The Columbia Neighborhood is my FAVORITE in Bellingham. It makes me happy, and if I were to live here outside of Western. this is the place I'd live. The school is the only walking school in the district...meaning that the school has NO buses! Most everyone at the school knows my name, and they are awesome. Today, when I was leaving work, one of my kindergarten girls followed me to my car via the fence on the playground. It's her ritual with me. Every time she's there, she follow me to my car, and makes sure I know that she knows which car is mine :) Well today, she ran alongside the fence and followed me to the end of the playground where the 4 way stop is. She had the biggest smile on her face and was waving like crazy! It made my heart happy. It was a fantastic way to start my day.
Dash lives in the Columbia neighborhood, and often we'll have dinner at his house. Tonight as I was on driving to his place after work, I saw two older guys playing catch in their yard. It was really cool. Where else would this happen? I mean, really. It's crazy. And it's awesome.
It helps keep me sane that I can be in this neighborhood so much. It feels less like a "college-town," and more like a cozy place that one could call home. Sometimes I forget how "homey" Bellingham can be, especially when stupid, stupid college students live here. And YES, I am a college student, but I am NOT stupid. Well at least not like everyone else. Thank you VERY much!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Making Pies
Fall has been in the air. I've been looking forward to fall. I LOVE this time of year!!! I've been craving old things that remind me of fall and home. Apples have been popping up at the stores like crazy, so I decided to get some and make my mom's cooked apples with cinnamon. Well the week got crazy, and I didn't end up making mom's apples, but I did end up making PIE!!!
Actually, I ended up making 3 pies! I was getting set up to make pies at Dash's, and his roommate, Liam, handed me a big can of pumpkin to use for whatever. So I ended up making an apple pie, a pumpkin pie, and an apple pumpkin pie. I essentially halved the pumpkin pie recipe and made it with lots more pumpkin. I found that I enjoyed it SO much more, although it was still really filling!!
Today was productive, but not so much in terms of school stuff. I cleaned my kitchen, the bathrooms, and a good portion of my room. It's nice to have a clean place! And nice that I had time to make it clean!! I also cleaned the beta's tank and got new "toys" and a warm place for the bird. All in all productive!!
I also "watched" the Huskies game with Dash and worked on stats homework. I got to hang out with work friends last night and enjoy good food this weekend.
It's been a good and enjoyable day. I needed it like crazy!
Actually, I ended up making 3 pies! I was getting set up to make pies at Dash's, and his roommate, Liam, handed me a big can of pumpkin to use for whatever. So I ended up making an apple pie, a pumpkin pie, and an apple pumpkin pie. I essentially halved the pumpkin pie recipe and made it with lots more pumpkin. I found that I enjoyed it SO much more, although it was still really filling!!
Today was productive, but not so much in terms of school stuff. I cleaned my kitchen, the bathrooms, and a good portion of my room. It's nice to have a clean place! And nice that I had time to make it clean!! I also cleaned the beta's tank and got new "toys" and a warm place for the bird. All in all productive!!
I also "watched" the Huskies game with Dash and worked on stats homework. I got to hang out with work friends last night and enjoy good food this weekend.
It's been a good and enjoyable day. I needed it like crazy!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
2 Years!!!!!
Dash, you have been an amazing support and the best friend I could ever ask for. Thanks for dealing with all my crazy for the past 2 years! May we have many more together!! I love you!!!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
today was a fairytale...
Dash and I have our 2 year anniversary coming up on September 1st, but as often is the case in life, we were having a hard time figuring out when to celebrate the anniversary. We finally were able to settle on today, which was great. We took a picnic to Larabee St. Park, drove Chuckanut to Burlington where we saw a movie and went to Outback for dinner. What was even better was that Dash had several gift cards which made today even more enjoyable and stress-free for both of us. I have a few pictures that I'll post soon. It was a really nice, low-key, relaxing way to celebrate being together.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Vacation all I ever wanted....
