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work

Perhaps I've found my calling.

I have yet to post anything on here about my exciting job for the summer (please forgive my hesitation), but now that my first and second days are already out of the way, I can rest assured that no amount of outspoken enthusiasm will jinx it. Or at least, I hope not.

Ahem. So here goes. I am thrilled to announce my new internship with...


Weddings in Houston Magazine!

Seriously, can I get any more girly? Probably not, but I'm alright with that. My tasks (among other things) include writing, reading, and thinking about pretty flowers, towering cakes, and elegant dresses. All I can say is, I think I'm in Heaven.

Front cover image by D. Jones Photo.
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friendship

Nothing's changed.

After being away from each other for so long, we simply could not help ourselves...


That's just how we roll.
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bookish

Books to read.

A list of books that I'm dying to read.

If you've taken a few peeks at my "Library" tab throughout 2011, you'd know that I haven't updated what "I'm currently reading" in a really long while.  Since January, to be exact. And the reason for my abandonment of this aforementioned area in my blog is that, after all of this time, I still have yet to finish Sarah Palin's new book that I was given for Christmas. It's been 4 months, people. FOUR. (I'm more than just a little ashamed to admit this.) But, seriously, have you tried reading a novel for fun as an English major in college? It's hard. And only possible for folks who read 24/7. (I, for one, wish that I did.)  To be perfectly honest though, I couldn't even find the motivation to get through all of my assigned readings this past semester. And every time I picked up Palin's book with my hopes set on some light reading, I would immediately begin to feel guilty about the Shakespeare play or Government chapter that continued to sit on my bookshelf untouched.

College can be sort of annoying, in that way...  But alas, the 2010-2011 academic year is finito (as of Wednesday night at 8:05pm), and the first thing I couldn't wait to do when I got settled in Houston this week was to once again begin reading wonderfully romantic/suspenseful/witty fiction novels to my heart's content (after gliding through the last few chapters of America By Heart, obviously.) Now here I am, miles away from the University of Texas, with absolutely no assignments to worry about and all of the time in the world to read whatever strikes my fancy. I almost feel like a pre-teen again! (Just another reason why summer is all sorts of amazing.)

And the best news is that there is a Books-A-Million right down the street from the apartment. (Score!) So, whenever I can get my hands on them, my top picks for the next few months are:


Have you read any of these novels? If so, what did you think of them? And, if you have any other books in mind, I'm always taking recommendations!
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college life lately

Ready, set, cram!

This is what I look like after a nine-hour study fest: somewhat tired, a bit annoyed, but mostly just anxious for a change in scenery, and sporting the oh-so-comfortable t-shirt-and-sweatpants/unkempt hair/makeup-free look. Now that's what I call living the life. Actually, I am really proud to say that I've been studying quite diligently all day; in fact, I only allowed myself three breaks—one for dinner, another for dance class, and the last one for laundry. (Clean clothes are important, too.) Do you want to know what the worst part about this cram session is? It's all for Physical Anthropology. Yep, that's right. Science. My least favorite subject. But I've gotta say, all of this evolution stuff is pretty interesting. Did you know that our ancestors were once all little shrew-like creatures? That still makes me giggle.
In other news, Mom and Jason are heading up to Austin tomorrow to help me pack up all of my stuff so that they can haul it back to Houston. While they're here, I'm going to take them to lunch, probably at Kerbey Lane Cafe, and then out for some delicious snow cones on The Drag. (Ever heard of Sno Beach? Talk about YUM!) We so excited.
I'm still having a hard time believing that I'll be leaving this place on Thursday. It seriously feels like I just moved in! Time sure does fly by, especially when you're working hard. And, honestly, it's kind of nice to know that when I come back in the fall, I won't be new or inexperienced at this whole college thing. We're movin' up, ya'll! But let's not get ahead of ourselves here... I have to make it past this week first. However, I'm very much looking forward to tomorrow's reunion with a couple of my favorite people. It'll be a nice break from schoolwork until my last exam on Wednesday night. Only two more days to go until my summer officially begins!
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family

Dear Mom,

Words cannot describe how much you mean to me. For the last 19 years, you have taken on the role as my patient mentor and most trusted confidant, and I would hate to imagine where I'd be without your incredible influence in my life. Thank you, Mom, for the amazing love and support that you constantly provide for our family. You are the most beautiful woman that I have ever been blessed to know, and I can only hope to one day resemble you in your selflessness.


P.S. Can't wait to see you on Tuesday! (Get ready to indulge in the best snow cone of your life.)
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cinema college

Procrastination makes perfect.

