"It's been awhile..."
Those are the opening lyrics to some 90s alternative song, anybody know which one it is? I can't remember.
It's (relatively) early (for me) on a Saturday morning and it's snowing outside, the first snow of the winter for us. Josh is sleeping and I'm updating (while considering how much I really want to go upstairs and make myself some breakfast). This is a really fun time of year, isn't it? I love the holiday season. Joshua and I are both big on fireplaces and one day when we have our own place we'll make sure we have one. And you can bet your bottom dollar I'll be using that thing every day during the winter. What's more cozy than the crackling warmth from the fireplace soaking into your skin while you sit bundled up in a blanket with a cup of hot chocolate or mulled apple cider? Not much. Add a little music to suit the mood and you're there.
Lately in our lives: Josh has been going to school for 13-hour days while he's in a six-week intensive course to get his CNA license. Clinicals have just begun for him (may I say he looks very good in scrubs) and he has decided that working with the elderly is not for him. Too slow of a pace, he says. That and yesterday he got some explosive diarrhea all over his shoes and I think that had an influence. Josh is very caring, so I thought he would be good working with the elderly. Which he is... he was singing Christmas carols to one old dear as he fed her her lunch this week. What kind of CNA does that? But he said that he is also task-oriented and so the slow pace of having to wait on the elderly is not a good match. Maybe emergency room medicine, then? I don't know... we'll just have to wait and see.
I'm working at Biltmore Estate, driving other people's cars around all day. Valet parking, baby. Um, who ever imagined that I would be doing that for a living? Not me. But I love the people that I work with and the place that I work for. That makes all the difference apparently. Plus, I feel like I've gone on a bazillion test drives already. When Josh and I are ready to buy a vehicle, I'm going to know exactly what I want. Seat warmers. iPod hookup. Camera for backing up. Compass and temperature display in between the speedometer and tachometer. Automatic seat and mirror adjustments. A BMW 328i. Okay, how about a Lexus. I'll settle for a Lexus.
I've also been re-inspired lately to pursue some latent loves of mine... music, for instance. I watched a DVD of a live MuteMath concert and of course it made me want to be in a band. These guys are freakishly talented and it made me want to put some effort into playing again. It's worth it, you know? Plus, I've never seen the lead singer of a rock band (although MuteMath couldn't be labeled as a traditional rock band) play the keys, and that was inspiring in itself. I'm also going to try my hand at filmmaking... with Bryan's help, of course. I've got a documentary up my sleeve and we'll see how that goes.
2010 is going to be the Year of Health for the Geigers... physical health, emotional health, relational health, financial health... Michelle and I are starting our own Biggest Loser competition with another friend of ours... impetus would be a trip to Italy! Woot! Godspell is returning for several runs of shows in the spring and summer for which I will either be mic wrangler or swing understudy or both (we'll find out today). I really want to do the 3-day breast cancer walk in 2010 but I'm still feeling a little insecure about my ability to raise the funds. But I'm pretty sure I'm going to get over that and just go for it.
Spiritually I'm really taking a turn into finding out why I believe what I believe. I'm surrounded by a great group of people to go on that journey with-- people to both help me question and help me find answers. I'm anticipating several heated living room discussions and an anchoring of my soul that I've been looking for. But let me never forget my child-like faith.
Okay, my stomach is starting to mutiny. Better go in search of food. Hopefully I'll be back sooner than later. Ciao, bella!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Update on 101 in 1001
So Kak reminded me about this 101 in 1001 list that I made almost a year ago, and it's the first time that I've gone back and looked at it since I authored it. I had a number of "secret goals" that I didn't post on my blog, but I had written them on a Word document that I saved onto my computer that was my master list. However, due to an unexpected hard drive crash, that file (along with all my others) went into the black hole of oblivion, something that I now consider often when relying on my computer to store important data. So I have changed those goals to new ones, since I can't remember what they were. So let's see how far I've come in my first 292 days. 709 days to go!
101 in 1001
The idea is 101 goals to meet/things to do in 1001 days...
1001 days will take me from today, January 10, 2009 to October 9, 2011
(from 23 and single to 26 and married for two years!)
1001 days will take me from today, January 10, 2009 to October 9, 2011
(from 23 and single to 26 and married for two years!)
The Key:
Not started
In progress
New (replaced) goal
Fun commentary by Megan!
Get married- Get my third tattoo after I turn 25 ~ less than a year to go on this one... and I haven't even been thinking of ideas
- Read the Bible all the way through ~ something I started and then it tapered off... good reminder
Grow a vegetable garden- Send out Christmas cards in 2009 or 2010 ~ 2009 was a bust, guess I better get on this!
- Learn to live in the secret place
- Make a habit of reading before bed
- Buy seasons 2 through 5 of ER
- Buy some sheet music and practice my reading skills to the point where I feel semi-comfortable sight reading ~ how about "obtain" some sheet music? I found some good free stuff online!
- Spend one month eating locally
- Visit Washington D.C.
- Make this fancy lemon-cranberry cake that is kind of out of my baking realm
- One candlelit and music-filled evening with Joshua
- Take dance lessons
- Take a Tai-chi class
Get a professional massageWent to this wonderful Japanese spa called Shoji the day after we got married... incredible! I told Josh that for Christmas we should just go there again and that should be our present to one another.- Stay at the Grove Park Inn during winter and lounge in front of their cavernous fireplace
- Visit my cousins
- Take a trip with Josh to the Outer Banks
- Walk across the
- Spend time listening to my grandparents’ stories and write some of them down
- Be 100% okay with disappointing people
- Dig for the answers to my spiritual questions, and discover why I’m asking them
- Participate in a 3-day walk
- Plan a progressive dinner party
- Initiate a conversation with a stranger when I don’t feel like it
- Wear a size four and stay that way
- Make a habit of thinking differently
- Quit soda for a year (again)… ~ Coming up in 2010...
Get contactsGive away the clothes in my closet that I haven’t worn in over a yearExcept for some sentimental pieces...- Build a bonafide snowman
See what’s at the end of the yellow rope in the caves of Rumbling BaldOnly more mystery!- Have an emergency fund built up completely
- Pay off debt
- Learn to make biscuits from scratch from Grammy
- Learn to sew
- Make a quilt
Create a filing system that is actually usefulOwn the game Settlers of Catanthank you, Joshua- Make a homemade pie
Visit the Biltmore Estate when it’s decorated for Christmas, preferably with snow on the ground outside~ no snow when I visited for Candlelight, sadly- Carry on a Christmas tradition with Joshua
- Hike up
- Run in a race of some sort
- Ride my bicycle at Bent Creek
Hike toPick blueberries at Black BalsamTutor someone in ESOL~ her name is Amanda and I love her!- Memorize the book of 1 John
- Visit the Library of Congress
- Start taking people's portraits
- Spend at least three weeks in
- Become fluent in Spanish ~ thanks to Amanda, this might be a possibility
- Introduce my sister-in-love to a particular someone who shall not be mentioned here
Complete the wedding day chela photo sequence- Buy a book about waterfall hikes in WNC
- Read a book of poetry
- Make spanakopita ten times (2/10)
- Spend another luxurious day at Shoji Spa
- Read all of my National Geographic magazines from 2008 (0/28)
- Live in our own place
- Spend a day reading by a waterfall
- Run 10 miles on the Mountains to the Sea trail
- Make the most comfortable bed possible for Joshua and I (down feather pillows, down feather mattress pad, high thread count sheets, duvet)
- Get my CDL
- Have a dog
- Have a cat
- Travel somewhere by train
- Have $3,000 saved toward a trip to
- Become a Legacy tour guide at Biltmore Estate
- Take a road trip out West
- Hike to the top of
- Use teeth-whitening strips
- Exfoliate regularly
- Do tech work for 20 Godspell shows (10/20)
- Change my diet to the point where at least 50% of what I put in my mouth is raw
- Start a collection of board games that could rival Heather Heather’s
- Become proficient on guitar
- Grow out my hair until these 1001 days are up (excluding trims of up to two inches)
- Buy a bookshelf
- Slide down Sliding Rock ten times (0/10)
- Hike up to the top of Looking Glass Rock
- Hike to the top of the Mount Pisgah Summit when the autumn foliage is at its height
- Go camping
- Take a trip with Matt and Breanna
- Email Deborah regularly
- Try to find
- Visit all 14 state parks in
- Take a trip with Joshua to Highlands/Cashiers, NC and hike as much as possible
- Read 50 books (0/50) ~ Since I haven't been keeping up with this list, I haven't recorded how many books I read in 2009. Oh well.
