Life of a Loony

new blog!

2006-11-27T05:35:00.000-08:00

I have once again transplanting myself in the internet world. You can find my new blog here:
http://www.lindseyalyce.com

the beems

2006-11-25T08:11:00.000-08:00

This is my sister Emily. Toots. The Beems. As you can tell, she totally rocks. Rocks my socks off.

stupid school

2006-11-20T15:45:00.000-08:00

School requires responsibility and staying put and not vagabonding around for days and months and weeks. Rather than heaps of good conversation, I have to study. And I find this really lame.

I wish I didn't want to be in school.

But I do want to be in school.

Lame.

wants

2006-11-19T12:42:00.000-08:00

A fire has risen above my tombstone hat.
I don't want learning, or dignity,
or respectability.

I want this music and this dawn
and the warmth of your cheek against mine.

~Rumi

And that's all there is to it.

*note: I'm not being gooshy- the poem's about God.

yes

2006-11-15T14:56:00.000-08:00

(I love late November because the leaves are gone and I can see everything more clearly- not just the sky.)

i would love to kiss you

2006-11-14T18:42:00.000-08:00

I would love to kiss you.
The price of kissing is your life.

Now my loving is running toward my life shouting,
What a bargain, let's buy it.
~rumi

(I get to read a big beautiful book of Rumi for Islam class. This class reminds me why I'm in college.)

Adam and I chatted on the sofa. Well, I mostly chatted, he mostly listened. I was a bit tearsy, with little white drops falling now and again. I said, "I would rather ache and search for God than find everything else in the world. That not-having is more real than the having of anything else." That is true. And I would give my life for one Touch on the cheek because those brushes and glances and kisses are what make my life alive and I'd rather live one day with them than a hundred years without. I am thankful for this ache that keeps me awake tonight. I am thankful for life and I am thankful for longing. And I am thankful that I am longed for.

Good night and sweet dreams everyone.

wish

2006-11-13T05:47:00.000-08:00

Someone that really cares a lot about me said yesterday that their biggest wish for me was that I would always know love.

I thought about it for a while, and I couldn't think of a better thing to wish someone.

What do you wish for the people you love- your family, your friends?

snow

2006-11-11T08:29:00.000-08:00

Thursday: sunshine. high of 68 degrees
Friday: wet wet wet snow snow snow.

Welcome to Wisconsin.

(yes, i like this weather)

breathe

2006-11-08T16:22:00.000-08:00

reminder to myself: relax. just breathe. just be real. be yourself. be open. breathe.

are you a grown-up?

2006-11-04T11:12:00.000-08:00

Hunting for acorns on the Capitol's lawn, the squirrels are out. The hats are out; the scarves are out; the mittens aren't out yet, but will be soon. Big winter coats are out as are big cups of cocoa and coffee (no more smoothie weather here!). The sun is out and I am out, walking through it all and the giant leaves littering the ground. I really like November, and I really like long days when I can walk slowly.

It was a good day, yesterday, full of slow-walking things like co-op grocery shopping, white cheddar cheese, magazine-clipping prayers, bread baking, cherry flavored pipes, studying in pajamas, long walks and talks while dark is coming, nibbling soybeans with friends, laughing with coffee, watching Sex and the City and South Park with Adam. Oh, I love the weekends!

Me and two of my old roommates went to dinner together last night. I can't believe it was just under three months ago that we lived in the Yellow Castle on Gorham. It seems very far away. So much has changed. I pronounce things differently. I say "car-a-mel" instead of "carm-el." I have shorter hair, now. I spend a lot more money on coffee. I'm busier. More independent. More social. More boyfriended. I have a cat. I cook more. Jog less. I bike places. I budget. I'm in debt. I'm starting to learn how to keep my room clean. I've grown fond of rye bread, learned how to make a good cup of green tea (quality tea bags- you aren't supposed to use boiling water not let it steep more than two minutes). I have a crock pot. And use it.

If this is what growing-up is, I like it. Mostly.

What is growing-up? Are you a grown-up?

mmmm

2006-11-03T12:01:00.000-08:00

Lunch today:

Warm fresh homemade wheat/oatmeal bread with butter. Milk. A big organic figi apple. Dried white Turkish figs that taste like honey.

I love grocery-day Fridays.

november!

2006-11-01T15:11:00.000-08:00

(a picture from last november)

It's November. Isn't that wonderful?!

I like November. I really do. I daresay it's my favorite month of autumn. A lot of people don't like November. They say it's impredictable, disagreeable. I happen to like impredictable, disagreeable things. I like that I'm never sure whether to wear a light jacket or my warm winter coat. I like how the air clenches it's fists into tight icy balls. I like watching the last of the leaves fall.

It's really the anticipation that woos me. Watching the weather for snow and the trees for lights. Waiting for Thanksgiving. Yearning for winter and the holidays to begin. It's wonderful.

So, I welcome you November, with enthusiasm and anticipation. I look forward to seeing what this month brings.

Do you like November?

bringing some excitement to the long saturday at work.

2006-10-28T13:14:00.000-07:00

I just bought airplane tickets.

winter break. norway.

i'm stoked.

thirteen

2006-10-27T08:05:00.000-07:00

Superhero got the idea from this book to post an awkward adolescent photograph. It looked like so much fun, I thought I'd give it a shot.

This is my awkward photo; I think I was thirteen at the time. I took a trip to Colorado with my good friend Meg and her family (that's her brother Timmy to the right). At this time I had a ginormous crush on Jake Morrin and was still figuring things out like how to do my hair and whether or not to pluck my eyebrows (oh, that was a big dilemma). But I was also trying to figure out other things, like who God is and what life is and how to live it. I thought about those things a lot, and I remember learning a lot in those years about God and life and living. They were important times, really. But, man, I'm glad I'm not thirteen anymore.

(i wonder if I'll say that about 19, someday. young adulthood is a pretty awkward too. at least i know how to do my hair. Praise God.)

great weekend

2006-10-23T10:46:00.000-07:00

It's Monday, and I've just come back from a terrific study-free weekend at my parent's house. It was so autumn and so fun and so relaxing. We ate, we laughed, we had all sorts of adventures from gathering eggs to going to the dentist to feeding geese to eating at a little diner to picking stones along Lake Michigan to pondering art at the Milwaukee Public Art Museum to laughing with friends who I haven't seenin a long time to watching tree-shadows on a pond while rain fell. The best part? Being with my family a bit. It was really really good stuff, and I didn't want the weekend to end.

