Briefest of brief updates!

Well, better late than never, friends! I am at my folk's house in Phx and writing this update from my own, very new laptop! hooray! I am so grateful for this gift which will accomplish a number of purposes.... one) I will not have to hide out in my cave at my desktop computer to write my papers all the time - this is a particularly special gift; two) it includes a webcam, and my parents bought themselves one also, so that we can talk to each other and SEE each other. We all agree that 8 months is too long to go without sight of each other. Finally, this laptop will make my spring travel much easier and will also save me some $$ on library fees from when I inevitably forget to renew my rented laptop! One final awesome blessing... it will enable me to work even away from home AND the library - Starbucks... here I come! :)

Merry Christmas to all of you! I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to write sooner, but my mom has been working at the computer and its hard to get online next to her, and they don't have wireless, so I haven't really been able to access the world wide web on the laptop until today (when I stole the internet cable from the desktop next to mom).

I had a wonderful Christmas celebration with my family including my brother, parents and grandparents, and special guests: Derek Robinson (former Greenville College football player), Judy Heddens (his moms) and Derek's friend, Pamela. We had a really nice time together and I enjoyed it a ton. Not only was Christmas day fun, but I also have had a really nice vacation thus far. I got to hear dad sing the Messiah (complete works) with the Pheonix Symphony Chorus and the Phoenix Symphony - awesome! It was the first time I'd heard Handel's entire work and it was really, really moving and beautiful. I also attended the Bach choir in Phoenix with my parents, and am looking forward to hearing my dad sing two solos in church this upcoming Sunday.

Tonight my parents, brother, and I are headed to a fancy dinner as part of our annual tradition to get dressed up together and do something adult-y. Last year my parents and I dressed up and went out for dinner, and my brother couldn't make it. This year we'll all get to go and I'm looking forward to it.

I have also been working on my application to Washington State University. My dad is proofing my essay as we speak. And, last but not least... We have been playing a LOT of Settlers of Catan. Look out Joel Schwartz.... I'm really improving!

I will try to post again later today when I can connect up to the internet again. But for now, its time for a game and I have to get the other computer back to normal so that my brother doesn't know I've been messing with his desktop. :)

Miss you - and wishing you the happiest of Christmasses!

Losing focus

Well, its the end of the semester. I made it. Today is my last day of work, I turned in my last two final papers on Monday, finished my baby shower gifts on Tuesday and went to Ruthie's mexican restaurant in Lorena with some girl friends, took a friend to the airport in crazy weather then made the "sweet potato cheesecake" I mentioned before, on Wednesday, Thursday was our office party and gift exchange, and last night (thursday night) went over to the Schwartz's and played games with them, Matt, and Angela.

On a side note, games was really fun (though we missed Sarah). We played regular Settlers of Catan and Jessica won (!) - Angela and I tied for second place, the guys tied for 4th. Then we played Up and Down the River (or Muffins) and Angela won. Jessica got 2nd and I got 3rd. It was the best game night for the girls since the day that we played three games of Settlers in a row and Jessica, Sarah and I each won one and blanked Joel!! :) This was the first time I'd had a chance to play games with Matt and Angela - or really even spend a good amount of time with them. It was really fun and I look forward to some more adventures in the spring.

Because I have been working so hard all during the semester, it has been hard for me to do the few things I know that I need to do for my WSU (washington state university) application (hence the title of this article). I have to edit a writing sample today - but I think I'll do it at home this afternoon, since I leave here in 30 minutes and am not working on it at all yet.

Two of my three recommendations are turned in for WSU (thank you RCC and Frank!!) and one is supposed to be happening this week. I hope so... I really don't want to have to call his assistant again next week to follow up. I think I also have to edit the statement of purpose from the UCLA app to be appropriate for WSU. AND, I'm going to try not to do it while I'm at the Fergasons.

I'm excited to be at the Fergason's for a few days with no homework. I'm also excited to visit my folks next week after not having seen them for so long - I think my folks, Ben and I are going to play Settlers almost non-stop, so that is great fun. ALSO, Derek Robinson (D-Rob), his mom, and his girlfriend are all coming over for Christmas dinner - HOORAY! There is also a chance that dad and I are going to take a quick trip to Tucson and LA for quick college visits and that I might get to see both Erin O'Hara and Gretchen Musgrave - sweet!

Thats it for now. I have some pics to post of the burp rags and of a cool wall hanging I got in Kenya. I'll work on that later.

In the meantime, sorry for the randomness of this post - see, focus issues.

:) Tiff

quick update!

Well friends.... it is so close. So close to being done with assignments for Fall 2007. So close to getting to visit my family. So close to getting my house cleaned, mopped, scrubbed. So close to making my first "sweet potato cheesecake" (this is for the southerners at my office christmas potluck) So close to getting to sleep as late as I want for one or two days.

I am three days or less away from turning in my two final assignments. At this point, Matt, Candice and I simply need to pump up the references and we'll be done with our spirituality final project. I'm about 1/2 way done with my cultural final.... so close.

Here are some pics of this week's events (christmas parties galore) to keep you busy, while I finish my homework! Blessings to you!

Sarah and I at Red Robin in Round Rock -
on our winter field trip with our fun neighbors Joel and Jessica!

At the Christmas Party for our program, hosted by Dub Oliver, the Vice President for Student Life (L-R: Katie, Heather, me, Candice)

Lyndsy (far left) and I being "tree huggers" when our friends showed up for the 08 Cohort Christmas party dressed as Christmas trees. (trees L-R: Brittany, Kathryn, Katie).

Kathryn and I posing in our adorable outfits. I borrowed my amazing sweater from Julia Greenlee. The poinsetta was a hit, and only hurt a little when people hugged me. Kathryn is my Amazing Race partner, so I'm kind of sad we already sent in our photo because this would have been a good one (the one we sent was good, too - 80's style).

My friend Kristen and I - you can get a better look at my sweater from this photo...
Merry Christmas to all!

Let's Say Thanks

Sometimes I think about the Vietnam war, and the parallels to the Iraq war.

The Vietnam war became increasingly unpopular as it was evident we were not going to "win," in particular against the geurilla style warfare of a people determined to keep fighting. Eventually the soldiers became unpopular as well, characterized as "baby killers," etc.

The Iraq was is increasingly unpopular as it becomes more evident that we are not reaching our goals, and as the American people become jaded with regard to the goals and purpose of the conflict to begin with. Knowing what happened to the soldiers who served in Vietnam (it seems like a higher percentage struggle with PTSD, and they are certainly more bitter and angry than those who served in previous conflagrations), and grieving over it, I fear the same may happen to our soldiers who are in Iraq.

Let's try to agressively avoid that result. These men and women are dads, moms, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, and friends. They are boyfriends and girlfriends, teachers, managers, baristas and students.

Let's say thanks for the sacrifice we are making. I know I am particularly grateful - I have never felt called to military service (having wanted to be a fashion designer most of my life). I appreciate that someone is taking my place in a Humvee in Bagdad, basically.

Here is one way you can do it, and it takes about 90 seconds.

1) Go to this webpage: http://www.letssaythanks.com/Home1024.html (its a page sponsored by Xerox)
2) Pick out a drawing from a child
3) Select a prewritten message of gratitude, or select "other" and write your own
4) Click "send"
* your drawing and message will be printed by Xerox and sent overseas into the hands of a serviceman or woman.

Hooray! Lets say thanks this holiday season!

Greenville Photos!!

Check it out.... Photos from my time in Greenville!!