Three days into school, and I'm already disillusioned by Furman.
Part of the problem is the Furman Freshmen. They are their own breed... very "Type A," very ridiculous... they prepare to much for the second day of class and gloat as they make the seniors look bad.
In my four years at FU, I've learned that the key to Not Going Insane is consistency. Furman mania gets you nowhere -- if you try to impress professors at the beginning of the term, they laugh at you as you struggle to maintain your perfect demeanor later in the term. Slow and steady, slow and steady.
My classes are going to be hard but good this term. Lots of reading, lots of projects... and I'm taking statistics with a professor who actually calls you out a lot (which makes me nervous). She's super nice when you get the answer wrong, but the Type A's snicker a bit. Slightly annoying classmates. We'll see.
I like school, though. The nerdy part of me could read articles and write papers all day long. And Brewer is fantastic.. he's been teaching for 51 years, he writes the GRE and AP Psych exams.. awards are named after him. This is my fourth class with him since my first day at Furman, and he still tells the same first-day-of-school jokes. He still tells students he has been teaching at Furman since it opened, he still calls out into the hallway "DOES ANYONE ELSE WANT TO LEARN ANYTING TODAY?", and he still hands out the syllabus and outlines brimming with famous, life changing quotes in the margins.
He's inspiring.
My anthropology class should be really interesting, too... it's entitled Anthropology of Religion, and the professor seems to be one of those super intellectuals with a lot of ego. He snickered at numerous religions throughout the introduction to the course, then he asked us all what we practice. Quite a bold move in a Furman classroom...
The class started talking about how to define religion.. whether it could exist apart from a belief in a relationship between the supernatural and the natural, whether its based on common beliefs or common practices... I realized how much I love those mind-stretching debates. High school theology classes were all very Catholic, and it's great to be able to place my beliefs against and alongside agnostics, Greek Orthodox, atheists, Russian Catholics, evangelicals, nondenominational (which I still believe to be a denomination), protestants... it's fun.
.. although reading hundreds of pages before Thursday may not be :)
So hooray for Friday. Cory and I just went out for Mexican beverages with some teacher friends, and we're resting up before Chiefs and a dorky study night later. Yay, Grad school applications.
Weekends are wonderful.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
rain, rain, rain
O-Four-Days has come to an end... but not without another O-Staff UC dance party to "Love Today."
... and tomorrow, classes start?
Today was good. Roommates are all here, which is wonderful. Nice times with visitors and friends and people I haven't seen in far too long. Lots of errands to do tomorrow.. an absolutely packed first day of school. I need to wake up early to get all of my ducks in a row for our first Chapter meeting... considering my laptop died today.
Yikes.
I got home, and the screen was black. Hit a button, error message. Then it randomly restarted itself over and over and over and promptly erased my hard drive. Blue screen, black screen, restarted, error message, erased itself again (quicker this time.. guess it's easier on the second pass by)... it was like the fourth of July on a computer screen.
I've needed a new computer for awhile, so this ordeal was a catalyst. I would rather the "issue" had not occurred during my "break" between O-Week and the first day of class (namely, my 3 free hours of summer-Furman life), but my parents were gracious and helped me out, and I will pick up my early Christmas present tomorrow in Spartanburg.
YAY!
I picked out a cute little HP; I want a small, portable laptop that has fewer bells and whistles. Kind of representative of my life, I think... I'm trying to get rid of some frills and live with the bare minimum. I've given away a few tubs of clothes and trinkets to Goodwill (and I haven't even gone through the winter wardrobe yet), and I sold some books I had lying around. I just don't want to hang on to things I don't need... my vocation right now is to be a student, and with that calling comes a need to be portable.
I've decided that I would be far less stressed if my lifestyle actually fit my life. It's so tempting to try to settle in at Furman.. to make this strange, beautiful bubble an oasis of sorts. Truth is, Furman is temporary. I have one more year of ducks and the belltower and the lack of reality, and then I will be thrust into some colorful version of Real Life. I don't need to build a library of books or a collection of decorative art. I don't need a wardrobe of a princess or copies of all of my old notes. I need a lifestyle that suits my on-the-go-life... a challenge for a homebody like me :)
A big reason for this self-talk about minimalism... my hard drive holds all of my music and pictures from the last four years, and I have to be prepared to let those precious things go. I'm struggling to think that a lot of those invaluable pictures will be erased, but I have to keep telling myself that the favorites are printed, the albums are set, and I don't need to dwell on the things that I lost. Music can be re-borrowed, and I have plenty of life left to take ridiculous pictures.
... right?
::sigh::
Cory was wonderful in the crisis... rode in on his white horse and made stupid jokes about how my "pooter pooted" (complete with elementary sound-effects)... after driving the 25 minutes so that I would have his laptop (and comic relief / hugs) to make the reordering process easier. AND we get to have a breakfast date tomorrow! My favorite :) I am the luckiest girl in the world.
So this week is the start of a new year -- new classes (although an old favorite professor -- yay, Brewer!!), new computer, new job, new football season, new apartment... lots of change. I think I'm ready, though... I'm ready to have another year in this crazy ole' place.
:)
... and tomorrow, classes start?
Today was good. Roommates are all here, which is wonderful. Nice times with visitors and friends and people I haven't seen in far too long. Lots of errands to do tomorrow.. an absolutely packed first day of school. I need to wake up early to get all of my ducks in a row for our first Chapter meeting... considering my laptop died today.
Yikes.
I got home, and the screen was black. Hit a button, error message. Then it randomly restarted itself over and over and over and promptly erased my hard drive. Blue screen, black screen, restarted, error message, erased itself again (quicker this time.. guess it's easier on the second pass by)... it was like the fourth of July on a computer screen.
I've needed a new computer for awhile, so this ordeal was a catalyst. I would rather the "issue" had not occurred during my "break" between O-Week and the first day of class (namely, my 3 free hours of summer-Furman life), but my parents were gracious and helped me out, and I will pick up my early Christmas present tomorrow in Spartanburg.
YAY!
I picked out a cute little HP; I want a small, portable laptop that has fewer bells and whistles. Kind of representative of my life, I think... I'm trying to get rid of some frills and live with the bare minimum. I've given away a few tubs of clothes and trinkets to Goodwill (and I haven't even gone through the winter wardrobe yet), and I sold some books I had lying around. I just don't want to hang on to things I don't need... my vocation right now is to be a student, and with that calling comes a need to be portable.
I've decided that I would be far less stressed if my lifestyle actually fit my life. It's so tempting to try to settle in at Furman.. to make this strange, beautiful bubble an oasis of sorts. Truth is, Furman is temporary. I have one more year of ducks and the belltower and the lack of reality, and then I will be thrust into some colorful version of Real Life. I don't need to build a library of books or a collection of decorative art. I don't need a wardrobe of a princess or copies of all of my old notes. I need a lifestyle that suits my on-the-go-life... a challenge for a homebody like me :)
A big reason for this self-talk about minimalism... my hard drive holds all of my music and pictures from the last four years, and I have to be prepared to let those precious things go. I'm struggling to think that a lot of those invaluable pictures will be erased, but I have to keep telling myself that the favorites are printed, the albums are set, and I don't need to dwell on the things that I lost. Music can be re-borrowed, and I have plenty of life left to take ridiculous pictures.
... right?
::sigh::
Cory was wonderful in the crisis... rode in on his white horse and made stupid jokes about how my "pooter pooted" (complete with elementary sound-effects)... after driving the 25 minutes so that I would have his laptop (and comic relief / hugs) to make the reordering process easier. AND we get to have a breakfast date tomorrow! My favorite :) I am the luckiest girl in the world.
So this week is the start of a new year -- new classes (although an old favorite professor -- yay, Brewer!!), new computer, new job, new football season, new apartment... lots of change. I think I'm ready, though... I'm ready to have another year in this crazy ole' place.
:)
Monday, August 25, 2008
shaving cream, glow sticks, freshmen
Phew.
O-Week is over half-way through.. and I'm exhausted but happy. The staff is incredible... from late-night Jack-in-the-box runs to our annual o-week group shower (on a freshmen guys hall), we've had a ball together. The seniors in particular have seemed to mesh really well. After all of the recognition as an "O-Staff senior," the whole "last year" deal is really starting to sink in.
Move-in on Friday went really well. It's so wonderful to have so many siblings of friends coming to FU... lots of look-a-likes (kind of creepy at times). The whole incoming class seems really diverse and fun. More preppy than usual, though.
We have finished all of our skit performances (the most stressful part of O-Week), and have spent just as much time dancing as practicing. We've comandeered Burgiss several times, turned out the lights, hopped on stage, and went crazy to "Love Today" and "Airplanes" and all of those "cool songs" I would know nothing about if I wasn't on staff. And we've eaten a lot. On Furman's ticket.
