half full

New Blog...for now

2011-06-22T05:17:00.000-07:00

I'll be blogging at this address for the next couple of years...

lgfocusblog.wordpress.com

What I'll Miss About Nebraska.2

2010-04-07T12:58:00.000-07:00

http://thecuplincoln.com/

I discovered this coffee shop online about a month ago, and I seriously can't get enough of it. All of their coffee and tea is free-trade AND all of their baking is organic (I checked and organic still has calories...darn it). I can't even describe to you how delicious their signature Cinn-a-muffins and unique cupcakes are. The coffee is always great and they have probably 30 different teas to choose from. I know I sound like an advertisement for this place, but I'm an advertising major...duh.

I will miss this place, but mostly the quality time it gives me with some of the most wonderful people in my life. A laid back and peaceful environment begs a seriously deep and enjoyable conversation. There's also always such an interesting cross section of patrons, which I totally appreciate and am amused by.

If you live in Lincoln, check it out and you must eat a cupcake or a panini. I mean, just look at the menu and tell me you don't want to jump in your car right now.

Hmm, maybe I'll get some friends to mail me a cupcake every month...

How hungry am I getting talking about this (1-10): 7

What I'll Miss About Nebraska.1

2010-04-06T16:24:00.000-07:00

For those loyal (probably disappointed) readers of my blog, I've decided to describe every day for the next month something I will miss about the University of Nebraska, and probably the state in general. I realize that this is mostly for my closure and vain purposes, but there's bound to be something funny at some point.

I'm currently sitting in my Anthropology class learning about the differences between humans and great apes. Um, no, I won't be missing this class...like at all. But as the clock strikes 6:25 p.m., so chimes "There is no place like Nebraska" from Mueller Bell Tower. On tours, I used to tell the story/myth about the organist who used to play the music inside the tower (that part is true) who got locked inside one day (also true). He began playing "Help!" by the Beatles until a professor in Bessy Hall could no longer stand it and got curious, finding the organist and letting him out (the Beatles part isn't true, just funny when I start singing it for prospective students and their parents).

I'm sure most of you know that the bells serenade us with music from the Sound of Music and the Beatles, as well as our fight song and Hail Varsity. The bells are really beautiful and have always made me feel like I was ON a university and part of a community. Everyone can hear those bells when they ring, even those stuck in a worst case class.

I only wish I could find a ring tone that sounded so good.

How close am I to crying right now (1-10): 3

OK fine

2010-03-12T17:45:00.000-08:00

I'll update my blog.
It's been a while, I guess. Life has been exceptionally crazy these past months, and I haven't really wanted to write or journal or blog about any of it.
Meanwhile, it's spring break and I'm heading for Texas tomorrow morning...all by myself!! Eek! I've never driven that far by myself, but I guess now, on the brink of my graduation, I should probably grow up. In other words, pray for me.

I'll be working on my Honors Thesis over break, which is NOT exciting but completely necessary.
I also hope to see some friends and get some much (MUCH) needed rest. My uncle is very sick right now, so I don't think that my visit home will be very pleasant, but it's good to be with family at times like this. (pray for him, too, please)

On a lighter note, I'm watching 13 Going On 30, which is a little ridiculous but delightful in its own way.
(I miss Friday night movies with my girls: Amanda, Tia and Emily...sad)

Lastly, can I have this dress, please? Thanks.

options

2010-02-13T18:12:00.000-08:00

Current realistic options for next year: Boston College, University of Maryland, FOCUS, UNL.
FOCUS and UNL have not officially extended invitations yet, just so the record is straight.

If you ask me what my preferences are, I will stop talking to you for a week.
Not really, but seriously...don't ask me that.
I'm open to discussions and informational sessions, but until then, I will focus on what I am looking forward to currently:

1. Watching 500 Days of Summer (for the third time) with Amanda, Ben and Jerry.
2. Going to Kansas City in a week with Katie Kolega.
3. Going to Maryland in two weeks to see the Weeders, Josh, many others and America!
4. Lent (starting on Wednesday)!
5. Making a decision...eventually.

Someday I'm going to see my long lost friends Emily and Tia. Someday.

