Round Dos!

Okay, not to bad for round 1...went 6-2. Sabres let me down, clearly they need Aaron in goal instead of Miller (too many soft goals). As for the Pens, I thought it'd go seven, they just didn't have enough fight. On the other hand, the Preds came through HUGE, great upset!

So, onto Round 2, where we separate the men from the boys, the newcomers from the vets. Read them and weep...

East: Caps (in 6); Bruins (in 7)
West: Canucks (in 6); Wings (in 7)

The Caps are pretty strong, especially on the defensive end. And even though they usually don't step their game up for round 2, I think they have a lot left in the tank to beat the Lightning, but containing Stamko will be key! The Flyers squeaked out a series against Buffalo, but they can't do it again, can they? Boston should grind them out. And I'm riding on the Timmy Thomas express!

Out West, the Preds, who may be on the brink of becoming legit are just overmatched here, got to give the nod to Vancover (although they may come out tired after a 7 game series vs. Chicago). The Wings/Sharks has the chance to go the distance, but Detroit looked great in round 1. Sharks are always too up and down for me to ever have the confidence to pick them so I gotta go with the Wings.

I'll admit it, I punked out on this round, no upsets. I gotta go chalk here, I just see too many glaring differences between the good teams and the elite. Cross your fingers, lets just hope for some good hockey!

PLAYOFFS!? Did Someone Say Playoffs!?!

Okay, so while hockey isn't my primary sport, here are my picks:

East: Caps (in 5); Sabres (in 6); Bruins (in 6) Pens (in 6)
West: Canucks (in 6); Sharks (in 5); Wings (in 7); Preds (in 7)
...its always a hard question, do I go with my head or my heart?....

Capitals have had their strongest season yet, and the Rangers pretty much backed into the playoffs, so I'll let the Caps get to the 2nd Round (where they usually flame out anyways). As for the Sabres, yes I just hate Philadelphia that much. Period. The Bruins/Canadiens match up should be a thriller, probably could go either way, but Timmy Thomas has been pretty solid, they get the nod. Now, the Pens have actually done well, all injuries considered and Dan Bylsma should at least be on the ballot for coach of the year. I'll take the Pens (I get one homer pass, right?), but we'll see how they look, definitely not as solid as the past 3 yrs.

Now for the West...the Canucks have been great all season, big props to the Sedin bros. It'll be a tough matchup against the Hawks and may go the distance, but it's hard to pick against them, tough road but they'll get it done. Next matchup, I'll take Sharks over the Kings, but if I had to pick a BIG upset, it'd be this one. The Sharks are always streaky but I think they'll handle their business rather easily. I wish I could say that I'm picking the Coyotes too, but the Red Wings are always tough to knock out of the playoffs. Finally, I'll end with my big 1st Round upset special...Preds over the Ducks! As much as Anaheim is my favorite Western Conf. team, I'm going with my heart here and also for my friend Matt whose a huge Preds fan. Go Nashville!

Time Flies!

Wow. Is that an emotion? Maybe? Well that's the feeling I am getting right now. My work day ended, and I figured that there is no better time to blog than the present. Too bad we don't center our lives around that idea. The present. We don't live in it and we definitely do not spend our time thinking about it. Students have about a week and a half left of classes! Yea, that's it! So naturally, they are running around studying for tests, preping for finals, and for SENIORS this is the time to be scrambling for resumes, interviews, summer employment, apartment shopping, and transition. I remember, it was only a year ago that I too was stressing out trying to determine what I would be doing next year. Luckily for me things worked out an I was able to spend my year in AmeriCorps volunteering and serving the New Wilmington community, aka my 2nd home.

Now I feel as though I should take stock of my time as the school year wraps up and my year of service is coming to a close. Wow. The Drinko Center and Westminster has blessed me with another year of wonderful work, excitment, and amazing relationships. Time to make a list (my mom would be proud, she loves lists)

Continued playing frisbee, you can't get me to stop, I love those kids too much
Attended FCA meetings, its just an amazing group of special people
Shout out to our bible study, great times with great people with big hearts
Served others in nearby communities: New Wilmington, New Castle, Farrell, North Liberty
Worked with some committed students through my Scholars in Service program
Spent time with the few close friends who are still around
Worshiped with awesome believers at Neshanock and New Life
Made new friends who have helped fill me and put the spark back into my life
....I guess I can stop there and add to this list later, but it has been a wonderful year, and I am so extremely blessed to have this place and these people around me! =)

Shout out to my friends old and new that have encouraged me this year! You know who you are.
MaryBeth, Michael, Scott, Abby, Dan, Carly & the WolfPACC VISTAs, Carissa, Jenny, Morgan, Sydney, Brit, Chrissy & Josh, Brad, Tom, Doreen, Kelly, Patrick, Terri, Beth, Patti & Joey +kids, Art, Kelsey, and Wyatt....and MANY more. Thanks all!!

