change

1. Back from Europe
2. Back on the internet
3. Seriously jet-lagged
4. Sudden distaste for American-Italian food
5. Officially attending University of Notre Dame next year
6. Sprained and/or fractured my wrist* when I skipped the 8:30 service this morning to eat and go hiking... karma.
7. Otherwise, really enjoyed the 6:30 sunrise (c.f. #3) and 10:30 regular Easter services
8. THIS WEATHER <3
9. Is it not frustrating yet wonderful when someone much cleverer than you articulates an idea you already had but in a more beautiful way? (see: C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, "Time and Beyond Time")
10. Must have lists of 10. So here are some pictures. (click to see larger)

Kathryne

*It was actually really funny. I was doing just fine... in my ankle-length skirt and flats, along nice little ledges of mud approximately the width of my foot... until we got to a wide flat easy part. I stepped over a log, onto some leaves, and fell completely flat on my side/face/leg in less than a second. I'm pretty sure it was the least graceful thing I could have done, and, to top it off, afterwards one wrist bone was (is) pointed about 15 degrees from where it ought to be. As I said... KARMA.

o.0

So I tried to keep it secret before I could tell everybody at school at once, but Megan already found out, sooo...

I got in to UMBC!

but you knew that.

But they offered me a full ride!

And I did not know that, and I am like... o.0

In-state school never looked so tempting. Ever. I'd still rather not go there, but it's hard not to really really really seriously think about it.

Kathryne

chipper :)

I have decided : I like the Charleston. And I like actually dancing at swing dance. It's a good feeling. Maybe I should leave early more often.

(Math: I dance more in the beginning, always. If I leave at 8:30, that means I probably spent about 75% of my time actually moving. If I leave at 10:30, it might be more like 30-40%. And did you know that 84% of all statistics are made up? but I'd say I'm close.)

And then when I ride home I can stare up at the clouds like the congealing, curdling clumps of brownish charcoal that they are. It's rather pleasant.

I Learned...

You should expect college interviewers to talk to you about politics and religion.

Kathryne

Rachel's face

"My face is going to be two thirds of Congress!"

best class.

My friends are entertaining. Especially when sleep deprived.

And according to Sparklife, Dan scored, like, 3 awkward points.

According to me... let's just say that that class involved a lot of blushing and wishing I knew NORMAL people, and then realizing how boring that would be.

I Learned...

A college "essay" might mean 250 words, and 1700 characters is not that much space to write.

Kathryne

PS- :))) Everybody come to the Christmas Eve service... one of them, they're at 6, 8, and 10... I get to do O Holy Night, and I am psyched. It's a gorgeous arrangement. Really simple and classic, not overdone or odd like the Point of Grace one. Or maybe I'm just a hymn snob.

Something I Learned

I am killing the "Good/Bad/Random" form for a while. I am going back to "something that made me smile," plus the new "I Learned..." section. I do enjoy learning things, so I am setting out to learn something every day, even if that means random internet research.

SO, I am making serious progress in my college stuff. WHEE!! (No, really, that's exciting. Now I'm only 1 week behind schedule instead of two-and-a-half. And I will finish tomorrow!! :D)

I Learned...

"Gaol" (as in, awesome poem by Oscar Wilde, "The Ballad of Reading Gaol") is actually pronounced the same as "jail." Weird.

Kathryne

Columbus Day

The Good: Finished first draft of Common App essay. No school!

The Bad: I need to completely redo it because I wrote it in the wrong tone/style. So much homework!

The Random: Wore PURPLE! makes me happy.

Kathryne

Breaking Through :)

The Good: !!!!!! I MADE IT! Maryland Distinguished Scholar Finalist, that is :) I think that means I get a smallish scholarship if I go to eligible Maryland schools, but regardless it will look nice on applications.

The Bad: Monday much? got to school at 7:30 (70 minutes earlier than usual) and waited outside in the cold until 8:05 when Aaron got there with the correct code.

The Random: Do these song lyrics not make you smile? The actual song is even better, but I have to highlight these...

I am a blind man trying to find the way
A deaf man with my ear to the ground
Just listening for what You say

I've got no voice to sing the songs
Written by the prophets on the subway walls*
The kingdom is a golden table and we are beggars all

(Breaking Through, Audrey Assad)

Kathryne

*LOVE

Saturday

The Good: music practice with Kristina & Erin :)

The Bad: cleaned my room. and the bathroom. and did Government homework. and History homework. and I still have math.

