Goals...

I took the summer off from school. I thought about getting a second job so that I would have extra money, but then decided that after the events of the last 7 months, I am going to treat myself to a break. Yes, I may be poor this summer, but I want peace, relaxation, and healing. With Jarika in rehab, and my family slowly getting emotionally stronger, I figure this is a perfect time to set some short term, "easy" goals...

(picture by me, March 2011, Oregon)

So here are my goals...

1.  Read some "real" books. And by real, I don't mean fluffy teen, historical romance novels, or chick lit.    These are the books that stressed out me have been reading. I have shelves of history, classics, and meaningful literature...I mean to read them. Or heck, even read the books for book club, instead of reading the summary off wikipedia an hour before it starts...  

2.  Exercise. With the stress of the last year, I've really let myself go. Not that I was a svelte, athletic person to begin with, but at least I was active and ate healthy. I am neither of those things at the moment. So, I'm going to bite the bullet and buy my membership with the goal to swim and lift weights every day. I need to do this. At the least it will boost my endorphins so that I can be happier and more equipped to deal with the stress of Jarika getting out of rehab and school starting again...  

3.  Take a picture every day...with my FILM camera. I have decided to get into film. Digital is fun and easy and CHEAP, but film is beautiful. I had a teacher fall semester who told us about a photographer back in the day that could only afford 1 sheet of film a week (or maybe a day), and that was all that he did. He made it count. I'm going to try this with film. Carry around my heavy metal camera and just do it...  

4.  Grow some plants...I don't have anywhere to have a garden, but I'm going to try and grow some vegetables, herbs, and maybe some flowers in some containers...  

5.  And finally, just enjoy the simple things. Like sitting on my porch, hanging out with friends, being outside, taking pictures, and loving on Oliver. I'm letting it all go this summer. By all, I mean stress. Sadness. Worry. Easier said than done, but that's what I'm striving for...

I have had some good things happen the last few weeks. Jarika is in rehab, that's good. Hopefully she'll take this opportunity and get better and be herself again. I'm not going to hold my breath, but I do hold a wish in my heart.

Jake graduated last night. I can't believe the baby of my family is done with high school. I remember when he was born and thinking, I'll be 31 when he goes on a mission...wow, that's 1 year away. Crazy.

Also! The best news of all...I got a tuition waver scholarship for next year. My tuition is covered. Paid for. Free. I applied for it before the school year ended, and then a week after school got out I had a portfolio review with a whole board of art professors from the Visual Art and Design department. It was a great experience and it paid off as well. I can afford to go full time, and I'm so excited. I'm so flattered. In the immortal words of Sally Fields, "They like me! They really like me!"