One of those Days...

Ever have one of those days where you just can't seem to do anything right or make anyone happy? Yep, I'm having one of those days.

Shopaholic?!

Who would have thought, but I have turned out to be quite the little shopper since this weekend. 4.5 hours of shopping on Saturday, 2 hours yesterday, and 2 hours today. What is wrong with me?! Those who know me know that this is not typical for me at all. I usually can't stay in a mall more than an hour. So what is causing this shopping binge? Graduation! Finding the perfect graduation outfit has taken an abnormal priority in my life. Since Saturday, I have visited the following stores to find an outfit: JC Penney, Gap, Dillards, Lerner New York, American Eagle, TJ Maxx, Ross, Old Navy, Wal Mart, Dress Barn, Kohls, and Target. Many of these I have visited at least twice, and some of them I have visited 2 separate locations. I would be fancy and link all of those, but it'd take too long! :)
My friends have been baffled when I tell them about how much time I've invested into this, but my answer to them is that sometimes a girl just wants to look pretty. I joke that I may never have a wedding, and my college graduation may be the closest I get to having a "special day."
Well, after all this effort, I did not find the "perfect" outfit, but I found one that will suffice. I think I will look nice. I guess you guys who see me Friday can be the judge of that. Today's excursion was to find the perfect shoes to go with my cute outfit, but that mission failed and I decided to wear a pair of shoes I already own.
So there you go, folks-- proof that this chick can be overly girly and somewhat obsessive compulsive.
*UPDATE 10:24pm*
I just got back from one more excursion. I decided the color of blouse I got washed me out and I needed to go for something different, so I exchanged it for another color. You can add 1 hour to my tally.

Cell Phones

Something that a lot of people don't know about me that they probably should know about me is my feelings towards cell phones. Cell phones are great for emergencies, drivers, and long distance calling after 9pm. However, usually I feel like cell phones are for calling out rather than receiving calls.
I have a cell phone, but I rarely take it with me when I go out. My friend noted this the other day and asked if he needed to remind me what the purpose of a cell phone was. But my thoughts are, is there something so urgent that someone needs to tell me that it can't wait until I get back from wherever I've been?
I think my ultimate pet peeve is when I am talking to someone and then suddenly comes the conversation halter-- the evil cell phone ring. Suddenly whoever is on the phone is 100 times more important than me. Then the kicker is when you know the person on the line has asked them what they're doing and their reply is, "nothing." So now I'm unimportant and nothing! So lesson 1: it is rude to answer a cell phone when you're talking to someone else. Exceptions to this rule are if it is your husband/wife, or if there is an emergency.
My second major issue with cell phones is one that I believe many people hold. It is so perturbing when you're in church and a cell phone rings. Who is calling you?! Why did you need to bring your cell phone into church in the first place? Many people limit their annoyance with cell phone ringing to church or the movies, but mine extends to restaurants, libraries, class, Bible study, chapel... basically any place where I have to hear your stupid customized ring. A lot of people think they can avoid this faux pas by turning the phone onto vibrating option, but many times the vibrating sound is just as distracting as the ring. So lesson 2: Just leave your phone in the car, or turn it off, or leave it at home.
Yes, this makes me the cell phone nazi, but perhaps through this rant I can bring one person to the light.
PS- Dr. Phil has my back on this one!

Boys Behaving Badly

So, as I wrote that last thoughtful post, I was watching Jackass for the first time. Some of you might be thinking, "But wait, doensn't OC block MTV?!" Why yes, they do. But they don't block MTV2!
For those of you not in the know, Jackass is a show where this group of boys pull stunts to basically see how much they can injure themselves without actually killing themselves. Hence the title. For example, the most disturbing segment I saw tonight was where a guy had his butt cheeks pierced together. It looked so terribly, disturbingly painful. (note: he had it removed approximately 2 minutes after it was put in). Yuck. There were also some stunts that were so vulgar they cannot be mentioned here.
I know I am making a general, broad, stereotypical statement here, but this is such a guy show. The main themes are enduring pain, inflicting pain, bodily fluids, and vulgarity. There's even this "little person" on the show who they simply refer to as "Wee Man." I seriously doubt I'll be watching this show ever again, although I do admit I found it strangely entertaining.

