When One is Excited...

I find that when I am very excited about something, I bring it up more than is necessary. And those poor folks who know me are forced to endure more information about the same topic (or at other times, a repeat of the exact same information, because I forget who I have told, because I have told so many people). So in order to make it less painful, because we all know that no one cares nearly as much about the things we do, as we do...tracking, tracking, comprehension!... I am adding multimedia to this post, which I rarely do. But I also rarely do repeat topics, since the same day has never happened to me twice. Strange, that.

Anyway, at the risk of being a broken record, I took some pictures of our new apartment. Our apartment as of this Saturday. Enjoy, and don't throw rotten tomatoes at your repetitive blogger friend. Though it is especially ridiculous that I am repeating myself because I hardly blog once a month. If I was a Becky Love, or a Justine, then it would be more acceptable because they are faithful bloggers, and grace is given to the faithful. But the wayfaring fools walk into judgment and are destroyed. I am reading through Proverbs. Can you tell?

Forgive the low quality of the shots...I just had my point and shoot, and I couldn't get entire rooms in the pictures, you know how that is. I tried to capture the highlights.


First picture: The outside of the building. our apartment is the second floor of the building, the one with the three windows. History Buffs (not that you read my blog...): It's on the National Registry of Historic Places, and was an office building. It's the Macdonald and Bower building or something, built in 1896. There's that. The windows are our living room.



This is a section of the inside of the living room...I like the wood on the ceiling.





And here is the eating area/kitchen. I'm pretty much in love with the wood floor.

(for those who like to visualize, the rooms just go from front to back. The living room is behind me in this picture, and the door at the far side is the bedroom, and the bathroom is through the bedroom to the left...in case you want to know)



The brick wall in the bathroom.

Those are the highlights. The pictures don't really give a full picture (ha ha, bad, bad, repetitive pun), but you get the idea. We're excited.


On a different note, I just wanted to share (while I'm on my multimedia kick) my morning commute on Monday. It was 7:15am, driving East on I-80. It was absolutely beautiful and made my morning drive very special.


...Sorry, Mom, I snapped the shot while driving...I suppose that's not what you had in mind when you and Dad gave me a camera for Christmas... if it helps, I didn't even look, I just held it up and took the picture.

And the last note is a question. I read a lot of blogs researching different things, and I always find it interesting when the blogger poses a question for their readers. There are such interesting responses sometimes, especially when it's a style opinion (Not that your opinion will make my decision for me, but it's fun!) So here's my possibly-doomed-to-failure attempt.

There is a chair that I found for $9, that I didn't buy, because I needed to consider. Let me give you a description by using a metaphor (or some other literary device, whatever it's called): My Mom at a white elephant gift exchange ended up with a 2-tiered bright orange relish dish. It is definitely a product of the 60's/70's, and it's FABULOUS! However, people didn't understand why she wanted it, because it's so UGLY! However, when put into a different environment, the piece can suddenly gain great character and uniqueness, which that one definitely did. Well, I think that this chair would do the same thing, even if it is (just like that relish dish of my Mom's) BRIGHT ORANGE. It can always be re-covered, but I'm currently planning on a blue-orange living room, so there's potential as-is. What I'm saying is, for $9, I think it's worth a shot, but I'm not quite sold on it. and it may be gone already. But I'm just seeking opinions... Do you see great potential or just a nasty orange monstrosity?

READY....

GO!



That's all, y'all.

P.S.

Against my will, Joe has indecently exposed me to the Rocky movies.

We have succumbed to Rocky I, II, III, and IV

We'll see how V and Rocky Balboa go.

Okay, I might enjoy them a little. But that's off the record.

Don't tell anyone. Just like Alfred, I don't know I'm in danger.

Big Changes, Little Time

Joe and I are moving. We'll still be in Grinnell, just across town in a different apartment. We're excited.

