My Latest Favorite Song =)

I'd like to dedicate this song to my dear sisters (C&S, you will understand why when you read the words ;o) ... the 100 proof attitude power is totally you, S... C, I leave you to figure out which parts were meant for you =P)

Just the Girl

She's cold and she's cruel

But she knows what she's doin'

She pushed me in the pool

At our last school reunion

She laughs at my dreams

But I dream about her laughter

Strange as it seems

She's the one I'm after

Cause she's bittersweet

She knocks me off of my feet

And I can't help myself

I don't want anyone else

She's a mystery

She's too much for me

But I keep comin' back for more

She's just the girl I'm lookin' for

She can't keep a secret

For more than an hour

She runs on 100 proof attitude power

And the more she ignores me

The more I adore her

What can I do?

I'd do anything for her

Cause she's bittersweet

She knocks me off of my feet

And I can't help myself

I don't want anyone else

She's a mystery

She's too much for me

But I keep comin' back for more

She's just the girl I'm lookin' for

The way she sees it's me

On her caller ID

She won't pick up the phone

She'd rather be alone

But I can't give up just yet

Cause every word she's ever said

Is still ringin' in my head

Still ringin' in my head

She's cold and she's cruel

But she knows what she's doin'

Knows just what to say

So my whole day is ruined

Cause she's bittersweet

She knocks me off of my feet

And I can't help myself

I don't want anyone else

She's a mystery

She's too much for me

But I keep comin' back for more

Cause she's bittersweet

She knocks me off of my feet

And I can't help myself

I don't want anyone else

She's a mystery

She's too much for me

But I keep comin' back for more

Oh, I keep comin' back for more

She's just the girl I'm lookin' for

Just the girl I'm lookin' for
I'm lookin' for

I'm lookin' for

I'm lookin' for

Just the girl I'm lookin' for

~ The Click Five

Memories... =)

I came across some PHC quotes that were sent to me last year around this time...

Dr. Stacey
...on his grading philosophy:
“How else did you lose your hair?” – John Grosjean
“Not the same way you lost your high grade.”

“If I say, “this paragraph is incomprehensible,” it doesn’t mean I despise you.”

...on military strategy:
“What’s the point of having a big navy if you don’t shoot things?"

...on his previous employment:
“I used to teach Introduction to American Government to dumb kids at bad colleges.”

...on color:
"I can't even tell you what the color of my car is. It's not red; it's not orange. Some girl probably came up with the name!"

...on his students:
"Your feelings are irrelevant to me."

...on freshmen

“They really exist for our pleasure”

...on his neighbors:
“If you can’t love them, then move. That’s what I say.”

...on pop-quizzes

“I was thinking of giving a quiz today, but everyone showed up.”

Dr. Noe

...on freshmen:

"Freshmen have fragile egos. They crush like eggs."

Dr. Smith

...on children's stories:

"[the Three Little Pigs] is actually prejudiced against wolves. You've got to look for these things in children's stories. They corrupt them early."

"[the Three Little Pigs] is actually prejudiced against wolves. You've got to look for these things in children's stories. They corrupt them early."

...on diamond rings:

"Now I know that all you guys are not thinking about this, but an engagement ring is NOT a substitute for a glass cutter. Not that I speak from personal experience, or anything."

Shocking...

You Belong in New York City

You're an energetic, ambitious woman. And only NYC is fast enough for you. Maybe you'll set yourself up with a killer career Or simply take in all the city has to offer.

What City Do You Belong In?

I could have told you that! =)

I Guess I Just Wanted to Go Home

I'm dreaming tonight

Of a place I love

Even more than I usually do.

And although I know

It's a long road back

I promise you

I'll be home for Christmas.

You can count on me.

Please have snow and mistletoe

And presents under the tree.

Christmas Eve will find me

Where the love-light gleams.

I'll be home for Christmas

If only in my dreams.

Please pray that the mass transit strike in NYC ends before Friday morning!

I have been thinking about and preparing to go home for the past two weeks. I don't mind living where I am, but there is no place in the world like NY (especially for Christmas)!

I knew there was supposed to be a strike last week and although I felt bad that it was going to prevent my family from seeing the train show at the NY Botanical Garden, I had not thought about the longer term problems it would cause. I was talking to one of my co-workers yesterday about going home and he asked it the strike was going to be a problem. My jaw dropped! I had not been keeping up with the news and thought that the possibility of strike was behind us. So, I pull up the NY Times today (as is often my custom... the craziness at work lately has prevented me from doing so in the last couple of weeks) and see headline after headline devoted to the mass transit strike and the difficulties all the poor NYers are facing because of it.

Here are a few interesting items in these articles:

"This is the first citywide transit strike in more than 25 years. It is illegal for mass transit workers to strike in New York, which means the 33,000 bus and subway employees will face huge fines."
I mean, it makes sense to make it illegal, but I had never thought about it before. NY is does everything largescale...including breaking the law... it's kinda' fitting.

"The strike called early yesterday by subway and bus workers had a "severe to devastating" effect on businesses... City Comptroller William C. Thompson Jr. estimated the cost to the city's economy at $400 million the first day, and $300 million for each subsequent weekday this week. "
WOW!

