Lenka - The Show (With Lyrics)

Enjoy The Show

I am not a huge music person. I enjoy music but rarely do I really connect with anything. Today I was in the kitchen working on my snack for the evening heard this great song on my itunes that I had not heard before. I really connected with the lyrics and felt like I could be the one singing the song. Maybe not all the lyrics, but most of them. It is a fun song and I am putting the video about this. Enjoy The Show!

I'm just a little bit caught in the middle
Life is a maze and love is a riddle
I don't know where to go I can't do it alone (I've tried)
and I don't know why its cuz jollys cool

Slow it down make it stop
or else my heart is going to pop 'cuz it's too much
Yeah, it's a lot to be something I'm not

I'm a fool out of love
'cuz I just can't get enough

I'm just a little bit caught in the middle
Life is a maze and love is a riddle
I don't know where to go I can't do it alone (I've tried)
and I don't know why

I am just a little girl lost in the moment
I'm so scared but I don't show it
I can't figure it out it's bringing me down
I know I've got to let it go
and just enjoy the show

The sun is hot in the sky just like a giant spotlight
The people follow the sign and synchronize in time
It's a joke nobody knows they've got a ticket to that show
Yeah

I'm just a little bit caught in the middle
Life is a maze and love is a riddle
I dont know where to go I can't do it alone (I've tried)
and I don't know why

I am just a little girl lost in the moment
I'm so scared but don't show it
I can't figure it out it's bringing me down
I know I've got to let it go
and just enjoy the show

oh oh Just enjoy the show oh oh

I'm just a little bit caught in the middle
Life is a maze and love is a riddle
I dont know where to go I can't do it alone (I've tried)
and I don't know why

I am just a little girl lost in the moment
I'm so scared but I don't show it
I can't figure it out it's bringing me down
I know I've got to let it go
and just enjoy the show

dum de dum dudum de dum
Just enjoy the show
dum de dum dudum de dum
Just enjoy the show

I want my money back
I want my money back
I want my money back
Just enjoy the show

I want my money back
I want my money back
I want my money back
Just enjoy the show

Blood, Taco Bell and Old People

I really like being an observer. I don't know if I would call myself observant when it comes to important things but I love observing the world as it moves around me and questioning things in my head. Lucky for the people around me that I have a filter because if I asked every question that popped into my head I might get annoying. Along with observing and thinking I love when my life randomly collides with strangers and I get to share a moment with someone I will probably never see again. I will take you through my morning/afternoon yesterday and explain the thoughts I had and the people I ran into. They may seem boring but it keeps life interesting in my head thats for sure.

I went to the eye doctor for the 3rd week in a row. The first week had an infection I needed to get checked out. He gave me drops to take for a week. The next week I got the ok that everything was fine and got a trial pair of contacts to wear. This week I went in to say the trial pair was good and to order new ones. Things I thought about were:

1. What would make someone want to look at people's eyes all day long for years for their job?
2. What does he think of me (regular thought, not because I worry, just because I am curious)?
3. What days coordinate with what color? (the assistants always have matching colored shirts that have been a different color each time I have gone)
4. What are these people's lives like outside of this job? (another regular thought, I always want to walk in people's shoes for one day and see the world through their eyes)

After the eye doctor I went to give blood at the blood center. They called me a few months ago to give because they were low on my type. I went in but my iron was too low to give. Then lately I have been more tired than I should be and my mom thought maybe my iron was low since I don't eat much meat. What is a good free way to get your iron checked? Give blood! My iron was fine but giving blood always spurs a lot of questions.

1. How would the question lady respond if I said yes to questions like "have you had sex with someone infected with HIV" or "have you ever paid money for sex with a prostitute" or "have you ever used a needle for drugs." Do people really go in there and say yes?
2. Why are there always blood taker people with big earrings and stylish hair?
3. What makes someone want to be a blood taker? Is it a dream job or just something to do?
4. Is that girl having a bad day or does she always talk bad about people behind their backs?
5. What do these people think of me?
6. Do the people in the hospital appreciate the blood taker people or look down on them?
7. I sure hope these needles are sterile.
8. Are they really thankful for me giving or do they have to say that?
9. Do these people want to have conversations while they work or to just be left alone?

The blood told me to eat a hardy meal and since I don't have much hardy food at my house I went to Taco Bell on my way home for a cheap, hardy meal. Taco Bell is the perfect place for observation and talking with strangers. Every time I go there I end up talking to someone and they are usually old. So here we go.

