Lurve Today

Well, I missed Valentines. And Christmas. And New Years.

But, I did not miss February 17 which just happens to be Paris Hilton, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Mary Ann Mobely's birthday.

Whew. It would have been really embarrassing for me to have missed today.

Here's just a snippet of my week, just a random week in this leap year of 2012. If any of you have any doubt of just how serious I am about my life being a little ridiculous, here's proof:

• I was duped into believing that I had won a car. No, seriously. I called and went to the car dealership to claim it....only to find out I had only won a $2 bill.
• I found out I have been calling a young man by the wrong name for quite some time. And not just a confusion of Bill and Will. Like two COMPLETELY different last names. Sadder--I considered him a good friend and classmate.
• I made the front page of the paper. I have only done this two other times. One time, I was screaming my head off/looking like I was about to faint, and the other was respectable. THIS time I was pictured getting dressed. Exhibit A and B:
So yeah. Just another week. And Friday and the weekend is not even over yet!

But here are some AHHH-MAZING things that have happened in my life:

• I moved in to Esplanade Ridge with the two best gals anyone could work for. Anna Davis and Allie Denton. Same initials, different people, best of friends. We are really cool and shout out points for our house that we were sorted into, except these two coconuts think i would be in Slytherin. Whatevs. 5 points to Ravenclaw and Gryffindor for being two great roommates.
• Picked up jogging thanks to Ole Miss. I get credit for it and for the first time in my life---I RAN A MILE WITHOUT STOPPING!!! (insert chariots of fire music here). For all of you who just judged me because I have never been able to do that before, I promise I am in shape. I. just. can't .run.
• I was introduced to the Hunger Games. May the odds forever be in MY favor. And yours too.
• Most importantly, I am learning day by day, that I am in fact, not the one in control of my life. Turns out, I may not have been worshipping a big ol' budha, but I have definitely been having some idols in my life for a looonnnnng time. Which explains the whole, "I'm never content" syndrome I have had for a while. God is breaking me and growing me. Daily. Hourly, it feels like most times.

In other breaking news--I plan on making this an ode to friends. All da time. With little commercial breaks of me just sharing about my life. God has a sense of humor. And I have to share His jokes. So from now on, I am just wanting to praise and uplift others. And laugh at myself.

Ode to Melissa Ramsey

You know that cliche really popular girl? You know the one that people make really big deals about and makes a point to take pictures with them on all occasions? Or the ones that can wear a neon anything and it be cool but if anyone else were to attempt it...it would be sad?

Then you know Melissa Ramsey.

Or so I thought.

Camp Ozark 2009.

I came to this camp not really sure what I was doing except be a servant to kids. What I actually did was go to this crazy camp with crazy kids and a whole lot of Texans. They all wore bows, neon anything, jorts, and chacos. They actually seemed to like Miley, Taylor, and Beiber. They all seemed to know each other, and they all seemed to have access to a secret stash of Surge or something. My mind was blown faster than you can riflery badge.

Then, they had ring leaders and the main one was this legend called Melissa Ramsey. Oh, did you see that girl driving the mule with the bow? That's Melissa Ramsey. MELISSA MELISSA! Over here. Yeah...Melissa did devo with us last night. Y'all I just had the most awesome convo with Melissa. I was a camper with Melissa. Oh, that's my best friend and past counselor Melissa.

Out of jealousy, I wanted to chant OVER-RATED!!! (clap, clap..clap clap clap)

But in all honesty, I wanted to be like hey, how are you? what's up? how's it going? what about that mish mash? I remember once talking to her on the picnic table about the tv show the office and being like...Marianna why do you have to be so weird? (hand on forehead)

I continued to disregard the hype. Summer ended. Ozark was great but probs would not be returning. I thought all was well.

Fall 2009

Come fall, the "recruitment process" began. Whaddya know but Melissa Ramsey was coming to Oxford? Instantly, I was like, oh she will probably be so busy, but I will go to the Ozark reunion dinner, pretend I wasn't me (oh hey melissa, wait we met? yeah no didnt think so. no, that wasnt me that failed ropes. um did I wear glasses at orientation? of course not, are you kidding me? crazy hair? you must be mistaken!) [<---rehearsed script in head]

I met her once again fully expecting to make polite convo, help her hand out some flyers, and maybe do some recruiting.

