Back Me Up East-Coasters

I never considered myself much of an “east-coaster.” I mean, yes geographically that is what one would call me, but personality wise I always considered myself above the east-coast stereotype of living an uptight, unfriendly, rushed sort of existence. In fact the majority of my circle of family and friends would not comply with this definition. BUT there are some things that make my east-coast origin stick out like a sore thumb and I cannot deny the fact of where my allegiance lays.

A coke is a “soda” not “pop.” The beach is WAY BETTER than the Lakes, I don’t care if you put the adjective “Great” in front of them, they are still nothing more than bodies of water surrounded by land. The ocean on the other hand is a massive body of water, encompassing a HUGE percentage of the Earth that offers more exploration, fun and adventure than a lake could EVER offer! Come on, who’s ever heard of snorkeling in a lake? The big complaint is that the ocean is “too salty.” Okay, people suck it up! Swallowing a mouth full of salt water is an initiation right in most families I know! A large sandwich on an Italian roll is a “Hoagie” not a “sub” and the only way to get it is at Wawa! AND NO, “Wawa” is not a baby word, it is the name of the happiest place on Earth. Mid-westerners seem to think that’s Disney world . . . but east-coasters know different! And finally, Mr. Herr, could you please introduce your product to the rest of the world . . . what’s this “Lays” business . . . I want my Honey BBQ Chips!

I’m really having a great time, don’t get me wrong with this posting. It’s just . . . well I had to get some things off my back! In fact when I’m home for break I fully intend on having a SODA and HOAGIE from WAWA!!!

Shout Out to My Girls!

I'm sending out a special thank you to two of my favorite girls in all the world! Livvy and Lexi, you girls ROCK my world! To fill the rest of you in, Livvy and Lexi are two of my best friends that I babysit for. They sent me a package of the coolest stuff EVER! I have had a pretty trying week, there were more tears shed, but they made my week!!! Thanks to them next time I get stressed I can color in my HUGE Strawberry Shortcake coloring book, with my new crayons and markers! (By the way girls, did you know that Strawberry Shortcake was my favorite? Cause she is!) I also found Hershey Kisses, Pixy Stix, TastyKakes, PINK slippers, a Magic Eight Ball (this will come in handy in my theology class . . . we just read about Divine Revelation. . . I'll just ask God to speak to me through the Magic Eight Ball), I also got cards and a journal. . . AND the BEST by far was the picture they drew for me! So Livvy and Lexi I heard you read my blog! So this one's for you (and of course Mommy and Dadddy for all their help!) THANKS!!!!

What's That Smell?!

Okay, so it is probably no big surprise to most of you who know me fairly well, but I am not exactly the neatest person in the world! In fact I just recently discovered the rug in my bedroom is pink, and that is only after being told I was not allowed to move out until my room was clean! So the past couple days whenever I would be laying in bed or around my bed I would smell this God awful smell. A week ago it was just faint, I thought it was the spoon of old peanut butter I had left on my windowsill . . . woops. . . but after finally cleaning that I realized the smell was not gone. So then I began to think it was my sheets. . . having to pay for my laundry now I just don't do sheets that often . . . or at least I haven't yet. . . but after a close nose inspection that did not seem to be the problem. I then thought. . .well is it me? I quickly threw that idea out the window. . .I mean, I shower everyday! Well this morning I finally discovered it! As you may have read I went to a park a couple weekends ago. . . I would have lied and said last weekend but you can all read my blog and would have quickly discovered I was lying. . . I will just be honest, it was week"s" ago! I had packed a lunch. . .do you see where this is going? I only ate half my sandwich. . . the other half? You guessed it! I found it this morning under my bed in my backpack that I had taken to the park! EEEWWW! I didn't even open the bag to realize it stunk like the dead! You will be glad to know my room no longer has the hint of dead carcus anymore. I discarded the problem, sprayed some febreeze and now . . . UMMM Good as new!! Febreeze is the answer to my prayers! Thanks Procter and Gamble!

Biblical Criticism Too Good Not to Share

We all think we understand the story of creation right? I thought I did! But then someone comes along and shares a perspective with you that blows your mind. That happened to me this week in my scripture class when my Professor introduced us to the biblical criticism of Phyllis Trible.

This is just one’s interpretation of the creation story but it is an intriguing one that I thought was well worth sharing! Trible argues that one must be careful with the language one uses to read the bible. Specifically she speaks about creation. She suggests that there is a play on words that is going on that because of problematic translations has been lost. ADAMAH in Hebrew means Earth, HA’ADAM means the Earth Creature, essentially this is an androgynous being. Not totally in our understanding of the word today but in a sense that one side was completely male and one side completely female but she does not use the word hermaphrodite because she claims it was not a combination of the two sexes it was completely both sexes.

