College Needs!
Well, it's that time again--Christmas :) So I hope that all of you are having a wonderful holiday season! We sure are here in 9C. Today, Chloe went home to New Hampshire to visit her family for a month (lucky girl!), and Kacey will leave Monday to go back to Colorado. I will leave next Friday to be in Texas for 9 days, so those of you wishing to make plans with me, get to texting now!! Not to take advantage of this typically generous time of year, I have created another lists of some things that we need around here along with wants and prayer requests. Thank you so much to all of you who have anonymously (and not so anonymously!) sent care packages! Everything is desperately needed and greatly appreciated. So read on, send as you can, but if nothing else, please lift us up in your prayers!


Needs:

• one of those cables that goes from the computer to the tv (not sure what it's called)
• air freshener
• dish soap (like liquid dawn)
• stain remover (tide or resolve)
• paper towels

Wants:

• still non-perishable foods like rice, macaroni, instant oatmeal or potatoes, chips, soups, canned veggies, pasta, cookie mix, etc. (groceries get quite expensive and the staples are used up quickly!!)
• gift cards to restaurants: subway, wendy's, olive garden, mcdonald's, jamba juice, pizza hut, etc.
• or gift cards to stores: target, amazon, kmart, forever 21, h&m, dillard's, macy's, jcpenny's, etc.
• small rugs to put at the apartment doors that go with a red/black/white/gray color scheme
• spatula and whisk

Prayer Requests:

• the $3800 I need to go to China
• safe traveling for all of us as we head home
• for Chloe's sister dealing with some issues at her school
• that Kacey and I will be able to juggle all our babysitting jobs next semester
• for me to find more scholarship money and/or that my tuition appeal to the school would go well
• the girls I work with at Operation Exodus in Washington Heights: 8th graders who come from difficult family backgrounds who need to trust people and be shown love
• just lift up this next semester in prayer and that we would all be rejuvenated over the break to give our best effort in glorifying God next year

Well, thank you so much for however you're able to contribute to this list. We love and appreciate our family and friends who are always so good to take care of us :) As always, tell your friends about my blog, subscribe, comment and stay updated, and the address for package shipping is in the far right column under the "about me" section. 

God Bless!

The Girls in 9C

House Film!!

I just wanted I share the film my house presented for the interregnum film competition. I am proudly a sister in the House of Clara Barton! This is similar to the Hogwart's housing system combined in ivy league houses sororities/fraternities. It's a fantastic system and each year, there are a variety of competitions which culminate to one proud house earning the house cup. We somehow ranked 2nd overall and we did this in one night because we were misinformed about the due date. But I thought you could all have a good laugh an get a glimpse of what nerds do to be humorous :P you may not understand some of the King's jokes (like each boy represents a guy from each of the boys houses). I play the boy representing The House of Ronald Reagan. Well, laugh and enjoy!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48GNl8cO6pM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Christmas and China


I just want to thank you so much if you've been following and trying to keep up with me. I apologize that these last few weeks have been lacking posts on my part, so please forgive me! This week is finals week. I have 2 exams this Friday and 2 on Monday. Please keep myself and my two roommates in your prayers as we try to get all this information crammed into our heads! 


For those of you who don't know, I did get to go home for thanksgiving. I surprised my family (for the most part) and it was a great time! Special shout-out to the Crews family for having me over that weekend and the Cobar family for making me feel at home. To everyone I didn't see, I sincerely apologize but when you only have 96 hours to see people, and your family demands most of that, you feel quite stretched :P But I love everyone in Texas so much and cannot wait to see everyone!


I also have extremely exciting news about this summer. After a strenuous application process and much prayer, I've been selected to go with a team of students from my school to China for three weeks through a program we call International Ventures. I will be taking a class this semester to prepare in which I'll do fundraising activities, spiritual growth lessons, and help write a worldview/western civilization curriculum which will be part of our mission in China. The students on this mission are set to write this curriculum which reflects what we teach as our common core here at King's. We are then presenting it to prestigious academic institutions in China and telling them how they can teach this to their students as a sort of Western Civilization course. Part of our mission will also be to minister and build relationships with the students over there and really help share our faith with them. It's not a missions trip but it's also not a scholarly venture. It's a beautiful mixture of the two and I'm extremely blessed as a freshman to be chosen for this! I will have to raise $3,800 to go, so please help me be in prayer for that! With all that I have going on next semester, it will be a little overwhelming, but I feel that this is something God wants me to do and I can't wait to see how He'll use me!


