tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986110238866084852024-02-18T20:11:42.701-06:00The College ChroniclesTwo nursing students and a digital media major walk into a blog...
Kara Andersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09911797187855913581noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298611023886608485.post-60147158031759002052017-02-12T16:40:00.000-06:002017-02-12T16:40:22.615-06:00I'm Here!Since Eliza updated everyone on her whereabouts, I figure I should throw in my update as well!<br />
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After a not so smooth first semester back home, this current semester is treating me very well!<br />
Currently I am taking Survey of World Religions, Composition II, Microbiology, and American History 1877 to Present. With that combination of class, I am learning a WHOLE bunch of stuff, all which is fairly interesting!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf68kKFH2c5Rf9LDFycNioVrEHcPsysFLGGpNTjk8jt3dJI-pGA8rvPOFjHZHETVxtSxL-aI1iWHolkQkN1XG55XS4oMurB2Nu3dZotLTKF6-jeWs2q_JRZT86jMp0jtUEgGP9J3bxVUbC/s1600/16465517_430841723914113_8716728125431480320_n%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf68kKFH2c5Rf9LDFycNioVrEHcPsysFLGGpNTjk8jt3dJI-pGA8rvPOFjHZHETVxtSxL-aI1iWHolkQkN1XG55XS4oMurB2Nu3dZotLTKF6-jeWs2q_JRZT86jMp0jtUEgGP9J3bxVUbC/s320/16465517_430841723914113_8716728125431480320_n%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turns out you can buy packs of 300 note cards!<br />Just what I need for Microbiology!</td></tr>
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<br />Along with classes, I am also working at Mary Greeley Medical Center here in Ames, and I am LOVING it! I've been working on the Med Telemetry floor (heart stuff, for all you non-medical people) since May, and have had many great learning experiences! It is definitely keeping me very busy, but I do not really mind because it keeps me in the medical field while I am not in nursing classes.<br />
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While Eliza will be in Albania over Spring Break, I am also going to a place that starts with A! Arkansas! My mom and I will be going to Arkansas to dig for diamonds at <a href="http://www.craterofdiamondsstatepark.com/">Crater of Diamonds State Park</a>! We have joked about going for quite awhile, but we are finally going to make it happen!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Image result for diamond" height="320" src="http://herkimerdiamondquartz.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Round-cut-diamond-300x300.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#goals</td></tr>
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Ok! I think that is everything new from me! Kara, you're next!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08680350838266121190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298611023886608485.post-12399534823833489822017-01-15T14:00:00.000-06:002017-01-15T14:00:17.172-06:00We're Alive!Aw, it's been over a year since this dear little blog got any attention.... from it's writers!<br />
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An update: I'm in my last semester of nursing school, have joined a traveling theater group, and am going to Albania over spring break. I'm busy writing cover letters and gathering recommendations from professors... very adult stuff :) <br />
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The three of us college ladies got to spend some time together around Christmas, and we made a legendary dinner for my mother courtesy of the famous Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond.<br />
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That's the quick run-down of my life at the moment. Your turn, K & K!<br />
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<img alt="Image result for cover letter meme" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/9a/5f/29/9a5f29a625c56cd19261d5a20ff61e61.jpg" /><br />
<i>Thanks, Nic Cage.</i>Elizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418217007963620688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298611023886608485.post-80924708671268226342016-09-20T11:27:00.000-05:002016-09-20T11:27:46.820-05:00Being an Accidental Health FreakOver this past year, I have joked with friends and family that I have become an accidental heath freak. "How does one become an accidental health freak", you ask?<br />
Well, story time!!<br />
Soon after moving to Omaha last summer to start my new job at a nursing home, I started being sick. Not like "stay home from work/ school" sick, but instead "all I want to do is go to bed and curl up in a ball I feel so horrible" sick. At first I deduced that I became lactose intolerant, and my breakfasts of cereal and milk with a side of milk would have to go. That worked for a little bit, maybe a month or two.<br />
Then school started, and the symptoms came back. But this time I wasn't eating any dairy.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AVYyRgPYNMk0lZf_Y2NI7CRi6uwPJItW-AvmjlntrcxIKoCMFvpHpEs/">Found here</a></td></tr>
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My mornings would go like this:<br />
Wake up<br />
Roll over<br />
Roll back over because my stomach hurt too much to lay on my back<br />
Lay in bed for another 15 minutes<br />
Give myself a pep talk to get up so I wouldn't be late for class<br />
Peel myself out of bed<br />
Take a few bites of breakfast, but then decide that it wasn't worth the stomach cramps<br />
Hurry out the door so I wouldn't be late for class<br />
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That is how most of my mornings went for several months. That is until Fall Break in mid-October when I finally decided that this was bad enough to go to the doctor about.<br />
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Long story short, I was loosely diagnosed with IBS, aka Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Fun fact, older adults are not the only ones that can have IBS. Women in their late teens / early 20s are the next common age group.<br />
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SO, due to that *lovely* diagnosis, I started investigating what in the world would help me feel better. I learned that going gluten and lactose free was going to be one of the only ways that I could feel great again. From what I have learned, it is very common to become lactose and gluten intolerant when you have IBS.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Starting the Gluten-Free Lifestyle... check it out here: https://blogs.hope.edu/students/uncategorized/gluten-free-because-its-good-for-me/: " height="320" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/f1/0c/7d/f10c7d483ea57e807735f9ce8a21faab.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/421579215090763457/">Me saying goodbye to all the wheat</a></td></tr>
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Now you may be asking yourself, "Why is she telling me all this stuff??"<br />
Well, since being lactose free for a year and being completely gluten free since April 1, I have heard some, let's call them, "interesting" comments and questions about my diet.<br />
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Let me pause here and tell you that none of these comments are directed at any one person. If I have heard it once, I have heard it 20 times. I'm writing this because I feel like sometimes people forget that there are people who do not eat gluten or dairy, not because they are trying to lose weight or think it is healthier, but because they know how their body will react adversely if they do.<br />
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Let's start with the most commonly asked question: "What in the world do you eat if you can't have gluten or lactose???" (This one is always asked in some sort of panicked way!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="phenergan photos - INK361: " height="320" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/cc/d2/17/ccd217cb1a310bc585ab3bcca4c47bb3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/171347960798485966/">Just kidding!</a></td></tr>
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Now, lets have a look at the good old-fashioned food pyramid:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKQIy7CUBPKNXfRGf1_cc8MprFKeEFjGltuTzEx6esk90xAVN2MQw5mPDEmwZxPrXrXd_03C8lEyeex_grFlB8JJDE-M4SgE8izXbg0pjA-q7hafDisieF1tYMXz6MtSX6z8ILXUn055G/s1600/classic-food-pyramid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKQIy7CUBPKNXfRGf1_cc8MprFKeEFjGltuTzEx6esk90xAVN2MQw5mPDEmwZxPrXrXd_03C8lEyeex_grFlB8JJDE-M4SgE8izXbg0pjA-q7hafDisieF1tYMXz6MtSX6z8ILXUn055G/s640/classic-food-pyramid.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
You will notice that I have marked in red what I do not eat and circled in blue what I do!<br />
Grains is an obvious one. I do not eat anything in that category except rice. I love rice. I eat lots of fruits and vegetables along with protein. With dairy, not all dairy has lactose in it. So, I can eat certain yogurts and cheeses (absolutely no mozzarella, though), small amounts of butter, along with sour cream. For the last category, I've mostly crossed out because, except for dark, I cannot eat chocolate. Also, 99.9% of baked goods contain wheat flour so those are an automatic no for me!<br />
So do not worry, I am not starving. I have lots I can eat!<br />
For example, on of my favorite go-to meals right now is my own concoction of sorts. Its scrambled eggs with chopped green onions on buttered gluten free toast, with lots of sour cream on top! Yum!!<br />
Other meals include gluten free (corn) pasta with sauce, chicken fajita mix with rice, and PB&J sandwiches on gluten free bread!<br />
I also get pretty creative when I'm craving dessert:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxt9gO0aevUq0WUkR2IE6gyt6eyZTMSxsOj6Rz08ZKFnBhPDKHR0xT7cz9wrldXwju7AQnZTAmDIQWM_WNylZckPnupWKfCz3hWfVepcXNBuDsM44FzZbsB0zM9ljb6i5r25g2S_scYnU5/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxt9gO0aevUq0WUkR2IE6gyt6eyZTMSxsOj6Rz08ZKFnBhPDKHR0xT7cz9wrldXwju7AQnZTAmDIQWM_WNylZckPnupWKfCz3hWfVepcXNBuDsM44FzZbsB0zM9ljb6i5r25g2S_scYnU5/s640/PicMonkey+Collage.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These would be lemon bars that I scraped the filling out of oh so carefully</td></tr>
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Next question: "Is this just a fad that you've started?"<br />
Technically this is a valid question. However, it comes across extremely rude. Whether or not it is a "fad" does not change the importance of it. If you need to know, ask it how I've been asked by waiters, "Is it for medical or personal reasons?" It's a little less demeaning that way.<br />
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And the question that normally follows the last one, "Why can't you just eat a little bit?"<br />
Let me reiterate, <i>my choosing to be gluten and lactose free is not a fad. </i>I eat this way because I know what will happen when I don't. Here are a few examples:<br />
The last time I ate pizza, I could barely walk due to how much my stomach hurt.<br />
The last time I ate a hamburger (with the bun) I nearly ended up in the hospital with dehydration and a heart rate of 120, spiking at 150 at rest. (For non-medically inclined people, a resting heart rate should be between 60 and 90 or so.)<br />
Granted, these are my extreme reactions, but I'll let you answer this question, "why would I want to risk it?" When I had that hamburger, I knew I was risking it, but I thought to myself, 'it's only a bun. There's other stuff on it! Its not like it's cake or anything......' 5 1/5 hours later I was eating my words.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Trigger foods / Crohns. Spoonie: " height="320" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/dd/f8/44/ddf844850220b665db1f12afe3cddd9e.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="312" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/208573026468558556/">Found here</a></td></tr>
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<br />
This is not a question, but a comment that normally squeezes itself into the conversation. "Well that sounds like it sucks....."<br />
I know.<br />
But really, it sucks a lot, and you telling me that it stinks while eating or talking about something that I can't have makes it stink even worse. I cannot tell you the last time I had a slice of real cake. I'm going to guess my High School grad party, May, 25 2015. I can tell you the last time I had a donut- March 20, 2016 around 10:30 am. That didn't really go over very well, but it was delicious!! I know you don't mean to be mean, but reminding me how long its been since I have had those delicious things, kinda rubs me the wrong way. I am still trying to get used to my new normal and it reminds me of what I'm missing out on.<br />
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And finally, one of my favorite questions, "So all this stuff just happened over night??"<br />
