Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Happy Birthday to Jess!

Today is the second to last day of June.
This means...HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my lovely cousin Jess!  She is turning 21!  Except, due to her living in England...it is not quite as big a deal as it is in the USA ; )

Wimbledon is on.  Federer is playing.  I really do like him!  I will be cheering for him!  A secret part of me wants Nadal to lose.  What if both he AND Federer lost!  We could have some new blood on the court!  And, if the Queen says as she did last year...if Murray makes it Wimbledon's Centre Court Royal Box will be graced by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.  Now that would be something!

I have two days left of work this week....unless I go in for a few hours on Friday.  Then...a long 4th of July weekend!

Wimbledon Men's Finals on Sunday...Breakfast at Wimbledon : ) Unless we are at the Lake.

I read some of Augustine's Confessions this morning.  I am actually enjoying it very much!  I can understand it without killing my brain.  The only problem I am running across is on what I should write my papers for that class....hmm.

Well, that will sort itself out.
I am looking forward to the schedule of school beginning again in August. 
This summer I have established a pretty good schedule...but, can I continue it in the fall?  Hopefully!

Friday, June 24, 2011

Relateble Books...Love Them!

Do you have an author who's books you love to read because you are able to relate to a character style they write well?

I have an author I love to read because I can connect with some of her characters so well.  It is as if my personality is written into them, but the characters have a different life story than I.

Today Daddy and I arrived at the beach around 12:30.  By just past 1:00 I was out on the beach tanning (and subsequently burning, despite my thorough application of sunscreen) and reading one of her latest books I have been waiting to read for about 4-5 months!  Needless to say, I have now completed said book.  One of the main characters of the story loves watching Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movies (She gets to wear one of her dresses from Top Hat!) and they mention a Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth movie....and I just so happen to have one sitting on my bed that I brought along to watch before ever reading the book!

She writes male characters into her stories that resemble Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart, Fred Astaire, etc. in their style, personality, etc.  Please.  Can they just exist in real life??

Unfortunately, the book is over.  That is the worst part about reading a book I love.  When it comes to an end and all I want is to keep reading it. 

Anyway, when I read these books I want to hand them to my friends to read to help them understand me : )

Tomorrow Lindsey and Jeremy are getting married!  Congrats you two!  Can't wait!

P.S.  The Author is Kristin Billerbeck.  Guys, I don't recommend reading her books.  She writes chick-lit : )

My two favorite, to date, books: Split Ends and A Billion Reasons Why.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

It's That Time of Year Again...Wimbledon!

Wimbledon Day 3. 
I actually get to watch a little today (I saw some yesterday but had work).

Venus Williams is playing Kamiko Date-Krum.

Date-Krum is 40 and retired from tennis for 12 years.  She was the Wimbledon Semi-Finalist in '96, losing to Stefi Graf.  She returned in 2009.  To put it into perspective, she turned pro in '89.

She is back with a vengeance!  Venus is having to fight hard and is down (possibly about to be tied).  I am cheering for Date-Krum all the way!  She is incredible!  But, just lost a point she should have had at the net. 

Don't forget about Wimbledon, folks!  Tune in and watch some unexpectedly good matches!

He Hears the Small Prayers We Pray...

Some of you may know of the learning summer I am having.  Well, Monday I must have left the thinking part of my brain at home.  It was awful.  I clogged up the email because I tried and send a huge file.  That same file I tried to send through a website and it wouldn't....because I was sending both files rather than at different times.  Gah.  I really think they must have thought I was quite the blonde.

I left working feeling I had done little right.

So, Monday night and Tuesday morning I prayed, asking God that things would be different.  I got to work and from the very first they were!  I accomplished almost all, if not all, of my to-do list that I could do by myself!  I was productive, spoke with an England lady who lives near Wimbledon (which, by the way, I am watching).  Anyway, it was so refreshing yesterday!  I have today and tomorrow and then I am finished for the week! 

Beach bound on Friday and Lindsey and Jeremy's wedding on Saturday!!!

Friday, June 17, 2011

Musings of Me.

Whew.  The week is over!  I am relieved.  The weekend is beautiful.  Now, how to make it productive?
I left my book in Columbia so I may have to jump into the unknown.  Reading books by new authors.
Don't get me wrong, I want to read them...sometimes...but it's the unknown.
Basically, it's not Louisa May Alcott (aka, someone with whom I am familiar).

I guess I should give a recap from last weekend.

Chris and Marie got married!!!!  The people I rode with were SO tired of hearing me say, "They are getting married!!!!"

The first night I stayed up until 2AM for the first time in a looooong time.  I am so not used to that.  But, it was great!
Then, Saturday we went grocery shopping, I played tennis with Wesley, saw Josh, and then got ready for the wedding : )
At the wedding I saw everyone....well, not quite.  The wedding was beautiful, Mr. Fain said some great things, Chris and Marie read their vows from their iTouch iPods, and the desserts were yummy!

Then, I was finally able to find a ride to church (thanks Andrew and Tovey)!  They are getting married tomorrow morning!  I hope it goes so well!  Enjoy married life!

I got to see Dr. Gentry and Dr. Crutchfield!  I really love my professors!

