I feel you, Johanna!

Despite the fact that the new incarnation of Sweeney Todd, starring Johnny Depp, was gruesome and violent, I am pleased to note that almost the entire thing appeared to be about me.

In other news, in case you were rabidly curious, I got a 98 on my linear algebra exam. The lowest score in the class was an 84, and I think the average was an A. All that goes to say that we are all fabulous geniuses.

I went to the optometrist today - that was cheery. Everything is fine, so I'll have to wait a whole year before I get to see my enormously good-looking eye doctor again. It's probably for the best, considering that he wears a wedding ring and I'd hate to tempt him with my Audrey Hepburnesque looks. It's tough being beautiful.

I found out that my roommate got engaged sometime between the last time I saw her and this past Sunday - a time frame of approximately 3 weeks. I guess they're planning on an August wedding. Good for them, except I think she may have forgotten in the kerfuffle that she still owes me a rent check. I can wait a few days. I am, after all, rich.

Well, I hope you all have been amused and entertained by my glorious use of irony scattered throughout this post.

Here we go again

I thought I'd post again because I'm bored and I just got up and don't want to face the harsh reality of getting dressed. It's a jungle out there, my friends.

In other news, I found out this weekend that I have been accepted to the University of Illinois! Yay, hurray! Anyway, I laughed giddily when I found out and then promptly burst into tears. I mean, I knew I was going to get in, but the reality of it is awesome. You know, it's something that I've been working towards for a while. It's a big step for me. Unfortunately, I dare not get too far ahead of myself because I've yet to finish out this semester as well as take a couple classes over the summer. So, it will be a while yet. Nevertheless, it's very exciting for me!

My cat, Dallas, has to be on a diet, 'cause when I took him to the vet, he said he needed to loose a few pounds. Dallas hates it. He feels so deprived. I know this because he told me.

I think that perhaps I will get dressed now since if I want a cup of coffee, I'm going to have to leave the premises because I am not equipped to make a satisfactory brew at this time. Hey, sometimes that's the only thing that gets me out of bed in the morning :) Just kidding!

An for an update on my classes - you know you want it, don't lie - I haven't been as busy as I assumed that I would be. I mean, I do feel like I'm running hither, thither, and yon, but as far as actual time spent doing course work, it's not that much. Peer tutoring is fun, and of course I love the extra money. Chemistry has been pretty easy, but then I went and got an 87 on the first exam, which is fine, but it kind of sucked. It was the multiple choice that killed me. Grrr. I got a 91 on my first Physics test, which is awesome considering that I didn't actually get a single right answer. Thought that was a little ironic, but hey, I'll take it! I have a linear algebra exam next week, and I'm not really sure what to expect there, so hopefully I'll do ok. Anyway, enough about that.

Well, I think I'm outta here.

Say hello to my little friend

As my good friend Janelle has recently informed me, I have not written on here in quite some time. What can I say, you get busy, forget to do things... ah well. In any case, here I am, writing in this second week of the first month of 2008. Goodness, when did that happen? Time really gets away from you sometimes. Anyway, let's see, what has happened since I last wrote...

Well, obviously the fall semester ended. I really had to study for these finals, but it paid off. I made A's in all my classes. My Calc III class was hard - I had to do quite well on the final to get that A, so I guess the studying paid off. I've sort of been twiddling my thumbs for the last month, just working some and reading a lot. School starts up tomorrow, however, so I'm sure my days of leisure will soon be forgotten. This semester I'm taking Physics 2, Differential Eqs., International Relations, and Chem 2. In a few days, I can put in my application for transfer to UIUC, so that will be awesome to have done. I've nothing left to do but keep my fingers crossed. There is no reason they won't accept me, but just not knowing for sure is a little nerve-wracking. I'm sure it will all work out however. Once I'm actually there, I'll feel generally a lot better about everything - more secure, I guess. Anyway, I've just a couple more classes to do over the summer - Physics 3 and some gen ed., if I want the AS from Parkland, which I figure I may as well get. I figured out that by the time I'm done at Parkland, I'll have 75 credits. That's pretty much a semester's worth of credits over the normal two years. Anyway, enough rambling about that subject.

What else... Not much that I can really think of. I'm afraid that my universe operates on a fairly small scale. Between class, work, and my cat, well - there's not much else. To be honest, I know that once school gets underway, I'll be fairly busy. I've gotten another job as a peer tutor at Parkland, so that should be fun. I'm looking forward to it - I enjoy helping people and such. Anyway, I think that's all I have, so... there you have it.

Whistle down the wind

I think I might go to the mall and spend money. Yay!

Why, of all names in the world that start with H, would you name the tropical storm "Humberto"? I mean, I don't have a problem with that name, but really...

Well, everything seems to be going fine. LESM is coming tomorrow to visit me for a very short time. I don't know that we'll do anything all that scintillating.

So this guy in my Bio class that seems cool and is hot works at Best Buy, where I used to work. He must have started just after I quit. There's really no point to that except that, I mean, of all the random people I see tonight, he's one of them.

I think that's all I've got. Sorry.

Hard to believe I'm still posting now and then

Most of my fellow bloggers who began blogs around the same time I did are dead and gone. In a figurative sense, that is. Anyway, I don't know, it amuses me to surprise people with a little memo now and then. I just started fall classes a couple of weeks ago. I'm taking physics, calc 3, intro to evolution, and archaeology. So far, everything seems to be going swimmingly. I've spent all weekend overdosing on Dexter, which, by the way, is a wonderful show. Tomorrow is Labor Day, only fitting, since I will, indeed, be laboring. That's fine - time and a half is better than laying about the house contemplating the sadness that is my life. What have I done since I last posted... well, I got A's in all my summer classes, yay for me. I went to California for a week for a good friends wedding, may they live in peace. Went out to West Virginia for my dad's sixtieth birthday party, which was quite fun. I obtained a roommate, which is working out quite well. Considering how badly such things can go, I actually feel as though I hit the jackpot. Amy and I get along very well. My cat says hello. He threw up rather randomly yesterday, but he appears to be no worse for the wear. Sometimes I wish I read more poetry. And philosophy. But I rather don't think I have the guts for it. Ah well, we can't all be eloquent. Most of us, if we write at all, simply meander about hoping to make a point once in a while. Well, I shan't speak for anyone else, but that's how I feel. Anyway, CSI: Miami starts in about five minutes, and I never miss a Sunday night episode if I can help it, despite the fact that they're all reruns. Until next time...

Poop

I have to say that my classes this summer are not really that fun. I don't know what's up with that, but there you have it. English is so not fun, and I have to write a 15 page paper for it. Ugh. I usually really like writing and all that, but when you've got someone looking over your shoulder for topic sentences and crap, it's really annoying. Math is okay, but pretty much half the semester is series, like infinite series and taylor series, and series are my least favorite thing in the world, but I should probably get better at them and learn to love them. My religion class (online) is going well I think, it's mildly fascinating. I don't know, I just hope I don't bring down my grade point average with these classes, so I'm attempting to still put in all the effort necessary. Blah blah blah.

That's about it from my corner of the world.

Check it out, it's the absentee blogger

Wow, you know you're a bad blogger when it becomes months between posts. Oh well.

I was outside mowing my lawn when my lawn mower just up and died. I called Nathan and he said maybe it was flooded, so I'm letting it sit. I really hope it starts again, it's pretty new. Anyway, my parents were here for the weekend and that was awesome. Today I'm just hanging out, since it's a holiday.

Let's see, since I last posted, spring classes eneded. Got all A's. I'm taking a squished speech class right now to get it out of the way, and I'll get an A in that. I've got three other classes starting in a couple of weeks. I'm sure I'll get A's in those as well :) Anyway... what else. Not much. I'm still in Champaign, I really like it here. I've now been gone from Whitestone 2 months and a few weeks. Sometimes it seems longer, other times shorter. Life marches on, even when you're not paying attention to its passing. I'm still in my house, just me and my cat. I'm still looking for a roomie, but I've not struck gold yet. I really, really need to, though.

Well, I'm going to go try my mower again. Blessings on it. Ciao.

Here I am!

Yeah, so once again, this will most likely be a short post. But oh well. Let's see, schools going fine. I have a cat. He's staring at me right now. He likes to stare, it's really funny. I was reading the other day and he was sitting on my lap and looked down and he was all hunched down and peering up at me from under my book, just waiting for me to look at him. Anyway, let's see what else... not much really.

I am so sorry

Sorry folks, I know it's been a day and an age (yeah, whatever that overused phrase is supposed to mean, anyway...) since I last wrote. If you'd like to catch up on what I've been doing, I've been blogging frequently on my MySpace page. Other than that, I've just been taking classes and working. That's about it. I haven't forgotten about you all, don't worry.

Happy New Year

I hope everyone is very excited about the new year. Hopefully it will bring good things to everyone. That would be awesome.

An update of sorts

I figured I'd better write something else just in case somebody missed me :) I've moved into my new house and am working on unpacking and decorating, which is kind of fun. Yesterday I unpacked all my books - I've been looking forward to doing that for years. I have so many books! Let's see, I'm spending Thanksgiving with my sister's husband's relatives, so that should be fine. On Friday, I work a total of 19 hours between my two jobs. Wow. I start at 3 am and, minus two hours, go straight until 12 am. Then back to work Satruday, another 14 hours. Crazy. I'm going to be thankful for Sunday! I think that might be it for now.

Hmm

You know, I could have sworn I posted right after my birthday, but maybe I only wrote and forgot to actually post it. Whatever.

Anyway, I'm moving into the house on the 16th of November - Yay! I spent a couple of hours setting up utilities etc this afternoon, which I've never done, so that was a learning experience. I just got home from work, and I have to be back at work in 7 hours. Yay. Um, Spanish is going fine, can't wait for it to be over so I don't have to think about that anymore. It's difficult to really care because I'm just taking it because I have to to get into university. I mean, I'm sure it will be useful to know, but I honestly don't really care. At least it's not too difficult.

