Meg's Journal
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Sunday, September 24, 2006
I could watch the last 8 1/2 minutes of that game every day for the rest of my life. I think I'd be in better shape, too--my heart rate got going so high, I felt like I'd been for a run!
In other news, I love my job.
Current mood: pumped Current music: Steven Curtis Chapman--Dive
Sunday, May 14, 2006
5:25PM
So I'm DONE!! FOREVER!! oh praise God
Still not caught up on sleep, but that'll come. The point of this entry is to discuss housing for next year. Graduation is Sunday, then I'm going home. The next week, She-Mom and I are gonna drive down to Atl to see about finding me a place to live. I'd kinda like to work with a realtor just to make things easier, but I'm not sure. Below are some places I've found online that I like--cast your vote.
General thoughts:
I'm pretty sure I'm gonna try to get a house because they're so cheap and I think it would make me really happy. I really really want a house with a porch so I can sit out there and drink sweet tea in the evenings and be friends with my neighbors. Also they're really cute. Also that's part of why I wanted to move to the South--front porches.
Porches aside, the most important feature of a house (aside from exterior cuteness which is stupid but matters a lot) I really want a good big kitchen. It doesn't have to be amazing, but counter space and an open feeling are very important to someone who cooks as much as I do.
I'm pretty set on hardwood floors, too. I think carpet looks cheaper and gets dirtier. And especially if I have Clare, hardwoods are easier to get dog hair off of.
Speaking of Clare, a fenced-in yard would be lovely. I think that if I get a place without one, I probably won't bring her down, which would be very sad.
I'd love a washer-dryer--think how much cleaner I'd be!
I really hope it has nice trees outside. I really love trees.
I'm hoping for a good familyish location, but you can't tell much from one visit. I'd like a safeish neighborhood where the houses aren't too far (but not close enough that you look in your neighbors windows) and I'm dead set on sidewalks in the neighborhood--then people take walks and are friends!
Without further ado, the competitors (in no particular order)
1. Carpeted, but very cute with a nice looking kitchen.
2. A little funny-looking but very nice inside
3. Small porch but washer-dryer and nice neighborhood
4. Amazing, incredible, lovely, but no fence
5. Not sure if I love the inside (and it's a duplex) but there are roses on the porch!
6. Small porch, nice kitchen, house might be too big
7. Very very cute but not a reverse commute
8. No porch, but somehow still very cute
9. Tiny and cute but in someone's backyard
If you're really into this (or really bored) and want to see how far this stuff is from my school, the address is 4449 Northside Drive 30327.
So far 4 and 7 are my top choices, but it will naturally depend on how things feel when I'm there. Cast your votes!!
Current mood:  accomplished Current music: Jackie and Steve wedding music--for which I'm singing Tenor!
Sunday, May 7, 2006
1:29AM
Tonight I partook in my favorite new-found activity--jamming with Ben and Paul. I started singing with these two at the beginning of this year at Log Chapel Mass once a week and it's developed into this incredible singing-praying-jamming-song-writing mass of beauty. They're probably the most incredible guitarists I've ever been blessed to hear (not that I know much about it, but I respect them as musicians which is more than I can say for most guitarists) and for the first time in my life I've been able really to jam. There's a Rockapella song that says "you ain't making music when you know what note is next, have some faith!" I've loved that line for a while, but I never really got it till I sang with them. I've been able to harmonize at will for about 5 years now and to improvise grace notes and runs well for about 3, but I've never just been able to come up on a song I've never heard before and make stuff up. That's what I do with these guys. They grab their guitars and start playing stuff and I just sing along to music that's never been played before. If I had a few more months with them, I bet I'd get some talent at spontaneous lyrics, too. It's really incredible to do something like that and create something that's never been before. Praise God! And they're both so affirming--when someone does something really awesome, one of them will usually laugh in amazement or wink or just stare.
We had a concert a few weeks ago and recorded a bunch of stuff and apparently the sound quality was pretty good. So we're recording some more and patching stuff up and then--wait for it--putting out an album! Campus Ministry is helping to fund it so we're making a whole bunch of copies. I'm so excited! I'm not sure how great it's gonna be, but I think I'm in a band! It's a dream come true! And I've always wanted to be on a cd. Seriously, I'm so pumped.
We did some recording tonight and I got to listen to a bunch of it. I've gotta say, I sound good. I know that sounds bad, but it's true. I haven't heard myself recorded in probably 2 years and every time before this that I've listened to myself, I've thought, "Oh man! Is that what I sound like? I can't believe I subject people to that! It sounds so much better in my head!!" This time, though, while I grimaced a few times at mistakes I made, for the most part I really liked it. I don't know if this is part of my new self-esteem kick where I think I'm pretty and funny or if I really have just gotten good, but it was very pleasant to hear myself sing and be happy with it. We'll see how I feel when I not only hear but also SEE the Melodies concert. Even if I have gotten good at singing, I doubt that my dancing/directing looks as cute as it feels.
