The End

I graduated. It actually happened. I walked across the stage (gym steps, actually), didn't trip despite the stiletto heels, shook hands with the Mayor, the President of the college, and some "official looking guy" as my mom tagged him in the photos she took. They handed me a diploma. I did it. I'm done.

But I don't feel done. I'm just not that kind of person. I'm not the sort who gets really excited about something. Maybe that makes me old. I'm home now and glad to be working again. I don't like not having money. I'm looking forward to teaching the three classes I'm offering this Summer. I'm offering two writing classes and a philosophy class to people (mostly homeschoolers) in my circle. My mom calls it freelance teaching, and if I do end up in grad school some day, it will look good on my application. But I don't know. What I really want to do is get my writing career off the ground, but since I've been home that last thing I've wanted to do was sit down and write. Maybe it feels too much like school, I don't know. This happened last Summer, too, but it made more sense then because I didn't really want to start anything when I had to return to school in the Fall. I think that's where the not feeling done is affecting me. Being graduated won't sink in until Fall when I don't have to return to school or classes. I'm looking forward to it. But right now it's frustrating. My last week at school when I was too busy studying for finals and putting together my creative writing portfolio, all I wanted to do was keep writing. I had so many ideas for my novel, and now they're just gone. Or not gone, but not at the fore of my interests. It's quite frustrating.

That's not why I'm writing this, though. This post is a good-bye. A "the end" as the title suggests. I've moved far beyond Century now, and it's time to start the next chapter of my life. This doesn't mean I'm going to disappear. I'll be around. In a year, look for my name in the local bookstores, keep your eyes open for a brand new website that will be helping me to promote the classes I'll continue to freelance teach, watch for pictures of the adventures my horse and I embark on. She's coming home this week and I've got plans for us, so many plans. But those plans aren't for a blog beyond Century. They're for a life beyond Albion—a life I intend to live, not write about. And so I bid you good-bye, farewell, good luck, but also a thank you for traveling with me on this journey; I wrote this blog for you after all (when I remembered to write) and you've been a wonderful audience. And so once more, I thank you and bid you farewell.

The End.

My failing grade

Two English portfolios, two exams, a philosophy assessment (which reminds me I need to send that paper), and commencement separates me from the "real world." And I'm ready. I'm so ready. The English language does not have words to describe just how ready I am. Yet, I am surrounded by people in my graduating class who consider the "real world" a horrible, terrifying thing. Sure. It's not all parties and social life. You actually have to work out in this "real world," but who wants to spend their whole life partying? Who can stand to remain so shallow that your social life is all that matters? College is not about parties; it's about preparing you for a job and this whole "real world." But maybe I'm one of those rare individuals who is awake and mature enough to see it--or maybe this is just further evidence of how badly I want to be done.

Done. There is a part of me that cringes at that word. College shouldn't be all about parties, but it shouldn't be something that you're desperate to leave either. I think that if you dread leaving college and working a job in this "real world," then maybe you didn't choose the right career in the first place; but there's also something wrong with being so ready to leave all of this behind you. If I'm so ready to leave, then what did I do wrong?

It doesn't take a lot of reflection to answer that question. I started my college career at a two-year community college, which I loved. Century was the perfect place for me. I loved my teachers, my classes, and I made a couple of lasting friends (one of which is going to be moving to St. Paul this Summer!). But then I transferred to a four-year college, away from my friends, family, and most importantly, my jobs. As a junior at Albion, I made friends, but they were all several years younger than me. I knew next to no one in my graduating class, but they all knew each other. So I've spent two years living as a stranger here. College shouldn't be all about your social life, but I've come to realize that there's something seriously missing if you spend more nights procrastinating homework by sitting in the library playing games on Facebook then out with friends. College doesn't just prepare you for a career, it has another, stronger lesson to teach you. And it's this lesson that I will leave college with a failing grade: how to balance your working life with your social life.

For those of my friends who know me well, you're probably throwing your hands up and saying "Finally!" Yeah. Okay. You were right. I needed to get out more. I need to get out more. At least now I've realized it, right?

Yet, if my sitting here writing a blog post to give me a break from my novella (which is turning into a novel) is any indication, I've still got a lot to learn. People all around me are packing up their stuff to go meet friends for dinner. Those people who come in alone, rarely end up sitting by themselves. Don't get all teary-eyed for me though, I'm not lonely. I'm happier studying and writing by myself. That's part of the problem. I have to make a real effort to go out and do something. I need an invitation, and even then I always have some excuse (of course most of the time they are legit excuses). The whole reason I decided to leave Minnesota to go to college was because it would give me the social life that I was lacking when I commuted to Century, and yet after two years here, few things have really changed.

But, things have changed. I've been to more than one college party; I've been drunk (St. Patrick's Day will never again have quite the same meaning); I've stayed up until insane hours hopping from one stranger's apartment to another with a group of incredibly fabulous (and drunk) friends; I've gotten McDonalds at 3 in the morning crammed into a car that probably should only fit half the people who were in it. I would never have done any of these things if I hadn't gone to Albion (though my best friend and I do some pretty amusing things when we spend any decent amount of time together). So maybe I managed to pass this last class college had to offer, even if just barely. The real question then is what will I take away from it?

I already have plans to come back and visit Albion/East Lansing. There's a movie coming out in May that I already plan to see at midnight. I'm (very likely) returning with my horse to the barn where I first began riding specifically because they offer schooling shows four times a year. By the time my next birthday (25!) comes around, I'll be moved out, and I'm planning on starting a traditional St. Patty's Day party. My brother, who I may be living with, has a birthday near Halloween, and if all goes according to plan we should have a place by then--another party opportunity? This last year of school has taught me that I love to cook, so there's another possible social experience. Of course, this is all just talk right now. There's no saying what will happen in the next month or year, but you have to admit, at least it's a start.

This is it

This is it. My final semester of my senior year at Albion began today. I actually feel quite productive. I only have one class on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but it's at 8 am. This forces me to get up at a reasonable hour, which in turn gives me the whole day to get things done. I already crossed off everything I had listed to get done this week. Crazy! What will I do with the rest of my week? Oh, right, homework.

