It's Friday!
1. I'm in love with Colorado. I don't like this long distance relationship I'm having with it right now, but hopefully it's just temporary. At least I know it'll never break my heart, because Colorado is always Colorado no matter how long we go between seeing each other.
2. Tomorrow is the last of this four-month-long wedding season. It's the sixth wedding I'll have been to since August. (And if I had been out here, there are two more I could have gone to. Although, if I had been out here, I probably maybe wouldn't have gone to one or either of my two cousins' weddings. And beyond those, I know of lots of other weddings that have gone on in that time period, too, of acquaintances and friends-of-friends and whatnot. Just so many weddings, it's crazy!) I'm looking forward to it - some (most) of my favorite people will be there, and it'll be beautiful, I'm sure, and at the Cathedral (the prettiest/only pretty church in the diocese, pretty much). Of course, there's bound to be some depression on my part regarding the singleton thing, but whatever. Seems like everyone's getting married, engaged, or in relationships (either already-established or just starting). And it appears that baby season is starting too with some of those newly married. It's good. It's great, and wonderful, really. But it's hard for me not to let it get to me, you know? But tomorrow, I'm just going to have fun with my friends, and be thankful I can be there to support Josh and Patty.
3. I really missed chiropractic care. I went last week the day I flew in for Thanksgiving, and that was the first time I had gone in three months. I went again today. Man, I really miss it when I can't go regularly. I already have an appointment for the 21st, the day after I get back, and will probably also go in that Tuesday. Then unfortunately my chiropractor will be out of town for a week for Christmas, but I'll still have a good 2ish weeks after that to get in a few visits, too.
4. I know I've mentioned this before, but I like to wear heels. Even though I'm over 5'10. So basically that just makes me a giant, as if I'm not enough of one without any shoes on. But you know what? Too bad. I don't not want to wear heels just because I'm tall as it is. Heels make me feel feminine. I like the way I look in them (other than the fact that it makes me awkwardly taller than most people I'm ever with). The worst part, though? The (very few) times I've gone swing dancing. Even if the guys there aren't shorter than your average guy, me with heels makes me taller than most of them, and it's just kind of awkward. Girls shouldn't be taller than guys when dancing. It's just...it's just science. Ah, well. Such is my life in heels.
5. So, maybe I'm just noticing it more lately, but it seems like people have swung from confusing the I/me placement in which they'll use "me" where it should be an "I" (So-and-so and me are going to the store) to using I in place of me (So-and-so and I at the park). Mostly this happens in captions. And it's in a lot of captions I read these days. It's not that hard - just use the word that you'd use if there weren't another person in the sentence. If you're going somewhere, you'd say "I'm going." If you're describing a picture, you'd say "Me at the park." You wouldn't say "Me is going to the store," or "I at the park." I think the problem with the captions, maybe, is that the subject (the picture itself) is kind of implied, so it's not directly in the sentence, so then maybe people think that they are the subject of the sentence. Because really, it's "This is so-and-so and me at the park." I believe, in that case, the two people in the sentence are direct objects. But don't quote me on that - I learned more about parts of speech in my various language classes than I did in any English class, so some of it is a little bit fuzzy. But anyway. There's your grammar lesson for today, folks.
6. I officially had to start taping my camera today. I noticed last night that the little door that keeps the battery in (well, it has a little latch that actually keeps it in, but then the door keeps it protected I guess) doesn't really stay closed anymore. I think a little piece that keeps it closed might have broken. So, now there's tape on it. Oh well. Someday I'll get a new camera.
7. I love my family.
Friday, December 04, 2009
<3
I'm home. :-)
The plane ride kinda sucked. I had a window, and there was no one in the middle seat, so that was nice, but the guy in front of me had his seat back the entire ride - even before I sat down. And the stewardess didn't notice when we took off so he didn't even have to put it up for those few minutes of relief I could have gotten. I mean, it wasn't terrible, but it didn't make the ride any more comfortable, that's for sure. (And of course, I'm always too concerned about the person behind me to put my seat back. I never do it. Makes an uncomfortable sleeping position for me, but I can't stand the thought of someone sitting there annoyed at me the whole time the seat is down. I'd feel so badly. But then, if you think about it, most people are probably shorter than me anyway, and if I can deal with it fine enough, I'm sure they can too without too much discomfort. But still. Airplane seats are squished enough as it is. I don't want to make it worse for anyone.) They showed a movie. Four Christmasses. Definitely not going on my list of movies to watch if I'm ever bored out of my mind. Bleh. I didnt' even finish watching it, because halfway through I realized that I would be a lot happier listening to my Christmas music. I did sort of "watch" it without the sound, though, so I got the basic gist of what happened at the end. All in all, I'm glad that I didn't waste any time watching it by watching it anywhere else other than trapped on a plane.
There were people coughing the whole flight. Particularly the guy in front of me, and the guy two seats down from him, on the aisle. I know they can't help it, but ugh. Not fun to listen to that the whole flight (and hard not to think about the fact that I'm breathing in that contaminated air for 3.5 hours). Suffice it to say, when I finally was able to step out of that plane and into the tunnel thingy, whatever they're called that attach to the plane so people can get on and off, it was the nicest air I've ever smelled/felt. And it really helped that it was really cold, 5 degree crisp air. Mmmm. I miss that kind of air. I miss mountain air. And cold air. We haven't even made it in to the 30s, I bet, out in DC. Maybe a few nights, right around freezing. But it's not the same, and it doesn't feel the same. This air was (is) so nice.
Then I sat in the car with Nutmeg on my lap the whole drive home. She's such a sweetie. (Of course, she went exploring our neighborhood when we got home at 1:30 in the morning, and that wasn't too cool...apparently there were deer out and around, though, and she smelled them. She sure loves her some deer.) And the ride was just beautiful. I do enjoy the scenery of the drive from Denver to the Springs. And even though we were driving it in the middle of the night, it was fairly bright because the moon is just past full, and there's fresh snow on the ground. Nights like that are so magical. Mmm. And much of the area between the two cities is fairly uninhabited, so there's not a lot of light pollution, and it just looks...I don't know, just lovely. I'm not a city girl. Obviously. And maybe this ride was extra-beautiful because I've been so city-locked for so long now. I love open mountain country. Man. I just love CO.
And the water. Mmm water. And we have fresh snow on the ground here. Very powdery, fluffy snow, but still. I like it. I'm going to take Nutmeg for a walk in the morning, either around here or at Palmer Park (haven't decided yet), and it will be beautiful I'm sure. Of course it will. And even if it's not, I'll think it is.
Yay. Yay home. Yay Colorado. Yay snow. Yay cold. Yay stars. Yay everything. (And yay electric bed warmer, as my room is quite chilly. I mean, it is near zero degrees out right now. That's a little chilly. But wonderful.)
It's a little bit ridiculous how much I love Colorado. But I do. I just really, really do.
The plane ride kinda sucked. I had a window, and there was no one in the middle seat, so that was nice, but the guy in front of me had his seat back the entire ride - even before I sat down. And the stewardess didn't notice when we took off so he didn't even have to put it up for those few minutes of relief I could have gotten. I mean, it wasn't terrible, but it didn't make the ride any more comfortable, that's for sure. (And of course, I'm always too concerned about the person behind me to put my seat back. I never do it. Makes an uncomfortable sleeping position for me, but I can't stand the thought of someone sitting there annoyed at me the whole time the seat is down. I'd feel so badly. But then, if you think about it, most people are probably shorter than me anyway, and if I can deal with it fine enough, I'm sure they can too without too much discomfort. But still. Airplane seats are squished enough as it is. I don't want to make it worse for anyone.) They showed a movie. Four Christmasses. Definitely not going on my list of movies to watch if I'm ever bored out of my mind. Bleh. I didnt' even finish watching it, because halfway through I realized that I would be a lot happier listening to my Christmas music. I did sort of "watch" it without the sound, though, so I got the basic gist of what happened at the end. All in all, I'm glad that I didn't waste any time watching it by watching it anywhere else other than trapped on a plane.
