When I was in high school, I could not wait to get out of tiny little Unionville/Plain City/Milford Center/etc. It was time for me to see another part of the world (South Bend...oohhh!), and that was good for me. However, having said that, it is nice to be home sometimes. I'm pretty sure I would never want to settle down here -- it still feels too small and I think I'd feel contained, like my life had taken a big looping circular path, bringing me back to where I started, which is not exatly what I want. But I do appreciate coming home and having everything be familiar.
I like having room to breathe here. Everything isn't mushed together; people and homes and land are spread out. I like having occasion to use my brights on the car, and although I realize its horrible for the environment, I enjoy that driving from place to place gives me time to think, and slows down the pace of life a bit -- none of this rushing to the next thing in five minutes.
It's also nice to see the family, although that wears off after a few days. This time when I've been home, we all took the Myers-Briggs personality test, and it was funny and telling to read everyone's profiles. George and I, not surprisingly, are personality types separated by just one letter (The Myers-Briggs gives you a four-letter combination; mine is INTJ), with him being extroverted (ENTJ) and me being introverted. Some highlights: George's description has a line in it about sometimes adopting an "icy stare," which Ann found hysterical. Mine has a line about "Not wanting to take the lead...until someone else fails. Then I go in a clean up the messes." That is completely true. Ann's type (ESFJ) is called the "Provider," which is appropriate. Sam is the "Champion," (ENFP) and if that is accurate, I think he still has some realizing of his type to do -- not that it doesn't fit him, but it doesn't fit him yet. He's supposed to be a champion of causes, but right now, I think the cause for which he champions is Sam.
Anyway, it was an interesting exercise. I wish DJ were here to take it, too.
Alas, on my final day home, I must do a bit of thesizing. Off to work on outlining Chapter 2.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Break
In the midst of studying for my midterm, which shall occur tomorrow, I started to freak out. Not an uncommon occurrence for me. I'm burnt out, I want to get to bed early, but also finish my reviewing. The thought of getting up at 5:00 tomorrow crossed my mind, but then I reminded myself of my "a good night's sleep always helps more than cramming" manta, and I thought. "Wait. Stop. Take a break."
It's so hard to DO when I'm moving and don't want to stop, although my mind is aching for some reprieve. So I'm taking a break. Bathtime and reading time, and then another hour or so of studying. No major sleep lost, no need to freak out.
I just have to remember how easy the solution is sometimes, and give myself a break.
It's so hard to DO when I'm moving and don't want to stop, although my mind is aching for some reprieve. So I'm taking a break. Bathtime and reading time, and then another hour or so of studying. No major sleep lost, no need to freak out.
I just have to remember how easy the solution is sometimes, and give myself a break.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Visits and friends
This past week, I've had two visitors, which has been loverly. First, the Affianced was here, which was great. This may, in fact, be one of the last visits we have in the midst of the long distance relationship...thank goodness. In August, we'll be residing in the same zip code, for which I am very thankful.
And then, just for a short 24 hours, my good friend Lauren from college was here. She planned a conference in DC, and came to Williamsburg for a day to see the Colonial Wonderland, and see me in my play. It was great fun to hang out with her again, as I hadn't seen her since graduation three years ago, and I'm so thankful for friends who you can just pick up with, even after long periods of time.
You may have caught onto the fact that we found a tree with a huge hole in it that provided a good photo-op.
And lastly, in another wave of friend warm-fuzziness, over the course of the first two performances of my play, I had lots of people come to see it, which was so nice and made me feel happy and loved and supported. This is everyone who came the second night, when I actually had a camera.
And then, just for a short 24 hours, my good friend Lauren from college was here. She planned a conference in DC, and came to Williamsburg for a day to see the Colonial Wonderland, and see me in my play. It was great fun to hang out with her again, as I hadn't seen her since graduation three years ago, and I'm so thankful for friends who you can just pick up with, even after long periods of time.
You may have caught onto the fact that we found a tree with a huge hole in it that provided a good photo-op.
And lastly, in another wave of friend warm-fuzziness, over the course of the first two performances of my play, I had lots of people come to see it, which was so nice and made me feel happy and loved and supported. This is everyone who came the second night, when I actually had a camera.
Creation
There's a lot to catch up on, so I will start slowly. One thing at a time. Hopefully a series of short entries will provide me with appropriate small breaks from the horror that is studying for my American History midterm. I love this class, and he was very kind in giving us a good idea about what would be on the exam, but with that knowledge comes the responsibility to adequately prepare. Which I am trying to do in the wake of having visitors.
But, before anything too serious, a point of pride from two weeks ago.
I made a sweater. All by myself. Grandma Walter, my crochet guru, would be so proud.
But, before anything too serious, a point of pride from two weeks ago.
I made a sweater. All by myself. Grandma Walter, my crochet guru, would be so proud.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Read, Uninterrupted
I've been thinking a lot lately about reading. And when I think about it, I feel old. It makes me think back to "The good old days" of my own life, when I could get lost in a book (mostly in the bathtub), and literally pour through a story without putting it down.
College took away a lot of my love of reading. In one sense, it made me a better reader -- more critical, looking more deeply at texts, discerning more meaning. But it also sucked away a lot of the simple pleasure involved in reading. Reading because not just an escape, but work. Additionally, in today's world of short attention spans and gadgetry, I sincerely find it hard to sit down for a period and read uninterrupted...especially when it's for school. Checking my e-mail or facebook always beckons as way more important.
I have to read a biography for a class and do a presentation on an eminent person's talent development over the lifespan. I chose Walt Whitman, and the biography I am reading is 350 pages long. Which is, really, nothing. But sitting down and just getting it done is becoming a huge chore. I have to FORCE myself to read, which is sad, because frankly, it's an interesting book. I just know that I have to do it, and so that makes me WANT to do it less.
The good news is that I do still enjoy reading, in some contexts. I always have a book going for right before bed, and I rarely turn in without reading a chapter (in fact, I'm currently reading The Story of a Love about the correspondences between St. Terese of Liseux and a young priest, which was given to me by my grandmother and takes me back to childhood in another way), but I do wish I had the intense absorption mechanism still ago in regards to my reading.
With that said, I am about to head off to the gradplex lounge with ONLY my book in hand, and give it a couple hours. Perhaps eliminating distractions is the key.
College took away a lot of my love of reading. In one sense, it made me a better reader -- more critical, looking more deeply at texts, discerning more meaning. But it also sucked away a lot of the simple pleasure involved in reading. Reading because not just an escape, but work. Additionally, in today's world of short attention spans and gadgetry, I sincerely find it hard to sit down for a period and read uninterrupted...especially when it's for school. Checking my e-mail or facebook always beckons as way more important.
I have to read a biography for a class and do a presentation on an eminent person's talent development over the lifespan. I chose Walt Whitman, and the biography I am reading is 350 pages long. Which is, really, nothing. But sitting down and just getting it done is becoming a huge chore. I have to FORCE myself to read, which is sad, because frankly, it's an interesting book. I just know that I have to do it, and so that makes me WANT to do it less.
The good news is that I do still enjoy reading, in some contexts. I always have a book going for right before bed, and I rarely turn in without reading a chapter (in fact, I'm currently reading The Story of a Love about the correspondences between St. Terese of Liseux and a young priest, which was given to me by my grandmother and takes me back to childhood in another way), but I do wish I had the intense absorption mechanism still ago in regards to my reading.
With that said, I am about to head off to the gradplex lounge with ONLY my book in hand, and give it a couple hours. Perhaps eliminating distractions is the key.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)