On this first day of Spring...

I. Am. So. Poor. This is definitely one thing I will not miss about being a college student. I'm always poor. It really doesn't make any sense. But, I'm doing what I can. Hopefully, things will get better. On a lighter note, my Spring Break has been awesome. Not too eventful... not too boring... Just right. Not to mention it was extended to two whole weeks. My trip to Tulsa lasted much longer than anyone thought it would. We expected to lose within the first couple rounds and come home on Wednesday. Our ladies' basketball team competed in the C-USA Women's championship game! Although we came in 2nd, the game was SO exciting and the trip was perfect. I got exactly what I wanted - To see our basketball team compete in the championship game.

Also, I'm excited to share great news! I have a new laptop!!! After mourning the loss of Gloria (old laptop) for a few weeks, my dad offered to buy me a netbook. I got it yesterday and I love it! It's so tiny and cute. :) And it has a webcam. I'm thrilled.

I'm thankful to have it on days like today... it's pouring rain. Maybe this means the cold weather is leaving for good. I definitely wouldn't be sad about that. I'm going to make the most of this rainy first day of Spring by sitting on my couch with my netbook and some hot chocolate. I'm sensing a nap in my near future.
But for now...

...pictures of rain.

Where the Wind Comes Sweepin' Down the Plain

In approximately twelve hours and fifteen minutes, I will be on my way to Ooooookkkklahoma! You know, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain. At a brisk 4am, the UAB Blazer Band will begin our 12 hour trek to the CUSA Women's basketball tournament in Tulsa, OK. How exciting! :/ Contrary to popular belief, I'm pretty excited about this trip. My dear friends Johnetta and Elisha will be with me. It's our LAST experience as members of the pep band. We're pretty good at making lemonade from lemons, so I know we won't let this long drive stand in our way. The weather is supposed to be in the low sixties! I do believe Spring is finally showing its face! I packed several pair of shorts just in case.

Also, I'm excited about this trip because I'll be able to add two new states to my "Buried Life" list: Arkansas and Oklahoma (I need to come up with a clever name for my list). Hmm... I think I'll do that later today. I have plenty of free time because Frank used my car to get to work. I'm sad he'll be gone from 4-9:30, but we got to spend some time together this morning/afternoon. Besides, a little alone time is always good. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder." How true. Normally I hate cliche sayings and generalizations, but that one I enjoy... I suppose that's another post all on its own.

Vintage Envy

Lately, I've been a little envious of all these wonderful things you bloggers find in thrift stores! I'm a little bitter that everything I own came from a nearby shopping mall. I fully intend to remedy this as soon as I gather some spare change for "thrifting." After days of being upset over my wardrobe, I realized something... I HAVE genuine vintage items! MY JEWELRY!!! I have several pieces of jewelry that I love more than should be allowed. Two of my vintage items belonged to my mother when she was a young girl. The other is a watch given to me by my great aunt.


This is my beautiful alexandrite ring. My mother's and my birthstone. Her parents gave it to her when she was 13.


The stained glass LOVE charm and heart charm also belonged to my mother.


This watch belonged to my dear great aunt Mary. She gave it to me (in secret) and told my mother not to let her children know I have it. :) She's well into her eighties now.

I have other pieces of jewelry that I plan to pass to my daughter (or daughter-in-law) someday.


This pearl necklace was given to me by my paternal grandmother, Bonnie. I wear it often.


This diamond necklace was a gift from my maternal grandmother, Ellen Dean. She passed away in February 2008 and I miss her dearly. Her absence makes this necklace even more precious.

I can now be fully satisfied with my vintage status. I'll take care of the vintage clothing later.

In Like a Lion... A Really Cold Lion

We all know it's socially acceptable to mourn the loss of a loved one... even if that loved one is the family pet. Does anyone else find themselves mourning after material items? You know you get upset when you stain your favorite shirt or rip your favorite jeans. Is that shallow?! This week I lost my computer. We had a rough life together, but my little Compaq had so much sentimental value. You see, I bought it the year after I graduated high school. I used some money from graduation gifts and some that I had saved on my own. I realize she was getting old, but I really wasn't ready to see her crash like that. Of course, there may still be hope in bringing her back to life, but that would require money and an intelligent human being that wouldn't completely destroy her.

In other news: The beautiful weather has left us standing out in the cold... literally. I apologized to my shorts as I packed them safely in my drawer. I suppose it's the country girl in me that causes me to hate wearing pants and socks. I LOVE the summer months! You will NEVER see me in pants or closed toed shoes unless it is absolutely necessary.


Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit. A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all's right with the world. ~Ada Louise Huxtable

Lists

I am a list maker. I have not been very good at keeping up with my lists lately, but I love making them. I used to make a list for everyday... talk about killing trees!!! I don't know what it is I love about them. I think it's just so relieving to cross something off. No matter how trivial it may be, it makes me feel so accomplished to see it disappear.

I've recently become completely obsessed with MTV's The Buried Life. These four guys have created a list of 100 things to do before they die. The show is wonderful and I love every second of it. This show has helped inspire me to create my own list. I began working on it a few weeks ago, and I hope to reach 100 soon. Of course, every item won't be for public viewing ;). Here are a few of the things I've come up with...

1. Get a college degree.
2. Live alone.
3. Kiss in the rain.
4. Stop biting my nails.
5. Plant a tree.
6. Save a life.
7. Change a life.
8. Marry my one and only.
9. Have a baby... with my one and only.
10. Visit all 50 states.
11. Go to Paris.
12. Befriend someone I don't like
15. Sacrifice my Christmas gifts to provide for a family in need.
16. Become a GOOD cook.
17. Complete "The One Hundred"…On my own terms.
18. Have something named after me.
19. Own all the Disney Classics
20. Write in my journal every day for a year.
21. Take a photo of myself every day for a year.
23. Learn how to drive a stick shift.

I strongly suggest making a list like this for yourself. Goals (however trivial) are always important. The show's name comes from a poem (of the same name) written by Matthew Arnold. Here are a few lines...

But often, in the world's most crowded streets,
But often, in the din of strife,
There rises an unspeakable desire
After the knowledge of our buried life;
A thirst to spend our fire and restless force
In tracking out our true, original course;
A longing to inquire
Into the mystery of this heart which beats
So wild, so deep in us--to know
Whence our lives come and where they go.

Lovely...

Today has been wonderful. I don't even know why. I woke up in a REALLY good mood, had fun in aerobics, and spent most of the day with my boys.



Wind Symphony was the only thing on my to-do list for the day. I have a feeling my wonderful mood had something to do with the wonderful weather! Alabama has seen an insane amount of snow this year! I'm sure it wouldn't seem like much to northerners, but it's a big deal for us.



Today, however, has been absolutely beautiful! We had high of 56 and plenty of sunshine. I am a summer girl. I LOVE warm weather. So, I made the most of it by wearing SHORTS. It felt so good! Apparently, next week will be just as warm. I look forward to more outfits like this...

Breakin' Up Is Hard To Do

These past few weeks have been completely miserable. My previous post was only a taste of the array of emotions running through my body. I know how it feels to prepare for the end of something important, but I don't know how to deal with an ending that should not have happened. It is easy to convince ourselves that our relationships are perfect or a result of fate. Usually, our feelings are results of infatuation instead of actual love. And believe me, I know what infatuation feels like. I know how it feels to have something ripped from you without warning, but this time... nothing could prepare me for the pain.

A few weeks ago, my boyfriend broke up with me. I had felt some obvious tension earlier this year, but I never really thought it would happen. You see, we were so wonderful together. We have similar interests and we genuinely enjoy being around each other. He ended things to get his life in perspective. He needed to figure our what he wanted from life, and couldn't make a clear decision under the pressure of our relationship. While all of that sounds like complete and total crap, I believe him. I truly believe it is necessary to ensure YOUR happiness before you can make another person happy.

This break up was painful. I just couldn't seem to let it go. My usually strategy is to self destruct. AKA: Shut down my emotions for the other person. This method had GREAT success in my previous relationship. This time was different. I found myself shutting down for mere minutes only to return to my obsession. I just could not let go. On Saturday, I could feel myself shutting down. I was broken and ready to give up. I knew my love for him would stay, but my efforts to get him back had ended.

Saturday afternoon he suggested that we take a trip to our favorite mall. I was excited to do some shopping with him, so I agreed. I was grumpy and filled with road rage on this busy highway. Without warning, he says, "So, I've been thinking. There are many fun things that I enjoy doing...but none of them are as fun as being your boyfriend. I would like to be your boyfriend again."

...Speechless... Emotional... Blubbering...

In conclusion, when you love someone... you KNOW it. You feel it all over your body. Do not give up. Do not let go. Do not withhold your feelings. He may not come back on a white horse. He may not call to you from beneath your balcony, but he will come back.