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I'm Feeling: a little sleepy, but excited
Background Noise: Isn't It Love by Andrew Peterson
So many reasons to party and be excited today.
Number 1: Dana's bachelorette party is tonight, and not only do I get to help her celebrate her upcoming wedding, but I get to go to a Tigers game (first time ever) and hang out with a bunch of really fabulous women who love Jesus. Awesome.
Number 2: Yesterday was the last freshman AOP of the summer, and this afternoon is the last transfer orientation (at least for a month)!!! Can't explain the relief of that - not that it wasn't fun, but I really need to do my other work, and it was starting to get hard to find classes for everyone. Just nice to have a break.
Number 3: Mark comes home today!! I won't see him until after Dana's party, but I'm still totally geeked to have my best friend back. I missed him hard while he was gone.
Number 4: We leave tomorrow for Upper Peninsula Bible Camp, to be counselors! I'm excited/nervous... don't really know what to expect. Mark loves this camp though, and all the stories I've heard are fabulous. The only not exciting part is our ETD... 6am. OUCH!
On that note, I leave you with what may well be my last blog post for awhile... we won't be back from camp up North til Saturday, when we head straight for Dana and Dave's wedding... I honestly have no idea how many people actually read this, but I'll miss you all! :)
Thought for the day: Is there anything you have a habit of doing that you'd like to stop? Not necessarily a bad habit, but one that can sometimes get you into tricky places? Me - I like to share with people - things that are going on, experiences, conversations, emotions... sometimes I think my mouth is too stinking big. I need to learn how to close it - "Don't let anyone look down upon you because you are young, but set an example for believers in SPEECH, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity." 1Timothy 4:12 Awesome verse.
I'm Feeling: air conditioned
Background Noise: Fever by Eva Cassidy
Yesterday afternoon I was not in the office because our new best friend, Andy from Ultimate Comfort was at our house, installing our very own 2.5 ton, 10 seer American Standard air conditioner (don't ask me what any of that means, but isn't it awfully impressive that I know it at all??) It took a ridiculously long time (they came at 8:45am and weren't completely done until almost 4pm) but I feel like we just got a whole new house. It's cool, which is great, but our front door has to stay shut now, which is a little sad. Mark and I like to leave that wide open most days (and we still will when it's cool enough to turn off the AC). It just feels friendlier that way. One more step toward adulthood (or one more way we are posing as adults, however you want to view it).
I also had the most fun evening last night. My friend Dana is getting married a week from Saturday, and I had no dress/outift to wear - so Emily, Dana and I had dinner and hit the mall. Sounds pretty average - but wait! We played "movie star" at NY & Company, found some attractive bustiers at Charlotte Russe, started planning the formal New Year's Eve party Mark and I are apparently having at our house, and tried on a total of 15 or 20 dresses at Marshall Field's between the 3 of us (including 10-20 dollar ball gowns - literally princess dresses on clearance). We also nearly got locked in the store, because we were still in the dressing rooms when the lights went out. Emily and I got to sit in the massage chairs on the way out of the mall, and we raced pennies. It might be hard for others to appreciate the magic of the evening - but it was an excellent rainy Wednesday evening in my books. Thanks for making last night totally fun, ladies!!
Thought for the Day: If you could pick any one thing to happen to you today, what it would be?
I'm Feeling: like eating an ice cream sundae
Background Noise: To Make You Feel My Love by Trisha Yearwood
Today is Cow Appreciation Day!! I haven't decided yet what to do to celebrate cows - although the 4-H fair is going on at the MSU Pavilion this week, so I could stop in and visit cows if I had the time. I really don't have much going on after work today. Cows always remind me of my friend Stephanie - we went to middle school and high school together. She was a crack-up... we were awfully silly together. And Steph loved cows. She had cow slippers and cow statues and cow pajamas and cow pencils and cards and notebooks...
Mark left for the UP today - he's going camping with his HOSA officers in Houghton (way the heck up near Canada, for those unfamiliar with MI geography). He'll get back on Friday afternoon, just in time for us to leave 6 am Saturday morning for Little Lake (also in the UP). Crazy, I know, but there's no way around it. So I'm a single gal this week - gonna go shopping, catch up with some friends, and attend a bachelorette party - should be a fun week.
Thought for the day: If you could start up an "appreciation day" what would you choose to appreciate?
