Fact: Christmas lights are a bitch

So true. Remember when I posted about the twinkly lights in my dorm refused to work because one of them went out? Well I have now bought replacements for that lightbulb and they still refuse to work. I just changed two out and managed to hit my head pretty badly in the process. I have a headache. I am going to try switching the fuses out next even though I'm pretty sure that isn't it. If it was the fuse then wouldn't the whole line go out instead of just half?

I also tried to get the bulb part of a green Christmas light out of it's holder with my teeth. It broke in my mouth and I had to spit the bits of green glass onto the carpet in front of me. Needless to say, it's not the smartest thing I've ever done.

I am one test and 600 miles away from going home. I should really be studying for said test, but really can't manage to make myself do it. I hate studying and apparently studying hates me back because it doesn't really embrace me with open arms whenever we meet. I keep finding things to do instead. The latest (besides sitting down to write this) has been the blasted Christmas lights. My hard work and attention to them has not paid off. I am upset. I am at the apathetic stage of procrastination right now. I could seriously care less even though I really need to care a lot since the semester is ending very soon. I just want to go home so bad! I had kind of a mental breakdown earlier because things were being problematic and I just wanted to stop dealing with it and go home. It's over now, but I still need to study. Danielle and Kelsey are already home and I want to be home with them so bad! Luckily I will get to see them and other friends on Wednesday because I have set up a Glee Get-Together. They are coming over to watch our favourite show and I am excited because I will get to see them and will get to actually see the show on a Wednesday. Usually I have to wait until the next day to watch it on Hulu, which sucks because the internet here is ridiculously slow. It should be a really good holiday and I've already started on my Black Friday list. Tom Tom GPS for $59 at Walmart? Game on. I also realised today how much I love the show Good Eats with Alton Brown on the Food Network. I keep seeing the seasons for sale at Target so hopefully they will be on sale. That would be awesome! I should seriously just watch that show to study for my Nutritional Sciences test. He is awesome and I am kind of in love with him because he is so fantastically nerdy. Hey, it's not that weird! My friend Austin has a photo of Paula Dean in his wallet because he loves her and her cooking and her abundance of buttery, fattening recipes. OK, maybe that is a little weird. Whateva!

Besides being upset at Christmas lights, I am also upset with myself about the fact that I have yet to draw a single Christmas picture for my Christmas children's book! I have a feeling that this will change over the Thanksgiving break. I will be with my family, we will put up the tree and decorate it after Christmas dinner, we will watch a Christmas movie and I will realise how close Christmas really is. I also think having my niece so close by will help motivate me as well. She's just so darn cute.

Well, I am going to attempt to at least read a few pages of my notes before turning in. Goodnight!

Christmas Countdown:

29 days, 23 hours, and 28 minutes (!!!).

Currently Listening:

Nuisance by John Reuban with Matt Theissan (<333)

Currently Reading:

Nothing right now. I just had to read a book about the 70s for my history class. Nixon makes me angry. The end.

Markers

"...which are exactly like goals except they are called markers." - John Green; "An Abundance of Katherines".

I am going to go ahead and take this time to put my markers out there on the internet in hopes that it will motivate me to meet them. I am working on a children's book. Kind of cheesy and random, I know, but it's for my 9 month old niece, Caroline. It's a Christmas book and basically it's about a girl named Caroline who lives in a village called Evergreen. But this village isn't just any old village because it's in a Christmas tree! In the beginning of the story Caroline is convinced that Christmas is all about gifts and she thinks and imagines what is at the very top of the Christmas tree/top level of the village. She goes on a mini-journey on Christmas Eve to find out what is at the top and meets a friend along the way who accompanies her. Eventually they reach the top and find, to there surprise a star and learn that the reason Christmas exists is not because it is an opportunity to give and receive gifts, but because of Jesus. So yeah. That's my story in a nut shell. I have all of the text written out and all I need to do is the art work. The only trouble is I am not especially artistic. I suppose I was pretty good in 7th and 8th grade when I was in art class, but that was a long time ago and I haven't attempted much since then. Sometimes I'll have a creative urge and try and draw pictures, but I always get discouraged because I like drawing people, but have never been able to properly draw a face. They always look like apes. Sad day. I suppose I must have drawn a passable face at least once in my life, what with all the art I've done in my life (which is quite a lot!), but I can't remember. I think I'm going at it too fast. I want to get it done quick so I'm skipping all of the necessary steps involved in drawing a good face and just trying to copy it from sight. I suppose I'll just have to sit down and scale it out one day (and soon!). I think the most affective, motivational tool I've found is Chia Lates and my Christmas playlist. I'll try this tomorrow. Promise.

