Your Questions Answered

Well, a number of you have been adding comments to my blog so I thought I would write a quick entry responding to those. I am also starting classes on Monday so I most likely won't get around to writing again until next weekend.

I know one of my my comments on my last entry may seem a bit odd to some of you. The point about not meeting many home schoolers. At home I am very involved in home school circles, and as we all know, home schoolers have their own unique culture. So being some where that isn't populated by under-socialized anti-government skirt wearing girls (I'm joking; I've never met a more social, open minded, well dressed group then in my home school circles) is just strange for me. I wasn't really expecting to find that here, but I'm going through just a bit of culture shock.

Yes, I do have a bottle of hand cleaner on my desk. The reason: I have met more people in the last few days then in the last three years, and yes I have shaken a whole lot of hands, so mom (and Charlyn) I am using my hand cleaner. The Lysol wipes are for cleaning my room.


Cheers!

Your Literary Junkophile.


Amendment 1: I love and miss you all.

Amendment 2: So please keep writing me comments and emails.

Amendment 3: In case you didn't figure it out, I'm trying to use positive reinforcement to get everyone to leave comments. You leave a comment and then get the satisfaction of actually getting you questions answered. See, basic psychology.

My Room!

The first picture is of my side of the room. Notice my periodic table on the wall. It is the only poster I have gotten up on my wall. So now everyone here knows I'm a chemistry nerd.

The second picture is of my desk and computer. I have the Nanny Journals on the screen.

It is already so strange being here. I like everyone, but it isn't home. It certainly makes me want to go to Medical school in Oregon. I'm getting to know everyone, but I miss everyone at home.

The strangest this so far: I've only met one home schooler!

The coolest thing so far: Bagpipes at a ceremony yesterday.

The Hardest thing so far: My parents Leaving.

The Easiest thing so far: Knowing that this is where God does want me.

The funnest thing so far: Country Line Dancing last night (if only it was ECD).

The most boring thing so far: Being told again and again that we have to study hard. That is the reason I'm here, to study, if you haven't figured that out by now you shouldn't be at college.



Cheers!


Your Literary Junkophile.


Amendment 1: All my friends need to get gmail so I can talk with you.

Amendment 2: I miss you already!

Its a Dorm Life for Me

Well, I'm now in my dorm room and sort of settled in. I start classes on Monday and I can't wait. I'm taking O-Chem, Physics (with calc.), English composition and a PE class. The trip down was fun. My family had some family time and most of the drive was beautiful. We got to stop in the Redwoods and drive down Highway 1. That was all really amazing. Check out my pics. at the end of this post.

On thursday I started orientation. In some ways this was good, but a lot of the information was a repeat from the school I went to last year. But it has been really great to get to know everyone. I have one roommate; there are 5 other girls in my suite (we all share one bath room!); I have 24 girls in my section. I have already gotten to know the girls in my suite really well. I have a lot in common and we all get along well. (Don't worry, my friends here will never replace those of you at home). I will right more later, but right now I need to get some sleep.


Cheers!

Your Literary Junkophile.


Amendment 1: My car packed with everything for college.





Amendment 2: A large Woodcutter and his blue ox




Amendment 3: Me in the Redwoods



Amendment 4: The Beautiful California Coast


Amendment 5: I have a new favorite bible verse. Isaiah 41:10 Don't be afraid for I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

Addendum

One more thing this is a video I found that is really sweet and sums up how I feel about all of you.

http://www.inspiringthots.net/movie/life-on-train.php

Thanks for Riding with me!

Cheers!

Your Literary Junkophile.

So Long and Thanks for all the Fish!

Well, I'm sitting in my room for the last time for a while. I'm sitting here eating Oreos and milk (I'm a dunker in case anyone cares). It is really odd to think I won't be here in 24 hours, or 48, or 1000hours. Don't get me wrong, I'm really excited about school, but it will be strange not to see everyone for so long. I'm really going to miss a bunch of people.

