The Pink Curb Tack Shop

Enough is Enough

2007-06-19T21:46:00.000-07:00

Sorry guys. It's been reeeeeaaaally long. So basically my life in the last almost two months. School ended. Went home. Helped Bob fix our house after the flood. Got a car. Drove across the country with Bob. Got a job as a handicapped attendee for a four year old boy with autism. Moved into my room. (Ry's old one.) Went to an Alan Jackson/Brooks & Dunn concert with Liz and Margret. Started running/working out again. Went to Laura's wedding. Had an awesome time at Laura's wedding. Have been spending much time in a not so far off land where wonderful and funny people live (one person in particular. . . ). Found a stable for to start riding again. Learned a bit of fencing. Switched jobs to a nine year old girl with autism. And I don't start that until Friday, so I have a couple of days off for scampering about the area being a beatnik. So tomorrow it's off to see my dearest penguin bear (still working on the nicknames. . . ) again. *sigh* I have such a good life. Hopefully I will be filling y'all in on it more regularly.

Finals

2007-05-09T18:41:00.000-07:00

Finals are over. I did my 5 finals in 3 days. That was kind of crazy. Although I'm not done yet. I've got a paper that needs to get written. So I'm gonna go write 6 pages on Rose Hawthorne now.

Study Day

2007-05-03T08:45:00.000-07:00

Classes are officially over. Now the only thing that stands between me and awesome is finals. . . and finding a job. I really need to do that. Hopefully this weekend. I also need to write my Bersnak paper. So right now I should be A) Workstudy B) Studying for finals or C) Writing my Bersnak paper. What am I doing? Wasting time on the Internet. Yup. Fortunately for all you out there in blogger world, I am motivationally challenged right now. Except that it's lunch time. Shoot. I didn't realize it was that late! More later.

My Yearly Trip to the ER

2007-04-26T19:58:00.000-07:00

This year in The WP Goes to the ER, the WP checks out to see if she has nerve damage caused by trauma from hitting the ground at high speeds due to being propelled off of a horse. That's right folks, Monday night and my hip wasn't getting better, my shoulder was getting worse and both my left hand and foot were starting to go numb. I did a silly thing and told my mother. She in turn told Laura-friend that I needed to go to the ER to get it checked out right away. Well that was that and before I knew it, I was in Bu going to Winchester. This was the first time I actually was quasi coherent in that ER. It was weird. Laura-friend and I waited and waited and waited. Then we waited some more. Eventually I got my vitals taken. Then there was more waiting. Quite a bit more. Then I got taken back to a hallway and left for awhile. Then I got X-rayed. Then back to the waiting room where I'm sure you can guess what Laura-friend and I did. Yea, we waited some more. Finally Laura-friend and I got to go back to see the doctor. But first we chilled at the nurse's station for an hour or two. (I completely lost track of time, even though there was a clock next to me.)

Eventually I got to see the doctor. She was really nice. Her best guess as to what happened was that I dislocated my hip, but it relocated itself. So I just needed to be nice to it for awhile and not ride horses for a really long time and take a bunch of meds that make me sleepy and weird. (Ask Liz B about me on muscle relaxers.) But there was no nerve damage so I didn't have to have surgery or anything horrible like that. I've found I don't make good decisions at 1:30 am, because the doctor offered me crutches and I told her that was okay, I didn't need them. Silly me! Luckily Mel had a pair that she let me borrow. Though I'm only using the one.

I came so close to making it through a whole school year without a trip to the ER. Maybe next year.

On (and off) Western Saddles

2007-04-22T12:46:00.000-07:00

Have I ever mentioned that I don't like riding Western? If not, I DON'T LIKE RIDING WESTERN!!!! Just thought I'd throw that out there. And here's why:

So Saturday morning Colin and I decided that it would be a good idea to go ride Rocky (Laura's horse that I take care of on the weekends for those of you who know nothing of my life). By morning, I mean morning. We got up at 7am. (Well, he got up at 7, I was waked up at 7:20.) We piled into Bu (Laura's car) and hit the road. Low water bridge was flooded, so we took the scenic route. We got there, greeted Rocky, who was in his normal calm mood. Although he perked up once I started tacking him up. (Laura rides western, I think you may see where this is going.) I decided it would be a good idea to lounge him first. So Colin and I vainly tried to keep from getting dizzy as we watched Rocky run around us in circles. He kept spooking by this one tree (Rocky, not Colin), so I worked him through that. Then I asked him to canter. Now I've asked many a horse to canter in my day, but very rarely have I gotten the response Rocky gave. He started bucking all over the place. I calmed him down and got him going again. I repeated the command. He reared. Just a small little baby rear, but a rear none the less. Got him going again. Once he calmed down I inspected my bleeding finger. After a little bit I turned him around and just kept him at a trot. He seemed okay with that, so I decided that it was time to get on.

And thus begins my tirade on Western saddles. I had forgotten how horrible they were. I felt like I was sitting on a couch or something, not a horse. I had half (or more than half) expected Rocky to take off as soon as or before my rear touched the saddle. But he stayed put. I breathed a sigh of relief and contemplated adjusting the stirrups. The next thing I knew I was flying through the air over Rocky's head. I had a moment to ponder what was happening, then I saw the ground rushing at me. (I said a bad word.) My left side slammed into the ground with avengence. Rocky was already racing off across the pasture before I hit the ground. I jumped up and pain shot through my body starting from my left hip. I assured Colin that I was okay and watched in horror as Rocky tore around the pasture with reins flying dangerously close to his feet. I kind of felt like passing out and couldn't figure out if that was out of pain or fear or a combination.

Rocky finally stopped at the far end of the pasture and I hobbled over to get him. He had started grazing and my first thought was, "You're not supposed to be eating with the bridle on!" I grabbed his reins and led him back to the shed. There was no way I was even going to be able to get my left foot into the stirrup, much less get back in the saddle. So I untacked Rocky, fed, and watered him and Colin and I went to breakfast. Thanks to Rocky and that stupid Western saddle I've still got a shooting/aching pain in my hip and am walking with a limp. Plus I'm finding new bruises ever couple of hours.

I can't wait until my hip heals and I can try again.

I'm Still Alive

2007-04-11T15:21:00.000-07:00

I'm surviving so far. I made it through my Modern Philosophy test, my Apologetics Midterm, my Macroeconomics midterm, and my English paper on T.S. Elliot. Thems was crazy times, believe you me. (And if you don't, just ask my poor roommate. I *heart* Liz!) After all of that, I was rewarded with the realization that I needed to get a student loan form signed and sent to WI IN TWO DAYS, otherwise I'd have to start paying on my student loans. There was a huge fiasco with the UPS store not being open, then them not having the right kind of envelopes and going to the post office and missing Apologetics and oh man, it was crazy. I'll tell you when you're older. At least I now know where the post office and the UPS store are. (I just got a letter confirming that they got the form in time and I'm in the clear. *whew*)

After that was Easter break. I went with Colin, Sarah, Katie, Joe, and Mike to Colin, Nick, and Katie's family's house for break. Oh man was that fun! I hopefully will have pictures from it very soon and will tell more about it.

Now I'm back at school and have just realized that I have a History paper on Rose Hawthorne, an Apologetics paper on the Spanish Inquisition, a Modern Philosophy paper on Hegel, an English 'quiz' on Frankenstein and Crime and Punishment, and about one month worth of Spanish homework all due in the next couple of weeks. So more crazy days are to come. Here, watch me write and do research for 20 pages in a couple of days. Hurray!

Busy

2007-03-22T19:29:00.000-07:00

I am so busy right now. I've got a 3/4 page list of things I need to get done tonight. They involve things like reading entire books and making study guides and putting in hours at work. (Note: I've found one can't put in hours at work quickly, it doesn't work.) Anyway, I will tell you all about it later, right now I've got to go read Frankenstein while studying for modern philosophy. :S

Song for Moldy Muffins

2007-03-06T12:06:00.000-08:00

I found an awesome Switchfoot song that goes perfectly with my Moldy Muffin Complex! It makes me happy.

Gone

She told him she’d rather fix her makeup
Than try to fix what’s going on
But the problem keeps on calling
Even with the cellphone gone
She told him that she believes in living
Bigger than she’s living now
But her world keeps spinning backwards
And upsidedown
Don’t say so long in the cellphone
Don’t spend today away
Cuz today will soon be

Gone, like yesterday is gone,
Like history is
Gone, just trying to prove me wrong
And pretend like your immortal

She said he said live like no tomorrow
Every day we borrow
Brings us one step closer to the edge (infinity)
Where your treasure, where’s your hope
Forget the world and lose your soul
She pretends like she pretends like she’s immortal
Don’t say so long
Your not that far gone
This could be your big chance to makeup
Today till soon be

Gone, like yeterday is gone,
Like history is gone,
The world keeps spinning on,
Your going going gone,
Like sumemr break is gone,
Like saturday is gone
Just trying to prove me wrong
You pretend like your immortal your immortal

We are not infinite
We are not permanate
Nothing is immediate
We’re so confident
In our accomplishments
Look at how dark it is

Gone, like frank sinatra
Like elvis and his mom
Like al pichino’s cash nothing lasts in this life
My highschool dreams are gone
My childhood sweets are gone
Life is a day that doesn’t last for long

Life is more than money
Time was never money
Time was never cash,
Life is still more than girls
Life is more than hundred dollar bills
And oh the town fills
Life more than fame and rock and roll and thrills
All the riches of the kings
And up in wills we got information in the information age
But do we know what life is
Outside of our conveinent lexus cages

She said he said live like no tomorrow
Every moment that we borrow
Brings us closer to the God who’s not short of cash
Hey bono I’m glad you asked
Life is still worth living, life is still worth living

Ghost Rider and The Prestige

2007-03-06T12:03:00.000-08:00

A few moons ago a bunch of guys and I went to Ghost Rider. It was Josh Z, James B, Chris P, Nick O, Ben B, Andrew S, Andrew T, and I. In retrospect, I kind of wonder why I did it. It would not be the first movie I’d want to see in theaters (or anywhere), that’s for sure. But I really wanted to get off campus and do things with people and I had a car. So I did. The getting off campus and doing things with people was a lot of fun. Kind of weird being the only girl with seven guys, but it was definitely fun. The movie on the other hand sucked. It just. . . sucked. When we got out of the theater, I couldn’t even come up with a good argument against it. I couldn’t even come up with words. All I could do was make frustrated sounds. I think Andrew and Andrew were amused. Eventually the three of us got past the shock of the stupidity of the movie and began tearing it apart. We ripped on it all the way back to campus and into the next day. Nothing like a group of people all hating on the same thing. I was trying to think of SOMETHING that was possibly good in the movie, but the more I thought, the more I realized that there was nothing good in the movie. The plot was dumb, liberal nuns have better theology, the dialogue left much to be desired, no artsy camera shots, no good special effects (a motorcycle on fire is as good as it gets), no nothing. Ahh! (There I go again with the frustrated noises.)

This past Friday night, Colin and I were left with nothing to do, because nunchaku class was canceled due to Spring Break. So we got a pizza and went to place and watched The Prestige with Mike P. Oh wow. If Ghost Rider was an ‘ahh!’, The Prestige was a ‘wow!’ Throughout the whole movie I was kind of confused, but it wasn’t a bad confusion. Actually, I think confusion is the wrong word, but I’m not sure what the right one is. I guess I was desperately trying to figure out what was going on before they told me. Colin managed to, but I didn’t. Part of the problem was the volume was way down because Joe was sickly. The other Colin came down at some point. After it was over, we all picked through it and found out just how amazing it was. Like, there was nothing wrong with that movie. As Colin gave me a ride back to campus, I told him that I felt that I’d atoned for watching Ghost Rider. A movie with nothing good, and a movie with nothing bad. Seems to satisfy the law of equivalent exchange. (I’ve also been watching Full Metal Alchemist.)

So the moral of the story is don’t watch Ghost Rider, but do watch The Prestige. I actually think I’m going to watch that one again. And maybe a third time. We’ll see.

I'm a Combo of Regan and Bush

2007-02-13T15:55:00.000-08:00

You are a
Social Conservative
(38% permissive)

and an...
Economic Conservative
(68% permissive)

You are best described as a:

Republican

Link: The Politics Test on OkCupid

Begging For Forgiveness

2007-01-29T16:16:00.000-08:00

Wow, I suck. My last post was many, many moons ago. I don't think I've ever gone this long without blogging. I'm really sorry. Although at this point I'm probably apologizing to no one, because everyone has gotten so tired of looking at my song list, they're like, no mas. But here I go.
Life is good. I'm finally a junior. *72 credits dance* So no curfew for me. I have celebrated by staying at Colin & Sarah's until wee hours in the morning. Although one night the couch decided that it was time for me to leave, but I didn't, so it ate my phone. No seriously, it ate my phone. I'm not talking in between the seat cushions eating. I'm talking full on hole in the arm rest becoming part of the couch eating. Don't worry, Joe rescued it the next day. I've found that I have a small amount of talent at Wii boxing, but suck at the other games. Especially tennis, I'm really bad at that. Classes are going well. I've got my last semester of English and history and theology and philosophy. Plus there's Spanish and Macroeconomics. I just realized that next year I will be taking only poli sci classes. That should be interesting. Um, what else. Oh! I am awesome! By that I mean I'm now am able to weild two nunchaku at the same time. w00t for me. :D And for Colin for being an awesome teacher. I would like to give a shout out to Sensei Colin! And to my three heroes Bridget, Lisa, and Daniel! And to those who I love for being amazing, Little Mon and John! Anyone else need a shout out? How about you? Hurray for you!

Sound of Music

2006-12-18T23:20:00.000-08:00

It's 1:20 am and I'm not sleeping, that means I'm thinking, which means you may want to stop reading right now. Okay, keep on if you want. I've been musing about how songs can make you think about a person or place or time. Even if there's no real reason why it should remind you, it just does. And so, here it goes:

Back to California -- Claire, then Ryan
Dancing Queen -- Carducci
Riding With Private Malone -- Peter
Goodnight My Angel -- Geoff, then Carducci
Breakfast at Tiffany's -- Ryan
Chasing Cars -- Matt M
Underground -- Liz B
Far Away -- Colin O
Elephant Love Medley -- Colin O
Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love) -- Katie F
Rock Me Amedeas -- Hich
Dirty Little Secret -- Megan, then Colin O
Rockstar -- Colin M
Slide -- Greg M
Next Contestant -- Matt R
She Will Be Loved -- Dominick, then Laura-friend
Accidentally in Love -- Carducci and Joe
I Want You (Cherry Cola) -- Colin O
Fast as I Can -- Matt R
The Luckiest -- Mike P
These Words -- Claire
Let's Get it Started -- Megan, then softball in general
Friday Night -- Eric
Hotel California -- Matt R
Desperatly Wanting -- Liz B
Dance, Dance -- Robyn
Where'd You Go? -- Dani
Unwritten -- dancing on the beach with Carducci, Claire, and Megan
Heaven is a Place on Earth -- who could I possibly think of but Brian?
Sweet Home Alabama -- Andrienne
Here Comes the Sun -- RHS choir
Song of the South -- my dad
Personal Penguin -- the Colins
Partical Man -- Liz B
Birdhouse in Your Soul -- Liz B, then Hich
Is She Really Going Out With Him? -- Megan, then Hich
Pour Some Sugar On Me -- Hich
Flavor of the Week -- Dominick and Claire
Uptown Girls -- Geoff
Bonnie Taylor Shakedown -- Monica P, then the going to Little Washington car rides
The Way You Look Tonight -- Bracy
Be Our Guest -- Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Cast, mostly Tim bouncing
Lips of An Angel -- Andrea C
If I Had $1,000,000 -- Peachy date
Going the Distance -- Colin O
Fly Me To The Moon -- Miss E and Dani
Bring Me Back To Life -- Kali
Whiskey Lullabye -- Larau-friend
Adam's Song -- Claire
Pretty Pink Ribbon -- Sydney
(I've Had) The Time of My Life -- Liz B
Walking in Memphis -- Eric
Brick -- Joe P and Colin O
Hanging By A Moment -- Sean
Upside Down -- Sydney
Piano Man -- Carducci
Bad Day -- Coffee hoping
You're Beautiful -- Colin O 'jumping off cliffs' on flat ground
I Write Sins Not Tragedies -- Little Mon
Jericho -- Sydney
De-Lovely -- Donna
I'm Already There -- Kali
Cows With Guns -- Chris, then Sara L
Don't Stop Believing -- Hich
Sheep Go to Heaven -- midterms
99 Red Balloons -- Greg M
Time to Say Goodbye -- Uncle Eric
Make A Little Noise -- Maggie
Whenever, Whereever -- Carducci
Psalm 117 -- Anthony
Italian Leather Sofa -- Liz B and Matt M
I've Become Numb -- Dr. Andres
Tokyo Girl -- Little Mon
Sing for the Moment -- Matt R, then Liz B
Take On Me -- Hich
Short Skirt, and a Long Jacket -- Faz date

There's more, but I think that's good enough.

Silly Little Quizzes

2006-12-18T20:19:00.000-08:00

You Should Learn Spanish

For you, learning a language is about career advancement and communication.
Knowing Spanish will bring you tons of possiblities for jobs and travel. Bárbaro!

What Language Should You Learn?

Well that's good, I'm taking it next semester.

Who Should Paint You: Roy Lichtenstein

Larger than life, your personality overshadows everyone in the room
A painter would tend to portray you with a bit of added flair!

What Artist Should Paint Your Portrait?

Okay, that's good, I guess? Maybe?

Your Theme Song is Beautiful Day by U2

"Sky falls, you feel like
It's a beautiful day
Don't let it get away"

You see the beauty in life, especially in ordinary everyday moments.
And if you're feeling down, even that seems a little beautiful too.

What's Your Theme Song?

I like that song.

What Your Soul Really Looks Like

You are very passionate and quite temperamental. While you can be moody, you always crave comfort.

You are a grounded person, but you also leave room for imagination and dreams. You feet may be on the ground, but you're head is in the clouds.

You believe that people see you for how you are, not how you look. But deep down, you know that's not exactly true.

Your near future is calm, relaxing, and pretty much what you want. And it's something you've been anticipating for a while now.

For you, love is all about caring and comfort. You couldn't fall in love with someone you didn't trust.