I want to have it done by Christmas so that I can present it to my sister and Caroline. This sort of creative, home-made gift is sort of turning into an annual thing. Last year I made a collage for my brother and his fiance, and this year I am doing it for another member of the family. Maybe it will be a new tradition. Besides the fact that I have no idea what I would do for next year. Oh well. I suppose it is a bit premature to be thinking of next Christmas when this one hasn't even happened yet. It is, after all a whole 399 days away. ;D

Also, the other day I convinced my mum to buy me a coat. It had just occurred to me on my way to my incredibly boring Travel and Tourism class (which you would think would be oodles of fun, right? Wrong) and so I texted her that I needed one. This is how our textual conversation went:

Me: I need a coat.

Mum: Where is your jacket?

Me: Jacket. Coat. Two different things.

Mum: What do you need a coat for, Italy?

Me: Yes. And you know, in general. For one, they do wear nicer clothes in Europe and all I have are athletic looking windbreakers or fleeces or sweatshirts. Normal people have at least one nice coat that they can wear with dressier things.

...

Mum: You're right. We can look while you're home and the sales are on.

I win!

Before we part, I would like to mention another thing I read in John Green's "An Abundance of Katherines". The heroin, Lindsey said something really interesting at one point when her and the main character, Colin were talking about relationships. She said that "the best way to get people to like you is to not like them too much." That is the best advice I have never gotten. Seriously, why hasn't anyone told me this before? And why have I not figured it out before now? Let's look at too of my own examples, shall we?

Michael (junior year of high school): I wasn't expecting it. At all. I had kind of given up actually. I had played the "what-if" game with other guys that I was interested in, only to find out that they weren't interested in my in the slightest. So when he asked me out I was really taken aback. Basically we went on a date which was really awkward and I was so clueless that I didn't even know it had been a date until I found out at school the next day that apparently Michael and I were dating. Dating? Me and Michael? And why didn't I know about this?! So after a bit of an episode that actually lasted for the duration of the day he came up to me, apologised for the misunderstanding and said he would like to make it up to me by taking me out to dinner that night (this time I was aware that it was a date). He was nice and I was excited that someone was actually interested in me, but I didn't feel anything other than that. I didn't realised this, though until talked to my best friend, Stephanie about it the whole ordeal and she asked me if I liked him. We both decided that I liked the fact that he liked me more than I would actually like to have a relationship with him and nothing really happened after that. He didn't ask me out again and I was sort of bummed that he had fallen out of like with me so soon even though I was never particularly enchanted, but I soon got over it.

Matt (approximately one week ago): Again, I wasn't expecting it at all. You already know about this one so I don't need to explain it.

The point is I never particularly expressed interest in either of them, but they liked me anyway? Why? Because I didn't like them. It's a twisted world we live in. If you don't believe me and still remain unconvinced, I have yet another example for you. There is this girl in my Food Systems Management class/ lab group and her name is Katie. She is very pretty and quite funny. She's, I don't know... cool, I guess and you just want to be her friend. I can't really explain that very well. Anyway, I can't really explain her appeal without sounding weird and confusing so I won't even try, but she does do this thing where she just doesn't particularly show interest in you so it makes you try even harder to be her friend (? Like I said, hard to explain and I am now sounding crazy).

