Went to church at Trinity this morning. Not only was it a great message, but I enjoyed sitting among my church family. I had the great pleasure of sitting with Cindy and Ted Dreyer. There is nothing like being treated like one of the family by people that one hasn't seen in a very long time. I can't believe I didn't visit sooner.

Last nights blog was pretty crazy; I was tired and overwhelmed from seeing Britt, Aunt Mary, Uncle Phil, Phil, and the youth who are well on their way to being productive members of society. I feel like a big sister to most of them. To think, it was only a couple years ago that us girls dressed up in outfits of random craziness and planted ourselves as statues in the unfinished front flower bed. Then we decided that it would be more fun to do silly walks and stop mid motion whenever a car went by. I think I was wearing one of those Huge foam cowboy hats, like the ones one would find at a concert, 80's spandex pants with fish all over them, an old track tank over a crazy goalie shirt, platform shoes (one pink, one white), a black and white floral scarf, with a sack over my shoulder and a strange muskrat puppet on my hand. Yup......we literally stopped traffic! The other girls had some pretty crazy get ups as well, however, I think Britt's may have been the most dramatic; my old black track spandex with a white tank and a dark purple velvet jacket, and last but not least, the old black hunting hat and aviator goggles. I miss those days........hmmm........I don't have any flowers in front of my house right now.........I wonder if Oxford could handle my crazy ideas!

Overall, a good day filled with good memories. This afternoon, I will get to do one of my favorite things at one of my favorite places; blading miles and miles of metropark trails by Bonnie Park in Strongsville! Then it's off to see a play that a friend of Phil's is in and get dinner at Tommy's. Should be interesting, his plays are always unique and Tommy's is supposedly some natural foods, healthy living restaurant for health junkies....should be yummy!

Dorothy's shoes

I called this place home for most of my life, but it is strange to be back. After only a half hour here, I found myself almost in tears. Not only did I get to see my best friend, I got to see some of my church family from Trinity Church in Middleburg Hts. It just so happened that Kate, a member of the church, returned from this summer's Russian mission through OMS International. We all went up to Hopkins, 4 min. away from here, to greet her. It made me miss the days of backpacking trips with the Dreyers, blading with Heidi, and the whole family atmosphere that is a part of the ministry at Trinity. I didn't realize how much I miss that. Oxford is great, but it is a place that is set far apart from a lot of people that I love. Makes me wonder why I am there. God, please show me the reason.

Nope, I am not moving back here. I am not running back here.
No, nuh uh, not doin it!

I am tired of closing doors on people and places and opportunities. There will be no more shutting people out.

More emotional today than I thought it would be. I suppose that's why Dorothy clicked her ruby/silver slippers.

It's Back It's Back It's Back!

Okay, I won't go on and on and on and on about it, I just have to say........MY COMPUTER IS BACK!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday, after dropping off my computer, I headed over to Shriver. It's pretty cool to come from the other side of the counter. Not only did I get some eats, I got to say hey to Annie, Jason, Angel, and last but not least, Vicki. I didn't chat with Annie enough, but Richie the Republican (he is anything but) seems to be doing okay (it takes a special guy to put up with all of us girls at Tuffy's). Then I sat to lunch with Angel and some of the gang. She seems to be doing well; she lives in a better place and her 4 girls are growing up quick. Then I saw Vicki, my boss who let me live with her family last summer, she is doing ok. That place will suck a person in if they are there too long. I hope she can get out soon, she is a talented woman.

Hmmmmmmmmm..........I am so glad that I don't work there anymore, but I do miss my friends and getting to hear about families and kids and things of that nature. Still, I am glad I'm not there.

Quite an enjoyable day, I must say. Went blading this morning, walked all over tarnation doing all kinds of things, and then got my computer back!

Leaving in the morning. Stopping in Columbus on my way to Cleveland! I can't wait to see Britt on Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She is an awesome art student, and my best friend in the whole world. Genetically speaking, she is not only my first cousin, but also my half sister! It's not hard to figure out, but it's probably not what one expects either. (no, we're not that redneck!) My youngest bro, Ken, is the same age.

Her brother, Phil, moved in with my parents last week. He just graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design and is looking for work in Columbus. (probably more to hang out with Steve... they are the same age) I am waiting for some of his work to hang on my walls. They are a talented family I tell you! I think they get it from my Uncle Phil, who is a comic book artist.

After living with them at different times, I am so excited that we can all spend time together again! I love coming from such a big family. Hmmmmm.....I wonder what it would be like to have seven kids like grams. I am not so sure that I want to find out, but who knows.

Okay, it's time to get ready for bed!

cat woman/lady: are they really so different?

It feels good to get back in the swing of things; yesterday was my first day of blading in quite a while. (I didn't hit anything this time, but the part about getting a squirrel was true!:) Overall, it was a decent run, but it is clear that it will be awhile before I come back full force. It ticks me off to remember how in shape I used to be and how not in shape I am now. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. It's my own fault. Today was even slower.

Good news is that I have successfully gone three days without caffiene!!!!!!! (Yes, I want a cookie.) My pack a day habit was getting pretty rough, Diet Coke may not be a tobacco product, but I have this funny feeling that it is just about as healthy. After months of poor sleep quality, making trips to the store only for soda, and feeling tired all the time, something had to be done. LOL, this is just sad.

Bad news: My laptop caught a nasty virus (my first ever) and stopped accessing the internet late yesterday afternoon. Actually there were several that spntaneously appeared, but the doozie was NTRootKit-J( Big Apologies if I have passed it on!). It just wants to stick around.

Good news: I brought it into the Remediation center to be fixed for free.

Bad news: I won't have my computer for a few days :( ( it's sad how dependent I have become on technology) I just hope that I will have it back before I leave, but I doubt it.

I suppose that it will force me to walk up to the library once (or twice, or three times...jk) a day to get my email and blog. Honestly though, part of the reason I got a laptop was because I hate sitting in computer labs; the environment is so unstimulating. So I don't know how often I will be blogging in the near future, I will check my email every day though.

BTW I really do like cats, and I neither have nor would run one over one. In fact, I may end up living in a gray rundown house with 88 cats and mouse nest for hair (who knows, it might be kinda cool).

Peace out y'all.

Animal Lovers.....Don't read this.

Today was my first full day without caffiene!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHH!!! Yes, this is an official warning to those in contact with me! It seems that my body doesn't like for me to stop any drug; I get awful withdrawl headaches and feel like tossing my cookies for days on end. Fortunately, today wasn't completely unbearable. Kate and I headed over to the rec, where I found out that I do not receive rec privileges bc I was not a FT student last fall! MU always finds another way to tick me off! After leaving the rec I wanted to hop on my skates. Though, I didn't really want to end up running over a varmint like the last time I got ticked at the university and went skating....awesome for me...not so good for the squirrel*. I definitely felt much better. Instead Kate offered to walk with me. She must be an animal rights activist or something. Tomorrow is a different story. Construction or not, this not so in shape, ticked off, caffiene withdrawling, speed junkie is going to tear up the town! Ready or not, rodents, here I come!

*Disclaimer: No animal was intentionally or maliciously harmed in the events leading to the develpment of this entry. All options for a compassionate encounter were taken into consideration. Any joy I found in this occurance was ultimately squelched when I ran over Fluffy, the cat, last week; running over Fluffy was somehow much funnier.