I'm learning from my mistakes!</div><div><br /></div><div>- Funny story: I was at the playground with the kids and a little girl came up to me and asked a random question that I totally didn't understand. After I asked her to repeat it and <i>still </i>didn't get it, I told her I didn't know, and she walked away looking as perplexed as I felt. I'm not really sure why I didn't understand, because I later found out, thanks to Carissa, that she'd only asked where I was from. And then I died laughing, because she must have thought I was such a moron for not knowing where I was from!</div><div><br /></div><div>- Word to the wise: it's easy to confuse horse and hair in Spanish. Well, for me...I'm just special like that. And going up to someone and telling them you like their horse is both confusing and embarrassing. (I'm pretty sure her thought process was something like "Huh?! I don't even HAVE a horse...") I don't intend to repeat that...</div><div><br /></div><div>- Oh, I have fulfilled a life-long dream. I have <i>always </i>wanted to feel a buzz cut...but my brother's hair has never been cut like that and I've resisted the temptation to go up to a random stranger and ask to feel the top of his head. ("Excuse me sir, your hair looks fuzzy...can I feel it? No, I'm actually a very normal person. No, really! I'm not weird at all! Wait, where are you going??") But, thanks to Matt, I have now officially felt a buzz cut. He's charging now (like 10 pesos per touch), so I had to stop. :P</div><div><br /></div><div>-<a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2053726&l=19058394c7&id=1057042242"> I feel very loved.</a></div><div><br /></div><div>- On Saturday, I was the stereotypical American tourist, complete with camera, dazed look, excessive pointing, <s> horrendous </s> <i> fantastic </i> Spanish, and souvenir shopping. I feel that I totally lived the part, haha.</div><div><br /></div><div>-I've started a new facebook photo album--including pictures of our trip to Chapultepec with Jason and Danielle--<a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=104215&id=1057042242&l=70fbfbf1de">which you can see here</a>, even if you don't have facebook. (I completely filled <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=92735&id=1057042242&l=4ce21a00f9">the previous album</a>.)</div><div><br /></div><div>-It's not very comforting to get into a taxi and see the word "<a href="http://translate.google.com/#es|en|borracho">borracho</a>" written across the rear-view mirror. Great, not only can he barely see through his mirror, but he's possibly inebriated on top of that?! :P</div><div><br /></div><div><div id="contentArea" role="main"><div class="fbPhotoPublicLink mtm"><div>-When we went to the zoo in Chapultepec, the security guy at the gate was so excited to be able to practice his English on us. Keep in mind that we got there at about 4:30 PM, about a half an hour before closing. He said, very enthusiastically, "Good morning!! Good morning!! Open! Pass! Goodbye!" It was cute (and I was trying not to laugh...and failing).</div><div><br /></div><div>Moving on...</div><div><br /></div><div>A while back, I promised to blog a Sunday. About a month ago, I took a bunch of videos and pictures at church but never got them blogged. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, here's what a Sunday is like (although we don't have the matrimonios class every week, but most Sundays we have people over after church):<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IyG_vskGF6o/Ta3kiVi0IdI/AAAAAAAAAmE/hUmm-8wC0Gs/s1600/200576_175775182474217_100001252103488_472408_4837091_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IyG_vskGF6o/Ta3kiVi0IdI/AAAAAAAAAmE/hUmm-8wC0Gs/s320/200576_175775182474217_100001252103488_472408_4837091_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597381190441247186" /></a>On the way to church... (Carissa, me, Rachel, and Vane)<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B7qUsSYIrdQ/Ta3ki3OLBMI/AAAAAAAAAmM/DSDdmkBgF80/s1600/IMG_0262.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B7qUsSYIrdQ/Ta3ki3OLBMI/AAAAAAAAAmM/DSDdmkBgF80/s320/IMG_0262.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597381199481472194" /></a>This picture is a failed attempt to show how cram-packed the van can be on the way to and from church. Most Sundays we have people sitting on laps and sitting in the far back...up to around 22 people in the van. It's...cozy. :P<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YalSoAXfS58/Ta3kiNd8SWI/AAAAAAAAAl8/_FMm-tWoCf4/s1600/188442_175775272474208_100001252103488_472411_5987942_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YalSoAXfS58/Ta3kiNd8SWI/AAAAAAAAAl8/_FMm-tWoCf4/s320/188442_175775272474208_100001252103488_472411_5987942_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597381188273326434" /></a>Walking into church...</div><div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WWdmy43cfeQ/Ta3kjeA_ePI/AAAAAAAAAmU/7q8JgZpIUMI/s1600/IMG_0263.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WWdmy43cfeQ/Ta3kjeA_ePI/AAAAAAAAAmU/7q8JgZpIUMI/s320/IMG_0263.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597381209895172338" /></a>Mr. LaBelle, who plays piano for the Sunday morning services.</div><div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O38X25qd6aI/Ta35DDiP78I/AAAAAAAAAmc/7FlHcHiVZrY/s1600/IMG_0265.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O38X25qd6aI/Ta35DDiP78I/AAAAAAAAAmc/7FlHcHiVZrY/s320/IMG_0265.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597403742775275458" /></a>Cara, before the service started...</div><div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N2Saqhc9Acc/Ta35cTgdVtI/AAAAAAAAAmk/lQqc-KyLI0k/s1600/IMG_0266.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N2Saqhc9Acc/Ta35cTgdVtI/AAAAAAAAAmk/lQqc-KyLI0k/s320/IMG_0266.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597404176559462098" /></a>Sunday school...we're studying how we can know that the Bible is really the Word of God.</div><div><br /></div><div>Not pictured: during the last 15 minutes or so of Sunday School, Rachel and I head over and teach (well, Rachel does most of it...I just try to look helpful ;)) the children's choir.</div><div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S5QZU-KBq2A/Ta35yTOto1I/AAAAAAAAAms/b3fZgX7frKM/s1600/IMG_0267.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S5QZU-KBq2A/Ta35yTOto1I/AAAAAAAAAms/b3fZgX7frKM/s320/IMG_0267.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597404554442154834" /></a>Between Sunday School and the main service we have a break to eat and talk...</div><div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j9A1HRl5YZ8/Ta35zZtcdyI/AAAAAAAAAm0/FITqxqcsIAc/s1600/IMG_0268.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j9A1HRl5YZ8/Ta35zZtcdyI/AAAAAAAAAm0/FITqxqcsIAc/s320/IMG_0268.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597404573361534754" /></a>This particular Sunday, the children's choir performed the song we'd been practicing for weeks, "Gracia Admirable."</div><div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3JZByFL0f8M/Ta36K1bJreI/AAAAAAAAAm8/G1h0WcGnxlc/s1600/IMG_0269.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3JZByFL0f8M/Ta36K1bJreI/AAAAAAAAAm8/G1h0WcGnxlc/s320/IMG_0269.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597404975937990114" /></a>So, this is Rachel L., waiting in the nursery before they headed out to sing their song.</div><div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M6prbBeR40k/Ta36LTOB8LI/AAAAAAAAAnE/F-CnFCEA3yc/s1600/IMG_0272.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M6prbBeR40k/Ta36LTOB8LI/AAAAAAAAAnE/F-CnFCEA3yc/s320/IMG_0272.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597404983936020658" /></a>The children's choir singing "Gracia Admirable."</div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwg6u5d_I1z5O4yLXsenUAcsK3VVEb4UoMaKZUW6wM7oTKYYseL6JAEEvEIyTDltQC3mPoRr3NKj9N0MHk-4w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><div>This video is during the main church service...we're singing "Su Manto Por El Mio." </div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzcTC7Ky2JFitNt0AvCzEyXmsNuvRTXmulEheFY2xhV6DM9FDSrjIwTysuqbIbeKbUrgGF-bZFT-tv722CeHQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><div class="fbPhotoPublicLink mtm">Mike preaching about truth and lying (girding our loins with the truth, from Ephesians 6).