So she recently started dating this bloke named Brandon Carter and he is the offensive lineman (or something of that nature) on the university football team. He is a very good player and he has a bunch of tattoos and he wears a mohawk and paints his face before every game so that he looks even more intimidating than just his regular 300 pound self would usually be. She expressed initial excitement and told me stories about conversations they had, but I could imagine her not being the attentive, doting person he wanted her to be when she was around him. She just had an uncaring, nonchalant era about her. She told me yesterday in lab that she had broken up with him about 7 times, but he texted her "good morning" every day anyway and said that he didn't want it to be like this. So basically, she doesn't particularly like him (or anyone really. Sort of?), but that just makes him all the more crazy about her. She also told me about her now ex-boyfriend and how he broke up with her, but she was like, "well, I'm still in love with you, son" but it didn't really matter because he didn't love her. Same thing. Reversed roles.

I have another example for you, if you don't mind. Obviously I would completely understand if you've stopped reading long before this point. It has been quite long, but when I get going I just can't stop myself from talking about this.

So I have a good friend named Danielle. She is very nice, beautiful, funny. All that good stuff. She is now in her second year of uni and she has been having a bit of boy trouble. One boy in particular. Her best friend at uni, Elliot is in love with her. Who could blame him, right? So anyway, as much as she loves Elliot as a friend, she doesn't share in his wanting-to-get-married-and-be-together-forever feeling. She has different ideas. It's not that Elliot is a bad person. In fact, she's told me that he is a very good person. He is just not the person she wants to spend the rest of her life with.

Now, I've known Danielle for quite a while and I know a lot about her personality and things she does and does not do. She does not, for example, call. If you remember a few posts ago when I was in a feeling-sorry-for-myself mood, I talked about my friend who didn't call or return my calls and how sometimes I read too much into tiny things like that. Well I'm not even in love with her and it drives me crazy. Imagine being in love with her and having her not return your calls. It's not like she sits there and looks at your missed call and ignores it out of malice. She just doesn't call all the time. That's not to say that she neglects us poor saps all the time. She does call back. Sometimes. Most of the time even. Just not all the time. Which is okay because that's Danielle. Sometimes us poor saps need reminding of that fact and need to remind ourselves that she does actually care for us and think about us even when we're not around. She just doesn't tell us about it every time. For instance, I have to remind myself that she sent me a post card over her six week campaign in France over the summer in order to remind myself that she doesn't hate me and that she even thinks about me sometimes because she is my friend.

But I digress...

The point I'm trying to make is that even though Danielle has told Elliot several times that she just wants to be friends, it remains very obvious that he still loves her. All one has to do is be friends with one of them on Facebook. Just one. You don't even have to go to the same uni as them and you can still tell. This further proves my point. You just have to not like someone to get them to like you.

I'm not sure exactly why I told you all this. You probably already knew and now think I am a complete idiot for just now figuring it out. I am a bit slow. I am going to try this though. I realise I've given you bad examples of outcomes of this method, but hopefully someday it will actually work out for good. I'll let you know. : )

One more thing, I would like to, again thank Elisabeth and Emily. You are seriously the best readers anyone could ask for. You are both very loyal and I love reading your comments. It truly flatters me that you not only take the time to read my blog, but that you comment as well. You are both excellent writers and have wonderful blogs of your own and I am so lucky to have such amazing writers commenting on my silly posts. You both are awesome.

34 days until Christmas!!

Book I am currently reading:

"Ex-mas" by Kate Brian. I picked it up in Barnes and Noble because it was about Christmas. It's pretty cheesy to be honest, but it has it's moments. I want another Christmas book though. If you have any suggestions please leave them in the comments!

Currently listening:

I can't get off the Bad Romance from Lady Gaga. She is awesome.

As for Christmas music I have been frequenting the Josh Groban Christmas selection on my iPod. Sigh. He is amazing. And wonderful. And... oh nevermind.

What to put here...

So last week during HvZ I was walking by the SUB and noticed a group of people standing in a circle with their backs to each other. They were holding up signs that I couldn't really read because I was kind of far away. I did notice, however that a couple of them had tape over their mouths and none of them were talking to one another. Later on I was walking with Reid in the same area and we spotted one of our friends Carman standing with a group of people, all of them holding signs. So we walked over and greeted her and inquired about who the group was and what they were doing. We learned that they were the Gay Straight Alliance and that they were speaking out against the unfairness and discrimination against LGBT. I looked at Reid, who I was about to accompany to hunt some humans, and said that I wanted a sign. One of the picketers heard me and gave me one of their pre-made ones for me to hold. It said "No Hate!" We did a bunch of chants and a lot of them were pretty cool. One went like this:

Nani (the rally leader): Can black people get married?

