1/5th Life Crisis

Several of my posts have started this way but this is why my mom is so awesome: Tonight I explained to her that I believe I am having a 1/5th life crisis. Obviously I plan on living to at least 100. She first laughed at the title for this mindset and then listened to me go on and on in a very Sanna-like manner that she knows too well and better than anyone else. After I finished with my spiel she looked me square in the eyes and said that it is far from a crisis of any portion of my life and rather it is exactly how I should be thinking as a 20-year-old. We are definitely kindred spirits.

Lately I have been thinking about all the amazing things I want to do and discover all over the world. These ideas have always been present in my mind but I have always been limited by a lack of monetary funding. I have every intention of not having that frustrating roadblock in the very near future. I don't want to ever look back on my life and regret not having done something or not experiencing something I always wanted to.

As my facebook status proclaimed the other day, I want to "travel the world with a suitcase full of dresses and buy pottery." I want my toes to dig into sands on beaches in every corner of the globe. I want to be constantly learning and making various places my classrooms and people all over the world my teachers. Hell, I want to have to get shots to prevent every possible disease in the far-reaches of the world. And if this plan involves meeting a real-life Javier Bardem ala Eat, Pray, Love-style, so be it.

The subtitle of this blog since its inception has been announcing my constant mission of self-discovery. The other day when I wasn't distracted by my own thoughts and need for exploration I was working on an upcoming group project in which I had to read a critique of Tennessee Williams. In this article the author wrote that Williams had a "compulsive project of self-exploration." This is precisely how I feel. In a little over a month I will drink a glass of wine and toast myself and all the exciting things that are going to present themselves during the next 80 or so years.

A Glimpse of Summer

Today was one of the first true summer days despite the fact that the calendar says April. I skipped my incredibly boring class (I was going to be staring out the window the whole time anyway) and spent the two hours outside instead. I wasn't completely belligerent with my studies and actually managed to work on a math assignment... and then take a nap. Then the little girl I babysit for and I spent two hours with our toes dipped in a lake. I rang in the summer season well and proved the validity of this blog's title!

Everyone Needs a Gigantic Scarf Pot

My pottery style is looking like it is defined by making massive vessels just for the hell of it. I take a huge lump of clay and see if I can use all of it to create a pot. And so far that method has worked very well for me! Here is my latest gigantic masterpiece (if I do say so myself). As I was building it and developing its huge depth and size I decided it would be a perfect pot to hold a few of my scarves. I am thrilled by this because it combines two of my favorite things: scarves and pottery.

A New Take on Throwing on a Pottery Wheel

As I have mentioned in numerous posts the last few months, I am absolutely in love with my pottery class and my obsessiveness has kicked in to the point that I will definitely be needing my own pottery studio in my backyard one day. Right next to my horse pasture. And the hammock. In view of my library.

Last week our class attempted throwing with our feet and it was one of my favorite moments I have ever had in college as was the group feet washing that followed.

Go Augie Go!

Bowl.

This pottery piece is thus far my favorite. However that may change when my latest massive piece emerges from the kiln this weekend. A flower appeared in this bowl and I didn't even try for that. Today I decided, after a week of successful throwing on the wheel that left me with 17 new pieces, that I am going to have a ginormous amount of pottery after three semesters. So next spring, a year from now, when I am getting ready to graduate I am going to line my hallway with pieces I want to give away and invite all my former girls (the number will be around 100) to come and select a piece to keep. Even though I will be the one graduating, my Augie experience wouldn't have been anywhere near the same without those 100 women and I want to give them a graduation present.

Domesticity in the Dorm Room

As much as it sometimes pains my mother, and my grandmother, I am not very domestic. I can't keep plants alive, I hate ironing, and I bake only once a year- always very begrudgingly. I would much rather mow lawns, grill summer food to perfection and put siding on a chicken coop- all of which I did while living with my grandpa last summer. So when I do happen to lean more on the domestic side I find it pertinent to document the moment.

That's not even my iron... It is however my Little Black Dress

Truth: I stole those branches from the Palisades

On Easter Sunday after my holiday festivities were over I went to Walmart and had quite the epic purchase. $13 dollars bought me coffee creamer, a nail buffer, red nail polish, eyeshadow and this houseplant. Cross your fingers on this one! I obviously didn't have a proper flower pot for this exotic plant so I deemed my "hot girl" mug appropriate. I also enjoy the irony because I doubt these chicklets from the 50's were too domestic!

Like Mother, Like Daughters

My mom recently became reunited with an old friend from high school. I had the privilege of meeting Jo tonight when I stopped by. I also managed to get supper out of the deal in my very Sanna-like way. Eventually Jo and my mom started telling me some of their great stories from 'back in the day.' Let's just say it's interesting when you learn a whole lot about your mother and it's things you never imagined hearing and that she and Brytten may have more in common than she and I do! Shocker! Later this evening Jo posted this picture to my mom's facebook wall. I love seeing the similarities between us and how much I look like her.

We have the same hair!! Slightly embarrassing... 

The Lovely Megan

When I cut my hair 14 inches shorter I blogged about how I did it for my cousin, Megan Wilkom. She is suffering from an extremely rare cancer at only 24 years old. For a fundraising event coming up in June, Megan and her family have been making bracelets and all the women in my family have been given one of the gorgeous bracelets. Her mom, my great aunt, saw that I have a special pottery bowl for turquoise bracelets and sent me this lovely one.

Megan has also been writing a blog called "Let's Beat This." Check it out here!

http://letsbeatthis.tumblr.com/