There were people coughing the whole flight. Particularly the guy in front of me, and the guy two seats down from him, on the aisle. I know they can't help it, but ugh. Not fun to listen to that the whole flight (and hard not to think about the fact that I'm breathing in that contaminated air for 3.5 hours). Suffice it to say, when I finally was able to step out of that plane and into the tunnel thingy, whatever they're called that attach to the plane so people can get on and off, it was the nicest air I've ever smelled/felt. And it really helped that it was really cold, 5 degree crisp air. Mmmm. I miss that kind of air. I miss mountain air. And cold air. We haven't even made it in to the 30s, I bet, out in DC. Maybe a few nights, right around freezing. But it's not the same, and it doesn't feel the same. This air was (is) so nice.
Then I sat in the car with Nutmeg on my lap the whole drive home. She's such a sweetie. (Of course, she went exploring our neighborhood when we got home at 1:30 in the morning, and that wasn't too cool...apparently there were deer out and around, though, and she smelled them. She sure loves her some deer.) And the ride was just beautiful. I do enjoy the scenery of the drive from Denver to the Springs. And even though we were driving it in the middle of the night, it was fairly bright because the moon is just past full, and there's fresh snow on the ground. Nights like that are so magical. Mmm. And much of the area between the two cities is fairly uninhabited, so there's not a lot of light pollution, and it just looks...I don't know, just lovely. I'm not a city girl. Obviously. And maybe this ride was extra-beautiful because I've been so city-locked for so long now. I love open mountain country. Man. I just love CO.
And the water. Mmm water. And we have fresh snow on the ground here. Very powdery, fluffy snow, but still. I like it. I'm going to take Nutmeg for a walk in the morning, either around here or at Palmer Park (haven't decided yet), and it will be beautiful I'm sure. Of course it will. And even if it's not, I'll think it is.
Yay. Yay home. Yay Colorado. Yay snow. Yay cold. Yay stars. Yay everything. (And yay electric bed warmer, as my room is quite chilly. I mean, it is near zero degrees out right now. That's a little chilly. But wonderful.)
It's a little bit ridiculous how much I love Colorado. But I do. I just really, really do.
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Yuppers.
So, I guess it didn't snow that much in the Springs today. But still. The principle of the thing.
(Confession: I often mix up "principle" and "principal" for some reason. I think I usually get it right, but I'm sure there are times I've put the wrong one in my notes and such. There are a few other words, too, that, despite speaking English for 24 years now, and reading it for...I don't know, at least 20 or so, I just never know for sure if I'm spelling them correctly.)
I have to tell you all something: be careful what you wish for. Mysterious? Why yes, I enjoy that.
So, I'm going home again tomorrow night. My flight leaves here at 10:20 or something, and gets into Denver at around midnight. There's a flight that leaves at 5:30, and I so wish I could go try to get standby on it, as there are still at least eight seats left (I checked), but a few things make this very unlikely: 1) the metro doesn't go directly to Dulles yet, so you have to take the metro to a certain stop, then hop on a bus there that takes almost an hour to get to the airport. And since I have class until 3:30 tomorrow, there's no way that would get me to the airport on time to get that flight. 2) the friend who offered to take me so I don't have to go through the hassle of metro/bus transfer didn't seem too keen on taking me right after class, since traffic is usually pretty bad around then, and I think would prefer taking me closer to 7pm or so. More logical, too. 3) I would have to take my suitcase with me to work tomorrow morning, then to class, and that's just annoying.
So, after trying to think of some - any - scenario in which I'd be able to get to the airport to try to get the earlier flight, I decided to give up. Half the reason I want that flight (aside from the fact that it'd be nicer to get into Denver at 7:30 instead of midnight) is because the friend who's getting married on Saturday is having her bachelorette party tomorrow night, and many of my close friends are going to be there. But, even if I caught the early flight, they're doing dinner and such at 6pm, and the earliest I'd probably be able to get there would be 9:30, so they'll most likely be done by then anyway. Ah, well. I'm lucky I get to get in tomorrow night at all. Definitely more preferable than Friday sometime, as now I have the whole of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Not too shabby. But yeah. Thinking about it, even if my friend did take me right after class, traffic is bad and it'd easily be probably over an hour to get to the airport, which would probably get me there right around 5, which would be pushing it anyway. So, this way I don't have to deal with my suitcase all day tomorrow. AND I don't have to fly in my nicer work/school clothes. And I can stop in for confession after class, too, which I like to try to do before traveling.
Speaking of which, I should probably pack...I left stuff at home last weekend, so I don't have to bring that much with me - I just have to do laundry ASAP once I'm home... :-)
I'm having a hard time not being down right now...gah. I'm really, really trying to fight it, though. Really really. And really a couple more times. It's just everyone's...ah. No. Decrying the state of certain things at the moment will help no one, especially me. Know what will help, though? Well, prayer, probably. But also, Christmas music.
Quick temperature comparison: here, it's approximately 63 degrees, 88% humidity, and it's been raining off and on all day. Back home, it's 12 degrees, 80% humidity, and off and on snowy. (Probably more like flurries, if anything, but still.) Someday. Someday I'll be in winter weather again. And it will be glorious.
Also: happy birthday Mom! I'm so glad you were born! :-)
(Confession: I often mix up "principle" and "principal" for some reason. I think I usually get it right, but I'm sure there are times I've put the wrong one in my notes and such. There are a few other words, too, that, despite speaking English for 24 years now, and reading it for...I don't know, at least 20 or so, I just never know for sure if I'm spelling them correctly.)
I have to tell you all something: be careful what you wish for. Mysterious? Why yes, I enjoy that.
So, I'm going home again tomorrow night. My flight leaves here at 10:20 or something, and gets into Denver at around midnight. There's a flight that leaves at 5:30, and I so wish I could go try to get standby on it, as there are still at least eight seats left (I checked), but a few things make this very unlikely: 1) the metro doesn't go directly to Dulles yet, so you have to take the metro to a certain stop, then hop on a bus there that takes almost an hour to get to the airport. And since I have class until 3:30 tomorrow, there's no way that would get me to the airport on time to get that flight. 2) the friend who offered to take me so I don't have to go through the hassle of metro/bus transfer didn't seem too keen on taking me right after class, since traffic is usually pretty bad around then, and I think would prefer taking me closer to 7pm or so. More logical, too. 3) I would have to take my suitcase with me to work tomorrow morning, then to class, and that's just annoying.
So, after trying to think of some - any - scenario in which I'd be able to get to the airport to try to get the earlier flight, I decided to give up. Half the reason I want that flight (aside from the fact that it'd be nicer to get into Denver at 7:30 instead of midnight) is because the friend who's getting married on Saturday is having her bachelorette party tomorrow night, and many of my close friends are going to be there. But, even if I caught the early flight, they're doing dinner and such at 6pm, and the earliest I'd probably be able to get there would be 9:30, so they'll most likely be done by then anyway. Ah, well. I'm lucky I get to get in tomorrow night at all. Definitely more preferable than Friday sometime, as now I have the whole of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Not too shabby. But yeah. Thinking about it, even if my friend did take me right after class, traffic is bad and it'd easily be probably over an hour to get to the airport, which would probably get me there right around 5, which would be pushing it anyway. So, this way I don't have to deal with my suitcase all day tomorrow. AND I don't have to fly in my nicer work/school clothes. And I can stop in for confession after class, too, which I like to try to do before traveling.