I have a simple answer to that -- Yes. I remember the mornings I started having problems with dairy. It was literally an over night occurrence. I also remember the mornings soon after school started, waking up feeling sooooo crappy and wreaking my brain trying to think of what I could have eaten that might have had dairy in it; when in reality it wasn't diary, that was from the wheat.<br />
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As I come to an end, I want to give you some quick advice and reminders when it comes to meeting people like me who have some pretty outlandish diets:<br />
- People do not normally have crazy diets just to make things difficult for friends and family.<br />
- Please do not take offense if I, or anyone else, tell you "I can't eat that....." It is so hard to have to tell people that, especially if it looks delicious, but it's necessary.<br />
- If you are having a meal, plan it in advance and let the other person know. This way, lets say, if you want to have spaghetti and meat sauce, they can volunteer to bring their pasta for everyone (it's delicious, just so you know!).<br />
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Well folks, we have reached the end of the post. Thank you so much for bearing with me and reading all the way to the end! If anyone has any questions about anything, ask away! I'm a nursing student, nothing is TMI!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08680350838266121190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298611023886608485.post-18554513213484492322016-05-19T17:54:00.000-05:002016-05-19T23:40:51.345-05:00An email quiz... 7 years laterWhile shuffling through emails, I found one from November 2009. I was 15 and in 8th grade. This one contained on of those quizzes where you answered one word for every question and I thought I'd go back and revisit my answers... Enjoy this brief glimpse at awkward 8th grade Kara. :) <span style="color: purple;"><i>(With present-day Kara commentary in purple)</i></span>
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Fun fact: In order to give myself some practice (and because I sometimes have strange ideas of what is "fun"), this blog post was written entirely in code. HTML to be exact. Which means it looked like this before you saw it:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUaaKANy-Joc4YGFUdQEq5gsiuu73I-Bjk6gREG83YArbNua43n8JSscTWLCu58XhoY0i5NawUqHpGbYeodRhIghyphenhyphenlbEOWh2xpyME6n7opKUmbl3tQBC8NxJYlxG5xaQltbV0wea83W8/s1600/html.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="1" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUaaKANy-Joc4YGFUdQEq5gsiuu73I-Bjk6gREG83YArbNua43n8JSscTWLCu58XhoY0i5NawUqHpGbYeodRhIghyphenhyphenlbEOWh2xpyME6n7opKUmbl3tQBC8NxJYlxG5xaQltbV0wea83W8/s640/html.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>The "Quiz"</b></span><br />
<b><i>Where is your cell phone?</i></b> whatcellphone <span style="color: purple;">(Mine goes *swoosh swoosh* (slides phone open and closed.))</span><br />
<b><i>Significant other?</i></b> uhhh... <span style="color: purple;">(Don't worry, 8th Grade Kara. You've got Joey now!)</span><br />
<b><i>Your hair?</i></b> brown <span style="color: purple;">(Yes. This is still true.)</span><br />
<b><i>Your mother?</i></b> kind <span style="color: purple;">(This is also still true.)</span><br />
<b><i>Your father?</i></b> tall <span style="color: purple;">(That's all the better you could do, 8th Grade Kara?! Come on!)</span><br />
<b><i>Your favorite thing?</i></b> fruit <span style="color: purple;">(I mean, sure, fruit is great! But what about, like, other stuff that's not as lame?)</span><br />
<b><i>Your dream last night?</i></b> whatdream <span style="color: purple;">(Actually had a dream last night about getting ready this morning and there was a giant praying mantis that came crawling out of my bookshelf. Eegad!)</span><br />
<b><i>Your favorite drink?</i></b> tea <span style="color: purple;">(What about milk, 8th grade Kara?! Huh!?)</span><br />
<b><i>What room are you in?</i></b> dining <span style="color: purple;">(Bedroom)</span><br />
<b><i>Your hobby?</i></b> piano <span style="color: purple;">(100% still true. Good work, 8th grade Kara.)</span><br />
<b><i>Your fear?</i></b> puking!!! <span style="color: purple;">(Also 100% still true. Also bats in my basement. That's a new one.)</span><br />
<b><i>Where do you want to be in 6 years?</i></b> UNI <span style="color: purple;">(Well, you're at Northwest, 8th grade Kara, and you're loving it, so don't worry!)</span><br />
<b><i>Where were you last night?</i></b> aplay <span style="color: purple;">(Ah! The sneaky make-two-words-one-word because it's a one word quiz. Classic. I was not at aplay last night. I was at myhouse.)</span><br />
<b><i>Something that you aren't?</i></b> dumb <span style="color: purple;">(Well played, 8th Grade Kara. You are not dumb. Good one.)</span><br />
<b><i>Muffins?</i></b> yum! <span style="color: purple;">(Agreed.)</span><br />
<b><i>Wish list item?</i></b> bedroom <span style="color: purple;">(Well, it took 7 more years, 8th Grade Kara, but you do now have a bedroom to yourself. For one year. Savor it. Also, your wishlist is quite different now.)</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkR0tKUpatfpCxcsFGQjslBfqGteMUF6npBB2jX-Rqinms2hlvm7Ghe9lGM93rAwextlHsnLRR9szbv6vOXntCod2Q9QMHDcyar8KFl2Q5T-RZCozrlJPBwulYDK8vDpKAcz5KmkuS8A/s1600/IMG_1768.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkR0tKUpatfpCxcsFGQjslBfqGteMUF6npBB2jX-Rqinms2hlvm7Ghe9lGM93rAwextlHsnLRR9szbv6vOXntCod2Q9QMHDcyar8KFl2Q5T-RZCozrlJPBwulYDK8vDpKAcz5KmkuS8A/s400/IMG_1768.JPG" /></a><br />
<b><i>Last thing you did?</i></b> homework <span style="color: purple;">(Well, I've literally been doing homework for the past 2 weeks, but I did just make a cup of coffee...)</span><br />
<b><i>What are you wearing?</i></b> pants <span style="color: purple;">(Again, well played, 8th Grade Kara. You are indeed wearing pants. Now I am wearing a fancy office-worker outfit, complete with cool earrings. (Yeah, 8th Grade Kara, you may swear off of it now, but give yourself 5 years and you'll get your ears pierced!)</span><br />
<b><i>TV?</i></b> no <span style="color: purple;">(Netflix!)</span><br />
<b><i>Your pets?</i></b> none <span style="color: purple;">(I have some plants I spend an inordinate amount of time staring at to analyze how much they are growing. One's named Bartlebee the Green Plantern.)</span><br />
<b><i>Friends?</i></b> some <span style="color: purple;">(It's ok, 8th grade Kara. Now you realize you have THE BEST FRIENDS, no matter their proximity!)</span><br />
<b><i>Your life?</i></b> crazy <span style="color: purple;">(True, but right now I'd also add pretty happy.)</span><br />
<b><i>Your mood?</i></b> ok <span style="color: purple;">(Cheery!)</span><br />
<b><i>Missing someone?</i></b> Kelsey <span style="color: purple;">(This is still true, but I also miss my family and Eliza and Meghan and a lot of people I haven't seen for a while.)</span><br />
<b><i>Drinking?</i></b> no <span style="color: purple;">(I mean I've been known to get pretty wild making fruit smoothies... Mango <b><i>AND</i></b></span> raspberries...Wooooo!)<br />
<b><i>Your car?</i></b> Iwish <span style="color: purple;">(Same, 8th Grade Kara. But your little red scooter is lots of fun! And you can channel Audrey Hepburn in <i>Roman Holiday</i>!)</span><br />
<b><i>Something you're not wearing?</i></b> tricornerhat <span style="color: purple;">(So true, 8th Grade Kara. You are indeed NOT wearing a tri-corner hat. Present-you is also not wearing a tri-corner hat. Or any hat for that matter.)</span><br />
<b><i>Your favorite store?</i></b> theloft <span style="color: purple;">(I don't know... The Loft is pretty great, but what about Kohls or Target or Hobby Lobby, 8th Grade Kara? Huh?)</span><br />
<b><i>Your favorite color?</i></b> blue <span style="color: purple;">(Blue is nice, 8th Grade Kara, but so mainstream. How bout grey?)</span><br />
<b><i>When is the last time you cried?</i></b> lastweekmaybe <span style="color: purple;">(It's been a while, and this is a testament to how well things are currently going.)</span><br />
<b><i>Who will resend this?</i></b> thoseaformentioned <span style="color: purple;">(Ooooo! "aforemention!" Good word, 8th Grade Kara!)</span><br />
<b><i>Where do you go to over and over?</i></b> school <span style="color: purple;">(This has not changed. Not one iota.)</span><br />
<b><i>Five people who email me regularly?</i></b> eliza-kelsey-kristen-wendy-gabe <span style="color: purple;">(I mean, I get a lot of FB messages from Kelli, Joey, Eliza, and Kristen, along with my small group people.... (That's right 8th Grade Kara! One day, you too will have a Facebook page!)</span><br />
<b><i>My favorite place to eat?</i></b> hickorypark <span style="color: purple;">(What!! Nonono, 8th Grade Kara! What are you doing?! What about HuHot?! What about HyChi! You've even discovered the beauty of Happy Garden in Maryville! Not Hickory Park!)</span><br />
<b><i>Favorite place I'd like to be at right now?</i></b> nebraska <span style="color: purple;">(Iowa would be nice.)</span><br />
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Hope you've enjoyed this little look at past and present me & maybe gotten an update somewhere along the way! :)Kara Andersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09911797187855913581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298611023886608485.post-46331067517677205312016-04-30T21:46:00.001-05:002016-04-30T21:46:59.009-05:00Missions, Math, and a MusicalSince last posting, I was in the musical <i>Godspell </i>here at college, and it was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. Then I started the most time-intensive course I've ever taken, a four credit math class packed into one quarter. All this happened while taking the most important course of my undergrad time, Maternity Nursing. I assume that not getting some form of A in that class would jeopardize my chances of ever getting accepted into a midwifery program. <br />
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There's been some uncomfortably cold but much needed rain. I've continued to organize weekly movie nights for my dorm's wing. I read half of <i>Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them </i>today. I got plane tickets to visit Portland, Oregon, right after finals. I'm preparing to lead another Teen Missions International summer team, this time to Australia. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrpxh6vQbNzMA2p6EKWJRTW8vyJ2KAi6Cl_SEdSIM7y6C9kEu69c6chYh5RaAxBWbd1HnyoT3pSOl5TLFLCc8pRD5vnCFQLoIs3uMlP2GcsY5So5oFFBAKwaWbge9KLcreUXWzWJvjw7c/s1600/12916755_1263782546982773_9067774215092051093_o+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrpxh6vQbNzMA2p6EKWJRTW8vyJ2KAi6Cl_SEdSIM7y6C9kEu69c6chYh5RaAxBWbd1HnyoT3pSOl5TLFLCc8pRD5vnCFQLoIs3uMlP2GcsY5So5oFFBAKwaWbge9KLcreUXWzWJvjw7c/s640/12916755_1263782546982773_9067774215092051093_o+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<i>Godspell. Feeling incredibly privileged.</i><br />
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Congrats to Kara for finishing up her school year. My thoughts are with Kelli as she says goodbye to Nebraska. <br />
Peace out, Girl Scouts! :)Elizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418217007963620688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298611023886608485.post-56645068738885656972016-03-21T08:21:00.000-05:002016-03-21T08:21:14.911-05:00See You Later, Not GoodbyeSometimes in life, things do not happen as you think that they are going to. Sometimes in a really awesome way, and sometimes in a not so fun way. Currently, I am stuck in between the two.<br />
This semester has been a roller coaster of emotions for me.<br />
I started my nursing classes this semester, and I am <i>loving </i>them! I am taking two nursing classes, and one clinical. I love that part of my class is going out into the community to hospitals and senior centers. It beats classrooms any day for me!! That has been the "up" on "Kelli's Roller Coaster of Emotions". Along with my nursing classes, Community Based Nursing and Health Assessment, I am taking two more classes. Those are Microbiology and Anatomy and Physiology II, both with labs.<br />
You know what? Sometimes things do not always go as planned.<br />
When I graduated High School last year, I knew <i>exactly </i>what I <u>was</u> going to be doing for the next four years. I <u>was</u> moving to Omaha, Nebraska to go to Nebraska Methodist College to get my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I <u>was</u> going to live by myself in an apartment in the middle of the city. I <u>was</u> going to be working as a nurse in a hospital by summer 2019. I <u>was</u> going to do it all by myself.<br />
I hope you noticed I used past-tense. That is because those plans are no longer current in any way. Like I said earlier, sometimes things do not always go as planned.<br />
Do not worry, I did not fail out of Methodist. I am actually doing quite well there! However, my eyes were bigger than my wallet. After this past semester, I started doing math. I calculated the amount of money that I would be in debt for when I graduated. I did not like that number. I did not like it at all. I knew that I could not continue at Methodist<br />