After a lunch of stimulating conversation with Tovey, Andrew, and Karis I went tubing with Amanda and Walton!  Oh, it was fabulous!  Yet, so very different from my river back home.  I actually found myself being anxious.  I didn't know what to expect.  And, there were SO many people.  Back home it is rare to bump into people while tubing.  And, they have flat rocks on the Congaree River.  On the Cow Pasture we have slate with snails.  It cuts your feet.  That was not really an issue on Sunday.

Lindsey and I had a nice ride back to Florida on Monday!  She is getting married in 8 days!!!

And, this week was long, I am learning so much, though. 

I am greatly looking forward to visiting VA in July!  I miss Mama and Michael and Grandmother and Grandaddy and Abi and Josh and Liz and everyone.  And the mountains.  And the river.

But...it is Father's Day weekend!!!!!

Just hanging with Daddy.  The Farmers Market tomorrow!

Friday, June 10, 2011

Chris and Marie

My Dear Friends,

On this tenth day of June in the year two thousand and eleven my dear friends Chris and Marie are beginning their last day as singles and preparing for tomorrow, their first  day as marrieds. 

I remember the time Chris walked by shortly after Marie and I told him, "Marie went that way."
He replied, as he walked by, "We aren't dating."

Oh...whoops. 

Well, about five months later and they were : )

I remember it all very clearly.  And now, two years and a bit later, they are getting MARRIED!!!

So, raise your glasses of pink champagne and let's toast the marriage of these two wonderful people whom I love ever so much!

To Chris and Marie!




Columbia bound today with the lovely Lindsey Phillips (who is also getting married!  Two weeks :) )!

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Thinking of Europe

What else is knew?  I seem to almost always be thinking of Europe.

I especially love the moments when I am able to imagine so clearly a specific place, moment, etc. to the point that I feel as though I am practically there.  I think it is the closest thing to teleportation I have been able to discover.

Yesterday it was Paris, the day before that England, and today....well, I wouldn't mind seeing Greece : ) But, not to live.  I don't really have a desire to live in Greece. 
Germany. Yes, please.  France, most definitely.  England, mhmm.  Well, anyway, you get the picture.  I love Europe.

Do you know what else I love?  My new mascara.  It makes my eyelashes look longer and goes on so easily!

Friday, June 3, 2011

"Midnight in Paris" or...a Trip Down Nostalgia Alley

As I am finishing my hot chocolate, which, incidentally, I am sipping from a Tiffany's mug, I am thinking of Paris, of France, of the French language, and of walking the streets of Paris in a leisurely and romantic sort of way.

I just finished watching "Midnight in Paris."  I recommend it, especially for all people who are prone to nostalgia.  I was so frustrated with the silly little fiancee and the know-it-all guy. Oy vey!  However, the main character, Gil (played by Owen Wilson who did a great job), is so nostalgic.  I felt right at home.  Wandering the streets of Paris...at night...in the rain.  Popping into side alley ways.  Finding those little hole in the walls.  Living in an attic with a rooftop balcony that has window boxes and vines.  I cannot wait to experience it.

In fact, due to just watching this movie, I am feeling the inclination to move to Paris, explore, visit the home of Monet, become fluent in French, speak French so often that it becomes second nature, and just relish life.

Who knows?  In a years time I am finished with undergrad.  What will I do?  Of course, my sights are set on the far continent from whence we all (many) came.  Will I succeed in making a life there?  Only God knows that.

By the way, I was just googling for a picture of Parisian rooftops (as you will see below), but the pathetic thing is, when I first typed in "Paris" Paris Hilton's picture popped up too.  Gah.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Listing, List, Lisss...

I am sitting in a room that needs to be cleaned.  A load of laundry is in the washer, another load (black and white...gotta figure that one out) is on the floor waiting to be washed.  "Put away" clothes are sitting on my bed waiting to be put away.  I had every intention of keeping my room clean this summer...but, somehow clothes end up strewn about the room while I, in a frenzy, try and figure out what I am going to wear (you know, on those mornings when nothing seems to work the way you intended).

I have a book lying open waiting to be read.  But, to be perfectly honest, my interest is waning (at least when I think about it in this moment).  I need something else to happen.  The book is about the fighting for the founding of Israel Statehood.  I finished the first book in the series last night...fabulous.  This is good too.  But, it just keeps happening!  I want to know how it finishes...but I can't read the end first!

I am trying to organize my summer.  I want to figure out what I want to do.  I feel like I am in this cycle of work and not much else.  I need to go to the art museum and look up a calendar of events and see what is happening.

Oh yeah, and I still need to read Augustine.

I have every intention of doing school work.  It is just so difficult.

And, I should probably practice writing, but I need to have a time of no reading so I am dealing with my own thoughts rather than ideas from the books I have been reading.  That is a problem.  But, I don't want to stop reading. 

I need to go back to reading...I mean cleaning (I did actually mis-write that).  Oh yeah, and, I have hardly seen any French Open.  What happens when Wimbledon comes on?  Will I miss it also?  Ugh.  I may just have to watch the reruns of the good matches (i.e. people I know or matches that go on for FOREVER!).
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