Downhill Falling... I mean Biking...

On Sunday Jon, Noelle, Sean, Nina and I went to Grapevine to go mountain biking. It was crazy fun!!!

Within 5 minutes of strapping on our helmets, squeezing into our bike shorts and hopping on the saddle... I had flown of the front of my bike. Now you might think that I am being dramatic because sometimes I have a tendency to, let's say, embellish a few little details of my stories (the otter)! But this time I am dead serious. I thought that I was doing really well and that this whole biking thing was not as bad as I had pictured when I rounded the first bend and realized that I was very wrong.

My first segment of rocks and roots were quite terrifying... they started to taunt me and laugh at me as I rode up to them. I heard "Your gonna fall, your gonna fall" over and over again. Low and behold, I made it through. With my new found confidence I continued on the path of doom and went down a steep embankment with rocks and roots only to turn very sharply to the left at the bottom. The elation that I felt as I thought that I had cleared the series of high tech maneuvers (for a beginner atleast) quickly dissipated as I snagged the back tire on the side of the log and my bike stopped. No, not in a smooth "oops" type of a stop but a violent jerk which sent me pummeling over the handlebars and crashing into dirt, roots, rocks, and blood (produced by me of course).

Furtively glancing around, I made sure that no one saw me. I jumped back on my bike and continued on with a few scrapes and bruises but totally fine. As I pedaled on, Nina yelled back to see if I was okay and then she waited for me for a few seconds. I caught up with her and told her that I was fine and just had a little bit of a spill... after all, it's not like I almost died or anything!

I speed past her and decided to take the lead... bad idea! With Nina behind me she could see everything that I was doing. I came upon an 6 inch ledge that I popped my front tire up and over. Yes, I thought! Yet... things don't usually work out the way that I want them too. My back tire, again, snagged the ledge and violently stopped my bike and where did I go? Up and over... once again uncomfortably close to my friend the ground. More blood, scratches and bruises thought that they would join my ever swelling flesh.

To make matters worse, as I was brushing myself off and grabbing my bike, two "real" bikers came upon us and slowed down to see if I was okay. "I am fine" I said with a lot more confidence than I was feeling at the moment as I laughed it off and hopped on again.

On we went as I let Nina go in front of me so she could not witness my demise. My next fall came about because of a complicated series of rocks and crevices. My back tire... no just kidding, it was the front... fell into a crevice and I went careening over my handlebars. Noelle and Jon came up behind me with concern. Up until now I had portrayed the perfect beginner attitude with humility and respect. Now, I was angry!!! Every time that I got going I would end up with new rocks embedded in my skin and a mouthful of dirt.

After I had calmed down and continued on things got much better. Jon and Nina went on and got a "good ride" in. Noelle, the kind sister that she is, waited on me and turned back early so that we would have time to get back. We talked and joked the whole way back. I laughed so hard and smiled so much that, in the end, my cheek muscles hurt more than my "cheek" muscles.

The rest of our journey!

The next thing that we came upon was a town... err city?... which was out in the middle of the wide open plains. All you could see for miles was absolute nothingness and then all of a sudden... skyscrapers!

Now the point of building the ever so expensive skyscraper is to build up when there is no room to build out. I promptly turned to Dad and in a high pitched whiny child-like voice I said "Mommy, I went to be a real city... one with skyscapers!"

We stopped in El Paso to spend the night and when we got there I really wanted to go work out. I joined a very old man as the only occupants of the workout room and we proceeded to get into a deep conversation for over an hour... strange how things happen sometimes!

When I went back to our room Dad told me that there was no sample shampoo or conditioner. They had a bar of soap and that was all. I went and bought a sample bottle of shampoo out of the vending machine for $2.

We had to get up at 5:30 so we went to bed early. I layed in bed for three hours contemplating issues of life and was finally about to fall asleep when Dad started snoring. I don't just mean an irregular short snort every once in a while but the loud obnoxious kind that you hear in the movies. Are you kidding me? After he finally started to quit down and I was falling asleep a train went by really close to the hotel. So the rest of the night was a series of Dad snoring and the trains going by.

We got up at 5:45 to find that I had accidentally not packed any clothes to wear. How does one forget to bring clothes might I ask you? Anyway, I ended up wearing a pair of sweatpants and one of Jimmy's really big sweatshirts. Ehh... whatever!

The event was soo much fun. Dad and I had such a blast!!! As soon as we download the pictures I will post them.

First phase of trip!

Last weekend Dad and I went to New Mexico to go to the X Prize Cup! It is an event where private companies, as well as reps from NASA, put on a big event getting people interested in space and space travel. The idea is to start regular travel to space by private companies rather than just government funded programs.

We started off our trip late because I each a science class on Friday mornings. We left at 11:00am and headed west. After about an hour of driving the scenery changed drastically... and not for the better. Now I am not one to complain too much but Texas is not a state that is known for it's scenery. Actually, having grown up with atleast trees, I find this state quite ugly! West Texas is worse than just flat like where I live... it's flat and has no buildings or living organisms to break up the perfectly straight line of the horizon. Dad and I got in to a deep discussion about the implications of living there a hundred years ago. Yeah... not so much!

