"Mountains should be climbed with as little effort as possible and without desire. The reality of your own nature should determine the speed. If you become restless, speed up. If you become winded, slow down. You climb the mountain in an equilibrium between reslessness and exhaustion. Then, when you're no longer thinking ahead, each footstep isn't just a means to an end but a unique event in itself. This leaf has jegged edges. This rock looks loose. From this place the snow is less visible, even though closer. These are things you should notice anyway. To live only for some future goal is shallow. It's the sides of the mountain which sustain life, not the top. Here's where things grow.

But of course, without the top you can't have any sides. It's the top that defines the sides. So on we go... we have a long way... no hurry... just one step after the next." - Robert M. Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

I didn't blog yesterday because there really wasn't anything I could think of to blog about. However, I realized that that's not entirely true and I talk enough, so I should be able to put some words down. So here we go.

Every morning I wake up and change the countdown date for my trip to Philadelphia, to visit Nabil and see New York City. It's safe to say that I'm pretty excited to see a cute familiar face, and to tour the city that never sleeps. While sitting in art class, I was talking to the kid next to me, and found out today was his birthday. I then realized that my birthday is also coming up and I had completely forgotten. I had been so preoccupied focusing on my trip to even notice what was before me. It really isn't significant, but it reminded me of this passage from ZATAOMM, which I posted above. I don't even really know how I stumbled across the book, probably because I read too many classics and liked the title, but it is one of the most though provoking books I have read. Just like climbers solely focused on the top of the mountain, we all too often miss the sides, the part of the mountain that actually sustains life. That's all I really have, besides pictures. I hope your Monday isn't rainy, windy and ridiculously cold like it is here.

This picture is just adorable.

This picture reminds me of my mom and the time she had sushi with Dad when they were dating. Technically, we're never supposed to bring the story up again, but I'm in Colorado, so there's not much they can do. Hee hee :)

To be known

I think, no, I know that it is in human nature to want to be known. To be acknowledged and recognized is part of our social desires, and being in a place where nobody knows you by sight is a tough thing. Having hung out with a lot of other out-of-state students, this seems to be one of the biggest parts of adjusting to a new life in college. I've been fortunate enough to find a fun group of kids who are all so different from one another but are part of the crucial community that I have become a part of. Last Tuesday night, as I went to Young Life on campus, I got the opportunity to spend my weekend at Crooked Creek Ranch, a gorgeous Young Life camp in the mountains, directly west of Denver. Although I was the only one from my group of friends who went, I was quickly pulled into the group of people who have dedicated their lives to helping spread the love. Although it felt nice to be back on campus, it feels even nicer to be part of another great community.

This is a video I captured during the ClaimJumper, a huge swing we went off of. Obviously the camera didn't stay like I had it, so if you put your right ear to your right shoulder, it makes a little more sense. Haha, basically proof I did it :)

So it goes.

This last week has been crazy.

Not only have classes moved beyond the syllabus readings

and standard protocol procedures, but more meetings,

gatherings, info sessions and registrations have kicked off.

Right now the western sky is bright, while to my east it is dark,

and lightning jumps between the divide while people cheer in the arena

for their fighting Rams, the football team that's not favored to win in the

traditional showdown between neighboring schools.

My eyes are dry from staying up too late watching Little Miss Sunshine,

a favorite movie of mine that I'll never turn down,

and my legs are too tired from walking to go moisturize them with eye drops.

As I get into the real swing of things, I can say that college isn't bad.

My workload is heavy at times, but does is my want to do well,

so they are evenly matched.

The weather is a pleasant consolation for the days filled with homework,

papers, practice problems and studying. The scenery isn't bad either.

In a little over four weeks, I'll be on the east coast, and I couldn't be any more excited,

although I have a feeling the city will only call for me to change my mind, once again.

But in the end, I'm going to go wherever I go and enjoy it for all it's worth. City or not.