My Darling Sister
My Darling Sister's best friends (OK, she is one of my best friends as well, you know I love you Britt :) )
My mom and dad
My Bestest Friends, Christie, Mariah, Becca and Rachel (Charlyn fits in here too, but I'm already missing her)
My best Nana/friend/teacher.
My favorite little boy (Reggie)
My very goofy but talented worship team at church
My Pastor
Everyone at my church (I'm actually trying to think of someone I won't miss)
All my friends at dance class (you know who you are)


Now here are the reasons I will miss these people (and dachshund:

(Maddy) She is not only my sister she is my best friend, but closer
(Britt) We are closer then most actual sisters
(Mom and Dad) Hey, they are my mom and dad
(Christie, Mariah, Becca, Rachel)I won't have anyone to "enjoy"; all the deep discussions and stargate talks; it is just Becca (need I say more); she is so funny and sweet.
(Mrs. R) She is so close to me and has had such a wonderful impact on my life, and hey she is 78.
(Reggie) My little buddy is always there for comfort.
(Worship Team) I love them for their strange ways, Dustin, Eric, Jared, Brian, Ann, Steve, Christie, Heidi.
(Dewey) My pastor is so much fun, and love to listen to his sermons, how many people can actually say that they would listen to their pastor talk for fun.
(My Church family) Everyone at New Hope is so great and loving. They are a second family and I can't imagine my Sundays without them.
(My Dance group) I have only been going to dance for about 6 months but I have made some really good friends that I will miss dancing with and talking with.


Cheers!

Your Literary Junkohpile.

Amendment 1: Everyone needs to check out my sister's blog http://www.maddy-confussedmind.blogspot.com/ she gave me some really good advice for things not to do at school.

Amendment 2: Everyone got that Reggie is my dog right, not some random guy I like.

Amendment 3: So Long Oregon, California here I come!

Amendment 4: I know that there are some people I forgot to say goodbye to. To those of You: Goodbye, I will be praying for and I can't wait to see when I get home!

Amendment 5: The post title is a line from the Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, a book/movie that is not as anti-Christian as everyone says, but that is a different post.

I'm off to the land of Cereal

well, I leave the day after tomorrow. I'm sad and excited all at the same time. I can't wait to get back to classes, meet my roommate, start my second year of college, and generally be on my own. But I'm nervous about leaving my family and generally being on my own. Today was the last time I will be at church for a while, and it was really hard to say goodbye to everyone. A lot of people that went through the church split are really close. We have become a family and it was like saying goodbye to a family today. It was hard knowing that I won't being see those people next week. Church is something I look forward every week and to lose that is really sad for me.

On a lighter note: Last night I went to the ECD ball. I had a wonderful time and the ball went very smoothly. Except for the people that didn't know how to dance and kept messing others up (you can't blame them, I was like that once, but it is still bothersome), and the fact that it went a hour and half late. Once again it was hard to say goodbye because unlike my Church family, I won't see most of those people until December or next summer. Though, thanks to HSA and Gmail I will still get to talk to most people even when I'm at school.

Cheers!

Your Literary Junkophile.


Amendment 1: I leave on Tuesday for the land of cereal (fruits, nuts and flakes).

Amendment 2: Here are some pictures from the ball:


My Hair



My Dress


Talking with Friends

Working Toward Leaving

Well, I spent most of today getting ready for college. A couple hours of shopping at Wally World (Wal-Mart), going through my closet, opening all of the things I purchased at walmart, and other random things that I needed to do before leaving. Right now our biggest problem is if everything is going to fit in the back of our car for the drive down. I have confidence in our extreme packing skills, but my mother is already making plans to ship me a box of clothes I won't need in the first week.

I just took a brief break from writing to try on some long lost PJ's. So right now, between my light blue robe, matching slippers, and my "new" PJ's, I look like some well dressed 7th grader at a slumber party.

I realized last night that when I head off to college I"m really going to miss tutoring. I spent the last two years tutoring a number of different students in math and science, and now that I will be at school I will really miss my math/science challenged middle school and high school students. I'm not sure why I like tutoring, but I really do enjoy it. There were a lot of hard things, those days when nothing went right or when I thought I student had understood something only to learn to late they hadn't. Though, it has led to some very embarrassing situations for me.

Two years ago when I was at Western, I was tutoring a girl in math and biology. Her main problem (in science) was that she didn't have good study skills. Bio. has lots of memorization and if you can't come up with ways to memorize stuff you can really struggle. So I was frequently in the library after school trying to come up with goofy little sayings and phrases to help her remember that various parts of what ever bio organism she was memorizing at the time. But when that didn't work I was left with acting out the part to hopefully cement a hand motion in her head. Needless to say, in my Senior year, not only was I classified as I geek, but I also received many funny looks in the library after school.

You maybe wondering, why if with all of these difficult times I like and will miss tutoring. perhaps another story will explain.

