if music is just about the lyrics, then music is basically just propoganda.

"We are not primarily human beings having a spiritual experience; we are primarily spiritual beings having a human experience."

there are a few main reasons I'm not on here much anymore. the first is that I've been incredibly busy - as always. I'm working over 20 hours a week, putting the finishing touches on a trip to Europe that's beginning in (yikes) less than two months, and trying oh-so-hard to make it through school and finish my AA. thankfully I'm not nearly as stressed as last quarter, but each day as I realize how close my trip is, life is a little more emotional. I've been planning this thing for so long that it's really hard to realize that it's actually happening.

another reason I'm not on much is because no one else is on much either. not that I'm complaining; we all have our seasons and the blogging "season" is somewhat past. I still keep it as an outlet, but I don't expect many are reading now. but I suppose that's alright.

life flows along, as it always does. one of my managers at Menchie's quit today, which is going to cause some major ripples. but I'm trying not to think about it until tomorrow. I have a feeling my hours may go up a bit the next several weeks though, as everyone shuffles to fill the 40 hours a week that she worked. I'm really thankful that I'm just an employee, and one who is planning to quit myself next month, so I don't have to deal with my ridiculous boss much longer. until that time, I'm thankful that I mostly enjoy my job.

I only have two more rotations with my worship team before I leave. up until last week, I was just denying it and not thinking about it. but now I'm trying to soak up every moment and enjoy this last little bit of time with each one I love so much. it's too hard to describe how I feel about my team, so I won't really try, but suffice it to say that the last two years it's like I've been raised by an amazing group of uncles, aunts, surrogate dads, and just very dear friends, right alongside my own parents. I will certainly miss each one of them as much as my own family.

I'm still addicted to Michael Gungor. I'm dead serious here: if you have not yet gone to youtube and listened to anything from his Beautiful Things album, DO IT RIGHT NOW.

the only other remotely big news is that I'm looking at my future a little more - I mean like, after Europe and after missions college. my mom suggested that I take a year off to save for the next school adventure (most likely undergrad school for my BA in teaching English as a foreign language). I'm pretty sure I will be taking a year off to work (unless a rich relative dies in the meantime and leaves me their fortune). For school, I'm seriously looking at Portland State University - and I've promised everyone here that I won't go farther away than Portland if I am indeed doing two more years of school after BCOM. but this particular degree is a little more specialized, so I'm looking at WA and OR to see what my choices are for schools, and right now Portland State is shining pretty brightly.

The only catch is the price. Out-of-state tuition = $22,000. per year. so, times 2.

However, I'm considering moving in with my relatives down there for the year that I take off. If you live in OR for a year before classes start, you're considered an in-state resident. And since in-state tuition is $7000 a year, it's looking like a pretty sweet option. Plus, Portland in general is awesome, and still comparatively really close to home.

anywho. I ought to be doing homework right now as it is, so I will leave you (whoever you may be anymore) with that, and go be responsible. It is nearly the beginning of another week, after all.