Lastly, I literally stumbled upon this website that I like: http://needsupply.com//
Literally.

i want to go to there

2010-02-06T17:43:00.000-08:00

The New York Times had a photoblog with pictures from Mexico City. It looks so beautiful. I want to go there someday. Also, Colombia. It's not as dangerous as it used to be, and I saw Anthony Bordain go down and eat amazing food. What a job.

Meanwhile, I guess I'll have to settle for travel plans to Maryland and possibly Boston.
Also, I bought a suit today. It is cute. AND I got some free pants that are very cute.
Successful shopping days make me happy.

And I love my roommate because she watches Mean Girls with me.

YOU CAN'T JOIN MATHLETES! It's social suicide!

no air, air

2010-01-31T21:27:00.000-08:00

If you are a man reading this, thank you for all of those things you do for your wife, sister, girlfriend, daughter and girl friends that they don't want to do (and let's face it, can't really do well). If your a woman reading this, thank your respective man(s).

What's prompting this sudden display of gratitude for the (generally) hairier sex? Well, while my trip to Omaha this weekend was incredibly fun, stress-relieving and appreciated, it was also stricken with a temporary car crisis.

Before I left Lincoln on Saturday afternoon, I DID notice that the pressure in one of my tires was pretty low (shhh...don't tell my dad), but I figured I would probably be OK driving to Omaha, where I would find a place to fill it up with air. Meanwhile, Sunday morning both front tires were dangerously low and my friend Sara graciously offered to go with me to a gas station where we would try to figure out exactly HOW to put air in a tire.
Yeah, that didn't happen.

Two gas stations and two phone calls to each of our dads later, we were exhausted and had somehow managed to let air OUT of the tires...making them appear almost flat. Thankfully, when I called the friend I was supposed to pick up for shopping, she told me her husband would fill my tires with his personal air compressor. All we had to do was drive the five or so miles to her house, and somehow we got there without having to pull over on the interstate. He made it look so easy as he explained to me the nature of my tires and why I was lucky I got as far as I did with my carelessness while quickly and skillfully filling each tire. He reminded me of all of the great things my dad does for me, has done for me and probably will continue to do for me because he enjoys it.

I know that many women can and do manage their own vehicles, lawn mowing, branch cutting and bug killing very well. But I also know that men desire adventure and using their God-given strength and unique thought process, just like woman nurture and love with a fierce and fearless grace. Gender roles are OK, and I certainly learned that again this weekend.

So, thanks again dads, brothers and husbands of my good friends.
You guys rock.

Beck and Fred

2010-01-26T08:41:00.000-08:00

I'm thinking about summer because it's so cold outside. Also, I was listening to Beck's "Summer Girl" yesterday because I thought it would make me feel better about the cold, but instead it just made me a sad and impatient.
Meanwhile, when spring/summer finally DOES come around, I want some new Toms. These in particular:

I know they aren't very summery, but you can't really wear Toms in the winter. Unless you were them with really thick socks like my used-to-be-roommate Emily used to do. Plus, I wouldn't want to ruin them with slush and salt and all of the grossness that invests the streets of Lincoln in the months of December, January and February (sometimes March).

OK, I'll stop being negative. After all, my blog is named after an optimist's outlook.
I like Tuesdays, because I get to go to my Great Hollywood Musicals class. Last week we watched "Flying Down to Rio," which happens to be the debut of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers as dancing partners. They aren't the stars of the film, so I'm a little confused as to why our professor didn't choose "Swingtime" or "Top Hat" or any other musical where Fred and Ginger dance for the majority of the movie. *sigh* Oh, I love them...here, in "The Gay Divorcee"

What a dress.

Today, we're watching Busby Berkely's "Golddiggers of 1935." Should be nice and cheesy. Can't wait.

Abode

2010-01-24T13:27:00.001-08:00

I would really like to take a nap right now, but for some reason, I can't sleep.
I cleaned my room last night...all night. And for those of you who know me well, you understand that an undertaking that was. It felt good, I guess. But one thing I hate about a clean room is that everything you do AFTER you clean your room makes it a little messy. And it sticks out like a sore thumb because the rest of the room is clean! This could be my excuse to keep my room messy, but I think I might be a big girl and try to stay neat and organized. Affirm me for my lofty yet noble ambitions.