Inside the Room of Your Soul

My soul looks like a nose and lips?

You Date Like a Woman

According to studies on dating, you date like a woman.
You tend to take romance seriously, and you're not really out for a fling.

A mental and emotional connection always comes first for you.
And rushing the physical stuff is likely to turn you off.

You're highly selective when it comes to dating, and some may say you're too picky.
You know what you want, and when you find it, you're ready to commit.

Do You Date Like a Man or a Woman?

*snort* That's good!

You Are 20% Politically Radical

You're a very traditional person and perhaps a little resistant to change. In a few more years, your beliefs will be so old fashioned that they'll be radical!

Are You a Political Radical?

I dare say they already are.

You Are Likely A Forth Born

At your darkest moments, you feel angry.
At work and school, you do best when your analyzing.
When you love someone, you tend to be very giving.

In friendship, you don't take the initiative in reaching out.
Your ideal jobs are: factory jobs, comedy, and dentistry.
You will leave your mark on the world with your own personal philosophy.

The Birth Order Predictor

Off by four.

Your 2005 Song Is

Beverly Hills by Weezer

"My automobile is a piece of crap
My fashion sense is a little whack
And my friends are just as screwy as me"

You breezed through 2005 in your own funky style!

What Hit Song of 2005 Are You?

Yay!

You Failed 8th Grade Spanish

Sorry, you only got 5/8 correct!

Could You Pass 8th Grade Spanish?

Oh dear, no one tell Mr. Armstrong that!

You Should Be a Film Writer

You don't just create compelling stories, you see them as clearly as a movie in your mind.
You have a knack for details and dialogue. You can really make a character come to life.
Chances are, you enjoy creating all types of stories. The joy is in the storytelling.
And nothing would please you more than millions of people seeing your story on the big screen!

What Type of Writer Should You Be?

Oh that's fun. I'll have to tell Colin and Mike.

You Are 72% Indie

You're a very indie person, and admit it, you look down a little on people who strive to be normal.
You'll indulge in a little mainstream pop culture every now and then. But for you, anything not indie is a guilty pleasure!

How Indie Are You?

Can I help it that my tastes are sometimes popular? :P

New Leaf?

2006-12-09T19:35:00.000-08:00

This semester has been a semester of change. Well, it seems like every semester at Christendom has big changes in it. Although this semester it seems as though I've gone back more to my old self. Not that I've regressed or anything. I'm so much more mature than I was when I came to Christendom or even last semester. (More mature, I'm not sure I've actually hit the mature level. :P) But I've kind of gone back to my old additude, the good parts at least, I think, It's really hard to explain. It's not that I was ever really a different person, but plently things did change. I think I got disalusioned by the East Coast, as strange as that sounds. I've always been proud of where I'm from, but I think I got sucked into the mentality of the city slicker. *jibbly, jibbly, jibbly* Also the mentality of the intellectual. Intellectuals are great, but I am not one to spend my life drinking coffee and discussing something that one one else in the world cares about. I am all about thinking and pondering, but I'd rather do it while gardening or riding horses or washing dishes or something. Just straight up thinking for really long periods of time is not my friend.

Also, liturgically, I've fallen head over heels in love with the Tridentine Mass. I liked it before and much prefered it to a poorly done Novus Ordo. But now I like it better than the Novus Ordo period. I even like it better than the wonderful Latin Novus Ordo at Christendom. I've kind of shied away from attending regularly before, because that Mass tends to attract Trads who are Trads in a bad way and not a good way. I kind of look at them, scratch my head, and say, "Ya'll are nuts, not to mention schismatics." But one can be a good Trad, that's what I'm going for. I think I need to read up on my Church history/popes/Church counciles, though first.

Thanksgiving

2006-11-24T14:26:00.000-08:00

I find it interesting how differently everyone celebrates different holidays. In my 2.5 years at Christendom, I've spent Thanksgiving at Katie D.'s, Mary Beth's, and now Liz B.'s. I've had Easter at a convent and at Liz C.'s. I've celebrated many birthdays for many of my friends and their relatives. I really like going to other people's houses for breaks, because it's really neat to see how my friends live and what their families are like. It's funny though, as much as I enjoy it, right before break, my inner meloncholic comes out and I'm convinced that whoever's house I'm staying at's parents won't like me and will think I'm a horrible person. *shrug* That hasn't happened yet, but I suppose it could.

Anyway, I'm having a good time with Liz's family. Tuesday afternoon, right after classes, Liz and I headed out to Springfield for her grandmother's birthday. I got to meet some cousins an aunt or two, her brother (not Jimmy, silly) and his wife, and of course her grandmother. That was fun. We ate foods and then played with her cousins. We then hijacked Colin and walked around the mall in search of place. We never found it. But we did get kicked out of the rest stop for resting. That was pretty sweet. :) Then the mall closed so Colin went home and Liz and I went to Matt's house. That required a bit of singing of the Doug theme song, but we got there in one piece with, I think, no wrong turns. Kudos to Matt for his directions. Although the goofball wasn't home when we got there, so we talked to his dad for awhile. Nice guy. Matt got home and we ate some cookies and grapefruit juice (interesting combination) and flat, flat soda, while debating the adulteration of ice in drinks. We then started Equilibrium, but Liz was too tired to watch such a thought provoking movie. (Matt, somehow, didn't find it thought provoking.) So we watched The Matrix instead. We were starting Muppet Treasure Island, when I anounced that I was going to bed. Liz and Matt decided that was a good idea. Liz and I had to be up by 9:30 to get back to school to drive Gabe to his sister's house. So we said good night and good bye, because Matt not having to get up at the crack of dawn (9 is totally the crack of dawn on break), was not going to see us off in the morning.

After my alarm going off for a half an hour, Liz and I finally got up and hit the road. We got to school and she dropped me off to sleep. Yay sleep! She grabbed Gabe and Frankie and took them to Gabe's sister's house. I woke up about 2 and she picked me up and we drove all the way to her house. We bumed around until rosary, then Legion of Mary came to take the Pilgrim Virgin, and then *large wonderful sigh* homemade supper. Oh, it was bliss I tell you. I can't even describe. After living on a diet of school food and fast food, oh man. After supper, we bummed around some more until Jonathan, Erin, and Gracie (Labordoodle) came over. We all played with Gracie for awhile and then we played Catchphrase. I much love that game and it was so much fun to play with Liz's family. Then everyone went to bed except Liz and I, who had a basement, internet, and a TV. Yea, we stayed up for awhile.

We were awoken the next morning at the crack of dawn (see previous paragraphs) by Gracie and Jonathan. We weren't excited about getting up, but when we walked upstairs, there was food. Oh, more good food. After breakfast we all hung out, got ready for the day slowly, and basically just enjoyed each other. Jonathan and Erin had just gotten their wedding pictures back, so we all looked at them. At noon I went to Mass at HLI and ended up next to Brenda and Declan. That was pretty sweet. After Mass I got to talk to Clement for a little while. He is MUCH taller than me now. Ahh! I think Seamus is about my height. I came back to the house and Jimmy had arrived. We all played Gestures until the turkey was ready and then, more food! Yay! After foods, we prayed the rosary and then sat around talking about what we wanted to do next. We pretty much did that until pie. After pie there was more talking and then Jon, Erin, and Gracie left. Liz and I, ironically enough, did Pilates. Yay! Go us! And then got sucked into computer games for many hours. I beat myself for awhile with nunchakus. And then bed time.

This morning we slept until we woke up. I take that back, I slept until I woke up, Liz is still sleeping. :)

Brides & Brothers/Beauties & Beasts

2006-11-20T17:19:00.000-08:00

This was a great weekend. Thursday night (I know that's not part of the weekend, chill) was dress rehersal for 7 Brides for 7 Brothers. We finally got lights, so Tyler and I got to play with the shinny expensive toys. He he he. After we tripped a breaker. . . *grimace* It went really well. Thursday was also Joe's 22 birthday. Colin came down and we all had foods at Colin and Sarahs. (Beware, this post has two Colins and I'm not going to put a last initial just to be mean.) Bill and Beth and their kids are here for the winter, so they came, too. This was the first time I've met Beth and the kids, so that was cool.

Friday was opening night. The acting was splendid, it really was. Unfortunately we tripped another breaker (or so we thought) as the curtain went up for the first scene. I sat there staring at the dark stage, holding a no longer working light board for probably longer than I should have. It turns out that we fried some wires in the outlet. Oops. So I ran backstage and flipped the breaker for the stage lights for the rest of the play. Anyone who's ever flipped that breaker knows what I'm talking about. But it was fun. I like hanging out backstage. After the show, we all hit the student center for some Emperor's New Groove.

Saturday I went to work for a few hours, after sleeping many. I love working at the booksale so much. It's great. At 5 Colin picked Liz and I up to eat turkey pot pie at Colin and Sarah's. Such good foods. Then Liz and headed over to the school for our second performance. (It's so nice that Colin and Sarah live right there.) Shortly after I got there, Tyler informed me that the light problem was fixed and I was not needed that night. So I went back to the house and watched The Office on Colin's ipod. It was great. Colin, Sarah, Joe, and I were crowed around it, while Colin laughed at us. The funniest thing, was that it was plugged into the sound system, so it was a tiny, tiny screen with suround sound. :) After Liz was done with her scene, we liberated her and saw the new 007 movie. I haven't seen any of the other ones, but this was awesome! Oh man. We sat in the theatre for a half an hour and talked about it. (The theatre dude thought we were really funny.) Both Colin and I wanted to punch something or jump off of something or basically do something really awesome. We settled for driving back to the house really fast and cool like (that was Colin) and listening to Nickleback (that was both of us.) Once back we laughed at Ryan as he attempted to pump up an air matress. Joe and I ate a bunch of stuffing. The guys then engaged in one of their favorite past times, that is, watching girls play video games. Liz v. me. Joe relished the fact that his girlfriend was winning. Colin gave me annoying advice until I screamed, then he gave me more. Ahhh! Colin layed on the couch and said nothing useful at all until I finally sat on him. Then Colin took over the Mario Car and we all watched until it was time for bed. Liz and I shared a bed with Sarah. (That bed is HUGE.) Ryan was in the dinning room with his air matress/workout machine, Colin on the counch in his mummy sack, and I'm not sure what happened to Joe and Colin.

Sunday I was woken up by Sarah, Colin, Liz, and Joe jumping on me. I think that's the coolest waking up I've ever had. We went to the noon thirty Mass (also just down the road, I LOVE it!) Colin pointed out that it was really kind of like a parade. We took three cars everwhere we went. It was pretty funny. Because of that, the six of us ended up scattered in pairs all over the church. *shrug* We then paraded back to the house for pop tarts and donut sticks (not advised) and another episode of The Office on Colin's ipod. Liz and I then ran, with 15 minutes to curtian, to the school for the Sunday matinee. Tyler told me that we'd tripped yet another breaker, and, though the lights were working at that momment, they may not the next. So I hung out backstage waiting to be useful. I wasn't. We only had a couple of hours between showings, so Liz and I ran back to the house for about a half hour and hung out with Colin, Sarah, and Colin. We then ran back and got pizza. Chris had Disney songs on his ipod and plugged them into the sound system and a good chunk of the cast (and crew!) sang and danced about on stage (much to the amusement of Tony's family.) And then the final performance. Some interesting things got added, but nothing too crazy. The lights were still working, so I sat in the audience with Tyler and yelled at him when he did something wrong. Colin came by to say good bye, but he didn't stay for the show. We had two suprises, though. Peach and Cyrus both showed up. Peach had to leave this morning, but Cyrus is here until break. (So, like tomorrow.) Clean up was actually a pretty good time. Having finally perfected the art of following Tyler around, I knew just when to ask if he needed my help and when to just poke him repeatedly. (I'm such a mean person.) Tyler, Liz, and I ended up being the last people to leave the school. We had both lights and sound to put away, because we got abandonded. Hrmph. Anyway, we didn't miss too much of Beauty & the Beast. We've decided that needs to be done for the next musical. We have everyone pretty much cast. I get to be Mrs. Pots. That makes me much happy. (Granted if it actually happens, I'll probablly be a chorus girl or something.)

A good weekend.

The Good Ol' Days

2006-11-14T20:41:00.000-08:00

Sunday was girls open house. Girls were cleaning like mad as usual. But not very many guys showed up right away. *shrug* Ed got to our room first. Then Matt showed up. After awhile Colin appeared. He and I nunchakued for much time. He even upgraded me to the wooden ones. Ah yeah. I used Liz B's stuffed bunny as target practice for awhile. Now THAT was a good time. After open house was over; Joe, Matt, Colin, Liz, Liz, and I went to place to eat Italian foods for supper. That was sooo much fun. Then we all hit swing practice. Even more fun. Then Joe, Liz, Colin, and I went to Sarah and Colin's to watch The Brave Little Toaster. Unfortunately they didn't have The Brave Little Toaster at either Movie Gallery or Blockbuster. So Colin and I kind of wandered around for awhile like lost sheep. We finally rented. . . something. The Great Escape. That's what it was and went back to Colin & Sarah's to watch The Great Muppet Capper. Yea, not quite sure how that happened. *shrug* :)

That day got me thinking about the good old days of last year when Joe & Eric lived at Gardian Angel & the Colins were still at Kevin's. It made me think of chicken noodle soup, sleeping on the couch, video games, apple pie, coffee hopping, japanese techno, Elephant Love Medely, shaking hands, many weapons, movies, and so, so much more. I MISS THAT!!!! But never fear, Colin's coming back this weekend and we are all going to watch The Great Escape, because we're cool like that. :)

Maybe It Is Me

2006-11-06T16:12:00.000-08:00

On TV?

2006-11-06T10:59:00.000-08:00

Nobody tells me anything. I rolled out of bed this morning and went to work. As I got to the library, I noticed a truck backed up right to the front doors and guys unloading things. The library's fairly new, (It's going on it's third year.) so it's not suprising that stuff would be being done to it. I just hoped that there were some shelves in there for me. I clocked in and sat down at my desk. I watched the men carry things in as I worked. I saw a couple shelves come in and my little hobbit heart leaped with joy. It was time to hit the book sale proper to find a few books that had just gotten sold. As I walked downstairs, I noticed a larg truck parked outside of the basement entrance. It said something like this: EWTN Catholic Network. Meh?! EWTN was at my school? At my work at my school? Needless to say I pondered muchly as I looked for those books. I found a couple of them and went back upstairs. Turns out that we'd all gotten notices in our boxes (except me) saying that EWTN was coming to interview our major speaker on Tuesday and Raymond Arroyo was going to be filming two episodes of The World Over Live in the upstairs of the library. The topic? Medical ethics. Oh man, I've got to figure out how to get in on this.

Boys Are Stupid, Throw Rocks At Them

2006-11-05T19:30:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry, I haven't updated in a really long time. And right now's probably not the best time, either, because I'm in a rather fowl mood. I'm trying to figure out how I've managed to piss off so many people in the last week or so. I mean really, it's been difficult trying to keep up with who's not speaking to me. And, save my roommate, they've all been guys. I'm beginning to think it's not me, it's them.

I've decided that boys are more trouble than they are worth. I mean, they fly off the handle about things, they then won't talk about them, they get mopy. You practially have to feed them, otherwise they don't eat. You almost have to dress them otherwise they don't match. (And if they do, they're probably not interested in girls, anyway.) They have all of this male ego you have to try not to poke a hole into. That's almost impossible. They're almost impossible. Ahh! Boys have cooties.

There are too many boys that don't make sense. Come back Sean! Come back Andrew! Come back Matt! Come back Sam! Come back Mike! You guys make sense.

Wonderful Thursday

2006-10-17T20:32:00.000-07:00

After writing two papers Wednesday night, I was exhausted. I went to bed at 7:30 am and woke up, quite startled, I might add, at 9:50 to the Lizzes telling me I needed to get to Marshner. I still needed to proof and print my Marshner paper, but there was no time for that. I jumped up and grabbed some clothes from Carducci's dresser and some mousee from under the sink and attempted to not look like a fuzz ball. Carducci and I ran to class and got there right before role. She handed her paper in and I slunk to my desk. 85 mins later class was over. Don't ask me what Marshner talked about. I have no idea. After class I ran back to my room and grabbed my papers. I ran to the library to proof and print before my 1 o'clock class. Now all this running wasn't easy, because Carducci's skirt, which is knee-length for her, comes down mid-calf on me and has no slit. Ugh. So I was running around taking really small steps and I had on Blankenship's wedge heels. I felt like a freakin' geshia. Evetally I gave up, took off the shoes and hiked up the skirt and booked it.

I got done with my English paper just in time to had it in to Dr. Marciano at 1. Exactly one class day late. She looked at me and kind of cringed and I shruged. I probably wouldn't have remembered that class, except we were reading Dr. Faustus out loud and Greg was Faustus. He dragged a desk to the front of the room and acted the part of an angst-y intellectual ready to make a deal with the devil. Abuelo was the bad angel and he blew a rasberry at Lori, who, as the good angel came fluttering up to "Faustus." Yea, I couldn't have slept through that if I'd wanted to! I did manage to proof my Marshner paper during it, though. After class I made the appropriate changes, printed out the paper and headed for Coeli.

As soon as that was done, it was time for Factor. I saw in the first 15 minutes or so that this was going to be even less productive than Marshner. Factor was talking about St. Thomas and order to the end. Basically the first couple weeks of Ethics class. So I wrote a story for Mary Beth that I will hopefully send soonly. My pen started running out, but the ideas were coming out of my head so fast. I paused them for a momment to ask Carducci for a pen. The silly-willy didn't have one. Sarah did, but it ran out on me before I finished a sentence. So I went back to my very dying pen. I have a whole page writen in indentation from my pen. Not the easiest way to write. But I wasn't about to say, "Excuse me, Mr. Factor. Does anyone have a pen? I'm writing this great story and I really need to finish." I finished it with a half an hour left in class and took notes with an orange highlighter. It was fun. And then, FREEDOM!!! (Granted there were still classes the next day, but no more tests or papers until we got back!)

