Year in Review

I'm sitting in Subway in Orcutt (who knew they had free wifi?) listening to the P.S. I Love You soundtrack and thinking over this last year, 2008. This blog was originally going to be a lot more organized and systematic but I'm on the iPod and it's a bit of tricky business wielding this touch keyboard. So you're getting a ramble.
Let's see. I didn't make any New Year's resolutions last year because I had an amazing Chinese calendar and it was destroyed by a sibling and I was determined that it didn't bode well for the year so why bother being resolute about anything anyway? 2008 definitely was unpredictable: my first trip out of the US was definitely the landmark, though not the highlight. This year seemed so slow most of the time but has really flown by.
On Sunday at college group we talked about this one verse in Phillipians tha talks about forgetting what is behind and striving for what is ahead, and I think that's going to be most applicable for me this year. In a lot of ways, 2008 was a pretty icky year. But it's been a pretty fabulous year, too. I've learned a lot: how to decline marriage proposals from eastern European men, for example; how to survive on pretzels...(even I, the Carb Queen, wanted veggies after that!) This is the year of the Late Service. The year the college group has stopped being sad and started being awesome. The year of the advent of Alice. The year my heart was melted by a little man named Paul. The year I realized that K&K are going to be way taller than I will ever aspire to be (sad).
I'm excited for 2009- more coming soon.

The Sex is on Fire

That's right, I said it. But it's not what you think! I'm sitting at Parker's right now while he's working on some cabinets, and that's the song that came on (by Kings of Leon)...

So anywho, what's new? Not a lot, and yet the things that are changing are pretty dramatic. First thing: I have a new brother! His name is Paul, he's three, and I'm in love. The whole family's whipped, to be sure, although after a week it's interesting to see and notice the changes in family structure just by this little guy's presence. Krystine isn't the youngest anymore (I think she's probably pretty happy about it)! But also it adds a bit of stress and added responsibility over basic things, like keeping the bathroom and front doors locked- he will open the door. There's lots to say about him. Here:

Good Things About Paul:

• Cute
• Great hugs and smooches
• He's pretty good at saying my name- at least for a three year old
• Greatest little boy laugh EVER

Iffy Things About Paul:

• He bites
• He yells
• He's not toilet-trained

So that's what's new in the familia...what's new with me? I still have a boyfriend...we've been going out for a month now. There's a lot of things to be said about Parker, so here:

Good Things About Parker:

• Cute-esque
• Great hugs (and smooches. As Parker would say, "Don't worry about it.")
• He's pretty good at saying my name, except when he forgets and calls me Murray
• Numerous other little details that have me liking him a whole lot
• He is toilet-trained.
  

Iffy Things About Parker:

• He bites
• He yells
• He...hmm...yeah, that's all I got

How 'bout the gnome, eh? Little David the gnome is safe and sound...somewhere...muahaha. Last night a dramatic battle was fought between law enforcement (who was keeping the gnome hostage) and little ol' me- and let's just say I should be a cop, because justice was served! Yay. So. I'm excited because there are some surprises in store for the gnome and the Shaws- and if you'd just be patient (Parker) you'll see it all unfold and the gnome will be brought home peacefully and merrily, in the manner of Christmas.

That's all for now!

~V.L.~

It's December- Christmas is Nigh!

Wow.

I can't believe it's already this time again!

There's a whole lot more to say, and not a whole lot of time to say it, but I'm altogether excited for this month!

Main points to cover in this blog:

My birthday was terrific: gatherings with various friends, a party, a trip to Disneyland...

Disneyland was so great! They say, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder"...well, after not visiting for over four years, I'd say I'm more than fond of that happy place, especially at Christmas.

At Disneyland, I acquired a boyfriend. Well, that's the wrong word- it's not like I picked him up at a gift shop on Main Street or something- but before I went I didn't have one and afterwards I did. And I didn't ask...does that mean I was aqcuired? Hmm. Anywho. He asked and I said yes and I'm pretty darn excited.

Thanksgiving was wonderful, with friends and family at the Grandparents Leos's home. Lots of mashed potatoes- I was very thankful!

Late Service has started Christmas songs and that in itself is exciting!

The Christmas program at church is coming and I'm playing my flute and piccolo- good times!

Apparently also I'm playing my flute for a bunch of people I've never met. This makes me a little nervous.

That's it for now! Be merry!

~VL~

Cake and Kleenex

For the first time in my recollection, I was sick on my birthday. When I woke up with a sore throat and a suspicious-feeling nose, it dawned on me that sickness didn’t really care if it was my birthday or not. Everyone was still asleep, so I stayed in bed until I heard K&K wake up and they came with hugs and birthday greetings. As the morning progressed and the lunch at Chef Rick’s with the family got closer, I felt a bit better. In fact, I didn’t even need any Kleenex at lunch. After lunch, I took a nap and woke up worse than before. I ventured out of doors with Mom to go birthday shopping at Target and then dinner at Olive Garden and was completely miserable until Mom opened her in-purse pharmacy and gave me some drugs. (Also, a certain guy came by and that helped a lot…) On the way home Mom and I stopped at Starbucks to get my free birthday drink (yay for having a Starbucks Gold card!). As soon as I got home I climbed in bed and fell asleep, waking up around ten. I got online and chatted with Alice, who decided I needed get-well assistance. Less than a half hour later he was outside my door with a bag full of healing goodies. Four different kinds of chapstick, Vitamin C, throat drops (also known as miracles in wrappers), a get-well card and a gift card for iTunes. I’m pretty sure it was one of the most practical and thoughtful presents I’ve ever been given.

My day in numbers:

1 sore throat
1 unhappy nose
1 Chef Rick + 1 family + 1 quesadilla + 1 slice of amazing birthday cake + getting to blow out a candle = Happy
1 million+ Kleenex
1 whole lot of text messages
1 Cinnamon Dolce from Starbucks
1 birthday phone call from Germany
2 naps
2 bowls of hot Zuppa Toscana
3 birthday songs sung to me
3 times I saw Alice
5 birthday/get-well hugs
6 birthday phone calls from the USA
6 people I know who saw me sick in public (sorry…)
6 songs bought on iTunes today
19 years I’ve been alive

~VL~

It's Almost Two in the Morning...

...and I can't think of a title. So I'm just going to dive in and start writing before I fall asleep, wake up, and am not as motivated to write.

Things of particular note- to begin with, my little sisters' adoption anniversary was on the 4th! It's been five years now that they've officially been Leos girls, and I'm loving them more and more every day. Good ol' K & K!

Oh guess what? My birthday is in two days, and I am quite excited about it! I've already gotten some lovely presents in the mail (one of them was a Barnes & Nobles giftcard- thank you thank you thank you, Uncle Rob!), but the real excitement begins on Monday. I always have dinner with the family on my birthday, and that will be fun. Then on Thursday night I'm having a birthday dinner at Olive Garden with a bunch of friends. I can't wait!