</div><div class="fbPhotoPublicLink mtm"><br /></div><div></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz0i6z_jps_B5OBqyb-DiI6oFOg1kHOtQcWQir_7mWXOaJxMCzIVrEEklCp_n7JtX77V2xGgmjAR-GTGMOe7g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /> (Heh, don't mind the siren...welcome to Mexico City? :P)</div><div class="fbPhotoPublicLink mtm"><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fdfvSyd73sM/Ta368cIDWtI/AAAAAAAAAnM/qMt9CAuSjUo/s1600/IMG_0280%2B%25282%2529.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fdfvSyd73sM/Ta368cIDWtI/AAAAAAAAAnM/qMt9CAuSjUo/s320/IMG_0280%2B%25282%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597405828140456658" /></a>After church, everyone headed to the Goldfuss house to eat lunch (here, the ladies are making the pambazos).</div><div class="fbPhotoPublicLink mtm"><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GhtDnsgZE44/Ta3685RNOyI/AAAAAAAAAnU/lEle8e7mfJM/s1600/IMG_0282.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GhtDnsgZE44/Ta3685RNOyI/AAAAAAAAAnU/lEle8e7mfJM/s320/IMG_0282.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597405835963480866" /></a>It rained...</div><div class="fbPhotoPublicLink mtm"><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1mMy1WOOxDs/Ta369cqgsgI/AAAAAAAAAnc/EzTr7qCUEh8/s1600/IMG_0290%2B%25282%2529.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1mMy1WOOxDs/Ta369cqgsgI/AAAAAAAAAnc/EzTr7qCUEh8/s320/IMG_0290%2B%25282%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597405845464855042" /></a>Making the pambazos... (Sarai, Vane, and Marcos)</div><div class="fbPhotoPublicLink mtm"><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FWsLFyR3DqY/Ta36911ez3I/AAAAAAAAAnk/x9JUTJQzekk/s1600/IMG_0297%2B%25282%2529.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FWsLFyR3DqY/Ta36911ez3I/AAAAAAAAAnk/x9JUTJQzekk/s320/IMG_0297%2B%25282%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597405852221755250" /></a>Adriel, waiting for the food....</div><div class="fbPhotoPublicLink mtm"><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wjohk-ltVEo/Ta4E18Sgy1I/AAAAAAAAAns/7ez46T_bPeA/s1600/IMG_0306.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wjohk-ltVEo/Ta4E18Sgy1I/AAAAAAAAAns/7ez46T_bPeA/s320/IMG_0306.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597416711631457106" /></a>Marcos and Ruth...<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X7hZngUN5Tk/Ta4E2FvkDVI/AAAAAAAAAn0/d5l_6fH5uS4/s1600/IMG_0309%2B%25282%2529.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X7hZngUN5Tk/Ta4E2FvkDVI/AAAAAAAAAn0/d5l_6fH5uS4/s320/IMG_0309%2B%25282%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597416714169224530" /></a>Fail...I can't remember their names... :(</div><div class="fbPhotoPublicLink mtm"><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JsIiYRGvbjM/Ta4O1MYWFJI/AAAAAAAAAn8/MOxySEtrsRY/s1600/IMG_0311%2B%25282%2529.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JsIiYRGvbjM/Ta4O1MYWFJI/AAAAAAAAAn8/MOxySEtrsRY/s320/IMG_0311%2B%25282%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597427693887296658" /></a>Eating lunch (Vane, Carissa, me, and Rachel). Haha, I'm in the midst of lecturing Mikey about something. :P</div><div class="fbPhotoPublicLink mtm"><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H6UCtdU6Hi0/Ta4O1S-aLaI/AAAAAAAAAoE/zkZAZe_J7es/s1600/IMG_0314%2B%25282%2529.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H6UCtdU6Hi0/Ta4O1S-aLaI/AAAAAAAAAoE/zkZAZe_J7es/s320/IMG_0314%2B%25282%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597427695657561506" /></a>The matrimonios class...basically a class for the couples of the church. We're studying the book <i>Cuando Pecadores Dicen Acepto (When Sinners Say I Do). </i></div></div></div></div></div><div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxWedqHmykucJjwuHmHPwtkhogbhi6cOs7fSGgaEEFLEDV3jbJ3xWzbvkZCKDi9Ry0S27v8SANta4kV5G712g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div>Memo, teaching the class...can you tell why I have a really hard time understanding him? It's almost dizzying trying to keep up with him! </div><div><br /></div><div>Anyways, that's basically what a Sunday here is like...catch you all later!</div><div><br /></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813068566706913306.post-73470118574630746382011-03-16T00:26:00.001-04:002011-03-16T02:31:07.867-04:00"My love is like a blueberry..."<div>Take note: this post has a title! </div><div><br /></div><div>Oh. You're not impressed? Well, it's just that it almost didn't. Because <a href="http://jessicassoapbox.blogspot.com/2011/01/i-am-stuck-on-title.html">once again</a>, I was suffering from acute title writer's block. It's as serious as it sounds. </div><div><br /></div><div>See, this is going to be another random, stream-of-consciousness type of post. Basically, it has no subject (maybe I should post a warning: "Welcome to my brain. Prepare to be confused. Even more confused than <i>I</i> normally am. <i>No comments from the peanut gallery on that one. :P </i>Also, abandon all hope, ye who enter..."). </div><div><br /></div><div>Randomness defies titling, hence the title writer's block and the resort to a weird quote...which I'll explain later, <i>if</i> I remember.</div><div><br /></div><div>So yes. This post is just going to hop from topic to topic, because that is how my brain works. Except on exams and papers, when I can't say things like, "Because Madison defined tyranny as the accumulation of all power in one person or body, tyranny would be prevented by keeping the powers separated. Do you like blueberries? Well, I do. Anyhow, that's why Madison proposed institutionalizing a mechanism that would take advantage of each branch's desire for the acquisition of more power, using ambition to counter ambition in order to blah blah blah..." Never mind. I don't think that would quite cut it with my professors. </div><div><br /></div><div>Also, can you tell I just finished a Freedom's Foundations midterm? I have decided that I will never have enough time to write everything I plan to say on those exams. Study guides with potential exam questions are great, but I end up planning out so much to say and there's just not enough time to type it all out in 75 minutes! </div><div><br /></div><div>However, the exam was improved greatly by...<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atole">atole</a>, which I managed to gulp down in between essays. And yes, I just linked to wikipedia. I feel like a terrible college student. </div><div><br /></div><div>Atole is basically like intense hot chocolate...it was perfect today, because it's been FREEZING! In fact, we're planning to head to a nearby mountain tomorrow morning to play in the snow that apparently fell there today. And yes, I am highly amused at the idea of driving toward snow ON PURPOSE. </div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of snow, this brings me to:</div><div><br /></div><div>You know you're in Mexico when....</div><div><br /></div><div>...it snows and everyone's facebook status involves the word "nieve" together with exclamation points of...excitement?!</div><div>...you bump into someone and have to turn around to see who it was so that you know which language to apologize in.</div><div>...your sisters talk about sledding and you wonder how they're able to sled in 70 degree weather...oh wait.</div><div>...your sidebar ads are usually in Spanish (and news websites automatically take you to their .mx page).</div><div>...everyone is complaining about losing an hour of sleep and you can't commiserate (actually, DST starts here on April 3rd. But I will gloat while I can.)</div><div><br /></div><div>All right, I'll explain the title. It's actually something I said...man, I'm quoting myself. How self-centered is that?! (That was a rhetorical question...i.e., don't answer. ;)) Basically, I heard this Spanish song at gymnastics. In my failed attempt to sing it, I confused the phrase "mar azul," meaning blue sea with "morazul" or blueberry. Which is why I was singing that my love was like a blueberry. (And googling the lyrics just now, I realized I botched the song even more than I originally thought. Great. I'm just a natural at language learning, obviously.)