Monday, August 30, 2004

my new love...

Arboratum. noun. A place where an extensive variety of woody plants are cultivated for scientific, educational, and ornamental purposes.

The Arb. noun. My favorite place. Just outside the back door and through the gate. Complete with gazebo, pond, trees, forest, paths, not paths, leaves, benches, animals, flowers, etc. Incredibly peaceful and serene. Like stepping into another world.

For those of you who've seen The Village, it's somewhat like that. Like stepping back in time. This blanket of peaceful 'silence' (the noise of crickets and frogs is almost deafening) envelops you as soon as you walk through the gate.

I know that I'm going to spend many a lovely hours there. I already have taken several walks. Being in the Arb is very quieting. It's a good place to sit and think. I recommend it when you just need to get out of your room, talk to God, or vent.

It's already sort of a security blanket, like my sunglasses and beanies.

I hope you'll come walking with me sometime.

If I'm happy or sad...I'm in the Arb.

Friday, August 27, 2004

for entertainment purposes only...

Since this blog is actually just my personal copy of My Life, and purely for my own entertainment, it sometimes surprises me when other people comment about it. I guess I should probably have mentioned before that I do not dislike everything about school. As proof, I present a school specific version of...

'the list of things i like'

dr stewart's western heritage class
my new haircut ala natalie kompik
a well organized closet
the abundance of pillows on my bed
the colors of our room
high ceilings
the stage
the odyssey
high speed internet (when it's not down. like this morning.)
not having class til 1 on tues and thurs
the jeans that i'm wearing
my red backpack
soy milk
the fudge that kristina is keeping our freezer
a pink ribbon
my thumb drive
a new dotted coffee mug
rain
simply white
my mood ring
visiting hours
my phone
getting mail
my green jacket
flip flops
neighbors
intervarsity
the random spanish that i'm picking up by living with esther
nickel creek
the nap which i am now going to take

goodnight.




Wednesday, August 25, 2004

questions...

And it's only 4:00 pm...

Why is my knee bothering me again?
Why do I miss everyone so much?
Why does he talk to me?
Why does Dr Stewart use the word stupid so much?
How can my roommate be inlove already?
Why do I hate chalkboards?
Why am I the only person in this class actually taking notes?
Why is Dr Jordan make English so boring?
Why do we even bother to have class if he's just going to read the syllabus?
Can't we just read it ourselves?
Why do I dislike his class after only one day?
Shouldn't I give him a chance?
Why does he keep taking his bifocals on and off?
Isn't the point of bifocals that you don't have to do that?
Why did we have to sit here for an extra 10 minutes, just to finish on time?
Why take 40 minutes to say what you could say in 20?
Why do southern people talk slow?
Why do I demand such a fast-paced world?
Shouldn't I just relax?
Should I stay in an easy class or go for the challenge?
Why is it so hard for me to look people in the eye?
What is Joel's phone number?
Why won't my phone card work?
Why do Esther and I keep getting bug bites?
Are there bugs in our room?
Why can't I stop being such a pessimist?

Despite the questions, things are actually looking up.


Tuesday, August 24, 2004

the first test...

Welcome to McIntyre Room 107. Please enjoy your stay. Just ignore the offensive language written in glow in the dark paint on your ceiling. Once the lights are off for a while, it fades. Make sure you appriciate the beautiful view of the Arb out the large back window. (okay, so mostly you can just see the fence...but it's still cool.) Posters will be arriving soon. The fridge is stocked with veggies, soymilk, and of course, a jicama! The phone, which should be installed by this afternoon, can be made to ring by dialing (517) 439-7366. If you're lucky, we might even answer it!

Classes begin tomorrow (schedule will be posted later.), but I had my first test Saturday night. Unfortunantly, I was not prepared for it. We have yet to see what my final grade will be.

My wallet got snatched. Yes, I said my wallet. Complete with my birthday money, all the cash my grandma had given me while walking onto the plane, and all the rest I had managed to scrape out of the corners of my room. And my driver's licence. And my ATM and credit card. And my birthday Starbucks gift card that I was saving for a special occasion. It was very not cool. I got everything cancelled, etc, but I was pretty miffed about losing all my living money for the next 3 1/2 months.