In other news...I went on a date tonight (or last night, I should say) with Parker. The date itself was delightful (I'll come back to it in a moment). The hour and a half before that wasn't so much! I had my whole family giving me their opinion on what to wear. Think a fashionesque version of American Idol: Mom (Paula), Dad (Randy), and the dreaded Simon (Ernie). K & K liked everything. This ordeal showed me a few things, one in particular is that I need to go shoe shopping! Well, not need...but you know what I mean. I am missing my staple accesory, my go-to fashion friend- a good pair of red shoes. They pretty much never fail. Anyway, back to the date! So after deciding what to wear, I was pacing the hallway. (Yeah, I was a little nervous. I don't know why.) Mom called from the kitchen, "What kind of car does he drive?"- I told her, then: "Nope, not him." I went to the kitchen to entertain her and then he was there!

I had a really great time. First, we went to Chef Rick's, and then we went to see the new James Bond flick. Chef Rick's was pretty amazing because, besides the already delicious food, there was no one else in the restaurant for at least the first half hour! James Bond was interesting- not bad, but I definitely like Casino Royale better. (I did love the soundtrack, though.) Then, after the movie, we walked out of the theater and I saw a bunch of people that I knew. Josh and Sean (the Air Force guys, as I like to call them), Collin and his little brother, Janelle, Andrew, Ryan Flowers, my good friend Kristen, and Ashley's sister Steph and her boyfriend. Crazy. Anywho, after that we went back to my house and chatted with my dad, Ernie, and Cory a little bit and then it was time to bring the date to a close. The result of this? I am very happy, like this guy a lotta bit, and have some gorgeous roses on my dresser.

The grand finale? I went to 7-11 with Dad, there was a fist-fight in the parking lot and then a little smackdown by Art and the Sheriff's Department. Geez. I guess I really shouldn't go to 7-11 anymore.

~VL~

Not the Change I Was Looking For, But Change Nonetheless

I was very upset last night. Disappointed and a bit scared. Change has come to our country- but what kind of change and at what price? As I listened to Barack Obama's acceptance speech and saw the results of the election, I realized that he is who the people decided should run our country and be responsible for our welfare and national security. A lot of emotions were going through my mind, mostly tumultuous. I had a bit of a debate with a friend and realized that my heart was in a state of disrespect for many things that deserve my respect because God has put them there and that no matter what fears I may have and however they may be justified, there is hope, there is grace, there is love in the God that created all nations.

~VL~

Callista

Featured band of this month is Callista! Here are some reasons why:

My buddy Mikey is in the band (that's how I even heard about them)

It has some amazing piano-driven songs

The whole band is solid!

Check them out at www.myspace.com/callistamusic

Also, there's a lot more photos of last weekend's show at www.myspace.com/vmo1117

Here are some photos from their show this past Saturday.

~VL~

Halloween is Nigh

Needless to say, I am excited for Halloween! Last year I really didn't do anything, just stayed home and passed out organic "treats" to anyone who came by. They weren't too thrilled- probably thought it was a trick. Hopefully Mom has something slightly more artificial this year.

Thankfully, there are many, many options for how to spend the night this time around! I'm hoping some of the Late Service crew can get together and pass out candy (and fliers...) and party like it's hot. If not, I'm going to dress up in my costume and walk around anyway, scoring some caloricious goodness.

Hey, can you believe the fog that's been around here lately? I love it so much. If you don't live here, it's been warm but cooling down during the day and really delightfully foggy at night. The fall season is here here HERE. That means, less Slurpee, more coffee (tea when feeling the vibe). Less ice cream, more warm baked goods...maybe both...! Time to get new fall scarves and maybe a jacket, too. Yay.

So the last couple weeks have been very interesting, and I've come to realize that pretty much all of it in some way or another has a connection with a Mike, Mikey, or Michael! In the last couple weeks:

Mike left for the Army... today actually... :( I'm sad to see this guy go- but he'll be back at Christmas! Hopefully he can hop in and rock the drums at Late Service when he visits.

Mikey is really a splendid amigo. Late-night music and Denny's is the way to go, I'm just saying. Also, he gets full credit for putting me in the disco and Death Cab mood I'm currently rutted in.

Michael (Parker) is the friend I can rely on to boost my self-esteem (calling me a one-woman crime spree helps) and talk to about the fine lines of the law (did you know flicking someone can be a crime? Now that's just silly).

Shout out to the Ms! You keep my world going 'round!

Speaking of awesome people, I just love Jason and Ashley and Tyler Hylton. They rock and are funny and are cool. At the same time. Oh, and drama-free. Now that's a Godsend. All for the monthly price of...just kidding. I hope I'll get to know them better, because it isn't often you meet people who love God and are realistic and whose senses of humor just click...yay!!!

The Late Service has been going well- since Mike left, we'll have our new drummer Lee start with us this Sunday. He practiced a couple songs with us this last week, and he's a solid player, which is good. Now we just have to get to know him...he's a cool guy from the times I've talked to him. (His wife is really nice too, and I've watched their little girl before- adorable!)

Musically, the Late Service is starting to stretch my normal routines and uncool practice of not practicing what I need to on the keyboard... and I'm really happy about it. I tend to stick so much to classical that I don't practice chords, or I'll play the chords I already know and not learn any new ones! This isn't happening too much anymore, because a lot of the new songs for the Late Service are piano driven (and I don't have the base chords to begin with so I have to find it by ear which is also good for me because I'm horrible at it) and I'm determined to stretch myself to make it sound awesome and flawless. I listened to a CD copy of the Late Service and was not satisfied at all with the keys. It sounded exactly like I feel when I'm playing: like I'm using the same patterns for every chord. It's annoying and I'm going to stop it! On the other hand, for one of the new songs, I was surprised that for the first time in my life I knew exactly where the notes were on the keyboard without touching the keys- I could see it in my head. I did a little dance and almost cried. Breakthrough moment for Veralynn!

So what's going on with the flute? Well, I'll tell you. Mr. Rackley officially asked me to play in the Christmas program this last week, to which I emphatically said "Yes, please!" because one of my favorite things in the whole world is playing Christmas songs and I loved playing last year at Grace. Mikey got on me the other day for not practicing like I should, to which I wholeheartedly agree and rather shamefully apologized to my flute today about it. I'm going to clean it and start practicing my Christmas offertories pronto. I have my heart set on playing a jazz version of "We Three Kings" somewhere during the holidays. I've never dared venture into the realm of jazz with my flute before. Ah, I just love how much I don't know about music- that means I have so much more to learn and so much to enjoy and give to others.

Well, this is a HUGE blog and enough to tide you over until I think of anything I've forgotten, so I'm going to sign off now!

~V.L.~

Fools Rush In

For those of you who remain undaunted by my small font, I've been thinking it's time to post some new life to the blog. There's been no end of living, just no free time to sit and write. Now, I'm in the Academic Resource Center at Hancock (where it's almost unpleasantly chilly- not warm enough to be comfortable and stay awhile, but not quite cold enough to keep students from coming in) and I have about forty-five minutes to type.

