Winter Song - Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson

"Uniquely Me"

I am
a confusion of cultures.
Uniquely me.
I think this is good
because I can understand
the traveler, sojourner, foreigner,
the homesickness that comes.
I think this is also bad
because I cannot be understood
by the person who has sown
and grown in one place.
They know not the real meaning of homesickness
that hits me
now and then.
Sometimes I despair
of understanding them.
I am
an island
and
a United Nations.
Who can recognize either in me
but God?

~ Alex Graham James, Third Culture Kids

The Morning After - Maureen McGovern

So for the past three or four weeks, the Ukrainian government has been trying to kick my family out of the country. Twas a big mess with visa expiration, registration, and authorization. … and a lot of procrastination on the government's part.
Monday: Come back Wednesday
Wednesday: Come back Friday
Friday: Come back Wednesday

Yeah, it's been nerve wrecking.

Without the visa approval, my family would immediately have to leave the country for at least three months. Not really a big deal, but we're talking a whole family of 7 people. If they had to leave, my ticket home would have to be changed as well (something about not wanting to be without my family on Christmas.)

So, for the past three weeks, on top of everything else, here I am worrying about whether or not I'll get to be home for Christmas. Tis a very wearying thing, worry.

After a week, I just wanted to be with my family for christmas. It's always been odd listening to people say, "I'm going home this weekend."
It doesn't bother me like it used to, it's just odd now (unless I happen to be really homesick that day).

Of course with the end of the semester coming you have Christmas stuff all around, people exited about going home, seeing family, seeing friends.
I guess I'm thankful I had all the homework, projects, and other things going on.
Twould have been a puddle of tears had I time to stop and think about it.

Tis still odd though, when people say "Are you excited for the end of the semester?"

What goes through my head: The end of semester will determine whether I can go home or not. Where will my family be? Will I have enough time to get to them? What about our Christian family back in Ukraine?

What I actually say: *hesitantly* "I guess" or *absently* “yeah”

Course they can tell something's wrong so they ask. Then I debate whether I should tell them or not.
"Just because I'm having a rough day doesn't mean I have to make other people feel bad."
"Tell more people so they can pray for my family."
"I just want to be alone."

I know, I know, still have a lot of work in that area. I’m working on it.
Hope, worry, and trust collide quite frequently.
Then I am reminded of passages like

II Tim 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Proverbs 3:5, 6 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Matthew 6:25 – 34 “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

And songs like "Trust and Obey," "Be still my soul," and "Living by Faith."

… Then comes the mental berating.
Trust is a very great thing.
I find myself going, “Lord, please take this. There’s no way I can do this alone. I know you can take care of it… but I’ll just hold on to this little section.”
I still have a lot of work in this area. A LOT.
I know I’m not perfect. I’ll still keep trying to be perfect though. That could be both a good and bad thing.

At least things are almost over. This week’s been rough with all the projects, programs, and presentations piled into one week.

My family now has their passports and registration back. They are legal till Feb. It’s not a whole lot of time, but it’s enough to figure things out.

I am so thankful for answered prayer and for all those who knew/found out/dragged it out of me and prayed for my family and me during this time. I really appreciate it.

The semester’s coming to a close and the projects and tests will be over one way or another. Now I get to think about moving rooms and packing for home. It’s been a good semester, just incredibly busy and packed. I’ll be home for Christmas.

Note to self: don’t take on so much that you get burnt out a month and a half before you can go home and recuperate. A month is hardly enough time to fully recover from that much interaction.

Ah well, the most I can do is try.

~ Always Hope ~

Peace of Mind - Boston

I had trouble deciding between this song and “Live Like We’re Dyin’”. So of course that song plays right after this one.

*sigh*
Thanksgiving break, but I still feel like I’m supposed to be supervising, coordinating, or just doing something in general. Sure, I have homework to do (mostly reading different chapters of different textbooks or the like). The past three weeks have been blocked up with work, meetings, classes, and other projects, so unwinding has been... difficult?

