Another Weekend Under the Ol' Belt

Goodness! Can it be?! Another weekend (and thus, week as well) gone already?! You must be joking... but no. You're right. Time goes ever on.

Now, to tell you about my weekend... but first I must explain that the reason I seem to only talk about the weekends in my posts is that..... well, I guess that'd be pretty obvious! :) My weekdays fall into a very synonymous pattern (can "synonymous" be used in that sense?)... similar day after day. Not too exciting and very repetitive! But my weekends afford a little interest to my life ;) (...I'm exaggerating - I really don't find life as boring as it sounds! :D)......... so on to my weekend, for all interested readers! :)

Friday night was uneventful. (...Wups... did I just say my weekends were more colorful than my weekdays?!) I cleaned in my room and talked with Rose for awhile. There was something else about Friday, but I can't remember now. I don't think it was the History mid-term that I'm thinking of, although that was Friday too.... oh well.... whatever.

Saturday morning, I cleaned my room, beat the carpet and vacuumed. Then it was off to play practice at noon. We had a complete run-through of the play, which was really good - I lose perspective sometimes when we only practice little parts at a time. The play is really starting to come together (it's a good thing! ....after all, opening night is in less than two weeks!) and that's exciting. We've got some really good actors and actresses on our hands. :) Ben is like another Kenneth Branaugh!! He's fantastic!! Actually, all four main characters are REALLY AWESOME.
Anyhow, I got home from rehearsal about 4 o'clock. Rose and I worked on homework for a couple of hours - until dinner time. Right after dinner, I was off to babysit. I babysat six kids (ages one to ten)... the best-behaved kids I've ever babysat!!! They were amazing - a real joy to watch! I got some homework done after they went to bed and got home about 11:40, to go to bed myself a little after midnight...

Sunday morning, Rose woke me dark and EARLY - 5:30. (Felt especially early after the post-midnight bedtime. :/) Mom, Rose, Joey and I went to the 6 o'clock Mass after which Mom, Rose and I left for Kansas City for a choir practice for Anna's wedding which is on the 19th of this month. (*gasp for breath*) The practice went pretty well (what I heard of it ;)) and provided me with an opportunity to write a letter that I owed to a friend in NY. Afterwards, we left to eat brunch with Lindsey at Waid's (the KC crowd's regular hang-out)... on the way there, we briefly saw a VERY old friend (well... he's not actually OLD... we just go waaaaayyyyy back) whom we haven't been in touch with for the past 4 or 5 years. We couldn't talk long, since we were at the stop sign with cars behind us, but it was nice to see him again!
Brunch was really good! (Waid's' food always is.) After dropping Linds off at her car, we headed home. We stopped in Topeka for a few necessary items and arrived home, in one piece but very tired, at 4 pm. Before dinner (which was grilled outside... yummy!!), I made chocolate chip cookies for a very close friend of mine. While I was making them, I talked to Dave on the phone so I had to promise to give him some too. ;) He told me he'd call and let me know when they were leaving for the cemetery to say Rosary there and I could meet them. ....Well, he forgot and called me about 7:15 to let me know that he had only remembered during the 5th decade!! I threatened to withhold his cookies, :P but he sounded so contrite I couldn't do it. ;) (So I gave them to him today.) After packaging up a box to send to aforesaid-close-friend, I started watching a movie with Mom. We didn't finish it, but plan to... however, lunch making and other various things interrupted it.
*interjection* I just remembered what else about Friday night! Rose and I got REALLY wacko (as she'd say :)) after dinner. Details shall not be here disclosed. Suffice it to say, we had to let off some steam and did so unabashedly! :P We wanted to take a walk with Nick and Dave but by the time we got ahold of Dave, it was kinda late. So we satisfied ourselves with various activities in the basement. :D
...back to the regularly scheduled program... ;)
Sunday night, I got to bed 'bout 11:30. (I don't know why I give all these gory details!)

