craigs birthday

this is a picture of craig eating his foot.

hes special.

so yesterday was norman craigs birthday...

hes apparently 19. although mentally i would say hes somewhere around 8.

It was a gorgeous day. absolutely beautiful.

i grabbed breakfast for both of us after my 8 am class and we headed down to the boat house to eat breakfast by the docks.

annd then i had all my classes and didnt see him again until later that night.

i unfortunately missed him getting thrown into the pond...

and then later i made him a cake.

laura: im making you a cake

craig: awww.

laura: what flavor cake do you like?

craig: um..

laura: that means... "guess what flavor cake i already got the supplies for."

craig: ummm vanilla?

laura: no.

craig: uh... good... i didn't want that anyway.

laura: your favorite kind of cake does not actually affect what i make you anyway.

craig: your so romantic..

this is what i learned. making cakes in all boys dormitories is very difficult, but i am proud to say, yesterday i constructed a halfway decent cake using only a bowl and a knife...YES PEOPLE, a bowl and a knife. those were all the utensils the boys had in their kitchen.

so then we all had cake and champagne and some friends over, and shot the bottle at the ceiling and everything. it was pretty fun. but then i went to my womens bible study meeting (kind of by accident... i went home to QA to get something from my room and had to walk by them in the lobby so i stopped by)

anyways it was a pretty good day.

this is a charcoal drawing i drew and FRAMED!! by myself. im actually much more proud (prouder?) of the matt and the frame then the drawing. because i picked out and cut the whole matt myself, even the beveled edge!!! i hope you all like the beveled edge! plus i picked out the frame myself!

this place where we live

Everyday I wake up,
I choose Love
I choose Light
And I try, it's too easy just to fall apart

Oh my baby don't be so distressed
Were done with politesse
It's time to be so brutally honest about
The way we think long for something fine
When we pine for higher ceilings
And bourgeois happy feelings

And here we are with the pleasures of the first world
It's laid out before us, who are we to break down?

Everyday we wake up
We choose Love
We choose light
And we try, it's too easy just to fall apart

Plastic Bottles
Imported Water
Cars we drive wherever we want to
Clothes we buy it's sweatshop labor
Drugs from corporate enablers
We're not living the Good life
Unless we're fighting the Good fight
You and Me just trying to get it right

In the center of the first world
It's laid out before us, who are we to break down?

Everyday we wake up
We choose Love
We choose light
And we try, it's too easy just to fall apart

Love can free us from all excess
From our deepest debts
Cause when our hearts are full we need much less

Yea i know we long for something fine
When we pine for higher ceilings
And bourgeois happy feelings

But Here we are in the center of the first world
It's laid out before us, who are we to break down?

Here we are in the center of the first world
It's laid out before us, who are we to break down?
Everyday we wake up
We choose Love
We choose light
And we try, it's too easy just to fall apart

Everyday we wake up
We choose Love
We choose light
And we try, it's too easy just to fall apart

michaels

sorry its been so long. i have been thinking about a lot.

life was kind of stressing me out.

1. it is possible to gain a masters in four years if you graduate in three. interesting.

2. im trying to decide where to spend my summer and why.

3. it is cold and raining again

4. today i borrowed someone's car and drove off campus all the way to Michael's craft store all by myself. AND BACK. NO GPS! NO CELL PHONE! (see 7)

5. tomorrow is craigs birthday!

6. it is Art Week here at smcm, which means i have to attend a bajillion seminars and workshops about being creative and stuff like that.

7. my phone recently died after putting up a great fight. i accidentally vacuumed up my phone charger the other day when attempting to be a good person and vacuum the floor. then i tried to rip the phone charger out of the vacuum cleaner without turning off the vacuum cleaner. and BAM! i had to watch my phone die a slow and painful death.

8. the caf had indian food today!!!HURAH.

9. math test tomorrow.