I love sunflowers. I have some on my desk in a vase, and some in a vintage book bag on my new shelf (courtesy of Tia Peterson upon her moving out of Courtyards). I really like this new bookcase and what I decided to do with it (i.e. store books). But I also have my scarves and clutches "neatly" stacked on the second shelf.

I finally put my clothespin memories back up that I had hanging last year. If you give me a card or draw me a picture that I like, you can bet it will end up on the clothesline. I got the idea from InStyle, I think. Or Better Homes and Gardens? Maybe it was Real Simple. I like those magazines.

Lastly, my favorite part of my room is the front door (I guess I like to think of my tiny residence hall room of an actual house) where I have put up my signed David Bazan poster and Andy Warhol print to give the impression that I'm actually cool. I've also put up a bulletin board (against the rules) for my necklaces and keep my jewelry on the shelf under it.

So, now that you've all seen how cute this all is, you must encourage me to actually keep it up. It's your friendly duty. I think I'm ready for that nap now.

P.S. Sorry for the low-quality pics, but one of my friends who moved to New York also moved my digital camera with her.
Bummsville.

Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Mo

2010-01-21T22:47:00.000-08:00

Something I've noticed about most of my friends, and younger women in general, is their inability to make decisions. Maybe it's not such an inability as it is a serious avoidance. Nobody wants to make anyone unhappy with their decisions and nobody wants to seem too picky or high-maintenance. I suppose I appreciate this characteristic of my friends, but when no one in a group can make a decision about where to eat or what movie to watch, it usually just leads to frustration and a bunch of annoyed girls. But, I think I found a solution.

This summer, I purchased a "Make a Decision" notepad at a gift shop in Omaha. I pledged to use it for petty and important decisions that would plague my senior year. So far, I've used it about four times...not exactly all of the decisions I've made this year BUT I think that it's been pretty handy. Recently, I made a decision of whether or not to accept an internship offer for this semester at the University of Nebraska Foundation (I did) AND I helped my roommate Amanda figure out which flowers to have in her wedding (poppies...for now anyway). My friend Sarah Santos aided me with another decision about a potential love interest and the pad was extremely helpful..kinda.
Overall, I wish my girlfriends and I were better at making decisions confidently and without fear, but the truth is, sometimes we need a little help. It would be great if we could challenge each other to grow in this particular skill, but since the invention of clever notepads, I guess we get a break for a while.
At least until we have to make a REALLY important decision.
That's what picking a tiger by the toe is for.

i don't really like...

2010-01-14T21:48:00.000-08:00

New Year's Resolutions. I think they're kind of silly, and no one ever keeps them anyway. Or at least I don't, so that's why I have some goals for the year/life such as, becoming more organized, actually visiting the rec once in a while and hanging out with people more often. So far my goals haven't progressed significantly, but the year's off to a good start nonetheless.

As far as graduate school goes, I've officially applied to Boston College and the University of Maryland in College Park. My applications are completed and submitted...officially. My application for the UNL program is still in progress, but that's not keeping my mind from going 100 mph about the possibilities for next year. I also don't really like knowing there's the possibility of making a bad decision.
But I do like taking risks...so I suppose that balances out. Or at least that's what I'll tell myself until April 15.

I don't really like how two of my best friends are hundreds/thousands of miles away. It's weird waking up every morning and not pouring coffee for Emily and complain about the latest JSchool waste of time. It's weird not creeping into Tia's room to wish her a good morning and laugh at something stupid. I don't really like them being gone. But I do like my new roommates, and sticking with my old one, Amanda. She's pretty cool, I guess.

I don't really like water. But I'm trying to drink more of it, because my brother told me to. Also, I'm super blessed to be able to drink water, so I should probably do it.

I don't really like long blog posts about nothing much, but I do like you for reading this.

good life

2009-11-15T12:35:00.000-08:00

Last week (as you can imagine from my earlier post), I was at the peak of my stressed-out-o-meter. I was grumpy and freaked about turning 22 (this Wednesday). Needless to say, I was everyone's favorite person...eh.
How did I cope? The way I do with any stressful week: I got in my car, plugged in my ipod drove to Omaha.

