Tomorrow I was supposed to take a Greyhound bus to Bozeman, Montana. It would have been a 2-day, 9-hour journey. I would have stopped in Atlanta, Chicago, Milwaukee, Fargo and about 11 other major cities on the way. I would read some great books on the road. I was excited to spend the money I saved by not flying on a video camera and documenting my trip across America and my summer in Yellowstone. I wanted to meet interesting people on the Greyhound--people I wouldn't ordinarily come in contact with. I heard a "This American Life" broadcast a long time ago about a guy who Greyhounded across America and tape-recorded conversations with interesting (and surely some creepy) people. I was inspired.
However, as of yesterday, I am no longer taking a Greyhound bus to Yellowstone. I had checked with my mom on the Greyhound idea and she "ok"ed it. But my dad wouldn't be able to forgive himself if anything happened to me--which is VERY caring of him. I'm thankful for his care for me. So he bought me a plane ticket to Bozeman. I'm leaving Saturday morning at 6:30. With the money he's spending plus the money I've already spent on the Greyhound ticket, I'll hardly be making anything in Yellowstone, which was one of the main reasons I chose to go to Yellowstone as opposed to, say, visiting my friends in Europe this summer. Some dear friends I met in South Africa are gettin married in Sweden July 29th. I feel very juvenile--both for my dad's protection and for my attitude towards not getting my way. I guess that can be way # 101 that I'm selfish.
I don't know if Robert Burns' poem applies more to people like me--people who don't plan very well (ie: check with their dads before purchasing a Greyhound ticket)--or if it applies to everyone equally. Probably MORE to people like me, but it does say the "best-laid" plans go oft awry. I've found this to be true so often in my case. "Is God usually sovereign or always sovereign?" I have to ask myself.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Sunday, May 21, 2006
90 days
The other day I ran across my old CIT notebook from exactly four years ago. I remember being assigned to write down 100 ways in which I was selfish. I was amazed reading over the list at how little I've changed in four years! I'm still impatient with my mom. I still don't fill the gas when I'm done using the car. Some "selfish habits" have become obsolete: Alice and I have no reason to fight over who gets to talk on the phone at night; we have cell phones now. The foundational habit I hadn't formed then was consistency in reading the Bible--and I still haven't formed it. So, they say it takes 90 days to make or break a habit. (I wonder if that's scientific or if it's just a mind-over-matter thing.) So, I'm starting to read the Bible every day, even for just five minutes, and am planning on keeping it up for ninety days. I don't want to look back in four years and still be where I am now. Sometimes I'd rather read Francis Schaeffer or C.S. Lewis than the Bible, honestly. But "apologetical books" like Hebrews are exciting--Hebrews is where I'm starting my journey into consistency (consistency as opposed to spontaneity?). I want my love for the Word to develop--and with it my love for Truth.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
LEAF
Oh the joys of discovering new music! This weekend I did just that (and so much more) at Lake Eden Arts Festival, a semiannual "hippie fest" in the hills of North Carolina. The first time I experienced LEAF was about four years ago with the family I baby-sit. Sid, the kids' dad, is a lawyer; at the time Alison didn't let her daughter wear jeans outside the house in the summer--only matching patterned shorts from some yuppie boutique like Moppet's would do. Miles wore those little one-piece outfits with a train on the front pocket and matching socks. I didn't know back then, but you're not supposed to wear preppy pastel purple collared shirts with khaki shorts at a music festival, even if the shorts are cutoffs.
My family is known to have slight hippie tendencies, but we're nothing compared to LEAFers. Everyone at LEAF is a pretty hard-core hippie, with dreads and amazing broomstick skirts (even on the guys) to prove it. OK, not all the guys wear skirts, but you're bound to sight two or three. I saw more Chacos than I've ever seen in my life. Showers are communal. Love is free. Camping is a must!
