Swimmin’!

I’ve been taking competitive swimming lessons every Thursday morning at 10:30.  It’s quite fun, and I’ve progressed (or so I hope) quite a bit.    Hopefully I can someday enter a triathlon and actually be *decent* in the swimming section..  XD

The Life List

Quite a few people have made these, and I was inspired to make one of my own.  The items found on this list represent moments in my life that make me feel simply alive!

Sitting on a porch during a thunderstorm

Smiling in the middle of a kiss

The smell of brownies baking

Your favorite song on the radio

Morning runs

Evening runs

Runs anytime

Curling up on the couch with a good movie and a good pint of Ben and Jerry’s

The moments when eyes meet

Cheek kisses

Uncontrollable giggles with a girlfriend

The smell of rain

Tickle fights

Movie nights

Eskimo kisses

Having someone on your mind all day long

Bear hugs

Holding hands

Getting all dressed up for no reason

Dancing in the rain

The first tanlines of summer

Looking out at the horizon

Watching an ocean sunrise

Making your own constellations

Slow dancing in public

Missing someone, and knowing that they miss you, too

Whispers in your ear

Feeling so much love that you just might explode

Yeesh..

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what I’d like to do once I escape the confines of Penn Cambria High School.

Here’s what I know:  I love biology.  I also love sports.

So here’s the problem:  I can’t decide if I’d rather get some sort of biological degree (I’m seriously looking at an Ecology degree), or get into sports medicine/physical therapy.  I think one of the big issues I’ve got is the fact that my interests range on a <i>very</i> wide spectrum.  I’m into all sorts of things, from music, to sports, to the Great Outdoors ™, to even literature!!

::shrugs:: I’ve got plenty of time to sort this all out, so I don’t really <i>worry</i> about it.    I suppose I’ll just let things take course as they shall, and I’ll see where I end up.  :]

Just thoughts

If you’re looking for a warning, here’s one:  This post will most definitely contain lots of random thoughts without any sort of transitions, k? 

I’m finally getting a decent tan.  Yay!  Even at the cost of some sunburn………I really don’t care.  It’s worth it.  XD

I missed summer SO much.  I realized today that I’m going to have to live somewhere reasonably warm all year long, because I just love that sort of climate so much.

I also realized that music can say so much when words are superfluous. 

There’s not much that is *quite* as satisfying as a moonlit swim with the stars peeking out over your head and the moon rising up through the treetops.  Maybe the times when a certain someone holds me close under said starlight can compete, but not much else. 

Life is good.  :]  I’m not sure that I’ve ever been quite as thankful to be alive and really living in the sweet moments.  I’m happy!

Swimming is really hard!

It is…if you’ve never tried to swim hardcore.  Crazy Ryan and Crazy Kevin want me to swim in a team triathlon with them this summer, XD.  It’ll be fun, but I’m gonna have to train religiously to get to the shape I need to be in.  At least it will go hand-in-hand with cross country training this summer!  ^^

The Simple Things

they’re always the best.

Always.  Holding hands and laughing are two of the best ways to spend a lazy afternoon. 

Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own

Sometimes you just can’t survive by yourself.

I thought about that this morning.  I was inspired by the U2 song that this post is named for.  People are growing more and more independent, but yet, bonding with other living creatures is part of who we are.

It’s a bit of a paradox!  On one hand, you’ve got a need to be different and to break loose.  On the other, you’ve got an inner need to be close to people.  I’m not just talking about romantics here, either.  I really feel that your friends are the family you get to choose in life.  The people you associate with reflect much about your own personality.

I won’t exclude romantic relationships here, though.  Out of all the instincts that drive humans to bond with one another, surely the need to love and be loved is the strongest.  There’s nothing quite like loving every single part of someone, and knowing that they love you for all of your own flaunts and flaws in return. 

All I know is this:  We live in a big world, full of joys and sorrows.  There’s a lot that’s ugly out there.  But there are many more beautiful pieces, if only you take the time to seek them out.

And it’s always better to share this crazy journey we call “Life” with someone; the path can get mighty lonely if you choose to try and make it on your own.

–H.  “Shared sorrow is half sorrow; shared joy is double joy.”  (Proverb)

I’m an animal person.

I woke early this morning to make a trip to Pittsburgh.  Today was the Zoo Teen orientation for the teen volunteer program at the Pittsburgh Zoo.  This will be my second year attending, and I am SO pumped about it!  Each day I get two duties, one in the morning (from about 9:30-11:30) and one in the afternoon (from about 12:30-3:00).  My duties could involve anything from cleaning “The Burrow” (the place where all the cute ‘n’ fuzzy bunnies/guinea pigs and snakes live), to running the petting zoo (least-hoped for job), to the animal handling tables (the most-coveted job!).  It’s also quite fun to help with Zoo Camp — where all the lil’uns go for an all-day zoo experience.  You get to march around the zoo and sing peppy (and really catchy, although sometimes annoying) march tunes.  An example would be:  We are the ZOO CAMPERS! (we are the zoo campers!)  The mighty, mighty ZOO CAMPERS!  (the mighty, mighty zoo campers)…that is sung (well, more like shrieked) to the tune of the “We Are Tigers” chant…or whatever… XD

So, if you’re ever bored during the summer (on a Wednesday…that’s my work day!), take a trip to the good old ‘Burgh and visit me! 

Running. Is. Fun. …really.

Right now, I’m sitting at my computer, totally exhausted from a hard day’s running workout.  Right after school, Kevin and I went for a 40 minute Lemon House run, averaging about 4-5 miles.  It was super hot — naturally, most people would stop there.  Me?  Nahhhh…..  I went to Mountain Top tonight and did some really hardcore speedwork-style stuff.  Eeeeek!  Never again will I make the mistake of mixing a long, hard distance run and hard speedwork in one day!

Yeah, I’m nuts for actually enjoying putting myself through this “torture”.  I really don’t think of it like that.  It’s cleansing for the body to be able to get through the type of work involved with running.  I think it’s really important to have something in your life that forces you to excel.  One can’t strive for greatness if one has no motivation to succeed.

It’s the lovely exhaustion I’m feeling right now that makes me enjoy running.  Sure, there are other reasons:  it’s healthy, it’s fun, it’s a challenge, etc.  But, knowing that I can put myself through some tough stuff makes me realize that I can do the same thing in other aspects of my life.  Hard physical training is also hard mental training.  Once you’ve got the mental drive to achieve something, you’re halfway to accomplishing whatever it is you’ve set out to do!

Take my advice:  Find something that you’re passionate about, and focus your energy into being the very best that you can possibly be at it.  It matters not what the actual activity is; what matters is the actual effort and determination you put in to achieve greatness!

SUMMERTIME, whoot!

::GLEE::I’m so pumped for summer. I’ll turn 16 (CHYEAHH), I’ve got a few concerts to go to, a bunch of races here and there, Taming of the Shrew, and Zoo Teens!

AHHHH ::explodes from happiness::

Although, in a really weird way, I’m gonna miss school. I dunno why, but I know I will…I always do at least a *little* bit.