Valentines Day

This was a hard entree to write, soo much has been happening. "IN THIS CORNER, WEIGHING IN AT A WHOPPING VALENTINE CARD WEIGHT!" Bipolar Valentines Day. "AND IN THIS CORNER! THE HEAVY SET. FIRST 3 PAGE ESSAY IN HUMANITIES!" Who Will come out on top?

The hardest part for me was not that it was valentines day and I'm single. I don't care if I'm single or not I'd rather bring smiles to the faces of the people I care about. I also think couples can be really sweet. Just don't rub it in my face! No the hardest part was here I am listening to The Last Battle By C.S. Lewis and there was a part where that reminded me of a story that my dad told me when I was really young. He even made a CD of the story and gave it to me for Christmas one year. It plucked a homesick heart string, and I had the hardest time not crying. It was one of those moments, you just don't see coming! And you can't tell anybody unless they are really close to you, because it is extremely personal. 

A few random bits:

• I have never this many classes before, so planning what homework is going to get done and when is a little difficult. I think I'm starting to get it figured out though.
• Sadly the Bible is becoming a text book I use for almost all my classes. At the end of the day my laziness kicks in and I really don't want to open up my Bible again.
• On the bright side I'm learning new things about the Bible every day and to me, that is extremely exciting.

Gather round as I spin a yarn

Some of the required reading for my classes is difficult for me to get through, with my attention span. I start reading a paragraph only to find that I have zoned out and have to reread the last paragraph. So I have been scouring the Internet for free audio books. It is not easy, every one I have looked up is either free to sign up for a free trial, or they are free but don't have the book your looking for. I have to read "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich" Oh what fun it is to read about Ivan Denisovich tonight!

Speaking of stories I've got one of my own.

There are some days when I just need to get out and explore, I've been asked around to see if there are any hiking or biking areas within walking distance. I found out that I could follow some train tracks that were right next to the college and find a bike trail. So I find out that you have to go down this hill to the schools rugby field. Cut diagonally across that and there will be this path to the tracks. Follow those and you'll find a bike trail. Sounds easy enough.

WHEN IT'S NOT WINTERING OUT! 

Well this "hill" is more like a slope. With packed down snow, it was clear that someone was using it to snow board down because about half way down I saw one of those skateboard ramps and a snow board left near it.

The "Hill"

 OK first challenge conquered. Next the Rugby field. Not to difficult.

The Rugby Field

 Now where is that path? Oh here it is.

 

Doing good so far found the path and the train tracks.

I think I'll follow these for a while.

 

Oh look a train!

Wait, what's this?

 

An abandoned train station?! COOL!

Reminds me of the one back in CT but I am always driving past it and never think to look inside. 

I think I'll poke around.

Guess I'm not going to the bike trail ^-^

 To those who know me well this will come as no surprise, but I was drawn to this like a mosquito to a bug lamp; just without the electrifying conclusion. 

Fair warning:

There were cans of spray paint around and it was evident that people had been using them. I apologize if anyone finds anything offensive. I was exploring and not really paying much attention to what was written/depicted.

Now I was a little leery to enter because of the decrepit state, and the drops in the floor. 

As evident: Here 

 

And here

 

These are some cool shots!

 

I did not feel brave enough at the time to go in because the wood floor had some holes in it. I had on a backpack and some heavy boots, I may be a light person but I did not feel lucky. 

Perhaps I might go in on day when I'm feeling a little more bold, and it's a little warmer.

Well...thoughts racing I went back to school and looked up what I had found. 

Here's what I found. 

College Hill Station

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

College Hill
College Hill Station
Station statistics
Platforms	2
Tracks	1
Other information
Opened	1910

The College Hill Station is a former train station located in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, USA. The structure was designed by architect Joseph Ladd Neal and built by the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad to help transport goods and passengers in and out of the neighborhood of College Hill in Beaver Falls. Downtown Beaver Falls once had a passenger station of its own, but it has since been demolished, along with the freight station in 2007.

History

The College Hill Station was constructed in 1910 by "The Little Giant", and was mostly used by Geneva College students and community members of College Hill. Between the 1950s and 1980s, many railroad stations in Western Pennsylvania, and across the United States began shutting down. Unlike many stations in the area, College Hill did not close down and survived well into the 1980s. During this time, the P&LE ran a commuter train between Beaver Falls and Pittsburgh with the College Hill station located at the north terminus. On July 12, 1985, the P&LE made its last commuter run, making College Hill the last station to be used by passengers on the railroad. This would also be the final passenger train for the station. By 1993, the P&LE was bought by CSX Transportation, and the station was abandoned.

