A Lovely Tuesday

So yesterday was pretty much amazing. I'll walk you through my day. I woke up, took a shower, went to the Connections Cafe and chatted with Becky (the lovely lady who works there) for a while then went to sit in my Bible classroom. Class started at 9:30, we took an attendance quiz because about 10 people were gone so we got extra points just for staying in town long enough to show up. We ran through an introduction of Proverbs, and THEN, class got out 45 minutes early. So I came back to the room and played Words With Friends (a scrabble game application on the iphone) for an hour or two. Then I used a meal plan, went to the Campus Store to buy a few drinks for the rest of the week since it'll be closed during the holiday. Then Lorie (my best friend here at ACU) drove me to the hair cutter place, but since I had 50 minutes until my bowling test and there were a few people ahead of us we decided to come back later, so we went to her room and hung out, looking at pretty dresses on eBay and chatting, all the while realizing how amazing it would be for us to live together at some point because we feed off of each other so well. Then I went to bowling, finished the test in less than 10 minutes, and bowled one game in which I gtot a spare the first frame, followed immediately by a turkey!! FINALLY! I have been waiting so long to get a turkey! It was so exciting! In the end I bowled a 156, less than my high score of 160, but still, I got a turkey! If I had just bowled a spare in the 10th frame and gotten my extra pins I would have beated my 160. Oh well. No big deal. I will admit that I say a little prayer every time I step up to the approach, because I figure, God's the one controlling the pins. I mean, I've seen a ton of perfect throws that look like they'll make perfect strikes, and they'll leave one or two pins, or really off throws that end up making strikes. So it's pretty unpredictable, and there's no reason not to incorporate God into all the little aspects of life anyway.

So yeah, after my fabulous game Lorie and I went back to the hair cutters and I got the best hair dresser I've ever had. She was so patient, supportive, and excited for me while she was cutting. We started out a little cautious with my hair, but after a while of going at it with a sharp razor, I finally decided I just wanted her to bring out the clippers and shave it down really short. And she did, using a 1.5 guard in the back, a 2 guard on the sides, and then blended it all in and chopped up the top a little. It turned out so perfectly, and when she looked at it she was like, "I want this haircut now!" ^_^ And the great thing was that the cut only cost 7.95, totally worth it! Her name was Vanessa, I need to remember that, lol. (pictures are on facebook)

So then Lorie and I came back, went to the food court to use our meal plans, then I had to rush off to go to the planetarium for my Astronomy class at 5:30. We learned a little about Uranus, and I remembered how much I like planetariums, sitting in the dome theatre looking up like your looking at the sky and actually seeing all the stars.

Well I got back at 7 and hung out with Lorie the rest of the night, which was wonderful. She bid on a dress on eBay that is super cute and won it at around 10. I spent the whole time looking at handmade hippie dresses, which are soooooooo gorgeous! And if I was rich I would buy them all. I want that to be my style now! It also inspired me to make my own dresses, but I'd have to learn how to sew and make dresses first. It would be so worth it though. And if Lorie and I live together, we are definitely going to make our own clothes, and have tea parties, and be all free-spirited and artsy and read and listen to music constantly, oh goodness, sounds like heaven! So if we don't get hired as RAs, there is still an upside to look forward to! While I would love to be an RA and get paid to live in the dorm, I won't feel bad if I don't because being Lorie's housemate will be amazing. ^_^

Ok, so at around 10:45 Lorie went to bed because she has work at 5am (which is where she is now), so I went to my room, but for some reason I could NOT fall asleep. I don't think I drifted off until around 1, but the next thing I know it's 3:25 and I'm wide awake. So I took a shower, and got on my computer to pass the time. And now I am listening to music while Lorie is at work watching Spirited Away, and now that I'm finished with this post I can chat with her on Facebook or something, lol.

So that's my fabulous yesterday, and now it's time for Thanksgiving Break! I have a few things I want to do, but nothing school related since I have no homework whatsoever, and no finals to study for. Woohoo! Free time!

