The Lovely Linda

• Linda helped me shop for things I'll need for Korea today. It was nice to have someone to shop with, and even better when that person is someone I love and needed to see before I leave. Afterwards, we went back to George and Linda's house and just talked for awhile. It was fantastic :)
• Just hung out with my mom and brothers this evening :) Also, I got a pang of "OMG I'm leaving in 3 days" while watching Parenthood. Nothing significant was happening, Mom was sleeping and Collin was working on homework. I've been trying not to be too sad and just get ready, but for that moment, it wasn't working.

Today's Bargain

• Had a very successful day of getting ready for Korea. First, I went to the bank and met this really peppy and helpful older woman banker named Betsy; she was great and answered all my questions. Then, it was on to the post office, where I sent chapstick to PP and figured out how much it is to send packages to me in Korea (~$50 for a 4-5 lb. package...save your pennies! Or send me really lightweight gifts). Next, I went to Corey's Bootery in search of hiking shoes - no shoes but 2 really cuts cats! So on to Lee's I went. I love them there. They helped me try on all kinds of hiking shoes and the guy who was assisting me gave me lots of great information. And I bought a winter hat and a super awesome towel. Then, I went to V&A Bootery and found some very nice Keens (on sale! For cheaper than online!). Finally, I stopped at Barnes & Noble to get a Korean language book. This was all great for 2 reasons: 1) People were excited for me about Korea. 2) I made purchases at local stores :)
• Then Ben helped me find some things among my boxes (and we found Sims!) while Dad made a yummy dinner.
• Finally, I hung out with my mom and kitties :)

Time Precious Time (Jan 29)

• Favorite moment today: We were praying in church (so my eyes were closed), and Robert says "Emmy, wake up!" Matt and I could not stop laughing through the rest of the prayer (silently, of course).
• Before the church service today, I went to Matt and Liz's Sunday school class. It's made up of mostly older people/couples, but it was really cool to be part of their conversation today (Time and Faith). And I met a woman who taught in Korea for 5 years! :)
• During church, we sang 3 songs that reminded me of camp: "Love the Lord Your God" (modern version, but still good), "Lord, You have Come to the Lakeshore" (which reminds me of the this year's Friday service, where Ryan sang it in Spanish), and "Lord of the Dance" (they didn't slow down during the 4th verse and no one danced, but one of my favorites ever) :)
• I had a time schedule for today, but it totally went out the window in all the best ways. After church, I played with Rachel before nap, scraped 6 inches of snow off my car, and ate some cake while watching an old Colbert Report with Matt and Liz before actually leaving. It was really relaxing to be able to spend time with them before I left. And we're making plans for when I come back, which is comforting. I love my family.
• I got to have a surprise visit with Lauren before going back to Kzoo. It was nice to see her one last time and hear about how winter drumline is going :)

Best For Last (Jan 28)

• Last Korea class - can't believe it! It was great learning new things from old scholars, I got to see Sam, and we all felt lots of love towards and from Dr. Koh (I'm really glad she prepared us so well and that I am back to having a positive relationship with her). It was great. Oh and Shelby and I decided that we are going to be the ones that bring the games :)
• There was an amazing sunset on the way to the Carrs. At one point, there was basically a bright pink beam straight into the air above the sun (which was on the horizon), reflecting pink onto the undersides of all the clouds. I tried to get a picture but it couldn't capture all the beauty.

"Have you ever stood at the sunset? With the sky yellow and red? Seen the clouds suspended like feather? Then I say, you've seen Jesus, my Lord..."

• Visit with my "family" in Holland. I loved playing with Rachel and listening to her talk. Robert was very happy (I mena, it WAS his birthday) and giggly, which I love. Also, he thought my Wario doll was "scary". And so much good conversation with Matt and Liz.

Celebrate Tonight (Jan 27)

• I'm really glad to say that I'm getting more and more comfortable and excited about going to Korea. Dr. Koh will be there when we get there, I am comfortable with the teaching materials, and I feel like watching Boys Over Flowers has prepared me in a strange way :)
• Krystle and I got fancy pedicures at Aveda! We had really nice girls, and it was fun to talk to each other and them. It was more expensive than we had planned, but we got to keep the nail polish they used on us and it was a great end-to-a-weird-day/going-away-present.
• After that, I met up with Carrie, Cara and Melissa at the Jolly Pumpkin (in AA) for dinner/drinks for Carrie's birthday! (And PP joined us a little later.) It was really fun, eating REALLY yummy fries, laughing and just enjoying each other's company. And the waiter was really cute. And tall.
• PP made me a crocheted Wario for a going-away present! He's so cute and I love it.