For the first time in a very long time, this past weekend felt like the most "vacation" time. It's been a long time. Normally, my trips are about "visiting" and "resting," but they aren't normally so relaxing. Usually, time away from Bellingham includes seeing people and wanting to fit things in. I was able to set my own schedule. I wasn't bound by a flight schedule or another person, it was just me. I visited Vashon Island to help celebrate my roommate Stacy's birthday and then went to Seattle to celebrate my sister's birthday and to Dash's family reunion. All in all it was an amazing weekend. I was very unmotivated to get back to Bellingham. Here's a sampling of some of the photos I took along the way.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Fix You
Today was a particularly challenging day at work. Actually, it's been about two weeks worth of challenging days. How my personal life is still intact, I'm not quite sure. After a frustrating, unnerving, odd, and down-right sad way to end the day, I was reminded why I do this job on my drive home. The song "Fix You" by Coldplay came on the radio, and the words reminded me why this job is important to me. The words reminded me of the bigger picture. Somehow, even through the heartache, I've found more determination to finish off the summer with. These kids need us, and frankly, I'm not about to let them down. I'm not about to let myself down. This is so much bigger than a summer.
When you try your best but you don't succeed
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse
And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you
And high up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you
Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face
And I
Tears stream down your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face
And I
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you
When you try your best but you don't succeed
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse
And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you
And high up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you
Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face
And I
Tears stream down your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face
And I
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Life Less Ordinary
More recently than I'd like to admit, I've been thinking of old places I once called "home." In all honesty, I try not to think about Arizona too much. It often leads to a spiral of frustration that eventually moves me to think about Nashville. Don't get me wrong, though. I have plenty of great memories from Arizona and Nashville. It is because of these places that I am who I am today. And I am damn proud of who I am today. I wouldn't change my experiences or my life for anything. I love where I am now. I have fought an long, uphill battle to get here.
Recently, I have wanted to get out and go swimming. Not swimming indoors, mind you. But swimming outside. The ridiculous thing about Washington, though, is that swimming outdoors means swimming in a lake, which are often infested with leeches and gross things. I'd love to go swimming in an outdoor pool, but they are seriously lacking around here.
All that to say, makes me think of my pool in Arizona. How I would love to get out and go swimming in the pool after a long day of work. Thus begins the spiral of frustration.
I am human, and I sometimes feel anger towards some of the friends I have around me. I know that everyone has their own baggage and fights in life, but it's hard for me to be around people who appear to take so many things for granted. It gets to the point sometimes where I just feel dismissive of them, but more than that I want to shake them and say what the hell are you thinking?!! You have so much. I grow tired of their complaints.
...More than anything, though, I think I just feel like a part of me has missed out. It sounds so self-fish and ridiculous to say. Now, I know that feelings are just that. Feelings. I KNOW it's not true. But sometimes I just need to say it. I think I've been suppressing this feeling for a while, and right now I feel as though I just need to sit with it awhile. I want to stare this feeling in the face, acknowledge it, and then let it go. Because I haven't done a very good job of letting it go.
The crazy thing is though that I couldn't have asked or ever dreamed of where my life took me. I love my life. I feel more than confident that my experiences have made me a better person, more sympathetic, more aware of what a life less ordinary looks and feels like, more genuine, more challenged, more grateful, more restless with the status quo, more desirable of something better, more patient when it counts, and more willing to do the less fun things in order to get something greater. These experiences will help me change how the world views Autism.
I was recently asked what my dream for my life was. Well, I want to change how the world views Autism. The person summed it up as, so you want to impact kids. Well yes. And no. I don't want to just impact kids. I want to do so much more than that. I want to help people, cause well we're all people, and we all need some understanding, some love, and some others in our lives who KNOW us and PUSH us to be better.
It's funny to me that this post has turned into a reaffirmation of where I'm at in my life. After my graduation from high school, my two best friends and I went to get tattoos together. Mine is the greek word for hope. If you look close enough at it, you'll see that there are some imperfections in the ink. It'd be easy enough to get it fixed, so it looks better. I told my mom a long time ago that I didn't want to get it fixed because I want to be reminded of how imperfect hope is, how flawed I am, and of my journey towards hope. Hope is a hard choice. Sometimes I forget to hope in certain moments, but everyday, hope is a choice. It is real, but it hurts like hell. I've just come to realize that the pain from hope is a lot more healing than you'd think. Sometimes, I still feel like I have a "hole" in my heart, but it's not as big as it once was. The hole reminds me of so many things, and I like that I have it as a reminder. I feel like it gets smaller as my world expands, but I don't think it'll ever run out of half-lives. And for that I am grateful, because I don't ever want to forget. I just need to tell myself to move on and not look too long. Sometimes just knowing it's there is enough.
