The truth is finally revealed...

Well everyone, I'm finally admitting it: I live in a commune. I know, I know, you all thought that I lived in this nice house in Troy, Illinois with my parents. Well, the truth is, I do live with my parents, and in a nice house, but the house is just really big, and we're not the only ones who live here. We live in the Troy, Illinois Christian commune. All of the money I earn at McDonald's goes back to the group for the greater good of the whole. I mean, honestly, can you think of a more selfless way to live?

And if you believed all of that bunk, you are just as gullible as a guy that I work with who will remain nameless. The other day, I jokingly told him that I live in a commune here in Troy and that my family and I were all communists. I thought he knew that I was joking. He took me seriously, hook, line, and sinker! I didn't realize it until today though when I heard him telling someone else that we work with.

Nameless person: Hey Ronna, did you know that Drew lives in a commune?

Ronna: What? What the heck are you talking about?

NP: I'm serious. He told me the other day.

R: What's he talking about, Drew?

Drew: Seriously...I live in a commune!

R: Oh yeah, where is it?

D (beginning to laugh): Over off of Collinsville Road...by Bethel Baptist Church.

NP: What, you mean over by the park? I didn't know there was anything over there except Bethel Baptist. Oh, I'll bet it's underground, huh?

D (laughing almost hysterically): No, it's just kinda hidden behind the church.

NP: Seriously?

R: You are so full of s***.

D (still laughing): Yeah, I know.

NP: Really? You mean you don't live in a commune?

D (sarcastically): Oh yeah, I really live in a commune.

R: I'm telling you, you are full of s***!

NP: So, do you live in a commune or not?

D: No, I don't really live in a commune!
--End of dialog--

Let's just say the nameless person took a lot of flak for the rest of the day. Also, since Cece (the store manager) put me on meat today instead of assembly, which is what I wanted to do, I'm having the Stasi from the commune go get her to put her into one of our education camps. Let's see if she ever makes that mistake again...

In other news, things have been going rather well lately. I've been continuing with the application process for missions, and pretty much all of the other stuff that I'm always doing, which basically includes work and church. My parents have been out of town this week visiting relatives in Kentucky and Ohio, so I've had the whole house to myself, which has been somewhat lonely (houses grow when you're the only one in them!), but I've also found some fun stuff to do to keep myself occupied. The best was yesterday, when I went up to Alton and past there on the Great River Road to Elsah and Pere Marquette State Park (Pere is pronounced like the French name Pierre). It was so neat! In Alton, I simply drove to a very beautiful hilltop park overlooking the Mississippi River. I read my Bible, prayed, and wrote in my journal up there. Then, I got back in my car and drove up the road several more miles to Elsah, Illinois, which I walked through in about 10-15 minutes. Elsah is this really cool little village with old style cottages and homes. There's a couple of neat little B&B's, a really neat inn which is up for sale, a couple of different town sights (the Village Hall is now a museum, and there's also a civic center and a music hall). There are two little churches (the Methodist church's pastor also just happens to be named Charles Schwabb), and a couple of other little shops and such. I've never been there, but My Just Desserts has been featured on Show Me St. Louis a couple of times, so I really want to try it sometime!

After Elsah, I drove up the road some more to Pere Marquette State Park. The lodge up there is so nice! I peed, looked through the gift shop a little bit, and then started making my way back down to Edwardsville. I stopped there and got my pictures developed at Walgreens (which I will also post on here after my dad gets home and shows me how to use the scanner).

Also, in some very sad news, my great aunt Mescal (we call her "Mec") died of Ovarian cancer last night. She was 85 years old. It came as such a shock too, as just about one or two weeks ago, she was hopping around like she was just fine. I don't recall ever having the chance of meeting her, but just the same, she will be missed by many here on Earth!

Anyway, I now need to finish doing laundry and then get to bed, as I am leaving in the morning to go visit friends in Murray! Yea! Good night everyone!