Hello, weekend!!!

I am officially done with classes for the weekend, now just an hour more of work and I'm free!!

Tonight there will be a comedian coming to campus who I've heard really good things about! I'm pumped to see him! AND after the show there are going to be fireworks on Lower Sadoff Field...how awesome is that!?!

Tomorrow afternoon my parents are coming down to visit!! I haven't seen them for almost a month, so it'll be great to catch up with them! I also got asked to ride a horse in a parade tomorrow...so maybe I'll squeeze that in there, too! We'll see!

~Jess

What a productive morning!

Already this morning I have written three papers! Granted they were short, only two or three pages each, but I'm still counting it as a success!

Yesterday afternoon I headed over to Oshkosh and got my golf shoes! They are SOO spiffy! And as long as I was there, I bought myself a new glove, too. Now I'll certainly look the part... I just have to make my game good enough to match...

This afternoon I'm heading out to the stable with a couple of the members of the Equestrian Club to get some pictures taken for the yearbook! It's a beautiful day to be riding! Life is good :)

~Jess

Just my luck...

So I was up until 2:30am putting the finishing touches on my paper, which I think actually turned out really well! I was so proud of it and left it on my desk, ready for my class at 10:10. Of course when this morning rolls around and I wake up and look at my clock...it was 10:12. That would happen to me! Today of all days I chose to sleep through my alarm!?! Argh!! Nice start to the day.

Fortunately, things picked up from there. I got a lot of odds and ends kind of things finished and the weather is AMAZING! Tonight I'm heading to Oshkosh (only about a 20 minute drive) to get myself some new golf shoes! I got recruited for the Ripon College Women's Golf Team and I'm so excited to play!! :)

~Jess

Drowning my pain in Starburst juice

Note to self: Don't wait until the day before it's due to start writing an 8 page paper.

Sure, it seems logical. But with life going a million miles a minute and sleep in such short supply, it's very easy to let a little thing called "procrastination" run your life. I wouldn't consider myself to be an extreme procrastinator, mostly just a person who benefits from knowing that I HAVE to get something done...which may be the same thing... :) I've never really had a problem with my procrastination up until this point, so hopefully history proves true tonight!

I'll be happy when it's tomorrow, that's for sure!
~Jess

Wagonride...Take two!

I have definitely been enjoying the fall weather! I planned my church's fall family night and guess where I chose...that's right, Cedar Ridge Ranch. We had almost 50 people attend a wagonride and bonfire/s'mores cookout which was a wonderful turn out, and judging by the smiles on the kids' faces, I'd say everyone had a good time!

In other news, I did a pretty large scale re-design of my half of my dorm room. I moved my couch and TV around to allow better viewing while also allowing more room by my closet. It looks great, and more importantly it works really well! Once I was on a roll I also spiffed up my closet organization, cleaned off the top of my desk, updated my picture frames, and even washed some dishes. My room just sparkles!!

I can hardly wait to get back there and study... ;)

~Jess

Wagonride Today!!

Today is our kickoff event for the Equestrian Club! We're doing a wagonride and BBQ and I'm really excited!! The weather looks like it's going to cooperate... so I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes without a hitch!!

~Jess

UPDATE: The Wagonride was awesome!! We had a crowd of 20-25 people, I bet. We all got a chance to help harness the horses and even drive them by hand (see picture). Believe it or not, David has never driven a team of horses before! He did an awesome job!

Do you like movies???

Tonight, like every night, there are a half a dozen different activities going on. Everything from a meeting of Cinemaniacs (a campus groups for people who enjoy movies) to a girls soccer game is happening tonight!!

For me, tonight is going to start with dinner, then some homework, and finally a Board of Christian Ed meeting tonight at church. I'm also hoping to work in some time to clean up my room a bit, and maybe even get to bed early! We'll see!

~Jess

A Flashback to Summer!

Just when I thought it was time to put my shorts and flip flops away the temps rise into the eighties and the sun is shining like everything! Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, I love the weather, I was just a little surprised! I intend to take full advantage of it, too! My boyfriend and I are having a picnic at a park for dinner and then I'm going to take my homework outside to work on it!! I have some studying to do for an exam tomorrow, and also a couple odds and ends to catch up on. I also have to make the final preparations for the Equestrian Club kickoff event on Thursday. I hope the weather is this great then!!

~Jess

PS- maybe it was the magician that we had on campus last Friday that made the warm weather come back...I knew he was good, but wow! :)

Back to Business...

I was definitely sad to see this weekend end, but there will be plenty more to come. On Saturday I helped check in students for Open House. After check-in I headed down to the quads to play Frisbee Golf which was SO much fun! It was a beautiful day to spend frisbee golfing, playing sand volleyball, and just hanging out with friends. That night I just stayed in and watched a movie and it was great!! :) I was in bed by 11 and ready to go on Sunday morning.

At church on Sunday I gave my first children's sermon at church and I think it went really well! Next came brunch and then a shopping trip with my roomie! What a great weekend!!

~Jess

It's the weekend!!

