2010: My Life List

I keep a book full of my life list. Every time I cross something off, I have to add something else. It's never ending! Athough, sometimes I forget I have it. I didn't think I really accomplished that much this year, but when I was looking back at it last night, I realized I accomplished more than I originally thought.

1) Try Crab

2) Go back to Presbyterian Youth Triennium

3) see fish being thrown at Pike Place Market in Seattle

4) get an opinion piece published in a newspaper

5) get 2nd holes pierced in my ears

6) get a real job

7) go to an NBA game

8)fly 1st class on a plane

9)take a picture in front of the original starbucks

10)make an origami duck

11)get kidnapped, but in a good way

12)make something easy out of origami

13)drive a golf cart

14)worship at a PCA church

15)eat a sausage that comes in a jar or a can

16)order the most expensive thing on a menu somewhere

17)see the Cumberland Presbyterian Center

18)try water skiing

19)worship at a Cumberland Presbyterian Church

20)have a surprise birthday party thrown for me

21)smoke hookah

22)smoke a cigar

so, heres to achieving life goals!

Oregon!

I’ve only been in Oregon for 3 whole days…and I love it. Which is good. Considering I live here. I love all of the interesting and unique people. You can always tell what flight is going back to portland by the natury looking people...the people with long gray hair, dreadlocks, random facial piercings, and the "normal" people mixed in. So.Great.

I also really love Chelsea Handler. When I was in the Dallas Airport, I bought one of her books to read on the plane. My Horizontal LIfe. I should have known what it was about by the title, but I didn’t think too much about it.

Of course, after I started reading it, I realized, every chapter was basically a different one night stand. Classy. Just kidding. So, here I am, sitting on the plane, where anyone who wants can read over my shoulder, reading about Chelsea Handler and all of her men. I still love her though.

I love airports. They are such great places to people watch! All sorts of people coming and going…that’s why I love layovers! It gives me the chance to walk around and explore all sorts of interesting places in the airport. Especially Dallas. I love Dallas. I also love sitting next to fun people on planes. It doesn’t happen very often, but I usually try to ask where the person next to me is going…if they live where they are going, or if they are just visiting. It leads for some fun conversation, or it just leads to the person getting annoyed and not talking anymore. But, either way, I tried to meet someone new and fun!

Everything points back Indiana (and Kentucky and Memphis)

Well, not EVERYTHING..but a lot of things.

-I was taking pictures this past weekend, and whenever I take pictures I can’t help but notice the chip in the upper right hand corner of the camera, and the various scratches all over it….my camera had two experiences of falling out of a moving golf cart this summer. I’m glad my camera has those permanent scars to remind me of my time there.

-My PYT water bottle, and other PYT paraphernalia. I wore my white wristband until September. I took it off because several people asked if I had been in the hospital, and it was starting to fade. It only looks cool if people KNOW it’s white because you’re on staff…of course, I have a section of a wall dedicated to this lovely experience, so I’m reminded when I wake up every morning

-The Vuvuzela. KNOCK KNOCK..WHO’s THERE…INTERRUPTING VUVUZELA…INTERUPTING Vuvu… Bzzzzzzzzzzz. Exactly. Only funny when you’re averaging 5 hours of sleep. I really haven’t used it all that much since PYT. It was more fun to use in a big crowd, to get people’s attention,and in worship countdowns. I told that joke to someone here….they didn’t understand. Obviously.

- Golf Carts. The maintenance men drive them around my school. You have to understand…at my school, you can get from one end to the other in 10 minutes or less. I think trucks would be sufficient..I can’t help but get jealous when I see people driving the golf cart, and can’t help but think of how much more fun my driving was on them then theirs is. They could use some lessons from me..just saying..

-I went to Memphis for formal this year, and for fall break. Memphis will always have a special place in my heart…actually, the Memphis Airport will. That is where I first met the people that mean the world to me. Tacky, but so true.

And there are more….but that is for another day

God is good. I love memories. I love connections. I love life-long friends.

Future.

