Left foot, blue. Right hand, idle.

On one hand, I haven't been working with focus.

On the other hand, I've been filling out -- CRAP! I knew I was forgetting something. Weekly reports. -- recommendations, sending of e-mails, and editing papers.

On one hand, Julie and I had to call our Twister match a draw.

On the other hand, we taught a group of freshmen the Interlude.

On one hand, sunday school means waking up an hour earlier.

On the other hand, Pat did a great job with the message. He's made a covenant. We've been promised life and fulfillment in Him. Not half baaad.

On one hand, tea time with Zach, Danielle, Kayla, Anne, Mike, Chris, etc. had to be cut short because of 1st Floor Party.

On the other hand, I love seeing the smiling faces of Shannon, Chelsea, Mary Beth, Rachel, Hailey, Carrie, Libby, Jess, Ashley, Kendra, Jenna, Jess (Alford), and Casey.

"Woke up- wish I was in bed-

with an achin' in my head. I lay motionless in bed."

One day, when I'm old, I'll fully value breakfast in all it's early-birded goodness. For now, I've been learning to tolerate it -- an improvement! I celebrated my success at 9 this morning. North Hall alumn, Kayla, and myself went to J & L. Which, I'm pretty sure, stands for "Jimmy-rig" and "Legit." As in, "I can Jimmy-rig these pamcakes so they're RULL cheap and Legit all at the same time. We got to sit at the biggest table they has there, but even then we were split into two groups. Despite the minorest of setbacks - splitting into two groups / second hand smoking / 9 am - it was a good start to the day.

Did I take a nap later? Yes. Did I mean to sleep from 3 to 4:30? No. Do I regret that decision? Never.

And now, a brief interview with myself:

Did you go to small group today at Bethany and Michael's B & B? Well, yes I did.

Is their dog a creature? Yes, yes it is. I call her "Junipig."

Will you run their B & B one day? Haha, only time will tell, Bethany. But I wouldn't mind it! Wink.

Did you get an opportunity to feel like a track mom today? All I can say is that one of the best up-and-coming runners at all of IWU happens to live in MY unit. Pretty sure Courtney placed 5th in the first heat of the 3200. My heart was pounding. I started talking to other track moms. I couldn't help myself.

Will you ever again watch a whole movie curled up in your chair like a hamster? Never. I may be a permanent hunchback. Or a permanent complainer. I'm up for anything. Go for it -- remove my spine with a rusty can opener. I'll take it.

Are you a friend failure? I'm actually climbing the ladder in Friendland right now. I called Spencer and Nick on the PHONE!

Did you enjoy the opera today? Always. I brought the opera "glasses" I made as a joke my freshman year. Nothing classier than fake specs made out of aluminum, a pencil, a toilet paper role, and scotch tape.

Good? Night.

Focus verse

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it."

Here is my mission statement for the semester.

affirmation

Blog related:

To whomever is reading this: I like that you're reading this.

To Anne, Danielle, Kylee, both Nicks, Spencer, etc: I like that you comment. I read your comments. I am amused and encouraged by your comments.

Today related:

Noelle, your collapsing ceiling, broken oven handle, burnt muffins, dilapidated "love" book, patience, outfit for tomorrow... I can't express how endearing I find you. Thanks for letting me store fudgsicles in your freezer.

Emily, you know this- But even when you're not feelin' it... you just give me the fuzzies. Your smile and the way you repeat yourself and joke around... we have a great symbiotic relationship. I think we do. If you don't, then let's DTR right now. I'll treat you to McConn.

Lauren, I like that we have something new in common. I'm excited to walk with you this semester. We'll laugh, we'll cry. It could be taco supreme. (I say TACO supreme sometimes. If that confuses you, just remove the taco in your head. Then it makes more sense.)

Anne, you're taking a shower at 1:30 in the morning. I'm so, so thankful you're my roommate. I'm so glad we're in the same place. I'm so glad you like interesting music. I'm so glad that I know how to respect when you need space and that you respect that I have to verbally hash out everyyyyythiiinnng.