Speaking of which, I should probably pack...I left stuff at home last weekend, so I don't have to bring that much with me - I just have to do laundry ASAP once I'm home... :-)
I'm having a hard time not being down right now...gah. I'm really, really trying to fight it, though. Really really. And really a couple more times. It's just everyone's...ah. No. Decrying the state of certain things at the moment will help no one, especially me. Know what will help, though? Well, prayer, probably. But also, Christmas music.
Quick temperature comparison: here, it's approximately 63 degrees, 88% humidity, and it's been raining off and on all day. Back home, it's 12 degrees, 80% humidity, and off and on snowy. (Probably more like flurries, if anything, but still.) Someday. Someday I'll be in winter weather again. And it will be glorious.
Also: happy birthday Mom! I'm so glad you were born! :-)
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
I'm sure it's funny, but I don't get it
So, I was looking at the 10-day forecast today for both here and Colorado. And, of course, back home they're supposed to get snow tonight/tomorrow into Thursday. Of course. A few inches, maybe. And then it'll clear up for the weekend (which, for the sake of the bride getting married this weekend, I can't really be too upset about), and there's another chance for snow on like Tuesday. Didn't I say last week that they'd probably get snow the day after I left? So, it's two days (and the day before I go back). Ah, well. The most hilarious part is there's a slight chance for rain/snow here on Saturday. I'm pretty sure it won't snow, but how...fitting would that be?
I think God likes to laugh at my expense sometimes. In a loving, father-teasing-his-daughter kind of way. I guess. Except usually the father ends the teasing by doing something to make the daughter happy, so I'm really expecting some kind of blizzard or something sometime in the three weeks I'm home for Christmas. (And if I see no snow at all during those three weeks, which also wouldn't terribly surprise me, I will be quite a sad little girl. Do you know how long it's been since I've seen it snow? 8 months. ish. That's a long time. Were I not in DC, I would have seen snow almost three months ago already. Sheesh. I really miss it, is all.)
I'm trying to write 600 words on Hegel's view of negativity. A concept that I don't really understand, but I have to pretend to understand it well enough to write 600 coherent words about it. Bleh. The good news is, after tonight (which will be a long night, involving this paper and then reading for my regularly-Friday class that is taking place tomorrow morning this week due to a conference the Institute is putting on this weekend), I won't have actual homework/reading to do again until Wednesday night. Next Wednesday night. (Today was our last day of Tuesday classes, since next Tuesday is a Holy Day and thus we get it off, and the next Tuesday is finals; and then the paper I'm writing tonight is for my Thursday class which means I've already done those readings, and my Friday class is taking place tomorrow, and I don't have classes Monday ever, and so my next class after Thursday is next Wednesday but that's my audit so I never do those readings anyway.) So, this means more time to start studying for finals, which I really have to do...bleh.
Back to the paper...I have no idea what to write. I mean, negativity is sort of the contradiction of being something and not-being its opposite. Like, my being is negative in that I am me and I'm not not-me. The negativity of humanity is that humans are inherently good but are also evil, and there's the element of being good and not not-good, or being not-good and not not-evil, or something like that. I don't know. I'm confusing myself, and I don't even really think that's write, what I just wrote, anyway. Bleh.
Oh, also, know what's anoying? I have that free AVG virus protection program, and it is scheduled to run daily at 7pm. Lately, though, when it runs, it takes at least 2.5 hours to finish, and it makes everything on my computer super-slow. It's really frustrating. Half the time I just cancel it so it doesn't run that night. It didn't used to be this slow or annoying. I'm not sure what the deal is, but I know that I don't like it. Not one bit, my friends, not one bit. Ah, it just finally finished - 2 hours 36 minutes. What the heck. Whatever.
Hey, why can't anyone spell anymore? There's very little excuse for it, especially in these days with everything having little red squiggly lines to tell you when you've spelled something incorrectly. Of course, I think that's also part of the problem - people become too dependent on that and they can't tell when something is incorrect without the squiggly line telling them. Not good, my friends, not good. It seems that no one knows how to spell "definitely," for example (hint: there is no A), and don't even get me started on their/there/they're or your/you're. I cringe each and every time I hear it. And the whole plural pronoun when talking about a singular subject ("I hate it when someone uses incorrect grammar. It makes them look like an idiot."), ugh. (This is a result of no one using "one" anymore - "It makes one look like an idiot" - and people not wanting to say "him/her" every time they need to use a pronoun. And heaven forbid we just use the male pronoun. That's sexist, you know.) OH. And Don't forget about Randomly Capitalizing words that Really don't need to be Capitalized. This is Really grating.
Did I tell you all about my awesome Black Friday purchase? Well, I was going to buy a few things that were on sale on Amazon. Because I don't do crowds. And one of those purchases was going to be, finally, the new Michael Buble CD, which no, I had not previously purchased. I know. So then I clicked on it for some reason or something, and saw that they were having a Black Friday deal on the MP3 version (I was going to get the regular, real CD version, since it was the same price as the downloadable one, and I like having the hard copies of CDs). But that day the mp3 was only $4 to download! The whole CD! So I totally just did that instead of paying $5 more to have the hard copy. Pretty excited about that.
Well. I'm going to post this now, even though it's a good 24 hours later. I'm just going to pretend I posted it last night.
I think God likes to laugh at my expense sometimes. In a loving, father-teasing-his-daughter kind of way. I guess. Except usually the father ends the teasing by doing something to make the daughter happy, so I'm really expecting some kind of blizzard or something sometime in the three weeks I'm home for Christmas. (And if I see no snow at all during those three weeks, which also wouldn't terribly surprise me, I will be quite a sad little girl. Do you know how long it's been since I've seen it snow? 8 months. ish. That's a long time. Were I not in DC, I would have seen snow almost three months ago already. Sheesh. I really miss it, is all.)
I'm trying to write 600 words on Hegel's view of negativity. A concept that I don't really understand, but I have to pretend to understand it well enough to write 600 coherent words about it. Bleh. The good news is, after tonight (which will be a long night, involving this paper and then reading for my regularly-Friday class that is taking place tomorrow morning this week due to a conference the Institute is putting on this weekend), I won't have actual homework/reading to do again until Wednesday night. Next Wednesday night. (Today was our last day of Tuesday classes, since next Tuesday is a Holy Day and thus we get it off, and the next Tuesday is finals; and then the paper I'm writing tonight is for my Thursday class which means I've already done those readings, and my Friday class is taking place tomorrow, and I don't have classes Monday ever, and so my next class after Thursday is next Wednesday but that's my audit so I never do those readings anyway.) So, this means more time to start studying for finals, which I really have to do...bleh.
Back to the paper...I have no idea what to write. I mean, negativity is sort of the contradiction of being something and not-being its opposite. Like, my being is negative in that I am me and I'm not not-me. The negativity of humanity is that humans are inherently good but are also evil, and there's the element of being good and not not-good, or being not-good and not not-evil, or something like that. I don't know. I'm confusing myself, and I don't even really think that's write, what I just wrote, anyway. Bleh.