After some quick deliberations, Meg, Matt, Joe, Carducci, and I went up to Skyline. (To Dicky Ridge, despite Joe's protests. Carducci read my story out loud and we all had a good laugh. The guys climbed an enormous tree, while Carducci, Meg, and I looked on in horror. I've seen Joe climb much tall trees, so I wasn't too worried about him, but I wasn't so confident about Matt's skills. They both climbed splendidly and got down safely, at which point Joe and Carducci took off for Sarah's house. (It's actually Colin's, but that's kind of confusing.) Meg, Matt, & I stayed for a little while longer. We took some pictures, got very cold and headed off to Spelunker's.

Spelunker's was fun, as always. There was burgers and board walk fries and custard. I, for some reason, couldn't seem to keep my custard in my cone. A good chunk ended on my shirt and in my hand. Uffda. Meg and Matt got some good laughs at that. Hrumph. I'm glad someone did. We chased the sunset back to campus. Meg ran off to play practice and Matt walked me back to the dorm. I'm so happy he didn't carry me again! I went to the room with every intention of cleaning it. I decided to just lay down for 15 min. . . An hour and a half later Meg came flying into the room asking if I was ready to go. I jumped up. We were planning on going to The Guardian at 9. It was 9:05 and our room was a mess and there was room checks. After an amazing 10 second tidy (Big Comfy Couch anyone?), we were off. The movie wasn't acutally playing, but the amazing theatre people put it on for us. I LOVE THE PEOPLE WHO WORK AT THE FRONT ROYAL THEATER!!! The movie was awesome. A bit of a predictable plot line, but that's not always bad.

We got back at curfew and I ran to Monica P.'s room for birthday singing. The boys are getting much better. As I said after For The Longest Time, my socks were sufficiently rocked. They refuse to do the Star Wars Gangsta Rap without Sean or Ibid. I'm about ready to get out there and do it myself. We then had a very small shin dig and watched Win A Date With Tad Hamliton. I was very happy to find that Monica, Carissa, Annie, and Mel all loved the same part I did. (I can't get enough of your love, baby. . . ) And that was that. A good day.

Monday

2006-10-10T19:08:00.000-07:00

This was the beginning of my finals week. It makes me sad. It was pretty much more of the same until Thrusday afternoon. Wednesday night I wrote two papers. Ugh.

4:30 am – Some nut-face blasts music from St. Catherine’s Glade.

10:00 am – Wake up for real this time. Go down to the Lizes’ room and attempt to make my very first cup of coffee. (Coffee that I’ve made, not that I’ve drunk. I have drunk much coffee.)

10:45 am – Finally armed with an acceptable cup of coffee (yes it took me 45 minutes to work her coffee pot) I start on my Sir Gawain paper.

11:15 am – Study for my history midterm.

11:45 am – Get into dress code.

12:10 pm – Go to lunch and attempt to figure out the Ethics readings & continue studying for my history midterm.

12:50 pm – Go to history having done more eating than studying.

1:00 pm – History midterm.

1:45 pm – Hand in the midterm feeling fairly confident and go check my e-mail. End up typing amazon.com into the address bar and realize that I’ve been at work too long.

2:00 pm – Went to ethics class. Felt stupid as usual.

2:50 pm – Ran upstairs like a crazy person as soon as ethics let out and clocked into work.

4:40 pm – Clocked out and ran back to the dorm for a chapel veil and then to Mass.

5:20 pm – Went to supper.

6:00 pm – Went back to work.

7:00 pm – Shield South Dakota. Went to the top of Coeli to call pro-lifers in South Dakota to ask them to vote in the election.

8:30 pm – Left to set up for Ed’s birthday party. Ended up talking to Anthony about what the bum he is.

8:45 pm – Started talking to Anna about hermaphrodites.

8:55 pm – Realized that I was supposed to have already met Ang, went to call her and tell her I’d be right over.

9:00 pm – Lugged a gallon of ice cream over to Coeli and started blowing up balloons. (I made the poker guys help.)

9:30 pm – Ed’s birthday party started. It was Meg, Ang, me, and a bunch of crazy guys. Uffda.

10:00 pm – Went back to Shield South Dakota to retrieve my & Matt’s cell phones.

11:30 pm – Leave Ed’s party feeling guilty for not studying. Went back to the dorm to drop stuff off.

11:40 pm – Went to Joe’s dungeon to return Matt’s cell phone. Ended up talking to Matt & Thew until curfew.

12:00 am – Walked to Catherine’s with the birthday singers and went to the Liz Room. Time for Sir Gawain paper. I lost track of time after that. It was not any early night.

Request

2006-09-25T18:09:00.000-07:00

I have a request for all you Rome girls who are reading this. Please, the next time you see Paul E. (unless it's in church or something), please, please go running up to him screaming "PAUL!! PAUL!!" and jump into his arms and give him a big hug (extra points if you kiss him on the cheek) and tell him it's from me and that I miss him very, very much. And then you have to tell me the exact shade of red that he turns. And tell him I've been torturing freshman and teachers in his absence. :D

Wierd Dream

2006-09-20T12:34:00.000-07:00

The other night I had one of the clearest dreams I've had since freshman year. I think it rivals the one I had before logic class. :P

I had just finished washing my hands, when I noticed by my left thumb there was a spider bite. I realized that it had been there for a few days and the redness surrounding it was spreading throughout my whole hand. Not only that, but there was puss coming out of it. I found Mary B. and said, "Hey Mary, I think I got bit by that brown recluse. I think it's in my room somewhere." Mary looked at my hand and said, "Yea. Yea I think you're right. Um, do you want me to call the doctor? You should probably get a doctor appointment." (Note: There IS a brown recluse living outside my window & it takes, like 8 hours before things start turning black and falling off. If it had been a couple of days, I would be dead. End note.) I agreed that a doctor might be a good idea. But then I thought sometimes it takes awhile to get an appointment. So I said, "Well, you know, maybe it would be better to just go to the emergency room." Mary thought that was a good idea and left.

I sat down and thought about how I could get to the er, as it was a Sunday afternoon and no one was around. (Mary doesn't have a car.) It did cross my mind to call an ambulance, but I thought that was rather extreme for a spider bite. I then remembered that the choir practices on Sunday afternoons and Anthony would probably be around. So I called him up. "Hey Smitha. What are you up to this afternoon? Are you busy?" "Well, right now I'm dropping Dane off, but then I don't really know." "Oh, do you have choir practice this afternoon?" "Um, I might. Why?" "Well, see I got bit by a brown recluse and I was wondering if you could drive me to the emergency room if you didn't have choir practice." "I'll come get you right now!"

Then Anthony and I were in the emergency room. It was the usual emergency room routine. Fill out loads of paper work. Wait. Nurse comes in and says hi then leaves. More waiting. Get moved to a different room because someone else needed mine. Nurse comes back in. Leaves again. More waiting. Finally the doctor comes in, looks at the bite and leaves without saying anything. (That's not so normal.) The nurse came back in and said, "Oh shoot! You waited too long. The poison has spread throughout your arm. We're going to have to cut it off. But don't worry, you're young. It'll grow back." I was really put off and annoyed at the fact that I was going to have to stay in the hospital for a few days while my arm grew back.

And then I woke up. I think I need to stop reading Harry Potter right before I go to bed. (I'd just finished the Chamber of Secrets and I think I got the arm growing back thing from Harry's broken arm and stupid silly face trying to fix it.)

Everything Looks Better From The Back of a Motorcycle

2006-09-12T17:40:00.000-07:00

What I've deemed as "the sickness" has been going around campus. Carducci got it and gave it to me. I still have it, but am sharing with Liz B. For about a week I vainly threw Sudafed, gallons of water, vitiman C, and Theraflu at it. I even took some of Sean's grapefruit seed extract. But once it settled in my chest and sinuses, I descided to readicate the little buggers. So it was off to Martins for antibiotics. Megan volunteered to take me. . . ON THE MOTORCYCLE. Music to my little hobbit ears. It was her first time taking a passanger. We were both a bit nervous, but very quickly we were riding in style with the wind blowing through our ha-helmets. Not quick as glamerous, but much safer.

We made it to Martins in one piece. I got my prescription without too much hastle. (They needed all my information at least twice.) I have to say, I often gripe about my insurance company, because they put up such a stink about paying for the Mayo Clinic. But they are pretty good about some things. Like the antibiotics, for instance, were $117. I paid $25. Althought it does seem very silly to pay someone to pay someone else. If doctors would just charge what their services were worth and not price gouge the masses, insurance companies would be almost obsolete and there would be only a few middle men. But I suppose that means less monies for the doctors, not to mention insurance companies. Heaven forbid they didn't have two houses, three cars and a pool. I mean, that would just be unreasonable. Sorry, there are so many things about doctors that get me on my high horse.

As we rode back to campus, we took an out of the way, 'round about road. It was so beautiful. I've always thought the Shanendoah Valley was gorgeous, but from the back of a bike, oh man. There's nothing like it. We rode through farm land, through woods, over the low water bridge. We went up hills and down them and around curves. Everywhere I looked, I was confronted with vivid green and blue. Oh, it was beautiful. And motorcycles are AWESOME!

Uffda!

2006-09-03T13:28:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile. I'm sorry. Well, I'm back at college, so I suppose I'll go back to my usual school year posting, which is, not so much. Um, so yea. More later.

Upside Down

2006-08-14T03:23:00.000-07:00

I'm so confused. I don't know what to think anymore. This post has caused much confusion in my little hobbit brain. Everything I ever learned about history could be WRONG!! I can't believe it's true. Mr. Beck told me it was, this post says it wasn't, oh what to do? HOW CAN I NOT BELIEVE MR. BECK?! AHHHHHH!!!!!!!! My life is flashing before my eyes. Everything is going black. I see a light.

< /drama >

:)

The Freshman

2006-08-13T01:03:00.000-07:00

I'm lazy, go here.

Getting Married

2006-08-09T03:18:00.000-07:00

Don't worry, the only wedding I forsee in my near future is Colin and Sarah's. I'm not getting married soon and don't even have any prospective grooms. But I can honestly say, I do hope I get married some day. I've finally come to terms with the nuns saying no (I know, you can say it, took me long enough!), and I really do hope to find Mr. Right. I got out some good ol' fashioned Protestant chastity/dating books. Well, actually only one. I read When God Writes Your Love Story. Good book. It really stressed how one acts now can change how ones married life turns out. I know that every action we make changes life for the better or worse, no matter how small of a change. But it really got me thinking about that in relation to the marriage vocation. (And as Stang says, "MARRIAGE IS A VOCATION." Funny story about that, I'll tell you later.) I can do little things now. Even things that have no relation to purity or chastity. Anything that makes me a better person, makes me a better woman, and eventually a better wife. Becoming more selfless, more prudent, more faithful, more wise, and more loving are all things I will need for my vocation. When I asked Sr. Agnes what I should do at Christendom to prepare for being a sister, she told me to live like one called to the convent. I really don't know how well I actually did that. *hanging head* I tried. Mabye that should have said something to me. . . Anyway, I'm going to do my best to live like one called to be married.

It's really a beautiful thing. Finding that one person who you will be closest to for all of your life. Someone to help you grow closer to God and become a better person. Someone who you can help do the same. Someone to lean on and someone to lean on you. Someone to laugh with and cry with. Someone to just sit and sigh with. (Oh boy, I'm rhyming, watch out.) And someone to take care of other someones with. Oh, motherhood. We'll cross that bridge when it comes! :)

I know sometimes when I was younger, the thought of finding this person seemed like a frighteningly large task. How would I ever know who was right? How would I find him? But now I'm excited. And I'm not going to look for him. God knows where I am and where he is, and when He wants us together, He'll make it happen. (Granted I have to make sure I'm not too dorky to miss it.) If I don't find him by the time I've graduated from college, that's okay. I suppose I'll get a little apartment and go to grad school and find some kind of job. If I don't find him by the time grad school is done, that's okay, too. Hopefully I'll be able to afford a slightly bigger apartment and maybe a better job. I will live in Laura and Mike's backyard and tell their kids stories about their mommy and I used to prank each other and other silly things. And as much as I like cats, I don't think I will have many. I'd rather have one cat and many dogs. And of course horses. But then again, if I find him anywhere in there is good, too. I can truly say that I'm just going to chill. I'm just gonna do the best I can with what I've got in the time I'm got. Who said that? Someone famous said that. Anyway, it all God's time.

Getting Ready For Back To School

2006-08-09T02:32:00.000-07:00

I've done it. I've put the first of my clothes into my suitcase. Granted I won't finish packing until the morning of the 17th, but I have started. It's so weird. The summer has gone by so fast. Of course there were times I thought it would never end! It's been a hard summer and a wonderful summer at the same time. Actually this is the best summer that I've had in a couple of years. I think (I hope!) I've grown a lot. Who knows, maybe even someday I might be 5' 1". But all joking aside, I think I'm a better person than the one that left Christendom this past May. I'm excited for a new semester to start and sad to be leaving home. Bob and I are finally starting to have the relationship we used to have we used to have when I was small. That makes me happier than I could ever say.

I've still got plenty of things to worry about, of course. Many things in my life are still so uncertain. All along I've said worrying doesn't help, so why do it? I actually think I did a pretty good job about not worrying, up until I was marched to the Mayo. Then I became a basket case and have been since. But things are good. I think the journey that started early Febuary to turn my gaze from inward to outward is actually making good progress. (I know that's a life long journey. I don't think there is a human being who is perfectlly selfless. But I needed a tutorial!) I'm no Bl. Mamma T by any means! But I think I can rejoin the human race. That makes me so happy. I think I'm on my way to becoming a better daughter, friend and student. (Note, I did not say a good daughter, friend, and student, merely a better one.) I've started reading Dark Night of the Soul, and I kid you not, I think St. John of the Cross is my new best friend. I'm only a couple of chapters into it, but I think it's easily the best book I've read (or started, the sanguine that I am) in a looooong time.

I've finally realized what Sr. Constance had said many years ago. Back when I was, oh, a junior in high school maybe, I had been helping lead a youth retreat. Sr. Constance, a Franciscan sister happened by. (The retreat took place at the school where she worked.) We begged her to tell her conversion story. She replied, "Which conversion story? Life is full of conversions. I have millions of stories I could tell." That always confused me. She had been a Protestant before becoming a sister and that was obviously the story that came to my mind. In the same light, a priest once told me that life was constant metenoia. I just kind of smiled and nodded.

But it really is! Converting to Christianity, or Catholicism, or becoming a "real" Catholic (instead of the instant "just add Easter and Christmas types"), is a wonderful thing. But staying requires an almost constant recommitment to what you believe. Not that it has to be a big thing, but every time one prays, and certainly every time one says the Creed, one reaffirms faith in the Truth. *sigh* Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. With this reaffirmation comes a deepening of faith.

I'm excited to get back to Christendom to see all my great friends I haven't seen since May (most of who I haven't talked to since then.) But I'm so ready to get back to a place that has twice daily Mass, twice daily confessions, and a generally Catholic atmosphere. Heck, I'd probably even hug the Legion people. (I live near perpetual adoration, so that will actually be a step down.)

So back to the grindestone it is. It'll be strange being a super sophomore. Half my classes are junior and half sophomore. It'll be weird, because I've already started Eng and history and gotten to almost midterm before I had to drop. But I have different professors and the students will all be different. It should be interesting. Either way, I guess I'll just keep working to do everything in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

My Comments in Red

2006-08-07T02:16:00.000-07:00

Highlight the stupid thing, I don't know why it's being dumb.

You Know You're From South Dakota When...

During a storm you check the cattle before you check the kids. The kids have more sense. (Hopefully.)

The local gas station sells live bait. Where else are you planning on getting it?

You don't buy all your vegetables at the grocery store. Only in the winter, and that's if there's not enough frozen from the garden.

You know the code names for everyone on the CB.

You'll skip your cousin's funeral for the first day of deer season. Can't say I've done that.

You don't clean up the dog's mess because it's just fertilizer. Nope.

It takes 30 seconds to reach your destination and it's clear across town. Maybe a minute.

You can tell the smell of a skunk and the smell of a feed lot apart. They smell WAY different. Not even close!

You consider a building a mall if it's bigger than the local Wal-Mart. Pretty much.

The first, and perhaps only celebrity you've ever met is Captain 11. I wanted to meet him so bad. Just never got the chance. Sad day.

Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting on I-90 for the "follow me" car to come back during road construction. Or when the train comes. Once we were backed up two blocks!

"Vacation" means stopping off at Wall Drug for Friday night dinner and a drive through the Badlands early Saturday morning, with the rest of the weekend driving through the Black Hills before heading home for Sunday night chores. Sounds like a good time to me!

Your school classes were canceled because of cold. And cold means 10 below zero. Psht! Try 25 below.

You know not only 'what' but 'where' Sturgis is. And, your first big trip in life was to see Mt. Rushmore and visit the Flintstone's Bedrock City in Custer. Strugis yes, the rest no.

A big shopping trip is going to Sioux Falls - Empire Mall. Minneapolis, if you are really living. Oh yea! The Empire Mall has everything anyone could ever want. Minneapolis, that's just nuts.

You know all 4 seasons: Almost winter, winter, HOT HOT HOT, and winter again. What happened to road construction season?

There is a McDonald's in every town with a population of 1,000 or more. Over 1,000, there is a McDonald's on each end of town. I lived in a town of 2,000 and no McDonald's. We did have an A & W, though. (They make more than root beer floats!!)

Eight-foot tall snow piles divide the lane down the middle of Main Street from November through March. Give or take.

Pop is a Coke and soda involves ice cream and root beer. This one is wack. Everyone calls it pop. (Of course except for me, the rebel who says soda!)

You plug your car in at night, but it's not to charge the batteries. Why would you plug in your car to charge the batteries? I'm confused.

You could always count on the local truck stop or The Happy

Chef for the best breakfast in town. Perkins, Happy Chef, same diff.

Aside from pheasants, mosquitos are the state bird. I blame MN!

Menards on any weekend is busier than the toy stores at Christmas. Of course! Kids have fun at Menards, too!

Praire dogs outnumber people 10 to 1 So very true. http://southdakotapolitics.blogs.com/south_dakota_politics/2006/week29/index.html#entry-11722157#trackback

You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from South Dakota. Well, most/none of you are from So Dak. But I think they're funny.

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Wasting Much Time

2006-08-07T01:30:00.000-07:00

More than you ever wanted to know about me in strange girlie internet quiz style. (Can you tell I can't get to sleep?)

