Summer Beginnings and Silver Linings

"The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup of coffee. Short, tall, light, dark, caf, decaf, low-fat, non-fat, etc. So people who don't know what the hell they're doing or who on earth they are can, for only $2.95, get not just a cup of coffee but an absolutely defining sense of self: Tall. Decaf. Cappuccino."
- Joe Fox

This is the line that goes through my head when I order my tall, decaf caramel macchiato. I laugh to myself and, for a moment, get caught up in the romance of Joe Fox and Kathleen Kelly. That movie never gets old.

Two months and we get to hear about a cup of coffee, you say?

These past two months have sort of flown by. Birthday. Finals. Work. Catching up on some much needed sleep plus some. Family Visits. Brother graduating. Watching far too much Psych. Some summer burning and way too much sweating. Trying to get some volunteer hours in at the hospital. Planning trips to be taken this summer. Mostly I have been doing a lot of summer vacationing.. staying up too late, sleeping in too late, eating too many sweets, reading, and doing whatever I please just because I can. Yesterday, the little girls and I made a Starbucks run, spent some time at the park, went on a evening jog, and curled up with some ice cream and a chick flick after dinner. It was a pretty good summer day.

I have finished one book and cracked open another. I always forget how much I enjoy reading. Not because I have to, not a hurried or distracted 'I should be doing something else' kind of reading, and not the I'm going to try and read but really fall asleep because I'm so exhausted kind of reading... Just reading. Flippin' pages without a care in the world. Reading on the couch, in the chair, on the porch, at the park, in a box, with a fox... Yeah, I'm a fan.

I also pulled my camera off the shelf where it has mostly been collecting dust. I like taking pictures. I miss it. These days I do a lot of, "That would make a sweet picture" as I walk, run , or drive by. I decided I would be the chick who carries her camera everywhere this summer. I will not have the excuse of not having a camera on hand! So, I slung my camera over my shoulder and was off. Annnd, not even a mile away from home I realized  that while I snapped a self portrait (while driving) I carelessly placed my lens cap in the cup holder. Where it snugly fits and will probably stay forever. My attempt of rescue wedged it a little tighter. How does that even happen?

Besides the new home for my lens cap (until my dad comes to the rescue), it has been a good start to my summer. Even though I am not backpacking around Ireland, England, and Scotland with my little brother, it is still a good start. Too little money and a little too much work. Lesson: Don't work, have rich parents. or marry rich. :)

Silver lining: California, Minot, Minnesota, and Michigan are all in my near future. In the mean time.. I like my job and I have a bookshelf full of books.      

Just another night at work.

 

The Self portrait

 

Day at the park

 

Summer sun

 

The View from here

 

Sister to be silly with

 

More of a real self portrait. Up close and personal.. flaws and all.