I hope you don't mind me saying here that I feel like the largest of messes.

Life is a bit crazy right now,

but I know it will subside soon.

This time next week I'll be preparing to spend some time at home for Christmas.

It's hard to believe that it's been an entire year since I've sat with my family at their kitchen table.

So much changes in 365 days.

And yet, in some moments, it feels like nothing has changed at all.

Do you understand what I mean?

This about sums up my week...

Please send new brain.

Please?

Update and Some Photo Love.

Big weekend around these parts.

The roommate bought a macbook pro.

(Yes please.)

The Longhorns reinforced how despicable they really are by weaseling their way past my boys and into the National Championship.

(Gross.)

I got to see an old friend play some music for a bit.

(Sic 'em Baylor.)

We had a little all girl's slumber party last night complete with cookie dough and Ryan Reynolds on the t.v. screen.

(That was a win-win kind of situation if I've ever seen one.)

And, finally, we found out that on Tuesday, Joseph, our Maasai friend, is going to be flying into the states for two full months.

How awesome is that?

(Pretty stinking awesome.)

And so, in his honor, I dug through a few photos from our time in Kenya and decided to post a few of my favorites.

(Aren't they handsome?)

(And isn't my padre handsome as well? I think he outshines Kilimanjaro any day of the week. I, on the other hand, look like I've been hit by a truck. But, still, I love that we were there together.)

(We spent many an hour hanging laundry.)

(I love their feet. So precious.)

(One of my favorites.)

(That bike saw thousands of miles, I'm sure of it.)

(Our friend Jeremy with Joseph Jr.[the one who's coming in two days!] and Joseph Sr.- each such a gentle, gentle soul.)

Good things.

Good things.

Decisions.

What I should do:

Finish inputting data for a write up I have due next week.

What I want to do:

Re-watch this week's episode of Glee. Did you guys see it? (Spoiler Alert) HE FINALLY KNOWS!!!! Thank the good Lord above. Sheesh.

What I should do:

Clean my room, organize my closet, finish my laundry.

What I want to do:

Stay in my pj's all day to help minimize aforementioned laundry pile.

What I should do:

Not spend money on a new pair of boots.

What I want to do:

SPEND MONEY ON A NEW PAIR OF BOOTS!

What I should do:

Take Marlo on a walk... even though it's 29 degrees outside.

What I want to do:

Kidnap Marlo and make her cuddle with me on the couch... because cold weather and I don't have the kindest of relationships (my eyes start procuring goop and my cheeks burst into RED! and I get cranky when I lose feeling in all of my beloved extremities) and, oh yeah, did I mention that it's 29 DEGREES OUTSIDE?!? * And yes, I know my midwestern roots should have prepared me for a mere 29 degrees, but there's a reason, kind sirs, that I reside in the south...*

How are you all spending your Friday?

i think a warm cup of tea makes the world a little bit more interesting,

don't you?

happy wednesday!

A warm house.

I think it's finally beginning to feel a bit like the holidays around here.

The cold rain is beating against the windows, a few candles are lit,

and the quiet of the house is being broken up only by Sufjan and the occasional puppy bark.

I'm desperately trying to appreciate the things and people and nourishment and knowledge and time and music and talent and body that I possess,

instead of longing for all of the things that I do not.

And, of course, I'm studying.

Some days I wish that I could hire someone to help me with all of this madness-

someone who could ask me questions throughout the day and make me flash cards and bring me tea while I try to stuff all of these words and ideas into my brain. Some days it's hard to be going at this school thing alone.

But, alas, this is my responsibility, I know.

And so I'll go make myself some tea and go through a new stack of index cards and try to enjoy the process of this life that I have chosen.

And I'll be thankful that I've been given the opportunity to do so.

An invasion of the best kind.

More friends to play with!

This time some of our Houston compadres came up to our little neck of the woods.

And I'm so glad they did.

We laughed a lot...

and drank some wonderful wine...

and listened to a bit of this guy...

and played some Spades to our hearts' content.

It was a very good night.

"... what was I to myself, really, but a witness to any boldness I could muster, or any cowardice if it came to that, any giving up on heaven for the sake of dignity on earth? I had not seen a great deal accomplished in the name of dignity, ever."

-Annie Dillard, An American Childhood

Pyramids and Pie.

The last week has been filled up to the brim with lots of my favorite faces.

Yesterday was no exception.

I had a good day.

If I can't be home on Thanksgiving,

then there is no where else I would rather be than in a small East Texas town with one of the greatest families of all time. We played some football, ate some pie, wrangled some puppies and laughed until we hurt.

Life is good when you are spending time with these people.

Note: I'm the phantom running behind the pyramid. I wanted to climb to the top... I just never quite made it.

