Gandledore's Gift.

Once upon a time there was a girl named Stephacocalous who was studying archaeology in hopes of becoming Indiana Jones' sidekick. Her studies had been going well throughout the semester, but as final exams drew ever nearer she began to feel very nervous. Her bullwhip skills were impeccable, so she knew she would easily pass her Fighting Enemies with Accents who Want to Use Ancient Objects to Take Over the World exam with no trouble, but some of her other classes were filled with daunting piles of homework. As she struggled one day to find the compass on a poorly labeled map of an ancient temple complex, she heaved a sigh and wished aloud, "If only I had some way of automatically knowing all this tiresome information. Not cheating of course, because I take the Honor Code very seriously, but perhaps some form of magic." And then she sighed again, knowing how impossible this was. After a few more minutes of identifying the remains of the temple priests she decided to get a smoothie to re-energize herself. On her way, Frank, the kind old man who greets students and keeps Campus Walk clean, asked for her help doing a small unimportant task. Stephacocalous readily agreed, showing the kindness of her heart, even amid the stress of exams. Impressed by her willingness to help, Frank asked if he could do anything for her in return, to which Stephacocalous replied that she only thing she desired was a magic study aid, but she knew this to be an impossible hope. Much to her shock, Frank suddenly transformed before her eyes; he became very tall, and his clothes changed into old fashioned robes, while his hair (which there usually isn't much of) became long, grey, and tangled. "I am the wizard Gandledore. You have asked for a magical study aid, and in return for your kind help, I will give you just such an item." He reached inside his sack of wizardly goods and pulled forth a large grey cloak. Handing it to Stephacocalous, he said, "Wear this Cloak of Knowledge when you study, and you will receive super-memory and ultra-understanding, allowing you to quickly complete any assignment and breeze through your exams. Use it wisely." With that, Gandledore disappeared, leaving Frank in his place. A bit shocked, Stephacocalous thanked him and continued on her way. She wore the Cloak of Knowledge for all her further studying, and just as Gandledore had said, she easily remembered everything she needed to finish her assignments and ace all her exams. And, true to her kind heart, she even shared her Cloak with her friends when they needed it. The End.

Sniffles

Sniffle dee dee, sniffle dee doo,

I've got a cold and so do you,

we sit and we sniff but to no avail,

relentless waiting for a chance to inhale,

but alas its no use,

we may as well call truce,

to this cold we leave the choice,

will I soon have a voice?

- Dedicated to my dear friends Laura-Michal and Candice who are dealing with a lot of crud in their lives right now. Here's hoping they have a full recovery and that everything blows over soon.

Love,

Hallie

Candice

Whew! I've sure been busy recently. Between sewing my dress for the colonial ball, playing the viola for UMW graduation, riding a bear around Crozet and of course listening to I don't feel like dancing, Something in Water and Avett Brothers, among others, I have had quite a buy schedule these past two weeks. Oh, I also forgot that several sharp things have been chewed on as well. Don't worry though, my teeth are still in their right place and feeling perfectly fine.

Other than all that I've been behaving myself and not doing any unnecessary things (that would be unthinkable!). I've been reading a lot of excellent books and of course taking pictures. My most recent adventure has been documenting Charlotte study for her AP exams. It's been quite an enterprise seeing her try to find a quiet spot to study (the bathroom has most recently become her favorite). I'm so thankful that UMW has never driven me to do that. You would never find me sitting in the hall shower studying (*shudder*). 
Well, I think that's it for me. I think I'm going to get my camera and take some pictures of feet, maybe Charlotte's.

~Steph (written while listening to songs listed above)

Nana vs. the Internet (/phone)

"Help!!!" the title of the email read.

Nana could not find her online banking under her favorites. "Oh, just google it," I said. How naive. Nana's internet struggles go far beyond my assumptions. "She doesn't know that you can type in the address bar!"Hallie exclaimed.

So over the phone, the valiant Hallie attempted to introduce beloved Nana to the online world we all know and love. Using Willard's internet. So in other words, she attempted to do the impossible.

"Okay, so go to the internet," Hallie coached through the phone.
"Nana? Nana?" Nana had hung up the phone. Operating two pieces of technology at once was clearly too ambitious.

"It's just the technology that's stupid, Nana; don't worry about it," Hallie encouraged Nana once she had reestablished connection.

"So go to the internet..."

