Where did the year go?
It seems like yesterday we were toasting to 2009, now we're saying so long. I must say, I couldn't ask for anything more than what got this year believe it or not. Sure, I may not have gotten as far as I would have liked to have gone, but I couldn't be happier that I've stayed.
I met some of the funniest, craziest, most sincere, and loving people this year.
Through all these amazing people I feel like I've found out who I am and more importantly, whoI want to be.
Today is a new day, and more importantly today is the beginning of a great new start for us all.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Monday, March 9, 2009
Zoo Photos.
Over the past several months I have been observing gorillas and have absolutley fallen head over heels. Since October I have been watching the zoo's two youngest gorillas; Bakari and Kamba. It wasn't long before they stole my heart. Every weekend I'm up bright and early and off to the zoo to do my observations. I am comparing the social development of the two youngster gorillas. It's an understatment to say gorillas are intellegent, they are brilliant and have personalities all thier own. They're quirky, funny, grumpy, messy, and moody! They make it impossible to not fall in love with them!
Bakari
Bakari and Kamba
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
A Road Less Traveled.
So, It's official I am not going to college next year.
No, it's not because my grades aren't good enough, or even because I have extreme laziness. As I look back, my life has been anything, but normal, especially high school. So why should my life after high school be any different?
When I tell people I'm not going to college, their first reaction is, "She won't get anywhere without college." I don't blame people. Americans have a distorted view of the world. College is a necessity in these times, I must agree, but why is it a necessity right this minute? College will still be there when I get back, which brings me to my next point. I'm leaving the country!
Yes'm, that's quite right, I'm hitting the road, the ocean, and the sky! My plans so far include: Costa Rica!
Yup, Costa Rica, next March! I found the program through Gapyear.com and it's through Outreach International a very well known and credible organization. I will be there for three months and will be working on Sea Turtle conservation. I will live on a small island uninhabited except for the program volunteers and sea turtles!
I will be posting more information about my adventure(s) as I get it! So please, keep reading!
Right now, I am looking to do another program possibly in South America through Outreach International, from October-January or so. The next few months are going to be exciting and rough so I am grateful for everyone's support and understanding!
No, it's not because my grades aren't good enough, or even because I have extreme laziness. As I look back, my life has been anything, but normal, especially high school. So why should my life after high school be any different?
When I tell people I'm not going to college, their first reaction is, "She won't get anywhere without college." I don't blame people. Americans have a distorted view of the world. College is a necessity in these times, I must agree, but why is it a necessity right this minute? College will still be there when I get back, which brings me to my next point. I'm leaving the country!
Yes'm, that's quite right, I'm hitting the road, the ocean, and the sky! My plans so far include: Costa Rica!
Yup, Costa Rica, next March! I found the program through Gapyear.com and it's through Outreach International a very well known and credible organization. I will be there for three months and will be working on Sea Turtle conservation. I will live on a small island uninhabited except for the program volunteers and sea turtles!
I will be posting more information about my adventure(s) as I get it! So please, keep reading!
Right now, I am looking to do another program possibly in South America through Outreach International, from October-January or so. The next few months are going to be exciting and rough so I am grateful for everyone's support and understanding!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Urban Rapture.
There is something awkwardly poetic about the city.
Maybe it was the crowds of people that resembled ants.
Zooming, zipping and rushing on with their busy lives, away to some job, or to accomplish some task. She sat at the window ledge with her forehead pressed against the glass and wondered if there was spontaneity left in the world.
Where were these people going, where did they come from? Her breath condensed on the window.She wanted to know everyone's life story. She wanted to hear their inner most thoughts. She wanted to spend a day in their shoes. She had a need to constantly feel connected to someone, or something.
She stopped to look at a pigeon as it picked up some sort of garbage off the filthy sidewalk. The bird flew away, but her eyes remained glued to the spot it had been. Then, like it had never happened, she continued walking down the street. Her head held high, pointing to the gargoyles at the tops of the towers. People rush past her as the cold winter wind howled.
She walked in her casual steady gait, seemingly unaffected by the frigid weather. She stared at the black spots that used to be someone's chewing gum. She couldn't help but wonder who each piece was left by and if there was a story behind each abandoned piece. She always seemed to find something remarkable about absolutely nothing. The way she could strike up an extended conversation about the still ambience of a room, or the color of the sky. To dwell on such topics some would say, borders insanity, but insanity is best described by those who know it best.
Maybe it was the crowds of people that resembled ants.
Zooming, zipping and rushing on with their busy lives, away to some job, or to accomplish some task. She sat at the window ledge with her forehead pressed against the glass and wondered if there was spontaneity left in the world.
