Drizzly Sunday...

It's been a drizzly Sunday. The kind of Sunday where you feel like spending the afternoon under a fluffy blanket with a mug of hot chocolate and a good book. But, alas, I have no hot chocolate or good book to read and it's still too warm for a fluffy blanket, so instead I spent part of the afternoon in the library. But not among the shelves, halls, and floors full of books. I spent it in the library auditorium.

A friend once told me students could go in there when it's not in use and bang on the incredibly ancient and horribly out of tune baby grand piano until the building closes for the night, at which point security (nicely) kicks you out. So I took my backpack full of piano books and amused myself up in that semi-secluded room for a while. It's fun, but I seriously wish Regent would take the time to tune the poor old instrument. It's bad. Really bad.

Tomorrow marks the beginning of week four of the fall semester. It's been both a whirlwind and a drag, a delight and a challenge. I love my new roommate and being in a hall full of girls I already (mostly) know. And I love NOT BEING THE NEW GIRL! Whoo-hoo!!! Now it's my turn to make the new people feel welcome :-)

Some changes from last year: new freshmen up the whazoo. There are two whole floors of them--and 3 to a room instead of the usual 2! It has changed the atmosphere of the place quite a bit, in some good ways and also in some ways I just feel too old for. Being almost 23, a building that's nearly 2/3 full of 18-19 year olds at times feels like...I don't know. I just feel old. A couple of nights ago a bunch of 'em hosted a dance party on the first floor. But it was fine because I couldn't hear it from my third-floor room and slept right through it. Just like any other boring adult.

The fun thing about a bunch of new people, though, is the new friends you happen to find among them. I've had the chance to spend some time with some really great girls! A few of us went and took a ballroom dancing lesson last Saturday and had a blast! We might just have to make that a weekly event :-)

However, my favorite thing so far about coming back to campus has been seeing my friends from last year again. A group of us randomly decided to grab guitars and towels and head to the beach last Friday for a time of worship and just to watch the sun set. We ended up missing the sunset but instead got to sing and pray under the million stars that were out that night. Wow, it was beautiful!

Now the weekend is over and I'll be hitting the books hard again...and probably harder as the weeks go by. Not having a job, I feel like I have so much extra time compared to last year. I feel kind of guilty having plenty of time to hang out with people or do whatever. But that's going to change because....

I GOT A JOB! Which is great, because I hate feeling broke. And it's going to be a FUN job! I'm going to be working part-time as a barista at a brand new coffee shop. I'm SO excited! In fact, today I'm expecting a call about setting up training times and going over paperwork and schedules and such. The coffee shop is only about 2 miles from the school, but unfortunately I can't walk or bike because there are no sidewalks there...and it wouldn't be wise at night because part of the route is kind of secluded. So Mom and Dad are working on vehicle options for me.

So that's the latest news. I'll try to keep this blog updated once a month or so.