In my holiday colors. Better late than never!
I took a ton of cute pictures of my younger cousins, but I figured I shouldn't put them on here for privacy purposes. Not that I lead a terribly exciting life, but still.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
I love my family
The good thing about being in Kansas City is that I see my family more often. I didn't get to go home for the 4th of July because Ross and I had to work, so my mom decided to have a pool party while I was in town this weekend so I could see everyone.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
This Morning
I ran 3.1 miles outside in the blazing sunshine and I DIDN'T WALK ONCE! I also ran it in a reasonable time, even though I wasn't focusing on my pace. I love running in my old neighborhood. I think I found some of the "old me" running around those streets again.
This Morning
by Lucille Clifton
this morning
this morning
i met myself
coming in
a bright
jungle girl
shining
quick as a snake
a tall
tree girl a
me girl
i met myself
this morning
coming in
and all day
i have been
a black bell
ringing
i survive
survive!
this morning
i met myself
coming in
a bright
jungle girl
shining
quick as a snake
a tall
tree girl a
me girl
i met myself
this morning
coming in
and all day
i have been
a black bell
ringing
i survive
survive!
Friday, July 9, 2010
Zach and Ebie
You know "that couple" right? The one couple in high school who actually has a shot at making it? We had a pretty big "group" in high school, including 3 serious couples. Of course those of us who were single at graduation placed bets on which couples would last past freshman year of college. I won't divulge who placed which bets, and I honestly don't remember what the official votes were, but I can say that we're all so happy to see Zach and Ebie married at last!
Their wedding tonight was eight years in the making. If I may borrow a line from Friends (fitting, actually, because Zach made a great Chandler for Halloween one year):
Their wedding tonight was eight years in the making. If I may borrow a line from Friends (fitting, actually, because Zach made a great Chandler for Halloween one year):
I've known them separately and I've known them together and to know them as a couple is to know that you are truly in the presence of love. So I would like to raise my glass to (Ebie and Zach), and the beautiful adventure they are about to embark upon together. I can think of no two people better prepared for the journey.
Introducing Mr. and Mrs.
I was a little nervous before the wedding. I'm so bad at keeping in touch and it doesn't take long for me to be out of the loop. But once I got there, I realized I had nothing to fear! I was friends with all these people for a reason and I feel better about myself around them! It was so good to be in the presence of such genuine people. Congratulations Zach and Ebie, and thanks for inviting me!
Beautiful dress and beautiful cakes
Ross and me
Mike, Grant, me, Joey
Zach: "You'll put this on facebook, right? With tags?"
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
100 Miles!
I was listening to the radio on my way to work today and apparently today is Chocolate Day! (Not to be confused with National Chocolate Day on October 28th or World Chocolate Day on September 4th.) I wish I had the day off because I've been wanting to make a chocolate lava cake for a while now and today would be a good excuse to do so! I guess I'll have to be prepared on September 4...
In the meantime, I plan on enjoying this guy after lunch:
I have a 4 hour class tomorrow and then I have the weekend off to go to a wedding in Omaha! I'm so excited to see some of my best high school friends.
On a side note, check out my dailymile.com mileage tracker in the sidebar. I've surpassed 100 miles since I started keeping track at the end of March! I'm so glad I started counting. My little runs do add up and having such a substantial number behind me is a great confidence booster!
In the meantime, I plan on enjoying this guy after lunch:
On a side note, check out my dailymile.com mileage tracker in the sidebar. I've surpassed 100 miles since I started keeping track at the end of March! I'm so glad I started counting. My little runs do add up and having such a substantial number behind me is a great confidence booster!
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Lessons
I do not learn from my mistakes. I complain about working too much overtime, yet I picked up a shift today. I hate it when I let people walk all over me, yet when a co-worker approached me yesterday and asked if I'd switch a day next week, I said yes! It wasn't even for a life or death matter on her part... it was a social event. It puts me at 4 shifts in a row, and I still said yes!