I bought a Christmas CD tonight. Hehe. 'Tis the season, and all. Not much else going on. Thinking of going to the Cowboy Monkey on Sunday evening to see a band that a friend of mine knows. We'll see.

That's all, I guess.

This post is dedicated to me

...for my birthday... Yay for me and my birthday! I went out last night, that was fun. Had a good time.

Um, I actually did ok on that Spanish test I was talking about. I thought I was going to get like a 80 and I got a 91. Anyway...

That's all.

I wish...

I wish that the word "prosaic" meant something else. It actually means the opposite of what I think it should mean, but hey, no one asked me, I guess.

Every once in a great while I feel like I am fated to become a writer, but I'm just not patient enough. I can't stick with a story, do the research etc. I get bored with it and then want to move on. I don't have an eye for detail.

Yeah, so that came out of nowhere...

Um, let's see, what else... I have a spanish test tomorrow. I don't think I'm going to do very well. I've been doing about as little work as possible in that class, and I had to work all weekend so I haven't even studied for it. Considering the class is really above my level, not studying is not a good career decision, but I just can't bring myself to do it.

You know, it's funny... I would never consider myself a weak-willed person. Yeah... right. Anyway, as I was saying... But there are some things that I just cannot make myself do (or not do as the case may be.) I just don't want to do what I don't want to do. I guess the problem is that I'm not weak-willed about those things, rather I'm pitting myself against my will, and that's difficult because I am so strong-willed in general.

Whatever, gotta go.

Blah

I was going to attempt to write this post in Spanish, but I just can't make my brain work that hard right now.

I went and looked at a house this morning... it's very nice. It's kind of cookie-cutterish, in a subdivision, but that doesn't bother me. The lady said that there are a lot of PhD students in the area etc. It seems like it would be a nice place to live so I'll take the parents to go see it when they come out to visit me.

I have a birthday in liike, 2.5 weeks! Yay for me! I will be 22. That's hard to believe. When did I get that old? Not that that is old, but it seems like, especially in this town, there are an awful lot of people that are younger than me and I'm just used to being one of the younger people. I don't know if that makes sense, but whatever have you.

Well, I must get to class, hopefully I won't expire from the difficulty of it. It's a third done, so that's cool. Yay. That's it.

It's very late

I really should go to bed, but for some reason I haven't yet. It's not like I'm not tired, I just don't feel like having tomorrow come yet, although to be completely honest, it has already arrived and there's nothing I can do to discontinue its approach. Tomorrow I really need to do Spanish homework, mostly because it will be my last chance to do it before Wednesday's class as I'll be working from... well, anyway, no one really cares about that crap. Oops, my mom says I'm not allowed to say the bad crap word.

I'm really tired.

I found my nifty little cousin on MySpace tonight. David Alan Rhodes, drummer of a New Zealand band called Stylus. Haven't really listened to much of their stuff, but good for him anyway. Haven't seen all of them since well for ten years. Yeah, I'm not making much sense, or at the very least, something is amiss with my grammar.

I'm listening to Justin Timberlake really loudly on my iPod. Yay for me, I guess.

Yeah, so for a quick rundown of the details - life is fine, lots and lots of work, haven't really hit it off with anyone in my class except for a couple of older ladies. Paying off some of my bills from stuff from the wedding, which is really nice. Don't have to worry about that stuff anymore. I hope my Gap card payment went through on time. I'm a little worried about that. My birthday is a month from today. I will be 22. Yay for me.

Alright, that's it - I'm going to bed.

Guess I should write

Let's see, I've mostly been just working as is usual. I got sixty hours this week between my two jobs, plus my Spanish class started. I think the class is going to be okay, although I might have to work to catch up on some of the verb stuff. We'll see, though. I have the time, if I need it, as I'm not taking other classes or anything. I've been enjoying the US Open, yay for Maria Sharapova. She took it in two sets against Henin-Hardenne, 6-4 6-4, I think. I'm psyched about the men's finals tomorrow. Go, Andy Roddick! Right, anyway... I don't have anything to do tonight, although I kind of wish I did because I have tomorrow off, but oh well. I can entertain myself just as well... go home and watch Stargate Atlantis. I think that's it for now, anything comes up, I'll let you know.

Reflections from the verge

Yes, perhaps a bit like Anderson Cooper's book "Dispatches from the Edge"... Anyway, I'm leaving this afternoon. In a way, this week has gone by very slowly, and I'm happy for that, because it feels as though I've had more time than just a week here. God, I'll tell you one thing - I will always love this place. I'm sad to leave, yet looking around and thinking what it would be like if I was still here, I can still see the reasons why I left. I guess I just want to have it all, which is never how it works. You have to take the good with the bad most of the time. I want to be able to live my dreams of doing astronomy, yet I also want this connectedness to something bigger. And they are not mutually exclusive, but when you are away from this place, it's very, very easy to lose sight of just what the "bigger" thing is.

I'll tell you one thing though, you start to understand so many of the things we hear about from the pulpit but can never really grasp. Sometimes I have to make myself sit down and reflect on life and important things, because I hate that I can spend so much of my time just thinking about what time I have to leave to get to work and how can I sell more stuff and blah blah blah so mundane and unimportant in the grand scheme of things. I miss having the time and energy to focus on something more than that stuff. Reflection is a luxury I used to take for granted. Now it is often one that I can't afford. But then, there's a lot I can't afford right now, namely groceries :)

Anyway, I've had a great time and I hope it isn't too long before I can come back. I mean, I don't know what would next pull me up here, but there's got to be something. If not, I'll just come to visit sometime, and hopefully for longer. But for now, it's back to the grindstone...

An update, since I have a moment

Well, I'm still in Alaska for another, oh let's see... four days approximately. I'm having a really nice time, although it's difficult to wrap my mind around being here and thinking about going back to work after having been here. In many ways I don't to even think about leaving on Sunday, yet I'm also looking forward to seeing my fam and the kitties and such like. I'm most looking to pass the next couple of months so that I can really get back to what I want to be doing, which is not "biding my time," but actually accomplishing something. If nothing else, this is being a great recharge for me.

Last night I hung out with Nathan and that was a lot of fun, just kind of reminiscing and such, and talking about life.

You know, most people hear that I'm majoring in astronomy, and they're just a little puzzled - you can see it in their eyes. I can't wait to prove that I can actually do it and make it in "the real world" whatever that is.

That's it, I guess, for now

Here I am again...

...and boy is it ever hard to believe. I'm so excited to be here again! In a way nothing has changed, yet it seems as though everything has. I know I'm going to hate to go come next Sunday, but life goes on and there are bills to pay :) Bo, I'm sure you got my message, but just so you know, the phones are out here and I mayn't be able to call you again for a while, but I'm here and everything is fine. It's exciting to be a part of the whole wedding thing and be with Janelle for this last week. I guess I don't really have anything else to say, but that's the status report for now.

Weeeell

Today I'm not working at all so I'm enjoying the day off. It's my last day before I leave for my trip next Friday that I'm not working at all. So, I'm at my sister's house doing laundry and watching TV. Um, for those of you who read my last blog post, I did fine on the Spanish test. It was more difficult than I thought it would be but I also did better than I thought I would having finished it. I'm registered now for a Spanish 103 class. Hopefully it will be another way to meet some more people and such. People are starting to show up for school, as I guess it gets under way here in a couple of weeks. Lots of moving trucks around and such. Yeah, so... I'm really broke - no surprise there. I'm having to be really careful this month because I'm not working at all for 10 days, and while my expenses are lessened (no gas, food, etc.) I have to make sure I can pay my bills come the end of the month. It's going to be close, but oh well, what can I do? Anyway, that's it for now, I guess.

Hello, homies!

How is everyone out there? I hope everyone is well and all that stuff. I'm getting uber excited about going up to Alaska for 10 days, and I'm going to try not to worry about making my bills when I come home. Speaking of bills, rent it coming up, that will be fun...

I went running this morning with Bo, something we are making a bit of a habit of, and we got so rained on. Thunderstorms are expected throughout the day... I sound like a meteorologist. Anyway, I like thunderstorms and they will bring a little relief from the heat wave. It's been so incredibly hot. In a couple of hours I have to take my Spanish assessment test, and it's nerve wracking because I have to, have to, have to get into at least a 102 class so that I can transfer to the U of I in the spring. My transferring is contingent on two things - this test, and having 60 transferable credits. I mean, I'll still be going to school full time come this spring, I'd just like to be able to go straight into U of I as opposed to starting out at Parkland and then transferring yet again. Espero que hago bien en eso examen. I think that's right. Oh well if it isn't. Anyway, gotta run, wish me luck, etc.

Yet another long while

I know, I know...

So, tonight I am contemplating bill-paying. Yay! Fun times! But also yay for getting it done and out of hte way. So I'll send those out tomorrow in the post...

Tomorrow I can sleep in, which is also a yay thing. Got a lot of hours at BB this week therefore not a lot of sleeping in going on. So, yeah... I work tomorrow night and then Friday night I'm going out with a friend and his friends, I have no idea where or what, but oh well. Something to do at any rate. Not much else going on with me. I leave a month from yesterday for my trip! I'm so thrilled and excited and all that. I can't wait to see all my friends and not work for ten days. Of course, then I will be uber broke when I get back, but oh well. I'll just have to deal with that. But other than that I'm so excited.

I guess that's it for now... not much going on.

I've been most remiss, I know

I'm probably the worst blogger out there because I write so infrequently. Although, the reason this time is because I have been slightly enamored of my MySpace page recently, so I've been writing there some. Let's see, I've been working a lot, being broke a lot, reading a lot. That's about it. Watched a couple of good movies recently - A Prairie Home Companion, for all you Garrison Keillor fans out there, and Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang, for all you fond of Val Kilmer, of which I am most fond. Lot's of swearing in the second one there, but it's awfully funny.

Well, I have to go get ready for work. Keep in touch.

Shout out to Janelle and Dan

Congratulations to two of my favorite people!