You Don't Have a Boyfriend Because You are Too Shy

When a guy gets to know you, he finds a great catch
Problem is... you're too shy for most guys to get to know.
From meeting someone to dating, you usually have your guard up.
And while you're just holding back, it makes you seem like you've got something to hide.

Why Don't You Have a Boyfriend?

Hmmm, never heard that one before.

Your Are a Blue Rose

You represent the unattainable and fantasies

Your vibe: larger than life and intoxicating

Falling in love with you is: like seeing a whole new world

What Color Rose Are You?

Um, okay. I don't really know what that means. . . Sciene! I said science! What is two by pi?

You Are an Exotic Beauty!

No matter what your ehtnic background, you've got a unique look
And your one of a kind beauty makes an imprint in every man's mind
You hardly ever wear the same outfit twice, and your hair is always changing
As a result, your look is always new and fresh - never outdated or stale

What Type of Beauty Are You?

Cool! True or not, at least I can spell ethnic!

Men See You As Desirable

Men often find you immediately attractive and sensual
You're honesty is refreshingly beautiful ... it draws guys in
You are also able to be open with your feelings with no emotional baggage
Packing light means you enjoy new relationships easily

How Do Men See You?

Haven't heard this one either.

Your Love Song Is

You and Me by Lifehouse

"Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do
Nothing to prove
And it's you and me and all of the people
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you"

For you, love is very intense and a little difficult to express.

What Love Song Are You?

But it's already taken! A couple of times over!

You Are a Good Student of Men

You're pretty good at knowing what men are thinking
But you're not dead on 100% of the time
Let your guy off the hook sometimes... because you may be reading him all wrong!

How Well Do You Understand Men?

I SO beg to differ. About the knowing guys thing. Hah! They think girls are complicated?

Your Famous Movie Kiss is from Romeo + Juliet

"Has my heart loved 'till now? Forswear it, sight! For I never saw a true beauty 'till this night."

What Famous Movie Kiss Are You?

I hated this movie. So much.

Your Reputation Is: Sweet Girl

While you're well known, there's nothing to worry about.
You're reputation is mostly good - as good as any rep can be.

What's Your Reputation?

Aww, shucks.

You Are Midtown

You love so many things, you don't fit into any one label.
Your city girl persona goes to a fancy restaurant one night and a dive bar the next.

Are You Uptown or Downtown?

What the [edit] is midtown?

You Are a Friendly Flirt!

You are quite the flirt, but you don't flirt with just anyone.
And you hardly ever get caught, because your flirting seems so friendly.
You've got a good thing going. Tons of friends, both guys and girls.
And if you do decide to flirt, hardly anyone's the wiser. Pretty trick!

What Kind of Flirt Are You?

But flirting is EVIL! *holding two markers on either side of my head*

You'll Find Love Where You Least Expect It

You're the type most likely to find love... surprised?
You shouldn't be! You're a fun, independent woman who is always out and about.
And you're smart to sometimes leave your girlfriends behind and go it alone.
Men love to approach you when you're out by yourself - including Mr. Perfect!

Where Will You Find Love?

Yay! I have a pig. Crud, what was the name of that pig in that guys need to grow up book?

You Are 30% Left Brained, 70% Right Brained

The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning.

Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others.

If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic.

Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet.

The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility.

Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way.

If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art.

Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.

Are You Right or Left Brained?

Sounds good to me.

I Got Board

2006-08-06T01:51:00.000-07:00

Check it out.

Jen made me do it!!!

(Well, no she didn't, but she DID give me the idea.)

Melancholic

2006-08-03T01:00:00.000-07:00

I feel like posting something profound.

I can't think of anything except that I feel like barfing.

I'm sure you didn't want to hear that.

Got certified in CPR and AED usage today. Yup, I can get out there and try to save people's lives. I really hope if I ever need to use it, I can do it right.

Got an American Government final on Friday. Not ready for that in the least.

I just got a laptop stand, so I don't have to use the Physician's Desk Reference and the Mayo Clinic book to prop up Gunter anymore. Well, actually, I'm using the laptop stand, and the PDR. (Gunter's on a coffee table and it's really low.)

Bob bought some Coke today. We drank it at supper. Yummy.

I decided those alcoholics really know what they're talking about with the whole one day at a time thing.

Bob thinks I have commitment issues.

I watched Veggie Tales's Lord of the Beans. I was thoroughly disappointed. Veggie Tales is usually so good.

I've found out there actually is other Christendom students on facebook. Who knew?

I impressed Bob with my ability to read Latin. (Oh such mad skills! Yea, right, I bet Mr. Strickland is rolling over in his grave right now. Especially hard beings he's still alive.)

My cat is sleeping. She just farted. I'm so amazed how something so small and cute and fluffy can be so disgustingly putrid.

I've been wearing jeans to class the last two days. I feel like such a rebel. (And a slacker!!! I'm so sorrrrrry!!!!!!)

If you are reading this, you are probably bored. I know I am.

The Lake House

2006-07-26T16:04:00.000-07:00

My uncle has a cabin at a lake fairly near by. Bob and I have gone there a few times so far. I've met to blog about this before, really I have, I promise. Anyway, My aunt and uncle have three little girls and they are so cute!! The last time we were out there, I brought my suit, but wasn't planning on swimming, because we were only staying for a few hours. As I got in the water with the six enthusiastic kids (extra cousins were over), I said, "And I wasn't going to go swimming." Bob laughed, "Then why are you?" "Peer pressure." Bob looked at me, "From preschoolers?" Yea, I guess so. Maggie came with us once and we had a good time. We baked in the sun. I turned gloriously bronze (slightly off white) and Maggie turned really, really red (scarlet.)

Here Maggie, the oldest of the three girls, and I enjoying the water.

You would totally go swimming if she asked you. You know you would.

Funny Picture

2006-07-23T13:54:00.000-07:00

Rumor Has It

2006-07-22T23:27:00.000-07:00

"That movie is about my family! We are the Robinsons!"
I have to say, that would be warped, very warped. But that's exactly what happens in Rumor Has It. It's a movie based on The Graduate. I'm generally not a Jennifer Aniston fan. I think she's a dufas. Actually, she's a pretty good actress, but she's in dufas movies and TV shows. This one, however, was good. It was ironic and weird and twisted and left you shaking your head and shuddering, trying to not think about it. If you didn't like The Graduate, DO NOT see this movie, it takes it to the next step. But if you liked it and found it deliciously twisted, you might like Rumor Has It. It needed more Simon & Garfunkel, though. It also gave me some interesting thoughts on sleeping around. (Oh that was a weird sounding sentence, hear me out.) It is a main stream movie, so it was assumed that everyone slept around. (Except in Pasadena, no one has sex in Pasadena, there is a rule.) Anyway, Jennifer's character was freaking out, because she slept with a man who had also slept with her mother and her grandmother. But who else had this man slept with? Probably many, many other women. She wasn't concerned with them. Or how about her? Or her fiancee? If you start concerning yourself with these things, I think you can quickly see what a mess it makes. The whole mother and grandmother thing is kind of extreme, but I think it makes a very good point. Where does it stop? And what if her sister ran into this guy at a bar or something? It's like one of those ice breaker games where everyone stands in a circle and grabs peoples' hands and then try to get untangled. Even though people may have good intentions, usually at least someone gets hurt and nothing gets untangled.

Blood Pressure Meds

2006-07-18T21:01:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't know, I have low blood pressure. Really, it's not high, it's low. I try to do things to raise my blood pressure. I have found something. It's not extra fluids, it's not salt, it's not even support hoes. Nope, it's secular philosophy class. I think, for about a 2.5 hour block of time today, my blood pressure was normal to high. (That is, until I got home and watched Gilmore Girls. If you ever want to calm me down, just shove an episode of the Gilmore girls in front of my face, preferably not season six.) In class today, we finished up discussing whether or not we have free will. (Luckily, most of the class decided that we did.) We then moved on to right and wrong. Now, I really feel that my role in this class is one of an observer. Sort of a philosophical anthropologist. I am only there because the professor was kind enough to let me sit in without paying. I do say stuff when people get totally out of wack. But this was too much. When one student proclaimed that morality is defined only by what the culture believes is right and wrong, I couldn't even speak. It's one thing for a nonthinking teenie bopper (or teenie bopper wanna be) to say something so ridiculous. But a student of philosophy. Someone who claims to study the science that is the handmaid of theology, the highest possible science?! No!! My brain just rejected it. As I was leaving, I really wanted to wing my coffee cup at his head. Of course I didn't do it, but I wanted to. That's how at a loss for words I was. I think that was one of those times that TJ says you're supposed to beat the person with a stick until they agree. Granted, I really don't think that's the best idea, but it was an appealing one. Anyway, I'm getting a taste of how the "real world" thinks and that's what I wanted. So I should be happy. And I am. And now I'm going to go pray for the souls of my classmates.

Windy Hill Radio

2006-07-16T17:06:00.000-07:00

I am freaking out excited. My friend Basil has been kicking around the idea of a Catholic internet radio. Very soon after he started telling people about it, he had a new computer and $400 donated to the cause. Pretty soon he was all set up. Unfortunately, we don't have a bishop right now, so the diocese has asked him to wait until we get a bishop. The other night he e-mailed a priest from our diocese who works in the Vatican. That night Meche and I had thrown rocks at his window at 10 pm after he'd announced he was going to bed. He claimed that because he needed to be at work by 7:30 am, he had to go to bed at that strange hour. Then next morning I popped my head into his office bright eyed and bushy tailed at 11:30 am after having gone to bed at 3 or 4 am. I was going to boast, that even though I was able to get up later, I still had less sleep. (Which was my own darn fault and not really a sign of intelligence.) But as soon as I walked into his office, he greeted me with, "Guess who I got a call from this morning?" "Uh, who?" "The Vatican!" "Oh." All thoughts of who got how much sleep fled from my head. It turns out that the priest (monsignior) had called him back and informed him that Pope Benedict would be very excited and interested in hearing about this radio station. He proceeded to give Basil a mailing address for the Pope. I was shocked and awed. The web site is http://www.windyhillradio.org/. Anyway, so as soon as we have a bishop, the radio should be up and running. W00t.

Lot In Life

2006-07-14T01:07:00.000-07:00

I didn't realize it until I read a comment by my dear Maybef. Part of the reason I've been so frustrated lately, is because I feel useless. I feel bad, because I'm pushing my mom and myself further and further in debt every semester. I would feel, at least a little better if I could get a summer job to pay at least some of it now. Granted I do some work around the house. But I feel really bad when Mom is running around the house trying to get things done and I'm laying on the couch. (Not because I want to be.) Anyway, anyway, that's not what this post is supposed to be about. I'm sure you all are sick of my "realization" posts by now, but tough! It's my blog. Hehe! Lately I've been dreaming of being able to pay back my debts, and heck, while I'm dreaming, pay off my mom's debts, too. But MB's comment stopped me short (and made me cry.) I find it truly funny and ironic that I passionately wanted to join the Hawthorne Dominicans, partly to help people realize that just because a person can't work, or even dress themselves, that they are still a human being deserving our love, attention, respect, and help. After that fell through, I settled on bioethics, so I could help the elderly, the unborn, and the very sick. So other people would know that they deserve the same as anyone who "pulls their own weight." Somehow in all of this, I managed to overlook myself. Silly, huh? I'm ready to crusade for other people who don't have a voice because of age or infirmity, while belittling myself for the very same thing! I've been waiting for the day that I'd be able to "pull my own weight" again. When I could get out into the world and work, earn a living, and do some good. But I've almost completely overlooked the fact that I am still a person with worth as I am. I can help people and hopefully lead them to God even when I'm sick. So I guess I'm just trying to say, thanks Mary Beth. Thank you for reminding me that I'm a human. :)

Descartes for Dummies

2006-07-10T23:08:00.000-07:00

First of all, I would like everyone to know that I exist. And that the external world exists. Really it does. It's there. I promise. Everyone really does exist, even Faz. Backing up, second session of summer classes have started. Environmental biology got cancled, so I'm on to some other interesting things. I'm taking American Government, because despite taking it twice in high school (the dangers of going to three different high schools), I still don't feel like I know enough to be an active and responsible citizen. (But I mean, hey, I know English, that's more than many!) Anyway, my prof is a good solid Catholic who I've seen at church stuff for years now. I'm going to beg and plead and make cookies for Dr. Keats and hopefully he'll let me count that towards a poli sci credit. (The master is picky about creditssess, precious.) Oh that was weird. Anyway, how many credits does one need for a minor? I'm also sitting in on the intro to philosophy class. Basil thinks I'm absolutely nuts for taking a class that I'm not getting credit for. I'd just love to introduce them to Fidelio! Anyway, the philo prof is absolutely thrilled to have someone intersted in philo. (NSU has a philo department of, maybe two classes.) He almost fell over when he asked the class what philosophy was and I responed, "The love of wisdom." But I think the class is going to be hard. Not like it's going to be a lot of tests or reading (not that it would matter if it was, I'm not getting a grade!), but in the though process of the prof. He seems like a nice enough guy who's really interested in what he's doing, but I almost jumped him when he said that it was the questions that were important and not the answers. Ahhh! I just finished the first reading assignment. It was all Descartian, "How do we know the world exists" crap. I really wish I'd been in Cuddeback's human nature class right now. O'Herron just said that if you didn't believe that world existed, you were stupid and needed to get out of his classroom. Dan S. tried to argue with him, but that didn't work out so well. :P Anyway, I think this class is going to be very educational for me. I will be very interested to see how people justify bad philosophy.

Baby Steps

2006-07-06T01:09:00.000-07:00

These last two years have been very different than the other years of my life. It's funny, I wanted to join the Army so badly before, and even after I got sick. One of the things basic training does, is tear you down and build you back up the way they want. I feel like, even though I haven't had to get up at 3 or 4 in the morning or do push ups until I fall on my face or get hit with bars of soap in socks (really, they do that) or anything like that, I feel like I've gone through my own basic training.

Lately, especially, I've grown increasingly distraught about my future. I don't know what kind of job I can get, physically. And it's not like I'm rolling in money. I'm pretty far in debt with my two years of higher education thus far. And after two more, I'm not sure what I'm going to be able to do as far as paying that back. I know my mom will do everything she can to help, but she is mortal and has her own bills and limitations. (That do not allow for paying back private college tuition and large medical bills.) I was beginning to (only half jokingly) think that my only option was going to be marrying a very, very rich man.

One night I was laying in bed. I was thinking about what I used to have in life. A GPA most students would give their left leg for, a plan after high school that was attainable, interesting and challenging, a good relationship with my mother, a flexible job at a stable that I loved, wonderful friends, pride in being able to do things for myself, a spot in my school that was neither too high as to have too much pressure, nor too low that it was demeaning, a nice spot in my church community as the girl who knew things and was the really, really good Catholic, two wonderful dogs and a crazy cat, and the ability to come and go as I pleased, and most importantly a wonderful and flourishing relationship with God. In short, I had it good. I had no reason to suspect change.

In the past two years, my GPA has plummeted. I'm now jumping for joy that it's finally at 2. something again. Not a . something. (That was bad!) My relationship with my mom suffered to the point where I contemplated running away, dropping out of school and living on a friend's couch so as to have no contact with her. I haven't been on a horse more than once (and that was dud), much less do things like train them or clean stalls. I haven't wanted to be around my friends who knew me before I got sick, because I didn't want them to see me helpless and have lost touch with or have a shaky relationship with many because of that. And those who have stood by me and helped, I feel indebted to and I have no idea how to repay. I've had to ask for help in things like getting dressed, walking, and eating. (Believe me, there's nothing like having a friend put on your bra for you or feed you supper.) I've had to find a completely new spot in a school where I'm not really near the top. I'm around a bunch of people who are working hard at sainthood and am more one of the "bad kids" than the good in comparison. Thankfully my animals are still alive, but after two years away from them, save a few months, the relationship is way different. And most of all, have gotten very angry with God for not letting me be a nun.

Many of these things happen to a normal teenager/young adult at some point or another. Some things only happen to a few. And some people have way worse things happen. As these things piled up, I realized I was being striped of all the earthly things that were not so important, so I could focus on what is not earthly as is so very important. After wallowing in the pit of self pity and consouling myself with the, "there are children dying in Africa" senario, I am, slowly, trying to let God build me back up. I figure if it took two years to take away the unimportant things, it will take much longer to build up the important ones, but I guess I'm ready to start. I take solace in the fact that God is gentle. I am very happy to know that I am really, truly working towards the good. I think about the girl who went to Christendom having never visited nor even seen a photo, having only talked via e-mail to her "big sister" a few times and a seminarian who went there for a semester. Who stepped on the campus for the first time in August of 2004 wondering which building was St. Lawrence Commons and was scared to death, but was there on God's say so, so she knew it would be okay. Yea, I think I could learn much from her. I told one of my friends that I thought my life was going to be a grand adventure. I think it will be. Especially if God doesn't tell me where I'm going in August untill March. But hey, it's worked so far! :P

A Day On The Town

2006-07-03T21:08:00.000-07:00

Today Maggie and I decided to drive around town and take pictures. It was fun.

Here we are at Storybook Land

Only you can prevent forest fires!

Here Maggie's getting "eaten" by the lion water fountain.

Me attempting to ride sidesaddle.

And I found my horse.

Now Maggie just needs a convertable.

Here I am in the wide prarie of NSU.

Maggie and I looking cool.

And us at the beginning of our journey. Why this is at the end, I don't know.

Por Que?!?!?!

