Hang of Thursdays

Cute Cookies

2006-10-19T18:30:00.000-04:00

I subscribe to the Betty Crocker RSS feed (I know, I'm a dork, but I need all the help I can get!) and sometime last week a recipe for Candy Corn Cookies came up. They used a cookie mix I already had in the house, so I couldn't resist trying to make them. They were so colorful and season-appropriate, I had to try them.

My results didn't turn out as perfect as Betty Crocker, but I was happy with them. They are so much fun! Josh took some of the batch to work, I took some to my mom, and Matt had some when he was over for dinner yesterday. Everyone was pleased.

A newfound hobby

2006-10-05T20:45:00.000-04:00

I've been interested in photography for a while, but it wasn't until this summer that I've gone nuts. I've loved taking pictures of whatever I've been doing every weekend for the last few months. I loved even more going out and finding events that afford good picture taking opportunities. This weekend I got some shots at Conner Prairie, but finished the roll at my husband's aunt's birthday party, where I think I took one of my best photos ever (This is a scan. I apologize if it looks a bit dusty.).

I think a good photo has depth to it. It tells a story with just one image. I caught a moment with my 5 year old nephew that did just that. He quickly finished the shrimp he had for dinner (you can see the empty plate), then asked over and over again for dessert. Dessert wasn't coming fast enough! His parents knew better, and shrugged off his pleas and gave him a coloring sheet to keep busy. They can be seen in happy conversation in the background. He is not so easily distracted. Here my nephew sits, forlorn and pining for the cake that was on its way.

From A Fall Weeken...

2006-08-24T13:22:00.000-04:00

It's Blogger's birthday. Happy birthday, Blogger!

I've been bad about utilizing this blog this summer. Finally, things are getting into a routine, and I'm starting to get the hang of Thursdays again, so maybe I'll have something to say.

Speaking of Blogger, I can't wait to try out all the new features I keep hearing about. Unfortunately, the only thing stopping me is this blog, the fact that it is a team blog- my whole account, including my primary blog can't be migrated because they're not done with the team blog functionality. :-(

I'm not bitter, really. And, I miss Kristen. And, rumor has it, she misses someone else :-P

Minority

2006-06-15T21:20:00.000-04:00

I was in a minority tonight. I have been in the same place before, but I didn't feel it like I did tonight. I went to the YMCA tonight to lift weights. I have lifted fairly consistently since January, but most of the time it was at school, where the wellness center is smaller, and after chapel, so there were few people in there. Tonight, there were about 8 or so guys in the free weights area as I was lifting. I felt very out of place and conscious of being me: a little weak female.

But then again, I have found that I tend to be more self-conscious in general. And due to the situation, this was the night I felt it the most.

Because I "have to"

2006-06-08T23:21:00.000-04:00

I don't feel like letting this week get passed up for blogging. And since I know Joanna will not be writing anything (something about a honeymoon), I figure I ought to. The only problem is I don't know what to write about and don't have much time- I need to get to bed.

I guess this will be my post- a few verses that I read today that I feel are important to remember:

"'Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?'
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

The Rollercoaster

2006-06-01T23:58:00.000-04:00

**Wednesday, 11pm- I find out that the story of the TU crash from over a month ago is not finished (see www.taylor.edu). I spend the next few hours crying and trying to process, which is hard with no friends around.
**Thursday, 8a-4p- I work at Staples, trying to be friendly and smile, but it isn't easy.
**Thursday, 5-8p - My sister's graduation party. Entertaining her friends, a few of which I know, and talking about the latest on the accident with some people.
**Friday- Saturday- Heading to Indy for my fellow blogger's wedding.

Yes, it has been and will be a crazy time emotionally.

My Summer '06- a preview

2006-05-25T23:08:00.000-04:00

This summer I am doing many things I didn't expect. First off, I am living at home- one thing I didn't want to do since I enjoy living on my own. Also, I didn't want to live at home because I wanted an internship related to psychology somewhere. But I was lazy and didn't start looking until late and found nothing (I did get one offer, but I turned it down once things at home fell into place).

The things at home that fell into place, which were unexpected: I have a job at Staples, where I have worked in past years and I am leading a college sunday school class at my church. Also, it will be good to be home this summer in order to attend most of my friends' weddings and be home for my brother's second ACL surgery, on the same knee.

And the last unexpected thing is my friendship with Jeff- not sure where it's going, but I am enjoying getting to know him as best I can through IM and email.

Done!

2006-05-18T10:01:00.000-04:00

This is a Thursday 17 years in the making. School is over! My last final finished at 9am this morning, and I will not have a class again, at least for a while. Like, a long while. Like, I don't plan on going back to school, except for very good reasom, ever.

Honestly, I don't mind school. I love learning, no doubt about that. I think I'm just relieved right now- this constant burden I've had of 'making the grades' for all of my life is done. I can breathe easier. Now, I can learn for fun and self-betterment, rather than to pass the test. Now I'll have TIME to.

Yay!

The Weekend Where Josh Studies for Finals

2006-05-04T13:55:00.000-04:00

My Keeping Feet blog has a Weekend Series of posts, started a little while ago. I decided to post last weekend here to mix it up a bit, and because I've been slacking and haven't posted a weekend update
This weekend turned into "The weekend where Josh recovers from the previous week" and therefore we didn't do much. We did go and update our registry, so wedding guests will be happy. We took our wedding rings in to be sized, and I gave my engagement ring to be re-rhodium-plated or something. When it comes back, it will be the same white gold color as my wedding ring.

The weekend was long for me- I didn't have class Thursday or Friday because of the tragedy last week at Taylor. Not exactly a long weekend to celebrate or anything. Josh and I did a lot of talking about life-plans. That was good. I feel like, even though we talked quite a bit, everything's still up in the air. We've still got all these parallel lives planned, and at some point we're going to have to choose one of our parallel-universes to be our reality. Sounds like Star Trek. That's OK, we like Star Trek :)

A moment of silence

2006-04-27T11:56:00.000-04:00

http://www.taylor.edu/community/news/accident_04-26-06.htm
http://wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=4825224

Yay for Scrabble!

2006-04-13T09:15:00.000-04:00

Yay for Mr. Butts!

From The Writer's Almanac:

It's the birthday of the man who invented the game Scrabble, Alfred M. Butts, born in Poughkeepsie, New York (1899). He trademarked the game in 1949. For the first few years, only a few thousand copies of the game were sold, but in the 1950s the president of Macy's played the game on vacation and got hooked. He ordered more for his store, and Scrabble became a great success.

The game has been beloved by many writers, including the novelist Vladimir Nabokov, who had a special Russian version made for himself and his wife.

I love Scrabble. Earlier this week, I found this shirt on CafePress I thought was pretty cool. (While looking for it again, I found even more Scrabble apparel and a bumper sticker.) I had wanteed to make the table numbers at my wedding big Scrabble letters, but that was vetoed. Apparently it didn't really fit with the theme...

Time-wasting

2006-04-06T21:42:00.000-04:00

This has been an odd week. First off, it flew. Maybe it was the daylight savings bit that threw me off, but probably not.

The other odd thing is that I've felt like I've wasted time all week. The last two evenings have been awful on the time-wasting end. I've done nothing. I did manage to do some cooking tonight. That was yummy. Tuesday, I also wasted time, but it felt better- I went to grocery shop in Muncie and ended up playing a few games of Scrabble with a couple friends and going to Starbucks with my fiance. It was delightful. I did get late-night grocery shopping in as well.

The third odd thing about this week is that I've exercised. What the heck? Tuesday I actually went to the Well and decided I'm very out of shape. Wednesday I walked to and from school and did yoga in the evening, and this morning I went on a bike ride. I don't know what's causing the sudden motivation for activity- perhaps because the sun has been shining and it feels like I should be outside, perhaps because when I was trying on bathing suits over spring break I felt lumpy. Whatever it is, I suppose it's good for me.

Who am I?

2006-04-06T20:08:00.000-04:00

So last Thursday I was unable to blog because I was on spring break. I went to Daytona Beach with a mission trip from school. We handed out free hamburgers and hotdogs and talked to people about their faith and God. It was incredible. God used our team in amazing ways and made us one big family. It was great to see God use the small body of believers to reach others and spread His name.

But now I am back in Indiana and wondering what happened to the person I was down in Daytona. I have been struggling to figure out who I am and who God wants me to be. Being in social psychology, I have been learning about behaviors and attitudes and how they are related. What makes the person? Is it what I think or what I do?

There are two "persons" living in me: my earthly self and the one that has been saved and is striving to live for Christ. Who am I?

"Who am I? This or the other?
Am I one person today and tomorrow another?
Am I both at once? A hypocrite before others,
And before myself a contemptibly woebegone weakling?
Or is something within me still like a beaten army,
Fleeing in disorder from victory already achieved?
Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine.
Whoever I am, Thou knowest, O God, I am Thine!"
~Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Lost

2006-03-23T23:32:00.000-05:00

Hey, it's Thursday again, folks. Nothing exciting to report. I enjoyed watching the red-breasted robins today, it made me feel that, although I'm still cold outside, spring could possibly be on the way. Something else I watched way too much of today was the TV show Lost. We don't get cable, so I've never seen a full episode live, but my roommate rented 4 DVDs worth of the show from Blockbuster, and I got through 2 of them this afternoon, which, in total, had me wasting about 5 hours. Crazy. It's an interesting show; I can see why it's popular.

The job search is (finally) in full swing. Kristen keeps complaining she needs to find a job for the summer, and I keep answering with, I need to find a job for ... life. That's right, 'real life' hits upon graduation, less than 2 months from now. Josh has a month and a week. As for the job search, my inbox is full of places I'm hoping to hear back from, and I had an interview Monday and have another tomorrow.

God wants us somewhere, I know it. I wish I knew where, though, and right now. Sigh.

