One of the main reasons I had to move to Mississippi was because when I was here this summer, I never saw an armadillo. It has been my goal, since, pretty much, June to see one. I was getting nervous that my year here would be up and I still would not have seen one resulting in me staying another year until I met one. My friend, Rachel, said that she wouldn't let that happen and we would spend a whole day just driving around looking for one. Well, I am happy to report that I finally saw one on my way to church last week! Unfortunately, it was a little of the squashed variety, but clearly a genuine 'dillo. It made my day! Rachel was in the car behind me and so she called me to make sure I had seen it. I have yet to see a live one so that will be my next challenge. BTW- they are very unattractive little creatures.
The next discovery was that the doors in Mississippi actually do lock. My roommates and I were discussing how interesting it was that in all the houses we've gone in so far, only the front door has a lock. There are no locks on the bedrooms or the bathroom and we just kind of thought that was strange, but whatever. I have my own bathroom and stuff, so it didn't really matter. Yesterday, we had a couple of friends over and we were talking about this interesting issue with them and they were like, Um, no the doors lock generally you just have to push the knob in and twist. We tried it and it was like magic! It worked. Kinda strange how it took us 5 weeks of living here to learn that doors in Mississippi do know how to lock, it's just the operators that don't.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Sir Chuck? I think so!!!!!
On the day I took Squirt to the doctor and she received sad news...which is getting better, btw...we decided we needed to do something fun. Well, Jackson is not the most exciting city to live in, so what should we do. Since I am a member of the Chuck E. Cheese club, we decided to go there because I had some pretty snazzy coupons that got us a great deal. Yep, so Paige, Squirt and I all went to Chuck E. Cheese to help her get her mind off of her foot and the sad news she got.
Oh! And I had pizza while we were there. The first time in a year and 9 months! Crazy, huh???? I didn't get sick, so I think the time I spent anti-pizza paid off and now I can enjoy it again. Yippee skippy!
We headed to Bops afterwards which is the most amazing frozen custard place ever. It is soooooo good!
I'll post a few pictures from our evening. (PS - this was right after I got out of ballet)
Oh! And I had pizza while we were there. The first time in a year and 9 months! Crazy, huh???? I didn't get sick, so I think the time I spent anti-pizza paid off and now I can enjoy it again. Yippee skippy!
We headed to Bops afterwards which is the most amazing frozen custard place ever. It is soooooo good!
I'll post a few pictures from our evening. (PS - this was right after I got out of ballet)
Dancing Queen - Well, not really, yet.
Ballet is going well. My ankle is hurting a little bit, but I think it's getting better. We are on class 6 in a row of doing stuff en pointe, so my big tootsies are feeling it a bit, but that's about all. I was anticipating more pain, but so far so good. I think I should probably just stop counting the number of days we have pointe because I am pretty certain we will be doing it every class from here on out. No blisters, just a marley burn on the top of my foot that bleeds every day from doing a turn into a kneeling position. I might try putting a bandaid on it tomorrow before class to see if that helps. Yes, I am just thinking of this now after two and a half weeks of cutting it open every day.
Right now, I have classes four days a week and rehearsal one other day. Eventually, I will be taking two classes on a day, but I am letting my body get used to 4 days a week before I start adding some days. I feel like I am improving already! My leg muscles are beginning to come back and buff up again which is nice considering their wimpy state before I came here. Please pray that I continue to pump out the muscle so I don't hurt my bones.
Everyone in my ballet class calls me a beast. It's kinda strange cause I don't think of myself as a beast, but I'll take it. We have to do these conditioning things before class every day, jumping jacks, hollow hold things, back ups and push ups. These are not difficult for me. I can do the amount of everything in a row without breaks, but apparently no one else can. Especially the stomach things, we have to do 100 and they try and do them as fast as possible, but I just go slow and take my time...which I guess is harder because you hold the position longer. And then there are very few girls who can do real push ups. I'm only up to 35 and she wants us at 50 by Christmas...I should be there in just a few weeks.
We are working on several dances right now and so that's a lot of fun. A lot of work, but it's good. This is my third week of dance and I already know three and am working on a fourth. Next week I think we start a fifth dance. So yeah, there's no messing around. They keep us moving, but it's good.
