Happy Reformation Day to all!  Reformation has always been an important day to me, not just because I have a lot of Lutheran pride, but also because the day symbolizes the fight for religious freedom that, unfortunately, is still going on in the world.  I’ve always enjoyed learning about the Protestant Reformation; looking at the events from religious, social, and journalistic views continues to fascinate me.  That, and the fact that Lutheran Reformation hymns are absolutely gorgeous.  Most of all, I’m extremely thankful that Martin Luther fought to express his beliefs. 

Today is also Halloween.  I don’t really remember Halloween being that big of a deal when I was growing up.  Choosing and making costumes for the night seems to have been more memorable than the actual act of walking around with my brother and my father (although Mom accompanied us a couple times, most of my trick-or-treating memories include my Dad) seeking more candy than we could consume for the year.  As I got older, I started choosing strange costumes – my favorite was the year I dressed as Moses, Ten Commandments in tow.  Anyway, I didn’t have any big Halloween plans this year; I really just wanted to relax at home and hand out candy.  Sadly, I got 0 – that’s right, ZERO – trick-or-treaters.  Now I have a pile of candy sitting on my end table.  I’m hoping it’ll take me at least a month to consume it all, but I think that’s me being too optimistic.

Despite the holiday(s), today was a very normal Sunday.  I was disappointed by the music selection at church, but I’m really trying not to judge my Chapel Hill church too harshly.  I truly miss the minor, traditional Lutheran hymns that prevailed at my church in Waco, and I miss the variety of music selection and the passion that the music director at my church in Arlington added to services.  Anyway, the service today was nothing special, even though Reformation is kind of an important holiday, historically speaking, for Lutherans.  After church, I did some laundry and homework, went running, and read some fan fiction.  It was a nice, laid-back sort of day, and I hope that my taking a day to relax won’t result in having a backload of work to catch up on this week!

Sense of the Day: Smell

The olfactory sense has always been one of my favorites – smells just seem to transport you to different places and memories so easily.  Today was filled with the smell of warm laundry, crisp leaves enveloping me on my run, and spicy seasonal candles that acted as a surrogate for a jack-o-lantern.

30 October 2010

I absolutely love fall – the crisp, cool air, the clear sky, the trees looking permanently sun-bathed as their leaves change colors.  Today is one of those perfect fall days, ones you read about in books or see in movies and TV shows. 

7:07 came early this morning.  Well, I suppose it came at the same time it does every morning, but it felt early today, especially when I could simultaneously feel the chill of my apartment and the warmth gained by snuggling under my covers.  I couldn’t convince myself to get out of bed until after 7:30.  By that time, I knew I’d need to hurry to have enough time to get dressed and make it to the Habitat site on time.  It was like CHI’S all over again – rushing to service early on a Saturday morning; hating being up but loving what you’re doing at the same time.

It was COLD.  I’d put on a long-sleeved t-shirt and topped it with another t-shirt, smothered my feet with two pairs of socks (one of which was knee-high), and finished the ensemble with my ski headband, but I could still feel the bite of the cold air surrounding me as I stepped out of my apartment.  I was glad that I had thought to bring my SING Alliance fleece with me!

Once at the site, Grace and I met up with a freshman named Molly, and we were told to start cleaning up the different sites before orientation began.  After about 20 minutes of clean-up, we returned to the group that had since formed while we had been working.  Even though my hands felt like two clumps of ice, I felt excited to start the actual Habitat work.  Grace and I were assigned to work with several frat brothers, who pretty much ignored us the entire morning.  They seemed nice enough, although it was hard to tell because they didn’t actually say anything to us.

I had to partake in “remedial hammering”.  At least, that’s what I’m calling it, and I was the only one that Sam, our site manager, made practice hammering.  It could’ve been embarrassing, but I didn’t really care, especially when the roof finally dried off from the morning frost and we were able to get up and start shingling.

If this whole librarian thing doesn’t work out for me, I think I might be able to find a happy place working as a roofer.  It was so liberating, working high above the ground and being able to see things from a different perspective.  It probably helped that the sun was shining and the chill of the morning had been replaced by a cool, soft breeze.  I also discovered that I was much better at nailing shingles to a roof than I had been nailing hurricane-reinforcements to ceiling joists and studs.  I could’ve stayed on top of the roof, nailing away, for hours!  Sadly, though, noon came, and we were shooed away for lunch, our shift over.  I offered Molly a ride back to campus, and it was so nice to talk to someone who was truly excited about Carolina.  Undergrads are sometimes a lot easier to talk to than are grad students – they seem generally more optimistic, more engaged to their surroundings, and have a less-jaded view of the world. 

Today is homecoming at UNC, so campus was covered with people scurrying around.  I love the enthusiasm that game days bring.  Even though homecoming at Baylor is a much bigger affair than it appears to be here at UNC, I can’t explain how invigorating the energy of college sports fans are.  Franklin Street was simply buzzing, swarmed by a sea of Carolina blue.  After realizing I wouldn’t be able to park on campus and get some reading done in the library, I ventured out into the swarm and stopped by The Chocolate Door, a tiny little gourmet chocolate shop.  Their chocolate is expensive, but I decided to splurge and bought myself four delicious little morsels.  Driving back home, I realized that the crisp fall air was making me crave apple cider from Caribou Coffee, so I decided to pick up my homework and study someplace new!

So here I am, my veins flooded with the delicious combination of warmth, apples, and caramel, reflecting on a day that has, so far, been perfect, not because everything has gone my way, but because nothing has been able to dampen my positive spirit.  Sic’em, fall in Carolina!

Sense of the Day: Touch

The day started with my frozen hands and continued on to a bruised thumb earned while hammering hurricane supports at the Habitat site.  The cool fall breeze on my face while driving, the warmth of my apple cider, and the velvety smoothness of the chocolate completed this beautiful day.