life.

had an interesting conversation with my aunt yesterday, on the way back from taking my mom to the airport....

She told me about this movie called "What the Bleep do we know!" and it's something about the connection between quantum physics and spirituality.

now it seems to me that my aunt is into Buddhistic stuff...she's got Chinese coins hanging random places in her house.

she mentioned how this one guy did this experiment with water, like looked at it at an atomic or close to it level, and that was the control group. then he thought "happy thoughts" toward it, and it did stuff, and then thought "angry thoughts" toward it, and it did other stuff. And she was like, our body's about 70% water, right? so what would that do to our body?

and we were talking about how some people are really critical, especially in our family (or is everyone's like that?), and maybe it does something....i was like, well it's like it says in Proverbs, "a cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken/crushed spirit dries up the bones."
she also was talking about how hypocritical some church ppl are, like judging and whatnot.

this is my recollection of the conversation anyway.

we need to do something about that. like do we just accept people as they are without challenging them to change? Severson did a lecture last week, and maybe it was there or chapel or somewhere that I heard/thought something along these lines. God doesn't ask of us to change before coming to Him: "I need to read my Bible more before I can come to God"...."I need to clean up my act before I talk to God...." But really, we just need to come to Christ as we are, and let him do the changing.

give feedback!

Boston

Today my mom and I went into Boston....we went first to Harvard, where I remembered fond times with Erin and the Gaithersburg people from in the fall. We walked down to Mr. Bartley's Burgers, where we took a bunch of pictures. I bought some amazing pajama pants (Life is Good, with skiers on them) at the Harvard bookstore, and a birthday present for my brother (in June) at the Curious George bookstore...

(the burger sign we took pictures of)

Oh, and I almost left my Citizen's Bank ATM card at a bank up in Cambridge. Yeah.

Upstairs from that bookstore, there are some law offices (picture below). LOL (say the names out loud for the full effect: "Do we cheat 'em, and how?")

(the window)

We went back to Downtown Crossing, where we looked around in Filene's Basement, ate lunch, and walked around in a circle so I could show my mom the proximity to Park Street.

I'm realizing now how rather flexible I am....if that's the word. It doesn't bother me about some stuff (which I can't remember what examples I was going to use), and riding the T doesn't quite faze me.

Tonight I'm ushering for the play (yay I get to see it again for free), and tomorrow after church, Mom and I are going to Aunt Lori's for lunch and the afternoon. This morning we ate breakfast at the Egg and I with Kerri and her mom, which was fun.

quotations...!

Talking to Suzanne while she was behind Spange: "How can we find you if you're hiding?" (erm, isn't that the point?)

Me: "If you ever need ribbon, I have a bunch."
Rachel: (no response, then...) "Did I respond to you? Cuz I did in my head"

Magon: "Marie, that's a really nasty looking something something on your spoon."
"We could change our name to Eastern Mormon College"...Matt: "5 rings by spring or your money back!"

<-- Google backwards!

Goings-on of Thursday:
~went to Severson's lecture on cities of refuge and "the church as asylum"
~saw The Blue Light and other stories....GO SEE IT! IT's AMAZING!!!
~talked to Ann who went to Belize with me...I miss them so much....hopefully I'll see her next week and we'll go find people (ahem) during open dorms bwahaha.
~playing cards in Spange...and Sam and I doing tricks that no one else knew:

Shawn: "I'm going to go find someone else Nazarene and get them to explain it to me"

Shawn: "I have no idea what I just said, i'm so tired, stuff just came out of my mouth"
Sam: "Like spit?"

Awww....I was reading an article online about Romanian orphanages, and they had a picture of this little girl peeking from behind a chair. She was so adorable...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060217/sc_nm/orphans_dc
Yeah. Just thought I'd share with you....it was an interesting article too.

****edit****
Oh wow had some interesting adventures tonight....I rode the T into South Station, only to find out my mom was almost back at North Quincy, which I then went to...We got a ride from the hotel shuttle (driven by a Brazilian!), and went to the hotel for a little bit, then I caught the shuttle again back to the T, and went back to ENC.

I also got to talk to Olivia, part while I was in CVS, and part once I got back. It was good to talk to her. :)

Oh! my mom brought me lots of goodies...I'm most excited about a bunch of black ballpoint pens, my Joe Holt CD, laundry quarters, and my "portfolios" of sorts (my compilation of stories/papers I've written since I was a kid up to pre-graduating).

A whole bunch of us hung out in Spange tonight, and it was a lot of fun...

Cameron: "So, Jess, how bout that quiz today? It really ATE MY LUNCH!"