I'm bored

Well, it's 12 am on a Saturday. And no I'm not going to sing the Billy Joel song. I just got off work and I'd like to do something, but I don't really know what. And there's not really anyone to do anything with anyway. Oh well.

Tomorrow I have off work entirely, so hopefully I can find some way to keep myself busy. Anybody want to hang out? Go see a movie or something? That would be fun. Give me a call if you want to. I'd love to hear from you. To whomever it is that I'm speaking. I mean, everyone who reads this blog is either thousands of miles away, or my sister. Not that I don't want to hang with you, Bo. Anyway, whatever.

Feeling the need to post...

...for some strange reason, at 1:40 am on a Saturday morning. I was tired, but I had to haul my laundry home and make my bed and drink my fresca and I just don't feel so tired. I know that if I went to bed right now I'd lay there with my brain going off on a thousand different tangents.

Let's see, what to write about. Not sure really. Often when I blog it's because I need to get something off my chest, but I just feel like blogging for no apparent reason right now. Um... I'm fine. You know it's funny because I was really feeling the lack of social life for a long while there, and now this week I haven't barely had the time to do all the things I wanted. I mean, I made time for them, but still. Monday and Tuesday nights I worked, Wednesday I went out with some friends from church, and then out to Tommy G's, and then Thursday night I went over to some different friends from church house, and then went to the Rosebowl, and then tonight, Kinnerly and I wandered around some walking trails, went out to eat and then I went with my sister and some friends to the Pig's Eye. All in all I've been fairly busy this week. Unfortunately, next week, I'm working almost 60 hours, which always makes it a bit tough, but at least I will make some money.

On a sadder note, I think I won't be able to go to Georgia at the end of this month. Sunday the 25th everyone has to work at Best Buy because of some important happening or another, so... I was really bummed out, but also a bit relieved because the honest truth is that it was going to be a real stretch to go, financially.

Currently listening to Cake, Never There, which I downloaded after hearing it the other night and remembering what a great song it was.

It's late, but...

I need to tell you the story before I forget it.

Not that I would.

Anyway, point is, I went to a music store to rent a cello maybe a week or two ago. The guy who helped me out was named Caleb, and he seemed like a really cool guy. So, I was like, man, he's cool. So today, I went back to the store to get a rock stop for my cello, thinking, "hey maybe I'll see that cool guy again." I did, sure enough, and confirmed that he seems a great guy. So I learned in the course of things that he was doing a gig at a bar up on Mattis, and before I gave myself time to think, I decided to go and check it out. The time was approximately 10:20 pm. The bar wasn't the type of place I might often frequent, but I got a drink and sure enough, there was Caleb, sans band for this evening. He took a break and we ended up sitting together and having a drink and talking which was great. He had to get back to his playing, so I enjoyed that until he finished close to 1 am. He then sat down again, and we talked until just after 2 am. Caleb is playing another gig tomorrow night at which we made plans to see each other, at least in passing. If nothing else, hopefully I have gained a friend.

And that was my excitement for the evening/morning.

Here's a new post

As opposed to, say, an old post. Anyway, I am currently writing this on my mother's computer and watching a strange ad on the television. I have to go to work this afternoon, which is a bit of a bummer because I'd rather hang with the parents, who are out visiting this weekend. I odn't really have much to say, so I guess I won't waste time saying nothing.

Oh well

I know I don't write that much anymore, and I'm just terribly sorry. Not that anyone reads this anymore to care... sniffle, sniffle. I don't currently have internet at my apartment, which probably inhibits such communications, but that will all change on Wednesday. Yes! So that's going to be cool. I was getting on a couple of times on an unguarded wireless network from some surrounding apartment, but they have since passworded it, so oh well.

Let's see... work is fine. Best Buy in the mornings and Barnes and Noble in the evenings. I'm making ends meet... sort of. I mean, I've just added a car insurance payment, so that's another thing to put in my budget. I think I got a pretty good deal for the coverage I'm getting and the fact that I had an accident just last December. So that's nice to have that taken care of, now being officially on my own policy as opposed to piggybacking with my parents. Let's see, sometimes I work 13 hour days, which is only difficult because both jobs are retail, and that's hard being on one's feet that long in a given day. I can't complain, however, because, given that I do work such long days, I also still manage to get whole days off, as opposed to my whole week being littered with little shifts. Anyway, the apartment is fine. Those of you who saw my pictures on Ringo will know that the whole thing was photographed in three pics. It's nice, though, to have my own place. I slept over at my sister's house last night because my poor car is in the shop getting it's transmission rebuilt/replaced. Poor thing. Poor me.

My parents are coming out this week. Actually, my mom is coming tomorrow night and my dad, this weekend. I'm so excited. It will be a nice change of pace and such. Hopefully we can do some fun stuff.

The next exciting thing on my agenda will be Janelle's wedding, whenever that happens to be. I've been excited about that since, well, forever it seems. I wish I could get off for two weeks. Well, I probably could get off for two weeks, but I don't think I could handle two weeks without paychecks. Bummer how that works these days. I hate having to be financially responsible.

As far as what's going through my head these days... well, I'm making it. I miss Whitestone a whole heck of a lot these days. Probably because I don't really have much else to occupy my thoughts. Just my diet and missing Alaska. I swore I was going to get through this, and so far I'm making it. It helps that the weeks just seem to melt by. I can't believe it's almost June. June, folks! It feels like just a few weeks ago I was thinking that it was crazy that it was April already. Cripes!

Speaking of diet, yes folks, you all would be proud. I have officially lost 6 lbs so far. One part of me wants to be really skeptical about it, but hey, 6 lbs are 6 lbs. Honestly! Maybe I can surprise everyone by being skinny when I come up for the wedding. We'll see, hey?

I think that this is by far long enough. Once again, drop me a line or give me a call or just let me know you all are still alive.

I know, I know...

It's just been forever since I've written anything, and to my faithful followers, I'm terribly sorry. Let's see, so I've got the two jobs, and I just moved into my apartment yesterday. Was late for work today because I didn't know I was supposed to work today, and that was just plain poopy. I got contacts a little bit ago, and I'm still waiting to decide if they are right for me... They're a real pain to get in my eyeballs. Anyway, please, please leave comments or even better, write me emails. I miss everyone terribly.

The new job

It's amazing, really, how little logic does in the face of irrational fear. I mean, what I dislike the most about starting a new job is the fear that I will look stupid and that lost feeling, kind of like being out to sea. I mean, come on, Boj, it's four hours, how much damage is that going to do to your ego? Not much, probably. Before I know it, I'll be making new friends and feeling very comfortable, just like I do now and Barnes and Noble. And that took a couple of weeks, but it's totally fine now. And the honest truth is that two weeks will fly by, and I'll feel comfortable, no worries and all that. It's just these first few days that I abhor. But it's not even a full shift - just four measley hours! Honestly, I don't know what I'm so worried about. I'm not really worried, I just want to get it over with - that awkwardness. Ugh. But that really doesn't make me look forward to it any more than I do. Oh well. Within 24 hours, I'll be done my first day of working both jobs. That's nothing! No problems, right? Right...

Feeling a little homesick

The thing about trying to describe the pull to Whitestone to someone who really has no grasp on what it's like is that there are just some things that are completely indescribable. It's not the pull of friends, it's not the comfort of familiarity, it's not the security. Nor is it not those things. But there's an underlying, intangible force that draws me, that still has me, in moments unaware, calling it home. There's not really a way to portray in words what that is. How can I describe it? I cannot. It's what pulls at my heart when I listen to the beautiful music, and what used to frustrate me when I just wanted to pull the covers over my head and make it all go away. I know there are those of you out there who know exactly what I'm talking about. It's supernatural... almost foreign, yet a feeling I can't get out of my head. That's what causes the hole in my heart when I think of Whitestone. It transcends the drudgery in the worst times and makes the word "love" almost obsolete in its enormity. I only hope that someday, that force will be mine once again.

I just finished...

...watching Rent. It's just over 2 hours long, and I think I've been crying for about an hour. That is one heck of a moving film.

Well, well

I know it's been absolutely forever since I've posted here. Abonimable, is it not? I suspected as much myself, but alas, what was to be done? Anyway, I've been working at Barnes and Noble for coming up on a month. Hard to believe it's been that long already. I mean, I'm beginning to feel very comfortable there, which is great, considering how new jobs can be sometimes. It gets a little tedious at times, you know, but I'm just glad for the job. Speaking of which, I should go get my paycheck... Fridays have become my favorite days.

What else... not a whole lot is happening besides that. I'm apartment-searching. Just the beginnings of it right now because I need to save up enough to be able to pay the security deposit as well as first month's rent, Right now I'm eyeing some efficiencies, which, for those of you who don't know, is basically an apartment without a living room. Or, I should say, the living room and bedroom are all in one. Anyway, they tend to be cheaper, obviously, than a normal 1BR apartment, which is always good, and it's not like I have living room furniture anyway, so why bother? Actually, I was looking at this floor plan for the cutest little loft apartment, but the rent is like $120 more than I was hoping to spend on rent. Of course, that's to be expected. If it wasn't cute, it wouldn't cost that much. We'll see, though. I got all excited about an efficieny that was really cheap, and I went and looked at it, and wouldn't you know, there's a good reason it's that cheap. It was just the grossest place ever.

Well, if there is anyone out there who still reads this, I love you all and keep in touch.

My life is a science fiction flick

Sometimes it's scary to look at our society and realize just how close we are to some of those well-known novels. You know the ones I'm talking about - Brave New World, 1984, Animal Farm, The Giver. Okay, well, more similar to some than others, but you know what I mean. All that swiping of cards and filing of information. Don't get me wrong - I'm not some conspiracy theorist. I can't help but wonder sometimes, though, where it's all heading.

I'm too tired to ruminate further on this subject.

Post I must

So I think my job is going alright. You know, it's going to take a little getting used to because having a job is really like nothing I've ever experienced much before. Working at Whitestone is not even comparable, as I'm sure most know. But I think it will be okay.

