Living the College Life

 I want to blog to let you all know that I'm alive over here in CA, but of all the amazing things I've done this weekend, I can't come up with a good blog post to save my life. I've written and re-written close to four times now. Fifth time's a charm??

Providence doesn't have class on Mondays, which basically means, three day weekend/do what you put off until now. Here's the gist of what I stayed occupied with this weekend:

• Sand Volleyball. SeaBeggars natural habitat seems to be the sand volleyball courts. It's awesome.
• Flying Dutchmen. Basically a wet, wild, fast game of duck, duck, goose. 
• Played volleyball in the dark. That was, interesting, to say the least.
• Signs. This could be a Ms. VanDyke game. It's hard to explain, but it's similar to silent football. Basically, lets say for example, you wave your hands. You then have the sign and try to pass it by doing someone else's sign. (standing up) They then receive it by standing up, and then continue to pass it until caught by the person in the middle. You'd think it was easy, but then you'd be wrong.
• Went to church, and then had lunch at Ruby's. Back at my dorm I started reading/napping. Read a page, to tired to turn the page so I'd close my eyes for ten minutes, finally turn the page, and continue. 
• Played more volleyball.
• I did laundry today. But that's boring and now my black shirts are covering in lint. At least I have socks now :P
• Cleaned my room . . .even though I should have been doing other things. 
• I started Choir and Piano, the two Monday "classes" that I have. It's been to long since I last got to play a piano. I still haven't actually gotten to play . . .I tried but it was a rather scarring incident. that piano was so out of tune it hurt. 
• I payed for college. Biggest check I've ever written. Won't be the last one. Bummer, huh?
• Played more sand volleyball. It was rather warm out there . . .builds character right?

(we really like sand volleyball here)

Okay. That'll work for now. My creative juices were pretty much all used up this weekend. I'm either going to go to bed like a good little college student . . .or read the next Harry Potter. 

Let's Go Running!

I went for a run.


Let that sink in for a moment.

Yep. Went for a run. And I have the sore legs to prove it!

Could have finished my Doctor Who episode, but Nooooooo, I went on a run.

I ran for an entire half mile before stopping. Oh, you don't believe me? I understand, I still don't believe it and I actually was the one doing the running. Granted, that first half mile was all down hill . . .baby steps people. (Running baby steps, but baby steps non-the-less)

I did almost fall flat on my face, but had I not almost done that I would be worried about some strange Doctor Who character who abducted me and turned me into some weird running machine. Stupid bumps. But to be honest, it was dark. Plus, its hard enough to breath and run at the same time, and now you expect me to watch where I'm going at the same time? Crazy.

I'm going to give you a chance to let that sink in for awhile. In the meantime, I'm going to sleep, because tomorrow we are going to hike Eaton Canyon. Good thing I have tennis shoes that are meant for marathon runners.

(Don't get ideas. I am NOT running a marathon.)

Day 2

Welcome to the end of Day Two! Pretty crazy if you ask me. Today was Saturday. I know that sounds really obvious and it's like, "Oooh, look, Billie learned the days of the week in college!" Yeah yeah yeah. Whatever. My point is that today did NOT feel like Saturday.

I was up way to early for it to be considered a Saturday. But, we had a load of stuff to do today!

There were sessions to attend, one which sadly included an essay. Good news: I survived.

This afternoon was a blur, so we'll skip all that. Besides, who wants to hear what my dear brother-in-law talked about or what I wrote about for an hour. (It was on "community" just in case you where wondering) So, moving on to tonight's activities. We walked downtown Pasadena, on Colorado avenue. Turns out, if given ample funds and more hangers, I would be a shopaholic in CA.  We enjoyed Pizza in the park, while listening to some interesting Jazz music. At least I think it was Jazz. Either way, it was pretty good.

Other then all that adventure going on, I think I'm all settled in. Or, as settled in as I'm going to get. Okay, I need to end this before I fall asleep mid-sentence. Sunday is church, Monday we are going to hike Eaton Canyon, and I'm sure a bunch of other amazing fun stuff. For now, good night!

In the Park: This is the Class of  2017

For Lack of Better Title: Day 1

Alright, Day 1 of the my college adventure. I've been in the great state of Cali since Wednesday morning where I promptly broke my new sunglasses, went to the beach, fell asleep and fried to a crisp. I assure my new classmates that I am not normally this shade of red. Hopefully . . .

Anyways. I'm getting ready to move in soon. I still can't believe that I managed to fit everything I wanted/needed (mostly wanted) for college in two suitcases. Southwest airlines lets you take two suitcases for free. Granted they are under 50 pounds of course. Which, mine where not. Both suitcases were a pound over weight. Thankfully they let it go, which is good because I had no room to take anything out and put it in my carryon.  But honestly, I have a lot of stuff. I'm surprised it wasn't more overweight.

Landed in LAX with no problems, other then being a little sore and cramped for sitting for roughly 4 hours. Nothing was stolen from my bags, which is always a good thing. Although, TSA did search my one bag. You would think that they know how to work a zipper, but according to all my inside pockets, they don't.

Switching into my swimsuit we headed to the beach for a picnic lunch, a swim in the ocean (which tastes terrible, just to let you know) and a nap. According to my sister I was out cold, and even the seagull by my head couldn't wake me up. Other then the beautiful sunburn I have, that was an amazing nap. :)

Thursday was shopping day, where I pretty much doubled my belongings in one afternoon. Now, I just have to relocate it from the trunk of the car to my dorm room. Let's get this adventure started!

