Stopping and Starting

There are days when things just don't stop. Or rather, I don't stop. I just keep going and going and going, be it with school or work or my thesis...sometimes even fun things like socializing can be a chore. So today, I stopped. I stopped and came straight home after I got done at 1:30. I made myself some lunch (a delicious toasted sandwich and a huge bowl of grilled veggies) and just chilled out while I cooked.

Then I started again. Only this time with something that I love doing: catching up with old friends.

I skyped with my friend Brittany, who is this amazing, amazing friend of mine. She's teaching in Spain right now and has been going on all of these exciting adventures (she's heading out to Morocco tomorrow!) but still remains the same thoughtful, sensible, and hilarious individual that I know and love dearly. Bri's one of those girls who you can have a serious heart-to-heart with but never feel stupid. Lately I've been going through a lot about what I want to do with my life and even though she's a sea away, she still manages to reassure me that no, I am not crazy and that yes, no matter what I do I will be successful. Plus Brittany always has the funniest stories about the chicos in Spain, so it's always fun to get a taste of the culture :) (Core-100, much?).

Megan is another story. Megan Emily would probably be the queen of the Ya-Ya's, were such a group to exist. She is this bright, colorful, extremely entertaining ladysoul who is in Wallace, which is a little NC town right near Wilmington. She always has a wild story, cute shoes, and new hair to sport. Megan and I have this thing we do: we don't talk for ages, but somehow when we do, it's like time hasn't stopped. I'm reading this book right now called The Girls from Ames which is about eleven women who have been the best of friends since they were in the womb and are in their forties now. It's been so inspiring to read and one moment I'm reading about the spitfire named Kelly and the next thing I know I'm reaching for my phone, pressing the familiar buttons to dial Meg's number. The second she picked up the phone there was no awkward, "Hello?" the kind where you know the person who is calling (caller i.d., y'all, really) but still feel obligated to sound confused, but a, "Hello, lovely, what are you doing?" familiar Southern drawl that just envelopes you in a hug. With Megan there's no pretending. There's no judging. Actually it's the same for Brittany and Megan. I've never felt more relaxed when I talk to those two. Talking to Megan about weddings and people being arrested on the sides of the road and boys named Rufus made me ache to be in her adorable house that her mother decorated in an equally charming way, sipping on Starbucks and looking through old pictures and listening to music. We've decided to have a reunion of our own, Ames-style: the girls of Heilman Hall from freshmen year at the beach. So exciting.

After I got off the phone with Megan, I thought about the far-away and how sometimes when your friends are "far-away" you feel disconnected. I don't feel that way, though. After today, I feel more connected with two very special people who live in that far-away than I do with those who are close by to me.

I'm really glad that instead of going and going today, I stopped.

(Un)expected Hearts

Hearts were found in unexpected places on Valentines Day:



On Coke cans.

On Starbucks cups.


But I think a lot of heart was found in the ladies of the Meredith College theatre department, as we said goodbye to Ashley.



Heart has been all around this February, from getting through rehearsals, saying "see you soon's", to campaigning for elections, and to even slogging through the first biology exam of the season (I will reward myself later). Love really is all around.

This is what I have to look forward to on Friday:


Lovely lady Kellie knows how to tap into her other Kelly-Kelly Clarkson, that is. Friday Karaoke at Brickhouse can make any day a fabulous one. And I fully intend to Cupid Shuffle my way over there to celebrate an incredibly hectic week with some of the people who have a huge place in my heart.

A'campaignin' we goooooo!!!!

Hello my lovely Meredith chums! This week is going to be a busy and full one, starting out with this little fact:

I'm running for SGA Vice President and Senate Chair.

It's a pretty big position and matters so much to me. So, if you are a Meredith lady and haven't joined my Facebook group, do! It's under "Vote Kiran for SGA Vice President/Senate Chair;" check out the videos and news and all the other little goodies posted! And check back here! I'm going to try to post something daily.

Thanks for all your support, ladies!

Off-to-on days

I started off my morning with a fall. It was fifty degrees and sunny so I thought I was safe wearing my Sperry shoes, but alas, I was so wrong. I went down my apartment steps, slid a little bit into the other set of stairs and it all went downhill from there (literally). I was a ping-pong ball and ricocheted off of an old tan colored van and landed on my back on a little still-icy hill. Um, ow. I lay on my back, my books splayed to the side, my backpack jabbing at my back, contemplating granny-crawling up the stairs and back into bed. I took it as a sign that this just was not the best day. But I didn't want to be absent from class this early in the game (I had to think about the days in the next couple months that I would need a true-blue mental health day), so I got up and hobbled to my car, still sliding, holding onto my books (and what was left of my dignity) for dear life.

You know the day where suddenly it seems like fifty million things are being thrown at you? That was today. A take-home exam, an exam on Monday, a couple papers, and an election candidate card? I thought I was going to pass out. However, I was saved by my lovely, lovely friends who have THE BEST senses of humor. In my math class, which I was slowly dying in, my professor announced that we had an exam. Sheryl (you should read about her below!) transferred to my class today and was sitting beside me (yaaaay). After prof announced that we would have a test (noooo), Sheryl scribbled in her notebook:

"Test on Monday-die before then."

I just about wet myself laughing, partly because it was very, very funny but also because in that moment I realized how lucky I was to have friends who, even when I may be having an off day, can never fail to make me laugh. So amidst seemingly-endless rehearsals, exams, and cups of coffee, I am starting to see that these "off" days can be righted and turned to an "on" day in a heartbeat.