So I'm doing research for an essay I have to write for my final grade in my Understanding Mass Media class, and I ran across this great blog entry dated December 13, 2004. It is apparent that the blogger is a Christian and he said some cool things that made me happy. He was talking about our fascination with entertainment.

First off, I liked this: "I have often thought that the real you (or me!) is the 'you' that exists in your
daydreams.  The things that dominate your daydreams tell the real story of what
you value and desire the most.  Similarly, it seems to me that the real values
of a people, nation or culture, could be defined by wha they do in their
leisure. "

Then his conclusion was good as well: "Christians need to be involved in the arts and entertainment spheres, and not
just in alternative Christian arts and entertainments.  My impression is that,
for too long, evangelicals have believed that serious Christians would devote
their lives to witnessing, studying the bible and doing church work. "Serious
Christians" wouldn't waste their time with all of that artsy-fartsy stuff. Yet, we still want to influence the world. Napoleon understood something we
haven't - if you want to influence the world, influence the arts."

That has been the desire of my heart for so long...

And when I was listening to the sermon this morning I was just thinking... how often do I really talk to those around me about Jesus?

While I am studying how to be an influence in the arts through production and writing, I still have a responsibilty to reach out to non-Christians in my daily life.

Send us with fire to go love the world...

...he can be a princess!

Well, there are lots of errors on Phusebox right now but others seem to be
posting ok, so maybe I can too...

So my day was... odd...

It started out great. I nearly had a heart attack as I watched my theatre appreciation
teacher put the grades (from our latest test) up on the board... there was
a 100, 97.5, 90, and then the next grade was a C! No B's! And the lowest grade
was a 37.5! I was just thinking "man, I thought I did good" but it
made me so nervous! Well, I was the one who made the
100! What a relief! And how awesome! I've never made 100 on one of his tests,
though I always do well. It's especially nice since that is the test that
counts the most (minus the final).

Then later in the day, I talked to my English teacher about my last paper
and showed her my rough draft. Well, she thought it was great! I was so
excited! She just ade a couple of suggestions to make it better, but I am so
glad that there is a potentional A in sight for that class!

Then I went to the work, and let's say I had a couple of complicated issues
with a couple different hole punches. I didn't realize that punching holes
could be so difficult! I got a stack of paper stuck in both the manual and the
automatic hole punchers! Agh!

But anyhow, after that
everything was fine. I guess a day like mine just goes to show that we all have
great potential, and yet we will never be perfect and we will always make
mistakes!

My friend Jolene's in my EMC class next semester, so now I have
a friend in two of my classes...  

...was pretty good! I'm so thankful that I get to work with Amy Bonin and several other nice people!

Hmmm... I need to work on my English paper and theatre appreciation oral report...

Sarah Branscom is in my history class for next semester! Finally! Someone I know!

I bought the Aly & AJ CD on Friday... ahhhh I love it... I know it's music for pre-teens but I don't care! They're Christians but Disney promotes them. Their music's good stuff.

Quote of the day (though it was said on Saturday night):
"So at the fall retreat, the speaker was asking what one trait of God we would like to have. Everyone was giving Sunday school answers like, 'love', but I was thinking 'all-powerful'!" -Brian King (happy birthday and ungrounding eve!)

Starbucks at 7!!!

Well Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I had dinner with my aunt, two first
cousins, one cousin's wife, two second cousins, one step-second cousin,
my mamaw, papaw, and parents, and it was good. I sat at the kiddy
table... I haven't done that in forever! But it was neat because it was
the first time I've seen my step cousin in YEARS, and she's the only
one on my dad's side anywhere near my age (two years younger than me)
and it was cool to talk to her.

Anyhow,
I just watched A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and so I must share some
great words of wisdom about Thanksgiving from Charlie Brown and his
friends...

*Charlie Brown is disappointed that there is nothing in the mailbox for him*
Sally: "What were you expecting?! A turkey card?"

Sally to Linus: "We can hold hands under the table!"

Sally to Charlie Brown: "It's your own fault because you're so wishy washy!"

Charlie Brown: "I can't cook a Thanksgiving meal! All I can make is toast!"

