I don't want to do this anymore.

One Letter, Three Times Better.

 When I was looking for a college I was adamantly opposed to attending a university that was foolish enough to allow Greek life on their campus. It isn’t that I was opposed to olive colored skin and dark hair, I actually think both of those qualities are attractive, I just didn’t think fraternal life fostered good things. I imagined judging and cattiness and vanity and arguments could be the only by-products of joining a sorority. Well, granted I now attend a very different school than what I first wished to attend, but I’m not so opposed to sororities as I used to be. A big factor in that could be that I joined one….

I say all the time that Oglethorpe is strange—it is—because things here are not the same as they would be other places. Life in general here not to mention Greek life is different and I love it. I can’t imagine being at home anywhere else. Repetitive much? I’m not sure how to defend sorority life, Ogle-greek life, to those who are only familiar with traditional Greek life. Then again, I don’t really need to defend myself.

                Every once in a while my sisters and I will get on a kick about what exactly tri-sigma is to us. Almost every time it is a story revolving around sisterhood. The best way for me to describe what sigma is to me is this: Tri-Sigma is what is left surrounding, protecting, and loving me even after the world has crumbled away from me. We’re family. We may have a spat or an attitude for a second or two, but we always love each other and we always get over it once we have a second to calm down. My sisters have been a game changer in my life and I feel so incredibly blessed to have them in my life. It is a safe place for freak flags to fly high as well as a place of the posher ones of us to be snazzy and stuff. (I’m more flag flyer than posh….)

                Well, recruitment for new sisters is almost over and I have to admit that I have been loving it and hating it. I love that I get to spend time with my sisters working towards a common goal. We may not do things in the smoothest fashion, but we tend to have fun with what we do even if it is rushed and slightly skewed. :) like tonight when during our slideshow of our sisterhood the music wouldn’t play. Sooo we started singing the song that was supposed to be playing—Lean On Me. We all were slightly sad it didn’t go as planned, but we all LOVED the impromptu sing along. It wasn’t the most put together performance—it was very Sigma. That part of it has been very fun. What I really dislike is trying to figure out whether or not a girl would gel with the group or if she has what it takes to try to live up to our high standards. Let’s all be honest, every Sigma fall short of what our standards actually are, but that doesn’t mean we don’t keep trying every day to live up to them. How do we know if someone is going to keep attempting to live up to them or if she is just going to give up? I always feel judgments aren’t mine to make and I hate trying to discern something that only time can tell. I’m blessed that my sisters care more about a person’s character and potential than they do her clothes, hair, or make-up. I suppose I will just have to tell myself what I tell everyone else: things happen for a reason.

                Anyhow…..Tri-Sigma is: a four a.m. phone call to help you with a rough break up, a couch to sleep on when you’ve been sex-exiled from your shared dorm, help studying for a test, help with your hair before a big date, advice on everything from style to crisis’s, a shoulder to cry on, someone who knows you’re upset before you do, a smile, a hug on a stressful day, an early morning breakfast buddy, and a home away from home.

                Maybe it is a good thing I’ve never had a really close family because it allows me to appreciate this one so much more.  

Six Flags

Today I woke up on the couch of my common room to the sound of my phone’s vibrating alarm telling me it was time to get in the shower. Needless to say I wasn’t ready to wake up let alone get out of my couch-bed so I pressed snooze for a total of 30ish minutes. Soon enough I was washed, groomed (enough), and accomplishing some of my homework while waiting for the ever wonderful Alex Torkildsen to arrive. He was driving down to the city from his home near Kennesaw State University to go with Caitlin and I to Six Flags Over Georgia. Although Alex is extremely frightened by roller coasters, I think I can safely speak for all three of us when I say we had loads of fun. We rolled up and down coasters and giggled and walked. Okay, so it is extremely hard to go to an amusement park and not consume the delectable health horrors that are gladly sold at inflated price. I was unable to resist this urge even though after my supper last night I didn’t want to eat anything—let alone a fried piece of dough covered in ice cream, whipped cream, and strawberry and chocolate syrup. In defense of my eating habits I would like to point out that Alex bought the funnel cake and shared some of it with Caitlin and me so I only ate a little bit of it. IT WAS SOOOO GOOD!

