two weeks

The semester is almost over! I'm excited for Christmas but not at all for finals.

It's sleeting....mur...so no ISU bible study tonight. I really wanted to go since next week will be out of the question.

On Wednesday nights at Champaign Church they have student announcements after the service. Here are a few of my favorites from the semester.

"If you could all come out to the world relief room Mark has something in the closet to show us."

"Paper copies of the calendar are out on the... credenza...yeah."

"Tuesday night we are going Christmas caroling.... at Schnuck's.... we'll have a salvation army bucket thingy."

So instead of studying.... Elf awaits! :)

For Gab

ahem. this blog is for gab. i love her a lot. she is great. she is my faithful blog reader and bugs me when i should be writing my lab reports. this picture is us in mexico with our drills.
the end.

*GRIN*

Manhappening Part 2

Scott made an excellent supper of hamburgers Monday night, we played some games and then they had prayer meeting at their apartment. Afterwards I got to experience a KState stairwell singing. :) It sounded pretty cool. I hung out with Scott and his roommates until pretty late and we made pizza rolls and chocolate chip cookies. I don't think they have swept their kitchen floor all semester...

Tuesday I slept in- thanks Tifani for the bed! A bunch of us went out for breakfast...well, it was breakfast for us lazy visitors anyway. :) Scott and Matt and I went back to KC in the afternoon and played Rook with Ned until Karen and Randy got home. Then we went to Jackstack. It was wonderful. :)

We left for home this morning and I ended up driving all the way back. Traffic was really bad...I forgot how many people would be traveling this weekend. But gas was still only $1.98 in Missouri. :) I'm tired.

We're going to Gridley tomorrow. Woot.

Manhappening

So I survived my craziest week so far this semester. Barely. :) Three tests, two lab reports, and some random homework do not make for a relaxing week. I was glad for Friday.

Friday evening a group of us went out to eat at Papa Del's pizza for supper and then Coldstone for dessert. We ended up hanging out at the Shaker, posing thought provoking questions, listening to some amazing musical talent, and just having all around good times. :)

I went home Saturday morning and didn't do much all day...very nice for a change! On Sunday Alyssa and I went to Fairbury for Darl and Janelle's wedding. We didn't stay for the reception, which was sad, but I had to get back home so Matt and I could leave for KState. :)

I spent approximately 10 hours on the road yesterday- good thing I like driving!

You would think that I've been to KC enough to know the way...but I was too busy talking to Matt to pay attention to the road, so we took a slight detour through St. Louis. It was nice to go interstate all the way, and we still made it in 6.5 hrs. Even with the ten minute emergency stop. Matt's power adaptor broke off in the cigarette lighter and was sparking and smoking. So he had take the fuse out, get the pieces out with a tweezers so my car wouldn't start on fire, and then put it all back together again.

We got to KC at 10:30 and then went the rest of the way to Manhattan with Scott and his friend Mike. They talked about food the whole way. It was pretty funny, and it made me kinda hungry.

I crashed at Tifani's and somehow I managed to not wake up her roommate. Today we slept in and got the campus tour- KState is lots different from U of I. The buildings are white limestone and the whole campus is a lot more compact. Tonight we're going to play some Rook....

A weekend in Champaign

It's been a long time. Since august actually. So it was really fun to stay in Champaign for the weekend.

Friday we had thanksgiving dinner at the church, so we'd been cooking up a storm at our house. I had two pies in the oven, and Gab had just left to take the food to church when I get a phone call... Yeah, she got a flat tire and needed somebody to come get our thanksgiving dinner. I didn't want to leave my pies, so while BJ put on the spare, Matt came and got the food. Even though he was "busy"- so sweet of him. :) The dinner turned out great! There were several international students there for their first American thanksgiving...good stuff.

Afterwards us girls were sitting in our hallway discussing how lucky we are to know such great guys! They change tires, come get food out of the blue, help with dishes, clean up tables- they're just plain amazing!