- Learn to make banana bread
- Go stargazing with Joshua ten times (2/10)
- Go to
- Wear a different necklace every day for two weeks (0/14)
- Discipline myself to work as unto the Lord, not unto men.
- Make a work of art and send it to K-Smeltz
- Go on a plant-gathering expedition for tincture making.
- Take my sister-in-love on a trip
Enjoy every moment of my wedding dayI think the only unenjoyable part was after four hours of taking photos (before the wedding) when my feet hurt and I was hot and just wanted to sit down and cool off and marry this man already!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Autumnal
Autumn has arrived, complete with gusty cold winds that send golden leaves swirling through the air and bright blue skies that simply cannot be rivaled. It just makes me happy.
Happy because my cheeks get rosy from stepping outside. Happy because it's wonderful weather for drinking my favorite french vanilla hot chocolate and mulling cider that I bought locally and spiced perfectly. Happy because I wore a scarf for the first time last week, one that was knitted for me by a loved one. Happy because we've piled our bed with blankets and are cold enough to snuggle together for warmth when we crawl underneath the covers at night. Happy because it's finally fireplace weather!
The foliage isn't at its peak yet, but it's a beautiful process. I am so grateful that I live here, and that nature declares the glory of God in such a breathtaking way, right outside my bedroom window.
Right now Joshua is learning to make herbal tinctures from our friend Vicki, and I'm sitting at her laptop, feeling cozy and content and hopeful. There's a teakettle boiling on the stove, and we just cleaned up dinner dishes, and there's a playful cat digging through a recyclable shopping bag at my feet. It's just one of those perfect atmospheres, you know?
I know. And I'm joyful. :)
Happy because my cheeks get rosy from stepping outside. Happy because it's wonderful weather for drinking my favorite french vanilla hot chocolate and mulling cider that I bought locally and spiced perfectly. Happy because I wore a scarf for the first time last week, one that was knitted for me by a loved one. Happy because we've piled our bed with blankets and are cold enough to snuggle together for warmth when we crawl underneath the covers at night. Happy because it's finally fireplace weather!
The foliage isn't at its peak yet, but it's a beautiful process. I am so grateful that I live here, and that nature declares the glory of God in such a breathtaking way, right outside my bedroom window.
Right now Joshua is learning to make herbal tinctures from our friend Vicki, and I'm sitting at her laptop, feeling cozy and content and hopeful. There's a teakettle boiling on the stove, and we just cleaned up dinner dishes, and there's a playful cat digging through a recyclable shopping bag at my feet. It's just one of those perfect atmospheres, you know?
I know. And I'm joyful. :)
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
6:00 a.m. on a Sunday
Alarm goes off. The sun isn't up over the mountains yet, and Josh and I are bundled up in our basement bedroom, snuggled under blankets that ward off the early morning chill that seeps through our open windows.
Snooze.
6:10 a.m. Alarm goes off again. Josh hauls himself out of bed for a shower. I pretend I didn't hear anything.
Snooze.
6:20 a.m. Since we have to leave in 15 minutes, I decide I should probably get up. Get dressed, brush teeth, pull up hair. Upstairs to root around in the cupboard for a granola bar. Juice. Mumbled hello to Bryan as he appears in the living room to put on his socks and shoes. "See you there."
Out the door we go, my handsome husband and I, and into the car to drive downtown. It's that mysterious few moments at dawn when darkness is receding but light hasn't fully arrived to fill its place yet. We're not talkative on the way there.
This morning at Highland we're putting on a mini-production that is 40 minutes long and chronicles the story of Esther with a humorous bent. Bryan is part of the cast and so today is my day to be pushed out of the nest and see if I can fly.
7:00 a.m. Cast arrives at the Prayer Gallery on Lexington to get their wireless mics taped on. All me today. Bryan gets the mics out of their cases and replaces the batteries as I get to work. Ace bandages, safety pins, duct tape... it's a familiar routine from Godspell. It is strange to see Luke and Bryan, who usually are working beside me, waiting patiently to get their mics on. All seven done in 55 minutes. That's good for me.
8:00 a.m. Drive to the Orange Peel for load in. Bryan is off in one direction, making sure the wireless mic receivers are properly set up at the monitor booth before the cast's sound check starts. I have helped with our normal media set-up for about a month now but it's still strange to be in our corner of the sound booth by myself, running cables and setting up tripods and video cameras without Bryan's watchful eye. Especially since last week I broke one of the snaps on a tripod leg. I do what I can before we start the sound check. Today I am running the music for the production, filming the services, and running the multimedia screens for the services. The most I've done before is one thing at a time... usually the screens since that is the most simple. Trial by fire?
9:00 a.m. First service begins. We never record the first service in its entirety, so at least I can settle in slowly until Esther starts about half way through. Nate starts the worship set off with a song that I don't know. It's not in MediaShout, at least that I can see. Blank screens with bubbling geometric shapes in amber are all the congregation has to look up at instead of lyrics. I panic, try to find the song in the library. None of the lyrics I type in are producing anything. Still blank screens; Nate is crooning away, blissfully unaware or uncaring that there are no words for anyone to look at. Finally, two-thirds of the way through the song I find it at the bottom of the MediaShout file. Sweet relief. Although the baby bird seemed to fall out of the nest and plummet head-first toward the ground, she found her wings and learned she could fly.
Filming the production and running the music cues at the same time wasn't as hard as I thought. By the second service I felt like a pro. When Nate added another song that wasn't in the set list, I was cool as a cucumber and fixed it in one verse's time. It felt really good to succeed at this, and know that Bryan actually has someone to fill in for him now, that I can do all of it at once and do it well.
I came home and took a long nap.
This afternoon I read the entry for August 30 in My Utmost for His Highest. It's entitled "Usefulness or Relationship?" and really struck home with me. It's been a year since Joshua and my "non-move" to Florida that rather re-defined life for us. In many ways I felt like I was moving backward and forward in life at the same time-- I moved in with a family instead of living on my own independently, yet I was engaged to be married. I didn't have a "real" job, yet I was growing very much in how to be emotionally healthy. The year was a constant tug-of-war in my mind as to "this is right and good" and "I feel un-useful and people think I'm irresponsible." I discovered that I placed a lot of my self-worth in what I do rather than in whose I am. I discovered that what other people thought of my life and my choices affected me much deeper than I had hoped. I discovered that I was much more interested in what I was doing for God than in knowing Him personally.
This page-long snippet from My Utmost for His Highest really hit the nail on the head. It goes like this:
I am thinking of going back to graduate school in the spring for an M.A. in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). It actually just fell into place one night this week when Joshua and I were talking about our dream vacation, backpacking in Europe. While we were on a Greek tourism website, Josh clicked on a link for "Teach English Abroad" and then we started talking about how I always wanted to do that and yada, yada, yada. Josh and I have been considering lately what we could bring to the mission field if we go international. We've always wanted to do missions but never thought through it enough to actually consider what we would do when we got to another country. Neither one of us are great evangelists or the pastor sort. When Josh decided to go back to school and pursue a degree in nursing, a major factor was that it is something that he can do anywhere in the world, and something that the world needs. It appeals to us to minister to a people group not only spiritually but also through health care, education, and social justice. I was a little jealous when Josh found his "thing" and was kind of moping actually, saying, "Well, what am I going to do?"
TESOL hit a sweet spot with us. Maybe because I once pursued it before I fell in love with this guy and moved to North Carolina so we could get married. But it seems like a good fit for me, and that Josh and I would make a good team as nurse and teacher. I'm excited to jump on some volunteer opportunities with ESOL in the Asheville community, and to talk with the program director at Western Carolina University (that's where I'd be going) about the possibilities.
Good things happening here!
I'm off to the gym in a few minutes to meet Michelle and Josh needs to use the computer for his homework. Till next time, yo.
Snooze.
6:10 a.m. Alarm goes off again. Josh hauls himself out of bed for a shower. I pretend I didn't hear anything.
Snooze.
