Why do people have to be so ridiculous? Seriously, I understand that you are moving out, props to you and your future spouse, but you still have three more weeks here, and still need to respect the rest of us. I understand there are things being shared that belong to you, but doesn't mean you have to remove everyone else's stuff from it, and just keep you only yours. As if we are infected, and can't TOUCH anything that belongs to you. Basically, you have become a guest in OUR house, so respect it. You are the ones making it more difficult, not us. We never told you to leave, NEVER, yet you act as if we are throwing you out the door any day now.

I had to vent, and talking to them is irrational, what that's what they think of me. Anyway...

So I ditched work today, why, cause I didn't wake up until almost ten, and didn't feel like walking in the snow to campus. I'll go in tomorrow... Plus, my room was a mess, and I only cleaned 3/4 of the kitchen last night... I'm so the mom.

With the move, I'm realizing I'm missing a few things to make my room sufficient. I've never had my own bathroom, weird huh? I'm not missing huge things, but a few things I would like to have...

Well I made it home and back again, just to do it again in another few weeks. I thought I was just gonna be a little lame trip, minus the Bridal Shower and laughing with my Mom and Retah, but my little Brother made my weekend...

So I have these Uncles, Richard and Robert Pernell, and they are amazing. They aren't related to me in anyway, except being children of God, but they have always and will be my Uncles. Dick used to be my Father's Soccer Coach in college at Cal Baptist, and let my father live in the room above their house for a few years. They both are a Hoot, and I love them so much, but the last time I saw them was two years ago, and even that was after at least a five year MIA session. They still live in Riverside, and becoming hippies, ok they drive a Prius now. Bob was in the service, while Dick went into the Peace Core. Actually he was in the first group established for the Peace Core, down in Columbia.

So what is Riverside known for? ORANGES! California Gold, and my Uncles have about two acres of trees, some being at least forty years old. And these are the best oranges you could get anywhere, simply because they are the Navels. Navel Oranges don't have seeds, thus they have us use graphs from other trees to expand the produce or create new trees. I spent most of my Sunday afternoon picking oranges and socializing with my awesome uncles, all thanks to Sam... And yes, I brought some back with me, mostly to enjoy with my roommates.

I think I have a problem. It's not that I'm jealous, but I'm getting really sick and tired of hearing people talk about their wedding plans! Not so much Rhonda and Brian's, cause they are less than three months away from getting hitched, but when you have more than a year... I'm glad I have an ipod now, cause I can just zone her complaints and whines to her betroth. A WHOLE YEAR! I mean, I could understand if it was May and trying to get venues and reserve places, but it's a year and two months. She's not even answering her line cause she's on the phone... Yea big deal if I answer it, but I'm tried of telling people from our paper and other things that she is too busy to talk to them at this time.

When I get married, I'm just gonna do the only way I know. Service and reception at the church. I mean, why make people travel to enjoy your company and those you haven't seen in years. Then again, I'm the one that think it would be cool if my Father walked me down with his shotgun. Charlie said he would do it! I want the simplest wedding someone can have, and I've always thought this way. Not that my family has done anything HUGE, but they too seem a little too big for me.

I'll be home tomorrow, and glad to be there. It's a sucky short trip, two days/one night, while spending two nights riding on the train. Oh well, the things I do for family... Hahaha, I would die for my family any day.

Last night Jason and I met with Pastor David Campbell and another gentleman from Greenlaw Baptist. We both were nervous, especially since they were an hour late. So they get there, FINALLY! He started out asking if we were interested in working with they youth, thus I brought up my parents were the youth leaders at Long Beach, only when there was no one available to take the youth. "So you come from a Southern Baptist background?" I stole the show, talking about my families involvement when I was younger, being saved when I was 12, my struggles through my adolescents with following Him, and then being Baptized when I was 21. Finding an awesome church, Mid Cities, and growing. I even talked about the issues I see developing in my Sunday School class, even though I only went like twice while I was home. We used to be fun, and made me want to be there, but lately... They could be doing more, and they won't.

Anyway, they finally got to Jason, how he was forced to go, even forced to be baptized, and then stopped going. The hardships he experienced during the years, leading up to his feeling of hitting bottom, and turning around and seeking God. He's been doing better about church and I have, surprisingly. Then it came to Salvation. "Jason are you sure you'll be going to Heaven?" Jason was unsure, which I kinda new, and have been talking to him about it a lot lately. So Pastor pulls out a track, and we begin to read it together, and he gave his testimony and so did Ted. Jason accepted the Lord last night, and is now in the Book of Life.

They did inform us that there is no teacher as of right now for our Sunday School class, which kinda sucks, but I like the feel of Greenlaw... They just need to work on their music. They do Faith, which I might get involved with, but that's not until April. Also, Ted thought we were married, "God please bless this marriage and allow it to continue to grow." I think it's cause my ring only fits on my left hand... Oops!

Happy MLK Day...

Something about this so called holiday has me a bit baffled. I have nothing against the late Dr. King, and am grateful that God was able to use him in such a manner, but why do I get this day off? His real birthday is the 15th, which was about a week ago, but why is it his birth the important date? I would think the day he gave his speech there in DC would be better, since it had such a HUGE impact on growing America. Sometimes I wish I was there... But I'm here in this time for some reason, but will I make an impact?