"Let's get mugged together!" (the idea of going on a TWIRP/MOP date to the T station)

Ben: "Who has my hat?"
Josh: "Jocelyn doesn't have it!"

Erin: "It looks like one of those...what are they called?....Ritz sandwiches"

Erin: "Jocelyn, you're the reason I get up in the morning"
Joe: "Is she that loud?"

snow!

Lots and lots of snow! Church was cancelled for a lot of us, so last night I heard about how a bunch of us were doing church down in Spange. So that was at 11 am.

Sam and Jamison played their guitars and we sang a bunch of worship songs....Prince of Peace, You Are Worthy of My Praise, Holy is the Lord, How Great is our God, Enough, The More I Seek You, Your Love is Deep, and I think that was about it.

We read Psalm 119: 1-16, and also talked about being "perfect." The dictionary says perfect means to have fulfilled your purpose. "So if someone asks if I'm the perfect child, yeah! I am my parents' child." Then we sorta talked about Tom Oord's message a bit (I need to get my chapel notes up on here), and Arielle read another passage that fit right in.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55: 9-11)

It was a really good time, and if church is cancelled again due to snow, I think we should do it again. I'm not saying that we should have a college-age only church, because then we lose out on what the other generations can teach us.

ice cream!

What more can you ask for in a twenty-four hour period? Expected snow (not too excited about that one), ice skating, and ice cream with friends.

A whole mess of us went to Friendly's tonight: Marie, Sarah, Nate, Jeff, Rebekah, Hilary, Andrew, Magon, and Shawn. Marie, Sarah, Nate and I were at a table together, and we got the "Crowd Pleaser" I think that's what it was called. Twelve scoops. Six toppings. Four friends. Seven minutes. Heck yes.

Seven minutes later, the ice cream had been devoured.

And then we walked back to campus.

(Shawn and Magon)

We all sang Happy Birthday to Andrew, accompanied by Sarah playing the violin (which kinda made it sound depressing).

My church cancelled services....and I found this out by listening to a song on the church's answering machine. (To the tune of "Let it Snow")
"Oh the weather outside is frightful, but to me it's so delightful; and since we've got lots of snow, stay at home, read the word, we're cancelling services." Haha. Which means, I'll be sleeping in tomorrow, and probably doing some more studying. I really don't want to do my calc homework. Oh well.

ice skating

Ice skating was a lot of fun....I fell a lot haha.

(Magon took this picture of Shawn and I)

We had a massive carpool over--our van, driven by Dutch, had someone in every single seat. We were squooshed.

I had to rent guy's skates because they didn't have any big enough for me. It took me a while to get the hang of it again, and even then, I kept falling. I kept wanting to lean on the back of my feet, which isn't a good idea.

(Me tightening my skate)

Lots of people were just zipping around, which is what I may have done had I had more practice. Most of the time, I would skate around very slowly by myself, and occasionally people skated along with me and we talked...like Heather, Nate, and Sarah.

Jamison: "You can understand a person, but you can't understand people."

people and holiness

Somehow I've turned into a sort of tutor for Physical Science for a bunch of the girls in my class. Which basically means to me, I have to keep ahead of the game/material, and not slack off (despite desperately wanting to) so that then I can teach them. I guess it's good preparation for eventual teaching?

Our chapel speaker, Dr. Tom Oord, was really good. He talked about the idea of "Christian perfection" aka "holiness" aka [insert some other almost-Christianese word here]. I've been having trouble understanding the idea and what it means to me. I mean, I've thought that sanctification is giving your life to God and just following more after Him. Dr. Oord worded a misinterpretation of it like this: As a kid, you want to try to climb up the slide. You try it, you get a little ways, and then you slide back down. Maybe your shoes weren't quite right, maybe you didn't have a good enough grip. And then you start again from the beginning.

But he described it as being on an adventure. You set out, and each step you go in the right direction gives you a bunch more choices. It's not like Chutes and Ladders (my illustration) where one "mis-step" takes you back. You're just still in the same place, but maybe not where you should be.

Now, as for what this means for me...I want to follow after God, and do what he wants, but I'm not sure exactly what God has in store for me. I definitely need to work more on having some sort of quiet time with God, since I'm somewhat slacking in that area.

Joel: "And then Becky ran into the road...."
Becky: "No, I ran into Pudge!"

If any of you are curious, Queen Anne's County, as of the 2000 Census, had 40,563 residents, and Centreville, the town where my high school was/is, has 1,970 residents. I graduated in a class of about 225, according to my senior sweatshirt.

brain stretched!

I just got back from being in the library for two and a half hours! What was I doing, you ask? TWO CALCULUS PROBLEMS! Nate and I were working on them...it took us one hour to do the first one (15 mins were spent just trying to figure out what to do), and we're still not done the second one.