Saturday I ran some errands and bought wedding presents...woot...the mall was packed because it was Dad's Day weekend. Then I got some homework done, surprisingly. Matt, Markus, Amber and I went out to eat at Baker's Square before the Varsity Men's Glee Club concert and barely made it back in time. The concert was so good! They are so good! And they sang this super cool version of Nkosi Sikelel' Afrika/ Africa that blew me away. Wow. We sang Africa in HS jazz choir, and it was cool then, but man- their version was phenomenal!

Church was great- so good to be in Champaign for a change. :) I've been studying almost ever since....yuck. I am not a fan of Biochem. It's going to be a long week.
Blessings.

I might not be ditzy...but man am I dumb!

Last night some girls came to visit me and go to Champaign church. Yay for them! (To everyone else who was invited and didn't come- you're a panz.) I gave them specific directions to church with landmarks and everything so when I got a call that they couldn't find the right road I was kind of surprised. I even commented to Amber and Sarah how some of the W-ton girls were pretty blond sometimes.... Um...yeah...so it turns out I told them the right road, but the wrong landmarks. So much for being a smart chem major. Yikes that was dumb. :p

Our house is full of flowers thanks to Amber's floral design project. They're so beautiful! I'm so excited I get to take that class next semester. :D

Our fridge is full of food for the YG Thanksgiving Dinner. They bought a 25 lbs turkey the other day not realizing that it would take 7 days to thaw in the fridge- so we've been thawing it in cold water in the sink. It kind of cracks me up.

Today is my grandma's 91st birthday.

I can't wait for Thanksgiving break. I will hopefully get to spend a few days with Scott in Manhattan, if Matt gets a deer. Otherwise it might be not quite as long. :)

The whole world is at sixes and sevens...

...and why the house hasn't fallen down around our ears years ago is beyond me!
Gotta love a little bit of Thornton Wilder's "The Skin of our Teeth" every now and again. :) Definitely my favorite play.

Anyway, so I had a busy and kind of crazy rest of the week. Wednesday evening I went to a job fair workshop that was pretty pointless. They didn't really tell me anything that I didn't already know. Nic and I ended up being pretty late to Cissna church because I didn't get done with that until almost 7ish. Cissna was fun! There was a pretty small group of U of I people there, but it was good to hang out with Mike and Joanna and the rest of the Kaeb's. :)

Thursday I went to the job fair, and talked to all Ag companies- I didn't really think about it until later. :) I got a pretty sweet free Pioneer hat that I'm not allowed to wear at home. :) And a free t-shirt from ADM. And I got to wear my new charcoal grey suit out in the freezing cold.

Friday night I went to singing at the home in W-ton. It was a pretty good night- lots of the residents were out of their rooms to listen to us. One old couple who have been married for 70yrs and knew all the words to every song, told us how they had stayed married so long- "because he always did what I told him to do." So cute and so funny!

Saturday morning, bright and early, I went to Jakey's state CC race. They did pretty good, the team didn't place, but he got his best time at Detweiler. I was pretty excited to see Kaitlyn Bastert run- she won the girls race by 50 seconds, and made it look effortless! Second place was from Eureka- woot! Abs came over in the evening and we watched the long version of "Pride and Prejudice." It was great.

So now I'm back at school again- mur. This semester is going sooo fast.

Good times

Monday evening Amber, Sarah, Amanda and I hung the hammers from the piano on the living room wall. We borrowed Chris's drill, but he wouldn't let us have it until we went to Lowes and bought wall anchors and screws. It looks pretty cool. Kind of modern.

Yesterdays organic lab was the most frustrating lab I have ever been in. Ahhh. Way to many people, not enough equipment, only two TA's and not nearly enough time. I was there until 5- pretty ridiculous since I'm usually one of the first to leave.

But it was all good when I got home because Heidi came to visit me. And most of the Shaker was at our house for supper. (I guess some of the girls wanted to apologize for all the pranks or something crazy like that.) They had the table covered with tin foil and then we dumped the food out in the middle and ate with our hands. Amber brought some wonderful steak, and we had marinated chicken, potatoes, vegetables. Yum. And great harvest bread. It was soooo amazingly good. I made pies on Monday...I love pie.