Begin

Where do I even begin? Less than seven days ago I was saying goodbyes, and now I'm uttering at least twice as many hellos. My belongings are still in my trunk, clothes are scattered on my floor, I've yet to write as many stationary letters as I had hoped, but college, thus far, is great. Although the first few days were uncomfortable as everybody scrambled to make fast friends, things have worked themselves out and I've found a family of other out-of-state students. Classes start tomorrow, and I'm excited to have a schedule, even if it means a little bit more work. The food here is good and I get made fun of for eating lots of yogurt and granola, but I don't care. Yesterday I got to go swimming and cliff diving in the Poudre River which was loads more fun than hanging out around campus with nothing to do. The day before, I got my bike lock stuck, and made the acquaintance of two of Fort Collin's finest. And they still weren't able to unlock my bikelock. Hah. But today I bought myself a new one, so I'm off to pull my bike out of the basement and ride off to Old Town to eat some pizza with new friends. And clean my room. :)

It's funny...

...how things work out.

As I prepared to leave, (Monday at 3pm), I decided to make a list of all of the people I needed to see, restaurants I wanted to enjoy and places I wanted to visit one last time. A natural born task-master, I was able to get through a large majority of everything, except for a 3 different individuals and 2 places. Hanging out with Forrest last night, I ran into one of my friends who was on the list, but couldn't track down, Ildar! He works crazy mad hours, so the fact that he was actually out in public, let alone the same time I was, was pretty cool, and only the beginning. Once we found out our flight time got pushed back (from 6am to 3pm, which is fine by me), I'm now able to enjoy biking on TowPath (weather permitting), and visit with the two lone individuals left on my list! The only thing I will miss out on is eating at House of Hunan. I guess it's not so bad to have a reason to return to Ohio though, hehe. With our flight changes, it also allows me to cross to items off of my 2009 to-do list, which is something I've been thinking a lot about lately. So it's just funny how everything works out in the end.

Everything will be alright in the end.

If it's not alright, it's not the end.

Address

I really have no qualms about putting this address online, although I wonder if I should. Online predators are some point of concern, especially for females and young children, however, any online predator that chooses to mess with me (of the non-lion variety, at least) has another thing coming. My address is an important piece of personal information, however, there is no simpler way to share my new campus address with you all. I love receiving, opening, reading and responding to real letters, and I just bought new stationary, and I will gladly return the favor. Follows is my new contact information that will officially go into effect August 18, 2009, the year of our Lord.

US Postal Service address:

361 Edwards Hall

Fort Collins, CO

80521-5217

Package delivery, i.e. UPS, FedEx

900 W. Pitkin Street

361 Edwards Hall

Fort Collins, CO

80521-5217

Undertaker

I went to work at 5 a.m.

A man came in a few hours later to purchase pastries,

and prefaced his purchase by saying

"The guys at the graveyard are begging me for donuts."

I don't have to tell you what I thought in my drowsy stupor.

Worst thing about leaving...

is packing. I'd give $50 to somebody who could completely do it for me. But don't take me up on that because I'm way to meticulous about what I want to take. Boo. I just want my stuff to be out there, and not here. Enjoy a plethora of images as I continue my fun leaving process....

and my personal favorite......

1,209,600 seconds...

until I leave for Colorado :)

but I'm not counting or anything.

But by time I finish proof reading,

I'm sure the number will be much smaller.

Now that it's finally August, (though July flew by),

going to school seems so much more real.

Looking forward, I know it'll be 4 whole months

before I'm back in Ohio again, but if time continues

to fly in the same way that it has been flying, I know

that it will be here before we know it. Actually,

144 days till Christmas! You better start getting ready now,

because I'll be here.

On an unrelated note, because I know you all took the shark quiz,

I'm going to gift you with a game that is not only entertaining and

addicting, but also a mentally stimulating experience! Clickyclickyclicky!

And in my defense, I had to google search 'factory balls 2 walkthrough,'

so when you get stuck, don't ask me, cuz I don't know. I found it more entertaining than sudoku.

*gasp!* I know, Mom, I know.

I have nothing else of significance worth reporting,

besides the fact that my post title is now a lower number than before.

Have a good Monday, and may the rest of my Mondays in Ohio be as sunny as today!

sharkweek09!

happy shark week.

enjoy this quiz by discovery channel to find out what kind of shark you are!

i'm the oh-so-attractive hammerhead shark, which just so happens to be the sweet picture i picked. enjoy watching shark shows on discovery channel, and i'll give you a real post later, mom :)