Dancin' With Myself

This layout feels better- agreed?

Okay- so, a quick update, then a question for all of you out there.

So, I'm procrastinating writing my Cultural Anthropology paper, which would be super easy if I just did it. Anyway, since school has started and my last post, the only major thing that I feel like sharing to the public is the lovely 40+ inches of snow we got in a week.

We knew the storm, which started Friday the 5th, would be a doozy, but we had no idea we would be getting 2 huge storms in a row. In light of the storm, I decided to stay on campus in order to hang out with my friends. That night, I had some people over for a 'pot-luck' style dinner, which was a blast. Wish people stayed a little later, but alas, they could not. It was still fun:) The rest of the week seemed to be a bust. I forgot that 3/4 of my friends live down the hill a bit from me, and therefore were pretty much unreachable, which really disappointed me, so for the second storm, I went home.

It was nice to go home and see my family- especially little man Jordan:) We never lost power(thanks to Columbia's underground power system) and just tried not to annoy eachother. But, alas, my lack of sleep due to nightmares kinda ruined that. I decided to come back to campus Thursday night because I was just grumpy, plus we didn't know if we'd have school the next morning. It was good that I got back, because I ended up getting some muuuch needed friend time:)

Anyway, other than that and the bad dreams which prevented a normal night's sleep for over 5 days, nothing too interesting has happened. Just pushing through my work, which is proving to be quite overwhelming at times, though manageable as long as I'm good at not getting off-track horrible. Saturdays save my tail most times, though this Saturday is devoted to the Linehan trip, so we'll see. We're going to DC this weekend:) Yay! Gonna be good times with a good friend or two:)

As for other things- Into the Woods is fullll swing now and I'm loving every minute of it. I'm playing Jack's Mother, which is a bit of an upgrade from my original roles(I was cast as Stepmother and Granny). God Bless the person who dropped:) So that's been a nice distraction from previous rejections this semester.

Thinking a lot about after graduation and scared of what is to some, but I know things will work out perfectly. Nervous about my Child Life stuff, but if I dont get certified until I come home, so be it:) Maybe that's not what I need to be doing- who knows.

Anyway- I have a challenge for you all... dun, dun dun, yes a challenge. I'd LOVE to have some kind of weekly or semi- frequent challenge for myself, and am trying to come up with some kind of fun activity to do and then write about every time I do it. Kinda Julie and Julia style (PS LOVE THAT MOVIE- if you havent seen it, PLEASE do). I need suggestions though. Knowing me, just suggest something that you know I'd love to do. Some ideas might include: Watch a movie a week/every other week and write some kind of review, bake something and write about it, try a new recipe a week from some magazine or something and write about it, read a book a month and write about it... something like that? Ideas? Come up with new ones too if you want;)

I'm gonna go work on that paper now:)

Leave me comments on the challenge... pleasee??

'You Don't Know, I Know You Don't Know'

My most recent adventures have included a (successful) road trip and moving back to school. My friend Crista and I originally planned a trip to NYC in order to make my trip back to get my friends from their cruise more pleasant. As some of you may remember, the time my car caught fire was the time I was taking my friends TO the cruise. Now, we were supposed to go get them at 9am in NY, and seeing as to do that from MD would cause me to be up at 4 am, I decided that it'd be beneficial to have a trip to NY, see Next to Normal, which was my first Broadway show, and I had been dying to see, and go see a friend from elementary- high school, Camille, who herself is on b-way in Lion King(we didn't have enough money to see that, unfortunately).

We took Megabus(HIGGHHLLY RECCOMENDED!), which cost us only 20$ per person there and only 15$ on the way back(aweesomme), and landed in the city. We had lunch at a fun little place called 'food fight' with my friend, Christea, after getting very lost in Greenwich Village, and surrounding areas. This place was really neat because they had miniature sized foods, such as burgers and grilled chicken sandwiches as well as mini cans of coke and baby desserts. Afterwards, we walked all over the place to get a feel for the area my lovely friend Christea spends her days.

