dreaming of leftovers....

I can't wait for thanksgiving!!!
This has been one of the toughest weeks yet.

but I went to get coffee with a friend in Amarillo this week, and it was really great to sit and talk.
lots going on.
lots of drama.
lots of homework.
lots to do next week.
lots on my mind.


I am glad that I have lots of friends that I can talk to.
thanks everyone.

lots of love
M

wordpress

readershipWT.wordpress.com

"the polands" are blogging over our journey. check it out.
mine are the ones that are signed -ALMiller.
I have been told that we are also going to be able to update in the internet cafe's every day that we are there!
116 days!

on the web

http://www.wtamu.edu/news/releases/10-30-07/poland.htm

check it out!! when you click on my name, it takes you to my picture.

The beginning of a Grand Adventure!

o round two was really code for "get them all dressed up so that we can take a group photo b/c they are the REAL finalist!!!"

Yes, I AM GOING TO POLAND!! I am SO very excited!

They got us really worked up, thinking that we were about to go into a really intense 'speed dating' interview with about 20 faculty... and then we get in there, sitting down, introducing ourselves and preparing for an interview, and they tell us that we are the finalist! It was amazing...

*flashback*
when i had first finished my essay, i sent it to my IDS teacher.
during this time her and I had been discussing me changing to a social work major from a psychology major. she edited my paper, and I promised her that if I won (this was back in early September, before I ever submitted it) that I would chance my major to social work.
She was one of the faculty in the "interview" today, so when I went to give her a hug, she gave me a gift. it was a change of major form. I never thought that piece of paper would mean SO much to me! haha. She had known for a few days, and told me today that it has been killing her to not say anything to me!

There is a group blog set up for us "WT Readership Ambassadors" and we will be working on it as a group.
There are 20 of us.
We are going on a group outing on Nov. 6th to go to the post office together to get our passports. We took our pictures today.
I am pretty excited!

i LOVVVE everyone, muchos!!

Round 2

I have a second round of interviews today! (in 1 hour!!)

The contest committee could not come up with a final decision, so they are asking faculty to come and help out!
So it might be yet another week of waiting to know the results.

I don't really care how things turn out. I mean, yes- I would LOVE to go to Poland, but I have also gotten lots of experience from all of this! A few itnerviews can take you along way!

For other news: the weather is great! classes are going good. I have been spending alot of time with McKenzie this past week! She has 2 ear infections, so I went over and helped Trish watch her so that she could run to WalMart and make dinner. I made a pretty good apple crisp! yummm. (but not from scratch... don't get too excited!)

Hope everyone is doing well!

xoxo
M

Oh, the weather outside is frightful...

So I have heard...
the forcast of Saturday: about 90 degrees. and maybe a bit windy.
the forcast for Sunday: cilly, icey.

WHAT?! The weather here needs to make up its mind. goodness.

Interview

Sorry that is took my SO long to get this up. I have been running non-stop since my interview yesterday.

The interview went really well.
I wasn't as nervous once I got in there. I realized that I had nothing to lose, so I just went in and enjoyed myself.

There were 4 of us contestants, and about 10 people from various places around the campus on the committee.
They told us that they wanted it to be more of a discussion... but we wern't really able to talk back in forth... but it was good.

We were asked 4 questions, and the pannel wrote down our answers, which I found to be a little strange. I almost felt like a test subject.

Name, where you are from

If someone from home were to describe you in one word, what would it be?
something that i dont really remember...
If you were to talk with someone coming to wt, what would you tell them?
What are you going to do to prepare yourself for the trip, if you were to be selected?

The excitment never dies down!

This week seems to be as eventful as the last!
I turned in a job application today, but the job doesn't actually start until Jan. 14, 2008.
It's the Universiry Switchboard... I would be answerings phones and doing mail for a few offices, and some office stuff. Pretty exciting, if you ask me. I have enjoyed having my first semester to adjust to college life, but a job is going to come in handy! [Building my network, time management, and having some cash!]
I am really excited and kind of nervous about my interview tomorrow with the Essay Contest Committee. If I am selected as a finalist, not only will I get the chance to travel to Poland for 10 days, but I will become a WT Readership Ambassador. I don't know exactly what all that entails, but I will be asked to speak about my experiences throughout the next year.

I am very excited about the adventures that are before me!

