I went for a walk today, and while I walked I began to notice things, and analyze them.

I've been studying science nearly nonstop for two months now. My understanding of the natural world has increased a good amount, and while I still have a long way to go, I was able to look around and understand the mechanisms in place that created the world I was walking through.

It started as I was staring at a puddle, and looking at the ripples. As I watched them, I began thinking of wave motion, and how waves interact with each other. I then looked up at the sky, and understood how clouds occur, and why rain happens. And then as I walked, I saw some leaves rotting on the ground into the soil, and a pinwheel spinning, and the blue color of the sky above. And for a moment, everything was a system I could understand.

It was in this moment that I achieved a sort of wondrous peace I only dream of, where the world is understood, and all the systems in it make sense, even if only on a superficial level. And I understood why I must become a science teacher, even if this sensation is a gift enough.

There is beauty in the systems of this world. My focus is biology- I love how life works, the cycles, the systems, and all the amazing little variations that make it such a wonderful thing. I love spiders and viruses and RNA and protein and nerve cells and photosynthesis and fungi, and I want to share this amazing world with others. This is such a huge, amazing world, full of fascinating lifeforms and pseudolifeforms, and people barely blink at them. But when you know what's going on, and really think about it, this whole life thing we've got on this planet is freaking amazing. There's probably life elsewhere, as it seems to me that if life is possible, it is inevitable, but we've done so incredibly well on this planet that I just go mad with the excitement.

In any case, I have to study stuff now. Today, I'll study geology and meteorology, two of my least favorite sciences, but hopefully I'll make some progress and get a good enough understanding of them for the WEST exam so I don't have to worry about them anymore. In any case, science rules.

Germboy, out/Peace.

Not much. I have a lot of practice running away. On that note, I look forward to seeing where I'll be in six months. I'm hoping for less anger, fewer complaints. Maybe more stability on a personal level and more variety at work. Less black-and-white thinking. More vegetables. More creativity. I wonder which of my predictions will hold true.

Also, I just noticed that livejournal changed their auto-time/date code. When did they fix it? How did I miss that?

tags: awkward jokes, coworkers, feelings, having fun, om nom nom, writer's block

1. Take a cucumber or two. Peel it (them). Slice it lengthwise in half, and then halve the halves. Slice these into one-inch chunks.
2. In a pan that has a tight-fitting lid, heat one tablespoon of butter on medium heat. Coat cucumber in butter, cover. Braise for 5 min.
3. Remove cover (important!) and add 1 tsp lemon juice, 1/2 tsp salt, and a pinch of dried mint (I used peppermint tea from a Celestial Seasonings teabag). Stir and cover for two more minutes.
4. Eat. Revel. Wallow in the amazingly decadent taste of braised cucumbers.

If I hear about another "Ugly Sweater slash Christmas" party I think my head might explode from the sheer retardedness of it all.

Themed parties = hit or miss. Some good themed party ideas:

-Wear a Fresh Squid Somewhere on Your Person (But Make Us Guess Where!)
-Stockholm Syndrome Anonymous (Refreshments and hostages will be provided)
-I Grow Toward the Light (everyone must lean closer and closer to the nearest light source, and must move elsewhere in the room when they're about to fall over)
-Questions Only (All dialogue must be performed in queries)
-We Are All Most Definitely Not Secret Agents (No I am Not Speaking Into My Collar, I Just Had to Cough)
-Roasting a Large Dead Animal (alternately, Roasting a Large Dead Tofu (alternately alternately, Roasting a Large Inanimate (Stuffed) Animal))
-Excessive use of "Finger Quotes" for Sarcastic or Ironic Effect Party
-Biggest Douche of the Year Award Ceremony
-Drag in Drag (dress like a member of the opposite sex trying to dress like a member of your own sex)
-Your New Overlord (Or, What Will The New Overlords of the Human Race Look Like?) Winner will receive a globe.
-Creep Up Behind People While They're Talking and Attempt to Harmonize With the Pitch In Which They're Speaking (Music majors only)


Now I can see why most of my social interactions quickly devolve into improv.