so my boss and i have been having issues coming up with clandestine meeting spots to discuss the book during the workday. until last week.

our end of the day meetings are now held in Dole's gym on stationary bikes for 45 mins. mind you this is before our 1 hour fitness class.

my life is a joke.

Who knew...

That after working for 3 months I would quit and skip off to europe...

So wednesday night...

I'm leaving on a jet plane for my beautiful london town...

Then Paris...

Then Provence....

mmmm


I love adventures.

I'm SORRY/dead tired

This is all thats left of the smiling katie craig after only day 2 of NSO. this thing is killer. 

I forgot Karissa's birthday (i win worst friend award). 

my feet are throbbing

& i have a fake tattoo that wont come off on my upper thigh.

happier note: younger dildine is a freshman...he is just like todd & will be freaking awesome for sporting events!

p.s. for just so you all know. nothing is happening between jdizzle & i.  I basically told him how i felt, just so i could get it off my chest. it was such a relief. & while he told me he was content with being single and didn't have feelings like that for me anymore...i was surprisingly at peace and thankful for his straightforward answer.  Its super nice to have that door shut and me be OK with it =)  

my foray into the vast right wing conspiracy

so i am pretty sure becs and maybe katie just threw up a little bit at that title, but nevertheless, i have a semi-interesting life development.

for those of you who don't know, my boss at Dole is a former speechwriter for President Bush (41) and has worked in various government organizations such as the National Commission for Economic Growth and Tax Reform and the Cato Institute. clearly she's a Republican. she sat me down recently and let me know that she has decided to write a book about politics (topic is confidential) and she has asked me to be her Lead Research Contributor. naturally, i didn't hesitate to accept. so basically i just wanted to let you all know because i am super excited!!!!!!!!!!!! it's such an incredible topic and i have never been so passionate about being involved in something.

not sure what this means in terms of my ultimate life path, but, hey God knows and that's enough for me right now.

in other news, i painted an accent wall in my room purple. and got Mastering the Art of French Cooking in the mail today. it looks beautiful in my cookbook section of my library.

jules. i am proud of you for reading books!!!! and will make bouef bourgiogne for you anytime. just say the word, baby. how's your leg???? still broke???

katie craig-your pictures are too precious for words. i want to see you asap.

becs-i hope africa and jesse steele are treating you nicely. it seems you will have a significant amount of reading upon your return in terms of this blog. hopefully you will also write us a novel sized entry of your adventures

karissa- i know i said this via phone and gchat but yay for you being courageous and stepping out in faith!! God is going to do such amazing things through this time of diligent study and through you going to law school. also, i am seeing you in 18ish days!!! are you doing anything fun for the big 2-2 this weekend?????

ok i love you all sooo much. i wish we could all be cuddled on the couch at 263 drinking wine (jenna and karissa), rum and cokes (katie and jules(maybe)), and Andre (becs) watching what i like about you. my current roommates do not appreciate the creative genuis of amanda bynes. its heart wrenching.

love,

jen

3 posts in a row...what a LOSER

Yep, thats me.

Dear Diary,

Today I quit my job, pretty much on a whim that I want to go to Law school. I sure hope that this was the right decision. If not, I am basically hosed.

Love Always and Forever,
Karissa

PRAYER NEEDED

Hi loves,

please please please pray for me at like 4:30 tomorrow. I am quitting my job and absolutely terrified of what my boss' reaction will be. I am feeling really spiritually attacked and feel like satan is putting a lot of doubts in my mind, so please pray that I have peace with all my decisions i am making.


Love you girls!

Just so you all know...

Its friday night.
I'm home.
Studying for the LSAT.
AND watching Legally Blonde hoping it will inspire me.

