Summer/New York/

This summer was so much fun, there aren't even enough words to describe how wonderful it was. I had the  opportunity to go to New York for a month and stay with my aunt and do an internship with her at her work. She works for Conde Nast and she is the Senior-Vice President of finance. She oversees the budget for the company as a whole.  Conde Nast is a publication company and they publish magazines such as: Vogue, GQ, Allure, Golf Digest and Golf World. It was very interesting to see how much time and effort goes into every page of a magazine.  It was even more interesting to me to be able to see what goes on in the editorial part of the magazine and the advertising side as well.  I helped my aunt with the budget spread sheets for the 2012 plan year, I couldn't see the salaries or anything because that is confidential information.  I saw Sarah Jessica Parker in the elevator because she was on the cover of the August addition of Vogue and she came to see it to see if it turned out as well as she expected I suppose.  I also caught a glimpse of Anna Wintour she is the editor of Vogue, she is the editor that the Devil Wears Prada is about. In her defense she does not throw her coats or her purses at people. She is a very busy lady though and just doesn't have time for chit chat which is understandable for someone in her position and she is very good at what she does. I also saw Mr. Newhouse in the Cafeteria at 7:00 am on the dot every morning.  He seems like a very interesting man and seems to be very involved in his business. Conde Nast's cafeteria you must google it. It is one of the most fascinating cafeterias one will probably ever see in their life.  It is truly phenomenal. I also had the opportunity to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art aka..."MMOMA." I got to see an art exhibit before it was open to the public all the executives were invited, it was a very unique opportunity and of course I took it.

Conde Nast is known for having black cars everywhere in the city and other places all the executives have them and anywhere we wanted to go the driver took us. That is very nice to have something like that at the tip of your fingers. We stayed in the city for 3 days so my aunt had the driver pick us up at the house in New Jersey and took us to work because if you stay in the city you don't really need a car. WE stayed at the Manhattan Club which we had a view of Central Park from our room. It was all so nice.

My aunt also set me up with a speech coach, which was very beneficial because I am taking speech in the fall. He was very informative about the different southern accents and he could do every one of them, it amazed me and he isn't even from the south an he could do them all perfectly.  He is truly amazing at what he does. Of course I have a southern accent being from Alabama (The Deep South). He said a southern accent is very charming and soothing and that it is very pleasant to listen too He also told me not to lose it......but that does not mean don't pronounce things correctly because that is when people will begin to mistake a southern accent for ignorance.  I also had Golf lessons while I was up there and was very surprised at my results. I think I could be rather good if I played regularly.

I must say that I ate very well in New York, my aunt married into and awesome Italian family (that should explain the good eating.......lol)  From fresh mozzarella to imported Italian prosciutto it was all amazing. While I was there this time I had Indian, Spanish, Cuban, Italian, Greek, Japanese and Thai. All I can say is that I et very well while I am up there.

I always have so much fun when I go up there. I get to do it again next summer too. VERY EXCITED! :)

An Amazing Weekend

I can't even describe how fortunate I am to have such great friends and family. We all had a blast on the lake Saturday with the family who came down from Tennessee. The river today with the Tuggle's and the Faulkner's was so much fun! I have not laughed and had that much fun in a long time! It was so great to go somewhere different for a change too. The Warrior River is a great place to go and have fun.  This weekend on Saturday the 28th God gave me the desire of my heart and allowed me and Molly (my best friend) to give dating a try, and so far everything is going well. God promises that he will give us the desires of our heart if we remain pure hearted and that is what he did. I am so blessed to have such supportive friends and family. Our God is an Awesome God!!! Thank you Lord for everything that you have done! This has by far been the best weekend I have ever had. :)

WOW!!

I have never seen so much destruction in my life. Never have I experienced so many tornadoes all at once, almost every town getting hit right after another all across the state. I have seen things like this before on the news, but I never dreamed that it would happen where I live it is just totally insane. Over 200 tornadoes hit alabama yesterday, over 200 people in alabama alone are dead so far.  My friends and I are so blessed that our houses did not get destroyed unlike some people we know.  Florence is the only city for miles that has electricity, so everybody from other cities are coming here for food and gas.  Many of my friends hometowns are almost completely destroyed.  The amount of destruction is almost unfathomable especially if you have never seen it to this extent before. This makes me realize how blessed I am and to not take anything for granted that the Lord has given me.  

