Date: September 22nd, 2010
I had a ton of "should've known" moments before I went over to Justin's dad's house for dinner last week. The first clue was when it got scheduled almost a week in advance. The next was when a significant portion of his family was there (his mom, his dad, his stepmom and his younger brother). The last, and perhaps most obvious of the hints was when Justin's stepmom, Brenda, told me to go sit down at the table so they could grill me. By then it was too late.
In truth, I tease, but I could tell how much they care about Justin and making sure he's happy. There's not much else to tell that isn't private, but that it was a new experience for me to sit down across the table from someone's parents and speak to them, adult to adult, about my choices. It was also a new experience to speak openly and honestly about the choices I'm making with Justin as a couple. Its not that I lied with previous boyfriends... I just didn't talk about it.
By the end of the evening I had the distinct feeling that all parties were rooting for the relationship to succeed. I knew Justin and I were. I know my parents were, in part because I'm around them so much and talk to them as openly as I do. After dinner, I could tell that Justin's family felt the same way. That's the kind of support that makes going from law student to lawyer much more manageable. You mean, we have to grow up at some point? And I was just starting to enjoy this pseudo-adulthood I'd been cultivating.
September 28, 2010
Day 258 - Calculate my Carbon Footprint
Date: September 21st, 2010
I have a what now? I was reading an environmental policy article between classes the other day and I stumbled until a calculate your own Carbon Footprint website. It seemed nifty enough to spend ten or so minutes on. Turns out my carbon footprint is big enough to be seen from space. I don't actually plan on spending too long on this entry because the great lesson of the day was that sometimes, given new information, there's simply nothing that can be done.
The site seems to offer forth the idea that if you know your carbon footprint, you can change it. Magically, with the power of knowledge, you'll stop producing as much smog as once before. Unfortunately for me, though my carbon footprint is admittedly bigger than I expected, there's nothing from my calculator that I could change. I already have mostly energy saving whatevers and I can't not drive my car as much as I do (since I have to commute to work). So other than a philosophical study of futility, there was little to be learned for the day.
My footprint is 60, by the way. In case anyone is interested in a comparison.
Have at it.
I have a what now? I was reading an environmental policy article between classes the other day and I stumbled until a calculate your own Carbon Footprint website. It seemed nifty enough to spend ten or so minutes on. Turns out my carbon footprint is big enough to be seen from space. I don't actually plan on spending too long on this entry because the great lesson of the day was that sometimes, given new information, there's simply nothing that can be done.
The site seems to offer forth the idea that if you know your carbon footprint, you can change it. Magically, with the power of knowledge, you'll stop producing as much smog as once before. Unfortunately for me, though my carbon footprint is admittedly bigger than I expected, there's nothing from my calculator that I could change. I already have mostly energy saving whatevers and I can't not drive my car as much as I do (since I have to commute to work). So other than a philosophical study of futility, there was little to be learned for the day.
My footprint is 60, by the way. In case anyone is interested in a comparison.
Have at it.
Day 257 - Spend a Day as a Vegan
Date: September 20th, 2010
Dear sweet holy mother of all that is good and righteous in this world, may I never come to believe that this was a good idea again. Seriously. First of all, whoever tried to say that the little soy-composite-wood-chip-dogs were a substitute for hot dogs can just go jump off a ginormous bridge. Secondly, rice-soy-cheese-substitute-cardboard is an affront to my very womanhood. Thirdly, well, just, ew.
Dear sweet holy mother of all that is good and righteous in this world, may I never come to believe that this was a good idea again. Seriously. First of all, whoever tried to say that the little soy-composite-wood-chip-dogs were a substitute for hot dogs can just go jump off a ginormous bridge. Secondly, rice-soy-cheese-substitute-cardboard is an affront to my very womanhood. Thirdly, well, just, ew.
Kill it! Kill it with fire!
Day 256 - Walk Through a Corn Maze
Date: September 19th, 2010
Corn mazes are, apparently, some sort of midwest staple. I didn't realize that until the corn got up higher than my eyebrows and suddenly every country road had sprouted a sign advertising one. I decided that absolutely had to be on the thing of the day list so as soon as the weather got crisp enough (cause it just doesn't seem right to have a muggy corn maze experience), Justin and I headed out to the nearest good sized one and started wandering around.