As I have the serenades of Frank Sinatra in my ear, the title of this post has two meanings- I listen to good music, and I have the tendency to rush in to good things at the wrong time. I've been thinking so much about Christmas lately...it didn't hit me until very recently that I haven't been taking the time to enjoy Fall. I mean, I have been enjoying it (pumpkin-y goodness everywhere) but not savoring it like I'm looking forward to savoring the Christmas holidays. What to do, what to do! Walking through the Hancock campus today, I appreciated the wind (even though it's warm) and the leaves falling from the tall trees. And this is just the start!Another thing I really love about this time of the year is that my birthday lies squarely between autumn and winter. It's coming, and I'm excited. I probably won't have anything too fancy, just a good time with friends and general merrymaking. And that's enough. More than presents, it's more happy for me to have people together. Yay. But if you'd like to contribute to the Veralynn Barnes & Nobles fund, go right ahead.

Well, there's another blog brewing about the Late Service, ninjas, and Denny's, but that'll be later tonight. 'Til then, adios amigos!

~VL~

Brainspoon

Let me start off by saying that, even though Parker said I was creepy when I told him I was looking up what taxidermy is (to see what brainspoons really are), I'm not talking about anything grotesque at all- this band is one of my new faves.

When Krystie invited me to go along with her and Karyn to Ventura to see Callista and "some other bands", I had no idea what we were in for. After Callista finished playing, we saw the band setting up, and I knew we had to at least hear what they sounded like. As soon as their set started, we knew we weren't going anywhere! They were fantastic and I couldn't have been happier to see two chicks onstage- Daphne, middle on the couch above, fronts the band with her sweet vocal skills, and Michelle does backup vocals along with utter guitar amazingness! Chris (sitting next to Daphne) rocked the beat on drums, while Link Oblivion (seated, left, with an awesome name) jams on guitar and Tom plays some cool bass. Together, they were a great live performance. Afterwards, Krystie, Karyn, and I were outside and saw the band coming out of the Ventura Theater and debated for almost ten minutes whether or not to go say hello...so we walked by at least three times...so lame. I totally wish we would've, but I'm not too worried because I have a feeling I'll see them again.

The next day, I got on Myspace and hunted them up...and being the Myspace stalker I am (not really, just doing research...right?) I checked out Daphne's page to find out a little more about her. I was almost blown away by what she had in her About Me section: "I'm an artist and musician, a punk rock conservative Christian - and if you try to figure that out your head will explode...I love science and I believe in truth..." She went on to say that she's learning Chinese! CHINESE! Like me! Aaah, it's too amazing. I'm planning to write her, but I haven't decided what to say yet...

I checked out the other band members' pages also (amazin' stuff, Chris and Daphne are married by the way! That made me happy for some reason)...but the one that really got me was Daphne. I'm pretty sure she's on my list of favorite people now.

YAY for chick rockers...it gives me hope... :)

~VL~

The Weir

So, last night Eric, Krystie, and I went to PCPA to see The Weir. It's a contemporary play set entirely in a pub in Ireland (I'd never seen before a play with only one scene used in the entire performance!). It was held in the Severson Theater, which is much cozier than the Marian Theater- the audience surrounds the stage in a horseshoe shape (the stage is level with the entrance to the theater and some audience members actually walk across the stage to get to their seats) with three sections and only four rows deep in each section. We had really nice seats in the third row of the center section. The play started, and we were entertained by the witty conversation of Jack, Brendan, Jim, Finbar, and Valerie throughout the progression of the evening. One website puts it well: "As four friends enter on a winter's night for a drink and a chat, they are joined by a young woman from Dublin who has just bought an old house in the village. After some craic, they begin telling stories with a supernatural element, each of which becomes increasingly disturbing. The end result of these stories is the revealing of intimate and personal details of each character's lives, something none of them expected to happen."
This was a great way for me to get some insight into contemporary-set plays, as I've never really seen any (mostly classical or "classic" theater). I loved it. Also, one of my favorite PCPA actors was in it (Andrew Philpot)- yay! This is one for the scrapbooks, and I'm definitely planning on volunteering this season at the theater.
Good times!

~VL~

It's October!

That's right folks, the pathway to the holidays. We've only just walked through the gate and are now beginning our saunter down the lane that leads past the excitement of Halloween, my birthday (although that doesn't matter as much to you) and the comfort of Thanksgiving straight into the excitement, joy, and good cheer of the Christmas holidays and into the New Year! It makes me excited just thinking of it. Everything pumpkin is tempting and delightful and right this time of year. Soon, the scents of cinnamon will be prevalent in stores and homes, and that will be the ultimate delight for me, as cinnamon is my favorite scent- right next to respectable old books and fresh baked goods!

The weather is cloudy and wonderful- I'm hoping for a full-out rain soon.

Oh!- and I've decided what I'm going to be for Halloween- Juno! Don't you steal my idea, it will be amazing and I will be able to use her sarcasm to full effect. :)

'Til later!

~VL~

Let It Snow (Parmesan) Baby, Let it Reindeer (Sausage)

If Matt Thiessen ever is really bored (which I doubt he is) and happens to read my blog (which I doubt he would), I am talking about pizza. Why? I don't know...I just wanted to show off my flashy phrase, I thought of it yesterday when Krystie and I were at Me-n-Ed's Pizzeria, although it would be more fitting for Klondike's...yes, anyway...

To start off, I just need to say that yesterday was a gorgeous day. Gorgeous! Fluffy white and gray clouds in the sky, a nice breeze, and the sun warm to contrast the cool breeze. It was an utterly satisfying departure from the normal Santa Maria bare blue sky and still warm air.

Let's recap the last week, shall we? Hmm, I forgot the last time I wrote, but last Thursday was Eric's birthday...then Saturday Krystie and I took him to Chef Rick's and surprised him in the afternoon with a party at Waller Park. It was lots of fun (I have pictures on my Myspace and Facebook). Then almost immediately after Krystie, Karyn, and I drove down to Ventura at supersonic speed to catch a show at the Ventura Majestic Theater. There were a lot of bands there, but the main highlights were seeing Venomous Voices (actually a hip-hop act, if you can believe it), Callista (the reason Krystie and Karyn were there), and Brainspoon (my personal favorite). It was awesome. I'll write more about them later.

Actully, going to go for now but will write more later as I have a whole lot more to say.