But it did. And now I am back in Mad Town. And, though I didn't think I would be Sunday afternoon, I am glad to be back. I have family here too- the girls I live with and lived with and love. It is good to be back here with them, sharing life with them. Praying, encouraging, laughing, drinking endless amounts of coffee and apple cider.

Life is good.

i am not dead

2006-10-17T13:00:00.000-07:00

I'm not dead...

Little faries have not chewed my fingers off...

Nor have I been captured by pirates...

I've just been studying.

it's autumn.

2006-10-06T19:06:00.000-07:00

cornbread in cast-iron. cider. apples we picked at the orchard.

it was the best dinner i've had in quite a while.

charming:

2006-10-02T19:56:00.000-07:00

charming: scribbling a funny little heart on my wrist while we wait for our coffee.

that inspires me.

2006-09-30T06:15:00.000-07:00

Recently, Katrina got this e-mail from someone she admires. It said that she is living evidence of what is good and true in this world. That she and her life are proof that there is good worth fighting for.

That inspires me.

life, pumpkins, and katrina brown

2006-09-27T11:50:00.000-07:00

My favourite thing about autumn is the smell of the air. But right up there in my favourite autumnal things is pumpkin. When I was little, Grammie would make me pumpkin pies. I would slice myself a big wedge and sit down with a big smile and a big fork and a big blop of whipped cream (if we had it). I loved those pumpkin pies. I still do. Pumpkin anything is terrific in my book. Katrina Brown shares this fondness with me. When I was at her house Sunday, we drank coffee with pumpkin spice creamer while we studied. And this morning, when it was rainy and sunny and we were wandering around between work and classes, we treated ourselves to pumpkin lattes and muffins at Starbucks.

While it drizzled, we found a bench under a plant with fat green leaves that blocked the rain. We nibbled on our muffins and sipped our lattes and talked about life. I like talking about life with Katrina Brown.

"Lindsey, it just totally sucks. I went to God and I asked Him to transform me. I asked him to transform me as much as He can transform a person. I asked Him to take me further. To use me and change me. But it hurts so much. It has to hurt. Sometimes God reminds me of V in V for Vendetta. I don't know if that's a healthy view of Him or not. It probably isn't. But Evey had to go through all that stuff in that extreme way or she wouldn't have lost her fear- not like she did. I know that the pain I'm feeling now is good for me, but it hurts."

Katrina said this in that measured, steady way she says things. Genuine. With a small smile. I love how Katrina Brown says things.

I've seen V for Vendetta. I didn't see a lot of God in V. But I see what Katrina is saying. I feel what Katrina is feeling. Yesterday, I was sitting by the lake between classes. The sky was bright blue and there were sailboats on the water. He found me there by the edge of the lake and plunged his hand deep into my guts. And it hurt. He is gentle with me. His touch is tender. But it still hurts. It hurts like it would hurt to hold a block of granite if all your life if you had only touched marshmallows. Which would be funny. Marshmallow land. Ha!

But it didn't feel like marshmallows, it felt like God. Sometimes I want to curl up in a warm quilt and hide inside a house. But He'd find me there. Sometimes I want to block Him out and hide inside school and friends and other wonderful things in my life. But He finds me there too. I can't hide from Him and I can't deny Him. I see Him everywhere (and in that everywhere, He finds me).

It wasn't always like that, though. I mean, I remember a time when I found it very easy to hide away. So easy, I didn't even know I was hiding. And then one night, He put His hand on my head and gave me a glimse of who He is. And I chased Him. I chased Him and chased Him and chased Him. And then one day, I discovered that He was chasing me. When I look back, I am amazed at my courage and persistance in those early days. To say, "God, I am going to follow You. Whatever that means, I'm going to do it"- that is hard. I was a scrappy little thing.

I don't think I'm so scrappy anymore. I don't really need to be. But I still need courage. Because sometimes a marshmallow bed looks a whole lot comfier than a mountain. God scares me, but I love Him. And He loves me. He loves me so much, it hurts. Loving is hard. Sometimes it's really, really hard.

But, at the same time, it's so good. Even though it's scary and it hurts, it's good. I'm sitting here in knee-high socks and it's sunny and windy and rainy outside and I feel like my insides are being taffy-pulled and I am very very happy.

I was reading e.e. cummings today under the fabric tree (which is now golden and bright)- wrapped in sun and Adam's scarf. E.e. cummings always reminds me of God. Today, this poem really hit my guts:

being to timelessness as it's to time,
love did no more begin than love will end;
where nothing is to breath to stroll to swim
love is the air the ocean and the land

(do lovers suffer?all divinities
proudly descending put on deathful flesh:
are lovers glad?only their smallest joy's
a universe emerging from a wish)

love is the voice under all silences,
the hope which has no opposite in fear;
the strength so strong mere force is feebleness:
the truth more first than sun more last than star

— do lovers love?why then to heaven with hell.
Whatever sages say and fools,all's well

It's scary to see Him. It's scary to seek Him. But I wouldn't have it any other way. Because He is that to me- the voice under all silences. And I love Him more than I knew I could love anything. Loving Him is teaching me how to love. How to live.

Living hurts.

But life is so SO good.

i know, I know...

2006-09-25T15:23:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, two boy-posts in a row. I have more going on in my life than Boy, I swear.

In fact, he was gone all weekend. And I did things like watch TV on the couch with my little sister and study at Katrina's house for hours and explore "Pick More Daisies" (the most terrific, girly little shop on Willy Street) with Janelle. And I enjoyed the fall colours like crazy and had a good talk with my favorite teacher and journaled and thought. And it was great.

And I'm still journaling and thinking and all such great things. But now Adam's back and I had a whole 4 hours to spend with him today between class and work. And I could talk about what I've been journaling and thinking (I'm sure I will) or the fall colours. But, right now I just want to talk about how Adam and I drove out to the West Side with the sunroof open in the yellow-leaf, blue-sky day listening to the Thrills and how we got fish'n'chips from this little fish market and how it was so good and we washed it down with sparkling water and how he bought me little speakers for my computer (you know a geek likes you when he buys you electronics) and how he's the only geek I know who can go through an electronic store without putzing like crazy and how he's the only music snob I know who isn't snobby about music at all and how we went to Escape and I studied and he read and we both drank cappuccinos and ate the amazing (A-MAZING) licorice he brought be back from Nebraska (if you haven't had kookabura licorice- DO) and played footsie. It was a lot of fun.

