Winter's Ode

Down came the stockings
and down came the tree
down came the sparkly ornaments
with abrupt, disturbing ease

Out goes the orange flame
say goodbye to the cold
box up the wool scarves
farewell to winter old

Home.

This fire is warm,

she thought as she maneuvered the beige recliner closer to the fireplace and pressed her toes restlessly against the metal hearth. The bottoms of her feet were getting toasty from the orange flame, but the warmth was comforting and familiar.

Journey of Change

I drove into Kerrville tonight. Nothing really ever changes here, but it feels less and less like home. I guess it's not really "home" anymore. I'm in Waco more than I'm in Kerrville but it's still a bittersweet feeling.

People change too.

It's funny. There are always going to be the "Kerrvillians" that stay in Kerrville and haunt its streets daily. The regular Walmart loiterers that will never really leave and the Hastings heroes who peruse the aisles looking for familiar faces.

I used to hate coming home. I still hate the drive, but Kerrville isn't so bad. Of course I enjoy seeing my parents and Zach and Trevor. But other than that, I enjoy homecooked meals and the simpleness of this town. When I come here it means that I don't have any obligations. In Waco, there is always an exam looming ominously in the distance (or within the hour). In Waco, there are events to attend and an apartment to upkeep. In Kerrville, it's perfectly acceptable if I choose to lounge around in my pajamas all day, eat a chocolate chip muffin, and curl up with a book.

Distance changes things too. There are people I was friends with in high school who I rarely talk to now. Life doesn't really let you have your cake and eat it too. In the same sense, I am so unbelievably grateful for the friends I have made in college and I can honestly say that the friends in college will be the ones I have for the rest of my life. I thank God everyday for the friends I have made and the changes that have happened in my life this year. And I know there is some reason why other friendships have disappeared out of my life.

It's a journey.

Well hello there

Dear Bloggy,
It's been awhile. Final exams have been quite consuming. I haven't got much sleep and I have had even less fun. Oh, and I got another parking ticket. That was nice.

The main piece of noteworthy news is that I'm getting a promotion at the lab. That's right,next semester I will be banking $9.20 an hour to sit...and do homework...and write blogs...and love life, of course. WHEE

Goodnight Bloggy.
I am quite sleep deprived.

She's a suicide blonde

Formal on Friday was pretty fun. I enjoyed it. Brian was a surprisingly good date (kidding - of course he was a fabulous date). He was also very handsome!

I think it might be 70 degrees in the arctic tundra tonight. Am I still allowed to refer to it as the arctic tundra?

I have 4 interviews this week with different people for my beat: nonprofit work with the elderly. My huge story for Dr. Owens is due on Dec. 2. I'm a little stressed out about that la la la.

I'm going to stop complaining now. Life is good. Really, it is. It's almost Thanksgiving and I have a couple of fun things planned for the break. There is a concert at Guadalupe River Club that I want to go see and I also want to go to Enchanted Rock - FINALLY. Brian has never been there and I think it would be a fun way to spend the day. I'm also excited to see the fam and the pups.

Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake.

And so begins a 6 hour shift at work... 6pm to midnight. In the arctic tundra. What could be better? Oh, I know. Maybe if I had 27billion hours of homework to complete.

Back to happy times in Waco, I'm so excited about this weekend! Friday is Theta Formal and Brian is my hot date. Kate is coming into town to grace us with her presence and staying for the Baylor/Texas game .. and hopefully I'm going to Austin Saturday night with some of my girlfriends to celebrate .. er, mourn .. the loss of the bears.

Sunday night I pulled an all-nighter. As in I was still awake when Jennifer woke up Monday morning. It was quite funny. I was still sitting in the same spot too. I ended up getting a ONE HUNDRED on one of my tests that I stayed up for (not sure how that happened) and a 95 on the other and a 92 on the other. LEGIT. I was pretty excited. Still am pretty excited actually.

