Back from Easter which was wonderful! Yay for Jesus! And yay for all the work that must be done in the next few weeks... lots more to update on... I can hardly keep up with my crazy life, but I think that's just cuz I'm not really with it ;-) ... maybe later... so how 'bout those spring break pics?...



...3am in front of Sanford... not a pretty sight...




...later that same day... Point Pleasant Beach...




...waves... ::gasp::




...more waves...




...Kristin and waves... are you seeing a trend?...




...four random people blocking waves... note that we are, by no means, prepared to do anything besides look at the water...




...me and my twin, aka Aunt Kate, outside of the Wharfside... ::cold::




...waiting for the train to Philly...




...some funny-lookin' bell...




...good ole Independence Hall...




...pretty flag in Independence Hall courtyard...




...the gang with Constance, the Constitution Cow... how cool are we?...




...James being rather fond of Constance...




...oo, he's so handsome... (perhaps a bit too tall though...)




amusing sign for those of us who "have the urge to touch Liberty"...




...my good pal George...




...inside Independence Hall... ::oooh::




...also inside Independence Hall... ::aaah::




...I heart Jews... ;-)




...Constitution Center...




...again...




...and again...




...what were they thinkin', putting Grant on the Fifty, when they have a far superior option?...




...downtown Philly... Old City... if you look closely, you will see where Jessica and I will live someday...




...snow in the vineyard...




...snow again...




...and again...




...view from the top of Rutherford Hill...




...another view...




...Lady Liberty...




...funny lookin' picture from inside the Majestic...




...Jessica being cute on the bus back to PA...




...James taking a picture of me taking a picture... note that Kristin is ducking out of the picture and wanted to be cropped out... ;-)


There ya have it folks. Happy almost-end-of-March! Don't go to Crazy! ;-)

I am currently supposed to be cleaning my room, because it is atrocious and the parentals will be here briefly tomorrow, so they can't see how I really live ;-) I also should be working off some of that spring break goodness that I partook of, but hey, I'm gonna blog instead- so there!

Ok, so I'm gonna tell you a little story about spring "break." It started Sunday morning at 3am when I drove up to Sanford to pick up my fellow road-trippers, aka Kristin, Jessica, and James. We loaded the car with the rest of our stuff, went to get gas, and thus began our little road trip.

Jessica took the first shift, because I was on duty the night before, and thus, I only got a wee bit of a nap before we left. We switched somewhere in North Carolina, and I drove the rest of the way to Point Pleasant. We decided to drive through DC on the way- ok, that's a lie, we missed the bypass and ended up getting a lovely tour of the city- we used our astute directional abilities to find 95 again (our logic= "just take roads that go north and end in -95"- hey, it worked!) I think we got to Point around 4:30- we so totally rock :-) We went to my aunt's house first. It was so good to be back there- it's been way too long- I missed it a lot. And the best part is that I got to see my twin, and she is awesome! We watched the dog do tricks and were amazed at the amount of saliva that could be produced by a single creature. Then we hit the book store for a "private-opening" because we are special. Kristin is going to live there. In the back room. And read. All day. Then we went to the beach- see, we weren't that untraditional- we did the beach... even though we didn't swim... and there were remnants of snow... But we played ski ball, which was awesome, because back in the day, I used to be the ski ball champion- for real, I'm being serious ;-) We walked the boards for a bit, and then went to the Wharfside for dinner, and it was wonderful- ah, real seafood, it was beautiful. After having a grand time with Aunt Kate and Knight, we left for Aunt Laura's- got "lost" on the way out, but it was actually my subconscious telling me where the short-cut to 35 was ;-) Got to Aunt Laura and Uncle Rich's around 9:30, which was cool because they are cool :-D But we were pooped, so we crashed. End day 1.

