Stranger than Fiction

I wanted to give you an update on what's been happening here. It's a strange story, but like they say, truth can be stranger than fiction! It goes something like this:

Two weeks ago, I was working the night shift here at the hotel when I got a phone call from Chris at about 4 am. Someone had flipped their truck right in front of our house. The guy and girl in the truck weren't seriously hurt, so Chris called the police and took care of them, took them to breakfast, and helped get everything settled. When they came to pick me up the next morning, I had just finished the flyers for our graduation bonfire (Chris graduated!) happening the next weekend, so we invited them to come by.

Well, the girl showed up, and had a great time, along with everyone else. (The bonfire went exceptionally well!) I had to work the next evening, but when I got home, she was at the house again, in bad shape. There had been a guy who showed up uninvited to our party looking for her; she asked us not to let him back, and we didn't think much of it at the time, but we found out when she came back that not only was she living with him, but he was beating up on her pretty regularly. We didn't even have to think about it; we needed a roommate, she needed a safe place to get out of a bad situation. We moved her in on an air mattress that night and went to the house to get the rest of her things the next day. We were expecting possible complications with facing a drunk abusive now ex-boyfriend, but thankfully nothing went awry.

It's been a few days now, and so far it's pretty smooth sailing. It just felt like the right thing to do. It still does. T (since that's what I'm gonna call her, for privacy's sake) is relatively young, still six months away from being a legal adult, but she's been through so much already that it's difficult to tell. She's one of the happiest people I've ever met, though, and she's beautiful, both inside and out. There's so much potential in this girl! She's quick, smart, and so good-hearted. She's been volunteering to do housework since she moved in, even though we told her she didn't have to, because she wants to give back and contribute in some way. And the most incredible thing is I see so much of what I've been though when we talk about her life, and I consider myself incredibly lucky to be able to pass some of the wisdom I've gained through my own experiences to someone who will appreciate where it's coming from. The only word to describe it is serendipitous. This can only turn out good. We're helping her find a better job right now, something close to home since there's still only one car for the household, but eventually she wants to get her license. She also wants her GED so she can go to college for physical therapy, and since I want to home school my children someday and could use the practice, I'm more than willing to help her study. I want to teach her everything I know, anything she wants to learn. I want to see her succeed.

God, I love finding good people in the world!

A fond memory

I was sitting on the front porch this afternoon, leaning over the rail, indulging in the warm brightness of the spring sun's rays. I closed my eyes for a moment and suddenly, vividly recalled lying on my beach towel in the sand at Cocoa Beach, hearing the waves break, feeling the sun warm on my face and the breeze blowing across my brow, smelling and tasting the salt in the air. It was one of the only times in my life so far I was totally and completely at peace, if only for a moment. That was on my Senior Class trip, seven years ago now, and I still remember it like it was yesterday.

I love springtime!

boys! raise giant corn plants in your sink drain!

Yesterday morning, my hubby went into the bathroom and saw something green poking out of the sink drain. Apparently, a corn kernel (probably from the mouse feed I use - I wash their food bowls in that sink - but I swear I don't ever remember any leftover corn going down!) had lodged in the drain, germinated hydroponically, and actually started growing:



What's interesting, at least for me, is having done a lecture section and a lab on plant reproduction and growth in Biology this semester and then finding something like this, out of nowhere. An amazing testament to the tenacity and adaptive ability of life in general, don't you think?

Cry Freedom

How can I turn away?
Brother, sister go dancing through my head
Human as to human
The future is no place to place your better days

Cry freedom, cry
From a crowd 10,000 wide
Hope laid upon hope
That this crowd will not subside
Let this flag burn to dust
And a new, a fair design be raised
While we wait head in hands, hands in prayer
And fall into a dreamless sleep again
And we wave our hands

Hands and feet are all alike
But gold between Divide us
Hands and feet are all alike
But fear between Divide us
All slip away

There was a window and by it stood
A mirror in which he could see himself
He thought of something
Something he had never had but hoped would come along
Cry freedom, cry
From deep inside, where we are all confined
While we wave hands in fire
Wave our hands

Hands and feet are all alike
But gold between Divide us
Hands and feet are all alike
But fear between Divide us
All slip away

In this room stood a little child
And in this room this little child she would remain
Until someone might decide
To dance this little child across this hall
Into a cold, dark space
Where she might never trace her way across
This crooked mile, across this crooked page
Cry freedom, cry
From deep inside, where we are all confined
Till we wave our hands

How can I turn away?
Brother, sister go dancing through my head
Human as to human
The future is no place to place your better days

~Dave Matthews


P.S. ~ Fletcher, thanks for letting me borrow this album...and I'll bring it back soon, I promise!

