tag you're it...

Melinda sent me this game. I am afraid it is going to bring out the nerdy side of me...

The Rules: 1. I have to post these rules before I give you the facts. 2. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves. 3. People who are tagged need to write a post on their own blog (about their eight things) and post these rules. 4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names. 5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

Random Facts: #1: In Jr. High I was known as the girl with tinted glasses. #2: I was 5th place in the state of Oregon for girl's high school bowling, but now w/ lack of practice don't claim to be a bowler #3: I am an only child. #4: I secretly (or not so secretly) would like to be a hippy; I like the eclectic, natural, and relaxed lifestyle. #5: I love to cross off things in my planner/to do list. #6: I have a sand collection...little pieces of the world. #7: I would say I am an adventurous eater. #8: I like to go to the doctor's office because it is always interesting to me.

Abdullah, Alan .. TAG, YOU'RE IT!!
I don't know many bloggers, but I will look for more people I konw.

horrible grammar...

I just went back and read some blogs I have previously written, and I was appalled! My grammar is not very good at all. I quickly write what is on my mind and miss the proofreading step. This is unfortunate because then you all have to read run-on sentences, punctuation errors, and misplaced words. Honestly, I really am a college student, and I do know how to write! Sorry, and I will try to do better :).

how...

Does anyone know how I can add that special Links feature, so I can keep posted on others blogs?

summer...

Hmm, what have I been doing lately? Most of the time it is just a blur, but I will try to remember. I have been still doing school....one more week of anatomy, then I get a two week break! Things are picking up with Mortar Board, and I am just trying to pull things together for the first of the year. I am so excited be leading a group like this, and am especially excited to be working with certain people in the group. I met with my friend Kyung for coffee the other day. She is the VP of Mortar Board, so I imagine we will be spending a lot of time together, and I knew her from 2:42. Anyhow, it was so great to talk to her because it is encouraging to have a believer headed in the same direction (med school) as me; we were really able to relate about the struggles we face in this pre-profession.

That same day I lucked out and got a ticket to the first football game of the year!! Those of you who know me at all, probably also know that I get easily bored with things like sports, or movies...it may be a downfall of mine. However, I was really excited to go to a friend's tailgater, and see a lot of friends at the game that I haven't seen in awhile. I realized I get really distracted in big crowds; somehow I missed a ten minute pause in the game for a broken leg that happened to the other team! How can someone miss that?!

Last night, after what seemed like fate not wanting us to go (late anatomy lab, lost cell phones, gas stations with technical problems, etc.), my friends Jen, Brock, and I went up to a college church group in Portland called the Way. There was a concert/guest worship artist we went to see. It was good to be amongst so many other people worshiping God together. After that I got so energized because I once again got to see a lot of people I hadn't in awhile, but had a hard time holding a conversation because I was so excited/distracted by all the people. Haha it was a lot of fun though, and we went to Red Robin where I was actually able to talk with everyone. I need to take more pictures so I can remember these times.

Today, I went to Body World 3 at OMSI. It was pretty cool, especially after a summer of anatomy. Did I mention only one more week of school?!! Hurray!

much too short...

This past weekend I went home because it was my Dad's 45th birthday (hehe embrace the age dad, it just means you are that much wiser!). I drove home on a Friday night after my classes, went to dinner with my parents, had a great visit with my Pastor's family, and got to see Derek who has been in Roseburg working all summer. It was a great start to the weekend, and filled with a lot of necessary catching up! The next day was just as good because I got to prepare the food for my dad's party with my mom, and my two good friends Misti and Collin...he was mostly there for support :) Later that evening I spent the night with my friend Jacquie from church which is always encouraging because her faith just overflows. I am privelaged to be challenged by her.

Finally, the next morning I went to my home church, the one that I grew up in as a Christian. I started going there and really seeking God when I was in 10th grade, and that church family had a huge part in cultivating my faith. Sometimes it is hard to go back because when you don't see anyone for awhile conversations seem superficial when you are flooded with the "how have you been? oh, good..How about you? good, thanks." Those types of conversations wear me out. I wish people could just be real, but honestly it isn't the best setting when you have a couple minutes and then the next person walks up. There just isn't enough time to be honest with one another, not even considering the distance that is put between people when you have been gone for so long.

