Abigail

Both girls are sleeping. This is kind of miraculous. I expected to hear Emma try to get up at least a half dozen times while I took in an episode of CSI (totally don't like it as much as Law and Order...this show is freakin weird) but she was completely silent. So when the episode had finished I went to rouse her out of rest time and reward her with cake, but she was passed out on the bed. And Julia finally cried herself to sleep around 3. And their mom is actually working today...and there's really no work for me to do right now...kind of amazing.

I'm going to see Madame Butterfly tomorrow night at the San Francisco Opera. Emily and I decided to dress up and so the exciting part of this story is I tried on the one and only dress I brought from home with me and it actually fits and looks excellent. For all those who know what this means, it's the black lace dress. I can't decide if I should wear a necklace, or just let the neckline speak for itself. ;) We're spending the night at a friend's in the city and then heading back early in the morning Friday so I can once again care for the girls. I've already told Emily which aria I will cry at so she can be ready. Plus I will most likely cry at the end when Butterfly kills herself...ah Puccini...gotta love it.

My younger brothers are moving away from home soon. One heads down to TN this weekend and the other jots off to IN at the beginning of July. Crazy. My dad talked about me getting married in a positive fashion yesterday. Crazier.

No self defense class tonight...Emily is too tired and wants to have energy for the opera. Which means maybe I'll do some work in my room. We acquired two more inhabitants for the next month yesterday. After David moves home for the summer I will be living in one room with two girls and all our stuff. Could be interesting. Good training for next year. But I could make the transition in two weeks easier by packing up some stuff now. Like sweaters and other things I haven't really used since moving here.

Ah...I think the baby is waking. Bottle time. This entry was getting boring anyway. :)

Love you all.

It's an especially dramatic day today in the land of nannydom. :) I'm so glad the peace of God rules in my heart when I make all my requests (like "please give me the wisdom and patience to deal with Emma and Julia today) to Him with thanksgiving. Right now it's Sesame Street time. Oscar is singing. I think Oscar, Grover and Cookie Monster are my favorite. Sad that my goats won't want to watch Sesame Street...

I was in a slight funk a few days ago...it was my bday and I got a bunch of general "happy birthday" remarks, but nothing really great happened. (This is not a "woe is me...no one made me feel like a princess or showered me with gifts today" story, I promise) It made me start to think about the relationships that I truly invested in over the years and how most of those people ended up leaving me and not always in the most desirable ways. I know in my heart that the Word that I shared with them all was profitable and so I must have made some kind of impact...but there was still this feeling of not really being memorable or really needed.But then!! (You knew that phrase was coming) Yesterday I got a myspace message from a girl I was friends with in junior and high school and I got a letter from a girl I was best friends with during all that time too. (Like best friends before Megan and I became best friends). Both of them said the basic same thing and while I won't bore anyone with the details, it was very refreshing. Amazing how God comforts us in so many ways. And it reminded me how important it is to live with the love of God guiding all your actions.

In other news: I love self defense class. Monday we learned how to fight if someone pushes us down to our knees and then worked on head locks more. Watch out: I'm dangerous now. :)

And now, a romantic update: I'm engaged.

Ok, not really, but it's fun to think so. Honestly, there was someone I was interested in, but I found out yesterday he's completely smitten with someone else. It's nice to be able to get over something before it really happens.

Ok Julia's crying...must go be super nanny. More later.

Santa Cruz was a good time. Except we went to this shoe store where they don't believe in stocking sizes for big footed people. Very sad. Had to make up for sorrows by eating a candy apple that was dipped in caramel, white chocolate and milk chocolate. And had peanuts on the bottom. Very not sad.

We relaxed before class a little by watching The Cosby Show on DVD. I want to be in that family. They have so much fun.

Head locks are what we spent most of tonight doing. SO...I'm a tad disoriented and don't have great control of my motor skills right now. Maybe I should try and date a chiropracter. That would be good.

Too hard to type...more later...