More Tragedy

Cayla, my beautiful sweet black rat, passed away sometime last night. I went in to feed her and Briea before work today and found her still and cold by the cage door. I don't know what happened; she was fine when I saw her last, eating well, active, not putting out any warning signs that something like this was about to happen. I didn't want to take care of her alone, but Chris was already at work, so I had to. I put her in a cardboard box and buried her in the backyard with tears and a silent farewell. I will miss her terribly. She was the most adventurous little thing I'd ever seen. She figured out early on, and quite accidentally, that a 3-foot fall from the kitchen table to the floor wouldn't hurt her; from then on, she never wanted to stay put. She was smart, affectionate, playful and fearless...the dog was more scared of her than she was of him! I know Briea will miss her sister as well. I hope she can make it through this. I don't know if I can handle losing both of them at once. I will post a picture as soon as I get home to my own computer.

Favorite Quote #4

Perhaps to help frame my preceding thoughts, I give you a very few of the words which helped to define them:



Mike looked unhappy. "It was what I started out to do. I is not what I am trying to do now. Father, I know that you were disappointed in me when I started this."
"Your business, son."
"Yes. Self. I must grok each cusp myself alone. And so must you . . . and so must each self. Thou art God.'"
"I don't accept the nomination."
"You can't refuse it. Thou art God and I am God and all that groks is God, and I am all that I have ever been or seen or felt or experienced. I am all that I grok."

~Robert A. Heinlein, Stranger In A Strange Land

Personal Thoughts in the Aftermath

I just want to let everyone know that we are okay.

I have so many questions, and I don't know where to turn for answers. I see the world through many different dimensions; I'm even tempted, in my youth and possible ignorance, to presume I know things some people will never learn, no matter how long they exist in this time and space. Ideas about life and the nature of existence that only an open mind can contemplate. Fletcher has always said I underestimate myself, and I'm starting to think maybe he's right.
But am I "enlightened"? Absolutely not; I'm constantly frustrated by how much I don't understand. But, as they say, the wise man knows he knows nothing...so am I enlightened? How can you answer a question that answers itself?

Coelho calls it a Personal Legend, King calls it ka, Heinlein calls it grokking...call it destiny, fate, free will, or whatever, each of us will follow a path with a beginning and an end. I believe we each have a path that belongs to us only, and finding it is our life's happy destiny, our Personal Legend, our ka. So.....how do we find it? Does it call us, always beckoning, waiting only for us to hear? Or does it sit silent, calmly contemplating eternity, hardly noticing (if at all) when we stumble across? How do we choose the path we're destined for? How do we know?

I've lost my voice, it seems; my thoughts come out instead as words on a page. Every one that coalesces towards intelligible communication has a million half-formed and fleeting, yet no less important, behind it. Life has taken on a strange surreal quality as a result of what's happened here. The words are full yet slow in coming. I am patient.

I don't grieve for an individual victim; I grieve with the community and I weep at our strength and love and hope and my gratitude to be a part of it. I feel my resolve strengthen and my vision expand. I don't yet know what it is I'm looking for, or where my path will take me, but I believe now more than ever that I will know when I have found it.

I love you all.

I don't know where I'm going, but I sure know where I've been

It's raining outside. It's been raining steadily most of the day. Now it's interspersed with snow - big, fat white blobs that pelt out of the sky like wads of cotton candy. Now they fall faster, thirty seconds of blizzard; now they drop back. The temperature is dropping steadily. I stare out the window in a trance. Have I ever seen snow this strange, this lovely? I don't believe I have.