Oh PS- APPARENTLY kim is turning 16 this year. as in "sweet sixteen"

i recently learned this the other day when i called my dad.

dad: yeah kim wants to go to NYC for her sweet sixteen.

laura: YAY NYC... wait... kim... kim my sister? ... like this december? like next month-ish? woaaahhhh. wow. wait... im turning nineteen? oohhh. wow. hmm.

sunday mornings take two

craig (who does not have swine flu) and i went to church again (...if you read last sundays post, you'll know to clap here.)

as usual we had an awesome time, and were offered jobs singing in the choir!! whoo-hoo. yes, me and craig are going to start getting paid to go to church!!!

we even get to wear robes! HOW AWESOME IS THAT?

yesterday i painted allll day. i said it was five hours, but then i ended up staying for another two hours, so it was quite literally all day. then we went to go see peter, craigs room-mate perform in a halloween one act. which was kind of cute and kind of scary. there are auditions for more one acts coming up, perhaps ill try out. maybe?

and then we went to our friend euri's room and the boys played really violent video games which made me feel not good. then we watched cloverfield which made me feel worse. im not really a violence advocate per-se, it makes me feel nauseous. but i was happy we got to spend time with friends.

OH which reminds me. TWO days ago we went to an a capella party. Craig is in our schools male a capella group...seamen (of course). so i got to go by default. it was alot of fun. everyone was pretty drunk and happy and there was much singing involved. the overall favorite was taylor swift.

the best part was that craig's older brother ross was there (hes a senior at smcm) and ross kept yelling things in the generic direction of craig along the lines of "card that kid!" "who is that? he looks way too young to be drinking!!" "give me that beer!" Overall a good time was had by all.

Today craigs parents are driving to our school and taking us out to dinner!! YAY!

There is a jane austen tea today where they are teaching people how to waltz and discussing books and drinking tea. i really can't think of a better combination, and i hope i have time to stop by later.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA. (yesterday)

-i still haven't mailed my card. don't tell. we can blame it on the slow mail people.

work

painted for like five hours today. look at my scaffolding!!

FRIDAY= almost there

1. craig is still alive

2. i went to fencing last night. fencing at smcm is kind of a joke. there is alot of interest, however the skill level remains very low because there are no coaches. there aren't even any advisors. Because i am coming from an experienced fencing background people are very...idk. in awe.

like ...yesterday i walked in and the male saber captain said "oh laura you can run them through whatever drills you want, they are completely in your hands" and i was like..." i just want to fence... um... lets just like do some round robins or something..." but anyways. the point is that its kind of ridiculous the way people look up to me like i'm a pro or something, when really im not at all.

3. yesterday i went to a meeting about the summer study in England. It ripped me apart. FIRST of all.. let me say what they didn't say until the end of the meeting. which is of course. that the trip costs 5 grand. 5000 dollars. okay so now that thats out there... the group lives shakespeare. they stay at stratford upon avon, every night they go to see a theatre group perform, they go to art museums, they go to history museums, they get to see the folio, they tour london, they stay at bed and breakfasts right where Shakespeare lived, they bike the short distances to nearby towns. The entire time they are also attending classes on shakespeare, and keeping journals and writing papers. In addition the trip is run by a husband-wife team who are both english professors here at SMCM. probably some of the best english professors we have. This is the last year this trip will be offered to st marys students.

i am planning on a. asking for trip money for christmas and my birthday

b. meeting with financial advising and looking into scholarships

c. taking out loans

i don't know. i mean its not india and the Himalayas like i wanted, but this is definitely something that applies to my majors and that i would regret missing out on.

4. art history paper

bad new bears

so much has happened.