This is my new current plan:<br />
At the end of the semester I <u>will</u> move home like every other college student. Except when fall rolls around, I <u>will</u> stay home.<br />
I <u>will</u> be going to DMACC to take as many classes as possible to knock out my gen. eds.<br />
<u>When</u> I finish all my classes at DMACC, I <u>will</u> transfer to a nursing school that I <u>will</u> get accepted to.<br />
I <u>will</u> earn my Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, just not in 2019.<br />
The past several weeks have been so emotional and stressful trying to figure out where I would go after this summer. After much contempating, I have decided that by going to school close to home while living at home and working will be the best combination for me.<br />
It will be sooooo extremely hard to leave all my amazing friends that I have made while here in Omaha, along with the amazing church that I have become involved with.<br />
But as the title says, "See you later, Not Goodbye". Omaha will always be a short trip away from seeing everyone again!<br />
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<img alt="" aria-busy="true" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="265" src="https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xlf1/v/t1.0-9/12806001_10208107525141049_4416491144521600712_n.jpg?oh=12e1f633c3eac8145798b8b0d5c48859&oe=57846F80" width="400" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08680350838266121190noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298611023886608485.post-89327958627023471682015-09-18T18:08:00.001-05:002015-09-18T18:08:21.248-05:00My Homely Abode<div style="text-align: center;">
** Long Post Warning!**</div>
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School will be in session for 6 weeks coming up and I realize that it has been pretty quiet from the Omaha area.</div>
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Since everyone else has posted about their living conditions, I decided that it'd be best to show off my apartment!</div>
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First, I live on campus at Josie's Village. It is an apartment complex that the college bought to use for "Student Housing". I would not call it dorms, in the slightest.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.methodistcollege.edu/assets/images/3.0%20Student%20Life/Josie's%20Village/JosiesVillage-02Large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.methodistcollege.edu/assets/images/3.0%20Student%20Life/Josie's%20Village/JosiesVillage-02Large.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://www.methodistcollege.edu/student-life/housing/gallery</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">This is the outside of one of the apartment buildings. It's not mine, but they are all identical, so you get the point.... </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Fun Fact: There are balcony railings, but no balconies. I have no idea, something about insurance..... I don't have worry about all that, because my apartment is underground! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">As soon as you step into my apartment, you run straight into the closet. The thing is, there is literally nothing in it except a vacuum and empty boxes..... not very exciting.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKe7OqrCE_KsnP0TmuzLy4SbysvKfFRzSyCft2DIyJthgLJa3Ty_wGv3JlRuz2aV1DUxEPeJsBT3pQM2opnoOrVp_vwuEe7erOdWfz_BL0LC2fpHUvrlqQBDeYtta4D9YdZRgXaw6myaXL/s1600/DSCN0073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKe7OqrCE_KsnP0TmuzLy4SbysvKfFRzSyCft2DIyJthgLJa3Ty_wGv3JlRuz2aV1DUxEPeJsBT3pQM2opnoOrVp_vwuEe7erOdWfz_BL0LC2fpHUvrlqQBDeYtta4D9YdZRgXaw6myaXL/s320/DSCN0073.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Carrying on!</div>
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Take a hard right, and you are in the living room!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMqpnWl49N3z1aYaorpXefrkrkT9BASIyPvzC3G9Ww7Qwckr9CExMThOwh1UY7OrrABAjg6-SUag9s7kD7GaWNiIVjl0RRMl5J_MOspdSqpo_l7L2xawb-XtcWmK0QeQmQgUyNIBwM6tw/s1600/DSCN0074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMqpnWl49N3z1aYaorpXefrkrkT9BASIyPvzC3G9Ww7Qwckr9CExMThOwh1UY7OrrABAjg6-SUag9s7kD7GaWNiIVjl0RRMl5J_MOspdSqpo_l7L2xawb-XtcWmK0QeQmQgUyNIBwM6tw/s320/DSCN0074.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Much like the "closet" there is nothing in here either. It has been used 4 time during the almost two months I've lived here. Two of those times were a friend sleeping on the couch.</div>
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To the left of the living room, we have the dining room!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zPM-VKWxErH2ud3GRR2v798M4xbPEgSvTRmBoSUGbY3ijR8oj1584gIGRQKUCjMYyV7OYg4vN485fZKxreCOmaRd1vtaTSTFKuAaa3ZFKpramhmaRRpxuYHRyx5bOjGL1I_FuTeYWTp8/s1600/DSCN0075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zPM-VKWxErH2ud3GRR2v798M4xbPEgSvTRmBoSUGbY3ijR8oj1584gIGRQKUCjMYyV7OYg4vN485fZKxreCOmaRd1vtaTSTFKuAaa3ZFKpramhmaRRpxuYHRyx5bOjGL1I_FuTeYWTp8/s320/DSCN0075.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Now this room I use much more than the living room!</div>
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There's nothing much to it other than the four chairs and a table, but they do the job!</div>
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To the left of the dining room, there is the "one-butt kitchen"!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireUptMGzFmAKL0bKZMwNtzndOK0VbnXV87Hvys2HFtXDCt0KIPgqktl6N0gcOoglNq7DfMdzRO1kT9HnILc84yu6gyAGh8LZ-6jh4v8VlMpZXRs8tsTenjPWy8CqCT4mhGhsOAHEYTuAg/s1600/DSCN0076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireUptMGzFmAKL0bKZMwNtzndOK0VbnXV87Hvys2HFtXDCt0KIPgqktl6N0gcOoglNq7DfMdzRO1kT9HnILc84yu6gyAGh8LZ-6jh4v8VlMpZXRs8tsTenjPWy8CqCT4mhGhsOAHEYTuAg/s320/DSCN0076.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Although it is small, it has lots of importance all shoved into it! I have a full sized range, fridge, and dishwasher, microwave, along with decent cabinet space! </div>
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This has been extremely nice because I am responsible for all my meals. I made a goal with myself at the beginning of the year that I did not want to eat microwave meals for every meal. I have a full sized kitchen, so why not use it? And use it, I have! To stay away from the oh-so-easy grab and nuke meals, I try to make one big meal every weekend and divide it into containers for throughout the week. To microwave them takes just as "long" as a microwave meal, but it is SOO much better!</div>
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So far I have made myself spaghetti and meat sauce, lemon chicken and rice, chicken and broccoli "hot pockets", components for breakfast sandwiches, and guacamole! Don't worry though, I've still got a bag of chicken nuggets in the freezer, because who doesn't like chicken nuggets?</div>
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Ok, back on the tour we go......</div>
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Going down the hall, you will see our bathroom. Its a bathroom. Nothing special, like Kara's window, but the AC does blow right into the shower, so that's interesting....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9NiGJFx2TE6UEUJlhC8FQlDMcrjy4uMDQzvXJFXRPpZYeLo8fiRGsWnfF_jM4GhkYdNSJzTTHBcWCtXNqFmKDPSJzj48rIqRaQp9BkQ79YQs2EOzoljlb6LeUZuD6bwRFVdqWp5ARXqmu/s1600/DSCN0070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9NiGJFx2TE6UEUJlhC8FQlDMcrjy4uMDQzvXJFXRPpZYeLo8fiRGsWnfF_jM4GhkYdNSJzTTHBcWCtXNqFmKDPSJzj48rIqRaQp9BkQ79YQs2EOzoljlb6LeUZuD6bwRFVdqWp5ARXqmu/s320/DSCN0070.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Continuing down the hall, you'll run right into my bedroom.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOaLsQMW-d3n_0sEwQjqtOlXCIhOxKE_r68lAf0Hsbtnf3C2bGiObRDxqZ2SiV4WOCglT2cqc0shSsDrYWo_qApIOe7wmOZZChx3rSjwhFTs7W1rZmyOby0Kmep__q1NBxNsMF3wyHO38o/s1600/DSCN0079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOaLsQMW-d3n_0sEwQjqtOlXCIhOxKE_r68lAf0Hsbtnf3C2bGiObRDxqZ2SiV4WOCglT2cqc0shSsDrYWo_qApIOe7wmOZZChx3rSjwhFTs7W1rZmyOby0Kmep__q1NBxNsMF3wyHO38o/s320/DSCN0079.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyJfuuC1WYMOklzWuzfd7Wat-DbyLpIBiQoDj559UUic7dUVhwsRLpSSMTzmOOWxqVsztybphVauEgp5LzTRoD6faDXBvSXsfHf9ADiALma3Ac37dRcubdacOC2KYW7hHYI17Ql3sxNfs/s1600/DSCN0080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyJfuuC1WYMOklzWuzfd7Wat-DbyLpIBiQoDj559UUic7dUVhwsRLpSSMTzmOOWxqVsztybphVauEgp5LzTRoD6faDXBvSXsfHf9ADiALma3Ac37dRcubdacOC2KYW7hHYI17Ql3sxNfs/s320/DSCN0080.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Its a <i>tiny</i> bit cluttered, but I'm cool!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSb4nsHXgEnpr8Mi-IUPmwELcM_e_wd5gdMvlgOKrYHzevhvOjnTJSyXuBnbSzZ5qKj2OlFu9XfBw46Iftan2DvD4Lwl3fRxhKt1-Y3BL-7ZS7r3uhpSdOId2uJ7jX-ijkpxufFi82sKtg/s1600/DSCN0089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSb4nsHXgEnpr8Mi-IUPmwELcM_e_wd5gdMvlgOKrYHzevhvOjnTJSyXuBnbSzZ5qKj2OlFu9XfBw46Iftan2DvD4Lwl3fRxhKt1-Y3BL-7ZS7r3uhpSdOId2uJ7jX-ijkpxufFi82sKtg/s320/DSCN0089.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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One might ask, "What's in that black box?" </div>
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Snacks. Snacks are in the black box. They are a necessity.</div>
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My room is very big compared to basically anything. I'd say it is bigger than a dorm room that would be shared at any other college.</div>
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I spend many many hours in my room everyday, mostly studying. I do this mostly at my desk.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVDzG_LVHY_9Fun_7iLc19zvk14kp169m8vwoL5C8biJdHexG2zuj5KhfgdAzjORlEFUUi6iNlyW3LctEBj_Mi0-3Wr0K5gO3SoTJIkqHlS4q4bc7AO5IM3k0JqvgpsTbiblxaaLfb950/s1600/DSCN0088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVDzG_LVHY_9Fun_7iLc19zvk14kp169m8vwoL5C8biJdHexG2zuj5KhfgdAzjORlEFUUi6iNlyW3LctEBj_Mi0-3Wr0K5gO3SoTJIkqHlS4q4bc7AO5IM3k0JqvgpsTbiblxaaLfb950/s320/DSCN0088.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Like I said, its a <i>bit </i>cluttered..... but it works great!</div>
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What IS cluttered in a good way is my calendar!</div>
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I have everything color-coded along with my daily to-do lists and coupons!</div>
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I was given this as a graduation present, and <i>holy cow</i> has it been helpful! All of High School, I never used a planner. I relied on my memory. Obviously you can't rely on your memory in college, and being able to see everything laid out everyday has been sooooooo helpful in keeping afloat in my first couple months of college!!</div>
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So that is my apartment! If you would like to see it in person (and me!), come to Omaha! I'd love to see you!</div>
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Also, as you probably noticed in many of the pictures, my walls are pretty bare..... Letters and drawings are very appreciated to fill up the empty spaces!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08680350838266121190noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298611023886608485.post-10184997197201746472015-09-06T19:24:00.000-05:002015-09-06T19:24:10.424-05:00HereAfter a wonderful two months of leading a Teen Missions team to Zimbabwe, I'm back in cute little Orange City, Iowa. I have less college left than college already under my belt, and our dorm wing truly feels like home more than ever. We have a new crop of freshman and transfers who (whom?) I adore... such "wonderfuls" as Peace (who dreams of helping deliver babies in Uganda) and Annika (likes dehydrated peanut butter & documentaries). <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Some of my wing friends by one of Orange City's tulip murals. Annika is in the cute print dress and leather jacket, whilst Peace is doing the splits. I am "eating" the foot of dear Ashley, a freshman, and Ellen (a fun new Spanish major) poses in the middle. </b></span> </td></tr>
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It's a Midwest heat wave apparently, which is just fine with me. <b><span style="color: #0b5394;">LifeLight</span></b>, a Christian music festival in South Dakota, was a barrel of fun. I saw Rend Collective, Tenth Avenue North (for the third time), and Switchfoot. Mother came this weekend, and we bawled over <i>Inside Out </i>(miraculously still in the town's theater). Been binging on the <span style="color: magenta;">U</span><b><span style="color: magenta;">.S. Tennis Open</span></b> and enjoying my new classes (sociology, psychopathology). Glad to have Kelli on the blog and to have a more flattering photo of myself up on the blogger profiles!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">I did have this thought.</span></b></td></tr>
