Ignorant Historian

Murder is no way to show that abortion is murder.  This is not the type of news I like to hear out of my home city.  Shame on he who did this:

Abortion Provider George Tiller is Shot Dead at Church

Today the NCAA basketball tournament begins!  I think it’s kinda like the holidays for sports…even those who don’t observe their fanhood during the rest of the year still decorate (themselves) with their team’s gear and show up to watch the game (if only on TV).

As always, I’m rooting for the Kansas Jayhawks (remember, I’m from there) and some for the Oklahoma Sooners (as they’re my alma mater).  I also root a little for North Carolina, but if they completely fall apart in their game today, I’ll laugh.  Though I picked them to win the tournament, so I might not laugh that hard.  But I’m in good company…Obama picked them to win, too.

I definitely picked fewer upsets than I have in years past, mainly because I didn’t have the time to research the teams like I have previously.  My Final 4 consists of KU, Pitt, UNC, and UConn.  If you did a bracket, who did you pick?

I’m back.  After time in Chicago, IL, Wichita, KS, and Denison, TX, I’m back in good ole Raleigh, NC.  I love to travel, but really enjoy coming home, too.  Now if everything would just unpack itself…

The return trip was rather uneventful.  Neither of my flights were particularly full.  In fact, I had no one sitting next to me either way.  I have a knack for sitting next to no one, even on a almost-full flight, but it has been a while since I’ve been on a flight that was less than full.  As I was waiting to leave Wichita, I realized that it was incredibly quiet in the terminal, even though there were other people around.  Even the gate agents were whispering to each other.  It was so much different in Chicago!

I could go into the details about everything that I did over the last 10 days, but I don’t want to bore you.  My time at my parents’ primarily consisted of putting together puzzles, sleeping, eating, and watching movies.  My time in Texas consisted of playing with a little girl and getting some good time talking with Dana.  I sure do miss living with her, even though we haven’t in over 3 years.  We would regularly stay up until 2 in the morning talking in our beds.  As much as I did enjoy that time, I don’t think I would ever want to go back to a dorm setting.  I enjoy the quiet of my own bedroom with only one other person in the apartment!

If I continued this post, it would just get rambly.  Actually, it’s already gotten rambly, so I’m going to end it here.  Don’t forget to enter the $50 Target gift card giveaway if you haven’t done so already!

Things are so crazy right now that I don’t quite have time for a regular post. But I did want to share with you something funny that I saw in the Wichita airport as I was leaving.

Some dude had a big box, and I didn’t know what it was. The gate agent went up to him and told him that his hat box wouldn’t fit with him on the plane.

It was a box for his cowboy hat that he was carrying with him on the plane (his hat was on his head). I know I’m from Kansas, but I’m not used to seeing people with cowboy hats. I lived in a fairly urban area, and didn’t really see people who regularly wore cowboy hats until I moved to Oklahoma.

Does anybody know why a cowboy hat box is so big? It looked like it was big enough to almost fit two hats inside.

What was the strangest site you’ve seen at the airport? (that really wasn’t mine, though)

Thanks for your help with bloggy block. Here’s the answers that you’ve been dying to know:

Irish Coffeehouse asks:

What is your favorite Christmas memory? When did you truly, truly understand what Christmas was all about, and how did you that impact your Christmas that year?

Favorite Christmas memory? Wow, that’s a hard one. The thing with traditions is that you do them each year, so they kinda blend together in my mind. I think some of my favorite Christmas memories are the little things: fighting with my dad over which cookies get the sprinkles (he doesn’t like them, and I think I’ve already made my sprinkle stance clear), laughing at my aunt’s story of there being sparkly-things in the air, my grandma asking each year whether we open stockings or presents first, my brother wanting to wake up super-early Christmas morning to open presents but getting stalled by sleepy parents and sister as well as a breakfast of homemade cinnamon rolls.

I’ve always been told about the real meaning of Christmas: Jesus being born in a manger. Each Christmas Eve my family reads both the Night Before Christmas and the Christmas story in Luke. But I guess I hadn’t really thought through the meaning behind the well-told Christmas story. It’s not just that some baby was born who would save the world, it’s that God became a man. The miracle of incarnation is what we celebrate at Christmas, and I think only last year was that awesome truth sinking in to my Christmas celebration. To me, it makes Christmas as well-packed with spiritual significance as Easter. I simply can’t get over it.