Stranger's Touch

• I sat next to people on the plane who actually talked! I'm not condemning people who don't talk (I enjoy the time to myself, too) but it was nice to have that human connection for a few hours. I was next to the window; the guy in the middle was about my age and from Texas, headed to Denver for snowboarding; the woman on the aisle was a little older and headed to Denver too, for skiing. Because of their destination, they had a little more in common, plus they had started talking before I got on, but they easily fit me in to their conversation. We talked about him going into the Marines in the fall (the woman asked him a lot of questions about this; I mostly listened), living in Texas and in Michigan, how we all enjoy Denver, and then me going to South Korea. They were both really interested in it and encouraging. It was cool :) After that, the guy and I talked a little more about traveling and about mission work. And he made sure I was okay after the landing (I had told him that's my least favorite part). I don't even know their names, but it was really fantastic.
• Walking on moving sidewalks makes me feel so badass. And they're faster than walking. I want them everywhere.

The Hostess With The Mostest

• Spent lots of time with Lucia today :) We made brownies, played with the Bananagrams tiles and Set cards, took pictures and she told me stories. We also all (Rolando, Maria, Carmen, Lucia and I) ate pizza at a very yummy pizza place. It's been so great getting to know them :) (Oh and boy can Lucia is scream...)
• Carmen made a fruit salad (banana, mango, cantaloupe and kiwi) today, and then put mozzarella cheese on it. It was very interesting - I liked  the flavor that the mozzarella gave the fruit (esp. the cantaloupe) but I didn't really like the fruit flavor on the cheese, if that makes sense.
• Carmen kept trying to apologize tonight for not being a good hostess, because she didn't take me anywhere in Austin...but I wouldn't (and won't) let her! I have had a great time, it's been a mini-vacation and has somehow managed to relax me about going to Korea. (Although I still have to go home and pack...) Plus, it's nice to have someone to lounge around and read with :)
• Okay, I may be watching too much Korean drama at one time because I am seriously starting to fall for the main actor guy...

Dear Maria, Count Me In

• It rained like crazy in Austin this morning! Apparently, they've been waiting for it for a long time.
• Because of the rain, I drove Carmen around to run errands downtown. So I got to give myself a mini-tour of the city. The Capitol building and property are really beautiful. And there are sooo many restaurants! I wanted to stop at lots of them.
• I got to spend the afternoon with Carmen of course, but also with her son, Rolando. He was so excited to meet me and I loved meeting him. I love being greeted with a hug by everyone, including by people I don't know :) He asked so many questions about me and was so complimentary of my dad. It was cute and I'm really glad I get to see him again before I leave.
• Then, Carmen and Rolando brought his daughters, Maria and Lucia, back to the house after school and I got to spend lots of time with them. They were both shy at first but we all opened up to each other after awhile. Maria played both Set and Banangrams with me, even though she's only 8. She seemed to really like them too! She was good at finding patterns in Set, but loved sorting the cards "so they were more organized" even better (a girl after my own heart). And she really got the concept of Banangrams (especially the changing letters around to make new words), even though her vocabulary and spelling skills weren't developed enough to really be competitive. Lucia, who is 3, took a very long time to be comfortable with me. But after I responded very interestedly in a very long story of hers (which included ice cream, Spiderman, cupcakes, monsters, trees, and rain...it literally reminded me of the little French girl's story), she warmed right up. We played, I did her hair, we took silly pictures together and we looked at pictures on my computer. We also talked about our favorite superheroes ( Lucia: "I like Spiderman because he's a cute one, he's a sweet one and he saved the day!"). Finally, Maria and I worked on homework together (and I did her hair too). It was so so much fun, I'm so glad I met them and I'm very grateful that I get to see them for dinner tomorrow night.
• It was fantastic to listen to Carmen and Rolando speaking in Spanish to each other - so fast! It was beautiful. I also loved listening to Lucia and Maria speak in English and Spanish. Lucia is fluent in both and would respond in both to Carmen and Rolando. Maria is also fluent in both, but less confident in her Spanish - so she would listen to what Carmen or Rolando said in Spanish and then respond in English...which was kind of even more awesome!
• On the news tonight, there was a story about a town near here that will literally run out of water in the next 2-4 weeks. I can't even imagine what that's like (and it became even more unfathomable as I took my shower tonight) :( #notsothirdworldproblems

