Please watch this video. It is my favorite at the moment. Something about the tiny, squeaky voice just gets me. And if you have seen it, watch it again. You know you want to.

Presenting: MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON!!

In case you missed it, the Times Square attempted suicide-bomber has been in court for his attempted terrorist attack. In the trial the terrorist stated the above quote, a threat to the security of the United States.

Brace yourselves, because the war with Muslims has just begun," 31-year-old Faisal Shahzad told a federal judge. "Consider me the first droplet of the blood that will follow."

What makes me sad about what he says (apart from the idea that more attacks are bound to happen) is the terrorists use of the phrase "war with Muslims". It really hurts me to see a whole people characterized as murdering enemies. Yes, there are radical Muslims that do wish to inflict harm to our country, but stating that this religion, as a whole, is the enemy of the United States, does not sit well with me. Innocent, Muslim, AMERICAN citizens can be categorized into this war with America. I feel like the label of a "war with Muslims" will further fuel the discrimination in this country. If not before, now many ignorant Americans will believe that this is a war against Islam. The Muslim religion. Any Muslim believer. When in fact it is not. We are threatened by a group of radicals, not by a religion.

I don't know why this quote jumped out to me whilst eating my Reese's Puffs, watching CNN in the cafeteria today, but it really struck me. I hope that I am just cynical to our societies views and that no one in our country really believes this is a war against the collective Islam beliefs.

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous-Matthew 5:44-45

There's no color lines or castes or classes, there is no fooling the masses.
Whatever faith you practice, whatever you believe.
Oh, Heaven. What the hell is Heaven?
Is there a home for the homeless? Is there hope for the hopeless?
Throw away your misconceptions. There's no walls around heaven.
There are no codes you gotta know to get in, no minutemen or border patrol.
You must lose all earthly possession, leave behind your weapons.
You cannot buy your salvation and there is no pot of gold.
Castles and cathedrals crumble. Pyramids and pipelines tumble.

The failure keeps you humble, and leads us closer to peace.

October is prepping to be one of the best months! Although I might be biased... it's always been my favorite.

For starters, I bought myself a camera this weekend. I bought a Canon Rebel with all my graduation money, and couldn't be more excited. I have been waiting for the perfect opportunity to buy a camera, and this was it. I hope to further develop my photography skills, so for starts, I got a camera.

Hayden came to see me this weekend since everyone was gone for the OU/Texas game. (Can I get a BOOMER SOONER, by the way?) We went exploring at Turner Falls which was beautiful, played frisbee on the South Oval, played the airplane game, had a fun little fancy date night (which we never do), took TONS of pictures, and just got to enjoy each others presence.

MY BIRTHDAY is in two weeks! I am not going home then, but 3 maybe 4 of my best friends are coming to OU that weekend. It will be so fun!

The weekend of the 23rd I go home for Wes and Laura's wedding. I am so so so so so excited to see my mom, dad, sister, Henry, Millie, Gus, and Hayden that weekend! I need some family in my life :)

And to top it off, Fall is my favorite season. I can't wait to watch the trees change and to sip caramel apple spice and just see how the light during the day changes. It really is my favorite.

I leave you with pictures from the weekend.

Dove Milk Chocolate miniatures will be the sole reason I gain the freshman 3,977. That is all.

I am currently taking an honors course entitled 'The Atom and the American Experience' which analyzes the effects of atomic energy on American life, politics, and science. What is cool about the course is that it is an OU President's Dream course, meaning my professors (who have PhD's from Columbia...you know) received about $25,000 extra to enhance the class. With this money, my professors are bringing in throughout the semester guest speakers who are experts in their fields.

We read about 100 pages a night of different papers, books, and biographies. Currently, we are reading Arsenals of Folly by Richard Rhodes. Richard Rhodes is probably the foremost expert on all things atomic energy, as probably agreed by the entire scientific historical community. He has written 23 books, with his latest The Twilight of the Bomb just released last month. Next week, we have the pleasure of being lectured by this Pulitzer prize winner in the intimate setting of about 30 students (followed by a formal, public lecture that night). I never thought that I would be so excited about something so strange! But I think it's a wonderful opportunity, especially as a freshman, to hear such an influential figure speak. If you ever get the chance and are interested in the history of atomic energy/nuclear weapons/the Cold War, or anything else pertaining to this, please read Arsenals of Folly. It is really very interesting. The first two chapters deal with the Chernobyl disaster and the history of Gorbachev, from the time he was born until he took command of the Soviet Union.

