History in the Making!

Two momentous things happened today! I learned how to turn a spindle on a lathe, and got my licence 4 years after I turned 16. Take a guess which was my favorite...

Daniel and I drove out to the country to visit his aunt and uncle. After showing me around the adorable cabin and Uncle Dave's wood shop, Uncle Dave taught me how to turn a spindle. I got the hang of it pretty quickly, and enjoyed making various cuts with different tools and experimenting to see what I could come up with. He's promised that another time we'll learn to make a bowl together.

Daniel drove me home in time for my appointment with the DMV. My hands were sweating so much they stuck to the steering wheel. I passed rather nicely; but as a point of pride, wished I could've done better.

Free Food for Sitting in a Car

There's an event going on on the campus green right now: some Pontiac dealer is having a promo. I went down to see it because I heard about free hot dogs. But to get the free hot dog, one had to stop at some booths and complete the activity. I chose the photo booth, where I sat in a sweet yellow convertible.

Homecoming Princess?

I was nominated to Homecoming Court here at KSU! After submitting an application, I had a short interview. After talking about my faith in God several times in the interview, I thought I would just be lucky getting on the court! But now that I made it to the court, I am campaigning
win Princess. Here at KSU, we have a winner from each class, and thus a name for each of the winners. Only the seniors are King and Queen.

I never thought I would say this, but I want these crocs: http://www.surfanddirt.com/nofear/dept.asp?s_id=1&dept_name=Alice+Crocs+Shoes&dept_id=6357&WT.svl=deptnav2

Most of the crocs are hideous, and I've sworn never to wear those. Did you know they made furry croc boots? Yep, fur on the top connected to a regular croc shoe without the ventilation holes.

Hopechest

I am cleaning out my hopechest tonight. It brings back such a flood of memories! I started it when I was twelve with the purchase of a rolling pin for twelve dollars.

Happily, most of it I still love and it makes me smile remembering when or how I got it; and the girlish hopes I infused that purchase with. Other things I don't really care for much anymore, yet they also have strong memories attached that I cannot bear to part with it. Like some of my cow stuff: I still think its cute, but I no longer dream of decorating my house with Holstein dairy cows. I still keep it (even when some cows look angry) because that was such a big part of my life at one point. The rest of it is going in the garage sale.

Les Mis at the Fox

Daniel gave me tickets to see Les Miserables at the Fox for my birthday. I love Les Mis, and I love the Fox.

Keon was given the opportunity to operate the original elevator

Rebellion Against Egalitarianism

It bugs me that such a small group of people can control the whole world. So, I take every opportunity to rebel. I wore a bridal pedicoat under a long muslin skirt (that I made) to school today. Not only was it a rebellion against fashion designers, but it was a celebration of International [wear a] Dress Week

Twenty

"Miss Stacy took all us girls who are in our teens down to the brook last Wednesday, and talked to us about it. She said we couldn't be too careful what habits we formed and what ideals we acquired in our teens, because by the time we were twenty our characters would be developed and the foundation laid for our whole future life. And she said if the foundation was shaky we could never build anything really worth while on it. Diana and I talked the matter over coming home from school. We felt extremely solemn, Marilla. And we decided that we would try to be very careful indeed and form respectable habits and learn all we could and be as sensible as possible, so that by the time we were twenty our characters would be properly developed. It's perfectly appalling to think of being twenty, Marilla. It sounds so fearfully old and grown up."

"To think that this is my twentieth birthday, and that I've left my teens behind me forever," said Anne, who was curled up on the hearth-rug with Rusty in her lap, to Aunt Jamesina who was reading in her pet chair(...)
"I suppose you feel kind of, sorry" said Aunt Jamesina. "The teens are such a nice part of life. I'm glad I've never gone out of them myself."
Anne laughed.
"(...)Yes, I'm sorry, and a little dissatisfied as well. Miss Stacy told me long ago that by the time I was twenty my character would be formed, for good or evil. I don't feel that it's what it should be. It's full of flaws."
"So's everybody's," said Aunt Jamesina cheerfully. "Mine's cracked in a hundred places. Your Miss Stacy likely meant that when you are twenty your character would have got its permanent bent in one direction or 'tother, and would go on developing in that line. Don't worry over it, Anne. Do your duty by God and your neighbor and yourself, and have a good time. That's my philosophy and it's always worked pretty well."

Happy Birthday to Me! (and contest)

Head over to my other blog, gretascraftiness.blogspot.com and leave a comment to enter a drawing to win an original art piece.