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I would end this post with a "#Blessed", but that's just too much cheese for this chica. Still, I'm feeling cozy, loved, and happy... and what could be better than that?Elizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418217007963620688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298611023886608485.post-27658049738468094842015-09-05T18:55:00.000-05:002015-09-05T18:55:26.684-05:004 Housemates, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Couches, 1 House<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjR5zhHO0W8dNi1zx6EfJxD1Lf0kn_e9ZahOwFbMChrRY4tYiEzV9qlGYLyGQS3zoHyp38uy3ws5LOvbFkZ1GziQ-6V9PhF9qCf-bQ8A0bnvgMPN17CJJipEikpqeKXH9j87mY1nwLbbc/s1600/IMG_1630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjR5zhHO0W8dNi1zx6EfJxD1Lf0kn_e9ZahOwFbMChrRY4tYiEzV9qlGYLyGQS3zoHyp38uy3ws5LOvbFkZ1GziQ-6V9PhF9qCf-bQ8A0bnvgMPN17CJJipEikpqeKXH9j87mY1nwLbbc/s320/IMG_1630.JPG" width="240" /></a>I have some different living accommodations this school year, and I'm pretty happy about it. I am definitely a homebody, so having an actual house is perfect for me! Now don't get me wrong, as far as living on campus goes, I had it pretty nice for the 2 years I was there. I enjoyed my res. hall and I had great roommates both years.<br />
I've been here almost 3 weeks and let me tell you, it's been SO great! I share the house with 3 other girls, and I share a room with one of them. There is lots of space to spread out because it used to be a full sized house, and to make it into 2 separate places. So basically we get the whole first floor. I've taken pictures of it before, but they don't really show how BIG it is, considering I pay less than $200 a month! (Sharing = lower rent!). I decided to just take a video of it so I could pan around explain things. You get to hear my lovely narrations. They're better than usual.<br />
(And yes, I understand the irony of my vlog within a blog.)<br />
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<span id="goog_611767304"></span><span id="goog_611767305"></span><br />Kara Andersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09911797187855913581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298611023886608485.post-55582666398819939532015-07-02T16:03:00.002-05:002015-07-02T16:03:45.393-05:00Let's Hope You Like Omaha!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">My name is Kelli. I’m Kara’s sister.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by Sarah Bandy</td></tr>
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In the fall I will be starting nursing school at Nebraska Methodist College in Omaha, Nebraska. I will be getting my Bachelors of Science in Nursing, the same degree as Eliza, but in a different way. Nebraska Methodist College is a bit different than a normal college or university.<br /><span style="color: orange;"><i> First, the college is a building.</i></span> That’s all. Granted, a large 4 story building, but only one. However, small building does not mean small offerings. As part of my Human Anatomy and Physiology classes, I have a Human Cadaver lab. I am very excited about these labs because normally nursing schools do not get the opportunity to use cadavers. Since they are very expensive, medical schools are the first to have them. (Ok, enough about those. Sorry to everyone who I just grossed out. Great first impression…..) <br /><span style="color: orange;"><i>Second, I will be taking 4 years of nursing classes.</i></span> You are probably thinking, “That’s what you do in a four year degree…..” You would think that. However, in most nursing school cases, you spend the first two years of college taking Gen. Eds, or basic classes that really do not have much relation to your major. Then, when you are a Junior, all you take are nursing classes. At Methodist, your Gen Eds and nursing classes are mixed together. So, instead of starting nursing classes as a Junior, I will start them in January! I am extremely excited about this because I highly doubt I could wait two more years to start learning nursing!<div>
<span style="color: orange;"><i>Third, APARTMENTS!!</i></span> Instead of living in a crammed dorm room with another person who probably does not have the same “standard” of clean as me, I only have to share an apartment (with separate rooms!) with them. Nebraska Methodist bought the apartment complex right behind the college, and now uses it as student housing. This also means I’m on my own for cooking, but I have a feeling that I can survive. ;)<br /><div style="text-align: center;">
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Now, school does not start for another month and so, but that does not stop me from being an “adult”. I will be moving to Omaha in the next few days to start my job that I have before school starts. I am already a Certified Nursing Assistant, so I will be working as one at Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. I am so excited to start and become a “city girl” instead of a “small town girl” (although living in a small town has its perks!).<br /><br /> I hope to keep you up with everything that’s happening with me while in Omaha, so like the title says, let’s hope you like Omaha. If you don’t, you probably will after four years of hearing about it!!<br /><br /> --Kelli</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08680350838266121190noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298611023886608485.post-63751654461357042692015-06-27T12:51:00.000-05:002015-06-27T12:51:20.785-05:00*default to sweeping*It's been 2 full months since I started working at the car dealership. Let me tell you, this is the nicest summer job I could have asked for! The people are incredibly nice, I work inside a lot, and I have quite the variety of things to do.<br />
Here's what a typical day's tasks might look like:<br />
-fill the cooler with drinks. [Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, water, and 4 types of Capri Sun]<br />
-clean the coffee maker<br />
-check cars on the lot and fill them with gas if they're low<br />
-drive cars to dealerships/people and bring different cars back<br />
-go get lunch for salespeople<br />
-go buy 200 hot dog buns and 200 mini bags of chips from Sams Club (no joke)<br />
(I am the girl your math problems warned you about!)<br />
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When they don't have anything for me to do, I wander around until I find something to clean, which isn't too hard, since I like cleaning. Generally I default to sweeping, because there is quite the expanse of marble tile floor in that place, and that + a lot of open doors means they always look dirty. A perk is that whenever I'm working and not around "the public" I can listen to my music! It's a pretty good gig; listen to music and be alone with your thoughts while sweeping a gigantic showroom.<br />
Other perks:<br />
-occasional Hickory Park for lunch<br />
-driving new cars<br />
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I'm actually going to miss it when I go back to school!<br />
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Kara Andersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09911797187855913581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298611023886608485.post-88177625174597167372015-05-27T13:09:00.000-05:002015-05-27T13:09:11.757-05:00Oh yes, blogging, that thing I used to do...<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh dear, haven't posted since December.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What has happened since then? Everything.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A really nice semester, in which I had my first practical experience at a nursing home and a small hospital. Halfway done with college! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've gotten so much closer to dorm friends.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I saw the Orange City tulip festival, which was an interesting cultural experience to observe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Got a letter from Teen Missions International (TMI), asking if I would be a back up leader for the summer teen trip to Zimbabwe. Very exciting! This will probably be my last summer with TMI (at least for quite a while). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now I'm chilling "back at the ranch". Mom has three boarders in the house now, and one of them is my dear friend Sarah from college.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spending my days reviewing nursing skills, watching stacks of movies, and enjoying the out-of-doors.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So there's your oh-wow-it's-been-almost-six-months update :)</span><br />
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Elizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418217007963620688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298611023886608485.post-71724593075430783552015-05-26T21:12:00.004-05:002015-05-26T21:12:46.930-05:00My Summer, as told by memesSchool got out at the end of April. At first I felt like this:<br />
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By the time I get to the end of each year, I start to feel overwhelmed by every little thing, so I was happy to be going home.<br />
However, leaving for home also meant leaving all my fantastic friends at Northwest.<br />
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Then I got home and realized that all of my friends from back home were still in school, which made for a lot of empty time.<br />
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I was happy about the prospect of sleeping in a bit in celebration of summer, but when the rest of your family works or goes to school, thus waking up at 6:30 a.m., it feels a bit like this:<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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(I like my sleep.)</div>
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However, that whole "I'll sleep in" bit didn't last too long, because I started work on the first Monday that I was back. (aka: I now get up earlier now than I did all school year. This make me proud and a little sad.)</div>
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I work at a car dealership, and I do a little of everything. I move cars, file papers, clean things, clean cars, go buy snacks for everyone, etc. It's really a great job, and I enjoy it because of the variety.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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But there is still one thing I sadly cannot do, even though I work at a car dealership:</div>
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Sorry Mr. T. :(</div>
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Other than work, I've done some babysitting, which has been pretty great.</div>
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And I've hung out with some friends.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://treasure.diylol.com/uploads/post/image/576947/resized_creepy-willy-wonka-meme-generator-oh-so-you-watched-the-karate-kid-you-must-know-alot-about-martial-arts-76bf8d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://treasure.diylol.com/uploads/post/image/576947/resized_creepy-willy-wonka-meme-generator-oh-so-you-watched-the-karate-kid-you-must-know-alot-about-martial-arts-76bf8d.jpg" height="318" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://treasure.diylol.com/uploads/post/image/576947/resized_creepy-willy-wonka-meme-generator-oh-so-you-watched-the-karate-kid-you-must-know-alot-about-martial-arts-76bf8d.jpg">via</a></td></tr>
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Overall, it's been a good summer so far, and it's not even the end of May! I'm looking forward what the rest of the summer holds!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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Kara Andersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09911797187855913581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298611023886608485.post-4155694020455391742015-02-24T19:41:00.001-06:002015-02-24T19:41:46.964-06:00"...so what do you do with that, exactly?" Explaining an IDM: New Media majorIn college, when there are introductions to be made, there are 3 key questions that always seem to be asked: What's your name? Where are you from? What's your major?<br />
In my case, I'd say, "My name's Kara, I'm from Huxley, Iowa [proceeds to explain where exactly that is] and I'm an Interactive Digital Media: New Media major." If I'm on campus, I will sometimes get this reaction:<br />
"Oh yeah! IDM! I've heard of that!"<br />
If I'm talking to friends and family from home or a majority of people on campus, I'll get this reaction:<br />
"Oh cool! Um, what do you do with that exactly?"<br />
And to that I say, "I'm still figuring that out!"<br />
Here's why:<br />