I’m involved in at least 4 different groups that meet on a regular basis.

Missions Group – Meets every other week and discusses different aspects of mission work for the mission minded.
Personal Evangelism – A newer group that meets every week and discusses ways to spread the Gospel.
Southern Oaks – Meets every week and hosts a devotional at the Southern Oaks Assisted living home.
A Helping Hand – A new student-based organization I’m part of. Our goal is to spread the Gospel as well as help with physical needs of those we are teaching. I’m part of the IT department of the organization.

I’m probably missing a couple other groups. Add classes, homework, group projects, and work to that mix.

Now that the musical is over, things should be pretty easy at work. I just have to make sure to secure the job so I can have it next semester. My boss already said I could have the job when I brought it up, but I figure reminding him every so often before the end of the semester would be a good idea.

I can always count on people around me to tell me how stressed I seem. You know it’s bad when you have friends telling you on a daily basis to chill out or take some time off. Finally being persuaded to spend some time relaxing, I took one day and canceled two meetings and moved two other meetings to different times. Trying to ignore most calls and texts, I ate dinner by myself and watched The Wrath of Khan in solitude. I enjoyed every minute of it. Despite being called an extrovert, I still like to think of myself as in introvert. I wanted some time alone (not to do homework) just to get my mind off everything. It left me feeling a little better; at least enough to last me through the rest of the week.

Now it’s Thanksgiving break. I’m spending it with a friend’s family in Oklahoma. By the time it came down to planning where I was going, I just wanted to get away from everyone and everything. That sounds really selfish...
There is a fine line somewhere in there that I’m still trying to figure out.



I sat down to write (NaNoWriMo, remember?) only to get nothing as far as inspiration goes. When I have time, I have no inspiration or desire to write. When I’m super busy, I have all the inspiration in the world. The stuff keeps me up at night until I tell myself I need to relax and get some sleep. Tis an merciless cycle.


The thing is, even when I do take a break from things, my mind still plagues me. I’ll be thinking about problems others are having and how I can help or different plans that need to be made or things on my to-do list (both short term and long term) and how I can accomplish them.
The truth of the matter is, I can never really get away from everything.



(cool points to whoever can correctly guess what these pics are from)




There is comfort in knowing God is in control, but that’s after I remind myself of that. I want to do everything on my own. For some reason, I feel that I have to. “No one else is going to do it for you.” Or “If you want something done right, do it yourself.” So I do. I automatically try to take care of others and help them with their problems in addition to juggling my own. If someone asks for help, I’ll drop what I’m doing and take on that as well. Tis no wonder I get so worn out. But I can’t stop, oh no. I can’t neglect anyone, otherwise I’ll be letting them down and that’s the last thing I want to happen.

*sigh*

Then I take a deep breath and remember why I became a Christian: because I was sick of trying to handle life on my own.

Looks like I’m still learning. =/

Don’t get me wrong I enjoy helping people. I’m thankful for the chance to help someone in need. I love my job. I’m thankful for the education I’m getting. I lament the fact that I let other things take priority over homework time and I have to rush through the material. I’m thankful for my friends and teachers. I’m thankful for the different groups I get to be part of. I’m thankful for my immediate physical family and I long for the day I can be with them again. I’m thankful for my spiritual family, life would be 10 times more difficult without them. I’m thankful for my extended physical family (hi grandma!) and the fact that I can stay in contact with them better now that I’m stateside. I’m thankful for my awesome friend who let me stay with her family for Thanksgiving. Maybe before the end of the week I can force myself to relax before the final stretch of school. Maybe. There’s a slight chance I’m going to go Black Friday shopping. *shudders* (20 years with a spotless record for what? That’s the question.)
With any luck, I’ll live to see Christmas break. I’m guessing I won’t be able to fully relax till I’m on the plane ride home.