Oh and a new discovery I have made. I know how to sweat!!!! By the time I get through plies, I am pretty much drenched. I don't know if it's cause it's way hotter here and they keep the studios warm or cause I'm working hard or what. But, I never knew how to sweat before and now it looks like I sprayed myself with a water bottle.
I still have not come to like hairspray. I use it daily, but ewww. The only times I used it before were for high school banquets and performances and now it's like a part of my life. But, if I wanna dance, I've got to use it, so I do.
Right now, I have classes four days a week and rehearsal one other day. Eventually, I will be taking two classes on a day, but I am letting my body get used to 4 days a week before I start adding some days. I feel like I am improving already! My leg muscles are beginning to come back and buff up again which is nice considering their wimpy state before I came here. Please pray that I continue to pump out the muscle so I don't hurt my bones.
Everyone in my ballet class calls me a beast. It's kinda strange cause I don't think of myself as a beast, but I'll take it. We have to do these conditioning things before class every day, jumping jacks, hollow hold things, back ups and push ups. These are not difficult for me. I can do the amount of everything in a row without breaks, but apparently no one else can. Especially the stomach things, we have to do 100 and they try and do them as fast as possible, but I just go slow and take my time...which I guess is harder because you hold the position longer. And then there are very few girls who can do real push ups. I'm only up to 35 and she wants us at 50 by Christmas...I should be there in just a few weeks.
We are working on several dances right now and so that's a lot of fun. A lot of work, but it's good. This is my third week of dance and I already know three and am working on a fourth. Next week I think we start a fifth dance. So yeah, there's no messing around. They keep us moving, but it's good.
Oh and a new discovery I have made. I know how to sweat!!!! By the time I get through plies, I am pretty much drenched. I don't know if it's cause it's way hotter here and they keep the studios warm or cause I'm working hard or what. But, I never knew how to sweat before and now it looks like I sprayed myself with a water bottle.
I still have not come to like hairspray. I use it daily, but ewww. The only times I used it before were for high school banquets and performances and now it's like a part of my life. But, if I wanna dance, I've got to use it, so I do.
A Laundry Day Person...what????
Yes, I have to become a laundry day person and I never thought this would ever happen. But, there is reason for it. Wednesday has now become my laundry day. The reason is because I only have two dress code leotards and two work shirts. Wednesday we can wear any color leotard but every other day have to wear the blue one. So, I wear them Monday and Tuesday, wash them and wear them Thursday and Friday and then wash again over the weekend. I used to marvel at people who could have a laundry day cause I never did, but now I have to. I can assure you that once I don't have to wear certain leotards, I will most definitely go back to my old ways of doing things.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
A Doctor's Visit
But this one was not for me. I needed to take my roommate, Squirt (Rebecca is her real name), to the doctor today. She just turned 17 so she can't go by herself so I am her "responsible party". Funny, I know, but I am. So yeah, if any one reading this could please pray for her, she has plantar fasciitis and that really doesn't work well with dancing. She can't do jumps at all and it hurts to go on her toes. Both of those are a huge part of ballet.
Pray for healing for her feet. A miracle would be fantastic! Pray for us that we will have wisdom in when she can start ballet again. We want it completely healed before she starts dancing again so it stays away. Pray that we will be diligent in icing and doing the stretches she needs to do and remembering everything so it will get better as soon as possible. She's supposed to dance 9-3 every day, so she'll be missing a lot by taking time off, but a few weeks is better than several months. I think the ballet company will understand, so just pray they don't give her a hard time about taking the time she needs to heal.
The doctor we went to today was not very helpful and we've been basically doing everything he told us to because I guessed that she had this a couple of weeks ago, so we just started working on stuff to help it. We went to a running store for her to get fitted for better shoes to walk around in. The guy was very helpful (more so than the doctor) so I just hope that her parents will understand and she'll be able to get the shoes and inserts. She had no pain when she was in those shoes and she's usually in pain all the time. I'll be talking with her dad later today explaining everything that the doctor said and what the shoe store guy suggested and stuff.
