Free At Last

So the big 2-2 has come and gone. Probably had to be the least exciting birthday. I think from here on out its all downhill...not much more to look forward to as far as birthdays. You had your 16th when you could drive, 18th when you were legal for cigarettes and free of statchatory rape, and of course the most looked forward 21st where you could legally become an alcoholic. I first got to spend my birthday with my family on sunday where Cody got to experience my family for the first time. It was eventful. We got to see my mom and dad re-enact before our very eyes how i was conceived (ew. i just grossed myself out). Grandma was at her finest. Every five minutes when somebody wished me a happy birthday she felt the need to yell with anger, "It's not OFFICIALLY her birthday yet." Then Cody illegally and unofficially beat me at scrabble...i still contend that "chi" is not a word.

Then we made a trip to Oregon the next day. It was fun. Got to hang with Jeff and his friends in Roseburg and saw my first drunk man in a wheelchair. He had the kind you can steer with a joystick and he kept spinning in circles and jetting back and forth. I think he was trying to dance. Then my official birthday was spent driving for 8 hours from oregon back to sacramento where we took as long as possible to get back.

So everybody will be happy to know that I have finally got some direction for this fall. On September 19th I will be moving to Oregon and getting out of Sacramento. Feels good to have peace at last. I'm excited.

My Penguin Is An Honor Student

So it's been a good week...so far. We'll see how tomorrow goes...dun dun duh...(that was supposed to be mysterious music notes right there...if you didnt catch it)

I started work back up on Wednesday. Its actually good to be back working, I missed serving. Except last night where I had 3 different guys at 3 different tables that apparently thought my chest was the speaker you talked into to order food because everytime I walked up to the table that's all they stared at. I mean, they could have at least tipped better if they were going to do that.

You'll never believe what I did yesterday. You're right...you guessed it! Wow, you're good. I did adopt a penguin! Now, I know what you're thinking..."Stacey, you remember what happened with the duck?".....(Moment of silence)....But I dont actually own the penguin, its not being shipped here in an ice chest and I'm not moving to Antartica...or Alaska...or wherever in the cold that they live that starts with an 'A'. No, I adopted it through an organization where for $36 a year I support the penguin and I get to name him and they give him a nest that has his name on it! And they send me pictures and updates. How cool is that? Anyways, I named him Walter....Walter the penguin. I dont know why I chose to support a penguin instead of a starving child through world vision...probably would have been more productive and made more sense. Heh.

I just saw a woman walk by window smoking a joint. Heh. Interesting

The Freaks Come Out At Night

So I'm back in Sacramento. I'd say its good to be back here...but is it? Apparently a straggler followed me here forgetting that camp had ended. Somebody tell Gibson camp is over.

Jeff and I had a lot of fun yesterday. We spent the day in San Francisco and then went to the Dave Matthews concert later that night. It was a day full of interesting happenings that could only happen to us.

He had never been to Pier 39 so I took him there. The only shops we went into were mostly food shops and a magnet shop that had beer magnets. Then I took him to see the sea lion "zoo" and as we stood there watching and I started barking like a sea lion we determined that I would make a good sea lion because all they do is lounge around and make the same annoying noise over and over again...sound familiar?

The show was great. Jem started it off. Got a little confused at first when I heard Jem was playing...thought an 80's (or was it 90's) cartoon was going to come out on stage with kinky blonge hair and an electric guitar. After that the Black Eyed Peas hit if off. They are awesome to see live. Then Dave came out and hit the stage...and the people behind us started hitting the joinnts. I gotta say, I'm not usually a big fan of Dave, but he blew me away last night. They are so amazing.

The concert, of course, ended on true Stacey fashion. Jeff and I left during one song to go get some hot chocolate. On our way back down the stairs to our seats I slipped on beer (that's right) that was all over the steps and fell flat on my ass, throwing my hot chocolate all over myself AND some guy in his seat that was asleep and wearing a white sweatshirt and jammed my toe all at the same time. Sometimes I amaze myself. It scares me how much of a "Cody moment" that was.

Summer's End Worries

So its the second to last day of camp and I find myself very discouraged.

There's is so much fear in my heart right now. I dont fear doing long distance again. I dont fear the fact that i have no place to live. I dont fear that I'm not going to get the right classes...

...I fear complacency. Already I can feel my heart preparing itself to get back into the same routine state its in during the year. I feel the liveliness leaving and the procrastination and laziness approaching. The excitement to change is slowly slipping and being replaced by the dreadful thought of complacency. I find myself saying I'm ready to leave camp and get back to my life in Sacramento but then I find myself fearing all that that entails. I fear that I will lose my desire. My heart's true desire is to grow up. I fear that I won't do this. I'll just get stuck in my daily routine of work and school and make no time for anything else. I dont want my life to become that dull circular rotation. That is my biggest fear...complacency.

Please God, let me change...move my feet so that they dont become content to stop at any one step.

Sushi Gives Me Gas

Suddenly, as I'm typing, the song "Its Been Awhile" by Staind has gotten stuck in my head. I haven't really posted all summer and I guess the reason for that is because all the people that read this live in the same hallway as I do...and yet I still am typing.

I'd like to go into talking about summer, but where would I even start? To keep it simple, let's just say that it has been good. I think I'm more excited for these last 9 days than I have been all summer. Not because camp is almost over, but because just in this last week God has moved my feet, and Jeff's feet, so much. I'm excited and extremely anxious to find out what will be going on this next fall, more for Jeff than for me. God is bringing amazing opportunities into his life and I'm excited (again) to see where it is going to take him this fall and in years to come. My life isn't changing too much...back to sacramento...back in school...back at applebee's. The only difference is that this year I plan to go in with a different attitude. I think its about time I grow up. I think its about time I take life with a different attitude. Jeff and I were talking last night about what we hope to accomplish this fall while being in separate places...attitude is one we'd both like to change. We both desire to have an attitude that does nothing more and nothing less than to love, to show love, and to listen...because everybody just wants someone to listen to them. What a simple thought to a powerful ministry, yet its so hard to do.

Well, its short and simple folks and I have to go. As I leave this room I will walk out into the living room and say hello to all the people that will be reading this over the next few days...so "hi" again...I'm right down the hall...Jasen, i borrowed your toothpaste...Ben Price, i ate your sister's chips...Nikki, I have gas..so do you...Amanda, I lost all my other pin-the-date pins...need more...Aaron, you're playing Halo and didn't invite me..so mean...Jeff...you smell.

P.S.- If anybody knows anybody that needs a roommate...might help me out a lot. Peace.