24 pages down, 44 to go. Prayers please!
Current mood: accomplished Current music: Ankoledde Bilungi (a Ben and Paul original)
Thursday, May 4, 2006
Brandon Hoyte is an Indianapolis Colt now. I've met him. He was Ky's roommate freshman year. I'm practically famous!!
On Tuesday, I say an Olympic Gold Medalist. Twice. I'm practically famous!
I'm working on an easy paper right now. After that, I have 55 hardcore pages to write on phenomenology, the Trinity, and Islam. Have I mentioned that I can't WAIT to be done?
Many thanks to everyone who came to my many concerts. Ben Wilson is the winner, going three for three (but to be fair, he was in 2 of them). Runners up include Erin, Chrissy, Connie, Susan, Beard, Andi, MC, and others. Way to be my friend!
Current mood: busy Current music: Mary had a little lamb
Thursday, April 13, 2006
2:35PM
Prayers for Becca, please
So I ought to be reading about "pluralism" (read: relativism) for my next class, but I thought this would be far more productive. Brady Quinn was sitting across from me in the cluster, looking as handsome as ever till he opened his mouth. Fortunately, he's not paid to look cute while speaking but to have big guns and great aim. And that he can do. He was wearing a hat with a lower-case a on it and 1972 on the back. Anybody know what that is?
It's beautiful out today. Almost makes up for the fact that I had to go to class. After class, I lay on the quad reading a novel and my Bible and then took a prayer nap. Have you ever tried that? You lie down when you know you won't fall asleep and just rest in the arms of the Lord, drifting in and out of prayer. It's really lovely. And the sun didn't hurt.
Then I had a date with Margaret Mart--Dudley. I wonder how long it'll take me to get used to her name.
I kind of like updating when I have nothing to say.
Triduum starts tonight. 10 hours of liturgies in 3 days. Hardcore.
Also, I think we may be having 25 people to Easter. This could be a challenge. Pray for no rain so we can at least stick some people out on the "lawn."
Be blessed.
Current mood:  calm Current music: Ankoledde Ebirungi Nayimba
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
This looks like fun:
Go to your music player of choice and put it on shuffle. Say the following questions aloud, and press play. Use the song title as the answer to the question.
How does the world see me?
Ave Maria--Biebl
(Not a surprise that it's religious, but what if people really thought of me as being like the BVM??)
Will I have a happy life?
Circle of Life--The Lion King
(I can't decide what this means. I'll kill my father? I'll marry a lioness? I'll eat bugs? Or maybe just life will be happy in the end but there will be obstacles to get past on the way. I already knew that.)
What do my friends really think of me?
Rejoice!--Danielle Rose
(oh, I hope I make them want to rejoice--that would be such a compliment!)
Do people secretly lust after me?
Shout Glory--Brown Hat at District Choir
(If I were a man, I'd certainly lust after her singing this solo--maybe that means something?)
How can I make myself happy?
The Lord Has Given--Veggie Tales
(ooh--trust. That's a good one)
What should I do with my life?
Water Runs Dry--Hullabahoos
"Let's not wait till the water runs dry
We might watch our whole lives pass us by
Let's not wait till the water runs dry
We'll make the biggest mistake of our lives"
(apparently I should seize the day--see below on hiding love away--if I could just figure out who I'm in love with, I'd be all set to propose)
Will I ever have children?
Another Girl Another Planet--The Replacements
(alien babies? Mormon babies?)
What is some good advice for me?
The Storm is Passing--Some Gospel Choir
(I think that's always good advice)
How will I be remembered?
Gummi Bears Theme--Rockapella (at least, that's what my computer thinks)
(If anybody ever thinks of me as being as clever as whoever wrote "key change" into the Gummi Bears lyrics, I'll be happy)
What is my signature dancing song?
Walk Like an Egyptian--Brown Derbies covering some 80s band
(I think I dance better than a mummy, but at least it's an 80s dance song--my favorite dance music!)
What do I think my current theme song is?
You've Got to Hide Your Love Away--TJ Choir
(oh dear--who do I love and why am I hiding it?)
What does everyone else think my current theme song is?
I've got Confidence--Sound of Music
(that's an ironic dichotomy--do most people think I'm a shameless hussy?)
What song will play at my funeral?
The Siamese Cat Song--Lady and the Tramp
(Am I going to be killed by creepy Siamese cats?)
What type of men/women do I like?
I Dream of Jeannie Theme Song
(I totally was her in Kismet, but I don't know that I'm into bottle blonds)
What is my day going to be like?
We Want to See Jesus Lifted High
(oh, I hope I do. What a lovely day--to be all about the exaltation of the Lord!)