IDM:New Media is sort of unique as far as majors go. There aren't many other colleges that have something with the same name, but there are many that have a similar type of major. Sometimes I find that it's easier to tell what I know how to do and what I'm learning rather than what I could do with it (as a career), because I could do any number of things, career-wise. For example, I take classes about social media, graphic design, web publishing, programming, and advertising. I've created a Social Media plan for a business and created a media plan that details all of the advertising purchases during a year for IKEA (and by "details" I mean that it was 35 pages long). I've also made things like these:<br />
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<td><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghy3_oxpp9BKyFzjdxjPiCX9MI4BE_uWJlvhaRBF-i6WTxNPpFm-MV_jTs582vVrja9foMv5UYBa-RxVA509RqVSEzBaHzRf5O9LzN7nuC20RvnVmOV0Mhc4-OEEH0tKvB9xeOpwuMEMI/s1600/The+Solid+Rock.jpg" width="280" /></td>
<td><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispNJw2QA753naDIJVeJ-fnZKSxaTnlX6q004qCcY36Urv0Bepct-2cAYv-EYjuMAOlcKqxnTu1kP935BEY81v4Alw-ExR0s2KXaFhJ6aUTja77eNRywMiCX7NM9uRG5FzOyau2cMfRyo/s1600/Retro+Fox.jpg" width="250" /></td>
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Or these (bookmark on the left, tickets on the right)</div>
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<td><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8toOELy-R7ZCD6MBew681LFft06u1XFrLKlrfsiaJmnTfxdQ8JAJRGHw1eCfgLW0x69dWbUR0qbCLaqvHfCpjfWqd6R34mck_oHINTOSs9rzPvZWV5cCw2bN2b72mTdvQkuDzmDB-LqU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-05+at+5.14.27+PM.jpg" width="190" /></td>
<td><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGBt4PwWzh43JFshMsw9DX52nwjF_1vPPmeU_cWj7Yl3RrkId9L-gdsIqXOTSt0qqBVjgClb3LOeIsn_GNsXMieFGw0SeCXMPiPlwe5H9Ra8KuZHEHkWgIlKhtJ8FSVEPh131DzOTO24/s1600/glee+club+tickets.PNG" width="350" /><br />
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Or this:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMfE8uBk_XhOgsZnSiRS-YeJPEfPmKurpvJ42MruzRWCL_-CWzPHod0AuHHVl5cV70u6bwfYZ00fVyINDQ92IbyOfl0h_7IwkI1CUaCAp_qvu0Bqwz3i2jo20yqG1EIiZCNtdZWGjr6g0/s1600/colorguard.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMfE8uBk_XhOgsZnSiRS-YeJPEfPmKurpvJ42MruzRWCL_-CWzPHod0AuHHVl5cV70u6bwfYZ00fVyINDQ92IbyOfl0h_7IwkI1CUaCAp_qvu0Bqwz3i2jo20yqG1EIiZCNtdZWGjr6g0/s1600/colorguard.PNG" height="305" width="400" /></a></div>
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So, if I was to sum this up, I'd say that being an IDM major gives me a chance to do a lot of what I like to do! I get to dabble in design, social media, and web publishing, and it's been a lot of fun (and I'm only halfway done! Who knows what's up next!)</div>
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Kara Andersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09911797187855913581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298611023886608485.post-11086085544443376082015-01-29T14:50:00.001-06:002015-01-29T14:50:55.021-06:00Music Library OrganizationAs you might know if you've followed along at any frequency, I am one of the music librarians for the music program here at Northwest. I love it because it's all about staying organized and being on top of things, and a lot of things are self-guided and work-alone sorts of deals. Before break (and for a very long time before that), the music library looked like this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1wAsx23PgDPTlD11OvM2VXs25PpcZIPw8EpL83yqv3Kr2X33ZJ7nXqMMeLx7R31VX8fhgHWE9VAUB9nCzwfpEVqkycd8T7B3NbQqIFrvr3DaMEn8OA1mNH7Is-LhLL4K92IRxDFb3Po/s1600/1030141112a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1wAsx23PgDPTlD11OvM2VXs25PpcZIPw8EpL83yqv3Kr2X33ZJ7nXqMMeLx7R31VX8fhgHWE9VAUB9nCzwfpEVqkycd8T7B3NbQqIFrvr3DaMEn8OA1mNH7Is-LhLL4K92IRxDFb3Po/s1600/1030141112a.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The shelves that are visible are only about a quarter of what was in there. It wrapped all around the room! There were also lots (10+) of file cabinets off to the right in this picture. They were filled with music too. </div>
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Just for a point of reference, the orange folders you see here are marching band music. The small ones near the bottom wrap around half the room in a double layer. They are the older pieces. The larger ones are more recent songs. The white music (much of which is hiding) is for concert band. The entire right side of the room (where you see the change in bookshelves at the edge of the picture) is choir music. Everything in the foreground is for sorting or putting away. </div>
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In short, it was pretty crazy in there. A good crazy, but sometimes a head-scratching sort of crazy.</div>
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Things got crazier when we had to move everything out so that a new organizational system could be installed. There was lots of help, and it went as smoothly as could be expected, but when you're moving a whole library and trying to keep it in order, it gets nuts! During finals week, the installation crew began work on putting in the new system. The coolest part of this was that it meant that when I got back from break, the new room was like a great delayed Christmas gift! ("Here! Have some fancy new shelving to keep everything organized!")</div>
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So now, the room looks like this:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNM_WJKb5sv6-fRrWHDp6vlScAB2SHYPNlVYmxZ_0qrdQ02-HDEpkxu24KTJlsYQrEeTCNyeX697JITaDZD_eWnoIwHbiDUR6-qBsiwqBZM1q3911JtgaJw_QKymQRufVBSrN9Gms5dc/s1600/0120151430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNM_WJKb5sv6-fRrWHDp6vlScAB2SHYPNlVYmxZ_0qrdQ02-HDEpkxu24KTJlsYQrEeTCNyeX697JITaDZD_eWnoIwHbiDUR6-qBsiwqBZM1q3911JtgaJw_QKymQRufVBSrN9Gms5dc/s1600/0120151430.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Lots of shelves got torn out, and now these<i> lovely</i> things go all the way across the back! These things hold TONS of music! All of the marching band music alone only fills one and a half sides of a unit! They are also pretty fun to roll back and forth, too, if we're honest. When I have shown them to people, they have been compared to the Jedi Library or Indiana Jones.</div>
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Well, that is my brief update on library things. We're still in the process of moving back in and figuring out new uses for the remaining shelving. Right now it's helpful for sorting things, but we'll see what becomes of it.</div>
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<br />Kara Andersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09911797187855913581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298611023886608485.post-75326348089267460692014-12-21T17:05:00.001-06:002014-12-21T17:05:53.252-06:00"Home for the Holidays" (Was that title cheesy enough for you?)<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm home on break. Snuggling the cat, binge-watching the most recent season of <i><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: purple;">Downton Abbey</span></b>, </i>seeing old friends. Mom and I are finally going to decorate the tree this week. Yes, Christmas is four days away. I don't want to hear it! :) (Totally kidding)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Final <b><span style="color: purple;">exams</span></b> went wonderfully. I even had a lot of free time between the tests.,. what a concept! As an answer to prayer, the grades were good too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It may be a <b><span style="color: purple;">brown Christmas</span></b>, but the temps have been above freezing sometimes, so that's cool. Of course, it's probably the fault of climate change, but every cloud has a silver lining?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hope you all have a lovely holiday season. Thanks to the wonderful people making my life happy and a super doting Father Upstairs, I'm sure going to have a great one. I mean, it's nice of Santa to squeeze down people's chimneys just so they can have a merry Christmas, but Jesus kind of one-ups him, having bled out for me. I think maybe Jesus deserves <span style="color: purple;"><b>more than a plate</b></span> of cookies for that one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love,</span><br />
<b> <span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><i>E</i></span></b>Elizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418217007963620688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298611023886608485.post-10034548516285181202014-12-04T23:33:00.000-06:002014-12-04T23:33:33.253-06:00Six days!Well, I have just been all sorts of neglectful about writing something here.<br />I did the classic, "I could write about this!" and then I never did. Multiple times.<br />
So now of course, when I could do other things (like study for finals that are next week...) I will instead write on here. Because I have priorities. Also because I need a break.<br />
So here are the 6 Days of almost-the-end-of the-semester (because I literally have 6 days until I'm done for the semester!)<br />
<i><b>On the first day of almost-the-end-of-the-semester, marching band gave to me...</b></i><br />
<i><b>A box full of music and a way to make some money!</b></i><br />
Since the marching band season is done, I now have 30+ songs (multiplied by 130 people) to sort and file. Music to deal with = some chill time by myself making money!<br />
<b><i>On the second </i></b><i><b>day of almost-the-end-of-the-semester, marching band gave to me...</b></i><br />
<i><b>A torn out music library!</b></i><br />
In preparation for the new library organizing system that will be going in next week, most of the music had to come out of the library. For me, that meant boxing up 1,000+ pieces of marching band music and moving them. So right now the music library has been reduced to a bunch of file cabinets in the corner. It's a lot like living out of boxes while you are moving, so I'm a bit flustered, but I'm so excited for the new system! For reference, this is a "pre-moving" picture:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3LIET5Xrbjm1-RQTP-LMh9kTzpVgEShym7uz7nH1W0SJ0dJEL8lgb9lPEnj1lUlEFsDLB7_9swdYmVDIhmGEUiuIYjaW0W1skE1QGO_Py1lacHvH4s1WR3oHAdGaUsydPMCGJNIWICc/s1600/1030141112a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3LIET5Xrbjm1-RQTP-LMh9kTzpVgEShym7uz7nH1W0SJ0dJEL8lgb9lPEnj1lUlEFsDLB7_9swdYmVDIhmGEUiuIYjaW0W1skE1QGO_Py1lacHvH4s1WR3oHAdGaUsydPMCGJNIWICc/s1600/1030141112a.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture the shelves going all around the room with a lot of file<br />cabinets off to the right.</td></tr>
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<b><i>On the third </i></b><i><b>day of almost-the-end-of-the-semester, marching band gave to me...</b></i><br />
<b style="font-style: italic;">A band banquet which was really quite pretty! </b><span style="font-size: x-small;">(I'm trying to make these rhyme. Work with me...)</span><br />
To celebrate the end of the marching band season, we have a banquet, put on by a committee of Kappa Kappa Psi. I was a part of that committee this year, so I got in on all aspects of planning and decorating and everything in between! I also presented all of the awards to 3, 4, 5, and 6 year members, as well as some other awards. It was such a fun event!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkC2pBcddQopmp-kfgAG8cysL3z1UBXDBGl9FEBJAkf_f6WYKYR7EunFUCnsByNzzR9h5pFRhdhoSjrfRZcpd5Qt0znBS2fT1hTImX2DfQPbUKkhR7B4isOcSCtsqMG8vdNXBH6P5M08/s1600/IMG_9868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkC2pBcddQopmp-kfgAG8cysL3z1UBXDBGl9FEBJAkf_f6WYKYR7EunFUCnsByNzzR9h5pFRhdhoSjrfRZcpd5Qt0znBS2fT1hTImX2DfQPbUKkhR7B4isOcSCtsqMG8vdNXBH6P5M08/s1600/IMG_9868.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friends! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDD7ojf2XJuZw8gSpQXmdrAW-12a33ffZjDAM_cTIwL5aTg8KQOeYdTbTUHl7i8ZSsVGWVIpjbJ_vyDbWPwdTCcbWx1t32izHboYjwzxhfpgiq7MabtcyU580hT_UKU-BGilv8JeJ_3s/s1600/IMG_9912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDD7ojf2XJuZw8gSpQXmdrAW-12a33ffZjDAM_cTIwL5aTg8KQOeYdTbTUHl7i8ZSsVGWVIpjbJ_vyDbWPwdTCcbWx1t32izHboYjwzxhfpgiq7MabtcyU580hT_UKU-BGilv8JeJ_3s/s1600/IMG_9912.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Committee! (This picture is highly accurate.)</td></tr>
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<b><i>On the fourth </i></b><i><b>day of almost-the-end-of-the-semester, my classes gave to me...</b></i> <br />
<b><i>One stressful assignment in photography.</i></b><br />
For the final assignment in my photojournalism class, I had to do a photo essay, which is basically a bunch of photos of one event. I decided to follow the band banquet from set-up to tear-down, so I took over 200 pictures over the course of the night. I whittled them down to my final 18, and presented them on Tuesday. I was worried because I wanted to tip my 89% to an A, but I didn't know how I did. I talked to my professor (and probably sounded like a crazy person (..."so I just need to know if I'm going to end this class with a B because I just need time to deal with that....") but I ended up with an A on the assignment and an A in the class, meaning I have one less final to worry about!<br />Oh, here's one of the pictures I took. The pictures were supposed to include people, but I took a risk and included one without any and my professor loved it. Phew! :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ61Om80rUYrAMZHAazp-7lPceMk6LXJoDqqSYin9-9_nAap-K2cJicP295oJ3anbjrMjCn27YXx0EnmRZGIQmMLrXtsZqkaYd52YvNRwLYFQkW9ZmO8EvfjH5qqNJZ1LAuIxDn8f83WI/s1600/IMG_9798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ61Om80rUYrAMZHAazp-7lPceMk6LXJoDqqSYin9-9_nAap-K2cJicP295oJ3anbjrMjCn27YXx0EnmRZGIQmMLrXtsZqkaYd52YvNRwLYFQkW9ZmO8EvfjH5qqNJZ1LAuIxDn8f83WI/s1600/IMG_9798.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bokeh!</td></tr>