Anyway, this is it. Five classes, four months, and commencement separate me from the next chapter of my life. For the longest time I was actually kind of dreading coming back to school. I have a job I love back home; I make money (which I will never again take for granted); and I have two summer classes I'm teaching. I just kept thinking, okay, let this semester go fast. But now that I'm here, I'm content. Sure, I miss having a steady paycheck, and I miss the rambunctious seven-year-old and his sarcastic brother, but I also have friends here. I had forgotten that, I guess. And part of me is a little sad that this is in fact it. After this semester I will never again be an undergraduate. I have to deal with loans and moving out, and, well, life. So what do I do? Simple. I enjoy every delightfully bitchy, wonderfully bastardly, occasionally quiet, and always crazy moment of it. After all, this is it.

That's Cap'n Norasaurus to you!

I completely meant to write a blog post last weekend, but I went home and left my computer here (I wasn't going to cart my desktop when I was only home for four days). So I'm writing now. A lot has happened. I had a real week of class (no more sickness), which concluded with tryouts for the different teams. I was worried, I'm not going to lie. I didn't mind the idea of not being on the team, but I did really want another chance to make it to Nationals and this is my last chance. Well, we had a decent number of girls trying out for the dressage team, and when I left tryouts I was telling myself, "well if I don't make it, I'll save money." Results were to be posted Friday, but I would be in a car driving back to Minnesota. Once again, I'd have to wait to find out.

Or one can have great friends who go and check the results early in the morning and call you. I got a phone call before I left Michigan. "Congratulations," begins friend. Oh my god! I made the team! "Yes, and you're captain." Yep, that's me. Once again riding introductory level and captain of the Dressage team, and we have an awesome team this year. I'm so excited!

What else has happened? That's the biggest thing. We started lessons this week, and I had a good ride today. I may be working at the barn this year. They are allowed to use work study students, and I would love the experience of working in a barn. I spent the majority of the day out at the barn today. I don't have classes on Fridays and as captain, I'm trying to watch each of my girls ride at least once a week. I hung out after my lesson on Wednesday and stuck around today, too. I think I'm going to talk to my coach about being somewhere where I can actually hear what she's saying during the lessons. For one, I want to be aware of what my girls are struggling with, but I also want to see how they sit to help me with my own riding. Some of them have the same problems as I do, so it would be helpful to hear how my coach helps them over come those issues. Today, though, I spent most of the lesson bringing horses inside. It's always an interesting experience. Some horses are crazy about coming in, others are nice and calm. I like seeing how they act, and I like talking to them, which I'm a little more self-conscious about when other people are around. It was fun, and I'm rambling. Okay. I'm done for now. Talk to you next weekend (maybe).

Starting this semester off with a cough?

This first week of classes didn't exactly go as planned. It started off right enough. I got to campus early to train as a tour guide. That involved a lot of walking, leaving me very exhausted and sore at the end of the day, but with a weekend off and a great friend in town, I was more than ready to start this semester off right. It's my senior year, after all.

Monday went well enough. Tuesday I woke up a bit off and by the middle of my first tour of the year I was sniffling. Well, I thought nothing of it. I slipped Monday and ate soy, so I just figured the sniffling and sore throat was due to that. Should've known better. By the time my first class hit, I was blowing my nose every few moments and my head felt heavy enough to knock me off balance. By the time I got done with Tuesday's classes all I wanted was a nap. And I've basically been sleeping since then. I skipped classes Wednesday and Thursday and only left the apartment on Thursday to take (and somehow pass) the equestrian fitness test (well, and a meeting later, but I didn't say much). I was worried I wouldn't pass since I was coughing so much, but I pulled through... and haven't left the apartment again until today.

Today I woke up with sore abs from coughing. The coughing hasn't let up, but I can breathe now and I'm not sneezing constantly. Coughs tend to stick around with me. I don't imagine I'll get rid of it for another week. Guess this is one way to work your abs.

So, on a different note. I'm in an apartment this year. It's still on campus, but it's not a part of board. There's a kitchen, and I'm getting to be a pretty decent cook. By the end of the year, I might actually be a good cook. It would help if I had an oven that worked though. This apartment is what they call an efficiency. Basically, it's a glorified dorm room, but I only have to share the bathroom with my roommate (and any guests we have), and that's more than enough to drown the complaints about the size of the room. I am excited to be done after this year, though. I'm ready to get on with the rest of my life, whatever that means. When I know, I'll let you know.

Epic Fail

Here I said I was going to keep this blog throughout college. I would write every day and do a recap at the end of each week. Trouble was I didn't take into account that my life at Albion would be a lot different than the one I led at Century. For one, the class work at Century was much easier than that at Albion. At Century I had to cut all my papers and found that the easiest way to write a decent paper while putting the least amount of effort into it was to write it a couple hours before it was due or the day before it was due. I never had a problem doing the reading either because all my friends were busy with college elsewhere, so I had plenty of time on the weekends and after work. The opposite was the case at Albion. Suddenly I had to write 10 and 12 page papers, I had a lot more to read, and *gasp* I have a social life! I'm involved with the Equestrian club, as chair of the public relations committee and this year I'll be secretary. I also am involved with the horse team. Every moment I wasn't doing homework, I was chatting with my friends. That was the life I led now.

Now, now I'm a senior. This is my last year at Albion. I considered staying on for another year and doing the British Horse Society program, but for all I love my friends I'll be leaving behind, I've come to realize that what I want more than anything is to be around people my own age. Grad school has that to offer, but since thinking that, I've changed my mind further. I had an epiphany recently. I love school. I doubt I'll ever stop wanting to take classes, but what I really want to do with my life is become a self supporting author. Being a professor was just an academic career that allowed me to go to school. I wouldn't go to school to become an author. So, I'm not worrying about grad school just now and maybe I'll never go. Instead, when the year is over, I'm going to return to Minnesota, work my three jobs, ride my horse, and strive to get my writing career off the ground. Step one: finish the novel I've been working one for the last eight years. Wish me luck!

For this final year of school, I make no promises concerning this blog. It won't disappear, that's for sure. I'll write when I have time and that's the best I can do.

Nationals Bound . . . next year

So, Lake Erie didn't go exactly according to plan. My goal was to place in the top three, but I was so busy thinking about not being nervous and had too much time on my hands to think about not being nervous that I didn't remember until after I rode that I had a goal. Oops. Having a goal really helped me at the Albion College show, but then again, I was also riding a horse I was familiar with. At Lake Erie, all the horses were new to me. I rode a cute little mare named Addie. She was very energetic, and if I had remembered to think about each minute detail of my test while I was doing it, I would've had a really good ride on her. That's what helped me at Albion's show. Unfortunately, I forgot to think until halfway through the very short test. I started paying attention to something other than my elbows just in time to bank it like an airplane down centerline to finish my test. *sigh* And Albion's motto is Always Thinking. Apparently not true for me yet.