No Judgement

Ask yourself this question, "Where would you be with out your best friend?" What would your life look like? Would you like the same books and movies? The same food? The same activities? Would someone else be your best friend?

I've known my best friend for almost 13 years. I have very few memories that don't involve that crazy girl. But, if we had moved somewhere else, would we have ever met? We didn't go to the same school. We where never on the same Summer Rec team, and even if we did meet somewhere like Dordt Discovery Days, or Unity, I don't think we would seek each other out and be friends. Acquaintances maybe, but not best friends for life.

I wonder, what would my childhood look like? Neighborhood plays, circuses, lemonade stands, barbies, slaves, Doctor Evil Fluffy Face,  the game show or that newspaper? (My childhood was rather, um, creative and unique. Crazy maybe. But hey, as best friends, there is no judgement here!) Would we have done any of that? I honestly can't imagine the last 13 years without her. Growing up would have been so different, and today I would be so different. I don't think I would have ever watched Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean, Pride and Prejudice, or Doctor Who. (typing that all out, made me realize what a big influence she has on me!) I don't think I would know what an amazing brownie tastes like, or share the same hatred of mold and love of sweatpants. (I'm crazy, okay? Just accept it. No judgement.)

So, what would your childhood and life have been like, if your best friend didn't exist?

No Judgment. It's pretty much our motto. With friends like these, it has to be.

Having fun at Life-Light in our new sunglasses

Woah, we look completely normal. Didn't think that was possible . . . 

Sometimes I question our sanity. But for the record, we are one good stick band. 

To me, It would be a whole new universe. A horribly boring and normal world. I would be a completely different person, and I don't think that would be a good thing.

Little White Dot

I hope you where all outside tonight, because the moon was absolutely gorgeous. Big and beautiful, it seemed so close you could almost touch it! Earlier this evening the clouds where also really cool, and you know what that means: Camera time!

However, the moon is about as photogenic as a brick or a rock. No, I take that back, some rocks are actually very photogenic . . .anyways, back to the moon. Who is not photogenic, and hates having pictures taken. (sounds like a certain sister I know . . .) Again, besides the point.

(This one I googled, hence the mountains and actual moon, not the stupid white "dot")

That is what I think the picture is going to turn out looking like. (Obviously not the snow covered mountains since I live in IOWA) But the detail and size of the moon, you get the gist of it. And below is how it actually turns out when I attempt a picture of the moon.

(This one I actually took tonight)

Yeah, mhm. $1,000 camera and the stupid moon still seems so tiny. So, I sat outside for about ten minutes messing around with the focus, shutter speed, apature, zoom, manual mode, flash, and . . .you don't know what I'm talking about, do you? Well, to simplify, I pushed several random butons and still didn't really get anywhere. Oh well, somethings are just to beautiful to photograph.

Not going to lie . . .this one looks more like the sun then the moon

I messed around with the focus, so you can't tell its the moon . . .but still, I think it's cool :)
And it's not photoshop, because, well, that's super expensive and I'm trying to go to college

At least this time the white dot is a little bigger . . . 

And back to being a black background and white dot. Yippee. 

I guess what I'm getting at here is you should get out of bed, and look out your window because it was super pretty. You might not believe me . . .but I'm telling the truth here. My camera just didn't seem to agree with me tonight, go figure!

I Graduated and Other Lies Like That

I am exhausted. I graduated, but I am exhausted. Also, I am an absolutely horrible liar. Especially when its late at night and I can't come up with a good defense to save my life.

Mafia is a great game. But playing with your family, everyone knows who's a good liar and who isn't. I'm not a good liar. I'm also really bad at telling the "truth". Basically, I'm really bad at this game. I would begin what I thought was a good defense, and then stop half way through because I realized that I was actually some how condemning myself. I was also innocent, but they killed me anyways because I was to hesitant when telling them I was the nurse. I just sort of blanked out for awhile.  Sorry if I can't remember things right away! For example, on my way to work the other day, and I totally blanked out on where I was going. Sat at the stop sign for a couple minutes racking my brain to tell me where I was going. Three years every day at the same time and I can't remember where I'm going. I worry about myself sometimes . . .

Graduation was Thursday. I'm all smiled, congratulated, and thank you-ed out. But, so thankful for everyone who came to my open house to congratulate me on my high school graduation. I'm not going to lie (we all know I'm no good at that, so trust me on this) I made some absolutely amazing friends, and part of me wishes I could keep going to school. Yeah, told you I was bad at both the truth and the lies. (And people wonder why I'm always so quite!) I'm going to miss Art, Choir, Comm II, and all the students and teachers, but not PE or Health, or Science or stuff like that. It's been one crazy year. Still can't believe its over, and my summer cleaning job starts Wednesday already. So crazy. But back to work so I can go back to school! This time, in CALIFORNIA!

After telling me congratulations, the next thing to follow always seemed to be "You're so tall!" But that doesn't surprise me. I'm always told I'm tall. Tina said I was taller then all the guys who graduated . . .mostly because I wore really big heels. Yes, I wear heels, no I don't need them. But I like to wear them. And no, I didn't trip. Not even close. Have some faith in me, people!

Okay, its 12:25 in the morning and I'm so tired, so we are going to call this good. I would love to put some grad pictures in here, but I haven't uploaded them and I am not going to go find my chord this late at night. well, um, early in the morning I guess. So, be patient, pictures later, and I also have a video I want to share with you in another post. But, save that for tomorrow. Or Sunday . . .or Monday . . or, yeah. I'm not really doing that everyday thing anymore, but, we all knew that wouldn't last long anyways.