small town boys

Chilli is a town of no more than 6,000 peoples. It is not glamorous, but cute it its own way. This weekend I was able to go home for the first time in nearly 10 weeks. People from the suburbs thing of it as the "country" but for me it is home.

The best part of my trip was getting quality time with my boys. Both of my brothers are different but uniquely hilarious. It makes me wish I was home more often to hear there crazy stories. My dad is the main event when it comes to story telling. I love the way all of us kids crack up before he finishes his joke because of his laughter before even getting to the punchline.

Quick weekend at home but good weekend.

close: pieces. far: one.

Last summer I had the most eye and heart opening experience in Africa. This coming summer I am planning to return for the majority of my summer to volunteer.

It would be nice if I only had to sign my name some where in order to go but it is a little more complicated. I have a grant proposal to cover the cost of the trip in the works. This means I need a well organized, researched, and focused research topic to turn in the 5th week of school.

I feel as if there are alot of pieces that must fall in place for this to work out. Not every piece makes since by itself but it will all come together to be one. This is my hope; my prayer.

springy start

“If you want to become the best runner you can be, start now. Don't spend the rest of your life wondering if you can do it.”

My whole life running was always the consequence for someone not being on time, not paying attention, not trying hard enough, etc. Grade school it was simple floor lengths sprints, high school it was the dreaded walls, & last and probably the worst 14’s that have come to make me hate running. Running takes physical and mental strength. The sports I’ve always enjoyed the most running was merely part of the game; not the entire game.

Today I bought the first real running shoes I’ve ever owned: a cute but quality pair of Asics. Tomorrow I will start my journey reversing the painful association of punishment and running. I hope to turn a negative into positive and quite possibly find a new passion.

was that my life?

7am that cant be my alarm clock
705am quick shower
720am dance off with myself and vh1 morning videos
730am breakfast club
8am social psych
920am science religion magic
11am TK lunch
12pm drugs and behavior
120pm global history
2pm work
4pm hot chocolate and conversation with a irish friend
5pm TK dinner
630pm jumbo protest and change
1015pm staff meeting
1140ish-pm blog
12am bed

lost but assured
scared but encouraged
confused but confident

over involved but more left to do

Housing for Habitat

7 reasons one should participate in collegiate challenge
• Improve your leadership skills.
• Develop and strengthen friendships.
• See the impact your work is having on communities.
• Learn more about poverty housing issues and how you can help.
• Visit new areas of the country.
• Affect a global cause by advocating on behalf of poverty housing issues.
• Help provide a simple, decent, affordable place to live for people in need.

I spent my spring break in the Carolinas to participate in collegiate challenge. I have a huge complaint for the makers of their official website. One major reason was left off; southern hospitality.

One would think a group of women athletes would eat the healthiest compared to the average groups that go on spring break trips. That statement could not be more false. Our hosts’ southern hospitality killed any thought of that. We enjoyed huge lunches that would qualify as large dinners for most of us. Every lunch and dinner seemed to be served with dessert as well. Not only did we enjoy our desserts but the whole experience was great. The communities that were worked in were very appreciative and welcoming.

As an athlete at a small school, we know who other athletes are but beyond what sport they participate in we don’t know much more. The past two years I’ve done habitat trips of all women athletes. It has been an awesome opportunity to really get to know others and created friendships that otherwise wouldn’t exist. Overall, the trip was another one for the books.

Words on the Fridge

My brain feels like the cluster of words on the fridge. Cold and long was winter term. Today is just a preview of the warm weather to come. Spring break means a week and half of no forced thinking or reading for class which I welcome. I will be leaving soon with a group of women athletes to participate in collegiate challenge (an effort to have college students volunteer with Habitat for Human as part of an alternative spring break program). It will be nice to chill before a crazy spring term.

One Last Thing

Running on 4 and half hours of sleep, I just finished an end of the term project which is my last requirement for winter term. I'm done. I have a sense of relief and achievement. I've finished out the term and I feel as if I couldn't have given anything more to my studies, I'm spent.

Most people would crawl in bed and finally enjoy sleep that I've been deprived of the last few days. But I have energy to do one last thing today... if possible I would go a couple of rounds with Colins in attempts to restore my pride with some Uno victories.

But he is a world away, guess I'll have to wait til summer.