rain reminders

Today it is raining. In fact, it has been raining since yesterday; though it did stop raining long enough for a very tough 10k. The weather-folk of channel 4 say that there might be 2 inches of rain before it stops. Rain is a funny thing. I can't say that I particularly love it, but today it is ok. We do not have school today and I have enjoyed a day of leisure mixed with work. I have done some reading, some writing, some grocery shopping, some laundry, and will do some cooking in a while.

Part of me is sad that I can't ride my bicycle or run today, but on the other hand, I did both this weekend and the rain is my reminder that rest is ok. Life is so hectic, working, studying, teaching, training, cleaning, thinking....the rain limits my options, which is good. Sometimes I find myself so full of choices or so bogged down by the planner that I stress more than is necessary. This rainy day has provided me a reminder that taking a time to refresh is natural, it is part of the cycle of life. God refreshes and nourishes our earth with rain, just as we must take the time to refresh and nourish our minds and bodies by rest.

Rain, rain, beautiful rain.

best compliment ever.

Overheard in the "girls loo" at school today....probably a third grader....

"I wish we could have music five days a week."

The gal probably didn't know that I was there, but I did say thank you. This was the best compliment I have heard all year and probably in the top five of all time.

Kids rock.

reconnecting in the digital age

I recently joined Facebook in attempts to connect with old and new friends, but at the same time deleted my MySpace in hopes of maintaining some kind of balance in my digital connections.

Today, thanks to connecting via Facebook, I had "linner/dunch" with my two dear friends from high school. It had been 8/10 years since I had seen either of them and seeing them was an absolute joy. It seemed as if no time had passed between us and it was generally delightful to reconnect.

Now, three hours later, I sit here pondering the adage of "friends for a season" and its relativity in the digital age. If we are truly connected through our various formats-social networking, wiki's, IM, etc...is it really possible to "lose track"? In the three weeks since I have joined up with the fb gang, I have found 86 friends. Some old, some recent, some tried and true. The most fascinating thing about it all is that none of these "lost connections" were a result of some tragic break up of friendship, rather simply just a change of season.

Will friends for a season be something slowly goes by the way side as we continue to connect? I do not seek to answer this question. Only to wonder.....

Peace.

good job little one.

A big shout out to my little sister. She is so smart and giving. It is because of these traits that she has been awarded the HIGHEST honor for service to the engineering community given to a graduating senior in all of the engineering department at Temple University.

So not only is she graduating with a degree in Civil Engineering in a few short weeks, she gets to address her entire graduating class and us, her proud and not-so-humble about her awesomeness, family!

Civil Engineering world, look out, a special gal is entering your world in May. Be ready to be rocked.

Way to Go Little One!

big grey cat

A big grey cat is sitting on my lap.
He is very very fat.
He comes from Maryville, Mo.
In fall of 97 we brought him home.
With my 'rents he now abides
But he visits from time to time
Today he sits as I type without a single care
Two weeks he will be with me
My small apt. we'll share
Allergic to my big grey cat alas I have become
But for two weeks 'twill be ok because he gives great love.

different sense of pride

Yesterday was a banner day at my PT job selling awesome running shoes. It was the busiest Saturday I have seen since starting the job. I feel like we made a lot of people really happy yesterday and I was pretty proud that I worked two families at a time at one point.

As much as working a 9 hour day on my "day off" from school is tough on my energy, I'm so happy working this job. It challenges my brain in a new way as I diagnose the feet, gait, and needs of our customers. It is a steep learning curve as I learn the ins-and-outs of all of the intricacies of shoes. It provides both a momentary diversion from life and gives me a sense of accomplishment. I love that this shop serves the community. I love the community both of runners and of the average Jane's and Joe's that come in for their first pair. It is awesome.

Yesterday in the shop we had a nice chat with a gentleman who had the pleasure of working for Mr. Rouse. I think the environment in the shop yesterday was a great example of Mr. Rouse's vision for Columbia. All walks of life, coming together to a small business to obtain their needs. Shopkeepers who are knowledgeable, friendly, and who take the time to serve the community. I hope that had he been there in the shop with us yesterday, he would have been proud.

empty.

I didn't know how to express my current feelings, so I sought out and found the best description through Edna St. Vincent Millay. Thank you Ms. Millay, for providing words for me today.

Ebb

by Edna St. Vincent Millay

I know what my heart is like

Since your love died:

It is like a hollow ledge

Holding a little pool

Left there by the tide,

A little tepid pool,

Drying inward from the edge.