"I'm gonna email you something; it's called a link, and it will take you to the page I'm looking at..."
*mumbling on the other side*
"No, you have to click on it."

"Yes you need the internet to get email.
No, no, don't worry, email is pretty fast."

I'm on the edge of my seat here.

Now she's attempting to add favorites! The ambition! The dedication!
"No, when you make a favorite page you don't need a password. You can do it."

Success!

"I'm not smart, Nana, I just grew up with internet." Oh Hallie. Our hero is so modest.

The adventure continues...

(Another gem from this conversation: "Ohhh, those are really old pudding cups, you know...")

Candice

Laura-Michal and the Case of the Green Slime

Once upon a time, Laura-Michal decided to invite her friends over to her family's magical lake-house. It was magical because sometimes it became invisible and couldn't be found. One by one her friends arrived (some even arrived multiple times...). After a delicious dinner, they decided to go for a swim. However, unbeknownst to them, danger awaited. Deep in the woods there lived a slimy green monster that loved the lake as much as L-M and her friends. At dusk, the creature would slink into the water, creating green (non-toxic) bubbles as its slime oozed into the water. L-M and her friends thought it had something to do with the nuclear power plant nearby... but that is just what the creature wanted them to think. The creature's name was Gilly.

To be continued... (by s/one other than Liz)

<3, Liz

Laura-Michal's adventure

Yesterday and today Laura-Michal, along with Hallie, visited Steph. It was quite an adventure for LM.
It started out with her missing her turn to go pick up Hallie and being about 30 minutes late. She arrived at Steph's, but only after "reckless driving" (according to Hallie) as well as flying over several unidentified speed bumps. After they had eaten some lovely food provided by Momma Battleson they decided they would go swimming until Hallie looked at the weather. They then changed their plans to go see Harry Potter. Because LM was sitting on the opposite side of Steph (two seats away from Hallie) she was not able to hear all of Hallie's snarky comments. But she did tear up at the death of Snape (he was such a nice man). After the movie and some debate, they decided they would once again go swimming. LM then displayed her talented lung skills by blowing up a floaty thing in record time.
They spent several hours on the lake during which LM proceeded to be "blinded by her white thighs" as well as attempt to tan her feet. She also was amused by the antics of Hallie and Steph and even joined in on their singing while floating on the lake.
Afterwards they spent about an hour trying to decided what movie to watch but finally chose Stargate. Although it was an excellent pick, LM soon became sleepy and dozed off. Eventually everyone else went to sleep and they slept soundly until then next morning.
The next day LM awoke to the murmur of Hallie and Steph talking. They decided to spend the morning playing games and eating Momma Battleson's delicious waffles. Eventually they looked at the clock to see that time had passed them by. It was time to leave. They had spent about 24 hours at Steph's and now it was time to return back to normal life. Before they left however, Hallie persuaded LM to right down direction back to Fishersville and Aroda. So while she wrote down the directions, Hallie and Steph decided to use the time to take pictures. After laughing at them for a while, she eventually joined in.
Finally the time had come. LM and Hallie got back into the little white car and drive off to finish the adventure they way they started it-with LM's driving skills.


~Steph

Hallie: a haiku

here I am, stuck home.
At least I have Bones
and maybe Stuff Christians Like.

-Candice

Hallie

I sent Liz a text the other night and she never got back with me... I hope she had a good reason! (A reason better than her just watching Fringe, that is...) I would like to imagine that she didn't text me back because she was watching "Fast Five"-- a great "guy-movie" (although, as everyone knows, I resent this way of noting movies by gender) with action, fast cars, big guns and Paul Walker. I think that would be a good excuse for not getting back with me right away.

Anyhow, I woke up this morning and spent all day playing with Jack. He is sooo adorable, I will try to post pictures soon! We played with his blocks and he kept trying to eat everything. I even slipped some chocolate into his milk bottle-- he loved it. Of course. Who could say "no" to something as creamy and delicious as milk saturated with creamy chocolate syrup? Yum.

It wasn't a super exciting day, but the weather was nice. I tried to help out around the house and do some laundry since I slacked off this weekend and didn't do it then. I'm hoping to get ahead on some projects (getting a job, re-painting my room, etc) so that I can make some trips up to Fredericksburg to see Liz! Speaking of Liz, she did fiiiiinally text me back today :) (You'd think she was Claire the way she didn't pick up her phone ;) )

Well, that's about all for now-- hopefully there will be more exciting news in the near future about my life!

