I speak to you from the horrors of midterm studying. I figured it was time for me to take a little break from my nearly ceaseless studying of the day. *cough* Today I have a six page paper to show for my labors. It is about the Greeks and Romans and how they are two of the three pillars of the western world. It was actually quite an interesting paper to write. Although, because it was the take home part of my Western Civ. midterm, it was more of a brain/book dump than anything else. After finishing my paper…I did what every good college student does…color epic Disney princess pictures and drink hot chocolate with my roommate. Tonight I have another collage of pictures with captions. Enjoy.

This is a picture of my completed paper, fanned out over my computer, which tolerated my laborious toiling much of yesterday and today…and yummy chocolate.

I don’t think this needs an explanation.

So, I finally found a purpose for the old Heralds…it tests colors and flattens pencils…hehe.

Doghnuts, hot chocolate, and coloring…good times

My other roommate…laughing at our silliness, while making herself yummy tea.

Our almost finished product.

Well I hope you enjoyed this little snip-it of the truths of college life.

Emily

Hello,

We have been working diligently to update the ICU blog and would love some feedback.

Here are the changes we have made.

• The header has been updated. The old header looked like this: 
• A Why Buy page has been added, highlighting the benefits of purchasing a copy of ICU.
• A Media page has been added, which includes links to the media attention ICU has received.
• The About ICU page was updated recently.
• The Goal page has been updated.
• The page links at the bottom of the header have been reordered.
• The Buy Now links have been updated, and a new link has been added to account for the eBook.

Please leave a comment and let us know what you think of the changes. We would also love to hear any suggestions.

Thanks!

Hello Friends and Sponsors,

Today we would like to introduce the eBook version of ICU. It is the same wonderful story as the in print version – so if you already have a copy – you don’t need to buy a new one.

However, if you haven’t purchased a copy of ICU, the eBook version can save you time and money.

• Time 
• because you don’t have to wait for shipping
• or take time to travel to the store
• Money
• because you don’t have to pay for shipping
• the price is discounted
• and we are going to take care of any taxes

The funds still go toward Emily’s college expenses, and if you have been following her blog, you can see she is spending lots of time studying – lol. Click the image below to get your eBook today.

$10.00

If, however, you like to have a hot little book in your hands, be sure to visit one of our merchant sponsors located under the Where to Buy tab, or click the buy now link at the right hand side of the page.

The Annual Purcellville Tag Sale—translated—a fun, exciting, cheap, cool, tiring, and yummy, daylong event.

This Saturday was the “Tag Sale.” It involved waking up early on a Saturday morning (my roommate formerly did not believe these existed).  We were going with some other friends from 8:00-10:00; at least, that was the original plan. We headed out and began our adventures.

We started by going to a huge sale in a parking lot. After browsing through all sorts of neat furniture, antiques, and clothing, we decided to spend some time in the residential areas. Private yard sales tend to have better deals. We stopped at a yard sale that had a box of DVD’s for $1 each. I bought A Series of Unfortunate Events, Pirates of the Caribbean 3, Night at the Museum, and the newest Indiana Jones. Right across the street there was a yard sale with a ton of books. I bought eight books for $2.50, which was terribly exciting. After that it was time to go. However, my roommate Michelle, our dorm mate Mikey, and I weren’t ready to go back, so we decided to stay. We figured we could either find someone to take us back or walk. We were dropped off on Main Street and then began our wanderings.

We walked all over the town, through mobs of stuff and people. I found the DVD of The Count of Monte Cristo for $1, and the Pride and Prejudice miniseries for 50 cents (super score). I also found a really neat, nice brand, sweater for 50 cents. I found some more books that I had heard about in my Western Civilization class (really excited). Along the way, we saw a ton of people from school, we bought lunch from a street-side vendor, lost Mikey to another student with a car, and ended up at the library book sale. At 2:00 a bag of books was a dollar. I ended up filling a box.

Right at two I headed up to the checkout station. I had about fifteen books. The lady looked at my box.

“Do you think that would all fit into one bag?”

“I think I could make it fit.” I said hoping she would agree with me.

“How about $2.00. Can you spend $2.00?”

I had four quarters and a $20 in my pocket. The twenty was not going to be spent. I figured I could always put some back. “No, not really.”

