Hey everyone! I decided that I would write tonight since I don't know when I will be able to again this break. I am sitting in my friend Laura's brother's room talking with Laura and Paul about schtuff. We listened to Bruce Springsteen a couple times on the way down but mostly listened to good stuff. Not saying that Bruce Springsteen doesn't have some good stuff. We stopped once at a gas station at the right side of the road and I got to hear his famed Kazoo playing. It was pretty hilarious. He is a good listener. Or maybe I just talk too much. Either way, he likes tall buildings. So, I am super excited about seeing my family. I get to see my brother graduate from his Seaborne Challenge thingie. I'm so happy! I don't know when my sister is coming down. I pre-ordered tickets to see the Two Towers when it opens so that we will get to see it opening night and also so that my family has no choice but to come with me to watch it. Anyways, I'm tired. Gonna go beddy-bye now.

Oh what a day yesterday and today.....yesterday I woke up and it was bitterly cold. I started longing for snow. Didn't know the weather report or anything, just longed for snow. Big, fluffy flakes floating down, mussing up the atmosphere with their crazy orderliness and patterns and swirls. That's what I wanted and prayed for, just a little, absent-minded prayer I didn't think much of. I saw Zeek in my Rec class, and we had a good time laughing about EVERYTHING, as usual. I told him,"If it snows, I want to come home with you and Phil in the country to play," and he said,"Okay!" Before I said "Bye" I go,"If it snows, call me!" He said alright. I was jokin'. Boy did I have no clue.

I went and ate lunch and then sat in the BS lounge to watch a teeny bit of news. What did I see? Winter Storm watch. Yes! But it was just a watch. Some guy was interviewed about preparing his trucks for salting all the roads. Hmmm......I came to my room and took a small nap, then strapped on the rollerblades and bundled up to see the dentist. I listened to Lifehouse on the way and it was fun, but I fell three times, once right smack on my butt. Ouch. Anyways, while the dentist was doin' his work, the assistant starts talkin' bout how the "watch" has turned to a "warning," and that that means it will happen. With my mouth wide open I said,"Yahhhy" and the dentist looks at me and goes,"What? Why do you say that?" and I go,"aahshhnooaahww" and he goes,"No! If it snows tonight I'm gonna get you!" I only got more excited. I came home and played some worship on guitar and had a great time. I went nuts. Then I went to class and came out to even colder weather. I called Kristin and we went to New Hall for dinner, and I talked to my friend Paul about a ride to Texas. He has some strange rules for the road though: Bruce Springsteen the whole way, with few breaks; bathroom breaks only every four hundred miles, and then only at gas stations on the right side of the road.

I walked to the library to try my hand at getting my paper done a couple nights before it was due, a feat I haven't pulled since the start of college. I got into the zone and completed it at 9:00pm. I decided to reward myself with some Chai from the Mudhouse and study my stuff for my sales presentation for a little while. So I took the shuttle to the Park n Ride and got off, not knowing that the night route goes the ENTIRE way, downtown included. So I ran from there to Kentwood and just missed it pulling out. I sat in Kentwood and waited for the next one. I was the only one on and walked from the drop-off to the Mudhouse in some small hail-like crap. Oh well, I thought. I went in, got some Chai, sat down and then saw my pal Laura and her friend, so I sat with them instead. We talked and did some work, and then Laura goes,"Ah, look, it's snowing." I jumped up out of my seat, yelped, and skipped outside, passing Andy and Sadie on the way out. Laura and I spun around and caught some on our tongues and she told me it's been five years since she's seen snow. We hugged and laughed and I worshipped and thanked God. It looked like a freakin' snow globe, the best kind--the exact kind I'd been longing for that morning. What a sense of wonderment and release I had with my stuff done and nothing to do but enjoy it that night. I called Zeek, and then Phil, looking for Zeek, but Phil didn't know where he was but said I could come, if it was possible. Sadie said she'd take me over there to hang out. Eventually she and I and Andy all left and walked through the loveliness to her truck. We went to the Chi Alpha house first, where I sat and waited for a while in the truck and talked to smell-good Dave, who's goin' to Scotland with me. Then we drove to Phil's and I got out and ran through it to the house. I came back out cause Andy and Sadie hadn't come in yet and Phil was scraping off his car. He soon got tired of it and wrote "no" and "hi" and "zoo" on some ppl's cars and we went in. We all looked at pictures, listened to music, played some music, they played video games, and watched Andy and Wayne run shirtless through the flurries. It was great. I got home at 2am, had a good talk with Arin, came inside, and spent the next two hours alone in my room, watching the snow in the dark out my window and smelling the air and listening to the stillness and praising God. What bliss.

"So, has he acquired any special skills? Like, can he hold his breath for five minutes or anything?"~Lacy, referring to my brother's stint in the Seaborne Challenge program, a half-army half-get-your-GED program for at-risk kids he's about to graduate from

Emperor's New Groove quote of the day:
"Hey Kronkie, could you top me off, pal? Be a friend?"~Kuzco

Okay....I really need to calm down. I have been really, really boy crazy lately. There's just a few I can't get over. And this one guy definitely knows, cause I hug him like, twenty times a day every time I see him and everyone else hears me talkin' bout how cute I think he is. My manager is even it on it!!! Dumb. I'm dumb. I guess I am just goin' hormonal (like you know, goin' postal, ha ha~okay sorry if that wasn't funny). I just know that the Christian I like doesn't like me, he likes one of my friends (well, at least I think he does, not sure yet though) and would therefore never ask me out, so I get all caught up in this other guy. But I would never go out with this other one cause he's not a Christian. It just boggles my mind. Every morning I wake up and it all doesn't matter. I think to myself, "Why in Heaven's name did I act like that last night?" Then I get around the boys again and I go nutso. What is wrong with me? I'm glad I'm not crazy about a bunch of 'em, but still, two is enough. And this one that doesn't even share my faith--just reminds me of Vin Diesel--he's really super sweet, but that doesn't cut it. ARGH!!!! I'm sure that over Christmas break I will get over both of them just cause I won't be around 'em. That will be good for the soul.....but then......who knows? Most likely I will just hang out with 'em one time and it will start all over again. Hopefully not though. In the case of not being in a dating relationship, distance does not make the heart grow fonder. It's happened before. GEEEEAWWWW!!! Oh yeah....today Mel and her mom and dad came into Applebee's, and it made me so happy. I hugger her and her parents cause I haven't seen them forever, and her dad said he was mad at me cause I didn't spend Thanksgiving with them, and I have for the last three years. I was missed! Well, let me tell you, I did miss them super duper much too. AH.....I love that girl and her fam.

I had a fantabulous (in the words of Lacy) Thanksgiving. I collected some great quotes that may actually make you guys laugh and not just me. We spent the day on Wednesday in Branson (me, Charity, and Berliana) and I finally caved in and bought meself some new pants for work. Then we drove to K.C. We went right by Andy's church!!! I was like,"Let's visit him!" but that wasn't possible anyways. So that night I met Charity's brother Tim and his wife, and their fiesty Jack Russel terrier Lily. She was CRAZY. It was great. She had a little problem with snapping at people's faces, but otherwise she was so cute. We played Scattergories, then watched sappy love story movie "Serendipity," then went to bed. Next morning we watched the Macy's day parade and then ate. I was the first one done--agh! But I was also the first one served up so.....finally we packed up and drove back to Branson, and stayed the night there before coming home to work a grand double shift at the Bee on Friday. Oh, yeah, on Tuesday night we went and watched "Triple X" at the $5 theater in Branson and then saw the Shepherd of the Hills lights. It was great, great fun. :)

I'm tired....need to do homework....want to read my book......don't want to do homework......want some hot mocha-flavored coffee or some chai from the mudhouse........zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz........

"She let's ninja farts!!!"~Tim, talking about Lily's bodily functions

"...it was a fro window!"~Jeremiah last night at work

"My sister has bubbly toes!!!"~Megan at work tonight

Emperor's New Groove quote of the day:
"Maybe you should consider re-labeling some of them..."~Kronk to Yzma about her potions

Hello folks. I get to go home with pal Charity today, and spend Thanksgiving with them. Should be nice. I got to play-crap-wait--no. Nevermind. Anyways......Bet you're all wondering what that was about. Mandy is the only one who knows......okay I'll quit bein' all mysterious. It's just something I realized I'm not supposed to tell.

I changed my title of this page to Nicoustical's Rantings because, well, I don't really rant daily. But, I have been lately. But usually I don't, so. Hope that makes sense. I have to work on a paper today and other stuff tomorrow to prepare for next week. I'm wondering if I want to go to my workplace's annual Christmas party. It's gonna be at Jordan Valley Ice Park, and there's gonna be no alcohol and if anyone comes in drunk, they're getting kicked out. I have NEVER gone out with my friends from work, although I've been invited many times. My friend Toby has invited me to his parties several times; however, last time he had a kegger, while he was handing out the maps to his house, he looked at me and goes,"I would invite you but I know you won't come." Hmmmm. This might make me feel bad, but I just never have done it. They all get it now. I'm not like them. I hope they know I don't think I'm better than them or anything. I love them all very much. I just don't want to see any of them emaciated---wait!--no, inibriated. Is that how you spell it? I'm a champion speller, and I have a feeling that that word was all wrong. Well, not really. I mean, not a champion speller. I am making no sense, am I? I'm tired.

I started reading That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis. It is very interesting so far. But, I kinda wanna save it for the car ride to Dallas with my pal Laura, when I go home. I miss my family SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH. I don't know what to do with myself. I just wanna be with them. Badly.

Yesterday my friend Lacy came over and visited me and talked with me. It was definitely an unexpected but wonderful surprise. I miss her. We had a nice long talk and I got to hear about some things in her life, and I blabbed quite a bit like I always do. Her dad, who has been a Christian for about 9 months or so now, sounds like he's doing great. I'm excited for her and him. She's going to live in Guam all next semester, so that's also why it was good to talk to her. Yeah, I said Guam. You know that little teeny spot on the globe out in the middle of the Pacific ocean? Yeah, that's where she's going. Crazy girl. :)

Today I had an evaluation in my Management class, and I actually wrote comments on the back. I feel bad now. Oh, I just didn't write nice things about him. I wrote that he's boring, lectured the whole time, never smiled. And all theses things he did do. But now I feel I was a little harsh. Or just plain ol' harsh. Man!

Our Scotland team this year is going to be awesome. I am so excited. You all wanna know how I feel about the trip now? Huh? It's a shocker--completely at peace. It feels so right. Weird huh? I haven't been worrying about it the last few weeks and now that I'm going, I feel that that's just the way things were meant to be, that I'm meant to go. AHHHHHHH.........