Speaking of Whitestone... You know, it's hard to believe that I might never live there again. I don't know, it's just difficult to comprehend. It's like, looking back I realize how I really was an integral part of the community, and now it's almost like a dream. Call that a cliche if you like and you'd probably be right, but nevertheless... I don't know, maybe I'm just suffering from disconnectedness. I do want to go to the April convention in Georgia, but we'll have to see if I can get the money. I hope I can. I'd love to see people. Now I just have to figure out how to find a place to stay there and such. Ah well, it's a while off now.

I really, really, really, really hope I come into a large windfall. I would so love to go to Cornell University - it would be such a miracle. Of course, I have to get accepted, and I'm not sure I have a realistic view of the likelihood of that. And if I do get in, I have to pay for it. That's the clincher. I hope, I really do. I'm thinking that when I do go back to school, here or there, I'm going to double major in astronomy and chemistry. I mean, I like chemistry, it's a slightly more practicle degree, and I've done a bunch already. I really do miss school. I don't particularly like languishing about being lazy, but I have to admit I'm not a fan of going to work, predictable as it is. I like school. Anyway, enough of that.

Well, that's all, I think. I've already waxed more eloquent than I recently have, and I think my readers have outgrown my blog, so this is mostly for me anyway. A shout out to all cool people everywhere.

Hohoho and a bottle of amarula

I finally got a job. At Barnes and Noble. Part-time. Starting on Monday. Should be good.

On a different note, the US has now broken their record for the amount of medals won at a non-US Winter Olympics. Yay.

Fun times

Did I just say "fun"? That's not what I meant. Anyway, so the search for a job continues. I keep thinking that someone has to hire me, maybe just a few more days, and a few days pass, and no one has hired me. Oh well. As Carrie Underwood would say, I'm running low on "faith and gasoline." Literally. Anyway...

On Valentine's Day, I went out to eat with like, twelve girls and I think there may have been two guys. They're from the church I've been going to for the past few weeks. It was alright, although I don't really like hanging with a bunch of girls. Gets kinda boring. Then we went over to somebody's house and converged with some more guys and had fondue. My stomach was actually stretched to the max, but others ate it. I met some nice people there, as well. We sang some. It was fun. So that's been my one true social outting for months.

Well, I think I'm going to go to bed so that I can get up tomorrow and contemplate my meaningless existence some more.

One year ago

I realized that I just past the one year mark for this blog - yeah, sometime in the last month. Pretty crazy, hey? This is my 203rd blog post. Who woulda thunk it?

Anyway, this post is, yet again, overdue. Let's see, may parents are coming into town for a visit tomorrow. My mom says she wants to shoot some pool, after I told her how much fun Nathan and I had doing it last weekend. It's her birthday on Saturday, so we might come up with something fun to do. As for a job, I've had a couple of interviews, so I keep thinking that something has to pan out. I have another interview tomorrow at that Japanese restaurant I was telling you about last post, so we'll see how that goes.

Well, that's all for now folks.

Well, this post is certainly long overdue

I think I have set the record for the longest time between posts, and for no apparent reason, too. Oh well.

Well, since my last post I quit my job. It was out of control silly. Anyway, I had an interview for a part-time job at Barnes and Noble, and I'm waiting to hear from them, and I also applied for a waitressing job and KoFusion, a nifty Japanese restaurant downtown. At least, I think it's Japanese. I have no idea - I hate Oriental food. Why did I apply, you may ask. Well, mostly because they had an ad in the paper saying they were hiring, and these days that's all it takes for me.

I spent almost all day working on my application to Cornell. Let me tell you, it's quite the process. I think I managed to convince Eran Eads that I was entirely serious about auditioning for American Idol. Now that would be funny. I didn't know he was going to take me seriously. Hey, maybe I'll surprise you all someday, and me, too. After all, I am taking voice lessons. Speaking of which, what are some good songs from musicals, preferably lesser known ones? I need some ideas, and I'm really only familiar with mainstream ones like all the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Les Miserables, which have been vetoed due to overkill by my voice teacher. That is, my teacher says they have been overdone in general, not that she killed the musicals single-handedly. Anyway...

So, that's me. Loved the pics, Janelle.

I finally got a job

Yeah, this last Thursday. So, I've been working for three days, going on four. I'm working at Ducky's Bridal and Formal wear. You'd be surprised how rigorous it is. By the end of the day, I feel like my feet are just going to up and die all on their own. Basically I spend all day greeting customers, helping girls find prom dresses, organizing things, doing tux measurements and son on. And we only get half an hour for lunch. I have to admit that it's taking me a bit to get used to it. That's the nature of a full-time job. I just feel like it's taking up my whole life is working, and then when I get home I'm just languishing on the couch. Not that I have anything else to be doing - I don't have any people to hang out with. I'm just used to, you know, being in school where I'm doing something different every hour, and being fairly in charge of my own time. Well, it's only for a year, so that's good, and then back to school so I can do what I used to do.

My sister and Nathan have finished drywalling and mudding and priming my room downstairs. Yay! Now it's just the painting and the carpet, and minor other things, and I can have a room! And start paying rent! Argh. Well, that's all for now.

A day and an age

Sorry, I know it's been forever. I still don't have a job, although I've applied at a lot of places. Kinda depressing, but oh well. They just don't know what they're missing, righ? Anyway...

I went to a Curves today, and I get a week free, so we'll see if I feel like that does anything for me. It's kind of expensive, but if it works, it would be worth it. I also got information on violin lessons. We'll see - a bit expensive for me right now as I have to pay for a semester at a time. However, I do think I am going to start voice lessons, just for the fun of it. If I don't have the talent for it, then I won't have spent a lot of money because it's by class, but if I do, who knows what could happen?

I sold my old iBook. Someone paid $300 for it. I have to admit I was surprised, but I warned in the auction that there's no telling exactly what's wrong with it so...

My new favorite song is Like We Never Loved At All, by Faith Hill.

Back in Illinois

Yeah, so I'm getting ready to once again search for a job. We'll see how it goes. Um, so we're drywalling downstairs. That's it.

What an Orange Bowl

Yup, five hours folks. No wonder both teams were making errant field goals right and left. It went until 1 AM. It was crazy. Yay, Penn State. Meanwhile I was watching the amazing reports that 12 miners were found alive, only to hear on the radio this morning that only one was. It's heartwrenching. What's sad is that while everyone is looking for someone to blame, it seems like there really isn't anyone to blame. Very sad.

Now, talk about a football game. Go, Texas Longhorns!!!!! We love the Rose Bowl.

Some introspection

Here I sit, 10:30 pm. I'm half-heartedly watching ER on TV, drinking Mike's Hard Lime (good to be 21, eh?) Anyway...

Um, I was going to introspect, but I forgot what I was going to say.

I think I need my other blog.

Another post

Sorry, a bit of a dirth for interesting titles. Well, let's see... Christmas at my aunt's was fun. Saw Sue Sampsen there and other such people. It was relaxing. Now I'm back at my parents house in WV. My mother started having problems with her leg and she couldn't walk or stand or even sit. So I've been helping her manage. Last night I decided she needed to at least have someone look it but there was no way I could get her down the stairs and into the car and so on. So, we called the hospital and they sent an ambulance for her. Yeah, that was a first for me. I got to ride shotgun. We were there for quite some time. I mean, my dad met us there. I was there for about 4 hours, but then I came home and went to bed. Mom and Dad came home later. Apparently it's sciatic nerve problems and there's not really anything that can be done but to bear through it. Well, that's all for now.

Here in North Carolina

Well, I had to take the bus to Asheville, NC from Champaign because I wrecked my car. It was okay. Seemed kinda the ghetto way to travel, but hey, it was alright. Anyway, yesterday we went to eat on the Biltmore Estate. 'Twas very nice. Then we toured around the house. Supposedly it's the biggest house in the United States. Needless to say, it was very big. Very lavish. Kinda reminded me of what you might think of when you read a book set in the early 18th century, you know, like a lord's house or something. Very cool. Today we went back to the estate and toured around the grounds. Was also very nice. Yeah, so tomorrow, it's off to my Aunt Barbara's house where we will spend Christmas. It should be good. So that's all for now.

By the way, to all who asked, I am not damaged from the car wreck. My back was very stiff the first day after, but other than that I am fine. Could have been a lot worse. Fun fact: The guy who crashed into me was hauled away in handcuffs. I asked the cop why, and he said that there was a warrant out for his arrest. He said I should feel good for helping to take a wanted man off the streets, and I was like, yeah, too bad in doesn't pay for the car repairs.

So, now that's all.

News Flash

Guess what? I crashed my car yesterday. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I did. Got crashed into, I should say. Wanna see?



Now I have to deal with insurance crap. I can't believe it.

I guess I should post...

Yeah, sorry, not much introspection going on right now, so the blog is not that interesting. Um, I now have a cell phone, a car, um, working on the whole job thing. Making scarves for family, doing other Christmas presents. I'm driving back to WV in about 5 days, I think. I don't know what else to say. I don't miss Ireland. I'm happy where I am.

Here's a blast from the past: Cirque Du Soleil's Varekai is currently playing on Bravo. Brings back old times.

Just so you know

Well to my few faithful readers, I just wanted to let you know that I have arrived safely in Illinois. Drove about 8.5 hours today - wasn't too bad. Little bit of snow, but nothing like the other night. Anyway, my Bo and I are off to get a cell phone for me.

"We'd all be in trouble if God had an hoff day." ~ Horace Wilson

The most harrowing two hours ever

Well, I went to see Polkie in Philly, and that was cool. We went shopping in Lancaster, which is Amish country. I saw buggies!!!

Anyway, driving home was fine for the first four hours, and I was forty minutes from home when I hit the snowstorm. Oh, it was awful. It took me about two more hours to get home, and I couldn't see a thing. I thought I was not going to make it home. 30 mph on the interstate. It was just terrible. But I made it. Hope I never have to do that again.

