I left Kj at the airport on Tuesday morning. My link to reality left on a noon flight to Utah. Soon Mom will be gone too and I feel like I am left alone on an island oasis with nothing but time... and plans. Oh the plans I've made. Not anything huge, but with the realization that I need to reconfigure my senses. (starting to sing song here.. silently.. to myself..) What better place than Washington? It's only been a couple days. I feel like a portion of me is lost in the newness of it all. It's hilarious to me the hatred I have for change, and yet I force it upon myself on so many occasions. Yes, they usually turn out okay. Not sure that Ogden was the best choice, but everything else has been okay. BUT!

I've been making a list in my head of things that make me grin like a fool:

-Books/Libraries/Bookstores: there was a moment when I was in Dublin on my British Literary Tour (BLT) that we went to Trinity College and saw the Book of Kells. On our way out, we passed through this doorway that I honestly assumed would be a gift shop or something. Yea, wrong... It was the rightly named, "Long Room." It seemed to go on for ages, with a high arched ceiling, and shelves upon shelves of books. I remember a spiral staircase to my left (i love these) and stopping while classmates filed around me to continue through. "Holy books, Batman." (yes, I did say that.) I had no idea what each book contained, but I know that they had to number into the millions. If I could have touched them, I would have. I continued going through this hallowed hall of information, sad to leave, and engraving this in my memory. Obviously this doesn't happen with every bookstore or library I enter, but there's always a moment that I have to stop and take in the sight before I jump into realms of possibility.

-Shows (meaning going and seeing my favorite bands play. Derek told me once that it's not a "concert" if there isn't assigned seating. We call them "shows."): There are those few people that have experienced my ridiculousness that ensues and the joy on my face when I'm there.. with the band, singing along with them. It's a high that takes a while to come down from. When I went and saw TCC with Bekki, it may or may not have taken a couple months. We're ridiculous and I love it. Last year I got to see Bayside, TCC, Spill Canvas, Sara Bareilles and a few others, but those were my tops

-Ferry boats: The biting cold and sea air on my face. Really great moments of reflection and excite the senses. I would ride back and forth just for that joy, if I could. I hope I never get sick of it. Although I could do without the seagulls. For some reason I have this ridiculous concern that they're taking aim to poop on passengers below. It would only be logical. Those small wins would be all they need. No, I've never been pooped on by a bird.

-Architecture: I spent a lot of time on the BLT going from cathedral to cathedral. Not gonna lie, it got a little daunting after a month of this, but holy smokes, I love buildings. Bridges too. Great architectural feats. I am in awe of their wonder, and the people that designed them.

-Thunderstorms: Sierra Vista, where I grew up, had some of the best monsoons I have ever known. Tons of rain pouring from the heavens, with a sky full of lightning and thunder booming.. I remember getting so excited and rushing to the sliding glass window to see, only to be thwarted by concerned parents and the possibility of lightning busting through the house. Also Dad's voice counting one-one thousand... two-one thousand; to figure out how far away it was. I haven't had a good storm since 2002.

-Jamming in the car: I don't understand how people remain so stationary while they drive. Particularly when by themselves. My confusion might come from my insistence on using that personal alone time to crank up my music and jam out to my good tunes and my ridiculous ones that I would never inflict on another human being, besides Christine. (example-Camp Rock) I'm always concerned about neighbors or roommates when at home, but in my car it's all mine. If my tunes happen to seep out of my car, which is a distinct possibility due to the volume, it doesn't matter because everyone else is in their vehicles. Potentially laughing at the girl singing at the top of her lungs at something they can't here, but hey... she's having a blast.

Which leads me to-Particular songs that also cause this joy:

The Coldest Heart by The Classic Crime

Hey Soul Sister by Train (yup. still gets me.. even now, DAYS later..)

Stand Out from A Goofy Movie (hello my childhood 101!!)

10,000 Nights by Alphabeat

Jump for my Love by The Pointer Sisters

(I'm sure there's more, but that's all I've got for now)

26 in one week. That does NOT make me smile by any means. I like being a quarter.