Lastly, I'll just mention Christmas nonsense. I may be coming home for Christmas, but flights are really expensive. Please be in prayer that God will provide the funds for me to spend a little bit of time with my family and friends this holiday season. I really would appreciate that! I will be posting a needs/want list soon so that if you're feeling festive, you can some some lovely gifts our way! 


Thank you again for reading this lengthy note and staying involved in my life. It means the world to me that y'all care enough to stay updated and I promise my postings will get better when I get through finals week :)


Much love, in Christ! 

NOVEMBER PLAYLIST

^^^^ That is a link to a playlist of songs which have really stood out to me lately. I've decided to try sharing some of my favorite tunes with you and speak through music rather than always words. Each song has a special meaning, but don't try to analyze it too much :) Just enjoy some good jams and possibly some new artists for you!

As always, thanks for following! Quick shout-out to a couple of new blogs I love:
http://www.takethelocalglobal.com
http://www.dormliberation.com/

I will be posting soon about all of the fantastic Turkey Day festivities.

I just wanted to post a quick "thank you" here to everyone who follows me and especially to those who send packages according to our needs/wants lists. I have received two anonymous packages which seem to come at just the right time when I'm about to run out of something. I take this honestly as a blessing and sign of God's provision. For those of you wrapping us in prayer and encouragement, I thank you from the depths of my heart. I haven't felt much loneliness since I've been in the city, and I've been overwhelmed by the general success that I've had here. I don't take any of that lightly, and I give all the credit to God. Your prayers (and gifts of course!) do mean the world to me. 
My roommates would also like to thank whoever sent us the coffee! We go through the elixir of life more quickly than anything.
So keep following my posts, subscribe to me, click on my ads (an effortless way to make me money!), and feel free to look at the bottom of the page for more ways to follow me! I look forward to posting things here, and I don't know that many people actually pay attention to it, but it's a nice way for me to feel like I'm sharing all the fun I'm having with everyone I love! Now that I've gotten your feedback on what you'd like to see on my blog--though feel free to keep commenting on my page--I'll do my best to deliver what you'd actually like to read! God bless, and keep sharing my blog with others :)


Hope and the girls in 9C

 This weekend, Kacey and I went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art! It was extra credit for two of her classes and one of mine. 

The satirical drawing above is done by Thomas Nast. The Renaissance painting with Kacey next to it is by Jacopo Amogini. I hope you enjoy these goofy pics! It's a great museum (go if you can). The entrance is by donation, so we actually paid $1 total for the two of us. (Give more if you can!) 
Thanks for keeping up with the 9C shenanigans :)

Synthetic Sausage Nightmare

Beginning in middle school, I knew more than any sixth grader should ever know about commercial animal slaughtering for food chains and grocery stores. Needless to say, I acquired an aversion to almost all meat products not advertised as free-range. This habit remains with me; though on occasion, out of respect for others’ cooking efforts, I break my own code. Since I’ve been in New York, street vendors and friends alike hound me to “let loose” and try such authentic local foods like halal food, Philly cheesesteaks, and hot dogs. This weekend, I am venturing out for the first time to get one of Nathan’s Famous hot dogs.

            Now, this whole idea of avoiding vendors serving tortured meats began with several PETA videos. So as I walked the two blocks from my Midtown apartment to Nathan’s, I had to overcome mental images of persecuted cows raised in confined unlivable conditions. Totally unrelated to the situation at hand but adding to the challenge ahead of me was that I had to march twenty-five minutes in the cold down slush covered streets with chilling winds biting my cheeks. My adventure was already off to a great start.