People ask us "why are you moving?" And honestly, I can give some boring answers having to do with boring little details, but really, we're moving....because we can. And we are excited to be a couple of crazy kids who just move because their lease is up and they can hop right across town to something new. And, for those of you out there who share my love for architecture and character in buildings, we're moving to a loft apartment with big arched windows in the living room, an original 1896 stone facade and wood floor in the kitchen, and brick wall in the bathroom. Whatever else it may be lacking, it has all the right things that make me want to take on any challenges that may come with it. Character and charm rightly ooooze out of the walls. The original brick walls, that is.

Also it is down the street from a cafe/coffee shop that also has smoothies. Our budget may be in trouble...

Discoveries: I am finding that Grinnell has a million little treasures that seem to pop out of nowhere. I have been here for a little over 2 months now, and keep on finding them. Here are a few of my favorites:

1. Thai Basil: A thai restaurant in the middle of this little town BUYAH!
2. Farmer's Market on Thursdays and Saturdays
3. ARCHITECTURE IS AMAZING!! Seriously, I ride my bike through town and just look at houses. Old beautiful victorians are rampant here. Some are in great shape, some need serious work, but they are all beautiful in their own way. I love seeing the different eras represented on the streets as I pass.
4. The Fareway here carries a lot of local produce. Lately, they've had apples from a local orchard. I love that.
5. There is a lake about 2 blocks from our current apartment. It took us about a month to find that out.
6. Dari Barn. yes. It is delicious. You know, the teeny little ice cream shops that are only open in the summer. This one is a big deal. I get a small vanilla cone with Krunch on the top. Krunch (or Twinkles!) is candy-coated peanuts and sprinkles mixed together. It's awesome.
7. All of the events at Grinnell College are free to the public. That's theatre, sports, music, anything.

The jobs are going well. I'm finishing up building a design for Grinnell High School. I'm helping with the build and carving some column capitals. They're doing the Real Inspector Hound (Becky Love, I think of you!), and I'm hoping the set looks as good as it does in my head. We'll see.

Things with Theatre Cedar Rapids are going GREAT. I'm done with show #2, and going to start on #3 in about two weeks. Ahh, the beloved Annie.

hmmm...

Oh! I'm trying out my green thumb...mostly to see if I have one. But I'm doing okay! I have managed to kill only 1 (almost 2) of 3 plants from my wedding. Two are doing pretty good, though, so we'll see if they keep keepin' on. (I have better light in the new apartment, so I'm hoping that helps). But I also have a pot of chives, and they're doing pretty darn good! I've cut some off quite a few times, and they keep on growing! And my most recent acquisition is a "Corn Plant" with Pothos planted below it. The Pothos looks like a philodendron (I thought it was a philodendron, but I looked it up, and although they're very similar, it's definitely a Pothos...but it doesn't make any difference in care) and the Corn Plant looks a little like a palm tree, with a trunk and such, but the leaves at the top look like corn leaves. Pretty cool. And it really helps brighten things up. Growing things are so nice to have around, because it gives a place life and hope. I'm excited to see if I can keep them alive.

Also, we have a little baby pumpkin named Alfred. But he's not growing. He's really dying since he got picked, only don't tell him, because I don't think he knows it yet. he's a cute little bugger.

So there you go. That's my inventory of green, rooted, happy growing things.

And I think that will end my post for now. Joe and I are doing good, loving our life, having fun whenever possible.

Until next time, see ya!

Hey guess what?

I'm Married!! Betcha didn't see that one coming! The day was beautiful, cold (yeah, middle of July--I was shivering!), but not rainy and the photos look wonderful, partly because the clouds were AMAZING, but mostly because we had a fabulous photographer, this little lady named Rebecca Love. Yeah, I recommend her. Also, Joe and I have a couple of other pieces of hers in our living room....Betcha didn't know that, Rebecca.

I am currently living as a hermit in an apartment in Grinnell that I really like, though if I had to lose one thing, I could do without our eight-legged friends that seem to like exploring. We're getting that figured out, though. Raid or something will commence.