"......she was a good lady and all.....I mean, more power to her, ya know?...but....."~my pal Gentri at work the other night, while we were discussing the Virgin Mary and people praying to her

Emperor's New Groove quote of the day:
"Yeah..that's a harp~and that's a dress!"~Shoulder Devil

THIS SUCKS!!!! I am missing two AWESOME shows cause I'm leavin' for break before they get here. Chevelle is going to be in SPRINGFIELD on December 18th!!!!! Dang it!!!! and then Jimmy is gonna be in St. Louis and KC Dec.14th and 17th or somethin' like that. Man. No shows in Texas or Nevada, where I will be. oh well.

Holy smokes I've written three times this week; that's a record for this semester, I think. Well, guess who rejected me. You guessed it. NOO! I didn't ask out the guy I like!!!! Petra rejected me. That's right. They're gonna be getting really busy so they don't have time to HIRE SOMEONE WHO WILL WORK FOR FREE. Oh well. I am going to now check out Ski Shack and hope and pray that works out. I went there yesterday with Kristin and we talked to a couple of really nice guys there about boarding and stuff. I need a snowboard!!! I sold mine two years ago because I thought "I'm not gonna be snowboarding anytime soon, I'm too poor," but hey, my dad pulled me a good surprise. So I have been lookin' around online cause I still have my clicker boots, but nope, nothing looks affordable and promising. I will have to do a more in-depth search I guess.

Okay, I have to go to work, so check ya'll later. Oh yeah......I'm on the Scotland Inverness team!!!! What was I thinking?.......

Emperor's New Groove quote of the day:
....wait, I can't think of one. I have to go to work now, remember?

AHHHH.....................the feeling I have been having the last two days........is sweetness. I have been missing Scotland and London and listening to Coldplay like no other. I even figured out how to play, "See you Soon," in a different tuning. I don't know how to do that but I made myself try and I figured it out. It was in E A E A C# e tuning. Pretty cool. Then I broke my D string. Good job. So I was walkin' around today listenin' to Coldplay, watching the leaves churning in the air and listening to their rustling and smiling cause I felt God walking right with me. He really made a beautiful world. I listened to my "Best of Beth" cd that MOo made me yesterday, featuring Coldplay (of course), Dashboard, Ben Harper, Jimmy, Gin Blossoms, David Gray, and Yo La Tenga (I think?), along with that fabulous "Wonderwall" by Oasis. She put on the cd "Mmmmmmm....good guitar for those rainy days." Yesterday wasn't particularly rainy, but I knew what she meant. I got in my melancholy mood cause of the music. It makes me feel like London. It's cloudy, rainy, mellow. In Britain, it feels like you're at the edge of the world. It feels like all these people are running around like mad in endless, meaningless cycles that will never end and show no hope. There's a feeling of being right at the brink of some new phase of humanity that will still not satisfy the world's needs. A feeling of drudgery. I don't know how else to describe it. Saying it like that may make it sound like I don't like London. Well, I do. Have you ever seen that video by The Verve for "Bittersweet Symphony" and the guy's walking around some city, just singing into the camera and not looking where he's going and he runs into all these random people.....or that Coldplay video, Yellow, where he just is walking on a cloudy beach singing at ya. Well, it's the mood that runs through those scenes that runs through the UK. But, for some reason, I really liked it. I enjoy that feeling of solitude and wonderment. But, I musn't let myself get too carried away, because I need that sunshiney-ness that seems to run through the rest of the world. See, when I think about Australia, I don't get that feeling. When I think of Spain or South America, that mood doesn't prevail. The UK has a strong uniqueness. So if any of my Scottish lassies are readin' this, you live in a cool place. But I wouldn't want to feel that way all the time. Britain needs Jesus just as much if not more than any other place. There's something sad in the fact that it used to be such a Christian country and now the faith is dead and the religion of it all is alive and well and not helping anyone's soul. hmmmmm..........

Speaking of Scotland, I had a dream about it the other night. I was talkin' to a bunch of Scottish kids, just hanging out, and then *flash* I was in a classroom in front, talkin' to all these kids about how I was gonna miss 'em and telling them that they had no clue how much they meant to me and how much I loved 'em. ??????

God is making me fly.......I need to not get carried away and stay grounded. There's battles a' plenty to be fought.

"......and then I ate all of his mashed potatoes..."~Heather at work

Emperor's New Groove quote of the day:
"No, I don't think I will...."~Kuzco on the bridge in a REALLY sarcastic voice

Woah....I totally went wakeboarding today, November 17th. Am I crazy or what? It was so fun though! I met my goal of going toeside out of the wake. Some of you may know what that means, some of you may not. I've had a very eye-opening weekend. God's revealed a lot of things to me and really spoken to me, just spoken His promises deep into my heart, and I've heard them like I've never heard 'em before this time. I believe Him now. I see it in my life. I see these things happening because of Him and through Him; things I never expected or never would have seen before. It can only be explained by putting God in the picture. I'm just in awe. He has taken so many things I clung to away from me this semester, to the point where I am truly forced to rely on Him. It is definitely hard, but I know that He does it cause He loves me. I can only really depend on Him anyways. Ya wanna know some of the things He's said? Well......
He's promised that He has the ONE for me, someone who will fit me just right. He's promised I need not worry about that. He's promised that I will be taken care of financially. He's promised that He will take care of my small group. He's promised to help my friends I care so deeply about, that it's not all up to me. He's told me that I have worth whether or not the guy I like likes me back. He's told me I have worth whether or not ANY guy EVER likes me AGAIN!!! :) (yes, this is a problem for many Christian girls to believe, I believe.) And He's whispered things to my heart in the middle of nights so lonely words that I could never utter here or anywhere else and which I would not know how to anyways. He's given me the most strange but utmost comfort. His love is unlike any other.

I was upset this weekend mainly cause I realized something pretty important about the guy I like that changes things up quite a bit, something I didn't really expect, and because I feel so burdened for my girl friends. Ones who don't know Jesus and who I want to help but don't know WHAT THE HECK I'm supposed to do and girls who do know Him but are struggling and hurting deeply just the same because they are listening to all the CRAP the enemy tells them about themselves and the world and believe it without even knowing they're being lied to. It's just not right and someone's gotta do something about it. ARGH!!!!!

Here's a holla out to my homie Mandy MOo! You are keepin' me strong by living the way you are and because of all the things you've helped teach me and taught me in the past, I've got a solid ground to stand on. The stuff we've been through has built me a good foundation and I thank you for having the guts to tell me your mind. A holla out to Lacy for doing the same--you have a beautifully open mind and spirit, and I miss you. To Mel as well, you don't know how much you've done for me. You're the one who brought me to my best friend by being one of mine.

Wakeboarding, ahh......what shall I say? I went third or fourth, can't remember, and wore Kristin's cool wet suit. I started off the dock and then took a "kerplunk" pretty quick-like. Kristin was like,"Remember to breathe when you hit the water." I'm like,"okay??" Yeah. When I hit the water, my body had a reaction that I never would've expected. It froze up! I couldn't breathe! I was tryin and nothin' was comin' in!!! Finally I calmed my whole self down and said,"Self, calm down now, ya hear?" (that was for you Kristin! he he) I fell many times but accomplished my goal I mentioned before. I got to see some AWESOME boarders though, they were just amazing. Our friend Jake took about five or six HORRID falls. Kristin cleared the wake on her jump!! It was pretty sweet. This girl is a stud, lemme tell you. After we ate and came home, I took her to see a dance concert. I loved it but she didn't like it much. It was so cool, I finally go to see this classic dance I've wanted to see for a long time. I even dressed up.

I went to Petra Rock Climing Gym on Thursday to talk to the manager about doing my practicuum there. I think it might work out. I have to work 90 hours at a place in my field and stuff. I think it will be fun!!!

"Hey, and don't let that bird crap on you!"~Thomas on the boat today, after givin' some pointers to one of the guys boarding

Emperor's New Groove quote of the day:
"....make my potatoes a salad..."~Kuzco and Yzma, at the SAME TIME!

I must say I have the COOLEST password for this site. Anyways....I just got back from a super-duper weekend spent in Chicago with my super duper bud Mandy MOo. I went up with Darcy, Aimee, and Charity. The drive was great....nice and peaceful...I got to blab to Charity and stuff and watch Darcy talk to Rainbow, her pet sugar glider (a kind of super cute flying squirrel, I guess). We got up there at around 2 and found her place lickety-split. Let me tell you the nighttime Chicago skyline is just beautiful. I definitely enjoyed driving up there better than flying. Don't know why. Lace and I flew up there over last spring break. I guess it's cause we had a terrible landing. We all blabbed for a while and then went to bed. Next day we slept till around 10:30 and then got ready. We ate some chocolate chip waffles and listened to some mp3's. Then Mandy showed us around. We ate at this awesome little place called "3rd Coast" and it was so good. I got this excellent salad and some ice cream. Then Moo and I went to Borders while the girls went lookin' around, and I tried to see which Lord of the Rings illustrated book Mandy might want, but she wanted to wait for one. So hopefully we can find an exquisitely crafted one somewhere else. We both had to use the bathroom pretty bad the whole time and they had one of those pay to use the toilet things so we went to Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Instantly talked about weddings. I told her about Chad and Melanie's wedding this summer--it was beautiful....

We came home and then took the girls to their first show, The Ataris. Then we drove to Joel's house for his bumpin' going away party. Yeah. Two of his friends came. "Well, I did email them all about it just yesterday afternoon.....," he said. He he. We snarfed some dip and then played the guitar and Mandy sang me a lovely Dixie Chicks song she wanted me to hear. She was gonna play it but couldn't remember so she just goes,"AH, I'll just sing it to you," which if you haven't heard is one of my favorite most lovely sounds. :) Then we went downstairs and looked at some pics. I was gonna drive her home but I am pathetic at driving aggressively so she switched me. We drove down Michigan avenue on the way back with Toby Mac and John Reuben turned up really loud and we did some dancin'. Oh, that was definitely my favorite moment of the whole trip. There was no where else in the whole world I would have rather been at that moment but with my best bud, actin like a dork, listenin' to her rap about "extreme days".......