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<b><i>On the fifth </i></b><i><b>day of almost-the-end-of-the-semester, my LifeGroup gave to me...</b></i> <br />
<i><b>A very fun Christmas party!</b></i><br />
There were snacks and gifts and a classic black and white Christmas movie and it was a fantastic way to celebrate the end of the semester and the Christmas season. I'm so thankful for all the girls in my LifeGroup!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10444420_10205334742110331_9176983274634663476_n.jpg?oh=19b9eccd57cf449bbe78942d7a38ca7c&oe=55065E61" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10444420_10205334742110331_9176983274634663476_n.jpg?oh=19b9eccd57cf449bbe78942d7a38ca7c&oe=55065E61" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In all fairness, I didn't take this. I'm over there on the right.</td></tr>
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<b><i>On the sixth </i></b><i><b>day of almost-the-end-of-the-semester</b></i><i><b>, my friends gave to me...</b></i> <br />
<i><b>Good times! </b></i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(roll with me...)</span><br />
I'm blessed with great friends here and even though the semester has gotten busier and more stressful (*cough group project cough*) I have had so many fun things to make it fun!<br />
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<li>A trip to St. Joe for Cracker Barrel and the mall</li>
<li>Weekend movies with Erin and Ally</li>
<li>The most varied, interesting, and fun conversations with Nels</li>
<li>Being absolutely ridiculous in the hallways of Fine Arts and watching the faculty not even bat an eye at our antics</li>
<li>And much, much more!</li>
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That is all I've got for tonight. I've been blessed with a great semester and so many awesome friends. I'm sad to say good bye for Christmas Break, but I absolutely can't wait to see what next semester holds!</div>
Kara Andersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09911797187855913581noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298611023886608485.post-48728903369319661862014-11-15T12:49:00.000-06:002014-11-15T12:49:27.940-06:00Downsizing the Dither2nd post in a month! Woot!<br />
<br />
It's snowing, a nice mild snow. A friend and I walked to Fareway this morning and our <b><span style="color: #990000;">faces didn't even hurt</span></b>.<br />
<br />
I am feeling weighed down by my waffle-dough-microwaved-in-a-mug concoction I had for breakfast. And kind of sleepy. <span style="color: #990000;"><b>Johnny Cash is walking the line</b></span> from my Spotify playlist and the rhythmic guitar is lulling me to sleep...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="238" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10245484_10152887581582859_4795279927407247599_n.jpg?oh=6f79c408bf64b4416d52709208982e84&oe=54E47E61&__gda__=1424501764_5bc4f4808be4b911590752e55846a1e5" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>(Photo by Tracey Steffen, shamelessly stolen from her FB page without permission. Hopefully she still loves me.)<br /> This is the football team practicing in the white precipitate this morning.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
Hm. Do I actually have anything important to say?<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><b>ACTUAL NEWS PORTION:</b></span><br />
This is the most chill quarter at college I've ever had. It rocks. And someone took my 7 hour Saturday night shift at work so now I can relax on Saturdays. YAYY! Tonight, my friends and I are going to a play by the theater department.<br />
<br />
Today's plans also include going to work out in the gym to the drivel that is Saturday television.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Well, this post was pointless, except to point out the fact that I am still alive, listening to Christmas music before Thanksgiving (<b><span style="color: #990000;">oh the scandal!</span></b>) and still think taking a Saturday Sabbath is the best tradition God ever thought of.<br />
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<br />
Hope you're having a super November. <br />
<br />
E<br />
<br />Elizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418217007963620688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298611023886608485.post-4784296962870547412014-11-01T09:41:00.002-05:002014-11-01T09:41:16.560-05:00Nursing homes, cold-ness, and eyeglasses<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today is zee first of November.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: magenta;">I have moved</span></b> to a new wing of Fern.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's getting cold. But the weather procrastinated that inevitable change, so I won't complain too much. I mean, I am an Iowan, so complaining about the weather a <i>little </i>goes with the territory ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a plan for next semester and next summer and even the summer after that.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's my tentative future.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next semester is packed, but I will not be working at all. I will go <b><span style="color: blue;">from three jobs to zero</span></b> (breathes sigh of relief). Classes will be Nursing Fundamentals, Theology Part 2, Pharmacology (memorizing medicine), Adult Developmental Psychology, and a class on caring for the older population. That last class is my gateway to clinicals at a nursing home, I think. It's getting real up in the nursing program! 18 credits is bonkers-crazy, but I shall survive.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.teenmissions.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Africa-2010-357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.teenmissions.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Africa-2010-357.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been asked by Teen Mission International to be a backup leader for their Zimbabwe Medical Mission Trip this summer!!! <i>YESSS!</i> We will be working with orphans, <b><span style="color: #38761d;">cleaning wounds</span></b> and delivering eyeglasses. So jazzed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next next summer (the one between my junior and senior year), I plan to take classes online to ease the burden a little, and to work as a CNA at Madrid Nursing Home just a few miles from my house. The idea of spending a summer at home with Mother for the <b><span style="color: orange;">first time since age 16</span></b> is actually quite pleasant. I can actually go to our town's Fourth of July celebration :) Oh, and that May I am saving up to fly to see my aunt and uncle in New Jersey. That would be an epic trip.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Got great plans for my little Day of Rest. A walk to Fareway, a movie night with my dear friend Sophie, and spending time with a friend from work. Oh yeah, and I'm going to mass for the first time in years. The cool thing about Northwestern is that I've made <b><span style="color: #cc0000;">two new Catholic friends</span></b>, and they are neat-o.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And that's a wrap. Have a wonderful, thankful month.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's sure a lot to be thankful about.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And just remember, if you can't find a lot to be happy about,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">you could have Ebola right now! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">// runs away giggling //</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">// runs back//</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">>> I forgot to tell you I can <u>vote</u> now! And will, for the first time, on the 4th! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Hope you'll do the same.</span><br />
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<br />Elizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418217007963620688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298611023886608485.post-2736724365658194362014-10-07T22:09:00.000-05:002014-10-07T22:09:37.860-05:00Thankful Tuesday (because #blessed is really cliche...)I'm not a freshman anymore. In fact, at the end of this year, I'll be halfway through my time here at Northwest. I'm also not a teenager any more. I turned twenty years old ten days ago. This year has been different from last in a number of ways, and most of those have something to do with beginning to feel settled. I can begin to look past the classes at I'm taking and see the big picture (tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, etc.)<br />
Maybe I'm being redundant, and I know I'm certainly not being eloquent, but I have been blessed this semester with answers to prayer in all forms, a better sense of direction, and a family away from home in the form of my Kappa Brothers, BSU friends and everyone in between. Not unlike last year, there have been some pretty crazy, out-of-left-field curveballs that have really hit hard. I'm so thankful for where I am and for the people I am here with, because without them, college would actually be pretty miserable.<br />
So what's been going on?<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/10703538_869240956434601_8409968721562028204_n.jpg?oh=5e3065cc858c632a2b4ad4315ead3737&oe=54B283C1&__gda__=1421832439_f1aad7718dd763fb3f578e80010268a4" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="250" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She bought us both Beaver hats because if you're<br />
a part of the Greatest of All Families, you need<br />
the appropriate head wear!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10628351_360872187409322_8775345225259045847_n.jpg?oh=133901ea2c1281303ea8f4872d071412&oe=54B7A6E3&__gda__=1422060123_e6530402be066ff4a7168721e78f7369" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="250" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erin (the best Big ever) and me.<br />
We're kind of the same person...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My Brothers in Kappa Kappa Psi are seriously the greatest. We had Kappa Kamping/Harvest party last weekend, and it was a blast just hanging out and doing goofy stuff together. You know you've found good friends when you can all join in on craziness together, and no one gives it a second thought. Much fun was had by all.</div>
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<td></td>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/10616538_10202706462638712_4482113134001199744_n.jpg?oh=cb26a59aab457597ac87600a20b1fdb0&oe=54CB29AA" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/10616538_10202706462638712_4482113134001199744_n.jpg?oh=cb26a59aab457597ac87600a20b1fdb0&oe=54CB29AA" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This happened because someone said, "Hey! Let's make a pile!" We're big on logic.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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It's also been so great to get more involved at the BSU and get to know everyone there even better. I love the worship and lessons, and my LifeGroup (bible study) full of fantastic girls! I love it!<br />
I've also been discovering some really neat verses that I'd never seen/hadn't remembered. I put ones that really stick out to me on my desk. Here are two.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ViM1ORB6BFdVy5HXxxSQ_XObKy6WSkoQZJnPm8jtLg9CwiVUcOHngYGuOE_MKUBlh4LbJ1SUhRwADk4xuDMSuw4GrYpRUWcm9SDx1T_O6Da5BMaf9jkoVRDwCWb_nXlwFgbs8zD5M8M/s1600/1007141904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ViM1ORB6BFdVy5HXxxSQ_XObKy6WSkoQZJnPm8jtLg9CwiVUcOHngYGuOE_MKUBlh4LbJ1SUhRwADk4xuDMSuw4GrYpRUWcm9SDx1T_O6Da5BMaf9jkoVRDwCWb_nXlwFgbs8zD5M8M/s1600/1007141904.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
One last thing:<br />
Let's put it this way. Last year, my job made me anxious all the time and I hated it. This year, I have a key to the music library and I can go in there any time I am able and work on organizing, filing, alphabetizing, sorting, and the list goes on. Basically, I get paid to do something I enjoy. It's nice to go back to the music library because it is kind of off in a corner where no one goes, and you can't get the wireless signal back there, so you can focus. There have definitely been some interesting moments!<br />