Mis Amigos

I love my friends. They make up so much of who I am. This is such an awesome time to be a friend, because all of my friends are going in such wonderful directions with their lives and I'm so excited to see where God takes them next. So I'd like to take a minute to brag on what my friends are doing post-graduation. I have one friend who is going to OU Law School (and it just so happens that she is getting married--but don't confuse marriage with an accomplishment ;) ). Another one of my friends is going to Washington University in St. Louis for her Masters in Literature. Another is joining a Continent of Great Cities mission team to Miami, FL. One is going to OSU for Masters in Family and Marriage Therapy (I think...). Another good friend is going to Honduras to spend the rest of her life taking care of needy children. Another chica is starting her second year as a Master's student in History at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. One of my dear friends has decided to make a career change and is in the process of applying to go teach in Japan! Hmmm, I wonder who could have been trying to persuade him... :) I know there are tons more (especially tons more who are undecided), and I pray that God will lead them where He wants them to be, as well.

Grammar Nazi

Being an English teacher and a writing tutor have turned me into quite the little Grammar Nazi. I cringe when I see blatant semicolon abuse and am astonished at the fact that some people think you can capitalize any word you want to. Perhaps one of the most baffling grammar issues to me is what I call the "church command." You will notice that at church when the song leader wants the congregation to stand they will say something to the effect of, "Please be standing." What kind of grammar construction is that?! Who says that in the real world? When you want someone to give leave, you don't say "Be leaving." When you want someone to stop, you don't say, "Be stopping." If I break it down in technical terms, the "church command" as I call it is the infinitive "be" + the progressive. It's like a whacked out present progressive, but it acts as a command. I don't understand this. So if you hear me moan or snicker when the songleader asks us to "please be standing," now you'll know why...

Busy Day

Today was incredibly busy. I had somewhere to be virtually every minute. And when there was time when I didn't have somewhere to be, there was something else I needed to be doing. As busy as it was, the best part of the day was putting everything aside for a few minutes and just being with my friends. While passing by my favorite professor's office, I saw he was in so I popped my head in to say hi. He and I proceeded to just chit chat for the next 20 minutes. I had a 100 other things to do, and I know he did, too, but I think we both realized that there aren't going to be many more opportunities like this. I am so blessed to be in a place where my teachers care about me like they do here. Yesterday in our philosophy seminar, the guest lecturer spoke on our life's mission. He focused on the fact that relationships and experiences should be our life's mission, not simply pulling in a paycheck or achieving some kind of status. Today reminded me of that. I hope I never get too caught up in making a living that I forget what it means to really live.
I know I've had several deep posts lately. I'll try to be more superficial again soon, since I know how much you guys loved the ketchup post. :)

Lasts

A friend reminded me tonight that I was entering a time of many lasts. Today was my last Monday of classes. It was also my last Outreach. I can't say I'm too upset about either. I should probably be sadder, but I'm not. I guess the reason I'm not too affected is because I am looking forward to the beginning of new things rather than the ending of the old. If my time at OC hasn't developed in me the maturity to go out and do something with my education and experiences here, then has it really done anything for me? No, I'm not sad yet... but once the goodbyes start I'm sure I will be.

Forgiveness

It takes a big person to admit their wrongs and ask for forgiveness. It takes a bigger person to do the forgiving. If you're the person who has been wronged, it's almost easier to just stay mad than try to forgive the person. But what does forgiving someone really mean? I don't know. Last year I had a long talk with one of my elders about it because I want to do what's right, but I don't want to be taken advantage of. I've encountered several people (on the receiving end of forgiveness) who think that forgiving means either 1) acting like nothing ever happened or 2) "forgetting" that anything ever happened. I guess those two are related. Forgetting is impossible. Humans cannot simply chose what to remember and what to forget. And as for acting like nothing ever happened... I am a big believer in personal responsibility. With responsibility comes consequences. If you break a trust with your friend/spouse/whatever, you have to be ready to mend that relationship. And that may take time. But I think it's entirely possible when both parties are willing. And like I mentioned earlier, it's a lot easier to hold on to hurt than to let it go. One of my favorite people in the world wrote a wonderful article on this subject aimed at the hurt of the world entitled, "Untie the Knot that Binds our Hearts".
I know this has been kind of a scatter brained post, but It was on my mind. And that's what blogs are for, right? :)

Quotable Quotes

If you notice me saying the following things, know that they are words or phrases I picked up from the people around me:
I'm in a juxtaposition
I see, I see (or anything twice)
Good cookie
Well wonderful
Sup cuz
Seriously
No lie!
Dipstick
The Suck (used as a noun... "That is the suck.")
Later Skater

I'm sure there are more, but those are the most prevalent ones. I think the most annoying, cliche thing I say would have to be, "Guess what?!" I say that a lot. I can see you people nodding and saying amen. But guess what-- I like it.