WOW!

This week has made me realize to not take anything for granted, and trust in God with and for everything! Always be a good friend and be there for the people who need you the most! Things might not always turn out as you think they are supposed to. Everything works in Gods time not ours, that is something people need to realize though in many cases it is very hard to understand that concept. God is so much greater than us, he has a divine plan for each and every one. We just need to let God work his wonders and sit back and watch. He will show you the way through the darkness that seems to have no end. He is the light at the end of the tunnel.

"Cast all your anxiety on the Lord because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

Studying

Once again, like many times before me and my friends are out studying in the studio but it is usually in the halls. Two of my best friends Kyle and Anna Grace.  We usually always end up splitting up because we talk to much and can't get anything done. Just like Anna Grace had to go to her room and study because me and kyle couldn't shut up. But anyway I think I accomplished a lot tonight. Crap I have to go to Spanish Lab tomorrow and do my assignments before friday. I am glad I remembered that. Well......good night! :)

New York/New Jersey

New York and New Jersey are two of my most favorite places in the world! Partly because I have family that lives in New Jersey but when I go up there we always go into the city to eat and to see a broadway. I love to go to NYC and just take in all the chaos, everything moves so quickly compared to Alabama.  I have been going to NY and NJ since I was a baby and I love it up there so much. I miss my family that is up there but I see them just about as often as I see the rest of my family down here. They always make time for us to come up or for them to come down even if it is just for a weekend! I am closer to my cousin from NJ than I am to my cousins who live down here. That maybe because they are much older than me, I mean because they all have families of their own now. I cannot wait to go to NJ for my spring break, I am going to have so much fun, as I always do. I will also get to see my grandmother which I am very excited about. I can't wait to see my family!! :)

School!

Everything is happening so fast in school, and all I want is for everything to slow down but that is not going to happen.  I am freaking out about my math test monday. I am actually looking forward to the study group we are having for math sunday afternoon. I am doing well in all of my classes but math is just kicking my butt all over the place. I will pass it though I always do. Blaaahhhhh!!

Good Gracious!!!

I know this might sound bad but I cannot wait for this year of college to be over with! My amazing friends have been with me through the good and bad times. From late night talks to just laughing hysterically and waking everybody up at night! I have had a great first year of college but cannot wait to get this spring semester over with and have a long needed break. Love you guys you know who you are!!

I wrote this "The Time"

Good times and bad times come and go as the seasons pass from warm to cold

The time ticks like a grandfather clock and so do you and I

I am tired of this fight, which has told me the truth

I am truly moving on once and for all

For this new start I have,

I thank you!!

Time heals wounds sooner or later.

Which I am glad they don’t last forever.

If there were no time, how would we live?

Would the wounds still heal or would they last forever?

ARRRGGG!!!

I want to get away, I cannot wait till spring break because I will be in New Jersey with family for a week and it is going to be awesome. I really can't wait until this summer when I am going to be up there for about a month to a month in a half. For now, once again I am stuck at UNA on a weekend with nothing to do but play catch up all weekend with all the homework I got behind in the week before.  Though right now I am taking a break and starting my weekend off great by watching a Madea movie "Diary of A Mad Black Woman."  One of the funniest movies ever made, if I do say so.

Amazing

Seeing God move is always amazing, especially when one leads another to Christ.  "Sure 100" GFBC Youth Choir made their last trip to Knoxville this year. It is hard to believe we have been going there for six years.  The power of God is undeniable, he is great and is mighty to save.  Being able to see people turn away from drugs and prostitution and run to the Lord just touches my heart.  We sure did experience the power of God, he moves in mysterious ways.  Many people don't understand that his presence does not come to you, you go to him.  I am thankful that I have been given such a great opportunity to minister to the lost and weary that they might find salvation with the Lord God Almighty. What a privilege it is to work for him and to lead his children to the path of righteous. May we all walk beside God on the streets of Gold when our time comes. God is good all the time and all the time He is good.