Allison, you were my closest friend my freshman year of college. We connected SO quickly and we could have the deepest or the shallowest conversation at the blink of an eye- (I began to type blink of a HAT... as in "drop of a hat"... maybe I'll start saying that. Blink of a hat.) I'm encouraged by your growth and commitment to God. I'm infinitely thankful for your commitment to prayer.

Jimmy Rassi, what a good friend you are. I'm glad we're friends. It's cool to see God sustain you through something hard. Very, very cool. You are a great encourager and, I believe, quite a creative mind.

Mary Beth, Ashley, Chelsea, Jess -- I've seen you go through various levels of struggles, and I've seen you pick God. Gosh, you LEGIT have suuuch great senses of humor AND I so admire your hearts. You're going through a big transition in life and you've got perspective. That's SO cool. I wish I could see all the amazing strengths, talents, abilities, and experiences that God has seen in your lives. I eat up my time with each of you. Know that I'm serious. Coffee soon again.

I could go on and on and on... God is totally affirming me. I'm utterly blessed in my relationships. I'm SO blessed. I can't get over it. I hope I never get over it. Those are just my thoughts from conversations I've had TODAY. Just today! Crazy! My word.

PS- art night went SO well and I got totally affirmed by my practicum scores from last semester. I feel like this is the harvest, and I need to actively think about how to sow the seeds. That's a thought for tomorrow, for sure.

I have a brain doppelgänger who turns over coins for me

Since I was on duty, I walked up and down the stairs... a LOT tonight. I noticed a penny sitting on one of the stairs, but didn't bother to pick it up. Tails was facing up. I know my stuff: ladders, black cats, broken mirrors... you don't pick up a penny that's not facing you. Bad luck and all that.

I always walk up stairs 2 at a time. If I'm with someone, I'll "compromise" and do it slower -- but I almost always keep to the every-other-step rule. As I skipped over the penny tonight, I

thought to turn it over -- then the next person to see it could have a little good luck. (I could throw that sap on a table and knead it and stretch it into some sort of taffy... something legitimate that you could chew on... a life metaphor. If you don't pick up the penny, why not turn it over for the next person? Yeah, that would be a good stuff.) ...

So ANYWAYS, I just walked up the stairs to scavenge some munchies and caffeine... and the penny was facing UP.

Somebody in the dorm has my brain, but with follow-through. Intimidating.

wrong foot

UNLIKE Mr. Christopher Arney (who deserves congratulations), I've started off on the wrong academic foot this semester. I'm doing okay, but not great.

Time to shuffle-step and get things together. I've also got to fill out paperwork for an event and get together all the supplies for art night. Anne and I are having Jeanette and Elle over for tea Tuesday night.

As Miss Emily Larson would say (who also deserves congratulations), it's as though each thing is a bone -- something that will hold up a healthy week. But with my lack of preparation, there is no cartilage between each piece. If I'm not careful, they'll crunch together.

This chick who is reading Sense and Sensibility online has a weepy voice. It's the love child between Eeyore and Marta Tillet's "funny voice."

Life Aces Me

Anne and I have found we are on the same page in certain ways, and now we get to keep each other accountable in life. Always an excellent roommate situation. I mean, I sleep right next to her. Beautiful.

Yesterday was a day of cards, chatting, and chilling. Nick, Kayla, Anne, and Mike all sat around the fire with me at various times. SPEAKING of victory, did I mention that Nick

and I went 9 and NIL in one round of spades? And 4 and NIL in another? And heaven knows what else in another? Those were good times. Little moments of sweetness. As I said last night, it was like watching a sunset... while witnessing a car crash.

Now I'm filling out leadership and staff application recommendations.

THEN we'll clean! THEN we'll have a birthday party! THEN maybe some doubles ping pong! THEN Truth or Truth. Gotta take advantage of the freshman experience.