Corn mazes are, apparently, some sort of midwest staple. I didn't realize that until the corn got up higher than my eyebrows and suddenly every country road had sprouted a sign advertising one. I decided that absolutely had to be on the thing of the day list so as soon as the weather got crisp enough (cause it just doesn't seem right to have a muggy corn maze experience), Justin and I headed out to the nearest good sized one and started wandering around.
September 23, 2010
Day 255 - Entertain Someone's Parents at Home
Date: September 18th, 2010
I'm generally a social creature. I like hosting parties. I like going to parties. I enjoy the company of friends. That being said, one thing I've not done, by chance, was host a friend or boyfriend's parents in my home. Mainly because I've tended to lean on my folks for doing the hosting, but partly because, quite frankly, I just didn't feel established enough to do that before now. What I mean is that for the first time in my life, recently, I've really come to feel as though the age of the people I invite over doesn't matter. I've stopped worrying as much about being seen as a kid and started just enjoying how comfortable my place is to be at.
There's not much to tell about the actual entertaining. Justin's dad and stepmom came over to watch the Michigan game. It was wholly disappointing, despite Michigan pulling out the win. I love the Maize and Blue, I really do, but the game brought back horrible memories of last season. Michigan fans remember last season. When we roflstomped (its a technical term) the easier opponents and then lost basically every game after that? Yeah. I remember. I wept. Our defense is looking about the same as before. To my untrained eyes at least.
That being said, I greatly enjoyed the sense of solidarity that comes from watching the game with people. Don't get me wrong. PJ's, popcorn and my screaming at the television is another fantastic way to enjoy football; but none of my past boyfriends or boyfriend's families have really liked football before. And, you know, screaming at an inanimate object seems slightly less crazy when other people are there joining in the fun.
I'm generally a social creature. I like hosting parties. I like going to parties. I enjoy the company of friends. That being said, one thing I've not done, by chance, was host a friend or boyfriend's parents in my home. Mainly because I've tended to lean on my folks for doing the hosting, but partly because, quite frankly, I just didn't feel established enough to do that before now. What I mean is that for the first time in my life, recently, I've really come to feel as though the age of the people I invite over doesn't matter. I've stopped worrying as much about being seen as a kid and started just enjoying how comfortable my place is to be at.
There's not much to tell about the actual entertaining. Justin's dad and stepmom came over to watch the Michigan game. It was wholly disappointing, despite Michigan pulling out the win. I love the Maize and Blue, I really do, but the game brought back horrible memories of last season. Michigan fans remember last season. When we roflstomped (its a technical term) the easier opponents and then lost basically every game after that? Yeah. I remember. I wept. Our defense is looking about the same as before. To my untrained eyes at least.
That being said, I greatly enjoyed the sense of solidarity that comes from watching the game with people. Don't get me wrong. PJ's, popcorn and my screaming at the television is another fantastic way to enjoy football; but none of my past boyfriends or boyfriend's families have really liked football before. And, you know, screaming at an inanimate object seems slightly less crazy when other people are there joining in the fun.
September 22, 2010
Day 254 - Smoke a Hookah
Date: September 17th, 2010
When did hookahs get cool? Has this always been a thing or did it just happen? Because it seems to me that, having never heard of them, I was in the majority for most of my childhood. Then, when I went away to college, they were just everywhere. People I'd only met once before were asking me if I wanted to go smoke a hookah. Assuming that it was an offer of illegal drugs, I politely declined. Seriously. At least once I did the "no thanks, I'm not into that stuff", assuming that hookah was cool new college lingo for pot. So imagine my surprise when, after walking past it for five years completely oblivious, I realized that there was a hookah bar inside my favorite Ann Arbor cafe.
When did hookahs get cool? Has this always been a thing or did it just happen? Because it seems to me that, having never heard of them, I was in the majority for most of my childhood. Then, when I went away to college, they were just everywhere. People I'd only met once before were asking me if I wanted to go smoke a hookah. Assuming that it was an offer of illegal drugs, I politely declined. Seriously. At least once I did the "no thanks, I'm not into that stuff", assuming that hookah was cool new college lingo for pot. So imagine my surprise when, after walking past it for five years completely oblivious, I realized that there was a hookah bar inside my favorite Ann Arbor cafe.