On Monday, I woke up early and ran because I'm an idiot and thought I could actually maintain my running on vacation- ha- I was wrong! Got to see Sara before she went to school, and I really wish they lived closer, because she is so cool! She was teaching me German over breakfast- only the really awesome kids do that! Got ready for our day in Philly. Took the train into Old City- did all of that historic stuff (Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Constitution Center, etc.)- were very excited to see the Jew stuff and took pictures for Erin and Dan- played with a cow- kissed Abe (pictures to come...). Had a cheesesteak for lunch :-) and took the train back to Collingswood. Got in the car and then drove into the city to see all of the stuff we wouldn't necessarily have time to walk to or go inside and see, like the Philadelphia Museum of Art (which has a Dali exhibit now, sad day! I gotta go back to see that!), University of Pennsylvania campus (which I really envy...), etc. Went to Haddonfield for coffee. Then, drove back to Collingswood to get our stuff together- had dinner with the lovely Renner family before heading north to Aunt Lisa and Uncle Dave's. Once again, got there around 9:30ish and crashed. End day 2.

Got up, ate a wonderful breakfast prepared by Aunt Lisa, admired the baby's room (oh excitement!), packed up, and headed north again. Got to Honesdale and ate lunch at the diner. Walked downtown for awhile and checked out some of the shops. Were amazed by the friendly people- didn't feel like I was risking my life when I crossed the street- be amazed... Headed up into the mountains to Grams and Pops. Had snow. Lots. Three feet. Fun driving too :-D Brought our stuff inside, and then headed out to play. Walked to the top of the hill to get some pictures- worse than running- threw myself in the snow when I got to the top- quite a workout to run up a hill in three feet of snow... Came down, got the sled, headed back up again, sledded down. Had fun. Jessica and James went- they had fun too ::excitement:: Decided to go down a second time... Went down significantly faster than the first time... yelled... tried to stop... thrust my arms into the snow... was blinded by the resulting wave of snow that flew in my face... finally stopped... snow everywhere... up my sleeves... down my shirt... down my pants... Might was well have just fallen through ice on a frozen lake... Invigorating. Sad- couldn't really make snow balls, too fluffy. Another time. Ate an amazing home-cooked meal. Enjoyed some very fun conversation. Got tired. Crashed. End day 3.

Got up at 4. AM. Left for Hawley at 4:45. Got there. It was dark. Empty. COLD. Bus came right on time. Slept for a good part of it. Filled up pretty quick. Got to NYC around 8. Got coffee.. and a map ;-) Took the subway down around Soho. Saw Ground Zero. Forgot to mentally prepare myself for that one. Just walking down the block and there it was. Just a crater in the midst of giant skyscrapers. Overwhelmed with so many thoughts and feelings. Imagined what it must have been like to be on that very street on that very day. Terror like I will, most likely, never know. There were pictures of the twin towers, before and after, history, etc. What really got to me was looking through the fence and seeing two rusty iron beams in the shape of a cross. There was writing on it, but I couldn't make it out. Powerful. Kept walking to Battery Park. Saw the Statue of Liberty. Took the Subway up to Midtown. Had pizza for lunch- real pizza- oh how nice it is when you don't even have to refer to it as NY style- that's all they've got! Did a little shopping. Jessica and I are going back... when we have more time... and money... Hit Saks, and I think I suffered separation anxiety when I left. That is one cool place. Oh how I could have maxed out every single one of my credit cards- points to me for not buying a single thing- wow. Saw Phantom of the Opera. It was INCREDIBLE! The effects were so amazing, and the music, oh wow, the music... I loved it! We went to a cafe for dinner- splurged on dessert (which became a trend for the rest of the trip... not good...). Got back on the bus to go back to Hawley around 7. Was thoroughly amused by Jessica's semi-conscious state (the difference between light and dark? dinner buffets and Jimmy Buffett? wow, that was one crazy kid...) Got back to Grams and Pops's around 10:30. Crashed. End day 4.

Got up, ate breakfast with Grams and Pops, left around 9:30. Stopped back in Philly to go to the Artists' House Gallery to see Aunt Laura's stuff- she's so cool! Was really impressed. Was reminded of why it wouldn't be a good idea for me to live in the city- I'm too friendly, and you're not supposed to be friendly, at least to guys who talk to you when you pass them on the street. Oh well. Enjoyed one last downtown walk before heading south. Got to Charlottesville around 5:30. Went to dinner with Kristin's aunt who is way cool. Came back to her house. Amused ourselves with the lack of intelligence of her dogs. Crashed. End day 5.

Got up. Rembered a funny dream about going downtown with the girls and some random guy and me being flirty or something ridiculous like that... Drove. Discovered that there is no longer any such thing as southern hospitality- it's more like southern anti-hospitality and northern cordialness (eh, something like that...). Got back to M'ville around 4. The end.

