NEW BLOG!

Sometimes in life, when you think you're gonna be so bogged down with work and just can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, something happens to you that makes your life a little brighter and your smile a little easier to appear.

I checked the Need Magazine blog just for kicks and lo and behold TADA! my article is on there!


Here's the link if you want to check it out and I really think you do/should:

http://www.needmagazine.com/blog/2009/09/29/1952/#more-1952

I'm so excited!! More writing to come.

I'm skipping my 3 o'clock to go work at Community Nashville. My group is helping the organization write a grant for their student-led camps. It's pretty cool but daunting and after classes it takes a little strength to endure the three hours of writing it. My community service hours are finished so by Friday I may not be going back. We'll see.

Tonight is going to be loaded with homework so I guess I'll check in on Friday like I usually do.

Awake and unblinking

The weather is getting crisper in Nashville! Autumn is quickly making its move upon us. Everywhere you see on campus, shorts have been replaced with jeans and sandals are slowly making its exit to make room for boots, flats and sneakers. Welcome, fall!!

I drank chai tea at 11:30 tonight. I'm thinking I'm not going to bed for a while.

Good thing though because I'm supposed to have read a 280 paged book by tomorrow. Yea, didn't know until Friday, but had so much other stuff to do that I just didn't read it. So now, like always, I'm scrambling.

Here's a little taste of my schedule for the rest of the week and going into next:

Wednesday--Blink due, community service until 6 or 7pm
Thursday--case study, reading and blog posting due
Friday--essay for medieval world due
Monday--article for covering diverse populations due

That's all I can think of from the top of my head. Those are just major assignments due. I still have reading and such.

It is now 1am. I need to read a little for Bible but I'm thinking that's not gonna happen seeing as how I have to be up in 7 hours.

Though I drank the chai, my eyes are drooping. So with that, I bid you all a wonderful night.

Hmm-ing

I'm so over everything.

This semester is going to be the death of me. When I say that I mean my brain is literally going to be FRIED when I leave for Christmas. The Lord is giving me strength and endurance because I KNOW I would not be able to make it on my own.

As far as this guy business, I'm over that, too. I just don't have the energy to catch his eye everywhere I go. I can't worry about where he is, what he's doing. I just can't. I have no time; and, frankly, I don't want to waste time. I'm done trying to be flirtatious and done talking about guys. Guys, guys, guys. UGH!

Meg from Hercules was right when she said "No man is worth the aggravation."

Darn right.

Destress Saturday

Today was SUCH a good day!!

After working for so long on homework and projects, it's good to just be with friends...or do some community service.

Yea. That's right. I woke up at 8am (grueling for a Saturday morning. Ah well!) and went with Savannah to the Centennial Park. We passed Comm. Nashville shirts out to people for the Walk as One...and the health and wellness fair was going on at the same time so there were lots of tents set up.

 Nashville Cares and Happy Tails were among the organizations who were there. Savannah and I also worked on our story that's due Monday. We decided it would be so convenient to cover the walk for our journalism class. With the help of Anthony Johnson, the VP of Community Nashville's program services and the one we're working under for our 10 hours, Savannah and I were able to talk to a slew of different people from the organization. We got some board members and volunteers. It was great!
Then, we saw the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence raising AIDS awareness. The sisters dress up in nunnery drag and promote safe sex and support Nashville Cares. Their make-up was exquisite! I wish I could've taken some pictures of them but we were taking video and I forgot my camera in my purse.

After our video project and community service was finished, I met Martha and Anna up for some SATCO. I had never been so I was really excited to try the food Martha croons about.

IT WAS WONDERFUL!!!! I think it was the best mexican food I've ever eaten! The chips and queso were absolutely fantastic.