Despite the wretched atmosphere, Dad and I were both in great moods and enjoying ourselves immensely. When we had been on E for about 15 minutes and I was starting to experience a very small dose of Jimmy's intense paranoia about running out of gas we stopped for gas. It was the smallest town I think that I have ever seen. We could not figure out where anyone lived or where they ate or shopped or anything and mind you, there is not much landscaping to block you view of these things.

I went in to go to the bathroom and I had been driving so I tossed the keys on the front seat. Dad finished up pumping the gas and, figuring he would make a quick stop in the bathroom as well, promptly locked the car door and went inside. Yeah... we were in the middle of Texas, 4 hours from home and again... smallest town I have ever seen.

We looked up a locksmith in the phone book, maintaining our high spirits the whole time, and called him to come help us out. We were a little worried about the cost but it was only $35 for him to come out. We got the car open and were on our merry way only $35 dollars down when Dad realized that he had left his sunglasses on the roof of the car. So what had only been a $55 dollar stop, including gas, turned into a $155 dollar stop. "Oh well" Dad said... "I really want some of those new [insert high tech verbiage] sunglasses anyway!" Apparently they are made with NASA research data and are supposed to be really good. So, still in great moods, we continued on our trip!!!

I found it!!!

It's official... I am now a virgin!!!

Today, Summer and I went shopping and I have been looking for my virginity for quite a while now. I went through the last few years of my life in pursuit... traveling, shopping, eating, sleeping, working and nothing ever quite seemed to fit!

But, low and behold, today of all days... I have found it. Now, one would ask "why today of all days?" And one would answer "I have no idea!"

So I am hear to say thank you to my family, my roomies, my friends, my fans and the academy for supporting me in my decision to hold out!

So today I spent $30.00 on a ring that represents something that it is priceless!!!

Phenomenon

"WAKE UP... THE STREETS ARE FLOODED!!!"

This is what I woke up to this morning. Mom came rushing through the sorority rooms (Summer's, Meg's and mine) yelling for us to grab our keys and move our cars. If you don't already know, I am not the most alert person in the world when I first wake up! I had no idea what was going on and for just a half a second... I considered that Mom might actually be going insane. After all, we live in TEXAS... the land of no rain!!!

I slowly got up and, after acquiring the intense sense of urgency that the rest of the house seemed to have plenty of, I ran downstairs to observe the damage. As I stepped outside I could not believe what I was seeing... the street was covered in a foot and a half of water... not exaggerating!!!

What in the world? Summer and Meg had just moved their cars when I got downstairs and Sean was moving his as well. Sean's car was at the lowest point in the cul-de-sac and his car was flooded when he opened the door. Summers door skimmed the water as she carefully opened her car door. Thankfully, only Seans was flooded!

Very shortly after I got outside, the builder showed up and went pummeling across the body of stagnant water on our street. It was the first time that the street name, Stone Lake, actually fit!
He asked where the drain was and I directed him to the spot. He had to kick around to find it because the water was so deep and dirty that he would never have been able to find it otherwise.

He finally found it and proceeded to pull up the mesh grating that covered the drain. Because we are in a new subdivision there is a lot of dirt and not much grass. The grating was there to stop dirt from clogging the drain but instead, it stopped the water from draining.

When he had pulled it up the water from the whole cul-de-sac drained within 45 seconds. I considered getting up and going to class and then decided that it was time to go back to bed!

TV

Tuesday was my birthday and my family, including Summer, threw me a little party! We had so much fun. They grilled and and cooked for hours and the food was amazing.

Things have been really crazy lately but I am sure that is not news to anyone. I am working a lot and trying to keep up with school. I have this great opportunity to teach a science class to some kids from my church. I am really excited and can't wait to start.

Has anyone seen the new LOST? I am just going to say that shows that leave you hanging and not understanding anything suck. This is why I like Stargate! The show starts and concludes and is rarely to be continued. I LOVE Stargate, Battlestar Galactica, and Stargate Atlantis!!! I am so excited for Battlestar to start up TOMORROW!!!!!

I Haven't Posted in a Long Time

Well... I haven't posted in forever and I am the one that is supposed to be good at this! Morgan is here for the weekend and we had a shower for her on Thursday! It was A-mazing!!! I work all of the time and go to school the rest... thats all!!!

Prayers Answered

Things have been really crazy here. I am now working 42 hours a week as well as going to school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I am also trying to go to church at Gateway on Saturday nights as well as church and college group on Sundays. I am doing a home-based business called Arbonne which takes a little time. All of this while juggling homework, friends and family.

So needless to say I have been a little stressed lately with all that I am doing. On Tuesday night Noelle and I prayed for each other before we went to bed. I prayed blessings and safety over her and her family. She prayed that my life would be blessed and that "Natalie would only have as much as she can handle and that if there is too much on her plate I ask that you would just have someone cancel something."

