Laugh of the Day

So, I was studying at the West Campus Library earlier this evening for my two tests tomorrow and went out into the stairwell to make a phone call to a classmate. On my way back to the quiet area I passed the water fountains and the bathrooms, out of which a REALLY attractive, tall blond guy walked. Surprisingly our eyes met and he smiled HUGE at me. For a brief moment I got really giddy like a school girl. Then I realized that he was smiling because he had accidentally entered the women's restroom and was on his way out of it and into the men's room. SO MUCH FOR A LAST MINUTE HOOK UP AT A&M!

What a Weekend I Had!

FRIDAY
So random and so fun. It was a true day in the life of a college student. Let's see... I slept in until 10:30, went to my boring info class in which I attemped to finish the difficult Friday crossword puzzle. (BTW I am one of those people addicted to crosswords and I do them every day in ink.) Kimberly picked me up from west campus and we met Page for lunch at Dallas Deli on Northgate and then hit up some free Bahama Buck's shaved ice! After gaining sustenance, Kimbo and I dropped off Page and traded her in for a Natalie. Becasue I had a headache and needed some exercise to ease the pain, the three of us decided to walk to campus and play a few rounds of Dance Dance Revolution in the MSC. (I know I wasn't supposed to disclose that information, girls, but it was too funny to keep to myself.) Kimberly was surprisingly talented, tapping out the beat like a seasoned riverdancer. Natalie and I think she has been practicing behind our backs! After DDR, Kimberly headed home to wash her hair for the date party. But did I go home to start getting ready at an appropriate time??? Heck no! I hit up the slip and slide down the street with Natalie. For those of you unfamiliar with "Fairview Fridays," I live on a Fairview Ave. and the boys down the street like to sit outside their house in lawn chairs, basking in the sun, hollering at passing cars to stop, relax, and have a cold beverage. Well... this week Natalie used some cleavor rhetoric in order to convince me to pull a quick U turn and attend my first Fairview Friday. Let's just say, I ended up slip and sliding like crazy IN MY CLOTHES. It was quite fun; I made lots of new friends and developed lots of new bruises! After drying off, Natalie and I... you guessed it... went to Sonic for a quick pick me up and then I headed home to hit the showers. I got ready faster than ever because I completed my last slip in slide approximately one hour before I was supposed to be at the restaurant. The party was so fun. Jim was a wonderful and "chivelrous" date. The two of us went with Drew and Kimberly. We made quite a crazy foursome! We totally dominated the famous Trash Can Nachos at Zapatos and then hit up the Glow 5K for some live bands. Once we got to the party we were so ready to dance. Can I just say that I love dancing with Kimberly Opitz" Her facial expressions cannot be beat. And that Jim kid can sure SHAKE IT! Ha! Well, and Drew is okay I guess (for those who don't know, he is like a white Usher). It's hard to believe that this was my last Theta Date Party of my entire life. (Crazy, huh? Time just flies by so very fast!) Well... I couldn't have asked for a better night.

SATURDAY
I woke up to Page calling me at 7:30am to see if I was almost ready to go to Dallas when she thought it was 9:30am. I couldn't get back to sleep so I ran some errands and packed my bags. The two of us hit the road around 10:30pm and spead off to good old D-Town. Page dropped me off at the Galleria (how appropriate for this girl who loves to shop) to meet my precious parents who had flown in and were OF COURSE already at the mall! We shopped, grabbed a sandwich, and freshened up to surprise my brother after his engagement. (You can ask me if you want the full story and you can read about him and see pictures on his blog davidpenuel@blogspot.com) Dinner was so fun! I have never had a large family so that was the biggest family dinner I have ever been a part of. I love Alli and her family. I am so excited they're getting married. They're so cute. They just can't wait... David keeps trying to convince her to get married even earlier! After dinner, we all went back to David's house to watch the video and hear the two tell stories of the beginnings and the progress of their relationship. It was so fun to see how giddy my brother was and how glowing she was.

