I know, two blogs in one day is almost overkill, but I really need to vent.

You know that 22 page paper I spent all day writing yesterday, well I failed it. Apparently I should be lucky she didnt give me a zero for the whole paper, but to me I would rather the zero than any other F. To me the zero means I didnt attempt it, but the fact that I have some percentage points means I tried and failed. failed miserably.

I dont think I have ever failed a paper, at least not since I started high school. I am a pretty good paper writer. But this time, she said I wasnt detailed enough. Apparently she wanted a 50 page paper, when her page requirement listed, as a minimum ( and there was no way anyone could have written the paper in this many pages even if the barely tried!) of 8 pages. I know I waited until the last minute to do it, but I looked at every good website and pulled my information from there.

Then, I must not have understood part of her instructions, or she didnt understand what I wrote, and I lost 96 points for one part of the paper.

This was a 600 point paper and I got a 387. I really wish I could drop this class, but the withdrawl deadline has passed. She really tore me apart in her comments about my paper. I mean there were 1 1/2 pages of comments on how horrible my paper was. She was nasty about it. I really want to just give up on this class. I know I cant, because I cant afford a “F” in the class, but i feel so defeated.

Well, thanks for reading if you made it this far, I needed to get it out.

There is something majestic about fireworks. The anticipation, the sky lighting up, the explosions. We got to watch the fireworks in Avalon last night, surrounded by friends. There was no better way to spend the Fourth!

There were a few moments when the band had stopped playing and everything was just still around us and all you heard, and felt, were the explosions. I couldnt help but think about our soldiers who hear this all day, without the benefit of the bright colors and happy feelings fireworks give. I have a friend who I graduated high school with who just came home from Iraq this week. I have another friend who came back earlier this year. I am so grateful for their sacrifice, their bravery, their courage to fight and defend our freedom. I am grateful for all the soldiers and their families.

It was a nice time to reflect.

It was a lot of fun. Which is what I needed after spending almost 10 hours writing a 22 page paper.

It was a fun two days!

While Jessie being here and meeting Chris Kirkpatrick were the highlights of my Red, Hot, and Boom experience, I did get to meet some other pretty famous people. First of all, let me tell you, I was totally not expecting that many people to be there. We didnt even stay for the fireworks because I was afraid we were never going to get out. There were TONS of people.

After watching Mark and James and Kate Voegele, Jessie and I pretty much parked ourselves in front of the DJ Lounge and got to meet all the artists. I was pretty upset that Kate’s manager wouldnt let her take pictures with anyone, but we totally got to talk to her again and she remembered us. Thats always fun!

Its been 3 years since I’ve seen Ryan Cabrera, and while he looks completely different now, I got a picture with him. We also meet Graham Colton, who I meet before when he opened for Kelly Clarkson in ‘05. Two of the guys from Simple Plan signed somethings, and Jessie got a picture with Pierre. We meet Ace Young, from Season 5 of American Idol. He was the sweetest guy ever, seriously. He waited and took his time with all of his fans. It was really nice. And of course we got to talk to Mark, James, Glen, Jordan, and Preston. They are really awesome guys.

If you arent already, you should all plan on coming next Sunday night to BackBooth to see Mark and James!

So its been a fun few days. I get to babysit Madison tonight and meet a few of Josh’s friends who are staying overnight with us. So today should be good to.

And to top it off, after 4pm today I am officially on vacation until next Saturday!

TTFN

Karen

I had a very productive, funfilled day.

I will blog all about it within the next few days but for now I have to tell you all that Glen Samuels is my favorite person in the whole world because he went and got Chris Kirkpatrick- the guy from NSYNC to come over and take a picture with me, kelly and katie. Don’t believe me, check it out:

That is the only adjective that seems to fit right now.

God is so amazing… let me list the ways

* I didnt kill anyone last night with my cooking!

* People actually liked my cooking. Thanks to Barry for the pepporoni in the lasagna idea, it was a huge hit!