~VL~

Staring at the Ceiling Fan

You may think, "How boring!" but at the moment my room is a welcome retreat from the week and the coming weekend. Yesterday was Eric's birthday, so Krystie and I spent the day with him to celebrate...but the real festivities are tomorrow! Chef Rick's for lunch will be so tasty. Then later on Krystie and I are going down to Ventura to see seven bands...seven! I only know one of them, Callista...and Krystie just introduced me to them. Sunday will be non-stop hectic like always.
Yesterday and today are also noteworthy because I got to talk to two friends- David, from Australia, and Uli, from Germany- on the phone! It's been a while, and even though we write consistently, it was so good to hear their voices!
Well, I better get going- tonight I'm giving my first piano lesson! Krystie's excited too...I think...she's my guinea pig... :)

Still wishing for that rain!

~VL~

The Comic Says it All

Well, like the title (and the comic), you may assume the same thing about an English degree. I'd agree with you...mostly. Except now I'm seriously considering it for my degree from Hancock. Why the heck would I do that, you may ask? Well, I want to graduate this year...and the core classes for International Studies just look tedious. Two economics, one world geography, one business, and two history course? It would be the definition of misery, forcing myself through those subjects, even if only for a short while. But English is more than fun to me- I love it. And, it gives me plenty of room to take my required Math class sometime within the next two terms (winter and spring). So yay. I can totally do this.
In my anthropology class this week, I've been seriously motivated to do some research on possible careers in the linguistics/anthropology/languages realm. This class has been very fun so far, but nothing compared to the way I lit up when we started discussing linguistics on Monday. After class I discussed this with my teacher, Pat, and he had to break it to me that unless I'm a female contemporary of Noam Chomsky, I'd likely find my career in academia. This proves interesting to me- I never have felt like I'd enjoy teaching. But it's something to think about.
Well, it's off to history class pour moi- I really like the teacher, and the topics we're covering are very interesting. I found pre-college history material banal (you can take that one of two ways), since there's only so many ways you can write a grade school, middle school, and high school textbook...but this college one (1877 to the present) is quite handy in size and writing style.
After class, it's off to Lompoc with Krystie to see Eric and maybe Mike. Ah, the socialite I am becoming...not.

~VL~

Tra La La

For those consistent readers out there (hi Grandma), I thought it would be good to write a bit of an update to keep you all in the loop. I really haven't been up to much today- all the stress from this week boiled up to the weekend, so I did absolutely nothing besides homework, read, and listen to Christopher Parkening (glee!). Oh, and I've been doing a bit of thinking too. About "seas and ships and sealing wax, and cabbages and kings" (now you know one of the books I was reading today...). Meaning it was all random, but all important to stop and think about nonetheless. For example, bends in the road of Life. I don't want to get too artsy here (I'm all prose, really- to be poetic goes against my nature and probably my scope of abilities). But life isn't exactly at a high point right now.

I'll elaborate more soon.

Something's Wanting...

...And I can tell you exactly what it is- a good storm. As David said today, "I'm not surprised. A storm to clean everything away, like a spring clean to make everything anew." I just crave one so badly! It's been too sunny, too warm. The last few days it's been slightly better, the sky staying more gray and cloudy longer...but I want rain (yes, Mom, I have the "I want-sies")! Guess it's time to go back to Germany...sigh. Or Colorado, apparently-Gary just told me that it's pouring rain there. Grr...
On the upper hand, my favorite time of year is coming- autumn and winter! Thanksgiving and Christmas! Pumpkin and cinnamon! I'm so happy, and I won't lie- I'm listening to Matt Thiessen croon some Christmas tunes right this instant (don't judge me, I can start the holiday tunage whenever I want!). In two months and six days it will be my birthday- ten days after that will be Thanksgiving- then I can "officially" bust out with the holiday goods! Oh I love it.

Here are some photos that have done my soul good today...

Finally Settling In, A Surprise, and an Aspiration

So I've finally settled in to a general routine of school and work for this semester. Getting up, catching the bus (my least favorite part of the day), going to class, studying in the Student Center, seeing the occasional familiar face, catching the bus, and going home. Mondays and Wednesdays I have Cultural Anthropology, Logic, and U.S. History 1877 to the present... Tuesdays and Thursdays I have Personal Nutrition. A pretty exciting course load, and it should be easily taken care of as long as I'm on my toes in regards to getting homework done... I do hate homework...however, I can keep it up, because...dun dun dun...
I get to graduate from Hancock this year! I just checked with my counselor and it's official- International Studies! I'm excited. I'll have to put the pedal to the metal in terms of taking classes over the winter, and taking a heavy load (18 units) in the spring, but it should work out perfectly.
So, with all this craziness, you'd probably figure that diving back into academia in the summer would be the furthest thing from my list of to-dos. Au contraire, mes amis! I'm hoping to take on a seven-week summer program at Harvard to study Chinese. I've had somewhere in the back of my mind the idea of taking at least some sort of course at an Ivy League school but alas, don't nearly have the funds or the resume. So, it's hi-ho, off to Harvard I go next summer- maybe...

~VL~

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that..." - Martin Luther King

My mom sent me this article today (I've put the site directly under the article). I think it took a lot of courage and determination for Dr. Alveda King to stand in the Democratic Convention (I've been watching it off and on in the Student Center at Hancock- it's intense!) surrounded by screaming, enthusiastic Democrats, and flat-out denounce a liberal "right." If she can stand in a crowd of that size with thousands of people who blatantly disagree with her, I for one find it extrememely encouraging to use her example and take courage to talk to maybe even one person.

MINNEAPOLIS - The niece of the Martin Luther King, Jr. has used the Democratic Party convention in Denver this week to denounce abortion, which she calls a violation of civil rights.

Alveda King, who traveled to Denver this week during the Democratic Party convention, notes that the party's platform does not recognize the life of the unborn to be a civil right. And she says while the Democrats have reached out to Christian voters, she wants to remind those Christians that the Bible supports the rights of all people -- and "that includes the pre-born," she adds.

Yesterday, King released a statement honoring the 45th anniversary of her uncle's "I Have a Dream" speech. She described MLK as a man of God, a man of great compassion, and a man of non-violence who once said "the Negro cannot win as long as he is willing to sacrifice the lives of his children for comfort and safety."

As King put it yesterday, "I know in my heart that if Uncle Martin were alive today, he would join with me in the greatest civil rights struggle of this generation -- the recognition of the unborn child's basic right to life. My uncle Martin would agree that we cannot end poverty, hunger, or suffering by killing those who might suffer. We cannot claim to guarantee equal rights if we deny the rights of the helpless. And we cannot feign ignorance of the fact that those who are torn apart, crushed, or left to die on an abortionist's table are just as human as we are."

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=232656

Hancock

So, the semester has officially started.

My first class was at 11 a.m. (Cultural Anthropology), and it went really nicely. Nice people, funny teacher. I'd say under 35, definitely a gamer, loves lecturing because he can say whatever he wants and everyone has to listen. He cracked mostly lame jokes but had a couple golden ones. Favorite quote of the day: "I don't like those Frappacrappalinos...but I do like World of Warcraft."

