I have an obsession with lists. I don't think it's because I'm an ENFJ, because I really think I'm an I/ENFP. Perceiver sounds so much better than judger. But I do write lists. Lots and lots of them!
At the moment I have a list on my bedside table of places I want to go in Italy at some point. It includes:
Siena (town in Tuscany)
Villa Adriana (near Rome)
Villa d'Este (near Rome)
Assissi (St Francis - couple hours by train from Rome)
Orvieto (town semi-nearby)
Bologna
Ravenna (near Bologna)
Capri
Amalfi
Marostica (2nd week in September on even-numbered years, they have a human chess game in the square downtown, with costumes and everything. Anything with costumes and I'm in!)
I also have a list on my bedside table for tomorrow. It includes:
Grego Paper
Scholarship (WA Fryer Commission - due April 9th)
Mail Mom's BD card (her birthday was St. Patrick's day... clearly I'm a little behind!)
email Gma Sonel (I owe her one!)
Readng for week after spring break (I'm trying to get ahead)
Purchases for people I'm visiting over Spring break... Tasty, wonderful Italian things like coffee(!!!) to thank Gail, Tom, the Joyces, Brittany, and the Yosts for hosting me over spring break.
PACK!!!
I had a decisive moment today. Well, maybe not decisive, but it could be impacting. I think I've decided I'll write my thesis on marriage and it's correlation to comedic themes in literature using the texts of Shakespeare's Much Ado, and Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. I'm not for-sure on it yet, but I'd like to do something with Shakespeare and Jane Austen (probably my top favorite contributors to literature), AND the professor who is willing to advise and oversee my thesis writing is willing to work with me informally via the internet this summer. YAY! My goal is to get all the research and (ideally!) the thesis itself written this summer. But even then, I won't do the "formal" class until next spring, so the decision on what I'm writing it on is impacting because it's a topic I'll have to be dealing with for the next year or so! Much larger than choosing what kind of gelato I'll eat!
In other news, I've spent a lot of time with the student government people the past 24 hours. We had lunch together and then a dinner meeting tonight. The meeting tonight was nice because not everyone was there and when everyone comes it can be a bit hectic and crazy. It was the die-hards tonight, I think! I'm still working my way around, trying to get a feel for people. I don't even know everyone's names yet, but at this point it's a little awkward to ask because I SHOULD know them. I hate that position!
I'm going to close and go to bed, but the verse for today is from Exodus 14:14. Tanner, my friend Cass's sister, left it for me on an encouraging little notecard she gave me. It says simply: "The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm." My involvement in student government is, if possible, even MORE exposure to stuff that I'm not always crazy about being around... but I freak out about it way too easily. I was reading Tanner's little card to me tonight (it's on my wall so I can be encouraged by it regularly!) and looked up the verse. It was just what I needed to hear!
ALSO, in yet OTHER news, before I close I'd like to notify my faithful readers that I'll be traveling to four different countries over the next 10 days. Friday I leave to go to Belfast, then on to England on Easter, then Southern France next week, before flying on to Espana towards the end of next week. Then, the week after spring break I'm having a couple people come stay with me for several days. It could be a busy next two weeks! OK, no "could" about it, it WILL be a busy next two weeks! But... that's OK. I'm looking forward to it! I did want to warn you, though, that I won't be apologizing if I miss a day or two posting. I don't know what my internet connections will be like - I don't think I'll have easy access to it in France for sure - so there's a good chance I won't be posting every day. BUT, I will try to take some good pictures and have them to post once I'm back to my own wi-fi!
Showing posts with label School. Show all posts
Showing posts with label School. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Roman night... and Ikea photos
Tonight was international night at school. But rather than international, we went back in time to Ancient Rome. People wore togas, we had Roman food (not all ancient), and two gladiators came and gave us some gladiator fighting tips. I'll keep them in mind for wandering around Rome.
Speaking of wandering around Rome, I couldn't be bothered to change back into regular clothes before I came home (loooooooong day today!), so I just threw my jacket on and wandered home in my toga. I got a couple stares, but Rome is really rather un-judgemental (non-judgemental? whatever) when it comes to wearing togas. Now, if I'd been in sweats it would be another story...
Anyhow, I'm off to bed. I'm taking a break from Psalms, and my verse is from the NT. 1 Tim 2:1 "I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them." I spend quite a bit of time walking to and from school each day, or just generally not necessarily being in active conversation with people. Tomorrow I want to be more purposeful about praying for the people I know. There's quite a lot of them, so I should be able to keep busy! :-)
I forgot something and was going to add it (I don't think it was terribly important...), but now I've completely forgotten it and my head hurts too much to try to recall it to memory. This is what I get for the 5 hours of sleep I got last night!
Elle, Esther, and Taylor at Ikea... we practically just moved in!
The first time I didn't check out the FOOD section!
Waiting at the bus stop... beFORE I got left!
Speaking of wandering around Rome, I couldn't be bothered to change back into regular clothes before I came home (loooooooong day today!), so I just threw my jacket on and wandered home in my toga. I got a couple stares, but Rome is really rather un-judgemental (non-judgemental? whatever) when it comes to wearing togas. Now, if I'd been in sweats it would be another story...
Anyhow, I'm off to bed. I'm taking a break from Psalms, and my verse is from the NT. 1 Tim 2:1 "I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them." I spend quite a bit of time walking to and from school each day, or just generally not necessarily being in active conversation with people. Tomorrow I want to be more purposeful about praying for the people I know. There's quite a lot of them, so I should be able to keep busy! :-)
I forgot something and was going to add it (I don't think it was terribly important...), but now I've completely forgotten it and my head hurts too much to try to recall it to memory. This is what I get for the 5 hours of sleep I got last night!
Elle, Esther, and Taylor at Ikea... we practically just moved in!
The first time I didn't check out the FOOD section!
Waiting at the bus stop... beFORE I got left!
Monday, March 03, 2008
Hurrying
If I write really fast, I can still get this posted on March 3rd... that would be impressive, wouldn't it?!
I just finished editing my 10 page paper that I'm turning in tomorrow. It's on applying this dude's theory of flat and round characters to the novels "Emma" and "Love in Excess." I highly recommend Emma, I highly DON'T recommend Love in Excess.
I still have a bit of reading to do before I can drift off into peaceful slumber. I'm reading excerpts from a Gothic novel for my Survey Class. I'm also in Mary Barton for my Genre of Fiction class. I think I have about 40 pages of the Gothic novel excerpts, and 20 chapters in Mary Barton... probably isn't all going to happen. I also need to read a couple books in the Iliad before tomorrow night. I might put it off, though, because my midterm for my survey class will be on Wednesday, I believe (I'm doing a make-up midterm because I will be gone on the actual midterm day because I have to go to the police station and get fingerprinted so I can continue the process of being legal here in Italia). Soooo... I need to make sure I'm caught up on all my reading. Which... I'm not! And I want to review what we HAVE read. That's tomorrow night and Wednesday morning's project, I guess.
Otherwise, I've had a terribly dull day. No, not terribly. Just dull. It was another nice sunny day actually! Our heat got fixed on Saturday, so now our apartment is really hot - I need to go turn it down or just take off my sweater. I'd rather turn it down because it's cheaper, but my roommates sometimes prefer not having to bulk up on the clothes. Our sink is now leaking onto our kitchen floor, though. Or maybe it's the washer, I don't know. I just get up in the morning and have to mop up the puddle of water. Thank goodness we're living in tile-capital!
K, I'm off. Wish me luck and pray I stay awake!
I just finished editing my 10 page paper that I'm turning in tomorrow. It's on applying this dude's theory of flat and round characters to the novels "Emma" and "Love in Excess." I highly recommend Emma, I highly DON'T recommend Love in Excess.
I still have a bit of reading to do before I can drift off into peaceful slumber. I'm reading excerpts from a Gothic novel for my Survey Class. I'm also in Mary Barton for my Genre of Fiction class. I think I have about 40 pages of the Gothic novel excerpts, and 20 chapters in Mary Barton... probably isn't all going to happen. I also need to read a couple books in the Iliad before tomorrow night. I might put it off, though, because my midterm for my survey class will be on Wednesday, I believe (I'm doing a make-up midterm because I will be gone on the actual midterm day because I have to go to the police station and get fingerprinted so I can continue the process of being legal here in Italia). Soooo... I need to make sure I'm caught up on all my reading. Which... I'm not! And I want to review what we HAVE read. That's tomorrow night and Wednesday morning's project, I guess.
Otherwise, I've had a terribly dull day. No, not terribly. Just dull. It was another nice sunny day actually! Our heat got fixed on Saturday, so now our apartment is really hot - I need to go turn it down or just take off my sweater. I'd rather turn it down because it's cheaper, but my roommates sometimes prefer not having to bulk up on the clothes. Our sink is now leaking onto our kitchen floor, though. Or maybe it's the washer, I don't know. I just get up in the morning and have to mop up the puddle of water. Thank goodness we're living in tile-capital!
K, I'm off. Wish me luck and pray I stay awake!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Mi casa...
It's high time I let all of you faithful blog readers see my apartment... So here's where I live. I had a crepe night tonight for a couple people to teach them how to make crepes, so I straightened up (a little!) and swept. I took the pictures post-party while it is still kind of clean :-).
Our living room from our front door. Couches on the right, the wall with the TV on the left, and the desk (doubling as a dining room table) ahead. The door past it goes down to the kitchen and bathroom.
Our couches - aka: "The Princess Lounges." Probably the most comfortable piece of furniture I've ever slept on.
My part of the room, as seen from the living room
Clara and Ellen's side of the room, as seen just inside the door going to the living room.
The closet. To the right of Ellen and Clara's bed. My section is the mirror section. I brought less clothes!
From the bedroom door looking back into the living room and towards the front door.
The stairs going down to the bathroom and kitchen... LOVE the shelves on the wall. Our last apartment had a shortage of shelves, cupboards, and closet space!
Our piccolo bathroom. The view just inside the door.
A bathroom mirror shot standing in the doorway. Toilet and shower are to the left. The previously mentioned shelves are behind me.
From the hall at the bottom of the stairs, looking into the kitchen/pantry/utility room. The washer is under the counter. The fridge is half size. And the cupboards on the left are awesome!
There's a window just inside the door in the kitchen above the little table. It opens into a courtyard. We're on the second or third floor, so we don't use the courtyard, but here's hanging out the window to take a picture looking back up towards the bedroom. The laundry air dries, so I hung twine outside the window to give us a tad more space to hang some larger items.
Our living room from our front door. Couches on the right, the wall with the TV on the left, and the desk (doubling as a dining room table) ahead. The door past it goes down to the kitchen and bathroom.
Our couches - aka: "The Princess Lounges." Probably the most comfortable piece of furniture I've ever slept on.
My part of the room, as seen from the living room
Clara and Ellen's side of the room, as seen just inside the door going to the living room. 
The closet. To the right of Ellen and Clara's bed. My section is the mirror section. I brought less clothes!
From the bedroom door looking back into the living room and towards the front door.
The stairs going down to the bathroom and kitchen... LOVE the shelves on the wall. Our last apartment had a shortage of shelves, cupboards, and closet space!
