Random things I've been thinking about.. Amanda's brain 310. (It's a 300 level course. If you haven't taken the intro courses, you may have a hard time understanding the material.

things that have thwarted my perception

1. A tank of gas can actually take me further than 3 hours. I had my little 1994 Nissan Pickup for.. 7 years? Maybe? Part of that time I was at school and driving between Arizona and Idaho caused poor Junior such distress. (My trucks name was Junior) I felt like we were always stopping for gas. It freaks me out a little how far I can get on one tank, and then am thwarted thinking it should be more.

2. 3 hour drives consist of the thought process of: 30 minutes to Benson, 45 minutes to Tucson, Picacho Peek, Casa Grande, and then the turn off to Bekki's. It's been ages since I have made this drive, however, so who knows what the actual turn off would be anymore. BUT whenever I make a 3 hour drive, this is the path I am taking. 2 hours to Safford. (Benson/The Thing/Turn off/Safford. If it's 5 hours, it's driving to Safford then driving to Mesa. It doesn't matter if I am in Arizona or not.

Other random notes.

"I can't hear you, I don't have my glasses on." What? What is this nonsense? Oh it's something I used to tease my mom about, BUT alas, I have found that I am able to hear and understand better if I can SEE what you're saying and not just hear it. I have a tendency to read lips which is all so frustrating when I can only see a blur of facial features.

Mandy Jigs: I have a tendency to say I was so excited about something that I would do a jig. I didn't ACTUALLY jig. I do now. I get excited and I freaking dance around. It's ridiculous. Thankfully I am usually among friends when I do this, or alone.

Try: I think to say you're trying to do something is a load of bull. It usually means you aren't or won't. Let's TRY to get together.. I'll TRY___. Yeah yeah. It means you don't actually care enough to DO it. (And when I say YOU, I completely include myself in this debacle.)

I am a mutt of my siblings. As the youngest, a lot of things got funneled down to me. I realize this. It amazes me at times that no matter the sibling I am with, there is something that processes our alike-ness and where I learn to appreciate certain things. I realized this again while I was getting excited with whatever new bbc thing Colleen was getting me into.

I find myself far more clever at times than I might actually be. And I laugh all the same. I also think I am more witty on paper. I have the time to process. Sometimes my brain doesn't connect with my mouth properly and I could be thinking of something absolutely brilliant and what comes out is merhjahsofijalwruf. (awesome.)

I used to say that you can tell the kind of hug someone would give depending on their handshake. It was in my more huggy days. I'm not sure my ruling really applies but sometimes it still crosses my mind when I get a really dreadful handshake.

I love taking pictures. Whether I am any good at it is a totally different story. BUT! I HATE taking pictures of people. It makes me anxious and annoyed. I love old buildings and buildings in general. Landscapes, mountains, and I love storm clouds. People? Eh. No thanks.

Christmas- a beautiful holiday where we can celebrate our Saviors birth or commercial scum-bags. It's a tossup. I'm often thwarted by peoples need to go insane over the holidays, whether in decorations or gift giving/receiving. And it kind of irks me having to switch off my Christmas music when it's "not time yet." Maybe it's time for me. Leave me alone.

But.. I have to take a moment and step back from myself and what I observe to something greater. Partially the unity of Christians under Christ. Here's a time that we can come together and celebrate at least one thing Christians agree on, Jesus Christ. We take an extra moment to serve others because that's the spirit of the season and to be the hands on Earth for Him, who we serve.

I'm cool with that.

I've gotten into the nasty habit of keeping what I believe to myself. Sometimes it's because I feel that my knowledge is small in some of these areas and I hate being made to feel a fool, so I keep things to myself. I also feel uncomfortable around religious zealots that are so pushy and overbearing that it makes me ill. I'm not ignorant in this truth. I'm not following a mass hoard just because they are the teachings of my childhood. I'm 25 years old. I can figure this out. I hit a point this week again of knowing and understanding that there is a God in heaven and that He loves me. That Jesus Christ is my savior. It seems to me as of late that there are things that I could get hung up on, but what's the point when the truth is there and it is plain and simple.

And with that, I end.

Happy New Year