And then, of course, there is the post-Thanksgiving nap. Marlo is a believer. As is my lovely roommate Lyndsey.

I hope everyone's holiday was peaceful and enjoyed-

A Good Night's Sleep.

(photo credit: google images)

So.

I had a dream the other night that I've been meaning to share.

It was one of the most interesting dreams I've had in a while, mainly because it involved Seth Meyers, Green Rooms, Paparazzi and Sushi.

And it goes something like this:

I decided I wanted to audition for Saturday Night Live and, so,

I find myself in some kind of "green room", waiting to go on stage.

Seth Meyers walks in, scans the rooms, sees me, and plops down in the chair next to mine.

He gives me a kind of quizzical look, and then asks me if I like sushi.

I give him a resounding "uhhh, nope."

Then, after a few seconds, he reaches down and tries to hold my hand.

(And in case you're wondering, he was a really great hand-holder...)

Then, after a few more seconds, he leans over and tells me he likes me.

(I think it must have been the way I articulated "uhhh, nope" that really got to him.)

And then, after looking around to make sure no one can see him, he starts whispering in my ear, and,

are you ready for this?...

blowing on my neck.

(Yep. He didn't try to kiss me. He just blew on my neck. I know. Creepy.

And totally awesome.)

But then, out of nowhere, camera flashes started filling up the room, lots of them, all accompanied by loud voices and stupid questions like "Yo Seth! Hey! What's your favorite comic book?" and "Hey Seth!! What your favorite hockey team?"

(Damn paparazzi. Why can't I just have a normal life... er... dream?? Why????)

And I was a bit confused.

Until the next scene, when I flipped open the newest issue of "People" magazine and saw a picture of Seth and I (obviously we were on a first name basis), with a headline that read:

Seth Meyers Caught Canoodling With Wannabe Starlet.

And I felt so angry! And used! And hurt!

And then I remembered that, um, hello?

SETH MEYERS BLEW ON MY NECK!?!

And suddenly, I was more than o.k. with it.

And with that,

Seth and I would like to bid you a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

Cheers!

Today doesn't quite feel like a Monday.

And I don't quite feel like myself either.

I haven't pinpointed why.

I think it just may be one of those days.

I'm still trying to understand how this month dissipated so quickly.

Thanksgiving is in three days?

Finals are in three weeks?

Isn't time a funny, funny thing?

Last night, while driving with two of my favorite people,

I had to play one of my favorite holiday songs.

(I sang the high part- obviously.)

I know I should have waited,

but I just couldn't help it.

The lights and cool air needed a little seasonal and political musicality to complete the scene.

And it was perfect.

I'll say it.

New Moon was most excellent.

Really. I loved every second of it. And I'm not ashamed.

(o.k. maybe I'm a tiny bit ashamed, but mostly I'm just in awe of the 13 year old Courtney that has to be buried somewhere deep inside to allow for such tingles and squeals at the sight of a shirtless werewolf...)

Fun was had by all.

Small town movie premieres are the best. This one included a raffle with truly awful, sparkly prizes and entire theaters shouting at George, the guy running the film upstairs, to bring on the vampires! We passed around smuggled popcorn and doughnuts and candy from the bottom of purses and made friends with those few lucky individuals that sat around us.

I even threw out some commentary during the movie that made the whole theater laugh. And if you know me at all, you know how much affirmation I get from convincing people I'm funny.

And, for what it's worth, my "team Charlie" headband was a great conversation starter.

i'm on team charlie.

my friend Toni is in town.

she's a pretty rad lady.

i know her from back in the day when the mountains were my summer home

(did that just sound pretentious or what?)

and its been nice to have her cute face around.

new moon tonight. don't judge.

i'll report back on all the crazies we witness.

I have a secret...

(photo credit: google images)

I checked this out from the local library about two months ago,

and I'm never giving it back.

I wanted Shel to work his literary magic on a younger boy that I am tutoring.

It worked.

My little guy who despises reading LOVES this book. He likes to turn the poems into songs. And serenade me.

Very dramatically.

And very off-key.

And I love to listen to them.

Because then I can sing them back.

Even more dramatically.

And even more off-key.

A few of my current loves.

1. My Breakfast food of choice. Blackberries + pomegranate = the best thing ever created by the food gods (with the exception of dark chocolate peanut butter cups... and mexican food... and cottage cheese...and gala apples... ok. you get the picture.)

(www.yoplait.com)

2. Dr. Drew. Could the man be any cuter? Or nerdier? Or all pyschologist-y?

LOVE him.

(courtesy of vh1.com)

3. this oldie but goodie.

4. This book.

5. Playing in the leaves with this little lady.