And now...to relax into some peace before another work week begins. Today, that's totally enough :)
Recently, I have wanted to get out and go swimming. Not swimming indoors, mind you. But swimming outside. The ridiculous thing about Washington, though, is that swimming outdoors means swimming in a lake, which are often infested with leeches and gross things. I'd love to go swimming in an outdoor pool, but they are seriously lacking around here.
All that to say, makes me think of my pool in Arizona. How I would love to get out and go swimming in the pool after a long day of work. Thus begins the spiral of frustration.
I am human, and I sometimes feel anger towards some of the friends I have around me. I know that everyone has their own baggage and fights in life, but it's hard for me to be around people who appear to take so many things for granted. It gets to the point sometimes where I just feel dismissive of them, but more than that I want to shake them and say what the hell are you thinking?!! You have so much. I grow tired of their complaints.
...More than anything, though, I think I just feel like a part of me has missed out. It sounds so self-fish and ridiculous to say. Now, I know that feelings are just that. Feelings. I KNOW it's not true. But sometimes I just need to say it. I think I've been suppressing this feeling for a while, and right now I feel as though I just need to sit with it awhile. I want to stare this feeling in the face, acknowledge it, and then let it go. Because I haven't done a very good job of letting it go.
The crazy thing is though that I couldn't have asked or ever dreamed of where my life took me. I love my life. I feel more than confident that my experiences have made me a better person, more sympathetic, more aware of what a life less ordinary looks and feels like, more genuine, more challenged, more grateful, more restless with the status quo, more desirable of something better, more patient when it counts, and more willing to do the less fun things in order to get something greater. These experiences will help me change how the world views Autism.
I was recently asked what my dream for my life was. Well, I want to change how the world views Autism. The person summed it up as, so you want to impact kids. Well yes. And no. I don't want to just impact kids. I want to do so much more than that. I want to help people, cause well we're all people, and we all need some understanding, some love, and some others in our lives who KNOW us and PUSH us to be better.
It's funny to me that this post has turned into a reaffirmation of where I'm at in my life. After my graduation from high school, my two best friends and I went to get tattoos together. Mine is the greek word for hope. If you look close enough at it, you'll see that there are some imperfections in the ink. It'd be easy enough to get it fixed, so it looks better. I told my mom a long time ago that I didn't want to get it fixed because I want to be reminded of how imperfect hope is, how flawed I am, and of my journey towards hope. Hope is a hard choice. Sometimes I forget to hope in certain moments, but everyday, hope is a choice. It is real, but it hurts like hell. I've just come to realize that the pain from hope is a lot more healing than you'd think. Sometimes, I still feel like I have a "hole" in my heart, but it's not as big as it once was. The hole reminds me of so many things, and I like that I have it as a reminder. I feel like it gets smaller as my world expands, but I don't think it'll ever run out of half-lives. And for that I am grateful, because I don't ever want to forget. I just need to tell myself to move on and not look too long. Sometimes just knowing it's there is enough.
And now...to relax into some peace before another work week begins. Today, that's totally enough :)
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Hello?
I haven't had to charge my phone two nights in a row in a very long time, but I'm certain that tonight I will need to do just that. This evening has been an odd evening of catching up with friends via phone calls. With the amount of texting that I do on a daily basis, the thought of phone calls is often daunting. It's always nice when it does work out. I forget how good it is to talk to people in my world. It's nice to be reminded of connections and friends and good times. It's also enjoyable to have "adult" conversations, instead of having conversations that go something like
Kid: "I have to go to the bathroom."
Me: "Are you kidding me? Not only did we just go to the bathroom, we announced it 5 times!"
Kid: "I didn't have to go then."
Me: "For real?"
Kid: "Yes"
Me: "Is it an emergency?"
Kid: "Yeah. I gotta go real bad."