And... also Charlie Brown...
"I think I'm losing control of the whole world!"
When did he have control over the whole world?!

And if you go to Charlie Brown's for Thanksgiving, you can expect some toast, popcorn, pretzels, and jellybeans...

"The things that happen do not happen by chance, they are entirely in the decree of God. God is working out his purposes." -Oswald Chambers

I don't know how many millions of times God is going to have to teach me to chill out, but I am so happy, relieved, and THANKFUL that my schedule worked out really well! I was actually planning on taking three of the classes, two of them just turned out to be with different teachers at different times. I still got Intro to EMC Honors... which was a biggie. And I have an elective... so that's cool. Anyhow, I won't keep y'all waiting because I know you're just so anxious to find out! Hee hee! And if anyone wants to get in my psych class, there is probably plenty of room still avaliable!

MWF
Computer Science Orientation
General Psychology

MW
Intro to Electric Media Communication

TR
Fundamentals of Acting
Survey of United States History II

Avaliable for lunch after 12:45 on TR and between 11:15 and 12:40 on MWF

I want to cry. I don't think I'm going to have a decent schedule next semester. Hardly any of the classes I need are avaliable at a decent hour with a decent teacher. Is that so much to ask? I want to hurt someone... very badly... mainly whoever decided I should register on the last day.

...temporarily at least.

Ok, first this weekend, since Carla is itching to know! My J-group went and saw the world premiere of Surrender Road at the Nashville Opera on Friday nightl. It was quite different than I expected. For one, we were definitely overdressed, but it was still fun! But secondly, it was set in America and everything was in English. So it wasn't your sterotypical opera, but because every line was sung, it was an opera. It was pretty cool though. The first act was good, but the ending was a letdown. It was kinda fun to make fun of it afterwards, I mean really, who really thinks their destiny is just to die?! I know we all die, but we're supposed to live before we die, and just when you think the characters have realized what it means to live, they allow themselves to fall off the Brooklyn Bridge! Talk about depressing!



Then we went to IHOP in our dresses, and we saw Marcus Tallman. He gave us funny looks... ha ha... but we explained it to him! Anyhow, IHOP was fun too! The waiter didn't charge Jolene for her food and told her not to worry about it... mhmm... yeah he was pretty flirty. And I went to high school with him... so that was kinda weird to me for some reason.

Saturday was my date with Garrett and of course that was good. Outback knows how to load a potato. Mmm...

Then yesterday was the Titans game. Garrett and I went on the General Jackson tailgate cruise which is pretty cool. When we got back I saw this really eerie scene with the house and so I had to take a picture:



Today was kinda stressful. I don't like Monday mornings. Especially cold, rainy ones. Ok, no one told me it was supposed to be 40 degrees and rainy! I did have my umbrella and a jacket, but Mom said 50 something degrees and drizzling. Big difference! Needless to say, I was cold! I'll be better prepared tomorrow!

My brain could not seem to function at lab this morning, so afterwords, I bought myself a big chocolate chip cookie to make me happy. And it did for a moment. Yummy...

My test went fine minus the last five totally obscure and random questions. I am NOT giving my geology professor a good evaluation. That was uncalled for in a general ed class.

My math teacher cancelled Wednesday's class... yay!

I saw my advisor. We talked about things I already knew.

I found out that Astronomy honors is filled. Boo. The joy of being a freshman.

No I'm not dead! I've just been way busy! I'll fill y'all in with the details tomorrow!

Friday: Opera. I love dressing up! Even when it's like 30 degrees!



Saturday: Lots of studying for geology. 18 month date with Garrett at Outback. Yum. We also watched The Empire Strikes Back and The Phantom of the Opera.

Today: Went to the Titans game. So they lost... but it was still fun!



More pictures tomorrow as well. Right now I have to study for my geology test of doom. Feel free to pray for that!

I have come to a conclusion: TV is terribly corrupted. Actually, the whole media is corrupted because society is corrupted, and it's all Adam and Eve's fault. But that's another story... the point still is- TV is corrupted

I saw the most awesome plate frame today... "I'm not spoiled; I'm just well taken care of."

