Running...

You know how you don't always know how much something means to you until it's gone? Well, I think that sometimes you don't realize how much you missed something until it is back.

I was on Cross Country for two years and Track & Field for one. [I hated track, I just had to mention that to show how much running had been a part of my life.] Yes, I missed Cross Country this fall--the early Saturday mornings, pasta parties, bagels, Mulan, gatorade... but I didn't realize how much I'd missed actually running until this week.

Saturday I started running again on my own. Then Sunday Amy and I ran together. Amy and I ran together four times this week. Ahhh I love it! I feel so much better now that I have the energy going, the good hormones flowing! We ran to Greektown yesterday and it reminded me of the 2nd run I ever did on one of our XC runs. I remember that day was in the late summer, it was Alec, Coach Morgan, and me, and I was sooo slow and it was sooo hot and I had to go around all the people walking down the streets of Greektown. But I felt so good ABOUT myself, because I was doing something good FOR myself.

Ahhh I'm so glad I'm running again, and I'm so glad I have a running partner!! YAY!!!

Love, Grace

"Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a lion or a gazelle-when the sun comes up...you''d better be running."

One Flew East, One Flew West...

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

So today I finished Ken Kesey's classic American novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. This tells the story of R.P. McMurphy, a sane man in a mental institution in Oregon, through the eyes of one of the patients in his ward. This novel, written from the knowledge that Kesey gained from working the night shift of a mental hospital, is extremely gripping and articulate. McMurphy is a hero, a Christ-figure. I was extremely displeased by the ending of this book, but it was necessary for the book to have any meaning. I could go on and on about how upset I am about the way this book ended, but that would spoil all the details for those who have yet to read it, like my friend Clarence. Anyway, I just wanted to post some of my frustration and admiration on my page.

Love,

Grace

10 Things I Hate About You

The Taming of the Shrew and anything based off it will always hold a place in my heart.

Last year in Brit Lit we read The Taming of the Shrew in class and then watched two movie versions of it. This past fall I was in Kiss Me, Kate, a musical based off this Shakespeare play. Two nights ago, my friend and I watched 10 Things I Hate About You, a film also based on The Taming of the Shrew. Throughout the movie there are numerous Shrew references. This film, starring Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles is now my favorite movie.

I hate the way you talk to me and the way you cut your hair
I hate the way you drive my car, I hate it when you stare.
I hate your big dumb combat boots and the way you read my mind.
I hate you so much it makes me sick-it even makes me rhyme.
I hate the way you're always right, I hate it when you lie.
I hate it when you make me laugh, even more when you make me cry.
I hate it that you're not around. And the fact that you didn't call.
But most of all I hate the way I don't hate you-not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all.

Snackers

I'm a snacker.
You probably are too.

Do you have to be eating something all day?
I know so many people who always have to be chomping on something... it just feels better when you have something to do. It's a distraction.

I sometimes eat in the morning.
I eat on the phone.
I eat while walking.
I eat while sitting.
I eat while talking.
I eat dinner.
Sometimes I eat lunch.
But I'm always eating.
I always need something to snack on.

Snackers.

I Know Things Now

Here's a song from my favorite musical-- Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim
This song is sung by Little Red Riding Hood after she escapes from the wolf.

Eww...

So I just found something that I didn't even think was possible.

I just found a work that I wrote, published online on teenink.com. I had to try to get my work published for my final in Creative Writing. It was my worst piece of the whole semester and I can't believe it was published. That really disgusts me. Eww.

I feel the need to blog...

I don't know what about exactly. I just need to write. It's 4:36 A.M. in Chicago on March 2, 2009. It's Dr. Seuss' birthday. It's my friend's birthday as well. He's 18 today. It's a big day. Today is a year since I got my class ring. Today is also a year since Jonathan and I officially decided to go to Junior Prom together. I'm hungry. I'm going to eat the leftovers from my breakfast yesterday... it was sooo good =] Today my room is cleaner than it was yesterday. Today I'm almost finished with my homework. Today I'm still impressed with something I read yesterday. Today I still have the $20 I made waitressing on Saturday. Today I wish I was a better person, but I know that I am doing well, working towards that goal. Today I know that I am a forgiving person. And I love that about myself. Today I think I'm beautiful, that the world is beautiful, that God is beautiful, and that God made everything beautiful for a reason. Last night, I did what Bing said to do in White Christmas: "When I'm worried, and I can't sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep, and I fall asleep counting my blessings." I have sooooooooooooo MANY FLIPPING BLESSINGS. THANK YOU GOD.
Love,
Grace