This morning was a Monday morning. (I guess that's sorta obvious. :D) The weekend had come to an end and the ordinary life began again. ;) It was a beautiful day, especially for November!!! Dr. Strong was nice and didn't give us a quiz in Physical Science today - instead, we answered some of the questions aloud in class. Tomorrow, we have a lab on specific heat. We got our Latin mid-terms back in that class. I did pretty well... one very thoughtless mistake cost me the "100" I probably would've gotten otherwise. Grrrr.... that'll teach me to be confident! :/
Lunch... free hour... History... free hour... end of the school day.
After school, I went to Froggy's with Jozef to study Theology for the impending test... err... celebration of knowledge! :P At 7, we left and joined with Dave, James Hoffman, Nick, Sarah Brown and Mariann to walk up to the cemetery for Rosary. Dave did remember to call me tonight, but there was no need to as I was already there! ;) The night was illuminated by a half-moon and we said the Rosary at Sean's grave. Back at the college, I sat on the steps and talked with Sarah (and later Mariann also). That was nice... since she's a first-year and I'm a second-year, we don't actually have much opportunity to talk during the school day. We talked for about 45 minutes and then I finally pried myself away :P and came home.

You're probably thinking, "Good grief! How she rambles on!" Well, I have good news!! :D ...I'm done now!!! :) ........at least for the time being.
That brings you up to date and it also brings me up to bed-time! ;)
....I'm hoping to get my History mid-term back tomorrow.... Tuesdays are long days as far as the number of classes goes, but they generally go quickly.
Tata for now~
Until the next time,
I remain
~ ~ ~ ~
Monnie

Albuquerque, eh?

Not entirely accurate, but here 'tis anyway!

Your personality type is RCOAI

You are reserved, moderately calm, organized, accommodating, and moderately intellectual, and may prefer a city which matches those traits.

The largest representation of your personality type can be found in the these U.S. cities: Albuquerque/Santa Fe, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Nashville, Tucson, Dallas/Ft. Worth, San Antonio, Indianapolis, Memphis, Milwaukee, Orange County, Los Angeles and these international countries/regions Indonesia, Ukraine, Denmark, Middle East, Czech Republic, India, Caribbean, Romania, Hungary, Greece, Guam, Israel, South Korea, Norway, Mexico

Extroversion |||||||||| 33%
Emotional Stability |||||||||||||| 56%
Orderliness |||||||||||||| 60%
Accommodation |||||||||||||| 60%
Inquisitiveness |||||||||||||| 56%

What Places In The World Match Your Personality?

I Love This Place!!

I ask you! ...at how many other colleges could you get up and go to class and leave your things just as they are, without any fear of them getting taken or even messed with?!?!? I think, none. But at SMC... Leave your headphones, laptops, cell phones, and keys and you can be sure that when you come back an hour later, they'll be exactly as you left them. As it should be. And as it so rarely is. Thanks be to God for a college like ours! This is only one indication of the Catholic order and morality that ought to be in all places, and isn't.

Weather

We were two degrees short of breaking 1964's record high of 82 on November 2... it's been unseasonably warm, but there has been a lot of wind and the trees that looked like Autumn trees now look like Winter trees. I can only assume that the wind will also bring the cold weather with it. This weekend is still forecasted to be in the 70's, but we'll see what follows. Hopefully, there will be lots of snow this winter!! :D ....because - as we all know - lots of snow means lots of snow days! ;) :P
Anyway, there's your weather report, whether you were interested or not! ;)

The Meaning of Love

A bunch of little kids were asked, "What does love mean?" ...here are some of the best answers. They're really good! Children's perceptions of things can be so profound!! (It's also amazing what they reveal about their background, if you read between the lines.) I've only posted the better/best ones...

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love."
Rebecca- age 8

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth."
Billy - age 4

"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs."
Chrissy - age 6

"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."
Terri - age 4

"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."
Danny - age 7

"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."
Bobby - age 7

"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."
Tommy - age 6

"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken."
Elaine-age 5

"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."
Jessica - age 8

And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child.
The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.
When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said,

"Nothing, I just helped him cry."


