the Madness...

One might assume I'm not into basketball or any athletics, for that matter, but I am when it comes to March Madness for some reason. Maybe because I like choosing my brackets and then having someone to root for? I don't know...

Please notice that I'm typing in orange today. I'm also wearing orange. Though I wish it were for Illinois, I'm sporting it in celebration of the Longhorns' victory last night over West Virginia. What a crazy game!

Throughout that game, I couldn't help but sing the words "West Virginiaaa...." as in a Brad Paisley song to which I know no other words or melody. That's all. "West Virginiaaa...."

And seriously, I can't believe Duke and Gonzaga both lost! Are you kidding me? Talk about madness!!!


And on the Gonzaga note...this guy, Adam Morrison, is the least likely guy to ever look like a b-ball player. As my roommate said last night he needs to get rid of the trash 'stache. sick. And dude, it sucks that you lost, but you need to get up off the floor now.







That's all for now...we'll see how tonight's games go.

i will have you know 2 things...no, THREE

#1. I am NOT happy that there is a Blizzard Warning in effect for tonight and tomorrow for Logan County. Supposedly we are expected to get like 8 inches of snow. Need I make note that TODAY was supposed to be the first day of spring? Need I make note that I would still LOVE to move to Texas? I hate cold. hate it.

#2. As of 30 seconds ago, Tom Tanner has emailed all students, faculty, and staff to notify us that the administration has CANCELLED CLASSES and we are all advised to stay home tomorrow instead of coming to class or work. In all of Lynn Laughlin's tenure here, he has only seen this happen 2 times. I just asked him this: "how many times has this happened the day after the first day of spring?" Do I even need an answer? zero. Ridiculous. But I'll take a snow day from work anytime.

#3. I must tell you this: In our office bracket pool, I am currently tied for 3rd...actually 2nd. GT and Nancy are tied for first w/ 43 points, and I am in 2nd place w/ 42 points. Am I good or what? That's all.

more photos

(above) the line we worked every day for people to walk through and get food items, diapers, clothing, soaps, etc. for free.


(below) the top part of a gas station sideways on the ground.






























(above) one of the 10 fire stations in St. Bernard Parish that were destroyed. Only one of them is usable and livable right now, and that's where all of their fire trucks are stored right now. They lost all of their fire trucks but 4 due to water, and FEMA has given them several new ones now, thankfully. These guys had some cool stories.

(below) Cars all under the overpass that were abandoned during the flood.

see below

Here are some photos from Katrina damage in St. Bernard Parish, LA. Some of these photos I borrowed from the facebook pages of some of the students in our group b/c my pictures sucked. Nevertheless, take a look at some of what we saw last week...

















(above) This house was moved off its foundation and almost into the street by the water.

(below) A typical street median filled with trash, various items, cars, boats, etc. strewn about.





























(above) a Mustang pushed onto the house from the water...a common occurrence.

(below) another house moved by the water down the street.

(above) More cars on top of each other from the water.

(below) The Wal-Mart parking lot in which we worked all week in the yellow and white tent. Also, note where the 'W' is on the Wal-Mart building...that's how high the water was during the flood.

(above) The X that is seen on every residential building noting different things...the top is the date it was searched, on the left I believe is the initials of who searched it, and the bottom # is the number of people or animals found dead. I'm not sure what's supposed to be on the right.

(below) This is the lower 9th ward, which was section 8 housing, located right next to the levee that broke (you can somewhat see it). The water powerfully pushed right through this area and demolished practically the entire neighborhood. The whole area is supposed to be torn down I think.

















Stay tuned for more pictures...I'll post a few more tomorrow.

For now, ponder these.

still in devastation

hey friends, i'm blogging from the big Easy...that is, New Orleans.

We're currently staying in a bed & breakfast just a few blocks from the French Quarter where there happens to be some internet access, and I thought I'd fill you in a little.

I've seen some major devastation these past few days that I'm currently still processing both mentally and emotionally. It isn't something that can be comprehended, that's for sure.

We're working in St. Bernard parish (a parish is a county here, fyi) where there was 100% destruction. For those of you who don't know, St.Bernard Parish is the first county in the United States to ever be 100% destroyed. 280,000 homes were lost, and there is an unbelievable amount of flood damage. It's surreal to drive through neighborhoods where the water line is visible at various levels. The tent where we're working every day and where we had church on Sunday morning happens to be in a Super Wal-Mart parking lot. We were told that the water was as high as the 'W' on the Wal-Mart building...that's 16-17 feet high, folks. Many houses flooded from 2 feet to 8 feet within a matter of 5 minutes.