(mom skip this whole post, save your blood pressure)

yesterday went forever and ever. i was so busy, it seemed like everyone was. In addition to all my normal classes, i attended an art lecture, and a visiting author, fencing, a pop math quiz, painting hours, and a women's bible study. it was a stressful day to say the least.

i came home from math and saw my friend jean in the hall.

laura: hey girl hey... way to skip math today.

jean: did i miss much?

laura: we had a pop quiz.

jean: shit.

laura: why weren't you there?

jean: i'm quarantined.

laura: why?

jean: "swine-flu-like symptoms"

laura: your joking.

jean: no.

laura: you live two doors down from me.

jean:mhmm.

laura: THEY quarantined you to your ROOM?

jean: yeah, where else would they put me?

laura: idk, like a swine flu center or HOME or... something?!

then i went to a lecture by a visiting author about how global warming is irreversible and it progressing at a rapid rate.

in nicer news, the cafeteria is selling cupcakes for a dollar. plus the weather has warmed significantly. unfortunately QA has left the heat on, so we are all sweltering now and keeping all our windows open.

and our school has decided to offer free H1N1 flu shots if you have certain conditions. i qualify on two different things: anemia and asthma.

WHOOHOO! i win the "Most Likely to Contract Swine Flu" award!

i don't know if i need special identification to receive the shots or not.

so far i have been healthy.

i had a brief cold for about a day, and then shook it off.

right now i am fine.

as i'm sure i will continue to be.

jordan said the same thing happened at her campus a couple weeks ago and they are all perfectly fine. Today is jordans birthday. remember to send her a card.

craig has contracted a headache on top of his existing cold. To make matters increasingly panic-y, our school has decided to send out an email with the list of Swine Flu Symptoms. They read as follows:

-fever, but unlike seasonal flu, is sometimes absent (Great that is super helpful. thanks guys)

-cough

-runny nose or stuffy nose

-sore throat

-body aches

-headache

-chills

-fatigue or tiredness, which can be extreme

-diarrhea and vomiting, sometimes (again. Thanks guys. SOMETIMES? what is that?)

craig: i have swine flu

laura: you do not

craig: i do. I know i do.

laura: stop being such a baby, man up.

craig: i have a cold, the chills, a head ache, and a dry cough

laura: you have a cold.

craig: your so cute when your worried.

laura: im not worried.

craig: maybe ill go to the health center

laura: they'll quarantine you.

craig: maybe i'll call my mom.

laura: don't call your mom yet, she'll get upset

craig: lets go buy meds.

laura: okay

craig: so what should i get

laura: i have NO idea.

craig: LAUR...

laura: what? i dont know... what works for you?

craig: sudafed.

laura: well...?

craig: well they dont have that here.

laura: she'll freak.

craig: yeah...well... *takes out his phone*

laura: whatever you say don't actually use the words "swine flu"

craig: Mom? yeah... i think i have SWINE FLU...can i come home this weekend?...yeah... I DONT WANT TO DIE EITHER!

laura: oh god.

craig: shes not letting me come home.

laura: good for her. take some cold medicine.

So being a good girlfriend. i went home and took it upon myself to look up the symptoms of the common cold.

- runny nose

-fever

- coughing,

-sneezing,

-nasal congestion,

-headache,

-muscle ache,

-chills,

-sore throat,

-watery eyes,

- tiredness,

- and lack of appetite.

- intermittent and dry cough

its a cold craig.

So coming back home from breakfast this morning...

i walked into the front door of QA and was immediately grabbed by the arm by a police officer

officer: i need you to do something for me

laura: yes?!

officer: stand here and watch this girl till i get back *indicates girl lying on the floor of the lobby of QA*

laura: uh...yes?

*officer leaves out the front door*

laura (to girl on floor): hey. i'm laura.

girl: no response.

laura: okay you just lie there.

girl: no response

laura: i'm actually first aid certified by the red cross

*by this time a small crowd of girls has gathered*

one girl: is she okay?

laura: um.. i think its all under control guys. there was a police officer here?

officer comes back

laura: hey so am i like good to go now...?

officer: yeah um if you have to

laura: and if i don't have to...?

officer has started talking to girl on the floor.

laura walks upstairs and shakes her head.