Much exhausted by the extensive walking we had not planned on(but enjoyed), we grabbed Starbucks and parted ways from Christea, heading to Times Square. We hit up M&M world, which is AMAZING, and probably one of my favorite places there, saw this awesome drummer playing on pails, pans, and buckets, went to Hershey world(not that impressive) and sat around.. a lot. We wished we had beds to nap in at that point(the perks which are not included when you have no hotel room). Eventually, we landed at Juniors on 45th street which is RIGHT next to Next to Normal, and ate a great great dinner, and killed a lot of time:)
J.Robert Spencer after the show

There, we met such nice people(as we did around the city as well), and stalked the stage door:) Anytime someone went in, or out, we were always like 'OH MY GOODNESS WHO IS THAT???' and realized we didn't have a clue. After dinner, we went over to the Booth Theatre, and waited, and waited. We met the drummer, who is a temporary for a few months, named Jarod and we talked up a storm with him. A few minutes after the conversation started, J. Robert Spencer, who plays Dan in the show walked by us to enter, so I jumped on the opportunity and said, "HEYYYY How are you doing?' and Crista, awestruck just let out an excited noise:) I kept cool and talked with him for a moment, and he said that he just woke up from a nap, was headed in to eat chocolate and it'd be a great show. So. Funny:)
The side doors of the theatre

We saw the show, and then it was over. Wonnnnnnnnnderful- I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who is interested in a thought-provoking, hilarious, and stunning show for only $36. We sat in row H of the mezzanine, but we didn't miss much of anything. Afterwards,we waited at the stage door and met everyone, except for Jennifer Damiano. I mean, do I blame them? After having 2 shows in one day- a 2.5 hour show.. NOOO. Everyone was pretty nice and wanting to leave, but Alice Ripley was exceptional. Wonderful woman, who loves her fans. I hope to be in contact with her because I didn't get to tell her my thoughts. This show has a huge place in my heart due to the parallels to my own life. After that, we met up with Camille, who took us out for drinks, then around 3 or so, crashed.
Alice Ripley after the show signing my program:)

The next morning, we got up, almost missed our bus due to missing our alarms, and my forgetting my wallet at Camille's, but we made it, and got home, where I crashed and was sooo tired.

Since then, I've started up classes again, and was greeted by a rather rude awakening when I was not cast in any show for the department. As a senior, you hope that you will have a place in the shows because, this is it. I was hoping to have one final performance that would just knock the others out of the park- one chance to have a large part and prove that I'd grown. Not that I can't show that without being cast, but it was a huuuuuugee blow to myself as an artist. I felt, and still feel extremely discouraged, and wonder if I've wasted my time on my art. Now, that's impulse reaction- I KNOW i have not wasted my time, and I've learned so much that I can apply to my future career as a Child Life Specialist, but that's how it felt for a while.. well.. honestly.. still does sometimes.

All of that made me extremely THANKFUL for the Musical Theatre Club, who has presented the wonderful opportunity of me being in Into the Woods, one of the most stunning shows I know of, where I will be able to spread my wings both vocally and acting-wise, and I'm so much more excited than I was for the show. It'll be great. As for classes, they're all extremely reading- heavy, so we'll see how things turn out. Honestly, I just want to slam these classes and be done.

For those who do not know my current hope for the next year, I hope to graduate in May(will happen, unless something goes TERRIBLY wrong), then nail an internship at a hospital in the summer, after potential surgery for me, and then have a part-time internship as well as take my final 4 classes for my certificate, take the exam before I leave, and hope I pass. I'm thinking that could open up some great opportunities for me on the ship, but maybe not. All I know is it'd be great to be done with that before I leave:)

Anyway- I'm HIGHLY procrastinating my paper right now, so I'm gonna go do that;)

Rosa, oh Rosa...

So, I wanted to figure out a place to write this down and keep track, so alas, I figured why not my blog? I wanted to keep track of all of the fun things I've made/baked/ whatever as I'm trying to explore the culinary world a bit more.