I've been accepted into Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, official as of a few days ago. My sense of achievement is somewhat overshadowed by more pressing financial issues, but I am nonetheless proud of achieving a goal I set out almost three years ago. I know this is a milestone, something I will look back on in later years and remember as a turning point, and so wait to grok in fullness.

Thoughts of the future weigh heavy upon me. Thoughts of the past, however, especially recently, are much lighter. Yesterday saw the second of two day hikes for the backpacking class I'm taking. It threatened rain, but none fell until after we were home. We went to Dragon's Tooth, a section of the AT near Roanoke, 5 miles up and back. It was foggy when we reached the top, but cleared enough soon after to reveal most of the next ridge and the valley below us. Kelly's Knob, where we'd liked the Saturday before, had been blanketed in 2 inches of snow, with more drifting down on us, rather heavily at the top. It was wonderful. Our "final" overnight hike will be in two weeks. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for good weather; I don't mind hiking in the rain and cold, but I'd rather not sleep in it, thank you!

And now I'm off again - presumably, to check in on old friends and new. So much time, and so little to do...wait, scratch that, reverse it...

:)

I'm too tired to care about a silly title

DD dropped me a message the other day asking about my classes, and it reminded me I haven't posted in a while. Working and taking classes (both full-time) at the same time is a lot harder than I thought it would be, lemme tell ya...

Classes are going pretty well. I've had my first round of tests, and I came out with an A and two B's. Still waiting on my first Bio test, I'll get it back tomorrow, but I'm not worried about that one. I'm still thinking about taking summer classes, NRCC offers organic chem as a 10-week course, but I don't know if my schedule will work out.

R.I.P. Wilson

My betta is no more. He went to the rice paddy in the sky. I don't know why.

Children of Men

If you have not yet seen this movie, go find it in your local art theatre. Or make sure to rent it later. I don't care, just go see it. Just make sure you haven't been doing anything that tends to make you depressed before you see it; it'll do that quite nicely on its own. This movie's brutal. But totally worth it.

Do What You Have to Do

I hope Chris finds a decent job soon so I can quit this one. I feel so creatively stifled here! Compared to my last hotel job, this place is so run-down and sad. I do busy work that I shouldn't have to be responsible for just because I'm not supposed to be studying on the clock; thankfully my boss usually leaves about 3 hours into my shift and I can sometimes get some homework done after all. Sometimes, though, I just can't muster the energy to focus. This place drains me. The paycheck helps keep the bills current, though...that's why I'm here.


And so ends my thoughts of the day.

Dear Diary

Life is good.

I had a great holiday! Chris and I went home to MD to spend Christmas with our families. We spent the day with my dad and stepmom the day before. I wish I could get up to see them more. Christmas morning we opened presents with Chris's family, then he stayed there while I went to the big family gathering at my mom and stepdad's house. Later that night, after all the extended family had gone home, Chris came over and we opened the rest of our presents from my family. I'm not really a materialistic person, but I got some kick-ass gifts! Most exciting was the LOTR box set, which I specifically asked for, and which I spent about a week watching (along with all the accompanying documentaries). I also got a bird feeder from my mom-in-law, and five of the field guides from the Audubon Society. I can't wait for spring!

Chris left the day after Christmas to come home (he had to go back to work), but I stayed for the rest of the week and visited all my friends. Most exciting was when my sister and I spent an evening over in Woodbridge, hanging out with a friend from high school we hadn't seen in about five years. He had my junior yearbook, which I spent a delightful hour browsing through, remembering a lot of good times I had completely forgotten about. It was surprisingly liberating, to realize how different high school actually was from the way I remember it. I also got to spend a day with Fletcher, which also doesn't happen often enough. I miss you, Puck! I even got to hang out with my little brother and his friend Jake, both of whom have turned into incredibly well-rounded and interesting young men. They're 15 now, and both pretty mature for their age. I seriously wish I could be around more often.