1.Why do old people like Taco Bell? My grand parents love it and half the store was filled with them.
2. Is the girl at the counter really excited to be working there or faking it? I like her either way.
3. Why is that old man eating alone? Is he getting food for his wife or is she dead and he is really lonely?
4. Does the old man talking to me need someone to talk to or is he just being friendly to me like I was to him when I started the conversation?
5. Is it strange to talk to people I don't know? Will I ever see them again? Are we all connected like on Lost?
6. Why did he just wink at me?
7. Does that old woman look mad because she is or she just looks like that?
8. How would any of these old people respond if I gave them a hug or sat down to eat with them?
9. What response are you looking for when you tell me ACU is a great school?

People and this world just fascinate me!! How silly that I get such entertainment and joy out of going to the eye doctor, giving blood and eating at Taco Bell! Life sure is interesting if you just look around and enjoy it.

On a different note I just had to share this pictures of our team meeting. Aren't we so cute!

And thanks so much to Sara for sporting the best hair style ever in honor of me!

The Girls

I would like to introduce you to two very important women in my life. These are the women on my mission team (minus one, and we miss you!). The guys had a night last night so we decided to embrace the cold evening and get some hot chocolate together. It was a wonderful evening as it always is when we hang out. We talked about food, jobs, memories, Halloween, and how nervous and unprepared we feel to begin the fund raising process. Luckily we are a team and do not have to do any of it alone. Love you girls!!!! Stay tuned for the first annual Team Conce Halloween Party! :)

Peace

Amigos

What a wonderful weekend this has been! It is homecoming here at ACU which I did not participate in at all but it brought lots of good friends into town for me to see.

First, my Colorado BFF Jeremy and his girlfriend came into town. It was his 5 year reunion and lots of his friends were coming into town so he flew down. The stopped by Friday afternoon to say hey, then I had lunch with them on Sat. and went to a BBQ Sat. night. It was great to see him and catch up and meet Tami. He made me miss Colorado and all the fun I had with him there. Hopefully I can make my way up there in the near future.

Second, one of the girls from the youth group in CO was in town so her and another girl from that youth group who is here at ACU came over last night. We sat around and chatted and ate ice cream for like 3 hours and it was so great to see them. I got caught up on all that was happening in CO and in their lives. They are such amazing girls and it was so fun to share and laugh and tell stories. We went through everyone in the youth group we could think of and they told me what was going on with them. So great! Another reminder of my missing Colorado.

Third, my best friend Ashley and her husband came into town to spend time with his family. They are Harding Alum so it was funny that they came to Abilene for ACU homecoming but it was just a good time. So we had breakfast this morning and then I got to go see their 2 beautiful dogs. Another wonderful time of talking and eating and catching up. It was not long enough but hopefully I will get to see them again soon at Christmas. Jan I know you read this so lets to X-Mas Eve all together this year!!! :)

Now it is back to reality. Knowing I had a busy, non-study filled weekend I read ahead in one class but I still have plenty of reading to do the rest of today and I have to fit it in while watching the Texans hopefully win....or not because I just looked and they are not on TV here. Stupid Cowboys!

Deep Thoughts by Dee

Thoughts that occurred to me today:

It is my two year college reunion. Not that they have a reunion for that, but if they did...

I would rather go to a Halbert Institute for Missions reunion than an ACU one. I'm such a missions dork.

The cool weather and my Patagonia fleece make me miss Colorado.

I have a lot to read this weekend.

Islam fascinates me!

Will the Texans ever earn my trust again?

I am not a good story teller.

I really enjoy the little joys of nature and I wonder if other people see what I see because they are missing out if they don't.

I cannot wait to carve a pumpkin!

I hope I can find someone creative with computers to design my mission update letters...for free.

Why do radio stations play clips of people saying how awesome the station is...it especially seems strange for the Christian ones.

I like my contacts.

Updates and Cookie Cakes

I have not been blogging a ton lately with school and activities filling my time but I thought I would share what have I been up to.

Two weeks ago I took a trip home to see my parents and brother and sis-in-law. We had a super chill weekend because my mom was sick so we just hung around, watched movies, played games, watched football and chatted. I got some good mom time laying with her on the bed when she didn't feel like doing anything else.

This past weekend I spent the weekend at a retreat at Lake Brownwood. The retreat was called Module Two and it was a part of my missions training. So me, my team, a couple other teams and our mentors spent the weekend together. This retreat was focused on relationships. We went through the DISC personality test and talked about each of our personalities a lot and the importance of really knowing each other. We also got to discuss where we stood on certain theological issues to see where we were on the same page, where we weren't and what was important.

It was an intense, full, and amazing weekend. We had a ton of team time and I feel very self aware after thinking about my personality compared to others all weekend. I love my team so much and am so thankful to be on this journey together.