Things I've Mastered/ am close enough and count it:
Mac and cheese(from SCRATCH) 3 cheeses, and AMAZING- ask anyone who has had it!!
Lasagne- soooo goood(mom helped)

Now, in this list I am NOT including the things that I already have down pat- chicken, spaghetti, etc. These are new explorations:)

Anyway... I'm excited to get baking my first cake for someone. If you're interested in having me bake something great for a small price(considering it's quality)- hit me up. I just want to know at least a week ahead of time so I can prepare and find time:)

Anyway- I"m off to drink tea, have m&ms and watch Dead Like Me(wonnderful show). And I'm telling you because I knooow you're dying to know. More on other life happenings later

Oh and check this out- http://www.myspace.com/ripleytheband
I love it- try out a few songs- they're all very different.

Keep Holding On

Officially, as of now, this blog will not just be about my trips, but about all of the wild adventures of my life.. or.. sometimes, maybe the not so wild:)

To update those of you who do not know my current status with Mercy Ships, I will(hopefully) be joining them again in January of 2011 for Gateway, then from there goto the ship for 2 year. Yes, two. Now, the reasoning is pretty simple:
1)Why not? I'm at the point in my life where there are no strings attatched to me, so why wouldn't I do this. This will not happen again probably ever.
2)It's actually CHEAPER to go for 2 years- it costs about the same as 1 year
3)I get a month off to come home, which I will more than likely use around the holidays. This is great for fundraising, but also to refuel and get myself pumped
4)I feel it's where I belong.

So, I'll be, as of now, working in the kitchen as an assistant cook and I'm hoping to build my way up the ranks.

I've realized my passion for cooking is not quite one that can be containted(thanks to Julie and Julia.. I know.. but I loved that movie), and I feel like it might be one of the best jobs for me, and certainly they're in need of people to be more consistent in the galley.

Anyway, now for the story many of you are more than likely waiting for... the car fire.




Last Thursday, I was supposed to be taking a couple of friends for a cruise in Cape Liberty New York. So me, and that couple along with my friend Ellen loaded up my Buggle(the bug's name), and took off. Not long after our stop at McDonalds, where I said we shouldn't stop because somethign bad always happens(ohhh the irony), we stopped because a member wasnt feeling so well. About 10 minutes after that, the overheating light starts blinking and beeping at me.

We decided the blinking was a warning, not a 'get out of the car now', so I called my dad. He was at work. He didn't answer. So, we kept driving. Five minutes(or so) later, I see smoke pouring out of the back, which we later concluded was coming from the front, but was pushed under the car and came out the back. I got out of the car, tried to find the hood latch, couldnt(thank God) and told everyone to get out of the car. I say Thank God becuase if I had released the latch, there was potential the fire would've been energized much more quickly, potentially exploding the car and me, just gushing up at me, or catching onto the fluid pouring out of the car leading yet again to explosion.

Once everyone was out, one of my friends saw told me the paint was coming off. Much to my horror, I looked and saw that the hood of the car was Bubbling... yes.. you read that right. So, we knew something bad was going to happen and we got all important items out of the car.

I was completely freaking out by this point, but didn't want to melt down in front of my friends, so I took a little walk. I say it was to find the number to call, but really, I just needed to have my moment. Soon, I look over and see my friends throwing lugguage out of the car, and black smoke absolutely pouring out of the front. I knew.

I knew that the car was on fire from my experience on the ship. White smoke is normally not so bad- steam or something of that sort. Black meant fire. We saw a few ships like that, and it's not what you want to see coming out of any vehicle. Soon, I see fire and it got bigger and bigger until finally the fire department came.

Thank GOd for my friends too- I'm so glad that they were as on top of it as they were beucase I didn't think to call the police until my mom was like 'CALL 911 MICHELLLE!!' haha. But, they'd already taken care of it. My lovely friends also got all of my most prized possessions, such as my ipod and some money, out of the car before it went up. Whatever was left was either burned, or had serious water damage- there was about a foot of water in my car by the end...

Anyway, I'm also thankful the car never blew up. My friends were standing so so close to it, that if it had, I dont even want to think about the nightmare it would've been.

