the blog is here to stay

So I've been experimenting a lot with this whole blogging thing, and up until now it's just been too difficult and time-consuming to do on a regular basis. E-mailing was just easier! But, thanks to some amazing technological trail blazers (Dad, Whit...) I've finally figured it out and got all the kinks worked out, so now it's a no-stress, easy way to keep up with everyone!

I'm sorry dad, I know you have a great blog and I would so use your Perideo server, except for the fact that I'm a huge troubleshooter and seem to always have the most weird blog problems, so I just had to go commersh! But I'll be sure to link to your blog from mine.

And hey...btw, did anybody else not know that you can set it up so that blogger automatically sends an email to your readers (well, only 10 of them) when you post a new post! Thanks for the tip Whitters!

Until the next post, I'm over and out ;)

My life in The BU (kinda like The OC, but better) ;-)

So....just a quick update....
I just completed my RA application for next year. Hopefully I'll be in a Freshman dorm!
If I make the first cut I'll interview in a few weeks, so wish me luck! :)


Also of interest... (perhaps)

• Next week all the utensils in my house will be replaced with chopstix
  
• I cut my bangs today, so now I have actual bangs.
  
• My roommates and I made AMAZING Chicken Fettucine Marsala Alfredo, and there's still a bunch left, so come on over!

Over and out!

New Semester; New Friends; New FAV Class; New Church; New Plans!

Every January I think about, wonder about, what God might have in store for me in the coming year...And the events and opportunities that come my way never cease to amaze me. I can't help but hope that this year will follow suit.

Things are already looking up. Upon returning to Nashville after a month-long (much-needed!) break I quickly got in touch with new and old friends and made a decision to make sure I get out more this semester! It's so easy for me to get too focused on school and become socially deprived. I end up being alone, lonely, worn out, and feeling under the weather. Those are four things college should NOT be! Thankfully I've gotten to know some great people and look forward to staying busy with them.

Another biggie is finding a church....after 16 rather awkward weeks of visiting new and diverse churches--everything from Methodist to Southern Baptist to ultra-progressive neo-christian modern "things" that I would hesitate to call church--I think I've found what I will be happy to call my home church. I visited Fellowship Bible Church with some friends last week and really enjoyed it! Since then, I've met several other classmates that go there too. Coincidence? Maybe not :)

What else is new?
Oh yes...

Since changing my majors last semester (from Sociology/French to Entrepreneurship/Int. Business) I've been eagerly anticipating the classes I'm taking this semester as part of my new track. My favorite by far is Entrepreneurship. This may or may not have something to do with the sweet, adorable guy in my group who winks and smiles at me throughout the 4-hour class period, but in any case, I've been toying with the idea of starting my own business since I was about 12, so finally getting into an entrepreneurship class is so exciting! And I might actually use the material sooner than I thought.... ;)

Also.....I got a new job! This one is off campus and (thankfully!) pays more than the minimum wage telemarketing job I had on campus last semester. (I must say, it's pretty demoralizing to move across the country, only to be welcomed by a 60% pay cut!) So yes, I was apparently hired at Panera Bread--the BEST bakery/lunch cafe in town--although they haven't gotten back to me with a schedule, so I think I'll be calling to harrass them tomorrow. :) It just happened that they were looking for a night cashier to work about 18 hours a week; and I just happened to walk in with a stunning resume ;) looking to work nights, about 20 hrs/wk...perfect! I'll be at the one on 21st, next to SAT Co., so come visit me!


For some reason I seem to have a lot of extra time this semester, so I've doing some extracurricular reading in addition to the thirteen assigned books I need to finish in the next 14 weeks. About a year ago, a good friend recommended I read Louise Brown's The Dancing Girls of Lahore. Seeing as it's taken me ten months to get through the first 6 pages, I'll admit that it starts out slow. But once you get past the slightly anthropological beginning, the story is captivating. Louise Brown is an English sociologist who moves to Pakistan over a period of seven years, I believe, to study the lifestyle, history, and societal role of the once-respected dancing girls of the now red-light district in Lahore. She does a great job of giving faces, voices, and personalities to the women we often refer to as "victims of sex trafficking."
It's a good read...Let me know if you want to borrow it!

Now that I have a social life, give me a call and we'll get together for coffee...or Fro Yo if this 60-degree weather keeps up! :)

Wishing you all the best in 2009,
Shirah

Biscotti in Abundance

I must say...my Aunt Pam is amazing. Not only does she make the best biscotti ever, but she manages to send me a ton of it every time she makes it!

As this is the last day of classes before Thanksgiving break, I made sure to check for any incoming packages or mail before it's too late. And I'm lucky I did, because look what I got! Not one, but FIVE bags of yumminess. Unfortunately for them, 2 of my roommates already headed home, but one lucky girl and I have already tasted the Lemon Zinger and Blended Harvest, which is full of cranberries and nuts and is dipped in dark chocolate. YUMMMMM.

Among the other flavors, we have: Heavenly Hazelnuts, I Love Raspberry, and Peppermint Kiss. I can't wait to try them all.
For now, I'm off to the gym so I don't feel bad about eating all this biscotti later!

THANK YOU AUNT PAMMYYY!!!!! You're my favorite biscotti-making Aunt ever.
I love you and miss you! See you at Christmas. :)

A NEW FAV!

This is one of my many birthday presents that Mom sent in the mail...and has become my new favorite present of all time!

It's called a lap desk, and you can get them online or at Barnes and Noble. Being the comfort-loving college student that I am, I love being able to sit in bed and type the endless string of research papers without my laptop overheating from the blankets.

It's the perfect size and even has a clip on one side to hold important notes. The plastic on top is waterproof, and the soft yet durable fabric on the bottom is filled with little beads that are oh-so-comfy.

If you have a friend or family member who likes to read, write, surf the net, or even snack on the couch or in bed....this is perfect gift this Christmas!

I feel like a Barnes & Noble commercial spokesman, so I'm going to stop now.
But really...trust me. It's fantastic.

Let me know if you get one!!!

A Snapshot into my Australian Life

I've come to the realization of just how much the pictures I've documented throughout the past few years, and all the memories (good and....interesting) that they invoke mean to me. A whole week doesn't go by that I don't browse and reflect upon at least a few of my photo albums. This discovery prompted me to go out and continue my method of photo-documenting the normal, day to day sights and sounds of my life here.For one, the colors of fall are indescribable. I took yesterday afternoon off and explored Hahndorf in a new way, through the lens of my camera. The old German town is a beautiful example of historic Australia and offers great subject matter for photographers. Every day I see many many photographers, and they all seem to be pretty content going about their work here.

Plans for China

After my conference I'll stay with my friend Xiao Jun (I call her Christine for short) and her family for two weeks!!

We met as exchange students in Belgium last year and really hit it off. We had such a great time together on group trips to Paris and all around Belgium. I can't wait to see you Christine!!