Puppy love

2006-03-16T12:52:00.000-05:00

Last night, I went for the second time with my coworker Amber and two of her dogs to a nursing home. Her dogs are certified therapy dogs, which means they are very well-behaved, even around unusual situations, smells, wheelchairs, and the like. Yet again, they were each very well behaved and the residents were delighted to see them. It's not everyday anyone gets to see such a beautiful whippet and great dane, and this is even more true for the residents. Many of them have owned dogs their entire lives, but had to give them up to move into the home, and any dog brings a familiarity and joy into their lives.
A National Geographic article talks about the benefits of therapy dogs. Dogs provide companionship, stability, comfort, and a host of other small joys. I won't have a dog for a couple years, but I look forward to it. Perhaps it will have the kind of temperment that will allow it to be a therapy dog. Regardless, I'm glad this can be a ministry of sorts for me now.

In Memory

2006-03-09T22:32:00.000-05:00

I have been blessed to only lose one friend close enough to me for me to feel the need to mourn. Yet, this mourning time didn't come until two and a half years after her death. See, she was a friend who I lost contact with when I moved 5 years ago. I heard about her death and I think was shaken up, but I didn't taken time to process it.

Today my dad found a guestbook linked to her obituary from July 18, 2003 and he sent me the link. As I began to read what people have written, even this year, about her, I began to remember times spent with her at church. I broke down and cried hard for a while. I remembered her smile, her joy and her friendship.

I felt somewhat bad that just now I was mourning her. It's not like I didn't want to, I just hadn't given it thought or known enough about the situation. But I know that it doesn't matter how late it came or why it did, but that I did give it thought and I did give myself time to cry.

Rachael Koloroutis, this is for you:
In Christ, there are no goodbyes
And in Christ, there is no end
So I'll hold onto Jesus with all that I have
To see you again
To see you again
I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now

Because I must

2006-03-02T23:33:00.000-05:00

So, I really shouldn't be on here right now. I have a test tomorrow morning that I have not started to study for and I need my sleep. But I had to meet with some friends tonight and I had to rewrite my resume for an interview tomorrow and I have to blog.

Funny things about the resume- In case anyone didn't know, they are no objective things. My major switched from computer science to psychology, and in searching for new types of jobs, I stress different aspects of previous jobs and activities. These pieces of paper we had to the interviewer are the truth focus for the purpose. And I guess it all makes sense- target your writing to your audience.

Anyway, just something that hit me as I was writing my new resume. Have a great weekend, y'all.

What to say

2006-02-23T23:27:00.000-05:00

What can I blog about after all of that?

After having watched "Flowers for Algernon" put on by our school theatre department...After having talked with some good friends and just being relational...After having looked up at the sky and been speechless...After having no words to convey my thanks to God for all He has done...After having words of thanks pour out of me: my life, my friends, this school, the beautiful night, the things God has been doing in my life; and still none of it can fully express the jumble of praise inside...

After having spent time on my back, looking up at the stars and praying: for the young men on the baseball team, for my wonderful roommate, for her good friend...After having lay silent in the cold night under God's handiwork...After having walked back to the dorm and realizing my own weakness and asking for God's strength...After God's control over the songs that are played right now on my iTunes: All The Words by Kutless and I'm Speechless by Avalon.

Nothing I say will come out right. There is nothing that can express how I feel...

"I will try to explain these feelings that are true
So looking to the sky I will sing and from my heart to You I bring
All of the words in all of my life that could never explain and never describe
All of my love, which is nothing to hide so I lift up my hands and I worship
I worship You...
By Your grace You let me come talk to You
It's not that I'm worthy I thank you Jesus
For the love that You have shown"

"I'm speechless
I've tried to write the song
I've searched my heart for phrases
But they only catch a glimpse of all You are...
When it comes to You I'm speechless
Nothing holds a candle to the wonder of Your love
I'm amazed by Your grace
Your forgiving embrace
And I'm finding words could never be enough"

Links today

2006-02-23T11:28:00.000-05:00

Dance with all your might - I don't have this gene, but I think it's cool that some people do - I think it shows how God makes people for a purpose, with special skills and abilities. I love it when science confirms it. I wonder if people with this gene avoid Taylor?

Third Day with the David Crowder Band - Tonight. At Ball State. I wasn't in the dungeon till 2am finishing my programming assignment for Friday for nothing.

A Hawaii school in the news - I had friends that were going to go to this school after they graduated out of the elementary school we were in. It was a good school- very prestigious. Had I been in Hawaii beyond sixth grade, my parents would have made me go to a private school as well, but Kamehameha Schools wouldn't have been an option for a haole girl like me.

Why I don't play modern video games - Reason #87. Actually, I've been playing Riven lately, mostly because of my roommate's urging, and I spent an hour or two playing my favorite old console game, Super James Pond. (I've looked around the internet for a good link about it, and, apparently the majority of the world didn't like it as much. Can't find anything good. The best I can do is leave you with the main character, James Pond himself )

I want

2006-02-16T23:39:00.000-05:00

I want to live a social life. I want to be able to form friendships, laugh with other, eat with others, cook with others, grow with others. I want to be around people all the time, through good and bad. I want to interact all the time, to talk and to listen. I want to always have someone around me, even if just in silence. I want to learn from others, teach others, help others and be helped. I need to be around people- that is how I survive.

On being a woman

2006-02-16T18:07:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite books is Let Me Be a Woman by Elizabeth Elliot. It is motherly advice to her soon-to-be-married daughter on life and marriage, and is a short read packed-full of wisdom. Some may say it is a bit old fashion, but I think it is beautiful- describing an ideal relationship and, for me, in a way, gives me permission to be feminine.

A couple weekends ago, I attended the Indiana Women in Computing conference (InWIC), which allowed me to be around, for a day, a lot of very smart women. I loved it- I was in a group where I didn't feel like I stuck out like a sore thumb for being female, and yet could "talk geeky" without getting blank stares or funny looks. I felt like I could communicate more freely, that I didn't have to prve myself before being taken seriously. I was also in awe of all the masters and doctorate students and professors- I've never had a female role model in my field, so to see so many smart women working on such cool projects got me pretty excited. Talking to the undergrad girls also made me realize, although I'm not going to Purdue or MIT, I'm getting as good or better a computer science education. I appreciated that.
Check out the pictures - Here's the whole group, I'm on the far left of the back row, next to my friend from high school's girlfriend (from Depauw). The lady on the right here is a Taylor grad who teaches CS at Ivy Tech in Lafayette. The ladies in this picture are, respectively, from Lilly, Microsoft, and Google. (As a side note, I got my resume to each of them, and got an email today from the Google lady asking for my transcript. Hooray.) The lady on the left of this picture is Geri, who I travelled with from Taylor. Oh, and here's an awful picture of me during the BOF session on women in computer science (I talked too much during this session, probably. The photographer caught me when I wasn't talking, apparently.) Here's a better picture of me while I was being crafty making a very cool necklace.
That was the cool part about this. I could sit through a talk about a complex algorithm for secure sharing of personal data, or development of applications for PDAs, then, and hour or so later, eat ice cream and listen to girls giggle about boys and be crafty and make jewelry. I loved it.

And, of course, Valentine's Day was Tuesday. Another glorious day to be a woman. Josh & I cooked dinner, and he got me a DOZEN beautiful roses, as well as a movie I've been wanting and a sweet card. We watched the movie & took it easy for the evening. It was great.

Big Ben is from Findlay, OH

2006-02-02T22:05:00.000-05:00

I had another plan for my blog today, but being from Findlay, I feel the need to let the world know that Ben Roethlisberger is from Findlay, OH. (In case you don't know, Ben is the quarterback for the Steelers, who are playing in the Super Bowl Sunday.) My small town of about 40,000 has gone crazy with talk about Big Ben and the Steelers and the Super Bowl. Here are some links about the man himself and his life in Findlay. It seems like that's all our newspaper can cover right now!

Some interesting "personal" stories about Ben

My brother has played basketball against Ben when he would come back and join the high schoolers during open gym. He dunked over my brother
I watched a high school girl's basketball game last year and sat maybe 8 feet from Ben (he was watching his younger sister play)
All those at FHS homecoming football game were honored to see Ben return to his former school and stand with the team as they played. I got some decent pictures =)

Ok, enough bragging. I just had to let you know.

Best blonde joke ever

2006-02-02T14:50:00.000-05:00

Apologies to Kristen, I have to point to Ashley's post with an awesome blonde joke.

This is kinda a cop-out Thursday post. But worth it :-)

My J-term

2006-01-26T13:45:00.000-05:00

J-term: during the month of January, you can take up to 4 credit hours. They squash a semester's worth of class into one month. You have the same class everyday for about 3 hours and the rest of the day is yours. Generally this is a time of relaxation, movies, and hanging out with friends. With the weather normally cold and the wind blowing like crazy, students venture outside only if needed. Well, here is my story of j-term.

I took historic Christian belief and weight training. The latter had no homework, though I did get to be sore everyday. The former only had reading to do; no papers or projects. So, I didn't have much work to do for j-term, as usual. But I was more lazy than normal. I didn't take classes in the fall, so I am still not used to the whole study, busy aspect of school. J-term didn't help at all. We'll see how second semester goes.

I am also haven't had much peer interaction this past fall and have been used to entertaining myself with movies and such. I continued to do this over j-term, which I regret. There are freshmen on the floor that I have barely talked to and there are still some girls on the other floor that I don't know. I love my small dorm because you can know everyone, but I have not taken the time this j-term.

One very positive aspect of j-term is the weather. It has been warm (30's and 40's) all month with only 24 hours of snow on the ground. I love the cold weather with sunny days, which has been what the month has generally been.

So, that is my past month. Some things I would like to change and some things that I hope don't change. It has been an in-between period after my internship with no classes and before a semester of a lot of work. Let's hope it has been helpful to me.

What makes a guy attractive?

2006-01-19T23:53:00.000-05:00

Here are three things that I find attractive in guys. These are by no means a complete list and these are not things that mean I'm interested in a guy. They are simple things that are attracting about a guy or group of guys.

Playing/ caring for little kids. Just a personal thing that shows they know how to imagine and have fun.
A group of guys, from a club, sport team or wing of a dorm, getting together and having clean, honest fun. Playing baseball on the front lawn of the dorm while having a cookout. No beer, no girls; just guys having fun in a good way.
A praying man (or men). A guy who knows that God is real and answers prayer and is worthy of praise. A guy who will take time out of his day to focus on God, His will and His plan. Trusting on God for his life and the lives of others.