</div><div><br /></div><div>For this easily baffled person, some Spanish words are just waaay too similar. For example, cabeza and calabaza (cabeza = head and calabaza = pumpkin/squash). Ok, fine...they're really not that similar. But in a <i>rare </i>moment of idiocy, I mixed them up. Y'know that verse in Ephesians that talks about how the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church? Yeah. Try substituting pumpkin for head and you'll know why Reme and I were laughing so hard at my translations during Spanish class... </div><div><br /></div><div>On the bright side, there are an awful lot of cognates between Spanish and English. (Cognate = basically, a word that's reaaaally similar in both language). I LOVE COGNATES. They just might be my favorite thing right now, besides atole. </div><div><br /></div><div>Buuut, at the same time, I also tend to assume that a bunch of words are cognates when they aren't. In technical terms: I use false cognates. In plain ol' English: I've made up a lot of words lately. Words that seriously <i>ought </i>to mean what I think they do, but just plain don't. </div><div><div><br /></div><div>Oooh, but good news. I used listen to random Spanish music as background music while I was studying. It was great because I couldn't understand a word, which meant that I could focus really well. But this week I tried it and had to stop because I was understanding too much and it was distracting me (it was weeeeeeird music!). So that's got to be a good sign, right? </div><div><br /></div><div>(And now, hello, Swahili music!)</div><div><br /></div><div>Also, I had a dream where I was trying to talk in Spanish. True, I failed, but I have to applaud my attempt. Yikes, the self-centeredness increases.... :P</div><div><br /></div><div>On a serious note now, I want to ask if you guys could keep a girl from church in prayer. Her name is Vanessa, and she's just a few years older than I am. She came over for a sleepover last week, and it's clear that she's really struggling with some things from her past and with her singleness. She lacks the support of a Christian family, which makes things tougher. Thanks for praying!</div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of sleepovers, Rachel and I spent the night at Jason and Danielle's house on Saturday. They're a young missionary couple here, and they took us to downtown Mexico City, to the Zocalo (like a town square...only bigger, if that makes sense). It was pretty cool!</div><div><br /></div><div>Incidentally, the Zocalo is where I met the new boyfriend.</div><div><br /></div><div>That's right, I'd like you to meet...</div><div><br /></div><div>um, I don't know his name yet. Pshhh, insignificant details....</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HjKHC2HNeUw/TYBUvjJkCYI/AAAAAAAAAl0/M2mdpsiyI5Q/s1600/IMG_0303.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 114px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HjKHC2HNeUw/TYBUvjJkCYI/AAAAAAAAAl0/M2mdpsiyI5Q/s400/IMG_0303.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584556713805351298" /></a>This picture was, of course, taken very covertly, meaning that I only stood there gawking and fiddling with my camera for five minutes. He never noticed, I'm sure.</div><div><br /></div><div>Aaanyhow, I always thought the Aztecs were cool, but I'm not so sure we'd make the greatest couple. After all, I have nothing that would match the boots. So I'm going to have to give that idea up...</div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe at some point I can write a little bit more about what it was like downtown, on the metro, and such, but my bed is calling... </div><div><br /></div><div>Ooh, one last random thought: I'm becoming a TOTAL expert on sports these days...yesterday (here's where you spit out your gum to prevent asphyxiation) I actually filled out a bracket for March Madness. And...that's basketball. That's the extent of my knowledge, but I'm sure my predictions will come true (and don't ask what they were because I have no idea anymore, haha). Proud of me? I am. (Just kidding...here we are back to the self-centeredness stuff...) </div><div><br /></div><div>As I sign off, I have a ridiculous request to make: if you comment (no biggie, I'll just never blog again if you don't), could you use <a href="http://translate.google.com/#en|es|">google translate</a>, that often hysterically wrong but still-helpful tool to leave it in Spanish? It would crack me up, <i>especially</i> if it's completely nonsensical.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Good night!</div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813068566706913306.post-82106450779105865912011-02-18T00:22:00.002-05:002011-02-18T01:32:26.045-05:00Un dia en mi vida...<div>Once again, the public outcry (from a foreign country, no less...I crack myself up) has sent me over to blogger.com to attempt to write something that seems somewhat remotely update-ish.</div><div><br /></div><div>As usual, I was feeling like I had nothing to write about, probably because I've pretty much settled into a routine here. </div><div><br /></div><div>Which means...I am blogging the ordinary: welcome to a day in my life! </div><div><br /></div><div>Today (Thursday) I drove everyone bonkers by taking a <i>kazillion</i> pictures, documenting just about everything. So, I hope this gives you guys a glimpse into what it's like here!</div><div><br /></div><div>(Note: if you want, feel free to click on the pictures to make them bigger.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Soo, without further ado...</div><div><br /></div><div>6:30: The alarm goes off. I'm thrilled because it's Rachel's turn to get up first!! Haha, we really do take turns showering first, and somehow the extra 20 minutes of sleep is the best thing ever.</div><div><br /></div><div>7:00ish: I drag myself out of bed. Honestly, I can't believe I'm doing this, but I really am posting the I-look-like-a-zombie-because-I-just-got-up-picture. </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KotCweT73ZY/TV39CtkKG7I/AAAAAAAAAls/oHFsDOAm7nk/s1600/IMG_0006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KotCweT73ZY/TV39CtkKG7I/AAAAAAAAAls/oHFsDOAm7nk/s400/IMG_0006.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574890136787360690" /></a>Moving on....quickly. :P<div><br /><div>After showering, Rachel and I have our devotions and check email and such. (Aww, Erika made it into a picture, haha.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Side note: Spanish-English Bibles are awesome. I've temporarily stolen one I found in the cabin (hmm, Bible-stealing...that sounds totally wrong!) and I love comparing back and forth. I think it makes me think more about what I'm reading, which is a good thing for sure.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nuWQe_Z-ohg/TV39CWb30uI/AAAAAAAAAlk/W3AvSqjBRxo/s1600/IMG_0007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nuWQe_Z-ohg/TV39CWb30uI/AAAAAAAAAlk/W3AvSqjBRxo/s400/IMG_0007.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574890130578592482" /></a>At 7:30ish, we head over to the house for breakfast.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-as27nVKi_3E/TV38mo0XLvI/AAAAAAAAAlc/ShVkHrmFUmo/s1600/IMG_0010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-as27nVKi_3E/TV38mo0XLvI/AAAAAAAAAlc/ShVkHrmFUmo/s400/IMG_0010.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574889654476812018" /></a>While we eat our cereal, Mike reads from 1 Samuel about David and his men attacking the Amalekites after the destruction of Ziklag. (See, I do listen! ;))<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TfWTiMfgKVs/TV38mW5u4KI/AAAAAAAAAlU/uUZzLBcAr1w/s1600/IMG_0011.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 366px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TfWTiMfgKVs/TV38mW5u4KI/AAAAAAAAAlU/uUZzLBcAr1w/s400/IMG_0011.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574889649667498146" /></a>At 8:00ish, it's time for science with Cristi. Because it's BJU video school, we watch videos as well as reading the textbook...it works out well.