Almost Paradise

• It's nice and warm in Austin today :) I honestly forgot what it was like to dress for weather in the 70s as I was packing...
• I'm seriously enjoying Boys Over Flowers, the Korean drama I have to watch for class. Although I don't think the lines are always translated precisely, I love the main character, I love the humor, and the main boys are really cute! And their characters are really adorable in how macho they act, but how weak they are when it comes to liking the main character. Seriously, it's worth watching, even if you don't have to!

Inspiration Lady

• Today started very early (4 a.m.) but Cara and Melissa were awesome enough to drive me to the airport, despite the early time. We stopped at Starbucks and found out that someone threatened to bomb Noodles & Co. last night, so the shopping center had to close. Who would bomb a Noodles? Especially the one in Arborland? Good Lord.
• My layover in Denver was fantastic, because I got to spend it with Sarah! It was so great to see her. We talked about all kinds of things - she's so easy to talk to - and rediscovered how alike we can be :) Updated each other on family and just chatted over breakfast (which was way too expensive and not that great). I loved it. Plus, the mountains are so beautiful! It made me wish I was headed up to Silverthorne again (can't believe that was over a year and a half ago).
• Instead, I landed safely in Austin, which is a perfectly good alternative. Aunt Carmen was there to greet me :) We talked on the ride home and all through lunch. She misses Uncle Doug a lot. It's sad to think she's by herself now. I'm really enjoying hearing her stories and I really hope that my being here is helpful to her, that she'll feel a little less lonely. I wish I could fix it forever :/
• I keep getting emails saying that "So-and-so is following me on Pinterest" so I've been thinking about what kind of boards I'm going to make (I've vowed not to explore the site or use my boards until after I'm in Korea). I was thinking that it would be fun to have a "People that Inspire Me" board...but then I realized that I don't really aspire to be like any famous person. All of my role models are people I actually know - Liz, Jen, Krystle, Carlee, Aunt Carmen, Barbara, my mom - and I don't need a board to remember that :)

Family Matters (Jan 21)

• We learned a lot about Dr. Koh and her family today, and about immigrant families in general. Here are a few things she told us about:
• Culturally, her sons are American, and she and her husband are Korean. This can cause a lot of conflict, but she also thinks it helped them get through her son's adolescent stage better (they were already used to fighting, but also well-adjusted to compromise). And she said it makes her more open than traditional Korean parents in many areas (for example, she said she wouldn't be opposed to her son having a girlfriend of a different ethnicity or with a bad family, whereas Korean parents would - and do - traditionally reject a child's mate with those qualities).
• She did a lot of research on how to raise her sons in America. She looked up the effects of forcing children to learn their parents' language, even if they grow up in the US. And she chose to send her kids to a school district with few Asian-American students, so that they would make friends with a more diverse group of people.
• It was very evident how much she loves her family and how much she cares for and protects her sons.
• Stopped at Dom's today. I think I want a wedding cake made of donuts. Kind of like when people have cupcakes, but better. (I also like Jack's idea of wedding pies.)
• Hung out with Melissa and Cara - eating, shopping, chatting :)
• Got to see Krystle and Amanda also - sat around, smelled the yummy brownie/cookie they were making. Krystle and I decided that this can't be the last time we see each other. So, somehow, I will be seeing her next weekend too :)
• Fantastic way to spend a Saturday night.

A Wonderful Surprise (Jan 19)

• Completely impromptu dinner with Katie Fahey! It was awesome. We had awesome pizza, caught up and she helped me pack. It was condensed but great. 
• Then I drove to Anna for BBT and Grey's. I love hanging with her (of course) and love being at her house. Yummy food, fire, good mama hugs. If I were not leaving, I'd be there way more often.
• I'm still nervous for Korea, but I am getting excited. And, I am completely ready to get rid of all the stress leading up to leaving.