It was all so surreal and I dealt as best as I could. I'm happy to say the insurance found that there was faulty part and we are getting over 7k back and they are filing a claim with VW to recall these cars. Apparently many models from 2000 on are catching fire, which is absolutely terrifying, and means I will not be getting another buggle(which is really kind of sad), but I am looking for a new one:)

It's a little bit overwhelming to be looking for a new car, preparing for auditions, getting ready for a NY trip to see Next to Normal(YESS!!! and hopefully I'll actually make it to NY this time), and fixing up my apartment so it's ready to go once I return full-time, but I'm alive, and for that I am so thankful.

I'll Stand By You

Friends,
I will be resuming my blogging adventure in the very new future, so be on the lookout for new posts. In the meantime, please, if you haven't, take a look the posts from this summer which include many of my stories and adventures from that trip. I am hoping to begin processing for a two year trip in 2011, so be looking for details:)
-Michelle

We Both Go Down Together...

I am writing to you with an extremely sore, bruised and cut up body, which is result of my adventures, and quite possibly the best day I've had here. I thought my African prime had come to an end, but yesterday proved that that statement was not true.

Friday night I set up a movie night for me and 6 of my beautiful teen/preteen girls, where we watched Prince Caspian and ate way to much junk, and just had a blast. At the end of that, one of the moms called saying they had room for 2 more to go to Bab's dock the next morning. I had wanted to go back, but never really got the opportunity, and there it was.

Bab's dock is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. It's an hour away from the ship on the bumpiest road ever, but once you get there you go to a dock and get on a boat. It's a motorized canoe that you ride on to get to the actual Dock. You ride through these beautiful trees that have formed a tunnel, and pass tons of palms and it's quite the site. Eventually, you reach this huge lake and it has a floating dock- our destination. They set up mattresses(pool kind) on the ground with umbrellas, there's hammocks, and the cost is just lunch and the boat ride. They make this incredible Hibiscus juice called Bisop, which I was extremely happy to have again.

Now let me take you back about a month to my first trip at Bab's Dock. We went with the Academy, and I came upstairs, pumped for a great day, and see grey sky staring at me. My heart sank, but the leaders said we'd still go anyway because the locals said it'd pass. We got going- I was in the car with 2 moms(one whom I have become friends with since) and a few kids and another leader. I got slip from my group, but that was okay for a day. We got rolling, and it started to drizzle. I thought, well.. that's not too bad.. it could be worse...

We arrived at the little dock, and loaded kids up and there was a tad of sun, and we began to feel some hope for the day. 2 boats went, 3 boats went, and then, with 9 adults left at the little dock, and all of the kids over there, we waited.. and waited... and waited... Eventually Olly, one of the dad's, phone rang. His wife was on the big dock already and was wondering where we were. She told us that she found out the engine on the canoe died. We were all thankful at that point that all of the kids were on the other side- especially since we had preschoolers with us that day as well.

We waited for over 30 minutes to 45 minutes, and one of the moms said 'why don't we pray- we're all Christians here...' So we did, and about 10 minutes later, this dugout canoe pulls in with a man on the end using a large stick to drive it along. We all looked at each other, and one grandmother said 'oh, that's not for us...' and another says, 'Oh, I think it is...' Haha! Alas, it was ours.

We got 5 of us in there, and we started to sink. I almost had a panic attack because my mom's camera and my book were in my bag, and I really just didn't wanna go down like that. Normally, the water levels are pretty low, making the dunk not so bad, but they'd gotten more rain in the past few days before we came than they had in 10 years, so as you can imagine.. it was deep. So, they took the 2 men out of the boat, we stabilized, and then we went. But, but this point, it started raining much harder.

It was me, one of the girls who lead the little kids, and Anne, the mom I was talking about earlier. We were just trying to stay balanced, but at the same time had some quite funny conversations. My most memorable one was when the topic of makeup came up. It went something like this....I said 'Man, it's really starting to come down', and Anne said, "I know, my mascara is beginning to run, of all days, I pick today to wear mascara, what was I thinking?"(add a British accent to that:) ) I was not expecting that at all haha:) It was so funny. I later learned that she was much funnier and light hearted than my first impressions led me to.

