What a day to appreciate.

I can never take my Vitamins without making a funny face. They sometimes make me gag. I dont know why I capitalized Vitamins. I guess they are important so they should be.

I am going home this weekend and I cannot wait to see my mother. She is the most wonderful in the world. We are going to have slumber parties and run errands and go ice skating and eat a whole roll of tollhouse cookie dough as fast as we can and maybe even hold hands. bc dad will be out of town. So just me and the elder.

This banana Im eating is a stroke of genius.

This weekend is the Bluff Park Art Show. I have gone to it every year for a long time now. Its a big part of my life. The weather is always nice. Breezy and sunny. They also have the best bbq sandwiches. They are made out of wiches. Thats why they are the best. Sandwich. Sandwishes. A sandwich made out of wishes. Yum. My best friend and I have gone for years and years. We park at her grandmothers house which is like a mile away and walk. We have to walk down this really ginormous hill. I might bring my rollerblades this year. Her grandmother is nice. Shes one of the ladies thats in charge of the Art Show. She knows my name and everything. Then theres these Snow Cones they sell. I always get half blues clues half pina colada. Brittany always gets half tigers blood half pina colada. We both get cream over it.

I just cant wait. I am going to have the time of my life going home. Im leaving tomorrow so it is extra long. Plus the leaves actually change in Birmingham. They dont in Florida. All we have palm trees. Stupid. I have a bad attitude. Trees are my favorite part of nature and when they dont change in Autumn...well...I hate my life.

I like to do weird things when Im by myself. Let me tell you a secret. I trust you. Thats not the secret. This is: The song Float On by Modest Mouse just came on my M. Ward Pandora station and I got up and did some really crazy dance moves. In my room. I live for those kinds of moments. They are good for my brain. All four of them.

Some updates: Updates you might not know:
El Guapo is doing just fabulous. Its kind of you to ask. He is still so handsome. Hence his name. Age hasnt done a thing to him. He is my fighter. He is looking at me right this very second. He knows.

My ambidextrous hand is kicking. Its writing so well. Its been a little over a year since I first started. I looked at all my old wirtings from last year. I dont know how I did it. It was touch and go there in the beginning.

I am reading a new book. It is extraordinay in every way possible. Its definitely my kind of book. Sometimes I think I wrote it. The book is written from the perspective of a boy with assburgers. He is autistic and I want to know him. Its a fiction book. Rats. I wish I could just dive right into it. That was a metaphor. Only I know what Im talking about though. And maybe someone else. A secret person. Whom I am getting to know.

Today my good friend, Lindsey Grefseng told me that a boy from the Special Olympics told her to tell me hi. He wanted to know if I was coming to any of his basketball games this season. Oh I wish I could. His names Andy. He was in my profile picture once. He had the hots for me. He called me his woman. One time he told another boy to "step away from my woman." I didnt hate it. We danced together to a live band in the city lights. It was the best day of his life. He just didnt know it. Or did he? I danced with a lot of special needs boys in Nebraska. It was the best day of MY life. And I knew it.

A lot of great songs are coming on my Pandora station. No, not like Pandora Avatar. Here they are:
Tarkio- Keeping Me Awake.
Iron and Wine- Love Viligantes.
M. Ward- Chinese Translation. Todays Undertaking. Four Hours In Washington.
Veviter- Been So Long.
Wilco- Kamera.
Modest Mouse- Float On.
Eric Ziegenhagen- Heat.
Jose Ganzalez- Killing For Love.
Laura Veirs- Anne Bouny Rag.

...and the beat goes on.

I really like scrabble. For some reason I feel like it makes me smarter. I played this weekend. I won won and lost won. Try to figure out that riddle. Scrabble isnt Upward. Not everybody wins. Im the exception. Holla. I played on an Ipad. Which made me feel real smart bc its vocabulary was much bigger than my brain. I used words like frinca and adz and taj. My friend used words like dweeb and loser and sexing. He won in the end which is ironic. bc he is a loser himself. Just kidding. He might be reading this...Anyways, I want to keep playing. It makes me feel old. and I like old. People. Next game will be soon. Ive got confidence in me just like Julie Andrews sang in The Sound of Music. and we all know she won in the end. The key to victory is not confidence. Its Julie Andrews. I read her biography. I know all the secrets...in becoming a movie star. and in becoming a successful scrabble player. Im becoming a smarter human being bc of scrabble. I know it. In my heart. I used my heart once in the scrabble match.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day was Saturday. I had high hopes of blogging on that day but was too busy. Sitting on babies. and beating them in Mario Brothers. But lets save that for a different post. Eunice saw what people didnt see. She started the Special Olympics. She had this passion for Special Needs kids and simply did something great about it. She touched so many lives. She interacted with so many kids. Talked with them and told them to be great and try hard. She had the vision to speak for those that couldnt speak. The world is forever changed by what she did. I had a chance to go to the Special Olympics this year in Nebraska. It was such a sight to see all those kids play sports. To see their hearts. Their hearts in action. It was inspiring. I am still learning so much about what she did. I want to be like her. She had a beautiful heart. and face.

