A Book a Day Will Keep the Doctor Away...

Okay, well maybe it won't, but reading is something that is very healthy for the mind. I have loved to read every since I was young. My mom used to read to me every night before I went to sleep and it was one of the things I looked forward to every day. I think this is where my love for reading came from. There is something about reading a good book that makes me feel good inside. I think this is because I get to escape from my real life into adventures that most people never go on and couldn't even imagine.

There is no Frigate like a Book
To take us Lands away,
Nor any Coursers like a Page
Of prancing Poetry.
~ Emily Dickinson ~

The next item on my bucket list is reading Newsweek's Top 100 Books. I actually would only like to read the books of fiction on the list (minus the Shakespeare). It's not that it wouldn't be good for me to read the nonfiction, but I want this to be enjoyable when I have free time. I have read some of the books on the list already, so I think I would like to add a few more, such as: The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, The Chronicles of Narnia (all of them not just

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) by C.S. Lewis, Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, and Songs of Innocence and Experience by William Blake. I will probably add more as the years go by and more books come to my attention.

I think reading these books will not only expand my horizons, but also shape me as a person. If these books are considered the best of all time, they must have something in common. I think that one thing is humanity. Most good books I find are loved because they explain the human experience in a profound, yet simple way.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

"Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go"- John Denver

I have had this song stuck in my head all day. I guess it's better than Lady Gaga, which is what usually happens. Anyhow, it got me thinking about traveling. I realized that I have never been out of the country (except for Canada and that doesn't count!). I think it is important to go to a different country just to experience a culture completely different from your own. I know there are several different cultures in America, but most of them are somewhat similar. I want a completely unique experience in a different country.

So, if you haven't guessed, the next item on my bucket list is traveling to another country that isn't Canada. I'm not really even sure what country I would like to go to. There are so many different ones that look amazing.

The countries in Europe that are possibilities are Ireland, France, and Spain. The one that I would like to visit the most is Ireland. It has the most beautiful landscapes (at least from the pictures I have seen). My friend Alexa has been there and told me that it was absolutely gorgeous (she had pictures to prove it). Another aspect about Ireland I would like is the pubs. I have been in an Irish Pub in the United States before and loved it. I have heard the pubs in Ireland are even cooler. They are noisy, lively, and usually have some form of live music. I think the Irish culture would just be a fun one to immerse yourself in.

Another country I would like to visit is Israel. I am a Christian, so I think it would be really amazing to walk where Jesus walked and taught. Also, there are so many different religions that all merge in Israel. Therefore, there are many different cultures there too.

Lastly, I think Egypt would be pretty cool to go to also. There is so much visible history there including the pyramids and Mount Sinai (where Moses got the 10 Commandments from God. I find the pyramids so fascinating because they were built purely from the hands of people and they are so large; it doesn't seem possible.

I have many options as to where I would like to go. The only thing that would be stopping me is money. It would be so expensive to go to any of these places. Hopefully I will be able to go sometime before I die though!

Quirky Quilts

“When life gives you scraps make quilts.”- Anonymous

I really like the quote above. I think it is so true physically and figuratively, but I'm going to focus on the physical aspect. I think quilts are one of the neatest things a person can make. Not only do they look really cool, but you can make them out of any material you have at home (even t shirts). You don't have to go and spend mass amounts of money on new material, which is very nice. Not only does it save money, but it gives the quilt some character.

The next activity on my Bucket List is to make a quilt. I like to consider myself a creative person, and this is one creative outlet I have yet to try. I am also the type of person who sleeps with a lot of blankets on and I just love blankets in general. There is just something about a blanket that is so comforting.

As for the type of material I would like to use, I do not have any idea. I think I would like to use things that have personal meaning to me. I would probably use a my favorite colors (blue and purple) throughout. Also, I think I would put some of my old t shirts from various activities I participated in and sports that I played in high school. This would definitely make it very personal for me because some of my favorite memories are from high school sports, musicals, clubs, etc. My aunt actually made my cousin a quilt made entirely from his soccer t shirts. I thought that was pretty neat.

I think making a quilt could be an interesting experience, especially because I have no idea how to sew. I will definitely need someone with a lot of patience to teach me, so I think my grandma would be a good candidate. Not only may it be an interesting experience, but I think it will be a great opportunity to spend some quality time with whoever decides they want to teach me.

Food!

"Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity." ~Voltaire

As Voltaire said, food is something everyone loves. Could you imagine eating for necessity, but it being a terrible experience? I think that is something we don't think about very often. So, I definitely cherish my experience with food. When you think about it, food brings people together. Whether it's eating dinner with your family, a dinner party, or Thanksgiving dinner, food always is an excuse to get together.

With this said, I have become fairly interested in cooking recently. Also, the Food Network is one of my favorite channels now. With this sudden inspiration, I have decided that the next item on my bucket list is to make a whole meal dedicated to a different culture. And no. Buying Chinese food does not count.

As to what culture I would like to emulate my food after, I have no clue. Maybe after I try this it will become a regular activity for me. Who knows. However I do have it narrowed down to Spanish, Italian, Thai, or Greek. I would like to state that if I do make Italian food, it will be legit. I will make the pasta, sauce, and everything else myself. No cheating allowed!

The picture below is of a Thai dish called "curry." I think this particular curry has a coconut milk base, which makes it a tad sweet. This is probably what I would make if I were to make Thai food. It is excellent and the only type of Thai food I have ever tried ;).

Open Mic

Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Whether it was my dad playing Bruce Springsteen every single day, or having my first the piano lesson when I was four, music has always been something constant throughout my life. The thing that I like about music is that it is a language that is understood by every culture. Even if you do not speak the same language as someone else, music is something that can be performed, listened to, or understood by both people. It is a great way to break any types of barriers between people. That is why I think it is one of the best gifts that God gave humanity. Another thing that is unique about music is that it evokes emotion in not only the performer, but also the listener, even when there are no words, or they are not understood. I think people who perform their own music have a vulnerability that just mesmerizes the audience and makes them all the more authentic.

Anyhow, the next item on my bucket list is performing one of my own songs at an open mic night somewhere. I have performed songs that I have helped someone else write, but never one that I can call completely my own. With this said, I don't think I can say that I have ever finished writing a song before. I will write a verse and a chorus, then decide that it is complete crap and never look at it again. So, I guess you could say that I am my own worst critic.

So, the first step in pursuing this goal of mine would be to actually finish writing a song for once. After I get past that first step, I think I could write enough songs for a complete set list. So, after that I would need to find a venue to play these songs. There are not many places in my hometown that I could play because of how small it is. However, there is one option called Michelle's Cafe. Another option would be here at Eastern. I believe there are Open Mic nights at Jammin' Java every couple of weeks or so. I'm not sure how many people attend these, but hopefully at least a couple. I think playing at Jammin' Java might help me get connected to other musicians who might be interested in playing together sometime.

The Bodacious Bus

I have always loved the buses/vans that hippies drove around in the 1960s. Every time I see one, it just makes me smile. I think they are even more remarkable if they are hand painted with bright colored flowers and peace signs. If you have seen Little Miss Sunshine, you know exactly just what kind of bus I am talking about: a Volkswagen Bus. It might not be the best vehicle out there, but if it gets me from point A to B I am content.

Number 5 on my bucket list is buying my own Volkswagen bus. Not only do I want to buy one, but I want to paint it in my own unique way. I think I would paint it with some earthy tones and then use bright colors to draw attention to the designs. As far as what I would paint, I think I would paint some variation of wheat plants (because of the passage from John 12), music notes (because music is something I love), a number of symbols that represent love, and lots of abstract art. Not only will this be fun, but I think it will be a growing experience as well. Figuring out what to paint on this bus will help me get to know myself better because what I paint on the bus will be a reflection of myself.

Something else that I might like to try out on this van is using vegetable oil to run it instead of gasoline. I'm not really sure how I would go about doing this because I hardly know anything about cars. I think it would be a really good idea though because it would save money (I think) and it is much better for the environment.

The only thing that would keep me from getting one of these buses is the fact that they are stick shift. I am horrible at driving stick shift (just ask my boyfriend). Although, I might be willing to perfect the art of driving stick shift in order to get my own Volkswagen bus....maybe.

Well, if you still are curious about what a Volkswagen bus looks like, I highly recommend watching Little Miss Sunshine.
Or.
You could look at the picture below.

Stars

Stars. Where to start? There are so many cool things about stars. In the summertime, I love to lay outside in my backyard and just watch them. I could stay out there all night. There is just something about them that is calming, yet mysterious at the same time. When I look at the night sky it never ceases to humble me. It's vastness and beauty make me aware of how small I am in this vast universe. Something else I love about the stars is they show just how amazing God is. It is hard to wrap my mind around how the same God that made the stars in the sky made me and loves me more than I can even fathom.