The Random: "You have to put some hutzpah in it! ...er... cheil!" (rough transliteration) -Kristina

Kathryne

Coming down with a bug

thankfully, it is a fruit fly and not a cockroach (read: small bug, and I can still kind of understand my math homework).

and I WILL be going to the Black and White Party tomorrow! I WILL!

and I found out that it would cost me about $60,000 total to go to Cambridge University for four years of college. I am now seriously considering overseas studies.

Also, after three failed attempts at artistry and uniqueness via zebra-printed gloves... well, if glovemaking is an art, just call me Jackson Pollock. Also, it's not a good idea to wear gloves that cut off circulation in 3+ fingers.

Perhaps will retry in morning.

Kathryne

whew!

CYMA-small-group planning with Erin was awesome.

LIT with everybody was awesomer.

Driving with Daddy was... okay :P

And now I am submitting my first college application... what?!

Kathryne

no place like home...

...except college :)

I so can't wait to leave here.

and at the same time I want to stay here forever.

Either way~

I got to watch TV today! For the first time in, like, 2 weeks :P

Quote:

"I have a problem. I use homework time for Facebook, and I use Facebook time for... Facebook."

Kathryne

...Idiot.

So, today I sat in on a Russian class at the college I'm visiting.
And you'll never guess what they're reading!
...okay, so maybe the title gave it away. The Idiot!! As in, Dostoyevsky, as in, favorite book. Of course, they are reading it in Russian. So I couldn't really participate :(

Good visit so far though!


Kathryne

'tis a wonderful day :)

hehe... on the way back from my second college visit... well, let me restart. My mom brought my dog (awwww).

On the way "home," we had to pass over this huge bridge with one of those grate things in the middle. And as soon as the car stepped wheel onto the grate, Tag's eyes got huge and he was definitely spooked. He wasted no time in crawling up (somehow) into the front seat where he proceeded to sit pretty much ON me in the passenger seat, eyes wide and seriously scared.

And that was funny. There was enough room for both of us (sort of), because it's a fairly large car, but I did move into the back after we got off of the bridge :)

ALSO!

The family we're staying with is seriously musically talented, really truly. And the oldest boy (14) is mixing a CD that his church is entering in some competition run by Vineyard Music. They don't really have vocalists, and nobody will be able to sing harmony, so I get to!!! I've always wanted to be a backup singer :)

(I think it's harder than being a soloist, for sure... have to have perfect pitch and blend and everything... and I get to try! oh, I'm happy! yay!)

ALSOAGAIN!

I got my SAT scores back todayyyyy :)

and I might possibly NOT have to take them again! That would be joyous. Sooo awesome!!!

And I'm in a particularly good mood all around, and I might get to be in a band with Christine and Andee and Sarah and other people... :)

Kathryne

College Shopping

So, I've been out "college shopping" ... it's loads of fun, albeit exhausting.

I went to UNC on Monday and met up with an old friend who is a sophomore there. I wish I knew more people like him... he has a great sense of purpose and a huge heart for God.

Tuesday, we headed over to Wake Forest, which was AMAZING. Loved it. Sat in on a Russian class... Prof. Hamilton is my new best friend. They did "karaoke" with childrens' songs. Something about a crocodile, a bunny, and a Christmas tree? Anyways, it was great. And the other Russian prof likes Dostoyevsky, more than Tolstoy! Like me! :) Calls him "Dusty." That was a huge smile-thing.

Also, if you're ever in North Carolina for anything, find a Cook-Out. They have THE BEST milkshakes, like ever :) I got strawberry cheesecake flavor... yuummmm. The place is seriously a Cold Stone Creamery for milkshakes.

Today I went to an American Lit class... also good.

Although, I have to say the biggest smile thing was the way my dog, Tag, plays with his half brother... or, should I say, how his brother (Bo) plays with him. Tag is almost 2 and Bo is 5 months... hehe :) Goldens are awesome.

Kathryne

woohoooooo....?

NOTE: for some weird reason this didn't post last night. *sighh*

So, visited University of Maryland (College Park) today.

uhhh...

usually colleges have one of their twentysomething-year-old recent graduate open the info sessions, so it made me laugh how they had a sixtysomething-year-old man who read off of cards, saying stuff like, "people are our most treasured assets."

& I got to eat Panera broccoli cheddar soup for dinner. OH, THE LOVE!

It's snowing again.

so I wrote a poem.

dear snow, oh my, dear, dear snow!

i really think that you ought to know:

you seriously need to go away

and stay there. yes, that is what i say.

you're adding so greatly to my sorrow...

see, i had a field trip tomorrow,

but then you had to visit again.

oh, this is torture! when will it end?!

now, i'll admit, a week off of school

was great at first, but this is not cool!

i'm sick and tired of staying at home

with nothing to do, and oh-so-alone.

i guess i could forgive you, a bit,

if you'd switch my chem class with brit lit.

can you? please? oh omnipotent one...

then i'd prefer you to even the sun.

write back soon; i await your reply.

meanwhile i'll sit in my bedroom and cry.

send sun my regards; how has he been?

sincerely, your ever-faithful

-Kathryne

Snow (again)

The snow is very much a "meh" thing for me.

