Rays of Hope

I was all gung-ho about going to the gym earlier today, but now I feel incredibly lazy and I'm trying to put it off.... Oh well. Hopefully I'll make it over there some time tonight. *Note to self: Go to the gym in the morning. *Reply to self: That means you have to wake up early. *Reply back to self: Never mind then. Bring me some ice cream.

Anyway, I thought it would be fun to show y'all where I work at the moment. I don't have any pictures on my phone yet, but here is an online tour of Rays of Hope. It's a little different now, but not by much. I wish all of you could physically come see how truly awesome this place is, but this will do for now.

Enjoy!

Checking In

My sister Mel has informed me that my blog is falling to the bottom of the "recently updated blog" totem pole. "WHAT?!" you may be thinking. "Surely Julianna, the great blogger, would never allow that to happen."

Psht. Who am I kidding? I should set up camp at the bottom of the totem pole. We all know I spend lots of time down there, anyway. ;-)

So, life here in Midland has been an adventure. I miss lots of things from Utah (mountains, family and friends, etc.), but there are lot of good things here, too. I present to you a relatively brief list of highlights up to this point--

(The following list is not in any particular order.)

1) I am always fascinated with the sky here. The sunsets are gorgeous and the clouds are so fun to watch. I call them "Simpsons clouds," because they look like the clouds in the opening of the "Simpsons." (Random, useless fact about the way Julianna's brain works...or doesn't.)

2) It's fun being with the family here. Up until this point in my life, I have only gotten to see my "Texas relatives" every couple of years or so for a brief period of time. Now I can actually get to know them.

3) Bluebell ice cream. It is both a blessing and a curse, as is evidenced by my ever-increasing girth. I need the ice cream patch to keep me away from it...or at least some self control.

4) My job is awesome now. When I got here, I was volunteering at Rays of Hope, a children's grief center, and I loved it. But, as we all know, volunteering doesn't pay the rent, so I went out and got a job. I worked at a call center. *Dramatic music plays* Yes, friends, I reduced myself to the lowly position of "call center minion," and I heartily disliked it. I almost went insane!!!! Anyway, to make a long story short, I quit that and Rays of Hope found a way to hire Nicole and me for the summer! It's great--remind me to post some pictures the next time I happen to update. :-)

Here are some "lowlights," for anyone who is interested--

1)I'm definitely not a fan of sharing a car. Bleh. I hadn't realized how spoiled I have been in that department. I've usually had klunker cars, but they have always been mine. My grandma got a really nice car for Nicole and me to share, and I'm grateful for it and love the car, but I feel like I'm fifteen again at times. Oh well. Sharing is good, right? *Twitch, twitch.*

2) GOOBERS--(n, adj) def: a person, most often of the opposite sex, who lacks any and all forms of social skills. Goobers are most often unattractive and/or smelly, and typically latch on to people who are completely out of their league and then proceed to stalk them.

That is an excerpt from the Julianna Dictionary. Let me just say, I tend to be a goober magnet. I don't know what it is about me that screams, "Please, awkward and scary men, come find me! Ask me out on dates! I will reject you every time, but please continue to follow me around."

*Heavy sigh* They come to me, like moths to the flame. Does anyone have any Goober repellent handy?


That's the update from Midland at the moment. Love you all!