--
<3, Liz (guest writer)

Gemma

a couple pages inspired by Gemma and her favorite song:

-Candice

Laurie

This is Laurie:
Owner of the precious Magic Parsley,
Who loves sign language, vacuuming and Twilight,
Who is stressed by too much homework, lack of sleep and a mess,
Who fears birds and lizards,
Who loves to dance and express emotion through movement,
Who spends too much time on Tumblr, Facebook and Strumblupon,
Who values honesty, creativity and a sense of adventure,
Who is determined to memorize the book of Ephesians in its entirety,
Who always offers sensible advice, a listening ear and a helping hand,
Who loves her family, her friends and God.
This is my future roommate.
This is Laurie.

~ Gemma

Caitlyn

Today Caitlyn Price woke up and greeted the world with her beautiful smile. As she rose she called forth her magical unicorn of light to take her down stairs to the breakfast table, where she ate a breakfast of champions.

She then left her marvelous home to explore the beautiful day that awaited her! Her day consisted of many great adventures and exciting events. As she walked her unicorn of light through the neighborhood she stumbled upon and small alien creature.

Being the kind person she is, she brought the small creature into her family and he was accepted immediately. While continuing her walk she noted the beauty around her: the flowering trees and lovely architecture.

Her journey continued as she came upon two old men sitting in the park debating particle physics while playing a game of dominoes.

Herunterkommen

She listened and gave the men insight into the idea whereupon they solved their problems. Moving on she encountered a woman whose cat was stuck in a tree, alas this was no ordinary cat-stuck in a tree scenario! It seemed that the cat was was a retired drug sniffing cat and only responded to German commands.

Thankfully Caitlyn's extensive knowledge of the German language allowed her to successfully maneuver the cat out of the tree in which it had climbed. After this crisis was averted Caitlyn continued her walk alongside her magical unicorn but growing steadily tired after her busy day she returned home to reflect on her adventures. After dinner she returned to her room where she continued working her future house plans. Exhausted after a long day she went to sleep and dreamed of German cats, particle physics, adorable alien children, and what was to come the next day.

- Hallie

Steph

Steph has been home for 4 days now, and so far, it's going pretty well, even if it is a little boring. The food is good, and her parents are great, but it is hard to fit all of her stuff into that little bedroom. Especially when the whole family congregates in there. But she somehow stuffed that room to the brim with her things and then tried to sort through it all. Well, for a little while at least. It might take all summer. And really, who could concentrate on organizing when there was Lord of the Rings to watch? And hills to run, and parents to play tennis with? And let's not forget a colonial gown to sew. There's a whole summer ahead, and maybe it's ok if the bedroom never gets completely clean.

Laura-Michal

Hallie

She's sitting over there in the boat studying Spanish and commenting about how it's awkward that there is a picture of a man getting out of shower. It's for the verb ducharse (to wash) of course.
Getting to know Hallie this past year has been great. There have been some great as well as not so productive study sessions in the library, during which she batted Cheetos.
*BLEEEEEEEEEP* THE NATIONAL WEATHER SYSTEM IS ANNOUNCING...
that Hallie really wants to watch the royal wedding because she "really does love royal weddings". Apparently enough to get up at 5 o'clock in the morning tomorrow. She also wishes she was invited to wedding, however, one day when she knows the queen she will get invited to the royal weddings.
*BLEEEEEEEEEEEP*
Now back to this memorable moment. The conversation above also is another reason Hallie is so great. She makes everybody laugh with her sense of humor and her comments. There have also been times she is so happy that her joy radiates out to the rest of us. And one of my favorite is her encouraging notes and special drawings on people's dry-erase boards. I'm sure all of you can relate this in one way or another :) To finish I will leave you all with the knowledge that Hallie is now looking at the weather and telling Candice to get back to her homework. All is right in the world :)

~Steph

an introduction: because we need a first post

Introducing the bloggers, using pictures from our last Chinese night, when the blog was born:

Caitlyn

Candice

Gemma

Hallie

Laura-Michal

Laurie

Steph

Official Rules of the Blog:

• First post by the end of the week, on the person whose name was drawn out of the egg roll bag
• Post your name at the end. 
• Never feel limited by format.
• Never feel limited by reality.

-Candice