"Nothing's gonna change my world"

I must have made this statement a million times, but it's so amazing how the simplest things can make you happiest. Some of the most meaningful moments are in tiny insignificant things. While seemingly meaningless in this fast-paced world full of strangers, these inconsequential happenings are in fact the very fiber of our existence.

People begin stirring in the cool of the morning, moving sluggishly, but with purpose. A new day is dawning as an old Buick (which has seen many new days begin) lurches to a stop in front of a distressed house. The car smells strongly of gasoline. The driver steps out, faces passers-by, and nods a mute greeting. Eyes meet, and for a moment, there is understanding. The warm scent of cigarettes drifts lightly on the breeze, somehow bringing life to what must have been a dream. Bright cheerful flowers spring to life amidst concrete, contrasting sharply with the harsh urban scene.

A young man whistles at girls crossing the street. An old man stands alone on the corner, watching the world go by and thinking of a much simpler time. Coffee smells divine. Screen doors slam as children race to the bus, and older wives are scrambling eggs for their retired husbands. Couples walk hand in hand under trees laden with vines...past houses that whisper of untold stories. Little arms reach imploringly, exhibiting the unadulterated regard that only a child is capable of. Moon River drifts across the open space between apartments, dancing lightly over the sound of crowded streets. Family members hug, friends exchange best wishes as they pass, and lovers are discovering the world in each other's eyes.

Each of these experiences has crept into my life at some point this week. They are all insignificant on their own, but each one has brought a degree of comfort and vitality. Have a great weekend.

"I've kissed the moon a million times"

You know you're busy when you rely on your day planner in order to remember what happened last week. Maybe I'm just weird, but I love seeing a solid wall of written activities and assignments. I'm enjoying the content of my courses so far. Things are much more interesting at this level, and the only thing that persistently freaks me out is time. I still have no idea how I'm going to balance everything time wise, but hopefully it will slowly fall into place. Management and organization will be crucial to staying on top of things. Anyone who reads this can feel free to hold me accountable.

Retreat went well this weekend. I'm the new VP of Ritual, which is slightly daunting, but exciting at the same time. Downtown Asheville wasn't entirely what I expected. Most of the shops were eccentric little nooks with hippie (in the truest sense of the word) employees. I can't decide if the experience was enriching or just a bit too dreggy. Hehe. I've blathered for long enough and should probably get back to something more productive. Until next time!

"A moment like this..."

I love moments of supreme happiness. You know...the ones that are too near perfection for words. ::smile::

"another brick in the wall"

Ahh, the painful sound of moving. A handtruck is rhythmically slamming on each individual stair outside the apartment...up and down.

I wish that I could remember the bizarre dream I had last night. I remember something happening to make me sit straight up in bed at 2:00 A.M. I fell back asleep, but was fighting. I was asleep and something was waking me, but my body was paralyzed. I couldn't react. I was terrified, but couldn't scream. I wanted to run, but found myself incapable of movement. It was a horrible sensation, and I woke feeling absolutely exhausted. I don't normally pay attention to the "subconscious" meaning of dreams, but this is the second time that particular dream has occurred. Apparently it is very common and signals that there is something in my life I feel I have no control over. Hmm.

Things have been so busy the past couple of days. It feels weird to stall. Good luck to everyone starting classes this week! :)

"all my life I will be driving home to you"

I was smiling at the cuteness of freshman walking from the bookstore with their books and parents in tow. We drove out to the bobcat fields and were amazed by the number of people waiting to get in. It has been kind of nice having Milledgeville to myself this summer, so I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it being flooded again.

On the other hand, I was very happy to see a lot of old friends this weekend. Amidst getting paperwork organized and figuring out scheduling for next year, I've had a little bit of time to just chill. I was feeling a bit apprehensive earlier, but now I'm looking forward to things continuing to get better as they go along. Everything wonderful seems to be right at my fingertips. This is a great feeling, but it's overwhelmingly sobering at the same time.

Riding in cars with large mixing bowls is quite an experience.

I never knew television could be so fascinating (on more than one level).

My dishwasher may never be the same (but in a good way).

And I should really start documenting profound statements in conversation more often. A couple of my favorites have been:

Kristin: "Brittany killed a bug, but it wasn't dead," and

Jessia H: "I'm usually okay with it except for the times when I'm not..."

::smiles::

"More than this..."

I have been staring at this screen for at least an hour. I seem incapable of getting my thoughts in writing, which is always more than annoying.

I was just glancing at my pictures of London and wishing that I could be there without the hassle of ten hour flights, crowded airports, and travel expenses. We ate at an imitation British pub on Sunday, and the weather was cooperative for the occasion - it was pouring rain. I hope to hop across the pond again someday. Perhaps they will double the speed of commercial airliners, making the flight more suitable to my taste. Until then, it's a lovely dream.

There is so much to accomplish in the two days before I head back to Milledgeville, but I won't bore readers with a stodgy list. Sigh. More later. I've lost my motivation.

Vacation pictures

Take a look at vacation pictures on my livejournal. I promise a real update very soon. All my love.

P.S. We're back :-D

Random thoughts

A special thanks to Victor for doing a super-cool photo shoot with me Friday! I'm not sure exacly what I'm going to do with all of the photos, but the experience was a blast. :) Yay for photography! For a few of my favorites, CLICK HERE!

For the latest update (which I'm too lazy to post here), CLICK HERE!

"When paradise calls me, I'd rather be here"

The ickiness of Tuesday night was most definitely made up for with one of the best nights I've had in a while.

Great conversations always make me very happy, but if awesome music is thrown into the mix (I was burning CDs), it just gets ridiculous. I went to bed with the biggest smile on my face. I woke up feeling mirthful and blessed, and the sparkling sun dancing across my window pane only heightens the sensation.

I'll pry my overly contented self away from the keyboard now. :)

"chains...they aren't the kind that you can see"

As usual, I feel as if I have very little to say. This feeling usually precedes a rambling account of nothing in particular.

Last night my mind was running wild with assumptions. It seemed that there was hidden meaning behind every quirky mannerism, and I quickly became annoyed with people as a whole. I went to bed in a foul mood, dozed off quickly, but was jerked out of slumber by a noise in the building. It seemed like years passed before I drifted near sleep again. I'm hoping tonight will be different. I had planned on just vegging tonight, but somehow it's not as marvelous as I thought it would be.

I want to stop by the Old Governor's Mansion tomorrow for a job application. The rest of the day will be devoted to taking care of bills, errands, and laundry before heading home for our family vacation. I'm looking forward to getting away from everything for a while and taking a lot of pictures. One of my favorite aspects of the next two weeks is going to be the freedom to read for pleasure. It doesn't seem like the summer should be over already... Here's hoping fall is as good as (or better than) summer.