September 21, 2010
Day 253 - Fold a Fortune Teller
Date: September 16th, 2010
When I was in grade school, I was the chick that always wanted to go play with the boys outside instead of sitting around and combing the hair off my dollies. Consequently, I did not fit in when I lived in Indiana. I was there during the prime, future-predicting years of my life. No, I'm not talking about the years when you form into the person you're going to become and walk in the mold you've created until adulthood. No no no. I'm talking about the years when gaggles of giggling girls scouts sit around and talk about what kind of house they're going to live in and how their rich, handsome husband is going to be a millionaire. Or maybe that's just Indiana.
When I was in grade school, I was the chick that always wanted to go play with the boys outside instead of sitting around and combing the hair off my dollies. Consequently, I did not fit in when I lived in Indiana. I was there during the prime, future-predicting years of my life. No, I'm not talking about the years when you form into the person you're going to become and walk in the mold you've created until adulthood. No no no. I'm talking about the years when gaggles of giggling girls scouts sit around and talk about what kind of house they're going to live in and how their rich, handsome husband is going to be a millionaire. Or maybe that's just Indiana.
September 20, 2010
Day 252 - Learn my Name in Arabic
Date: September 15th, 2010
There was little to the actual experience for today, but having seen my name written in Chinese and hieroglyph (I've had an interesting childhood), I wanted to see what it would look like in Arabic.
There was little to the actual experience for today, but having seen my name written in Chinese and hieroglyph (I've had an interesting childhood), I wanted to see what it would look like in Arabic.
كريستين
So pretty.
I found a lovely site that contained translations of most common names in English and their corresponding Arabic versions. It was a nice reminder of how beautiful language can be. English doesn't always display the pure, intricate poetry that language has to offer. I mean, not with words like aardvark and doppelganger. Seriously, English? Come on!
I already liked my name, but seeing it in Arabic reminded me how beautifully language can display a thought, action or person to the world
September 19, 2010
Day 251 - Watch a Silent Film
Date: September 14th, 2010
There are very few things that truly shock me anymore. After being caught off guard at the amazingness of, well, most of the world, this past year; I'm finding it harder and harder to be completely awe-inspired by things. Perhaps is that I've moved onto slightly less glorious pursuits than at the beginning of the year. Or maybe the shine's off the silverware, so to speak. Either way, I found myself truly expecting to be utterly and completely bored on Tuesday evening as I walked to Cosi to meet up with Tim, Christine and Ingrid.
There are very few things that truly shock me anymore. After being caught off guard at the amazingness of, well, most of the world, this past year; I'm finding it harder and harder to be completely awe-inspired by things. Perhaps is that I've moved onto slightly less glorious pursuits than at the beginning of the year. Or maybe the shine's off the silverware, so to speak. Either way, I found myself truly expecting to be utterly and completely bored on Tuesday evening as I walked to Cosi to meet up with Tim, Christine and Ingrid.
September 16, 2010
Day 250 - Join a Weight Loss Challenge
Date: September 13th, 2010
As a general rule, I prefer dieting alone. I have come to realize that this is probably self-defeating behavior. See, I don't like other people knowing my weight (who does) and I'm not a fan of people knowing when I mess up; though a full year of being a beginner at everything is helping rid me of that concern. In any case, the main reason I generally exercised and dieted alone was that when I inevitably messed up, there was no one there to judge me. Yeah, I know, mildly embarrassing to admit, but what good is a year of self-reflection if not to examine traits like this?
What I realized a couple days ago is that I never had a particular reason to diet before. One of the old sayings about diets goes that you need to hate your body more than you love food. That axiom vastly underestimates the extent to which I adore, nay, worship at the alter of bacon. More than that, I've always been a confident person despite not being, ya know, a looker. So I never had that momentary feeling of worthlessness that made me proud put down the fries and declare myself a slave to food no more.