They involved a lot of "basic" but a lot of algebra, and if Nate hadn't been there helping me out--we doublechecked each other's work, contributed ideas, and talked a little too--it would've taken a lot longer and wouldn't have been as fun. Plus I got to discover the magazine section, which means I can read back issues of magazines and not have a subscription...BUT...I can't check them out of the library. Boo.

Yeah, tonight was a pretty good night. Sarah G. shared with me some of her quotes from her Sociology textbook that make you want to go, "duhhhh..."

~"when we say that something is the cause of something, we are saying that something makes something else happen....."
~definition: TIME ORDER: A cause must occur before its effect
~"the taller kids are older and older kids read better!"
~"Law of Liking: Participation in common activities (exchanges) causes people to like one another"
~"we cannot choose what is unavailable..."
~"choices are guided by our preferences and tastes"(... i learned this when i was 2)
~"Because within any given culture and even among people very similarly socialized, there remains an immense amount of latitude for individual choices, even for those whose behavior remains within the norms."

Goodnight all!

"Valentine" themed entry

Currently I am holding an IM conversation with Cupid. Yes indeed. It's fun messing with the head of someone who's not even real. Here's the entire thing:

randomjess9: hi
Cupid: Hi I'm Cupid! Let me stir up some flirtatious fun. U can Send IM Crushes and play Love Games by typing Menu. Type Privacy anytime to review the policy. To receive real time IM Crushes & Love Alerts, type Y (yes) and hit send.
randomjess9: boo
Cupid: Um. Wrong holiday.
randomjess9: sorry
Cupid: It's O.K. I'll give you another chance.
randomjess9: are you a real person?
Cupid: Are you?
randomjess9: geez this sounds like my philosophy class
Cupid: Good-bye broken hearted and say hello to a new you. Here are a couple IM ideas to make every day just LOVE'ly.
randomjess9: obviously you are a mythological creature parading hidden behind technology
Cupid: I am indeed.
randomjess9: lol
Cupid: I'm glad I could make you smile.
randomjess9: what's your name?
Cupid: Ah -- you've got me again. Why don't you type menu.
randomjess9: no
Cupid: Well, we won't get very far with this conversation then will we?
randomjess9: nope
Cupid: Ug. No?
randomjess9: i just want to test this whole IM bot deal
Cupid: Interesting. Type menu.
randomjess9: why do I have to type that?
Cupid: Just do it already.
randomjess9: why?
Cupid: Excuse me?
randomjess9: why are you commanding me to type it?
Cupid: Yes.
randomjess9: you're not a real person. you've just got programmed answers
Cupid: I'm sorry? I'm new to this whole IM thing.
randomjess9: clearly.
Cupid: Can I ask YOU something?
randomjess9: shoot
Cupid: Do you have a date for V-Day?
randomjess9: the correct response to a Why? question is not yes or no
Cupid: Not cool. I'm here to help. You can send a crush to somone to let them know you like them or even find love anew!
Now type one of those commands and I'll try to do my magic.
randomjess9: i never answered your question you know
Cupid: You got it! That's great!
randomjess9: no i didn't!
Cupid: Mm hm. Such negativity. You are in need of a date!
randomjess9: oh? because I'm sitting at my computer talking to a freaking BOT?
Cupid: Well, I won't argue with you on that.
randomjess9: you sound like a Magic 8 Ball
Cupid: Express yourself online and be sassy! Here are a couple IM ideas to make every day just LOVE'ly.
randomjess9: ha
randomjess9: I already am
Cupid: Take a moment, collect your thoughts, and try asking me another way. O.K. ?
Cupid: Indeed
randomjess9: that wasn't a question
Cupid: Pardon me?
randomjess9: I didn't ask you a question
Cupid: Sorry, I didn't get that.
randomjess9: right
Cupid: Can I ask YOU something?
randomjess9: yes, now that you're asking me again, though that is a question in itself
Cupid: Which color are you more partial to? Can tell a lot about someone's love ability by color.
1 -- Black
2 -- White
3 -- Rose
4 -- Beige
randomjess9: you didn't even make that a complete sentence
Cupid: Oh well. Never mind then. I figured you were a lame lover.
randomjess9: fine then. rose.
Cupid: Great.
randomjess9: aren't you supposed to tell me about my love ability?
Cupid: May I ask you a question?
randomjess9: you already did
Cupid: Why did you say that?
randomjess9: grr
Cupid: Pardon me?
randomjess9: onomatopoeia
Cupid: Ah -- you've got me again. Why don't you type menu.