Sometimes I wish outsiders could see the things that are posted/said on this blog. It has been quite a joy to read about all of your lives...the funny stuff, jobs, decision making, men, burned crotches....you all never cease to amaze me.
So, I have 18 days left in the boot!!!! Please pray for healing, as there is a chance, if it's not healed by then, that I will have to wear the boot/cast for longer. The time in the ol boot has gone by surprisingly fast and I am so pleased with this. As of now I have read 2 whole books in about 3 weeks...I know, Jenna, you're thinking 'I read 2 just last night.' But for us slow readers slash non-readers, this is a big accomplishment. I know Karissa has read it, but if you haven't read the Francene Rivers series...haha I can't think of the name of the series. But I just read A Voice in the Wind, and am still perturbed, in a good way. Bomb.com. Starting book 3 now! Yes!
What else is new....my sister is having a rough time now, so if you all could keep her in your prayers. Without going into too much detail, she may be moving at the end of the month, DC, Boulder, or God knows where. There has been major family conflict/drama all revolving around Rachel and her life. And what sucks is that I am stuck in the middle. I am loyal to my sister and the things she tells me in confidence and then there are my parents and their opinions. It's messy!
KATIECRAIG is coming to visit me Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!! I am very excited. Katie, I am very excited.
Karissa, once I can walk on my own without the help of two metal poles, I will fly my hiney up to see you. I want to soooo bad. Also, we ARE going somewhere together in December...oh wait, will you not be doing all your travleing now cuz the L Sizzat? We will chat.
Jenna, seriously, lets make beef bouifoishdfisdjhf together (idk how to spell that). It looked so damn good, and I think that's what we should do.
Becs, youre my hero. Damn us for not talking. We will just have more to chat about when you get home!
I am off to see the g-ma tomorrow. My mom and I are going for her b-day. Wooooo woooooo, youuuuuuu arrrrrre gooooooooodddd!
Love and miss you all!!!!!!!!!!

FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE. (laugh)

this new discovery of uploading pics to the blog may or may not be abusing my privileges...oops.

Not to sound like a broken record...

I came on here to write a little Karissa update and Jenna had beat me to the "grad school" punch! Probably because her and I g-chatted about it today.

Its fun g-chatting, it keeps me sane at a job that otherwise makes me want to cause myself physical pain. Its like a little dose of schiedermayer sarcasm whenever I need a pick me up! SIDE NOTE: Funny story with one of my roommates. Jenna, she will absolutely hate you. The first day she moved in (she's sweet as a peach on a hot summer day, and katie craigs childhood friend) she told us that she doesn't think sarcasm is funny because she didn't grow up around that or teasing....uhhh.... I am probably the least funny person she knows! Ha, its been funny trying to learn how to communicate with someone who grew up so differently than me (hello! Ralph Hurst is my father...)

Anyways, I almost quit my job today (good thing I had the self control to not lose it). I have been struggling with it for a while. I enjoy what I am doing, but I am at a standstill and don't feel like I am moving forward at all. That is my least favorite feeling, feeling like I am not doing something that is furthering me in my career/walk with God etc. I am not treated well at all, yelled at for no reason, made to feel stupid, treated as a scapegoat for mistakes and mismanagement by my boss (by her boss). Today was my breaking point when I got yelled at by the executive director for not doing a project, which would be fair....except that my boss forgot to give me said project and did not stand up for me when the ED started going ballistic. Needless to say, I have come to dislike heaidng to work each day... I like to think of myself as an intelligent person, but when I am there they make me out to be an incompetent neophyte. It's rough.

So I have been praying a lot about what the Lord has for me...business school? NO. Development economics like I always planned? I dont think so. The Lord has placed a burden on my heart for people in the world who have no voice...and, well, I have a pretty loud one, so I think I am supposed to use it. I say this with trepidation, but I really feel the Lord guiding my heart towards law school....yes, law school. I mean, it sounds intimidating to me and scary, but I truly feel like I have the skills and personality to do it. I want to go to a school that specialized in international law and then hopefully be a legal counsel for IJM or another organization/ government organization that deals with international crimes and disputes. I mean, lets be real, I love to argue, I love to read, I loved business law and thinking like a lawyer....

