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