Our piccolo bathroom. The view just inside the door.
A bathroom mirror shot standing in the doorway. Toilet and shower are to the left. The previously mentioned shelves are behind me.
From the hall at the bottom of the stairs, looking into the kitchen/pantry/utility room. The washer is under the counter. The fridge is half size. And the cupboards on the left are awesome!
There's a window just inside the door in the kitchen above the little table. It opens into a courtyard. We're on the second or third floor, so we don't use the courtyard, but here's hanging out the window to take a picture looking back up towards the bedroom. The laundry air dries, so I hung twine outside the window to give us a tad more space to hang some larger items.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Condensed.
I had a teacher at LCC that made me write as concisely as possible. It was an awful practice, I hated it (surprised?!), but it was so good for me! So today's post will be short. And you deserve it after making it through yesterday's!
These are some thoughts I had today while sitting in my four classes:
- Tomato soup sounds good for dinner. (I came home and made the best tomato soup I've ever had - another recipe for my bistro!)
- I don't want to be beautiful. It's not worth it. Helen of Troy? Had a 10 year war fought over her. Persephone? Kidnapped by Hades and taken to the underworld. Pandora? Opened that darn box. Sarah? Had her husband terrified and was taken into Pharoah's harem. Esther? She may have been queen, but tell me someone in their rational mind who would WANT to be queen!? Rachel? Insecure. And now? If you're beautiful you have some many people hating you because you look good, jealous of you because you look good, or staring at you because you look good. If you were Angelina Jolie or Catherine Zeta-Jones, how many REAL relationships do you have? Thank you, I like being average!
- THE CLASSICS WILL NOT GO AWAY!!! As a Lit major, EVERY time I turn around I'm finding myself staring at some classic story. I wish I'd paid more attention in 4th grade when I studied this stuff.
- The Iliad is actually pretty interesting, especially if you picture Brad Pitt as Achilles as you read it outloud to yourself... And yes, my roommates aren't quite sure of my sanity.
- Stress brings people together. When everyone's freaking out about a paper, they're more likely to let down their boundaries. I like that.
These are some thoughts I had today while sitting in my four classes:
- Tomato soup sounds good for dinner. (I came home and made the best tomato soup I've ever had - another recipe for my bistro!)
- I don't want to be beautiful. It's not worth it. Helen of Troy? Had a 10 year war fought over her. Persephone? Kidnapped by Hades and taken to the underworld. Pandora? Opened that darn box. Sarah? Had her husband terrified and was taken into Pharoah's harem. Esther? She may have been queen, but tell me someone in their rational mind who would WANT to be queen!? Rachel? Insecure. And now? If you're beautiful you have some many people hating you because you look good, jealous of you because you look good, or staring at you because you look good. If you were Angelina Jolie or Catherine Zeta-Jones, how many REAL relationships do you have? Thank you, I like being average!
- THE CLASSICS WILL NOT GO AWAY!!! As a Lit major, EVERY time I turn around I'm finding myself staring at some classic story. I wish I'd paid more attention in 4th grade when I studied this stuff.
- The Iliad is actually pretty interesting, especially if you picture Brad Pitt as Achilles as you read it outloud to yourself... And yes, my roommates aren't quite sure of my sanity.
- Stress brings people together. When everyone's freaking out about a paper, they're more likely to let down their boundaries. I like that.
Monday, February 25, 2008
AMAZING gelato!
I think I found a new favorite place... Although my little gelateria on Via della Scala will always be dear to my heart, being the first place I ever experienced canella. But this place is much closer to my house (uh-oh, not good!) and the guy was awesome - he let me taste test gelato, and suggested a combination that rocked my socks, so to speak! (I don't actually know what that means, but I think it is supposed to be something like overwhelmingly good... Kinda like Phil Wickham! ;-) ). Anyhow, I had "crema," which is kind of like a sweet, plain pudding around here, but it's gelato, and lampone (sp?), which is raspberry. Ever had those tasty sandwich type cookies with raspberry and frosting? Well, convert that to gelato... It was good! If you come visit me, I'll take you there!
I'm in the mood to fill out a survey, and rather than send a bunch out on my myspace bulletins, I thought I'd post it on here. My big sister sent this out the other day:
Food Questions
1. Do you like carrots?
cooked
2. Do you eat meat?
not for the past couple weeks... I just haven't bought any lately
3. Ever had sushi?
not yet. It's on my to-do list
4. Favorite soda/pop:
Not a fan. Sometimes coke or rootbeer or orange or sprite or Mt Dew taste good... for about one swallow. Then I'm done.
5. Do you eat blueberries?
Do I ever! I wonder when they start coming in season around here...
Music Questions
1. Favorite band:
At the moment, "Phil Wickham"
2. Song you absolutely hate:
I can't think of any, because I never have to hear songs I don't like. But there are a couple...
3. Radio station you listen to:
None these days
4. Current music:
Phil Wickham (as if that wasn't obvious!)
5. First CD ever bought:
Pachabel's Cannon in D? I dunno.
Love Questions
1. Ever been in love?
Not in the conventional way.
2. What does love mean to you?
Actions. Choices. Commitment
3. Believe in love at first sight?
Nope
4. Current crush:
Zero. None. Well... unless Phil Wickham counts! ;-) But, can you have a crush on someone because of their music??? Probably not.
5. First kiss:
I'll get back to you on that one...
Room Questions
1. What is your bed size?
It's a cot, actually.
2. Do you have any windows?
Yup, by my head. I love to have windows by my head. It makes waking up so much easier.
3. Is your computer in there?
If I want it to be, yup.
4. Bedsheet color?
white and tan stripes, I guess.
5. Number of posters on the walls:
One. It's this funky flower that was here when we came. But we have a lot of pictures and postcards and cut outs up.
Television Questions
1. Lamest show on TV:
I absolutely hate Sex and the City. It's disgusting and disturbing. I have no idea if it's still on, but my roommates have season of it on DVD and I can't even stand to be in the same room!
2. Best show on TV:
I gotta admit I kinda like The Office... But I never watch it! Of course, if I decide I want TV shows I usually turn on re-runs of Xena, Warrior Princess, dubbed into French...
3. Favorite cartoon:
I never watched cartoons.
4. Do you ever watch the news?
I've watched Al Jazeera news once since I came. It was in English.
5. Are you guilty of watching the weather channel?
Maybe once in my life?
The ‘Other Gender’ Questions (I should have read this survey before I started filling it out... this could get weird!)
1. Do you prefer blondes or brunettes?
Nope. No preference.
2. Do you like skater kids?
PULL YOUR PANTS UP!
3. Sweet but sensitive or loud but romantic?
Uh... let's not overdose on either
4. Do you like being called “babe, sweetie, honeybun,” etc.?
I have a name for a reason...
5. Do you like them outgoing or shy?
Them, as in men? Well, a balance, I guess.
1. Raised in:
The preceipitous (is that a word?) Northwest of the USA.
2. Were you a planned baby:
I've never asked, actually. I'm here, that's what matters!
3. Birth date:
29 January
4. Any siblings:
Four
5. Younger or older:
uno older, tre younger
6. Hair color:
Mine or theirs? Brown, for me...
7. Hair length:
Mine, I presume. Short.
8. First school:
Was... down the hall.
9. Eye color:
Green
10. Shoe size:
39
11. Mood:
Va bene, grazie! Realizing this survey is LONG!
12. Smell:
What do I smell like? Sugar and spice and everything nice... And Green Tea perfume by Elizabeth Arden
13. Height :
taller than some, shorter than some, right about average I'd say.
14. Lefty/righty:
I still have both. Should I be expecting to lose one soon?
THIS OR THAT:
1. Love or money?
Are we talking now or the future??
2. Coffee or alcohol?
Italian cafe, per favore
3. One night stands or relationships?
What an indecent and ridiculous question!
4. Television or internet?
Internet... although both can be time wasters
5. Pepsi or Coke?
Water
6. Fun night out or romantic night in?
Must we get into this lovey-dovey stuff?
7. Phone or in Person?
Person is always best. But phone suffices
8. Aim or myspace im?
I have neither
HAVE YOU EVER:
1. Have you ever been caught sneaking out?
I never had a reason to sneak out
2. Have you ever skinny dipped?
Brr!
3. Have you ever done something you regret?
Of course
4. Have you ever been on a house boat?
No - I might add that to my life goal list though
5. Have you ever finished an entire jaw breaker?
Oh yes. I use to buy those HUGE ones in Seattle and work on it for weeks. My tongue would bleed from licking it so much.
6. Have you ever colored your hair?
highlights
ARE YOU:
1. Are you missing someone right now?
I always miss people when I'm not with them
2. Are you talking to anyone right now?
Just you (aren't you special!)
3. Are you German?
I suppose part of me might be
4. Are you Italian?
I don't claim it. I think the mindset might be rubbing off on me a little, though... EEK!
5. Are you French?
Non, j'ne Francais
6. Are you Russian?
I'm not sure... maybe some?
7. Are you Norwegian?
I don't think so.
8. Are you Irish?
I want to be!
9. Are you Indian?
No, although I want to live there for a bit.
10. Are you latin?
Nope
11. Are your parents still married?
Indeed (Thanks Mom and Dad!)
DO YOU:
1. Do you get depressed about things easily?
No. Just piles of schoolwork!
2. Do you live life to the fullest?
I hope so - I fail sometimes, though.
3. Are you comfortable with the way you look?
A good 75% of the time, I think
4. How do you dress?
All over the board. Skirts and boots, jeans and sweaters, t-shirt and sweats... Totally depends. But the trick is... as long as you have a coat and scarf on, you can wear anything!
5. Are you scared of growing old alone?
Nope.
6. What do you want to be when you grow up?
2 questions: 1: do I really HAVE to grow up? And 2: Do I have to decide to BE something if I grow up? Can't I just be me?
7. Favorite season?
sunshine, sunshine, sunshine... So I'll take it in any season. No season would be as valuable to me if I didn't have each of the others to balance it.
8. Are you a vegetarian?
Maybe? I don't know. Does not eating meat make you one?
9. Current song you are listening to?
Take a wild guess... I bought Phil Wickham's new ALBUM on iTunes... And it's good! ;-)
FINALLY done. Sorry folks!
I'm in the mood to fill out a survey, and rather than send a bunch out on my myspace bulletins, I thought I'd post it on here. My big sister sent this out the other day:
Food Questions
1. Do you like carrots?
cooked
2. Do you eat meat?
not for the past couple weeks... I just haven't bought any lately
3. Ever had sushi?
not yet. It's on my to-do list
4. Favorite soda/pop:
Not a fan. Sometimes coke or rootbeer or orange or sprite or Mt Dew taste good... for about one swallow. Then I'm done.
5. Do you eat blueberries?
Do I ever! I wonder when they start coming in season around here...
Music Questions
1. Favorite band:
At the moment, "Phil Wickham"
2. Song you absolutely hate:
I can't think of any, because I never have to hear songs I don't like. But there are a couple...
3. Radio station you listen to:
None these days
4. Current music:
Phil Wickham (as if that wasn't obvious!)
5. First CD ever bought:
Pachabel's Cannon in D? I dunno.