My second class was originally in the K building but was moved to the W building...how retarded is that?? Anywho, I met a guy who was also in Logic, so we walked together to the W building...I forget his name and feel so stupid...anywho, he works at Klondike's! That's cool already. So we get to class and most everyone is still coming in...and another guy from Klondike's is there too. Then the teacher gets there, and the first thing he says is, "This is going to be a hard class. Hard, do you get me?" So everyone has a shocked look on their face...he was just really realistic but said, "If you don't miss a class, if you let me help you, and you do the work, you will pass." So. I want to ace it. Favorite quote of the day: "I have a nasty habit; I should tell you all now. I will call on you. I will pick you apart and get in your face. I'm going to be nasty about it if need be." (This, I have a feeling, is going to be painful, but I imagine the amount learned will be worth it.)

After that class I walked to the Student Center and met Steff- she brought me a Coke Slurpee (what a nicey!)- and we talked for a while about our classes...it was really nice! Then she left, and I've just been sitting here on AIM and blogging here. Also, listening to this awesome new song Alek introduced me to (and I introduced to Jason, who loves it as much as I do...)! It's 80s-ish rock but instead of a singer, they have a yodeler. It rocks. Haha.

More later after my other classes!

~VL~

Veralynn's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

I'm actally quite a big baby. This day could've been a lot worse in a lot of ways. But for some reason, it was all the little things that were really rubbing me the wrong way today. Like poor Alexander. It wasn't a huge event that made the day irksome, just a bunch of little stings and annoyances.
Emily had surgery today...she's been discharged from the hospital and is recovering at home with her parents tonight. The doctor told that she must stop smoking, or the issue will progress to a major issue in three years. (But when the nurse was wheeling her outside, the first thing she did was grab for cigarette...oy!)
Mom and I spent the day in and out of the hospital. This is when things got a little irksome. First, there was the most annoying "news" show I've ever seen in my entirely limited experience of news programs. Every story was magnified times a thousand (at least), an annoying panel of a psychologist, a lawyer, and some other guy yelled at each other and the host of the show (the only woman) with conflicting ideas. I almost wanted to call up those peeps (they had a number for viewers to call in and put their two cents in) and tell them to "shut their freakin' gobs" (a la Juno), because while the news itself was certainly interesting and thought-provoking, the commentary was obnoxious and absolutely pointless. No wonder lots of people don't want to watch the news. Three hours of that and I felt if I heard that woman's voice one more time I would punch a wall. I'm really glad we weren't there for much longer- the only upside to being there was to comfort Emily and be comforted by the occasional good-looking male nurse (speaking of which, my mom whacked my arm for having a look on my face when a McDreamy-esque nurse walked by. How rude.)
We stepped out of the hospital for a half hour to run to the college bookstore to grab some textbooks for my classes (I'm taking Cultural Anthropology, Theories of Personality, Logic, U.S. History 1865 to the Present, and Geography), only to discover that some of them were completely new to the bookstore and not available used, and that some were only available new due to a limited quantity of used books...anywho, it looked like I didn't have enough moolah for what I needed. I wound up being very stressed due to a couple phone calls and wanted to conveniently knock myself unconscious with my Philosophy textbook.
There's some other things weighing on my mind that I can't really share here either, but heavy they are, and contributing to my Day (capitalized for a reason). Hopefully tomorrow is better. For now, listening to some music and staring at my ceiling fan.

~VL~

Starbucks

I must be incredibly bored and/or tired to not come up with a better title for this...

Anywho, I'm sitting in Starbucks right now waiting for Cassie so we can have a great chat. Meanwhile, I'm sitting here laughing because a huge group of ladies from church just walked in and each have looked at me but none of them recognize me. I'm incognito! Oh darn. Never mind, I've been spotted...

I'm so bored! I think this is the most random blog I have ever posted. Ooh, I know what I can talk about: it's Deja's birthday. The big 2-0. What an oldie. I think we're going to Red Robin for dinner to celebrate. Yay. I hope it's a good one, for her sake. It's the last one she'll be able to celebrate without a little person to worry about...

Okay, packing up the laptop- Cassie's almost here and I want to be technology-free for our chat.

Ugh, there is a guy in here with a very spiffy Apple aqua laptop and he's giving me dirty looks. What's his problem?

~VL~

"Darn You, Green Grass!"

These are the words from Uli's email that got me laughing the other day. Talking about how the grass is always greener on the other side. Once you get to the other side, you still don't have what you think you need! This photo fits perfectly to this concept, which is also sadly relevant to my life at this point.
Once again, I won't be going to Master's. It seemed so close; that taunting grass looks ever so green there... the fruit of knowledge and biblical learning just out of reach! I could almost taste it, could almost feel it. But nope. Not yet. Maybe not ever?
The disappointment stings more each time I attempt Master's and never quite make it. Is this a hint? If so, where am I supposed to go? Maybe I'm not supposed to move at all. Cringe. Why my natural instinct is to cringe at staying in Santa Maria I have no idea. The ministry opportunities here are certainly numerous and awesome... there is a college here (although to me, it is the Black Hole of Santa Maria...even more of a possible trap than the town itself...!), and potential jobs...my family is here (biological and church). So- why?
I think I'm scared. As Deja said recently, "For people our age, staying in Santa Maria usually means one of two things: you either get pregnant, or you get hooked on drugs. We have the highest teen pregnancy rate in the country and, I think, the longest red lights. While you're at a red light you have enough time to conceive or get high. That's my theory." People you'd least expect are susceptible to this theory- I've seen that in abundance in the past couple years. And I don't want to think that I'm any more stronger in willpower than the next girl, although I may be. But that has nothing to do with myself alone; it is grace.
So it looks like I'm back to flirting with Allan Hancock while waiting to get serious with the Master. That sounds bad...

~VL~

Those Words Are Not Enough

I'm liking this picture a lot...I'm always on the hunt for some awesome photo! Today it's summing up a lot of emotions, feelings, and situations that are going on with me: appreciation for God's creation (especially the ocean, sun, and cool breezes), discipline of body, and joy. Maybe this guy on the left isn't jumping for joy... but that's what I feel looking at it. In this next photo (below), I see freedom. The expression of happiness is definitely an emotion I'd like

 to duplicate right now (complete with glorious green field and deep blue sky). However, I don't think running through the apartment right now would adequately do the job. Time to find a field... I totally know where one is, too... but it's in Germany...!  Okay, so what's up with all this photo-expressing-how-I-feel business? Well, I'm not sure can really come up with any words right now. When I try to come up with words when I don't really have any, I ramble and that's unprofitable for everyone. So I have pictures today. Oh, and a song.

Ocean

Ten Shekel Shirt

Lately, I've been thinking about You

And lately, I've been dreaming of You

And lately, I can't get You out of my head

Get You out of my head

Something about the ocean

Makes  me rise up and praise;

Something about the heavens

Makes me stand in awe again.

Something about the sunrise

Reminds me of Your faithfulness;

Something about the ocean

And I'm lost in love again.

