What should I do with this?

I'm back! I've had a really busy past couple of weeks, which is good, I guess. But not much time for blogging. I also don't have much to write about except for boring work stuff. My job is not always as exciting and "designer-y" as one might think. Which is why I sometimes like to get into little crafty projects at home to release some creative energy.

So, I have this funky old window frame that I just don't know what to do with. It's kindof an interesting shape, which I love, but I can't seem to think of a way to make it more interesting. I need ideas! And, that's where you come in, people who read my blog.

I've thought of getting one of those personalized vinyl stickers to put on it (see here). Or I could just leave it as-is. I would be open to any suggestions you might come up with, so let me know your thoughts!

Here is the object in question:

Wildcatz 4 Life.

Me & Jeffrey (my smartest friend) with Willy the Wildcat. ACU Graduation 2007.

The other night I was talking to some friends from my church about ACU. Someone asked me if there were a lot of "shady" things that happened at a private "Christian" school. (most of the people I was talking to went to A&M, and had to deal with being a minority of dedicated Christians in a huge state school). I think they imagined it being like any old private school were the "C" in the title is the extent of the Christian influence. Like a lot of private Christian universities that are now only renowned for their party school reputation.

I didn't really know what to say to that. How do you explain the ACU Bubble to someone who's never been in it? I wanted to explain how ACU is different, how they have a worship service with over 1,000 people every day of the week. How people have devotionals and pray openly in the middle of class. Or how the school invited and welcomed a bus full of protesting and angry gay rights activists to join them in discussion with love, not animosity. Or how thousands of students spend their spring breaks on mission trips all over the country. I wanted to tell them about how much fun trying to find something fun to do in Abilene can be, and how everyone knows about people like Kool, No Shoes, The Piano Man, Ruth and Mary Ann, and Squeaky the Perpetually Pregnant Sonic Girl. How you can't walk across campus without seeing someone you know. And how Abilene itself has all these unique and interesting quirks that make it such a perfect college town. And SING SONG, well, that might be too hard to explain to anyone. I could go on and on, and probably already have, to those who aren't such ACU enthusiasts.

Please, don't let me lose you by being too ACU praise-happy. I realize that it's not a perfect place, believe me. However, there is something about ACU that is different than other overpriced Christian universities. And that is it's undeniable dedication to teach faith that will prepare it's graduates to change lives. I only say this because I have never experienced a place where I felt so surrounded by Christian love than at ACU. If ACU has a problem, it would be that it is almost too sheltered and doesn't really reflect the experiences we encounter in the real world. (However I don't view that as a problem, but a blessing). I know it's not all blue skies & rainbows (I miss that song). But it will always be remembered by me as a light hearted and peaceful place. It's like my Shire. So, I do get a little defensive when ACU is cornered into the same category as...some other schools.

I mean really. There is no other place on earth where it is ok for macho college boys to wear tights and makeup while doing ridiculous arm motions to songs that they made up while not only keeping, but DEFENDING their pride....I had to post this video to anyone who doesn't know what I'm talking about. Sing Song is probably the funnest, most competitive, and oddest thing I've ever participated in. And I loved it. Please let the record show that my club, Sigma Theta Chi, won this year hands down (not Alpha Kai). And please note that my favorite cousin-in-law, Elliott "Galaxy" Wood, is the Joker and has the best laugh I've ever heard.



So, this post is dedicated to ACU, with love. I miss you, old friend. Three Cheers for the Purple and White. http://www.acu.edu/

do-do-do lookin out my back door...

(I know my Dad will appreciate that little CCR reference :)

Well, I thought it was about time I did a blog post about my apartment.

I know I talk about how much I dislike Dallas a lot, but I really like where I live. I love coming home to my little apartment. It feels good to have 700 sf that I can call my own. I lucked out when I leased my place because my apartment came with a bonus back yard of sorts. It's really just a little piece of land that has grass, trees, and a little "creek" which I'm guessing is a sewage or drainage ditch for the city, but I choose to think of it as a creek.

It's really very private because not too many people know it's there although sometimes neighbors will use it for volleyball or frisbee. Most of the time it's just a quiet little oasis for birds & squirrels. I know it may seem like a silly thing to cherish, but if you've lived in an apartment in the city you know how rare a patch of grass and trees are for a view. Usually it's your neighbor's window, or a busy street.

So, looking out my back door is actually a pleasant experience. This weekend was such a lovely change from the cold weather, I couldn't resist the view and took the opportunity to hop the fence and snap some shots of my "back yard." In addition, I wanted to give those who haven't been here a "tour" of my apartment, so I took a few pics inside as well.

Lookin out my back door:

The Creek

Such a pretty day - I love how blue the sky looks in this one.

Stepping stones
This fallen tree is the perfect sitting spot. Please don't comment on how white my legs are, I'm fully aware.

My apartment building looking from the creek.

My back porch. Yeah, I know my plants are all dead, and those pumpkins are from Fall, they probably need to be thown away.

Living room - I love my green sofa! Although I had to wait a few months for it (as did my old roomie, Andrea - thanks for being patient)

This TV stand has stood the test of time. Whoever put it together must have known what they were doing.

This is my favorite coffee table book. Have I mentioned that I love coffee table books?

Dining area - this is the one wall that I painted. And my friend, Sara, helped distress my table & chairs, although you can't really tell in this pic.

My tiny kitchen - it's pretty much only big enough for one person, which is ok most of the time, but kinda stinks when I have company.

Bedroom - where the sleep happens. Have I mentioned that I love sleep?
These 2 prints above my bed are my favorite things about my bedroom. I saw them a long time ago in this antique store in Longview and really liked them, but couldn't afford them. But my mom surprised me with them for my birthday! (and my aunt Teresa, who knew how much I liked them, played a mean trick on me by pretending that she bought them for herself which wasn't funny)

And here's the bathroom. Pretty basic, but it does the job.

That completes the tour. I hope you enjoyed it, if you made it all the way through with out getting bored. But, I like seeing other people's homes, so I hope you like seeing mine.

OK, this is a SERIOUS P.S. - I just got the OK to tell people that....I'm going to be an AUNT!!! I've been holding in that information for WAY too long and it's finally out! Yes, Erin is prego! Wow, it feels soooo good to finally be able to say it since she's been cruelly making the family keep it a secret. She's due at the end of August! That's my birth month. I'm seriously SO excited. I'm going to be the funnest aunt of all the fun aunts that ever lived. Get ready, little sugar baby niece/nephew. I love you!