In the end, I got seventh place. Not the worst placing I've done, but definitely not an improvement over my last test, which was the goal. Overall, Albion finished the season fourth in the region, and our Captain, Kjirsten, despite her broken wrist and being unable to ride in this weekend's show, won the region for her division and will be going to Florida for Nationals! What an awesome way to graduate from Albion! Maybe next year, my senior year, I'll follow in her footsteps. We'll just have to see.

Make it or Break it

This weekend is the last official Dressage show. The team's heading to Lake Erie College and I'm planning on kicking some serious butt. We still have a shot at Nationals, but we have to do extra well at this show because we're down a member. Our captain fell off a horse last week and broke her wrist. She'll be there cheering us on, but she won't be able to ride. My goal is to place in the top three. It will be more difficult than at our home show because I won't know any of the horses. But I'm going to do my absolute best so that now matter what happens in the end, I'll have no regrets.

My Great Lakes Literature class has continued to meet out in the nature center on Wednesdays. It's been a lot of fun, and now that I'm acquainted with the center. A couple weeks ago, I found myself wandering there. After surviving a semester without being thrown from a horse, I finally got bucked off. I wasn't physically injured, but against my rational mind-set, my pride was bruised, and I needed to be somewhere quiet where I could come to terms with being thrown. The nature center did its job, but also made me homesick for my river back home.

I can't believe it's almost Spring Break. Only two more weeks then I'm home for ten days. I can't wait to ride my pony! The weather has been gorgeous up here for the last couple days and I wish I could go trail riding. I did go running the other day and that was fabulous! Though it made me realize I've been doing a horrible job of drinking water. Yesterday, I had a nasty fever and headache all day. I finally stopped by the bookstore and bought a nalgene water bottle. I  downed 32 oz during my last two hour class. Clearly, I needed water. Since then I'm being more careful and I'll be drinking a lot of water this weekend.

I am so excited for this weekend. I can't wait to spend two days (and a night) with the dressage girls! And now my focus is gone.  Wish me luck for this weekend!

Lock-down and Fire drills

The seasonal flu has struck Albion College. We had the same problem last semester, yet apparently it wasn't as big of a deal. As of Wednesday, 100 people on campus were diagnosed with the flu; last night, Student Health Services brought in the CDC and were advised to cancel all college activities. I didn't have classes today, but my lesson was canceled. Basically, the college is in quarantine.

So far, I'm not sick. My hall has been hit, but Alesha and my isolated little corner is still safe. I was thinking about this last night and I'm wondering if it's because we haven't spent much time in the dinning hall. Alesha is off board, so she never goes in there. I'm only going for dinner on Mondays and Wednesdays. The rest of the time I'm never near Baldwin, so it doesn't make any sense for me to go there. In the meantime, I'm upping my vitamin C intake and I'm avoiding sick people.

On top of that my building's fire alarm is either broken or some idiot has decided that there's nothing better for sick people than to stand out in the cold while an alarm blares. Last semester we had one fire drill, but I was elsewhere so didn't get to experience it. In the last twenty-four hours we've had two fire alarms. Just a bit ago the alarm went off again, but only long enough for me to consider whether I really wanted to go outside or not. Alesha's boyfriend thinks that there's probably something wrong with the alarms and it's being fixed. I hope so. I'd rather not become a cynic of the alarms. Maybe alarms are like smoke detectors, when the batteries die, the alarm just keeps going off.

On a different note, classes are going well. I like only having classes on Mondays and Wednesdays. Last Wednesday, we spent our Great Lakes Lit class at the Nature Center making journals. My creative writing class is evoking childhood memories that are actually turning into decent poems. My history of the philosophy of science class is introducing me to completely new philosophy. I sit in the class and just listen because I'm not fully understanding what's going on. I'm not sure what to think of it. I"m used to going into a class and knowing something about the subject. In this class, the names are familiar, but the text and ideas that go with them is completely different. I'm also having trouble understanding what I'm reading which is meaning that I'm not talking as much in class. Yet another weird thing for me. I'm kind of enjoying it though.

My final class is Victorian Britain. I didn't know a lot about the time period, but the more I read the more I realize that I actually have some experience with the time period. For one, the American Girl doll that I have has stories set in the Victorian era, albeit in America not England. Also, I was doing family history and I was able to track my great grandfathers life back to England during the end of the Victorian period. We also got to watch Blackadder in the last class. Rowan Aitkenson and Hugh Laurie should do more stuff together.

The television is calling, and with my hall and friends sick, my room seems like the best place to be right now.

Let's Begin Again

It's the start of a new semester. My plan to keep up with this blog failed a bit miserably last semester and I make no promises for this semester except to say that I will try.

First, a recap of last semester. It was my first time living away from home for any significant amount of time. I did have a couple moments of homesickness, and I know that I'll probably get them again this semester especially when Spring begins to show. I always get homesick in the Spring. The first time my family moved, I would become depressed around the middle of April. It took me a couple years to realize why. Spring is the season of gardens and green, and to this day I still miss the garden from my first house. However, this semester I have my car with me so I'll have the chance to go home and soak in the Spring, Minnesota-style.

Being a part of the Equestrian team at school has been amazing. I love the people on the team, the coaches, and the show environment. In my last show, the one I had at Albion, I managed to meet my goal of placing. Better than that, my coach was sure I had taken first place. Unfortunately the three riders that followed me did amazingly and I was pushed back into fourth place. But still, it was exactly what I needed after my disappointment and frustration from the previous show. Now, we have one more show to travel to in February. We head to Lake Erie College and depending on how we do there we may or may not be heading to Florida for Nationals in May. My goal: place in the top three. This will be trickier because I won't be on horses I know, but I think I can do it.

My part in the Equestrian Club evolved last semester. The club members were broken into three committees. I volunteered for the public relations committee and ended up becoming the co-chair. I really loved the position and the people in my group are awesome. This semester I've moved up to becoming the sole chair and I am in the process of coordinating something with the local library involving horses. I'm excited about the idea.