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NJc1EZzHo7Y/TV38mPSenTI/AAAAAAAAAlM/Ck7LBxXICIY/s1600/IMG_0013.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NJc1EZzHo7Y/TV38mPSenTI/AAAAAAAAAlM/Ck7LBxXICIY/s400/IMG_0013.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574889647623806258" /></a>It's cooooold in there! (Really.)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IyrCFYOaHk8/TV38l9HrYCI/AAAAAAAAAlE/JigQtSdFQCo/s1600/IMG_0018.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IyrCFYOaHk8/TV38l9HrYCI/AAAAAAAAAlE/JigQtSdFQCo/s400/IMG_0018.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574889642746667042" /></a>At 9:00ish, it's time for Bible and science with Carissa. While she watches the video lesson for Bible, I work on studying some Spanish verb tenses.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-stmV0fqO_SY/TV37-ssKmsI/AAAAAAAAAk8/cNO2j2_dlSY/s1600/IMG_0019.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-stmV0fqO_SY/TV37-ssKmsI/AAAAAAAAAk8/cNO2j2_dlSY/s400/IMG_0019.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574888968321407682" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">In Bible, Carissa lists what she's thankful for...I was amused. :) If you can't read it, she wrote, "Teachers (not Jess) :P."</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bRrP7Xusfzw/TV379j7rg1I/AAAAAAAAAks/-mWXEM6LvgE/s1600/IMG_0021.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 135px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bRrP7Xusfzw/TV379j7rg1I/AAAAAAAAAks/-mWXEM6LvgE/s400/IMG_0021.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574888948790690642" /></a>Next, she had a test in science. I quiz her on the terms she's learned in this chapter...all about levers and pulleys and acceleration and mass and velocity and all that good stuff.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jr4At69wE8k/TV3786-BT_I/AAAAAAAAAkk/BNHll_buvsc/s1600/IMG_0025.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jr4At69wE8k/TV3786-BT_I/AAAAAAAAAkk/BNHll_buvsc/s400/IMG_0025.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574888937794654194" /></a>And...here she is after getting an A on the test. :D<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vChheebaQsg/TV37858qQJI/AAAAAAAAAkc/kFmNaxJU7Ig/s1600/IMG_0027.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vChheebaQsg/TV37858qQJI/AAAAAAAAAkc/kFmNaxJU7Ig/s400/IMG_0027.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574888937520513170" /></a>After that, it's science with Mikey. Though I help him with labs and give tests and such, there isn't a great deal to do while he watches the lesson, so I read some Kirk (for my Freedom's class).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3mvfd68CGlM/TV36kyIx3pI/AAAAAAAAAkU/KYZDzQr4HjE/s1600/IMG_0028.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3mvfd68CGlM/TV36kyIx3pI/AAAAAAAAAkU/KYZDzQr4HjE/s400/IMG_0028.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574887423595372178" /></a>The illustrious science teacher... He's cool because he doesn't like oatmeal. :P<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SrIZOUCpFXk/TV36kp0ZfqI/AAAAAAAAAkM/n7Ta8WcHfNk/s1600/IMG_0029.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SrIZOUCpFXk/TV36kp0ZfqI/AAAAAAAAAkM/n7Ta8WcHfNk/s400/IMG_0029.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574887421362405026" /></a>Mikey almost entirely evaded the camera, but I did get this sadly blurry picture. I think posting it is my revenge for his hiding my beloved Russell Kirk book for an entire day...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f_W8bEQq9aU/TV36kQXYDUI/AAAAAAAAAkE/gOeIPKqIA5U/s1600/IMG_0033.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 290px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f_W8bEQq9aU/TV36kQXYDUI/AAAAAAAAAkE/gOeIPKqIA5U/s400/IMG_0033.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574887414529789250" /></a>Since science was finished early, I was able to finish reading the Kirk assignment for the week and then attempt to play the piano for a little while...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N_Y9NO1VAO4/TV36jxJZ5DI/AAAAAAAAAj8/Gv274RSaALY/s1600/IMG_0034.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N_Y9NO1VAO4/TV36jxJZ5DI/AAAAAAAAAj8/Gv274RSaALY/s400/IMG_0034.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574887406149690418" /></a>At around 11:30, Cristi and I went outside to the hammock to take a Bible test. It works best if I read it to her and she tells me the answers.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-slHkHugRKbw/TV3573o9I2I/AAAAAAAAAj0/HB80GWQ-HOo/s1600/IMG_0035.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-slHkHugRKbw/TV3573o9I2I/AAAAAAAAAj0/HB80GWQ-HOo/s400/IMG_0035.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574886720697869154" /></a>As you can see, I'm working on my sunburn. :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OqSjPngq2rw/TV357rH5ecI/AAAAAAAAAjs/tMGyL4FnRqU/s1600/IMG_0039.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OqSjPngq2rw/TV357rH5ecI/AAAAAAAAAjs/tMGyL4FnRqU/s400/IMG_0039.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574886717337991618" /></a>No idea why this picture is sideways (honest, it's not sideways in the folder on my computer!), but yeah...literature (with Cristi) is next.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vcCM7ySyGiM/TV357Lz3fiI/AAAAAAAAAjk/lQDxru6WFeU/s1600/IMG_0046.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vcCM7ySyGiM/TV357Lz3fiI/AAAAAAAAAjk/lQDxru6WFeU/s400/IMG_0046.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574886708932476450" /></a>At 1:30, I have my Spanish lesson with Reme. She's a dear! She's got to have a lot of patience to understand me... ;)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Akp_UjPGESA/TV35IUbaHZI/AAAAAAAAAjU/7zhHa7SM6vA/s1600/IMG_0052.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Akp_UjPGESA/TV35IUbaHZI/AAAAAAAAAjU/7zhHa7SM6vA/s400/IMG_0052.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574885835072478610" /></a>She has me read a couple pages in our Monarch butterfly (Mariposa Monarca) book, basically to help with my pronunciation and reading comprehension.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mv-jsh1HO00/TV35IO7pBhI/AAAAAAAAAjM/eNlOgD-CYmg/s1600/IMG_0047.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mv-jsh1HO00/TV35IO7pBhI/AAAAAAAAAjM/eNlOgD-CYmg/s400/IMG_0047.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574885833597060626" /></a>After that, she has me translate some more from <i>The Excellent Wife </i>into Spanish. Because she has the book in Spanish, she follows along in her book while I (tediously...I'm sooo slow!) try to change the English sentences into Spanish, one word at a time. I write down new words as I encounter them, and it's been good because it's forcing me to teach myself the verb tenses (at night, usually) that I was never taught in class.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNk1xKHHa1w/TV34jF93KoI/AAAAAAAAAjE/IWh7rg84T2g/s1600/IMG_0049.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNk1xKHHa1w/TV34jF93KoI/AAAAAAAAAjE/IWh7rg84T2g/s400/IMG_0049.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574885195535297154" /></a>After my Spanish lesson, I head over to the cabin and work on an email to my Freedom's professor, proposing ideas for an upcoming paper. He's great at helping me decide which ideas would work the best. While I brainstorm possible theses, I chat with Joanna. She's funny. :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ow8V3WIGQKM/TV34i_Xo8SI/AAAAAAAAAi8/hPApv_2iMRk/s1600/IMG_0053.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ow8V3WIGQKM/TV34i_Xo8SI/AAAAAAAAAi8/hPApv_2iMRk/s400/IMG_0053.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574885193764368674" /></a>Probably around 2:45, we have lunch. Yeah, that's normal...and yeah, it took awhile to get used to eating lunch in the afternoon! It's kind of funny, you're probably expecting to see something very Mexican on my plate, but we actually had mashed potatoes, green beans, and meatloaf (haha, no, I'm not vegetarian...the meatloaf just wasn't done yet when I took this picture...). BUT! There is agua de jamaica in my glass...exotic enough?