In other news, I think I'll call tomorrow and tell www.holyspiritprep.org that I want the job--anybody want to live in a cute little housie in Atlanta with me? I was already excited about it, but talking to Margaret about it tonight just made me so ready to go!!
PS Happy half birthday to me!
Current mood:  excited Current music: Rejoice!
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Seriously.
2 hours I've been at this computer. I don't even have an outline.
It's not like I don't have anything to say. It's not like I'm not fascinated by this topic. I'm just so sick of writing papers. I can't handle the fact that I have to start and I'm mad that I have to do it at all. I'm stressed out just by the idea of this paper.
There was a time when I could just sit down and write. 10 page paper? Gimme 3 hours. Now it takes me 3 hours just to format the page.
And I'm so tense about it, too. RAWR!!! Who decided people had to write papers? I'd give an hour-long presentation once a week rather than write a single paper. Stupid stupid stupid STUPID SCHOOL!!!
Current mood:  frustrated Current music: angry noises in my head
Tuesday, February 7, 2006
12:56AM
So at first I wasn't so thrilled about the possibility of being a theology teacher and campus minister because I want me real focus to be on teaching, but the more I think about it, the more I think that that could really be my calling. There were always school-wide things that I knew I would want to institute (dress as your patron saint for All Saints day, for example, or a pilgrimage to Rome), I just figured I'd do it in my capacity as a teacher, not as a campus minister. If I did get this job, though, I'd be able to make these things happen, not just suggest it to people. I could plan things and get approval rather than just hoping somebody else agrees with me and takes it up. I could encourage seniors to go on http://www.crossroadswalk.org/ and set up a holy hour for parents. I could plan parties for major feast days and take kids on the March. I'm even excited about working out cool fundraisers (like a real Italian dinner with antipasti and insalate and primi and everything to raise money for the Rome trip). Part of my struggle with youth ministry was that so much of the time had to be convincing kids to show up--doing stupid "fun" stuff without any substance. In this kind of a job though, not only could I relax and have fun knowing they were being catechized in class, I could also do real stuff cause I wouldn't have to worry as much about drawing them in. This could be good.
Blair Mancini is one hot dude.
Current mood:  sleepy Current music: the "alleluia" that ends some song I can't remember
Saturday, February 4, 2006
12:46AM
Well, I'm procrastinating going to bed (is that ridiculous?), so here's a life update in reverse chronological order:
1. Tonight was Chris and Mary's engagement party. It was a huge semi-formal bash in the Oak Room of South Dining Hall with tons of dancing and fancy clothes. And Dybicz was here--what a treat! Chris and Mary are so beautiful together and it's a real blessing to share in their joy.
2. I spent the day baking them a raspberry cheesecake--mmmmm! It was very well-received, which always makes me feel loved. I know my love language isn't gift-giving or acts of service or word of affirmation, but I love cooking for people, giving them food, and hearing how good it is. Makes me feel needed, I guess.
2.5. I feel as though it should be four days from now because my past 30 hours have been SOOOOO long.
3. Last night Chrissy and I went to a Rascal Flatts concert!! She bought me the tickets for Christmas and we drove up to Grand Rapids after class to see them and Blake Shelton. Aside from getting rawther lost in Kalamazoo (thanks for helping us figure it out, Janel!), it went fairly smoothly. And we decided that even the getting lost was good cause when we stopped for directions we met an EXTREMELY good looking (and tall and manly) guy at a hockey store. Chrissy thinks it's ridiculous that I checked for a ring, but I feel bad being attracted to married men, so I always make sure they're not. I don't think that's weird. Then the concert was awesome--probably one of the few concerts that I could have enjoyed every minute of, because even if I didn't know or particularly like a song they were singing, the lead singer would always pull out some incredible grace notes and just leave my jaw on the floor. Also, they got on this moving stage and came to a small stage in the back to be with the people who couldn't afford crazy tickets, which was very cool. I called Brown Hat to tell her the concert was amazing. Her response? "We finished our puzzle." And we thought Timmy was the one without social skills. Poor BH. Then on the way back, we stopped to see my friend (Janel's friend) Dave and I had a root beer float. I like Dave a lot, mostly because he's one of those friends that you're just so comfortable with for no real reason at all. All in all, an excellent day.
4. I really do look amazing in a cowboy hat--maybe I should move to Texas after all.
5. Got two job interviews!! http://www.cnhs.org/ in Columbia, SC and http://www.holyspiritprep.org/ in Atlanta. The second looks amazing--they teach their high schoolers Latin, Greek, and philosophy!! I never really thought I'd get to teach smart kids, but now that it might be an option, I'm thrilled!! I'm a little concerned that the school might be uber-conservative, but we'll see when they FLY ME DOWN!! THe first school is just a regular old school, but who knows? That might be where God wants me.
