Inky Orchard

How many days have passed? … 23-17 is six. Sorry.

How can I possibly relate to you all the sounds and smells, moments, events, stress, and laughter that were contained within this week? Aha. The old standby. It is so good: La List. (Since it has been almost a full week since I last posted, I will try to include everything. Micah Pettus Jersey So bear with me through the little things and the pictures and we shall move onto raw thoughts.)

1. Turtle

I found a baby turtle in the parking lot this week. I stopped solid, feet planted, when I saw that what had caught my eye was (once) a living thing. I picked him up. His little head wobbled in his shell. And my heart tightened. Christian Harrison Jersey This is the tribute to the tiny turtle who dried up. We set him off to sea in the spring beside the dorm, down by the poop smell and the minnows.

Next photo courtesy of Scott Welsh.

2. Jackson Hall Jersey Japanese

Scott and I went out for dinner last weekend. Lorenzo Styles Notre Dame Jersey And I would just like to announce a new success in my life: I ate my entire dinner (well, until I was full – of course there were leftovers, I mean, comacoma come ON) 100% with chopsticks. Thanks in part to the girl I watched giving lessons at the table next to ours. But really. They were my fingers – I had to operate them. She just reminded me of how to do it

3. IT’S COLD HERE.

And on my little adventure Sunday afternoon I took my first pictures of Savannah. And I might have landed a photography gig all because the person saw me with my camera (!!!).

So if you see any more of these artsy photos in future posts – that is when I took them. Gotta spread out the goodness.

4. Photo Adventure, Pt II: Scott Welsh

If you are my friend, I am going to take pictures of you. So meet Scott. He’s my bud. We’ve been hanging out a lot – if you couldn’t tell by the number of times I’ve already mentioned him in this post. Scott and I like to laugh. He can’t burp so he compensates with (LOTS OF) hiccups. I taught him the benefits of wearing mismatched socks. Luke Metz Alabama Jersey He taught me how important it is to get a good laugh everyday. And he reminded me that extraverted people are not the only ones who have personality magnets implanted in them. (Of course, you realize he does not know he has taught me all this.) Therefore I wanted to capture him in photos. This is not the end. I really need to catch him laughing – that will be the best. But Scott is a tricky one. He is super uncomfortable (like me) in front of the camera.

And I know Scott more than you do – so I know that the Polaroid smile is just cheesy enough to be (almost) the real thing. Art Mitchell Jersey Really. That is not entirely fake.

* I spy… a paperclip

5. Charles O’Bannon Jr. Jersey Dinner with the Homeless

Sunday night is becoming the highlight of my week. Derek Barnett UT Jersey I met Bob the guitar man in the square a few weeks ago – he played a few songs for me. Puffed a few cigarettes in my face. I got plenty of weird/nasty/puzzled/disapproving looks. I received them, not Bob. One tourist took our picture. But the dinner – I love these guys. I’m gonna copy in here what I just sent to my friend Swayze:

I love homeless people. I’ve been hanging out with them. Josh Jobe Jersey So far there’s Bob (the guitar man), David (“Squirrel”), Tom, Anthony, and Carl. David is my favorite. He has a down sleeping bag. Tom is a retired autopsy-performing person who wants to start teaching ballroom dancing again. The most beautiful thing I’ve seen lately is Tom teaching my friend Gracie to dance in the middle of a square at 10 PM. A homeless man. It is so humbling. But if you are wondering how all that is happening – I found Bob on my own. But the rest I met through helping feed them dinner in the square with some other people from my church every Sunday night. We hang out from 8-10 or later. It is my favorite thing… even though it is uncomfortable at times. They don’t judge. They listen. They talk, mostly. They will take anything you will give them graciously – unless they are allergic to it. I’ve wanted to bring David a little cup of Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia ever since he told me how much he loved having it when he lived in CA… but it’s been so cold here. No one wants ice cream when it’s so cold Tom has to wear all the clothes he owns to try to stay warm. And stay up reading in the Jen Library until 1 AM, when they close. It is nice in there. I like it too, but for reasons less practical than just staying warm. I love them. I like hanging out with them more than some of the kids here. Most of them. People my own age.. I just can’t do it. But that is another story.

Gracie is another story entirely. This girl is gonna be a huge blessing – I can just feel it. I saw her pray with David and put her arms around him the first Sunday – saw her give him pens and Wheat Thins out of her bag. And last week somehow I ended up getting a ride from her back to the dorm – and in our five minute conversation we learned so much about each other. Akeem Judd Jersey So much that we know we need to hang out. We both had a similar experience with The Irresistible Revolution (Shane Claiborne – READ IT!). What are the odds? We both read the book. We end up at the same college. Same age. We both choose Late Church. We both respond to the book and decide to get out there – meet these guys, bring love to the streets. At the same time. One car. One square. This is such a God thing. And then the very next day – after I had to get out of her car, putting an abrupt end to all our connections – I bump into her at Wallin. Phone numbers = very yes. I am so excited.

6. Life Groups

On a similar note, our group of three checked out another group this Tuesday. Kinda awkward. Twenty people on the floor of a cramped (but cozy) living room. Darling house. I would live there. Too many people though. Some amazing individuals. Oh yes, and I got quite the surprise. When we broke up into guys & girls – the first thing they started talking about was wedding planning – one of the girls is about to be engaged. Wedding. Marriage. JUNIOR. And the shocking part was all the participation in the conversation – like this is a common thing. I am (for serious) maybe two or three years younger than this girl. If that. Yikes. (*NOTE: I do not plan on getting married anytime soon. But. I am not the one in the driver’s seat. That’s my little speech on that. Flush worries now.)

8. Um. Oh yes. Classes – briefly:

- Art History: I made a 96 on my first exam. Highest in the class. Working my tail off for my next exam on Wednesday. Ryan Niblett Texas Jersey So far I have read 218 pages of that textbook. I’m being tested on 63 pages’ worth this time around. Just to give you an idea of the depth and breadth covered in that: those pages only cover Greek, Etruscan (tiny), and Roman artworks. Nobody else. Can you say intense?

- Drawing: Colored pencil drawing on mylar. Sounded fun. Pomegranate is going to kill me. I did it to myself though. So colorful. So many seeds! But it is not due until November. That one is getting pushed to the back of the brain for now.

- 2D: Last project – I talked about how I felt on it. My professor literally said today those who were conservative in their tactics “bombed” the project. Didn’t make me feel so great. Now we are painting a black and white abstract detail of a master’s work. Me? Van Gogh’s Pieta. Upside down. With a color focal point. Yay gouache. Take a hint from an art student and save yourself a little embarrassment: “g-wash.” No “gw-ah-ch-ay.” No “G-ouch.” No. Nathan Efobi Michigan Jersey No. No. Gwash. Hard G.

STRESS!

I think I’m done guys. I know I forgot things. I’m sorry. I so busy! Oh yes, and I forgot an important one:

9. Self-Deprivation

No. I’m not talking about sleep. I have not eaten a single morsel of chocolate for the past six (going on seven!) days. Voluntarily. I can do these things. Challenges are fun. And tomorrow I’m not sure what I’ll do. Keep going? Reward… then keep abstaining? I have had fewer headaches. What do you guys think?

Send me letters.