soccer

After a long hiatus of 7 years, i'm back to playing soccer again. My sister told me about a rec. league some of her friends are in, so I joined their team. It is pretty recreational, but surprisingly I am not very good myself either. It seems that my skills have either deteriorated or weren't that great to begin with. :) Either way, it's just fun. And I do score some goals occasionally as well. :)

Our last game, however, wasn't exactly the garden of dreams. I accidentally tripped, and while my hand was on the ground, an opposing player stepped on it. With her cleats. We both heard a "Crunch"... But I can still move my fingers, and the swelling is going down now after a couple days. Funny how you never think of hurting your hand while playing soccer. After all these years...

Here's what an un-injured hand looks like on me:

And then there's this one:

Welcome to a new year

The arrival of the new year and everyone's resolutions always make me think of that Dare You to Move song by Switchfoot, "welcome to existence...everyone's here...everyone's watching you now...what happens next...what happens next?" Kinda like there's some big great anticipation of what you will personally accomplish during the next year that the whole world is waiting for. And I never really want to believe that, you know? It's a little too much pressure. I'd much rather settle for ordinary living, easy expectations, shallow-end goals. I'm just being honest. I'm not always into change.

Maybe other people feel the same way. What motivates us to make changes? Is it the example of others? An honest look back at the past? What motivates a person to want to set goals? I've kept a journal sporadically throughout my life, starting in junior high. I remember feeling like I had nothing much to say when I was 13, but my youth pastor encouraged everyone to journal. I've been on and off for 15 years. Now is one of those off times. But I remember once during college when I started journaling again and kept it up regularly for the next few years. I think it started with an anxious day 1. and day 1 led to a less awkward day 2. When day 3 rolled around, i was started to be okay with writing. Weeks rolled into months and a pattern was set. I think the lesson for me was that I'm really motivated by the very act of doing it. Writing produces a desire to write. Memorizing produces a desire to memorize. Learning produces a desire to learn. Sounds paradoxical to me. But I wonder what I should be doing now, in order to motivate me to actually want to do it later, and keep doing it...

"the tension is here...the tension is here...between who you are and who you could be...between how it is and how it should be..."

Goodbye, McDowell

I promised some people i love a blog - so here it is...

Very rarely in life have I sensed that I was about to turn a corner. A change coming. A new chapter about to be written. But tomorrow is one of those days. I rented a Budget rental truck today; all of my earthly belongings are in boxes on my bedroom floor; and I have said a lot of goodbyes this week. Tomorrow I move to Flint, Michigan and am moving in with my sister's family. And for the first time in my life, I'm leaving behind a community, a ministry, and friends with a very strong sense that I'll never be back. I mean, I'll visit, sure. I'll come back for hiking or for catching up with friends here in West Virginia. But I'm definitely leaving. And that is weird. I thought I'd be ready. Instead, I'm just emotional. And numb, all at the same time.

Goodbye, beautiful mountains, whose golden leaves take my breath away every October...

Goodbye, winding mountain trails, your paths have given me incredible time alone and with God

Goodbye, train tracks 35 feet from my house whose brakes squeal so loudly in the middle of important conversations that I can't hear my own thoughts, let alone others...I won't really miss you much...

Goodbye, Blankenships and Wallaces, Wilsons and Heeres, Hammonds, Kristen, and Candi...your homes are warm and comforting and good, much like yourselves.

Goodbye, McDowell County...I love how much you value the relationship more than the task...you have changed me.

Hello, Flint.

ode to Oregon

after a week of backpacking in Oregon, i feel thankful. thankful enough to write a poem in OR's behalf...

swaying pine trees circle 'round the lake

hiking up and down your mounts is no piece of cake

i will miss your snow-capped peaks and raging rivers

remembered time in your forest still make me shiver(s)

with love to Oregon,

from Merilee. :)

Summer fun-tivities

My friend Calli called me up the other day to invite me to a fiddler's convention. A fiddler's convention! Count me in!

The music was sweet, the festivities fun, and the pork sandwiches greasy. Here's to bluegrass fiddlin' and good times with friends!

"Get the *** out of the way!"

It's a rare thing indeed to be sworn at. I have to admit it takes me by surprise every time. So today, when I was dropping a book off at a teen's house (which he accidently left in my vehicle) and his grandpa yelled those words at me, I didn't know what to do. Well, actually, I did know to do something. I moved my vehicle (I was unknowingly blocking a bus from turning around in the street and that's why grandpa got angry).

And then I let grandpa go by too (without looking him in the eye because i was a little unnerved).

And then I told the teen that it was okay. And he said, "He gets angry real easy. He always says stuff like that."

I can't imagine growing up in a house where you get verbally abused for accidently doing something that was not ideal. It was a window into this young kid's life.

And now I'm left feeling really bad for this kid. And grateful for my parents' kindness. And with hope for how God might show his kindness to a 14 year-old boy through me.

update on hp scam

For all 6 of you faithful blog readers, here's an update on my ink cartridge situation. i had a nice little chat with 'Bailey' - an HP online technical support person. I think they give all the tech people that name (i've had multiple conversations with 'Bailey'). And there's no way around this dilema - I had to buy new ink cartridges. $122. ouch.

And then, the quality of my printing was poor, so after much problem-solving and cleaning of my own, Bailey told me that my printerheads were expired too. Nice. I could still print, but the quality would remain low until i purchased new printerheads. $100. double ouch.

It had been 4 years since I had received the printer, so I can understand how things like printer heads just get worn out. It's just bad timing. And next time, I'll make sure to use up the ink before it expires. Buyer beware, huh?