Yesterday the unthinkable happened.
I beat my dad at Scrabble.
Sure, you're thinking no big deal, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but no. This has NEVER happened before. My dad is like the Scrabble king. In my house, we play for second place, because we know that he's going to win. But no. It was me. And Tina. And Will. And Elijah. And sort of my mom. Yeah. It took five of us. But we made it happen. With the word "boogers" on a triple word score. Also, surprisingly, boogers isn't in the scrabble dictionary as the things in your nose, but as the plural for bogeyman. But whatever. It was a word. And we won. And it was beautiful.
So thank you, to my wonderful friends and family, on this final night before we all go back to school, for making my life amazing.
Friday, August 23, 2013
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Something totally weird.
I have decided how I want to be buried. If that freaks you out, quit reading. Move on. I won't be offended.
My mom and I have always been very open about the fact that each of us is going to die, and that it may be sooner than we expect. So we talk about things. We plan. It's kinda creepy now that I think about it but it doesn't bother me. I'm not afraid of dying, it's just a part of living. Something that I struggled with when I was younger, however, was how I wanted my body to be treated. I knew that I really wouldn't care (I mean, it's not like I would be using it or anything) but it still bothered me. My always told me that I could do whatever I wanted with her, except take pictures of her or bury her in a cemetery. (My dad generally refuses to talk about death, and maintains that he's going to live forever so it won't matter.)
Somehow, I didn't like the idea of just plain old cremation. The idea of sitting in a jar in someone's attic or storage unit or even in some mausoleum that no one remembers to visit wasn't appealing to me. To some people, it seems like the best way to handle things, but it wasn't for me. But I didn't want to be locked up in some casket for the rest of eternity either. As an anthropology student, I spend a lot of time researching other people's dead remains, and have spent more than my fair share in cemeteries doing research, so the fact that I don't want people to know where I'm buried surprises people. I guess that's why, though. I just want to be left alone. No digging me up to study the primitive burial practices of the 21st century, no autopsy on my 500 year old self. My bones you can have, but only because I can't get rid of them.
And then I saw it. On an episode of some crime drama I was watching they had a group of people who do "green" burials. No embalming. No casket. No headstone. Instead, you get a tree. I had already decided to donate any usable organs, so this seemed like the perfect complement. Go back to the Earth instead of trying to hold onto my body. So I googled it. Turns out, there are "green cemeteries," which are basically just forests with a bunch of dead people buried in them. They just put you in the ground under a pretty oak tree, and that's it. And I think that that is the coolest thing ever. However, if that doesn't work, there's also a really cool urn you can buy that has all of these nutrients and such in it (to counteract the fact that ashes are useless for growing things) and you can put seeds in it and grow a tree from your ashes! That's my second choice.
I don't know. I guess the archaeologist in me is fascinated by burials. You can get shot into space (yes, you actually can, William), you can have your ashes put on a reef to become part of the coral, you can be pressed into a diamond (I'm doing that to a little bit of my parents whether they like it or not), or you can just be cremated or buried, your body becoming a monument to your life and those who were part of it. You can even have your ashes be made into fireworks that they make into a show at your funeral! (or wake, which I'd prefer to have).Whatever. You do you. Be buried how you want to be buried. Or really, how the people who outlive you want you to be buried. Because they're the ones that will actually be making all of these choices. And if you demanded that One Direction play your funeral, and your sister that outlives you was a die hard Justin Bieber fan and hated One Direction more than anything in the world, then I guess you're outta luck. Because Justin Bieber is playing your funeral.
My mom and I have always been very open about the fact that each of us is going to die, and that it may be sooner than we expect. So we talk about things. We plan. It's kinda creepy now that I think about it but it doesn't bother me. I'm not afraid of dying, it's just a part of living. Something that I struggled with when I was younger, however, was how I wanted my body to be treated. I knew that I really wouldn't care (I mean, it's not like I would be using it or anything) but it still bothered me. My always told me that I could do whatever I wanted with her, except take pictures of her or bury her in a cemetery. (My dad generally refuses to talk about death, and maintains that he's going to live forever so it won't matter.)
Somehow, I didn't like the idea of just plain old cremation. The idea of sitting in a jar in someone's attic or storage unit or even in some mausoleum that no one remembers to visit wasn't appealing to me. To some people, it seems like the best way to handle things, but it wasn't for me. But I didn't want to be locked up in some casket for the rest of eternity either. As an anthropology student, I spend a lot of time researching other people's dead remains, and have spent more than my fair share in cemeteries doing research, so the fact that I don't want people to know where I'm buried surprises people. I guess that's why, though. I just want to be left alone. No digging me up to study the primitive burial practices of the 21st century, no autopsy on my 500 year old self. My bones you can have, but only because I can't get rid of them.