Back in the US of A

Well, what can I say that it's good to be home. I was sad to go, but a little more excited to be back. Today I went and signed the papers for my car! And then I drove it all around! Yay! What a cool thing. Tomorrow I'm up to Philadelphia to see Polk. Yay! I told her she could drive. We will probably get desperately lost but oh well. I will be going to church with her tomorrow night, so I will meet all the people I've been hearing about. Anyway, not much else to say. Bought some wool to knit scarves for Mom and Aunt Barbara. Mom's is going to be way cool. Anyway, flights were uneventful, blah blah blah. All is well.

For the sake of a new post

I just want to say for the record that I do not think that it is lazy to take one day - just one day - like, say in a month, to sleep in.

Anyway, I'm leaving the day after the day after tomorrow. I'm looking forward to being home. Yay.

I've been finding all sorts of wonderful people through Ringo. Very interesting.

That's all.

I need an attitude adjustment

Yes, folks, I do. I've been in rare form since Friday, really. People are just getting on my nerves and I can't seem to stop getting irritated. Ah well. I guess it happens. Argh.

Anyway, that's it.

Another one bites the dust

Sounds rather distasteful, if you ask me.

Tonight I had dinner with Jon and Sarah and the guests, being Janet Meyers, Yvonne Somebody, Karen Deardorff, and Sander and Linda Vander Leek, the last two from Holland. It was scrumptious, of course. I really need to get Sarah's Baileys chocolate mousse recipe before I leave. I made cheesecake this afternoon, and I think it turned out ok, although we won't really know until tomorrow when we eat it. Yum.

More interesting, supposed recent research shows that Einstein's cosmological constant, which he retracted from his thoeries, saying it was his biggest blunder, may actually apply to the dark energy that keeps our universe constantly expanding. So far, calculations have been accurate within 10%. Keep it coming, lads.

I owe my parents $59.23 for ebooks. I will admit to overspending on the ebook front. It keeps me sane, having something read. I would go crazy if I didn't. And since I am an extremely fast reader, I can easily read one or two books a day, therefore I have overspent. I vow to reform. You see, it's very difficult living overseas where they don't have the books that I like, and I don't go into town very often, so I end up putting stuff on the credit card. However, when I get back to the States, I will sign up for a library card, and that will be better. Sorry, Dad, I'll pay you back.

On a similar yet different subject, I know that this next experience is going to be completely different from anything I've ever ventured. I also know that there are worries from several parties that I will sink, rather than swim. I guess living overseas has kept me a little off kilter as far as reality is concerned. Believe me, I'll be just as glad as some to get back to familiar territory. I'll also be glad because for the first time in my life, my finances will be completely in my control. For those of you who don't know how I've lived, that may sound a little strange coming from someone my age, but honestly, my entire life I have been dependent on someone else for money and all that. You guys have no idea how good it is going to feel to know that I am in control (as much as one is ever in control) of the way things go, especially with my money. I know that there are doubts as to my abilities to keep all things in moderation, and that's fine. I don't have anything to prove to anyone but myself. Either I'll make it or I won't. I believe that I will, but only time will tell. Anyway...

Well, I guess that's enough for one post. Comment forth.

This is me being reflective

Well, I've learned about some interesting things in the last couple of days, and here they are:

Rastafarianism is a religion that came into being in the 1930s after Ras Tafar (the Lion of Judah) was crowned king of, um, Ethiopia, I think. The main idea is that Africans everywhere will escape opression if they all return to Mother Africa, and they have special colored hats and don't eat pork, shellfish, coffee, tea, or salt.

Scientology is also a religion, based on the idea of somebody Hubble. The basic tenets are that we all go through life with little unresolved traumas, pre- or post-natal, and if we never get them resolved they seep into our lives and make us off-kilter. These little traumas are called epigrams, or something like that. Anyway, supposedly we are all immortal beings called um, Thetans, and we've lost our way and forgotten what we were, so we go through reincarnation forever, gathering these little traumas. If we ever can truly rid ourselves of them, and get "clear," then we will be um, like operational Thetans, or something like that, with quasi-super powers. Right.

The Carpathian mountains are in Romania.

There you have it, the three interesting things I have learned recently.

As to other reflections, well, I don't know. Convention is, of course, over and most people have left. I, too, am leaving in 12 days. Wow, so soon. I am giving a dinner for a bunch of people on Sunday, and we're going to have stuffed chicken and cheesecake. Yay! I am teaching chemistry on Thursday, and we're just going to do some basic and cool stuff. Anyway, that's all for now.

Half-way post

Well, convention is halfway finished, so that's nice. It's been enjoyable, but honestly, I'll be glad when it's over. WE'VE BEEN INVADED!!!!! Nah, it's not that bad. It's nice to see people. Anyway, I was having a quiet night at home until everyone came home about ten minutes ago, and now it's all loud. I'll just retreat to my room again, I guess. Anyway... I wish I had more to say because I know you all don't get a kick out of reading these short boring posts. Oh well. Sayonara.

Just a note

Lots of people are here that I know, it's super cool. Love seeing people. Convention starts tomorrow. I'm excited. I now officially have a car. Almost. Anyway, gotta go - must call Yanelly!!!! Love you all. Beth, are you still out there? Polkie, we must talk specifics about meeting in Philly.

What I dislike about Christian science books

It seems like most of them are just rather cheesy. For one, you rarely see one that's written on a more technical level than that of a high schooler. Secondly, I don't know, they're so right-wing. I mean, when I think about, say, the beginnings for the universe, or the development of life on earth, who is to say that God didn't use evolution or the big bang. I guess I just don't think that belief in well-known scientific theory is mutually exculsive to believing in God. Personally, I'm inclined to believe that the story of creation at the beginning of Genesis is not all that meets the eye. God often speaks in pictures or types, why not creation? I mean, it seems likely. Besides, who wrote Genesis? Moses. Was Moses there? I don't think so! Now, that's not to say that God couldn't have revealed it all to him, but it seems more on par with God's nature to keep things hidden until we need to know them. Therefore, it only stands to reason that God would enjoy keeping how he made the universe a mystery. I make no claims to know what happened, but that doesn't mean that there's no reason to search it out. Somewhere in the Bible it says that it's the glory of God to conceal a matter and the honor of kings to search it out. Seems to me that the origin of the universe is a prime example of this. Christian science books just explain it all away, with no leeway for things God has not yet reavealed to us. Rather pompous, if you ask me. Just when you think you know everything, God comes and blows you out of the water, so watch out.

Thanks, I just had to get that out. That's all.

Contemplating a car

Yeah, so there's Kia that is at a used car place down from my parents. It's pretty nice. I mean, it's an ugly color, but I'm not being picky. I mean, it's just like a kind of dark tannish silver. Anyway, that's fine.

This blog post if for my sister because she wants me to write even if I have nothing to say. Play practice went well tonight. It'll be funny if only through the roughness of it. I want more books but have run out of money to pay for them. Oh well. Maybe I'll treat myself to just another couple. Anyway, I'm outta here.

From me to you

Ugh, gross coffee. Instant coffee with milk. How sick is that?

Goodness, the callouses on my fingers are getting in my way. Oh well.

I really need to work out, it would be very good for me to do that. I think I might be gaining weight. God forbid! I hate that. Too much stuff to eat around here. Anyway, I'll deal with that sometime.

I don't really have anything else to say, but I just wanted to put in a good word for myself. Can't wait until the next Harry Potter movie comes out. Or the movie they're making from the book Eragon. Especially X-Men 3. I love the x-men. My all time favorites. Anyway, gotta go.

Once again, a long time

I know, I know, I'm terrible. What can I say? Tomorrow I'm meant to be teaching the little mongrels some speech stuff, but what can one really do with 40 minutes? Oh, I don't know. I figure we'll do some basic outlining, some impromptu, and then maybe a little debate. I miss coaching speech sometimes. Ah well, life moves on, so they say.

I've found a new author that I really like. She's kinda, let's see, paranormal and romantic? I don't know. Good entertainment, definitely has me hooked. What will happen next, no one knows.

Anyway, it's only, um, 28 days until I leave. Wasn't that a movie about rabid monkeys or something? Yes, I rather think it was, although definitely more than rabid. So, that should be good. I'm nervous about it, but whatever.

Well, nothing else to say.

Thoughts

It's amazing how you can go hrough life taking things for granted.

(Oooh, Astor Piazzola! Love him!)

Anyway, I have perfect teeth - allways get a clean bill of health at the dentist. I have no cavities, never needed braces. and believe me, it's most certainly not because I had good dental hygiene as a child - quite the opposite, as my mother would tell you. Yet here I am, taking my teeth for granted constantly.

I'm coming up on ten years of having diabetes. I have quite the less-than-perfect track record of being disciplined about what I eat. They way that if you're not careful, complications from poor control can start showing up after five years. Yet here I am, no problems in sight. How blessed am I? Truly, I never want to take that for granted. God help me to stop tempting fate on that score!

Well, as I said yesterday, I'm off in about a month. My only regret is that the minute I step off that plane in Pittsburgh, my dream world ends. This past year has been just that - almost a dream. But, when I get back to the States, I've got to hit the ground running. Car, registration, insurance, job, move, so on and so forth. I'l have to face the fact that I'm broke :( God forbid! I'm not saying I won't be having fun, it's just that then comes reality.

Ha! Bring it on! Do your worst!

Here's something interesting via my sister:


You are a Minister. Technically, you got them ALL
RIGHT!!! I applaude you! I furnished some very
hard questions there! Congratulations! Your
mastery of the Bible is quite impressive - you
are truly Bible-versed! God Bless!


How Bible-versed are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Another quickie...

...come on you guys, you know what I mean!

Anyway, I'm just about to go out with Sim. We're going to go get some coffee. Yeah.

On another, and perhaps more sober note, I bought my plane ticket back to the States yesterday. I bought it and then was struck by panic, wondering if I'd done the right thing, but hey, it's done now, and don't worry, I don't really regret it. The date of departure is December 5. How scary is that. Anyway, more on that perhaps later.