Oh, also, know what's anoying? I have that free AVG virus protection program, and it is scheduled to run daily at 7pm. Lately, though, when it runs, it takes at least 2.5 hours to finish, and it makes everything on my computer super-slow. It's really frustrating. Half the time I just cancel it so it doesn't run that night. It didn't used to be this slow or annoying. I'm not sure what the deal is, but I know that I don't like it. Not one bit, my friends, not one bit. Ah, it just finally finished - 2 hours 36 minutes. What the heck. Whatever.
Hey, why can't anyone spell anymore? There's very little excuse for it, especially in these days with everything having little red squiggly lines to tell you when you've spelled something incorrectly. Of course, I think that's also part of the problem - people become too dependent on that and they can't tell when something is incorrect without the squiggly line telling them. Not good, my friends, not good. It seems that no one knows how to spell "definitely," for example (hint: there is no A), and don't even get me started on their/there/they're or your/you're. I cringe each and every time I hear it. And the whole plural pronoun when talking about a singular subject ("I hate it when someone uses incorrect grammar. It makes them look like an idiot."), ugh. (This is a result of no one using "one" anymore - "It makes one look like an idiot" - and people not wanting to say "him/her" every time they need to use a pronoun. And heaven forbid we just use the male pronoun. That's sexist, you know.) OH. And Don't forget about Randomly Capitalizing words that Really don't need to be Capitalized. This is Really grating.
Did I tell you all about my awesome Black Friday purchase? Well, I was going to buy a few things that were on sale on Amazon. Because I don't do crowds. And one of those purchases was going to be, finally, the new Michael Buble CD, which no, I had not previously purchased. I know. So then I clicked on it for some reason or something, and saw that they were having a Black Friday deal on the MP3 version (I was going to get the regular, real CD version, since it was the same price as the downloadable one, and I like having the hard copies of CDs). But that day the mp3 was only $4 to download! The whole CD! So I totally just did that instead of paying $5 more to have the hard copy. Pretty excited about that.
Well. I'm going to post this now, even though it's a good 24 hours later. I'm just going to pretend I posted it last night.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Lots to do
Just got back to the house. It was wet and rainy when I left last week, and it's still wet and rainy. Lovely.
When I got on the plane this morning, Weis was still the head coach of Notre Dame. By the time I stepped off the plane, he was officially no longer the head coach. Not surprising. I hope they get someone good.
I had to sit in the middle seat on the flight from Denver to DC, and on the one side of me I had the woman who kept tapping and adjusting her little TV screen that's built into the seat in front of each seat, which only annoyed me because I'm sure it annoyed the guy sitting in that seat since her doing that was obviously pushing on the guy's seat. I certainly wouldn't have appreciated it had I been in his place. But that was nothing compared to the guy on the other side of me - the man I've dubbed the Loudest Chewer I've Ever Heard. I mean, seriously. This guy's mom must never have taught him how to chew with his mouth closed. It was disgusting, and caused me to turn up the music on my mp3 player to an uncomfortably loud level (I dislike loud music). But even then, I could still hear him chewing the sandwich he had pulled out of his bag. Finally he finished, and I was happy again. But then a few minutes later, he pulled out another one. Commence loud, obnoxious, disgusting chewing. And a little while after he ate that one - you got it, he pulled out a third. It was like the bag of neverending sandwiches. And I swear he got louder with each one. And that last bite of food was always the loudest, too. I mean, it was so over-exaggerated, it's like what I would sound like if I were chewing my food with my mouth open on purpose to be as annoying as possible. And he was just sitting there chewing like that on the plane. I felt like maybe I was on candid camera, or something, to see how long I'd last before I went crazy. Eventually he seemed to be done with food, but man. Three sandwiches of that. Maybe loud chewing doesn't bother some people, but for whatever reason, it really bothers me. On the bright side, it was an opportunity to practice patience and charity, in a way (when I would start getting really bothered by it, I would make myself think, "maybe he has some sort of weird medical condition that necessitates eating like that" or "maybe he never had a mom"), although that's probably being negated right now by this post.
Oh. Well.
Also, this thought occurred to me on my way out to the Springs last week, but why are airlines so stringent about making sure your seatbelt is buckled? I mean, I can understand that it might help stabilize you if there's crazy turbulence, keep you from flying out of your seat and whatnot, but how often does that actually happen? Turbulence happens, but not that crazy turbulence. And if the plane crashes, well, a seatbelt sure isn't going to help much. I mean, I'm not against seatbelts in planes, but it's just odd that they're so strict about them in planes and yet in a bus, where a seatbelt could actually legitimately save your life if you are in a crash, there is nary a seatbelt to be found. (Well, the driver might have one, i don't know. Never noticed.) It's just weird.
This week is going to be crazy and ridiculous. It's Monday, and I just got back here. (And oddly, even though I've been on mountain time the last several days and thus it should only feel like 5pm or so, it feels even later than 7pm. Probably because it's been dark since I landed. Boo that.) I have reading and a paper to finish/do for tomorrow. Then more reading to finish (which I really tried to do today, but my goodness, it is difficult stuff) and another paper to write for Wednesday. Plus extra reading for Wednesday because Friday's class this week is moved to Wednesday morning. Which also means I can't go into work Wednesday, unless I do like an hour or something between that and my regular Wednesday afternoon class. Or, possibly, skip Wednesday afternoon class, as it is my audit anyway...but I hate skipping classes. But since I'm gone Monday and Friday this week, and Monday next week, I might only get to work four hours this week and I feel bad about that too (although, I mean, all this stuff was in place prior to getting the job, so there's nothing I can do about it, but still). Either way, I have work and class on Thursday, then flying out Thursday night. Then, ah, back in good ol' CO. :-) But crazy, busy week in the next three days. And probably not a lot of sleep.
I do feel a little bit ridiculous being home for Thanksgiving then coming back here for three days then flying out again for three or four more days. I mean, it is ridiculous. But...worth it, I think. It was so good to see my family and friends this weekend. And my whole family was together. All of us. Who knows when's the next time that'll happen. And this coming weekend? A wedding for two good friends. (And $75 tickets.) And CO, where my heart completely and totally is. I mean, it's sort of like torture every time I go there because I know I'll have to leave in a few days (or weeks, come Christmas). But I'm going to need to fill up my reserves as much as possible this month because after Christmas break I don't know when I'll be going back home again. Maybe spring break, but maybe not. Who knows. So, whatever. Ridiculous, yes. But I'm doing it anyway. What's life without a little ridiculosity, right?
I am almost tempted, though, not to go home after this next spate of travels, for a very long time. I was getting to be ok here, until suddenly it was almost time to go home and then I couldn't wait to leave. And then I was home and definitely didn't want to come back. The longer I'm here at a time, the more ok with it I am, but when there's a trip back home to remind me what I'm missing out on, suddenly I remember where I am (and more importantly, where I'm not), and here just seems...depressing. Of course, right now it's not that bad because I know I'll be back home next weekend, and then just a couple quick weeks after that. And I suppose I am more used to and comfortable with things here, which is good. I do worry about what'll happen when I have to come back after three glorious weeks at home. Well, I'll deal with that when it comes.
For now, homework, because it must be done, and I must sleep. I'm afeared I'm starting to succumb to some sort of illness. But I think it's more just run-downness than anything, stuff catching up to me while I was home and whatnot. Whatever it is, though, I'd prefer it to stay on the definitely deal-able level than some sort of full-blown illness. Especially right now. No getting sick in the next three weeks. That's an order, Slomelette.
When I got on the plane this morning, Weis was still the head coach of Notre Dame. By the time I stepped off the plane, he was officially no longer the head coach. Not surprising. I hope they get someone good.