That's all I've got. Have to be at Main Circle at 6:45 (ugh!) tomorrow morning to hear a Catholic apologist--I think I'll be exhausted. Then tomorrow night, Ky and Dybicz will be in town--SWEET!!
Current mood: cheerful Current music: Calling Baton Rouge (always reminds me that I love Margaret)
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Today, as I was walking through the halls at St Joe's (the Catholic High School where I student teach), I suddenly felt right at home. Why? Because I saw two boys wearing capes. It was like being in high school all over again--weird people doing weird things but somehow being accepted by the majority of the school. I kept walking, pleased that I had made this connection to my new school, and realized that the capes weren't some goth-Shakespeare-Troupe-color-guard attempt to be so strange that nobody would notice your insecurities. No, it was super-hero day, because this week is spirit week. "Okay," I thought, "it's not quite like TJ, but we had spirit days, so maybe I can make that connection." No chance. The most elaborate the costumes got were a homemade t-shirt with socks pulled up high. No all-silver get-ups, painstakingly stitched weeks before the spirit day. No full Batman costumes, purchased years ago for just such an occasion. No tights. No masks. No spirit!
Appalled, I asked one of my freshman about spirit week. When are the competitions? Do you have floats and skits and banners? She looked confused. Evidently, in South Bend, Indiana, Homecoming is a football game and a dance. People weren't dressed up because they couldn't win anything. It was all just for fun. I don't think I'll ever understand the midwest. :P
PS Yes this is 2 updates in one week, thank you very much!
Current mood:  silly Current music: New Switchfoot cds
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Why did LJ updating as form of procrastination never occur to me?
I'm sorking on a paper on Christian Spirituality and Social Justice which has the potential to be lovely, but it's the first real assignment I've had all year and I'm kind of freaking out. Not because I'm stressed, just because I'm sick of it. Today is better, but last night I was procrastinating so hard, I actually watched bull riding for an hour. Those guys are very cute. I've decided I'm going to be the matriarch of a bull-riding dynasty and then all my babies can wear boots and chaps and be oh so cute.
I got a job this week teaching French to 8th graders. I'm very excited because:
1. I love teaching
2. I love French
3. It pays
4. It will look good on my resume
I'm not usually one for resume building, but it will be nice to say that I have other skills and can be used for more than just theology, if a school doesn't have a full-time theo position open. I hope I won't have to teach anything other than theology cause I love it so much (oh, my confirmation class today was amazing), but it's a good backup.
Student teaching is great, but I definitely can see the teachers I'm observing doing a lot of things I wouldn't. Some of it is just personality, but others (like not listening to their questions or not giving examples of miracles when claiming that miracles prove God) is not. The other day, two of the three calsses I'm observing were just doing work in class. A few of the kids were out doing standardized testing, but most were there, and even if they're not, there's plenty that you can talk to the kids about without any of them getting behind. I guess they get tired, but I'm still so optimistic and enthusiastic that I can't imagine not taking every moment I have to teach. There's just so much for them to learn.
But I need to learn that being excited about next year does not make grad school merely a transitional thing. I think I would be happier if I could try to love where I am now because it is good, not just because it's taking me somewhere better. It's just hard to be really excited about the future but still content with the present. Like being engaged maybe? Maybe on a lesser scale.
On that note, I probably ought to get down to business. I'm on page 4 of 8-12!!
Current mood:  hyper Current music: the soprano part of Only Hope
Monday, August 22, 2005
Well, BH and I had an amazing trip home from Connecticut, and since she so kindly wrote the entry for me, I'm copying it and adding comments in parens. Here goes:
11:43AM - How many hours from Stamford to DC?
About 12. Of course, that's only if you go by way of New Haven. And take Rt. 1 all the way...
Sister and I were supposed to leave around 3 on Sunday (actually, more like 4:30 or 5), but she got stuck in traffic coming back from Boston (in New Haven, the irony of which we will see later), so we didn't leave until about 5:45. We drove through Stamford to get to 95 and at the exit, sister was talking about how it was confusing when she was going to Boston because of the weird turning lanes. Of COURSE this didn't tip us off to the fact that we were taking the same exit that she took to go to Boston, which is most definitely NORTH of Stamford. There was pretty bad traffic of 95, but we didn't really care because we were talking and listening to good music. About 40 miles later, we saw a sign for 91 north and 95 north, and figured we would just have to wait for a sign making sure we stayed on 95 south. Then we realized we were in New Haven. Again, traffic was rather bad, so we had the bright idea to take Rt. 1 for a ways to avoid traffic, since it runs right by 95. Of course every time we got off, 95 would speed up again, and every time we got back on 95, it would slow down. (Rosie fails to mention here the number of red lights she ran because she didn't notice them and the truck towing a boat that we drove 20 mph behind for 10 minutes) At this point we realized that we were almost to New York, and wanted to avoid the toll, so we decided to take it into the city to save $1.25. Somehow we reached a total end to Rt. 1, where the road stopped and we had to go left or right. Then we drove through either New York or Connecticut for a rather long time, passing groups of 13-year-old boys with red hats on and all sorts of other shady characters. FINALLY we got back onto a road that said 1, until about a mile later it told us that it was 1 NORTH. At this point we decided to stop at a McDonald's to go to the bathroom and get something for sister to drink with her medicine. However, the line was too long so we decided to get her a ketchup container with water in it. Of course there was no water, so she had to steal coke. We weren't sure whether we were still in CT, so we asked a lady in the parking lot (who didn't speak english and couldn't even understand "new york or connecticut?") what state we were in, and finally got her to say "SI, si!" when we asked, "nueva york?"
