Mountain goats are wholly unappreciated creatures. Has anyone else noticed this? They live in the mountains, for one thing. For another, they have been known to climb trees. Can your canary live in the mountains? Can your goldfish climb trees? I don't think so. Mountain goats are truly skilled creatures.
Speaking of amazing and adorable creatures; I want a skunk. When I get my own house, I'm going to own two cats and a skunk. That is my plan of action. The skunk will be named Miguel. We'll have fun times.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Afraid of the Dark?
Sometimes, I'm frightened of really weird things. Well, okay my roommate Testa seems to think that it's weird whenever anything frightens me, but we're excluding that opinion.
There is this weird memory I have. It's probably not a memory, really, but I can't tell what it really is. When I think of it, a picture forms in my mind. It's the skyline of a city, but it's not a realistic sort of skyline. The colors are all flat and bright, as if they're made of construction paper. The image of this, however, wasn't always this flat. I know that it used to at least elude to the idea that it was three dimensional, it was a real place out of my memory at some point, I can feel it. When the image comes to mind, it connects itself to the Columbus Public Library, so I'm guessing it's an image that I saw when I went there at some point as a kid. I get this feeling that it was something I saw, something that actually existed, but I don't know where in the library or by the library I would have seen such a place. It could be something that I saw in a picture book at the library, but even so I would think that I would remember this book, or at least the image as an illustration in some way.
But no. This image, dream, memory whatever it is comes into my mind in the most unexpected of times; most often in my dreams. When I have a real vivid dream, this city scape is in the background. It's been in several dreams over the years, appearing outside the window in airports and in the distance during a deadly capture the flag contest. Over time, I think the image has certainly changed, and I can only sort of sense what it used to be, but it's still there, unbidden, in the corner of my mind.
That's what scares me. I don't know where this image comes from, but it appears at those weird points when I have long since forgotten it, and then it is there again. It's hauntingly familiar and horribly distant at the same time.
There is this weird memory I have. It's probably not a memory, really, but I can't tell what it really is. When I think of it, a picture forms in my mind. It's the skyline of a city, but it's not a realistic sort of skyline. The colors are all flat and bright, as if they're made of construction paper. The image of this, however, wasn't always this flat. I know that it used to at least elude to the idea that it was three dimensional, it was a real place out of my memory at some point, I can feel it. When the image comes to mind, it connects itself to the Columbus Public Library, so I'm guessing it's an image that I saw when I went there at some point as a kid. I get this feeling that it was something I saw, something that actually existed, but I don't know where in the library or by the library I would have seen such a place. It could be something that I saw in a picture book at the library, but even so I would think that I would remember this book, or at least the image as an illustration in some way.
But no. This image, dream, memory whatever it is comes into my mind in the most unexpected of times; most often in my dreams. When I have a real vivid dream, this city scape is in the background. It's been in several dreams over the years, appearing outside the window in airports and in the distance during a deadly capture the flag contest. Over time, I think the image has certainly changed, and I can only sort of sense what it used to be, but it's still there, unbidden, in the corner of my mind.
That's what scares me. I don't know where this image comes from, but it appears at those weird points when I have long since forgotten it, and then it is there again. It's hauntingly familiar and horribly distant at the same time.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Transition
It's the strangest thing to see that life goes on without me.
I spent a lot of time in high school thinking about what college would be like. I think I spent even more time in high school trying to avoid thinking about it. College was this frightening other-world kind of place. It wasn't quite real, and in all honesty, I regarded it the same way I regarded heaven; sure, it existed, but it was so far away that I would never really get there. It was a scary place where the workload was supposed to be so much that normal humans wouldn't function under the stress, and spend their days eating Ramen noodles and having stress attacks about the next test. It was a scary place because I knew that a lot of the people that I had closest relations with wouldn't be there any more.
Then I graduated. In all honesty, all of those thoughts about college sort of left my mind in the transition. In those summer months, I didn't think much about the high school world I left behind, or the fact that I was going to my dream college in a few months. Things became sort of surreal and at the same time so incredibly real. I moved into my ministry house with girls that I had known for years that had all graduated before me - I had dreaded and looked forward to this moment as well. I loved these girls and had missed them terribly when they graduated, but it was still the scariest thing to have to grocery shop for myself, to buy my own toiletries when they ran out, and to manage to figure out how to buy text books and get to class on time. One big change happened after another and it was all so much that it didn't even register to me what was happening.
Now, I'm in my second quarter of college. Life has developed an approximate, if slightly rocky, routine. Finally, I've started to look back on the life that I left.
And realize that other people are still living it.