Next time, I'll have a pretty picture and a poem or maybe something brainy, even. And it won't be about Boy. Not even a little. I swear.

But for now I just have two things to say: I like Adam Whitlock and hanging out with Katrina Brown makes me really want to read Pushkin.

meet adam whitlock

2006-09-18T09:04:00.000-07:00

(Walking hand-in-hand at night after a full day of wonderful IKEA-ing and piling big boxes of furniture into his house and smoking pipes of spicy tobacco.)

Adam: You are just what the doctor ordered.

Me: Yeah?

Adam: Yup. I went to him a couple months ago and he said, "Find Lindsey Girman!!"

Me: Really?

Adam: U-huh. And I was like, "What?" And he was like, "Go!" and then he turned into an orangutang and disappeared.

The juicy news in my life these days is that I have a boyfriend. Adam is sweet and makes me laugh. I think it's pretty good news. :)

friends

2006-09-16T11:30:00.000-07:00

i have the most amazing friends.

Last night, Brianna, Hannah, Janelle, Katrina and I set out for a night on the town. We were going to smoke a hookah at the Casba, but all the outdoor seats were taken. So, we took my pipe and a pack of Katrina's cigarettes and smoked on the stoop of the capitol. It was a warmcool night with a soft breeze and stars and Brianna sketched Janelle and Katrina and Hannah laid on their backs and talked about God and life.

They are so beautiful, these friends of mine. And it was so good to be with them last night. We giggled and hit each other's butts and talked about how amazing life is, how we are so big and so small at the same time.

We talked about how much we love each other, how sweet friendship is, and how good God is

And it was night and the streets were lit and the wind was blowing.

This morning, Janelle and I invited James and Adam over for breakfast. Still in our pj's, we made them toast and omelettes while they played with Comet and Eliot. The sun was shining through the window and music was playing. Janelle made a burnt, eggy mess trying to cook Jame's omelette on 'High,' and we were bent over laughing as we tried to salvage it (the salvaging didn't work). The other omelettes worked out better and the toast had smiley faces and birthday cakes toasted onto them. We drank tea and laughed.

I have the most amazing friends.

it turns out autumn is amazing

2006-09-11T14:15:00.000-07:00

I was really nervous about autumn. Really nervous.

And then Friday night the wind changed and it became rainy and cold. Sweaters were put on, jackets taken out, umbrellas, socks, shoes. The air smells different now. It's spicier, sharper, twists on the tongue a bit. This air does funny things to me. It hits my soul in this way that chrashes deep into my guts. It stirs me in a vivid, vivid way. It makes me feel alone. It makes me remember. It makes me want to cry. And I love it.

Especially at night I love it, when the cars splash down the street and the lights hit the rain. I want to take long long walks in that air. I want to drink it like coffee. It reminds me of so many sweet things. It reminds me of so many good walks I had in Romania. Walking home from class today, I could smell the pastries I would buy at the pink bakery in Constanta on cold days. They were very sticky- I could taste the sugar that I licked from my frozen fingers while I walked by the Sea in my red hat. Inspired, I bought a small strawberry turnover at a bakery by the capitol. It wasn't sticky and I was wearing a yellow hat, not a red one. But it was still pretty wonderful.

Saturday night, my friend and I went for a long walk late at night in that air. It was in a part of town I had never explored- the sweet roads and houses along the lake behind Jenifer Street. We stopped on a yellow-lit bridge because the moon came out from behind the clouds and looked just right on the water. I said that it reminded me of a Munch painting.

I love autumn. I love this chilled, rainy weather. I love listening to Badly Drawn boy in these grey days. I love the things it makes me remember. I love baking and making risgrynsgrøtt with cinnamon and vanilla. I love how it makes coffee taste. I love autumn. ♥

upside down

2006-09-09T14:58:00.000-07:00

On Friday nights, we watch movies on the projector at Escape. This week, we decided to go for a chick flick and ice cream. We watched Addicted to Love. And we watched it upside-down with our heads on the table and our feet dangling off the top of the chairs. It was very uncomfortable.

and pretty terrific.

my first day of school

2006-09-07T19:17:00.000-07:00

For the record, I HAD heard about Barrett. When I was logging into my handy-dandy UW website, it was up in the little campus news area. I skimmed the article- partially because I was lazy, mostly due to disinterest. I have a limited amount of space in my brain and a limited amount of stuff to cram into it. 9/11 conspiracy theory is not high on the list, nor are articles about controversy surrounding someone teaching it.

I had heard about Barrett. I just didn't really care. And when the camera's were rolling in front of the door of my Islam lecture hall, I didn't connect the dots. I thought it was some university advertising or something.

But when I sat down, I was informed that this was THE guy and these were reporters lining the hall. I thought it was pretty exciting. Controversy excites me sometimes.

When I left class, this girl in front of me got pulled aside by a reporter with a camera and was given a microphone. I laughed- amiably- and she laughed a bit too. And then another reporter (who had this really sweet face and smile) pulled me aside, "I saw you laughing at that girl, so do you mind if I pick on you?" She asked me some questions and I answered quickly (she seemed in a hurry- you know- the whole reporter thing). By the time I left the Social Sciences building, I had thought of a million better things to say- things about how every professor enters the classroom with their own personal bias and how it's important as a student to recognize that and to seek what is true and real, under any professor, not just Barrett.

'oh well,' I thought, ' What I said was pretty lame, but at least they'll never use it.'

Except, they did.

Yeah, it's a bit lame, but my name is in the paper. And I kind of like that.

Read it here.

september

2006-09-02T15:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Katrina Brown and I walked around campus scoping out our classrooms while we skipped out on orientation. I have a lot of terrific classrooms: big lecture halls with rows of desks, cozy little rooms with tables and chairs. But the very best one is my grad class classroom. It is old and beautiful and brown and white and has old black chalkboards and nice windows. Katrina said it was Harry Potter-esque. I just thought it was lovely. I've been looking forward to that class from the moment I weaselled my way into it. But if I hadn't been excited before, those chalkboards would have done it for me.

While we were strolling, it was sunny and warm and Katrina asked, "What are your biggest fears about school?" I love Katrina Brown. She's full of good books, good answers, and good questions. I thought about it a bit, and decided that I was a bit nervous, but not so much about school. I was nervous about autumn.

It's September 2nd, and it kind of scares me.