Recently, I realized that I do have a reason to diet. A big one. One of the many places I'm applying to work is with the Judge Advocate General. You know how, when you're applying to school, there are stretch schools and safety schools? Well, JAG is one of my stretch schools. Its also an area of legal practice that I find incredibly interesting and fulfilling and that I would be insanely giddy to get a chance at. As I started to put together my applications for law firms, clerkships, fellowships and JAG, I ran into a wall I never expected. JAG has a fitness requirement.
Who'd have thunk it? I certainly didn't. But it became the clearest motivator I've ever had. I can be a clerk without being a looker. I can have a fellowship without being able to pull off a micro-mini and a tank top (in fact, its probably better that way). But even if I have a stellar interview, wow the military-grade socks off the recruiters and prove myself utterly and completely worthy of the job; I still can't work there if I'm out-of-shape.
So I bit the embarrassment bullet and signed myself up on a site called FatSecret. There are tons of fitness challenges, weigh-ins, recipe sharing and other nifty tools to guilt and shame our collective fatness into collective fitness. Hopefully that works, because even now, before its an issue, I can tell what kind of shame I will feel if I lose an incredible opportunity over a cheeseburger and fries.
As a general rule, I prefer dieting alone. I have come to realize that this is probably self-defeating behavior. See, I don't like other people knowing my weight (who does) and I'm not a fan of people knowing when I mess up; though a full year of being a beginner at everything is helping rid me of that concern. In any case, the main reason I generally exercised and dieted alone was that when I inevitably messed up, there was no one there to judge me. Yeah, I know, mildly embarrassing to admit, but what good is a year of self-reflection if not to examine traits like this?
What I realized a couple days ago is that I never had a particular reason to diet before. One of the old sayings about diets goes that you need to hate your body more than you love food. That axiom vastly underestimates the extent to which I adore, nay, worship at the alter of bacon. More than that, I've always been a confident person despite not being, ya know, a looker. So I never had that momentary feeling of worthlessness that made me proud put down the fries and declare myself a slave to food no more.
Recently, I realized that I do have a reason to diet. A big one. One of the many places I'm applying to work is with the Judge Advocate General. You know how, when you're applying to school, there are stretch schools and safety schools? Well, JAG is one of my stretch schools. Its also an area of legal practice that I find incredibly interesting and fulfilling and that I would be insanely giddy to get a chance at. As I started to put together my applications for law firms, clerkships, fellowships and JAG, I ran into a wall I never expected. JAG has a fitness requirement.
Who'd have thunk it? I certainly didn't. But it became the clearest motivator I've ever had. I can be a clerk without being a looker. I can have a fellowship without being able to pull off a micro-mini and a tank top (in fact, its probably better that way). But even if I have a stellar interview, wow the military-grade socks off the recruiters and prove myself utterly and completely worthy of the job; I still can't work there if I'm out-of-shape.
So I bit the embarrassment bullet and signed myself up on a site called FatSecret. There are tons of fitness challenges, weigh-ins, recipe sharing and other nifty tools to guilt and shame our collective fatness into collective fitness. Hopefully that works, because even now, before its an issue, I can tell what kind of shame I will feel if I lose an incredible opportunity over a cheeseburger and fries.
September 13, 2010
Days 239-249: Lots of Stuff
First, a note on what the diddly is going on. The last ten days have taught me a completely different lesson than I ever expected to learn. That is that no matter how amazing, how life changing, how uplifting a project is... eventually things get difficult. I'm nearing the home stretch. There are only about 100 days left until the end of the year and contrary to what I thought back in January... I'm still not sure I'll be able to finish. I figured if I made it to August I'd know I could do it. Now... not so much. Largely because I've discovered the ability to love something and hate it at the same time. I long for the familiar. I want to spend a day just doing things I'm good at instead of knowing I'm going to be a beginner, yet again.
As such, while I've hung in there, keeping up with blog entries has become a bit tiresome for me. I'm guessing that doesn't shock anyone who got used to daily updates and now is stuck with my once weekly push to catch up. Rather than subject myself and y'all to ten days of relatively mundane experiences with even more mundane lessons, I'm going to do a speed catch up (about a paragraph per day) and see if I can clean slate my way through the next 115 days. Wish me luck!
