You say you're still a mystery
But no not really...not to me
Yeah somebody knows you now

It's early...I'm not quite coherent yet, but this song was stuck in my head.

A Little of This, A Lot of That

Well east coast girls are hip
I really dig those styles they wear
And the southern girls with the way they talk
They knock me out when I’m down there

The mid-west farmer’s daughters really make you feel alright
And the northern girls with the way they kiss
They keep their boyfriends warm at night
--------------

I like music that’s loud and lights down low

I like drivin’ my car too fast and dancin’ slow

Some folks may same I’m too extreme

‘Cause I can’t stop once I start

But I never could do anything

With half my heart
-------

You say you love me, but you don’t know who I am
------

Okay, enough w/ the songs stuck in my head. I am once again trapped in my ecology class for the next 45 minutes or so (listening to my prof. talk about deforestation in Brazil…you have to clear ½ ton of forest to make one hamburger…this will def. not be on the test).

So…who is more important, the guy in your head or the guy in your life? I realized today that everyone has a guy in their head (or girl as the case may be…although I’m not sure about that…guys, let me know). I mean, who are you thinking about when you hear sappy song lyrics? Assuming you have no significant other at the moment, you still picture/feel someone there in your head when you hear lyrics like “Somebody knows you now.” I’d actually propose that the guy in your head might be more important in the long term than the guy in your life. At least until you meet the guy in your life that will replace the on in your head. And I’m not sure that even happens.

The guy in your head is great. He understands you, makes you feel safe, always says the right thing, knows that you can be independent and still love it when he opens the door, or especially when he puts his hand on the small of your back when you’re walking through a door together. He listens to the boring details of your life, loves the things about you that cross that line from quirky into weird, is romantic and spontaneous while being independent and masculine. Bottom line—no guy could ever live up to the guy in your head. But the guy in your head is also boring, unrealistic, and would probably annoy the hell out of you if he actually existed. He’d be WAY too attentive, high-maintenance, jealous (b/c admit it…you want your guy to be jealous sometimes, but just enough to make you feel special…like he knows you’re so great that other guys should want what he has, but also trusts you enough to know it won’t matter what other guys want). I guess the most important thing would be that he would be boring. He’s a compilation of what you like in guys you’ve met, guys you’ve read about, and guys you’ve seen in movies. By adding together all the great things in these guys, you edit out all the originality in them. W/o flaws people are pretty boring. Part of the appeal of the guy in your head is as what I’ve been calling the “closet boyfriend.” As in…I’m too busy for a real boyfriend, but sometimes you just wish you had one in the closet so you could pull him out when you need a hug, had a sucky day, want to be with someone who engages you on that level, or just feel like being stupid and running around outside in the snow with someone handsome and funny and male.

So…the guy in your life. Let’s start out by clarifying something here—the guy in your head can never be better than the guy in your life. Even if the guy in your life is mediocre and you know he could never be “the one,” he’s real, he’s there, and he’s automatically better. That said, he’s probably less important than the guy in your head. The guy in your head will never leave you, will never hurt you, and may be the single factor in keeping you interested in men even when you run into a string of crappy guys (I know, you’re saying…nope, she got that wrong—hormones keep you interested in guys…true, but I think the guy in your head is the product of hormones to a large degree). The guy in your head is almost a part of your personality b/c he affects the way you act. When the guy in your life does something particularly great that the guy in your would do, you smile a little more b/c he did it. But the guy in your life is so much better b/c he’s not perfect. He’ll make you mad and let you down and probably hurt you at some point or another. But, unlike the guy in your head, he’ll surprise you and make you laugh and maybe love you if you’re lucky. When you meet a guy that outshines the guy in your head, you’ve found something special. Not necessarily “the one” but a special kind of guy. Ladies…you know the guys I’m talking about…you probably can think back and at least two, hopefully more guys pop into your head that make you smile just thinking about them. Partly b/c of who they were, but mainly b/c of how they made you feel… The guy in your head will never give you that.