(It's very difficult to write a blog post when you've got someone looking over your shoulder reading what you're writing. Forgive me, not my shoulder, more kind of off to the corner.)

Anyway, gotta go get that coffee. Love you all.

Just a reminder that I'm still alive

Just in case you all thought I'd disappeared off the face of the earth, well, I haven't. Actually, for some reason, Safari keeps quitting everytime I sign into blogger, so I'm using someone else's computer. Anyway, everything is fine and blah blah blah. That's it.

Weeelll

I am dowloading an ebook and stuffing my face with Cadbury's chocolate! MWAHAHAHA!

And, my mom sent me mac and cheese and hot chocolate! MWAHAHAHAH!

And a WVU hat! MWAHAHAHA!

And I'm wearing it! MWAHAHAHA!

And last night I had surprise cheesecake with six candles on it! MWAHAHAHA!

And I had a surprise party that truly was a surprise! MWAHAHAHAHA!

Go Google - free the books, they want to be free! MWAHAHAHAHA!

Happy Birthday to me!

This is going to be quick, but today I turned 21. Just thought you'd like to know that.

Miserable

I'm cold and there's the beginnings of a hole in my favorite sweatshirt and my parents have to get rid of the kitty. How sad is that?

On a happier note, tomorrow is my birthday and the Giles get back. Yay.

Of course, that means I have to talk to Andrew about my plans and I don't know if I'm particularly excited about that. I have now been here three weeks, although it feels like 3 months. It really does. Oh well.

Janelle and me being strange

Janelle and me being strange, originally uploaded by Boj.

I couldn't help but post this, even though it's from a few weeks ago. Hehehe.

All alone

That is what I am this evening. Belen has gone to Drogheda, or however you spell it, Moly has taken her, Sim isn't staying at he chalet right now, the Giles are gone. It's just me and my computer. So, I stages a heist on Moly's tea stash and ordered a couple of ebooks. Argh.

I mean, I know all about finding a hobby or whatever, but honestly, I don't like living in seclusion. I mean, Nora said she was going to come up and I assumed Simeon was here and blah blah blah. But alas, I am all along.

So cold, all alone.

Sandra Wilson came up to me today

It really was quite amazing. We just got to talking there in the middle of the road. She was telling me all about how she and her husband Horace had been praying for me. Then she told me all about how she and Horace got together, about her first marriage, and how he was a gift from God to her, although it took her years to see that. But she said a lot of good things. God gives you desires and dreams, and not just so he can see if you will give them up, but because he actually has something in them for you. How if you thank God for where you are and what you're experiencing, even if you don't feel like it, it will be worth it. I guess why it meant so much to me is that I've been trying to pray about whether I should leave come December. In all honesty, however, I haven't really wanted to know what God wants - I just want to do what I want to do. So I've been praying - God, I don't really want what you want, but I want you to know that and know that I know that's not really right. I don't know, but I see it as a sign for something. I don't necessarily know what, but there you have it.

Well, I really should do something with this time I have to do some stuff like electronics.

Are you ready for this one?

Okay, this is my new revelation for today:

I think I would like to have a boyfriend. I know, I know, I've said it before, but heck, I'm just in one of those moods. Too bad there are next to no options here for me. Well, maybe sometime, someday. I mean, I always seem to half-like these guys that I either don't know that well so I end up feeling really awkward around them, or else they're not very smart and can't enjoy an even halfway intelligent conversation. It's dumb. Anyway, someday my prince will come... tra la la.

I was playing my violin in church this morning and Michael Bailey decided I needed my own mic, which really irritated me because he comes up and shoves it right in front of me. The stupid thing was that I wasn't playing very loudly for a reason. No, I tell a lie, two reasons. For one, I didn't know the stupid song (and yes, it was a stupid song) and on top of that, Claire and Nora decided to play in E! Why E? I hate playing in E. Oh well. It's fine, because I figure, if the recording is terrible, it's Michael's fault, not mine.

I'm really delaying going to pick spinach for a salad tonight. I'd just rather curl up on my bed and read. Oops, forgot, I've finished all the interesting books I have. This is what I read this week - Ender's Shadow, Shadow Puppets, The Plain Truth, Another View, and something else that I can't remember. I just go through them too quickly. And nobody interesting is online right now. Oh well. Guess that means I have to go pick spinach.

Oh, by the way, I'm knitting a scarf. It's the ugliest thing you ever did see, but it's fine, it's still a recognizable scarf. Just the colors and the yarn are kind of nasty. It's really just for practice. That's my exciting thing for today.

Since it's been a while

I'm feeling pretty good right now. I've been playing Mozart's Turkish Rondo and I've finally figured out some stupid little grace notes that were driving me crazy. That made me happy. On the other hand, my violin playing was uninspired today. Ah well, it happens. Anyway, today has been a very relaxed day, so it's very nice. Tonight I'm eating dinner with Daphna and Cathy Middleton, Moly and Simeon. I think it will be an enjoyable experience. So, ho ho ho.

I'm sorry I don't have more to say right now. I'm excited about the future. We'll see what happens.

A day in the life of me

Since Alicia asked so nicely, at the risk of boring you all, I will give you a day in my life. What shall I pick? Monday, Wednesday? Perhaps Friday? Well, how about we randomly pick Wednesday.

I get up at 8 AM. There is actually a little devotional get together thing at 7:45 for those who are so inclined and it lasts half an hour, but I'm afraid I don't usually get out of bed for that. Anyway, people usually converge on the kitchen after that for breakfast. Everyone pretty much gets their own - cereal, toast - it's a pretty quick affair. About 15 minutes. Work starts officially at 8:30. On Wednesdays, I work all morning in the garden with Sarah. This morning we were clearing out nasty plants, weeding, and cultivating the many beds around here. It was wet and a little chilly. At 9:50, we have "drinks." The kitchen puts on a pot a tea and everyone again gathers together for about fifteen to twenty minutes just for a respite. For me, it's then back out to the garden. For the last bit of the morning we were cleaning a greenhouse so as to stop algae growth. I go home about 12:10 PM to get changed for lunch. Lunch is at 12:30, a sort of buffet style affair, and fairly informal. Everyone does dishes in the kitchen. We usually have about 20 minutes to do whatever after that - check email, play the piano, in my case. At 1:30, the gears start grinding again. Wednesday afternoons I have time alloted to studying as I am doing some self-guided courses in electronics and computer programming as well as doing some calculus review. 3:30 brings drinks again, until about 3:35. After that, I work in the Microlit office, or wherever I can find some workspace, trying to see the Little Doctor data logger. Work ends at five, and dinner is at 6 PM. Dinner is more put together, with a bit of a chart for where people will sit. Again dishes, and then Wednesday evenings are free. I usually play the piano, the violin, or get online to chat or blog. I usually go to bed around 10:30 or 11 PM. And that's it. Some days are variations on the theme, but you get the general idea.

I hope that satisfies your curiosity, dear. I think you'd like it.

On another note, the house is empty tonight. People here, there and everywhere. Oh well, I hope someone is online later. Love you all, keep in touch.

I feel as though I should comment

Well, with all the turmoil going on in what was until recently my home, I feel as though I should at least attempt to say something.

I was really sad when I learned the Tom Blohm had died. He was such fun to live with. I remember we'd cajole him into playing cribbage with us, Janelle and I would. He was always very competitive about it, begrudging us every win. He was a very encouraging person to be around. I loved him a lot, and even though I hadn't seen him in a few months, I'll still miss him.

Amazing about the Diases, really. Talk about an answer to prayer.

And of course the dear Ekstrom family. I don't really know all the circumstances surrounding them leaving. I know they'll be missed. Wow. What else can you say to something like that? They looked out for me the first year that I was there at Whitestone, and I really got to love them. Wasn't so close to them in later years, but still... And of course, Cara used to be one of my best friends. I wish them well, I guess.

I think that's all I have to say about that. Sayonara.

Little Doctoring

Hey, is anyone out there interested in an inexpensive and small data logger? Most data loggers you'll find can cost hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, and this small logger is available from Microlite Electronics for €79.99 + VAT including software and necessary cables. As the new sales rep, I'd really like to make some sales. So if anyone is interested, let me know. Just leave a comment here. It's the neatest little thing and you can do all sorts of things with it. Look at the website for the Little Doctor. Try it, you'll like it.

I just had to put that in here. Hey, you never know. I would buy it, if I was still in school. Maybe next year. Anyway, I'm just working on Little Doctor stuff right now. Unfortunately, the computer to which I need access to really accomplish anything is being used by someone else, so I'm at a bit of a loose end right now. I don't really care, though.

Well, perhaps more later, but that's it for now.

Doing fine

Well, I slept this afternoon and that was really nice. I played my violin in service this morning and everyone just loved it :)

Anyway, I don't really have anything else to report. Life is much the same as usual.

Gosh, sorry, I wish I had more to say. Just write me emails, k?

And so on...

I had a good talk with my parents last night. I mean, aside from the runny nose and flowing tears. Right. But you know, it helped me see what I really want to get from my time here, no matter how long I am here. Honestly, I had a lot of good reasons for coming here, and I know that I don't want to miss out on whatever God wants me to get out of being here. Truly, I don't. That is uber impotant to me. That doesn't mean that I feel hunky dory. In fact I was making stuff in the kitchen this morning and Nora W. was there and she asked me what was wrong because she could tell I wasn't fine, and I broke down all over again and was really honest with her about how I was feeling and such. She was really nice about it and very encouraging.

I was asking my dad last night how I can stop doing things based entirely on emotions. I know that I have that tendency - I'm not stupid, you know. I mean, to be honest, almost every decision I make is based on how I feel. That doesn't mean that God can't use it, and often things I want to do are what God wants me to do, and that's great. Like going to Whitestone - God was definitely in that, but I also really wanted to go. I think the same thing about coming here to Ireland. I think I was riding on some pretty high emotions from having fun here this summer, and so I wanted to come back, and God said, ok, I can work with that. However, the emotions were wearing off before I even left the States. So, now I'm left in a place that I was brought to a little by emotions, and my gut feeling is to want to leave, also based on emotions. Anyway, my dad said I needed to find a plan of attack for my life, something that really requires me to stick it out, and just do it. Do something logical, not that logic is the highest, but it helps if you're trying to combat emotions. So I'm working on that. The best plan, the most practical one, would require me to be in Illinois by mid-December. We'll see.