As such, while I've hung in there, keeping up with blog entries has become a bit tiresome for me. I'm guessing that doesn't shock anyone who got used to daily updates and now is stuck with my once weekly push to catch up. Rather than subject myself and y'all to ten days of relatively mundane experiences with even more mundane lessons, I'm going to do a speed catch up (about a paragraph per day) and see if I can clean slate my way through the next 115 days. Wish me luck!
Day 238 - Go Ziplining
Date: September 1st, 2010
As I drove back up through Ohio, thinking to myself "gosh, I wonder if there's anything good about this state", I realized that there had to be something. I know, I know, my Michigan colors are showing, but seriously.... what the heck Ohio? Other than astronauts... what is there? Apparently there is also Ziplining, and it was incredible!
As I drove back up through Ohio, thinking to myself "gosh, I wonder if there's anything good about this state", I realized that there had to be something. I know, I know, my Michigan colors are showing, but seriously.... what the heck Ohio? Other than astronauts... what is there? Apparently there is also Ziplining, and it was incredible!
September 10, 2010
School is Hard
Hi all!
I know I got so close to being caught up, just to slip behind again. For those who don't know, this week was the first week of the last semester of law school for me. Keeping up with doing a new thing each day has been almost impossible, but I'm proud to say that I haven't slipped yet. I have, however, slipped on entries. My plan is to catch up this weekend, but only time will tell if that actually happens.
Hang in there and I promise new delights and joy as soon as is humanly possible!
~Ms. Pallaton
I know I got so close to being caught up, just to slip behind again. For those who don't know, this week was the first week of the last semester of law school for me. Keeping up with doing a new thing each day has been almost impossible, but I'm proud to say that I haven't slipped yet. I have, however, slipped on entries. My plan is to catch up this weekend, but only time will tell if that actually happens.
Hang in there and I promise new delights and joy as soon as is humanly possible!
~Ms. Pallaton
September 7, 2010
Day 237 - Go Zorbing
Date: August 31st, 2010
Perhaps the most ridiculous thing on the list for this year was something called Zorbing. I assumed that I wouldn't get a chance to do it since, well, its only found in one place in the entire country and that place is Tennessee. Having never been to Tennessee and not having had much free time until just recently, Zorbing was high on the hopes list and low on the priorities list.
Perhaps the most ridiculous thing on the list for this year was something called Zorbing. I assumed that I wouldn't get a chance to do it since, well, its only found in one place in the entire country and that place is Tennessee. Having never been to Tennessee and not having had much free time until just recently, Zorbing was high on the hopes list and low on the priorities list.
September 6, 2010
Day 236 - Visit the Creation Museum
Date: August 30th, 2010
I decided to take a few days to let what I saw at the Creation Museum simmer a bit before writing about it. Having been an atheist for most of my younger days, then agnostic, then Christian and now some odd liberal mish-mash of evangelical Christian and randomly spiritual (because Jesus is, like, awesome, dude), I really had no idea what I was in for when I decided to go to the museum. For anyone who doesn't know, the Creation Museum was founded by Answers in Genesis as part of their campaign to bring Creationist thought into the mainstream. Now, I'm Christian. I believe wholeheartedly in Christ, God, the Trinity and all sorts of other whatnot and whodunits. But one thing I never, really for even a moment, believed in, was Creationism. Mainly for that reason, going to to Creation Museum was a step outside of my comfort zone.
I decided to take a few days to let what I saw at the Creation Museum simmer a bit before writing about it. Having been an atheist for most of my younger days, then agnostic, then Christian and now some odd liberal mish-mash of evangelical Christian and randomly spiritual (because Jesus is, like, awesome, dude), I really had no idea what I was in for when I decided to go to the museum. For anyone who doesn't know, the Creation Museum was founded by Answers in Genesis as part of their campaign to bring Creationist thought into the mainstream. Now, I'm Christian. I believe wholeheartedly in Christ, God, the Trinity and all sorts of other whatnot and whodunits. But one thing I never, really for even a moment, believed in, was Creationism. Mainly for that reason, going to to Creation Museum was a step outside of my comfort zone.
September 2, 2010
The Rolling Hills of... Umm... Middle America
Hi all!
