How Forever Feels

From the random reading of Mer:

[taken from the BBC's list of predictions for what life will be like in 100 years from now]

"I think we will certainly see some weaker forms of marriage that are designed to last a decade or two rather than a whole lifetime, but traditional marriage will still be an option. Increasing longevity is the key - if you marry at 20 and live to well over 100, that is far too long a commitment. People will want marriages that aren't necessarily forever, but don't bankrupt them when they end."


This sounds terrible to me. Maybe I'm a terribly idealistic, old fashioned child, but in the charming words of Kenny Chesney...."I wanna know how forever feels..."

Because forever sounds better than the uncertainty that would accompany a 10 year marriage plan.


[Also--Engagement pics can be either really fun or really awkward to shoot. I'm hoping the next round fall into the first category.]

upUPandAWAY

I love the Portland airport.

I'd love it more if the mini Powells bookstore with its wonderful selection of discount books was actually ever close to my departure gate. As it stands, I feel like my flight is always out of a gate where the nearest form of entertaining media is found in the Travel Mart.

And Travel Mart really doesn't compare at all to Powells wonderfulness. All that's at Travel Mart is an awkwardly large selection of men's magazines and an employee who heavily resembles Dwight Shrute.

Neither of these facts appeals to me.

Nonetheless, I still hope and pray that 2012 contains lots of adventures with going places, Powells located conveniently or not.

Hello, 2012

I realize I'm [slightly] late on this entry, but I have a good excuse--I was too busy spending time with wonderful people to hermit away online.

With that said, this past year has been a joyous, frustrating, strengthening, discouraging, and beautiful one.

I:
*Made new friendships and strengthened old ones
*Learned how to ski. Sorta.
*Completed my senior paper. And managed to spell a word incorrectly throughout the entire thing.
*Took [many] pictures of which I'm proud
*Ran 3 miles while sharing a pair of headphones with a friend
*Took DiffEQ. And chose sleep over studying most of the time.
*Graduated from college
*[Re]took the MCAT
*Tossed out job applications like a clown with balloons
*Traveled to Tamale, Ghana
*Discussed Sean Paul on a radio station for thousands of listeners [wait...what?!?]
*Saw one of my best friends get married. And had another get engaged
*Wrote 27,000+ words on a book idea
*Cried more than any other year that I can remember
*Rediscovered how much I love watercolors
*Listened to an embarrassing amount of country music
*Wrote articles on everything from colon cleansers to the evolution of cycling shoes
*Learned to trust God more and more in everything, every day, every step.



....and now I suppose I should come up with some sort of list of resolutions for this new year. but I"m feeling too lazy for that right now. I know that 2012 will hold many memories and opportunities that I can't even imagine right now. This makes me both excited and slightly nervous. I spent a good part of the first day of 2012 throwing up [virus, not alcohol], but I'm trusting that the rest of the year is significantly better :)

That Awkward Moment...

....Oh you know.

Just that awkward moment when you realize that your neighbor is creeping over the fence, staring as you attempt to balance in your pointe shoes on a moss-covered tree trunk.

[All for a shot for the 30 Day Photo Challenge that you've taken way longer than 30 days for, of course.]

It's Been Awhile

It's been awhile~

Since I followed a running schedule set by someone else

Since I tried a new recipe

Since I stayed up till midnight, editing and organizing work

Since I let bought a new skein of yarn simply because I loved the color scheme and not because I had a project in mind

Since I found a photo project idea worth sticking with

Since I got this excited over a book on grammar and AP guidelines

Since I made an online order for things I don't really need, just so that I could look forward to getting something in the mail (I. Love. Mail.)

Since I downloaded a new font that makes me love writing again

Since I ate a spoonful of Nutella, just because it sounded like a grand plan






Or, I suppose I should say that It Had been a while since I'd done these things. Things have changed recently--not drastically--but it's the little things in life that bring the encouragement, that restore joy, that make the ordinary enjoyable.

More Fall

It's amazing how much a break from the norm can be needed, even when the norm is theoretically completely non-exhausting. Eating, sleeping, running, writing, studying, applying for jobs--non of these activities are particularly taxing at all. But it's when they become monotonous, the same thing every day. It's not that today's articles are particularly boring to write; in fact, it's almost the opposite--the topics are grand. But I know that they'll be there tomorrow, and the day after that. It's just not a very thrilling thought, this mundane schedule of days.

So you don't write for a day. You don't study. You don't run.

Instead of the usual, you go for a walk in the fog. You find a favorite new song mix. You shoot a few pictures. You write a few letters. You read some articles to get you motivated to do something tomorrow.


But today, today you don't worry about doing anything. Today, today you just be.

Fall Time

Fall=books, pretty leaves, cold weather.

[And rain.]