I decided a couple weeks ago that now is a good time to start over. I'm going through a number of firsts in my life... The main two being living by myself and going to grad school... and the adjustment has been, well, not very "adjusty". There's no adjustment at all, really. It's just complete chaos and me standing in the middle, slack-jawed and wide-eyed. My first week of grad school has been terrible. My day begins at about 7am and I have 12 hours of class... literally. I feel like I casually stepped onto a treadmill already zinging along at high speeds. I've considered my options:
1.) Kill my professor (who is pretty mean and looks exactly like Agatha Trunchbull from Matilda... You know? The lady who swings kids out the window by their pigtails and eats chocolates that don't belong to her but were some dead guy's and probably should've been thrown out ages ago.)
2.) Drop out of school
3.) Go jump off a cliff and get it over with
Last night I decided the best option was just to do all three in movie-like splendor. It'd be like a sweet package deal, you know?
It's all amusing to me because I have decided to start over... Or "rekindle" would be a better way of putting it. (I'm talking about my currently haphazard relationship with God, here, in case you're wondering.) The fact that my world has become a giant mess has only made me more determined to spend the time with God he deserves and I need, and made me more certain that someone out there desperately wishes I'd just give up already.
I am waiting for the day when I will have money to buy a cheap camera/microphone so I can skype with the very same encouraging, interesting, lovely person(s) who read this blog. (The "s" in parenthesis was a joke, in case you were wondering Zoe... You're still the only person I know who reads these ramblings)
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Tour de North
A lot of things have happened. I don't think I'll go into too much detail, though I tend to tell stories in detail. It's just that there are so many things with such a diverse range of emotions, locations, tones... There's just no way to do it without taking forever or being a complete cluster-cuss. In the past couple weeks I have graduated from college, moved, watched many people I love leave, traveled around Boston and NYC, and too many other things (and some I can't even bring myself to mention). I've been assured of some things along the way:
Hearing good news of how God is taking care of my friends and family is often just as exciting, if not more, as if it were happening to me.
I'm nervous about the future and continually tend to be too self-centered to allow God to take care of me.
There is a God who loves his kids, and He is faithful.
God's power and omnipotence are not diminished by my limited understanding, and even if I cannot fully comprehend how or why something happens He is still at work.
Hearing good news of how God is taking care of my friends and family is often just as exciting, if not more, as if it were happening to me.
I'm nervous about the future and continually tend to be too self-centered to allow God to take care of me.
There is a God who loves his kids, and He is faithful.
God's power and omnipotence are not diminished by my limited understanding, and even if I cannot fully comprehend how or why something happens He is still at work.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Etymological Insomnia
I spend (or waste, depending on how you look at it) an extraordinary chunk of time thinking about words and phrases. It's annoying, but if I can't sleep it's usually because I'm tossing and turning over some pointless internal debate about words. For example last night I just kept mulling over the phrase, "By the skin of my teeth". Hours are wasted (or spent) just staring in the dark in vexed frustration about phrases just like that. Seriously...
By the skin of one's teeth?
By the skin of my teeth.
By the skin of your teeth.
By the skins of your tooth.
By the skins of our teeth.
Who came up with that phrase and why do we use it? TEETH DON'T HAVE SKIN. Unless "skin" is some kind of reference to something else......... And then I spend more time considering all the options of what "skin" could be referencing. In case you are wondering about the etymology of this particular phrase, I found it. "By the skin of one's teeth" is a biblical phrase from Job 19:18-20. It's debut can be found in the Geneva Bible from 1560, translated from the original Hebrew
"Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me. All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me. My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth."
So this tells us where it is from, but not really what it means. That part is still completely ambiguous. Maybe the "skin" are his lips or gums. Maybe Job is saying after everything (sickness, death, destruction) he has barely escaped Satan's attacks with his teeth still in his head. This gives me a little teeny bit of satisfaction, but not nearly enough to secure my future sleeping habits.
By the skin of one's teeth?
By the skin of my teeth.
By the skin of your teeth.
By the skins of your tooth.
By the skins of our teeth.