Some people may already be aware, but I took a brief excursion for days 236-238 that included some of the things I'd be meaning to do since the beginning. Those entries should be posted by tomorrow so, ya know, don't get antsy. I thought I'd give the teaser though, just, you know, to keep people tantalized and whatnot.
And now... sleep. Entries tomorrow.
~Ms. Pallaton
Some people may already be aware, but I took a brief excursion for days 236-238 that included some of the things I'd be meaning to do since the beginning. Those entries should be posted by tomorrow so, ya know, don't get antsy. I thought I'd give the teaser though, just, you know, to keep people tantalized and whatnot.
And now... sleep. Entries tomorrow.
~Ms. Pallaton
September 1, 2010
Day 235 - Powerwash a Deck
Date: August 29th, 2010
One of the things I've always wished for, my whole life, was that things in my life would just clean themselves. I so greatly prefer to be surrounded by clean things, but boy do I hate the actual process of cleaning them. First of all, its gross. Those things are dirty. Think about it. Second of all, its hard. Well, harder than watching TV and wishing, at least.
One of the things I've always wished for, my whole life, was that things in my life would just clean themselves. I so greatly prefer to be surrounded by clean things, but boy do I hate the actual process of cleaning them. First of all, its gross. Those things are dirty. Think about it. Second of all, its hard. Well, harder than watching TV and wishing, at least.
Day 234 - Watch a Marx Bros. Movie
Date: August 28th, 2010
I have tended to avoid doing things that are just slight variations on things I've already done. At the beginning of things I told people I wouldn't go eat at the Olive Garden in Ypsi and count it because I hadn't been to that location before. I made a few exceptions for particularly interesting or unusual variations. I counted authentic pizza and Ethiopian food because those are more than just variations - they are unique and untested. They present an opportunity for a new experience. Such was the case with watching a Marx Brothers movie.
I have tended to avoid doing things that are just slight variations on things I've already done. At the beginning of things I told people I wouldn't go eat at the Olive Garden in Ypsi and count it because I hadn't been to that location before. I made a few exceptions for particularly interesting or unusual variations. I counted authentic pizza and Ethiopian food because those are more than just variations - they are unique and untested. They present an opportunity for a new experience. Such was the case with watching a Marx Brothers movie.
Day 233 - Have my Initials Carved into a Heart in a Tree
Date: August 27th, 2010
Friday was an absolutely beautiful day. After a round trip to Lansing to finish some paperwork, I wanted nothing to do with the indoors, computers, work or cars. So Justin and I went to the arb for a little while. He'd never been, which, given my current proclivities, made me all the most insistent that we go as soon as possible. I've come to really adore showing people new things and convincing them to do new things. Other than drugs. I have no desire to convince people to try drugs.
Friday was an absolutely beautiful day. After a round trip to Lansing to finish some paperwork, I wanted nothing to do with the indoors, computers, work or cars. So Justin and I went to the arb for a little while. He'd never been, which, given my current proclivities, made me all the most insistent that we go as soon as possible. I've come to really adore showing people new things and convincing them to do new things. Other than drugs. I have no desire to convince people to try drugs.
Day 232 - Run Out of Gas
Date: August 26th, 2010
Some days are amazing, but have no obvious lesson. Others have an obvious lesson and are, well, less than delightful. Such was the case last Thursday. I planned on doing one of my at home kits for a new thing (I still have a paint by number gathering dust and waiting to be ceremonially broken out) once i got home from work, but that was not to be. As part of my job, sometimes I have to do what are called "court runs". That's the generic term for any time someone has to leave the office to drop something off, pick something up or file something. I was dropping off an overnight request for documents at an office complex that turned out to be in the middle of East Deliverance Nowhere.
Some days are amazing, but have no obvious lesson. Others have an obvious lesson and are, well, less than delightful. Such was the case last Thursday. I planned on doing one of my at home kits for a new thing (I still have a paint by number gathering dust and waiting to be ceremonially broken out) once i got home from work, but that was not to be. As part of my job, sometimes I have to do what are called "court runs". That's the generic term for any time someone has to leave the office to drop something off, pick something up or file something. I was dropping off an overnight request for documents at an office complex that turned out to be in the middle of East Deliverance Nowhere.
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