We talked about some old eighties cartoon spiels and fell asleep to the attractive sound of my coughing. We woke up at the same time (we always do that) and looked at each other and smiled, and got up to get ready to go downtown. We went to J Crew and got some nifty stuff and took pictures of a cool piano guy. Then we checked out the thrift stores and I went and got some disgusting cough drops. We got ready to go to Giordano's, a Chicago pizza place, and I was prayin' cause it is majorly stressful drivin' down there. Charity, Darcy, and Aimee got a dose of Chicago-style drivin', that's for sure. That girl can move her little Saturn. The pizza was good stuff, and I ate more than anyone (of course.) Then MOo and I went home after droppin' the girls off at Boxcar Racer and just hung out with Joel the whole night. We fell asleep watchin' Trading Spaces and of course, listening to me cough some more. Oh yeah! MOo showed me her SIMS "hot date" and I'm in it wearing a cheesy Barbie (one shoulder) shirt. He he. She even made me have a special jam-making station. She also made our friends Andy and Brandon on there and it was TOO hilawious. Andy was all skinny with shaggy blond hair and Converse All-Stars on and Brandon was buff and bald. It was great. We left at around 12 the next day and had a nice drive home. Aimee and Charity switched about half-way or more and Aimee went a little under 100 most of the time (well, close). It was funny.

Let me tell ya bout how MOo blessed my birthday with gifts......new sport pants, a new PowerPuff Girls shirt, an AWESOME RAD Chicago thrift store shirt, three cd's with silly pics of me on them and special music for each, several home-made buttons, a new necklace and bracelet, my old Volcom shirt that I forgot I had let her borrow, a cool thrift store long city coat that she used to wear, and prally more stuff that I don't remember. :) :) :) I felt so loved!!!!!!!!!

Well, I'm sure there were simply millions of great quotes this past weekend but I don't remember any. MOo, thanks for a super time. I love you.

Emperor's New Groove quote of the day:
"He's even doing his own theme music....I'm so glad I was unconcious...."--Kuzco

It seems I am only able to write about once a week. Oh well. Yesterday was my 22nd birthday, and it was pretty good. I mean, I felt really loved. My mom sent me $100 bucks and a card that made me cry(with the included demand that I not "use the money to pay bills! Pamper yourself! You deserve it!"). Lace got me the Waterdeep "Sink or Swim" (yesss!!!) cd and a swim cap from Universite Laval, along with a silly card that smelled great thanks to some drawer (drow-er---ha ha ha!) freshener. My dad sent me $220, $180 of which went to SMS this morning (thanks so much Daddy!!!) Mandy sent me a sweet e-card. Karissa got me the new Coldplay cd. Megan got me a new COMFORTER with clouds on it that goes with my unicorn sheets. :) Eric sent me a little card. Nicole got me a shirt and some candy. Charity got me the nicest card and some Sweetarts. Kristin made me the DORKIEST card and she got me some new Dream by the GAP perfume last weekend. I bought myself the new Chevelle and Foo Fighters cds, and I bought the Cure "Disintegration," Foo Fighter's self-titled, and the first Lifehouse all at CD warhouse for excellent prices. YEAH!!!! I got to hang out at the mall with said bud Karissa and Arin and Andy. Then I got to hang out at Arin's with Phil and them for a while. It was jolly. OH! And my roommate made my bed for me and put away one of my shirts. Talk about nice.

I have a disabilities class right now, and I really like it, but sometimes it just makes me very aware of our post-modernist society's viewpoints. I was inspired to write a little somethin' somethin' during class today, and I am going to put it on here--very weird since I NEVER share my writings pretty much. I think peeps like Phil and Andy have inspired me to do so. But this will prally be a one time thing.

Disintegration

Nothing is anybody's fault
It's all in the blood
Passed down through the ages
Responsibility locked in DNA
We cannot blame ourselves
or the evil surrounding us all silently
but the enemy's plan is working
our sin is dissolving
into an array of diagnoses
our ability to take charge
is in our ability to suck a pill down
fixes us up, makes us tolerable
Normal
But....what is normal?
How dare we declare
a right or a wrong
How could we know truth?
Leave your opinions to the side
lean to conformity
in the guise of uniqueness
"Don't impose your rules on me"
(while I'll impose mine on the world)
I'm screamin' through
purposely dirtied lens
The absolutes lie outside our perception
Our souls truly long for a
distinguishing rock
in seas of disintegrating sin.

quotes of my day:
"Say 'She sells seashells by the seashore!' Say it!"--Clay, describing what we were gonna yell at our teacher if we were to jump him after class for not giving us our tests back (we figured out yesterday that he talks like the gopher on Winnie the Pooh)

"And (so and so, didn't hear the name) delivers this KILLER speech on FISH!!!"--some highschooler in the PSU today

Emperor's New Groove quote of the day:
"Mission accomplished."--Kronk

Well, today is Halloween! I am exhausted. I have had three tests the last three days and did pretty bad (at least I think I did) on all of them. I talked to my sister for two hours last night instead of studying, then fell asleep about three times this morning while I was trying to study. It was a good conversation with her though. She's so silly. She seems to be on a Red Hot Chili Peppers thing, cause she kept telling me how *bleepin* awesome their new cd is. I was like,"Dani! Quit cussing at me!" and she's like,"Oh yeah! Sorry...." She said something very hilarious and I completely forgot what it was. I wanted to quote it here but I cannot think of it. Oh well. I'm pretty sure I will be getting that RHCP cd for my birthday though.

My old roommate and one of my best friends, Jill, took me out to dinner for my birthday gift last night! It was so awesome! I saw her and my other old roommate, Elizabeth, in the lab, sitting right next to each other, and walked up to them and said,"AWWWW, well, look at that--two of my favorite people sitting right next to each other and they didn't even know it!" E-beth had to go but I sat next to Jill and printed off a ton of tabs and talked, and then she suggested that we go out to eat. Yay! Jill is a very busy woman and rarely has time to do anything spontaneous so that in itself was a blessing. We went to Chili's and blabbed and blabbed (you can guess who did MOST of the blabbing) and caught up on each other's lives and current events and such. I need to see her more this month since she is doing her student teaching all next semester, back home in St. Louis.

My pal Kristin has been blessing me too. She recently hemmed up a new pair of pants of mine and sewed up another shirt and pair of jeans, and she bought me some of my favorite perfume in the whole world when she went shopping with her friend Grace. AWWWWW! She makes me so happy. I feel very loved.

Oh, duh!!! I went to the Waterdeep concert on Tuesday night and it was SO BEAUTIFUL. I loved it. I bought the new Waterdeep cd and have been listening to it the past couple of days. One of the best elements of their concerts is when Don starts talking about something he has been thinking about lately, and he goes on and on and into 18 different tangents and then finally comes back to his original point but then starts off again, and his wife Lori has to be like,"Hey!" It's great. They did several of their 10+ minute jams and got a little funky. I think my new favorite song of theirs is "We're All Dying, Tracy James." Next up in line would have to be the next song, "On Our Way to Crazy."

Keep prayin for me to get that new job!!! I'm so sick of the Bee.

".....and the guys' hall smells like......some combination of toothpaste and......butt."--Don Chaffer, describing the weird dorm smells that linger forever

Emperor's New Groove quote of the day:
"...........Grooooooooooooooooooooooooove....."-old guy that got thrown out the window ( thought it sounded kind of like,"boooo-oooooh," you know, like, a ghost?)

Oh! Hello! I think I must have an "open" look, because today is the second time this year that some random stranger has come up to me while I was eating my Sunday breakfast, asked if I wanted some company, and, regardless of my answer, sat down. My answer today was,"Uh, ummm...well........" The person's name today was Mike, and he told me about how he doesn't want to work and that although he doesn't like getting up so early for breakfast, he sure is glad he does cause he gets some sweet stuff (waffles.) Hmmm.....okay. It was about 12:45 at that time-- or so I thought. Then I realized-"Oh, hey! Daylight savings time!" and was glad. I love that extra hour. It really does help. Anyways, I was pretty much done eating so I sat with him for about two minutes. Do I have a sign on my head that says,"I'm lonely, that's why I'm eating by myself-- please sit with me!!" Didn't think so. Yeah, earlier this year some girl did the same thing. Oh well. I talked to them both. Nothing wrong with being severely outgoing.

So, last Wednesday, I went mountain biking at Little Sac with my bud Curtis. And let me tell you he was the coolest, cutest, best rider I've ever seen (hee hee there ya are Curtis.) Well, he told me to say that. No, no, don't get me wrong, he was very good, and a great biking companion. We rode for like an hour and a half. I had so much fun!!! I didn't fall. That itself was amazing, I haven't been riding for like, two years. I ALMOST fell a few times though. My thighs were burning the entire time and Curtis barely lost his breath. Hmmmm.....someone's out of shape. And it ain't the red head either.

I'm looking for a ride to the last Blindside concert close to us, in Little Rock, Arkansas, on Wednesday. It's my last chance!!! :( But, I do get to see Waterdeep on Tuesday night, which will be absolutely exquisite I am sure. I can't wait. They have two new cds out. I might pick up a bussing shift tomorrow night just so I can have some cash to buy those and any other cds of theirs I don't have yet.

I am still trying for that job at Borders. I am going to go in there tomorrow and try to talk to someone. I seriously want to work there. I bought the last two books in C.S. Lewis' Science Fiction trilogy, Perelandra and That Hideous Strength. I have decided to take it easy this time and take a little longer than a day and a half to read 'em. I flew through Out of the Silent Planet a bit too fast, I think.

Oh, man! Mandy, the beautimous woman who reccommended those books to me--well, I get to visit her in the windy city the weekend after my birthday!!! I am so excited! I am sure it will be absolutely frigid. I can't wait to see her and hang out and talk and blah blah blah it will be so awesome. I miss that girl so much!

I worked out for the first time in months last week, twice!!! I only lifted though. Doing cardio seems to be another problem. My hamstrings are so sore this weekend I can't walk normally. I didn't think I lifted too much!!! I just did one set. My biceps have a nice soreness to them. My triceps don't. I think I am gonna do a different exercise for them.

There are like, 8 million new cds I want to get. Including the following, if *ahem* anyone would like to know (hint hint). Coldplay's new one, Radiohead Amnesiac, Travis The Invisible Band, U2's new one, Dave Matthew's new one, Project 86 Truthless Heroes (mainly cause I have had so many guy friends tell me "You GOTTA hear it!!!"), Denison Marrs' new one (Mandy loves them!), Sarah Groves new one; yeah, basically tons of new ones. And some other old ones. Secular, Christian. I have a huge list.

Okay, I am gonna sign off for now. Oh, by the way-Mandy, the answer to your question in your last entry is this: That's cause Jimmy Eat World ROCKS!!! Okay. That is now truly all.

