whirlwind, anyone?

I'm Feeling: the calm before the proverbial storm!
Background Noise: I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye

Busy week/weekend - here is a quick run-down:
Thursday:
Cedar Point! We dodged the rain almost the entire time (thanks, God!) and rode the Raptor twice, the Magnum, the Millenium Force twice, a couple of really wet water rides, the Gemini, the Twister, Distaster Transport twice, and Top Thrill Dragster (pictured). I have never screamed in such genuine fear as I did on that ride. It was fun, but it's more than mildly terrifying to go from 0 to 120 mph in 4 seconds, and be shot up 400 feet in the air, only to plummet back down. The plummeting is my favorite part, by far.

Friday:
Job interview (no news yet, I'll keep you posted)
Sleepover with 5 middle school friends - Nat, Courtney, Huntar, Maria and Christy. We had chocolate fondue, set up a bracket for Connect Four (look out - we know how to party!) and ate cookie dough while watching Harry Potter. My life is pretty good.

Saturday:
Cleaned up from the tornado that swept my house the night before
Dinner and church with Chris and Mark
Dairy Hill for ice cream (yum!)
watched a movie

Sunday:
spent our life savings at Meijer (we should buy stock)
planted flowers/plants and pulled weeds
cleaned the house so as to impress our new friends Dan and Suzanne
had dinner with Dan and Suzanne - again, lots of fun, laughing, getting to know each other a little better. They're fun, and their kid is fun. What else could you ask for?

Today:
Catching up on emails/voicemails, seeing some students before I leave for...

Tomorrow:
WyldLife camp at TimberWolf Lake! Seriously fun - but I need to pack and get my act together before tomorrow morning!!

confessions of a mid-twenties wacko

I'm Feeling: like a hungry monster lives in my belly
Background Noise: Beautiful by Bethany Dillon

I have a confession to make. (sidenote: blogging is really good for stuff like this - it doesn't seem like you're talking to anyone, so you can say whatever you like, but at the same time, you know you're spilling your guts about necessary things. Sidenote finished).

My confession: I've been really emotional/mood-swingy lately. Not a clue why. Everyone's first response: "Are you pregnant?" Nope. Second response: "Are you PMS-ing?" Not for two weeks straight, unless my body is reacting to some sort of radiation that has exposed me to unheard-of hormone levels. Third response: "Are you exercising regularly?" Not exactly, but then, I never really have, so there's no reason why my body should suddenly decide to freak out about it.

I'm a person who likes being busy, I like having lots of things to do... but I also like to have some measure of control over those things. Right now in my life - there are a few things that seem so far beyond my control - things that need to be decided, things that need to change, things that I've been dealing with for a long time that don't ever seem to resolve themselves... I've psycho-analyzed myself and decided that this combination is why I've become an emotional pod-person.

In summary - please offer up some prayers for me - I need peace, I need to turn things over to God's sovereign hands, and I need patience as some things will only work themselves out with time. And Mark needs prayer too, because he has to live with me through all this.

If we hang out in the near future, and I (out-of-the-blue) get all weird and teary-eyed and quiet... just wait a few minutes, try to make me laugh, and know that it has nothing to do with you.

(p.s. the picture is of an ancient confessional - where you pour out your guts to the priest... not some scary haunted jail or something, which is what I think it kinda looks like...)

soup and interviews

I'm Feeling: so full
Background Noise: hallway chatter + James Taylor's crooning

We always go to Olive Garden when our friends at work have birthdays - so Jane, Jen, Kay and I went out to eat today for Kay's birthday (which is next week, but schedules demanded an early celebration). Delicious. It's also a really funny group of people - I'm the youngest by about 18 years, and Kay is a techie, Jen works in Career Services, and Jane and I are both more student affairs-y people. But mostly, we all laugh a lot at stupid things and have a good time.

I have a job interview on Friday - still at MSU, just working in a different department doing slightly different things. Job interviews stink - and I'm not sure if knowing that people are "talking me up" prior to the interview makes me feel better or worse. Is it better to keep expectations low or to have their opinion already be formed that you're amazing so that it doesn't matter what you say? At any rate - pray for Friday!! Updates are forthcoming.

I need a break from work, I think. Good thing we're going to Cedar Point this week and camp next week, otherwise I might lose my mind.

conjunctiva = kangaroo?

I'm Feeling: chipper
Background Noise: The Rain in Bombay by Caedmon's Call

Okay... so this morning was the last official morning of freshman AOP (academic orientation program, for those not up on MSU's acronyms) for the summer. Hooray indeed. I love AOP, but this week has been exhausting, for some reason. A couple of students this morning almost made me twitch... so I was looking for some kind of interesting picture to post today, and I typed "eye twitch" into Google - and this came up. I had no idea that any part of my body could be compared to the pouch on a kangaroo, let alone my conjunctiva.

I had a stellar night last night - I completed my first original watercolor painting (as an adult), had cheeseburgers with the Grangers, spent time with Jay the Cowboy, and had coffee with my new friend Cheryl. Cheryl and her husband Dale have lived in Mason for 14 years, they have a farm with pigs and lambs and cats and dogs, and they have 3 kids - 2 in college, 1 at Mason High School. They're awesome - I had a really good time with Cheryl last night. Hopefully there will be a second date.

I'm saying that a lot lately. Maybe too much for a married lady. Good thing Mark is not the jealous type.

nerds and insults

I'm Feeling: cerebral
Background Noise: Fear by Sarah McLachlan


So I found a link to a quiz online that will tell you how "nerdy" you are. I think that the very fact that I clicked on the link makes me a nerd. And the fact that I by no means need a computer program to tell me I'm a nerd. I scored in the 76th percentile - meaning I'm nerdier than 76% of the people out there. Does it make me nerdier that I like being nerdy - or does that make me cool because I'm OK with myself... ??

Moving on... we had dinner with Dan and Suzanne last night - Mark managed to tell them that the way they met and started dating was lame, and I think I left half of my dinner in their fondue pot. And it was a blast - great food, really cool kid to hang out with, and we laughed an awful lot together. Which is cool, because hanging out with new people for the first time is always a little nerve-wracking. I think there will be a second date though... we'll have to think about how we can possibly offend them next time... :)

i heart ribs!

