corporate-free christmas

So, the pledge that I made to do a corporate-free christmas has turned out to be quite successful!
I just made my last order (from etsy.com) and got this email response, not automted, from a real person:

Thanks so much for your tie purchase - it is currently being made to orderand will ship tomorrow. :) Each is handmade uniquely just for you at the time of purchase.

My brother should love the tie I got him - it's a little nerdy and humorous but really hip looking. With that, the shopping is done! Every gift I got has either been from etsy or from local artisans. It feel very rewarding to support artists and crafters while at the same time getting really special and unique gifts for the people I care about. This Christmas required a little extra thought and planning, but it was so worth it! I can not wait to give everyone their gifts. It should be an extra special holiday season....

wonderful day

Yesterday was one of the most enjoyable days I've had in a very long time. Despite the recent stresses of finals and upcoming end-of-semester deadlines, I was somehow able to let that all go and just enjoy myself.

Tim is visiting this weekend (of course), so we decided to do something out of the ordinary. We slept in late, and then got up and headed off to the Ecotarium and spent a few hours looking at reptiles and playing with the exhibits like 5-year olds. It was so much fun. This was followed by lunch on Shrewsbury St., and and expedition around the city to find Bear Republic Racer 5 beer (thank you KJ Barron's!) then we went home to cook dinner. Tim was amazed at my mahi mahi, salad, and sweet potatos. Kimmy was in town, so we went out for drinks later with a few friends. It was the perfect finish to an amzing day. I really feel like things are falling into place whether or not I am happy with everything else I have to deal with.

Growing up happens fast.

mmm technology

At 9:30am today, the Clark University Class of 2008 Facebook group had 7 members. Now, at 8:00 pm, it has 66.
I done good.

Personally, I think it's pretty cool. The idea of society losing its privacy boundaries definitely freaks me out, but I think it's up to each of us to look at ourselves and decide how we want the world to see us. A cost-benefit analysis? Does the creepiness factor outweigh the fact that I can write on my Aunt's wall while she's in New York or check out photos of my cousins' toddlers who are growing up in Jersey and Washington? I'd take my family any day.

success

Last night I successfully brined, quartered, prepared, roasted, and served a chicken. Not to toot my own horn (beep beep), but it was amazingly delicious.
The way I see it now, even if all else fails, I will someday be a great housewife. This is not necessarily my goal, and I would undoubtedly go insane if said profession were to last for more than a year or two without some other substantial distraction, but at least I'll be good at something.

I wonder how the choices I make on a daily basis are going to change my life in the long term. On the one hand, it seems that this stage in life is extremely volatile and anything we do can change our path. On the other hand, here seems an endless realm of possibilities and all I need is the resources to be able to change my mind in an instant and rediscover my path. I feel terrified and thrilled at what lies before me today. The only way I keep my head from exploding is reminding myself that the Lord has a plan for each of us, no matter the twisted road we take.

simply an update

Late Saturday night my uncle Richard passed away. He had been suffering for months from cancer, and I know he is in a good place and his soul is with his family always.

What I am struggling with is keeping up with course assignments, readings, little things I need to remember (like loan payments and course registration... oops!) when I am discovering new emotions and dealing with bigger life events every day. Academically and organizationally I am not in a great place - I have no idea where I'm going with my life and my master's paper and my personal budget, but other things are falling so well into place.

I am seeing an amazing guy who makes me happy and makes the world a more beautiful place. He is becoming an important part of my support system and we have so much fun together. My friends and I are going through life transformations that, while seemingly dragging us apart, are in fact pulling us even closer together. We are growing together from college students into young, driven adults.

The recent change with the political climate in this nation has been incredibly inspiring to me. Now that this race is over, I hope that the enthusiasm that inspired so many will not give way to the daily grind or a feeling of success. We need to continue watching the news, making our voices heard, and fighting for our beliefs.

All for now. Not very coherent, but I'm working on this whole thoughts and feelings into words that make sense thing....

November 3, 2008

Today is the last day we will not know.
Tomorrow, things change.

I think, that above all, this nation is in need of inspiration, motivation, and a renewed place in the world. I worry about the alternative for the sake of the generation that comes after us.

Either way, I'm glad it will be over. This whole campaign thing has been exhausting...

Life goes on. This, too, shall pass.

the difference between men and women

A tidbit of conversation had Sunday night while out to dinner...

Me: I don't understand how men can memorize all these names, numbers, and statistics about professional athletes.

Tim: I can remember that Steve Smith is number 12 for the New York Giants. You can cook breakfast. Which is more useful?