My life seems to be offering me may options.
Its going to take time and prayer to decide what is best for me for this upcoming summer:
STP- 9 weeks of working and intense christian growth, in MO. (Through the Nav)
Mountain TOP- working at a mission camp in TN.
NSO- leading as a New Student Orientation leader!
work?- finding a job- in Houston or Canyon.
Take classes over the summer?!

Its funny how you plan for your life to go one way, and then God begins to lead you elsewhere. SO many options...
I was inspired last night while reading a friends blog, and its that I need to apply for all the things that I see fulfill my calling... and God will open the appropriate doors.

There will be an update tomorrow after I have my interview!

ON, ON Buffalo!

We won the Wagon Wheel/Homecoming Game against our biggest rivals, Eastern New Mexico University!

62-31!!!

for those who don't know about the wagon wheel tradition, every year when ENMU and WTAMU play, they play for possession of a wagon wheel. Who ever wins gets to take home the wheel for the next year. this is the 3rd year in a row that WT has gotten to keep the Wagon wheel. [this was also the 3rd game in a row that ENMU has lost, this season]

Homecoming is always full of lots of campus events:
Monday- there was a marshmallow roast out at the pit
*the pit is the hole by the BIG bonfire where we burn the bad pallets each night
Tuesday- capture the flag [I didn't play- b/c I was using Tuesday to do homework that I wasn't going to have time for on Wed- due to guarding all night-but my studying payed off!!]
Wednesday- Tractor pull- and its exactly what it sounds like: we tie a rope to a tractor, and try to pull it!! I was asked to fill in a spot on the Stafford dorm team (even though i don't live in Stafford) and we won!!!
*Cross Hall's night to guard the bonfire!
Thursday- worship at the pit
Friday- THE BONFIRE!!!
*I had to guard the bonfire one night, and spend at least 6 hours building, to earn the coveted bonfire security t-shirt, and I did! We had a lot of fun, even though it was muddy and cold.
I stay up all night (basically) and then went to class... it made for a long day, but it was well worth it!
Saturday- Went to the tailgate with the Navigators, and then to the GAME! it was awesome!
we has 23276 fans!!! It was a WT record, and a LONE STAR CONFERENCE RECORD! It was SO much fun to see all the fans!

GREAT NEWS:
the essay contest I entered, for the spring break trip to Poland: I am a semi-finalist!!
I have an interview with the Essay committee on Wednesday, at 4! [Its is only about 15 minutes, and I am meeting with 3 other contestants]
wish my luck!!

SUPRISE!!!

SUPRISE!!!

The navigators threw me a suprise party- and I most certainly was suprised!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes, everyone!
My birthday was WONDERFUL!

I am super excited about coming home in two weeks!!
Lots of funnn plans:
David crowder!!!
Wedding,
Lunch with lindsey and mishy at school & fca,
lunch with staff,
singing in the choir,
hanging out with lindsey, michelle, and luke,
playing games with the fam,
good mexican food,
and just about anything else you can imagine!

yesss!


my roommate moved into the sorority-unit this week, so i am all alone, but its going good.
I miss her tons, but we still hang out and stuff. she promised that she would come and have a sleep over in my room! yesss

my two tests this past week went fairly well!

love you all

<3
mandi leigh

"FIRST DOWN, BUFFS!!!"

this is my bed, and my desk. not too much to my room. i also have a dresser.....

sorry its sideways!!

We get "all dressed up" for the games!! [and i dyed me hair]

We won our game last night. it was awesome! and I even have photos! [see one above]

Hope everything is going well, back home! Yesterday, when I went to walmart, it was only 65 degreese.

I have also gotten to baby sit a few times. what a cutie-pie!!!!!!

Things are going well. I am feeling alot better!!

Tabby and I tried a new church today, with our frien Kevin. We both enjoyed the service alot. If we decide to attend church there, I might look into joining the choir!

I love you all!!!

<3>

xoxo

dates

date1 noun, verb, dat·ed, dat·ing.
–noun
[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/date]


1.
a particular month, day, and year at which some event happened or will happen:
**September 18th, my birthday!!!

2.
the day of the month: Is today's date the 7th or the 8th?
**Today is September 12th, 2007

3.
an appointment for a particular time:
**A Date to see the doctor

4.
a social appointment, engagement, or occasion arranged beforehand with another person:
** P.F. Changs!!!