After SATCO, we bummed around in Starbucks for a little bit. Anna and I got coffee. I love my mocha frappachino. ♥

Then we walked around Hillsboro Village for about three hours because Martha had to take pictures for her photography class. Oh, by the way, her pictures probably won't come out, according to her dad, because her camera was on the wrong setting or something. Totally sucks, but what didn't suck was finding two kittens that needed to be adopted. In one of the jewelry places (the name escapes me) two ADORABLE kittens were hanging out, waiting to be adopted. They were so cute. The store owner was so nice and let us play and love on them. There was a black and white short hair with huge yellow eyes. The other was grey and brownish. He was a long-haired and so small! He fit in my palm. He would've been very easy to take but alas, I live in a dormroom and he would've been found out. If I were to name the two kittens, the black and white one would be Oscar and the grey would be Leo.

They were so cute.

It was a lovely Saturday spent with friends.

Tomorrow I have to go to a SGA Congress retreat practically all day. Then, I have to do so much reading; it's quite impossible at the moment. The Lord will sustain me, though.


Enjoy your weekends, everyone!!

Breath of fresh air!

Hey all.

Please listen to this dude. His name is Sam Tsui and has an incredible voice.



I finally didn't have any homework (except for some light reading and answering some questions for one of my media classes) so I was able to watch the premiere of Grey's Anatomy!! It was such a great two hours. Can Patrick Dempsey get any hotter???

STRENGTH Identified was at the Blvd today. It's a senior capstone project. The seniors wanted those were interested to come with a prop, showing what gives them strength. My friends and I went together, showing we are each other's strength. Cute idea provided by Ashley. Anna and I did singles. She held a rosary for hers and I held a crumpled paper with "Jesus" scribbled on it. Hopefully it comes out amazing. The pictures are gonna be in a book so I'm excited. I may just have to buy one =)

I have class in 30 but I just wanted to check in before the hectic weekend before me. Besides homework, I have to get up at 8 tomorrow so I can help with Community Nashville's walk-a-thon. Supposedly, Savannah and I are gonna be at the registration tables so it shouldn't be that bad. After three hours of that, I'm coming back to the room and trying to do as much homework as possible.

After my quiet time with Jesus on Sunday, the girls and I have to go to an SGA Congress Retreat. (Hey we get food!) I suppose the SGA pres and vp are gonna go over the basics of being in student government. Educational but it better be fun haha. It's from 12-4. So there goes my Sunday. I'm gonna have to read like crazy this weekend. There are so many books and reading assignments due! Ah well....at least I can write a little less.

But tonight no homework is being done. Instead, we're on the hunt for the perfect icecream in a waffle cone. I'm thinking Tasti D-lite but we'll see.


Enjoy your Friday, folks!

The never-ending stories

The keyboard and I have a very strong, very personal relationship. Every day without fail, after walking from classes, totally loaded with papers and homework, I sit down at my keyboard and just type. I type papers, story proposals, journal entries that I won't use the information ever again. However sometimes I would love to get into contact with a pen when it's not taking page upon page of notes.

I think this is the hardest I've worked since I've gotten to Belmont.

I had an article due on Tuesday, which meant I was still writing it Monday night. I have yet another article due my next class today, which meant (because I was working on my Tuesday article) I was scrambling to get interviews last night for this article for my diversity class. I have a story proposal due Thursday for Advanced News....

I cannot wait until the weekend!

On top of the writing, I have so much reading to do. I completely forgot about a paper on Charlamagne I have to write for next friday. The book on him is thick and I haven't even cracked open the cover. Can we say Trouble?

I'm thankful though that I'm not the only student scrambling with all these assignments. I bumped into Nataly yesterday and we were talking about our lives since we haven't seen each other since we moved back to Belmont.

She's a nursing major and she has to get a background check, go to labs, and start thinking about clinical studies. She's always in her room studying and reading up on all the medical information she needs. But she loves it, she says, which is why it's work but it doesn't seem like work because this is what she wants to do.

In the same way, though I write about aaaall the writing and such I have to do, I love it. I talk about the stuff coming up because I love it. These classes are keeping me on my toes and I think that's a good thing: keeping me engaged. Without a challenge, I'm useless. Though I'm weary I will make it out alive.

The Lord doesn't give me more than I can handle. That's His promise and I'm keeping to it.

Oh, a perk.

Cute soccer guy took notice of me. YEAYA!

Tests, articles, research. Does it ever end?!