I submitted an application to University of Oregon for next fall. While I don't especially like the idea of transferring...God's calling me somewhere else. I came in to college intending to stay at the same place for 4 years. Having never gone to private school before, it was a bit different. I feel my faith grows more when I am around people of different faiths. Everything seems to be going together nicely to go to U of O. Living with my best friend. Volunteering at a church there. Good for my major. College town...I didn't like the idea of going to school in Oregon, however, I need to set aside my pride and just do it. It's been a real struggle to decide whether to just stay or go. I'm a firm believer that sometimes, the hardest thing to do is the right thing to do.

If I don't get accepted...then onto Plan B.

Thanksgiving

I’ve always had mixed feelings about Thanksgiving.

While it’s nice to set aside time to be thankful…we should really be thinking of things to be thankful about every day, Why set aside just one day out of the whole year? Eating a lot of food doesn’t have anything to do with being thankful…it just causes stress for the people who make it…and you know the people who are cleaning up aren’t thankful. Or maybe they are.

As followers of Christ, we’re called to give thanks and praise to God. It doesn’t say when, or how many times..but I feel like we need to be doing this every day.

I came across this really powerful verse yesterday, that I just think is so amazing.Hebrews 12:28…

“Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakeable, let us be thankful and please God by worshipping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire”

This is from the NLT version. I’ve been trying to comprehend this verse for the last few days, and it’s really made me think, that I need to stop and genuinely praise the God who created me for everything I have in my life. He’s given me the greatest gift ever, so the least that I can do is stop and thank Him. To think that I’m getting an “unshakeable” Kingdom…that’s pretty cool. It’s more than cool. Honestly though, there are not enough words to describe how I feel about this passage..I’ll just leave it at amazing.

Scattered Thoughts

My mind is always going a million miles an hour..and I realized I didn't write anything the entire month of October.

-I talked to the vice president of christian development about my article. He didn't even want to talk about my article, he wanted to talk about his political views. Basically. I left the talk knowing that he is very pro-life, and only likes women to talk in chapel or churches if they don't "dabble in theology."....then please tell me, what are women allowed to talk about? Precisely. My point. I left with not very much respect for him

- I've just been realizing how blessed I am, and it is a really great feeling.

-I put a gay pride sticker on my water bottle. This wouldn't be a big deal, except i'm down in the south, at Baptist college. However, it has brought on some good conversations. At first I was worried about people getting mad...but it has led to some good conversations about equality. I am for gay rights. I'll just say that right now. Being down in the south has made me realize how important equality is. God calls us to love everyone. That includes people not like us. This is always why I belong to the Presbyterian Church. NOT PCA. PC(USA). We love everyone. This makes me happy.

-I've started the process of applying for mission trip companies and camps for next summer. It is so much fun to do! I have a phone interview on Wednesday with a company called YouthWorks! (The exclamation point is part of their logo...how cool is that?! I LOVE exclamation points...just sayin) Then next Wednesday, I have an interview with Center for Student Missions. I went on a mission trip to NYC with them a few years ago and loved them...we will see what happens.

-I met my littles. I love them. We have a cute little family now. Well it is getting bigger. Which is good.

-I'm applying to University of Oregon for next fall! And maybe University of Missouri! This excited me. A lot. This is due to a variety of factors...but it all comes down to what place has the best journalism school. And if Oregon can offer me a lot of money, that means I get to live with one of my best friends AND maybe rush. I really want to be in a real sorority. Not the little tribe stuff we have here. I mean, it's fun...but I need something else if I go to public school. I miss public school! It just seems so nice. I went to public school my whole life...this whole private school thing is not for me....maybe it's just Christian School that isn't for me.

more later...hopefully more consistently

Thoughts Lately.

1) I love my littles in my social tribe. they are freakin amazing

2) I want to go to school in Tennessee. It is more exciting here than in Mississippi

3) Actually, I love all of our pledges

4) I wrote an article for our school paper, and have an appt. to talk with the vice president of christian development on Wednesday. Uh, this should be interesting

5) I'm in Memphis for the weekend. Seeing people from the design team makes me heart happy. Really happy. It's like coming home to family. It really is. I am so glad I have these connections. So glad.