The same year, I was also tutoring a 6th grade girl. She most likely had ADHD and/or dyslexia, but hadn't been tested yet. She was frequently getting picked on at school and was failing both math and english. All of this had been going on for most of the year, and not surprisingly her self-esteem was suffering. So I can't even begin to describe the look on her face when she would finally get something right, or when I would tell her she wasn't stupid. She was so proud that she was getting tutored by a senior that she told the whole middle school about me. Though, it was odd being known by the middle school as "Blank's tutor", it did give this little girl some needed bragging rights. The expressions of the other middle schoolers when I would sit next to this girl on the bus or tell off one of the 8th graders for picking on her were priceless. I will really miss tutoring next year.


Cheers!

Your Literary Junkophile.


Amendment 1: I get to try on my ball dress tomorrow.

Amendment 2: Only three more days until the ball, and five days until I leave for school.

Amendment 3: I am now on HSA.

My Reasons to Believe

I had good friend spend the night at my house a few nights ago, and we started to talk about science and God and what the two subjects meant together. And I realized that this was one subject that, though close to my heart, I hadn't discussed on my blog.

I have always had a strong interesting in science. Since I was a little kid I have always believed that science and the Bible are compatible, and that they are actually two examples of the same thing: God's love for us. Three years ago when I went to school I was made to memorize something by my science teacher that I still treasure and think back on daily. It is called Neander's Law:

Neander’s Law

God reveals himself in his word, as he does in his works.
In both we see a self-revealing, self-concealing God.
Who makes himself know only to those who earnestly seek him.
In both we find stimulants to faith, and occasions for unbelief; in both we find apparent contradictions, whose higher harmony is hidden except from him who gives up his whole mind in reverence; In both, in a word, it is a law of revelation that the heart of man should be tested in receiving it; and that in the spiritual life as well as in the bodily, man must eat his bread in the sweat of his brow.

Augustus Neander, Life of Christ, 1851



I know some Christians don't really like or appreciate science. They seem to think "Science=Evolution=Sin". But true science does nothing but add weight to the evidence of a biblical creator. As Christians we need to be prepared to give a defense of what we believe. And whether you accept science or not, it can be a wonderful defense. So please, don't write it off simply because you don't agree with the theory of evolution.



Cheers!

Your Literary Junkophile.


Amendment 1: In many ways I feel closest to God when I'm studying science. I wonder what my very anti-christian former Chemistry professor would think if I told him I learned more about God's nature in his class then in a year of Sunday school classes?


Amendment 2:If anyone is interested, I can recommend a few books (Christan and non-Christian) that describe the natural world in such a way that you can't help but be strengthened in your faith.

One Last Day at the Clinic

Last Tuesday I spent my last day at the clinic. It was a very nice day, because I all I did was shadow, no filing. I had a chance to talk with almost all of the providers one last time. And one of the doctors ended up sitting down with me for about 30 minutes to answer so questions and make me a surprising future business offer (mostly in jest).

I really enjoyed working at the clinic. Not only learning all of the medical stuff, but also how a medical clinic is run. It was odd at times being in on some "interesting" procedures. And uncomfortable seeing people I knew come through the office. But these are things I will have to learn to deal with as a doctor, so I'm sure that it was very good practice, and that I got a few of the harder lessons out of the way.

On Tuesday, I also ran into someone that has always been really encouraging to me about my goal of being a doctor. He was my physical therapist when I injured my knee two years ago and bruised/broke my leg last summer. He is a wonderful Christian guy, that has given me lots of great advice not only about being pre-med but also about the importance of balancing academics, social relationships, and your relationship with God. It was really nice to see him again before I head out to college. I hope that I will not be in need to his professional services again, so it was really nice to say good bye.

One of the other great things about working in the clinic this summer has been the friendships I have made with the doctors that work there. I know that in a less than a year and a half I will be applying to medical school. And having someone (with MD after their name) to write me a letter of recommendation is a good step toward that.


Cheers!

Your Literary Junkophile.




Amendment 1: I am hopeful that I will be able to work at the same clinic next summer.

Amendment 2: I have a brief funny story. I had one of my friends come up to me at church and ask me for details on the "interesting" procedures that I had seen. Now, when I say "interesting" I really mean not church appropriate. So I was standing in the middle of the sanctuary trying to come up with a good and subtle way to explain some of the more private things people come see their doctor about to my (at the time) clueless friend.

I can't believe I'm LEAVING!

Well, I don't really have much to say, nothing exciting and interesting like my last post. I did, however, get to talk to my roommate last night. She sounds really nice and I can't wait to meet her in person.

