Ramona Without Rage

So, I'm sitting in a jam-packed hotel room, supposedly working on one of my final papers. Yeah, right. This weekend is my first away frisbee tourney--Fall Brawl at Princeton. Today was one of the most gorgeous days: Sunny and 55. I'm living here forever.
Because of my mono relapse, I have to be really careful about how much I exert myself. So, I spent almost every other point subbing out. I was a little bitter at first, but then I realized how lucky I was to be spending a beautiful day outside, off campus, and with some of the coolest girls I've ever met.
As I was telling my mom about the afternoon (yes, of course I text my mom 24/7), I remember thinking to myself that I would not have survived this semester at Yale without my suitemates and Ramona. They're the best. Period.
It's really interesting being on a Yale athletic team, for a variety of reasons:
1) I'm not athletic.
2) Everyone else is surprisingly athletic.
3) I can no longer use the excuse "I'm more of a school person" to explain my inathleticity; everyone here is a "school person".
But that's okay. They still accept me. I think.
One of the most striking realizations I had today was during the last game. The score was tied 8-8, the soft cap had sounded, and the coach of our opponents was getting a little antsy. And by antsy I mean completely inappropriate. He spent the entirety of the game, no matter the score, abusing his players. Not surprisingly, he became more and more violent as the game progressed. Worse than constantly demoralizing his players, he failed to create a sense of unity among them. While I understand that coaches should be firm in their instruction and criticize in order to improve, there also needs to be a foundational level of support and trust; judging by the dynamic I observed between the players and this coach, that level was non-existent.
I was furious. The more time I spent on the sideline, the more upset I became. I not only felt for his players, but I felt for him, too. I can't imagine going through life with that bitter outlook. I seriously considered going up to him after the game to ask him what in his life was causing him so much anguish. Had we not won, I probably would have; considering their marginal loss, he probably would have blown up in my face.
So, to Claire, Luci, and all of my other teammates who have given me constructive criticism, I thank you for the love with which you do it. You da best.

CL in the City

Back by popular demand....
Not really, but my trip to NYC with Maria was too phototastic to pass up.

         

  

Okay, so the tags weren't working...

(1) Grand Central Station

(2) Yum

(3) Maria won a Keurig at a rando street fair. It was a day full of luck.

(4) 30 Rock, y'all.

(5) Painting class in The Park.

(6) Obligatory self-timer shot.

(7) The Boathouse--27 Dresses, anyone?

(8) We had some trouble at first. Two ex-rowers in a rowboat wasn't as easy as we thought.

(9) The fall foliage was gorgeous.

(10) Reunion with Diva Leif and 2/5 of my favorite family.

55 Days 'til Christmas...Not That I'm Counting...

Okay, so the photoblog wasn't the best idea. Mostly because I'm too lazy to take pictures. But today is a special day. 

IT'S THE START OF THE CHRISTMAS SEASON. Or it is in my book, at least. I honestly can't wait for Christmas. FINALLY coming home December 14th--hide yo kids & mark your calendars. I'm beyond excited to see you all; you're all I dream about, in the least creepy way possible. 

But before I get to come home, I have to make it through November. So far, I haven't heard anyone utter the phrase "No Shave" so that's definite step up from last year. In preparation for Thanksgiving, I'm doing another Daniel Fast. I did my first one over during Lent last spring, but I didn't make it through the whole thing uninterrupted. This time, I'm determined. I am in need of perspective. 

I've been going through a season of spiritual dryness. When I intimated this to my Chris (see earlier blogpost for deets), shared with me some encouraging words. In case any of you are going through a similar ordeal, I thought I'd share them with you:  "Sometimes God can withdraw the "fire" or strong feeling we have for Him to try us and teach us, so that we don't love the feelings we get from HIm more than God Himself." This idea comes from Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross. I just started the book today, but I  can tell already it'll be a great read--if you haven't read it, I highly recommend it. 

I don't believe Chris intended for this passage to be convicting, but it was. I don't think we are meant to feel bad for asking God to return to us a passion for Him, but we must allow Him to do it in His own time. It's not fair for us to immediately want to be filled as soon as we are emptied, but instead we should try to gain understanding as we migrate from spiritual richness to the sensation of depravity. 

So, I'm trying to use this short, three week period to gain such an understanding and, at the same time, prepare myself for a season of Thanksgiving, rather than just a single day. 

Because, as everyone knows, Thanksgiving really means CHRISTMAS. And Christmas is the best.