What I did not expect was to find the most amazing, selfless, hilarious, listener, role-model, friend, big sister of a girl.

Melissa Ramsey was not hype. Was not legend. But was real.

And I do mean real. Geniune. The whole shebang.

The only crazy cultish Texan ...was me (minus the Texan. She is totally a Texan but went to Vandy. 5 points to her for acknowledging SEC as superior)

I was skittish towards the broad because I was not sure I was good enough for her or cool enough.

I am still neither of those things but I am pretty sure very few in this world are because she is SIMPLY that amazing. She CAN drive a mule, take pictures, wear bows, do devos, have amazing life changing convos BECAUSE she possesses one of the most endearing, empathizing, and easygoing hearts of anyone I know.

She passes advice, not judgment. She gives laughter, not self-doubt. She gives hugs, not half-hearted back pats.

She can sport a bow and Louis Vuitton bag. She can wear simple Burt's Bee lipstick or glitter...anything.

She can talk to a college (weird) senior and make her feel like the most important person...while simultaneously helping throw one of her 24957 bachelorette parties.

Melissa Ramsey deserves every bit of hype, cult following, and facebook photo tag.

Marianna Breland barely deserves her friendship.

I can call her any day any hour and even though I have not seen her in two years, I think of her as one of many best friends. Quality of phone visits...not quantity of ...real life visits...right?

The fact that she has embraced me despite a) Texas is not on my birth certificate b) I am not a Chi Omega c)I am a Rebel, not a commdoore d) only own a sequin headband..and that's it e) all of the above. It's kinda amazing. But then again, so is she.

These reasons mentioned above are why she is in hundreds of weddings and have hundreds of friends.

On top of all this, it's her birthday. Tah-day. And I thought what better way to say happy birthday than with a blog post all about her, especially since I post on here so much!

So Mel on the morning of your bee-day, pretend we are eating Bottetree granola and sipping coffee. Carter is there as well.

The photos...well that's just to show you what an amazing friend she is and the fact that our only photo tagged together is a Camp Ozark advertisement. Yeah, she's that cool. And our friendship is that long distance. I'm in the blue shirt. I am not getting any more specific due to my hanus appearance (thanks for making it microscopic Ozark graphic designer. seriously) The sad thing is...Melissa is not even in this picture. But it's what we shared at least in the photo..not facetime. but memories.

So here's to that really popular cliche' girl.

Because cliche' things are cliche' for a reason..or should I say cliche' people are cliche' for a reason.

They are just that amazing.

And that you are, my dear Mel.

Wannabe Townie

Ahem, well hello there. The sabbatical is over.

I'm back.

For now.

But, have you ever pretended to be a local? That's actually one of my hobbies.

Oxford has been the most complicated town to conquer yet. They range from ultimate hipster to ultimate srastitutes and then just somewhere in the middle.

But, I want to be a townie because I want to claim this beautiful place as my own. I want to look at the St. Peter's pumpkin patch and have memories.

So, while I may not have romped there as a wee toddler, I embarrassingly romped there as a Senior in college. Right beside a family with an infant.

Do as the Romans do right?

Regardless, you cannot deny this fall time beauty.

Happy fall y'all! (tis my favorite season!!!!)

By the way--waving a big camera in the air totes made me look like I lived there. Good thing I am getting some things right.

Mississippi mud pies

Mud. Mud. Mud.

And some more mud.

While all of you were singing Amazing Grace and listening to sermons or enjoying a nice Sunday nap and some fried chicken, I was getting suctioned ankle deep in some intense Black Sea German mud.

And I had a blast.

I hiked for three hours in the mud. And that was the extent of it. There were no landmarks. No incredible views except for the most beautiful blue sky that would put any Pixar movie generated sky to shame.

I got blisters. I got muddy. I got slightly bored.

But most importantly I got closer to the people on this trip. I got to have a lot of time to think about myself and what I want to change and do and become this next year.

The fact that it is almost time to grow up encroaches me with each ticking of a second. With each question of "what do you want to do next year?" And with each facebook post of someone else getting engaged.

There is that Weepies or Indigo girls song about the world spins madly on.

As I took each step/slosh in the mud, I realized geeze freakin louise. We are growing up.

Not to get too cheesy, but stepping in the mud you had to do it painfully and cautiously so as not too fall. Each step you had to calculate in some parts.