* I raised enough money to meet my goal! I am so thankful and grateful for all of you who came!

* We got the house!

* Did I mention that we got the house? Oh yeah and they are leaving a bed, so I get a free bed and dresser out of the deal!

* My friend Jessie will be here in 2 DAYS!!!

* I get to see Kate Voegele, Mark and James, and Ryan Cabera in 2 days as well!

* I have enough money to cover tithe(duh), rent at my old place, deposit on  the new place, and my credit card bill so its not late! That is a miracle!

* I am 4 days from vacation!

* WE GOT THE HOUSE!! THE ONE WITH THE BOOKCASES IN MY ROOM!

God is amazing!

TTFN,

Karen

WE GOT THE HOUSE!!!!! DO YOU KNOW HOW HAPPY I AM RIGHT NOW! THIS IS SO EXCITING!

Continue reading ‘Accomplishment’

My throat is so sore it hurts to swallow.

My ears feel like knives are being shoved in them.

I know what is causing this. I spent the weekend running in and out of rain, and between the extremely HOT outside weather and very well air conditioned places.

But would I have changed it, knowing what I know now?

Probably not, well except for the not getting to sleep in my own bed for 3 nights thing. I Had the most amazing weekend with my nephews here. They came up late friday night and I was so happy to see them. It was my three nephews, my sister Sarah, and my mom. Saturday morning we woke up and went and got pictures of baby Isaiah done. He is almost 4 months old and we had no professional pictures yet. They came out amazing. Saturday afternoon I took Donnell to see Go Diego Go! @ the UCF Arena. He loved it! It was really cute, and the stage scenery was amazing.

Sunday, I missed church, which made me sad, but I spent the day at SeaWorld. The look on Donnell’s face when he saw the dolphins was priceless. He was so excited. They have a new Elmo show that was really cute and even Isaiah and CJ sat through it and smiled. My mom and CJ sat in the splash zone at the Shamu Show. I will upload the pictures of my mom trying to hide under the umbrella to avaoid getting wet, it is super funny.

I was sad to see them leave, but happy to have my apartment back. My roomates felt the same way. The baby is cute, until its 4:30 in the morning and he is screaming!

I have a test tonight, but I really need to sleep. I am leaving work early as soon as they have enough coverage to make it through, then dropping off our applications for the house we want. Then its bed time and studying.

I was really happy to see everyone last night, and just another reminder, the Benefit Dinner is next Monday, if you plan on coming(and EVERYONE is invited) just let me know by friday so I can go shopping!

TTFN

Karen

Last night was sooooo much fun. For those of you who could not make it, you missed a great show, and of course all the fun the ensues when a group of us gets together! We went and saw Mark and James perform at Urban Flatts in Winter Park. I recomend checking them out at their myspace page, and listening to some of their stuff.

Anyways, one part of last night really stuck out to me. We were all talking, about what I dont really remember now, but it was one of those conversations that if you walk into it at the wrong moment it can be kinda hysterical. Well thats exactly what our waitress did. She sort of made a face and was like “Whoa” and we all laughed. Some one then asked her if that happened often, her walking in on awkward situations. Her answer was not something I think any of us was expecting. She said that the weirdest conversations she walks into, or the ones that she is the most uncomfortable with are the ones were the people at the table are praying or when a pastor asks her if there is anything they can pray for her about. We all kind of smiled at her and when she walked away we kind of giggled. The thought amongst all of us was ” wow, she has no idea who she is talking to.”

Katie got the idea that on our bills we should write “jesus does love you.” or something along those lines. Not out of mockery, but sincerity. At that point we couldnt exactly turn around and hand her a “one” bracelet, so what else could we do. I wish, now, I would have tried to talk with her more, but I didnt.

I just was not expecting that to happen. I hope our actions both toward her and the ones she observed showed her that “church” people are not at all what she is expecting.

I hope I get an oppurtunity to maybe someday talk with her more about it. I mean, I do know where she works now. Maybe a seed was planted, or maybe she thinks we are all just a bunch of jokesters. I hope it was the former.