Pictures to come later. Perhaps more stories as I remember them. Sorta glad to be back, but not really. Ready for another road trip :-D

Listened to Tony Nolan's dating series in the car- all 5 cds- back to back. Good stuff, didn't agree with all of it, but good stuff nonetheless. Made me think about dating and other stuff. I've got a lot of changes to make. God's really convicted me about some things in my life that have got to be seriously changed. I'm ready for it though- tough, but necessary and for my own good.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17

Two more days... oh goodness, I hope I can make it ;-)

I'm listening to Pure Moods, and I just love it!! Yay for Brittany letting me "borrow" her music ;-)

I'm wearing new jeans- I tried them on, I know I did- but now, it makes my butt look like it's, well, not there at all- not sure how I feel about that- I kinda look deformed...

So yeah, my schedule's officially fixed, which is really good since registration was opened to juniors today, and if they all went and snatched up my much-coveted classes, I'd cry or something terribly devastating like that. Actually, my schedule kinda makes me want to cry. Oh well, guess I should get used to that...

Oh, tae-bo totally rocks my socks off!

Um, I started my research finally... I should finish that...

Went to church tonight, but didn't stay for classes. Was supposed to come back and start work, but me and Kristin and Gretchen went to Wal-Mart, and then I had to eat dinner with Gretchen, and then I had to discuss all aspects of life with Gretchen, and then I had to update my blog.

I have been battling with a lack of motivation like I never have before, and the timing is terrible- I absolutely cannot afford to slack, and yet, here I am. I talked with a professor I'll have next year about grades and such- he was impressed with my GPA (he wants me to work in his lab!), but when I started talking about future plans and such, he was like, "well, sometimes they don't see a B when it's stuck in with a bunch of As..." Well great, so if I have one B, does that mean I've already messed up my chances? Oh well, not much I can do about it now, just gotta be as amazing as I can, but unfortunately, that's not exactly my forte.

The only thing I've been motivated to do is work out, but that hasn't been too great, because now my body's just worn slap out, and it's starting to make me mentally tired, so I just sleep through class and feel generally blah (as well as look generally blah- just don't care about what I look like these days- perhaps I should...).

But anyways, I'm totally fired up about next week- it's gonna be awesome!

I need some time in the Word to get my spirits lifted. My heart's been feeling kinda heavy lately, but some good ole Jesus time oughta fix that :-)

Ok, off to find some productivity before it gets too late! Come on guys, almost spring break, we can do it!!! I love y'all!

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Matthew 11:28-30

So it's Saturday night, and what is Erin doing? Perhaps the better question would be, "What will Erin be doing after she finishes wasting time on the computer?" Tonight is the first night in a very long time that I will actually devote my time to getting something done (as far as school work is concerned...). Ok, so on to the wasting time part...

Um, let's see, Friday was good- had an excellent run in the morning- for some reason I woke up with energy- figure that one out, cuz I sure can't. Then, after feeling fully awake and energized, I went to phylogeny and pretty much slept through the class- oops. I only got about half the lecture down- bits and pieces of phrases, which now make no sense to me at all- I was trying so hard to stay awake and pay attention that I actually dreamt about the lecture- pretty pathetic. So then I ran all sorts of errands and tried desparately to get in touch with all of the professors I needed to find, because registration starts Monday, and I should probably know what classes I'm taking. Thus far, it looks like I'll end up with organic chem, organismal physiology, cellular and molecular physiology, evolution, and sociology- wow, let me tell you, I just can't wait... After that I started to study for the chem test I was gonna retake, but just about when class was going to start, I decided to skip it- I still have a solid A, why bother (besides, my chances of improving my grade were pretty slim, considering my recurring battle with narcolepsy). Jessica and I ate lunch, and I was so very excited, because they finally opened the Einstein Brothers bagel place up, and it was not Saga and not Chick-fil-a, so it was wonderful :-) Then, I ran back and changed before health and safety inspections with Zach- two and half hours later, I was on my way to Atlanta with Jessica, Brittany and Sybil- it was loads of fun. We saw Hamlet at Shakespeare's Tavern- I love that play- my favorite thing by Shakespeare- I really gotta read that again. Oh, and quite weird, I saw Sam Conway there, which was really weird, because I couldn't recognize him at first, and then when I realized that I did, in fact, know him, I couldn't remember if I knew him from college or high school, and then I finally stopped being a nerd and remembered, and then I started thinking about high school and how I got so used to seeing people everyday, and now it's been almost two years since I've seen a lot them, and it sorta made me sad, or at least just a bit nostalgic- ok, I'm done with that lovely run-on. So anyways, great play, Hamlet was a rather good-looking guy, if I may say so, and just so all of y'all (you know who you are!!!) know, he smiled at me! Let's just get that straight. And then we drove back, and I sang the whole way so that I would stay awake, and that made my throat start to hurt, so I was gonna get a milk shake, because that's what you get when your throat hurts- just like medicine- but I'm too thrifty, so I just drove back- 441+1am=no fun. So then I came back and spent too much time on that silly face books thing- boo hiss, I'm beginning to regret signing up for that thing.

