Summer Must-Sees

And now, what I'm sure you all have been waiting for...the list of things I aim to see and do this summer. Okay, so it's really for my own reference, but sharing is caring, right?

• Visit the Holy Family Shrine -- I drive past this every time I go to/from Omaha, and it catches my eye every time. It's a building that's like one gigantic window...gorgeous!
• The Bodies Exhibit -- I missed it while it was in Milwaukee, but it's in Omaha now.
• The Farmer's Market in Lincoln -- It goes on every Saturday morning in a beautiful old part of town called the Haymarket district. I've heard it's really cool, and there are just so many different things to see and hear. It's also got a lot of things from different cultures, too, since Lincoln has so many different backgrounds amidst it's population. I sense a great place to people-watch.
• The Lincoln and Omaha zoos -- Animals. Need I say more? Oh, and I've heard that Omaha's zoo is pretty cool.
• See a band play at the Bandshell in Seward
• Ride my bike around the whole Plum Creek Trail -- That's 2.7 miles of peacefulness and beauty.
• Lay out on the roof stargazing all night and watching the sunrise in the morning.
• Take a crazy roadtrip across many, many miles in only 4 days with some dear old friends.
• Camp and hike at Branched Oak Recreational Park.
• Visit Platte River State Park -- With horseback riding, tepees, paddleboats, and excellent scenery, how could I go wrong? Camping here is now under consideration as well.
• Visit the WWII Library and Museum in Ceresco, NE (another stop on the way to/from Omaha).
• Go to Harley Davidson in Lincoln -- This one's for my dad. He wants a t-shirt. I'm trying to hold out for him to take a trip out here on his bike, though...

And, of course, wandering around to explore without a real agenda is also part of the plan. I also know that I'm forgetting a few things, so I'll have to come back and add a few things as I think of them.

Added things:

• Enjoy 4th of July in Seward, the self-proclaimed 4th of July city -- It's literally a 2-day celebration out here jam-packed with events. I'm excited.

~"I am learning all the time. The tombstone will be my diploma." [-Eartha Kitt]~

"I'm meeelting!"

My roommate was checking weather a few nights ago, and she yelled, "Michelle, this doesn't look good!" I'm wondering how many more severe t-storms are going to be keeping me awake (and contemplating the safety of this house), and she said, "There's a picture of a sun with a cactus next to it." Well, it's better than storms, but ominous nevertheless.

Sure enough, it's HOT here. Weather.com says it feels like 103 here right now. It's actually only 91 degrees, though...that's a comforting thought.

At home, mid-90s is few and far between.

At home, we also have a/c. That we aren't afraid to use for fear of burning our house down (we are suspicious of everything here).

This WI girl is learning about real heat.

~"It's so hot. Milk was a bad choice." [Anchorman]~

Alaskan Adventure

So I spent 10 days in Alaska...I still can't believe I can say that now. More things I can't believe I can say:

• I didn't die on a boat out on the ocean.
• I got to see a glacier up close and personal(and lick glacier ice)...and hear the thundering sound of it shifting/cracking.
• I got the chance to support the beautiful love of two of my friends by being a bridesmaid.
• I was 70 ft from a grizzly bear.
• I was even closer than that to a moose.
• I've eaten moose.
• I climbed the most strenuous trail at Denali National Park...a 1300+ ft mountain (Mt. Healy).
• I've seen Mt. McKinley.
• I've been to Seward, AK, with a group of friends from Seward, NE!
• My bridesmaid bouquet survived a 6 hour plane ride and 12 hours in the car only slightly worse for the wear. (It was too beautiful and wonderful smelling to leave behind!

It was a LOT of traveling in 2.5 weeks, but I really love to travel. It isn't really fun to live out of a suitcase for that long, mind you, but it was without a doubt worth it. Here's how it went down:

Left here on May 22nd and drove 4 hours to Iowa. Stayed overnight, took Joel with me when I left in the morning to drive the 8 hours to IL...with a side trip to the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, IA, since it was on the way. Literally a dream come true for me. The next few days were a blur of WI/IL family time and last minute errands to get my dress ready.

Flew out with the 2 Joels on Wed. the 26th (after a 2.5 hour delay...which gave me time to charge my iPod for the 6 hr flight. Score). Had great travel buddies, the most hilarious flight attendant ever, a BEAUTIFUL flight, and an even more beautiful reunion with the Reason for the Season (aka the newlyweds-to-be) at the airport.