I had to sit in the middle seat on the flight from Denver to DC, and on the one side of me I had the woman who kept tapping and adjusting her little TV screen that's built into the seat in front of each seat, which only annoyed me because I'm sure it annoyed the guy sitting in that seat since her doing that was obviously pushing on the guy's seat. I certainly wouldn't have appreciated it had I been in his place. But that was nothing compared to the guy on the other side of me - the man I've dubbed the Loudest Chewer I've Ever Heard. I mean, seriously. This guy's mom must never have taught him how to chew with his mouth closed. It was disgusting, and caused me to turn up the music on my mp3 player to an uncomfortably loud level (I dislike loud music). But even then, I could still hear him chewing the sandwich he had pulled out of his bag. Finally he finished, and I was happy again. But then a few minutes later, he pulled out another one. Commence loud, obnoxious, disgusting chewing. And a little while after he ate that one - you got it, he pulled out a third. It was like the bag of neverending sandwiches. And I swear he got louder with each one. And that last bite of food was always the loudest, too. I mean, it was so over-exaggerated, it's like what I would sound like if I were chewing my food with my mouth open on purpose to be as annoying as possible. And he was just sitting there chewing like that on the plane. I felt like maybe I was on candid camera, or something, to see how long I'd last before I went crazy. Eventually he seemed to be done with food, but man. Three sandwiches of that. Maybe loud chewing doesn't bother some people, but for whatever reason, it really bothers me. On the bright side, it was an opportunity to practice patience and charity, in a way (when I would start getting really bothered by it, I would make myself think, "maybe he has some sort of weird medical condition that necessitates eating like that" or "maybe he never had a mom"), although that's probably being negated right now by this post.
Oh. Well.
Also, this thought occurred to me on my way out to the Springs last week, but why are airlines so stringent about making sure your seatbelt is buckled? I mean, I can understand that it might help stabilize you if there's crazy turbulence, keep you from flying out of your seat and whatnot, but how often does that actually happen? Turbulence happens, but not that crazy turbulence. And if the plane crashes, well, a seatbelt sure isn't going to help much. I mean, I'm not against seatbelts in planes, but it's just odd that they're so strict about them in planes and yet in a bus, where a seatbelt could actually legitimately save your life if you are in a crash, there is nary a seatbelt to be found. (Well, the driver might have one, i don't know. Never noticed.) It's just weird.
This week is going to be crazy and ridiculous. It's Monday, and I just got back here. (And oddly, even though I've been on mountain time the last several days and thus it should only feel like 5pm or so, it feels even later than 7pm. Probably because it's been dark since I landed. Boo that.) I have reading and a paper to finish/do for tomorrow. Then more reading to finish (which I really tried to do today, but my goodness, it is difficult stuff) and another paper to write for Wednesday. Plus extra reading for Wednesday because Friday's class this week is moved to Wednesday morning. Which also means I can't go into work Wednesday, unless I do like an hour or something between that and my regular Wednesday afternoon class. Or, possibly, skip Wednesday afternoon class, as it is my audit anyway...but I hate skipping classes. But since I'm gone Monday and Friday this week, and Monday next week, I might only get to work four hours this week and I feel bad about that too (although, I mean, all this stuff was in place prior to getting the job, so there's nothing I can do about it, but still). Either way, I have work and class on Thursday, then flying out Thursday night. Then, ah, back in good ol' CO. :-) But crazy, busy week in the next three days. And probably not a lot of sleep.
I do feel a little bit ridiculous being home for Thanksgiving then coming back here for three days then flying out again for three or four more days. I mean, it is ridiculous. But...worth it, I think. It was so good to see my family and friends this weekend. And my whole family was together. All of us. Who knows when's the next time that'll happen. And this coming weekend? A wedding for two good friends. (And $75 tickets.) And CO, where my heart completely and totally is. I mean, it's sort of like torture every time I go there because I know I'll have to leave in a few days (or weeks, come Christmas). But I'm going to need to fill up my reserves as much as possible this month because after Christmas break I don't know when I'll be going back home again. Maybe spring break, but maybe not. Who knows. So, whatever. Ridiculous, yes. But I'm doing it anyway. What's life without a little ridiculosity, right?
I am almost tempted, though, not to go home after this next spate of travels, for a very long time. I was getting to be ok here, until suddenly it was almost time to go home and then I couldn't wait to leave. And then I was home and definitely didn't want to come back. The longer I'm here at a time, the more ok with it I am, but when there's a trip back home to remind me what I'm missing out on, suddenly I remember where I am (and more importantly, where I'm not), and here just seems...depressing. Of course, right now it's not that bad because I know I'll be back home next weekend, and then just a couple quick weeks after that. And I suppose I am more used to and comfortable with things here, which is good. I do worry about what'll happen when I have to come back after three glorious weeks at home. Well, I'll deal with that when it comes.
For now, homework, because it must be done, and I must sleep. I'm afeared I'm starting to succumb to some sort of illness. But I think it's more just run-downness than anything, stuff catching up to me while I was home and whatnot. Whatever it is, though, I'd prefer it to stay on the definitely deal-able level than some sort of full-blown illness. Especially right now. No getting sick in the next three weeks. That's an order, Slomelette.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Au Revoir...for now
I have to leave again tomorrow. :-( But I come back again in four days. :-) Yes, it's crazy, but two more friends are getting married next weekend, and they were the first of all these marrying friends to get engaged, so I was always planning on going to their wedding (and then everyone else started getting engaged, and everyone jumped in front of them. It was weird the way that worked...). And, hey, I love Colorado, ok? Any excuse to come home is good enough for me. (Especially when I get tickets for $75.)
And two weeks after that I'm home for three more weeks. I know it still won't be long enough. It never is.
Gah. Ok. Enough of that.
I started a Christmas afghan with some fun Christmas yarn. Although, I have a feeling it'll look better than it feels...but oh well. That's ok. It's Christmasy, so it's fun to work on, plus, that means it'll only be out for one month a year, right? (I don't even know who I'm making it for. I've just really wanted to make it since like August.)
Know what the height of the average American male is? Approximately 5'9.2". That means I'm a good inch or more taller than the average American male. No wonder I always feel so awkward when I go to swing dancing, since it's rare that there's a guy there who's taller than me (especially with my heels on). (Yes, even though I'm really tall, I still love my heels, and I refuse to give them up.) I am also approximately seven inches taller than the average American female. Seven inches. So there's your fun fact of the day.
Gah. I have to leave tomorrow. Boo. Also, I forgot to do online check in until about 5pm today, and my flight is at 9:15 tomorrow, so by the time I had checked in the only seats left on my Denver-DC flight were middle seats. So I'm stuck in a middle seat for four hours. Siiiigh. Oh well. I guess I'll survive.
Also, I guess I should go pack up and stuff...bleh. I'm leaving some things here, because I don't feel like bringing it all back right now. I wish I didn't have to bring anything back. Including myself. :-)
And two weeks after that I'm home for three more weeks. I know it still won't be long enough. It never is.
Gah. Ok. Enough of that.
I started a Christmas afghan with some fun Christmas yarn. Although, I have a feeling it'll look better than it feels...but oh well. That's ok. It's Christmasy, so it's fun to work on, plus, that means it'll only be out for one month a year, right? (I don't even know who I'm making it for. I've just really wanted to make it since like August.)
