So far, so good.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger      2 comments      link this post     


Things are going well on my little summer adventure.

There's still a few unsettled questions regarding the place I'm staying/working, but I'll know more about that today and am not going to dwell on it now.

I do like my room, in that place where I'm staying.

It's small and sparse. There's a ceiling fan that has a slight hum, windows that crack open just enough to let in a breeze from the alley/courtyard below, and about the only noise being the roar of the main building's air conditioning system periodically mixing with the wailing train that goes by. The bathroom, with it's cracked tile floor and old fixtures, is sort of a nice change from things at home. I have four hangers and hanging items in the closet -- that's it! I'm determined to keep it bare and empty, a sort of attempt at de-clutterizing my usual existence. Not having the distraction of easy internet, TV, or, essentially, anything beyond the silence of reading, seems to fit into that idea of taking clutter out of life. Everything is put in its place, very neatly, and I like it.

I'm right in the downtown area of the "city" I'm in, and I've just started exploring and finding where things are (grocery store, etc.). It's a nice switch from the farm, having little businesses and stores and coffee shops tucked into the buildings around me within easy walking distance. Part of what makes it fun, I think, is knowing I don't have to live here forever, but can enjoy it for what it is for now.

A little adventure, you know, is a good an necessary thing, even if it's an adventure that is very much "little" and may not seem like an adventure to anyone else.

Last night was my first night of "class." My instructor is very nice (I'm guessing around my age or a bit younger, though I'm bad at estimating stuff), and I feel comfortable around him. In watching how he was a stickler for detail, I feel like I can trust him to teach me what I need to know. It is important that a student is able to trust a teacher. With what I am trying to learn, it is overwhelming if I look at the huge picture and so I need to trust that I will learn what I need to know when I need to know it. I feel like I can do that. That's good. It helps me to relax and learn what's in front of me and not try to take it all in at once.

I had my first homework last night! It's been a long time since I had a huge textbook with diagrams and tons of stuff to learn. Kind of a nice challenge; I used to love school.

I have been attempting to use my cell phone* to update on both Twitter and Utterz; it doesn't always work, but that's how it goes, I guess.

Whatever else this ends up being, whether it's the success I hope it to be, or a success in spite of things that at first seem to be failures, I know it's an excellent opportunity to get out of a rut and break the usual habits of life I'd acquired. New surroundings, completely new people, new challenges, and requirements for new kinds of discipline, including mental, spiritual, and personal.

On my list of things to do:



* For those of my close friends who have my cell phone number, feel free to text or call me. Just for this summer, I am temporarily lifting the "Don't call me because I have to pay per minute and it's expensive!!!" ban that I usually put in place whenever I give my number to a friend. I'm using "my new cell phone" as my communication link, giving it the workout it has long deserved.

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Copyright (c) Julie R. Neidlinger  6/06/2008 11:47:00 AM   (2) comments   Links to this post    

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2 Comments:

I'm so happy that the "How to lobotomize a frog" classes are going well for you! It is important to try new things even if what you're trying has very few real life applications. But the patience it takes to perform tiny surgeries on frogs is something admirable.

What? I can text you? Hey, did you get my text from last weekend? So does this mean I can text and you won't text back? I'm not quite clear on any of this. Oh, medication time!

By Blogger Anna, at 7/6/08 08:58  

Now I will sound like a stalker but...

I just listened to the Utterz you posted. My initial reaction to the first two (doesn't that seem odd-1st 2?) recordings was that your voice was wavering up and down a lot. Does it do that in real life, too? I will have to pay more attention in the future.

And then! Imagine my surprise when Borg Julie started talking. Freaky! But dang funny!

By Blogger Anna, at 7/6/08 09:10  

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