It had taken us a little over 3 hours to get out of Connecticut (this is a lie--it took 4 1/2). We might have just gone back to spend the night in Stamford if sister hadn't had a dentist appt and i hadn't had to work the next morning.
We turned around and took 1 SOUTH through the Bronx (Rosie neglects to mention the fact that we lost route 1 again in the Bronx and had to square a block, during which time she almost hit a pillar, waited at a red light in oncoming traffic, and made a u-turn over a median and right next to a no left turn sign) and onto the GW bridge, where somehow we didn't have to pay the $6 toll (because we were on 1 and not 95?). After this we were in New Jersey! Yay!!! We decided to stay on 1 because sister was hungry and REALLY wanted to go to friendly's (since they tore down the one by our house, so we'd have to go to sterling to reach another in va). Apparently there are NONE on Jersey until Trenton though, which we confirmed by calling Marina and having her list EVERY Friendly's in New Jersey. There are rather a lot. We got to the one in Trenton at about 11:15, but it was closed (apparently ALL Friendly's in the world close at 11). It had also been raining so hard that we could barely see the road. And I had been driving for 5 1/2 hours. So we continued on Rt. 1 hoping for an IHOP, because that was all I would settle for. Fast food is just gross. We didn't see any, so we tried calling Marina, but got a voice every time saying that she hadn't set up her voice mailbox. She had left the phone off the hook. For 45 minutes! So we called TK and she found us an IHOP that was close by. We knew it had to be open, because aren't all IHOPs 24 hours? Apparently not. This one had closed at 10.
We continued on Rt. 1 and reached PA, where we had to pay a $.75 toll. At this point we had saved about $11. But the gas tank was almost empty and I hadn't eaten in about 6 hours. We stayed on Rt. 1 hoping for a diner or a denny's or SOMETHING, and finally spotted a diner that looked open on our right! Unfortunately, when you're on Rt. 1 express and business is running right next to you, you aren't allowed to turn right. Ever. So we finally got on the business route somehow, hoping for another diner. No luck. (Rosie again fails to mention driving over another median and through a storage facility in pursuit of another IHOP, which was, of course, closed) We were about a mile outside Philly when we saw a Denny's on our left. OF COURSE Denny's had to be open! Nope. (Also couldn't find the door, so I just ran around outside with an umbrella looking for a door. I found a dude who worked there and asked if they were open. When he said no, I pretended to cry so he would feed us, but he didn't seem to care. I asked if anyplace else was open, and he suggested Houlihan's, a resteraunt across a street that you can't cross that had no lights on or cars in the parking lot. Right.) So we had to turn around somehow, but there was no left turn allowed, and the low fuel light had turned on. We had to get back onto 1 South somehow, so we just kind of exited on a random road and found a gas station where we could fill up. Then we found a much cheaper one 10 minutes after we had filled up. Of course! Nothing was going to go right! We then proceeded to get lost in West Philly for about half an hour (because Brown Hat thought the best way to get to a road that was to your left was to turn right) until we finally found our way back to 1 south.