~ Always Hope ~
~ Never Alone ~
~ Endurance and Victory ~

Toccata-Carpimus Noctem - Trans-Siberian Orchestra

*Plays Epona's Song first*

Excitemenet all around.
I got to spend the weekend with some amazing people. It was nice just to get away from college for a while. One of my friends invited me to go to her family’s house for a cookout. It was awesome. 1) Christian fellowship. 2) Home cooked meals. 3) No pressing homework. 4) More home cooked meals. 5) The good fire smell on your clothes after a bonfire.



I think what I found most entertaining was the way the family members interacted with each other. There were some pretty hilarious moments. I missed my family a lot afterwards. I have to remind myself what I’m here for. I need to finish what I started.
On that note, I finished two scarves this semester. I’m almost finished with a third one. One gets a lot of crocheting done one a 3 ½ hour trip.

After I get back, boom. Halloween. I went through today without incident, for which I’m grateful. I dressed up as Malon from Legend of Zelda. Costumes are like jokes; they don’t have the same meaning if you have to explain them. And that I did.



I had a bottle (jar, technically speaking) and everything! All I was missing was Epona and Link. Ah well, they are surely on an adventure of some sort to save Hyrule. In the meantime, I shall stay here, singing and dreaming...



At least I didn’t dress up as some totally ambiguous character from an unpublished story *cough* ISC Hanna *cough*
<_< >_> *whispers* Though I’ll admit, I loved being Hanna. ^_^
*ahem* I had a good time.



With the beginning of November comes the start of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). Like I said before, I’m not planning on finishing, but I want to get farther along in some of my half-written stories. To any other writers out there taking on this quest, may you always find a pen and pad when you need them and overcome every writer’s block.

~ Always Hope ~

Waving Flag - K'naan

I probably should have updated this a while ago, but it’s been crazy since I’ve been home.

Potluck, Ladies’ Day, guests, jetlag, plumbing, cleaning day, dish days, cherries, hot water, cold water, word wars… yeah. Busy.

I’ve already gotten more than 55 hours in for my field lab. I haven’t even started reading my book for the book report yet.

My siblings have certainly made me feel at home



Notice how many sheets of paper they used? That thing is HUGE! :P

Getting back on track has been like trying to follow a sleep-deprived writer's train of thought.
Try it sometime.

But even now, I am soooo glad to be back home.
It's like time traveling back to my own time-period.
...not that anyone other than Marty McFly would really know how that feels, but you get the point.

Oh how I've missed the simple things of home, such as properly built swings. I have no earthly idea why Americans can't make a decent swing set. Sure, half the time our swings are broken and missing, but when they're there, they're awesome! I can swing, crochet, and listen to music without losing my balance for almost an hour. And when I stand up, my legs don't feel like they're going to fall off.

Ok, I've finished my swing rant.



Anyway,
The Ladies' Day we had went exceptionally well. my sister, mother, and I led a few songs and each presented a lesson.


Over the past few days, we've only had hot water on one side of the apartment because a pipe somewhere or other broke. So I've been told. The only way they could get to it was through our bathroom, so we had to have our toilet moved and part of the wall taken down so they could get to it. They fixed it in one day, so that's commendable, but that left us to move our toilet from out of the bathtub and back where it belonged. Though we're going to need help reinstalling it. As soon as we got cold water on the other end of the apartment, they shut off the hot water for the building. A normal procedure around this time of year, but the timing was exceptional, don't you think?

