Survey on social networking

Hey everyone! It’s been a while since a post, I know, but I wanted to put this up and ask a favor from all of you AMAZING people. My awesome sister Lindsay is a senior in college and is doing a survey for her class about social networking. Since I know how socially connected all of you are it would mean a whole lot to her and me if you could take a sec to fill out the survey.  Below is her invitation to the survey:

Hey friends!
So I’m in this research class, and I need people to take this survey about online social networks like Facebook, Myspace and Twitter. It shouldn’t take too long. The more people I get to take it, the more extra credit I get, yay. ( I need 15 ppl for one point.)Also, if you could put my name (Lindsay Parks) in the last question when they said, who asked you to take this?, thanks!! And we are closing the survey in 9 days.
If y’all could take it, I’d really appreciate it! Especially since it’s stuff about Facebook, etc…and you know you are already on it
So I also just want to say, even if y’all don’t take the survey or send it on, I’m still glad that I know all of you guys!
And on the plus side, we will probably publish this research, so you could be in a journal article, yay

The link to the survey is:

http://survey.hsutx.edu/SS/wsb.dll/lcope/technologyfa09.htm

Thank you so much again!

Narrating through my day

All day long I have been narrating everything I do in my head. I’m serious. I can tell that’s when I’m in blogging/writing mode. In addition to narrating my own actions (in a witty, humorous way of course) I constantly keep coming up with ideas of other things I’d like to write about. Earlier I had so many ideas for different blogs to write, but honestly it’s too much and too tedious that I doubt many of you would even want to read it if I was constantly writing everything in my head.

So I thought I would sit down and try to write out all of my narrative thoughts in one post, but in the end all I could specifically remember was “I am eating cereal from a cup.” (Yes, I eat cereal from a cup, but only because I have no bowls here. Don’t judge me.) I had some thought about my puppy Ellie, something clever to say when she got all wrapped up in her leash; but I don’t remember that now either.

I do remember thinking that I need to start journaling again. I have journaled off and on since I was 7, but I had not written in my journal in three months until last night. So I remember thinking today that while all of you might not feel like reading my random and wandering thoughts, at least I could write them down in my journal throughout the day. Because, really, when it comes down to it, I think most of us write for ourselves. Yes, readers and comments are wonderful, and they encourage us to keep going. Writing is about connecting with others. But also at the heart of our writing is…well, us.

So when I find myself narrating in my head and thinking of all the things I might blog/tweet/update my status on Facebook about…well, perhaps I should start taking it back to the journal where I first started writing…where writing was simply about me, the words, and the page.

Dear Journal,

I’ve missed you.

Love,
Me

P.S. Out of curiosity, how many of you fellow bloggers have written or still write in a journal/diary?

Bulleted thoughts, including: blogging, relationships, rain, and Mercy. Seriously.

Today I had lots of thoughts I considered writing a blog about…so instead of being decisive (because that would have meant I chose only ONE major in college instead of two) I decided to share all the random thoughts I had running ’round my head! (Yes, you should feel lucky.)