Different Hearts, Different Minds

• Tonight, I got to have a long-overdue dinner with Chelsea! It was really great to catch up on each other's lives. The best part was that I finally got to learn more about her husband. She is very in love with him and it's so cute! Also, they keep her quilt on their bed :)
• As I listened to Chelsea tell me about her hubby, I realized something. When I first learned that Chelsea was getting married, I was a little scared for her, because I didn't know anything about him and they hadn't been dating that long. But after hearing her stories about him, I finally realized that love is simply different for everyone. I keep trying to figure out how long you should know someone before you marry them or what the best way to meet my future husband will be. I also generally judge people for getting married after they've only been dating for a short while or before they've experienced the life-after-college transition together. While I think those are definitely important for me, I think they don't necessarily apply for everyone. Not everyone can be trusted to make the right decisions for themselves, but I'm going to try to remember that it's not necessarily my job to make sure that they do (unless it's for one of my Bestests or roommates).

Watch Closely Now (Jan 17)

• I had a really yummy wrap at Main St. today. It was so good, I can't believe I hadn't had it before. Also, the Weeldreyers travel a lot and I am jealous!
• I bought a couple more movies at Blockbuster today. I need to stay away from that place. I don't think EMU will accept used DVDs as payment for tuition...
• New Girl was great tonight. My family thought it was awkward and weird. But it was a great episode. I love the douchebag jar.
• I also watched Parenthood, which I haven't seen in a long time. It was great and I almost cried at the end. I might have to catch up with it again when I get back.
• I've been practicing my Korean writing and I think I'm getting better. I need to get a language book.
• I joined Pinterest today. Not sure if that will be a good idea. It will probably go away until I get to Korea.

Movies Are a Mother to Me

• The upside of having to write all these lessons is that I spend all day watching my favorite movies :)
• It's been really cool to read the MLK quotes that people found today (I wish I had the time/opportunity to celebrate it). Favorites include:

A nation that continues, year after year, to spend more money on military defenses than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last! (And as my friend Tamila put it, "I love that the vision that Dr. King had not only included equality for all people, but he also realized that this equality is a part of the coming Kingdom of God.")

• Hung out with my mom today, just doing nothing (which, she told me, is also one of her favorite things to do :)).

Mess of Me

• I'm so lucky to be able to be with Eischeids as much as I am. Jen and Andrew take such good care of me and Krystle, I love playing with Ella and Katie, and I love watching them be a family. Plus, Jen has become my comfort/reassurance that everything in my personal life will eventually work out.
• I love how my Big Quilt smells like the place where I slept for at least one day after I was there. It's been so many places. I'm absolutely taking to Korea with me.
• My mom and I saw Beauty and the Beast tonight :D She wanted to take me because it was the first movie she took me to in the movie theater - though when I was 3, we had to leave halfway through. (After really watching it again tonight, I can see why it scared me! Lots of scary scenes, throughout the whole movie.) We saw it in 3D, which was pretty cool. However, if I hadn't had a gift certificate, we definitely would have just seen it regular - $11.75 per ticket! I figured my certificate might expire before I get back from Korea, or shortly after, so it was okay. (Even if that wouldn't have expired, I'm going to pretend it would have, otherwise I'll just be mad.) Oh, AND the Tangled short before the movie was totally fantastic! I hope they put it on video.
• I wish these lesson plans were as easy and fast to write as Dr. Koh thinks they are :/
• Continued prayers for money help. Carlee, Krystle, Chelsea and I should have embroidered a "No crying about money" rule, in addition to the "No crying about math" rule, on the Rules of Life square on our Big Quilts :(

Storage Unit (Jan 14)

• Hanging at the Eischeids' with Krystle (that makes 4 weekends in a row, plus several days in the middle, that we've seen each other). Watched the BBT tiara clip from Carlee and also the newest Pirates movie (didn't like it as much as the 3rd, which is our favorite), in addition to playing with Ella and Katie and talking with Jen and Andrew :)
• A storage/organization dance :D Thanks Marina and Carlee!
• Get to see my mom tomorrow. I don't see her enough :/
• I got to explain about Blogger and the concept of my blog to one of the girls in my class today. It was fun :)

Windy Bubble Break (Jan 13)