Where were these people going, where did they come from? Her breath condensed on the window.She wanted to know everyone's life story. She wanted to hear their inner most thoughts. She wanted to spend a day in their shoes. She had a need to constantly feel connected to someone, or something.
She stopped to look at a pigeon as it picked up some sort of garbage off the filthy sidewalk. The bird flew away, but her eyes remained glued to the spot it had been. Then, like it had never happened, she continued walking down the street. Her head held high, pointing to the gargoyles at the tops of the towers. People rush past her as the cold winter wind howled.
She walked in her casual steady gait, seemingly unaffected by the frigid weather. She stared at the black spots that used to be someone's chewing gum. She couldn't help but wonder who each piece was left by and if there was a story behind each abandoned piece. She always seemed to find something remarkable about absolutely nothing. The way she could strike up an extended conversation about the still ambience of a room, or the color of the sky. To dwell on such topics some would say, borders insanity, but insanity is best described by those who know it best.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Drought.
She walked down the street that warm summer evening. The pavement rough and dry, scraped the bottom of her shoes and made a sound that echoed off of the three-flats in rows. The fading sun reflected on the windows of the abandoned cars that lined either side of the deserted street. It hadn’t rained in weeks. A cool and unexpected breeze blew, and chilled her to the bone. She had a sudden and unwelcome glimpse of winter. She stopped and so did the sound of her shoes hitting the ground. Clenching her fist, and closing her eyes, she took in a deep breath of warm air and let it fill her lungs, to remind herself that it was still summer.She forced the unwanted thought to the far edge of her memory and tried hard to focus on the path ahead. Once again her shoes hit the pavement with melodic rhythm. She pushed her hands into her pockets. She battled to keep her eyes on the street, but her gaze fell to the ground. The sky darkened and the light on the lonely and solemn street diminished.
Something caught her eye.
It faded in slowly, and then burst across the pavement until it couldn’t be ignored. Something so simple, yet so sinister it brought a small grin to her face.
Chalk.
Drawings, doodles, and sketches mapped out for the world to see. A dragonfly, a car, a dinosaur and the outline of a small body lay on the sidewalk. She pulled memories from her mind. The familiar sound of chalk scraping the ground ran through her ears. She admired the brilliance of the artists and the beauty of the make-shift mural that lay at her feet. As she walked by, taking careful steps so she wouldn’t destroy the delicate masterpiece, a cluster of poorly written words grabbed her attention.“29 days left till scool”The grin left her face and was replaced by a silent glare. She was caught off guard by the sudden and instant reappearance of unwanted thoughts. School. She shivered in the hot summer sunset. The decision had been secretly haunting her since she had made it many months ago. When she had decided not to attend school that coming fall, it was a rash choice that she refused to regret. Soon summer would be over and she would be alone for the first time. Lost, in a world of the unknown and the mysterious. Where the next year would take her, she was unsure of. She was fearful.Just as suddenly as her epiphany had begun, it came to an abrupt end.
A crash of thunder. She stared at the ominous sky. Rain falls slowly at first, and then pours down in sheets. She looked down at the sidewalk and was quickly filled with sorrow. Colorful rivers of pink, blue, orange, and green run together and wash away the pictures. The poorly written words, carried off by the relentless rain. She lifted her head, her wet hair clinging to her face and neck, slid her hands into her pockets and continued walking. The street was silent except for the falling rain and her shoes splashing through puddles.
Something caught her eye.
It faded in slowly, and then burst across the pavement until it couldn’t be ignored. Something so simple, yet so sinister it brought a small grin to her face.
Chalk.
Drawings, doodles, and sketches mapped out for the world to see. A dragonfly, a car, a dinosaur and the outline of a small body lay on the sidewalk. She pulled memories from her mind. The familiar sound of chalk scraping the ground ran through her ears. She admired the brilliance of the artists and the beauty of the make-shift mural that lay at her feet. As she walked by, taking careful steps so she wouldn’t destroy the delicate masterpiece, a cluster of poorly written words grabbed her attention.“29 days left till scool”The grin left her face and was replaced by a silent glare. She was caught off guard by the sudden and instant reappearance of unwanted thoughts. School. She shivered in the hot summer sunset. The decision had been secretly haunting her since she had made it many months ago. When she had decided not to attend school that coming fall, it was a rash choice that she refused to regret. Soon summer would be over and she would be alone for the first time. Lost, in a world of the unknown and the mysterious. Where the next year would take her, she was unsure of. She was fearful.Just as suddenly as her epiphany had begun, it came to an abrupt end.