Know what the height of the average American male is? Approximately 5'9.2". That means I'm a good inch or more taller than the average American male. No wonder I always feel so awkward when I go to swing dancing, since it's rare that there's a guy there who's taller than me (especially with my heels on). (Yes, even though I'm really tall, I still love my heels, and I refuse to give them up.) I am also approximately seven inches taller than the average American female. Seven inches. So there's your fun fact of the day.
Gah. I have to leave tomorrow. Boo. Also, I forgot to do online check in until about 5pm today, and my flight is at 9:15 tomorrow, so by the time I had checked in the only seats left on my Denver-DC flight were middle seats. So I'm stuck in a middle seat for four hours. Siiiigh. Oh well. I guess I'll survive.
Also, I guess I should go pack up and stuff...bleh. I'm leaving some things here, because I don't feel like bringing it all back right now. I wish I didn't have to bring anything back. Including myself. :-)
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Guess what? I love Colorado.
Did you know that the mountains are an extreme driving hazard? Not driving in them - driving around town when they're visible. Because they're so beautiful, and I can barely stand to take my eyes away from them - whether I'm driving toward or away from them. Sometimes it's almost bad. But so good, because...sheesh. I love the mountains. I love Colorado. I love that I've grown up in Colorado Springs. Really. Much as I might sometimes complain about the city, it really is head and shoulders above sooooo many other places in this crazy crazy country. I really, really, really really, really, really, REALLY hope I can come back here ultimately post-masters. Really really and completely. Being here feeds my soul in a way I can't even begin to describe. It calms me. It soothes me. It's wonderful.
Also, Pikes Peak is such a treat to look at every day.
And: first shot at mountain spring water. Mmm.
Beyond that, I'm thankful for stringed instruments. We're all so blessed to have stringed instruments.
I'm thankful for yarn, and for the ability to turn it into various creations.
I'm thankful for a very cuddly dog who managed to worm her way into our lives and my heart, firstly by her very convincing "love me" face. She still can get almost anything she wants with that face.
I'm thankful for having the wonderful family I have. I wouldn't be anywhere without them.
Did I mention knitting?
How about the mountains? And how I went to Borders today and was drawn, as always to 1) their calendars - specifically the Colorado-related ones (I have two already for 2010, one Colorado and one RMNP, but would certainly not be averse to getting a few more - one of the ones I saw was a Rocky Mountain calendar, and the picture for December was of Pikes Peak with Garden of the Gods in the foreground! I got so excited!), and things like Alaska, or the Grand Canyon. Etc. and 2) their "local interest" book section which includes lots of Colorado-related books. Love. It. (Have I told you guys that for my birthday I received both a book on Colorado wildflowers, and one on Colorado 14ers? Yeah. Pretty awesome.)
I'm thankful for the Christmas season, liturgically incorrect right now though it may be. It just makes me so happy. So so happy. And winter. I'm so glad that Christmas is in winter. :-)
I'm of course very, very thankful for my Catholic faith. I wouldn't be the person I am without it, and I'm glad that it continues to change me and challenge me and make me more the person God wants me to be. Slowly, for sure, but little by little.
And I'm thankful for the color blue.
The end.
:-)
(By the way, I'm not so thankful that Notre Dame is one of probably a very few teams who can manage to have an amazing QB and 2 WR team, some of the best in their two respective positions, and go 6-2 the first eight games, then proceed to go 0-4 against such heavy-hitters as Navy, UConn, Stanford, and Pittsburgh. Yeah. Also: tonight, our legitimately great QB threw 5 touchdown passes to said two great WRs, and we still managed to lose. That's the present-day ND for ya. Sigh. I wonder who our coach will be next year, and if he'll manage to make us look good again. Of course, he'll be doing it without said QB, and maybe without one or both of those WRs - I forget if they're juniors or seniors, and/or if it's likely that they'll go in the draft in the spring. Oh well.)
Also, Pikes Peak is such a treat to look at every day.
And: first shot at mountain spring water. Mmm.
Beyond that, I'm thankful for stringed instruments. We're all so blessed to have stringed instruments.
I'm thankful for yarn, and for the ability to turn it into various creations.
I'm thankful for a very cuddly dog who managed to worm her way into our lives and my heart, firstly by her very convincing "love me" face. She still can get almost anything she wants with that face.
I'm thankful for having the wonderful family I have. I wouldn't be anywhere without them.
Did I mention knitting?
How about the mountains? And how I went to Borders today and was drawn, as always to 1) their calendars - specifically the Colorado-related ones (I have two already for 2010, one Colorado and one RMNP, but would certainly not be averse to getting a few more - one of the ones I saw was a Rocky Mountain calendar, and the picture for December was of Pikes Peak with Garden of the Gods in the foreground! I got so excited!), and things like Alaska, or the Grand Canyon. Etc. and 2) their "local interest" book section which includes lots of Colorado-related books. Love. It. (Have I told you guys that for my birthday I received both a book on Colorado wildflowers, and one on Colorado 14ers? Yeah. Pretty awesome.)
I'm thankful for the Christmas season, liturgically incorrect right now though it may be. It just makes me so happy. So so happy. And winter. I'm so glad that Christmas is in winter. :-)
I'm of course very, very thankful for my Catholic faith. I wouldn't be the person I am without it, and I'm glad that it continues to change me and challenge me and make me more the person God wants me to be. Slowly, for sure, but little by little.
And I'm thankful for the color blue.
The end.
:-)
(By the way, I'm not so thankful that Notre Dame is one of probably a very few teams who can manage to have an amazing QB and 2 WR team, some of the best in their two respective positions, and go 6-2 the first eight games, then proceed to go 0-4 against such heavy-hitters as Navy, UConn, Stanford, and Pittsburgh. Yeah. Also: tonight, our legitimately great QB threw 5 touchdown passes to said two great WRs, and we still managed to lose. That's the present-day ND for ya. Sigh. I wonder who our coach will be next year, and if he'll manage to make us look good again. Of course, he'll be doing it without said QB, and maybe without one or both of those WRs - I forget if they're juniors or seniors, and/or if it's likely that they'll go in the draft in the spring. Oh well.)
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thanksgiving part 2
Today was my family's Thanksgiving, since my brother and sis-in-law were down with her family this week, until this afternoon. And it's been a good day. I:
-did not go fight crazy crowds for things I don't even necessarily need - and probably really aren't worth the crowds and all that aggravation. Plus, even though I'm really cheap and like good deals and all that, I sort of really hate contributing to the consumerism that is blatantly on display today especially.
-went to Palmer Park instead, and had a grand time, because I love it there. Also, Colorado Springs? Not too shabby. And so much quieter than Silver Spring. Soooo much quieter. Back at my house there, it's a constant din of traffic and sirens going by, 24/7. Here? Not so much. Wonderful. :-)
-met up with Lauren, and had Qdoba for the first time since I went out to DC. (They have both Qdoba and Chipotle out there, but I have yet to go to one there for whatever reason. Namely and especially, I don't eat out, like, ever.)
-came home and Peter and Sara were here. And Tom, off from work, to which he had to go early this morning.
-left again and saw two friends who got married in early October, and then a bunch more friends who are some of my favoritest people. Reluctantly had to leave them sooner than I wanted to, but it's because I had to come home for our delicious Thanksgiving dinner with the whole family, so that's definitely worth it.
-ate said delicious dinner, had fun hanging out with my wonderful family, talking and playing games and such, said goodbye to a few who had to go home - including the super-fun nephews - and watched part of Elf with the rest.
All in all, a pretty satisfactory Thanksgiving, even if it wasn't Thanksgiving. But that's ok. It's still good.