If anyone else has had this before and has suggestions on things that worked for you, please comment on this because we're willing to try whatever. We've been icing, ice waterbottle, stretching it and doing some massage on it, but didn't want to massage too much as to irritate it more. She's been taking some ibuprofen, but we'll be more consistent about that.
If you think about it, you can pray for my body as well. I'm still in recovery mode, too. So far so good with everything, but the demands of me to my body are increasing as ballet classes are getting harder. I really want to stay healthy so I can dance the whole year and not sit on the sidelines. I am in one of the Youth ballet companies now and that demands more from my body. It's really fun though.
Oh, and I started point this week and that was really fun!!!! Yep, my toes hurt a bit, but nothing too bad. I have rehearsal tonight and then a fun night with my roommates!!!!
Pray for healing for her feet. A miracle would be fantastic! Pray for us that we will have wisdom in when she can start ballet again. We want it completely healed before she starts dancing again so it stays away. Pray that we will be diligent in icing and doing the stretches she needs to do and remembering everything so it will get better as soon as possible. She's supposed to dance 9-3 every day, so she'll be missing a lot by taking time off, but a few weeks is better than several months. I think the ballet company will understand, so just pray they don't give her a hard time about taking the time she needs to heal.
The doctor we went to today was not very helpful and we've been basically doing everything he told us to because I guessed that she had this a couple of weeks ago, so we just started working on stuff to help it. We went to a running store for her to get fitted for better shoes to walk around in. The guy was very helpful (more so than the doctor) so I just hope that her parents will understand and she'll be able to get the shoes and inserts. She had no pain when she was in those shoes and she's usually in pain all the time. I'll be talking with her dad later today explaining everything that the doctor said and what the shoe store guy suggested and stuff.
If anyone else has had this before and has suggestions on things that worked for you, please comment on this because we're willing to try whatever. We've been icing, ice waterbottle, stretching it and doing some massage on it, but didn't want to massage too much as to irritate it more. She's been taking some ibuprofen, but we'll be more consistent about that.
If you think about it, you can pray for my body as well. I'm still in recovery mode, too. So far so good with everything, but the demands of me to my body are increasing as ballet classes are getting harder. I really want to stay healthy so I can dance the whole year and not sit on the sidelines. I am in one of the Youth ballet companies now and that demands more from my body. It's really fun though.
Oh, and I started point this week and that was really fun!!!! Yep, my toes hurt a bit, but nothing too bad. I have rehearsal tonight and then a fun night with my roommates!!!!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Funny Ballerina
Imagine you are working out. You haven't done it in a while, but you think you should get back in to it. So, you get all ready and head to the gym. You start running on the elliptical or treadmill or maybe you decide to lift weights. You get all hot and sweaty and breathing hard. Now, what's the first thing you think about? Having your picture taken while you're doing it? I think NOT! However, this is what happened to me. Second day of class, we had a photographer in class to take pictures while we were dancing. Oh boy, I can't even imagine what they look like. Thankfully, I mostly forgot she was there, but that can make for some interesting photos.
Oh yeah and then add tights and a leotard and a slick back bun in the mix. The slickedness is not very becoming to me...in my opinion
Some of you may know that I have a really tight neck. I don't know why it's so tight, but it is. I have a hard time looking any direction except forward. So, in class Thursday, when you do stuff to the front, you are supposed to look to the side over your shoulder a bit and tip your head back. So, my teacher was trying to get me to do this. She would twist my head and say "There" and then let go and I couldn't keep it there! So, she grabbed my head again and put it where she wanted it and was like "Yep, look right there over your shoulder" she let go and it went back again. I almost started laughing, which would have been not good. But then, I was able to force it back to a satisfactory position. I couldn't hold it too long because it felt like my neck muscle was going to pull out of my collar bone. I guess I need to work on stretching my neck more. Who knew?
