Those don't look like brownies

So this weekend I had the opportunity to travel to the poconos with some friends to spend a few days at a cabin on a frozen lake. It was a great chance to get away and recharge for the next few weeks. We drove up in the late evening, so it was completely dark and at times looking in the rear-view mirror I might as well have been looking at a piece of black construction paper. We didn't get too lost or confused on the drive up and jammed out to an assortment of ipods. Upon arrival we were able to really see for the first time the clarity of the stars. It was breath-taking. Took me back to Indonesia. Unfortunately we were so tired and cold that we didn't gaze upon them much the first night and the next night was cloudy. :(

I almost forgot that we all had minor heart-attacks on the drive up (when we were almost there) and Liz realized she did not think she had the cabin key with her. We began to plan who we would try to stay with overnight until the rest of the girls could bring the keys the next day. Thankfully Liz really did have the keys!



Woodstove, gas stove, pancakes with sprinkles at 10 pm (because it was the only food in the house).

We woke up the next morning and made more pancakes (which I became quite good at I must admit) before taking a walk on the very frozen lake. There was a family playing ice hockey and ice fishing in the middle of the lake. It was quite spectacular. It was even better to curl up by the woodstove with grilled cheese and tomato soup after our lake adventure.



The rest of the girls joined us later in the day and we made dinner together: Spaghetti, fruit cocktail, texas toast garlic bread, and brownies...or so we thought. All day we were getting excited for brownies and that was the first thing that we made. When we pulled it out of the oven, it looked funny, but we didn't really think about it until after dinner when we dug in...to a pan of chocolate cake!

The rest of the night included another stroll across the lake to the bonfire on the beach with marshmallows, s'mores and hot chocolate! Movie night was a must followed by truth or dare - what sleepover isn't complete without those 2 components. Lori was a trooper and walked on the ice bare foot! Way to go Lor!



The rest of the trip was uneventful, except for the fact that we left the heat on upstairs when we left and had to call security to turn it off for us. It was actually much more dramatic for Liz on the phone with her parents, but it worked out in the end. Thanks girls for a fantastic weekend!

Close Calls in the Big City

This weekend some friends convinced me to go to New York City with them today (didn't take too much convincing though). So after travel research and input from my cousin, we decided to take a train to Philadelphia and megabus to New York.

I am quite familiar with the trains going to and from Philadelphia, however this morning when we arrived at the first station in Philly, we were a bit confused as to where we were. We needed to get off at 30th Street Station, which was usually the first stop, but it was dark and we didn't recognize where we had stopped. After waiting for almost a minute, I turned to the man seated behind us and asked if this was 30th Street. He said it was and Liz, Britany and I could not have gotten off that train faster. The door closed behind us just as we exited the car. Phew! Thank you God! Seriously.

Next we needed to figure out where to catch the megabus. We got directions and waited on a street corner by a bus shelter for a few minutes - just long enough for Liz and Britany to be almost attacked by a pigeon. After the close call on the train, we wanted to be sure we were at the correct spot, so I asked the man emptying the trash can where the megabus boarded. Good thing we asked - itwas around the corner where we couldn't see...AND the bus was already there waiting.

At the rate we were going, we could have been at Suburban Station, many blocks away from where we needed to be, or just waiting patiently at the original bus shelter, fending off birds and then chasing after our bus as it drove past us. Thankfully none of that really happened.

Upon arrival to the Big Apple, we stood on a street corner for a good 5 minutes just looking around and trying to figure out where we were and where we wanted to go. It was mostly staring though I think. Finally we agreed to go with the tourist look and get a map.

The day was filled with much walking and absorbing of sights. Here are a few main points, but certainly not play by play of the entire day.

-the Empire State Building was anticlimactic. I thought it was going to be more exciting than it was, plus we didn't go inside.

- We decided that the soldier standing outside FAO Schwartz has the best job – lots of pictures with the ladies (and kids)-Who said the giant piano in FAO Schwartz was just for kids?

- Did you know that the Apple Store in NYC is underground? All you can see from the sidewalk is a clear cube with an apple inside. Pretty much the sweetest thing ever!

-Meanwhile it had started to snow and when we reached Central Park, the grass was covered and snow was still falling. It was one of the best sights I’ve seen in awhile.

-Central Park Zoo reminded me of Madagascar… “And now, Alex the Lion!”

- There were people sledding in the park, it looked like fun and it was all I could do to resist joining them…that and the fact that I didn’t have a sled

- Marriot Marquis New York: This is Liz’s favorite hotel in the world, she suggested we go in and get something to drink at the restaurant on the top floor because the floor moves and you can see all over the city. We thought it was a great idea and went inside. The elevators were glass and circular. They looked like the tubes that you send money in at the bank. There were at least 15 of these “pods”. We got in one and went to the 45th floor…the elevator moved at a spectacular speed and we thought we were going to shoot through the roof – like in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The snow that was falling seemed to be frozen in mid air – it was one the most amazing sight of the day.