-did not go fight crazy crowds for things I don't even necessarily need - and probably really aren't worth the crowds and all that aggravation. Plus, even though I'm really cheap and like good deals and all that, I sort of really hate contributing to the consumerism that is blatantly on display today especially.
-went to Palmer Park instead, and had a grand time, because I love it there. Also, Colorado Springs? Not too shabby. And so much quieter than Silver Spring. Soooo much quieter. Back at my house there, it's a constant din of traffic and sirens going by, 24/7. Here? Not so much. Wonderful. :-)
-met up with Lauren, and had Qdoba for the first time since I went out to DC. (They have both Qdoba and Chipotle out there, but I have yet to go to one there for whatever reason. Namely and especially, I don't eat out, like, ever.)
-came home and Peter and Sara were here. And Tom, off from work, to which he had to go early this morning.
-left again and saw two friends who got married in early October, and then a bunch more friends who are some of my favoritest people. Reluctantly had to leave them sooner than I wanted to, but it's because I had to come home for our delicious Thanksgiving dinner with the whole family, so that's definitely worth it.
-ate said delicious dinner, had fun hanging out with my wonderful family, talking and playing games and such, said goodbye to a few who had to go home - including the super-fun nephews - and watched part of Elf with the rest.
All in all, a pretty satisfactory Thanksgiving, even if it wasn't Thanksgiving. But that's ok. It's still good.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Thanks.
Happy Thanksgiving, y'all.
I went to Mass this morning (quite an appropriate thing to do on Thanksgiving. And every day :-) ), and as part of his homily, Fr. Jim read this, which I've also seen posted various places on the internets today:
By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor-- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be-- That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks-- for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation-- for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war-- for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed-- for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted-- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions-- to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually-- to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed-- to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord-- To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us-- and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
Geo. Washington, President
I hope it's been as great a day for you as it has for me.
I went to Mass this morning (quite an appropriate thing to do on Thanksgiving. And every day :-) ), and as part of his homily, Fr. Jim read this, which I've also seen posted various places on the internets today:
By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor-- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be-- That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks-- for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation-- for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war-- for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed-- for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted-- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions-- to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually-- to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed-- to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord-- To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us-- and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
Geo. Washington, President
I hope it's been as great a day for you as it has for me.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
I'm such a happier person in Colorado
I got home today. Yay! Despite getting very little sleep, sitting on two airplanes, and yet again seeing far too much of airports, I'm so happy. Everything about being here is just wonderful, even if I used to complain about it. Funny what living in DC can do to a person. :-)
Seriously, though, dude, I just love being here. It makes me ridiculously happy. It makes me feel so good. I can't even say enough about it.
Things I've loved since I've gotten here today:
-Seeing the mountains, both for the first time on the flight from DC to Denver (gorgeous!), and along the way from Denver to Cos (I purposefully chose a window seat on the right side of the plane so I'd be on the mountain side going down to Cos, but then my attempts were mostly thwarted anyway because I was right next to the propeller which blocked a great majority of my view - particularly of the mountains - but it was still better than sitting on the east-facing side.
-The sun going behind the mountains at exactly 4pm. I'm not sure what about this I liked so much, except for the fact that I had forgotten about this aspect of Colorado Springs living, and it was just...nice. Plus, you know, the mountains. I love the mountains. Especially the mountains I get to see every day (when I'm here). They're maybe not really as impressive as other mountains in the state, but...they're mine, you know? (Not that I don't absolutely love the other mountains around the state, because I'm pretty sure it's no secret that I love all these mountains pretty fantastically.)
-Seeing six deer in my neighborhood this afternoon (and one in an area behind my parents' friends' house). I know most people think of deer as a nuisance (and/or a target), but man, do I love them.
-Obviously, family is a given. My nephews are so great. My mom still has the best hugs to give. My dad's wonderful. My brother Tom is fun as always. My sister is my super awesome gorgeous sister. And Nutmeg is my endorphin-inducing cuddler, who Dad brought with him to pick me up this afternoon, and who then proceeded to sit on my lap in the front seat during the whole ride home.
-I'm watching Conan right now. Need I say more?
-Colorado tap water. It is just so delicious.
-The cool, crisp mountain air. We don't get air smelling like that in DC. I miss it so, so much. Mmm. I could sit outside and smell it all night long (except I'd probably get hypothermia eventually). But yeah. Delicious too. Everything about Colorado is delicious. Also: just feels much cleaner than anything in DC.
-A tiny bit of snow! In the backyard and elsewhere around the city/state! Doesn't exactly count in my book as really seeing snow, but it's closer than the rain, rain, rain we get in DC.
-Soon: sleeping in my lovely wonderful bed again. Mmm that'll be delicious too. I mean, not that my bed here is really any better than my bed back in DC, but it just...I don't know. I'm looking forward to it. (Although I did leave my nice memory foam pillow back there, which I'll miss...and I have fewer covers here. But, a bed warmer, so I should be good.)
-Deliciousness all around.
That is all.
Seriously, though, dude, I just love being here. It makes me ridiculously happy. It makes me feel so good. I can't even say enough about it.
Things I've loved since I've gotten here today:
-Seeing the mountains, both for the first time on the flight from DC to Denver (gorgeous!), and along the way from Denver to Cos (I purposefully chose a window seat on the right side of the plane so I'd be on the mountain side going down to Cos, but then my attempts were mostly thwarted anyway because I was right next to the propeller which blocked a great majority of my view - particularly of the mountains - but it was still better than sitting on the east-facing side.
-The sun going behind the mountains at exactly 4pm. I'm not sure what about this I liked so much, except for the fact that I had forgotten about this aspect of Colorado Springs living, and it was just...nice. Plus, you know, the mountains. I love the mountains. Especially the mountains I get to see every day (when I'm here). They're maybe not really as impressive as other mountains in the state, but...they're mine, you know? (Not that I don't absolutely love the other mountains around the state, because I'm pretty sure it's no secret that I love all these mountains pretty fantastically.)
-Seeing six deer in my neighborhood this afternoon (and one in an area behind my parents' friends' house). I know most people think of deer as a nuisance (and/or a target), but man, do I love them.
-Obviously, family is a given. My nephews are so great. My mom still has the best hugs to give. My dad's wonderful. My brother Tom is fun as always. My sister is my super awesome gorgeous sister. And Nutmeg is my endorphin-inducing cuddler, who Dad brought with him to pick me up this afternoon, and who then proceeded to sit on my lap in the front seat during the whole ride home.
-I'm watching Conan right now. Need I say more?
-Colorado tap water. It is just so delicious.
-The cool, crisp mountain air. We don't get air smelling like that in DC. I miss it so, so much. Mmm. I could sit outside and smell it all night long (except I'd probably get hypothermia eventually). But yeah. Delicious too. Everything about Colorado is delicious. Also: just feels much cleaner than anything in DC.
-A tiny bit of snow! In the backyard and elsewhere around the city/state! Doesn't exactly count in my book as really seeing snow, but it's closer than the rain, rain, rain we get in DC.
-Soon: sleeping in my lovely wonderful bed again. Mmm that'll be delicious too. I mean, not that my bed here is really any better than my bed back in DC, but it just...I don't know. I'm looking forward to it. (Although I did leave my nice memory foam pillow back there, which I'll miss...and I have fewer covers here. But, a bed warmer, so I should be good.)
-Deliciousness all around.
That is all.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Honestly.
