Stuffs

I’m not huge into new years resolutions, but at the moment I do have some things I’m trying to do to change myself for the better, and it does happen to be January. First and foremost is my attempt to get into some semblance of shape. I got an all classes pass to the IM center group classes which lets me into as many group classes as I feel like all semester. So far I’ve done yoga and pilates, both of which were more intense that I expected; who thinks they’re going to be sore after doing yoga?  It all feels like a very feminine approach to fitness. I’d never claim to have been a very athletic individual, but when I play Ultimate thats the feeling I’d come away with a sense of athleticism. With the group classes I don’t get that same feeling, but they fit much better with my schedule and lifestyle at the moment, not to say anything to the fact that there is no way that I am in shape enough to keep up with frisbee team. I do like the classes a lot better than running or working out otherwise on my own. There’s something to the sense of group unity that motivates you to preform at your best and continue to come back.

I’m also attempting to be more aware of the time I am spending. I feel like I spend so much time doing things because it is the path of least resistance rather than an activity that I will get something out of. Surfing the internet is an easy default for me, but it isn’t really fun. In order to combat this, I’m trying to make myself busier and give myself alternative hobbies. I haven’t knit in forever, but I just started a new project and I’m pretty excited about it. This gives me something to do while I watch TV shows or movies so even when I’m having fun and relaxing, I can have the self-satisfaction of having something to show for it.

It’s been awhile. But I’m feeling a bit of a writing itch, strange as it seems. So we’ll go with this, free-form style, no holds barred, no thoughts, no plans. Just me, the blinking cursor, and this white expanse ahead of me. And my penguin pajamas. Can’t forget those.

As a physics major, I don’t really need to write much anymore. But while I’m not sad to see arbitrary page length requirements go the way of the idea of an ether*, I can’t say that the skills I’ve gained over the years are useless. I can write in a fairly eloquent fashion, albeit overly technically with a few too many commas. I can even use semi-colons with pride and confidence; this is another independent clause, proving my point. My concern is that without the occasional exercise (2 words that I cannot spell for the life of  me), these skills will not remain sharp, and, more importantly, I may begin to lose this style of thinking.

I’m similarly concerned about my speaking skills. “But Hilary!” you protest, “You speak every day, often at great length, when most people really want you to be quiet!”. The issue is that I don’t speak at my full level of eloquence. I hesitate to say that I dumb myself down, as it is more a lack of formality than an intent to appear less intelligent, but it equates to much the same thing. When I speak with my friends I lack direction. I make up words with incredible frequency, even though there is generally a word that already exists that better expresses what I am trying to convey. I used to ironically use internet slang in real life, but now I just use internet slang in real life. I am almost always in “silly” mode. Almost childish. I worry on occasion that people underestimate me.  But then what does it matter? These are my peers. I’m supposed to be able to let loose. Except that then there are those times. Those times when you use the word “bamftastic” in front of a professor.** That’s when you start to realize that you may have a problem.

So let’s do this thang. k?

*Yes, I did really need to make a physics joke there.
**True HilaryStory (TM)

My keyboard no longer has a down arrow key. It’s rather unfortunate. The actual place where the key should be is still there, as is the little nubby button that I can press, but really it is not the same. You also never realize just how much you use the down arrow until you no longer have it. Every time I visit a website I use the down arrow to scroll down. Moving my mouse all the way over to the scroll bar and dragging it toward the bottom? Psh. Far too much work. The down arrow is just so convenient.

I’m considering super gluing a cover back on to the little nubby thing so I can use it again; however, I have no idea what the implications of supergluing something to the inside of a keyboard would be. I have a laptop so it’s not like I could just go out and get a new keyboard if it messes it up.

Little down arrow

A black void where you once lay

A triangle – gone

So I got a new bike today. It’s a nice bike, had most of the features I wanted and was affordable, but here’s the thing. I just don’t love it. It’s just ok. The color is nothing special and it doesn’t look nearly as old school as I was hoping for- I wanted a total hipster bike. But if I complain about it I’ll sound spoiled. I just got a new bike! Everything should be awesome! But really, it’s just ok. I guess all I’m hoping for at this point is to accidently come accross the perfect bike really soon so that we can return the alright one. Here’s to hoping.

You really wanted to know what that title was about didn’t you? Well too bad. That’s a story for another day. =)

My goal in life is to lose Never Have I Ever.

If I could go through my life having done everything I could possibly think of, I think I would end up in a very happy place.

If I have to decide between two things to do, I ask myself: “Which could make a better story?”. And then I do that one.

And in case you were wondering, the answer to that question is never just sitting around watching movies or tv, or surfing the web all day, or doing anything that is routine. Routine is boring.

Ever have I skinny dipped with people I don’t know. Ever have I danced in a field of sunflowers at night. Ever have I made friends with the people who work at lazer tag over some coloring books and silly hats. Ever have I chased down strangers with nerf guns. Ever have I broken into spontaneous dance parties at pretty much every place imaginable.

I want to be the person who ends up living their life to the fullest. The one that is full of surprises. The one who has seen the world and seen what lies outside their own back door.

And I’m going to be.

Because sometimes you have to

Just Do It.