Academically, last semester was a challenge. Two years of community college certainly prepared me for what professors wanted, but I had no social life while I was home. Most of my friends were already away at college. Instead, I worked and had little trouble balancing academics and employment. Here, things are a lot different. I'm involved in two clubs, on a team and have made very good friends with people in my building. Suddenly, my ability to balance everything wasn't working and I had to spend the semester learning how to do it all over. In a sense that's why I'm looking at this semester as a new beginning. I know how to write ten-page papers now. I know that I need to prioritize better, especially with bigger projects and so I've brought a month calendar this semester so I can see at a glance when I have projects and papers due. Now if I procrastinate it's an issue of motivation, not priorities. Hopefully that will make a difference.

Now begins a new semester. Technically, classes begin tomorrow, but I have no classes on Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays. More than a few people have told me I'm insane for clumping all of my classes together, but I like the idea of having two days dedicated only to class and the rest for work and friends. We'll just have to judge my sanity after the first month, but I don't think I'll prove any more insane than I already am.

For Michelle

I don't know all who are reading this, but I get the most demand for new entries from Michelle, the girl I've been doing projects and such with for the last couple years. So, this one's for her.

I'm not going to go back and touch on everything that's happened in the last month. Needless to say, I've been busy with school work, real work, and friends. Plus, the weekend after my last entry I had my first dressage show.

The show was held in Williamston, MI at a barn affiliated with Michigan State University. It was a nice enough facility, though it--like most barns now--paled in comparison to the Albion Equestrian Center. I think I'm becoming spoiled. It was a gorgeous weekend. I wisely wore layers, but was down to a t-shirt and thin lounge pants by the afternoon. We brought five (?) horses with us, so in the morning I spent a lot of time being a horse mommy. This entailed walking the horse around, putting saddle and bridle on and holding the blanket while he was being rode. It was a fun job and made the day seem not as long. Still, after being out there from 7ish in the morning (being awake since 5) to after 5, I was dead by the time I returned to campus. I'm really glad those shows don't happen every weekend.

My tests went well enough for it being my first show in a long time. My boots didn't fit, so I had to use other peoples and no one on my team has a shoe size even close to mine. It's rather difficult to have any affect on a large animal when you're feet are swimming in leather. I had also forgotten that I freeze up whenever I enter the show ring. My warm-ups would go great, then I'd get in the ring and suddenly I couldn't function. It wasn't that I stopped thinking or anything like that, it's that I tensed up which prevented the horse from relaxing and me from thinking about anything other than the test and the things my old trainers spent several years drilling into my head: corners, rising and falling with the correct leg. I didn't place either day, but my team as a whole did. We got sixth the first day and second the next day. Our next show is this coming weekend. I'm determined to do better. In fact, I'm determined to place. I just have to remember to breath.

I like the show environment. I love spending an entire day with my team and supporting everyone, however, I really hate how I only get one chance. I'm out there all day, but you get in the ring and that's it. If you screw up, you're done. When I showed before I would always have at least three classes. I'd do a group class first. That was my screw up class, my chance to go in and get my nervousness out of the way. In intercollegiate, I don't have that option. So, I have to find a different way to settle my nerves. It doesn't help that I have this weird thing where I can't tell if I'm nervous or not. Oh I'll have butterflies, sweat, and all the other typical symptoms whenever one of my teammates go in the ring, but when I'm up on the horse...nothing. I can't tell, so I can't fix it. This weekend, I'm just going to assume and go with that. We'll see what happens.

Okay, my laundry's done. Time to go to bed. I have a paper I need to write tomorrow (two, actually). I'll do my best to write next weekend when the show it over.

The not-so-mighty river

The colors here are gorgeous. I'm not entirely sure when the leaves began to change. A week ago they were green or brown and my friends and I were wondering if it would ever get warm enough to allow the trees to burst into the full spectrum. Then, Saturday, I was walking back from the dinning hall and suddenly I noticed them: yellows, oranges, reds, browns. It's absolutely stunning. I'll take a picture tomorrow and post it.

I spent most of the day inside today, but finally my stomach (and the lack of snack food I have in my room) drove me to the dinning hall. The place was basically deserted. Since I got here, my friends have complained about the food, but until this weekend I thought it was fine. This weekend I think the cooks were trying to scare the stayers away. Definitely leaving campus for all future long breaks--or having better snack food that will last me.

Anyway, after I ate I didn't really feel like going back to my room. It was a beautiful day and there was still at least an hour before sundown. So, I just let myself wander. My feet took me to the 24/7 computer lab where I figured I would be able to go in and print out my dressage test for this weekend. I want to practice it as much as I can this week. However, the vending machine distracted me and when I reached the lab, it was very dark and uninviting. So, I took my Sierra Mist and hit the trails again.

My feet took me across the train tracks and into the frontage road beside the athletic complex. Now I knew where I was heading: Whitehouse Nature Center. The 144-acre nature center was one of the reasons I chose this college, but until now I hadn't actually been there. I tried to get there the second weekend I was here, but I ended up going the complete opposite direction. It was nice to finally go there. The Kalamazoo River isn't nearly as impressive as the Mississippi or even Minnehaha Creek, but I could be bias. It was nice being near the water again. I've been so filled with city smells, college smells, people smells. It was nice to be out in nature, hearing squirrels, birds, the water. I forgot how quickly the air temperature can change when you're walking over a marsh. It would be hot to the point of stuffy, then I would pass over a trickle of water and suddenly the air would be downright cold. It was tantalizingly refreshing. I'm going back with my camera as soon as possible. The whole place reminds me of Minnehaha Park and the river.

I finished my walk by sitting at the river's edge and just watching the leaves float by. Then darkness began to creep across the grass. So, I returned to my dorm, not missing home quite as much as I had.

Friends, exams, and now a break

It's been a while. Since my last entry a lot has happened. First, I spent the weekend at Alyssa's house, I attended and helped out at the college's first jumper show of the school year, I survived the four papers I had to write and mid-terms, and now I have four days completely to myself.
Okay, starting at the beginning. The last weekend in September, Alyssa invited me to come spend the weekend at her house in Clarkston. She was going home to celebrate her birthday with her family. It was a lot of fun. She has three horses right in her backyard (essentially) and the weather was perfect for trail riding. It was so nice to get on a horse and just ride. I haven't done that since I stopped going out to the hobby farm I used to ride at. I've missed the simplicity. After riding, we went to her mom's boyfriend's house for food and fishing. Alyssa's boyfriend was out of town, but his brothers lived nearby and I got to meet them. The way Alyssa interacts with them reminds me exactly of my relationship with the three boys I spent several years babysitting. I've added hanging out with them to my list of must-dos when I come home in November. All in all, it was an awesome weekend, even if I did end up getting a cold. Though I think that cold had more to do with the four papers I had due that Thursday/Friday before. I survived them, despite that the British Literature paper I thought I had until midnight to finish was actually due at 5. So far, I've only had the Faulkner critique returned to me, but I'm not entirely worried about the others. I feel like I did well on them.

