Graduation

It was a difficult decision, but I have chosen to graduate up to a different site for my blog. Blogspot has served me faithfully for the past few years, but I want a more professional face to present to the web, and I believe I have finally reached the limits of what I can achieve here.

With that in mind, I have chosen Weebly. Over the past month (when I wasn't busy moving), I have dedicated time to designing a new site, which I am launching tonight.

I invite you to follow me over to the new server. There will likely be a few re-posts of material from over here, however it will mostly consist of entirely new material.

The website is located  HERE . 

What They Never Told You: A Place to Call Home

Last night I stayed for the first time in my new apartment. The furniture is not here yet, and the boxes are not yet unpacked, but it already feels more like home than the last place ever did.

No matter how hard I strived, I could not make that room I was renting feel like a place to belong... I always felt like a stranger there.

Sometimes no matter how hard you try, the effort itself is not enough. Sometimes you can not force a place to feel like home any more than you can force a person to be your friend or a pair of clothes three sizes too small to fill comfortably.

Sometimes the chemistry is too bad, the space is too small, the energy is too dark... any number of factors can upset the balance and make it so you simply have to move on.

But the feeling of entering somewhere bright and open and welcoming makes up for the past few months. All the negativity from that dark hole-in-the-wall has been engulfed by the joy of having a place to call home.

The Value of Nature

 For Easter I chose to spend my afternoon at Sunset Cliffs. If I could, I would encourage everyone to spend at least part of each holiday outdoors.

Photo from Ikenbot

Jurassic Park 3D

On Saturday (March 30) I had the privilege of attending an advance screening of Jurassic Park in 3D. The tickets for San Diego were already claimed, but I acquired four up in La Jolla.

I was apprehensive prior to arriving at the theater.

Cloud Lightning

    I've always loved lightning storms. Many children are afraid of them, but I thought they were kind of amazing (and in fact, I remember making fun of my childhood best friend for her fear... I was such a nice kid... )

    When I was younger, my mom would take me out on the front porch to watch thunderstorms. I loved it. It made me feel brave and alive to be in the presence of nature while it was demonstrating its power.

The Symphony

 When I first began this blog, I had an idea for the name. I attempted to get it out of my head, but it stuck with me no matter how hard I tried to push it away.

Photo: LunaDawnImages

 I gave in and kept it. When asked why, I had an answer ready for my decision. (Post Here) The explanation made sense, and it was 100% true --at least at the time. It was how the idea came to me, as well as the full meaning behind it.

But I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to the story that I somehow simply wasn't seeing.

Tidelands Park

I’ve written about Coronado before (post here), and I know I will end up writing about it again in the future.

 

All Photos by LunaDawnImages

Recently I decided to check out a section of the island previously unexplored by me: Tidelands Park (Official Information Here). Tidelands, which is located on the southeastern corner of Coronado, provides spectacular views of the San Diego Bay, city skyline, and even the bay bridge!

Update

   Okay everyone, thank you for the patience as I rearrange the layout of my page! Everything has finished being shifted around for the most part. I still need to finish working on the pages at the tabs along the top, but in the meantime the contact page is finished if you need to get ahold of me.

   Also, I have added a new feature: polls! There are currently two located in the right column. They will periodically be changed, so check back frequently and feel free to add your feedback!

  Now that the major overhaul is completed, I will be back to writing more thorough/interesting posts in the next day or so! 

Papal Ponderings

The appointment of a new Pope has been a matter of great interest for me. Considering that typically when one is selected he remainds in his position for many years, I did not anticipate another conclave any time soon. Historically speaking, the selection of a new pope has almost always been heralded by the death of his predecessor. While Benedict XVI is certainly well along in years, he does not seem overly unhealthy.

And yet he resigned, taking the entire world by surprise in the process.

Hello!

By looking at my stats, it appears that I'm getting a noticeable increase in traffic! I suspect that most of it is a result of the link over on the Namibia Tourism site. I was recently contacted by them about writing an article. It posted today! The article (and some of my photos to accompany it) are located here.

More importantly though, if you're not here because you were already on their site, make sure to check it out. The Namibia Tourism Board (main site located here) is their national government agency responsible for providing information to potential visitors.

If you're considering a trip over to see why I was so captivated by the beautiful country, make sure to gather information first through that website!

Static

After living somewhere else, to come back here is depressing. I am thrilled to see my family and friends. I am happy to have some time to relax, to ignore the day-to-day madness for a while.

But nothing ever changes. Not in a comforting, feeling-of-home sort of way-- I love that things never change in that sense. I mean in the maddeningly oppressive sense.

Photo from Super Scholar

Norfolk has always been that way.

Lego City Anniversary

Today is February 3. One year ago today, I moved to San Diego. I can't believe it's been an entire year already, because in many ways it feels like it hasn't even been half that long.
In other ways, it seems like it has been far longer. There has been a lot of stress the past 2-3 months of it, which makes many days drag on and on and on...

I've formed many strong, valuable friendships. I've seen and done plenty of things that I couldn't have even begun to dream of in Virginia.

And in about a week, I should find out for certain whether or not I will still be here next year this time.
Happy anniversary, lego city. May I have many more.