Reflections On Being In Texas: A List

1. I used to think that Dallas was so spread out that it just takes forever to get anywhere. Since being back here, I’ve come to the realization that WHERE I LIVE is just really far from everywhere. Shoot…
2. All I’m saying, is that I have driven next to more semi trailers in the last two weeks than in the last four years combined. And I didn’t miss them.
3. Remember how I used to use this blog as an outlet for my Alaskan Weather Woes? Don’t think for a minute that just because I no longer live in Alaska I’m not still going to point out that it’s still cold there. It’s still cold. As in negative 10. And I think I moved to Texas at the perfect time of year.
4. The journey of this year? The changes I’ve been anticipating and experiencing? All of the unknowns? In case you were wondering? None of that has changed…
5. I love living in a place where everything is so new and yet so familiar. I am in such uncharted territory, and yet I feel so at home. 

On Blogging and the Big City

The thing about being a night time blogger is that, sometimes, blogging at night is just inconvenient. I mean, sometimes I’m very busy until very late. Take Friday, for example, when I watched a movie with my brother and sister in law, and didn’t get home until after midnight. Saturday? We played spades. And sometimes, I’m in Los Angeles all day and can’t get to my computer until after 11, and by then – I’m exhausted, so I just don’t even turn it on.

Perhaps a change to my routine is in order. I’ve got no job, for crying out loud, the least you’d think I could do is carve out 30 minutes a day for a blog….

 

And speaking of LA, I was there yesterday. And before being there I’d kind of thought that maybe it would be fun to live there.  I saw some beautiful spots in LA, for sure, and there are plenty of people to meet. But even as I was making the hour and a half drive back to San Clemente last night, I felt myself relax just the tiniest bit – the moment I realized I was back in Orange County. Which is not to say anything about Orange County specifically, except that I really don’t think I am a downtown, big city kind of person. So much social  pressure, so many time constraints, so dirty in places, so many expectations… Maybe this is all perceived by me, but I feel the freedom to be myself a little bit more when I am not surrounded by so much. I think this is why I love Alaska. It might not be LA or New York; it certainly doesn’t have the pizzaz and the glitz of a big city. But, in my opinion, it has a culture that gives space and freedom to be who you are. No matter where I live, big city or small, I want that.

Saturday Morning Pondering

My roommates go away for the weekend, and I remember how much I don’t want to live by myself.

I used to think I wanted to – in fact I rented a place for four months on my own and I really enjoyed it. But a life lived alone, even only strictly factually speaking, can be a very lonely life. And I don’t want to wake up every Saturday morning to an empty house, with no one to share breakfast with.

I’ve got a lot of things to get sorted this weekend. Packing for my upcoming drive down the AlCan, making final plans and setting into motion the CD Release Concert only 5 weeks away. But for some reason my head feels like it’s in a cloud. I can’t quite put my brain around what I need to do, or how to do it. I’m not sure I can judge what is most important right now.

I think I’ll go outside and enjoy the sunshine.

I Vote Yes! and No! (But Mostly Yes)

I live in an apartment now. I mean, for like, two months I do. And my roommates are great. Just great.

You know how you can’t live with just any of your friends because you might acidentally hate them afterward? But then there are people that you know and then live with and then suddenly you’re better friends than you ever knew you wanted to be? 

That’s them.

I realized when I moved in with them that I haven’t lived in an apartment/roommate situation in over 6 years. Since then I’ve lived with families in houses, renting a room, staying with my brother, etc. This spring I lived on my own for 4 months and I enjoyed it.

But Guys? Having roommates is FUN. I thoroughly recommend it.

But the flip side to living in apartment?

The VAMPIRIC OLYMPIC GYMNASTIC HOPEFULS who live above us.

They never sleep.

They are constantly running and jumping and crashing and stomping.

Are they TRAINING??

They never sleep. Did I mention that?

9 pm – crashing

11 pm – crashing

1 am – crashing

430 am – crashing

7 am – crashing

I don’t know how they do it. It’s like very loud walking (and falling?). Except where are they walking to? And why are they never getting to where they’re going? I seriously cannot understand it. WHAT is going on up there?

But I can tell you this…  I live here. And I love my roommates.

And I have to sleep with earplugs every night.