As most of my readers know, I recently turned twenty-four this last Saturday. For years, my birthday never really meant anything, just another day. But I was constantly being reminded that I was turning 24, just a year away from being a quarter century old. I realize that I'm not "old," I mean, just a week before my own Mother turned 61. Yet, I'm realizing I've come along way in my last 24 years. I never dreamed I would be here, Flagstaff, Arizona, getting my degree in art, working a job nowhere related to my field of interest, and listening to Zakk Wylde. The last four years I've spent my birthday away from the traditions of my family, which only consisted of going to Grandma's to eat and open gifts, but it was my day. I admit, I miss those days of family, but that's just another unforgotten memory.

Week two starts tomorrow, but I'm already looking for the weekend. I get to go home. The first of my many adventures before April. They are all family related, well Rhonda related, but it's always good to be with family. And yes Melanie, I'll have the stuff ready before I head out on Friday, PROMISE!

Well I'm off for another adventure in the life of Raylie...

Not this week, but soon

I've stated before how I'm going to start using my gym membership, but this week doesn't look like it's gonna happen. School just started, and I'm already feeling behind. I have three assignments due tomorrow, and another on Thursday, for the same class, but I can't find two of questions that are due tomorrow. "think of it as a scavenger hunt" as the teacher puts it in the syllabus. That's wrong, especially for a 100 level course. I've read everything that I'm suppose to, since I can't read the lectures until I finish the first three questions, which I would do if he had an assignment list! I'm feeling a bit stupid and beyond frustration!

I finally met Bridgett today, she's talking over for Dave while he is gone. She seems really mellow and supportive, and likes what I'm trying to do in terms of experimenting for my show.

Please continue to pray for my living situation. Since Sunday, I have not talked to the two, and feel bad for them...

It's only been a day...

I arrived safely in to Flagstaff about 9pm MST, Saturday. The trip was long, but at least this time I had someone other than Windex to talk to. And boy did we talk... I even busted out my Bible a few times in to reference to a few things. Mostly Old Testament, but still shared it.

I did not go to church on Sunday, since I got sick. I think the altitude change this time really effect me in a negative way. Headache, dehydration, and loss of energy. So I gave Jason my Bible and he went. Jason is really getting into church, which I'm glad. They need a tech guy, and he's pretty much the man for the job, just not a member of the church. He thinks he has Pastor Campbell's way of preaching down to the "t."

I'm glad to be back in the house, my house. Well, as I've been telling my three roommates that share the upstairs with me, it's our house, and that's how it should be. But I live with two other people, and I actually feel bad for them. I'm unsure they even believe in God, or Christ for that matter, cause they lack a lot of compassion for others. It was the first night that we all have been home since the week of finals, so it was exciting, at least to the four of us girls. We went to dinner, shopping, and hung out in the living room just talking, laughing, and enjoying our youth. But apparently that was too much for one of the tired roommates. From the beginning we were warned, "hey, can you turn the music down." Which is fine, but a few hours later, there was an eruption of emotions... I just thank God that He allowed for me to be cool and handle the situation, and neutralize it, even if it was just for that moment. Please pray for my living situation. Yes, I know, I was quick to make decisions, and now are living with unpleasant people, but it could be worse, I just hope it doesn't get much worse...

We should live our lives as though Christ was coming this afternoon. -Jimmy Carter

Wouldn't that be awesome!? I first pictured something like Christ coming over for Sunday Supper, or a visit. But I wouldn't want it to be just a short thing as I imagined, and I know it won't be... But I also know that I'm not living my life that way, but I'm changing...

I think it's gonna fall off...

Sam and I played at least two hours of Wii yesterday, not back to back since we went and got some lunch. But with the constant increase of my game play, my muscles haven't caught up yet. I think I need to learn how to play lefty, at least for bowling and such. But Sam and I have a pretty sweet tennis team...Now for a name???

Not only have I been playing Wii, with Melanie's new addiction to Guitar Hero, I've been playing that as well. I'm a pretty good Bass Player, but not as good as William Murderface. I don't know how long we were playing GH III, but I know I got a couple 100% and encores.

I can't believe I'm gone a week from tomorrow. I'm excited to start my new semester, but I kinda don't want to leave yet. I'm having too much fun...I guess I need to find people to have fun with back in Flag, but will it be the same.

I just read two people's blogs, and they both listed their resolutions for the year, so it got me thinking. I kinda already have some, but never really categorized them such. I'm gonna us my Gym membership for real, and work on being closer to God. I'm not in it to lose weight, though I know I'm heavier than I should be, I just want to race again. And being a better Christian is what we all strive for, I just need to focus better. So please keep me accountable when I'm not keeping myself...

My First Wii accident...kinda

As most of you know, I had to head back to the beautiful pines for traffic school, in which I also was able to spend New Years with a few good people. While dinner was being prepared, I entertained myself with Gabe's Wii, which he has not play in over two months...As a result of my guilty pleasures, I've obtained one bruise and cut on my right forearm(bowling) and a small dent in the living room wall(also bowling) at their apartment from my ring. The bruise hurts pretty bad, even though it's been a few days...and it's BLUE! I made it home safely, but never desire to ride the greyhound again. Amtrak from now on, even though it's like zero degrees year round.

With the new year comes change. New laws, family members, degrees, and life. The year has just begun, and I'm already booked. Leave on the 12th for Flagstaff, even though I'm not so sure I'm ready for the adventures that I see in the future. But after two weeks of school, I'm off again to Long Beach, and then again on the 15th of February. Whenever my dress comes in, I'm gonna have to come back and get a fitting done, plus order my shoes...Weddings are crazy! The only time I know I don't have anything scheduled is starting in April.

Well it's late, and I just got back from the bus station...time for bed seriously.