And then there was this bumper sticker: "Ok, I evolved, you didn't." If you want to come from a monkey and have no point to your life... whatever. I would much rather believe in a Creator who loves me and cares for me.

I got my second English paper back today. Another B+. That woman does not give A's. Ah well.

Tomorrow I get to go to the opera with my J-group! Ahhhhhh-some!

I can't wait until The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe!

And I've learned so much...

Instead of going home after my last class, I had lunch with Sarah, Lauren, and Amy! I must say, it was great fun! I haven't hung out with them in a long time so it was great! Lauren and Sarah crack me up with all their plots against people... ha ha! Good times...

I keep changing it around; please feel free to give me your advice. I need six more hours of lower-division honors classes... at first I thought I would knock it out with psych and astronomy, and now I'm thinking Intro to EMC and astronomy. Anyhow, here's another schedule I cooked up:

MWF:
Astronomy Honors
Computer Science Orientation

MW
Intro to Electronic Media Communication Honors

F
Astronomy Honors Lab

TR
Dance Appreciation
General Psychology

Friday: Hoedown/hayride. It was alright. Hayride was cold. Fire was hot. Marshmellows were yummy.

Saturday: Mom and I went to Target and Books-a-Million. Took a nap before Garrett picked me up for the MTSU game. I enjoyed this game more than any other this season, even though we lost. Then Mom and I went to Bath and Body Works and Hallmark. Bath and Body Works has a good marketing strategy... they suck you in with a coupon deal, and then you buy into all their other deals. Yeah, we went there to get some free lotion with the purchase of any item, but also ended up falling for "buy three, get one free".

Today: Church this morning, then Garrett's grandma's 80th birthday party. Now I'm trying to bear through A Raisin in the Sun for the second time of my life. The basic plot: people who whine about their lives and how much they hate it.

When I have more time I'll be sure to upload pics from Friday!

*EDIT* A conversation (condensed version)...
Graham: You're bad at life.
Garrett: That would make the opposite of Leslie who is, according to Gabe, good at life.
Graham: I'm ok at life.
Garrett: And Amy just spills things.
Me: Yeah I do.
Graham: I don't think my girlfriend does life... she just does her own thing.
Me: I think you're right.

How can I stand here with you
And not be moved by you?
Would you tell me
How could it be
Any better than this?
Because you're all I want
You're all I need
You're everything
Everything

You gotta love Lifehouse.

So last night was great. I have considered myself to be a passionate person, but it seems as I grow older, my passion decreases. That's really sad- it should be the other way around! I guess back in junior high I was so zealous because I was just discovering what it really means to walk with Christ and I was so ready to change the world. As I grew older, I guess I grew more disappointed with the world- it seemed so- impossible. And yet, my favorite stories are about the passionate people who strive to change the world becuase secretly- that's who I want to be. That's the way I was created to be. I don't want to hide that anymore.

I have a job. I'm gonna start working in a business office on campus later this month. Goodbye free time, but hello money...

I stole this from Jenna's Facebook photo album... everyone's catching on to the wave now:

Man I feel slow! So today I got on Facebook and I was like... whoa picture uploads! So I spend like hours uploading pics and everything... and then I realize that I have friends who created albums a couple of weeks ago and I suddenly realized... this has been around... and I totally missed the boat! So anyhow, now I have lots of photos on my Facebook, but of course, Phusebox is still the best in the West! Or anywhere for that matter!

Oh yeah... Anna and I are hardcore...

We went to the Rec Center... and we didn't die...

We worked out on the treadmill, jogged a lap around the track, rode two different types of stationary bicycles, did "bouncy ball crunches", lifted 5-point weights, and played raquetball! I even managed to get the ball on the track level once! Oops...

And then we worked our abs on a nice green couch... at least that's what Alex Rader said we were doing... ha ha... working towards one big stomach muscle...

And we're soooo gonna do it all again...

Note to self: Always check bread before eating. It may be moldy. Mmmm... penacillion...