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wTRJg_Ud7Gc/TV34iqV5URI/AAAAAAAAAi0/FNibKyQcStM/s1600/IMG_0054.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wTRJg_Ud7Gc/TV34iqV5URI/AAAAAAAAAi0/FNibKyQcStM/s400/IMG_0054.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574885188119908626" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-29wqoTV3PI8/TV33xkIqrbI/AAAAAAAAAis/F2snT3zsogQ/s1600/IMG_0055.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-29wqoTV3PI8/TV33xkIqrbI/AAAAAAAAAis/F2snT3zsogQ/s400/IMG_0055.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574884344640220594" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uEmYdXn8LWg/TV33xU4T5FI/AAAAAAAAAik/iPAUBqXI9uU/s1600/STA_0057.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uEmYdXn8LWg/TV33xU4T5FI/AAAAAAAAAik/iPAUBqXI9uU/s400/STA_0057.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574884340545086546" /></a>After lunch, we got ready and then headed out to the gym. Don't you wish you had my self-photography skillz? Eww.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sACUVTyNpnM/TV33xL4OUrI/AAAAAAAAAic/_zw41zDKZ9c/s1600/IMG_0062.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sACUVTyNpnM/TV33xL4OUrI/AAAAAAAAAic/_zw41zDKZ9c/s400/IMG_0062.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574884338128802482" /></a>Driving to gymnastics...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-94y0FrUKO38/TV33w3-z6tI/AAAAAAAAAiU/Bh-P6sRG9a8/s1600/IMG_0065.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-94y0FrUKO38/TV33w3-z6tI/AAAAAAAAAiU/Bh-P6sRG9a8/s400/IMG_0065.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574884332787722962" /></a>Faith, Rachel, Cristi, Carissa, and I did almost 2 hours of a pretty exhausting aerobics workout. In fact, our instructor made us learn how to fly. Just kidding...though I look like I'm trying to evolve into a bird here. :P Also, I learned that I am far from coordinated when it comes to the trampoline...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gLnNARmPTGM/TV33GCcT_3I/AAAAAAAAAiM/rScVH06isiE/s1600/IMG_0067.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gLnNARmPTGM/TV33GCcT_3I/AAAAAAAAAiM/rScVH06isiE/s400/IMG_0067.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574883596861439858" /></a>Okay, tell me if Faith isn't the coolest missionary mom ever?! I could NEVER do a split in the air like this!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B5Vyxbk2BN4/TV33FrRSCOI/AAAAAAAAAiE/Bh0qzjTJRE0/s1600/IMG_0069.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B5Vyxbk2BN4/TV33FrRSCOI/AAAAAAAAAiE/Bh0qzjTJRE0/s400/IMG_0069.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574883590641158370" /></a>A random picture Rachel took as we left the gym...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UDuiybNmTaM/TV33FMGXgBI/AAAAAAAAAh8/kAsWqZ751p8/s1600/IMG_0073.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UDuiybNmTaM/TV33FMGXgBI/AAAAAAAAAh8/kAsWqZ751p8/s400/IMG_0073.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574883582273880082" /></a>After we got home, I had a Western Lit chat (at 7). It was interesting; we talked about Romantic era art, as you can see...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iE1H90g7_UE/TV32qr6UnEI/AAAAAAAAAh0/Uy-10wERDeM/s1600/westlitchat.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iE1H90g7_UE/TV32qr6UnEI/AAAAAAAAAh0/Uy-10wERDeM/s400/westlitchat.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574883126956825666" /></a>After the chat, I headed over to the house. A couple random pictures with Cristi and Cara...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oRSdyg9llZk/TV32qWnuLrI/AAAAAAAAAhs/DibUDFH-B3I/s1600/IMG_0079.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oRSdyg9llZk/TV32qWnuLrI/AAAAAAAAAhs/DibUDFH-B3I/s400/IMG_0079.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574883121241665202" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YCJQoXEY7zc/TV32qHq_KLI/AAAAAAAAAhk/bFQTLsj_hxY/s1600/IMG_0077.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YCJQoXEY7zc/TV32qHq_KLI/AAAAAAAAAhk/bFQTLsj_hxY/s400/IMG_0077.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574883117228828850" /></a>We ate supper at about 8 (once again, normal!)...quesadillas!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tidn_NKyLZo/TV32Bd0ZOaI/AAAAAAAAAhc/Hd7I32yQcls/s1600/IMG_0085.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tidn_NKyLZo/TV32Bd0ZOaI/AAAAAAAAAhc/Hd7I32yQcls/s400/IMG_0085.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574882418799229346" /></a>In case you were dying to know, here's what the inside looks like.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5FtPAe3L3yk/TV32A80q-uI/AAAAAAAAAhU/WbIUJMyaxVY/s1600/IMG_0087.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5FtPAe3L3yk/TV32A80q-uI/AAAAAAAAAhU/WbIUJMyaxVY/s400/IMG_0087.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574882409942022882" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-teu2BxWq6rc/TV32ArXaUHI/AAAAAAAAAhM/z2nsAqmRU6s/s1600/IMG_0088.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-teu2BxWq6rc/TV32ArXaUHI/AAAAAAAAAhM/z2nsAqmRU6s/s400/IMG_0088.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574882405255893106" /></a>After supper, Cristi wanted to do a little more science before bed, so she watches the review lesson (haha, this is Dr. Devolve)...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3DTo9n-JSdM/TV31fVqz80I/AAAAAAAAAhE/1d3b4Y9A1Tg/s1600/IMG_0089.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3DTo9n-JSdM/TV31fVqz80I/AAAAAAAAAhE/1d3b4Y9A1Tg/s400/IMG_0089.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574881832496001858" /></a>...while Carissa and I take ridiculous pictures of ourselves. And no, most of them will never see the light of day on this blog. :P<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pKk_Om7cT3o/TV31fDN3ViI/AAAAAAAAAg8/qtumO7U_qXg/s1600/IMG_0097.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pKk_Om7cT3o/TV31fDN3ViI/AAAAAAAAAg8/qtumO7U_qXg/s400/IMG_0097.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574881827542750754" /></a>After that, I head over to the cabin and start uploading pictures while chatting with Erika and doing some reading for Freedom's (the US Constitution...again).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y42Akpm6e-U/TV31e2fdY2I/AAAAAAAAAg0/cv8XfD5NdvU/s1600/IMG_0115.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y42Akpm6e-U/TV31e2fdY2I/AAAAAAAAAg0/cv8XfD5NdvU/s400/IMG_0115.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574881824126886754" /></a>Yay for skype! I talked to my dad and Erika for awhile...she was writing posts for college, but it was cool to talk to my dad for awhile (a lot of times he's still at work when I call).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X-RPOGnjiEI/TV3zwxZyxQI/AAAAAAAAAgs/b_oy0lbMuBU/s1600/skype1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X-RPOGnjiEI/TV3zwxZyxQI/AAAAAAAAAgs/b_oy0lbMuBU/s400/skype1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574879932975334658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jj-Ann86NhQ/TV3zwhpkLGI/AAAAAAAAAgk/4GYgyrrw-Zk/s1600/skype.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jj-Ann86NhQ/TV3zwhpkLGI/AAAAAAAAAgk/4GYgyrrw-Zk/s400/skype.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574879928746519650" /></a>And now, here I am, finishing up the blog post before heading to bed! Haha, this is another of the crazy pictures I took with Carissa, but it accurately represents what I'd like to be doing right now. :D<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aNubwpJIQB4/TV3zwi2bj5I/AAAAAAAAAgc/dP4HoJR5uEw/s1600/IMG_0101.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aNubwpJIQB4/TV3zwi2bj5I/AAAAAAAAAgc/dP4HoJR5uEw/s400/IMG_0101.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574879929068916626" /></a>So, that's that. Pretty typical, though I don't go to the gym every day, West Lit chats are only once a week, and Sundays are an entirely different story...maybe I'll have to write about a Sunday sometime!</div><div><br /></div><div>Sorry this blog post is entirely lacking in humor...my brain is not being funny at all. It just keeps saying "sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!" So, good night!