I'll sing until I sense a smile

Upon Your great and lovely face

And 'til I know Your glory's in this place

Your glory's in this place.

Okay, a little journaling (with words now)! Yesterday after babysitting I went into Starbucks (they're starting to learn my name and automatically punched in my Iced Black Tea in the register yesterday! Uh oh...). Pulling into the parking lot, I saw Cassie's car. When I walked in, Tiffany was there as well! I was really excited, not having talked in-depth with either one of them for a while. Well, Cassie and Tiffany were having a talk, so I put my headphones in and listened to music. A couple times, though, I couldn't help but watch the conversation with no sound. I'm sure that Tiffany is one of the most beautiful people I know, inside and out. Her love for others and willingness to be there, her personality, her love for her family...her encouragement and sense of humor! Our youth group and church is so blessed to have her serving alongside James in ministry. Cassie and I, over time, have come to very similar places in life. So eventually I joined in the conversation and was really encouraged and blessed by both Tiffany and Cassie. Actually, Cassie and I went to Applebee's to catch up and have a general gabfest...I hope we're able to do it again. It was really encouraging to have a someone on the same level and place in life, with the same struggles, to talk with. And, of course, Tiffany to help advise us and laugh at us a bit! Always good.

To end, today I was reading Psalm 65, and verses five through eight have been on my mind all day. 

5) By awesome deeds in righteousness You will answer us,

O God of our salvation,

You who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth.

And of the far-off seas;

6) Who established the mountains by His strength,

Being clothed with power;

7) You who still the noise of the seas,

The noise of their waves,

And the tumult of the peoples.

8) They also who dwell in the farthest parts are afraid of Your signs;

You make the outgoings of the morning and evening rejoice. 

Song of the Moment: Switchfoot- You

There's always something in the way

There's always something getting through

But it's not me

It's You, it's You

Sometimes ignorance rings true

But hope is not in what I know

It's not in me

It's in You, it's in You

It's all I know

It's all I know

It's all I know

I find peace when I'm confused

I find hope when I'm let down

Not in me, me

in You, it's in You

I hope to lose myself for good

I hope to find it in the end

Not in me, me in You

In You

It's all I know

It's all I know

It's all I know

In You, In You

It's in You, it's in You

There's always something in the way

There's always something getting through

But it's not me

It's You

it's You, it's You

Back to the Same Ol' Thing

God has really shown me lately that my life needs to be straightened up and out. There are so many little things I've let slip in my daily walk with Him- who I let myself get close to in friendship has been a big one; also, giving. When Pastor Duane and James were talking at fourth service about giving two weeks ago, it was like the Holy Spirit was knocking me upside the head with a baseball bat. Had my conscience gotten so dull that I hadn't even thought about it? No...it was a blatant disregard for God's sovereignty over that aspect of my life. I'd been so worried about how the money would appear to finish my degree at Master's that I somehow felt the need to take it into my own hands and just save everything that was coming in. Yet it was okay for me to buy other little things, like a song on iTunes, or a movie ticket? I felt the conviction. I made the appropriate changes, but I still struggle with God's sovereignty in regards to Master's. You'd think a school who's very name reflects our Master would help, but I need God's constant reminders to me that He's in charge of everything- even student loans and the future of a worried college student. 

As for friendship, I'm having a pretty rough time. As humans we crave companionship, but our sinful nature longs for a "friend" who tells us that our sin is okay, because we're "good people"... or not as bad as some. That's what I've been overwhelmed with. I don't want to be the friend that lets everything slip and at the end of the day says you're walking side by side with God. I can't do it. And I don't want friends to tell me that if it isn't true.

I'll write more later.

 

Having a Mona Lisa Smile

Mona Lisa Smile is one of my favorite movies ever. It's one those movies that gets me thinking...especially with my last post, you know it's been on my mind. It's just that this film really goes through the choices that young women make regarding home and family versus career. One thing Julia Robert's character Katherine Watson kept stressing was, "You can do both," yet I think the main message was summed up by one of the producers: Choose- and when someone else chooses, respect that decision. There is no solid right answer for everyone, no formula. For example, one of the characters (Joan, played by Julia Stiles) was the head of her class, was admitted early to Yale Law School...yet chose to elope and become a housewife. She said to Ms. Watson, "Do you think I'll wake up one morning and regret not being a lawyer?" Katherine replied, "Yes Joan, I'm afraid you will." To this, Joan exclaimed, "Not as much as I'll regret not having a family! I want a home, I want a family- that's not something I'll sacrifice." The key there is regretting not as much. It's a matter of priority- what is more important to us as individuals? That's what the Mona Lisa smile is about- it's the smile of mysterious, yet satisfied smile.

For me, I know that I would always regret not having a family. But I'm trusting in God's timing. That's the best part. There is hope and peace there. A little impatience, too (I'm not going to lie). But it's all good. I'm sincerely enjoying where I'm at and where I'm going!

Getting Hitched

Yeah, I forgot to tell you all...just kidding. I'm not talking about myself. I've been thinking about this recently since seeing pictures of a few girls I know in white dresses walking down the aisle...and tomorrow yet another girl I know is saying "I do." Whitney! It's really exciting to watch it all come together and soon I'll see her name change on Facebook, too...aww, me all sentimental. Oh well, this blog isn't all about Whitney, either...she is my intro into and illustration to the real topic- the MRS degree (she and I were talking about it indirectly on Facebook the other day!).

Many people I've met have smirked upon hearing that I'm going to Master's. Why? Because I suppose Master's has a reputation for being a general hitching post for some years... but it's still funny to think that some people assume that a girl's only going to college to "catch a man," as they say in the Anne of Green Gables series. (Did you know for probably around the same price on the Internet, I could mail order a husband? Steff showed me...aaah!!!) Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to see who God brings me together with in marriage...but that isn't why I chose Master's. That isn't why I go to church, either (someone asked!). Knowing me, it'll probably be entirely unpredictable, meeting him neither at church nor Master's. But who knows, right? I'm just thrilled to see what happens as it's happening. Even being a planner, I'm really perfectly happy knowing I can't control who God has in my future. Well, I can to an extent...but you see what I mean? Do you think I'll know who he is when I first see him? Probably not.

So, college! I'm thrilled to be an Intercultural Studies major. How God will use me with it, I have no idea. I think it's better that way! I was talking to one of my dad's friends at church last Sunday, and he asked me if I had ever considered Intercultural Studies with an emphasis in the medical field. To be honest, I'd vaguely thought about it, but never really looked into it. I'm planning on it, though. Wouldn't that be cool to blend my love for travel and othe cultures with my interest in Nursing? I think so.

Speaking of other cultures, Deutschland beat Portugal in soccer yesterday! I really, really miss the competitive atmosphere of soccer in Germany...it's all or nothing- I love it better than football here (sorry Tennessee family...)! I think the first thing that will always come to mind when I think of German soccer is the day I sat next to Oliver Kahn in Starbucks...I won't forget him, that's for sure! With that kind of face, he inspires the competitive spirit and German pride. Besides the fact that if you shot a bullet in his direction he'd probably catch it.