That takes me to another point- FIRST IMPRESSIONS HERE HAVE BEEN WRONG EVERY TIME!! The end.

Hah.. now back to my story.. We finally hit the lake after me turning around multiple times and getting yelled at by Bethany because I almost tipped us, and by this point.. you would not believe how hard it was raining. It was so hard I felt like it was going to pierce my skin and I was wondering if it was hailing.. it was awful. I just couldn't stop laughing, I found it extremely funny that we were in this situation, and frankly thought God had a pretty good sense of humor:) When we got to the dock, I looked and 1/2 of my body was soaked and 1/2 was basically dry. When we pulled in, I quickly yelled for Holly to get my bag- my number one worry, and then we all safely(barely) got out of the canoe. I felt bad because some people came over in their dry clothes and were going to change, but I just wore my bathing suit over there hah:)

After we got there, and ate something quickly, I just went for the water. I was amazed at how much my adventure level skyrocketed this day. I kayaked and played with the kids and swam. It was a great day.. no matter how miserable it seemed. But, the car ride home and getting back on the ship was not very fun. We were all freezing and it poured harder than I've ever seen. I walked from the car to the ship slightly damp already and was soaked from head to toe- dripping. I got inside not even thinking, and froooze because the AC killed me.

But, I went back yesterday. The sun was out, the company couldn't have gotten any better, and it was just picturesque. I played and played with my kids and it was just nice to know that we had one last day together just having a blast. I may bet to babysit them again, but the're starting school tomorrow, so chances are we won't have a chance to just be crazy together much longer.

Today I was wiped out. I went out to breakfast with some friends, which was beautiful, and came back for ward service, which was the best one yet, and near the end, I kinda crashed. I came back and napped for an hour, ate something slept for another 45 minutes, then for another 1/2 hour... I had a headache and ever since I've been sick I developed this cough.. no good. Hopefully I can push on and be dandy and get home without any more sickness.

5 days and I"m on a plane. Please just keep us in your prayers. The idea is growing on me, but the reality that certain people will not be around and my friends are going through some of their biggest life moments when I'm not there is hurting me, but I know that it's happening for a reason. I also know that we'll have a ton to share later. My friends here, however are in ABSOLUTE denial that I'm leaving. I'm glad to know I'll be missed, but I don't want them to be depressed and think its over.. I'm having everyone write in a book, so hopefully that'll help with closure a bit.

Anyway, I'm going to go do some stuff for my Vocal teacher, and then go have dinner, get my dress that was made for me(my other one came last night and is beautiful), and do more stuff for Lynn.

I love you all! Write me a note! I wanna hear from you!
-Michelle

It's been a while....

Hello out there!! I was planning on writing today despite current circumstances that have me in bed, but alas, I'm updating. I'll prolly update on a few big things a post, so there might be a few posts coming to you today/ in the next week:)

My most recent adventure, and one I hope to never revisit, began at around 1 am last night. I layed down after watching movies all evening with my good friend Kathleen since it was our last weekend that she isn't working, and I felt a bit strange. I thought maybe I just ate too much junk, and it would pass. I fell asleep, but was woken up by this pain. Slowly but surely, I came down with GI virus. It was no good. I was out of my bed at least once an hour, which was not pleasant for either me or my roomates as they could hear me just gagging away. After about 7:30, my body decided to let it rest, though I was, and still am battling a fever. I went to the nurse, and she told me about the virus, and how it's been around the ship, and I shouldn't eat today, but drink a lot. She seemed concerned, which made me concerned about my condition, but she said as long as I don't get worse, I should be fine. I'm feeling much better now, and my boss let me off for the remainder of the day, Thank goodness. I thoguht I could handle it, but I think that would've been bad. I don't think I'll be eating Mexican again for a good while after that fiasco.