This morning when I was between sleep and awake (you know, when your dreams and thoughts get jumbled together) I startedthinking beating myself up about the fact that I never follow through. I never take chances. I so rarely push myself to my potential.
My sister-in-law just finished grad school and Ross is in the process of doing so. My dad is an M.D. My mom has a Masters degree in special education. My 23 year old brother just finished his first year of med school. My 21 year old brother want to go to law school. And my 18 year old brother will succeed in whatever he chooses once he decides what he wants to do!
I'm a Registered Nurse, for crying out loud! I have a BSN and one of the best jobs in this market, yet I feel inadequate. I loved my exercise physiology class in college, but I dropped it several weeks into the semester. I didn't finish my Spanish minor, even though I was just 6 hours short. I didn't study abroad, partly because I wanted to spend summer vacation with my long-distance boyfriend at the time! And even without all those luxuries (working on a Minor degree, studying overseas) I still graduated late! It's pretty pitiful.
In addition to all the personal bridges I burned in college, I also managed to bungle up one of the best oppurtunites I had to make something of myself. I barely tried.
I realize that this is a "poor me" post, and a little voice in the back of my head is telling me I should really be grateful that I have a college degree because that alone places me in an elite category as a citizen of this world. I understand that. And I am so grateful for my parents and the way they raised me and the opportunities I DID have growing up. Because I had a lot of them. I don't mean to minimize that. It's just that when left to my OWN devices, I am an underachiever. And it bugs me.
As much as I love to dwell on the past and kick myself over and over again, the only thing I can change is the future. And, of course, give my two cents to every college student I know: go to the campus gym more often. You'll be a better student and feel better about yourself if you're active and healthy. Plus, you won't realize how nice it was to have access to a great gym for free, until it's gone. Study abroad. Even if it means leaving your college boyfriend for the summer. Even if it means taking out a loan. Even if it means graduating late. You may never have another chance to LIVE in another foreign city and (from what I hear) it's so different from being a tourist. Take classes outside your major. While I dropped my exercise physiology class and some other random classes here and there, I did take an honors class almost every semester and I LOVED them. It gave me a chance to get away from the school of nursing, read philosophy, and write papers instead of care plans.
But there I go looking backward again... if I knew then what I know now.
Looking forward, I still have my RNC to achieve by my 3-year nursing anniversary in January. And the Cowtown Marathon in February. Both of which scare the pants off me. But I need to push throught the fear for once in my life. The thing is, both of these goals require waking up and doing something to make something of myself. It won't just happen because I want so badly to achieve both of these goals. And the DOING something is the hardest part for me.
Beyond February, I would like to coach Girls on the Run and go abroad on some sort of medical mission trip for 2-4 weeks. But first I have to get out of bed every morning with an good attitude and a plan of attack.
I heard this song on my (terrible, slow, exhausting) run this morning and had to share. I first fell in love with this song right before I fell in love with Ross 3 years ago, but a lot of it can apply to life in general, not just love.
This morning when I was between sleep and awake (you know, when your dreams and thoughts get jumbled together) I started
My sister-in-law just finished grad school and Ross is in the process of doing so. My dad is an M.D. My mom has a Masters degree in special education. My 23 year old brother just finished his first year of med school. My 21 year old brother want to go to law school. And my 18 year old brother will succeed in whatever he chooses once he decides what he wants to do!
I'm a Registered Nurse, for crying out loud! I have a BSN and one of the best jobs in this market, yet I feel inadequate. I loved my exercise physiology class in college, but I dropped it several weeks into the semester. I didn't finish my Spanish minor, even though I was just 6 hours short. I didn't study abroad, partly because I wanted to spend summer vacation with my long-distance boyfriend at the time! And even without all those luxuries (working on a Minor degree, studying overseas) I still graduated late! It's pretty pitiful.
In addition to all the personal bridges I burned in college, I also managed to bungle up one of the best oppurtunites I had to make something of myself. I barely tried.