Ha!

2006-01-19T12:45:00.000-05:00

My high school, the biggest in the state, had this brief article on the Indy Star site today.
It read:

8:44 AM January 19, 2006

Power problems shut Carmel H.S.

Star report
Carmel High School is closed today due to an electrical problem, according to a note on the school's Web site.

All classes, meetings and evening events are canceled.

From the school system website:

January 19, 2006
Carmel High School will dismiss at 8:30 A.M. due to a power outage. All athletic events and meetings for today are cancelled.

Something BIG must've happened to shut down power in the middle of the city. Perhaps they were putting in another $200,000 Carmel Arts and Design District sign and cut something. Who knows. I think it's funny. 4,000 high school students are probably pretty excited too.

A few of my favorite things

2006-01-12T23:58:00.000-05:00

I've got to make this quick. Here are a few of my favorite things from today:

sunny, warm weather
breakfast with a wonderful roommate
the wind through my hair
a shower after lifting weights and looking nice
bridal shower for a good friend
laughs with girls from the floor
a nice talk with a great friend/ former roommate/ fellow blogger
walking barefoot- in January
talking to my mom online
quirky friends in the dorm
a much needed talk with my Father and Friend

Tidbits for today

2006-01-12T11:50:00.000-05:00

It's Thursday. I was up till 1:30 last night. This senior capstone project is intense- on top of working on it, I have a romanitic relationship to keep up AND jobs to apply for. Juggling's going OK, so far. Only a few more days.

In the news today:

Right to Life better not argue this one. - I'm against abortion and all for recognizing an unborn child as a person, but being pregnant does not allow a woman to drive in the carpool lane without at least two seats in the car being taken up, whether she thinks there are two people in the car or not. THe story was funny. My favorite quote: "Norton [the officer] said Dickinson [the woman]'s theory "would require officers to carry guns, radios and pregnancy testers, and I don't think we want to go there."

Ants can teach each other - This story did a couple things for me. First, it pointed out the amazing complexity of Creation, and the wonderful things God built in. It's cool. Second, the article points out a way ants are smarter than many professors:
"Teaching isn't merely mimicry. It involves the teacher modifying its behavior in the presence of a naive observer at some initial cost to itself," said Franks, who reported the findings in the journal Nature."
Just kidding, mostly. I appreciate my professors.

What is Heaven?

2005-12-22T22:41:00.000-05:00

Barbara Walters asked the same question on Tuesday. Her answers were based on interviews with religious leaders from around the world. Religious topics, such as this, seem to be more and more prevalent in movies, books and our everyday conversations yet are starting to get pushed out of our schools and congressional sessions. Since blogs are still a place where we have free speech, I would like to give a quick answer to the question I posed in my title.

A few weeks ago at church the pastor talked about how Jesus makes all things new; healing the sick, restoring sight, bringing the dead to life and offering eternal life to a dead world. One day, He will make this world new, restoring it to the way it was before sin. I realized that if the new heaven and new earth were the perfection of what life in the garden, then heaven was not 24/7 playing harps and singing praise.

Don't get me wrong, I believe that we will glorify and praise God for eternity, but it won't be just by singing. Life in the garden of Eden was life with the added bonus of walking with God. Adam and Eve lived, named animals, played sports (I believe) and maybe wrote poems; all with God at their side. I think heaven will be no different. Just as we have gifts that glorify God while we are on earth, there will be things that we can do to glorify God other than singing. For starters, there are houses that need living in!

No, it will not be boring and full of singing. Things will be restored and we shall live fully, as we were intended to, in the complete presence of God.

What Middle Earth race am I?

2005-12-15T15:56:00.000-05:00

Entish

To which race of Middle Earth do you belong?
brought to you by Quizilla

Maybe this is why my laptop is named Treebeard...

"My" radio station

2005-12-15T12:05:00.000-05:00

I really didn't know what to blog about today. Nothing but finishing up my co-op has been on my mind and nothing interesting had happened in my life. Well, until this morning. This may sound weird, but it's only because you didn't get to experience it.

There is a radio station in Toledo, Yes FM that I love and listen to all day, every day at work. Now, this radio station has three transmitters; Lima, Toledo and Wauseon and an online transmission. Due to the wonderful snow we got today, all three transmitters were down for an hour or two, meaning that those listening online were the only ones listening. Now, I don't know how many people were listening, but it all of a sudden felt like Yes FM was my own personal radio station. The DJ was talking to the online audience and singling out some of the ones that had e-mailed him, myself included.

While everything seemed normal, when you think that you are one of 50 (maybe) that is listening to this radio station, you feel special! The best part was that the online listeners could now compete in call-in contests. See, there is a delay when you listen online, so by the time you hear the contest, they may have a winner. Well, now, in effect, there was no delay; only online listeners were able to hear it. And that is how I won their "Mystery History Tune" contest!! What a fun day!

You know, now that I write it out, it doesn't seem that cool. Oh well, like I said, it's only because you didn't get to experience it!

The Worst Punishment

2005-12-08T12:05:00.000-05:00

I had an interesting conversation yesterday that got me thinking (imagine that). Quick disclaimer: Dan speaks in hyperboles a lot and there was more to the conversation than what I mention.

I went out to lunch with some of the other co-ops at Marathon and we got to talking about New Orleans and the hurricanes. One of the co-ops, a LSU student from just west of New Orleans, made a comment that things in New Orleans are better off now after the hurricanes. Crime is down and there are fewer murders in the city. The conclusion was that the homeless and lower income people are generally the cause for the crime and with them out of the city, it is better off. This led Dan to comment that we ought to take care of crime by killing off all who don't contribute to society. The punishment for breaking the law: death. I was very shocked by this idea and said "I want to see you stand by that idea when you get pulled over for drunk driving." His response: "Hell, I wouldn't drive drunk!"

We ended up getting an explanation that made some sense out of Dan for his comment, but it wasn't until that evening that I was thinking about what Dan said: If the punishment was bad enough, the law won't be broken. I then thought of the ultimate punishment: eternity in hell as a punishment for sin. I wondered why more people aren't afraid to sin and avoid this punishment like Dan would avoid drinking and driving. Here is what I decided:

Some people don't know about the punishment. If you don't know the law of the consequences, you can't follow the law.
Some people don't believe the punishment. I think many non-Christians have heard of Heaven and Hell, but don't believe it is true or it doesn't include them. The sad thing is, just like our law in this country, you may not believe it, but it is the truth. If you sin, you will spend eternity in Hell. Along with this, some may not see Hell for what it really is: a place of burning sulfur, isolation from God and others, continuing on for eternity.
Some people have avoided the punishment. The punishment for sin is death, but Jesus took our place; He died so we don't have to. Therefore we can sin all we want and not worry about death! WAIT!! While many Christians live this way, we are called to a higher standard: holiness. If we love God, we will obey His law, regardless of whether or not we receive the punishment.

Where are you? What do you think of the punishment? How are you living? I know for me, God used this conversation to make me think about the sins in my life and give those up, with His help, to live for Him.

My new favorite phone

2005-12-01T18:23:00.000-05:00

This phone is a model 2 generations newer than my current phone, and I think it is very cool.
On Nokia's European site, it says this phone will be available in first quarter, 2006. Not that I would or could get a phone right after it is first released. But I COULD go into the store and play with one :-D

Interesting Features of the E70:

A 2-megapixel camera. - This is the size of the digital camera I've been using the last 3 years, and I am delighted with the pictures. Unfortunately, my current camera is lost, and my current phone, whihc I adore, doesn't have a camera. I did find it interesting - they're marketing this phone to business people, then put a camera in it. Many workplaces are banning cameraphones for security reasons.

A bigger screen - Of course, I'm delighted with my color screen as it is, but this one looks slick.

A new operating system - it looks to have more applications and features, and perhaps an easier-to-use email interface. I could never get the receiving-email bit on my current phone to work, though I send it fine.

Communications ports abound - You've got Bluetooth? So does the phone. How about infrared, USB, WiFi, or a Nokia data cable? You can talk to the phone. According to the site, it is possible to use WLAN, Bluetooth technology, USB and infrared at the same time, if you really wanted to. The surprise to me is that infrared hasn't been phased out. Laptops used to come with an infrared port, but I don't see it as much anymore.

I'm way too excited about this. It's silly, I won't get one, at least not for a very long while.

Last Thursday I was in Carmel.
Today I am in Upland.
Next Thursday I will be in Atlanta.
The following Thursday, I will start in Upland then go to Carmel (actually, I may go to Carmel Friday. I haven't decided yet.)

I can't wait till I have a place I can stay put at for more than a week or so at a time. Though I am definitely not complaining about the Atlanta trip :-) More on that next week.

lifespace

2005-11-17T18:40:00.000-05:00

I was playing with the always-amusing 'Next Blog' button at the top of the page, and came across LifeSpace: "The Practice of Life with God"
From the site:

We believe this life should be an existence in which knowledge of God and trust in God are reflected in the expansive experience of living. There is nothing small or limiting in our God. Life with Him should be a huge gulp of fresh air. Like an ever-expanding sphere, life is a space for unending, unbounded delight in the infinite glory of our Creator.
...
The central question for expansive life is “What do I love?” A suffocating, inward gaze must shift to an outward view of God’s glorious perfections. As our gaze rests upon God, we are moved to worship and love the person of God for His own sake. We shun the profane in favor of the truly beautiful. Enabled by the Spirit to see God more clearly, we experience ever-increasing delight in the glorious God.

