Cave of Montesinos

3.20.12

So it’s been quite the long time, hasn’t it? Let me catch you up.

It’s second semester of my junior year of college, and I’ve just gotten back from spring break. This spring break I spent a few days at home, a few days in NYC, and a few days in D.C.

When I was home, my parents and I went to Sunken Meadow park and walked around in the beautiful spring weather. This is where I was able to snap this woodpecker searching for food within the reeds on the bank of a river. It was nice to hang out with my parents and to relax away from the bustle of college. 

I went back to school with two of my friends who came to visit me on Tuesday and worked on homework to try to get ahead in my work load, which was unsuccessful, it was too beautiful outside. I was able to run from 116th to 42nd and back, which came up to be 8.6/7 miles. That was the farthest I’ve run in awhile, and it actually felt really good. I had my ipod with me and I just ran and listened to music. I just kept running until the spirit of exploration died out and my legs told me to turn around. It turned out to be an hour and fifteen minutes. Not too shabby.

Then this past weekend I went to DC, which was beautiful. The weather was perfect, I met wonderful people, and overall I had a great time. 

I feel like that’s a good chunk for now. I’ll write again soon!

Quote:

“In difficult straits show spirit
and courage, and when the wind
is too strong at your back, be wise
and shorten the bulging sail.”
-Horace

7.31.11

I visited Arlington National Cemetery today. I recommend if you ever visit, to visit alone - it’s extremely powerful yet chilling to walk alone among thousands of graves. The whole time I was there it was clear that there was a separation between those who passed on and me (ie: living vs. dead). When I was walking back to the Visitor’s Center, however, I came across an empty dug grave. It was a chilling moment, as if the boundary between life and death was most obvious but also blurred the most when I found this empty grave. Chilling.

Anyway, this picture is from the Tomb of the Unkowns, during a changing of the guard. The quote is what is written on the tomb. 

Quote:

HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY AN AMERICAN SOLDIER KNOWN BUT TO GOD

7.25.11

Today I saw Steny Hoyer, the Minority Whip, give a short lecture to a bunch of interns. It was actually pretty moving and inspiring. Turns out, ol’ Steny interned with a gal named Nancy (yes, that Nancy) and knew one of the Capital Hill policemen, this one named Harry (yes, that Harry). 

He ended his lecture with the quote above. He told the story of how JFK came to speak at his school, and that was the moment in which he found his purpose in life. He then recommend that whatever we do in life, we find our own purpose. Oh Steny, so inspiring!

Quote:

“The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring this endeavor will light our bounty and all who serve it, and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.”

-John F. Kennedy

7.24.11

Whoooaaaaaaaa. So it’s been a long time since I last posted! I’m in Washington, D.C. for the about two more weeks. At the end of these two weeks I will have been in D.C. for five weeks. I’m working for my Congressman as an intern, and I’ve had a really positive experience during the 9-6 shifts M-F. All the staffers are really nice and my Congressman is genuine, caring and devoted, which I appreciate a lot. I’ve spent my weekends exploring D.C. and hanging out with former BT teachers and friends from college. It’s been a fun experience, but I’m ready to go home.

This picture is of a statue from the National Gallery in D.C. I found myself taking a lot of pictures of statues in the art gallery, but even more so of hands of said statues. I found that the hands of statues seem to be the most expressive part of the body after the face (and sometimes moreso than the face) and that really interested me. I also enjoyed the theme of pointing upwards. Countless statues pointed towards the sky, as if they all knew the answer; an answer that I’m still questioning.

Quote:

“When you look in the eyes of another person, if you don’t see the eyes of God, at least see the eyes of another human being.”

-Senator Dick Durbin, in defense of repealing the Defense of Marriage Act

5.24.11

Today was my birthday! I turned 20 years old, which is sort of scary. I’ll never be a teenager again; at least numerically. In spirit, I’ll probably always have the maturity levels of a teenager, haha. Well, we went to the Elizabeth A. Morton Nature Preserve out east today, and it was very beautiful. Birds were landing in our hands and my sister even fed a turkey from her hand, which was hilarious. Then, we had BBQ for dinner at Famous Dave’s! What a lovely day!

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Full Quote:

Nature has music for those that listen.

-It’s from a t-shirt I have…