Real Football

So, I'm sitting in the pressbox right now, watching a very good Auburn/Kentucky football game and enjoying myself very much. I don't do a lot during the game so I thought this would be an opportune moment to do a little blogging.

It is officially 40 degrees here in Auburn and I can't help but giggle. Everyone and their mother (except my wonderful friends who hail from the North as well) are going on and on about how this is not proper football weather. Boy do I beg to differ! There is nothing better than layering on the long underwear, longsleeve, sweatshirt and jersey and heading out to the game (granted, I've only been a fan once so I can't really say...just what I've heard).

I'll never forget a Concordia football my junior year of college. We were playing in either the first or second round of the NCAA tournament in the middle of November...THE MIDDLE OF NOVEMBER!!! See, here is the thing...middle of November in Moorhead, Minnesota, has the possibility to be borderline arctic and let me tell you what my friends, it was that day. The air was so cold that the sound of colliding football pads rang throughout the stadium (and probably all the way to Prexy's Pond...look it up.) There is no more beautiful sound than that...maybe besides the sound of my many aunts cackling at something ridiculous at Thanksgiving (I'm talking about you Pat...ha.)

To all my dear southerner friends, you have not experienced what a real football game should be like. I truly believe that the founding football fathers would have wanted their sport to be played in the toughest conditions and I can't think of anything tougher than running around in freezing cold weather.

Oh...and another thing that really irks me is that they call their winter hats tobaggans...seriously? We Scandinavians know that the true meaning of a tobaggan is that its a sled people...a sled. I'm just sayin'

Go Bucks, go Cobbers, go Gophers and War Eagle (I have a lot of teams to associate with...yikes)

Walking With Larry

I am currently on the road with the volleyball team in Statesboro, Ga., the home of Georgia Southern University. Its located in the southeast corner of Georgia which = BACKWOODS.

Want to know how I know its backwoods? Well, let me tell you!

Yesterday (Friday, Sept. 11), after our match, the team headed to Longhorns Steakhouse for a postgame meal. I was still working on some stuff in the bus, so our bus driver Larry waited for me to finish. Larry is a 6-foot 5-inch black man that is in his late 40s-early 50s and has an attitude that cracks me up...in other words, he doesnt take no crap. :)

I finished up my stuff, he locks up the bus and we walk towards the restaurant. As we were walking, a pair of white elderly couples were walking in the opposite direction. And let me tell you what, I have NEVER in my life been stared down the way those four individuals stared down Larry and I. One guy never gave up his stare and in fact, I'm convinced he was more glaring than staring. Larry, with his ridiculous attitude, said, "Good evenin folks, hows y'all doin this fine night?" Did they respond? Did they give up their glare? Oh heck no they didn't!

After they had passed and we entered the restaurant, more dirty looks were poured on until we arrived to the team's table in the back room.

I hadn't really experienced anything like that in my life. Larry and I decided that when that happens again, he's going to put his arm around me just to see what happens.

But seriously...this is the 21st century people. Grow up and realize that God does not see color and neither should you. Creepers.

Welcome to the south Kendra, welcome to the south.

But on a better note: our volleyball team is beating these backwoods jerks so all is well in the world. :)

What Have I Gotten Myself Into?

So I know it's been awhile since I most recently blogged so I apologize.

In the last couple of weeks, I've realized what it truly means to live in the south. What does it mean you ask? Three words: cockroaches and condensation.

One early morning, I was awoken with the urge to use the little girls room. So, as I'm sitting there doing my business, a little friend decides to scurry across the floor right towards my bed. Sitting there in shock, I did nothing. I have never seen a cockroach in my place of residence before and wasn't sure what to do. There was NOOOOOO way I was going to go after it. I attempted to sleep on my futon but the thought of gigantic bugs crawling all over me caused me not to sleep at all. When I went into my office the next morning, it was apparent that I had not slept and thus, told the story of my misfortune. My boss's response: "Welcome to the South." and everyone went about their business.