Me: "Fine. Does anyone else have to go the bathroom? This is the LAST time we're going for the next 30 minutes."
...10 minutes later...
Kid: "Teacher, I have to go to the bathroom."
or conversations that go something like
Kid: "Jessica, he hit me."
Me: "Did you use your words?"
Kid: "Yes, but he wouldn't listen."
Me: ", did you just hit ?"
Kid 2: "She hit me first!"
I remember the days where my parents just looked pained when we said their names multiple times, and now I feel their pain. I've even had a few days where I've flat out hated my name. I love my job and the kids that I work with. They piss me off, but they brighten the world that much more. Today I'm lucky enough to be home, smiling and laughing about the day. I'm also lucky enough to have good friends and family around me that bring light to my life. I am grateful to have them be a part of my world.
Kid: "I have to go to the bathroom."
Me: "Are you kidding me? Not only did we just go to the bathroom, we announced it 5 times!"
Kid: "I didn't have to go then."
Me: "For real?"
Kid: "Yes"
Me: "Is it an emergency?"
Kid: "Yeah. I gotta go real bad."
Me: "Fine. Does anyone else have to go the bathroom? This is the LAST time we're going for the next 30 minutes."
...10 minutes later...
Kid: "Teacher, I have to go to the bathroom."
or conversations that go something like
Kid: "Jessica, he hit me."
Me: "Did you use your words?"
Kid: "Yes, but he wouldn't listen."
Me: "
Kid 2: "She hit me first!"
I remember the days where my parents just looked pained when we said their names multiple times, and now I feel their pain. I've even had a few days where I've flat out hated my name. I love my job and the kids that I work with. They piss me off, but they brighten the world that much more. Today I'm lucky enough to be home, smiling and laughing about the day. I'm also lucky enough to have good friends and family around me that bring light to my life. I am grateful to have them be a part of my world.
Monday, May 31, 2010
3 day weekends....
are SO amazing. I think that the beginning of every dead week should start with a Monday off. I've actually been able to get stuff done!!!! I'm in need of seeing just how much I got done this weekend, so you oh faithful blog audience, will get to be enlightened :)
- Finished a stats paper
- Cooked ALOT
- mac 'n cheese
- mashed potatoes
- monkey bread
- potato soup
- Finished a Study Guide to prepare for a Lab final tomorrow a.m.
- Started a study guide for my communication sciences and disorders class (in which the tests are crazy annoying)
- Started working on a study guide for my Geo final
- Hung out with "new" friends
- Went to ski to sea for the first time
- Babysat!!!
- Had a game night at the apartment
- Did laundry
- Edited Em's stats paper
- Had a Harry Potter movie marathon while studying (Dash and I are currently on the 4th movie)
I feel like I did more, which I probably did, but this is what I've got for now. Which is actually a LOT. This weekend has flown by, but it's been amazing in terms of how much I've gotten done and people I've gotten to see. I'm looking forward to the end of the quarter and am hoping that I'll actually be getting some good sleep from now until the end of the quarter.
Now I just need to secure a sub for the time that I'll be away, study for finals, and have a good break before camp starts! Oi vey...still so much to do...
- Finished a stats paper
- Cooked ALOT
- mac 'n cheese
- mashed potatoes
- monkey bread
- potato soup
- Finished a Study Guide to prepare for a Lab final tomorrow a.m.
- Started a study guide for my communication sciences and disorders class (in which the tests are crazy annoying)
- Started working on a study guide for my Geo final
- Hung out with "new" friends
- Went to ski to sea for the first time
- Babysat!!!
- Had a game night at the apartment
- Did laundry
- Edited Em's stats paper
- Had a Harry Potter movie marathon while studying (Dash and I are currently on the 4th movie)
I feel like I did more, which I probably did, but this is what I've got for now. Which is actually a LOT. This weekend has flown by, but it's been amazing in terms of how much I've gotten done and people I've gotten to see. I'm looking forward to the end of the quarter and am hoping that I'll actually be getting some good sleep from now until the end of the quarter.
Now I just need to secure a sub for the time that I'll be away, study for finals, and have a good break before camp starts! Oi vey...still so much to do...