It has been really strange these past few days, because I keep doing things that I know I won't do again at home (before next summer), spending the night at a close friend's house, going to a church picnic, working at the clinic, even seeing that I won't be home to see the milk go out of date is getting sad for me.

So many things in my life are changing right now, and in some ways it is very scary. Even though I will be at a wonderful school with a good support network, I will still be on my own for the first time in my life. I have always had my parents to depend on for everything, and soon I will only depend on God and myself. But I guess that is a big part of growing-up.

The nice thing is that even though I will be in a different state I will still be in close contact with everyone at home. Between cell phones, e-mail, and this blog I'm sure that I will still be hearing from everyone back home frequently.

It is also strange to think that I will be living in a different place. I have only every lived here, and so moving is going to be a big change for me. I'm not like some people that moved all over the US as a kid and so doesn't hesitate to move again. I will miss the trees, the farms, and the rain.


Cheers!

Your Literary Junkophile.


Amendment 1: Sorry, this was a really sad and moody post. I'm probably going to be like that for the next few weeks.

Amendment 2: I leave on the 26th. School starts on the 28th, and classes on the 1st.

Laura's List for your Lousy Larboard Watch

Well, I finally found out who my roommate is. However, I haven't heard back from her yet, and as I'm still not feeling back to normal, I needed something to do. So I thought to my self, why not write a blog about nautical terms. So I looked it up on the world wide web, and sure enough I found numerous sites all about sailing terms. So now we can all speak like sailors together. (OK, that was a crummy joke, but you know what I meant.)

About - on the other tack
Abyss- That volume of ocean lying below 300 fathoms from surface.
Adrift- Floating free with the currents and tide, not under control. A rope may be adrift if comes out place.
Avast! - The command to stop, or cease, in any operation.
Batten down-Secure hatches and loose objects both within the hull and on deck.
Bearing - The direction of an object expressed either as a true bearing as shown on the chart, or as a bearing relative to the heading of the boat
Bilge- The lowest part of the interior hull below the waterline
Boatswain-- Also bosun, bos'n, bo's'n, and bo'sun, all of which are pronounced bosun. A crew member responsible for keeping the hull, rigging and sails in repair
Boom: - a horizontal spar attached to the bottom edge of of a sail, riding on the mast and controlled by sheet.
Capstan: - the drum-like part of the windlass, which is a machine used for winding in rope, cables or chain connected to an anchor cargo.
Dead reckoning-A calculation of determining position by using course speed last known position
Draft-The depth of water required float a vessel
Even keel -When a boat is floating on its designed waterline, it is said to be floating on an even keel.
Fathom-Measurement of six feet.
Furl - to fold or roll a sail and secure it to its main support
Halyards: - lines used to haul up the sail and the wooden poles (boom and gaff) that hold the sails in place.hanks -- metal hooks used to secure a sail to a stay; to hank on a sail is to hook it on a stay using the hanks
Heave to -To bring a vessel up in a position where it will maintain little or no headway, usually with the bow into the wind or nearly so.
Jib: - a triangular foresail in front of the foremast.
Keel stepped -A mast that is stepped (placed) on the keel at the bottom of the boat rather than on the deck. Keel stepped masts are considered sturdier than deck stepped masts.
leeward --The direction away from the wind. -downwind
Mainmast: - the tallest mast of the ship; on a schooner, the mast furthest aft.
Mainsail: - The sail set on the mainmast.-the lowest square sail on the mainmast.
Old salt -- a very experienced and/or old sailor
Port - left side of the ship when facing forward
Ready about - prepare to come about
Reef - to reduce the size of a sail
Reefing-The operation of reducing a sail by taking in one or more of the reefs.
Shake out - to release a reefed sail and hoist the sail aloft
Starboard - right side of the ship when facing forward
Stem: - the timber at the very front of the bow.
Wide berth - To avoid something by a large distance.


Now you know some very useful sailing terms. So you can now understand Horatio Hornblower, Pirates of the Caribbean, and my bedroom a little better.



Cheers!

You Literary and Sailing Junkohpile.


Amendment 1: My roommate's name is Ashley.

Amendment 2: I still intend to own a sail boat some day, but for now by model on my wall will have to suffice.

Amendment 3: Larboard is the old term for the left side of the ship. But because starboard and larboard sound so much alike larboard was switched to port. If you read any older sailing literature you will still hear about the starboard and larboard watches.