Who needs titles...

1) I love being Presbyterian. Being at a Southern Baptist college makes me so thankful to be a part of a denomination where women are often up front and doing pastor-type things...

2) I told my mom i wanted to come home and hang out 2nd semester....i can't do that unless i get a 40 hour per week job. no thanks!

3) I've been going to a Presbyterian church in Jackson. Briarwood Presbyterian. PCSUA. It's smaller and more traditional than my church back at home, but it feels like home. I feel at home in the Presbyterian church, and it makes me happy to know that I can experience that no matter where I go

4) I'm applying to Montreat for Summer Staff this upcoming summer, along with Mo Ranch in Texas, Highlands in Colorado, and maybe Westminister Woods in CA. All Presbyterian. Yes. Maybe I will meet my Presbyterian man.

No More Summer, Mississippi and all that good stuff

So. It's been a long time. I really like writing in this. I just always forget.

anyways, i'm back in MS...it's strange for several reasons...

1) While my friends at home don't start school until September 28th, I'm here, in school, doing school things and being productive. I miss wandering around Portland doing random things

2) I don't really want to be back here. I'm only back here for 2 reasons: My mom made me, and I bought presents for my littles and feel like i need to follow through and not waste money...which leads me to my next point

3) It's not that hate this school...it's really nice. Just not the place for me. It was nice for me last year. It's just not the place right now. First of all, I'm not as conservative as I once was. Also, Southern Baptist theology doesn't make me all that happy sometimes. I'm a freshmen experience leader for freshmen chapel, and i was looking at the chapel schedule and EVERY chapel speaker is a MAN. This.Is.Sexist. It's not like i'm some die-hard feminist, but REALLY?! We could have some gender diversity mixed in here..And I also feel like all of these speakers are conservative. Which isn't a bad thing, but I think they could mix it up a little bit.I feel like I need diversity to thrive.

4) If I do end up transferring, I don't know where I would go. I told my sister I would come home and go to community college, or Portland State in the spring..she told me I couldn't come home and ruin her 2nd semester of sr year, which doesn't make sense, because she was there for my sr year. I'm just a really indecisive person. I know the Presbyterian Campus Ministries person at Belmont and Vanderbilt. Those schools are expensive. I could go to Baylor. But that is also really expensive, but i reactivated my application there anyways. I feel like even though that is still a Baptist school, it's more liberal, and they have lots of diversity. I also applied to a Presbyterian school called Whitworth, and a Presbyterian school called Hanover. I also think it would be nice to live in South Carolina, Virginia, North Carolina, Memphis, Colorado...the list goes on...

5) I guess I don't know what I want. I could drop out and travel...but that costs money. I also think it would be fun to do camp ministry my whole life. Like work at a camp year round...somebody pointed out i don't even need a degree for that

6) I went to a church called Briarwood Presbyterian. It was nice. More conservative and traditional than my church at home, but it was still nice. It felt like home more or less.

7) I'm applying to work at Presbyterian camps next summer. So. Excited. My main goal is to work at Montreat....aka...Presbyterian Mecca. However, I am also applying to work at Cho Yeh, Mo Ranch, Highlands and Westminster Woods. The goal is just to be outside. So it will be interesting to see what happens!

The Cake Mix Aisle

We went to the grocery store after church on Sunday, because my sister was making a cake for my moms birthday. So we were standing in the cake mix/cake accessory aisle, and..I fell over. It was really funny, and luckily there was only 1 other lady in the aisle. I was just standing there in my cute high brown wedges that match my dress that i was wearing and my left foot turned sideways, and all of a sudden I was falling over. But it was like a slow motion movie. So then I was on the ground. I've never fallen over in any pair of shoes. Not even when I was walking. So I can't believe I did this..while I was just standing there, in a dress, in the cake aisle. hahaha

at least I was dressed cute

Triennium Pictures...

going back into Portland. The only part I was looking forward to? Seeing the Ikea store...

mcdonalds run the last night!