Joe says I should meet people. I ask how. He says the supermarket. (well, I might have suggested that as a joke). So if you're ever in Grinnell in the supermarket, I'm the weird one who starts talking with you in the frozen foods aisle...or perhaps produce. I think produce is a better shot.

But I'm going to try to make a few connections around town through theatre stuff...I'm still working on that...and we're looking for a church so once we have that figured out, it will be a good outlet for social skill usage. I believe that will be more promising than the produce department. I'm looking forward to that.

I am currently in CR painting Altar Boyz, an upcoming, should-be-hilarious show. I should finish tomorrow. Today was a good day. Moments of magic happened. I love it when it does that. And I finished a show two weeks ago for the Old Creamery Theatre Company in Amana. For that show, I built a giant gold 3-D musical staff that went up and over the proscenium and disappeared into the masking. It turned out pretty darn awesome, if you ask me. Which you did not, but apparently you no longer have to.

So that's what I've been up to, aside from being a wife! I try to be a good little wifey, cooking and cleaning, but I take walks and runs and pictures and read books for me, too. I can't get too June Cleaver or I'll go a little bit crazy. Scary. Maybe I'll put my hair into a fohawk, just to put the edge back in my waltz. Sounds good. Becky, I may need your help. Rachel, Becky may need your help. Awesome.

oh, and I just finished reading The Shack. I was a little skeptical at first because I generally like to read books that aren't crazy popular, you know, so I feel like an individual, not a head of cattle. But I really really enjoyed it. It puts the basics back into perspective. It's not written to create hard and solid rules and guidelines. It's to reveal the loving, forviving, happy, lauging, cooking, gracious, faithful, accepting God that we often cover over with rules and guilt. It is about the freedom to love God and be loved by Him. And my favorite line from the book was talking about relating to others and sharing God's love. It says, "You are free to love without an agenda." I love that. So although I hate to admit it, I am a follower, and I highly recommend the book to anyone looking for a new perspective or struggling with how to relate to God, or feeling chained down by guilt or remorse or rules. God is good, all the time.

There, now I've posted. cha ching.

BAHAHAHAHAHA! It has been such a long time since I posted! Really, about two months, huh?

Well, I might as well just say it's because of wedding stuff, I guess. But it's almost all done! My mom and I are trucking away at the list of things to do, and it keeps on shrinking! FOUR DAYS!

Joseph and I are very very very very very excited. Yes, very.

I have been spending time with friends, tow great friends come in tomorrow (Becky and Rachel!) and after that, it's all going to just fly so quickly, and the next time I post, I will be...

Mrs. BECKY BUHLIG!!! Woo Hoo! I am very excited. Very very excited.

Well, I have to keep working on...top secret wedding things.

Bye!

Home and Back Again

Wow, it's been a long time.

Right now I am in Cedar Rapids, and I've been living in the mess of boxes, clothes, and other things I don't know what to do with, along with painting for Theatre Cedar Rapids. On Monday I leave to go to North Dakota and paint a set there. I get back in early June, and go back to painting for TCR and my dad wants me to paint the bathroom here, too. So i might as well just be made of latex. Maybe I could get paintbrushes instead of hands and I could bleed paint. I think that would work quite well.

I have a lot of things to do before I leave on Monday, and it's stressing me out a bit but I'll get them done sometime. It's crazy that when I get back from ND, there will only be about 6 weeks left until the wedding. Time has gone so fast, it's crazy. But we're definitely ready to be married. The apartment is great, and I just went and delivered a couch, mattress, table, and chairs. Furniture is that thing that I never really think about, but it's pretty darn necessary.

On the way up to ND I get to stay with Rachel! I'm really excited. And on the way back I'll stop in Sioux Center and stay with Becky! So I get to catch both of them, which will be fabulous.