So…where am I going w/ all of this? Per the usual, I have absolutely no clue. I’d say…bottom line…value the guy in your life if you have one and be thankful for the guy in your head who keeps you sane.

Okay, on to less sappy topics. My wonderfully exciting plans for the weekend. Or lack thereof. My roomie is heading home for the weekend so I get the room to myself…always a good time (by a good time I mean I sleep very strange hours and study in strange patterns.) Ah…that’s the bell…more later on the wonders of my weekend…line dancing, that’s all I’ve got to say

Okay…now I’m in Brit. History. Not sure if this’ll work, but I might try blogging in here too. I feel a little disrespectful, but at the same time, I’m not missing much. He talks about tons of things, but the test is all essays and IDs, which shouldn’t be problematic. So, back to the fascinating subject of my weekend plans. Tonight my roomie leaves at 2:30 or something so after that I have the room to myself and no official plans. I heard there’s going to be a third-floor den movie-marathon of some sort, but I’m not sure who’s going or if I will. I might end up in my room doing hmwk and watching movies. Sounds boring, but it’d be really relaxing after this strange week. Then tomorrow I have fun plans—dinner w/ ppl and line dancing from 7 to 10. Yah…I’m so mad my cowboy hat isn’t here. Not sure what I’ll wear for that either, but it’ll be a blast I’m sure. Then, Sunday I’m doing hmwk, the Nat per the usual, and going to Verspers at night (6 pm) or maybe church in the morning so I’ll have the night free. Who knows yet? Maybe bowling…anyone want to go on Sunday afternoon at some point? There’s open bowling from noonish to sixish. See me if interested.

So…I missed Sina’s birthday this year and I just realized it. I’m a bad person b/c it was a LONG time ago…again, I’m a bad person. So…I just figured out what I’m going to make her, but I’m not sure how I’ll do it. If anyone knows something about recording equipment on computers or has a microphone, find me and I’ll love you forever.

"The heights by great men reached and kept
Were not attained by sudden flight,
But they, while their companions slept,
Were toiling upward in the night."
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"We perceive when love begins and when it declines by our embarrassment when alone together."
-La Bruyere

"A kiss can be a comma, a question mark or an exclamation point. That's basic punctuation that every woman ought to know."
-Mistinguette

Grown-ups love figures. When you tell them that you have made a new friend, they never ask you any questions about essential matters. They never say to you, “What does his voice sound like? What games does he love best? Does he collect butterflies?" Instead, they demand: "How old is he? How many brothers has he? How much does he weigh? How much money does his father make?" Only from these figures do they think they have learned anything about him. ~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince, 1943, translated from French

All for now, Katie

Sarah Girl

I miss my Sarah Girl...b/c she makes me smile and knows me. How much of our lives do we spend looking to find the people who can look at us and truly see us. I don't think everyone has that ability equally. Sarah--If you read this, I love you and I miss you. I haven't seen you in forever and I know we don't keep up like we should but you've given me some of the best memories of my life and gave me confidence in myself when I wouldn't believe anyone else. Knowing you has truly changed my life. Love you, Katie

People and More People

This has been such a strange week...meeting people, hanging out w/ ppl from home for the first time in forever, not having any kind of workload for class...I don't know...I think I've had too much time to think in the past few days. I'm definitely one for thinking too much about too many things. Anyway, I got to hang out with Andy and Mingo (aka Ryan) and Jase (how do you spell that?)...good times...oh, and Sarah Griffin. I don't know...what can you say about old friends? It makes you think about relationships. I mean, these are guys I'm completely comfortable w/ and that I think I'll know a long time from now, but who have changed since the last time I saw them. I mean, it made me realize how much I had changed since coming to school. Technically, we don't know each other anymore if you really think about it. We do, but we don't. Hmm...see, too much thinking is bad for me...makes me depressed and I start to contemplate the fabric of social interactions...never a good idea.

So...as I said, I got into England. Not sure what I'm going to do yet b/c it hasn't sunk in at all. I'm sure I'll be cartwheeling around the dorm later or something. Strange mood...more later maybe.