'Who do I love?' Who do I give my time and energy to? Where is it that my heart resides? These are hard questions, and I don't like the answers my heart gives me, if I'm honest. I want to love God better.
My church has a worship service, Sojourn, that is 'experiential' in that the audience will have a discussion time with a moderator on the topic of the day, or we wil be invited to draw or write our meditations during a quiet time of the service, and communion, art, and prayer stations in the room are opened during the whole service for anyone to go back and worship in the way that suits them best. I have really appreciated the service, it has opened my eyes to other ways to worship and really freed me- given me 'permission'- to be creative and worship God with all of me, not just singing or listening to a sermon.
We're doing a series on the Psalms, and during the last Sojourn service I was at, we had a time to write or draw and meditate on a Psalm. I opened to Psalm 39, and paraphrased it as it spoke to me:

"I will live righteously, do what is good
Speak the right words and all that"
When I sit and say nothing, do nothing,
My heart hurts.
I must cry out.
And so I speak

"God, I need you. I need your guidance, I need your plan. I need you in my life in a real way. I know my life will fly by, and you know every nanosecond of it.
Be with me.
Let me not labor in vain."

Where can I look? Where can I hope?
I must trust you.
Hear me, and never let me go.

Winter (or almost)

2005-11-17T05:22:00.000-05:00

"Lines written by a bear of very little brain:
On Thursday when it starts to freeze
And hoar-frost twinkles on the trees
How very readily one sees
That these are whose---but whose are these"

That came from my favorite calendar ever- a Winnie the Pooh calendar with quotes and pictures for the original book. I though it was fitting, seeing as Findlay just had their first snow of the year last night. When I was hearing about the weather for today (and really, for the next few months) I was not excited. I love the cold much better than the humidity of Texas and I enjoy snow, but for some reason I wasn't ready for it this year.

That was all until I work up this morning, saw the dusting of snow and walked into work. Yes, it was cold and the wind was biting, but later in the day, it was sunny and beautiful. I realized I was really ready for winter (or wintery weather) to be here.

One nice thing to note: I will enjoy the first part of winter more than the past two- this time I only have to be out in the cold to and from my car at work, not back and forth multiple times a day for classes. "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!"

'Not much' Thursday

2005-11-10T23:32:00.000-05:00

"Not much" as in "What's up?" "Not much" - I literally entered the dungeon at 8am this morning and left at 4:50 this afternoon- I didn't even leave for lunch (I had half a Subway sandwich left over in a fridge on the floor.) Needless to say, I was very tired of looking at a computer screen by the time I left. A prince came and rescued me and cooked dinner with me tonight :-D

"Not much" as in, "Not much to say" - I feel like the time has flown since last Thursday. This week has flown by, so it feels like not much happened, or, if it did, it's all a blur. I had my first 'real-job' interview. I got a group take home test done. I went to a three-year-old's birthday party. I went to coffee with my dad. I went to Ivanhoes twice, with various people.
This is all that happened, but not in this order.

Interesting link to point out - A journal article I'll be presenting about on Tuesday about the impact of the internet on Saudi Arabian society. Haven't read it in detail yet, but a skim of it looks like it brings up interesting ideas.

Speaking earlier of being tired of looking at a computer screen... I have no idea why I'm on a computer blogging now. It's bedtime.
It's Thursday, therefore I blog.

Sigh. Goodnight.

***Afterwards-note: I was sleepy last night and posted this on the wrong blog. Because I DID post it Thursday (albeit in the wrong place) I'm dating it here as if it was posted last night. This is probably a big blogger no-no, but, alas.

Thursday excitement

2005-11-03T13:43:00.000-05:00

Lots of stuff going on today. It's turned out to be a pretty good Thursday.

I've been working with a professor to get a Women in Computing group started on campus, and today a big step was made. I had lunch with the professor, 2 other female students, and 5 female staff people involved in computers in some fashion. Everyone had good ideas and stories of how they ended up where they are today. We hope to have another brainstorming meeting in a couple weeks, involving more women computer students, and perhaps a study break before the end of the semester. Hooray.

I've got 2 tests tomorrow, in Human-Computer Interaction and Contemporary Christian Belief. Yay for studying...

I've got 3 hours of work to put into my software engineering project, which will be good now that I'm very motivated on this project and it's starting to pick up momentum.

Donald Miller, the author of one of my favorite books, Blue Like Jazz, is going to have a question-and-answer session tonight at a coffeeshop in Marion. I REALLY want to go, but the above couple points, unfortunately, take precedence. We'll see how the day goes.

Tomorrow begins a fun weekend, with a three-year-old's birthday party on Saturday and our last pre-marriage class.

And I leave you with excerpts from Blue Like Jazz:

The magical proposition of the gospel, once free from the clasps of fairy tale, was very adult to me, very gritty like something from Hemingway or Steinbeck, like something with copious amounts of sex and blood. Christian spirituality was not a children’s story. It wasn’t cute or neat. It was mystical and odd and clean, and it was reaching into dirty. There was wonder in it and enchantment.

The greatest trick of the devil...is not to get us into some sort of evil but rather have us wasting time. This is why the devil tries so hard to get Christians to be religious. If he can sink a man’s mind into habit, he will prevent his heart from engaging God.”

I felt so far from my upbringing, from my narrow former self, the me who was taught the Republicans give a crap about the cause of Christ. I felt a long way from the pre-me, the pawn-Christian who was a Republican because my family was Republican, not because I had prayed and asked God to enlighten me about issues concerning the entire world, not just America.... I didn’t think that Jesus agreed with a lot of the policies of the Republican Party, or for that matter, the Democratic party. Jesus was a religious figure, not a political figure.

Everybody wants to be fancy and new. Nobody wants to be themselves. I mean, maybe people want to be themselves, but they want to be different, with different clothes or shorter hair or less fat. If there was a guy who just liked being himself and didn’t want to be anybody else, that guy would be the most different guy in the world and everybody would want to be him.”

Facebook me!

2005-11-03T00:17:00.000-05:00

I am still here!! I spend all day on the computer and never really feel like blogging. And there isn't anything interesting to talk about. Well, that was until I joined Facebook. I know Joanna will not be able to say how wonderful Facebook is (because she won't get join, but we still love her =P), so I will do it.

Why is Facebook so wonderful, you ask? Well, I'm not going to deny that it is addicting and a great time killer, but it is excellent for connecting to friends you have lost contact with. For me, I love that! First off, I am a very relational person and love hearing and seeing what people are doing in their lives. Second, I lived in Texas for 7 years and moved 4 years ago to Ohio. Some friends I lost contact with as my life went on up north. With the help of Facebook, I have been able to make contact with some of my friends again and see what they are up to. Friends from church, friends from school- everyone (who is smart enough to get on Facebook =D).

To all my Facebook friends, I am glad to be in contact with you. To all of my friends not on Facebook, join in on the fun (Joanna...). To all on Facebook that are not my friends...I don't know, have fun!

Undeserved royalty

2005-10-27T09:06:00.000-05:00

A year ago today, I posted this on my blog. So much has happened in a year. As I read what I had wrote what seems like forever-ago, I realized that I have a deeper understanding of what love and sacrifice look like, now, a year later, and I agree even more than I did then that I've got a Prince on my hands.

Fall Break!

2005-10-20T08:31:00.000-05:00

You can ignore this post. If you want to read something REALLY interesting, check my blog from yesterday (Obviously not here, because yesterday wasn't Thursday. Today's Thursday. See? I'm getting the hang of this)

In other news, I'm on fall break. It figures, the only time Josh and I have a break on the same weekend, my fall break is Thursday-Friday and his is Monday-Tuesday. My mom & grandparents are coming for lunch today, so I need to get busy cleaning the apartment. After lunch I'm going to work about 5 hours on a class project. Tomorrow & Saturday Josh & I are going to hang out. We had outdoor plans, but the weather may or may not cooperate. Regardless, I'll enjoy the day off.

My OTHER roommates

2005-10-13T22:06:00.000-05:00

So, Melissa's my roommate, technically, but there are two others that are in my bedroom way more than I or Melissa are. They are Melissa's turtles! She has two turtles that are very fun to watch. THey are very small now- probably two inches across- but apparently will grow. Eventually.
Here are some webcam shots of one of them (the web cam is linked from Melissa's blog)

In this one, I think the turtle looks heroic, but not in a silly-teenage-ninja-turtle way.:

Another blog of note

2005-10-06T10:26:00.000-05:00

Operation Eden

I'm enraptured by these stories and these pictures and these people. They're beautiful. And tragic. And deeper-- deeper than the stories on the news that are shot in 15-second sound bites or about political manuevering and failure. This highlights real lives, real loss, real faces, real struggles thanks to the weather and FEMA and mold and everything that seems to be going wrong. The photographer sayd that he's asked to take pictures of celebrities, to make them look 'heroic', but celebrities aren't heroes. These people are. And that's why he does this.

Beautiful, just beautiful.

In the Lap of a Stranger

2005-09-29T07:27:00.000-05:00

I was about to post this on my other blog, and then realize, it's Thursday!

This is a secular poem found via today's The Writer's Almanac daily email that is a modern tale of the good Samaritan story- caring for the least of these while the rest of the world passes by in a hurry, not wanting to become 'unclean'. Only the young man stops, risking, as the last line says, being "made late".

In the Lap of a Stranger
by Karen Whalley

A young man is bending
Over an old man
Lying on a street corner
At the busiest intersection
Of the city.
Homeless or drunk, I can't tell which,
But there are hundreds of us passing
And only one man stops,
Cradles that dirty head
Between his knees.

It's the soles of the shoes
Turned up that make me want
To turn away—so small!
The feet pointing like arrows
Straight up and motionless,
And the crosswalk box's little man
Walking in his mechanical way,
As if on a treadmill,
And the man not walking,
Not getting up.

When the light changes,
We all drive through,
Going forward into appointments,
Shopping and errands like a future,
Choosing the crispest head of lettuce
At the grocer's, which will taste
Particularly sharp tonight.
Glad for awhile it wasn't us
Saying our goodbyes
To our one and only life, in public,
In second-hand clothes,
Easing through the ethers
Into the afterlife
From the lap of a stranger
We've probably made late.

Long absence

2005-09-22T21:51:00.000-05:00

So, Joanna has been bad and has not posted for many-a-Thursday. Last Thursday I was in no position to post- I was in Georgia for my grandmother's funeral. Last week was hard. This week, I'm catching up and back to a more-normal schedule. Not that there's such thing as a normal Thursday. That's why they're so hard to get the hang of.
Today was the first COS Club meeting of the year, and it went surprisingly well. I made cookies for the meeting, which may or may not have contributed to the success of the meeting.
I feel like things are in disarray in the apartment right now. Hopefully tomorrow afternoon I'll have time to clean up. I'm not crazy about 'disarray'.
I would write more, but I've still got homework for school tomorrow.

