I'm not doing so great on the frequent updates. I haven't really done so for months now though so I guess it's nothing too abnormal. Where to start. Well I must say I had a great weekend. My roommate from school came up for a long weekend. We went to the coast, to the city (SF), to the woods, and I got to show her around the city where I live (that didn't take long). Overall we had a really fun time. Since we've lived together it's just so non-pressure to be around her. It was funny, because the whole time she was here it never really felt weird to have her here. When I woke up in the morning it was like...she's here. Of course she's here. That's not so weird...even though it really is. Today was our first full day on our perspective ends of the state which is quite sad. Five months until I see her again.

This week marked the start of my worship leading endeavors at a camp about 15 minutes from my house. A friend of mine is coordinating the camp and she asked me a couple months ago if I could lead worship for this intensive, 3 week leadership camp they started this year. Today was day three, and I'm totally having a blast with them. It's a small group which gives me the opportunity to get to know each person. I already have all their names down. Really it's just the ideal size for my personality. Tonight I went out there earlier than usual because they had planned to be on the ropes course that night. Well, after I was finished up my friend invited me to go along with them on the ropes course, so I did! I mean really, how often do you get a random invite to go down a zip line? So, about an hour ago I was hurtling through the air. Good times. That's all I've really got to say I think. Three weeks and one day to Oz.

I know I know. So I write a post about how excited I am about this gig then I don't even say how it went. And I'm a slacker and didn't post any pictures, but I did forewarn that might be the case so you can't blame me there. Anyway, the gig went quite well. There was a good crowd whenever we started playing, and a good group of people from my church came to show their support which meant a lot. Aside from that, there was nothing really meaningful or amazing about the gig. We came, we saw, we conquered...or something like that. It was all pretty non-emotive for me actually. I'm not sure why that was, but when I finally got there it wasn't a big deal. I wasn't really nervous, I wasn't really excited, I just went out there and did it. No adrenaline, no nothing. I'm still trying to figure out why that might be. Maybe it was playing with people I didn't know, or maybe it was the venue. Maybe it was the fact that there was a lot of pressure with this gig and I was just glad to have it over. Or maybe it was the pain of knowing that $100 was departing from my savings account to pay for the band. Whatever it was, it was a good experience, I think it helped out our church, and now it's over.

This week I've been working at the music store doing stuff on computers. Some people have been gone from the office so it's just been a few of us in there. The camaraderie has been more fun this past week than I ever remember, but besides that things have been very boring. The work they have me doing is just very monotonous, and while I'm very grateful for a paycheck I often come home feeling like a zombie. I'm hoping they have something different for me once I finish this project on Monday.

Yesterday was a monumental day. I talked to all three of my roommates on the phone in the same day. It was so great. This week I've really started to miss people from school for the first time. I was wondering when it would set in, and finally after six weeks it has. One of my roommates just got back from 3 weeks overseas a couple days ago, so it was the first time I have talked to her in a long time. It was great to hear her voice. It made me realize how much I miss her. But hopefully I will be seeing her and another friend in early July. Also, one of my other roommates is coming out here on Thursday. Talking to her last night also reminded me how much fun we have together and how much we laugh when we're together. We're going to have a great time. I can't wait to show her this crazy place.

