Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, and Kevin Arnold

[If you're short on time, skip the following paragraph and insert "long, busy day with greasy hair."]

rekindling the flame? - or - roasting perfect marshmallows over glowing embers

Warning: LONG post.

I learned something today, something about the difference between some things, and it's got me thinking about which is more important.

For the past few months, I haven't exactly felt excited -- about anything. I'm trying to mark this as temperance and perhaps even emotional maturity, all the while fearing that the inevitable has finally happened (and at such an early age, too). I've finally become a jaded adult. I'm not young and full of energy, I'm not chomping at the bit to save all humankind from evil and injustice. I'm not even bursting with joy over my new-found freedoms in the land of opportunity. I just live my life every day and try not to screw anything up, which usually isn't a complete success or a complete failure, either. I guess that's normal.

What happened to the just-two-years-ago me? What happened to "Everybody come! Let's make a difference in the world! Let's hold hands and sing the latest Hillsongs album around a campfire!" That person is utterly and completely gone. Checked out. What happened?! I was so excited! Why don't I feel like small animals are jumping around behind my abs anymore? Have I lost my spirituality? In a recent [heretical] sermon I was even warned about the danger of having the Holy Spirit "depart from me." Oh dear! Is that the problem? Did it leak out of my ear?

nail salons, etc.

“Oh, ignore that call...”

I tried not to stare at the woman two chairs over from me, tried not to let on that I was listening to her one-sided conversation. The young Vietnamese lady barely glanced up from painting toenails, but I couldn’t ignore the awkward silence and her phone still ringing. Were the other Asians, my sister, and my mother thinking the same thing? That no matter how much you need to relax, it’s rude to ignore phone calls from your daughter and proclaim it for the whole nail salon to hear, while you sit on your massage chair throne with cotton stuffed between your toes?

what exactly does that mean?

I've decided some people just don't think about what they're saying. These are mostly things often said to people like myself, people who are young and unattached and doing well just to eat a balanced meal every couple of days.

Dear Timothy...

For the past month or so I've been studying 1 Timothy, as well as chewing on some things that have bothered me for awhile -- things that I think are more like issues, and not inconsequential.
*This post is long, but it's not a rant, I promise.

rant. shameless rant.

Before you read this, I want you to know that I don't hate being single. I enjoy sitting on my couch at night with a good book and a cup of hot tea (or pint of ice cream). I don't mind the freedom to do what I want, when I want, and with whom I want. I love the solitude, the chance to finally catch my breath and figure out who I am when nobody's watching. BUT it seems that people my age are starting to think they should get married. I guess that's not a bad idea, if that's what you're into.

Here's my question: What exactly qualifies a person to make this decision? Because when I look around at the people I know who are committing their lives to each other (not all of them, but some), I have to wonder what exactly it takes to be considered a good future spouse.

I log into facebook and see wedding pictures of a boy who in the fourth grade said "oh look, that homely girl can play the piano." And yes, he said that to my face. to. my. face. I know that was a long time ago and people do change, but let's face it, who you essentially are as a child doesn't change too terribly much. God may work in your life, but the self you will be fighting on the day you die is the same self you were born with. There are many exceptions, but people who aren't nice kids don't usually grow up to be especially kind adults, either.

And then there are the oddballs. You know, those people who are pathetically awkward and generally outcasts. The high-maintenance girl, the overbearing boy, the one who's dated 6 people in the last two years but is suddenly ready to settle down... Yet someone thinks it's a nice idea to live with them forever. Do you get my point? It just makes me wonder, that's all.

I know a lot of you really are made for each other, and I couldn't be happier for you. I don't think there's anything more beautiful in life than a healthy marriage; it's the ultimate picture of our relationship with Christ. I hope one day I have the joy of being a wife, and even now I'm learning to be a better Bride to my Savior. Being perfect is by no means a requirement, because none of us are perfect. Thank God for grace and mercy in dealing with me -- I need to show more of those in my relationships.

But seriously... Why all these crazy people gettin married to each other?!

Invitation!

Each lady should bring one item of necessity, entertainment, or absurdity to be exchanged in the style of your most awkward office party and/or Sunday School Christmas social. Possible gifts might include:

why I'm in love with my kitchen

If I remember correctly from my literary studies, a well-written Realist text attempts to recreate a sensory experience for the reader. The best of these texts activate all five senses. My kitchen is not a work of fiction, but you might call it both real and Realist.

(I survived for months without a microwave.)