Oh, and I miss Kristen.

Time to work

2005-09-08T15:48:00.000-05:00

Well, I didn't have jury duty and so I showed up early on Tuesday to begin my fall internship. By now, I think I have filled out all the needed paperwork and have learned the basics for what I will be doing. Today, I actually had a simple project to do, which helped me get a better graps on the programming language.

Now that I am at work, it sinks in that I will be doing this for the next 15 weeks, not being at school with my friends. This should be interesting, yet hopefully fun.

"5 am on Tuesday"

2005-09-01T19:32:00.000-05:00

"Why am I up so early/Drive out to Santa Ana 'cause I've got jury duty"

No, I don't have to drive all the way to Santa Ana and I don't know if I have to be up at 5am, but I do have jury duty. Well, at least a jury summons. My first one ever and it also happens to be the day I am supposed to start my fall internship: next Tuesday. We'll see how all of this goes. All I want is to not have to report until after I have become an employee; that way I get paid for the time I am gone. This should be interesting, to say the least.
Song lyrics for "Jury Duty" by the Supertones, off the "Loud and Clear" cd.

Churches of Savannah

2005-08-25T08:07:00.000-05:00

So, I didn't blog last Thursday. Sorry. To make up for it, I'll post lots of cool pictures this week.
Last Wednesday, Josh & I toured Savannah, GA, the oldest city in Georgia, full of history and really cool architecture.
There were lots of pretty churches, among other things. Here's some of the pictures I took:

End of summer

2005-08-18T14:23:00.000-05:00

I can’t believe the summer is almost over. I now have only one day of my summer internship left and it feels like I just started. But I can tell that Ontario Systems is ready for me to leave- too ready.

When I came in this morning, I could not login to my computer. I got a message that said my account had been disabled. After a phone call to our IT guys, I was able to long into my computer, but I couldn't get into my e-mail, my home directory on the server or into a program we use off the server. It looked like someone had gotten ahead of the game and taken me out of the system two days early.

After about an hour, I was able to work normally, but I still couldn't get into my e-mail. That came at around 9:30. I think things are good now and hopefully they stay that way for tomorrow.

I have enjoyed my time here but am looking forward to going home, hanging out with my sister, seeing my brother before he heads off to college and starting my co-op for the fall at Marathon Petroleum Company.

2005-08-11T17:01:00.000-05:00

It's Thursday again. This has been a somewhat stressful week. I think I want to go and curl up and sleep and read for a few days. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like that will happen until over a week from now. So be it.
Busy-ness this week:

Last weekend was Josh's famiy reunion. It was delightful. There were 55-60 people there, and, this being my 3rd reunion, I knew much of his family, and familiar faces are always fun. A thought while I was there: next time I go to this Burress reunion, I'll be a Burress. :-) The day in the sun and the pool and chasing around kids was exhausting, however, and I slept well Sunday night.

When we got back, Josh picked his car up at my apartment and when he went to leave, it didn't start... didn't start... started, but white smoke spewed out the exhaust. Neither of us were very happy. I have a lot of sentimental value attached to his car! He called to have it towed Monday to the mechanic's, not wanting to try to start it again. Of course, when it gets to the mechanic's, it starts and runs beautifully. The mechanic couldn't believe that smoke came out of that car, that looked to be in such good shape. He said there must have some sort of blockage in the fuel injector, from bad gas or something, and it was cleared when the car finally started. Anyway, while it was at the mechanic's, Josh had him make the muffler stop rattling and check the break pads. Now the car is happy and all is well. Josh got it back after work yesterday.

On top of the two of us being down one car and being tired from the weekend, this is moving week for me. My lease in Muncie runs out next Monday, so I'm moving into the apartment in Upland that I will live in for the next 9 months. We spent Tuesday night packing boxes, getting ready to move and went to pick up keys for it and move a carload into the new apartment last night. Friday Josh & I are heading to his brother's house to pick up a truck to move things that won't fit in my Civic, and Saturday is Moving Day for everything. My parents are coming up to help move and clean.

Friday afternoon before picking up the truck, we're meeting with a florist. I hope that goes well. I don't know a thing about flowers.

Sunday through Friday next week, Josh and I are taking a trip to Georgia. First, we'll be in Atlanta visiting my aunt & Georgia State University, then we'll hopefully go to Columbus, GA to visit another aunt & my grandmother, who is currently in the hospital. The end of the week will be spent with my mom's parents, then we'll head back to Indiana for a couple days' rest before Josh starts school Monday.

And that's the summer, essentially. Blogging might not happen next week, as I'll be in Portal, GA with grandparents.
until then, as Garrison Keillor says,
Be well, do good work, and keep in touch

Packing

2005-08-11T15:27:00.000-05:00

I don't like moving, especially the packing. I have moved from house to house 4 times, home to dorm twice, dorm to home twice and now this weekend I get to move from one summer apartment to another (for a week) and then home. Right now, I am having to decide what I will need/want for this coming week and what can just go home. Being me, I am saying about many things "Oh, I might use this", or "I may want to do this". I seem to be taking most of my stuff with me and I have to keep reminding myself I will only be there a week, I have 40 hours of work, and 2 total hours of drive each day. Will I even have time to do what I say I will?

To make matters worse, I don't know when I will have time to pack. I am off work at 4 today and will go home to pack for a bit, then I am going to Indy to hang out with friends all evening. Tomorrow I have to take a friend to Taylor in the morning, work for about 5-7 hours and then when I get home, my mom will be there to help move and take some stuff home.

Right now, I have two boxes going home. The stuff I am planning on keeping is not packed, along with few of my clothes. I hope I find time somewhere to get it all ready. It really is a drag...packing.

Art or Science?

2005-08-04T16:11:00.000-05:00

No, this is not about academics. It's about the play I saw last night during the Yankees / Indians game. It's a ground ball to short- he fires to first and the call is safe. Well, from the moment I saw it, I didn't think that was right. After about 5-8 replays (thanks to the wonder of TV), I saw that the call was incorrect: the ball was in the glove and the foot on the bag before the runner reached first. I don't think there was much uproar about the play and the game continued. Now what if the ump could have made the right call? Or reviewed the play and corrected his first call on the play?

I have never really questioned the idea of using technology to make the right call. It took reading an article about the idea of my long-time favorite sport- soccer - being changed with the aid of technology. The hope: offsides will now be called correctly. I was outraged! The game does not need to be changed. The game is played by humans and officiated by humans- it will not be perfect- but that's what makes it good! It's those moments that you can get involved with the game by yelling at the official along with the times you celebrate with your team that make sports worth watching.

Sports are not based on rules. The rules should be used to keep the game clean or interesting (ie. 24 second shoot clock), not to control the flow and purpose of the game. Sports are art and art is not contained by strict rules!

Notes of interest today

2005-08-04T15:29:00.000-05:00

In this story on NPR, a mother describes the difficulties of preparing her two boys for the world fo girls, saying her boys have 4 emotions- happy, sad, mad, and hungry- and have a lot to learn to get along in the emotion-filled-adolescent-girl world. It's amusing.

Sojourners leader Jim Wallis has an op-ed piece in the New York Times today. Read it. Think about it.

Speaking of Sojourners, they were mentioned in a book I picked up earlier this week, Understanding Power: The Indispensable Chomsky, a book of lectures of Noam Chomsky, a professor of linguistics and political activist (I first learned a little about him in my Natural Language Processing class, and wanted to know more, because I'm such a word geek.). Noam Chomsky said religion is like technology- not inherently good or bad, just used in different ways. He gave the example of the Sojourners compared to Jerry Falwell as two that use religion differently.

The more interesting bit in the book, however, was Chomsky's discussion of whether he believed morality was innate or not. CS Lewis gives a very convincing argument for humans having an innate sense of morality, and this pointing to the existence of God. From the little Chomsky I've read, he doesn't seem to look favorably on religion in general, but he agreed with Lewis, that the moral sense existis in a person without being taught. He likened it to the innate sense of language we as humans have, explaining that, with very little learning, we pick up complex language concepts, and the same seems to be true of morality. I thought it was an interesting idea. I also think that Lewis' second point still holds- that this consistent sense of what is right and good people have points to a greater good being, God, who created these absolutes.

Look busy

2005-07-28T16:21:00.000-05:00

I was on ESPN.com the other day "watching" my Cubbies (they won, by the way =D). I noticed an interesting ad at the top of the screen: "From where your boss sits, spread sheets and box scores look identical." It is an ad for Coca-Cola zero and it does more that don a cute saying. It will provide the sports fan at work with a spreadsheet to open in one click, just in case your boss glances over. All you have to do it "click here" as it says and up pops the spreadsheet.

Now isn't that nice of ESPN?

New Blog for Joanna

2005-07-28T13:01:00.000-05:00

I just filled out a long survey, because I am a member of a new blog, Juxtaposition Virus. (I didn't choose the name, I promise.) I'm a 'technical editor' on the site. Anyway, I thought I'd share the last bit of the survey here:

Quotes You live By

"Years ago, my mother used to say to me...'In this world, Elwood, you must be oh, so smart or oh, so pleasant.' Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. And you can quote me." - Jimmy Stewart as Elwood P Dowd in Harvey

"Don't think of yourself more highly than you ought to think but think with sober judgment each according to the measure of faith which God has assigned to him." - Romans 12:3

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23

I'm a big fan of Harvey :)

Joanna's day.

2005-07-21T22:41:00.000-05:00

Crazy Day. I'm blogging from Josh's apartment after just returning from Indianapolis. We left promptly at 4:00 to meet with a cake person at 5. That meeting lasted till about 5:30. We then went to 2 tux places, continuing our research into wedding plans. We had a late dinner, then went to my house to report to my family on our findings.
I'm somewhat exhausted.

