Thoughts from 12/?/14

"Love & support eachother..."

I don't always exhibit my love and support in the most successful ways, I'm kind of a spastic child in that way, raging and passionate, and so confused and paralyzed at times. But I think about these things all the time. It really matters to me that I grow exponentially in these ways. The people around me that care about me and vice versa are all that matter-  that has to be worth something, right?

an update

my summer, for anyone who might be curious. 

it's been the first summer that i've had a full time job, which has been both a blessing and a curse. love the manual labor, hate the logistics and loss of free time that come with working 40 hours a week.

but i'm happy to be in the final days and to have one week of summertime freedom before classes start up again. trying to only see this next week as a beautiful opportunity to sleep outside and go to boston (!!) to see family.

i am happy to report that this summer, however work-heavy, has been full of life, both happy and sad. 

in june my family, kirk and i drove to ithaca, new york to celebrate my cousin's marriage- and it was lovely. 

with the little free time i've had on weeknights and weekends, i've spent most of it with really good people, driving up to traverse city to get a taste of perfection or over to the east side to put my feet up, breathe easy, and sit on porches at home.

while work mostly sucked, i met incredible individuals that made the experience so worthwhile.

i got wheels!!!!

i moved into a new house in one of the coolest parts of grand rapids, with some awesome ladies. (come visit! and feel free to ask for my new address!)

watched a TON of movies and dipped my toes into comics, an art form i never really gave a proper chance until recently.

had plenty of good freshwater swims. 

am seriously considering getting a first tattoo soon.

happily got to watch some very good friends travel to the last frontier and... minds blown.

used some of my hard-earned money and finally bought a tent i've been lusting after.

my childhood pup, Max, has now made it 15 years as my family's most consistent friend. this summer has been hard on him and emotional for us. as obvious as it's been in these last couple years but as painful as it will always be for anyone who will ever have to part with an animal friend, we are forced to say a sad but peaceful goodbye to our favorite border collie. 

 ^that was all new york times, exploring ithaca and running into waterfalls and horsies

sometimes privileged with working in gorgeous spots

swollen hands from maaaad painting

tent! taking it up to wilderness state park in northern michigan for a trip next week!

always good sunsets

not easy. thinking about everyone, especially from home (milwaukee), who has been a part of our life with this guy and given him some loving. thank you :)

inconsistency is apparently what i'm all about. so i'm back after a break from this blog, with a photo to testify to the intense itch in my soul to travel. i'm going to hawaii by the grace of my mother in reward for graduating college. 

and i will not hesitate to sit and daydream about it until it happens. 

photo taken by erdwin jadraque

home. good. 

sliding in socks on wood floors while cooking thanksgiving dinner, getting time to draw, seeing family. 

i'm pretty thankful for this break!

whatever may come, i'll welcome it. mountains rich with variation, deserts loved for their calm. it's all good.

happy belated halloween. and now we get pudgey!

about a month ago now- gah, time is flying- my roommates and i hosted a clothing/bake/craft sale in an attempt to capitalize on things we've loved for a long time but now want to pass on. some nice people stopped by, some bought, some didn't. mostly we set up a lovely front yard scene with blankets covering pine needles and crafts and miscellaneous home-things to keep our hands busy during light conversation. 

i got some lovely evidence! indulge. 

the next day katlin's grandparents came for a visit and they were really just the warmest! there's something so specifically lovely and solidifying about having grandparents and parents in a home. 

our home! 

this was also about the time i sprained my wrist falling off my bike, and it did goofy things to me. but pictures under a synthetic leaf designed for children is probably never a bad thing.