"Mayham! What a COOL last name!!!"--Heather, last night when looking at the name list at work

"Oh, that's already back!"--Phil, Thursday, trying to tell me and Kristin that the 80's thing where you put part of your tee shirt in a little claspy thingy is in now. No, Phil. No.

Emperor's New Groove quote of the day:
"I know!!! I know!! Yzma! Yzma's in your chair!!!"--Kronk

Riding to and from work in the fall is a lovely thing, let me tell you. I get to feel the cool wind in my face and, with thighs burning, watch the trees change colors. On the way home I get to cool off from stress at work and contemplate God, telling him about my day. I have written about three songs on my ride home from work. I have grown so accustomed to riding that I now know all the places on my route that the cops hide out to catch speeders. I get to watch little rabbits or cats or dogs wandering around in the middle of the night. I get to listen to the sounds of people getting ready for bed, or watch them do yard work like I did today. Sometimes I smell someone doing laundry as I ride by, or, like today, watch an elderly person gardening. I get to see Halloween and Christmas decorations go up on the houses, and sometimes I even get a little freaked out by the scarecrows. When I ride by the hospital, I look up at the windows and see into peoples' rooms; the tv on or off and balloons and flowers next to the window. I wonder if the people inside are okay or asleep or watching tv or talking to a friend. I used to try and time myself sometimes on the way home; when I lived off of Kimbrough on Loren my fastest time one summer night was 17 minutes!!! I was speedin! I love riding. It's great.

I have a funny story to tell.....okay, so Saturday night I was feelin' sick and couldn't enjoy my ride home, so I called Arin to see if he had my friend Curtis' number so I could ask him for a ride home since he has a bike rack. Arin doesn't have one, but he offered me a ride home anyways. Thanks!!! So he gets there and while we were taking apart my bike I had to go to the bathroom AGAIN, so I ran back in. I came out and the bike was all set and I hopped in. Noticed that the seat was up all the way but didn't think anything of it cause, hey! I fit in there fine anyways. So me and Arin are talkin' and I feel this pushing on the back of the seat. It felt really odd, so I turned around to see if the bike was on the back of my seat and movin' around when the Kia did. Nope, no part of my bike on the seat. Okay. Turned back around. Nope! I felt it again two more times. I turned around and stared at the bike for a long time.... and then saw Phil in the corner of my eye and screamed or yelped or somethin! I couldn't stop laughing and freaking out about if for a while afterwards... I was quite shook up. Arin and Phil thought it was so funny I'm sure. :) It cheered me up though.

I applied for a new job at this bookstore called "Borders." I really want the job there cause I am so sick of Applebee's, as I am sure I have stated many times. THIS particular job would suit me well since I love to read or I could work in the cafe and I wouldn't have to wear Applebee's clothing and come home smelling like garbage every night. Maybe I would even do my hair a bit or get dressed up a bit sometimes, look nice!!...............................Nah.

I decided to do a "Little Mermaid" quote I always think of when I say it:
"Nothing is....HAPPENING...!!!"--Scuttle or whatever that seagull's name is

Yes, I know, I have not written for a while. I currently have quite a shiner on my right eye; I hit my eye on my door frame last Thursday after cleaning my fish tank. I had left a gallon of water outside the door and forgot about it. I was gonna go to dinner, and "oops, I left this out here!" I exclaimed and bent down to pick it up and bring it inside and "Boom!!" went my head against the door frame. Yeah, dumb.

I went on a backpacking trip this last weekend and it was amazingly fun and interesting. The first day wasn't as fun as it could have been because of my stupid irritable bowel syndrome, but it was better by the evening. We went to Buffalo River in Arkansas and camped the first night. Saturday we backpacked 8 miles and came to a lovely campsite on a gravel bar next to a tall bluff. It was beautiful. I got to go with 10 other wonderful girls and get to know them. They all exceeded my expectations; I was scared we were gonna end up with a whiner or two in the group. Nope, not one bit. So I didn't see my eye the entire weekend because I did without mirrors (yay!) and when we got to our destination (5 miles on Sunday) I saw it looked even worse. And even better is I get to tell my stupid story to everyone cause they all ask how I got it. It is green and brown. Thursday it was a pretty lavender color. Hmmmm....

Blindside is gonna be in St. Louis this Sunday and I need to find a way to get there! Karissa wants to go with me as well but I am not sure that we are gonna be able to find a ride. Oh well. It makes me sad but what can I do. I might get to see my best bud Mandy in Chicago coming up here in November!! I really hope so.

I am feeling really fat and gross today since I haven't worked out in I don't know how long. Not good. I just watched this video called "When Billy Broke His Head" about people with disabilities and it helped put things into perspective. Being in super good shape or whatever isn't what life is all about. Why on EARTH do I forget that and get all fret-some and worrisome about it. I need to go to the music store to get some new guitar strings. Yay! Beck has a new cd out!!! I am so excited. I am hoping maybe one of my family members will remember how much I love him and get it for me for my B-day. Or maybe I will just buy it later. Or maybe I will get it for Christmas...

Speaking of which I wonder how the heck and what the heck I am going to do for Christmas break.... First of all, will I get off, second, what am I gonna do about money, third, how am I gonna get to Houston, TX and Reno, NV? Yikes. I'm sure it will all work out but....I am worrying about it still. EEEEK!!!

"My name is Lucy and I really LOVE celebrity gossip...."-Lucy on our backpacking trip

Emperor's New Groove quote of the day:
"I'm a crumbling canyon wall and I'm gonna take you with me--not-ah, not today pal!!! Uh huh, uh huh, uh-huh-uh-huh-uh-huh!"-Kuzco
Emperor's New Groove quote of the day:

I got my new bike yesterday! A Trek 4100--nice... I got to ride it to work and back last night and boy did that feel good. I walked over to A&B with Nicole yesterday and they were like,"We just got it in." So I rollerbladed back at 4 and waited. They brought it out around 4:15. "How's that?" I smiled nicely, said it looked great, and then, "So, could I get my flat bars on it and some clips?" "Oh! Darn it!!! ....and I just put it together." I was like,"Uh, well, I told you guys like, three times--sorry!" So I was about half an hour late for work. It was such a nice ride. It handles so well, the brakes work great, the shocks actually move up and down when I do things that usually make them do that....yeah. I feel like Mandy, it's just my new transportation is a bike, not a car. (She just bought herself a new car, a Saturn, the other day). My friends at work were all happy for me, but I got the question,"Why don't you just get a car?", of course. Hmmm, let's see. Do I want to get out of debt? Yes. Will buying a car help me in that in any way, shape, or form? No. My mom offered to get me one, and I was like,"Okay, thanks for the insurance, maintenance, gas, and who knows what else will have to come along with that." No thanks. Riding a bike has been virtually free for me compared to having a car for the past four years. I have no need. Sure, sometimes I reallly, really, wish I had a car, but then I suck it up and get a ride or just hop on and ride to work. No big deal. I got a new helmet too; I like it lots.

I really shouldn't be writing on here; I have so many little things to do today. Blech! And I have got a test tomorrow that I haven't studied for at all yet. Man. I got a 70 on the last one.

My Ultimate team has another game tonight, should be pretty exciting. Still am trying to gather folks to come out and play. I think it will work out.

"Then you've got someone who comes out with one from K-Mart with go-carts on it, or a jelly-monster or somethin'...."--My Rec 311 teacher, describing different people's sleeping bags

Emperor's New Groove quote of the day:
".....whaaaa?!--how long has that been there?"--Kuzco spotting spinach in Yzma's teeth

Okay, okay, okay, I just got back from one of the coolest retreats I have ever been on. I was looking forward to it all week, and it certainly turned out to be more than I expected. Woweee is all I can say. Man did God move. I collected some great quotes, but I don't have them with me so.....

I just visited my friend Andy's website...it was all fancy and stuff, and then I clicked to enter his realm and it said,"Under construction." HA HA that made me lol.

Well, my roommate is moved out and next door. I was supposed to get a new roommate but I guess that didn't happen. I tried out my boots this weekend and they ROCK!!! I love them so much, its like, I want to wear them and the awesome socks I got for them all the time, every day, moment, in bed, while I am sleeping, in the shower--okay, not really THAT much but they are great. I went to Target and got two rolls developed from this summer. See, the fun thing about that was/is that I have like, 10 rolls of film to get developed, and don't/didn't know which was/is which, so I was surprised!! One was of Lacy and my trip (how the HECK do you say that? Flaw in English language right there) to Disney world, and that was fun, and the other one was mostly of Quebec, and the night when Lace and I got all dolled up (i.e. we straightened our hair and wore decent clothing) for a dinner. My hair looked pretty cool! So I closed and came home and twied to call Kawissa but she wasn't home, so I rollerbladed to the ATM close to me but it didn't work so I rollerbladed to the one far away in the HSC parking lot and then I went to Taco Bell. Never thought I would get back into Taco Bell but hey, it can be good when nothing else is open.

I had some stories I wanted to tell about but I cannot remember any of them at this moment. MMMMM. Well, my pal Curtis gave me a ride home from work today and I was gonna give Micah a birthday card, but he disappeared and didn't answer any of Curtis' calls. So Curtis took me home. He was wearin' a snazzy jacket though, when he came and got me. I figured it looked like Army Surplus material, so I checked the tag real quick and he goes,"Army Surplus." Yup. It was neato. Curtis, if you read this, it looks nice with the red hair. :)

My mom called me today,and I've got a crazy new greeting on my machine, and she told me that I was crazy and freaky. Thanks! mom! Paula called too and was like,"I couldn't tell the difference between the beep and your cackling......but I was just trying to reach ya!"--see, she knows what's up. She understands the necessity of wacked-out answering machine greetings. And the highlight of my current one is that I don't know who my roommate is going to be now and my voice is one off of homestarrunner. HEY! I met two guys on Thursday night just cause I was wearing my homestar shirt. They were so enthused, and one of them even asked me to marry him (not joking!) Well, HE was probably joking, I am just not joking about the fact that he joked about asking me to marry him. It was nice; probably won't get asked that again for another ten years or so. Well, maybe, but it will probably be a joke from someone I just met again, not for real. Anyways.......

I am getting my new bike tomorrow. YESS!!!!! Also am visiting the Sac River Trail, but not with my bike, I don't think. No, no, I am doing a presentation there on Thursday so I need to journey forth and find info. Okay, well, the porcelain throne is calling my name, so I'm outta here.