Us: YES!

Nani: Can atheists get married?

Us: YES!

Nani: Can muslims get married?

Us: YES!

Nani: Can gays get married?

Us: NO!

Nani: Why not?!

Us: ASK YOUR CONGRESSMEN

In the beginning, I admit I was a bit uncomfortable. I hate that. I felt the initial discomfort and stood with them anyhow and began to get louder and less uncomfortable with each chant. I think the reason I felt a bit awkward is because I've grown up in such a conservative environment. I grew up in the Baptist church and we were taught that certain kinds of love were just wrong. I really hate that. I guess I'm not a very good Christian. What kind of scares me though, is that I'm starting not to care. I mean of course I care and I'm afraid for my eternity and all that, but my apathy also scares me. Why am I thinking these things and why am I starting to feel anger toward a God who apparently loves people, but only if they are just the way he wants them to be. I'm the only one in my family with these opinions. I don't even know what they would do if they found out. Even writing this is kind of scary because I feel like God is going to condemn me to Hell for questioning him. But really, why would he create people a certain way and then condemn them for acting on their desires. 1 Cor. 6:9-10 says that gay people won't inherit the kingdom. Why would he make people love another kind of person only to send them to hell for it? That just seems really... I don't know how to put it any other way... shitty. I just don't understand some of the things he does and it bothers me so much. Sometimes he just doesn't seem like he's very loving at all. I also start thinking that maybe, just maybe we are wrong, which is terrifying in and of itself. People believe in Christianity and believe that they bible is right. But what about Muslims and the Qur'an? They believe that that is right. Someone has to be wrong. Maybe I'm just simplifying religion. It really isn't something that should be simplified.

OK, enough religious talk. Even though I am scared about my own personal beliefs and that they may be wrong, I still think that they should have the right to get married and I still support them. Just look at the world today. There is so much hate and horrible things going on. Murder, rape, and we are STILL in the middle east. I really don't think we can afford to discriminate about love. Love is love. If we as Christians have the right to worship freely in this country then how dare we try and take rights from other people. I've been studying the Civil Rights movement in history and it makes me so angry about how the south treated the blacks. I just can't help but think about how my kids might be studying this era in the future and how mad they will be to know that we withheld rights from certain people just based on who they loved.

Alright, I've thoroughly scared the crap out of myself (which is not very Gryffindor-like of me). End of this part of the post.

I have mostly completed my pre study abroad work. I've accepted the two loans that I need to take out, I've signed everything, I've sent off my visa application (they are going to send me a letter in Italian and I am really excited!), and I have finally sent off the classes that I want to be registered for. Originally I was going to take really exciting classes like Italian Confectionary Art, Chocolate Artistry, Worldwide Cuisine, Introduction to Professional Cooking and other exciting sounding classes that involve a lot of cooking. However, I was informed that I could not take those classes because they were only for culinary arts and baking pastry majors. When I told them that the only reason I wasn't one of those two is because we didn't have a culinary arts programme at my university. They said it didn't matter so now I am taking Wines of the World 2, Italian Vegetarian cooking, and other things that I can't be bothered to look up. My study abroad advisor informed me recently that another student is requesting to take Introduction to Professional cooking despite there not being a culinary school here (it would transfer over and count for another class over here). I inquired further about the class and she said that it might be too advanced for me. I am getting really sick of people telling me this sort of thing. Warning me that chefdome would be difficult and such. I know! I am really getting tired of people thinking that I can't handle it. What do they know? Of course, I'm also terrified that they're right and that I will fail miserably and that everyone who either knew I was going to fail from the beginning or had faith that I was going to be great would watch me fall. I really don't know which one is worse. People doubting me or people believing in me and having high expectations that I won't ever meet. I've started not telling people what I want to do. I tell them what I'm majoring in and when they say, "oh, so you want to run a restaurant?" I just reply with, "something like that."

