Tape People

I got something very exciting in the mail on Thursday: my first acceptance letter! It's just UTK, but still, I'm officially going to college now!

Last night was our playoff game against Franklin (semi-finals). It was absolutely insane. One of the most entertaining games I've watched in a while. We we're tied 7-7 during the final quarter. Then we lost possession without 3 minutes to go, so we were all getting more and more nervous. With about 16 seconds left on the clock, they were around 20 yards away from the end-zone with a fourth down. They brought out their kicker (who had already missed an easy one earlier in the game, due to nerves most likely). So in attempts to psych him out again, we used all of our remaining time outs. And then, instead of kicking for the 3 points, they decided to go for it on the fourth down. And to our luck, they didn't get it! Bring on the overtime. So for the overtime, both teams got a chance on the 10 yard line to try to score. Franklin went first. They got the touchdown on the first down, and then the extra point was good. On our turn, it took us 3 downs, but we got the touchdown and the extra point. Bring on more overtime. This time we went first, and it took us all 4 downs to get it, but we got the touchdown and extra point. Then, Franklin once again got it on the first down. Then, I guess they decided they wanted this game to end on their terms, so they went for the extra 2 points and missed!!! Thus we won! It was crazy, everyone rushed the field, so excited. Next weeks we play White Station, and if we win, we go to state!

After the game, everyone went to Starbucks. We were sitting outside, and we stayed forever for some reason. We ran into a couple other people, and for some reason we ended up sitting in the middle of the parking lot until around 12:30. We had dance parties to people's car music, drew with sidewalk chalk, and played with bubbles. I love my friends.

Dad and I have watched Star Trek five times since it came out on Tuesday... my schoolwork has noticed =].

This week, our school put up all of these tape people things, representing people killed through smoking, and had little informational sheets in them about the dangers of smoking. Here's an example of one, which happens to be me! They traced me during my first period (when I office work for guidance). Aren't I cute?
Anyways, so every day during seventh period (my other office working period) I always meet up with a lot of people and have fun. Kelsey, Mariam, Melissa, and more people also office working during that class (although for various teachers) and Nikhita and Carolyn both of study hall. So oftentimes, we go to Adams room and have an impromptu dance party (since thats his planning period and nothing is happening in there) or go to the senior courtyard and do other various, equally random things. Its definitely my favorite class of the day. So anyways, on Wednesday, we were feeling especially energized. This was around the time that all of the tape people went up, and some how, Kelsey Mariam Melissa and I came up with yet another ridiculous passtime. Here are the results:

It was incredibly amusing, and for about an hour, there were two tape people of me in our school. Unfortunately, it got taken down about halfway through eighth period. We were bummed. We thought it was a good-natured joke, apparently the administration didn't agree. Ah well, what can you do?

Clearly, I'm enjoying senior year. I love my friends. We're so comfortable in our nerdiness.

I'm so so thrilled about Thanksgiving coming up. I still have a bunch of work to get done before, but that's okay. I can't wait to see all of you, it makes me so happy thinking about it. I love you, and will see you soon!

Free Willy song

Hey beautiful girls.

This week has been very tiring, but I'm almost done! and it feels great. I procrastinated a ton and had lots of studying for my stats test tuesday, a spanish essay for wednesday, an art history essay for thursday. skipping classes... i'm a bad kid.

However. Today is very exciting. Its sunny for like the first time in weeks! this year has been a record breaking year for rain. we've gotten like 13 inches this month when the avg is 2. And i'm currently freaking out cause i only have 8 DAYS OF CLASS LEFT! what the heck! i feel like i still just got here. also, registration was today. I'm in most of the classes i would like for next year, minus a cultural anthro class and a drawing class. i really want to get off the waitlist. 

This week we've been having inside winter training for crew which involves running, biking, erging, crunches, waitlifting, etc. Surprisingly, i've come to love running! it feels so good in comparison to erging (i think erging is appropriately named for my feelings for it). It feels good to be forced to exercise, my pants are looser! also, i'm getting to know some of the varsity women too! last night i sang karaoke with anne and aj (novice crew) for michael jackson karaoke night. we sang this song, which you all know.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFli8LgG9ng&feature=related

it's so good :] also. last weekend we had a crew drag party- which was... quite an experience. overall, most people were super drunk, and there were tons of guys that were way to comfortable in women's clothing. it was hilarious/ridiculous/insane. as scene in the pictures below... 

also, my roommates and i have just been very comfortable with each other. I'm so lucky that i got phoebe and munira, and sarah who has pretty much been adopted into our room. almost every night we'll stay up watching some random reality tv show (minus this week because of crazy homeworkness) or talking and laughing at funny youtube videos, while eating brownie sundaes!

i'm gonna go nap. i cant wait to see all of you. seriously.