And moving on. The following Friday I had my first midterm (October 1). It was for this reason that I chose not to take my Brit Lit professor's offered extension on the paper. I could've e-mailed him and asked for another week to do the paper so that I wouldn't have four papers due so close together, but I decided I didn't want to worry about writing a paper while also studying for the mid-term. I had never taken a midterm here before and I decided I wasn't going to rely on Century College's midterms as an example because Century is a two year college with a lot lower standards then I'm expecting Albion to have. Anyway, I didn't study a lot for this test because I would just be trying to fill my head with too much information since I had no idea what to expect. I did know that I would have to know the titles and authors of the pieces we read and that there would be vocabulary questions. So, I skimmed and went into the test feeling minorly unprepared. For good reason, it turned out. I knew only two of the five vocabulary questions, but I did get all the rest of the test done fairly well. The reason we had to know the title and author was because the professor put quotes from the different pieces we read and we had to identify their source and explain the context. I nailed that, so that was good. I got my test back last week and got an 85 without the curve, a 90 with it. Not too bad for not knowing what to expect. It did teach me to take better notes in class, though. A couple of the vocab I didn't even have in my notes. Oops.


That same weekend was the first Winter Series Jumper show. A jumper show is pretty self explanatory. Competitors ride their horses over brightly colored fences. The idea of a jumper show is to clear the first round (as the rider does in the video). Riders clear the round if they get over all the fences in the right order (you might be able to see the numbers leaning up against the jumps, these mark the course), then get the best time in what is called the jump off without knocking down any of the poles. The jump off is a shorter version of the original course (and not shown in this video). The show started Saturday morning with cross-rails. Cross-rails are jumps where the poles form an X. These are beginner jumps either for horses or students who haven't done a lot of jumping or as a warm-up for the classes with verticles (like in the video). As the show progresses, the jumps get higher. The rider in the video is probably jumping 2'3''-2'6''. The show I was at ended up at 3'3''-3'6'' by Sunday afternoon. Olympic show jumpers can jump as big as 6'. Next year, when I bring my horse up, I'm going to try to compete in show jumping. I do love Dressage, but there's something about being on a jumping horse that makes you feel like you have wings.

Anyway, at the beginning of the video, you may have noticed the woman running through the course. She was part of the jump crew, which was what I did. The jump crew goes out and sets up any jumps that the horses knock over. I had a really good time, but I'm looking forward to being the girl on the horse for the next show (NEXT WEEKEND!!!!!).

This past week was midterms. I only had two because I did the Brit Lit one the week before and because I don't have one for my Faulkner class. I had a better idea what to expect after Brit Lit, so I actually spent time Wednesday and Thursday night studying. I was most worried about my philosophy one because the history class I'm taking is a first-year class containing mostly freshmen. So, I stayed in the library going back through all my philosophy notes and the handouts I received until 1:30 in the morning. Alyssa kept me company, which was really nice. We chilled in the older half of the library because the lights aren't super efficient and go off every half hour there isn't mass movement. Jolly Ranchers, Oreos (for some crazy reason I can eat Michigan's mini oreos. They don't contain soy or dairy.), Pepsi, and BBQ chips helped keep us going. Alyssa had to move her car before 2, so we ended up leaving before I got all my studying done. Alyssa completed all her homework for the following day, though, so at least I'm a good role-model. : ) I went back to my dorm and found that Alesha was still up, so I stayed up another hour and finished all my notes. I went to bed feeling very prepared for philosophy, but also very happy I didn't have to get up until 9:30. In the end, both of the midterms felt like they went well. I won't know how I did until Friday when grades are due, but I feel pretty confident.

And now I'm on Fall break and the campus is deserted. I've never seen so many empty parking spots in the entire time I've been here. All of my friends have gone home, so I have a huge amount of time on my hands that I've been spending trying to remember what I did before I acquired a social life. For the last three weekends I've had something to do. There was the parade, going home with Alyssa, and the jumper show. I was hugely looking forward to this weekend because I would finally have a chance to sleep in (which I did), but once I woke up I couldn't remember what I used to do. Yesterday, I spent the entire day in my dorm room watching an NCIS marathon. That was enjoyable. I do love NCIS, but the whole time I kept checking my e-mail accounts and Facebook for someone to talk to, and I couldn't stop thinking how much more fun watching NCIS would be if Kate were there to watch it with me. Today, I woke up earlier (not before noon, of course) and absolutely had to get out of the dorm. So, I wandered over to the Student Center in pursuit of snacks. The center was open, but the convenient store and the bookstore were closed. I couldn't help but wonder what exactly was the point of having the center open if nothing inside it was open. From there I headed toward the library intent on raiding the student-card-accepting vending machines, as well as checking out some movies for my history class. Then I sat down here, logged into Facebook and Blogger, and started this post, more than happy to be interrupted by the flashing tab that told me Jemma had sent me a message on Facebook.

For all I love this campus and love studying, I've come to realize with each weekend that consists of my friends going home, I miss my own home. I miss my cats, my dog, my horse. If I had a car up here, I absolutely would've gone home this weekend. I had planned on doing that even when I couldn't bring my car up (the brakes died two days before I left for school), but it takes two days to get home cheaply and I don't have the money to fly. Two days to get home and two days to come back means I'd be spending more time in Union Station in Chicago or on a bus than I would be at home, which rather defeats the point. So, next semester, I'm absolutely bringing my car up so I have a chance to go home.

I should be starting those papers, but...

Courtesy of Kate Sexton

It's Monday. The beginning of week four. I did not succeed in completing both Monday and Tuesday's homework this weekend, which I like to do because I don't want to stay up late Monday when I have an 8:00 a.m. riding lesson. No worries. I completed the rest of my philosophy and brit lit reading during my first break earlier today. So, I'm all set for tomorrow. No reason why I can't go to bed at a reasonable hour tonight.