My Very Unusual Class

Classes just started for me here at KSU, its my second day of classes, so professors are still introducing themselves and going over the syllabus. I had World Civilizations this morning. I found a spot near the front, and watched as people kept pouring in. Soon there were more people then seats. That's odd, I thought, but ignored it as I chatted with my neighbor. She mentioned looking forward to learning about political science, which startled me; but  knew I was in the right class, I had checked the room number this morning.

Then in walked a decidedly non-Asian professor (my history prof has an Asian name) and started writing Political Science 1101, Dr. McKelvy on the board. Soon we discovered that there were three classes all assigned to the same room at the same time: Political Science, Criminal Justice, and World Civilizations. One person facetiously suggested that we combine all three classes; which got a laugh out of the room, while the professors went to their department heads to figure out the mix-up.

We go the room, and as soon as the rest of the students had filed out, we started class, forty-five minutes late. Dr. Jhaung was explaining his grading policy when a strobe light flashed. Annoyed, I look around for the person with a camera. The it flashed again. Maybe the lights were flickering? In the quizzical hush that followed, I noticed the alarm strobes mounted on the wall near the Power Point screen. A canned voice issued obscure warnings as we filed past our resigned professor. Class had lasted five minutes.

National Anthem

I never have liked our national anthem. Maybe it was because I was still learning it during the '96 Olympics, and the tv stations loved to focus on then president Clinton who always had fake tears in his eyes. I never liked that president.

But I'm able to tolerate it better now that so many Americans are winning gold...

Setting the Record Straight

I'm sorry it sounded like I was trying to argue with my brother, but all I was trying to do was to reasonably explain how to build a blanket house. He was the one that went stomping off to his room. Why didn't you scold him instead of me?

No, I really wasn't trying to tattle (besides, I wasn't the tattler...someone else was), all I was trying to do was get recognition for my deduction skills. See, our game required that we place a stick where the front of our roller blades ended up, and the person closest to the wall won. David placed the stick right next to the wall trying to claim victory, but you see, he didn't account for a foot being there.

I know we never defined jacket, but I always assumed we were talking about a blazer. I don't like blazers, though you are certain you can find one I like. The jacket I tried on and liked was not a blazer. Ergo, you haven't won yet.



(P.S. This is a very tongue-in-cheek post.)

Organization

I have discovered that when I organize, I enjoy it more and thus make more of an effort to stay organized when I like the tools. Even when I have to pay extra for them.

Clothes to Get Rid Of

I'm having a hard time getting rid of these shirts, though I never wear them. So Christine and I set up a "foster care" system. She gets to borrow them, with the possibility of adopting. :)

This black one really isn't my style, more Christine's. But I love the collar embroidery! I bought it in eighth grade...time to let it go?

I keep hearing red is one of my colors, so I bought this shirt at the thrift store because of the style, and the color. But I am more of a pink and blue person, which don't go with red. Incidentaly, I have more red shirts then any other color! Still not sure I can let this one go.The picture really doesn't do the fabric justice. Chinese blouses aren't my favorite style, but I loved the fabric and tried to find a pattern that would go with it. Perhaps I should have just have made something I'd wear more often. The problem with this one; the facing is uncomfortable. Perhaps it will go into the mending pile rather then the give away.

So, Christine, it looks like you will only be getting one shirt after all.

Benefits of Working at a Christian Bookstore

"Holy, holy are you Lord God Almighty! Worthy is the Lamb! You are holy! You are holy!"

Most of the time, the music is background noise. Sometimes my subconscious pays enough attention to it to get it stuck in my head later. Most of the music I do not like, but can tolerate. Some I downright detest. But now and then, a song will resonate with what I have been thinking about, and I will stop right there and have a worship moment. (If there are no customers in the store) I'll dance, sing at the top of my lungs, raise my hands, and generally make a fool of myself for God to the amusement of my co-workers.

I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” ~Psalm 91:2

Bible verses are on everything. As if it can't be Christian without a Bible verse. Maybe we should tattoo them on our babies! Which, incedentially, we have books arguing both for and against Christians getting tattos. I get tired of seeing the same verses all the time, Rise up on wings like eagles, for I know the plans I have for you, and this is the day the Lord has made are the most popular (after that comes the serenity prayer [bleh!!!!!]). But once again, as with the music, God will sometimes bring a verse to my attention that is the very verse I needed at that moment.