I'm Feeling: anticipatory
Background Noise: This Charming Man by DeathCab for Cutie

I had the most delicious barbecued ribs EVER this weekend, courtesy of my brother's not-so-secret love affair with grilling. Seriously - they were amazing. And I think every one of us who ate them fell asleep for at least 5 minutes within an hour of our meal. We were all so sleepy-content-full.

I have a feeling this is going to be one of those weeks where you're busier than you think you are... I have some big stuff to plan, people to see, work to do - hopefully it all goes smoothly. Just gotta keep perspective - big picture over details. My problem is - I like details. I like little things that make all the difference. However, I think detail-lovers also tend to be stressed out. I'd rather not be stressed out this week.

It's supposed to be 92 degrees today. Hooray for sweating when you're not even moving!

sweeping the clouds away...

I'm Feeling: useful
Background Noise: If This Is Love by Deana Carter

On Tuesday, the FedEx delivery lady stopped by my office, which is unusual. Even more unusual, she left me the box that was sent from FTD.com - which means that it was full of flowers. In two years of working here - not once have flowers come to my office.

I find these lovely yellow flowers inside, with a fun green vase, and a note from an MSU student whom I've never met, but been in contact with via email for the past 9 months or so, helping her sort out her various graduation issues and anxieties.

They make a very sunny addition to my office, and it's always nice to get a token of appreciation from the students I work with.

In other news, I got to take an unexpected road trip last night. Mark called (he's camping in Irons, MI with his HOSA state officers this week) and asked if I could meet him in Clare (halfway to Irons, about 90 minutes from Mason) to bring him an extra set of car keys, as his are now somewhere at the bottom of the Pine River. So I spent three hours on 127 last night in my un-air-conditioned car... luckily, I had nothing else planned for the evening (except bury my nose in my new book that I'm addicted to...) And this way, my husband is able to drive himself home today. I like him enough to not want him stranded in Irons, MI indefinitely.

still kickin'

I'm Feeling: out of the loop - it's been too long!!
Background Noise: Why Walk When You Can Fly by Mary Chapin Carpenter

Here's what's happened in the last 7 days since I posted:
Worked on Thursday (Hooray for AOP) and Friday morning
Friday afternoon: Destination: Uncle Tom's Cabin
All weekend: eating, waterskiing, roasting marshmallows, hanging out with Mark's family, trying to not let the sun get me again (unsuccessful - my nose on Sunday would have put Rudolph to shame)
Monday: more AOP, then home to clean up a little and watch a North Country (in the picture)

I like movies a lot, and I try to rent one or two when Mark goes out of town (as he is now, and will be next week) - it gives me something fun to do while he's gone, and I can rent movies that he wouldn't normally be crazy about watching.

North Country is about the class-action sexual harrassment lawsuit brough by the women working in the mines in Northern Minnesota in the late 1980s. I thought it was really well-done... It's definitely not an "enjoyable" movie, but it kept me watching the whole time. That's $3.50 well spent. 

"Take THAT," says the sun...

I'm Feeling: a little warmer and sorer than usual...
Background Noise: You Call It Madness by Nat King Cole

This weekend, the mighty sun scoffed at my SPF 45 sunscreen and gave me a lovely pink hue... it's not a bad sunburn, but it's making me minorly uncomfortable right now.

Despite my minor skin afflictions - I had a great weekend - Mark and I were in Traverse City for 2 days, celebrating our anniversary (tomorrow = 4 years of marriage!) - we ate great food, met some new people, chatted with old friends, and watched the Blue Angels twice - with some of the best seats in the "house!"

Then we went to Uncle Tom's Cabin (yes, Mark's uncle Tom has a cabin near Midland) and we ate more, waterskied, went tubing, helped around the house a little, ate marshmallows around the campfire, watched fireworks from out on the lake, and generally had a great time.

We got home last night and went to watch Mason's fireworks with our neighbors - which was really fun except for the part where a rogue firework nearly killed people sitting around waiting for the show to start. It's crazy that people were lighting things like that off in such a big crowd. Luckily, it didn't appear that anyone was hurt seriously at all. Just mad and scared - understandably.

How was your holiday weekend??

no place like it

I'm Feeling: chilly - the temp has dropped 12 degrees in the past hour...
Background Noise: Welcome Home by Shaun Groves

This is our house. We've lived there for over 2 years now, and I absolutely love it.
What do you think makes people feel at home? I've been thinking about how different people and places can make me feel more or less "at home." Sometimes I feel less at home because the person or place is new - but sometimes I meet someone and feel instantly connected. Or I walk into a new place and am immediately peaceful.

Sometimes I am less at home because of a known or obvious point of contention... when you feel judged, or know that you think differently about things than the people around you... being misunderstood definitely draws away from that "homey" feeling...

I've been thinking about this since I came back from my "home - home" this weekend - i.e. my parents' house, where I grew up. I am comfortable when I walk in, and I know the house well... but there are moments when I distinctly think to myself, "this is not my real life." It's not my home anymore.

What/where/who is your home? What makes it home?

pigs, relatives & other worlds

I'm Feeling: even-keel (sp?)
Background Noise: My Girl by The Temptations

So that's our friend Cory, pretending to eat the pig that was de-boned and roasted in his backyard. Mostly, the picture just looks mildly psychotic - check out his eyes!! :) But, all creepy-ness aside, the pig was dee-licious, and Cory's really not crazy.

I had a big weekend - battled traffic on the way home to Chicagoland on Friday, hung out with the parents and my sister - then went to visit all 3 grandparents. Here's a brief update:

My dad's mom is in a nursing home (independent care for now) because of Alzheimer's. She's pretty darn lucid still, but definitely shrinking. The top of her head came up to my ribcage.

My mom's mom is never going to die, I think. She's tough, loves to talk, and knocks the breath out of you when she hugs you. Also shrinking, though.

My mom's dad had a stroke almost 3 years ago - he's been in a nursing home ever since - can't really talk, and has no function on the left side of his body. I don't get to see him nearly as often as I should, but it rips my heart out a little each time I do. He was so strong. But he loves us to visit, and he smiles more than I ever remember him doing when I was a kid.