Right now, you know what I wish I could do this weekend when I'm home? I wish I could sit on the couch, tell people I'm home, and make them come visit me. I have a feeling I'm going to stress myself out trying to see everyone and spend time with everyone when I only have a limited amount of time, not to mention a limited energy reserve. I do want to see friends I haven't seen in months, but I also do love just hanging out at home. And it's already stressful trying to figure out when I'm going to see who, and it's important to be flexible but I'm worried that if I don't plan things out well I'll miss out on seeing people. Of course, if I do, I'll see some of them again in a week, and I'll see even more a couple weeks after that when I'm home for three weeks and won't have to worry about it so much.
I'm notorious for not liking the phone, but honestly, most of the time I'd rather call someone than text them (which is what I usually resort to doing). The reason? I don't want to bother them. I don't want to interrupt anything. I don't want to be annoying. So I do the non-invasive texting, which can be ignored or responded to at the recipient's leisure. (Even then, sometimes I feel like I'm probably bothering them. Any mode of communication that I don't initiate, I feel like I'm bothering people.) But mostly, I just want to call. (But not have a long conversation. I'm a get-in-get-out type of person.) I really feel like such a bother to people when I call, though, so I just don't. It's annoying. I hate being so insecure all the time.
Also, I hate the metro.
Also, I really, really, really wish I had just gone for a Friday flight. Or at the very least a Tuesday night flight. Then I wouldn't have to sit here all night, packing, worrying about tomorrow, etc. I could have done that already, and be sitting at the airport, or in an airplane right now. And be home in a few hours. Instead, I'll fly out of here in 13 hours (and boy-howdy that plane had better be on time, delay-less, and get to Denver when it's supposed to). I will wake up (hopefully) in 9 hours (um...dang). I would say I'll go to bed in 2 or 3 hours, but we all know that's not happening. Susie doesn't sleep well when she has traveling to do in the morning. But then she goes to bed with enough time only to catch a few hours of sleep, and worries that her body will decide she needs more sleep and will make her sleep through the alarm or something. It's all just bad. Hence why I should always do night flights when possible, instead of morning flights. (But it's always morning flights.)
Seriously, I feel like I'm pmsing right now. But I'm not, I promise. I'm just super-uber emotional all of a sudden. Really, it just hit me like a ton of bricks today. I'm not sure why, other than my body knows how close it is to being 6000 feet above sea level, and thinks that it should be there now. Not tomorrow, now. And I quite agree. Alas, that doesn't much matter. But du-ude I wish I were going home tonight. I mean, I wouldn't get in until late, probably, and I'd be able to do not much other than go to bed, but I'd be sleeping in my bed, at home, after getting a temporary fill of dog kisses and Mom hugs, and I'd get to get a good night's sleep tonight, and sleep in tomorrow, and take a shower and make myself look presentable, and then go about the all-important job of Seeing People. Instead, I'll get not enough sleep, in my little bed here, all alone, dogless and hugless, and wake up super early, drag myself to the creepy metro station, get to the airport with its crowds and noise and germs, get on a plane with its crowds and noise and germs, get off that plane, sit in another airport - so close yet so far - get on another plane for a 15 minute ride, and finally land in Cos at approximately 12:45 in the afternoon, feeling, looking, and probably smelling like Airplane and Travel. And then I'll have to go home, and get situated, and maybe make myself look like I wasn't traveling all day and didn't get up at o'dark thirty, and maybe see some people. Sigh. Tonight would have been so much more preferable.
Sorry. I'm just in a lousy mood right now. Clearly. I just want to be home so badly it hurts. I'm so sick of being here right now. So so so sick of it. Every single inch of it. Every bit of it. Everything.
And why are people who aren't Catholic trying to make the Church do something it won't and can't ever do? Why do people who aren't Catholic even care what the Catholic Church does? Ugh. It's so frustrating. So so frustrating.
Also frustrating? Being here tonight.
Ok, clearly it's time to stop typing in this post because I'm just getting more and more worked up. Here's what I need to do: pop in a movie or something into my laptop, have it on while I get packed up, and try to go to bed ASAP. The more hours I sleep, the fewer hours I have to sit here reminding myself that I'm here and not there, where I so badly want to be.
I'm notorious for not liking the phone, but honestly, most of the time I'd rather call someone than text them (which is what I usually resort to doing). The reason? I don't want to bother them. I don't want to interrupt anything. I don't want to be annoying. So I do the non-invasive texting, which can be ignored or responded to at the recipient's leisure. (Even then, sometimes I feel like I'm probably bothering them. Any mode of communication that I don't initiate, I feel like I'm bothering people.) But mostly, I just want to call. (But not have a long conversation. I'm a get-in-get-out type of person.) I really feel like such a bother to people when I call, though, so I just don't. It's annoying. I hate being so insecure all the time.
Also, I hate the metro.
Also, I really, really, really wish I had just gone for a Friday flight. Or at the very least a Tuesday night flight. Then I wouldn't have to sit here all night, packing, worrying about tomorrow, etc. I could have done that already, and be sitting at the airport, or in an airplane right now. And be home in a few hours. Instead, I'll fly out of here in 13 hours (and boy-howdy that plane had better be on time, delay-less, and get to Denver when it's supposed to). I will wake up (hopefully) in 9 hours (um...dang). I would say I'll go to bed in 2 or 3 hours, but we all know that's not happening. Susie doesn't sleep well when she has traveling to do in the morning. But then she goes to bed with enough time only to catch a few hours of sleep, and worries that her body will decide she needs more sleep and will make her sleep through the alarm or something. It's all just bad. Hence why I should always do night flights when possible, instead of morning flights. (But it's always morning flights.)
Seriously, I feel like I'm pmsing right now. But I'm not, I promise. I'm just super-uber emotional all of a sudden. Really, it just hit me like a ton of bricks today. I'm not sure why, other than my body knows how close it is to being 6000 feet above sea level, and thinks that it should be there now. Not tomorrow, now. And I quite agree. Alas, that doesn't much matter. But du-ude I wish I were going home tonight. I mean, I wouldn't get in until late, probably, and I'd be able to do not much other than go to bed, but I'd be sleeping in my bed, at home, after getting a temporary fill of dog kisses and Mom hugs, and I'd get to get a good night's sleep tonight, and sleep in tomorrow, and take a shower and make myself look presentable, and then go about the all-important job of Seeing People. Instead, I'll get not enough sleep, in my little bed here, all alone, dogless and hugless, and wake up super early, drag myself to the creepy metro station, get to the airport with its crowds and noise and germs, get on a plane with its crowds and noise and germs, get off that plane, sit in another airport - so close yet so far - get on another plane for a 15 minute ride, and finally land in Cos at approximately 12:45 in the afternoon, feeling, looking, and probably smelling like Airplane and Travel. And then I'll have to go home, and get situated, and maybe make myself look like I wasn't traveling all day and didn't get up at o'dark thirty, and maybe see some people. Sigh. Tonight would have been so much more preferable.
Sorry. I'm just in a lousy mood right now. Clearly. I just want to be home so badly it hurts. I'm so sick of being here right now. So so so sick of it. Every single inch of it. Every bit of it. Everything.
And why are people who aren't Catholic trying to make the Church do something it won't and can't ever do? Why do people who aren't Catholic even care what the Catholic Church does? Ugh. It's so frustrating. So so frustrating.
Also frustrating? Being here tonight.
Ok, clearly it's time to stop typing in this post because I'm just getting more and more worked up. Here's what I need to do: pop in a movie or something into my laptop, have it on while I get packed up, and try to go to bed ASAP. The more hours I sleep, the fewer hours I have to sit here reminding myself that I'm here and not there, where I so badly want to be.
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