So I treated myself to groceries and a dress and some bday presents for Brian! I spent more on the groceries than I spent on the other items - that was kind of sad. But it's okay because I was recently donated a nice sum of $250 by the parentals. I guess they love me or something, I'm really not sure (Thanks Mom and Dad).

Oh and our neighbors are still harassing us. I'm convinced they have a crush on Jennifer and the dang cat, because all of the fiascos happen when I'm gone...but Jennifer is always home when the chaos occurs. Such as today: A plastic bottle was thrown onto our porch and, as Jennifer described it, "A metal tube was sticking out of the bottle."

Hm, so I'm really not sure what to make of that, except that our redneck neighbors are sending mating calls via homemade contraptions that fly through the air, but cannot be identified. She begs to differ, but oh well.

I will post pictures from formal :) this is the first formal I have been to - I went to semi last year, but never FORMAL. haha. SOPHISTOCATION.

Quote by Henry David Thoreau.

Look what I found

“Just remember, the same as a spectacular Vogue magazine, remember that no matter how close you follow the jumps: Continued on page whatever. No matter how careful you are, there's going to be the sense you missed something, the collapsed feeling under your skin that you didn't experience it all. There's that fallen heart feeling that you rushed right through the moments where you should've been paying attention. Well, get used to that feeling. That's how your whole life will feel some day. This is all practice. None of this matters. We're just warming up.”
- Chuck Palahniuk

The Arctic Tundra

I really cannot comprehend the temperature in the lab right now. I am wearing a blanket and a fleece and my legs still have goose bumps.

I just looked at the temperature. 58 degrees. Okay, it's warmer outside and I consider it cold outside right now. This is ridiculous.

I just spent 5.5 hours working on chapters for my marketing class. I have a quiz on Monday. Wow, talk about working ahead. I never do this.

I started planning for Brian's 21st birthday today. And I bought a couple of presents for him. I get really into the whole birthday season thing. I like shopping and buying for people. I just realized that I will need to get him a Christmas present too.

Boo.

It's Friday and it's Halloween weekend and I only have one test next week.

I'm going to Austin tonight and exploring 6th street for the second time (hopefully I can have another $17 night) and coming back early Saturday to partake in Waco Halloween festivities. One of those festtivities is going to include the Fiji Haunted House aka Fiji Fright Night. I haven't ever been before and I'm pretty excited. I haven't been to a haunted house ever in my LIFE except once when I was little one of my neighbors had a sketchy "haunted maze" in their garage.

I'm not really sure what to expect. I think it's going to be funny to see the boys dressed up and acting scary. I have a feeling I'm going to laugh when I see them more than I'm going to be scared.

Last night, me and 5 of my girlfriends went to Piano Man at Treff's. Okay, so the Piano Man aka RUSSELL is completely LEGIT. He's from Austin and plays in College Station on Wednesday nights at The Tap (I got this information from Matney) and then he plays in Waco on Thursday nights at Treff's.

He knows every song known to man. He sings ANY song that you request and he plays the piano to ANY song that you request. Last night we heard a variety of songs ranging from Queen to Tim McGraw to Sublime and the list goes on. I don't know how he can play the piano and sing to any any any song in this entire world, but it was definitely a fun night. I am beginning to gain more respect for Waco. Just a little.

Happy Halloween to all my loyal followers (and Mom)

Laughter. The best medicine, truly.

I was walking home after class today, dragging along because of another sleepless week.

I had just finished an exam that was pretty easy, but I stayed up pretty late studying for it. I was ready to take a nap and not feeling entirely too chipper.

I was irritable because I had to wake up this morning, I guess. I overslept and my routine became hectic because of it. Thank goodness I didn't sleep through my exams like last week, but I still slept 10 extra minutes which doesn't seem like much, but when you have your morning down to an art (each minute has a detailed task - wash face, brush teeth, coat lashes, grab granola bar - and there is no room for flexibility - this type of rigid routine happens when you're not a morning person) you don't realize how much of a difference 10 minutes makes until. you. are. late.

I got to class on time, no big deal. I'm a speed-walker.