I love the O-Staff lunch conversations, too... things such as "I wonder if we can get the Furman credit card and buy enough reams of black fabric to cover all of us so we can surprise the Freshmen in the dark," and "how can we avoid breaking a window at this year's hall parties." Good talks, good talks.
I think we scare the freshmen a bit, though... last night, after I was somewhat clean from our annual shower (canola oil, fruity pebbles, shaving cream.. yuck.), another staffer had a mean streak and chased me through the halls of Blackwell with more shaving cream... and the freshmen kept coming out of their rooms to see what all the commotion was about. Good memories :)
Blackout was amaaaaazing this year. We were actually on time, which was incredible considering how many hall parties we had to run to / pile in and out of pickup trucks and SUVs with music blaring and horns honking and... it's an ordeal :). We started the Blackout tradition last year... all of the freshies arrive at the amphitheater dressed in black at 10:59, then we show up in all white (strange costumes essential) and throw ridiculous amounts of glowsticks out from the stage while dancing to Sandstorm. And our leader wears a gigantic white faux fur coat.
It's freaking amazing.
My non-o-week life has been decent. I'm looking up GRE dates, squeezing in amazing dinner/breakfast dates with Cory (who started his masters classes this weekend -- we're going to be a super nerdy couple this year...), and enjoying the apartment with Jessie.
Grad school is starting to stress me out a bit.. I misplaced the notebook that was the Story of My Summer with all of my notes about programs and my favorites and so on and so forth... and luckily I had already contacted several professors about their research and programs, so I have those e-mails saved... but it's a little nervewrecking, nonetheless. So I'm trying to scramble to get e-mails out in between OWeek events, but let's be honest... an hour here and there really isn't much. It will all be over January 1st :)
I'm not ready for classes to start, but I am ready to have a life that doesn't involve quite so many freshmen :) Who all now know me as Birdy. It's on my nametag again this year, and I've decided to just go with it. I'm bringing Birdy back... yeah!
Okay, time to get ready for another day of O-Staff festivities :)
O-Week is over half-way through.. and I'm exhausted but happy. The staff is incredible... from late-night Jack-in-the-box runs to our annual o-week group shower (on a freshmen guys hall), we've had a ball together. The seniors in particular have seemed to mesh really well. After all of the recognition as an "O-Staff senior," the whole "last year" deal is really starting to sink in.
Move-in on Friday went really well. It's so wonderful to have so many siblings of friends coming to FU... lots of look-a-likes (kind of creepy at times). The whole incoming class seems really diverse and fun. More preppy than usual, though.
We have finished all of our skit performances (the most stressful part of O-Week), and have spent just as much time dancing as practicing. We've comandeered Burgiss several times, turned out the lights, hopped on stage, and went crazy to "Love Today" and "Airplanes" and all of those "cool songs" I would know nothing about if I wasn't on staff. And we've eaten a lot. On Furman's ticket.
I love the O-Staff lunch conversations, too... things such as "I wonder if we can get the Furman credit card and buy enough reams of black fabric to cover all of us so we can surprise the Freshmen in the dark," and "how can we avoid breaking a window at this year's hall parties." Good talks, good talks.
I think we scare the freshmen a bit, though... last night, after I was somewhat clean from our annual shower (canola oil, fruity pebbles, shaving cream.. yuck.), another staffer had a mean streak and chased me through the halls of Blackwell with more shaving cream... and the freshmen kept coming out of their rooms to see what all the commotion was about. Good memories :)
Blackout was amaaaaazing this year. We were actually on time, which was incredible considering how many hall parties we had to run to / pile in and out of pickup trucks and SUVs with music blaring and horns honking and... it's an ordeal :). We started the Blackout tradition last year... all of the freshies arrive at the amphitheater dressed in black at 10:59, then we show up in all white (strange costumes essential) and throw ridiculous amounts of glowsticks out from the stage while dancing to Sandstorm. And our leader wears a gigantic white faux fur coat.
It's freaking amazing.
My non-o-week life has been decent. I'm looking up GRE dates, squeezing in amazing dinner/breakfast dates with Cory (who started his masters classes this weekend -- we're going to be a super nerdy couple this year...), and enjoying the apartment with Jessie.
Grad school is starting to stress me out a bit.. I misplaced the notebook that was the Story of My Summer with all of my notes about programs and my favorites and so on and so forth... and luckily I had already contacted several professors about their research and programs, so I have those e-mails saved... but it's a little nervewrecking, nonetheless. So I'm trying to scramble to get e-mails out in between OWeek events, but let's be honest... an hour here and there really isn't much. It will all be over January 1st :)
I'm not ready for classes to start, but I am ready to have a life that doesn't involve quite so many freshmen :) Who all now know me as Birdy. It's on my nametag again this year, and I've decided to just go with it. I'm bringing Birdy back... yeah!
Okay, time to get ready for another day of O-Staff festivities :)
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
tiarras, bootydancing, fustress
Today was a long day, I suppose. It feels like two different days, I think... I had a mid-day restart, and I'm kind of in a funk as a result. Good day.. long day, but good day. Full of new adventures.
I did yoga today. Bought a new mat (my too-cool mom stole my old one, I think), downloaded some pose sequences, and cranked Coldplay. The sequences weren't really tricky -- I'm used to fat burning yoga, which is much more intense -- but the whole thing was nice and relaxing. Getting my mind and body in sync just makes me calm down a little... and it's a 20-minute program, so I could definitely do it in the mornings and then run or something at night.
I am looking forward to exercising more. I found my "couch to 5k" plan from the spring and got a little glow inside -- I don't know if I ever actually ran a 5k, but I stuck to my goal and started running... and have continued to go back to it. I actually changed my bad habit of getting grumpy and not doing anything about feeling lazy. Good feeling.
Nannying today went really well. I brought her a tiarra I had in my apartment and decided I didn't need anymore (I've grown out of it) and stuck it on her head when I picked her up from school. For the rest of the day, she was Princess Macy. We talked in British accents. And played mermaids at the pool.
It's kind of fun having a "little sister." Mom and dad would never get me one for Christmas... so 15 years later, I win.
OStaff stuff has been fun. The group is just really great this year -- occasionally a little long winded, but really wonderful anyway. We went to Tommy's for lunch and had pizza for dinner. We eat super healthy, let me tell you.
Best part? OStaff dance party. We had to pick our theme song.. we dance out to it for a skit and play it continuously throughout the week. To choose, we blacked out the movie theater and put on the fun lights and crowded on stage and boogied like crazy people. As always, I was caught up on the summer's "cool jams" and sweet moves. This week brings out my zany side a bit... I feel like a freshman again.
Hardest part... Transitions skit. We perform this serious skit based on a party that gets a little out of control... scenes involving binge drinking, cheating, rape, innerracial dating, homosexuality, bigotry... every year, some scene strikes me a little differently. Now that I'm a senior, I'm surprised to see how many of the scenes have touched my life over the last few years... I don't have a super dramatic life or super dramatic friends (anymore), so it scares me to think how much more goes on that I'm sure I would believe.
I play Natasha in the skit -- the innerracial dater (John and I are working on our chemistry haha) and the best friend of the girl who gets raped. It's hard to think about how often these scenes -- which tend to be really uncomfortable for us to even act out -- become a reality for college freshmen. For women in particular. Rape is scary. And real. And it breaks my heart.
::sigh::
Tomorrow will (hopefully) be really productive.. the plan is to wake up really early so I can do my yoga and get some stuff done.. once the freshies get here on Friday, I know I'll be swamped until classes start on Wednesday. So if I get really motivated, I'll get to the library to work on some grad school things and order my books before Ostaff at 11:30, work at 3, Ostaff at 6:15, and visitors / roommate in the evening.
I'm sleepy. Gnite.
I did yoga today. Bought a new mat (my too-cool mom stole my old one, I think), downloaded some pose sequences, and cranked Coldplay. The sequences weren't really tricky -- I'm used to fat burning yoga, which is much more intense -- but the whole thing was nice and relaxing. Getting my mind and body in sync just makes me calm down a little... and it's a 20-minute program, so I could definitely do it in the mornings and then run or something at night.
I am looking forward to exercising more. I found my "couch to 5k" plan from the spring and got a little glow inside -- I don't know if I ever actually ran a 5k, but I stuck to my goal and started running... and have continued to go back to it. I actually changed my bad habit of getting grumpy and not doing anything about feeling lazy. Good feeling.
Nannying today went really well. I brought her a tiarra I had in my apartment and decided I didn't need anymore (I've grown out of it) and stuck it on her head when I picked her up from school. For the rest of the day, she was Princess Macy. We talked in British accents. And played mermaids at the pool.