"Well, that's not really funny-it's actually really stupid--but let's pretend that it is...."--Dr. Cotton this weekend

Emperor's New Groove quote of the day:
"You owe me a new acorn!"-Kronk in junior Chipmunk school or whatever it's called

I realized yesterday that I forgot to tell another story about the grapes.....but I figured you were all probably tired of hearing about them anyways. Well! Today I spent about five minutes at Career Day here in Glass Hall. It's just not my thing to get all dressed up and go around and talk to people whose companies I don't give a crappety-crap crap about. (Sorry, I went into Strong Bad mode there). He he. Today in my Outdoor Education class we had a guest speaker who talked to us about the state parks and stuff like that, and I actually enjoyed it. We learned about being a state park superintendant, where you live at the park in provided house and get utilities paid and all kinds of crazy stuff happens cause you take care of the campsites. You start out at $22,000, and you move around a bit. He asked how many of us would like to start out doing that and move around after 2 years and me and one other guy raised our hands. I think it would be pretty fun. I honestly still have no clue what I am doing when I get outta here but I am getting more options opened up, and they all seem great and have to do with my one of my favorite things in the world--the outdoors! I am gettin' so excited about my first backpacking trip that is coming up after this weekend. It should be great.

My neck and arm is really sore from that little accident I had on the board the other day. But its feelin' better. I am going to be getting my new bike next Monday!! YESS!!! I am stoked about that. Can't wait. Okay I don't have anything else to talk about right now, maybe I will write more later. Finish it up a bit.

till then ta ta

Okay well I am back. With some air in my lungs and some quotes in my soul to give out. I have three. Okay, I just had my first Ultimate game! And my team (we lost, I think, 13-1! or more. Yeah, though we scored the first point. Found out later that these guys play every single week on Thurs. nights till like 1 or something.) did great!!!! They rocked my world. Some awesome catches. And my pal Eric kept the spirits up throughout the game. And we had four girls, so we all (us girls) got to get some practice in. Normally, guys don't throw to girls--EVER. Tonight, however, they had no choice. AND WE DIDN'T LOSE JUST BECAUSE WE HAD SO MANY GIRLS OKAY!!!! So don't EVEN think that to yourselves, you members of the male species. Yeah, so, now that that's out of me......

Yeah, I had to go BACK to Career Day cause my pal Karissa showed up on my way back to my dorm. I got nervous and went into the lab to hibernate and hide from all the suits. It was scary. And I noticed that when girls get all dressed up and wear those heels, ya know? they seem to walk faster. Cause you can hear 'em walkin' over like a mile away. And it's like,"Clock, clock, clock, clock, clock!!!" really fast-like. Weird. And they all look really serious. But I saw one girl jazzin' it up with a white pinstriped suit-dress thing so that was NEAT. Okay I am really sweaty so I need to get cleaned up.

"NO! Death, dying, remains, grief....grief, remains....."--Kristin, telling me about this poem that I thought was about someone leaving but was actually about someone's death.

"No, no, they're already dead."--Kristin just now when I was writing 'dying' instead of 'death.'

"....like those curb dogs...."--Joe Zickafoose, last week at Chi Alpha trying to describe skater kids.

"Down with Christian bubbles!!!! Up with............no bubbles?"--Sarah and Rachel at leadership tonight

"How about.........gun racks on every car?"--Jerod, trying to come up with what we as a generation of leaders want to pursue this year

Emperor's New Groove quote of the day:

"I'm not going to drop it, you FOOL! I'm going to DRINK it! And after I turn back into my beautiful self, I'm going to KILL you!!!!!"--Yzma as kitten

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I got to go wakeboarding today, thanks to my lovely bud Kristin, who kindly gave me a ride to work after we went, and right on time! It was so fun, my second time, and I had a blast. I got up right away which was good, but fell quite a bit since I was trying to figure out how to go in and out of the wake using my toes and heels and stuff like that. I finally figured out the mechanics in my head today after a lot of thinking and picturing. I learn like that. Before I get the hang of something, I have to understand how it works. So with the wakeboard, I had to figure out when it is and when it isn't okay to have the tip of the board facing the boat, and how you move it right or left. It took me a while. I was thinking too much about snowboarding. When I learned how to drive a stick shift, I made my boyfriend at the time, Stephen, who was teaching me, create a makeshift "engine" on the floor (he used various tools and some washers and other junk) and he showed me what happened when you shifted, like what the clutch allows to happen, etc., etc. My pal Micah gave me some pointers, but also watching him and Kristin helped me figure it out a lot more than talking did. Micah was awesome; he did all kinds of flips and spins and twists, and even a fashion pose. I got a bunch of pictures of him in the air. Too bad we had to go so early; I would have gone for another run. I quit before cause before I face-planted trying to get over the left side of the wake (which meant using my toe-side--eeek!) I didn't let go of the rope in time and it yanked on my shoulder---OW!!!! We also got to throw some grapes at Kristin and Micah while they were boarding, something I guess is a new past-time with them since they had grapes last time they went. Kristin and I had gone over to Micah and Curtis (and Josh and Thomas and Corey's) place to make them breakfast but no one was there except Micah. We had bought a huge bunch of grapes and Kristin goes,"Do we want these?" to which Micah replied,"Yeah, we'll take 'em." Apparently they had a blast throwing and trying to catch the grapes in their mouths, so on the way to the lake Thomas calls us up and goes,"Hey, can you guys get some grapes?" So we turned around to find a grocery store somewhere in crazy Branson.

Uh, I don't know if they are getting my bike for me or not at A&B; they still haven't called me back. I want it by this weekend so I can maybe go to retreat and ride with my campus pastor Joe again. That would be sweet. I am gonna hassle 'em. See what's up.

I bought a homestar runner tee shirt and got it last night when I came home in the mail. The two front desk workers were like,"What IS that?" and we told 'em to go to the site and watched, quite amused. They liked it. I have been telling my friends at work about it that I know may like it and they all (those who have gone) love it.

Well, I heard the Justin Timberlake song on the radio on the way to work the other day. My roommate gave me a ride (what a SWEETIE!) and I told her about the whole thing with Dani and then it came on the radio! I like it, it's pretty good. The best thing about it is, is that now, a Justin Timberlake song reminds ME of my sister, instead of the other way around. She was so cute singin' that to me.

I realized the other day that I wanted to recommend some books you all may have NEVER heard of. First off, a children's book author that I started reading in the 4th grade. His name is John Bellairs (well, he's dead now) and he wrote such works as The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring, among others. Read 'em all! I did. They are great, and I just recently discovered a website dedicated to him and found out that he was a devout Catholic. Interesting! Next, a horror author you have probably heard of, Clive Barker, wrote a book that my sister and I read a LONG time ago, called The Thief of Always. It is a children's book, but it is marvelous. I read that in 8th grade, and moved on to the 800-some odd paged Weaveworld, which is kind of gruesome and sexual. Kind of like a Christian watching a rated-R movie with violence and sex. Not exactly bad every time--I just know that I read it twice and liked it a lot, a few years back. So there ya are.

"Hey, nice cart!"--Micah, to some old lady today in the grocery store on our grape-quest

"Ain't nobody love ya like I love ya, bay-bee...."--Justin Timberlake in his new Michael Jackson-tinged song

Emperor's New Groove quote of the day:
"For the last time, nobody ordered a giant trampoline!!!"--Palace guard

Yeah!!! I'm in a great mood right now. I'm listenin' to Embodyment really loud, and I had a great small group last night--four of us stayed and prayed for like an hour after we were done with the normal time. It was great.

So two nights ago my sister calls me singin' the new Justin Timberlake song. She proceeds to tell me it's catchy and it reminds her of me (since I'm an NSync Fan) and tells me, "Well, I don't like it though." Uh-huh. She told me she turns it up in the car when she hears it and that its a good jammin' song. She likes it. I know it!

Me-"Um, you like it don't you?"

Dani-"Ha, ha, ha,..............yeah." (this was probably the cutest part of our conversation)

We began to giggle. This is a girl who likes Tool, and John Lennon, The Grateful Dead (why?) and Janis Joplin. Although her tastes may have changed recently, this is really out of character for her. And I'm not even sure I like it. It was just really funny. AND it made me happy that that reminded her of me. I get all kinds of flack when I see my fam for liking NSync (well, it's out of character for me too, I guess. This girl's favorite band used to be Nirvana. NSync? NSane.)

Yesterday I got to go to A&B Cycle to check out the bikes and tell them I wanted to order my Terry. This guy talks me into a women-specific Trek instead, and I will save over $100. I can't believe I found a nice Trek for $315!!! That's insane! Like three years ago that would never have happened. So I tried out all these Treks and Specialized, which was so weird cause I haven't ridden a bike in like, over four months, AND these bikes were sized for me, so they felt a bit too small. My pal Karissa and I had just attended a Students in Free Enterprise meeting and the owner of the new Krispy Kreme in town gave us all a dozen of their first batch of Krispy Kremes afterwards, so I shared with the dudes at A&B, cause they're cool. Sometimes they try to rip you off, but if you know what you are doing then they don't. Or maybe they still do, I still don't know THAT much about bikes. I wish I could work there.

Recently I read Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis, and then, finished in one day, Till We Have Faces by Lewis too. It was that good. I have had that book sitting around for like a year. My old roommate Elizabeth let me borrow it and I never read it cause she told me it was weird. Then this guy on boundless.org recommended it in one of the articles I was reading. He was right. Very good. Speaking of books....I stopped by the XA table yesterday and they were playin' The Lord of the Rings and I just had to freak out, cause it was at my favorite part of the first book and movie, when Gandalf faces off the Balrog. It's SO intense!!! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!

I get to go snowboarding this winter with my DAD!!!! Yeah!!! I don't know if he has ever skiied before, or if he's even gonna ski, but he got some passes for us when I am there, near Lake Tahoe. I am so excited, cause I still have my boots I won. Oh--you all may not know. I won a trip my sophomore year from Delias.com to The Canyons Resort in Park City, Utah, and I got to stay at their beautiful resort for three nights, got my own snowboard and boots and goggles, and got to meet and learn to snowboard from Greta Gaines and Morgan LaFont, two world-champion women snowboarders, at Greta's Wild Women snowboarding camp. It was AWESOME. RAD. MARVELOUS. Such a strange and cool blessing from God. My Father loves me very much, something I realized when that happen. WHO does that happen to?

And now my dad has been sober for almost 200 days and he's all doin' stuff like this for me. Here's a quote from my dad:
"I'm never letting anything get in the way of my relationship with my kids again--I'm through with that." Go dad!!!