Spring is my very favorite season. I love watching green burst through the grey and seeing the people and the tulips come out. I've never really cared much for autumn- especially the early part of the season. I don't know why. I've always loved the color and the clothes and the coziness. I like caramel apples and cider and pumpkin pie. But autumn always makes me sad, somehow.

I feel like I haven't had a real autumn in a long time. Three years ago, I was in Norway for autumn, and it was different. Two years ago, I had too much running through my mind to notice anything outside of it. Last autumn (last year?!), I was in Romania and it was different. I feel like I haven't had a real autumn in a long time and I don't know how it is going to be and I don't know if it will make me sad. The unknown gets me nervous sometimes.

Adam is a regular at Escape. He prefers his coffee black like in Grapes of Wrath and can devour 250 page books in under 2 1/2 hours. The other day, he said, "The reason people in LA are so fucked up is because they don't have any seasons. Every day is the same. They wake up and it's the same. You don't have to get things ready for winter or anything like that. There's no progression." I've never been to LA, so I can't really say anything about that, but I can imagine that Adam has a point. I think if I didn't have seasons moving around me, I would be heaps more of a mess. When I look at it, my own process seems to tag along with the path of the seasons. Wintertime is very peaceful and internal for me. I often make big choices in the winter. Learn big things. See a lot of stars. It's a really beautiful time. Spring is when lots of growing and planting and greenly things happen. It's a really rich time. Summers are external, a lot of change and action. It's a very bright time.

But in autumn, everything dies. The leaves fall, the grass turns brown. The air changes its taste and the wind blows harder (if I love one thing about autumn, it's that: the wind). The dying of fall scares me. But I know that it's good: for the earth and for me. And even though I am nervous about it, I am looking forward to fall with all of my heart, even if it does make me sad.

I think a bit of sadness is a very healthy thing.

Let me say with full sincerity: Welcome, September. I'm glad you are here.

What do you think about seasons and how do you feel about fall? Which seasons do you love and which do you dread and are you glad it's September?

the last pages of my journal

2006-08-28T21:42:00.000-07:00

16:17 8-28-06

It’s time to bring this journal to a close. This chapter of my journey with You has ended and a new one is beginning. I began this book just under a year ago in an airport across an ocean- full of uncertainty. I end here in my room, my little green room with a pipe in my mouth and a kitten curled up nearby. It’s raining outside. Just a little.

I’m not uncertain anymore. The sky outside is cloudy again, but I see You in the clouds today.

You have fulfilled every promise you made me this year. Where my heart was broken, You restored it. The dead things that were decaying in my have died. And in those places, You have cleared room for things to grow. A forest. You have mended broken ties. Lit fires in the darkest frozen parts of my soul.

You have taught me. You have loved me. You have led me to so many wild and beautiful places where I have met so many wild and beautiful people. It has been a year full of growth and restoration. But more than anything, it has been a year of LIFE. And when I think back on it all, I am full of wonder and gratitude. Life with You, God, is more than I ever imagined life could be.

You are a wonder.

I thank You for these pages, God. I thank You for this life. I am amazed, God, and I am grateful. You are my joy and you are my light. I will always love You, my Lord. Thank You for these pages. Thank You for the pages to come.

Amen.

things to eat before you die

2006-08-25T13:04:00.000-07:00

The Traveler's Lunchbox came up with this brilliant idea. There are lists of things to see before you die, things to do before you die...why not a list of things to eat before you die? Please leave me some comments on what foods you think should be eaten in this lifetime. I would love to hear your list!

Here's mine.

Five Things to Eat Before You Die:

1. 'Squeaky' Wisconsin Cheese Curds from a little rural cheese shop or the Madison farmer's market

I grew up in Wisconsin. I grew up eating cheese curds. They remind me of summer and camping and sitting on the beach and going on picnics and roadtrips. The louder they sqeak against your teeth, the better. They are wonderful. The farmer's market in Madison smells like sunflowers and basil. There are a handful of cheesestands there, scattered around the capitol building and they always offer free samples. Take them up on it.

2. Fresh Figs

Until this last year, figs were...the brown stuff inside Fig Newtons. In Constanta, there was a little fig tree on the side of the street. I didn't eat the fruit, but I stepped on the pink sticky bits that fell onto the sidewalk and were flatteded into the concrete. I didn't give much thought to them then either. It wasn't until this January that I ate a fresh fig. I was in Mossel Bay, South Africa, visiting a friend of mine at 3 Colours Blue Guesthouse (a pretty wonderful place, owned by his very wonderful family). His mum and dad were crazy about figs, and snatched them up wherever they could. There were often freshly picked figs in the house- they taught me how to peel them and eat them and love them. I was so surprised at the taste. It's a bit like honey, but lighter, fresher, fruitier. And the texture...I've never tasted anything like a fresh fig before. They amaze me. I wouldn't want to die without trying one.

3. Gogosi

When I was in Romania, I spent a week in the town of Hunedoara. In Hunedoara, there was a little gogosi stand that my friend Simona used to work at. We stopped by to say hello to her old coworkers, and couldn't resist buying some. We didn't have a gogosi-less day the rest of the trip. A gogoshi is a Romanian doughnut. These particular ones were huge and flat- something like an elephant ear. They were taken hot out of the oil, smeared with a chocolate spread simular to Nutella, and folded in half. The chocolate got extra gooey on the hot pastry and often ended up all over my face. It was delicious.

4. Freshly picked berries swimming in vaniljesaus in Norway

Personally, currants are my favorite. There is something about a sunny summer day and bitter red currants and thick, sweet vanilje saus that makes my heart beat a little bit faster. But I can't limit it to only currants, because that would be unfair to Norway's other berries. The strawberries are more flavorful than any I've tasted, and Norwegain blueberries are an experience of their own. The mossy floor of the old pine forests are full of them. The berries are small and dark and so so lovely- and the forest is even more beautiful. I can't imagine that berries in vaniljesaus would be quite as good anyplace else. Something about the fresh, light taste of the air in Norway makes a big bowl of berries three times as delicious. Don't take my word for it. Try it yourself.

5. Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

What can I say? They are just so good.

the new man in my life

2006-08-20T14:00:00.000-07:00

Meet Eliot.

He's named after a poet and likes purring in my ear sleeping on my belly.

Hi, Eliot.

out of my finals bubble

2006-08-16T05:33:00.000-07:00

My final papers are done and over. I finished them at midnight on Sunday, which despite my procrastination, technically was a wee bit early. Most of my weekend was spent sitting in a pile of scattered notes and a laptop. The last couple days have been a bit jumbled too- Monday I worked a full day on 2 1/2 hours of sleep and Tuesday, I worked 12 hours. Now it is Wednesday. I am rested, alive, and have finally crawled out of my pit of scattered notes.