“Well okay, you can have it for a dollar.” She said with a smile.

“Thank you very much,” I said, my day made.

I handed her the money and found myself carrying a box of books and a big purse, with other treasures stuffed inside. There was no way we were getting a ride, so this load was mine to bear until we got back to the dorm. Thankfully it wasn’t too long of a walk, and all my treasures were worth it! In all, I got a wonderful workout, a ton of stuff, a tour of Purcellville, a funny tan, and it only cost me $13. It was quite fantastic!

Emily

As the weeks fly by in my college adventure, I’m beginning to understand what is meant by the “average college life.” This post is a collection of pictures that show college for what it is. I will give each a lovely caption to explain…because some of these desperately need explaining. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this little collage of college!

This picture shows my dear roommate on the day of homecoming. The Freshmen were Jocks, and our color was green. If you look closely you will see that her hair is spray died green!

This is me after homecoming festivities. I dyed my hair green with food coloring, and the daylong rain made it run down my face. I think it looks pretty beast.

Everyone knows that college students thrive off of no sleep, soda, and sugar. This is very late at night…but only early in Michelle’s night. The joys of papers!

Okay! Before you jump to conclusions…this was slightly staged and that IS NOT BEER!! Alcohol is not allowed on campus. However, I feel like this deserves a little more than a caption. So I will explain the whole story…at least, the story of the injury(examine foot in the picture).

One of the first things I learned about Tara was that she is accident prone. She warned both Michelle and me that she would likely be on crutches before the soccer season was over. However, she was doing really well with taking care of her ankles. Well, earlier this week, at 6:45 am, the door opened, and three girls walked in. I awoke, semi realizing what was going on. My roommate was limping, and the two other girls were supporting her.

“What’s going on?” I asked groggily, barely conscious.

“I twisted my ankle.”

Indeed my roommate had severely twisted her ankle. Now she is roaming around in pain and on crutches. But I will say, she is a very good sport, and for the most part, you can’t tell that she is in horrible pain. But I must also say…her methods for climbing stairs can be highly entertaining. Well, now that I gave you that, let’s go on!

After cleaning the dishes (one of the few cleaning tasks that doesn’t require mobility), Tara decided to have hot chocolate. A little drop spilled down the side of the mug right on the M&M’s cheek. So I decided to grab a quick picture with the teary eyed M&M (Tara felt bad for him).

As I said…average college life…Thursday was cleaning day!!!

Well that concludes the pictures. However, this afternoon I was able to go to lunch with my mother, which was quite spectacular, even though we spent about an hour trying to find somewhere to eat. It was really great to see her! Well, I guess I can say farewell.

Emily

Today we are submitting ICU to the First Annual California Fiction Writers Book Challenge writing contest.

If anyone is interested in submitting their novel, here are the qualifications for your work to be considered:

1. Published on or after Jan. 1, 2010
2. Written in English
3. Self published or independently published
4. Author is a resident of California
5. $50.00 entrance fee
6. Deadline Oct. 31, 2011

Here are some of the prizes:

1. Nook or Kindle
2. One hour marketing consultation ($250)
3. Online writing courses
4. Books
5. Recognition

In addition, all entrants receive book marketing tips, an eBook, and other perks.

For more information, visit LuckyCinda.

I looked at the lead sheet I had just printed. Several lines of the song just wouldn’t quite work with the chords. I ran my fingers in a C chord arpeggio and tried singing the notes to the song I had just written.

“It just doesn’t sound right!” I exclaimed to myself and tried playing the melody again. This time it would work; I knew it would. I tried again, and indeed it was beginning to come together.

I turned for a moment and looked out of the large window right by my piano. Suddenly the thoughts of my song pranced from my mind. I was looking at a mass of clouds that were arranged in a very familiar shape. I stared for a moment, then grabbed my camera. I snapped a picture through the window and then went back to staring.

In the sky was an optical illusion like the ones found in all kinds of little books. I’m sure you’ve seen the pictures of the Duck Rabbit illusion. Depending on which way you look at it it could be either one. Well, God placed this illusion into the clouds on this lovely afternoon. I was really glad that I was able to get a picture of it, and I’m glad that I could share it with you!