She asks further:

What are you reading right now? What’s next after that?

I always am reading several books. Right now I’m reading Ender’s Game and am really loving it. I hate to put it down. Thanks, What a Card, for recommending it! I’m also reading David Copperfield which I’m sure will take me a while. I love Dickens in part for his wordiness, but at 800 pages, his books certainly are quick reads. Finally, I’m reading They Were Single Too, a book drawing lessons from 8 single people in the Bible.

Next, uh, I suppose I should know what comes next, but I just started these books. Probably Queen of the Big Time, Atlas Shrugged (hey, this book make David Copperfield look short!), and Night.

Vicki says:
Hmm, Now that I’m being put on the spot to figure out writing topics my mind is blank… Maybe try a limerick or a haiku.

Now, to write a rhyme or two,
Can be something quite silly to do,
Now just for you Vicki,
Not something sticky,
Just a limerick so you won’t sue!

Just as the leaves change
So is my life changing now
I hope I’m ready

Vicki also suggests:

Maybe write about Kansas vs. Carolina… I don’t know.

• If this is a basketball match up, Kansas wins. Kansas Jayhawks, 2o08 national champions!
• If it’s a question of topography, Kansas is an inclined plane while North Carolina is an arm broken out in hives, no flat surfaces anywhere.
• If it’s a matter of vegetation, Kansas is a prairie while North Carolina is a forest and a beach.
• If it’s a matter of people, they’re both friendly, but native Carolinians will be friendly with an accent.
• If it’s a matter of economy, cost of living is much higher in North Carolina.
• If it’s a matter of BBQ, Kansas does it better: beef brisket vs. vinegar-cured pork.
• If it’s a matter of the sun’s preference, Kansas is more loved.
• If it’s a matter of weather, North Carolina’s is simply more mild, with the minor exception of tropical storms and hurricanes.
• If it’s a matter of me, I call them both home.

Denyse asks:
Sorta pulling from Irish Coffeehouse’s question, but who’s your favorite author? fiction or non?Did you read the Twilight books?

ane Austen is my favorite, but Charles Dickens is close. I’m basically in love with 19th century literature.

I read both fiction and nonfiction, but I find reading fiction more fun.

I did not read the Twilight books and I’m pretty sure I won’t. I don’t particularly enjoy popular books as I love reading classics, and nothing about Twilight is appealing to me (vampires? what? and I don’t care particularly for love stories). None of my RL friends are reading them, so I’m not getting any pressure to, either.

Brenda asks:
If you could celebrate only one holiday which would it be?

Definitely Christmas. It’s my favorite. I think Easter is loaded with meaning and highly important to the Christian faith, but there would be no Easter without Christmas.

Plus, I love giving gifts.

Iva asks:

Do you like chocolate? If so, what is Ronnica’s Chocolate of Choice?

I’ve been remiss! I’m sure you’ve read plenty about my love of Diet Dr Pepper, but chocolate is right up there, too. I eat it way too often. My favorite chocolate is probably Reese’s peanut butter cups, but I enjoy any milk chocolate sans mint. Who wants their chocolate to taste like their toothpaste?

Rhea asks:
What’s your favorite fairy tale and why?

I’m a sucker for fairy tales. I know that some Christians shy away from fairy tales because they often have a magical element in them, but I think they are far less dangerous than many stories told today, because they still retain a clear distinction between good and evil.

Which is my favorite? The Princess and the Pea makes me laugh, because I think that the girl who was so particular that even a small pea under many blankets was unpleasant would be high-maintenance. I’ve always enjoyed Rapunzel, because I like the idea of having extraordinary long hair. But I guess I would have to say that Cinderella is my favorite, because I love the idea of being pulled up out of poverty and cruelty and made a princess. It’s exactly what my God has done for me, except He didn’t need the help of a fairy godmother.

And:
If you had to jump into a book, which one would you choose?