Love Questions
1. Ever been in love?
Not in the conventional way.
2. What does love mean to you?
Actions. Choices. Commitment
3. Believe in love at first sight?
Nope
4. Current crush:
Zero. None. Well... unless Phil Wickham counts! ;-) But, can you have a crush on someone because of their music??? Probably not.
5. First kiss:
I'll get back to you on that one...
Room Questions
1. What is your bed size?
It's a cot, actually.
2. Do you have any windows?
Yup, by my head. I love to have windows by my head. It makes waking up so much easier.
3. Is your computer in there?
If I want it to be, yup.
4. Bedsheet color?
white and tan stripes, I guess.
5. Number of posters on the walls:
One. It's this funky flower that was here when we came. But we have a lot of pictures and postcards and cut outs up.
Television Questions
1. Lamest show on TV:
I absolutely hate Sex and the City. It's disgusting and disturbing. I have no idea if it's still on, but my roommates have season of it on DVD and I can't even stand to be in the same room!
2. Best show on TV:
I gotta admit I kinda like The Office... But I never watch it! Of course, if I decide I want TV shows I usually turn on re-runs of Xena, Warrior Princess, dubbed into French...
3. Favorite cartoon:
I never watched cartoons.
4. Do you ever watch the news?
I've watched Al Jazeera news once since I came. It was in English.
5. Are you guilty of watching the weather channel?
Maybe once in my life?
The ‘Other Gender’ Questions (I should have read this survey before I started filling it out... this could get weird!)
1. Do you prefer blondes or brunettes?
Nope. No preference.
2. Do you like skater kids?
PULL YOUR PANTS UP!
3. Sweet but sensitive or loud but romantic?
Uh... let's not overdose on either
4. Do you like being called “babe, sweetie, honeybun,” etc.?
I have a name for a reason...
5. Do you like them outgoing or shy?
Them, as in men? Well, a balance, I guess.
1. Raised in:
The preceipitous (is that a word?) Northwest of the USA.
2. Were you a planned baby:
I've never asked, actually. I'm here, that's what matters!
3. Birth date:
29 January
4. Any siblings:
Four
5. Younger or older:
uno older, tre younger
6. Hair color:
Mine or theirs? Brown, for me...
7. Hair length:
Mine, I presume. Short.
8. First school:
Was... down the hall.
9. Eye color:
Green
10. Shoe size:
39
11. Mood:
Va bene, grazie! Realizing this survey is LONG!
12. Smell:
What do I smell like? Sugar and spice and everything nice... And Green Tea perfume by Elizabeth Arden
13. Height :
taller than some, shorter than some, right about average I'd say.
14. Lefty/righty:
I still have both. Should I be expecting to lose one soon?
THIS OR THAT:
1. Love or money?
Are we talking now or the future??
2. Coffee or alcohol?
Italian cafe, per favore
3. One night stands or relationships?
What an indecent and ridiculous question!
4. Television or internet?
Internet... although both can be time wasters
5. Pepsi or Coke?
Water
6. Fun night out or romantic night in?
Must we get into this lovey-dovey stuff?
7. Phone or in Person?
Person is always best. But phone suffices
8. Aim or myspace im?
I have neither
HAVE YOU EVER:
1. Have you ever been caught sneaking out?
I never had a reason to sneak out
2. Have you ever skinny dipped?
Brr!
3. Have you ever done something you regret?
Of course
4. Have you ever been on a house boat?
No - I might add that to my life goal list though
5. Have you ever finished an entire jaw breaker?
Oh yes. I use to buy those HUGE ones in Seattle and work on it for weeks. My tongue would bleed from licking it so much.
6. Have you ever colored your hair?
highlights
ARE YOU:
1. Are you missing someone right now?
I always miss people when I'm not with them
2. Are you talking to anyone right now?
Just you (aren't you special!)
3. Are you German?
I suppose part of me might be
4. Are you Italian?
I don't claim it. I think the mindset might be rubbing off on me a little, though... EEK!
5. Are you French?
Non, j'ne Francais
6. Are you Russian?
I'm not sure... maybe some?
7. Are you Norwegian?
I don't think so.
8. Are you Irish?
I want to be!
9. Are you Indian?
No, although I want to live there for a bit.
10. Are you latin?
Nope
11. Are your parents still married?
Indeed (Thanks Mom and Dad!)
DO YOU:
1. Do you get depressed about things easily?
No. Just piles of schoolwork!
2. Do you live life to the fullest?
I hope so - I fail sometimes, though.
3. Are you comfortable with the way you look?
A good 75% of the time, I think
4. How do you dress?
All over the board. Skirts and boots, jeans and sweaters, t-shirt and sweats... Totally depends. But the trick is... as long as you have a coat and scarf on, you can wear anything!
5. Are you scared of growing old alone?
Nope.
6. What do you want to be when you grow up?
2 questions: 1: do I really HAVE to grow up? And 2: Do I have to decide to BE something if I grow up? Can't I just be me?
7. Favorite season?
sunshine, sunshine, sunshine... So I'll take it in any season. No season would be as valuable to me if I didn't have each of the others to balance it.
8. Are you a vegetarian?
Maybe? I don't know. Does not eating meat make you one?
9. Current song you are listening to?
Take a wild guess... I bought Phil Wickham's new ALBUM on iTunes... And it's good! ;-)
FINALLY done. Sorry folks!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
New Song!
I'm in the computer lab because I needed to actually accomplish something today, so I left my house! It's only halfway working.
When I went to sign in to blogger, I realized I automatically pushed AltGrand to use it for the @ sign (look at that, I just did it again!). Does this mean I'm going native around here? Euro keyboards don't through me for a loop? Yay!
I found a new song. I know, I know, you're thinking, "Didn't we just HAVE a blog about music???" and yes, you're right, we did. Yesterday. (OK, technically today, be went went over this already). But I like a new one I found enough to promote it on here!
Follow this link: www.myspace.com/daniL012988. It's the song on my profile. Title: True Love by Phil Wickham. If there's a more perfect, brand new Easter-type song, I've yet to hear it! (Hang on while I go push play on the song in the other window really quick!)
Come to find out, Phil Wickham has a whole new ALBUM out. How did I not know this?! Because I'm in Italy? Or just oblivious? Probably both. But really, being over here does play a part. Usually my sister and I will talk about music for an average of, oh, 10 hours a week? Usually at night when we should be sleeping. I don't hear about all her new discoveries all the time over here. Of course, she is good to myspace me and tell me about some, but there ARE more important things to talk about... Like shoes. Shoes are very important. Or sales. So, see, we have to reduce all that kind of communication.
Speaking of shoes and sales, I'm going to a black tie charity event next month! The Irish Embassy is hosting a Celtic Ball to raise money for homeless people in Rome and Ireland. And I've reserved tickets. I need a dress though. Anybody have a black cocktail dress they want to mail to me? And shoes? I'll bring them back in June!
And speaking of Ireland (don't you love how this is all tying in to Phil Wickham's song? And did you just go back to retrace this line of thought? Because I just had to...), I am the proud owner of a one-way ticket to Belfast for my spring break! I have friends there, and since I've never been to the Emerald Isle, I decided it was high time to check it off my list. Of course, it'll be for about 2 days, then I'm flyng to England for Easter dinner with some other friends there, then flying on to Southern France for a couple days there with a girl I just met, and FINALLY (hopefully!) on to Northern Spain to visit people THERE before I come home and read 3 books over the weekend and crash before school starts on Monday!
That's it. That's all the news I have. I think I'm going to sautee mushrooms and spinache and basil and tomatoes to have with integral (whole grain) pasta tonight, because I have all of them on my shelf in my fridge and I don't want them to spoil. Besides that, it's relatively calm here. I'm writing a paper on a Shakespeare sonnet, a Milton sonnet, and Keats sonnet. And finishing a paper on the concept and portrayal of virtue in restoration England (both due on Tuesday). I'm also still finishing up Emma, finishing The Woman In White, reading The Iliad, and revising a paper on Charles Dickens and the definition of plot. See why I'd rather be listening to fantastic music?!
When I went to sign in to blogger, I realized I automatically pushed AltGrand to use it for the @ sign (look at that, I just did it again!). Does this mean I'm going native around here? Euro keyboards don't through me for a loop? Yay!
I found a new song. I know, I know, you're thinking, "Didn't we just HAVE a blog about music???" and yes, you're right, we did. Yesterday. (OK, technically today, be went went over this already). But I like a new one I found enough to promote it on here!
Follow this link: www.myspace.com/daniL012988. It's the song on my profile. Title: True Love by Phil Wickham. If there's a more perfect, brand new Easter-type song, I've yet to hear it! (Hang on while I go push play on the song in the other window really quick!)
Come to find out, Phil Wickham has a whole new ALBUM out. How did I not know this?! Because I'm in Italy? Or just oblivious? Probably both. But really, being over here does play a part. Usually my sister and I will talk about music for an average of, oh, 10 hours a week? Usually at night when we should be sleeping. I don't hear about all her new discoveries all the time over here. Of course, she is good to myspace me and tell me about some, but there ARE more important things to talk about... Like shoes. Shoes are very important. Or sales. So, see, we have to reduce all that kind of communication.
Speaking of shoes and sales, I'm going to a black tie charity event next month! The Irish Embassy is hosting a Celtic Ball to raise money for homeless people in Rome and Ireland. And I've reserved tickets. I need a dress though. Anybody have a black cocktail dress they want to mail to me? And shoes? I'll bring them back in June!
And speaking of Ireland (don't you love how this is all tying in to Phil Wickham's song? And did you just go back to retrace this line of thought? Because I just had to...), I am the proud owner of a one-way ticket to Belfast for my spring break! I have friends there, and since I've never been to the Emerald Isle, I decided it was high time to check it off my list. Of course, it'll be for about 2 days, then I'm flyng to England for Easter dinner with some other friends there, then flying on to Southern France for a couple days there with a girl I just met, and FINALLY (hopefully!) on to Northern Spain to visit people THERE before I come home and read 3 books over the weekend and crash before school starts on Monday!
That's it. That's all the news I have. I think I'm going to sautee mushrooms and spinache and basil and tomatoes to have with integral (whole grain) pasta tonight, because I have all of them on my shelf in my fridge and I don't want them to spoil. Besides that, it's relatively calm here. I'm writing a paper on a Shakespeare sonnet, a Milton sonnet, and Keats sonnet. And finishing a paper on the concept and portrayal of virtue in restoration England (both due on Tuesday). I'm also still finishing up Emma, finishing The Woman In White, reading The Iliad, and revising a paper on Charles Dickens and the definition of plot. See why I'd rather be listening to fantastic music?!
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Outside perspective
I have an intro to poetry and poetics class taught by a Scotsman. Prof Miller is a wee wisp of a man, who frequently dresses smartly in flashy grey suits and vests. He has a habit of putting his chin up and squinting his eyes so one can't really tell if he's closing them or just looking through his eyelashes whenever he tries to remember what he was talking about. This happens quite frequently as he tends towards rabbit trails.
