Halloween. Some people may call it the Devil's holiday, and others may think it's only for children; however, if it gives me the excuse to dress in a fun costume, eat candy, scare myself, and enjoy the beauty of an autumn night, it don't see what's not to love!
This year, I dressed as the year 1998, complete with gaudy black heeled shoes, a packpack purse, butterfly clips, a scrunchie, and of course, my Sabrina the Teenage Witch dress:
I have a not-so-guilty pleasure for everything about the (espcially late) '90s. If a song came out in the '90s, you can pretty much bet that I love it. It's hard to beat some Third Eye Blind, Semisonic, Alanis Morrissette, Eve 6, Chumbawamba, Goo Goo Dolls...or of course, Backstreet Boys and Spice Girls. Giga-pets, POGS, and Goosebumps rock my world. And along the lines of television, Boy Meets World (and anything played on ABC's TGIF) and Home Improvement top them all. I am not ashamed to say that my life plans still include marrying Jonathan Taylor Thomas.
Oh yes, my two nights of Halloween were blissful!
On another note, I am traveling to Indianapolis on Tuesday for a National Middle School Association conference. I am very excited, but I can't believe it's here so soon...I am not ready at all! I'm not sure I'm ready for November in general...how is the time escaping?
Lucy: "I got seven pieces of candy!" Charlie: "I got a rock."
Words cannot express just how much I love Peanuts. It probably has something to do with the fact that Charlie Brown is the epitome of the phrase "FML."
I am a very sentimental person, and in my opinion, each season of the year contains certain songs that should be played, certain places that should be visited, certain feelings that should be felt. Four years ago, I read a book called The Perks of Being a Wallflower. If you have not read it, I very highly recommend it. There is one point in the book where Charlie, the narrator, recounts his adventures of a Friday night after a football game...
“Patrick started driving really fast, and just before we got to the tunnel, Sam stood up, and the wind turned her dress into ocean waves. When we hit the tunnel, all the sound got scooped up into a vacuum, and it was replaced by a song on the tape player. A beautiful song called 'Landslide.' When we got out of the tunnel, Sam screamed this really fun scream, and there it was. Downtown. Lights on buildings and everything that makes you wonder. Sam sat down and started laughing. Patrick started laughing. I started laughing. And in that moment, I swear we were infinite."
Every time I drive through the Bobby Hopper Tunnel on I-540, I picture this scene. I also often like to take notice of the "infinite" moments in my life...those little moments where emotion cannot be described or expressed, only felt and overflowed.
Last night, I was driving back from a ministry team meeting at our team's director's house, which is a few miles outside of the city. My radio had been on some random station, and when I turned my car on, "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac had just begun, as if it were waiting for me. Some may call this a cool coincidence. I like to think it was a little gift from God to me. Driving back through the mountains, viewing the fall colors of the trees, feeling the crisp air from outside my windows, and listening to that beautiful song...I was at peace with the world. It didn't matter that I knew I would be up until 3 am studying for two tests, or that my Education advisor wanted me to plan out in detail my next 5 semesters, or that I had no money and no time, or that I was anxious about certain relationships, or that I was dealing with conflict with a friend. No, all that mattered was that I was loved, and I was me, and yet I was no one...that I was living, and not just alive. All I cared about was driving my little Cavalier, Mary Anne, around every curve of the road, past every beautiful and unfamiliar landmark, through every chill of the wind. And I felt romanced by nature and by God, and I started laughing. And in that moment, I swear I was infinite.
I just wasn't really feelin' it this morning, so I decided to skip my first class of the semester. I'm using the extra hour and a half to take a shower, make coffee, and watch Martha Stewart. (I really don't even like Martha...my roommate just left the TV on.)
I feel so refreshed...I think I'll even make my bed today.
My Mom, being the Southern Living reading, HGTV watching, flea market running woman she is, found an idea in a magazine involving doors and paper bats. She sent me the magazine page and some cut-outs, and I am proud to say that the entrace to our room now looks like this:
I carved a flippin' sweet ($5) pumpkin three days ago. It's already rotting.
Rain has been without ceasing these days. Unfortunately, I found that my rain boots had holes in them from teaching horseback in them this summer at camp. When I've worn them lately, they've gotten my socks wet, so today I decided to go shopping for new ones. I looked at every shoe store in town, including Wal-Mart, and found that this is the only pair oof size 6 rain boots in Russellville:
Not exactly my style. I decided to do without, until I waded to the library. My feet were so wet and cold that I turned right back around and drove to buy the rock-chick skull-and-crossbone shoes.
So don't mess with my rainboots. They mean business.
Things I want: New Relient K cd New DCB cd New Bethany Dillon cd Toms.
Things I need/Will buy anytime soon: None of the above.
Things robbing my bank account: NMSA Conference/Indiana Trip Arkansas Tech University.
I am actually learning to live life as a true "broke college student." Major cut in income coming in from my parents, NO income coming in from myself. Scholarship in jeapordy. I've always been wise with my money, which is probably why I've had so much of it (and I still have enough saved up for a semester's tuition or so), but now, I'm actually having to dicipline myself to say and skip out on stuff. And yet, I'm doing fine, and have nothing to complain about.
Yesterday, the Russellville police pulled me over for the first time ever. Apparently, I was majorly speeding and didn't realize it. I thought for sure he was going to give me a ticket, and all I could think about was how much more money I was going to loose for doing something stupid. I deserved a ticket, but, Praise the Lord, he let me off with a warning.
