home with a new family: part one

I am unpacked, settled, and ready to begin a summer full of excitement and new adventures.

This is going to be a summer of pictures. Get ready.

Here are some things I have encountered so far:


                          Hello D.C. !

These are two of the great six people I get to live with this summer:

    
                                      This is Bandit

                                 And this is Kiki: She is my favorite, she is also huge.

This is already starting out to be an amazing summer.

top ten guilty pleasures

There are things that we all enjoy doing, without anyone, or few people, who know.


These are my top ten:

Bookstores
Any kind of bookstore really. Barnes and Noble, Books A Million, Borders. But these types are my favorite:

The hole-in-the-wall type bookstores that you find on vacations or when you aren't looking - those are the best kind. Books lined wall-to-wall in a small store. I could stay in these kinds of bookstores for hours.
One of my goals in life is to have a mini-library in my house of books I have read and collected over the years, so I started about three years ago collecting a LOT of books. I can't leave a bookstore without buying at least one book - it's sort of an addiction.






People watching

Everyone does this, and if you say that you don't, you are lying. Class, walking around campus, airports, restaurants, out shopping - we do this everywhere. I do this everywhere. I don't sit and judge people, don't get me wrong, I just like to observe how everyone has their own quirks and what makes us all different. It is sort of like a little game that I enjoy. Sometimes you can begin to understand people by looking at them for only ten seconds, that's why I find it so interesting.




Nike running shorts
I would wear these everyday for the rest of my life if I could - not.kidding.
They are my absolute favorite. I actually have these exact ones.
I have ten pairs, in all different colors - they are the best. I really would wear them everyday, anywhere, but that is not socially acceptable, so I don't. When I come home from school or work, these are the first things I put on, complete with some sort of comfortable t-shirt, and I also sleep in them, so I guess I do wear them everyday. Just in secret.





Cheesy relationship novels




Right now I am reading this:

  "How to Be Single"


It is actually a very good book and I highly recommend it. I started reading it yesterday and I am going to finish it today, it is that captivating. I don't know what it is about books like this, they just envelop me and I can't put them down. They are cheesy, they talk about love, lies, relationships, hardships, etc. Chick flicks in a book - the best.








"The Holiday"

Speaking of chick flicks, "The Holiday" is my favorite movie of all time. I have probably seen it 100 times. I know every line, every character, everything about this movie. It is something I watch when I am sad/happy/depressed/excited/anxious/nervous/bored/busy. I can watch it anytime, anywhere.

I think I really like it because I relate to Iris, she is my favorite. And Arthur, I love him.







Fratmusic.com

Unfortunately, this amazing website no longer exists. It was the best party/study/relax music I have ever found. Better than Pandora, yeah, get that. It was frat-tastic in my opinion. For the past few months it was run by two guys at UVA and now that they graduated, it does not exist anymore. Hopefully someone picks it up again very soon. It got me through finals, and I would like that again. Thank you fratmusic.com. Ride or die, keep fratting.



Eyes
Sure, this may sound creepy, but it is the first thing I notice about a person. I think they are beautiful, no matter what colors or shape, they are so unique to an individual and that makes them beautiful. No two pairs of eyes are the same, they vary in some way, shape, or form, and that is why I like them so much. Eyes are, in my opinion, the window into a person's soul. I think you can find out so much by just looking into someone's eyes - amazing.

This is my cat Benson. Even he has gorgeous eyes.


Flowers
Flowers are one of those things that we never NEED, just WANT. I love flowers - any kind at any time. Flowers are always welcome in my mind. My mom is really good about flowers, she knows just when to get them for me. When I come home from Tech for a break, there is always a bouquet of flowers sitting in my room, and they are always beautiful.

                                               I love peonies the best

Home-baked goodies

Cookies, brownies, cakes - all of that. There is nothing better than coming home to the smell of fresh cookies, it is a mixture of "oh I love cookies!" and "It smells like a welcoming home." I also love baking these delicious items, so that makes it that much better. I loved baking with my Mom when I was little. Getting to lick the spoon - that was the best part. Then when my Dad would get home and try something I made he would go on and on about how delicious it was. I guess I just have good memories of baking, so I like to do it whenever I can.