That's it for now...just reminiscing and anticipating the future!

I've Been Douped

(Take the title for what it's worth- it fits...)

So Relient K is having this online scavenger hunt to promote their new CD "The Birds and the Bee Sides"- and today I joined in on the fun. The rewards? Five free songs from the new CD before it's released on July 1. Today I won the song "Hope for Every Fallen Man". As soon as the intro started playing I knew I would enjoy yet another lyrical wonder by Matt Thiessen...but I had no idea how applicable the lyrics are for my life right now.

The whole thing I'm trying to connect this to is probably pretty obvious to people who know what's been going on with me in the last few months. For someone I cared so much about, things sure changed fast. I thought I had things pretty much figured out- what happened, and what was happening now. Not really. Sunday was a day of revelation- the news was broken to me that we (meaning me and whatshisname) weren't even friends anymore. That hurt like nothing else: to me, friendship isn't something that ends when you hit a rough patch. The same goes with love. So Sunday was a hard day. After fourth service I was at home, upset, and I thought, "Hmm. I wonder if he ever had a blog." I knew what he would name it if he did, and so I typed it in. I honestly thought it would come up as invalid, but it didn't. Entries all the way from the beginning of December told me I had not a clue what was going on. And it was worse than I could imagine. Worse, when I asked him about it, he said he felt "violated," that he did nothing wrong, and that he didn't want to talk about it. That's when I realized: there is absolutely no way things will ever go back to where they were, and I was glad. God knew what He was doing when he stepped in and intervened (also pointing out that neither one of us is exactly to blame). Even though he was upset to be found out, I'm sincerely glad that I found that blog- otherwise I might've gone my whole life wondering. Now, I'm supposed to pretend like I don't know he exists. So I'm not going to talk about "him" anymore. I don't know who he is.

Love vs. Hate: Does Love Really Conquer All? Hmm...

I had to send my precious baby iPod Touch to Apple for a replacement yesterday. It was somewhat of an emotional release, knowing I'll never have that exact iPod again...I mean, we went to Germany together. We flew the flights, took the S-Bahn and U-Bahn, shared with friends, exprienced the German cold and rain (although safely protected in my purse)...we went to Tennessee together...we were traveling buddies! We've survived many long car and trains rides in California. Boys have come and gone, but my iPod never fails to shuffle to the most (sometimes hilariously) appropriate song for any mood or situation. (I am by no means suggesting an iPod replaces a boyfriend. No way! It just...helps...) This gift of God has given me unexpected glee ("Hey, I get WiFi in Del Taco!") and hours of entertainment. Needless to say...I still don't like Apple. How does this work, when I view Apple as the Bane of All Mankind? Well, it's a love-hate relationship...mostly hate though.

Here's how my phone call with Apple ended when telling them that my iPod was broken.

Them: "Ma'am, do you use a Mac computer?"

Me: "No, I use a Dell."

Them: "XP?"

Me: "No, Vista."

Them: "Vissstaaaa..." *snickering in background*

Me: "Yeah, well if your crap didn't suck I wouldn't be having this conversation with you."

Okay, so I didn't say the last line...but I thought it.

Here's to a (hopefully) longer-lasting iPod.

"You're going to see WHAT?"

Last night, Deja and I went to see a movie. A movie that some might find questionable just by the title alone- Sex & the City: The Movie. When my dad asked what movie we were going to see, I told him- when Ernie asked after I got home, I told him too. I recevied the same reaction from both: a grunt and a, "Whatever." I told my thoughts to Deja, "It's not any worse than saying a movie was called Sex and 300 or Sex and the Notebook!" At this comment, Deja burst out laughing. But it's true...from HBO's point of view, who's going to watch a TV show or movie called, "The City"? You may ask, "But isn't there sex in it?" Yes, there is (you won't find many movies today that don't). But that is not the main focus point of the show. Sex is the lure, plot is the catch. So, what's so catchy about it? It's the separate and very different lives of Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda brought together by the city and solidified by nearly twenty years of friendship.
Is there anything biblical to be learned here? Of course! And something positive, at that. Ecclesiastes 4:10 says: "If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" How true!
There are a lot of other lessons to be learned from a movie like Sex & the City, but friendship is the one I've appreciated most as a viewer. Friends are wonderful- true friends, those who are with you through good and bad, are treasures.

A Day For the Mental Scrapbook

Today was a happy day. Firstly, I got to have my call with the Registrar's Office at Master's to get all my classes set in stone...only my brilliant plan of having all my classes on Monday/Wednesday/Friday failed miserably- I have classes every day. (But thankfully they end fairly early in the afternoon! That leaves time open for a part-time job to help out with tuition/living expenses.) But alas! I have discovered my major- Biblical Studies with an emphasis in Intercultural Studies. Does that not sound perfect? Also, there's an option to get the TESOL certification, so I plan on taking advantage of that! Within the Intercultural Studies major I also get to take either Greek or Hebrew...it's sounding more perfect by the minute. And I'm minoring in Music. Yippee.
Back to my happy day. After my call with Master's, I called Grandma Joyce to tell her all about it- the cool things about that are (a) I love talking in general, and (b) Grandma lets me talk a lot and always has good advice after I spill everything so...I'm glad she has her voice back! I think she's one of the few (very, very few) people who actually like me talking. (I love you, Grandma...)
After my second call of the day, I set in on Geography 101. Not so fun, but it must be done...yeah, I just took my first exam online and missed passing it by one question...d'oh!!!
In between phone calls and geography, I played with Krystal and Krystine, who were in high spirits today. They get me giggling, let me tell you. Krystal asks funny questions ("What if everyone in the world got to be on TV? What would you do or say? I'd pretend to be eating something." ???) and Krystine makes funny faces. We mess around at the table and play ridiculous songs on my keyboard. They dress up in my clothes. I laugh. Good times with my two favorite little sisters...
After Dad got home from work today, we went to Black Forest Bakery. It was surprisingly like taking a mini-step back to Germany. Baked goods on the right, German groceries on the left (they actually have those yummy German potato mixes- not mashed potatoes, not a baked potato...they're kind of like potato balls...kartoffelknödel, that's it!). My dad and I got chocolate eclairs- they only have pretzels and pretzel rolls (Charissa!) on Saturdays- and looked at the different German foods. I will definitely go back on Saturday for a pretzel roll- and I will take a picture, Charissa...
When Ernie got back from youth group, the Slurpee Gang (sans Cory and Antonio)- AKA Dad, Ernie, and I- went to 7-11 and filled up and headed home. Now I'm lying in bed, typing my day for you to read, because it was a very good day!
If anyone wants to get a pretzel on Saturday, let me know!

Finally...

