Babies are Cute After All, like Puppies

Sometime since I started college, I joined the band of those hesitant to have kids just because of the hinky dynamic that I seem to have when I try to interact with said kids. Now, I think I might be adjusting that opinion...some kids just have that effect on you. For instance, last night, I was privileged to babysit three adorable children. Okay, two were adorable; the third was easy to get along with and interested in me.

Apparently having a babysitter was a special occasion for them so they responded in typical kid fashion: going nuts. I told their parents that they were energetic, even enthusiastic! They understood the code though. The "baby" (a one-year-old) was exceptionally cute. Ryan would look at me with these wide innocent eyes and plump cheeks and say something which I could not understand in the least but would be adorable none the less because it has every aspect of baby babble with a few comprehensible words thrown in here and there. Catherine (age four, I think?) was just as precious. She was the most "enthusiastic." I wouldn't have minded if it hadn't bothered the oldest, Andrew, so much. They, in the same fashion as puppies, tumbled over each other and bounced and somersaulted all over the place with him barking at her every now and then to "stop!" or to "cut it out!"

I got a kick out of the questions that they, mainly Andrew, would ask me. He asked personal questions like, "Do you have a boyfriend?" I dubiously replied, "Not at the moment." He was pretty interested in the fact that I'm going to study abroad in England. "So she's going to live there?" He directed the question to his mom but since she was trying to head out the door to a wine and cheese tasting at the church with her husband, she replied, "yes, you can ask Claire all about that." Somehow, the conversation didn't turn in that direction again.

Exactly how does it feel when your brain melts?

I'm pretty sure I have a good idea of how that feels since I finished my sophomore year. College pushes me to read difficult literature and exposes me to new concepts and worldviews; not that I change my own worldview entirely upon exposure but I certainly modify it to accommodate for the new ideas and/or information.

I will confess that I watched three straight hours of SNL clips on Hulu yesterday. Yes, I was entertained but I felt this wet sensation on my shoulders and promptly realized that my brain was leaking out of my ears and dribbling down my neck towards my shoulders. Twas a strange feeling to know that you are losing brain mass and the only thing that you can do is immerse yourself in deep philosophic literature. Did I do that? Nope. Instead, I watched The Office and 30Rock (which were hilarious!)

The whole trouble is setting deadlines for myself so that I can actually focus. When I took British Victorian Novel this past Spring, I had daily assignments for myself that I could feasibly reach in one day. Those little flourescent pink and green tabs kept me on track (for the most part) so that I was able to get the reading done. I was also pretty discouraged when I started reading The Shack a few days ago, got almost half of it done, and realized that I didn't think the book worth finishing. Its theology was just little too much like Oprah's for my tastes.

So, I examine my bookshelf to see what options I have. I could reread Christy by Catherine Marshall. Or, I could read any one of these options:

• Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
• Emma by Jane Austen
• Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
• David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
• Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

It would be nice just to know automatically which of these I would like to read most but alas, I am overloaded by quality literature and time to read said literature. I really would like to read Wilke Collins' The Moonstone but I had to leave it at Riverby Books in downtown Fredericksburg. Any opinions or suggestions are very welcome!

Until next time, dear reader.

LOVE STORY (Taylor Swift) meets VIVA LA VIDA (Coldplay) - Piano Cello - by Jon Schmidt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0v3d6SFcDys

Taylor Swift meets Coldplay. Thought this would be a good one to share!