I don't own snowpants

or sweatpants

or snow boots

or really even tennis shoes.

So I do what I would do anyways, and stay inside and clean and do homework.

(why does it keep snowing on the weekends?!?!! AAAHHH!!!!)

...yeah, Africa presentation was cancelled. again. because of snow. stupid snow.

HOWEVER.

I still did smile a lot today.

I found a college when I was online that I like. It's called the University of Evansville, in southern Indiana.

it's not terribly expensive
they give you a scholarship for being a part of their choir
and another one for being an active member of a United Methodist church

...and they have a Russian Studies minor
and an English major
and a good-looking communications program
and an option to study abroad in Russia
and a decent mission statement

...and the school color is PURPLE! =D

alsooo.

(skip to about 1:20 for what happened today)

...yeaaahhh... soo... my cat threw up in the potted plant, so this is how we punished him.

and we really wanted an excuse to throw him into the snow =P

Kathryne

An Analysis of People

So, today I went college shopping. It was very fun. I got to sit in on a freshman-level English class of about 20 students. Actually, exactly 20 students; I counted. So we're going to test my observational skills and see what I remember.

The girl on my left is another Kath(erine)-called-Katie. She seems like your typical studious, 4.0, secretary-in-the-SGA student. She has on a plain white shell and a dark, coral pink cardigan. She has thick, straight brown hair (pulled half-back in a braid) and single pearl earrings. Dark jeans. And boots. She has perfect handwriting. She actually talks to me. She has a brother and a sister who are juniors, like me!

The girl on my right is the one everybody knows. She walks in, and you can tell by her voice that she always gets her way. When she comes in, she immediately pulls her keypad-ed phone (and a Pink University notebook from Victoria's nothing-much-is-Secret) out of her Vera Wang bag. She's the one who got up early before her 8:30 class to fix her makeup to perfection. She is wearing boots, too. She's named Victoria (which is what we always used to name the snobby Polly Pockets when we were younger), and has looooonnnnnggg, perfect hair. It's dark and curly and very shiny, but she obviously slept on it when it was damp... the curls are a little squished. She plays with one ringlet that survived the night, and she does so for the entire class.

The girl to my back right is the one who is an overachiever in every sense. She's wearing sweats and a white t-shirt with some sort of logo. Tennis shoes. Hair in an I-was-just-working-out-for-the-last-hour ponytail. She takes notes, but doesn't overly participate.

One girl way in the front reminded me a bit of myself in middle school. Enthusiastic; petite; hair in a messy bun; overly participatory. She has on a pink North Face jacket (everyone seems to wear North Face), and very stiff-looking jeans that are a little short. Her hiking boots don't entirely cover her blue socks with the sparkly Star of David embroidery all over.

There's a guy way to my left who totally does not want to be here. He is the one saying, "Is it cold outside today? I didn't notice. And I'm only here because I have nothing better to do... that's why I'm in my pajama t-shirt. Can I leave now?" ...except that he doesn't say anything the whole time, or take notes. He just slouches in the chair and glares at the space in front of him.

Shoe count (female students only):

1. tennis shoes ~ 7 pairs
2. flats ~ 4 pairs
3. heels ~ 1 pair
4. boots ~ about 200 pairs

^^ I would put myself in the "flats-but-wishes-she-has-winter-boots" category.

Overall, it was a very good day. Cold. But good.

EDIT:

this song makes me smile =)

Kathryne

never thought I'd say this, but...

I LOVE MY DENTIST.

not only did he get me out of half of AP World, but ALL of Student Gov't, and ALL of Chemistry! LOVE!

...and, as if all that wasn't helpful enough, he gave me some very nice career/college advice.

"If you can think well, read well, write well, and speak well... you can do anything. No matter what your major was."

Kathryne

Mac beats PC.

Today I visited a college a few hours away from home... it was pretty much amazing. They have a Mac computer lab on the foreign language floor (awesome!).

What made me laugh:

These computers had little yard sale price stickers on them, to the right of the screen. However, instead of a price, these stickers said "CD" with an arrow pointing to the CD slot on the side. Now THAT is funny. My dad and I were laughing about the PC people looking for a sliding tray in a big box under the desk... uh-uh, not so my friend.

Kathryne