Sunday, May 2, 2010
you helping you is actually helping me
i'm coming into mid-terms week. i've got two quizzes and three exams this week. ick!! so, dash has spent a fair amount of time at my place this weekend (his mid-terms were last week), so i could study at home. i got to a point today where i was feeling overwhelmed by everything, and not sure where to start. i expressed this to dash, and he gave me a possible game plan of how i could do things. taking that game plan thought, i started working on my studies. since then, i have accomplished a great deal. he also helped me get my room cleaned (it was his suggestion!!), and helped me get my kitchen clean. i was commenting on how good he's been today, and he said that really he was just helping himself out because the end result is a less stressed jessica. i looked at him and said that, "you helping you is actually helping me." he very tactfully offered some tid-bits of info to me before he left tonight. he helped me realize that when i'm overwhelmed with stress it actually immobilizes me more than i realize. he was really helpful and very observant in his comments. it was pretty amazing to listen to him and realize that he is quite articulate and that for all his memory problems he does actually notice things and really does know me. it's nice to be surprised still.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
seattle day (4.17)
as part of my birthday, dash got us tickets to see a mariner's game! on our way to seattle, we stopped at the tulip festival with my roommate stacy and her sister jana.
Monday, April 12, 2010
venice
i've always put greece at the top in places i want to go visit...until like 5 minutes ago. i'm reading my art history book, and i've come across an architect from the 1560s. his name is andrea palladio, and his work makes me want to cry it's so beautiful. i have to venice and see this place. i think my top 3 are now as follows...1. venice. 2. greece. 3. thailand. ok, i'm ready. let's go.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
i forgot...
when i was in high school, my dad and i would go to the different coffee shops around nashville. it seemed that it was the only time that we could get together. today, i'm sitting in a coffee shop studying for an exam before i go work at the winery, and i forgot how much i love these places. i think it's time that i start getting out to more coffee shops to study. i think that that'll be highly beneficial to me this quarter.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
a good song....
Heart Like Mine by Miranda Lambert
I ain't the kind you take home to mama
I ain't the kind to wear no ring
Somehow I always get stronger
When I'm on my second drink
Even though I hate to admit it
Sometimes I smoke cigarettes
Christian folks say I should quit
I just smile and say "God bless"
Cause I heard Jesus, He drank wine
And I bet we'd get along just fine
He could calm a storm and heal the blind
And I bet He'd understand a heart like mine
Daddy cried when he saw my tattoo
Said he'd love me anyway
My brother got the brains of the family
So I thought I'd learn to sing
Cause I heard Jesus, He drank wine
And I bet we'd get along just fine
He could calm a storm and heal the blind
And I bet He'd understand a heart like mine
I'll fly anyway
From it all one day
I'll fly away
These are the days that I will remember
When my name's called on the roll
He'll meet me with two long-stemmed glasses
Make a toast to me coming home
Cause I heard Jesus, He drank wine
And I bet we'd get along just fine
He could calm a storm and heal the blind
And I bet He'd understand a heart like mine
Oh, yes He would
you know, it kills me that we forget that so easily...
I ain't the kind you take home to mama
I ain't the kind to wear no ring
Somehow I always get stronger
When I'm on my second drink
Even though I hate to admit it
Sometimes I smoke cigarettes
Christian folks say I should quit
I just smile and say "God bless"
Cause I heard Jesus, He drank wine
And I bet we'd get along just fine
He could calm a storm and heal the blind
And I bet He'd understand a heart like mine
Daddy cried when he saw my tattoo
Said he'd love me anyway
My brother got the brains of the family
So I thought I'd learn to sing
Cause I heard Jesus, He drank wine
And I bet we'd get along just fine
He could calm a storm and heal the blind
And I bet He'd understand a heart like mine
I'll fly anyway
From it all one day
I'll fly away
These are the days that I will remember
When my name's called on the roll
He'll meet me with two long-stemmed glasses
Make a toast to me coming home
Cause I heard Jesus, He drank wine
And I bet we'd get along just fine
He could calm a storm and heal the blind
And I bet He'd understand a heart like mine
Oh, yes He would
you know, it kills me that we forget that so easily...
