I'm not sure what to blog about today, but I wanted to post something. Please enjoy these pictures of my current top 3 celebrity crushes.

Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie Houser, How I Met Your Mother, Dr. Horrible), I wish you didn't play for the other team because you can sing and dance and look great in a suit.

Matthew Morrison (Glee, bunches of Broadway shows). Hmmm....

Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day), I miss Ned and want Pushing Daisies back so that I can see you and your awkwardness around Olive...

Joy

I've been thinking about joy heaps lately. What does joy mean? Dictionary.com defines joy as, "pleasure" or "elatedness". I think that joy is something that defies personal emotion, as you can be depressed or happy but still have joy.

Here are some things that make me experience joy (in no particular order):
God (His love, grace, mercy, mysterious workings)
Family Fusion
Seeing someone's face light up as they hear sounds again for the first time
Receiving texts/calls/emails/letters/visits from friends that are unexpected
Laughing with someone at my own jokes (usually people just groan)
Singing out of tune, at the top of my lungs to "Wicked" or other musicals, but Wicked is my favorite
Watching Glee (the TV show)
Watching Pushing Daisies
Watching Kristin Chenoweth clips on Youtube (she's my fav actress)
Driving down a gravel road listening to country music with the sun roof open
Being with my family/friends
Watching The Bonnie Hunt Show
Twins baseball
Thinking about the stupid stuff I did at Luther and USD, but mostly at Luther
UW Badgers's sports
Blackhawk Church
And many more...

There are so many things that bring me joy. How about you dear reader, what brings you joy?

The F'ing Post

A long time ago friends and I at camp wanted to name a recharge the F'ing Recharge and make it all about fellowship (hence the F'ing). Life hasn't been great for me as of late (see last post and my now hostility towards the UW Financial Aid Office), but I've had some amazing times of fellowship. Friday was full of f'ing, first I had coffee with Ber which is always great and we just shared our struggles (It's good to know I'm not the only one) and prayed. Then in the afternoon my good musical-loving M helped me hang some stuff up and then went to Jamba Juice. Saturday was another f'ing day where I went to see Star Trek with my good friend B. It was a great movie. Then sometime this week a friend from camp/Luther emailed me about this blog and just offered such great encouragement. Yay God for being great when my world sucks!

Off to Family Fusion practice; we've got a show next week already!

Struggling

I hate using the blog to vent, but right now I need it. I've been struggling for weeks with many different issues that added all up make life extremely hard!

The major thing is that I don't do change well and this school year will bring many changes to my life. I'll be researching and applying/interviewing for a 4th year externship. I already have an interview next month (AAAHHHHH!). I'm also coming up on a milestone birthday and am not feeling so great about it. I think mostly because I'm not where I'd thought I'd be in life at this time. I thought I'd be done with school and have a "real" job and maybe even be married or at least close. Instead I'm still in school with a graduation in 2011 and as single as a girl can get. Don't get me wrong I've LOVED the journey I've taken and can't wait to be a licensed audiologists, but I'm ready to start a shared journey, and don't know if it'll ever happen. This makes the whole decision about taking a 4th year more difficult because I want to choose a place where I'll meet people around my own age and maybe him. Or I think what if he's in Madison and I've missed him or don't meet him til I'm ready to leave? I don't know where I want to go and that seems so foreign to me as I usually have a clear cut location in mind (i.e. like Wisconsin for grad school). I'm so stressed that I'm tearing up even writing this...stupid emotional girl! Church on Sunday was hard because I've really been doubting the journey and God's timing.

I know that all the time God is good and so's His timing and plan. If you have some time pray for me this week. I thank you in advance!

Finally a break in the case of the stupid student loans

Like many, many people I have to take out student loans. They're pretty excessive considering I'm paying out-of-state tuition and this year has been crazy. First I got denied for a student loan because of my credit (lame because almost no student has good credit). After that I talked to the loan place and decided to add a cosigner. I just learned today that it was approved! All I have to do is fill out the MPN (master promisery note) and turn it in to the Financial Aid Office. I should have my $$$ next week and won't be absurdly poor anymore.

No Internet

The internet I was bumming off of is no longer working in my apartment. This means no internet for me until I get my loan check (still no word, starting to worry).

Taste of Madison

Every Labor Day weekend in downtown Madison there's an event called Taste of Madison.It's a free festival and 60+restaurants set up booths on Capital Square and sell food for super cheap (under $4). There's a variety of places like Madison local favs, ethnic foods, and chains like Chili's. There are also a few entertainment stands and they serve beer and wine there too.
I went for the first time (and maybe my last?) today and my tummy is full with super yummy foods. Here's what I had (in order):
Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake
Pepsi
Prime Rib Sandwich
Tiramusu

My grand total is way less than the calories consumed...drumroll...$11.

I didn't even tell you the best part as all the proceeds go to United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Dane County (http://www.ucp.org/ucp_local.cfm/152).

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Tis the season

I LOVE fall and all that come with that in the Midwest. Cool mornings and nights with great temps in the 60's and even in the 50's. I cannot wait for fall and it seems that we've been having some fall-ish days as of late, though it's going to be warm for Labor Day weekend.

There are a lot of things that I love about fall: buying school supplies (I'm a nerd), wearing long sleeve T-shirts, upcoming holidays (i.e. Halloween, Thanksgiving, my bday), but the thing I love the most is all the pumpkin spice flavored goodies. Specifically Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes, pumpkin bread/muffins, and pumpkin pie.

Drinks up!

First week of classes

Hi y'all,
I'm finished with my first week of classes for the semester. It's looking to not be easy but not too hard either. This semester I have 3 lecture classes (Pathologies II, Implantable Devices, & Counseling), clinic, and have capstone credit hours.
Next week should be a busy week, so good thing I have a 4-day weekend! On Tuesday I start clinic up in Prairie du Sac and Family Fusion practice starts again :). Wednesday I have classes and LifeGroup starts again and it's a whole new bunch of people.

Off to lunch!
TR

The cute pup

I want a dog, but can't have one in the apartment I'm living in this year. Luckily my little brother and his girlfriend got a German Shepard puppy and named him Dierks. He is pretty darn cute, but a little shit at times (at least according to the bro).

Ode to Savannah

To the city of Savannah, GA: I've visited you twice, but fell in love with the beauty of the Spanish moss, the live oak trees, and true Southern hospitality. So much history has happened within you and allegedly so many ghosts walk your houses, streets, and squares.

Hope to visit again soon.

Sincerely, TR