Time to tell you what's been going on.

I have recently moved into a new house on Willy Street. I live with my old roommate and dear friend Janelle, and two girls who I had never met before named Angie and Monica- and both of them seem really wonderful. We all share a crooked white house tucked back behind Willy Street. It's the most wonderful house. You have to hold down the handle of the toilet a long time when you flush, none of the floors are anything of even, and the bathroom mirror reminds me of a funhourse (It's now fondly referred to as the "midget mirror"). It's great. I have my own little room that is green and lovely and currently has books scattered all over the floor (haven't had time to organize yet). I see trees out my bedroom window, and at night, I hear more crickets than cars.

And I love our crooked little Willy Street neighborhood- full of sunflowers, messy lawns, and organic food. Our house is a stone's throw away from our favorite coffee shop, Escape. When Janelle and I were Gorham Street girls, we ventured across East Washington regularly for a good cup of coffee. They know our names and who we are and what we're like. Now that it's basically across the street, I walk past Escape several times a day. Someone is usually outside and they wave and I wave, and it's lovely. Last night, Janelle and I stopped by "just to say hi" on our way to the Corner Store and ended up talking for nearly an hour. I really like things like that.

Another thing I like about where I live is my daily commute. I had every intention of moving closer to downtown, and while I'm not much farther east, shifting to the other side of East Washington added a good 15 minutes on my already 30 minute walk to work. Most days, that's just too much. So, I've pulled out my bike lock and ultra-cool swirly helmet(pictures to come), slipped spandex under my skirts, and switched to biking. Not only is biking heaps of fun, but I have just about the best ride in the world. I get to pedal down Willy Street, up to the Capitol, down the entire length of State...every day. It's so wonderful. If you don't know Madison, just take my word for it. It's a great ride.

Besides a new home, here are other little new things in my life:
-one new favorite brand of yogurt (yes, it's more expensive. but I figure, I save money by buying the big containers of plain stuff, anyways. it makes up for it.)
-two new bags of delicious pipe tobacco
-three new library books (Praise of Folly, and two books of Chesterton essays)
- a new great place to go out on Saturday nights- we sat outside in the twinkly night for hours over amazing appitizers, conversation, and hookah smoke.
-some great new plates and other thrift shop finds (I should take some photos of those to...)

There is quite a lot going on in my mind these days, and heaps of stories and moments to tell. But for now, I will have to be satisfied with posting these tiny tidbits of life. I hope these days are falling sweetly for you. Have a very good one.

finals

2006-08-10T12:43:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, I really like finals. They make me feel very serious and studious and give me an excuse to drink lots of tea and have papers strewn about.

The downside: I don't know where I'm going to sleep tonight. Either the papers will end up in a heap on the floor or we are going to cuddle.

night #1

2006-08-08T21:46:00.000-07:00

self portrait tuesday

It's the first night in my new room. I have no drawers, the floor is strewn with paint cans, plants, papers, and most of my stuff is still at my old place. But, it feels like home. It's currently an unfinished, unfurnished mess, but I love my little green room.

And now, I'm going to doze off. Goodnight, everyone. Goodnight, moon.

Goodnight, room.

what i've been up to

2006-08-08T14:29:00.001-07:00

It has been a while since i've blogged. I've been pretty busy. I've been fasting and playing and studying and piping and eating pizza and drinking tea and painting and moving and shopping and staffing a retreat and having long lovely talks and steaming in the heat. But more than anything, I've been thinking.

I've been thinking a lot about a lot of things. About life and God and hope and hoplessness. About idealism and despair and foolishness and wisdom and what is real and what is fake. Religion and love. The future and the past. I've had mad thoughts, happy thoughts, sad thoughts, hopeful thoughts.

Basically, there has been a lot happening in the Lindsey skull.

Right now, I'm typing from the matress on the floor of my new room with green walls and green plants and a green cup of green tea. The matress is naked and purple with journals strewn about on top of it and a blue afghan crocheted by my grammie. Badly Drawn Boy is playing on the boom box I got in fifth grade that sits in the corner. The song is really perfect, actually. "I don't know how to hide and keep my shadow alive...I don't know how to tell if it's heaven or hell that I'll be going to, just as long as I'm there with you."

There are a lot of things I don't know. There are a lot of things that confuse me. Frustrate me. Religion frustrates me. It frustrates me to listen to a pastor pray and hear nothing real or true in his voice- to hear a preformance, not a prayer. I just wish people would start being real. I wish we would stop playing these stupid games and just say it as it is. I was with a pastor this weekend who did not stop preforming- not for one second. Not when he was walking down the hallway. Not when he was up in the pulpit. Every time I saw him, I got so frustrated. I wanted to pull him aside and shake him and ask him what was going through his head and what he hoped and feared and worried about. Who he WAS. I just think the world would be so much sweeter if we were all a little more honest with one another. And, if nothing else, a little more honest with ourselves.

Another thing I don't understand: God. I've been wrestling with Him a lot lately. I have this one teacher who is really wonderful and really real. He and I were talking about God one evening on State Street when the city was all lit up and bright. He said something that I found very profound out there on the street, it went something like this, "A lot of people think I don't believe in God because of science. That's not true. I don't believe in God because, if He's there, He's never revealed Himself to me. A lot of Christians make it seem like you have to seek God and make Him turn His face to you. But look at Paul. He was out slaughtering Christians and then God blinded Him and Paul believed. God would know that if He'd reveal Himself like that to me, I'd be there in a second. Maybe someday I'll wake up blind, but until then..."

I remember talking with God as I walked home on the dark streets. "God, what....why...?" I said. "I'm already working in him, Lindsey. Don't fret." "But, God...I..." "I know. Me too." "But, can't You...?" "I'm already at work, Lindsey. Don't worry." "Okay."

And it was okay then, but I kept thinking about it. And it made me sad and it made me frustrated with God. He blinded Paul. Why can't He just blind everyone else? Because I know God, I know Him. And I know that He loves us, and I KNOW that He wants us to know Him. He is the only hope in the world and He wants to give us that and so much more. So why doesn't He encounter us all? Why doesn't He shake us until we see Him? I didn't understand. I don't.