Spent the 10 days up there hiking, playing Rock Band (supplementing all the memories of playing at school), hanging out with their families, and hanging out with 9 other friends from school (plus a few new AK friends). Also went camping, out on a boat on the ocean to see animal life and scenery (gorgeous), experienced rough ocean waters (in the same waters they film The Deadliest Catch), and played an epic game of Apples to Apples (we're talking 14 people, 7 teams).

The wedding was fantastic and beautiful. There were only a few glitches that got worked out, thank goodness. The reception was a blast, too. We did a hockey face-off entrance (these two met through their h.s. hockey team), and then we proceeded to dance like crazy for the next 4 hours...with a killer rendition of "Livin' on a Prayer" by us crazy college kids (like we used to sing all the time in the car) -- including an amazing air guitar solo. ;) It was truly one of the best memories I have with these people. I mean, all 10 days were, but the wedding was the best. It was such an honor to be there, but it was an even bigger honor to be a part of the wedding...to know that these are two people who I've grown up with so much in the past few years, who have supported me and who I have had the chance to encourage, too, and see their love grow...to be able to celebrate that deep love they share...it was such a blessing.

We flew out on an overnight flight the day after the wedding (the Joels and I were the last to leave), ALMOST got bumped to first class, slept maybe an hour (thanks to Joel's shoulder!), and then spent time with my family for my birthday. Felt old for being tired enough to think about going to bed instead of the bar, haha.

Got up on the 8th, packed the car up, made a few last stops, and hit the road back to Iowa (no stop at the Field of Dreams this time). Stopped long enough to eat and relax a little, then back on the road to NE. Work from 12:30-6 the next day.

Whew.

The worst part of the trip (besides leaving) was also the best...getting to spend so much time with 9 other people. Now I have to MISS them all! And I started missing them the second we all parted ways. They were the heart and soul of this trip, and the whole reason it was as great as it was. Adjusting to flying solo after that has been a little weird...but we're talking about doing another trip together. Hawaii 2013, here we come!

~"If we catch you smoking in the lavatory, we will ask you to step out onto the wing where you will become our feature presentation of Gone With the Wind." [our flight attendant on the way to AK]~

Discovery Mode

So I used to watch home improvement shows a lot. I'm talking about where they would fix up houses, redecorate, etc. I felt like a nerd, but, well, I am one, so it fits. I just kind of grew up watching them, and I learned a lot from them.

I also used to love to rearrange my room all the time. I started getting a life, though, beyond furniture moving, and my room started staying as is. But I really enjoyed coming up with new ways to do things. I still get a certain thrill from drawing out plans for a new room layout. And yes, I do draw them out. I then move things around until they feel right.

This experience with this old house has made me realize a few things. I'll make a list since my list making has significantly decreased with the lack of Post-Its due to the move:

1) I really, really, really am looking forward to moving into my own place someday that doesn't require me to move a few months after moving in.

2) I have a lot of junk that I really don't need, and I've gotten better at getting rid of things without second-guessing it. The less there is to move, the better.

3) I really enjoy housework like painting and rearranging.

4) My back and feet don't like painting and rearranging.

5) I want a house with a porch someday...or at least a wickedly cool wooden fire escape (which, come to think of it, is pretty hilariously ironic).

6) I love figuring out paint colors/color schemes for rooms.

7) I believe old houses have much more charm than new homes. This is part of the reason why I will probably never have a house built. I'd rather move into one that comes with its own history and story to tell.

8) This futon will not be as comfortable for 3 months as I originally though for a bed...and I will be seeking ways to make it more comfortable...more blankets?

9) I am actually going to be sad to leave this place in August.

10) I have severely underestimated my dust allergies.

And now it's time to find a lesson for Sunday School...which I will be teaching in 8 hours...will the last-minuting never end?!?

~"Oh yeah, using the wall is cool. You know what else is cool? USING THE FRONT DOOR! You fix that wall before my dad comes home...my dad's never going to believe a talking bowl of fruit punch came crashing through the wall!" [Dane Cook on the Kool-Aid guy]~

Lost.

