A Girl and Her Chocolate

Today is National Candy Day. Some call it Halloween, but since the best part is the candy, I just call it National Candy Day. Because I am living on my own now, I don't get a large variety. So, I chose Mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. A fantastic choice, if I do say so myself.

Let me give you the background story first. Today for Spanish class we were told to dress up for extra credit (which I neglected to do...) and bring candy for a "Halloween Party" of sorts while watching a cartoon in Spanish. Lovely, huh? I opted to share a bag of MRPBC's with my class (that's short for the name listed above). Of course, there were eleven leftover pieces that I had to carry around with me all day until I got home. Now, the guy on the bus recommended that I go home and turn on my light until eleven kids showed up. However, after realizing that I don't even have a porch and hence no light to go with it, I simply decided to eat them myself. [Bummer.]

Please be advised: I am void of company this week since my roommate is gone. A lack of anyone with which to talk eventually makes a person loopy, and I formed a short-lived friendship with my chocolate candy. It melted in my hands during our photo shoot, but was wonderfully delicious!

Today was interesting. I had not before realized that college kids take Halloween more seriously than grade school kids. I got a first glimpse of how the day would go when I stepped onto the bus this morning and the driver was wearing a banana costume. Oh wow. Then, I got to my first class and the professor was playing Michael Jackson's "Thriller" music for us. Double wow. I got to the next class and there were a bottle of ketchup, a bear, and a Greek goddess who I didn't realize were my classmates. Triple wow. College surely turns the world upside down.

But here I am...alive and well. On a mild sugar overload.

Hope you all are having a good week! :) (Here comes November...!)

How Can I Be Lonely?

Good Monday evening from the college student! I hope everyone had a lovely weekend and a positive start to their week! I was in Kansas City with the single group and had a wonderful weekend there.

I was ready to entitle this blog post something along the lines of "Feeling Lonely" when suddenly the song changed on my computer to "How Can I Be Lonely?" and I thought, that's right...How can I be lonely when I've got Jesus? 

How Can I Be Lonely?

One is walking with me over life's uneven way,

Constantly supporting me each moment of the day;

How can I be lonely when such fellowship is mine,

With my blessed Lord divine!

How can I be lonely when I've Jesus only

To be my companion and unfailing guide:

Why should I be weary, or my path seem dreary,

When He's walking by my side?

In the hour of sad bereavement or of bitter loss

I can find support and consolation at the cross;

Want or woe or suff'ring all seems glorified when He

Daily walks and talks with me.

Tonight I became a wee bit homesick for the first time since the first week of school, probably attributable to the absence of my roommate who is on business in California for the week. It doesn't seem like we spend a great amount of time talking to each other, but the time we do spend at the supper table and sometimes in the evenings makes a huge difference. It's funny how it takes the absence of something (or someone) for us to fully appreciate what we had!

I am trying to keep myself occupied. I cleaned my room and bathroom today (the real stuff: vacuum, dust, and all), accidentally took a three hour nap (truly the length was unintentional), and baked a pan of brownies (chocolate is cheerful!). Oh, right...I did some homework too. :) And now the time has come to retire to my bed for the night!

I hope everyone has a good week! Let us remember to give God the thanks and glory in every thing!

"Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (I Thess. 5:16-18)

Mom's Blogging Debut!!

Hello to the world of Blogging...well at least that is what I am trying and hoping to accomplish here.  I have spent a good portion of my morning trying to figure out how all of this works since it appears that 'someone' would like input from home too.  I attempted to become a part of this blog several times to no avail.  Finally, contacted dear daughter and found out how to even comment on a post, then learned that I need to have a gmail account to even post anything! Sigh...So how did she expect an old lady like me figure all of that out on my own??  I really can't answer that one for her, but I am feeling pretty good knowing that she had such confidence in me to think I could make it happen.  It was just last week when I realized what that funny sound was coming thru my computer every once in a while...it was Stephanie skyping me! Aha!  So today I logged onto Skype and had her walk me through what needed to be done...and here I am!  (Well, hopefully anyway) On that note, I am going to end this little post to see if I really am doing the right thing.  There is no sense rambling on too long if it isn't even going to appear in the right place.  So I guess, I am making my presence known and welcoming myself to this blog! :-)

Observations of a College Student, Part II

The Freshman Fifteen

Many people may be aware of an amazingly accurate phenomenon called the "Freshman Fifteen" which often refers to the fifteen pounds a college freshman gains during his first year of college, on average. In the past I have often found myself simply brushing such thoughts aside without much of a second thought. However, on Friday I had a chance to take advantage of some first-hand observations and come up with a bit of insight.