Lately I've been waking up early in the morning, then drifting back to sleep again. But since I have already woken up once, I tend to sleep lightly during the last couple hours and I remember a lot of my dreams as a result. Score another dream for Australia. I have 2 Australia dreams a week easy. Here's what was going on. It was the first day of classes, and I was trying to find what building my class was in. I went into one building (oddly enough the entire building was one classroom) and discovered that I was in the wrong place. So I got up and walked out, and I think eventually found someone and asked them where I needed to go. They then pulled out a map and showed me another completely different part of campus which looked like it was at least a mile away. So I went walking down this path toward the other part of campus, and the path took me by a beach and some other things. Then somehow I randomly ran across my seventh grade history teacher, so we stopped for quite a while and talked. Then I realized I was missing my classes, and as I looked at my schedule I realized I had another class I'd forgotten about and I was missing that one too. Then finally I think I decided to stuff it. I don't really remember what happened next, but somehow I think I ended up at Leah's or somewhere with Leah. I realized at this point that I didn't know what day it was, and it might have been Friday and I don't even have class on Friday! So I'm wondering what day it is, then Leah tells me that today is Christmas, but not many people in Australia celebrate it so it's kinda hard to tell! So then I'm trying to figure out what day it, because in my dream it's only two days after I've arrived in Australia, which means it should be the 24th. Which still doesn't make any sense, because I'm flying to Australia in July, not December, but somehow in my dream it was December. And apparently it was Christmas, but Christmas isn't a huge holiday in Australia and for some reason the uni decided to add a whole extension to campus like five miles away. Right. These are how irrational my dreams are. I don't really dream about normal things or normal problems. Instead I have these obstacles in my dreams that don't really exist. Like for whatever reason in my dream I could never really be sure of where I was going or where the campus was...like I couldn't look at the map or something. But at least these dreams provide some entertainment as I reflect on them later. Or maybe I'm just sick in the head.

Before I get ready for work I have to say this. The band I'm playing with tonight is AMAZING. We had a rehearsal last night and they sounded so good. I was totally in awe. I'm so stoked for tonight. And to top it off the Lakers lost.

Well, I'm almost through my second full day back on the mainland. Unfortunately, the last two nights of sleep have been a bit restless, but I'm hoping that tonight I'll finally be tired enough to get myself on track. No need for three nights in a row of falling asleep at 2am.

The trip was nice and relaxing. We did a bit of swimming, went out on a catamaran one afternoon, went to the Polynesian Cultural center on the north shore, beat my dad for the first time at golf (95 baby), and spent some time at Waikiki. Overall very relaxing and luckily not too hot. I didn't start breaking out until about our fifth day there, which is a ton better than it's been in past years.

There might be a picture or two to come, depending on whether or not I feel motivated enough to upload then transfer them onto my parent's computer. There might be stories to. Then again, maybe not. All depends on my schedule and more so on my motivation this week.

This week I'm going to be working, which is a huge blessing. I also have a huge gig coming up on Wednesday which I'm really excited about. And I just completely lost my line of thought, so that's all for now.

Hello photoblogging. And hello free storage of the photos. A-ma-zing. Be prepared for more photos in the upcoming months. Actually I might start a different blog that's just photos, I'm not sure yet. Anyway, that little guy down there is my adorable second cousin, who just started crawling this week. He's the cutest, and I'm going to miss him so much while I'm gone.

So the whole week has been a bit uneventful. I spent some time with a few friends which was fun, went to the beach, bought a few things for vacation, read some C.S. Lewis, braved the DMV to get a new license, and rehearsed for my gig coming up later this month. Sounds like a lot but it really wasn't. But finally today is the day, and my Grandma and I are leaving tonight for the city, and early tomorrow we fly to Honolulu. Aloha and mahalo. Those are the only Hawaiian words I know. Well, beside that fish Humuhumunukunukuapua'a. And my friend's middle name is Hokulani. That means something about a star I think. I'm definitely fluent.

I'm most of the way through The Weight of Glory which actually turned out to be a collection of sermons by C.S. Lewis, the most famous being the weight of glory. Beside that one, I really liked his Transposition. It's a great discussion about the relationship between heavenly things and how they relate and filter through our emotions and senses. Sort of hard to explain, but he uses the gift of tongues as an example, then expands to a more all-encompassing level. It's very good, and really philosophical which I love. Seriously, find a way to get ahold of this essay, especially if you're one of my tongue speaking friends (which I think are like the only two people that read this). Lots of good things to think about. There's also a very philosophical one called Why I am not a Pacifist. He uses Scripture but also method and authority to determine what his stance is.