I really feel like the Lord is guiding me through this door and I would ask for your guys' prayers as I make some tough decisions in the coming weeks. I am going to ask my job if I can reduce my hours to 3 or 4 days a week so I will have time to study for the LSAT in december...lets just say that I need to do REALLY well on it to get into a good school. If they say no, I think I am going to quit and get a job at a coffee shop or restaurant so that I have time to study.

This is a scary road for me, so prayers are appreciated! Jen you are in my prayers daily as I certainly know what you are going through! Its super tough discerning the Lord's will, especially when it is something as HUGE as picking a graduate program...its a huge sacrifice to make in terms of your time and money.

Julie, Katie, Jen...please come visit, I miss you all so much (today I was really homesick...I think because normally we would all be heading back to school soon). Virgin America has $99 round trip ticktes on sale right now, so I might try and head home for a weekend soon, maybe in late september!

Beccs, I love you more than you know and I am praying for you every day that the Lord gives you strength and a sense of purpose while you are there.

I love you guys so much and miss you so so so so much. What I wouldnt give for a bottle of andre and the 4 of you in my living room right now!

XOXO,
Karissa

i'm a slacker

sorry its been several weeks since my last post. i'm the worst.

anyways, i miss you all so much. i think now that i am getting settled at work and trying to figure out my next step, i really miss having the guidance and support of you lovely ladies.

so what have i been up to? i went to dana's mom's wedding which was my first jewish wedding on the 2nd and had such a blast. aside from the fact that i inadvertently almost broke a huge jewish cardinal sin. so at this wedding i am being introduced to a bunch of dana's family and i go to shake hands with her male cousin. he looks at me and says, "no". awkward. apparently orthodox jews are not allowed to touch any women that is not A) their mother B) their wife. like no physical contact. dana of course sits by and allows it to happen. so i offended several jews that evening. awesome.

basically though, the majority of my time has been taken up by pondering my future. i know, i'm nuts, but my boss and i had a chat last week and she mentioned that she thinks i should go into politics, specifically nutrition policy making. So that is something i am wrestling with now. where can i be used? what does God have for me and how can i best use my gifts to glorify Him? i have been mulling over going back to school to either get my masters in nutritional science and become a registered dietician or getting my master in public health with an emphasis on nutritional science. so basically i am wrestling with many options at this point. so prayers for guidance would be much appreciated.

another thing i am hoping for prayers for is i have been realy convicted about the forms of entertainment i choose and how i am letting my mind be filled with music, movies, tv and (gasp) books that are not necessarily edifying. i am praying a lot about what specifically i need to cut out and taking it in small steps. I am trying to be a lot more diligent in making sure my actions are glorifying to God and i think entertainment is an area which i didn't even realize i struggled with but thankfully the amazing women in my Bible study brought it to light. so just pray that i make wise decisions with how i spend my time.

in lighter news, there is a girl in my bible study who is literally katiecraig's twin except much shorter. it makes me miss you a lot, little katie and i can't wait to see you. i'll make you food whenever you want.

also i wish you all had been on the phone to hear karissa post burning her vadge. it was so sad (but kind of funny). hope that's all been cleared out.

becs i hope you are loving your time in tanzania. i am so glad you followed God's call. you are amazing and adventurous and i wish had that spirit sometimes.

jules, lets hang out.

karissa, i'll see you in a mere 24 days.

love you all so much.

hi

i miss you ..kisses for all!

from one vagina challenged woman to another....

lovelies,

Karissa, I died laughing at your post. That is something that would only happen to you (and Jenna too, Katie and I just got off the phone and she reminded me about your 22 bday Jen and how you peed all over the back of Eli....great memories), although I can relate to the vagina issues...I've never had ice down there though. hopefully never will. although sex might just be enough of a battle for the vag that ice may in fact be necessary. Ok enough information there...

umm, I'm leaving for Tanzania MONDAY, which is technically tomorrow, except I haven't slept yet, so we'll say I have one more day. AHHHH. hence the reason I am not sleeping yet and it's almost 1am...I keep thinking and making lists, and for like 30 minutes today I could not find my passport and almost freaked out. everything is dandy now, I found it. I'm SO excited, I can't contain myself. Your prayers for safety and for God to give me a servant heart and to work big time while I'm there are greatly appreciated!

