Man, I am not doing so well on this whole NaBloPoMo thing this year. I'm not sure if it's because I'm attached now (had just been through a tough breakup before last year's 30-day run) or what.
I was actually talking today to my counselor (yes, I have one of those now) about how much has changed in the past year.
One year ago, I was recovering from the second breakup with the only serious boyfriend I'd ever had. I had fallen in love with him all over again only to have him decide once more that I just wasn't the one.
In two weeks, it will have been one year since that night at Patrick J's when Nikki's husband turned to me and told me I should date Lin. Yes, I'm still blaming all of this on you, Nikii's husband. ;) And now we are less than eight months away from getting married. Eek!
It's crazy that I'm starting to think about writing my Year-in-Review articles and remembering last year's marathon Saturday YIR session, during which I spent more time Googling Lin's name than actually doing any work and then went out to do karaoke with him for only the second time ever.
On New Year's Eve, we will celebrate the one year anniversary of our first kiss (which, by his insistence, is OUR anniversary, as well).
We are closing in on one year of us being US.
The return of cold weather has brought on this feeling more than anything. The cold reminds me of the feeling of newness and excitement. Of frustration, at first, at not telling him how I felt and wondering whether or not he liked me. The uncertainty of knowing what would happen next and the hoping for some kind of sign.
And then after we kissed, of whether or not he would text, whether he wanted to see me. Of sitting on his old sofa and feeling my stomach flip when he spontaneously reached out and grabbed my hand. Seeing him with his parents for the first time and realizing there was so much more to him -- more that I wanted to get to know.
I look back on who we were in the last cold snap, when we finally managed to get snowed in together in the March storm, and realize how far we've come. I know Lin so much better now than I knew him then, and he knows me.
I have had my share of worries and anxieties and doubts, but the thing that reassures me more than anything is this: Our past is so, so sweet. It's a string of pearls, and I want to keep adding them up, one by one by one.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Friday, November 7, 2008
The geek within me
I didn't include this in my list of secrets because some of you already know ... I play Magic now.
Yes, Magic the Gathering, that geeky card game. Lin introduced me to it a few months ago and I quickly got sucked in. It's strategic and not too hard to learn! And it comes in packs of cards that you get to keep or trade with pretty pictures on them. It's really not that far a stretch to imagine that I would fall in love with this game.
And yes, the stereotypes are mostly true. The people who come to these Friday night "booster draft" games are typically single white guys, teenagers to middle age, with unpredictable hygiene levels.
But I still like it.
I won my first match tonight! And to celebrate, Lin let me pick out a half gallon of ice cream at Giant Eagle, which we are eating right now as we sit on the couch.
We're such dorks. I love it.
Yes, Magic the Gathering, that geeky card game. Lin introduced me to it a few months ago and I quickly got sucked in. It's strategic and not too hard to learn! And it comes in packs of cards that you get to keep or trade with pretty pictures on them. It's really not that far a stretch to imagine that I would fall in love with this game.
And yes, the stereotypes are mostly true. The people who come to these Friday night "booster draft" games are typically single white guys, teenagers to middle age, with unpredictable hygiene levels.
But I still like it.
I won my first match tonight! And to celebrate, Lin let me pick out a half gallon of ice cream at Giant Eagle, which we are eating right now as we sit on the couch.
We're such dorks. I love it.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Childhood Secrets
Five things you may not have known about me:
1. I played piano for nine years.
Six weeks before I was scheduled to play for a judge to get my High School Diploma of Social Music from the National Fraternity of Student Musicians, I broke my collarbone while wrestling with a friend (that's another story). My first thought was "I won't be able to play!" I had just finished perfecting Scott Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag, and the broken collarbone kept me from practicing for two weeks. The rag was never the same. I still got my diploma, though.
2. I shared a bedroom with my sister until I left for college -- well, except for one year when I was in 8th grade and she was in 6th and we thought that teenage girls should have their own rooms.