For instance, I have discovered a striking number of songs about beer. Apparently there were more, but I've found four so far, and I've got 300 more songs to go! I have to give whoever credit for variety, because there are three different types mentioned. This brings up so many questions. But I've learned to not question some things. :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwT0qSBrZW0HBIuc8LmmHpuRQcGHBFUM9GxXsHvS_E0WXMUGTdaNkZurpUcZ0U_2K67U4IuYxoaNAfu03bCjh0YSStAy6OEG-gKICduLRYWnDIy9UNeANyfOzs2UsLBtTwHoSgSieVzpQ/s1600/Songs+about+Beer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwT0qSBrZW0HBIuc8LmmHpuRQcGHBFUM9GxXsHvS_E0WXMUGTdaNkZurpUcZ0U_2K67U4IuYxoaNAfu03bCjh0YSStAy6OEG-gKICduLRYWnDIy9UNeANyfOzs2UsLBtTwHoSgSieVzpQ/s1600/Songs+about+Beer.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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I've also learned that just when you think you've found every possible batch of loose, homeless music, you'll discover a box labeled "Random Pieces of Music" and you'll pause for a second and think to yourself, "Well this can't be good..." Then you'll open it and it will be filled with this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdAOwP1ENkRQykBy81HUzB_imsqzpVfTKWWsKMt2X5Lmhc5YgCmLF4As0YNE0EI9yJsme_IMCde-VZc_r9sxTGGEMsBIB5bK7v6cK7GhTqY7QLIXg4w7AHLsNDE05uQkh4TookO9SziJE/s1600/1007141028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdAOwP1ENkRQykBy81HUzB_imsqzpVfTKWWsKMt2X5Lmhc5YgCmLF4As0YNE0EI9yJsme_IMCde-VZc_r9sxTGGEMsBIB5bK7v6cK7GhTqY7QLIXg4w7AHLsNDE05uQkh4TookO9SziJE/s1600/1007141028.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Yep, a crate full of gallon bags stuffed with what is, indeed, "random pieces of music." It's gonna be a while before these all find a home. Most of them are finding a home in the recycling bin, however, because there are already plenty of copies. Like Mike (our fantastic, bend-over-backwards-for-you, knows everything custodian) said, "That'll teach ya to go snoopin' around places!" Indeed.<br />
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Kara Andersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09911797187855913581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298611023886608485.post-7007699520620441832014-09-21T17:23:00.003-05:002014-09-21T17:23:23.922-05:00Dialing + Daily Life<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Life is rolling along, and I'm into the swing of this semester. And so far it's a pretty pleasant "swing". Here's a glimpse of my day-to-day normal. Basically, this post is a lot of lists. I like lists!</span><br />
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<i><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Eating healthy in the Caf:</b></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although I think the Caf food is tasty, their healthy food variety is... not particularly various. But it's okay. Here are the more beneficial options available, along with their degree of availability.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="269" src="http://www.pizzainn.com/cmsimages/our_salad_bar.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">pizzainn.com</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Always there</span></u><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Raw oatmeal to mix with peanut butter</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Raisin bran</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Salad bar and vinaigrette dressing</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Scrambled eggs in the morning</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Lunch meat turkey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Orange juice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Vanilla or chocolate soymilk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- 2% milk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Bananas, oranges, or apples</span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes there (one a week or less to 3X a week)</span></u><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Turkey bacon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Whole wheat spaghetti</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Mashed potatoes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Roast turkey or chicken</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Sweet or baked potato</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Some tofu dish, like with curry</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Cooked peas or carrots</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Raw carrots and celery</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>At the Hub</u> (the other campus dining place where I work)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Veggie burger on two slices of lettuce instead of a bun</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Sun chips</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Apple, walnut, feta cheese salad with poppyseed dressing</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Grilled chicken sandwich minus the bun</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Chicken filet salad</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- "Naked" burrito (without the tortilla) + white tortilla chips</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As you can see, that is a pretty limited menu there. For a spoiled American. But it's totally fine. There's always church potlucks and the occasional sugary treat to mix things up.</span><br />
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<i><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>This week's "learnin's":</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Oq6X5Uz8vDpBSzMGjafGDuQgXR32ZffEwCFfNckfOpvvXX33ztRuHLaux5F0H6Omkj9YXPY8HRXWt-r9zZ4eQDdJpGeL_bjrDhv5aE-_MNUVjd0hr3JWYxTg84PAYqdH5B50J1oNb5N9/s1600/Bacteria+meme.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">[How I feel after every microbiology lab]</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's some cool stuff I've learned in a typical week at NWC:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- how penicillin works</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- how to stain bacteria purple or red to figure out what kind it is (Gram staining)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- how to assess a patient's pain</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- the philosophical problem of fighting a child soldier as an American soldier </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- how to say "that's the last straw!" in Spanish. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All my classes are real interesting. I love learning :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Dialing digits for donations:</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remember last year how Kara did Phonathon (they might call it something else at NWMS, I forget)? She called alumni and parents of students to ask for scholarship donations, earning points to get that "oh so wonderful" bag of chips (poor Kara).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, I'm doing that too! Although it's a bit different for me since we also take the prayer requests of people we call. And I actually enjoy calling strangers on the phone (what a weirdo, right? haha)! I'll have a little cubicle and that telemarketer-ish headset for three hours a week, dialing number after number of people all across the nation. It's exciting!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That was a long and boring post, perhaps. Hope your week is going as well as mine!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Arrivederci,</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> E</span><br />
<i><br /></i>
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<br />Elizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418217007963620688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298611023886608485.post-29868193395249792052014-09-11T13:26:00.000-05:002014-09-11T13:26:16.464-05:00[Mostly] SelfiesThis post will descend where no post has gone before: selfies. I don't have a smart phone, so I don't take a lot of selfies, but when I do, I take them with my computer and send them to my sister to communicate what I'm doing. Let us explore what the days have entailed:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLivd3JXCdSgtjbpA_7dfkOUSDOwVRiPpV3gSCVIvYIes0MKITBfuRsSmxzSAZahvudkJ9GDmVvalOpYBsfMDDldxRtFJOziNp8ixlMKRVqLYlNp4wdcezsMoUtKYjpx4LU3EweF5Pqc/s1600/Snapshot_20140831_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLivd3JXCdSgtjbpA_7dfkOUSDOwVRiPpV3gSCVIvYIes0MKITBfuRsSmxzSAZahvudkJ9GDmVvalOpYBsfMDDldxRtFJOziNp8ixlMKRVqLYlNp4wdcezsMoUtKYjpx4LU3EweF5Pqc/s1600/Snapshot_20140831_2.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I learned that even though I LOVE milk, I cannot finish a half-<br />
gallon of milk before it goes bad. BUT I discovered the incredibly<br />
cute alternative in this quart-sized carton!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1QQXQx5HJz-6ABs1SCKptppnb9Sf3VfADWHwVbqBhTb8X08RltEYLOnNh3gmSmAGUlp3hoGC-iIz7gXWHHt9URPjJ3uPMogJS2bxuf_t54HnnGhtdSXNvi3_ywAOAgbEsK3eK1tYy1E/s1600/Snapshot_20140902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1QQXQx5HJz-6ABs1SCKptppnb9Sf3VfADWHwVbqBhTb8X08RltEYLOnNh3gmSmAGUlp3hoGC-iIz7gXWHHt9URPjJ3uPMogJS2bxuf_t54HnnGhtdSXNvi3_ywAOAgbEsK3eK1tYy1E/s1600/Snapshot_20140902.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have a fantastic roommate who asked if I would like her to curl<br />
my hair on a day we were dressing up. She did a really good job<br />
and learned just how much hair I have on my head. (A lot.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6UWJvpRIPf2fSydvzShgHlNKHpnVznnLdaL6p6sgpdsz6iDiUjiZgLmBcuaxFtrjXlZP16iAfpcfQjhXzgtrIcnniRG2RGbuvbP4SFAByB7k6hzp6REOZJWOA8pF5MBm0E5rWk-KVME/s1600/Snapshot_20140903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6UWJvpRIPf2fSydvzShgHlNKHpnVznnLdaL6p6sgpdsz6iDiUjiZgLmBcuaxFtrjXlZP16iAfpcfQjhXzgtrIcnniRG2RGbuvbP4SFAByB7k6hzp6REOZJWOA8pF5MBm0E5rWk-KVME/s1600/Snapshot_20140903.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A history paper means a trip to the library. The third floor is very<br />
sunny and also very quiet, which is fantastic!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxixSVotaTHI0WyHCXRZVoljqkgxiYm-RXI85bqTfoJmUI-fZVNssj-w3-uRUq69ZkIOM5aanwZv44w3VcKWDu5KVh853tSa0zVNTyU_JnxVJlMb5KatTX9HW2rmoxcDlEIgjkcaJeH8/s1600/Snapshot_20140905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxixSVotaTHI0WyHCXRZVoljqkgxiYm-RXI85bqTfoJmUI-fZVNssj-w3-uRUq69ZkIOM5aanwZv44w3VcKWDu5KVh853tSa0zVNTyU_JnxVJlMb5KatTX9HW2rmoxcDlEIgjkcaJeH8/s1600/Snapshot_20140905.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the face I made on the one day that I left my umbrella in<br />
my room and therefore got wet after class and spent an hour killing<br />
time in a building between classes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf43nqnMrqzQyp6cKHcOM-RJqUKGW-el39A2jJzS__xi_aqcCtumb8_SGoPKu5ZrSX_t_IPiHWXh1lzD_BjKe5Pdh2me9Jar-9nKDMVVyjvEYiN8e-PbEv1QCWFfLLJC1B1NyBVYL4iug/s1600/Snapshot_20140906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf43nqnMrqzQyp6cKHcOM-RJqUKGW-el39A2jJzS__xi_aqcCtumb8_SGoPKu5ZrSX_t_IPiHWXh1lzD_BjKe5Pdh2me9Jar-9nKDMVVyjvEYiN8e-PbEv1QCWFfLLJC1B1NyBVYL4iug/s1600/Snapshot_20140906.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Asian Pears (one of my favorite fruits) were on sale for 99 cents<br />
per pound! They are usually $1.99/lb, so I snatched a few up<br />
during a roommate shopping to HyVee.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UE0YhlSNXXs4yU_MPBzwZeyJlxgUswRNA21Uq6GJo-pBI7fqK2eDP3wF1d6JtScKIBvAV-zp6HN-TZ-pepk9nTa9DkqMOnGuBTynxFrDf4wJDMpedfgVRtdUDnbfbNxhkWDBrjrDZMI/s1600/Snapshot_20140910_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UE0YhlSNXXs4yU_MPBzwZeyJlxgUswRNA21Uq6GJo-pBI7fqK2eDP3wF1d6JtScKIBvAV-zp6HN-TZ-pepk9nTa9DkqMOnGuBTynxFrDf4wJDMpedfgVRtdUDnbfbNxhkWDBrjrDZMI/s1600/Snapshot_20140910_1.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got to check out this lovely camera for a photojournalism class.<br />
It was truly wonderful, and if I had $1,000 lying around, I'd snatch<br />
one of these babies up. They are certainly great! <br />
For all you technical types, that a Rebel T41 with a 18-135mm lens.<br />
$$Chaching$$</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyW96URFgnZn7H5AD1cThxMDAMRnvyDo6Xsyi0zagscI-XZrA3F2sMM_Z33vo7yF1ZmjxGj-zZknCNk9Xr4kiKDakjBGBraxpgJlNfxeyZcr0Rj2_3EmswVYf3NYSSBg-Av09vT_iuFrs/s1600/Snapshot_20140911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyW96URFgnZn7H5AD1cThxMDAMRnvyDo6Xsyi0zagscI-XZrA3F2sMM_Z33vo7yF1ZmjxGj-zZknCNk9Xr4kiKDakjBGBraxpgJlNfxeyZcr0Rj2_3EmswVYf3NYSSBg-Av09vT_iuFrs/s1600/Snapshot_20140911.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's September, so the nice, crisp weather is upon us! In my case,<br />
this means the beginning of 6 months of never quite being warm<br />
enough. Luckily, I can wear comfy sweaters, like this one, borrowed<br />