ENGLAND

I got into the study abroad program to England for next Fall! More details to follow soon.

SNOW!

Okay...my day so far could be summed up in one word--"SNOW." Yep, that's right. When I woke up this morning, I turned off my alarm clock and fell back to sleep so the oh-so-amazing Dustin had to come wake me up (10 minutes after we were supposed to leave for class). Great start. Then, I look out my window. And see snow. Snow on the day when I was going to take my long, introspective walk to Borders to buy CDS. Days not impoving. So I missed having coffee (never a good start to a day w/ class at 7:45 am) and then our TA was 25 minutes late to class. Thankfully, my day improved from that point on. Kind of like SNOW--unpleasant surprise at first, but then appreciated b/c you know it's one of the last snowfalls of the year and you should take advantage of it. W/ that in mind, I think I'm going to alter my Border's plan and walk out to picnic point instead. There's nothing quite like the silence of snowy woods...and picnic point is awesome for its own sake. Anyway...had to get some of that "my-plan-has-been-thwarted" frustration out.

Listening to Lonestar's "Come Cryin' to Me"--classic--highly recommended

God DOES Answer Prayer

As many of you know, I've been kind of drifting around since getting to school here last Fall, faith-wise. More accurately, I've been drifting church-wise. I do believe that I have found a church community where I can grow in the spirit and have fellowship with other believers (yay for answered prayer!). Tonight I got to go over to this guy's house (I didn't know him...) w/ ppl and we had dinner that he cooked. It was great and I really connected w/ everyone. I'm excited for church Sunday night--first time in a long time. And Paul drew my attention back to my boy issue--one of those "pray about it, duh" things. Yeah, I've been leaving the Lord out of my life, I realize. Pray for me as I work on my relationship with Him. Love in Christ everyone...Katie

Ecology Blog Numero Uno

This is my first Ecology post. I have Ecology lectures on MWF and I basically sit here w/ my computer and write emails to ppl and things. It’s extremely boring.

First issue—spring. It’s such a tease here in Wisconsin. I want it to be warm. I want to go lay on Bascom Hill, run outside w/o feeling like my lungs are freezing slowly from the inside out, run around and play volleyball outside, see people smiling and catching the spring fever [getting new clothing, haircuts, boyfriends/girlfriends, and sudden cases of gym-fever].

Second—I’m getting sick. My roomie is dying so now I might too. She’s going home this weekend, though so maybe I’ll survive.

Third--The bluest eyes in Texas, are haunting me tonight…I love Blackhawk. I’d forgotten about them and Restless Heart (who I don’t love as much, but remind me of when I was a kid listening to country). I think I’m going to get myself the Blackhawk’s Greatest Hits CD soon…still not sure how I’m going to do that (maybe go to Border’s? That’d be a fun walk…maybe tomorrow…yeah…anyone want to walk to Border’s w/ me tomorrow? Nearby attractions: Copps, Walgreen, Panera Bread Co., etc….let me know).

Fourth—So…I asked a guy out. Yeah, you’re all shocked, I know. Definitely not my usual style so I’m sort of in unknown territory here. He’s really interesting. Anyway, I asked him to do something this weekend, but he’s busy (he said that wasn’t a “thank-God-I’m-busy”—aka an excuse to say no). Then we went through all the rest of the nights of the week between now and Spring Break (I leave next Thursday afternoon to go home) and none of them worked out. So…we said we could plan something after break. Okay…so that’s a little awkward, right? Well, I think that was mainly my fault—I think I came off sounding like we had to do something big, like a night out w/ dinner and a movie or something… Then we realized neither of us has time for that before break and we said we’d do something after break.

Later, of course, I realized that that’s probably a screwed-up plan. How weird is it to have this amorphous plan hanging over your head for three weeks? Definitely lose any kind of spontaneity, most of the casualness necessary for those awkward first meetings when you’re both trying to figure out if you would rather just be friends or what, and any momentum you might have (we just met on Sunday night…we would never really run into each other, so momentum is a factor, I think).