"Let me go home, let me go home

I wanna go home, yeah yeah
Why don't they let me go home
I wanna go home"

there is a lecture today by some guy named Dr. Weiner. how can you take that seriously?

i'm skipping yoga to do work.

there is also a christian speaker talking about God and the environment, and a really good music performance today. but i just have alot of work to get done. hmph. why is this week so busy, and all my other weeks not busy at all? actually thats a lie. next week is "art week" and looks equally busy. oh no. i just sneezed. anyways. "Art week" means i have to go to a bunch of seminars. OR ELSE.

also i have to pick out all my classes for next semester. kind of fun, kind of stressful. i cant believe this semester is already more than halfway over?

STAY SAFE.

DON'T COME TO MARYLAND. unless you have to.

AND BRING SANITIZER AND TISSUES.

wiped out.

9-10:30: gym with craig (four mile run/ ab workout)

10:30-11: shower

11-12: brunch/post office

12-1: yoga

1-2: non profit job seminar

2-3: fencing

3:30-5: end notes lesson in library

5:30-6:30: dinner with friends

work.

sleep.

today was warmer. it was nice.

TURN ON THE HEAT. before i become a popsicle.

QA temperatures have hit arctic levels.

three shirts and my coat to bed. mmmm.

oh. thats a picture i painted.

october 24

so...

i went to trinity church again this morning.

and i brought craig. (applause here)

I have officially decided i love going to church.

we walked in, and sat down.

laura (whispering): craig, black pants don't match navy blue vests... are you wearing under armor?

craig: yes they do. they match fine.

laura: your embarrassing me.

*craig takes off the vest*

There was an asian girl who sat in front of us the entire service, taking notes in a book and snapping pictures on her digital camera every five minutes. This may not have been so bad, except there were probably only about 25 people in the entire church. so it was pretty blatant. As we were sitting directly behind her, i was able to watch her zoom in and out and stand up at random points to shoot some pictures of the preacher. This is when i started laughing.

craig: laura....

laura: nhanammhm... *points to girl taking pictures*

craig (loud whisper): achemhahama. stop laughing, or their not going to let us in next week.

laura:mmaahahahammm.. you should ...hahahahave seen me a few weeks ago.

craig: i'm surprised we weren't stopped at the door on the way in.

some random lady gets up to say a prayer:

Lady: And we pray for the Diesis and we pray for the president Barack and we pray for the united nations... and united nations day is October 24 by the way... and we pray for the governor...

*Laura (who hasn't stopped laughing about the asian girl yet* looks at craig who is purposefully biting his lip and staring intently at the floor to keep himself from bursting out laughing) laura starts visibly quaking back and forth and biting the back of her hand to keep from laughing any louder than she already is.

asian girl: point..chik chik...CLICK.

lady: and also we pray for Rob dean who passed this week in the hospital in Lexington

asian girl: chik chick...CLICK

Laura in the meanwhile still can not stop laughing

Craig starts slowly scooting away from laura

BUT WAIT. that is not all!!

THEN... when the collection basket came around. the asian girl put it on her lap and started taking up close pictures.. proceeded to not put any money in it, and pass it the wrong way. Then when she went up for communion, and gave the camera to someone else to take pictures of her receiving communion. CLICK. CLICK. EXCELLENT.

The back of my hand literally starts turning purple and white with bite marks and broken skin.

i point this out to craig. who sighs, rubs his forehead, and tries to remember why he's dating me.

O measureless might! Ineffable love!
While angels delight to worship Thee above,
The humbler creation, though feeble their lays,

With true adoration shall all sing Thy praise.

...and God be with you, this week and always...

CLICK

laura: *takes her hand out of her mouth and turns to craig*: don't you dare say a word to me before we get through the procession line or i'll start cracking up again.

craig (to the asian girl): hey get a picture of us! we're REAL CHRISTIANS!! Photo opp.!!

laura: oh my god.