Walking around and underneath all the roller coasters, to help balance out my bad eating choices of late, made me notice and realize something about parks where the main attractions are thrill rides. It seems a large part of the fun, apart from hanging out with loved ones and feeling adrenaline rushes, is whining about how scared you are of a ride. Talking about how scary something is builds up the thrill which in turn builds up the adrenaline rush and makes the joy one feels when you finally walk off the ride alive so much greater. I love the adrenaline rush. Note, when you ride the same ride three times in one day because it is your favorite it no longer is scary and there is no longer an adrenaline rush because you’re afraid—you become accustomed to the threat and the knowledge that it is slightly meaningless.

Best Ride of the Day: the Mindbender—it was really quick but really fast and full of tight loops. (I realized today coasters with loops that are not very tall are my favorite.)

Worst Ride of the Day: the Ninja—do not be fooled by the seemingly lethal and exciting name that sounds like it should be both smooth and terrifying. Although it was terrifying, it wasn’t for the layout of the ride. Your head gets pounded between two headrests so on every turn and twist it feels like someone is boxing you in the ears.

The Triple Coronary Bypass

Yes, I ate that beast. It was awesome...pictures to come.

I like the world more when I sleep

Quite a few people at this school complain heartily about how much they dislike their Core classes for a variety of reasons including there is too much reading and the topics are irrelevant to one's major. Granted Core does require quite a bit of reading, so much that I struggle sometimes to complete all the assignments, but it isn't completely impossible--improbable on occasion. I also suppose one does not need to understand the Odyssey to be a successful chemical engineer; however, I think there are lessons one can learn from Core books such as the Odyssey that are beneficial in any field of study. Core essentially makes Oglethorpe a liberal arts institution which is one of the reasons I wanted to come to ogle-town; although I had no idea what I wanted to major in I knew that I wanted a liberal arts education. Hmm, things to get quite interesting here. One of my professors while explaining how the human body works refers to us being "created" that way while another one of my professors while speaking of the same human body refers to us "evolving" that way. Each professor, seemingly taking for granted the truth of his statement, uses rhetoric that does not allow room for a contrary view point.They make me giggle.

One of the three Core classes I am in this semester is called Art & Culture and plays the role of both an anthropology and an art history class. So far i am greatly enjoying it. All we basically do is discuss paintings, sculptures  and artistic land forms as well as what significance they held in their time period and the significance they hold today. Out class is divided into groups and we've been taking turn presenting pieces of art. Well today it was my turn to present on an oil and canvas painting called The Large Blue Horses by Franz Marc. The piece wasn't controversial nor was it surrounded with folk lore and interesting theories like Stonehenge so needless to say I didn't have much to compete with talking amounts compared to the person who presented on the Stonehenge. Thus, after providing the class with all the details of the painting I began to tell them m own interpretation of the piece based on my research about the artist. Honestly I thought it sounded like a bunch of bull but apparently the professor was okay with it because he said he thought the artist would be pleased with my interpretation. That works. I'm kinda starting to like wondering what an artist was trying to communicate when they painted something though the thought that i can never be sure or 100% correct is quite discouraging if I do say so myself.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Lately my life seems like it is falling into pieces though at the same time falling into place exactly where it should be. I am a strong believer that things happen for a reason and that the majority of the time even bad things can have good outcomes. Fortunately for me, the things that have been happening this past little while have been good things, not bad ones, but they have still been a little painful. Regardless of the pain, I am glad they are happening--not I'm not a masochist either. Remember, there is no such thing as a coincidence. You can give credit to Karma or Mother Nature or a Natural Balance for everything happening for a reason though I know to whom I give credit for it.

Labor Day 2011

Labor Day weekend is always an interesting holiday. Last year I worked on homework and went swimming with a group of my friends. This year I went swimming and worked on homework again. However, the last few days spent in my room pretending to be productive have actually been quite lovely for the following reasons. 1) I’m actually enjoying just about all the class readings I have this semester especially the second of two books we’re reading simultaneously in Core 201. 2) It has been really rather quiet which, although it may be slightly lonely in the weird there-are-people-here-but-I’m-still-lonely kind of way, was a pleasant change. 3) My room finally feels like home. I’m happy to be sitting in my warm bed typing away the insignificant details of my life because I changed the layout of my bedroom. Who would have thought interior decorating could make insignificance so lovely? 4) Did I mention reading a Core book, That Hideous Strength, more for pleasure than for actual homework? I greatly enjoy C.S. Lewis and am so pleased to be reading two of his works for class.