Biz and I met Hannah at LEAF Friday night. We set up camp then headed to hear one of the bands at Eden Hall. Hannah told me the second band grace our presence would be great--the lead singer sounded like Alison Krauss. Biz and I planned on meeting up with Hannah for contra dancing after a few songs but we couldn't escape from the magical music of Crooked Still! The group is from Boston and plays the smoothest newgrass I've heard. Vocals: smooth, clear, and soft, no nagging. Aoife (Ee-fah) is accompanied by a cello, a banjo, and a string bass. The cello--wow. Aoife's boyfriend Rushad plays it, and he's awesome. How does he move his fingers so fast? He's this half Indian guy who dons elf shoes and a silk hat as he plays. He puckers his lips when he gets to the intense parts of his solos. He's entertaining to watch. The banjo's pretty sweet, too. The bass' carries the ocean of sound along. If you like bluegrass at all, check these guys out!
Hannah, Biz, and I decided it would be an all-girls weekend. I'm glad it was, even though we talked about our guy woes the whole time--guys and food. We ate a ton of healthful delicacies like vegetables dipped in ginger dressing, apple muffins, and sweet potato fries, stuff you'd buy at Whole Foods. No Happy Cow, though. We ate some pretty unhealthful stuff, too. S'mores--cold. Mmmmm... We danced the night away on the contra stage. After listening to some cool girl CD on the way up, Biz and I decided to start a girl band at Clemson. That's just what Clemson needs, in my mind. Not like the Spice Girls--more like the Indigo Girls. Too bad none of us plays guitar, or sings, really.
My family is known to have slight hippie tendencies, but we're nothing compared to LEAFers. Everyone at LEAF is a pretty hard-core hippie, with dreads and amazing broomstick skirts (even on the guys) to prove it. OK, not all the guys wear skirts, but you're bound to sight two or three. I saw more Chacos than I've ever seen in my life. Showers are communal. Love is free. Camping is a must!
Biz and I met Hannah at LEAF Friday night. We set up camp then headed to hear one of the bands at Eden Hall. Hannah told me the second band grace our presence would be great--the lead singer sounded like Alison Krauss. Biz and I planned on meeting up with Hannah for contra dancing after a few songs but we couldn't escape from the magical music of Crooked Still! The group is from Boston and plays the smoothest newgrass I've heard. Vocals: smooth, clear, and soft, no nagging. Aoife (Ee-fah) is accompanied by a cello, a banjo, and a string bass. The cello--wow. Aoife's boyfriend Rushad plays it, and he's awesome. How does he move his fingers so fast? He's this half Indian guy who dons elf shoes and a silk hat as he plays. He puckers his lips when he gets to the intense parts of his solos. He's entertaining to watch. The banjo's pretty sweet, too. The bass' carries the ocean of sound along. If you like bluegrass at all, check these guys out!
Hannah, Biz, and I decided it would be an all-girls weekend. I'm glad it was, even though we talked about our guy woes the whole time--guys and food. We ate a ton of healthful delicacies like vegetables dipped in ginger dressing, apple muffins, and sweet potato fries, stuff you'd buy at Whole Foods. No Happy Cow, though. We ate some pretty unhealthful stuff, too. S'mores--cold. Mmmmm... We danced the night away on the contra stage. After listening to some cool girl CD on the way up, Biz and I decided to start a girl band at Clemson. That's just what Clemson needs, in my mind. Not like the Spice Girls--more like the Indigo Girls. Too bad none of us plays guitar, or sings, really.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Happy Cow chocolate milk
I bought it today at the new Whole Foods store down the street. It's the best chocolate milk I've ever tasted, besides the old Bob Jones chocolate milk before they sold the farm. It's a close contest, anyway. Alice says I'm her favorite sister now... YES.
spontaneity
A respected teacher once said, "Spontaneity is what my grandson does in his pants." Although I see where he's coming from, I think spontaneity is a lot more than that. Spontaneity is the spice of life--it's what makes fun people fun, colorful personalities colorful! Without spontaneity this world would be pretty boring.