GoIng off on a tangent, this class made me very interested in careers in atomic energy. Obviously, my goal is to get into medical school. But if I do not get in, or decide it is not for me, I have started researching Health Physicists, specifically a Nuclear Health Physicist. Go HERE to read about, via the CDC. I won't bore you with the details, but it really just channels my inner-nerd reading about this stuff. Isn't it cool?

The Honors Program at OU makes me really happy I ended up here, despite some of my recent feelings. I am taught by some of the most intelligent, knowledgable people I have ever met, graduates from Princeton, Brown, Columbia, the works. I only hope I get to submerge myself in all the classes these people teach.

Cardigans and moleskins, headbands and autumn.
Chacos and v-necks, and wint-o-green lifesavers.
Flannel, gerbera daisies, letters in the mail...

These are a few of my favorite things!

I could probably not hate anything more than I hate my French class.

First. Why, as a microbiology major, is it a requirement to take 3 semesters of language? Yes, I understand the whole liberal arts track and everything, but it's not like I will understand/retain any of this after these three semesters, ESPECIALLY with this kind of teaching.

Second. Why must everything be done on a computer. Little computerized voices that say phrases 90 to nothing DO NOT help me learn. In fact, I can't complete those assignments because I don't have the slightest clue at a single WORD they say.

THREE. If it's a beginning, French I course, I don't think students should be expected to comprehend as much French as they think we should. Walking into class the first day not hearing a single word of English was a little discontenting, especially for someone who has never been in a French class in their life.

To sum things up, I HATE FRENCH. The sad thing is, I was really looking forward to this class, really looking forward to hopefully studying abroad in conjunction with my French class. As of right now, I still want to do it, but only to see France, not to further develop my VERY lacking communication skills.

BAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

How I feel at this moment:

A long time coming..... my dorm room!

It changes about every day, but on this Sunday afternoon, this is what it looks like. Paint me a picture or make me something small to hang on my wall by my cross, it's lonely! :)

My bed.
Desk, complete with Moleskine, notepads, artist man, TOMS flag, my favorite books, and my G2's.

Side view, with my newest painting. Working on the picture arrangement.

Outside the door- view of our rug as well :)


I hope you like it!!

"I don't recall a single care, just greenery and humid air. Then Labor Day came and went and we shed what was left of our summer skin."

This weekend I was very fortunate to go down to A&M to visit Hayden, Katie, Matt, and even my friend Bryan from Baylor. After seeing Hayden once a week for 3 hours for the past two months, this was some much needed time to spend with him. And it was great. Not many people will go to Target with me just to go to Target AND enjoy it as much as I do, go (at least try) to look at basset hound puppies, walk around parks looking for ducks, make bracelets, piggy back rides, or just be straight goofy with. But that's Hayden. And it was so fun. I enjoyed hanging out with all of my friends as well- Mario Kart on N64, ski trip planning, as well as meeting a lot of the PC Ranchers. What a great way to spend labor day.

RIght now I feel like I am kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place. I am really struggling to "love" where I am at right now. It seems like most people at OU are all already friends. I am a very quiet person, so this makes it especially hard for me to meet new people. And so far this hasn't been the true experience I have been hoping for. I know "it takes time" to get used to things, but I am the way I am for a reason. It's especially hard because of the very prominent social scene at OU. Of course, not everyone does, but it seems like the majority of people are involved in this not-so-wholesome environment. And I just don't care for that. I am thankful for the group I have met, like Megan, that are in the same boat I am. But it's hard. Sometimes I wonder if this is the place I was supposed to end up. Having challenges with sororities, classes, and friendships this early just makes me question. I have come to the fact that I am a people pleaser, and a very impressionable person in certain aspects. I feel like I chose to go places and not go places because of what people would think. And that is not right. I ignored feelings I had for schools because of people there, like my close friends and even my boyfriend. I didn't want to be a follower, and didn't want people to think I was. But sometimes, submersion into a new place can be made much easier with the support of people behind you. I wish I would have considered that.

I don't really think I can explain my feelings right now, but it's just hard. I feel like this is probs a really dramatic post, but it's how I am feeling, and have been for a while, so I am going to write it down. Isn't that what a blog is for?