Going to Santa Cruz today with my friend Emily. I checked the weather to see what it would be like and the funniest thing about it was this feature that supposedly tells you what the temperature will "feel like" as opposed to what it really is. So, tonight in Santa Cruz it will be 59 degrees, but it will only "feel like" 58. What the hell is that? Who are these walking barometers who can tell you what a degree of difference feels like? How is that useful information to the general public? I get this mental picture of a bunch of weater guys standing around in those sexy parkas they wear when they cover disatrous storms debating about the "feels like" temperature. One says 65 the other says 66 and just when it's about to come to blows, a new guy walks into the picture with a swollen elbow and says "You're both wrong! This only happens when it's 64 and 15 percent humidity and you know it!!"

Anyway, the beach should be fun.

Self defense class rocked my face off last night. Almost literally. I was the only one who came bc Emily didn't feel like coming so Greg worked with me on everything which meant that I was working the whole time, never just being the one for Emily to try stuff on. Good times. It started out with Greg hiding behind a punching bag with two blue pads attached to either hand which he randomly threw around the punching bag, aiming for my face. I was supposed to block the blus thing and then punch the bag four times as hard as I could before the next bag came at my head. The best part was that Greg didn't do a cadence at all so I had no idea where or when the next bag was coming for me. Sometimes I wasn't fast enough and got knocked in the head...so I took my glasses off lest they become a casualty. Then we did floor exercises and I learned more ways to roll people off me. Greg tried to make it really hard for me (which worked sometimes) but in the end he was dizzy from rolling so much, so I feel I accomplished something. Then I got to beat the hell out of a bag on the ground like it was a person. I love this class.

The other cool thing that happened yesterday was I got pulled over on my way to self defense class. I was speeding and so the officer asked for my license, registration and proof of insurance. I hand him an IL license and insurance card and a registration from KY. He looks confused since we are in CA and I tell him I'm visiting friends in Los Gatos. He asks for their address and then takes all my stuff away to figure out the punishment.

I start praying.

The fact of the matter is I always seem to have something happen to my car or get pulled over right about the time that I start really getting excited about believing fully that God takes care of my needs and everything. I know this is due to the fact that the devil is an asshole and he wants me to feel like a failure at any given time, but especially when I'm starting to really believe God's presence in my life is a powerful one. So I pray and speak in tongues and just ask God to make it the smallest fine possible so I won't have to worry about money more. (The other thing the devil tries to get me down about) I'm still praying when the officer comes back and hands me a pink slip and says that since I'm only here visiting he would hate for me to have to come back for a court date or anything, plus it's Memorial Day and he doesn't like ruining holidays. So he gives me a warning, shakes my hand and tells me to take it easy out there.

God is fucking awesome.

Believing is a law, just like gravity. If you drop something, it will fall to the ground. If you believe God's Word He will do what He says He will do. I can't imagine going through life without that to trust in.

Anyway, I must drive to drop off baby clothes now. More later.

Oh yeah! If you can, go to idolunderground.com today and vote for my brother's band (Nate Bernardini and the Bellevegas Band) they're number 3 in the May On-Demand folk competition (or something like that) and if they can get to number 1 today they win! So...vote highly for them or vote low for the people in the number 1 and 2 spots. Whichever you find more moral. :)

The dog I'm taking care of is a pug. I used to think I liked pugs because I used to think they were cute. More and more I'm realizing this thinking is just the result of the perversion of pugs in the movie Milo and Otis. The pug in that movie IS pretty freaking cute and therefore had led me to believe that pugs were a breed I would enjoy.

The bitter truth: I have yet to meet a pug in real life that is cute (Sarge included) and they make these disgusting noises that rival pig sounds. Plus their tail curls up in the back and shows their butt hole all the time which is definitely not attractive. Of course, now I can't remember if my dog's tail sticks up in the back too...probably does...but at least her tail moves almost constantly which distracts you from the other stuff...not that I sit around staring at dog's butts. This is merely an observation.

Moving on...

