"at that point, you have polyaromatic hydrocarbons, which are carcinogens"

and

"I got to castrate a baby pig today".

I feel quite privileged to be surrounded by such people.

today i am working on my second tpa, hence why i write here. i was considering the various mediums people cling to and become dependent upon.

i toy with thoughts of what ifs.. what if i were addicted to common elements such as the bottle, pipe, needle, or bed? what would life look like and how would my everyday thought process differ?

more and more i come to realize that i do have an addicting personality. it's easy to say that i am free from such bondage, but one must be honest. I sit here with 10 holes in my ears because i enjoy the feeling, and i just cracked open my jar of gourmet mediterranean sea salt flakes, when i haven't even bothered to make lunch for myself today (and.. i just realized it's nearly 6pm). i'm not one to believe that such tendencies are necessarily bad.. just the object of desire must be focused.

at one point last semester, i coldly replied to a librarian that we each have our own vice. i've never been one to take much motherly criticism from people who have yet to earn such a voice. it's true though, to each his own. what is your vice?

i'll continue to ponder what life would look like if my addictions were redirected. in limited quantity, such thoughts probably provide a healthy perspective to my place in society.

In the mean time, NaCl, C6H8O7, and adrenaline rushes will suffice for me...

Not what I would have ever expected, but it's been an overall good year.

89 students (so far)
36 units
10 weddings altogether
14 states
9 countries
4 weddings attended
2 kittens
1 graduation
1 brand new niece :)
5 hours til I cross the pacific again

we'll see what comes in ten...

2/4 case studies done at the moment. It's hard to believe this is my second all-nighter within one week.

Oh well, it has otherwise been a rather kick back semester. Had to get rough at some point, eh?

Yesterday I took my RICA. Providing I passed, I have finished my CBEST, CSET, RICA, and now just have four TPAs to complete by June (three after tomorrow). No more standardized tests!

Back to life. Graduation in 12 days. Huzzah!

Edit: And I might be going to S.Korea at the end of the month. Double Huzzah!

"We must not, then, as Christians, assume an attitude of antagonism toward the truths of reason, or the truths of philosophy, or the truths of science, or the truths of history, or the truths of criticism. As children of the light, we must be careful to keep ourselves open to every ray of light. Let us, then, cultivate an attitude of courage as over against the investigations of the day. None should be more zealous in them than we. None should be more quick to discern truth in every field, more hospitable to receive it, more loyal to follow it, whithersoever it leads."

But there are things that continue to make me smile. Like...

Finding tide pools near Travis' home where you can explore for hours and see sea urchins, sea anemone, giant sea slugs, baby octopus, pacific lobster, nudibranch, hermit crabs, snails, and many more fun things to poke and take pictures of.

or receiving pictures in the mail of my new baby niece who I'll get to meet next week.

or finding a place where people are making a noticeable and positive impact on the youth and community even when others might regard such actions as, "noble, but not worth the effort".

or receiving a phone call in the middle of a work day from a loving boyfriend who is concerned about my netbook being a piece of work and just checking to see if I'm okay.

or listening to a band like Bluskreen.

or connecting with a 12 year old student who withdraws himself from most authority figures.

or teaching physical education to first graders.

or being reminded of the relationship we've been continually offered by the One who we all hurt the most.

These things make me smile.   

A mental battle rages as I struggle with the talk I hear in my physical education class. Talk of budget cuts and how it affects equipment spending. Why do citizens of this country spend needlessly? Why do they wonder where all the money went? What happened to creativity and making use of what is available?

Today I made a calculation. I only have 4.2% left of my undergraduate career! I am excited. Although, this number does not recognize the fact that I'll still be in school after graduation. In fact, I start even earlier than the undergrads do next year. We acquired kittens this weekend. Pictures to come. Looking forward to seeing various people over the holidays (thanksgiving in Mad City?) Okay. Now I will stop the procrastination.

A response to the request.

School has become secondary as a priority once again. I'm not entirely sure what to, but at least it will be over soon.

Travis and I are getting cats next weekend. Sarah and my brother-in-law are getting a daughter in a couple of weeks. Can't wait to hold all.

Middle school girls are brutal. Makes me grateful for those strange years at ICS.

Searching for a way to get back to Yanji. Will take suggestions.

UCLA v. Cal = death by sun.

Randomly bloody foot. I'll go tend to that now.

(congrats dhany on making a week :)

 
^^now traversing through my system :)