Something I completely failed to mention Saturday is that I was in a parade! Members of the equestrian club marched in the Festival of the Forks parade. The Festival of the Forks refers to the fact that the Kalamazoo River forks in Albion. Beyond that, I don't know why they celebrate this fact, but it was a fun time. Last weekend (not this just past, but the weekend before), Greer, Alyssa, Kate, and I watched Monty Python and The Holy Grail. Naturally, that gave us clever girls (I think Greer gets most of the credit) the idea of getting coconuts and banging them together while marching in the parade, since we weren't bringing actual horses. It was fun. I'm glad we did it, though carving out coconuts is a tedious task. I think we were quite the hit, because we got our picture in the Jackson Citizen Patriot. I tried to find the picture online so I could post a link to the article here, but apparently it only exists in print. Sorry.

The other thing I didn't say is that I have a job. I'm going to be tutoring at the local elementary/middle/high school. I went to the first training session yesterday, and I'm supposed to start sometime this week. I'm both looking forward to it and feeling a little nervous. High School--real high school--is new to me. It will be good to have money again, though, especially with all the show clothes I still need.

Now I really need to get off the computer and do homework. I'll do my best to report on my very long Tuesday tomorrow.

The side effects of a social life

Well, so much for writing every day. However, I feel I should mention that the day to day details are rather tedious, because it's a lot of the same. Still, it's been too long. The problem is that ever since I found out that Kate, Greer, and Alyssa live two floors below me, my evenings have been spent chilling with the ladies until much too late at night. Outside of that, I'm doing homework, class, and I joined the dance club. So, yeah, things are a little crazy.

Anyway, enough with the excuses. Life is good here in Michigan. Fall has struck. Leaves are changing color and dropping. The wind has that clean Fall bite to it, and the weather keeps fluctuating between too warm and chilly. You'll hear no complaints from me, though. This is my favorite kind of weather. It's perfect for riding and makes me miss my pony.

This week was the second week of lessons. I haven't rode the same horse twice yet which makes sense, because Danielle, the coach of the Dressage Team, is seeing how I do when on different horses. So far, I don't have a favorite. I'm unlearning a lot of the hunter tricks that I was taught the first several years of my riding career and relearning how to put my leg on correctly and sit right. It feels weird, but I'm not getting the back pains that I used to get, so I must be doing something right.

Classes are good. I have three papers due on Friday. Yikes! One of them is for philosophy and has an eight page minimum. I'm supposed to take the public policy theory that this guy Ellis takes 200-pages to tell you is impossible to do in our current government and then apply it to a different public policy. I've decided to write about the child-killings that have been occurring on Daytona Beach. It's this place where cars are allowed to drive on the actual beach, and despite that there have been an increase of children hit and killed by the cars, the city has decided to keep the beach open to autos because of the tradition it stands for. It's an interesting article, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to have trouble lengthening it into eight pages. I haven't written anything that long in my entire college career. If you have any advice, pass it on, please.

The first Dressage show is the 16-17 of October over at Michigan State University. I think I'm excited. For those of you who know me, you'll understand my confusion. For my newer readers or those who just don't know me as well, I have a hard time showing emotions and on the rare occasion that they do show up, I don't usually recognize them. I say "I think I'm excited" mostly because I figure that a normal person would be excited for their first show. Anyway, yeah, first show in a couple weeks.

I went to a rodeo last weekend. The equus club was going and I wasn't going to go, but I was drawn into it by the ladies. I'm not a fan of rodeos. Oh, I like barrel racing and reining, but I'm not a huge fan of the rest of it. My mom rubbed that off on me. Beyond that, though, I'm also not a fan of rodeos because despite that they claim that they are not affiliated with any political party, you walk in as a moderate or democrat and you feel like you've just crossed into no man's land. Needless to say, it was a little uncomfortable, but it was fun chillin' with the ladies.

Then last night I was met with my first opportunity to play drinking games. Sorry to disappoint some of you, but I turned down the chance. For one, I was getting motion sickness just from walking around. For two, I'm just not the drinking game sort. For all you How I Met Your Mother fans out there, there's that one episode where Marshall and Lily decide to be mature and have a wine tasting while Barney and Ted go out to a club with Robin. Well, I would be the "boring" people sitting on the couch waiting for the wine to breath and playing trivial pursuit. So, don't expect any wild stories, though I promise that if there ever is a wild story to tell, I will blog it. Instead, I chilled with Kate, spending the time I should have been writing down Sam (R)'s birthday present talking about my stories. Basically, I've gained another fan before I've even had anything published. My books better live up to all your expectations or I'll feel pretty dumb.

In a little bit, I'll be off to go design T-shirts for the equus club to sell at our barn shows, then we're tie-dying the club shirts. I helped design the logo for this year! I'm not the artist though. I can draw, but this girl Megan is incredible, so her design won but we paired it with my idea. I'll take a picture when I get my shirt.

And there you have it. I'm all caught up. I'll try to do better about writing more often, but no promises. I have four papers and a presentation due in the next two weeks, plus these stories I'm working on outside of my novel and planning the outline of the Loft class I want to teach next Summer. Plus, there's this whole problem about having a social life! *sigh* Things were so much simpler when I was an anti-social study freak. (That would be sarcasm, btw.)

A Horse Named Petoskey

Today I had my first riding lesson and it was the day that I found out for sure whether I made the team or not. As of last night, I still hadn't heard anything and was beginning to tell myself, "Well, I didn't make the team . . . guess this means I don't have to spend $400 on show clothes!" Despite my up-beat, always-a-silver-lining attitude, I was feeling both worried and disappointed. I have never not made a sport I tried out for. And for all that I love Albion just as a school, the whole reason I came here was to compete on the equestrian team. So, what would happen if I didn't make it?

Well, my alarm went off at 6 a.m. this morning. I rose only long enough to turn it off before rolling over and sleeping for the next half hour before the second alarm sounded. This past weekend had not been especially productive. I spent the whole time in my room watching t.v. shows. I didn't start doing homework or laundery until Monday. This meant that despite my goal to be in bed early last night, I didn't get to sleep until around 2 a.m.. Ouch. Nonetheless, I was excited when I finally did pull myself out of bed and got ready for my lesson. Excited and a bit apprehensive.

I ran into Greer in the cafeteria when I slipped in with the first batch of much-too-awake early birds. We sat together and talked of classes while we waited for the food to take effect and our brains to wake up. Greer is one of the people in my Tuesday lessons, but I hitched a ride from campus security to the barn. That early in the morning, I guess the campus police don't have much to do, because my ride was waiting out front of the dining hall exactly when I asked to be picked up. I arrived at the barn with plenty of time to spare.