Anyway, after class and exam I was walking home. Dragging along. Not really wanting to talk or smile at anyone. Just wanted to get home, have some hot soup, and climb in bed for a small sojourn from life.

I happened to look up once and there was a girl talking on her phone. I'm not really sure what language she was speaking in, but it wasn't mine. Her voice was high-pitched like a little girl but the thing that really intrigued me was her laugh.

It was such a genuine sound that danced from her lungs that I couldn't help but smile myself. I didn't know what she was saying, but she must have been glad to say it and in turn, I became glad that she was saying it too. I caught myself feeling happy and content and relaxed for the first time that afternoon. Thank you to the unknown girl in front of North Village.

Strange, contagious thing, that laughter.

Plaid Pajamas in Class. Very Uncool.

I'm not typically one to judge another person's appearance or attire choice, but I couldn't help myself when a girl showed up to class today ... wearing pajamas. Gasp.

At first I thought I was being too harsh on the poor girl. In her defense, Baylor campus was all but completely flooded this morning and it was pretty chilly outside. Maybe I could see her logic. But not really.

I asked Matney what she thought of said girl's fashion statement, and evidently I'm not alone in my belief that pajamas are meant for lounging/sleeping/napping, but they are not meant to wear to class.

Let me explain my reasoning:

1. First of all, Paige Pajama was wearing full makeup, so it wasn't a case of I-woke-up-late-and-I-literally-had-to-roll-out-of-bed-so-as-not-to-be-late-to-class. And the makeup looked fresh and smudgeless too, so it wasn't last night's makeup either.

2. Wearing pajamas to class is kind of like wearing your sweaty workout clothes or your lingerie to class. It's kind of intimate. Your professor and classmates do not want to see what you slept in last night anymore than we want to see your pit sweat from doing too many bicep curls. It's just a little too much informatiion for the classroom environment. Not to mention, it's a private university, so keep your private bedroom attire in the bedroom.

3. When I asked Matney what she thought of Paige Pajama's pajamas, Matney admitted that she wore sweatpants to class that day. Sweatpants are not pajamas in any style, pattern, or shape. The pajamas that I saw this morning were blue plaid flannel drawstring creatures and they were NOT to be confused with sweatpants.

I wear Nike shorts nearly every day to class, so I respect the need for comfort, but I don't disrespect my peers so much as to wear plaid flannel drawstring pj's to class. Uncool.

She's a true farmer

Jennifer is currently addicted to FarmVille (Mom, if you're reading this, FarmVille is a game on Facebook where you "farm" with your other friends and compete to see who has the best farm. It's very uncool).

Let me tell you how bad this addiction is. Well, she is in the computer lab aka the arctic tundra right now and she's not doing homework or anything like that.

Nah, she is totally working on her FarmVille skillz.

I guess I can't really judge her though because I'm writing a blog.

"I was doing homework. I was doing it. Look at that." says Jennifer guiltily as she shows me some scribble that is supposedly her Arabic. Psh, looks like another language to me. Jibberish.

This Friday I will have two articles in the Homecoming edition of The Lariat. One about the hockey team again (I feel like their personal reporter) and one about the location change of Pics & Gifts. Legitimate news. Not really, but I try.

Also, it's homecoming weekend. That means homecoming parade on Saturday morning. That means that tonight will be an all-nighter at the floate site. I haven't been to float in a week, so I'm anxious to spend some quality time with my beautiful sisters and bond over things like paper machet, welding and paint. (sarcasm)

Good luck Baylor Football against OSU this weekend. Homecoming is important. So make your school like you more.

Hurray for Moms

I'm in Kerrville right now. It's funny how this town never really changes. I come home after 6 months and expect to see new things, but nah, it's the same old Kerrville.

It's been really nice to be home. Brian and I rode home together after I drove back to Waco from Austin on Friday morning.

We rolled into town about 6pm Friday and there was a lovely feast of my favorite foods waiting on the counter courtesy of Mom. Brian and I decided to go out Friday night (partly because that way I could have more food to take back to Waco and partly because Brian and I's favorite foods aren't really aligned...so what my mom made for ME, wasn't really what brian wanted for dinner). We went to ACAPULCO. IT WAS DELICIOUS. I haven't had good mexican food, save Taco Tuesday, in literally MONTHS. the chicken enchiladas with double rice hit the spot.

