Rule Follower

I am a rule follower. I always have been. OCD, anal retentive, whatever you want to call it...I just like things to be done the "right way", and that includes following the rules. I always thought this was just a part of who I am, but something that happened last night got me to thinking...

My friends and I went to see Quantum of Solace last night (really good movie!). But because our schedule got a little off (read: we were unable to tear ourselves away from the Friends of Waco Library Book Sale in time to make a Wal-Mart run before dinner), we ended up having an hour to kill before our movie started. So we decided to go to Wal-Mart and get some candy to take into the movie theater with us (which is, technically, breaking the rules.) But I was fine with it...I have cousins in NC who are experts at sneaking stuff into theaters and besides, I think charging $3.50 for a box of M&M's is ridiculous. So we bought our (cheap!) candy at Wal-Mart and went back to the theater. As we were parking, Rachel and I wondered if we could also sneak in our drinks that we had left over from dinner. A few moments and some clever purse zipping later, we were walking into the theater laden with contraband candy and soda. Oooh the criminality. All was well until, as we stood in line waiting to get into the theater, I felt a strange wet sensation against my leg. Soon, a drop of Coke fell onto my toe. Yeah-my drink was leaking. All down in my favorite Vera hipster. I high-tailed it to the restroom and tried to dry out my purse and its contents (including my candy), but didn't have much luck. I poured the drink out and went back to the theater. Having a soda in the movie was SO NOT WORTH IT.

So I think this is why I always follow the rules-because when I don't, I GET IN TROUBLE. No matter what. Freshman year of high school, when everyone was sneaking out of their hotel rooms on the orchestra trip? I was in the group that got caught. It is inevitable. I know this is really a good thing, keeps me honest and everything, but sometimes it's just annoying! This is why I am a rule follower. The moral here? Don't try to get me to break the rules with you...it probably won't end well.

In other news, SIC 'EM BEARS! We totally WHOOPed up on the Aggies today, which really isn't saying much because, well, they suck, but it was still fun! And cold-very, very, cold. I think I'm going to go curl up in bed and watch some more football. Sounds good to me. Later people!

What I Know and what I Do

What I know: I serve a God who is bigger than this election. He is big enough to take care of this country, and He already knows everything that is going to happen in the next 4 years, and beyond.

What I Do: I've been glued to the TV and internet for the past few hours, counting every electoral vote and watching the little states turn blue. And worrying.

"So I find this law at work: when I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord!" -Romans 7:21-25

This is so me right now.

Why am I blogging???

I could list for you all the things I should be doing. Things like studying for a Calculus quiz that's in 10 hours, reading articles for a research paper that needs to grow 3 pages by next week, or even just taking a shower and getting into bed before 11 for the first time all week. Why am I not doing those things? I really don't know.

Here are some random thoughts that are tumbling around in my brain. Please don't expect this to make any sense, because most likely it won't.

I really don't want to get ready for bed, because that means I have to take my makeup off. I so seldom get "pretty" when I'm at school, but tonight we had an orchestra concert and I just wanted to look a little nicer than usual. And now I really want to stay dolled up for just a little longer, just a little longer...I don't really know why.

I had 2 tests yesterday. The one I felt pretty good about I already know the grade, and it's a B. Ick. The other one I was pretty sure I bombed walking out, and realllly don't want to see the grade now.

I am so so very unsure of what path my life is going to take. Sometimes I think not having a real major is a curse, because it has allowed me to sort of slip and slide along under the radar, and I could keep doing that. I just don't want to. I want to have a defined goal, an ambition, a plan! I'm a planning kind of girl! Everyone has an opinion, and I know it's going to be discussed this weekend, and I just-don't know what to do.

Tonight was my first ever orchestra concert that not one person in the audience was there "for" me. I have always had at least one parent, friend, pastor, something there to hear me. I didn't play well, either, my mind was all over the place. It was weird. Also, I don't think orchestra is going to fit into my schedule next semester, which is really sad. But then again, who knows what my schedule for next semester will look like? See above.