So, eventually, one day, I'll figure it all out. I'll get a hold of myself. Maybe. Hahaha.

Oh, and Janelle, of course I still love you. Always will.

I miss home

I have refrained from saying this too outrightly on this blog, but honestly, I really want to go home. I've been here a week and a half and I'm already not sure how I will make it. People keep telling me to just hang in there and it will be so great and don't think of myself, blah blah blah, and not to belittle those encouragements... but I just don't know if I can make it. I really, really don't. I hate to be a wimp. I don't want people to think I'm a failure and that I don't keep commitments, I just don't know if I can really take this. I don't know why it's hitting me so hard, but it is. Will someone tell me what to do!!!!??? I know, it's like, grow up, Boj. How do I deal with this? I really, really want to go home. It would be one thing if I was going to be here for a month, but six? Seven? I just can't do it. I'm sorry, but I really don't think I can. HELP!!!!!!

An interesting thought

I wonder what happens to all those people who stop blogging? Why do they stop? Did they just forget they had a blog? Did they swear off the internet forever? Sometimes I peruse blogs of people with like interests, and a lot of them have last posts from a year ago. What happened? I just get so curious. But then again, Josiah doesn't blog anymore, and that's just because he doesn't. That's so silly. Oh well. No big deal.

For Nika

Yes, you are right, I did get an email from you and that counts for SO much. However, I had already written that post when I got it, and, proportional to the amount of emails I sent out, one is but a drop in the bucket. NEVERTHELESS, it is duly appreciated. I should also say that I have since had another one, from Nate, thank you. Gotta go!

Here I am, running as fast as I can

That's a song, just in case you didn't know that. So, today was pretty good. I have now been here one week. So, yay and all that. I've been writing emails to the outside world, but not a lot of feedback. Come on people, write me!

I've discovered that I miss having a roommate. Rather, I should say that the pros seem to outweigh the cons of having one. That's just what I've decided. I mean, I go home at night, and I'm all alone in my room, and that's kind of lonely. No one to talk to, no comforting presence across the way. I felt that way even before I came here to Ireland - even at my parents I thought that. Well, anyway, enough of that.

I would die for an espresso drink right now. Like a mocha. A mocha breve. Mmmmm! Yummy.

So, did I tell you about the cool book I'm reading? It's called The Elegant Universe, by Brian Greene. He's a physics professor, currently based at... Columbia University, I think? Anyway, it's about how superstring theory unites the discrepencies between quantum mechanices and relativity. It sounds daunting, but it's actually pretty good. And then he's got another one out called The Fabric of the Cosmos. I'm sure thats good, too. So... that's what keeps me occupied these days. In the words of Rascal Flatts, "Yeah, that's what I'm doing these days."

So, cool.

More from the heart of Boj

Posting, shmosting. You know, I think that if I didn't have the outlet of blogging as a form of contact with the outside world, I might, just might, go crazy. But it's okay.

So, today I cleaned and worked and ate lunch and weeded and so on. It was fine. That's all I have to say. Sorry.

Satiated

Interesting word, eh?

Well, yesterday I got very homesick and I missed my parents. Are you still allowed to do that when you've not been living with your parents for five years and you're almost 21? Ah well, I don't care anyway. Suffice it to say that I did. It was very sad and I cried. But I feel better now. So it's okay.

Anyway, this afternoon I'm just hanging out doing not much of anything. Blogging, obviously. Um, I started my electronics pseudo-class. It's interesting, a little. I know it will be useful. I mean, I couldn't even define voltage and current, so I guess it's good to have some more knowledge than that. Tonight we're having a dinner for Jon R. who just had a birthday. I'm sure that will be enjoyable.

I wish I had more to say, but I don't really. Oh well.

What merriness

Hmmm... I've gotten so few spam comments that I've not bothered to turn on any preventative measures, but that one takes the cake. I usually just delete them, but I think I'm going to have to keep that one around for the funniness of it all. Glad you all enjoyed it.

I've been working this morning on learning about the Little Doctor, which is a data logger that Michael Bailey has developed. I'm supposed to be the news sales rep apparently, but I'm a little nervous about it. I'm not good at selling. I surprise myself with how much I don't want to do this, but I think it's just me being silly. Ah well.

Anyway, thanks for all your love and support :)

I'm here

Well, this isn't going to be long because I don't feel like taking forever on the computer tonight, but I made is safely to Ireland. Both times I've entered the country, the customs people give me hell. Oh well. I did get in, eventually. I'm recovering from jetlag and other than that all is fine. I love you all out there immensely.

I spent a butload of money today

I bought a new computer. Spent more than I should have. Got a PowerBook. I like it. Found a nifty program, totally free, to download songs from iPod to Mac. It's called Senuti. Get it? My other harddrive was a goner. Lost all my pictures from Europe. I was really bummed out. Argh. Leaving on Monday. Yay.

Did you know...

...that it's after two in the morning and for some reason I am not yet in bed.

Here are two things about me:

1.) I think books, movies, and TV are far more interesting than my life and would rather spend hours pretending I am not living the life that I am.

2.) I am a complete lame-o because I go to the movies on a Friday night by myself, and then go spend all day drinking coffee and reading in a bookstore. Even the coffee maker guy thinks I'm strange.

Oh and here's another thing - The only reason I write in my blog is because I always feel like I want to have a deeply empassioned thought session and then I get distracted and never actually get around to it.

God, when did I become so terribly lame?

HELP! I CAN'T STOP POSTING!

Seriously, you'd think three posts in one day was enough. Well, I plead insanity, and I plead, um, mercy due to the fact that it is almost tomorrow, and um, I plead the fifth amendment, except that I don't really or else I'd stop talking. Okay, no more pleading. Please!

Man, I hate it when I get too introspective. It happens when I don't have enough to keep me busy. Then my brain goes off the deep end. My subconcious begins to laugh maniacally and say, "MWHAHAHAHA! Now is the time to grab control!" Wow, okay, maybe not. Forgive the anthropomorphic personification of the subconcious.

All that too say that the past couple of days have been filled with self-analysis and wonderings. Which really isn't a bad thing, it's just the way things are. It is almost midnight. I am listening to Keane. I am chatting with Lt. Polk. Okay, so here is what my amazing brain has been thinking... I would very much like to go on a date. Now, those of you who don't really know me personally or the way I've lived (Lord knows if there are even any of those people who read my blog) will think that there is nothing that unusual about wanting to go on a date. But for those of you who do, you'll know what I mean. It's not really about going on a date, it's about just wanting the ability to do that kind of thing. I want to meet some guy and be good friends with him and be really attracted to him and he to me and then I want him to ask me to go out with him. And that's all. What I mean by "that's all" is that I'm not looking for a lightening bolt of relationshipness, I just mean to have some fun. And I don't mean "have some fun" in the sense of going out and living a life of debauchery, I just mean, having a good time. God I hate explaining myself, but I hate it even more when I don't get across exactly what I mean. Anyway, but now I'm galavanting off to Ireland I certainly won't get any dates over there. Goodness, this is so difficult.

Maybe I just want some interesting people to talk to. That's probably why I started conversing with some random guy the other day. I read his blog and he seems nice. He made me laugh. I wish I knew more people like that in person. No offense to all you funny people out there. Maybe it's some desire to be able to start over. The people I know I've known for quite some time. And that's good, because they love me through all the bad things I've done and we have strong bonds. I don't know, maybe it's impossible to explain what I want. Maybe I don't even know. Ha, that's more than likely. The stupid thing is that you can't really be friends with random people on the internet. I mean, I guess you could if they wanted to as well, but usually they just think you're some psycho. Is everyone so satisfied with their lives that they don't feel the need to reach out beyond the borders of their own worlds? Like, I find myself wanting to be friends with everyone. Like the guy who makes my coffee at the bookstore. He seems like a nice guy, but I can't just go around chatting up some guy. I mean, I could, but he'd think I was a psycho. Are we catching the theme here? PSYCHO, PSYCHO. Okay, so I only say that because I would obviously think someone was psycho if they did that to me. Maybe I just need to be more open-minded.

(No real need for a paragraph break here, just doing it to keep you going. Long paragraphs are hard to get through.)

You know, it could be that all this adventure in my life, like as far as moving around so much and travelling, has given me a taste for new and different things, hence a taste for new and different people. Who knows. Just humor me.

And Mr. Random Guy that I talked to the other day on Yahoo!, thanks for talking to me, hope to do it again. I'm really not a psycho... honest.

Desist rambling.

Some lovely tidbits I have stolen from other blogs.

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

John Gillespie Magee, Jr.

And on a different note...

do........the stuff that buys my beer
ray.......the guy who sells me beer
mi........the guy who drinks the beer
fa........the distance to my beer
so........and so, I'll have a beer
la........I'll have another beer
ti........no thanks, I'm drinking beer

that will bring me back to.......
oops looks like an empty keg

GOD... that's funny.

My Daddy

Your Daddy Is Pedro Martinez

What You Call Him: Dada Why You Love Him: He's the Mack Daddy

Who's Your Daddy?

I don't know what this is supposed to mean, but there you have it.

Break the wrist and walk away

Napoleon Dynamite and such a stinking quotable movie! I can't get it outta my head, man!

Well, breaking news is that I slept until three this afternoon. I feel justified, though, because I travelled all night the night before. Hate airplanes. I'm just figuring that out. I've spent half my life travelling in one. My official home is a freakin' 747. Nah, I'm not in a bad mood, I'm just ready to find a home. You know - even just an apartment to call my own for a couple of years, a place to put up some book shelves and unpack my personal library. I think that any place I can do that deserves the name of "home" to me. Me and my sacred library.

