Start praying for an upset.

According to Anders "what the" Helquist, the presidential election was decided today. Since 1936, the outcome of Washington Redskins home football games has correctly predicted the winner of each U.S. presidential election. If Redskins win, the incumbant wins. If Redskins lose, the challenger wins.

Today, the Redskins lost.

It's time to break the trend. Start praying for an upset.

Moving on up

We got a new paper towel dispenser in the Third South bathroom. It's not automatic like the super-nice ones in Los Brovos or BW3s. Still, it's better than the old one that randomly fell apart and hit people in the head.

Scarlet Women of English Hall

Someone declared today "English girls wear red day." My PA sent around an email two days ago telling us all to wear red as a show of sisterhood. I had a debate this morning and since I don't own a dressy red shirt, I wore my suit with a blue tank top underneath.

I really have no desire to wear red in some pathetic attempt to prove my allegiance to a residence hall. Whatever pride I once had in English has dissipated this year. I'll be out in less than two months, anyway.

Take a Wok

Tonight is Wok Night in the DC. I'm so excited! It's the night when all of Taylor's Asian kids (all twelve of them) cook dinner for the entire campus. The event is sponsored by AAA, the Asian Awareness Association. I have a problem with this name. Usually "awareness" in an organization denotes a disease or disorder, like AIDS awareness or cancer awareness. A nationality is not a disease.

While I could never eat Asian food every day, I enjoy it once in a while. There are a few things I dislike about the DC's Wok Night, though.

1. Big crowds. For some reason, it takes FOREVER to get food on Wok Night. Last year, I had a meeting that got postponed an hour because people were stuck in the wok line.

2. Hidden chopsticks. I can't eat Asian food without chopsticks. It just doesn't taste the same. However, the DC doesn't generally supply such utensils, so after asking 50 people where the chopsticks are, I resentfully resort to my fork. After I've finished eating, I'll look at the next table over, fully furnished with chopsticks. This always happens without fail.

3. The smell. I don't mind the smell of Asian food when I'm hungry, but I'm not a fan of the stench that lingers on my clothes and hair for the rest of the night. Fortunately, everyone else on campus smells the same as I do.

Beyond these few things, I enjoy Wok Night tremendously, especially since tonight is also a meeting of the CHECKERBOARD MENAGERIE!!! *cryptic wink*

------- Totally unrelated sidenote...

I know I said I wouldn't post anything else on this topic, but I guess I'm a liar. Here goes. I just received confirmation that I did, indeed, have a passing grade when I withdrew from Typography. My transcript now reads WP!!! Rejoice.

The worst timing EVER

JOSH GARRELS IS COMING TO TAYLOR ON WEDNESDAY!!!!!

I've been waiting for this concert all year!!!!!

I have to work. Drat. :(

Anywhere but here.

It's times like these when I wish my address was still 321 8th St. NE, Washington, D.C. 20002. I wish I could still walk the National Mall to clear my head. I wish I could escape into the anonymity of a million different Starbucks wherever I looked.

Instead I'm here, longing for the future while I plug away at this week's projects. The work no longer has any meaning to me. I have no pride in it.

I'm not really dreaming of Washington. It was a fabulous season, but I'd have no life there now. No, I just miss the freedom. At least there, I was supposed to be unknown. Here, I'm supposed to be a part of this "community," but I can't help feeling nameless. I reluctantly accept one more forced hug in an effort to feel more normal. I have to wonder, though, does this person hugging me really care?

Taylor is nice when I play along with the "I'm fine" game, but it can be cold when I struggle with real issues. I guess I'm feeling this way because I've had a taste of something so much better. It's not about being cared for out of compulsion because I'm part of some "community," it's about being important to someone just because I'm Megan Elder.

I'm not sure if this post makes any sense. Oh well.

Fall Break withdrawl

I've only been back at Taylor for two and a half hours, but I can't seem to make myself do anything productive. I'm still in break-mode. Even though we only got one day off, it was a fabulous escape.

I had an amazing break, complete with a friend, baseball, birthday celebration, a new baby, successful lasagna, clean laundry and Barnes & Noble. The drive wasn't bad, especially with the breathtaking Southern Indiana scenery. I made it in 4-hours or less both ways.

I got to see the Wilson's new baby, Kael, on Saturday. He was a week old and was the smallest human being I've ever seen. I held him for a while, which was super-embarrassing because I wasn't quite sure what I was doing. Kevin and Esther were exhausted, but looked happy. It was neat to hang out with them for a bit.

