Stop And Smell The Roses

Walking, frolicking, splashing, playing in the rain
Curling up warm and indoors and watching a thunderstorm
Walking through snow, the big fluffy kind that makes you feel like magic is in the air
Crunching through autumn's leaves, drinking in the magnificence of the leafy colours
Walking under a blue sky, feeling the new warmth and joy of spring sunshine
Snuggling up in your bed and drowsing after a long or tiring day
Singing at the top of your lungs when no one can hear you
Dancing with abandon when no one can see you
Fiddling on your instrument for fun when no one is around
Playing with a band, those moments when the music becomes a part of you, fills you, lifts you up and carries you away
Steering wheel drumming and mock double-tonguing to Persis (or what-have-you), driving laps around the neighbourhood not wanting to stop the car until the song is over
Stargazing, whether it's warm and comfortable or cold and crisp, when I look at a sky filled with stars I feel I can't tear myself away
Horseback riding.. the absolute thrill of a gallop, of flying over a fence, feeling as one with the animal.. even from the ground, the intense bond and affection one develops with those sensative creatures (I can only speak for horses as I've never had a cat or dog)
The luxury of melting into your own thoughts and philosophy, introspection reaching a point of spirituality

We get so caught up in the big picture. I get caught up in the big picture, or I worry about small troubles, and it's so easy to lose sight of what really matters. What really matters are the small pleasures in life, the simple things. Look how many there are, I've only listed the obvious handful.. every once in a while I need to stop, step back, and remind myself of all the beauty and joy there is around me if only I take the time to appreciate it. I fret about being lonely, being single, not having many friends around this summer to fill up my time.. but Jenn, look at all that you can experience without another soul in sight. I can be happy just being with me. Stop and smell the roses, my friends.

Walking through campus this time of year, there's an ever-present hint of flowers in the air, they're planted everywhere. It's absolutely lovely.

This evening I stopped by the camp staff social.. apparently I'm in the "Koala Unit"... what on EARTH possessed these people to put someone with NO experience with children, especially not young children, in charge of 2-4 year olds!!!! It's going to be a learning experience let me tell you.. but a good experience, I think. I think they'll be adorable (when they're not crying) and I'll get hopelessly attached to them. I'm a little disappointed that I won't be getting to run around playing sports all day (woulda LOVED the exercise) or doing crazy crafts or whatever (maybe next year).. what do you even DO all day with 2-4 year olds?? On the bright side.. the "koala unit" ends at 1:15 pm!! (The rest end at 4 pm) so what does the staff do all afternoon after our kids go home? We shall see, but hopefully it'll be something kickass and not like.. dirty work of some sort. We shall see indeed. Also, being in charge of little'uns means not having to stay for overnights which means.. less time working for the same pay! Hey! lol, so it has both it's up and downs, I guess we'll just have to see how it goes.

I didn't stay long because we had an SCP rehearsal.. do you know what I love? How clarinetists can stop mid-Mozart's Magic Flute and all randomly break out into Rhapsody in Blue! Haha! We watched the end of the hockey game (that last goal was infuriating lol) and ate Helen's delicious cookies..

I'M MAD LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEIN ALL MA TYWO PEEPS ON SATURDAY NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!! PAARRTTAAYY!!!!!
Think there'll be any naked hot-tubbing this time? Oh crazy band geeks :P