Novio

Editor's Note: 71 Frances has obtained an exclusive submission from the only girl in the house with a boyfriend. Read on for her experiences as the only attached Decadox member!

Hello – it's Claire here! Thanks for reading our house blog.

Living in this house has been a huge blessing. These nine girls each bring something unique to our 71 Frances community. I am special in the sense of being the only mujer with a boyfriend, David.

I feel very lucky to have a man to bring over and share this great house with. Some of our activities include watching funny YouTube videos, walking to Berry Cool and eating together. Recently I have cooked two amazing meals for my bf. They say the best way to a man's heart is through his stomach. And boy do I ever accomplish this. Ok all horn tootin' aside I really learned to cook from my mother and I even sometimes use frozen food. The highlights of my two dinners are sautéed veggies and jambalaya (David's fav). I completely enjoy cooking for more than just me. Cooking makes me feel like I am caring and loving on the people I prepare food for.

Another fun activity David and I do is go to Disneyland. Melissa says we are obsessed with the resort but it is where we met so how could we not want to back to place where our friendship began? Our last visit to Disneyland we ate in New Orleans Square for jambalaya, of course, and mint juleps (my fav). The Haunted Mansion is transformed into the Nightmare Before Christmas each year. This year the attraction has something very tempting for your olfaction. In the ballroom scene, guests smell gingerbread waft through the ride. For sure go check this out!

Being the only one in the house with a boyfriend has many benefits. I can have girl talk at anytime of the day because at least one housemate is here during the day. Having Cheryl and Jessica in the house is great because they do hair and makeup respectively. They keep us looking great! I love it when the girls ask me how my time was with David. I get all flustered and excited to tell them my story and any funny jokes David said.

I love this house and everything that comes with it. I am so happy when David comes over and Melissa tells him to use a microphone when he sings…..haha.

Love, Clarita

Vote in this week´s poll!

Our house needs a theme song -- and you, dear reader, are going to help us pick one.

Please vote in the column to your right after previewing the following options.

1. Disturbia by Rihanna. This song is almost constantly played in our house thanks to Claire Scholl.


2. Beautiful Girls by Sean Kingston. Favorite lyrics: "Dang, all these beautiful girls, they only wanna do ya dirt."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64meUVyq7jk

3. Untouched by The Veronicas. "Somehow I can't forget you / Going crazy from the moment I met you."


4. Big House by Audio Adrenaline. Favorite lyrics: "It's a big big house / with lots and lots of room. There's a big, big table / with lots and lots of food."

The Reader´s Choice Name Nominee is ...

... the Decadox! Our house will (tentatively) be named this.

Thanks to Christie Lam for submitting this sweet name to our contest!

Please say a big welcome to...

New addition to house: gorgeous black piano that's pretty out of tune. Pictures to come as soon as I can get my hands on a camera.

When you live next to a pumpkin patch, expect good things

Our party was awesome -- even if the pumpkin patch charged $3 to go down a tiger slide.

Special thanks to

- Christie Lam, who provided the chicken that made the evening possible

- Andrew Webb, who barbecued for us

- James Browning, who provided the pumpkins for our carving contest

Congratulations to the winning pumpkin, an albino formed into a snowman. Anthony Parisi, Chris Hartwell and Kyle Kubler (with the involuntary donation of a pumpkin by Chris Masi) get kudos for the win.

71 Frances Does Fall Right

So we´re in the process of planning a stupendous event at 71 Frances. The evening shall include somewhere in the ballpark of 100 pieces of chicken, Michelle´s famous potato salad and some other specialties from our prolific kitchen.

A pumpkin patch has also curiously parked itself behind our neighborhood and we are inviting guests to indulge in some pumpkin-gutting and our carving contest.

Come tomorrow. 630 p.m.

On the Blog and Bloggers Pt. 2

Amanda Zook:
1.) Eyes light up when talking about servers, networks and Excel spreadsheets.

2.) Laughs (she's got a cute one) in her sleep and can go two months without doing laundry.

3.) Has a passion for peanut butter and nutella on English muffins. Culinary specialty: salSA!

4.) Reads BusinessWeek while doing her makeup and daily ab exercises.

5.) "Zookie": our free sample magnet, is the all around "go-to" person for advice, shopping deals and tech support.














