The manila mystery

Do you ever use manila envelopes?

I rarely do. I didn't even know where to find them at the store, but I fortunately found one at my dad's desk that I used to turn in all of my Peru stuff to the International House. I didn't even know that place existed actually until I found out that's where I had to turn in my application. Crazy! The things you learn after going to the same school for five years.

Anyhow... I scrambled around all morning trying to get everything together at the last minute-- medical release form, copy of passport, copy of transcript, reference letters (I even got a very nice one from Janzen!), WTE Declaration. I was walking out of Morgan for seriously about the fourth time this morning, happy I was finally done and proudly carrying everything in my huge manila envelope. On my way out, I walked by a guy who was also carrying a manila envelope! I felt like there was an immediate connection or that we could be manila friends, because who buys those? Who needs them on a daily basis? Who are those people? Lots of businesses use them all the time, but for me, they are used very rarely. They are quite handy.

My Peru application is in, and done, which means I got to cross off a whole bunch of things on my to-do list. Everything else will eventually get done! It will all be fine.

A renewed passion for learning

Remember Mercedes from Human Impact class? As I went from Garvey to my car in the circle parking lot, I was walking quickly, shuffling my little feet to get out of the cold. I lift up my head by the bell tower, and I spot Mercedes, rolling backpack and all, walk right by me! I instantly got a big smile on my face. I haven't seen her since last December. Delight!

In other news, I'm rethinking graduate school again... meaning, I'm considering going to grad school next Fall. I'd really like to go to KU, but I should really apply to more than one place in case they don't want me! UMKC is my other consideration. If I'm going to be really serious about this, I need to get going on upcoming deadlines with the GRE and all this other craziness. I started considering grad school again, because I think teaching art history is something I'm really interested in. Hartley, my first art history professor, taught in such a way that invigorated me. I got goosebumps all the time in his class just through the amazing way that he would explain art works. Last night when I was working late at the museum, I walked down the hall on my break and just stood outside Hartley's class for a little while, experiencing that same passion for art history when I was a student in his class. I've never had a professor like that, and I think it's really a shame that he only teaches survey classes.

Today for Art Criticism, we were each paired up with one or two people in discussing a particular philosophical essay from our textbook. This is the first college class that I've genuinely felt like a collegian, a real academic! There's about eight other girls in there and most of us have had classes with each other before, so it's nice to have that comfortable familiarity. This is my sixth class with Janzen, I can hardly believe it!

Anyhow, all this to say that I'm enjoying school again, no matter how crazy stressed out I am. I want to learn all I can about art history. The end.

I loved spending time with my giggling friends Rachel and Tricia last night. :) I love you girls!

Just a quick one...

I was sitting in both of my classes, furiously taking notes and actually engaging in the lecture for probably the first time all semester. Good thing it's hitting me now, halfway through! I'll take anything at this point. And now I'm on my break between class and work, and this is usually a time I would take for messing on facebook, doing pointless things, wasting time, but I am actually going to start on homework NOW before the museum! I feel motivated and goal-oriented. Bring it.

On the Mind...

I feel like I'm juggling a million things right now, trying to maintain a social life, barely keeping up with school, working two jobs, Bible studies, constantly going from one thing to the next. I'd like to prioritize, but honestly I don't know what needs to go. School started two months ago, and honestly I never feel like I was ready for it. I'm definitely not giving it the time I really need to, which leads to pulling all-nighters in my procrastination. I think above all else, I really need to give school a big priority. It's crazy to think that last year school was really all I did, and now I just try to fit it in where I can.

I really don't like being a busy person. I look forward to Monday's because it's my only day where I don't work at either job usually, I only have two classes, and a huge chunk in the afternoon free. The rest of the week is taken up by going from one place to the next-- school, work, home, back to school, on to the museum-- it's very exhausting! I don't know why it's so hard to focus this semester, I don't know what the problem is. On top of it all, I haven't been making time for Jesus time, which I so desperately need! I try to fill my life up with everything else that doesn't satisfy, when I really just need Him so much. It's really hard to follow Him and to live a life that truly glorifies Him. I get so tired of my roller coaster of my walk with Him. I so want to constantly be growing closer to Him, not up and down like it has been for a while. I'd really like an older woman to mentor me, I think that might help my growth a lot. A lot of it too is knowing where to read in the Bible. I feel lost in that area. I usually just read from the New Testament, but what I'd really like is to keep it fresh, to learn new things, to get a different perspective on something I've read a hundred times.

On a study break, I decided to focus on something I could control-- cleaning my room. I put a ton of clothes away, threw things in the trash, swept the floor and now I don't feel quite as crazy. I think if anything your bedroom should be a peaceful place! I still need to decorate and put pictures on the walls and everything.

I hope I can stay up tonight and try to get more done on my essay exam. I'm almost done with my third cup of coffee tonight, and I feel like a lot of my energy is gone. I'm going to try and drudge through it tonight so tomorrow won't be quite as stressful.

Almost time, kids...

So, Spring Semester classes are already listed on the Washburn site, and I think I pretty much have my schedule figured out.... Here's what I'm thinking at this point (and please note that this will be my LAST semester at Washburn! Exciting!!!)...

1.Early Modern Art (cubism, impressionism, expressionism, etc. All the ism's basically)
2. Art of the Americas
3. Spanish Composition
4. Literature for Young Adults
5. Spanish Translation
6. Kansas History or Social Psychology

Another 18ish hour semester, but then I will be DONE, and I'm gonna have a big PARTY to celebrate! And you're all invited!

Enchantments

Today is the first day of October! I woke up and genuinely felt the same way as if it were my birthday, sheer excitement! October is magical-- the brisk air becomes more apparent, the leaves turn a beautiful array of golden tones, hot drinks taste that much more amazing, corn mazes, pumpkins and of course you have all month to look forward to Halloween! I'm thinking of having a party at my house that night. What are your plans?


There are small moments when I'm on the bike where I think just by glancing over at something for a second, I have an immortal image burned on my brain the rest of the day. I rode home from school yesterday going down the sidewalk on Huntoon, facing the speeding cars going down the opposite direction. I felt like I was totally protected just by a small curb and a sidewalk, even though I felt a bit like a fish swimming upstream. It's a bit intimidating facing a hundred bumpers all coming at you. I glanced over once to my right when I heard the sound of little boys shouting, and captured an immortal moment in my brain: A pair of boys were sword fighting using large sticks, slapping the wood together to make a curiously loud contact sound. I felt like they should be wearing tiny prince crowns. Fencing is timeless! It reminded me of this magical Glosoli video. I think when I have kids someday I will not own a television for a while simply so that they can nurture their imaginations a bit.

Another small moment was as I was racing down another street, my slightly puffy sleeve caught the wind, and I glanced over and saw it billowing. I couldn't help but smile like a crazy person, smiling at their own sleeve! Later when Emily and I were flying down Indian Hills, I looked over and saw a large patch of corn blazing with the light of the sun. I couldn't take my eyes off of that beautiful sight!