One primo example is today's 75 minute class. The first 45 minutes of it we didn't even discuss poetry or poetics. We discussed... America. And food portions. And customer service. Prof Miller was telling of his time in Ithaca, NY, speaking at Cornell. He was aghast at the quantity of food he got at an "eatery of some sorts" that some students recommended to him. He was quite overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices one had to make to get a simple sandwich: Which type of sandwich meat? Which cooking method? Seasoning? Bread style? Bread type? Vegetables? Pickle type? "Chip" type? All for 4 or 5 dollars. He said he struggled to carry the platter to a table to sit down after his quarter of an hour decision making process and the scowling of all the people in the queue.
He observed that Americans seem quite willing to accept and tolerate people of a vast variety - car owners or not, as he classified them. He couldn't understand the business of tipping people. He also commented on our attitude towards customer service - he claims that just because someone is serving someone else doesn't make the service-person a SERVANT. He rather likes the French way of taking pride in their occupation.
It was facinating to hear P. Miller and the other non-American students discuss their impressions of the US. We also discussed how places or people are really IDEAS in our head. I have several stereotyped ideas about Italians and French and English and Scottish and Irish and Russian and all the other nationalities out there - but in all truth, they're not accurate. They can't possibly be all accurate.
P. Miller expressed his realization that the US is really BIG, with a lot of differences even within our nation. Of course! If you think about it, Scotland is quite varied, from the borderlands to the north, from the east to the west... People a mere hour-drive-away have a completely different ACCENT. Scotland isn't even as large as some of the STATES in the USA, not to mention having FIFTY of them! To presume the US is homogenous is aking akin to saying Swedish and French and Ukranians and Italians are all similar because they inhabit Europe. Not quite the same, of course, considering each of those nations speaks a different language, but just because two people or two people groups inhabit the same land mass doesn't make them identical.
That's something I've learned even since being here, though. Americans are a vast, varied, broad-minded lot! I, unfortunately, have the impression that MY part of the US is how every part is... I feel that the NW is decidedly laid back yet high strung (probably from all the coffee we drink). We are sharply divided by many things - liberal, green city dweller contrasted with conservative, hunting country-er (is that a word?). The yuppies who wear sweater-vests and khakis with thick glasses going to office jobs having something to do with computers, and the dread-locked homeless people sleeping under bridges and smoking pot, AND the artistic, pale, introverted and clique-ish coffee-house youth. People who go to church on Sundays and spend the rest of the week with their Bibles in the trunk of their car. The people who live for the outdoor activities: hiking, biking, mountain climbing, skiiing, canoeing. Even within my description of the NW is a VAST difference, yet I see it as common for all these people to live together and co-exist. I'm learning that isn't the way it is everywhere. For example, in the southeast I feel that appearances and what one SAYS is a lot more important. The NW can be pretty blunt sometimes. I have this stereotype image of one southern woman whispering to another one, "Bless my soul, do you SEE that girl's hair? Lord bless her heart." And in the Northwest I imagine people as being more assertive and demanding, "I asked for my cuoffee THAT way and I demind my money back since YOU made the mistake." I also imagine the Northeast as being a bit more formal in social interaction.
So where am I going with this? I have no idea! I actually need to just stop and go to class, so I'll cease rambling about now. I usually like discussing the poetry in my poetry class, but the 45 minutes I spent listening to other people's views of America - both non-Americans AND Americans trying to explain America, which is really only their understanding of America - was probably the most thought-provoking, interesting, and possibly even... enlightening? 45 minutes I've spent in a long time!
One primo example is today's 75 minute class. The first 45 minutes of it we didn't even discuss poetry or poetics. We discussed... America. And food portions. And customer service. Prof Miller was telling of his time in Ithaca, NY, speaking at Cornell. He was aghast at the quantity of food he got at an "eatery of some sorts" that some students recommended to him. He was quite overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices one had to make to get a simple sandwich: Which type of sandwich meat? Which cooking method? Seasoning? Bread style? Bread type? Vegetables? Pickle type? "Chip" type? All for 4 or 5 dollars. He said he struggled to carry the platter to a table to sit down after his quarter of an hour decision making process and the scowling of all the people in the queue.
He observed that Americans seem quite willing to accept and tolerate people of a vast variety - car owners or not, as he classified them. He couldn't understand the business of tipping people. He also commented on our attitude towards customer service - he claims that just because someone is serving someone else doesn't make the service-person a SERVANT. He rather likes the French way of taking pride in their occupation.
It was facinating to hear P. Miller and the other non-American students discuss their impressions of the US. We also discussed how places or people are really IDEAS in our head. I have several stereotyped ideas about Italians and French and English and Scottish and Irish and Russian and all the other nationalities out there - but in all truth, they're not accurate. They can't possibly be all accurate.
P. Miller expressed his realization that the US is really BIG, with a lot of differences even within our nation. Of course! If you think about it, Scotland is quite varied, from the borderlands to the north, from the east to the west... People a mere hour-drive-away have a completely different ACCENT. Scotland isn't even as large as some of the STATES in the USA, not to mention having FIFTY of them! To presume the US is homogenous is aking akin to saying Swedish and French and Ukranians and Italians are all similar because they inhabit Europe. Not quite the same, of course, considering each of those nations speaks a different language, but just because two people or two people groups inhabit the same land mass doesn't make them identical.
That's something I've learned even since being here, though. Americans are a vast, varied, broad-minded lot! I, unfortunately, have the impression that MY part of the US is how every part is... I feel that the NW is decidedly laid back yet high strung (probably from all the coffee we drink). We are sharply divided by many things - liberal, green city dweller contrasted with conservative, hunting country-er (is that a word?). The yuppies who wear sweater-vests and khakis with thick glasses going to office jobs having something to do with computers, and the dread-locked homeless people sleeping under bridges and smoking pot, AND the artistic, pale, introverted and clique-ish coffee-house youth. People who go to church on Sundays and spend the rest of the week with their Bibles in the trunk of their car. The people who live for the outdoor activities: hiking, biking, mountain climbing, skiiing, canoeing. Even within my description of the NW is a VAST difference, yet I see it as common for all these people to live together and co-exist. I'm learning that isn't the way it is everywhere. For example, in the southeast I feel that appearances and what one SAYS is a lot more important. The NW can be pretty blunt sometimes. I have this stereotype image of one southern woman whispering to another one, "Bless my soul, do you SEE that girl's hair? Lord bless her heart." And in the Northwest I imagine people as being more assertive and demanding, "I asked for my cuoffee THAT way and I demind my money back since YOU made the mistake." I also imagine the Northeast as being a bit more formal in social interaction.
So where am I going with this? I have no idea! I actually need to just stop and go to class, so I'll cease rambling about now. I usually like discussing the poetry in my poetry class, but the 45 minutes I spent listening to other people's views of America - both non-Americans AND Americans trying to explain America, which is really only their understanding of America - was probably the most thought-provoking, interesting, and possibly even... enlightening? 45 minutes I've spent in a long time!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Scholarships....
Reading load is STILL insane. I've got half of Emma to finish before tomorrow... Is it possible to do it in the next 9 hours? It better be.
I got a scholarship finished up today, I'm planning to mail it from Vatican city tomorrow. That's where I typically go to mail stuff. St Peter's is one of my favorite places in Rome, I think. It's big. I've realized I like big things. Big churches, big open spaces, big fields of grass, big trees.
I have new friends from WA staying with me! I met them at Termini this morning and brought them back to my place. They introduced me to Piazza bianca - which is basically pizza crust with olive oil on it. One thing I love about Italian food is that it's SIMPLE but oh-so-good. They brought me starbucks coffee too. I don't know how simple it is, but it's also really good.
I don't know that I feel any better, but I don't necessarily feel worse. I think, overall, I have more energy, but I'm very tired. It's more of an... internal energy, perhaps? Physically I'm exhausted, but the thought of having my regular 3-day weekend sounds LOVELY!
I still have loads of reading to do tonight, though, so... off I go!
I got a scholarship finished up today, I'm planning to mail it from Vatican city tomorrow. That's where I typically go to mail stuff. St Peter's is one of my favorite places in Rome, I think. It's big. I've realized I like big things. Big churches, big open spaces, big fields of grass, big trees.
I have new friends from WA staying with me! I met them at Termini this morning and brought them back to my place. They introduced me to Piazza bianca - which is basically pizza crust with olive oil on it. One thing I love about Italian food is that it's SIMPLE but oh-so-good. They brought me starbucks coffee too. I don't know how simple it is, but it's also really good.
I don't know that I feel any better, but I don't necessarily feel worse. I think, overall, I have more energy, but I'm very tired. It's more of an... internal energy, perhaps? Physically I'm exhausted, but the thought of having my regular 3-day weekend sounds LOVELY!
I still have loads of reading to do tonight, though, so... off I go!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
I am thankful for the following:
- My friend Hilary (as in "Hawaiian Hilary's site" link over to the right) and her idea to keep a thankful blog... So I'm copying her (imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, no?) by writing today's blog on things I'm thankful for.
- We had another blue sky and sunshine day today. At some point I need to go buy cool, Roman-looking sunglasses so I don't create more wrinkles then necessary around my eyes, but for the moment, I rather enjoy walking outside my front door and having my sight assaulted by brilliant sunshine (which the ancients would call the mark of Apollo, FYI).
- I am thankful for my Ugg boots. I didn't bring them over last semester a) because it was HOT when I came, and b) because I didn't think I had room, and c) because Ugg boots are SO last season, aren't they? Well, I don't care what season it is, it was COLD in my all-tile apartment towards the end of last semester... So I made a point of rolling them up and stuffing them into the top of my backpack when I came over in January. Seriously, they are the most used item of my wardrobe, I think. The very FIRST thing I do when I get home is take off my shoes and put my Uggs on, and the very last thing before I leave is to switch my Uggs for my regular shoes. I don't wear them outside, but I love having them for these brillianty-but-cold days and nights.
- Skype is an amazing tool, and I used it last night to call my wonderful doctors. I worked for my doctors for awhile, played soccer with their daughter, took a class on Political Science from their son, and have had my health primarily looked after by them since I was about 10. They run a small clinic in my hometown, and I have their phone number memorized. I called and after explaining the situation and being on hold for a couple minutes, I got to talk to Anwar, who is always kind, generous, and warm to me. After describing my ailments and symptoms from the past week, he told me amoxacilline, 500 mg, 3 times a day for 10 days. I went to a farmacia today and showed them my note (I forget how to say "500" and "30"), and got 12 caplets of 500 mg. It was all that farmacia had, so I'll need to find another one tomorrow or the next day to get the remaining 18 caplets, but yay for Italian drug systems and over-the-counter antibiotics, and yay for wonderful, personable doctors, and yay for skype!
- My apartment is seriously in one of THE most idea places in Rome in terms of tourism (yes, anyone who knows me really CAN come visit!). Tomorrow I'm expecting some relatives of someone my parents and grandparents know. I'm going to meet their train in the morning, and they're hanging out here until sometime Thursday I think. I'm delighted that I have cool roommates who are all for having company, and that we got this awesome apartment, and that I have two wonderfully comfortable couches to welcome guests! I even went grocery shopping today (twice, actually, because I couldn't carry everything with just one load) and picked up breakfast stuff so we all have something to eat over the next couple days.