            As I walked into the shop, a short Indian woman called out to “Hector” for “more dogs on the grill. ASAP.” (These were lovely words for my already overactive imagination.) When I stepped up to the counter, I asked for a number one combo—including one hot dog, fries, and a drink—with their “Old Fashioned Orangeade” since I was feeling especially spontaneous.

            After waiting only a few minutes, a brown bag was placed in my hands, and I walked quickly back to my toasty abode. Once securely comfortable in my living room chair with orangeade in one hand and “dog” in the other, I sunk my teeth into the all beef hot dog smothered in ketchup.

            First, I saw a vision of Elsie, the Bordens Dairy cow, begging for her life. (Okay, so a little too dramatic.) Then, I tasted the almost foreign flavor of burnt meat like the hot dog sandwiches my grandpa made when I was in elementary school. I had forgotten how chewy those little synthetic tubes of packed meat are. After the first bite, I chugged about half of my fizzy orange soda at once.

            Disgusted by what I did, I offered my roommate the rest of the hot dog. She laughed and told me I had to finish what I started. Then, she looked at me and said, “It’s all in your head, you know.”

It has often been said that christians are  

so heavenly minded as to be of no   

earthly good. Every time a follower of  

Jesus Christ forsakes a so-called secular  

occupation and claims to an intention to 

go into "full-time Christian service," she 

is in effect relegating a huge portion of 

the total fabric of human life to  

something or someone other than the 

Savior of the world. For the biblically  

astute Christian, there are no "sacred" 

and "secular" occupations, only obedient  

and disobedient ones.

Dear People of the city of Plano,
You have your beautiful parks and your neatly trimmed yards. There are four malls within fifteen minutes of each other and dozens of overpriced salons on each coerner. Yet a drift has come between us. Those of you "Westsiders" are obsessed with your Gucci, Mercedes, and Ugg labels. But you "Eastsiders" have taken pride in being the West's antithesis! Plano West Senior High School is known for the exorbitant club fees and slutty cheerleaders drunk off daddy's money. Plano East Senior High School is "the pharmacy" and gang school whose only positive attribute is the minority's academic achievements. 
The city is consumed with an insular mindset concerned only with image and status. Can't we stop this tiff? However it started, none of us know, but shouldn't one of America's safest and most prosperous cities set a better example? My first week in New York, a professor asked where I was from and when I said, "Plano, Texas," her first thought was mass suicide! While this isn't accurate or directly my point, it's time we gave ourselves a better rep. The teens are killing each other in a war of stilettos and weed. And the parents fight over mansions and job titles. Perhaps our generation won't kill themselves over this, but regardless, things are out of control. It's time we make peace, the East and the West, and just become plain-old Plano. 

Let. It. SNOW!!
This is the most beautiful thing I have seen in New York! I knew this day would come and I would have to face the snow of the Northeast. I also understand that this is still the honeymoon phase of my time here, and eventually I will be sick of this fluffy white gift. 
I have spent 5 hours in rehearsal for The Good Person of Setzuan and have 3 hours left to go. So when the flurries brushed passed the window panes, of course, I had to run outside. 

It's beautiful and romantic. I want to grab a steamy cup of coffee and lounge under blankets on the roof or dance down the streets singing wintery music. I love today, with the exception that I'm cooped inside and don't have a snow buddy. 

Today has been a little blessing from God! I feel like after the stressful past two weeks, I now have a little gift from Heaven to relish for the rest of the weekend. So if you live in the City and wanna come to the roof with me, let's go! If you aren't here watching this lovely display, just pray that God keeps me sheltered but keeps the snow coming!

College Needs!

As promised, I am updating you with some things that those few of us who occupy Apartment 9C would love have shipped our way! There are things that we want, and things that we absolutely need, but anything you can do to help will be magnificent! As always, the prayer requests are the most important because spiritual health is more life-giving that physical health. Our address is listed on the previous "College Needs" post and also on my facebook page under Information in the "About Me" section. 