With every passing day, every assignment the teacher conjures up, I feel as though this semester is going to be the death of me. Granted, I may pull out of my classes with straight A's and B's, but when fall break rolls around, I will be tired; when Thanksgiving gobbles into our lives I will be dead tired; and when Christmas comes upon us, wishing us all peace and goodwill, I will be dead.

Mondays are always hard because it's the start of the new week. I'm very tempted to stay in bed and just sleep the day away, especially when it's dark and rainy outside. No fun. However, I had to get out of bed because I had a quiz in my Bible class (which I think I got a C on...not my best) and now I'm internally freaking out about my medieval world test. Though, why I'm freaking out I don't rightly know considering I'm comfortable with the information. The dates? Well you know where they can go.

After my diverse class, I have to go to the library and do some research on Belmont's Christianity because my advanced news story is due tomorrow. I still have to ask a few people questions. I know who I'm going to ask it's just hunting them down and asking them. I know I can write the article in no time at all it's just finding the time. Then, I have to go around and ask people about Obama and Kanye for my article due Wednesday.

It's supposed to be a light week, but it's like the weather. Rain clouds with a chance of I'm-screwed.

No matter. I'll get it done. Once I start I have to finish and I'm sorta already started so I'm feeling pressured but good.

Enough of me whining. The weather in Nashville is rain, rain, and oh surprise: the sun tries to come out but no we still have rain.

I suppose there was a drought coming along because God's just opening up those heavens, isn't He?

If you're in Nashville, tote around an umbrella and/or rainboots. Wet days are ahead of us.

Enjoy your Monday!

Friday, Friday, FRIDAY!!!

Songs playing in iMind:

I Dreamed A Dream--Les Miserables

Don't Stop Believing--Journey

Bohemian Rhapsody--Queen

Hide and Seek-Imogen Heap

I just got out of my medieval history class. Oh my gosh, I thought I was going to fall right asleep! We're talking about Islam and it's just not interesting. Oh well. The exam is on Monday so I'm a little concerned but hopefully this weekend I'll be able to get down to study.

Yet another race article is due on Monday. I'm debating whether I really want to shoot video or write an article. I think it would be more powerful for a video, but we'll see what I can get. I'm going after class to try and find people to videotape. Shouldn't be that hard. Then again, never say should or should not.


The subject for the project/article is simple enough. It's about President Obama's remark against Kanye West for his actions against Taylor Swift during the VMA's. It's current, hip, and political in some aspects. Will this hurt the president's popularity? Is this just another stab the Republicans are trying to give him for not "acting like the President"?Questions, questions. I love it.


My Appalachian Outreach article for the Vision was submitted around 12am Thursday. Oops. I'm juggling about 3 articles now: Pres. Obama schpeal for Covering Diverse, "Return of Chapel" for Advanced News, Appalachian Outreach article: NEED Magazine version, and I'm going to the opening for Galileo in the Troutt Theater. Maybe I'll blog about it for the Vision. If not, I'll definitely write my thoughts here.


One more class to get through until I'm free for the weekend. Writing still ties me down, though, so it's not that great...


Wow, that sounded like I hate writing. Don't get me wrong! I love writing. I love journalism and getting the story. However, when I have so much stuff to juggle I kinda take the writing abilities for granted, I'll admit. It's not a big deal to me to write an article anymore in about an hour and a half. The only time-consuming thing (and this, I loathe) is getting out there to get the information. I guess when you do something you absolutely love, there are some aspects where you hate doing them; but they must get done or else you won't be able to continue to do what you love for long. Ah well.


Oh! I caught myself up with Glee last night. Truthfully, the only reason why I watched the pilot and second episode was to ready myself for the third episode and Josh Groban's walk-on role. Is that weird? that I start watching a show to understand the gist of it just to see my favorite guy in the world? Maybe.
Aside from the fact that the only reason why I started watching Glee was for Joshua Winslow, the show is hilarious! My friends thought I was nuts because I had my headphones in and was watching it on my computer. It would be silent and then I would just crack up. So funny.




