A Journey to the Past

Yesterday at 12:30 began my fall break for school. I packed up some things and drove home yesterday. It was a gorgeous drive home getting a glimpse at newly changing trees. Fall is just beginning and the bright yellows, oranges, and reds were brilliant against the cold cloudy sky. It was fantastic to drive past towering rock faces as it began to rain. The rest of the drive home was rainy, but full of adventure as I took an extremely hilly road home. But it is nice to be back.

I came in the house last night to the familiar homey smells. And of course my mom was baking a scrumptious strawberry jam bread that made the whole house smell wonderful. But I hardly had a moment to fully process it as my dog sprang from her perch and bounded towards me tail-wagging and tongue ready to lick me into oblivion. It was a perfect welcome as I was simultaneously (lovingly) attacked by my dog and hugged by my mom. The rest of the night was spent relaying stories from school to my parents. It felt so good to just sit down to hangout with my dad!

Today I woke up late and went apple picking with my mom and my sister! It was a fun car ride as we weaved through the countryside laughing hysterically at silly things we said. Came back home to run some errands with my sister. Then I started a new knitting project (more like an experiment that will probably not turn into much) based on something I saw a girl knit at school. It could potentially be a sock or a leg warmer. We'll see. :) Made tuna melts tonight for dinner--YUM. Just watched My Best Friend's Girl with my sister. Gotta love Dane Cook! :)

I can hardly believe another day is over. It has been pouring rain and thundering for the last couple hours. Lightning has lit up my room as I type here in the dark. It is definitely October. Even though the weather wars with itself outside it is so warm and cozy in my room. I look around my room, at the walls, at my desk, at my closet. So many things on the wall reflect how I viewed life three or four years ago. It is definitely time for a change. My life has progressed since high school and my walls should reflect that. I still have a couple days left of break and though it will go quickly I want to spend some time making things to re-decorate my room. I have so many ideas that cannot become anything at school because I have no space to work or any resources to work with. My creations at school are limited. Here, at home, I can do anything.

It feels good to be home, even for a little while. Though I see ghosts of the past around me, it is time to transition into the future. I am excited to make new things. I am excited to spend time with my family. I am excited to see old friends, to reconnect, and to build upon what relationships we already have. This is a great time of the year: a time of transition. The holidays are coming. It is a good time to be thinking about family and friends. Sometimes a journey to the past can be a transition to the future.

Carpe Diem

I woke up this morning to my alarm obnoxiously beeping in my ear. As I rolled over to shut it off the typical Monday morning debate commenced inside my head. My brain attempted to convince me to ignore the fact that I had class in 20 minutes and to go back to sleep. So began another day in the life of a student.

Today is an experience day for visiting perspective students. It is strangely warm for an October day. The sky is perfectly blue without a cloud or contrail in it. The grass is green and soft on the Quad. I look out my window and see our nation's flag waving proudly. Students are walking to and fro on the sidewalks and through grass. I see people laying out their blankets and opening their laptops to study in the glorious sun. Someone is singing terribly out the window a couple floors down from me. And then there is a grounds worker cutting the grass. It seems as though they are always cutting the grass! I mean I know grass grows depending on the amount of rain we've had. And of course they have to keep it looking nice for visitors, but how many times does the grass really need to be cut?!

But as I look out my window and see students who don't have class wander around and go about there day, I am struck by the mundane routines we establish for ourselves. What excitement will be left to share if we never seize the day?

So here's the thing. I have a midterm tomorrow and two papers due Wednesday. But this day is too beautiful to waste on studying inside. Yes, I could study outside, but that would be self-defeating. I am going to take a study break and go frolic through the woods or jump in the pond! Who's with me? Seize this day! Because it will never come back. Once time is gone, it is gone. Do something spontaneous: go hug a stranger! go on an adventure! get your adrenaline pumping!

Don't get caught up in the boring routine of life. Life is for living! Seize this day! Live your life.
Down.
Set.

Go!

Day 7,401 of My Life

I am finally starting a blog, which might be long overdue. However, now that I'm here, I feel pressure to have an epic first blog. I can't promise anything epic, but I can promise a little bit of me, just being me. So, here I go...taking the PLUNGE!!!

This is day 7401 of my short life, and as always its been full of interesting, quirky, and boring things. As a college student living from paycheck to paycheck, I am learning to be thankful for the little things in life. There is so much to be utilized in life and college is the perfect place to make insignificant things into spectacular works of art. I am not an art major and would probably never make it in the competitive art realm, but I enjoy everything about art. I love to draw, paint, knit, sew, and craft in any way possible. I love taking things in the trash and making them into wall decorations (or even re-gifting them, after extensive refurbishment of course :P). Recently I've become obsessed with pinterest.com and finding creative outlets there! I highly recommend it, but be forewarned: it's so much more than addicting. :)

Anyways, I am a big knitter and crocheter. I love making hats, scarves, gloves, mittens, socks, slippers...pretty much anything. I like to make up my own patterns and see where it gets me. But it is fun to teach people and also learn from what other people do. I am going to try to sell some of my work, so I will post pictures of some things that I've done. This year my project will be to make my first sweater dress. Hopefully I'll have it done for winter! :)

I should also warn you that I am a history nerd. I love history and the stories of people. It fascinates me how history repeats itself. But, we all come from somewhere, and how can we move forward if we don't understand where we've been? So I am studying history in college. I hope to finish and get into museum studies or even archaeology. We shall see. There is lots of time...and yet so little.

There are so many things to say, but evil calls in the form of college papers. Until my next post.