6:20 a.m. Since we have to leave in 15 minutes, I decide I should probably get up. Get dressed, brush teeth, pull up hair. Upstairs to root around in the cupboard for a granola bar. Juice. Mumbled hello to Bryan as he appears in the living room to put on his socks and shoes. "See you there."
Out the door we go, my handsome husband and I, and into the car to drive downtown. It's that mysterious few moments at dawn when darkness is receding but light hasn't fully arrived to fill its place yet. We're not talkative on the way there.
This morning at Highland we're putting on a mini-production that is 40 minutes long and chronicles the story of Esther with a humorous bent. Bryan is part of the cast and so today is my day to be pushed out of the nest and see if I can fly.
7:00 a.m. Cast arrives at the Prayer Gallery on Lexington to get their wireless mics taped on. All me today. Bryan gets the mics out of their cases and replaces the batteries as I get to work. Ace bandages, safety pins, duct tape... it's a familiar routine from Godspell. It is strange to see Luke and Bryan, who usually are working beside me, waiting patiently to get their mics on. All seven done in 55 minutes. That's good for me.
8:00 a.m. Drive to the Orange Peel for load in. Bryan is off in one direction, making sure the wireless mic receivers are properly set up at the monitor booth before the cast's sound check starts. I have helped with our normal media set-up for about a month now but it's still strange to be in our corner of the sound booth by myself, running cables and setting up tripods and video cameras without Bryan's watchful eye. Especially since last week I broke one of the snaps on a tripod leg. I do what I can before we start the sound check. Today I am running the music for the production, filming the services, and running the multimedia screens for the services. The most I've done before is one thing at a time... usually the screens since that is the most simple. Trial by fire?
9:00 a.m. First service begins. We never record the first service in its entirety, so at least I can settle in slowly until Esther starts about half way through. Nate starts the worship set off with a song that I don't know. It's not in MediaShout, at least that I can see. Blank screens with bubbling geometric shapes in amber are all the congregation has to look up at instead of lyrics. I panic, try to find the song in the library. None of the lyrics I type in are producing anything. Still blank screens; Nate is crooning away, blissfully unaware or uncaring that there are no words for anyone to look at. Finally, two-thirds of the way through the song I find it at the bottom of the MediaShout file. Sweet relief. Although the baby bird seemed to fall out of the nest and plummet head-first toward the ground, she found her wings and learned she could fly.
Filming the production and running the music cues at the same time wasn't as hard as I thought. By the second service I felt like a pro. When Nate added another song that wasn't in the set list, I was cool as a cucumber and fixed it in one verse's time. It felt really good to succeed at this, and know that Bryan actually has someone to fill in for him now, that I can do all of it at once and do it well.
I came home and took a long nap.
This afternoon I read the entry for August 30 in My Utmost for His Highest. It's entitled "Usefulness or Relationship?" and really struck home with me. It's been a year since Joshua and my "non-move" to Florida that rather re-defined life for us. In many ways I felt like I was moving backward and forward in life at the same time-- I moved in with a family instead of living on my own independently, yet I was engaged to be married. I didn't have a "real" job, yet I was growing very much in how to be emotionally healthy. The year was a constant tug-of-war in my mind as to "this is right and good" and "I feel un-useful and people think I'm irresponsible." I discovered that I placed a lot of my self-worth in what I do rather than in whose I am. I discovered that what other people thought of my life and my choices affected me much deeper than I had hoped. I discovered that I was much more interested in what I was doing for God than in knowing Him personally.
This page-long snippet from My Utmost for His Highest really hit the nail on the head. It goes like this:
"Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." (Luke 10:20)So, yeah.
Jesus Christ is saying here, "Don't rejoice in your successful service for Me, but rejoice because of your right relationship with Me." The trap you may fall into in Christian work is to rejoice in successful service-- rejoicing in the fact that God has used you. Yet you will never be able to measure fully what God will do through you if you have a right-standing relationship with Jesus Christ. If you keep your relationship right with Him, then regardless of your circumstances or whoever you encounter each day, He will continue to pour "rivers of living water" through you (John 7:38). And it is actually by His mercy that He does not let you know it. Once you have the right relationship with God through salvation and sanctification, remember that whatever your circumstances may be, you have been placed in them by God. And God uses the reaction of your life to your circumstances to fulfuill His purpose, as long as your continue to "walk in the light as He is in the light" (1 John 1:7).
Our tendency today is to put the emphasis on service. Beware of the people who make their request for help on the basis of someone's usefulness. If you make usefulness the test, then Jesus Christ was the greatest failure who ever lived. For the saint, direction and guidance come from God Himself, not some measure of that saint's usefulness. It is the work that God does through us that counts, not what we do for Him. All that our Lord gives His attention to in a person's life is that person's relationship with God-- something of great value to His Father. Jesus is "bringing many sons to glory..." (Hebrews 2:10).
I am thinking of going back to graduate school in the spring for an M.A. in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). It actually just fell into place one night this week when Joshua and I were talking about our dream vacation, backpacking in Europe. While we were on a Greek tourism website, Josh clicked on a link for "Teach English Abroad" and then we started talking about how I always wanted to do that and yada, yada, yada. Josh and I have been considering lately what we could bring to the mission field if we go international. We've always wanted to do missions but never thought through it enough to actually consider what we would do when we got to another country. Neither one of us are great evangelists or the pastor sort. When Josh decided to go back to school and pursue a degree in nursing, a major factor was that it is something that he can do anywhere in the world, and something that the world needs. It appeals to us to minister to a people group not only spiritually but also through health care, education, and social justice. I was a little jealous when Josh found his "thing" and was kind of moping actually, saying, "Well, what am I going to do?"
TESOL hit a sweet spot with us. Maybe because I once pursued it before I fell in love with this guy and moved to North Carolina so we could get married. But it seems like a good fit for me, and that Josh and I would make a good team as nurse and teacher. I'm excited to jump on some volunteer opportunities with ESOL in the Asheville community, and to talk with the program director at Western Carolina University (that's where I'd be going) about the possibilities.
Good things happening here!
I'm off to the gym in a few minutes to meet Michelle and Josh needs to use the computer for his homework. Till next time, yo.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
A new year
Yesterday was my 24th birthday. I love new beginnings... Mondays, the first of the month, New Year's. Birthdays might be my favorite new beginning, simply because they are inherently personal.
Joshua and I just got back from a long weekend in Florida visiting my parents. We spent time with them and some good friends, playing hard and seriously relaxing. It was a really good trip for me because it afforded some well-needed perspective and was a realignment for the next year of my life. My personality type is constantly reevaluating goals for self-improvement and so this was right up my alley.
Right now I'm in the office... rain is falling softly outside. All the windows are open and it's a soothing sound. Peaceful, quieting. I woke up strangely optimistic and joyful today... probably the after-effects of feeling centered, more confident and at peace with myself.
Yesterday I started a 365days project on Flickr which I hope to do to chronicle my 24th year in images. If you are interested you can follow the progression here.
Joshua and I have also started a joint blog called Keeping Up with the Geigers. Our audience is our family members who are spread out all over the country, so that they can see what we're up to since we are notoriously bad at phone calls. Anyone is welcome to read, though. It will be more informative than the deep ponderings of Megan's heart, which some might prefer, haha. Check it out.
What have you all been up to? I've been pretty absent from the blogosphere for the past six months or so, I have some catching up to do. I'll be doing the rounds and visit your blogs soon, promise.
Joshua and I just got back from a long weekend in Florida visiting my parents. We spent time with them and some good friends, playing hard and seriously relaxing. It was a really good trip for me because it afforded some well-needed perspective and was a realignment for the next year of my life. My personality type is constantly reevaluating goals for self-improvement and so this was right up my alley.
Right now I'm in the office... rain is falling softly outside. All the windows are open and it's a soothing sound. Peaceful, quieting. I woke up strangely optimistic and joyful today... probably the after-effects of feeling centered, more confident and at peace with myself.
Yesterday I started a 365days project on Flickr which I hope to do to chronicle my 24th year in images. If you are interested you can follow the progression here.
Joshua and I have also started a joint blog called Keeping Up with the Geigers. Our audience is our family members who are spread out all over the country, so that they can see what we're up to since we are notoriously bad at phone calls. Anyone is welcome to read, though. It will be more informative than the deep ponderings of Megan's heart, which some might prefer, haha. Check it out.