The Narrative of the First Day of a New 20-Year-Old

Well here I am, a full-fledged 20-year-old, a one-fifth centenarian, a teen-no-more, a young adult. There was no cosmic initiation into this club, but I still feel like this is some kind of accomplishment. There were lots of "Happy Birthday" messages of various mediums, and a good number of presents, but no horns or trumpets, and no sparkly twisty-turning of my body through the air like in Sims 3 when a person reaches a new age. Oh well, maybe next year for the big 21. Maybe.

Anyway, it was a good day, I really always appreciate the people I'm close to saying "Happy Birthday" to me when they see me, it makes me feel like I've made enough of an impression on them that they notice me and want to acknowledge me. Kristin, Janille and Alex were so nice they even got me a box of Fiber One original cereal and a jar of Pace salsa! My favorites! I was touched, really. They know me so well. There isn't anything else that I would have even asked for from them, really. So that was just another special thing about my day.

Besides being a normal Thursday (no, school was not cancelled for the special occasion) I also got little texts and emails throughout the day from people saying "Happy Birthday!" I woke up, took a shower, saw the texts from my family members who wanted to wish me well, then I went to the Bible Building before class so I could call Grandma and Grandpa and chat for a while. Then I took a "nap" in the dark because I was so early the lights in the room were still off. Then I had class (Message of the Old Testament) from 9-10:50 and learned that I have a test over Genesis on Tuesday.

Then I went to chapel from 11-11:30, as I do every day whether I need the credits or not because it just never occurs to me to not go. Then I had lunch, came back to my room, read some poetry for class, then got on Skype so Grandma and Grandpa could watch me open the present they sent me. Unfortunately Skype hasn't worked very well the last two times we have tried it, so I ended up having to just open the gift over the phone. Oh well, at least I got to see the two of them for a little while in broken, pixelated images.

After that John called me (perfect timing actually) and we chatted for a little while, which was nice. Then I went and checked the mail and the package he had sent me was here, so I opened it right there - a shirt with wings printed on the back! So cute! :D

Then I went downstairs to go to bowling class, and I got two strikes and three spares, yay! I got a 120, my best score yet this semester. Then I just hung around and chatted with Mrs. Rotenberry for a while because she's just awesome. I told her my dad was supposed to be coming soon and she suggested that he come and bowl before I even told her that that had been my plan all along, lol. But I love her, she's always so vibrant and excited, you can't be in a bad mood around her.

Then I came back to the room just as Alex, Kristin and Janille were headed out, so I got online and read my birthday emails and replied to them, and read the card that Alex (my roommate) had left on my desk. Then the three of them came back and gave me a box of cereal and jar of salsa, which I just thought was the sweetest thing. Honestly. :) Then they left to go eat dinner while I stayed and got on Skype with mom (which worked very well, so I wonder why Skype doesn't like Grandma and Grandpa. It worked great at the very beginning! Why is it suddenly going all funky on us??? Not fair...) and she and Elisa watched me open the presents they sent me. Such a good selection of stuff, all made me feel really special. ^_^

Then I wrote little Thank You cards for my friends here and when they got back from dinner I gave them the cards. Now Alex is out running errands so I'm here typing away and enjoying myself and thinking about what it means to be 20 -- along with astrophysics and the nature of the universe and how many licks it takes to get to the center of a vegan tootsie pop. ;P

Anyway, I've really enjoyed the day, and tomorrow is Friday (yay!) and looks like a promising day as well. I'm going to be pretty busy because I've got two tests to study for (Bible and Astronomy) a slam poem to write, a critical analysis to write of a poem I haven't picked out yet, a chapter on Deconstructionist Criticism to read so I can get started on a group project, and a Bible project about poetry and prophecy that I'd like to get a bit more along with, though since it isn't due until November (and hasn't actually been assigned yet) it's a little farther down on my priorities list, but I've also got a Disney movie night tomorrow with the other girls and a Summit lecture to go to Sunday night. Wow, that sounds like a lot! O_O Hm, guess I'd better get started. Well, I've already started, I guess I mean I better keep on going with it all. Yeah, that sounds good.

Love you all!!!!

