Please doc, take my appendix!

I'm finally, hopefully, on the road to recovery. After waiting out those awful lower-right-side stabbing pains, I finally drug my booty to the emergency room. The Dr. asked me why I had been waiting since Monday morning if my pain was so strong, I said, "I'm a full-time college student and I've had things to do." He appreciated my humor.

Deep inside, I was actually really hoping that it was my appendix because I knew it would be a quick fix and I wouldn't ever have to worry about it again -- especially when I'm in Cambodia. It wasn't. After what I felt like wasn't enough tests, they diagnosed me and drugged me.

Mom and I were given these wonderful swine flu masks in the waiting room. The Dr. said 80% of everyone else had flu-like symptoms. Oh joy!

I was supposed to leave this afternoon for a conference with my development theories class. It looks like instead I will be enjoying a nice 3-day-weekend. (4 days actually if you consider today because I skipped both my practicum and class). Of course I use the word enjoy lightly, unless you're the type that enjoys staying in bed, achy, nauseous, and exhausted.

I'm going to open my second Gatorade and start my second movie..

on a side note...

The sickies are goin around!!

My mom has the fu. Dad had the flu, and just started to feel better today. My baby niece Leah is sick (but cuddly!) My sister and 2 suite-mates haven't felt well since Thursday. Finally, according to webmd.com, I have appendicitis, which I doubt. My idea is that I'm just stressed, and I'm going to wait out these stabbing right-side-only pains in the lower abdomen one more day.

Another day.. another paper.

In the mean time, enjoy this::

Update:: (As of 11pm) - Apparently besides the pain, the 2 main symptoms of appendicitis are fever and nausea. I am nauseous, but have no fever. If the pain is only stressed-related, and the nausea is flu-like or other, then I am ok (and better probably) to apply heat. If it's appendicitis with a slow-developing fever, then heat could rupture my appendix. So what do I do??

I wait.

Still stressed.

Still in pain.

But I'm not complaining, because this week is Fall Break! Even if Fall Break only means we have only Friday off... and even though I will be leaving Thursday afternoon to go to a conference... and not returning until early Sunday morning... and of course the conference is a class assignment, by the way.

Rapping Flight Attendant

I'm reposting this after I saw it on another blogger's fave five list. I'm sure it isn't proper blogging etiquette to not give credit to whomever posted it first, but honestly friends, I can't track where I found it. If it was you, feel free to call me out and I'll link you and send bloggy traffic your way!

I think this is hilarious. Is it real? I don't know, but I enjoyed it and I wish I could experience flight attendants like this. I have flown enough to have accumulated stories, (Korean Airlines is the best, by the way), but I haven't seen anything like this.

I keep missing out...

Happy weekend! I love the weekends, and I'm always anxious for them to arrive.

Then it gets here, and what do I do? Alot of this:

Studying.Which can be fun. Sometimes. But usually never. HA. This has been the busiest semester I have ever had. Hands down. No debate. Re-dic-u-lous. Every weekend for the past month I have been too swamped with papers and exams to really enjoy myself for more than a few short hours. (By the way, a few means three at the most!)

Last weekend my entire suite went to Laura's house (a suitemate) for an annual Fall party. We had had it planned for weeks, and I bummed out five minutes before they packed the van because I was too overwhelmed with homework (I remind you that last Sunday night I studied through the night and slept only 25 minutes, studying a total of 29 hours for my first Theology exam.)

Well here are pictures of them having fun without me::

Chelsea (orange), Jenny (black), Laura (grey), Kara (black), Bethany (Cubs 1), twin sister Jessie (Cubs 2), and my roommate Traci (orange).

Have I mentioned before the uniqueness (or lack-there-of) in our suite? I live with Traci, who has a twin sister named Staci. My twin sister, Jessie, is my suitemate. Jessie lives with Laura, who is twins with Jennie (both pictured above). Pretty sweet right? Poor Bethany doesn't have a twin, or a sister.

Here is my roommate, posing with her absent roommate - me!

I missed out on:

1. Pumpkin carving

2. Games

3. Prizes

4. Homemade spaghetti

5. A road trip with the girls

And meanwhile, this is what I was doing:

1. Studying for a Theology exam

2. Writing a Globalization paper

3. Studying for a World Civ exam

4. Studying for a Speech exam

5. Researching for an Evangelism presentation

6. Eating ramen

7. Not leaving my room for an entire day

Last night I was able to enjoy a night away for a World Impact retreat with 12 other missions leaders and a few directors. We did some bonding activities, and activities to strengthen us for addressing issues such as disunity, culture shock, fear, communication, etc. Then after lunch I returned to the dorm and I'm writing a Theology handbook for Monday, then I should start studying for a Development exam on Tuesday, and preparing for a demonstration speech on Wednesday.

Lame!

