Rods and Reels

[viamilanello]

Favourite The Office US opening scenes 5/6 5x10 Moroccan Christmas

[rodsandreels]

That's all there is; there isn't any more

Well I suppose this is my final blog post. I will have to admit that I enjoyed blogging this semester more that I anticipated. If I were to go back and re-read the things I posted, I would probably be bored, but it's nice to have a small summary of my final semester of college. A lot has changed for me, and I am glad to have a record of my thoughts and attitudes along the way. It's been a wonderful semester, and I am excited for what is to come. And as they say at the close of each sweet Madeline book, "That's all there is; there isn't any more."

[bmmurdock-deactivated20131211]

To help with ending a crazy week my two roommates and I decided to venture over to the humane society. I had never been before so I was supper excited. When we got there we all started with the dogs. As we walked in and started to pet all the ones there, we came across this girl!

Here name…

[lauraelizabethh93]

I love going there! And I especially love playing with the sweet dogs! The only problem is that I want to bring one home with me every time I go and of course I never can! :(

[rodsandreels]

I love going to the humane society as well! But I agree, leaving without adopting one of the cute friends is so hard.

[rodsandreels]

Another Obnoxious Christmas Post

I was home once again this weekend to see my sister while she was in town. We got to see some old friends while she was here. We started making plans about Christmas reunions with our Statesville group. We always make gingerbread houses, have a gift exchange, and go caroling with several families. There is a groups of about 7 or 8 families that we always have fun with over the holiday break. Spending time together is something we all look forward to. I'm getting really excited to come home for Christmas and get started with all our celebratory fun! The break really can't come soon enough!

[rodsandreels]

Calm and Cozy

I spent my Sunday afternoon hiding under a warm blanket, listening to Frank Sinatra, and finishing up various coursework assignments with a sleeping dog at my feet. So perfect. I've made a list of everything that needs to be done before final exams. My motivation to finish everything increases as the list gets shorter and shorter. I can't believe we are so close to completing the semester. It blows my mind. I have a timeline that puts me finished with everything except final exams by the end of Thanksgiving break. Crazy. I have really enjoyed my final semester in undergrad. I have learned more than I initially thought I would. The combination of classes I've taken has helped me figure out a specific area in which I want to specialize when I become an SLP. I'm really looking forward to beginning graduate school in January and starting down that short road towards putting all these assignments into practice!

[rodsandreels]

Getting Closer to Christmas

I haven't gotten to see much of my sister since her wedding. She lives in Charleston and has a full time job, and my final semester of school hasn't exactly provided me with much free time either. She and my brother-in-law are spending Thanksgiving in Arkansas with his family this year, so she came up to North Carolina this weekend to see us before they leave. In the past, we have always gotten our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving (that is the extent of our Black Friday shopping). Introducing Christmas into the Bowman household before Thanksgiving has passed is a deadly sin for our family. However, since this is the first year we won't been able to be together for Thanksgiving day, we chose to get our tree early so all of us can be there. Tree selection day has always been one of my favorite days. We go to the same farm every year, play hide and seek in the trees every year, and eat at the same Wendy's on the way home every year. Same same same. That's how we operate, and I absolutely love it. It is the one tradition that hasn't been modified over the years. I will always look forward to our annual Christmas tree hunt. It doesn't matter when it happens, just as long as the five of us are together and happy. I love my family.

[rodsandreels]

ESL otra vez

This semester has brought a lot of change to our ESL program. Last year, I was the primary college student involved with the classes, and the other volunteers were sweet ladies from community churches. However, this year App has started encouraging students to volunteer with our classes. As a result, we have close to 20 volunteers each week. Because of this increase, we have been able to break the students up into smaller classes that are more appropriate for their language abilities. It's been such a beneficial change. I have had one particular student for over a year who has struggled to make improvements. However, now that he is in a class with only one other student, we are able to go very slowly and practice basic vocabulary and conversational phrases over and over until he gets is. Last night, he read from a children's book. That is huge! Last year at this time, he was sitting quietly, completely lost. Now, he understands our activities and laughs with us when we joke around. It has been so thrilling to watch his improvement. It is a weekly encouragement that I always look forward to.

[rodsandreels]

Weather brings out changes

So we have this cat, you see. We got her in 1999, so she is 14 and grouchy. She never really fit with any of the names we tried for her, so we opted to just call her "Cat." However, now that she is well advanced in age, I have started calling her, "Miss Cat." Not that it's important or anything. She has never enjoyed interacting with people and usually runs away whenever she sees me. We have fields behind and in front of our house, so she usually sits at the border of our yard by the field to avoid us. How sweet. Now, all this has changed since the weather started to cool off. She doesn't like sleeping outside when it's cold outside, so she's started turning up the charm. Her personality has changed so much in the past six weeks. She is now a sweet cuddler who loves to be petted and licks our hands. WHAT?! While I was home this weekend, she slept with me in my bed each night with her head on my hand. Insane. She is totally sucking up to avoid the cold. But it doesn't matter to me. Everyone loves snuggling with small warm animals, right?

[rodsandreels]

Running with my dad

Since moving to college, I have become a sucker for home and my parents. It has really surprised me that I would miss living in Statesville so much. I always planned to move all over the place as soon as possible. I'm realizing the value in small towns where everyone knows everyone. Because of all the crazy smoke we had in Boone this weekend, I went home yet again. Sunday afternoon I went on a long run with my Dad through Statesville. It was so great to get out some stored up stress and energy. We did have to stop half way through our route because we ran into some friends (that happens when your town is a mix between Mayberry and the Shire). We finished up just as it was starting to rain. The weather was perfect, and we got to have a really good conversation as well. I have always loved running with my dad. We did a half marathon together last year and always run in the Cooper River Bridge race in Charleston. It is always a time of relaxation and he always keeps me going.