• My original plan for a blog was to write a more detailed version of  the A Few of my Favorite Things blog detailing last weekend at my school’s homecoming. This would have been complete with pics. And it’s very possible I may still do that at some point, but today will not be that point.
• Grad school applications are totally scary.
• I realized I use the word “totally” a lot. Seriously.
• I think I also use the word “seriously” a lot.
• I have a pretty-much-amazing boyfriend in Scott. Seriously (see previous bullet). He’s awesome.
• I do not like long-distance relationships because I don’t get to see aforementioned boyfriend very often. And that’s just not cool, for many reasons…mostly being that I miss him and wish we had more time together to build our relationship.
• Long-distance relationships in Texas are different than other states. In some states, being an hour away is really far. Here, that’s next to nothing. Try 3 1/2 hours. And that’s actually not as bad as it could be.
• When I don’t get to keep up with the blogs I follow for a few days, sometimes I let out the tiniest inward groan when I go to Google Reader and see how many posts I have to catch up on. Inevitably, however, I start reading your blogs and end up loving it (cuz you’re all such darn good writers and, let’s face it, I love hearing what’s going on in your lives! *she said in a non-stalker kind of way*)
• I stood in the rain yesterday for a long time. It was lovely. I think I looked odd though cuz I was also having a text-conversation with Scott, so I would stand in the rain, run to my door when I heard my phone, reply to him, and run back out to stand in the rain again. (In my head, I just heard a “Rinse, Text, Repeat” chant.)
• I have several more bullets in my head, but I hate to over-bullet you so I’m going to end with this final one:
• I just heard about a Run for Mercy campaign, which is basically a fundraiser for Mercy Ministries. I love Mercy Ministries because they provide free-of-charge, in-patient programs for girls across the country who deal with issues like depression, self-injury, eating disorders, unplanned pregnancies, etc. It’s a seriously (dang, there’s that word again) cool program that has changed countless lives and offered help to girls who couldn’t have gotten it otherwise. So apparently I’m now considering if I should sign up for a half-marathon in December to help raise money for Mercy. The thought is terrifying yet intriguing. Thoughts?

I hope you have a lovely day.

Sex and Money trailer

This is a very powerful video — please watch!

I found this on a blog post at my (online) friend Lucas’ blog. It’s a very moving video; I hope you’ll take the time to watch it.

A few of my favorite things (from this weekend)

Quick list to give you an overview:

• Being with my family at my university’s homecoming weekend
• Seeing my sister
• Visiting with dear undergrad friends, Melissa and Rachel
• Laughing a lot and eating great food at Rosas with LaShay, John, and Daniel
• Worshiping at Beltway Park Church again
• Seeing my kids at the children’s home
• Seeing the Sergeants, a dear family who is very special to me

It was a nice weekend.

Back to Texas and the blogging world

Guess what? I have returned to the world of internet access! Woo-hoo! *Does a little dance (one with better dance skills than she actually possesses. Hey, this is the internet world where reality can be suspended. Anywho, back to the dance)*

My mom and I had a great time in Georgia. I got to do some reading and sleeping in, which was nice. And of course, eating sweets and fried chicken and pecan pie! (30 Day Shred, I will be coming your way again soon.) It was a good time with my grandparents since they’re at the age where we’re never sure if one or both will be there when we visit again. Also, they  pretty much sit alone in their little house all the time, so I think it’s nice for them to have entertainment.

Yesterday my mom and I flew back to Texas, and it was nice to be home. Today I actually took some time to clean the house for my mom, since she and Dad are really busy with stuff for their organization. They’ve been traveling so much that she hasn’t had time to clean lately, so I wanted to help out. It’s nice to feel like I can contribute to their work in some small way, and the glow on my mom’s face when she saw the house was worth it.

This coming weekend, I’ll be going with my family to my university’s homecoming weekend. It’s my dad’s 30th reunion, so it will be a special visit for him. Also, I’ll get to see my sister and several of my friends, so I’m looking forward to that; and I also hope to go by and visit the kids at the children’s home.

Hopefully I’ll get to write a blog post during this weekend, but don’t worry, if not I promise to provide a riveting summary of it on Monday.

Love to you all! I’m excited to start keeping back up with your blogs again.

Oh, and I glanced at my stats today. The most interesting search phrase that led to my blog: “How Miley Cyrus holds her pencil.” You’ve got to be kidding me. Who even wants to know that? (Well, obviously the person who wrote that, but still, that’s crazy.) Glad to know my blog can contribute (in absolutely no way) to that fascinating question.

Limited internet for a time

If you’ll remember my last trip to Valdosta, Georgia, I did not have much internet at all. Well, I am back in that situation. Therefore, I won’t have much time to keep up with your blogs over the next week nor will I have time to write as many posts. I do hope you can forgive me.

My mom and I came to spend some time with my aging grandparents for the next week, so that’s what I’ll be doing. Which mostly means a lot of sitting around and eating too much pecan pie and watching Fox News a lot. And reading and sleeping in, which I can’t object to. Just not much internet (which is entirely objectionable, but hey, what can I do about it?).

