Meh. Ick. Gah.

Grad school is stupid.

Or maybe it isn't and it's just that I am.

I'm supposed to be writing a paper. I was supposed to have written it yesterday. But here's the thing--it's the first one. I've been in class, doing lots of reading/discussion, but...it's my first paper since I've been back in school. Let me explain what this does to your psyche. It makes you insane. That's what it does. I haven't written a paper in ELEVEN YEARS, people. And when I was writing them, I never had to use the APA format. And...I feel a lot stupider than I did 11 years ago. For real. I was thinking about it yesterday while I stared at my empty Word document...what happened in the past 11 years that made me think I don't have anything intelligent to say? Funny? Sure. Smart? Not so fast.

So. I have an abstract written. And my first paragraph...kind of. And I'm sitting here still avoiding it and blogging for heaven's sake. Did I mention it's due tonight? Yeah.

Okay. I have to make this happen. Not sure how, but....wish me luck.

This little piggy...

I forgot to post this in the update.

I've been given two boxes of masks--in case of the predicted Swine Flu epidemic.

Cheers to possible mass hysteria on college campuses!!!

Sheeeeeesh.

Um. Hi.

I don't know where to start.

Let me 'splain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up.

1. I'm trying to find balance in this work/ministry/play/grad school thing. It's harder than I thought. Well. Maybe not HARDER, it's just...I'm way more tired. All the time.

2. That being said--I'm in love...with my freaking crazy life.

3. My staff is truly unbelievable. I love them so much already that I can't see straight.

4. I'm learning so much that it makes my head spin.

5. God is outrageously cool. And...I am completely in awe of Him and what He's doing. In my life and on this campus.

6. I need to go to bed because two of my RAs and I are driving out to Hermitage to get Starbucks in the morning.


XOXO.

Why I Love My Job--Reason #4, 609

Because the daily affirmation is amazing.

Outside of my apartment door, I have a cute little chalkboard. And I have a card that says "Carly is..." and I have other cards that say Dining Hall, In A Meeting, Off Campus, etc., to let my residents know where to find me (although one of them is "In love" and it gets put up more often than not by one of my RAs).

Some of my girls put it to good use the other night. Please see below.


Yessssss. Why, thank you.

Quick recap

So. What have I been doing the past month?

Going to street fairs in downtown Grove City and watching Mark and Justin trying to win goldfish...they didn't.


Um. Then we went up to the mountains and hung out together. Best.Time.Ever.


Then, the RAs came back and in the middle of training, we got to take a group of them to PNC Park for a Pirates game. It was a perfect night!


And finally, we got to my favorite part of training...alcohol & drug awareness. That is our dear RA, Jason Kish wearing the Beer Goggles and trying to walk the line.
Priceless, people, priceless.

After all that, we went on our RA Retreat--and it blew my mind. We have such an amazing group this year, I'm not sure where to begin. They're all so anxious and ready to serve --they're astounding.

AND. I had my first grad class last night. Yeah. Justin (see above) and I started the program together this year. We'll be getting our Masters of Arts in Higher Education. I can declare a concentration if I want--but I'm not sure about that just yet. If I do, I'm fairly certain it will be in Student Affairs, but oddly enough, the Campus Ministry one sounds oddly appealing. We'll see. So, yeah, I'm a grad student. I was holding the syllabus for my first class and just about tripped out. It's been a long time since I was a student. But the rest of the night I was completely enthralled by everything Don (Opitz) said. He was speaking my language--passion and giftedness and vocation--unbelievable. I'm really excited.

That's it for now...move-in for freshmen is tomorrow and my upperclassmen all roll in on Saturday (which will be cuh-razy)--yay for the beginning of the school year!!!!

Cuuuuuuuute....

Jess took this picture while I was busy trying to kiss her baby to death.

Me and Talia are pretty much BFF.

Blast from the past...

So, I went looking through some old journals tonight. I don't know why. I honestly don't. It makes me crazy.

But I stumbled across these gems, scrawled on notebook paper, that fell out from between the pages of one of the journals....

Truth is not beauty. Beauty is beauty. Without beauty, you have no voice.

(Yikes.)

I make him feel good about himself. He makes me feel like I think I know how to feel.

(Okay. Whoa. Double yikes.)

I wish I could have saved you without drowning myself.
I wish what I offered could have been enough.
But I'm too weak and you're too wicked,
so I sink, my heart forgotten.

(And there you have it...)

There they are...

We went bowling the other night as a staff. I was cranky. I don't typically care for bowling...but Gabe, Renee, Gretchen and I kicked ass and took names. So I got over it.

At the end of the night, Jamie had us get the obligatory staff photo--so, I thought I'd share. We're a motley crew (although it just might be because it was almost a hundred degrees in the bowling alley), but they're some of my favorite people...

Why boys are lucky.

Well, I guess if you're asking me I'd say boys are lucky for a couple of reasons. The most important one being that they get to stand up when they pee (we've been over this, I know). Whatever.

Today I realized another reason. They never have to tape down their clothing.

Yeah. You heard me. I'm going to Stacy & Bart's wedding today. I have a super cute dress to wear. Unfortunately, there are parts of said dress, as well as parts of ME, that need a little help staying under lockdown.