SUNDAY
David left for church before I woke up and Alli came to give me a ride. She was still glowing! I am so glad that I was able to go to church with David and Alli because it was such an amazing experience to be there with them as they worshipped the Lord for the first time since their engagement! It brought tears to my eyes to hear the joy in their voices as they sang! I mean, God made them for oneanother. He knit them together in their mothers' wombs and gave them qualities for the other to appreiate. He had prepared Alli for David and David for Alli. J.Crew (the Junior High service) was also such a treat to visit. I love seeing David do his thing with those kids and seeing how he is following the Lord's will for his life. It was also fun to see Alli's 8th grade small group attack her with hugs and questions. David showed their engagement video, told the story, and the two were then pressured into dancing their first slow dance as an engaged couple on stage in front of the kids to a Brian Adams song. It was goodtimes all around. After church we grabbed lunch and then I was dropped off at Knox Henderson to shop until picked up by Page to head back to good old College Station.

I'm getting a SISTER!!!

Wahoo! Today my brother asked Alli to marry him and she said YES! So crazy wonderful! I want to blog all about it but it's late so I will blog tomorrow about the whole weekend! Stay tuned for a possible pic!

When I was a little girl, I was trained to always have clean hands. I think part of the reason it stuck was because of the countless times my mom had me wash and re-wash my hands. You see, I have a huge freckle on the palm of my right hand and my mom thought it was dirt until I was like age 10 and it had never faded, so she was always telling me to wash my hands again. Well... my friends and family would probably say that the hand-washing has become a bit of an obsession. Today I had one of those moments when you realize you're weird. You see... tomorrow my HUGE Access project is due, so naturally today would be my day to start. I spent about 8 1/2 hours on the computers at school, typing, printing, and grunting in frustration. About 10 minutes into my project I realized that I had this deep paper-cut gash on the tip of my left pinky and it was hitting the keyboard repeatedly collecting more and more germs every time. My mind started to concentrate on the fact that I was destined to get a horrible infection that would disable my poor little pinky for a few days, so I came to a solution... WET WIPES! If you know me, you know I am always prepared. My back pack is like Mary Poppin's carpet bag. Well... I pulled out the sanitary wipes and began to clean my cut when I realized it was in vain because I had so much more to type. It was then that the idea popped into my head to just clean the keys on the keyboard. I proceded to clean each key individually (to my defense I only cleaned those near the "left-pinky post"). It was in the middle of this act that I noticed the girl next to me staring at me in disbelief. I quickly stopped, disposed of the wipe and carried on with my project. The girl soon gathered her belongings and left. She obviously realized how gross the keyboards were and couldn't stand it anymore. Don't forget that CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS!

We Love to Color!

My Pop Culture class often attracts guests of every kind, from dads to fiances, from friends to bfs and gfs, from academics to cleat-chasers. Today Will Brown brought his adorable sister who is a senior in high school (and who BTW I think would make the perrrrrrfect Theta next year... let's get her, girls!). Dr. Rigsby introduced everyone as he always does and didn't fail to embarass every single one with some off color remark. Then he began to speak about the King of Rock & Roll, Elvis Presley. He ranted and raved, "Hear this, class... now get this down... if you hear anything hear this..." and cracked his jokes as well. In order to not go out of our minds, Gabel and I began our routine... I pulled out our "feast!" Today was a special day... I had my credit card and time to hit up the MSC, so we ate like queens. Gable did her part and didn't hesitate to bust out the colored sharpies, colored pen set, and color highlighter set. As we were going about our doodling as usual (yes I was working out my doodling muscles, girls... ha) I rather suddenly in the middle of the lecture became acutely aware that Will's sister Bethany was watching us since we were directly in front of her. I glanced over at Gable and saw our situation with new eyes. I was eating chocolate like it was going out of style and gulping Dr. Pepper while Gable was sitting with 35... yes, I counted... 35 markers in her lap!!! I was like "Cool... this girl is going to think this is what college is like. She probably thinks we are so imature and such bad students" (which we all know is the TOTAL OPPOSITE)! Ha... after the pen count, Gable and I added to our bad student reps by holding in painful laughter for the remainder of the class because we couldn't believe ourselves. Just another day in the crazy lives of Gable and Julie.