After riding on the Clark and Lana roller coaster for 8 whole seasons,
I finally got to this:

Lana's cool and all, but it's about time Clark found his Lois.
(I should be studying for my biology exam tomorrow... But let's face it, Smallville marathons are so much more fun.)
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faith musings

Justice or vengeance?

Laughter, hoorays, shouts of joy. Fireworks, even. The sounds of sweet revenge.

So that's it. America's most dangerous enemy is dead. This must mean that I'm supposed to feel happy, right? Relieved? Safer, perhaps. But in all honesty, I don't. Years ago, as a little girl—when I saw the world in black and white—I would have been giddy with excitement over the news. The villain of the story is finally out of the picture, and all is just as it should be. My younger self would have rejoiced with unwavering pride in America's great accomplishment and the seemingly bright future that lies ahead of us. But today, as I look at the world through the eyes of an adult, I realize that everything is grey and messy. 

Truthfully, the news of Osama Bin Laden's death has not made me particularly joyful. In fact, I feel anxious. A distinct unease has grown inside of me since late last night when my roommate, eyes glued to the computer screen, informed me that the notorious leader of al-Qaeda had been killed by American soldiers. The disbelief in her voice made its way into mine as I questioned her shocking discovery: "The Osama Bin Laden is dead?" With a single nod, she confirmed that it was true. I wasn't quite sure how to react at first, so I smiled. It isn't every day that an evil terrorist gets what he deserves, I thought. But my positive feelings about the situation faded as quickly as the depthless grin on my face, and uncertainty began to take over. I can't say that I wasn't glad to hear that the man responsible for so many deaths would never harm anyone again. But for reasons that are difficult to explain, watching my fellow Americans surround the White House in triumph after the news broke did not give me peace of mind; rather, it seemed to add to my distress. As did the part of Obama's speech when he proudly exclaimed, "Justice has been done." With all due respect, Mr. President, did you mean to say "vengeance?"

I don't fully understand why I'm not elated about this so-called American victory, but I know that I'm not alone in my confusion. Regardless, those of us with opinions that stray from the conventional perspective will most likely be criticized for any inkling of expression. At worst, we will be seen as "anti-American" or unpatriotic. But this isn't true. I love being an American, and I only want what's best for my country. I can't even imagine how many innocent lives have been taken by Bin Laden and how many more lives will be spared because of our brave Navy SEALs. Like everyone else across the nation, I desire justice for every single one of his victims, American or otherwise. But this act of "justice" that we're all thanking God for—this "eye for an eye" mentality that we're encouraging—does not strike me as an achievement to commemorate. Yes, the U.S. forces did what they felt they had to do, and I respect their courage and determination for keeping our country safe. But rejoicing in the name of death, no matter who's death it is, seems terribly wrong. And I cannot ignore the emotional discomfort that arose within me as Americans everywhere praised the Lord for the end of Bin Laden's life.
Say to them, 'As I live,' declares the Lord God, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.' | Ezekiel 33:11
I'm sure that after reading this, many people will believe me to be either ignorant or naive. And I admit that I may not be "in the know" about such high-intensity government operations. I don't often follow current events (even though I wish I did), and I wouldn't call myself an extremely political person, by any means. But the knowledge that I do have, accompanied by a few personal beliefs, have given me insight to my own thoughts and opinions on this controversial matter. You may disagree with them, and that is completely fine.

But this isn't the only thing that's troubling me. Putting the morality debate aside, I can't help but wonder what the effects of this whole thing will have on America (and on the rest of the world, even). Although the assassination of Osama Bin Laden appears to signify a step in the right direction—a step towards peace, many would argue—my gut instincts tell me that nothing good will come out of this. That our celebration will be short-lived. Whether I sound completely ignorant or just paranoid, I can't seem to shake the indescribable feeling that something bigger is brewing here, something that we cheerful Americans might not anticipate just yet. But my mind keeps asking one question. Could we possibly be experiencing the calm before the storm?

Photo by Trent Yarnell.
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wanderlust

My dream vacation.

Ever since I first saw The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants when I was thirteen, I've been dying to explore the majestic wonders of Santorini, Greece. Photographs of it's beautiful sunsets, clear-blue waters, and romantic architecture make me believe that there is no other island on Earth as peaceful, timeless, and awe-inspiring. It seems like the perfect location to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and just be, without worldly distractions or worries. As the summertime draws near, I find myself daydreaming more and more about lovely little spots such as this one, in hopes that the time for me to travel will come sooner than I think. If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?

Photo by Tom Grimbert.
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