Kariss, I'm so proud of you for listening to God's voice and for taking some time to rest. You do need to take care of yourself every now and then chica! Jenna, I hope your apartment has found some peace and that there are no more maintenance problems and that things are better with the roomies....not everyone can have roommates as good we 263 :) Katie, it was wonderful hearing your voice again a few minutes ago and I am so excited for your senior year! You should make a photodocumentary about it...so we can live vicariously through you. Julie...ultimate communication fail. I hear that you are gimping about, but I did see some sweet vegas pics, which prompted me to browse through our secret vegas pics and miss you even more. I'm calling you before I leave, end of story.

Well...I'll for sure talk to you all when I get back, because I'll have a few weeks before Paris. No job, no nothing. Just a pure leap of faith...so as if I haven't asked for your prayers enough, pray that God will begin to open doors for me, as I'm sure He already has/is. I'm going to Paris one way or another. Scary, but exciting. I'm going with the wind for awhile.

Love you all so much! I'm sure I'll have lots of good stories for you when I get back!!

I HOPE YOUR VAGINA IS FEELING BETTER

Karissaaaa.. that might be the funniest thing i've heard all summer! 

yesterday i went hiking with my bro & dad in yosemite..it was amazing..everyone needs to go there please! (pics on facebook)

i'm off to Pebble Beach for my last weekend with the fam! should be fun. i leave for Socal next friday...i would be much happier knowing i was returning with you guys to 263, but alas, life goes on and i will miss you every time i drive by the stinks...in fact i miss you every single day. 

i can't wait until i actually have stuff happening in my life to BLOG about. i'll keep you all in the loop with pepp stuff. 

love, katiecraig

The day I became Jenna Schiedermayer

This is not even a lie. My roommate Liz was shocked and appalled at the chaos I caused within 1 hour. Jenna called me for a phone date tonight and when she called I informed her I would have to call her back due to the fact that I was currently trying to nurse a 3rd degree burn I incurred...on my vag. Yes. My vag.

We have no couches currently because my bro took mine and our other roommate is moving in this weekend and she has all the family room furniture. So my other roomie Liz (there are lots of them, this I know is true)...and I are watching a movie and I boil some water for tea. As soon as I bring the tea in the family room and sit on the floor, I dump and entire mug of boiling water on my crotch...yes, my crotch. The next 25 minutes was marked by me sitting in just my undies and icing my vag...all the while my roommate is dying with laughter....THEN to make things worse (there is already a chance I will not be able to have children after this fiasco)...my friend Sol decides to "drop by" and pick some stuff up at our apartment....he asks Liz where I am and she tells him I burnt my crotch really bad and locked myself in the bathroom with Ice. Great. Laughter ensued. I called Jenna back while I finished the icing process (she can attest to the pain I caused myself).....

You would think that would be enough JSchied OG to get me through at least this month. But no....I walk back to the family room (in my undies still with ice on my crotch) to rejoin my roommate and literally kick an entire glass of red wine across the family room all over our brand new carpet. Great. 2 hours later (home remedies, wine away, carpet cleaner, etc) I have reduced the color to just a hint of pink and now I am going to bed. Here's to knowing that tomorrow cannot be any worse than today.

Cheers.

Sometimes you just need a day off....

Hello my lovelies....

It is currently a dreary, wet, cold monday morning in San Francisco. I'm curled up with my down comforter and sipping some tea. I thought I would post something here on our little blog to let you guys in on my life a little bit.