Who came up with that phrase and why do we use it? TEETH DON'T HAVE SKIN. Unless "skin" is some kind of reference to something else......... And then I spend more time considering all the options of what "skin" could be referencing. In case you are wondering about the etymology of this particular phrase, I found it. "By the skin of one's teeth" is a biblical phrase from Job 19:18-20. It's debut can be found in the Geneva Bible from 1560, translated from the original Hebrew
"Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me. All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me. My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth."
So this tells us where it is from, but not really what it means. That part is still completely ambiguous. Maybe the "skin" are his lips or gums. Maybe Job is saying after everything (sickness, death, destruction) he has barely escaped Satan's attacks with his teeth still in his head. This gives me a little teeny bit of satisfaction, but not nearly enough to secure my future sleeping habits.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Emo post for Zoe
I read a few days ago that the Japanese "Origami" originally meant something close to "guaranteed" or "certified". In the 1300s the Japanese would take their important documents and certificates and fold them in such unique ways that it would prevent anyone from making unauthorized duplicates. I imagined what my parents would say if I folded up my diploma. It'd be the most expensive origami stegosaurus I've ever made.
On another note, we had crazy club at the Finney's tonight and I said goodbye to my kids. I know they're not "my" kids. Also, they're not "kids". But I love them. The past couple weeks have been really sucky. It's so stupid to cry because I'm no longer a Young Life leader for Federal Hocking, but I can't seem to stop myself. I know I will still try to hang out with some kids and I've already made plans with one in particular, so why do I feel so sad? I've always tried to cut to the heart of things with people... Tell people the way things are and not leave anything unsaid (whenever tact allows it, and sometimes even when it doesn't) but I have this gnawing sadness that so many things weren't said and so many kids weren't reached. It breaks your heart to see so many kids come and go and never choose to take God's hand. I also started crying recently while looking at people I saw at Central, people who have clearly chosen to seek God, because I was so overwhelmed by how glad our father must be when his kids choose a life with him. I'm just one big crying mess. It seems I cry no matter what. Even at open mic, I cried... And that's my HAPPY place! Bruce played a song to Bernie, Brianna, and I by Bob Dylan called "You're gonna make me lonesome when you go". It's pretty self explanatory and I don't want to talk about these sad things anymore. There's no sense in wallowing in them. So, there's your emo post, Zoe-friend....
Also, I need to figure out Skype!
On another note, we had crazy club at the Finney's tonight and I said goodbye to my kids. I know they're not "my" kids. Also, they're not "kids". But I love them. The past couple weeks have been really sucky. It's so stupid to cry because I'm no longer a Young Life leader for Federal Hocking, but I can't seem to stop myself. I know I will still try to hang out with some kids and I've already made plans with one in particular, so why do I feel so sad? I've always tried to cut to the heart of things with people... Tell people the way things are and not leave anything unsaid (whenever tact allows it, and sometimes even when it doesn't) but I have this gnawing sadness that so many things weren't said and so many kids weren't reached. It breaks your heart to see so many kids come and go and never choose to take God's hand. I also started crying recently while looking at people I saw at Central, people who have clearly chosen to seek God, because I was so overwhelmed by how glad our father must be when his kids choose a life with him. I'm just one big crying mess. It seems I cry no matter what. Even at open mic, I cried... And that's my HAPPY place! Bruce played a song to Bernie, Brianna, and I by Bob Dylan called "You're gonna make me lonesome when you go". It's pretty self explanatory and I don't want to talk about these sad things anymore. There's no sense in wallowing in them. So, there's your emo post, Zoe-friend....
Also, I need to figure out Skype!
Friday, February 19, 2010
Jalopies
Yesterday my friend Sam called and asked me to bring my jumper cables... She needed her car jumped and apparently I'm gaining a reputation in that expertise. That is at least the fourth car I have jump started in the past 6 months. Is it just me, or is that an insane number of people who need jumper cables?
Then this morning, as I was driving out to school, the car next to me is making this terrible roaring noise. Sounded like a plane taking off. It was so loud, I actually sped up to get past them for fear of aerial artillery possibly projectile firing and exploding my jeep. Unfortunately, as I sped up to avoid the car next to me, I realized the incredible noise was actually coming from MY car. The muffler seemed to have either fallen off or was in the process of completing its short fall to the crusty earth and I could not have been more displeased. It was 7 o'clock in the morning. Who would pick me up, give me a ride, or help me figure this out? Ridiculous.