Spontaneous moments in my last few weeks: I was bike riding on the Issaquena Trail the Sunday before I had a big paper due for a class (2 weeks ago?). I should have been writing--I know. But I'd already committed to biking, so I couldn't back out of it. I also had an RA banquet that night, so I had to get back in time to shower and get ready. We rode along Lake Hartwell and basked in the glorious view of the shimmering water. About three-fourths of the way through the ride, my friend discovered a rope swing. I had 20 minutes to be back in order to get my shower, and that would have been pushing it, but we decided to do the rope swing instead--in our biking clothes. Oh, it was so fun. I went to the RA banquet with hair still wet from the lake, but it was worth it. And the paper--it's over. What will I remember 10 years from now: spending my Sunday afternoon writing an essay, or swinging on a rope swing? Easy answer ;).
Another spontaneous moment: A friend and I went running at 9:00 one night--a little late to start running, honestly. We ran to the Botanical Gardens, hung out in the 80-ton bird's nest sculpture (It really looks like a bird's nest, but it's made of tree trunks! Amazing.), kept running around the gardens, talked about honeysuckles and philosophy, got back to Stadium Suites and dived (I mean dived) onto the grass, fresh and warm, waiting for us to gaze at the heavens with it.
Moment number three: Late night grits at Waffle House then driving around town—of course I want to keep driving.
Spontaneity makes for some unforgettable moments.
What is it in us that loves surprises and spontaneity? I think God likes to surprise us and glory in His own creativity. Look at His good creation--from the micros to the cosmos, beauty and creativity can be found in everything. We're His image-bearers and we draw pleasure from surprising each other, as well. What do you think?
Spontaneous moments in my last few weeks: I was bike riding on the Issaquena Trail the Sunday before I had a big paper due for a class (2 weeks ago?). I should have been writing--I know. But I'd already committed to biking, so I couldn't back out of it. I also had an RA banquet that night, so I had to get back in time to shower and get ready. We rode along Lake Hartwell and basked in the glorious view of the shimmering water. About three-fourths of the way through the ride, my friend discovered a rope swing. I had 20 minutes to be back in order to get my shower, and that would have been pushing it, but we decided to do the rope swing instead--in our biking clothes. Oh, it was so fun. I went to the RA banquet with hair still wet from the lake, but it was worth it. And the paper--it's over. What will I remember 10 years from now: spending my Sunday afternoon writing an essay, or swinging on a rope swing? Easy answer ;).
Another spontaneous moment: A friend and I went running at 9:00 one night--a little late to start running, honestly. We ran to the Botanical Gardens, hung out in the 80-ton bird's nest sculpture (It really looks like a bird's nest, but it's made of tree trunks! Amazing.), kept running around the gardens, talked about honeysuckles and philosophy, got back to Stadium Suites and dived (I mean dived) onto the grass, fresh and warm, waiting for us to gaze at the heavens with it.
Moment number three: Late night grits at Waffle House then driving around town—of course I want to keep driving.
Spontaneity makes for some unforgettable moments.
What is it in us that loves surprises and spontaneity? I think God likes to surprise us and glory in His own creativity. Look at His good creation--from the micros to the cosmos, beauty and creativity can be found in everything. We're His image-bearers and we draw pleasure from surprising each other, as well. What do you think?
Thursday, May 04, 2006
deliberating
The sun is rising and I'm setting. This has happend about 80% of my nights in the last three weeks. All-nighters, but tonight was a good one, no term papers or anything. Just talking to some crazy new friends I've met just this semester. I'm imagining where I'd be if I hadn't been placed as an RA here at Stadium Suites. I've met some of the coolest "kids" ever. Oh, I have an exam tomorrow, but it's at night. I've got time to study, hopefully.
I think I'll go watch the sunrise.
I think I'll go watch the sunrise.
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