Wow.



....It's somewhat refreshing the number of times the element of self-sacrifice comes through in their perception of love. At least, it's still out there somewhere (as children learn so much by example)! You begin to wonder if the selfless aspect of love (is it only one aspect?? Methinks it is the very definition of love...) has been completely lost in this world, in our day and age.

November Sky ....or.... Cloudscapes

I just thought this was a cool picture. Some of you already saw it over on my Pixies blog, but for those of you who didn't, I'm posting it here. Fantabulous, huh?!?!

A Beautiful November Day!!!

Today has been GORGEOUS!!!! Sorta windy, but the temperature has been glorious. My guess is mid-70's today, though the high might've reached 80. ON NOVEMBER 3!!!!!!!! :O :O

Yesterday was a really busy day. I went to the 9 am Masses... the three said for the Holy Souls, specially on that day. Immediately thereafter, I had Liturgy. From there, I came home for lunch and changed into painting clothes and went back up to the school to paint sets and rehearse for "Antigone." Dress rehearsal is two weeks from yesterday (and we'll have a small audience for it)!!! I made a trip to the cemetery and then came home for dinner and studying. Latin mid-term today and History mid-term tomorrow!! :/

Today, almost all of my spare time has been studying History (except for a little bit of Latin just before that test). I am home now, for the time being, but will be leaving again to group study. HOPEFULLY, that will go well. Sometimes, it's a really bad idea to group study. ;) Anyhow, I feel like I've put sufficient effort (and then some) into this test, so I'm not too, too worried. I don't think I'll ace it (after all, it's History), but I certainly don't feel like I'll go blank on anything.

Well..... that's all for now! Pretty boring post; sorry!
TTFN~

Feast of the Church Suffering... and a Request for Help!!

This is the only day of the year in which the Poor Souls are given a feast day. All other days are reserved for the members of the Church Triumphant. Prayers for the suffering souls in Purgatory are especially effective today and in the octave following. Be zealous, then, and strive to save at least one soul!! They never forget the help they get from you and will return the favor if and when you should need it also.

But in today's post, I'd also like to ask your generosity for the Church Militant:
There is a Catholic family in the Philippines who have just had their fifth child. Because of the situation they are in, with the mother being out of work, they have next to no income at all. They are having a very difficult time just putting food on the table and have been obliged to start rationing the remainder of their food to make it last. A traditional Catholic family - close friends of theirs - have started a way to donate money to help them through these tough times. An excellent opportunity to practice Christian charity and you can be assured that the funds you donate WILL reach the family you intend them for!!
Please do something towards this. Surely all we Americans can spare a little to help someone who needs it much more than we do. It's the month of November - the month of the Holy Souls. Even if we have our debts and such, can we not spare a few dollars and give up that rented movie, that cappucino, that pack of cigarettes... that luxury, whatever it may be...?
A single American dollar goes as far in the Philippines as ten would here in the States. Please do what you can to help a fellow member in the Mystical Body of Christ! The goal for November is $300 for this family. To donate using Paypal or a credit card, please click here!! (I don't know of any other way currently being used to get the money to them.) THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!!! I'm sure it qualifies as a corporal work of mercy, not to mention the graces received from such an act of generosity and the prayers of these children that you will surely get in return!
In addition to financial aid (or if you truly can't afford anything), please keep this family in your prayers! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Friendship

by Dinah Maria Mulock Craik

Oh, the comfort--the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person,
Having neither to weigh thoughts,
Nor measure words--but pouring them
All right out--just as they are--
Chaff and grain together--
Certain that a faithful hand will
Take and sift them--
Keep what is worth keeping--
And with the breath of kindness
Blow the rest away.

100 Posts!!

HAPPY FEAST OF ALL SAINTS TO EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!

This is my 100th post on the blog! Sounds like an awful lot. But that's one hundred posts spread out over about eight months. :D Anyhow, just a statistic!

Take care, everyone, and welcome to November, month of the Holy Souls!
God bless~