A picture was posted on facebook that made me think this. It was a webcam photo of, I believe, Kevin, Jill, and Kelley. The three of them were all in my high school homechurch, Alpha, with me. Kevin should be a senior this year, and Kelley and Jill should be sophomores. They are in this world that I left behind, and they seem to be thriving in it. Back when I was in Alpha, relationships were a bit shaky. The group had just started growing my senior year, but people were still getting their bearings, figuring out what kind of role they had in the group. I remember - it seems like years ago now - that one of the things that Joe and I (the two seniors of the group last year) worried about the most was what would happen when we were gone. We were the two leaders of the group, and the juniors at the time did not seem anywhere near to stepping up to fill the spots.
But I guess something changed. I don't know exactly what, but I know that that group has continued to grow. It's gotten better, even without me being there. I know a few college students that have stepped in as leaders because the group is so big, and it looks like people are actually starting to relate to each other more. Kevin, one of the two now-seniors, has at least stepped up to the point of being more than willing to drive people to Alpha this year, which is so much more than he was doing last year (and needed too, because in the past Joe and I were the only ones with cars). I don't know the details of Alpha anymore, I did graduate after all, but I hear updates every week, little accomplishments from the group, how it keeps growing, the breakthroughs that people have. It's amazing, and really weird to think about. I mean, I'm no longer there. Alpha is no longer my home. Yet often I have the thought that I'll be going there on Sunday, just like I did for those four years of high school. Like nothing ever changed.
I spent a lot of time in high school thinking about what college would be like. I think I spent even more time in high school trying to avoid thinking about it. College was this frightening other-world kind of place. It wasn't quite real, and in all honesty, I regarded it the same way I regarded heaven; sure, it existed, but it was so far away that I would never really get there. It was a scary place where the workload was supposed to be so much that normal humans wouldn't function under the stress, and spend their days eating Ramen noodles and having stress attacks about the next test. It was a scary place because I knew that a lot of the people that I had closest relations with wouldn't be there any more.
Then I graduated. In all honesty, all of those thoughts about college sort of left my mind in the transition. In those summer months, I didn't think much about the high school world I left behind, or the fact that I was going to my dream college in a few months. Things became sort of surreal and at the same time so incredibly real. I moved into my ministry house with girls that I had known for years that had all graduated before me - I had dreaded and looked forward to this moment as well. I loved these girls and had missed them terribly when they graduated, but it was still the scariest thing to have to grocery shop for myself, to buy my own toiletries when they ran out, and to manage to figure out how to buy text books and get to class on time. One big change happened after another and it was all so much that it didn't even register to me what was happening.
Now, I'm in my second quarter of college. Life has developed an approximate, if slightly rocky, routine. Finally, I've started to look back on the life that I left.
And realize that other people are still living it.
A picture was posted on facebook that made me think this. It was a webcam photo of, I believe, Kevin, Jill, and Kelley. The three of them were all in my high school homechurch, Alpha, with me. Kevin should be a senior this year, and Kelley and Jill should be sophomores. They are in this world that I left behind, and they seem to be thriving in it. Back when I was in Alpha, relationships were a bit shaky. The group had just started growing my senior year, but people were still getting their bearings, figuring out what kind of role they had in the group. I remember - it seems like years ago now - that one of the things that Joe and I (the two seniors of the group last year) worried about the most was what would happen when we were gone. We were the two leaders of the group, and the juniors at the time did not seem anywhere near to stepping up to fill the spots.
But I guess something changed. I don't know exactly what, but I know that that group has continued to grow. It's gotten better, even without me being there. I know a few college students that have stepped in as leaders because the group is so big, and it looks like people are actually starting to relate to each other more. Kevin, one of the two now-seniors, has at least stepped up to the point of being more than willing to drive people to Alpha this year, which is so much more than he was doing last year (and needed too, because in the past Joe and I were the only ones with cars). I don't know the details of Alpha anymore, I did graduate after all, but I hear updates every week, little accomplishments from the group, how it keeps growing, the breakthroughs that people have. It's amazing, and really weird to think about. I mean, I'm no longer there. Alpha is no longer my home. Yet often I have the thought that I'll be going there on Sunday, just like I did for those four years of high school. Like nothing ever changed.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Just Did a Christmas Post, Of Course This Should Be a New Years One!
So happy New Years! I mean sure, I'm like three days late for any such statement, but it's still 2012! Welcome to the year of the apocalypse! (as opposed to the past years, which I'm sure no one really thought were apocalyptic in any way)
Well I must say, so far 2012 has brought some wonderful mostly-relaxing evenings with my wonderful roommates. Last night Testa, Shannon and myself watched The Time Travelers Wife on my Mac-shift TV (haha, get it?), and while the movie was not so good (okay, I kinda thought it was stupid), I did get some wonderful time with them. Then the movie ended. I guess we just kept looking in the direction of the screen as we were talking after the movie ended, even as it went black. That, it turns out, was how Laura found us when she walked in. Three girls huddled on the couch covered in blankets because we have zero ventilation staring at a black computer screen. This sounds terribly pathetic. It was hilarious.