It was good to hang out with my sister, brother, sister-in-law, mom, dad and assorted relatives. We laughed A LOT over the weekend - mostly because my sister and I can be massively obnoxious. But funnny. So funny.

Do you ever feel like different parts of your life exist completely independent of one another? Like you bounce from one universe to the next as you move between them? I get that feeling a lot when I visit my home... some kind of strange, parallel universe. The weirdest part is that I grew up there.

rainy days

I'm Feeling: good-worn-out
Background Noise: Gilmore Girls on the TV

Check out Mark's miraculous dive from this weekend!!

Half day of work today, then went to the movies (saw Cars - very funny) with Christy, Huntar and Stephanie. I just love hanging out with those girls - can't believe they're going into 8th grade!!

I think the rain and gloom have sapped my energy today... thinking of hitting Beaner's this evening for a pick-me-up.

Ciao for now! More tomorrow.

scrub a dub

I'm Feeling: massively productive
Background Noise: Skid Row from Little Shop of Horrors Soundtrack

I still haven't found my camera cord, so no pictures from the pool yet...

Instead, feast your eyes upon cleaning products! That's pretty much what I did all last night - I gave both our bathrooms the most thorough cleaning they've had in ages - scrubbed floors, cleaned under the sink - the works. Awfully glamorous, let me tell you. I made 2 trips to Target and 1 to Meijer last night too.

Tonight's agenda: more cleaning (perhaps the kitchen this time), laundry, talking to the family on the phone... hold onto your hats, folks.

When Mark is away, I sure do know how to play. Seriously though - our house is one of those homes where it never looks dirty on the surface - but underneath, it's nowhere near as clean as I'd like it to be. So once in awhile, I try to scrub it down completely.

I went for a run last night and today, my knee hurts. Serves me right. Darn those healthy habits.

teaser

I'm Feeling: winsome
Background Noise: Jeopardy by Greg Kinh Band

As usual, Mark and I laid around, watched TV and slept in late this weekend... HA! Well, the sleeping in part is mostly true... but we definitely were not really sitting around doing nothing - what a fun weekend we had!

First - Friday, after AOP was over (10:30am), I hopped in a car with Mark, Cheryl, Dale, and Julie and headed up to Timberwolf Lake to visit for the day - we were having our Mason YoungLife and WyldLife Mission Community meeting up there. It's always fun to be at that camp - kids everywhere, lots of life and fun and noise, and James gave (as always) a really great talk. Got back around 1:30am after a really fun car ride back home.

Saturday - slept in til about 10:00 (which is super late for us) and decided to take 6 middle schoolers with us to the MSU pool to jump off various diving boards for 2 hours. It was awesome, especially since Saturday was HOT. Then we went to Coryell's house for fresh roasted pig - it's a little weird to see the teeth, nose, and tail of the animal you're about to eat... but man, did it taste good. (Here's the teaser part - I have awesome pictures and video of the trip to the pool, and pictures of the roasted pig... I just need to upload them - hopefully you'll see them tomorrow)

Sunday - went to church, then headed to Kawkawlin, MI (near Bay City) for a high school open house, then to Canton to have dinner with Mark's dad, sister, brother-in-law, and nephews. Home by nine, and we rounded out the night watching The Punisher - one of those Marvel comics movies that makes you want to laugh a little bit (and not because it's trying to be funny).
What was the best part of your weekend?

eclectic thoughts

I'm Feeling: a little bit ornery
Background Noise: Without You by Dixie Chicks

Not sure why this picture of a cow is on my computer. I was scanning my "My Pictures" folder, looking for something inspired to post today... and who can resist a photo file named "cow.jpg" - I ask you. Not I.

I had weird dreams last night. Not weird like "I was eating mud and wearing a banana suit while riding a unicycle." Weird like stressed out, high pressure, actual occurrences - work and personal related. I kept waking up, wondering what was making me dream such intense, gray-hair-inspiring things. I don't feel particularly stressed out at the moment, and I had a very relaxing night last night. Makes me think about how it's funny that we use the same word for the nocturnal movies that play in our brains as we use for our hopes, plans, and imaginings for our futures.

What kinds of things do you dream? If you could have anything, live anywhere, do anything, be anything... what would your life look like? Do you know specifics, or is there just a general sense of what things would be like?

i know you've thought about it...

1. Post a list of up to 20 books/movies/TV shows/videogames/etc. that you've had an obsessive fannish love of at some time in your life.
2. Have your friends guess your favorite character from each item.
3. Post in your own journal.

1. Gilmore Girls
2. Friends
3. Harry Potter
4. The Babysitter's Club series
5. The Lord of the Rings (books, not movies)
6. The Princess Bride
7. Wishbone
8. Veggie Tales
9. X Men
10. Dirty Dancing
11. A Few Good Men
12. Mad About You
13. Full House
14. East of Eden
15. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (book, not movie)

Okay, it's harder than I thought to come up with these... so fifteen is all you get. Clearly, many of my obsessions date back to childhood - I find I'm not as freakishly into things as I used to be. Any thoughts on whether that's good or not? :)

Give it a shot - what character did I like best from these books/movies/TV shows?

so simple

Did you know... the Andamanese language has words for only two numbers... one and more than one. Way to keep life simple, folks!

Academic Orientation Program (aka AOP) began at MSU today - I think it's fun to meet the incoming students - they're nervous, excited, tired, bored, ready to go, enthusiastic, grumpy - and everything in between. Mostly, they're really pumped to meet someone at MSU that wants to know them, laugh a little bit, and help them out.

I'm constantly humbled by how easy it actually is (most of the time) to help someone out, and make a real difference in his/her day. Guilt washes over me when students are so profoundly thankful for something that took minimal effort on my part. But what wasn't a big deal to me was absolutely huge in their world - I need to keep that in mind. Why is it that we don't jump on every opportunity that presents itself - when we know that so often, just caring about someone's problem can make all the difference?

