Virtual Coffee Chat, 0.1

Grab a snowman cookie while you're at it! Even though it seems like I'm on this blog all the time, I sometimes feel like I'm not completely in tune with y'all, in the sense that I literally can't let you know about everything in my life. I can narrow my life into conceivable moments, into posts that focus on what I wore one day, where I ate, what I did. But I can't tell you about the ten million things running through my brain all at once. It bothers me that with each highlight I choose to talk about from my life, there are also thousands of things happening in my everyday that I don't get to talk about. If only for my own sake to look back on years later, I'd really like to start doing these "coffee date" posts (aka gibberish).     So, friends, if we were having coffee this morning, I'd tell you that Thursday was one fine day. It started off bright and early with a field trip to the Exploratorium (more on that later!) and ended with a fiery date with my girl Jennifer Lawrence (Catching Fire, that is. It's not often that a sequel is the better movie, but y'all, Catching Fire rocked my socks off). It was the momentary reprieve from school that we all needed, and I think everyone took conscious note of it as we sat on the edge of our seats waiting to see what Katniss would do next (or to see if Finnick would take off his shirt... wait, what?), and eating Ben & Jerry's ice cream with our fingers because we were cheap and made a pit stop to Safeway, but forgot to bring spoons. 
If we were having coffee right now, I'd tell you about what a stress-cluster Friday was. I didn't end up packing a single thing until two hours before I left for the airport. But I eventually managed to fit everything into my suitcase, ran into a couple of friends at the airport which made for a much less painful travel experience. My travel luck inevitably ran out though, as I suffered through hours of delays due to rain in Las Vegas. The desert. Didn't know that was possible, but okay.
If we were having coffee at this moment, I'd tell you that I didn't mind any of that trouble at all once I saw my parents and stepped into my house. I haven't been home since July. It's funny what home can do to you - it can wrap you in its familiar walls, feed you a heaping bowl of your favorite beef noodle soup, and lull you into deep sleeps until noon the next day. Blissful. 
If we were having extra hot, hot chocolate right now, I'd let you know that I somehow stumbled into the Ice Age, Houston edition. It's FREEZING here, more than I can remember Houston being at any other Thanksgiving week. The chilly, rainy weather combined with my daily shortbread and tea has me all kinds of excited for Oxford. Throughout last week and this week, I've been treated to multiple bouts of rain (one of my favorite things on Earth) and I'm a little wracked with guilt. There's this girl in my writing class who has fibromyalgia. She wrote about it for her final essay and it was powerful. She feels literal pain and depression when there's rain. It shocks me that something so ordinary that brings me so much joy can bring someone else physical pain and stress. I still love the rain, but it certainly does shed some perspective.
Speaking of my writing class, if I were having coffee with you, I'd let you know how it's become one of my favorite classes ever. There are only eight students in it, but these are eight students who are passionate about writing and stories. None of the eight students are Creative Writing majors, so it's been really interesting to see how everyone's areas of study influences their writing. We had two distinguished authors come in to talk to us last week, both of whom were incredibly inspiring and motivating. Goodness, and they were so handsome.
Lastly, if we were having coffee right now, I'd tell you how this quarter went by so quickly. I say that all the time - when the seasons change, when a temporal landmark like the holidays hits us, but I've felt this junior year more than ever before. Time decided to hit the Fast Forward x16 button, and didn't think to warn any of us. I'm leaving for the UK soon, and am currently experiencing fears about studying abroad coupled with knowing that it's going to be over in no time. I'm so excited to see how this is going to unravel.
Alas, we'd be running out of time because we'd have also spent forty minutes going over your life updates as well. We'd stand up, give each other one of those amazing, tight squeezes and promise to see each other soon for another cup of joe. And we will. In about two weeks, maybe?