a reason to smile!

Don't have any photos from today, but it was a good one :) A walk this afternoon listening to Coldplay's "Square One" in a chilly breeze was exactly what I needed... the lyrics that moved me:
"You're in control
Is there anywhere you want to go
You're in control
Is there anything you want to know
The future's for discovering
The space in which we're traveling"

Also, was excited to see kids... I do miss little ones so much when I'm away from the Ecovillage and my little Ava. I was so excited to see a little blond boy with curly hair trying to grab anything off of the tables (I tabled at a club fair).... Kids are so refreshing!

Also refreshing were some good e-mails from back home... and because I don't have any good pictures from the past few days I'm doing a tribute to the ladies in my life who wrote me cheesy e-mails today.

I always appreciate Berea more when I see how unique it is in comparison to other universities... Being here is no different. HSU doesn't offer many programs with free food like Berea does. This past semester at Berea I was able to save a ton of money on my grocery bill and learn a lot by going to the free lunches and dinners on campus. I found out that the Natural Resources Club was having a free pizza meeting tonight and anyone was invited. Being the lover of free food and other frugal grocery endeavors, and interested in natural resources... I went to the meeting. Amusingly, I won a free raffle and am now the proud owner of a green NR club hoodie, woot! The meeting was great too, this older gentleman John spoke about his transition from a kid wanting to protest in college to someone making a difference with restoration work. He and his colleagues were responsible for expanding Redwood National Park by 150,000 acres. His words of advice were simple and emphasized re-thinking typical "environmental vs. loggers" roles... he says to: infiltrate (he and his buddies all worked hard to get into the state's nat. resources staff), don't agitate (referring to typical protesting), and educate (both yourself and the party you believe to be opposing you).

If you're reading this, I hope you are well... if you're not I hope you are well also (but how would you know that?)

love,
mn

one more thing...

Just got this e-mail with pictures of the Aussie desert. The page is about an annual desert trip Charles Sturt folks take... I'll be seeing these places this summer check it out if you'd like: http://www.csu.edu.au/special/fenner/Desert/
love,
mn

one week 'til lift off...

Yowza, this time next week I'll be preparing for take off... hard to believe. I don't know that I could ever feel ready... I'll just have to jump and go for it. Still hanging out in Arcata, just trying to lend a hand where ever I can. I spent a few hours today making phone calls for CCAT. I learned I don't want to be a telemarketer. One career down... perhaps I'm closer to knowing exactly what I want to do. I just can't convince myself that I need to narrow my scope... I feel that if I just keep a few goals in mind I'll be happier than if I put all of my hopes in one direction.

Music of the day: The Be Good Tonyas Blue Horse album

Things I smiled about (and am thankful for) today:
-folding laundry
-the shuttle chef (google it!)
-impromptu songs about 7 foot tall people
-origami
-potatoes
-macadamia nuts
-chocolate milk
-tall, tall trees

finding balance... even at rest

It has been interesting to me that even in my time off, I'm loving going to classes... even more interesting to me is that I have over filled my schedule... and for what? I'm not sure. Yesterday it was sunny and I'm here near the redwoods and I felt obligated to go to this class about Forest pathology with my friend Jeff. This is obscene, I have no obligation to classes right now... so I took a long walk in the sun instead of going to class, just to search for some type of balance. The biggest lesson: it's easy to say "if I didn't have to do anything else, I'd just (fill in the blank) all day"... I have not found this to be the best way to do things. Even on this break, I need balance... So I go to a few classes a day, try to run a few errands for friends a day, and spend some time listening to music/writing while I have such an open schedule.