The house full of yummy baked stuff hasn't changed either. There were s'mores muffins, homemade sugar cookies with homemade icing and chocolate cake all tempting me. It's still tempting me and I hope to take a lot of it back to waco with me. Maybe I can even give a couple of crumbs to Kitty to fatten him up. mwaha

Saturday (that would be today) morning my parents and I went to some garage sales. I found some great bargains! I got some REALLY cute stationery for 50 cents, 6 pairs of earrings for 50 cents a pair, a pecan pie plate that has the recipe for pecan pie on it (1.00), two tall candles for 25 cents each, a retro cookie jar for 50 cents and two brand new pillow shams for 50 cents each that match my bed perfectly!

After Garage Sale Tour 09, we went to China Town - another Kerrville favorite. I have not had the bounty of chinese food in my tummy for MONTHS either. maybe even a year or more. I know. SHOCKING. but true.

Now I'm sitting on the couch, talking life with Brian's parents and being fed cookies by his mother who is quite the baker herself (thank goodness for moms). We have also been watching various sports all day. Whoo.

Time for homemade chicken strips! I'm going to enjoy them thoroughly.

Sincerely, Your Frantic Friend

I slept through 2 quizzes and a midterm today.

You know that feeling when you wake up on your own, realizing that you're late for class or work... or when you accidentally fall asleep and miss important committments?

Okay, multiply that feeling by 1 million billion trillion and that is how I felt this morning when I looked at my clock and it said the time was 12:37pm instead of 9am, when I'm supposed to wake up on MWF.

I frantically emailed my professors and told them that I had slept through class and asked if there would be any way to make up my quizzes/midterm. Then I booked it to the business school to talk to them in person.

To make a long story short, everything is completely okay and I'm making up my midterm tomorrow morning with the Tuesday/Thursday class, my quiz tomorrow at noon and I made up the other quiz today. Whew.

Thank goodness this was the first time I had missed class in any of my classes. It pays to be a relatively responsible student at times.

I blame this sleepless week - and my water-damaged Blackberry - for the mistake this morning. I still don't know if I turned my alarm off when it sounded at 9am, or maybe it didn't even go off at all? That part is still unclear. Maybe someone (aka Indy Kitty) is plotting against me.

Life goes on.
Oh, and I get more time to study for my test.

future events

I am very jealous of the Gumby's pizza rolls that Matney got to devour tonight. I was supposed to devour some tasty Taco Tuesday treats, but alas, I did not grace myself with the delicacy of Rosa's in my belly.

In other news, I am FINALLY going legit Waco bar hopping on Thursday. I actually don't have tons of things to do. I do have class at 10 on Friday morning, but I will survive (I hope). I can't wait to go to Piano Man!

I think I'm also going to College Station Friday night to have a sequel to last weekend. Daisy Duke's was so fun and I want to see what else Northgate has to offer. Theta Casual is on Saturday (to Six Flags) but since I have class and cannot attend meetings on Monday nights, I wasn't able to sign up in time and space was limited. I tried getting someone's spot who decided not to go, buuuut there was a waiting list that I did not know about! That was a little disappointing. Brian was sad too.

Next week (october 16) is fall break...and I don't have class that Thursday, so it's only going to be a 3 day week. Whoo and I have 4 tests in those 3 days. BRACING MYSELF FOR HELLO OPERATOR. It's also Kelly's birthday on Thursday and the plan is to road trip to Austin and go to 6th street that night (I think Matney is joining as well for her friend Molly's birthday!) and we are going to stay with Kate. That is the plan so far and I really really really want it to transpire because I have never been to 6th street and the thought of partying with my best friends in Austin ... well, it would be AMAZING.

And I'm back to studying for a quiz tomorrow. Thank you, blog, for always being a time-waster. good night to all.