Ten Helpful Tips To Know Prior To Visiting The Hartwig Household:

1.) If you want coffee it is imperative that you order it the night before and consume it prior to 10 a.m.  If you do not request the coffee my father, master of the coffee, will not make enough for you as he only makes the exact amount needed.  However, if you do request coffee yet do not drink it by the self-made expiration time of 10 a.m, Dad will assume you no longer have interest in the coffee and it will be thrown out in a tidy manner.

2.) Bring pajama's.  Yes, when you spend the night anywhere pajamas are assumed to be required (though airports, train stations, and bus deport night visits don't give people the luxury to wear pajamas).  Here at the Hartwig house, the necessity of pajamas ranks at a higher level.  How do I put it bluntly -- my family (girls in particular, a.k.a. Mother and I) love cozy sweats.  In order to not feel left out, upon visiting expect to put on your sweats directly after dinner and not need to take them off until you shower the following day.

3.) Bring a book.  There's not a whole lot to do in Kelseyville, so unless you are like my mother and like reality TV and vigorous cleaning on your days off, you may want a book.

4.) Be prepared for early dinners.  Mom likes to clean the kitchen well in advance to bed, Dad has to go to bed extra early for work at 4 a.m., henceforth dinner is the "early bird special."

5.) If you want to use the spa my dad or mom will need to be informed at least a day -- maybe two -- in advance.  The little pool of relaxation not only takes a good amount of time to heat up, it is often times drained for practical purposes of water conservation and tidiness when not in use.

6.) Be able to tolerate a cat and dog.  This sounds simple, but you have not met Casey and Trixy.  (Yes, I named both pets).  Casey is old, overweight, perpetually smelly, and slow; she will keep seeking ways to escape from her bed no matter how many times she's continually shot down, and those escapes will usually be to get as close to human contact as possible.  Trixy, though runs from guests, sheds cat hair like it's a full time job.

7.) Like cheese.  Charissa made this observation when visiting my house at Thanksgiving.  Apparently we are a family that likes cheese.

8.) Be willing to watch pretty wholesome films, none of that sketchy stuff.  For reasons no one knows, my mom especially has a love for racial comedies.  Old movies, strong moral enforcing stories, animal movies, and any C-Class film that contains all the above, my parents eat right up.  As for me, not so much the animal/C-Class film lover.  

9.) Liking tea in fancy teacups is always a plus among my mom, grandma, and I.

10.) Expect frequent visits to the grandparents.  Living right down the street, they insist upon meeting most of the Hartwig's guests.

I have a new blog to keep track of my thoughts on books and writing:

http://everywritermusthaveadiary.blogspot.com/

Don't worry, this blog is still first on the priority list (just in case you were in a panic).  :-)

I was just reading Michelle's blog "The He Man Woman Haters Club" and it made me think of the movie "The Little Rascals."  Not only did they sport such a club in that film, they also were sure to represent their junior-high-age distaste for woman in creative ways such as putting kitty litter in the lovely Darla's sandwiches and writing love notes consisting of: "Dear Darla, you make me sick."  I would imagine such a female alienating club is every 11-year-old boys dream. That is until they hit about fourteen and realize there is nothing sickening about a woman -- frustrating maybe -- but most definitely not sickening. 

It goes without saying that the lines of men and women are clearly divided in many regards.  Gender difference roots right to the earliest days of childhood.  Little boys like to hit things, little girls want to make things pretty.  This mysterious division, tension if you will, presses on right through childhood until one day it suddenly becomes as clear as the crystal glasses I can never use in my mom's china cabinet -- boys aren't so gross, in fact, perhaps the opposite.  Still, regardless of this newfound desire to impress the opposite sex, tension remains.

In Michelle's last post she elaborated on mutual labels that quickly become gender stereotypes and are inevitably hurtful.  Lines like "boys never get it" and "girls are too sensitive" really don't get people anywhere, yet they unfortunately float through conversation and pretty soon a "He Man Woman (or Man) Haters Club" is borne.  

As I've stated in posts before, and as I firmly believe, God created gender differences as beneficial, not as destructive.  It is true many women are sensitive, but isn't that a good thing?  Isn't it wonderful for a woman to be loving, caring, and gentle?  Just the same, while most men don't get many "womanly whiles" isn't that good as well?  Men are generally tough, resilient, and fairly stable.  Though I suppose there are some women not too loving and caring and some men not so tough and resilient, and to avoid stereotyping that's alright too.  Regardless, sure a woman need not be a drama queen and a man aloof and detached, but the essence of our personality differences is a very good thing.

I agree with Michelle: stereotypes are, well, lame.  That is unless you're pulling a hilarious prank on Darla. :-)

I've been meaning to post about my half marathon for quite sometime.  Though I've moved on, I still feel a tribute to that day is long overdue.

13 (for the 13 miles I ran) things a half marathon has in common with life:

1.) It's hard.  Always hard; and though there are easier parts, it is still tiring and trying.

2.) Sometimes you feel like you are ahead of the whole pack and everything is going according, if not better, than planned.

3.) Sometimes you feel like you are lagging significantly behind the whole pack, and quite frankly it's not only discouraging, it's embarrassing.

4.) When you've got to go, you've got to go.  Though I didn't suffer this issue, nature called for many of the runners and they found it fitting to, well, "just go."

5.) The hills seem to come at the worst times.

6.) When you think you can't make it anymore, God always gives you another push.

7.) There has to be "a focus."  If you have no goal in a marathon or life you get off track.

8.) You also have to have an "end goal" to know where all the hard work is headed.

9.) Sometimes God surprises you in the best ways.  I found this in the delight that I was able to use an Ipod during the race, the mist of rain that periodically hit me, the lovely clouds that were perfect for running, and my favorite song ending at the best point as I crossed the finished line.