Staying in bed for no reason

Staying in bed on rainy days is my favorite. Either curling up with a good book, listening to music, or just sleeping more - staying in bed is a great thing. Curling up in comfy sheets on a weekend, putting off everything else I have to do for just another hour or two to enjoy some relaxing time where I don't have to think about anything or do anything, except lay in bed and be content. When I am at home, my cat Benson comes and cuddles with me, and then we will fall asleep for another few hours. It is that feeling of comfort for me, feeling like I can just stay there and not have any responsibilities for just a little longer. I love it.




Guilty pleasures make the world better.

taking over

My room is taking over me right now. Basically, I am trying to live between three places, and it is showing with growing piles of stuff all over my house.

1. I have been at home in Williamsburg for the past two and a half weeks. I have unpacked and just put stuff wherever I can put it because half of the stuff, clothes, bags, shoes, etc, I am taking with me to D.C. so I didn't want to put them away for good.

2. Trying to get things together for D.C. Packing and repacking is haunting me. I haven't started packing for D.C. yet and I leave on Saturday...for two months. I need to get it together.

3. Apartment Packing. I have acquired a bed, desk, chest of drawers, and MASSIVE amounts of other things for my apartment with the best roommates ever next year. MASSIVE amounts. I have stuff in every.single.room in my house right now. My bed is in our office, my desk is in our garage, my chest of drawers is in our garage, with two cars as well mind you, my stuff is all over my room and our guest room, and our dining room table and chairs is in our bonus room. There is also random kitchen stuff and accessories downstairs. Okay, I take that back, not every room, but just about.

This is what it looks like:

                                                              My room

                                                           Our guest room

There is stuff everywhere. Do you SEE that shelf in my room?! I swear it is going to break because it has so much on it.

I feel cluttered.

The worst part about it is that I can't do anything because there isn't anywhere else to put things.


                                                         This is how I feel:

I need to de-clutter my life.
D.C. here I come.

acts of kindness give me hope

Have you ever stopped to think about what an amazing place this world is? How kind people can be? It's hard to when a majority of what we hear about consists of violence, hate, crime, death - focusing on the negatives of the world when there are so many positives.

I saw this encouraging video today while exploring around a little:

My New Life

Watch it. I promise you it's worth it.

Also, visit GivesMeHope or LoveGivesMeHope


"Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you."
              Ralph W. Emerson 

scheduling is bliss

Today has gone like so:

-Wake up
-Run for 30 minutes
-Go to the gym for two hours
-Come home to construction workers in my backyard (joy!)
-Clean/wash a tall oak chest of drawers I bought for my new room next year (real wood, antique, $70! Score.)
-Tried to be forced into conversation with said construction workers in my backyard (not fun)
-Made blueberry muffins
-Watched Sex and the City
-I wanted to go lay outside in my bathing suit and read a book, but creepy construction workers put a damper on that plan

Sure, myself, like any other sane human being, loves summer. Although I, strangely enough, HATE, not having a schedule. Hate.

I need to have things to do during the day that are meaningful. For instance: right now I am sitting in my bed, with no lights on, in running shorts and a sweatshirt, listening to Pandora and writing a blog. Sure it's fun and relaxing but I need to be doing something productive with my life or else I feel like the day is almost a waste.

NOW, I know that is not true at all - the "my day being a waste" thing, but, sometimes I feel that way. I try to make the best of each and every day, but on days like this I feel like I have accomplished zero, zilch, nothing.

It's really strange how my thinking about this works. Even I don't understand it, which is very weird/doesn't make sense. Basically, I am ready for D.C. - I am ready to get up at 6 am, run, shower, get ready, take the Metro into the city, and go to work (at least Monday-Thursday). I have long weekends, which is really nice, although I have to come home a lot, so it will be a lot of driving on the weekends but that's okay because I like driving.

Everyday: walking that same path and up the stairs. It is like a real job, a real schedule, back to normal.

