The Last of a First

Today is a momentous day in the life of Cheri.  Today was my last first-day of school, so I have decided it must be marked with an oversized blog post.

I am so excited to graduate but...realizing that all those things that I love about starting school (the crunch of leaves under new school shoes, the autumn smell, the apprehension of finding your classroom) made me just a little nostalgic.  I wanted to take some pictures of campus but they didn't turn out like I wanted so I will try again tomorrow.

The most exciting thing about today is that I am back in a routine.  I have started a Pilates/Yoga routine in the morning via a Netflix streaming workout video, followed by coffee and getting ready.  By the time I left for school at 9:45, I was feeling so ready.  The rest of my day was class, studying, and piano right up until now.  It is 6:15 PM and I am exhausted, which makes me really excited that I am going to get a good night's sleep tonight. And start all over again tomorrow!

Today my classes were Women's American History and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists.  Both seem like they are going to be great.  In Stats, we spent a little time talking about the probability that the recent falling satellite would have landed on one of us and I was wishing I would have had that lecture last week so I would have been a little less concerned. ;)

After school as I was walking to the bus stop, I had to get out of the way because there was a sidewalk parade heading right toward me!  You never know what you'll run into on the streets of Portland.  There is always some walk or protest for this or that.  Although this particular walk was memorable for the music and stilt-walkers, they only had one sign in front and all I could see was "March for..."  Someone was walking right in front of the last word!!  It made for quite an inefficient message.

My stove decided to quit (and damn near electrocuted me last night), and I wasn't about to have sandwiches for two meals today, so I planned to treat myself to some pho (Vietnamese noodle soup).  But the restaurant I like was closed today!  It worked out great though because across the street is a creperie that I have been meaning to try but I always forget about.  I had the most amazing swiss, spinach crepe with a fried egg on top and a side salad for my lunch.  It was so delicious and I can't wait to go back (maybe next time for dessert)!



I have been watching the Masterpiece Theater's mini-series version of Charles Dickens' Bleak House so I think I'll be finishing up my night with that.  Here's to a perfect last first-day of school!

Balancing

I feel like writing today.  I feel that maybe I should keep my thoughts locked away in a secret journal somewhere for only posterity to dig up, but it's 2011 so I'm joining the rest of the world in spilling my guts in a public way.

One year from now, I will be married, living in a different apartment in a different city (maybe), graduated from school, and (hopefully) interning for the start of a long-term career.  All of these things are exciting on their own, which makes their combination feel like a big ball of nervous and excited anxiety.

I spend a good amount of time planning, day-dreaming and wanting that future.  I know this is largely due to the fact that I have a break from school right now and a lot more time to think, but lately I feel like I might be borderline obsessive.

Today I am giving myself a wake-up call.  I don't want to miss this year.  If I look at it a different way...this is my last year to live on Hawthorne, my last year to go to college, my last year to have the last name I was born with.  Maybe next year I won't be able to take as many neighborhood walks, or read as many books.

This optimism isn't easy.  Although there is a lot to enjoy, I am still a struggling college student without a dishwasher and a construction crew blowing up dust into my apartment windows. I still do a disproportionate amount of window shopping compared to actual purchases.  But somehow I need to find that present joy...that "I don't want to be anywhere else but where I am" mentality.

Speaking of enjoying the moment...Daniel and I celebrated a pre-anniversary yesterday.  It was exactly one year from our wedding date so we had a toast!  Cheers to a great (and present) year.

Wine Country

Our first trip to Oregon Wine Country!  Had a great lunch at The Dundee Bistro, and tasted a few excellent selections of pinot noir at Domaine Drouhin...not bad for a Monday.