from the lovely Olivia! Go UNI!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And finally, we conclude with pictures of what I spend most of my "free time" doing: Marching Band! No more selfies here! Lauren Bolt took most of these!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17ApougIZMdilBExy1ZuF2g1mRb6aRfha23j8s4vhZ1cegjk-2bzunDA1FWnRsz2AsUgfIO93309l3QyBDGaXg3dz2uMfIebW7auO0DB4K_xAok_ZDUnzcSu5mZXKfK5e3kBmLwA1Mcg/s1600/14862019170_66d575b6a0_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17ApougIZMdilBExy1ZuF2g1mRb6aRfha23j8s4vhZ1cegjk-2bzunDA1FWnRsz2AsUgfIO93309l3QyBDGaXg3dz2uMfIebW7auO0DB4K_xAok_ZDUnzcSu5mZXKfK5e3kBmLwA1Mcg/s1600/14862019170_66d575b6a0_o.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Freshman Convocation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiophu-jxlEr21BVyp9dgfbpBISzv4G9D69ggJ1zBqw1L1CHlgqqM7d2JfBnPMdGrhSAoGzjmvzjKVfPsBDXSRSXCZQ9ivnAefF82kFlMlkSscmHKgpnq61e7pBIrQfRPeEFgDs3PSNlxc/s1600/14969294090_374eac36ff_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiophu-jxlEr21BVyp9dgfbpBISzv4G9D69ggJ1zBqw1L1CHlgqqM7d2JfBnPMdGrhSAoGzjmvzjKVfPsBDXSRSXCZQ9ivnAefF82kFlMlkSscmHKgpnq61e7pBIrQfRPeEFgDs3PSNlxc/s1600/14969294090_374eac36ff_o.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm behind Brett</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3cMJfBlNOMwksrwy0CHEyTmD1tmXFAkqsfGYhgPFhexBCVe1G7lHii__rqHfEeZ3kL4EZi2tw3lTAhLAuspch0Tr4usGR6PSR4CggpWSgZ_z7qQ-LbPcH6j-xlqg1Z6NBKF1J5KiWsAE/s1600/15125193866_f6302fefef_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3cMJfBlNOMwksrwy0CHEyTmD1tmXFAkqsfGYhgPFhexBCVe1G7lHii__rqHfEeZ3kL4EZi2tw3lTAhLAuspch0Tr4usGR6PSR4CggpWSgZ_z7qQ-LbPcH6j-xlqg1Z6NBKF1J5KiWsAE/s1600/15125193866_f6302fefef_o.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's me on the far left</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPKlg3LOflINSntr9z23BlIEQuEjOUAKi4NcacZxJs6ANEtcjORAEQ3fukD45Xdo7XvZZU66s6K28hKZygtg8bQRYpoqRXNO0ni5nhrLG5ROWiIFglZ-TC3Bkmn4qRos-ncT8E9DBUlyE/s1600/15133299942_a64f5e300f_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPKlg3LOflINSntr9z23BlIEQuEjOUAKi4NcacZxJs6ANEtcjORAEQ3fukD45Xdo7XvZZU66s6K28hKZygtg8bQRYpoqRXNO0ni5nhrLG5ROWiIFglZ-TC3Bkmn4qRos-ncT8E9DBUlyE/s1600/15133299942_a64f5e300f_o.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Practicin'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Kara Andersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09911797187855913581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298611023886608485.post-65377972982297727422014-09-06T13:32:00.003-05:002014-09-06T13:32:32.358-05:00Red Pens and Sweet Dreams<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="150" src="http://michellerobinson.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/red_pen.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>prideinmadness.wordpress.com</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">News since we last "spoke":</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- My anatomy professor from last year asked me to be his <span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">teacher's assistant</span>! That he would ask me is highly encouraging. I believe he was one of the scientists who developed the worm vaccination given at veterinary clinics. He is one of the smartest people I've ever met! Anyway, I graded my first stack of quizzes and it was fun, although a little harder than I expected. You have to be consistent with your grading on every problem of course, which is harder than it sounds (hopefully I'll do a lot better job next time)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Two nights ago, I intentionally didn't do homework. <span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">My conscience has slain me</span> ever since. I did not finish a video and did not read a textbook chapter because it was 11 p.m. and I decided that sleep was more important. This is part of my new attitude that taking care of yourself must come first. That night I still got only seven hours of sleep (which is the bare minimum I need to function and be a kind person and important stuff like that). Still, I feel really badly about not doing all assigned homework. In life, there are so many things you should do, and there is simply not enough time to do all of them. If you have thoughts on this topic or disagree, I'd love to hear it in the comments!</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="173" src="http://cdn.cutestpaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/l-Sweet-dreams(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>cutestpaw.com</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Billie, have you moved into Iowa yet? I really want to hear about your adventurous summer!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b> <span style="background-color: white;">E</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">P.S. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remind me to include room pix next post!</span></span>Elizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418217007963620688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298611023886608485.post-21586205514370291212014-08-24T18:07:00.001-05:002014-08-24T18:32:08.857-05:00PerspectiveSophomore. Weird to spell, weirder to say.<br />
It's hard to believe I'm a year out from being new to college.<br />
This year started out just like last year... with Band Camp!<br />
Lots of music rehearsals and outdoor marching practices happened. (Check out some great pics <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/126239372@N03/">here</a>! You should really take a peek! :) )<br />
However, this year was definitely better than last year, and it's all about perspective.<br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Last year</span>,</b> I knew no one and I actually sat in my dorm room at the end of each day and just stared at the wall. I was so lonely that I called my family every night and <strike>usually</strike> cried some too.<br />
<b><span style="color: purple;">This year</span>, </b>I haven't had a dull evening, or a sad one either. I spent the first one hanging out with friends and having adventures, and every night since has had something going on!<br />
<b style="color: #274e13;">Last year, </b>I didn't know what I was getting into. The BMB was new to me, not to mention the drumline. I was scared and felt like I was constantly pulled from one place to another because I just didn't know how stuff worked.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leadin' the section<br />
(Photo cred to Lauren Bolt)</td></tr>
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<b style="color: purple;">This year, </b>I have a much better handle on things! The BMB is like family, and it was so great to be able to be able to welcome so many new freshmen to drumline. I am the bass drum section leader, which has been a neat position to have. I really enjoy working with everyone and being able to help them learn how things work.<br />
<b style="color: #274e13;">Last year,</b> I came to college worried about how I was going to earn money. I needed a job, but no one would hire me. When I did end up getting a job, it was definitely not a good fit for me.<br />
<b style="color: purple;">This year, </b>I came to college knowing that I have 2 jobs, both of which I enjoy. Being the music librarian has been great because I can make my own hours, and I know I'll enjoy being an accompanist too!<br />
Most importantly, <b style="color: #274e13;">last year</b> I felt like I was all alone at first because I didn't know anyone and was in a completely new place.<br />
However, <span style="color: purple;"><b>this year</b>, </span>I was excited to come back to all of the friends I hadn't seen in 2 months. I didn't realize how much I was used to seeing everyone so much every day.<br />
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Remembering where I was at last year has kept one thing at the forefront of my mind: Many Freshmen are in the same spot that I was; lonely, confused, lost, and trying to get settled in a completely new place. Now that I'm in a place where I can be a leader, it's been neat to be able to be the person I would have liked to meet as a Freshman. I had so many people come up to me as a Freshman and just be nice, and I can only hope that this year's Freshmen feel the same way about me and the other members of the band.<br />
I can't wait to see what this year holds! If this past week has been any indication, this year getting started on the right foot (the left one, of course [band humor])! I know that some great things are in store!Kara Andersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09911797187855913581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298611023886608485.post-5946415449426787962014-08-18T19:00:00.003-05:002014-08-18T19:00:47.682-05:00Recently, on the other side of the world...<span style="font-size: large;">Well, it was a great summer! A hard summer, but a great one. Having the opportunity to lead 18 teenagers to Asia? What a privilege.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Leading something for the first time in my life was definitely a stretching experience. It was like <b><span style="color: #38761d;">lifting weights</span></b> every day, emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically. But I'm awfully thankful for all the lessons God taught me. Here's what happened:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">After the team went through boot camp training in Florida, we took the 14-ish hour plane flight to Hong Kong, then flew to Myanmar's capital (Yangon). We stayed in a clean, air-conditioned guest house and then took an eight hour bus ride over the mountains to the roughest, poorest, most violent state in Myanmar, the Rakhine state. We moved into a less luxurious guest house and received <b><span style="color: #b45f06;">the unwelcome news</span></b> that the local officials would not allow the team to do their building project. The end. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Our head leader suspects that the local <b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Buddhist monks</span></b> were a bit suspicious of us. For one thing, Myanmar has been closed to foreigners until the past year. In that country, it is illegal for foreigners to spend the night anywhere except a registered guest house. This is so the government can keep a good eye on them... er, <i>us</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So we packed up and flew to Cambodia instead!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There, the team started a building for Cambodia's Teen Missions Boot Camp, just like camp we'd just come from. The teens erected massive concrete pillars, poured a floor, and watched the funds they'd raised pay for a bright blue metal roof to be constructed above. Meanwhile, I helped cook for the team every day, using a metal box of an oven and <b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #e06666;">a one pot cooking fire</span></b>. I also got the chance to lead the team's daily Bible studies and girls small group. During those days, we lived in tents, filtered our water, tried some exotic fruits, and learned to use "squatty potties" like pros!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The highlight of every day for me was to be driven in a <i>tuk tuk </i> (a typically Asian conveyance consisting of a three-wheeled "buggy" hitched to a motorcycle) to the local market to buy fresh produce, sugar, etc. I learned some greetings in Khmer (pronounced <i>Kih-MY</i>) and got familiar with Cambodian currency.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Before returning to the U.S., we got one sightseeing day in <b><span style="color: #741b47;">Hong Kong</span></b>, and that was glorious! Seeing the city lights over the harbor by ferry, exploring the night markets, eating at a Hong Kong McDonald's... it was a good time :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was hard to say goodbye to the team, but it's been good to be home at last. College classes start Tuesday and I'll keep you all updated. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Stay wonderful!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">E</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My beloved team :)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The beautiful Gwa orphans. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please pray that someone will be able to build for them. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">20 plus orphans live in a thatched house half the size of a typical one story home. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They have nothing but the clothes on their back, a toothbrush, and a bed roll. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They play in the dirt and with a flea-bitten dog. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They live on nothing but daily food and the love of the home's staff, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">but they are being taught to love Jesus. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We will never forget them.</span></div>
Elizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418217007963620688noreply@blogger.com2