(Here Rosie skips what may be the most exciting part of our adventure. Having been lost in Philly for 1/2 hour, we find ourselves back on route 1 about 4 miles behind where we had been. So, since we were driving the same road twice, we had the same conversation. Unfortunately, the first time we had taken this particular exit to stay on 1, Rosie had been stuck behind a car that was going really slowly. She kept deciding to pass it, then deciding there wasn't time before the exit, then deciding to pass again, then changing her mind, till there finally wasn't time. What this meant was that the second time she took this exit, it didn't occur to her that she would have to slow down. The Mustang being the traction-free vehicle that it is, we swerved and skidded around and around and almost hit pillars, walls, and hills. We finally came to a stop facing the wrong way on an on ramp, with about ten feet of visibility for the cars careening around the ramp. We stopped for a second to breathe, and continued on our way. Brown Hat then proceeded to try to stop at a particular green light for the second time--I suppose she was shaken up. When we got onto the road, I looked at her and asked if she needed to pull over to cry, which I think was very sensitive of me. She said no, so I said to keep driving but that we should probably pray for a while since we really should have died. So we were silent, but after she tried to fake me out by jerking the wheel and slamming the brakes, I gave up--we were too giggly for prayer anyway :P)
We drove on for another half hour and FINALLY found a diner on our left that looked open (but I kind of didn't want to eat there, because we were apparently only allowed to stop at places that were already closed!) and went in and ate kind of gross food, but at least it was something. (although, not surprisingly, they didn't have the only thing I wanted) THEN we got to change drivers! I had only been driving for 7 hours straight :P (I kept offering...next time she's run 4 red lights, stopped at 2 green ones and railroad tracks, turned left from the center lane, and almost killed us, maybe I'll be more forceful)
The rest of the trip was easy from there because it had stopped raining and Rt. 1 wasn't weird and changing into different roads without telling us. We drove through Baltimore around 4:30 and there were people EVERYWHERE just walking around or riding their bikes. We think they were aliens (or vampires. And everything was miserable and boarded up and all the lights were red and I hate Baltimore). And got home around 5:30.
In conclusion:
We saved at least $25 in tolls,
Took 12 hours for a 6-hour-trip,
Stopped at 3 closed restaurants (I think it was 4) and wanted to stop at countless others,
Ran 5 red lights by accident, including one flashing red,
Stopped at a train crossing and a green light (2) when there was nobody around,
Listened to the same cd 7 times,
Used the entire battery of my cell phone with all the calls we made, and
Almost died (skidded on an off-ramp and ended up turned around completely backwards).
The end.
(Quite possibly the funniest 12 hours of my life. At the end, I asked BH what she would ahve done differently if she could change one thing about that trip, thinking that the obvious choices were New Haven and Route 1, each of which added about 3 hours to our time. Her answer? "Gotten a catheter." 10 points each to Kinky, Marina, and TK for appreciating our adventures.)
(In other news, I'm back at school, getting ready for my 3 classes and STUDENT TEACHING!!! I'm really excited about it and am hoping that it'll be a real lesson to me. I'm not thrilled to be backa t school, but I think that's mostly cause I'm lazy. It's been great to see all my friends, and that's what school's really about anyway. This summer was wonderful. I read a jillion books and played a jillion dumb games with adolescents and had a few incredible conversations and prayed and learned and was tremendously blessed. Praise GOD!!)
Current mood: accomplished Current music: Carry Me Home to Ole Virginny--but I don't know the tune/wds
Sunday, April 10, 2005
12:55AM
Now that Chrissy and Josh have officially made me the odd one out...:D
Your dating personality profile:
Religious - Faith matters to you. It is the foundation that you build your life upon. You trust that God has a plan for you.
Conservative - You take a conservative stance on most issues and aren't shy about saying so. Your political views are an important component of who you are.
Big-Hearted - You are a kind and caring person. Your warmth is inviting, and your heart is a wellspring of love. | Your date match profile:
Traditional - You need someone who is a bit old-fashioned. A person with traditional values and beliefs will perfectly compliment your lifestyle.
Practical - You are drawn to people who are sensible and smart. Flashy, materialistic people turn you off. You appreciate the simpler side of living.
Religious - You seek someone who is grounded in faith and who possesses religious values. You believe that a religious person can enhance your life. | Your Top Ten Traits
1. Religious
2. Conservative
3. Big-Hearted
4. Traditional
5. Practical
6. Intellectual
7. Romantic
8. Wealthy/Ambitious
9. Adventurous
10. Outgoing
| Your Top Ten Match Traits
1. Traditional
2. Practical
3. Religious
4. Big-Hearted
5. Intellectual
6. Romantic
7. Shy
8. Funny
9. Adventurous
10. Conservative
|
Take the Online Dating Personality Quiz at Dating DiversionsOdd that I answered one of the questions with "I don't pay too much attention to politics except for a few key issues" and another with "I strongly opposed the war in Iraq" and was told that I was extremely conservative and vocal about it. Do you think that my answers on religion had anything to do with that? I guess it's fair to judge from my answers that I'm morally conservative, but not politically. I answered moral questions on ideals, not actual practice, so my responses have to be moral and not political. In other news, engagements and pregnancies and dating. None of them mine, of course :P And I'm glad the Papa's going home. Most of the media coverage has been a fitting tribute to his sanctity, I thought, although some people called him hypocritical and closed-minded, which left me, well, livid. But looking at pictures of him still brings me joy http://www.nashvilledominican.org/Apostolate/From_Our_Holy_Father/Photos/Holy_Father_Children.jpgTonight, I cooked and ate and giggled and danced and prayed and read and all in all it was lovely.
Current mood: pleased Current music: Flood (the alto line)
Friday, February 25, 2005
...here's one of those random entries where I don't really say anything.