But, on a more profound note, the terror attacks in London, and the incident today has got media talking (of course.) My favorite analysis of recent events is this, comparing the religious terrorism of extreme Islamic terrorists to that of Eric Rudolph, a extreme Christian terrorist sentenced this week.
Another note, on NPR, this blog is being highlighted tomorrow, the thoughts of an Egyptian with an interesting and encouraging perspective on world events.

That's all I've got.

The moon is made of cheese

2005-07-21T16:58:00.000-05:00

So, yesterday I used Goggle for an internet search and was greeted by a special Google logo. If you don't use Google, first, you should. Second, you probably don't know that on holidays and for other special events, Google changes their logo to contain a picture relating to the event. Yesterday the picture looked like this:

I was a little confused as to what the occasion was and so I clicked on it. I was taken to a new side of Google maps: a map of the moon. It isn't much, but it shows the landing spots of all the Apollo mission that landed on the moon.

The best feature: zoom in as far as you can.

Hang of shoes

2005-07-14T14:45:00.000-05:00

As Joanna mentioned, I can't get the hang of Thursdays. But a bigger problem for me today has been getting a hang of my shoes. They are nothing fancy, just simple dress sandals. The problem comes from the fact that I like to take my shoes off whenever I can. Today I have had more trouble than normal trying to get my shoes back on. I lose where I put them under my desk, fall over trying to slide my foot in and get the straps stuck on my toes.

And so, after a day of losing my shoes under the desk and losing my balance trying to get them back on, I am ready to go home and enjoy my favorite thing to do on Thursdays- watch the O.C.

Sick Days and Slanted News

2005-07-14T12:38:00.000-05:00

Still haven't got the hang of this silly day. Yesterday both Kristen & I coulda sworn it was Tuesday, but a glance at the calendar confirmed the truth, it was Wednesday, tomorrow was Thursday, and the week was going by way faster than we had anticipated.
A glance at the calendar today reminds me that payday is tomorrow, as well as tomorrow is the day rent is due. And that today is Thursday.
One reason this week has gone so fast for me, is that I have had a cold for most of it, so everything's kind of a blur. Also, the days at work have been going faster because I've discovered how to listen to NPR online during the day, which keeps me entertained.

NPR is wonderful, I've decided. Where else can you hear about up-and-coming Middle Eastern musicians, a guy who writes postcards as a hobby, and the personal story of an illegal arms trader? I've been criticized for listening to it a couple times at school, citing the "liberal bias" of the stories (discussed well here and here). Of course the two critics said they prefer FOX News and Rush Limbaugh, respectively. So much for biased news sources.

Josh made me chili last night. That was happy. We're going to eat it again tonight for dinner. Tomorrow we're going home to meet the photographer again, and I'm dragging Josh bridesmaid dress shopping Saturday with my sister & Kristen. I promised to keep it short.

That's all for today. Have a good week.

2005-07-07T20:07:00.000-05:00

So, I'm cheating. I'm only supposed to blog on Thursdays, and I'm pre-dating this so that it looks like it is Thursday-- actually its early Friday morning. Unlike Kristen, I'm not tired of blogging, I just find better things to do Thrsday afternoon. I got a haircut, made dinner, did a bible study with Josh, and played Scrabble. Lots of important things.
Today (Friday...) I'm going home to meet with a wedding photographer and hang out with my family. Saturday, Josh & I are going to lunch with my friend I don't get to see very often. I'm very excited.

Interesting articles:
Microsoft hiring practices -- Kinda intimidating
People are getting the Spyware message.

OK, that's all for yesterday. See ya next week, maybe I'll get the hang of Thursday by then.

The joy wears off

2005-07-07T16:52:00.000-05:00

I don't want to blog.

I have spent about the last 2 hours trying to figure out my whole major change and transfering credit I want to take at a local college in the fall. I took a half day off work, but it has been anything but relaxing. Hopefully a dip in a friend's pool and guitar lessons will make the day better.

This blogging thing is getting old.

Home Again in Indiana

2005-06-30T18:25:00.000-05:00

This Thursday I come to you blogging from Windermere Apartments, sitting at my laptop while Josh cooks sausage for our omelets I am about to go make. We were going to have grilled cheese & tomato soupd, but the bread was moldy. I digress.

Only a couple days ago, I was in Atlanta Georgia at the ResNet Symposium. Lots of neat things were there, including interesting people, useful presentations, good food, and visits with family and friends. I came back with good ideas for next year's Installfest that I will have to bounce off my fellow COS Club leaders. I'm excited.
Work has been somewhat quiet as I have been slowly getting back into things. I'm working on a new project that is challenging.

I'm glad to be home.

I'm back...

2005-06-30T17:10:00.000-05:00

...with not much to say. I would love to write about the exciting things going on in my life or interesting thoughts or questions that I have been pondering. Sadly, nothing exciting has been happening in my life.

As I write this, I am at work waiting for a file to load onto a client’s site. As big as the file is, it takes forever, and therefore I sit here watching the percentage complete slowly get closer to 100. Welcome to my job. Not that I can complain (too much) - it isn’t always like this.

As far as interesting thoughts of mine, I really don’t have any. I am getting through my personal reading list for the summer and am reading a biography of John Adams (by David McCullough) . Great book. But I have no thoughts of my own =P. Just living life day by day and not doing much of anything exciting.

I hope you enjoyed the news of my life. Not sure what next week will hold. Hopefully something more interesting.

Different types of Thursdays

2005-06-23T16:38:00.000-05:00

This Thursday you will not get a weekly dose of musings from either Joanna or Kristen but me! By me, I mean Matt... one of Kristen and Joanna's friends from school and currently work. So this is a different type of 'Thursday post' and this is a different type of Thursday for me. During the college (I just graduated) I worked for the student news paper. Thursday was our big production night, were we'd stay up until the small hours of the morning putting together the next edition of the Echo. This Thursday what am I doing? Well, I need to go to the grocery store to get some lettuce and bread and etc. Other then that... I don't have to much planed.

It seems like Atlanta is the place to be. Ashley lives there and Joanna and Alisse are going there for various reasons.

For something a little more serious, the Supreme Court ruled that the government can seize land for any reason. This is somewhat disturbing and I think it has a huge potential to be abused.

Next week: your regularly scheduled bloggers

Scattered thoughts

2005-06-16T17:24:00.000-05:00

I don't know what to blog about so that is what I am blogging about: the things I can't decide on for my blog today.

I now know which I like more for Thursday night activities: sports over The OC. I was excited when plans fell through to watch the OC with a friend and now I get to watch the NBA finals!!
God is awesome!! I could go on and on about why and what all He has done. If you want to know, ask me and I'll tell you.
I am a woman and that is a wonderful thing. I have been called by God to fulfill a role that only I, as a woman, can fill. (I just started "Captivating"- so far, so real!)
I am changing my major! Well, I still have to run it by the parents, but I am 100% ready to change. Once again, for the story, ask me. Or check my other blog- I plan on blogging about this there sometime.

Well, those are the topics I considered writing about and now I am able to write about all of them. Have a great week!!

Romanced

2005-06-16T17:11:00.000-05:00

A couple weekends ago, I read the book Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge. This is a passage from the chapter entitled Beauty to Unveil:

We have all heard it said that a woman is most beautiful when she is in love. It's true. You've seen it yourself. When a woman knows she's loved and loved deeply, she glows from the inside. The radiance stems from a heart that has had its deepest questions answered. "Am I lovely? Am I worth fighting for? Have I been and will I continue to be romanced?" When these questions are answered, Yes, a restful, quiet spirit settles in a woman's heart.

That's a good description of me in the last week. I've known I am loved, and I haven't stopped being in love in the last month, but my love has come home, and I have been radiating ever since. I definitely feel like I have a more restful spirit now that I can relax with my love. It is wonderful.

So, Josh is home. It has beene a VERY, very happy week.

My addiction

2005-06-09T17:28:00.000-05:00

While I could comment about how my new job is going (though it is pretty much what Joanna said), I want to take this time to admit one of my addictions.

Hello, my name is Kristen and I am an OC-aholic. It began over a month ago when I wanted to go workout with a friend of mine (name withheld for her protection) and she said "Well, I am watching the OC at 8pm but I can go at 9." Since I had nothing better to do, I decided to watch this show with her.

That night changed my life. I was hooked from just that one episode. Each week until school ended I sat down each Thursday with this friend and we watched the OC. We would not just watch, but engaged as we pleaded with the characters to do the right thing, not just the easiest, and cried as the season ended with the death of one of the characters we loved.

Now that school is over, I have continued watching the re-runs of the previous season (showing this summer) to catch up on all I missed. Even this very Thursday, I am driving to my friend's house to watch it with her.

That is my confession: please do not judge me in any way for my behavior. I blame it all on my friend. (j/k: I enjoy watching it and also spending time with her)

Much anticipated Thursday

2005-06-09T07:47:00.000-05:00

Today is a day I've been anticipating for quite some time- the day when I can say to Josh 'See you tomorrow!' He (is supposed to) get back from his month-long storm chasing trip late tomorrow, and I am a very excited fiancee. On my phone this morning, I had a text message from him sent at 12:01 this morning that said "its thursday", so I think he might be excited too.
Hooray.
(The caveat on him getting back tomorrow is, if there are really good storms tomorrow, they'll chase them and not get back till Saturday. I'm not as happy about that. Especially since it looks like there MIGHT be good storms tomorrow.)

In other news, I've hit the ground running at my new job, finally, after a week and a half of training. Not that I quite feel ready to jump into things, but, I'm trying. I'm sure I'll continue to be overwhelmed and feel disoriented for a while. There feels like there's so much to learn! And I'm only here for the summer!

In-between time

2005-05-26T20:38:00.000-05:00

I am home!! It is very nice to be home and relaxing after a crazy school year. But somehow, it is not quite as relaxing as I would have hoped. Don't get me wrong, I sleep a lot and watch TV, along with going to final band concerts and such, but I am unsettled. My room is a mess, with a nice pile ready to be moved to Muncie on Monday. I really don't know why I needed to bring all this stuff with me for just a week. Oh well, it has been a nice break and in just a few days, I will be moving in with Joanna and starting a new job!