I realize that this is a "poor me" post, and a little voice in the back of my head is telling me I should really be grateful that I have a college degree because that alone places me in an elite category as a citizen of this world. I understand that. And I am so grateful for my parents and the way they raised me and the opportunities I DID have growing up. Because I had a lot of them. I don't mean to minimize that. It's just that when left to my OWN devices, I am an underachiever. And it bugs me.
As much as I love to dwell on the past and kick myself over and over again, the only thing I can change is the future. And, of course, give my two cents to every college student I know: go to the campus gym more often. You'll be a better student and feel better about yourself if you're active and healthy. Plus, you won't realize how nice it was to have access to a great gym for free, until it's gone. Study abroad. Even if it means leaving your college boyfriend for the summer. Even if it means taking out a loan. Even if it means graduating late. You may never have another chance to LIVE in another foreign city and (from what I hear) it's so different from being a tourist. Take classes outside your major. While I dropped my exercise physiology class and some other random classes here and there, I did take an honors class almost every semester and I LOVED them. It gave me a chance to get away from the school of nursing, read philosophy, and write papers instead of care plans.
But there I go looking backward again... if I knew then what I know now.
Looking forward, I still have my RNC to achieve by my 3-year nursing anniversary in January. And the Cowtown Marathon in February. Both of which scare the pants off me. But I need to push throught the fear for once in my life. The thing is, both of these goals require waking up and doing something to make something of myself. It won't just happen because I want so badly to achieve both of these goals. And the DOING something is the hardest part for me.
Beyond February, I would like to coach Girls on the Run and go abroad on some sort of medical mission trip for 2-4 weeks. But first I have to get out of bed every morning with an good attitude and a plan of attack.
I heard this song on my (terrible, slow, exhausting) run this morning and had to share. I first fell in love with this song right before I fell in love with Ross 3 years ago, but a lot of it can apply to life in general, not just love.
...I've been leavin' it up to fate, but it's my life so it's mine to make
I ain't settlin' for just gettin' by
I've had enough so-so for the rest of my life
Tired of shootin' too low, so raise the bar high
I ain't settlin' for anything less than everything.
With some good red wine and my brand new shoes
Gonna' dance a blue streak around my living room
Take a chance on love and try how it feels
With my heart wide open now you know I will
Find what it means to be the girl
Who changed her mind and changed her world
-from Settlin' by Sugarland
Friday, July 2, 2010
As if you could kill time without injuring eternity
Wednesday night was supposed to be a casual, fun night. I'd had a good day off and I was headed to sand volleyball. I've been to the volleyball courts before. There are approximately 3 turns from our apartment to the main street and then it's a straight shot west. Yet I got lost. I drove for 20 minutes down the wrong (but parallel) street, tried to cut over to the right street, hit construction and a huge detour, couldn't find where the right street started up again, and then quit. I spent an hour in my car and I was in a huff when I got home!
To calm down, I went for a walk around a tiny park by our apartment complex. It's always full of people in the evenings and that night the fireflies were out. Seeing the fireflies sent me from angry to nostalgic. Perfect seasonal weather (any season) always makes me nostalgic. Remember when you were a kid and there was nothing better than a perfect summer day?! No school, no homework, just a full day to play outside and wear yourself out!
Summer is made of sunshine and water. And free time. Little kids always know how to fill free time with fun.
When I was in grade school, my brothers and I could play with the neighborhood kids until the street lights came on in the evening-- that was our "curfew." And that golden hour was what we lived for. We wore ourselves out playing in the heat, but when the sun started to sink and the air cooled, we got one last burst of energy. Just in time to chase the fireflies who were waking up.
It was also the best time for a softball game.
When did we lose that ability to make the most of every single day without even trying? I'm guessing the age at which we started learning phrases like "seize the day" is when we lost the ability to do so. When you think about anything too hard, it somehow eludes you even more. Like grasping sand in your fist, all the pressure does is cause it to slide through your fingers. I can never get a good grasp on time well spent.