I was supposed to go day drinking yesterday since by the time lunch was over I already had two down...Destiny couldn't finish her jumbo daqueri so James and I put two straws in it and had a race to see who could finish first. Then I found out James wasn't drinking at all and I laughed while the straw was in my mouth still and a little bit went up my nose. Good times. Anyway, Greg and I were going to go, but then it never happened. Instead I went to see "Art School Confidential" which I thought was an excellent comedy and everyone else in the theatre (minus Destiny who went with me) thought was a thought provoking, truly artistic film. I would liken it to "Center Stage" for dancers. Is there a movie like that for music people? Anyway it was funny.

I think Sarge breathes better when I pull the skin on the top of his head back...it does nothing for his appearance however.

I'm off to study Romans with Judy. More later.

So I don't have to work again until next Monday (June 5). As much as I love this time off (and the quality time I get to spend with their dog while they're gone...yay?) it's going to be freaking hard to get used to the normal sleep pattern again. I woke up this morning, realized I needed to get up and go let Sarge (dog) out but that meant first getting out of the bed which is the hardest part. I've made my bed so soft that I literally have to climb out of it in the morning. I'm completely spoiled now...I must own a Sleep Number bed when I move out of the Coad's. Which means I have to have a good career. So I hope I still feel like plowing through medical school when the Higher Ground Households are over.

I've been thinking a lot about the benefits of staying single forever. Like not having to turn off the lights at a certain point every night. Or not having to report to someone everywhere you go. Or being able to pig out in front of the tv while watching something only you like and not having to wonder if the person finds you disgusting now...or being able to move to CA on a whim and you be the only life that's seriously affected by the move. I don't know. Maybe it's just the relationship class we've had over the past few months in fellowship, but I've been thinking about all this a bunch.

Secretly my plan is to meet someone and not let anyone know about it until we're engaged. How fun would those reactions be?!

*Sigh* Sundays don't hold the same amount of joy now that Grey's Anatomy is done for the season. Good thing there's still fellowship, which I must go to now.

Love you all.

So...it's been awhile since I've written on here and that's mostly due to the fact that I got my own computer (finally!) but have yet to figure out how to make the wireless connection work. Secretly, I'm just finding more and more ways to drive Maggie crazy. :)

Life is going well. I really like the girls I take care of everyday and the parents are great too. I know I've said this before, but I am so thankful that I am out here away from reminders of stuff that's happened before. There is no profit in living in the past or thinking about it all the time. It says in the Word to forget those things which are behind and reach for the things which are ahead. I honestly can not imagine going through life without the knowledge of God's love in my life. I can't imagine what it would feel like to have a shitty situation come up and not be able to fall back on the comfort that God takes care of us and He will provide if we just let Him and believe what He says. I think I would be pretty fucking screwed up if I didn't have that in my life considering the stuff the adversary has tried to mess me up with over the years. But God is so good and so forgiving and so loving and kind and gracious and more things than I can even think of or name right now. I think this is going to be a great year coming up.

I got my acceptance letter for the Higher Ground Households and I move in late July. Very exciting. I can't wait to find out which house I'll live in and who my roomies will be. Hopefully they won't try to turn me into a touchy feely person like some say they will. I just don't like cuddling with people who aren't a significant other. I find nothing wrong with this. It doesn't mean I'm opposed to hugs...I'll hug people...just not lay all over them and play with their hair while we're watching a movie. I don't think it makes me less of a loving or open person. Not that anyone has said that about me, I'm just speculating on my own.

Oh yeah, I'm taking a self defense class twice a week too. It's awesome. Sad that I'll have to stop taking classes after the Households start, but I've learned a lot already. Be afraid. Be very afraid. :)

Anyway, it's late and fellowship is tomorrow and I'm not even at my house yet. So maybe I'll start updating this again. I make no promises. At any rate, God is good and that's what matters.

HE IS RISEN!!