Design Team on the stage the last worship

last day. all sweaty. packing everything up...still not kicking in that it was our last day together. that was later that night

luggage carts! waiting for bus-fuls of small group leaders and care team members

my "home" for the week

The great lunch delivery of 2010. 5000 lunches. 1 to every small group. We're still all wondering how this was pulled off so well...well at least in Hillenbrand where I was

Triennium

Well.


It's over.

It's the strangest feeling. I'm not seeing anyone today because I am in a post Triennium daze/coma/whatever else you want to call it. I was going to go to Nordstrom for the big sale, but I am wayyyyy too exhausted. So, I did what I always do when I miss people and don't know what to do with myself: go to Marshalls, because its 5 minutes away instead of 15 and really convenient...but i didn't want to buy things just because I was missing people, even though some of the things were really cute.


highlights/things i would like to point out:

1) i ate 6 cheeseburgers and 3 burritos. I tried to make my cheeseburgers healthy by putting tomatoes on them. ha yeah not really healthy. but kind of

2) my vuvuzela had it's claim to fame! Finally! Well not finally, i've only had it for 3 weeks. But a kid thought it was a gun from far away. It was dark outside, so he had an excuse.

3) I loved my card in the union and my wristband...i come back here, and can't use either of those to get my food! So, it's back to using my real money!

4) I was going to keep my wristband on all summer, for tanning purposes of course, but since I was on staff (that sounds so weird to say!) it was white...It looked like a hospital bracelet. So my family told me to take it off...it did look kind of tacky when nobody knew what it was

5) my camera wouldn't open. we prayed over it.then it opened. then it fell of two golfcarts within 2 days of doing that and survived both times! My camera is very well made

6) i saw various skunks and way too many bunnies. thank goodness i did not step on a bunny. apparently a girl stepped on a bunny, and the care team took it to the vet. Go Care Team!

7) i'm glad i had a different color name tag to distinguish me from the participants...since people thought i was one because i look little.

8) I want a golf cart

9) it was fun singing this little light of mine..well until we had to blow them out due to fire codes.

10) somebody wanted to go hiking today. but due to my many blisters from walking around all week..i'm taking a walking break. ha not really. but taking a hike is the last thing i want to do right now!

In all seriousness though....being on Design Team helped me so much, and changed my life. Here we go planning in a event to change people's lives, and it definitely changes you in the process. You never take conferences for granted ever again, because you see how much work goes into them! Seeing people enjoy an event that I helped plan is the best feeling.

Before the first worship service there is a tradition of all the staff praying. So we prayed. I got chills. It was just powerful. After that, I went back outside to hold open the doors for the mass amounts of people running in. Once we got in there, you could see Design Team people just trying to hold back tears. tears of joy and relief that this thing we worked so incredibly hard on had finally come together.

It's hard to sat goodbye to people after 1 week of knowing them, but it's ever harder after working with them for 2 years. These people are some of my best friends. It's just so nice to have connections all over the country. All of us can be so honest with each other. It's a lovely feeling. We had a big cry-fest on Saturday night, and then went out to Mcdonalds in the golf-cart to celebrate. Well this was more like the after party...The cry-fest was after the nice dinner we had, and we showed a slideshow, and I'm kind of thinking almost every person in the room was crying. We went over changes that had happened in the last few years, and how it felt like we already knew each other when we first met.

There really no words to describe what i'm feeling, or what being on Design Team is like. It's a total God thing really. Although we were so exhausted by the end of the week, we were still incrdiebly thankful. That ride to the airport on Sunday July 25th was one of the bus rides I did not look forward to being on. Nobody really wanted to be at the airport. A lot of us don't know what to do with ourselves. But, the good thing about being Presbyterian is that we'll see each other at different conferences. Hopefully. And we can go out and shine the light that we brought to PYT in the first place. Take it out to the world
So to everyone on Design Team. I love you. A lot. Thanks for changing for life in such amazing ways. I'll probably write more about this when I have more time, and talk about the actual event itself.
The only word to descirbe this whole process though is...Amazing.