20 = 1/5 of a Century

So I’ve made it to this point of my life, an age where the immaturities and dramas of adolescence are supposed to just fall away like a fashion trend left behind in a passing decade, scoffed for its unenlightened taste but remembered for the endearing qualities that captured the time in an enjoyable memory. I’ve reached a time where it feels like I should move on to bigger better things, where I should step out of the mindsets holding me back and strap on the new adventure-seeking boots and rugged jackets ready to take the abuse of a more sinister age-group that will no longer be willing to look at me as just another naïve silly teenager. I’ve reached a new terrain on this path to the peak of the moutain, the ground is shifting as the road gets higher and the air gets thinner, but the sun is shining brighter and closer than ever.

Admittedly I didn’t wake up this morning with fairy dust or cosmic sparkles or confetti swooshing from the air to the sound of horns and trumpets. It has basically been a normal day besides the abundant “Happy Birthday” messages of different mediums reaching me throughout the day – texts, emails, writing on the dry erase board on my door, cards both online and in the mail, gifts and packages, and phone calls. But I didn’t hear an internal pop at the magic hour when my time on earth had rolled over from 19.9 to 20 years and the annual radio turned on. I just woke up and knew. I had to make a conscious decision to acknowledge that yes, this is the twenty-first September 17th I have ever lived through, which means this is the completion of my twentieth year on earth. I have to decide that I want to change because Nature isn’t going to make that decision for me. It can biologically push me forward down the one-way street of Time, but ultimately it is up to me to say I am going to change, I am going to be different from now on! Technically I could say this at any point I wanted, but birthdays are a much more symbolic moment. As of now I have officially passed through the teenage phase and into the young adult phase of life. This is supposed to be the time when life starts getting real, when I am supposed to start taking responsibility for myself, to learn things about the outside world, how it works, what it takes to survive on my own, when to be wary of things that look too good to be true, when to jump on the right opportunities, and so on. Of course, it is always good to have these kinds of discernment, but it is much more expected of someone who has reached a certain age and more unforgivable if they haven’t. To be honest, I would rather be turning fifty right now, an age I consider wise, rich in knowledge and experience, and full of joy for having lived long enough to really outgrow all the layers of immaturity without losing a childlike joy for life itself, and at the same time growing mature enough to fall deeply in love with God and yet having the wisdom to know that you are still a child in His eyes. Life is full of oxymoronic dichotomies. Grow older in years to realize how childlike you are in the face of God. I feel so ready to hopscotch through life, experience everything at once, read the end of the book before taking the journey of the story. I want it all! And I want it all now! I want to know how my grandparents feel when they wake up every day knowing they have come this far. I want to know what it is like to watch the sun rise over the tops of mountains while sipping tea in a fertile green hillside. I want to know what it’s like to look in a mirror, see wrinkles that have been companions for decades, and smile at the sight of them. I want to know what it’s like to watch gray hair turn whiter every day. I want to know what it’s like to reach a point where I appreciate age so much I wouldn’t trade it for youth, because the years I’ve lived have filled me with too much joy to give up. I’m so ready to be there. But it looks like I still have to keep going at the same rate, because in order to get there, I have to take the ride first. But to get there, I have to live a life that I can look back on and smile. And to live that kind of life, I have to change my attitude. And what better time to start than now, today, on a birthday train that picks me up at Teenager Lane and drops me off at Twenty-Something Street? Life hasn’t stopped yet, it just keeps taking me to new places, to new selves to try on, to new people to meet. God, take me by the hand, pull me in close, whisper in my ear something encouraging, and lead me away. I’m willing, and I trust You.

Florida and Back Too Quickly

So I realize I am a little behind in writing about this, but I dyed my hair last Wednesday before my trip to Florida. When mom and I were at Walgreens we found an awesome red that was on clearance for 2.59 instead of 10, so how could I resist? She colored my hair for me so it looked like this:

And then we got to Florida and I went with my grandpa to get both of our hair cut, and so now it looks like this:

I love it this length, love it love it love it! And I think I make a pretty good red hed if I do say so myself. :)

Well the time at my grandparents' house was awesome. My mom, sister and I pretty much just relaxed the whole time, we got to see a lot of family, swam in the pool, and best of all got to be with grandma and grandpa for over a week! Now that I am back home it feels like it never happened, like it was all a dream. It went by too fast. I miss them already.

Well, other than having an amazing time with my grandparents, and my hair, not much to say at the moment. Except for HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, DAD!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!