Cleanup was really easy! Just roll up the tinfoil. :) Then Heidi and I did some homework and drank root beer and I taught her how to tie a tie. With my scarves. :) We went to Perkins at 10 to study with some people. I got stuff done...so that was worth it. We even got to bed before 1am. for a change. :)

One of my professors didn't show up for lecture today so we all left after 10 minutes. It was great. Now I need to finish my lab report so I can go visit Joanna in Cissna tonight. :)

Random picture

This was in my "random pictures" folder. It makes me smile.
Clockwise from the left: Osvald, Lenin, Troll, Easter Island Head, rubber chicken, stuffed pirhanna. Middle: Papua New Guinea nose bone.

Happy Mole Day!

What a happy day! *grin* Mole day is the best- what other day do you have an excuse to eat a mole of smarties? Or tell great mole jokes?

Q: What kind of fruit did Avogadro eat in the summer?
A: Watermolens
Q: What line from Shakespeare do high school moles have to memorize?
A: "To mole or not to mole, this is the question."
Q: How much does Avogadro exaggerate?
A: He makes mountains out of mole hills
Q: What is Avogadro's favorite kind of music?
A: Rock 'N' Mole

Sorry, I've already been informed I'm a troll.... :)

Anyway, this weekend was great! Friday I went suit shopping and then went home and was a bum all evening. Saturday was college weekend- good stuff. I got to hang out with Scott and Ned for a while.

Matt and I dropped them off at Grandma and Grandpa’s afterwards, but first we had to stop at Wal-Mart so Scott could buy black pants for church. He forgot to bring his suit…why does this not surprise me?

Sunday the whole family went to Fairbury. The Zehr’s had all the Shaker boys and their families for supper. It was a good time, hanging out with Kris, Alisha, and Janelle. And I got to meet some of my fellow Shaker sistern. Three of them are engaged…that’s pretty much all that got talked about, which is fine, but I think any more of that would be waaay too much. The parents told some pretty funny stuff about their boys. Good times. :)

When we left, Quinn gave me directions back to Champaign, but I was checking my phone messages and Matt told me to go straight so I definitely didn’t turn when I was supposed to. Thank goodness Bob and Nic were right behind me and heroically took the lead and got us back to Chambana by some crazy back roads. :)

So yeah, its another week. And it's cold! I am not a fan of winter.

Church

Was on campus tonight. In Noyes lab. It was kind of weird because I have had at least 3 classes in the room we were in. And I usually fall asleep. I didn't tonight. It was fun to be singing hymns in my classroom. :)

My biochem test last night went really badly...mur...definitely not looking forward to getting it back. I have a test on Friday as well. *sigh* Last year I never had to study, and this year has been almost every night. O for the good ol days of being in bed by 11pm. :)

I spent one of my study breaks in Gab's room doing handstands. She has the perfect spot to do them, no furniture close to kick, and if I fall over I hit the bed. I'm very out of practice.

The great outdoors

I feel like I lived outside this weekend. Friday, Champaign YG took the Sunday school kids camping. We picked such a cold weekend...wow. It was really fun even though I didn't get to stay overnight. I signed up to bring a tent, and got put on the setup committee, and then my brother signed up to bring the same tent. So I got to go early and set up other people's tents. :) We discovered that when you put your tent away wet, it doesn't dry in the bag. (*cough* Josh)

When the kids got there we played games, did some crazy bible charades, and sang around the fire. Good times. I still don't get how they were running around in just sweatshirts with no gloves, hats, etc. and I was huddled by the fire with my cocoa. :) It was really hard to leave, but I said I would go to Apple River...so I missed an opportunity to psych people out about why I was leaving early, but that's probably for the better. :) Even with Nic's directions out of the park, I still didn't get back on the interstate in the same place I got off. Although I did make it home in pretty good time.