An Exciting Friday's Fave Five.

Happy “Friday’s Fave Five” blog, hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story. Click on the linky to see what 5 things other bloggers found pleasurable this week!

1. Spinach Wraps

At least 3 meals a week I have a wrap from our campus deli. If

I order something different than the usual, it's a rarity, but unfortunately, sometimes 42nd Street Deli doesn't have my usual. So, one day, I had to try something new. My favorite shell was the tomato basil shell, but one day, I had to try something new. Now the usual has become the spinach shell. As I write this, I am eating a spinach wrap with chicken salad, white american cheese, extra lettuce, spinach, and onion.



2. Baby Jack
I love this baby. Jack's mom was one of my best friends in high school. After graduation 3 years ago, we went separate ways, but we have reconnected in the last few months, and now Baby Jack calls me 'Aunt Jewel' (okay, he doesn't yet, but he will!) I watched him once when he was just 3-wks-old, again for the entire weekend a few weeks ago, and last night for a couple of hours. We played with mirrors, bowls, and spoons; watched 4 episodes of One Tree Hill, and studied together for my speech exam (mostly, he was a distraction while my books laid open on the sofa.)

3. Christmas music
Yes, I said it -- Christmas music. I started my Christmas playlist earlier this week. My 3 favorites are 'N Sync, Michael W. Smith, and Clay Aiken. Of course, All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey and Let it Snow by Michael Bublé are classics!

Christmas is, of course, only 2 months, 1 week, and 1 day away! Are you ready? Have you started your Christmas playlist? What are your favorites?

4. Vandy & Tess' wedding pictures
Finally, Titus uploaded these pictures from Vandy and Tess' wedding in Manila on September 30th.
Vandy's best friend Titus, the best man & Vandy and Tess

The wedding party in the Philippines

You might remember them talking about them here or here and probably quite a few other blogs that I'm too lazy to search. :)

5. My 93%

I'm currently taking Basic Christian Doctrine at 7:50 Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning. It was the class I was dreading the most, because I never could understand Theology, I heard it was hard, and it started before 8am, but, it really is my favorite class! Last Sunday night I stayed up the entire night (ok, I did accidentally fall asleep for 25 minutes at 5:30 Monday morning) studying for my first Theology exam. I got a 93% and no one got an A, so I felt really good about it! (By the way, out of 50 students, there were many under 60%.) I can't commit to studying 29 hours for the next exam, but I certainly gave my grade a soft cushion to land on if I don't do as well on the next 2 exams.

[Yes, I was this excited.]

Wednesday's Random 12

I'm happy to participate in the 7th random Wednesday meme, hosted by Lid at 2nd cup of coffee. Trace the link above to visit Mr. Linky and read the randoms of other bloggers.

1. I've always wondered why we were taught both printing and cursive. Do you prefer to print or write cursive? (Keyboard is not a choice.)
Cursive. I have pretty cursive too. ☺ Though I get a lot of “My Grandma writes like this…”
In the last package I sent to Cambodia I included about 1.5 dozen letters to my friends that the missionaries had to translate from cursive English into printed English because I too egotistical to realize that they can’t read cursive!

2. Are you a dreamer or a realist?
I used to be hardcore 100% realist, but now that I have truly found my innate passions (I say innate because I know I was created to love Cambodia – otherwise I wouldn’t so much!) I am dreaming much more, and dreaming bigger na.

3. Billy Joel or Elton John?
Tough decision... Billy Joel!

4. What is the scariest movie you've ever seen? Not limited to horror flicks but also includes ones where the tension or suspense is killer, for example, Flightplan (2005): A bereaved woman and her daughter are flying home from Berlin to America. At 30,000 feet the child vanishes and nobody admits she was ever on that plan.
When A Stranger Calls (shivers) – Jill is a young teenager babysitting two already-asleep children in a big, dark, unfamiliar, isolated house. Soon after the parents leave she begins receiving weird calls that she assumes are pranks. Then it gets ominous. Sometimes the caller doesn't say anything, but when the menacing voice asks, "Have you checked the children?" Jill checks on the two and returns only to have the caller phone again knowing she had gone upstairs. Jill calls the police and they say they will trace the call if she can keep him on the line for more then a minute. Of course, the creeper calls again and when the police trace the calls, it is discovered that they are coming from INSIDE THE HOUSE. (Oh boy!) Then there is a struggle for survival as Jill protects herself and the children.
Why is this so stinkin scary?? I feel like I have babysat in that house! Big, dark, and isolated!

