I've been thinking about the definition of love lately. I guess that's what happens when you live 400 miles from ANYONE who's known you for more than a month. Anyway, it seems that the traditional definition labels love as an emotion. Emotion, however, is by definition fleeting. Thus my quandry. If love is, in fact, an emotion, then it must also be fleeting. If love isn't an emotion, then what is it?

I suppose I don't really expect to solve my quandry. It's just difficult for a word person to be without an exact definition sometimes...

God works in mysterious ways... sometimes through tomatoes

I happened across an episode of VeggieTales on television Saturday morning while I was having breakfast. I completely believe that I was meant to see that episode on that day. It was about placing too much emphasis on material things without being thankful for what you have. Over the past month, I've been trying to fill my lonliness by shopping, but it hasn't worked yet and I doubt it ever will. Maybe it took a tomato and a cucumber to point out what I already knew but didn't want to admit...

The thrill of the hunt isn't diminished by leaving empty-handed

Immediately following my VeggieTales experience, I went to volunteer at Practically Perfect, a second-hand store that benefits the mentally disabled in the Chicago suburbs. I spent all day organizing the clothes racks, taking down ugly clothes, selecting new clothes from the back room to put on the racks, putting cute little outfits on the ends of the racks, etc. At first, I kept thinking to myself, "Ooo, I bet this would fit me." By the end of the day, my thinking had switched to, "Ooo, someone is going to be really excited when they find this little beauty." It felt good! I'm on the road to shopping recovery.

Red red wine you make me feel so fine

My boyfriend's efforts to convert me from white wine to red wine have finally paid off. I had a bottle of Shiraz on Thursday (yes, I actually had almost the entire bottle). On Friday and Sunday, I had Merlot (Saturday was a beer day). Of the two, I think I preferred the Shiraz. It seemed more... I don't know... complex. I've got a bottle of Cabernet Savingon in my pantry, so we'll see how that stacks up. I may just have to pick up a few more bottles to make a clear decision on my favorite. :-)

Nostalgia under the boardwalk

After being telephonically harassed for spending a beautiful day on the couch, I went for a bike ride and discovered a nice little park near my apartment. There's a lake with a two-mile path around it. There's an indoor concession stand with a deck overlooking the lake. In the walkout basement, under the deck, there's a boat rental. I was informed by an innocent-looking high schooler that kayaks and paddleboats are something like $8 per half hour. Back in MY day, when I was the innocent-looking kid in khaki shorts, that would have been $3. But I guess that gas was just over $1 then, too, so it makes sense that boat rentals have tripled in price... Anyway, I think that maybe I'll try my hand at kayaking next weekend.

Obligation of Olympic proportions

Does anyone else feel obligated to watch the Olympics? I'm a sucker for pre-emptive nostalgia - the feeling that one day you'll look back fondly on the present - and Olympic marketing is flush with this appeal. When I shake myself from my pre-nostalgic reveries, however, I typically realize that I'm fairly bored. Sure, there have been some exciting moments, but not a week's worth. I've realized that "once every four years" isn't that long to wait, nor does it necessarily make it all that special. I've been alive for seven Summer Olympics and don't remember a single one. Will this one be any different...?

I moved to the Chicago area about a month and a half ago and I've heard the word "mild" used to describe the weather in nearly every single forecast. While it may be technically correct, meaning "not extreme," it has lost its meaning when it describes a night with lows in the 50s and a night with lows in the 70s. Please be more mindful of your use of this word and consider adding new, more meaningful adjectives to your descriptions of the weather.

Thank you!

(Yes, I actually sent that! What I nerd I am...)

There's a quote about idle hands that I can't remember off the top of my head, but in my case, it would probably be:

Idle hands are quick to surrender the credit card.

Or maybe...

Idle hands are adept at channel surfing.

So I've decided that I need to reduce some of this idle time I've suddenly found myself with. Here's what I've been occupying myself with lately:

For the past two days (concluding tonight), several area churches have gotten together to put on a seminar on American Evangelicalism, emphasizing its historical roots and the similarities and differences that this movement has with my church. I thought it was extremely timely, given the frequency with which political commentators discuss the influence of the Evangelicals. As it turns out, political activism isn't new for the Evangelicals... they have been the driving force behind many political and legal decisions, including Prohibition (and we all know how well THAT turned out!).