I started wondering if it was even worth it to go this year. I also started wondering whether I was in the right place. I want to cook, but I'm not even in a school with a culinary arts programme. What am I doing here? Should I transfer? I've looked up other schools with that programme and most of them are community colleges. I don't really want to go to a community college and I don't even particularly want to transfer because I really like it here. I've also looked into the Culinary Institute LeNôtre. The problem with the last of those is that it is super expensive. Another problem is that I have to stay in the state of Texas to complete my education because my parents signed up for the Texas Tomorrow Fund when I was a baby which they put money into to make sure that I would have enough money for college... as long as I stay in Texas. Don't get me wrong, I am glad that they did this because it means that I don't have to take out any loans for my education (besides the ones for study abroad), but I am annoyed that I am obligated to stay in the state of Texas. I really don't like Texas all that much, to be honest. I would love to move somewhere else. Preferably out of country, but I suppose I could bare with at least being somewhere away from this state. I just don't know where I should be. I could always go to University of Houston, but I really don't like Houston. It's gross. Why did I have to be the one who would pick a difficult career like this? No one else in my family is causing trouble. My siblings are perfectly content to work in the family business. Why can't I do that? It would be so much easier. There's something wrong with me.

This has been a very strange and long and unorganised post and you don't have to comment if you don't want to. I would be sad if any followers left me, but I would completely understand. Sorry. If you stick around I promise to have another light-hearted, normal post up very soon.

Candy Cane Kisses...

... are quite good. But that's not what this post is about. I just had quite a hilarious conversation on Omeagle and thought I would share it with you:

Connecting to server...

Looking for someone you can chat with. Hang on.

You're now chatting with a random stranger. Say hi!

You: John Green

You: ?

Stranger: hello!

Stranger: i'm a genie..

Stranger: and i will grant u 3 wishes

You: I wish to find John Green.

You: Can you help me, genie?

Stranger: i can ...I CAN!!

Stranger: my powers are almighty.. and i'm here to service u!

Stranger: what can i do.. to help!?

Stranger: first wish!?

You: service me? Hmmmm. Rephrase.

Stranger: sorry lord.. but i'm here to service u...

Stranger: i can't rephrase it

Stranger: i was told to tell the mortals that

Stranger: if i don't i will vanish... POOF

You: oh dear. That sounds serious

Stranger: u really want that to HAPPEN TO ME? :O

Stranger: first wish...

Stranger: lets make this snappy

You: Help me find John Green on omeagle!

Stranger: ummm... whats ur name stranger?

You: lauren.

Stranger: is this john green.. special to u?

Stranger: did u have a conversation with him?.. did it end good?

You: hahaha. sure.

You: no to the last.

Stranger: ...why must u find him?

You: he's my favourite author. and he's on omeagle RIGHT NOW!

Stranger: REALLY!!????

Stranger: r u sure?...

You: true story.

Stranger: really... then i must help u!

You: please do!

Stranger: i can't leave u in this state lauren.. the great genie alex will help U!

Stranger: ..let me summon my immortal POWERS!

You: yesss!

Stranger: ..ummm yes.. yes... he is on right now!...

Stranger: he... he... ...OMG.. his favorite name IS LAUREN!!?

You: wow. that is amazing, genie.

Stranger: he... seems to be.. single... and ...wants to give u a limited edition of his books!

Stranger: ....he.. he is talking to someone right now...

Stranger: the conversation is going sour..

Stranger: he... he is about to look for someone new to talk to!

You: I should probably rescue him from that conversation then.

You: Thanks for your help, genie.

You: DFTBA

Stranger: np lauren!

You: Best wishes!

Stranger: u too

Stranger: take care

Stranger: i wish u the best on ur journey!

You have disconnected.

That's all I have for you now. I was going to post a more serious blog, but I am having too much fun. You should join in the quest to find John Green.

Braaaiiinnnsss!