Also, Rachel doesn't have pants on. And by "doesn't have pants on" I mean she actually has shorts on but she refuses to admit that, and just keeps saying that she doesn't have pants on.
Well I must say, so far 2012 has brought some wonderful mostly-relaxing evenings with my wonderful roommates. Last night Testa, Shannon and myself watched The Time Travelers Wife on my Mac-shift TV (haha, get it?), and while the movie was not so good (okay, I kinda thought it was stupid), I did get some wonderful time with them. Then the movie ended. I guess we just kept looking in the direction of the screen as we were talking after the movie ended, even as it went black. That, it turns out, was how Laura found us when she walked in. Three girls huddled on the couch covered in blankets because we have zero ventilation staring at a black computer screen. This sounds terribly pathetic. It was hilarious.
Also, Rachel doesn't have pants on. And by "doesn't have pants on" I mean she actually has shorts on but she refuses to admit that, and just keeps saying that she doesn't have pants on.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Merry Christmas and a Year Free of the Apocalypse!
It's Christmas in more than half the world right now! According to the NORAD Santa tracker, Santa is making his way through Portugal right now. I'm just writing to wish everyone out there an extremely merry Christmas!
Christmas is the time of year that I look forward to every year. I love giving presents (love, love giving presents), and honestly, I love getting them just as much. In my family, every Christmas Eve we eat Donatos Pizza, and Christmas day we eat cinnamon and orange rolls for breakfast before opening out stockings and presents. This was the first year that I was able really buy people gifts (thanks to my more than generous parents and my excellent job at the library), and I'll admit, I may have spent more than all of my roommates combined on presents this year, but it was all more than worth it. I know that Christmas has been horribly commercialized over the years, and people complain every year about how much Americans want to "get get get" on Christmas when we should just be enjoying each other's company and celebrating Jesus's birth, but still. I think that giving presents is more than appropriate and one of the best parts of this holiday!
That being said, Christmas is more than just about that. Christmas is celebrating the new life of Jesus, having been born about two thousand years ago. To celebrate this, my family, our friend Hai Ming, and I are watching The Nativity Story as we wait for Christmas to arrive. It's a wonderful way to spend this holiday season.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night. One more year is almost over and another one is beginning.
Christmas is the time of year that I look forward to every year. I love giving presents (love, love giving presents), and honestly, I love getting them just as much. In my family, every Christmas Eve we eat Donatos Pizza, and Christmas day we eat cinnamon and orange rolls for breakfast before opening out stockings and presents. This was the first year that I was able really buy people gifts (thanks to my more than generous parents and my excellent job at the library), and I'll admit, I may have spent more than all of my roommates combined on presents this year, but it was all more than worth it. I know that Christmas has been horribly commercialized over the years, and people complain every year about how much Americans want to "get get get" on Christmas when we should just be enjoying each other's company and celebrating Jesus's birth, but still. I think that giving presents is more than appropriate and one of the best parts of this holiday!
That being said, Christmas is more than just about that. Christmas is celebrating the new life of Jesus, having been born about two thousand years ago. To celebrate this, my family, our friend Hai Ming, and I are watching The Nativity Story as we wait for Christmas to arrive. It's a wonderful way to spend this holiday season.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night. One more year is almost over and another one is beginning.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Rain Rain Break the Window
Coming back into reality can be horribly startling at times. That's the best way
to discern an excellent book from a simply okay book. It's the excellent books
that make you forget where you are in time and space, entirely blocking out the
clock, one could spend hours reading an excellent book and think it was only
minutes. Perhaps, of course, in my particular office this may be a problem, but
it's all worth it in the end.
