I love and appreciate my wonderful friends for everything they do.
This has been the best weekend for shopping, girl talk, outfit approval via picture mail, dancing, laughing, watching TV at a "homework party", and wearing SKIRTS AND SUNGLASSES!
If only I'd remember to take my camera out of my purse every once in awhile...
Monday, March 21, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Embracing Silly and Ridiculous
As a practice assignment for feature writing, my journalism teacher paired me up with another student to interview and write a piece about a moment or event that she remembered vividly. In return, I also had to share a detailed story of my own for her to write about.
While we searched for a quiet spot to sit and chat, we talked about the kind of story we wanted to tell. I knew I didn't want to tell anything sad or traumatic like our teacher had suggested, I was leaning more towards a funny anecdote with some kind of special significance.
There was one particular story that I couldn't get out of my head. I tried to push it out, not sure if it was a subject I was really ready to touch on or think about--but the more I thought about it, the happier it made me and the more I wanted to share a laugh with my classmate.
I told her the story of my first "outing" with Eddie.
It was the very beginning of our senior year and we weren't really dating yet, just sort of flirting every now and then in Rod's class. I was seventeen and had just started driving myself to school, parking in the student lot, generally rolling up like a badass everyday...but despite how cool I thought I was, I was still generally straight-laced and uptight. There were stricter rules about leaving school that year, and the security guard at the gate would only students with special permission leave. For some reason, I never had any trouble getting out even though I didn't have any legitimate business going off-campus. Usually I would just head out and bring back lunch from someplace nearby. I was so wild.
That day, Eddie and I decided we wanted McDonald's for lunch. I offered to go pick up something for both of us, but I secretly wished we could go together. We knew the security guard wouldn't let us both out, but Eddie followed me out to the parking lot anyway.
"Don't worry, I have an idea," he said.
When we got to my car, he told me to pop the trunk open. I was confused. There was nothing in my trunk...
"I'll get in and hide, and once you pass the gate you can pull into the neighborhood across the street and let me out," he explained.
Wuuuut? I had never heard anything so ridiculously stupid, or so ridiculously exciting. Giddy over how cute and funny he was, I nervously helped him into the trunk of my car and slammed it closed. It wasn't until I started the engine and pulled out of my parking space that I started to panic. What if he couldn't breathe? It was a million degrees out and the sun was beating down on me through the windows. What if he was claustrophobic? What if he passed out from the heat? The 30 seconds it took me to drive to the gate were the longest of my life.
Then, disaster. Instead of opening the gate and waving me on as he usually did, the security guard stopped me--to chat! I gripped the steering wheel so hard my knuckles turned white, and I could feel my nervous giggle welling up inside me. I mumbled something barely comprehensible and waved, hoping the security guard would back away from my car. Finally after what seemed like ages, he stepped back and motioned for me to drive on. I sped across the street into a nearby subdivision and leaped out of the car.
Then I ran back to the driver side door to pop the trunk open.
Eddie pushed the lid open and his face was red from heat and laughter. He asked what had taken so long as he climbed out and walked over to the passenger side. I could barely even respond, I was so relieved. We laughed the entire way to McDonald's (and most of the way back). I looked at Eddie and just liked him so much. He was fun and ridiculous and just what I needed.
Memories like this make me feel so much better. Whatever is going on now, whatever happens next, I was genuinely happy for two and a half years. Eddie helped bring me out of my shell (sometimes kicking and screaming) and helped me break some of my most stubborn habits. Sure, sneaking someone around in the trunk of a car was a stupid, childish thing to do, but the point is that I was relaxed enough to let go and just have fun. Not an easy feat for me at the time. The time we spent together was full of fun, silly things like this (though not necessarily so dangerous) and honestly, sometimes you need a little silly in your life. I certainly do.
I miss that influence of ridiculousness in my life, but I know that I'm better for having once had it. I like to think I'm at the point where I can embrace being silly and ridiculous all by myself.
While we searched for a quiet spot to sit and chat, we talked about the kind of story we wanted to tell. I knew I didn't want to tell anything sad or traumatic like our teacher had suggested, I was leaning more towards a funny anecdote with some kind of special significance.
There was one particular story that I couldn't get out of my head. I tried to push it out, not sure if it was a subject I was really ready to touch on or think about--but the more I thought about it, the happier it made me and the more I wanted to share a laugh with my classmate.
I told her the story of my first "outing" with Eddie.
It was the very beginning of our senior year and we weren't really dating yet, just sort of flirting every now and then in Rod's class. I was seventeen and had just started driving myself to school, parking in the student lot, generally rolling up like a badass everyday...but despite how cool I thought I was, I was still generally straight-laced and uptight. There were stricter rules about leaving school that year, and the security guard at the gate would only students with special permission leave. For some reason, I never had any trouble getting out even though I didn't have any legitimate business going off-campus. Usually I would just head out and bring back lunch from someplace nearby. I was so wild.
