Saturday, December 13, 2008

Surprise!!


So, my birthday is in 15 days--that's right, three days after Christmas. Anyways, a couple of months ago I decided that I wanted to have a birthday party (I have not had a birthday party since I was 15 and before that, age 10--none of them have been fondly remembered), and one of my best friends was so excited to plan it! Well, as it got closer and the semester came closer to an end, I no longer wanted to be the focus of many people's attention at a party dedicated to me. I told my friend this and she was bummed, but respected my decision and asked if it would be okay to at least go out to dinner as friends. I agreed.
Well this week was full of theatre productions, two tests, a paper that needs to be done by Monday, regular classes, Secret Santa in my house with close group of friends, and work. Needless to say, I was very relieved that I no longer had a birthday party to think about or attend. Yesterday--I had yet to finish my paper (heck, I hadn't even started it!) and was determined to write it that day so I could focus my weekend on studying for finals (and the 10 hours of work that I am putting in as I write...). Another roommate, Heather, said that she would help me focus--we went to Panera (yum, yum!), then we were going to do a change of scene by going to a coffee shop that Heather and her old roommate used to frequent often in a different part of town.
After Panera--by this point, I had written a couple of pages, but was determined to finish the paper THAT NIGHT!--Heather had to go to Target to get a gift for a friend. Then she asked if it was okay if we stopped by a restaurant to get a gift certificate for another friend real quick. I call another friend who was going to meet us at the coffee shop to tell her we were on our way, but making a quick stop at this restaurant. She said that she was eating dinner with her mom in that restaurant at that very moment and that we should say hi to her and her mom when we stop in. We go in, and I am directed to her table to see...my sister! I thought, that's funny, why is Michelle eating dinner with Julia and her Mom? That is when everyone started to sing Happy Birthday! I was so shocked and surprised! There was almost 20 people there to celebrate! It was so good to see them all and I teared up a little. I can't believe that I had absolutely no idea! I reasoned that it was because Heather is so trustful that I could never imagine her lying to me--well she did! There was no cute coffee house and I have to admit, I was a little disappointed because she had talked up this coffee house so much that I was excited to go study there. My friends got me some awesome gifts (one being THE DARK KNIGHT! which we watched last night, of course!) and it was a great dinner and surprise.

This is Heather and me! Not last night, but we sure do look surprised!


In case you didn't already figure it out, I did not finish my essay last night, but woke up early today to finish it. And I did! Just in time before I had to rush off to work, which is where I am now, so I need to stop neglecting my duties. I just want to thank all of my amazing friends who did this for me! They are AWESOME!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

One Week Left!

One week from today, I will be done with the fall semester of 2008! This means that I will only have one left and then I will have my very own degree! What am I doing now? That's right--procrastinating! Something I am good at. How is it that a professor can have a test on Friday then a 10 page paper and a final on the following Monday? Not really fair--especially since this professor has been absent six times this semester. SIX TIMES!! If he was a student in his own class he would have failed the course according to his own syllabus! ARGH! So frustrating. Anyways, breathe, girl, breathe. Soon, this class will be over.

Good news? In my theatre class, groups of us had to write a little skit--and perform it in front of the class--with the theme of one of the three plays we read this semester. My group did Waiting For Godot: the Final Act! This is when Godot actually shows up and is a podunk hick not really worth waiting for. I was "Silent Bubba" that didn't speak the whole time, but then I come out and say some very profound things at the end. After everyone did their skit the class had to vote on their favorite (you couldn't vote for your own) and the winning group would get a prize. Well, guess what? My group won! We each got a Santa thing that is filled with Peanut Butter cups. I think that I am in the right when I call it my Oscar. :) Anyways, I'm out!

Sunday, December 7, 2008

White Elephant

Yes, 'tis the season for Christmas Parties that include a white elephant gift exchange! I went to my first last night and got--get ready for it--High School Musical socks! No joke--one pair even has a picture of Troy's face that says, "I love Troy!" I shall wear them proudly. Too bad the picture is on the foot so no one else can see them unless I am not wearing shoes. My roommate suggested that I wear them to bowling class and take a VERY long time to put on my shoes! I think that I might just do that. Who knows? Maybe they bring good luck and I will be awesome at bowling tomorrow. Some other great gifts that were given last night: a fake tree, a personal grooming set, a crowbar, a nativity scene with santa looking at the baby Jesus, a picture of one of the people--she signed it herself, and many many others! The party was enjoyed by all!

This picture is one of some of my roommates and I enjoying the Boat Parade--where a lot of boats meander around the harbor showing off their amazing Christmas decorations (sorry that you can't actually see any of the boats in the background...). This has become a tradition with me and my friends, and I can't wait to go see the parade this year!

Other traditions that my family does: having a chocolate advent calendar that counts down the days to Christmas (my mom still buys them for us!), decorating our tree with hot chocolate and Christmas music playing in the background (usually Neil Diamond, Michael W. Smith, and Amy Grant), reading the Christmas story on Christmas morning before opening gifts, having an amazng Christmas breakfast/brunch, and so much more! One more bonus! Only one more week of classes, then finals, then break! Now I just need to finish everything that professors decided to wait until the last week of school to assign...

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Christmas!

So, I'm still getting used to this blogging thing and figuring out what looks nice and readable. Another thing about La'chaim--I'm not Jewish, and I am not mocking anyone, I just love the phrase--that it means to celebrate life! Anyways, back to Christmas...

There is this street close to where I live that decorates their houses for Christmas and it always is a sign that means Christmas is here! There are so many lights, manger scenes, and Santas that one's eyes hurt just looking at them! However, it is a must to see it every year, even if the decorations are the exact same every year.

There is just something about this time of year that reminds me how great God is, and how blessed I am--why can't I remember this all year round? I just can't seem to get as angry or bitter about things when it is chilly out and Christmas songs are playing. Why does my additude change on December 26? I don't know, but I wish that it wouldn't! More on this later, right now, I have school stuff to do (Procrastinating is such a wonderful thing, no?)!

Monday, December 1, 2008

La'chaim--to life (Hebrew). I cannot help but think of the song from Fidler on the Roof when I say the phrase. Why to call a blog la'chaim? I'd have to say because I like phrases better in other languages than English. How original is a blog titled To Life? Not really what I'm looking for! Anyways, I mostly started this blog because I've been meaning to write some experiences down, so here is my chance!

Today in bowling class, I did horribly--the worst three games I have ever thrown! My team still managed to get third overall in the league (all thanks to my partner mostly!), so that is great news! Go X-Mas!

I also have been incressingly amazed at how children think. I nanny 6 year olds and their minds cannot comprehend certain things that I do. For example, they asked me one day if it snowed at my house (I live two miles away, in Southern CA), I answered no, does it snow at your house? NO! They giggled, but one of my roommates had told them that it snowed at her house. Lo and behold, I realized that it does snow at my roommates house--where she grew up! It fasinated me that these children could actually think that snow fell not too far from their own home because they did not understand the concept of moving away. And why would they understand? They are only, after all, six years old!