New Perspective...

I am not sure if it is because I have simply had too much time on my hands lately or because I am experiencing a pre-mid life crisis... but I have felt so inspired lately. Inspired to do the ordinary things enthusiastically (i.e.my re-newed love for brushing my teeth with my new electric tooth brush)Or my random urges to flea the country and run wild and crazy.... All of these things were amplified last night when I went to see the movie "The Bucket List." I strongly urge everyone I know to go see this movie... don't waste time... get there because it will rock your face off. Be sure to go to the earliest showing because i can assure you that you wont want to go to bed immediately following... I have been pricing plane tickets all night long....

Snacks that people in my class are consuming

I have resulted to typing the "snacks that the people in my class are consuming"
~Skittles
~Diet Coke (4) (including myself)
~choc chip cookies
~banana
~yogurt (think its strab)
~Coffee (10)
~water (7)(five are dasani's)
~diet Pepsi
~strawb lafy taffy
~burrito
~kit kat
~Garlic Parmesan cheese-its (that's me)
~orange juice/minute maid
~7up
~a bag of chips I cant make out from the other side of the room

J-term

BACK TO SCHOOL... BACK TO SCHOOL... TO prove to dad im not a fool...

Back in Evans ton. Its kidna crazy actually to get reacquainted with my apt. The interesting items that live in my fridge as well as re-getting to know everyone you go to school with. It's interesting because I feel like although it has only been three weeks I have been gone forever. I'm not even exactly sure who my friends are and who arnt my friends.... Sure its seminary and you "LOVE EVERYBODY RIGHT" well.. that I might argue.... but none-the-less I find myself in an awkward environment with some of the most awkward people in the world.... Keep in mind that i fully realize and accept the fact that I am here too.....

J-term started yesterday and that means i spend every afternoon to early evening playing Church History with about 30 other individuals in this hot hot room... I am running out of patience but not cheese its so im in good shape as of right now.

Hmmm

So I am at church (using their wireless...) I am approaching the half way done point of my last final. It is due tomorrow at midnight. How I would love to be finished but I am not. I have stared at the seven books in front of me since 10:30am.Not to mention the 3 hours I spent on it yesterday. WHY AM I NOT FINISHED.... I am so close yet so very far away.

As soon as this is done... my last semester comes to a close... but then there is J-term. That being predominantly reading. I prefer this over writing after just completing about 80 pages prior to coming home. J term because it is a few weeks away seems doable... finishing this paper on Baptism and the Eucharist seems so outrages.... I think I am bored.

I think I am going to Duluth tomorrow... My friend Mindy knows little about this mandatory training she has to attend other than the fact that it is indeed in Duluth. She gets her gas paid for and they put her up in a hotel room. She is sweet and is letting me come with. This will give her and I some long over due quality time as well as an opportunity for me to say hi to Duluth and those who live there. Pretty exciting... minus the lack of details.


I HAVE SO MUCH TO DO OVER BREAK.....PLACES TO GO, PEOPLE TO SEE.... WHEN WILL IT ALL GET DONE?

Home for the Holidays

Jewls

Today's blog is titled Julie....well Jewls but you get it.

I am choosing not to put her picture online because I value her friendship
****(not because she is unpleasant to look at)****
I like Julie very much and she has given me two beautiful children...(she however is raising them..not me)Her husbands not half bad looking either (i only say that to make her uncomfortable). She too complains about my lack of blogging... not quite as aggressive as Becca and Carol... but she checks faithfully. I feel as if I let her down. Sad day! I try to do right by her.I can tell you that she is on my "top ten people I have ever met list" and let me tell you she is NOT number 10. She is a real Hoot!

I miss her... but I am hopeful that we will have some quality time together soon. Over break perhaps. I'll be right on that!

MY FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT THE JEWL-STER:
10.) Her Husbands glasses
9.) Her love for cottage cheese
8.) The greatest things in her life happened when she was 12
7.) She is able to make fun of me in such a tasteful way (most times)
6.) She is one of my biggest fans and I hers
5.) She is Super MOM
4.) Heck she is SUPER WOMEN
3.) She loves the pottery barn more than I do
2.) Her hair
1.) She cuddles

No worries Julie.. nobody knows your last name... so there is no need to be embarrassed...
I LOVE YOU!

THANKSGIVING BREAK!

I am soooo excited for some time off... not that it will exactly be "off time." For I have well six significant papers I would like to tackle while in MN. It would probably be best to say that I am soooo excited for some time away. I have class all afternoon today and I am taking an over night bus to Minneapolis.... I am so excited to see friends, family, the surprises my parents have in store for me at home ( a baby brother perhaps...). HAHAHHA I will spend Friday and sat. with friends (we are taking in a sgroves concert) and then go home to my family for the holiday. The weekend after thanksgiving will be spent in Duluth to visit old friends and places I miss dearly. I can't wait...!

After Thanksgiving I only have two weeks of class and I hopefully then will have survived my first sem. of Grad School. It is looking good so far but the next couple weeks will indeed be rough. I also just accepted an on staff (youth and family ministry position at a church SW of the city. I look forward to integrating myself there and all that this PART TIME position will entail.