- Although I wasn't thankful for this at first, while I'm thinking on the subject I'm even thankful for the less-than-ideal grade I got on my paper the other day. Why? Because it reminds me that I need to be putting my utmost effort into school (although, I feel that I already am putting a LOT of effort into it, I'm sure I could find a little more time to devote towards it somwhere!) AND, it reminds me that I'm not perfect... In case I NEEDED a reminder! :-) It also reminds me that yes, school is important, but there will come a day that, if I even REMEMBER it, I will in all likelihood laugh about it and say, "Well, that doesn't make me any less loved by God."... for which I'm VERY thankful for!
- My butterfleece sweatshirt, which gets almost as much wearing time as my Uggs
- The fact that I'm going to stop writing this and go read Jane Austen's Emma and know that I'm being productive towards school efforts!
- Lastly, for the opportunity to apply for SCHOLARSHIPS. It's that time of year. I've finished two, and I'm working on the essay part for a third, and I've got a couple more to tackle before the end of the season. I've been so blessed by scholarship money the past couple years, and I'm thankful for the groups/agencies/organizations that provide scholarship funding for students such as myself...
- We had another blue sky and sunshine day today. At some point I need to go buy cool, Roman-looking sunglasses so I don't create more wrinkles then necessary around my eyes, but for the moment, I rather enjoy walking outside my front door and having my sight assaulted by brilliant sunshine (which the ancients would call the mark of Apollo, FYI).
- I am thankful for my Ugg boots. I didn't bring them over last semester a) because it was HOT when I came, and b) because I didn't think I had room, and c) because Ugg boots are SO last season, aren't they? Well, I don't care what season it is, it was COLD in my all-tile apartment towards the end of last semester... So I made a point of rolling them up and stuffing them into the top of my backpack when I came over in January. Seriously, they are the most used item of my wardrobe, I think. The very FIRST thing I do when I get home is take off my shoes and put my Uggs on, and the very last thing before I leave is to switch my Uggs for my regular shoes. I don't wear them outside, but I love having them for these brillianty-but-cold days and nights.
- Skype is an amazing tool, and I used it last night to call my wonderful doctors. I worked for my doctors for awhile, played soccer with their daughter, took a class on Political Science from their son, and have had my health primarily looked after by them since I was about 10. They run a small clinic in my hometown, and I have their phone number memorized. I called and after explaining the situation and being on hold for a couple minutes, I got to talk to Anwar, who is always kind, generous, and warm to me. After describing my ailments and symptoms from the past week, he told me amoxacilline, 500 mg, 3 times a day for 10 days. I went to a farmacia today and showed them my note (I forget how to say "500" and "30"), and got 12 caplets of 500 mg. It was all that farmacia had, so I'll need to find another one tomorrow or the next day to get the remaining 18 caplets, but yay for Italian drug systems and over-the-counter antibiotics, and yay for wonderful, personable doctors, and yay for skype!
- My apartment is seriously in one of THE most idea places in Rome in terms of tourism (yes, anyone who knows me really CAN come visit!). Tomorrow I'm expecting some relatives of someone my parents and grandparents know. I'm going to meet their train in the morning, and they're hanging out here until sometime Thursday I think. I'm delighted that I have cool roommates who are all for having company, and that we got this awesome apartment, and that I have two wonderfully comfortable couches to welcome guests! I even went grocery shopping today (twice, actually, because I couldn't carry everything with just one load) and picked up breakfast stuff so we all have something to eat over the next couple days.
- Although I wasn't thankful for this at first, while I'm thinking on the subject I'm even thankful for the less-than-ideal grade I got on my paper the other day. Why? Because it reminds me that I need to be putting my utmost effort into school (although, I feel that I already am putting a LOT of effort into it, I'm sure I could find a little more time to devote towards it somwhere!) AND, it reminds me that I'm not perfect... In case I NEEDED a reminder! :-) It also reminds me that yes, school is important, but there will come a day that, if I even REMEMBER it, I will in all likelihood laugh about it and say, "Well, that doesn't make me any less loved by God."... for which I'm VERY thankful for!
- My butterfleece sweatshirt, which gets almost as much wearing time as my Uggs
- The fact that I'm going to stop writing this and go read Jane Austen's Emma and know that I'm being productive towards school efforts!
- Lastly, for the opportunity to apply for SCHOLARSHIPS. It's that time of year. I've finished two, and I'm working on the essay part for a third, and I've got a couple more to tackle before the end of the season. I've been so blessed by scholarship money the past couple years, and I'm thankful for the groups/agencies/organizations that provide scholarship funding for students such as myself...
Sunday, February 17, 2008
the Roman Forum
Today I picked up a copy of the free Roman Forum magazine/newspaper thing at the back of church. In case anyone wants to know about the news happening in my little town, go to: www.theromanforum.com which gives you a plethora of interesting news in English about Bella Roma.
Three things I found particularly interesting in this month's articles/news blurbs:
1 - "John Cabot University expands to new premesis." I'd actually heard about this and am QUITE excited to see how it pans out. Hopefully by next September we'll be having classes in this former Jewish Elementary school... Our school right now is quite small, so it'll be terrific to have additional space!
2 - "Mystery surrounds death of a 21-year-old John Cabot Student." I quote: The body of Karen Young (21),an American visiting student at John Cabot University, was found underneath Ponte Garibaldi (insert: a bridge that I walked over at least 6 times a week last semester) on 24 January with several lesions to the head and a crack at the base of the skull. The university's president, Franco Pavoncello, said in a statement that she had 'died of natural casues,' yet her family said the investigation was ongoing and an autopsy was pending. Ms Young's tragic death came mere days after her 21st birthday and a week after arriving in Rome.
This was news that hadn't been passed on to the students. About the injuries, I mean.
3 - There's a CELTIC BALL, black tie affair on March 15th that I think I've talked my roommate Ellen into going with me! It'll mean getting a formal dress (sisters? Anyone want to mail over a cute formal dress???) in the form of buying or borrowing... and it DOES cost 83 Euros (ridiculous!) but part of the ticket is going towards a homeless ministry here in Rome, which I'd like to contribute money to without giving out change on the streets... Oh, and I'll have to find shoes too... ;-)
My ear feels a lot better after the drops I put in it. Does anyone know whether I should pursue getting some kind of oral antibiotic? Or is just having the drops enough? I really have no idea what's in the drops because not only is it medical language mumbo-jumbo, but it's also in ITALIAN.
I'm still working on that darn 10 page paper. I won't tell you how far I am into it... not nearly as far as I'd hoped! But on the suggestion of my Vatican-research friend Steve (he's working on his PhD, he must know something about writing papers?) I've scribbled out an outline, so now I have an idea of where I'm going and where I SHOUlD be going when I distract myself with the idea of going downstairs to "Joe's" to get gelato... which I just did, by the way. Lemone and Ciocollato are quite a tasty mix for a cuppola piccolo.
In other news, I've scratched the idea of posting pictures every time I post these blogs, so sorry! Writing once a day is clearly about as much (or more!) than I can manage!
I'm off to FINISH (Inshallah!) writing about virtue in restoration England... wish me luck, and THANKS for the prayers for health! The cough is a bit hurtful to the lining of my throat, I think, and the sinuses are definitely annoying... but I'm thankful that the knife-in-the-ear has stopped!
Three things I found particularly interesting in this month's articles/news blurbs:
1 - "John Cabot University expands to new premesis." I'd actually heard about this and am QUITE excited to see how it pans out. Hopefully by next September we'll be having classes in this former Jewish Elementary school... Our school right now is quite small, so it'll be terrific to have additional space!
2 - "Mystery surrounds death of a 21-year-old John Cabot Student." I quote: The body of Karen Young (21),an American visiting student at John Cabot University, was found underneath Ponte Garibaldi (insert: a bridge that I walked over at least 6 times a week last semester) on 24 January with several lesions to the head and a crack at the base of the skull. The university's president, Franco Pavoncello, said in a statement that she had 'died of natural casues,' yet her family said the investigation was ongoing and an autopsy was pending. Ms Young's tragic death came mere days after her 21st birthday and a week after arriving in Rome.
This was news that hadn't been passed on to the students. About the injuries, I mean.
3 - There's a CELTIC BALL, black tie affair on March 15th that I think I've talked my roommate Ellen into going with me! It'll mean getting a formal dress (sisters? Anyone want to mail over a cute formal dress???) in the form of buying or borrowing... and it DOES cost 83 Euros (ridiculous!) but part of the ticket is going towards a homeless ministry here in Rome, which I'd like to contribute money to without giving out change on the streets... Oh, and I'll have to find shoes too... ;-)
My ear feels a lot better after the drops I put in it. Does anyone know whether I should pursue getting some kind of oral antibiotic? Or is just having the drops enough? I really have no idea what's in the drops because not only is it medical language mumbo-jumbo, but it's also in ITALIAN.
I'm still working on that darn 10 page paper. I won't tell you how far I am into it... not nearly as far as I'd hoped! But on the suggestion of my Vatican-research friend Steve (he's working on his PhD, he must know something about writing papers?) I've scribbled out an outline, so now I have an idea of where I'm going and where I SHOUlD be going when I distract myself with the idea of going downstairs to "Joe's" to get gelato... which I just did, by the way. Lemone and Ciocollato are quite a tasty mix for a cuppola piccolo.
In other news, I've scratched the idea of posting pictures every time I post these blogs, so sorry! Writing once a day is clearly about as much (or more!) than I can manage!
I'm off to FINISH (Inshallah!) writing about virtue in restoration England... wish me luck, and THANKS for the prayers for health! The cough is a bit hurtful to the lining of my throat, I think, and the sinuses are definitely annoying... but I'm thankful that the knife-in-the-ear has stopped!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Bridging the Gap
This image is from my walk to school. It's a little hard to see in this picture (I was at risk of being run over by renegade motocyclists), but what you're looking at is actually a bridge between two buildings. I've noticed it a number of times because it's rather unique. Most of the buildings here are block-sized buildings, meaning people or stores might own or rent sections, but they are all part of one big building. Usually you don't see these connections built BETWEEN buildings, though, especially over the top of roadways. I think it would be really cool to have an apartment that spanned both sides!
Tonight was supposed to be a student forum meeting focusing on how to get degree-seeking students and study abroad students to BOTH feel included at JCU. Typically both groups feel that the other is getting more attention than they are: at the beginning of the semester the study abroads are catered to quite a bit, and by the end of the semester they feel like they're being cast off because they're going home and nobody cares how they feel about things. I guess it's challenging to balance both sides.
It's been challenging for me to balance different aspects of my life too. Going back to Jason's sermon on Sunday, Christians are described as living here on earth, but being citizens and belonging to the realm of heaven. I've been trying to figure out how one does that. How does one live IN the world, but not be OF the world? How does one balance being as wise as a serpent and as innocent as a dove? How does one build relationships with people who have nothing in common with one spiritually, yet manage to not compromise one's beliefs? And on even another note, how does one stand up for and claim to be part of a belief that is seen as being manipulative, treacherous, dangerous, self-seeking, and destroying? How do I claim, "I'm a Christian" when we're studying literature and discussing how the church exploited the illiterate? Or, on the other side of things, how do I claim, "I'm a Christian" when other people claim to be Christians too... whilst getting wasted on Thursday night with their friends or being rude in class or being ignorant of Biblical theology?
