I just got a prayer letter from a Pastor who left our church in order to plant another Grace Brethren Church in Marysville, Ohio (the one that's in Union County) and things seem to be going SO well! It's amazing how well they are doing, especially since they have five (?) kids. Pastor Clancy is the greatest Pastor I've ever met, and the people in Marysville are SO blessed to have him. Reading the letter made me miss him so much. Sometimes it's just not fun to share! But anyway, keep Pastor Clancy and his wife, Sandy in your prayers.

Welcome back, Jeff B., to the comments section! I think we all missed you quite a bit. :-)

My Shakespeare and the Renaissance class is both boring and kind of interesting at the same time. For some reason I always feel sick in that class though and yawn constantly. Between yawns I manage to get some words in. We talked about Sonnet 29 for 40 minutes today. I don't really like to analyze poetry much. I don't even really like reading it, either. Today I get to start reading "A Midsummer's Night's Dream" or maybe it's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." I really don't know. I guess I'll find out. I don't know if it really matters. Reading is what it makes of you, not what you make of it. I think I just made that up but don't quote me on it because I'm not sure if I stole it :)

Do you think the line, "From fairest creatures we desire increase" means that in general, we wish for beautiful people to have children? Because I think that's what it means, and no one else does.

Oh, not much time to write. I'm here in the computer lab with Kendra, Lindsay, and Tim. It's hot in here. It feels pretty nice in our room at the apartment, but rather humid. I'm not too fond of humidity. Hmm...my classes are pretty fun on Tuesdays and Thursdays, thanks to Tim and Sharon. Pretty entertaining kids, they are. I wrote about Sharon today in an in-class writing assignment. I am the most creative person I know. Sharon is second. I can't think of any other creative people. :) hehehehe

Apologies for the delay. I have been back at school since Wednesday and it seems (no, it's obvious) that Muskingum has a bit of computer trouble. This has been good for me, however, in many ways of course, reminding me that there are more important things than AOL Instant Messenger. I've instead been forced to read a pornographic novel for my Reading in Contemporary British Literature class. I didn't realize the class was British. It's fun reading with my British accent that only exists in my own head.

All my classes are in Montgomery--the burning hot, hellish building on campus at all times of the year that constantly smells like sweat and makes sweaters, even on days falling below zero degrees, impossible to ever wear. I don't really like sweaters anyway.

I've already written one paper, analyzed one sonnet, read a couple chapters on Global Christianity and read 75 pages of the pornographic novel. When I want to go to sleep, I read the Global Christianity book and when I want to stay awake, I read the pornographic novel--each reading leads to very strange dreams (they aren't sex dreams either, so stop thinking that). The girls and I are having a good laugh at it.

Well now, don't go thinking I've become a maniac of sorts. I've also already committed to co-leading a bible study and co-coordinating a retreat. If you're a Muskie, ask for more information about those ;-)
It's good to back. I'm surrounded by amazingly uplifting people. It's all very good. Most of the people here I really missed, and some I'd rather not see...You know, people are very fake in the way they interact sometimes. The every day falsities of life, I suppose. I however, am a very horrible liar and I hate lying, actually, so I've managed to completely ignore those I wish not to see. It's not because I dread the confrontation, but because I refuse to embarass myself by making a scene. Afterall, I am the stupid one, and when one feels the way I do about such things, it's probably his or her own fault. The tangled webs I get caught in sometimes! Everything is going very well, though, and everything is great with my girl friends, and that of course, is the most important thing.

John is visiting this weekend, hopefully, an event for which I am very excited, although I am trying really hard to be cool and nonchalant about it. It's kind of exciting this way, anticipating our next meeting...it certainly adds to life. But of course, today is a beautiful day, and I am off to enjoy it in the way we do here in Muskieland, with a lunch on the quad, little subs and little mini bottles of Evian or Aquafina or whatever. Pray that something doesn't make me vomit :)


Fact of the Day: There are more Christians in Africa than people in the United States of America.