I could fill your heads with statistic after statistic that I've learned, but it's nothing until you see this place and meet the real people who have been through it. I've already come in contact with hundreds of real survivors, and I promise you they are truly wonderful and grateful people, much unlike what the media portrays. They are thankful to see that other people care for them, and we're thankful for the experience of meeting them and hearing their stories. Thankfully, they're very open and willing to talk about it.

I can't wait to tell you more stories and post pictures when I get back, but for now I wanted to fill you in a little on our experiences. Most importantly, I just want to say that if you can come down here for a long weekend or a few days or a week or month or summer, please do. As the world just 'remembers' Katrina, these people are still living it. It's not over yet. In fact, it's just now beginning. While we're still stuck in the devastation, they've moved past that and have begun to find hope. This is home to them, no matter what has happened, and they're ready to rebuild.

Please be in prayer for the people of New Orleans and particularly from St. Bernard Parish. Keep praying for good health for our group while we're here as well as for the thousands of other college students serving during their spring breaks this week here. Pray that good work is done and that as this city begins to rebuild, they'll know that the world still cares, and most importantly they have a God that hasn't moved. He's here now more than ever, and He's moving in HUGE ways in this place. Keep praying people.

It's getting exciting.

let all the earth rejoice

why? because Travis picked Sarah on The Bachelor!!!!! Hooray! It's the first time in history that the person I wanted to be chosen and had faith in was actually chosen. I knew the show was trying to trick us into thinking otherwise, and while everyone else was starting to lose hope, I still had a string of it that I held onto knowing that Travis was smart enough to pick Sarah. I knew he HAD to know that she was perfect for him. He said it himself! They're so darn cute!!! And I hope they're living happily ever after now that the show's over!

In other news, if I wake up to "Check Up On It" by the despised Beyonce once more, I might send my alarm clock out the window. I just might.

waiting for summer...and lots of travels

FYI--it smells like spring outside today, but it's a tease. It's still too cold for my liking. Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful for the sunshine and all, but it's just not warm enough for me yet. I can't wait till summer. Or till I'm somewhere warmer.

I went to Oprah yesterday! Unfortunately, it was no giveaway day and it wasn't any of my favorite celebrities like Rachael Ray, Michael Buble, Patrick Dempsey, or Matthew McConaughey. Instead, we had the joyous topic of "America's Debt Diet: Part 3." Despite our disappointment, it was still cool to be there and it was pretty interesting. Tomorrow the part 2 episode is on, and I think ours will be on next week sometime. They said to watch on oprah.com for the air date. You might see us in the audience for a split second! And I'm trying for tickets again sometime...it's fun to go and I'm banking on getting a cool topic sometime.

I'll be in Indy all this weekend for the CIY Missions On Purpose conference. I enjoy a nice little work travel. I love it actually...I just hate driving the Scion.

I leave a week from Saturday to go down to New Orleans with one of the Week of E groups as the female leader w/ Brian Mills. I'm really excited. We're going to be living in tent cities in a Wal-Mart parking lot and gutting out moldy houses and building relationships with people in the French Quarters and the parish we're in. I can't wait to see how God moves and works in me.

Working on planning a trip out to L.A. this summer to visit Becka. I'm excited about that one too...if I can find a cheap flight!

Well, that's just where I am right now folks...things are good, life is great, and I'm anxious for some warm sunshine and some good travels! And sometime, I promise to sit down and write more of my thoughts than one of these random blogs, but I just never seem to have time to!

So I'm taking care of a 2 year old child for the rest of this week...that should be interesting. At least it's Maddy and she's cute enough to make up for her sassiness. Although, I'm a little scared of her puking while I'm there. All I know is this week I will be learning 2 things: 1) lots and lots of patience. 2) I'm so not ready to be a mom yet. and, well, 3 things. 3) that Cory and David are great parents...especially compared to me.

As for other updates on life...

-It's official that Bethany Dillon will be opening for Shane & Shane on April 24th here at LCC. Yay!!! Can't wait.

-Sarah from Tennessee is so going to win the Bachelor. And thank God Susan is out of there w/ her horrible acting.

-I really want to move to NYC. Or to Texas where it's warm. But I'm not really joking. I really am jealous that my friend Faith is having so much fun in NYC. I enjoy my independence a whole lot, and I'm realizing that more and more lately...and it makes me really want to move there.