We were both miserable with the situation because we used to talk every night before we went to bed and when we didn't share a room we were lonely. So one night when my parents were away I set up a cot in my room and let her sleep there for a treat and we never took it down. We kept that up for a few months, until our parents realized how stupid the situation was and moved her bed back into my room. Our old loveseat went into her closet sized room (along with her dresser) and it became a favorite hang out spot. I was sitting on that loveseat talking on the phone when my first boyfriend broke up with me and when my second boyfriend told me he loved me.
3. When I was in junior high school I had an imaginary boyfriend I called "Roy G. Biv." Don't ask me why, because I don't remember.
4. In kindergarten, I was once grounded for a week because my mother told my sister I said a bad word and I wouldn't tell my mom what I said. I wasn't allowed to leave my room, even to go to school, and they took all my toys and books away. I had to ask to even go to the bathroom. Finally, I caved and, on a piece of notebook paper, scrawled the world I'd said: nanny-nanny-boo-boo.
5. As a sixth grader, I decided that I wanted to be a Christian music singer when I grew up. No, I do not mourn the death of that dream. ;)
1. I played piano for nine years.
Six weeks before I was scheduled to play for a judge to get my High School Diploma of Social Music from the National Fraternity of Student Musicians, I broke my collarbone while wrestling with a friend (that's another story). My first thought was "I won't be able to play!" I had just finished perfecting Scott Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag, and the broken collarbone kept me from practicing for two weeks. The rag was never the same. I still got my diploma, though.
2. I shared a bedroom with my sister until I left for college -- well, except for one year when I was in 8th grade and she was in 6th and we thought that teenage girls should have their own rooms.
We were both miserable with the situation because we used to talk every night before we went to bed and when we didn't share a room we were lonely. So one night when my parents were away I set up a cot in my room and let her sleep there for a treat and we never took it down. We kept that up for a few months, until our parents realized how stupid the situation was and moved her bed back into my room. Our old loveseat went into her closet sized room (along with her dresser) and it became a favorite hang out spot. I was sitting on that loveseat talking on the phone when my first boyfriend broke up with me and when my second boyfriend told me he loved me.
3. When I was in junior high school I had an imaginary boyfriend I called "Roy G. Biv." Don't ask me why, because I don't remember.
4. In kindergarten, I was once grounded for a week because my mother told my sister I said a bad word and I wouldn't tell my mom what I said. I wasn't allowed to leave my room, even to go to school, and they took all my toys and books away. I had to ask to even go to the bathroom. Finally, I caved and, on a piece of notebook paper, scrawled the world I'd said: nanny-nanny-boo-boo.
5. As a sixth grader, I decided that I wanted to be a Christian music singer when I grew up. No, I do not mourn the death of that dream. ;)
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
We survived
Let's raise a glass (of Diet Coke, juice, or in my case, hard cider) to celebrate surviving Election 2008.
It was long. It required staying up late. But we made it.
I made it.
To the press. Because we deserve it.
Hear, hear!
It was long. It required staying up late. But we made it.
I made it.
To the press. Because we deserve it.
Hear, hear!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Politics (for once)
I'm usually mute on this subject, but since it's election day and I won't likely get this riled up for another four years, I'm making an exception. Because I think you deserve to know what I believe.
You're not going to like it, probably. I'm sorry, so I'll just say it once and then I'll shut up, I promise.
1. I think that Republicans are people who think the government should stay out of business, education and the environment but that it should tell you what to do in your personal life (ex. gay marriage, abortion). Democrats are people who think the government should stay out of your personal life (ex. gay marriage, abortion), but should get involved in business, education and the environment.
Libertarians are people who believe that the government should stay out of almost everything. This makes sense more sense to me than either of the first two. I'm not totally in line with them, but I'm pretty darn close.