Needs:

• Keurig coffe pods (preferably the chai latte or dark roast coffee flavors)
• Latex gloves
• Cash for metro cards
• Swiffer dust mop sheets (dry)
• Daily shower cleaner spray

Wants:

• Travel mugs
• Gift Cards: subway, mcdonald's, starbucks, dunkin donuts, 
• Clothes!! (with winter coming, we're all gonna die :P) so giftcards to- forever 21, macy's, h&m, buffalo exchange, american eagle, abercrombie & fitch, etc.
• Coasters (preferably ones that work with a red/black/gray/white color scheme)
• DVDs. all genres are loved by the 9C girls :)

Prayer Requests:

• that we would have the motivation to study hard and excel
• for the possibility of me doing a study abroad program at Oxford fall 2012
• financial provisions
• Kacey in her long distance relationship
• Chloe with just general adjustment to college life
• for opportunities to become evident to us of God's provision which will open doors to help with our futures
• strength of character/witness

Thank you so much in advance for helping us out! Some of you have sent us food (Thank you Kacey's parents and Josh)! Grocery bills have been a lot lower because of that. Anything else y'all can contribute as we continue to work off our tails in the Big Apple would be so greatly appreciated :) We love you very much and we promise to make you proud <3

The Girls in 9C

New York's Gotten Wasted! 
(A few personal observations from my time on the streets)

No such thing as a “typical street” in New York City exists. For some areas like Queens, Brighton Beach, or Brooklyn, streets are littered with cigarette butts, coke cans, gum, and various other trash. Other more attractive streets can be found in Midtown and the Upper East and West Sides. The filthy condition of some New York streets has been an assumption of outsiders for decades. But after those outsiders have visited, moved in, and passed the honeymoon phase, the environment is much less than comfortable and at moments unbearable.

            According to the New York Department of Sanitation, according to Fiscal 2011, 94.5% of all New York streets were deemed “acceptably clean.” After hours on the sanitation website and rummaging through useless and mostly outdated documents (such as the Mayor’s current street cleaning proposal dated 2006), I found that the percentage is measured by pictures sent in from 6,000 “sample blocks.” Of these clean blocks, some marginal number from 50%-69.9% were actually rated dirty according to the “seven-point picture-based” criterion of the cleaning scale.

            However, some initiatives exist around NYC that assist with this growing predicament. One of the most well developed programs is the 34^th Street Partnership. This partnership is entirely privately funded and helps maintain security and sanitation over a 31-block area from 10^th to Park Avenue and 31^st through 36^th Street. On almost all of the streets, one person with a large rolling trashcan and cleaning equipment passes by picking up debris and changing trashcan bags. The small park in Herald Square has tables and chairs with the sponsored organization’s logo on it. Not only are the furnishings cute and stylish, but also as clean as the streets surrounding them.

            Walking around this sector, I saw a middle aged man with a bleach white sweat suit uniform and large blue rolling trashcan passed me on the corner of 33^rd and 7^th. When I asked, the man beamed and said his name was Barry. I inquired if he enjoyed his job, and he said he loved it because his supervisors cared about him and the team was a real family. Barry went on to say that “even if it’s just minimum wage, it’s a job. With forty hours a week and only four days a week, I can’t be more grateful doing something I feel helps keep my community clean.”

            In our conversation, Barry shared why he loved his job, but with an 8.7 unemployment rate which is the highest in New York State, associations like the 34^th Street Partnership can provide more for New York City than job satisfaction. If the city is willing to trash its lanes, then it’s the city’s onus to clean it up. 