So I guess that's all for now. Maybe I should start packing. I hate packing. It's definitely in my top five list of things I hate to do. I think going to the doctor is above it though.

The cutest baby in the world. 

Well it's a week later, and time for an update. I was a member of the workforce. Notice the past tense. Hopefully sometime soon that will become present tense again, but for now there's not work for me at the store. So hang around the house I will, and lots of reading I shall do. I've read two books in the last week, and I loved them both. I finished up Blue Like Jazz this past weekend, then picked up Wild at Heart a few nights ago and finished it yesterday. Two amazing books. They gave me a lot to think about.

I love to read. And I love to think. And I love to think about what I read. That's what I do. I read, then I think. I love that I have free time for that. I'm just loving a lot of things right now aren't I?

This past weekend I was in southtown for my cousin's wedding. It was a crazy weekend, but I had a blast. Friday was my sister's graduation, so we were all over the place for that, then we had to fly out for San Diego the next morning. I had so much fun with my family. My parents and sister finally got to see my cute as heck baby cousin. Hands down the cutest baby in the world. And that's not even the relative in me talking. He really is the cutest. Poor thing is 10+ months old and can't crawl. He's so close though, and he'll probably start walking not too long after. He's so cute though he doesn't really need to crawl. He can just sit there and look cute, and it definitely makes his mom's job easier.

So that's me. Reading and thinking and trying to get some sleep after this past weekend. It's not really working. I haven't fallen asleep before one for a couple nights now. Maybe tonight will be the night. Now it's off with the fam to see Shrek 2.

I'm a member of the workforce again! Okay maybe not permanently, but in the past two days I've spent eight hours working ("working") which makes for a very happy Krystle. I'm probably going to do about six or seven hours tomorrow too which I'm stoked about. Last night at the store we had a gig/presentation by Greg Bennett. He's done a ton of guitar design and right now he's teamed up with Samick designing guitars for them. I own one actually. They're great sounding guitars for an extremely low price. I'm not quite sure how he does it. So basically last night he would play a few songs (he's a great player) then take some time to talk about different aspects of guitar construction and design. It was ideal for me, being someone who knows enough about guitar design not to get lost, but not much beyond that. He talked about acoustics and also finger picked a ton of stuff. He wasn't the type of player that just blows your mind, but he was super down to earth and inspiring. He played this ridiculous version of Stars and Stripes forever. It even had the crazy piccolo part!

Unfortunately to set up for the event we had to move a ton of bass gear off this stage area in the store and take it across to backstock. Fortunately it's not too far, but moving all that stuff was a huge pain. Literally. Luckily this morning I didn't end up moving any of it back, but I did end up unloading some other gear and I'm definitely feeling it now. I don't ever want to be a bass player. Those amps and cabinets weigh a ton. It's ridiculous. Seriously, these dinky six inch tall heads will weigh more than a medium sized amp. What's up with that?

They're having a huge Marshall event tomorrow which should be really cool. They're going to do it outside and give away some free gear and probably do a lot of demoing. The event will actually be after hours I think and they're going to do a BBQ. Things like this are why I love working in a small town music store. They really make an effort to get the community involved and do a lot of cool and interesting things. Hopefully tomorrow won't involve so much heavy lifting. Luckily I remember a lot of those Marshall stacks having wheels. Here's hoping.

Have I really grown up here? Did I really think this is normal? I've been to a Whole Foods/organic store twice since I've been home. I actually really like Whole Foods but it's too expensive so I'd never regularly shop there. Anyway. I realize Whole Foods is a chain, but still. How many people can I see with dreads walking around Whole Foods? And how many political bumper stickers can I see in one 20 minute drive (because it is a 20-30 minute drive EVERYWHERE). And get this, I started doing yoga last week (no not because I want to worship Satan, I want to be more flexible…make that less inflexible) and seriously EVERYWHERE I go I keep seeing these yoga kit things that have a mat and a tape and this band/rope thing that you can use. I saw it at the bookstore, at two different Target's and I saw it today at the grocery store! This is not normal! And my favorite...the ladies in black. They stand on the corner downtown (yeah, downtown really only has 1 corner) and protest violence every Friday. They wear black. I think this week I saw something about not liking Bush too. But that's practically nor cal's motto.

