Adjusting to Life in Heaven

I am adjusting to my new life quite nicely. It isn’t hard though, as my new life consists of little more than sleeping in late, reading like crazy, and spending time with my favorite people. Of course, a considerable amount of time has also been devoted to finding a job and while I wish more than anything I were presently employed, I am not. Until that day, I continue to hunt. I spent my first days of vacation completely cleaning my room and moving back in, which is now finished. It is almost as if I never left. Almost. I have also managed to see a few friends from Tucson, which led to many happy hours of rock banding. Perhaps the best aspect of vacation, however, has been the rain. The perfectly overcast, warm rainy days. It has been heaven on earth. I simple cannot wait for the monsoon season. It is the paramount element of my Arizona summers.

This summer paradise has unconventionally left me with very little to say. Or maybe I am just anxious to get back to my book before I leave for the movies in the next 30 minutes. Either way, I’m lazily saying good bye.

Salinger Needn't Worry

I am literally sitting here watching the minutes on my clock tick by. My chair is uncomfortable. My right foot is smashed up against the desk. I would be writing this in bed but Jeeves’s battery is dying. The day is almost over but I am not going to try to go to bed this early. Last night I was awake until 4 am because I went to sleep when I wasn’t tired. I actually have this other theory that I waited too long to go to sleep which is why I couldn’t, but I’m not sure if that makes sense. My right foot itches. I am full of cake. My headphones are only in my left ear. I am listening to the “Happy Thanksgiving Mix” I made for David last year. It is not hot or cold in my room. I have packed one suitcase and half of one box. My phone just went off. I do not have anything to do tonight. I have a Spanish listening final tomorrow but I have no idea how I would even begin to go about studying for that. Only 3 more days until I am practically done.

Holden Caulfield’s stream of consciousness was so much more interesting than this. I guess it has just been too long since I was an angsty 16-year-old. I was never as angsty as Holden Caulfield though. I don’t know many people who could hold a candle to him in that area. I would have hated him in real life but man did I fall in love with that character. He was so undeniably refreshing. Even if I couldn’t believe a single word he said.

Let me try again. I’ll try to channel some inner 19-year-old angst. Maybe it is just as good.

I just realized it is only Tuesday. I have been thinking it is Wednesday for a good 3 hours now. If that is not cause for bitterness and hatred I don’t know what is. Forget being unable to talk to the only person you have ever cared about, forget losing your childhood innocence; it is only Tuesday for crying out loud. Holden would have hated that.

Nope. It’s not working. Maybe I don’t have any angst left. Maybe I’m really not a teenager anymore. How sad. Plus, I took way too many pauses for that to be considered real stream of consciousness. I was genuinely disappointed to discover it is only Tuesday however.

My rabid audience is insisting I hurry up and publish this. My my it is exhausting to be wonderful.

Good Night.

A Bit of Nostalgia with Your May Day

The air feels like summer today. And I’m not talking about the temperature. I’m not talking about the repressive, suffocating heat that comes along with Arizona summers. It’s been hot for weeks and we still have 30 degrees and many more months to go. That stale, blistering air is not what I’m referring to.

The air feels like freedom today. And it feels still; a perfect summer stillness. It’s slightly overcast too, the way it was lots of days spent on Raystown Lake. Slightly overcast, but not enough to keep us out of the water or the boat or off the beach. It’s weird how well I can recall summers spent at Raystown. How I can remember the streets of Huntington, and the layout of the grocery store where we bought our food once a year for only five years. How I can remember exactly what the Oar Shop looks like, inside and out, and the precise feeling I got while feeding the catfish in the marina; a mixture of horror and extreme curiosity. I can tell you unerringly how much I hated loading our luggage into wheelbarrows and taking them down the path to the boat, and how much I enjoyed the restaurant where we sometimes bought ice cream. It’s weird that I can remember how much I loved playing card games after the sun went down and the moment my dad invented “Little Noodle and Cheeto Soup.” I can see the island graveyard in my mind and feel both mine and my mother’s incredulity that my dad actually found it. I can see the trees and feel the poison ivy and taste the garlic we ate to ward off the mosquitoes. I remember how important I felt to be called Navigator and sit at the wheel with my dad and point out which numbers on the map I wanted to visit for the day. And I can feel the crushing disappointment that accompanied seeing all of the houseboats, including ours, making their way slowly back to the marina on Saturday morning.

In the grand scheme of things I didn’t spend much of my life on Raystown Lake. I have now spent just as much time on Lake Powell and filling my summers with other activities. But today the air felt exactly like summer and it felt exactly like Raystown, Pennsylvania.

Happy May Day.

How to Successfully Avoid Sensational Writing

Listen up.

Are you listening?

This is the best news I have had to share all day.

I finished my America & Antiquity class. Completely done. I thought I would let you know because I have mentioned it a time or two before. I was so jazzed for it in January and unfortunately it did not turn out to be the class I thought it would, but at least it is over. And I kicked its butt. Tomorrow morning, around 11:20 am I will also be finished with my Nutrition class forever! Another boring one, I admit, but at least I’ll be done. (Not to mention I also did fantastic in this class. But don’t worry; the bragging stops here. I’m afraid next week won’t be so easy.)