[meredithabernethy]

I had almost forgotten about a surprise that had been in the making for a few months now, when my best friends boyfriend texted me reminding me of the Hillsong concert in Greensboro, he had bought me tickets to months ago. The plan was for me to show up in greensboro to go to the concert and...

[rodsandreels]

That's so awesome that you got to go to their concert! I am such a fan of Hillsong. And I'm glad you got to surprise your friend. Sounds like a time had by all!

[rodsandreels]

Here comes yet another overly excited post about Christmas

Guys, let's all take a brief pause and remember that Christmas is only 6 and 1/2 weeks away!!! I am seriously over reacting about this, but I really can't wait. I am falling into the habit of watching cheesy ABC Family rom-coms on Netflix. The latest viewed was called 12 Dates of Christmas. It's really sad how much I am a sucker for these. They are so sweet (and pathetically predictable) and make me want to jump into a Hallmark card and run around giving gifts to strangers. This year for Christmas, I am going to Georgia with my brother to spend some time with his girlfriend's family. So in other words, I am 3rd wheeling with tidings of comfort and joy during the most romantic time of the year. Never fear! I am so excited to explore Atlanta during the Christmas season, that being the plus-one won't seem that bad. Honestly, at this point, I seriously doubt much could dampen my enthusiasm for the holiday season. I. CAN'T. WAIT.

[rodsandreels]

Where has the time gone?

I can't believe we are so close to the end of the semester. It has been, without a doubt, the fastest semester I have ever had. I can't believe my time in undergrad is coming to a close in just 5 weeks. I am definitely excited to graduate. I've ordered my cap and gown and prepared all the invitations last night to be mailed this week. I really feel like I took the fast track in college. Sometimes I just can't understand how I have arrived at the end so quickly.  I am so thankful that all my credits counted when I transferred. It is such a blessing to be able to finish early after switching schools. Although I am finishing up in undergrad, I don't feel like too much will seem different after Christmas. Since I have been accepted to App's grad program for the Spring (praise the Lord!!!), I will be right back up here in January to begin the next chapter. I couldn't be more excited about it. I know it will definitely be a new challenge, and I am excited to work hard and learn a lot. I have so much to be thankful for this year. The Lord has been very good to me.

[rodsandreels]

Nothing like the Blue Ridge

My classes last Friday were cancelled, so I went to bed Thursday night without setting an alarm. It was glorious to sleep until I naturally woke up. I probably stayed in bed too long, but it was much needed. In the afternoon, I went with my friend Heather to take pictures of the remaining fall leaves along the parkway. It was such a crisp, BEAUTIFUL quiet day. We went relatively early, so the parkway was pretty deserted. We couldn't decide where to go, so we just shot off to Beacon Heights and worked our way back. We would just pull off at different overlooks and snap few shots before continuing on our road trip to no where. Not surprisingly, we ended up in Kilwins eating fudge and ice cream. My absolute favorite spot in Blowing Rock other than Kilwins is the candle hsop. I'm friends with the owner now because I've gone in there so many times. If becoming an SLP doesn't work out, I could definitely see myself living in a cozy little home in Blowing Rock and working in the candle shop. It would be like living in a movie. I don't think I'll ever get tired of visiting his shop...

[lauraelizabethh93]

Since today is Veteran’s Day I thought I would write about my boyfriend and all we’ve experienced the past year. He is in the army and found out he would be deploying last summer. I definitely wasn’t prepared for something like that and it was probably one of the hardest things I’ve had to go...

[rodsandreels]

That is so incredibly sweet! I'm really happy for you and am thankful he came home safe and sound!

[loproulxx]

Last year for Halloween a large group of us from RUF (Reformed University Fellowship) which I am really involved with on campus, dressed up as zombies and walked as a zombie hoard to large group meeting. It was a surprise for our campus minister at the time who was really into the Walking Dead and...

[rodsandreels]

Old friends make the best new friends

While I was home this weekend, I ran into an old friend from high school. She was two years older than me, so we weren't super close before she graduated. However, we became very good friends after we both went off to college. I'm not quite sure how this happened because she went to ECU and I went to NC State and am now at App. We both did the musicals in high school and love looking back at them an laughing at how ridiculous we were. In many ways, we are very similar, and I love to talk with her and see what life is like for her now that she has graduated from college. We had a Starbucks date Sunday night and talked until 11:30. Friendships like I have with her are hard to find and I am so thankful for the time we can spend together. If I don't get accepted into graduate school this Spring, we've decided to audition for a community theater production of Les Mis in the March. I would love that! She is really a special friend and I greatly admire her.

[rodsandreels]

Mom and me

My mom came up to Boone this weekend for a get away weekend with some of her friends. I met up with her at the mountain house where she was staying and then we escaped for an adventure of our own. Because I live so close to campus, often on game days, my car gets stuck in or our of my parking lot. I really didn't want to fight with the craziness of tailgating around Raley and my apartment parking lot, so I was glad to have something more exciting to do. I took my mom to Rough Ridge so she could see the remnants of the brilliant leaves. She loved it. We had some great conversational time and it even snowed on us on our hike down. Then we walked around Blowing Rock and bought way too much fudge. I think I could spend the rest of my life there. It's such a cute town. I'm so glad she came up. We really had a great time. I ended up driving her back to Statesville, so I got some good time at home this weekend as well. It was a great surprise all around.