• Lots of snow! Wish I could have done fun snow things, instead of lesson planning til 4:30 and waking up to drive (3 hours) to Ypsi.
• Korea class wasn't too bad. Learned about Korean food, Korean writing/letters, and also taught one of my lessons. Got a lot of critique from Dr. Koh, but I was the first one to go and realized that I did them mostly correctly (lots of other people didn't). Also, I'm enjoying getting to know the people in my class. I hope that we'll be able to hang out/be together once we get over there.
• Hung out with Melissa and Cara after class :) It was great - fun to just be together. We got Bubble tea and then went back to Cara's, where we ate dinner, watched Wheel/Jeopardy, and worked on stuff together.

Cry Me A River (Jan 12)

• I'm not sure if I'd describe myself as a "crier" or not. Though there are several Grey's episodes that have made me actually shed tears, I don't readily cry at sappy, cute or even sad things. (And in high school, I did refer to myself as a robot.) On the other hand, when I'm frustrated, scared or mad, the waterworks could (and do) explode at any time. However, rarely do I ever cry at happy things. Today was one of those blessed days. I woke up today almost paralyzed with anxiety about going to Korea - somewhere between sleeping and waking, it hit me like a brick wall that (factoring in my trip to Texas for 5 days), I only have about 2 weeks left at home. And then the mail came. I received a card and gift from Matt and Liz that just made me cry. I don't know how I ended up so lucky as to have them in my life, let alone a whole group of people just like them. Their love  for me  is amazing and I am so grateful for them, as well as for the rest of my friends and family.

Music Takes Me Up (Jan 11)

• Put all my music onto my newer computer and downloaded some new stuff. Can't wait until I figure out all the kinks and can sync my iPod...new Florence!
• Made mini-loaves of banANNA bread. But her recipe said 60 minutes in the oven. For a tiny loaf. So it was overdone. Still tasted okay, but very crunchy :/
• Tried bacon and duck rangoons in plum sauce at Casa Bolero in Kzoo. They were pretty good, though it was strange eating meat that was the consistency of cream cheese.
• Wrote lesson plans for Korea. Got a good amount accomplished but not enough, despite staying up til 4:30. Boo. Back at it tonight, after subbing. Oh but I did get to watch Enchanted, Princess Diaries and Sherlock while I was working, so that was good.

Creative Juices (Jan 10)

• I started reading The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes last night and it's pretty fantastic. I love Guy Ritchie even more for the movies he created, and Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law for their acting, because it's so much like the book. Good job, boys.
• I think I talked with Anna, via Skypes calls, at least 4 times today. This makes me happy :) Also, she updated her blog this evening, and everyone should read it. I love the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants post and the one about her great-grandmother...I mean, anyone who can say "her possessions had been distilled to her most treasured relics" rather than "gotten rid of most of her crap" can just be considered a fantastic writer.
• 200th post :)

Lucky

• Sometimes, I wish I were lucky enough to have specific dreams to chase after. I feel like my goals are very general and I know it's because I don't want to be disappointed if I don't attain them - fewer expectations mean fewer opportunities for disappointment. I used to think that this was me being laid back...I am starting to think it might be me being lazy. Not having specific goals = less frustration at not reaching unspecified goals = not having to work hard to attain detailed/difficult dreams. I don't want to be like that though. Which is part of my motivation for pushing myself to go to Korea, I think. Maybe I will discover some unrealized goal, or fulfill dreams I didn't know I had while I'm there. That would be pretty great.

Get Out Your Lazy Bed

• Today is a very strange day. I have never (literally, in the last 18 years) had school preceding a Christmas break and NOT following it. Last night, everyone (in my house and on my Facebook) was prepping for new classes or going back to work. I'm just a lazy bum! Enjoying my Get-Out-Of-Monday-Free card that I've been given though :)
• Sherlock Holmes 2 with the brothers tonight! Love that movie.

