The Realm of the Pachyderm

Around this time every year, it's kind of nice to take a step back and look at the year that has just passed. 2008 was certainly monumental in the history of our country, but I haven't really taken inventory of what these 365 days have meant to me specifically [ok, technically it hasn't been the entire 365, but I don't care].

For one thing, I finished my first year of college. College was one of those beautifully mysterious future events that I never thought I'd see come into reality [another one of those examples was turning 20, which I'll do in about 3 months], yet 2008 brought the completion of that first year. It's been a pretty tumultuous time since then. In the beginning of '08, I had just changed my emphasis within Theatre Arts Studies to Directing. Now, at the close, I've recently changed my major to English. In between then, I've taken a slew of classes all across the board that have provided me with an eclectic, if not cohesive, education thus far. I've studied everything from Asian humanities to folk dance to adolescent psychology to Spanish conversation, and still I feel this voracious need to continue expanding my horizons. I look very forward to this next semester.

As far as non-school related happenings, I've devoted a large portion of this year to reading, an activity I let fall by the wayside a bit last year. I've made time to read a number of novels and short stories like Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors, The Body, The Shawshank Redemption, Tis, My Name is Asher Lev, and so on and so forth. I've found that what my life sometimes lack in adventure and sparkle can be found in the pages of books. It may have been to my benefit at times to lay aside my reading and study a bit more, but I've found that my imagination wouldn't let me focus unless I read one more page, one more chapter.

For the first time, I gained a niece. Melanie, John and Trina's daughter, was born on May 29th. It's been so fun to watch our little family grow baby by baby. I've loved being able to be so close to Bonny and her boys, and now having Melanie as our latest addition has been great. It makes me excited to have kids of my own some day, although I know not the day or the hour [hahaha].

As a whole, I've had a good year. There'll always be time to go back and stew over things I could have done better or not done at all, but I choose in this moment to be grateful for the blessings 2008 has brought to me instead. I hope to always be this grateful to Heavenly Father for blessing me so abundantly, even though I know there'll be moments [try days, weeks, months...] where I grumble and sputter about "how hard I have it". All I can say for right now is that I'm looking forward to 2009 with the greatest expectations and hopes for things to come.

I'll tell you more about Christmas in a moment...

A
-Available: for a kickin’ good time!? YOU KNOW IT!…[yes, I’m single]
-Age: 19
-Annoyance: Being sick on Christmas :/
-Animal: As in favorite? Well, I’m totally into kangaroos--especially after seeing Australia!

B
-Beer: Is it supposed to smell like nail polish remover?
-Birthday: March 5th [only 3 months to think of what to give me!]
-Best Friends: No. I have no friends. Jay-slash-kay. If I have any, they know who they are.
-Best feeling in the world: That euphoric feeling that accompanies a Chipotle burrito.
-Best weather: Spontaneous warm rain that isn’t unpleasant to be caught in.
-Been on stage? Way more than you’d think considering how conservative and quiet I am.
-Believe in Magic? Like, Harry Potter? I wish, but alas, not so.
-Believe in God? Like it’s my job :]
-Believe in Santa? Do you believe in eight-legged purple unicorns on a cotton candy planet?

C
-Candy: Favorite or am I just being told “Candy.”? If the former, then Pocky. If the latter…
-Color: Again, favorite or just because? Assuming it’s the former, red and black.
-Chocolate/Vanilla: I prefer not to discriminate on the basis of race.
-Chinese/Mexican: Well…if you’d kindly look at the above question…
-Cake or pie: Pie. Pie always trumps Cake…unless we’re talking about music groups. Then Cake reigns supreme.
-Continent/Country to visit: Australia. It will happen some day.
-Cheese: Please? I…love…it…
-Climb trees? I’m not very good at it, but when have I ever said “No” to a challenge?

D
-Day or Night?: Depends on what’s happening. I tend to be more active at night--since I’m a raccoon.
-Dance in the rain?: As in, would I like to? NO, it’s cold!

E
-Eggs: As in, do I enjoy eating animal fetus? No, thank you.
-Eyes (yours): Hahaha, “Eyes (a stranger)”. Nice. Anyway, hazel.
-Everyone's got a(n): reason to be completing this survey--no, wait, that’s not true.
-Ever failed a class?: Nah. I’ve come kind of close-ish, but never totally failed.

