Lectio Divina

"divine reading"

The nerdy side of me enjoyed Latin this last semester a little too much. I found this phrase on le web and instantly fell in love. Sigh. I'll forever be stalking graffiti walls and the insides of books for romantic Latin phrases that precisely capture excellently what I wish to convey over every fiber of my being. It's simply too fabulous for words. If only I was brave enough to get a tattoo...

The other day I came to the realization that I am not, in fact, the only English major that wishes to open a coffee/bookstore when I graduate. Actually, EVERY English major out there seems to desire the exact same career. So scratch that plan. Although lately, I've been pinning cozy rooms and dark nooks that practically extend legitimate arms to you as you sit down in the overstuffed chair. This whole book thing really gets me. It really does.

(all sources from Pinterest)

Aren't they all gorgeous??

Yeah. That didn't work out.

So my New Year's Resolution flopped before it even began.
The picture thing didn't work out too hot.

IN RETALIATION against my lack of self-discipline, I mentally decided to start reading for fun again. Make time in my schedule, possibly even push aside reading in my English classes to read for ME.
That's what my childhood was filled with. Reading for fun, feeling my brain expand and letting the new worlds take form in my imagination. It's been great. I just finished The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides. Actually, you can say that I've been on a Jeffrey Eugenides spree. I also read The Marriage Plot by him. The guy is quite the genius, if we are being honest. His writing style is unique; he knows his stuff.

Kirsten Dunst in the film adaptation, as the sensual Lux Lisbon.
source - Tumblr

The reason I liked The Virgin Suicides was because it was different. He writes from the perspective of the neighborhood boys. You never know who is actually narrating, which elevates the mystery of the novel. Eugenides composes with passion, eccentric details and isn't afraid to startle you with something unsettling. I felt as if I was reading with a filter covering the pages of the book, keeping me at an arm's distant from the unfortunate Lisbon girls. That book proved to me why I am an English major - why my unhealthy obsession with the written word is acceptable.
So here's the deal. The books. They take over now, not the pictures. Because let's face it, every girl out there believes she is a fabulous photographer, all because she owns a DSLR and can edit the photo on Photoshop.


readreadreadreadreadreadreadreadreadreadreadread

La-ti-da, and a happy new schmear

Blah blah blah, happy new year, blah blah blah, *cliche and heartwarming holiday statement*, blah blah blah...
HAPPY NEW YEAR! My New Year's Resolution [even though I hate them, because, who I am kidding, the only resolution I've kept is to eat more!] in the year of our Lord 2012 is to survive the apocalypse. No but really, I think those Mayans were on crack-cocaine or SOMETHING because the only person calling this world to an end is Jesus. So here's to well wishes and hoping we all see December 23, 2012, y'all!

Alright. Enough with the New Year's sarcasm. I really am excited for this coming change. There will be lots of stress, but thankfully three completed semesters of college has prepared me for the oncoming fourth. So in honor of the newest season of life, I have taken on my own challenge to snag a picture for every day this year. There will be 366 [LEAP YEAR BABY] photos headed this way as I try to capture the essence of...well, of life. My happy, rather sappy, cliche little life.

So. January 1.
*I'm cheating and posting two photos. Pardon the overwhelming excitement. 

Went fishing *insert whistling* with a gaggle of friends before the New Year to celebrate togetherness and fabulous Texas weather. One of my friends hung my hammock across the dock and shimmied over the line to climb in. If only he had fallen in... despite my rather impatient personality, I immensely enjoyed the calm and the ripples. It was so nice to find a rock and plop down. Quite the way to end 2011, with friends all around and the promise of a squirming fish chomping on the chopped liver chilling on my hook. Simply, simply marvelous.

An adult's playground

Alright. I don't know who created this gem, but to whom it may concern: you are a genius. If only every little kid understood this concept. I know that reading isn't for everyone, but there is a book for everyone. This makes me want to teach 1st grade so that I can watch children's minds spin as they grasp the beauty of text and margins and underlining and big font books.

On My Mind

Instead of doing homework, I've been losing myself in text and annotated margins of my own free will.

I recently read The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. And man, did it throw me for a loop. My blessed, book-loving, soulmate of a friend Madi gave it to me from her book collection. Let me tell you - there is nothing better than book borrowing. Especially when that book has little notes tucked in the cracks and the pages are bent because the owner stayed up late one night, reading that page over and over again and circling that one word that stands out like darkness in New York City. It feels so good to read something that has been read and loved by somebody else. Magical.

Anways, in the book, the main character Charlie talks about feeling infinite when he listens to songs and falls in love. And that word infinite has been resounding in my head for quite some time now. Because, really, we all have those infinite moments. Like spending time in bookstores, or driving at midnight in the beloved highschool crap car, listening to slow music and letting the breeze crawl through your hair. Or even eating macaroni&cheese.

So when these moments creep along beside me, I grapple for them. There is nothing better.

Also. I've been obsessed with many things lately. These are just a few.
[most are from tumblr, so I'm not sure of their sources]

Nothing Better

...than doing your homework by candlelight.
Taking it back 11th century style, y'all.

Realization.

BOOM.
Just like that. A loud sound vibrates through my being.
I have a hobby.
My family is all very unique and talented. Dad is annoyingly brilliant, Mom is gifted with designing and picking out color schemes in a room, brother can play the guitar and piano by ear (not to mention kill every sport he plays) and sister can dance crazy well.
So all my life I've wondered what my gift was, what pastime would wile away the hours.
And then I saw this nugget on Tumblr:

How did I not realize this sooner? Writing, reading...those are completely legitimate hobbies.
When I was younger, I tried everything - collecting receipts, photography, the 50 states quarter collection...you name it, I probably considered it at one low point in my life.
*whew*. Rest assured self, you have a pastime. And a pleasant one at that.
Over and out.