AARF...animal assisted living?

Last night we (next years CHA PA's) were told to report for rounds to see how it all works.

After meeting, we walked through the Cremona Wesleys and on over to the Cremona's across the street. Where, an apartment on the top floor seemed to be having a raging party...loud music, clinking glasses, loud voices - this is a PA moment. So they take us upstairs and knock on the door where everyone inside gets quiet and we again knock on the door. Finally, someone opens it and low and behold there are all of this years PA's yelling "surprise!!"

Let the initiation begin! We were "clothed" with brightly colored decorated rain ponchos and a toilet paper necklace (because CHA PA's hand out lots of toilet paper to the residents). Then we proceeded to the cars and went over to Kerry Park and took random pictures they then took us over to Dick's where we enjoyed fries, hamburgers, shakes and each others company!

Today we had to sport our poncho gear to let the whole campus know that we are in fact the fabulous CHA PA's of 08-09 and I am pumped!

Tomorrow I'm heading to the east side of Washington with Bekah, Brie and Christie. I can hardly wait yet I have so much to do! Why is that always the case? Does my to-do list EVER stop???

Skin in Crisis

This week was quite the adventure.
When it rains, it pours and just goes to show that when you think everything’s in your control...God reminds you that you control nothing and should probably stop trying to. (And really, that sleep is overrated)

8:45 pm Tuesday:
The first lesson - that I am not even in control of my own skin.
Tuesday evening was our Gospel Choir "sing-a-long concert" which was a blast. Toward the end, my right knee began to feel funny and itch - but I didn't think anything of it because it was hot and stuffy and we'd been standing a long time, and who doesn't have an itch now and then? Afterwards, though, my knee began to itch worse and feel funny. When I finally looked at it I discovered that my entire knee and the area around it was flaming red and covered in little hives. Granted, this sight unnerved me so I went to a friend’s house who had some Benadryl cream (after Bekah offered me some lotion that said: "Lotion for Skin in Crisis" which we found amusing).

9:15pm:
I then came back to my apartment by which time hives had sprouted on both my elbows and I could feel my knee swelling. Brie was concerned and called Safety and Security who arrived with their little first aid kit and came to the conclusion that I was having an allergic reaction (which we had established....it was the "from what" part that was still a mystery). So he recommended that I go to the emergency room just to have it checked out.

10:00pm
The emergency room at 10:00 at night was not exactly penciled into my schedule, but Bekah and I trudged down there and answered lots of questions which ended back to square one. No one could figure out what was going on except that I was allergic to something. They prescribed some steroids and Benadryl and we were on our way.

12:30am
Starting homework. Unfortunately, the 3 hours I'd set aside to work on a project were spent in the ER...and needless to say it was a late night.

3:10am
Bedtime and more Benadryl.

7:00am Wednesday
In the morning, I woke up with hives everywhere so Benedryl it was, off to classes pretending that nothing was happening. Luckily they subsided during the day, I just had to tape my eyes open during class.

5:30pm
Hives were back. But, by now I was not phased. Took my Benadryl, and somehow made it through Bible Study.

7:00am Thursday
No hives! (and they haven't come back and hopefully they won't) because there's just too much to do and I really can't have Benedryl making me more tired than I already am.

10:00am
(or around there…I’m not sure) Brie had surgery on her hand. (Poor Christie...Brie and I are turning the apartment into a hospital and medical supply)

11:45pm
Bekah and I (and most of SPU) headed out to the midnight showing of The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. Oh my goodness I am so obsessed with that movie! I'm so tempted to see it again and again. I recommend everyone go see it...and take me too, I want to go again!!!

3:30am
Yet again…finishing homework. Bedtime and Benadryl.

6:30pm Friday
I got paid to play four-square, Clue (love this game...why did we not have this at home??), and make fuzzy-ball creatures with three adorable children.

1:00am
Contemplating watching Atonement…or doing some homework…but sleep wins.

12:00pm Saturday
Kick-off for Relay for Life begins, and so does a heat wave!! It was 94 degrees Saturday which was amazing except sunburns were prevalent and it seems a little morbid to fight cancer while burning your skin...they were handing out SPF 45.

1:30pm
Fred Meyer run with Bekah's family

2:30 – 5:30pm
More walking, resting, walking, homework.

7:00pm
Dinner break with Bekah's fam at Azteca. The Ballard Azteca was overrun with loud and intoxicated people celebrating Norwegian Independence (??) why Ballard is so excited about this I’ll never know…probably for the same reason they have a statue of Lenin in downtown Ballard.

8:45pm
Leaving Azteca. While Bekah’s family waited for Bekah and I back in the restaurant a man sweeping the sidewalks approached Kent (her 18 yr old brother) and asked if he could hold the little waste bin you sweep in. Puzzled, Kent accepted and held it while the guy swept trash into it. Then he asked if Kent would empty it into the trash!?! So…not sure what else to do, Kent did. Then the guy said, “One more time, one more time” and had Kent empty it again!! Only in Ballard…

9:00pm
Abrupt u-turn – Bekah and I decided we wanted to go with her family to the Locks.

9:15pm
Ssomewhat lost, stopped to take a picture of the sunset and lost phone service and decided just to head back to campus.

9:40pm
Back at campus…more walking.

10:00pm
Luminaria walk. It’s really beautiful and moving. People make bags in memory of loved ones and in honor of those currently fighting cancer or survivors. They place them all around the track and put candles in them, everyone follows behind a bagpipe player and you make your way around the track.

1:30am
Fell into bed.

