Weekly round up

This week:

1. Finish grad school essay/statement.
2. Email/call final person for recommendation.
3. Finalize billboard, put up posters and other miscellaneous details about the publicity plan including parade and pizza box fliers.
4. Complete a full week of covering activities in the schools, as well as my freelance gig.
5. Send check home to pay car payment.
6. Figure out student loans; payments start Dec. 1!
7. Girls small group on Monday after work, concert on Wednesday, Common Ground Thanksgiving on Thursday night and a bonfire on Friday night. Shew!

I have off tomorrow; there are a few errands I’d like to run in Hagerstown. I’d also like to cross number one off this list. It’s been an interesting week with new experiences again.

Wednesday I traveled to Bethesda, Md. for the first time; in rush hour. I was late for my appointment to take the GRE. Between the stress of driving, not knowing where I was going, and being late, I didn’t do well on the test. It didn’t help that the instead of having a quiet, calm evening the night before, my parents called and had a slight melt-down over the phone about me driving to Bethesda. It made me question my ability even though I was intent on going and knew I could figure it out. I’ve done the 70/270 Corridor change before and I’ve gotten familiar with I-81 and Route 7 in recent years, I knew I could handle this.

I kinda felt like, if I can get to San Francisco and back BY MYSELF for the first time, I could handle this. Sometimes I question whether or not they REALLY believe in me. Like when I say I’m going to do something; I generally follow through. Isn’t that what they said about me growing up? That I “had a destination”?

I have a secret for you …

I still do.

On Friday, this new guy that I’ve been emailing back and forth emailed me while I was going to an assignment. It was a small photo assignment that I had to email into my office, so I wasn’t there long and we emailed throughout the evening. He was flirting; I was avoiding it and trying to make sense of everything. He’s seen me once in person and we’ve exchanged numerous messages; never anything deep, just what we’re doing and what we do for a living. It’s been going on since the end of October so we don’t know each other that well at all.

Then, somewhere in the middle of an email, he referred to me as “Jilly.” Jilly has always been a nickname of mine, but it generally used by really close girlfriends who have known me for a couple years or guys who know me longer than oh, two weeks who like me more than just friends. This tradition started in high school so I feel at liberty to use that “more than just friends” line. It really threw me off and makes me realize even more than just my initial thoughts and concerns about it, that this guy doesn’t know me well at all and I felt like he had somehow, without intending, invaded my space.

When life gets loud

I’ve been doing some thinking and it’s getting late. I didn’t know who would best understand what’s been going through my thoughts but I thought you’d understand.

I want something greater than this. I’m so afraid that I’m going to get stuck in a rut and let something extraordinary pass me by because I’m simply too afraid to take the risk. I’m afraid that my inability to say no (sometimes) will prevent me from having the time and energy to tackle the next great thing.

I want to be transparent.

I’m tired of living in a town that does little to inspire. I want to do something to make a difference and I feel like I’m not doing that where I am. I am still searching for what makes me feel fulfilled.

When I interned at the Herald-Mail back in the spring, I had the privilege of meeting a young man by the name of Nate Johnson. Nate and I had the task of doing the paper’s weekly “Person on the Street” Q&A at the library a block away. He would take pictures and I would ask the questions and while we waited we would talk about our lives and issues in the world (considering our given task). He was a quiet but had a mature, solid and peacefulness about him and I was intrigued. I just stumbled upon his blog and found out he is in South Africa currently working on a photo project with a friend of his.

I must say that part of all this thinking has come from reading about their travels and the wonderful experiences they are having.

Today I’ve had a flood of reminders of San Francisco; I saw a bunch of photos of some of my friends out there that I met while I was there in August and I miss it a lot. The weather there today was sunny with a high of 75 and here I was in foggy, cold west virginia. I am still hoping for a life changing adventure that will challenge me and break me in ways I can’t imagine. I feel like I’ve gotten stagnant and I’m settling for less than God has for me.

I need some time to reflect; and thanks for letting me be vulnerable.

investigative

Last week I received an email at work telling me about an issue at a local high school where a teacher mistakenly asked his students to bring in tobacco, alcohol and muscle relaxers to do a biology lab experimenting with the affects of aforementioned items on fish. I followed up on it and the administration wasn’t thrilled I was doing the story. They worked with me nonetheless and answered my questions, admitting the poor judgment in the matter.

At one point, one of the people I quoted asked why I was doing this story and said he felt like this teacher’s reputation was being drug through the mud. I feel that we were just reporting on a concern that was brought to us and shedding light on something going on in the schools.

Here is the complete story. I felt good about it when I left last night. I spent last week making sure I got the whole story and I think I covered all sides fairly.

And now the cat is laying on the keyboard licking and biting my fingers, so I think I’ll go start the day. Lots of errands to run today and tomorrow is the GRE! Yikes.