Okay, so when checks and credit cards don't go through at work we have to call China. Okay, so maybe it's not really China, but we have to call this place and answer all these stupid questions about the check and for some reason, it's always foreigners that work there. I think it's totally intelligent to hire foreigners to work in telephone operations with check certifications and such, especially really hot tempered ones who yell and hang up on innocent MC Sports employees. I spelled K-A-U-F-F-M-A-N-N at least six times because Min Woo couldn't understand the sound of the letter "F". This was of course frustrating for her and me, and I really do like foreign people you know, but goodness gracious, choose another line of work, people! I tried to be nice and just asked her to repeat herself and she got all snippy and yelled at me, "What? You cannot hear me?!" To which I replied, "No, can you please repeat the question?" Ah, it was just an awkward situation and the lady thought that I was being mean because I finally said, "F as in FUDGE. F as in FROG. K-A-U-F-F-M-A-N-N. TWO F's! F as in FROG!" And then I could have sworn she said "F as in F---?" And no, that word is not frog.

I'm ready to go back to school.

Well, we spent five hours in Charleston, WV and three hours in Columbia, SC on the way home (side note: People in SC are REALLY nice and EVERYONE in WV has a pick-up truck). We had some serious car troubles. But anyway, as we were driving home and I feared a little bit for my life because the transfer case below my seat was put back together with a combination of wire hanger, duct tape, and mysterious concoctions of stuff, I thought, these guys wouldn't be so bad to die with. But then I rethought that thought and began thinking of who I'd really choose to die with and I think I would choose Kari. Not that I want her to die, or that I'd really want her to die if I did, but I just think that--well, I really don't know why I think that. Maybe death would just be a little more interesting with Kari. I guess you get that bond with people after certain trials in life. So Kari, I thought of you! Don't you feel special?!

Quote of the Day:

(commenting on the book of Job)

"Human beings are sure to wander in ignorance and fall into error, and it is better--more righteous in the eyes of God--for them to react by questioning rather than accepting. Confronted with inexplicable injustice, it is better to be irate than resigned."

Thank you, Veronica, for reminding me that it's okay to think...well, to think of things like that. Just the other day I was saying/thinking out loud (now remember, I was talking to three guys) about how I wonder how sand dollars reproduce and how strange it is that they really are living creatures. This baffles me because they really don't seem to have animal qualities. Starfish and clams have more personality than sand dollars. Did you ever notice that a sand dollar has never been recreated in a cartoon or animated movie to have human-like qualities? Has anyone ever seen a talking sand dollar on a cartoon? Well, we do have Spongebob, a talking sponge, Patrick, a talking starfish, Sebastian, a talking crab, and even a fish that suffers from short-term memory loss in "Finding Nemo." What about the sand dollars?

Well, those guys thought I was crazy and John's brother thinks I'm stupid. Well exCUSE me for having an imagination, for being curious... I bet my IQ is at least 30 points higher than his anyway. SO THERE!

Wish you had been there, V. :-

Advice for the Day: Think abstractly. You may cut off your ear in a few years, but at least you'll have fun doing it.

Hello all :) Greetings once again from Florida. We went to the beach twice today and ate at a little bar on the beach...way cool! Today was John's mom's birthday so we had a little celebration and ate at this other restaurant on a dock. It was kinda like the other one because it was like, all open and stuff. You know, it's like you're on a big ol' covered patio. I like the palm trees a lot. The grass here is weird. I don't really like the grass. But other than that it's just fine. :) We saw a lot of beautiful houses today. They were like castles. Oh, and I tasted shrimp for the first time. It wasn't bad at all...I kinda liked it, but the texture is freaky. Maybe I can force myself to like seafood before I go to New Zealand for three months. It'd probably be a good idea. Oooh and we went to the driving range yesterday and they had two cats! They looked like Toulouse! I love cats. There's a pool and a hottub and a cat that I really like here at the house. And John's here, too. So basically, I am in Heaven. All I need is my mom, the rest of my family, and my Muskie girls. And Toulouse (he'd be in Heaven :). I miss you all extremely and totally wish you were here!

Guess what? I drove for ten hours! Me! Can you believe it? That's pretty good for someone whose only driven two hours at the most. Florida is beautiful. The ocean was 86 degrees today and there was a nice breeze...not too hot, not too cold. It's rather humid, but I'm doing just fine. There's SO many shells! I've never seen so many shells in my life. We're staying with John's mom, her two kids, and her husband. They are great! The houses here are wonderful! Gotta go eat! See ya when I return maybe!!!!