That day, Eddie and I decided we wanted McDonald's for lunch. I offered to go pick up something for both of us, but I secretly wished we could go together. We knew the security guard wouldn't let us both out, but Eddie followed me out to the parking lot anyway.
"Don't worry, I have an idea," he said.
When we got to my car, he told me to pop the trunk open. I was confused. There was nothing in my trunk...
"I'll get in and hide, and once you pass the gate you can pull into the neighborhood across the street and let me out," he explained.
Wuuuut? I had never heard anything so ridiculously stupid, or so ridiculously exciting. Giddy over how cute and funny he was, I nervously helped him into the trunk of my car and slammed it closed. It wasn't until I started the engine and pulled out of my parking space that I started to panic. What if he couldn't breathe? It was a million degrees out and the sun was beating down on me through the windows. What if he was claustrophobic? What if he passed out from the heat? The 30 seconds it took me to drive to the gate were the longest of my life.
Then, disaster. Instead of opening the gate and waving me on as he usually did, the security guard stopped me--to chat! I gripped the steering wheel so hard my knuckles turned white, and I could feel my nervous giggle welling up inside me. I mumbled something barely comprehensible and waved, hoping the security guard would back away from my car. Finally after what seemed like ages, he stepped back and motioned for me to drive on. I sped across the street into a nearby subdivision and leaped out of the car.
Then I ran back to the driver side door to pop the trunk open.
Eddie pushed the lid open and his face was red from heat and laughter. He asked what had taken so long as he climbed out and walked over to the passenger side. I could barely even respond, I was so relieved. We laughed the entire way to McDonald's (and most of the way back). I looked at Eddie and just liked him so much. He was fun and ridiculous and just what I needed.
Memories like this make me feel so much better. Whatever is going on now, whatever happens next, I was genuinely happy for two and a half years. Eddie helped bring me out of my shell (sometimes kicking and screaming) and helped me break some of my most stubborn habits. Sure, sneaking someone around in the trunk of a car was a stupid, childish thing to do, but the point is that I was relaxed enough to let go and just have fun. Not an easy feat for me at the time. The time we spent together was full of fun, silly things like this (though not necessarily so dangerous) and honestly, sometimes you need a little silly in your life. I certainly do.
I miss that influence of ridiculousness in my life, but I know that I'm better for having once had it. I like to think I'm at the point where I can embrace being silly and ridiculous all by myself.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Counting Down the Days...
Sprawled out in the sun, tanning (fingers crossed, this usually doesn't happen), with a giant limonada from Tropical Island.
Driving around with my brother singing along to Taylor Swift with a stop at a Walgreens for a couple of cans of Arizona Green Tea.
Wearing shorts and flip flops and giant sunglasses in the backyard while my dad barbecues.
Driving over to my favorite bakery, walking down the street to surprise my friends working at the library, and then running across to Happy Dayz for some ice cream.
Meeting my grandparents for lunch at Junction or Taco Fiesta and running in to everyone and their mother, and probably their grandmother too.
I cannot wait to be home!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Making a Move
I've just moved my previous posts from my wordpress blog over to this one. This just seems to be an easier site to navigate and I think this layout is prettier. I started this blog my senior year in high school but never kept up with it. It's strange to see how much has changed since then and yet my writing style is pretty much the same. I'm really looking forward to giving this blog new life and keeping my resolution from September to write more.
The Little Things
(and some big things) that are currently making me happy.
1. The sight of sunshine in Providence.
2. Beebens! Hearing their giggles, squeaky shoes, and general noisiness in the background when I talk to my mom on the phone.
3. Wonderful, caring, loving friends.
4. Brother being a Gates Millennium Finalist!
5. My new electric toothbrush. (Yes, I know I am a child.)
I have so much to be happy about and so much to be thankful for. As long as I remember that, the good will always manage to outweigh the bad.
Ash Wednesday Reflections
For Lent this year I've decided not to give anything up, but to add things to my life to help me grow in my faith and become closer to God. I hope that these things will help me focus more on my spiritual health during the next forty days and make me a stronger and better Catholic.
I will...
pray the rosary weekly.
remember to place my whole-hearted trust in God and his plan for me.
receive communion every week (which means going to Mass and to confession).
make my faith a focus of my life, rather than merely an aspect of it.Oh, To Be British and Quippy
I went through a phase in middle school (that continued into high school, and possibly still exists today...) where I was obsessed with reading the Georgia Nicholson series by Louise Rennison.
It all started with
...which was recommended to me by a boy of all people! And from then on I couldn't get enough of the sassy humor and endless ridiculous scrapes of Georgia and her friends.
Now that I'm an adult and whatnot (or at least, I try to be) I've upgraded to reading Bridget Jones' Diary by Helen Fielding. I love, love, LOVED the movie (which I saw for the first time this weekend) and so far the book is every bit as enjoyable. It's charming and funny...even though it does feed my slight fear of being single well into my thirties...and it's a nice fluffy before-bedtime read.
I've already made my recommendation to Kelly, who promptly downloaded an e-book version for herself--you should too!
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