</div></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813068566706913306.post-21903455908715877642011-01-31T22:48:00.002-05:002011-02-02T08:18:35.695-05:00I AM STUCK ON A TITLE!!!<div><blockquote></blockquote>I am not a good blog post titler. So that will have to suffice, even with all caps. They convey my frustration with subject lines and paper titles and blog post titles and all of those things, you see.</div><div><br /></div><div>Just like John Dickinson! Um, you don't see the correlation? See, I am reading John Dickinson, a rather sharp colonist who published some letters right before the Revolutionary War (I'm reading some of his Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania for Freedom's), and he totally typed in all caps. </div><div><br /></div><div>I know, I know. He didn't type. But what I'd like to know is, how did he convey his frustration with a quill pen? Jab holes in his paper? Occasionally dump his ink pot under the important phrases? </div><div><br /></div><div>...or maybe he actually scrawled in all caps. </div><div><br /></div><div>But that was completely irrelevant to this blog post, although it is something I was thinking about tonight. Maybe you can tell I'm desperate to fill space here?</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't have much to say, mainly because last week was fairly quiet. Quiet in the sense that I was sick and spent an awful lot of time sleeping. A bunch of the kids have been sick too, so we were all rather miserable. Well, I speak for myself. ;)</div><div><br /></div><div>But, after nearly a straight week of being feverish, achy, weirdly tired, weak, and just overall blahhh, I'm very thankful to be almost completely better today!</div><div><br /></div><div>It's a good feeling. </div><div><br /></div><div>Today has been a great day, especially compared with last week. The box of books that my family mailed me a few weeks ago arrived at the post office today!!! You know, the box of books that I need to finish the school semester. Pretty cool!</div><div><br /></div><div>Yesterday I finished a missionary biography of the life of James Fraser called <i>Mountain Rain. </i>I highly recommend it; very inspiring. Anyhow, I was in a contemplative mood, and one of his quotes struck me:</div><div></div><blockquote><div>"I often think that it is only the very, very few who are prepared, by rigorous self-discipline (not a very popular thing nowadays), for a lifetime of great usefulness like John Wesley." </div><div></div></blockquote><div>So now I am wondering if I am preparing in the best way possible so that God can make my life greatly useful. I want Him to maximize my life for His glory. </div><div><br /></div><div>A few random thoughts before I sign off here...</div><div><br /></div><div>-Josh's phonetic spelling continues to crack me up. Tonight he told me he was "gunu et slopejos." Then, concerned about my health, he asked "hav you ben eting ulot"). I laughed.</div><div>-I fail at eating tacos. I think there's an art that I have yet to cultivate. Mine collapse on my plate in a sad heap of...taco insides. But I will learn!</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm going to bed early tonight, so this is it for now. I'll try to update sometime when there's something more blogworthy to write about!</div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813068566706913306.post-64747381517848998062011-01-19T23:49:00.002-05:002011-01-20T00:12:32.858-05:00Seriously?I try to placate the masses by writing an informative, gigantic blog post, and what happens? <div><br /></div><div>They turn around and spam my facebook wall, demanding that I put up something new. In fact, I am informed that one friend is sitting on my blog right now, periodically hitting refresh. That, my friends, is dedication. And total insanity. </div><div><br /></div><div>But that's beside the point.</div><div><br /></div><div>The point is, ....ehh, what is the point?</div><div><br /></div><div>I have no idea.</div><div><br /></div><div>All I know is that I am being forced to blog, but I have absolutely nothing to say. Normally I store up little "blogging tidbits" (it should be "blogging bits," don't you think, for the alliteration and all?) in my brain. But this time, I have nothing.</div><div><br /></div><div>So this will be a stream-of-consciousness blog. Because I don't want blogger to explode with a certain person's continual refreshing.</div><div><br /></div><div>I guess I should start with what's new. Except I'm not sure if anything is particularly new. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am still here in Mexico.</div><div>I am still living.</div><div>I am still in dire need of learning more Spanish.</div><div>I am still keeping up with my classes.</div><div><br /></div><div>Yeah.</div><div><br /></div><div>Today I taped up my syllabi on the wall, and I feel much more organized. See, I always post my syllabi on the wall at home, and it just didn't feel like school had started without them staring ominously down at me while I type posts. So, those are up.</div><div><br /></div><div>On Saturday, we had a work day to fix up the house that will soon be a church! </div><div><br /></div><div>Newsflash: I am not very good with pliers.</div><div><br /></div><div>What's that? You wanted to hear something NEW?</div><div><br /></div><div>Then I suppose saying that I'm not athletic and managed to injure myself at gymnastics the first day wouldn't be very novel, either.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ah, I have learned something. Well, lots of things. But we'll go with this one:</div><div><br /></div><div>The green stuff in the bowl on the table at the taco place isn't guacamole. Or even remotely avocado-ish. </div><div><br /></div><div>I roasted my esophagus.</div><div><br /></div><div>Those two points were entirely unrelated. Hah.</div><div><br /></div><div>But hey, it's part of the Mexico experience. Right? Right.</div><div><br /></div><div>I would write more, but I would like to get some reading done for my Freedom's class before I head to bed. </div><div><br /></div><div>Placated, masses? </div><div><br /></div><div>:P</div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813068566706913306.post-51795738652073102512011-01-13T22:14:00.004-05:002011-01-13T23:59:16.473-05:00I'm in Mexico!<div>Heh.</div><div><br /></div><div>This blog post maybe more than slightly disjointed, because I've been working on it periodically over the last...week? Yeah, probably. I wanted to be detailed and descriptive, but in the interest of actually <i>publishin</i>g something, this will have to suffice!</div><div><br /></div><div>So without further ado, here is what I wrote probably a week ago:</div><div><br /></div>Well, I really expected to blog more often this, but it's been rather crazy for the last few days.<br /><br />Right now it's 7:05 AM on a school day, so I'll be heading over to the house to start teaching for the day in about 25 minutes. I'm sitting in the little cabin where Rachel and I are staying, and I can see my breath...and my fingers are almost numb as I'm typing. It's coooold here!<br /><br />BUT! I have water on for tea, and I can hear it starting to boil. Excellent!<br /><br />Actually, scratch that. I made hot chocolate instead. Happiness...let the blogging go on.<br /><br />Let me see if I can do a quick wrap-up of what has transpired since my last blog post.<br /><br />After I wrote that post, I finished last-minute packing (you know, toothbrush, etc.) and said goodbye to the family who stayed home. Let's just say I was thankful for waterproof makeup that morning... I'm not usually the emotional type, but it was tough!<br /><br />My dad and four of the kids drove me to the airport (Katrina only went along to ride on the "essselater."). Going through security was a breeze, and I was at my gate with plenty of time. The only book I had ended up packing in my backpack (my carryon) was my Bible, so I read that for awhile.<br /><br />It was pretty cool, I was supposed to read Isaiah 6 next, and I don't think any chapter could have been more appropriate, because verse 8 struck me with a totally new meaning as I sat and thought about leaving home for 4 months.