- 2 Elmos and a creepy midget Shrek

-Hard Rock café and the waiter who carried a grudge because we all ordered water


Upon arrival back to St. Davids, we found out that it had snowed there more than in the city and our friends had been sledding all day. I think our trip was much more exciting.

2009 = boring? I think not!

So I've come to realize that I am a terrible blogger. Haha first of all, I am pretty sure the only people who read this are my parents. Oh well, it will come in handy in a few months when I take another step in my world traveling dream. Its kinda crazy to think that I will be out of the country twice this year. I am super excited for the 2 upcoming trips.

I came to the realization that I only have 15 more weeks of undergraduate studies left. I can hardly wrap my mind around it. Honestly, May 9, 2009 cannot come soon enough but at the same time, I'm not ready to say goodbye to the campus that has been my home for 4 years. Regardless, I am excited to see what all 2009 brings. So far:

March: my last college spring break
May: graduation
July: Honduras
August: Student teaching/grad school
October: China, birthday celebrations in Asia
November: Thanksgiving away from my family but in a new culture
December: saying goodbye to Asia and coming home for Christmas, deciding if I want to go back to Asia for a longer period of time

Its kinda packed, but exciting. I wonder what else will happen?

Superpower: Space Saver

So my university campus has very limited parking. Tonight we had a guest speaker come to campus and I was tagging along with my RD who was in charge of welcoming the speaker and taking him into the building. I'd like to say that I had the honor of standing in a parking space to save it for Don Miller - the author of Blue Like Jazz. Yes, yours truly risked her precious life for his convenience. I'm pretty much his hero (he just doesn't know it yet). Then he opened the door of the car...

"Hi! I'm Don," he said with and extended hand.
"Hi! I'm Kaitlin," I said as I extended my hand as well.

Mmhmm...you got it - not only did I save a parking space for him, but I shook his hand as well. I'm never gonna wash it again! Ok just kidding.

He shared his perspective on Barak Obama and why he is supporting this particular politician. I found the evening to be very helpful and enlightening in my quest to make an informed decision on my absentee ballot. I wasn't sure how it was going to go, having someone I respected in the Christian circle speak on an issue of politics - but you know what? I think we need to have informed discussions with respected Christians about politics. Just because it is a taboo topic for family gatherings doesn't mean it should be avoided - especially in an election such as this one. Shame on the person who goes to the polls completely ignorant only to vote straight party lines. I hope that others take the opportunity to engage in discussions on the tough issues with which this election is dealing (foreign policy, economy, abortion, education etc).

Ok, I'm going to step down off my soap box now. Enjoy your day!

Green Butterfly

My brother's band has their CD release concert tonight. This is something we have all been waiting for for a long time. I am super excited to be able to support them tonight. The CD sounds amazing by the way - one of the benefits of being related to the band! :)

I am sitting in a little coffee shop at home right now, working on grad school essays, student teaching applications and seriously thinking/writing about what I believe about education and my professional life - kinda deep! haha. Well as I have been sitting here, a lady in her late 50's I'd say walked by the front of the stop about 6 times. So this isn't too unusual considering the shop is located right on the square of downtown Chambersburg - however the unusual part is that she had a green butterfly painted on her face - like covering her entire face. I kinda wish I had a picture. That's all I have to say - a lady walked by several times and she looked like a green butterfly. :)

Passion

When you are passionate about something, it is so hard to keep that passion hidden. Today I was going through some pictures to create a slide show for my presentation at church next Sunday night. I began reminiscing of my time spend in Indonesia this past summer and I began to ask, was it really real? Did I really go there? Did I really live in a village for a week? Seeing the faces of the kids brought back so many memories of our daily jalan-jalan (walks). As difficult as it was living in that village I miss it so much. The beauty was spectacular, the people so genuine. God, there is something burning inside me, screaming to be let out - a passion and desire to just go. To go wherever it is that you want me to go. Here I am God, send me.

Where were you?

This blog is going to take a bit more of a serious tone today. Its hard to believe that 7 years ago was the day that the planes crashed into the World Trade Center, Pentagon and Western Pennsylvania. I just got back from breakfast and watching the news coverage of the memorial services going on at those places. Before parting with my roommate as she went to work and I headed back to the room, we commented on where we were at the time of the crashes (because it was nearing 9:03 when the second crash took place). Here is my account of the day:

I was blessed to have been home schooled at this time of my life and take pride in the fact that I was at home when all of this was happening in NY, DC and PA. I was sitting in front of the computer checking my email that particular Tuesday morning when my mom called down the steps to tell me to turn on the TV that something had happened in NYC. I got up and turned on the television and sat in disbelief at what I was seeing. I would end up sitting there most of the day. I can remember the newscaster's words just before the second plane hit the second tower...something along the lines of "Oh my gosh, look, there's another plane!"

I watched as the second plane plowed into the tower (and would see it again and again as it would be replayed). I don' t really remember specific feelings other than shock.

What were you doing on that day? Feel free to comment, I'm curious.