Well, not quite yet. Almost there, though!

This weekend is going to be busy and SO much fun! On Saturday morning I'm working registration for Open House. After that I'm off to play Frisbee Golf, an activity sponsored by one of the fraternities to raise money for leukemia.

On Sunday I give my first first children's sermon at church. That afternoon I'm going to do some homework and hopefully spend some time at the stable. If the weather cooperates, maybe I'll even play nine holes of golf at one of the local courses.

~Jess

Girls' Night :)

For all of you girls out there, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. A girls' night means pajama pants, blankets, kleenexes, and popcorn. It's hanging out with your friends and laughing together, crying together, and talking about how good looking whatever leading man in the movie you are watching is. Last night was a girls' night for me, and it was just what I needed! That's what I love about Ripon...good times and good friends! I love you, girls!!

~Jess

A Cool, Brisk, Autumn Morning :)

On a lovely day like today all I want to do is sit in a cozy armchair wrapped up with a blanket and a good book. However, I don't think my professors would be too crazy about that idea! Today I'm going to head down to the Post Office to apply for my passport which is pretty exciting!! Other than that, just classes and homework for me today!

~Jess

Totally tubular Tuesday

Today is a beautiful fall day!! I have quite a busy agenda, but it's hard to be anything but happy when the wind is blowing and the sun is shining! :)

This afternoon I have a meeting regarding our mission trip to Panama during Spring Break. I have a feeling it's going to come up faster than I think!!

Tonight I'm heading down to watch Christy play volleyball and I'm really excited to see her and her teammates kick some butt! Go Redhawks!!

~Jess

Monday, Monday

This weekend was a blast!! Friday night one of the fraternities sponsored a party where everyone dressed up like gansters. It may sound kinda funny...and it was! :)

On Saturday I got to sleep in for the first time in three long weeks! Woohoo!! I went out to lunch at Red Apple Family Restaurant which may just be one of my favorite eating places of all time! That afternoon I did some homework and finished up the final preparations for the Sunday School kickoff on Sunday. For dinner I went to a restaurant called Gooseblind with my boyfriend, his mom, and some of his friends. I had some of the best pasta I've ever tasted and ate so much I thought I would explode!

Sunday I had to be up at 7am to get to the church early to set up for the Kickoff Sunday festivities which included a water balloon launch, frisbee, croquet, and chalk art. By the time the service was over and fellowship hour had concluded it was almost noon. I headed back to campus and met Christy for brunch in the commons. Then it was nap time....until 4:00. After waking up I went and ate dinner. What a life....eat, sleep, eat, sleep... :) I love college!!! Don't worry, I spent a good chunk of time after dinner doing my homework.

Well, I'm off to start this rainy day!!

~Jess

Let's get naked!!!

Well that caught your attention, didn't it?!

The reason I mention nakedness is that there was a guest speaker last night giving a hilarious talk called "The Naked Roommate." It was about college life, specifically life with a roommate. Last night was also the first meeting of the Equestrian Club and we had a great turn out!! I'm excited to get things started!

This morning I had breakfast at the commons and now I'm off to class!
~Jess

Thursday!

Today is going to be busy! I worked at the CLC from 9-11, then lunch, then work until 1, followed by class from 1-4! After class some of my friends and I are going to head out to Green Lake for some much needed relaxation time (assuming the rain holds off, that is!) Then at 8pm is the first Equestrian Club meeting of the year! I can't wait! Busy, busy, busy!!

~Jess

It is so freaking hot!!

I don't know what the deal is, but it's been a heat wave lately! With temperatures consistently in the 80's all I want to do is lay on the beach! In fact I might do that this afternoon...head over to Green Lake, maybe. Hmm...

Last night I had an IM softball game and we won 10-2! Woohoo! I can't say I was especially influencial in that win, but it was fun anyway :) After that we all went to a special "Dinner in the Quads." Instead of dinner in the commons last night, the food service prepared a picnic for us outside down by the upperclassmen housing. Good food and good times! After that it was off to the library for me! I must say, yesterday made me happy to be at college!

~Jess

The Pub is done!

The Pub, one of Ripon's three eating options, was completely re-done this summer and it is now open for the first time! There are tons of couches and tables as well as billiard tables and a stage! I just had lunch there and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I look forward to many more fine lunches and dinners there! Is it time for supper yet ;)

~Jess

It's great to be back!

My weekend up north was awesome!! On Saturday I just swam and laid out in the sun all day! My older sister came up for the afternoon and it was great to hang out with her again- I hadn't seen her in forever! After some family game time (that's right, our family actually plays family games...talk about nerds :) ...) it was time for bed! I slept like a baby for 11 freaking hours!

Sunday after church my dad and I went golfing at Pinewood Country Club, a public golf course only a few minutes from our cabin. I shot a decent game, but I could've shot a horrible game and enjoyed myself just as much because the weather was beautiful!! After golf we ate lunch and I headed back home to Ripon! My weekend was perfect, but it's always great to get back on campus!

~Jess