The break flew by, and now I'm back here with a week of projects and tests looming over me. I appreciated the escape, but I'm having a heard time getting back into the swing of things. Oh well. I'll worry about that stuff tomorrow. I wouldn't take my break back for anything. I had fun. :)

Wake up, O Sleeper.

I just finished reading Waking the Dead by John Eldredge. I know, I'm the slowest reader ever to touch a book, but I love to take my time when it comes to reading, especially if the book is worth it. This book was worth it.

It opened my eyes to a God I'd been ignoring for the past seven years. A God who set me free from my past. A God who aches to heal my wounds. A God who treasures my heart.

After I returned from D.C. last summer, my mom told me I should read Waking the Dead. I nodded and said I'd add it to my list, although I never intended to crack the cover. She purchased a copy for me in case I ever got around to it. She must have known I'd be needing it soon. I was about to have a revelation.

I had it all wrong. I thought my heart was evil, that it was only by God's grace I could ever be loved. Then one late-summer night in JoJo's, something roused me from my slumber. That night, I took my copy of Waking the Dead off the shelf and continued to shed my theological cocoon.

The past few months have been a journey. Each day, I awaken to new truths about my God and my faith. The funny thing is, these truths all contradict everything I thought I believed. MAC always warns about playing church. I'd been playing Christian.

The most scary thing about this new knowledge is the startling reality of spiritual warfare. For the first time, I recognize my intrinsic value to God. Satan HATES that. He's going to throw everything he has at me. He'll break in at any possible entrance. He'll see my weaknesses and capitalize on them. Am I strong enough for this?

No, but better is he that is in me than he that might steal my joy. One of my favorite verses is 2 Corinthians 12:10, "That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. " I claim this promise daily. I'm at war. It's time to wake up.

Wake up, O Sleeper and raise your head,
The Lord's gonna raise you from the dead.
Shine on. Shine on.
Dead men walk around left and right,
The Lord's gonna heal them with his light.
Shine on. Shine on.
Christ my savior and my strength,
He's gonna take care of everything.
Shine on. Shine on.
Crucified savior rise from that grave.
Tell me now, brother, do you wanna be saved?
Shine on. Shine on.

-Josh Garrels, "Shine On"

Foreign coinage

We have a separate slot in the ZonLab money box for all the foreign change we get. Right now, we have currency representing Canada, Lithuania and Zimbabwe. Probably not the most honest way to pay for your prints, but it makes for a great conversation piece.

FaceBook

I've been needing to blog about this for a long time, but I'm just now getting around to it. Here goes.

A week or so ago, someone at Taylor launched a Web site called "Taylor FaceBook." It was probably just an attempt to find out the dating status of people on campus, but whatev. Basically, it's a directory for which Taylor students can sign up to be included. You can post photos and enter information to your profile about your political views, favorite movies, and (of course) dating status.

Probably the funniest thing about this directory is the "network" function. You identify your group of friends and get connected to your friends' friends and their friends' friends and so on. To identify someone as your friend, you have to request that person's friendship. The Web site then sends and automated e-mail to that friend asking him or her to "confirm or deny" your friendship. I don't think I've been "denied" yet, but can you imagine how devastating that could be?

Anyway, it's an interesting concept and a great way to waste time before class.

Break out the scrapers!

This morning I had to scrape the ice off my windows before church. THIS IS NOT HAPPENING!!! Why is it so cold all of a sudden? Janell said this is supposed to be the coldest winter of all time. I'm glad I'll be in Ireland. :)

After church, I went over to Laura's for lunch. She has a pretty sweet house. Jerod was there, too, because he's on Fall Break. Everyone else gets so much time off for Fall Break. We just get next Friday. That's not "fall break," that's "fall day." Grr.

I can't remember where I put my winter clothes. I thought I brought some up with me, but I don't know where they are. I've been rotating the same four sweatshirts throughout the week. Margaret's been wearing her fuzzy house slippers to class. I should wear mine, but I'm afraid they'll get wet. There's no reason to dress up for class. No reason.

Passing the time.

Last night I saw Napoleon Dynamite for the third time. I can't believe it's still on in theaters (at least in Muncie). Thank God for the spending habits of Ball State students.

This time, I went with Margaret and Jenny. The movie itself didn't get any better, but it was so fun be be there with my friends. We were the only ones in the theater, so we could laugh and talk about things as much as we wanted without feeling embarrassed.