^_^

Update on Life

So I really haven’t been up to anything much since my last post. I’ve been reading, writing, doing random things online, enjoying time by myself and time with my mom and sister, thinking about things, and since Tuesday night, playing Sims 3 that my sister got. Thursday was my sister’s last day of high school, so she’s a junior now. Freaky. Hard to believe really. But it also means that I won’t be home alone anymore, so that’s kind of a bummer, lol. I play the Sims when she’s not home so that way I’m not taking away from her time to play. Then again, what I mostly like about the Sims is the creating part: I love to design the characters and their houses, after that all I’m interested in is making them master each skill. My sister is the one who actually like to make them live lives, get married, have jobs, have kids, meet people and hang out, that kind of thing. My characters are always loners who focus solely on master one skill at a time by being hermits in their own houses. So really, it’s more interesting to watch Elisa play her characters than play mine. I also know that I have an addicted personality so if I start playing, I’ll spend the whole day on it, or more than a day, which is why I try to avoid games in the first place. I stayed up all night for two nights playing Sims 3 when Elisa first got it, after that she didn’t want me playing at night anymore because the computer is in her room and it makes it hard for her to sleep, even when it’s muted. But I think the novelty is wearing off now so I can just watch her play while I read and write now.
Next week my mom, sister and I are going to go to Florida to spend the week with my grandparents (yay!!!). It’s been a while since we last saw them, and this way mom can have a week of vacation. I love my grandparents, so I’m really excited about going to see them, and the last few times I’ve spoken to grandma she’s sounded pretty good, so hopefully she’ll be feeling well while we’re down there. Plus I’m looking forward to hanging out with my grandpa, going grocery shopping and to Sam’s and walking and that kind of thing. Mom also thought it would be fun to go to Disney World one day and ride the new Harry Potter ride (roller coaster?), so that should be fun. I do love roller coasters. ^_^
Also, Friday (yesterday) was my dad’s birthday, so here’s a big shout out to him:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know he had a good one because he’s been in California for a week or so with his family, and that’s one of his favorite places to be. I’d really like to go up there again sometime and see everybody. I don’t see them nearly as much as I’d like. I love my Wyrick family, they’re amazing people, so sweet and thoughtful and caring and loving. It’s the kind of family that if everyone had it, the world would be a better place. :)
I don’t have any big plans for this week, so I guess I’ll just keep doing what I’ve been doing, which is fine with me. I definitely hope to see my dad soon when he gets back on the 8th, and then on Saturday the 13th it’s off to Florida. I can’t wait to see you, Grandpa!!!! I love you!!!
Hope you are all doing well and enjoying life. Until next time!

Funny Random Article

Haven't been up to much lately. My pastor (who is an avid reader and studier) leant me a book from his library at church that has been recommended to me by a few people - The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis - so I've been reading that, pieces of the Bible, "watching" some TV shows my mom owns (I play the episodes while I hang out in the house because it makes me feel like I'm not alone in the house). Just now I came across the short article on Groovy Vegetarian and thought it was funny enough to share. Other than that, nothing big or interesting to report, just having a nice relaxing time at home. ^_^
http://www.groovyvegetarian.com/2009/05/20/top-unexpected-dietary-habits/

February 2009

So, it looks like it has been another whole month since my last post. I'll do a brief summary of things because I can't honestly say that anything big and fabulous has happened.

Well, except for this one thing....

DAD IS HERE!!!!!!!!!!!
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*dances around the room*
I'm so happy, this is the first time he's been here since Welcome Week when I first moved in, and I love having him here! He got here Thursday night and we had dinner in the Bean (I'm glad I can save him the trouble of buying food while he's here) and then he came up to my dorm because Thursday nights are open house so that boys and girls can visit each others' rooms. So that was GREAT. And then Friday we had lunch together after my one class and then we hung out in his hotel room all afternoon. Then we came back, had dinner at the Bean (take out actually) and then went to see a small student art gallery which had some neat pieces. Then we went back to his hotel where we hung out even more, watched a movie, and I spent the night. So now it is almost Friday afternoon and dad is still asleep (poor guy, I always feel so bad for him, because I know he is seriously sleep deprived, even more than all the college students I go to class with!!!!). I am just so excited that he is here, I'm so blessed to have a dad that is willing - more than willing - to come out here just to spend time with me. I've been introducing him to all my friends because I just want everyone to know him and know that my dad came all the way out here just to see me! I feel so special, but then again my dad always makes me feel special. ^_^