My Prayer
Father, this is my prayer in all of my weakness. This is when I cry out to you because only you are sovereign and only you can can give me the strength to follow Your will regardless of how painful it may seem. Thank you for being my Daddy, that strong place of comfort in my life when everything else seems to be falling apart. Thank you for holding me in Your loving arms and assuring me that everything will be ok. In your will there is peace. I only feel at unrest because I worry what others will think of me if I stick in your will.
Father, I ask now that you will show those whom I love why I must surrender myself to what You want. I pray that you'll show them Your will too so that it doesn't  seem like I'm blindly or idiotically choosing things that are wrong. I need you to clear the way for me now and prepare the hearts of those whom I must confront. 
I feel safe in Your will and in Your arms, but that doesn't always mean I feel happy. Sometimes, knowing that I have to take the brave steps to do Your bidding makes my stomach churn with fear and nervousness. I am uncertain of my human abilities to execute everything in love, but I pray you'll give that to me. Speak to me and through me and give the hearers Your grace and patience. I know that in all things you work together for good. I have seen the good which will come, but Lord, I know not everyone has. 
For once I think that I'll be doing something to better myself, my future, and my spiritual walk. Naturally, I have been met with the most adversity for that. Just hold my hand as I walk along this path. This is Your journey for me, not one I've chosen. I give it up in Your hands now. You know what I hope to see from this and You know the future I desire. Selfishly, I will ask You to keep that in mind as You plan out these next years :) But I don't want to ask too much. All I desire is Your wisdom and the self-control to obey it. 
I love you so much, Daddy. 


Hope

random update


So last night, I ventured to the homecoming boy's soccer game against Copper Union. I walked the wrong way in the rain to find the 6 train. Once I found it, I waiting in the wrong line for the M35 bus. After I got on the right bus, I was surrounded by a bunch of old men and found my way to the soccer field. We lost by quite a bit...but I have to say in complete honesty and I promise no sarcasm, I had a blast! I got drenched in the rain (which I love!!) and I felt like I was really supporting my school :) 


Oh, and today, there's a parade for Korea. Hahahaha....good times. 

Shiny Pink Gems With Silver Stars

"This one was from my great-great-great-great-grandmother," Olivia stated pulling out a beautiful antique gold necklace with amber and emerald stones. 
"Really, Olivia?" I said with a smile. "I can't believe you got to meet your great-great-great-great-grandma!"
"Well..." Olivia paused. "She's actually just my great-grandmother."
"I see," I stated. Then I paused and looked at her searching for the real meaning behind her over-exaggeration. 
"Now close your eyes!" I quickly closed my eyes and pretended to not have seen the stunning gold ring with yellow semi-precious gem. "I must emphasize AGAIN," clarified Olivia, "that you must be very very D-E-L-I-C-A-T-E with this." As she said this, she pulled every syllable of the emphasized word out as if mysterious stressors were hiding in-between the alphabetical symbols which lacked the power she sought. "This is my favorite ring." "Oh, and you can look now," Olivia said. 
"Wow! I love this!" I exuded. "Did someone special give this to you?"
"Oh, probably."
"Olivia," I whispered. "What is this beautiful necklace?" I said as I pointed at a Hobby-Lobby-style pink necklace with tiny pink plastic beads intermixed with translucent clear star ornaments. The tape at the end of the pink string indicated it was probably a unique Olivia original. There could be none others like it.
"This is my favorite necklace," Olivia said with glowing pride. "I made it, and I call it! Look, it has shiny pink gems with silver stars," she said with a smile that was cramped for room on her face. "That's what we'll call it; shiny pink gems with silver stars." 


Needless to say, I adore Olivia. She is the new girl I nanny five days a week early in the  morning. I make her breakfast and take her to school. She's a sweet girl, but somewhat detached. I already can tell I will love her. I'm looking forward to starting my job tomorrow morning bright and early at 6:30!! Just pray that my alarm will go off every morning and that I will wakeup regardless of how stubborn I want to be! If I do things right, I may have this job for 4 years! This is seriously a blessing for God and I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to get close with a family in NY and hopefully bless them in return. I appreciate all your prayers as I explore this journey. Everything is going by quickly and I get a bit consumed in my work and forget to just have fun. But I'm avoiding homework now, so perhaps that counts as living a normal college life? Anyway, thank you for following me and I will keep posting as long as you're interested! 

A Weekend in the Woods


First of all, thank you so much to everyone who follows me and keeps up with what the shenanigans of 9C. I appreciate the love, support, and prayers greatly. It's always an encouragement to me!


This weekend was the 2011 Fall Retreat for King's Students. It isn't mandatory for anyone to go, but highly recommended mostly for freshmen. Very few upperclassmen go. I was not planning on going because it cost $35, and as a broke college kid, I don't even want to spend that little on something that isn't mandatory. But President Dinesh D'Souza was gracious enough to grant me a scholarship for the trip and I paid nothing.