It's kind of fun having a "little sister." Mom and dad would never get me one for Christmas... so 15 years later, I win.
OStaff stuff has been fun. The group is just really great this year -- occasionally a little long winded, but really wonderful anyway. We went to Tommy's for lunch and had pizza for dinner. We eat super healthy, let me tell you.
Best part? OStaff dance party. We had to pick our theme song.. we dance out to it for a skit and play it continuously throughout the week. To choose, we blacked out the movie theater and put on the fun lights and crowded on stage and boogied like crazy people. As always, I was caught up on the summer's "cool jams" and sweet moves. This week brings out my zany side a bit... I feel like a freshman again.
Hardest part... Transitions skit. We perform this serious skit based on a party that gets a little out of control... scenes involving binge drinking, cheating, rape, innerracial dating, homosexuality, bigotry... every year, some scene strikes me a little differently. Now that I'm a senior, I'm surprised to see how many of the scenes have touched my life over the last few years... I don't have a super dramatic life or super dramatic friends (anymore), so it scares me to think how much more goes on that I'm sure I would believe.
I play Natasha in the skit -- the innerracial dater (John and I are working on our chemistry haha) and the best friend of the girl who gets raped. It's hard to think about how often these scenes -- which tend to be really uncomfortable for us to even act out -- become a reality for college freshmen. For women in particular. Rape is scary. And real. And it breaks my heart.
::sigh::
Tomorrow will (hopefully) be really productive.. the plan is to wake up really early so I can do my yoga and get some stuff done.. once the freshies get here on Friday, I know I'll be swamped until classes start on Wednesday. So if I get really motivated, I'll get to the library to work on some grad school things and order my books before Ostaff at 11:30, work at 3, Ostaff at 6:15, and visitors / roommate in the evening.
I'm sleepy. Gnite.
you're the only ten i see..
Back from TN... again.
OWeek is about to go into full swing... we took our retreat in Johnson City and got back yesterday. The rest of the week is going to be exhausting, to say the least. Exhausting but fun. The staff is amazing.. super fun, super sweet, super nice. It's nice getting to know new people as a start to senior year :)
I finally have all of my apartment stuff set up. Just one more laundry and a load of dishes, and I'll be up to par :) I've given away two huge bins of things to Goodwill, so I'm feeling good about having a little less stuff.
This morning was nice.. I drove back to the apartment via back roads.. horses and pretty dew settling on the fields :) It was lovely.. until I accidentally went to the apartment downstairs (because it is in the position of our old apartment) and tried to open the door with my car clicker.
Right. A little tired.
Started my new babysitting gig yesterday -- it's so different working with a typically developing child. An only child, at that -- I'm so used to siblings and loud houses and boys... a 10-year-old girl is a whole new game.
Funny part is that she is one of Cory's students, and I pick her up from school. And she doesn't know we're dating (although her parents do). After waiting for him to call my number during my first car-rider line, I decided my kids are most definitely taking the bus. The line stinks.
This year is going to be quite different. Good (I think), but different.
Back to pre-oweek madness :)
OWeek is about to go into full swing... we took our retreat in Johnson City and got back yesterday. The rest of the week is going to be exhausting, to say the least. Exhausting but fun. The staff is amazing.. super fun, super sweet, super nice. It's nice getting to know new people as a start to senior year :)
I finally have all of my apartment stuff set up. Just one more laundry and a load of dishes, and I'll be up to par :) I've given away two huge bins of things to Goodwill, so I'm feeling good about having a little less stuff.
This morning was nice.. I drove back to the apartment via back roads.. horses and pretty dew settling on the fields :) It was lovely.. until I accidentally went to the apartment downstairs (because it is in the position of our old apartment) and tried to open the door with my car clicker.
Right. A little tired.
Started my new babysitting gig yesterday -- it's so different working with a typically developing child. An only child, at that -- I'm so used to siblings and loud houses and boys... a 10-year-old girl is a whole new game.
Funny part is that she is one of Cory's students, and I pick her up from school. And she doesn't know we're dating (although her parents do). After waiting for him to call my number during my first car-rider line, I decided my kids are most definitely taking the bus. The line stinks.
This year is going to be quite different. Good (I think), but different.
Back to pre-oweek madness :)
Monday, August 18, 2008
baptisms, boxes, my cozy furman bed :)
I'm back at Furman. In Leanna's old apartment. It's strange and wonderful.
Too tired to blog much.. but went to one of our camper's baptisms this morning with a whole motley crew from camp :). It was really nice, and she screamed out "AND I'M GOING TO HEAVEN, TOO!" after the ceremony, which was pretty much the icing on the cake. :)
Cory helped me move in. He is a rock star. I have always moved in early, so I've always moved in on my own.. and having an extra hand was fantastic. I spent the rest of the day unpacking and organizing and making another Goodwill pile. I have too much stuff.
It's really nice to be in the apartment, all settled in. I'm in the same spot in the apt, but the doors are different, so it feels like I have some extra space. I just have some more decorating to do, but the essentials are in.
We leave for the OStaff retreat tomorrow morning -- yikes! I feel like I just got out of TN.. and now we're going back. It'll be good to see everyone, though.. it's a fun, very crazy crew.
This week is going to be wild. Lots of craziness, lots of work-hard-play-hard.
Up early to get another load of stuff from Cory (almost done!) and pack for the retreat and figure out why my debit card isn't working (not cool)
Too tired to blog much.. but went to one of our camper's baptisms this morning with a whole motley crew from camp :). It was really nice, and she screamed out "AND I'M GOING TO HEAVEN, TOO!" after the ceremony, which was pretty much the icing on the cake. :)
Cory helped me move in. He is a rock star. I have always moved in early, so I've always moved in on my own.. and having an extra hand was fantastic. I spent the rest of the day unpacking and organizing and making another Goodwill pile. I have too much stuff.
It's really nice to be in the apartment, all settled in. I'm in the same spot in the apt, but the doors are different, so it feels like I have some extra space. I just have some more decorating to do, but the essentials are in.
We leave for the OStaff retreat tomorrow morning -- yikes! I feel like I just got out of TN.. and now we're going back. It'll be good to see everyone, though.. it's a fun, very crazy crew.
This week is going to be wild. Lots of craziness, lots of work-hard-play-hard.
Up early to get another load of stuff from Cory (almost done!) and pack for the retreat and figure out why my debit card isn't working (not cool)
Saturday, August 16, 2008
teary goodbyes, st. teresa, cookies...
I'm sad.
I'm sad to be leaving Charleston already... mom and I had a teary moment when she saw all of my bags packed, and I can't shake this pit in my stomach... I know that I am going to miss my family more than ever.
Homesickness and I have never mixed; I miss my family when I'm at school, but I always have some sort of independent streak to keep me going. Something about this summer, though -- a week at home isn't enough. I feel like I'm missing too much... I miss them too much. I feel like I'm suddenly growing up way too fast -- this was my last summer at home before the "real world," and I was barely here.
Charleston always does things to me, though -- I am constantly reminded of where I've been and where I'm going -- I can't hide from reality like I can at Furman. I realized this week that I have some things to work on -- kindness, for one. I've stopped valuing the virtues that were hammered into my head in high school... the simple battles have slipped behind the Big Priorities like Paying for Groceries and Figuring Out the Future. So ironic that the things that seem so important right now -- in the grand scheme of things -- really aren't. ...
Maybe that's it -- I feel like I can work on the simple things here because I have people to take care of me. I'm not used to not having to cook and clean and balance a full time job. For the past week, I could think about honesty and patience and kindness and faith. I had this unfamiliar urge to pray a Rosary last night. I feel like after all of this soul searching and independence this summer, I've finally come to a growing point. It hit me like a brick today -- my summer wasn't just a laundry list of adventures... I realized things about myself. Maybe the slow paced, homey feel of this last week gave me the chance to actually process this whirlwind of a summer.
The car ride tomorrow will be good. I copied mom's yoga jams onto my ipod, so I have some new songs to listen to. I might go to Confession when I get to Greenville... I think I need a definite fresh slate before this year takes off. I need some sacramental graces. And I have a three-and-a-half hour drive to do a kick-butt examination of conscience. :)
"We shall never learn to know ourselves except by endeavoring to know God; for, beholding His greatness, we realize our own littleness; His purity shows us our foulness; and by meditating upon His humility we find how very far we are from being humble." - St Teresa of Avila
St. Teresa is a rock star. She had these crazy visions and this almost manic way of describing her relationship with God -- very metaphorical, very all-or-nothing. I love reading her stuff in Adoration -- it's wild and inspiring. But in all of her chaotic musings, I still find so much simplicity... that's what I love about her.
I read a quote of hers today that really made me think -- I think it spurned this desire to go to return to the Sacraments...