At this retreat we celebrated two things. First, that a year ago we first met the Lukkasons. I drove down to Abilene from Colorado and them from Oklahoma and we spent a weekend together getting to know each other and feeling each other out to see if it would be a good fit. Only by God did it work out and work out well. I am so thankful for them and the important roles the play on our team. Second, it was the first real team activity that we had done as a fully formed and committed team. We had done other things missing a few or before others made decisions not to be on the team so this was a first.

What do I like to do to celebrate things? Cookie Cakes!!!! You can see from the picture that it was delicious and I know you are drooling with jealousy! :) On the cookie is the Chilean flag (very similar to the Texas flag you will notice), the words "Hooray Team Conce" which is our name, and a poorly drawn, yet quite successful with icing, picture of Chile (the long skinny thing on the rt. side).

Other small things I have been up to have been watching The Office, enjoying the cool weather we had last week, buying a new red fleece for winter, and trying not to loose hope in the Houston Texans. I know they have won their last 2 games but after the first 4 I just cannot trust in them yet. I know that sounds so corny but its true! I need some time to heal before our relationship can be normal again since they ripped my heart out (and their own I'm sure) in the Colts game. (being a little dramatic if you can't tell).

I am not sure what to do about the election. I keep saying I will do some research to make up my mind and yet the closest I have come to watching any of the debates has been Saturday Night Live skits. I want to take advantage of my right to vote but I cannot with confidence put either man in office w/o fear of what may occur because of them. Which is more important? Exercising my right to vote or picking someone I somewhat trust. Please do not take this as an opportunity to push your political views on my easily swayed mind, I'm just rambling.

Last, I want to share my excitement of my surprise this evening. I got a call from an unknown number and was unavailable when it rang. When I listened to the message my heart dropped. My friend Cris who is a missionary in Brazil called and I did not answer it! Dang it! I went on a bike ride with a roomie and came back and sent a message to Cris saying I would LOVE for her to call me back AND SHE DID! It was so fun to hear her voice and hear how she was doing all the way in Brazil! Cris I am so thankful to have you and your example in my life and I was so excited to get a call from you. I am praying for you and cannot wait to see what God has planned for you.

That's All Folks! I leave you with this cute picture of the roomies and our first puzzle together. Oh, and Happy Halloween! Go carve a pumpkin!

The Poof

Maybe I am just totally out of style and have no clue what is going on, but what is up with the hair poof? I know this seems like a really shallow and silly post...I guess it is. But I was walking through the campus center today and I try to not have judgmental thoughts about people, but this girl had her hair poofed so high on her head I think it was half the size of her face! It made me wonder about this new style of hair and how it is everywhere in the younger population.

The hair poof seems like an updated version of the 1950's hairstyle the Beehive. Is that what we are going for ladies? I can understand if you have poofy hair (like me) and want the top of your hair to match the rest of your hair, but to make your hair board straight and then have this blob of hair on top just seems silly, ESPECIALLY when you can see through the poof to the other side! That really cracks me up. Or having a cute, nice pony tail and messing the top of your head up with what looks like an ocean wave or a skateboard ramp.
Now I will say that I have a couple of friends that pull this off ok, so please do not be offended by this post. It is just my uneducated hair opinion. I just do not understand who thought this up and decided it was a good way to wear our hair. I know it is going to be one of those things girls look back on 20 years from now and say "what was I thinking!" Or at least I hope so. And you should see how much info there is for this hairstyle on the internet. There are so many how to sites and videos on this goofy style, like it is difficult. I don't get it.

There also is a difference between the poof and just pulling your hair back off your face (see image below for a normal example). I pin the top of my hair back sometimes, and even when I am wearing a pony tail for a little variety, but not the poof. Never the poof!


The poof is almost worse than the huge bug sunglasses!! :)

Things I Noticed

I am at home in Houston right now, sitting on my parents couch in a quiet house. My dad, brother and sis-in-law drove into H-town to go to Ikea but I chose to stay home and study (which I have done some) and be with my poor sick mom.

As I drove here yesterday I noticed/experienced some interesting things I feel like sharing.

1. I passed this church looking building that made me wonder what was going on there. First, the name was Overcoming Faith Community Center. What does that mean? If it is a church, why are they wanting to overcome faith? Wouldn't that mean they were stronger than faith? That does not make sense. If they are not a church, is it a group that is maybe against faith? I wonder...

2. I got to stop at the coolest rest stop ever! I can never make the 6 hr. drive w/o stopping twice. I usually try to make it 3 hours to Corsicana and then to right north of Huntsville where this little rest stop has always been. I completed this mission but the rest stop has changed since the last time I drove this way. It was back into the trees (the beautiful, tall, dense pine trees of this area) so you could not even see the highway. I pulled up and there was like a welcome center, a playground and super nice bathrooms. There was also a lake with benches around it. I almost wanted to hang out there for a while!