Last Full Day of Triennium

Highlights..well some...

1) I can now do energizers

2) my calves are muscular

3) it was like fat camp..well community life

4) i think i have eaten 5 cheeseburgers...but i walked all of it off

5) great sermons

I can't compare...but all i know is that now that I have been on the administrative side, I really can't go back to anything else

Worship

Yesterday was the opening day of worship. I moved the cones and held the doors open while people ran in.

It was amazing.

Then today (where the picture is from) we went in really early. (using our design team credentials of course!) And sat in the third row, and watched people run in. Then proceeded to semi-fall asleep during the sermon. It was a good sermon, we were all just exhausted!

PYT aka Fat Camp

Design Team is a work-out thats for sure.

Morgan and I took a golf cart over to 1st Street. Left in a car. Went back to the Union and got told to go back.

it takes like 20 minutes to walk over here, and there is all this construction.

However....I'm getting tan! Kind of

Indiana!

In Indiana.

At Triennium.

Well, Pre-Event things. It's hot and humid. And Amazing. I got here yesterday.

We got fun shirts and water bottles.

We have single rooms. It's nice.

My vuvuzela has received a very nice response.

Amanda and I walked from one of the dorms to the music hall, it was the farthest away one. It took 17 minutes. We got lost in the worship hall, then found the worship team, then said hi, and then left. We got lost and ended up by the football stadium.

And came back hot and humid. And gross.

We're waiting and getting really excited for everyone to get here! I will put some pictures on later!

Goldfish

Yesterday I went to Target to get Goldfish Crackers for my trip to Triennium.

I always eat Goldfish when I go on planes.

I guess I'm a creature of habit.

They had SO many kinds. I called my sister and asked what type I should get.

After 5 or 6 minutes of standing in the Goldfish aisle....I got Parmesan. Typical. Oh well.

I also got a cheese bagel today and put Nutella on one side. I was being adventurous. Don't do this.

Cheese and Chocolate are quite a strange combination!

midddle school girls.

yesterday, at a youth group event they decided to have a screaming contest on the bus.

i hope i never did this!

Farmers Markets

I love farmers markets. A lot. Especially ones that have onions. Except i have gone to 2 different farmers markets within the last few weeks, looking for salsa...and have come to the conclusion that people don't sell salsa at farmers markets! I always feel good that I support local farmers though, and plus their fruit is always so much better than things I can get at the grocery store.

maybe it's weird that I took pictures at the farmers market. Oh well!

Vuvuzela

I bought a vuvuzela.
those annoying things at the world cup.
off Amazon.
I ended up paying 10.32. Which, is a waste of money because i could have made one myself.
It's the thought that counts though. This thing is amazing.
Well only when I play it. It annoys me when anyone else plays it. For obvious reasons
I am going to take it to Triennium...and sneak up on awkward couples and play it.
it will be delightful.

Design Team

Presbyterian Youth Triennium Design Team.

Another family.

My support system.

My connections to places all over the United States.

I guess I should start as to how I got on this amazing planning team in the first place.

When I went to PYT, I had an AMAZING time..I got home, sat on my couch for a few days in shock at how amazing my experience was, and then I found out there was a planning team for it! I emailed someone, and said to wait until Spring/June for the Design Team application. So I waited. Very Impatiently. I checked the PYT website at least once a week..looking for new updates. I couldn't really talk about anything buy PYT for a while...EVERYTHING seemed to relate back to it! It's one of those things where if you just don't go...you don't understand..and if people you're talking to didn't go, they just want you to stop talking about it! So after a LONG time of PYT Page stalking, the application was FINALLY on there! So I filled it out..at first without telling my mom. (she is always apprehensive about things!) Then she found out and was fine with it. I had my 2 references, and even though my youth pastor said on the reference form that I grind my teeth, I still turned it in. I found out I was accepted when that August I got an email asking for my birthday. It was kind of an unexciting way, but I called my mom who was at Home Depot (i'm not sure why i remember this) FREAKING OUT, but i still had not received the official notice that I was accepted. So when I received the official notice, I was so excited. I didn't really know what to do. I told my PYT friends, but my other friends..well they were happy, but it just wasn't as exciting for them, because they had never been!