5.
a person with whom one has such a social appointment or engagement:
**I don't have a date to Juliana's Wedding

6.
an engagement for an entertainer to perform.
David Crowder - October 6th!!!!!!!!!!

7.
to have or bear a date:
**The letter dates from 2001.

8.
to belong to a particular period; have its origin:
**Old Main was built 1910

9.
to reckon from some point in time:
**From back in the day....

10.
to go out socially on dates:
**I dated in highschool

11.
to mark or furnish with a date:
**Please date the check as of today.

12.
to show the age of; show to be old-fashioned.

13.
to make a date with; go out on dates with
**I am going on a date with him

14.
to date, up to the present time; until now:
**This is my best paper to date. [my contest essay for the Poland trip]

15.
up to date, in agreement with or inclusive of the latest information; modern:
**Bring us up to date on the news, with your blog!


Thats all I have for now.
e-mail me

almiller3@go.wtamu.edu
duh_mandi@yahoo.com

Eggs. SUNNY SIDE up, please.

Things are starting to get back to 'normal' for me. My throat doesn't so much anymore, and I have a new allergy medicine that I have to take everyday.

The breakfast in the cafe' is NO bueno. yet, I always find myself in there, hoping it will get better. No. It doesn't. The waffles are gross. The eggs are scary. The cereal is usually okay. On days that I have class early [yes- 9:30 is early] I eat in my room, but Mon, Wed, and Fri me and Tabby make an adventure to the Cafe' to see whats cookin'.

Homecoming is coming up! Cross Canadian Ragweed will be playing at the First United Bank Center, and there is a dance. What do you wear to a college dance? I don't like dances very much, and I don't really know who CCR is, but I think I might go just to check it out. We'll see.

Classes are going good! I have/get to turn in an Essay this week in a few classes that could win me a trip to Poland for Spring Break. [when Elie Wiesel came to Canyon, after he spoke to the Freshman class, he had a more "intimate" setting where people had to buy tickets to attend. THAT money is what is funding the trip to Poland. They are going to read and choose about 10 Freshman to get to go on this once-in-a-lifetime trip to retrace Mr. Wiesel's steps.]

Got to get ready for class!

<3 Mandi Leigh

This is just a test from your broadcasting station.

I have never seen it rain so hard before in my life.

I guess this small little town doesn't have good sewer systems. The water is over the curb and into the grass. We were driving back to the dorm (my lovely room mate came and got Tabby and me from lunch- since she was on her way back in from Amarillo) and we saw water all the way up to some peoples door frames. I am glad that Samantha drives a truck! My car is definitely not going out into any deep water any time soon.

I am going to medical services today. Hopefully they will tell me that I am not contagious so that I can go crash at Trish's! and hang out with McKenzie!

Love yous

Mandi Leigh

Rough Start

I have had a rough time these past few days. My throat has been killing me! Luckily my big sister came to my rescue! Now that I have ingested lots of vitamins and ibuprofen and day-quyl. I feel 100% better. But I just need to remember to keep taking my vitamins!!

Tonight is going to be interesting. I will be joining the rest of the freshman class on the floor of the First United Bank Center [no- its not a bank... its the WT version of the indoor part of the Berry Center- for all you Houston folks]
We have Convocation. We are going to have the privilege of hearing the Nobel-Peace Prize winner Elie Wisel, the writer of Night, the readership novel for the WT freshman class. This is most definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity. He only makes an appearance on college campus' twice a year. Lucky me.


That's all for now, guys.

<3 Mandi Leigh.

First Adventures

So- This is my first blog.

I am attending West Texas A&M University- in Canyon, TX.

I will be updating this blog regularly to keep everyone up todate.

My first night here, which was two weeks ago- Wed., was an adventure all on its own.
Tabby and I read a flyer about Pancakes at Midnight. Man- those must have been the best pancakes I have EVER had before in my LIFE!!!
But before the pancakes of amazingness we played some sand volleyball. We went into the game fully expecting to lose! We were "Team-wanna-hawk-a-loogie" [yes- like from Finding Nemo].
It was during this great game that we met Kristin. She invited us to the Baptist church- where we have attended SundaySchool [for college kiddos] and the contemparary service the past 2 sundays. We also attended a program called Overflow, which is a worship service, and a serman (very similar to youth group worship) for college-age kids.

More updates will be coming!!

<3 mandi leigh