At the Special Olympics they had a huge dinner tribute for her. She passed away just last year. While I was at this tribute all the old ladies that were serving were wearing pins and scarves with her face on it. I asked one where they got them and she said they were specially made for this tribute. Only 50 were made for the old lady volunteers. The old lady gave it to me bc she doesnt wear pins. She gave me a big hug and I nearly cried. How nice. She has no idea I wear it every day.

I am blogging in my Autumnal room. In my Autumnal sweats. With my Autumnal music. Surrounded by my Autumnal lights and pumpkins. Autumnly, of course.

I thought I would continue celebrating fall by blogging some more about it. sweaters. coffee. pumpkins. carving pumpkins. good music. hats. leggings. fires. fire smelling clothes. art shows. cider. crafts. wind. boots. windows. scarves. wolfs. leaves. new thoughts. new ideas. things that are brown. and golden. fresh air. mountains. socks. books. letters on cool days. smoke. blankets. picnics. apples. apples of my eye. perspectives. cuddling. trampolines. playtimes.

I like to learn new things. I like to try new things. Like new songs on my recorder. heh heh.

I want to go play on a playground. Wearing sweats. mmm. Soon. Chancho. I need to borrow some sweeeeas.

Today is the first official day of Autumn. Fall Equinox. I have to do something fallish. Like go buy pumkins. or paste a leaf in my journal. or dress up as the pumpkin king. or watch a fall movie. or have a picnic. I think ill end up resorting to buying pumpkins and decorating my room. I love fall. So many good things. Too bad its the fastest season. Winter always barges in. The thing that really upsets me is the leaves in florida dont change. No lie. Not one bit. It depresses me every year. I hate florida. It ruins this season for me.

Last night I went to Waffle House at 11. It was Josh Wilsons bday. I made a toast. I brought my moustache mug and the lady gave me free coffee. After, we went to Walmart. My friend and I got in the buggies and our friends pushed us. We had Mario Kart racing. I won. I always win those kinds of games. Im surprised we didnt get kicked out. They saw us alright. Maybe they were in the equinoxal spirit. We got back at 1:30. I ended up going to bed at...3:00 bc of the coffee. And the racing. That was like a pre-game for the night. Got up at 7 this morning.

Kate Fountain and I made more hilarious videos last night when I was babysitting. I had to keep them at their grandparents house across the street. We dressed up in her old grandma clothes and made funny knitting videos. Sometimes I think we should make a comedy show. We are all just so funny together. They have great minds. Like Rocky and Bullwinkle.

My psychology teacher is sick. She has an infection in her tranchea. or something that ends in an ea. I am on the back row. Blogging. Wasting my life away. Joke.

She also does yoga. Shes roughly 50 years of age. I worry about that.

Ive got some some good ideas about...Ide rather not say. Just know Ive got my thinking cap on.

I made a pom pom garland. Im going to hang it in my room. Another idea I got from this lady's blog. Just call me the craft lady.

The other night I watched Toy Story with the Fountain children. It brought me back to when I used to watch it as a kid. My best friend Sampson and I watched it more than anybody. We knew all the lines. We knew what was really funny in that movie. That movie is just so comforting to me. Just the very thought of my toys coming to life when Im not there is so magical. I believe it. After watching it all I want to do is play with my old toys that Ive forgotten about. Im old now. But I still have great imagination. Its a good thing I have such wondrous kids to use it with. It was great to share that with the Fountains. bc they are creative like Sampson and I used to be. And they laughed at all the parts I laugh at. It warms the cockles of my heart.

So theres this new song I love. Ive got the magic in me. Um, no, that was the name of the song. I knew what you were thinking. It is just so...good. I like the way the rapper raps. He is so unclear I just mumble the words. Wait, I do that for every song.

A third of my coffee is left in my cup. Its getting cold. What do I do? Do I heat it up in the microwave or push through? These are the thoughts that I struggle with.

I took on this new self this summer. Crafts are a big part of my life now. Well, they have always been. I have always loved crafts and making things. But these are bigger and better crafts. More grown-up crafts. No. I like kid crafts. Sometimes better than grown-up crafts. Anyways, now that you have my back ground check, lets get down to the nitty gritty. I got this balloon lamp idea from a ladys blog. She makes a lot of crafts too. I saw this and couldn’t resist. It was pretty simple. In the beginning I needed help. But after the beginning I was nearly a professional glue handler. I plan to put a light rhizome in it and hang it in my room. Over my bed. Its kind of like a lamp dream catcher. Its kind of like an alien sack. In case the space aliens invade. Alien kick out. Its kind of like an android machine. Or maybe a paste contraption for spiders.

