2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.

1. Ghosts and Demons: My dad informed me about 4 years ago that he used to have this dream when we lived in my first house (I lived there until I was 4) that all the rooms were protected except for mine. As a result, all sorts of malignant beings were able to enter the house via my room and hover around my bed. I have been unusually horrified of spirits my whole life and I think his dream points to something very real and very scary going on in that house during my most impressionable years.

2. Burglars/Robbers/ Home invaders: This is related to the above fear in the sense that home invaders, like spirits, enter your house without permission. I was already scared of them, but when someone robbed our house when I was in the sixth grade, the fear was further cemented. I actually had to move my bed so that I couldn't see out the window at night in order to sleep soundly again, because I thought I could see the silhouettes of people highlighted by the security light outside (it was likely an armadillo digging in the bushes).

3. Rapists: I think this is self explanatory.

Runners up: the ocean (but I love documentaries about it), being considered stupid, Daniel dying in a tragic accident

1. List 20 random facts about yourself

1. I was born in Anderson, Indiana.
2. I have one sibling, a younger sister.
3. My thumbs are double jointed.
4. I like to dance.
5. I have a lifelong obsession with fashion.
6. I became a Christian when I was six.
7. I became a Religion major when I was 19. 
8. I met my husband when I was 20.
9. I have two moles on my neck.
10. I played softball, soccer, and basketball in elementary school.
11. I have taken tap, ballet, irish dancing, hip hop, and swing dance classes.
12. I started to sing formally in the third grade and never stopped (until this past year - how sad).
13. When I was little, I wanted to be a marine biologist, until I went to the beach for the first time and realized I hated sand and was terrified of sea creatures.
14. I own many shoes.
15. I love cats and cat paraphernalia. 
16. I have astigmatism.
17. I produce too much saliva.
18. I played viola for six weeks in middle school.
19. My initials are LCW, even now that I'm married (it's awesome!).
20. I am moving out of state in 4 months.

i'm doing this starting...now!

1. List 20 random facts about yourself.
2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.
3. Describe your relationship with your parents.
4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.
5. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?
6. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?
7. What is your dream job, and why?
8. What are 5 passions you have?
9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.
10. Describe your most embarrassing moment.
11. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.
12. Describe a typical day in your current life.
13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.
14. Describe 5 strengths you have.
15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
16. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
19. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
20. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.
21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?
22. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
23. List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.
24. Describe your family dynamic of your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.
25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?
27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?
28. What is your love language?
29. What do you think people misundertand most about you?
30. List 10 things you would hope to be remembered for.

good news

I just received the very good news that a customer wrote a letter to corporate praising my customer service at the frame shop where I work. It was forwarded to both my store manager and the proper corporate department for review. That means that 1. my store manager sees that I'm a valuable employee, 2. my name will appear in the national store newsletter, and 3. the email will be framed and posted on the wall near the frame shop.

Hooray for customers who care enough to submit their praise in writing! It's nice to see that my attempts at kindness, patience, and assistance have paid off.

another glimpse: Old City Cemetery

I wanted to republish my poem along with an image or two from my recent photo expedition to my favorite local cemetery.

Bodies so ancient,
decayed down to marrow
mere calcium deposits

Jewels hidden beneath
stone, leaves as dead as this
mismatched village of

Warring Americans, witches, noblemen,
teachers, and infants
in their underground rabbit holes

So content, willing the
first leaves of autumn to
toss themselves earthward

In an effort to live
by dying in a patchwork
of sunlight and gray

And we were alive
and these spectres, by way of rustling
Leaves and bird songs, provoked

Us
to really live.

For more photos, check our water lily photo.

Commander

To Commander Howard M. Bosworth, Ruler of the 7 seas:


You were a good fish, a kind fish
And I only truly wish
that I had known more about goldfish care
before Mary won you at the fair. 

You could have lived a full life
20 years or more
who knows what antics and exciting turns
may have been in store
for you

I treated you for swim bladder infection,
indigestion, bacteria, and fin rot
I hoped, I really thought
that you would eventually get better
that you would be with me forever

And now you're gone
And I'm sorry
And I feel I've done you wrong

You were just a little goldfish
you didn't ask for this
you didn't deserve to begin your life as a prize
and finish it, alone, in a dark kitchen
never having seen the sun rise
over a quiet, regulated pond
with your friends and offspring.

Dear NBC,

I know that whoever reads this email is not responsible for writing shows like The Office and 30 Rock. But I'm fed up and I need to actively fight against a topic that keeps showing up on your shows.

Tallahassee is not full of hicks, uneducated slobs, and southern belles. Sure, it has a funny name (although thinking so is actually prejudiced since it's a name given to it by Native Americans). It also happens to be surrounded by forest and unincorporated towns and lies very close to the Florida-Georgia border.

But the very fact that it is the state capital and has two successful and historically important colleges should be enough for writers and producers to realize that Tallahassee is actually a vibrant and diverse city full of intellectuals and innovators.

I'm not denying that Rick Scott makes the whole state look bad. But I attended Florida State University and graduated from a program that is consistently ranked highly, alongside ivy leagues. My professors attended Harvard and Yale. I worked hard and received a departmental academic award.

Florida A & M is located in Tallahassee, as well, and has a rich history of academic and professional success.

Both universities bring individuals from all over the world to Tallahassee. I wasn't born and raised here, but I enjoy it. And I don't like rednecks.

If you're going to allow your writers to consistently rail against Tallahassee, at least use reference material that is consistent with the culture and events of Tallahassee. Shows like yours influence popular opinion about this town. I don't want to be ashamed about where I live.

Please forward this to the necessary viewers.

Sincerely, Leah