The Bus Ride: I won't hesitate to tell you that the bus ride to upstate new york was HORRENDOUS! Someone had the bright idea to play a Star Wars film at full volume on all the little tvs in the charter bus. I not only didn't want to see or hear the movie, but because of that, the overhead lights are set to stay off meaning I couldn't study whatsoever. And if you ask my roommates, I'm defined by my ability to overachieve and push myself to my limits. :) So, I attempted to sleep, but that didn't turn out too well.


The Arrival Fri. Night: I stepped out of the crowded bus and a gush of cold air nipped at my cheeks. Oh no, I didn't enjoy that. I. Hate. Cold. So I bundled up in Josh's blanket, grabbed all three of my bags, and booked it to my room. I'm sure I was a sight to see as I frantically set the heater high and buried myself under all the provided sheet and blanket I brought. I spent the next few hours studying and chatting with my roommates (current house scholar, Gabbi, and former house president, Katie). Between Gabbi's smelly feet and Katie's overwhelming laugh, we had a fantastic time! I spent the rest of the evening up in the "White Hall" (aka student activities building) and read and played on my computer. Oh, and I have a strict rule of never sleeping before 2 am :) I'm sure that makes you proud, mother. 

Saturday: While I hadn't been looking forward to the trip initially, I was pleasantly surprised by some of the things camp Taconic had to offer. Despite everyone else's high standards for camp food, I loved almost everything they made for us, especially the salad bar. I didn't much enjoy the morning session, I skipped the afternoon session to do homework, and I read through the evening session minus the worship part. The lectures were basically centered around the triune love that God the Father, Jesus, and The Holy Spirit offer us as well as ways to balance everything in college while fulfilling the King's mission. 
My favorite part of the evening was the bonfire! It made me terribly reminiscent of times at the Crews' house where we would make a fire in the pit, talk, pray, worship, goof off, and make memories that I cherish to this day. But it was wonderful to remember those things and make some new memories. Kacey and I stood on a picnic bench to the side after s'more-making and joined in all the ridiculous group singing. The house of Churchill boys started the night by singing "My Girl" to the house of Barton (that's us, and we're they're sister house). We refer to our relationship as "Barchill." Then we spent the next hour or so just singing everything from Jason Mraz and Taylor Swift to old church hymns and worship songs. 

Sunday and the trip home: I didn't do much of anything exciting on Sunday. We had two meals at the camp and just did homework until the bus left. On the bus I engaged my seat-mate in conversations about what highschool was like, what I'm doing in NYC, and various other philosophical topics. 



Now that I'm home, things are pretty much back to normal! Just plugging along and working hard. Thank you for all your prayers and references about the Nanny job! I will start next week and work 5 days a week early in the morning. Unfortunately, I have to work through most of my breaks, but this is an answer to prayer for my loan money to be payed off. Just keep praying that I will keep the job and that hopefully more scholarship money will come in so that this job can be spending money in the future! 

College Needs!


So, I'm thinking that this may become a bi-weekly or monthly post, but as a broke college student, my roommates and I have needs! (Go figure) And while we'd love to fantasize that we will all of have well-paying jobs that can support our needs, supply our wants, and pay off our loans, that's a bit impractical and highly unlikely! So, I'll be posting some things that we need (and want!) every so often and if you can spare to send some care packages our way, we'd love that! But honestly, don't feel like you need to contribute because we know EVERYONE is on a budget right now :) If all you can do is pray that we get what's on our list, then you'll be doing us the greatest favor of all! For those of you who do feel like you can contribute, our address is:
990 Avenue of the Americas, Apt 9C
New York, NY 10018
Ask anyone, I hate being a mooch, but I'm also practical and I believe in the generosity of others. This is a bit uncomfortable for me, but my pocketbook just can't do it all! Much love from the girls in 9C (Kacey, Chloe, Hope) <3


Needs

• PRAYER!
• money for laundry 
• paper towels
• 80-100 watt lightbulbs
• easy mac, ramen, anything non-perishable 
• restaurant gift cards (q-doba, tgif, mcdonald's, subway, olive garden, etc.)
• printer paper
• amazon giftcards for textbooks
• trader joe's or kmart giftcards

Wants

• movies
• keurig coffee pods (chai latte, cappuccino, and dark roast blends are our favs!)
• clothing store giftcards for warm weather clothing (express, macy's, forever 21, urban outfitters, american apparel, jcpenny's, american eagle, etc.) 
• anything red and black that would be cute to decorate our apartment with.

