Gossip

Question to all rude girls out there:  

Is it because you're bored, malicious, generally unexcited with your own lives, struggling with low self esteem, PMSsy, addicted to lying,JEALOUS, misinformed, {sensationalizing}, or just plain RUDE that causes you to make up horrible gossip, spread it around, and laugh about it?

I know I shouldn't care.  Advice from 9th grade teacher Mr. Saltas rings in my ears 

"Let it run off you like water off a duck's back."  

I'm trying.  

But I've ALSO been trying really hard to be nice and accepting of all kinds of people here.  I've been nothing but kind to these girls.  AND IT'S NOT EASY!  I don't understand why people HATE! 

Before you say anything about anyone else, probably make sure you know it's true.  Don't sensationalize, embellish, or make up stuff to fill in what you don't understand!! Actually, maybe just mind your own business and take care of yourselves.  You have no idea what people might be going through.  Or how far your feathers will spread.  

{I stole this video from Cassee's latest blog.  I hope she doesn't mind.  But it goes along quite nicely with what I have on my mind these last few days.  And now I want to see this movie.}  

Lots of Nothing

There's not a lot of excitement going on in my Michigan world these days.

I had my last day of working at the CDS day program yesterday.  Now I'll only be working Saturday and Sunday night direct care.  The day program was fun and all, but also hectic and stressful, and I'm glad to be switching over to direct care.  On my last day, the boss brought in bagels and cream cheese for breakfast.  And it was also Todd's birthday, so his parent's brought cake.  I love bagels and cake.  

Kalamazoo is turning into fall.  I'm wearing a sweater today.  I went a little crazy, and bought pumpkin spice air freshener for my car, and pumpkin patch wall flowers for my apartment.  I love the smell of pumpkin.  And I'm excited for the return of Autumn.

Nathan is turning 23 on Monday.  I had fun assembling his birthday package, although it wasn't as elaborate as last year.  It's weird how my feelings as an MG have changed over the past 17 months.  For the time being, I am super proud of all the hard work he is doing, and how on fire he is as an obedient missionary.  And that somehow curbs my desperate need for all things HIM.  I know that his mission is a temporary thing, and time is quickly dwindling before he comes home.  

School starts so soon, and I'm excited.  My friends will come back to Kalamazoo!!  And I'll be busy doing what I love.  Sometimes I forget how much I love playing and practicing cello, but I remembered this week as I have been breaking down sections of Dvorak's New World Symphony.  It's like a puzzle, a mystery, a game- figuring out passages and making them work and sound good.  And this is why I'm a geek.  

Family and Friends, I MISS you!  

Hugs to all.  

Yankee Springs

I've been seriously missing my Utah Mountains lately.  And the smell of pine trees.  Michigan is beautiful and all, but this Utah girl's mountain soul craves the Wasatch Front.  

I was expressing this crave to my good friend Nick.  I told him that I miss mountains and pine trees and hobo dinners and banana boats by the campfire.  And hiking and camping and forests.  

So what did he do?  He found a little piece of home for me here in Michigan.  Swap out the mountains and replace them with a few cute hills, add about nine beautiful lakes, and a glacial crater, and we were at Yankee Springs State Park!  There were even Pine Trees!  We didn't have tons of time, but this made for a wonderful Saturday morning of mountain soul restoration.  

This is a picture that I snapped on my phone as we drove past one of the lake shores.  Look at those beautiful clouds!

And this is Nick and me, up in the "mountains."  We were going to bike some of the trails, but I'm not hard core enough for that yet.  Instead we just hiked around.  And with our amazing navigational skills, we got so incredibly lost.  Thank heaven for the wood-dwelling family that pointed us back in the right direction.  

I like this picture, and I'm not exactly sure why.

Yankee springs was a great idea.  I can't wait to go back.  

AND Dear A.L.K.-- One of our famous 2009 predictions actually came true this week.  Call or email for the story.  :) 

(500) Days of Summer

(500) Days of Summer

(506) Days without Nathan

(18) Days till school starts

Okay.

I LOVE this movie.

And it's a CRAZY lot like my life has been since November 2008.

Weird to watch bits of your own life on screen.  With the person you've shared those same bits of your life with sitting next to you in the theater.

I had no idea it would be more like (500) days of Jamilyn.

I would like to own this movie.

And the soundtrack.

Simplicity??

Is it something to make fun of now?  

Yikes, TAMN!  

I didn't realize that I was being overly Utah Mormon in making this my 2009 goal.  

:)

[365] days of Kalamazoo

I have officially lived in Kalamazoo for an entire year.  Which kind of seems unreal to me.  I'm repeatedly fascinated by the concept of time.  Sometimes deadly slow, and other times on fast forward- usually when  looking back. Bizarre.   

And what did I do to celebrate my 365 days of MI?  I let myself sleep in till 9:00, gave Gloria a bath and cleaned my cute little house.  Then, I put on my favorite skirt and went to the farmers market- an adventure I have been meaning to do (since I first moved here!  Yikes!)  I bought a pint of blueberries and an onion.  

*Side note:  I recently heard on NPR that lentils are one of the most nutritious things you can eat, and I've never ventured into the world of cooking with them before.  But last night, I was at Meijer, and thought... why not?  So I bought some, and now I plan on making curry lentils and onions over rice.  And that's why I needed an onion.  

And I always need more blueberries!  

As I was leaving the farmers market, I stopped to admire some very cheerful looking sunflowers for sale.  I only had $2 dollars left.  Just as I was thinking that, the young (and attractive) guy selling the flowers said "I'll give ya anything ya want for $2."  Wow.  My lucky day.  So I chose some long stem sunflowers, and he threw in some unique fuzzy red blooms that I've never seen before- FOR FREE!  I feel so happily surrounded by beautiful and fresh bursts of color.  How wonderfully summer!    God bless the generous flower man.  

Then I decided to make use of another free movie pass, and have a Saturday afternoon at the movies.  Ashley Tolman has taught me that going to the movies alone is ok.  And even more ok as an MG, because alone is often what we do.  I was planning on seeing [500] Days of Summer, but because of movie times, I chose Julie & Julia instead.  (I still plan on seeing Summer soon though, don't worry.)  I remember watching the preview for J&J when my mom was here visiting, and we both knew that we had to see it.  Today was the perfect day.  

Let me tell you some things about me and movie theaters.  I really like being on time to movies because I really like watching the previews.  I always bring a sweater, even in the middle of August, because I know the theater will be freezing cold.  I usually don't get a drink or popcorn, but I DO like Jr. Mints.  And if I have the choice, I like sitting on the back row very best.    

This movie is adorable.  Seriously.  But my favorite part was the elderly couple sitting in front of me, sharing a sweet kiss during one of the sweetest scenes.  Aw, I'm sappy.  But I give this a big Saturday-Afternoon-alone-in-your-favorite-skirt thumbs up.  I was so inspired that I immediately came home and put on my favorite pearls.  And I will wear them as I cook my lentils over rice.  :)  

And then maybe I'll go to the beach.  Or Arcadia park.  Or any number of favorite Kalamazoo favorite outside places.  The weather is completely gorgeous!  

It's been a great day to celebrate an emotion-filled year.  And as far as Kalamazoo goes, I've still got another 8 months to go!  

Woke up

Refreshed.

August Thunder Storm

with all the windows

and back door

open.

Cinnamon chip french toast

with Bread 

from Katie

and home made syrup.

Joshua Radin's

Star Mile

on the loud speakers:

"life comes to those that will choose

Regular News

over playing the blues

with the lights off."

The smell of 

Rain

Breakfast

Pinesol

A clean house.

Perfect

Saturday Morning.