Other than that, this week coming up is the week before Spring Break, which is so weird, because it does not feel like the semester has lasted long enough for it to be time for Spring Break. But hey, whatever. I'm planning on staying here so I can get some work done for classes. Hopefully I will get to stay in my dorm this time unlike during Thanksgiving when I had to move over to a different dorm building. That was inconvenient. Oh well, we'll see. I probably would have gone home if my Spring Break had lined up with Elisa's Spring Break, but hers is the week after mine, so I'd be home alone most of the time if I went back, and I'd rather just stay here if that's the case. I can stay focused rather than being home and being annoyed by the dogs and all of that. I like how clean it is here.

I have a test in Lifetime Wellness on Monday, which will hopefully be ok. I have decided officially that I never want to take another night class again. I'm glad I'm taking it for Lifetime Wellness, but if I had to sit in a classroom for three hours for any other subject... oh goodness, no, I couldn't take that. But I am happy to have the experience so that I can be sure. And besides, I like having my nights to myself.

I'm really looking forward to my next classes that I am going to be taking. I'm hoping to take a couple classes over Old Testament books along with my English classes. I'm planning to take some writing workshop classes and of course more time period reading classes. I'm probably going to have to take an Advanced Composition class which is a lot about grammar and syntax and all that, which is kind of intimidating since English grammar is so malleable, but hey, whatever. If I have to take it, I'll take it.

As for this semester, I really like it. My schedule is great because it gives me the opportunity to have dad be here on Thursdays without worrying about being busy with classes on Friday. It's great! It really is so nice to have a three-day weekend every week, since I don't think of going to my Acts to Revelation class as a burden. I enjoy that class so much, I really look forward to it. Plus my teacher/professor/whatever is the appropriate term, reminds me a lot of my Grandpa (Singletary) so that's nice. And so far I am doing well. Good grades and all that. Hopefully I can keep it up and keep my 4.0GPA, and keep my scholarship, God willing and with His help, as always.

I'll be happy when my Walking for Fitness class is over. We are required to take three "activity" courses here at ACU and I chose Walking because that seemed simple enough. And it is, it's very simple and straightforward, but man, I've always loved walking, and I still do, but when we're out there walking 4 mlles at high noon, it's like, seriously? Do we really need to be doing this? Oh well, I brought it on myself by signing up for the noon class, but it's worth it to be done with my day by 1. Very worth it. I'm hoping to do Bowling next semester, which is an indoor class, yes! ^_^

Let's see, what else? Oh, I have made an educated guess about a phenomenon that happened to me last semester. When I first got to college I was staying up late every night, like midnight or later, without fail, without even trying. It just happened. Now, ever since I got back from Christmas, I have been going to bed at around 10, like back in high school. Now, I thought I was staying up late because that was the natural thing to do in college, or something, but I am guessing that it happened because of all the diet Dr. Pepper I drank last semester. Before college I didn't really drink much soda (which of course, if I did, was always diet), but when I got here it was so readily available that I started drinking it a lot. And I mean, a lot. Like, I would drink it without ever having any water (I look back on that now and think, yuk! How could I do that?). I drank it so much, that I am guessing that caffeine in it kept me up later than I had ever imagined I could stay up, every night. This semester, I haven't had a single soda. I gave it up, mostly because the first day I got back I got thirsty and after I drank one soda, I was still thirsty, but not only that, I couldn't finish the one I had. I drank half of it and had to stop, I just didn't like it, and I was soooo thirsty. And that was when I decided not to waste my time or Bean Bucks (food money at ACU) on soda. And ever since, I have been going to bed at around 10 every night, and I like it. I think I'm sleeping better overall, too, which is a plus. Of course I get a few nights every now and then where I'm just tossing and can't seem to sleep for more than an hour and a half, but those are few and far between. So anyway, that's my guess, the caffeine kept me up.

