Fall 2012 | A Photo Entry

On Saturday night, Vic mentioned what he loves about fall.  The changing leaves.  Campfires.  The smell of the wet woods.  The fact you can tell there's actually a season change going on (even though it's been in the high 70s here all week and possibly snow next week.  The weather here is often indecisive).

This conversation reminded me that I had been wanting to take some pictures of campus in the fall.  The changing leaves are incredible against a cloudless sky.  So, despite being on-call, I took my phone, the on-call phone, and my camera and went out for a short walk on Monday.  These are the end results.  (Click to enlarge for a better view.)

100th Post

When I first began writing this blog, I never imagined I would reach 100 posts.  It's been a little over two years since I started this blog.

It started as my opinions on who should win different awards.  Then it morphed into figuring out who I am (which it always will be), and a slew of other things...
- Going to California.
- Interning in downtown Pittsburgh.
- My senior year of college, and figuring out what's next.  Well, sort of.
- Sharing pictures of my bulletin boards.
- My first date in years that turned into a relationship.
- Going to counseling.
- Wondering if I'd be in Wisconsin in a few months.
- Realizing graduation is less than 3 weeks away.  Thanks, Dad.
- Graduation.
- Spending a weekend with my best friend.
- Getting into graduate school.
- The start of graduate school.

...And those are just the highlights.

On Thursday, Vic and I will have been dating for 8 months.  He calls it the "dating but should be engaged" scenario.  He's my best friend and I adore everything about him, from his silly and sweet text messages to waking up with him on the nights he stays over.

Life is pretty awesome, I'm not going to lie.  Classes are still going well, although I'm ready for Thanksgiving break.  My fellow staff members this year are pretty great, the fellow Counselor Ed students are always willing to help the newbie, and my professors are really helpful.

The Pursuit of Happiness

Thomas Jefferson wrote about it in the Declaration of Independence.

Christopher Gardner wrote about it in a book that became an award winning movie.

A friend texted me at midnight, "I'm glad you've found happiness."

In the movie of the same name, Will Smith as Christopher Gardner says, "And I remember thinking how did he [Jefferson] know to put the pursuit part in there?  That maybe happiness is something that we can only pursue and maybe we can actually never have it."

But is there truly a pursuit to happiness?  Can we actually have it or do we really have to pursue it?  I don't think it's a pursuit.  Sure, happiness can be a lifelong journey, but if you spend your whole life looking for it, you'll be disappointed.

Happiness isn't having everything you dreamed you would.  It isn't leading a perfect life.  It isn't being a perfect person.  Perfection is impossible to achieve.  Happiness, I believe, is.  It's a culmination of all of those things that make us who we are and what gets us out of bed in the morning.

I am pursuing a Master of Education degree in a field that appeals to me more than I realized.  I'm employed by the university I attend.  My job is nowhere near perfect.  I feel burned out by it on some days, but it has its rewarding days, though.  I have an awesome family.  My friends are absolutely wonderful.

I'm dating the most incredible guy in the world, who I love more than anything.  My life is nowhere near perfect, but knowing that there are people in my life who care about me as much as I care about them, support my ventures, and are there for me as I am for them...

That's happiness.  It's not having the best of everything, it's making the best of what is given and appreciating it.

Humming a slightly varied tune

About a year ago, I wrote a post that is interesting to read now, considering what I've done in the time since.  At the time, I was looking at graduate schools that were pretty far from home.  Trying to decide where to apply, what I wanted to do with my life, etc.  As I was telling a friend, I barely remember anything from the first half of my senior year of college.  The second half was much more memorable.

You better believe it's true

You know I do ooh ooh I do

You better believe it's true

You know I do ooh ooh I do

I don't always make bulletin boards about STDs, but
when I do, they ruin childhood memories of Pokemon.

As I sit here today and type this, I have moved onto grad school, although for School Counseling.  The distance I moved for this grad school?  About fifty yards away from last year's residence hall into the one across the street.  And you know what?  I couldn't be happier.

My classes are going really well.  My Foundations class which is really interesting, even if a lot of work. Within a group in the class, we have to build a school counseling curriculum from the ground up.  I had no idea how much work it would be, and though I prefer solo work, it's going pretty well.  Another project we have in the same class is making a tri-fold poster (with a different group, although for this one, it's just me and a partner) for a mini-presentation/conference.  Although the class is more work than most, there aren't any tests in the class (which is wonderful).

Humming a slightly varied tune

Opposite angles of the moon

Buried in layers of ourselves

Leaves room for no one else

Developmental group is still somewhat dull, though it's getting better.  Having friends in the class helps, and we're also working on a presentation for that class.  I'm working with two classmates who I've only met this semester, and while it'll break me away from the comfort zone of working with people I know, it'll be a good thing.

Theory is still interesting, and I can't complain about having a perfect in the class either.  And, hey, the professor feeds us.  Can't ask for better than that.  Special Ed online is interesting, but I have to force myself to actually read the chapters.  In that class, we have to tape ourselves doing a lesson with another person.  The plus side of that project is that the person we do the lesson with doesn't have to be in the class.  Considering I know someone who has taken the class and done the same project... He'll be helping me with the lesson.

I believe it's true
Cause nothing matters when I'm all wrapped up in you
I believe it's true
Cause nothing matters when I'm all wrapped up in you

Badgerkitty and Bearcat

And that friend?  He's the sweetest, funniest, most caring guy in the world.  Yesterday marked seven months of dating, and between the silly nicknames and goofy antics and everything in between, I can't imagine my life without him.

Vic has asked if he could propose with a kitten or puppy instead of a ring on a few occasions.  Considering that neither of us has ever even considered breaking up with the other and we essentially live together, I told him I'd say yes no matter how he asks.

You better believe it's true

You know I do ooh ooh I do

You better believe it's true

You know I do ooh ooh I do

(PS:  We're going to name a cat we get together Adler.  Just because it's an awesome name for a cat.)

"True Romance," by Motion City Soundtrack from GO | Listen here