I have serious roommate issues. I just want us to coexist, but she thinks that we should still be "BFFs" like we were in high school. If I had it to do over again, I would never have roomed with someone I already knew. At least not someone I knew so well. A roommate should be someone you like, but not someone you really feel compelled to spend lots of time with and spill your every living secret to. Doesn't work, people, and now we're stuck together 'til May, doing this awkward dance around each other's feelings, and I just wish I could get out of it.

My brother is now a licensed driver-that makes me feel so OLD! All my friends are turning 20. In a lot of ways, I feel ready to leave the "teen years" behind, but 20 just seems really up there in age. I know it's not. But it seems that way. 17 always seemed old, too. I guess it's just a matter of perspective.

I have definitely already started listening to Christmas music. It's my favorite. I can't wait for the weather to get cold and stay that way. It's been teasing us the last few nights, but it always warms up in the daytime. I'm so ready to stop sweating every time I walk outside!

Today I ate: pancakes, a banana, hot tea, a cupcake, crackers with cheese, a Coke Zero, a Chick-Fil-A sandwich, waffle fries, a Capri Sun, another cupcake, a piece of wheat bread, and a cheese stick. It was a weird culinary day, and I think my stomach is starting to realize that and let me know how it feels. Urgh.

Whoo, well that was definitely random. I guess I just needed to get some stuff out "there". I think I will go take a shower, and probably wing it on the Calc quiz.

"Glory be to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Alleluia. Amen."

Something to Say...

So I've been informed that people actually read this blog...really? Why? Oh, I'm just kidding. But I feel bad because I really don't have all that much to blog about. This week is Vacation Bible School, and I have 2-2 1/2 year olds. They're cute, and it's actually a lot easier than my normal preschool job...go figure, right? I've been working switchboard after VBS, too, which makes for long days but at least I'm making some money this week (since VBS is volunteer).

I'm in this weird spot of missing some parts of Baylor life (mostly the people...not so much the food), but still really enjoying being with my family...I know it's weird, but I would honestly rather just sit at home and hang out with my family than go out and do whatever it is I'm supposed to do when I go out. For the most part, anyway. There are some days when I just have to get out, but then I do and I'm ready to come home. But like I said, I miss my Baylor friends too.

It's Father's Day weekend, which means several things...The US Open, so leave Dad alone and let him watch golf, and the banjo show. Ah, the banjo show. My grandfather is in a banjo band (let that sink in for a moment, will you?) and every year they have their big show down in Galveston on Father's Day weekend. I can't say it's my favorite theatrical performance of the year, but we always go because he loves it and we love him. A few years I even performed in the show, but we won't go into that. That's a post for another day. But that's really what these holidays are all about, I guess...doing something that may not be your favorite thing to make someone else really happy. OK sentimental moment over, I'm going to bed because y'all, I'm exhausted. I tell ya, getting up at 7:30 and dealing with babies and phone calls all day will do that to a girl.

Thoughts on a Tuesday...

-I love my job. I love it more when ALL my babies take good, long naps.
-I'm cooking a Stouffer's lasagna for dinner. I'm pretty excited about it.
-In a little under an hour I will hopefully have won a Vera Bradley microfiber wallet on eBay!
-Tomorrow is my last day of freedom for the foreseeable future...then work starts all the time! Yikes!
-It took over 3 hours to clean my room on Sunday. Yes, 3 hours.
-I started Same Kind of Different as Me today for my Welcome Week assigned reading, it is sooo much better than last year's book.
-I have no more thoughts. Life is good, Houston is hot, and Jennifer is out of here.

Hot Pink Toenails, Service, and Memories

I have hot pink toenails. They make me smile every time I see them.

Today I went to the Mission Training Center to volunteer with my grandfather (he's there every Wednesday). I didn't really know what I was going to be doing before I got there, sat in on a few of the "counseling/prayer" sessions, and finally found my place behind the scenes packing up bags of food for people who came in. Sometimes I wish I was more comfortable with the evangelism side of things, but I know my gift is service, not necessarily interacting with the people out on the front lines. It was a really fun day, I was the youngest person volunteering by-ahem-several years, but I really enjoyed it and hopefully will get to go back at least the next few weeks before I start working switchboard.

May 21,2005...wow I still miss him like crazy. Ridiculous, no?