It's freezing here right now. Yesterday it got REALLY cold all of a sudden. In the morning it was warm, but by the time chapel rolled around, I was thankful for my hoody sweatshirt.

Right now I'm working in the JLab, subbing for Michelle. I could have subbed in the ZonLab today, too, but I get paid ten cents more an hour in here. Plus, I don't have to sit in that horrible tall chair for four hours. The JLab feels like home anyway.

Biting wit from the competition

Just thought I'd share a little hilarity from The Integration of Ink and Paper (a publication of the campus organization Integration of Faith and Culture). It's from Joe Ringenberg's column titled, "The only opinion column you need..."

His premise is that all of the Echo's letters to the editor fall into eight tried-and-true catagories. While all of them were quite amusing, I especially enjoyed #5's commentary on the difference between men and women.

"Girls on campus still want to know what guys are looking for in The Perfect Woman. Guys on campus still want to know why we don't get ESPN anymore."

Oh, Ringenberg, thou hast hit it! Come write for The Echo. We need you!

No fear.

I’ve been studying Proverbs 31:10-31 for the past several months. I started last January, but it’s taken me a while because I am so inconsistent with my quiet times. Even though I’ve stretched it out so far, I’ve been encouraged and challenged by the passage, especially this morning.

As I read over the entire passage again, a verse caught my eye that I’d totally missed a few months ago.

“When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet” (v.21).

When I read it before, all I could see was the obvious implication that the Proverbs 31 woman provides clothes for her family. I thought, “SHOOT! I can’t sew! Anytime I’ve tried, my stitches turn out crooked or I poke myself with the needle. Indeed, my family would be clothed in scarlet, but only because their clothes would be stained red with blood from my needle-pricked fingers. Get a freakin’ thimble. Gosh.

Today, instead of hearing a call to sew, I let the words “no fear” sink into my heart. I realized this woman does not worry. How very different she is from me! I worry about everything, from whether The Echo will get printed on time to whether I’ll have enough money to go to school to whether a certain guy thinks I’m special. But the Proverbs 31 woman doesn’t get caught up in all that. She’s confident.

Where does she get this confidence? I want some! Suddenly, I realized the answer was in the same verse. Her household (including herself) is “clothed in scarlet.” Christians always talk about how they’re covered by the blood of Jesus. Another word for “covered” is “clothed.” Blood is often described as “scarlet.” The Proverbs 31 woman found her confidence in God, in her salvation, in the hope she has in a life dedicated to Him. That is where I can find my confidence. I don’t need to worry anymore. I, too, can have no fear.

The TU drinking problem

Walking to class this morning, I noticed that a few people on campus had had a crazy weekend. Broken glass and brown liquid was all that remained on the sidewalk beside Wengatz this morning. Well, that and the former bottle's wrapper which read, "Yoohoo Chocolate Drink." Those crazy college kids.

The Java Jive revisited.

"I love coffee,
I love tea,
I love the Java Jive and it loves me.
Coffee and tea and the java and me,
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup-- BOY..."

It's good to know my love for coffee has not waned, although it's an expensive vice. This morning I was barely holding on in my 8:00, so I figured I'd be doomed without a warm cup o' joe in Physio. But, alas, as I walked down the stairs to the ETC, I realized the money I'd loaned to a freshman over the weekend was the only money I had in my wallet. OH THE HORROR!

Fortunately, my good friend Sara heard my plight and loaned me a dollar for coffee. I stayed alert in Physio and am forever indebted to Sara Chambers.

On a funny note, Dr. Cosgrove also got into the Java Jive.

"I'm not addicted," he said, struggling to balance a thermos and a dry erase marker. "I just think it looks cool. Can't I look like a professor after 29 years?"

The joy of laundry

As I walked back from an agonizing 4.5 hour shift in the ZonLab, I started dreading the laundry room. I'd put two loads in the drier before I went off to work and the time had come to fold my clothes. Now, I don't mind folding clothes. In fact, I enjoy doing laundry in general, but tonight I had a headache and didn't want to deal with the zoo that is the English laundry room.

I descended the Cellar stairs and entered the room only to find my two loads folded in neat stacks on the table (folded very nicely, I might add). It just made my night.

my.taylor.edu

After a period of sustained reluctance, I'm starting to like the new campus portal. I got to add an hour to my ZonLab timesheet for attending one of the training sessions in the library. No one else came during my time, so Ian just explained it to me one-on-one. I was in and out in 10-minutes. Excellent.

Patience is a virtue.

