Namaste

Jun 16 2013 ∞

Summer Read.

I’m making my way through two lists of books that are recommended for people my age. So far, so awesome. I started with She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb, a great novel about a girl whom nothing seems to go right for. You follow her from childhood through her thirties. It’s one of those psychological crazy books (which I love).

Then I read a few excerpts from The Benchley Roundup by Nathaniel Benchley. He wrote in the 1920s a bunch of satirical essays. He is hilarious and writes about almost anything you can think of, and everything you didn’t think to think of. My favorite that I read was “How to Get Things Done.” Which he uses the tendency to procrastinate to actually accomplish everything he wants to. So clever.

Then I dabbled into some of the short stories in Black Tickets by Jayne Anne Phillips. These were a bit off beat. The characters are very sexual and damaged making the stories sometimes quite raw and in your face. Yet, intriguing. I plan to read through the rest of the stories as the summer progresses.

And right now, I picked up Sylvia Plath’s only novel written, The Bell Jar. It’s wonderful. I’m more than halfway through and I’ve only had it out a day from the library. It’s very similar to the plot of She’s Come Undone, but in my opinion more interesting. This character is more educated, and her thought process is spot on. I relate to the protagonist quite well…even though I’m not about to go into a mental breakdown. I’m excited to finish this book within the week.

The next book I’m most excited about is Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerney. From what I understand, it’s about a cocky, young business man who thinks he’s too good for what he’s doing. Sounds up my alley…

What are you reading?

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One of my favorite places in the world…

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“ I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree, staring to death, just because I couldn’t make up my mind which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet.

—

Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar

I’ve never read something that resonated so deeply with my own situation in every way and form possible. Unbelievable.

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First Tr(i).

I’ve been a little behind lately on my blogging. Oops. But am I really behind? Shouldn’t this be something to do as I please, of what I want when I want. Right, therefore, I’m not behind. I feel like blogging now :)

Anyway. I completed my first triathlon last week in the northern part of my state. It was quite the adventure. It was off-road, so along with the swim, it included mountain biking and trail running. I was ready to swim and I was ready to run, but…I hadn’t ridden a mountain bike in over a year. I found out it was mountain biking a day before I left for it, so I didn’t really get to train for that.

I was first out of the water in the swim (wait, what?). This alone was an accomplishment for me. I always considered myself a weak swimmer…but I guess all the people who comment on my stroke and swimming at the pool are right…I am a pretty decent swimmer. But in my stupor of being first out and high on adrenaline, the transition was terrible. I couldn’t think straight to get my shoes on, could barely breathe, and couldn’t get my hair under my helmet. Definitely something to work on for next time.

Once I hopped on my bike, I died. I had forgotten to raise my seat and my father failed to inform me he didn’t pump my tires when he tuned up the bike for me. Great. I literally thought I wouldn’t make it…but trudged along at barely any speed but so much effort. Humbling for sure. I knew I just had to get to the run and I could make up time. After the duathlon, I realized I have a skill at making a comeback on those end runs.

I took off once I ditched my (stupid) bike at the transition. I caught five people and powered on to the finish. The runs are weird in multisport for me. It’s so calm and meditative. I’m completely relaxed, perfectly paced, and run negative splits…and I don’t even think too much about it. It just happens. Like my brain knows what it needs to do and just does it.

I came in fourth overall. The woman who beat me was two minutes ahead (so close!) Maybe with a little transition efficiency and bike maintenance, I could’ve landed third! Still pretty stoked though, especially about being out of the water that quickly.

I plan to do another tri in August, longer. Back to the pool and on to the bike to perfect my pacing on the road. Multisport is definitely my cup of tea.

Jun 01 2013 ∞

“ You’re a different human being to everybody you meet.

— Chuck Palahniuk (via allegorys)

(Source: hellanne, via kevlindevlin)

40,799 notes

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This is me in the pool “training” for my triathlon…

(via itskiernanshipka)

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humansofnewyork:

“We have a routine every time we get on a bus. We each tell the driver a joke.

He says:
‘What happens if you run in front of a bus?’
‘You get run down.’

Then I say:
‘What happens if you run behind a bus?’
‘You get exhausted.’

One time we made a lady laugh so hard that it sent the entire bus into a laughter meditation.”