I was a bit nervous about popping the balloon. I had some doubts but obviously it worked in the end. My cousin documented the whole process. I made it at her house and popped it in our dorm. Mrs Aunt Betsy assisted me in the beginning. She deserves credit. Also, her house is already decorated for Autumn. Which made the whole craft all the more enjoyable. Sometimes it is so much easier to do things when surrounded by a warm safe environment. I felt so glowy and fulsome and radiant inside bc of what I was doing, who I was with, and where I was. This new season has already brought so much. New thoughts, new habits, new crafts, new friends, new ideas, new celebrations, new books.

Check out my cousins blog. Shes pretty awesome. She also blogged about this. Kessleran.blogspot.com (Plus shes got pictures uploaded on her blog. and Theyre really cool.) So go look. Right now.

Its not hard for me to really be thankful for people in my life. People always say that they dont know what they have till its gone, well I am always constantly thinking of how grateful I am for the people that are in my life. I really have this appreciation.

Last night I was babysitting the Fountains and we usually do something adventurous. We had a picnic on the trampoline and then watched Up and ate popcorn with blankets. Those kids are so special to me. It was a magical moment. We even star gazed. I told them how big God is.

Abi Huckabee broke her ankle on tuesday. I spent the day in the doctors office with her. I practiced what Im gonna draw on her cast. Hieroglyphics. A step by step drawing of what happened. She fell on someones foot playing volleyball and twisted her ankle. It was a tied game and she won it for us. PTL. Fortunately for me I have her crutches to play on at the house. Im her entertainment always.

My friend and I are looking for a house to live in. I want my own space. and galaxy. We found the cutest one ever across the street from school. Its for rent. But we cant seem to find a third roommate. The house has a red roof. and a red door. and red shutters. The rest of the house is cream. It has hardwood floors too.

All I can think about is how ready I am for fall. Ive been doing a lot of looking in magazines. I want that house so bad for the sake of decorating. I want to buy lots of pumpkins. And light candles. And have loud dance parties without offending anyone. We cant do any of those things in the house/dorm Im in now. Rats.

Im in a coffee shop reading and writing and...arithmetic. This creepy man across the room is really staring at me. I mean, really staring. Im trying to make myself look unattractive. Not really but it is so annoying. This is my current life people. Then theres this other weird guy playing on his ipad. He can talk and it will replay what he said in this alvin and the chipmunk voice. Hes about 40 years old.

Bands I have been listening to for the past week: She and Him. M. Ward. Mumford and Sons. Needtobreathe. William Fitzsimmons. Priscilla Ahn. And a lot of other random songs.

I got vibrams. They are just rocking my world. I feel so much more connected to the earth.

The Lord is teaching me a lot. About people and how to love. And how to show Christ's love.

I have been reading a lot of books since the end of last semester. Sometimes all I can think about is getting alone in a quiet place and just reading. I just finished a biography on Amelia Earhart. She was one really neat person. She was so brave and courageous. She took a chance and did something that other women would'nt dare do. She wanted to prove to the world that she could do something that only men do. Sometimes I think of my own personal adventursom life and, in comparison, it is nothing to the people I read about.

I am now reading a biography on Julie Andrews. She fascinates me. I love biographies. I love reading about people. Once I read about I feel like I knew them. I like to know personal stuff and the lives they lived outside of what the world saw.

A boy today asked me what I was reading and he asked me who Julie Andrews was. I through the book in his face. Julie and I were so disappointed.

Dr. Carroll is my favorite professor at bcf. He is one of the english teachers. He has read every book thats ever been written. For real. Freal. I always spend time talking with him in his office. I took his American Literature class last semester and loved it so much. He is currently letting me borrow Queen of the Turtle Derby. I told him..."You know me so well."

I am so bad at blogging. Well...when Im not blogging. I always say I am then promise it in my heart of hearts but never do. I am not going to tell you that I am for the next few months, but I sure will try.

Fall brings so many new things. It feels so refreshing to start new seasons. Seasons of life and Seasons, literally. I get excited about wearing boots. and wearing scarves. and eating candy corn. and smelling candles. and having windows open. and the wind. and music. and leaves. and pine straw everywhere. Speaking of new things I changed majors in the middle of the first week of school. I dont want to teach. I changed it to Leadership and Christian Education. It was the broadest and least amount of hrs degree. I am excited. I dont really care about kids acedemically. I care about more important things like life skills and their souls. I want to write kids books and do mission work and work with special needs kids athletically. With teaching I wouldnt have time to do anything extra like that. I am excited to see what God will do with this new major and life. I want to impact the world. I get excited about not knowing.

I just had my first fall treat. It was a pumpkin delight cookie. I am surrounded by fall decorations too. Im at the relatives. Mrs Aunt Betsy is so wonderful at decorating for seasons. Along with the fall treat, The Sound of Music is on. Beautiful.

Happy labor day. Happy almost fall.