I've often wondered what it is about books that just makes me happy. Seriously, I have so many it's insane. I remember when I first started collecting my own personal library, as I called it then. I decided that borrowing books for the public library wasn't good enough because I always had to turn around and give them back after a month. I think I must have been twelve, and I'd just finished reading my fourth Tom Clancy book. Honestly, who reads Tom Clancy at twelve? The first of his books I ever read was Hunt for the Red October, and I just loved it. Oh well, no need to establish the fact that I'm a little eccentric... we already knew that. Anyway, enough of that. Tonight, I'm going to go to my old haunt, the Barnes and Noble down the interstate, and get some coffee and peruse the books to my hearts content. Yay.

For those of you out there who care about where I am and where I'm going, I'm in West Virginia right now. Had a great couple of weeks in Alaska. I'll be here with my parents for a week and then I'm flying off to Ireland for seven or eight months. I'm struck with how fast that will go. I mean, I don't even know where I'll be in a year. And a year is such a short time as it is. Anyway, that is my itinerary.

Love and kisses to all you out there.

It was beautiful

The wedding was very nice. Pretty much par for the course for a Whitestone wedding. It was pretty short, but that was fine because I was only there for the food. Just kidding. I did have two pieces of that fruit tart thing. I know, I know, I'm such a pig. Chris had written a beautiful song for Laura that he sang at the dinner on Thursday, but he sang it at the reception yesterday by request. It was beautiful. I love watching people's faces when they are in love. The love in Chris's face as he looked at Laura and sang was beautiful. I was honored to be able to see it.

Anyway, last night Nathan and I sat and drank coffee and talked for a couple of hours. I really enjoyed that. I like Nathan a lot and I wish him the best.

I leave tomorrow. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm glad. I'm ready to go. I'm really glad I came up here because now I know past any doubts that I might have had that I'm ready to move on. I remember when I was in Ireland earlier, talking to Simeon, and I said that I just couldn't believe I had left. It hadn't sunk in that I had really done it. I needed to come up here and put a few last ghosts to rest. I won't go into what they were, but suffice it to say that I've done it. Don't get me wrong, it's still a tad bittersweet, but in a good way. Those of you who have had to move on from a place or a circumstance that meant a lot to you will understand what I mean. I'll never forget the people, the memories may make me cry sometimes, and up until this point, I can honestly say that these have been the best five years of my short life. Despite all of that, though, I'm ready to move on with no regrets and no wonderings of what might have been. It's right.

It's an honor to have someone trust me enough to be honest with me. I have good friends, and I have many people that actually look up to me. What I think matters to them. I influence people. I've never realized just how true that was until this visit. I think I may have noticed it more because I came back with these experiences that people wanted to hear about and it was like people really wanted to talk to me. Suddenly, I was someone to reckon with. But I digress slightly. I'm learning to take the influence I have on people seriously. I am a very, very opinionated person, and I have no problems flaunting my opinions with a devil-may-care attitude. But I'm learning that I have to be careful. There are some who trust me to give them advice, who honor me with that. And it is indeed an honor. I view myself as a nobody, but I'm not. Not in the eyes of the people who care. And with this new-found revelation, I realize I have to be more cautious. I have to be honest, and I have to be real, but I have to remember that I have more influence than I dared realize. But I don't view this as added responsibility, I view it as a gift. And it's a gift I want to use wisely. I want to care more. I want to be worthy of this honor.

I am a more confident person than I used to be. I don't know when I changed, nor if it was so sudden as to be observable, but somewhere along the way it became noticeable. To me anyway. I used to think I would be more confident if I was skinnier, or more disciplined. In all honesty, it was none of those things that I thought would culminate in self-confidence. I still have all the weaknesses I used to have. And yet, here I am, a more confident person. Was it my vast range of experiences this summer? Maybe a little. Is it just that now is the time? Have I only just begun to grow up? Probably. Honestly, I can't answer the questions. But I'll tell you one thing - I like the change. In truth, people have said that I look good. I was told I looked lovely at the wedding, by many people. But I haven't changed outwardly. Maybe my haircut suits me, maybe I finally got around to doing something about my eyebrows. But I haven't really changed. I know that's not what they're seeing. It's because suddenly, I'm not undermining myself by my inherent sense of worthlessness. It doesn't mean I don't feel rejection, or any of those type of things, but suddenly I can move past it. I can feel it and not be angry at those who unwittingly inflict it, because it doesn't hurt as much as it used to. It's good.

I cannot honestly tell you what changed, but there you have it.

I saw Sam at the wedding. I hope his life turns out. His rough exterior doesn't hide the fact that his heart is breaking. I hope he does right by that woman. And her kids. Be a man for once, Sam. Don't flaunt your opinions and then cower in the corner. Do what's right, and damn what people think.

Tonight, we are having a dinner in my honor. Yay. I think it's going to be Janelle, Dan, Jessica, Hannah, Josiah, Anthony, Abigail, Rita and me. And Alicia's going to come over later. My closest friends. I'm honored.

I have used that word many times today. It all makes me feel rather small. What a privelege.

I think I'll stop now, before I become far too introspective. I'm sure I've already done enough analysis for one day.

Well, it's a good thing...

I finally heard back from Andrew Giles, for myself and via my pa. Thankfully, I will be getting support as a contributing member, as it were, of society, so that solves a big problem. Did you know that in Ireland, diabetes medicine is free? That's outta control! Too bad I probably won't be able to benefit from that, just being a "visitor" and all. Anyway, good times and all that.

Packing my stuff yesterday was a real thrill and a half. I'm leaving so much behind, but that's fine. Anyway, I got it down to six fairly heavy boxes, and shipping was a total of $181. Considering that I was prepared to pay twice that if I had to, I'm counting myself fairly lucky. Anyway, it's good to have that done. I'm going upriver again today to haul stuff down that I'm leaving behind, so that'll wrap up that process.

Sayonara, tsetchem leshalom, and gluckliche Reise!

Here today, gone tomorrow

Well, this is the week of festivity. Yay, hurray. The men's shower for Chris is tonight, and then on Thursday is the wedding dinner, and then on Saturday, all of it comes to fruition, as it were. Good times.

I just finished a Terry Pratchett book called The Science of the Discworld. It's more non-fiction than fiction, although it has a bit of that too. If you enjoy science, like real science (as opposed sci-fi) it's really interesting. It took me a while to read through it, mostly because I was reading it really in depth, so I wanted to take my time and read it all. I really liked it though. I feel like I actually learned a lot reading it. Made me feel smart. Call me silly and you'd probably be right. Anyway, apparently he's written another two somewhat similar ones. I'll get them sometime.

So, I'm off to pack up all my crap for the 80 Acres and erase almost every trace that I was ever here. Hahahah!!!

Gosh

I guess nobody likes my blog anymore. No comments. Hate that.

I have been working in the kitchen, which has been fun. I still don't like it very much, but it's nice to hang out with people. The silly thing is that I came all the way to Alaska to see my friends, and I'd rather read a book than work with them. How lazy of me. But then, I already knew that.

Well, I guess, Ireland, here I come. Should be interesting, I guess.

No interesting title readily available

You know, it's funny - I am having a great time seeing everyone here and such, but I find I am not feeling the pull like I thought I might. I think I know I'm making the right move for now, as much as it freaks me out. I guess I'm just thankful that I'm not once again second guessing myself like I seem to always do. A little encouraging.

On a more interesting note, Emerson W. wants to come back here, I guess. That's a hard one. I mean, he was in torment for so long, it's hard to imagine he really knows what he wants after four months. But I can hardly judge. I just hope he's making the right decision, and if he is, then more power to him.

Last night, I went out to the island with Dan, Janelle, Steven, Jinni, Nathan, and Vanessa. We made a fire and had chicken and rice. It was a lot of fun. Reeked like smoke when I came back, but that's all part of the deal.

Meghan Bailey has become very cute. Fortunately, their little pants that I got them in France fit - even too big. Sigh of relief. Jessica is becoming such a little girl. She came up and gave me a big hug when I got here. I'm glad she remembered me.

Saturday evening I had dinner at the 80 Acres. Goodness, it was just like old times. I sat there and howled with laughter the whole time. It was a lot of fun. I also gave all my gifts away, and that was fun. You know, it's funny, I'm so nervous about giving my gifts. I think it's because I put thought and money into them, and I'm just worried that people won't like them. I think that comes from my amazing ability to take things way too personally. Of course, no one dislikes my gifts, that's just my personal little insecurity.

Today, Janelle is on laundry, and I'm hanging with her. Except for right now she's sleeping. I don't feel like going back to bed, I guess. I mean, I'm plenty tired. Just seems silly.

Let's see, what else...

I think that's about it for now. More later, of course.

Back in the saddle, after a fashion

Well, here I am, coming to you live from Delta Junction, AK. Good times, good times. I'm really enjoying seeing all the cool people. I can tell that my brain still isn't quite sure how to wrap itself around this little visit. I mean, I don't live here anymore, but it feels sort of like I do, yet I'm a visitor for all intents and purposes. It's just kinda strange. Oh well, I am having fun. Love you all out there.

Away from West Virginia

Man, that is some good coffee I made!

Um, right, so I'm flying out to Alaska tomorrow. I'm sure it will be fun. You know, it probably will not be near as exciting as I've built it up to be. No offense to anyone. But I mean, I'm going to see my friends, and that will be great, and then I'll just be hanging around for two weeks. You know, I think the fact that I'm writing this says something about how I react to things. Just follow me here. I mean, I used to get really excited about stuff, and just build it all up in my mind that whatever it was was going to be this amazing thing, and then it wasn't all I cracked it up to be. And so now, it's like I try to super down play my excitement about things. Makes me not so optimistic as I once was. It's like I'd just rather not think about how exciting something is going to be and then be disappointed. So, I'm sure AK will be fun. But, there is going to be a wedding happening, so the focus will pretty much be on that. That tells you how selfish I am. I wish I could have all the attention. Hate to say it, but there it is.

Well, there you go. That's it for the next couple of days, probably.