home

"Andrew Largeman: You know that point in your life when you realize the house you grew up in isn't really your home anymore? All of a sudden even though you have some place where you put your shit, that idea of home is gone.
Sam: I still feel at home in my house.
Andrew Largeman: You'll see one day when you move out it just sort of happens one day and it's gone. You feel like you can never get it back. It's like you feel homesick for a place that doesn't even exist. Maybe it's like this rite of passage, you know. You won't ever have this feeling again until you create a new idea of home for yourself, you know, for your kids, for the family you start, it's like a cycle or something. I don't know, but I miss the idea of it, you know. Maybe that's all family really is. A group of people that miss the same imaginary place."

-From Garden State, my favorite movie (Phil, did you really add this one to you Netflix queue? I was serious about this one...)

As I was traveling to Des Moines this afternoon, I was thinking about home. Ten years ago, I lived in a house with my mom, dad and sister. We lived in the house I had lived in since I was two years old. West Des Moines, Iowa was the only place I had known as home.

Now, I have lived for the majority of the past seven years in Lawrence, Kansas. First it was just my college town; my college town that I anxiously returned to from weekends at my home in Iowa. But my Iowa "home" had changed. My parents divorced right after I graduated high school. Too many memories existed in the house we lived in when we were a whole family. My parents sold it and move on to other places. These places I've visited on my returns to Des Moines on holidays and school breaks. But these places were not my home.

Now when I'm home I always try to stay with my grandma at least one night - this has been my family's home for something like 50 years. The paint is more colorful, the futon in the "pit" (office/spare bedroom/tv room) is brand new and probably much more comfortable then the four-inch mattress in the old hide-a-bed but it is still my the closest thing I have to my "home" when I'm in my home state.

Now, my home has become the college town where I have lived the past seven years. Semesters went by and I found the shortcuts through town, the weekends to avoid Target (move-in weekend!), my favorite coffee spot, favorite Monday night margarita stop, favorite bar on a Saturday night. Some friends have moved on, some of those friends I no longer speak to. But some friends became family.

Now I learn and love and grow in Lawrence. Once my college town. Now my home.

selection sunday

Yesterday, I was home for about 2 seconds.
Today, I've barely left the couch. I like to mix it up! I'll blame it on my anticipation for Selection Sunday. Which is ironic, since 7 years ago I had no idea what Selection Sunday was. But then I went to KU for school. A couple months later, I went to my first basketball game. I've been hooked ever since.

KU is the #1 #1 seed. Considered the best college men's basketball team in the country.

Here's to 6 more wins this season! Rock Chalk!

About being a girl...

I *KNOW* how to change a tire. I am comfortable in my ability to do so. But here's the thing. I have girl genes. You know, the genes that dictate my gender. Of the two options, what is, to be truly realistic, the more feminine gender. This may appear sexist, but it is the case for me. So, when I need to change a tire. I know how, but physically CANNOT. And, as an independent woman, this pisses me off! So, this afternoon, I could not change my tire. My male roommate did. *angry face*



It's been 10 days of crazy and I've loved every minute of it. I literally had too much fun this past weekend. What happens, you ask, when you have too much fun?! You literally make yourself sick. True story.

But here are the highlights.
*Brown Bag Drag on campus! Along with Chancellor's event and school field trips. There's always a lot going on during the Brown Bag Drag lunch hour!



*We drove the 50 minutes to Kaufman Stadium so we could watch the Royals game Saturday night. An hour before the first pitch, standing room only tickets had been made available and then sold out twice. We weren't getting in this game. In my defense, Becky had told me the games had been selling out and I *DID* tell Ryan. He just didn't listen to me. See, this is what boys get for not listening to the ladies! We didn't get to see the game, but we did get some beer, some good grillin' and a viewing of Sex and The City with the ladies. (Also, my allergies kicked in, but let's focus on the fun, no?!)

*This weekend was also jampacked with some crazy, good old-fashioned Kansas weather. Tornadoes, hail and thunderstorms, oh my! I love a good thunderstorm. Despite the noise and lightening, it's oddly comforting.

*Got to see some friends who I hadn't seen in awhile. Becca (who lives in central Kansas stayed with me the whole weekend), Becky (who is in charge of some before and after programs in the KC area AND my freshman year dorm roommate!), and Lauren (who is working on her phD in Scotland!)

All in all, one of the best weekends in a long time. But also the cause of my blogging hiatus, despite BEDA. oops.
Random notes from the tv I have on in the background:

"Arlen is willing to eat it" as said by Chris Matthews on Keith Olberman's show tonight about Arlen Spector. Just MOMENTS after he has slobber on his chin. You're a winner, Chris.

Later, "I'm glad to be your lead-in bro" said by Chris to Keith. Someone should tell him to shut up!

Don't call this place boring...

...it's freakin' gorgeous.






and me, heading out to enjoy the lovely evening :)