HvZ is going well. The third day of the game and my second day of being a zombie is now. I made two kills today. I came out of Holden Hall from my first class at around 10:50ish and saw my friend Reid. I was about to wave and say hi, but the I saw the pink bandana on his arm. I smiled, put my bandana around my head and started to follow him. There is a rule that you can't devour anyone's corps if they are within 20 feet of a building and he kept walking by buildings. Luckily I finally got him when he was crossing the street. Poor, unsuspecting Reid was listening to his headphones the whole time. He never stood a chance. I'm sure that it must have looked quite amusing to innocent passersby to see someone with a pink bandana around their head follow someone else with a pink bandana around their arm at a very unsafe distance. I would have laughed. After I got his ID I had to hurry off to my next class, but on my way I saw yet another human. He was on his bike and he saw me (pink bandanas on heads can generally be spotted from a mile away) and we kind of glared at one another and I kept turning around, wanting to go after him and he kept watching me walk away, ready to bolt, but quite confused, I'm sure, when I kept walking the other way. I had just eaten anyhow. I'll let some other hungry zombie claim him. That is unless I see him tomorrow...

After all my classes were over I decided to walk through the SUB and enter by way of the music building despite it being completely out of the way. There are always a lot of humans near or in the music building or the common area just outside it (but still indoors, unfortunately). I did end up seeing someone and I followed him down the long hall of the common area (which was quite awkward, because, as I mentioned before, pink bandanas around foreheads tend to stick out), but he just went to sit with his friends. Someone did yell out a warning to him though. I suppose that scenario was quite comical to watch as well. I love the music building. Band kids are awesome, vocal majors are funny, and theatre majors are... theatre majors. I don't know how exactly to explain the latter. Vocal majors are funny, for lack of a better word, because they think they know everything there is to know about music. This past week colleges from all over Texas came for a contest that was being held at my university. My friends Hannah and Kylie just so happened to be among them and while I was sitting outside of a practice room that was being occupied by Kylie I heard a group of vocals walk by and then stop talking to listen. One of them said 'they're pushing too much', in reference to someone in one of the practice rooms and the rest murmured in agreement. As far as theatre majors go, at my university in the common area by the music building you can always find a group of theatre/vocal majors sitting at a table (same table every day) chit-chatting about theatery and vocal stuff. I know it's weird, but I like listening to other people's conversations sometimes. Sometimes I go to the dining hall that is inside of the honors dorm and drop some eves in there. Honors kids are so weird. Their conversations are hilarious. My roommate and I do that a lot. They say the most interesting things. It's crazy the people you meet in college...

Then since I was in the SUB I had a (very good) fruit salad for lunch. Brains for breakfast and fruit for lunch. Today was a good day.

Anyway, I've been getting a lot of weird stares from people on campus today because of the pink bandana. I've learned, however, that if you just stare back they eventually get uncomfortable and look away. Except for this one guy outside of the music building. He wasn't playing, but he had no problem looking at me even though I was staring right back at him. No shame at all. Interesting.

My last kill involved a sort of chase. I was going to meet Reid at the library so that we could hunt together and double team some people, but along the way I met Sam, a boy who had offered to help with the game for next semester. I saw his pink bandana around his head and asked him if he wanted to hunt with Reid and I. He agreed so we went to meet Reid. We found him and he was going to go into the library to record his latest kill on one of the computers, but before going pointed out one of his friends, who was still a human and was also very unsuspectingly reading a book between the two buildings. Sam went around the back way and I started to walk up to her side. She noticed us and got up. I apologised that we were being so creepy at the moment and also for what was about to happen. She took out two nerf balls (not the footballs. More like the snitch sized ones. They were the only weapon allowed on my campus, unfortunately) and started inching toward the library entrance. She threw one ball at me. I ducked. Then she threw the other one at Sam who successfully dodged it and started running toward the library. I caught up with her and received my second index card of the day.

Tomorrow all of the zombies are planning a killing spree by the band practice lot. We are going to attack right after band is released. I'm excited. Before that though, I am going to try and tag Anthony, the guy in charge of CTF and who's been coordinating with me for the HvZ finale on Friday. He posted on the group that he is going to be by the ESC at approximately 9:15 and then by the SUB at 10:30-11. I want to try and get him at the ESC so I am going to get up extra early. I didn't even know where the ESC was so I had to look it up on the campus map. Then I set my alarm to wake me good and early. I feel like kind of a creeper. I'll let you know how it goes though.