And in another sense, what IS my part in bridging the gap between the study abroads and the degree-seekers? I still feel strongly that God brought me here, to Rome, to this school, for a purpose. But what are the fine details of that purpose? Where should I be concentrating my efforts? School versus church involvement versus Christian fellowship versus reaching out to people versus being a good friend to my roommates versus traveling versus spending money wisely...
I think the real bummer is that I'm pretty sure life never gets much easier... so, for anyone who is reading this, you can skip right over the comments about, "Wait until you have a mortage"... or a job or a husband or kids or whatever other complicating factors come in as we age. I'd really rather just try to handle one stress at a time, 'K? :-)
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Update on my life!
I should update this generally about my life, because soon I expect another crowd of anxious blog-readers to start pouring in here, reading all about me and my recent events and the circumstances of my life and all that good stuff! Considering how most people just thought this blog was for my (our) Europe trip last summer, they haven't read it since. And actually, I didn't use it for awhile after the trip, so I can't hardly blame them!
So, what's new with me? Well, last December I road tripped down to CA to check out colleges that I might attend. I'm planning to major in English, with intentions of a) teaching it overseas for a couple years, possibly as a second language, b) teaching it on the mission field, in boarding schools or something, c) having my own LCLC-style school where I can teach it, d) teach in a community college (Yes, I'll have to get my master's for most of those). Other options include using it to communicate in whatever career I may end up in if teaching doesn't work out, writing books, or using it for song writing (haha!)... We'll see. I'm pretty up in the air right now.
Anyhow, I applied to California Baptist University and was accepted with a $10,000 scholarship, $3,500 of it is a music scholarship which I don't really want to get tied up in. I also applied to Simpson University, and I'll receive at least $9,000 from them, possibly more if I get the President's Scholarship that I applied for... They're cheaper than CBU, though, so the cost out of pocket would be less.
I also just found and applied to school in Rome, Italy, though. After going there last summer, I LOVE the city! It's seriously awesome. John Cabot University has an English Lit major, with either an international affairs (or something like that) minor, or a communications minor, either of which I'd be interested in. John Cabot University is about $33,000 a year, though, which is pretty spendy! And they're not Christian, they have a Catholic background - the school is housed in an old convent even - but they do have a pretty teachers, it sounds like. I'm still waiting to hear back from them, though. And I think I'm too late to apply for financial aid.
I decided to apply to schools in Cali last fall because the weather was dark and rainy and nasty, and I'd just come through a couple experiences that made me want to just LEAVE this area... I wanted to go someplace warm, and different. But I kind of limited myself to Cali because I needed some way to narrow my options. Cali doesn't seem quite... adventursome enough now, though. I know I'm a bit of an adventure junkie, but mostly just in the sense of traveling. I LOVE to travel. I can't expain it, but traveling is just so invigorating. I mean, sure, I get jet lag, and I do get tired of being gone and eating weird food and picking up and moving every couple days, but seeing new places, visiting with new people, trying to absorb new cultures, it's just cool!
On top of that, I feel like people in the US have had many opportunities to hear about Jesus. There are churches all over the place, tons of Christian music artists, and evangelists on the radio and TV. People in other cultures don't always have that. There is NOTHING that is more important than having a relationship with Jesus... and these people who haven't heard need to hear! Maybe my love of traveling and foreign cultures was put God-appointed to be used for that purpose... I dunno. I know I am supposed to share the news of Jesus with people, but whether or not that will include overseas stuff long term, who's to know? Other than God, of course *smile*
So anyhow, for the short term, I am going overseas soon... which is VERY exciting! I hope to keep all of you faithful readers updated through this forum, actually. So come back for my recounting of current adventures, 'K? *grin*
As far as schooling right now, I finished my AA last week (yay!), and I'm taking one class down at WSU-Vancouver for kicks. I'm really enjoying it too, actually! Between now and when I leave, I'm trying to earn money, work on some projects for my parents at the house, and seeking God's direction in what school to choose. I'm not crazy about this whole "limbo" stage, but at the same time, it's kind of nice because I don't feel committed to anything. Sometimes committing to things scares me, you know? It seems so... permanent!
Anyhow, I'm supposed to be on chicken duty, so I best hop on outside and take care of that... It's raining here, which is seriously hampering my enthusiasm... I should go running, also, but I might very well just continue being lazy!
Love and Peace and Joy to all y'all... two dear readers! *SMILE*
So, what's new with me? Well, last December I road tripped down to CA to check out colleges that I might attend. I'm planning to major in English, with intentions of a) teaching it overseas for a couple years, possibly as a second language, b) teaching it on the mission field, in boarding schools or something, c) having my own LCLC-style school where I can teach it, d) teach in a community college (Yes, I'll have to get my master's for most of those). Other options include using it to communicate in whatever career I may end up in if teaching doesn't work out, writing books, or using it for song writing (haha!)... We'll see. I'm pretty up in the air right now.
Anyhow, I applied to California Baptist University and was accepted with a $10,000 scholarship, $3,500 of it is a music scholarship which I don't really want to get tied up in. I also applied to Simpson University, and I'll receive at least $9,000 from them, possibly more if I get the President's Scholarship that I applied for... They're cheaper than CBU, though, so the cost out of pocket would be less.
I also just found and applied to school in Rome, Italy, though. After going there last summer, I LOVE the city! It's seriously awesome. John Cabot University has an English Lit major, with either an international affairs (or something like that) minor, or a communications minor, either of which I'd be interested in. John Cabot University is about $33,000 a year, though, which is pretty spendy! And they're not Christian, they have a Catholic background - the school is housed in an old convent even - but they do have a pretty teachers, it sounds like. I'm still waiting to hear back from them, though. And I think I'm too late to apply for financial aid.
I decided to apply to schools in Cali last fall because the weather was dark and rainy and nasty, and I'd just come through a couple experiences that made me want to just LEAVE this area... I wanted to go someplace warm, and different. But I kind of limited myself to Cali because I needed some way to narrow my options. Cali doesn't seem quite... adventursome enough now, though. I know I'm a bit of an adventure junkie, but mostly just in the sense of traveling. I LOVE to travel. I can't expain it, but traveling is just so invigorating. I mean, sure, I get jet lag, and I do get tired of being gone and eating weird food and picking up and moving every couple days, but seeing new places, visiting with new people, trying to absorb new cultures, it's just cool!
On top of that, I feel like people in the US have had many opportunities to hear about Jesus. There are churches all over the place, tons of Christian music artists, and evangelists on the radio and TV. People in other cultures don't always have that. There is NOTHING that is more important than having a relationship with Jesus... and these people who haven't heard need to hear! Maybe my love of traveling and foreign cultures was put God-appointed to be used for that purpose... I dunno. I know I am supposed to share the news of Jesus with people, but whether or not that will include overseas stuff long term, who's to know? Other than God, of course *smile*
So anyhow, for the short term, I am going overseas soon... which is VERY exciting! I hope to keep all of you faithful readers updated through this forum, actually. So come back for my recounting of current adventures, 'K? *grin*
As far as schooling right now, I finished my AA last week (yay!), and I'm taking one class down at WSU-Vancouver for kicks. I'm really enjoying it too, actually! Between now and when I leave, I'm trying to earn money, work on some projects for my parents at the house, and seeking God's direction in what school to choose. I'm not crazy about this whole "limbo" stage, but at the same time, it's kind of nice because I don't feel committed to anything. Sometimes committing to things scares me, you know? It seems so... permanent!
Anyhow, I'm supposed to be on chicken duty, so I best hop on outside and take care of that... It's raining here, which is seriously hampering my enthusiasm... I should go running, also, but I might very well just continue being lazy!
Love and Peace and Joy to all y'all... two dear readers! *SMILE*
Monday, February 26, 2007
Nickelback
OK, I'm a fan of the new Nickelback song "If Everyone Cared." It's a great song.
This past weekend was fun. Friday night I went to Chang's Mongolian Grill with my fam and the Pedersens. Good times. Saturday I worked on scholarship/school stuff, then hung out at my friend Melanie's house with Mel and her cousin-in-laws, Anthony and Adam. And Bethany, Mel's sister, and Bethany's boyfriend Kirk. A great group of people, for sure. Oh, before that I recorded keys on my friend Shannon's song. I think we got something worked out OK.
"And as we lie beneath the stars, we realize how small we are." That's a Nickelback quote, sorry. I'm just listening to the song and some of the lines are pretty sweet.
I'm starting to.... wonder about this whole college thing. Essentially I've got a college in Redding that I'm not too excited about, but I could potentially get 3/4 of my tuition paid for there, which would be nice. Even without the President's scholarship (which I'm applying for), I'd still get quite a bit of scholarship money. Then there is Cal Baptist, which I'm definitely interested in because of its location (southern Cal), and the housing situation (cottages or apartment options), and the fact that I could pursue music a bit (they've got STATE of the ART recording equiptment... I need to make some friends with musicians! Lol!), and the campus is gorgeous. Then there is Westmont, out in Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara... how could you NOT like that??? It's gorgeous! But the school is the most expensive, and the campus is beautiful, but also kind of... eclectic. One of the things I really liked about Cal Baptist was how it was all uniform and University-ish. Westmont feels more like... camp. But the connection to having use of the formal gardens (wedding someday???) would be nice!
I dunno. I can't hardly imagine myself living in any of those places in 6 months, because none really excite me THAT much... But I'm also adaptable, I think, and I could handle being at any of them probably. I really don't want to do college that bad. I mean, I just want to skip through it... but at the same time I know I won't get enough out of it unless I LIVE it. And I want to travel abroad. If I had my choice I'd be going to Italy or Egypt next fall like I'd originally thought. But it's too late to do that at this point. I'll have to look at next spring. But then I've got Julie's wedding that I want to be here to witness. However, I know she'd understand too.
My contacts in Morocco haven't gotten back to me in a LONG time. I hope everything is still ago, because I'm going to be massively disappointed if it doesn't work for me to go. I'm just ready to ... get OUT of here. But at the same time, I don't want to go away for a long time. I've seen how Meg's connection to this area has really diminished, and I've been working on some new friendships that I'm afraid will just die out if I'm not around. That makes me sad.
I have Richard the III and Poli Sci to read, I best get off.
This past weekend was fun. Friday night I went to Chang's Mongolian Grill with my fam and the Pedersens. Good times. Saturday I worked on scholarship/school stuff, then hung out at my friend Melanie's house with Mel and her cousin-in-laws, Anthony and Adam. And Bethany, Mel's sister, and Bethany's boyfriend Kirk. A great group of people, for sure. Oh, before that I recorded keys on my friend Shannon's song. I think we got something worked out OK.
"And as we lie beneath the stars, we realize how small we are." That's a Nickelback quote, sorry. I'm just listening to the song and some of the lines are pretty sweet.