Prayer

• That Kacey's boyfriend will be able to afford traveling to NY for thanksgiving
• That I would get the nannying job I applied for
• That Kacey's new job at Starbucks would go well
• That Chloe would have an easy time settling in and getting comfortable with a group of people
• That all of us will stay safe, find good church homes, and affectively be good witnesses for the Christ :)

Thank you so much for following my blog and subscribing to me! I appreciate the love and support I have from all of you. 

The B Train Back To Texas

       After an hour of suspension in mid-air and some people watching, I am finally at the Brighton 5th Street stop. Gum wads speckle the concrete floors like spots on a Dalmatian. To my right appear rows and rows of roofs with little to no spaces between them. I feel like Mary Poppins in the scene with the chimney sweeps, only, I wish I could clean these rooftops. Suddenly, I am unequivocally aware of my bare shoulders as water drips steadily on me from the railings above. I intentionally did not bring an umbrella. Today is all about letting Brighton throw each of its unexpected elements toward me.

As people stare at me for my obviously un-protective wardrobe choice, I feel the crisp air. While markets cook food and trash litters the sidewalk, the ozone somehow smells of clean rain only edged with a little smoke. I keep walking, and the rainbow canopies of the shops reflect a myriad of colors like a prism for each raindrop. Almost all of the stores are markets and pharmacies. Do the people here love to eat and frequently become ill? While I ponder this question, I hear the squeak, squeak, squeak of tennis shoes and bike tires. I find it strange that I have not heard a train overhead yet.

Look here! A homeless woman approaches me mere pink crocs and a worn old gentleman’s suit. (Oh, there is the roar of that blast’d train!) Well, she asks for a dollar which I do not have, so I feel full of guilt as I pass her back toward the subway. 

This is little Russia. The thick accents take me back to the nights of whining to my dad that twelve times was most certainly enough views of his favorite film, The Hunt For Red October! Now, today, I wish that B train downtown via 6th avenue could make me watch it just one more time.

I Can Reason! from the last row in classroom 4


I came to college absolutely certain that I would fail any attempts at mathematical equations put before me. I wasn't wrong...
...at first.
On a lovely New York morning I was given an assessment test which was supposed to be an easy way to gauge my abilities in the areas of history, english, logic, and mathematics. I. Failed. Miserably. 
Suddenly my confidence was shattered and I was sure college would be an endless duration of classes in which I would undergo the most humbling coursework of my life until now. Then, God showed grace on me!
(I feel I should note here that I mean this to be no farce or mockery of the powers that God has to provide and care for His children when they are in DIRE need, so please pardon my occasional religious humor.)
So, here I am now in my fourth day of my Quantitative Reasoning class totally baffled at the condition of my brain for it is not in mush! My teacher began the course by informing us all that this was merely a revised pre-calculus class which would not fulfill the institution's goals which were the reasons we all chose this "easier" credit. No doubt, this caused a great fear in me and I have been terrified that this would be the end of my high GPA aspirations. But today, in class, we are discussing prime numbers.
Yes, really, just prime numbers.
We've divulged in various theorems involving prime numbers and tediously taken the time to prove them, but it's nothing more than simple addition. Amazingly though at this ivy league competitive university, several students are asking the most basic questions about mere number sequences and the believability of such proofs. 
For now, I am one of the smartest in the class with only the skill set of a lowly 540 on the math section of the SAT. I don't know how this has happened, but THANK YOU, LORD! 
I am thrilled with this turn of events and I must say, my confidence has once again been restored (knock on wood).