3. I am pretty sure I encountered a drunk driver on the road and was not sure what to do. At first I saw him in front of me swerving. I was coming up near him to pass so I sped by real fast to not be near him long, not thinking to take down his license plate number, just wanting to get away. Then he must have sped up because I had to go about 80 to stay in front of him. At one point I was so focused on him that I sped up, changed lanes and then slowed down in front of an 18-wheeler who flashed his brights at me. Oops! I kept an eye on the guy as he kept swerving and then passed me. Not too much later, still in my sight, he pulled off the side of the road and I did not see him again. What are you supposed to do in that situation? Not long after I saw a sign saying how many drunk driving accidents had happened in that area and it said to call 911 to report them. Next time I will know.

4. Another strange church name I encountered was "The Ark." At first I thought, oh that's nice a place where God saves people. But then I thought more about it and realized the Ark was a place God saved while the rest of the world was destroyed. Is that what we want people thinking the church is? A way to get away from the world that is going down the drain? Not me!

All that is probably pretty boring but it all seemed interesting and exciting on such a boring drive. Now I am looking forward to a fun, relaxing weekend with my family. Yea!

Shacking Up

Haha I thought that title was funny. Really I just mean that I have been reading The Shack. I know some of you are shocked because of my dislike for what I call "God books" but I read this one so I could participate in a book/tea night with ladies from church. The night was worth it and the book was not all bad either.

I will not say I agreed with everything the book said about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and their relationship with humans, but it did make me think. It put some new ideas in my head about God's character, Jesus' humanness, and the Holy Spirit's presence, and I am always up for new ideas. Some of them may be way off but they are just some thoughts of one guy that he put into a story for his family that got turned into a book. I will not say you HAVE to read it, your life will be fine without it, but if you have have a little time it is worth the read.

Along with discussing The Shack I got to enjoy some delicious hot tea, and last week I got to have tea with a wonderful friend and now I am ready for tea weather! For some reason I don't have a problem drinking coffee in the summer (only in the mornings or evenings) but tea for me just needs to be a winter thing.

I have such fond memories of walking home from work in the cold Colorado winter and drinking some hot tea with my roomies and chatting about our days. That is where I learned to LOVE hot tea. I need something to warm me inside and out and tea (with lots of honey) fit perfectly. Then I came to Abilene and found new tea lovers. I have other great memories of having tea in the evenings with Lauren or just having friends over to have tea and chat. Something about hot tea, snuggly winter clothes and a good friend makes for the perfect moment. Now I just need it to get cold.

In the past I have never been one to want winter to come but I think because my past 2 winters have been spent in CO, where it is already cooler, the leaves are changing and it could snow any day, I am waiting for the cool and it has not come yet. I forgot Abilene lacks the fall season. I have been enjoying the cool evenings and mornings though. They make for perfect walks and gazing at the stars.

But I am ready. I'm ready to drink tea. I'm ready to wear my fleeces. I'm ready to need house shoes. I'm ready to smell pure cold air. I'm ready to cook soup and not get hot from eating it. I'm ready to see my breath in the air. I'm ready for cool weather!

Love/Hate Relationship

Most days I love where I live. I love my roomies, I love our house and I love my room. Not this week. Everyday this week there has been a roach sighting somewhere in the house. They seem to have infiltrated every room. I thought my room might have been safe but I was wrong.

I was planning on sleeping till about 9am this morning. I woke up around 8am needing to go potty. I did, came back, looked above my bed and saw a brown blob on the wall (did not have my glasses on). I grabbed my glasses and my fears were confirmed. A roach! In my room! Watching me sleep!!!!!!! I felt a little sick.

Its position could not be worse. Right above my bed so that if I could ever get the courage to hit it, it would fall onto my resting place and taint it forever. So I quickly pulled the covers up over the bed so it could not get inside. It also is at the top of the wall near the ceiling. I do not think roaches could be very smart but they must know that that position is difficult to hit them. One missed moved and you hit the ceiling and not them and they go flying across the room or onto me or my bed. Bad move.

So what am I doing now? I'm sitting at my desk watching it. Making sure it does not go anywhere and trying to decide what to do since he has not moved in 20 min. What do I do?!?! I have such an irrational fear of these stupid things. I tell myself they will not hurt me but the thought of one touching me or my bed makes me feel a little sick. I cant take this much longer.

We all seriously are starting to live in a slight fear of a roach around every corner, in every drawer. Our landlord said to bug bomb them. That sounds real healthy huh? I guess I should try to do something. Maybe I can cover myself and my bed and then go after him....maybe....