Thursday, August 30, 2007

Back in P-Vegas, baby!

Being a Senior is pretty cool. I'm recognizing people all over the place, especially since most underclassmen haven't arrived yet.

1. Four people at the grocery store
2. Guy at the career center desk
3. Guy at the library desk
4. Guy at the computer lab help desk
5. Bunch of people while wandering around campus.

Tuesday when I went to Otts I ended up talking to our lab manager and one of the EP professors about my summer for close to an hour.

Life is crazy at the house I'm living in this year because the three guys who lived there last year are still in the process of moving out and me and my two roommates are moving in, so stuff is everywhere. It is wonderful to be back in the midst of old friends though. I don't have internet at the house yet, but hopefully it will be set up on Friday.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

To Cell, or Not to Cell

So I've been looking seriously into getting a cell phone. Yesterday I spent a couple hours on the net and finally found the best bargain prepaid phone I could. I didn't buy it immediately because part of the deal included that the phone is "reconditioned" and until I know what that means I'm not going to pay out a ton of money for it. Last night I was thinking about a number of things, one of them being this cell phone deal. The cost still comes out to approximately 15 cents a minute for calls. So I started thinking, "Is a ten minute phone call really worth $1.50 to me? Is a twenty minute phone call worth $3?" I can make a meal for two or three bucks, is that the same value as a phone call?

The reason I've resurrected this idea is for the sake of staying in touch with people better while I'm living off campus. I'll be spending more time on campus and for the sake of being available to people and getting a hold of new friends and old ones, it's tempting to get a cell phone. Half the convenience is having a digital phone book that you carry with you.

But in another year I will probably be making a lot more money and will be able to afford a cell phone more easily. I've made it three years of college without a cell phone and I'm sure I could survive a fourth.

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Preparation

The last few days I've been acquiring furniture and such for living off campus this year. I head down to Platteville in just over a week. Today I procured a desk and a dresser and I have a mattress to get too. I also picked up two old floor speakers and an old receiver at a rummage sale and have been having lots of fun with them. It's a bit exciting to start getting my own furniture and begin the process of moving out of the nest officially (sorry mom). I'm 21 years old and have one year of school left. I may not be a mature fount of wisdom yet, but I'm ready to be independent and it's cool to be moving in that direction.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

New Plan

It seems like it'd be easier to blog a little more often in smaller posts than to do a long post every now and then.

Today's thought is about the song "Blessed be the Name."

Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

Blessed be your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, Blessed be your name

It's easy to bless the name of the Lord when I'm surrounded by Christian friends at church or camp. When the sun is shining. But when you think of this song when times are hard, "when the darkness closes in," it isn't quite as easy. If you sing this song as I have, you have made a promise, as I have, to continue to praise God no matter what your circumstances are. I thought of it today when my mom was talking about how difficult it was to say goodbye to my sister, her husband, and her 6 week old child. She mentioned the importance of believing in God's promises. Many times in the last couple years I've been reminded of this song in a time of duress, and forced myself to respond: My heart will choose to say/Lord, Blessed be your name.


So much for a short post :D

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Is this the end?

Well, I've been home now for just over a week, so I guess I can't keep blogging under this title. Although UD is still around and I am still producing thoughts, these thoughts are not emanating from UD anymore, so I'm going to have to either stop blogging or change the name of the blog. Thank you all for reading and the feedback you've given.

Today I met with Kori Cherney, my IV staff worker, to continue planning small group goodness for the fall semester. The time we spent went really well. My excitement (if that is an appropriate word) for the coming semester continues to grow.

I also went through my mail today and discovered that last June the bank changed my savings account terms and has been charging me $4.00 a month for having a low balance for over a year. Two lessons can be learned I suppose.

1. There is a reason to open all those blasted mailings from the bank, they will occasionally have important information.

2. Don't let little mistakes bother you. Do your best to prevent them, but don't spend the rest of the day beating yourself up about it.


And lastly today, an example of clever wordsmithing from The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.

"Aurther Dent woke up and instantly regretted it."

I'd like to think that I'll change the name of my blog and keep going as my life continues, but I can't say for sure, so check back every now and then if you feel like it, the web address won't change.