Tuesday, August 30, 2011

A Million Miles ... on the Elliptical

"If you have never said "Excuse me" to a parking meter or bashed your shins on a fireplug, you are probably wasting too much valuable reading time."  ~Sherri Chasin Calvo


Last night, I took my new audio-book-uploaded-to-my-ipod to the gym.  More specifically, I strapped that shuffle to my t-shirt (thanks, Dad and Mom, for that gem of a gift) and spent the most enjoyable time I have EVER had at the gym listening to the first six chapters of Donald Miller's


I think I might have just discovered how this word-nerd can enjoy cardio.  Because audio-book-ing-while-cardio-ing was exactly, and I mean EXACTLY, what I needed to get me re-excited about the gym.  I'm always wanting to read nonfiction, but I don't really enjoy physically sitting down with it as much as I relish settling in with a new novel.  However, listening to Donald Miller read his stories while I beast away on the elliptical? -- well, I can do THAT with no complaints.  

Donald Miller is a gifted writer and the book, so far, is fantastic for someone who loves writers, storytelling and stories as much as I do :)  Or, as my friend said, "it's a book about a movie that's about a book!" and really, what's not to love about that?  The only downside to the audio book so far?  I can't highlight quote-worthy passages.  And in a Miller book, there are plenty of passages to earmark.  



  



Thursday, August 18, 2011

Awww, College Freshmen

"Do you know where Professor so-and-so's classroom is? I went there yesterday but she wasn't there..."

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Last Night

Last night, girls I love came over to my house.  I set out the fixin's for tacos and didn't make enough beef.  We ate chips and dip and laughed and I turned the ac down so people wouldn't be hot.  We tried on jewelry and gobbled up my new favorite dessert recipe: Sopapilla Cheesecake Pie...

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/sopapilla-cheesecake-pie/detail.aspx

It was a lovely evening and the only thing that would have made it nicer was if ALL the girls I love could have been there :)
Happy Saturday from the gal who's heading to the movies to see HP 7.2 tonight for the -- wait for it -- 3rd time.  Accio, fun times!

Friday, August 12, 2011

hydrangeas and hopefulness

Listening to Nat.  Enjoying my gift to myself: beautiful fresh flowers. Preparing for a fun night with girlfriends.  Gratefully thanking the Lord for His faithfulness in all things.  

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" 


"Look at us, said the violets blooming at her feet, all last winter we slept in the seeming death but at the right time God awakened us." ~Edward Payson Rod

"Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made, and forgot to put a soul into."  ~Henry Beecher, Life Thoughts, 1858

Monday, August 8, 2011

August

It's August. Faculty workshops start tomorrow; classes begin next week.  My years don't exist January-December; my years are August - May.  It's a nice arrangement and I like it. 

Yesterday, as I passed under the trees near the swimming pool, I noticed all of these yellow fluttery things littering the ground.  They were fallen leaves! In August! On a 97 degree day!  I guess even in the middle of the hottest month of the year, God is still reminding me that change is coming.  I love how He does that.

I also love:
* a new storehouse of mechanical pencils and composition notebooks (back-to-school sales are fabulous)
* being back in the gym after a much-prolonged absence (this body needs some serious gym time)
* a sister mini-vacation at the beach at the end of this month (The Beach and Sisters = quite possibly the most amazing combination ever :)
* knowing this year I'll watch my first set of freshmen graduate with their college degrees
* prepping for a new semester and praying for my newest batch of students (they have no idea what they're in for with my Intro to Composition class.  <insert evil cackle here> )
* Psalm 27.  My Light and My Salvation.  Love it.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Too Short

"I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see." -- John Burroughs