What A Day

"What a day to be alive
What a day to realize I'm not dead
What a day to save a dime
What a day to die trying"

I like Greg Laswell. It's very high school Mandy music. The other side of me. I'm torn between Barlow Girl and piano/guitar filled poetic raspy voice male artists. It's a good place to be.

I made a 68 on that test. I was pretty thankful. The class average was a 68 - with the majority of us falling in the 65-75 range. I told you it was the fatest test ever. I'm thankful for my grade. I've never been thankful to fail a test before, but then again, I've never taken Pharm 338.

I'm trying to be responsible and study ahead. Chemistry is really boring though. Organic Chem and my teacher is just, sigh. He seems like a very nice person. I feel like I might want him to be my cousin's husband or something. sad. But, we shall prevail.

I'm excited that America has a black president. Granted, there are things that I am not excited about - but a lot of things I do have hope for. What a buzz word.

I'm speaking at HSL tonight. I'm speaking on generousity. Annnnd I think I'm going to speak about Mother Teresa. is that cheating? I mean, I'm going to talk about Jesus - but use Mother Teresa as an example. I seriously... just.. love that woman.

Something about learning about Mother Teresa makes me feel more alive than at any other time. She is so dedicated to love and respect and preserving the dignity of the poor and dying. I crave those things in my spirit. I miss working at the nursing home when I feel those pangs. I have some memories of my own regarding those sick or dying. Mother Teresa preaches often on the poor in our world not neccessarily being the ones who lack material wealth - but rather the lonely and the desolate. The people close enough for us to touch, and yet we are afraid to. One of my rooms at the last place I worked had two bed ridden patients in it (one of them died during my employment there). Beyond being bed ridden they suffered from severe dementia and the woman on the left I'm almost positive had suffered a stroke. Her room was lined with pictures from her youth and late life, prior to the stroke. In every picture she looked vibrant and full of life. She was a lady who wore lots of red lipstick and stuck her tongue out at the photographer while keeping the smile in her eyes. When I met her she was thin and frail. She was without the red lipstick and her hair was usually covered with sweat from anxiety that often came over her throughout the day. One time I got to spend extended time with her, feeding her. She seemed somewhat cognitive and we had a simple conversation. She repeated everything she said multiple times... but I felt like inside of her she was still alive and vibrant despite the fact that her body refused to cooperate with her. I feel a call on my life to love the people whose spirits are alive and vibrant but their bodies are failing. She really was a beautiful woman.

The Sisters of Calcutta also have orphanages. Oh, orphanages. I miss working with Casa Hogar Elim during high school. I had two little friends there who remembered me year to year. I wonder often what happended to them. Elton was 10 when I first met him - now he is 17 or 18. He is a young man. I would have adopted him if I could. I think I would have adopted all of them - but I'm sure my parents would have frowned on the 150 orphans I brought back from Mexico with me. I love adoption. I feel like I would be satisfied adopting all my children. Matt said he'd like to have a biological one, or two, as well. And so I submit to the desires of my husband.

Class schedule set for the fall. I am not taking an 8am class for the first time in 3 semesters. I thnk it is a good move. I also have an afternoon/early evening class - once a week. I've never done that before so we'll see how it goes. The history dept. told me its a small class.

I'm anxious for Thanksgiving - but can't believe that it already is November again. Weren't we just skiing? Yes, I think so. But this year we're going to San Antonio AND Ft. Worth and its going to be a good time. Halo w/the Whiteners... can't go wrong.

Not much to say... just wanted to check in and say, "hello! i'm alive!" Deep in school. Friday night is stats night -when Matt helps me understand what the heck we are learning about in that class.

"What a way to say goodbye
What a wonderful life now all a lie
What a way that you survive
What a way to say goodbye
Bring on the evening hours I cry
Bring on the evidence
Of my life"