It confused me very much, and I spent heeps of time scribbling and painting about it: about this, about religion, about the sad things I see in people's hearts these days that make me ache. It frustrated me, the whole thing, the whole state of the universe. I didn't understand. I was confused. I am confused.

And then I opened up my beloved e.e. cummings book to his poem, "i am a little church(" The last line struck a chord with me that it never has before.

winter by spring, i lift my diminutive spire to
merciful Him Whose only now is forever;
standing erect in the deathless truth of His presence
(welcoming humbly His light and proudly His darkness)

There are a lot of things I don't understand. There are a lot of things that confuse me. A lot of things that make me frustrated and sad. There is so much that I do not know. But there is one thing I do know. I know God. And I will follow him, even if I don't understand. Because I love Him. So much.

(he is our only hope, you know. we need hope more than oxygen.)

saturday

2006-07-30T11:01:00.000-07:00

It was hot out yesterday and I wore my maroon silk skirt that blows in the breeze just that way. My morning had been a sweet one; I started work early and it was a wonderful workday. I blew bubbles with sweet little girls and made copies for (and conversation with) people speaking at the Southeast Asia conference that I was going to be attending later in the day, including SE Asia teacher and many of the auditors in the class. And then I bought flowers and a muffin at the farmer's market and listened to a panel at the conference.

And when I was done with all that it was 4:30 and the sun was a bit low and the breeze was blowing my silk skirt just that way and I had a fist full of zinnias and other bright flowers. They were giving samples of free iced chai at Steep and Brew, and not being a woman who passes on samples, I took them up on it and sat down with skirt and flowers and chai and ts eliot and steeped in a bit of the late afternoon.

(I think the many dimensions of God are amazing. I love how I can know him and relate to him in so many different ways. He's the creator of stars and volcanos like here, and he's also the tender lover God that designed white roses and jasmine tea and June mornings and makes me feel very wooed on such afternoons when the sun is shining)

Later on, Hannah and I returned to State Street and drank Jamba Juice and smoked pipe while we watched the people go by.

*While I'm speaking of small sweet things, I thought I ought to mention The Traveler's Lunchbox. It makes me want to spend all afternoon mixing and sauteing. It also makes me want to start blogging a bit about college cooking. It's my new-found favorite food blog. Check it out.

pretty wonderful

2006-07-29T06:06:00.000-07:00

Sam: You don't like raisins?
Joon: Not really.
Sam: Why?
Joon: They used to be fat and juicy and now they're twisted. They had their lives stolen. Well, they taste sweet, but really they're just humiliated grapes. I can't say I am a big supporter of the raisin council.
Sam: Did you see those, those raisins on TV? The ones that sing and dance and stuff?
Joon: They scare me.
Sam: Yeah me too
Joon: It's sick. The commercial people they make them sing and dance so people will eat them.
Sam: It's a shame about raisins.
Joon: Cannibals.
Sam: Yeah. Do you like avocados?
Joon: They're a fruit you know.
Sam: Ruthie, do you got any avocados?

If I didn't have a crush on Johnny Depp before (and it's quite possible I didn't), I do now. We rented it on a whim with a two-for-one movie rental coupon I clipped out of a newspaper and watched it late at night after ice cream cones and The Squid and the Whale (which I also liked, in a very different way). It was very late at night, and I had to get up very early the next day, but I was charmed and it was worth it. If you have never seen Benny & June...

do.

moods

2006-07-28T14:10:00.000-07:00

Since this Sunday or so, I've felt a bit off. Off isn't the right word. Sad. Sad is closer. It's not that I haven't had some really wonderful moments, because I definately have. I had some really sweet really real times this week. I lived some edible hours out journaling in library mall with the sun shining and the breeze blowing. I laughed from the pit of my belly out in the rain yesterday, soaking wet on the front stoop under a green umbrella- just because the rain was so funny. But I often found myself feeling down. Again and again. Every day, I have wanted to cry, but haven't been able to. That's unusual for me. And it got worse and worse until last night.

I guess you could say I hit bottom, but that implies a bad thing and it wasn't. When all that sad stuff got let loose and ran off, I found I was very okay. Oddly enough, when my bundles of insecurities surfaced, I found I was very secure, indeed. When all my fears bubbled forth, I found myself unafraid.

I finished at work around 9:15 at night and decided to walk home. Usually I get a ride when it's dark out, but this time, I just wanted to walk. State Street was still bustling with boys on skateboards and girls on dates. I didn't have my iPod on. My mind felt clear and I liked it. When I turned onto Gorham, there was a car playing "Wonderwall" waiting to turn. I smiled because it was perfect.

"Wonderwall" is present in all sorts of places in my life. Places like the place I was last night. It's left prints. I remember it playing in Norway when I was 16, riding in the back of a car through the snowy mountains with Ragnhild, Torbjorn, and Karine feeling very alone. And then singing it with friends on the sunny southern coast at Skjaergards along with a guitar when I was really confused about life and love in general. I remember singing it along with Jean as we drove through the desert in South Africa. The passenger seat was on the left side of the car. I was pretty confused then, too.

When I heard the song, I felt connected to all those other moments. It was sweet. Very sweet. I smiled and thought all along Gorham.

Cassie was there when I got home. "How are you doing?" she asked.

"You know," I said, "I don't care how fucked up the world is. I don't care how fucked up I am or how much I fuck up. I just don't give a fuck. You know why? Because God is there. Right now, I don't even care if He's good or bad or if He loves me or His character, or any of that. He's there, and that's enough. You know, I'm not happy right now. I'm not. But, fuck it. I don't care how I am. Because beneath that any of that is joy. deep deep joy and that is untouchable. And you know, I may not feel happy, but I feel GOOD. I feel honest and I feel REAL. It feels good, Cassie. I like when I feel like this and I like when I say fuck and mean it. Sometimes I just need a good fuck."

"Some people might take that sentence the wrong way."

"I know it."

We laughed.

I slept well last night. And when I woke up I felt really fresh and good. This morning, Amy and I danced in the kitchen to U2 and the Verve. And I studied on my bed in the sunshine. All morning I felt free and honest and real and joyful and happy, and, fuck, I felt alive.

Last night, Cassie said the only road to freedom is revival, and the only road to revival is death. I didn't understand what she meant entirely. The word "revival" is a bit too christian-ese for my taste and my ears have a habit of turning sideways when I hear it.

But I've been thinking about it. She was right. Thank God for death. And thank God for life. And, fuck, thank God for fuck.