Have A Little Faith

• Woke up with Krystle, at the Carrs - pretty good way to start the day :) Krystle and I slept in a little so we found Holland UMC on our own and met up with everyone there. It's a pretty cool church (building-wise) and the people were really friendly and welcoming. We even got to sing "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"! One of my favorites. The sermon as really cool too. We learned about the faith and dedication of Simeon and Anna, 2 old people who were in the temple when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus there a month or so after he was born. It was a great, new way to look at it. I think it's amazing how pastors can analyze the little parts of the Bible and illuminate a whole new meaning.
• After church, we ran around the gym a little and then went out to lunch (which is very hectic with a Robert), and then back to the house. I got to put Rachel down for a nap (and tuck her into her new blanket :)) and then see her again 20 minutes later because she was off to sing in a church concert. Also, I got great hugs and reassurance from Liz, which is always great. In general, it was also really nice to visit because all 4 of them seem very happy :)
• After spending as much time as I could with Rachel, Robert, Matt, Liz and Krystle, I drove home.  And took a nap. And then woke up. (I know, very exciting, right?) But after all that, me, Collin, Ben, John and Dad played Bananagrams. It was fun spending time with my brothers and dad. And every time I play that game, I think of Carlee and thanks her for making me love that game. I definitely can't wait to use it in my classroom.
• Please help me in praying for money things to work out. I'm trying to toe the line between having faith and being apathetic and just need everything to fall into place.

• Melissa. :D

Happy Birthday To You (Jan 7)

• Celebrated Grandpa's 80th birthday today with almost the whole family (only missing Chris). It was very nice. Uncle Randy made this great game, and we got to learn some cool random facts about Grandpa (Lindsey and Katie and I won..."fair and square" ;)). We had yummy food and just hung out. It was really fun and it was nice to see everyone again so soon. My family is definitely cool and I enjoy seeing them. And they are all really supportive of me going to Korea, which is helpful. Also, I got this great quilted piece from Aunt Elaine. (Apparently, she quilts all kinds of things, all by hand!) It's a large circle that is made to look like a tin of cookies. It's so cute and I can't wait until I can set up my kitchen table again - because it's circular and the quilt will look great. Jill and I were talking about how normal it is for us to have quilted/hand-crafted things around us - a lot of people she knows thinks it's the coolest/craziest thing that she has them all over her house. I'm very grateful that fabric/fiber arts are a norm in my life.
• Got to see some camp friends tonight. Not everyone could make it :( But it was much needed (it always seems to be) and very fun. Plus, I spent the night at the Carrs (WITH Krystle) :) I feel like that's all I need to say to describe how perfect the night was.

Movie Medley

• Woke up cozy in Anna's comfy bed, to fantastic sunshine streaming in the window (it's nice that I have so many friends with fantastically comfortable beds...maybe I should get one...). Read some Hunger Games (on Mockingjay now) and then ate pancakes. We watched Project Runway, season 2, on DVD (way better than on TV), while I FINISHED my quilt - for about 5 hours :D Got a good hug from her mama before I left, though I'm planning to visit again before I leave.
• Got Grey's Season 2 and Season 5 (for $10 each), along with Leap Year, Harry Potter 4, and Legally Blonde from the Blockbuster that's going out of business on Westnedge (both are in Kzoo...go get some movies!). Very excited :D
• Watched Inception with my dad, brothers, Barbara and John (such a crazy movie...need to watch it like 10 more times). And now watching X-Men: The Last Stand with Collin and Ben.

I love movies.

Walking On Sunshine (Jan 5)

• Walked to work from Amanda's apartment, and it was really kind of nice. It was sunny, I was in downtown AA and I got coffee on the way. If I hadn't been in a rush to get to the museum, I definitely would have slowed down to enjoy it a little more.
• Got to talk with some people who work for the museum that I don't usually get to interact with. It was fun :) There's so many cool programs that the museum offers, I wish I had the chance to work more of them!
• There was a great sunset as I left Amanda's:
• Anna and I got to watch the mid-season premiere of Grey's together! We've been waiting so long. It was sad but good. Then we watched the new Star Trek and Tangled, as I sewed :)
• Happy 80th Birthday to my Grandpa!

