Stella ❤

Slept on the ride back instead. =P But yesterday was lots of fun - we played MarioKart and Telestrations and just hung out really haha. I got to finish my chem pset too, which was nice if not exactly fun. xP

Went Black Friday shopping today! So many stores to go to - didn't have too much time though (or money, all things considered). Bought two sweaters at Old Navy, and working on a pair of boots from DSW. But favorite purchase was definitely a ukelele. Yup, I got a uke! She's super super pretty and I have no idea how to play a uke, but I'm going to learn! Named her Stella. =] Wayyy too excited for the (lack of) time I'll have to learn haha... But it'll be fun!

A couple more days of rest, then back to Princeton! But then just two weeks until winter break. Jeez, time passes by so fast...

A Turkey Thanksgiving!

Had an absolutely wonderful Thanksgiving full of food, friends, and fun games. =] Bit tired and getting up for shopping tomorrow, so I'll write more tomorrow (perhaps on the drive back?). I've been so blessed to be able to spend this Thanksgiving with Matt's family, if not my own. God is wonderful.

Conversations and Thanksgiving

I've only recently realized how much I've talked throughout my life without actually saying anything. I really do crave deep conversations, I just sort of suck at them. But if anyone ever wants to talk, please pull me out of my comfort zone!

On another note, while talking to Christie today, I really just was overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of things I have to be thankful for in any given day. A warm bed, food and clean water, a loving family and supportive friends. A wonderful fellowship and a great university, being able to pursue something I love, the convenience afforded by technology and the comfort of home away from home. An absolutely amazing boy whom I love and who loves me back. And above all, a gracious and merciful God who knows me better than I know myself and who will always provide for me as long as I ask (and who answered my prayers with a decent/average score on biochem and a 10/10 on a physics quiz I felt unsure on!).

Sending off a letter today to thank a family for funding my financial aid, grabbing some late meal, then just chilling and watching a movie with friends.

What a wonderful way to start off a Thanksgiving break.

Bonfire: Round 2!

Once again, it was freezing. Unlike last year though, I stayed away from the front to avoid having my face melt off.

Last year seemed more exciting with the effigy and such, plus it was the first time in a while, but it was still pretty awesome. =]

Voiceplay

These guys are on Season 4 of the Sing-off. I know who I'm rooting for in addition to the Footnotes now! Eep they're so good ❤

Recovering

The biochem exam was pretty horrible, and I haven't studied for math or physics on Monday. But despite all of this, I'm happy. =] Treated myself to some Naked Juice (and roasted seaweed!) and brought some over for Matt and Jeremy too.

Seems like a pretty good way to recover from bad exams - I think I'll just do this in the future. Treat yourself, then treat someone else. =]

Thank you God for getting me through this and helping me to not dwell on my mistakes or what I perceive as failures.

Classes

Somehow, I always find myself in classes that aren't my major, that I don't technically need, and that are filled with students from the major to which it corresponds. I mean, with ECO202/ECO310 it makes sense, since those are required from econ majors, but I found out recently that Civil Liberties is generally full of WWS/policy students. Makes sense now, considering how talkative some people in precept were.

This also partially explains why my semesters have been rough - that is, my taking classes for my major (so thus with the premeds and engineers), and also taking random classes in other people's majors that happen to be popular for said major... Well that, and my lack of time management/study skills (derp), and the fact that I'm a chem major (which is actually thought of as one of the hardest majors - what?).

In any case, academic advising with Professor Kelly tomorrow - tentative schedule for spring below! Yay for 8:30am classes again... At least my Thursdays and Fridays look nice?

Up late biochem cramming, but nothing is being absorbed. I should go sleep. Derp.

Bonfire #2 Secured!

Bit late, but =D!!! Two years, two bonfires! And an Ivy League Championship this year!

On Phone Calls

"I just don't like phone calls because people can bother me whenever they want."

In a way, it's a valid point. I get annoyed if my phone rings while I'm in the middle of the pset. I get annoyed sometimes when someone I haven't heard from in a while texts asking for help.

But on the other hand, it's a blessing to be bothered. It means people trust you, that they want your help, and that they believe you're there for them. Most of the time it's not that they think you're at their beck and call, but just that they know you'll be there to help if they ever need it.

It's special being trusted. And honestly, I sort of miss phone calls. Texting gives way to multi-tasking and not really paying attention to the conversation (not that calls don't also have that problem, but a 15 minutes lull in texting is generally acceptable whereas a silence of that period on the phone would be... awkward).

Phone calls seem a bit dead - they don't come around much unless it's for business or from parents. It's a bit of a shame, really.

Thank you for an amazing night yesterday. ❤

Still have two tests and two quizzes to start studying for, and an econ pset to finish. But somehow, I feel almost at ease. It's wonderful. =] (Come tomorrow though...)

Frozen

Our fountain has frozen. It's so cold that moving, spurting water has frozen. I punched through the ice in the pool and it was at least an inch and a half thick.

So yeah, it's cold. I don't remember feeling cold when I had three layers on last year, but I guess it was a semi-mild winter last year too. In any case, sweater, coat, mittens, scarf, hat. Winter is coming (or, you know, it's already here).

Piece By Piece

The more I look at this super tentatively planned schedule for my remaining time here at Princeton, the more certain I am that I can do this. I'll undoubtedly feel differently once I'm in the class (physics is honestly *killing* me right now, and I have biochem and linear tests coming up that I'm super worried for), but I can do this. I'll have space for more electives too, even with the random classes I'm already planning on taking.

Typical me though, worrying about stuff for next year while not being prepared for the stuff next week. And honestly, all of this could change so much - just two weeks ago, I was set on getting a finance certificate. Wherever God takes me. Piece by piece, and peace by peace. =]

Who am I in a crisis?

Do I focus on what others did wrong, or do I think about what I could have done to make it right? Do I think about the consequences for me, or for others who are affected?

Who I am in a crisis is who I really am, no mask or painted details. So who will it be?

Figuring Out My Life

I've actually decided to PDF econ. Bit of a bummer, since I didn't want to use a PDF so soon again, but judging from my midterm grade and how rough the homework is going, and how crappy the final is supposedly going to be... Probably a good idea in order to keep myself sane and not hate econ completely. Plus, looking at future courses, it looks to be more investment banking oriented as opposed to business-oriented, which was why I would have gotten the certificate in the first place.

Going to check out COS and GHP certificates - definitely want a COS one, and the GHP one looks pretty relevant and also interesting (and more akin to what I would have wanted from the finance cert, except less math-y).

A big thank you to God for bringing me through this rough past week. Now just to *pass* econ and bring all of my other grades up (especially physics).

And I definitely can't forget this...

MAEGAN IS HERE!!!

Got woken up at 8am by her haha. It was definitely the best surprise of the year and made my whole week so much better. And she brought cookies! I've missed her so freaking much. Super happy right now. =]

A rough, bumpy, broken road.

I am loved.

Regardless of what I can do, and what I can't. Regardless of any right or wrong decisions I might make. Regardless of how worthless, stupid, and hopeless I feel. Regardless of whether I feel loved, I am.

And at the end of the day, that's what I'll try to remember.

I am having a perfectly bad day.

Cornell!

It's been lots of fun chilling here with Matt, Faith, and their family. It's super pretty - I wish I had more time to spend... So much open space and grass and nature haha. I personally still like Princeton more (Cornell is *huge*) but it's pretty wonderful here.

I can't believe fall break is pretty much over... So much I wanted to do that didn't get done. And so much I should have done that ended the same way. Woops. But I guess this always happens...

In any case, time for some pictures!