Glee is about a glee club (naturally) that is trying to return to its glory days with the help of Will Shuester, an optimistic teacher who once was the star singer of the club. He tries to help the kids find their inner star.





It's a cutesy show and I will continue to watch it even when the third episode is over. By the way, I haven't started the third episode yet. That's my Friday night treat!






Happy Friday, ya'll!

Drowned Rat

Good News: I looked very cute today in my pink cardigan and new rain boots, toting my leopard umbrella.

Key word: looked

I kept this cuteness up for about two hours. Then, a heavy downpour came over Belmont and I now look like a recovering drowned rat. My jeans are soaked; my cardigan is stretched a little because of the absorption of water. My hair...eh, my hair looks pretty cute wet and wavy. I won't lie.

I'm in the computer lab once again. No, my computer is not broken...yea, you read right. Dell actually fixed it! However, I'm using the wonderful computer lab and probably will continue to do so only because I don't want to high-tail it back to the comfort of my dorm (and if i stay long enough my bed) to write. I'd much rather stay away and awake by typing in here.

I have my medieval world class next. We're watching a movie on Islam so it should be pretty interesting. Then I wait for my journalism class and I'm done for the day. I'm debating whether to eat in the dorm and escape the rain or battle it for fellowship...I suppose I should do the latter only because Synodia/EMERGE is going on tonight, which if you're a Belmont student, please come tonight at 7pm to hear Nekeisha Alexis-Baker's thoughts on "Jesus: The Original Radical".

After EMERGE, I'll give my overall thoughts on the week and give you some of my notes I wrote and mentally stored.

I have about twenty minutes until my next class so I'm thinking some news browsing.



Stay dry, kiddies!

Monday, Monday

Today is definitely a Monday. Tried to wear heels (my comfortable ones) but tromping around campus from the dorm to class to the library to lunch to the dorm again, it takes a lot out of you. Your feet can only go so far in those things! I wish my feet were stronger, that I had a better endurance with fashion. Comfort is definitely my weakness. Maybe one day I'll learn.

Before my second class (after I totally beasted my Bible exam. WOOT!), it seemed I had so much stuff to do! After lunch, Amanda and I went to the clinic to find out what was wrong with her knee. Yesterday she was limping a lot and she thought it could have been a pinched nerve, over rotation, what have you. I said to ice the knee anyway but she just wanted the nurse to tell her herself. (Even though my mom is a nurse and she's told me what to do with injuries hundreds of times...I digress) So I sat with her in the waiting room at the clinic. Well, I knew I had to get my story proposal for my third class for the day because, like an idiot, I put it in the wrong binder.

Not a big deal, right? Wrong.

After she gets called in, I rushed out of the clinic and made my trek back to my dormroom. I gathered my paper but, uh oh! I forgot my assignment I should have turned in on Friday but my prof. had mercy on all of us and said "Just turn it in Monday." I did the assignment but I still needed to print it out.


Not a big deal if I had a working computer! Dell has screwed me again!

I also know I had to do a posting via e-mail for my Brit Romanticism class by 6pm. Knowing I was going to be in class til 4pm and then have a Student Government meeting from 5-6:30pm, I needed to do my posting right after my second class. I needed to print this second assignment for my third class quick!

Are you keeping up with all this? Yea, I know. BUSY!

I rush out of my dorm room, down the elevator, almost open the gate to go to the library when I remember I took my second class materials out of my bookbag to make it lighter. Where did I leave my materials? Back in the room on my bed. I curse myself and run back upstairs, up the elevator, and to my dorm room. Make a quick check of everything I needed. Good.

Rushing to the library, it's muggy and I'm dripping with sweat. (Oh, I definitely changed out of my heels. I knew I had to hussle and walking around in a nice shirt and heels just wasn't going to cut it. So I opted for a tank and flops.) At 12:26 I get to the library and secure a computer. I whip out my flash drive only to find out it doesn't work on the computer. Crap. The librarian tells me to get another computer (thankfully there was another just opening up) and finally, it worked. I printed out my assignment, slipped it into my binder and had about 15 extra minutes for me to stroll into my second class, acting as if I had everything under control.

