and now, a real update.

I just realized that I haven’t said anything about my work situation. been too preoccupied with all the other stuff I’ve been writing about, maybe?

I don’t work at the Gazette anymore. no more trying to explain my random job… yay.
it actually wasn’t a very easy decision. I liked that job a lot, and when I finished I’d been there two years. but the fact that I couldn’t take on more responsibilities/get more hours/get paid more was basically the deciding factor. so I got my schedule for next semester worked out, and then I talked to Ellen. this semester I’ll be going to school monday/wednesday/friday and working tuesday/thursday/saturday. it’ll be kind of packed… but I get out early on friday so I’ll have that afternoon for chill/study time. it will be kind of weird, though, to not be at the Gazette ever. but I’ll get used to it. :] I worked all this past week at Ellen’s, and I had forgotten how tiring it is to be on your feet all day. part of the reason why I haven’t written since then.

my older sister Hannah is back home. she’s been living in Boulder, Co. since June. it’s different having her home, I know it’s weird for her, after living on her own for two years, but … it is what it is. and it’s not bad. having sister time again has been fun.
I talked to Jared today for a while. he’s completely fascinated by the whole process of the presidential primary in New Hampshire… it was today. of course, by the time we have our primary here in West Virginia it doesn’t even matter. so it’s probably pretty interesting to observe. he’s become an Obama fan… I’m still on the fence. I mean, I know I’m not voting Republican, and that’s about the extent of it. I was kind of hoping Edwards would do well, but I don’t even know if I really support him fully. Obama sounds good and looks good, but I have this fear that he’s too good to be true.
so pretty much, I have some reading to do so I can figure this thing out. all I know for sure is if it ends up being Hillary against Huckabee, I will not be a happy voter.

I have this week before school starts off from work. today was laundry, etc. I’m not sure what I’m doing tomorrow. and thursday is… (drum roll) narrow down school applications day. I have to decide what schools I’m going to apply to and get started on the process. I have a list of about 10 schools and I need to narrow it down to four or five. and then I’ll have about a month to get everything in. so, you know, if you’re interested in praying for me… :] I’m nervous and apprehensive and unsure, but I’m excited.

before I do all the homework I was assigned this week…

there’s not that much, I promise.

I slept in my own bed last night for the first time in a week. it was superfantastic. see, last Friday I went on fall weekend with Young Life. so Friday and Saturday night I slept on this great [un]comfortable mattress with my sleeping bag. all part of the camp experience, you know? it was fine. when I got home on Sunday, my brother Jared and his wife, Becky, were here, and since I have a queen-size bed, they sleep in my room when they visit. once again, uncomfortable mattress (this time on the floor) with a sleeping bag. thanksgiving day I took a nap on my parents’ bed — best sleep I’d gotten all week.

I have my bed to myself again, but I miss my brother and sister-by-marriage. they’ve always lived a few hours away (they were in Lynchburg, Va. before they moved to New Hampshire), but we still got to see them fairly frequently. this last week makes the second time we’ve seen them since they moved a year ago. (the first was in July.) I don’t like it.

there’s something really good about having everyone home and just sitting around and talking, or playing a game. they were here all week but it still felt short. I hated having school and/or work up until Wednesday, too. but I’m glad for the time we did have. family is worth a lot. I took it so for granted growing up even though we’ve always been a pretty tight-knit bunch. I don’t know if there’s any way to learn that lesson without experiencing it first hand. but I’m glad Charis and Zoe understand it now — Jared and Hannah living far away while they’re young makes them value family time a lot more than I ever did at that age. it’s good.

after I finish homework (some history reading, a couple of things for speech and two french worksheets), I’m baking a cake. cranberry upside down. I’ll let you know how it goes.

holidays mean…

family.

will write later. for now, a taste of today…

my aunt Darlene and her granddaughter, Alexis.