2006-06-30T18:29:00.000-07:00

Bob and I have been getting ready for the 4th. Our first stop was to Closet-to-Closet to get a new shirt for Bob. Then to Kessler's for foods. We got fruit and carrots to take to my uncle's lake cabin and ham and cheese and turkey for sandwiches. (Even better than mutton. :P) It was fun, because everyone was shopping. Usually before a big holiday, there's all kinds of peopleob , but on holidays like Christmas or Thanksgiving, it's mostly a bunch of stressed out cranky women trying to figure out how to impress their mother-in-laws. Today, I think everyone was happy that it was Friday and that they weren't going to have to go back to work until Wednesday. So most people were walking around all, "Yay!" There's nothing like being packed in a grocery store with a lot of happy people. Bob was saying hi to people left and right. I even knew a few. Plus, there was massive amounts of foods, because the Kessler brothers are smart people who know that people buy lots of foods right before the 4th of July. It was a beautiful thing indeed. But this happy story soon takes a tragic turn. (Sorry, I'm watching the weather channel, it's dramatic, there are tsunamis.) I went to go pick up some Vanilla Coke. Much to my dismay, it wasn't there. I searched high and low. I found Coke, Cherry Coke, Coke with Lime, Coke Zero, Diet Coke, Diet Cherry Coke, Diety Coke with Lime. (I'm surpised they don't have a Diet Coke Zero! What's the difference anyway? Personally, I think Coke Zero tastes better than Diet Coke. But they both have no calories, no fat, no suagr.) And there was the offending Black Cherry Vanilla Coke (and it's diet counter part.) It sat their mocking me. It's vanilla goodness masked by the black cherry. WHYFOR?! After searching and searching, Bob finally said, "I don't think it's here." At that point, I looked at the celling and yelled, "POR QUE DIOS? POR QUE?!" The thousand people around me seemed amused. One lady even stopped to help, but it was to no avail. Our next stop was Office Max to return incorrect ink and get the right stuff. Then to Target for face wash and to see if they had Vanilla Coke. Guess what I found? THE SAME STUFF THAT THEY HAD AT KESSLER'S!!! I asked the sales lady and she said she hadn't seen Vanilla Coke for a really long time. A very dejected Phantom left that Target, believe you me. As we headed back home, Bob pulled into a gas station. There was no Vanilla Coke there either. But I did get a Krispy Kreme. That helped ease the pain some. After we got home, I checked the Coca-Cola web site and Vanilla Coke is still listed as a product in the US. I don't understand! I'm drinking one of the offending Black Cherry Vanilla Cokes. Bob wanted them. I feel like a traitor.

Silly

2006-06-28T14:33:00.000-07:00

I've noticed my last few blog posts have been kind of heavy. So I thought I'd post something kind of silly that I've been pondering for some time now. So here is my big confession. I love the Geico gecko!! I mean really, there's not much cuter than a little gecko on TV trying to sell car insurance. I think he may even be cuter than (24 fans, cover your ears) Keifer Sutherland. I know. I know. That's a pretty big claim. But I think I can back it up.

Much cuteness. Much more cuteness.

And check out his bike!

Of course I want free pie and chips. It's pie, with chips, for free!

In The Middle

2006-06-20T22:41:00.000-07:00

I'm definitely not a middle child. And I think I will NEVER learn how to spell definitely on my own. (Sorry, that is something that has frustrated me for quite some time now.) Anyway, as I was saying, not a middle child. Usually not in the middle of things. I am enough choleric that I usually see things fairly black and white. Someone is right or wrong. I want to do something or not. But a fight between two of my friends showed me that it's not always that way. I don't know why I'm taking it so hard, because they were never really friends. I think the thing that's hardest for me, is that neither of them seem wrong. (Granted neither of them seem much right either! :P) I feel like Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. "He's right and he's right." "What do you mean? They can't both be right." "You're right." Ahhh!!

And not just in the little things. I've always known what I wanted to do with my life. Up until I was 14 or 15, I wanted to be a veterinarian. Then I hit a little thing called advanced math. I realized that I was mildly good at writing and pretty good at history. After a brief, and I do mean brief, period of confusion, I finally decided that I either wanted to teach English to high schoolers or history to college students. I was going to join the National Guard and go to SDSU. Then I found out about Christendom. So my college changed. Then I got sick and couldn't join the Guards. Pretty much as soon as I got to Christendom, I realized English was not for me. This year I realized that I really liked philosophy and maybe I didn't like history so much. *shrug* Plans changed again. This time, it isn't so black and white. It's weird not having a plan.

I wrote all this earlier in the evening. I took a break and walked the dog. It was getting a little too, this-is-my-life, for my taste. My poor dog. He's been getting really fat and I don't think he's ever walked that much in his whole life. Well, I take that back, he accompanied me a few times on my Army training runs. Anyway, I wondered around for awhile trying to figure out what in the hell I was going to do with my life. After awhile I realized that I don't know. I just don't know. But after wandering around some more, I realized that it was ok. I'm not saying that I should be a bum my whole life and live on my mother's couch. But I don't need to move out any time soon. I do have a home. (See one of my very first posts on this stupid blog.) And even if I don't know what the plan for my life is, I know that there is one. I started thinking about going to doctor after doctor. That got me thinking about my biology teacher, who has skin cancer. Today she told us that she can barely get through class and then get home to her couch before she collapses. Tears sprang to my eyes, because I could see in her the same weariness and hopelessness I have felt so many times. As I was thinking this, I realized I was walking in the direction of Sacred Heart Cemetery. I decided to go visit my aunt. I hadn't been to her grave since she was burried six years ago. After battling breast cancer for almost six years, with a young daughter, I figured she'd know a thing or two about the uncertaincies of life. As I neared the street that I needed to turn on to get to the cemetery, I noticed a sign that said No Outlet. I chuckled to myself about the irony of a cemetery being on a dead end. Once I got there, I wasn't able to find her grave site. Not supprising, since I'd only been there once and that was six years ago. But it was really awesome to walk through the cemetery. Finally it was getting dark, and as I walked home, I realized the sign was wrong. There was to an outlet. There might be bodies in the ground awaiting the Second Coming, but their determinate dimensions were somewhere else. Yup. One day at a time.

I'm Sorry!

2006-06-16T17:26:00.000-07:00

It's been almost a week since my last post. And what a week it has been! I've now finished one month of biology in four days. Yea. It's been fun. The next three weeks will contain three more months worth of bio. W00t. Actually, I'm enjoying it a lot. I really like biology (although I have to say I'm not a fan of chemistry) and I'm really enjoying my lab partners. Hehehe. But that's all I'll say about that!

Maggie, Robyn, and Eric came over last night, because I didn't have class today and Maggie and Robyn didn't have to work. We had a "this is the end of the week for us" party. Except poor Eric had to be at work at 8 the next morning. So he left "early." (1:30 am.) Robyn had the bright idea to rent Date Movie, the unrated version. So after Eric went all responsible on us, we watched it. Blech. I am SO GLAD I didn't watch that movie in theaters with Matt. Ahhh!!! Matt, if you haven't seen it yet, DON'T! It was so stupid and sick I could have just barfed on it. Anyway, after that we conked out. Maggie got the couch, Robyn the love seat, and I, legal resident of the house, got a bed. We got up around 10 or so. Well, except for Maggie who got up earlier to let in a poor, locked out Bob. Sorry Bob! Anyway, we ended up watching The Price Is Right. Can't say I've ever seen that show, so it was a learning experience for me. I don't think I'll be watching it much, but it was interesting. I was surprised that Bob didn't mind us sprawled all over the living room, and I do mean all over it. I even got part of a chicken taryaki (Is that how you speel that?) Subway sandwich. Robyn then insisted on making herself presentable before we headed out to Perkins. *shaking head* I don't know what that girl's going to do in college.

In other news, Phantom keeps moving up in the world of technology. My friend Basil (Not to be confused with Basil Howe, who is a different person entirely.) is my new hero for the summer. Basil helped me hook Gunter up to my TV, something I've been wanting to do, evern since I met Champ. Ironically, this is a project that Basil Howe had been helping me with (sort of) before I got home for the summer. But as, he is in New York, and my hero-friend Basil is in SD with me. I believe I shall leave myself in the competent hands of my Basil friends when it comes to technology. And Ryan and Colin. And Andrew. I love that my friends are smart. Also, I think my hero-friend Basil needs a nickname. I would give a nickname to Basil Howe, but well, that is his nickname. That is one of my projects for the summer. Anothe being paying him back. Most likely done with food. And chew?

No One Knows

2006-06-10T02:44:00.000-07:00

I lay down on the wet lawn
Too tired to go on.
People walkin’ by
They keep walkin’,
Pretty soon their gone.

No one knows what it’s like to be me.
No one knows what I live with.
No one sees how much I want to be free
Or how much I want to do.

Go to class, sit at home
Talkin’ to my friends on the phone.
Mom comes in,
Asks where I’ve been.
No where, not today.

No one knows what it’s like to be me.
No one knows what I live with.
No one sees how much I want to be free
Or how much I want to do.

I see you sittin’ on the grass,
I see you in biology class.
And I wonder what you do.

‘Cause no one knows what it’s like to be you.
No one knows what you live with.
No one sees how much you want to be free
Or how much you want to do.

No one knows, no one knows.
No one knows, no one knows.

Everyday people keep walkin’ on by
I think about their pain
I don’t know, and you don’t know
Maybe they don’t know.

Yea, no one knows what it’s like to be them.
No one knows what they live with.
No one sees how much they want to be free
Or how much they want to do.

No one knows, no one knows,
How much they want to do.

No one knows, no one knows.
How much you want to be free.

No one knows, no one knows,
What it’s like to be me.

Her Thoughts In The Morning

2006-06-06T04:01:00.000-07:00

The morning doves are cooing
Singing love songs in the trees.
The sun is slowly waking,
Bringing the earth forth, from its knees.

The pain, the sorrow, it isn’t here
It’s somewhere far away.
There is peace in nature, birds, but no deer.
She watches and wonders what to say.

Many things happen in this life that we live,
Unthinkable joy and terrible sorrow
Are what await those that are willing to give
Their heart for keeps or even to borrow.

He is the noble one , who, when burned and hurt
Dusts himself off and gives once more
A rose springs forth from the ashes and dirt,
The fire has strengthened it’s very core.

Perhaps knowledge could ease his pain,
It might help him to know the truth,
He did not love in vain,
And this she could say forsooth.

He is wise and stronger than he thinks,
For he knows that the love was true,
Even though now to despair he sinks,
Because his heart is broken through and through.

Their time may have past,
There is no hope for them now.
Though they will be friends to the last,
To their Maker they must bow.

The morning has come, they parted long ago.
Here she sits and thinks of those things he ought to know.

A Bit Different Than Elmo. . .

2006-06-04T21:46:00.000-07:00

Take the quiz:
Which Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle are You?

Raphael
You can be considered the 'dark one' of your family. You're a hot-head, face it. Or...the 'Realist' some may say. It's a dog-eat-dog world, you're a pretty big dog. You normally lay low until some one gets up your back. You're anti-social and short-tempered...and you're not big on admitting it! But, even though you can act kinda rude and not-there, you're a rather large teddy bear on the inside when it comes to the ones you love...in danger. You hate being called a, 'softy' and you're always ready to 'bring it'.

Quizzes by myYearbook.com -- the World's Biggest Yearbook!

I Always Thought Elmo Was Kind Of Annoying

2006-05-30T16:39:00.000-07:00

You Are Elmo

Sweet and innocent, you expect everyone to adore you. And they usually do!

You are usually feeling: Talkative. You've got tons of stories to tell. And when you aren't talking, you're laughing.

You are famous for: Being popular, though no one knows why. Middle aged women especially like you.

How you life your life: With an open heart. "Elmo loves you!"

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

Orthodoxy

2006-05-30T04:02:00.000-07:00

Well, for all the books I want to read this summer, I up and start a book on John's list. Granted this book should have been on my list. It was supposed to be there. I drew up the list in a hurry and was actually thinking about many other pressing matters. (Well, maybe not pressing as, um, disturbing? Troubling? It's six in the morning, I'm not a very good thesaurus. Anyway, it was one of those stay up all night nights, so I thought I'd take advantage of it. I cleaned up the bookshelf in the living room (that took awhile), did some research on distributism (see The Commons), washed those dishes (I was feeling guilty, and ended up on the couch watching music videos on Yahoo music. (Lifetime, Behind Blue Eyes, Everytime We Touch, Song For The Dumped, Battle Of Who Could Care Less, and The Distance.)

I was just about to go to bed, when I realized that the sun was coming up and I had yet to enjoy my freshly painted "deck." That's where I am now, 6:09 in the am, a balmy 46 degrees F, a comfortable chair, a (now empty) cup of four berry tea (courtesy of Meg, yes I kept it & put it in my suitcase & it's been sitting on my shelf up until about 10 minutes ago), fuzzy socks that Laura-friend & Liz-Duck got me because they are wonderful & I'm an ass, and G.K. Chesterton. Now I'm really not that far, page 12 to be precise (or is it actually accurate, I can never remember, and after watching Jackson get punched in the shoulder over and over, you really think I would. Don't worry, it was a physics thing.) ANYWAY (wow, I go on more tangents that Mr. Bersnak), I was reading Orthodoxy and the beginning has quite the bit to do with insanity. Something that has been on the mind, as of late. (Long story.) Chesterton talked about how logical people are the ones who go insane and artists keep their sanity. (I wonder if artists take the sanity from the logical people. They say a picture steals your soul, why not a painting or a sculpture your sanity? Oh boy.) If I can be so bold as to quote Chesterton, "A flippant person had asked why we say, 'As mad as a hatter.' A more flippant person might answer that a hatter is mad because he has to measure the human head." I read that and thought, "Well, actually, hatters were mad because they used mercury to adjust the browbands of the hats and prolonged exposure to mercury causes insanity. That's why we now have alcohol thermometers and such." Oh dear. Now if we're looking at things either logically or poetically, I'm afraid I'm going to be playing checkers with Poe. Ahhh!!! He also said something about logical people being morbid. I sometimes shock Liz with the weird and twistedly morbid things I do. (Not, like, gross or anything, mostly dumb stuff, like go to a party which involves a long car ride with three people and my ex-boyfriend, or making weird sad picture movies about break ups, or listening to cds that my boyfriend made me over and over and over again, right before I break up with him. You know, I think I'm only morbid about boys. I'd say I should get me to a nunnery, but, well. Actually, I don't know if that's actually morbidity or just melencholy.) Wow, from cleaning, to books to boys. I wonder if Bersnak still has that tanget sign I made him, I think I need it.

Land of Milk and Honey

2006-05-29T02:15:00.000-07:00

*Large sigh*

The violence continues in the Middle East. Ever since I went to Israel and Palestine, I feel a pang whenever I hear about another bombing or shooting. Also, I think it's rather, um, interesting, for lack of a better word, that the news is riddled with Israeli soldiers foil Palestinian bombing or Israeli soldiers kill gunman in Gaza. It's not nearly as common to hear about Israeli soldiers interrogating children on a school bus or breaking up a basketball game. The Israeli government does so much more than they get "credit" for. I'm not one for talking about things I don't know a whole lot about, but I think I can safely say that the Palestinians are being oppressed by Israel and they are getting very, very little help. Please pray for peace and justice for both the Palestinians and the Israelis.

The Berlin Wall. The wall in the West Bank.

Obviously These People Know Me

2006-05-28T03:31:00.000-07:00

>>> > 1) you accidentally enter your password on a microwave
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>2) you haven't played solitaire with real cards in years
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>3) the real reason for not staying in touch with your friends is that they don't have a screen name
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>4) you'd rather look all over the house for the remote instead of
>>> >>>just pushing the power button on the tv.
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>6) your boss doesnt even have the ability to do your job.
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>7) you read this list & keep nodding and smiling
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>8) as you read this list, you think about sending it to all your friends.
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>9) and.. you were to busy to notice number 5.
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>10) you actually scrolled back up to check that there was no 5
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>11) & now you're laughing at your stupidity
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>12) repost if you fell for it.
>
>
>It made me look stupid

Trying Something New

2006-05-28T01:03:00.000-07:00

So I've been up trying to figure out how to get sound on this silly thing. I figured I could "html it" like with an image. *snort* Well the problem wasn't my html codes (thank you O'Reilly publishing), but I had exceeded my data transfer limit on the site I was using. Ahhh!!! So I was going to tell you to Click here. Please. And turn your speakers up. But now I think maybe you should wait. Instead, look at this picture of this horse and this smily face.

Pooky

2006-05-27T23:22:00.000-07:00

Right now I really want to walk across the hall and flop in Megan's room or call up Liz and hang out with her and Joe. I just got off the phone with Bob and well, the WP is not in a good mood. Here, how about this:

Talking in her sleep again
Reciting lines start to end
But she's not crazy
(Knock on wood)
Just a little misunderstood

She takes a walk at 4AM
Wakes the neighborhood again
And I find myself recalling everything she used to tell me

Aw yeah, alright, truth hurts inside
Aw yeah, that's right, you go around once in life

Everybody wants to be a part
Everybody loves a situation
Who would ever want to play the part
Of anonymous numbers on a governmental chart

She's waiting tables the next day
She pulls a double then on her way
To an audition in Hollywood, yeah,
A little misunderstood

We sit around the house
Waiting for the phone to ring
And I know she alone holds the key
To everything I want to be

Aw yeah, alright, truth hurts inside
Aw yeah, that's right, you go around once in life

Everybody wants to be a part
Everybody loves a situation
Who would ever want to play the part
Of anonymous numbers on a governmental chart

Everybody wants to be your friend
When you've got something you can give them
All I've seen, bad and good, she's not crazy
Just a little misunderstood.

Aw yeah, all good, she's not crazy,
Just a little misunderstood.

Two years later you're a star
Who'd have thought we'd get this far?
But I'd give it all away if I
Could see you on that day again
When you quit work
And threw that coffee
At the manager jerk

You said, "Close your eyes
I've got a surprise
A house in the hills
And a car that drives by."

Aw yeah, alright, truth hurts, don't it? Inside
Aw yeah, that's right, you go around once in life

Everybody wants to be a part
Everybody loves a situation
Who would ever want to play the part
Of anonymous numbers on a governmental chart

Everybody wants to be your friend
When you've got something you can give them
All I've seen, bad and good, she's not crazy
Just a little misunderstood.

Aw yeah, all good, she's not crazy,
Just a little misunderstood.

Summer reading

2006-05-27T15:16:00.000-07:00

I got the idea from John. I've got plenty of books I always think I'm going to read when I get time. Ha! When I get time. That'll be never. I wonder if I can catch up on my reading in Heaven. Well, by then I'll know all the books so it won't matter. Maybe my purgatory will be reading all the books I ever planned on reading. Granted I love reading, but somehow knowing that's what's keeping me from Heaven would take the fun out of it. Wow, bizarre, and people say reading Dante is good for you. I think not! Anyway, this is what I hope to accomplish this summer. (Or maybe, in my lifetime. . .) I don't have the cute little chart, because I don't feel like messing around with Paint right now. So y'all will just have to wonder.

Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis
Watership Down, Richard Adams
Joy Luck Club, Amy Tan
Once and Future King, T. H. White
Cyrano de Bergerac, Edmond Rostand
Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad
Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde
Counte of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas
Don Quixote,
House of Seven Gables, Nathaniel Hawthorne
Scarlet Pimpernel, B. Orczy
Piers Plowman, William Langland

Oh, Your Head Is Bleeding

2006-05-22T23:18:00.000-07:00

Well, Sunday was a day of weirdness. Bob and I went to my cousin's graduation. She graduated from that school and I went there from first grade through half of sophomore year. But since we moved, I had only been back a few times and none since college. So I felt like eight graders were graduating! It was so nuts. But it was also good to be back. We went to my cousin's party, too. I ended up in charge of the punch, which worked out well, because then I had something to do other than stand around looking (and feeling) akward. W00t for not being akward. It was crazy, though, because about half the people there, I hadn't seen since I was six months old, and frankly, I didn't remember them. (Lay off, how many people do you remember meeting at six months?) Anyway, despite the meeting all kinds of new people, it was really cool to be around my family again. I love it when families get together. And recently that has included my own family. I was never very close to any of my extended family. But now that's starting to change and is really nice. We then went to another cousin's graduation in a different town. (I got a lot of sandwiches and cake between the two.) That was also fun. I got to see my baby cousin, who I haven't seen in a year. Babies change so much in one year!!

Also, the night before I'd gone to two graduation parties for two of my friends that I went to high school with. That was fun, except I wasn't feeling that well, so it was kind of like, "Hi. Congradulations. I'm going to go lay down in a corner now."

Test results are in. The stress test and echocardiogram show no problems with my heart. So we're back to neurological. I can't say that I'm very happy about that, but there's not really much I can do about it. What does this mean? This means that The White Phantom will never join the military. (Yes, despite it all, I've still been thinking about it.) And the possibility of going into a convent is about 0.5%, if not completely impossible, forever. *sigh* I guess I wasn't really listening vocation-wise. I always told God to hit me over the head with a 2 x 4 if I wasn't doing what He wanted and, well, I guess He did. The logical thing to do, is throw myself at marriage, but, somehow my heart isn't in it. I think I'm going to just chill with the single life for as long as I need to. I never, ever, liked the idea of being single all my life. Well, I guess I still don't. But I'm really okay with flying solo through college and maybe for a long time after.

Conclusion

2006-05-20T14:11:00.000-07:00

I've decided that my perfect guy would be a Catholic Jack Bauer.

I've been watching way too much 24.

I Don't Know Why I'm Thinking About Fall In The Spring.

2006-05-19T22:51:00.000-07:00

Oh wait, maybe I do. ;)

You Are Apple Cider

Smooth and comforting. But downright nasty when cold.

WhatPart of Fall Are You?

And then there's more stuff about my brain. Yay.

Your Brain is 73% Female, 27% Male

Your brain leans female
You think with your heart, not your head
Sweet and considerate, you are a giver
But you're tough enough not to let anyone take advantage of you!

What Gender Is Your Brain?

She Will Be Loved

2006-05-19T15:31:00.000-07:00

This post goes out to my Ibid friend, who was kind enough to tell me that I was behind on my posting.

I am so tired.I just finished scraping and painting my deck. I could sleep for a week. Granted my deck isn't even half the size of what anything that would pride itself in "deckness." But this is the most physical labor this phantom has done in a loooong time. Phew. The only bad thing, is I got large amounts of paint on the house. *sheepish grin* Disclaimer: I have never painted a deck before. Ever. Ever, ever, ever, ever, ever. I would say more evers but I didn't memorize them all. Anyway, so it's a good tired. It's an I've-accomplished-something-and-my-deck-doesn't-look-like-crud-anymore kind of tired. Much better than the I-sratched-my-nose-and-now-I'm-so-tired-I-can't-move kind of tired. :P And scraping is hard work.

In other news, I won't hear about the test results until Monday. If they are normal, more tests. (Actually, I'd probably have more tests if they're abnormal, too . . . )

I've also been having some fun catching up with my crazy friends here. We've been swaping bizarre stories (he he he), watching movies, and finding out that we all love Hellogoodbye. That makes me so happy! And as it turns out, one of my friends's favorite James Blunt song in Tears and Rain. I don't understand how that song can be so popular and so unknown at the same time. :) (It's my favorite. I love that song so much.)

Oh, and the reason for the weird titile, is that I had the radio on while I was scraping and painting and I heard that song. It was crazy, because Syd has me thinking about songs that have memories attatched to them. And well, that song was first semseter freshman year. *shrug*

Like A Fish In Water

2006-05-17T19:21:00.000-07:00

The Hobbit is back in a garden. Yay!

Summer Vaction From CC: Take Two!

2006-05-16T16:02:00.000-07:00

My summer vacation started with chicken cordian bleu pizza (honestly, the best food known to mankind.) I showed my mom the movie preview. She liked it. :D I'm really psyched. I then decided to take a nap. I asked my mom to hit me in a couple of hours. The next thing I knew, mom was yelling at me to get up in the you-need-to-get-up-right-now voice, not the you-asked-me-to-wake-you voice. I heard her yell, "We have to be at the doctor's in 15 minutes!" I knew I had a doctor's appointment at 10 am on Tuesday, but I was pretty sure it was around 6 pm on Monday. Then I heard, "You're going to be late for your EKG!!" Nope, I had grossly errored in my time estimation. Instead of 6 pm Monday, it was 9:45 am Tuesday. (Hey, I hadn't slept the night before! I was helping Claire roll clothes. I wouldn't have missed that for the world, though. Colin and Ryan were helping, too and it was hystarical!! And then straightening up the stupid give-away pile. That I would have been willing to miss, if I could have.) Anyway, so I go to get my EKG done, I swear, I was the youngest patient there for at least 50 years. I'm not kidding. The nurse just kind of looked at me, when they called my name. She told me I was too young to be there. Ha. I wish. After it was over, I told my mom that I was officially old. Really, I don't think I just turned 20, I'm pretty sure I just hit 70. I just happen to be in college and not look old and have only been on Earth for 20 years. Hmm, maybe I was on a different planet for the other 50 years. . . (I can just see Syd reading this and smiling, while thinking, "That explains so much. . . ")Anyway, I'm now working on getting registered for classes at NSU. Good news: If I get into all the classes I want, I'll be a junior come fall!! I'm thinking somebody I know is going to graduate with her class!! :) The only downside is that I probably won't have time for a job. (I'm going to be in class for a billion hours every day. Or maybe like 5 or 6. Ha! This should be interesting!) And of course, there's all the various heart tests that I'll be doing this summer. I already had an EKG and tomorrow is the cardiolite stress test. Basically, inject stuff into The WP's veins and then put her on a treadmill untill she passes out and then take pictures of her heart. W00t. Or something. I hadn't been home for 24 hours, and I've already been to the doctor's. I don't know if that bode's well for the rest of the summer. But I am glad to be home. I mean, I'm going to miss my CC people like no body's bussiness, but it's good to be home.

Weird Dream

2006-05-08T19:54:00.000-07:00

So a couple of nights ago I had a crazy dream. Claire, Olivia, and I were in prison. But it wasn't your normal US jail, or even like, Shawshank. It was some kind of terrorist prison camp or end-times you're-a-Christian-so-we-kill-you type thing. So we got beat all the time. My dream picked up with me laying on my back on a stone with blood on my face. I remember just laying there feeling the sticky blood drying on my face. I had just closed my eyes, when Smitha came to visit me. He talked to me for a few minutes until the guards came into the cell and got me and Claire and Olivia up. She bound our hands behind our backs and told us to get going. I asked where we were going and Smitha responded, "You're coming with us." I turned around and saw the entirety of CC and suddenly we were walking in the March for Life. Each of us was still bound and had a guard leading us. After the March was over, it was back to prison. We stayed there for the remainder of the winter. In the spring, the guard led us out into the garden. She tied Claire to a fence post and then me to one farther down. (I assume Olivia was kicking around somewhere.) When the guard tied my hands to the fence post, she didn't finish the knot. She looked at me and looked at the knot with a knowing look. I have to say, I was pretty confused, because I didn't know why she would want to help me escape. Plus, there were armed guards watching me, it wasn't like I could just make a break for it. That night they brought us back in. The next morning the officer in charge called me and Claire and Olivia into her office. She began telling us about a conspiracy to break us out of the jail. She wanted to know if we had any information. And then I woke up.

I Lost My Sidebar

2006-05-07T13:11:00.000-07:00

Seriously, I don't know what happened to it. Have you seen my sidebar? You're not my sidebar, you're a snort!

Anyway, so I watched the Kentucky Derby the other day. Like, uh, yesterday. Can you say "freaking awesome horse!"? I hope you can, because that's what you'd need to say if you were talking about Barbaro. Talk about WOW! He wond by 6 1/2 lengths, staying no less than second throughout the whole race. Totally awesome. It went a little something like this.
Barbaro Finished: 1st by 6 1/2 lengths
Bluegrass Cat Finished: 2nd beaten 6 1/2 lengths
Steppenwolfer Finished: 3rd beaten 8 1/2 lengths
Jazil Finished: 4th beaten 9 1/2 lengths
Brother Derek Finished: 4th beaten 9 1/2 lengths
Showing Up Finished: 6th beaten 10 lengths
Sweetnorthernsaint Finished: 7th beaten 13 lengths
Deputy Glitters Finished: 8th beaten 14 lengths
Point Determined Finished: 9th beaten 15 1/4 lengths
Seaside Retreat Finished: 10th beaten 15 1/4 lengths
Storm Treasure Finished: 11th beaten 19 3/4 lengths
Lawyer Ron Finished: 12th beaten 21 1/2 lengths
Cause to Believe Finished: 13th beaten 21 3/4 lengths
Flashy Bull Finished: 14th beaten 24 3/4 lengths
Private Vow Finished: 15th beaten 27 1/4 lengths
Sinister Minister Finished: 16th beaten 30 lengths
Bob and John Finished: 17th beaten 31 1/2 lengths
A. P. Warrior Finished: 18th beaten 31 3/4 lengths
Sharp Humor Finished: 19th beaten 33 1/4 lengths
Keyed Entry Finished: 20th beaten 40 3/4 lengths

In other news, I now know how to shoot a gun. Or at least Airsoft. Yup. :) Pictures to come.

Now if you will excuse me, I have metaphysics to study, a movie preview to show, and a birthday to celebrate. (I'm getting olllldddddd!)

Later: My sidebar has found me again.

Update

2006-05-02T20:48:00.000-07:00

I'm almost done filming!!! That's good, because I'm pretty sure one or two of my actors want me dead. I cannot wait to be done with the filming part. I think if I ever did anything professionaly with movies, I would either be an actor or an editor or a writer. No directing for me! Too much. It's too muuch.

Tomorrow is the last day of classes. Then a study day. And then *drum roll, please* FINALS!!!! Run for your lives!!! My first final is worth 60% of my grade in theology. My next final is worth 40% of my metaphysics grade. Then Latin, which is only 10%, but that's good, because I have a social teachings final right after that, which is worth 35 - 40 %, I think. And it all wraps up with English at 35%. Theology is probably going to be the scarest one as far as stress, but I don't think the test should be too bad. The hardest test will mostly likely be metaphysics. I love that class so much, but I just don't think I can sit down and prove God exists in 30 minutes. (There are four essays, I'm assuming that's going to be one of them.)

I can't believe the semester's almost over. It went so fast and yet I thought it'd never end. I've come to the conclusion that time can fly by while moving very slowly. It's a strange thing. No wonder God is outside of it.

In other news, Dr. Andres has ruled on the Eucharist debate. He says that St. Thomas says that Jesus's substance is present in the Eucharist, but His accidents are not. But that the Church has not formally ruled, so no one is allowed to throw anathemas at each other. I' m so happy I'm not a heratic. :)

Pictures

2006-05-02T20:23:00.000-07:00

Claire in her natural habitat: the beach. She was so excited, she decided to be holy and walk on water.

I quickly decided that I could get very, very used to this. :)

As it turns out, Claire and I have similar taste in "swim suits."

And what's a weekend away from campus without good food? We had chocolate ice cream (which we totally played with before we ate it!) and yummy yummy shish ka bobs. (Spelling?)

Meg was taught to clean her plate.

Meg & Liz perfect the art of being transparent. Hey. . . isn't that one of the abilities of a glorified body?

Life Keeps Going

2006-04-26T20:26:00.000-07:00

I just wrote my last paper of the semester. Whew. I'm so glad it's done. I've decided that if I ever, EVER want to make another movie, (espeically during school) I want someone to physically tie me down and reminde me about the one I'm working on now. I shouldn't complain. We got three scenes shot in 2 hours. And Greg, one of the most wonderful people in the WORLD, came to the shoot instead of going to work. Greg, I cannot even being to say how much I love you!!! (That is, in the way a director loves her actors who are willing to sacrifce for her movie.) :) He and Liz were totally awesome. And they rocked. And I used about 500 feet of extension cord, because someone *cough, cough* Masons, lost the battery! Grumble cakes. Anyway, it went well. That it did. I mostly just want to go back to the beach. Forever. Well, maybe just until the world ends or I die. One of the two. I am so living at the beach when I grow up. I'm really hungry and it's 11:30 pm and formal is this Saturday. No eating for me. :( But I'm really hungry. You know what, I think I'll go to bed. I'm probably more tired than anything. Good night.

The Luckiest

2006-04-22T18:36:00.000-07:00

I have found the coolest love song in the whole wide world.

The Luckiest by Ben Fold's Five

I don't get many things right the first time
In fact, I am told that a lot
Now I know all the wrong turns, the stumbles and falls
Brought me here

And where was I before the day
That I first saw your lovely face?
Now I see it everyday
And I know

That I am
I am, I am
The luckiest

What if I'd been born fifty years before you
In a house on the street where you live?
Maybe I'd be outside as you passed on your bike
Would I know?

And in a wide sea of eyes
I see one pair that I recognize
And I know

That I am
I am, I am
The luckiest

I love you more than I have ever found a way to say to you

Next door there's an old man who lived to his nineties
And one day passed away in his sleep
His wife, she stayed for a couple of days
And passed away

I'm sorry, I know that's a
strange way to tell you that I know
we belong
That I know
That I am
I am, I am
The luckiest

Feel The Rain On Your Skin

2006-04-22T14:54:00.000-07:00

no one else can feel it for you. Only you can let it in, no one else, no one else can speak the words on your lips drench yourself in words unspoken live your life with arms wide open. Today is where your book begins. The rest is still unwritten

I am at the beach. Meg, Liz, Claire, and I have taken off for the weekend. We are staying with a priest friend of Teddy's who's parish is literally across the street from the beach. I had an absolute caniptian (spelling?) fit, because I found out it was going to storm all weekend. (I really wanted to get a tan for formal. Oh well, I don't have a date anyway, who needs a tan?) But now that I'm here, I'm really glad it's rainy. First of all, I absolutely adore storms. I think they're cooler than sliced bread. Secondly, it's beautiful. Like, I don't even know how to describe it. The sea is a dark blue and the sky is a slightly grayer ominous dark blue. There is a magnificent dark brown pier jutting proudly out into the sea. There are a few lines of rocks in the shallow part of the water. They seem so out of place, yet so right. The only things separating me from this beautiful dismation is a thin strip of sand and a two lane road. Oh, and the most wonderful porch I've ever had the joy of setting foot on.

After we played around in the waves and on the rocks, (Yes, the water was freaking cold.) we danced on the pier in the rain and vowed to come back in the more summer months with boys and really dance. (Although, I think if Claire and I had our way, we'd be coming back with boys in the middle of the pouring rain and leaving with rings. Seriously, I found the perfect proposal spot. If I am to get married. . .) We then sat on the porch and just looked at the water. It reminds me so much of the prairie. It just keeps going and going. There are no trees or hills to block the beautiful wide openness. The vast expansiveness is so breathtaking. Gorgeous. I've been thinking that, after college, if not Hawthorne, I want to live in Maine or some place similar. I would want to be on the coast by a small fishing villiage. After today, that idea has become absolutely cemented in my brain. I told Bob about it and she loved the idea. You know, that acutally could be a lot of fun. Wow, I just considered moving to Maine with my mother and liked the idea. Huh. You know, they say that you get more and more like your parents as you get older. Huh.

This makes me think of Nickle Creek.

I am a lighthouse worn by the weather and the waves
I keep my lamp lit to warn the sailors on their way
I'll tell a story, paint you a picture from my past
I was so happy but joy in this life seldom lasts

I had a keeper, he helped me warn the ships at sea
We had grown closer 'til his joy meant everything to me
And he was to marry a girl who shown with beauty and light
They loved each other, and with me watched the sunsets into nights

And the waves crashing around me
The sand slips out to sea
And the winds that blow remind me
Of what has been and what can never be

She'd had to leave us; my keeper, he prayed for a safe return
But when the night came, the weather to a raging storm had turned
He watched her ship fight, but in vain against the wild and terrible wind
And me so helpless, as dashed against the rocks she met her end

And the waves crashing around me
The sand slips out to sea
And the winds that blow remind me
Of what has been and what can never be

Then on the next day, my keeper found her washed up on the shore
He kissed her cold face, and that they'd be together soon he swore
I saw him crying, watched as he buried her in the sand
Then he climbed my tower, and off the edge of me he ran

And the waves crashing around me
The sand slips out to sea
And the winds that blow remind me
Of what has been and what can never be

I am a lighthouse worn by the weather and the waves
And though I'm empty I still warn the sailors on their way

God loves me so much

2006-04-18T15:27:00.000-07:00

Last night I decided to go to morning prayer this morning. So my alarm went off at 7:15 in the am. Uuuhhh. I got up at 7:20, threw on jeans and a sweatshirt, grabbed my chapel veil and morning prayer book and ran. I made it there right as they started. Unfortuantely it's Easter so I was confused beyond all get out. Sunday of week I my elbow. After that I went to breakfast, and instead of getting an unhealthy waffle with unhealthy toppings, I got two boiled eggs, steamed apples, and bacon. (Okay, cut me so slack, I did well on the first two!) I then went back to my room and studied Latin. (Where does the virtue end? :P) At 9, I got ready leisurely for class. At about 9:30 I popped my head into Claire's room and announced that she needed to be awake. Granted she already was, but I wanted to make it known that she didn't have to wake me up. Unsually I am sat upon by her or Liz at about 9:45. I announced that I'd been up since 7:20 and went to morning prayer and breakfast and studied. She stared blankly at me. I'm not sure if that's because my behavior was so shocking or that I was monologuing to her while she was in a towel. (That, by the way, is not shocking. I do that more than a person would think.)