Dear Santa,

I have come to find out that there are certain Christmas traditions or aspects of the season that I just don't particularly care for. One, why do families feel that this is the only appropriate time of the year to sit down and write an extremely long letter to friends who you see maybe once a year. You know what I mean, those letters that tell about everyone in their family and where they are and what they're doing. And there is always a family photo (pets included) that accompanies the letter. I don't understand why people don't write to others during the rest of the year and instead choose Christmas to get back in touch. Perhaps they feel guilty that they have not kept in contact. Regardless, it seems like a ridiculous tradition. Other parts of Christmas I can't seem to enjoy include eggnog, receiving any sort of clothing, and those who try and go above and beyond the call of duty when it comes to gift giving. A simple and heartfelt gift is always best, isn't it? (see "Gift of the Maggi")

Now if you're reading this and thinking that I am nothing more than and modern day scrooge, you are mistaken. This is my favorite season of the year! When else do you get to play in the snow, really enjoy hot chocolate, care for others more than yourself, and get to spend time with those you love? I just happen to think of Christmas in a special way. In fact I always imagine Christmas the same. Sitting, watching movies like A Charlie Brown Christmas, The Grinch, and A Muppet Christmas Carol. Classics. Christmas to me is going out to on Christmas Eve to the candlelight service at my church, and then spending the next half hour driving around looking at Christmas lights. Yes, I am 23 and my family still drives around admiring the bright glowing decorations that adorn the homes in our small community.

That's what I enjoy most. It's the regularity that the season brings. It may be the same old thing every year, but that is what makes it special. You can rely on it. You can depend on it. There will never be a "Year Without a Santa Clause," or a year without being reminded how blessed you are and offering thanks for getting you through another year. This year, for me, will be a very special year. It will be the first year I am away from my family, and while I will make the drive home for Christmas Eve and the wonderful days to follow, I am filled with anticipation for the time I will spend here on campus. I will see a few friends, but I will also have time alone, to quietly reflect on the year and how extremely blessed I am. This Christmas I hope to spend time with special friends and strengthen my friendship and show them how much I care for them. It is going to be a wonderful holiday season for me. And I hope it is for you as well!

4 Weeks In

So almost a month into work, and I haven't even written anything worth while...but this will have to do. After being back at Westminster, this time as part of the staff, things have been going very slow. And for now slow is ok with me. I haven't had a lot of time with friends and its always a constant, "well do i approach them or wait for someone to call me?" And since I am such an indecisive person to begin with neither of those two questions get answered. And that has led me to where I am now, working 8-3 every weekday and then relaxing in my room, going for a walk, and then kicking back and enjoying the silence. But I do wish that at some point things would pick up and I would be able to hang out with people and go places anything to avoid being by myself.

People have asked me, "hey, how's the job?", "do you like it?" And my reply has been pretty much the same, "oh, its ok." Lately, I have just been feeling content, which is fine, but not nearly as fun as telling people that things are amazing. So I just need a jumpstart to get me out of this lackadaisical lifestyle. But until that boost, I'll be content but not amazing.

Summer!

Now that summer is pretty much over, I am really sad to see it go. It was probably one of the best summers ever! And instead of writing tons and tons about it I think I'm just gonna list the things I enjoyed most (obviously leaving out things I didn't like) but that's me, glass half-full...

Ice breakers iced tea mints (yum!)
Going on walks with Anneliese
Riding my bike around town
City limits ice cream
Tennis lessons
My nephews
Ultimate frisbee in Warren
Chillin' with middle school kids (Wyatt, Devon, and Kelsey)

I will miss all of these things, but I know that none of it is permanent so its all good. And now that I have returned to Westminster, I will be hopefully be able to enjoy the things that I like about this area. It will be a change, which if you know me I'm not really a big fan of change, but at least I get to work in a comfortable place that's familiar. And boy am I blessed to be where I am, and whatever comes this year good or bad, I have people around me to support me and God above me to love me.

When all else fails, suck it up!

When I thought about how my last semester of college would turn out, this is not exactly what I had in mind. I believed that since I had a lighter schedule I would have more free time. That's been the only truth of the past two months. I also felt that having free time, I would be able to spend it with my friends. So I was very much looking forward to Frisbee, eating dinner with people, hanging out in each others' townhouse, prank wars, and other exciting adventures. But unfortunately, this dream has not worked out how I would have thought or would have liked.

Whenever I feel like hanging out, shooting the breeze, or going on an adventure, my friends always have something else going on. It sucks. Most of the time it is school related commitments, but it still feels like my last semester is slipping away. But I can't let it get me down. I got to suck it up!

So I suppose the moral that you should take away from this is don't wait til your senior year for some quality time. Go explore. Have an adventure. Go up to the bel tower in Old Main. Break into the tunnel between Browne and Ferg. Play frisbee just once, even if you're not any good. Go to mugsies. Canoe around the lake. Sit out and watch the stars. Enjoy it now, kids! It doesn't last!