Today I said an official "goodbye" to my car.
I've owned four cars now. Just got a new one 3 weeks ago.
My first car was a gold '89 Honda Civic He lived for 6-7 months until I got my second car. He was there for my Junior year of High School. The civic was handed up to my brother who promptly ran her into the ground. Not even a month after the transfer, the poor little darling was dead.
My second car was a little blue 94 Ford Escort hatchback. He lived over the summer after Junior year of High school. Over the summer, there was a day that my brother's AC didn't work, so he borrowed my car. The highway was not his friend that day. Mr. Hatch was no longer a hatch. He was just a "hat". That's when "smale car rotation" number 3 happened.
My third and most loved car is my '90 Subaru Legacy. (how she looked in her prime) Zut was a 5 speed, beautiful car! Yes, she had rust on almost every corner. Yes, she had her flaws... but she was a wonderful car! We had her for 6 years. 130,000 miles! I had her since senior year, through 4ish years to and from college, then from KS to KY to IN. I love love loved that silver 5 speed! (I won many a race in her! but shh...) In her last few months, she fought back. Without mentioning the "Tommy Boy" hood flipping onto my windshield incident, I'll say she went down gracefully.
Well, I had to get a more reliable car now that I live in a new city which happens to be in a new state. Car number 4 is a light goldish '98 Mazda Prodege Haven't named him/her yet... but I'm working on it. So far it's doing really well! It's not a stick, but other than that, it's wonderful! low millage... and it's mine!! Fun story about how I got it! My friend told me her Gramma has a car that she doesn't drive anymore and needs new dentures. So, they were going to sell the car for dentures. 57k miles for a '98 driven by a gramma... deal of a lifetime!
I didn't tell of The subaru's death because it didn't happen until tonight. Zut's story is also a conversation starter. I parked her at my friend's house when I first got the new car. (I couldn't drive 2 at the same time) Her mom was going to take it to the church so I could get a ride there- then drive her to the car ministry here at my church for parts. She was going to, but the battery was dead so she went back into the house. Well.... about 14 seconds later she heard a small noise. She went outside and looked. no car. She had forgotten to put the parking break on. My car backed itself down the hill into the tree. now my trunk is an accordion. (Kinda funny.. I laughed! sad sight but it was kinda funny)
So I went tonight to get the last bits out and they're going to tow her tomorrow. She'll be parted apart soon. Parts of her will be all over Louisville. She was a wonderful car. I'll miss her dearly!
I had to write a small tribute to my Subaru. She had been such a huge part of my life. She got me though senior year of HS, 3 years of college, a fall trying to get back to Poland, a trek to Kentucky, who knows how many road trips, and around cities. Zut, you'll always have a place in my heart. Never will I drive a manual car without thinking of my first love.
~a sad and reflective just.julie
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
too. life. fast. going. is.
Moving on with the cruse set on 55mph.
Because that is the speed limit. And the state troopers' lair is on my exit.
These are my friends :)
(Justin, Seth, Kelsey, Brent, Shane, Meagan, Todd and me)
We spent many an evening after watching The Office and playing cards. Whether it be nerts, poker, apples to apples, bananagrams (not cards) or just standing around talking- it was always one of the best parts of my week. The girls made countless desserts, we had many dinners (some pot luck, some not), we had grilled burgers (thanks to the guys) and a few special dinners (kebabs). We played softball, volleyball, basketball, and of course ping pong.
This year of interning has been one of the best years in my life. All the interns have grown so close. But it has to come to an end sometime. We have to move on. We have to grow up. We all knew the day in May would come... but none of us wanted it to come. I started early then ended early but still was at Southeast Christian Church for 14 months. I was able to grow close to my mission team as well as the interns. We are all around the same age and in similar early stages of adulthood. Being in these situations, we've grown into family.