Moving to Muncie

2005-05-26T16:04:00.000-05:00

I've got a bed!
That's the latest, and last, thing to be moved into my cozy little apartment here in Muncie. Aww, how cute. Well, only sort of. We'll see how the summer goes. Kristen will be here Monday! And I've got to hang out with Matt today. That's happy. The days between today and Monday may be less exciting, however. Lots of errands to run and setting up to do and things to buy. Like food.

Summer is finally here!!

2005-05-19T22:39:00.000-05:00

Yes folks, I took my last two finals today and am now packed and ready to head home for a week before I come back and start work. The only thing left to do is say goodbye to all my friends here at school. Some have left without goodbyes and that is hard. But it is just the summer. We will come back in the fall and play catch up for a bit then get right back in the swing of college drama. Well, I won't come back in the fall...

I would take the time to reflect on all that has happened this school, but it is too much to think about on top of packing, my summer apartment and making sure I say bye to my friends. For now, I will roll with life. In a week I will have had time to sit and think.

Until then, I want to let you know that Jesus has never failed me, despite all I have done. Thank you, Lord

ps: Joanna says hi

Two more weeks

2005-05-05T23:30:00.001-05:00

Yes, that's right, only two more weeks of school and I am done for the summer. I'm excited, but at the same time, enjoying life right now. I haven't had an overwhelming amount of homework to do and so things have been going smoothly. I have a few things I need to think about (such as a possible major change), but life is good.

My sister had a great quote on her away message which I have edited slightly that is a pretty much how I feel: "LIFE!!! It's the chance to be loud, to laugh, to dance and to be a bit crazy!!"

War of the Searches

2005-05-05T23:30:00.000-05:00

A fascinating, somewhat long Fortune article about Microsoft's challenge presented by Google, and how Google is winning:

From the article:

"Microsoft has a long, dramatic history of being a fast follower, rarely first in a market but ultimately providing the most accessible and practical solution, then outmarketing competitors. The company hasn't always played by the rules, but when it has gone after a market, it has done so quickly and aggressively."

"One reason Google has been rolling out so many new or improved products is that Schmidt understands that innovation is the only sure edge Google has."

I love Google's innovations, I'm a big fan. In this war, I'm taking sides with the nimble underdog. Google's so cool.

Java, Hardware, and Summer Fun

2005-04-28T22:52:00.000-05:00

Random stuff this week:

-Java Haus, Hall Council's second-biggest event of the year, was Tuesday. After a rough start, it went smoothly, with lots of energy and talent, especially in the second show. With everything from Pink Floyd to Brazilian children's songs to juggling cigar boxes, the word 'variety' certainly applied. Delightful.
-Something on our floor is mysteriously making random pieces of hardware freak out. Of course, I am the go-to girl in the building to fix anything with a processor, so when one girl's CD drive refuses to spin down, even when empty, or another girl's wireless keyboard and mouse stop working, of course I can fix them. Alas, no.
-Summer plans are coming together! Kristen & I are making big plans for our apartment we will live in in less than a month. Very fun. It will be a simple summer as living arrangements go, but certainly an adventure. I look forward to it.
After June 10.

Just to see you smile

2005-04-28T22:35:00.000-05:00

So, I thought I'd share some of the funny things that I have found lately online.

And you thought gophers on the golf course were bad
Frog legs, anyone?
"What time is it?" should not be a hard question

Enjoy and have a good week!!

From None to Two

2005-04-21T23:13:00.000-05:00

So, it all began in February...well actually before that, but February the 10th is a good place to start. I went to a job fair with my roommate and others from Taylor and handed out my resume to a few companies. I was looking for a summer internship having something to do with computers. I received a warm welcome from Ontario Systems and was told to look for them on campus in a few weeks for an interview. On the 22nd on the month, I had my interview here on campus. Things seemed to be going well- I got an e-mail asking for a bit more information and permission for a background check.

But then the wait. I called to check in a few times and was finally told to expect an answer the week on April 11th. That day, I received an e-mail saying that their search had led them to other candidates. I took it well, though it was my first choice for summer jobs. The next day, I received a phone call informing me about another different opening than the one I interviewed for. I called back on the 15th and found out that they had an internship that sounded like something I would like.

I received a call from a guy who knew more about the job today. He explained that there were actually two jobs that they have open as of right now. One is working more with customers and the other is with programming and web design. He said I should call HR when I decide which one I want so that they can start the needed process for the summer. I was in shock! They are offering me TWO jobs and I get to pick which I want! This is the craziest thing. I wasn't expecting any job offer from them. Thank you, God!

Now my only problem is which one to select...

2005-04-21T20:57:00.000-05:00

Java Haus is coming up! Just a few days! we'll see how this goes...

Hu's on firs... in China

2005-04-21T07:24:00.000-05:00

Days till HHGTTG movie comes out: 8
Shamelessly stealing this from my other team blog:
George: Condi! Nice to see you. What's happening?

Condi: Sir, I have the report here about the new leader of China.

George: Great. Lay it on me.

Condi: Hu is the new leader of China.

George: That's what I want to know.

Condi: That's what I'm telling you.

George: That's what I'm asking you. Who is the new
leader of China?

Condi: Yes.

George: I mean the fellow's name.

Condi: Hu.

George: The guy in China.

Condi: Hu.

George: The new leader of China.

Condi: Hu.

George: The main man in China!

Con di: Hu is leading China.

George: Now whaddya' asking me for?

Condi: I'm telling you, Hu is leading China.

George: Well, I'm asking you. Who is leading China?

Condi: That's the man's name.

George: That's who's name?

Condi: Yes.

George: Will you, or will you not, tell me the name
of the new leader of China?

Condi: Yes, sir.

George: Yassir? Yassir Arafat is in China? I thought
he's dead in the Middle East.

Condi: That's correct.

George: Then who is in China?

Condi: Yes, sir.

George: Yassir is in China?

Condi: No, sir.

George: Then who is?

Condi: Yes, sir.

George: Yassir?

Condi: No, sir.

George: Look Condi. I need to know the name of the
new leader of China. Get me the Secretary General
of the U.N. on the phone.

Condi: Kofi?

George: No, thanks.

Condi: You want Kofi?

George: No.

Condi: You don't want Kofi?

George: No. But now that you mention it, I could use
a glass of milk. And then get me the U.N.

Condi: Yes, sir.

George: Not Yassir! The guy at the U.N.

Condi: Kofi?

George: Milk! Will you please make the call?

Condi: And call who?

George: Who is the guy at the U.N?

Condi: Hu is the guy in China.

George: Will you stay out of China!!!

Condi: Yes, sir.

George: And stay out of the Middle East! Just get
me the guy at the U.N.

Condi: Kofi.

George: All right! With cream and two sugars. Now
get on the phone!!!

Major Decision

2005-04-14T23:08:00.000-05:00

"My name is Kristen and I am a computer science major." "Oh really?! What do you plan on doing with that?" "Absolutely nothing. I want to be a teen counselor." "Then why is that your major?"

That is a good question. Since last year the answer has been that I will major in comp. sci. and get a job on graduation. With the money I make, I will be able to support myself and have money to get a masters in psychology and then find a counseling job. But now I'm slowing beginning not to care about my computer classes; that is not what I want to end up doing.

This leaves me in the place I am in now; considering changing my major to psychology systems with a comp. sci. minor. I have no clue what I will end up doing, but this is a major choice that I now am facing in my life.

P.S. the apparent pun was not originally intended.

Heavy Heart

2005-04-14T09:12:00.000-05:00

A friend from Student Venture

A fellow Taylor student

A sister of girls I knew in high school youth group

A friend's dad

A high school classmate

This is a list of people somewhat connected to me that have died in the last couple weeks. My heart is heavy. I didn't know any of them very well, and some not at all, but their lives affected either mine or affected lives I care about, and it is hard to watch people I care about mourn.

I guess it's making me realize my own mortality too- only one of these people was over the age of 26, and even he was only 55, not 'old'.

I also wonder what God is preparing me for- often, I've found, when I experience something somewhat removed from a situation, it means that God is preparing my heart to experience it in a much more personal way- kind of getting me used to the idea, and giving me resources to pull through.
In this case, I hope not.

Busy, busy, dreadfully busy

2005-04-07T23:49:00.000-05:00

Recap of the day: wake at 7 to shower, small group at 8, leave around 9:15 to go to Indy for interviews for summer internship. While there, I scrape the side of my friend's car I'm borrowing, have interviewers who don't take me seriously and enjoy some traffic of Indy. head back at 3 and stop to get pictures developed from spring break, killing the hour for developing looking at a great car that I want but my parents won't let me buy (don't get me started with all of that). get back to TU at 6, dinner with some of the spring break team from 6:20-7, visit at an open house for an hour, comp sci meeting from 8-8:30 and now homework well past 2am.

Yeah, it's been busy, stressful, and very tiring. I just need a restful weekend...ha, yeah right...not going to happen. Hope your day was better than mine.

'Sometimes Food'

2005-04-07T22:44:00.000-05:00

This will be quick. Check out this article about the descruction of a childhood icon. Well, maybe not that dramatic, but, Cookie Monster eating fewer cookies?! What is America coming to?! I suppose the childhood obesity problem is more important than Sesame Street tradition, but, really...
from the article:

My beloved blue, furry monster — who sang “C is for cookie, that’s good enough for me” — is now advocating eating healthy. There’s even a new song — “A Cookie Is a Sometimes Food,” where Cookie Monster learns there are “anytime” foods and “sometimes” foods.

“Sacrilege!” I cried. “That’s akin to Oscar the Grouch being nice and clean.” (Co-workers gave me strange looks. But I didn’t care.)

Snuffleupagus was my favorite anyway.

Spring Break!

2005-03-31T09:07:00.000-05:00

So, I've been on spring break for the last week, and it has been a whirlwind. Mostly a whirlwind of wedding-dress shopping, actually, but I've done some visiting with friends and, yesterday, homework got thrown into the mix as well.
Today, I surmise, will be my most restful day of Spring Break. My plan is to finish up around the house, go shopping for a bridal shower present, and then head to Muncie and spend the rest of the day with Josh. I'm very much looking forward to seeing him- because the wedding has been on my mind all week, with dress shopping and securing a reception place and such, I've missed him terribly and been all the more excited and impatient to marry him. This is going to be a long year.