What have you all been up to? I've been pretty absent from the blogosphere for the past six months or so, I have some catching up to do. I'll be doing the rounds and visit your blogs soon, promise.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Quick update from the life of Megan
Things going on, which may or may not be new, but are ever-relevant...
Broke-- yes, with a capital "b" thank you very much.
Miraculously enough money in the bank account to pay for Joshua's tuition and books.
Because he is going back to school this semester!
We're both really excited.
Nursing it is, if he can get accepted into the program.
Won't find that out until next semester.
Looking for a job... possibly one of the most discouraging activities ever.
Grape picking in the Biltmore vineyards?
School bus driving?
How about a singing messenger job?
I probably have a bumblebee costume lying around somewhere...
My birthday is quickly approaching.
So is autumn.
I find myself in some serious need of re-assessment.
And a massive to-do list.
Broke-- yes, with a capital "b" thank you very much.
Miraculously enough money in the bank account to pay for Joshua's tuition and books.
Because he is going back to school this semester!
We're both really excited.
Nursing it is, if he can get accepted into the program.
Won't find that out until next semester.
Looking for a job... possibly one of the most discouraging activities ever.
Grape picking in the Biltmore vineyards?
School bus driving?
How about a singing messenger job?
I probably have a bumblebee costume lying around somewhere...
My birthday is quickly approaching.
So is autumn.
I find myself in some serious need of re-assessment.
And a massive to-do list.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Losing everything
I have come to discover that when you face the prospect of losing everything (and I'm talking material possessions here), it is then that you discover what is really important to you.
My apartment caught on fire in 2007 and as I stood outside watching the roof blaze it was a bizarre feeling to know that I could be left with nothing. I left the scene that evening without even being able to drive my car, because my keys were upstairs in my bedroom. It was only then when I was on my way to a friend's house that the things that I sincerely felt loss over came crashing down on me. At the same time, I found it interesting to see what really mattered. My jewelry that had been given to me by Joshua, my Nana, and my parents. My journals that recorded all of my topsy-turvy emotions through my adolescence and various romances and was a witness to (certain parts of) my life even up until two days before the fire. My computer that had all of my photos and music on it. The thought of my keyboard being melted down into one smelly chunk of plastic was something I refused to dwell on, especially the notebook filled with songs I had written over the past seven years that was sitting on top of it. But that was it. It was interesting to take stock of my life and realize what I would really keep if I had to choose.
I was faced with a similar situation this week-- though not nearly so dramatic-- when Bryan told me the data from my hard drive is irrecoverable. He even stuck it in the freezer overnight to see if he could get it to run again, to no avail. I realized that the only things that mattered to me were the years of photos and years of music that were saved onto that hard drive. Mainly what mattered to me where the photos of the trip to England that I took with my family in 2006, because I hadn't posted any of those on Facebook or Flickr and the thought of losing them all was very sad. And I still have all of my CDs, so I can just re-import them into iTunes, but all of the purchased music... hundreds of dollars worth... uggghhh.
And here I must take a moment to thank my dear friend, Billy, who before I moved to Asheville two years ago insisted on backing up my iTunes and all my photo files. Today I discovered in my desk two DVDs full of pictures, including photos from our trip to England... all of them! Whoo hoo! And I'm sure that I have downloaded more music since November 2007, but the majority of the files should be on the DVDs he burned as a backup for my iTunes... and hopefully there is a way to rip the music off of my iPod and put it onto my laptop once Bryan installs a new hard drive.
It's weird how in these moments it becomes clear what is important. I think everyone should have a couple of these moments in their lifetime... it helps maintain perspective (no, everything is not necessary; yes, some things are irreplaceable).
Anyways, with the new hard drive I'll be getting my laptop will once again be super speedy and also I think I am getting Photoshop which tickles me pink. Yay for losing everything. :)
My apartment caught on fire in 2007 and as I stood outside watching the roof blaze it was a bizarre feeling to know that I could be left with nothing. I left the scene that evening without even being able to drive my car, because my keys were upstairs in my bedroom. It was only then when I was on my way to a friend's house that the things that I sincerely felt loss over came crashing down on me. At the same time, I found it interesting to see what really mattered. My jewelry that had been given to me by Joshua, my Nana, and my parents. My journals that recorded all of my topsy-turvy emotions through my adolescence and various romances and was a witness to (certain parts of) my life even up until two days before the fire. My computer that had all of my photos and music on it. The thought of my keyboard being melted down into one smelly chunk of plastic was something I refused to dwell on, especially the notebook filled with songs I had written over the past seven years that was sitting on top of it. But that was it. It was interesting to take stock of my life and realize what I would really keep if I had to choose.
I was faced with a similar situation this week-- though not nearly so dramatic-- when Bryan told me the data from my hard drive is irrecoverable. He even stuck it in the freezer overnight to see if he could get it to run again, to no avail. I realized that the only things that mattered to me were the years of photos and years of music that were saved onto that hard drive. Mainly what mattered to me where the photos of the trip to England that I took with my family in 2006, because I hadn't posted any of those on Facebook or Flickr and the thought of losing them all was very sad. And I still have all of my CDs, so I can just re-import them into iTunes, but all of the purchased music... hundreds of dollars worth... uggghhh.
And here I must take a moment to thank my dear friend, Billy, who before I moved to Asheville two years ago insisted on backing up my iTunes and all my photo files. Today I discovered in my desk two DVDs full of pictures, including photos from our trip to England... all of them! Whoo hoo! And I'm sure that I have downloaded more music since November 2007, but the majority of the files should be on the DVDs he burned as a backup for my iTunes... and hopefully there is a way to rip the music off of my iPod and put it onto my laptop once Bryan installs a new hard drive.
It's weird how in these moments it becomes clear what is important. I think everyone should have a couple of these moments in their lifetime... it helps maintain perspective (no, everything is not necessary; yes, some things are irreplaceable).
Anyways, with the new hard drive I'll be getting my laptop will once again be super speedy and also I think I am getting Photoshop which tickles me pink. Yay for losing everything. :)
Friday, July 10, 2009
End of a day
Right now I am baking Italian breaded pork chops for my husband to take to work for lunch tomorrow and I am TIRED, although I cannot figure out from what... I was up late last night and slept in this morning, then just the usual combination of chores, work, errands, and social activity that generally fill up my days. My eyelids are heavy.
Today was the first day I have been back on my laptop for about three weeks... my AC adapter went kaput, then I procrastinated on ordering a new one online and it just came in this week since I finally got around to it. Josh and I have been house-sitting (did I mention that in my last post?) and I have been taking advantage of using the Cenders' wonderful Mac... drooling occasionally, I'll admit. I'll also admit to daydreams that played out like montages of video and photo editing and documentary creating and a prayer to God that I would sincerely like a $1,500 Mac computer.
My laptop hard drive decided to stop spinning today. This is an answer to my prayers... perhaps God will see fit to drop a $1,500 computer in my lap... or perhaps it's a spanking? Who knows. Either way I realized how unattached I have become to my material possessions... perhaps because I have to keep downsizing and giving away, perhaps because my apartment caught on fire and I know what it's like to think you've lost everything. I simply felt a twinge of sadness that all my photos and downloaded MUSIC could be lost forever, though Facebook can help me with the photo situation. The music... Billy was kind enough to back up my iTunes in 2007 before I moved to Asheville, but I've downloaded quite a bit since then. I'm sure there's some sort of program where you can rip music off an iPod, though.
It has been fun to house-sit, but I will be glad to get back to our one-bedroom space in the Worthys' basement. I miss my window that overlooks our vegetable garden and the way our room smells... like us, and a hint of vanilla, and the outdoors because we've had our windows open all summer.
Joshua is going to try to go back to school this fall, if we can afford it. I'm looking for a job... right now my only true lead is grape picking in the Biltmore vineyards, which is something that I just thought would be fun to do. The harvest begins in September. I've been thinking about working a "regular" job again... what it would look like, how I will feel, what I want. I know what I want to do, and I'm actually pursuing it, but it's not something I'll be able to make money doing-- at least right now. So what should I do to make some money? It is a question I've been mulling over for days... maybe that is why I am so tired... it's just bouncing around in my head and I'm not really getting anywhere with it. Sidebar: those pork chops smell delicious. Mmmmm.
