Karma

Last night....
                    Right after that last post......
                                                     I used my roommates toothbrush.

It was unintentional.


Shhhhhhh, she doesn't know. And she doesn't know this blog exists.

And ignorance is bliss. <3 

All I Do is WIN

Today has been full of successes. I'm very talented. Here's the rundown:

1. I successfully blew a bubble (like a 6 yr. old pro on a playground) and then gently blew it across a classroom in order to let it fall onto a styrofoam plate on the ground.

2. Using only facial muscles, I moved an Oreo from my forehead into my mouth.

3. I was the first one to get rid of the ping pong balls that were inside a Kleenex box fastened on my posterior. The method: Shakin' It.

4. I rode a mechanical bull. With relative success.

5. I beat my friend in an inflatable obstacle course. Ok, so she fell into the crack between the two sections of the course, but let's just say that that was one of the challenges to be overcome-- just part of the game ;)

It's gonna be a good semester... Win, Win, Win.

Rain

Can't you hear the rain
pounding on the surface
feel the pain
of it hitting on your face
drown in the streams
wash away your dreams
and see the pools on the pavement
all the ways that were paved
before the way that you went
before you even knew which way
you wanted to take
which way
was the best way to get
where you were going
which way
would bring the most gain
which way
would have the least pain
and hoping that those ways
were one and the same
but you would soon find
that life doesn't pay our desires any mind
you have to learn how to compromise
how to sacrifice
how to move beyond the pain and the lies
how to try
and how to try
and how to try
and how to keep on trying
without falling to the ground
without being compliant
without being blinded by the struggle
blinded by the tears
blinded by the rain that keeps falling
falling onto your face
pooling on the surface
drowning you
drowning me
looks like it's drowning the whole city
but your perspective must be skewed
i see sun come through
you better change where you're standing
come here
come by me
come stand over here and maybe
maybe
you'll see
what i see.

Sugar & Spice & Everything Nice

Yesterday I did what *they* wanted me to. I clicked on one of those ads on my Facebook's sidebar. And I didn't close the window it opened. I perused. And "perused" may just be too light a term-- I combed through all 38 pages of dresses from ModCloth. AND I clicked on my favorites. AND I copy/pasted them into a Word document. I determined that if my entire wardrobe was only dresses, I would be a very happy girl. As the seasons progress simply go from flip-flops to moccasins, then boots... bare legs, tights, leggings... heavier cardigans, sweaters, coats... It's very doable. Unfortunately, ModCloth's selection is most definitely out of my budget. Nonetheless, I've decided to post pictures of the dresses that caught my fancy periodically, so you can enjoy them, too. I think I discovered that I have a propensity toward simple, classy cuts, with bright colors or textures to catch the eye. However, I absolutely adore beige, cream, and ivory. Particularly if it is lace. I adore lace. I also fell in love with dresses in the classy navy, mustard, or plum. I know. All that doesn't leave much off the palette...  I also like belts and sashes. A lot. Especially belts.

Sample #1:

Bright colors! Torn about the matching belt, though. I'd prefer just  a thin brown belt, which would also alter the look to make it a bit more casual.

BEIGE. I adore the skirt on this dress. It maintains the integrity of a simple silhouette,  but the gorgeous girly ruffles cascading at a trendy angle takes it more upscale and makes it unique. And it's in beige. Did I mention that?

Lace makes my heart happy.

Another simple, but flattering, silhouette with a fresh, pretty print and a belt to take it up a notch!
 (That was a pun) I really do love this dress. 

My favorites from this particular group are most definitely Nos. 2 and 4. It's not cheating to pick two because one is fancy and the other is not. Kay? But if you force me to choose between those two, I'll go with number 4... It's a winner.

I want this

From a Grad Card:

   As you graduate

                 and get ready

              to make your way in the world,

there are so many things   

                   I want you to remember.

Remember to love

                    who you are

                                   and where you are

         at every moment in time.

     Be happy.

 Remember to try.

               to take chances

 and make mistakes.

Life can be confusing at times,

            but it's also full of surprises.

      Remember to make time

  for yourself,

          to enjoy your own company,

to let your mind wander       

                         among the stars.

And most important,

remember that

    there are those who love you...

who will always 

                       be there for you...

      wishing you

 the kind of happiness

    you deserve.

Don't Fight the Cliche.

Commencement Speech, 2011

Well. Here we are: Faculty, Family, Friends, and, of course, the graduating class of 2011. Does it seem real, sitting here? You’re all in your seats, relatively still, but can’t you still feel the energy pulsating throughout the stadium, the constant buzz of excitement and anticipation? Yes, you’re in your seat, but you’re perched on the edge of it, and the energy is like a tightly wound spring ready to….spring. This is the culmination of how many years, how much planning, how many tears, smiles, laughs, late-nights, dragging mornings, frustrations and exultations…after how many memories, and how many moments? One moment can mean so much. The implications of a single action are endless, but it is that small window of time that comes just before the action where the possibilities abound.

Even as an inanimate object sits on a shelf, it has energy. The energy of an object is a constant. It cannot be created, nor can it be destroyed. It can only be transformed.


In a similar sense, each of us has a capacity for success, however we choose to define the word. We have our own potential energy, which is both fascinating and frightening. High school has been our time to sit safely on that shelf and try to ascertain our own potential—to see just how far we can stretch ourselves. When we first enter high school we’re encouraged to try all sorts of new things and ideas— to join a variety of clubs and take a broad spectrum of classes. As we climb the high school totem pole to the senior status, these interests narrow as we begin to recognize our limits and explore our strengths. Reflecting on our experiences, there are certain moments that stand out from among the others. The failures and successes are so clear in our memories, but do we remember that critical moment—the split second before—the store of potential, ready to burst? The slow click of your cursor as you finally submit that college application is potential. It’s the moment before you open that testing booklet, with the products of last-minute cramming still spiraling through your head. It’s your freshly sharpened #2 pencil hovering above the answer sheet. It’s that moment before the crack of the bat. It’s the silence before the starting gun.... It's instruments and bodies poised, eyes focused on the conductor, waiting for that... moment. Preparation, Belief, and Hope-- That moment before I opened my mouth on stage, right before the first sound came out—that was Potential. It’s the difference between what is and what can, should, and ultimately will be. It’s that moment when something hangs in the balance, teetering on that thin line. It's that infinitesimal moment separating the past from the future. That moment is right now. Right . . . Now.


Potential energy wants to transform—to become kinetic energy, energy in motion—energy that does rather than just is. It is in each of us, crossing this stage today, completing Act 1 of our lives and anticipating the beginning of “what’s next,” the transformation to being defined by what we do rather than by who we are.


With this short walk across the stage as our catalyst, we will take the knowledge that we've accumulated over these past four years and transform it into action. Our shelf life has,  essentially, expired. Each of our names will be called alone, singled out from among those of our peers, marking the beginning of our new individual journeys. Many of our friendships were  formed long before we even entered the doors of Groves High School and many will continue long beyond. In classes we have both competed with and shared experiences with one another. We've spent these years together, knit tightly into a community. From this moment, our energies disperse as we go forward into new communities, new schools and new homes. We will send ripples and waves into this world. And though we may be far apart, standing on this common foundation which we have built together, we can face our future with the confidence that each of us has something to share and the energy to see it through. 


When you walk across this stage today, don’t focus so much on trying not to stumble—remember that it is your moment. It is the catalyst--The transformation from learning to doing, from potential to success- - your success. Your diploma. Your stage to cross. Your energy to transform. Your moment to live. And, Class of 2011, it is well deserved. Congratulations.