I love that city, and I love everything that happened this weekend. There was hardly any traffic on my way out of town, which meant a small audience to see my performance of the Glee soundtrack, Ingrid Michaelson's new album and my new favorite Josh Turner song. I met my wonderful disciple Toni for a little bit of coffee and shopping, which was a lot of fun and financially successful with small purchases of a sweet headband and lovely hat. After a walk around the Old Market, I made my way to spend the night with Sara. What can I say about her except that she makes me feel loved and happy when we talk. A long conversation with her was just what I needed and after a restful night on her couch, I woke up too late to go to Mass at St. Cecilia's Cathedral at 7:30. However, while I was driving, disappointed, to a bookstore I'd always wanted to visit, I found a church having Mass at 8:15. I couldn't thank God enough for His providence and gift of going to Mass that morning.

After grabbing some coffee and looking for books, I grabbed some more coffee (sensing a theme?), this time with another friend, Annie, with whom much catching up and many laughs ensued. Then, Vietnamese food with a mother of two and inspiration to me was the wonderful end to my semi-spontaneous trip that followed me west on I-80.

When I thought that the break was over and it was back to an awful reality of papers, applications and a long to-do list, I got home to witness another great Husker win and take some time with my roommate Amanda to drink wine and eat good food. I guess my life is pretty great in any city I'm in or will end up in. But for right now, I'm happy to be in the good life, where the biggest city is under a million people, where the football team can claim wins over Oklahoma AND Kansas and where my heart can be content.

rant: on having a lot of stuff to do

2009-11-12T18:52:00.000-08:00

I don't even know where the list starts, but I do know that it doesn't have an end.
I have to say, my intent in this post is not to complain about all of the things I have to do (at least not the whole time), but I have a really hard time believing that professors understand exactly what they do to students this time of year.
Since when does a senior in college need to turn in an annotated bibliography before a paper is even due, just to make sure they're getting things done? Either the students will have their projects done on the due date or they won't.
And really, economics professor? Sending out a problem set at 4 p.m. due in morning class when it's not on the syllabus? Um, no thanks.
Also, if I have to upload another stupid document to blackboard, I will probably scream.
I have to apply for graduate school, write an honors thesis, finish my resume and, well, graduate. Oh yeah, not to mention, work, serve on ASUN, lead a Bible study, lead a women's ministry, pick the next dean of the college and maintain sanity.
My life is impossible.

Thanks for reading. I guess I did end up complaining the whole time. :)

post-game

2009-10-25T06:33:00.000-07:00

i woke up this morning to remember that nebraska lost to iowa state because of eight turnovers, to find that texas a&m beat texas tech by 22 points and to realize that i had slept for 11 hours (oops).
let's forget about a&m and my outrageous sleep patterns for a moment, and i will remember that at 10 a.m. i will be sitting in the football offices, trying to help recruit a senior to join our athletic program. there will be 12 sad coaches, six different colors of red furniture and the five hopeful championship trophies from years past.
what do all these numbers add up to? well, life.
our spirits will be lifted with the promise of a new friendship(or a new head coach) and we will inevitably be let down with the imperfection of an old friend (or a carry-over offensive coordinator).
there will be days like iowa state and ones like missouri. there will be glimmers of hope like a 300-pound defensive tackle and agonizing unpredictability like the performance of a certain quarterback.
we can pout and yell and "give-up" as much as we want to, but at the end of the day, we're still alive, and in this case, we're still husker fans. so today, i will suck it up and help my huskers be a better team, just like everyday i will try to improve myself and my life.

but seriously, we better beat baylor.

road

2009-08-18T07:55:00.000-07:00

this week i'm commuting from lincoln to omaha for the last week of my internship. fortunately, i've been riding with a graphic designer named stacy that works in the marketing department, and she's great. but with all of this driving and the fact that my senior year is literally days away, i've been thinking about life, journeys, etc. (the semi-sappy blog post had to come eventually).
i'm not really one to look back and let myself get carried away with nostalgia. i like to live in the present and occassionally daydream about the possibilities of the future.
the "future", along with its unknown possibilities, is coming up faster than i had ever imagined or hoped that it would. and lately, looking back and sharing stories of my past with stacy has been the comfort i need to begin this year full of decisions. scary, life-changing, wonderful decisions.
at least for the next couple of days, i can dream about the days of watercolors painting birds on sketch pads, my pink and white bike with silver tassles, boardgame high school hangouts and the rush of my freshman year of college.
things i can look forward to? seeing everyone again, new classes, football season and the "surpise" going away breakfast the department is having for me on thursday.
stacy spilled the beans.