I got a 76 on my Marketing test I didn't study for at all. Pretty good.

Nope!!! Not good!!! I should have studied!!! My first Management test I got a 70. Ouch. Just barely too. I wonder how I did on my GEP course test. I think I did well on that.

Okay, yeah, I can't wait to get my bike. My parents are gonna help me out and its all good. I'm so excited. I have like five friends who want to go mountain biking with me too soon so yeah!! It's fall, and I couldn't wait a second longer.

"This isn't a sign!!!!! SHUTUP stupid brain!!!"-Dana in small group last night, describing the weird ways our brain puts things together, usually wrongly

"....with his prestigious Branson friends...."--Kristin

Okay, don't usually do this, but I'm gonna have to quote myself cause it was just so stupid. In business class, we were looking through the Wall Street Journal and my teacher said something about Huggies.......

"HUGGIES!.....they suck. They suck, like, like Zingers....and Ding-Dongs and Ho-Ho's and Twinkies and.........wait......Huggies are diapers aren't they?!!" --to which Karissa and I proceeded to laugh as quietly in possible in that classroom

Emperor's New Groove quote of the day:
"It's a harp, and you know it."--Shoulder Angel
"Yeah...that's a harp.....and that's a DRESS!"--Shoulder Devil

Hello big wide world! How is everyone doing? I am great. My silly dad called me yesterday, after he got his root canal, and he was all swollen and talkin' like a dork. It was hilarious. My sister also called me after midnight as usual. I miss her loads, as well as the rest of my family.

Guess what I should be doing is studying for my test coming up in an hour but I don't think it will do me any good. I'll study a little I guess. I am just not gonna do well, I can tell ya that right now. It's a personal selling class.

I got my Ultimate Frisbee team schedule yesterday and we are startin' up next week--it looks like I will be able to go to all the games! Yay! It has gotten pretty cold here in Springfield the last couple of days. Its' so nice though. I got to wear my humongous Spy hoodie today so that's fun. So thank goodness we won't be getting too hot and sweaty.

I hope you all like the new look of my site, I just did it yesterday, as well as my first template editing. I can't believe it! I figured it out after staring at the thing for quite a while. I found things that said,"insert your contact info here" and "put your links in this space here," so that helped out. Then I figured out that I could copy the little code thing and just insert other stuff in the specified section to make more links. It was a time of discovery and excitement.

You'll find boundless.org, which is a cool site I came across last week and absolutely love--check out the articles and stuff by "Theophilus." The Blindside link is to Blindside's awesome site--an awesome band. Also listed is my friends' Mandy and Phil and Lacy's websites, cause they are they only friends besides Glen and Paula that have a site--theirs is more personal. You can find out about Glen and Paula on theirs and it also has tons of other links to cool stuff. Homestarrunner is just a hilarious website that I recommend to anyone who has a dorky sense of humor. Make sure you have sound when you visit that. Stuff about my favorite movie and book, The Lord of the Rings, and other fave movie, The Matrix, can also be found to the left, and, finally, my favorite show of ALL TIME EVER, The X-Files. Also, there's smsuxa, which is the site of my campus ministry. Check 'em out!

".....cause she's 'old lady?' "--Zeek, today in class, misunderstanding when I said,"cause she's lonely."


".....NO wakeboarding tomorrow........kay bye....."--Kristin, Sat. night after I called her too late, on my machine

Emperor's New Groove quote of the day:

"....don't you say a word..."--Kuzco to Pacha after he turns himself into a whale

Um....okay, yeah, my reasons for not writing *daily* are as follows.....I'm pretty sure no one reads my blog anymore. So if you do, email me and let me know. That....it's...worth my while. Hmmmmm.....I am currently picking sticky stuff off of my newly washed North Face shirt and putting the booger-looking things on a piece of paper. YUM! All this while listening to the Autumns, a very dreamy band. Nice.
Last night I had the privilege of talking to my best friend Mandy MOo till 5:20 am. It was a very good, long talk about God, boys, girls, music, books, etc. It was excellent. She has a lot of wisdom now about things I don't, including *ahem* relationships since she's been with her boy she met at Cornerstone for over a year now! woo hoo. Man, wait...it seems like it's been 2 years since that happened. Uh, okay. I'm confused. Wow. I just realized that I have changed, well looky there. In case you are reading this, sorry, I didn't think anybody would.
Yeah so I was gonna go wakeboarding today (Saturday.) Now it just ain't gonna happen, and I am really sad. I requested off of work on a SATURDAY and they actually, out of the kindness of their hearts, let me have it. Now what am I gonna do. Stuff, I guess. Maybe some studying, since I have two tests coming up. Woo hoo! I am going backpacking for the first time in a few weeks! I am very excited!! Yeehaw! I even had to get myself some new boots since I dont' have any with money I don't have. Say that three times fast. I might be going out to Andy's for a little custard tomorrow night with my lovely small group girls, who, by the way, rock!!! They make me happy. I will be quoting one of them today.
This paper with the booger things is filling up, so if any of you know me and come to my room and I haven't thrown away the booger thing and you see it, just know it isn't boogers but sticky stuff from my shirt. He he.
Still am missing riding dearly. DEARLY!!! Especially since today was the first day I smelled Fall in the air, and boy did it smell delicious. MMMM! Fall is my FAVORITE season, most definitely. I can't wait till my Ultimate Frisbee team gets goin and I get a bike and go to retreat and camping and yay!!! How fun. My friend who was gonna take me wakeboarding said they will probably go sometime soon, but I doubt my times off will coincide with that. I'm okay with it though. I've got fun stuff comin' up.
Darn video announcements better work next week....My friend Josh and I did them together this week, spending about an hour and a half doing them and an hour trying to just get the video camera, and the sound didn't work. GRRRR! I hate it when that happens. I hope it goes more smoothly next week. And a big part of the announcements was the music we had. So it was lacking......
I miss Glen and Paula, sooooooo much. I have been thinking about them lately as Stanford is starting school on Monday. Sniff, sniff. I know they are doing great but one of the new interns here paces like Glen does and I am constantly reminded during XA. Oh well.....
Okay, I'm acting like I have my own room cause it is a PIGSTY so I better get cleanin'.....

here's some quotes:
"he's like a little closed.........coccoon........caterpillar thingy!!!"--My sister, talking about a guy that frustrates her"

"......and you keep going westward trying to figure out where the dandelions are....."--Megan in my small group the other night

Emperor's New Groove quote of the day:
"I'm a little new to the whole rescuing thing, but, this might be considered a step backwards, wouldn't you say?"--Kuzco tied on tree

Wow!!! It has been a long time since I have written. Well, things are just as usual. I still don't have any of my books. I still need a bike really bad. I still am brain-dead in almost all of my classes. It is SOOOO different from French. My butt abrasion is healing, in case you were wondering how it's doing. That is a plus.

I miss riding my bike so much. I keep having to either ride the bus or be a mooch and get rides home. Which I absolutely hate doing. I just can't humble myself. I always feel bad for it. I always am thinking,"I know they think I am a big mooch, but I'm really not!! Why didn't I just take the bus. I know it takes like an hour to get home but still. I didn't need to bother this person!!!" Or when I had my bike,"Why didn't I just suck it up and ride my bike. I can do it. I have done it before. It doesn't matter that it is raining out or after midnight. Other people don't have cars and they are fine. People in other countries do it. I can." I want a new bike so bad!!! It will be so amazingly fun, cause I actually have about four or five guy friends who are totally up for going mountain biking with me!! Yes.

Ooooh! Good news! This is the first time I am actually going to be able to head up my own intermural ultimate frisbee team. I have wanted to do it since freshman year. Wanna know the name of my team? It's "The Clean Rinse Formula." Courtesy of Philip Bowles. He's so good.

Well, I am doing great. Me and God--Super!!! I love Him so much and He loves me so much and puts up with all my crap and its just great to be loved while I am still a sinner and a sucky, prideful person. He loves me anyways. What a mystery. He is so good to me. I am ranting but I mean it. He is. He is so good. I praise Him with all of me. Wow!!! I don't care if this makes anyone uncomfortable. It is just AWESOME to know Him. And the way He loves me through my Christian brothers and sisters baffles me too. I am so blessed. Yeah......I don't know what I would do without Him. So many Christians in the past have probably stated the same words, but I repeat them cause it's just the TRUTH. That's why we say the same things over and over.

So today I think I'm gonna Nair. My legs. See how the new stuff works. Last time I Nair'ed was in sophomore year of high school. It stank and took a really long time and didn't even work good at all. Hopefully advances in depilatory technology have occurred since then and I will have a good experience today. But I am not getting my hopes up. I am pretty sure I'm gonna have to shave anyways. But it's worth a try!

Some quotes for ya:

"I'm a perp."--Andy, last night after a bunch of us got in trouble with the bike cops for being loud. Ooops.(perp--short for "perpetrator.")

"Yup, totally love/hate."--Charity, on the phone with my pal Mandy, repeating what Mandy had said referring to me (she was jokin'!)

Emperor's New Groove quote of the day:

"Not the dinner!!! The--- you know....."--Yzma, asking Kronk if everything is ready

I just want to begin this day with:
I DON'T UNDERSTAND PEOPLE.

Okay, now that that's out of my system.....

Last Thursday I pulled a great feat and fell for the first time on my rollerblades, thereby creating a nice, big, red strawberry right under my right butt cheek. I finished what I was doing (returning keys to the apartment I stayed in a bit this summer) and then went to the peeps in Chi Alpha who were passing out snow cones. I showed one of the interns and had to miss most of my last class (I was an hour late--yeah, I know, I still went? what a dork) and he was like,"Aw, man, Nicholette, you better go to Taylor." The secretary was like, "Okay, Dr. Hubbard will be with you in a little bit. Have a seat....if you can?" He he. Very funny. Hmmmm, somehow I LOST weight in Canada, I discovered. How did that happen? As described in this blog, I was a big pig there. Don't know. I look exactly the same so it's not exactly something to be excited about.

I am amazingly getting by with no books still for my classes. It's great!!! I wonder how much longer I can go.....I just finished the Financial Aid stuff today, they finally got my FAFSA through. Who knows when the money will come in. Man, I hope I get a Pell Grant. That would be great. I am so tired of taking out loans, and I still have another year after this!!! Maybe I will start picking up the pace and take 19 hours the next couple semesters, like my pal Melissa Glazebrook. She's gonna be out of school a semester earlier than usual cause she just is so gung-ho. Not me. Chillin' with 14 hours tops per semester since I started school. It's starting to dawn on me that all my old friends are going away soon. Most of the people I have been friends with the last couple of years are graduating this coming May or sooner. Yikes!!! That makes me sad. As it does hearing other friends talk about moving to other countries. Mel, if you're reading this, looks like its just gonna be you and me after school. I dunno. It saddens me. At least God has blessed me with younger friends.