I'm Feeling: accomplished
Background Noise: I'll Be by Edwin McCain
See how big Kermit is smiling? That's what my heart (and let's face it, my pride) was doing this weekend, now that I can officially call myself a waterskiier. I've gotten up on skis before, but never long enough to say that I actually "skied." Although I'm proud of myself, I'm also minorly embarrassed, because I've never heard of another soul who had to try for SOOO long to get up on skis. Most people aren't that impressed when they hear about my accomplishment, because they either think "No biggie, I've been skiing since I was like 10," or simply because they don't understand the devastating process I've had to go through to get here. I could give you all kinds of reasons why it was so stinking hard for me to do (no upper body strength, I have a really high center of gravity, dancing since I was 3 has taught me to balance in my toes - which makes you fall over when trying to ski...) but I will spare you my excuses. Let's just say - after a couple hundred fruitless attempts - I have skied multiple times on Wixom Lake, am learning to navigate jumping the wake (totally fun, I just have a 50/50 chance of falling over when I do that), and that I like actually skiing significantly better than trying to ski. So much more fun it's not even funny.
I'm working on putting together my class for the fall today - I get to teach a freshman seminar called "So You Want to Go to Law School" and I'm pumped. But August is sneaking up on me faster than I was intending, so I have some catching up to do. This week is also the last week of AOP, which is fantastic! Life at work will hopefully start to return to normal soon - whatever that means.
I'm Feeling: a little like Eeyore
Background Noise: Still Not Ready by Eva Cassidy
Just having one of those days where I feel a little gloomy. No good reason at all - I got beautiful flowers from my husband last night, had a homemade blueberry and raspberry smoothie while playing Dominos, had fun at AOP this morning, helped a dad and daughter figure out her schedule (those situations can go either way - it's always a plus to have a pleasant parental interaction), and got to talk to my little sis for a while. Despite all of this... I feel blue.
Luckily - the people around me don't seem to be picking up on it. That's a good thing - the only thing worse than feeling bad is when your bad feelings make other people feel bad. Follow? It's almost the weekend, I'm sure I'll snap out of it soon. Here's hoping you're feeling cheerful and energetic this fine July day.
I'm Feeling: mellow
Background Noise: All Blues by Kenny Burrell
Today, July 13th is French Fries Day... I don't really eat french fries much, but I thought it good to acknowledge that they have a "day." Yesterday was Barn Day, which I totally missed (bummer!) and our friends Mike and Kristen's 8th anniversary!! Congrats - we love you both so much!!
I'm glad it's Wednesday, for a number of reasons. The week is about half over (great!). I got free lunch today in Case Hall after AOP (okay, it's dorm food, but the salad bar is decent, and there's always fresh fruit!). I get to have a date with my husband tonight. We've set aside Wednesdays as date nights... we always thought we'd be that couple that could get away without needing "date night" - that we'd be able to spend enough quality time together of our own volition... but we were wrong. Our lives are ridiculously busy throughout the year - with stuff and people we love... and Wednesday nights have become a refuge for me in the middle of the week. I really look forward to a night alone with Mark - I think we are gonna play tennis tonight, get some dinner on our Applebee's gift card (thanks, Amy!) and watch a movie. Just sounds nice to me - except the part where I get my ego handed to me after playing Mark in tennis... but I think I'm tough enough to take a beating.
Thought for the day: What part of your week (or regular routine) do you look forward to?
I'm Feeling: a little stressed out
Background Noise: Cold Cold Heart by Norah Jones
I had transfer orientation yesterday, which is always a joy (said sarcastically) - especially at this point in the summer because so many courses have been filled. It took almost 3 hours to enroll 10 students, which is not normal. Everyone seemed to be in a bit of a funk yesterday too - that happens sometimes where an entire group of people with no real connection seem to be having the same emotions running through them. Grumpy. However, everyone left reasonably satisfied and enrolled in courses that would count for their major. And yet I receieve a phone call this morning informing me that the mother of one student was yelling at other orientation staff, demanding that her daughter see an advisor individually, and telling people that I had refused to talk to her daughter one-on-one. Granted, this young lady was very confused about which major she should declare, and it turns out that PoliSci is almost definitely NOT the one for her... none of Angry Mom's accusations or stories were true. In fact, her daughter left the lab after speaking with me rather extensively about her requirements and major options, and she left with a smile on her face! It's amazing how quickly things get twisted around. At any rate - that's a really deflating way to start the day, even where there is little to no truth in what someone else says about you.
I'm trying to refocus and readjust my perspective - but I really just feel like napping. Why does mental/emotional upkeep always seem to sap my energy? Ah well... just a few more hours. I got to work early today, so I'm heading out early - I like days like that!!