The solution? No clue. Again, uncharted territory for me here…I don’t ask guys out. I’d rather do something little and random (dinner at Carson’s, coffee on State Street in the middle of the day, cooking something in the Bradley basement, etc.) than wait to do something big a long time from now and have it be really awkward b/c it’s been hanging there forever. But we already said after break…and I don’t want to be stalker girl, like “we have to do something now.” Especially b/c…he said he wasn’t saying no, but who can really be sure? As I’ve learned from Matt and David, guys say absolutely outrageous things in order to be nice. Case in point—Matt tells some girl (Who he doesn’t want to talk to on IM) that he has to run (perfectly acceptable, she might be getting the message), but then adds “but we should totally catch up later and talk.” Excuse me, WHAT? That’s just mean. Anyway, I think we both have slow weeks next week as far as classes/exams/junk, but the nights don’t work. So I would totally ask him to do something random during an afternoon or something, but I’m not sure I will…a combination of being unsure he actually wants to do something and not wanting to seem stalkerish…I would say that I’m going to wait for him to make the next move b/c I made the first one, but who knows if I’ll be able to do that. Frankly, I have no idea what I’m doing…advice from my girls would be appreciated. And my guys too, of course.

So…guy drama ends here. Sorry about that… I just don’t like having it up in the air.

What number are we on? Ah, Fifth—my sudden attack of blogmania. So you’re all wondering what happened to me that suddenly I’m posting nine million times a day when previously I was posting only once every nine million days. You’re thinking—gee, is her haircut really that bad? She can’t leave the room? No…I’m just experiencing a sudden lack of rigor in my classes—no hmwk/studying to do combined w/ everyone else still having class-related stuff to do leaves me w/ lots of time and the cold weather has trapped me inside to some extent. So…that explains that. I’m sure silence will ensue eventually here.

Okay, well class is almost over so I’m going to go. I’ll leave you w/ a quote (surprised, right?)—“Spend less time worrying and more time acting, less time trying to look cool and more time discovering how unique and cool those around you are, more time smiling and crying and less time sitting dumbly in class, more time with friends and less time with your book, and less time looking at your watch and more time looking towards the sky.”

Saturday Night

Hey everyone...you should all come learn to Line Dance at the Union on Saturday--I'm not sure what time that is, but email me (moss1) if you want to go! Or just track me down...I'm seriously going to get some ppl to go...I'm so mad my cowboy hat is at home...mmm, so excited!

Miscellaneous

Sorry...I know, I know, I keep saying I'm done for the day, but I'm short of work and this is semi-productive. We had a dorm-wide meeting tonight in which the issue of harassment w/in the Bradley community was raised. I thought it was not handled very well, but that's beside the point of this particular post. During the meeting we were told that a girl who lives on the 3rd floor (MY FLOOR) who happens to be one of my best friend's roomate has been harassed for months on end. Apparently she's been subject to racial slurs (she is black) and been called a whore. Earlier in the year there was a similar incident (followed by a similar meeting) where someone wrote a swastika accompanied by something along the lines of "let it snow Jew ash" on the whiteboard in the study basement. While these things come as a shock to me--living on the third floor--b/c I didn't know about them before, they don't shock me b/c of the ppl I live with necessarily. We don't have the kind of community on this floor that other floors have. We're really several communities living together w/o interacting and I can see how someone would fall through the cracks...then if one of these groups attacked her she wouldn't have anyone to turn to for help. So, this meeting, in which the housefellows took turns yelling at all of us in Bradley was somewhat enlightening...but not in the intended way. It made me think about a few things. You all are going to reap the wonderful benefits of these not-so-random thoughts of mine on the subject.

