Hey y’all!

Whenever I pop away from the blog for a bit, I love to come back with an update on my latest reads, happenings, and posts. As I type this, I’m sitting in one of my many café haunts in Asheville, North Carolina during my day off. I fully plan on getting a ton done today while I’m away from my campers, and so I’m looking forward to some caffeine. While I wait for my cold brew to kick in, here’s the latest.

The Books

The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani | Goodreads
History of Wolves by Emily Fridlund | Goodreads
What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver | Goodreads
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon | Goodreads
The Big Picture by Sean Carroll | Goodreads
The Last of August by Brittany Cavallaro | Goodreads
Art Is the Highest Form of Hope | Goodreads

Some of these have been pretty quick — the short story collections and the quotes about art — but others were steady pursuits. Like, I read about a hundred pages of Outlander a day until I finished it, and about fifty of The Big Picture (slower when around the children.) In Canada, I read at least a book a day and I was there for almost two weeks. So I hoped to knock out at least 10-15 that have been on my to-read lists forever.

The Posts

I’ve been rather excited about what I’ve managed to put up lately. I reviewed a stellar collection of short stories about passive aggression. I featured some lovely coffeeshops I’ve discovered lately. I just started a book-club type feature about “big idea” reads — those books I read about philosophy and psychics and other aspects that just fascinate me. I created mood boards for some quiet summer contemporaries that deserve way more attention. I fell head over heels for a Sherlock Holmes-inspired YA series that filled the void Gallagher Girls left behind. I, like so many others, raved about The Hate U Give, a book inspired by police brutality and the black community. I featured some contemporaries I’m dying to read.

The Life

June was a blur, in a good way. I lost my journal partway through the three week session so I unfortunately wasn’t able to capture all the funny camper sayings, moments, happy times, low times that I would have liked to be able to remember. I love camp, and it was an absolute pleasure. As we like to say about camp, the days are long but the sessions are too short. I had a fabulous cabin of entering ninth graders who kept me on my toes. I taught archery and woodworking. Fun fact: I’m actually about five 50s away from my Illahee Archer, which means I’ve filled my scorecard at every distance in the range. There are a lot of esoteric traditions and special details that make Camp Illahee such an incredible place. I’m still a little shellshocked that I’m spending (practically) my whole summer there. I like to describe it as a place where I’m constantly fielding questions from twelve-year-olds and I only feel like myself if I’m weighted down by friendship bracelets, covered in clay, and hitting the mattress exhausted at the end of the day.

After June session, I spent two weeks at my family’s cottage in Ontario, and I settled in with about twenty books that I’ve been stockpiling for the summer. For one, I didn’t get to read as much as I would have liked during my freshman year of college, and fully plan on making that a priority for my sophomore go-round. For another, I always save the thick reads for summertime because I can set aside a day or two reserved specifically for them, as opposed to slugging through them over months and getting tired out. Exciting times, are they not?

It was pretty gray up there. Choppy waves, storms. As lovely as it was to wake up to rain pounding the tin roof, I was aching for some sunshine. (Although curling up inside with some cocoa and a nice read is great too.) We haven’t even had one pretty day, which is disappointing since normally we lounge around by the lakefront and get some sunshine under our skin.

So I’ve been reading a ton. One of my close friends from school came to visit, which was fantastic. And I enjoyed my break from Illahee, as much as I love it. I also spent a ton of time writing, which was refreshing. Although I write often — and for different purposes — it’s nice to be back in the habit of just letting it flow.

Around July, I start to get itchy for the upcoming year. I start mapping out certain details. What I’ll do, what my routine will be like. In college, what my dorm room will look like. After more reflection, I think I’ve figured out my major combination (which is exciting) and approximately what my involvement will be like. I even got my fresh, shiny 2017-2018 planner and I already have it scattered with notes.

This session, I have a rowdy cabin of sixth-graders, which was quite the adjustment.

I love that age, but they definitely ask more questions than my high schoolers do! One of them woke me up from a nap to ask if Abraham Lincoln was born in Illinois. What a time to be alive, my friends.

I do love my age group, and I’ve had an absolute blast. They’re absolutely precious. I also have a brilliant JC (junior counselor) named Mary, who definitely keeps me sane. In the past week since I’ve been back, I’ve already had a ton of Taylor Swift dance parties, “love circles” (a.k.a small children interrogating me about my love life or lack thereof,) and “girlfriend, did you slip and score that piece before you put it on the ready-to-fire shelf?” I’ve centered lots of clay, inhaled lots of sawdust, and chugged lots of Cheerwine. Good times in the Heavenly World.

What have y’all been up to?

Hey y’all!

It’s spring term here at Washington and Lee, which means I’ve finally been able to read (and therefore start blogging again.) With that being said, being able to post about books also means that I definitely want to share what I’ve been up to lately.

March and April were absolute whirlwinds. Truthfully, winter term was a special kind of hell for me. Everything that could have possibly gone wrong in my life did, and I had a tough time dealing with it. Luckily, I’m an optimist and (hopefully) May will be a lot better. Although there were a lot of rough patches, there were also a lot of incredibly lovely moments. Keeping perspective, eh?

The last time I updated y’all was during February break, when I was heading back to school. Now, we only have three weeks left at W&L. I’m excited for a summer at Camp Illahee but mourning the end of my first year here. We shall see.

Here though, is what I’ve been up to lately.

