The Shaffers

a piece of me...

today i had the pleasure of returning back to my college campus (stetson university).  it's been quite a long time since i have been back there and as soon as i entered campus, i was overtaken by this immense feeling of happiness (almost enough to be disturbing).  this campus is a true piece of who i am today in so many ways beyond just the academics.

since it was summer no one was around and i got to enjoy some quiet time (with my camera) in the beautiful fresh air, reflecting on some of my fondest memories...

the picture below is the building we called "the commons" which housed the cafeteria.  i remember the older cafeteria ladies lecturing me every morning about how i drank too much diet coke, as i walked in there every day at 8am in my pajama pants and a giant cup to put under the never ending soda fountain.

if the building looks familiar, you may have seen it in the adam sandler movie "the waterboy".

the most known landmark was the large fountain in the center of campus.  it was tradition to be thrown in on your birthday... and of course we awoke many mornings to soap bubbles overflowing.

and of course there's elizabeth hall.  here's a view from the outside.  i just love how the tall palm trees line the entrance.

and the gorgeous steeple atop elizabeth hall.

but the TRUE gem of elizabeth hall is the inside with its amazing pipe organ.  since i also took part in the music school, i was very fortunate to be able to play on this stage with our wind ensemble.

one of my fondest memories was spending some sunday afternoons studying with my roommate jessica on a blanket on this lawn. peacefulness in its purest form.

and last, a trip to my former "home" wouldn't be complete without some rememberance of my dorm.  i lived in stetson hall, a co-ed dorm.  jess and i were so lucky to have our own room on the first floor with no suitemates and a bathroom all to ourselves (virtually unheard of on campus).  we were one of the priveleged few on campus with that luxury and enjoyed every minute of our time there.

...my time at stetson today really made me happy and in reflecting on all of these memories from 8-12 years ago really reminded me of who i am and why i'm here.  it sounds silly that a college campus can bring me such peace.  but it just does.  no explanation necessary...

Note to self...

Lesson #6: You do not put plastic wrap in a 400 degree oven.

Read this recipe that I was trying to follow and see if YOU can figure out where I went wrong.

(Why would you tell me to preheat the oven 1 hour before I needed to use it?  Surely they meant for me to put the rising dough in the 400 degree oven...surely.)

You can be analytical or you can be a cook.  You just can't be both.

Sheesh.

Yes, I am a slacker...

and I haven't forgotten about #1 - #6 of my life lessons either... I'm just kind of stewing on them for a while.  When I come up with something brilliant I will be sure to post. :)

But, in the meantime... I have a confession. I bought a lens for my camera.  Yes, my first real lens.  I received an extra stipend in my paycheck last week and really struggled with the idea of getting a new lens.  I decided I wanted a really good top notch every day lens - nothing fancy (no wide angle, fisheye, or telephoto lens just yet) but something that will make every picture I snap look sharp, professional and fun. So... I compromised with myself (is that possible?) and spent 25% of my stipend on the lens and the other 75% went to pay off bills (I feel much better when I justify it that way). :) 

Just to show you the difference... Here's the pic I took with my original DSLR kit lens:

(This is the nice salesman @ the camera store willing to partake in my experiment. He was such a good sport.)

 

 

And here is the same picture with my new super-duper lens:

 

 

The blurryness in the background is great; exactly what I was looking for.  Even Craig got excited when he saw the results of the new lens!

So, anyway... that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

awesome husband award!

Guess what I came home to today! (BTW, I did NOT Photoshop these at all - they are gorgeous!) 

Getting ready to go to our annual birthday sushi feast...  :)

Whoa... I am really behind on this posting stuff...

More to come later.  As for tonight - I'm celebrating!  :)

#7 - #14

#14) I've learned... that you should leave the haircuts to the professionals. (Reference: the big pigtail debacle of my earlier years when i thought one pigtail was quite enough and proceeded to snip the other one off.)

#13) I've learned... that there CAN be a little tail on the end of a capital "U".  (Ironically I had to learn this lesson twice in my life - once when I was 10, the other when I was 27. Jenny, you knew this one was going to make the list...)

#12) I've learned... that you can't pay for something with a Kleenex.

#11) I've learned... that no matter how finely you chop onions, they're still onions.  And I WILL find them.

#10) I've learned... that if you poop on your mom as a baby (yes it was diarrhea and yes she was wearing a white outfit), you will hear about it at least once a year for the rest of your life.

#9) I've learned... that you should always use the spell check (or just spell things right in the first place). People can make many assumptions about you simply based on your spelling ability.  (And yes, I totally had to spell check "diarrhea".  I'm an A+ speller, but let's be realistic...)

#8) I've learned... that it doesn't matter how big your house is, it just matters what's in it.  Wait, that didn't sound right... Ok, what matters are the people and the love that are in it.

#7) I've learned... that I have no idea how we existed before cell phones, debit cards, and the internet. (I'm feeling the pain since I lost my debit card this week... agh!)

#15

#15) I've learned... to stop and smell the flowers. ok, so water them first, THEN stop and smell them. {if you were over @ the house this weekend, this was one of the sunflowers I killed.  amazing what a little water will do...}

PS - Craig gave me my birthday present early. I am SO in LOVE. {yes, i'm referring to craig of course, although i could very easily be in love with this new camera too}.  He is so very thoughtful and loving.  I'm seriously a lucky girl.  :)

#16 - #25

#25)  I've learned... that I find it very difficult to finish the things I start. ;)

#24) I've learned... to rejoice in what I have and to know that fresh new experiences are always ahead.

#23) I've learned... that some surprises are worth waiting for.

#22) I've learned... to think before taking action when it comes to big life decisions. Sometimes your desire to want something will be squelched by the negative consequences that come along with it.

#21) I've learned... that oftentimes it's really hard to remember #22.

#20) I've learned... that what's socially acceptable and what feels right may be two different things.  Go with what feels right 99% of the time.

#19) I've learned... that the tendencies you have early in life usually show up later in life {playing school, arts and crafts, etc.}

#18) I've learned... that true love is taking the seeds out of the watermelon before you serve it {thanks, Baba!}

#17) I've learned... not to be too quick to judge others, yet be observant enough to know when someone has a negative influence on you or your surroundings.

#16) I've learned... that having quiet time every day is a must...

...which is what I'm about to do right now.  :)

 

#26

I've learned... that if you drop a puppy on its head at the pet store, at that point you should probably take him home with you.

#27

#27) I've learned... that no matter how old you are you can always count on your mom: for moral support, for a helping hand, for a good laugh, or for a solid kick in the tush.  :)

Thanks SO MUCH for your help today on our patio, mom.  Can't wait for the day we can all just sit and relax on it together!