Oh yeah and then add tights and a leotard and a slick back bun in the mix. The slickedness is not very becoming to me...in my opinion
Some of you may know that I have a really tight neck. I don't know why it's so tight, but it is. I have a hard time looking any direction except forward. So, in class Thursday, when you do stuff to the front, you are supposed to look to the side over your shoulder a bit and tip your head back. So, my teacher was trying to get me to do this. She would twist my head and say "There" and then let go and I couldn't keep it there! So, she grabbed my head again and put it where she wanted it and was like "Yep, look right there over your shoulder" she let go and it went back again. I almost started laughing, which would have been not good. But then, I was able to force it back to a satisfactory position. I couldn't hold it too long because it felt like my neck muscle was going to pull out of my collar bone. I guess I need to work on stretching my neck more. Who knew?
Friday, September 10, 2010
A Beagle Bagel Story
I think I just have one Beagle Bagel story for you. So, since I've usually been working 10 or later, I've been staying up a bit late cause my roommates are night owls and I like to be with them. Well, Wednesday morning I got a call at 6:30am. I answered, not really realizing why I was talking on the phone...
Hello
Hi Andrea
Hi...
I know it's early but can you come in to work, Ty is sick
I don't know
You don't know if you can?
No, I don't know, what time?
ASAP
I don't know when I can get there
How about in an hour?
Oh ok, yeah, that will work.
Ok, see you in an hour
Ok, bye.
I was so not awake!!!! But, I got up and made it in in a half an hour. Pretty impressive, huh? Anyone who's seen me in the morning most likely understands...especially since I stayed up til like 1 something. I have worked at 7 both yesterday and today, but I enjoy the morning shift. I just do better if I have a little advanced notice so I make sure I go to bed around 8:30 or 9. I really like the job! It's a lot of fun. And my dream came true!!!! I learned the cash register this week!!!!!! The only bummer is that I don't have to scan anything :( but I do get to touch buttons on the screen.
Oh yeah, and it's kinda funny cause we have some 'regulars' who come in and I am known as "Ballerina". When they come in they always say, Hi Ballerina as if ballerina is my name. It's kinda funny. Some people also call me little girl, I am most certain they do not realize I'm quite a bit older than I look. It's also funny though.
Yeah, I really like my job!!!! It's a lot of fun and I enjoy the people I work with and also the customers. By the way, Tips are great! I love getting tips!!!!
Hello
Hi Andrea
Hi...
I know it's early but can you come in to work, Ty is sick
I don't know
You don't know if you can?
No, I don't know, what time?
ASAP
I don't know when I can get there
How about in an hour?
Oh ok, yeah, that will work.
Ok, see you in an hour
Ok, bye.
I was so not awake!!!! But, I got up and made it in in a half an hour. Pretty impressive, huh? Anyone who's seen me in the morning most likely understands...especially since I stayed up til like 1 something. I have worked at 7 both yesterday and today, but I enjoy the morning shift. I just do better if I have a little advanced notice so I make sure I go to bed around 8:30 or 9. I really like the job! It's a lot of fun. And my dream came true!!!! I learned the cash register this week!!!!!! The only bummer is that I don't have to scan anything :( but I do get to touch buttons on the screen.
Oh yeah, and it's kinda funny cause we have some 'regulars' who come in and I am known as "Ballerina". When they come in they always say, Hi Ballerina as if ballerina is my name. It's kinda funny. Some people also call me little girl, I am most certain they do not realize I'm quite a bit older than I look. It's also funny though.
Yeah, I really like my job!!!! It's a lot of fun and I enjoy the people I work with and also the customers. By the way, Tips are great! I love getting tips!!!!
First Official Week
Where to begin?? It's been some time, so let me think of some highlights. Please don't think of me failing as a blogger quite yet...it's been a busy week with ballet starting and work
Sunday, we actually did make it to church!!!!! Getting home was a different story, but let's just say we were mis-directed by the person who gave us directions. We did end up making it home, hence my ability to be on the computer right now. Then, we had a pointe shoe sewing party, which is not really as fun as you all might think it would be. Sewing and sewing, but it was kinda cool too. Oh, and we made brownies for a party on Monday, but we sampled them during the pointe shoe sewing party while we watched sound of music. We decided to put them on a plate so we could have some and no one would know they were missing like they would have if we left them in the pan...
Labor Day was such hard work!!! I got up at noon, hung around with my roommates and then I went to a trainee party with my roommates. It was fun cause the trainee captains have invited me to come to any of their events.
