This is Jim. He's a liar so don't ever believe anything he says to you. He enjoys nothing more than trying to convince people to believe things that aren't true. And when he succeeds, he cheers proudly as he knows he has won. His victory makes me ill and he needs to be stopped.
 

"I'm a ghoooost. I lived in your civil war house." 

"My name is Sam. I work with meatloaf. Let's all live in harmony." 

"The cold air feels good on my tootsies." 

"Eat that, you dirty duck." 

"Hey Jen, you wanna BE mummies?...let's lay in bed like mummies...let's BE MUMMIES!" 

"I'm made of gingerbread. I'M A GINGERBREAD MAN." 

I've got your update right here...

Just to make it clear for all you blog readers...all these quotes from above?...that's right, they did all truly come from the lying mouth of Jim. Now, I don't know about you, but I certainly would not be inclined to believe anyone that ever tried to inform me that he is actually made of cookie...DOWN WITH JIMMY ROBINSON AND ALL HIS FILTHY LIES!!!

blogging away

Been thinking. All the time I’ve had on my hands recently has allowed me to do so, to great lengths. All the feelings I have in me regarding my trip are of a nature that seems to be inexpressible.

I recall the morning of my departure. The fear that I felt was so incredibly overwhelming. I was leaving here, leaving this town, this house, for 2 months. It’s a short amount of time, I’m aware, but it was scary. Exciting but very scary. Leaving the bubble.
The night before, some friends took me out to dinner. I recall looking at all of them, watching them interact as they sat around the table at the restaurant, and becoming sad at the thought of not seeing them; these people, these faces, so familiar, so comfortable...safe. Upon being dropped off at home that night, there were a number of "goodbyes" and "have funs" and "be safes". I remember tears coming to my eyes as I said goodbye to Jim, my scarecrow, him being the last person I hugged. I was sad to leave. Sad and afraid of what was to come. Afraid of the unknown, as I usually tend to be.

It’s funny. The fear I felt about leaving here and going there, was almost nothing compared to the fear I felt about leaving there and coming back here.

The month spent there was honestly the greatest month I ever lived. Going into specific detail is not something I’ll do. Not here, anyway. All I can really say is that I feel new. I feel cleaner. I feel stronger and more adept at dealing with situations that life throws at me. I’ve learned. I’ve realized. I’ve become aware. And I am beyond grateful for all the amazing people I met in Chicago. The love I have for them...it’s just too strong and too much to put into words.

So I’m here now. Back here. "Home" , if you will. Things are different and things are the same. Being home again isn’t what I expected it to be. Then again, I’m not quite sure what I expected it to be. I know though, that everything is as it is supposed to be. The things that are different are allowing me to grow and the things that are the same...that’s all, they’re just the same.
I look forward to going to school. I think about it often. I enjoy learning like nothing else. And I feel that many new experiences await me, as long as I’m open to them. And I am, Open to newness.

more to come, I suppose...