("accomplished" apparently means I bounce around in flowers, but there aren't any in Indiana in February)
This week was going to be crazy anyway with all the work I had to do, and then Chris and Mary had to go and start dating, which added at least 8 hours of necessary conversation to my week. Of course, it was 8 hours of wonderful, joyful conversation that was far better than sleep would have been, so don't think I'm complaining.
I'm so very excited for them--it's been a long time coming and it really seems to be God's will for it to happen ow. They're both really happy, and I'm so happy to see them like this. Last night, I was hanging out with them and they held hands and I about died of excitement--it's so beautiful to be able to rejoice in my friends' blessings.
In other news, John Welsh and I are fun:
AmansAmare: actually all Italians vacation in Libya.
AmansAmare: thats a little known fact.
Bambarbie: I think if I ever had a daughter named Elizabeth, everybody else would call her Libby, but I'd call her Libya
AmansAmare: that's weird.
Bambarbie: and then when she was being a brat I'd impose economic sanctions and travel bans instead of taking away her allowance and grounding her
AmansAmare: "that's it Libya, if you don't put that down I'll slap a tariff on your oil exports so quick it'll make your head spin!"
AmansAmare: maybe countries should just use parenting techniques with one another.
AmansAmare: North Korea gets no dessert for a month.
Bambarbie: and Iraq can't go to the Middle East prom?
AmansAmare: ooh! That sounds like a festa.
Bambarbie: ooh--we can take away France's car cause they won't do what they're told
AmansAmare: I think that they should elect two people "Parents of the World"
Bambarbie: I think whoever has the most kids should get to be the parents
AmansAmare: That would have disastrous consequences. Do we want politicians breeding?
Bambarbie: mmm that's true
Bambarbie: and then we'd have to talk about polygamy
AmansAmare: which is sort of a hard word to say.
Bambarbie: cause one guy could have 84 children with 12 different wives, and then does he get to be the dad while the Mexican mother of 69 is the mom?
AmansAmare: But easier then hegemony.
AmansAmare: Exactly. It'll be like Wilt Chamberlain and Inez. If we elected them today.
Bambarbie: Let's do it
Bambarbie: you're smart
Bambarbie: write to the UN
Bambarbie: they do all kinds of other crazy things
AmansAmare: Yeah. I bet if we put some Oreos in the envelope we'd be solid. I think that's how they passed the Patriot Act.
Bambarbie: I'm pretty sure only Americans can be persuaded by Oreos
Bambarbie: there's a reason Europeans don't eat cookies that taste like plastic
AmansAmare: Yeah, you're right. Can you imagine a French guy eating an Oreo?
AmansAmare: Wow. THat mental picture just gave me a disproporionate amount of joy.
It's amazing how the more I learn about ethics and international conflict, the more I support the use of force--yet still oppose just about every time the US has used it in the past 50 years. I support humanitarian intervention, but only when consistent and relatively impartial, and I don't think we really do that.
You are all beautiful.
Current mood: accomplished Current music: I get by with a little help from my friends
Thursday, February 17, 2005
So it's been about forever and a half but when you've gone so long without updating, you want to wait till you've got something really good to say to break the silence. And I don't, particularly. But this made me so happy I had to post it.
| How to make a ndmeg |
Ingredients:
5 parts mercy
1 part brilliance
5 parts joy |
Method:
Combine in a tall glass half filled with crushed ice. Add a little cocktail umbrella and a dash of sadness |
Personality cocktailFrom Go-Quiz.comWhat a blessing it would be to deserve such a description. Something to aspire to, I suppose. Particularly the brilliance; I've long thought that you can tell a saint by a certain holy glow surrounding her, and I've so often prayed for such a glow, for the ability to be radiant with the love of Christ. A lot of me has to get out of the way before He can shine through, though. And so I suppose aspiring to brilliance is like aspiring to holiness. It just occurred to me that brilliance could also be a reference to intelligence. In that case, I'm probably much closer to one part brilliance, but I'd much rather have the holy glow. I'm feeling very blessed at the moment. Someone asked me this week how this Lent is comparing to last year's Lent, and I had to laugh. Last year, I was more full of grace and aware of the incredible blessing of faith than I have ever been or expect to be outside the beatific vision. I was consumed by joy, constantly at prayer, so overwhelmed by the beauty of it all that I often started laughing out of sheer joy. This year is not like last year. And that is good. I'm feeling so very blessed, so very at peace; even my struggles are joys. Maybe I'm finally learning to accept the will of God. I've been letting Him teach me that everything happens because "this is the way He's choosing to love me right now." Letting Him love me the way He chooses, not demanding that His perfect, boundless love conform to my ideas is so freeing. Rather than telling Him what I want and refusing to accept love in any other form, I've been recognizing His action in every moment and seeing it as love. It's not the overwhelming joy of last Lent, but it is very comforting. Mercy, brilliance, and joy. I do have a lot to live up to. Because I admire Suzanne's cleverness in new ways every day: Currently reading: Brothers K (oh so good and such an indulgence), lots of stuff about conscience, Luther's Catholic opponents, state sovereignty and self-determination, and the history of American Catholicism. Currently listening to: incredible Basses on the a-cappella southern cd http://store.yahoo.com/acappella-company/acsout.htmlCurrently watching: I watched half of Medium yesterday, which could definitely become a guilty pleasure. Currently wasting time with: http://babynamewizard.com/namevoyager/ which is more fun than anything http://artpad.art.com/artpad/painter/ which is a great way to make people e-greetings Be holy!