I have purposefully been avoiding any secretarial-type positions because I was so miserable before, but instead find myself wondering about what Joshua terms "piddly jobs" that I'm "selling myself short" on. Do dreamers who aren't entrepreneurs actually live out their desires? I have to say that I fall short of entrepreneurial... though I'm not sure that it's timidity as much as it is personality type.
I bet if you had all these trains of thought railroading around in your head, you'd be tuckered out, too.
Today was the first day I have been back on my laptop for about three weeks... my AC adapter went kaput, then I procrastinated on ordering a new one online and it just came in this week since I finally got around to it. Josh and I have been house-sitting (did I mention that in my last post?) and I have been taking advantage of using the Cenders' wonderful Mac... drooling occasionally, I'll admit. I'll also admit to daydreams that played out like montages of video and photo editing and documentary creating and a prayer to God that I would sincerely like a $1,500 Mac computer.
My laptop hard drive decided to stop spinning today. This is an answer to my prayers... perhaps God will see fit to drop a $1,500 computer in my lap... or perhaps it's a spanking? Who knows. Either way I realized how unattached I have become to my material possessions... perhaps because I have to keep downsizing and giving away, perhaps because my apartment caught on fire and I know what it's like to think you've lost everything. I simply felt a twinge of sadness that all my photos and downloaded MUSIC could be lost forever, though Facebook can help me with the photo situation. The music... Billy was kind enough to back up my iTunes in 2007 before I moved to Asheville, but I've downloaded quite a bit since then. I'm sure there's some sort of program where you can rip music off an iPod, though.
It has been fun to house-sit, but I will be glad to get back to our one-bedroom space in the Worthys' basement. I miss my window that overlooks our vegetable garden and the way our room smells... like us, and a hint of vanilla, and the outdoors because we've had our windows open all summer.
Joshua is going to try to go back to school this fall, if we can afford it. I'm looking for a job... right now my only true lead is grape picking in the Biltmore vineyards, which is something that I just thought would be fun to do. The harvest begins in September. I've been thinking about working a "regular" job again... what it would look like, how I will feel, what I want. I know what I want to do, and I'm actually pursuing it, but it's not something I'll be able to make money doing-- at least right now. So what should I do to make some money? It is a question I've been mulling over for days... maybe that is why I am so tired... it's just bouncing around in my head and I'm not really getting anywhere with it. Sidebar: those pork chops smell delicious. Mmmmm.
I have purposefully been avoiding any secretarial-type positions because I was so miserable before, but instead find myself wondering about what Joshua terms "piddly jobs" that I'm "selling myself short" on. Do dreamers who aren't entrepreneurs actually live out their desires? I have to say that I fall short of entrepreneurial... though I'm not sure that it's timidity as much as it is personality type.
I bet if you had all these trains of thought railroading around in your head, you'd be tuckered out, too.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
ritorna me
Almost two months later and here I am with a wedding, honeymoon, and another production of Godspell under my belt. It's hard to believe that Joshua and I have almost been married for two months... crazy! I have written one thank-you note so far. Bad Megan.
There is so much bouncing around in my brain that I hardly know where to begin or how to connect it all. A disjointed blog post is better than no blog post, no?
It's summertime in Asheville which is unceasingly beautiful. The garden is in full swing, hopefully ready for harvesting at the end of July. Fireflies are out every evening, summer storms boom through the mountain passes, and daylight fades at 9:00 p.m. Right now Joshua and I are house-sitting for some friends. I'm typing this on their Mac that I am trying not to covet while semi-watching The Mirror Has Two Faces-- an old Barbra Streisand movie that probably no one owns besides me. We went for a walk this evening after dinner and passed a man walking his dog... and his cat. The cat just follows along... the guy said the two are inseperable. An amusing highlight to the day. So far our house-sitting adventure has included the Great Hamster Escape and Recovery, a lynx with digestive trouble, and my first experience driving a hybrid car (I'm a fan).
I've decided to write a manifesto (according to Webster: a public declaration of intentions, opinions, objectives, or motives) and once I'm through with the first draft I'll post it. I was telling Joshua at dinner that the point is not to create a set of expectations to live up to or not live up to (such as a New Year's resolution, 101 in 1001, etc.), but rather to create a set of ideals to shape your life and give it direction and intentionality. Since I love lists, I figure a manifesto is right up my alley.
A new gym just opened in Asheville called The Rush, open 24/7 and very, very nice. Joshua got us a membership last week and today was my orientation, which is a complimentary session with a personal trainer for every new member. I got my butt kicked with strength training... and I imagine tomorrow I am going to be able to feel it. But I am super excited about having a gym to work out at again, especially because The Rush has a pool (salt-water cleaned, a plus) and I've always wanted to swim since it's the best cardiovascular excercise for you.
My mind is still scattered, and I'm off to work on the manifesto. More later.
There is so much bouncing around in my brain that I hardly know where to begin or how to connect it all. A disjointed blog post is better than no blog post, no?
It's summertime in Asheville which is unceasingly beautiful. The garden is in full swing, hopefully ready for harvesting at the end of July. Fireflies are out every evening, summer storms boom through the mountain passes, and daylight fades at 9:00 p.m. Right now Joshua and I are house-sitting for some friends. I'm typing this on their Mac that I am trying not to covet while semi-watching The Mirror Has Two Faces-- an old Barbra Streisand movie that probably no one owns besides me. We went for a walk this evening after dinner and passed a man walking his dog... and his cat. The cat just follows along... the guy said the two are inseperable. An amusing highlight to the day. So far our house-sitting adventure has included the Great Hamster Escape and Recovery, a lynx with digestive trouble, and my first experience driving a hybrid car (I'm a fan).
I've decided to write a manifesto (according to Webster: a public declaration of intentions, opinions, objectives, or motives) and once I'm through with the first draft I'll post it. I was telling Joshua at dinner that the point is not to create a set of expectations to live up to or not live up to (such as a New Year's resolution, 101 in 1001, etc.), but rather to create a set of ideals to shape your life and give it direction and intentionality. Since I love lists, I figure a manifesto is right up my alley.
A new gym just opened in Asheville called The Rush, open 24/7 and very, very nice. Joshua got us a membership last week and today was my orientation, which is a complimentary session with a personal trainer for every new member. I got my butt kicked with strength training... and I imagine tomorrow I am going to be able to feel it. But I am super excited about having a gym to work out at again, especially because The Rush has a pool (salt-water cleaned, a plus) and I've always wanted to swim since it's the best cardiovascular excercise for you.
My mind is still scattered, and I'm off to work on the manifesto. More later.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Wedding Week
This is so surreal.
Last night I was lost in the details, typing up instructions for all the people who are helping out on Saturday, but then I got into bed and closed my eyes to go to sleep and it struck me: I can't believe that I am about to get married.
Seriously, I've only been wondering about the man I would marry since I was in middle school. And now, not only do I know him, but the moment is arriving where I will stand up in front of friends and family who love us both dearly and pledge my love, loyalty, and friendship to this man to the death.
I was overwhelmed by the fact that I can't even comprehend the magnitude of this promise, and I was overwhelmed by the desire to grow into it.
Most of all, though, I felt the urgency to be present.... this week, on my wedding day, on my honeymoon. I can so easily get caught up in the details-- the seemingly important but lastingly irrelevant stuff of life that takes up time and energy and focus.
Tonight I took the time away from the to-do list (which is longer than I would like it to be) and I sat down with Joshua and a bowl of ice cream and I just sat with him, enjoying him and giving him my full attention. That is how I want this week to be. There will be people that I dearly love traveling ten hours to witness and celebrate this joining together of me and Joshua, and I want to take the moments to see them.
Really, that is how I want life to be. But I'll fight for it this weekend. I won't rush, I won't let stress take me away mentally from those around me.
And on Saturday I will remember that what matters is that two lives are now becoming one, that I am leaving my parents and clinging to my husband, and that Jesus is weaving an incredible covenant between me, Joshua, and Himself.
Wow. Talk about surreal.
Last night I was lost in the details, typing up instructions for all the people who are helping out on Saturday, but then I got into bed and closed my eyes to go to sleep and it struck me: I can't believe that I am about to get married.
Seriously, I've only been wondering about the man I would marry since I was in middle school. And now, not only do I know him, but the moment is arriving where I will stand up in front of friends and family who love us both dearly and pledge my love, loyalty, and friendship to this man to the death.