<br /><br />It says, "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me."<br /><br />Pretty sweet, huh? It was like one last confirmation that this was what I was supposed to be doing.<div><br /></div><div>(Speaking of Bible passages taking on new meaning, the tower of Babel account...ohhh man. Let's just say Spanish isn't coming easily. 'nough said!)<br /><br />On the plane from Buffalo to Atlanta, I had the distinct privilege of sitting behind a man who was reading about plane crashes on his kindle. Haha, it was an interesting choice, to say the least.<br /><br />And ahh, I will have to finish this tonight because I need to get ready to head over!<br /><br />Ok, so, it's now the noche, and I am speaking Spanglish. Let's see if I can finish wrapping this up...<div><br /></div><div>I met Rachel in the Atlanta airport, and the flight from there to Mexico City was long but interesting. We had a sort of kerfuffle in the Mexico City airport because we ended up going through customs twice...once without our baggage, and once with. ;) It was confusing because nobody seemed to speak English, which was to be expected since Spanish IS the official language here. (It's strange to be in the minority for the first time in my life!)</div><div><br /></div><div>The Goldfuss family picked us up from there, and we stopped and ate tacos on the way home...I was a little out of it, I think, but they were good tacos. :)</div><div><br /></div><div>They had mentioned that there was a surprise waiting for us...which turned out to be that Rachel and I get to stay in a cabin in their yard rather than in the room above the garage!<br /><br />New Years Eve (the next night) involved watching Prince Caspian in Spanish (and understanding next to nothing), <i>attempting</i> to hit the pinata, and toasting in the new year (with cranberry juice, parents ;)). </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm afraid I'll have to speak in generalities if I want this published tonight, so let's just hit the highlights here....</div><div><br /></div><div>-School started up on January 3rd, which meant that Rachel and I had a few days to get used to our surroundings, unpack, and get the schedule run-down.</div><div>-The homeschooling is going very well; I think we're getting into a routine which helps tremendously. </div><div>-I only teach the three oldest kids, and only a couple subjects each. </div><div>-Here's a general idea of the school week schedule:</div><div><br /></div><div>6:30: get up, shower, do devotions, and such.</div><div>7:30: head over to the house, eat breakfast</div><div>8:00-1:30- teach school (the ending time rather varies...)</div><div>1:30-2:00: my Spanish lesson with Reme</div><div>2:30: lunch.</div><div><br /></div><div>After that, on Tuesdays and Thursdays I go to gymnastics (at least, that's the plan; it didn't work today because I came down with a fever) for two hours (4-6). </div><div><br /></div><div>On Sundays...we go to church (no surprise there ;)). Being immersed in Spanish (singing, praying, and the sermon) for roughly four hours is both awesome and exhausting. Awesome because I learn a lot that way (I understand much more than I can speak, and I think my listening comprehension has improved significantly in just the two weeks I've been here), but exhausting because I still have to translate everything in my head (and I have SO much to learn!). I know that I need to be able to "think Spanish"...but I end up having to think of the English word every time. </div><div><br /></div><div>Learning vocab from Reme is helping greatly, and I'm also studying a little bit on my own since (to my great joy) the code for my Spanish 3 & 4 textbook still works even though I'm not home to take Spanish 4, meaning that I can work through the online exercises and tutorials while I'm here. See, the textbook I bought was for both semesters, so I brought it along to keep working through it (heh, trying to teach myself verb conjugations from Spanish 4 without the aid of the prof; should be interesting!). </div><div><br /></div><div>Also, since Mike writes out his sermons (but doesn't read directly from them), I've been working through translating them so that I can get more from the sermons AND improve my Spanish. It's been tremendously helpful! Carissa actually likes helping me understand the words and phrases that I just don't quite get, which is fantastic. She's a big help with that, though all the kids--even Cara--have taught me new Spanish words. </div><div><br /></div><div>My college classes officially started on Wednesday, but I started the reading last week to try and stay somewhat ahead. We'll see how THAT works out. Oh, something cool...God's sovereignty, really: about 7 or 8 of the books I needed for my West Lit 2 class didn't come in the mail (to New York) until after I'd flown down here. I thought I had ordered with plenty of time, but apparently not! </div><div><br /></div><div>Anyhow, I brought all the books I had gotten already and waited with fear and trembling for the Lit syllabus to be posted, not knowing which books I'd need first. Thankfully (praise the Lord!), I "happened" to have all the books I need for the first 3 1/2 weeks, due to a certain friend who "happened" to have some of the ones I needed. So that's a huge relief and blessing, and now we're testing the reliability of the US-Mexico mail system... </div><div><br /></div><div>Ok, a few things I've learned:</div><div><br /></div><div>-Pescado and pecado are entirely different. And that's all I have to say about that. ;)</div></div><div>-Dulce doesn't always mean candy.</div><div>-Pronunciation can be kinda crucial.</div><div>-Understanding a chemistry-type concept and explaining it are also vastly different.</div><div>-Mexican food is aMAZing! And picante. I've gotten to try so many new things, and I've liked just about everything. Really!</div><div>-Being able to sit on the roof without people thinking I've completely "lost it" is pretty sweet. At home when I sat on the porch roof studying, people driving by would slow waaaay down and gawk sometimes. But here it's normal!</div><div>-Never trust Mikey. Especially his lectures on Mexican culture and how to eat things, haha.</div><div>-When <i>someone </i>has written "I <3 [name]" on your arm, the difficulty of washing it off is directly proportional to the chance that aforementioned [name] will visit that day. Awkward.</div><div>-Skype is awesome.</div><div>-So are emails from siblings and friends.</div><div><div>-Aaaand so are *cough* blog comments gently prodding (maybe more like a violently POKING) me to blog... :P</div><div>-Fridays rock. </div><div>-My little brother is hysterical, and chatting with him is predictably amusing.</div><div>For example:</div><div><i>(edited for your sanity)</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Jess: hi Josh :D</div><div>Josh: so hav you ben ding skul</div><div>Jess: yes, I am</div><div>Jess: did you learn how to write better?</div><div>Josh: <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 kis<div>Jess: awww! do you love me?</div><div>Josh: ya</div><div>Jess: do you have a lot of snow?</div><div>Josh: yae</div><div>Jess: is it snowing right now?</div><div>Josh: no</div><div>Jess: good!</div><div>Josh: x-( i lik it wen it is snoing :'(</div><div>Jess: haha, good for you! and you are getting good at typing!</div><div>Jess: I am impressed</div><div>Jess: is anyone helping you?</div><div>Josh: no wun is helping <i>[never would have guessed :P]</i></div><div>Jess: wow, you are such a big dude now!</div><div>Jess: how is school?</div><div>Josh: gud <i>[hope he works on spelling!]</i></div><div>Josh: bi</div><div>Jess: bye!</div><div><br /></div><div>-I brought too much pink. Wait, is that possible? Yeah, I think so.</div><div>-Ohh! Pictures would be cool, eh? Since I'm too lazy to upload, here's <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=92735&id=1057042242&l=4ce21a00f9">a public link to my Mexico album</a>...I'll keep adding to it.</div><div><br /></div><div>All right, I've got to finish listening to a Freedom's lecture before I fall asleep, so I'll catch you all later!