A crash of thunder. She stared at the ominous sky. Rain falls slowly at first, and then pours down in sheets. She looked down at the sidewalk and was quickly filled with sorrow. Colorful rivers of pink, blue, orange, and green run together and wash away the pictures. The poorly written words, carried off by the relentless rain. She lifted her head, her wet hair clinging to her face and neck, slid her hands into her pockets and continued walking. The street was silent except for the falling rain and her shoes splashing through puddles.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Small Talk.
She exudes passion and contempt as the rain steadily pours. He waits for her in the awkward silence. The words are there, but they won't leave her lips, they sit impatiently in her throat. Not yet...
Bitting her lips to hold back the anxious words; their eyes meet. With a deflecting blink the moment ends and they turn away. That was not the way she had planned it. A gulp of air to calm the butterflies. Deep breathes. A wave of disapointment engulfs her. Another chance shot down by her own insecurities. When will the mass murder of oppertunities end?
Disapointment tears begin to well in her eyes and like the rain, they pour in silence, more in anger than in sadness.
Tell him.
She shakes the rain from her face and stands with an uneasy and forced confidence. Her heart beats with a desire to finally be let go. He stands before her. The words are there again, more aprehensive than ever before. They are ready to burst forward from her mouth.
She reaches to hold them back, but this time theres no stoping them...They broke free!
"I LOVE YOU!"
Bitting her lips to hold back the anxious words; their eyes meet. With a deflecting blink the moment ends and they turn away. That was not the way she had planned it. A gulp of air to calm the butterflies. Deep breathes. A wave of disapointment engulfs her. Another chance shot down by her own insecurities. When will the mass murder of oppertunities end?
Disapointment tears begin to well in her eyes and like the rain, they pour in silence, more in anger than in sadness.
Tell him.
She shakes the rain from her face and stands with an uneasy and forced confidence. Her heart beats with a desire to finally be let go. He stands before her. The words are there again, more aprehensive than ever before. They are ready to burst forward from her mouth.
She reaches to hold them back, but this time theres no stoping them...They broke free!
"I LOVE YOU!"
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Coffee House Confession
“I need to get out of here…” she says with a sigh. We sat at a table in a small café just walking distance from the concert hall where we met.
Her eyes were focused on the snow silently falling on the crowded street. We had been over this about a hundred times. Her eyes moved to mine searching for my response. I locked into her eyes and said nothing.
“I was never a winter person.” She said to break the silence. I needed a distraction; I stared at the mug full of cold black coffee. I evaded her eyes, but knew she was staring at me. I never liked coffee, I drank it because she had made me a cup every morning.
She and I knew what was coming next. I closed my eyes and tried to remember holding her hand as we walked through the farmers market. The summer night we had decided to jump into the lake with all of our clothes on. Strolling down Michigan Avenue on the warm and breezy spring afternoons.
“I’ve been looking and I found some pretty nice apartments out west.” I felt the anger rise to my chest.
“Don’t ask me to do that.” Her eyes locked into mine and I could feel her heart break.
“Why? Why not? What’s here?” she said in a whisper that hit like the loudest scream.
“This is my home. This is my city.” Her mouth opened and she shook her head. I looked away so I could ignore her tears.
“This is your city? You don’t think this city would survive without you?” she said with a forceful, malicious voice.
“No, you’re right, the city would be fine.” I stood up and put on my jacket.
“But I don’t think I could survive without this city.” I walked into the snow and the cold wind. I left her there with her jaw still open, tears running down her face and a cold cup of coffee still sitting untouched on the table.
Her eyes were focused on the snow silently falling on the crowded street. We had been over this about a hundred times. Her eyes moved to mine searching for my response. I locked into her eyes and said nothing.
“I was never a winter person.” She said to break the silence. I needed a distraction; I stared at the mug full of cold black coffee. I evaded her eyes, but knew she was staring at me. I never liked coffee, I drank it because she had made me a cup every morning.
She and I knew what was coming next. I closed my eyes and tried to remember holding her hand as we walked through the farmers market. The summer night we had decided to jump into the lake with all of our clothes on. Strolling down Michigan Avenue on the warm and breezy spring afternoons.
“I’ve been looking and I found some pretty nice apartments out west.” I felt the anger rise to my chest.
“Don’t ask me to do that.” Her eyes locked into mine and I could feel her heart break.
“Why? Why not? What’s here?” she said in a whisper that hit like the loudest scream.
“This is my home. This is my city.” Her mouth opened and she shook her head. I looked away so I could ignore her tears.
“This is your city? You don’t think this city would survive without you?” she said with a forceful, malicious voice.
“No, you’re right, the city would be fine.” I stood up and put on my jacket.
“But I don’t think I could survive without this city.” I walked into the snow and the cold wind. I left her there with her jaw still open, tears running down her face and a cold cup of coffee still sitting untouched on the table.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