Peace, everyone. Have a really GOOD day, whatever that looks like.

rainstorm

2006-07-27T12:22:00.000-07:00

the puddle outside the house
Originally uploaded by lindseyalyce.

today was dangerously rainy. I loved it.

things to do on a rainy day:

-light candles that smell sweet like vanilla
-bake shortbread
-read
-watch the rain from the front stoop under an umbrella huddled together with your roommate
-play soft music
-laugh really really hard because it's raining really really hard
-get an iateaweebittoomuchshortbread stomach ache
-drink lots of big cups of tea
-lay in bed

things not to do on a rainy day:

-match
-wear anything the slightest bit uncomfortable (avoid bras if possible)
-drive

add to the list as necessary.

**edit**

AND...

For those of you into this whole university business, I finally got registered my (delicious) classes, check them out:

-African Lit in Translation: The Arabic Novel
-Islam Religion and Culture
-3rd Semester Norwegian
-Microeconomics

self-portrait challenge.

2006-07-24T06:49:00.000-07:00

self portrait as true.

when it comes down to it, You are my home.

photo friday: common

2006-07-21T08:41:00.000-07:00

This topic was hard for me to find a picture for. But it's true: these wild grape things are common.

(but, let's face it, they're a bit remarkable too)

odds'n'ends

2006-07-18T15:20:00.000-07:00

self-portrait tuesday: me and summer

At 85 degrees fahrenheit (that word is so hard to spell), today was the first day of bearable temperatures since Thursday. I walked a half hour to work with my hair down with shortsleeves and only got a little sweaty (yesterday, in the coolest of cool clothes and rayon-wrapped hair, I was a veritable ball of goo by the time I made it up Bascom). I am relishing this weather- hot tea! warm rice! manageable hair!

I can't say I didn't enjoy the heat, though. I loved having an excuse to pull back my hair and wear everything breezy and cool (even if I wore it yesterday). I loved walking out of the sterile air conditioned work into the sticky soup of outdoors where my hair frizzed its way out of its wrap. I loved driving at night with the windows down and not feeling cold at all. I loved spending the afternoon with friends in the pool. I loved that steamy weather.

In these sticky days, I've been thinking a lot about God and the world. Most of these thoughts have been spurred by my Southeast Asia class. As time goes on, I'm beginning to love that course more and more and come away from it every day understanding the world and how God sees it that much deeper. It's days like that I don't mind so much going deeply in debt for my education. It's days like that when I think knowledge is very good and sweet and worth the price. When I walk out of class, I don't just feel full of brain, but also full of heart and hope; it seems when I see the world the most clearly in its pain and hurts and mess that I see hope the most assuredly and God's love the most bewilderingly.

Another surprising side-effect of this course is that I have recently found myself with a bit of a crush on the Philippines. I was so madly in love with Africa during my survery course a couple weeks ago, I thought Southeast Asia would never be able to satisfy me the way Africa did. But here I am, not even two weeks out of Africa class and already falling head-over-heels for someplace else. Girls are so fickle.

Speaking of Southeast Asia, I have a paper due tomorrow that I should be writing. I had best get back to that. I hope you have a good day. Cheers!

photo friday: remarkable

2006-07-15T11:01:00.000-07:00

sweet little sprouts really are remarkable.

also remarkable:
-the creme brule we had at tutto's pasta last night
-how much cooler it feels when my hair is up in a wrap
-lightening bugs
-these currants I bought at the farmer's market today. I love currants. In norway, we ate big bowls of them with cream or vaniljesaus.

noticed anything remarkable lately?

myth

2006-07-09T06:40:00.000-07:00

Monday, we had Harold Scheub as a guest lecturer. He spent several years of his life walking across South Africa collecting stories. He says people can't live without stories.

He told us a few. This was my favorite. It's a take from the Mbuti people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (note: the Mbouti people are hunter-gatherers and move periodically when resourses had run out in the area they are in)

There was once a husband and wife that lived in a village deep in the rainforest. They had a child; she was a girl whose face was full of scars and open sores and her legs were crippled. One day, the elders pulled the parents aside, "Your daughter is so ugly," they said, "we cannot stand to look at her anymore. When we move, let's leave here here." The parents agreed and that is just what they did. The village packed up and the girl was left alone in the small rainforest clearing.

Day by day, she got weaker from thirst and hunger. She lied flat on her belly and could hardly move. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw something very bright up in the sky. She lifted her head to see the Fifi-bird. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen- it was big and white and shining. The girl watched the bird as it grasped a vine and strung it from one tree to another. It then perched on the middle of the vine where it swung back and forth, back and forth.

The girl was so entranced by the Fifi-bird that she began to crawl towards the tree, dragging her legs behind her. With her last bit of strength, she climbed the tree. Up and up. And then the bird was gone. She crawled out onto the vine where it had sat and swung there, back and forth, back and forth.

Two men stumbled upon her there. Repulsed by her appearance, they called up to her, "You are disgusting! I have never seen something so ugly. You deserve to die!" and they shot at her. Both men missed and one was killed by the other man's fire. The man left living returned to his village and to the king.

"King, there is a girl in the forest who is possessed by evil spirits. She has put a curse on this kingdom. My friend and I tried to get rid of her, but he is now dead." The king agreed to send out a small party of soldiers. They went out into the forest and found swinging on a vine, back and forth, back and forth, the girl. Repulsed by her appearance, they called up to her, "You are disgusting! I have never seen something so ugly. You deserve to die!" and they all shot at her. The soldiers missed and all but one was killed by another man's fire. The man left living returned to his village and to the king.

"King, there is a girl in the forest who is possessed by evil spirits. She has put a curse on this kingdom. Our party of soldiers tried to get rid of her, but now all but I are dead." The king agreed to send outhis entire army. They went out into the forest and found swinging on a vine, back and forth, back and forth, the girl. Repulsed by her appearance, they called up to her, "You are disgusting! I have never seen something so ugly. You deserve to die!" and they all shot at her. Entire army missed and all but one was killed by another man's fire. The man left living returned to his village and to the king.

"King, there is a girl in the forest who is possessed by evil spirits. She has put a curse on this kingdom. Your entire army tried to get rid of her, but now all but I are dead." This time, the king agreed to take the entire village to go and find the girl. They went out into the forest and found swinging on a vine, back and forth, back and forth, the Fifi-bird.

What do you think of the story?