Good question! I’ve already mentioned my obsession with the 19th century, so that’s where I would head, but there’s so many good books in that time period. It’d be good to go to England, because at least I’d know their language, mostly. I think I would have to choose one of Jane Austen’s books because nothing truly terrible befalls any of her characters, and though they are often in want of money, they are all of the upperclass. I think Emma would be a good one since it takes place in the country and I’d be less overwhelmed than if I went to London or Bath.

And Rhea’s last question:
If you could be super talented in one area, what art would you choose? (Singing, painting, writing, playing an instrument, etc)

Definitely writing. I want to be a great writer, as I enjoy it so much. Blogging has definitely improved my writing skills as has all those papers I’ve written for school, but I hope to work on my creative writing now that I’m finishing up school. If I could do any profession for a living, it would be to be a writer.

hi-d asks:

Did your mom have you make crafts or ornaments for Christmas when you were a kid? IF so, what are your memories of that time together making them? And did you ever believe in Santa or were you raised without that?

Yes! I specifically remember 3 crafts. One year we made candy canes out of pipe cleaners and beads; I think they still go on the tree. Every year for about 8 or 10 years we painted little clear bulbs, writing on them and dating them. I still have mine in my Christmas decorations. Lastly, my brother and I each made Christmas paper chains that we added onto each year. It’s hilarious to see the differences over the years in our skill in making such a chain. I used to make fun of my brother for how bad his chain looked early on. We still put these chains on the tree.

I was raised with Santa, but I don’t think my parents really emphasized him. I know that I never believed in him and got in trouble in my preschool class for telling others that he didn’t exist. Santa’s probably my least favorite part about Christmas now, particular for the line “He sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake…” Uh, no he doesn’t, but GOD does!

Mrs. Mouthy asks,
How about your most embarrassing moment ever? Or if you could choose a moment in life that really defines you, what would it be?

Most embarrassing moment? Fortunately I haven’t had too many. Maybe I don’t embarrass easily, I don’t know. I think I probably was most embarrassed when I didn’t know what to do on stage at my high school graduation when I was called as the salutatorian. We had like 5 or something at our school, and for whatever reason, my name was called first even though it wasn’t first alphabetically. The reason why I didn’t know what to do was that I had missed rehearsal for a science competition. I would have figured out what to do if they had only called someone else first so I could mimic them, but they didn’t. So it was rather embarrassing to be meander around stage in front of 360 fellow graduates and their family and friends.

A moment that defines me? Ooh, good question. Fortunately, it’s not the moment above! I think that a moment that defines me is not only my initial step of faith when I was 10, but the step towards obedience when I was 18. It was at that moment (whenever it was, not exactly sure), that I made the comment to follow my Savior all my days.

Fellow Sooner, Angela asks:
Am I crazy to think Bob Stoops is good looking? and Do you think OU will pass Texas and make it to the Big XII championship game?

Oh no, you’re not crazy. Bob Stoops is good looking. Not movie-star good looking, but nonetheless not bad to look at.

I do think that a win over OSU this week will put us past Texas in the BCS. I’m hoping that A&M will beat Texas on Thanksgiving to relieve the pressure. Of course I want us to go to the Big XII Championship game (and to the national championship game), but the real reason I want us to go to a BCS game is that I mistakenly scheduled my flight back to North Carolina during the Cotton Bowl. Oops.

Bama-obsessed JenEfer (that’s how I say in my head; I don’t know why) wants to know my:
Favorite childhood snack that you STILL have to have today… even if it is just at “comfort food” times.

Cheez-its. Totally fits that description. I don’t eat them very often, but I love to get them every once in awhile. Something else that isn’t a snack food per se is mashed potatoes. I’ll be getting some of those this weekend!

She also asks:
Do you ever find it hard to be a Christian?

Yes. There was one point my senior year of college I thought about walking away. I think more than anything, it scared me that I could even think this thought. At other times, I’ve found it hard to be a Christian because I’d just want to be selfish and just live for me.

I praise God that He’s not allowed me to walk away, and even when I’ve strayed, He’s kept me on a short leash and lead me home.

And:
If you could have one thing under the Christmas tree (and I mean material thing here… not world Peace wrapped up with a big bow) what would it be?

No, I just want world peace. =) Okay, that’s not true. I’d love a laptop sitting right under that tree (or in my lap for birthday or graduation since they come first). It would be integral for me since I want to work on my writing.