Things around here have grown on me over the past few weeks. I remember talking to people back home before I came about how it could happen where I'd come for more than just a few months- more like a year or two, but how I just couldn't see how it'd work out. Well, as time has passed, I've gotten to really know a few people, and I've come completely attatched with a few kids and families I've met here. Now, I honestly can't imagine what it's going to be like to leave this place. Leaving my kids behind is going to be impossible, and leaving all of the people I've met and experiences we've had together will be really painful. But, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Some of the families I've met are expecting to stay for at least another couple of years. One was scheduled for 2 years and I think they're now on their fourth year. Another has been here for a couple years and I don't see them going anywhere soon.

So, for those of you(which is a lot of you) who I havent been able to talk to lately and have heard- I'm considering coming for either a year or two years. I'm really praying that God will bring me here with my family, at least for a year of it. Like, if I come for 2 years, and my family was here for the second year, it'd be completely worth it. It's all still very up in the air, but I feel like I'm supposed to come back. I'd teach drama, and do another job. Teaching drama, and music, etc. is considered a 'minor' job, so I'd need a major job as well, and sales(the cafe) has already told me they'd be happy to have me. Human Resources are on my mom trying to get her to come. My dad likes the idea, and so does my mom, but we just don't know how it'd all work out- with the house and all of our lives back home, family, etc. But if you could just pray for us, I'd deeply appreciate it. Please pray that God would show us clearly what he wants for us, and if possible quickly so that we can begin making fund-raising plans if we all come together, or if I"m alone, or make it known if I"m not even supposed to come back, and help me meet these people again.

Two of my girls are just extremely wonderful and it's so funny because they've asked me maybe 3 times this week if I'd come visit them in England when they go home(which may be a while). I told them we'd see, but they should definetly come visit me in DC. Their little brother, who is 6, also wants me to stick around. They are just so convincing:) They have told me that I must come back and teach them and babysit them:) I would LOVE to hah, but we'll see where God leads me.

On our final day of summer program(which was friday), I made a video of my kids. I had them say their name, age, grade, country, and anything else they'd like to say. Most/all of the girls said that I have to come back, I can't leave, and I need to teach them next year. While filming, I seriously almost cried. I also had them sign a paper for me to hang in my dorm room, and some of those children are the most encouraging people i've ever met. One of my 11 year olds wrote to me about how God will be with me on my journey, and a few of them, again, wrote about how they want/need me to come back.

One of my girls, my 13 year old norwegian from the most beautiful family I've ever seen(all blondies with blue eyes- picturesque), is quite the little actress. When we first got here, there was a film festival, and she and her friends made these amazing little movies. One was polly pockets, one was a news cast, and I forget the last, but they were completely brilliant and incredible! She's just got an extremly inventive and creative mind. She has these great plans for a play, but the teacher is off ship because she's having a baby, but it's not going as planned, so she's coming back maybe after the baby is born. My girl, Linde, was telling me the full plan, and how she needed her teacher back and I said -you realize.. if I come back, I have a lot of experience- then I listed what kinds of classes I took, and she absolutely lit up. SHe was like 'you have to come back so we can do a play, Miss Michelle!!' We sat there for probably 45 minutes just going on about her plans and just talking about everything . She is also addicted to twilight, and got the song book, and asked me to learn a song. I gave up on the one she asked me to learn, but learned one I liked better, and she was so floored with excitement when I showed it to her:) If I do come back, I need to bring her more music. Living here, you only get mail so often, and it's extremly expensive and takes a lot of time, so hopefully I can help introduce some new music to her. SHe's taught me a lot about music and persistence with learning it. Neither of us are good at reading it, but once we get the hang of it, we run with it.

Anyway, feel free to comment if you wanna say a word:) My goal by letting you all know about my hopes to come back, is that you'll help me remember that I do want to come back, and I have a passion for these kids, and not let me forget my dream, or let go too easily. I think that if I got the chance to come back, yeah, it'd be hard to get into the groove again when I come home, but I"m going to be fresh out of college, with no ties quite yet, and it's the perfect time to decide if I'd like to persue teaching, or something medical, and gives me time to explore those options in a place where people want to help you figure these things out.

The end.

<3 Michelle

ps.. sorry if that was semi- incohesive- i am still in fever land.