Knoxville 2011

I am so excited about this mission trip with the Youth Choir "Surge 100" at Gardendale First Baptist Church tomorrow. The trip is going to be amazing like it has been for the past five years. God is going to move in wonderful ways. In his presence may we receive his presents of piece and joy and a change of heart. Unfortunately this is the last trip to knoxville or to "Water Angels Ministries" for a while because we have been asked to go to this ministry in Atlanta Georgia possibly for the next few years.  Though I graduated I am going as a chaperone this year because I was part of the first group to go to "Water Angels" and I would like to make note and see everything that has changed over the past four years. Stay tuned to see what happens oh and of course I will post pictures. Big day tomorrow good night. :)

Grammy's

I am upset that I missed the Grammy's, I wish I could have seen Gaga acting a fool in her egg suit.  Which by the way why in the world would anyone wear that? Yes, I do have to say that is how she makes her money "being strange." I wish I could have seen Streisand perform her amazing song Evergreen, but no I had to miss that too.  It was just one of those days when you forget about absolutely everything.  I am glad to know Streisand still has it, and there will never be another Streisand though people say Beyonce is. I wouldn't even put the two in the same category.  Streisand is much better and has way more class. Did I just write about something totally random? Why yes I think I did. I guess it was getting on my nerves somehow.

Valentines Day

Valentines Day is a day many hate and many love but personally I could care less, it is just another day.  No I do not feel this way because I am not in a relationship.  I don't understand why on this day just about every couple goes googly eyes on each other. If they were really in love they would be like that all the time. People should always do something special with the people they love, not just on a certain day.  So why is this day such a lovers day?? Have the facts been distorted? I don't know but researchers say there was a man named St. Valentine and he was a martyr so are we celebrating someones death? What do you think?

A Great Sunday :)

This weekend was very relaxing and I do have to say the best day this weekend was Sunday, but that is usually my favorite day of the weekend anyway. God is so great, I cannot help but acknowledge his greatness when I look at everything I have in life.  I have everything I need. I have His love, great friends and a family who loves me at college and at home. Today at First Baptist Church of Florence, Alabama we had a great sermon and, my friends and I stayed for lunch that the church provides for the college students and it is always good. Today we had wonderful food that the elderly prepared, and I am thankful that they care enough for the students to prepare food out of love for us.  God is good all the time and all the time he is good. God Bless. :)

"Angry Birds"

Why I got the smart idea to buy the "Angry Birds" App I will never know, but I soon found out that it was a very bad idea.  I mean who thought of such a ridiculous game?  I keep telling myself that I will not become addicted but it is becoming hard not to. Birds being bolted at buildings to tear them down with birds that split into three and lay egg/bombs in the air. PETA has got to see this, what will they do? Get them for promoting animal cruelty?  It is amazing how far technology has advanced. I wonder if I will become addicted to this game? I hope not!!!

Parents please do not let your children become addicted to ipod/video games because there is something called outdoors that helps the imagination.  :)

And as I watch the Syfy channel I wonder how they stay on the air.

The UNA Lions

Una

                                                                               Leo III

The UNA Lions, Leo III and Una playing in the snow.  Neither the lions or myself have seen so much snow at one time. We got about a foot of snow the night before.

The Weekends at UNA

Staying in Florence, Alabama on the weekends is the only way I will get my homework completely finished.  The only thing is, it is extremely boring here at college on the weekends because just about everyone goes home or travels to a different state for some sport affair. "No offense you guys."  So I take this time to get stuff done because if I go home nothing will get complete or for that matter even glanced at.  So this weekend I have to write a history paper, choose a topic for my research paper, study for my math test Monday and keep my thoughts together for my history quiz Tuesday. Busy weekend I have in store for myself, but I think I will reward myself with a show or two of "Charmed," or maybe some really good sushi.  I wonder what I will choose?

Finally

I for one never thought that I would have a blog, but things change especially when one is some sort of a conformist when it comes to social networks and technology.  Yes Molly......it is true I have a blog, I bet you can't believe this because I barely can. Sooooo........Cheers to my first blog ever. :)