I Heart Bill!

Delayed response, I know, but I just have to say something about Bill winning "The Apprentice". I will admit I was a Nick fan in the beginning, but about mid-season I saw the light and moved my allegience to Bill. He's nice, he's cute, he's smart, he's single, he's successful... what more could you ask for? So many congratulations to Bill! And Kwame got exactly what he deserved for picking Omarosa to be on his team again.

Rage Against the Machine

This morning my computer crashed. I was just typing along, then WHAM, here comes the blue screen of death. As a result of that I have been unable to get online all day, until I snooped around my computer and found this nifty "System Restore" feature. It's like a time machine for your computer. I went back to my Friday settings and now I'm back online and back to unproductivity. I can't wait to give back this machine.

Ketchup

I hope someone catches the play on words in my title... Ketchup/Catch-up... yeah I'm a dork. Anyway, I realized something about myself tonight that I feel should be blogged for eternity. I like ketchup a lot. I don't think it's a freakish amount, but it's a lot. I use a minimum of 4 packets per sitting. That assumes that a sitting involves a medium-size fry. I also like to dip my hamburger in ketchup. Many of my friends pick on the fact that I order meat and bread only hamburgers, but that's okay. I guess I could order them with ketchup, but I firmly believe in having control over the distribution of condiments on my food. Similarly, you will also never catch me putting ketchup all over the entirety of my french fries. It never fails that some french fries are drenched by the ketchup while others are stark naked. I like uniformity, achieved by the individual dipping of each fry into the ketchup. Yes, here's a glimpse into my odd odd mind.

Not a quick one...

One of CNN's lead stories this morning is to point out several goofs of the President during his speech and subsequent questioning last night. I guess the most shocking thing is that Bush could not think of a single mistake he had made since 9/11. I'm sure a lot of people could help him out with that one. Hmm, how about stating clearly several times that Iraq definitely had weapons of mass destruction (despite the UN inspectors finding none) and leading the country into war on that premise?
My favorite quote in the article is this: "His performance...featured the usual mix of misspoken words and grammatical conundrums for which the president is well known." Nothing says, "Trust me to lead your country and the world!" like a man who can't speak intelligently.

Thought for today

I am only one, but I am one;
I cannot do everything,
But I can do something.
What I can do, I ought to do,
And what I ought to do,
By the grace of God, I will do.
-Cannon Farrar

10 Questions

This is Pivot's Questionnaire, also known as the Inside the Actor's Studio questions.
What is your favorite word? English-sizzle; Portuguese- abacaxi
What is your least favorite word? hate
What turns you on? a good, healthy discussion in which the participating parties don't agree (aka a fight) life is so boring when you always agree!
What turns you off? prejudice
What is your favorite curse word? **** haha, that's a joke... like I'd tell you my favorite profanity. err.. I mean of course I don't have a favorite profanity
What sound or noise do you love? babies' laughter
What sound or noise do you hate? cell phone rings
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? graphic design
What profession would you not like to do? lawyer
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Well done, good and faithful servant.

Library Tip

As I sit in the library on the verge of beginning my 8pg history paper due tomorrow at 10am, I have a tip for any potential library patron. The 3rd floor is freezing cold, yet the 1st floor is relatively comfortable. Why is this? Doesn't hot air rise? Anyway, back to history. And because I know you're all dying to know what my topic is, it is a contrast of cultural changes following WWII and Vietnam.

*UPDATE AT 10:47pm*
The library is closing, and I have written 114 words (including the title and heading). For those of you out of the paper writing loop, this is almost half a page. I am disgusted with myself. ;) Nah... And oh yes, my topic changed. I would give you my new thesis, but I haven't written it yet.

*UPDATE AT 12:14am*
In an act of perhaps providencial mercy, Mr. McCook just emailed us to say that he's been sick all weekend, will miss class tomorrow, and will collect our papers on Wednesday. Although I wish him the best of health ASAP, I can't help but heave a huge sigh of relief. I will continue working on my paper tonight, but this chick will not be pulling an all-nighter anymore.

