Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Scott

To my admired classmate Scott...

You were witty, brilliant, competitive, driven, making a difference in the world...you had an ease about you that let anyone know that you were a friend. I always admired you and thought about you from time to time. My thoughts included things like: my friend from high school, Scott, is doing cancer research...how awesome is that? Scott- he was friends with everyone and made being smart look cool. Something very hard to do in high school...where being cool is all about the car you drive and the clothes that you wear and hanging with the popular crowd. He was cool in a very different way...one that is lasting and one that changes people's lives.

I never told Scott any of this while he was alive...because we never want to tell people how we really feel about them because it makes us feel uncomfortable. Today, I am sad that Scott is no longer in this world. I am thankful for the bright light that he shone in all of our lives, I just wish that it was still shining. I am going to tell someone today exactly how I feel about them...

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Lists

I love a list... mental check-lists, written down check-list...tomato, tomato. (Haha. Just reading tomato, tomato and not hearing it just sounds like tomato.) I love the checking-off of a list. It is absolute bliss to have an impossible list of things to do, and actually be able to check everything off of the list. Yesterday, I needed to go through my large pile of garage sale stuff and organize and price every single piece because I am having a garage sale next weekend. Before I did that, however, I needed to mow my yard because the weeds were so high that I was afraid people might get lost en route to said garage sale. And then my Dad called and he needed me to help clean out a storage room that we rented. On top of all of this, I have put my taxes off until the last minute. Fortunately, a very nice man volunteered to help me with my taxes and I still had a few pieces of information to take to him. So, mow yard, check! organize and price garage sale, check! throw boxes away in garage, check! clean out storage room, check! finish taxes, check! write a design trends article, check! And on top of all of that, I fit in a movie with my mom, check! All those checks make me feel so good and productive...like I now have a license to fill the rest of my day irresponsibly with no worries. Today, I am thankful for lists, and of course, the checks!

Monday, April 5, 2010

Goals for Summer Fun

It is hot today...86 degrees. Which makes me think SUMMER! Summer is my favorite. I love it more than fall. The sun shines all the time, you can stay outside listening to frogs until 9:00 and it just seems like people are geared up for fun. I work a lot and I feel panicky if I don't get some legitimate work done everyday. If I'm not careful, I realize, this summer will pass just like all previous summers.....mostly working and aimlessly drifting during free time until I realize I didn't do anything I wanted to do. So, I have made a list of goals of things I want to do this summer -OR- a list of things to do to ensure summer fun. So here goes...my summer fun list:

1. Digging for diamonds at Murfreesboro State Park. This is the part of the summer I plan to strike it rich. But, if I don't, it still sounds like a good time. Just kickin it, digging in the dirt like I am 8 years old again in the dirt pile in front of the house.

2. Grilling, lots of grilling. And inviting friends over to eat said grilled food. I hope they like grilled eggplant :)

3. Grow a vegetable garden. Especially tomatoes and squash and mint. Hello mojito.

4. Caves. Visit at least one cave. I live close to many caves and have never been to one.

5. Garage Sale Saturday. I plan to pick one saturday and get up at six like the hardcore garage salers and scavenge for treasures. This just sounds fun.

6. Bake Bread.

7. Have fresh flowers weekly. I just like it.

8. Make gumbo (this possibly could have been someone else's idea but I put it on here anyway. I can share my summer fun with others!)

9. Eat Hubcap Burger. Somewhere in Arkansas there is a restaurant that sells burgers the size of a hubcap. I've always wanted to do it. Must find the place first.

10. Write. More.

11. Spa Girls Weekend!!!

12. Small Town Festivals. Like the Altus Grape (Wine) Festival and the Mountain View Folk Festival and maybe I'll finish out the summer at the Iowa State fair.

13. Fishing. I used to love to go just for the quiet. My Dad and I would go on Sunday and I would fish for like 10 minutes and then read a book the rest of the time. Fishing or reading, I think I'll do it.

14. John Prine concert.

15. Baseball. Arkansas Travelers. But not in August. too hot!

16. Pedicures!

I'm officially excited about summer now. It feels good to dream. I'm thankful for the possibility of summer fun. I'll have to let you know how it goes! What's on your summer fun list?