-I got proposed to today...by a Holer. LCC'ers know what that means--it's not real, folks. But I got a real ring. They bought fake rings off of eBay for today. Hilarious. However, I'm keeping it on because it's fun.

-I'm craving a good road trip. Not just any ol' road trip. I'm talkin' good music, warm sunshine, a good friend or two, windows down, feet out the window, all laughing and fun memories, headed somewhere on this great big planet, loud singing, did i mention warm weather?, Wertz in my CD player, lots of pictures... that kind of road trip. I'm craving it. I need it. soon.

-I'm now addicted to Metro-Mint water. I found it at World Market this weekend. It's naturally mint-infused water and it's totally refreshing but not gross or weird. It's soooo good. It's probably my favorite new thing.

today

I just got the new Dave Barnes CD Chasing Mississippi in the mail yesterday and thus far it is soooooo good. I can't even describe how much I love getting new music...especially good stuff like his.

My life is pretty much consumed w/ planning this H.S. Girls Retreat called Awaken that we have here at LCC this weekend. We expected like 100-125 girls to come, and we now have over 200 total. Need I say more? It's crazy but exciting. Although Chantell is sick and has to get better by, say, tomorrow?

The Bachelor is not all that exciting this season, yet I still watch it at Kate's every week. I'm not a big fan of any of the girls. I am a big fan of him. Not in the way that I think he's amazingly hot, but in the way that he's sooo nice, unlike the past bachelors. He compliments every one of them even though he has a chance to rip them apart. That's nice for a change.

My dad is hilarious. He had some big satellite poker tournament online last night that if he placed in the top 3 they'd have flown him out to L.A. this weekend. I don't think he did this time, but I'm sure he will someday! He cracks me up.

This morning I woke up to Arrested Development's song Mr. Wendell. What a great old song! On the other hand, I usually hear that stupid new Beyonce song in the mornings...don't get me started on her OR the words to that song.

As I've said before, smells remind me of stuff. I'm wearing the perfume Pleasures today and it always reminds me of my freshman year in H.S. So weird.

fact or crap:

The game Fact or Crap sucks: FACT

The company you play it with can actually still make it funny: FACT

The questions in the game are good: CRAP

I got reservations to go to Oprah on February 22nd: FACT

It's easy to call in and get reservations on the day it says to online: CRAP

I slept till 12:30 today and I am still wide awake at 1:30 a.m.: FACT

I may be visiting my friends Matt Wertz and Rob Blackledge at Augustana next Sat.: FACT

I just preordered the new Dave Barnes CD Chasing Mississippi and so should you: FACT

I think I'm going to New Orleans with a Week of E group in March: FACT

You love this blog entry of mine: CRAP

I am going to go to bed now: FACT

dang female cops

Well, my seven-and-a-half-year streak of being ticket-free is over.

I got pulled over last night in Bloomington after stopping at my sister's and then trying to hurry back to Lincoln for something. As soon as I went by the cop her lights immediately went on and there she was behind me!

I just can't get over the fact that I've never been pulled over in almost 8 years of driving, and the first time I can't even get a warning? At least she was nice about it, I suppose. She wasn't a jerky female cop.

Oh well, life goes on. I was just hoping for a life-long record of being a really good cop-spotter and never getting pulled over...er, um....I mean, a life-long record of being a really good driver.

On that note, I'd like to pretend I'm on the radio right now and send a shoutout to Alli and wish her a Happy Birthday! And I'd like to give a shoutout to Amanda and Aubs and say Happy Birthday tomorrow!!! Gosh, lots of birthdays! Have fun and I wish I could see the 3 of you soon!!!

sweet nothings

this just in: i'm not good at blogging anymore. i pretty much suck at it.

i just typed up two entire paragraphs about stuff...twice...and then deleted them. they were stupid. i promise.

one of these days, i tell myself, i will write myself a good little blog entry.

And really, I'm not sure why I have become so lazy as to not even capitalize the first letter of every sentence. If I'm going to use punctuation, I may as well have some continuity with my capitalization just the same. (As if it takes more time and an extreme amount of effort to hit the SHIFT key while typing.)

And I know it's already January 18th and all, but I'm just wondering what this year holds. If I only had my crystal ball...

