2006!

Welcome to the new year!

I'll back up a few weeks: over Christmas the Pautsch's and us went up to Lutsen to ski for a few days. Ski conditions were great and there were very few people on the hills (never had to wait in line for the lifts, which is a first). And it was nice and warm (yes, 34 is considered warm). www.apautsch.blogspot.com has Adam's video of himself skiing down the 'easy' mountain (well compared to the black diamonds we took on later, my dad and brother even did a few double black diamonds) He passes me at one point, i'm wearing red and grey. It was a really fun vacation. When I get back to school I'll add some pictures.

New Years Eve was pretty low key, I got to see Lindsey which was great because she is spending the next few weeks in London and Paris!! That lucky traveler! I'm sure she'll have an amazing time, I only wish I could go too! :)

Now, a few days into the new year I am trying my best to study for this Exam P that will be in February. Bah, these questions are hard. I will be working a few more Wild games at the Excel doing concessions before I head back to Drake.
Speaking of this next semester, my classes hopefully won't be as hard. Which will be good because then I can study for the Exams. A bunch of companies are coming to Drake at the beginning of February to interview for jobs/internships. I really really want an internship this summer!

My Roommates!

Roommates!

Here we are! Don't we look cute!
Megan, Laura, Laura, and me!
Oh how I love my roommates! What fun we have!

My 20th Birthday

My birthday

Wow, 20 is so old! Ah well, it feels good to be 20. My roommates took me out to dinner at TGIFridays, where the waitstaff proceded to tie balloons in my hair.
My roommates also decorated my desk with balloons - very fun.
By the way, FaceBook is great for birthdays because everyone can know its your birthday without you having to say "hey, it's my birthday ya know."
My birthday was filled with classes, 'nerd group', dinner, and then IV. We had InterVarsity in a new location, so that meant dragging over all our equipment. It started snowing, it was soooo pretty! We had a few implusive snowball fights before and after IV. :)
Moving back the equipment because of all the snow was difficult, but it was kinda fun actually.
So that was the big day.

David Crowder Band Concert

David Crowder Concert

Here we are at dinner before the concert. Jessica still has to send me pictures from the actual concert! That's Susie, me, Jessica, Danielle, and Laura.
The David Crowder Band concerts are AMAZING - probably the most fun I've had all year. You all should go see them when they're on tour again in February: the 25th in Minneapolis and the 26th here in Ames!

Nehemiah Project: raking leaves

We went to rake leaves for October's Nehemiah Project. It's a service project we do through InterVarsity once a month. That's Danielle, Me, Christian, and Laura.
At this last house we made a huge pile and jumped in it. Then the new game was trying to climb up their tree (don't worry we asked for permission) - which CT was successful at, but Mike just couldn't get up there. Crazy boys.


Nehemiah Project: raking leaves

This was actually last weekend, but since I haven't updated this blog in a while, here it is!

Volleyball Tounament at Nebraska-Lincoln

Drake Club Volleyball went to their first tournament this weekend at University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Here's the team we brought: (back row) Sarah, Jaclynn, Katie (mid row) Natalie, Rachel, Lucy, Laura, Me, Megan, and then Kelsey. The other teams that came were: Colorado State, Kansas State, Iowa, Iowa State, and Nebraska.


Volleyball Tournament at University Nebraska - Lincoln

It was lots of fun - we stayed friday night at the Hotel 8 (classy joint) and then went to IHOP for breakfast, it was Natalie's first time, she was really excited.


We had pool play until 4pm (way too long, Nebraska, let's not do that again) and our team placed 4th out of 5. So we were set to play University of Iowa A team (seeded first in their pool) and we almost beat them, it was really close.
So, other than the fact that I had a nasty cold all day, I had lots of fun playing.

Fall Break was fun - I went up to the land of 10,000 lakes to spend some time with family. It was my Grandparents' 50th Anniversery on Saturday, so we went out to dinner and looked though their wedding album, etc. 50 years is a long time, and so rare in today's society, it really is something to be celebrated! I also got to go shopping - I was suprisingly successful! Monday I studied the day away (the rest of the house was at school or work). Tuesday, I left after lunch.
I am frustrated with school right now and I feel like I don't have any time during which I don't have to do anything. Every bit of time not in class I feel obligated to be studying (legitimately because I am not prepared for my classes yet, let alone tests). Like right after I am done with this I'll probably go to the library for the rest of the day until InterVarsity. I feel like I need a break - which is ironic because I just had Fall Break. However mentally that didn't give me a break, I am still consumed by my Acts Sci work and Business Law (evil class, don't ever take it). I wish I could grasp the acts sci stuff easier, but I don't. I am looking forward to the end of the semester, just to be done with some of these classes. I don't think I am meant to be a student for 8 years or whatever those really ambitious people who become doctors do :). I commend those who can do that.