hit me like a ray of sun

2009-08-12T13:45:00.000-07:00

i meant to blog more this summer. whoops.
looking back at my summer in omaha (and occasionally, lincoln), i think it was pretty successful. i accomplished a lot of what i wanted to, although there are some things i could have probably fit in. that's ok, though. there's plenty of time for that. meanwhile, here are some highlights.

hanging out with my roommates. there were many: beth, jena, sydney and eventually katie and mary. i was never one to diss sitting on the couch watching movies, but i learned so much and had so much more fun doing this than i ever had before. thanks for introducing me to "love song for bobby long," beth. i would quote something now, but all of the funny lines are kind of inappropriate...

learning how to drive in omaha. i'm so grateful that my thunder bunny has an impressive turn radius. uturns just turned into something i looked forward to doing when i got lost. but i finally mustered up the courage to drive in the center lane on dodge (it alternates directions depending on the time of day) and i can successfully give directions to a nonresidents (most of the time).

boys town. particularly reading the biography of father flangan and getting to know the other intern, annie. she is wicked cool, and we had a lot of fun together. given, a lot of that fun distracted us from getting things done and involved online shopping, but hey. it's a friendship that will last a lifetime....only if she stops poooking meeee!!! (real housewives of nyc reference)

weddings! featuring the burdas, litts, beauclairs, ostgrens and (upcoming) weeders. i never knew there could be so many truly beautiful ceremonies, truly in love couples and truly uncomfortable shoes i chose to wear. despite some fashion insensibilities, i really enjoyed playing flute, playing wedding planner (jlo cirque 2001) and playing beyonce when i jumped up on stage to belt out "halo." um, you are more than welcome roni and aaron.

there are so many other memories and wonderful people that i will carry in my heart. so long, omaha, where imagination really does meet opportunity.

somewhere in middle america

2009-06-23T08:29:00.000-07:00

i've been spending my days as an intern at boys town. it's a non-profit organization dedicated to providing care for youth and families. it started out as an omaha orphanage in 1917, started by father edward j. flanagan, but has over the years developed into a nationwide organization. it's pretty great. all i really do it write articles and talk to people. but hey, that's good enough for me. besides the internship, i've been exploring omaha a little and will continue to do so throughout the summer. for those you planning a trip to omaha in the near future (it's a metropolis, don't even joke), i will be reviewing the activites, restaurants, etc. that i am partaking in. i know you'll appreciate this, you don't have to thank me. but if you do...that's fine, too.
college world series: my first time at the college world series was an extremely hot but pleasant one. i've never really liked baseball, but a week of lsu and texas fans everywhere got me swinging a different bat (ha...). it was seriously fun the two games i went to, and i can't wait til next year. fun family america time.

henry doorly zoo: i had also never been to a zoo before (gasp). it was fantastic! definitely worth the $10+ admission fee and steep hills. highlights: gorillas, aquarium, swamp, monkeys hugging.

mother india restaurant: barely big enough to be a hole-in-the-wall establishment. after seeing a fairly short list of entrees, i knew it had to be good. and it was. chicken curry and a big piece of naan ($10). i've had naan better...for the price, anyway.

three happiness express: yes, that is the actual name of a chinese restaurant on leavenworth st. (mere blocks away from mother india) they are not as speedy as their name implies, but they are decent for the price. good crab ragoon and excellent water glass filling.

garage saling: a must saturday morning activity at some point in the summer. depending on the neighborhood, you can find some pretty great little treasures (i.e. pink rose earrings, free yellow coffee mug, forest green belt). i also really enjoyed the two estate sales i came across. those are more practical for people with more than an interns hourly wage. fun, nonetheless.