I kid you not...

fixed it

dreary and happy

the only way i can think of to categorize this weather is dreary. rainy and cold. but it really doesn't seem to effect our students at all. after all... we are number nine in the nation for happiest students. the rain comes and visits, and everyone pulls out their colorful rainboots and bubble umbrellas.

andrew, craigs high school person is here.

we all went to breakfast this morning.

craig: so laur this is andrew, andrew, laura...

laura: why in gods name are you here so early?

andrew: well see my parents had to go to work so they kind of dropped me off on the way

laura: on the way to work? where do they work? you live two hours away..

andrew: yeah well...

laura: so do you like it here?

andrew: well ive been here for ten minutes...

cassey *walks over and sits down with her breakfast*

laura: hey cassey, when is your college kid coming?

cassey: oh at 6 tonight

laura: oh like a normal person. i see.

cassey: yeah wer going to hook her up with craigs high school guy

laura: cassey, this is andrew, craigs high school guy

cassey: oh my god. this is so embarrassing. why in the world are you here this early?

andrew: well you see.. um.. my parents..

cassey: so do you like it here?

andrew: well... its kind of wet... ive only been here for..

*josh sits down*

josh: you guys will never guess what i got on the way to the caf this morning?!!!

craig: a gideon bible?

josh: HOW DID YOU GUESS THAT?

craig: they were standing right outside the door josh...

Josh: And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness...

craig: please don't.

laura: so andrew, as an official student ambassador i feel the need to inform you about our little school

cassey: i can't believe hes here so early

steffano: dude if you start making fun of God, i am gonna be so angry

josh: im not im not...Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.

laura: so basically we are in the middle of nowhere. there is very little to do. VERY LITTLE.

andrew: oh i know.

laura: we have no town at all.

andrew: nothing?

josh: And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.

cassey: dude how are you eating that oatmeal? its gross.

josh: yo.. oatmeal is GOOD for you. it improves your blood flow and stuff.

steffano: really?

laura: hes making it up...oh andrew, we do have alot of diversity.

craig: pshhh....

laura: craig we ate breakfast with a guy from Ethiopia the other day

craig: hes just black

laura: he was from ETHIOPIA

josh: And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

craig: i dont count that as a minority

laura: ETHIOPIA Craig. so do you want to go windsurfing later andrew?

andrew: i dont think ill be very good at it...

josh: And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

laura: its okay, Craigs not either.

craig: pshhh. look what im drinking laur... MILK.

laura: thats great craig. that will really help your stuffy nose. gross.

steffano: yo who is that kid?

laura: thats andrew... hes a high school kid with craig

steffano: he looks older.

cassey: tell me about it.

steffano: does he like it here?

andrew: ive...

laura: he just got here.

josh: and this is the word of God...

cassey: to the people of God.

andrew: I WENT TO A BLACK CHURCH ONCE

steffano: sick

laura: yo andrew, i can take you to my class today if you want... its going to be alot more fun than craigs classes

craig: thats probably true

laura: art major. wer cutting out pictures from a magazine and pasting them into our sketch books

maddy *walks by*: oh laur i have the magazines for class today!

andrew: oh good. i'll come with you.

craig: i have a german exam.

josh: craig how much did you study for german today?

craig: umm...

laura: not at all. he didn't study at all.

josh: my kinda guy.

cassey: shut up and eat your oatmeal

steffano: get your flow on man, get your blood flow on.

...

happy halloween-er

for your convenience i have made two parts of this post. if you have time read number one. if not. skip to number two.

1. the first picture you have to turn you head to the left for. its just a quick sketch i did for a project craig is working on. its supposed to be the front of an island plantation. i hardly ever work in ink but i think it came out okay. the other two are water colors that i did while in Hatteras. Im not sure how i feel about the middle one. i might have to work on it some more.

so today when i was walking in the PG dorms, i saw the boys had a creative message up on somebody's white board.

"official weather report

hallway: 99 degrees

our room: 4 degrees

outside: -200 degrees

have a nice day."

as far as i know, this is pretty much accurate. today it is raining and cold. and not even windy. the PG boys have also edited their other bulitan board, which used to read "Happy Halloween!" but now reads "Happy Halloween-er!" are they creative or what?! honors college.

not surprisingly these are the same boys who are always playing nerf gun battles in the hallway.