"It is here, my daughters, that love is to be found — not hidden away in corners, but in the midst of occasions of sin. And believe me, although we may more often fail and commit small lapses, our gain will be incomparably the greater."
Wow. Love is found in the occasions of sin. I guess that should be a given after 20 years of Catechesis... but I had never thought about how moments of weakness can become moments of triumph... and how important and pivotal each moment can be.
To quote the sophisticated musings of the great Eminem (kidding.),
"You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
Cause opportunity comes once in a lifetime...yo"
I've been consciously trying to kick some bad eating habits this summer, one of which has been letting my sweet tooth get the best of me when I'm not hungry to begin with. I finally realized that I could just tell myself no. I didn't have to rationalize not eating the cookie, I didn't have to beat myself about not deserving a cookie, I didn't have to disillusion myself into thinking a carrot is yummier than a cookie... I could just not eat the cookie. No big deal, move on with life. "Yo."
Maybe it's that way with sin, too... when we're in the moment, we don't always have time to rationalize. Battling "unkindness," like battling a sweet tooth, seems like a daunting task. But appreciating the value of each occasion of sin, like the opportunity to toss in a jab about someone who has been unkind to us, can help us fight the Big Things without being overwhelmed by the Big Things.
Maybe I just need to stop trying to philosophically end the spiritual war and start fighting the battles. "Church militant," right?
So these little realizations have led me to be a little hopeful, a little scared. Appreciating the little moments and fighting the good fight is important -- I know that -- but it's easier said than done.
I don't think I've ever quoted St. Teresa and Eminem back to back before... :)
Eric just got home. We're going to talk about Patty's new 4'5" roommate over milk and cookies. Pray for a safe move :)
I'm sad to be leaving Charleston already... mom and I had a teary moment when she saw all of my bags packed, and I can't shake this pit in my stomach... I know that I am going to miss my family more than ever.
Homesickness and I have never mixed; I miss my family when I'm at school, but I always have some sort of independent streak to keep me going. Something about this summer, though -- a week at home isn't enough. I feel like I'm missing too much... I miss them too much. I feel like I'm suddenly growing up way too fast -- this was my last summer at home before the "real world," and I was barely here.
Charleston always does things to me, though -- I am constantly reminded of where I've been and where I'm going -- I can't hide from reality like I can at Furman. I realized this week that I have some things to work on -- kindness, for one. I've stopped valuing the virtues that were hammered into my head in high school... the simple battles have slipped behind the Big Priorities like Paying for Groceries and Figuring Out the Future. So ironic that the things that seem so important right now -- in the grand scheme of things -- really aren't. ...
Maybe that's it -- I feel like I can work on the simple things here because I have people to take care of me. I'm not used to not having to cook and clean and balance a full time job. For the past week, I could think about honesty and patience and kindness and faith. I had this unfamiliar urge to pray a Rosary last night. I feel like after all of this soul searching and independence this summer, I've finally come to a growing point. It hit me like a brick today -- my summer wasn't just a laundry list of adventures... I realized things about myself. Maybe the slow paced, homey feel of this last week gave me the chance to actually process this whirlwind of a summer.
The car ride tomorrow will be good. I copied mom's yoga jams onto my ipod, so I have some new songs to listen to. I might go to Confession when I get to Greenville... I think I need a definite fresh slate before this year takes off. I need some sacramental graces. And I have a three-and-a-half hour drive to do a kick-butt examination of conscience. :)
"We shall never learn to know ourselves except by endeavoring to know God; for, beholding His greatness, we realize our own littleness; His purity shows us our foulness; and by meditating upon His humility we find how very far we are from being humble." - St Teresa of Avila
St. Teresa is a rock star. She had these crazy visions and this almost manic way of describing her relationship with God -- very metaphorical, very all-or-nothing. I love reading her stuff in Adoration -- it's wild and inspiring. But in all of her chaotic musings, I still find so much simplicity... that's what I love about her.
I read a quote of hers today that really made me think -- I think it spurned this desire to go to return to the Sacraments...
"It is here, my daughters, that love is to be found — not hidden away in corners, but in the midst of occasions of sin. And believe me, although we may more often fail and commit small lapses, our gain will be incomparably the greater."
Wow. Love is found in the occasions of sin. I guess that should be a given after 20 years of Catechesis... but I had never thought about how moments of weakness can become moments of triumph... and how important and pivotal each moment can be.
To quote the sophisticated musings of the great Eminem (kidding.),
"You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
Cause opportunity comes once in a lifetime...yo"
I've been consciously trying to kick some bad eating habits this summer, one of which has been letting my sweet tooth get the best of me when I'm not hungry to begin with. I finally realized that I could just tell myself no. I didn't have to rationalize not eating the cookie, I didn't have to beat myself about not deserving a cookie, I didn't have to disillusion myself into thinking a carrot is yummier than a cookie... I could just not eat the cookie. No big deal, move on with life. "Yo."
Maybe it's that way with sin, too... when we're in the moment, we don't always have time to rationalize. Battling "unkindness," like battling a sweet tooth, seems like a daunting task. But appreciating the value of each occasion of sin, like the opportunity to toss in a jab about someone who has been unkind to us, can help us fight the Big Things without being overwhelmed by the Big Things.
Maybe I just need to stop trying to philosophically end the spiritual war and start fighting the battles. "Church militant," right?
So these little realizations have led me to be a little hopeful, a little scared. Appreciating the little moments and fighting the good fight is important -- I know that -- but it's easier said than done.
I don't think I've ever quoted St. Teresa and Eminem back to back before... :)
Eric just got home. We're going to talk about Patty's new 4'5" roommate over milk and cookies. Pray for a safe move :)
Thursday, August 14, 2008
eggshells, watermelon pops, jeans
(I wrote most of this post yesterday)
Charleston has been one big blur.
I'm leaving in less than 48 hours to head back to Greenville, but it feels like I just got here. I want another week -- time with my family, time to myself, time for grad school, time to breathe... today especially wore me out for some reason. I took one of those way-too-late naps and had strange dreams that really upset me. I get very upset by strange dreams.
Part of me is really sick of a suitcase, but I know deep down I would live out of a suitcase forever if it meant I could spend more time at home. I can just never come home. It's just far enough where it's really, really hard to pull off.
I feel very disoriented, and I think a large part is my nap. I know part of it is bigger, though... I've always had a strong internal spiritual sense of consistency, and I think I just haven't been putting in the time or effort to bring that part of myself out these days. I used to cling onto any type of consistency I could find -- boys, friends, religious this-or-that -- and I just don't do that anymore. I still love Cory and my friends and my faith, but I'm not as recklessly apt to cling to the aspects of those things that change. I've learned to enjoy them rather than take them for granted. Maybe that's why it's hard to leave home -- right now, my family is pretty consistent. Consistently crazy, but consistent nonetheless. And consistently growing... I miss watching them grow.
Cory's consistent, too -- amazingly so. Our relationship has matured a lot with the distance this summer, which puts my heart to rest a lot. We didn't talk a lot, we lived our own lives with our own friends... but we came back strong ;). We've both changed, but I think all the change is positive.
So that's where I am... dreading packing all of my stuff back up and moving (again), but so excited to have a somewhat permanent place to be for a bit :). I didn't get to do everything I wanted to do while I was home... namely because people had to work, so I had a lot of refresh-the-wardrobe time to myself (had to make shopping sound productive)... but I got to see a few friends, experience the family in a whole new way... it was nice.
Pat is looking for a roommate. Pat's choices for roommates in Florence, based on self-ad pictures: a guy dressed in a batman cape, a 400-lb african-american "princess," or a 51-year-old woman. He finally found a 23-year-old hairdresser (woman) with a terrier puppy. It's a go... and it's ironically hilarious because he hasn't had a haircut in months. He looks like an Irish Jesus.
--
So today is my last day home :). I'm going to grab lunch with Cam, then go through everything I'm bringing to school to make sure I really need it. And I'm going to put together a basket of stuff that I will need the first few hours I'm there (which I always say I'm going to do but never do)... Martha Stewart has a list somewhere of things like scissors and command strips and paper towels and hand soap... things that I won't want to search for when I need them. My roomies aren't moving in for a few days, so I have to do all of that "life-necessity" shopping on my own... the first few days without anyone there are always a bit weird.
So laundry, cleaning, packing... story of life :) I'm getting excited, though... it's time to start another adventure...
Charleston has been one big blur.
I'm leaving in less than 48 hours to head back to Greenville, but it feels like I just got here. I want another week -- time with my family, time to myself, time for grad school, time to breathe... today especially wore me out for some reason. I took one of those way-too-late naps and had strange dreams that really upset me. I get very upset by strange dreams.