In Genesis 2:22b God made “woman” ISHSHAH AND “man” ISH. Before this point sexuality was non-existent! That means “man” was not created first, but both were created at the same point in time. What we usually perceive as the creation of “woman” is truly the separation of man and woman from the original “Earth Creature” into two separate beings.

In essence EVERYTHING was “shared” by the two beings.

Another point of contention that Trible uses to support her theory is in the adjective used upon creation of the female being, ETZER. This word in Hebrew stands for both superior AND helper. The two translations would look as so: 1) God made man a helper or 2) God made man superior. Helper would imply equal partnership! Trible argues that “helper” is the more truthful translation. She goes on to support this concept with her conclusion that Song of Songs is the rest of the story of creation. The couple shares everything as the couple in Genesis and thus this is the completion and redemption of the fall in the creation story in Genesis.

As further support my professor personally added that there is a myth that exists in Greek mythology where by Zeus “separates” the one “creature” into two and thus they spend their entire lives trying to reunite, intimately with each other.

Beer Pong

My sister will be so proud of me when she hears that this weekend I learned how to, AND DID play beer pong! She will be quickly disappointed when she realizes that I played with WATER! The original plan was to go to the Italian Festival (which we did) and then go out dancing (which we did not!) Unfortunately, although Dayton is a city, it is not known for its night life! Finding a non-skanky place to dance proved impossible and in a state of surrender we retreated to the house for the usual night at the University of Dayton. This was where some of the other GA's had the brilliant idea to play beer pong. . . I told them I don't play drinking games because I'd be in the hospital after round one, they quickly said, "play with water!" So I did! Plus, I don't really think you can call what we did a "drinking" game. Where as there was drinking involved it was about the equivalent of a beer each by the time the game ended. Really the "pong" was more fun than the "beer."

Trash Trucks Threatening My Sanity!

I always considered myself a pretty deep sleeper. Whenever there would be a thunder and lightning storm that most are awoken by I wake in the morning, peering out the window, commenting, "did it rain last night?" But the truth is coming out! I am a sound "country" sleeper; you put me in a city and it's a different story!!

Here's the dilemmia, the dumpters are right outside my window. Here in Dayton apparently it is customary to collect trash in the MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT! I'm NOT kidding, midnight, 3 am, 6 am. I could deal with the midnight and 6 am. . . but the ones that occur between those hours make me insane!

The trucks come and it is like I am under attack! The lights, the beeping, the roar of the engines, and lets not forget when the dumpters are lifted they go right by my second story window!

I don't run on much sleep these days. . . for example I fell asleep around 2 last night, and awoke at 6 with the trucks . . . Solution? Don't have one yet. I've attempted to sleep in the other room I have which is further from the window and separated by another wall, but this placed me closer to the constant shreking of the freshmen girls running up and down the hallway, ALSO at all hours of the night! My next attempt is going to be ear plugs. . . I'm afraid that this will make it hard to hear an alarm in the morning so I may have to get use to sleeping with my cell phone alarm on vibrate and straped to my arm or leg or something.

For now, signing off, sleep deprived ready to face another long day with a TON of work to do! Systematic Theology is ironically my favorite class, Scripture is very interesting, but Church History sucks! Can't God just divinely fill me in!?

Freeing Myself

First of all, some have complained that my blog was "hard to read" due to the dark background. So for you, I have changed it. Let me know what you think.

Today is an exciting day. Although I have a lot to read I'm doing some much needed "fun things" with my day. In about an hour some of the GA's are picking me up and we are heading to the farmers market where we are going to have what I am told is the "most amazing breakfast EVER!"

Tonight we are heading down to Cincinnati, a city I've never been to, to go to a big band festival. I am very excited, mostly at the chance of getting OFF CAMPUS! Especially on a weekend where EVERYONE seems to have gone home for the weekend to be with there family. I have to admit it was quite depressing when I was waiting for a friend to pick me up yesterday and all these parents came to take their children for the weekend. . . and mine weren't. This is one of the challenges of the distance for me!

But besides that I am still doing VERY well, classes are interested. . . difficult but doable! In fact I have to give a five minute presentation (if you even want to call it that!) on a feminist theologian. I have to supply the class with her background and what she is currently doing with her life. . . I couldn't find any information on her other than her mini bio from the University website where she currently teaches. This also provided me with her email address, so yes, you guessed it I emailed her! It was great, she gave me all the info I needed plus some fun stuff! Can't wait for class.

Okay, as I've said, I'm getting off campus today, less than an hour now and I need a shower. . . hope you all are well! Love you all! Miss you all!