Saturday, July 31, 2010

So I am not "authorized" to call and tell them Internet dudes that they should fix things. So still no Internet at home. Derp. In other news, last night I fell asleep to a thunderstorm here in AZ--it was the first time ever!

Thursday, July 29, 2010

I still don't have Internet. Boo.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

I've only been back for a couple of hours and everything has managed to go wrong so far. I am at the music library and I will probably have to ride back home on a bike with a flat tire. Oh woe is me.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Wellp, this is it, kids. My last day in Florida until at least November. It's a sad day. I love my friends and family here so much, and four weeks doesn't seem long enough to do these relationships justice. I am especially disappointed that I didn't get a chance for a lot of one-on-one interaction with my closest friends; my main reason for coming back was to work, and work I did.

This has definitely been a trip of soul-searching, fighting through feelings on various topics. I'm coming back a different person. I think I learned a lot about myself in the process--for example, I haven't picked up my flute in about two weeks, and I'm not that bothered about it. More to come on this topic later, when the time is right...

I don't know what the future holds for me, and I don't want to lie and say that I'm okay with that, because I'm kind of not. However, I have lived long enough to know that even when uncertainty strikes...wherever I go, whatever I do these next 9 months, God will lead me and I need to remember that the only place to fall is into God's hands.

It's been fun, friends. I love you, but goodbye. For now.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Yup, tonight is my last night in Florida for a while. I'll wait to write all of the bittersweet goodbyes for tomorrow, and instead talk about my day at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure!

It was an awesome day with my family. We were forewarned to not enter Harry Potter World until the afternoon, advice which we took and which turned out to be genius. All of the other lines were 5-20 minutes long. We did 5 rides before 10:30!

Harry Potter world was pretty awesome. All of the usual suspects were there: Diagon Alley with of its shops, Hogsmeade, Hogwarts, Hagrid's Cabin. It was really cool seeing all of these come to life, although the shops were obnoxiously busy (you had to wait in line just to get in!).



My favorite part of the day was dinner at the Three Broomsticks, where my family ordered "The Great Feast," which included four servings of salad, chicken, ribs, corn on the cob, potatoes, and vegetables. And all of it was AMAZING. Also, I got a butterbeer, and even though it appeared to be merely cream soda with whipped cream on top, looks are deceiving and it was nothing but delicious (also I got a real kick out of my mom ordering "two butterbeers"...in all seriousness).



We did all of the rides and shows in the park by 6:00, which is saying something because the park closes at 10:00 so we still had four hours to roam. We were tired though and so after another Jurassic Park run, another walkthough of Harry Potter World, and a few songs at CityWalk's piano bar, we went home, spending most of the time in the car discussing which instruments could represent each of us (in case you were wondering: me=banjo, Craig=trombone, dad=bass, and mom=pipe organ. Let me know if you want more details). Yup, this is the conversation you get when you are a Stahl sibling.

Going away party tonight, and then it's back to Tempe, back on the practice horse for a while. Only about one more month of unbearable heat, then it's at least back to highs under 100 degrees. Man, I am going to miss these high 80's days...

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Universal was awesome, and so was butterbeer. Post with pics to follow, right now I feel like my eyelids are too heavy to still be open....

Friday, July 23, 2010

Universal Studios tomorrow. Yeah Harry Potter world!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

When you are trying to make a believer out of somebody, it can be frustrating work. You can make cases for your arguments, but he still may not buy them. You can recommend books, but he may not read them. You can witness, and pray, and lead by example, and still a person may not believe. You cannot force someone to believe. It has to be a decision made by free will. It may take years and years, but once he realizes the truth on his own terms--well that is a beautiful thing, and all of your efforts and suffering are finally worth it.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

In his heart a man plans his course
But the LORD determines his steps.

-Proverbs 16:9

Today was a fantastic, fantastic, fantastic day.
J-KOW. Or was it K-JOW?

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Cookies are NOT yuck!

I was running for a disc today when I made a misstep and someone stepped on my heel. My new cleat and my sock flew into the air! It was exciting.

My cold sore friend is back :(

Do doo

Monday, July 19, 2010

As a follow up to my last post, I would just like to point out certain words that rhyme with "Ash:"

Bash
Clash
Crash
Dash
Flash
Gash
Lash
Mash
Slash
Smash
Splash

How many other names rhyme with so many EXTREME words, huh? NONE, that's how many!
SMASHLEY SMASHES

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Second day of the tourney today. We went 1-1 and placed 5th overall (out of 7), although the 8th seed didn't show, so we probably would have been 5th out of 8 if they did.

