in the middle of a dream this morning, i gradually woke up, becoming ever more aware that the rain i thought was happening in my dream was really outside my window. a torrential downpour hit my window, full of what sounded like hail and pure wrath, and then my alarm went off seconds later.

but it was a very serene and natural way to wake up--the alarm clock of nature.

i took shelter in memorial union for about an hour and by 9 a.m., the storm had passed. after the thunder clapping, lightning flashing, and what felt like gallons of water hitting my fragile rainbooted and umbrella-armed self, the sky cleared.

i was in awe that when i last stood outside i felt like nature and i were at war, and now, serenity. 

birds were chirping. birds. creatures smaller and seemingly more fragile than i am weren't affected by the storm and went back to singing their songs. 

it's nice to know we're taken care of so delicately.

Matthew 6:26-27  Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?

i think i've created a monster.

last night i was going for some granola at the store because i've been in the mood for yogurt parfaits for breakfast. well jonathan and i realized how expensive granola is. which was followed by: J "i bet it's pretty cheap to make. do you want to try?"

oats. wheat germ. brown sugar. maple syrup. honey. water. cinnamon. vegetable oil. raisins. dried fruit. and a little love and creativity.

that's what led us to make granola at 11:30 last night.

and my gross overestimate of how many oats were needed is what led us to have a lot of oats left over.

so today was granola making part 2: trail mix version.

it seems weird to make lots and lots of granola and trail mix. but it was fun to make for some reason. there's something kind of gratifying about making home-made versions of things. and it smells amazing while it bakes. if we make more batches, we're thinking about selling it and giving any profit to a cause that needs it.

 

so if you have a strong craving for delicious granola or trail mix, i can hook you up.

i like simplicity. some simple things that have brought me bits of joy today:

-new music: ingrid michealson's album be ok.

-trying a new coffee shop. jonathan and i studied at dunn bros. & emily was working, i had a great, long-lasting caramel frappe, and comprehended communication law notes that i was compiling for a test.

-a blouse i got from gap yesterday. its white with a green design and just the right amount of spring-like feeling to make this still freezing weather a little more bearable. and i've gotten really into blouses lately...

-now off to study at the artisan with sarah for a few hours--and i'm looking forward to watching sisterhood of the traveling pants 2 when i get home. 

i love simplicity. 

i had the great opportunity to get to hear ishmael beah speak on campus tonight. he is the author of a long way gone: memoirs of a boy soldier and i could simply listen to him speak for quite a while. here are the things i hope to take away from tonight:

--ishmael spoke about how for a while when he came to america he couldn't think about making plans or thinking past today. he was still in the mode of surviving. and that's a radical thought for me: the idea that so much of the world is consumed with survival rather than a hope of a future.

--ishmael's mother, laura simms (the woman who became his american mother once he moved here) spoke about the importance of a country's culture. and how so often when we focus on 'fixing' a place we think we can bring in our own ideas, when really we can focus on something within their own culture that worked and was a source of joy at one point and reignite that. culture, arts, etc. is a source of unity.

--it's always important to give context to stories. when they're left as just solitary cases people make assumptions and stereotypes. (always good to hear that as a journalist).

and it was just a good night of being reminded of the power of storytelling and how every person has a story, every story can change something about the world--whether miniscule in scope or larger than you could imagine--

What's your story, morning glory?

i've become more of a morning person this week. i love mondays, wednesdays and fridays because i don't have class until 11, which used to mean sleeping in. but this week i decided to make use of those early hours. and the artisan from 8:30 am - 10:45 am has become one of my favorite places and times of day. there's just enough people to not feel like it's just you and the barista, but still a quaint quietness in the place. it's me on a couch with some quiet reading time to start the day, and currently finishing off a delicious granola and berry yogurt parfait and an iced tea. cheers.

it was beautifully warm and sunny today. ( that is, tuesday)

just a small token of thanks.

For any fans of The City, The Hills, or any other similar "reality" show on MTV, you'll probably enjoy this link my brother sent me as much as I did. The District, starring Barack Obama. It was put together by Newsweek magazine. (PS. No, that is not Obama's voice. If you watch the whole thing, there is a credit at the end for who acted as his voice).

4:24: jonathan got his parachute hammock yesterday so we tried it out at the top of capen on this beautiful warm day. so great.

#1. i've oddly had this song in and out of my head for the past week, all because last week at veritas there was a picture on power point with a road sign that said 'turn around.' be warned, it is now on my top 5 weirdest/creepiest/what does this mean list of music videos.

#2. 

5:21: there are two  things i love about this time on mondays and wednesdays:

 i've just spent over an hour looking at pictures and learning about beautiful and interesting architecture

i catch the sun set on the quad with orange and red lights playing off of buildings

it was a weekend of sharing things i love with those that i love.

leigh anne and matt endured 12.5 hours of traveling by car 

(1.5 to break) 

to spend the weekend 

(or saturday...) 

in columbia. it was quick but it was lovely.

it was wonderful getting to show outsiders this city i call home for more than half of the year.

highlights of the tour included:

.campus, of course. i failed at having witty 

historical anecdotes to share as the tour guide, though.

.the artisan

.9th street. including: the mustard seed, blue stem, get lost bookstore

(pardon the blurryness, it was happy regardless.)

.addison's. =nachos bianco.

& the places and faces that make up my bit of columbia.