As I start my 4th week at my new, real, official, adult job tomorrow... I think of how fast our lives are going by. The weeks and months are starting to pick up speed! I love my job for multiple reasons, one of which that it's close enough to Louisville that I can keep up my friendships I've worked on for a year and a half. (I'll talk about my new job soon... but this time I'm just thinking back.) The switch over to Southern Indiana from Louisville could be easier if there was a clean break from the life I had before. It would be easier to get connected with new friends. But, I'm glad I don't have to cut connections! I'm blessed to have such a great group of friends and interns and "family" that I can carry over into another state!
This group of friends will always be like family to me. We got through a softball team, a few new card/tile games, an Office season, who knows how many ping pong balls, a wonderful trip across the ocean to Ethiopia, a few too many "that's what she said" jokes, and an amazing year full of memories. I know we've all learned so much and grown so much. I can't really put it all into words how much they all mean to me. Love is a word to just to begin to describe these friends.
But I don't want to end this part of the chapter...
Because that is the speed limit. And the state troopers' lair is on my exit.
These are my friends :)
(Justin, Seth, Kelsey, Brent, Shane, Meagan, Todd and me)
We spent many an evening after watching The Office and playing cards. Whether it be nerts, poker, apples to apples, bananagrams (not cards) or just standing around talking- it was always one of the best parts of my week. The girls made countless desserts, we had many dinners (some pot luck, some not), we had grilled burgers (thanks to the guys) and a few special dinners (kebabs). We played softball, volleyball, basketball, and of course ping pong.
This year of interning has been one of the best years in my life. All the interns have grown so close. But it has to come to an end sometime. We have to move on. We have to grow up. We all knew the day in May would come... but none of us wanted it to come. I started early then ended early but still was at Southeast Christian Church for 14 months. I was able to grow close to my mission team as well as the interns. We are all around the same age and in similar early stages of adulthood. Being in these situations, we've grown into family.
As I start my 4th week at my new, real, official, adult job tomorrow... I think of how fast our lives are going by. The weeks and months are starting to pick up speed! I love my job for multiple reasons, one of which that it's close enough to Louisville that I can keep up my friendships I've worked on for a year and a half. (I'll talk about my new job soon... but this time I'm just thinking back.) The switch over to Southern Indiana from Louisville could be easier if there was a clean break from the life I had before. It would be easier to get connected with new friends. But, I'm glad I don't have to cut connections! I'm blessed to have such a great group of friends and interns and "family" that I can carry over into another state!
This group of friends will always be like family to me. We got through a softball team, a few new card/tile games, an Office season, who knows how many ping pong balls, a wonderful trip across the ocean to Ethiopia, a few too many "that's what she said" jokes, and an amazing year full of memories. I know we've all learned so much and grown so much. I can't really put it all into words how much they all mean to me. Love is a word to just to begin to describe these friends.
But I don't want to end this part of the chapter...
Monday, May 11, 2009
my family in pictures....
this is my talented brother....
My Handsome Father....
my Beautiful Mother...
and me... as a blonde.
and there you have it. my family in pictures.
(it's called being a little bored, finishing one, and having to do the other three)
Enjoy!
~just.julie
My Handsome Father....
my Beautiful Mother...
and me... as a blonde.
and there you have it. my family in pictures.
(it's called being a little bored, finishing one, and having to do the other three)
Enjoy!
~just.julie
Friday, May 1, 2009
Week 1-under my belt
This week has been crazy but amazing! so much to take in... and try to absorb.
But it's been great :)
Derby is tomorrow... and I love it! Louisville goes crazy these 2 weeks. It's hilarious! I love how everyone all of the sudden cares about hats and horses.
I love it though :)
Although I live in Indiana now... just across the bridge... I still love it :)
Although sometimes it feels far away from Kansas sometimes, I love it here!
That's all.
(still trying to absorb from the last 5 days at my wonderful new job)
Olivia and I are watching Invincible. Nothing like a great football movie and a great friend.
~just.julie
But it's been great :)
Derby is tomorrow... and I love it! Louisville goes crazy these 2 weeks. It's hilarious! I love how everyone all of the sudden cares about hats and horses.
I love it though :)
Although I live in Indiana now... just across the bridge... I still love it :)
Although sometimes it feels far away from Kansas sometimes, I love it here!