Amendment 4: Starboard/Larboard Watch - the watch rotation was spilt into two groups. Each watch might be on deck for eight hours with eight hours off, and then a four hour night watch. Or everyone could be on deck all day long with the night watch split evenly between the two watches. This is type of system that was used on the old sailing vessels.

To Spell the Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing But the Truth

Wow, my grammar problems aren't my only problems. I must have been sicker than I thought when I wrote my last post. I couldn't even spell!


Cheers!

Your English Challenged Literary Junkophile.

The Lady of Literature

Well, I am finally feeling a bit better. I'm typing again with two hands, and I eat dinner (however, my grammar leaves much to be desired). So hopefully this means I have a full day of church and softball tomorrow.

The next (and my last) ECD dance is two weeks from today. So of course, we decided we needed dresses. Thankfully, I have a friend who is a wonderful sower because my sowing skills are very non existent. Before asking Lady Heather perhaps I should have asked the Hopeless Romantic. I hear that she is very fond of sowing now:)
So I now have my dress pattern and some good ideas about what material to use.

I know I have mentioned before why I enjoy dancing so much. And I realize that it is still a mystery for some of you (Mariah). But if any of you want to come to the ball on the 23rd I can tell you where to go to get tickets. The theme is Robin Hood. So yes, there could be a few men in tights running (or skipping) around. As far as I'm concerned, as long as it is only a costume the boys can wear what ever they want (within reason).


Cheers!

The Lady Literary Junkophile.


Amendment 1: I'll post a picture of my dress when it is finished.

Amendment 2: Tomorrow, I find out who my roommate is tomorrow!

The One Handed Typing Bandit

Well, tonight I am a one handed typist. I had to go get a booster shot on Thursday (Hep. A) and my arm is so sore that I can't type with it. The shot also made me sick so I really haven't done anything for the last 36 hours. I did make myself go to dance class last night because I only had three more left to go to. By sitting out for a few dances I made it through but only just.

I only have one day left working at the clinic (Tuesday), because they ran out of things for me to do. I was very glad that I didn't have to go into today. I would have ended up a patient:)

Sorry, this is going to be short, but I'm just really tired and typing with one hand is much harder then it looks (probably something like shooting out the tires on a run-away RV).


Cheers!

Your one handed literary junkophile.


Amendment 1: I have two days until I find out who my roommate is.

Amendment 2: And only two weeks left at home.

Dates (not the food kind or the romantic kind either)

Here are some important things coming up in my life (over the next few years).

5 Days until I find out who my roommate is.

21 Days until I leave for college.

68 Days Until I turn 19.

21 Months until I take the MCAT.

23 Months until I apply to Medical schools.

25 Months until I can start medical school interviews.

32 Months until I graduate from college.

36 Months Until I can start Medical school.


Cheers!

Your Tired and Jet lagged Literary Junkophile.


Amendment 1: Caution: all date are subject to change without notification.

Amendment 2: these dates reflect the present intentions of the writer, but are not in anyway legally binding. (ie. if things don't work out the way I want, don't bug me about it.)

Doctor's Speak

Sorry I haven't posted for a week. I have been a little busy. Mostly with exciting things like job shadowing and finishing my file project (This wasn't my personal file project just what I was working on for my volunteer hours).

I have gotten to see some really interesting stuff at the clinic lately. The doctors are starting to get to know me and letting me help out. Mostly stuff like handing them things during procedures, getting copies made and other little things. Even though what I do get to do may be considered trivial and boring, it is a whole lot better than doing nothing. I also got to make rounds at the hospital with one of the doctors. That was really exciting especially since I haven't been up to the ICU before or seen babies only hours old.

Really the more I see of the medical world the more I want to be a part of it. Even with all of the "boring and everyday" things (sore throats, ear infections, colds, headaches) doctors have an amazing job. They get to deal with people when they are at their worst and in most cases make them better. Doctors have to walk the fine line of compassion and objectivity. In the short time I have been volunteering I have already seen the looks of sadness and defeat on the doctors' faces when they realize that no matter how many times they tell someone to quit smoking, they won't, even though it will probably cut their life by 10-20 years. And then at the end of the day the doctor has to go home to his or her family and let go of that. I clearly have much to learn, behold the simple science of being a doctor.


Cheers!

Your Literary Junkophile.


Amendment 1: I am once again reading "Exodus" by Leon Uris. I would recommend this book to everyone over the age of 16. It is also on my list of favorite books (see side bar "LB's favorites").

Amendment 2: I am off tomorrow for Wisconsin for Indy's appointment. We have to leave at 5:30am, so it will be an early morning.