First of all-harassment. Let's set a few ground rules: 1) No one should have to put up with harassment, 2) No one should harass other people, 3) No one should stand by while someone else is being harassed. Now we add in reality and all these things don't hold true all the time. I was realizing that, while it is probably not harassment b/c he can never hear us, when I myself and a certain other friend make fun of a certain individual in our Brit History class b/c he has a mullet, is really annoying, think's he's always right and is always wrong...we're really doing something vindictive and wrong on a fundamental level--not b/c of the effect it will have on him (he'll never hear it), not b/c of what it says about us, but b/c of what it DOES to us. Thankfully that is not the typical conversation for this guy and I, but I think we all have those ppl that, when we're with them, tend to combine w/ us to form this sort of noxious combination and you end up being really critical of other people. What is the drive there? Is it a perverse form of bonding? Is it some way to drag the rest of the world down to our level? Amusement value? What? I'm thankful that the people I've grown close to here aren't like that. Anyway...enough on the ugliness of the human soul...let's turn to more hopeful topics.

When I heard that this girl on our floor had been harassed, I felt compassion for her. But only at the end of the meeting when Jana said something about considering how you would treat this girl the next time you saw her did I suddenly feel the need to connect with her. I wanted to go to her room and tell her I had no idea what was going on and that I think she's as brave as anyone I've ever met to let everyone know her situation and to speak up and that she has my support and friendship if she wants it. I started to think about what the best way to approach her would be. I figured she'd be getting tons of ppl stopping by her room and I know a part of the impulse to connect is from the lowly instinct to get the inside scoop and live through someone else's personal drama. With this in mind, I decided to email her. I would tell her I didn't know, that she was brave and that I was praying for her. What caused that response in me? I mean, if I had overheard someone saying she had been harassed, would I have felt the same impetus to connect w/ her? I doubt it. Maybe the difference is in her openness to being approached. There's no embarrassment for me in approaching her b/c she knows I know about what happened to her. But maybe on some level, our instinct to connect to people who have experienced tragedy is significantly enhanced by that tragedy being made public because we see an open and unique opportunity to connect with another human being on a fundamental level. What is it about tragedy that allows us to cut through all the crap and expose ourselves to one another w/o fear of rejection. Why do all the shields come down? I don't know...but I for one have formed some of the best relationships of my life over tragedy--minor ones maybe, but the presence of pain and the human instinct to protect those who feel it.

A final note on harassment and social discord...DON'T LUMP US ALL TOGETHER. At the meeting tonight we had people basically telling us that b/c we're all white, we will never experience pain or discrimination or anything like that so we shouldn't judge others by their ethnicity b/c we don't know them as individual people. Okay, anyone else see the contradiction in the previous statement? Not cool.

Okay--so I was thinking today that in every relationship there is a dominant and a nondominant party (not subeservient by any means, just not dominant). This is less clear and not necessarily true in friendships, but I think it might always be true in so-called "romantic" relationships. There's the pursuer and the pursued. Why do ppl get together? Because one of them shows interest in the other and then the second person decides if they like the one who likes them. I mean, sometimes you both like one another, but I really think someone is always "the catch" and the other person is the lucky one who caught them. This difference isn't always obvious...but then sometimes it is. My question is...can the relationship survive if the "lucky" one knows he/she's the lucky one...or is he/she thinks they are. Can you ever be completely secure w/ someone if you can't get over how lucky you are that they like you? I'm not sure. If you don't think you're worthy of someone, eventually that's going to show in your actions and insecurity is not an attractive trait. Anyway...that came out kind of depressing, but it was just a thought...no practical application...I was thinking about the dorm relationships that everyone is in (it seems like EVERYONE is dating someone else in Bradley...craziness).

Whew...if you made it this far, you're my new favorite person and you should leave a comment w/ the secret code word...let's say...defenestration (the act of throwing someone/something out a window--courtesy of my Black's Law Dictionary--I always wanted to accuse opposing council of "defenestrating the truth/the law/justice/etc.")...in it--used in a sentence of course. That way you'll know (more importantly, I'll know) you're one of the few, the select, those who can survive really long/boring lectures, just love reading philosophy textbooks, and got to the end of this post!

"If you're going to get addicted to something try getting addicted to honestry, truth, friends, randomness, compassion, and love...these are the things God gave us to enrich our lives."

Katie (yeah, like who else would it be? I need to stop signing these posts, but it's so ingrained a habit!)