********** UPDATE **********

So around 11pm someone comes to our door telling us that there’s water running in the basement. At 1am, my mother and I go with a neighbor lady to try and get someone to turn the water off. We’re on the first floor, so we can hear the water running outside our door. The stairway to the basement is locked, with a heavy-duty soviet padlock, no less. We go to the entrance next door and call all the people on the neighbor lady’s list of people to call in such cases. No one picks up their home phone, no one answers their cell phone, no one answers the door. We’re at this for a good 30-45 minutes. The lady decides that there is one other person she can call, but she left the number in her apartment. Now, we have yet to hear if anyone can come over and shut the water off. In the meantime, my mother’s doing laundry before we run out of water. I love how every day is an adventure. ^_^

********************


On a side note, I've been writing more. One of my goals this summer, and for this month in particular, is to get my ISC prequel done. I have notes all over the place that I've been meaning to fit in to an actual story format. It's coming along nicely, but I'm still writing in scenes instead of chronologically. Though the last four or five scenes have been written chronologically, so I'm making progress. ^_^

Oddly enough, I've been thinking more about world history. (( Random Prussia mention )) Wars and battles, mostly. Though that may be because the latest scenes I've been writing have been more battle oriented...


Another random note, I need to get back on a regular sleeping schedule...



Strength and Honor!

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye

It never fails, I always think of “Remember the Titans” when I hear this song. Which of course reminds me of my family.
I’m going home. It feels good to just to say it, even if it is only to myself every now and then.

It seems that it’s only when things slow down that they start to sink in. I was at a friend’s high school shindig on Friday night (I left Freed that morning) and I realized that I was subconsciously expecting to see Freedies. I guess in order to make up for that, my mind started playing FHU club cheers on repeat. I’m still adjusting to being away from Freed, apparently. It’s hard to believe I’ve been here a whole school year. My freshman year has passed fairly well. I made new friends, made some mistakes, learned life lessons, won a few victories, and lost a few battles along the way. And this was all compacted into one school year. Inconceivable!

Same issues, altered perspectives and updates: It’s still rock and roll to me.

What’s the matter with the clothes I’m wearing?
I’m fairly certain my style has changed a little since being in the states. I still pretty much wear jeans and t-shirt weekdays and a dress or skirt on Sundays, but now that’s not all my wardrobe consists of. Even I’m shocked.

What’s the matter with the car I’m driving?
I got to go driving twice in the past week. It hasn’t been too hard getting rides to places, it has been a little inconvenient when you can’t find a ride and you have to ask someone new. That’s probably just me though. *shrugs* I still miss my family’s van. Nothing can compare to that two ton mass of metal and power. I may yet figure out a way to get to my baby without too much hassle, assuming the gas prices ever take a nosedive over the next couple years.

Don’t waste your money on a new set of speakers. You get more mileage from a cheap pair of sneakers.
Last point confirmed.

What’s the matter with the crowd I’m seeing?
I have friends. I have a lot of friends. I have friends all over the world. It’s both astounding and encouraging to think about when you’re in a new place. Somewhere between last semester and this semester, I’ve become more social. I don’t know what the deal is, but apparently it’s a good thing… dependent on the crowd, of course.

Should I try to be a straight A student? If you are then you think too much.
There are certain areas that I want to be perfect. Grades are one of them. Whereas last semester I had good grades and almost no social life… I got the social life part this semester. You can guess what that led to, academically speaking. Ah well, let’s assume I’m going to be working harder next semester, because I plan on it. Along that line, I’m hoping for an actual job as well, so we’ll see how that goes.

Until the Lord comes, the world keeps spinning. People are still people. Situations don’t change. People don’t change. How you deal with them changes.

~ Always Hope ~

Kryptonite – Three Doors Down

Welcome, wondering wayfarer and weary wanderer.

Salutations and joyous greetings, for to read this note is to mean that you still follow my ever shifting, yet repetitive, train of thought. If you don’t always follow the train, at least you are attempting to follow the tracks thereof. If even the tracks are too hidden, follow the footprints, for I often lose my train and have to go find it again myself.

As much as I enjoy my time here, I find myself feeling more and more worn and spent as the days go on. My usually high patience and tolerance levels are getting nearer to the brink of breaking. Sometimes I think my concern for others and/or compassion is not as prominent as it once was. I shall refrain from saying I feel like “butter scraped over too much bread.” However, I will attest to needing a long holiday. Not permanent (as much as I would or would not wish it so), just long enough to rejuvenate my being. After being enveloped in this foreign society for such an extended period of time, I need time to refocus.