2. I believe America was founded on the rights of the individual, and that's one of the things I like about it. If you think that means that I don't care about other people, then you don't know me. I care. If you need help, I will do what I can to help you. I will do what I can to be nice to the earth. It's a pretty place and I'd like it to stay that way. It's when the governement starts forcing me to do these things that I start to get mad.
3. I believe that governement generally screws things up more than it helps them.
If government can figure out a way to get everyone health care coverage without screwing the system up even more, then I applaud that. I just don't believe it's possible. I would be happy to be proven wrong.
I feel similarly about education, probably because I went to private school almost my whole life. I've seen how much those schools do with so little. I know how much less those teachers get paid than public school teachers. Paying teachers more is not the solution to better education (sorry teachers unions). Besides, have you checked lately to see how much reporters get paid? People who make more than me aren't allowed to complain about salaries.
I think I should be able to decide where my taxes for education go, and I want to pick where my kids get educated. Public or private or homeschooled. Whatever is best for that particular kid.
4. I believe that everyone should have the right to stay beside the person they've chosen to spend their life with when he/she is in the hospital. That probably will require some kind of sanction of homosexual relationships, and I'm OK with that. I would prefer it not to be called marriage, which I know is merely semantics, but I'm old fashioned that way. Maybe I'll get over it someday.
5. I think abortion should be (mostly) illegal. Whether or not you have sex is a choice. Whether or not you use birth control is a choice. Unless you are in physical danger, killing a baby shouldn't be a choice. You don't have to raise it. Give it up for adoption if you want. That's also a choice. I understand that society still stigmatizes single pregnant women, but it's stupid that this is still the case. No one should judge you for being pregnant. I'll do my best to change this and will root for you and pray for you and help you however I can.
6. I believe the Church should do a much, much better job with social programs. If the Church did what Jesus said to do, take care of the poor, love your neighbor, etc., the government would barely need to be involved in stuff at all. I include myself in this. I need to be way more selfless. That said, I will do what God has called me to do and not feel guilty about what He has not called me to, because I alone cannot do everything.
6. I think government should learn to live within a reasonable budget. Local government is way better at this than state and national government because individual voters can vote on whether or not to increase taxes. Provide crappy service? Sorry, we're not passing that levy you proposed. Provide great service? Sure, we'll send a few more bucks your way. It's capitalism at it's finest! School districts, for example, are not allowed to budget for more money than they have. They must either pass levies or make cuts.
Honestly, the more I think about politics, the more I want to buy a piece of property far, far away from everyone and become a hermit, living off the land. I'd swear to help wayward travellers, though.
But I'm pretty sure it woudln't be long before someone would come find me and tell me what to do. Not cool, man.
In conclusion, I obviously hate authority. And stay off my lawn, you damn kids!
OK. The end. I promise never to subject you to this again.
You're not going to like it, probably. I'm sorry, so I'll just say it once and then I'll shut up, I promise.
1. I think that Republicans are people who think the government should stay out of business, education and the environment but that it should tell you what to do in your personal life (ex. gay marriage, abortion). Democrats are people who think the government should stay out of your personal life (ex. gay marriage, abortion), but should get involved in business, education and the environment.
Libertarians are people who believe that the government should stay out of almost everything. This makes sense more sense to me than either of the first two. I'm not totally in line with them, but I'm pretty darn close.
2. I believe America was founded on the rights of the individual, and that's one of the things I like about it. If you think that means that I don't care about other people, then you don't know me. I care. If you need help, I will do what I can to help you. I will do what I can to be nice to the earth. It's a pretty place and I'd like it to stay that way. It's when the governement starts forcing me to do these things that I start to get mad.
3. I believe that governement generally screws things up more than it helps them.
If government can figure out a way to get everyone health care coverage without screwing the system up even more, then I applaud that. I just don't believe it's possible. I would be happy to be proven wrong.