Our team was meant to be together. I had never connected with people so fast in my life. It was definitely a God thing. I had always taken youth conferences for granted i guess. Well maybe not that, but I never knew all the work behind it, especially with themes. After sitting in a conference room for 3 days digging through consortiums and bibles, I am SO thankful for the people who plan conferences on a regular basis! It's amazing to see and be a part of the work that goes into it. We're all so different, yet everyone is so amazing at the same time.

I now have connections to a lot of different places, so that makes me very happy. When I don't know what to do in a certain situation, or can't talk to someone about something in the location where I'm at...I call someone from Design Team, because I know that I can talk, and they'll just listen. I've made some amazing friends, and this is why Triennium seems so bittersweet. Don't get me wrong...it's pretty much one of the ONLY things I can talk about right now, but the idea of no more planning or meetings seems so weird! Luckily, I go to school in Mississippi, which means I can see a lot of people within a 6 hour drive.

I could go on...but I won't, because i've typed enough...so coming soon...design team memorable moments!

Design Team.

Best Thing Ever.

So hard to explain to non-presbyterians

and memories that will last a lifetime.

So, what is the Presbyterian Youth Triennium?

Triennium.

PYT.

Presbyterian Youth Triennium.

not PCA but PCUSA. there is a difference : )

I just can't seem to stop talking about it. In Presbyterian culture, people pretty much know the general idea of it...but explaining it to everyone else is rather difficult( especially people at my Baptist college). I am going to attempt to explain it here.

PYT happens every 3 years. I went as a youth participant in 2007 and fell in love with it. I found out there was a planning team. I looked at the website almost every day for the next 6 or 7 months. The application finally came up on the website. I applied, forgot that I applied, and then found out I was accepted and remembered I had applied. Being on the planning team has been one of the best experiences ever. (that's a whole other blog though for a different day)

Triennium is not meant for new Christians. It is pretty much assumed that the people going to it are mature in their faith. I mean, it's bad to make assumptions, but this is usually the case. People apply to go through their Presbytery. A Presbytery is a group of Presbyterian Churches in one area, it makes it easier to keep track of churches that way. This year, churches can take groups of people there.

The event usually has around 5,000 Presbyterian high school aged people from all over the USA and Canada. It is so amazing to be around this many Presbyterians at once. It is held at Purdue University in Indiana. One of the highlights of this is staying in a dorm.

The theme for this time is For Such a Time as This. From the book of Esther.

I've been talking about this event all year at school basically. Actually, it's what I relate various things to.

- people bring buttons or pins to trade with people from other areas of the country..ours this year from Oregon and Vancouver WA say Peace, Love and Salmon.

- girls go to dress to impress for the Presbyterian boys they may find there. Although, as most people know....this is not the main reason one should go to this

- people wait in line for worship for at least 45 minutes. It's THAT good!

- There are going to be over 300 construction projects going on at Purdue this summer. We're hoping someone doesn't fall in a ditch

- one time a girl didn't like the event, so she called her rich grandpa to come pick her up on his private jet

I'm on the community life team. It has to do with making people feel welcome, and dealing with dorm related things, and runaway girls that go into Frat Houses. However, I'm bringing a whistle..you know...to break up those awkward couples that hang out in corners at night : )

Sun, Pneumonia and No Job

1) The Sun came out Saturday. It was 80 degrees. finally!

2) My Pneumonia is gone. well basically. I still can't really climb up any stairs without huffing and puffing. My antibiotics gave me strange bumps, so i had to get new ones.