Which leads me back to my present nostalgia and anxiety over the fact that I can't just enjoy a day any more. I only know how to be super busy, or kill time. ("Killing time" is a terrible phrase. Who am I to abuse the luxury of free time by wanting it to pass by faster?) I'm not good at living my life. I miss having friends to walk around the park with or little neighbor kids to run around with (as their babysitter now, but still).
I ended the night determined to spend less time on the computer reading about other people's lives and spend more time living my own. Monday morning, I dug out my copy of Walden. Who better than Thoreau to teach me the art of embracing place and enjoying time? I could quote you paragraphs at a time that apply to my life, but this line jumped off the page: "As if you could kill time without injuring eternity."
Something to think about, certainly, but also something to LIVE.
To calm down, I went for a walk around a tiny park by our apartment complex. It's always full of people in the evenings and that night the fireflies were out. Seeing the fireflies sent me from angry to nostalgic. Perfect seasonal weather (any season) always makes me nostalgic. Remember when you were a kid and there was nothing better than a perfect summer day?! No school, no homework, just a full day to play outside and wear yourself out!
Summer is made of sunshine and water. And free time. Little kids always know how to fill free time with fun.
When I was in grade school, my brothers and I could play with the neighborhood kids until the street lights came on in the evening-- that was our "curfew." And that golden hour was what we lived for. We wore ourselves out playing in the heat, but when the sun started to sink and the air cooled, we got one last burst of energy. Just in time to chase the fireflies who were waking up.
It was also the best time for a softball game.
When did we lose that ability to make the most of every single day without even trying? I'm guessing the age at which we started learning phrases like "seize the day" is when we lost the ability to do so. When you think about anything too hard, it somehow eludes you even more. Like grasping sand in your fist, all the pressure does is cause it to slide through your fingers. I can never get a good grasp on time well spent.
Which leads me back to my present nostalgia and anxiety over the fact that I can't just enjoy a day any more. I only know how to be super busy, or kill time. ("Killing time" is a terrible phrase. Who am I to abuse the luxury of free time by wanting it to pass by faster?) I'm not good at living my life. I miss having friends to walk around the park with or little neighbor kids to run around with (as their babysitter now, but still).
I ended the night determined to spend less time on the computer reading about other people's lives and spend more time living my own. Monday morning, I dug out my copy of Walden. Who better than Thoreau to teach me the art of embracing place and enjoying time? I could quote you paragraphs at a time that apply to my life, but this line jumped off the page: "As if you could kill time without injuring eternity."
Something to think about, certainly, but also something to LIVE.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
CSA Week 8
We didn't get our CSA veggies last week because we were en route to and from Lawrence with Ross' family during pick-up time. But we went this week and some of the summer goodies are starting to come in!
That's some sad-looking spring broccoli (the last of the harvest), a huge zucchini, carrots, fresh garlic, and fresh onions.
I decided to make an all local lunch today, just because I can. I halved the zucchini and scooped out the insides. I chopped that zucchini up and mixed it with a few little carrots, a small onion, and a wedge of garlic.
Then I mixed in a little over 1/2 a cup of local farm cheese that we got last week in Jamesport! The Mennonites at this creamery get the milk from their own cows and make fresh, raw milk cheese 5 days a week.
Stuff everything inside the shells, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and bake at 350* for about 35-45 minutes. Enjoy!
That's some sad-looking spring broccoli (the last of the harvest), a huge zucchini, carrots, fresh garlic, and fresh onions.
I decided to make an all local lunch today, just because I can. I halved the zucchini and scooped out the insides. I chopped that zucchini up and mixed it with a few little carrots, a small onion, and a wedge of garlic.
Then I mixed in a little over 1/2 a cup of local farm cheese that we got last week in Jamesport! The Mennonites at this creamery get the milk from their own cows and make fresh, raw milk cheese 5 days a week.
Stuff everything inside the shells, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and bake at 350* for about 35-45 minutes. Enjoy!
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