So I have some big ol' news. I have a job! As in regular employment! It turns out, the place that didn't advertise online, didn't have any signs up, and I went into randomly for an application hired me in the end! Who is the mystery company...well, it's in the mall...and I'll now be able to feed my fetish for smelling like Warm Vanilla Sugar. Bath & Body Works! I've worked two days since being hired and I really enjoy it. Plus, when the June Sale starts June 2, I get to wear jeans to work. How amazing is that...and how amazing is it that I have a job? It isn't to my credit at all...God obviously brought me in there...and...the girl that hired me went to Master's. That has me shaking my head in wonder...how do these things happen??

In other news, my telephone advising appointment for Master's is coming up next week...I'm pretty thrilled, to say the least. It'll be great setting those awesome classes in stone for the fall semester. So far I have New Testament Survey, Music & Art for Musicians, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, Intro to Philosophy, and Biblical Fundamentals. I'm on a waitlist for OT Survey and I have yet to figure out which instrument I will be taking lessons for- flute or oboe? Yeah, no clue.

I have a bunch o' time to write right now, but my brain just died. More later.

A Random Rant About Nothing In Particular

So it’s really nice that Aunt Betty got me a pretty journal to write in, but typing here is so much more convenient for long rants...
Last night I went to 7-11 with Steff. She is a great person- I love her individuality and laid-back personality (her hair is crazy- I love it!). We both didn’t really want anything to eat, so we grabbed two Arizona Green Teas. While we were grabbing our drinks, some guys came in from Righetti. I noticed right away one guy in particular I had thought was really cute throughout the semester but knew would never even look at me. (He didn’t.) These guys all knew Steff but that “one guy” looked right at me and said, “Hey.” I turned around quickly. Jerk. I heard his friends nudge him and say, “Ooh…burn!” and I smiled happily as Steff and I went to the counter to pay. The guys hollered their goodbyes to us as we pushed the door open, stepping out into the cool coastal night. As we laughed and headed towards Steff’s car, I wondered: why did he notice me now? Was it because I had my newer clothes on? My knit cap with the flower on the side? My bag slung messenger-style over my shoulder? My hair with the little piece of blonde showing in my ponytail? What? I just didn’t understand. All these things were new, but I was still me… Then I thought about it: at Righetti, I couldn’t care less what I wore. I couldn’t care less about Righetti in general. My eyebrows were thinner, my hair almost always thrown into a not-quite-trendy version of the sloppy bun. Is it that all those things, when corrected together, make a much more appealing version of myself? Better eyebrows, cuter outfit, new hairstyle? Shallow, but probably true. The thing is, people do judge a book by its cover whether they admit it or not. As JD would’ve said, it’s “discernment.” Golly…it’s going to be an interesting life if that’s the case. I mean, I might have a cute boyfriend if wore cuter outfits. I could think of cute outfits all the day long if I had the clothes to put them together with. And if I had the money to buy the clothes…and if I had the job to earn the money…the Circle of Life, eh? (Note: the last few lines said with dripping sarcasm.)
Changing the subject slightly, I feel like Nancy Drew after solving a great mystery. I’ve discovered who’s been sending me slightly amorous Honesty Box messages…and I’m not telling. But if you’re reading this, Mr. Honesty Box Man…I’m on to you!

Completely Illogical= Totally Me

I'm back from Tennessee, I'm looking for jobs...and BAM. I get sick. Why this is, I do not know. My voice is almost completely gone and I really want to go out with Mrs. Giorgi today. Ha, we'll see how that goes. When my voice goes up slightly, my voice squeaks. I can't yell! This sucks. I suggest if you have any riffs with me, now would be the time to get 'em out. I can't defend myself!
Yesterday was Hannah's going away party...there were lots of people there that I haven't seen in a long time. Amanda, Carl, the very first guy I ever danced with at a Civil War dance who left me mid-dance because he didn't understand the steps...(Oh yeah...that was embarrassing.) It was nice to see them...didn't really talk to them, though. I always feel slightly awkward at these parties, especially now. I never really fit in with the groups within the youth/college group. I'm really disconnected...and that's due in part to the fact that a once-trusted friend told one-person-who-told-all-his-friends that I said some hurtful things about him and a person that means a lot to him. I don't even want to defend myself- it isn't worth the effort...because if you think that I said something (and heard it from one of your close friends), I'm not going to convince you otherwise. Situations like these make it easier to understand Jesus when He was on trial with all kinds of totally false accusations...and He never said a word in His own defense. With me, it's not that I'm blameless- it's the fact that no one came and even asked me if what they heard was true.

To be continued, Mrs. Giorgi is coming!

Life Doesn't Leave Much Time for Blogging...

Wow. I've been home for a while and haven't written yet. You see, between job searching, college planning, stalker avoiding, and friends, I just haven't had enough time to visit my old friend the blog. Now I've been in Tennessee and I'm just now finding enough free time to write.
To begin with, my problem child is home. Emily! She doesn't mind that I'm writing because she knows it's true. To be truthful, it's been a rocky road since seeing her again and it's probably been around a month since she's been back in S.M. I'm here for her, always, but I can't be as involved as I was before. I felt like a parent- like I was building her up and encouraging her and she still messed up. Like she only would call me when she was in a jam. This time I'm here for her but from a much more detached point of view. I don't feel like it should be that way...but I just can't help it.
Next, college. I'll hopefully be at Master's in the fall. Financially I have some knots to untangle, but it's nothing too crazy. I'm excited for the dorm rivalry (Hotchkiss forever...!) and can't wait to jump in to studies.
I miss Germany! I really did love it there. But since going my appetite for travel has increased a lot. Hopefully I'll get to travel again soon...Australia is next!!!
That's about it for now! Time to get ready for American Idol. :)

Sweet Home California

I'm back home and will post something soon. For now, trying to sleep. :)

Deutschland!

I'm in Germany!!! Aaaahh!!!!
So.
Check out my new blog.

www.munchendiaries.blogspot.com

Okay, I've got to spill the news.

I'm going to Germany!

I've been so busy planning all day and all this knowledge is building up inside me and I'm just so excited and nervous at the same time it's crazy. It seems like my dreams are coming true. I'm actually going to travel to a foreign country. And not only that, but study and live there for almost eight months! It's intense to think about. I never had Germany on my list of places to go, or German on my list of languages to learn. But there you go- God is leading me there.

I'll be living with a German family run by a single mom, Katinka. She has two children: a son, Vincent (9), and a daughter, Amadea (6). They live in Gauting, right outside of Munich. I'll be attending an intensive language course in Munich- it is about 3 months long and goes for five to six hours every day! Katinka says I should be fluent in German by the time I return home at the end of August.

What will I experience? What will I learn? Who will I meet? My heart and mind are opening to this idea of "a whole new world...!" [Breaks into song] Oh, I crack myself up. But I'm bursting with excitement.

I should be leaving on the 28th of January! Aaaaahhhh!

Did I mention I'm excited?