Days One, Two and Three Wrapped Into One

January 21, 2013

I’ve got to go back to the day this actually started and work my way down. This first post may not be golden or even remotely interesting at all. I'm working on getting a blogging 'voice'. I've also been starting out small. I've got some more interesting things planned for the future. At least it'll be interesting to me. You don't have to think it's interesting, I guess. Whatever floats your boat.

I woke up on Monday afternoon (Don’t judge me it was a holiday and I didn’t have classes, I can sleep as late as I want because you are not my real mom.) and I was at a loss for something new to do. I had made the plan, but I hadn’t done a very good job thinking it through, of coming up with something further than “Do something new today.”  

By the time I forced myself out of bed though, I looked outside my window and realized it was snowing. If you don’t know me… that means you don’t know I am in love with snow. I’ve grown up romanticizing cold weather. If I could build an igloo and live outside in the snow forever without freezing and dying of hypothermia, I would. I also love playing in snow because, being from Texas, I never got to as a kid.

So the fact that it was snowing presented a problem and a solution to me. A problem because I had work that evening and I walk to work. A solution because… I’d never walked to work – or anywhere, really – while it was snowing.

Monday’s new experience was walking the three miles to work in the cold weather, under four layers of clothes, while snowflakes were falling on my head.

It was amazing. There’s something about walking in cold weather that tears open your senses and burns itself into you. I walked, listening to my music; the Civil Wars and Marina and the Diamonds playing through my headphones. I walked and took in everything around me.

Passing by a certain apartment complex, about twenty minutes into my walk, the scent of laundry detergent permeated the air and I breathed it in as fully as I could.

And I smiled. I smiled because the cold made me smile. Maybe it was because the temperature made the metal of my braces so chilled that I couldn’t keep my lips over them. Maybe, but I don’t think so. I was smiling because I felt alive.

Walking in the snow was gorgeous. It was fucking freezing. But it was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life and the snow was sparkling and clinging to the bottom of my pants and numbing my legs.

I couldn’t feel my face by the time I got to work. But I could feel energy coursing through me and that was enough.

January 22, 2013

Tuesday’s experience wasn’t quite as picturesque as Monday’s. Actually, it was rather more bloody and violent than walking to work in the pretty snow. It didn’t evoke many emotions or words besides maybe a little confusion and every so often the subdued “Well then…”

I watched 300 for the first time.

In my professional opinion, it wasn’t great. It was strange. There wasn’t much plot unless you consider men in underwear killing people a plot. I was a little thrown by the way the camera moved although I’m never one to judge one’s creative choice.

Let’s put it this way – my favorite movie ever is Titanic followed closely by Donnie Darko. It definitely was neither of those.

The abs weren’t even that great (too much, too tacky) and Gerard Butler in eyeliner… No Gerard. Just no.

I don't regret watching it though because now I'm allowed to have an opinion on it. My opinion is: please, men of Sparta… put some clothes on.

January 23, 2013

Today, I began planning a wedding.

No, not my own wedding. I’m not that girl, although I might have been in junior high. I’m planning my mom’s wedding.

My mom and Darren (my soon to be step dad) are planning to get married in May. (Here’s to hoping it actually happens. I wish I could share with all of you all the stories surrounding this wedding… but this is a blog dedicated to documenting new life experiences, not a diary or a soap opera. Well, not usually.)

It’s a strange experience because I never thought I would have to go through another wedding with either of my parents. But now that it’s happening, it doesn't feel that strange.

I (almost) jokingly asked my mom to let me plan it, never dreaming that in a million years she would say yes. When she did, I told her I was going to make all the wedding favors Mattel One Direction dolls. I think she thinks I’m kidding.

So far in my planning today, I’ve come to the conclusion that I made a good decision not going into an event planning major. My mom will be lucky if she even has a dress to wear and I manage to get McDonald’s there as dinner. It’s also made me realize how small town and redneck my family really is. Welcome to Texas, y’all.

In all seriousness, it’s made me appreciate that I’m good at what I’m good at - and that doesn’t need to be everything. I’m going to keep planning the wedding and if nothing else goes right… at least I know that I will be able to make myself look great that night. And I will really enjoy handing out those Niall Horan dolls. Holla.