It follows logically, then, that this would become the first song on our mix-tape of 2010. Mix-tape? Mix CD? Mix-tape sounds better. Old school feeling, you know? We haven’t really made mixes for each other — a couple our first summer but nothing really since then. Before we went off to school that first year, he gave me a mix of songs that reminded him of me, and I gave him a ’super cheesey and totally cliche but absolutely necessary CD of love songs’ that reminded me of him. To date, those have remained our staple songs, with the addition of some Mason Jennings lovelies.

Ahhh, I can’t tell you how many times I have listened to this song ;)

Even though we have a long way to go(!) in the wedding planning process, we have gotten quite a lot done. Here is a list of some of the things we’ve happily decided on, and other things we haven’t really thought about yet. The next couple of months is going to be INTENSE.

Things we have decided on/settled:

1. Photographer
2. Videographer
3. Ceremony musician
4. Mode of reception music
5. Caterer & dinner/app menu
6. Wedding dress
7. Groom’s vest
8. Bridesmaids outfits
9. Officiant
10. Centerpiece items
11. Dessert menu
12. Invites, RSVP’s, save the dates, thank you cards
13. Invitations sent
14. Hotel
15. Lighting items
16. Flower kinds

Still to be decided:

1. Timing of bridal photography session
2. Video logistics
3. Ceremony music
4. Reception music: general, first dance, special songs
5. Food-tasting
6. Bridal accessories (shoes, garter, bouquet)
7. Groom attire: pants, shirt, shoes
8. Groomsmen outfits: shirts, pants, shoes, suspenders
9. Ceremony components: traditions, vows, readings, readers
10. Centerpiece arrangement
11. Cake stand, dessert arrangement
12. Ceremony program
13. Final head counts
14. Honeymoon arrangements
15. Lighting set-up
16. Flower arrangements
17. Wedding quilt
18. Guest favors
19. Outdoor games
20. Groom’s dinner & rehearsal
21. Photobooth
22. Slideshow/photo displays
23. Ribbon accumulation
24. Wedding certificate
25. Loved ones photos/basket
26. Ceremony sound system
27. Marriage license
28. Day-after brunch
29. Parent attire

To add to that, I saw nine Sandhill Cranes fly over while visiting my wetland yesterday. How I love their dinosaur calls.

So, there you have it:
As of four thirty PM on Friday, March fifth two-thousand ten:
Spring has arrived.

I have to come up with an honors project for one of my classes. It’s the last honors credit I need before graduation, and this time the project guidelines aren’t set — I get to make my own agenda. So far I have three ideas:

1. Extending a project from the class, which would probably be a decorated journal based around the theme of racism in America;
2. Explore the dichotomy/divide between art and science and how that is affecting my life (and/or how it will affect my future);
3. Create a blog or video log of potential resources/role models/job characteristics I want to incorporate into my future career, an important thing to think about since I will be graduating in May.

I went to my professors office hours this afternoon to talk to her about it, but she wasn’t there. So I went and got ice cream. I need to think of an idea this week though, so I can write the proposal and turn it in by next week.

I feel like it should be mid-April by now, the semester has been so busy already. It’s a little shocking to think that I have only been at it for a month. I am going to try making monthly goals to see if that will break time into smaller chunks and keep me grounded in the present.

Goals for March:

1. Finish the books I got from the library (The Octopus and the Orangutan and Tales From the Underground)
2. Read before bed - make it a habit
3. Read a book on the history of Quakerism
4. Apply for graduation
5. Start (again) journaling regularly, maybe incorporating some of the ideas of Gwen Diehn’s book, The Decorated Journal
6. Do what I can to make this next paper round (for the Writing Fellows) more efficient and less confusing
7. Try to keep stress levels low in a busy month
8. Find a set time every week or day to work on wedding stuff, so I can keep my school work and wedding work in balance
9. Get outside more - take more walks
10. Smooth out my sleeping schedule

I was looking around on the interwebs for a shawl/shrug to wear at the wedding. It would be awesome to make one, so then I started looking for a pattern I could follow to knit my own (the fact that I don’t know how to read/follow a knitting pattern is just an aside). Here are my three favorite finds:

Gaia Shrug by DropKickGrl.

This one isn’t for sale and doesn’t come with a pattern, as it’s an original design. But I really love it — so simple and elegant. Anyone know how to make a pattern from a picture?

Bolero Bridal Shrug by reflectionsbyds on etsy.

Very romantic, looks warm, and only $75. I like the ribbon detail in the back. It’s a little hard for me to imagine which style(s) would go with my dress and which would be too much. This one might be too much…

Ribbed Lace Bolero by Kelly.

This one is very plain, not really wedding-ey like the others, but it has a pattern and I think I could figure out how to do it if I put my mind to it. It would also be very practical for anytime wear.