I feel similarly about education, probably because I went to private school almost my whole life. I've seen how much those schools do with so little. I know how much less those teachers get paid than public school teachers. Paying teachers more is not the solution to better education (sorry teachers unions). Besides, have you checked lately to see how much reporters get paid? People who make more than me aren't allowed to complain about salaries.
I think I should be able to decide where my taxes for education go, and I want to pick where my kids get educated. Public or private or homeschooled. Whatever is best for that particular kid.
4. I believe that everyone should have the right to stay beside the person they've chosen to spend their life with when he/she is in the hospital. That probably will require some kind of sanction of homosexual relationships, and I'm OK with that. I would prefer it not to be called marriage, which I know is merely semantics, but I'm old fashioned that way. Maybe I'll get over it someday.
5. I think abortion should be (mostly) illegal. Whether or not you have sex is a choice. Whether or not you use birth control is a choice. Unless you are in physical danger, killing a baby shouldn't be a choice. You don't have to raise it. Give it up for adoption if you want. That's also a choice. I understand that society still stigmatizes single pregnant women, but it's stupid that this is still the case. No one should judge you for being pregnant. I'll do my best to change this and will root for you and pray for you and help you however I can.
6. I believe the Church should do a much, much better job with social programs. If the Church did what Jesus said to do, take care of the poor, love your neighbor, etc., the government would barely need to be involved in stuff at all. I include myself in this. I need to be way more selfless. That said, I will do what God has called me to do and not feel guilty about what He has not called me to, because I alone cannot do everything.
6. I think government should learn to live within a reasonable budget. Local government is way better at this than state and national government because individual voters can vote on whether or not to increase taxes. Provide crappy service? Sorry, we're not passing that levy you proposed. Provide great service? Sure, we'll send a few more bucks your way. It's capitalism at it's finest! School districts, for example, are not allowed to budget for more money than they have. They must either pass levies or make cuts.
Honestly, the more I think about politics, the more I want to buy a piece of property far, far away from everyone and become a hermit, living off the land. I'd swear to help wayward travellers, though.
But I'm pretty sure it woudln't be long before someone would come find me and tell me what to do. Not cool, man.
In conclusion, I obviously hate authority. And stay off my lawn, you damn kids!
OK. The end. I promise never to subject you to this again.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Lame
So apparently I'm already a failure. I missed the start of NaBloPoMo! I knew I would forget. I was just too excited about going to Athens for Halloween (which, by the way, was awesome and not at all scary). I'll post some pics of myself in my Sarah Palin getup in the near future. *dazzling SP smile*
Well, I'll just have to blog my way through Dec. 2 to make up for it.
CURRENTLY ... at work after the shortest Westerville board meeting ever. The open part of the meeting was 14 minutes. I am now back here gchatting and editing Gahanna.
LOOKING FORWARD TO ... waking up super early to vote tomorrow morning. No, I'm not kidding! I'm totally bringing a blanket and book to the polling location and getting there at least a half hour before they open. It's gonna be fun!
HAPPY ABOUT ... my brother getting his first girlfriend. Way to go, buddy! (see his studliness below)
BUMMED ABOUT ... being engaged for five weeks and still not having any wedding planning done. What kind of slacker bride-to-be am I!?
OK, work to do. Must go now.
Well, I'll just have to blog my way through Dec. 2 to make up for it.
CURRENTLY ... at work after the shortest Westerville board meeting ever. The open part of the meeting was 14 minutes. I am now back here gchatting and editing Gahanna.
LOOKING FORWARD TO ... waking up super early to vote tomorrow morning. No, I'm not kidding! I'm totally bringing a blanket and book to the polling location and getting there at least a half hour before they open. It's gonna be fun!
HAPPY ABOUT ... my brother getting his first girlfriend. Way to go, buddy! (see his studliness below)
BUMMED ABOUT ... being engaged for five weeks and still not having any wedding planning done. What kind of slacker bride-to-be am I!?
OK, work to do. Must go now.
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