It’s hard to believe that it has already been nearly an entire school year.
Crazy! Impossible! Yet true.
So much has happened in what feels has been a short time.
I’ve made more friends that I ever thought was humanly possible. I have faced challenges I refused to believe would ever exist.

In some instances, I took a leap of faith. In others, I firmly held my ground. Still others, (more than I would care to admit) I hovered over a choice, too afraid to fly and too stubborn to stay down.

In the end, I want to be able to say that I helped the many people I came in contact with, I went beyond what was asked of me, and I put forth my best effort in everything I put my hand to.
When I look back though, all I can really say is that I only did what was asked of me. There were a few times when I went the extra half a mile, perhaps even the full mile, to help a friend or even someone I knew would most likely not repay me (though I hoped they would, thus kept track of it anyway). I will be the first to admit fault, though the last to vocalize it. Perhaps I am too hard on myself.

Ah well, come, come, tis time for more lively talk.

Finals are just around the corner, but the last few weeks have been packed with more than school requirements. Some of you may yet know that I have had an ear infection in both ears for the past three weeks. The first week I pretty much ignored the irritation and assumed it to be due to the cold I had. Soon enough, the cold disappeared in importance as the pain in my ears was robbing me of music, peace, and sleep. Apparently I can be surpassingly stubborn. Finally being persuaded to see the doctor, I was given medication (not before nearly passing out and accidentally breaking a vase, but tis a story for another time) and a doctor’s note for the two classes I missed. I do believe one of the more prominent thoughts during that time was, “So this is what lightheadedness feels like. I don’t like it.” The next week, I went back and found that the infection was still there, thus was prescribed stronger antibiotics. Thankfully, the last time I went back, he said that the infection had cleared up significantly and unless the symptoms returned, I did not have to see him again. Oddly enough, I’ve been twice as quiet as I normally am in this period of time. Ah well, silence is my strong suit anyway.

Hmm, that paragraph did not sound as lighthearted as I had hoped. Let’s try again.

Last weekend, I watched the Shakespearean play “The Taming of the Shrew” and its successor, “The Woman’s Prize.” I heartily agreed to write an article for the newspaper on the play. A few of my friends were in the play, thus making the information gathering process that much easier and the play that much more enjoyable to watch. In fact, I watched the play twice. The second time I went was the last time it was to be performed. After the performance, the actors were to stay and take down the set. Once I heard whoever was in charge mention that they needed people to grab drills, I promptly asked him if I could help. His hesitance was obvious (he asked me if I was incompetent, for crying out loud :P ), though I still managed to get my hands on a drill and start unscrewing what must have been a thousand screws holding the set together. Others had drills as well, of course. I cannot tell you enough how much I had missed working with wood and power tools. The last time I had done any significantly big project with wood was when I helped my father make a waterbed frame quite a few years ago. After the set was completely dismantled, the group was off to waffle house for a cast party. I got to go with them. ^_^

Then earlier this week, I met with a Bible teacher to discuss creating a field lab for when I go home. I can now get credit hours by helping the church back home. Of course, tis more technical than that. Some requirements include a daily journal, a 2-3-page book review, and a 5-7-page paper on the history of the church in Ukraine. This will help me gain credit hours for future reference, but more importantly, I’m hoping it will help me grow spiritually. By forcing myself to step outside my comfort zone, I will now grab hold of opportunities that I would normally let pass by.