I'm starting to.... wonder about this whole college thing. Essentially I've got a college in Redding that I'm not too excited about, but I could potentially get 3/4 of my tuition paid for there, which would be nice. Even without the President's scholarship (which I'm applying for), I'd still get quite a bit of scholarship money. Then there is Cal Baptist, which I'm definitely interested in because of its location (southern Cal), and the housing situation (cottages or apartment options), and the fact that I could pursue music a bit (they've got STATE of the ART recording equiptment... I need to make some friends with musicians! Lol!), and the campus is gorgeous. Then there is Westmont, out in Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara... how could you NOT like that??? It's gorgeous! But the school is the most expensive, and the campus is beautiful, but also kind of... eclectic. One of the things I really liked about Cal Baptist was how it was all uniform and University-ish. Westmont feels more like... camp. But the connection to having use of the formal gardens (wedding someday???) would be nice!
I dunno. I can't hardly imagine myself living in any of those places in 6 months, because none really excite me THAT much... But I'm also adaptable, I think, and I could handle being at any of them probably. I really don't want to do college that bad. I mean, I just want to skip through it... but at the same time I know I won't get enough out of it unless I LIVE it. And I want to travel abroad. If I had my choice I'd be going to Italy or Egypt next fall like I'd originally thought. But it's too late to do that at this point. I'll have to look at next spring. But then I've got Julie's wedding that I want to be here to witness. However, I know she'd understand too.
My contacts in Morocco haven't gotten back to me in a LONG time. I hope everything is still ago, because I'm going to be massively disappointed if it doesn't work for me to go. I'm just ready to ... get OUT of here. But at the same time, I don't want to go away for a long time. I've seen how Meg's connection to this area has really diminished, and I've been working on some new friendships that I'm afraid will just die out if I'm not around. That makes me sad.
I have Richard the III and Poli Sci to read, I best get off.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Midterms done, new music up, and chocolate....
Have you ever noticed how Americans have the capacity to completely slaughter certain words? Take the name "Peter" for example. My Shakespeare teacher says it beautifully. I say it like "pe-DER." She says it like "PE-tah." Try it. Say them outloud. "PE-tah" is much prettier than "pe-DER."
I had my poli sci exam tonight. I wrote my midterm for Shakespeare and turned it in last Tuesday, and had my health midterm last week. Yay! It's nice to have one round of tests done. I'll do the same thing again in a couple weeks, but then we'll be at the END of the quarter/semester (I'm doing both), which means I'll be only weeks/days away from departing the country, and that makes me immensely happy!
I joined the group "I'm Saving Myself for Wild, Passionate, Awkward Honeymoon Sex" or something like that on facebook. I saw it and just started CRACKING UP! I think it is awesome that someone started a group like that. I'm just getting the hang of this whole facebook thing. Actually, i totally don't have the hang of it because I haven't a clue as to how to upload pictures yet... but soon!
Meanwhile, I have another place to blog. As if two myspace accounts and this isn't enough! Lol!
I posted a new song on my music myspace. "Message" is what it is called. It's lyrical, probably more so than the other three I've got up. I like it. Actually quite a lot. I've popped over to the space just to listen to it several times.
I've decided that, for me, the fun part of recording is the vocals and the "extras." The initial keys are kinda a pain.
Heather bought extra dark lindor truffles last night. *blissful sigh* Those things are amazing. I'm glad I don't have them easily accessible all the time!
I went to fill my car up with gas today. I put in $9.00 and then it shut me off. I think that's because that was all I had in my checking account. *sigh* I supposed I better double check that. And reconcile my bank accounts. I hate doing that! Money is such a pain!!!
OK, yeah, this blog basically has no conhesive thought. Too bad. Long weekend this weekend, though, which I'm excited about! I might... go to Bible Study on Monday, or go to the beach, or watch a movie, or just sit home and do homework... BORING. I do want to go to a Romeo and Juliet performance this weekend or next weekend if possible. Then it is done performing, which would be a bummer to miss.
I should go running. I've been lazy this week. Actually I've been lazy for the past two or three weeks. It's raining like crazy and we all know I hate rain... I did a little running yesterday, but it wasn't enough! I thought I was starting to get sick last night, so I did extra doses of vitamin C and echinacea and multis, then downed a gulpful of Nyquil and went to bed. I was KONKED out... seriously! My alarm went off at 6:30 and I was COMPLETELY on cloud 27 when I got up to change the alarm time to later. It was bizarro.... but I slept really well and I feel fine today, so I think getting a good night's sleep might have done the trick... for now!
Yeah, K, time to close. I just thought I'd update this lovely site!
I had my poli sci exam tonight. I wrote my midterm for Shakespeare and turned it in last Tuesday, and had my health midterm last week. Yay! It's nice to have one round of tests done. I'll do the same thing again in a couple weeks, but then we'll be at the END of the quarter/semester (I'm doing both), which means I'll be only weeks/days away from departing the country, and that makes me immensely happy!
I joined the group "I'm Saving Myself for Wild, Passionate, Awkward Honeymoon Sex" or something like that on facebook. I saw it and just started CRACKING UP! I think it is awesome that someone started a group like that. I'm just getting the hang of this whole facebook thing. Actually, i totally don't have the hang of it because I haven't a clue as to how to upload pictures yet... but soon!
Meanwhile, I have another place to blog. As if two myspace accounts and this isn't enough! Lol!
I posted a new song on my music myspace. "Message" is what it is called. It's lyrical, probably more so than the other three I've got up. I like it. Actually quite a lot. I've popped over to the space just to listen to it several times.
I've decided that, for me, the fun part of recording is the vocals and the "extras." The initial keys are kinda a pain.
Heather bought extra dark lindor truffles last night. *blissful sigh* Those things are amazing. I'm glad I don't have them easily accessible all the time!
I went to fill my car up with gas today. I put in $9.00 and then it shut me off. I think that's because that was all I had in my checking account. *sigh* I supposed I better double check that. And reconcile my bank accounts. I hate doing that! Money is such a pain!!!
OK, yeah, this blog basically has no conhesive thought. Too bad. Long weekend this weekend, though, which I'm excited about! I might... go to Bible Study on Monday, or go to the beach, or watch a movie, or just sit home and do homework... BORING. I do want to go to a Romeo and Juliet performance this weekend or next weekend if possible. Then it is done performing, which would be a bummer to miss.
I should go running. I've been lazy this week. Actually I've been lazy for the past two or three weeks. It's raining like crazy and we all know I hate rain... I did a little running yesterday, but it wasn't enough! I thought I was starting to get sick last night, so I did extra doses of vitamin C and echinacea and multis, then downed a gulpful of Nyquil and went to bed. I was KONKED out... seriously! My alarm went off at 6:30 and I was COMPLETELY on cloud 27 when I got up to change the alarm time to later. It was bizarro.... but I slept really well and I feel fine today, so I think getting a good night's sleep might have done the trick... for now!
Yeah, K, time to close. I just thought I'd update this lovely site!
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Yikes!
I was driving into school this morning, and this car pulled up behind me about 15 minutes away from my destination. There were two guys inside, and I didn't look, like, really closely or anything, but I didn't recognize them or the car. Anyhow, they proceeded to make a nuissance (sp?) of themselves almost ALL the way to school. They were honking, they were riding on my tail, then they'd pull into the lane next to me and match my speed and wave and try to get my attention. I just kept driving! I looked straight ahead, because I really didn't want to make eye contact with them! I drove the speed limit, and kept hoping they'd get the clue and leave me alone! It wasn't until I turned left onto a residential street and they would have had to wait for a car to go by before they could follow me that they finally left me alone. It was creepy though! For, you know, a minute or to, it's just like "oh, dudes, grow up!" But then when it just KEEPS going on for 10 minutes, I start to feel a little concerned! Then I began to think, should I drive by the police station? Should I call a friend and go to their house and pull into their driveway? Should I just go to school and figure the parking lot is a pretty public spot? I was just glad that they finally left me alone!
On another subject, I'm really enjoying my Shakespeare class! The health class is useful, the art publication class is fairly enjoyable, and the poli sci class is interesting. So far, this quarter has been a lot better than most previous quarters! My Shakespeare teacher is Welsh, and I think everyone should have the opportunity to take a Shakespeare class from someone with an accent... it just sounds so much cooler!
I'm liking hellogoodbye's song "Here In Your Arms" a lot right now. It's just this cute love song. Go check it out! :-)
Tomorrow I get to go argue my speeding ticket... I'm a little nervous! I HOPE I can get it reduced! It would certainly be nice. :-) I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
I got an email from my friend in N. Africa this morning, and it's looking more and more for-sure for me to go work over there this summer. I'm REALLY getting excited about that!!! This has been something I've wanted to do for YEARS, and I think God is going to use it in big ways in my life.
Oh, I went to this missions conference last weekend - wow, was I ever inspired! It is so stupid how I get caught up in the every day silly stuff of life, but what's REALLY important is knowing God, pursuing him passionately, and letting your life be an outpour of his love. That's what I want my life to look like when people see me. That is my goal!
Better go. I've a little bit of daylight left - YAY for spring-ish weather, even though it is the middle of January! - and I think I shall go walk.
Peace out!
On another subject, I'm really enjoying my Shakespeare class! The health class is useful, the art publication class is fairly enjoyable, and the poli sci class is interesting. So far, this quarter has been a lot better than most previous quarters! My Shakespeare teacher is Welsh, and I think everyone should have the opportunity to take a Shakespeare class from someone with an accent... it just sounds so much cooler!
I'm liking hellogoodbye's song "Here In Your Arms" a lot right now. It's just this cute love song. Go check it out! :-)
Tomorrow I get to go argue my speeding ticket... I'm a little nervous! I HOPE I can get it reduced! It would certainly be nice. :-) I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
I got an email from my friend in N. Africa this morning, and it's looking more and more for-sure for me to go work over there this summer. I'm REALLY getting excited about that!!! This has been something I've wanted to do for YEARS, and I think God is going to use it in big ways in my life.
Oh, I went to this missions conference last weekend - wow, was I ever inspired! It is so stupid how I get caught up in the every day silly stuff of life, but what's REALLY important is knowing God, pursuing him passionately, and letting your life be an outpour of his love. That's what I want my life to look like when people see me. That is my goal!
Better go. I've a little bit of daylight left - YAY for spring-ish weather, even though it is the middle of January! - and I think I shall go walk.
Peace out!
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
School again!
School's back in full swing, I started the one class I hadn't been to yet today. I've got three classes at the community college on the quarter schedule, and one class at the branch university on a semester schedule. I'm taking a Poli Sci class one day a week, and I think I'm going to like it. My health class is inspiring me to make better health choices (I drained the grease out of the hamburger for tacos tonight, and it was so gross how much liquid there was! Granted, some of it was probably water, but it was still nasty.), like documenting what food I eat and when. And I'm trying to be more inspired to exercise more regularly. Especially in this weather, it's hard for me to stick to something!
I started a Shakespeare class today, and the teacher has a British accent, which seems appropriate for Shakespeare. I'm hoping to direct a play of The Merchant of Venice, and we get to read it during the class, so that'll be cool. And sonnets, I like sonnets.
