I was so nervous this morning! I had butterflies in my stomach as I put on one of my new outfits, curled my hair (which I just got cut specially for pioneer school), got all my books together. When I arrived at the KH I sat in my car and called Zack for a little moral support, because I was afraid to go in. Even after the hours I'd spent studying the night before I felt so unprepared, and unqualified to attend. Then Trixy drove up and parked next to me, so I had someone to walk in with. That made it a lot easier.
There was a seating chart, putting us all in alphabetical order. I was pretty happy about that, expecting to be next to Trixy, but a couple of people didn't show up, we got juggled around, and I ended up in a different row with Larry and Carol Smith. That was just fine, too :)
Bruce Smith opened the session by telling us what to expect the next two weeks, and kind of putting all our minds at ease about the homework. About 2 hours a night, he said. No more than that. Which was very, very nice. He also got us all excited about the lunches. Apparently some congregations go to greater lengths than others to completely spoil the pioneers. "Y'all better look out, because if Carpenter Hills is catering today, they gonna mess you up," he said. "Don't expect the other congregations to live up to Carpenter Hills. They gonna mess you up." Everybody cracked up.
Surprisingly, once we got into the group discussions, I had no problem raising my hand. My nervousness sort of dissolved as we got into the material, which was extremely interesting and upbuilding, all about drawing closer to Jehovah. I found that I was really enjoying myself, and I felt happy.
Tacoma Narrows provided our lunch, and it was awesome. I was so happy to see little Gabby Pankaskie, the most beautiful girl in the world, and I promptly got her phone number and told her she has to model for me, while I try out my new camera (which I haven't actually got yet, but will soon). I can't wait to get some pictures of her. She is gorgeous!
I had fun at lunch, sitting next to my new sister-in-law, Courtney. She's really funny and nice. I found out, much to my suprise and joy, that her husband is the nephew of the brother who gave my wedding talk. I couldn't believe it! I am distantly-by-marriage related to the Raves now! There are tons of Raves out in Eatonville, and they are just the nicest ever. I used to want to marry a Rave, but there were none left. So I was very happy to find out that I now have a connection to the family anyway.
Anyway I've got to go pick up Zack, so I guess that's all for now. It was an awesome day and I'm super happy!
Monday, July 14, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
Three Day Weekend
I am worn out today. Work was long and stressful. I didn't even want to get up this morning, because I knew that as soon as I got out of bed, the long, glorious weekend would be over.
Friday we got up early and had breakfast at Starbucks, and then headed off to the Point Defiance Zoo. It was the perfect way to spend an unexpected day off (neither Zack nor I had realized until last Monday that it was going to be a three day weekend). We watched puffins divebomb off the rocks into a pool, saw polar bears sunning themselves, a tiger growling discontent at the sound of air force planes overhead. We watched beluga whales and walruses swimming endless laps in the aquarium, pitied the huge, beautiful raven tethered to his perch, laughed at the playful otters.
Around four o'clock we finally left and drove down to Owen Beach, where tons of people were gathering to watch the fireworks that night. I snapped a few pictures of some African children playing on the sand. One of them, a little girl about ten years old, wore a blue velvet dress. She sat on a driftwood log with her arms folded around her knees, and stared silently out to sea. I wanted to paint her picture.
Saturday was a day to catch up on sleep. Then, at three o'clock we attended the memorial of a dear old friend, Gene Smith, who died on June 25th, at the age of 87. I have fond memories of Brother Smith driving us out in service in his little yellow car. He always stopped at 12:00 to eat a sandwich and listen to polka on his favorite radio station. Gene smith was a pioneer for 22 years, from the day he retired until the day he died. I know that Jehovah will never forget his faithful service. I will miss him very much.
Sunday we went to see the Tall Ships Festival. It was incredibly lame. The ships were cool, especially the H.M.S. Bounty, which I really wanted to tour. But the lines were so incredibly long that it would have been impossible. So we just strolled down the waterfront past tents selling pirate costumes and greasy food, and sat on the edge of the boardwalk for a while, looking out at the view. There were tons of strange people dressed as pirates, including a particularly weird guy in a Jack Sparrow costume. As we passed him I heard a father tell his teenage girl, "Go take your picture with him!" and she said, "No!" in tones of disgust. I completely shared her sentiments. The guy was weird.
After meeting my sister invited us over for spaghetti. We went, and it was delicious. Afterwards there was "healthy" (south beach-approved) ice cream with blueberries on top. We watched Zack's Jim Gaffigan dvd, and then we came home and went to bed.
The End
Friday we got up early and had breakfast at Starbucks, and then headed off to the Point Defiance Zoo. It was the perfect way to spend an unexpected day off (neither Zack nor I had realized until last Monday that it was going to be a three day weekend). We watched puffins divebomb off the rocks into a pool, saw polar bears sunning themselves, a tiger growling discontent at the sound of air force planes overhead. We watched beluga whales and walruses swimming endless laps in the aquarium, pitied the huge, beautiful raven tethered to his perch, laughed at the playful otters.
