Judgement on Literature

I'm reading "Angels & Demons" right now, the popular book by Dan Brown. So far I'm loving the story, really intriguing and suspenseful. And one passage I just read really caught my attention.

One of the main characters, Vittoria, just asked Langdon (a professor of art history) if he believes in God. He responds that he WANTS to believe but sometimes it's hard to take leaps of faith and keep everything straight with the Bible, the Koran, Buddhist scripture...

Vittoria replies: "Mr. Langdon, I did not ask if you believe what man says about God. I asked if you believed in God. There is a difference. Holy scripture is stories...legends and history of man's quest to understand his own need for meaning. I am not asking you to pass judgement on literature. I am asking if you believe in God. When you lie out under the stars, do you sense the divine? Do you feel in your gut that you are staring up at the work of God's hand?"

LOVE. THIS.

Personally, I struggle sometimes with accepting EVERYTHING in the Bible. And why sometimes we acknowledge it's okay not to follow certain rules anymore, but other rules are still steadfast and concrete. That confuses me. And then I feel guilty...like I'm not firm/steady in my faith. But I believe. I believe in God. I talk to God. I trust Him. I'm upset with Him sometimes. But I love Him and I know He's there for me. :)

Sucky Day

Well today wasn't so great...

Classes were fine....love my professors, excited for the classes...

HOWEVER. Got the news that I don't even have the interview for the secretary position tomorrow because they reviewed the hours I'd be able to work around my classes and I'd only get in four hours a week, so I can't work there...blegh. I was really excited about it.

And I've been sick since being back...last semester I had weird stomach problems and migraines and throwing up a lot and over break we thought we figured it out, that I had developed a lactose intolerance. So  at home I cut dairy out of my diet and started getting Lactaid milk and I have pills that help me digest lactose better when I can't avoid eating it (like at restaurants or at David's for dinner). I stopped getting sick frequently too...like there were a few times, but it was definitely less and not a daily thing.

Well ever since I've been back at school I've had SOME sort of stomach issue after every meal I eat. Usually it's not major and I just take medicine and it eventually subsides but tonight it SUCKED. I felt really bad right after eating dinner and then I had a three hour class and felt sick the entire time...now I'm back in my room and it's less but I'm still very blegh and very annoyed about it.

Gonna try to get an appointment tomorrow to figure out what the heck is wrong with my body and why I get sick every time I eat...

Back to School!

After a very wonderful 6 week winter break, I'm back at Millersville for Spring semester!

I was kind of iffy about coming back at first...my break was awesome and I wouldn't mind another week where I get to spend every day with my boyfriend. BUT. Once I was back in my room and saw all my friends again, I was so happy to be back. It's funny, cause it feels like almost no time has passed since the last time I was here...everything just falls back into routine.

I'm really excited for my new classes too. Yesterday went well, I only had two classes and they were both pretty easy. Today's my hectic day, four classes...with my last class being from 6-9PM. FUN. It's a Philosophy in Film course...so hopefully we just watch a lot of movies for those three hours, haha. :)

Oh! And I already had a job interview on campus tomorrow for a secretary position! I hope I get it...it'd be so much better than working for dining services and I'd make at least $70 a week which would be FANTASTIC.

Well, that's it for my little update. TTFN! Ta ta for now!

Time for another post about a trip I took into a city!

Last Saturday, I met up with Jeanmarie, her mom, and their friend from church, Jeanie. I've been out with them before...to see the Nutcracker twice in Philly and another ballet performance. This time we went to Philly to see Spamalot, a hilarious musical version of "Monty Python and the Holy Grail."

BUT FIRST. Before I tell you about ANY of that! I must describe the restaurant we went to and the wonderful dinner we had.

We got to the city around 5:45 and went to this place called Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. VERY fancy place. We walked in and after giving our names they asked if we wanted to check out coats in. They took our coats and came back with little numbers for each of us to reclaim them after our dinner.

Sitting down at the table, we immediately got one of our glasses filled with water and our waitress quickly came around to take orders for what other beverage we wanted (Shirley Temple for me!). Our waitress was AMAZING. Her name was Jessica and she was incredibly sweet and personable, striking up random conversations with us whenever she was around, saying, "Thank you ladies...it's a pleasure...I'd love to..." The best service I've ever gotten anywhere. She was wonderful.