Thanks be to God for all He does for us in our lives. :)

Fellowship was a good time today. I love singing when there are a bunch of people there. And we got to sing "Be Thou My Vision" which was extra exciting...except the version we sing is edited and I miss some of the verses we don't sing. Ah well. I sing them on my own.

After fellowship we had a gigantic lunch where I realized that one of the guys down here hates Italian food. Another type of person I wasn't totally sure existed. I mean, how can you not like pasta? It's so yummy...although I hate lasagna, so I'm with people on that one. But to hate all Italian food...I just don't get it. We rehashed what we learned last night at the class on Relationships in the One Body. It was really great. We learned about husbands and wives and...yeah...it was a really great teaching...and it was fun to talk with everyone about it some more today. (I still plan on being a cat lady, no worries.)

Family dinner at Nick and Mike's tonight. Their house has sold and they're moving to Berkeley. They should be moved within the month. It was so good to see the family all together again. We always mingle and talk to people before the food is served but as soon as it's eating time my family stakes out an area and we all sit together and act like no one else exists at the party. Very fun. Everyone is so amazingly supportive of my endeavors towards a medical career which is encouraging since I don't really talk to people down here about it. We ate food that was so good and yet so fattening...but so good...and then we had music time around the piano. I passed the books around the room and took requests. So much fun. I haven't gotten to sing like that in a long, long time. It's so great to sing for people who think you're great no matter what comes out of your mouth. No judgment except to say "I wish I could sing." So refreshing after four years of critiques by peers and faculty. And I made Steve and Debbie a mirror and they loved it. So it was a good day all in all. :)

It's only 11, but I'm exhausted and Emma and Julia are waiting for another full day tomorrow.

I love you all and am so happy we can live this life together because of the love God had for us in giving His son. It's really great.

Ok, good night.

I realized tonight that I avoided many activities during college and the like simply because I knew the atmosphere would be cigarette smoke infested and I hated smelling gross and having a burning throat by the end of the night. For example, tonight after fellowship Erin asked if we all wanted to go and do something as a fellowship together. Bowling was ultimately decided on and my initial reaction was to say no. I ended up going (had to borrow socks from James...which instantly became weapons of war when he attacked me with another pair) and had a fun time and in retrospect realized that what I hated about bowling for so many years was the smoke. So...yay for no smoking laws. Not that my game improved. I'm still the worst ever.

So...a half Russian cousin is currently cooking in my Aunt Julia's womb. She's about 6 weeks pregnant and Debbie called me today to let me know and revel in the fact that she called this pregnancy about 2 weeks ago. Thinking about Uncle Tony the Dad is kind of throwing me off, but I'm sure that the kid will be spoiled rotten like my other cousins who grew up here were and s/he probably won't notice if one parent is having a hard time with the whole thing. Honestly, I'm pretty excited...can't believe it's really happening (and there's still that little evil voice that tells me all this is part of Julia's plan to become a citizen and get her extended family out here) but I'm excited none the less. Entertainment will not be scarce, that is for sure!

My ancient canoe injury to the wrist has returned, but it jumped wrists this time. As a future doctor I say that all is well and if I just wear a wrist brace I'll be fine in a few days. I think I'm going to like this whole diagnosing myself and therefore having even more of a reason to not be properly checked by a medical professional thing.

I've heard from several sources (that don't talk to each other often) that there is a commercial on TLC that involved a crazy cat lady. It warms my heart to know I'm in your thoughts every time it comes on. :) I love you guys.

The sleep number bed has turned against me. I found the perfect number (35) and now I can't get out of bed in the mornings. But the number is perfect for falling asleep at night. *Sigh* the trials of life, right? :)

Speaking of sleeping, that's what I should do right now. After I eat something. I had to deal with a dead battery in my car as soon as I got off work and then drove straight to fellowship and then went straight to bowling...so food before bed (so bad for you!) and then bed...

Good night all. Love you bunches.

PS- I think the little penguin guy who acts out the mood I'm in has a limited range of motion. Good thing he makes up for it in being so darn cute!

