good stories

I just finished an essay on the parallels between 

this book 

and this film. 

Both works were very thought-provoking and very well done. There are so many symbolic images in the film and the introduction and conclusion to the novel are particularly interesting and frame the novel very well. If you have time, you should certainly consider reading The Three Inch Golden Lotus and watching Water. 

wind . . .

This is the weather forecast for tomorrow. 

I love 50 mph wind gusts. 

did this actually happen?

I got out of class yesterday at 11:30 to be told that the campus was shutting down in an hour. 

Mercyhurst has never had a snow day, ever, and the campus hasn't been closed in more than ten years. 

It snowed like crazy on Monday (see previous post) and has been snowing gently off and on since then so right now the city of Erie is covered in 6-8 inches of snow which is a normal occurrence in Erie. 

However, a main water pipe froze and burst so the campus has no water which means they also have no heat, food or working bathrooms. 

The whole campus was evacuated and hopefully school will start again on Monday, but no one knows anything until the pipe is found (under 6-8 inches of snow) and repaired. 

I went from trying to remember all of the things I had to accomplish/complete before the day was over to suddenly being temporarily free from those obligations and suddenly needing to pack up my life and remove myself from the only place I really knew in Erie.

Thankfully, many people graciously offered to host students who were too far away to go home. Currently, Kathryn and I are staying with one of our ballet teachers (the one for which we both babysit). The director of the Dance Department and her husband offered to host all of the freshman in their basement which is so kind of them. Also, the pastor of the church I attend in Erie offered his house as well if Kathryn and I are in need of it. 

Once we found out we were staying with our ballet teacher (and her husband and baby daughter), Kathryn and I went to our apartment to pack up as much as we could in as little space as possible. We also had to take everything off the floors in our apartment because our heaters are water based. If the city of Erie has to shut down all of the water temporarily to make the repair, then our apartments could flood. 

This all seems surreal . . . However, today I've been sitting in a beautiful, warm living room, reading a book, drinking tea, talking with a wonderful couple about anything and everything and playing with an adorable little baby. So I guess getting evacuated isn't so bad in this case :)                          

white blankets [that do not keep you warm at all]

roommate quote of the morning -

 "This is more snow than Little Cocky's seen in her life." 

But, seriously, this is more snow than "Little Cocky"* has seen in years. It also happens to blow directly sideways in great blankets constantly (due to Erie wind). It's really pretty much impossible to see anything. Pictures coming later, I presently have a horrible cough and a light fever and am doing my best to recover as quickly as possible.

*roommate pet name due to my last name being that of Cockerham (pronunciation presently in debate)

disease prevention

The beverages currently beside me while I read and stretch. 

(cold water, throat coat medicinal tea and airborne) 

Currently half the Dance Department is sick along with Kathryn and Blake. I am doing everything I can to keep myself from getting sick - including following Kathryn around with Lysol and disinfecting the door handles, light switches and sink handles just about every half an hour. I have problems, I know, but now would be a really bad time to get sick. 

something much more substantial than the last few posts (yet potentially containing less physical mass)

This passage of Scripture has been incredibly refreshing and encouraging to me this week :)

"Your testimonies are wonderful;

therefore my soul keeps them.

The unfolding of your words gives light;

it imparts understanding to the simple.

I open my mouth and pant,

because I long for your commandments.

Turn to me and be gracious to me,

as is your way with those who love your name.

Keep steady my steps according to your promise,

and let no iniquity get dominion over me.

Redeem me from man's oppression,

that I may keep your precepts.

Make your face shine upon your servant,

and teach me your statutes.

My eyes shed streams of tears,

because people do not keep your law."

~ Psalm 119:129-136

(unecessary) foot update

My feet were much worse than the last picture and long, repetitive rehearsals kept reopening the wounds,  but now they're finally all scabbed over and all the redness and swelling is gone :) However, pointing one's feet in ballet while scabs are hardening is quite painful. 

Thankfully I've been off today and will be off tomorrow :) 

Hopefully rehearsal on Monday will not reopen all the scabs. 

"ewwww, your feet!"

Soooo, my body is not used to modern dance . . . particularly post modern release technique . . . at all . . .

major lactic acid build-up (which I've really never experienced before), pounding headaches and massive bruises define the past 84 hours of my life  . . . along with 24 hours of dancing . . .

the pile of band-aids wrappers after I finished trying to rescue my feet last night

swollen, red, aching, raw feet (which you really didn't need to see)

. . . and you definitely don't need to see the bruises covering my knees and hips.

On a much more positive note, I love working with the guest choreographer (an alum) and I will be so much stronger once I finally build the stamina and mental strength to get through the piece without falling over (aside from the 28 times that I am intentionally supposed to fall over and get back up again as fast as possible). It was an honor to be chosen for the piece because of working with the guest choreographer and because only five girls were picked to be in the piece. Also, the piece is to a sound score (not "music") which is a new experience for me as well :) 

things I learned at college today

1) Fondus are like lightsabers 

2) Hoola-hoops tricks are much harder than they look

3) Dancing like a baby pterodactyl is fun 

4) A 12 hour day with 7 hours of dancing and one 20 minute break makes one quite exhausted

peanuts

purpose matters

"These all died in faith not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better a country, that is, a heavenly one."

 ~Hebrews 11:13-16a

I'm 19? [that sounds old and it's an odd number]

sleeping in

eating pancakes for breakfast   --which Zach made himself 

reading a good book (Why We Love the Church)   --with blankets by the fire
watching a documentary on NYCB  --with my grandmother and Charlotte
taking ballet   --at my home studio :) but after two weeks off :/

. . . today was a wonderful birthday :)  . . . and I'm going to be very sore tomorrow :P