ANYWAY
I did something special in a game today. I say that speed and running are my strong points; this probably proves it. I was out on the field playing offense for a long, long point. Of course I was running my hardest at all times, making sharp cuts both in and out, deep and short. I had my defender beat the whole time. Finally we made it to the endzone. My teammate was running out of time to get rid of the disc, so in a panic he throws a hammer just out of my reach (my fingertips brushed the edge of the disc).

Right after that turnover, my defender practically collapsed on the ground, utterly spent. She was heaving with a look of pain on her face, almost crying. I was confused for a second--did she have asthma?--and then I realized--she didn't have asthma...but I had totally literally run her to the ground. It was so bad that she had to sub out for an injury substitution.

I tried to be as cool about it as possible...but I couldn't help but secretly feel like a superior being at that moment. I say I am not physically strong, but perhaps that's not completely true. There is more than one way to be strong.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Wow. First day of the tourney today. We played 5 games in a row (!) from 9:30-6:00. I have never played that many consecutive games in my life. We went 2-3 and pretty much played as expected. Poached and Fried has always kind of been a mid-range team. I got a lot of playing time, playing about half of the time. It was fun to see everyone again, although I only knew about half of the people on my team. A lot happens in a year, I guess!

My cleats are starting to show their age. Time to go shopping!

Friday, July 16, 2010

Poached and Fried! It's been a year since I've last seen this team (refresher: it's the Tallahassee mixed team I played with last year), but we will be reunited this weekend for the Swan Boat Championship tournament in Orlando. I am so excited! YAY ULTIMATE!

So at work today I thought of a funny ultimate play. Imagine if right after the pull, all 7 players on the defense lined up in the middle of the field, linked arms, and pulled a red rover-esque type horizontal stack. Nobody would be able to get through! Hahaha! It would be funny!
My mom's spin instructor thought I was 12 :(

Thursday, July 15, 2010

For reasons I'd rather not go into right now, this particular trip home hasn't been a terribly easy one for me, and after so much stress, fatigue and hardship, it's important to realize and appreciate the good times. Tonight, and at this moment, I am happy. (And really, with emotions, the present is all that matters, is it not?)

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

With a little help from my friends, I have a plan to map out my future, and I finally feel comfortable about it.

(All of my roads lead to more school and more debt. Oops! My bad.)

On an unrelated note, sometimes it saddens that I cannot have all the things that I desire. There is such a strong urge at times to HAVE certain things...

You can't always get what you want.
---
You get what you need.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Hmmm...

Monday, July 12, 2010

You have a green face and a big orange nose.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Karen...I don't know if you will ever see this, but you are a magnificent person. Thank you.
...and that summer rain, it's in your face again...

A storm is coming. From my westward window I can see..the wind runs through the palm trees in frenzied agitation..the lightning flashes across the darkened sky...the mighty thunder rumbles and roars...the first raindrops splash across my windowpane. The deluge will soon begin. I had forgotten what this feels like.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

I was talking with a friend yesterday and at one point in the conversation I said "You reap what you sow." I was caught off guard, however, when my friend asked in response, "But do you sow what you reap?"

Well do you?

Also, this is the only popular rap song I've ever liked.

Friday, July 09, 2010

I dd'ed for a drunk Craig tonight. Oh brother...

(see what I did there?)

Thursday, July 08, 2010

Still tired, but tomorrow is Friday. Partay.

Wednesday, July 07, 2010

I'm tired and stressed, but at least I got to see Paul on my computer screen today.

Monday, July 05, 2010

Jake and Vienna interview lawlz! Who didn't see that coming???

Also, I've been watching the Bachelor (or the Bachelorette) for a long time now (c'mon, everyone has a trashy show that they watch as a guilty pleasure), and it's crazy to think that all of the guys used to be WAY too old for me, and I thought they all looked bad, but now they are attractive and age-appropriate to me. I'm old.
I am real, and the thing I like most about you is that you are real too.

Sunday, July 04, 2010

Happy Independence Day!

Friday, July 02, 2010

Things seem different this time around. Maybe I have changed. Maybe it hasn't been long enough yet. Maybe things actually are different.

This summer I have meant to do some soul searching, figure out what the heck I am doing with my life; however, every time I gaze into my future, I end up digging deeper and deeper into the well of confusion and indecision. At this soon-to-be crossroads in my life, there are many decisions to be made, more decisions than the outside world can see with their eyes. And for one who is always so cautious, they weigh heavily on my mind. Risks, my friends. And consequences. There are always consequences.

(Do I know what true sadness feels like yet? Or maybe the better question is, do I know what true HAPPINESS feels like yet?)

Heavenly Father...help me in my time of need.

Thursday, July 01, 2010

I am so hormonal right now.