Thoughts on Motion...An Overly-Long Away Message

Okay, I lied about no deep thoughts tonight...believe it or not this started as an away message and turned into a blog...enjoy...smile...email me a quote...run around in the rain with friends...do something.

When did the world ever bend to your will and thank you for asking something of it? No...the world will stare defiantly into your face until you raise your gaze from the safe ground beneath your feet, look to the sky, and dare life to defy you. More than this defiance, there must be action. Move in the direction of your hopes, your dreams, the random whims that make you happy...dare to allow your emotions to well up and fill your soul with joy or despair. Then, now that you're looking in the direction of your dreams, stop and look around you. See those whose paths cross or run alongside yours or whose paths are different and unique. If you can only do one thing, move in the direction of your dreams. You will have seen life. If you can do more than that, meet those around you on the way. You will have lived. Dare to do so.

In the immortal words of Yoda--"Do or do not. There is no 'try'." In some sense this is true--the first part at least is. The second, however, is misleading. Trying is not the key... there is no key. Nothing will magically transform your life into what you want it to be with a simple turn and a shake or two. Rather...life is a maze (sounds uplifting, I know)...Trying is the starting point, but you will INEVITABLY hit a dead end. You will have to try again to reach the same goal. You may NEVER reach that goal, but you will find new ones to take it's place. Most of all you will have learned something, met someone, grown into a more compelte person along the way.

As corny a goal as ever there was, I'm adopting this one as my own--try something new every day. I'm not going to plan it, but I'm going to work it in. I want to meet people and have deeper relationships and move forward in my faith and...DO EVERYTHING. Okay, one step at a time. Here goes.

Uplifting thoughts guys...Katie

An Interesting Evening

Hmmm...seems I always spill my guts on this blog, but there's something right now that I don't feel like sharing. Not like me, but you'll all have to die of curiosity. In other news...the new haircut is growing on me (haha, get it...growing...hair, lol)...anyway, I had an interesting evening and I won't bore you w/ my mundane thoughts. I feel like jumping off the walls b/c I'm so hyped up. Deep thoughts tomorrow, I promise.

'Night all...Katie

SAPPY COUNTRY LYRICS

If I'm not in love with you
What is this I'm going through
Tonight

And if my heart is lying then
What should I believe in
Why do I go crazy
Every time I think about you, baby
Why else do I want you like I do
If I'm not in love with you

And if I don't need your touch
Why do I miss you so much
Tonight

If it’s just infatuation then
Why is my heart aching
To hold you forever
Give a part of me I thought I’d never
Give again to someone I could lose
If I'm not in love with you

=====
No one else on earth could ever hurt...break my heart the way you do...
No one else on earth was ever worth it...no once could love me...like you...
You can make me want you anytime you want to...you're burning me alive
I can't deny you even when I catch you...leavin' a weak alibi
=====
You're gonna have to save yourself this time darlin'
You're gonna have to find a soft heart in someone else
Cause I almost drowned comin' to your rescue
This time around,you're gonna have to save yourself
--Suzy Bogguss--Save Yourself Lyrics

Darn, Dang it, Shoot!

Yeah, so I just got my hair cut. Yay, right? Well, except for the fact that she cut it way too short (completely my fault--I always end up getting it cut too short b/c I hallucinate about how short I'm really telling her to cut it). I look like a boy. AHHHHHH!

Chaos Theory of My life

Yeah, so I definitely got laid low last night w/ a migraine at like 9:15 (this is when I was planning on staying up till 1 in the morning at least studying Psych b/c I hadn't read all the material yet and I have an accounting hmwk assignment due and a quiz today (That's right before psych)). I got up two hours later, studied till a wimpy 1, then went to sleep swearing I was going to get up at 5 in the morning to study. Again, as many late-night plans go, it didn't work out and I just rolled out of bed. However, aside from deciding to wing both my accts exam and to some extend my psych exam my dad looks like it's going to be great. Love all and a much longer post later when I have time to be deep and philosophical. Katie