5. Now what is the scariest real-life moment you've had?

Before yesterday when I was absolutely convinced that the encircling helicopter (which by the way was flying quite low) was going to fall on my head…
Summer of 2008 – Kratie, Cambodia – the rainy season
We had left our hotel early in the morning after a horrible rainstorm in the night. The roads were dirt and deeply flooded; they were also built high for purposes of irrigation. Our five-hour journey home quickly became nine hours when we hit mud, which took our '92 Camry all over the road. It was comparable to a terrible snow/ice storm in Indiana, except... it was ridiculous and terrifying. The roads were built on dirt mounds with deep ditches to prevent flooding in the rainy season. I was really nervous for our drivers, Tim and Jun. Yet I was more worried about the children (covered in mud from head-to-toe, some also naked) who thought it amusing to chase our car and push our bumpers. I remember the missionary telling her husband [I think attempting to not let us hear her], "Tim, you can't let our car slide into the ditch.. because you know that no one will be able to get us out." It was a high stress situation.

6. What word do you misspell without fail?
I typically don't misspell... but apparently: my name.. Is it not logical to spell 'Jewel' with only one'L'??

7. Name something you like to do but are not really talented or good at.
Singing!

8. Do you get your emotional/mental batteries recharged by being around people or by having alone time?
Being around people definitely, but there are things that I can do like music to really pump me up.

9. Have you ever been on TV?
No. I don’t care to be either.

10. Apple or pumpkin pie? (Don't be greedy.)
Pumpkin pie (or pumpkin pie chai!)

11. How many magazine subscriptions do you have?
1: Relevant Magazine - covering God, life, and progressive culture; after my 1st year, I just re-subscribed for 2 more years.

12. What lesson do you have to keep re-learning?

More things that I would like to admit...

- God's timing

- Going to bed early is rewarding

-

'Cause I needed a break from studying...

* More often than not, when someone is telling me a story all I can think about is that I can't wait for them to finish so that I can tell my own story that's not only better, but also more directly involves me.
* Have you ever been walking down the street and realized that you're going in the complete opposite direction of where you are supposed to be going? But instead of just turning a 180 and walking back in the direction from which you came, you have to first do something like check your watch or phone or make a grand arm gesture and mutter to yourself to ensure that no one in the surrounding area thinks you're crazy by randomly switching directions on the sidewalk. [I did this yesterday]
* I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

* Do you remember when you were a kid, playing Nintendo and it wouldn't work? You take the cartridge out, blow in it and that would magically fix the problem. Every kid in America did that, but how did we all know how to fix the problem? There was no internet or message boards or FAQ's. We just figured it out. Today's kids are soft.

* How are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

* I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

* The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text.

* Lol has gone from meaning, "laugh out loud" to "I have nothing else to say".

* I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

* Answering the same letter three times or more in a row on a Scantron test is absolutely petrifying.

* Whenever someone says "I'm not book smart, but I'm street smart," all I hear is "I'm not real smart, but I'm imaginary smart."

* How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear what they said?

* I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars teams up to prevent a doofus from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers!

* MapQuest really needs to start their directions on #5. Pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

* Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

* I find it hard to believe there are actually people who get in the shower first and THEN turn on the water.

* I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

* Bad decisions make good stories.

* Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after DVDs? I don't want to have to restart my collection.

* There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.

* I hate being the one with the remote in a room full of people watching TV. There's so much pressure. 'I love this show, but will they judge me if I keep it on? I bet everyone is wishingwe weren't watching this. It's only a matter of time before they all get up and leave the room. Will we still be friends after this?'

* I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

* I like all of the music in my iTunes, except when it's on shuffle, then I like about one in every fifteen songs in my iTunes.

* Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

Friday's Fave Five -- Props to Adam Nash

Happy “Friday’s Fave Five” blog, hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story. Click on the linky to see what 5 things other bloggers found pleasurable this week!

This week, I chose five pictures. My friend Adam is doing a 1 year missionary internship with Global Partners in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. He is ministering through soccer and English, and his ministry is flourishing!

This is Adam in front of the Royal Palace, in Bangkok.


1) This is the Cambodia I love -- the countryside -- though I'm more likely to end up settling in the rusting, bustling city of Phnom Penh. Traditional architecture of the Khmer includes the stilt house, built with a wooden frame and a steep thatched roof overhanging the walls. These stilt houses are up to three metres off the ground to protect against floods, while providing shelter for the family's domestic animals below the house.

2) Angkor Wat is a temple complex in Siem Reap, built for the king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. The above picture was taken at Bayon, one of my favorite temples at Angkor Wat. The temple complex is a photographer's dream, and if you're ever in Cambodia, don't miss Angkor Wat!

3) Like in any nation, life in the city certainly contrasts life in the country. This is typical Phnom Penh. Where houses are built small, but upwards.

4) Khmer sunsets. I have a few shots similar to this, but none with this coloring. When I lived at the Bible College, I was blessed with an incredible view of the West and was amazed to see the sun set every evening before 8. I miss it. :(

5) The joy in this face. I love the Khmer people -- friends and strangers alike.