3) I don't have a job. This makes me mad. However, I do have Chacos now. Which makes things better. I love my Chacos. A lot.

4) Triennium is ruining my job potential. Sad, but true. People don't want to hire someone who is going to be gone for 10 days

5) I am making Salsa and Guacamole this week. Just to do something fun with my summer

my friends are home now! So summer can finally start!

Pneumonia?

I started feeling bad last Wednesday...so I figured it would go away..it didn't. I got a fever. And I freaked out. I barely ever get fevers. Then by Saturday I couldn't walk without sounding like a person who smokes way too much and having to take a break when walking. It sounded like I was hyperventilating, and it hurt after I walked around a little bit. Soooooo on Sunday I called my Dr office randomly, and somebody answered! My Dr was there, and I went in. My Diagnosis: Pneumonia. But only on the left side. I'm still confused as to how I only have it on one side, but I am so thankful for doctors, and so thankful that I only have it on one side...i don't think I could handle both sides.

My ultra peppy nurse yesterday took my stats, and said it looked a lot better then Sunday. And she said it was strange that I had it in June and not the winter.

my mom's explanation: I came from Mississippi back up to colder and rainier Oregon weather.

I sound like I smoke, and when I talk, I have to take breaks. I couldn't go to my Triennium got together, I couldn't go to my Young Life BBQ and I can't be a counselor at Suttle Lake now. I need to look on the bright side of things though...my antiobiotics are working, and that, is amazing

Old Fashioned? No. Just Respectful

I lived without one for 14 years. I was fine.

I like being cell phone free

or purposely not texting people back. It feels so freeing. Or...CALLING someone when they text me! Sometimes they get a little confused as to why I am calling them, but we all need to be a little cell phone free sometimes.

I still give out my home phone number to jobs I have applied for, and people that I don't want invading my cell phone.

at school, I make it a general rule not to carry my cell phone with me to classes, because it gives me more face to face interaction with people along the way. If I was at a large school, I don't think I could do this, but here it is nice. It is harder to leave my phone at home when I am going places at home though...because people get annoyed..so i will take it with me and turn it off.

Places you need to take your cell phone:

1) the mall if you are going with friends

2) wal-mart. I went without my phone once, and ended up searching half the store

Oregon has a law...you can't text or talk when you drive...or you get a ticket..police can pull you over for that..so I have this new habit..of glaring at people or just staring them down in a nice kind of way, on their phones. as to say "I'm better then you" but I only do this to nice looking people, because I don't want to get into a big road dispute!

My mom's friend doesn't have a cell phone still. and she is not old fashioned at all.she wears really cute clothes and drives motorcycles..she just doesn't want to be bugged. which is understandable. I respect her. a lot.

I also don't like i-phones..it is fueling people's electronic addictions more and more.

I still read the paper. shocker. i know. I have my routine. I come downstairs in the morning, read the paper and at my breakfast. I just love it. I don't like reading news online. I believe, that more people should read the paper...just because it's awesome...except if you touch it too much you get grey on you. which is never fun.

I also don't have a tivo. very un-necessary. I can sit through commercials, unlike some other people in our society : )

So...I guess I challenge everyone...to turn off their phones, or call instead of text.

btw..if you constantly text SOMEONE ELSE while I am out on a one on one time with you...I'll probably tell you to put your phone away. because THAT...is just plain rude.

I need a watch...so i have an excuse to not take my phone even more places...

Job Thoughts

I need a job.

I want to work at American Eagle

I don't know if they are hiring

I've only had 2 interviews! Sonic and Hollister

Sonic didn't like I was going to be gone for 10 days in July.

Triennium is worth is though.

definitely.

worshipping our God with 4,000 other Presbyterians that desire to be close to our Lord

well, I just need a job that will let me have time off

I didn't want to work at Sonic and be greasy this summer

Ducks, Sun and Jobs

So I went to Eugene this past weekend for my sisters track meet. My mom and I went to a park early in the morning, and they were lots of sleeping ducks. I think that's my new favorite thing to take pictures of...sleeping ducks. I understand why it's the U of Oregon ducks now...Eugene has tons of them! And it was sunny at the track meet! That was exciting.