I was overwhelmed by the fact that I can't even comprehend the magnitude of this promise, and I was overwhelmed by the desire to grow into it.
Most of all, though, I felt the urgency to be present.... this week, on my wedding day, on my honeymoon. I can so easily get caught up in the details-- the seemingly important but lastingly irrelevant stuff of life that takes up time and energy and focus.
Tonight I took the time away from the to-do list (which is longer than I would like it to be) and I sat down with Joshua and a bowl of ice cream and I just sat with him, enjoying him and giving him my full attention. That is how I want this week to be. There will be people that I dearly love traveling ten hours to witness and celebrate this joining together of me and Joshua, and I want to take the moments to see them.
Really, that is how I want life to be. But I'll fight for it this weekend. I won't rush, I won't let stress take me away mentally from those around me.
And on Saturday I will remember that what matters is that two lives are now becoming one, that I am leaving my parents and clinging to my husband, and that Jesus is weaving an incredible covenant between me, Joshua, and Himself.
Wow. Talk about surreal.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Wowza
I can't believe I'm getting married in a week.
My last week as Megan Coss.
Weird.
Also, my computer screen has started this annoying flickering habit when it is plugged in. Anyone know what that's about?
My parents are buying me and Joshua a wonderful DSLR camera for a wedding present. I can't wait to try it out.
There's so much I can't wait for! But I'm going to try to enjoy this week moment by moment and savor all the precious seconds that I have with Jesus, and my parents, and my friends, and with Joshua. This is when life changes forever. I'm ready to dive in.
My last week as Megan Coss.
Weird.
Also, my computer screen has started this annoying flickering habit when it is plugged in. Anyone know what that's about?
My parents are buying me and Joshua a wonderful DSLR camera for a wedding present. I can't wait to try it out.
There's so much I can't wait for! But I'm going to try to enjoy this week moment by moment and savor all the precious seconds that I have with Jesus, and my parents, and my friends, and with Joshua. This is when life changes forever. I'm ready to dive in.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Hobbit feet
Today was a gardening day again, after about a week of rain. It was still raining today, but Joshua and I darted out between rain showers until it finally let up for a good period of time and the sun peeked out every now and again. I have been grumbling about the rain for days because we have a clay-based soil and I was pretty certain the pounding of the rain was going to compact all that I had spent hours endlessly raking into one giant hard clod of clay. Much to my surprise, I discovered that the rain had actually helped our soil composition and it was a dream to work in. "Life lessons in the garden" has become a common utterance already... this life lesson was, even when circumstances make you think that God might possibly be flushing your life down the toilet, He really is working things out for the best for you.
I decided to go barefoot in the garden today and the result was feet that resemble Frodo Baggins' very own. Haha-- a funny thought-- I went for about four months without shaving this winter... just think if I hadn't shaved yet I would have definitely been like a hobbit!
Next week is the week of my wedding, how impossible is that to believe. I've only been dreaming of what this day will be like since I was seven.
Can't wait can't wait can't wait.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Anyone still read this thing?
Well, to anyone who is out there and still stops by occasionally to see if I've blogged... here I am! Tonight of all nights... 18 days before my wedding... I decided it was time to write again.
Life has been... wonderful for the past months. Godspell. Gardening. Jesus. Where to begin? How bout I give you sound bites of each?
Godspell. At the time of my last post, I'm not sure what my level of involvement with Highland's production of Godspell was, but soon after I became engulfed in all things related to the show. Which was wonderful. Joshua was part of the cast, it was an amazing show because the Spirit of God inhabited it, and the response from people who saw it was overwhelming. I became Queen of the Duct Tape as part of the technical crew that had to attach mic packs to 13 bodies that would do nothing but sweat profusely for three hours. I learned ten different ways for ten different skin types how to attach a headset mic to someone's face so that it wouldn't fall off mid-show. I even got to add my own artistic flair to the effort because I got to run the fog machine during specific scenes. (Whoo hoo! Only got busted by the Orange Peel guys once for scaring them... they thought I was going to set off the smoke alarm... but it looked awesome, I'm telling you.) 14-hour days and a few hours of sleep just to get up and do it all over again. Loved every minute of it. Loved it so much that I am super excited that we are running the show again in June at the Orange Peel.
Gardening. I'm not sure when it started exactly, but I've known that God wants me to grow a garden for awhile now. Thanks to the IRS, Joshua and I finally had the funds to buy our seeds and supplies and we've been working HARD on getting things ready for the spring plant. The last frost date in Asheville isn't until the second week of May, can you believe that? I got a daring today and planted some marigold seeds. Josh has made an awesome design with three different framed beds and one by one we're getting them in the ground and the dirt raked to a "fine tilth" (soil that is fine and crumbly) within them-- which is not an easy task when the soil is a clay-like soil. It seems to be a very fertile plot, though... as we're digging trenches to lay the frames down, we've seen hundred of earthworms squirming around, which is always a good sign for the gardner. I enjoy the hard work and waking up with sore muscles, and having dirt between my toes at the end of the day.
Jesus. Always good and always changing me. He's been opening my eyes recently to see how much of my life, even my spirituality, has just been religion. He's been showing me the Gospel, and I love him for it.
I'm getting married in 18 days. I can't wait to marry Joshua... he is an amazing man. Patient with me and my shortcomings, my best friend, someone that I love to spend time with and work beside. He makes me laugh, he helps me have fun, and he is a warrior. I can't wait to promise myself to this man and spend the rest of my life on this earth with him. And I am so excited if you are coming to our wedding to witness that. Awesome! Pray for clear weather and a gorgeous sunset painted by our heavenly Father, just for the occasion.
Life has been... wonderful for the past months. Godspell. Gardening. Jesus. Where to begin? How bout I give you sound bites of each?
Godspell. At the time of my last post, I'm not sure what my level of involvement with Highland's production of Godspell was, but soon after I became engulfed in all things related to the show. Which was wonderful. Joshua was part of the cast, it was an amazing show because the Spirit of God inhabited it, and the response from people who saw it was overwhelming. I became Queen of the Duct Tape as part of the technical crew that had to attach mic packs to 13 bodies that would do nothing but sweat profusely for three hours. I learned ten different ways for ten different skin types how to attach a headset mic to someone's face so that it wouldn't fall off mid-show. I even got to add my own artistic flair to the effort because I got to run the fog machine during specific scenes. (Whoo hoo! Only got busted by the Orange Peel guys once for scaring them... they thought I was going to set off the smoke alarm... but it looked awesome, I'm telling you.) 14-hour days and a few hours of sleep just to get up and do it all over again. Loved every minute of it. Loved it so much that I am super excited that we are running the show again in June at the Orange Peel.
Gardening. I'm not sure when it started exactly, but I've known that God wants me to grow a garden for awhile now. Thanks to the IRS, Joshua and I finally had the funds to buy our seeds and supplies and we've been working HARD on getting things ready for the spring plant. The last frost date in Asheville isn't until the second week of May, can you believe that? I got a daring today and planted some marigold seeds. Josh has made an awesome design with three different framed beds and one by one we're getting them in the ground and the dirt raked to a "fine tilth" (soil that is fine and crumbly) within them-- which is not an easy task when the soil is a clay-like soil. It seems to be a very fertile plot, though... as we're digging trenches to lay the frames down, we've seen hundred of earthworms squirming around, which is always a good sign for the gardner. I enjoy the hard work and waking up with sore muscles, and having dirt between my toes at the end of the day.
Jesus. Always good and always changing me. He's been opening my eyes recently to see how much of my life, even my spirituality, has just been religion. He's been showing me the Gospel, and I love him for it.
I'm getting married in 18 days. I can't wait to marry Joshua... he is an amazing man. Patient with me and my shortcomings, my best friend, someone that I love to spend time with and work beside. He makes me laugh, he helps me have fun, and he is a warrior. I can't wait to promise myself to this man and spend the rest of my life on this earth with him. And I am so excited if you are coming to our wedding to witness that. Awesome! Pray for clear weather and a gorgeous sunset painted by our heavenly Father, just for the occasion.
Friday, February 20, 2009
An update
Overheard from the den as the scary movie music swells: "I just want to know, why would a little boy be out in the woods at night?" I love little girls.