Some Things: A List

1. I’m obsessed with Captain Crunch lately. I eat it morning and night. It’s like crack cocaine. Secretly, when I’m getting ready to eat dinner out with friends, I’m getting a little bit excited for my night time bowl with the cap’n. 
2. I was recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism, which (if my doctor is right) means that as soon as the tiny little pills kick in I’ll be happier, friendlier, skinnier, more energetic, and less forgetful. Sounds like a miracle drug to me.
3. This morning I woke up to the text, “Bethany is playing  a song right now on stage! She’s closing service.”  (Which was, of course, a reference to B. Dillon and how her husband is one of the Shane’s and how they now lead worship part time at the church I used to go to in TX and that now I have friends who know her and maybe someday in the not too distant future I’m going to go there and get to meet her too.) And honestly it made me a little anxious in my gut. 
4. Tonight I was hanging out with Kim and my nieces, and when I got tired I said, “I’m going home. I’m tired.”  Which is weird only because I used to live there and I don’t anymore; I moved out last weekend. And it is really nice to have my own space. It’s oh so very nice to go back and have my nieces so excited to see me! But I miss them too….   So it’s  a bitter sweet niceness.

 

And, well….   4 seems like a good number today.

Weekend Update

I haven’t been motivated to blog lately… I’m not really sure why. So instead of blogging, I’ll just leave a random update on my life as of late.

I bought a new chair today for my room. It’s not a chair I’m in love with, but it isn’t too much more than I wanted to spend, and it makes my room a little home-ier. So for that reason, I like it.

I went to a garage sale this weekend and was reminded of why I don’t like them. People rarely sell anything good at garage sales – and even if they did, who knows where that stuff has been??

I love singing. Still do…. Just thought I’d throw that out there.

I saw Narnia: Prince Caspian last night and I think CS Lewis is an absolute genius. GENIUS.

Breaking old habits is hard – has anybody ever noticed this? I’ve been trying to eat healthier for a few weeks, and I’m mostly failing at it. But I think the fact that I’m aware of what I’m putting into my body, and continually making decisions to do better – I think that says something. Hopefully the end result will be that I will be eating healthier all around.

I like spending time alone. At least, mostly.

My computer battery is almost on its last life. Have a good rest-of-your-weekend.

MJ

Where I Lay My Head

I have lived with my brother and sister in law for 2 years, 2 months, and 26 days.

wow.

You know? Before I moved to Alaska, I wasn’t really known for my residence longevity.

I lived with my parents for 7 months.
I lived with Ana for 9 months.
I lived with the Rollerson’s for 4 months.
I lived with the Cheryti et al. for 6 months.
I lived with Jenny for 2 months.
I lived in downtown Dallas for 5 months.
I lived in north Dallas for 6 months.
I lived in Duncanville for 3 months.

But here I am, still living with my family and no (immediate) plans of moving out. In fact, I think I’ve got it pretty great. Early last year my brother had to go to pilot training, and while he’s been gone I’ve been getting to know his wife and two daughters. And the fact that they haven’t kicked me out yet is kind of astonishing. We’re not even blood relatives, my sister in law and me… But she’s my friend. And she is one of the most giving persons I have ever known.

I have a great family. I’m lucky I get to be so close to them right now…

Jeremy? We miss you…

Baby Sittin’

I’m babysitting my nieces today – and it’s going pretty well. But I woke up at about 745, and that was a bummer. Also, the baby needs a diaper change. *ew*

My question? When you’re a parent, how is it possible to do ANYTHING else?? Goodbye hobbies and social life. Goodbye quiet time and movie marathon weekends. Goodbye sleeping in and shopping with ease. For that matter, goodbye money!

This is probably why God made them so cute.

On Ice

When I was younger I used to ice skate in the winter. I’d bundle up in my snow gear, gather my skates, and walk a couple blocks to the nearest pond, lake, or ice skating rink.

Now that I’m in Alaska, I only have to walk out my front door.

You see, it snows a lot here. And then it warms up and the snow melts, and then it gets cold and the melted snow (aka: water) freezes. It’s a vicious cycle really. And the city deems it only necessary to plow the main streets, so side roads and parking lots are literally ice rinks to drive and walk on.

Take my street for instance:

If you look a little closer you’ll see just how thick the ice is, covering the street and driveways. (The neighbors chipped through the ice to clear the way for this drain at the end of my driveway.)

Now this is a common occurrence people! It snows and melts and freezes and snows and we don’t get a snow day! We just keep right on truckin’. They say it’s gonna blizzard and there’s about a .5% chance of snow in hell that I’ll get the day off of work for it.

This is how we live, how we “roll”. Or rather, how we slip, slide and fall…

The Narnia Effect

There’s something that happens in Alaska every winter, a little something I like to call the “Narnia” effect.

All the tree limbs turn white. And everything’s just WHITE – as far as the eye can see. Apparently it happens when moisture escapes from the tree limbs – and freezes as soon as it hits the air. Because, well of course, it’s freezing here – it’s been -15 (that’s minus 15) all week.

But oh, the beauty!