It's such a drastic change going from days at school completely planned out from 9 a.m. until around midnight, with studying and such, to being at home, watching movies, baking random things, working out at whatever time I want. I don't think I like it very much - no structure. I need structure in my life.

I just need to remember not to wish the days away. I found this quote today:

"There is more to life than increasing it's speed."
                                      - Gandhi

Agreed. I will try to keep that in mind.

-

"Experience is not what happens to you; it's what you do with what happens to you."
                          - Aldous Huxley

How you see it

                                                Life is what you make it.
This picture inspired this blog post. With the addition of a few fun things to my mouth today, I decided to try and look at it in a positive light: after all, life is what you make it. Pros: you cannot see my braces when I talk (they are only on the top row), I can smile without my teeth and still look normal. Cons: I have to smile really, really big to smile with my teeth, and then you see them. Fail.

The way I put it is that I will be in D.C. this summer with barely anyone I know, so why would they care if I don't smile as much as I usually do - no big deal. They really hurt, so I laid in bed all day and read. I love reading and I am so glad that I have time to do so this summer. Everyday this summer I am going to read. I have a 45 minute ride into the city, so I will take that time to get lost in a good book for a little while. 

I am already to be in D.C. - I am already tired of not being on a set schedule this summer. Sure, I love having free time to do things such as shop, tie-dye, read, knit, run, etc. But I will love summer even more when I have a set schedule where I work, run, and read: everyday. 

Life is what you make it, so make the best of it, as much as you can, everyday. Even if you have a mouth half-full of metal (it does not look as bad as it sounds - I promise) 

a walk down memory lane

Remember middle school - the years of awkward times, not knowing how to talk to boys, acne, glasses and, the worst, braces. Oh braces, how I loathed you. Well, tomorrow I will get to loathe them all over again.

Yep, you guessed it, braces round two begin tomorrow. Although this is not something I would have ever wanted again, it is under the best circumstances this time: it is only the front six top and bottom teeth, it is in the summer in a place where I know about six people, and it is only for three months. Best scenario possible.

I went for a run today, for the first time in weeks. It was one of those days after a steady rainfall, and a cold front had moved through, and everything is green and in full bloom. While I was running I had several things running through my mind: trying to keep myself going, what song is blasting in my ears, and what I love about nature. Sure, that sounds cheesy, but I encountered some beautiful scenery that I encountered when I was running, even if it was only in my neighborhood. I am reminded of the Green River Preserve, my favorite place, the place where I can be alone in nature, while being together with a thousand living things at one time.

That is something I am going to miss this summer, being in nature and taking it in for all it offers. I will be inside a majority of the summer, working, but that is okay, because I plan on spending my lunch breaks outside on the Washington lawn, as well as some evenings downtown.

I think what I am looking forward to the most this summer is Hokie Camp. Three fun-filled days: outside from 6 am - Midnight everyday, perfection. I cannot wait.

lovelovelove.

daydreaming, literally

day dreams.
    those little things you think about during the day when you should be doing something else.          something more important, right? correct.

Today I did that, except I really was sleeping and dreaming (I was sick today and slept for seven hours straight).

I had one of those dreams that did the following:
  - Made perfect sense
  - Involved my friends and people I love
  - Had a story that was something I want to happen in real life
  - Awoke me much to my displeasure
  - Helped me figure some things out

I feel like this dream lasted for the entire time that I was sleeping, so seven hours, but I have no idea how that works (the dreaming/time ratio) so it could have been for two minutes, who knows.

               What I do know is that it made perfect sense - which is the scary part.
Try to make sense of your dreams: it is difficult to do.

"Dreams are illustrations from the book your soul is writing about you."

my greatest generation

Didi and Dobie, my maternal grandparents, amazing individuals, with enough love to support anyone at any time.

I went to visit my grandparents today for the first time since Christmas. It is really difficult to try and get home while I am at school, so my Mom and I made the trip to Va. Beach today to visit with them and see what is new in their lives, even though all they do is golf, drink wine, eat crackers, and watch FOX all day long - that's okay.