Two days before Christmas, Chris was changing the oil in our car when it popped out of gear, rolled off the ramps, down a hill, and into a tree. That's all she wrote - no more Echo. I was heartbroken...I bought that car three years ago, with three miles on it, and I thought I was going to have it until it died. Well, I guess I did, huh? I just thought it would be another ten years or so before it gave up the ghost. Thankfully, there were no serious injuries, although it ran over Chris's knee and and he scraped up his back on the gravel. He limped for a few days, then he was okay. The insurance company paid for a rental, so we were able to go home and see our families, and Toyota financed us for a new Scion. You know, repeat business and all that. Not a bad car, when it's all said and done, but it does have one major drawback...it's white. I can't STAND white cars! But oh, well, beggars can't be choosers, and at least I have power windows and mirrors now. Can't really complain about that.

I got a job last week. I'm working full-time at the hotel right up the street from my house. Not a bad job, really, but I don't think I'm going to be full-time for long. I have almost no time to do my homework, and this semester I absolutely cannot afford to screw up. Why, you ask? Well, I had an admissions appointment today with a counselor from VT, and she told me that as long as my mid-semester grades are anywhere close to my grades from last semester, I'm in. I'M IN!!!! I'm going to Tech in the fall!! WOOOOOHOOOOO!!! :) That's very exciting (duh). I can't tell you how glad I am to be back in school. I actually got depressed after New Years', because I was so bored. I was sleeping 14 hours a day. Not cool.

My mom drove me home New Years' weekend, and my sister and brother-in-law came with. They only stayed overnight, but I got to take them on a short hike up to Wind Rock, which is on the Appalachian Trail, and it has a great view of the mountain range. Even in the wintertime it's breathtaking. The road up to Wind Rock also goes through Mountain Lake resort, the location where Dirty Dancing was filmed. Mom thought that was pretty cool. I took them around campus, and showed them downtown Blacksburg. I'm so glad my mom finally got to come and see where I'm living now, and where I'll be going to school. It was always important to me.

It's snowing here. Not much, and there's a bastard of a wind chill, but it's nice to see snow again. We had an ice storm a few days ago, and the ice was so thick on the pine trees in the yard that the lowest branches were almost on the ground. It all melted the next day, but not before we got out there and took some pictures. Hopefully we can get them developed soon.

School isn't much different from last semester, since I'm taking the same classes. One new teacher, a few different class locations, and my history paper this semester is on Andy Warhol. That's gonna be fun, I'm sure. My backpacking class doesn't start until mid-March. I can't wait!

I guess that's about it for now. It's good to be back.

:)

It's that time again....

Like most of you, I haven't had much time for blogging lately. Actually, I haven't had much to blog about, until recently. But I find myself sitting in front of the computer, most of my housework done, my inbox cleared, the animals fed, my husband at work, a cup of coffee next to me, and I realize it's a perfect time for reflecting. And so, I will attempt to get down on paper (sort of...) a summary of recent noteworthy events, and thus preserve them for posterity.

First, and most important....today was the deadline for final grades to be posted, and as expected, I ended the semester with a 4.0. As for that chem class I've been sweating all semester, ironically, I had the highest grade in the class - 99.4%, and anyone with an A was exempt from the final. I don't think I've ever had a 4.0, not even in high school...maybe for one quarter, but never at the end of the year. I'm only halfway through this year, but next semester I'm taking the second half of the subjects I just took, so I'm not worried. As an added bonus, even though I went into this past semester with the solitary goal of learning, I managed to make a few friends on the way, and even had a couple nights of study group at my house during finals week. We even had a bonfire here a week ago...a small affair, but fun and very laid-back, a good way to relax and forget temporarily the stress of math and science. I'm so glad I'm not living in an apartment anymore!

Christmas is only five days away. Chris and I are heading home on Sunday, and he'll be coming back here on Tuesday...back to work for him, say sorry. I, on the other hand, am in a unique position to stay at home for a few extra days and come back next weekend. It's so exciting!! Not only will I get to see my best friends whom I haven't seen since August (that means you, Fletch, I can't wait!), but my mom is bringing me back and staying overnight. I'll get to show her the town, and the VT campus, where I'll be going to school in the fall. It's nice because when I was at DePaul, Mom never got to see the campus...and when I was in high school and looking at colleges, she went to see a few with me. Besides, it's so beautiful here, I can't imagine anyone coming here and not being happier for it. My sister might be coming as well, which would be awesome!

