I got 99 problems but BFA ain't one.

Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner (via bookmania)

Donated to me by Mel, something that everyone needs to hear today.  I know I needed to hear it.

#4:  WOAH double header.  I planted my herb garden and today, I was awake to see the sunrise.

I stepped through the dewey grass in my bare feet.

I took photos of slugs.

I walked across the edge of my garden like it was a balance beam because I am an Olympic gymnast.

I like how everything is covered in water in the morning.

#3:  The unexpected summer job.  I’m working for The Murrysville Design Center as a portfolio photographer, shooting and editing photos for their promotional spots- like the new website, brochures, a running studio slideshow.  I even got to shoot an awesome kitchen the other day to be submitted to Home Trends magazine for a design contest.  What a bizarre thing to come my way.  I like it. 

#2:  Planted a flower garden.  I spent the day with my mum browsing thrift and antique stores and choosing flowers.  Then, I spent the whole evening pulling a trillion weeds out of the sidewalk.  And I got really dirty and sweaty and it made me happy because I like getting dirty and sweaty and I’ve missed it.  And now it’s beautiful and I get to take care of a garden everyday. 

PS-There’s my souvenir from the World’s Largest Wind Chime’s scrap pile in the background.

The first new adventure of the summer:  Operation pumped up kicks.  I bought some Under Armor running shoes that I have since fallen madly in love with and I’ve taken to running bleachers- something I’ve never had any desire to try and had the strange compulsion to do as soon as I arrived in Harrrison City.  I ran 20 reps, up and down, the first day which is 740 stairs.  That’s not including the extra bit of exercise I got running behind the commentary box to try not to throw up safely out of the sight-lines of the boys’ lacrosse team.  Maybe 20 was a little ambitious for my first day out.  Since, I’ve been sticking to 10 reps, plus a daily p90x of my choice and some stretching time o’ course.  And guess what:  I reached my first goal of watching the premiere of So You Think You Can Dance and not feeling completely weak and incompetent! HOLLA.

I’m working for a body that can do what I want it to do, not just look how I want it to look.

…Imma look good too though, just so we’re clear.

^^link to article

One of the only aspects of this woman that I’m still completely mystified by is how someone so self aware, and so willing to confront, analyze, and overcome the force of her own mind could allow herself to walk such a fragile line between life and death.  I suppose it takes the utmost will power to seize absolute control as well as to lose absolute control.  That’s scary.  I didn’t know that those were possible at the same time.  And now that I think about it, why wouldn’t I think they could occur simultaneously?  That’s what theatre is, right?  

Theatre, music, art is absolutely seizing and losing control at the same time.

That’s why she was brilliant.

Day 4:  It’s 6:30pm on Thursday, May 17th and I’M HOME.  And PS- that top photo is the Perks of Being a Wallflower tunnel for any of you readers out there.  I almost couldn’t believe that home was still here.  Something in me thought I would just keep driving forever.  But I pulled into my driveway, and Soph came wiggling out the front door to say hi.  

Day 4:  We’re in Pennsylvania.  An Eat n Park.  A Sheetz.  We must be close…

Day 4:  It’s about that time.  We’ve reached our final American oddity on the list:  Field of Giant Corn Ears!!!  We took a solid break to frolic with the Giant Ears and reflect on our journey, then bid them farewell, and hopped back in Marilyn to begin the very last leg of our road trip of champions.  FOR NARNIA