The first thing I did was locate the white board that told me what horse I was riding. Petoskey. Not a horse I was familiar with, but I've never met a horse I didn't like, so I was excited to meet this gelding. Next, I obediantly checked the card on his grooming box to find out if there were any specific instructions I had to follow when dealing with him. There weren't. Now, since I still had a little time before I needed to start getting tacked up, I went in search of Danielle to ask her whether the teams had been picked and the riders informed. As I passed the huge bulletin board outside of the indoor arena on my way to find Danielle, the word "congratulations" caught my eye:

Congratulations to the 2010-2011 Dressage Team!

Second Level
Kjirsten Sneed
Nicole Howey

First Level
Greer Clemons
Johnna Serydynski

Training Level
Alyssa Olsen
Sarah Morris

Introductory Level
Samantha Green
Nora Cox

That's right, peoples. I made the team.

No news

It's Friday. Alyssa and Kate both told me that I'd know whether I made the team or not today, but it's 12:45 and there is still no word. I'm not worried. I'm not disappointed. Just because Alyssa thought they had to have to roster for the teams turned in by tonight, doesn't mean she was right. It also doesn't mean that I didn't make the team, if she was correct. There's plenty of reasons why Danielle didn't notify people tonight. So, life goes on, and the long weekend is here. I have my dorm to myself, because Alesha and Edwin went home for the weekend. Tomorrow is a new day. I've got a new Faulkner story to read, as well as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. There's plenty to keep me occupied while I await the verdict of Thursday's tests. And when I know, no matter what the news is, you will be one of the first to know.

On a separate note, I was assigned my horseback riding lesson times today. I'm riding Tuesdays from 8-9 (and that would be a.m. . . .) and Wednesdays 4-5. Look out sore muscles and sleepy class days, here I come!

Horses and exams

Once again, last night I had a post all ready to publish when the server crashed, and I was unable to load anything. I think I need to find a way to plug my computer in because the wi-fi signal in my room isn't very good.

Anyway, yesterday was an average Thursday until my Faulkner Seminar ended at 5. Yesterday was the day of the equestrian team try-outs. It was also the day of the Writing Competency Exam. Both stress-inducing tests occurred one after the other, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

After class, I rushed across campus to change into my horsie clothing, and rushed back to the dining hall to meet Alesha and her boyfriend, Edwin. More to the point, I rushed to meet Edwin's car. Normally, I will be receiving rides to the barn from campus safety, but I've been informed by several people that if you don't give them an hour leeway, you'll end up wherever you're going an hour late. Yesterday, I couldn't risk that, not with only a half hour to spare between the end of class and the try-outs, so I bummed a ride.

I arrived at the barn in plenty of time, despite my worry when Edwin didn't show up right at 5:15. Everyone else who was trying out was already gathered in the viewing room, all dressed up in their tall boots, breeches, and fancy, five-hundred dollar helmets. I felt a little out of place with my mud-coated paddock boots, well-worn, suede half chaps, and the still slightly milldew-smelling schooling helmet. It didn't bother me, though. I'm used to feeling out of place in the barn.

I was just beginning to recognize the mixture of excitement and nervousness curling in the base of my stomach when Danielle (the Dressage coach) and George (the Scottish coach of the hunt seat team) came in and explained what was going to happen. They were going to treat this just like a show. Each of us would draw a horse out of a hat (or basket in this case) and that would be the horse we rode. Some of the girl's had a decided advantage over me because they had been taking lessons already and knew the horses. I didn't mind. I've been riding lesson horses most of my life. I'm used to not knowing a lot about my horse.

Then it was time to draw. I was in the second group, with five other girls and one of the last to choose. I walked up to where Kristin (known as Bob for a reason I'm fairly certain I already explained) and Sarah, last year's co-captain of the Dressage team were prepared to assign me whatever horse I chose. Quickly, I reached into the basket, shuffled through the long strips of paper, drawing out the first I could get my fingers on. It was still folded, which boded well. The horses that had already been chosen to ride before me wouldn't be folded. I'd have a fresh horse. Sliding the strip out smooth, I read aloud the name: Romulus. Greek! Cool! I passed the paper to Bob and headed back to the viewing window trying to remember if this horse was one of the ones I met. The name was familiar. A big bay came to mind. While the other girls from my group collected around Bob, asking questions about the horses they were to ride, I stood at the window, feeling the nervousness grow a little more. This wasn't bad nervousness, by any means. I didn't feel nausous or light-headed. This was the same feeling I got when I used to show. I was excited! But my hand was shaking, ever so slightly, and I knew that nervousness is not something you want to possess up on a horse. The horse will sense it and react with their own anxiety because they don't know why you're nervous. So, while I waited my turn to show my stuff, I closed my eyes and concentrated on calming my pounding heart.

Then it was my turn. I followed the rest of my group out into the arena. Some of the girl's horses were already available, so half our group was on and walking around long before I even  had a horse. My horse, Romulus, is a beauty. A tall bay with little ears. Randi Heathman (I talked to her for a long time when I first visited Albion back in February) helped me get the horse ready, warning me about a couple of the gelding's quirks, but ended by saying that she was so jealous. I had chosen the best horse in the barn.

I mounted, feeling like I could touch the sky. After my little pony back home, this horse felt as big as the  Greek legend behind his name. Naturally, the saddle had to be adjusted to accompany my short legs, but before long I was off, walking, then trotting, then cantering with the other girls. It was a short try-out. I didn't fall off. I didn't break any rules. I looked down at the horse only twice to make sure I was rising and falling in time with the correct front leg of the horse (called a diagonal, for you non-horsie people--or non-English riders, anyway.) Though my dreams last night were plagued with images of my back grotesquely arched during the whole ride, I know I kept my back straight, my core strong. Your back feels like your spine was hit by a hammer if you arch your back while riding. I was nervous, though, and Romulus could feel it. He wouldn't relax while I was riding, and he was drenched in sweat after I got off. It was toasty in the barn, but not that toasty. But Alyssa and Randi and Danielle and Bob all reminded us that this try-out is not based on how the horse looks, it's about how the rider looks (the discipline of equitation), and I've been told by many people that I am a very skilled equitation rider. Now, all I can do is wait and see.