Well, I apologize that I sound really depressing - it's not all that bad. I have great roommates and a nice room (although occasionally this semester they shut off our water for no reason). Other things are going well - InterVarsity and such. Okay here's a story (per Lindsey):

I went to a corn maze! I decided to embrace my Iowan residency and take a journey through the corn. We got there at sunset, so most of the maze was in the pitch black :) which I think is the best way to enjoy it. It wasn't haunted (where they put college kids out in the corn who jump out and scare you, etc) but I was able to freak myself out - it felt like the movie Signs, where there are aliens in the corn! Anyways, so that was fun, my facebook picture is from that. Isn't that so funny, now when we see funny/cute pictures we're like "oh, that's a facebook!"


We're stuck in the corn maze!

This weeekend is Deeper-er, InterVarsity's fall conference. (Which, if Michael Derrick were involved with IV on his campus, he'd be coming too) It should be a fun time.

BYE

Good News

Hey

At Actuarial Evening on Thursday, I was talking with the ladies from St. Paul Travelers and they offered me an interview Friday morning. Now, I was a bit shocked because the interview morning was primarily for dec/may grads looking for full-time work. I am a sophomore looking for an internship. But, it does mean they like me :) yea! So I went to that, I was a bit nervous because I would have liked to prepare a little bit for the interview, but I also had a math test that friday for which I hadn't studied for. I think the interview went pretty well, I was myself and that's all I can do. I forgot to ask what'll happen next: will they call me, or should I not expect to hear anything until Spring, or do they not want another interview, or will I get a second interview in the Spring??? Hopefully I'll find out soon here.

Now, here comes a weekend full of Acts/Sci work....again.
Bye!

Actuarial Evening is coming...

Thursday, September 29th
Parents Hall, Olmsted
Drake University, Des Moines, IA

Okay, that's making it too big of a deal. But it will be a good night I think. We all dress up (business cas) and go meet with the representatives from many of the companies who hire actuaries. There are about 15 - 20 companies that will be there. Basically you try to make a good impression and have them remember you so that when it comes time for them to hire an intern this summer, they'll remember you and give you an internship. So let's hope I make a good impression. It's a little stressful, but it should be better than last year because I have more class experience and will be taking an Exam in February. That'll look good.


Well, wish me luck -

Bye

Wow, it's Sunday already. That weekend sure did fly by. Then again, I have been spending hours at the library. I really like studying there, I've found this nice old room, very ivy-league feeling :) and I get a suprising amount of work done.
Yesterday was InterVarsity's first Nehemiah Project of the year. We cooked a hearty pancake and egg breakfast in Jewett and then headed off for E 14th Street to paint the exterior of this latino family's trailer home. More than 30 showed up to help, and we got the project done in less than 3 hours. It was a great turnout and a great time of community. The family had two lovely little girls and they were very appreciative of our work. We took a bunch of pictures, I'll put some up later.
Oh, I also brought back a fish from home :) It's one of the goldfish from the pond. My parents keep telling me that its okay if he dies because they weren't going to have room for all the fish in the aquarium for the winter. We named him Gilbert. He's trying to settle in, I'm not sure he'll make it very long :( ah well.
Our room has endeavored to complete another jigsaw puzzle, at least this one is prettier than the last.
I'm reading Obsessed by Ted Dekker. I really like his books - although I didn't like Blink so much because I didn't like it that he stole her away from the man she loves. And I don't think it'll ever work out between the two. Black, Red, and White are good ones.
Oh, I also just recently finished Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller. Its a very good book, I recommend it.
Here's a funny line from it: "I can no more understand the totality of God than the pancake I made for breakfast understands the complexity of me."

My family sent me the DVD of Brian Regan. So funny! Here are some of my favorites (if you've seen him, you'll get it):
"ER, we have a three fig newton eater" - "How many did he have?! Is he nuts? Doesn't he read?"
"Don't ever try to tell a 2-wisdom tooth tale because the 4-wisdom tooth guys are going to parachute in and cut you off at the pass. Halt, halt with your 2-wisdom tooth tale."