This is me, Paige, Squirt and our friend Meredith at the trainee party.
This week we started ballet class and so I had class Tuesday, Thursday and today. I LOVE IT!!!!! I am having so much fun. I'm working hard and it's really hard but as my teacher says, "It's ballet, people, it's hard. Get used to it." So, I am working on that, but, oh my word, is my body ever sore. Try not doing something for 6 months and then all of the sudden doing it 3 out of 4 days in a row...you're body will be angry with you as mine is with me right now. But, it's all good. Just general soreness, nothing's injured yet. We will start pointe Monday!!!
My most exciting news is that I have been asked to be a part of a performing group with my level. At first, I was just planning on taking class and understudying all the parts so I could fill in if someone was missing, but now my teacher has invited me to be a part of the group. This means that I will get to be in the performances and tour around with my company and PERFORM! I love performing, so this is just great. The name of my group is Magnificat! Youth Ballet - Senior Company. I am so excited about this. There are certain performances that feature MYB and now I am one of them. This will really help me become a better dancer and be better at choreography, too!!! We're already rehearsing for a piece we're performing in October.
Oh, another exciting thing is that I got a gym membership!! It's a gym that my friends go to, so that's going to be fun and I got a really good deal on it. Did you Michigander friends know that gyms in the south have and indoor AND an outdoor lap pool???? It was 100 degrees today. I think I might test it out tomorrow after work since I worked pretty much right up until ballet then went to ballet and I was too tired to work out after all of that.
Yeah, so my most exciting thing in all of this is that I just love ballet and I am so happy to be dancing all the time. I am really excited to get back into dancing shape, it's going to be super!
Labor Day was such hard work!!! I got up at noon, hung around with my roommates and then I went to a trainee party with my roommates. It was fun cause the trainee captains have invited me to come to any of their events.
This is me, Paige, Squirt and our friend Meredith at the trainee party.
This week we started ballet class and so I had class Tuesday, Thursday and today. I LOVE IT!!!!! I am having so much fun. I'm working hard and it's really hard but as my teacher says, "It's ballet, people, it's hard. Get used to it." So, I am working on that, but, oh my word, is my body ever sore. Try not doing something for 6 months and then all of the sudden doing it 3 out of 4 days in a row...you're body will be angry with you as mine is with me right now. But, it's all good. Just general soreness, nothing's injured yet. We will start pointe Monday!!!
My most exciting news is that I have been asked to be a part of a performing group with my level. At first, I was just planning on taking class and understudying all the parts so I could fill in if someone was missing, but now my teacher has invited me to be a part of the group. This means that I will get to be in the performances and tour around with my company and PERFORM! I love performing, so this is just great. The name of my group is Magnificat! Youth Ballet - Senior Company. I am so excited about this. There are certain performances that feature MYB and now I am one of them. This will really help me become a better dancer and be better at choreography, too!!! We're already rehearsing for a piece we're performing in October.
Oh, another exciting thing is that I got a gym membership!! It's a gym that my friends go to, so that's going to be fun and I got a really good deal on it. Did you Michigander friends know that gyms in the south have and indoor AND an outdoor lap pool???? It was 100 degrees today. I think I might test it out tomorrow after work since I worked pretty much right up until ballet then went to ballet and I was too tired to work out after all of that.
Yeah, so my most exciting thing in all of this is that I just love ballet and I am so happy to be dancing all the time. I am really excited to get back into dancing shape, it's going to be super!
Monday, September 6, 2010
chipmunk dance at OneTrueMedia.com
Here is the chipmunk dance from our dance party night last Saturday. This is a little taste of what our house is like all the time...fun!! I hope this makes you laugh
Saturday, September 4, 2010
This weekend
We had a roommate night last night and that was tons of fun. We made dinner together and watched a movie...we've done a lot of movie watching, more than I probably watch in a year. There's just not tons to do in Jackson, Mississippi. Then we went to pick up our friend Daniel from work and he came over and we did swing dancing. It was so fun!!!!! My roommate, Squirt, and I stayed up until after 3am talking about stuff, about life. It was great!! I love good conversations.