Aaron said he’d ask his aunts who know how to knit if they would be able to make a pattern out of the first. But maybe I’ll go for the second? We’ll see.

Bridal Floral Shawl by hersheyler on etsy.

This is really beautiful. So delicate. I really only like it when it’s wrapped up, though, with all of the flowers overlapping.

And, eventually, I want to make this: Cleaves by Katherine Summer O’Neal. It’s a very unique piece and would be perfect for the wintery chills I always seem to attract.

What is important?

Living as active a life as possible,

meeting all ranks of people, plenty of travel,

trying your hand at various kinds of work,

keeping your eyes, ears, and mind open,

remembering what you observe,

reading plenty of good books,

and writing every day—-simply writing.

-Edward Abby

The frozen lake is pretty amazing. Usually there’s a thick layer of snow snuggled on top, but with the sun we’ve been getting lately, there’s only a slick, sleek surface. I was surprised at how smooth it was — perfect for skating! There were also some stellar patterns housed in the ice:

I was amazed at all of the intricate crystals, bubbles, and cracks. Most of our time walking was spent looking down, partly due to the patterns and partly so we wouldn’t fall. There were people fishing, playing “football” (with a snowball), and skating on the ice. One of the hockey players, from a group of old men, told us to lie on the ice with our ear pressed against the surface. The ice was shifting all around, and with an ear pressed against the chilly ground we could hear the cracks and booms traveling through the solid surface.

There was also this guy — pictured against a beautiful capitol backdrop. Anna (and me) would love to try it out! We were walking out to picnic point, so that I could start my wetland project. I have to “pick” a wetland, visit it at least once a week starting this last weekend, and create a natural history project of sorts.

As of now, this is basically all there is. An opening in the forest, reeds poking out of the snow, and animal tracks worn down by the wind. Still beautiful, don’t you think?

*for a few more pictures, visit Anna’s post.

(African Dance? Example here,
minus the getting thrown into the air.)

I really had no idea of what the class “African Dance” would entail. I had seen the African Dance performance at one of the Dance Program’s spring showcases and thought it AMAZING — the energy, the music, the movements! I thought it would be something completely outside of my comfort zone, which is why I decided to take it during my last semester at UW–Madison.

The women in the class have to wear wraps around their hips/pelvis,
as a sign of respect. This is the fabric I got at Goodwill today
(actually a ginormous skirt) to make into a DIY wrap.

And guess what? It is completely outside of my comfort zone! I have only taken two dance classes here at Madison, Ballroom I & II. I wasn’t sure what we’d be doing the first day of class (today), so I decided not to worry about my attire (jeans and a shirt). Wrong choice. We danced the entire period, and let me tell you — it was quite a workout. I’m not one to exercise much or regularly, so any high-energy activity is quite a workout, but the whole class was sweating (”glowing”) and rosey-cheeked along with me. The studio also smelled like a hockey locker room, faintly.

I’m not a dancer, so my coordination and rhythm have a ways to go. The class sounds like a lot of work for one credit (projects, performances, readings, outside events, journals), but it all seems like a good time. I love the music — the real drums, the musicians being at the center of the event. I know I am not good at all (yet), but I also noticed that much of the class wasn’t either. So at least there’s that. At one point, the professor split the class down the middle and had each side dance facing the other. It was very freeing to dance with/against/facing the others. It made me realize that many people are in the same boat (the what-did-I-get-myself-into boat) and that the skill/experience level of everyone varied greatly. We were told that the tempo we danced to today was slow, even though it felt crazy fast, and that we will get used to it as the semester goes on. I believe it and can’t wait to see my improvement over the semester.

All I know for sure is that my back is sore and those squats really got me.

Begin: Spring semester 2010.

It snowed yesterday.

A lot. Madison is literally a winter wonderland, and I couldn’t be more excited! Classes were canceled today, making it the first time in four years. I stayed inside all day…slept until noon, watched “The Muppet Christmas Charol,” and tidied up my room a bit.

Last night, after finding out that classes were in fact canceled, the whole house (almost) bundled up and braved the cold for a good, old-fashioned snow ball fight!

There was a team hiding out on the balcony, sheltered by the cement barriers, while most of us were on the ground.

As you can see, it was pretty intense. There was also a giant snowman making. Unfortunately he fell down sometime this morning thanks to gravity.

Betsy, the cook extraordinaire, had to stay the night. She provided us with a couple trays, which we took to Bascom Hill. We made sure to always be armed with a snowball in hand while we were walking. People were held up behind walls and garbage cans emptying their ammunition on passerbys. We even were victim of a drive by snowballing! The snow wasn’t very good for sledding, but it was PERFECT for snowballs and snowpeople. I was completely soaked by the time I got back inside.

All in all, it’s been a very successful couple of days.

*photos by Preaa and Breanne, via Facebook.