My mom keeps complaining about our messy house, and how it was clean until I came home...oh welllllll. At least I know where everything is.

I need a job.

I applied at Taco Bell today.

yeah...i really need a job.

Why I like Oregon:

1) trees

2)non-fake people

3)Chipotle

4)My best friends are here

5) cute ducks

6) bikers

7)eugene hippies

as far as transferring...

I really want to go to UC Boulder...but out of state tuition is so expensive! or Mizzou...but that's also expensive, I may just end up at good old University of Oregon...of course I may just stay at MC if I happen to fall in love with in the fall and meet the man of my dreams.

we'll see.

I miss southern hospitality, the accents, the humidity and my fake sorority

My Late Birthday Adventure

So, I miss this. My adorable roommate, my next door neighbor, and of course, Hardin. My birthday was April 16th, but I was going to Indiana the day after. So on Sunday night, 2 days before we moved out, they threw a late birthday party for me. It was nice. Actually, I just like being blindfolded. We went around Clinton. I thought I was going to get kidnapped, because we were outside. Which of course would not happen in Clinton of all places. Then we went to Kroger to get food for my birthday surprise. It was kind of concerning because nobody in Kroger seemed to care that I was blindfolded. So if you are ever legitly going to kidnap someone...go to Kroger, where they don't look out for your safety.

So the evening ended with my 3rd birthday cake for the month of April. Well I had a cookie cake, a birthday cake at my design team meeting, and a red velvet cake that Britta made. I like cake. So it was perfect. And now I'm stuck at home. All alone. With nobody to bake me cakes and take me fun places. However, this will soon change when my friends come home.

Driving

"Amy, be careful driving. It's been raining outside. Of course, it shouldn't make a difference because you drive like a Grandma anyways"

wow. Thanks Mom!

This was my moms comment to me when I first got home and was going to go drive around.

I think she's made it her summer goal to get me to drive faster. Which is strange, because most people's moms want them to drive slower. I don't drive THAT slow. Just 5 miles under, as opposed to 5 miles over.

Then today, as I was driving to McMinville for my sister's track meet.

"Amy, people are going to think you're drunk, don't go so far over to the right"

my excuse: i don't want to hit cars. Perfectly legit.

I now know where I get my horrible back-seat driving from.

I've also discovered another thing in the last few weeks. You know those people that get into their cars, and you get really excited, but they proceed to sit there and not move for the next 5 minutes. Yes, I'm "that" person, haha, oh well! I just always have so much stuff to do when I get in my car

Summer?

Ok, so yes, it is MY summer, but it's not really "summer" until everyone else is home also!

I've been hanging out with middle aged moms with children, elderly people and wealthy people that don't need to work for the past few weeks. I would love to see somebody my own age in a store in the middle of the day!

My friends should all be home by June 13th

My sister and my high school friends get out of school June 17th.

And it is supposed to rain for 9 of the next 10 days...

Typical Oregon. I like rain. But when I'm inside Rain is nice here though. It's not all humid an nasty.

I experienced 100% humidity in Mississippi..it's not rain, it's mist. And it's a strange feeling.

On the plus side, I am going to have an easier time finding a job, because I'm here, and they aren't. I interviewed at Hollister, and I have an interview at Sonic tomorrow. I don't want to work at either of those places. All I really want to do is work at American Eagle and get my 40% off discount. I don't think they are hiring though. Sad day!

I'm not sure what my point of this blog is. I just wanted to write random things as I thought of them.

I seem to be having really bad luck in parking lots this week. Apparently my sea-foam green mazda protege is invisible, because people keep almost backing into me. Like a Lowes semi-truck. Luckily he was only going like 2 mph max...because i mean, he was in a parking spot.

the Oregon motto.."if you don't like the weather wait a few minutes" has proven true in my blog writing just now. At first it was pouring, then it stopped, and now it's just really windy