That's the state of most of my stuff right now. Well, okay, I can tell you where it is (the dining room), but not how to get to it or what exactly is where. It'll make actually making an effort to look like a normal human being in the morning (instead of someone whose how-lazy-can-i-possibly-be-with-getting-ready look screams, "Hey, I'm in the middle of a wicked-stressful and bumpy move") interesting...especially for going teacher aiding again like I promised. Man, I need to get better at saying "no" to things. Note to self: Just Say No. It's not just for drugs anymore.

It's also just the state of me. I'm taking a class right now called Christian Doctrine 2. I took the first component in the fall. Both are required for my Ed. degree, but I actually want to take these. They approach it from a Lutheran perspective. Being a girl aiming to be a Lutheran school teacher who did not, in fact, grow up in the Lutheran church (or any church for that matter), it's a handy class to take to familiarize myself further with the doctrine of my church. I enjoy it. It's also just very challenging because of how mentally demanding it is. Faith isn't an area where you just blindly accept things. That's a very dangerous thing to do.

Today we talked about the Israelites and Moses...and we talked about how they were wandering in the desert for 40 years. God fully removed every avenue for them to be self-reliant...and yet He provided for their every need.

We also hit on how we are the Israelites of today, but I really love that thought. I've been thinking a lot about this college thing and how old all of this moving around gets (especially after taking about two days and countless trips to move all of my stuff into the house...ugh, I think it multiplies when I'm not looking). I got to thinking about how some friends and I have been talking about how we haven't felt like we actually have a "home" since we started college. How perfect of an analogy are the Israelites for us?

It always fascinates me that not only is the Bible called "The Living Word", but how very true that title is.

~"Life has a way of pulling away all of our little gods and goddesses until all we have left is our belief in Christ." [Prof. Reek]~

Moving On

Oy, this week will not be one that I'll be missin' when it's over.

The weekend was rough. I spent at least half of it crying for a handful of reasons (both good and bad, but mostly the latter). Friends left. Moving's been a mess. Cleaning and painting need to get done. I started a class that's 3.5 hours every morning, and I've been working. I've had a meeting two nights in a row for work-related things.

I'm one big ball of stress right now.

I'm learning a lot about things I will never do again when it comes time to move into a house for real, though...that's a plus, right?

I've also finally learned my lesson. I thought I could depend on someone that really it turns out I can't. I'm done. I'm walking away. I'm moving on.

~"This ain't Hollywood. This is a small town. I was a dreamer before you went and let me down. Now it's too late for you and your white horse to come around." [-"White Horse" by Taylor Swift]~

Graduation: The Left Behind Edition

I'm so proud of all of my friends who are graduating today. All of them slaved away for 4 (some of them more than that) years, and they are ready to move on to bigger and better things. I'm excited to hear about where their lives will take them. I've been blessed with the chance to watch so many friends grow into wonderful people over the past few years, and I'm looking forward to seeing them grow in new ways.

One of the perks of being at a Lutheran college is the church services. We pretty much have one for every special occasion. Seeing so many of my friends in their caps and gowns at the church service for the graduates was surreal, but it was great to see the joy radiating from so many faces. There was pride on the faces of families and friends during and after the ceremony was indescribable. I couldn't help but smile as I saw them, too, and thought, This is it.

I have a problem, though, that I have to confess. I'm slightly bitter. As happy and proud as I am, I'm also being selfishly sad. It's like that Toby Keith song..."I'm not crying 'cause I feel sorry for you, I'm crying for me." The people I will be watching walk across that stage tomorrow are some of the people I have really come to treasure the same way as family. There are people who have been so influential to me. There are those who helped me learn lessons that I'll never forget. There are those who have just created great memories with me. There are so many people that I will never see again after tomorrow...and that makes my heart ache. I feel as though the people who have made my college career what it is are all leaving tomorrow, and that this year was the peak, next year will not be the same, and all the other whining I could come up with. There are a handful of people who will be here to graduate with me next year, but it's not the same. I just can't help but feel left behind.

And don't even get me started on missing my friends from CUC walking across the stage tomorrow...and the knowledge that I could've been walking with them. That realization made me feel my first few significant tinges of regret for transferring.

Next year's my time, though, and so much that I need to experience lies in these next 12 months.

I'm going to enjoy watching people walk across that stage. I'll have tears in my eyes. While I can't stop a few sad ones from being in the mix, most of the tears will be of joy and pride for my friends.

~"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." [-Dr. Seuss]~