that's all for now. happy summer day, everyone. :)

summer

2009-05-24T21:15:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's actually here.
I kind of hate summer. It's hot. There's rarely a schedule (and I like schedules). There's no football or jackets. Friends are gone.
That's why for the past two summers I made sure I had a schedule and friends around me. Totus Tuus and NSE were really good summers. When I realized that I didn't actually have a plan for this summer and whatever it was going to be, I probably wouldn't have a schedule or friends, I kind of freaked out. Eventually, I told God whatever He wanted me to do, I would do it. He surprised me and gave me a wonderful internship in Omaha where I would totally have a list of things to get done and amazing people with whom to hang out. I can't believe I can't wait for this summer.
Meanwhile, I'm in Texas spending some time with my family. They've made me feel pretty guilty about going back to Nebraska for the summer...again. But they know that I make good decisions, and they know how much I love them. I hope, anyway.
Also, I don't know how I'm going to fit my clothes/shoes into my little bag I carried on again. What a cunundrum.
More posts later.
After all, it is summer.

prague

2009-03-28T09:54:00.000-07:00

prague, nebraska.

probably just as lively, but much closer to me than the one in the czech republic. i discovered this gem a couple of years ago when a few people went after totus tuus training. i loved it then.

last night, a group of friends went down to kolac korner to partake in the fish fry (yay lent) and listen to some live polka music.

a fairly small restaurant in a town that's even smaller, the dream of kolac korner started with a family who sold kolace on a highway corner to nebraska fans headed to the football games in lincoln. now a thriving little and humble business, the restaurant has a variety of foods including hamburgers, fried fish and its sunday special, duck and dumplings. no worries though, the signature kolace(strawberry, blueberry, poppy seed, apricot, cream cheese) are still there, along with czech liquor and beer. last night offered a free domestic brew for all customers because it was the owner's, or the "prince of prague's", birthday.

i suppose walking into a small town's most popular business as a group of young(and old) college students could be intimidating, however, the people of prague only welcome new friends, fellow husker fans and first-time polka dancers.

a crowd favorite, "in heaven there is no beer", was enjoyed several times throughout the night. and i have to admit, the polka version of "there is no place like nebraska" in honor of the kolac korner's staff for all of their hard work was a highlight.

it's nights like this when i feel like coming to school in nebraska was the best decision of my life. it's people like those in prague who make my heart come alive. and it's experiences like this that i think everyone should have. and if you want to have it, call me.

after only 15 minutes into our 4 hour stay at kolac korner, a friend asked "are we in heaven or prague, nebraska?"

"um, both."

the champion

2009-03-19T20:28:00.000-07:00

i am currently facebook chatting with emily, and she sent me a link for the myers-briggs personality test. and since i pretty much click on any link that emily sends me, here is my result: enfp. extrovert, intuition, feeling, perception
in other words, the champion idealist. heck. yes.
i few descriptives that made me laugh:

"The most outgoing of the Idealists, Champions often can't wait to tell others of their extraordinary experiences. Champions can be tireless in talking with others, like fountains that bubble and splash, spilling over their own words to get it all out."
funny because: it's true. i love telling stories. especially ones that are actually pretty boring. but i think i add enough ridiculous expression and interior commentary that people generally stay entertained.

also, "Fiercely individualistic, Champions strive toward a kind of personal authenticity."
i absolutely hate not being myself. whenever i force myself to do something out of character, it never works out. so, i think i'll still strive to be authentic and just live mah life. eyy eyy eyyy (rhianna/t.i. reference).

famous champions include charles dickens and joan baez.
um, enough said.

texas

2009-03-16T20:45:00.000-07:00

i'm home for spring break, and i decided to start a blog.
i was just out to eat with some old high school friends and we saw three high school teachers...it was weird. mostly because both groups were legally drinking margaritas. it was really weird.
it's always really interesting to come home...and i suspect this is the case for a lot of college students. i get home, and i'm happy to be here. but i easily and quickly get into arguments with my parents, especially my mom. a length of time will go by, and we'll get along just great. and then it's time to leave, and i cry every single time.
i don't know what it is exactly. i must be growing up...uh oh.
that's all for now.
expect more interesting posts...later.
:)