Not a whole lot else to share... probably good that I blog once a month...

The above is a picture of my favorite visitors! They came to see me a few weeks ago but this is one of my favorite photos from our adventures. This picture was taken in Millennium Park downtown Chicago.

Fall at seminary....

Here is a little UM pride for ya..... How do you like them pumpkins....???

This just in....

I don't know if y'all have heard this but... Did you know that on avg. ten people die a year from vending machine accidents.

Delayed Gratification

Last night I went to a bed later then what I like to... (11:30 instead of 10:00). I woke up this morning and realized it was 11:00.... there goes my day... might as well go back to bed. No worries I didn't.. but for crying out loud!!!!! I haven't slept that late since.... well I cant remember.

So i woke up and had a breakfast of chicken,peas, and a huge baked potato. I made a to do list that will take me from now until Thursday at 9:30p.m. It is kind of overwhelming and think i should have broke it into smaller parts..oh well.. I find lists to be so satisfying... especially those with boxes that i can check, x, or puncture holes though as a sign of completion... as for getting everything done I have this really great process.... I read from the New Testament World book then reward myself with a couple chapters of Diana Butler Bass (yeah its part of a class!!!). Then its back to some New Testament reading followed by a reward of checking my e mail or in this case I'm blogging. All too soon it will be back to New Testament and then I will press on to the Dictionary of Pastoral Care and Counseling (yes its a dictionary) YIKES... After reading that I like to reward myself by getting out of my apt. Perhaps today i will return Blades of Glory to my friend "The Red Box" where I rent DVD's for a whopping dollar!

My egg timer has binged... meaning I must go back to "The reading chair."

Oh but while I am thinking of it... I bought reading glasses... turns out I really needed them... I can read so much faster and i am not reading things over and over because i cant find the next line... its fabulous... they are black.... (the brown and blue ones looked funny)... not that these don't but whatever...

Susie,Suzy,Suzie,Sue-z

I wouldn't exactly say I qualify as a regular here at this particular coffee shop but I have been known to make an occasional appearance. Today sitting almost directly across from me as a woman named Susy. We will spell it this way because then it will be clear we are not talking about me.... (clear to those of you who actually know how I spell my name at least). Susy (whom I have seen on several occasions here) is wearing white tie shoes with purple and pink puffy paint polka dots. Coming out of these adorable shoes are knee high Nike soccer socks(royal blue). Her shorts are navy blue and yellow Hawaiian patterned men's swim trunks. Her shirt is a starfish and shell multi colored t-shirt over a long peach collared blouse. Over her sweet brown hair is a blue and yellow flowered scarf. She is by far the CUTEST LADY I have ever seen( I can say that cause my Grandma doesn't read my blog). Now I Hope you don't get the impression that I am making fun of her...for I am mearly describing.... I think she is adorable and I want to take her home. She knows almost everyone in here by name. She greets them and thanks them for doing nice things for her.

I don't have a relationship with her but the young man that just asked to join her clearly does. The gentleman sitting next to her (age range approx. 75+(the same age as her)) Just said "Susy, I have to ask... where do you find your wardrobe?" She responded "well Salvation Army of course." Then he said "you must love bright colors" she responds by saying " I am a parrot. I love bright colors, I like it hot, and I want to live until I am 100!"

I just thought that was great.... and worth sharing. Hope this lady is able to brighten your day too!

weekend review

Alright.... So I ventured two hours west of Chicago with a friend of a friend. We stayed at a retreat center comparable to (Luther Lodge @LPBC). It was a young adults retreat. Primarily people in there early thirties. and then me (nothing new)... Most all of them new each other so i was kidna the odd gal out...(once again... nothing new.. hahaha). It was overall ok.. I would have done it a bit different.... and well things are always more fun with friends.... Next time...right...

I brought the fixings to make choco tacos... This includes tortilla, penutbutter, mini choc chips, and mini marshmallows. All wrapped up in tinfoil and cooked over a fire. Nobody at the retreat wanted to have a fire or choco tacos... sad day... so I brought all the stuff back home... Tonight I am having a few friends over (they invited themselves because I have a T.V). Since I have the stuff, and a gas stove... I am thinking this could be good....

Sorry this is sooo random... my heart is not in blogging today.... wait is it ever....

Blog attempt number 3 of the day:

Turns out the weekends are the only time I will probably ever have to squeese in an update.

I do have faithful readers so I feel that I need to write something but I am frantic at the moment. In less then a half hour I will be departing on a weekend getaway. It will be somewhat of an adventure because I couldn't tell you who I am going with (other than a friend of a friend), or where it is that I am going to.... sounds dangerous no??? Well its not... I am going to be Presbyterian (Robyn would be so proud)for the weekend.... (yay for weekend retreats) I like them.... I hopefully will have exciting stories to tell on Sunday when I return. Its been a bit crazy because I haven't had a whole lot of (personal reflection/faith time) since coming here... which is sad cause well this is seminary.... That's not exactly true its just hard to keep up with spiritual disciplines when I am constantly stressed out... but I am happy folks.... NO MORE CRYING PHONE CALLS.... well for now. Its hard... not going to lie... but I have my eyes on the prize... and as my friend LeBec pointed out to me.... I could be doing Math.... and shes right.... It could be worse.... much worse...! Hope you are all well.... Happy weekend!!

whew what a weekend.