F
-Full name: Genevieve Lorraine Busch
-Food: Do I like it? Do you like living? Sheesh, what a dumb question…

G
-Greatest Fears: The bathroom closet in our apartment, finding one of my roommates dead in said closet, the dark, panthers/demons/creepers that prowl in said darkness, getting my nose broken into my brain, losing control of the car and plowing into oncoming traffic, dropping a baby into a body of water/off of a tall place, breaking my cat’s back, mirrors…
-Gum: Gum is to me like smokes were to Lucille Ball.
-Get along with your parents?: Sure. We’re Besty McBestertons.
-Good luck charm: I’m so awesome, good luck charms carry me.

H
-Hair Color: Brown with BANGIN’ natural red highlights.
-Height: 5'6’’
-Happy: If you’re reading this, you have no reason to be unhappy. Therefore, I’m just dandy.
-Holiday: Probably Christmas--who doesn’t love Jesus, family, and presents all in one place?
-How do you want to die?: I used to have this weird idea that a full life deserves an exciting death, like being pushed off the top of a huge building, but then I stopped being 15. Now, I’m more college-minded: I’m going to die asleep in my bed.

I
-Ice Cream: The delicious kind. This generally means anything Coldstone has ever produced.
-Instrument: I can tinker a little on the piano, but I’m a guitar woman all the way.

J
-Jewelry: I went through this BERZERK bracelet phase in high school. Beadery remains my favorite form of adornment, with the occasional ring to augment my lovely hands.
-Job: Chipotle Renaissance Woman. Seriously, I do it all [almost].

K
-Kids: I know that everyone is so jazzed to see how insane my offspring will be.
-Kickboxing or Karate?: I prefer punch dancing.
-Keep a journal?: You’re reading it.

L
-Longest Car Ride: Probably to New York and back in a day--what is that, like 16 hours?
-Love: That’s a blanket statement if I’ve ever heard one. Try narrowing that down and getting back to me when you’ve made up your mind.
-Laughed so hard you cried: I’m sure it was something Grandma did inadvertently. She’s always making me die without meaning to.

M
-Milk flavor: Milk.
-Movies: Chuck out the English, stick on the subtitles, and I’m one happy girl.
-Motion sickness?: How do I feel about it? Outraged. We should abolish it.
-McD’s or BK: Shoot, Burger King for the win.

N
-Number of Siblings: Two--Bonstance and Snootch!
-Number of Piercings: Wouldn’t you like to know? ;p [Sheesh, just earrings--one pair!]
-Number: As in favorite? It’s been 5 for a long time.

O
-One wish: To have a Jungle-2-Jungle moment where I’m on top of some huge rock and I scream as loud as I can at the wilderness below me.

P
-Perfect Pizza: One that tastes good in my mouth.
-Pepsi/Coke: Pomegranate 7 Up, please and thank you.

Q
-Quail: You were really stretching for Q’s weren’t you?

R
-Reason to cry: Probably not getting enough sleep the night before I presented my first scene for Directing class.
-Reality T.V.: AMURRICAN IDOL, YA’LL! Ew, I’ll never do that again, I swear.
-Radio Station: DC 101...too bad it only broadcasts in Maryland :/
-Roll your tongue in a circle: If you can’t, we have no business being friends.
-Ring size: Why would I know that?

S
-Song: Currently? Dam Dadi Do by Nightcore. In general, it changes about twice a week.
-Shoe size: Somewhere between 8 and 9.
-Salad Dressing: See the question about pizza.
- Sushi: If I can get it sans fish, I like it just fine.
-Skipped school: Never just for kicks. There’s always a reason [even if it is lame].
-Slept outside: Only ever at YW camp. That’s not something I do on a whim.
-Skinny dipped?: Even if I had, why on Earth would I put that on the Internet?
-Sing well?: My showerhead thinks so.
-In the shower?: See above, foo’!
-Strawberries/Blueberries: Random?! Both are graaand.

T
-Time for bed: …HAHAHAHAHA! Actually, before two is generally my limit--at school.
-Thunderstorms: They’re ok. I don’t feel particularly strong one way or the other.