Saturday, March 6, 2010
hello
I think it's nearly safe to say that spring is here.
While making an afternoon pot of coffee (you can always tell where in the quarter it is based on how much coffee I consume), I looked out my kitchen window and saw a mama bird and her 4-5 babies. They were digging in the ground and munching on some food. They almost blended into the ground, but I saw them!
I love that I can see deer and birds and just signs of life outside my kitchen window.
While making an afternoon pot of coffee (you can always tell where in the quarter it is based on how much coffee I consume), I looked out my kitchen window and saw a mama bird and her 4-5 babies. They were digging in the ground and munching on some food. They almost blended into the ground, but I saw them!
I love that I can see deer and birds and just signs of life outside my kitchen window.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
the difference between inferring and predicting...
at work, i have several characters in my kids. this week i picked up new supplies for the site this week. included in the new supplies were white boards for the kids to use. well one of my girls wrote a question on hers and came over to me, holding the sign in front of her. it said "what's the difference between inferring and predicting? ask me."
so she tells me the difference, and is so proud of what she learned in school that she chose that to share during our sharing time at snack! one of the parents was waiting for his kids to finish up snack, and got a kick out of watching all my kids. he told me that he needs to come hang out with us more often.
sometimes in the midst of everything, i forget to remember the good, the funny, the lighthearted things that are going on.
so she tells me the difference, and is so proud of what she learned in school that she chose that to share during our sharing time at snack! one of the parents was waiting for his kids to finish up snack, and got a kick out of watching all my kids. he told me that he needs to come hang out with us more often.
sometimes in the midst of everything, i forget to remember the good, the funny, the lighthearted things that are going on.
registration...
so, i both like and loathe registration time. it's frustrating. big big time! but i finally think that things are going to work out, and that i'll end up with a good schedule for next quarter. it'll give me enough flexibility with work and such. as much as i enjoy being home, i think that next quarter i'm going to have to force myself to spend extra time on campus to actually study. boo! but all is going to be okay. and i'm actually starting to feel like the rest of my time at western might not be so stressful (in terms of finding classes to take) as i was thinking.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
epic
today was wonderfully epic. we took a trip up to vancouver, b.c., to enjoy the last day of olympic festivities. it was amazing. we got lost, walked around nearly all of downtown, ate lunch with a bunch of canadians while watching the hockey game, saw the olympic torch, got a picture taken with a torch bearer, and stuck out like an american tourist. it was so fun. i'm way too tired to post any pictures tonight, but there will be pictures soon. it was awesome. i'm so, so glad that it worked out for us to go :)
goodnight, cyber-world. sweet dreams.
goodnight, cyber-world. sweet dreams.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
want some pep?
so, last night I was making chicken noodle soup. dash likes that I make it spicy, but when he tasted the broth he said it wasn't as spicy as last night. so I decided to add some more crushed red pepper to it. well... lo and behold, TONS poured out of the spice container. so now I have spicy chicken noodle soup that leaves your sinuses clear and your lips tingling. gotta love it.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
hiking
Today we went on a hike with our good friends Matt and Em. It was the first hike of the season, and it was brutal! It was a STEEP 1.9 mile hike. But the view of the lake was gorgeous once we got there. It was so nice to get out and enjoy the weather. It was sunny and quite possibly more dogs than people were out! Bellingham is a funny place. People love the outdoors and their dogs. They're just another outdoor accessory.
We also went down to Clayton Beach and hung out there for a bit. Dash and Matt played frisbee; Em and I sat on the beach and chatted. I needed a day out with good friends. I don't see enough of Em now that we aren't roommates.
I am confident that I will sleep amazingly tonight and that I will be sore! tomorrow. Totally worth it though. Tomorrow will be a day of studying, writing papers, and reading. I love weekends. It's a much needed break from hectic weeks.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Sunshine
It's mid-February, but it feels like Spring already. I'm sure it'll mean other bad weather related things later, but right now, I've needed the good weather. I'm thankful for that, and I'm thankful that God has brought me things that I need.
I was all ready to sit down and write a great new post, but there was a spaghetti sauce emergency, and alas I'm afraid my great post is "lost."