That's all.
(still trying to absorb from the last 5 days at my wonderful new job)
Olivia and I are watching Invincible. Nothing like a great football movie and a great friend.
~just.julie
Friday, April 24, 2009
It's like eating a cake baked with "iffy" eggs...
.... packing and moving to start a new chapter in everything.
(they both have the potential to make your blood pressure rise and feel sick to your stomach)
So apparently I need to stick to baking things other than cakes. cookies, lasagna, pie, anything else is fine. Cakes... I can't do it right. First time was the Africa cake experience. (cooked it at 300 c and thought it was 300 f. not true. fried the puppy at 572 degrees Fahrenheit. the second cake was fine. next time look at the stove and realize it is measured in C not F. duh.) Second experience was tonight. So far so good... and hopefully it'll stay that way. Tonight, I wanted to bake a cake. I had a German Chocolate cake mix. I had the ingredients. So, in between packing rooms, I made the cake. It cooked just fine (at 325 f) looked just fine (chocolaty) and tasted just fine. As Shane and Meagan were leaving I wanted to give them some food I didn't want to move. So I handed them the eggs. Well, they looked at the date on the side. March 19th. today is April 23rd. Needless to say, Shane then took them straight to the trashcan outside and not to their car. So far, we all feel fine. Shane, Meagan, Seth and I each had a small piece. I don't think it's enough to do anything. But, next time I make cake and offer it to you, ask me the dates and degrees at which I baked the cake just to be safe.
Now, the real reason I'm writing. To Stall.
I've always been a good staller. When I was younger, if I didn't want to go to bed, I would read, help mom clean, anything and everything to get out of having to say goodnight. Nowadays, I still stall so I don't have to say goodbye. I stalled packing to GO to Poland becuase I knew once I packed, I'd go and have to say goodbye and have to come back! I know I'm lame. I'm good at stalling on the phone too. Asking questions, bringing up different stories or memories and still talking to try and make the other person forget they needed to go.
But I think the worst kind is stalling from yourself.
I love traveling! I love packing to go somewhere new! BUT the irony is I don't like packing to go somewhere new because that means I have to leave someplace. I am so excited to start this new job! Moving into my new house on Saturday! Getting to know a whole new town, new streets and new neighbors! I get to know 6,000 new people at the new church! I'm stoked!!!
But I don't want to leave. I like it here. I love the people I work with. I love my house that's big enough to have 10+ people over to watch The Office then congregate in the kitchen for hours just talking! I love going to a big church that at any given time on a Sunday morning, there is a steady stream of people walking into church! I love my intern friends! We've clicked like no group of friends I've ever had! We talked about the future with everyone leaving... but it was always so far in the future...
In a few minutes, I'll be putting together the last box of stuff to move. I put everything that needed to be packed on my bed so I would have to do it before I go to sleep. I tried to trick myself. It didn't work. When I was a kid, I loved reading. I would read almost the entire book. But when it got to the last chapter, I'd set it aside because I didn't want it to end. I didn't want to say goodbye to the characters. (I still kinda do that. I'm in the middle of 4 books off the top of my head.) (bad habit. don't start) Me writing right now at 1:42 am is me "putting in the bookmark and setting it aside".
In all reality, there isn't that much to pack. small simple things. candles, curling iron, some papers, the box of pens and pencils from that desk over there. I could easily get it done in 20 minutes. and yet I sit here. Wanting to move on, but wanting to savor the moment and wanting it to last. Apparently I'm currently trying to stop time. But being the "big girl" I am, I can't use that super power and I have to get back to reality.
That reality being: just a few more things to pack. get some good sleep. get up early and complete my last day of work. pack up my desk (which might be another blog-stall enduced time). help with the launch of the new student building "The Block". get another good night sleep. and move.