I've been noticing lately how impatient I am. If a class goes one minute over, I freak out. Ok, so class isn't so bad. Time is money, yeah? But it gets worse.

Last night, I went to the Union with the girls for a small group leaders' meeting. Of course, we HAD to stop by Vecinos for coffee and we HAD to talk to Steve for a half hour. By the time we sat down, we had 15 minutes before I'd wanted to be back in my room studying Abnormal Psychology. We started in with the prayer requests and as the post-11:00 minutes ticked by, I got progressively more impatient. Here my friends are baring their hearts and all I can do is watch the clock. That's so bad! I'm utterly ashamed of myself.

Now that I have 10 extra hours in my week (dropping Typography does that), I can stop being such a freak. It might take a bit to drop the habit, but I want to. So next time I start tapping my fingers and watching the clock, slap me in the face. I'll thank you later.

The last typography post... I promise

I did it.

I dropped Typography. As of 11:15 a.m. today, I am a free woman.

Surprisingly, Bruce was incredibly non-threatening. I was waiting by his office this morning for him to sign my paper, and at first when he saw my drop slip, he acted angry. After I explained my situation, he said he completely understood and that he'd enjoyed having me in class. Aw. He also told me not to be a stranger and that he'd tell me when The Echo looks horrible. I told him he just better.

After turning in my form to the registrar, I stepped out into the sun with a new spring in my step. This isn't an ending, it's a beginning. It's a chance to do my best work ever without burning out. It's also a chance to enjoy life and enjoy the people God has so graciously put in my life. "This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it."

WP

Withdrawn/Passing. My new best friend.

This semester has had a lot of registration firsts for me. I dropped/added for the first time in September. Now I'm dropping Typography (as I've already made perfectly clear on this blog. I just have to keep repeating it in my head to remind myself it is really happening).

In a few hours, my transcript will read WP. As scary as that sounds, I've decided it's not so bad. If I ever have to explain it, I'll be happy to. At least it's not a WF (withdrawn/failing).

I worry I won't have enough credits to get off campus housing next year, but if I don't, Margaret and I will move to Swallow (which could potentially rock). The off campus info meeting is tonight, so I'll find out how probable my plan is then.

Sorry this is another registration post. What can I say, it's the most bloggable event I've experienced today.

Addicted to Chocolat

Let's be honest, most of the movies I've seen lately have been duds, just not worth blogging about. Then this afternoon I joined Margaret and the girls for a viewing of Chocolat. It was delicious.

A woman (Juliette Binoche) and her daughter move to a small French village and open a chocolate shop in the middle of Lent. Her disregard for weekly Mass and decadently "sinful" candies shake up the strict morality of the little village.

First off, it's impossible to watch this movie without a bag of M&Ms beside you. Fortunately, Tamara had given me a bag last Thursday night. It pays to be prepared.

The film itself is a feast for the senses. Binoche's character stands out in bright reds against the dingy browns and greys of the village. The characters range from sweet to insane while themes vary from love to death to religion.

Johnny Depp's performance left me a little cold. His "river rat" role seemed strangely reminiscent of Jack Sparrow (although this movie pre-dates Pirates of the Caribbean by three years).

Besides one flat performance, the acting is pretty flawless. The commentary on legalistic Christianity is also startlingly realistic. It's the perfect Sunday-afternoon-sit-back-and-crochet movie. 7/10

So this is happiness.

Apparently, I haven't been happy in ages. One of the freshmen told me this weekend was the first time she'd ever "seen me happy." Well, I suppose I had reason to be.

After a week of struggling to keep my head above water, I decided to let go of three credit hours. I'm taking my life back. Lately, I've been scaring people. Even Dr. Snyder told me I worried him last Friday in class. I'm neglecting relationships and I'm neglecting myself.

I used to love going to meetings because I thought they made me sound important. Now I realize how meaningless they are. I mean, sure, sometimes we need collective planning time, but are weekly meetings for every organization really necessary? I'm starting to hate meetings.

I'm realizing just how many of the things I've thought were important aren't important at all. Grades, projects, business... sure those things demand attention, but they shouldn't require the loss of my sanity.

This weekend was just what I needed. I didn't touch my homework, but ignoring my studies in and of itself didn't grant me happiness. A friend came up to visit me, and his mere presence elevated my spirits beyond recognition. He made me feel cherished and worthy. He offered me a hand and lifted me out of the pit I'd dug myself into. People noticed. It was incredible.

Now I must return to my studies (sans typography), but this weekend was beyond therapeutic. I'm thankful for this time. I'm happy.