My grandfather recently retired, after owning and working for the Chespeake Bay Bridge Tunnel Shop (The Seagull Pier) for almost 45 years. He bought a new car (super jealous), plays golf three times a week, and reads the newspaper - what a life. He is my favorite person in the entire world. We have one of those relationships where you don't necessarily talk a lot, it is a silent understanding.

           and I love that.
He gets me - we don't even need words to make that known. Dobie: my favorite.

Didi, on the other hand, is kind of crazy, but I love her anyway. She tries to talk to me about politics, which I normally just ignore (like I said before, she just sits and watches FOX all day, nothing else, no other opinions) and she likes to shop out of catalogues.

Today I learned how much our generations are similar, as well as different.

We were talking about the future and where I wanted to go with my life and what my Mom wants to do after she retires and the wine club that my parents just joined and what my grandparents' plans were when it hit me: these individuals sitting in front of me are 70 years older than I am. 

It amazes me. We can relate to each other on a level that makes perfect sense, albeit our age difference.

         I love them.

I am Iris

I am Iris Simpkins from “The Holiday.” Everything about me is represented in her, without the British accent of course.

Here is why:

- Have you read/listened to her opening monologue? If you haven’t I suggest you look at it RIGHT  now – that is my life, to a tee.

- I like to think we look alike (I can dream)
- I am going to D.C. this summer to escape Jasper, and to start looking for a Miles
- Because I am supposed to be the "leading lady of my own life," not the best friend. Ironic.
- I am a victim of unrequited love: I will admit it.
- She cries about her sorrows and wears big comfy sweaters while doing so.
- I love old people, and so does she
- She is looking for corny in her life, as am I
- She is an independent woman
- She also has a Blackberry
- She is a blond bombshell

                this is why I am Iris.
I am all of those things I listed above (in some way, shape, or form).


This summer is my Christmas vacation - it is a summer of "me." A summer to continue my search for independence, how to become the leading lady, how to fall out of love, and how to become amazing.


That is my biggest secret: the fact that I am the best friend, in love, and not the leading lady of my own life. Well my friends, today, today it ends. I am free for three months: free to roam D.C., find summer night life, love, friends - it is in my grip. I will be in the grip of my dominant function all summer - get ready D.C., it's on.

begin the journey: summer 2010

It is finally here: the summer I have been waiting for all of my life, my summer. My summer of independence, responsibility and relaxation. It is going to be amazing.

As I lay here on a Wednesday night in my comfortable bed at home, staring at monstrous piles of stuff in my room (which I am dreading unpacking) I cannot help but think about how great/not great/exciting/new this year was. Relationships strengthened, new friendships rose, my GPA rose, I got more involved - overall, it was a very successful year.

This last semester was especially stressful because of the mix of classes and activities I had going on. That is why I am so ready for this summer - the summer of "me."

I will be living in the suburbs on D.C. (Springfield) with family friends, but everything else I will be doing is independent. Figuring out the metro system, riding the metro everyday, walking around D.C. by myself everyday, going to work everyday, taking on an entirely new routine of responsibility - it going to be amazing.

Basically I cannot wait. I leave Memorial Day weekend for D.C. - expect a lot of blogs about my experiences and adventures in the big city.

mom

she birthed me, c-section and all
she sang to me when I was sad or angry
she held my hair when I was sick
she taught me how to do laundry
she knew how to cure any sickness
she wrote notes on my lunchtime napkins
she always makes my favorite birthday cake,
even if it isn't my birthday
she always made me wear a dress on the first day of school
she bought me a puppy,
and then a cat
and then a fish.
she knows exactly what to say when I am upset,
or when I am happy
she is always so excited when I am excited
she celebrates my accomplishments like they are her own -- in part they are
she always knows how to make me feel beautiful,
even when I don't feel it
she can hug me and the world feels okay
she taught me how to cook,
and how to appreciate fine cooking
she taught me to be kind to everyone
she taught me how to love
she helped me deal with loss, disappointment, frustration
i can't eat scrambled eggs because of her, but I am okay with that
she never gets angry with me,
even though I can be so rude