It's not really weirding me out. Don't get me wrong. I'm not in freak out mode, because this is still home and still somewhat normal to me. You can't undo 16+ years of living here. But I guess the longer I'm away the more I realize how this place really is. You know what else I'm really noticing more than ever - the warfare up here. I know I've also made joking comments about witches and wicca and all kinds of crap going on up here, and I've been aware of that for a long time. But beyond all the really reeeeally out there stuff I'm really aware for the first time about what a spiritually thirsty this place is. Now some people are straight up atheists, but there are tons and tons of people looking for a spiritual experience. Just look at all the yoga mats for sale. Geez. But I've also started to view that in a new way as I consider my own faith. And sadly enough I've found myself thinking about the principles of postmodernism that we talked about in my Luke/Acts class...which I HATED. HATED HATED HATED. I cannot tell you enough. And what's funnier is that I wasn't even there the day we talked about postmodernism! But my roommate and I had a really good acronym for the test to remember that one so I still remember it.

The four principles were mystery, experience, significance, and relationship. So our prof (when I wasn't there) talked about postmodernists longing for each of these things, and made the point that Christianity also has these things to offer. While I was somewhat upset at his seemingly flippant summary of postmodernism, the guy really had a point and I see it now. I'm seeing it firsthand now. Mystery. Christianity is SO full of mystery. So much paradox, so many questions, so much stuff I can't and never will understand. Why did God even bother with all of us? I have no clue. What is God really? I'll never know his fullness. Experience. Man oh maaaaaaaaaaaaan. The fundamentalist in me totally wants to crush this one. "God is not an experience. You can't base you faith on experience. You must be obedient, live a Holy life." Blaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. Yes I know obedience and holy living are crucial. Faith without works is dead. But a person living without grace will soon be dead also I think. Or at least lying on the floor in a heap wondering how in the heck they're going to do all the "work for God" they're supposed to do. Slight tangent, sorry. Enough on that one. Significance. Everyone's longing for it. People want to make an impact, whether it's a good one or a bad one. People are attention hungry. People want to do something that's lasting, something that's outside of themselves. People search for it in all sorts of things - people, work, drugs, sex, business, volunteering, some kind of cause (i.e. impeach bush bumper stickers)...all sorts of things. Relationship. Ok that's pretty self-explanatory I think; I won't go into that one.

Christianity offers all these things. Do you realize that? Maybe you're way ahead of me and you already knew that and you're thinking, "Krystle, why are you assuming I'm dumb. And I don't live in hippie nor cal. Why didn't you stop five paragraphs ago?" But I don't think you're thinking that. At least I hope not. So I'm thinking, if I'm in this area of spiritually hungry, politically interested, organic food eating, Bush protesting society, I'd better learn to be down to earth. I'd better learn that it's not apologetics that's going to convert people. It's talking about God as a REAL, ACTING being, and talking about Jesus as a REAL, LIVING person that has made and makes a DAILY impact in my life. I'd better start talking about him like a person I know, someone who cares for me, someone who I care really deeply about. And I'd better stop being concerned about whether I sound like an idiot or not, because that keeps me from being honest. And a lot of times an honest, "I don't know" sounds way better than some polished apologetic theological BS.