Spring Rocks My World

Ah, back again! I know you all can't get over how cool I am and how frequently I update this! Anyway, I had an amazing day yesterday (appropriate for the first day of spring--or at least pseudo spring) so I had to gush about it. First of all, the weather was amazing. Second, I decided pretty early that I just wasn't going to do any of my work (yay for sunshine). Third, I started a new phase of my workout program w/ interval training up and down the stairs by Ingram and it rocked (my calves are killing me today!). Fourth, I decided that if I live here next year (as opposed to in England--have I told ya'll 'bout that yet?) I'm going to live in Cole on the 3rd floor. Fifth, Uma and I went to State Street and Chipotle (which was a mistake--I ate way too much yesterday!) and had a rockin' good time being out and about after the brutal winter inside. Sixth (I know, I know--you can't believe more good stuff happened...me neither!) I went to Geneva Church's Vespers service (which rocked) and to dinner there afterwards (which also rocked--homemade food, really cool people, and got invited to dinner on Wed. at some guys house which I'm going to go to). Seventh, I got back to the dorm half intending to do my psych hmwk that I had blown off all day and ran into Dustin and his friend Eric in the den, which sparked a three hour country jam session (complete w/ singing outloud, talking about country music festivals, making everyone else in the den moan and eventually leave, and getting admonished by Callie for our loud music--which wasn't really the music at all but rather us singing really loud to Devil Went Down to Georgia) which was just the perfect ending of a perfectly enjoyable day.

In other important news: I've started using IM again recently after a long absence--so say hi to me! I'm going to Creede, CO this summer to work on a guest ranch there (yay for spending the summer in the beautiful mountains with the equally beautiful cowboys and getting tons of writing done on my book!). I might be going to Coventry, England for the fall semester and studying at the University of Warwick there (highly ranked business school). I'm kickin' ass and takin' names in my classes at the moment (w/ the exception of psych, which I trust will work itself out). Finally, I've just gotten my classes under control enough that I'm looking for a guy. I don't know if it's spring or what but just when I'd resigned myself to be that girl who never meets new guys b/c she's always studying for her huge coarse load, I met tons of new guys, several of whom I liked...most notably one guy, but who knows how that'll work out. I'm not going to be the pursuer I think, so it's up to him if he wants to make a move (I don't know him hardly at all--just met him). But he was probably the coolest guy i've met all semester, which is amazing...he was so cool...man, I've been thinking about him all day. Anyway, more on that (or not if nothing happens) later. I'm going to run off to the NAT now and pump some iron (I'm not kidding--I'm going to set foot inside the testosterone room today for the first real time this year...w/o taking Matt as my safety net! Yay for girls w/ courage! Oh, did I mention that going to church yesterday was by myself? Oh yeah, that took guts. And I'm thinking about joining Navigator's, although that obviously would be with people I already know, but it'd be cool nonethless.)

Hope ya'll have a great day, and I've listed some recently discovered quotes for your reading pleasure,
Katie

God always answers in the deeps, never in the shallows of our soul.
--Anonymous

And yesterday I knew just what you wanted
When you came walkin’ up to me with him
So I told you that I was happy for you
And given the chance I’d lie again
--Just to see you smile, Tim McGraw

“You are what you love, not what loves you.” –Adaptation

“For or all sad words, or tongue or pen, the saddest are these: “It might have been.” – John Greenleaf Whittier

“What do you do when the only person that can make you smile, is the one who makes you cry.” – Anonymous

History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heartbreaking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats.
--B. C. Forbes

It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else
--Erma Bombeck

The greatest weakness of all is the great fear of appearing weak.
--Jacques Benigne Bossuet

Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand.
--Margery Williams The Velveteen Rabbit

If you have it [love], you don't need to have anything else, and if you don't have it, it doesn't matter much what else you have.
--Sir James M. Barrie

I like not only to be loved, but also to be told that I am loved. I am not sure that you are of the same mind. But the realm of silence is large enough beyond the grave. This is the world of light and speech, and I shall take leave to tell you that you are very dear
--George Eliot

You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly. --Sam Keen

Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion.
--Martha Graham