Part of me is really sick of a suitcase, but I know deep down I would live out of a suitcase forever if it meant I could spend more time at home. I can just never come home. It's just far enough where it's really, really hard to pull off.
I feel very disoriented, and I think a large part is my nap. I know part of it is bigger, though... I've always had a strong internal spiritual sense of consistency, and I think I just haven't been putting in the time or effort to bring that part of myself out these days. I used to cling onto any type of consistency I could find -- boys, friends, religious this-or-that -- and I just don't do that anymore. I still love Cory and my friends and my faith, but I'm not as recklessly apt to cling to the aspects of those things that change. I've learned to enjoy them rather than take them for granted. Maybe that's why it's hard to leave home -- right now, my family is pretty consistent. Consistently crazy, but consistent nonetheless. And consistently growing... I miss watching them grow.
Cory's consistent, too -- amazingly so. Our relationship has matured a lot with the distance this summer, which puts my heart to rest a lot. We didn't talk a lot, we lived our own lives with our own friends... but we came back strong ;). We've both changed, but I think all the change is positive.
So that's where I am... dreading packing all of my stuff back up and moving (again), but so excited to have a somewhat permanent place to be for a bit :). I didn't get to do everything I wanted to do while I was home... namely because people had to work, so I had a lot of refresh-the-wardrobe time to myself (had to make shopping sound productive)... but I got to see a few friends, experience the family in a whole new way... it was nice.
Pat is looking for a roommate. Pat's choices for roommates in Florence, based on self-ad pictures: a guy dressed in a batman cape, a 400-lb african-american "princess," or a 51-year-old woman. He finally found a 23-year-old hairdresser (woman) with a terrier puppy. It's a go... and it's ironically hilarious because he hasn't had a haircut in months. He looks like an Irish Jesus.
--
So today is my last day home :). I'm going to grab lunch with Cam, then go through everything I'm bringing to school to make sure I really need it. And I'm going to put together a basket of stuff that I will need the first few hours I'm there (which I always say I'm going to do but never do)... Martha Stewart has a list somewhere of things like scissors and command strips and paper towels and hand soap... things that I won't want to search for when I need them. My roomies aren't moving in for a few days, so I have to do all of that "life-necessity" shopping on my own... the first few days without anyone there are always a bit weird.
So laundry, cleaning, packing... story of life :) I'm getting excited, though... it's time to start another adventure...
stay beautiful . taylor swift (thanks, cait!)
Today was a wonderful day. I finally found the jean skirt I've been looking for the last three days (no joke.. sounds superficial and silly, but I really needed a skirt..), I had a lovely lunch with mom, Eric and I chatted more about life... and Hannah, Rivers, Lisi, Jackie and I went out to see a comedy group, then Jackie and Katie and I went to Kaminskis and then to a restaurant on the Market for $2 champagne night :)
I'm on a champagne high... It's so good to catch up with old friends!!! I miss them dearly.
Caitlyn sent me this song... yay for lyric buddies :) It reminds me of something I wrote in my journal way back when :) He already is someone, and we've got one hell of a story... but I absolutely adore these lyrics because I am an absolute cheese-ball and think my bf is the bomb-diggity. As does, apparently, Taylor Swift. Way to go, champ...
Cory's eyes are like a jungle;
He smiles, it's like the radio.
He whispers songs into my window
in words nobody knows.
There's pretty girls on every corner
that watch him as he's walking home
saying, "does he know?"
Will you ever know?
You're beautiful.
Every little piece, love, don't you know
you're really gonna be someone, ask anyone,
when you find everything you looked for.
I hope your life leads you back to my door
oh but if it don't, stay beautiful.
Cory finds another way to be
the highlight of my day.
I'm taking pictures with my mind
so i can save them for a rainy day.
It's hard to make conversation
when he's taking my breath away.
I should say, hey by the way...
If you and i are a story
that never gets told,
if what you are is a daydream,
I'll never get to hold, at least you'll know...
I'm on a champagne high... It's so good to catch up with old friends!!! I miss them dearly.
Caitlyn sent me this song... yay for lyric buddies :) It reminds me of something I wrote in my journal way back when :) He already is someone, and we've got one hell of a story... but I absolutely adore these lyrics because I am an absolute cheese-ball and think my bf is the bomb-diggity. As does, apparently, Taylor Swift. Way to go, champ...
Cory's eyes are like a jungle;
He smiles, it's like the radio.
He whispers songs into my window
in words nobody knows.
There's pretty girls on every corner
that watch him as he's walking home
saying, "does he know?"
Will you ever know?
You're beautiful.
Every little piece, love, don't you know
you're really gonna be someone, ask anyone,
when you find everything you looked for.
I hope your life leads you back to my door
oh but if it don't, stay beautiful.
Cory finds another way to be
the highlight of my day.
I'm taking pictures with my mind
so i can save them for a rainy day.
It's hard to make conversation
when he's taking my breath away.
I should say, hey by the way...
If you and i are a story
that never gets told,
if what you are is a daydream,
I'll never get to hold, at least you'll know...
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
soy sauce, cantaloupe, sissy lunches
I have learned many, many things about my family over the last few days.
My parents have decided that my intended profession as a psychologist bodes well for my future position as "ringleader" of the Kelleher clan. They have told me that they sleep well at night knowing that I will outlive them as "brother-watcher". Talk about pressure.
Pat, Eric, and I went out to dinner tonight for "sibling bonding." Pat and I are the same person. He may be and emo-surfer and I may be a Furman artsy free spirit, but we are the same person.
Eric once left his number for a waitress by writing it in soy sauce on the table. The waitress called him the next day. He is also a valued customer at the Huka (sp?) bar downtown. He gets 10% off because he can blow big smoke bubbles. Eric is 17.
I have also learned that cantaloupe popsicles are disgusting. I tried to recreate the Las Paletas pops, but I failed miserably. Mom politely asked if she could throw hers out without offending me. I had already pitched mine.
:(
So far, caliente dark chocolate is the winner. I'm about to work on watermelon :). I have high hopes. Very high hopes.
Mom went to senior citizen yoga today because the time worked better than any other class. She came home complaining that her classmates talked too much about their hip problems. But she liked the change of pace and plans to return.
Mom and a dozen old ladies doing yoga to Coldplay. Good image.
Back to the Olympics :)
My parents have decided that my intended profession as a psychologist bodes well for my future position as "ringleader" of the Kelleher clan. They have told me that they sleep well at night knowing that I will outlive them as "brother-watcher". Talk about pressure.
Pat, Eric, and I went out to dinner tonight for "sibling bonding." Pat and I are the same person. He may be and emo-surfer and I may be a Furman artsy free spirit, but we are the same person.
Eric once left his number for a waitress by writing it in soy sauce on the table. The waitress called him the next day. He is also a valued customer at the Huka (sp?) bar downtown. He gets 10% off because he can blow big smoke bubbles. Eric is 17.
I have also learned that cantaloupe popsicles are disgusting. I tried to recreate the Las Paletas pops, but I failed miserably. Mom politely asked if she could throw hers out without offending me. I had already pitched mine.
:(
So far, caliente dark chocolate is the winner. I'm about to work on watermelon :). I have high hopes. Very high hopes.
Mom went to senior citizen yoga today because the time worked better than any other class. She came home complaining that her classmates talked too much about their hip problems. But she liked the change of pace and plans to return.
Mom and a dozen old ladies doing yoga to Coldplay. Good image.
Back to the Olympics :)
dave barnes . nothing fancy about the way i love you
Caitlyn posted this song today, and I think it's brilliant. As is she for posting it :)
There's nothing fancy bout the way i love you,
there's nothing you could not find in any other man.
There's nothing fancy bout the way I love you,
but I love you as hard as I can.
There's no good reason for the way you love me,
but you're my walking dream come true.
There's no good reason for the way you love me,
But I thank God that you do.
I don't know the perfect conversation,
I don't know the way to turn a head,
I don't know the perfect way to prove my love,
But I know I'll love you till I'm dead.
There's nothing fancy bout the way I love you,
It's as simple as the stars in the sky, and the blue in the sea.
There's nothing fancy bout the way I love you,
But it sure is fancy how you love me.
Dave Barnes
There's nothing fancy bout the way i love you,
there's nothing you could not find in any other man.
There's nothing fancy bout the way I love you,
but I love you as hard as I can.
There's no good reason for the way you love me,
but you're my walking dream come true.
There's no good reason for the way you love me,
But I thank God that you do.
I don't know the perfect conversation,
I don't know the way to turn a head,
I don't know the perfect way to prove my love,
But I know I'll love you till I'm dead.
There's nothing fancy bout the way I love you,
It's as simple as the stars in the sky, and the blue in the sea.
There's nothing fancy bout the way I love you,
But it sure is fancy how you love me.