10.) Sometimes you surprise yourself.  My goal was 12 minute miles, and I did 9:50 minute miles for the whole race.

11.) It helps if there is something or someone good to look forward to at the end. :-)

12.) The accomplishment is worth working hard for.

13.) It's over before you know it, so enjoy!

In light of my outdated poll assembled in the right corner of this screen for far too long, I felt it best to address what the readers have suggested before deleting it forever.

It has come to my attention -- with a sure-fire sweeping eight out of eleven vote victory -- Fritzwilliam Darcy is indeed the readers choice.  

In honor of his victory as "suitor select," it is fitting to leave a link to a taste of Mr. Darcy.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47rJGeLdQlE

Today I graduate from college.

I am sitting on the floor of my room (because I have no desk) facing a closet door mirror that is in dire need of cleaning, examining myself. I look like I've been hit in the head with a pole -- no joke. My eyes are half-awake with huge dark circles beneath, my hair hasn't been properly fixed in days, and my complexion is the contrast of glowing and smooth. But I'm done. I have completed college, and maybe it proves that the race was well ran by exactly how very weary I look.

I remember first coming to Biola and feel so very different from that girl. I don't know when the exact transition began, but I really have matured in a lot of ways. It's funny to say that, because I know I'll look back on this very day and think of how young I really was.

There's apart of me that wants to jump and scream in delight, another that would like to enroll in another semester, the me that's begging to fling myself into the world full force, then the me that wants to take it one day at a time. My friend Charissa always says how she likes when Anne of Green Gables refers to the "many Anne's" in her, and I have possibly never been able to relate to that concept more than at this very time.

I guess just like anything, it's happening whether I'm ready or not. And I'm thankful for that. What an accomplishment. What a journey. A time to celebrate and be proud.

Here's my "shoot out" to my fellow graduate readers: Charissa, Rachel, Mindy, Candice (extra shoot out for your reading dedication), Morgan, and Danika.

Stormy skies

I love when the sky is stormy. When the world is full of gray and the air feels almost electric. So unpredictable. So untamed.

The sky being stormy is one thing; life being stormy is another. Lately, between the anticipation of finals, graduation, a huge job interview, and a marathon, life has been what could be called "the perfect storm." While normally I am not partial to a lifestyle that entails excessive stress, inconsistency, and an average of five hours of sleep each night, I am learning to appreciate God in the presence of a storm.

Reflecting on my college experience it is evident that God used me most not when I was at my lowest -- no, go further -- when I was about three notches below my lowest. Because I've seen God act so vibrantly in my life when I had the least clue what was going on, I can honestly say that my life in scattered uncertainty, though stressful, is a blessing. At such a time of vulnerability and uncertainty only God can answer the looming future questions; only God will move my plan forward.

In church on Sunday the pastor said something that has been repeating through my head for the last four days: "God is not safe, but he is good." It has opened a vault of thought, stirring me to continually ask myself, "is safe really what I want?" Storms aren't safe, that's for sure, and unlike God, not all storms are good. But storms are apart of life, and often times the rain in a storm can be the very thing needed at the time. God, like the storm, is unpredictable and untamed. However, because God is good he will get me through the storms in life.

I don't want safe. I want God. A good and benevolent creator that puts people through challenges, trials, joys, suffering, love ... all in pursuit of his good plan. In the midst of this particular storm that I'm now in I'm not going to choose to wait it out, but rather embrace the storm. Knowing that a good God will protect me -- even if it doesn't feel safe.

Partial to dressing in white and rarely leaving her room, Emily Dickinson was an odd one, but I like some of her poetry just the same. Here are three Dickinson quotes to spice up your day:


"Beauty is not caused. It is."

"Dwell in possibility."

"To love is so startling it leaves little time for anything else."

I love the song "Moon River" -- just love it. Maybe you'll love it, too:

Moon river, wider than a mile
I'm crossing you in style some day
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way

Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end, waitin' 'round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me

(moon river, wider than a mile)
(I'm crossin' you in style some day)
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way

Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after that same rainbow's end, waitin' 'round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me

(moon river, moon river)

Two and a half weeks until graduation ...

I'm sitting in my second to last "Nature of Computing" class feeling ... sentimental? Very much so -- just not toward computers. My sentiment has been evolving throughout the day, and now, at 5:47 p.m, as I sit ignoring whatever is being said about computer viruses, I feel terribly nostalgic.

This thought began at lunch. The Caf was decorated as though Santa's helpers had customized it themselves, and though I would normally find this somewhat "cheesy," I was giddy with delight over what a wonderful cafeteria Biola has. Then while eating my glorious caf salad, the one that if you know me, has been my college staple, I began to realize that my salad's were numbered ... literally. Lunch, which lasted an hour and a half, prompted my realization that such a time luxury will not be in the works next semester when I'm employed -- a luxury I will miss.

I suppose it's true that the caf will be missed, along with the "kissing trees" in front of the library, my cubbyhole mailbox, two particular benches, the sun that I'm convinced is better by the fountain, Eagle's Diet Coke, the smell of the track when I run at night, the best grassy corners, and the Christmas lights. Though, what I will really miss about Biola is being so close to my friends; some of the people I like best will no longer be accessible for pre-paid lunch or a casual conversation on a bench in just minutes.

Never will I have my college experience back -- this season has ended.

I'm ready for the next step, but on nights like tonight, when the caf is decorated and campus finally feels a bit like winter, I feel ever so nostalgic. If Biola were a person, I think I'd ask them for one more dance, but time has taken its course and I'm left with the memories. So many memories ... so, so many memories. Words cannot quite express it.