LOVE your neighbor. It really can be that simple.

goin' places

I'm Feeling: frustrated and uncreative
Background Noise: Natural Anthem by The Postal Service

I just wrote a beautiful, delightful blog... and it didn't upload properly. The kicker is that it didn't come up with an error message - it just didn't work. And the window you type in disappears when you click "submit" so there's no way to go back, and cut and paste fabulously creative and inspiring words into a new blog. Big fat bummer.

Here's the gist - I'm totally stoked (yes, I just actually typed the word "stoked") to go to the U.S. Open (tennis) in September - my parents are taking us all (Meg, Adam, Melissa, Mark and me) as some kind of present to themselves - which is way cool. We have our hotel, our flights, and our tickets onto the grounds - it'll be awesome!! Mark, Meg, and I all played tennis in high school, and my dad is pretty good with a racket too - we all like watching tennis on TV (I know, tennis on TV = death for some of you). Maybe we'll get discovered for our raw athletic talent and start playing professional tennis. Weirder things have happened. I think.

I water-skied this weekend – let me tell you about my mad skills on the water. Not actual water-skiing skills… wipe-out skills. Now, I can’t watch myself, and I may be biased – but I crash harder and more spectacularly than anyone else out on the water. You’re not really skiing if you don’t get water in your lungs, the wind knocked out of you, big bluish-greenish bruises on your legs from spinning like a top across the water and sending your skis flying. And believe it or not – it’s totally fun. Granted, my body is not speaking to me today because of the pain it’s in – but it’s SO much more fun to ski than to try to ski (what I spent the past 4 summers doing).

Rounded out the weekend with a wild game of lava freeze tag at the park in Mason – we played for about an hour and were all heaving and sweating by the end. How do little kids play like that all day?

Fun weekend – lots of good people, got some sun, and now it’s back to the grind (stop laughing, I’ve actually been very productive today).

baby steps

I'm Feeling: ready for a nap and a weekend!
Background Noise: Trashin' the Camp by Phil Collins

Here's another photo collage from France - in color this time! You may notice - the skies were ridiculously blue the entire time I was there - supposedly, they get 300 days of sunshine each year in Montpellier. I can hardly imagine what that would be like...

Here's a tiny insight into Katie - On occasion, I can get myself a little stressed out about things - I have to fight my tendency to worry sometimes. However, I've noticed in the past few (days, weeks, months - I'm not really sure) - that tendency has been fading. God has really been working on my heart - that's not always a fun process (ok, really, it almost NEVER is) - but it's borderline startling to see what He can do.

The reason this came to mind today is that there are some situations/decisions (nothing major, really) in my life right now, that 2 years ago would have totally stressed me out. Today - I'm concerned, but mostly just interested in watching them unfold. I'm better at resting in the Lord's grace and perfect plan than I was yesterday. It's a cool thing to realize. I like this quote from the movie Life as a House - "Change can be so slow that you don't notice your life is better or worse, until it is."

Of course, now that I've publicly drawn attention to it, I am certainly due for some new, painful life lesson. : ) Bring it on!

Have a great weekend!!

good and faithful

Do you ever feel like it's totally unlikely that you could ever truly be used by the Lord to do amazing things?

I just started reading "Chasing Daylight" by Erwin McManus, and so far, it's really good - but it's also one of those books that makes me a little uncomfortable because it opens my eyes to how far I still have to grow. I love those kind of books (it's weird to love something that makes you uncomfortable, I know) - they always get me thinking.

The basic premise of the book is that we spend a lot of time waiting - not taking advantage of moments God gives us, watching life go by rather than living it - and often because we are afraid of making mistakes, of not walking in His will, or of not being good enough. This one hits a little too close to home for me.

I know it shortchanges God to think "He can't possibly use ME." He's GOD, right - He can do whatever He wants! It's cool to think that He planned it this way - to use vastly imperfect people to take part in extraordinary things in His name. I just want to get to the end and have God say "Well done, good and faithful servant." If I died today, I think He might say something more like, "Well, you were beginning to try to do what I wanted, well-intentioned and cautious servant." Not the same thing.

My goal is "Well done, good and faithful servant."

i heart summertime!

I'm Feeling: like dancing (not sure why)
Background Noise: Folsom Prison Blues by Joaquin Phoenix (Walk the Line)

The office is so much quieter in the summer. Not just the office, when it comes to that - but the whole campus. There are fewer people here, yes, but it's also a palpable change in energy. Everyone is a bit more mellow, a little less stressed, and a lot less Seasonal Affective Disorder-ish. It's nice. I prefer to be a little busier than I am right now, but it's good to know that life isn't always dragging you along as fast as you can run. Sometimes, I set the pace.

Today is a little gloomy/drizzly, but I still enjoy the summer-time so much... I like warmer weather, sunshine, flowers, kids playing outside, and the fact that we can take a walk pretty much every night if we want to. One thing that isn't so enchanting - I've started counting up some mosquito bites. They love to bite me, and my delicate-like-a-flower skin just puffs right up and gets all itchy. Maybe there is some kind of scare-mosquito (like a scarecrow) thing I could rig up outside my house. RAWR Mosquitos! Go away!

I know that the pic for today is one of the ones in the collage I posted yesterday - but it was such a pretty place. I walked by there basically every day I was in France - you had to walk up 102 steps to get there (and that was the only way to get downtown - makes for a good butt/legs workout).

Happy Wednesday!!

helter skelter

I'm Feeling: energized!
Background Noise: Reign in Me by Brenton Brown

Well, first off - here is a photo collage of some of the black and white pictures I took in France. The first one is a water tower in Montpellier, the second is on the Esplanade du Charles De Gaulle (a garden area in Montpellier), the next 5 (going across from left to right) are all of Carcassonne - the medeival walled city I visited, and the last 2 are from the restaurant in the country/mountains we ate at on Thursday (my last day in France). I saw some really beautiful stuff.

It's not even noon, and I feel like a lot has happened today already. I ate a delicious (if not spectacularly healthy) breakfast, courtesy of Coryell and Mark - and had great company - Mark, Al, Cory and I had a fun morning. Then at nine, I had an interview for an adviser position in the Psychology department - I think it went really well. I'm praying for God to make my path straight in terms of making these decisions, and I think if I don't get this job, it's because it's really not in His plan for me. There's no feeling of "why on earth did I say that?" or anything. I've seen 2 students, and am about to head to lunch with a friend in a little while.

