Oh man

Yeah, it's been forever, I'm sorry. And I don't even have good pictures to make up for it. Here are the hightlights, though:

I had my first show in the big city. It went pretty well. Not the greatest show in the world, but the people who came seemed to enjoy it. My sister, a bunch of girls from our Bible study in Madison, and my friend from Hope all came to visit for the show. We went to the Sear's tower, ate at a little city diner, had an adventure on the El, and enjoyed a great picnic on my little apartment floor. It was so awesome to see all of them, and be reminded that I do indeed have a bunch of people who care about me. They may not be around regularly, but they are still there. I love you guys!

I started seeing a chiropractor. I've been getting really frequent headaches, and not migraines. So I got desperate enough to go to a chiropractor, someone I've always been super afraid of. And man, did I need it. He took x-rays, and I am totally messed up. My neck bends the wrong way, there's a piece of my vertebrae rotated so that it sticks into my neck muscles at all times, my upper back is totally stuck straight, and my lower back isn't so awesome either. So I'm getting fixed, slowly but surely. The headaches aren't totally gone yet, but they are slowly improving.

Thankgiving!! I got to go home, have a break from class, and eat tons and tons of food! I got to see my awesome little niece and nephews (though 2 were missing due to high travel costs), and sleep in a double bed. It was a great time. I got my hair cut. We played the new Nintendo Wii as a family, and it was a total blast. We saw a movie. My modern demonstration was a hit at the talent show (though I was totally shown up by Julie and Erin with their Wicked duet). I brought a little personal massager that ended up being the favorite toy for those under 3. And I got to spend time with my parents, which is always fun. Dad and I served food to the homeless on Thanksgiving day, which was awesome. And then Mom and I cooked all the fixins' for the big day, which was super fun. We even used a Food Network trick for the turkey, which turned out great. Overall, a very nice, restful, fun, weekend.

Mom comes to visit tomorrow!! It's going to be great. I even cleaned my place.

I'll try to be more regular, sorry to all of my readers. Just a busy month, I guess.

Anywhere on this road

I live in this country now
I'm called by this name
I speak this language
It's not quite the same
For no other reason
Than this is my home
And the places I used to be far from are gone

You've travelled this long
You just have to go on
Don't even look back to see
How far you've come
Though your body is bending
Under the load
There is nowhere to stop
Anywhere on this road

My heart is breaking
I cannot sleep
I love a man
Who's afraid of me
He believes if he doesn't
Stand guard with a knife
I'll make him my slave
For the rest of his life

I love this hour
When the tide is just turning
There will be an end
To the longing and yearning
If I can stand up
To angels and men
I'll never get swallowed
In darkness again

You've travelled this long
You just have to go on
Don't even look back to see
How far you've come
Though your body is bending
Under the load
There is nowhere to stop
Anywhere on this road

~Lhasa de Sala