Thank you for asking for an update. For the past several days I've been jonesin' to sit down at the computer and post something new, but life has been busy. Wedding planning is in full swing, friends came to visit, my to-do list has filled up all the allocated page lines and is now overflowing into the margins, and I am in the middle of a tsunami of laundry. But life is good. We've prepped the soil in the backyard for our spring vegetable garden, which I am most excited about, especially the corn. Don't ask me why, but corn is my favorite crop to grow. I think it's because my first experience with a vegetable garden produced the most delicious corn I've ever tasted and I'm trying to recreate the bliss of summer sweet corn on the cob.
Lately... I like lists, so I'll give it to you in list form:
I've been watching: LOST, Biggest Loser, American Idol, and ER. First of all, may I express my love for a little technology called DVR. I would never watch TV without it... namely because I am generally not home when my favorite programs are airing, and also that I abhor commercials. Biggest Loser has gotten smart about it and has started with product placement at least one time during each episode, through which I also cheerily fast forward. I promised that I would not give away anything about LOST because Jules is a bit behind over in England... but I can express my appreciation that at least the writers are keeping up the plot and not dragging us along endlessly as they did in the second season. I think one of the only reasons I still have patience with this show is because I know it is going to end after next season and so I have hope for a proper resolution. That and it's just so smart. I haven't much to say about Biggest Loser, except that I am happy that the contestants seem to be a lot nicer this season and genuinely concerned for one another and not just about winning $250,000. I watch American Idol on and off, and I still haven't made up my mind about the new judge. Randy Jackson seems to be getting testier by the day, and actually how old is Paula Abdul? This season is the last season of ER, which is the only reason I am watching it... primarily because they are bringing back old cast members to close out the show. Noah Wylie, a.k.a. Dr. Carter returned this week, I believe (haven't watched the DVR-ed episode yet), and I think he's staying until the season's end. Still holding out for George Clooney's return as well.
I've been reading: I just decided to re-read Francine River's Mark of the Lion trilogy, which if you have not read it you need to go buy it now. Absolutely the best fiction series I have ever read (followed closely by Ted Dekker's Circle trilogy). I just read a non-fiction work by Dekker entitled The Slumber of Christianity which really rocked my world. And I'm in the middle of a biography on George Mueller... challenging because it highlights how big God is and how little we usually believe Him at His word. Mueller did, and has an amazing life story as a result.
I've been pondering: Eternity and what it will be like; what font I'd like to use on my wedding invitations; Joseph Kony's child soldiers, who are branching out of Uganda and into surrounding African countries (I do not understand why the heck the ICC cannot send an international military force in to successfully arrest this ONE MAN who is responsible for the terrorizing and massacre of thousands of people and the abduction of thousands of children... if you know, please tell me); possible honeymoon destinations on limited funds; and humanitarian action that benefits the common good but does not share the Good News.
I love living in North Carolina, and I especially love the Rocky Bald River down by Chimney Rock, and as soon as the weather is in the sixties, I am headed out there for an ice cream cone and an extended afternoon of sunbathing on a boulder mid-river.
Thank you for asking for an update. For the past several days I've been jonesin' to sit down at the computer and post something new, but life has been busy. Wedding planning is in full swing, friends came to visit, my to-do list has filled up all the allocated page lines and is now overflowing into the margins, and I am in the middle of a tsunami of laundry. But life is good. We've prepped the soil in the backyard for our spring vegetable garden, which I am most excited about, especially the corn. Don't ask me why, but corn is my favorite crop to grow. I think it's because my first experience with a vegetable garden produced the most delicious corn I've ever tasted and I'm trying to recreate the bliss of summer sweet corn on the cob.
Lately... I like lists, so I'll give it to you in list form:
I've been watching: LOST, Biggest Loser, American Idol, and ER. First of all, may I express my love for a little technology called DVR. I would never watch TV without it... namely because I am generally not home when my favorite programs are airing, and also that I abhor commercials. Biggest Loser has gotten smart about it and has started with product placement at least one time during each episode, through which I also cheerily fast forward. I promised that I would not give away anything about LOST because Jules is a bit behind over in England... but I can express my appreciation that at least the writers are keeping up the plot and not dragging us along endlessly as they did in the second season. I think one of the only reasons I still have patience with this show is because I know it is going to end after next season and so I have hope for a proper resolution. That and it's just so smart. I haven't much to say about Biggest Loser, except that I am happy that the contestants seem to be a lot nicer this season and genuinely concerned for one another and not just about winning $250,000. I watch American Idol on and off, and I still haven't made up my mind about the new judge. Randy Jackson seems to be getting testier by the day, and actually how old is Paula Abdul? This season is the last season of ER, which is the only reason I am watching it... primarily because they are bringing back old cast members to close out the show. Noah Wylie, a.k.a. Dr. Carter returned this week, I believe (haven't watched the DVR-ed episode yet), and I think he's staying until the season's end. Still holding out for George Clooney's return as well.
I've been reading: I just decided to re-read Francine River's Mark of the Lion trilogy, which if you have not read it you need to go buy it now. Absolutely the best fiction series I have ever read (followed closely by Ted Dekker's Circle trilogy). I just read a non-fiction work by Dekker entitled The Slumber of Christianity which really rocked my world. And I'm in the middle of a biography on George Mueller... challenging because it highlights how big God is and how little we usually believe Him at His word. Mueller did, and has an amazing life story as a result.
I've been pondering: Eternity and what it will be like; what font I'd like to use on my wedding invitations; Joseph Kony's child soldiers, who are branching out of Uganda and into surrounding African countries (I do not understand why the heck the ICC cannot send an international military force in to successfully arrest this ONE MAN who is responsible for the terrorizing and massacre of thousands of people and the abduction of thousands of children... if you know, please tell me); possible honeymoon destinations on limited funds; and humanitarian action that benefits the common good but does not share the Good News.
I love living in North Carolina, and I especially love the Rocky Bald River down by Chimney Rock, and as soon as the weather is in the sixties, I am headed out there for an ice cream cone and an extended afternoon of sunbathing on a boulder mid-river.
Monday, February 2, 2009
The heater is broken
Me, oh my... it's raining/snowing outside and the heater is broken and it is quite possible that I'm turning into a human icicle. I was going to say popsicle, but I'm not impaled on a wooden stick, so I suppose icicle is more appropo. Is appropo even a word?
In the news this week... the Steelers won the Superbowl by a tip-toe touchdown, Olympian great Michael Phelps got a lovely picture of himself smoking a marijuana bong plastered all over the media, an ice storm has left almost a million people without electricity in Kentucky (so much for global warming), and we're pretty much headed for the Great Depression, Part Two.
In Megan's life this week... wedding planning, honeymoon planning, work, house/dog-sitting, possibly freezing to death.
I'm being dramatic. But whatever.
In the news this week... the Steelers won the Superbowl by a tip-toe touchdown, Olympian great Michael Phelps got a lovely picture of himself smoking a marijuana bong plastered all over the media, an ice storm has left almost a million people without electricity in Kentucky (so much for global warming), and we're pretty much headed for the Great Depression, Part Two.
In Megan's life this week... wedding planning, honeymoon planning, work, house/dog-sitting, possibly freezing to death.
I'm being dramatic. But whatever.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Obviously, I need to change #93
Okay, so I'm changing #93 to Kak's suggestion...
Learn to make bah-nah-nah bread.
What is the point of having a blog anyway? I am in the process of weaning myself off of Facebook for awhile and that has got me thinking about all the ways I am connected to other people via the internet. Hands down, my favorite thing about Facebook is the photo albums. I like sharing my pictures and looking at other people's albums. Also I like playing WordTwist, which is like the online game TextTwist except you get to play against your friends and I'm competitive so I like that. But right up there with the practical perks of photo sharing and game playing is the fact that I love the status update. Because I want someone to care about me and what I'm doing or how I'm feeling or what kind of day I'm having.
Really, I think it's the same thing with blogging. Why do people blog? People don't blog for themselves... that's called journaling. You know, with a pen filling up pages that nobody else reads until you're dead. People blog because they want other people to read what they write and find it interesting and valuable.
To completely overanalyze all of this, I propose that most internet communication (aside from email which can be likened to the ancient art of writing a letter... although a sad substitute for it... but I won't get on my soapbox)-- Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, blogs-- is really a desperate cry for community. When we post in our Facebook status that we are having a bad day, what we are really saying is, "Someone care about me!"