I'm auditioning for the church orchestra tonight, so I can hopefully play with them this summer. Wish me luck!

Nostalgic much?

First of all, I'm no longer going to Honduras. Sadness, I know. There's lots of political unrest and protests going on there right now because the government is apparently refusing to address some pretty important issues with water and hunger and other basic needs of their people. So be in prayer for the people of Honduras, as well as their leaders, that they would turn to God and realize the needs of their people and how best to meet those needs. That was, needless to say, a pretty crazy shift in my plans-from planning to be out of the country for the next 2 weeks to now being home-and really having nothing to do! I'm hoping to be able to start working early, so we'll see.

Today I am-still-unpacking all of my stuff from the dorm. And if I'm being completely honest, I didn't get much at all unpacked today. But I did take the time to go through my bookshelves, since I recently realized that The Baby-Sitter's Club and Amber Brown is Not a Crayon are not exactly my reading material of choice any longer. So today I went through them all, and made a list of some of the books I had. Y'all, I own over 100 books from that series. And while going through them I realized that I have read most of the ones that I don't own-because I would say, "I know I own that book!" but, alas, it was not among my collection. It was fun to reminsce and think about the good old days-and yes, I'm pretty sure that saying that makes me officially old. It's okay. Really. I'm over it.

I also watched Dreamgirls last night (courtesy of Netflix), and it was really good! I mean, it was a musical, so it automatically got brownie points with me. (I mean, who wouldn't want to live in a world where people randomly burst into song and perfectly-choreographed dancing at the drop of a hat? Paradise, I'm convinced.) But the story was engrossing and I really enjoyed it-enough to stay up reaaaaalllly late to finish! I'm creating a really bad habit of staying up well past midnight and then sleeping until at least 10. I realize that's typical of teenagers, but it isn't going to fly once I start work and actually have to act like a responsible adult! Oh well. I'll make it happen. Anyways, I really loved the movie-5 stars from Jennifer! And I downloaded the soundtrack this afternoon---Mmmmm. Those girls (and guys) can sayng! Pretty fun. So that was my day. Too thrilling, I know. I'm going to go check on my Crock-Pot Creation (Yes, Jennifer is cooking people. Be amazed.)

I think I need to leave the country...

...I spend entirely too much money without the distraction of school. I mean, it's things I *need* for my trip and stuff, but still.

I leave Friday morning to go to Honduras. It definitely hasn't sunk in to my brain yet that it's so soon, but I'm set as far as having everything I need. As far as packing, well....I don't have any room to do it because I still haven't unpacked my dorm stuff yet. I have too much junk and not enough room to put it all away.

On the trip we'll be teaching in a Christian school in Choluteca, while the "Engineers with a Mission" put together a water purification system in a nearby village. It should be fun, I can't wait to build relationships with the kids and teachers, not to mention the other students on the trip! I'll try to update here, depending on what kind of Internet access we have. They say the hotel is pretty nice, so we'll see!

I'm going to go work on unpacking. Or packing. Oh and I have to go pick up my brudder in...like 10 minutes. Oops. I totally didn't, like, forget about him. Or something. Hee hee.

The Class that Almost Wasn't...

So, the blog. Hasn't really caught on yet, in case you didn't notice. Hee hee. As of today, I am officially done with my freshman year of college! And, as a bonus, I think I might actually have something worth blogging about! So here goes...

One of my classes this semester was PHI 1308-Introduction to Ethics. Yes, people, those first three letters stand for PHILOSOPHY. As in, sit around and talk about Aristotle and Plato and how to be great thinkers like them. Not exactly my cup of shaken iced green tea. But being as how my major has no degree requirements, and being as how I only had 14 credit hours when planning my Spring schedule (in the oh-so-Springy month of October, thank you very much early registration) and being as how I am required by this magic major of magnificence to carry at least 15 hours a semester, I really really needed a 3 hour course that was offered at 9 AM MWF. So I did what any rational person would do. I selected every last department in the online course catalog and went through every. single. course. Baylor offered in that time slot for Spring '08. Here's a sampling of what I came up with:

-Financial Accounting? Erm...not so much.
-American Journalism History...sounds fascinating but I think I'm going to pass.
-Electrical Circuit Theory...well of course. How did I ever miss that in my pre-physical therapy course requirements? *insert sarcasm here. And really after everything else I ever say.*

You get the picture. The pickings, they were slim. But lo and behold (I love that phrase), there sat Intro to Ethics, MWF 9-9:50, Professor X. "Well," said my mom (who was of course helping me pick out my courses because, hello, did you really expect me to act like a grown-up adult person, capable of making her own decisions? I didn't think so.) "Ethics is good for a medical-type person. What if you have to decide whether to pull the plug on a terminal patient? Or what if a father's one chance to live is to transplant his adopted daughter's ex-husband's kindey? Wouldn't you need to know what to do then?" Well, yes, Mom, I guess I would need to know what to do then. And I definitely don't think anyone has been watching too much ER/Grey's Anatomy/House lately. Nooo sir. Anyway. So I signed up for PHI 1308, mostly just to fill the void in my schedule with a class that, surely, couldn't be that hard. I would be fine.

Fast forward a few months. First semester is over, and it's Christmas time. I must have told five hundred people what my class schedule looked like for next semester (Well, really it just looks like a sheet of printing paper with a fancy grid and notes like "Room 206-up the stairs and to the right!" because Jennifer is so not at all OCD or afraid of getting lost on the way to class and being inexcusably late on the first day and making a bad impression and I THINK I AM HAVING AN ANEURYSM JUST TYPING ABOUT IT! She's totally not like that.) Anyway, my answer went something like this: "Well I'm signed up for intermediate Spanish, which I'm pretty excited about, and Biology, Religion, and...Ethics...but I'm probably going to drop that because I'm really not so much a philosophy person."

So I get into class on the first day. (On time and totally not lost, thank you very much.) The prof is a young grad student who made me laugh and seemed to actually like philosophy? Weird. But he did enough in the first few weeks to convince me not to drop the class. We read Geach, Mill, Kant, Jane Austen (loves it), and Aristotle. And y'all, something crazy happened. I actually liked philosophy. It wasn't all sitting around talking about old dead guys and what they thought. It was practical, useful stuff that answered questions I'd always had, and then brought up a whole mess of new ones to think about. Yeah. Now, I'm not going to be a philosophy major. Sorry. But you know what? I ended up with a 98 in that class. A 98! In a college course! Not that it was insanely challenging, but still. That's pretty dang good, if I do say so myself, ever so humbly. And you know that Spanish class I was so "excited" about? Yeah. My first B in college, frustrations without end, and the biggest college disappointment yet.

The thing that really stands out here to me (besides the fact that, I PULLED A 98 IN A COLLEGE CLASS!!!!) is that God really does work in crazy ways. I mean, yes, I know this. I could cite a bazillion stories from my life and the lives of people I know to show you this. And maybe this isn't even a really good one. But y'all, I totally thought I knew what was going to go down in this course. I would hate it, grit my teeth, and make it through, hoping that it wouldn't ruin my GPA (which totally isn't important, just that it's tied to my major and grad school and every last one of my scholarships...). But God took it and did something totally awesome. So many times I shut the door on God, put Him in a box, or whatever lingo-catchphrase-churchy word you would like to use. I like to think that I know exactly how things are going to happen and every detail of what my life is going to look like. Maybe when I do that, I'm missing out on a great semester with a really cool prof, where I learn some important things. Maybe when I'm looking for my awesome Spanish class to make my day at the end of the semester, He really wants to use the Ethics course that I signed up for on a whim. Just a thought. Or two or seventy-three.

Maybe this blogging thing will stick after all.

"'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the LORD." -Isaiah 55:8

Hello World!

Welcome to my blog! I've been reading a few people's blogs pretty regularly lately (actually I think "lurking" is the appropriate term), and I've finally decided to try it out for myself. So here I am! Hopefully I will actually be able to come up with things to say on a regular basis-my college life basically consists of class, eating, and studying. That's not entirely true, so hopefully I will have interesting material to blog about. All right, I think that's probably enough for my first-ever blog. Thanks for stopping by!