I've also started volunteering for a local social services group that provides a wide range of services to people with developmental disabilities. I started last weekend working at a resale shop, like a Goodwill. I'm hoping that spending that much time around clothing and furniture and such will satisfy my cravings to shop without actually spending any money! I think I'll stick with the resale shop for now, although I may start helping with BINGO nights, too, depending on whether or not I can escape my frightening past with BINGO as a Summer RA.

Work is starting to pick up, too. I'm starting to take on responsibility for areas of business, not just one-off tasks. It feels good! I didn't even THINK about checking my personal e-mails until lunch today! That's quite the improvement over having to find ways to stave off boredom after the first half hour at my desk. :-P

I had The Today show on while I was getting ready for work this morning and I couldn't help but think that one interviewee said something about Minnesotan ice hockey in Bejing. ..r review, I was right. Michael Meyer, author of The Last Days of Old Bejing, said of the summer palace and park, "It's used year-round. I'm from Minnesota, so I come out here and play ice hockey on the lake." I may be a bonafide Chicagoan, but I still get warm and fuzzy for Minnesotans.

On NPR this morning, I heard a fantastic quote about consignment shops and used clothing: "So after they drop, they can also shop." Fantastic! Too bad I haven't started dropping yet... only shopping.

I also heard about a study of how lonely people are now compared to 1985. I can't imagine I was all that lonely in 1985, a single child with an all-attentive stay-at-home mom, but I guess I wasn't alone. The story kind of hit home. It's about how people are more mobile today and, thus, don't build a network of friends and confidants over the course of their lives. Interesting.

I'll have F. Scott Fitzgerald quotes soon...

I was flipping channels last night, trying to find weather reports, when I happened across the Teen Choice Awards. I hear the presenter announce that Eminem and AC/DC are coming to the stage for some sort of battle.

"SWEET!!!" I think. Maybe today's kids aren't so bad.

Umm... wrong. It was actually the M&M Cru vs. ACDC dance battle. Yes, a dance battle. One of the Ms in M&M is noneother than Miley "Annoying" Cyrus... don't know who the other M is. As for ACDC... I have no idea how a dance troupe of all people could get away with ripping off the classic band's name.

On the one hand, I feel very out of touch with today's youth. On the other hand, if being young meant I had to idolize the evil spawn of Mr. Achy Breaky Heart, I'd rather be old.

I was so excited to get a laptop for work that I ignored my more experienced friends' warnings. Last night, I realized my error. Laptops mean that even if you go home, you can still work! I was at work until 7 p.m., drove home, nuked some leftovers, and kept right on working. Around 9 p.m., I went to Panera for some free wi-fi (and a brownie). Their wi-fi wasn't working, so I headed to the library. E-mailed seven documents for approval just before the library closed at 10 p.m.

That old saying: "Poor planning on your part does not constitute a crisis on mine" doesn't apply when you're new and trying to prove yourself. Crisis indeed.

The good news? I asked my boss if I could take off an hour or so early today if this project gets done by then... she said I should try to leave by noon! I have about zero confidence that this project will be done by then, but hopefully I'll get to head out early enough to hit the post office and clean my apartment before the weekend. It's shaping up to be a wonderful weekend.

I should be getting Internet at my place on Monday. Woohoo! So hopefully I'll be able to post some new pictures soon. As much as I love Abby, it's time to get rid of my St. Patty's photo and put up something new.

I wonder how much energy companies could conserve, and how much money they could save, by easing up on the air conditioning a little bit during the summer. Or, better yet, by turning it off and opening the windows!

It's the end of July and I just bought a hot chocolate to try to defrost my hands. Yet outside, it's a lovely 72 degrees, headed for a high near 80. People are dressed for the season... short sleeves, open-toed shoes... and they have to wrap themselves in sweaters. It's just silly. What a waste!