Today was my grandma's funeral. I was not there. But I am sure that it was lovely. I'm confident that all worked out as it should, but part of me still feels like a bad granddaughter for not being there. But I know grandma understands.
It's nearing the end of the quarter. It's the home-stretch now. But man oh man do I ever have LOTS of things to do! I just hope the sunshine lasts, although I may not get much done because I'll be outside! :)
I was all ready to sit down and write a great new post, but there was a spaghetti sauce emergency, and alas I'm afraid my great post is "lost."
Today was my grandma's funeral. I was not there. But I am sure that it was lovely. I'm confident that all worked out as it should, but part of me still feels like a bad granddaughter for not being there. But I know grandma understands.
It's nearing the end of the quarter. It's the home-stretch now. But man oh man do I ever have LOTS of things to do! I just hope the sunshine lasts, although I may not get much done because I'll be outside! :)
Saturday, February 13, 2010
For Uncle Ken
I'm fairly certain that the only people who read this blog are my Uncle Ken and my mom. But mom reminded me today that Uncle Ken said he always likes reading my blog. That seems to have given me a greater desire to update my blog more regularly.
I'll be honest, I often think of things that would be fun to write about and share. But as Dash said yesterday, I lack some mental skills at the end of the day because I have use so much of my mental capacity in everything I do. So, things often slip my mind at the end of the day.
This past week has been very weird. I'm not even sure that random even really began to describe it. I spent more time working, which I'm grateful for, but it gave me little time to get things done, especially since I spent last weekend "visiting" with friends (which is definitely much needed, and most times long-overdue, but it's a balancing act between work and school).
My grandmother is passing. We've known for sometime now that she wasn't doing great, but I feel as though the slowing down of her body has been sudden. My grandmother has had severe dementia for many years now, but her body has always been strong. Her body is now failing her. But our bodies aren't made to last forever. It's really weird to be so far away and so "removed" from the whole process. I think in it's own strange way that death has a way of bringing people together. I think that I've talked with my mom more than normal (although, it's usually quite a bit), and I think she's talked to Uncle Ken almost everyday this week.
I feel strangely emotional about everything. I know I've not always been close to my grandma, but it's an odd sense of loss. I think it's one thing to know that someone is there, and an entirely other thing to know that that person won't always be there anymore. I think it's also more intensified by the fact that she's my last living paternal-grandmother. All of my other grandparents have passed away.
She was a storyteller. And I'm sure that she was a hoot in her younger days. I'm not sure if I'll be able to make it back for the funeral, but I feel certain that I'll share her memory with others. I think I want to have a celebration of life with my friends nearby. I'll make her biscuits, grits, fried ham, and perhaps I'll make a super Southern dish just for her.
I think she'd like that. And I think that she'd be mad if I didn't share her stories. Almost every time I think of grits, I think of the story of how she made grits for the first time shortly after she married Elbert. It turned into a big mess and rock hard. So she gave it to the birds. But soon she will fly, like birds she has so often told me stories of.
I've made lasagna for tonight, and it just came out of the oven. It looks great! I'm so excited!!! So I'm going to share a few photos with you. It's super easy, super simple, and very pretty!!
I'll be honest, I often think of things that would be fun to write about and share. But as Dash said yesterday, I lack some mental skills at the end of the day because I have use so much of my mental capacity in everything I do. So, things often slip my mind at the end of the day.
This past week has been very weird. I'm not even sure that random even really began to describe it. I spent more time working, which I'm grateful for, but it gave me little time to get things done, especially since I spent last weekend "visiting" with friends (which is definitely much needed, and most times long-overdue, but it's a balancing act between work and school).
My grandmother is passing. We've known for sometime now that she wasn't doing great, but I feel as though the slowing down of her body has been sudden. My grandmother has had severe dementia for many years now, but her body has always been strong. Her body is now failing her. But our bodies aren't made to last forever. It's really weird to be so far away and so "removed" from the whole process. I think in it's own strange way that death has a way of bringing people together. I think that I've talked with my mom more than normal (although, it's usually quite a bit), and I think she's talked to Uncle Ken almost everyday this week.
