i should write my paper

if someone ever tries to tell you that 6:00 am is a beautiful time of morning, let me just save you the trouble of rising at that ungodly hour and tell you that it looks just like it did the night before: dark. hmph. so, after a quick nap from 3:00 am until 6:00 am, my roommates and i bundled up and began our journey to the Thames/Isis river across town. while i embarked unable to form coherent sentences and wondering why morning people are the way they are, i was in awe of the beauty surrounding us by the time we arrived at the boathouse. a sunrise over Christ Church meadow is worth getting up for...and that says a LOT coming from me. the river was alive with bewildered crews and shouting coaches: it was a classic scene, and i'm SO excited i get to be part of it. that said, i realized what a wimp i am during erg (rowing machine) practice this morning, and i am determined to change.

yesterday was a good start. we were scheduled to run three times around Christ Church meadow, and all of us were on the point of hyperventilation, but still excited. sam, miriam, and i went to the boathouse at the appointed time, but no one was there except for an agitated, sweaty, young rowing captain. he looked up in a sort of hopeful desperation when we nonchalantly arrived, telling us (i was holding back laughter at the piteousness of the situation) that he had been trying to lock the door for thirty minutes, to no avail...would any of us like to try it? i, with life-long experience of being totally unsuccessful at such endeavors, said "no." after a few more minutes of trying, he rushed off, leaving us with the keys and awaiting our own coach. after much going back and forth, confusion about where the rest of our crew was, and finally encountering our coach, i locked the door in a single turn. which made me laugh...hard. anyways, we ended up only having to jog around once (score!) because we started so late. it was still 1.3 miles, though. but it felt good.

i have been really pensive lately...so pensive, that i haven't gotten any work (research and writing included) done on my paper that is due tonight. the story of my life. i've been reading old journal entries and musing about life mostly. it's so strange how we pass through seasons so quickly. i'm realizing that that is what's happening right now, except most people probably aren't in another country when it happens. moving into a different phase with my high school friends was hard, and now realizing that it's time to let go of my college friends is unbelievably difficult. hmmm, i'm not being very eloquent. what i'm trying to say is this: it's time. we're about to graduate and go into the "real world." my friends are getting married, involved in relationships, pulling away, dealing with issues, and figuring out their own lives. not that we can't be friends anymore, but we're definitely in transition. it's kind of a shock to be an ocean away from all of that and come to this conclusion/realization/reconciliation.

recent spontaneity: deciding around 4:00 am (with previous thought being non-existent) that going to ireland for the weekend was a good idea. the buying of tickets ensued. i guess i'm going look for shamrocks on my birthday:D.