randomjess9: you have a rather limited vocabulary
Cupid: Can I ask YOU something?
randomjess9: YES FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!
Cupid: Have you signed up for alerts from The Musicnowplaylist Bot?
randomjess9: no. and I'm not going to.
Cupid: Dude, get with the program, talk to Themusicnowplaylist bot and opt in for daily music!
randomjess9: i'm not a dude.
Cupid: I'm sorry? I'm new to this whole IM thing.
randomjess9: heck yes you are
Cupid: Am I?
randomjess9: what is love?
Cupid: Take a moment, collect your thoughts, and try asking me another way. O.K. ?
randomjess9: ok
randomjess9: Is God real?
Cupid: Good.
Cupid: It doesn't matter what faith you are; love is a good thing
randomjess9: what about Allah?
Cupid: Why did you say that?
randomjess9: just testing you
Cupid: Can I ask YOU something?
randomjess9: can you stop asking questions like that?
Cupid: Have you sent an IM crush to anyone on AIM?
randomjess9: why?
Cupid: May I ask you a question?
randomjess9: YES
Cupid: Which color are you more partial to? Can tell a lot about someone's love ability by color.
randomjess9: rose
Cupid: Lovely. Just checking. Rose. Looks great on you. Sounds nice too . Rose, to me means you are grounded in the natural but are are a unique sole that stands apart. Type find love and I'll try to match you up with somone who gets it.
randomjess9: white
Cupid: Cool! Now we are getting somewhere.
randomjess9: do you have wings?
Cupid: Excuse me?
randomjess9: do you have wings? you know, it helps you fly?
Cupid: OK, I hear you. So, Cupid on AIM is a bot that allows you to participate in real-time game of Internet tag, play games and search for love. To use Cupid all you have to do is opt in by following the instructions.
randomjess9: tag?
Cupid: Interesting. Type menu.
randomjess9: what about something else?
Cupid: Sorry, I didn't get that.
randomjess9: unem
Cupid: Can I ask YOU something?
randomjess9: yes
Cupid: Do you have a date for V-Day?
randomjess9: not that i know of
Cupid: Whew!
randomjess9: what, Cupid needs a date?
Cupid: Enter a valid 5 digit zip-code and Cupid will find people looking for love near you.
randomjess9: no
Cupid: Please enter a valid 5 digit zip. Would you like to try again?
randomjess9: no
Cupid: Main Menu --
Looking to get something started? Pick one:
***You have 1 Live crush(es). Type live to see.***
1 - Play Cupid Tag -- Send an IM Crush to friends
2 - Listen to Love Songs
3 - Find Love
4 - Play Games
randomjess9: live?
Cupid: Sorry, I didn't get that.
randomjess9: live
Cupid: Tag you are it! With these clues, can you guess who I am?
1 - This past U.S. election I:
None of the above!
2 - If I had a million dollars, I'd:
Pay off my debts and invest the rest
3 - If I could have one superpower, I would want to be able to:
Fly
Type in a screenname to guess who it is:
Cupid: Nope, that's not it. Try again.
randomjess9: no
randomjess9: I want a hint
Cupid: Why did you say that?
Cupid: Tag you are it! With these clues, can you guess who I am?
1 - This past U.S. election I:
None of the above!
2 - If I had a million dollars, I'd:
Pay off my debts and invest the rest
3 - If I could have one superpower, I would want to be able to:
Fly
Type in a screenname to guess who it is:
randomjess9: help
Cupid: Nope, that's not it. Try again.
randomjess9: maybe I'll succumb
Cupid: Nope, that's not it. Try again.
randomjess9: duh
Cupid: Nope, that's three times and you could not guess who it was. If you come back on Feb. 14 we will reveal all of your crushes. Just go to your Crush history. Now type menu to get back to the main menu.
Here's a Cupid task that's a lot easier than this one -- Opt-in for playlists. No guesswork necessary.
randomjess9: how do I get to my crush history?
Cupid: OK, now you can participate in the biggest online tag game ever and send anonymous IM crushes through Cupid. Its fun, easy and free! You can always send an IM crush but to receive them and other notices from Cupid you have to opt in. If you have more questions about crushes and tag you can type info.
Do you want to be included in Cupid's IM tag and Alerts?
randomjess9: info
Cupid: Hmm, you have to select either option -- Yes or No -- it's not that hard!
randomjess9: no
Cupid: OK, no problem. You will not be added to Cupid's "OK to tag" list on AIM. You can opt in any time and you can still send IM crushes, play games and search for love! Type main to get started.
randomjess9: it really is that hard
randomjess9: bye
Cupid: Mm hm.
Cupid: TTYL. Don't forget to tag somone!