And finally:
If you were ever coming to Alabama, would you look me up (lie if you have to)?

Well, you’re obviously wanting a certain answer here, so I guess I’ll give it to you. Of course I’d look you up. I’m about 98% certain that’s not a lie. Sadly, I’m also about 98% certain that I won’t be in Alabama anytime soon.

Thanks, all! Those were some good questions!

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I’m thankful that this is the last workday of the week and first thing tomorrow morning I’ll be on my way to Kansas!

First off, you may notice that I’ve been moving things around on the sidebar. Just a little spring cleaning in September. I wanted to highlight some of my best/most interesting posts. Is there any that come to mind? I’m not asking you to search back through my archives or anything, but if you remember something that I wrote that was good/decent, let me know. Thanks!

Happy Saturday, everybody! I’ll be dodging raindrops (and hopefully nothing else) from Hanna.

Today’s school day memory will go back to the most awkward age: middle school. In Kansas, our state history is a big deal. You may wonder what is important about the history of the state of Kansas, but I tell you, it played a very important role in the start of the civil war. At the time, it was called “Bleeding Kansas.” I’ll simply tell you that there is real animosity in the past behind the tension between KU and Mizzou.

Anyway. It’s always dangerous to get me talking about history. Just ask my RL buds.

So, because Kansas history is so important, we take a whole class on it 7th grade year. My teacher, Mr. Teacher (not his real name), was a fairly new teacher. He wasn’t a horrible teacher, but certainly sub-par. I didn’t particularly like him because he would make fun of students in the class and he didn’t ever really encourage us to learn. I was frusterated at one point because I was the secretary for my group during a group project, and he returned our work saying he couldn’t read it. I HAD GOOD HANDWRITING, Y’ALL (not very Kansan of me, I know). My writing has gone south since then, but I wrote well then. He always seemed to have a problem with me, maybe because he was intimidated that I really wanted a learn? (once a nerd, always a nerd)

Anyway, at the end of the class we had conferences. I went with my mom to my conferences, and then it was time to meet up with Mr. Teacher. He told my mom something to the affect, “Ronnica is a good student so I trust her opinion. Do you mind if you ask her a question?”

He then proceeded to ask me what I thought of him as a teacher. Never been one to lie to make someone feel good, I told him exactly what I thought: that he wasn’t a very good teacher, he didn’t encourage learning, and I didn’t like that he would “jokingly” call the students names.

You should have seen the look on his face. He replied with something like, “That’s what I get for asking the question.” I really don’t think he realized how much I did not enjoy his class!

Past School Day Memories:

Kindergarten and First Grade: Kisses and Skunks
8th Grade: 100 Marble Pick Up
College Senior Year: Why Procrastination Might Not Be My Thing

**I apologize ahead of time for anyone who isn’t a football fan. Feel free to skip this post. Since I like to present the whole me on the blog, from time to time you’ll come across something that you and I don’t share in common. No problem. I, however, do not apologize for the views actually held in this post. The Sooners are my team, and you cannot convince me otherwise.**

Okay, so today isn’t actually a holiday. Or at least not one I’m aware of. But it IS the first day of the Oklahoma Sooner football season.

You may have thought from past posts that I am a KU Jayhawk fan through and through. Not true. Oh, it’s true enough come basketball season, but my football season love (no split loyalties here!) is the Oklahoma Sooners. OU is where I grew to like football; OU is where I grew to love football. One of my biggest regrets was never going to an OU-Texas game when I had a chance.

Being a Sooner fan on the east coast most certainly can be challenging. I don’t get to see as many games as I would like to (though I try to arrange to babysit for people with cable TV or satellite on key game nights) nor do I get to talk Sooner football with anyone. It’s kinda like celebrating an American holiday overseas.

My OU football self has never really clashed with my KU basketball self (which is the way I was raised) until this past football season. I distinctly remember a night over Christmas break duking it out with my parents and my brother about whether OU or KU were better in football that year. It was before the bowl games (where we were defeated by a team of the conference that I all too quickly discredited and KU won heartily) otherwise I might not have argued as strongly that OU was better.

I don’t expect there to be any question this year of which team was better. When we meet on the field, October 18, Oklahoma will prove that they are better.