So that's me, a week and two days after being home. I think good old nor cal has something for me the next two months, and I've got something for it too. By the way, a lot of this sudden burst of thinking is also inspired by a book I got Saturday called Blue like Jazz by Donald Miller. Definitely the most unusual book I've ever read, but it's phenomenal. I started it Saturday and finally put it down 50 pages later. This guy has such an unpolished writing style, yet he says everything he wants to say in an unapologetic, honest, and extremely profound way. It's also hilarious. I finally stopped on page 87, now I’m two chapters beyond that. I predict I'll finish it in a few days. It's that good. Check out this guy's writing style.

“At the time I was attending this large church in the suburbs. It was like going to church at the Gap. I don't know why I went there. I didn't fit. I had a few friends, though, very nice people, and when I told them I wanted to audit classes at Reed they looked at me as if I wanted to date Satan. One friend sat me down and told me all about the place, how they have a three-day festival at the end of the year in which they run around naked. She said some of the students probably use drugs. She told me God did not want me to attend Reed College.”

------------------------

“The first day of school was exhilarating. It was better than high school. Reed had ashtrays, and everybody said cusswords.”

How funny is that? And his chapters have subtitles like "Sexy Carrot" and "Penguin Sex." Ok I'm really trying to play the curiosity card at this point. Honestly though, this book is amazing. You should read it.

Unlike Mel I'm really having a hard time getting used to blogger's new format. Really though it's all because I don't like change and it's difficult for me to get used to new things. Eventually I'll be alright. Of course, with how often I tend to update it could be quite some time before I'm used to this. Moving on...

This has been a very non-eventful week, which I mostly like. I'm starting to hit the point of boredom though. I seriously don't know what I did over summer when I didn't work. Why wasn't I bored? Why wasn't I driving my mother crazy? Maybe I was. I called my work earlier this week and they said to call back later in the week, which I did today, but I couldn't get ahold of my boss so I left a message. I haven't heard back from him. Let me woooooooooooork I'm so boooooored. I'd be perfectly happy to water the plants right now. Actually I came to a place last year where I really liked watering in the morning. It can be quite nice outside and my arms got a nice tan out of it.

My recent discovery has been yoga. I'd been turning the idea over in my mind for the last week or two of school. Here's the deal - I am the least flexible person on the face of the earth. Really, I am. So it's been really good to have something that focuses on relaxation, posture, breathing, and strengthening which are all things I need. My back is so messed up and I know it's because of my bad posture and weak stomach muscles. So hopefully this will help me out. I have a really good video with hosts that are nice but not super whacked. I'm excited about it.

I have all my paperwork done for Australia, which is a really weird feeling. I got my visa early this week and I put in a housing application too. Figuring out where exactly I'm going to live is my present challenge, then there's going to be a slight lull until the packing nightmare begins. Last night I had a sort of two-in-one dream/nightmare about LAX. I remember having a dream or two last year before I went, but it certainly wasn't two months before I was going to go. It my dream I had somehow ended up driving to LAX, but had come in a different entrance (I think there's only one entrance) and could not find my terminal. Then somehow I think I was in a terminal that was underwater or something. But I think I could breathe. Then I met up with my parents finally too. It was definitely a weird one. Speaking of flying, I haven't received my tickets in the mail yet which isn't freaking me out but I'm starting to get concerned. I think if I don't get them by Monday the travel agency is going to get a little call. They gave me no time frame on how long it would take so I have no idea if this is normal or if they should have been here by now.

To change subjects completely, I've been doing a bit of deep thinking this week but not so much right at this moment. One thought though. I've been thinking lately about the nature of Christianity and I've been asking, "Wow, is this what it really is?" Sometimes I find it a bit weird. Like the whole God chose a nation, and the whole animal sacrifice thing and the deal with blood and purity laws and all that. Then we have Jesus coming on the scene and dying this unbelievably brutal death that was completely necessary for our atonement and it's just like...whoa. Sometimes it just seems so...I'm not sure. Out there maybe? I guess our culture is so far removed from that it's hard to wrap my head around sometimes. When I was driving home from school my Mom choose a lot of the music, which meant we listened to a lot of old but good music I haven't brought out in a while. Midway through the drive she popped in Jars of Clay's first CD, and a line off the first song really hit me (sorry can't remember the title). You know that line that goes, "Flesh and blood/Is it so elemental?" Well it really hit me for the first time. I'd never really paid attention to that line before but that subject has really been interesting to me lately. It is elemental, and sometimes it's just weird in my head but other times it makes such perfect sense and blossoms into this crazy beautiful intense story. I guess that's part of the mystery. Thoughts are welcome.