This time was different though. Of course there were the two sentence conversations, but I was able to connect with a couple of people while I was there, and that was enough to fill my need. In the end, this weekend was much too short. I wish I had had more time to visit with other good friends, or just more time with the ones that I did see. I love being in Corvallis, but all the activity here keeps me away from the people I love back home. I suppose that is part of growing up and going to school, but more time would be nice.

When I came back from Roseburg, I was able to come home to a house with roommates though! My two volleyball player roommates have been back for a few days before they are off to another tournament, and it is always fun to have other people around the house! It is going to be a good year, I just know it.

the first dinner...

Last night my friend Jen Weiss and I, brought the house on 12th street into the loop of places to have dinner at with our friends!! I have been waiting for this moment for a couple of years now. I love to have people over, and we were finally given the chance to reciprocate the many dinners we have enjoyed at our other friends' houses! For the last two years I have lived in the dorms or co-op, and now I am living in my own place with 4 awesome girls! As of now, I am the only one consistently living there during the summer, but the others have at least dropped by or stayed for a couple of weeks. The summer has been a great time to get all of the kinks of renting out, so we can be ready to go when fall starts. Right now we are without a toilet :S not the best situation, but luckily I have a good friend (Meghan) who is letting me stay at her place. Since I have been living on my own, it has been cool to see how my group of friends takes care of each other. It is really a great thing to experience!

I am lucky to have them, and get to see them on a regular basis like tonight at 2:42. For those of you who do not know, I am part of a college christian group called 2:42 (based off of Acts 2:42). Every Tuesday in the summer we have been meeting at the Ameele's house for an amazing dinner and bible study. The Ameele's are parents of my friend Brock, but they help out on so many aspects of the college group (welcoming us into their home, discipleship, encouragement, service to the group, and the list goes on). I greatly appreciate their commitment to us, as I know so many of us do! (Thank you!)

stuck in Ohio...

Hi everyone! Sorry I have not written anything in so long, I actually forgot I had a blog until my Grandpa Slater reminded me :) So, by the title of this post, I am sure you can all guess that my flight out of Ohio was cancelled, but I bet the question is...what am I doing over there?! I just went for the weekend to a National conference for Mortar Board Senior Honor Society that I am president of. It has been a good weekend learning all about the organization and its ideals (Scholarship, Leadership, and Service). I am excited to go back and start the year building up our chapter because it could use some improvements. I have written down goals for the year, and I cannot wait to see them happen!! It is great to a have a group to implement service projects with because so much more can be done.

So, a little update on what has been going on in my world. I was a bridesmaid in a wedding last weekend. It was beautiful, and so was my friend getting married! I met her my freshman year of college, and I was honored to be in her wedding. It is only the beginning of the weddings to come; next weekend I am headed to Seattle for my cousin William's wedding! It's crazy to think I am getting to that age, although I am unlike these two because I do not believe that is in my future any time soon. Sorry to disappoint any of you, although I am sure you do not mind. There is a lot to see and do before I am ready for that.

Well, I have an anatomy midterm to study for....that is one nice thing about being stuck in a hotel. I have to study! I will try to do this more often, so you do not miss anything too important because I am sure I am forgetting a few things. Oh! there is one cool story...the other night I went to dinner with some friends and I was just so amazed by the group I was with because we were all from so many different walks of life. We all have different beliefs and backgrounds; one is from Kuwait, another from South Korea, and still another with a very different life story than mine. I love the diversity you get on a college campus! It is probably one of my favorite things at this point of my life. I just called my dad the other day 30 minutes before a final unable to concentrate because all I could think about was how I wanted to have an international career. It will be interesting to see where I find myself five, ten years from now, but I am not in a rush to get there. I am enjoying myself right were I am. Love to you all!

not sleeping....

So, I have been up for the last two hours (since 3am) because I have not been able to sleep. Sometimes I just start thinking about things, my dad says he is glad he doesn't have to live with my mind. I don't want to bore any of you or sound like I am preaching, but I guess a lot of times I feel like I can never do enough, that there are so many people in this world with need, but not enough help. I couldn't even write an impressive article about the subject because my thoughts are so incomplete. All I know is that I want to live in a way where the people I encounter can feel as if they are important. I guess that is the goal of becoming a doctor, to be able to serve people in a practical way, be able to promote an abundant life, be a person who listens to those who aren't heard. I could be so much better at this, but I say that because it is what drives me to keep going, not to get compliments which I feel inadequate to receive. I have been so blessed by God, that I know I can do so much more. I could ramble on longer, but I think I will leave it at that. I am a little tired, so I think I will try to sleep some more. I will write more of an update on what I have been doing lately later. Goodnight.

stuck in the library...