Hm, well, I can't think of anything else, so, until I do, good-bye! Love you all! And as Paul would say,
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. (Philippians 4:23)

2009 Review

Ok, so I realize it has been over a month since I posted anything, so let me see if I can come up with something informative and brilliant to put up.

First of all, I found a thing on this blog site that lets me add email addresses to send notices that I have updated my blog, so hopefully that works. To those whose email I added, let me know if you got a notice.

Second, I am loving my semester right now. Here are my classes:
Honors Acts to Revelation
World Religion
World Liturature
Honors Seminar in the Arts
Lifetime and Wellness (kind of like a high school health class that teaches the basics of how to stay healthy your whole life)
Walking for Fitness (we are required to take 3 activity courses to graduate, and this is my first)

It is more reading than I had to do last semester, but it seems like less stress or work, mostly because I am not in my Cornerstone class that required the volunteer servive and the 15 oage research paper/project. Plus, I like the reading we are doing. I do have outside assignments for my Seminar in the Arts class: I have to go to five different artistic presentations in the community and then write 2-3 page response papers on each one. My teacher in that class has a habit of saying he wants us to say something "brilliant" for everything. That's his only criteria. Hopefully I can come up with brilliance at his standard.

I am also happy that I am not working this semester. It really takes off a lot of stress involving time management. I was thinking of applying to be a Resident Assistant, but I don't want to feel like I am torn between school and work. Besides, if I stay focused on school and do well I will graduate a semester early at least so I don't have to worry about getting money to pay for four whole years, just three and a half. The sooner I get out the less I have to pay for school, and the better I am able to do in school, the sooner I get out.

I have decided that I will look to get a "practical" job in publishing or something of that nature while I continue to aspire to write novels. That will give me something to tell people when they ask me what I plan on doing with my degree. It's funny that 95% of people assume I want to teach when I tell them I am an English major. I never would have put those two together. To me, if you are an English major, you like to read and write, so therefore you must want to write. There are teaching and education majors for people who want to teach. But I guess that's just my own way of thinking. *shrug*

I also really like that in my World Religions class we don't take quizzes over the chapters like is normally done in other classes. It takes a lot of pressure off and lets me actually enjoy what I am reading without worrying "OMG what am I supposed to know from all of this? What's he going to ask me about on the quiz???" I appreciate that. And also I am pretty sure I am the only Freshman in the class, because it is a class for Juniors and Seniors, but because of all the credit hours I have I am allowed to take it (SCORE!).

The ice days we got on Tuesday and Wednesday were nice. The weather was amazing on Wednesday, absolutely beautiful with all the white everywhere. Tuesday was more irritating and inconvenient since every car was frozen over and unable to go anywhere, but other than that it was nice to be inside in the warmth and know that it was in the low 20s outside. Then it was nice to go outside for a while, freeze, then come back inside to melt. I really liked that part.

I really hope to get a summer job. I don't have anything specific in mind, but of course ideally I would like something that pays well (not that I am holding any high expectations on that one). I also don't think I would mind if I had a night job like at Walmart or Kroger, during the time when there is almost nobody there, and be the one who restocks and organizes the items on shelves. OMG that would be wonderful... Getting paid to organize things, ah! Dream come true!

And just FYI, I am writing this blog on the Dell MINI laptop that I rented from our school library, so if there are any errors in this entry it is because my hands are cramped together over this tiny and adorable keyboard. I love this thing, it is so cute, but I think I will stick with something "normal" sized. Which reminds me, in our Campus Store they have the Mac section where you can play with every kind of Mac available, and last weekend I was in there using the MacBook Pro. Oh my goodness, that thing was amazing. I probably wouldn't buy one even if I had the 2000 dollars because I could use that money for something more necessary but my goodness, it was wonderful. I would love to just have one, you know? The material it was made of is great because you don't get hand oil all over it when you touch it, which I appreciate. I hate glossy sleek technology items that immediately get all smudgy when you touch them. I like things to keep looking new and clean for a long time.

Well, I think that is enough for now. I hope the email notice thing works so that everyone can see when I put up a new post. I love you all and hope your January 2009 was a great introduction into the new year. Much love!!!!

Kaleigh