Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Surprising Existence

Remember when I posted my list of 50 Desirable Guy Qualities last November? I called the post "A Non-Existent Character."

Today, as I procrastinate a little during lunchtime, I remembered that post. Seeing as I'm dating someone I'm pretty crazy about, I decided to look at the list in light of Gem, just to see where things stood.

I'm not sure if you guys particularly care about this, as it really just pertains to me, but hey, this is my blog and I'll do what I want.

Here's the original post, with new comments in italics; green means Gem's got it.

Stephanie's List of Desirable Guy Qualities (in mostly no particular order)
1. Christian - Gem is one of the realist Christians I know.

2. musician {note:  not "plays an instrument." I think playing an instrument and being a musician are 

different things.} - This one is tricky. Gem plays the piano well, but he is not a musician. But he has the most amazing sixth sense with music I've ever seen. I'll have to explain it in a whole post sometime.
 
3. can dance


4. dark hair


5. good singing voice


6. likes to read - And he actually does. A LOT.


7. self-motivated - Depends. But in the interest of not going completely and totally overboard complimenting him, I'm gonna leave this black.

8. in good shape - *blush*

9. knows what he wants to do with his life

10. knows how to make his dreams a reality

11. loves Disney

12. has a sense of irony


13. has the same sense of humor as me


14. knows when to stop


15. likes kids


16. plays a sport - Used to be a swimmer

 
17. stubborn - Yes, but in an unusual way. It's like he's infinitely patient and steadfast when his mind is made up.

 
18. able to converse in an engaging and effective manner with people of all ages


19. a science or math person, maybe


20. likes to argue

21. pretty eyes

22. honest {includes keeping promises as well as not lying}


 23. crooked smile

24. expressive eyebrows

25. will fight for those he loves


26. taller than me


27. tan


28. Having done drugs is not a problem, but he has to be morally against them now. - He has not done them, never will, and is against them.

 
29. mindful of money


30. Chivalrous. Opens doors, walks a girl home/to her car/to her dorm, sits on the outside at restaurants, walks next to the road, carries stuff, pays for stuff.


31. unselfish - He likes to do unselfish things for people, but part of it is that he likes to feel like a hero XD Sooo, not sure if this counts as totally unselfish. But to the untrained eye, yes.

 
32. not in the military


33. cusses occasionally and artfully - "Hell" and "damn" are pretty much the extent of it, but his comedic timing is pretty good.

 
34. can start a real fire


35. can tie real knots


36. good/similar taste as me in music - Mmm. This is a weird one too. We have pretty different taste in music. But...I have to say that his taste is also "good" because of simply how good he is with music.

 
37. doesn't disrespect his girlfriend when talking to his friends


38. can help me with writing - He's very perceptive and "real" with his help. He doesn't just compliment my writing, he points out inconsistencies or things that don't make sense, and gives real suggestions. It really took me aback at first, but I appreciate it a ton now.

 
39. good with directions - Freaking unbelievably good.

 
40. assertive - He's very careful and tactful with his words, but he is not afraid to take the lead in conversations or call me out on my BS.


  41. good grasp of grammar - Yes. However, he does the your/you're thing entirely too often.
 
42. hard-working


43. confident


44. understands me - He understands me in  this weirdly simple way, like it's natural and uncomplicated, even when I don't even understand myself.

 
45. patient {I'm not talking about the angelic sort of patience, but the calm, persistent kind of patience} - Yes. Just yes.

 
46. observant - Freakishly.

 
47. not a Yankee


48. politically conservative


49. adventurous - This is weird. I'd describe him as "adventurous" even though he's, like, kinda not. He likes adventures, but he's generally very practical and cautious--which is great, because it balances my ridiculous, dangerous impulsiveness.

50. writes letters - He does for me :)

45/50. Not bad for a non-existent character :)

~Stephanie

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Giaraffe Emesis

I hope that this will be a brief post. I've been really productive this evening, so I don't want to break my flow, but I was also suddenly seized with the need to say something here.

I've been blowing through pages in my "New United Nations" textbook like nobody's business. Seriously, I think I read like twelve pages in an hour and a half, and that is flat-out UNHEARD OF. I'm even in the basement of the library, a place I usually reserve for literary homework. I have a strict No PolySci Homework policy when it comes to the library:  I don't want to taint these sacred halls with the wrong kind of stress.

But this evening, polysci did not stress me out, so I made an exception.

Since coming to college, I have been listening almost exclusively to Mutemath's self-titled album. When I start getting ready for bed, I turn on Mutemath and hit my iHome's Sleep button until it promises to turn off in 30 minutes. Sometimes I'm asleep by the time the music stops; sometimes Gem keeps me up longer.

At any given time, I have 70+ pages of reading to do. I must read about the evolution of the United Nations; I must read about ethical philosophers and how their views apply to the government; I must read about different literary approaches (Allison:  "So you're literally reading about reading?" Me: "...well, when you say it like THAT..."); I must read "Emma," which is wonderful; and I must read about how to write.

And sometimes I get to read about a girl who plays with fire, but not often enough to maintain continuity or remember my place.

When I'm not reading, sometimes I watch Lost. I am on Season 1, Episode 12, so no spoilers. I really like Sayid. I really hate Sawyer, but you're supposed to.

My school internship is going really, really well. I'm writing letters of inquiry, which means I get to write about Campbell University's projects in ways that appeal to lots of different money-giving foundations. I get to take one project and spin it ten or twelve different ways, exercising my creativity and persuasive skills. It is incredibly fun to me.

My alarm didn't go off yesterday morning. I woke up one minute before my class started. I was still only eleven minutes late.

My suitemates are amazing. We stay up and talk and laugh til we cry. I always have people to do things with, but they also understand my need to be left alone. We have "family dinner" every Monday night, which, so far, has consisted of Harley making spaghetti and us pulling together every table-like surface in the apartment to have room to seat everyone.

This Saturday, Gem and his sister, Abigail, are visiting. Harley's making tacos. We will not have enough table surface, but we've decided not to address that until the problem is staring us in the face. It'll be fine.

I'll be glad to see Gem, although not having any alone time with him will be a little disappointing.

How are you all doing? :)


Road Trip:  the Arch in St. Louis :)

Whatever Campbell's shortcomings, scenery isn't one of them.



Road Trip:  Chicago

 Gem: "Oops, these are too small for me...maybe you want them?"
True love.

Road Trip: the Bean

~Stephanie