And, finally, to end on a completely random note...I am officially, unregretfully, and openly addicted to The Bachelor already. It is a weekly event, friends. And yes, I participate in abc.com's The Rose Ceremony game to predict who Travis will pick each week. I am not ashamed. But never, no never, could you pay me money to be one of those girls on the show.

the best year of our lives

In case you didn't know, "the best year of our lives" was the title of our journey to NYC for New Year's as a preface to the actual "best year of our lives" that will be 2006. Let's hope, anyways.

Some pics and words from our adventures...

Faith's humble abode where we slept on 2 air mattresses in the living room. Might not sound like fun, but with the 3 of us it was a blast. We watched Friends every night. It's so fun to watch Friends with friends.

Friday a.m. @ the Met.

some of my faves...Degas and Monet.

scenes from the city

for some reason, i love this pic from the ferry ride to staten island. might i add that we chose the perfect time to take the ferry. On the way there, the sun was shining, then setting behind Lady Lib, or Libby, as I called her, and on the way back it was dark and the city was all lit up. I was all lit up inside. And frozen. See more ferry pics below. (much to my disappointment, the night pics were blurry mcblurrstersons.)

shine on, Lady Lib, shine on.



@ the South Street Seaport
the city in motion
becka's first Times Square experience
St. Patrick's Church
ye ol' Rockefeller tannenbaum
us at SEA, the coolest Thai restaurant ever in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. such a cool place!
Watch closely, I am about to perform magic before your eyes...
And, voila! empty dessert plates. now how did that happen?
and, prepare for the most "perfectly miserable" 8.5 hours of your life. oh wait, that was us. it was quite the rollercoaster of a night, but SO MUCH FUN!!! we had the best spot ever. Look closely at the below picture of Carson Daly's stage, which we were extremely close to and you'll see him. We were right behind that and the Chevy stage where Mary J. Blige performed. I have pics of her kids watching her perform from the steps.


We may or may not have survived the night had they not thrown out these free mittens to all of us. Our gloves were wet and freezing from the previous rain. That's Faith, me, and Becka w/ our new friend Sarah from San Diego. She and her 2 friends were leaving for Israel the next day for a couple weeks. (you get to know a lot about people when you stand practically on top of them for 8 hours without moving.)


anxiously awaiting midnight...

i loved all the confetti falling. However, I still wish it would've come out of the giant Cup O' Noodles below the ball. oh well. Maybe next year they'll take my suggestions.
Happy New Year!!!! We survived!!!! it was so fun!
We tried to go to the Redeemer Church service on New Years Day at this Baptist Church near the Upper West Side, but it was so crowded that people were waiting on the steps to get in and were all turned down. They couldn't fit another soul (haha, no pun intended) into the church building. Actually, a great problem that I wish we'd see more often in the Midwest.

the BEST Billy Joel Tribute band EVER, called Big Shot, at B.B. King's Blues Club & Grill on New Years Day night. as I drank my prickly pear martini and sang along to "New York State of Mind," I said to my friends "this moment couldn't be more New York." I loved it.
me & Becka outside of Felicity's workplace, Dean & Deluca. Breanne Prunty would appreciate this one.
inside St. Patrick's
carry your candle and go light your world, folks.

OK, so this candy store made my night. The candies, shown, are called Satellite Wafers. Pretty much everyone makes fun of me for loving these things b/c they are basically edible styrofoam filled with tiny nonpareil sprinkles. I had been searching for literally years for these and found them there. It made my day. (and much to my surprise, i found them AGAIN today in a gas station in Sandwich, IL!!!! i couldn't believe it! twice in one week, and i've been looking since i was like 7 years old!)

the famous Serendipity 3 Frozen Hot Chocolate. yum. Sorry, Dustin, but I disagree on the overratedness of Serendipity. loved it. i could totally go for one of those right now. However, I would definitely agree on Lombardi's having the best pizza. that was AMAZING!!!

On that note, I must say my top 3 restaurant choices for NYC are these:

1)Lombardi's Pizza

2)Cafeteria (where they go on Sex & the City...I also felt "very New York" there as I drank my Mimosa and ate a yummy 3:00 lunch.)

3)SEA--best Thai restaurant, best atmosphere, best prices.

What a wonderful way to ring in the New Year. It was definitely the best New Years I've ever had and probably ever will for quite some time. We're already planning New Years '07 in Vegas--2nd best place to celebrate New Years Eve.

And by the way, people are SO NICE in NYC! What's with people in the midwest? We pale in comparison. I'm so impressed with the acceptance of people there, or at least from what I experienced. And I so want to move there. I might.

I hear the city calling my name sometimes.