Right now I am back in the library studying for my last two finals, and I am taking a break! I have two more to go, nutrition on Thursday and organic chemistry on Friday. I have pretty much been studying nonstop. Yesterday, I did have a break for the last 2:42 of the year, that is my church group, and my friend Alan Perry who has been in England for the last school year came back to town!! It was so good to see him. My friends are coming back home...just in time to leave for the summer again, but that is ok because I know they are close enough to visit. Today I was able to have lunch with him and catch up a bit, but so much happens in a year. I also got to learn how to play a little tennis today; it was surprisingly a lot of fun considering I am not much of a sports person.

Well I must get back to studying, but I must say one more thing. I do have the ability to post pictures on this thing and I am planning on doing that soon when I have more time to mess around on the computer, so stay tuned for some photos of my life :)
Hope life is treating you all well. Much love!

a fun week...

Dead week (the week before finals) has just started, but I was able to have a lot of fun this last week and weekend. My friend Jordan came back from Africa after graduating college, he was teaching at a missionary school in the area where his uncle practices medicine...good connection to have! Jordan, however, came down to Corvallis to see some of his friends and brought his dad's Camaro with him; long story short...I got to drive the car!! It was amazing. It had so much power and I got to go really fast, but don't worry I had complete control :) This drive just warmed me up for the jaguar I had a chance to drive later that weekend. It was just a fast car week, which is ok with me because I enjoy those types of things!

On a safer note, I went to a John Mayer and Ben Fold's concert up in Clark County, WA on Friday night. I had some friends from Roseburg and Corvallis going as well. He put on a good show; I was impressed with his performing ability. It was at the same place my dad and I went to see Tom Petty the summer before so the crowd was a little different and the air was a bit cleaner ;)

Saturday morning I went to help at Stone Soup as usual. It is a community kitchen that I have been involved in for over a year; I have even been able to serve as head cook about once a month. After that, I floated the river in Corvallis with a group of friends. Floating on tubes is a common activity in Roseburg, but I had never done it in Corvallis. It was a really nice day to be out. Finally, that evening I went to my first bridal shower of the summer. I have another one in two weeks. The weddings have begun!

On Sunday I went to a church service that the Mayor of Corvallis spoke at, and I was able to meet him. Come to find out he is fairly good friends with my boss at the Linus Pauling Institute, small world I guess.

Now, it is Monday and I have to begin thinking about studying for my finals next week. There are supposed to be clouds and rain for the next ten days which I hope will be very conducive for my studies!

finally! i'm getting paid...

When I first came to OSU, I knew that I wanted to gain some experience in a research lab. At OSU there is a well-known micronutrient research center called the Linus Pauling Institute (LPI), after the famous Vitamin C researcher. Since my major is Nutrition Science, I sought after a position in the Vitamin E lab. After about a year of attending lab meetings, then almost nine months of training and trying to prove myself, I will finally be getting paid for my work!

This has been one of the most challenging things I have ever done. The actual test I run is to measure how much Vitamin E is in a plasma or tissue sample. I do a lot of pipetting which is all about accuracy. It has taken awhile to be sufficient enough with the technique. Then, I analyze the data I collect, and try to understand the knowledge and reasoning behind the processes I am involved in. I often leave the lab with my brain completely exhausted from trying to make sense of it all. Although it is really hard work, it is very rewarding, and I enjoy the challenge.

time to catch up...

I only have 3 more weeks of school left, well for the spring anyway. I will only get a week off and then I am back to Corvallis for the summer session of anatomy! Honestly, I am really excited to be here for the summer. It should be very laid back, and I will get a chance to settle into my new house. That is one new thing; I am moving into a real house! No more dorms, or co-ops, but a real house with a back yard, a kitchen, a living room, and a bedroom with my own bed in it.....oh and I will get to cook for myself as well! I cannot wait.


This was very short, but I have to run to organic chemistry now...I think we are getting our midterms back today. I will write more later. Hope everyone is doing well! Much love to you all.