she puts up with everything I do. I love you for that Mom, and I don't know what I would do without you in my life

never alone

I have been writing poetry over the past month and I thought I would share some.
Take it as you will:

everthine

never mind my thoughts and feelings
always one step ahead, one beat behind
my words do not do justice to my emotions felt
understood, experienced, never-ceasing

bring another to the table - show me more
familiar footsteps in my longing
take me away
never land - never mind
ever mine, ever thine, ever ours
- never mind

fragments

my continuity is fragmented - release me
bewildered, overwhelmed
how do I make sense?
no modern precedent, no rhyme
I think this way
broken and severed from my realm of reality
understood - no
I want to understand,
I want to know
cease - now.

bmb

an entanglement of dark wisps
placed by strategy
the familiar scent I know all too well
a jingling of keys announce her presence
bold eyes meet mine: comfort
my best friend

beautiful without lifting a finger
kind as the ocean meets the sea
as the sun meets the moon, any day - willing

questions motives movements
lacks understanding of her own incredibility
dedicated, motivated
peaceful soul
a heart too large to fill the glass half-full

imagine a world free of hate
imagine a soul of a friend more beautiful
none exist
an inner connection
me and you, in it 'till the chorus rings

roommates

Myself and my roommates for next year decided that we wanted to do a little photoshoot so we could have pictures of the four of us to hang in our townhouse next year.

Here is a look at some of my favorites from the day.

Photo credit: Andy Sporrer

Enjoy!

goodbye spring 2010

As spring is coming to a close (I will be home in 10 days and counting), I cannot help but reminisce on the past semester and everything that it has offered me:

- A steady workload of 18 hours of classes
- Sort of teaching a class, grading papers, and interacting with amazing RLC students
- Growing more confident every day
- Writing poetry for the first time
- Love in many ways
- Growing closer to my really good friends
- Meeting new people everyday
- Gaining 150 amazing sisters in Kappa
- A new position with the Collegiate Times and an even newer one for next year
- Another student teaching assistant position for next year
- Co-director of Marketing for Big Event next year
- Learning how to manage my time
- Growing up and becoming more responsible
- Deepening my relationship with my parents
- Frustration due to school and responsibilities
- Learning how to open up and show that I might not have it all together all the time
- Showing more deep emotion
- Learning how to be more patient and listen closely

This semester has been a really good one, even through the stresses of school and everything that goes along with it.

The bonds I have with my roommates for next year has only gone up from the time we decided to live together - I am so excited and ready for adventures with these girls.

There are nine people I have grown extremely close to this semester and I could not imagine my life without them. They are my rock; they have supported me all semester and I love them all deeply for that. You know who you are.

Now we are in the homestretch - it's the final countdown, to quote Europe.

Exams, here I come.

"for the longest time..."

"I have been a fool for lesser things..."

I have been listening to Billy Joel's "For the longest time" on repeat for about an hour now, and somehow I am still not tired of it.

As the next two weeks are beginning, a need something to help me relax a little, and that is what music does for me. Specific songs have such a calming effect, it is amazing.

I am currently writing a poetry analysis for my American Literature and got distracted by Billy Joel and this one song - which has inspired to me to write poetry, so I have been doing that instead of my analysis, but I will get back to the very shortly.

As embarrassing as it is, I have been singing at the top of my lungs for about twenty minutes to random songs because my roommate is not here and it is sort of a stress relieve - laugh it you want, but I promise it helps.


an artist's touch april 29

I feel alive when we -
touch,
as simple as a bed turned down
my heart is turned, piece by piece

a rainbow of watercolors
entangled on a single brush
a collage of feelings
in tune with an artist's hand,
a writer's dictionary
on spot with how I think
no need to even question my dreams -
you know them all

I wish to paint the misunderstandings,
the insecurities -
layed out on one canvas for all the world to see,
not developed by a professional
an amateur, possessive of feelings

covered in thought
spread from hands to paper
made in an everlasting print.
-KDH