In Control

Yesterday, I had a really bad cold. My throat was sore and swollen, so much I had a hard time breathing (with my mouth open). I was very congested, and on top of that, I was so weak, I could hardly move. Today I woke up feeling so much better. Everything is almost gone. I still am a little congested, and my throat is slightest bit swollen. I still have fits of weakness. But I am well enough to go see the fireworks.

Since I am still sick, my family won't let me touch food. They fill my plate at each meal, and between times, I have to ask for food or something to drink, and wait while they get it on their own time. They always give me too much food, especially of the foods I don't like. Or the wrong end of the meat. Or not the right kind of tea. I can't sneak into the kitchen and grab a bite to eat. If I asked, Mom would tell me the next meal is coming soon (though its actually hours away).

I am also germaphobic at times, have (unconfirmed) low blood sugar, inconsistent, stubborn, stubornly opinionated, afraid to make a choice (at times), I have lied, I have cheated on school work, I have no concept of numbers. I am a flawed person loved tremendously and unconditionally.

Dinner

Last night was the dinner that I was making all the food for. We ended up having SEVEN different dishes for three people!

Main dish was (a small dish of) Poppy Seed Chicken which turned out good even though I didn't have all the ingredients and had to substitue again. Christine brought Caesar salad and garlic bread, Daniel made brouchette. The other side dishes were cheesey mashed potatoes (made from at least 10 potatoes!), pasta salad, and the apple sauce that I rescued from the Chilled Apple Soup.

It was the oddest dinner for me, but Christine and Daniel seemed to enjoy it :)

Cooking

A couple friends and I (including Daniel, of course!) are going to a cheap movie tomorrow, and then coming over here for dinner. I really don't know how many will be able to stay for dinner; and since there is a variety of taste buds among those coming, I decided to make lots of things.

I popped on a pretty vintage-y apron, turned on Sinatra, and pureed, spiced, and tasted to my heart's content. First off was the Chilled Apple Soup I had posted on here. Well...I didn't have all the ingredients, so I subsituted things. And I forgot to buy 6 apples...I only bought 3. So I had to halve the recipie, too. Cranberry raspberry juice for apple juice, 2% milk for cream, and more cranberry juice for wine. Once I had it all made, it didn't taste very good: like a poorly made apple sauce. So I threw in some Redi-Whip. And some carmel sauce. perhaps not what they had in mind, but I can eat it now :) I'm not sure if I'm going to make it again ever, but I enjoyed the expeirence.

Next came pasta salad (new reciepe): again, I didn't all the ingredients, so I improvised. It turned out a lot better then the apple soup! Besides the pasta, it has salami, sundried tomatoes (the kind packaged in olive oil), and cucumber. The dressing is olive oil and red wine vinegar and basalmic vinegar. I used a little bit of the tomato's oil. it turned out very tasty, and I have to keep myself from eating it all for lunch today!

Last of all, I made real mashed potatoes. I'm used to the freeze-dried potato flakes, but Mum bought two large bags of potatoes. so I peeled, cut and boiled them. We have a potato masher, but I wanted to save time: I pulled out the imersion blender. My recipie warned me that to much whipping could turn them to glue...blenders cause too much whipping. I yanked the blender out of the pan, forgetting to let go of the button. OOOPS! Potato splattered everywhere! Even my hair! and that glutenous blob...after it got tasted, was spit straight into the sink!

Daniel wants to help me cook, so tomorrow before the movie, we'll make the Poppyseed chicken, and when we get home, I'll pop a vegtable in the microwave.

We'll have anywhere from 3-7 (unless people invite others!) for dinner tomorrow.

Covert Agents

After last post, I'm sure you all are dying to hear the story. Sunday evening, Daniel asked Christine and I to meet him at Publix. We arrived first, and watched as Daniel pulled in, and walked into the store without seeing us. Christine and I trailed him, quickly dashing from end cap to end cap, flattening ourselves against the shelves and ducking whenever Daniel turned toward us. He called me, adn so we had to dash down an aisle so he wouldn't hear my phone ringing. But then we had a problem! He promised to meet us outside, yet he was at the checkout line by the doors! We crept along one tall-ish shelf, and made a mad dash for the doors as he stepped up to the counter to pay.

Week In Review

Week's Weather: Hot and sunny with a wee bit of rain sometimes

Sunday Sermon: "The Missional Church" John 15:7-14

Life lessons: Playing covert agents in public is fun!