Coco

I am laying under all of my covers in my bed right now.  Hehe.  I had a test this morning at 8, so my wormy brain decided to set an alarm for 5 am to wake up and study.  I'm glad that I did because I def. think it helped, but I am so sleepy now!  I am basically home free now and ready for Thanksgiving break.

I saw Coco Before Chanel last night, it was so good I am obsessed.  Because of the clothes, but also because the guy in it is wayy attractive.

Coco Before Chanel


On Friday night I went to Clemson for Hannah's birthday.  We celebrated by making pizza, Andes mint brownies, and going to see Men Who Stare at Goats, which was funny.  Oh and we dyed my hair darker!  I likes it.  Sunday, Olivia's boss at plainjane threw her and Andrew a party.  It was out at a farm- cold night, warm fire, and really good food.  It was a good time.  Our group of girls had Thanksgiving dinner on Monday night, which was fun because it's tradition, but kind of rushed.  Mainly because it's hard to get all of us together anymore cause everybody has such different schedules.

I am esited to see home and ya'll and be together and not do anything schooly!  WOOO.  P.S. Should I go to my 2:00 class?  I am so comfy...I have ten minutes to decide.

Love yous.

Mary

words i have been feasting on

I talked to Mary tonight for a long time, and she inspired me to post up several quotes and things I've written as I've been drawing closer to God the past few months.



These are from Mom's bible study:

"As we go to new dimensions in our relationships with the Lord, God often asks us to embrace a new phase of the journey that sometimes requires that we leave behind the familiar to embrace the new. While such steps are often painful, each is necesssary if our spiritural growth is to continue unhindered."

She had us answer the following question: "What has God asked you to relinquish as you journey on with Him? From the list in the margin, circle all that apply. (a person, a relationship, an ambition, a life goal, a habit, a lifestyle choice, a religious comfort zone, control of your time, other)

Then she asked, "How did you cope with those losses?" and "Briefly explain the danger of not letting go of the things God asks us to give up."

"Mourning is a healthy expression of sadness that assists us in moving on."

"While we should definitely take the time to mourn our losses, we must also come to accept them and use them as a springboard in the future."

"The loss of your Moses may be difficult, but take courage; Joshua is coming! As we grieve those things that must die so that we can move more fully in to the Spirit-filled, abundant life, let's remember that better things are on the horizon. Make a wise decision when to choose to stop the actions of mourning so that yhour heart can be encouraged and begin to heal. Lift up your head, my friend. God is up to something new and you won't want to miss it. May God heal our hearts so that we can fully embrace the next leg of our journey."



Here are some things I wrote in an email to a friend (John) at work about a Christ Community sermon we both listened to online:

"I will say that so far, the most thought-provoking soundbite from the sermon is this: "God never says "no" to something unless it is for our good and His glory... God never says "yes" to something unless it is for our good and His glory." This is just one of the many points and not the big picture theme, but wow... somewhat convicting, especially considering the ways I sometimes try to justify all the ways in which I not only fall short, but actively make poor decisions.

I'm about to start the "part 2" of the sermon - legalism vs. license."

"Holy cow, just finished the sermon. That third part kind of blasted me away... I never really have taken notes during the sermons because a) I am lazy and b) I think... when am I going to look at this again and c) I don't want to be one of "those people" but wow, I noticed so much more doing that tonight! (Also I really liked being able to pause and re-listen to parts the way you can't do when you are actually there live.)

I know you haven't listened yet, but keeps your ears perked for how the quote I picked out earlier, after all of the talk about legalism vs. license and how the law drives us to Jesus (which really drives us back to obedience - becoming eager to do what is good), comes back to this: "Lord, *whatever* is for Your glory is ultimately for my good!"



I have so much more to write but not enough time to do it!!! I may get back on later tonight and post a bit more.
Love you girlies.

Rabies.

I'm leaving in a few minutes to go to Frankie's birthday party. Its been a long time since I've seen her, so I'm excited to see her, though a little bummed because I'm missing a lot of other stuff that's going on today.

I'm spending the majority of this weekend trying to read Prodigal Summer, its due Monday along with two projects and a test. I just hit the halfway point. I wish I was a faster reader.