It's been a bit chilly and rainy lately, so I've been in the process of re-situating myself at lunch hour from the tables outside to find a place inside. Friday afternoon, I was lucky enough to find an open seat in Pat's Diner, the prime eating location for Tippie's business students in the Pappajohn Building. As I sat down with my sandwich, apple, carrots, and pretzel sticks and a warm bottle of water, I began to look around. What I saw brought me to a state of awe.

I will start with the young man sitting at the table next to me. He walked out and sat down with a huge slice of pizza and a bottle of soda.

The next young lady came over with a Mountain Dew, a bag of candy, and some chips. She proceeded to consume all three.

I continued to look around. Across the way, I saw a table of two. One with Sprite and the other with (this one's healthy...) a bottle of water. One was accompanied by a massive sub sandwich and a bag of chips, the other with a massive sub sandwich, a candy bar, and (healthy again!) an apple. 

Similar cases surrounded me, and now I see it everywhere I look. I hadn't ever noticed this before. Now, I'm not trying to say I necessarily eat healthy and that apples and carrot sticks are all I ever eat these days. That is certainly not true. But moderation, folks. My intuition tells me that these eating habits are common for a large majority of young college students. I know this is a big generalization and I won't say every college kid eats like this, but as I said, I'm generalizing.

However, I will say that I am beginning to understand why the Freshman Fifteen is so obvious and relevant. Students come from high school, where full healthy lunches were always provided and they were likely even fed meals at home. Then they go on to college, where there is nobody to feed them and see to their dietary needs. Eating pizza, chips, and candy every day for lunch has got to do a number to a person's weight. Hence, we see the Freshman Fifteen. 

I hope any high school student or younger will look at their school lunches with a deep appreciation. It is better than having to fend for yourself, and you truly are eating healthier now than you will be eating in a few short years when you end up at college. Unless you are a careful person, of course. Or if you are lucky enough to have good parents who teach you about feeding yourself. And if that isn't enough to convince you, look at it another way: you probably aren't paying for your food now, either. Now that's something to be thankful for!

And so I am inspired. By food. After all, I am a college student.

Picture Day!

I'm home now! This weekend our cousins from Minnesota are here to visit. This morning the Massner family took pictures down at Crapo Park, and they turned out well! I will hope to share some of the pictures when we get them in digital form. :) Everyone cooperated and smiled well, and we even got to take a few fun photos too!

In the spirit of family pictures, I will also do my best to give an update on the rest of the family, since they don't usually care to share.

Billy is enjoying his senior year of high school and has been spending his mornings at SCC taking Calculus and Physics. In the afternoons, he goes to BHS with Jonathan and some other Mediapolis students for an Engineering class. On top of those three, I think he has two to three more classes at high school to keep him busy. He had his senior pictures taken a couple weeks ago and is about ready to be getting started on scholarships and the works, before graduation comes.

Jonathan is a freshman in high school, and I think he's enjoying himself. He keeps busy with his classes and football. Right now he is taking an exam on the back computer for his online college psychology class.

Justin is in eighth grade and doing well. I'm not really sure exactly what keeps him busy, but I know he is in choir and plays the tuba in band, along with his other classes. He is taking Algebra I this year, so that is probably getting him into high school life.

Travis is our fifth grader, has been keeping busy with soccer, and is getting ready to start playing the alto saxophone in band this year.

Jesse is enjoying first grade too. He was playing flag football but has finished that now. Today he is outside raking leaves for dad to have a fire this evening when he gets home! That should be fun!

Mom is keeping busy at home, and I think it is a little different around here without any female companions to keep her company. Right now she and her sister are on a walk...it's been fun to have them here!

Dad is still ever so busy between city council, the church building project (which is to be done within 10 weeks!!), the ambulance service, and his job. He is currently at the new church giving a tour to some visitors.

And then there's me, which you have already been kept up to date about! I know these summaries do not do justice what my brothers could tell you in person! However, I have not been able to convince any of them to get on here and post. They say nothing exciting ever happens now that I'm gone... :)

Hope you all are having a good weekend and that the leaves are as beautiful where you are too! :)

Observations of a College Student, Part I

The Physics of Technological Etiquette

Something in high school physics taught me about waves. In recent months I have experienced continual longitudinal waves during my study time at college.