I posted the picture on Facebook, and others saw amazing things too. Here is a list of a few: duck, rabbit, dove, fish, the axiom from Wall-E, thumbs up, Bambi, white poodle on its hind legs with its head back trying to catch the cloud behind him, a dog, or Nemo.

What do you see?

Emily

Click Here to Find Out about The Cloud Factory – be sure to watch the video.

Click Here to See Another Cool Photo from Emily’s Collection

Well, it has officially happened.

On the fateful day of September 13^th , I gave myself over to my obsession and addiction.

I heard someone mention it, and just the thought drew me in. I was unable to resist. I knew my roommates would never approve, but I couldn’t help it. It had to be done!

When I got back to my room, I opened my computer and scanned through my files. There it was, in all its glory. A file full of one thing, the one thing that was gnawing at me.

I opened it and double clicked on the icon. Within seconds Christmas music filled the air. Yes it is true. I am obsessed with Christmas music…sigh. I even have a Pandora station for it now. And, yes, one roommate is groaning, but the other is now listening to her Christmas music too.

If you can’t wait to listen to Christmas music, you can download some right now from Amazon. Just click the picture below. Although Santa is on the cover, there is a lot of Christian music included.

$5.99 at Amazon

The 99 Most Essential Christmas Masterpieces

Or visit Pandora to start your own Christmas radio station – It’s free, and what I like most about it – it’s customizable.

“Hey guys, Jason is out there planting flags, and he’s practically alone. We should really go help,” Tara announced, standing up from her chair and slightly limping towards the door on her newly…or rather once again, hurt ankle.

The group of students relaxing and chatting in the dorm lounge simultaneously rose and headed out towards the Farris Wheel. I had no clue what exactly we were going to do, and I have a feeling the other two freshmen in the group were as clueless as me. But none-the-less, it would be good to do something helpful, so we happily joined.

It didn’t take long to figure out what flag “planting” meant. There was a circle of miniature flags spread out around the flagpole. Our job was to expand the circle until it reached the other circle of flags that was placed farther out. There were 3,000 flags that were to be planted in memory of those who died on 9/11 ten years ago in the horrifying and world changing attack on the twin towers.

Flag “planting” on this historic day is a tradition at Patrick Henry College. Events such as 9/11 are not to be forgotten, lest their memories be rewritten. As a nation we cannot afford to forget such a tragedy that affected devastation to so many, but also revealed the value of the freedom we have.

We were all working together to preserve the memory of 9/11. These flags represented lives that had been lost. Though our task was very serious in nature, it also opened the opportunity for fellowship and camaraderie as students worked together on an important task.

Halfway through the “planting,” I realized I needed my camera, so I sprinted back to my room, grabbed a camera, and began taking pictures. I was able to shoot some pictures that captured the essence of a body, of not only citizens of the US, but citizens of God’s Kingdom, working together to show their dedication to Liberty!

I’m glancing outside from my cozy room and observing the beautiful weather that surrounds me. I see the splashes from each speedy droplet of rain. Puddles are beginning to form on the ground, and the sky overhead shows no sign of dispersing the gloriously dark clouds spreading a cover in every direction.

This may not be what you expect to hear when I say perfection. But to me, this is indeed perfection. Along with the rain, a chill wind has replaced the warm sticky air that has pressed upon this campus for the last few days. It is what I consider sweater weather. It is just cold enough to wear a sweater, but still nice enough to keep the jackets tucked away. The sun is not supposed to peek its head in until next Tuesday. This is glorious news to me, however not everyone is as enthusiastic as I am.

My roommate Michelle doesn’t care much for rain. We have discovered that at all times one of us is bound to be happy. I’ll be cheery if it is raining, and she will be joyous if the sun is spreading warm rays all around.

A sudden text box on my computer interrupted my longing to stand in the drizzle. My roommate was stuck in the library. “Rescue me, with an umbrella,” she pleaded. I smiled and jumped up. I had an excuse to venture into the rain. I grabbed my umbrella and headed out.

Now don’t read into this and assume that it is implied that I opened the umbrella. No, the umbrella stayed closed tightly. I leisurely walked through the pelts of rain. The cold pricks against my skin sent a pleasant chill up my arms and down my spine. I was able to safely deliver the umbrella, and we headed back to the room: my roommate happy with the umbrella and myself pleased with the rain.