Favorite Meal: Hotdogs and chili

Treasured Moment(s): Walking in the pasture with Daniel, Playing Mission Impossible in Publix, Singing and dancing in the car to "Be a Man" from Mulan

In the News-National: have no clue

In the News-Local: have no clue

In the News-Personal: Christine and I "stalked" Daniel in Publix...sneaking around like we were in Mission Impossible

Things I Read: I Heart Bloomburg by Melody Carlson, To Catch a Thief Series

Talked With: Daniel, Christine, Gregory, and Norman

Places We Went: church, hiking through the woods

Budget Savers: Raviolli for $1 a can

Budget Busters: none!

Blessings: Daniel

Challenges: how to relieve bordeom and keep Christine from mooping. Or was it mopping? :)

Accomplishments: baked cookies, manipulated Norman and Gregory :), figured out how to use the clone tool in Photoshop

Summer Soups to Try

Chilled Apple Soup

2 c apple juice
1/2 c sugar
1 T lemon juice
4 sticks of cinnamon
6 Granny Smith apples, cored, peeled, and cut into wedges
1 c whipping cream
3 T white wine (optional: can add more apple juice instead)

Combine all the ingredients except the cream and wine in a sauce pan. Bring to a boil. Remove the cinnamon sticks. Puree. Stri in the cream and wine and cill before serving.

Two Melon Spoup

3 c cubed cantalope
1/4 c powdered sugar
2 T lime juice
3 c cubed honeydew

Combine one type of melon and half of the other ingredients in a blender. Puree. Chill. Repeat with the other melon. When ready to serve, ladle each flavor into one bowl; keep them seperate as possible. (you should have a bowl with green on one side and orange on the other.)

Gracefulness Strikes Again

Somehow I got dye on some favorite clothes, though I was never wearing them while I was dyeing. Oh the joy of anxiously trying to figure out ways to get the dye out!

Ouchie

I burned myself in welding, using a grinder. I did not direct the stream of metal away from my body, so I got abraised and burned at the same time. It covers about 30 inches and is about 2 inches wide.

To Microwave a Peep...

I want.

Countertop Shuffleboard

It was all Daniel's idea...




Draw the shuffleboard on the counter top with a pencil, and then use MM's for pucks.

Taxes and Numbers

The feeling is mutual. Numbers and I are not friends. I do not like being coerced to spend money, I do not like taxes, I do not phone numbers, I do not even like phones. I do not like math. I do not like Monopoly. I do not like games about achieving levels or ranks (counted with numbers) and amassing money.

I do not like watching my bank acount dip lower, and lower, and lower, and lower.

I do not like it, Sam I am.

My Lily Car

No...I don't have a new car. I don't even have a car. Rather, I am looking for a car; preferably one for $1000. I've decided to pray for one and trust God to provide. If anyone knows about a car for sale in that neighborhood, let me know! Thanks!

And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! Luke :1225-28 (read that whole passage...its great!)

CVS Woes

I was supposed to get my first xtra care bucks tonight, and was very excited! I get store credit back on things I buy??? Sweet! But, alas, the Female Noren Curse struck again. The curse is that anything that happens that is really wierd and never happens to anyone else, happens to us (usually my mom).

Today, after I carefully counted my merchandise and found only items that would bring my ECB's, and metally tallied that against my cash, the ECB's didn't print! I called the customer service line, and after much number pressing, and listening to the menu several times to decide which option I actually wanted, it was discovered that my new card had deactivated on its own!

Apparently, they were able to work it out, and I'm not losing my trophy: my fist ECB's. They will print out next time I go to the store.

The recipies

I made all the recipies up!

Brie Fondue

3 wedges of cheese

1/4 c butter

some milk

Melt together until smooth. (It will want to seperate, so you will have to stir it a little when its onthe fondue pot)

Chocolate Fondue

2 bags of Publix milk chocolate chips

some milk

Melt together. If you have to much milk, you can pour it off. It makes a yummy hot chocolate :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

I had a very memorable Valentine's Day!

1st: It was the the first time Daniel and I got to celebrate together

2nd: It was the first time I really got to celebrate with someone besides my family

3rd: Christine and I made a fondue dinner for the boys (that was our Valentine's Day gift to them)

4th: I have a broken nose

Grab a cup of tea, sit back in a comfy chair, and hang on. This is going to be a story!

Tuesday, two days before Valentine's Day, Daniel and I were enjoying a lovely walk on campus after classes were finished. Somehow, my nose got in the way of his elbow (it was a pure accident). I swallowed back the pain, and begged my nose not to bleed. It bleeds very easily-if someone just looks at it wrong, or if I am reading a book it does not like, it will start gushing. Now thats helpful if I am trying to get out of yard work, but not so helpful when one's beau already feels awful for hitting you (even though it was an accident).

