a few thoughts just for the sake of posting SOMETHING...

1. I miss my brother terribly. I know, I am dramatic, but every song makes me miss him... I can't walk into his room without my bottom lip starting to quiver madly... when we got our first letter yesterday I sat at my desk in tears hoping noone noticed... I hope he is happy!

2. I finally got a nice promotion with a big raise. WOOOOO....HOO!

3. Grand Torino was the saddest, best movie I have ever seen.

4. Lykke Li, CoCoRosie and Kate Nash are the current soundtrack to my every day. I listen to them CONSTANTLY.

5. I am now hoplessly devoted to this, this, and this.

6. I love my roommates.

7. Last night I thought my furnace was broken and was thrown into 20 minutes of panic... piling extra blankets onto my bed, turning on my heating pad, putting on several hoodies.... then I figured out the problem and was able to get heat. I can't believe what a spoiled life I lead. I was so frantic - and it was still 52 degrees in my home. I am so lucky. There are so many who would kill to have slept in my 50 degree house.

8. I really don't like going a day without talking to my mom. She is so funny.

9. I fell into a short lived love with a man on the train last week. He looked like Patrick Dempsey minus the stupid hair--- no ring, reading a book called "How Societies Remember," (yes, I am a creep, I realize this...) and we made eye contact at least 5 times. I thought it was love. And meeting on a train? What a romantic beginning to our story!

Then he stood up.

Call me shallow.

He was, at BEST, 5'4".

He must've had a long torso. I had no idea it would end this way. I just wish I would have known this major detail before I got so emotionally invested... I was naming our children up until this point.


That's all for now. I just felt like posting some of my goings on and thoughts for your consideration. I'm off to meet my cute friend Shelyse for some soup. Love.

Auld Lang Syne

I don't know how I have gone my entire life and not known what these words mean, but I looked the phrase up the other day and found that in Scotland it means "times gone by." I don't know quite how I feel about that. I never spend New Years looking back on the past year; rather, I've been accustomed to looking forward and thinking about my goals and hopes for the coming year. This past year has been a weird one for me. I am not really in a place that I expected myself to be in at the beginning of 2008... I love the place that I am in, but I definitely would not have seen it coming. A year ago I was still spending oodles of my time with my sweet residents at Stoneybrooke. I would have never dreamed I would be in the position that I am now in a completely different field. I have developed some of the most amazing relationships during this year... some that already existed in previous years, but have grown by leaps and bounds since last year. I have learned more about actively loving and serving those closest to me. I have grown as an individual and made discoveries about my personal beliefs. I have learned the true comfort that comes with sincere prayer. I feel that in realizing the things that have come to pass in these "times gone by," I am much more hopeful and optimistic about the growth and opportunities that I will happen upon in 09. I have much to work on and do this coming year.... a few resolutions are definitely in order.

1. Learn to sew.
2. Gym 5 days a week. I know this seems a bit much but I feel sooo much better when I make it all 5 weekdays.
3. Do not speak ill of other people. This is a hard one for me sometimes.
4. Clear the wake.
5. Learn to say NO.
6. Be more kind.
7. Wear sunscreen every day.
8. Read every book on Kelly's list. (Kells, I need that list.)
9. Be more open to possible relationships.
10. Don't fence sit.
11. Take more pictures!

I know, some of these are quite lofty goals... but I am just bound and determined to reach them!!