Dave Barnes
Monday, August 11, 2008
popsicles, family, olympicfobia
I have been making popsicles for the last two days.
Maybe I miss Nashville, maybe it's just a strange crafty obsession... but I've been looking up recipes, making healthy substitutions, and trying the bad boys out. Almost an entire pack of solo-shot glasses later... I have begun my dream of recreating Las Paletas in my kitchen :)
Caliente Dark Chocolate pops, Lime-Mint-Grape pops, and ... drumroll, please... attempt #1 at recreating the incredible Grapefruit pop. They're turning out pretty yummy, and my family isn't complaining... fun, healthy cooking hobby on my week off ;)
Shopped today with mom, dealt with endless family crises as our rebel-child continues barreling through his teenage years... another productive day at the Kellehers. Mom, Pat, and I had lunch, which was wonderful. He's grown up soo much.. and we actually process things very similarly. I can see a lot of my dad in him. It's great.
Kelleher family problem: Boomer is afraid of the Olympics. He doesn't like mom getting upset... and her suppressed inner cheerleader comes out (especially during gymnastics), which riles Boomer up and makes him start barking at the darkness outside, just in case the evil gymnast is coming to get us. There's no calming him down, either... it's ridiculous. Mom had to give him benedryl to calm him down last night. Nothing seems to be working tonight.
Awesome.
I love being home. Everyone is changing and growing up, and it's fun watching my parents weather the storm. It's wild... and I love it :)
Maybe I miss Nashville, maybe it's just a strange crafty obsession... but I've been looking up recipes, making healthy substitutions, and trying the bad boys out. Almost an entire pack of solo-shot glasses later... I have begun my dream of recreating Las Paletas in my kitchen :)
Caliente Dark Chocolate pops, Lime-Mint-Grape pops, and ... drumroll, please... attempt #1 at recreating the incredible Grapefruit pop. They're turning out pretty yummy, and my family isn't complaining... fun, healthy cooking hobby on my week off ;)
Shopped today with mom, dealt with endless family crises as our rebel-child continues barreling through his teenage years... another productive day at the Kellehers. Mom, Pat, and I had lunch, which was wonderful. He's grown up soo much.. and we actually process things very similarly. I can see a lot of my dad in him. It's great.
Kelleher family problem: Boomer is afraid of the Olympics. He doesn't like mom getting upset... and her suppressed inner cheerleader comes out (especially during gymnastics), which riles Boomer up and makes him start barking at the darkness outside, just in case the evil gymnast is coming to get us. There's no calming him down, either... it's ridiculous. Mom had to give him benedryl to calm him down last night. Nothing seems to be working tonight.
Awesome.
I love being home. Everyone is changing and growing up, and it's fun watching my parents weather the storm. It's wild... and I love it :)
Sunday, August 10, 2008
olympics, ghetti, grad school...
So Cory and I had an emotional, teary farewell thismorning as he headed away from Charleston...
just kidding.
After this summer apart, we exchanged a high five, a slap on the back, and a
-- "hey. be good until next week, champ"
- "not a chance, babe."
It feels good for things to be slooowly getting back to normal...!
Friday night was my first night out in downtown Charleston (other than CB's bachelorette party) ... we went to Vendue Inn (fun rooftop bar... and there was an anniversary dinner on the rooftop next to us, so we watched the guests dance and clink glasses and it was all very pretty) and Big John's, which is near and dear to my heart. BJ's was sketchy as ever (of course), and we had such a ball seeing Josh and Cam and other camp folk and friends.
The funniest part was that a random bar guy tried to pick up Cam's roommate by signing lude things to her in sign language. He didn't realize that she was out with a flock of people who had worked at camp for people with special needs -- and Mark, who is very good at signing, was there with us. So Mark started signing back, throwing the guy off his game.
It was all very classy.
Last night was a wonderful evening of wedding talk and baked ghetti (spaghetti for deprived readers who have never appreciated "ghetti") with Tyner and Zeke and Hannah and Rivers. And the Olympics. I love the Olympics. It's like field day for the universe. And Zeke has decided to arbitrarily start loving the Olympics... to the point where he has a dry-erase medal tally going on the wall of Tyner's new apartment.
Mom has decided the Olympics are a cruel competitive display of the US's oppressive tendencies.
"We don't need to flaunt our superiority to these poor, deprived nations."
... and I finally got to see Hannah. After far too long. ... it was just nice being around people I have known for awhile, talking about this-and-that and not worrying about school or research or moving. I have a week to just "be."
I'm excited to have time this week to just putter around Charleston and get stuff done for Grad School, too. I still have about a dozen people I'd like to contact about research, so that endeavor will eat up a lot of time... but I like reading articles and following their work, so it will be fun. I'm still ahead of the game, too -- my goal is to finish all of the preliminary stuff and get my recommendations requests done by the time school starts. Hopefully, I'll finish everything this week and just print and mail once I get back to Furman. I don't want to spend my senior year worrying about what comes next, you know? I want to enjoy "the moment" as much as possible.
Phelps is a beast, by the way. A beast. But we realized he doesn't close his mouth when he talks, so I am going to be distracted from his beastiness from here on out.
Thanks, Zeke, for ruining Phelps' beastiness.
Between the Olympics and Edwards, TV is worth watching these days. Oh, and the new season of Project Runway helps, too...
I just love watching CNN, ABC, and the National Enquirer on the same TV screen. I think it's absolutely hilarious, actually... there's not much more to say about Edwards, other than reiterating that he's scum and his poor wife has cancer. The baby-daddy thing is an interesting spin, but really -- who cares? He cheated on his wife, and I don't care to know the extent of the consequences. Whether he has a child doesn't change the magnitude of what he did; the networks just want to stretch it all out.
So the networks just keep talking about why they didn't break the news when the National Enquirer released the first stories. Clearly, they just have different calibers of source credibility. But all of them want to keep talking about this stupid affair, so they'll debate he-said-she-said until the end of time.
Good news: my brothers got home from their Gilligan's Island game. They took the boat to an island and camped overnight. They caught their own fish and battled mosquitoes. Eric can't drive the boat, but Pat can. Pat can't navigate, but Eric can. Eric's afraid of sharks and the dark, but the other guys know how to kill beasts. One of their friends was a line cook at a seafood restaurant, so he cooks for them. The crew resembles a mildly self-sufficient society.
Now, happily back to civilization, they have decided to go to CiCi's and try to eat the entire buffet. No exaggeration. Eric just got yelled at for eating a Nilla wafer because he is the boys' main source of "eating power."
Being home is strange but wonderful. I've missed pulling in the driveway to see dad swinging a hockey stick around the garage, trying to kill mud wasps. I've missed pulling aside a shower curtain to find Boomer, belly up, waiting for someone to give him water. I've missed mom's "decoy boxes" of healthy cereal that actually contain cookies she's hiding from Nolan.
It's nice. I'm home.
just kidding.
After this summer apart, we exchanged a high five, a slap on the back, and a
-- "hey. be good until next week, champ"
- "not a chance, babe."
It feels good for things to be slooowly getting back to normal...!
Friday night was my first night out in downtown Charleston (other than CB's bachelorette party) ... we went to Vendue Inn (fun rooftop bar... and there was an anniversary dinner on the rooftop next to us, so we watched the guests dance and clink glasses and it was all very pretty) and Big John's, which is near and dear to my heart. BJ's was sketchy as ever (of course), and we had such a ball seeing Josh and Cam and other camp folk and friends.
The funniest part was that a random bar guy tried to pick up Cam's roommate by signing lude things to her in sign language. He didn't realize that she was out with a flock of people who had worked at camp for people with special needs -- and Mark, who is very good at signing, was there with us. So Mark started signing back, throwing the guy off his game.
It was all very classy.
Last night was a wonderful evening of wedding talk and baked ghetti (spaghetti for deprived readers who have never appreciated "ghetti") with Tyner and Zeke and Hannah and Rivers. And the Olympics. I love the Olympics. It's like field day for the universe. And Zeke has decided to arbitrarily start loving the Olympics... to the point where he has a dry-erase medal tally going on the wall of Tyner's new apartment.
Mom has decided the Olympics are a cruel competitive display of the US's oppressive tendencies.
"We don't need to flaunt our superiority to these poor, deprived nations."
... and I finally got to see Hannah. After far too long. ... it was just nice being around people I have known for awhile, talking about this-and-that and not worrying about school or research or moving. I have a week to just "be."
I'm excited to have time this week to just putter around Charleston and get stuff done for Grad School, too. I still have about a dozen people I'd like to contact about research, so that endeavor will eat up a lot of time... but I like reading articles and following their work, so it will be fun. I'm still ahead of the game, too -- my goal is to finish all of the preliminary stuff and get my recommendations requests done by the time school starts. Hopefully, I'll finish everything this week and just print and mail once I get back to Furman. I don't want to spend my senior year worrying about what comes next, you know? I want to enjoy "the moment" as much as possible.