Oh, and speaking of folklore, I watched this clip about the English story, Robin Hood, last night. It made me laugh and laugh. Eddie Izzard rocks my socks.

its all over

2006-07-08T14:00:00.000-07:00

This last Thursday, I officially finished my Africa class (AFRICAN 277 : Africa: Introductory Survey for you Madisonians). I loved it. There are about a bagillion (maybe even two bagillion) courses I want to take now in the African Studies department. The African Storyteller, Introduction to Yoruba Life and Culture, Swahili, Xhosa, African Poetry... And that's just the African Studies department. There are so many other wonderful, wonderful departments and classes and languages I want to sink my teeth into. Eastern Christianity/Russian Orthodoxy in a Global Context, Romani (Gypsy) Culture in Russia and East Europe, Russia Today in Literature and Film, Mythology of Scandinavia, Folklore Theory, French, Norwegian, Icelandic, The Icelandic Sagas, Literature in Translation: Dante's Divine Comedy, Religion in History and Culture: The East, The Medieval Church, Myth, Islam: Religion and Culture, Introduction to Indian Literatures....oh man, I could go on for a very VERY long time...

But I digress.

The point is, I loved my Africa

For example:

Recently, I found this really great radio station. I don't know what it is, I just know it is a very small number and is very local. I stumbled upon it while I was baking cookies and looking for some jazz. I found it there. An hour later, they were playing BBC news. This morning, I tuned in and it was reggae. We spent a bit of time in class studying Fela and Afro-beat. I began picking out the African influence like call and responce, etc, and thought some thoughts about the Rastafari movement and was glad to know that my education was going to such a good cause.

a couple other perks:
-I know a few pretty amazing African stories.
-I can point out Burkina Faso class and things I have learned come in handy every single day. on a map. Without hesitation.

by william wordsworth

2006-07-05T20:59:00.000-07:00

My heart leaps up

My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky:
So was it when my life began,
So is it now I am a man,
So be it when I shall grow old
Or let me die!
The Child is father of the Man:
And I could wish my days to be
Bound each to each by natural piety.

bye, bixler

2006-07-05T20:17:00.000-07:00

Eric Jon called me this morning.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Oh, you know. Studying, reading, drinking coffee- my finals are tomorrow." I love mentioning finals. It makes me feel like a very serious student.

"Call me when you pass my house on your way to class."

I did. He said he'd walk with me.

"I'm leaving for Arizona."

I wasn't too surprised.

"When?" I asked.

"In about a 1/2 an hour. Only a few people know."

Again, I wasn't surprised. That's Eric Jon's style. No long drawn out goodbyes. We talked for a while down Gorham and State and I bought three oranges and a bag of cherries at the fruit stand.

We hugged and said goodbye.

I hope things go really really well for him. I think they will.

toes

2006-07-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

It's like I had funny toes. Like they were crooked and blistered and made me walk kind of funny. They probably had some weird hairs growing on them too. So I was like, "Hey, God, I really want some new feet. There's something not right about the one's I've got." As time went on, I saw gradual little changes here and there. That blister was getting a wee bit smaller and this toenail seemed to be growing again. And then one day I noticed that I was walking completely normal. I looked down and was like, "WHOA! CHECK OUT THOSE FEET!!!" They were beautiful. Not at all confused and messy and hairy like before. And so I plopped down on the sidewalk and brought my foot to my face- getting a closer look at the blisterless skin. "Wow!" I said as I played with my healthy little toes. "When did this happen?? How???" And of course I knew exactly how.

It's like that. Except it's my guts, really, and not my feet at all.

I was thinking about this last night as I smoked a pipe on the front stoop and blew thick smoke into the dark. It was a good thought.

train of thought

2006-06-30T13:14:00.000-07:00

I had a long morning before work in which I cleaned and organized and nibbled on coffee-soaked rusks. I ran accross all sorts of little treasures I had stashed away in a drawer and altoid tins. It made me want to find a little treasure box of sorts to put all the wonders in.

All afternoon, my fingers smelt like peanut butter. All afternoon until about 2 minutes ago when a visit to the lady's room forced me to wash my scented skin. It's kind of a shame, because those peanutbutter fingers reminded me of that wonderful peanut butter apple I had before work. It was a drippy, gooey, messy-sweet gorgeous apple. Now my skin smells like the scented soap they have in the bathroom. This particular soap reminds me of Norway, somehow. Which reminds me of last night when I was thinking about Norway. Which reminds me of the blog I was thinking about writing last night.

It was a good one.

But I think it will have to wait.

Because right now, all I feel like writing about are apples and peanutbutter fingers. And that will just have to do.

toast

2006-06-27T20:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I wanted toast.

The first inklings began sometime near the end of my Africa class. Little thoughts of toastletts began to run through my head. By Powers in SE Asia lecture, the thoughtlets transformed into a full on daydream. I wanted to wear a great skirt and make smiley-face toast in my toaster . I dreamt of this skirt wearing and toast making. I doodled pictures of toast and toasters (with sun shining on them) in my notebook.

When I got home, I threw the stuff in the bread machine. (clearly, you can't have toast without bread)

And this morning, I had toast. With cinnamon and sugar, no less.

I wasn't disappointed.

i was glad about you today.

2006-06-26T19:43:00.000-07:00

I think my favorite state of living is gratitude. And today I was grateful. As I nibbled on my raisins at work. As I walked up Bascom Hill to class. As I scribbled notes and doodled away. As I iPod-ed down State and watched the people walking by. As I saw the day turn from grey to blue.

Today I was grateful.

I was glad because I know You.

hop in the puddle

2006-06-26T07:44:00.000-07:00

HOPPIPOLLA (Sigur Ros)

Video Code provided by VideoCodeZone.Com

Og ég fæ blónasir
Og ég stend alltaf upp

(and I get nosebleed
and I always stand up.)

My sister blogged this and I loved it so much, I had to blog it too.

PS. Isn't Icelandic the coolest language ever?

this is me

2006-01-29T23:00:00.001-08:00

Hi. I'm Lindsey Alyce Girman. Welcome to my blog!

My cat, Eliot, and I currently live on East Side of Madison, Wisconsin. I like coffee and tea and fresh air. I love the seasons. I love change and adventure and wind. My favorite crayons are the green ones. My favorite roses are the white ones. I love a good talk, a good book, a good walk, and a good cry. Funny little things make me laugh. My friends are some of the dearest people in the world to me.

And God is my very dearest friend. I love Him more than I thought I could love anything. He brings me to life today. I hope you see His fingerprints on some of these pages.

Thanks for stopping by Life of a Loony. I hope your day is terrific.