5:00am Sunday
came waaay too fast. And Starbucks was closed which ruined our plan - so we walked from 5:30 to 7:30 with droopy eyes.

8:00 – 11:30am
A nap never felt so wonderful and I think my body is convinced that I'm never going to let it get any sleep.

3:30pm
Reported to First Free to practice for our evening Reconciled concert.

5:20pm
CHA BBQ, wardrobe change and mad dash back to First Free.

7:00pm
Reconciled concert. If you would like to hear some sound recordings of our concert visit: https://learn.spu.edu/webapps/lobj-podcast-bb_bb60/feed/+TVVTMjMwMV9NVVM0MzAxX00xMjAwNzgz+/podcast.xml this was from our Reconciled concert that we did earlier in the quarter at First Presbyterian downtown.

9:30pm – 11:30pm
A group of us from choir venture to the U-District for Bubble Tea and a few games of Jenga.

And all of a sudden it’s Monday again.

Bouncing thoughts.

Another whirlwind week leading to another exciting weekend...which will be the theme until I can arrive home and take a deep breath!

Friday evening Brie and I met up with the wonderful women from our "cove" last year. I missed Julie, Leslie and Kellie this year and missed all of our random night musings. We hit up Greenlake Art Festival (or something) and saw the chic place where Kellie works...never would have guessed it was a barbershop. It was a relaxing night and well worth waiting for. <3

A few of us girls got to spend the weekend in Bellevue with Brie in (early) celebration of her birthday which was such a blast! We arrived Saturday late afternoon and got all jazzed up for dinner and walked across the street to dine at The Cheesecake Factory yummm, despite the hour wait which we spent wandering around Bellevue Mall. Dinner was so delicious and we can't thank Sally enough! Back at the hotel we unwound by visiting the hot tub (which was invaded with a raucous crowd of 8th graders. Slept in waaay too long this morning and loved every second of it. Brie and Ashley shopped while Christie and I got comfy at Starbucks and studied. What a lovely weekend. Happy (early) Birthday Brie!!

I'm currently watching the Survivor finale which is always fired up with emotions and always the most interesting when the jury gets to ask questions of the two contestants. And I've realized, that Jeff talks a lot. Especially during challenges. I think if I was a survivor competing my heart out at a challenge with Jeff saying "wow Jennifer's way behind...hasn't even found the first key" I'd throw sand at him. I'm not sure how they put up with it. But, I love Jeff - he definitely makes the game.

Another week of deadlines and exams and stress. Getting so close to summer and it tastes so bittersweet.

Adults are Queens....

Today began at 8:43am when I abruptly awoke. I wasn't sure if I was going to go to church or not and decided not to set an alarm and just see when I woke up. God has a way with Sunday mornings...but I'm glad I went to church. Today's message was about radical generosity and something called the "kingdom assignment" where the church gave 12 individuals from the congregation $100 each and we will check back to see how they used that money for the kingdom and how it multiplied. This is going after the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-23. I'm anxious to see how God works and uses these 12 individual's talents and money.

Bekah, Christie and I couldn't stay inside on such a beautiful day so we loaded up the car with beach towels, homework and suntan lotion and found a sunny spot at Greenlake. It was pretty unproductive because I left my binder with everything in it at the apartment, so I resolved to some reading and sun ray soaking. (Though...the list of things I need(ed) to do is growing).

After Greenlake, we picked up Brie and headed to Azteca to celebrate Cinco de Mayo! (yes...on Cuatro de Mayo...but same diff.) We were all giggly and in a superb mood (probably from the lovely sunshine and enchiladas) so on the way home when the Ballard bridge went up we jumped out of the car and took pictures with the confused/amused onlookers in their cars. That turned into "hey lets go down to the docks and take pictures!" which we did. Pirate pictures of course, and gymnastic poses.

That turned into blasting music on the way home and creating dance moves to this energetic song by McFly "Don't Stop Me Now" which turned into this....

And we couldn't resist this song that so perfectly describes our predicament: "Seven Weeks Until Summer..."

All in all. I'd say today was an excellent day. I love my girls...and the sun!

"Ski bus...there was nothing else to do!"

I am currently a vegetable on the couch. I've watched two consecutive movies, and accomplished nothing. But, I am watching "What A Girl Wants" with Amanda Bynes and its currently playing "You Get Me" by Michelle Branch - my two favorite artists, what could be better?

Besides the fact that my head feels like a basket of bricks and I've exhausted all the Kleenex in the house...this has been a good couple of days.

Last night a group of us went on an adventure to the beach. So much for the forecast of sunshine and 60 degrees. It was overcast and not the warmest. But, we managed to start a fire (yay teamwork) roast hot dogs (and Cheetos in Brie's case...who knew they were so flammable??) Then the infamous marshmallows. A good game of football / Frisbee toss - which I still lack any talent at...but I did catch a few. After our noses and toes screamed in protest we headed to good ol' Starbucks - it's just the Seattle thing to do! And then we headed over to Blue Highway Games and played the most random Men vs. Women games and learned quite a bit about expectations, and the inevitable difference between men and women. Good laughs, good times. I love it. However, I do not suggest campfire smoke for stuffy head, scratchy voice and cough therapy.

Today, a few of us volunteered at the new Habitat for Humanity's Home Improvement Outlet. It's such a good program and there are many around the country, so if you are looking to help a good cause, want an incredible deal on good appliances then check them out! We measured and inspected blinds (and actually bought this sweet bamboo pair for our apartment next year...$3.00 what a steal!) and moved inventory around.

Life is amazing. Even if I don't have the energy to climb out from under the covers or pry NyQuil from my hands.