People ask why I would do such a thing. Of course, they also ask what I’m going to do with my Computer Science degree. Sometimes I wish people could see the world the way I see it. Nay, there have been many times I wished such. For one thing, it would make my having to explain the “odd” things I do less tedious. Here is where the lack of patience part comes in. Where once before I would joyfully explain things, now tis to the point that I have to keep myself from becoming frustrated with the onslaught of questions. I enjoy questions, I truly do. Even the repetitive ones, they give me a chance to say the same thing several different ways and watch people’s reactions. But with some people, I find myself mentally screaming at them to stop. Tis a very nerve wrecking experience. In one instance, I want people to be more inquisitive, yet at the same time, I wish they would leave me alone. I am obviously not an extrovert.

Ack, I stumbled upon yet another stress relieving rant. My apologies. Let us continue on the positive path.

This weekend was eventful. Last night, I attended a formal banquet at the Hard Rock café with GTO, the insane Makin’ Music club I did the show with (by the by, I included a video of our performance below). After dinner, they gave out awards to various members of the club. Then today, I attended a Ladies’ Day one of the congregations in the area was hosting. The theme was “A worry free life,” a much-needed lesson by the looks of this post. The speaker had been working in Haiti for the past 15 years. Her example and lesson on how we should give our troubles and worries to God are a good reminder of what I’m really here for. Later today, GTO hosted FHU’s first ever Quidditch tournament. Yes, you read that right. The purpose in having a Quidditch tournament was to raise money for one of the local elementary schools.

Next weekend, I am participating in a walk to raise money to help Japan. I’ve been part of the planning committee for this walk for the past month. The goal is to raise $15,000 and the walk takes place May 7th. We’ve handed out fliers, made posters, written newspaper articles, and made chapel announcements for the event. This event is in collaboration with Soles4Souls, so people can donate shoes if they want, though this effort is really a push to send financial help.
And just because I’m a team player, feel free to check out the site. Donate if you wish, I promise not to hunt you down and give you poisoned cookies if you don’t (that’s EDJ’s job).

So, as you can very well see, there have been plenty of ups and downs in the last few weeks.
I’m sure there is much more to come, especially with finals and finally going home for some. To those who have helped my through this stressful time, I only hope I have not been too intolerable in return. If I have, you only have to put up with me for a couple more weeks. I shall return to my cheerfully optimistic self when I get home.

Until then…
Always Hope.

Last in Line - Dio

We are coming…. “home”

It’s hard to believe I have less than a week left.
A lot has happened since I’ve been back.

Cooking, cleaning, sewing, organizing, re-organizing, unpacking, packing, repacking.
Christmas, New Year, brother’s birthday, sister’s baptism.
Family time, game time, father/daughter time, mother/daughter time, sister time, brother time, pet time.

Busy.

The time to leave again is fast approaching, whether I’m ready for it or not. Another semester full of it’s own trials, tests, successes, failures, and joys shall soon be here.

It’s like being a part of two different worlds. Both worlds continue on within their own bubble. It’s like going between two different loops in programming, but that’s most likely not the most comprehensive comparison.

Ah well, either way, my time is running out.

My current estimate for how long I’ll be awake for the trip from here to the states: 38 hours

My Grown Up Christmas List - Kelly Clarkson

Did I worry you? No? Not even a little? Thought not.
It’s been nice being home again. Feels like I never left. My mother told me to “make myself at home.” Though she was probably kidding, that was the only part of the whole homecoming that made me feel foreign in my own home. Some things have changed, some things have not. The apartment is still standing, pretty much the same way I left it 7 months ago. There were new faces as well as old ones to welcome me home. Most of the customs are the same. A few new ones were put in place to make up for my absence. I no longer have a dish day. I suppose I should be happy about that, but I still manage to sneak in and do the dishes when I can. Washing the dishes is probably the only chore I have grown to love through sheer persistence. My siblings are just as annoying as always and I love them for it. A month is too short a time to be home.
There are certainly a few things I’ll have to adjust to, or at the very least put up with until I head back.

