Today was a beautiful day. It wasn't cold and there was a light sprinkle of rain. I decided to go for a little jog. My little jog turned into a 5 mile run. It had been a while since I'd gone running on my own so I set out for nowhere in particular.

It was an incredible run. About 2 miles in, the sprinkle turned a little heavier. My face met the drops with a grin and small chuckle. Puddles met my feet with a splash. I loved the feeling of the drops sliding down my cheeks and off my chin, splashing all the while. The cool air filled my lungs with fresh joy. Peace. I've never breathed such crisp air before. It was stimulating. Refreshing. Even now, these words come up wanting.

As I ran I began to see through new eyes. I've driven by this tree countless times but never saw it's beauty. I slowed my pace to take a longer look. Other beauties stuck out to me and I wondered how I didn't know they were there. So close to me. I wonder how many people drive by without noticing. With out seeing the beauty. Racing off to busy lives and never really seeing the wonderful things around them.

I got home and Mom ordered me to take a hot shower and eat some soup. The water couldn't get hot enough. The cool rain had mixed up my body's ability to discern temperature. My newly sharpened senses couldn't tell if the water was burning hot or arctic ice. Although the dial was turned as far as it could go left, it felt glacial. I loved it. I laughed as my body soaked up all the hot water until my senses returned. At this point, the water was luke warm. Curious.

Song of the day: "Hotel California" by Eagles

Is there time to breathe now? Can I come out? Is it safe? I've been cooped up in this place of hectic responsibilities for so long it seems. It's dark here and they've locked me up in a small room. Hugging my legs in frantic despair, I sit crouched in the corner, waiting for sunlight and calm.

Oh, world of nothing, how I've missed you! Tomorrow is Friday and we can romp like children at the beach. There will be no schedules or responsibilities and life will be simply stress-free. Oh, beautiful, frivolous Friday! I've been waiting for you! You shine like 70 degrees in January. I thought you'd never come.

Soon, Friday, you will pass. Along with our dear friends Saturday and Sunday. I will be left with cold and lonely weekdays until summer comes and I can once again feel the sun applying blush to my already rosy cheeks. Summer and I can sit in a hammock and read old favorites and lose track of the time. And days. We can adventure like wild beasts, discovering new lives and possibilities along the way.

I wait for you, summer. I anticipate your warmth and freedom. For all those times you've lingered, giving my bare feet warm sidewalks and wet sand, I thank you. The sweetest gift. I wait. Patiently?

"If the day and the night are such that you greet them with joy, and life emits a fragrance like flowers and sweet-scented herbs, is more elastic, more starry, more immortal, -- that is you success. All nature is your congratulation, and you have cause momentarily to bless yourself. The greatest gains and values are farthest from being appreciated. We easily come to doubt if they exist. We soon forget them. They are the highest reality.... The true harvest of my daily life is somewhat as intangible and indescribable as the tints of morning or evening. It is a little star-dust caught, a segment of the rainbow which I have clutched."
~Henry David Thoreau, Walden

Song of the day: "I Feel the Earth Move" by Carole King

Read on and you shall learn...

1. I think I worry too much. About my friends and family. I worry if they're doing okay. If they need anything. If there is anything I can do for them. I focus on others. I wonder if I worry about myself enough. Too much? Then my mind wanders back to every little thing going on in my (in comparison to others) oh, so uneventful and easy life. Well... Do I give myself enough time to just think? About me? "What about me? What's the big deal?" Oh, brain. Please chill out. You'll be okay. Everything will just work itself out.
2. Teddy bears. They are fuzzy and squishy. Good to cuddle with. They make me smile a snuggly smile.
3. Writing continually proves to be a form of comfort and therapy. That's just they way it is. It's in my blood.
4. Bellybuttons. They are so weird. Unique. I wonder if doctors are aware of the social havoc they can wreak on people whose bellybuttons they botch?
5. I constantly fill silence. Whether the filler is audible or in my head. I always have some thought in my mind. Or a song. At any rate, something is always there to fill the empty space. It's probably why I keep posting about my random thoughts. Once again, brain. Calm down.
6. A blunder. Why hello, blunder. You still occupy my thoughts? I thought you had gone away. Well, we might as well catch up. How are you doing? Oh, you're lonely? I'm sorry. We still can't be friends. Go away, blunder. You were mean to me.
7. Is any of this making sense? I sure hope not. I enjoy being weird and hard to understand. When someone calls me weird, dork, nerd, crazy, etc... I take it as a complement. Everyone is weird. Wouldn't it be so boring to be normal? I don't like normal.
8. Was that an earthquake or did I just rock your world?

Song of the day: "Fix You" by Coldplay

Just spent 20 minutes meeting my future college buddy. One can still dream, right?

Monotony will kill me one day. Jim thinks I used too much film on Mom's digital camera. What do you think? Too much?


My hair always stays perfectly intact throughout the day, you know.


We won't be talking about my camera skills, or lack thereof.


Hey, cutie. How YOU doin'?


Let's smooch.


Ooh. Tastay. I know, I know...


I am a rock star.


Biiig shocker there.


I'm also totally sexay. Look at the hot. Look. You know you want it. Deep down.

I'm not cocky or anything. I swear.


Getting to the point now...

Psych! There is no point.



Except maybe this semi-presentable picture. AND the question of the night which is...


Do I have kissable lips?

Song (Album) of the day: Mr. Magoriums Wonder Emporium Original Soundtrack

Sure, Carter.

Given how enthusiastically he was typing I thought for sure it would be something terribly important.

0 h9100111. p13.0.

/k , lsasewsesdu8kjujbg qw

How profound.

I was out running errands today when this astounding view caught me off guard. The flag, the sunset, the overcast, the mountains, even the snow and the cars; they all mixed together in a whirlwind of prodigious respect and gratitude.

Respect for the Prophet of the Church as well as this country. Gratitude for the affect he has had on my life and for the freedom I have in this country to believe in something and the right to practice those beliefs.

Sometimes I forget that not everyone in the world has the same freedoms I do. When I am reminded, it humbles me. I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free.

Let the reason this flag is at half-mast be an inspiration to all. The time truly has come to stand a little taller.