But for the moment, I'm just going to keep the book on the shelf and not finish it. for a few more minutes. Try to soak in the moment. I'm "becoming a grown up" as my Daddy said. I need to stay and soak it all in. Stay in the moment. (I just think of the scene with V telling Evey to stay in the moment)
This time next week, I'll have moved to a new state, started a new job, met new friends, and so much more. Crazy. I'll also be turning 24 at the end of the summer. Whoa! I just knew I wanted to write what was in my head. I didn't want to miss this moment and later think, how did I process that?
I'm so sad to leave, but I'm so ready to move on! How can that be?
It's time for a new batch of eggs...
~just.julie
(they both have the potential to make your blood pressure rise and feel sick to your stomach)
So apparently I need to stick to baking things other than cakes. cookies, lasagna, pie, anything else is fine. Cakes... I can't do it right. First time was the Africa cake experience. (cooked it at 300 c and thought it was 300 f. not true. fried the puppy at 572 degrees Fahrenheit. the second cake was fine. next time look at the stove and realize it is measured in C not F. duh.) Second experience was tonight. So far so good... and hopefully it'll stay that way. Tonight, I wanted to bake a cake. I had a German Chocolate cake mix. I had the ingredients. So, in between packing rooms, I made the cake. It cooked just fine (at 325 f) looked just fine (chocolaty) and tasted just fine. As Shane and Meagan were leaving I wanted to give them some food I didn't want to move. So I handed them the eggs. Well, they looked at the date on the side. March 19th. today is April 23rd. Needless to say, Shane then took them straight to the trashcan outside and not to their car. So far, we all feel fine. Shane, Meagan, Seth and I each had a small piece. I don't think it's enough to do anything. But, next time I make cake and offer it to you, ask me the dates and degrees at which I baked the cake just to be safe.
Now, the real reason I'm writing. To Stall.
I've always been a good staller. When I was younger, if I didn't want to go to bed, I would read, help mom clean, anything and everything to get out of having to say goodnight. Nowadays, I still stall so I don't have to say goodbye. I stalled packing to GO to Poland becuase I knew once I packed, I'd go and have to say goodbye and have to come back! I know I'm lame. I'm good at stalling on the phone too. Asking questions, bringing up different stories or memories and still talking to try and make the other person forget they needed to go.
But I think the worst kind is stalling from yourself.
I love traveling! I love packing to go somewhere new! BUT the irony is I don't like packing to go somewhere new because that means I have to leave someplace. I am so excited to start this new job! Moving into my new house on Saturday! Getting to know a whole new town, new streets and new neighbors! I get to know 6,000 new people at the new church! I'm stoked!!!
But I don't want to leave. I like it here. I love the people I work with. I love my house that's big enough to have 10+ people over to watch The Office then congregate in the kitchen for hours just talking! I love going to a big church that at any given time on a Sunday morning, there is a steady stream of people walking into church! I love my intern friends! We've clicked like no group of friends I've ever had! We talked about the future with everyone leaving... but it was always so far in the future...
In a few minutes, I'll be putting together the last box of stuff to move. I put everything that needed to be packed on my bed so I would have to do it before I go to sleep. I tried to trick myself. It didn't work. When I was a kid, I loved reading. I would read almost the entire book. But when it got to the last chapter, I'd set it aside because I didn't want it to end. I didn't want to say goodbye to the characters. (I still kinda do that. I'm in the middle of 4 books off the top of my head.) (bad habit. don't start) Me writing right now at 1:42 am is me "putting in the bookmark and setting it aside".
In all reality, there isn't that much to pack. small simple things. candles, curling iron, some papers, the box of pens and pencils from that desk over there. I could easily get it done in 20 minutes. and yet I sit here. Wanting to move on, but wanting to savor the moment and wanting it to last. Apparently I'm currently trying to stop time. But being the "big girl" I am, I can't use that super power and I have to get back to reality.
That reality being: just a few more things to pack. get some good sleep. get up early and complete my last day of work. pack up my desk (which might be another blog-stall enduced time). help with the launch of the new student building "The Block". get another good night sleep. and move.