For instance, we now have a dog. I’m not really a dog person. It’s not that I don’t like them, it’s that I’ve never really been around them. I’ve had a cat for 12 years, what can I say? I’m still learning how to react to the cute little ball of fur.
Several times Joey, the dog, has hopped into my lap and started licking me. My reaction? “ACK! Save me! Get him off me! Help!”
As long as he quits licking me, I think we’ll be fine. I'm still not used to calling him Joey either. I'll usually call him puppy. There have been a few times where he'll walk into the room and I'll say, " 'ello, poppet." He's cute, just a little more energetic than I'm used to.

Due to all the events going on, we’ve postponed Christmas for a few days. No one here really minds, primarily because we just put the tree up yesterday. The house is still being decorated, but we have the Christmas music playing. Nonetheless, it’s still Christmas to many people. So Merry Christmas! Happy gift-giving, gift-getting, fruitcake-eating, caroling, and all the other traditional things people do on such and such a holiday. My favorite holiday was always Christmas. As I got older, it became more about the family time and snow than it was about actually getting the gifts. I enjoy making other people happy.

Heh, all I wanted for Christmas was to be with my family again. I’ve missed them. I've missed the random debates and crazy adventures. Just last night, I had a 30 minute conversation/friendly argument with my youngest sibling about which brother is better: Luigi or Mario. Today, Christy and I witnessed a creepy red light hovering over the ground in the distance when we took Joey out at night. Then I saved my sisters from a spider. Good times, good times.

As it turns out, I was probably on one of the last planes that made it out of Paris before they had to cancel all their flights. I'm glad I got home when I did. I'm thankful for my family.

~ Never Alone ~

Journey to the Past – Anastasia Soundtrack

Ah, so close, and yet so far away.

Tis still a long, long, way from home.

Yesterday, I woke up early, 6 or 7ish, and said goodbye to my future roomie. Then I fell back asleep, woke up late, sold the rest of my books, and had lunch.
I got to drive around with epic nerds and just as epic music. I thoroughly enjoyed that trip. ^_^
After I got back, I spent most of my time packing.
I had the beautiful opportunity to help two friends in need, one with finding a ride and the other with moving heavy/awkwardly shaped objects from one dorm to another.
I then got to see parts of 3 different movies from 3 different dorms, Scott – Up, Bradfield – Despicable Me, Dixon – Ponyo. And we had cake. ^_^

I can think of no other way to spend the last full day here.
Well, I probably could, but why spoil blessing with wishful thinking?

This morning I got up early and finished packing before I went to breakfast.
Ugh, breakfast… it shall be the death of me one of these days. It doesn’t matter what it is, how much of it I eat (or how little), or what time I eat it. I detest breakfast. Call it the most important meal of the day if you will, I’ll hold out for lunch.

After calling my parents, I finished organizing, cleaning, and packing. That last part was only a hassle because of the evil flight restrictions. Pack, weigh, repack, weigh, repack, weigh, repack, weigh. Now to head off to the airport. It’ll be just like old times… only with less family… a lot less family…

I believe it’s time for me to fly.

Home Sweet Home – Motley Crue

Finals are upon us all.

Ok, so not really upon everyone who reads this, but close enough.

I should be worried, but I’m relaxing. I should be stressed, but I’m chilling. I should be frenzied, but I’m… pacing.
Pacing: one of my favorite hobbies when I’m deep in thought.

My mind has been on shutdown today ever since my last class. Thus, I know I won’t be able to get any profitable studying in, yet I detest sitting idle for too long.

After dinner, I explored the art building for the first time, watched Home Alone for the tenth time, ran across an open field and mostly deserted street, watched people play video games, played video games with them, paced both inside and outside the dorm lobby, and started writing two new songs.

Yeah, I’m fairly certain I’m just sleep deprived at this point. At least I get to sleep in tomorrow. Oh, how I miss home. I can’t wait to go back. Not to say I don’t like it here, but home is where the heart is.

Earlier in the semester, the ever so rare breaks were closer to Everybody’s Working For The Weekend, but now I’m ready for an actual chance to Drift Away.

Hey, it could happen.


~Always Hope~