Marching On

It's almost March?!?

I know February is a short month and all...but still--the thought of March almost being here excites and surprises me. I'm eager for spring and summer to finally roll around--not because I have any real plans yet, but more because their arrival always helps me to actually make real plans...if that makes sense? Plus, I want to frolic around in the warmth and sun again.


Also, by the end of March I'll be done with studying, and by halfway through April I'll be done with this marathon madness. Both my brain and my knees will benefit from the arrival of summer.

But until then, I'll just keep reading, learning, running, and icing my knees.

And writing.

And eating ice cream.

23?

Ah, yes. The first post from my life as a mature, wise 23 year old. I feel like I should put up some great reflections on my past year of life.

....or not. [Current thoughts instead--]

1. It is a very, very bad plan to run 14miles after a breakfast of cake and a banana.

2. It actually is possible to complete a 14mile run after the previously mentioned breakfast. It's just a bad plan and your body will hate you for it.

3. I don't do laundry often enough to know if my jeans are tight because of massively larger muscles or just because they're not stretched out from weeks of wear.

4. I've been in a country music funk for a very, very long time now.

5. Teaching myself to be content in all circumstances is a beastly task. St.Paul has my admiration more than ever.

6. I miss having easy access to a stellar camera.

7. Tax forms for the self-employed are terribly confusing.

8. The thought of getting to see a whole posse of stellar people in about two months is supa exciting.

9. I miss dancing.

10. All those cheap RoseArt crayons that I hated in elementary school have finally found their purpose in life.

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.