5,336 notes

May 29 2013 ∞

(Source: thetradingpostblog, via dandelixn-wine)

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ectobiologist:

yeah i did like 100 push ups today

(via dumblwh0re)

67,908 notes

May 27 2013 ∞

I spent my weekend in a multitude of places…but this was particularly entertaining - - While in Madison we stopped in at Bratfest and they served vegan hot dogs! Yes! Even at a meat festival vegetarians can celebrate! Haha :)

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May 21 2013 ∞

LISTEN.

My favorite pieces we studied in my Symphonic Literature course:

C.P.E. Bach Symphony in D mvt. 1

Haydn Symphony No. 6 “Le Matin” mvt. 4

Haydn Symphony No. 49 “Le Passione”

Mozart Symphony No. 32

Mozart Symphony No. 40

Beethoven Symphony No. 3 mvt. 1

Beethoven Symphony No. 5 mvt. 3

Beethoven Symphony No. 6 mvt. 4*

Schubert Symphony No. 8 “Unfinished” mvt. 1

Mendelssohn Symphony No. 3 “Scottish” mvt. 1

Schumann Symphony No. 1 mvt. 1

Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique*

Brahms Symphony No. 1

Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 mvt. 1

Bruckner Symphony No. 4*

Mahler Symphony No. 4 mvt. 4*

Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 mvt. 1

Enjoy!

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Porcupine Mountains, Michigan.

First excursion of the summer!

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Junior Year Completion.

Ahh. I made it! Through another semester (and year) of college. Sh*t’s gettin’ real now, only one more year! But for now, the semester in review:

I had two priorities this semester:

Get a 4.0.
Conquer the Kortelopet.

So that’s how my semester started out. Skiing and studying my a$$ off.

I enjoyed my new skis like no other. I laughed, I cried, I complained, I cheered. I had a ski season you couldn’t ask for. Dad and I grew closer and my skiing got better and better. We both killed our times from last year, and set a new record for ourselves. One more for dad and a trip to Spain for me, then we’re on the the big one, The Birkebeiner.

When I wasn’t skiing, I was studying. I did my best to fit in my social life however. While things fell apart at my apartment, things got better in the ‘real world.’ Fine by me. I went to Marquette & Madison to visit true friends. Experiencing firsts at each place: Lake Superior, Fish Bowls, Acapella, Ski Bars, Giant Beer Glasses:

This semester I got accepted into Concert Band on campus as well. A big accomplishment for me last semester, it became real this semester. Working with Dr. Caldwell was fantastic. Band was more than just a place to rehearse music, we grew as people, teammates, musically, spiritually:

I started blogging for my university and wrote a post about band. My director loved it so he read it aloud and said words of it he wanted read at his funeral. I had nailed the description of perfection:

“I noticed when I was scared of missing the beat (fear) it was more difficult to stay in time, but as I got lost in the rhythm and moved my body it was effortless (fearless), and that was the perfection… It was proven today in rehearsal: when we let go of fear we can be perfect. Live authentically. Be true to ourselves … to the music.”

My semester in band consisted of risk, exit of my comfort zone, hard music, and new friends. I carried many of these same elements into running and the club. Now strong and able, real relationships developed between close members. It was cool to have created that environment and be a part of it. Many successes in the club and many new friends.

My IA for Comm 101 (awesome Junior taking a Freshman class) ended up becoming one of my best friends. From hints in class from both of us about what our hobbies are (running, biking, skiing, etc) we soon realized our similarities and started to hang out. She joined MRC and it developed into this fantastic relationship of shared dinners, good beer, and yoga class:

I had many successes myself in my racing this semester as well. Taking home a block of cheese from the Iola Trail Run 5K and making the top 10 of my age group in my first Duathlon. I ran in the dead of the night at the Fool’s Run at Midnight race, I hit the wall at the Spring 5K. I have bright running, tri-sport, and skiing goals for my future:

A Facebook status I posted a few days ago sums it up nicely:

“10 Exams. 41 Quizzes. 2 Concerts. 12 Papers. 7 Presentations. 5 Races. 47 Memorized music pieces. 5 Weekends skiing. 29 Yoga classes. 1 Semester.”

As grades roll in (so far so good) I review my semester goals and find myself checking off most of them. I stayed true to myself and my path. I faltered when it was necessary, I went beyond when I had the energy. I developed new relationships, traveled to new places, joined new things, started new jobs. Summer’s laid out, hopefully will be continuing this good thing I have going :)

Namaste. Happy Semester :)

May 16 2013 ∞