Thursday, January 31, 2008
last minute cramming
In light of my quickly approaching departure from American culture, I've been doing a little cramming lately. Tonight we had a full Thanksgiving spread for supper, I had a burrito for lunch, and I'm up late watching X-Files ("Paper Hearts" episode). I love this show. A zillion thanks to Phil for introducing me to Mulder and Scully.
And on another note, this may be the last time I type from American soil for awhile. I'll pick up again sometime next week, and will definitely be typing in a British accent. Until then, cheers.
Also, here's the address for my travel blog, incase anyone missed it:
http://acrossthepond-dr.blogspot.com/
Monday, January 28, 2008
on a rainy monday
I will miss my sister's graduation, my friend's wedding, an entire rugby season, and so many other things. I think that is what's getting to me and making me feel a little panicked--I'm cool with leaving so soon, I just keep forgetting how long I'll actually be there. I'm not too worried about getting homesick though... but I will miss my cat.
Tonight I went out to eat with my ILHS classmates as a sort of goodbye thing. My lovely friends Dani and Amanda bought me an umbrella (perfect for England!), a photo album, and a box of "international" chocolates. Oh, and today was also significant because I finally bought my backpack for Europe--one of those big backpacking backpacks that makes me want to go climb a mountain or something outdoorsy. I can't wait to start packing.
Side note... today it rained. I love the rain, especially after so much snow. Rain makes the whole world so much more enchanting, especially the misty rain that's settling in on Eau Claire right now. Oh beautiful. Thanks God.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Friday 5: Movie characters... who would I be?
If I could be any movie character, who would I be?
Now, this was much more difficult than I anticipated... mostly because every time I think of a ridiculously cool character (Wolverine, Jason Bourne, Bruce Wayne, any of the Spartans from 300, etc...) I realize that they are not actually very happy people. Or they die. Who would actually want to be Batman? So depressing. So, anyways, here you go.
5. Juno (Juno) - She's sarcastic, witty and clever, plays guitar and dates Paulie Bleeker. And she has a hamburger phone.
4. Marty McFly (Back to the Future) - He travels through time, rocks out to Johnny B Goode on stage, and saves the day.
3. Elizabeth Bennet (Pride and Prejudice) - She's clever, ahead of her time, makes fun of people, and marries Mr. Darcy.
2. *TIE* Eowyn (Lord of the Rings) or Mulan (Mulan) - This is a tie since both of these are really similar. They both disguise themselves as men, go to war, bring down the biggest bad guy (the Witch King and the chief Hun) and go home to marry the love of their life and be awesome for the rest of their lives. Just fantastic.
1. Robin Hood (all versions of Robin Hood movies) - Need I explain? He's an outlaw, a leader, the best archer, a savior, and he constantly outsmarts his enemy and gets to camp out in the woods with his best friends and the love of his life. And, when he dies, he becomes a legend. Pretty sweet.
Honorable mentions: Cosmo Brown (Singing in the Rain), Dana Scully (X-Files), Princess Leia (Star Wars), Sam Spade (The Maltese Falcon), Tyler Durden (Fight Club), Maximus (Gladiator)
So, if anyone reads this and feels inspired, comment with your list. =)
Monday, January 14, 2008
reading list for 2008
Reading List for 2008
To Reread
Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien
Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Watership Down by Richard Adams
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
To Finish
Fade by Robert Cormier
Atonement by Ian McEwan
Mere Christianity by CS Lewis
To Read
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Animal Farm by George Orwell
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk
Saturday, January 12, 2008
just gushing
Monday, January 7, 2008
mossy thicket
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
oh, snow... and 2008
It was snowing for perhaps the fourth day in a row and was just absolutely enchanting outside. I really do love it when it's snowing.
And now for my New Year's resolutions. I usually forget about these within a week and have fun looking back on them and laughing at myself at the next new year ("I said I would do what?"). But either way, they're too fun to resist. So, here are my goals for 2008 for anyone to see (and to hold me accountable too):
1. Run a marathon. I'm trying to get into the NY marathon this fall with Jenny and Sara (Mountain View Sara). I'm terrified, but super pumped.
2. READ MORE. When I'm reading, I feel like the truest version of myself (if that makes sense). I need to set aside more time for just reading and writing and all those beautiful things.
3. Attack my scrapbooking box. For the past 8 years or so, I have collected photos, cute little scrapbooking things, ticket stubs, napkins, stickers, albums, postcards, blah blah blah, and they have accumulated into what is now a closet drawer, a giant under-the-bed storage thing, and another large closet storage container. And how many pages have I ever actually created? 2!Pathetic! I don't expect to be a master scrapbooker (in fact, I hope to never become a super scrapbooky person... it's just not me) but I need to at least sort through all that STUFF this year.
4. Cut back on my "addictions" ... caffeine, gum, and chocolate. I used to never drink soda (diet or regular) or coffee. Never. Not until the very end of high school when I discovered my secret soda passion--Vault Zero. Ugh! Now I am a caffeine addict who uses black tea and diet soda (and the occasional morning Vanilla Caramel creamer with coffee) to cure my headaches and chews 30-50 pieces of gum a week (and yes, I have counted).
[Hmm... running out of ideas, but 4 is not enough... I need 6... hmmm....ooh! I know!]
5. Wear my retainer! Sorry if this borders on gross, but I seriously need to start wearing my retainer again. I had any combination of braces/expander/head gear/temporary retainers/spacers/rubber bands for about 6 years of my life, and I do not want to go through that again. Sadly, once high school hit I got super lazy and only wear it about 3 times a year (when I feel really guilty all of a sudden and remember). So yeah, no excuses anymore!
6. And, this one should be automatic, but I need to spend more time with God. More prayer, more reading the Bible, more standing up for Him. And God, I really need your help with this (and with all of these actually).
Well, that's all for now. I know there's a million zillion things I need help with, but this is a good start. And, let me just add, I am SO excited for this year. 2008 (yay, an even numbered year!) will be SWEET: Winchester and Europe, Olympics, Shannon and Aaron's wedding, and all the other amazing things I don't know about yet that God's planning. Can't wait!