Read the Iliad and die...

‎"If the world becomes pagan and perishes, the last man left alive would do well to quote The Iliad and die." - G.K. Chesterton

These past few days have hurt a little bit.

(Warning this is the part that may sound like whining...I'm very sorry if it does.)

As I walked away from graduation day, a degree (cover...haha...I have the real thing now) in my hand with words of inspiration and congratulations ringing in my ears this is not what I pictured.

I didn't picture living in this attic the entire summer.
I thought I would have a job...9-5 with the weekends off.
I thought I would have a few things figured out by now.

But I don't.
And that hurts.
I've been disappointed with myself many times this summer.

And yet life is good. I do have things to be thankful for. And mixed in with my pleas of desperation to God I have twice as many things to praise him for...

Yet I have no idea what I'm doing. Some days I feel feel very grown-up. Some days I'm coping a little better than a 5 year old. I feel like I have my old blankey in one hand and my resume and car insurance policy in the other.

But today I accomplished something. It was my 6 week basic cake decorating class. They are mailing me a (according to my instructor) frame-worthy certificate. And if nothing else I will look back at this summer and know that I accomplished how to make something called a shaggy mum.

That makes it hurt a little less.

So I just got back from two of my best friend's wedding...
Amy Gardner finally went and married that Nate Nyeholt.
Amy Nyeholt.
A little weird. :)
Amy Nyeholt....

I will have to remember that.

It was a fantastic wedding...kind of simple...yet really elegant...and a little bit disorganized...simply put it was an Amy kind of wedding.

And the Nyeholts are just about the nicest people ever.


What a crazy thing. To see two people bind themselves to each other for the rest of their lives. Kinda crazy but a really, really beautiful idea.


So congrats Amy and Nate! I'll see you in 'Quip!

Mumford and Sons.

Noah and the Whale.

Laura Marling.

Thoughts?

I don't know what most people experience post graduation. I, myself, am living with my best friend, sleeping on a pineapple couch (which is comfy!), eating turkey on wheat, and looking through job listing after job listing. I think I'm living the dream.

No really...don't doubt me...I'm lovin' this. I don't mind that I'm unemployed...its actually kind of nice NOT to have a schedule to work around...although I will need money sometime soon.

I would imagine this is what most people do post graduation. Although SOME people coughengineerscough seem to make out pretty well in the job world. I don't think I belong in the job world. I would love to see myself working for some small creative company...that does something great. They would be community minded...flexible...FUN...engaging...and a family. I would L.O.V.E that! What better way to spend my time? Thus far I've only applied to corporate type positions but I'm keeping my eyes open.

And I'm PRAYIN'...man am I prayin'! I would love for Jesus to swoop down and gave me the job of my dreams. I don't think that's going to happen...but I know he will give me some kind of direction. I could use some direction right now. I told my friend Rachel the other day that they best way to describe my life right now is that I'm "riding around aimless on the creeper bike through dark allies". I don't know what a creeper bike is but it sound good at the time!

That's the news from Lake Wobegon...where all the men are strong...all the women good looking...and all the children are above average.

Graduation

It's official...I've been kicked out of Geneva College.

Well...actually I've graduated. WOO!

Supposedly I have a degree in Visual Communications.

Ha ha...what does THAT mean?

The air is heavy with moisture...Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros are play "Home" in the background...one friend is snapping pictures...one is playing Gameboy...one is alternating between frantically typing and snapping her fingers...and the other is reading some small, black book. Oh beautiful day.

This is my prescription for a good Sunday. Take a dose...I guarantee healing from whatever ails you.

Amy was just talking about the privilege of having and knowing her friends. I like this. It's more than just something happenstance that makes you have friends and love them. I'm over-flooded with good friends. Thanks friends.

Ryan Adams-Wonderwall...Cat Stevens-If You Want to Sing Out...Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros-Home...Johnny Cash-Hurt...Play list thus far for this Sunday.

The thrill, the adventure, the dust...ROGER'S FLEA MARKET!!!
Being that it is Friday, that I love avoiding school work, that is it (dare I say it?) sunny outside, and that Meg also wanted to go it was a perfect day for a a little mini road trip...

So I now present...

Observations From Roger's...Kettie's Official Field Notes

I love anything mini sized. I really, honestly do. Oddly enough mini stuff is always over priced.

You give me a good deal and I almost cannot turn it down. That is why I now own 12 metal mint green trays. $2.00!!!! Whoa! That is also the reason I know own my very own apple peeler/corer. $6.00!!! And some lady gave me a free book...a step-by-step sewing book. Woo! I do love a good deal...

Dust paths make for dusty toes.

There were two men in business suits there. It made me laugh. They didn't really look like the Roger's type.

There were a ton of people there. A ton...which made me wonder why they didn't have to work or something on a Friday.

...Now for a weekend of duty. Sigh.

"Screw this crying thing". So yes, those un-poetic words did come out of my mouth (and no I'm not proud of the crudeness of them) BUT that is sort of how I feel. It is kind of a sentimental time in my life. I'm saying goodbye to a place that has been a pretty good home for me for the past three years to swap it for a home I don't have yet. That, my friends, is kind of weird.

I like the idea of graduating. It's...I don't know...such a sort of accomplishment. And I get to wear one of those ultra stylish square-cardboard covered with cloth-black hats and a long flowing robe. I'm mean seriously, those robes are comfy! I also get to parade in front of a bunch of people's family and friends so that my family and friends can cheer for the 1.2 seconds while I grab my diploma. Woo. It's also nice to be (almost! ah) done with schoolwork (until I realize sometime down the road that you need a masters to do anything cool). But I'm going to freakin' miss my "family" here.

When you talk to anyone that attended Geneva they will tell you, "I loved the people." And it is SO TRUE! I do love these people...a lot, and that makes it hard for me to move on. And I'm super, super entrenched here...one guy put it so well when he was talking about leaving. He used the analogy of a button being sewed to a coat. While you were at Geneva and you only went to class, had a few friends and ate at the dining hall you wouldn't have a lot of strings to attaching you to the coat...thus is would be easier to snip those few ties and move on. BUT if you are involved here...such as being an RA...doing theater...having a ton of friends...working on campus...getting to know your proffs...etc...then there are a TON of strings to snip when you leave. Let me tell you...it's going to be hard. The cool thing is that I've got an entire world that I can go conquer...and believe me I want to. God has placed big dreams on my little heart and I'm going for 'em.

So this is just me musing and thinking out loud. If you are a Geneva person reading this...I love you and I will miss you.

Everyone else...if you want to give me a job...I'll be around. :)

Lonely Places

Coming home from very lonely places, all of us go a little mad: whether from great personal success, or just an all-night drive, we are the sole survivors of a world no one else has ever seen.

- John le Carre