How's this for a great homecoming. I have explained to many people at school that I live in a really unusual area and that sometimes this communish place down the street has these weird gatherings and we can hearing drumming emanating from the gathering. Well yesterday after seven hours on the road we're finally approaching my house, and what do I see? Yes that's right, tons of cars lining the streets and people in hippie garb heading toward the commune houses. My mom rolled down the window and said she didn't hear any drumming, but she did hear music. What a welcome back to hippie land.

So yes I'm at home and mostly it's just weird, but the prospect of not having homework and just relaxing is very nice. I enjoyed getting over 6 hours of sleep last night and I'm looking forward to the fact that tomorrow will be the same way. So now it's just hanging out, finishing unpacking (I did most of it yesterday, can you believe that?) and hanging out with some fam tonight. We're going to French food. Yuuuuuuuuuuuuum. Happy Mother's Day!

Last night in the mod. Everyone say bye. Friends was a little too close for comfort tonight. Our place looks like Monica and Chandler's empty apartment...except not nearly as nice and a way crappy oven. I hope I get to go to sleep soon. All I want is my bed.

It's over. Let everyone say "amen." I've started packing up some stuff but I can't really do much because I don't have anything to pack it in. So I guess my parents and I will just take the brunt of it tomorrow afternoon when they get here. I'm okay with that; I'd rather not have it be a long, drawn-out process.

The tests yesterday went pretty well for my taste, and my two today were easy as heck. You gotta love how I prepared for my conducting final for less than half an hour (didn't even practice the song all the way through) and probably got an A. I'm so glad that class is over. I really like conducting but I was so sooo over that class months ago. Probably had something to do with the fact that we had a million assignments that took hours and hours, and the fact that the class is from 1-2:30 which should really be naptime.

So right now I'm sitting here waiting for my friend to call me and tell me she's back so we can hang out. All my roommates are out doing errand type things, and I'm presently done with my packing. I'm definitely in denial still, otherwise I think I'd be freaking out and getting sentimental over anything and everything. I can't wait to watch the finale of friends tonight and have no homework or finals to worry about. Just hanging out with my roommates watching great TV completely stress free. There's nothing better.

I played my guitar yesterday for the first time in ages. I think since I've been back from Easter break I haven't really had the time to even think about playing it. In fact, it had been so long that after about 10 minutes my fingers had already begun to hurt. Yikes. It was a lot of fun though. I was playing for a friend/acquaintance who didn't know I played guitar but saw my Taylor in the corner and wanted to see it. It was cool to talk with her a bit about guitars and other things, but it was also a bummer to find out what we had in common three days before I'm leaving. That sort of stuff is supposed to happen at the beginning of the year so you can hang out and become friends. Darn.

Well, now I'm sitting here with five more minutes having passed still in the same situation I was in five minutes ago. I pulled something in my back/shoulder yesterday trying to throw a basketball over a fence to someone. I was in immense pain. I think it's the combination of writing essays in my really small messy handwriting, slouching at my computer, slouching studying, slouching anytime, and throwing the basketball that did it. I feel like an old woman. Oh wait I am an old woman. And with that I'm out, gotta go put my dentures back in.

My roommates are packing a bunch of stuff from our living room. It's depressing. I actually haven't walked out there to see what it looks like now and I don't really want to.