So...to explain yesterday's post...life has changed a little for me, but it's all been for the better. Every time I think about all the stuff that's going on, those verses come to mind and so I thought that would be the best way to describe how I felt.

I asked Maggie if she thought everyone that read my journal that was not her was starting to think that I have become strictly Bible all the time. Her reply was yes, probably and so I wanted to let you all know that I am still very much the same, but I have found extreme support from God and His Word and that's why it plays such a key role in my entries. I'm truly excited about how He's blessing my life.

I still think Death to Smoochy is funny though. Whatever that means you fucking peasant!

Getting paid what I am to play with these two girls all day is turning out to be a good deal. It's rained a lot lately so we've watched a lot of Dora and Diego and Jo Jo...my IQ slips daily. :) It's fun playing with them, but as of right now this experience is showing me that I might not want to have children...perhaps I should just stick with my plan of adopting kids when they're older. When no one else wants them (so sad!!)I realize they will come with a little extra baggage, but with the madness that runs around in my extended family already, they should fit right in and they would definitely be loved. Plus...not having a burning desire to feed my ovaries before the clock runs out surely will be a card played in my favor when I meet Mr. Concert Pianist who also happens to love God as much as I do and is amazingly attractive to boot and wasn't quite complete until he met me! :)

Mary Mather gave me the best complement possibly of my life...definitely of my week the other day. It was followed by an exhortation to not succumb to life as a cat lady. Though if Maggie hightails it to the wilderness to raise goats...

I attended communion today via cell phone connection. No fellowship around here has a ceremony on a regular basis, or even an annual basis like we do back home and I love it so much that I got my own bread and wine and lit my own candles and listened to my fellowship back home sing and pray and learn about all Christ accomplished for us. It was a little funny just bc Judy and Pete came home and didn't know what the hell was going on, but it was great to be a part of it.

Maggie and I found the perfect wedding music: Sea Chanties. I am also pushing for the Godfather theme song to be what Lauren and I walk down the aisle to.

Good night all.

"The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth ssuch as be of a contrite spirit."
-Psalm 34: 18

"Bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come.

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.

For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe."
-I Timothy 4:8-10

"Put on therefore as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Forebearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

And above all these things put on charity (the Love of God) which is the bond of perfectness."
-Colossians 3:12-14

"Brethren I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
-Philippians 3:13-14

I love everyone who has been constantly supportive of everything going on...especially lately. :) You all know who you are. "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you" (Philippians 1:3)

I had a lovely day with the girls. Emma and I are already good buddies and I have never seen an infant as good as Julia. She takes naps regularly and when she wakes up all you have to do is feed her, change her and then let her be somewhere where she can roll back and forth to her heart's content. She's completely happy doing that until she wants to take a nap again and when that happens she fusses for a minute and all I have to do is put her in her bed and turn off the light and leave. She falls asleep without much problem and sleeps for hours. I'm sure this will not always be the case, but I'm happy with the situation now!

The only messy moments were that J Baby threw up on me almost immediately and when I was trying to play with Emma outside I succeeded in getting bubble fluid all over my face and glasses. Good times.

We played hide and seek and built a fort (which Emma calls a "crib house") and played airplane for awhile. Emma informed me that she is going to marry a prince (don't we all wish for that?) and she also randomly stopped her spinning through the grass time to give me a big hug and tell me she loved me.

Honestly, I'm amazed that I'm getting paid what I am to play with these kids all day. Pretty great.

I decided to go for a walk by myself when I got home and had eaten dinner with Judy. (Oh...btw...Sam didn't care at all that I was late and in fact I don't have to be there tomorrow until 9 or 9:30 now!) So I went on a really long walk all over the neighborhood trying to go up as many hills as possible (I love walking in the evening for a bunch of reasons that no one really cares about and so will only be listed in the real journal I keep.) :) I guess I was gone for almost an hour or so...when I got back Judy had locked the doors so I had to ring the bell to be let in and she gave me a giant hug as soon as I was in the door and told me she was worried that something had happened to me since I was gone so long and it was so dark outside. Then she showed me where the reflective vest was stored so I could wear it next time. She's so funny. I love it.