"Student Spotlight" on Gable Vines

Have you ever known the moment you met someone that they were going to be a great joy in your life? When I met Miss Gable Vines it was obvious that she and I would be like peas in a pod. The girl just gets more wonderful each time I hang out with her.

We met about a year ago in Juarez, Mexico on the Aggies In Mission spring break trip. The two of us were put in the same house-building group headed up by her boyfriend, Clay. We instantly became a tag-team with the chicken wire and stucco. As we worked, we discovered that we had tons in common including goofy personalities, a love for children, and a passion for the Spanish language. By the end of the trip we were inseperable... amigas mejores if you will. We had all the BFF pictures, lots of memories, and plans to continue this beautiful relationship upon our return to College Station, TX.

Unfortunately, the extent of our friendship for the last month and a half of that semester was a few random encounters on campus and at AIM reunions and my traditional daily dance in front of the Kappa house for her enjoyment while I was waiting for the Excel bus to take me to campus.

Our friendship was on pause all summer and all fall. We had both moved out of our respective sorority houses and lost touch completely. And then on Tuesday, January 18, she walked into my Pop Culture class and back into my life! We soon became carpool buddies and a source of great joy for oneanother! Every TR we share a feast of whatever we can aford from the vending machine with the change in my... no wait... OUR coin purse and feast on the fellowship as well. Some people have said that we resemble one another and could be sisters which I absolutely love hearing! We have found so many random things that we have in common... it's almost spooky! I mean... hello, both of our middle names are Lauren! How crazy can it get!?!?!

But, in all seriousness, Gable is the kind of person who when I'm with her, I feel at home. She allows me to be my best self and throw off the restraints of the world. There aren't many people like her out there. So I just want to say "Thank you, Gable for being my family as I am so far from my home! HIGH FIVE! DOUBLE HIGH FIVE!"

Gable Lauren Vines... ¡mi amiga mejor! 

Howdy, Ags! My name is Julie Penuel and I'm a senior Communications Major from Fullerton, California. And I'm the proudest member of the Fightin' Texas Aggie Class of 2005... A-Whoop! 

Me, Katherine (whose house I live in), and Natalie (more people think it's her house than mine) at Roadhouse. No Ring Dance for us, but two nice gentlemen decided to treat all three of us to dinner! Way to be Paul and MD! You're the best! We had a fun night of food, "fun," and Texas Hold 'Em! 

MY RING!!! I can't believe how excited and giddy this ring has made me! I mean... I really never knew how much of a hard core Aggie I was until the count down for the ring began. WHOOP! FARMERS FIGHT! GO OLD ARMY... pull up your pants (that one was for you, David)! THANKS AND GIG EM! 

WHOOP! AGGIE RING DAY! Katherine and I in the back of Christian's car the at 7:15 this morning. We got a combination of 4 hours of sleep last nigth, so we were very loopy! 

Wednesday night was "Celebrity Night" at high school youth group. We rolled out the red carpet, brought on the paparrazzi, and we all dressed up as someone famous. When trying to decide who to be, I knew I didn't want to be anyone glamourous because I didn't want to try that hard or wear make-up for that matter, so I chose Britany Spears who has recently made a decision not to take care of her appearance anymre. I put on my trendy wife-beater with the femine bow on the shoulder, wore a pair of old jeans, put on big, fun earings, stuffed my belly with a t-shirt as to look pregnant, and put this "Mrs. Federline" sign on my back. Much to my surprise NO ONE knew who I was when I walked in the door! Everyone kept asking "Who is Mrs. Feder... Feder...line?" When I told them it was Britany, they would look at me confused and I would explain, "She got married!" Needless to say, no one knew the story of Britany falling for her back up dancer, Kevin Federline, marrying him even though he was some other girl's baby's daddy, and recently announcing her pregnancy. I was completely shocked. I mean... was I the only one who kept up with US Weekly and People?!?  