Update on the guy thing: he only texted me 8 times yesterday and that was without me replying so as to not encourage him in any way. I responded the first day (Monday) because I felt bad for not doing so. I always feel kind of bad when my text messages go unanswered. But then I realised that it was truly getting ridiculous and he was texting for no reason at all other than to just say 'hey'. Fortunately, Paul and Christine have agreed to go with me to the drive-in. I haven't told Matt yet. I'm not really sure how to. I guess I'm just going to do it really casually. By they way, thank you again to Emily and Elisabeth for your advice. I really appreciate it. And in answer to your question, Emily, I am going to Florence. Specifically APICIUS School for Hospitality.

One other good thing that happened to me today is that Sam Freidman commented on my video on YouTube. At first when I saw the comment notification thing I thought that she had just replied to a comment that I had left on her latest video because she does that because she's cool. But then I saw that she had commented on one of my own videos. Needless to say I was pretty freakin happy. She is cool. I wish I lived in New York. A lot of super cool people (Emily) live in NYC and I feel like I'm missing out. Stupid Texas (I could write several blogs on my qualms with Texas. Maybe I'll start a series).

Currently Reading:

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Currently Listening:

Switching between Bad Romance by Lady Gaga, 3 by Brittany Spears, and I've Got Nothing by the Chartjackers.

He keeps texting...

Lunch went OK. It's nice to talk. But that's pretty much it. Honestly, I don't see it going any further. Key word being I. I think he has other ideas. And it's not just because of the age. Emily and Elisabeth, you were right. The age really doesn't matter. I think I was just confused and freaked out because I don't really like him. You know when you talk to a guy and you think, 'man, I wish he would ask me out.'? Well that didn't happen with him. Nothing did. We just talked because we were on the same team, but I didn't think anything of it or start playing the What-if game like I tend to usually do (SO annoying!).

He's texted me 18 times today. 18! Once to just say good morning and another time to ask what was up. It's kind of been driving me crazy (understatement. Maybe it's just me, but 18 seems like a bit much). What the heck am I supposed to do though?! We are going to the drive-in on Thursday to see Christmas Carol and Where the Wild Things Are (he originally wanted to see Paranormal Activity, but I told him that I hate scary movies). I don't really know what I should tell him. I think it would be cool to be friends with him because he's really nice, but I would really love to avoid the whole 'I hope we can still be friends' thing because, really, who wants to hear that? No one.

I really don't need a boyfriend right now anyway. I've been stressing out so much about this HvZ thing and about study abroad and now I'm worried that I'm going to the wrong university. I was planning on writing a blog about the last of those, but then this whole ordeal came up and I was bombarded with texts.

Help.

Have I got something for you...

So today has been quite eventful. I went to an Episcopal Church for the first time and it was really neat! Lots of rituals. There were prayers for everything. Prayers for travelers, children, people suffering from addiction, elders, and about 4 different prayers to chose from before eating a meal. They also put a lot of things into song. Like normal things that would usually just be spoken were put in a sing song voice. It was neat, but also kind of funny. They were all really nice. There weren't many people my age. It was mostly middle age and parents with children. They cook for the homeless every week so I introduced myself to the lady in charge and got all signed up with a group. I'm quite excited. The only reason I found this church is because I google searched Church of England in my area. This was the only thing that came up and since my roommate was gone I decided to be adventurous and stray away from the usual Baptist service. I wish I could go more often. I'm not sure how the roommate would feel about Episcopalian church though.

After church I went to the new Barnes and Noble for which I have been anxiously awaiting the grand opening for quite some time. I bought The Muppet Christmas Carol. If only if wasn't for the limited (slash unimpressive) cash that flowed through my bank account, I would have gone wild! They had classic Who!! And Skins (but only series 2 and I'm on series 3). They had an entire section of British TV. They also had Torchwood Series 2, but like I said, limited cash flow.

Then, after spending far too much time there I went back to campus to watch a Quidditch game. It was a lot of fun to watch and looks really fun to play. I will definitely do it next year. The snitch was very cute, but is, alas, a senior (sad face).