At this moment I'm officially halfway through my finals in terms of numbers of tests, but I think the bulk of difficulty is greater on the second half. I have the test I'm most nervous about later this afternoon. I've done some good studying with my roommate for the last hour or more and I'm feeling a lot better about it. Still, I'll be glad (and probably angry) when it's over.

This weekend I stayed in Southtown for the last time. I'll be down there again in a few weeks for a wedding, but that's going to be a really quick trip. I can't believe I'm not going to see my cousins for such a long time. The boys are going to be so big when I get back. I'm sad that I'll miss so much. But I know my time overseas will be amazing. I have to keep reminding myself that the pluses and minuses will even out (and I believe do more than come out even). I only have two more nights here at school, one in a hotel, then it's the long drive home. I'm really happy to go. I'm just so over school and work and studying. Give me my own room, a five hour work day, lots of free time to play instruments, and a church where I actually know people and feel involved. Not to mention the air is clean, my family is nearby, and it's not ridiculously hot. Sweet hippieland I hear you calling.

Last night before I went to bed I posted something here but blogger totally ate it! Or maybe my internet ate it. That's probably the case since all my problems can be blamed on the internet here. I cannot wait to go home and have dependable internet, even if it is a little slower. One week. And maybe I'll post again after my test today. Yes, a test. Who gives a test on the last day of class before finals...then still gives a final! There should be rules against that.

Ok I am seriously kicking this paper's butt. I have seven pages and I think I'm pretty much done besides actually writing my thesis statment (so much easier to write after the whole paper is done) and my conclusion. I don't think I'm going to make 8 pages but that's ok, because I think it's a really decent paper. And I'm done. HA

Well, two weeks down, two weeks to go. Today I'm supposed to write an 8 page term paper. Shouldn't be too hard. I don't care too much about how it comes out so that makes things a bit easier. I think it's like 25% of my grade or something ridiculous like that. Oh well.

This is my second to last weekend here; that's quite weird to think about. It's been tough trying to be focused. They give us spring break a month before school gets out, then they expect us to come back and do decent work. Yeah right. By this point we all want to be at home doing nothing. But I'm just going to suck it up and plow through the next two weeks. And besides, this is my last two weeks to spend with the people here for quite a long time. Many of them I won't be seeing until January.

So that's it, I guess I'll stop procrastinating on my paper now.

So I thought maybe I should update, seeming how it's April 18th. I've been back at school for the past week and I'm sitting here wondering how I'm going to get everything done that's due the last week. I have procrastination bad right now. Well mostly just the past few days. I'm hoping to move past it today and finally start on a term paper I've been putting of for, well, all term.

Two more normal weeks of school then finals then I'm out of here. It's hard to believe, I feel like I just moved in. Well, I don't feel like I just moved in, but it definitely doesn't seem like a whole school year has gone by. Last year felt twice this long. Last night (actually this morning) I had a dream that I was with Mel and Al and I think we were in the Sydney area. We went to go see Leah's softball game. I think that was the most unrealistic part of the whole thing - Leah playing compeptitive softball. There was this snafoo in the last inning and for whatever reason Leah didn't get to bat like she thought she would and she was really pissed off. It was kinda funny, but not until I woke up. Then somehow we were on my college campus and I don't remember what we did after that. I think I woke up. Wow and the really funny thing that I just realized is that Leah probably doesn't even know how to play baseball except maybe vaguely from watching it in the states.

And now I'm sitting here listening to awful music from the swap meet next door. I really hate Sunday's here for this reason. It's almost reason enough to make me go to church on Sunday morning rather than at night, but I just can't stay alert for the service in the morning. So I guess it's crappy music for me for the next five hours.

Just a little blog to say I'm at home and it's absolutely beautiful here. LA is so ugly it's ridiculous. I spent a couple minutes in the car on the way home wondering why I could see everything on the hillside, then I remembered that's normal. More later perhaps.

Another service announcement. I found out yesterday that I'm accepted to my program in Australia!!! YAY!!!!