I'm Feeling: well rested and peaceful
Background Noise: If You're Gonna Play in Texas by Alabama
Who can call their summer complete without seeing at least part of a parade created around the near-worship of a fruit? Mark and I took our annual anniversary trip to Traverse City this weekend, and as usual, caught the end of the National Cherry Festival - which is always fun/funny to witness. The parade is full of local organizations, including children dressed as Disney characters, adult men dressed as Miss Piggy and playing the trumpet, and every pageant winner from around the state that one could imagine - the Apple Queen, the Bavarian Queen... I think there was even a Queen of Asparagus... and of course, the National Cherry Queen.
It was a wonderfully relaxing weekend - Mark and I slept in, worked out hard, ate at Don's Drive In, bought some delicious cherry-flavored goodies, bought Mark a new shirt, went to the beach, ate at the Peninsula Grill, went to a movie, and slept in some more. I've found that my heart has a large soft spot for Traverse City - after six HOSA State conferences and three anniversary trips... there are lots of memories and smiles and fun times that took place in TC. Praise God for weekends like this one - I think we both needed to wind down and relax with each other.
On an altogether separate, but equally exciting (at least in the Burley household) note... only 5 more days til Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince comes out!!
I'm Feeling: warm - I just hiked all over campus and Grand River Ave.
Background Noise: Over the Rainbow by Melvin Amina
I wanted to clarify yesterday's post - in no way was I trying to communicate that I am not a happy person. I thought about that as I was writing it, but was hoping it wouldn't come across that way. I think it did, despite my efforts. I meant to say that I'm not sure that one of the first things people notice about me is that I'm happy. I want it to be. Seems like an excellent thing for someone to notice. Correction noted!
On that note, I had a really good night last night. I got some much needed cleaning (perhaps purging is a better word) done in our bedroom, I had a long chat with Dana and Hammer, I got to drive Brooks and Backus to Mason High School (all the Greater Lansing Young Life groups are going to camp at Rockbridge this week in Virginia, so we saw them all off), and I got to talk to Katie, Chelsea, Shannon, Meredith, Joe, Drew and Tony while I was there - it was good to see them and even more great to talk to them. I think sometimes I forget how much I like interacting with people, learning about them and caring about them. Maybe it's because sometimes it seems like such hard work, and other times I think I feel like I barely have a grip on myself, so I'm in no position to offer anything to someone else. Ridiculous, and straight from Satan's mouth to my ears, I know... Hopefully the prodigious feeling I had last night will linger to remind me that those self-defeating thoughts are lies from the Enemy. I ended the night a little cranky, which is a grossly unfortunate and inappropriate cap to my evening - sorry, Mark. I'm all better now! :)
Thought for the day: My favorite restaurant in Traverse City is the Peninsula Grill - we go there almost every time we're up North, and we get to eat there this weekend - yahoo!! Where's your favorite place to eat on vacation?
I'm Feeling: like being happy
Background Noise: Piano Medley III by Scott Rider
Don't Scott, Heather and Ashley look happy? This may seem like a stupid, thank you Captain Obvious kind of statement, but I like happy people. They're much more pleasant to deal with than cranky folks, and they tend to rub off on those around them.
I got to thinking about this last night (Mark and I were at Red Lobster for our anniversary dinner), and we were talking about first impressions of each other. One of his first impressions of me was that I was really happy. I wondered if that was something he (or anyone else) would still say about me... at least in a first impression. Made me feel kinda silly - why would I not want to put the happiest foot forward, and have people walking away from me, and whatever else they may be thinking about me - also think "That Kate Burley is a happy gal." Hm. My food for thought today. Phillipians 2:14 says to do everything without complaining or arguing, which is hard enough - but is that all I really want to strive for? Proverbs has 4 different verses specifically about being cheerful - not just "not whiny." It's easy to not think about the impact of your feelings on others... "I'M the one who's sad," right? I guess I'm saying I'd like to get back to where I was six years ago in this area - and be someone that others will see as cheerful and happy from their very first impression.
Thought for the day: If you could, in retrospect, thank one person for what they taught you, who would it be, and what would you thank them for?
I'm Feeling: can't pin it down Background Noise: Lucky 4 You by SheDaisy
We were in Venice, CA all weekend (Friday til Tuesday), Becker and Bibi (Becker and Mark were both Marketing majors at MSU, and both cheered together at State). It was really fun, although I am really tired. I want to stay at home, quietly, and get some things done. That's not really in the cards though... we're up to Traverse City on Friday for the weekend to celebrate our 3rd anniversary - which is today! I can't believe it's been three years already - sheesh. I know it sounds so cliche, but time really does fly by sometimes.
AOPed it again today - and tomorrow and Friday as well... I'll be happy when it's over, although I am having fun. I just feel like there is a lot of other stuff to get done that isn't happening because of AOP.