I got impatient. I wanted to run.

But I had to walk.

I got extremely muddy and messy.

But I never fell.

In life, we want to run through parts. We just want to go with it. We just want life to come easy.

But life sometimes, like thick Black Sea mud, will just suction you down. You get messy. You get bored.

But, if you plan each step right, you will never fall. Or fail.

It is so hard for me to wrap my head around this. Still.

So why my life is still a mystery, I know if I just take it slow and easy, I won't fall.

Hopefully.

Now, that the sermon is over.....

Sunday we woke up at the crack of dawn, rode a bus for three hours, slept alot, braided hair, and got ready to conquest the mudflats. And that we did.

After dominating the little sucka, we relaxed on the beautiful island and the beach where I discovered the European man thong is not a myth. But real.

The tides came back in and we had to ride a ferry to get back home. During this ferry ride, I started up with my narcolepsy and nodded off and fell asleep....on the rando German next me.

She tapped me and looked at me like she had just found a hair in her soup. Sorry I just hiked for 3 hours lady.

But I really don't blame her for being weirded out. I was a muddy, smelly, foreigner, with a feather headband. I was the ultimate tourist and that's probably why I heard her mutter something something something America under her breath.

Upon arrival back in the 'brueck, we went out to our "spot," a local pub called "Bottled." And we sat at our "table."

That was only our second time going there, but we have eaten at the same table twice now. That's entitlement. Right?

Then, we rested our sleepy lil heads. The German mud was nice, but I am pretty sure that if I ever get a hankering for mud, I will just go whip up some Mississippi mud pies.

Or just go to the Neshoba County Fair.

But for now, I will just do as the Germans do.

Wonder what they would do if I introduced them to "muddin?"

Then, my worlds would collide. 4-wheelers. Baguettes. Mud tires. Coca-cola Light.

It could be a great world.

When photos speak more than words.

Osnabrueckin it

July 6, 2011

A Venezuelan, an Afghani, and a man from Uganda walk into a bar.

There's no punch line.

That's kind of my life right now.

I am in class right now during a break and I have Yumi on my left and Anna from Poland on my right. She just asked me how to prounounce "obese."

That's one word I do know due to the culture of home, sweet,home.

The sunshine is out and the mood is lifted! No more red, blue, and grey.

Yesterday, I had my first class of German and Civic Engagement.

Let's just say the German class was just one big game of German charades. Our professor spoke zero English to us. None. Nein. Instead, she just fully submerged us. And I give her an Oscar for her acting talents! Through extravagant motions and lots of pointing, my class was a teeny tiny bit able to follow her. The poor woman has her doctorate and is having to dance around just to get us to understand how to say book and pen in German. Bless her.

I now know how to ask for your name, introduce myself, and give farewells and greetings. Yes, I know. I can now speak for 5 seconds to the locals.

Yesterday, Monday, we went to dinner at a very authentic German restaurant that also was a brewery. The entire group clinked glasses and enjoyed hearty food of the Deutch. Have I mentioned how much the like potatoes?

I am pretty sure somewhere, on some street corner, they sell potato ice cream. Because everything in this sweet little town is potatoes! Potato pasta, soup, entrees, side, etc.. etc….How the Germans stay so fit and skinny, I do not know. Because they have pastries for breakfast and potatoes for every other meal and snack…schooo….clearly Dr. Atkins is not really hero here. Note to future tourist: Don’t mention Hasselhoff. It will be followed by an eye rolling and “Americarins” muttered under the breath. (And yes, I know I misspelled it, but that’s how they prenounce it. I am not losing the American way that fast I promise).

After that, we went to quite possibly the weirdest bar I have ever been to. It had neon, glowing toilets for seats and then they had them for tables with glass over them. Headless barbies were tied to a rotator to act like a ceiling fan. And fur covered the walls. Naked manequins were posted up everywhere too.

Do you feel this vibe I am giving you?

It was freakier than any Friday Lindsay Lohan has ever experienced.

But, one cool thing about it was that they had phones on the tables, like old fashioned ones that have the swirly thing to dial the numbes. You used the phones to dial the bartender and to tell him what you wanted.

We actually had a good time despite the décor.