When I do have internet, I’ll try to check in. Until then!

A nap made me happy

This is going to be one of those posts that says very little and in a lot of ways is fairly pointless. Basically, I wanted to tell you that today during lunch, I got to take a nap. Previously to that I had been sitting at my computer and (literally) fighting to keep my eyes open. Seriously, what is up with that?! I have almost never had this problem where I am truly having to jerk myself awake. My sleeping is a little off, but still. It’s not cool. So I left for lunch at 11:30…and I was out. I slept at least a good hour. Then I had to go to have a meeting about the shifts we’re running here to monitor the situations in Indonesia and the Philippines. And after that…wow, was I in a good mood! (Good can also be read as crazy, weird, hyper, giddy, etc.) Seriously, I was skipping around the office at points, discussing goofy costumes for Halloween with some of the others, humming along to my music and using my desk as drums to tap out beats to. Oh, and working, of course.

So yes, that’s pretty much all I wanted to say! A nap made me happy today.

PS – Oh, and another thing that makes me happy is cherry Dr. Pepper. It rocks.

Indonesia

Would you please be in prayer for Indonesia? This is the country I spent 12 of the first 15 years of my life in. I have been to these places shaken by disaster and riddled by deaths. My heart aches for them, these people who have already had to mourn so much loss from earthquakes in years past. Please remember them, and think of them now in their time of desperation.

CNN: At least 1,100 dead from Indonesia quakes, UN official says

Ellie’s Escapades

So, in a previous post, I have introduced you to my puppy Ellie. She is a delightful little dog, full of energy and fun and personality…and  Houdini-like talent for escaping.

Seriously.

She’s a 15 pound dog and broke a leash that’s supposed to hold a 110 pound dog. What. The. Heck.

Who, me? But I am a cute little puppy who can do no wrong…

Let’s rewind a little. I had to go back to Abilene for a doctor’s appointment on Friday. I cut the planned weekend trip down to just 24 hours of being gone. I figured Ellie could survive on the porch for one night till I returned. Well, when I pull back up, I see a dangling leash that has clearly been snapped in half.

I thought I was going to be sick. My precious puppy has gotten loose in the middle of nowhere with lots of land and goats and other animals. I have no idea where she is.  Fortunately, the couple at the farmhouse here had seen her out on the road an hour ago, so I drove down that way. And there she is. Standing in the middle of the road, starting at my oncoming car. Not till I roll down my window and yell “Ellie!” does she come running. Her tail’s waggling and she’s wiggling and jumping on me and so excited. I’m frustrated and relieved and happy and back to frustrated (again) that she had managed to get out and bother anyone on the farm.

So after driving back from Abilene, I turn around on Sunday to go drive her to Dallas where I’m going to leave her with my grandparents again. After talking it over with my parents, we considered a way to let her stay with me at the farm and not inconvenience my grandparents. So last-minute we hit Petsmart and buy enough heavy duty leashes, cords, and stakes to tie her down by my little house. And I do mean HEAVY DUTY. The ones that hold dogs over 5x her size.

In a stroke of brilliance, however, the thick cord (to be connected to the stake we’re drilling into the ground) got left at home. It’s ok, I figured tying her up to the porch with her leash (for the 110lb dog) would work for a day or two.

It did. Except I’m not sure it was a whole day before she BREAKS it. AGAIN. Seriously. I dunno if she snapped it or managed to chew up the thickly woven, 2” wide leash; but that’s exactly what happened.

So now, until my cord arrives by mail, I’m doing my best to keep her inside (although she’s not supposed to be inside much, so this often means putting her in the crate) or on a smaller leash when I’m with her and can hold her. Hopefully she will quit her attempts at figuring out a way to re-enact Homeward Bound.

Dear Ellie,

Seriously, girl? Seriously? Please, I’d really like to keep you, but you’re going to make it hard if you keep getting loose and causing problems. I know people say to “think big,” but I’d really you rather think you’re actually 15lbs instead of 100.

Sincerely,

A  frustrated loving owner