The next morning at 7:45am I was leaving for work when my boss called and said not to come in that day... Weird but I will take it! On Thursday I woke up and at 8:00am I was leaving for school when I said "I don't want to go to school... I think that I will just skip!" Of course I said this in jest but as soon as the words had been spoken, the devious plan would not leave my mind and very quickly turned into reality. I didn't need to turn anything in and I didn't have anything important to do at school so I skipped all day. On Friday I got up to go to work and drove all the way to Southlake but when I got there my boss asked "oh, you didn't get my message?" Yep... work was canceled.

Talk about God answering prayers. I told Noelle that she isn't allowed to pray for me anymore because I definitely can't afford it!!!

My Premium Parking Pass

Here is a picture of my college campus which accommodates 31,000 students. As you can probably imagine parking could be an issue if they did not handle the situation properly. Now at my last school I was Parking and Safety chair for SGA so I have had a little experience with the inner workings of the system that they call "parking." To avoid all of the hassles that I have experienced in the past I decided to spend the extra money and get a premium parking pass.

Much to my horror, I spent my first day on campus missing my first class and driving around for the duration trying to find a place to park. Not the way I wanted to start off this semester! I decided that it would get better as soon as everyone was settled into their classes. After all, I did buy a premium pass!

The next day that I went to class I drove around for 40 minutes and finally saw a guy pulling out of a parallel spot. Unfortunately he was heading in the opposite direction that I was but I jumped in anyway and promptly got a ticket.

The next parking adventure I drove around for 30 minutes and finally resorted to metered parking. I spent 4 dollars parking in a metered spot despite my premium parking pass.

I found out that premium pass holders can also park in general so when I went to class on Tuesday, again, I drove around for 20 minutes and finally decided to just go park in the general parking area. When I got over there I was horrified to find that there were no open spots at all... or so I thought!

I continued driving further and further away from my classes when I finally came upon a patch of about 8 open parking spaces... on the other side of the football field. If you will glance at the picture of my campus, the football field is towards the bottom left hand corner of the map and is represented by an oval. Now if you will look again at the upper right hand corner to the building the furthest away you will find my first class!!! I don't think that I could walk further if I started from home!

I have since found out that the bookstore sells as many "premium" passes as students will buy. In other words there are about 10,000 students trying to park in 3,000 spaces!

So while I find this situation only slightly humorous, I will continue to attend school and park in a not so premium parking space with a good attitude because... what else can I do?!!!

Labor Day Weekend

I am just now getting a chance to blog about this past weekend! We had such a blast. Jimmy, Summer and I went to Georgia so that we could be there when Morgs got engaged!!! We left on Thursday night and on Friday we went skydiving. It was definitely one of the most A-mazing experiences of my life. I wasn't nervous at all which really surprised me. Jimmy and I are talking about getting certified so that we can jump all of the time.

We were supposed to jump early in the afternoon but didn't actually get to go until around 5:00. The boys (Dave and Doug) had to go first because we couldn't all go at the same time and the girls wanted to go together.

While we were waiting beside the plane we started talking to the guys that we were jumping with. I told mine that he could feel free to mess up because breaking my leg is also on my list of things to do before I die and that I could kill to birds with one stone... he told me I was psycho! Summers dude made a comment about impending death (he probably didn't word it that way but whatever) and I told him that there was no problem because we were going to heaven anyway.

When we got in the plane I kept anticipating that funny feeling in your stomach, slight shaking and in my case, teeth chattering but they never came. My little dude told me that when the doors opened that I needed to scoot forward and throw my legs through the doorway and then whenever I was ready roll out... so I did. We flipped around a few times and then stabilized for a 30 second free fall. It was freezing but A-mazing!!!

When the chutes were all pulled Summers guy pulled up next to us and we got to talk while falling in the sky! It never crossed my mind to be concerned about the approaching land once we had left the plane.

The next day, we all knew what was happening except for Morgan, we went rock climbing. Or more like bouldering because we had no ropes and the rock faces were only 30 feet high. We would stand under the people climbing so as to break there fall if need be. Twenty minutes after we got there Dave followed Morgs up the rocks and walked out of earshot to propose. I would tell you all that was said but... not really my place!

After that we all went back to the trailhead to surprise Morgs with an engagement picnic with family and friends. She had no idea that people were there other than our group. Then we went back to climbing... a little more carefully for Morgs because of the ring!

That night Kenya came and stayed at the Marietta house with us because we were going to Six Flags the next day. While the girls were downstairs talking the boys somehow snuck upstairs to worship. They didn't know it but we sat at the bottom of the stairs and listened and worshipped with them. It was awesome! They had 4 instruments going and they were singing their hearts out for several hours.

Kenya and I went outside to talk in the car because it was the only place with any privacy... until everyone joined us! Jimmy came out first and dove into the backseat. Next came Doug who joined him. Then came Summer who hopped in my lap in the drivers seat followed by Dave in the middle seat in the back. Last but not least, Morgs jumped on Kenyas lap to conclude a very squished car. Both seats were leaned back and there were 3 guys back there (in the Echo) that are over 6 feet. We accidently bumped the horn a few times and decided to get out since it was 3 am and they have neighbors.

The next day was awesome at Six Flags! We rode all the major rides that were open and just had a blast.

It was definitely an awesome weekend and I am so happy for you Dave and Morgan!!!