I hadn't, in a very long while, read a book that made me forget myself, become absorbed wholly in the story, the plot of another world beyond my own. It's a wonderful thing when such books are found, they are to be treasured for their wonder and remarkability. I finished The Soldier's Wife today, it was one of few books that I have read that come from the "adult" section of our library. I've been, little by little, trying to transition myself over from the teen section, but it's a scary change, the teen section has been my home for nearly ten years now, I know those shelves like the back of my hand. It was really an especially odd time to choose that book to read because I am trying desperately to finish off a 2011 reading challenge, of which I pledged to read 30 books in one year. I have a number of books from my ever familiar teen section checked out, each of which I could finish in less than a day instead of the three that it took to finish this one. Yet it was apparently a good choice, The Soldier's Wife was much more wonderful than I could have anticipated. I read most of it on our office during breaks between shelving books, and the cliffhangers were horrible when I found that I had to leave again to shelve. But the last section of it, the last bit of that wonderful book, was stunning. The last time I cried over a book was back in July, rereading the Harry Potter series, but this book more than deserved the tears that were shed to it. I cannot spoil it for anyone, that would be more terrible than the worst of crimes. Let me be the one to assure all readers, however, that I, at least, fell in love with this book. There were certain parts that I didn't approve of, which I expected after picking it out of the adult section, and there was one little plot tail at the end that has been a little overdone, at least in what I have read, but overall it was too enthralling, too engaging, to be put down for longer than absolutely necessary. It was after I finally read those last few words and closed the pages that I realized how much I had missed - the calm albeit dreary day had long since turned into a torrential downpour that threatened to break the window above me, and half the people from my office were gone, already having started another cart which I had completely zoned out of. These are the best kinds of books. For a few hours today, I was living on an island occupied by German soldiers during World War II. Those were certainly scary times.
I hadn't, in a very long while, read a book that made me forget myself, become absorbed wholly in the story, the plot of another world beyond my own. It's a wonderful thing when such books are found, they are to be treasured for their wonder and remarkability. I finished The Soldier's Wife today, it was one of few books that I have read that come from the "adult" section of our library. I've been, little by little, trying to transition myself over from the teen section, but it's a scary change, the teen section has been my home for nearly ten years now, I know those shelves like the back of my hand. It was really an especially odd time to choose that book to read because I am trying desperately to finish off a 2011 reading challenge, of which I pledged to read 30 books in one year. I have a number of books from my ever familiar teen section checked out, each of which I could finish in less than a day instead of the three that it took to finish this one. Yet it was apparently a good choice, The Soldier's Wife was much more wonderful than I could have anticipated. I read most of it on our office during breaks between shelving books, and the cliffhangers were horrible when I found that I had to leave again to shelve. But the last section of it, the last bit of that wonderful book, was stunning. The last time I cried over a book was back in July, rereading the Harry Potter series, but this book more than deserved the tears that were shed to it. I cannot spoil it for anyone, that would be more terrible than the worst of crimes. Let me be the one to assure all readers, however, that I, at least, fell in love with this book. There were certain parts that I didn't approve of, which I expected after picking it out of the adult section, and there was one little plot tail at the end that has been a little overdone, at least in what I have read, but overall it was too enthralling, too engaging, to be put down for longer than absolutely necessary. It was after I finally read those last few words and closed the pages that I realized how much I had missed - the calm albeit dreary day had long since turned into a torrential downpour that threatened to break the window above me, and half the people from my office were gone, already having started another cart which I had completely zoned out of. These are the best kinds of books. For a few hours today, I was living on an island occupied by German soldiers during World War II. Those were certainly scary times.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
We are the Pirates Who Don't Do Anything
I've been trying to blog a new post (post a new blog) for hours. Nothing I starts gets more than a paragraph (short paragraph) or two in before I discard it. This is ridiculous. Because of my blogblock, you all are now welcome to know some interesting points about my life. Because I need to post something.
Our study smells like syrup, cat pee, or flowers. One of those.
The beta fish right next to me was flipping out just now - literally. Flipping out and in the water of his bowl.
I have discovered my love of the forties. The forties in England.
There is a Salsa Dance Party going on next door right now.
Jessie and I just watched the season finale to the first season of Doctor Who with the eleventh doctor. Still haven't seen the most recent one. It's driving me crazy.
I have been trying to get my scanner to work for TWO WEEKS at LEAST and it is still being absolutely unresponsive to any of my requests. I may light it on fire. Legit.
The song playing right now is "The Most Beautiful Girl in the Room"
There will be ten days until Christmas as of 28 minutes from me writing this.
No seriously, if you didn't see anything wrong with that, reread that song title.
My arm still hurts from ladling mashed potatoes for two hours yesterday. I consider that pathetic.
Our study smells like syrup, cat pee, or flowers. One of those.
The beta fish right next to me was flipping out just now - literally. Flipping out and in the water of his bowl.
I have discovered my love of the forties. The forties in England.
There is a Salsa Dance Party going on next door right now.
Jessie and I just watched the season finale to the first season of Doctor Who with the eleventh doctor. Still haven't seen the most recent one. It's driving me crazy.
I have been trying to get my scanner to work for TWO WEEKS at LEAST and it is still being absolutely unresponsive to any of my requests. I may light it on fire. Legit.
The song playing right now is "The Most Beautiful Girl in the Room"
There will be ten days until Christmas as of 28 minutes from me writing this.
No seriously, if you didn't see anything wrong with that, reread that song title.
My arm still hurts from ladling mashed potatoes for two hours yesterday. I consider that pathetic.
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