Carpe Via

I’ve just bought the new Dixie Chicks CD and it’s now loading into my iPod. I haven’t heard it at all except for the Not Ready to Make Nice single they launched on their website.

There are only a handful of bands I truly love and look forward to like this (Bare Naked Ladies and Ben Folds!) and it makes me realize how rare this very moment is.

I felt this way when I graduated college (only much more) -like I was on top of a huge shiny slide that I had no idea where it ended but I knew it would be a great ride.

It’s how I felt before moving to SF too. Or NY. And especially before my exchange year in India.

I feel that excitement less these days. Because I’m older now? I don’t know but I’m tired of this way I’m thinking lately. Bored of these thoughts in my head. Like I spoke to my Mom yesterday on the phone and was whinging (whining) to her about how small the living room will be in the new house. And she simple said, sounds like a great house.

Yes, it’s a great house. And it’s time to stop focusing on the little ladder that I’ll have to climb to get up to the top of the slide. I forgot for a moment that change brings it’s own energy and momentum. And why am I even spending my time thinking about what kind of couch will fit when the Chicks are out there fighting for freedom of speech (I happen to love their politics too).

So thanks for the reminder Mom and Natalie/Martie/Emily.

Oh good -iPod is ready. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Today I read about a guy in Eugene, Oregon who is attempting the world’s record for the biggest rubber band ball.

This suddenly reminded me of my own attempt in Eugene when I was 12. While my friends were practicing their eye shadow or getting called by boys, I was painstakingly looping together small red bands left over from an old paper route.

It actually got pretty big -larger than a soft ball. When you threw it at the ground, it wouldn’t bounce but just kinda thud.

Most of the time it just sat on my desk. But at one point I unraveled it and stretched it down the street. I was worried that it would break so I didn’t pull it too tight, just laid it on the ground. When I got to the corner, there was plenty left so I kept going. Past the big blue Victorian on the next corner, down the side walk along the roses. I started stretching it a bit as I rounded the next corner until I was around the whole block and only a cars length away from the start.

I think I stood there then wondering what to do. I couldn’t let go. No one was around to shout to. No camera. So I just turned around and wound it back up again.

Now that I think about it, it must have taken hours.

As I look online now, the balls are always colourful, perfectly round and made ups of the larger thicker bands. People use the rubber ball used as a metaphor for all sorts of things, from boredom to hard work to team work (individuals linking to create a great ball?)

To me, it will always be lumpy and awkward – a great symbol of my geek years. The younger ones at least.