NEXT CAME THE FOOD. We ordered everything all at once...and it was a LOT of food! We each got an appetizer, the three of them got salads, then we each had an entree of steak, and a side to go with it. I started with scallops, which also had red peppers, onions, and bok choy on the side. Then even though I didn't order a salad, Jeanmarie's appetizer (shrimp cocktail) had a salad with it that she ended up not eating so I got that. But she didn't hand her plate to me...oh no. The waitress took the plate with her salad, got a new plate for me, arranged the salad all fancy like, and added a vinaigrette dressing. SO SPIFFY. Speaking of spiffy...our entrees came next. I got a petite filet, my first REAL steak ever. My dad's made steak for dinner before and I've never particularly enjoyed it...always too chewy for me. So I've never ordered steak when out at restaurants. BUT seeing as this was a steakhouse...of course I had to get steak. AND IT WAS SO GOOD.

The steak came on plates that were 500 degrees Fahrenheit. FIVE FREAKING HUNDRED. I did not touch the plate once to verify that fact. I believed the waitress when she told us and my sizzling hot steak (THAT REMAINED HOT FOR THE 20 MINUTES IT TOOK ME TO EAT IT) was proof enough.

I had a side of sweet potatoes...best sweet potatoes I've ever had. And did I mention best steak I've ever had? It was beautiful. AND I WAS SO FULL AT THE END OF THE MEAL. So much food...and so much to drink!

I had two Shirley Temples (with extra cherries, thank you Jessica!) and like...seven refills of water. AAAAAAAAAANNNNNDDDDDDD...don't hate me, but I tried a Cosmo. Not like LEGIT tried, like the babiest sip in the entire world tried. Jeanmarie's mom and Jeanie both ordered them and they wanted to see our reactions to what they were like so we each took a sip. It was NAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASTY! Like...cough syrup. That's what it tasted like. And then we each tried some of Jeanie's wine later. That was disgusting too. BLEGH.

So that was dinner...I think I summed up how ridiculously lavish and wonderful it was. And the bill? Over $400. YEAH. YOU READ THAT RIGHT.

Well, this post is getting long so I'll write more about the show and dessert (we went back to Ruth's Chris after the show to get MORE food!) later! :)

Amusing and Very True

Songs That Sound Dirty But Really Aren't

Inspired by our Period Playlist, my mom and I created a new "Songs That Sound Dirty But Really Aren't" playlist. It's amazing what happens when you put your mind in the gutter and run through your iTunes Library...and fantastically hilarious. :)

1. Rolling In the Deep (ADELE)
2. Ooh Aah (GRITS)
3. You Have What I Need (Hawk Nelson)
4. Take Me (Hawk Nelson)
5. You Raise Me Up (Josh Groban)
6. Under Your Skin (Kingsfoil)
7. Tight (Stacie Orrico)
8. Give It Up Now (Kingsfoil)
9. Norwegian Wood (Kutztown University Jazz Band)
10. I Want More (Linda Eder)
11. It Had Better Be Tonight (Michael Buble)
12. Lay 'Em Down (NEEDTOBREATHE)
13. I Got Rhythm (Nikki Yanofsky)
14. All of Me (The Piano Guys)
15. Give Until There's Nothing Left (Relient K)
16. Up and Up (Relient K)
17. When I Go Down (Relient K)
18. We've Only Just Begun (Run Kid Run)

Period Playlist

Yesterday, my mom and I had to take down the Christmas tree and all the ornaments so we decided to put a movie on while we worked. We chose "No Strings Attached," a funny movie about two 'sex buddies' who end up falling for each other. Silly and ridiculous but awesome because I can watch that sort of stuff with my mom and it's not weird at all.

ANYWHO. At one point in the movie, the guy gives the girl a "Period Playlist"...with songs like "Bleedin' Love" and "I've Got The World On A String." It was HYSTERICAL. So of course, my mom and I decided we had to make our own Period Playlist. We went through my entire iTunes library and came up with the best songs...and now here is our Period Playlist (have fun figuring out why some of them were included, hehe):

1. Heartstrings (Find Vienna)
2. U Can't Touch This (Glee Project)
3. What Is This Feeling? (Wicked)
4. I've Got The World On A String (Michael Buble)
5. Cats and Kittens (Kutztown University Jazz Band)
6. Days of Wine and Roses (Kutztown University Jazz Band)
7. Trickle Trickle (The Manhattan Transfer)
8. Misery (Maroon 5)
9. Hurtful (Erik Hassle)
10. Let It All Out (Relient K)
11. One Day More! (Les Mis)
12. Hurt (Christina Aguilera)
13. Gives You Hell (Glee)
14. A Beautiful Mess (Jason Mraz)
15. Bad Day (Daniel Powter)