Phelps is a beast, by the way. A beast. But we realized he doesn't close his mouth when he talks, so I am going to be distracted from his beastiness from here on out.
Thanks, Zeke, for ruining Phelps' beastiness.
Between the Olympics and Edwards, TV is worth watching these days. Oh, and the new season of Project Runway helps, too...
I just love watching CNN, ABC, and the National Enquirer on the same TV screen. I think it's absolutely hilarious, actually... there's not much more to say about Edwards, other than reiterating that he's scum and his poor wife has cancer. The baby-daddy thing is an interesting spin, but really -- who cares? He cheated on his wife, and I don't care to know the extent of the consequences. Whether he has a child doesn't change the magnitude of what he did; the networks just want to stretch it all out.
So the networks just keep talking about why they didn't break the news when the National Enquirer released the first stories. Clearly, they just have different calibers of source credibility. But all of them want to keep talking about this stupid affair, so they'll debate he-said-she-said until the end of time.
Good news: my brothers got home from their Gilligan's Island game. They took the boat to an island and camped overnight. They caught their own fish and battled mosquitoes. Eric can't drive the boat, but Pat can. Pat can't navigate, but Eric can. Eric's afraid of sharks and the dark, but the other guys know how to kill beasts. One of their friends was a line cook at a seafood restaurant, so he cooks for them. The crew resembles a mildly self-sufficient society.
Now, happily back to civilization, they have decided to go to CiCi's and try to eat the entire buffet. No exaggeration. Eric just got yelled at for eating a Nilla wafer because he is the boys' main source of "eating power."
Being home is strange but wonderful. I've missed pulling in the driveway to see dad swinging a hockey stick around the garage, trying to kill mud wasps. I've missed pulling aside a shower curtain to find Boomer, belly up, waiting for someone to give him water. I've missed mom's "decoy boxes" of healthy cereal that actually contain cookies she's hiding from Nolan.
It's nice. I'm home.
Friday, August 8, 2008
beaches and bocci and friends...
I am finally home.
These last few days in Charleston have flown by... and now seem to be a fuzzy series of ridiculous fun with my family and Cory's family and some long-missed friends.
Charleston never felt so good.
Cory and I got in on Wednesday afternoon and went out to dinner with my parents. It's always funny hearing my parents interact... they do those cute one sided conversations back and forth..
"Pete, where's the computer cord?"
--- "Dinner was good tonight."
"I know I saw it around here somewhere"
--- "I think I'll make coffee."
And mom has started listening to Coldplay, which I find funny. They play it in Yoga, so it's the cool thing to do, I suppose. She's hilarious.... I never know what the new adventure is going to be around here.
The boys are big and crazy. Nolan is in California with our cousins for a few weeks, but it's been really nice to hanker down and spend time with Pat and Eric without all the chaos. And Cory fits right in... it's quite funny. He's a good sport, too.
Mom: "You know, Bridgette... we need to have another family reunion soon. The family is just waiting for a wedding..."
Right.
So after dinner, Cory and I went to see our first movie together ever (isn't that strange??)... Stepbrothers. Hilarious. Absolutely hilarious. Fun, too.. doing the date-y thing. We split a Chick-fil-a milkshake and switched seats 3 times to find the "perfect angle" to watch Will Ferrel make a fool out of himself without shame... nice night :)
Thursday the families came in town, so we spent the day playing on the beach with the Tonnsens and Cam. I parked my chair in the water, closed my eyes, and just enjoyed the feel of the ocean as the waves came in and out around me while the boys played Bocci. It was so beautiful... I always love the beach, but there's something about that "first trip" after a long haul that is extra special :)
Last night, Cory's family came over and we had the first ever Tonnsen-Kelleher dinner... lots of wine and shrimp and blueberry pie... and the families mingled great :). We are both so blessed to have such strong supports... our parents amaze me. Cory, Peanut and I went out to Red's afterwards.. I love sitting quasi-outside and drinking beer and being near the marina. Charleston at it's best :)
Today was shopping day... did the downtown thing, hung out with Cory's mom while Cory, Peanut, and our dads went golfing. Fun retail therapy :)
I'm so tired but so happy. This weekend has been incredible. Tonight is my first night out in Charleston (other than a bachelorette party) since I turned 21. I'm excited :)
Sorry for the laundry list, I just haven't had time to think... that's what next week is for ;)
These last few days in Charleston have flown by... and now seem to be a fuzzy series of ridiculous fun with my family and Cory's family and some long-missed friends.
Charleston never felt so good.
Cory and I got in on Wednesday afternoon and went out to dinner with my parents. It's always funny hearing my parents interact... they do those cute one sided conversations back and forth..
"Pete, where's the computer cord?"
--- "Dinner was good tonight."
"I know I saw it around here somewhere"
--- "I think I'll make coffee."
And mom has started listening to Coldplay, which I find funny. They play it in Yoga, so it's the cool thing to do, I suppose. She's hilarious.... I never know what the new adventure is going to be around here.
The boys are big and crazy. Nolan is in California with our cousins for a few weeks, but it's been really nice to hanker down and spend time with Pat and Eric without all the chaos. And Cory fits right in... it's quite funny. He's a good sport, too.
Mom: "You know, Bridgette... we need to have another family reunion soon. The family is just waiting for a wedding..."
Right.
So after dinner, Cory and I went to see our first movie together ever (isn't that strange??)... Stepbrothers. Hilarious. Absolutely hilarious. Fun, too.. doing the date-y thing. We split a Chick-fil-a milkshake and switched seats 3 times to find the "perfect angle" to watch Will Ferrel make a fool out of himself without shame... nice night :)
Thursday the families came in town, so we spent the day playing on the beach with the Tonnsens and Cam. I parked my chair in the water, closed my eyes, and just enjoyed the feel of the ocean as the waves came in and out around me while the boys played Bocci. It was so beautiful... I always love the beach, but there's something about that "first trip" after a long haul that is extra special :)
Last night, Cory's family came over and we had the first ever Tonnsen-Kelleher dinner... lots of wine and shrimp and blueberry pie... and the families mingled great :). We are both so blessed to have such strong supports... our parents amaze me. Cory, Peanut and I went out to Red's afterwards.. I love sitting quasi-outside and drinking beer and being near the marina. Charleston at it's best :)
Today was shopping day... did the downtown thing, hung out with Cory's mom while Cory, Peanut, and our dads went golfing. Fun retail therapy :)
I'm so tired but so happy. This weekend has been incredible. Tonight is my first night out in Charleston (other than a bachelorette party) since I turned 21. I'm excited :)
Sorry for the laundry list, I just haven't had time to think... that's what next week is for ;)
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
pears and closets and fancy dinners...
another wonderful day in greer :)
we decided to wait until tomorrow to leave, thinking today would be a good "rest up" day after our 14 hour project stint yesterday. but alas.. i woke up to hear cory shuffling around in the closet, looking for a stud finder so he could install another shelf.
"well, perhaps you should get a stud finder finder..." (for those of you who remember the fond fish finder joke of spring term)
so instead of resting, we painted and sanded and went to the farm to pick up all sorts of wonderful produce to bring home to my family. the truck smelled like tomatoes and fresh cantaloupes all day... it was wonderful.
i also noticed a lot of fruit growing on a tree in cory's back yard... we weren't quite sure what they were; they appeared to be a cross between an apple and a pear... but after much wikipedia-ing and double checking poisonous fruits in the carolinas, we deemed them small, eclectic pears... and i spent the rest of the afternoon picking and peeling pears and making delicious pear and pecan bread... yum :)
tonight was really nice -- we went out for a sweet, romantic dinner at justin's -- a nice steakhouse in downtown greer. it was wonderful ... going from being covered in sawdust and paint and eating ice pops to a spectacular audrey-hepburn style little black dress... eating delicious salmon and drinking lovely wine :)
now? back to laundry and installing shelves :)
i'm ready to go back to charleston... i'm ready for my crazy family and neverending high school madness. every time i come home, i'm a little older, a little happier... i think that's a good thing, being happier every day. while the little things don't always go right, the big things are a-ok these days :)
oh, and tyner is engaged! and i get to see her in charleston. and i am SO excited.
AAHH!!!
so alas and alack.. my last post before i go home.. for the first time since Easter! i fully intend to spend an inordinate amount of time on the beach with my lovely friends and family :)
we decided to wait until tomorrow to leave, thinking today would be a good "rest up" day after our 14 hour project stint yesterday. but alas.. i woke up to hear cory shuffling around in the closet, looking for a stud finder so he could install another shelf.