And then I saw it. On an episode of some crime drama I was watching they had a group of people who do "green" burials. No embalming. No casket. No headstone. Instead, you get a tree. I had already decided to donate any usable organs, so this seemed like the perfect complement. Go back to the Earth instead of trying to hold onto my body. So I googled it. Turns out, there are "green cemeteries," which are basically just forests with a bunch of dead people buried in them. They just put you in the ground under a pretty oak tree, and that's it. And I think that that is the coolest thing ever. However, if that doesn't work, there's also a really cool urn you can buy that has all of these nutrients and such in it (to counteract the fact that ashes are useless for growing things) and you can put seeds in it and grow a tree from your ashes! That's my second choice.
I don't know. I guess the archaeologist in me is fascinated by burials. You can get shot into space (yes, you actually can, William), you can have your ashes put on a reef to become part of the coral, you can be pressed into a diamond (I'm doing that to a little bit of my parents whether they like it or not), or you can just be cremated or buried, your body becoming a monument to your life and those who were part of it. You can even have your ashes be made into fireworks that they make into a show at your funeral! (or wake, which I'd prefer to have).Whatever. You do you. Be buried how you want to be buried. Or really, how the people who outlive you want you to be buried. Because they're the ones that will actually be making all of these choices. And if you demanded that One Direction play your funeral, and your sister that outlives you was a die hard Justin Bieber fan and hated One Direction more than anything in the world, then I guess you're outta luck. Because Justin Bieber is playing your funeral.
Monday, June 24, 2013
I've missed my blog this last month or so, but I guess I've felt like I had nothing to write about. No deep self revelations or big news. Still going to SMU in the fall. Still home for the summer. Missing different friends than I was before. It's hot instead of cold. Worrying about sunburn instead of frostbite, and heat sickness instead of the flu. However, it's been a busy summer. I haven't found a job (even though I have applied practically everywhere). I've been on lots of breakfast dates, lots of coffee runs, and lots of quick trips to the store for sweets. I've been to the zoo, to a drive-in movie, to the lake, and I've finished a 5K. I've registered for orientation, painted a dresser, and helped my aunt and her family move into their new house. I've started taking yoga/Pilates classes, and have stopped feeling so insecure about my body. I'm headed to Oklahoma at the end of the week with my dad and Crystina to crash the Mystery Work Trip. I've planned out my dream house. Named all fourteen of my potential children. Done a few loads of laundry. Helped my brother pack for scout camp. Watched the first season of Copper and far too much kid's tv. Watched a surprisingly good rom com (the decoy bride. Watch it. do it now. David Tennant is in it.) I've read a few books, seen a few movies, and made plans to learn both piano and ukulele. That's pretty much it. Nothing astouding or particularly wonderful. No groundbreaking self discovery. Just summer time in Texas. And it's exactly what I need.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Summertime!!!
Now that I dont live with my computer in my hands, I find myself forgetting that I have a blog. Or an email address. Or a facebook. Whatever. Update on life time. Everything is good. Thats pretty much it. I spend most of my time job hunting and sitting around doing nothing. I spend time with my friends, I walk while Crystina runs three times a week. I eat lots of good food. And I sleep a huge amount. That's pretty much it. I will admit, I do miss the excitement of being away, but I love the warmth, and being with my family . Being home is nice. I can't wait to leave again. Sorry Mama. I guess that means that I'm ready to pretend to be an adult. Because everyone knows that I'm not actually an adult. I really do just play at it. Oh well. Love ya'll
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Thursday, May 9, 2013
I write about endings a lot.
So this isn't about an ending.
This post is about a beginning.
The beginning of some wonderful friendships.
The beginning of a new experience in a new city, at a new university.
Past adventures, with new friends, and new adventures with old friends.
The beginning of a new way at looking at things.
Though all beginnings require an end, it's the beginnings that matter.
I love you all.
So this isn't about an ending.
This post is about a beginning.
The beginning of some wonderful friendships.
The beginning of a new experience in a new city, at a new university.
Past adventures, with new friends, and new adventures with old friends.
The beginning of a new way at looking at things.
Though all beginnings require an end, it's the beginnings that matter.
I love you all.
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