Current mood: blessed Current music: Be God's (Danielle Rose)
Friday, July 23, 2004
http://illustmaker.abi-station.com/index_en.shtml is a very good game!Too bad I'll never be as cute as that picture.
Also, I like to cook.
Aren't you proud of me for "updating"?
Current mood: accomplished Current music: the Kohl's theme song, isn't that sad?
Friday, April 16, 2004
You're Compassion Fatigue!
by Susan Moeller
You used to care, but now it's just getting too difficult. You cared
about the plight of people in lands near and far, but now the media has bombarded you
with images of suffering to the point that you just don't have the energy to go on.
You've become cold and heartless, as though you'd lived in New York City for a year or
so. But you stand as a serious example to all others that they should turn off their TV
sets and start caring again.
Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.
Current mood:  confused Current music: http://www.its.caltech.edu/~yel/Fire.html
Thursday, April 15, 2004
4:54PM
The email we sent to the Febreze website last night:
We want to Febreeze the world! (we also think you should add an extra 'e' in the middle cause it looks better and makes me think of sunshine)
Here's the thing:
We are the Febreeze fairies! Once, we had a banana in our trash can. That was tonight. Kinky didn't want to smell it, so we Febreeeeeezed (not all those 'e's, just one extra). We Febreezed the trash can and the laundry and the Pope and the comforter and the pillow and Kinky's face and then we even Febreezed the banana! Now we figured out that we need to sneak into people's houses and Febreeze them and all their stuff! Especially bananas.
We are writing to you because we need money to buy costumes. Also, we would like to be on tv. We could be a good advertisement! Our motto is "Febreeze the world!!" (with 2 exclamation points and written in rainbow letters) and our password is "FEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" (but don't tell our enemies). For our costume, we would like to buy the world's biggest underwear. We can then eat a lot cause we are not the world's biggest people. We will share one pair of underwear to save you money. That way, each of us gets one leg hole, but we have to share the fly. We are good at sharing. Sometimes, Kinky lets me sleep in her bed.
We are very serious. Please put us on your commercials. The Febreeze Fairies could Febreeze the world and save the baby seals. But not the bananas.
Thank you.
The end.
FEBREEZE THE WORLD!!!
FEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
(oh, and we think Febreeze smells bad. And it didn't cover up the banana scent very well. And if you ever make banana-scneted Febreeze, we're quitting and keeping our big underwear. Also, does Febreeze kill brain cells? Cause Kinky is feeling lighter-headed than usual.)
Current mood: giggly Current music: THe first time is the deepest or whatever that song is
Wednesday, March 3, 2004
Tuesday, February 24, 2004
But I'm afraid that I'll get in trouble when I post anything real. This, I think, is safe.
Step 1: Open your itunes/musicmatch/whatever you use to play MP3s
Step 2: Put all of your music on random.
Step 3: Write down the first fifteen or twenty songs it plays, no matter how embarrassing.
1. Sonic Flood My Refuge
2. Go go go Joseph
3. A Cappella Praise Joy of my Desire and More Precious Than Silver
4. Rockapella the lion sleeps tonight (although it must be mislabeled cause there are a lot of boys and there's percussion)
5. Those Canaan Days (weird that there are 2 songs from Joseph)
6. TJ Choir That's When the Music Takes Me
7. Aladdin Street Urchins
8. Joseph Song of the King (3?!? I have 1940 songs!! What's going on?)
9. Brown Derbies Faith
10. Pete's Dragon Passomaquoddy
11. Matt Maher Lamb of God
12. Tom Booth I will Choose Christ
13. Beatles Santa Claus is Coming to Town
14. Veggie Tales the Rumour Weed
15. Hullabahoos Man in the Mirror
16. Some a cappella group No More I Love Yous
17. Theme song of Who's the Boss
18. Brown Derbies Seven
19. Muppets Happy Feet
20. New Artist Track 05 (Bebo Norman Perhaps She'll Wait)
Only 5 Jesus and 5 a cappella. I'm surprised. But I guess my 800 random bizarre songs make things weird. And no country, either!
Happy Mardi Gras!!
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