The injustice of the situation is that it only propagates our culture of increasingly isolated lives. While we lament to our friends via Twitter that we are having the worst day of the century, we ignore our co-worker in the next cubicle. Instead of building relationships with the real flesh-and-bones people surrounding us in any given day, we choose to exist as an internet persona. Is this because being somewhat vulnerable and authentic with those around us is too frightening? What on earth are we afraid of?
I could probably go on endlessly, but I've been up since WAY too early this morning and I'm going to bed.
I have a true fondness for the blogging community I'm a part of (especially because of people like Jules), but now I'm just questioning my motives. I could just say, "I'm cutting out blogging altogether!" but I think that would be silly because I enjoy it very much. But I'm not going to let it be something I hide behind. Every time I feel like updating my Facebook status, I think I'm just going to call someone I consider a friend to talk.
Learn to make bah-nah-nah bread.
What is the point of having a blog anyway? I am in the process of weaning myself off of Facebook for awhile and that has got me thinking about all the ways I am connected to other people via the internet. Hands down, my favorite thing about Facebook is the photo albums. I like sharing my pictures and looking at other people's albums. Also I like playing WordTwist, which is like the online game TextTwist except you get to play against your friends and I'm competitive so I like that. But right up there with the practical perks of photo sharing and game playing is the fact that I love the status update. Because I want someone to care about me and what I'm doing or how I'm feeling or what kind of day I'm having.
Really, I think it's the same thing with blogging. Why do people blog? People don't blog for themselves... that's called journaling. You know, with a pen filling up pages that nobody else reads until you're dead. People blog because they want other people to read what they write and find it interesting and valuable.
To completely overanalyze all of this, I propose that most internet communication (aside from email which can be likened to the ancient art of writing a letter... although a sad substitute for it... but I won't get on my soapbox)-- Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, blogs-- is really a desperate cry for community. When we post in our Facebook status that we are having a bad day, what we are really saying is, "Someone care about me!"
The injustice of the situation is that it only propagates our culture of increasingly isolated lives. While we lament to our friends via Twitter that we are having the worst day of the century, we ignore our co-worker in the next cubicle. Instead of building relationships with the real flesh-and-bones people surrounding us in any given day, we choose to exist as an internet persona. Is this because being somewhat vulnerable and authentic with those around us is too frightening? What on earth are we afraid of?
I could probably go on endlessly, but I've been up since WAY too early this morning and I'm going to bed.
I have a true fondness for the blogging community I'm a part of (especially because of people like Jules), but now I'm just questioning my motives. I could just say, "I'm cutting out blogging altogether!" but I think that would be silly because I enjoy it very much. But I'm not going to let it be something I hide behind. Every time I feel like updating my Facebook status, I think I'm just going to call someone I consider a friend to talk.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Good point
Okay, the married ladies pointed out that my 1001-day blogging commitment might need to be amended a tad... especially since there will be a wedding and honeymoon going on for me mid-year. Yeah, love you all-- not blogging on my honeymoon. ;)
I'm not sure if I really liked that one anyway. I mean, it's fun to blog. And I always appreciate it when people write more often than not. So I'm debating replacing that one altogether. Hmmm...
I'm thisclose to finishing up LOST Season 4. Only the final two episodes to go and then I'll be caught up for the January 21 premiere. Anybody else out there going to a premiere party? I think some friends of mine are having one where you get to dress up like your favorite character. Who is your favorite LOST character? In the past I was a die-hard Sayid fan, but these days I'm leaning more toward Jin. Although he dies at some point (sorry if that was a spoiler for you) so I probably should just stick with Sayid.
I'm not sure if I really liked that one anyway. I mean, it's fun to blog. And I always appreciate it when people write more often than not. So I'm debating replacing that one altogether. Hmmm...
I'm thisclose to finishing up LOST Season 4. Only the final two episodes to go and then I'll be caught up for the January 21 premiere. Anybody else out there going to a premiere party? I think some friends of mine are having one where you get to dress up like your favorite character. Who is your favorite LOST character? In the past I was a die-hard Sayid fan, but these days I'm leaning more toward Jin. Although he dies at some point (sorry if that was a spoiler for you) so I probably should just stick with Sayid.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
101 in 1001 - starting today!
101 in 1001
The idea is 101 goals to meet/things to do in 1001 days...
1001 days will take me from today, January 10, 2009 to October 9, 2011
(from 23 and single to 26 and married for two years!)
1001 days will take me from today, January 10, 2009 to October 9, 2011
(from 23 and single to 26 and married for two years!)
The Key:
Not started
In progress
- Get married
- Get my third tattoo after I turn 25
- Read the Bible all the way through
- Grow a vegetable garden
- Send out Christmas cards in 2009 or 2010
- Learn to live in the secret place
- Make a habit of reading before bed
- Buy seasons 2 through 5 of ER
- Buy some sheet music and practice my reading skills to the point where I feel semi-comfortable sight reading
- Spend one month eating locally
- Secret Goal
- Super Secret Goal
- One candlelit and music-filled evening with Joshua
- Take dance lessons
- Take a Tai-chi class
- Get a professional massage
- Stay at the Grove Park Inn during winter and lounge in front of their cavernous fireplace
- Visit my cousins
- Take a trip with Josh to the Outer Banks
- Walk across the
- Spend time listening to my grandparents’ stories and write some of them down
- Be 100% okay with disappointing people
- Dig for the answers to my spiritual questions, and discover why I’m asking them
- Secret Goal
- Plan a progressive dinner party
- Initiate a conversation with a stranger when I don’t feel like it
- Wear a size four and stay that way
- Make a habit of thinking differently
- Quit soda for a year (again)…
- Get contacts
- Give away the clothes in my closet that I haven’t worn in over a year
- Build a bonafide snowman
- See what’s at the end of the yellow rope in the caves of Rumbling Bald
- Have an emergency fund built up completely
- Pay off debt
- Learn to make biscuits from scratch from Grammy
- Learn to sew
- Make a quilt
- Create a filing system that is actually useful
- Own the game Settlers of Catan
- Make a homemade pie
- Visit the Biltmore Estate when it’s decorated for Christmas, preferably with snow on the ground outside
- Carry on a Christmas tradition with Joshua
- Hike up
- Run in a race of some sort
- Ride my bicycle at Bent Creek
- Hike to
- Pick blueberries at Black Balsam
- Secret Goal
- Memorize the book of 1 John
- Visit the Library of Congress
- Secret Goal
- Spend at least three weeks in
- Become fluent in Spanish
- Introduce my sister-in-love to a particular someone who shall not be mentioned here
- Complete the wedding day chela photo sequence
- Secret Goal (0/7)
- Read a book of poetry
- Make spanakopita ten times (0/10)
- Work out for at least one hour a day for 120 days before my wedding (0/120)
- Read all of my National Geographic magazines from 2008 (0/28)
- Super Secret Goal
- Spend a day reading by a waterfall
- Run 10 miles on the Mountains to the Sea trail
- Make the most comfortable bed possible for Joshua and I (down feather pillows, down feather mattress pad, high thread count sheets, duvet)
- Secret Goal (0/143)
- Have a dog
- Have a cat
- Travel somewhere by train
- Have $3,000 saved toward a trip to
- Secret Goal
- Secret Goal
- Hike to the top of
- Use teeth-whitening strips
- Exfoliate regularly
- Secret Goal
- Change my diet to the point where at least 50% of what I put in my mouth is raw
- Start a collection of board games that could rival Heather Heather’s
- Practice my guitar at least once a week (0/143)
- Grow out my hair until these 1001 days are up (excluding trims of up to two inches)
- Buy a bookshelf
- Slide down Sliding Rock ten times (0/10)
- Hike up to the top of Looking Glass Rock
- Hike to the top of the Mount Pisgah Summit when the autumn foliage is at its height
- Go camping
- Take a trip with Matt and Breanna
- Write Deborah an email every week in 2009 (1/52)
- Try to find
- Visit all 14 state parks in
- Take a trip with Joshua to Highlands/Cashiers, NC and hike as much as possible
- Read 50 books (0/50)
- Learn to make banana bread
- Go stargazing with Joshua ten times (0/10)
- Go to
- Wear a different necklace every day for two weeks (0/14)
- Secret Goal
- Make a work of art and send it to K-Smeltz
- Secret Goal
- Take my sister-in-love on a trip
- Enjoy every moment of my wedding day
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