Today, Squirt and I are going to the pool at Daniels. Then I am hanging out with my good friend from the summer, Erin. Tomorrow, we will attempt to go to church. I think we are riding with people who go there so we won't get lost. At some point, I will need to sew my pointe shoes because I haven't don't that yet and classes start on Tuesday. It will probably be a cleaning weekend.
I will also try to post some pictures if I have time!!!!
Ok, so this is me, Squirt and Paige
Today, Squirt and I are going to the pool at Daniels. Then I am hanging out with my good friend from the summer, Erin. Tomorrow, we will attempt to go to church. I think we are riding with people who go there so we won't get lost. At some point, I will need to sew my pointe shoes because I haven't don't that yet and classes start on Tuesday. It will probably be a cleaning weekend.
I will also try to post some pictures if I have time!!!!
A Miracle
God saved our lives yesterday. Paige, Squirt and I were driving home from somewhere and there was a lot of traffic. We were at the end of the line of traffic and everyone was stopped. So we were just sitting there waiting for the traffic light to turn so the cars in front of us would move so we could turn onto our street. This was only a one lane road on each side with a turning lane. All of the sudden, I look out my windows and there are two trucks on either side of my car. The truck to my right was first and he was looking down at his phone and looked up just at the last second before he rear-ended me. Out to my left was another huge truck that was driving behind the other guy. He didn't know we were stopped because he didn't see us since the other truck was in front of him and suddenly swerved and hit his brakes. My roommate saw the whole thing happen in the rear-view mirror, but it was so fast she couldn't say anything. Even if she had, there was nothing we could do because we were just sitting at the end of the traffic line. I didn't know what happened except all of the sudden there were two trucks right next to me.
DON'T TEXT AND DRIVE!!!!!!!! We almost got in a serious car accident and we weren't even doing anything. I am so thankful God prompted him to look up just in time to see us stopped there because I can't even imagine how bad it would have been. We would've had a truck hit us from behind, another truck hit him and we would've been shoved into the car in front of us.
Thank you, Jesus for protecting us and watching over us. We were doing nothing and another driver texting almost caused serious problems.
DON'T TEXT AND DRIVE!!!!!!!! We almost got in a serious car accident and we weren't even doing anything. I am so thankful God prompted him to look up just in time to see us stopped there because I can't even imagine how bad it would have been. We would've had a truck hit us from behind, another truck hit him and we would've been shoved into the car in front of us.
Thank you, Jesus for protecting us and watching over us. We were doing nothing and another driver texting almost caused serious problems.
Beagle Bagel
Oops, I forgot to add something to the last one. I think I remember why I can't remember one of the days. So, I've been trying to eat more green things to bring in the calcium and a friend had given me a recipe for a smoothie thing with green stuff in it. It was disgusting. But my two roommates were so kind and we're like, if you have to eat that, we'll do it with you. But, it did not sit well with me at all. I spent the night throwing it up. Some people don't think it was the smoothie, but all I know is that's what came up and I will never be having one of those again. We've all actually had our turn throwing up from different things, so Taralah is next because she hasn't yet.
Monday, this week, I started my new job at Beagle Bagel. It's so so so different than anything I've ever done. I've gone from a gymnastics coach to an office manager to an administrative assistant to a production assistant to a dance teacher and now I'm doing "one of those jobs" that everyone has at some point in their life. I am really enjoying it, though. Everyone is so nice and helpful and it's great because you get to be so friendly with the people you serve. It's kind of like a subway type thing, but much better. But you ask them different things they want on their sandwich and stuff. I worked M-F this week. A little bit more than I will be doing when ballet starts, but I was ok with that cause I was training and they have a new person next week so I needed to know most everything by the end of the week.
It's kind of funny because I am really having to work on understanding people. I am having to learn to say new things, too, that I am not used to because down here it's considered polite. Sometimes I just have to laugh at myself and my inability to understand what people are saying. I think I am catching on, but sometimes it's just really funny. It helps that one of my roommates is from North Carolina, Squirt, and my other is from Florida, Paige. Taralah is from Oregon so we mostly sound the same. But the other two are helping me and find great joy in mocking me for how I talk and making me repeat different things I say because I sound weird. They think it's funny.
