I just don’t like it.

So here’s my question of the week:

Why is “normalcy” a word?

It doesn’t sound like a word. It sounds like somebody made it up in 5th period social studies.

It doesn’t look like a word. It’s looks like somebody was trying to type “normally” and messed up.

It doesn’t even feel like a word. I don’t like it. But I’ve heard it twice this week, and it’s in the dictionary (at least, at merriam-webster.com, and they’re pretty legit).

So I guess I have to accept the fact that “normalcy” is, in fact, a word. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to use it. I’m just searching for a sense of normality here.

You know… college.

So today I was sitting at my desk at work staring at my planner. I was looking at Tuesday, then Wednesday, then Thursday… And then it hit me.

I was ahead in homework.

That’s right. I had done all of my reading and assgnments through Wednesday. I could actually start reading for Thursday of all days! It’s just not possible!

For a moment I let myself fantasize about what I could now say: I’m taking 15 credits of intense, upper-division coursework. I’m successfully the DC of a hall. I’m a volunteer with a youth group. And now, I have free time.

What would I do with that free time? Hang out with my closest friends? Go to a basketball game? Watch a tv show — dare I even suggest it?

Then, in my 4:30 class, the professor said, “Everyone got through that Elmer chapter, right?”

And I thought to myself, Who the heck is Elmer?

And then I remembered the one thing you must remember at Covenant College:

You will never get ahead.

Why I haven’t updated

Here are the things bouncing around in my head right now:

Wilson, Egypt, world powers in 1919

Translation: formal or dynamic equivalence? Gender neutrality

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Everyone Poops, The Phantom Tollbooth

Iron and Wine, Usher

Deuteronomy 7:6-9, junior highers, “Who trained you to do what you do?”

The Reformation in France — in a soothing Canadian accent

The library, the blink, Starbucks

Fog

The effects of the Intertropical Convergence Zone on India’s climate changes

Chi Alpha, prayer partners, Day of Prayer, bible study, t-shirts, loud noises

And so you see, I just can’t update. I promise to come back eventually.

Ahhhhhh…

This morning, after a long and restful night’s sleep, I woke up to sun shining in my window. I took approximately 20 steps and found myself in the kitchen, where Mom was baking crumb cake muffins. I got myself some real, delicious coffee and stretched out on the couch to watch mindless TV and eat breakfast. After breakfast I settled on a channel and watched a few hours of baby and adoption stories. Eventually I got up, got ready for the day, and spent a little time in 2 Chronicles and Matthew 6.

Around lunchtime Mom and I jumped in the car, got Dad some lunch and brought it to work for him, and went to pick some stuff up at the store. Mom paid. At home she made me a sandwich and I facebooked while the sports channel played surfing and soccer. About mid-afternoon Mom went to take a nap and I went for a bike ride — only 20 minutes, but the hills in my neighborhood proved how incredibly out of shape I am.

Shortly after I finished my bike ride, Peter showed up and we played guitar and ukulele together until dinner, which my whole family (minus Vincent — no one actually knows where he is) enjoyed together, and we discussed the possibility of me actually being able to drive a car this summer (yay!). After dinner Peter and I went outside and played a little Badminton until the bugs came out and started biting, and then we went inside and watched Jeopardy while we enjoyed dessert: pudding cups.

I. Love. Summer.

News from the Home Front

I’ve been a sophomore for almost two months now and I’m happy to say I’ve learned a few new things. Let me share them with you.

1.) I’m really not much cleaner than the freshmen, I just want to think I am.

2.) Switching buildings is extremely rewarding and a good idea for nearly everyone.

3.) Taking a third semester of Greek is stupid, but you do learn a lot. And I can translate the Bible!

4.) Freshmen have WAY more energy than I do.

5.) Making awkard conversations less awkward is a learned skill and takes practice — but it’s dire.

6.) First impressions suck. I’m really not as rude or cynical as many unfortunate souls think I am.

7.) Sophomore work study and practical service positions are 1,000 times better than the freshman positions.

8.) Hall unity is really important, especially early on.

9.) Exercise is also really important. Take the stairs, lazy bums.

10.) I know what professors to take, where everything is, how to avoid things I don’t want to do, and what every hall and event is about.

What more can I say? Being a sophomore is excellent.