Living A Little, Laughing A Little (Jan 4)

• Tonight I got to hang out with my friends, Lauren and Annie :) First of all, I was ambushed when I arrived at Lauren's house...but not by Lauren and Annie! No no, I was attacked by Lauren's youngest sister Maggie and her friend Erin, neither of whom I've ever met. Whatevs, I love hugs and it was really funny. After that, there was a fantastically loud and silly meal that happened, followed by group clean-up, a tour of Lauren's house and lots of playing of Super Smash Brothers Brawl. I am not good at that but I found a new fave character - Meta Knight! Lauren's other sister, Erin, was not pleased with my affection for him, as it resulted in lots of me hitting her character with a sword. Oh, Annie helped me win one round! (Literally, I only won one, out of all the ones we played.) And she kept me warm. Lauren's dad introduced me to many items in their house, complete with a history of when and why they got each item. Their dog barked at the TV - which I, surprisingly, found really adorable and funny, despite my dislike for dogs barking. It was a great evening filled with LOTS of laughing and triple-hugs for my favorite girlies. They have fake-promised to visit me in Korea, but actually-promised to Skype with me often - I guess that will have to do for now :)
• Also, I snuggled with Amanda's super comfortable down comforter (that her subletter left at her apt this summer...) on her really squishy couch. It was a good way to fall asleep.

Something Special (Jan 3)

• Worked a lot on a very special quilt tonight and I can't wait to finish it! It's been in the works for a long time and I finally figured out the perfect person to make it for. I'm very excited (though, of course, a little stressed...I need to finish it by Saturday...) :)
• I watched Legally Blonde and Mulan on VHS today. I needed them both a lot after the receipt of a very frustrating and belittling email.

Hunger For The Great Light

• I'm onto Catching Fire of Hunger Games...soooo intense and I really love it. I reminds me a lot of The Uglies by Scott Westerfeld (I highly recommend that series to anyone who loves Hunger Games). Also, I LOVE Peeta and Katniss together - because, whether it's real or not for their characters (I'm not finished with the second one so I don't know what happens - don't tell me!), Suzanne Collins can write subtle but romantic details. I haven't read Twilight, but I keep thinking how much better even these little snippets must be than that.
• Me and the boys and my dad and Barbara went sledding! I haven't been in a long time and it was fun.
• I am missing Carlee and Krystle A LOT. I think I got too spoiled doing awesome things every day with them last week. In fact, I'm missing all my friends :/ NYE came and then went away very fast and, all of a sudden, they have to go back to work and school and I won't see them for too long :(

Tired

Hold my hand while you cut me down
It had only just begun but now it's over now
And you're in the heat of moments with your heart playing up cold
I'm between the middle watching hastiness unfold
In my eyes you were smiling in the spotlight dancing with the night
When I fell off your mind


I'm tired of trying
Your teasing ain't enough
Fed up biding your time
When I don't get nothing back
And for what? And for what? And for what?
When I don't get nothing back
Boy, I'm tired


Where do you go when you stay behind
I looked up and inside, down and outside, only to find
A double taking punching hard and laughing at my smile
I get closer
You obviously prefer her


I'm tired of trying
Your teasing ain't enough
Fed up biding your time
When I don't get nothing back
And for what? And for what? And for what?
When I don't get nothing back
Boy, I'm tired


I should have known


Nevermind said your open arms
I couldn't help believe
They tricked me back into them, even though


I'm tired of trying
Your teasing ain't enough
Fed up biding your time
When I don't get nothing back
And for what? And for what? And for what?
When I don't get nothing back
Boy, I'm tired

Love 2012

• Happy 2012! Happy January!
• Today/last night was fantastic. I love being at the Fahey's house. And we had a great time.
• I made a Mystery Machine that was, somehow, finished throughout the night.
• Katie was...lovely :) And, therefore, much fun.
• Charlie AND Blair came.
• The Brophys ended up there as well! With mustaches.
• We had a dance party in the basement to Party Rock, post-ball drop.
• Jason wore Katie's leather, heeled boots - and looked fierce.
• We all made and shared resolutions...I may have resolved to be married by the end of the year - and Carrie may have volunteered to marry me.
• Krystle got to sleep with her newly-finished quilt!
• We all had a sleepover in the basement on air mattresses - I gave everyone goodnight hugs by rolling from one to another.
• Krystle and Mandy made pancakes for breakfast. Krystle apologized doing it before I got up - I was like, "I didn't have to cook AND food was ready when I got up? Hahaha."
• I got to give double-hugs to the friends I probably won't see til August. Maybe I will start giving double-hugs all the time.
• The only thing that would have made it better would have been if Carlee had been there, and if seeing some of my friends today hadn't been the last time I will see them until my return from Korea :/