My two roommates and I made dinner together a couple of times this week. I really enjoy that. We've had tons of great talks and it's been great to really get to know the two of them and start investing in their lives. They are both working at Pac Sun.
Monday, this week, I started my new job at Beagle Bagel. It's so so so different than anything I've ever done. I've gone from a gymnastics coach to an office manager to an administrative assistant to a production assistant to a dance teacher and now I'm doing "one of those jobs" that everyone has at some point in their life. I am really enjoying it, though. Everyone is so nice and helpful and it's great because you get to be so friendly with the people you serve. It's kind of like a subway type thing, but much better. But you ask them different things they want on their sandwich and stuff. I worked M-F this week. A little bit more than I will be doing when ballet starts, but I was ok with that cause I was training and they have a new person next week so I needed to know most everything by the end of the week.
It's kind of funny because I am really having to work on understanding people. I am having to learn to say new things, too, that I am not used to because down here it's considered polite. Sometimes I just have to laugh at myself and my inability to understand what people are saying. I think I am catching on, but sometimes it's just really funny. It helps that one of my roommates is from North Carolina, Squirt, and my other is from Florida, Paige. Taralah is from Oregon so we mostly sound the same. But the other two are helping me and find great joy in mocking me for how I talk and making me repeat different things I say because I sound weird. They think it's funny.
My two roommates and I made dinner together a couple of times this week. I really enjoy that. We've had tons of great talks and it's been great to really get to know the two of them and start investing in their lives. They are both working at Pac Sun.
The weekend
Friday morning, I finally got around to unpacking my room. My friend who does her blog always has pictures with her stuff, but I don't know how to do that. But, the picture that I do have up, is a typical good morning picture. My roommates come and hang in my room in the morning cause I'm downstairs next to the kitchen. But yes, I bought a lamp for my room from target that has the wire lights that can go every which way and they have a little cover over each of them that we decided to use as hats...
Friday, we cooked dinner together...all of the roommates. Most of the time it's just been the three of us, Rebecca (Squirt), Paige and I. Our other roommate, Taralah, has a lot of friends here from other times she's been here so she goes to hang with them a lot, but the rest of us are brand new. She's pretty sweet though! So, when I was picking up a few items for our meal at Kroger, I was trying to get a cart and it was stuck. And I pulled and shook and pulled and jiggled and I could not get it separated from the other cart. But, thankfully this guy was next to me and he came over and separated them for me. There were like 6 rows of carts to choose from and I chose to pick one from the row that was stuck together.
I don't really remember Saturday, we might have gone to Daniel's pool. I know Daniel from Grand Rapids so it's nice to have another Michigander here. Or this might have been the work out day. I forgot. I do remember a leotard fiasco. We have to wear a certain color and style of leotard for ballet class and so they told me I could just get it when I got here because we didn't know what level I'd be in so I was going to wait until after the first week. But then they told me I was for sure in a certain level and I needed to have the leotard. So, I went over to the dance store to get one. NONE! Oh ok, no big deal, I'll just order one. Haha, funny, they won't come in til October 13...classes start September 7. I thought I'd just order on discount dance but they didn't have it. I called Kicks in GR and every store in Mississippi. No one had it. How can no one have the leotard I need. I did end up finding it, but it was a ton of work. But, now I'm all set and ready to go.
Sunday, we planned to go to church. I have one that I really like, but I wanted to try a couple of others just to make sure of which I was going to. My roommates were all going to go to this one called Pine Lake that a lot of Ballet Magnificat! dancers attend so I decided to go with them. We never made it. The gps took us to some gated neighborhood with a lake in the back of it. Not sure what happened, so then we just turned around and went home because we were going to the 11:00 service so every place else had already started. We just went home and hung out instead.
Always, always, always an adventure.
Friday, we cooked dinner together...all of the roommates. Most of the time it's just been the three of us, Rebecca (Squirt), Paige and I. Our other roommate, Taralah, has a lot of friends here from other times she's been here so she goes to hang with them a lot, but the rest of us are brand new. She's pretty sweet though! So, when I was picking up a few items for our meal at Kroger, I was trying to get a cart and it was stuck. And I pulled and shook and pulled and jiggled and I could not get it separated from the other cart. But, thankfully this guy was next to me and he came over and separated them for me. There were like 6 rows of carts to choose from and I chose to pick one from the row that was stuck together.
