Cowgirls Don't Cry

It seems like it's been a year since I last updated y'all on my life. I'm sure you've been itching with anticipation so I'll indulge you! There are a very short 24 days until I accompany British Airways into the Tuscan region of Italy. The day is getting closer all the time and I'm not even close to being prepared for it. Compared to some of the other students, who are making packing lists and preparing 'mock packing sessions', you'd think I wasn't even planning to go at all. First of all, I'm working every day. Although I'm flattered that I can be depended on to scrub the toilets well and be amiable to our customers, being scheduled to work every day has kept me from preparing for Italy, keeping my room in a state fit to live in, and even buying my Christmas gifts in a timely manner.

Regardless, I'm very content right now. I can mark "get a 4.0 for at least one more semester" off my college bucket list because this fall, I made it happen! Although my schedule seemed less stressful (Italian, World Music, Macroeconomics, the Understanding of Music, and Microeconomics), the size of my load (17 hours) and my good results will ultimately do wonders to my rather mediocre GPA.

As for my Christmas Break so far, it has been spent making up a semester's worth of sleep in a matter of days. At one point, I woke up at 10am, grabbed my book and laid in bed until 3-4pm. It wasn't until I realized that I was planning to meet some friends that night that I finally showered and made myself look less like a zombie. It's been pure bliss! The dark gray circles under my eyes are slowly fading and my irritable countenance is leaving with them. I've also been enjoying the company of my sister the last couple of days. I forgot how much I miss crawling into bed and talking until the wee hours.

While I'm digressing into a spider web of topics, I want to set the record straight about an issue that's been bothering me as of late. Since I brought Cara up, I think you all need to be explained some things about my family. 1) While I am more than capable of enduring friendly jests about members of my family, I'm not very good at tolerating blatantly insulting comments. I'm very aware that I'm known as someone who will joke about my 'real life,' and that including the daily squabbles at the Aldridge Manor. But when you come to me with complaints about my sister's absence and start to acquire an increasingly furrowing brow, know that I will not tolerate disrespect. 2) I understand that many people are dissapointed that she has been preoccupied to the point of absence lately. To been frank, I'd know better than you, as I've been living at home all semester, just how rare it is to see her. But I can also say with polite sincerity that if you have made no effort to see her or talk to her, she's probably feeling equally deserted. That being said, redirect your comments to someone more able to control this issue, i.e. her. As if I can doing anything about her busy schedule! On top of which, I might remind you that she's in nursing school, working every weekend at the hospital, going to church and, oh yeah, she's engaged. Most of the complainers have a seriously less-stressful schedule.

Now for the seventh inning stretch! I stayed the night at Rachel's last night. By the time I had been there 3 hours, I was wearing her boots, Cowboys sweatshirt, Carhartt and was learning to use a Bow and Arrow. Honestly, I felt like I was betraying my Sooner heritage. But I had a really fun time learning to shoot with her Bow! It was my first time and I thought I did . . . decently well. Here's my fierce Hunger Games picture I took in her kitchen.

Not quite a natural but maybe it comes with practice?

Very Merry Un-Birthday

ATTENTION EVERYONE.

I failed to broadcast a very important day in this blog that was brought to my attention: Danielle Settle, my best friend, turned 21 years on November 27th. Some of you may be thinking, "Hm, Who's Danielle?" Well, my friends, I composed a list in order to educate you of the fantasticness of Danielle that is very worth celebrating!

1) She's so stylish. I mean, sometimes I am so overwhelmed with my closet and I just think, WWDW? (What Would Danielle Wear?)

2) I'm so lucky that my dearest friend shares my enjoyment of food. It doesn't matter where we are or how difficult the task, we find time to eat together.

3) It's always nice to know that if I need her to, she could save my life. I mean, sometimes, I choke on bubble gum and I think to myself, "Who would save me?" Then I remember.

 4) In today's day-and-age, there's nothing in the world more valuable than the ability to parallel park. If someone said, "Parallel park or die," I'd be in great hands.

 5) Santa will always be able to deliver my presents on time because he has some amazing staff.

6) I can always count on her to encourage me to study hard and finish the race. She never distracts me from finishing my schoolwork.

7) If I'm ever in need of a dance partner, she's my gal. She never makes me feel dumb about dancing to Chris Brown randomly.

 8) She's a gentle spirit. She'll save any creature in need. Sometimes, I think of her as Grandmother Willow.

9) She's a ginger. And ginger's gotta stick together.

 10) Finally, she's the most loyal, loving and encouraging person I know. I can't wait to be friends for a really long time. It was no accident that she came into my life when she did. 

"I thank my God every time I remember you." 

Philippians 1:3