Only problem is I now will be required to write papers... and I think when I have to write papers I'm not as inspired to write for fun. Sorry guys. My entries here might be lagging in the next couple months.
I slept for several hours this afternoon, when I got back from school. It was wonderful to crash, but I'm hoping it won't upset my sleep schedule. I hate it when that happens! And, now I've got a bunch of homework I didn't get accomplished, unfortunately.
Gotta go fold laundry. Take it easy!
I started a Shakespeare class today, and the teacher has a British accent, which seems appropriate for Shakespeare. I'm hoping to direct a play of The Merchant of Venice, and we get to read it during the class, so that'll be cool. And sonnets, I like sonnets.
Only problem is I now will be required to write papers... and I think when I have to write papers I'm not as inspired to write for fun. Sorry guys. My entries here might be lagging in the next couple months.
I slept for several hours this afternoon, when I got back from school. It was wonderful to crash, but I'm hoping it won't upset my sleep schedule. I hate it when that happens! And, now I've got a bunch of homework I didn't get accomplished, unfortunately.
Gotta go fold laundry. Take it easy!
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Sharp turn
I drove off the road tonight. I took a turn too sharp, and my car completely didn't turn, I went straight off and ended up on the other side of the ditch, actually. Fortunately, it was the best possible place to go off the road, since there was nothing but grass on the other side of it. Some awesome guys I know who live nearby came and rescued us (Heath was with me). So, even though it shook me up a bit, I can clearly see God's hand in it. We weren't hurt, the car isn't too damaged (I don't think), and God provided the guys to be our champions.
Only down side is that, through a serious of events that I won't go into on here, [check out my myspace blog if you want to read more: www.myspace.com/daniL012988 ], the back window in one of the guy's cars was broken, which I feel really bad about since it was because of me that he was out there anyhow...
On a different note, school started, and it's, eh, OK. I actually ended up changing my class schedule today, so I've got to add another class or two on Monday, since I dropped one today, but hopefully I can get that taken care of without too much further problems. I'm gonna be busy this quarter, but I guess that's OK. Better to be busy than bored, I suppose.
Alright, it's LATE, so I'm going to bed now. Dad's been watching this great movie that I keep getting interested in, and staying focused is a bit hard, but it's winding down now, so I think I can go to bed!
Drive safe!
Only down side is that, through a serious of events that I won't go into on here, [check out my myspace blog if you want to read more: www.myspace.com/daniL012988 ], the back window in one of the guy's cars was broken, which I feel really bad about since it was because of me that he was out there anyhow...
On a different note, school started, and it's, eh, OK. I actually ended up changing my class schedule today, so I've got to add another class or two on Monday, since I dropped one today, but hopefully I can get that taken care of without too much further problems. I'm gonna be busy this quarter, but I guess that's OK. Better to be busy than bored, I suppose.
Alright, it's LATE, so I'm going to bed now. Dad's been watching this great movie that I keep getting interested in, and staying focused is a bit hard, but it's winding down now, so I think I can go to bed!
Drive safe!
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Seeing Grey
My color quota was not filled today, for sure. I looked at a lot of grey. Lots and lots of grey. Concrete, to be exact. We had 12 (count them: TWELVE!!!! 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12) truckloads (we're talking those BIG ones that spin!) delivered to the farm today. They started coming about 8:30, and didn't stop until, like, 12:30. We have 1/3 of our new waste shed poured, so we only have to do that same thing 2 more times. And let me tell you, it was a long day! I actually got to escape for awhile and run into town to pick up a Fresno blade, but it was still long! And FREEZING too. I have been wearing 4 pair of pants all day (I finally shed the outermost layer, my overalls, when I realized they were practically stiff from the dried concrete) and 4 shirts, with a sweatshirt and coat over that. 2 pair of gloves, and 2 scarves, and 3 pair of socks too... Even in the house it's been cold. I hate to sound whiny, but I really dislike cold. I am COMPLETELY uninspired to do anything resembling physical activity outside in this kind of weather! And I'm not going to join a gym either. Actually, I don't mind walking when its cold, but running is just a pain. I put on enough clothes to barely be warm when I start, then I run and I'm too hot and my clothes are suffocating me, and then when I'm done, everything is sweaty so it gets cold really fast. Yeah, I just don't like it! On top of that, I end up burying myself underneath layers of clothing, so I don't even care if my clothes don't fit quite the way they should, because nobody sees anyhow!
Ahh the struggles of being a teenage girl.... Speaking of that, I'm only going to be a teenager for another 13 months, which does actually seem like a rather long time, but I know it won't be when I get there. My 19th birthday is at the end of January (the 29th to be exact! I love birthday wishes, fyi!). I think 19 is kind of a dud birthday. 18 is big because you are a legal adult, you can buy tobacco products, all that kind of stuff. And 20 is big because you're no longer a teenager... but 19? That's just college freshman age! :-) Which I'm not, so that is kinda nice... :-)
Speaking of college, my plans have changed AGAIN, and I'm going to continue at the CC for another quarter full time. I'm also taking one class at WSU, a class that I'm actually excited about too, which is good. But then after winter quarter is done, I won't go back for spring quarter, I'll just finish up my one class at WSU, then take off for Africa, Lord-willing. Since I'll be in Africa a good chunk of my summer, this will allow me a little more time to work and earn some cash before I leave. I'm excited, I am rather burned out on school, so this will allow me to have an end goal in mind that seems fairly achievable, and I can also work part time, and I won't be jumping in over my head into a new school for only 4 1/2 months. I'll still be at the school I've come to love and feel at home at.
I think I'm going to try to take up swimming this quarter too. Early morning lap times, probably. Running is OK, but I'm just not being consistant enough with it (see up a couple paragraphs!). Swimming might be my solution... It's fairly warm, it's a great full-body work out, and it isn't hard on the joints, which is nice too. Only problem? I have to pay money to do it, but I think I'll start small and see if I even want to get into it, and won't go buying a year long pass or anything. Actually, that would be pointless because I'm not going to be here for a year anyhow. Wow, that's a weird thought too! :-)
I'm going to go make fruit pizza... I know, it's JUST what I need! ;-)
Ahh the struggles of being a teenage girl.... Speaking of that, I'm only going to be a teenager for another 13 months, which does actually seem like a rather long time, but I know it won't be when I get there. My 19th birthday is at the end of January (the 29th to be exact! I love birthday wishes, fyi!). I think 19 is kind of a dud birthday. 18 is big because you are a legal adult, you can buy tobacco products, all that kind of stuff. And 20 is big because you're no longer a teenager... but 19? That's just college freshman age! :-) Which I'm not, so that is kinda nice... :-)
Speaking of college, my plans have changed AGAIN, and I'm going to continue at the CC for another quarter full time. I'm also taking one class at WSU, a class that I'm actually excited about too, which is good. But then after winter quarter is done, I won't go back for spring quarter, I'll just finish up my one class at WSU, then take off for Africa, Lord-willing. Since I'll be in Africa a good chunk of my summer, this will allow me a little more time to work and earn some cash before I leave. I'm excited, I am rather burned out on school, so this will allow me to have an end goal in mind that seems fairly achievable, and I can also work part time, and I won't be jumping in over my head into a new school for only 4 1/2 months. I'll still be at the school I've come to love and feel at home at.
I think I'm going to try to take up swimming this quarter too. Early morning lap times, probably. Running is OK, but I'm just not being consistant enough with it (see up a couple paragraphs!). Swimming might be my solution... It's fairly warm, it's a great full-body work out, and it isn't hard on the joints, which is nice too. Only problem? I have to pay money to do it, but I think I'll start small and see if I even want to get into it, and won't go buying a year long pass or anything. Actually, that would be pointless because I'm not going to be here for a year anyhow. Wow, that's a weird thought too! :-)
I'm going to go make fruit pizza... I know, it's JUST what I need! ;-)
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Updates and upcoming events...
OK, I have to say, that whole stupid Blogger Beta thing really drives me crazy! I don't want to have to type in my password twice! Grr. Can anybody tell me how to not have to do that?!
Alright, on to other stuff. Updates: Operation:Surprise is going fairly well. I'm starting to feel like the end will never be in sight, but I guess it'll have to be done by Christmas, so only 20 days to go... HOLY COW!
Running: um, yeah. Once, in the last week. How pathetic? So much for the pre-pre-marathon training! Ahh well, running is really more for the sake of my sanity, AND to provide a chance for exercise than to have it be a competition, even with myself. I take competitions with myself too seriously.
I had my first final of the quarter today, met with my teacher for 40 minutes with two other gals in my class. It was easy. The teacher is really easy to talk to, and I like him, so it was fine to just chat with him. It seriously didn't feel like a final, it felt more like a seminar or just a regular conversation, which was a pleasant surprise! He handed me my capstone paper back, with 12/12 on it, and a lovely comment about how he'd purposely save mine for last so he could reward himself with a good paper... Ahh, the disillusionment teachers see in their students! Little did he know that I pulled it together in about 10 hours. Which, although it seems like a lot, is a rather small amount of time considering it was supposed to be a quarter-long project. And, those 10 or so hours happened to be in 2 days, a Friday and Monday. Ahh well, it was a fun paper, actually, and I'm rather relieved to have it done!
I leave for California on Wednesday night with my sis. We're going to see 5 colleges over the next week, so it'll be a lot of driving, but I've never done a road-trip myself, so I'm a little excited about the adventure. Only downside is I am not the hugest fan in the world of driving... Hopefully it won't get too old!
OK, I'm exhausted, my feet hurt, my head hurts from teh way my hair is pulling it, and I need to go clean off my bed so I can go to sleep... Peace out!
Alright, on to other stuff. Updates: Operation:Surprise is going fairly well. I'm starting to feel like the end will never be in sight, but I guess it'll have to be done by Christmas, so only 20 days to go... HOLY COW!
Running: um, yeah. Once, in the last week. How pathetic? So much for the pre-pre-marathon training! Ahh well, running is really more for the sake of my sanity, AND to provide a chance for exercise than to have it be a competition, even with myself. I take competitions with myself too seriously.
I had my first final of the quarter today, met with my teacher for 40 minutes with two other gals in my class. It was easy. The teacher is really easy to talk to, and I like him, so it was fine to just chat with him. It seriously didn't feel like a final, it felt more like a seminar or just a regular conversation, which was a pleasant surprise! He handed me my capstone paper back, with 12/12 on it, and a lovely comment about how he'd purposely save mine for last so he could reward himself with a good paper... Ahh, the disillusionment teachers see in their students! Little did he know that I pulled it together in about 10 hours. Which, although it seems like a lot, is a rather small amount of time considering it was supposed to be a quarter-long project. And, those 10 or so hours happened to be in 2 days, a Friday and Monday. Ahh well, it was a fun paper, actually, and I'm rather relieved to have it done!
I leave for California on Wednesday night with my sis. We're going to see 5 colleges over the next week, so it'll be a lot of driving, but I've never done a road-trip myself, so I'm a little excited about the adventure. Only downside is I am not the hugest fan in the world of driving... Hopefully it won't get too old!
OK, I'm exhausted, my feet hurt, my head hurts from teh way my hair is pulling it, and I need to go clean off my bed so I can go to sleep... Peace out!
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