There is so much in this world that we have to learn, explore and see. This blog is an account of the beautiful world as I see it, explore it, and learn about it.
I'm sorry it's been such a long time since I've had time to post.
This weekend I went home to the Mount and spent some time with my sister, Savs, and Jordan. I can't begin to describe how much I miss home. Every time I get there I'm reminded of everything I'm missing while I'm up at school. Today, I sneezed (because I'm allergic to Devo) and Violet responded "Bless you Auntie Hannah"... WHAT??! When did that happen? Holy cats. My sister and I were making tutus today (because we're that cool) and Devo was pouncing on the tulle as though it were the most fun toy ever. It was adorable. More adorable was Violet hiking through our piles of tutu to give me a hug and then jumping in the puffy fabric.
Violet is going to be Little Red Riding Hood, I am going to be a clown and Jen is going to be a witch. I'm really excited to see all of our costumes when they're finished. Jen made hers today, I started mine, and Jen began Violets. They are so cool. This is the first year I get to make my costume, instead of buying a bunch of pieces and just sticking them together (like a blue dress, an apron and some red shoes-- Dorothy). I'm so excited.
Classes are picking up. I have two exams and a bunch of random papers due this week. Coming tomorrow will be an entry about credit cards and the psychotic amount of debt we've dug ourselves into as Americans trying to achieve the ultimate dream our ancestors came to find.
Today's debate was: to go to Health Services or not to go. In the end, I did not go. Instead, I finished season 8 of Grey's Anatomy, napped, knitted some scarf, and then went to a research study that I'm a participant in. Finally, tonight I went to mass, where I was once again in awe of Father Mike's Homily.
I love that he can capture my attention. I love that he can make me understand passages by relating it to something I'd understand. Tonight he talked about a show on Netflix-- Downton Abbey. How each of the people in the show play their parts, servant, elite, whatever they are they play their part. It's because of each person playing their part that the community can work together.
It seems pretty solid.. you know, people talk about it all the time. Everything works together to make a cohesive whole.
I'm not enjoying that fact that I got home from home... (hmm..) and took a nap, only to wake up with what feels like strep. Unwanted presents on Mondays... this is one of the worst. Who enjoys feeling miserable? Monday's are already miserable to begin with. So this was a very miserable Monday.
On the bright side, this miserable Monday did close a very wonderful weekend. I got to leave for home on Friday. Jordan, my amazing boy, came to get me from Rosedale Center and brought me home to a very empty house. Apparently my mom forgot I was coming home... so the family went out to eat with out me. She came and got me from the house (where I was stranded with no keys), and I got to eat with them. Jordan picked me up after dinner, and we went back to his house for the night. I missed my boy, and everything is better when I can actually see his smiles.
Saturday was an early morning since he had to work at 8. I spent my awake morning with my mom, just talking about classes and watching the last episode of Grimm on the DVR (since I don't have it at school). Then, my oldest sister came upstairs (after I got her daughter for some quality auntie-niece time) and we begged our mom to come shopping with us. We won. My mom came and we had a marvelous time. My mom bought me some purple jeans, and I'm wicked excited to wear them. Also, I got 2 pairs of shoes, 2 pairs of jeans, and a pretty shirt.
Saturday night I went back to Jordan's and we looked at the stars and sat talking like an old married couple. Probably my favorite part of this weekend. Sunday was Violet's birthday, so I went home and spent the majority of the day with her. We played and I read her my contemporary lit book for awhile because her parents were getting her birthday party food and cake. We had a party (small party) for her birthday and then Jordan came over to say goodbye.. except we don't say that word. We say see you soon.
Accidentaly slept through two classes this morning (got back to town around 8:30.. we left at 6 but I had to wake up at 4:30 to meet the girls at the Rosedale Center). When I got back, I made 2 eggs for breakfast and then crashed on the futon. Oops. I woke up just as it reached 11:15. I missed College Writing and Economic Geography. Not my brightest moment. When I woke up from my nap.. I felt like crap. My throat was super sore, felt like I had a fever and I was all sniffly, and it's all only gotten worse. Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow.
A girl from my hometown went missing Monday morning around 7:30 AM. I've heard about it over the Internet, concerned friends posting it on Facebook and Twitter. I typed in her name on the local (hometown) news websites and nothing came up. They're not treating it like a kidnapping or an emergency because they assume she ran away.