But before I go … I met with my journalism adviser, Dr. Lewin yesterday at a little place in Shepherdstown. We talked about my current job, The Picket, where I used to be the editor and graduate schools. He was very encouraging and positive and gave me some direction of where to apply for grad schools and who to get letters of recommendation from. I’m excited about this again and it was exactly what I needed to give me the stamina to get through tomorrow, I hope.

A cup of wisdom

Every time I order a Caramel Macciato at Starbucks, the first thing I do is push the sleeve down so I can read the side of the cup. I love reading the “Way I see it” part on the cup.

Tonight, I was doctoring up my tall drip coffee for my drive back from Sterling, Va. when I saw a brochure where you can send your own “Way I see it”! I grabbed the flier. Tonight I went on to their Web site and came across this:

A mature person is one who can say: My parents may have made some mistakes raising me, but they did the best they could: now it’s up to me.
– Shannon Fry
Starbucks customer from Ann Arbor, Michigan.

And it made me smile.

You can read more here.

Weekend/Mercy Me.

I had this whole post written earlier about how fabulous my weekend was … about what a whirlwind it was filled with bonfires, road trips, deep, meaningful conversations with girlfriends but it all disappeared somehow, so I’ll just stick with the best part of the weekend and we’ll move on.

Last night Mercy Me was playing in Hagerstown and a few of my friends from back home wanted to go. So I bought our tickets and when I got to church, one of the girls wasn’t there and was home sick. We were looking for a replacement when my almost 30 year old brother showed interest in going. I was a little surprised at first but he canceled his other plans, gave me money for the ticket and I gave him directions to the church and he met us there.

Danny and I have never really hung outside of family events, so I was shocked when he wanted to go, but I’m really glad he did. It was a total God thing the way he was able to come and I think he really enjoyed it.

BeBo Norman opened for Mercy me with an acoustic set which was really good. Mercy Me did a Q&A Session which was unexpected and fun. The premise of the concert was to draw attention to Compassion International I sent my application in today for a young boy named Bena from Kenya. Growing up we sponsored children off and on, but for whatever reason we never kept up with it.

Don’t forget to VOTE tomorrow! I’ll be covering the election from Morgan County for The Journal.

G’night folks!

Weekend Observations

What a whirlwind weekend!

Friday night I went on a spontaneous road trip with two of my friends from college to Mt. Airy to a bonfire and hayride which was loads of fun. It was fun to wear hoodies and sneakers and drive up 340 to Frederick. On the way back we stopped at the 24 hour drive-thru Starbucks for drinks and had one of the best talks I’ve ever had with them. It’s interesting to see how we’ve grown in the past year.

Saturday, despite getting to bed after 1 a.m., I set my alarm for 8 a.m. and got up to meet my family in Winchester. While I was there, I killed some time at the Ross/Linens and Things/Borders/Old Navy plaza. When I pulled in there was a Hispanic man standing by the road holding a sign for the closing sale at Linens and Things. He looked mortified to be out there holding a sign. It made me think that some people will do anything for a dollar and made me grateful for my job, in my field, making what I make (even though it isn’t a lot). When I left, the man had pulled his hood up over his head and was looking down, hiding behind the sign. I wanted to cry.

In January, I went to the memorial service for a classmate of mine, Sara, who I worked with during my time at the Scarborough Library at Shepherd. On Saturday, her sister and only other sibling passed away. I haven’t found out how or why, but it made me very sad. I stood in for their family and friends Sunday at church. I worry how Sara’s friends will take this and I hope they don’t blame God.

Last night, I went to see Mercy Me in concert. Getting there was a bit of a whirlwind because I had to buy all the tickets at the last minute and then one of the girls didn’t show up. Out of the blue, my brother, Danny, showed interest in going and I gave him directions to the church, told him what time it started and he gave me the money for the ticket. This is huge for him and I was very excited about him coming. It wasn’t a rock concert and it was the type of concert that you’re worshiping God more than rocking out, so I wasn’t sure how he’d take it, seeing that he’s never shown a huge interest in all this.

So he came and we all sat in the back row against the wall. There were two Compassion International volunteers sitting next to Danny. One reeked of alcohol, the other, shushed us during the concert. A little later, they moved and two others sat down next to him and it wasn’t much better because the man next to Danny had some body odor issues. Danny enjoyed himself despite all that and even bought two Mercy Me CDs before they even took the stage. (They were selling CDs for $5/pop … I bought three.)

This concert was much different then seeing them last year; much more laid back since it was a smaller venue. The opening artist, BeBo Norman did an acoustic set and Mercy Me did a Q&A session which was fun.

I’m going to be sponsoring a child with Compassion. His name is Bena and he’s from Kenya. I saw this guy give his packet back and the Compassion Volunteer was walking back through and I asked for a packet and she handed me that one. We did this for a short time when I was growing up but for whatever reason, we never stuck with it. I just feel that if I can afford all the luxuries in my life, I can afford this.

Tomorrow is election day! I already voted and I hope all of you do too.