twos for tuesday...

more picture results from last night.

these rock stars, also known as emily and abbie, definitely have style. and an arm punching into their picture. [we're future tennis champs, too!]

hannah and amygrace

my favorite roomgirl and me

i believe the line was 'you can't do that, i'm gradumacated from college!'

four for monday...

We had a picturefest by the Keller Fountain downtown last night. The results were colorful and highly amusing.

jonny, leigh, lynn, amy, emily, abbie, hannah, and betsy

definitely your average family, right?

i have no idea...

these sweet sisters are a whole bag of skittles:
amygrace, betsy, hannah, abbie, emily

tribute...

Today, we lift our eyes and bow our heads in honor.

I would like to particularly honor the man who wrote these words two weeks ago:

On Friday I found out that a good friend of mine was killed in Baghdad by a roadside bomb...sometimes I feel as though I have reached a breaking point, a person can only take so much death and destruction before it starts to break them down from the inside. I have lost so many friends, brothers, and Marines in this war. I only hope that those of you who read this never have to do what we do.

I want to honor my grandfathers, who served in the Navy and the Army.

Today I will have to remember from afar, instead living side-by-side with the men that make history. It is though our trust in eachother that keeps us alive, and the memory of the lost that keeps us persevering. If we fail in our task then we have failed those who sacrificed for us.

So today as you watch the parades, eat at barbeques, and visit friends and family...remember that there are many who have lost it all...for you.

Thank you, my young friend Mark Drye, for what you give every day. Freedom is never free.

Oh, Lord, how long?

just the grammar, ma'am...

Those of weak heart, beware. What you are about to read will shock and disgust you. It serves as further evidence of the need for rabid English majors/enthusiasts to take over the world.
The story you are about to read [, Emma,] is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the...guilty.

At my secret government "office" job today, I was filing some "resumes" and came across this phrase: [and, yes, this was a native english speaker. if she had been foreign, i could have possibly excused it]
"I would like a job where its possible to further better myself."

sigh...unfortunantly, this happen all too often.

This is Emily Friday, signing out.
[goodnight, sweetheart]

monday's question...

"Wait, are you married?"
"Huh?" The question took a minute to register. It's not one I'm used to hearing. That's the beauty of having a different job every week and dressing like a mod professional...nobody has any idea how young you are.
"Eye candy in the lobby," explained one of my older co-workers.
"Huh?" I said again, obviously missing the picture.
"A group of Marines," she persisted.
"Oh. Right. Thanks." What else was I suppose to say? I guess I've never been very good at checking boys out. [ha. comes from being homeschooled and then going to hillsdale *wink*]
A couple of the other ladies walked in just then. "Too short for me."
The other one nodded. "Height standards. I know."
I just kind of rolled my eyes.

And then I had to run an errand a little while later...
They were all too old for me, I decided.

the return of the lion...

He bent forward and just touched her nose with his tongue. His warm breath came all round her. She gazed up into the large wise face.
"Welcome, child," he said.
"Aslan," said Lucy, "you're bigger."
"That is because you are older, little one," answered he.
"Not because you are?"
"I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger."
For a time she was so happy that she did not want to speak.
Prince Caspian

the final four...

The last days of Freshman and Chicago...

and then there were two...

ooooh, i love technology

city, city, city. i heart chicago.

those eyes say 'good morning, emelina.' and welcome home.

homegirl...

say you'll love me every waking moment
turn my head with talk of summertime

I raise my glass in celebration of being home. for three months. until August 10th. at my house. in Portland. two blocks from Starbucks and the library. [did i mention that i'm home? in portland]

I slept in my own bed last night in a desperate attempt to remove the permanent dark circles underneath my sparkling blue eyes. I think I will take a nap in a couple of hours. [after i take a run to attempt to remove the extra finals-week emily. blech]

For those of you accusing me of slacking because I don't have a job yet, I'll ask what you think about unpacking all of my stuff this morning...

say you'll need me with you now and always
promise me that all you say is true

This summer is the longest homestretch I've had since September 2003. And I'm planning on filling it full of things that I want to do. Just because I want to do them. And spend time with people that I want to know better. And love Jesus more. And love life. [i think those last two go together, btw, but that's another post]

I think when I have a better list, I'll post it, just so you can admire my silliness. But I started it last night by doing a couple funny things at the airport...

I have energy. I can't stop laughing at the little things. I have to stop to smell every flower and drink in every little beauty. And I have a crooked half smile on my face that won't go away

Also, my cd player died on the plane yesterday. I need to take a vote: is it time for Emelina to join the world of ipodism?

love me, that's all i ask of you

...

I have officially run out of words.
[i used up nearly 7,000 of them this weekend]

farewell, morrell...

Last big 318 party of the year [/ever. next semester we'll have suite parties]. We also said goodbye to one D. Morrellski, who finds it necessary to leave school early...gosh, you'd think he was going to Hawaii or something, the way he ran outta this place...

David, Katie, Audree, Emily, and Elysia's sexy model foot.

We kept ourselves entertained with a round of classic third grade group games.

Alisa made an excellent Grand Puma.

Since everyone has been asking, I would like to explain how my cousin got a black eye...
one fateful kiss attempt...

All I can say is: Don't Mess with the Swensonator!