What if she didn't? What if someone took her away from our town? No one outside the friend circle of people posting her name and her picture or tweeting with #findhannah tagged onto the end, knows to be looking for her. No one knows what to be on the search for.
Not to mention, if she felt so isolated and alone as to need to run away from home, wouldn't you think that isolating her further by not putting it out there that people are looking for her, people are missing her, or people are worried about her would only make matters worse? I find it frustrating. She deserves a bit more effort than we're giving her. Missing people deserve to be looked for. It frustrates me to know that there are people in our town who don't know she's missing. I called home, and they hadn't even heard. So if they were to see her out on the road or at the store, they wouldn't know she was missing, or that people were missing her. I just feel like social networking sites shouldn't be the only media that they're using to get the word out.
I'm praying that she's safe. I'm praying that she ran away-- because that would mean she isn't left out there completely alone fighting for her life. I am praying that someone finds her. I am praying that she is returned to her home and that she is assured that people do care. People do miss her. People are looking.
I pray that someone gives her the help that she needs.
I pray that we find Hannah.
Hello Friends!! Today is Sunday... Packers Game Day. I'm so ready to put my game face on and root on my team. As soon as the laundry is done I'll put my jersey on, so I can be a legit fan. Let's see... Friday I went to a bonfire at Newman where I was able to talk to Father Mike (who calls me Pal since my name is a palindrome), Sister Paul Mary (who is going to see Bentleyville with Sarah and I this winter) and a bunch of really awesome people. Sarah introduces me to everyone and it generally starts with, "Hannah, I'm going to introduce you to (insert name here), they are really nice!!" Everyone at Newman is really nice. Yesterday we went to Canal Park. We got caramel apples and then went to the lighthouse and hung out for a bit. By "we" I mean our apartment. Sam, Sarah, Alex and I all went out together. When we got back, Sarah and I ran to the gym, ran at the gym for 15 minutes, and then ran back to our apartment (the gym was closing). Sarah helped me cook my grandma's hotdish and I skyped with Jen and Violet for a little while. After dinner, Sam went out with Justin and Alex skyped with her boyfriend. Sarah and I each showered (on our own) and then sat down to watch The Lucky One. Halfway through the movie we got distracted by Vera Bradley. There's a great sale today and we were exploring our options. In the end, we decided not to buy anything and finished our movie. We had some ice cream and then went off to our rooms just around midnight. I got to have the most wonderful phone call with Mr. Jordan. Yesterday was a wonderful day.
Okay guys. Tonight, Father Mike talked about something that makes me really happy. He was talking about how as a Christian (Catholic/Lutheran/whatever) we own this world. God gave it to us. It's ours. It's like when you own a bike or, in his case, a scooter. You get to take responsibility for it, it's yours. The world is ours. And we are Christ's.
The world is ours. This is our chance to make a stand and do something. Be responsibile for our world.. hmmm.. when did I talk about this before? Oh.. I don't know.. like the very first post on this blog? HECK YES.
The world is our Oyster. We do what we can with it. We have to be responsible, but legit.. we can do what ever the heck we want.
I'll have more depth to talk later/ tomorrow.
Always,
H.Eilene
Sorry Guys. Yesterday I was a tad busy actually experiencing my sophomore year that I didn't get a chance to REALLY post anything of substance. Classes Yesterday:
College Writing
Economic Geography
Contemporary Literature
Intro to Maps and Geospatial Info
How they went:
College Writing was a bit awkward. I am the only non-freshman. My professor asked us what experience we had with research papers and I mentioned the Environment Health Research Paper that we did as Seniors at SES (most of us called it the Toxicology Paper because it's shorter). It was a very long paper, and it took a very long time to write. When I started by saying, "Well, in high school I wrote about the influence OPCs have on pancreatic cancer." She just gave me this funny look and then said, "You must be from that school at the zoo." She then proceeded to tell the entire class not to worry because she wasn't that mean as to make us write a paper on such a long complicated topic. Nor would it be more than 12 pages long. In my mind, all I could think was.. the length requirement wasn't so bad because we had enough information to make it forever-long.
