Carolina in my mind

I guess my last post was musical in nature, so here's to keeping a trending topic.

I'm currently listening to James Taylor "Carolina In My Mind." While this song has meant more to me since leaving the Carolina's officially the past summer, it has much sentimental value. 

Trip down memory lane: My junior year in high school my friends Sharon and Rasesh were all studying and doing homework at my little apartment. We had a fun time multitasking with Ultimate Frisbee of course, so after that time we came back inside and started working. The phone rings. Caller I.D. O boy, it's my crazy New York Uncle calling. Probably best if I let it go to the answering machine. These were the days where my family still had a house phone and answering machine where you can hear the other person leaving a message...basically scanning the calls at its finest. 

So not knowing what would happen next, I just let the phone ring and hope that he would hang up. Well my Uncle never does that. So next thing you know we hear this terribly  hilarious New York accent without any introduction begin to sing, "innn mmmyyy minnnddd I'm goiiiinnnggg to Carolllinnna." He proceeded to sing for us on the answering machine for what felt like forever. But a good forever because Rasesh, Sharon, and I just looked at each other and busted out laughing. Naturally, he didn't say anything. No introduction, no closing "Call me back." He just sang. 

I explained after the laughter that's just the way my Uncle is and luckily we could appreciate his humor that night. 

Speaking of my Uncle, later down the road when I was on the radio last semester he would call multiple times to the station and ask for me...or talk to my friends on the other line...they didn't know what was going on and  literally had a "look." They handed me the phone and through the New York mumbling somehow made it out, "Pico, I think the phone is for you." He eventually stopped calling. Hilarious moments. 

All that to say, I am no longer going to Carolina in my mind. I hit the road, Lord willing, this Wednesday to go see the Carolina blue skies and be reunited with friends. I haven't been "home" since June and I am very much so anticipating it. 

But at the end of the day, God has been teaching me so much since leaving. Sometimes picking up roots and leaving the town and people I so dearly love can rock  your world and give you so much fresh perspective on life. While the process has not always been fun, the Lord has been faithful...and the best part is I can always go back to Carolina. 

I'm expecting it to be a good trip of reconnecting, lots of laughter, helping two friends prepare for their summer wedding. But at the same time, I know God might have other plans. I want to be used by Him this trip. My prayer is that He will teach me and use me in ways I can never imagine. I also pray that this trip will be an energizing and refreshing time. As always, He is directing my steps. For whatever this little trip has in store for me, I couldn't be more excited right now. I was hit hard with homesickness in random sprouts throughout that past month at Liberty, but now that I'm in NOVA and I'm content here...it's been good to be with family! So for now, I'm going to Carolina in my mind. But come Wednesday...i've gone to Carolina. 

Dark and silent late last night

I think I might have heard the highway calling

Geese in flight and dogs that bite

Signs that might be omens say I'm going, going

I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind

-James Taylor

The life of a melodramatic nerd

To B or not to B. 

I used to hate those kids in high school that talk about a B. Seriously would make me so angry...I would do anything for a B sometimes, and yet now I am saddened...haha. The life of a melodramatic nerd.

An 89 might possibly be the sickest joke...actually the point system is 890/1000...ten more points in one area...ten small points for the one assignment I slacked on.

Come on prof! Come on Pico! (Yes, I refer to myself by my last name...judge away).

The worst part is it's in Health 400. My lowest scoring classes in college are kind of entertaining at best: Spanish (I look Hispanic and fool most people that I am Spanish when I speak or exist for that matter...No I'm not Hispanic creepy guys that were checking me out at the Chinese restaurant today); Theology (I am an SLD and have been studying scriptures since birth); and Health (...okay, i wasn't really into infectious diseases and had my dear friend Chloe get me out of class for that....but I guess that says a lot about how I take care of myself? I'm an addict...to coffee. I didn't listen).

So here closes the part where I give myself a reality check. A 'B' is not the worst thing that could happen in my life and to be perfectly honest I am not even really upset about it (despite devoting a whole post to it). I even look forward to the humorous comments my parents are going to make... The Spanish conversation was the best. 

Here's to a great semester, in all honesty, I am blessed that I have the privilege of getting the education that I have! And a B matches my name. Boom!

Sing for joy- every girl every boy

I always tend to write a new post when I start breaks. So why break a new tradition? Transitions require a blog post.

I'm not exactly inspired at the moment to write anything deep or profound...or serious reflections of something that has happened, so I'll paint the picture for you of my life.


A beautiful December night the snow has turned this city white


Yesterday I took my last exam at around 1030 AM. By the time the exam came around, I was mentally checked out. But it was okay- I was stress free afterwards. Before that I woke up around 8 after having dreamed the whole night about bringing different people to the airport. With the real-life interactions, I'd say I pulled a mental all-nighter haha.

Let them ring. 

Finals week everyone has a different personality. It's quite entertaining at best. I joke it's a good thing I don't go to an Ivy League school, because everyone would have the "I just studied my guts out/I'm stressing about this" 24/7. They would also probably cope with partying as hard as they study.

I said I paint a picture of my life, and I failed to do that already. I'm sitting in my very clean room (white glove room checks) on my still made bed (don't want to get rid of the comfort quite yet) listening to Phil Wickham's Christmas album. The door is open and I can hear the few people on the hall. My wonderful-awesome-hilarious roomie is walking in and out getting ready for the day.

Today I woke up at 8 AM. Why? Because my friends wanted one last family breakfast with a good guy friend from our bro dorm before he headed out for Puerto Rico. And despite Kate (my roomie) and I groaning as we arose about our love for our bed, we we're ready for the quality time with each other.

Yesterday was a highlight of my semester. Maybe because I finished finals...nah. Probably because as tired as my eyes were, I was able to relax and just enjoy the people around me on the hall that God has graciously given me. I have this peaceful-thankful heart and would love to just live and cherish this moment forever.

They looked up and saw a star shining in the east 

Break is coming up. And I feel good about it. It's my first Christmas not in Charlotte....and man do I miss home. Homesickness has swept over hardcore the past few weeks. But I get to go home the end of the month. For that I'm stoked. The days pass quicker and too quick though. I'm going on a month break from school and part of me wishes it was August so I could cherish these moments one more time over. But that's okay, because as I sit here enjoying Phil's Christmas jam....

Sing for joy 

I'm a fan of every season- it ushers in a fresh perspective on life and appreciation for the present. And I'll stop before getting to philosophical.

O Come let us adore Him now

"I loveee you!!" Is what I just heard in the hall after I just got up to say goodbye to another friend.

Conclusion: It's been a different kind of semester (and honestly, I used to fear those words, but it's okay because it's a good different), a joyous time of learning, of ups and downs like every season, a time of self-introspection where God gently points me back to His grace, and a time where I will look back and say
"Man, college- those were some of the best years of my life. I'm grateful for the people who changed my life and these unique experiences of growth, fun, laughter, tears, trials, and joy."

30 more days and I return. Excited for the break and excited to return. Let's bring it.

Let's all within us praise his holy name.