It's a beautiful day - take advantage of the opportunities God is placing in your life today - even if it's just a trip to get an ice cream cone.

my new camera

I'm Feeling: back to normal
Background Noise: You're My Baby by Jonathan Rice (from Walk the Line)

I've jumped into the digital age just a little bit further - I now have my very own digital camera. And like all things electronic - it's just not quite as simple as you think it's gonna be. I had every intention of putting up a bunch of my France pictures today - but somehow, when I loaded the pics onto my laptop at home yesterday, they left my camera. So when I brought my camera to work to put them on my computer here... no dice. So rather than a dizzying array of breathtaking pictures of Southern France... here is a lovely shot of Comerica Park that I took a few weeks ago at the game. It puts me in mind of the baseball days of yore.

It's funny how quickly life goes back to normal when you come back from a big trip. The weekend was a little rough (jetlag bit me hard this time), but I feel good now. The office is normal, my emails and voicemails are waiting as always... same old. :) It's good to be back, though. It was nice to see my friends again this weekend - traveling by yourself makes you lonesome for people who know you well! 

leavin' on a jetplane

I'm Feeling: ready for a long journey home
Background Noise: computers humming (this lab really isn't as exciting as the iTunes in my office - but my head is playing Leaving on a JetPlane)

Well, it's just after 7am in France. My cab should be here in 20 minutes, to take me to the airport. I'm scheduled to arrive at the Lansing airport just before 9:30pm (which is 3:30am in France). If I keep telling myself I'm up for 20 hours of traveling - will it be true?

Honestly, I am up for it - it's been a fantastic trip - I've gotten to see some really cool stuff, and I have some great pictures... but this is not the way I'd normally want to travel. Jim (the faculty member from MSU in charge of the trip) and the girls have been great - but they don't really know me... It's hard to explain, but in some senses, it's been a really lonely trip. I wouldn't trade it though - I like being someplace different, and I've definitely gotten a slightly heightened sense of independence from this trip. I just don't think I'll become one of those gals who goes jet-setting off to exotic places all on her own... but I'll definitely not be afraid to take my own day trips around a new place.

Mostly, I miss the familiarity that home brings. There are people who know me, people who love me, daily interactions and tasks that make me feel like me. Mostly, I miss my other half - it really is weird to be without him for so long.

Bon Journee... hopefully my next post will have pictures for you all!!

Adventures in France

I am feeling: successful
Background Noise: two people whispering in French, and lots of "typing" sounds

First - I am typing on a French keyboard, which has bumped around a few letters. To give an idea, I will now type "My day was fun, I rode the train" without looking at the keys.. and I am a pretty good typist back in the States... ,y dqy zqs fun, I rode the trqin;
Not quite the same keyboard... please forgive any errors I overlook.

I did take the train to Carcassonne - about 1.5 hours away - to see the only fortified medeival town in Europe that is still inhabited. It was incredible... I will post pictures when I get home - a long, hot day - but very fun. I have been asked directions, conducted business transactions in French, and successfully visited another town on my own without getting lost, yelled at, robbed, or in any other way harmed (aside from a couple very pesky mosquito bites and a slightly pinker than usual nose).

Miss you all!!

Bon Soir!!

I'm Feeling: a little jet-laggy
Background Noise: French gal sitting next to me, rapidly tapping on her keyboard as she IMs her friend

I'm here!! No pictures to post yet (not sure my camera will upload them onto these computers, not sure I want them to, and definitely don't have the brain power to try right now!)
After being in the Lansing, Grand Rapids, Cincinnati, Paris AND Montpellier airports in the last 24 hours - I finally made it to my destination. Aside from 3 hours sleep on the plane, I have not slept since about 7:30 Wednesday morning... and I feel surprisingly good. Tired, for sure, but proud of myself for not giving in to the nap temptation.

I've been downtown (it's a pretty city - lots of outdoor cafes, street vendors, parks, fountains, big old statues, crumbly buildings... very European), and around the surrounding area in a car a little bit - tomorrow will be my big day exploring. Hopefully, I'll be able to post once or twice more and keep you all (haha) updated on my fabulous adventures!!!

Here's to a good night's sleep!!

wide-eyed

I'm Feeling: nervous
Background Noise: Spirit Thing by Newsboys

I couldn't fall asleep last night. Sometimes, when I'm all alone in the house (Mark is in Ypsilanti until Tuesday evening) I have a hard time going to bed - but in the past year or two, that hasn't been so much an issue. Last night, though... there was no settling down. Not for a long time, at least. I think my nerves are a little raw right now...

I leave on Wednesday - just over 50 hours from now, we'll be headed to the airport. Honestly, this is the nervous-est I've been about something in a loong time. Last night I felt compelled to pack - so I was running around, jamming things in my suitcase, taking them back out, trying to figure out how to economize my clothes, etc for 9 days. Eventually, I had to put myself "to bed" in front of the TV - that usually works. I'll watch for awhile, then cash out on the couch - wake up at about 2am and drag myself to bed. Hopefully I can sleep tonight.

I'm excited about my trip - and I know it will be so cool to spend 2.5 days by myself in Montpellier - then 5 days with everyone else... but right now, it's making my stomach hurt. Got to get my game face on. Grr.

ready, set...

I'm Feeling: anticipatory
Background Noise: Hands of the Potter by Caedmon's Call

Got a big weekend coming up, folks - a big weekend. Tigers game tonight (they're no Chicago White Sox - I have to stay loyal to my hometown - but I've adopted them all the same). Tomorrow - we head to Plymouth (near Ann Arbor) for our nephew's baptism and 3rd birthday party, then back to Mason for Mike's high school graduation open house, then out to Kentwood (near Grand Rapids) for Brooks's college graduation open house... then back home in Mason. That's going to be a doozey!! Sunday is church, possibly a confirmation party, and a dance recital. Sounds fabulous.