Economic Geography was a hoot. My professor is a funny guy. He was energetic and happy and a professor I worked with last semester trying to organize my major declaring stuff. He recognized me the second he walked in and cracked a joke because I was the only girl in the class. It was extremely embarrassing but I know we'll have a fun year because he is so sarcastic and interested in the most boring topic ever... though I don't find it all that boring... seriously: neoliberalism, Capitalism, Socialism, Globalization.... that stuff is SO COOL.
Contemporary Literature was also entertaining strictly because of the professor. He's probably somewhere around mid thirties or forties.. he's got the balding head with random patches of hair that don't make any sense. He wore a very out-of-style patterned button down with pants that were just a little too short so his extra thick, extra tall socks showed... it was just very interesting. He was funny (not funny looking). He just fit the build of a classic nerd (minus the tweed). He talked super fast and nervously. He kept making references to how he should have practiced his speech more and how he will NEVER had 4 hours of stuff to say in a week to us so we all really need to participate because his improv skills are sub-par. I'm going to enjoy his class. He was funny and I can tell our book discussions will be fun.
Introduction to Maps and Geospatial Information was less than interesting yesterday. I'm hoping when we actually get into it I'll love it, because it's essential information for me to learn for my GIS minor. I'm thinking that the fact that we're squeezing 90 people into one room is gonna make it easy to get distracted.. but the prof seems nice enough.
Homework:
EG: Intro of Mindful Economics
CW: Rdgs on Moodle Docs
CL: 1-46 of Housekeeping
Maps: Introduction of textbook, Assignment 1
CD: Chapter One from Seigel
MPE: Issue 4, Paper, Forum 2
The Good Stuff:
I skyped with the boy for the first time last night.. it was great. I miss him like crazy, but seeing him smile and make his goony faces really made me happy. Then, he called for a goodnight which added to the happy. Skyped with Lukeeeee yesterday, also fabulous. I miss my buddy.
Here's a great song that I love... you know it.. and if you don't, I shake my disappointed head at you:
Well hello my friends! Today was a fabulous day. It was my first day of school (WOOT!). I had one class (WOOT!). My one class didn't start until 1pm (WOOT!). The professor in my one class was bubbly and happy and I love her. I also began my online class today. It's a debate class and the subject is Environmental Issues. WOOT. I love my schedule for tuesdays and thursdays. I'm wicked excited to see how tomorrow goes as well. I miss my boy.. like crazy. I don't think I'm going to get used to him not being here, but I'll have to try. Talk more soon--
So--- pretty much since I got here I've been cooped up in the apartment because all my roomies are Rockstars for the freshies. I had nothing to do, so I spent my day yesterday cleaning our already clean apartment, doing the dishes (twice), making dinner for Sarah and I and then doing homework that has yet to be assigned (lame right??).
Then... wait for it... I actually went out.
Sarah (roomie) took me to the night games.. where we planned to play soccer. Instead we talked with a bunch of people from Newman (church). After about two hours we came back to the apartment and on our way ran into a few friends from last year. We invited them up to eat some delicious cookies that we were baking at midnight. We went to bed sometime around 1:30-2 am.
This morning we woke up super early for mass/prayer and then came back and had some tasty breakfast before we went back out on the pavement to chalk it up. Tonight is a FREE dinner at Newman at 5PM for FRESHMEN.
Anyways... Post again soon.. computer literally about to die.
I find it fitting, because I'm currently making a new place my home. I'm not alone, even though sometimes I might feel a little lost and alone.. I'm not.
Welcome back friends! It's been a long summer but this blog is finally back in full-time commission!
First, let me take you on a tour of my new place!
This is my desk. From my window I can see the lake!!
My bed and dresser
Our living room and dining room
The kitchen!!
Bathroom part 1
Storage Closet
Bathroom part 2
So this is the new place! Its nice and spacious. It doesn't quite feel like home yet, but I know it'll get there soon. My roommates have been super busy because they are Rockstars this year. So I've had a lot of time to myself in the apartment trying to get used to my new surroundings. I like it here, but I miss my family, and I miss my home.
Classes don't start until Tuesday. I'm hoping that once they start everything will start to feel normal.. or I'll be so busy that it just won't matter.
Right now, my only goal is to make this place my home!
My sister and I were making tutus today (because we're that cool) and Devo was pouncing on the tulle as though it were the most fun toy ever. It was adorable. More adorable was Violet hiking through our piles of tutu to give me a hug and then jumping in the puffy fabric.
