School is almost over..

So while I sit here waiting for my podcasts to load so I can go on my run (yes, I listen to people talking while I run, I know there must be something wrong with me) I will tell you what has happened the past week or so.

The housing problem turned out and now I am living off campus with 4 other girls at a place called May Manor. I think it might be everything I have wanted. It is an older house with the downstairs having two apartment and the upstairs is one. We are renting the upstairs. 5 rooms, 2 baths and one kitchen and no washer and dryer but that is not too much of a problem. It is a lovely old house and has a very nice porch. For some reason it reminds of a house that Emily Dickison might of locked herself in. The rent is low ( $160 a month plus utl. which won't make it more then $200) and it is like 100 meters away from campus. I really can't wait.

My track season is almost over and it has been a major disappointment. I am running slower then high school and mostly b/c of lack of coaching in my events. Football Coaches do not make good distance Coaches. So with this being stated I am looking for a Coach for after XC season. I wish Jack Daniels would coach me that would be the perfect sitution.

The school year has flown by and I have so much left to do.

This week has been like a bad episode of the Hills...

I seem to have the worst luck with housing. My friend had convinced a small group of us to live on the same hall next year and have her as an R.A. She backed out on us on Tuesday because she has a chance to live on the On-campus apartment. As soon as she backed out the rest of the group realized how bad the dorm next year is going to be. The school is finally redoing the dorm I am currently living in, this mean moving us, girls into the boys' dorm and those boys moving to the other boys' dorm. The rooms are small and community showers. Plus, I am just getting too old to live on campus. I am not old enough to get into the on-campus apartments since that goes on seniority. So the point is that I have been going to a million real esates offices it seems. So I can just keep praying that something will open up for me which I already know some will soon. This might infact work out better for me, since living off campus is actually cheaper.

The other part of this sitution is that this friend that backed out is acting like we are angry with her. I have to admit I am a bit hurt and I am acting like that. I have not gone "Cara" on her. I have not been mean or sarcastic. It is just bothering me that she thinks that and ontop of that she is avoiding me completely.

Had a meet this weekend raced decent, got a t-shirt. I am burned but it was worth it. My parents and little sister came up and I was so glad to see them. I randomly saw an old friend too (Jimmy Taylor) who does not run in college which was nice. I also so a couple of friends from Brevard distance running camp, that I worked this summer. So overall, it was a wonderful day.

Here are some pictures:

My bracket is offically dead

A grey sky that could not decide between pouring rain or a slight misting rain followed us to Knoxville. All five of us were packed tightly in the car, knees touching. Small talk flew between us, no one wanting to talk about what was really on our mind. Death just seems so past thought to most people's mind. Though supposedly, to the well organized mind, death is but the next great adventure. My mind is obviously not well organized.

Friday was the visitation and celebration of life for Catelyn's dad. A small group of us went to support her and show that we truly deeply cared for her. The line for visitation wrapped several times around the church. A line that included: lawyers, college kids, church members, and so many others. He was great man admired by so many. We stood in line for 45 minutes or so, watching a slide show. Pictures of a man that is no longer here with a family that misses him so much. When we finally reached Catelyn she collapsed into our arms. She looked so tired. It must be so incredibly hard. It was so very hard to see a girl who is just so usually strong and regal so weary and worn. We comforted her the best we could. She says she will be back to school in a week but we suggested that she take as much time as needed. The ceremony was very nice and left all of us girls weeping. Afterwards, we left giving Catelyn one last hug and we attempted some humor, we pretended to laugh. No one was in a real mood to laugh. Our group went and got dinner. The car was eerie silent till we went to pick up another car and split up. The rest of my ride back to CN revolved around our own morality and that of our parents.

I slept in late Saturday when I awoke, I put my running clothes on, I just needed time to think. The trails were muddy and in my old shoes I jumped in every puddle splattering mud all over my legs. When I got to the top of the trail and was able to look over the lake nearby, I realized that I can't control nature. My life is in God's hands and everything happens for a reason. While, I looked over such natural beauty I just prayed. It was one of my better runs.

Spring Formal was Saturday Night and I had a wonderful time. It was everything Prom wasn't. It was nice to be able to dance and have a good time with so little worries. My legs hurt today.

Everybody knows it hurts to grow up but everybody does

One of my friend's father died today please keep the Dakes in your prayers.

It happened so quickly, he was diagnosed perhaps a month ago with cancer, I believe of the spine. Everything seemed to be going so well. Catelyn had skipped the track meet Thursday to be with her dad after surgery, we all knew it was more important then running. The surgery was a sucess and she was back on Friday. Complications arose this weekend and today he is gone. Within a month, he was gone.

I only ever met Catelyn's dad once, and only because I was hiding in their car while we waited out the rain at a Brevard track meet. He was a wonderful person and I could just tell he loved his daughter. He came to every one of Catelyn's track meets, even in college. They were extremely close and my heart goes out to the whole family.

With this event, my mind immediately began to reel. I honestly do not know what I would do if I lost my Dad right now, or well either of my parents. I can not imagine either of them being there. I call my mom almost every other day just to talk and I love her so much. My dad is always there for me, he knows how to encourage me and will give me a reality check when I need one. He constantly tells me how proud me he is. I love my dad. I just can not even fathom life without either. I know there will be some day when they do pass away but I really do not want to even think about it. Your parents are suppose to be in your life and never leave. It is at points like these I do not want to grow up.