So anyways, after my thrilling Friday, I'm sure you're all eager to hear how I spent my Saturday. Um... Jessica and I went to Macon- hit the mall- found jeans and khakis- yay- came back for Erin jews b'day dinner- smell like smoke (ew gross)- and I'm back here. The end.

Got to spend some much-needed time with Jessica, which was just wonderful- need girl time sometimes, ya know? Talked about all sorts of stuff like guys and guys and starting a business and guys and life in general and, well, you know. I wish I understood why guys do some of the things they do- there are a few in particular who have me quite confused, but it's not like I can walk up to them, and be like, "hey, what's the problem?!" In fact, that would probably just be a disaster. And so I just have to be frustrated- it really doesn't bother me too much- I just don't like it when I don't understand things- such is life, so now I'm over it ;-)

So next week is shaping up to be significantly busier than I anticipated- that's kind of annoying, I wanted more time to slack! Ok, that was a terribly boring post, but I'm a bit too tired to come up with anything original. Off to work on creation/evolution debate stuff ::sigh:: Eh, maybe not... I promise my next post will be more like me, or something, I don't know, I should just go to bed or just stop talking, yeah, that would probably be good :-)

Oh happy day! Today is Thursday, which means tomorrow is Friday, which means that fun begins! Oh wait, just kidding, my life has been taken over by Housing and um, yeah, Housing. Boo hiss, I guess I'll live, but it'll be close...

So guess what? I like yogurt. Vanilla with sliced bananas. Yum.

I've also developed this taste for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches- it's almost obscene.

Sorry for the food talk- my blood sugar just decided to crash into the depths of, I don't know, something really deep. Stupid blood sugar- should take Glucose Regulation- add it to the other bazillion vitamins I take (give or take a few...).

I got coffee again today- too much espresso- made me fidgety beyond all reason, and then... no more caffeine... it left me hanging in the middle of econ, and I tell you what, that whole economic efficiency lecture did nothing for my not-enough-sleep, crazy-un-caffeine-low state, but that's ok, because that class was rescheduled for tomorrow when I can't go, which means life is good ;-)

Um, yeah, so that whole face book thing? Not good, not good at all. I have to make a conscious effort not to allow myself to get on the silly thing, or else I get stuck and I can't escape. It sucks me in, and says, "No way Erin, you don't need to clean your bathroom, RAs fail health and safety inspections all the time," or "Silly girl, why would you care about getting work done? Your professors will understand if you don't know anything." It's a conspiracy...

I want spring break. Now. Please?

I need sleep. Now. Please?

La la la, my life is so exciting! Hehe, this week has just been full of tests, and just when I thought I was done with them, half of my chem class decided (yes, they made a conscious decision...) to fail the test, so we have to retake it tomorrow. But that's ok, given my track record this week, I can start studying sometime this morning (2 or 3 perhaps?) or not at all and still make an A. This is very unusual, and hopefully not a pattern, because I should probably not procrastinate and actually retain the stuff I'm cramming in my little brain. Another day...

Off to the store- gotta stock up on good, wholesome food- ask me about organic food- I bet I can scare you into it!!!

"If you wanna fall in love, fall in love with the Jesus in me. If you wanna fall in love, let Him be all you need."
hehe, stole this one from Gretchen, great song!