nightmare of all nightmares

oh help. last night i was innocently trying to fall asleep when i heard a distinct scratching noise under my bed. "what was that?!" i said to myself. the first time, i convinced myself that it was just the bedspread tag scratching against the wall. but the second time, i thought for sure it was a mouse. in the back of my head, i wondered if it was a bird...but i didn't want to panic yet. so i made my roommate come and check under the bed for me. she didn't find anything. so i tried to turn off the light and go back to sleep. scratch, scratch....flutter. FLUTTER??? did i hear feathers and wings??!!! was there a bird under my bed?? maybe it had a broken wing and it had limped up the stairs earlier in the day, and now it was laying under my bed, gathering up the strength to flutter away in my face the moment i drifted off to sleep!! noooooooooo!!
being the totally rational, completely sane person that i am, i yanked my bedspread and pillow off of the bird's hiding place, and ran downstairs to what i was sure would be the comfort of our living room couches. i decided it would be advantageous to be closer to the front door if i should need to get away. i tossed and turned all night, haunted by nightmares of birds with their claws and wings.
today, i corresponded via email with our landlord who currently lives in france. i casually asked if they had ever had problems with mice. this is how he responded:
No, I dont think we've ever had any mice - we did have two bats - both within 3 days of each other, and sometimes we can hear something (a mouse?) in the attic, but never anything inside.
so. here's the situation. my irrational (but very real to me) fear has officially been realized. i am living in a house that has had WINGED OBJECTS ON THE LOOSE. i can hardly function at this point. i'm sitting here, typing, looking all over for what i'm sure will be the nightmare to end all nightmares, because it will be real.
paralyzed,
laurenfaith

lauren corleone

well, no one was commenting on my superbowl post. and i have things to say, so i'm moving on:)
well kids...minus my freckles and lack of appropriate family background, i officially look like i belong in the godfather. that's right, i dyed my hair blackish brown last night (it's a few shades darker than kari's). GASP! i'm sure you're all recoiling at the thought. but before you imagine me as the bride of some failed science experiment, let me tell you that it looks pretty good, and fairly natural. i just wanted to do something different. something that i would usually never do. i actually think it makes my pale skin and blue eyes look more natural. but it also kind of reminds me about how in the little mermaid when ariel is a human with red hair, but she doesn't have her voice because she sold it to the sea witch ursula so she could be a human, but then ursula becomes a human who looks just like ariel and she has ariel's voice, but she has black, evil hair. i hope that's not what's happening here. i'm sure i will remain at the same level of evilness with my new hair color. the best part is that i really do look like i could be in the godfather. i've been making offers that people can't refuse all day long!! and after i go to the mattresses, i'm going to send a few people to sleep with the fishes!
well, this has been a really egocentric post, and for that i apologize. maybe it will just echo back in my ears anyway, since no one reads my blog anymore because i never post anything new. everyone have a great week!
take the canoli,
laurenfaith

the quarterback from pittsburg isn't hot

for the first time since before i can remember, i didn't watch the superbowl this year. somewhere, my mother and father were just shamed. it's true. i took a babysitting job, and didn't see one second of the most important football game of the year. the game that inspired my little brother to wear a tie to church (he didn't tuck in his shirt, mind you) in honor of the day, the game that placed grace college in a mad panic of where to watch the game (my house was not an option, since we have no channels), and the game that had no hot quarterback.
now, if you know me very well at all, you know that i know more about football than the average girl. growing up in the reifsnider house ensured this. however, the sport doesn't hold the same place in my heart as it does for the others...i tend to root with my emotions and cheer for the team with the best looking quarterback. that cute little babyface from indianapolis was a favortie of mine...brett favre (or whatever his name is) was adorable too...with the brooding look of concentration. but, in the end, it's all about tom brady. for several years, he was the reason i tuned in to the superbowl. kids, he's like eikenberry's cake (superyummy). anyway...superficial as they may be, those are the reasons i tolerate one of america's signature sports.
i was once told by my father (and he was COMPLETELY serious) : "lauren, God didn't have to give me a wife that liked football. but He gave me an extra special blessing when He gave me your mother." wow.

update:
speaking of babysitting, that's what i do now...i babysit 3-6 times a week for two different families. i get paid ridiculous amounts of money per hour, so i've decided not to look for another job. God has been really amazing in providing these families.
school is good; it's nice not to be overloaded with classes.
the house is amazing; i love my housemates.
i met someone new:) NO ONE get their hopes up. but he's really kind, and we've been hanging out quite a bit. i only write that because i never talk to ANY of you lately, and i want to keep you posted.

this next section of my post is devoted to my amazingly lovely and stunningly brilliant BFF, lyndie brooke nilsen:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR LYNDIE!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!
(sorry i forgot it; i'm horrible, i know. i love you, and i always will.)

now that february's here, i can quit dreading it so much...here's to march...
love from the lake,
laurenfaith