So its been over a year since I last wrote and boy, a lot has sure changed since then.

Let's see...I've graduated from college with my double major, been involved in 3 weddings, gone to another 3 weddings besides those, got a job, lost a job, volunteered with the American Red Cross in Texas after Hurricane Ike, done some roadtripping, and a whole bunch of other random things.  I've run the spectrum of emotions from happy, sad, depressed-pretty much everything really.  I'm now reconsidering going on to Grad School.  It would be to study Geography, specifically GIS, or Geographic Information Systems.  I've always been interested in mapping and topographical systems and loved studying them and learning about them so I am now seriously considering it.  In fact, I'm currently working on the application and getting more information about the program.  Now I just have to have two of my former academic peoples to agree to fill out reference forms for me and send them in...and come up with the application money.  We'll see what happens there.

I'm already struggling to stick with an agreement on reading the Bible in a year.  I might just have to restart it and complete it in a year from the day I start it.  I think that might be the best idea because I don't want to rush through it and not spend sufficient time studying them.  So yes, I do believe that is what I'm going to do.

Well, I'm finally able to use my laptop at home and get on the internet.  We just got rid of dial-up last Thursday and got high speed, along with cable which I'm SUPER excited about...and just in time to get all of the pre-Daytona qualifying and racing!!!!! 

I've also enjoyed being at home over the winter months.  Yes, it has been record-setting cold this season, however, I love the cold weather and the snow and the wind and so in my mind its been almost perfect.  The only way it could be better is for there to be even more snow and for me to have gone sledding more than I have.  :)  Last week, while almost the entire nation was experiencing extreme cold we did too, of course, with lows reaching -40F and highs near -20F.  Ridiculous to say the least, but yes, I know I'm crazy because I LOVED it anyway!

So I'm watching the NFL Baltimore/Pittsburgh game right now.  Earlier, the Arizona Cardinals beat the Philadelphia Eagles so the Cards are in the Superbowl.  I'm so hoping that the Ravens beat the Steelers, but currently they are down by 3 with only a few minutes left in the 4th.  With that said, I'm going to call it quits and get back to the game.

Blessings,

~Ellen

Meh...

So, I feel as though this is the place where I come to write all of my crap that I'm experiencing.  Maybe that's strange or not, I don't know, but I believe it to be the truth.  Right now I'm struggling.  I'm missing certain people from back home, but strangely not my immediate family (mom, dad), I miss my friends and my cousins more than anything...and the peace and quiet and the animals.  School is stressing me out as I'm beginning how little time I have left to do some projects....it really is rather frightening because with the result of a test I just got back today, one of them is REALLY important.  I'm really at the point of giving up...actually, I take that back.  I'm past the point of giving up.  I already have in some areas.  and right now, I'm in an incredibly bad mood.  I feel like I need a good hug and cry and pity party and then maybe I'll feel better.  I don't know what it is exactly.  But I'm exhausted...with school, certain people, work, no sleep (that's my own dumb fault), guys, technology, people I don't know and have never met/talked to...the list goes on.  I feel like getting in my car and driving until I run out of gas...then I'll consider coming back or not.  I could make it pretty far...I've got about 3/4 of a tank left.  I just need to do something to clear my mind...or something to distract me...maybe I could just sleep forever...Mehhhhh...I just don't want to anymore.

Such a school girl...

Wow, so its been exactly 9 months since I last wrote on here.   Rather ridiculous I must say.  I'm now in my senior year of college and am staying incredibly busy with athletic training yet again this year and my classes, though fewer than previous years, have proven to need time and thought which I'm finding trouble shelling out.  My goal for this semester is to not let my gpa slip any lower than it is.  Needless to say, that means I need to do rather well in my classes since two of them are hartley classes and ones in which I will need to fully devote myself at times.  But college is going all right other than being busy and getting stressed out.  I really like a couple of my classes though most I find dull and boring or repetitive.  There are some other positives this year however! 

I am finding that while I did not act like a school girl while I was younger, I now am finding myself reverting back to school girl ways.  Some of you may get the drift.  lol.  And that is all I will say on that matter.  However, if you would like to hear more, I would be happy to indulge you just not in such a public manner...haha.  Hmmmm...tomorrow is homecoming...my last homecoming as a student.  How crazy is that?  I can hardly believe how fast time as gone.  Right now I'm watching Pride and Prejudice with my wonderful roomie Cara...so I'm going to put this randomness to an end.

Love

~Ellen

Currently Listening Downhere By Downhere Calmer of the Storm see related

So this entry that I'm about to post is likely to cause some discussion or even conflict but I think positive things could come out of it, as long as people respond to it in the right mindset.

So I'm really proud of my state's legislators, once again they are set to introduce an abortion bill though this one will not be as extreme as the last, I feel that it is, yet again, a step in the right direction and I'm hoping that they will once again do what is right and pass it through the house and senate and Governor Rounds will once again sign it.  Another issue is that there are 2 bills in the state legislature (one in the house and one in the senate) that if passed will ban the death penalty in SD.  This issue has continued to stir up emotion in me, but each time I tend to come to the conclusion that it is wrong and should not be allowed.  I really hope that these will also be passed through and signed.  These are both controversial issues in the US and even within my groups of friends at school and back home. 

On another note, I'm struggling with whether or not to do something...its been "plaguing" me for some time now and I'm feeling more and more empathetic that I might end up doing it...some of you know what I'm talking about...its really quite crazy...but yeah, if you could just pray that I do what is right that would be great.  Thanks much!

~Ellen

Currently Reading The Analects (Dover Thrift Editions) By Confucius see related

oh wow...

So I think I need to create a rule for myself which would include not being able to write an entry on days that aren't going so well or at least when I'm in a bad mood about life in general.  I just reread my last entry and boy, let me tell you...I was slightly depressed after reading it.  I mean overall it started out great and maybe I'm only feeling that way because I'm remembering what I was talking about while others reading it might not have gotten the full impact of it if they weren't in the situation or knew what I was referring to.  Let me know what you think...I'd prefer not to make other people feel depressed by writing about my life.

Oh, and that thing I was going to pray about?  Well, I think I'm going to do it...I feel that it could have a great impact on my life and I don't want to miss out on such a great opportunity no matter what the cost (ok, so not exactly no matter what, but generally speaking that phrase applies).  I know that following God's direction is right so I'm going to go with it and see what comes of it.  Hopefully it will be something better than I could have imagined (and since its God I'm going to gather it is rather likely that that will be the case).  Have a great day everyone!