I miss everyone from life back home. Just thought you'd like to know, in case you were wondering.

I must sleep now since I have to go play with Emma again in the morning and work crews are again coming and I have to let them in...but I thought I'd send a general question out there: True or False: Maggie and Jason will be pregnant within the first year of their marriage? I give it six months. :)

I am supposed to be at the house of the adorable girls I'm taking care of now, but Judy took Pete to the airport and I was instructed to hold down the fort until she got back. The good news is the mom (Sam) said it was ok for me to be slightly later. It still can't look good to be late on the first day however. Ah well, all will be fine I'm sure.
Mary called me again yesterday with another pseudo crisis. Becoming friends with her was a move that guaranteed entertainment would be provided for the rest of my life. :) I totally love it though.
The big news out here is that dark chocolate is number 4 on the list of the 12 most healthy foods to eat. It has the most anti oxidants of any food. Ever. So we're supposed to consume an ounce of it a day. I say, the more you eat, the healthier you are!
The work crew just arrived. Hopefully Judy will return soon....
I get to see a tribute to Frank, Dean and Sammy tomorrow. We're sitting two rows from the stage...maybe they'll need a volunteer to help them sing something. :) I should sing as much as possible before I lose my voice completely (Kenneth). Anyway, I'm excited.
Must get ready for day. More later.

I've just returned from seeing The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. I would love to relive every hysterical moment right now, but I've also just remembered that it's Daylight Saving Time and is therefore actually 1:30 am as opposed to 12:30 am and that makes fellowship starting much sooner. So bed should happen. Plus, if any of you are like me, you hate it when people tell you everything that happened in a show/movie/book/etc. (Maggie...if you are one of these people...then I'm sorry I told you so much about what happened at the show. Love me!)

Suffice it to say that I know what a caterjune is and I've seen another omen of my future as a cat lady.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is very much a near future reality in my life. On the way home from work last night Steve first complained to Debbie that they were spending too much money and had to be thrifty and then he turned right around and said that since we can't go to the tribute to Frank, Dean and Sammy this weekend we should go to another show. She asked about the money thing and he said he just wanted to take me to another show. :) I had "Spelling Bee's" info all ready to go...and it may happen in my life on Saturday night. Which I just realized is tomorrow!!! So very excited. May not sleep well tonight...something akin to Christmas Eve excitement except I already know what my present is. (On a side note, I do still have problems sleeping on Christmas Eve because of the excitement...and I never believed in Santa Claus.)

I should probably curb the excitement somewhat...the tickets aren't actually purchased yet and my family has a grand track record of saying things like this will happen and then never making them happen...but I hope this time it happens. I want to see the magic foot in action. :)

Too early to write more now...must drive back to Los Gatos...afraid the Coad's are angered at my long absence/will be angered at the fact that I'm leaving again tomorrow after the work day...I may be the worst ever. Anyway, more later.

I spent another day here in Novato. I tried to leave this morning, honestly. But then Debbie looked at me with big weepy eyes and said "Who will feed us?" So I stayed. I asked her if there was something productive I could do while they were gone all day and she said I could organize the spice cabinet as well as this cabinet in the dining room that's full of bowls and glass platters and stuff. I did one better and organized almost every cabinet in the kitchen as well cleaned and organized the dishes in the cabinet in the dining room. I feel pretty accomplished if I do say so myself.

I'm officially aiding in the coordination department of another wedding. One that will actually take place before Maggie's. A girl I met a month or so ago (whenever I first moved here) just got engaged and they asked me to be the one who could get asked all the questions on rehearsal and wedding day and have all the answers. I'm totally excited. Especially since this means being involved in planning meetings as well. Yay. I love weddings.