And now that my obligatory mention of school is over, I’m having some serious writer’s block. Blogger’s block? Whatever it’s called I have it and I hate it. I have been staring at the computer screen for awhile now. It’s this dorm room, I know it is. I have not been able to look out of a window while writing for months. I cannot wait to get out of here. Most adults who fancy themselves experts on the subject say the dorm experience is one everyone needs to have, and to that I say you are probably too old to remember what dorm rooms are like. And I probably will be too when I tell my kids to stay in them x years from now.

While sitting here feebly making an effort to pretend like I am attempting to fight off my writer’s block, it has been suggested to me that maybe it would be a good idea to write about the swine flu seeing as how I am strapped for subjects. I will not, however, stoop so low to write about it just because it is sensational and will certainly get your attention. I am not Fox News. Plus, thinking about it scares the daylights out of me. So there. I refuse to even mention it.

And on that lovely note, I think I’m going to have to call it quits; my writer’s block won this battle.

P.S. I just got my second good news of the day. I officially have a job interview. Hallelujah. Maybe I won’t have to be poor forever; unlike everyone else in America is certainly doomed to be. (Take that sensationalism.)

Restless

I have no idea how it is only Tuesday. Already this week seems longer than the last 3 weeks combined. This day feels like it has been dragging on forever. Maybe it is the knowledge that I won’t be going home this weekend that is making it seem uncharacteristically lengthy. Maybe it is because I only slept a few hours last night and I have been up for so long. Maybe after spending all the morning in the student health center and spending all afternoon in bed I am going stir crazy. Maybe worrying about my near constant chest pain all day has left me exhausted. Maybe time is sluggish because I finished my latest book and am severely jonesing for something new to read. Maybe it is because I only have 2 weeks left of school and I feel like a little kid waiting for Santa. Feel free to add your own interpretations. I welcome any new ideas.

Speaking of jonesing for something to read, Stardust by Neil Gaiman is on top of my list, as soon as I can get my hands on a copy. David and I are entertaining the idea of starting our Book Club again for the summer. When I remember last summer Book Club with David is one of the things I remember most, and it never fails to make me smile. And seeing as how this is the activity that brought me Picture of Dorian Gray and 1984 over hot wings and Cheesecake Factory pasta, how can I not want to do that again? Yes, while typing this I have just decided to reinstate Book Club. I now have one more thing to look forward to this summer, as if I needed anything else.

I have a job interview tomorrow. I really need it to go well. It is a phone interview, which I am less than thrilled about. I think I make a better impression in person. Here’s hoping I am gainfully employed at The Boy’s and Girl’s Club this summer. Keep your fingers crossed?

Also, here’s wondering why this entry did not take longer for me to write. Here’s hoping tomorrow comes soon. Keep your other fingers crossed.

All's Well That Ends Well

When I woke up this morning I had no idea how hectic and stressful the day was going to be. I certainly did not expect it last night when I refused to go to bed at a reasonable hour in favor of reading my current novel, a novel I have read several times before, I might add. The day was kind to me in some ways, and not-so-kind to me in several others. But the hard part is over now which is all that matters. I made it though my blood donation nearly without incident. I am sure that came as a welcome relief everyone who had reservations about my donating (including me). David asked why I continue to donate if it makes me nervous and sick. I don’t think he appreciated my answer so I will be keeping it to myself from now on, thank you very much.

This whole ASU thing just keeps getting more stressful. I got in (me and the lucky 98% of people who apply) but I am not any closer to figuring out what I am going to do next year. The lady at the front desk of undergraduate admissions seems determined to make sure I get no closer to receiving any answers until May 11^th because apparently, why do over the phone today something that can be done in person 3 weeks from now. My frustration is mounting but I have decided not to worry about it for the time being. I’m sure I will be back to my usual stressed self tomorrow but for now I am relaxed and happy. My night was lovely and I have finished all of my homework, meaning I have plenty of time to read and/or watch last week’s 30 Rock online. Or here is a crazy thought. I might even get to bed at a respectable time. But then again, my notion of “respectable time” has changed immensely since I stared college. So yeah, I’ll be up for awhile yet.

Busy, but Quiet

Sadly, another lovely weekend is over. Thankfully, I only have to wait 4 days for the next one. This weekend felt busier than most, but in the nice quiet kind of way. Here is a brief snapshot.

Friday, I:

Arrived home with enough time to say Hello to the family

Grabbed David from The Diamond Consortium with enough time to say Hello to the rest of the family

Chipotle

Stressed about how late we were going to be. Stressed David out with my stressing.

Drive-in movies with David’s brother and sister-in-law. State of Play and Duplicity. It was uncharacteristically cold outside so my feet were numb during most of State of Play, but on the bright side Tim and Christine did not forget blankets like David and I did, so we were able to steal a couple from them. Plus, diet root beer and mini Twix bars make an excellent snack, even in the bitter cold.

Saturday, I:

Watched The Office with David

Ate lunch with Krystal at our favorite cheap pizza place, Prima Pizza

Went tanning with Krystal at the clubhouse

Did Dinner with David and the family at Ted’s Hotdogs

Watched clips from Colbertnation.com and laughed a lot

Played Monopoly with David and my mom

Got my butt kicked

Sat sleepily but happily on the couch while David rubbed my head

Sunday, I:

Slept in late

Taylor Vogan’s mission farewell in Mesa

Pot Stickers and Stratego with David

Kicked David’s butt

Dinner and desert with the family

Taylor Vogan’s open house with Regan

Marveled over how pretty it is up in Las Sendas

Drove home

Online geology quiz

Bed

See what I mean? Busy, but quiet. Busy with board games and food with the people I love. Just the way I like it.