I feel strangely emotional about everything. I know I've not always been close to my grandma, but it's an odd sense of loss. I think it's one thing to know that someone is there, and an entirely other thing to know that that person won't always be there anymore. I think it's also more intensified by the fact that she's my last living paternal-grandmother. All of my other grandparents have passed away.
She was a storyteller. And I'm sure that she was a hoot in her younger days. I'm not sure if I'll be able to make it back for the funeral, but I feel certain that I'll share her memory with others. I think I want to have a celebration of life with my friends nearby. I'll make her biscuits, grits, fried ham, and perhaps I'll make a super Southern dish just for her.
I think she'd like that. And I think that she'd be mad if I didn't share her stories. Almost every time I think of grits, I think of the story of how she made grits for the first time shortly after she married Elbert. It turned into a big mess and rock hard. So she gave it to the birds. But soon she will fly, like birds she has so often told me stories of.
I've made lasagna for tonight, and it just came out of the oven. It looks great! I'm so excited!!! So I'm going to share a few photos with you. It's super easy, super simple, and very pretty!!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Note to self...
Chocolate, sugar, and sour gummy bears=too hyper of kids.
Must use popcorn as a treat next time...(and my love of baking will have to wait with this group of kids)
Must use popcorn as a treat next time...(and my love of baking will have to wait with this group of kids)
Monday, February 1, 2010
New Beginnings
Today was a rare Monday in which I didn't work. And it was amazing. I still went to classes and ran errands, but I was able to go for an actual run! at the gym and eat dinner before 6:30 p.m. (Which is rare when I usually get off at 6 p.m.) My body actually let me run and my knee doesn't hate me. I think that it's time to "run" with it, so to speak, and start running again. It's been a long time. My soul has missed it. I'm ready to put it back on my life schedule again. I think I've been living in a funk for awhile, but I'm feeling like the funk is leaving.
My life in WA feels more settled. I'm feeling better about things. I turned in my major declaration at school today. So hopefully by the end of this week, I'll be an official Psychology major. Yay!! It's been an amazing day. I didn't get as much studying done for my exam tomorrow, but such is life. I had a great day doing things that needed to be done and taking actual time for me!
I'm tired, but the day well spent kind of tired, not the life's beating me down tired of late. I want 2010 to be a year of New Beginnings, and I think it's going to be just that. I'm looking forward to it. It's February, and it's a beautiful thing.
It may be late, but I'm finally ready to make some definite goals for myself.
Goals for 2010...
-See Amanda and Hailey in Nashville
-Start and keep a running/workout schedule
-Write more
-Continue with the Book Club my roommates and I started and read for myself as well
-Do crafty things more often (make cards, oil pastels, maybe even paint)
-Spend more time in places in Bellingham that I love
-Allow myself to relax more
I'm sure there are more, but these seem to encompass more things that I want to make a more permanent part of my life.
A few pictures from my trip to Reno, NV. Dash came out and met the family! These are a few pictures from our trip with Mom and Dad to Squaw Valley, CA, near Tahoe.
My life in WA feels more settled. I'm feeling better about things. I turned in my major declaration at school today. So hopefully by the end of this week, I'll be an official Psychology major. Yay!! It's been an amazing day. I didn't get as much studying done for my exam tomorrow, but such is life. I had a great day doing things that needed to be done and taking actual time for me!
I'm tired, but the day well spent kind of tired, not the life's beating me down tired of late. I want 2010 to be a year of New Beginnings, and I think it's going to be just that. I'm looking forward to it. It's February, and it's a beautiful thing.
It may be late, but I'm finally ready to make some definite goals for myself.
Goals for 2010...
-See Amanda and Hailey in Nashville
-Start and keep a running/workout schedule
-Write more
-Continue with the Book Club my roommates and I started and read for myself as well
-Do crafty things more often (make cards, oil pastels, maybe even paint)
-Spend more time in places in Bellingham that I love
-Allow myself to relax more
I'm sure there are more, but these seem to encompass more things that I want to make a more permanent part of my life.
A few pictures from my trip to Reno, NV. Dash came out and met the family! These are a few pictures from our trip with Mom and Dad to Squaw Valley, CA, near Tahoe.
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