11:10am, Friday, Business Computer Lab: While working diligently on my Financial Accounting assignment, my arms are suddenly jolted by the impulse of a student's phone vibrating ten feet away, These so-called "longitudinal waves" are making their way from his table, through the table between us, and onto mine, where they reach my arms, which send a mad signal to my brain that I should be panicking. I panic, and, seeing his phone, subsequently realize there is nothing to be alarmed about. My focus returns to my work.
11:12am: Repetition. This time, it takes longer to refocus.
11:13am: It seems another phone has joined the chorus on the other side of the wall, this time a bit more faint. Perhaps they should create some sort of musical instrument out of the vibrations of a cellphone.
11:15am: Two more students sat down between me and the first vibrating cellphone. Two more phones have been laid on the table to join the band.
11:19am: Yep, it's definitely an orchestra now. I have fully given up on concentration and am headed to my next class.
11:24am, C125 PBB: In Financial Accounting class, I sit down and get ready for the class.
11:28am: A cellphone on an adjacent table 15 feet away vibrates and, once again, jolts me to a full alert. After calming, I slowly shake my head in dismay.

I always jump when I feel these types of vibrations. They are what wake me up in the morning on my alarm clock, and they are what alert me of communications throughout the day. Vibrations demand my attention. If my attention does not need to be brought to others' text messages, let's lay out some of my self-proclaimed vibe etiquette.

1. Turn your phone on silent if it is going to be sitting right in front of you on the table. Most phones will light up with the arrival of a message.
2. If it is a necessity to have it on vibrate, try putting it in your pocket where only you will be alerted by the vibes.
3. If nothing else, consider forming a band of vibrating phones so it can be enjoyable for the rest of us.

:) Happy Friday!

Midweek Musings

It's Wednesday! And it's time for me to fill inquiring minds in on the exhaustive details of my life at college.

I have been enjoying the luxury of staying home during the day except when I have class this week now that we have Internet. For meals we have been eating leftover tacos and chicken deluxe all week from the weekend. It also appears that I have completely depleted my stock of groceries and will be needing to make a run to the store before eating tomorrow.

The weather has been a lot warmer this week than before, though it was raining today to add a little chill to the air. The leaves and trees have been absolutely beautiful on campus with the onset of fall. I'm not ready for winter, but fall is great!

As for my classes, they continue to go well, though they are picking up the pace a bit. I have a law exam tomorrow, but after that I haven't a single exam for two whole weeks! (And midterm week is over, which means I have made it halfway through my first semester at college!)

Living on one's own is full of little learning experiences, including plumbing skills. Tuesday morning my toilet wouldn't stop running. (It flushed but then just continuously was running water.) I didn't pay much attention to it at first, but when I had finished getting ready and it was still running, I started to become concerned. I stared at the running water awhile to intimidate it with my gaze, then I (yes, me) lifted the lid and my eyes beheld the inside of a toilet for the first time. After much intent observation and trial and error, I finally was able to make a quick fix to the misplaced chain to make it stop running and fill up. It may seem silly, but I was pretty happy about acquiring the new skill and learning the mechanics of a common household utility! :)

Before I go, I have some photos to share from the past two months.

Billy's 17th birthday! (That's the official birthday hat of the Massner family, for those who aren't aware.) 

First Day of School! (Minus Billy, who was already off to class at SCC.) 

Dad driving the ambulance at T&C Days parade.

Justin playing the sousaphone at the parade.

Billy flipping pizzas, Travis holding the microphone, Me (not pictured) walking alongside of the Olde World Pizza float. 

Jesse's 7th Birthday!

Justin's 13th Birthday!

Hope you all have a good remainder of the week! :)

ReWired

After a two-month extension of absence from a home Internet connection at my second home, I wish to inform anyone who was concerned about me that I am back. Two months is a long time for a college student, you see.

Of course, by not having the Internet, I developed some fantastic time management habits. No time wasted online at home. Very little time was wasted online at school, as I needed to be as efficient as possible before going home. I learned to balance my work and plan ahead. But now, everything I had built up for myself seems to be crashing down on me, and it's only been six hours. What am I going to do??

I know what I am to do. I will set myself a goal. Here it is:

I shall use my time for doing good and being productive. 

With that said, it is time for me to productively finish packing for the weekend and get a good night's sleep. Happy Friday!