At about 9:45 Liz walked into my room, expecting to do the customary wake-me-up routine. (Usually involving shouting and shaking.) She was suprised when I opened the door for her and even more so that I was applying mascara and not sleeping. He he he. She then went to shower. Claire, Liz (other Liz), and I left for the Commons at 9:55 knowing that Liz (in the shower Liz) was going to be very, vey late for class and kind of sad for her, but hey, if she wants to be clean, that's her deal. Once we got there, we found out that poli sci was canceled. There was much rejoicing. We all decided to go to theology instead, so we wouldn't have to do it later. That's when we found out theology was also cancled. And there was much, much rejoicing.

I stood in the hallway and watched the faces of exhuberant sophomores as they found out the good news. (Really, it was great.) All the sophomores have the same theology teacher and many have the same poli sci, so it really was a good day. As I was walking back to the dorm with Claire, I said, "You know. I got up for morning prayer and such and started out my day ordered. I feel like God just said, 'Good job WP, have a treat. Here, I'll cancel two of your classes.' And I'm like, thanks God, I like that treat. That's a great treat." Claire laughed and told me I should wake up early more often, because it works out well for all of us.

As we got to the dorm, Liz finally came out. She looked at us strange and asked what we were doing. Claire promptly told her that it was Wednesday and that she didn't have a class until 1. They did the 'no it's not' 'yes it is' thing for awhile. Finally I said that if it wasn't Wednesday, then no one told J-ski or Bersnak that, because we didn't have class. I love making the Duck happy.

Anyway, because of my class load being cut in half today, I was able to study Latin, go to Mass, got to lunch, read some Dante, do my metaphysics homework, watch as episode of 24, and take a nap. I love God!

World Domination

2006-04-16T12:15:00.000-07:00

Recap on my life since my 'to do list.' The play went successfully. I've got some great pictures, that I'll post someday. Seriously, it was great. Didn't get pink eye, which was great. Got a D on the Latin test I needed an A on. Got sick during the Mystery Dinner Theater, but that's okay, because it was dumb. The hair cutting went well. I had two very happy people and one very sad. (That made me sad.) The English paper proposal went well, though. Now I just have to write the paper. I broke up with Matt, because I'm a silly person who doesn't know where her life is going. It's Easter break and more importantly, Easter Sunday. Christ is risen! (I checked.) I'm sitting on Liz's bed. Claire is crocheting next to me and we're listening to country music. And I have decided to take over the world.

Yes, that's right. Most people at CC have tried, at one point or another, to take over the world. I've decided it's my turn. I think I'll use Evangelical Protestants. And spam. Honestly, if I lock people in a room with a telaevangalist type person and only feed them spam for a couple of days, then take them out and tell them, well, just about anything, I think they'd more than readily agree. :) Plus I'd give them normal food. It's kind of like the illegal smugglers who put the parrot's life in danger and then save them so the parrot will trust them. Actually, that's kind of like what the bad guy on The Incredibles did. You know, I really don't like this plan. I will think of something else. But right now, I need to do some Latin homework.

You know, I always have Latin homework to do. I'm not kidding. Even over breaks, it's always hanging over my head. Gosh darn it! Maybe that's someone else's plan for taking over the world.

Holy Thursday

2006-04-13T23:47:00.000-07:00

HDHD
Come with me.
The transmission has been given
For our livin I ain’t kiddin.
Open up to 1 Corinthians 11:23.

“For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you that the Lord Jesus on the night He was handed over, took bread and after He had given thanks, broke it and said ‘This is my Body given up for you. Do this in rememberance of me.’ In the same way, He took the cup after the supper saying ‘This cup is the covenant in my Blood. Do this as often as you drink it, in rememberance of me.’”

Jesus was handed over
What He did He handed down
On the cross crucified King
Wore a ring of thorns
We call it a crown.
He sat down at the table. Yo this ain’t no fable
He was born in a stable. Wass up with Cain and Able?
Thought they was dead
Let it be said too much blood bein shed
Fifth commandment ain’t read
Handin down the mystery in a piece of bread
Is this too much for your head?
Once you taste it you want more
It’s the only way we gonna stop the war
Israel, Palestine beautiful tradition
What are we missin?
Surrender and obedience
Disrespect the ritual. People get way too liberal.
Miserable - death killings and scandal
Everybody’s loosin the handle what we’re seein today
Unimaginable and intolerable levels
People livin like devils. Got to transmit the tradition
G.O.D workin, prayin, restin. The whole wide world
Is in need of a serious blessin
This is what the saints be professin
Catholics got to get to confession
We all got to be holy, holy, holy
It’s a very long process. It happens rarely and
Slowly, slowly, slowly
The narrow road take we must
Yo remember fear is useless. What is needed is trust

HDHD
Come with me.
The transmission has been given
For our livin I ain’t kiddin.
Open up to 1 Corinthians 11:23

Love is our lost identity
The recovery is restored with hospitality
Havin a hard time believin me?
Open up to John Thirteen
The Savior is the servant. Why we so unobservant?
He gets down on the floor to wash the feet
Yo this is love supreme attitude.
Got to bring it to the street
If all we do is complain and compete
We be livin without lovin
Our lives will be severely incomplete
Now you know what Jesus did
He gave Himself for us to eat
Feel the rhythm of the drum beat
It generates a connection with the heart beat.
That’s why the Word makes the bread
The body, blood, soul and divinity
Got to get this deep down into me
Got to take the tradition
And make a relevant intelligent transmission
This is my mission. Check out my priestly hermaneutic.
It’s divinely therapeutic. Connect with this connection...
And all hatred and pride
Will be lifted like the Ascension
And all tension and apprehension
Will be held in suspension
Yo this is the reality the truth be flowin out of me.
It’s the medicine of immortality
The only way to sanctify individuality
Includin your sexuality
We talkin about a mystical Eucharistic spirituality
Get with this we be busy about our Father’s business.
Love for real – we talkin about forgiveness

Ahoy Mate-y!

2006-04-05T11:31:00.000-07:00

I feel like I'm on a boat. It's a really, really big boat with trees painted on it. There is one main captian and three or four other people grabbing the wheel from her. Occasionally the rest of the crew all dog pile her and fight for the wheel. I'm just sitting on the port side of the boat making sure no one touches the trees. And sometimes I move benches. Mostly, though, I just watch everyone fight. For awhile the boat just kind of zig zagged around while people jumped the captain. But now it seems as though the crew is happy with the direction the boat is going and people are more or less sticking with their own jobs. And I just sit there watching, moving benchs and doing Latin. I like this boat. It's got some good music. And dancing.

To Do List

2006-03-29T08:04:00.000-08:00

Today:
1) Stop wasting time.
2) Do Latin homework
3) Eat something that resembles lunch
4) Go to Latin class and pretend like I know what I'm doing
5) Paint flats for A Midsummer's Night Dream.
6) Study for poli sci midterm.
7) Study for a Latin test.
8) Write an English paper proposal.
9) Convince my boyfriend to take care of his stupid pink eye.

Thursday:
1) Study for poli sci while looking like I'm taking theology notes.
2) Study for poli sci instead of taking a nap.
3) Take the freaking poli sci midterm.
4) Hand in the paper proposal.
5) Somehow still be sane by the time I get to metaphysics.
6) Study for Latin. All night.

Friday:
1) Study for Latin some more. (I must get an A on this test!)
2) Take the dreaded Latin test.
3) Unwind for about five minutes.
4) Start shooting my movie.
5) Possibly be dealing with pink eye if #9 on today didn't work.

Saturday:
1) Cut hair.
2) Shoot more scenes.
3) Go to Mystery Dinner Theater.
4) Read The Inferno.

Sunday:
1) Mass.
2) Latin homework!
3) Begin hell week for A Midsummer's Night Dream.

N.B. This is all pre hell week stress!!!!!

Let There Be Irish

2006-03-22T21:32:00.000-08:00

I know this post is a little late, but it had to come at some point. I've been meaning to blog about St. Paddy's Day for some time now. It all started on Thursday. That's when CC celebrated, because the next day was the beginning of Spring Break and D. O'D was heading for the penal colonies. (Australia.) We had a nice 'Irish' supper. With Guinness and Killian's to go around. Poor Matt had given up alcohol for Lent and for some reason decided not to take advantage of the dispensation. *shrug* Silly boy. Right after supper, a bunch of the boys did a reenactment of the Irish independence from the Black and Tans. Mostly it ended up being the boys shooting each other with their airsoft guns.

But Pete did a pretty darn good job of being an Irish general. Megan and I managed to get our Latin done between supper and the festivities (that didn't include guns.) We decided that the beer we had at supper helped. Seriously, I'd never gotten through Latin so fast! (And turns out the next day that it was right, too!) The formal festivities started with the colorguard and a blessing and a few Irish saints. Then came the singing and the dancing. D. O'D lead the 'clansmen' in many great Irish songs. The crowd was asked to sing along, so we all belted out our favorites at the top of our lungs. I began to lose my voice at Black Velvet Band and finished it off with Finnegan's Wake.

Nota Bene

2006-03-21T16:50:00.000-08:00

It is a bad idea to put fish oil in bread.

Who Needs to Study When There Are Internet Tests?

2006-03-15T11:12:00.000-08:00

You Are Austin

A little bit country, a little bit rock and roll.
You're totally weird and very proud of it.
Artistic and freaky, you still seem to fit in... in your own strange way.

Famous Austin residents: Lance Armstrong, Sandra Bullock, Andy Roddick

What American City Are You?

Happy Bunny

2006-03-14T17:23:00.000-08:00

So lately I've been going a little Happy Bunny crazy. Really, you have no idea. And then Donna opened up a whole new can of worms by saying she sometimes makes her own. This peaked my interest and I thought you might enjoy.

As you can see, I'm not enjoying my midterms. Grrrr.

I have been having fun with metaphysics, though!

You're mom jokes have been going around the campus like wildfire.

And some fun with Latin.

And lots of fun with Sydney!

What 20th Century Pope Are You?

2006-03-12T20:36:00.000-08:00

You are Pope St. Pius X. You'd rather be right than

newfangled.

Which Twentieth Century Pope Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Fix it!

2006-03-12T15:30:00.000-08:00

I can just imagine the look on Eric's face as he shoved his mangled frying pan at Liz. "Tell her to fix it! Just fix it!"

It all started when I decided to cook for Ben and Joe. (I blame them! No, unfortunately, it was not their faults. Dag!) They didn't have a decent frying pan. (Aka, one big enough to cook more than one egg at a time.) So I went downstairs and asked Eric for a frying pan. He very quickly and cheerfully agreed and loaned me one of his precious frying pans. Oh happy frying pan! I took this pan, went back upstairs and proceeded to make pineapple chicken (not in the frying pan) and fried eggs with Ramen (that's what was in the frying pan.) Unfortunately, at home, all I ever cook with is cast iron. I don't think I've ever used a teflon pan in my life. It didn't occur to me that stirring with a fork would be a bad thing. Oh but it was. It so very was.

After the meal, I washed the pan and was about to give it back, when I noticed that the beautiful pan was now completely defaced with huge horrible scratches. Crap monkeys. I thought about it for a second. Eric seems like the kind of guy who would really like his cookware. Plus I'd already broken his ice scraper. The only thing I could do at the time was return the poor thing. So I sucked in my breath and went downstairs. He wasn't home, so I put it in the cabinet. Later I asked a few people how much Eric liked his pans. The answer, a lot. Double crap monkeys. What about his frying pan? That most of all. [edited!]

I decided that I would just have to replace it. I planned on doing it with much hast, but things kept getting in the way. Eric didn't seem any different to me, so I figured he must not have minded so much. I was wrong. So very wrong. (He is Latino after all.) Turns out he hadn't used the pan. . . until today. I got a call from Liz telling me she needed to talk. When she found me, she had a horrible look on her face. She didn't say anything, just pulled the frying pan out from behind her back and set it on the table next to me. "Joe was going to make an omelet --" "How mad?" I interrupted her, because I knew what she was getting at. The answer, very, very mad. Understandable. Now I have to get a new frying pan post hast.

One Month Of Craziness

2006-03-12T10:24:00.000-08:00

Mid-terms

2006-03-09T17:13:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry, I feel bad. I haven't been telling you about my life. There is a good reason for this. The devil has come to Christendom campus and they call him mid-terms. Last week I had poli-sci and English (on the same day, too!!). Tonight I just got out of my Latin test and next week I've got philosophy and theology, in that order. It has been nuts, believe you me. So maybe some day you will know more about what's going on in my life. Ciao. Pray for me.

Full of Life

2006-03-09T17:05:00.000-08:00

W00t!!! I'm about ready to jump out of my skin!! I love babies!!! South Dakota loves babies!!! Michelle has a baby!!! (Who I assume she loves very much!!!) Okay, let me rewind and play at, like, half speed.
So first I hear that Gov. Rounds (who I now love very much) signed the abortion ban. Read more here. What I think is even more awesome than that, is the people of South Dakota's attitude on abortion. Granted, if asked, many will say that it is up to the person, but would not have one themselves. And, I think, many people (not all of course), if a friend asked them what they should do, would council against abortion. Go us! Of course Planned Parenthood is blowing it all out of proportion. '"The people of South Dakota are so angry about this ban. And our phones have been ringing off the hook and our e-mail is just jammed," says Sarah Stoesz of Planned Parenthood.' Okay, I haven't taken a gallop poll (those things are SO accurate anyway. . . ) of what South Dakotans think, but I highly doubt there are even enough people who care one way or another to cause phones to even make a change. All I have to say about that is whatever. Apparently they want to put it up to a public vote. I say let 'em! We can show them what South Dakotans really think about life!!

The other night, I checked my voice mail at about 2 am and Bob left me a voicemail saying that Michelle was in labor. I ended up calling the hospital at 2: 30 am my time, 1: 30 am her time. The nurse told me that she wasn't taking any calls at that point. Later on I wasn't suprised, because little Patrick Leonard was born at 1: 46 am! 7 lbs, 4 oz, and cuter than any buttons I've ever seen!! Check out Basil's blog for pictures and more info. Congradulations Michelle!!!

Or Like Who Is Voting Democrate Or Something

2006-03-09T17:02:00.000-08:00

create your own visited states map
or check out these Google Hacks.

Cheeze-It!!!

2006-02-21T19:01:00.000-08:00

I have been found out. People now read this blog, therefore I must post something worth posting. Ha! Don't get your hopes up, folks. And so, what has been happening in the life of the Phantom lately. Lots of saints have been happening lately. First of all, St. Valentine's Day. This year was a nice change from the crap of last year. I have found out that if you break up with your boyfriend in January and Valentine's Day falls in February, it will not be fun. HOWEVER, if you acquire a boyfriend in the beginning of February and Valentine's Day falls in the middle, life is good. Granted, I've had 17 Valentine's Days without a boyfriend or recent privation of one that were perfectly normal. This one was just particularly . . . wonderful. Then there was St. Genisius's Night. Basically an excuse for CC students to get on stage and be silly. Good, good times. Pictures for yous.

St. V Day

St. G Day

Looking Up

2006-02-19T20:55:00.000-08:00

I have to say, life is looking up, even though I'm sick, sick, sick. There is something comforting in having a cold/the flu. That is, everyone else gets it too. There is medicine to take (but not too much!) and things to be done to help it and knowledge that it will go away (eventually.)
Anyway, remind me to blog later about St. Valentine's Day, St. Geniseus's Night (spelling?), and I still haven't posted about the March for Life! Oh! And the Smitha date!
I've got a lot to do!
But the library is closing, so off I go to my dorm like a good little college student.

South Dakota Rocks My Socks!

2006-02-13T10:54:00.000-08:00

I love the Midwest. I always have. Or at least since I realized they had running water. (Really, you tell a little kid she's moving from the 'burbs of FL to Little House on the Praire country and her imagination goes wild.) Since coming to college, I have realized what a treasure it is to live in such a conservative state. A state where most people are down-to-earth, decent, hard working people. But still, something like this just makes me so proud!

I Feel The Need To Post

2006-02-06T18:32:00.000-08:00

Major epiphanies happening in the life of the White Phantom. I have come to the conclusion that I've been a selfish English pig-dog for more than a short time. (That's a Monty Python reference, not a slam against the English.) Yup that's my news. I love my friends. They are great. They tell me when I'm stupid. :)

Who Da Man? I Da Man!

2006-02-01T11:55:00.000-08:00

The Center
You scored 100% individualism, 20% fatalism, 84% hierarchy, and 16% egalitarianism!

You adhere to both the Individualist and Hierarchist cultures. This means you are the Establishment, or "The Man." You run the system, or at least agree with how it's run. Any inequalities that arise are justified, because some people are just better or more deserving than others.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 91% on individualism

You scored higher than 11% on fatalism

You scored higher than 99% on hierarchy

You scored higher than 5% on egalitarianism

Link: The Scientific Cultural Theory Test written by Stentor on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

W00t!