When I got back to the viewing room, it was nearly 6:23. I asked Edwin and Alesha to pick me up at 6:30 because I had this exam at 7, and I wanted to leave plenty of time in case something happened and they could't be there right at 6:30. I shouldn't have worried. Edwin pulled up right when I walked out the door, and I was at the science building, where the test was to be held, at exactly 6:30. With half an hour to kill, I took a moment to breath. I was surprised to find that I really wasn't nervous about this exam. Maybe I had used up all my anxiety for the day at try-outs. Maybe I just have that much faith in my writing. I don't know. But when I sat down in the massive auditorium with my bluebook, pen, and the list of topics we had to choose from, I wasn't really thinking of this as an exam. It was just another college essay, and I had two hours to craft my best possible response. This was nothing like the final exam essays I had to write at Century (my previous college, for those who don't know) because with those the entire exam (vocabulary, short answer, and essay) had to be completed in two hours. Here, I had two hours devoted solely to writing an essay. I will say that I didn't especially like any of the topics. They were all current events, and I don't read the newspaper or pay much attention to what's going on in the world. But I managed to write a reasonable essay about the Islamic cultural center that the Muslim community of Manhatten wants to build two blocks from where the Twin Towers collapsed. Then that was it. I turned in the book and the topics and walked back to my dorm feeling more productive than I had felt in a while. Now I just hope that I pass. I've heard a couple people say that they didn't and had to retake it, but most of them said this not long after talking about how drunk they got last night. Once again, all I can do is wait and see.

The complications posed by time and new anime

The stairs for the Library Stacks: six tiers of books
squished into three floors.

It's been a while. Don't worry, though, you haven't missed much. I spent this weekend attempting to do nothing. After class got out on Friday, I spent the rest of the day reading my assignments for Monday so besides a short diagnostic essay on The Wanderer, there was nothing I had to do. Instead, my intention was to spend the entire weekend watching the animes I brought with me, pausing only for a trip to the basement to do laundry. Well, as some of you may have noticed from Facebook, I failed. I just couldn't stay away from Faulkner. However, Sunday I am proud (though it could be viewed as patheticness) to say that I didn't leave my building once; and I only left my room at the end of the day to type up my paper in the disgustingly stuffy and hot computer room in my building.

Then Monday came around and it was the beginning of week two. Week two? Only week two? How is that possible? I feel like I have been here forever! (Forever in a good sense, mind you, not in the when-will-it-be-winter-break way.) Monday did bring something out of the ordinary, though. In the evening I went to the first equestrian club meeting where I learned that try-outs for the teams are on Thursday (tomorrow now that I'm finally writing this) at 5:30. I also found out that there will be three dressage shows this school year (actually five shows, but in only three different locations and only three different weekends). While I am a little disappointed that I won't be around the show atmosphere more often, I don't regret my decision to only try out for the dressage team. The hunt seat team that I wanted to go out for has ten shows this school year, and that may not sound like a lot, but it is. Maybe next year I'll go out for the hunt seat team. We'll see. I may not need to, though, because the campus barn puts on jumping shows every month and you can rent a college horse to compete in them. Next year, if I manage to make enough money to afford to keep my horse here, I'll be able to show her. That would be really nice, though I don't know what my horse would think about that.

Tuesday brought another unusual event: the review for the writing competency exam I have to take in order to remain a Junior. If I fail, I'll be demoted to Sophomore until I pass it. It's nothing out of the ordinary, really. It's similar to the essays I had to write for colleges where they give you a list of topics and you pick one to talk about. I just wish that it wasn't on the same day as try-outs. Tomorrow's going to be a busy day.

And now, just like that, I'm caught up. Today nothing especially interesting happened. I have decided that I rather hate my philosophy text book. The writer is horrible! He keeps using massively big words to say things that he easily could've used a smaller word to say the same thing just as well. He repeats things more often than necessary in the same sentence, and he's over all very confusing, and that's saying somethng, coming from me. I'm the one who enjoyed reading Kant who is determined one of the most confusing philosophers out there. But with Kant, once you understand his language, it's not too bad whereas with this Richard Ellis, the deeper into the book I get, the more confused I become. I have a lot of respect for books, so you can understand the seriousness of my frustration when I say that I nearly flung this textbook against a wall! (I was in the library, though, so there weren't any walls close enough for me to fling it, and there were people around trying to study.) The good news is that there are only two more chapters (or so) and then that will be it! Hooray!

Okay, I'm done ranting. The interesting thing that occurred today was something called Briton Bash. All the clubs associated with the school set up tables and try to recrut you. Naturally, I signed up for the Equestrian Club, but I also was enticed by the Dance Association, which is trying to get a Swing Dance Club started. I said I'd do what I could to help, because I do love swing dancing. I was coerced by a classmate into signing up for St. Jude's booth (though I figured it was for a good cause) and was nearly drawn into the First Responders by one of my hall-mates. That one was easier to say no to, because it was more for biology and pre-med majors. Still, Miss Mackenzie can be very convincing. I remember choosing to sign up for the Intramurals Club, which is a group of people who get together and play sports. And finally, I'm going to be a Big Sister! There was a representative from Big Brothers, Big Sisters there and I've always been curious about it, so I decided to just go for it and sign-up. I'll let you know how that goes.

The Wanderer

My Brit Lit professor assigned us The Wanderer for Monday. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it. It's a short Old English poem by an unknown author, and it's beautiful. I won't deceive you. It's full of sorrow and loneliness, but in that melancholy, there's a beauty that reminded me of my river, the Mississippi. I had the sudden need to be near water and somewhere solitary where I could read the poem again aloud. I set out for the White House Nature Center and the Kalamazoo River.

Since I've arrived at Albion, I haven't left the campus. For one, I haven't had a need to. For two, I've been too busy to pursue it on my own time. Today, though, I finished all the reading I had for Monday with more than enough time to spare, so I just started walking, trying my best to picture the map of the area that's pinned to my bulletin board. Looking at it now, I was completely off, but I realized that the point of my wandering wasn't the destination, but the walking itself. Even though I didn't find the river, I did get to see a bit of Albion.

Here on campus, we're sheltered. The buildings are beautiful and well-cared for, and even the Greek houses nearby look like they belong in a wealthy suburb. Once you pass out of this world, the houses change. They become smaller, shabbier, faded . . . alive.

When first I came to Albion back in February, I was disgusted by the town. The houses are all needing paint, with junk and garbage lying in the front yards. Walking today allowed me a closer look at those same houses. This time, I didn't see junk or garbage, I saw newly planted flowers in lovingly tended gardens. Instead of chipped paint, I saw curtains hung in windows, cats guarding porches, and people buried under the hoods of their cars. I saw life! And for all I treasure and love the town of Marshall, MI with all it's pretty houses and historic pride, I realized something important today: Marshall is like an antique store; Albion is a home.