Kate Trent (left):
1.) Radio DJ star turned tattoo artist master.

2.) Owns a reflective purple and pink spandex suit...we don't know why.

3.) Is our very own molten lava cake authority.

4.) Has a penchant for Christian bumper stickers and T-shirts.

5.) Has the spunkiest hello on this side of the Mississippi.


Janelle Jenison (right):
1.) Famous last words: "Interesting..."

2.) Has a thing for international food...and music...and her imaginary boyfriend, Harrison.

3.) Top activities: bike riding, boba drinking, conversation partnering, latte making, flip-flop wearing, spa-ing. Oh and trying to speak Spanish. Te gusta?

4.) LOVES Photobooth sessions.

Help Us Name the House

We invite you, our readers, to vote on a name for our lovely abode.

The choices are as follows:

1. The Shelter -- a play on the fact that the house has sheltered at least 2 stray dogs during the past 3 months. Also rife with spiritual overtones.

2. The Decadox -- a play on the fact that 10 girls live here (deca) and it's full of ... paradoxes?

3. The Naughty Fox -- inspired by names of British pubs, this name expresses the spunk of the house. But it has also been criticized for possible risque shades of meaning.

4. The Abyss -- if you really don't like the house, if you feel trapped or possibly smothered by the house, and/or if you like undertones of spiritual warfare, this would be a good pick.

PS -- If all the names seem lame, write us a comment and suggest a better one!

The Angel of Death, or, How Patrol One Singled out the Firstborn

Living in what is essentially a gated community without the gate, the inhabitants of 71 Frances are subject to some horribly predatory parking rules enforced by a service known as Patrol One.

Patrol One is analogous to the angel of death. When all the neigborhood is asleep, the bored and underpaid staff of Patrol One trolls around in a Toyota Corolla and checks all parking stalls.

For cars equipped with a $60 holographic parking pass, Patrol One will pass over. For others not marked with the signal, Patrol One will execute a cruel punishment. Typically, it is in the form of a parking ticket that reads "subject to tow."

But the keyword thus far has been "subject." No car had actually been towed. Until Monday.

Monday was the infamous day in which Patrol One ratted out one of 71 Frances' vehicles as it was securely parked in the open spot directly in front of the house.

It was that day when Michelle surveyed the lovely neighborhood and saw an empty spot in front of the house. Her Ford Taurus has fallen prey to the dark forces of the angel of death.

The price was hefty -- a two hour round trip to reclaim the vehicle from Tows R Us, a $138 fine -- all for parking in front of our house.

Needless to say, said tragedy has brought us to our knees in a profound, righteous fear of Patrol One.

On the Blog and the Bloggers

71 Frances is a group of 10 awesome Biola women living in one awesome house. This blog will document our adventures, mishaps, and triumphs while learning to live together. Allow us to introduce the lovely ladies of 71 Frances:

Melissa Hartwig:
1. Often praised for the breadth of her knowledge of hip-hop
2. Future headmistress of "Little Korea Academy," an English tutoring business. With two students, she's already getting a head start.
3. Her secret talent is computer programming 0111100100110101110101
4. Has a fetish for old books and anything reminiscent of Britain
5. Makes some killer chocolate chip-banana muffins

Gail Patches:
1. Hidden talent: water aerobics instruction
2. Works odd jobs, including digging holes, dragging branches and making bricks out of adobe
3. Will work for Molcasalsa carne asada burrito
4. Hands-down the best boot-wearer in the house; also particularly apt at walking in heels
5. Culinary specialty: sausages and peppers


Michelle Rindels:
1. Wishes she were more Latina than she already is
2. As editor, she's borderline obsessed with The Chimes
3. Keeps receipts from every purchase she makes
4. Walks around house on tiptoes (probably a result of background in ballet)
5. Operates as the house's coffee maker operator. Resident expert at cooking eggs in the microwave

Claire Scholl:
1. Wishes she were a Latina but fulfills this with a Latino bf
2. Spreads "the magic" while operating rides at Disney's California Adventure
3. Loves to talk up Biola to any prospective students within a 20-mile radius
4. Two words -- dance machine
5. Aspires to be the next food network star. Her oatmeal-chocolate chip cookies are her best breakthrough yet