So I bought this:


Yay for body adhesive and being a girl!!!

Happy New (school)Year!

Hi.

So, I just spent the past few days on a retreat with my coworkers. We went up to the mountains and stayed in a cabin for a couple nights--it was cuh-razy fun.

The thing is this--I had a great year last year. And I suppose I talked a lot about my RA staff being wonderful, but my RD staff was amazing as well. But there's something about this year that's blowing my mind a little bit. Since I got back to campus and have been with them all day for the past week and a half--it's been AWESOME. What's super crazy is that we have 3 newbies, too--and they just...belong. I've been having the best time with all of them and I suppose I'm realizing how blessed I am to be part of something like that. A common purpose. A shared vision. A genuine love for one another. I'm fairly certain that doesn't happen where most people work. And sure, maybe it's because we're res life geeks, and since we work, play, eat, live together--it bonds us in a way that is unusual to say the least--but I still don't think that what we've got going happens all the time--even in a res life capacity.

I'm super lucky to know these people.

As for the retreat, it was unreal--we had so much fun. The glory of being a bunch of self-proclaimed res life geeks is that you're totally on board for playing silly games until 2am. Or pass hours playing euchre and/or spades. You kill the TV and stay up til 4 talking about everything from calling and vocation--to body odor. I never thought I'd be such a fan of forced togetherness. Turns out that if it's this bunch, I am.

Hello, Cupcake!

Remember how I was doing those cupcakes/cake for that wedding?

Here's a pic my friend Carrie took for me!

Tied up...

So, I went for my follow up doc visit with Dr. Eichner today. He's the McDreamy oral surgeon who took out my 4 wisdom teeth last Monday.

He said everything looks wonderful and I can let go of my temporary, albeit irrational, fear of straws.

Here's what I would like to say about Dr. Eichner...he wears bow-ties. He's youngish. And handsome-ish. And he rocks the bow-tie. Which I genuinely believe makes him MORE attractive than he might actually be. Why, you ask? Because--if you're the dude with a set big enough to rock a fashion choice like that--you're oozing confidence and a little bit of a "what are you lookin' at" attitude.

I've thought entirely too much about it.

Gotta go lay by the pool.

Wha?!...

I'm just realizing that you've missed out on a lot. And I blame myself. I'm the negligent parent, the absent guardian. There's so much to say, so much to catch up on. Le sigh.

I'm so behind.

I mean, for example, did I tell you I did this?

Okay, you can't see it well. But I got a nose piercing in March.

Or....that I finished up the most awesome year EVER, with the most awesome RAs (see below for 3 out of the 7 of them) ever and still can't believe that I get to work with the most amazing men and women and THEN get 2 months paid summer vacation? Right. Well. Consider yourself informed.


I know there's more. But I have to go pick up cake supplies for a wedding I'm doing this Friday. I'm a little nervous, but it's my first paying/big deal gig!

So. I'll be back. With more outdated news.

You love it.

Tell Me Have You Seen Him?...

Hi. I've been on hiatus. Okay, really, I've just had 2 months off--paid summer vacation and been a bit lazy. I'll catch you up on all the fabulous details soon. But right now I feel like blogging and this is what I wanted to blog....

If you know/see/find the man she's talking about in this song (see below), please give him my number. He has to be single--don't bother telling me if you're currently dating/married/sleeping with him. I want him all to myself.

You're the prince to my ballerina
You feed other people's parking meters
You encourage the eating of ice cream
You would somersault in sand with me

You talk to loners, you ask how's your week
You give love to all and give love to me
You're obsessed with hiding the sticks and stones
When I fear the unknown
You feel like home, you feel like home

You put my feet back on the ground
Did you know you brought me around
You were sweet, and you were sound
You saved me

You're the warmth in my summer breeze
You're the ivory to my ebony keys
You would share your last jelly bean
You would somersault in sand with me

You put my feet back on the ground
Did you know you brought me around
You were sweet and you were sound
See I had shrunk yet still you wore me around
And 'round and 'round

(Somersault-Zero 7/Sia)

the gospel according to george strait...

'Cause I finally got my first good look,
a little fire was all it took.
An' as the flames grew brighter,
I saw everything that I'd missed.
Once you get your courage up,
you light a match an' your eyes adjust-
It's amazing what a man can see,
by the light of a burnin' bridge.

Preach, son.

Movie Gallery part 2.

Yeah, so on Sunday I went to return my DVDs and get the last two in the season I'm watching. I go to the counter and it's not Brenda...sadly. But it's another chick who's younger but just as...interesting. And this is what happened--she actually said the following:

"It says here in the computer that if you pay an additional $3.71 today, your next rental is FREE!"

Err...no. If I pay an additional $3.71 today, my next rental isn't free...it would've cost me $3.71.

I was never good at math, though.

SEATTLE!

Wigs, this is for you. ;) Finally!

For those of you who didn't know, I was in Seattle for about 5 days back in March. I fell madly in love with that city. It wined and dined me and then broke my heart.

I had close to 300 pictures when I got home but I made an album with my favorites...there are about 75. Go see the slide show HERE! And you'll see awesome pics like this:


Okay...so, I promise the ones in the album are way cooler.