Capitulo 44 - 'Springish' Weather

If you're in Appleton you noticed that this week the weather is finally getting better. Even cats and dolphins are befriending each other! It's warm and sunny, students forgot they have homework assignments due tomorrow and now are playing football and volleyball near Main Hall Green and the Frat Quad. This afternoon, after a meeting with my adviser, I walked from Lawrence to Walgreens and I didn't have to wear a jacket. It is very comforting to notice that, although not officially, spring is here. Even if you're an indoors type of person like me, try to at least go sit outside for a few minutes and enjoy this calmer and pleasanter aspect of nature. Go for a walk, sit outside to read a book, wear sandals, or simply walk barefoot... but, please, let your body produce vitamin D today. 

Capitulo 43 - Tornado Watch - Part II

Today, in class, everyone was talking about the tornado that hit Appleton last night. I am posting a video I found on YouTube and the last section of it shows what Neenah, a town around 16 minutes away from Appleton, looked like yesterday. The weather today seems unstable, but in general the winds were very strong throughout the whole day. Earlier this afternoon it was sunny, but right now a huge mass of gray clouds are taking over the sky. I wonder if we'll have a repetition of yesterday. I seriously hope not!

Capitulo 43 - Tornado Watch

Alright, perhaps I am the most ridiculous person ever, but I really don't like storms. I also hate sirens and tornadoes. Add all that and you'll find a very scared version of yours truly. Tonight, when I arrived from Madison, I found Apple-town like this. I ran back to my residence hall as fast as I could. Right outside Kohler Hall a guy was 'enjoying' (?) this festival of nature, his arms open as if saluting the storm. He said hello to me, but I was too busy running and could only stare at my shoes. "Hey.." I said, "and I don't even know who you are." My hoodie didn't allow me to see his face. He laughed. 

...and I bet you didn't know I look different!

Did you know my hair was short? I forgot to tell you that, for the first time in my life, I got a haircut like this. Yes, this is a rather trivial subject, but I suppose my long hair was a strong memory you had of me if you were trying to remember what I looked like. My mom could barely believe me when I told her my hair was short. See, when I was a kid my uncle wouldn't let anyone get near my long curls. He thought I had to keep them forever. I hope I am not like Samson, though. I thought that, maybe now that a cycle is almost over in my life, it was interesting to try to change a little the way I look. My hair, then, was my victim! I liked it a lot and I think I'll keep it like this from now on.

It's Early in the Morning and I Can't Sleep

Seriously, why? Why can't I simply be one of those people who fall asleep a minute after they are in bed? Sometimes I wish my mind wouldn't wander away like this, but it's 6:24 a.m. and here I am thinking about writing. I thought a great deal about what my day was like yesterday (and I must add it wasn't one of my favorite days), but I suppose I am mostly getting distracted with ideas.

I need to continue a story I started last summer, otherwise my fountain of imagination will start overflowing and that could cause serious damage. The writing of it was so demanding and so psychologically draining that I had to abandon the project for a few months and engage in different 'adventures'. That other plot demanded a lot more from my ability to live through my characters. I suppose my previous characters, although interesting to me, perhaps were a little flat. This other work I mentioned, though, required a lot more thinking and feeling than I was accustomed to.

I wish I could tell you more about it, but I still am the same self-conscious being you've met. I need to do some serious writing and then editing before I let you hear this story. For now, if you please, would you wish me good luck? I've engaged in numerous writing projects and I am asking God for a chance to succeed in at least one of them.

Have a great weekend and good luck with your endeavors you too!

Capitulo 42 - Carros Sequestrados Numa Noite Fria de Inverno

Agora falta bem pouco ate o fim do winter term. Esse inverno foi um bocado frio e nevou tanto que mesmo o pessoal daqui, acostumado a nevascas, estranhou. Uma noite dessas fiquei ate tarde acordada estudando e terminando meus assignments, quando notei um veiculo sendo rebocado ao final da rua. Ja era muito tarde e nao havia ninguem na rua, apenas o carro sendo rebocado. As luzes do reboque eram laranjas e brilhavam na neve que caiu constantemente durante a madrugada. Uma meia-hora depois outro carro foi rebocado. Achei a visao, espiando da janela do meu quarto no Kohler Hall, um pouco triste. Pensei nos pobres carros sendo "sequestrados" para sabe-se la onde numa noite tao fria quanto aquela e tambem pensei nos donos (pobres pais descuidados) acordando na manha seguinte para encontrar o carro desaparecido.

Por falar em carro, eu nem sei dirigir. Pergunto-me se algum dia vou aprender. Minha visao noturna (e diurna!) eh terrivel. Eu nao enxergo quase nada e mesmo com oculos renovados tenho sempre que carregar o livro a poucos centimetros do nariz para conseguir ler. Acho que sempre dependerei de alguem para me levar a algum lugar ou entao viverei de pegar onibus, porque a responsabilidade de dirigir a noite eu nunca gostaria de ter! Nao, ja basta o meu pouco senso de direcao e os meus olhos ruins mesmo de dia. Imagine dirigir numa noite em que o mundo parece inserido num daqueles globinhos de neve? Lembro que o meu amigo Leo ate contou-me que quando ele estava aprendendo a dirigir sentia como se o carro mal coubesse na pista junto com os outros veiculos.

 

Formatura em Junho

Agora falta bem pouco para a minha formatura. Por toda parte escuto outros alunos veteranos, como eu, falarem da ansiedade por junho se aproximar a todo vapor. Todos estamos arrumando as nossas coisinhas, recarregando nossas baterias e nos preparando para essa vaga ideia de futuro. Deseje-me sorte, pois comeca um novo ciclo da minha vida.