So, enjoy this first day of real football and get on that couch!

Before I get started, I have to wish my bro bro a happy birthday. Happy birthday, Riley! Today’s his golden birthday, which means he’s 24! I have no idea if he’ll see this (but his girlfriend will, hi Amanda!), but he did stop by the other day to leave some interesting questions. Perhaps I should have not left the invitation wide open…

Now the moment we’ve all been waiting for…the answers to your questions! I really thought you came up with some good ones and several um, interesting ones. Thanks guys. I’ll be posting this in three parts, with the light questions today, the lightest questions on Friday, and the harder questions on Saturday. Oh, and one of the questions I felt warranted a post by itself, so I’ll put it up on Sunday.

Alyssa asked, “Do you miss Kansas? Will you go back someday?”
Yes, I definitely miss Kansas. Anyone who has been subject to my Kansas-is-so-pretty speech knows this. Seriously though, wheat ready for harvest as far as the eye can see at sundown is the prettiest thing I know. The longer I’ve been in North Carolina, the more I miss my family, too.

That said, I don’t plan on moving back. Unless God totally changes my mind on this, Kansas is about the last place I want to live. Maybe it’s a pride issue or a wanting-to-see-the-world issue, I don’t know. I had the choice of going to seminary in Kansas City, and I never even really considered it. I knew when I was graduating high school and leaving for Oklahoma that I was never coming back. Does that make my blog title misleading? I don’t think so, because I’m totally a Kansan through and through.

Alyssa also asked, “Oh, and what’s on your list for the used bookstore?”
Hmmm, I suppose I shouldn’t have asked you all this question without answering it myself. I didn’t have my list with me the day that I was at the bookstore, so I didn’t get anything. I almost bought Nicholas Nickleby, but I decided to hold myself back. I have a ton of books at home that I still need to read, so I don’t need to start adding more to the stack when I don’t really have the money to spend, anyway. A few of the books on my to-buy (and to-read) list:
The 9 Tailors – Sayers
Anges Grey – Bronte
A Chance to Die – Eliot
Humility – Mahaney
The Mortification of Sin – Owen

Liz asked, “What are your plans after you finish your Masters?”
I’m always embarrassed when someone asks me this, because I don’t feel like my answer is good enough. I know that that’s not true, but I’ve always had grand plans for my life. Right now, the idea is that after I graduate in December I’ll be going full-time where I work now (as I’m in the process for getting the certification I need to do more of the financial counseling) and continue the children’s ministry that I do in my church, teaching kindergarten Sunday school and leading Awana for the older kiddos. I love this, and wouldn’t change it, but I have the impression that people think I should use my degree(s) in some official way. In the future I’d love to be overseas somewhere, but I don’t know if I’ll ever go full-time or just as an encourager.

Iva asked, “What’s a single gal from Kansas eat at night when she’s not hanging out with friends?”
Well, I don’t eat a 5-course meal every night (or any night), but I do enjoy what I eat (probably too much…). Thankfully, I was able to kick the habit of eating fast food when my stress level increased (like right now), because the fast food doesn’t help my health or my wallet.

If I’m eating by myself, I will pick from one of several options:
burrito (my mom taught me how to make a batch and freeze them individually as a kid)
cheese quesadillas and black beans (this is probably my favorite option!)
salad
pizza (nothing beats a $1 meal!)
spaghettios (sometimes I’m a kid again)
pasta in butter sauce
breakfast burrito
canned soup
tuna salad sandwich

I also try to cook a full meal once a week for a friend or my roommate as well as to make leftovers for lunch (though I pretty much refuse to eat leftovers for dinner or for lunch on Sundays). My roommate feeds me a lot as well (thanks girl!), and I often grab something when I’m babysitting from their pantry, not mine.

Last night was disappointing, but tonight was beautiful. What more could I ask for but solid victories both for Mike Huckabee and the Jayhawks?

They both get style points, by the way, for winning in a timely manner. Mike Huckabee’s victory was determined within the hour, and the Jayhawks wrapped the Hokies up before midnight. My tired football-weary eyes appreciate that!

Sorry for the poor picture quality. Apparently, my new camera is good, but it still needs time to recharge. I need to do a better job of knowing when the battery is low, or at least invest in a backup battery.