Oh, we love technology...

Emily, Joel, Betsy, David, Tami

And afterwards, we got soaked in a lovely warm rain storm... [some of us got a little extra water, however. generally, it's not very effective to have a water fight when it's pouring...]

no more teaspoons...

And now, faithful readers, for you [my] finals week distraction, may I present:

Class Quotes. [spring 05 ed.] catagorized in my notebook margins.

American Heritage [dr stewart]

-No, I will not give up my swamp! - Jen
-Monday I was on heroin, and now you're telling me I'm smoking opium? I need help! - Em
-If you would be my punk rock princess, I could be your garage band king -overseen
-Yeah! Let's attack Canada! - Dr Stewart
-Crapily - unknown
-Cooking in a campfire on a wood floor probably wasn't a very good idea. - Dr Stewart
-There. That's everything you need to know about American history. - Dr Stewart

Understanding Music [the rath]

-I'm falsehooding again! - Joeleo
-You now have the great secret of all disco...kick the back beat. - Dr Rath
-But I think Bach would have laid the smackdown on both of them! - Dr Rath
-I'd like to ask, "Beethoven, what are you up to?" - Dr Rath
-What happened then? Waterloo, baby! - Dr Rath
-He looks like Where's Waldo. - Em
-This class makes me sneeze. - Em
-He's like...C-3PO. - Johnny
-Berg's melodies are more sneezable...er, singable. - Dr Rathmell
-But, buy a toothbrush, please. - Dr Rathmell
-We'll just add a bunch of umlauts...and look! A Swedish 'g'!! - Dr Rathmell [going crazy during his last Hillsdale class ever. sad]
-But, buy a toothbrush, please. - Dr Rathmell

Great Books II [dr freeh]

-It's not evil, just stupid. Although I guess evil is kind stupid... - Dr Freeh
-But I like my whiskey straight. - Dr Freeh
-Worldwide starlets get much boys - Em
-He was actually whistling during the class? - Em

Greek II [prof garnjobst]

-Wow, I think I was just unsheltered just a little bit more - Carla
-Like, dude, I know the Cracken was in there! - Prof. G.
-Nothing like the stench of a dead woodchuck under the porch... - Ethan
-Are they fighting? In class? - Trish
-That's too good to be untruth - Ethan
-I'm just a wheel in the cog of life! - Prof. G.
-Can you believe it? Two symbolisms in one play? - unknown
-Next we have 'Poetry Gone Mad.' - Prof. G.
-Yeah, he probably wore a tie-dyed tunic. - unknown
-I kind of liked the naked men in the market sentence... - Carla
-Do you think Buster wants to draw a mermaid, Jake? - Trish
-Edumacation. It isn't just for breakfast anymore. - unknown
-Every Sara I have ever met is short and hyper. - Seth
-Just snake it, Jake. - Prof. G.
-Thoughts are mirrored in your eyes. Keep them beautiful. - the ultimate fortune cookie pickup line
-Hey, Baby, how about we try going from the first person singular to the first person plural... - the ultimate classics pickup line
-Our band could be called 'Proposition Yap,' and we could play Swedish Death Metal! Our first single would definitely be 'Five Tooth Mama.' The front cover would feature the band members carrying rocks to the road...

Roaring Twenties [dr stewart]

-Well, in the name of world peace, hi! - unknown
-Um, is it just me, or is asparagus actually green? - Em
-Yes, Al Capone really killed King Tut. - Dr Stewart
-Why do they care? Because dead people are sexy! - Dr Stewart
-Um, do you realize you've used the word sexy as an adjective at least 6 times in the past 30 minutes? - Student
-Matt Gaetano has corrupted me! - Dr Stewart

good semester, kids. good semester.
[you know it's finals week when you stop measuring out the coffee and just start dumping it straight from the bag...]

in kresge...

[previously]

You know how you just wish some songs would go on forever?

All my life, I've heard songs like this. There have been days [and nights] that I wished would continue forever. Camp, fellowship, prayer, Trip of a Lifetime...I want it to continue. But we move on. We grow up. We change. And the beautiful moments fade into beautiful memories.

They tell me that if I got my wish, I would all to soon become dissatisfied. I would get bored with the things, the people, the places that make me happy. They might be right, but I have a hard time imagining how just one moment more would hurt...

one more day, one more time
one more sunset, maybe i'd be satisfied
but then again
i know what it would do
leave me wishing still
for one more day with you

Times like these change you. They make you who you will be tomorrow.

Right now, it's 2:30 AM and I'm in Kresge with Big Joel, Andy, and Rick. We're listening to the Kingston Trio and Johnny Cash.
"Crap, this is the last one. Really it is. I need to leave."
A's playing air guitar and saying how he doesn't want school to end. He doesn't want to leave these people or this place. It doesn't ever get any easier.

I'm just kind of realizing how hard graduation is going to be. These people have invested four years of their lives with eachother. And I've been able to share one year of it. The campus will seem empty next August, Seniors.

They say all good things must end. I despise that phrase. It does nothing to comfort or make moving-on any easier.

I think it's one more reason for me to look forward to Heaven. The moments that have captured my heart here on Earth will dissolve in the awesomeness of that new life.

Here's looking towards that time when the good things never end...