It reminded me of a chapter in John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath. Car salesmen were exploiting the migration of those suffering from the Dust Bowl and looking to move West. They sold junky cars for 3 or 4 times what they were worth, knowing they'd break down in 100 miles or less. I feel like I've got a jalopy. Apparently mufflers and tailpipes cost $290.... On the upside, the people at Monroe Muffler, Brake, and services are incredibly kind.
Then this morning, as I was driving out to school, the car next to me is making this terrible roaring noise. Sounded like a plane taking off. It was so loud, I actually sped up to get past them for fear of aerial artillery possibly projectile firing and exploding my jeep. Unfortunately, as I sped up to avoid the car next to me, I realized the incredible noise was actually coming from MY car. The muffler seemed to have either fallen off or was in the process of completing its short fall to the crusty earth and I could not have been more displeased. It was 7 o'clock in the morning. Who would pick me up, give me a ride, or help me figure this out? Ridiculous.
It reminded me of a chapter in John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath. Car salesmen were exploiting the migration of those suffering from the Dust Bowl and looking to move West. They sold junky cars for 3 or 4 times what they were worth, knowing they'd break down in 100 miles or less. I feel like I've got a jalopy. Apparently mufflers and tailpipes cost $290.... On the upside, the people at Monroe Muffler, Brake, and services are incredibly kind.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
A Proposal
Who is able? Who is willing? If the groom comes and says, "Choose me! Choose me!" but she says, "Oh... Not today..." will he come back? How many times will he return and ask her, beg her, to choose him? And how many times will she, a silly girl with nothing, turn away the one who is everything? Will his love for her waiver? what stops her from dropping whatever reservations she has to choose him, not just once, but everyday, forever? Does she not understand enough about who he is to honor his request for her? She figures. This thing I'm holding is too valuable to be dropped. She frets. She fears. These things I'm holding are too dangerous to be dropped and if they were, they will make a mess. The groom says, "I've done everything for you. Choose me." She listens. She believes; yet, she clings. She walks to the door and presses a weary forehead against the solid frame and listens again to the voice outside...
"Choose me!"
"Not today... Today's not good..."
How many times will she refuse? How many times will he return?
"Choose me!"
"Not today... Today's not good..."
How many times will she refuse? How many times will he return?
Thursday, January 7, 2010
The Panda Says NO!
Bright and early Saturday morning brings a lovely smattering of high stakes bubble sheet questions and flustered essay answers. Can't wait for THAT. Until that heavenly Praxis Examination day, you can find me huddled in my room cramming my 3 and a 1/2 years of college into my head like a chipmunk shoving food in its cheeks.
I'm not ashamed to say syntax has never been my forte. I have several "Go-to" books on my shelf I constantly need to reference. There's one in particular that I grabbed this morning to brush up on my semi-colon usage for the Praxis called Eats, Shoots & Leaves. It is the funniest book I've ever read. Period. If you can't tell from the title, it's about punctuation and grammar... Which I am the first to admit wouldn't be the key to any person's funny bone. I've read this book more than once and today, as I hunkered down ready to get serious about my studies, I found myself lacking the restraint to put it down. I don't understand how someone can make me laugh out loud, and not just chuckle a little bit but really laugh hard... About something like an appostrophe or question mark, no less. The lady is a comedic genius and the subject matter just happens to pertain to my career choice. Lucky ducky.
Even if you are not a punctuation stickler, the book is hysterical. Once again, I'm genuinely amazed.
I'm not ashamed to say syntax has never been my forte. I have several "Go-to" books on my shelf I constantly need to reference. There's one in particular that I grabbed this morning to brush up on my semi-colon usage for the Praxis called Eats, Shoots & Leaves. It is the funniest book I've ever read. Period. If you can't tell from the title, it's about punctuation and grammar... Which I am the first to admit wouldn't be the key to any person's funny bone. I've read this book more than once and today, as I hunkered down ready to get serious about my studies, I found myself lacking the restraint to put it down. I don't understand how someone can make me laugh out loud, and not just chuckle a little bit but really laugh hard... About something like an appostrophe or question mark, no less. The lady is a comedic genius and the subject matter just happens to pertain to my career choice. Lucky ducky.
Even if you are not a punctuation stickler, the book is hysterical. Once again, I'm genuinely amazed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)