Simmer-er

I read this on a blog today, and I think it describes me pretty well:

I’m usually not a prickly person. I don’t argue much because I honestly don’t have a lot to defend. Most of my opinions are moldable and if I read something different than what I believe, it usually causes me to stop and consider for a while. I’m a simmer-er. It takes a few weeks after a read or a discussion for my opinion to be fully formed. And by then, most people don’t care anymore. That means I was never interesting in my college classes. I didn’t raise my hand. It isn’t that I didn’t have anything to say. It’s just that I was always a month late to say the things. By then the rest of the world had moved into the more brilliant places.

This is not to say that I don't have any firm opinions, but it takes me awhile to think through issues.  I like to let things simmer.  Percolate.  Mull.  Ruminate.

In fact, I'm still thinking over something someone said at a Bible study over a month ago.  But that's a post for another time...after I finish thinking it over.

Number 3

So I decided to go big for my first accomplishment from the 30 Things Before 30 list.  That's right, number three on the list.  I went skydiving.

It was amazing.

A-maz-ing.

I don't really know how to describe such an incredible experience, so I'll narrate through pictures.

As you can see, I was terrified.  They practically had to stuff me into the plane.  Actually...I'm pretty sure I smiled like that all the way up and down.

Don't worry.  I stayed clear of the propeller.  Thank goodness for the warning signs.

It's not skydiving if you don't have to chase donkeys off the runway.

There's quite a bit between the donkey/runway picture and the next one.  Unfortunately, it's difficult to take pictures when you jump out of a plane at 10,000 feet. One second we were in the plane, and the next we were gone.  Just like that.

If I had to describe the free fall in one word, I would say wind.  Lots and lots of wind.  

I never felt like I was falling or hurtling to the earth at breakneck speeds.  It mostly felt windy.  And incredible.  Oh, and maybe I didn't smile much during this part.  I think it probably looked more like cheeks flapping in the wind.  

After about 45 seconds of free fall, my guy (the one who was attached to me and making sure we didn't die) pulled the shoot.  We had four or five minutes of canopy time, which was so quiet and beautiful.

I even had enough time to chat with my guy.  We talked about where I work, what he studied in college, and how he got into skydiving.  Turns out he was a philosophy major.  I bet you can be pretty philosophical when you jump out of a plane for a living...contemplating life after death and such.

The landing part was super easy.  My guy said, "Bend your knees a little, and I'll tell you when to stand up."  And then all of the sudden, we were back to earth and I just stepped onto the ground.  

So there I am.  Safe and sound.  Now wasn't that fun?!?

30 Things Before 30

I like making lists. 

Grocery lists.

To-do lists.

Packing lists.

The list goes on.

(hehe)

So when a friend mentioned that she had a list of “30 Things Before 30” it didn’t take long to start listing things that I wanted to accomplish in the next few years.

1. Travel to Asia.

2. Read through the Bible five times.

3. Go skydiving.

4. Become fluent in another language.

5. Run a 5K.

6. Go sailing.

7. Take a photography class.

8. Learn to water-ski.

9. Finish my master’s degree.

10. Read Anna Karenina by Tolstoy

11. Travel to Africa.

12. Read My Utmost for His Highest.

13. Take a cooking class.

14. Go salsa dancing.

15. Memorize some poetry.

16. Go rock climbing.

I’m still working on the list.  It’s not as easy as you might think to come up with 30 things to accomplish.  They have to be realistic (although becoming fluent in another language might be a stretch), but they can’t be too mundane.  My goal is to try something new, learn a new skill or see a new place. 

I’m open to suggestions for completing my list (but I reserve veto rights...).  Any ideas?

Beautiful Words

I've been reading some of my old favorites lately.  Anne of Green Gables.  Persuasion.  Jane Eyre.  I love how descriptive these authors are, how they piece words together to create pictures.

I came across this paragraph last night in Jane Eyre:

It was now the sweetest hour of the twenty-four: "day its fervid fires had wasted," and dew fell cool on panting plain and scorched summit.  Where the sun had gone down in simple state--pure of the pomp of clouds--spread a solemn purple, burning with the light of red jewel and furnace flame at one point, on one hill peak, and extending high and wide, soft and still softer, over half heaven.  The east had its own charm of fine, deep blue, and its own modest gem, a rising and solitary star: soon it would boast the moon; but she was yet beneath the horizon.

Beautiful.

First Conundrum

I have finally entered the blogosphere. I've been an avid blog reader for a while now, and I finally decided to join in the fun. But that decision was the easy one, then I had to decide on a blog name, background, topics, etc. All the things that would be the visible expression of who I am in the blog world. Needless to say, it was quite a...conundrum.

I'm not sure what will come out of this blog. Stories from my various treks to other countries, thoughts on faith, introspection (is it really introspection if it's on the internet?), or just the randomness that is my life.

So...here I am. Sharing my conundrums.