My mom and I went birthday shopping for me. we went to the hardware store and I got two really nice paintbrushes and a paintbrush comb/cleaner. I am really really excited. Thanks, Mom and Dad! Add that to my two scenic fitches and 2" lay-in brush from the wonderful theatre Department at Dordt, and I've got a mini collection! Hooray!

Mom and I also picked up some flowers to put in little planters for the wedding. It took me two minutes to find the ones I wanted. The brushes took at least 20-30 minutes. Interesting. That's okay, it took me 21 years to find the guy I wanted for the wedding. I think that makes up for it.

And for those of you who don't know, I am officially graduated. We had the ceremony last week Friday, and now I have my diploma in its fancy case and I feel all old and stuff. There you have it.

Until next time, soak up some sun, it's spring!

drudgery

Sickness hangs like a poisoned gas above our underground red brick bunker.
The Beckys feel like death warmed over.
Becky 1 is a little better than Becky 2.
Becky 2 slept a lot today.
Becky 1 is happy for her.

Both Beckys hope to be well by Friday, so they don't get Rachel sick for her birthday.
They exchange cold medicine and cough drops in place of smiles
And every once in awhile one makes the other laugh until they cough.
Romantic.

Sleep and time will heal their bodies.
Sunshine and friends will heal their souls.
Strawberry ice cream will help along the way.

I found this video through researching for a class on the Christian Progressive movement, or Christian Left (liberal Christians, to put it a third way). For all the republicans out there, especially if you're a Rush Limbaugh fan, this will drive you crazy and make you laugh anyway. I found it good for a chuckle...and then sent it to my Dad. Love ya' Dad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FM-RsngkAJY

A few random bits...

1. I'm going stir crazy. I really need to get out of here.

2. I'm procrastinating more than I think I ever have in my life. I used to be such an overachiever. What happened?

3. My fiance is incredible. He amazes me all the time. And I brag about him a lot, too.

4. I need to put gas in my car before I go to Sioux City next weekend.

5. I carved a banana hanger out of a maple branch. It's almost done, except it needs a base...and a hook for the actual bananas...

6. Mostly I'm writing this post because I felt guilty for not posting

7. I kind of like cherry 7up WITH ANTIOXIDANTS...but i can't drink a whole bottle in one day.

8. Bread and butter pickles are not equal to chocolate cake...unless you're pregnant, perhaps.

9. Resumes are time consuming to make. But they're worth it in the end.

10. Sometimes I think I know a lot, and then meet someone who knows a lot more. And then I realize that I'm really young. And that I have a lot to learn, still. Scary and exciting all at the same time.

Good Night

You Say Goodbye, and I Say Hello

I just need to get through two tests on Wednesday and then it's FREEDOM!! I'm very excited! I am almost finished with my wood sculpture. It's all carved, just needs a lot of sanding. So that's my big story. My other big story is that I'm getting my hair cut tomorrow at 6. And I have a choir concert right after that. So I'm glad I'll look normal for that. Goodbye, Lady Caroline. You were fun, but you're also about 90 years out of style. Too bad. She's one good looking woman.

To everyone surviving until break with me--hang in there. To those who I will see over break--Here I come! and to everyone else--I'm pretty sure I miss you.

Cheers!

Old Escapes

Sometimes i forget about things that i really like doing. i forget how much it helps me unwind and escape from all the craziness. One of my escapes, or "therapy" a Kelsey calls it, is baking. But the one that I have recently dug out of misuse is playing my guitar. I am not especially gifted in playing, and I do not have a strong desire to become great, either. I also do not write my own songs. I have tried, believe me, I just do not wax as eloquent as others I know (read Becky Love's blog if you don't believe me). If I were to be a professional singer, I believe I would be a cover artist; which is why I do not plan to become a professional singer. I simply love being able to pick a song out of my book, play it, and sing along. It is a beautiful time of simplicity. Me, Music, and God. I had forgotten about the peace that I find in those moments of solitude, but in the past week I have been able to recapture that feeling. i needed the time of rest.