So I just wrote a whole blog, and it completly erased, so here I go again!

Today marks the 3 year anniversary of me moving out of my parents home and to Orlando. This time 3 years ago, I was crying in my room unpacking all of my things. I dont know why I was crying, I was so happy to be out of my parents home, but I was scared. I knew NOBODY in Orlando. My friend Katie, who was living with me at the time, was not moving up for another month, I didnt have a job, I was alone. It was really scary. But I made it through that first day, and night ( with the help of my TV).

Today I am two totatlly different people than who I was when I moved up here. I have gone through two transformations. About a year after I moved up here I finally was settling in and making friends. Some of the people I associated with were not the best influence on me, and while there are only two experiences that I totally regret, I was not the person I wanted to me. I was the person they wanted me to be.

And then about 6 months ago, after the darkest time of my life, I started going back to church and I am in the process of changing again. I know the the change now is not complete, and will be an ongoing process, but I am not the same Karen I was in Decemeber. And that makes me really happy.

Last night was community groups, and while I didnt read, I got alot about of it.  John 6-10 has alot of good stories and messages in it. My favorite topic last night was about the women Jesus saved from being stoned. The question posed was  Are you a stoner?  In non biblical times stoning can take many forms. Mostly though, its verbal. I came to the conclusion that there are instances where I would rather me physically stoned than verbally stoned.  There are times were people have said some horrible things to me. I would not wish that one anyone, therefore, I am going to be making an effort not to be a stoner.

 Side note: I think we so should make the stoner shirts! Whoevers idea that is is a genius!

If there are any of you out there who do not watch So You Think You Can Dance, you really should start. It is a really great show. And unlike LOST you can start anywhere and understand what is going on! lol. Last night the Top 20 performed.  So I was going to post the videos of my favorite dances from last nights episode, but youtube has removed them all.  Dumb youtube! But if you want to see some amazing moves, check out the videos from our dance party last night on facebook!

Today has been a weird day. I feel like the only thing that could make it better would be to surround myself with my awesome friends and laugh and joke around, maybe have a dance party like Saturday night.

But I have class tonight… all the way in Cocoa… and after that I should really, really finish my HIV book paper so I can hang out the rest of the week.

I do not even know if I will be able to make it to community groups tomorrow. I am supose to be at the clinic observing until 7. So maybe I will just come late. I do not think I can make it until Sunday without seeing everyone. You guys are like my family now.

And for me that is saying alot.

I know I have let you all see little glimpses into what my family life looked like, but really, I cannot put into words all of my thoughts and feelings on it.  So to have a support system and people who I can hang out with and most importantly be myself around, it is more than I could have ever dreamed of.

Katie’s blog about community pretty much summed up all of my feelings. If you havent read it, you should check it out. It’s pretty amazing!

Other than this wierd funk I am in, and the fact that I really havent felt well in the last few days, life has been getting better. I am really excited out my benefit dinner on June 30th. I sent out Facebook invitations, but if you have anyone, ANYONE else who wants to come please tell them about it. The more the merrier and the more funds we can raise to help Carri. One I get some money flowing in for that, anyone who wants to help me shop is more than welcome to! (Thats the fun part anyways! lol)

Also, if any of you are looking for something to do this Saturday during the day, my friend Stephanie, who some of you met at the LOST party with her daughter Madison, is having her first event at the Orlando Science Center. The event is called Mission: Nutrition and it goes from 11-3. I am really excited for her, but I have to work, so I cant go. ( I may sneak away from work to go check it out) But she really has thought of everything. It is “spy themed” and they are having Edible basic training, Spy yoga, health assesments, and more. There is more information at the Science Center website. So if your looking for something different to do check it out!

Well thats my blog for today. I cant wait to see you all, hopefully sooner rather than later. I hope you are all having an amazing week, considering it is only Tuesday :). 

TTFN

Karen