I know I've been saying for months that I'd get some good pictures of Mojo up here...well, these aren't good pictures, but they're pictures, dammit! :)

Remember how small he was when I brought him home in August? No? Okay, here ya go:



It's been four and a half months since then, and he's growing so fast!



He's gotten a lot more red, even though he's a little dull right now...he'll probably shed in the next week.





That's about all I have for now...the computer's so damn slow right now anyway, what with all the shows Chris is downloading, I've been working on this post for about two hours, and I'm hungry! Happy Yule, everyone!

An Overdue Visit

A holiday poem from the ACLU, who are NOT trying to destroy Christmas - enjoy, and happy holidays to everyone!


An Overdue Visit

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the nation
Friends of Freedom knew it was a special occasion.
Lady Liberty stood taller just off the shore
Her torch shining brighter than a few weeks before

But it wasn't the flame turning her cheeks all rosy
It was thoughts of Snowe, Feingold and Nancy Pelosi
And leaders from every side of the aisle
Who would soon bring the Bill of Rights back into style.

The Amendments had all hurried out of their beds -
Which was no easy task, they were nearly in shreds -
And they rushed to the window on papery feet
As a jolly old man flew right over their street.

"Could it be!?" they inquired as the roof shook and trembled
And they crept toward the mantle, peaceably assembled,
Just as someone emerged from the chimney with flair
In a shiny red suit, with a shock of white hair

And a top hat, and pants all in red, white and blue -
"Wait a minute," the Amendments exclaimed, "Who are you?"
"Don't be frightened my children," he said, "it's no scam.
"You can't have forgotten your old Uncle Sam!"

"Holy crap!" said Free Speech. "Stop right there!" yelled Bear Arms
And Privacy cried "Who shut off the alarms?!"
The Fifth remained silent, but Uncle Sam said
"We've been having some trouble, but Freedom's not dead."

The Amendments were cautious. "It's just been so long
"We've seen Liberty lost, we've seen so much go wrong.
"The President's trying to mangle and warp us,
"The Fourth is in tatters, so's Habeas Corpus!"

The old man sat down - he had had quite a ride -
But he told them "Don't worry, the Law's on our side,
"'Cause the nation's fed up and more people are crying
"For Justice and an end to illegal spying,

"And secret abductions by the CIA,
"And laws that would take women's choices away,
"And Gitmo tribunals and secret detention,
"And other intrusions too numerous to mention - "

"Not so fast," said a grinchity voice from above
And Don Rumsfeld pushed past the Fourteenth with a shove.
He was covered in soot and he looked kind of scary.
It seemed like his Christmas had not been so merry.

The Amendments said they weren't happy to see him:
"You tried to throw all of us in the museum!
"You've done so much the Constitution forbids!"
"And I would have gone on, but for you meddling kids!"

Uncle Sam told him "Rummy, your plans just won't do,
"So we've got a brand new timetable for you!"
And as Rumsfeld retired and crept into the night
The Amendments cried out "Have a good secret flight!"

From the distance they heard him reply with a snort.
"Bye-bye, Rummy!" they answered, "we'll see you in court!"
Uncle Sam rode the chimney up out of the room
And, like Frosty, he said "I'll be back again soon."

But they heard him exclaim "Oh, and just one more thing!
"This year, when the holiday bells start to ring,
"Try to honor religion. Honest faith can't be wrong.
"It's America, can't we all just get along?

"So, on Christian," he cried, "Muslim, Hindu, and Jew!
"On Quaker! On Shaker! And Atheist too!
"On Buddhist! On Taoist! And to show we're not chickens
"We'll file a few lawsuits defending the Wiccans!

"Your belief is your right, so get out there and savor it.
"Uncle Sam's not a preacher, and he doesn't play favorites!"
So this holiday season, whatever you do,
Warmest wishes for Freedom, from the ACLU.

Whew!

No more finals - I took my last two today. Grades by Wednesday. 90% sure I made straight A's for the semester. Had a nice gathering here a few nights ago - more about that when I've had some recovery sleep :) I promise, I will post all about school when I get my final grades.