After Quidditch I stressed a lot about Humans v Zombies because the site wasn't working out and I couldn't get a hold of anyone! It's all fixed now though, so that's good. A lot of people have withdrawn from the game though so that sucks. Administration didn't like the idea of guns being used even though they were toys (and the fact that it says ages 6 and up on the box, for crying out loud) and they also were afraid that people would put things in the socks to make them project further and, therefore, make them hurt more. So we had to say no guns which was a bummer because Nerf guns are cool. And because Walmart decided to put the huge one on sale for about $10. Typical. There are about 550 people in the facebook group, but only 242 people registered. I was supposed to close registration 9 minutes ago, but I'm hoping a few more decide to do it. I'm anxious to get this started. I want it to be fun again.

A few hours ago I played capture the flag on campus which is a VERY fun game. Games like that always get my blood pumping. I start seizing with excitement! We played two games and I met a lot of friendly people. There was this one freshmen boy named Matt (and this is where the title comes in). He asked me out. He was very nice and we were on the same team so we got to talk a little bit. He asked me if I was going to play again next week and I said yes. Then at the end of the game when we were all about to leave he asked me for my phone number. So I gave it to him and started walking toward home when I get a text message. I thought it would be from my mum or from Sarah who was getting home tonight, but it was from him. This is our conversation:

M: Hey it's Matt.

L: Hey!

M: Lol that was fun. Goin home?

L: Yup. Gotta study. You?

M: Yup. Registering. Free later this week maybe?

L: Hmmm... other than pretending there's a zombie apocalypse going on, I should be free.

M: Lol well would you be interested in a date?

L: *Long pause* Yeah

M: Awesome. Sounds good. Any preference to the day?

L: I have a lab that lasts until 7:30 on Tuesday, but other than that I'm pretty much free.

M: Hmm. I have class til 6 wed, tomorrow I'm good and Thursday I'm good.

L: I actually have to study tomorrow as well. Thursday?

M: Lol sounds good. Or wed after 6. Any ideas as to where/what to do?

L: I'll leave that up to you. *Goes to take shower. Comes back 7 minutes later*

M: Assuming you're studying at the moment but how late do you plan on being up?

L: About 1. I have to close registration for Humans v Zombies

M: Lol ok. Wed. Or thurs? I'm good with either

L: Thursday

M: Should I do the zombie thing?

L: Yes you should. We need people.

M: Lol ok tell me how :p

L: Search for Zombie Raiders on Facebook and follow the latest link posted.

M: All signed up :) so would you rather see a movie or go to wild west or do something else?

L: I guess a movie would be good.

M: I mean if there's anything else you'd prefer I'm open to suggestions. I just don't know what there is to do

L: LOL. Neither do I. A movie is fine with me though.

M: Lol ok. We'll figure out what movie lather. So what if I don't have a pink bandana? Lol

L: I have a few extras. I could meet you somewhere tomorrow. When/where is your first class?

M: 9 am, then one at 11 and at 12. Most near memorial circle. If you want I maybe free for lunch. :) lol

L: I would be free at 1 for lunch (I promise I only had bandanas on the mind and completely walked into this one unaware).

M: Sweet me too. We'll decide where tomorrow. Who decides the original zombies?

L: The site chooses.

M: Oh ok cool. I'm gonna laugh if I'm it and I don't get my bandana til 1 and tag you walking away from lunch or something :p

L: Haha. I suppose I wouldn't mind. I think it'll be gun being a zombie.

M: Lol ya me too. I added you on facebook btw. Had lots of fun playin ctf and you're really cute so it should be a good week :p

L: *After even longer pause* I had fun too.

M: Good. I look forward to lunch. As for now, I've gotta get to bed. I'll text you tomorrow :)

The end.

Biggest issue on my mind is the fact that he's a freshmen and I don't even know if he's 18 and I'm 20! I'm like a grandmother! And what the heck do I say to that 3rd from the last line?! *Sigh*. My friend Kelsey has advised me to just go for it. She is nice and I'm really glad (although slightly embarrassed) that she talked me through it and all that. She's beautiful so I'm sure she's had things like this happen plenty of times.

I'm going to bed. Any advice you may have would be more than welcome. : )

Buona notte