"At Lord & Taylor's flagship store in Midtown, so many sales clerks were absent that managers were pressed into service helping the small number of customers."
All I can say to this one is ... AWWW what a shame!... maybe it would be good for managers to learn something about customer service.

http://nytimes.com/2005/12/21/nyregion/nyregionspecial3/21business.html?hp&ex=1135227600&en=fa58925676d2f99b&ei=5094&partner=homepage

"Thrown Together in a Crisis, Strangers Share Cars and Life Stories"
I love this headline =) It sounds so altruistic despite the fact that the motives of most were more utilitarian. If nothing else, NYers are tough. They will do WHATEVER it takes to move on... even if that means being nice to other people. =P

"Throughout the city, strangers crammed into sedans and minivans. Rides were offered from rolled-down windows. Makeshift hitchhiking posts sprung up along the curb."
How fitting for the Christmas season! =P

"Congratulations, guys, you made it," yelled Henry Chin, a volunteer. "Have some coffee or hot chocolate. You need the energy for the rest of your trip."
I thought this was sweet.

http://nytimes.com/2005/12/21/nyregion/nyregionspecial3/21coping.html?hp&ex=1135227600&en=61a1f98c923d6e00&ei=5094&partner=homepage

Here are a few of the touching stories...

I live in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and work in SoHo.Before I even got to the bridge, a car full of ladiesstopped and asked if I needed a ride. I accepted theiroffer and we whizzed across the bridge, no traffic atall. They let me off at Essex St. and I stopped for apancake breakfast since I was so early for work. Icalled my grandmother in Georgia to let her know that abunch of Christian ladies gave me a ride to the citytoday. -Natalie Beall

I walked ten blocks from my house in the Bronx toYankee Stadium, because I read online that there wouldbe a shuttle bus leaving Yankee stadium going to theMetro-North on 125th street. I planned to take theMetro-North to Grand Central, and then walk from thereto 58th and Broadway to my high school where I teach. A police officer informed me that the shuttle bus wouldnot be running until tomorrow (Wednesday). As I was about to give up and go back home, a 4 X 4 pulled up tothe sidewalk and gave three other people and me a rideto 46th and Broadway for FREE! - MIbrahim

I stopped in Starbucks (it seemed about half theStarbucks I passed were closed) to warm up for a while,and got to work at 7. It was an invigorating walk and Idon't mind if I have to do it again Thursday, etc.The determination of New Yorkers to go abouttheir business reminded me of the blackout from acouple years ago, when people just started walking towhere they needed to go. -Mary Pat Campbell, Dec. 20, 2005

How Pretty!

Last night, we had our first snowfall of the season, and it is truly beautiful! It's kinda funny because autum was so warm for so long that the trees never really shed their summer plumage. The snow arrived much earlier than usual, thus falling on leaves that forgot to fall. The affect is breathtaking! As I walked through the parking lot and the tree-lined pathway (it's called a park, but it's really not a park), I could not help but enjoy the sight despite the fact that snow is supposed to be my sworn enemy (I am a beach bum at heart). The USS Barry was behind me, looking very festive, all decked out in colorful lights, the pre-dawn sky rflected off the whiteness all around me, and for a moment, I could imagine that I had stepped into a utopia and I was the only one there (that part was actually true... I'm always on the first to arrive at work). Maybe it's just the fact that Christmas is near and there is nothing like snow to put you in the mood to sit inside and write Christmas cards and listen to the traditional carols, while drinking hot chocolate. It's pretty funny that we have this image, instilled in us since childhood, that lights and snow = Christmas. I mean, it really depends on where you live. In any case, I am going to try to enjoy each coming snowfall as I have enjoyed last night's because I have a feeling there will be many more in the next several months and I might as well be happy rather than miserable =)

Messiah, Christ's Incarnation, and Other Related Topics

This past Friday, I attended Handel's Messiah for the first time in my life. It was at the National Cathedral, which made the setting awe-inspiring, but when the tenor hit the first note as he sang out "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people..." from Isaiah 40, I knew I was in love (with the music, of course =P). It was truly an amazing experience! The entire gospel, set to music and presented in less than 3 hours! I believe that music is the language of the soul. It is one of the many blessings God has bestowed on us to show us His love, both now and through eternity. As the second part began I could not help but wonder what the soloists and choir thought as they sang of Christ's suffering and sacrifice on our behalf (Isaiah 53). Do they know what they are singing? Do they believe it?

Yesterday, at church, we were discussing the two natures of Christ. This led my thoughts back to Messiah and the numerous scripture passages that speak of the reason for Christ's birth. If He did not have to redeem us, He would not have had to take on a human nature. He could have existed as pure diety. I once hear Ravi Zacharias explain Isaiah 9:6 this way: ""For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given... Notice the words. He didn’t say the son is born. The son never was born; the son eternally existed..."" He did not need to be born to exist. As humans, we prefer humanity to any other state of being, but that is only because we are finite and cannot truly comprehend the infinite. Christ, who is infinite, was willing to step into time and space to be "in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15) Christ's becoming human was not only a point-in-time occurance, it was an eternity-changing event in every possible way. All who died in Christ (both OT and NT believers) are given eternal life through His one time sacrifice. But this is not the only change. Christ Himself will also be eternally God and man; a constant reminder of His great love for us.