The Books

The Hate U Give by Angie Smith | Goodreads
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins | Goodreads
Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour | Goodreads
Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian | Goodreads
A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro | Goodreads
How to Love by Katie Cotugno | Goodreads
Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson | Goodreads
Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews | Goodreads
Small Damages by Beth Kephart | Goodreads

The Posts

Recently, I’ve actually been able to write reviews (!!!) again because I’ve gotten some fresh reads and time. I really did forget the rush of sinking into an excellent book. I talked up a sobering coming-of-age (of sorts) of a girl, post-assault. I discussed an intricate, philosophical portrait of a romance. I celebrated six years of blogging — and got a little emotional about it. I also compiled a list of reads guaranteed to make your day.

The Life

After February break, life immediately kicked into gear. I got super busy with student government (and was up for re-election, which absorbed an entire two weeks.) March was a whirlwind of EC, fraternity formals, classes winding down, etc,.

First of all, my sorority had this function called Famous Lovers, in which each frosh is assigned a character and we have to do a couples costume with our date. We always get ones that are a little embarrassing, and I got the honor of being Chucky from the horror movies. (Which meant my date was Tiffany, Chucky’s bride.) We’d picked up costumes from a thrift store in Tampa, but he ended up being insanely sick that weekend, so I had to beg my poor friend Rexx to substitute. He had a good time (I think) but was not a fan of the heart I had to draw on his neck.

The next weekend, I went to the Omni Homestead Resort for two fraternity functions. I’m buds with a lot of Lambda Chi, so we spent the night running around, dancing up a storm, etc,. The night after was Sigma Chi. Different crowd, and I loved them just as much. My friends went night-swimming, and a weekend away from Lexington was lovely. Plus, a good dinner! Sleeping in! Cocktail dresses! All in all, such a good time.

The next week just absolutely decimated me, work-wise, so I pretty much dropped off the face of the Earth. The EC was also in the middle of Constitutional Review, so our student body constitution was undergoing heavy revisions — and required several multi-hour meetings.

Next, I had elections. Poured my heart and soul into them (and lost by a small margin, which was pretty tough.) Which meant I was up for re-election the next week and had to do it all again. Luckily, that weekend was Fancy Dress, which I’d been looking forward to for a while.

Fancy Dress is a huge W&L tradition, and our committee does a fantastic job. Our theme this year was Studio 54, and the gym was absolutely decked out. That Thursday night, we had T-Pain come to campus. Friday, we had cocktail parties and all scattered around campus. The Saturday of, we had another before going to the dance. Then afterwards, we had midnight breakfast at Kappa Sigma — which was delicious. I loved the energy on campus, and the weekend was a ton of fun.

The next week: re-election. 3 A.M. Waffle House runs. Constitutional Review. A ton of papers due.

Needless to say, I wanted a break. Once I finished my work, I borrowed a friend’s car on a whim and drove three-and-a-half hours that day to go see my twin sister at UNC Chapel Hill. UNC was also in the Final Four for basketball, and so Chapel Hill was bustling. First of all, seeing Hannah put me on the verge of tears. Obviously, she’s the person I’m closest to in the world, and I always forget exactly how much of myself I’m missing when I’m not with her. Seeing her again makes it all fit. She dragged me around to meet friends at various houses. We hung out in Granville. Got some good food. Watched the best basketball game I’d seen in a while — until the National Championship. Go Heels! That was a fun night, and exactly what I needed.

The next week, we were swamped in work. Everyone on campus was hunkered down and quiet. I was absurdly ill, but trucked through. The next week was finals. Ugh. Naps in the library and sitting on the quad by Gaines just hoping the sunshine would make me feel a little better.

Also, my lungs have finally recovered enough to start going for runs again — which I missed so, so much. The only problem with running in the springtime is that I get so distracted by dandelions. We don’t really have them in Tampa (or anywhere I go), and I’m always compelled to wish on all the ones I pass.

Spring break was lovely, after I got over my little dark spell. I spent most of my time at home laying out by the pool with a good book. I was ravenous in my reading habits. I chopped my hair for a fresh start.

I did not emerge into the real world until my pledge class went to Gulf Shores on that Tuesday, and even then, I spent most of my time buried in a beach read or sipping coffee on the balcony.

I took exactly what I needed from spring break: some sleep, good conversations with girls I’d missed, long walks on the beach by myself. I got absurdly tan, which was nice. (I always feel more like myself. A Floridian quirk.) I always forget how much I love the beach until I’m there again. I love the blistering sun. I love sand sticking to my calves. The sound of the ocean. That pearly color of the water when the sun’s setting. The stars! The waves! The sense of my soul settling.

Back in Lexington, the sun is out. I’m in Celluloid Shakespeare and Mountain Biking (I’m truly sorry if you’re one of the poor folks in my class — I know I’m horrendous and embarrassing and am probably slowing everyone down because I keep running into trees and such.) My entire body aches and I can quote all of Macbeth, so I have that going for me.

 

Cue spring term. Fixing some residual issues from winter term. Spending almost every spare moment out at the pole houses, lurking on that shadowy bench by Commons, meeting different people because our schedules are scrambled again. I love that there’s always something going on. Even though the EC has to do most of our prep for the upcoming year, I like being busy. A little overwhelmed by it all — and the thought that it’s almost over — but I’m excited. The next few weeks will be crammed with events, and I’m looking forward to the summer.

What have y’all been up to?