I have no idea what I want to do after school. No clue. I mean, I would love to live in California, or New Mexico. I know those are tops on my list. I would also like to live in France or a French-speaking country in Africa though, to get the French down. That would be great. If a man comes into my life and that changes hey that's cool, but it's not lookin' like that's gonna happen. So.....I am wonderin and waiting. I have been trying not to focus on that too much but I do need to have an IDEA sometime soon, or what am I gonna do?

Emperor's New Groove quote of the day:
"How DID we, Kronk?"--Yzma
"Beats me. By all accounts it doesn't make any sense." -Kronk
"Oh well."--Yzma
(this one may not be exact, as I can't remember what Kronk says for sure before the accounts part.) ;)

Welp, the first week of school is already over and so much seems to have happened. And I returned to Crapplebee's. I haven't worked for seven weeks; I think that is the longest I have gone without working since I was seventeen years old and moved back up to Springfield. Hmmm. That stinks. But, hey, I need money. I am going to start job hunting though, cause I need to get out of there. And it's high time I found a job that relates to my major. But it is hard to leave. Whenever I work there I realize that there are all these people I know really well now and I love them so much, I feel like I want to get them all a card and tell them how much I care about each one of 'em, but I would probably really weird them out. Seriously, I don't think a lot of them would know what to do. Hmmmmm. And then, of course, the others I didn't get a card would be like,"Nicholette! Why didn't you get ME a card? Don't you love ME?" Yeah. Don't know that it would work out. Maybe I should do it in secret when I leave. Dude, there are so many lost souls in my workplace.

I went and saw an AWESOME concert last night, with bands 'Embodyment,' 'Blindside,' and 'Project 86.' It was pretty sweet. I went with my pal Phil and his friend Wes, and a couple with the guy having the name Kelly. The girl didn't tell me her name when I introduced myself. Yeah, I know, I should have asked it later since I was around her most of the night but hey, I'm retarded like that. Anyways, I bought the 'Embodyment' and 'Blindside' cds, they were each only $10. Oh yeah! They rock. I like 'em so much cause they're hard like P.O.D. My P.O.D. cd was like the only hard cd I had. It was about 130 degrees Farenheit in that warehouse, I am dead serious. And when the music started it just got hotter. When I first walked in there I felt like I was gonna faint or not be able to breath. Finally after the first band they opened up the warehouse door and it cooled off a bit, but the problem was that I was wearing the outfit I wore to church (never got home before I left) and that was jeans and a nice shirt I have. I was completely soaked. With my own sweat. Ew. :) So I got home at 2 and took a shower and conked out.

"Dude, hold the burritos."--Phil, last night on the ride home

"Uh, spooning?"-Kelly's answer to our question,"What are you guys doing back there?"

Emperor's New Groove quote of the day:

"...I never liked your spinach puffs---NEVAH!!!"--Yzma

Hey everybody! It's already the second day of school and I am feelin pooped! This past weekend was super busy! My campus ministry, Chi Alpha, helped everyone move in and had parties Friday, Saturday, and the big BBQ Sunday night. It was madness! Saturday ruled, though, cause it rained for most of the afternoon and my awesome team and I helped a ton of people and we all got soaked. I liked that so much better than being hot and sweaty all day long. The BBQ went well. But, I still have many problems getting myself to introduce myself to new people and then maintain an interesting, non-fake conversation. I didn't have such a good day Sunday before the BBQ; I was literally crying my eyes out before the BBQ, in front of everyone. However, I had some of my good friends come over and talk to me and that was good. I was just mad at myself (I hadn't been able to help sidewalk chalk because I had to arrange my room) and also feeling this enormous burden for all the people on campus who don't know Jesus, and it was breaking my heart. I was listening to all these new kids talk about how they are gonna rush to get into a fraternity, looking at all the posters for our school's "Phat Bash" (which is basically just a big dirty dance party on campus) and stuff like that, and although I know everyone that does those things isn't horribly lost or something, it just eats at me to know how many of them are going to become corrupted or more corrupted because of college, and how many of them I can't reach. But Charity, Logan, and Mel all were reminding me that it isn't up to me to change them, it's not all up to me to bring them to Christ, and that just because I have never seen someone come to Christ doesn't mean I don't have a part in other people's relationship to Him. So yeah, I felt better after that, and we all prayed before the BBQ.

School has been going good for me so far. I think I will enjoy all of my classes except Management 340. :) I have a backpacking class that might be cancelled if we don't have more people sign up for it though, cause stupid SMS forgot to put that class in the catalog. Usually there are 25 people in the class with a 10 person waiting list; nope, yesterday there were 4 of us. 4. So we are all gonna rally our friends and my teacher is gonna put out flyers and stuff. So if you are going to SMS and interested in an awesome, easy 1 hour credit course from 11-12, Mondays and Wednesdays, just the first block, then SIGN UP!!! Yeah, there's my plug.

Hey I have a "Random Memory!" It's from the third or fourth grade, I can't remember:
Every year when pictures would come around, my mom would do up my hair and tell me to SMILE. With my mouth OPEN. Yeah, didn't happen. In case you haven't noticed, I have a gap in my front teeth (or maybe I just didn't HAVE front teeth then) and I didn't want to show my mouth. Well, the photographer that year couldn't get me to smile for real for quite a while; she tried everything from "Say 'cheese!'" to making faces at me. But I wouldn't laugh. Then out of exasperation she said with much exuberance "PICKLES!" and for some STUPID reason I thought THAT was funny, and burst out with a snort of some sort. Pictures were returned, and there I was, with my nose completely scrunched up, looking like a major dork. I showed my best friend on the bus home and got some snickers from my jerky bus, uh, comrades? mates? compadres? I don't know what to call them but they made fun of me all the time. Anyways, my mom was all,"You're getting RE-TAKES (this happened several times)! What happened?" All I could say was,"Mommy, she said,'Pickles,' and I laughed." I wonder if I still have that picture somewhere.

I have some quotes, two are from Andy, one is one that only my Scotland mission team will understand:

"My butt is defeated."--Logan, during dorm move-in when she realized her jeans were dirty on the butt.

"I don't see a sign...."--Classic Andy Phelps quote I had to put on here.

"I got hugged by an ape!!!"--Andy, telling me about his trip downtown the other night.

Emperor's New Groove dialogue of the day:
"I don't think you're my great aunt...You're more like my great, great, great, great, great, great, great........"-Tipo
"Are you done yet?"-Izma
"...Great-great aunt."-Tipo

Ta ta for now!

Woah! I'm back in Springfield and feeling the love, baby! THe trip home went so smoothly thanks to Jesus, and this week has been pretty easy going. I am back in my dorm right now, figuring out stuff with my financial aid, blah blah. I have to move in today and then up comes an amazing weekend. I am excited. Please pray for me; I will be meeting tons of new people and I want them to see Jesus, not me. :)

Also, if you know Glen and Paula Davis, pray for them as well as they are still raising their budget for the Stanford Chi Alpha and school is coming up! Alright, I have bunches to do, but hopefully I will be able to write tomorrow night and tell all about my roommate and the day. I need divine appointments!!!!!!!!!!!!

Emperor's New Groove quote of the day: "Is that...my.....voice? Is that MY voice?.......oh well."-Izma as kitten

Hey all! I just read my bud Mandy's site and she posted some quotes from her friends. I was gonna do that today too and I just thought it was funny, kinda. Okay maybe not. Wednesday night, Lacy and I went out with Dr. Lee, and I think I talked his ear off, he. he. Oops. I hate it when I do that. I get all nervous and start blabbing, usually about myself, and then I start repeating myself cause of those uncomfortable silences and yeah, not necessary. Oh well. I'm stupid sometimes. (don't think any more about that.;)

I saw Minority Report last night and boy was it good. I love movies with twist endings like that. Go see it. Then I will talk more about what I liked about it. I also watched the Lord of the Rings in French on Tuesday night, and it was wonderful. The fifth time I have seen it. I was so proud of myself, though, cause during the movie, since I have a lot of the lines memorized, I would try to translate in my head what the next phrase would be in French, and I got it right, like, three times!!! Yes!!!! "Uh-huh, uh-huh....uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh."

Okay, so the Groundhog bomb shelter site......yeah, not so sure my calculations were correct. I walked by there and saw a bunch of them partying, with hats, confetti, and the like. It was not funny for me. I stood there, in shock, watching their antics, listening to their strange groundhog language, with my mouth hanging open. Of course, then they spotted me and retreated back to their little shelter, but I was pretty upset. First of all, I am guessing that all my investigations have come up null. I really don't know what's going on. I've lost trust in myself and the way I put together puzzles, decipher pieces of info. These groundhogs....I dunno. They aren't preparing for the end of the world, that's for sure. Sniff sniff... I keep thinkin, man, I was all wrong. What a waste of time. And now I have to go back to the US, while this little phenomenon remains secret.....
Thus ends the whole "cement block/groundhog story." If you haven't figured out by now that all of it is just a joke, then it's time to wake up and smell the...uh....groundhog doo. 'Cause the only true part was that there were cement blocks arranged in a weird way and a groundhog looking out from underneath one of 'em. And, yes, I did take a picture...but thats it! Move on. You'll get to see the picture when I come back. Maybe we'll....no. Forget it. I will never know why they were there.

Uh, now, I would just simply like to ask for some prayer for a safe flight and drive home tomorrow. Thank you.

Here are the quotes I was talking about earlier.

"Life isn't a series of cool pictures."-Lacy, at Wal-Mart last night while looking through "Seventeen" magazine.

"I don't think you guys realize just HOW retro I am." --Dr. Lee, during our dinner at Tadoussac.

Emperor's New Groove quote of the day:
"It's a good thing you're not a big fat guy or this would be really difficult!"--Kuzco in ravine

After tonight, I`ve only got two more days in Canada. Sniff sniff :(. Mel, if you`re reading this, I don`t know WHAT time I will be back in Springfield. He he. I`ve got one more oral project left, two more tests, and then, ah......all done. Back to my homeland. I wonder if my package from Scotland has arrived? My friend Juliet sent it to me at the beginning of June, so....I dunno. I hope its there. It has two halfs of two pairs of socks (I have no idea how to say that) and a cool beanie that I bought and lost there and she got for me again (awww!!!) and some CARAMEL DIGESTIVES, probably melted by now. But I`ll just stick 'em in the frigo and get them cold, cause that`s the way, uh-huh, uh-huh, I like 'em, uh-huh, uh-huh.