Last night we went to small group at JR and Tricia's house - we're trying to re-connect with a couples' bible study group/community. YoungLife has been SOOO good to us, and keeps us really busy, but I like having friends/community that are in my same life "stage." It's hard being new - everyone was really nice, and I know that in a few months - year, we could all be fantastically close friends... but it sure would still be nice to just skip the awkward, slow, getting-to-know-and-trust-you stage. Insta-friends... just add water!! :)

Have a wonderful weekend - I hope that it's packed with people and things that you love - remember to focus on the moment - tomorrow has enough worries of its own!!

a fun way to waste time

1)What are the top 5 tv shows that you're currently really into, in the order of your obsession?
1. Friends DVDs
2. Gilmore Girls DVDs (I stopped watching this year because it got weird)
3. Other than that, I really don't watch TV. I'm lame that way.

2) What movies are you looking forward to seeing this year?
Mmmm... I want to see X3 because mutants are cool.

3) What bands do you think everyone should at least check out?

* Matt Kearney
* Matt Wertz
* Dashboard Confessional
* Caedmon's Call
* PW Gopal

4) Top 3 things that really irritate you and why.

1. People who try to tell better stories than everyone else - no matter what, they've done it better, seen more things, had it worse... blah blah. Just let people tell their own stories!

2. People who wander around expecting everyone else to do it for them. A little self-motivation goes a long way!

3. Mean people. Do I really need to explain why?

5) Name a few foods most people think are weird but which you actually like.

* Sushi - yay California Rolls!
* That's it.

6) Have you ever had a psychic or paranormal (or, even, surreal) experience? If so, describe it.
Erm - not exactly sure. I've had experiences when I could feel God's presence - but they're really not "gawk-at-the-weirdness-of-it-all" kinds of stories.

7) What fictional corporation would you work for if you could (for example, Luthor Corp., Hanso Foundation, etc.)
Um... I'd be head of marketing for Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory - except without the Oompa Loompas (those little guys scare me).

8) What book should I read next and why?
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell. Because I read it in like 24 hours, couldn't put it down. Loved it. And because it's applicable to almost anyone/anything.

9) What super power (or mutant ability) would you want to have and why - also, would you use it for good or evil?
I'd want to be able to control people's minds or move things with my mind. Totally for good - although sometimes, I'm sure I'd use it for "selfish" - not necessarily good OR evil. Just for me.

10) Favorite brand/type of chocolate or chocolate candy.
I don't eat much chocolate/candy - but I can't handle myself around the Reese's Peanut Butter Easter Eggs.

i'm not nervous...

I'm Feeling: like skipping out of my last 55 minutes of work
Background Noise: Don't Let Me Get Me by Pink

I leave for France a week from tomorrow - plans are starting to materialize, budgets being set (I'm going on a grant that pays for the whole trip, but I do have to tell them where their money is being spent. Go figure). Kate is starting to be real nervous. Seems a little infantile to me, but getting on a plane by myself and ending up in a country where people speak French instead of English makes me nervous. I feel like I'm going to get lost, mugged, have my wallet stolen, or some other horrible something that will reinforce my notion that I am incapable of foreign travel on my own. But really - it will all probably go just fine, and I'll come back feeling all proud and accomplished (what a big girl!)

What bums me out right now is that being nervous is eclipsing my excitement. I should be excited. Not sweaty. 

rain, rain, go away...

I'm Feeling: a little water-logged
Background Noise: Accentuate the Positive by Johnny Mercer

Ok - those that know me know that I'm not one to whine about rain - I like rainy days and I like thunderstorms... but it's been 4 days straight now, and I'd like to see Mr. Sun come out again. Everything is VERY green, but I'm pretty sure I remember from 3rd grade science class that plants and trees also need sunshine in order to grow. Begone, clouds!!

Had a pretty fun weekend - went to the 'Buck with Katie Friday night (we can seriously sit there for HOURS), went to Courtney's birthday party Saturday night (she just turned 13), made banana bread, and got to spend some time with Mark's family yesterday. All - in - all, fairly productive and fun.

Random update on Kate's life: I'm rebelling against laundry. Usually, I'm pretty good at getting things done that need to get done, even if they're not my favorite things to do. Lately, I have NO ambition to do laundry at all, so I haven't. I'll put it in the washer, even move it to the dryer, but there I stop. I won't take it out, won't fold it, and won't put it away. I wonder what's up with that, and when it will wear off... it makes our house a little messier than usual... :) 

lookout for the haboob!

I'm Feeling: lonely for some sunshine
Background Noise: Hit the Road to Dreamland by Betty Hutton

I have a desk calendar that quotes excerpts from the book The Know-It-All (if you haven't read it, it's a pretty hilarious memoir of a guy who read the entire Encyclopaedia Brittanica straight through). Yesterday, it was a quote about haboobs. (pictured left - it's a big sandstorm-wall of sand thing) I like that word - although I don't think it instills the appropriate fear. It made me chuckle all day - just to look over and see the word "haboob" sitting on my desk. It's the little things....

Tonight is the last structured WyldLife event for the school year - it's not sad, but I know I will miss seeing the kids so regularly. It just means we'll have to make more of a concentrated effort to hang out together over the summer. The unfortunate thing is that we've planned an outdoor event at a local park - and it's currently raining and 39 degrees. We'd better bundle up for this evening!!

where'd whooo goooo...?

I'm Feeling: like I'm thinking too much
Background Noise: Simply Trust by Cross-eyed

Ever wish you could be a chameleon? I think it would be cool to be able to blend into your environment, just hang out and have no one really notice you. I wouldn't necessarily want to spy on people, but just to be able to occasionally disappear. Every once in awhile, when I get really busy or my brain goes on overdrive, I wish I could be a chameleon. Felt that way today a little bit.

Visited the fam in Chicago this weekend, which was nice. We celebrated Mom and Dad's 50th birthdays, and ate WAY too much food. Mark and I both had the day off on Monday, which was fabulous - we got to visit the middle school, work in the yard, get a ton of stuff done - and we got to hang out together. Gotta love it.