Phenomena on Fairview

I mean... the weirdest things happen at our house! Last semester we had a solicitor walk in our front door and proceed to present her product to my biblestudy without being let in. And we had a rather large black man in a suit ring our doorbell around midnight. He said he had some business with one of the guys who lived here. We informed him that no boys lived here and we didn't have "business" with him. This semester we had a guy in a leather jacket and a beret let himself in and walk all the way through our house to ask if this was where Jordan's Superbowl Party was. Oh and the most notorious... the car numbering! One night, everyone on Fairview was randomly shoe polished with a number (Virginia 30, Katherine 31, Me 32). Well... the most recent occurred this morning when a jeep wrangler pulled up outside our house blaring Shaun McDonald. Two guys with fro wigs ran up to our door, laughing and talking but never knocked and didn't leave anything. STRANGE...

Consumed by the Acceptance of this World

Have you ever been REALLY lost... so lost that you were kinda scared you would never find your way out? I get that feeling pretty much every time I venture into the ghettos of Bryan during the evening hours. As I weeve through the poorly lit and poorly paved streets to drop off a friend, I try to remember every landmark, every turn, and every stop sign but when I leave her house, wave goodbye, and pull out of the driveway my mind is a blank. I don't even know which way to turn on the first street. I choose one way (which is almost always the wrong one) and drive a ways before backtracking and trying the other direction. Sometimes I will see a street sign that looks familiar, but only because I have been lost on that street before. Eventually I find myself on Texas or 2818, whichever one I inadvertantly find first. The moment I pull onto one of those streets, my heart stops racing, things look familiar again, and I think "how could I have been lost for so long?... the way was obvious."

In the same way, sometimes I get lost and caught up in the things of this world. I get consumed by meeting the world's standards of beauty, intellect, athletic ability, etc. I CRAVE PERFECTION in the eyes of the world. Instead of living my life to please the Lord, I live to please man. I try every "avenue" to find favor in the eyes of my parents, my friends, my classmates, my profs... I try to be perfect and try to hide my imperfections. By doing this, I will never be satisfied because I will never be perfect. The more I try to cover up Imperfect Me, the more I lose myself.

God wants us just as we are... dirty ragamuffins! Yes, He wants us to love Him so much that we live our lives to bring Him pleasure, but He forgives us when we mess up (and we will and we do). If we recognize our sin and repent, it can be used to minister to others. People who see Christians that put on a "Perfect Show" don't understand why we need Jesus. They misunderstand the Gospel because all they see are the works and the sin goes unspoken about. If we open up to them instead and say "Look, I'm not perfect. I have messed up and THAT is why I need Jesus!" we make a way bigger impact on their lives. We need to... I need to put away my pride and embrace the meekness that frees me from the pressures of this world to be perfect. I need to admit I am lost and ask God for directions.

Living Your Life In the Shadows of a Homecoming Queen

SHADOW by Ashlee Simpson
(This song parallels how it feels to live beside Kimberly Opitz.)

She had everything and more
And my escape was hiding out and running for the door

Somebody listen please
It used to be so hard being me
Living in the shadow
Of someone else's dream
Trying to find a hand to hold but every touch felt cold to me
Living in a nightmare
A never-ending sleep
But now that I am wide awake
My chains are finally free
Don't feel sorry for me

Tonight after meeting, Page, Christian, Kimberly and I gathered at Park Place to watch The Bachelor. I thought tonight was the debut of this season... where have I been??? 

Let's keep the delivery "under wraps!" 

I hope he says Sí. 

Kimberly's backside 

Kimberly fulfilling her lifelong ambition! 

You know I love my cookies! We had to stop by Blue Baker after Subway so I could meet my "Cookie Quota!" 

Kimberly chowed down at Subway... mmm mmm good! 

So... Saturday afternoon I was bored and decided to cut bangs. Natalie told me later that I was no longer allowed to be left alone! Hey... They'll grow out soon! Ha! 

First Blog

My first post... hopefully the first of many. If you are wondering why I have joined the blogging community, there are two reasons... (1) my brother is addicted to blogging and it made it look fun and (2) creating my own blog helped me put off studying this Sunday afternoon.