Home.

2005-03-24T22:40:00.000-05:00

Spring break officially started for me at 2:00 in the afternoon yesterday, and I got home late last night. I don't have any big, exciting plans for the next week & a half, just staying around home, spending time with a couple friends and my family. Meanwhile, Kristen will be having grand adventures on her journey to a foreign land. You can read about that below.
Tonight I went out for ice cream with a couple friends I haven't seen in a LONG time. It was delightful. They both sound like they're doing well, each in their own stage of life, each different than mine. Fun people.

Pet peeve of the day: I've meaning to mention this for quite a while, it's been bothering me alot. By 'alot' I mean 'several times a day' and 'every time I reload the CNN.com website.' So, CNN, a news network? Claims to bring us relevant, significant world events? Then why, EVERY DAY, are there AT LEAST two links from CNN's front page to the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition?!!
A)Models != Athletes, so these links don't belong in the sports section of the site. C'mon, we're in the middle of major league baseball spring training and the NCAA basketball tournament-- it's not like the sports section is hurting for legitimate news stories. Yet they insist on putting a link to the 'Model of the Day' in this section. Completely unjustifiable.
B) Pornography != News. A link to this magazine edition is completely uncalled for on a site purporting to have reputable and accurate world events. There is nothing newsworthy about pornography, period, and it is ridiculous that a news organization has thought so for so long. The link's been there for months! (yes, this has been bothering me for that long.) I've seen up to 3 links on the CNN front page to the SI swimsuit site

There. I said it. I've been meaning to for a while. I suppose it will continue to bother me, and that I should find another reputable news site to read. If you have any suggestions, let me know.

Whoops

2005-03-24T11:28:00.000-05:00

In my haste, I forgot to put up the link for my personal blog. Click here to go to my personal blog. Once again, bye!

Off on an adventure

2005-03-24T11:14:00.000-05:00

This Thursday has to be the best one yet this year for me: I am leaving in about an hour to go to the Dominican Republic on a spring break mission trip with my school! I don't have much time to say all the things that are on my mind: I am excited, not really believing it yet, a little scared, not sure what all I am thinking. I have been running around this morning trying to get everything I will need. Anyway, please pray for me and our team's safety. Also, check out my other, personal blog for more information about the trip. And with that I will close with "Happy Easter"!

Another Thursday

2005-03-17T16:54:00.000-05:00

Let me tell you one way to make a normally good Thursday go not so well: getting a vaccination. See, I am going with Taylor University on a mission trip for spring break and I need to get this vaccination. The problem was, our health center didn't get enough for all those that needed it and therefore they had to transport a group of us down to Anderson to get to shot. That wouldn't have been as bad, except for the fact that we had to leave at 7:30 in the morning. So I got to start my Thursday off by waking up to travel about 45 mins. to get a vaccination and then another 45 mins. to return home.

The rest of my day has gone well so far; work, some homework, phone call from my grandma and dad and a workout. Plus, it is finally warming up and looking like spring. Anyway, that's about all, until next week.

Crazy week

2005-03-17T08:29:00.000-05:00

My week's been crazy, fairly stressful, and I am officially exhausted. On top of my normally manageable schedule of meetings and classes, I've had:

Monday: A Systems Seminar Paper due
Tuesday: A British Literature take home test due, a Natural Language Processing test during class
Wednesday: An Interactive Application Development project due
Thursday: A Natural Language Processing presentation in class, a Bowling final test
Friday: Interactive Application Development quiz

But I'm almost done. The week's almost over. That's the upside to Thursdays, I suppose. Kristen & I got to bed early last night, which helped a little bit. Except for the guys in the room above us decided to vacuum their room at 11:00 at night. I thought there was a weed-whacker outside our window.
Hopefully it will be a restful Thursday, after surviving the beginning of this week. Wish me luck.

Thursday 3

2005-03-10T22:58:00.000-05:00

I didn't so much get the hang of Thursday this week. But it turned out all right.
Wednesday evening I had the hang of. I was sure that I had nothing due Thursday (because I never do), so I was carefee and having a delightful time. I had a wonderful afternoon with my fiance, and after dinner he dropped me off at my dorm. Wednesday night, however, not long before I was ready to go to bed, I suddenly remembered something my professor Tuesday had mentioned briefly, something about a test Thursday. I confirmed this with my classmate, then scrambled to find the Powerpoints on the network where they ought to be. They weren't there, and I assumed this was because I was trying to access them from my room, rather than from the CSS network.
I hatched a plan.
I would go to work 8-11 Thursday morning, as I always do, then, right after work, get on the CSS network, copy all the powerpoints I'll need to study to my USB drive, bring my laptop to bowling, and study between frames. Brilliant! Then, I went to bed.
After work today, I get to the CSS lab and discover, no, it wasn't that the powerpoints weren't accessible from my room, it was that they weren't accessible from anywhere. Cool. No one in my class has studied. So I sought out a sysadmin and he remedied the issue, I copied the files, and the plan worked! I then went to lunch.
During bowling, another guy in my class and I tag-teamed, frantically studying-bowling-studying-bowling. I'd say it worked rather well. I also thought it was an interesting study in multitasking- I've heard that girls can multitask better than guys, and I bowled better in all the games than he did while we were both multitasking, while normally we are about even. Fun stuff.
So after bowling, I feel only slightly more prepared for the exam, and am still a bit annoyed that the notes weren't up for us to study until 2 1/2 hours before the test.
After all this scrambling, I get to class and mention the dilemma to the professor, who says the test will be on Tuesday instead.
All that work for nothing.
Happy ending, though. On other happy notes today, I got a summer job, went to dinner with Kristen, Josh, and Josh's friend Phil, went to a very fun concert, and went to Ivanhoes.
Now for homework.

My addiction

2005-03-03T21:02:00.000-05:00

Ok, to begin, mine is not nearly as serious as my roomie's. Today, as my "free day", I spent most of the day either working in the DC or feeding my addiction: Boy Meets World. My neighbor has the first and second season and I thought today I would share some quotes I heard today, during my watching of season 2, disc 2.

I’m a damsel. But not the distressed kind; one who's totally together and completely in control of my own destiny.-Topanga

She's scary looking.- Morgan => Boys like that.-Cory

I’m Swedish.- some girl => You're from Switzerland?-Shawn

The mac & cheese had more grease than Harley’s hair.-Cory

On the husband highway, there's very little forward traffic, just a million well-intentioned men backing up frantically.- Mr. Feeny

Nobody saw us! Without witnesses, it just circumcised evidence.- Shawn

You're thinking too much. Do what I do, don't think.- Shawn

Hey, look at me; I’m a couple- Cory

And remember "They want you to take the rolls!"

3/3/05

2005-03-03T20:34:00.000-05:00

In Hawaii, we would always celebrate Girl's Day on March 3rd. It's a Japanese holiday, and all we did to celebrate it was, at the end of the school day, when we were all supposed to put our chairs on our desks so the cleaning ladies could clean the floor when we left, the boys would have to put our chairs up. That's all I remember. On Boy's Day, May 5, we would have to put the boys' chairs up. I always knew when Boy's Day was coming up- there would be windsocks in the shape of fish hanging outside every home with boys, one for each boy.
Today has been long. And it's not over yet. I'm just taking a break right now.
I've had hiccups on and off all day. It's been irritating.
I've been working on my Algorithms project, and am mostly done. I'll be glad to be done. I had really good, random conversations with friends yesterday- Patrick, Matt, & David. It was refreshing. Small group was last night, and it went moderately well. I didn't get to talk to Josh at all yesterday, and I miss him terribly today. I hope to talk to him later tonight. If I can get this silly project done.

My musing as of late:
Last weekend, my dad made the comment to me, saying I am 'surprisingly open-minded.' I thought it was a great compliment. It's something I value in myself and others- open-minded-ness. I have a hard time communicating and having patience with people I come in contact with that are NOT open minded- that refuse to think through things, that never concede points, that 'have all the answers,' and yet can't persuasively explain why they think the way they do.
My dad also said I am able to be open-minded because I know what I believe and am solid in that. I know that is a big part of it. I feel like I come across peers who are not open-minded (which irritates me), and also seem not to have good, thought-out reasons for why they believe what they claim to believe, and oftentimes have an inconsistent belief system. I guess I'm not afraid to hear and even consider different and new ideas or ways of looking at things because I know where I'm coming from- I know why I believe what I know to be true, and I am not afraid to reconsider what I myself am not sure of. I want to be consistent, I want to be correct, and I want my world view to line up with the way reality is based on truths I already know. If all that happens, I have no reason NOT to be open-minded- I can listen and consider ANY point of view.

And that's my Thursday thought. Have a good week, till next Thursday!

Thursdays

2005-02-25T01:19:00.000-05:00

For me, Thursday is my relaxing day, but I generally end up catching up on all the work I haven't done. See, I have no classes on Thursdays and my only commitments are small group in the morning and working in the dining commons for lunch. Other than that, the day is mine. It's a nice feeling to know that I have a whole day to catch up, run errands and relax as well as looking forward to the weekend. Yes, so far, I seem to have gotten the hang of Thursdays. But we shall see if this trend continues.

With all this free time, Thursdays will be a time of reflection, ramblings and rants, with the answers always being 42.

Getting the hang of Thursdays

2005-02-25T01:13:00.000-05:00

It's Thursday. Again. Comes around every seven days. Never quite got the hang of them, this awkward day on the down-swing of the week, but it's not quite the weekend, when I can let down my guard.... It's Thursday.

My normal Thursday schedule:
7am - Wake up
7:35am - go to breakfast
8am-11am - Work
11-12 - homework and lunch
12-2 - Bowling class
2-3:15 Natural Language Processing

This is a wholly unremarkable day. Slow, steady and not particularly action-packed. But this blog, alas, will be the account of Thursdays, as my roommate and I try to get the hang of them. We will see how this goes.
Stay tuned.