:)

What a geek I am!

Just in case you hadn't noticed the color changes, I've switched to Blogger beta. Went back and labeled all my posts and everything. Yay, go me! Cuz I'm technical like that.

:)

Looking for a great gift?

Grumpy Girl Auto Bird Turd Emergency Kit

This is the most damn clever gift idea I've seen in a long time!

I'm not sure what this means, but...

Changeling Yeah, that sounds just about right.

So very glamourous. You're a changeling, an Arcadian trapped within a human body, living a double life. Attuned to the dreaming, you're probably a creative, joyful spirit. Joy takes many forms, of course. Redcaps can enjoy what they do, even if most other people would find it horrible. You can find the beauty and worth of everything - from amazing art to emoitional breakdowns. On the downside, you're a bit unbalanced - people might actually think that you have two, very different sides to your personalities. And you need people so very much. You probably don't like to be left alone. Watch out for Autumn People and for Vampires. They can really cramp your style.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 99% on Joy You scored higher than 99% on Power You scored higher than 99% on Tech You scored higher than 99% on Dominance

Link: The World of Darkness Personality Test written by BlaiseBoy on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

Even though I'm an introvert, this actually makes some sense...

Thanksgiving, and other things

I registered for my spring classes today. Second semester of everything I'm taking now - biology, chemistry, calculus, and US history - plus an added bonus...a class in backpacking! Since my goal after finishing college is to hike the entire AT with Chris, this seems like a great idea. Give me the necessary background and all that. If I have an A average in my chem class by Dec. 11, I will not have to take the final. Since it's the only one I'm worried about, this bodes well for my chances at a 4.0 this semester, which bodes REALLY well for my chances at successfully transferring to VT next fall.

Thanksgiving was....interesting. Not bad, but strange. It's hard to explain. As I become an adult, I'm having to reevaluate my relationships with family, and reinterpret our interactions. A lot of issues to deal with, issues that I've never even fully articulated to myself, let alone tried to deal with. I think, given time, everything will work itself out. Some things right now, though, still seem awkward.

I'm not ready to have a dog yet, especially one that only wants your undivided attention 24/7. Yet that's what we were left with when Andy left for Cali. Don't get me wrong, I love this dog (and, since Thanksgiving, so does my family). He's smart, beautiful, and attentive. I just wish I had more time to give. As much as I'd like to have my own dog, raised from a puppy, I won't even consider it until I know I can give it the time and attention it deserves. Since I'm not planning on having kids for another few years yet, I don't think this will be a problem.

I have an appointment to give blood in about ten minutes. I may come back and add to this, I may not. We'll see how the rest of the day goes.

:)

It's snowing!

I just saw the first snowfall of the season! Big, thick white flakes falling silently from the sky, and although it didn't last long and didn't stick, it was still beautiful. Looks like it may do this off and on all day.

I love the mountains.

Free Hugs

Free Hugs in Sydney - Juan Mann One Love

I read about this guy in the Collegiate Times. Such a great idea...I wish I had thought of it! Free hugs for everyone!

To Heather, and beyond!

Want to put your name in a movie quote? I got some great ones:


When there's no more room in hell, the Heather will walk the earth. (Dawn of the Dead)

It's a Sicilian message. It means tonight Luca Brasi sleeps with the Heather. (The Godfather)

Heather, for lack of a better word, is good. (Wall Street)

I know this sounds crazy, but ever since yesterday on the road, I've been seeing this Heather. (Close Encounters of the Third Kind)

Listen to them. Children of the Heather. What music they make. (Dracula)

I want that Heather, not excuses. (Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back)

They don't throw their garbage away. They make it into Heather. (Annie Hall)

First rule of Heather Club is - you do not talk about Heather Club. (Fight Club)

Heather? We ain't got no Heather! We don't need no Heather! I don't have to show you any stinking Heather! (The Treasure of the Sierra Madre)

Love means never having to say you're Heather. (Love Story)


I could go on, probably for days...and it works with any word, too!

"You had me at 'slapshot' "