I am not titling this post because I have no idea what it is going to be about. I just feel like writing. I suppose I could update you all on what has been going on with me. I work. I work all the time and I wish I could say I was making a lot of money but that would be less than true. I am making money but it is all going towards bills, food, bills, and I'm saving up for my trip in January to Palestine/Israel with Luther Seminary. I am grateful to my parents for helping me out with some of the expense of the trip, which was completely unexpected, and gladly received. I am still working at both the law office in Minneapolis and The Limited at the Southdale Center. I suppose it keeps me busy and out of trouble. But sometimes I just want to break out of the rut I'm in and do something extremely out of character for myself just for kicks.
I'm realizing I get bored with too much of the same thing if it goes on for too long. I want to escape, be spontaneous and do something very out of the ordinary. This is why I am so glad I am going on the Cross Cultural trip with Luther Seminary in January. It is definitely out of the ordinary and I'll be able to escape the mundane existence that I now find myself living daily.
I really shouldn't complain though. At least I have a job and am paying bills, keeping a roof over my head, mostly on my own with the occasional assistance from the parental units when it gets really tough. But overall, I'm doing it on my own, which is a small comfort. I don't feel like too big of a failure in the "real world".
I find that I have become indifferent to the way my life is going for the most part. Sometimes I get really down on myself for not having done things differently, but most of the time I just go through my day in a haze, mostly because I am working all the time and the only way to keep myself from going insane from dealing with all the stupid people I have to deal with (especially at The Limited) is to phase out. Well actually it is more like going numb and pretending to give a shit, when I really don't. I have become quite to good actress since the end of July.
But with people I actually care about and like, I don't act like that. I actually pay attention to what they are saying and am completely myself, when I actually am able to breath for a minute and spend time with friends and family.
Speaking of family, I had an awesome Thanksgiving. My sister, brother-in-law, and the kiddies came out from New Hampshire and my brother came home from film school in Florida and we all spent Thanksgiving together, which by the way, was also my dad's birthday. My aunt, uncle, and cousin also came down from Burnsville to celebrate with us, which was awesome. On Friday, we all went to the Minnesota Zoo and I have some pictures posted on my facebook page of the fun we all had walking around and looking at all the animals. It was just great to have everyone together for the first time in years.
And one more thing, I have turned in the first of my PhD applications (this one is to Harvard Divinity School) and tomorrow I'll be turning in my PhD application to Luther Seminary, which is exciting and scary at the same time. I only have one more to turn in and then I have to sit and wait to find out whether I have gotten into any of the schools or not. That will be a nerve racking time for me, but then again, with all the working and the amazing trip I'm going on in January, I won't have anytime to sit around and worry.
So that's that. My thoughts on my life lately in a nutshell. Nothing exciting, nothing profound, just the day to day life of someone who is bored and wanting desperately to break out of a rut and do something extraordinary. Thank God that January is only a short time away. And in a few weeks my brother will be home for 2 weeks and we can catch up on all the movies we've been planning to see. Holiday parties will be good breaks from the normal routine and spending time with family and friends will be welcome vacations from the rut of my slow and boring life of work, sleep, eat...not necessarily in that order.

Nothing of Significance

I was intending to write an update of how life has been and realized I have nothing of significance to write about. There are many mundane things I could write about. There are several things I could complain about. But honestly I don't have the energy to do either. Instead I am going to force myself to get off my computer and get some much needed rest and relaxation time in before going to sleep. I'll save the rest for another day...

Dear Friend:

Dear Friend,
It has been a while since we last talked, so I thought I would update you on what's going on in my life. I can sum it up in three words; work, work, work. I have to work extra hard now at both jobs because I charged my trip to Israel/Palestine to my Target Visa Card. It will take me a while to pay it off, but it is totally worth it and I'm sure you'd agree being that you have done your fair share of traveling, going to Egypt and Turkey and all.
And lately I've been thinking a lot about relationships. Relationships with family and friends and romantic relationships as well. Mostly though my family and friends. I've been thinking a lot about you and all the fun that was had on the 4th of July and going to the Stone Arch Bridge to watch the fireworks with Veronica, Joe, and your roommate Matt. A lot has changed since then, but you know this well. You have gone ahead of us to set up for the party that will be had when we arrive to that final destination. I know this and it comforts me when I begin to feel sad that I will not see you anymore. Because that is not true, it is not true at all. You see, we shall meet again my friend, dear Katherine, just not yet, not yet...
Lovingly your friend always,
Megan Louise Pratola

(This blog is dedicated to my friend Katherine Ann Olson who was taken away from this world all too soon, who is partying it up in heaven with the big man himself and who will never be forgotten by those whose lives she touched with her bright smile and crazy red hair.)