Sweet Solitariness

Last Saturday, an odd idea struck me (for a college student, that is). See, unlike most students (it seems, but I'm sure my impression could be completely wrong), no matter how late I've stayed up the night before, I love mornings. I love waking up extra early just so I can sit, eat my breakfast, and read a book while sipping a warm cup of coffee. I love a morning's lazy drowsiness, the cool, refreshing air, and the feeling that for a few minutes, the world is mine to behold.

So, I woke up a few minutes before the dawn (that makes it sound much more impressive than it was), threw some warm clothes on, grabbed my camera, my iPod, and my car keys, and dashed out the door. After buying a deliciously warm mocha (it really is happiness in a cup), I got in my car and drove north. Along the way, I listened to my Harry Potter audiobooks (What can I say? The narrator has an extremely soothing British accent.) and appreciated the rising sun and how its light started to dance across the mountains.

These are a few of the photos I took along the way of things I simply found interesting and intriguing; my only goal throughout this morning was to stop for what caught my eye, enjoy the peacefulness, to simply escape campus and all of its distractions, and to remember that there is a world out there: one with mountains, winding roads, gurgling brooks, and crunchy, rust-colored leaves.

“We must become so alone, so utterly alone, that we withdraw into our innermost self. It is a way of bitter suffering. But then our solitude is overcome, we are no longer alone, for we find that our innermost self is the spirit, that it is God, the indivisible. And suddenly we find ourselves in the midst of the world, yet undisturbed by its multiplicity, for our

 innermost soul we know ourselves to be one with all being.” 

--Hermann Hesse

“In the world of the dreamer there was solitude: all the exaltations and joys came in the moment of preparation for living. They took place in solitude. But with action came anxiety, and the sense of insuperable effort made to match the dream, and with it came weariness, discouragement, and the flight into solitude again. And then in solitude, 

in the opium den of remembrance, the possibility of pleasure again.” 

--Anaïs Nin

“We live, in fact, in a world starved for solitude, silence, and private: 

and therefore starved for meditation and true friendship.” 

--C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

“Loneliness is the poverty of self; solitude is richness of self.” 

--May Sarton

Homecoming

I'm normally not one to participate in things like float building, tailgating, and homecoming festivities in general, but this past weekend has been a different story. And who would've thought--I actually had fun! Hey, well it was a surprise to me. 

"Always remember there was nothing worth sharing

Like the love that let us share our name."

--Avett Brothers

DHOP!

One of our annual fundraisers is what's known as DHOP: Delta House of Pancakes. It's pretty self-explanatory, but the really important things are:

1) It raises money for St. Jude, our philanthropy. (We raised nearly $2,000 that night, if I'm remembering correctly. Someone help me if I'm wrong...)

2) It was more fun than a barrel of monkeys.

3) Lots and lots of delicious pancakes were eaten. Lots and lots.

4) Several on-campus a cappella groups performed and did a rather swell job, in my opinion.
5) Stan the Aardvark made an appearance.

One down side: (I guess this is partially a disclaimer, as well) the lighting in there was really unfortunate and frustrating.

Another disclaimer: the proportions are a little weird for some of these photo collages, so sorry about that... I'm still getting used to the editing software I'm using, and it's a learning process (basically a nice way of saying it's a struggle at the moment).

Welcome Back?

Wow, it's been forever since I've written or posted anything! I could list a million wimpy excuses like school (maybe not so wimpy?), new responsibilities, new activities in general, and, of course, new adventures!

This year, thus far, has just been very different from last year in so many ways; some ways are good, some ways are bad, but such is life. This year, I can't use the excuse that this is my first year, so I couldn't possibly have known something. I know that sounds shallow (I'm aware it's a weak excuse, but it's nice when you can still use it), but it was a nice safety net. I have to pretend that I know what I'm doing, that I have everything figured out, and that this whole school and learning thing (which I do love) is a breeze. Maybe that's some sort of delusion I've fashioned for myself, but maybe it's my brain's way of keeping me in check? I'm not entirely sure. All I know is that I've learned that I'm not very good at pretending, which has made me learn that that's okay! But on to the adventures of this year...

First, the Indie Craft Parade! It's essentially a gathering of Etsy shop owners and, more specifically, creators and artists who get together and sell their wonderful items one weekend during the year! There was a lot of awesome confined in one teeny, little space. It was inspirational; plus, the smell of freshly-brewed coffee and fresh pastries filled the air, so  how could something like that ever really go wrong?

(No, that's not supposed to be ominous foreshadowing or anything.)

Once inside, my friend D and I were immediately drawn to Quill & Arrow Press. She had a stunning array of journals, prints, note cards, and so much more. (I'm sorry, I sound like some horrible infomercial ad...) But really, we're obsessed. I think we might've freaked her out a little bit, but oh well! We were excited! So I, of course, bought a journal, and I have to say it's probably going to be one of my favorite journals I will ever own. Ever. It's almost too awesome to write in. I'm gushing, but I do have a thing for journals, and this one is particularly awesome. 

I also got this awesome fake tat that says "Born to Knit." The ironic part? I can't knit. At all. But I still really like the tat. It made me feel hard core for a few days. That is, until it came off. Which happened far too quickly, in my humble opinion.

Ta for now! More soon, I promise! (Really.)