U
-Unpredictable: Pumpernickel. Did you see that coming? Neither did I.

V
-Vacation spot: A spot where I’m on vacation. Oh, you meant more specific? Deep Creek Lake, Maryland :D

W
-Weakness: See my greatest fears list.
-Which of your friends acts the most like you?: I see little pieces of myself in all my friends. The one that acts the most like me? Me.
-Who makes you laugh the most: My roommates--without even meaning to.
-Worst feeling: When I realize a second too late that I’ve said something that was really rude.
-Wanted to be a model?: Maybe an alligator model, but that’s about it.
-Where do we go when we die?: Well, there are things kingdoms of Glory…
-Worst Weather?: Cold. Anything cold = horrible.

X
-X-Rays: Again, you were really stretching for X’s. huh?

Y
-Year it is now: 2008--but only for five more days!
-Yellow: That’s correct. Yellow.

Z
-Zoo animal: I’m more of an aquarium person. I love me some dolphins :D

LAST PERSON WHO…
1. Slept in a bed beside you?: Hahahaha, probably Grandma XD
2. You went to the mall with?: Hm…great question. It was probably Daniel…? No clue.
3. You went to dinner with?: Mi familia!
4. You talked to on the phone?: Mah motha.
5. Made you laugh?: Daniel--just because he’s great.
6. Hugged you?: See #4.
7. Said they loved you?: Myself :p
8. Held your hand?: …see #7...
9. Spoke with?: …see #7...
10. You cried over?: I DON’T BELIEVE IN TEARS!

By in a moment, I meant in another post, since this one took about four eons to fill out...

This, dear readers, is the result of not realizing the consequences of putting cheap gloves in the dryer--on an extra cycle, no less! I now have baby gloves. Good thing I know when to chuckle at myself, right?

Anyway, on the way to switch this slightly doomed load of laundry into the dryer, Nadin and I heard this startling CRASH! Considering the lateness of the hour [it being around midnight at the time], we both didn't really know what to expect as we approached the source of the noise.

What had caused said crash had been a collision between a red Jeep-like vehicle and a stop sign. The car, no doubt being driven by freshmen boys, sped off in the opposite direction. I figured they'd do the right thing and notify the campus police...but I really needed something to spice up the night, so I went ahead and called.

I had no intention of getting the perpetrators into trouble, but I had to answer the nice officer's questions of the make of the car. I was too far away to get the numbers on the plates, but I gave a vague description of what the thing may have looked liked. Either way, there's a new stop sign up today!

Now, a parting note about the glove...IT STILL FITS!

P.S. If anyone is still keeping track of my last post, there are still two left unsolved!

Not really. I just wanted to do this list thing. Oh, and I wanted to report that I went jogging tonight for the first time--maybe ever! Wooo for me!

Ok, here's the game. I'm going to list quotes from 20 of my favorite movies. All you have to do is name the movie, and I'll strike it from the list. Simple, right? Best of luck.

1. Good. I don't like Visigoths. Tomorrow, we'll get sign: "No Spiders or Visigoths Allowed." [Life is Beautiful via Nadin]
2. I am fluent in over six million forms of communication, and can readily... [Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi by Nadin]
3. A diversion! [The Return of the King via Becca]
4. I'm a hopeless dancer, but this looks like you just screw in a light bulb with one hand and pat the dog with the other. [Bride and Prejudice via Becca]
5. We have the magic rocks. They will keep us safe. [The Village via Nadin]
6. She says she's sorry for taking the bumblebee pendant. She just likes it a lot. [The Sixth Sense via Nadin]
7. When the Doge did his duty and the Duke didn't, that's when the Duchess did the dirt to the Duke with the Doge. [The Court Jester via Becca]
8. Too late for prayers and useless pity! [The Phantom of the Opera via Nadin]
9. When I was your age, we didn't have food! [My Big Fat Greek Wedding via Nadin]
10. End of the line, Sonny Jim. Game's up. [Jumanji via Nadin]
11. This is precisely the moment where the mutation or beast will attempt to kill an unlikable side character. [Lady in the Water via Nadin]
12. When I was little I used to think there was a baker under my bed. [Rocketman via Mommasita]
13. At least you'll never be a vegetable - even artichokes have hearts. [Amelie via Nadin]
14. That's right, Armand. No one could ever accuse you of being a great lover.
15. RAZZBERRIES! [Thoroughly Modern Millie via Becca]
16. You're always screaming. Doesn't your throat hurt?
17. You know, they pretty much just put them in those t-shirt guns and shoot them out at sporting events. [Juno via Becca]
18. You have to learn to talk like a Mexican. Tell me it's a hot day. [El Norte via Nadin]
19. His brain has not only been washed, as they say...it has been dry cleaned.
20. There is only one sin, only one. And that is theft. [The Kite Runner via Nadin]