After a lovely and peacefully long weekend it only makes sense that I oughtn’t have anytime during the week. I was looking at my calendar this afternoon only to discover I have an appointment with someone every day but Friday not to mention the events that I am obligated to attend. On the upside, at least I won’t be bored.

Feng Shui

Today I am grateful for sweatpants, good books, lazy weekend afternoons, and my friends. Lately I have been dreading going into my bedroom for some strange reason that I haven’t quite figures out. When I was explaining this to Jos the only thing I could think of was that it just wasn’t very homie. We compared her room to mine, because I love hers and hate mine, to figure out how to make my space more comforting. (It was very sweet of her to take the time to think about it with me.) The consensus we came to was that her room was more cluttered, in an organized way of course, had more things on the walls, and more trinkets in more places. I changed the way my furniture was placed so now my bed is against a wall and my desk is by a window instead of the reverse. Also, instead of all of my trinkets shoved into a few spaces, Jos helped me space them in various places over the room. Another issue we both noticed in my room was that all of the wall hangings in my room were primarily on one side of the room. After the redecoration the bare wall is now less bare. Although I feel silly about the whole thing, my room feels much more pleasant to walk into and, seeing as how before it felt nothing like a home, is a great deal more homie. Thankfully I enjoy walking into my bedroom now though I cannot help wishing for more pictures of people I love. Picture and/or poster ideas?

It is unbelievably nice to get away

The Oglethorpe Student Government Association retreat has been quite lovely so far. We drove a little over an hour away from campus into the rolling foothills. We're staying in a rustic lodge geared towards team building exercises and utilized by many large companies. Although only half of OUr SGA is here, many were detained due to sports and work, we've already begun to develope a vision for the up coming year and have started to gel together as a group. I've intorduced myself to some people I've never met before--yes, there are still people on my small campus I don't know--while becoming closer to people I already know in love. The best part about this weekend, er I mean 28 hour vacation, is getting away from Oglethorpe. There are so many people that I love there, but it has felt suffocating the past few days. There is nothing like staying in a quaint country lodge sorrounded by woods to revive one's heart.

Blessed, so very blessed

Let the record show that on the evening of September 1, 2011 I realized one of my prayers had been answered and one of my problems solved. I’m only making a big deal about this because due to some short sight I rarely ever see and/or notice the things I pray for come to fruition quickly.

It has been a good day filled with appropriate amounts of quiet and noise, though separately the quiet seems to still and the loudness seems obnoxious—I think I’m just being grumpy. I got to spend a good amount of time tonight with my sisters and my boys, both of whom I love very much. They make my heart smile. Classes are going great other than the overwhelming realization that a good portion of your exams and finals and papers are due around boys’ bid day and sigma retreat. My Art & Culture class is especially interesting because it seems very anthropological which is terribly interesting and captivating. However, the professor sharply dismisses any and every thought of the existence of an actual deity, which is of course absolutely fine though it makes me wonder why he is so sure of his knowledge that none exists. Addressing the doubt of knowledge in general, I can’t help but wonder if the theories we have about ancient civilizations and the modern interpretations  of the artifacts the left behind are anywhere near the truth. Yes, I’m sure we can make reasonable hypotheses although there will never be a way to determine if we are right or not, unless you find out after you die. This may sound weird coming from me with my faith and all, but you can believe something wholeheartedly and still be wrong. That applies to the faithful as well as those who look at a ancient mini-statue and decide what it was used for and why it was important. 

Sometimes I can't speak

I was wanting to write something very witty and smart about how college students mock those who are self-important and pretentious while themselves being extremely self-important and pretentious in their mockery. I wonder what it is about being in largely learning community that makes people think they are smarter, wiser, and/or better than others whether they be parents, younger students, or older people working for “the man.” I must admit that when I go home I am tempted and/or I do feel that some of the people around me do not think about things as properly as I think they ought; however, the more I learn here at Oglethorpe and in places in general the more I realize how little I know about anything. The more I learn about the bible, the more I feel how little I know about God and the world and theology and faith. The more I learn about humans and human behavior and friendships and relationships, the more I realize how little I understand them all. I am so thankful to be surrounded by people who I know love me and care about me and harass me about whether or not I am okay.