Current status

The station building is still standing as of 2012, but is slowly deteriorating after being closed for more than twenty years. It is also located at the bottom of a large embankment along the Beaver River near the Eastvale Bridge. Because of its locale, the station can easily be missed. Many students at Geneva College are unaware that the station even exists. As of 2012, there are no plans to restore the structure.

The End?

Wait...I needed a Bible for this?

Rhythms have begun to emerge. I am discovering the personalities and tendencies of the various teachers. Enjoying my various classes.

Highlights:
Was a part of a group exegesis. This is the first time I've ever opened a Bible commentary, not a big deal to everyone else, but pretty epic to me. 

It's strange though, I haven't opened my Bible once. Yeah, uh nope! If any readers of this blog are going to a christian college, I can't stress this enough. Invest in a Bible. Hardcover, study, red text, shows Jesus dancing on the cover. Seriously if you can get your hands on that 5 ton whopper Bible that sits at the front of any church sanctuary, get it! I don't care if picking up said Bible off the table releases a trigger and lets loose an Indiana Jones sized boulder. Invest in a Bible!


Findings:
White noise, pink noise, brown noise http://simplynoise.com/
Spotify on facebook. Yeah I heard of it before but never actually used it until youtube started being rebellious.

Whoa who put that snow there!

So here I was all ready to complain about the weather, when a verse sent to me from a friend in WI came to mind. It goes like this

God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways;
    he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’
    and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’So that everyone he has made may know his work,
    he stops all people from their labor.^[a]The animals take cover;
    they remain in their dens.The tempest comes out from its chamber,
    the cold from the driving winds.The breath of God produces ice,
    and the broad waters become frozen.He loads the clouds with moisture;
    he scatters his lightning through them.At his direction they swirl around
    over the face of the whole earth
    to do whatever he commands them.He brings the clouds to punish people,
    or to water his earth and show his love.

Job 37:5-13

This verse might not get me out of hibernation, but it definitely makes me see the snow through different eyes.

Highlights of the week include but are not limited to:

• Making a couple new friends outside of the group I transferred in with.
• Seeing a movie call "Life is Beautiful" (loved it)
• Going to Applebee's with buddies to celebrate a couple B-day's. I'm really glad we did that cause I really wanted to get off campus. Anyone from CFS will understand, there is a point where you need to leave camp or campus and do something.
• Got my first package from home YEA! It smelled just like I dreamed it would! 

What will next week bring?

The First Week

What a week. Geneva is not like a community college. The professors are much more friendly, the food is a lot better, and there's more to do on campus. In fact I can't really compare them. This is stating the obvious I know, but PA is not CT. It may just be the time of year, but it's either raining snowing or a combination of the two. I haven't even seen the sun in DAYS! I know it's there! I know it is! I'm really close to going outside and singing:

Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun,
Please shine down on me.

But mini rant aside. Classes have only just started so I can't really spin a yarn about them yet. The only really unfortunate part is that I don't know my way around yet. I only know of a few places to go. I kind of have to invite myself on different outings with people and learn the lay of the land. This is going to be harder than I thought. PA is a bunch of small towns literally jammed together, it can get kind of disorientating. I might need a map.

Orientation weekend

Well the weekend before school started was awesome. Geneva really makes sure that all new arrivals get to know each other. Which is really awesome because when I was going to Manchester Community College. I felt like I was just another student to them. Geneva on the other hand really wants to get to know you and help you succeed.

Things we did for orientation included:
eating Homemade pies
Hibachi dinner
Bowling
Games to get to know everyone.

Generally just hanging out with the new arrivals so you know somebody before your first day. Gotta say It's really nice to see some familiar faces around campus.

I'll try to start getting pictures up.

Before I Leave

Well the living room is in total shambles right now. My mom and I are making sure that cloths, shoes, and laundry detergent are being packed, shifted, then repacked. I don't know if everything will fit in the car @-@ Mom is working from home today in an effort to help me pack. I've already heard her talking about my leaving while she's on conference calls. I can't help but laugh. She's more excited about this than I thought.

On a slightly more serious note. I may have done all the paper work and received all the letters. But I don't think it's dawned on me that I'm leaving yet.  I mean I'm not nervous at all.  My hearts not pounding. My mind isn't racing, and I'm not worried. All that might set in when I actually get there but then again. I trust God. I know I don't have to worry because He has had this all planned out from the beginning.