The following day, I went to the grocery store to replenish my cupboards and fridge (it was quite a delightful trip because I got a lot of fresh produce at the farmers market on the way back from Kroger). So, as I'm putting the cold items in the fridge, I realize that my arm is completely wet. I wondered out loud what this may be. I looked at the top of my fridge and low and behold, it was covered in dripping water! What the heck? I called my friend and this was his response: "Welcome to the South."

So, I ask myself...what have I gotten myself into? I have no idea. Between the cockroaches and condensation, there is continually a new adventure in the world of 95 degrees plus a ton of humidity.

My Apartment!!!!

So here are some pictures from my little apartment here in Auburn. Its a nice one-bedroom with "hardwood" floors, stainless steel appliances and a nice closet. Perfect size for me! Its also kind of randomly decorated. I was starting to go with a Scarlet/Gray theme (love me some Buckeyes!) with a grown-up feel to it but I'm just not ready to get rid of my random picture frames and pieces of furniture. So there! :) I do have a Scarlet/Gray theme going on in my bathroom but unfortunately my batteries died on my camera so I wasn't able to get a picture of it...oh well!

This my living room....woooo

Absolutely love my random pink chair...its probably my more favorite thing ever

This is the other side of the living room...I was watching Dance Your Ass Off. Love that show! I always find myself wanting to dance along in my chair...haha

This is my kitchen!!! Yeah, the appliances are freakin great! :)

Walking into my bedroom...

This is the other side of my bedroom

I have a Scarlet/Gray theme going on with my bed...woohoo!

Pinocchio

So, this is super random but here is my story:

I was watching the Food Network earlier this evening and on Challenge, the competitors had to make a cake themed from a Disney movie. The winner's cake was a Pinocchio-themed cake (picture is linked to the title of the blog) and it got me thinking of the movie. And then I started thinking of a note I posted almost 2 years ago and I wanted to share it with you all again...

We are all Pinocchios
In C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity, he uses a very interesting analogy about God and man and I really like it so here goes nothing.

Jesus was begotten to be the same as God. Man was created by God and can be like God in certain ways but is not God. I think that is pretty much cut and dry.

Lewis uses the analogy of a sculptor and a statue. A carver can create a statue that looks very much like a man but it really isn't man because it is not alive. It is the same with us. God created us in His image to look very much like Him but we are not God and do not possess the kind of life He has.

When my friends and I were talking about this, the first thought that came to my mind was Pinocchio. He was made to look like a human and acted very much like humans do, but he was a wooden puppet. Throughout the entire story, Pinocchio met different kinds of people, had many adventures and went through many challenges that eventually led to him reaching his goal of becoming a "real boy"

I think we are all Pinocchios on this earth. We were all created to look like God and in the best way possible, live as God would live. However, in all reality, we are no where near being God. But, throughout our life stories, we meet many kinds of people, have adventures and go through challenges that help us grow and someday reach the ultimate goal. That goal is becoming like God and living the rest of our eternal lives with Him in heaven.

This is how Lewis ended the chapter...I'm a fan
"That is precisely what Christianity is about. This world is a great sculptor's shop. We are the statues and there is a rumour going round the shop that some of us are some day going to come to life."

Just a closing verse for the day from Philippians 3:14"I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

So, my little Pinocchios...press on towards the goal...one day we will all be "real boys" and it will be awesome.

Title Torture

After a week of deciphering, consulting and maybe a night or two of lost sleep, I finally came up with a title for my blog. Meditations of a Migrating Minnesotan was a combined effort via AIM Messenger between myself and my dear Scooter (thank you my Toledo-loving friend...ha).

Throughout the process, a handful of concoctions arose with the help of friends, family and foes alike (not really foes but I just LOVE alliteration). Some included:
-Follies of a Fertile Female
-The Chronicles of Brenda (explanation to come in another blog someday)
-Katching up with Kendra
-Memoirs of a Minnesota Muse
-Kendra's Korner....and the list could go on and on

So, I want to thank everyone for their contributions...I couldn't have done it without you.