A Night at the Theater

Morehead has been plastered with posters promoting the play "Little Women" for weeks now. They are all over campus and every business has one, and of course, since Little Women is my favorite book, I just had to go. Rebekah and I decided to make a night of it.

Before the play we went out to eat at a fabulous little Italian restaurant called Melini Cuzina Italian, every body just calls it Melini's. They, hands down, have the best pizza in town. If you're in Morehead, you have to stop by and get some. However, since Rebekah and I were attempting to have a night of refinement we tried some of their pasta.

Let me tell you, it was delicious! They have one of the best sauces that I've ever had. I am obsessed with it. Also, their bread sticks are amazing.

We also splurged and bought some desert. Their turtle cheesecake left nothing to be desired. The graham cracker crust was yummy, the chocolate layer thick, the cheesecake rich, and the caramel delicious.

I'm not sure, but I think Rebekah enjoyed her cannoli as well.

That's the face of someone who's found heaven in a desert.

After eating way, way too much, we waddled down main street to the Arts Center. I wish you all could see this little town. For some reason, it didn't occur to me to take a picture. Morehead really is a darling little town, and I'm glad that I get to live in this artsy little town.

The play was a wonderful little production. It was beautiful acted, and it was really a reverent handling of one of my favorite books. I was amazing by what they were able to accomplish with only one set and a rather small cast. They skipped huge portions of the book, but I never felt like anything was missing.

(The only photo I took of the set was a snapchat, that I just barely managed to save. Oh well!)

What made it come together so well was the acting. In fact, the acting was so good that Rebekah was actually sobbing through the end of Act II and the intermission. When the actress that delivered the moving performance came back on stage at the end to bow, Rebekah started to cry again. I too may or may not have been a little teary eyed.

The Morehead Theatre Guild will be putting on one more play this season, and I would strongly encourage you to go. "Dearly Departed: A Deathly Funny Comedy" will be playing November 6-8 and 13-15. If "Little Women" is any indication of their quality of production, you won't want to miss any of their plays.

Girls' Night

Sometimes food on campus gets boring. Sometimes Beakers and ADUC just don't cut it. Sometimes you just need to have a girls' night.  So you have to go off campus and get a bite. Well, last night we went to Pasquales Pizza and Pasta. It was delicious. Yes, the atmosphere is a little sketch, they could do some renovating, but the food is so good. Don't let the shabby interior and old blinds deter you, they really do have good food.

All three of us got lasagna, so I really can't talk about anything other than that. They are known for their pizza, but I can't see how they would be able to compete with Melini's. Anyways, their garlic bread is fantastic! If you're in Morehead and you need a quick dinner or lunch, I strongly recommend you stop by Pasquales. 

After you get your pizza fix, head next door to Bakery On Main. Bakery On Main is one of the most adorable little bakeries I've ever been too. They've got glass cases full of delicious looking sweets and pastries. The service is friendly and everything is made in house.

Madeline and Rebekah got the chocolate creme brulee, and I had the most amazing chocolate cheesecake ever. Trust me, this is a place you want to visit.

Overall, it was a wonderful night with friends, good food, and lots and lots of laughter.

Photo Credit goes to Madeline Janson, my friend and future foodie.

Orientation Week Festivities

Well folks, week one of Craft is just about in the bag. It's been a whirlwind of a week. Everyday has been crammed full of things to do, places to be, and people to meet. We've been so busy that even Dr. Christian admitted that once we start classes we will probably have more free time than what we had this past week. Even so, this week has not been without memorable moments. I apologize if this post is a bit rambling, but it's hard to organize this week into a blog post. Also, I haven't taken many photos so this post is going to be mostly text.

Move in day was crazy, probably just because it was move in day. As the volunteers brought Rebekah's and my stuff up to the room, I could just feel my blood pressure rising. All of our crates, and boxes, and family just filled the room to the complete maximum. Somehow, by the combined wisdom of my mother and Rebekah's we got everything put away and organized. I'm still not entirely sure how we did it, but we did.

