Reprieve

I normally try to live my life according to two very general rules: 

1. Don't complain.

2. Don't make excuses.

However, I'm going to break the second rule today, simply because I feel the need to justify myself for my terrible organization and (apparent) inability to write blog posts, let alone get out and take photos. I say this at the risk of sounding like a broken record (and breaking another rule: Don't use clichés when writing.), because it seems that all of my blog posts that I've found the time to write recently simply reiterate how perpetually busy I am. (Which seems to break all three of my aforementioned rules in one go.) But I'm going to allow myself to break my rule about excuses this time simply because it also explains the photos below. I'll start with my birthday (a milestone), the weekend after my birthday where I got to celebrate it with friends, which leads me to midterms, which bled into spring break, and then initiation, and then shooting with Ash, then TEDxFurmanU, and now here we are. (And in that spiel I just broke another rule: Don't write run-on sentences.)

Anywho, here are photos from the joint birthday celebration that I had with the one and only Lexie, but rest easy, friends: more will come on that other insanity (spring break, TEDx, etc., etc.) soon! (And Wednesdays, I think, call for fun photos.)

And, since it's hump day, I'll leave you folks with a quote because it's vaguely applicable but mostly because Marilynne Robinson is fantastic:

“I wish I could leave you certain of the images in my mind, because they are so beautiful that I hate to think they will be extinguished when I am. Well, but again, this life has its own mortal loveliness. And memory is not strictly mortal in its nature, either. It is a strange thing, after all, to be able to return to a moment, when it can hardly be said to have any reality at all, even in its passing. A moment is such a slight thing. I mean, that its abiding is a most gracious reprieve.” 

--Marylinne Robinson, Gilead

A Little Madness in the Spring

After weeks of drizzle, cold, and gloom, I am delighted to say that it seems

S  P  R  I  N  G    H  A  S    S  P  R  U  N  G  .

After shooting for about 5 hours at Furman's TEDx event (more photos and comments on that later), shooting covers for Ash Rauls (again, more to come on that later), and general post-spring break insanity, I decided to take a mental break and  take some photos ironically of the incredible blooms around the Vista House. Though I've wanted to since the beginning of the semester, I haven't had the right opportunity to shoot any photos of my home for this semester, and Friday was simply a lovely time to do it. 

I say that spring has sprung in the sense that all of the flowers are in bloom (my favorite thing, if I forget about my horrendous allergies), though when I look out from the library window at this very moment, the weather is ominous and sulky, the opposite of Spring in my imagination. 

I will not let this dampen my spirits, however, because I have several hours of photo editing ahead of me (yay!), which I say without even a smidgen of irony. In the meantime, though, enjoy these photos of the blissful blooms, the lovely Jenny (friend/fellow VH res), and a cat friend I made as I was walking around (seriously--what a great day). 

Until later, friends! 

= >.< =

[In honor of my new furry friend.]