Around four o'clock we finally left and drove down to Owen Beach, where tons of people were gathering to watch the fireworks that night. I snapped a few pictures of some African children playing on the sand. One of them, a little girl about ten years old, wore a blue velvet dress. She sat on a driftwood log with her arms folded around her knees, and stared silently out to sea. I wanted to paint her picture.
Saturday was a day to catch up on sleep. Then, at three o'clock we attended the memorial of a dear old friend, Gene Smith, who died on June 25th, at the age of 87. I have fond memories of Brother Smith driving us out in service in his little yellow car. He always stopped at 12:00 to eat a sandwich and listen to polka on his favorite radio station. Gene smith was a pioneer for 22 years, from the day he retired until the day he died. I know that Jehovah will never forget his faithful service. I will miss him very much.
Sunday we went to see the Tall Ships Festival. It was incredibly lame. The ships were cool, especially the H.M.S. Bounty, which I really wanted to tour. But the lines were so incredibly long that it would have been impossible. So we just strolled down the waterfront past tents selling pirate costumes and greasy food, and sat on the edge of the boardwalk for a while, looking out at the view. There were tons of strange people dressed as pirates, including a particularly weird guy in a Jack Sparrow costume. As we passed him I heard a father tell his teenage girl, "Go take your picture with him!" and she said, "No!" in tones of disgust. I completely shared her sentiments. The guy was weird.
After meeting my sister invited us over for spaghetti. We went, and it was delicious. Afterwards there was "healthy" (south beach-approved) ice cream with blueberries on top. We watched Zack's Jim Gaffigan dvd, and then we came home and went to bed.
The End
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
:)
Well Pam never came. I don't know what happened! Rawr, and I knew all along that I should have gone out in service. Oh well, he house is nice and cleany clean, though! I even swept the patio, weeded the border, and picked a few cherries from the tree. Then Pongo and I had a little photo session. I used Zack's camera, which I almost never touch, but it looks like we're going to be doing a wedding in August, so I think I better start getting familiar with it! My first session turned out overexposed and blurry, but I had a lot of fun and I'm going to post a few shots anyway.
Progress Report
2 loads of laundry done
dishes washed
couch and living room febrezed
will continue tidying up, vacuum living room, and mop kitchen. Pongo is in the office, safely out of the way of the febreze fumes. (I wasn't sure if it would be poisonous to him or not, and I don't want him to die!) I would have put him outside, but it's kind of cloudy and cold.
Zack will stop by in an hour or so, and I will ask him if it still smells.
P.S. Mom called. The fam is planning to go to the Crosses' weekend campout. I went last year and it was super fun! Nature hikes, frolicking on the beach, giant meals, tons of new friends, guitar and songs at night, etc. I kind of want to go again, but at the same time I'm afraid it won't live up to the superb wonderfulness of last year. Especially since Abby won't be there, and Devin probably won't be, either. Will ask Zack what he thinks...
dishes washed
couch and living room febrezed
will continue tidying up, vacuum living room, and mop kitchen. Pongo is in the office, safely out of the way of the febreze fumes. (I wasn't sure if it would be poisonous to him or not, and I don't want him to die!) I would have put him outside, but it's kind of cloudy and cold.
Zack will stop by in an hour or so, and I will ask him if it still smells.
P.S. Mom called. The fam is planning to go to the Crosses' weekend campout. I went last year and it was super fun! Nature hikes, frolicking on the beach, giant meals, tons of new friends, guitar and songs at night, etc. I kind of want to go again, but at the same time I'm afraid it won't live up to the superb wonderfulness of last year. Especially since Abby won't be there, and Devin probably won't be, either. Will ask Zack what he thinks...
Something's Rotten in Here...
I'm staying home today to clean house. More specifically, to try and discover the source of the mystery stink. Lately Zack and I have been noticing whenever we come home that we walk into a cloud of really yucky stench. And we don't know where it's coming from! It's not a bathroom sort of smell. Garbage, maybe, but I've emptied the garbage, cleaned the can, and cleaned under the kitchen sink, and yet the smell persists. I bleached the toilet, cleaned out the vegetable drawer in the fridge, and threw away some old zucchini. But still it smells in here. We are stumped. Today I'll try taking Pongo's cage outside, and wash as much of the laundry as I can. It's not really an old laundry kind of smell, though. I can't even describe it except to say that it stinks.
I was planning to go out in service this morning, but Pam (our landlady) will be dropping by in the afternoon to pick up the rent. And I don't want it to smell when she gets here! I would be very, very super embarrassed. So I stayed home to clean. But I am not happy about it.
Rawr.
I was planning to go out in service this morning, but Pam (our landlady) will be dropping by in the afternoon to pick up the rent. And I don't want it to smell when she gets here! I would be very, very super embarrassed. So I stayed home to clean. But I am not happy about it.
Rawr.
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