By Wensday, I was pretty well convinced that my nose was broken. It hurt, and I could feel something that felt like a break at the bride of my nose. But I had school, and I had to work. I figured I could go to the doctor on Friday (today). Until I remembered that school has a clinic on campus. Christine, Sarah, Daniel, and I traipsed over there. Apparently, my story got around the clicnic...I could here the nurses talking about it!

They strongly reccomended that I go to the urgent care, since they could do nothing for me. Christine had to go to class, but Daniel and Sarah were able to drive me to an urgent care near school. They took three x-rays of my nose, and didn't see any sign of a break. But wait! Your'e thinking, she said she has a broken nose, not she thought she had a broken nose!

Yup! I think the doctor was wrong. He himself said that he's not competent in reading x-rays, and I think he was just looking for a serious break. Possibly, the break is so small, it didn't even show up on the x-ray. I can feel something. On the bridge of my nose, right where the bone and cartiledge meet, I can feel a small crack or valley. I don't think it went the whole way through the bone. My theory: as the cartiledge was shoved up, it chipped the very edge of the bone. If you ever look at skulls, you can see that that bone where they meet is very thin.

Christine and I got to rush home to finish preparing the dinner, which turned out delicious! We had a brie and a chocolate fondue. Bread and steak went with the cheese, and strawberries and cookies with the chocolate. The chocolate was averyone's favorite!

Purity

I bought myself a purity ring today. Some people love them, some people find them a silly idea. And though its not a magic tailsman thats going to keep me from wrongdoing, I liked the idea of showing what I believe. Just like wearing a cross necklace. Aparently, one is supposed to wear it on the left ring finger, but I've always wanted a thumb ring, so I bought one big enough to wear there. I like my rings (when I wear them) on my thumb and pinkie...odd :)

It isn't an ostentatious ring, and its not flaunting anything; it's just a simple silver band with the word purity written in script. It's actually not easy to see, but I didn't want anything flashy. I am rather pleased with my purchase!

I have found that it is fun to make noise tapping it on different surfaces :D

God's Promises

There are a couple different Bible verses that seem to mark different stages of my life.

Everything works out for the good of those who love Him.
My sophomore year, Matt asked me to befriend Christine. I was not excited about the prospect. At the time, I was trying very hard to be popular, and since Christine wasn't popular, I was afraid it would hurt my chances of becoming popular. But, I knew Matt would be watching to see how I was getting on. I had to make an effort. Christine and l have been best friends ever since.

As a senior, I started as an assistant prayer group for the 6th grade girls. I was reading Paul’s charge that single woman should concern themselves with the work of the Lord, and I was eager to discover practical ways of accomplishing that. Every year, I've moved up with them. This is my third year, and my girls are now in 8th grade. I’ve also started a Sunday afternoon Bible study for them, too. Over the years I have learned so much from them. They are always so eager to pray; and we enjoy keeping each other accountable towards God.

About a year ago, I met my first boyfriend. Though I knew God was telling me no, I agreed to be in a relationship with him. It lasted 2 1/2 weeks. It devastated me. Yet, God's presence became very real to me. I had to rely completely on Him, just to get through each day. I took to heart the promises of the Psalmist:

I believe I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord, be strong, let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord.
&
Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Now, I’m not saying that there’s some trick to making God give me anything I want. But throughout my life, I have discovered that when God is my first love, His desires become my desires, and those are the desires He loves to grant.

Cambell Quote

In the wild, just because something looks cute and fuzzy doesn't mean it won't bite your head off!

Modesty

I was walking through a store the other day, with my friend, and as we passed the girls clothing section, we noticed how skimpy and revealing the clothes are. We were shocked. But then, I started wondering. If something is too immodest for a little girl, then wouldn't it be too immodest for someone older? If its too sexy for them, and entirely inapropriate, then wouldn't it be so, for me?

Regrets

She said she'd be back. I've been waiting for three years. I don't remember her name, but I see shadows of her face in other people. We prayed and cried together one night, back when I knew her name. I should've tried harder to find her phone number, should've tried harder to find out how God answered her desperate pleas.

I still pray for you.

Fractured English

quoted from a packet of chopsticks:

Welcome to Chinese Restaurant
please try your Nice Chinese Food With Chopsticks
the tradition typical of Chinese glorious history and cultural.