I don't really remember Saturday, we might have gone to Daniel's pool. I know Daniel from Grand Rapids so it's nice to have another Michigander here. Or this might have been the work out day. I forgot. I do remember a leotard fiasco. We have to wear a certain color and style of leotard for ballet class and so they told me I could just get it when I got here because we didn't know what level I'd be in so I was going to wait until after the first week. But then they told me I was for sure in a certain level and I needed to have the leotard. So, I went over to the dance store to get one. NONE! Oh ok, no big deal, I'll just order one. Haha, funny, they won't come in til October 13...classes start September 7. I thought I'd just order on discount dance but they didn't have it. I called Kicks in GR and every store in Mississippi. No one had it. How can no one have the leotard I need. I did end up finding it, but it was a ton of work. But, now I'm all set and ready to go.
Sunday, we planned to go to church. I have one that I really like, but I wanted to try a couple of others just to make sure of which I was going to. My roommates were all going to go to this one called Pine Lake that a lot of Ballet Magnificat! dancers attend so I decided to go with them. We never made it. The gps took us to some gated neighborhood with a lake in the back of it. Not sure what happened, so then we just turned around and went home because we were going to the 11:00 service so every place else had already started. We just went home and hung out instead.
Always, always, always an adventure.
I am a blogger now, let's see how regularly I can do this...
So, I had a friend suggest I do a blog to keep all of you Michigander friends updated. Here it goes. I haven't been on the computer much since I've been here, but I'll try to keep it up-to-date.
Where to begin? My mom and I drove down here on August 24 and made it safely with no hang-ups. We unloaded and I met all of my roommates. A couple of my friends I met this summer also stopped by to welcome me to my new home for the year. The next day, my mom and I went to get some things that I didn't bring - like bedding, shower curtain, you know some of those things you kind of really need. (The first night I slept in a sleeping bag). She headed back home and I went to my friends house to help her paint her kitchen.
Oh yeah, I also got a job on my first day here. My mom went to this place called Beagle Bagel for breakfast (she slept at a hotel) and was talking to some of the workers and they wanted me to come in and talk to them. So, I did and now I work at Beagle Bagel making sandwiches on bagels or paninis or whatever people want. They also make incredibly delicious looking desserts and pastries, so it's kinda hard to work and not get anything.
Thursday, I painted again and then my roommates needed my printer and couldn't figure it out, so I headed back home and my friend, Daniel, helped me put my bed together so I would have something to sleep on. I still hadn't unpacked my room because I was too busy socializing. That night, two of my roommates and I had a dance party and as soon as I figure out how to put the video on here, I will because it is definitely a must see.
I am having tons of fun here. It's hard to explain, but the video will show you what I mean.
Where to begin? My mom and I drove down here on August 24 and made it safely with no hang-ups. We unloaded and I met all of my roommates. A couple of my friends I met this summer also stopped by to welcome me to my new home for the year. The next day, my mom and I went to get some things that I didn't bring - like bedding, shower curtain, you know some of those things you kind of really need. (The first night I slept in a sleeping bag). She headed back home and I went to my friends house to help her paint her kitchen.
Oh yeah, I also got a job on my first day here. My mom went to this place called Beagle Bagel for breakfast (she slept at a hotel) and was talking to some of the workers and they wanted me to come in and talk to them. So, I did and now I work at Beagle Bagel making sandwiches on bagels or paninis or whatever people want. They also make incredibly delicious looking desserts and pastries, so it's kinda hard to work and not get anything.
Thursday, I painted again and then my roommates needed my printer and couldn't figure it out, so I headed back home and my friend, Daniel, helped me put my bed together so I would have something to sleep on. I still hadn't unpacked my room because I was too busy socializing. That night, two of my roommates and I had a dance party and as soon as I figure out how to put the video on here, I will because it is definitely a must see.
I am having tons of fun here. It's hard to explain, but the video will show you what I mean.
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