School is over, but grades are being posted, and summer school is starting, so things are still busy - although nowhere near the past month or two. I'm enjoying the relative quietness of my office, and campus is just lovely this time of year.

That's all from this front - I'll try to have a good story for you tomorrow!! 

pomp and circumstance

I'm Feeling: anticipation!
Background Noise: Uptown Girl by Billy Joel

Campus is currently being invaded by moms, dads, aunts, uncles, and grandparents - armed with flowers and cameras, dragging their MSU graduates to Sparty, the Stadium, and other picturesque locations, trying to capture this momentous occasion on film. It's graduation time!!

Graduation is a fabulous time on campus (while the actual ceremonies are themselves fairly dull occurrences... ) - people are excited, nervous, proud... it's a snapshot of human emotion. And I am lucky enough to witness that snapshot, beginning at 8am tomorrow morning... at the College of Social Science commencement ceremony. It should be cool - one of my students is the student speaker, and I know a lot more people this year than I did last year. But it's awfully stinking early on a Saturday morning.

Then it's home to Bolingbrook to celebrate Mom and Dad's 50th birthdays - out to eat, and then dessert and presents. I'm excited/nervous - I think they'll really like their presents, but you never know.

Enjoy your weekend - and congrats to all the new grads!!

never too old!

I'm Feeling: better than yesterday!!
Background Noise: Ring of Fire, performed by Joaquin Phoenix

After hiding out Monday night and all day Tuesday (Katie stayed home sick and slept her hours away - I felt like a lazy blob, but at least I'm healthier than I was!!), I started my day off right with Lucky Charms this morning. Who says dried marshmallows in cereal isn't for adults??

Work's good today - still amazingly busy for finals week - students are usually holed up studying hard at this point... I had a frustrating altercation this morning though. MSU's policy on final exams states that no student should have to take more than 2 finals in one day - and if 3 or more are scheduled, they have permission to get one moved. Long story short, a Journalism major was trying to get her Political Science professor to allow her to take her exam later this week, and he refused. I even offered to proctor the exam for him, so he wouldn't have to do anything extra at all. He stared right at this poor, stressed out sophomore, who was basically begging for a favor, and said no. Who does that?? The gal left our floor in tears - off to try to study for her remaining two finals - which, I forgot to mention - are TODAY!! Granted, there was some poor planning on her part, but I just don't see why it's such an inconvenience to help students out when they need it. Said Professor would not even have a job if there weren't any students here at MSU.

Rant complete - I just get bummed out when something/someone else is preventing me from being able to help a student. Isn't that a huge part of what we're here for?

i'll just take half...

I'm Feeling: like I'm hanging on til I can take a break
Background Noise: Building a Mystery by Sarah McLachlan

Sometimes it's fun to cut things in half. Half-dollars are cool, because they're bigger than the average coin. Half-price sales are awesome because you can spend the same amount of money but get twice as much stuff. And half-birthdays are exciting when you work with people who think that's a good reason to head out to the Olive Garden for lunch AND bake a chocolate cake for you! That's what happened to me today, in case you were wondering. Jane, Kay, Jen and I eat lunch together fairly often (I'm the youngest of this group by about 18 years), and we realized a few weeks ago that we never went out for my birthday back in October (I hadn't noticed). Our remedy, which was met with wild approval, is to start celebrating half-birthdays in addition to "whole" birthdays. We get to eat out more often, and it means more cake, too. Everyone wins!

This weekend was great - exhausting, exciting, busy, funny, moving - the HOSA State Conference is always a fun time. I like the pace, the people - and it makes me puff up all proud when I watch my husband work so hard. He does an amazing job - the teachers and students really look up to him and appreciate his hard work and energy. It's cool to see people appreciate the same things you do in someone you love.

Back to work today - this is finals week at MSU, so I just gotta hang on for a few more days, and my office will become dramatically emptier. I'll be bored after a day or two, but right, it sounds heavenly.

3... 2... 1...

I'm Feeling: pooped!
Background Noise: The Power of Love by Huey Lewis & The News

This is Maggie. She's about 5 1/2 months old in this picture (7 months old now!) and is absolutely darling. When I went to St. Louis to visit with her, her mama and her sister - I wanted to take her home with me. Beautiful face, chubby legs, and the most precious smile. Makes me feel better just to think about her.... :D

Mark left for Traverse City today - it's game time! I'll drive up tomorrow afternoon with our friend Jamie - as has been the tradition for the past 5 years or so. The weather is supposed to be gorgeous - 60s and sunny (which doesn't matter much when you're stuck in a conference...) but it will be nice for Saturday, when the conference is over. The guys - Dave, Jamie, Mark, Mike - will play golf, while I enjoy a massage in the Grand Traverse Spa. Fabulous!

Work is wearing me out, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel - and this week will be a change of pace - the conference is extremely fast and busy, but at least it's a different kind of busy. I really apologize for my vanilla blogging habits lately - but my mind feels fuzzy and blank. Too much work buzzing around. I'll be back to my stellar, oh-so-entertaining self in a week or two.

mondays....

I'm Feeling: sore-throaty (finally caught whatever Mark has/had)
Background Noise: World's Greatest by R Kelly

This is Nat, Brianna, Christy, Lindsey, Rachel, Huntar and Ellen - they are some of my favorite people - my friends from Mason Middle School. I get to hang out with them tonight after work - wahoo!! :D

Pretty good weekend - Mark was at work most of the time, I got a lot done around the house, got to relax some, go to church, get a little craft-ing done (I didn't realize how much I missed doing things with my hands... I've probably opened the floodgates - buy stock in JoAnn's Stores - quick!) Unfortunately, I've also managed to start coming down with some sort of throat-y illness - turns out Mark was contagious after all, I guess. Please pray that this goes away quickly - I have a very busy couple days at work, then it's up to Traverse City for the HOSA conference. No time for this!!

Happy Monday!!  

bet you didn't know...

I'm Feeling: a little impatient - got to RE-LAX!
Background Noise: We Will Become Sillouettes by The Postal Service

Go to Wikipedia.com and look up your birthday (leave off the year). List 3 events, 2 births, and 1 death that happened on your birthday.