I rode up to Apple River with Heidi in her car so she wasn't all alone and promptly fell asleep. But not for the whole time, we did get to talk about stuff. :) And listen to Luke's CD's. She didn't let me play bluegrass. We hiked, ate, sang, and ate some more, slept, had church, ate, hiked, went to Walmart, and got home late like every year. Why does it say 7:30 on our itinerary?? *sigh* So after picking up Matt and Fred S. I didn't get back to school until 11:30. O well.
I was pretty tired in class today. And I have a test tomorrow that I am not at all motivated to study for.
Blessings.

Our neighbors think we're nuts...

Yes, that is a piano on the balcony. Shaker put it there with a forklift, and we couldn't get it down through the house.















Justin, Cam, Mike, and Gab assess the situation.















Over the railing.















Don't Jump Moby!















Too late...
*grin*















Alas poor Moby, I knew him well. ;) Ok, not really, but we did give him a proper "burial" later that night in the backyard of the Saltshaker.















Me and a few of the roomies survey the damage.

Moby A. Piano

Urbana- Moby A. Piano, 104, formerly of Champaign, died at 7:05 p.m. Monday, Oct. 9, 2006, at his home, after an unfortunate fall off of a second story balcony.

Born Jan. 8, 1902, at the Baldwin piano factory, the son of George Piano and Florence Elizabeth Steinway Piano, he married Julia M. Grand on May 29, 1952. She died Feb. 14, 1982.

Surviving are three sons, Mel O.D. (and Flo) Piano of Broadway, N.C., and Tune D. Piano and Yamaha Charles (and Carrie A. Tune) Piano; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and one brother, Guy Witha (and Lotta Notes) Piano. His parents and one son, Strika Chord Piano, preceded him in death.

He was a 1953 graduate in Music from the University of Illinois in Urbana, Ill. He first taught in area schools for 9 1/2 years. Then he was a bus driver for 11 years. He last worked at the Saltshaker, finally retiring in 2006.

He was a member of the Champaign- Urbana Area Piano Union. He was a member of the Apostolic Christian Church, Champaign and its Thursday Night Singing Society.

He was voted “best legs to come out of the Saltshaker” in 2006.

Funeral services will be at 3 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2006, at the Saltshaker in Champaign. Visitation will be one hour prior to funeral service. Burial will be in the back yard.

Memorial contributions may be made to 709. The Mob House, Urbana, is in charge of arrangements.

Condolences may be sent via email to themobhouse@yahoo.com.

*pictures to follow*

Everything's up to date in Kansas City....

So I made a random trip to KC this weekend. Dona was going so I decided to ride along. :)

It was really fun. Ned, Scott and I played Monopoly and I came in second to Ned. That kid is so lucky! It's just not fair. :) And we played Rook.

Saturday morning we went to Robek's for breakfast. Yum. They make the best smoothies ever! Then we went to help with the KC young group's work day. I helped stain a widowed lady's deck and I managed to not get any on me. (Unlike some people who were painting) We went to supper and singing at church that evening and they had Jackstack. There really isn't any better brisket than Jackstack. Alan had people over afterwards and we hung out there for a while. Good times.

I rode home with Heidi and Kenton. Luke rode with Tony (I think he's avoiding me...all those mixed signals I'm sending. hehe.) Kenton is my new best friend because he played his bluegrass CD... even though he almost got us all killed when Luke passed his half finished sherbet to me through the window. I don't even like orange sherbet- the things I do for you Heidi! I told Kenton the wrong Springfield exit so we got to drive past the sewer plant twice. They were complaining, but I definitely had to go past it three times. :)

Aunt Karen sent a whole bunch of stuff back for the family, as usual. She picked up some stuff at Cabella's for dad and my brothers so I brought back two shotgun barrels and scopes. It was funny.

We have school today...
There is a large white "ideal piano" on Gab's porch. Crazy boys.

It's a beautiful night

And what better way to spend it than with good friends....

'Looked' at stars. Sang about the moon.

Took a long walk on campus following the sound of the marching band.

Found it just as they were all leaving with their instruments. :)

Rode the bus for the first time.

Almost as much fun as jumping in the fountain with my roomies...

*grin*

There is a very large green wagon at my house...