</div></div></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813068566706913306.post-37889471266572078122010-12-30T07:30:00.004-05:002010-12-30T07:45:48.625-05:00Take a breath, take a step...Well, this is it, folks! ;)<br /><br />I'm sitting here on my bedroom floor, surrounded by my suitcases...I have never packed SO much stuff in my life! And my sisters will attest to the fact that I usually pack excessively, but I've never had to pack for such a long trip.<br /><br />In a few hours, we'll be heading to the airport. It all feels so surreal. I'm still not sure that I've gotten used to the idea of being gone for over four months. The last two weeks of Christmas break have been a haze of cleaning, getting together with friends and family, watching God provide for my financial needs for the trip (being completely blown away by the generosity and encouragement of friends and family), and packing. It's been an awesome break, though.<br /><br />I don't have time to write much, but I wanted to share this song which has been running through my head constantly the last few days. I think it expresses my feelings quite well!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote>"I never got anywhere<br />By running away<br />I never learned anything<br />Without a mistake<br />Never loved anyone<br />By playing it safe<br />It's a long way down, but<br />I'm here right now, so...<br /><br />Here goes nothing,<br />Here goes everything<br />Gotta reach for something<br />or you'll fall for anything<br /><br />Take a breath,<br />Take a step,<br />What comes next<br />God only knows<br />But here goes<br /><br />And what good is chance not taken?<br />What good is life not living?<br />What good is love not given?"<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S97O9395rgc">-Here Goes, by Bebo Norman</a><br /></blockquote></div><br />Not gonna lie, this trip scares me a little bit. It's out of my comfort zone....a leap of faith....a step into the unknown.<br /><br />But I feel confident that this is where God wants me, and I'm excited to see what He has in store for me in Mexico City!<br /><br />Besides, He's going with me. :)<br /><br />I hope to post updates soon!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813068566706913306.post-90200783067148968342010-12-23T09:19:00.002-05:002010-12-23T14:30:38.863-05:00Um, hi.K, so most of my blog posts start with an immediate acknowledgment of the elephant in the room: the fact that I have not blogged in eons. Usually I apologize profusely for my neglect.<br /><br />This time? It will be different. I am living in a state of denial.<br /><br />See, I'm such a prompt and informative blogger, keeping my readers fully up-to-date on everything that goes on and LALALALALALA I CAN'T HEAR YOU OVER THE SOUNDS OF MY OWN AWESOMENESS.<br /><br />Oh, look. I've just gotten a blog comment...hmm, it's spam:<br /><br />"Rather cool place you've got here. Thank you for it. I like such topics and anything connected to this matter. I would like to read more on that blog soon. <span style="font-style: italic;">How about changing it once in a few months</span>?"<br /><br />Hahaha, even the spammers are guilt-tripping me!! I just can't win...<br /><br />Aaaaanyhow, I am here. I've got Pandora playing away [side note: Pandora rocks. I'm a little late to be joining the Pandora bandwagon, but it's just as cool as everyone says]. And I've got a lot of thoughts floating around in my head that would like to be blogged...we'll see how that goes!<br /><br />First off, it's hard to believe that it was exactly a week ago today that I was heading in to my very last final. Yep, the sophomore fall semester = pwned. Actually, I didn't get that elusive 4.0 that I've been shooting for from the beginning, but I came closer than I ever have before. (It looks like it will be 4 As and one A-, but I'm happy). It was a long semester--I was working for the first half and trying to keep up with outside activities--so it's SO good to be done!! God is good.<br /><br />I was a tad apprehensive about taking a class on campus (you know, being in the classroom setting for the first time...ever), but it actually was a great experience. The Spanish 1 & 2 classes that I took over the summer were sufficient to get me up to the level of Spanish 3, and I learned so much in that class. I met a sweet girl who was incredibly helpful as a study partner, and turned out to be related to me very distantly. Life is funny.<br /><br />Thoughts on papers: PHC is forcing me to write. A lot. It's good for me, especially because I've always hated my writing and still don't think I'm good at it (and I'm seriously not fishing for compliments here, just being honest). That said, I have learned specifically that it's bad to use words that are not <span style="font-style: italic;">really </span>words. Um, yeah. Even if Word agrees with me that convincingness is a word...it's not. Actually, there are a lot of words that should be words but aren’t (at least, according to Microsoft Word). Like perfectify. And assentive. Memorability. And unforgetability. Oh well. <br /><br />So, that's that.<br /><br />Second, I <span style="font-style: italic;">am </span>going to Mexico. Actually, I'm flying out almost exactly one week from today. Weird...one week ago today I was taking a Spanish final (and then running out of the building and jumping into a snow bank out of sheer joy), and a week from today I'll be boarding a plane bound for a warmer climate. WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!<br /><br />Sorry, had to get that out.<br /><br />So far, break has been fantastic. My new laptop came yesterday, and I'm actually using it right now, trying to get used to the keyboard. I've been cleaning my room, sorting out the clothes I want to take, spending more time with siblings who don't want me to leave (awww!), and overall getting SO STOKED about this trip.<br /><br />I've been completely overwhelmed (in a good way!) by the generosity of family and friends. I spoke in church about my opportunity to go on this missions trip, and people have been so supportive. Such a blessing.<br /><br />Speaking of blessings, my conniving friends and sisters totally shocked me on Saturday with a surprise birthday/going away party. I was flabbergasted! I never suspected a thing...I guess I was nicknamed "Jessica the Oblivious" for good reason. =P It was a very special day; one that I don't think I'll ever forget.<br /><br />GAH. Talking about birthday parties reminded me...I'm going to be 20. In like, five days? Yikes. It's funny, because when I was little, I <span style="font-style: italic;">decided </span>that I would be married by age 20. Ha. Obviously that didn't exactly pan out, and I'm glad it didn't. Pretty sure I'm not mature enough to handle that sort of responsibility! Besides, God apparently has different plans for me right now, and His plans are always better than mine. =)<br /><br />Lately I've been trying <span style="font-style: italic;">not </span>to focus on the "lasts." You know, the last PHC distance learning semester at home, the last days of being a teenager, the last Sunday at my church, the last time seeing someone before May--that sort of thing.<br /><br />Sometimes I'm thankful that I don't cry easily, because otherwise I would have been a complete emotional wreck the last week! (And other times I wish I were more emotional because it would be appropriate to cry and I just can't...haha.)<br /><br />Well, this is getting more and more random, so I think I'll sign off. I really hope to write updates here while I'm in Mexico, but I know better than to make any promises. ;)<br /><br />To any remaining, long-suffering blog readers, have a very Merry Christmas! It's cliche, I know, but do remember what we're celebrating: Christ, the Creator of the Universe, became flesh and dwelt among us!<br /><br />As my new favorite song says so beautifully, <span id="profile_status"><span id="status_text">"Down from His glory, Ever living story, My God and Savior came, And Jesus was His name. Born in a manger, To His own a stranger, A Man of sorrows, tears and agony. Oh how I love Him! How I adore Him! My breath, my sunshine, my all in all! The great Creator became my Savior..."</span></span><br /><br />Isn't it wonderful?!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1