70. December 7

Finals Week!

Life is a little crazy, but I still manage to reserve time for the important things like free breakfast and karaoke at night, watching About a Boy with friends, and taking pretty pictures like this one.

The building to the right that you can't really see is my place of residence. 

My good friend Danni introduced me to this little poem, which I'll offer you as the quote of the day.

The Blue Between
By Kristine O’Connell George 

Everyone watches the clouds,
naming creatures they’ve seen.
I see the sky differently,
I see the blue between-
The blue woman tugging
her stubborn cloud across the sky.
The blue giraffe stretching
to nibble a cloud floating by.
A pod of dancing dolphins,
cloud oceans, cargo ships,
a boy twirling his cloud
around a thin blue fingertip.
In those smooth wide spaces,
I see a different scene.
I see those cloudless spaces,
I see the blue between.

66. December 3

For the past couple weeks, I've been helping out with the opening and closing some cold frames here on campus.

They are sort of like mini greenhouses; boxes of soil with glass lids that need to be opened in the morning and shut at night. It's kind of fun to finally start seeing growth, the green push its way out of the dark soil. Nobody told these little plants it's winter, so they just keep growing.

I had the chance to attend an open mic night tonight, where a few friends performed (and did awesome). I'm not one prone to stage fright, but I'm also not one to ever put myself out there like that. I really admire it.

Sometimes, I think I play life a little too safe. Sometimes, I wish I was more like the plants in the cold frame or the performers on stage--both willing to stick their necks out in the cold, not knowing the outcome.

There is too much of life you miss out on for the sake of staying comfortable.

"Fate loves a rebel."

~ Arabian proverb

45. November 12

Four Items of No Real Connection

and a Picture That Is Kind of Bland and Unconnected to Any of the Four Items.

In other words, a Thursday.

1. Sunny Skies. Thank goodness it was blue sky day. I didn't want to have to face yet another rainy day. The rain just depresses me.
2. 1982. I found a penny today, face up, year 1982. A little later, I was pulling laundry out of the dryer and a penny tumbled out, year 1982. I thought that was a little odd, because I remember checking my pockets for change before doing the wash. The clothes weren't quite dry, so I put the clothes back in for another ten minutes. When I pulled them out again, I found yet another penny, year 1982. Strange? Yeah, just a little. I now have three pennies, 1982, just chilling on my windowsill.
   
3. Possible career considerations. And rejuvenation in academic pursuits. A rejuvenation in life in general. A feeling like, hey I have the potential to be more than I am! I've known this, I think we all know we could be more. But its not only that, its also that I have the power and the will to live up to this potential! Hooray! Its the strangest and most refreshing of wake up calls.
   
4. The apartment has a new fish. Name? Dimitri. He will be joining the fish already in residence, Damon II. Damon I suffered death. Voltaire also didn't last long. 

"We need to find out what it is we're afraid of, and go beyond. [...]

If you don't go out and do you'll remain forever fearful of the workings of the world."

~ Colette Dowling, The Cinderella Complex: Women's Hidden Fear of Independence

(No Mother I'm not becoming a raging feminist...)

39. November 6

What a beautiful day!

How lucky am I to be living this life I've been given?

Three pleasant occurrences (and bonus photos):

FIRST

After class today, I could help but be tempted by the thick, crisp carpet of November leaves on the grass. I kicked up a huge pile of leaves. Passing students smiled as they watched those leaves. I could practically see the inner child in them eager for a good jump. Despite several personal invitations, no one would give it a jump. I waited until I was relatively on my own and enjoyed a few delicious moments jumping and sinking into the bed of leaves. The crinkling leaves enclosed all around me sounded like the first sparse raindrops of storm. I felt so alive! It seemed a shame to leave this nice big pile of leaves all alone, so I left an invitation next to it.

I passed that same way later that day and was delighted to find the imprint of someone who had accepted my invitation. I hope they enjoyed it as much as I did.

SECOND

Walking back from my jaunt in the leaves, I was greeted by some terrifically cheering chalk art, signed Liz O'Hare. Ms. O'Hare, I hope you don't mind me posting your beautiful art. I just loved it so.

I  don't know how well you can read it, but written in yellow is the words "live in the moment." I love this reminder. There is a saying that goes something like this: Remember the past, consider the future, but live in the present. So often I get too caught up in what's coming next. I am constantly counting down the days until this or until that. I often spend more time fretting over the coming days than living them. I need to remember to slow down and let each day take care of itself. So, Ms. O'Hare, thank you for the beautiful reminder to live in the moment.

THIRD

I had the opportunity to visit the Columbia temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This is a picture of this beautiful temple that *gasp* was taken in September and not tonight. But what the heck, I'm already breaking all my unwritten blog rules tonight, so what's one more broken rule?

I've been feeling the slightest bit blue lately--a little homesick, but mostly just tired of present circumstances and frustrated with the silliest things. Going to this beautiful temple tonight reminded me of how fortunate I am to be in this time and this place. God has a plan in mind for me and I just need to trust Him that things are as they should be. I also need to remember not to wallow when I am feeling down. I am so grateful to be member of the Mormon faith and for the hope my faith gives me of beautiful days to come.

Quote of the day:

"In all of living have much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured."

~ Gordon B. Hinckley, "Stand True and Faithful"

Also, I'm going to try to create links to books, poems, and other works referenced in my quotes of the day, just for you, dear reader.

37. November 4

I really need to be drinking more of this water stuff...

And do you know what else this photo says?

I lead a remarkably ordinary life. Hence, why I take pictures of water bottles.

Often the day doesn't warrant blazing Kodak moments and noteworthy occurrences. But, life doesn't have to be extraordinary to be happy. I lead a pretty normal life. Likely, so do you.

Let's start a club.

Can we have t-shirts?

"Well, I like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love. / I like to work, read, learn, and understand life."

~Langston Hughes, "Theme For English B"

24. October 22

Forgive me, but life was just too beautiful today!

Sometimes I am overwhelmed by how blessed I am! Life is just so good. To be young at this time and in this place is truly an unusually excellent experience. Occasionally I fear that life simply can't get any better, and that these really are the best years of my life. Its like that line from "Total Eclipse of the Heart," 

"Every now and then I get a little bit nervous that the best of all the years has gone by." 

But then I think of all that lies ahead of me and I am quite sure these fleeting years of youth are far from the most life has to offer. I look at my parents, at my brother and his wife, and at all the young couples I know and I think how excited I am to someday have the experience, God be willing, of being a wife and a mother. There are no two experiences I desire more than these.

I do not fear growing old, even if the later years of life seem to me now a little bit beautiful, bittersweet, and sad. I love what Agatha Christie had to say about those years,

"But there is a great deal left. Operas and concerts, and reading, and the enormous pleasure of dropping into bed and going to sleep, and dreams of every variety... Almost best of all, sitting in the sun--gently drowsy... And there you are again--remembering."

 I think... life in its entirety is beautiful beyond understanding. And I for one intend to relish every moment of it.

I am done rambling now and with great pride present the picture and quote of the day. And technically this quote will be the third in the post, but don't let his bother you okay? Consider it a bonus.

"Happiness is the ultimate realization that everything was, and is, exactly as it should be."

~ Paul from The Netherlands