Ok, this is my tenative schedule for next semester (meaning... I really hope this works out!):
MWF- COMM2200 (Fundamentals of Communication)
SOC1010 (Intro to Sociology)

TR- PSY1410 (General Psych Honors)
HIST 2020 (Survey of American History 2... nevermind that I haven't taken 1 yet...)
EMC 2410 (Intro to Electronic Media Communication)

So, if you are planning to take any of those classes, let me know, and maybe we can coordinate being in the same class together.

Great quote: "We never realize at the time what God is putting us through- we go through it more or less without understanding. Then suddenly we come to a place of enlightenment, and realize- 'God has stengthened me and I didn't even know it!' " -Oswald Chambers

...a photography student asked me if she could take my picture today. 

Why doesn't anything at MTSU make sense? I think they are conspiring against me on many levels...

It's been a loooong day.

Is anyone going to the PJ party tomorrow night?

Who's going to Passion? I seriously want to know what's going on with all this because according to Amy Bonin I need to get a ticket before December 1.

I may have a job on campus this January. I'll miss my free time, but it'll be a good thing.

Jason was right- Final Cut Pro Express only works on Mac.

And I feel out of the loop.

And trying to come up with my schedule for next semester is not fun.

Well, I think I did well on my Understanding Mass Media test. What a relief. I think I'm better at essays than multiple choice... odd... well unless of course I just have no earthly idea about the subject whatsoever.

English was the big surprise today. Dr. Thierren kept me after class to tell me how good my mid-term was (it too was all essay). It was such a high compliment... I could not believe it...

Then I walkd with Garrett to the bookstore and ended up sticking around to talk to Justin Vance, and things changed...



Ha ha... this was taken with a G5 Mac computer using Photo Booth. And yes, it is a distorted feature; Justin and I do not really look like that... ha ha... But anyhow, we talked about the $600 G4 on sale, but I think I've decided to wait until I'm deeper into my major to make sure I'm sticking with it to invest the money into everything I need. I do, however, think I may look into buying more memory or RAM for my current PC,  and requesting the video camera and Final Cut Pro Express for Christmas, so I can start to play around with it.

7 things I plan to do before I die:

1) Get married
2) Have kids
3) Travel Europe
4) Write and publish a book
5) Make a full-length movie (even if it's never released to the public)
6) See Phantom of the Opera on Broadway
7) Obtain a backstage pass to a concert

7 things I can do:

1) Take pictures
2) Act
3) Swing dance
4) Bake
5) Scrapbook
6) Study (apparently some find this to be amazing)
7) Touch my elbows behind my back                                                   

7 things I cannot do:

1) Deny God
2) Hurt someone I love on purpose
3) Buy an article of clothing without at least some sort of asthetic value to me (even if it is entirely practical)
4) Become a Democrat
5) Inhale smoke without gagging or coughing
6) Be interested in geology :-P
7) Turn down yummy-looking chocolate (or at least it's pretty rare)

7 things that attract me to another person:

1) Sense of humor
2) Love for God
3) Upbeat personality
4) Smile
5) Listens
6) Talent
7) Intellect

The retreat was fun...

I was quite disappointed that all I saw of the Coker Creek llama was the back of him at a distance. How sad. I was hoping to make a new llama friend. Apparently Hodge got a picture of him... that's pretty awesome.

So last night some random verses in Ezekiel really jumped out at me and I felt like God was speaking to me through them. It was awesome.

I mostly hung out with Garrett, Graham, Jolene from my mass comm class, her roommate Kati (she and Jolene recently joined my J-group), and their friend Lacey. Yay for new friends! Yesterday during free time I found myself talking to Garrett, Graham, and Jolene about everything from politics to Star Wars... quite a range indeed.

Things I learned and will remember for all future AO trips:
1. Always check the weather forecast and pack accordingly.
2. Never take your class ring.
3. Always bring your fully charged iPod and your pillow for the road trip.
4. Eat when you have the chance, because you may very well not have a chance to eat dinner until midnight.
5. Watch out for CocoBell!

I suppose that's all for tonight... I think I'm gonna start getting ready for bed pretty soon here... it was a long weekend! Back to school tomorrow- bleh!

Quote of the day:
"There's another Christian author I would like to recommend to you. His name is Paul. Now turn with me to Colossians." -Trevor Atwood