Right.

That has been my Monday so far. Oh, I did get my e-mail posting done just about twenty minutes ago. It's been a hectic day. Let's pray everything works out tonight and tomorrow, shall we?

Picking Up the Pieces

Everyone knows what today is.

I don't have to remind you. If you meander over to your calendar, you will remember what today is and with a sad heart, possibly, you will walk back and continue reading this post.

Even if you forgot the day or date, when someone reminded you what did you instantly think? Did you mindfully say "Oh..." and go back to that horrible day?

It's funny how we can't seem to remember where we put our keys but with a tragedy like September 11, 2001, we can remember everything: what we were doing, where we were, what our first thoughts were. Some of us can remember a few days after that event: shoes and such uncovered in the debris, Pres. Bush's speech of we will overcome and we will remember, people urging him to send troops after those radicals.

I remember I was in the sixth grade. My teacher was handing out our history tests (go figure) when she was called into the hallway by her husband. We continued to take our tests. When we were finished, my teacher asked if they had any relatives in the World Trade Center. A few hands went up. I had no idea what that building was. Someone asked what I had been wondering and she answered.

A TV on a cart was wheeled in and we watched the broadcasts over and over again. My mom picked my brothers and me up early. I came home and my dad had it on TV. It was like I couldn't escape this horrendous happening. My mom was crying, my dad for a long time silent. When something was spoken it was a "My God...my God..."

I went to bed that night more scared than I had been my entire life. I prayed very hard. We live next to an air force base so all I was thinking about was another attack. I talked to Jesus until, out of emotional exhaustion, went to sleep.

Two nights after, my mom and I watched President Bush give his speech. He was planning on deploying troops to Afghanistan. We were relieved that something was being done. Many people turned to God and called on Jesus to help them in this terrible time.

Eight years and we're still remembering.

As we should be.

Can I Get a Break? A Little Break?

Hello all!

I'm writing this in the computer lab. I haven't been able to update because, oh, guess what! My laptop's network card (there's some fancy name for it) is "damaged". Also, my printer won't respond to my computer or vice versa so basically I paid $1200for a machine to just type.

Lovely.

Because I'm taking 18 hours this semester I feel like I never get a chance to breathe and just be. I'm learning a lot and retaining the information, thank God, but I just feel like I'm always running. Welcome to the world, huh?
Brit Romanticism, while very simple in the reading aspect, is simply a pain in the butt with everything else. My writing is journalistic. I write in a tell-it-to-you-straight sort of way. I want to prove this teacher wrong in that I can and will pass her class with a grade no lower than a B. I'm in earnest prayer for that class!

Covering Diverse Populations is pretty much my favorite class. We talk about the different cultures and what race really is. Of course it's a required class for journalism majors but I'm so glad because it opened my eyes! I had a project due today, hence the title for this blog. I've worked on this video project for about a week straight and it's finally done....

Class is about to start so I'll check in later.


Ciao!




4:40pm

My video project sucked. It was critiqued like crazy. I don't really mind because I have room to grow. It's just that I wish it had been ten times better. I've never had AVP training so I wasn't expecting people to be like "Oh my gosh, that's SO good!" But I did want some more good things said. I was getting beat up enough so a little good criticism would've made me feel a bit better about my video skills, if any. Just a bit down and a little discouraged. One of the girls was really sweet and encouraged me to take it with a grain of salt, that everyone comes from different backgrounds and has had different classes. She said not to worry about it. But, being the person I am, I do worry about it. I worry about my grade, what my teacher thinks of me now as a journalist. I screwed up. Maybe not big time, maybe not enough to be in a huge controversy, but I screwed up.

I feel like I've just been beaten down since I got to Belmont. Not like as a whole but class-wise with romanticism and now this. As soon as I get a little happiness (like acing my Bible quiz this morning), it's like a huge weight of BAD CRAP just comes and whips me around. I guess that's life, right?

I'm going out with my South Dakota people. They always make me feel so much better and make me feel like my problems are miles and miles away. It'll be good. Really good.

I'll check back in probably Friday when I have a chance to get to the computer lab.