Hm so, Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Pearline, and Abby came to visit on Wednesday. We ate at Biaggi's per Shaker suggestion. Good times. They are so funny...they really aren't sure how Matt can live in such a small space. :) And they were so worried about getting Abby back to Bloomington so she could get to bed...they left here at 9ish. :D

Sang at Shaker on Thursday, or I should say, everyone else sang; I croaked...I'm a lot better now. They sang "Pull for the Shore" for me. Ask me sometime why I think that song is hilarious...

Friday was Jakey's 18th birthday. Woot. So I got him a present. I had a hard time deciding between the incense sticks and the glow-in-the-dark moldable foam. (Circle K's just don't have a real big gift selection) I went with the foam. It was his favorite present until he opened the machete. *sigh* I just can't compete.

Saturday I slept really late...it was beautiful. I spent several hours making cookies for Jake to take to his friend's house after homecoming. (He forgot them on the counter.) So then I rode my bike to the field and rode around on the combine with Dad for a while. I drove for a couple rounds...I think Dad was ready to switch back. :) Beans are way harder than corn!

I got to see Abby's house. It's so cute, and it is fixed up a lot better than ours.

I didn't go to Taylor. I'm sad I missed out on seeing people. I'm not sad I stayed home. I feel much better now, and I think I would still be pretty miserable if I hadn't got some rest. So yeah. Blessings.

Motivation is elusive

Chris and Ashley got engaged last night!! Woot! It's about time....

So I really don't want to study for my Instrumental Methods of Chemical Characterization class. It's just plain awful.

My throat hurts...Gab gave me some wonderful stuff for it though. I needed some tylenol last night when we were all studying together and nobody had any! I went to the health center and got some free after lab today. It's generic so it starts dissolving right away...ick. I should just make my own.

I was in lab today working on a very annoying qual lab. (Don't they know that nobody does qual analysis anymore?? Most chemists send it to the friendly NMR technician and get a complete analysis with out all the fuss) Anyway, so I was watching my sample distill and hear somebody saying my name- I turned around and there was Caleb, CORE hard hat and all! I was excited. I was also surprised that he recognized me in my lovely green goggles, but I guess the skirt gave it away. :)

I was starting to feel like I had a voice again and then I went to singing at the nursing home. Not anymore. I sound like I've been smoking a pack a day for 20 years. It's great.

Grandma and Grandpa are coming to take Matt and I out to eat tomorrow before church! Yay!

Blessings.

Stuff and nonsense

I had two test last week....and two lab reports so it was pretty intense.

But there were some high points, especially this weekend.

The fall picnic was nice...not too hot, but not freezing.

Thursday I took a 'study break' and went to the planetarium for a HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT. The planetarium pretty cool, the only other one I've been to was on a school field trip. It was one of our many 'let's go visit the Journal Star and something else in Peoria' field trips, so it was much better this time. *wink*

Justin K came for bible study at Keith and Joan's on Friday. It was excellent and very thought provoking. Somehow they started talking about economics and futures markets afterwards....wow...totally over my head. Lys and I hung out for a while and I stayed up way too late.

I got up early on Saturday and went with Mom and Donna to Jakey's cross race in St. Jo. It was really fun- I love CC races, they're over in 15-20 minutes. :) We took all the cross country bando's to Danville for their band competition- brings back memories of good times. They're marching a good show this year...gladiator music...it was fun to watch.

Then I had to go back to C-U to meet up with the group going to Mike's baptism. Cissna was great. Testimonies were long, but it really didn't seem like it. Alyssa, Rhonda, and I stayed overnight with an older widow named Lorretta. :) She was sooo cute. And she said some really funny things. There were lots of people in church! It was good to see some KS people, although I'm still sad Neal and Kim didn't make it.

So it was a good week, and a good weekend. :)
Blessings.

Chalk Quadding

I couldn't go since I was taking a test and then I went to Chipotle for free food.

They did a lovely job, I especially liked the one right outside Noyes Lab:

www.freebiblenow.org
-no cost -no obligation
God Loves Chem Majors!

*GRIN*