2006-01-28T17:00:00.000-08:00

I’m not gonna lie to you, today was a good day. It really was. I got up this morning, did my Latin. (And got it almost all done, too!) Took a shower, straightened my hair and watched House. (Three patients come in complaining of leg pain. . . . )

And that was a couple of days ago. I don’t remember where I was going with this post, but it was somewhere, I promise you this. :) (Don’t hate me because I’m scatterbrained. . . .) In between the beginning of this post and now, I’ve gotten sick a couple of times and been very blah, but things are very much looking up right now. Today was great. I have come to realize how much I love our Schola. I mean really, I miss them so much when I’m at home. I want to put them in my pocket and take them home with me. Got an omelet at brunch (too many onions, but that’s normal.) Talked to Joe for the first time in forever. That was fun. And then, sad news. The Legion of Mary marches on, so it was time for the Pilgrim Virgin to leave our wing. We’ve had her since before Christmas break, so I’ve gotten very used to her being in our hallway. (Don’t worry, I’ll get over it.) Then it was guy’s open house. Haha. Liz and I dropped by the basement of Ben’s where we were told that God hates us because we were wearing pants. Lovely. Then we swung by the dungeon and saw Matt & Andrew. Matt showed me what he has done of the movie so far. W00t! I’m so excited for the film fest. Except I realized that his lead actress was a little chubby. Hmm. . . workout time for me. We met up with Pete and took him over to Kevin’s to see Claire. It was so cute, we were walking over there and she was walking back to campus and they ended up running towards each other in the middle of a field. I have to say, that’s one of the cutest, funnies, corniest things I’ve ever seen. :) Really, it was great. Once we got over to Kevin’s, we found out that Monica was completely schooling all the guys in SSX Tricky. None of the guys would even play with her in the room, she was so much better. Eventually they broke out the Tony Hawk and I didn’t feel so video game illiterate. Collin showed me the music video that he, his little brother, and Joe made. Strawberry chicken and macaroni and cheese, ah! It was soo cool. I walked around singing it for the rest of the day. He he. Super was awesome. I got to talk with one of the guys who graduated last year. He’s a fun kid, you should read his blog.

Here comes the really BIG news. So I was on the phone with my mom and she had this wild hair to call my aunt, not her sister, my dad’s sister. Yea, that in and of itself is not normal. Apparently my brother and sister want to meet me. I didn’t even know they knew I existed!! Yea, it’s so crazy. I am, like, freaking out excited. I never counted them as part of my family, because I’d never met them and figured they didn’t count me as part of theirs. But yea. My brother just got married and my sister has two girls. So I’m an aunt! And they may know where my dad is. This is all stuff I’ve been dreaming about since I was a little girl. Absolutely nuts, I tell ya. :)

Yucky

2006-01-24T18:03:00.000-08:00

I have a headache.

I have decided that Excedrin has the potency of water.

You can tell the Excedrin people I said that.

Expect a post about the March for Life some time in the near future.

Now I'm going to sit in the blessed quite darkness of my room and try to figure out ways to procure morphine.

It All Begins With A Salted Drink

2006-01-19T15:35:00.000-08:00

So my string of stupidity has slowed to, well, right now, none. Not that I've been doing extremely intelligent things, mostly just normal stuff. I'm getting back into the swing of school. Although I've found out that the school I'm swinging with does not love me. Or at least as much as they love Dominick. This much is true. They would rather talk about him than me. Oh well, that's okay.

It was sad, though. As I have expressed before, I'm going some weird kind of, not really an identity crisis, but an I-don't-have-a-home-and-that-makes-me-sad crisis. It's weird. I guess I've just realized that I can't live with my mom forever (nor do I want to) and I can't stay at Christendom forever (nor do I want to), so where to? What for? And how so? It doesn't help that my best friend has recently acquired a boyfriend. Nope, that does not make it nicer. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for her. He's a great guy and they are so cute! I'm a hopeless mess. Oh, poo. Okay, those last two lines were written by my friend Hich who is a weird but fun kid. He's a good guy, go read his blog. Anyway, as I was saying, before I was so rudely interrupted, I'm really happy for Liz & Joe (and Claire & Pete, and Laura-friend & Mike, and Katie & Sam, and Megan & Ed, and Ryan & Maria). I guess the thing is I see all my friends have that special someone who kind of makes this place home. Granted I really don't want a boyfriend. And it's not that they spend too much time with their boyfriends either, it's just me being in a funk.
Matthew 8/Luke 9 has been giving me quite a bit of comfort, though. "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head."

The pagans have a few things to say about it, too. We're reading the Aeneid right now in English. It seemed like for Aeneas, the last straw was the storm and then he started whining. I guess my whining started after being rejected by my nuns. Not that I've really been doing it out loud (I would have hopefully been slapped by now), mostly just feeling sorry for myself in my head. I guess if Aeneas gets yelled at for whining after his city is destroyed, his wife killed, wandering all over, thinking he lost a bunch of his men in a storm, and not knowing where he is, I can deal.

Happier news, Laura-friend and I have started up another prank war. She salted my drink, I put pepper in her bed, she nailed my backpack to my dorm room wall, I chucked her keys from the second story of the library. Granted she got them back without any trouble, so now I have to think of something good to do to her. Something bigger than a backpack as a wall hanging. Any suggestions?

String Of Stupidity

2006-01-17T18:18:00.000-08:00

Lately I've been doing really dumb things. There was the driver's license incident at the airport. Then, remember that one book I had to buy? I messed that up and bought the wrong book. Not only that, but Liz was with me and she grabbed what I got. :P I thought one was supposed to be simpler. Occam's razor and all. Oh well. Then this morning, I got all excited because Mom had gotten me a few new shirts to take back to school with me. I found this really cool purple sweater. Claire gave me a funny look when I put it on and said, "Nice sweater." As if it really wasn't. I blew it off, because I knew it was cool. I realized I still had her purple eye shadow from Winter Formal. I put some on and said, "Oh, by the way, this is yours." "Yea I know." But she hadn't even looked up. She then went on to comment about the sweater. I told her that I'd been talking about the eye shadow and that Mom had just gotten the sweater for me. We ended up going back and forth for about 15 minutes trying to figure out who owned the sweater. We came to the conclusion that we both have the exact same sweater. Towards the middle of the day I realized that the sweater Mom had boughten was orange and I, indeed, was wearing Claire's sweater. That was fun to explain.

Other than me being stupid, things have been going well. Today was the first day of classes. I ran around the dorm this morning yelling, "FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! Wake up Dad, we're going to be late! Have you ever seen a shark? Sandy Plankton has. Do you know how old sea turtles are? Sandy Plankton says they can be a-a-hundred years old!" Apparently I even was able to sound like Nemo when I did that. :) So I started flapping one of my arms spasmodiclly. I think my enthusiasm for mornings will be gone by tomorrow. I'm happy classes have started, though. I'll get back into a scheduel. I'm really going to try to bring my grades up this semester. It's funny, I actually want to study. In my room, nontheless. Syd and I rearranged the room. Actually, Joe did. Syd and I just pushed stuff around after he moved the big stuff. I can't say that I've seen much funnier than Joe setting Syd's bed down on top of himself. That's quality right there. I now can study in my room. Although I'd told the guys I'd play poker with them. So I started studing, then felt really guilty, because I told them I'd be there. I'm pretty sure this is the first time in my life I felt guilty for studing and not playing poker. So I went down to Joe's and hung out for awhile. Didn't actually buy in, though. It was nice, Trish was there, so I wasn't the only girl. She was doing pretty well, too. (That is until she went all in against Ben. :P)

I definitely think classes are going to be my main fun. How sad is that? My mom would think that's great. It probably is. I might even be able to go to Rome sometime before I graduate if I get those stupid little buggers up. I guess I just don't really care about grades. I care about classes and I care about learning, but I don't usually get too worked up about what letter the school gives me. In high school that didn't matter, because they seemed to give me the first two letters of the alphabet without much trouble or care. (This is assuming math doesn't exist.) But it seems like colleges like to wade into the alphabet a bit more. The third and fourth letters seem to suit them better. Although last year there was one class I didn't care about. And now I am an old person in a freshman class. Oh fun for me. Actually, it is kind of fun for me, because I know what I'm doing, and I've got a great teacher this time around.

I'm going to go do homework now. Please, write that down on the calander.

Not An Intelligent Person

2006-01-16T12:59:00.000-08:00

Well I'm back. It's time for studying, running around campus, going to class, eating yucky food, living in a small space with way too much stuff and generally being a college student. The plane ride here was fairly uneventful, except taht I thought I didn't have my driver's licence, so I had to go through extra security. (Not too bad.) But then later found it in my back pack. Way to go Phantom. And the airline stewardess sounded like a female chipmuck. Seriously, if you took the drunk lady off of Will and Grace (I hate that show so much) and put it with a cheerleader, that's about what she was. So funny. She had the whole plane cracking up. Also on the plane I met a very nice girl who's from about a half an hour away from where I live and she goes to college at Patrick Henry (not far from Christendom)! I thought that was great. Katie picked me up, as usual. We went to a Middle Eastern resturant and got some hot pepper hummus and pieta bread. Pretty darn authentic if you ask me. Although the pieta bread was a bit fluffier in Israel. It was fun to be back at Katie's house. I really like her whole family.

And then back to school. Ahh! Lets go say hi to everyone! No, not so much. I was happy to see everyone, I just didn't feel like getting all worked up about it. Really, this semester I was to just do my homework, have a little fun, get to class, get to Mass, and get to sleep. I don't want any drama. I don't want to be angry, or sad, or overjoyed, or anything. I just want to be content and not have any excitement. Wow, I am a hobbit. I'm excited for classes to start. Check that, I'm excited for metaphysics to start. :)P That should be a fun class. And great news! I only had to buy one, count it, one book for this semester!!! How freaking cool is that? Little Phantom happy dance. :)

All in all, I'm glad to be back at school. I think this semester is going to be good. But I'm going to lay down now.

The Cow Jumped Over The Moon

2006-01-13T19:06:00.000-08:00

I haven't ridden a horse in about a year and a half. This has made me very, very sad. Kali decided this needed to be remedied. So we got out her horse, Cookie (she didn't name him). He's a paint gelding that they just got this summer. He hasn't been out for most of the winter due to a lack of non-slippery place to ride. I was worried, because I'm a bit better, but still weak and I move slow. Quick reaction time is a really nice thing to have around horses, especially ones you don't know! But the drive to ride was stronger than any worries. We got him brushed and tacked up and led him out to the road, because the yard and fields were covered in ice, snow, mud, and puddles. Not prime (or safe!) riding conditions. The gravel road, however, was much better. It was awesome just brushing him. I didn't even realize quite how much I've missed working with horses.

Kali got on him first to work out some kinks. He was full of himself and ready to go, but seemed a bit nervous. I chalked it up to him being away from the other two horses in the herd. He kept trying to turn and go back to the barn, but Kali managed him pretty well. She got him going down the road away from the farm quite a ways. I stood on the road waiting for her to come back. I began to wonder if I was going to be able to control this horse. I knew I was weak, but not sure of how much, and didn't want to test it on an unruly horse. But things started looking up for Kali and Cookie seemed to tame down. I started looking at the cats and the trees and the fields. Rapid hoof beats brought me out of my zone. I turned and saw Cookie quickly cantering towards me. I was very curious why Kali had him going so fast. But they were too far away for me to say anything. Cookie finally got close enough for me to yell, but then I noticed that Kali wasn't in the saddle. Carp. I stopped watching Cookie for a second and saw Kali walking a ways behind him. Cookie cantered up to me and I caught him and walked him back to Kali. She said he'd spun around quickly and suddenly there was no horse under her. I've had that one happen to me before! I suggested we lunge him a bit to get some energy out and then get her back up in the saddle. So she grabbed the lunge line and whip and the fun began.

I assumed, because Cookie was fairly well trained, that he knew how to lunge. Wrong! So we had lunging 101. I spent about 45 minutes trying to get him to go in a circle and not either A) run away from me B) run into me C) spin around and tangle himself up in the lunge line. My arms are still sore. It was fun for Kali to watch, though. After awhile he seemed to get the picture, but it still wasn't what I'd call great lunging. (If my riding instructors had seen me, they probably would have died.) It was at this point I decided that maybe if Kali rode Cookie and I rode Silver (her younger sister's Welsh pony), that might help things. So Kali grabbed Silver and put a bridle on him. (The saddle is too small for posteriors such as mine, so it was bareback time.)

I've never been fond of ponies. I think they give people a false sense of security by being small. I know by nature they are more ornery and I've been spoiled enough to ride Arabs. I have ridden a couple of ponies. One was a Shetland who wrote the book on how to annoy a rider. Seriously, I've never had an animal try so hard to unseat me. (But he didn't!! Shazam!) The other was a Shetland/Morgan cross, so she was sweetly ornery, if that makes any sense. I don't really have a problem with ponies, I'd just rather ride a horse. But I knew Kali needed to get back up on Cookie and I didn't think I could handle him from up top and I looooove to ride bareback. The only problem is getting on. Back in the (healthy) day, I used to jump up on "my" horse bareback without much of problem. I figured I could do it with this pony. I tried four or five times to no avail. I finally asked Kali for a leg up and she let me put my muddy boot on her knee and jump. Unfortunately for me, I jumped with the same amount of force I'd being using before. I did something I had teased one of my fellow riders about relentlessly for months after she did it. With an, "Oh [edited]!" I went right over and landed on my face in the mud on the other side. I wasn't hurt. The ground was soft. My elbow actually went into the soft dirt about five inches. But I was covered in mud and dirt and Kali saw the whole thing. Needless to say she laughed at me. But the second try proved successful and I was riding tall. For a short while at least. Kali got on Cookie and things went okay, but I could tell that I wasn't nearly strong enough to control Silver and that I was fighting a losing battle. I ened up doing a emergency dismount and led him around for awhile so Kali and Cookie could work stuff out. Even though I didn't get to go for a big trail ride, it was still so much fun. I got to do the thing I love most in this life.

Eat At Joe's

2006-01-13T18:52:00.000-08:00

It has been many moons since I traveled that old familiar road. Too long. I think it was Thoureau who said "the grass never grows tall between the houses of good friends." Unfortunately, this wasn't the case. Since I went off to college, I've felt very off kilter as to where 'home' is. I like my cozy little house on the corner, but even in high school it was 'home.' That was reserved partly to the apartment we used to live in and more so to my grandparents' farm. But the longer I lived in the town I'm at now, the less my old town and the farm seemed like home. Then college. Now that seems like home, but it's recently hit me that I will only be there for a maximum of 7 semesters, more likely 4 or 5. So that can't be home. The people can be 'home' in the sense that people give you that 'home' feeling. But they are not a place to live. I resigned myself to not have a physical 'home.' Like I said before, I have a nice house, but it's not quite home.

I think for a house to be a home, it needs A) family (most important) and B) be in the country or small town and C) not be a cardboard box or really gross or something, although I think a sod house could be home. I'm so weird. :P

It was a few days ago that I went down to visit my bestest friend in the whole wide world, Kali, before she goes off to Iraq. She lives about 3 or 4 hours from me, but we managed to see each other. In high school, mom would work Christmas and I would spend it with them. Plus I would usually come for a couple of weeks in the summer. I would also see her at retreats and camp. I really felt like I was part of the family and that her house was my second home. I would treat her younger brother and sister like the siblings I never had and I think they thought of me as another older sister. (Although I never really saw her older brother as a brother.) Her parents had no problem asking me to help out with chores or giving me Christmas presents or asking me to help with retreats or help with me with problems or any other normal family things. I really was at home there. But I really haven't gotten a chance to visit since I've been sick. (A year and a half.)

It was when we hit the sign that says "Eat at Joe's" that I realized just how much I missed them all. I was very happy to find out that, while Kali's younger brother was now in high school and looks it, and the house was redone, there was still a place there for me. I felt like I had come home. We got there in time for supper. We all sat down to eat and I fell into their regular dinner conversation like I'd never left. Now that is home.

Looking for a Window

2006-01-08T11:44:00.000-08:00

Imagine it's daytime and you're in a room with heavy drapes or shutters over the windows, but the door is open, letting in the beautiful sunshine. You are walking towards the door to go outside into that warm sunshine, when a strong wind comes and slams the door shut in your face. Now not only need to redirect your path, but you don't know where to go because it's dark. So you fumble around the room trying to find a window or a lightswitch or something to give you direction.

That's how I feel. They say when God closes a door, He opens a window, and I believe that. I just have to find the stupid thing. Patience young grasshopper. I just have gotten so frusterated recently, because I don't know what goal I'm working toward. (Well, Heaven, obviously, but in this world I don't know where I'm going.) I guess it just feels like my life is meaningless right now.

Yesterday morning at Mass, Fr. Z. (God bless him), during the prayers of the faithful, added, "For all those who feel like their life is meaningless." Okay. I can do this.

Wisdom From Aunt May

2006-01-06T11:05:00.000-08:00

I believe there's a hero in all of us that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble, and finally allows us to die with pride. Even though sometimes we have to be steady and give up the thing we want the most. Even our dreams.

Carp.

I wasn't feeling well, so I decided to watch Spiderman 2. (I'm excited. I just got it!) I was in a bad mood. One of those I-don't-know-where-my-life-is-going-why-am-I-sick-the-nuns-don't-want-me-I-really-should-know-Latin-better-maybe-I-should-just-give-up-and-major-in-poli-sci moods. Dreams are a funny thing. Some people have that one dream all their life and that's what they work their whole life for. Some switch dreams over and over. I have to say I'm more the latter. When I was little, the dreams were a little more constant. First I wanted to be a vet. That stayed until high school when I hit a little thing I like to call advanced math. *jibbly* Then I decided to move to Austria and join the Spanish Riding School. Then I realized that I'm a girl and they don't let girls in. Okay, guess not. Once I hit junior/senior year, I began thinking about things like English and History. I really, really was going to double major in English and History. Now, just a few short years later, the idea of majoring in English makes me want to puke. I'd do Classics first. History is still awesome, but if I'm going to major in something unpractical, it's gonna be philosophy. PHILOSOPHY ROCKS!!!!! Sorry, just had to get that out of my system.

I'm really not that worried about what I'm going to major in anymore, although sometimes I think if I just majored in poli sci, life would be so much easier and it's pretty close. . . . No, what I'm wondering is what I'm going to do with this oh-so-lovely degree (assuming I graduate.) The obvious is grad school. I mean, what am I going to do with a BA in philo?! But what if prince charming does exist? Or I get better? Does that then mean that I do have a vocation? So confused.

Whatever tomorrow brings,
I'll be there with open arms and open eyes, Yeah
Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there..I'll be there.
Do do do do do do do do do do do

Thank you Incubus, I needed that smack in the face. Sometimes I forget that this is my time to chill. I never thought I'd say this, but I think I need to go to California.

New Blog

2006-01-06T02:47:00.000-08:00

Well, I caved. I couldn't decide between making a new blog and reviving my old one. As you can see, I made a new one. The old one is deleted. That makes me kind of sad, but no one reads it, not even me, so why should it take up space? It shouldn't. That's exactly what I thought. So here we go all WP all the time. Call the press.

The first thing of substance I'm going to write: I really want some mashed potatoes.