Before all the parents left that evening there was an induction ceremony. A video had been prepared with pictures of all the students and their favorite quotes. After that, Dr. Ratliff called us each by name. We walked across the stage in Button Auditorium to Dr. Christian and President Andrews. They presented us with a beautiful Morehead State pin and certificate of induction. Every student hand their photo taken with them, and I think standing between Dr. Christian and President Andrews with my Craft Academy Certificate in my hand was one of the proudest moments of my life. 

After the induction ceremony there was a reception and then it was time for the parents to leave. It definitely wasn't easy seeing my parents walk back across campus, but it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. Honestly, I haven't really been homesick at all this past week. I know the homesickness will hit me at some point, probably when classes start getting tough, but I know that this is where I'm supposed to be. If I work hard, I can make it.

We didn't do much the following two days, except sit in handbook sessions. We had a couple dance parties, which no one danced at. They put on a laser show at the Space Science Center, and then we got to take a tour of the facility. It was really cool because the tour was led by a former Gatton Academy student who now studies and works here at Morehead.

They opened up the high ropes course for us at the Recreation Center; unfortunately, the group that I was with wasn't able to do the course because we ran out of time.

The Craft Academy staff also put on a scavenger hunt for us where we went all over campus. The picture above, is the view of my dorm from Claypool-Young Art Building.

 We also got to take a tour of some on the more cultural aspects of downtown Morehead, including The Kentucky Center for Traditional Music.

I think my favorite day this week has been Friday. Rebekah and I got up early to take advantage of the activities they have going on for incoming freshman. We're really not freshman, but we are, but we aren't, but we are. I don't know what we are. It's confusing sometimes. Anyways, we got up early to go see the magician and speaker Curtis Zimmerman. It was a fabulous show. We played Simon Says, he taught us to draw a circle and a square at the same time, and we learned to juggle. We even got a free set of juggling balls. Not only did we have a great time, but he also gave us some really great advice on how to survive college.

There was also a student organization fair that evening. We were able to get a lot of information about the BCM, the MSC, and FFA, but Rebekah and I may or may not have joined the College Republicans Society. We're still not sure if we did, but we do know that there's now a Republican sign hanging on our dorm door. So that's success, I guess.

That same evening, we went to see a hypnotist. The Student Events Council had set this up, and it was one of the funniest shows I ever saw. I'm not sure I still believe in hypnotism or not, but it was definitely interesting.

Today, all the student ministries on campus came together to put on a non-denominational service. From what I understand, this happens every year on move in weekend. It was really neat to see all the different student ministries come together to worship God. There were Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Catholics, and who knows what else that came together to praise God.

After that, my friends and I all walked over to the BCM for the picnic. The BCM here is so welcoming. There were several people that came up to us to introduce themselves and make sure that we felt welcomed. Unfortunately, because of study hour requirements and curfew, it's going to be hard for me to be a part of really any campus ministry. I'm still hopeful, though, that I'll be able to make it to a few events.

Overall, I've had an amazing week here at Morehead. The campus is beautiful, the people are friendly, the food is good. I guess you couldn't really ask for more in a college. Classes start tomorrow, and I'm a little (read a lot) nervous. Even so, I'm excited to get down to work. This week has been fun, but it's going to be so much better when I feel like I'm actually accomplishing something.

I guess I'm just feeling very thankful. I'm thankful that Mr. Joe Craft was willing to donate his money, that Senate Adkins was willing to back it politically, that President Andrews is so supportive, and that Dr. Christian has worked so hard. Sure all these people have made it possible for there to be a program on campus like this, but I think the people who've made it possible for me to be in this program are my parents. I am extremely thankful for them. They have always supported me. Even when I thought I wasn't smart enough, they kept assuring me that I am. They have loved me, and driven me, and told me that I can be anything I want to be. Even though I'm an hour away at school, I know that they love me very dearly and I love them.