Wow! Yeah I know its been a while.... I have so much to do and so little time but since I just finished the first two of five papers due by Thursday I figure I can take a break to type something a little more exciting....

So this weekend was girls weekend.... just about what I expected minus the campfire. It was much to windy. Sad day:( !!! I had a blast though. We had a blast! It was so great to see each other. We played a pretty intense game of charades. My three favorite things to act out included
1.)Broke back Mt. (my mom acted out this one)
2.)Feathers, Boas, Puff Balls Galore! (yep this was me.... my group never got the whole phrase but somehow they were able to guess each word)
3.)Ave Maria (not sure who got stuck with that one)
We are an awkward bunch!

Anyway it was great fun... I flew and it was a breeze on the way home to MN but it took a while getting back. I made friends with a couple older ladies on the flight. One was really scared to be flying by herself (age 86) so I made sure to touch base with her once we got on the plane. I kinda wanted to take her home with me. Her daughter lives in St. Cloud so i am sure we could figure out an arrangement.

I learned that giving up an entire weekend to fun does not work so well with my load of reading and writing. I have so much each week that I am required to do. I am kind of scared that I wont get done.... but I have most of the day tomorrow to Finnish the rest of my work.....

Fun, FOOD, and Friends.... well worth it

Weekend O' Fun

This weekend was my first weekend of company... I say first hoping that more will come. We did a host of things including getting lost. I am young in my knowledge of the area... and well I have trouble with maps.... Fortunately I have friends who ain't half bad and some way or another aid me in getting to where I want/need to go. We crammed a lot into this weekend: State Street, Mil. Park, the beautiful temple down the road, we took in Wicket (which I highly recommend), Navy Pier, Bee Bops, etc... It was quite fabulous. Yesterday the bulk of our day was just hanging out on the rocks by the lake... I took them to my not so secret spot and we found a few other nice places to take it all in. We also spend close to an hour just taking shadow pics....

Sarah G Sara R me G me Route

In the Sky Lord in the Sky...

Another blog another picture.... today as part of orientation our class of 76 and some staff ventured into the city. we started and finished at the same place. This is a UMC right downtown. The sanctuary is on the first floor. They use floors 2,3,and 4 for their Christian education programs. A large part of the building is rented out and at the very top floors 29 and up I believe are 3 floors of parsonage and the top two floors are a small chapel with an amazing view..... Pretty Pretty cool... Today's speakers were finally speaking my language... this helps tremendously (did I spell it right Jim? I think I did). Anyway... wanted to share this with you.... keep in mind this picture is just of the top of this huge high rise building..../well.. its a church.. Pretty cool!

Cabin Fever

So there isn't a whole lot new to report.... I did however buy some tickets today.... I be flying to MN. Yes, I know its so close...why not drive?, or take the bus??, bike perhaps....? Welp... Its a quick trip not taking place for a few weekends yet but I am really looking forward to it. The original plan was to take the bus because it is so much cheaper... but as of today I have one class on Fridays. This means I no longer have the whole day to travel. So ____ airlines here I come... you all better be working that weekend!!!
Mid Sept. we always have a girls weekend. This consists of my Mom's good friends and their daughters....(Is that all inclusive...?) It doesn't matter there are no rules. I am a firm believer that it is (the daughters) that really make it a weekend(let me tell ya...). We will all arrive Friday evening at various times walk in to an empty cabin... ditch whatever we need to... get whatever we need to....and walk out to the front to join the others at the camp fire.... That's usually all I remember... Just kidding... I have always said I would drop anything for these weekends... well because I am unaware of what my academic work load will be at that time I am unaware of what I will be dropping.... All I know is I am SO there...!!!

I think I'll got for a walk outside now...

I went for a walk this morning. I packed my back pack with a journal,book,thermos of coffee,a dasani, and my cell phone for when I got lost... I planned on it. I did pretty well though... I think i could make the walk I did today a regular one... Its actually my walk to school really. Here are some photos from my adventure:

Pain is Beauty.

So yesterday I went on a quest to get my eyebrows waxed. This is something I do when they grow out of con troll(which they clearly are).ANYWAY... I went to several places that were either closed.... or booked... so I kept driving. I explored 4 different suburbs in a 3 hour expedition with the hope that someone would help make my face look a bit more presentable before I meet all these new people... I found myself at a Solon where they had room for me.... After walking In I quickly realized that what they were doing wasn't waxing but threading... this is new to me... needless to say I sat down.... why you ask...? BECAUSE THEIR DOORS AND WINDOWS SAID WAXING. Anyway... I sat down and said I would like my eyebrows waxed that's all....and she responded with "no you dint"..."I thread them for you." So she did... I was the closest to having a heart attack that I have ever been... I was scared.... i hate people playing with my eyes.... I twitch like crazy when my close friends help me with eye liner.... Yikes.... If you want to see what I experience or are interested in the adventure yourself check out the following links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK-QzPLgUTo

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-eyebrow-threading.htm