Events:
1892 - Arthur Conan Doyle publishes The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
1912 - The Musketeers of Pig Alley, directed by D.W. Griffith, debuts as the first gangster film.
1941 - After 14 years of work, drilling is completed on Mount Rushmore.

Births:
1950 - John Candy, Canadian comedian and actor (d. 1994)
1968 - Vanilla Ice, American rapper
2002 - (Jordan) Ezra Hanson, Son of Musician Taylor Hanson (I know this makes three, but I just had to add this one)

Death:
1926 - Harry Houdini, Hungarian-born magician (b. 1874)

Six Weird Things about Me:
1. I sleep with 3 pillows – one for my head (must be reasonably fluffy – I abhor flat pillows), and one for each side of me (I sleep on my side). I used to just sleep with one in front – to hug, support my knees, whatever… but I got tired of moving it every time I rolled over. Easy solution – now I sleep inside a little pillow fortress.

2. I have really long arms. Seriously. Almost ape-ish. My fingertips are literally about 3 ½ inches above my kneecap. It’s creepy.

3. I stand on the sides of my feet a lot… as in, my ankles are kinda rolled under, and all my weight/balance is on the outside edges of my feet. Pretty sure that’s going to wind up causing problems later in my life….

4. It really drives me nutty when things aren’t organized, but I seem to be a fairly clutter-y person by nature. My bedroom is usually piled high with clean, folded laundry that I don’t want to put away, and piles of junk mail accumulate on my counters… my own habits drive me crazy!!

5. A few months ago, I printed off a bunch of math problems from some website I found – and I did them all for fun. It was mostly fairly straightforward, college-level algebra stuff. But it was fun. I miss it.

6. Every two years, I cut my hair short. Like chin-length short. Then I moan about missing my long hair, and spend two years growing it out. Repeat cycle.

smells of spring

I'm Feeling: a little spacey
Background Noise: Down Where The Green Grass Grows by Jed Marum

After my perilous climb to my office this morning (all the way up to the third floor!), I opened my office door, and was greeted by a fantastic smell - the hyacinths that I brought in yesterday are in full bloom - it smells like a little spring garden in my office now! I love it - as the days get nicer it gets harder and harder to be in an office all day - but if I open the windows and smell my flowers, I can almost pretend I'm not here. Almost. Except for the phone, the email, and the flow of students in and out of my office... I just hope no one has really horrible spring allergies. I like my plant.

The other day I was driving home in the late afternoon, and I always take College Road - which consists of a 1-2 mile stretch straight through the university farms. In the spring, another rather potent odor is detectable there - the smell of natural fertilizer (ie, some kind of animal poop). The weird thing was - that I was excited to smell it! The smell of manure is the harbinger of springtime!! 

had a ball!

I'm Feeling: hungry (almost lunch time!)
Background Noise: Take My Breath Away by Berlin

Date: April 29, 1999
Time: somewhere around 9pm-ish until almost 5am
What: Mark and I have our first significant conversation - we'd only been spending time together for a couple of days, and were still very much in the starry-eyed, cautiously flirty (well, I was cautious) stage of getting to know one another. We rolled a tennis ball back and forth across the floor of his residence hall room the whole time we talked.

Date: yesterday
Time: almost 10pm
What: I run upstairs to get the big bouncy ball that was part of Mark's Easter basket gift, and we bounce, roll, catapult, hurl and kick the ball back and forth all night while we talk, laugh, and try to relax from the impending work-stress looming ahead of us this week.
(Just kidding, it was really only about a half-hour... but still!)

I've decided to write a book about this phenomenon. Mark and I invariably have better (that is - more fun, more effective) conversations when we are DOING something. (This may be why our basement is littered with ping pong, foosball, and air hockey implements.) Now last night there wasn't anything life-altering to discuss, but we sure did laugh a lot. And honed our pirate-like reflexes. I'll never have a conversation without it again. :D 

end of a long week...

I'm Feeling: worn out, but ready for a good day
Background Noise: Sweet Baby James by James Taylor

These are my silly friends Lauren and Jillian (a picture from the B & W party we had at our house a week ago). They're both volunteer leaders w/YoungLife and WYLdLife, and they're amazing women. Aside from being drop-dead gorgeous - they have big hearts, lots of love for other people, and they always have a hug and smile to greet you. I get to see them at least every Friday (more often if I'm lucky).

What a week - days are buzzing right by - lots of work, lots of things going on in the evenings. Mark has a LOT to do for his upcoming HOSA conference, and is starting to feel a cold/flu thing coming on. Please cover him with prayer - there's never a good time to be sick, but this is definitely NOT an option right now!! Send healthy thoughts his way!

I'm a little bummed that I've been so busy with work and whatnot this week - I know I haven't given myself appropriate time to meditate on this time of year - especially to prepare my heart for tonight. I love Easter - as a kid, it was more because of candy, presents, egg hunts, pretty dresses, and flowers in church. I still like those things very much, but I resonate much more with the celebration - the incomparable victory of Christ overcoming sin and death, and the unimaginable depth of His sacrifice for us. Blessings to you this weekend - I pray that you and I both will be able to find some time to be still this weekend. Be still and know He is Lord.

Happy Easter!! 

earmuffs!

I'm Feeling: a teensy bit frazzled
Background Noise: 1985 by Bowling for Soup

I want a pair of earmuffs for work... not because it's chilly in here, but to drown out the same questions that get asked over and over... it's nobody's fault (not like I expect everyone to know the answers themselves)... I'm just in need of earmuffs. Or a tape player, with all the most commonly answered questions on it - so I can just push play when another student walks in.

I feel like a broken record these days: busy at work, busy at home, all is well... blah blah blah. Those are good things to be stuck on, but I feel bad for my 3 or so loyal readers. So rather than making you listen (read) all about this repetitive cycle I'm in... I thought you could entertain me.

1. What's one tiny (preferably dorky) thing that can always make your day better?
2. What is your favorite drink containing ice cream?
3. What do you want for your birthday?
4. What's your favorite type of weather?
5. Name one thing you're a tiny bit ashamed to admit you own.

That's the best I can do today... looking forward to your answers!! :D