Sometimes it's really hard to live on this sinful earth, you know? It fho' sho' didn't help my phobia of trusting people.

However, I am confident that God will bless me somehow because of it. He is the only reason I am at school, and I guess He wanted me to remember that every good and perfect thing comes from Him. Jesus Christ is the only things sustaining me physically, spiritually, and financially. The verse that has been on my mind for the past couple of weeks is Hebrews 12:29 - "For our God is a consuming fire." This has really been a test of faith, but hopefully it will help me keep this whole year in a right perspective.

I'm pretty homesick. It's a foreign emotion for me, but I've been hit hard. I really miss my sister Hannah. I'm having a hard time getting excited about meeting people. Esther is really good for me...she's a social bug and so being around her forces me to meet more people.

Address your letters, presents, cash donations to: Mc Intyre 107, 305 Hillsdale St, Hillsdale, MI 49242.

Hang in there.

Wednesday, August 18, 2004

don't hold your breath...

It is highly unlikely that I will be posting again until next week. I am simply swamped with leaving activities and errands, and I probably won't have my computer up at school until Sunday or Monday. (just so you know, her name is Penelope until inspiration attacks at a more desirable pseudonym. Penelope. Not penny. Penelope. As in the wife of Odysseus.) Hopefully then I'll have to time to post some quotes, pics, update general things, and finally get those links up. (I'm not stupid, Anna, just lazy.)

My flight leaves at the very sinful hour of 6 am on Friday morning and I'll spend the night in IN before heading up to school on Saturday.

Sadly, my beloved cell phone will not be coming with me. If you try that number, you'll most likely reach my mom. I will be without a dorm phone until Monday. Happily, my roommate has a cell with free nights and weekends, so our lovely phone conversations won't all have to be typed. And I expect some calls sometime. I'll be sending out an announcement with my new phone number, address, etc sometime next week.

Back to packing.
Whoop.

Thursday, August 12, 2004

much happenings...

Well, I know that all (2) of you are probably gloating.
'there she goes again! this blog of hers was just another 2 week fad. pay up.'
Not so fast.
What with living at Steph's for most of last week, catching up on family time, work, my grandma's visit, and finally getting the word (a whopping 15 days before classes start) that I actually DO need to put my life into a box for a move, I've been distracted.I shall eventually update you all on the many lovely happenings of JohnDavid's visit, etc.

Oh, and that 'life in a box?' I need to have it all done TOMORROW. I don't even know what I'm going to wear tomorrow, let alone what I'm going to wear for the next 4 months!

Guys, I have to tell you - now that it all comes down to it, I'm so scared to leave. I've always been the fearless one, always ready for a good time, at my house or yours. So why am I so insecure now? It seems like I just got home from a trip. I mean, there have been like, 2 days where I just wanted out of the house, but no that 'get me out of here/ready for a new adventure' spirit that I used to get. I've been waiting for it to come back, but it hasn't. I got so used to traveling, but now I just want to stay home for a while.

Why am I so afraid of leaving for... *counts* 3 1/2 months? I was on and off home for 6 months, then took my month-long road trip, so I've spent more time in other states than in Oregon this year. Wow.

I think it's just starting to sink in that I'm not really a kid anymore. I just want to be like Peter Pan - never grow up, never change...But I guess that would mean missing out on all the good things in life. One of my best friends will probably be married by this time next year. One of my other good friends will have been married a year and probably be pregnant. When will this all end?

Here are some lists I made up at work tonight.

Things I am afraid of re: school
-failing classes
-hating my roommate
-losing connections with people back home
-not connecting with people there
-running out of money
-living in a small town in michigan
-not living up to people's expectations
-greek
-saga food
-the freshman 15 (j/k)

Things I am excited about re: school
-much freedom
-challenges
-snow
-good classes

Gosh, I am such a pessimist. I really need to balance out these lists. And FAST!

In other not quite so depressing news, I need to name my computer. It's a blue and silver dell 5150. No limit on entries.
If you suggest the winning entry, you'll recieve an official...certificate of authenticity!



Tuesday, August 03, 2004

'spectacular first lady'???

Lord help us if she gets elected.

All I'll say is, no matter how bad you think her husband is, please cast your vote for a Laura Bush White House on November 2nd.