Latest Read:The Screwtape Letters

I read. I read a LOT. I read everything I can get my hands on. I read books of all kinds, blogs, recipes, cookbooks, shampoo bottles. If it's within my reach, I'll read it. Still, sometimes it can be hard to pick your next read. I had just finished Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee (If you want my thoughts on it, I wrote a post!), and I needed something to read. A good family friend suggested that I read The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. I read (shocker) that Hastings was running a sale. I ran by and picked up The Screwtape Letters and Fahrenheit 451 (a post about that book is coming).

Let's just say that those $20 were the best dollars I ever spent. I sped through The Screwtape Letters in a little over an afternoon. I'm a fast reader, but I rarely read that fast. That's just how good the book was.

The Screwtape Letters is a collection of "letters" from a very important demon, Screwtape, to his nephew, Wormwood, a newly minted tempter. Screwtape gives Wormwood some well-needed advice as to how best to tempt a new Christian. It is a fascinating read. 

If you've ever sat in a typical Sunday School Class in a Baptist Church, you've heard about spiritual warfare. We talk about how to combat it, how to deal with it, even what it is, but we never lend our imaginations to it. I think the spiritual realm, the world of demons and angels, needs to be handled with care, and I really hate the current modern trend to carelessly delve into that world in entertainment. Lewis does not do that.

Lewis reverently imagines what the "other side" is like. I would remind people that this book is a work of fiction. Lewis has endeavored through humor and satire to imagine a ministry of demons given the task of tormenting humans. The book is humorous, engaging, and it makes you think. There are parts of this book that completely and utterly convicted me as a Christian. I actually at one point took a pen to it.

Lewis's satirical praise of depravity is timeless. Even though it was written in 1942, during World War II, it absolutely still applies. The topics of fear, prosperity, loneliness, love, gluttony, and courage are still applicable today. It is the satirical aspects of the novel that make you think the most. This book is not without it's thought provoking statements.

"Prosperity knits a man to the World. He feels that he is 'finding his place in it', while really it is finding its place in him."  ~ The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis pg. 155

While this book is written by Lewis, one of the most notable Christian authors of all time, this book is most definitely not just for Christians. Do not let it deter you, this book is a novel for everyone who's willing to bring a little brain power to their reading. It is by far not a mindless read. You have to bring yourself to the book; otherwise, you've basically wasted your time.


Bottom line: The Screwtape Letters is a fascinating read. This is a book that every Christian should have read and probably should have on their shelf. Even if you are not a Christian, it is still a fascinating satire on the world we live in.


Love and Happy Reading,


Gayle

Craft Move-In Day

As many of you know, yesterday I moved into my dorm room. That's part of the reason that I haven't posted anything here lately because I've been busy preparing to move. Once I get settled down here and in the swing of things blog posts will become more regular.

The Craft kids are really, really lucky because we get to live in a newly-renovated dorm. Thompson Hall is one of the more historic dorms on Morehead's campus, and they just renovated it specifically for us. We have an amazing facility that I feel very blessed to live in.

They have pretty much rolled the red carpet out for us. When arrived there were cameras and volunteers to help us move our stuff into the building. They opened the bookstore specifically for us, and we have been given special meal cards until our meal plan kicks in. Overall, everything has been wonderful, and I really think I'm going to like it here.

I'm settled into my room. Rebekah and I have really made our room quite homey. When we were moving in, I was really concerned we weren't going to be able to turn our sterile, white room into a home, but we did it! We still have a little bit of decorating to do, but for the most part we're finished. She and I have really created a sumptuous, quiet, wonderfully smelling place to live. Unfortunately, you couldn't see anything in the pictures without the ugly overhead lights on. Still, you can see our pretty decorations.

I made almost all my dorm decorations myself, so if you have any questions about how I made anything feel free to comment. 

Love and Happy Reading, 

Gayle