apple store, here i come...

moment of silence for my ipod. i turned it on the other day at was greeted not by the outdated black-and-white screen, but an image that looked much like this:

really apple? this is the icon you came up with?

anyways, as you can tell, my ipod is OLD. i've had it for four and a half years, which officially marks the end of my longest relationship. we had some good times: parties, trips to the park, hanging out while i was studying, laying out on the beach, plane rides, bus rides, car rides, van rides. we went to so many places: florida, furman, turkey, greece, italy, mexico, colorado, myrtle beach, costa rica, chattanooga, los angeles. ah the memories. 

so currently my face looks like this:

rest in peace, little pod. it was a good run. i will miss you dearly.

"let's hug it out, bitch."

i love entourage. i know i shouldn't, being as i'm a girl, but it is truly hilarious. the way they mess with each other cracks me up because it reminds me of how my crew here in chattanooga gets on each other all the time. i could easily write a book about each of them, because i love them so much, but i'll just give you a quick summary for future reference. so here's my entourage: (not that i'm the famous one, they're the celebrities of my life.)

rachel burks: my roommate and the best bet to assume when i am talking to you on the phone and refer to the ambiguous "we". noted for her dance moves, corny jokes, and love for the town of cookeville, tn. if not with me, she can usually be found at stone cup or napping under her thousand toss pillows on her bed. strengths: cookie baking, social event planning, and making out (apparently). weaknesses: spelling, taking shots, and technology. i've gone on more "dates" with her in the past year than real dates in my whole life. we pretty much spend twenty four hours a day together. she is a rare find, and i honestly don't know what i would do without her. seriously. famous quote: "hiiiiiiiiii, miname's raaa-chel."

abby jones: proof that great things come in small packages. i can always count on this girl to laugh with me about random events that i relate to friends episodes. note also that she has quite possibly the loudest laugh imaginable. but i love it. she is also my nacho-eating partner in crime. strengths: photographically documenting our pathetic lives, ALWAYS having gum, and texting during class. weaknesses: using an inside voice, reaching things on tall shelves, and dislike of mushrooms (it makes it hard to split meals with her). i always have a great time with abby; she is up for anything: random or planned. and i love it. famous quote: "this is a fun song....."

prosser: her real name is ashley prosser, but i've officially nixed the ashley part because absolutely no one calls her that. so she's just prosser, like cher, or madonna, or jack on will and grace. noted for her impeccable taste in music as well as her extensive knowledge of every scrubs episode ever made. she also has the best smelling hair of anyone i've ever met. strengths: sarcasm, being a ridiculous volleyball player, and commiserating with me on our greek life experiences. weaknesses: bees, shellfish, the "skater" move in kickboxing class. sometimes i think that prosser and i were quite possibly siblings raised by different parents. she and i understand each other so well, and it is wonderful to have her in my life. famous quote: "hey sweetness..."

brandon ellison: what is there to say about this kid? i can always count on him to have studied less than i have, which is saying a lot. we are both champion procrastinators, which often leads to us doing ridiculous crap at the worst possible times; including, but not limited to: frisbee golf, greek-watching, clearance aisle at wal-mart, or general couch laziness. strengths: eating, finding deals on craigslist, asking questions in class. weaknesses: flexibility, musical knowledge, and his terrible taste in beer. i think he can read me better than most people i know, which messes with my attempts to be mysterious. jerk. but seriously, he's another one i don't know what i would do without. he's always there with a hug when you need one, and he'd do anything for any one of us. famous quote: "i'll beat you like you stole something."

cory tucker: super-smooth soulful singer boy from rome, ga. he seriously has one of greatest voices i've ever heard in real life. and he's also one of the most caring individuals i've ever had the privilege to know. i think i could order for him at any restaurant, being as he always orders some form of grilled chicken sandwich and a sweet tea, with a pink packet, that he has to smell before he puts it in his drink. and his voicemails always involve the word "shawty", which i enjoy immensely. strengths: randy walker impressions, drawing cartoons of our teachers, the snaps game. weaknesses: knowing how to work blinds, leaving EVERY WEEKEND, locking it up during class. i always, always have a fun time with cory, even if it is just sitting next to him in class. he has the ability to love people so completely and so easily, which i am extremely envious of. famous quote: "lllllleemmmmmmme do dis."

josh wiegand: oh, josh. where do i begin? in our little entourage, josh would be johnny drama, in that he is most often the brunt of our jokes. he's just so easy. he asks too many questions, confirms everything, has toes that look like he's half eagle, and is dating a girl the same age as my little sister's boyfriend. but we love him still for his childlike innocence about the world. he is currently my biggest advocate for the spring break disney world trip, if that tells you anything. strengths: texting, making homosexual drinks (aka mudslides), and killer ups. weaknesses: ankle stability, attention span, and dance moves (or is that a strength? i'll let you be the judge). josh has quite possibly the biggest heart of anyone i know, and he takes our joking so well, it makes me love him even more. famous quote: "so what you're saying is..."

that's the crew. i love them all, and each one has helped me in the past year more than any one of them know. once again, i am constantly amazed by the people the Lord puts in my life everywhere i go. He takes care of me through my friends in a way that i will never understand, but always appreciate. 

"above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. if anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. if anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. to Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever."

1 peter4:8-11