A Random Collection of Various Thoughts, Updates, and other Useless Information

-Thrift store shopping in the South took on a whole new meaning for me this weekend. Carrboro is home to one of the "best" thrift stores in the country or something like that, and it is run by the PTA so all the benefits go to the schools. I was definitely impressed by the selection and quality of merchandise in the shop(I purchased two books in pretty decent condition for $.50 each), but what made the trip interesting was the customers. First of all, we had to wait in line for about 15 minutes just to check out because of one lady who took that entire 15 minutes. When she first got to the register she loudly proclaimed to the clerk that the item was grossly mismarked, and that it was even too big for her even though it was marked really small. I think after her tirade everyone in the shop knew exactly what size she wore and what size she thought the skirt was supposed to be. Geez, lady, it's a thrift store, cut 'em some slack. To top the whole event off, the lady's husband had bought a printer or something in the basement and as she was finishing checking out, the husband yelled up the stars, "Carol, give 'er another dollar, I'm buyin' somethin' else." Once again, he might as well have spoken over the loudspeaker. Thank you, thrift store couple, for redefining southern hospitality as speaking so loudly in a public place that I might as well have been invited over for dinner and treated to y'alls life story.

-I have decided that y'all is by far the most efficient way to address more than one person. I suppose if I learn nothing else while living in North Carolina, I can take that little nugget with me. Sorry Chicagoans, "you guys" just doesn't cut it.

-Speaking of Chicago, I just watched the movie The Breakup, and it made me really miss living in the Chicagoland area. Chicago is just plain a great city and there's no getting around it.

-I also just viewed the new trailer for Pirates of the Caribbean 3, and I don't care what anyone said about the second movie, this one looks so awesome I almost wet my pants.

-In more serious news, I am basically at the end of the line for grad school applications. I have heard from everyone except North Carolina, and every one of them has been a polite, but resounding "no." I have come to a point through reflection, prayer, and depression not to pursue a PhD in Classical Studies. Instead, I will be reapplying to schools for fall of next year for the Masters Program with a teaching certification for high school Latin. However, this means that we will be staying in North Carolina for another year, and I will be taking a few more classes at UNC. The whole decision process has been very exhausting and frustrating, but I feel that I'm at an exciting new fork in the road. If anyone would like to know more about my thoughts and decisions that are either too boring or long for a brief blog post, give me a call or send me an email.

-By the way, UNC is going to win the NCAA basketball tournament.

It has only begun...

I will be the first to admit that I have suffered from a serious case of blog neglect. It seems like the first of February was only last week, and now it's already March! Working 25 hours a week and going to class twice a week just makes the days fly by. But enough of making excuses. For those of you who have been following my blog over the past few months, you will know that I recently finished applying to grad schools. Well, the first verdicts have come in and unfortunately they have not been positive. All the festivities kicked off with a generic rejection email from the University of Illinois. I did receive an official letter about a week later, but it was definitely not a positive way to kick off the season of school responses. Duke was the next in line to send me the holy heave, and fortunately, it has stopped there so far. Admittedly, it has already been an emotionally trying time for me, which has driven me to questioning not only my ability, but my motivation as well. However, I think I see God working in reforming my motivations toward a life that's more focused on impacting other people. I still have seven schools to hear from, so I suppose the odds are pretty good that I will be accepted at one.

Sorry for no witty or humorous post this time around, but I pretty much only have one thing on my mind, and when it's not thinking about this one thing, it's fried.