I told Becky yesterday that i needed to crawl into a cave and put a rock over the entrance so I didn't have to see people. My patience is running on empty, I need a break to recover. Becky said she would build me a fort by putting a blanket over the kitchen table and letting me crawl under it. I told her I would not go in if she built it. Though it would be funny to see how people react to the whimpers coming from under the kitchen table.

Enchanted April closes today, so I think it would be appropriate to end with one of the lines from my character,

"I'm in great need of an escape right now. from all of it"

Adieu

To no one's regret...

A Journal Entry from a little while ago:

"He passed away,
to no one's regret,
and was buried in the
City of David,
But no in the tombs of the kings."
-2 Chronicles 21:20

So many pass on from this world and no one cares at all. Some are happy to see them leave. What makes a life worth remembering? The people that I remember are those who invented things, or did very well financially--and those who followed Christ with all they had.

Will people remember me when I die? That is a seemingly insurmountable goal. So perhaps I should merely try to make someone happy today, and not worry so much about when I am no longer here to care. Make everyday a day that people remember? Perhaps.

Life goes on

Life Update: Three shows down, three to go. Right now I'm enjoying a little time off in the middle. Becky and I had a McDonalds date yesterday, it was great. We spent much time talking about many things. I thoroughly enjoyed it. And then I went and watched my fiance be awesome in a basketball game. They fought valiantly, but came in only one point short of victory. It was a great game to watch. And of course, Joseph was the star. At least to me.

My parents and grandparents were here this last weekend, for the show. They enjoyed it, and it was good to see them and have an excuse for not doing my homework! And I ate my mom's homemade lasagna. Yeah, it was good. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for coming up. It was great to see you.

Choices

YESSSSS!!! Joseph has posted about how great he is and how wonderful it is that he has a job for after graduation, so now I can write, too!! I just want to take this time to brag a little bit about the man I'm going to be marrying. He's great. He worked so hard sending out applications and resume's and doing interviews and trying to make the right choice for us, as we discussed and went back and forth between ideas. So we are very happy with our decision, as is the company he'll be working with. They got a good man, let me tell you.

In case you haven't read Joe's blog, we are going to be moving to Grinnell, Iowa. He starts work right after graduation, and I will then join him there after we're married! We're both so excited to have something solid to go off of. We feel really good about the company and the community. And there is a community theatre in town and surrounding towns, and I have a couple of ideas about some other opportunities. Mostly, I'm just trying to figure out how to keep my priorities straight. I would like to have a time in my life that has...simplicity. I was talking to Becky Love and we were discussing how we can produce a lot under pressure, but I said that I become a person that I don't like to be. I become impatient and frantic, and I don't take time for the people I care about. Becky and I stayed up until 2:30 last night, just talking about life and catching up a bit. AND WE LIVE TOGETHER!! I just want my life to exude love and caring, and when I am stressed and running from place to place, my idea of the world shrinks and becomes focused only on my life and my responsibilities. I do not know what simplicity will look like for me. I think it looks different for different people. But I am looking for it.

Let me know if you find it first.

Have you ever noticed how slow time goes when you desperately want it to go faster? Or how when you're busy you desperately want time to move slower? Yeah, that's my life.

I had a great New Years Eve and New Years Day, time with friends, a little Rock Band (which was great fun, even if you don't get into video games), and some One Tree Hill. But the times in-between leave me wishing there was no "in-between" time. I avoid being by myself. I want to be around friends all the time. And yet, when I am, I find my mind wandering off on its own somewhere.

Usually with a certain guy...

I used to make fun of people like me. "I miss him so much...!"

"Suck it up! It's only been three days!" I would always think...and sometimes say.

And now I say it to myself.

"SUCK IT UP!"


Funny how I don't listen any better than the girls I used to chastise. Sorry girls.


Irony. I love it.
Life makes me smile.

Next time you have to get somewhere, try skipping instead of walking .
That makes me smile, too.