Cadbury Bunny

I love spring. I love the flowers, the green grass, the sunshine... but perhaps most of all, I love the candy. Spring is home to the absolute best seasonal candy of the year, Cadbury Creme Eggs. I've been stocking up on them since they came out in February, and I have (literally) 44 on hand. The day after Easter I'm going to hunt down the post-Easter leftovers on clearance. If anyone has any tips, let me know. :)

An Apprentice Observation

Tonight while watching The Apprentice, I became even more painfully aware of something that I have noticed throughout the show. If there were ever doubts that severe editing plays into the shows, the constant change in tones and sound quality of Donald Trump's voice erases them. Every time "The Donald" speaks, he starts with one tone of voice, then they cut to a shot of his back and the tone changes, then it proceeds to change, like, 5 more times through his little speeches. Very interesting. Anyone else notice this? And does anyone else think it's weird that Donald Trump decided he was worthy of adding a definite article to his name? I mean really, "The Donald?" Come on!

Nothing like a televised 9/11 commission to start the day...

Since I actually had some semi-free time this morning, I decided to turn on the televisión for background noise. The 9/11 commission interview with Dr. Condoleezza Rice is on all the networks. I can tell I'm getting old, because I remember a time when I hated this stuff filling all the channels, but now I kind of like it. I don't agree with her politics and most of her decisions, but I will give Dr. Rice props for being a very articulate, poised woman. One of the questioners, Bob Kerrey, is one of my new favorite politicians. I like his attitude. :) He wasn't going to Dr. Rice weasel out of answering his questions. To quote Spiderman, "With great power comes great responsibility." Anybody else watch this?

AnninJapan?

As soon as I got out of TEFL Methods today, the entire world changed. The sun was shining, I was asked to dinner by a handsome young man, and here's the big one... I WAS OFFERED A JOB TO TEACH IN JAPAN THAT STARTS IN AUGUST! Wow, I needed that. I'm going to talk to JO tomorrow about it. I called my parents, I squealed the news to my roommate, and I told MJ, who then insisted we go get ice cream tonight to celebrate. Maybe my luck is starting to change. :) Drinks are on me! Those being the non-alcoholic, non-real, proverbial kind of drinks... ;)

Blog Title???

I'm sure you noticed my blog title, "Run the Earth... Watch the Sky", since it's really big and in all caps (aaarg!) at the top. I have been racking my brain trying to think of a cute and witty, yet meaningful title. "Run the Earth... Watch the Sky" is the title of the latest CD from my absolute favorite writer/singer, Chris Rice. Do you guys have any ideas for a title?

Hip hip hooray for Ann...

I have to brag on myself for a minute. As I have been tinkering with this blog set up and stuff, I have learned to manipulate some kind of computer language to do my bidding! All by myself, I figured out how to: reduce the font size of both my title and my entries, add my own links, add a comment/track back feature, and make the background navy. (the one thing I still want to figure out is how to make my title not be in all caps, so if anyone knows how, please share!) All you computer people may be thinking I'm silly for rejoicing over such a miniscule accomplishment, but to me this represents a major victory. :)

To Do List

What should my first post be about... hmm... I think I'll write about everything I have to do before I graduate. This will serve a dual purpose; it can serve as a reminder to me and I will gain your pity. A win-win situation. ;)
For TEFL Methods (aka Satan Class I) I have to turn in a portfolio of 60 ESL activities, do a demonstration lesson, write a lesson over both five holidays AND my home state, and do all the normal reading. Oh yeah,and we have one more test next week. Closely tied to that is TEFL Practicum (Satan Class II) I have to observe 5 classes of an EFL teacher, interview 3 people, and somehow scrouge up 4 more teaching hours. Yuck. College Algebra (yes I'm a senior English major taking her first college math course) is actually probably the least of my worries right now. I have a lesson due tonight, a quiz on Thursday, then just one more lesson and the final. Not bad! For US History, which I actually like a lot, I have to write a paper. That won't be too bad, either. Oklahoma History I like, but I still have to write summaries of 10 articles and take another test before the final. But that'll be fine. Oh yes, and Sr. Philosophy, how can I forget you? 2 more papers. Oh, and my little Symposium class. That'll be one more paper and a trip to the museum, I think.
Of course this is just coursework. There are a billion more things to do, like get ready to go to Brazil, think about finding a job and a place to live, decide if I want to move to Japan next April, apply to grad school, take my stupid financial aid exit test, find out how much I'm going to owe when I bust out of here... just a few minor details. :)
All this to do, and I decide the best use of my time this morning would be to start a blog. Hahaha....