Thursday was Christmas Village. It was pretty sentimental since we both knew it was our last. I'll definitely miss going and seeing the usual people (most of whom I only see that one time a year). I also  have my solo recital coming up, but I'm a little worried for a reason I'll explain later in this message.

Our football team won again last night (although I didn't go) so we're still in the playoffs, and we get to play Franklin this friday. I'm excited about it, and I'll definitely go. Its weird thinking that one of these games is going to be my last. 

Last night I spent the night at the house of the kid cara babysits for.  She was housesitting. Well anyways, at one point I went to go love on one of their dogs, who seemed rather sad since his owners were out of town. So anyways, I was petting him, and it turns out he was a little more upset then sad, so he suddenly turned on me and bit me around my left wrist. It didn't break the surface on the front side of my wrist, but on the other side it punctured it and went fairly deep. anyways, i rushed straight towards the sink and started rinsing it off. it didn't really bleed that much, i must've missed hitting a vein, but it still was a fairly serious bite. anyways, i started to feel whoozy (you know me and any type of puncture or shot) so i sat down and kkhita got me some ice and a wet rag, which i used for the next two hours. I'm okay, the dog had its rabies shot and everything, but my wrist is still pretty sore, and its making basic tasks a littlle more difficult. i can bend my wrist forward fine, but can't bend it back. anyways, i figure it'll just heal with time, so i'm not that concerned about it, but i am a little worried about my upcoming violin concert. i should be able to hold my violin and everything okay, but my vibrato is going to really suffer. don't worry about me though, i'm fine, but i was just a little spooked. its a sweet dog, i've been to there house many times before, but it was just upset about their owners not being home. the rest of the night was largely spent making jokes about me having rabies, it was rather amusing. I was also hoping i would get super powers like spiderman when he got bit, but unfortunately, i'm just as superpowerless as always.

anyways, i have to go, but i love you all so much, and hope to talk to you soon. looking forward to thanksgiving.

the best burrito

I miss you lovelies. I can't believe it's only 2 weeks until Thanksgiving break!

Distracted

"It takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place."
-Through the Looking Glass, Lewis Carroll (the red queen)

Hey.  It is so fall now.  It's pretty walking around on campus with all of the trees turning yellow and orange.  This past weekend I was in New York- you all know that- and it was so incredible.  I took that picture from the rooftop of the Terrell's apartment.  We stayed with Olivia's future in-laws, who live on Roosevelt Island.  Everything about catching the F train, walking to get scones and tea for breakfast, and the energy of all the people on the streets made me want to live there so badly.  I loved it.  To sum up our trip, we did a lot of walking, eating, and discussing how to get places.  We got to go to the Museum of Modern Art, which happened to be free after a certain time (we hit that up).  We volunteered with an art therapy nonprofit- Missy Terrell knew the lady that started it- so we spent Saturday morning making jewelry kits and painting a mural.  Only Liv and I did the mural because everyone else was scared of "messing it up".

The lady wanted it to be the Statue of Liberty, "Starry night"/Van Gogh inspired.

People got crazy for Halloween.  We didn't dress up as anything.  We actually didn't do anything super exciting on Halloween in general.  We are all grandmas/old ladies.  On Sunday we went to Redeemer on the East Side and got to hear Tim Keller speak!  I was so excited, and he did a great job.  And sidenote: Olivia and I said "never fear, Brooklyn is here!" no less than 60 times throughout the weekend.  Don't worry.

I'm in a weird place right now mentally.  It is almost like I feel myself letting go of Athens and all of my holds here.  Maybe I'm just ready to see the next step for my life.  I think I am just always a restless person...I want to pick a new city, see new things, find my "place" in a different place.  I know that I am ridiculous.  Thanks for listening, hahaha.

Also, I am super excited about the new Julian Casablancas release!  I don't own it yet, but I've listened to what I can for free online...and it's sweet.

Oh dear I love ya'll so much.

pretty good lately

Hey guys! Sorry it's taken so long to post.

The last month has been very good for me. I had family weekend/home regatta two weekends ago. Then, last weekend i had a regatta in Kansas. Now, crew is taking a two week break. I'm enjoying just lazing around and watching some firefly/reading. 

Last night we had a backstreet boys dance party in our room. That shows that things have been pretty good lately.... Academically i'm a bit annoyed. I got a b- on a paper i worked super hard on when i got an a- on the last one which i barely worked on. Writing is hard! But i did get a 94 on the past psych midterm and environmental sciences midterm. 

My life isn't too interesting right now but i'll hopefully be better at keeping you all caught up  :)

Also... Im so indecisive on whether to do crew again. it's tough....