Have fun! And remember, use of Google, IMDB, and my Favorite Movies section on Facebook are considered cheating!

LAST WEEK OF CLASSES. THEN ONE FINAL. THEN HOME!

Sweet deal.

Since I needed a change from the current update, but there's not too much I feel like expounding upon at present--oh, wait, I'll get to that in a second, I do have a couple of things!

Yesterday, I hiked the Y for the second time in my life! Becca and I decided that it would be a fun and productive way to spend our Saturday morning, so we convinced Nadin that she wanted to drive us to the base of the mountain. Thinking she could take us as far the trail head, we made it to about 4 or 5 streets away from it when she stopped and said...

Nadin: "Here you go. Have fun!"
Genevieve: "Um...Nadin, the trailhead is little higher up."
Nadin: "Well, I can't make my car go any higher."
Genevieve: "So...you want us to walk the rest of the way up?"
Nadin: "Have fun!"

Being good sports at 9:30 in the morning, Becca and I hopped out of the car, thanked our resident Mexican, and hiked up the unethically steep street. We were fit to die before we even reached the trail head. We eventually made it onto the trail itself--only to be tired out of our minds in the first 15 minutes. It got easier the higher we went, but I didn't know if I was going to make it past the first marker for the first little while.

Part of what helped our courageous ascent was a couple that started after us, but were decisively ahead of us all the same. Spurred by imaginary competition, I pushed Becca to climb faster than she wanted to, causing her to resent my ridiculousness just a tad more than she already does. It was getting pretty close towards the top, but then OUT OF NOWHERE comes this guy with his two dogs!

HE WAS JOGGING UP THE DANG MOUNTAIN!

Not willing to be disgraced by a couple AND a man with dogs, we found the trail leading to the bottom of the Y instead of the top. Using this to our advantage, we made it to the Y first! It doesn't matter that it was the more easily accessible bottom portion, we still won the imaginary competition!

The rest of the day was fun as well. It was Grandma's birthday, so we made her Oreo balls and went to go see The Duchess [my vote was for Austrailia, but it wasn't my birthday]. While I'm not the biggest Keira Knightly fan in the world, it was a good movie. But, I have to say that the most exciting part was seeing the preview for Doubt, which comes out in like a week! It looks so tight!

After the movie, we went grocery shopping [since we're so responsible]. Then, my lovely roomies ate some food and went to see Muppet Christmas Carol while I stayed home, made curry, and watched He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not. As you might have noticed, it was a very movie-ful day.

Now, on to what I was going to do earlier. There's been this thing floating around Facebook for the past week or so where you write out 15 things about yourself that people probably don't know about you. I thought it sounded fun, so here I go!

1. I don't enjoy replicas of large animals. They make me really uncomfortable.
2. I have a ferocious fear of vomiting.
3. I usually eat at least two or three apples a day.
4. I abhor the color turquoise.
5. I think K-mart always smells like a dirty diaper.
6. I always [accidentally] cut my ankles when I shave.
7. I can eat lemon slices straight without wincing.
8. Answering the door is one of my greatest joys in life.
9. I really don't like the smell of old books.
10. I would rather be subjected to prolonged heat than cold. I hate being cold.
11. I've been able to put away Big Macs since the age of five.
12. While the other little girls in preschool played house, I used to pretend I was a Power Ranger.
13. I live for Harry Potter trivia.
14. Red and black are my favorite colors.
15. I once tried this chocolate that tasted the way an elephant smells. True story.

Wasn't that fun? Don't you feel so informed? If you have any desire to divulge some of your fun little less-knowns, go for it.