Things that made me smile (and that I am thankful for) today:
-phone calls from folks back home (and the fist)
-rubber yellow rain pants that are way too big
-battery powered nebulizers for asthma
-Gillian Welch music
-hugs
-more than enough food
-CCAT
-Berea
-being able to learn about both sides of issues
-the botany greenhouse with orchids and ferns
-dog piles (with people of course)
-socks and sandals
-salads with apples and avocadoes
-cold water to drink from mason jars
-sitting in on the wrong class... and not knowing what class I was in for the first fifteen minutes of the lecture

Chris taking advantage of that natural spring water

Sunday flower

Alass... with the big trees again

Noelli, me, and Krystal

ahhhh... back at the ocean

where the sidewalk ends

Stop the car! There's a rainbow...

winter?

twinkly grass

Stop the car! I need to take a picture of that tree =)

Mud splattered Megan and Chris

Arcata is a wonderful place... this I have always known... I've been enjoying catching up with everyone. The most exciting thing today was going to class with Krystal. It's a new feeling to be in the classroom setting entirely voluntarily. Granted, Berea is wonderful and I have really loved most of my classes there... but there's a whole new level of sheer interest in learning when I am totally detached from grades.

Had an amazing week... Mud puddling, story collecting, excessive smiling to point of getting tired cheeks, reading good books, visiting the ocean, hugging friends, laughing, playing a card game called "hand and foot", singing to waterfalls, seeing the giant redwoods, running at the marsh, riding my bike in shorts in January, seeing little buds on trees and flowers everywhere... lots of good stuff.

Went to the UU this Sunday. It was good to be there. The grass was full with millions of diamond dew drops clinging to each blade sparkling in the morning sun. The service was about change and the fact that it is the only thing constant. An older woman shared her credo, concluding that she believes a smile can start a ripple of smiles that leads to an ocean of smiles that are the only thing helping us keep sanity. I always appreciate others telling their story, especially the story of their heart's journey. Although I did enjoy the service, perhaps the most profound words (to me at least) were spoken when all was said and done. As I helped fold up chairs I mentioned (as I often chatter with small talk at times like these) that maybe it just doesn't do me good to struggle with two chairs if I hold them with the cushions facing out (because they start to unfold in that position, these are unique chairs). The woman next to me answered "Maybe not, they each need to stand on their own feet or they'll all fall over." Now, at this point I must further explain these chairs... they really do stand alone folded, unlike most folding chairs... and the woman was right that they shouldn't lean on each other because they will all fall down. Taking that quote out of context is so true as well... while we can help each other, we each need our own two feet. I left the UU riding a bike, but soon realized I needed to walk... Sundays are for taking long walks in the sun and stopping every few feet to take pictures of flowers or sparkly grass. As I walked back to CCAT, I passed the coffee shop I spent some time at early on in my first California visit. I decided to go in on the off chance that Gary, an eclectic sort of character, might be inside. Indeed he was and he recognized me immediately, even with the haircut. (Just in case you may have forgotten, Gary is the gentlemen who gave me a ten dollar bill loan to buy coffee and told me that it was just a game piece-and the object of the game was to empower one another.) So I sat and Gary and I talked about where our lives were at the moment... he said he's working to do that which promotes a global kindness and empowers all... how interesting I thought, after the chair quote earlier... interesting as well that I'm feeling mighty empowered by all of the kindness, joy, and independence in my life right now.

Farewell in Ber town to Jessa, Beth, Carrie and Paiger.

Hello again everyone :) This will be my means of communication on my travels. I can't promise I'll update daily, but my goal is at least weekly. After forty two hours of being awake that included watching and loving my little tiny neice Ava, packing my bags on the edge of sleepyness, realizing I wouldn't make it to bed, getting to the airport, saying goodbye to the fam, trying to shuffle my suitcase contents to avoid the huge overweight charge, flying to Atlanta, trying to collect stories upon my arrival, waiting, then flying to San Fran, CA, getting picked up by the lovely Krystal and Glenn... and finally taking a breather and hitting the sack.... It was quite a journey, then on Friday Glenn drove us up to Arcata.

It has been a bit of a whirlwind, but an enjoyable one. I was so excited to see the redwoods again! How wonderful. There really is something inside of me they awaken.

It's great too , to be back in Arcata. I feel like my internship is continuing... which is really exciting. I plan to take a hike today in the redwoods.