I asked a few of them if i could borrow nerf guns to be lara croft for halloween and they said they would have to think about it. they are rather over protective of them apparently.

in other news, i went to yoga yesterday, it was lovely. But im skipping it today because its raining and gross and i have real work i could be doing.

yesterday i signed up for TWO different karma clubs. they are karma clubs because they are good for my karma. One is Big brothers Big sisters. i haven't filed my application yet, but ill go work on it after this. pretty much you get a kid to drag around on the weekends, take sailing, and to library time, and go to baseball games and picnics. this sounds great by me! although i wish i had a car. i will just have to learn the public transportation systems around here. FO SHO. i actually applied for a job with them as an art programs co-ordinator, so we shall see how that turns out. im going to do a follow-up call sometime tomorrow. it would be nice to get a job and save for that jeep wrangler i've been wanting for like four years. also then i could get tickets to go see brian reagan when he performs in ny in december. me and craig really want to go. dad probably would really like to go also. the other club i signed up for was the children and art club. where all these kids get bussed to our college and i help like 8 other college kids teach some art classes. its all volunteer, but i love kids and art so...WHOOT. should be my kinda thing.

i have to paint alot this weekend for the theatre. Leon, my advisor is on a trip out of town, so i stopped by yesterday to get an idea of what has to be finished by monday.

we are currently stripping this one desk and its drawers and re-staining them a different color.

Leon: so have you stripped before?

Casey: only on the weekends.

Laura: haha... oh wait... i get it.

movies on my list to watch:

I am Sam

GUESS WHAT this weekend is? you probably guessed it. the much anticipated CLAM SHUCKING FESTIVAL. i am pretty pumped. some friends of mine are playing in a jazz band there, and its supposed to be nice, lots of seafood and such. ALSO there is a campus wide capture the flag tournament tomorrow night. there is going to be a fire, and hot chocolate, and glow sticks! ive come to the conclusion, that college and kindergarden are very similar.

craig is having a high school kid shadow him and stay over for the night, so he wants to be all cool and go party. but i told him "look... st marys isnt a party school, the kid's going to realize that in about two seconds, we might as well just go do something fun... like pumpkin picking" craig did not think pumpkin picking was a cool-enough idea. "look laur what would you do if you had someone from high school come stay overnight with you?"

laura: go to the clam festival?

this is not the right answer in case you were wondering.

i got a letter from erika crowell at villanova. i miss that girl.

2. (short version) pictures, jeeps, rain, clams, stripping, yoga, craig, kindergarden, letters.

live in peace and prosper

namaste

home sweet home

so I'm home safe and sound.

all in all i would have to say that Hattera's was probably the most fun way i could have spent my fall break. most fun? is that grammatically correct? whatever.

there were alot of laughs this weekend but to sum it all up i'll try and remember some of my favorites.

justin: its really hard to water start on the big boards.

laura: oh! is it easier on the smaller boards?

justin: no.

laura: oh. well thanks justin.

marty: "pizza, get some"... "we have good food here"

martin: what?

marty: thats what those signs said.

martin: this part of the world is just full of great sayings

justin: oh a hitch hiker

marty: i'm only driving a short way down the road, or i'd pick him up

justing: *moves index finger and thumb closer together* thats the sign for "only going a short way... however thats also the sign for "you have a small penis"

marty: oh well i guess its situational, you have to use context clues. otherwise the hitch hiker might think your insulting him.

while watching The Broken Arrow on VHS

nutt: why does the girl have to take her shirt off before jumping off the truck? i dont understand. it doesn't make any sense.

john: that sign on the side of the road says "55 means 55" what else would it mean? thats ridiculous.

martin: those wind boards from the 80's are pretty much rocks. i don't even know how they used them..

marty: hey you ever hear about the wooden car?

martin: no.

marty: it wooden-t go. ... sorry its one of the two jokes i know, i try to use it as often as possible

laura: did that sign on the side of the road just say "hookers"?

john: did you want me to pull over laur?

"You might have heard I run with a dangerous crowd
We ain't too pretty we ain't too proud
We might be laughing a bit too loud
aw But that never hurt no one"

-billy joel