But for the moment, I'm just going to keep the book on the shelf and not finish it. for a few more minutes. Try to soak in the moment. I'm "becoming a grown up" as my Daddy said. I need to stay and soak it all in. Stay in the moment. (I just think of the scene with V telling Evey to stay in the moment)
This time next week, I'll have moved to a new state, started a new job, met new friends, and so much more. Crazy. I'll also be turning 24 at the end of the summer. Whoa! I just knew I wanted to write what was in my head. I didn't want to miss this moment and later think, how did I process that?
I'm so sad to leave, but I'm so ready to move on! How can that be?
It's time for a new batch of eggs...
~just.julie
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Sitting on your roof...
... is like a vacation for your soul!
I read this in a domestic magazine recently.
I'm rather fond of it :)
"Travel pushes my boundaries. When you travel, you become invisible, if you want. I do want. I like to be the observer. What makes people who they are? Could I feel at home here? No one expects you to have the stack of papers back by Tuesday, or to check messages, or to fertilize the geraniums. When traveling, you have the delectable possibility of not understanding a word of what is said to you. Language becomes simply a musical background for watching bicycles zoom along a canal, calling for nothing from you. Travel releases spontaneity. You become a godlike creature full of choice, free to visit the stately pleasure domes, make love in the morning, sketch a bell tower. You open, as in childhood, and-for a time-receive this world. There's the visceral aspect, too-the huntress who is free. Free to go, free to return home bringing memories to lay on the hearth."
Excerpted from A Year in the World, by Frances Mayes
Food for thought:
a)Watching a movie takes less time than a 23 minute show.
(I get addicted to FRIENDS. especially because I have (illegally from India so shhh) all 10 seasons on 5 discs. so 2 seasons per disc. Way too much time.)
2)Baking snickerdoodles and making your house smell beyond amazing right before guests come over, is one of the coolest things ever.
also) this is the longest week ever. feels like it anyway. its really only Wednesday?
Associated with A) wanted to have a movie on in the background... Oceans 11 was 'suggested' to me by a friend's status. So my celebrity crush is hanging out with the big boys on my TV.
*) I can dance around a subject and talk about a lot when whats really on my mind stays there. in my mind.
With that being said, I'll stall for one more day.
~just.julie
I read this in a domestic magazine recently.
I'm rather fond of it :)
"Travel pushes my boundaries. When you travel, you become invisible, if you want. I do want. I like to be the observer. What makes people who they are? Could I feel at home here? No one expects you to have the stack of papers back by Tuesday, or to check messages, or to fertilize the geraniums. When traveling, you have the delectable possibility of not understanding a word of what is said to you. Language becomes simply a musical background for watching bicycles zoom along a canal, calling for nothing from you. Travel releases spontaneity. You become a godlike creature full of choice, free to visit the stately pleasure domes, make love in the morning, sketch a bell tower. You open, as in childhood, and-for a time-receive this world. There's the visceral aspect, too-the huntress who is free. Free to go, free to return home bringing memories to lay on the hearth."
Excerpted from A Year in the World, by Frances Mayes
Food for thought:
a)Watching a movie takes less time than a 23 minute show.
(I get addicted to FRIENDS. especially because I have (illegally from India so shhh) all 10 seasons on 5 discs. so 2 seasons per disc. Way too much time.)
2)Baking snickerdoodles and making your house smell beyond amazing right before guests come over, is one of the coolest things ever.
also) this is the longest week ever. feels like it anyway. its really only Wednesday?
Associated with A) wanted to have a movie on in the background... Oceans 11 was 'suggested' to me by a friend's status. So my celebrity crush is hanging out with the big boys on my TV.
*) I can dance around a subject and talk about a lot when whats really on my mind stays there. in my mind.
With that being said, I'll stall for one more day.
~just.julie
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Just have to say....
I am beyond blessed! I have the coolest parents ever!
Here is an update on Mama.
My dad is such a talented writer!
Although I'm in Kentucky, I feel close to Kansas today :)
Here is an update on Mama.
My dad is such a talented writer!
Although I'm in Kentucky, I feel close to Kansas today :)
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