the more things change, the more they stay the same

I wrote this post exactly one year ago.

A lot has changed since then. But then again, a lot has stayed the same. If you've read this blog before, you may have noticed that I love documentation. I learn a lot from reflection, so I thought it would be fun to do a little "compare and contrast" between November 23, 2009 and November 23, 2010.

Then, I was on the third floor of Samford University's library trying to finish up a paper before heading home for Thanksgiving. Today, I'm on the fourth floor of an apartment building in DC waiting for my family to come to me for Thanksgiving.

2009

2010

Then, I was concerned about the Great Eggo Ration of 2009. Now, I am back to eating an Eggo a day with a free conscience.

Then, I was happy for Susan Boyle. Now, she has just released a Christmas album. You go, Boyle.

Doesn't she look fantastic?!

Then, I was feeling sorry for John Mayer. Now, I'm still feeling sorry for John Mayer. I like John. He's had a hard year.

Then, I ate Snack Wells Devil's Food Cake from the Samford food court for lunch. Today, I had an Auntie Anne's pretzel from Union Station.

Then, I was worrying about what I was going to do with my life. I recall feeling "square in the dark" about a lot of things, specifically life after graduation.

Now, I'm still square in the dark. But it's not as much of a scary, looming cloud kind of dark as it is a mysterious, thrilling, temporary shadow kind of dark. It's the kind of dark that makes me recognize my dependence. It is the kind of dark that is lit by the "lamp unto my feet and light unto my path." It's the kind of dark that makes me trust and hope and rejoice in what is to come.

I finished all of my papers that semester. The Eggo shortage didn't last long. Susan Boyle is lookin' good. John Mayer is learning. And I'm a different person in a lot of ways. But I'm still just the same.

And I'm still eating terrible lunches.

pie pumpkin

I requested we have a "pie pumpkin." But the official carver said it would not be scary enough.

So he added a good 'ole "boo." Problem solved.

I celebrated Reformation Day a little differently this year. We had a party at our apartment. I was Liz Lemon from 30 Rock. Can you see the resemblance?

Liz likes Pop-Tarts, too!

We had a plethora of delicious snacks, including some toes, eyeballs and a few molars.

Thankfully we had David Caruso from CSI: Miami on hand to investigate the alarming amount of body parts:

I'm going to leave you with a picture of the graveyard cake I made. As Liz Lemon would say, "It's my own recipe. I used cheddar cheese instead of water."

stuff

Once again, I'm going to just post pictures and captions because I'm too lazy to really write. One day I'm going to do a post that involves more than a single line of pictures going down the center of the page. But not today.

Some things I've enjoyed lately:

Doing the Nixon pose everywhere I go.

Lighting up on the mall

*Not really, guys!*

My dad being in D.C. for 24 hours.

Oatmeal. Used to hate the stuff. Now I can't get enough of it.

Fall decorations. Found this one on the street.

So clever.

Seeing Peyton Manning's... ummm... helmet? Yeah, helmet.

Going home for a weekend and getting my sweet tea fix.

Running (towards food) while listening to this song.

Thanks, Erica via Mary Laura!

Things I have not enjoyed?

Losing my iPhone for 20 minutes while going through airport security.

And spending $5.15 for my oatmeal.

the verdict is in...

I love the District of Columbia.

The jury was out for a little while, but life looks a lot different these days from when I came here twenty days ago. I arrived wide-eyed, overwhelmed and unsure about what the heck I was doing. Three weeks later, I'm wide-eyed, overwhelmed and unsure about what the heck I'm doing. But I'm starting to enter a state of normalcy, and that feels so very good. What a difference new friends, great co-workers, roommates that can cook, the new Hillsong album, and a close Subway (sandwiches) location can make.

Also, sights like this are making me feel right at home:

*Please click on this picture to get the full effect.*

I thought about cropping this. But I just... couldn't... do it.

Go A-murica!

Here's a little taste of what my days are like.

Walk five minutes to work here:

Make my fellow intern take an awkward solo shot of me in front of the capitol:

Console fellow intern when he loses his glasses and has to wear his prescription sunglasses to work:

Try to make fellow intern feel better by wearing my own sunglasses at work:

Make pancakes (eat pancakes):

Hang out at Eastern Market:

Try to look cool and read a book here:

Do touristy stuff with my roommate:

Meet Jenni for the first time, go to church with her, go to small group with her, let her family cook for me, feel like I've known her for ten years, pay her to be my friend, and thank the Lord for providing such a wonderful blessing:

My mom brought a very important milestone to my attention the other day. It was the first day that I had not called her. I think this is a pretty good gauge of my overall emotional well-being. Research (my own) has shown that there is a direct, positive correllation between the number of times I need something and the number of times I call my mother. The results of my study have concluded that things are looking up, and I'm becoming less dependent. Until I need help with the Stouffer's lasagna recipe...

I'm still learning a ton. About everything. Politics, theology, life, how to make friends with the mailroom staff in the basement... you know, everything. But other times I realize that I haven't even touched the surface of all there is to learn. It's humbling, really. But that's another post for another day...

Right now I gotta call my mom.

party in the USA

There are a few things I have been missing this past week. Among them: my family, Milo's, saying "y'all" without fear of judgement, and my friends. Who threw the best "American-Pride-Themed Going-Away (For Three Months) Party" I've ever attended. Please sit back and enjoy their creative talents...

Cake balls. Fruit dip. Gavel. America.

Those colors don't run.

I've never seen so many unflattering pictures in one slideshow.

freedom food

Good 'ol Mike

political party punch

"Pin BT in DC"

Yet another flattering picture of me. And Abe.

(*note: not to scale)

Here's to life, liberty, and (clever) friends...