I watched "Trauma: Life in the ER" last night and definitely think surgery is not the optimal medical field for me. Maybe I'll change my mind once I get there...maybe...

My dad wants me to plan an event for him for when my whole family comes out this summer. He wants it to be the night they fly in (as in they get off the plane and go to the party) and he wants to invite all the family, plus let them invite friends...plus invite believers some of whom he's never met and the rest of whom he hasn't seen in over 2 decades. And he wants everyone to bring an appetizer and have that be the food that's provided........I think this is a bad plan. We're currently making motions to kill this plan and replace it with a better, less embarrassing for all involved plan.

Dinner time. Preparations must begin. Tonight I'm making Orange Roughy and maybe some spicy zuchini. Whatever I do, I better get cooking.

You scored as Sleeping Beauty. Your alter ego is Princess Aurora, a.k.a. Sleeping Beauty! You are beautiful and enchanting, and as sweet as ever. </td> Sleeping Beauty 81% Peter Pan 69% Goofy 69% The Beast 56% Cinderella 50% Pinocchio 44% Snow White 38% Donald Duck 38% Ariel 31% Cruella De Ville 31% Which Disney Character is your Alter Ego? created with QuizFarm.com

How can you be equal parts Goofy and Peter Pan? I don't understand this.

So Maggie took a metals class last semester and she was going to make me some kind of jewelry. We went out to eat while Xmas shopping and she told me that she would not have enough time to make me anything. I replied that she could make me a silver blob and I would wear it. In true Maggie form, she did just that and presented me with said blob with a hole drilled in it so I could put it on a chain. It has since been the only necklace I wear ever and absolutely everyone out here loves it.

Every time I'm at fellowship or any other kind of gathering at least one person (usually they girls in the household program who are all pretty trendy dressers) picks it up off my neck, and talks about how pretty it is and how they wish they had one just like it. When I tell them the story of it's birth they still think it's just about one of the greatest pieces of jewelry they've ever seen.

So Maggie...forget finding a job in Louisville. Just fire up the bricks again and swirl some silver scraps around and sell these suckers. I can at least guarantee that people out here would buy them. :)

Another lazy day in Novato. I love that this is the way I'm spending my last week before I start the nanny job. Debbie threatened my dad on the phone last night and said we were going to get my hair highlighted blond today. He said I was a Midwest girl no matter what and nothing they did to me would ever change that. Then she told him I was going to get waxed too. They soon admitted that neither one of them really knew what that meant. Dad said he was happy in ignorance. Good times.

"So I went to Com 161 last night and Mr. Miller and I were talking about how I ate at Vitellos before class. He said that one day he went in there and a girl named Emily was working and sang some beautiful song. I asked him, "Do you mean Abby?" And he did. He told me to tell you that people are still talking about your amazing voice! I love you darling!" - Message from Courtney on Facebook

This has made my day. Especially since Kenneth talked about how not practicing for a year causes one to lose one's singing capabilities. Meaning soon I will not be a singer anymore *tear*. He's just rubbing my "non-golden child" status in my face. :)It makes it kind of funny that Public Safety caught him using Megan's parking tag and are insisting he return it by a certain date.

But Law and Order SVU was so damn good I had to stay up and watch the whole episode. Steve claims he's going to wake me up tomorrow when he goes off to work (6:30)...maybe that won't happen.

Kenneth informed me that his pledge class is considering donating plasma and sperm for a fundraiser. This got us on the topic of surrogate motherhood somehow and I'm thinking...they pay you a lot of money...and surely you feel good about helping out a couple who can't have kids of their own...and it's not like I have any romantic attachments that would make it awkward...in fact, if I'm destined to catladydom, it may be my chance to know what it's like to be pregnant. And since they inject you with an embryo I wouldn't even have to feel odd about my pseudo child running about somewhere.

Of course I'll never do this in a million years. I can't imagine telling my dad (or brothers...or uncles) that this is what I've decided to do with almost a year of my life. Better stick with med school. The outcome seems rosier.

Ok, bed time.