Tonight, Lace and I are gonna "faire de dinner" with our professor, Dr. Lee, who`s a pretty cool dude. Hopefully we will be able to talk in French, understand each other, eat good food, and then take a trip to Tutto Gelatto, my favourite place in Quebec City. Lacy has a card with ice cream stamps on it and she is fixin` to get a free ice cream. If you don`t remember what Tutto Gelatto is, just skim down a bit and I tell ya all about it in another blog.

OH YEAH! Guess what I saw the other day during my secret investigation? A groundhog! Peering out from underneath one of the cement blocks. Therefore, my theories about this place are starting to come together. I think it might be a testing site for the coming Groundhog Armageddon. I saw a little inscription on one of the blocks and my de-coding methods have led me to this translation: "The end is near." I don`t think that these make-shift bomb shelters are gonna cut it though. They look pretty weak. Good thing it`s just a testing site, I think. More to come.....

Emperor`s New Groove quote of the jour:
"BZZZzzzzzzzzzzz..........help me!!! help me!!!! ......*crunch! chomp chomp chomp* ...-eugh, too late...."-Bug
"Okay....that was the freakiest thing I`ve ever seen." --Kuzco

Au revoir!!!

Hello everyone! I just returned from a lovely weekend at Tadoussac, a cute little town next to the bay up here in Canada. On Saturday our group of 14 drove up in a mini-bus (which made me miss Scotland and think to myself,"Dr. Lee is driving on the wrong side of the road and the steering wheel needs to be on the right." Hee hee) and we visited the Canyons Suspentionnale or some title like that. It was gorgeous! Three suspentional bridges going across a lovely waterfall. We walked around that and took photos for an hour, and I took more photos on the first side and missed a bunch of rainbows on the other cause I ran out of film. Oh well. Then we faire de dejeun'ed (our groups way of saying, "Did some lunch") and headed the rest of the way up there. I got to look at the beautiful Canada wilder-side (wilderness and countryside put together :) and listen to music. Our hotel was right next to the ocean and was red-topped! When we got there Lacy and I watched le télé and then faire de sieste'ed (took a nap). When I woke up I bought some film, then walked down to the beach and just smelled the air and looked at the ocean and the kids swimming in it (holy cow! That water was frigid!) We were right next to a marina so that reminded me of my days on Stockton lake, when my family had a boat docked there. Then at 8 o'clock we all went downstairs and had a marvelous dinner-buffet, complete with (this is what I had) shrimp, snow crab, salmon, mussels, salad, broiled tomatoes, shrimp gumbo, artichoke heart salad, some pig thing that actually tasted good, and dessert, dessert, dessert!!! I made four or five trips to the dessert table, I think! I ate like a queen and paid for it later. But it was worth it. After that, Lace and I walked with Dr. Lee (our professor from SMS) and our friends Christina and Jennifer (who is, by the way, a wonderful person!) on the boardwalk for a bit. Then Lacy and I walked up to this playground and talked a bit about God and how our faith seems to separate us from the other people sometimes, because they don`t understand Christianity. Then we saw the swings and swang, and climbed a jungle gym, and played with a little bulldozer toy-thing, and rode these little bouncy whales and faire de see-saw'ed (i.e., we see-sawed.) All next to the ocean in the cold night air. It was super fun. AND, it brought back another random memory, which I will tell here in a bit.

The next morning we woke up at 7, took showers and headed out to the boat. We first took a shuttle (which was completely not necessary; the ride lasted about 45 seconds) and recieved some awesome pull-on pants with suspenders and big fat waterproof coats for the boat. Then we rode out and picked up some other peeps. Finally, we headed out to the ocean. Our first whale spottings were just of fin whales, which don`t have their tales come out when they dive. But soon enough, we saw a humpback named "Tic-Tac-Toe" and whales called "minkies" and more fin whales and little white belugas. It was beautiful, and I was just thanking Jesus the entire time for creating such amazing creatures and giving me the experience I was having.

Something that became really apparent to me during this trip was the human need to worship. I watched my friends while we were in the van, when we first saw the ocean and the view with the mountains right next to it. I saw the expression on their faces and understood it to be a mixture of awe, wonder, delight! There was a need to express some sort of emotion, but it could not be expressed. I knew what emotion that was. It was the need to thank someone or something for the beauty of the world. Who do they have to thank? They don`t know. Could be mother nature, or whatever, but in the meantime people who do not have God sit there and feel an emotion they cannot express, and become, well, I dunno, anxious. I realized this because I was worshipping God the whole time. I was expressing that emotion! And it was the most beautiful emotion and feeling and action I feel I am capable of. Such is the meaning of worship. Very cool. Yet another thing to praise Jesus for.

Okay, ready for the random memory? Here goes:

(Yet another tale from elementary school; playing on the jungle gym the other night reminded me of it) When I was in grade school, I was a monkey. I had trees that needed to be climbed all over my back yard, so when it came to the jungle gym, I was a master. I could beat some boys at chicken, and of course all the girls (except for my other friend who lived in the country and was a tomboy like me). One day, I was wearing a skirt (bleck! I hated it when I had to wear those!) and I was playing chicken with someone. One of my FRIENDS, Nathan, began peeling my fingers off of the bar while I was playing (this was a very tall jungle gym!) and finally I lost my grip and fell, right on my butt. My skirt flew up. Kids were laughing, my friends ran to get the nurse. She lifted my skirt to check and make sure my butt was okay. I was mortified. Thanks, Nathan Morgan. I will never forget that. You`re gonna pay......someday.

I get to come home this weekend! I am happy and also sad! I can`t believe my time in Canada is coming to an end. But man, it was SO MUCH better than spending the summer working at Crapplebee`s in Springfield, Missouri. I do miss all my pals though, and I am excited about coming back, excited about the new year up ahead! I have been praying about it so much.

Emperor`s New Groove quote of the day:
"That`s the last time we take directions from a squirrel!!!"--Izma, after dining at the Aztec-ian equivalent of "Big Boy." :)

On Wednesday I took a picture of the concrete slabs. I had to keep stopping mid-picture, because people kept walking by, and I didn`t want anyone knowing what I was doing, since it is a SECRET investigation. They would have gotten suspicious seeing me standing there trying to photograph the phenomenon, I`m sure, and reported it to their authorities. I know this site is being watched; otherwise, why would it have a fence surrounding it!

Yesterday Lacy told me about another phenomenon: that of the Canadians`apparent animosity towards the United States. There are, of course, different ways of saying things in the English language depending on which country you go to. Well, the other day one of her friends was talking to her, telling her how long he has been studying French. "Since grade 8," he said, "which would be 8TH GRADE, to you, but WE don`t say it like THAT." Lacy said that she was very confused: grade 8? That works the same as 8th grade. Apparently they don`t know that. Another example: she and a partner, while researching a project on the internet, found an article talking about Canada`s recent victories at the Olympics in hockey. The article stated:"Canada wins the gold in the Olympics, beating the Czechs. Canada also be the U.S. 5-2." "Uh, whats the point of that last little bit, it doesn`t seem to belong there?" she wondered out loud. Her friend answered something like,"Cause its a big deal. We beat the U.S.!"
Okay........

Emperor`s New Groove quote of the day:
"The peasant! At the diner!..........he didn`t pay his check............................."--Kronk

Well, I have decided to try and just type correctly, cause it takes some time to edit. Anyways, I saw another mind-boggling object on this campus. It`s a bunch of concrete slabs, all lined up in orderly fashion, lying on the grass outside of one of the classroom buildings. There is a make-shift fence surrounding these blocks. I am going to take a picture today and investigate. I need to get to the bottom of this mystery. It is now my goal to answer my questions: "What are these blocks for? For what purpose were they put there? Why is there a fence surrounding them, and why, more importantly, are they arranged in such a manner? Is there some sort of message being communicated, and to whom is it being communicated?" So many questions, yet so few answers. Don`t worry, I will be careful. Its gonna take some sneakin' around....I will keep you updated on my investigations.

Emperor`s New Groove dialogue of the day:
Kronk-"Mission accomplished."
Angel-"You`re not just gonna let him die like that are you?"
*Poof!*
Kronk-"My shoulder angel!"
Devil-"Don`t listen that guy..." *Poof!* "...he`s tryin' to lead you down the path of righteousness. I`M gonna lead you down the path that ROCKS!"

hee hee hee.

Hello my lovely little munchkins. In case you haven`t noticed, the postings are all messy and then, miraculously, the next day they are nice and polilshed! That`s cause I edit them folks. Yep, that`s right, strange as it sounds.

Yeah, I don`t know what I`m talkin about. I do know that I am homesick. Very much.

I have forgotten several homework things in class lately and I sit there and I don`t know what to say because I have to say it in French and the teacher and all the students are looking at me, trying to understand, and I`m like, "Je.....ne.....sais....pas!" (translation: "I don`t know!") But you gotta make it flow....its gotta be like "Jehne sais-pah!" Yeah, like that. Soft "g". Good. Good job. Ha, one of our sentences today in my phonetics class was "Non, non, et non!" Try to guess what that means.

You know, today I am recalling one of my good friend`s home made movies..."Somethings in the Air." I seem to do that whenever I say, "Yup, that`s right folks." Those of you who know this incredible movie know the friend I`m talking about. Mandy Moo! You all should see that movie sometime. It's going to New Line Cinema in 2005, I think.

Guess what? I have another random 'memoire.' It goes a little somethin' like this....

When I reached the seventh grade and started the swim team, I realized that the hair on my legs was getting kind of noticeable. The other girls my age were starting to shave, so one day I asked my mom if I could shave, ya know, if she could teach me. Um.....she freaked out!!! She started yelling at me and told me I didn`t need to, and she stormed outside with me to ask my father if this would be okay. My dad`s response? "Yeah, sure, hun, why don`t you teach her?" (This was after my mom said with much anger in her voice,"Nicholette thinks she needs to shave her legs. What do you think about that!?") So she showed me. I`ve been shaving ever since.

Okay, I cracked myself up with that but I don`t know how funny the rest of you will find it.

Emperor`s New Groove quote of the day:
"If you would have just taken me through the forest in the first place we all could have been spared your little KISS OF LIFE...."-Kuzco, while drying off after a trip through a "Raging river of death!"