[andre jordan]

I found this unexpected delight while following links that stemmed from uncategorized bookmarks saved by Firefox. Seriously, every time I scroll back up to look at it again, I smile at the profound simplicity of it.

Regardless of plans or expectations the future is always unknown, and (apart from the ill-advised suicide) you have little choice but to advance forward. It is, however, left for you to determine with what attitude you will go forth (And of course by you, I mean me). That’s kind of freeing, for me at least. I find that I do better when I am given some constraints to deal with, rather than being set loose on something. If left to my own imagination and devices I am likely to think myself into quite the tizzy with possibilities.

(hmm, this has suddenly become enlightening regarding my recent state of mind)

While I don’t think I’ll ever be spontaneous enough to live entirely in the moment and without thought to possible ramifications or potential paths, this is (yet another) reminder that life is going to keep happening whether or not I’m on board. Might as well strap on that life-vest and make the most of the ride while I have the chance.

I was standing at the kitchen sink, eating strawberries and pondering blogs I had been browsing earlier when I decided to change the sidebar on my blog.

The chronicles (or adventures perhaps) of an aspiring adult

This evolved into the tag-line rather than the sidebar description, but I don’t think that’s quite as relevant as the phrase itself. Not only does it adequately/accurately describe the my blogging to this point, it inspires me to go forth and proliferate (writings, that is). In fixing what is the elusive (and illusive) purpose of this defined space on the web, I can more appropriately target my thoughts and posts in that direction.

Granted, of course, it is incredibly vague and bridging the gamut of an insatiably wide range of topics, but I am entirely okay with that course.

So onward and upward. Let’s make this adulthood something entirely worth leaving childhood for (leaving of course being a relative term, because I am simultaneously determined to decipher just how to cultivate a delicious, childlike appreciation of life for the rest of it).

In honor of the latest Harry Potter film that will be released in the United States in just under a month, I would like to reinstate my request that someone contribute a pensieve to the Keep-Allison-Sane fund. Or maybe I just need to practice compartmentalizing a little more. And prioritizing those thoughts – shoving to the lower rungs panic over a messy desk (ok, so that particular panic is rare).

On Sunday night (almost a week ago; I suppose this is overdue), I was bored and browsing Twitter when I decided to check out the #IranElection trend. I ended up spending well over two hours refreshing the page as new tweets updated me on the situation as it was unfolding on Monday in Iran. While I had not been following the news leading up to the election, or the results, I was astounded by the numbers of people pouring onto the streets, protesting an election suggested to be unfair and rigged. There has continued to be violence and protests and arrests. I have watched from the comfort of my computer, the people of Iran have been blocked from accessing the internet and been prevented communication by the jamming of cell phone signals.

It is not so much that I side with the said-to-be President Ahminedejad or opposition leader Mousavi. I have read articles on both sides of the election fraud issue. However, the government’s refusing to acknowledge the hundreds of thousands if not millions who are taking to the street, the violence of the Basij, the expulsion of foreign media – such are not the workings of a peaceful government. At any rate, besides the buzz on Twitter, if you are not familiar with these blogs, the NY Times is live blogging here and Andrew Sullivan’s Daily Dish is currently devoted to updates from Iran.

What could be a page or chapter from the next generation’s history book is happening now, and I am dumbfounded to be aware of it. It certainly is not the first impactful event that has happened in my lifetime, but it’s the first that I acutely feel its import as it unfolds and not just as a transitory news item (Early on the lack of mass media coverage was also somewhat fascinating – in that I found Twitter more helpful in finding out what was going on than other news sources I might often consult. Perhaps if they could look beyond what the President eats for dessert…not that I think they don’t deserve a bit of custard, but I couldn’t care less and would rather not have it cluttering my news feed).

Blogging seems to come up as an invariable point of interest and necessity whenever I ought to be doing something productive (like figuring out the question or doing the bit of work that will bring my grand total of earnings for this coming week up to $15). Unfortunately, as has been previously discussed, I seem to have little to say other than that I have little to say which becomes redundant after a while, even to me (although it is so much more enjoyable if you read this with a British accent because that is what my thinking voice sounds like right now).

When considering my recent activities, I thought perhaps I could blog about Tyrese (or Tyrhys or Tyrees(e)…the spelling of his name may still be a point of contention), the lovely blue walrus in whose company I spent several hours yesterday. But really there is very little profundity to be gleaned from the experiences of Tyrese and Co.  And I like to have some purpose to my writing (*ding* – lightbulb. Perhaps therein lies the source of this mysterious lump I have been so blindly stumbling upon lately).

But really, life is hardly always (or even often) profound, so perhaps I should just go merrily along and enjoy the sunshine when it’s out.

In other news (which is arguably one of my favorite phrases – not literarily, but it does work so well as a transition), I am currently reading Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses and finding his style quite enjoyable.

tergiversation (noun) 1. The act of practicing evasion or of being deliberately ambiguous.

This word needs to be integrated into my daily vocabulary. I have also found that I am rather partial to “tertiary.” This does come as something of a surprise to me as I have long be partial to words commencing with “s” (note the blog name…).

Words do fascinate (at least those of us lucky enough to have been English majors). I have been inhaling quite a few of them lately in the bound form of books, but alas my own stringing together of them into sentences has been rather sparse of late. I managed to send some prompts Julie’s way, and she’s started something, but nothing has clicked for me yet. Blogging, it has been concluded, only partially counts in my efforts to produce Creative Writing. What I’m really looking for is a kick into some work of fiction or poetry, or I suppose even creative nonfiction will do.

But alas, I have resorted to the last resort, writing about writing. When it comes down to it, I make for an excellent rambler (by which I mean to reference one who rambles, not the one-story home). I have the vocabulary to keep any subject at least moderately interesting – for a while at least. But if that’s the case, why the difficulty in coming up with a topic to discuss? Interesting question.

The period of that last sentence was typed before the last word was completed, leaving it at “interesting quest.” Hardly a “Freudian” slip, but one of intriguing import nonetheless. And so on that note, I am off, hopefully to sleep a little inspiration into being. If not, I suppose I must seek it out a bit more aggressively, even to the point of writing in its absence. But if you have any helpful ideas to prompt the outpouring of words that go beyond achieving an average word count, do share!

Although I have managed to come upon employment (thank you craigslist), I am still struggling with this overwhelming enigma of what to do with my life.

Various songs that come up in shuffle ask me this very question, prompt action, and bemoan directionlessness.

I am reminded of what teachers and others have oft reminded us: to whom much is given, much will be required.  Well, I have been given much, this much I know. I want to do what is subsequently required of me (except I feel like it would be rather helpful to know what that is…).

The message this past Sunday touched on following God into the unknown. Life is an adventure; trust.

I’ll figure it out sometime, maybe. But I suppose in the meantime I need to decide to live and make something of this life I’ve been given.

Mary Oliver is admittedly not my favorite poet, but I do love this poem that Laurie shared at the English Senior Breakfast (and before in at least one of the classes I’ve taken from her). It is one that makes my heart shrink so that not enough blood circulates through my lungs or the walls of my throat.

The Summer Day – Mary Oliver

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean-
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?