Natalie Horne came to visit me this weekend and just left early this morning. I cannot tell you how good it was to have a little piece of pepperdine here with me. Sometimes I forget how much college meant to me and how much we all grew up there....I got nostalgic. But more to come on nat's trip later.

Why, might you ask, is workaholic Karissa sitting at home on a monday morning? Well, I have not really had a day where I work less than 10 hours in the last 7 weeks, so I was burnt out. I didn't stop to recognize that I was burnt out until last night. I went to bed at 10:00 with the intention of getting up at 6, going to breakfast with Nat, and sending her on her way to the airport before heading off to another day of work. That was the plan. I tossed and turned all night....literally only slept from 5am-6am. Misery. The whole night I was literally wrestling with the Lord. I swear I could hear His voice saying "Look at me, listen to me, obey me, REST Karissa!" I tried to focus on the Lord and allow myself to rest in Him and spend the night catching up with Him, which I have NOT been making time for. I couldn't do it. My mind races, my heart pounds, I am a stress ball. As you all know I only know one way and that is "go go go." You've all seen the unhealthy repercussions of that in the past, but this was the first time I have seen it reflected in my walk with the Lord. Literally, my mind was racing to the point that I could not get a prayer out. It was ridiculous. I remember at one point speaking out loud "you want me to rest, fine, im trying to rest and you are not letting me" which was followed by my attempts to find peace and rest on my own. ON MY OWN. Tea, warm milk, friends episodes, reading my bible, using EVERY method I knew to bring sleep upon myself. And there it was....the perfect example of the way I live my life. Hearing and feeling the Lord's presence in my life, and yet still using my own brute force to accomplish what I claim His will is for me. I think by rest the Lord meant, "lay down your head, relax, be with me, listen to me, sit still, know that I am here, acknowledge my presence, and do nothing more... nothing more." Why is that literally the hardest thing for me to do? So I decided to call in for a personal day today at work.... I got up at 6 and had breakfast and tea at my fave restaurant in my neighborhood with Nat and she said, "Karissa, it sounds like you just need a day off....just relax today and enjoy God's presence."

So that is what today is.... just for me to learn a little bit about sitting still (I know you are all probably laughing at the image of me trying to mellow out, relax, sit still, etc.) But I am gonna try. I am gonna get groceries, go to yoga class and run at the gym, and spend time with my journal which has been sadly deserted ever since I started working.

Now that I recognize that this is an issue for me I am understanding that there were so many people telling me to relax in my life (you all, just to name a few) that I didn' t listen to. Being up here and meeting new people and new friends and near strangers noting that I seem to be the most high stress person they know has opened my eyes a little. There is this boy (who I am thinking you will all hear more about in the weeks and months to come...) and we have gotten really close and saturday night had an andre and pizza party on my living room floor. He said something that hurt a little coming from someone I still feel as though doesn't know me super well.... "Karissa, if I am going to be honest, you are always moving at 100mph, its hard to keep up"... oh. ouch. I didn't realize people noticed this from the outside...I thought it was just a weird internal quirk that my closest friends laughed about every now and then and embraced me for. I did not think it was a character trait that stuck out like a sore thumb.

Anyways, you guys probably knew all this, but I wanted to share with you what God is doing in my life and what I am learning, and if you could pray for me in this struggle I would really appreciate it. I am trying really hard to change the unhealthy side of this and channel it into a gift that the Lord can use.

I love you all and hope your day is as wonderfully restful as mine.

xo,
k-ris

i'm cursed

soooo steph and i came home today to find our bathroom flooded. reminiscent of the Great Flood in 263. however instead of leaking into gary's apartment, it leaked into the garage onto someone's car. so naturally i had visions of julie sitting on the toilet with the mop singing "row, row, row your boat". partially because steph and i practically had to do the same thing.

but unlike desta, our landlord sent someone immediately and it will be fixed within the hour.

hope you all get a nice laugh at my expense.