"well, perhaps you should get a stud finder finder..." (for those of you who remember the fond fish finder joke of spring term)
so instead of resting, we painted and sanded and went to the farm to pick up all sorts of wonderful produce to bring home to my family. the truck smelled like tomatoes and fresh cantaloupes all day... it was wonderful.
i also noticed a lot of fruit growing on a tree in cory's back yard... we weren't quite sure what they were; they appeared to be a cross between an apple and a pear... but after much wikipedia-ing and double checking poisonous fruits in the carolinas, we deemed them small, eclectic pears... and i spent the rest of the afternoon picking and peeling pears and making delicious pear and pecan bread... yum :)
tonight was really nice -- we went out for a sweet, romantic dinner at justin's -- a nice steakhouse in downtown greer. it was wonderful ... going from being covered in sawdust and paint and eating ice pops to a spectacular audrey-hepburn style little black dress... eating delicious salmon and drinking lovely wine :)
now? back to laundry and installing shelves :)
i'm ready to go back to charleston... i'm ready for my crazy family and neverending high school madness. every time i come home, i'm a little older, a little happier... i think that's a good thing, being happier every day. while the little things don't always go right, the big things are a-ok these days :)
oh, and tyner is engaged! and i get to see her in charleston. and i am SO excited.
AAHH!!!
so alas and alack.. my last post before i go home.. for the first time since Easter! i fully intend to spend an inordinate amount of time on the beach with my lovely friends and family :)
Monday, August 4, 2008
"hey... where'd the mailbox go?" .. and other adventures from greer
Oh, Greer.
I've been staying with Cory for the weekend, and it's been absolutely wonderful. Plenty of adventures, projects around the house... I feel a bit married, but I think that comes with the territory.
Stephanie, Kevin, Cory and I have instituted "family dinners" at the house. Stephanie and I find some ridiculously yummy-looking recipe to try, the boys go do some sort of man-project, and we cook in the kitchen while making frozen concoctions in the magic bullet.
I love the magic bullet.
It's just so homey. Cory and I went out on the four-wheeler a few weeks ago and took pictures of the farm, and I spent most of today frame shopping and picture printing... they look beautiful. We put a photo of a little alleyway off Rainbow Row in his kitchen, and pictures of the barn and tractors (in sepia) in his room. The best is a picture of Jake in the master bathroom -- the walls are a pretty steel blue and the accessories are chocolate brown, so we did a big brown frame with a canvas mat... and an adorable picture of Jake smiling with a snaggle tooth hanging out :)
Friday was nice... we went out with camp people downtown, I saw some dearly missed Furman buddies, so on and so forth...
Saturday was an adventure worth reliving in detail.
First, we decided to go to the TR Speedway. Really, I had consented to go on this adventure a few weeks ago when I received a special phone call that I thought would be forgotten (it wasn't). So we had a family dinner of shrimp and grits, magic bulleted margaritas, packed our coolers, and started heading out of the driveway.
On the way out, we noticed a shopping cart in Cory's neighbors side yard. The owner moved out because of some medical issue, so nobody has lived there since Cory moved in.... but now the front curtain was parted. Slightly creeped out, we called the police as we left, just so they could drive by and make sure nobody was squatting. While we were in the car, Cory realized his truck was unlocked, so he called his mom to come by and lock the doors. When mom and pops arrived, the neighbors were standing around Cory's driveway, looking at his front yard.
Apparently, the guy who had rented Cory's house before Cory bought it had gotten evicted, but he had come back to visit his ex-wife who lived the next street over. The neighbors saw the man walk down the street barefoot, shirtless, and drunk... walk to Cory's mailbox, rip it out of the ground, put it over his shoulder, walk the rest of the way down the street, and throw the mailbox in the flowerbed of the older woman who lives next door.
A few funny points about this story... the first being that NOTHING like this ever happens on Cory's street. He lives in a quiet neighborhood with very nice neighbors. But even funnier.. Cory is oddly obsessed with his mailbox. Not only did it take hours to put in (his front yard has a steep hill), but we have made fun of him consistently for his obsession for reading his mail, so the old tenant's choice to attack the mailbox was particularly funny.
I mean... seriously... who goes around throwing mailboxes in flowerbeds?
So after the police came (nobody was next door, by the way..) and we played with the drug dog, we got back in the car and went to the speedway. Lots of country folk (if you can call them that) in jeans and scrunchies and talking smack about the different drivers and cars. Oh, and arm wrestling on coolers. Very classic Travelers Rest. Nothing like eating boiled peanuts, drinking cheap beer, and watching cars drive around the dirt track.... right? ;)
So between the old tenant (who has a warrant out for his arrest, by the way) and the TR speedway, Saturday felt as small-town South Carolina as you can get. Sunday was sleepy, today was busy... tomorrow is Charleston!
I feel at home. Relaxed, happy, sleepy, busy... I cannot wait for life to get back to "normal," though. I need a space to call my own... living out of laundry baskets gets to you after awhile.
I am realizing this summer how much I depend on routine... I miss being able to cook and run and work.. I actually miss classes.. I just miss my typical, everyday life. I really like it. I am blessed.
Now... on to cement Cory's mailbox into the ground.... ;)
I've been staying with Cory for the weekend, and it's been absolutely wonderful. Plenty of adventures, projects around the house... I feel a bit married, but I think that comes with the territory.
Stephanie, Kevin, Cory and I have instituted "family dinners" at the house. Stephanie and I find some ridiculously yummy-looking recipe to try, the boys go do some sort of man-project, and we cook in the kitchen while making frozen concoctions in the magic bullet.
I love the magic bullet.
It's just so homey. Cory and I went out on the four-wheeler a few weeks ago and took pictures of the farm, and I spent most of today frame shopping and picture printing... they look beautiful. We put a photo of a little alleyway off Rainbow Row in his kitchen, and pictures of the barn and tractors (in sepia) in his room. The best is a picture of Jake in the master bathroom -- the walls are a pretty steel blue and the accessories are chocolate brown, so we did a big brown frame with a canvas mat... and an adorable picture of Jake smiling with a snaggle tooth hanging out :)
Friday was nice... we went out with camp people downtown, I saw some dearly missed Furman buddies, so on and so forth...
Saturday was an adventure worth reliving in detail.
First, we decided to go to the TR Speedway. Really, I had consented to go on this adventure a few weeks ago when I received a special phone call that I thought would be forgotten (it wasn't). So we had a family dinner of shrimp and grits, magic bulleted margaritas, packed our coolers, and started heading out of the driveway.
On the way out, we noticed a shopping cart in Cory's neighbors side yard. The owner moved out because of some medical issue, so nobody has lived there since Cory moved in.... but now the front curtain was parted. Slightly creeped out, we called the police as we left, just so they could drive by and make sure nobody was squatting. While we were in the car, Cory realized his truck was unlocked, so he called his mom to come by and lock the doors. When mom and pops arrived, the neighbors were standing around Cory's driveway, looking at his front yard.
Apparently, the guy who had rented Cory's house before Cory bought it had gotten evicted, but he had come back to visit his ex-wife who lived the next street over. The neighbors saw the man walk down the street barefoot, shirtless, and drunk... walk to Cory's mailbox, rip it out of the ground, put it over his shoulder, walk the rest of the way down the street, and throw the mailbox in the flowerbed of the older woman who lives next door.
A few funny points about this story... the first being that NOTHING like this ever happens on Cory's street. He lives in a quiet neighborhood with very nice neighbors. But even funnier.. Cory is oddly obsessed with his mailbox. Not only did it take hours to put in (his front yard has a steep hill), but we have made fun of him consistently for his obsession for reading his mail, so the old tenant's choice to attack the mailbox was particularly funny.
I mean... seriously... who goes around throwing mailboxes in flowerbeds?
So after the police came (nobody was next door, by the way..) and we played with the drug dog, we got back in the car and went to the speedway. Lots of country folk (if you can call them that) in jeans and scrunchies and talking smack about the different drivers and cars. Oh, and arm wrestling on coolers. Very classic Travelers Rest. Nothing like eating boiled peanuts, drinking cheap beer, and watching cars drive around the dirt track.... right? ;)
So between the old tenant (who has a warrant out for his arrest, by the way) and the TR speedway, Saturday felt as small-town South Carolina as you can get. Sunday was sleepy, today was busy... tomorrow is Charleston!
I feel at home. Relaxed, happy, sleepy, busy... I cannot wait for life to get back to "normal," though. I need a space to call my own... living out of laundry baskets gets to you after awhile.
I am realizing this summer how much I depend on routine... I miss being able to cook and run and work.. I actually miss classes.. I just miss my typical, everyday life. I really like it. I am blessed.
Now... on to cement Cory's mailbox into the ground.... ;)
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