Next stop was a blues bar that tried to fashion itself after dear old home. I felt very comfortable and clapped to the music. The Germans looked at me as if I had just done a handstand with a monkey on my back. They. Are. So. Stoic.

But they really got into the music…you could tell by their head nodding. Which my experience so far with the locals is that that is a lot of emotion. The band actually sang in English which was a pleasant change. We could sing along and just have a great time. It felt good to do that on the 4^th of July while of all of you were playing Alan Jackson, Reba, and every other country star who had an America song sensation.

But probably the most American thing that we did was to stop for McDonalds on the way home.

And let me just say this---German McDonalds DO NOT play around with McFlurrys.

They can be stoic and eat potatoes all they want to if they can keep putting whatever toppings and sauces they put on my ice cream. It was GUT!

After that, my fourth of July was done. And yours was for the most part just happening. My midnight is your 5:00 p.m.

As you were firing up your grill and gathering your fireworks, this little patriot hit the sack. She missed America, but was loving the world.

Red, White, and Grey.

They always say the third day after surgery is the hardest one during recovery.

Studying in Germany is not surgery, but today has been the hardest.

Imagine a day in November in Mississippi. Everything is gray. Everyone is somber. There is a cold wind that embraces you with such ferocity that you squint your eyes and turn your back to it.

Now imagine, that you are wearing a thin cardigan, jeans, and toms.

That was my life today. Plus, no store being open and no internet and no phone. And you cannot get your internet in your room to work.

To prepare for this trip, I asked the others what every aspect for Osnabruck was like. The weather, the people, the food, etc.. etc…

They were so helpful and I highly appreciate. However, apparently, what they had last year, was a heat wave. Also, the weather is very bipolar in Germany according to the locals.

I can handle bipolar weather. I am from the ‘sippi. What I cannot handle is the fact that I only packed for haawwt weather.

Needless to say, TOURIST and IDIOT is printed on my head when Germans see me. It could be worse though. The boys are wearing shorts. I have not seen shorts since the Memphis airport (there was one dude in Amsterdam with them, but they were more like manpris. Two totally separate things.)

Other than that, today was old-fashioned relaxation. And by old-fashioned I mean, I slept a lot and conversed with people a lot.

I would have to say that is my favorite thing so far. I sit around and shoot the breeze with Yumi from South Africa. His real name is something crazy. It has clucks in it! It sounds like this: Ki-cluck with your tongue from the roof of your mouth to the bottom of your mouth-ah-mo. His nickname is Yums/ Yumi after his ridiculous middle name.

I have done several activities with foreign students through Ole miss and Hoby. I have socialized with a lot of different people.

But I think, due to the hideous weather, the lack of any distractions, and I do mean any, all we can do is sit around or walk around and talk. And talk. And tell stories.

His life in South Africa is completely unreal yet so familiar to ours at the same time. He is also hilarious and knows so much about America. He is a huge Dwayne Wade and LeBron James fan. He knows all about College Football. And he stayed up til 3:00 just to watch the super bowl.

My South Africa knowledge? World Cup, Nelson Mandela, Charlize Theron, that movie where Morgan Freeman played Mandela, and Oprah’s school for girls. And then just random stuff that the Ole Miss students taught me. He goes to Nelson Mandela University actually and knows all about Ole Miss as well since our schools are partners.

Pretty much I have the American syndrome. Stickin to mah own business.

I feel..ignorant.

Funny how on the eve of my country’s Independence day, I feel so patriotic (due to me being out of the country for the first time and getting to see how the other side lives) and so …thirsty for something else? A broader horizon?

All I know is, I am so eager to learn about other languages and cultures more so now that ever before.

I am giddy to learn German.

I cannot wait to go to school tomorrow.

And that my friends is a first.

Things I did today:

-walked to Uno Pizzeria where they spoke 0% English. I did sign language. Pointed to my cheese pizza. Walked away with ham and pineapple. It happens. BY THE WAY-German Diet Coke is so much better than American. It is called Coca Cola light and tastes like a not so sweet Coke.

-finally figured out the bus system.

-ate one of the only restaurants open. Got some great pasta. The waitress loved us because the boys tipped. They do not know do that in Germany and you should have seen the look on her face.

-lots and lots of talks.

-lots and lots of sleep.

-lots and lots of dreaming about when I can check my email, post on this here lil blogger, and realizing how dependent I am on technology.

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