Number four on my Bucket List is to learn more about the stars. I know hardly anything about them. Honestly, the only constellation I can find in the sky is the Big Dipper. And it's a rare occasion that I even find that. I guess more specifically, I would like to be able to find various constellations in the night sky. There is no particular reason for this thought, other than I am just interested in constellations. I also think it is neat that the stars have played important roles in many different cultures throughout human history.

Here is a blog called "Iota Crumb" that deals with various topics regarding science fiction and science. Glenn has a really neat post about stars that is very fascinating that you can read by clicking here.

Also, there is a song by David Crowder Band called "Stars." I think it is a great song that shares what I think about the stars. The video for this song is not very good, but I just want you to hear the song...because it is amazing! :)

Van Gough

Vincent Van Gogh has always been my favorite artist. His work was extremely revolutionary for the time period in which he lived (the 1800s). Van Gogh unfortunately was not well known for his artwork during his lifetime. His paintings were unlike anything else during his time. He used wide brush strokes and painted with bright punches of color that mirrored his emotional and psychological struggles. His life was a series of crazy twists and turns which involved him eventually cutting off part of his ear in a rage. If only he could see how much he has influenced modern art today.

Anyhow, the third item on my bucket list is going to Amsterdam to visit the Van Gogh Museum. It has the largest collection of paintings by Vincent Van Gogh in the entire world. You may ask why go to a museum half way across the world just to see some paintings when you can just look at them online? Well, the reason is seeing them in real life and being able to physically look at the brush strokes is a completely different experience than just seeing a print. I love to oil paint, so being able to see exactly how he laid the paint on the canvas fascinates me. I think I would really grow as an artist just by being able to see Van Gogh's work with my own eyes. I have only seen a couple of his paintings in real life at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. They just do not have a good selection of his more popular pieces. Also, it just sounds cool to be able to say you have been to the Van Gogh Musem in Amsterdam. Plus, Amsterdam just seems like a really neat place to visit and there are a lot of interesting places surrounding it.

To find more information about the Van Gogh Museum you can visit the website here.

The Big Finish

I have always been an avid fan of running. There is just something about it that never ceases to make me feel just plain good afterwards. I always seem to feel even better when I run outside. I think it is the combination of the intricate beauty of nature and the sun's rays shining down that makes it impossible to feel anything less than great. Another reason why I like to run is because it is a big stress reliever for me. I could be having a terrible day and then after I run, I feel great.

Don't worry, I'm getting to my point. I want to be able to run a half a marathon (preferably in the near future). Yeah, I know this sounds pretty crazy. After all, it is 13.1 miles.

Let's break down the benefits of doing this. First of all, I will be in the best shape of my life if I run 13.1 miles. There is no arguing that point. The most I've ran at once is 6 miles, so I will have to be in the better shape than I have ever had to be. Another point to be made is I will be healthier in general. Since I have gone to college I have not been working out as much as I should be. Running a half marathon will force me to train for an extended amount of time, which will in turn make exercising a healthy habit for me. Also, on a less important note, I will have a very toned body, which I think is a benefit. Not only will I be running, but I will also be doing different forms of weight training to keep my muscles strengthened. Lastly, I think running a half marathon would just make me a much more mentally tough person. Half of running long distances is believing that you can do it.

I actually might attempt this during the summer. I guess we will see how far I get. :)

Free Hugs!

The first activity on my Bucket List is giving out free hugs. Now, I don't mean just randomly giving hugs to people around Eastern University. I want to go to a large city (preferably New York City in Times Square), spend the whole day there, and just give out legit free hugs. I also want to have a huge sign and everything. I think that would be so ridiculously awesome.

Think of how many people walk through Times Square everyday. Then, think of how many of those people have something that is hurting them in their life. I would say the vast majority. I don't know about you, but if I was having an average day, dwelling on how monotonous my week has been, I would love it if some random person gave me a hug. It would make me feel good to know that someone appreciates my existence. It's easy to get lost in a sea of faces.


I am not really sure what made me think of this in the first place, but it sounded like a good idea to me. My best friend Alexa has a Free Hugs shirt, so maybe that's where I got the idea from. Regardless of where the idea came from, I think it would be an overall amazing experience and I would grow as a person because of it.

Writing this post reminded me of a song by Dave Matthews Band called "Everyday." The video is a lot like what I have been talking about in this blog post. Enjoy! :)