Neverland

I'm craving the lake today. One of the reason I chose to live in Duluth was a memory from when I was a little kid and spent a weekend with my grandparents. They live just outside of the city, and we came to the lift bridge and I watched the biggest ship I had ever seen go through the harbor. It was amazing. My grandparents grew up in Farmtown, USA so they never learned how to swim. I, on the other hand, am convinced I've lived a former life as a fish. And as a little kid, seeing that big blue monster of a lake... I needed to swim. So as they watched me from the shore, I ran into the freezing water giggling as I shivered from head to toe. I stayed in the water until my Grandma threatened no dessert, it was so much fun. That memory is one of my favorite places to go back to. Most days I love being my age, slowly but surely gaining the knowledge I'll need to make it on my own. But some days, when I'm craving adventure, I love looking back on the memories of my childhood and realizing how far I've come. I'm still that fearless girl jumping the water, amazed at the ships passing by. I'm still in Duluth, a beautiful place to call home. And I'm still growing up, which I hope never stops being this much fun...

Follow The Path, Around The Bend, To The Front Door

I love my job. I work at a gorgeous mansion called Glensheen, The Historic Congdon Estate. Getting up early for work is always a struggle... but when I get there and I start working... Man. I'm lucky. I don't have the typical student position. I help manage the office, and I feel really important when I'm there. Everyone I work with is so appreciative of everyone else's time. It's so refreshing working in that atmosphere.

I mean, really? So good. I'm about to go into work right now, and I have the biggest smile on my face. I need to remember this smile on the days where I'm dragging....

Happy Halloween everyone!! Going a supposed haunted mansion makes me excited for today. Be safe!

Ten

Ten. The magic number. My goal. Not sure if I can even truly say out loud what the goal is. But it has to do with the number ten. And if I accomplish the goal, I reward myself with an adventure back to the west coast.

I can do this. I can totally, obviously, completely do this.

What's In A Name?

I think that titles are my favorite part about writing something. Whether it's a poem on a napkin or my next play I'm working on... I title everything. I love titles. Giving something a name makes it permanent, and that scribble on my napkin has a purpose. (I got that from JK Rowling. She's not bad at her job...)

To Feel Strong comes from one of my favorite quotes. I'm a quote girl. I love em. I'm always searching for the next quote that will make this crazy life we're living in make a little bit of sense. And the quote that brings me back down to earth is from the book Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer.

The sea's only gifts are harsh blows, and occasionally the chance to feel strong. Now I don't know much about the sea, but I do know that that's the way it is here. And I also know how important it is in life not necessarily to be strong but to feel strong. To measure yourself at least once. To find yourself at least once in the most ancient of human conditions. Facing the blind death stone alone, with nothing to help you but your hands and your own head.

Oh, man. Right? You feel it? Feels goooood, huh? You gonna go climb that mountain? You betcha. I've struggled in the past few years with being tremendously hard of myself for the littlest things. I eat three pop tarts instead of one. I color outside the lines. I swear too much. While these things could be easily changed with some concentration, I find that because I'm so hard on myself... I give up. I don't think I'm strong enough to change. And that's just not true. I am strong enough. But more so-- I need to feel strong enough. 

It's part of the reason I want to start this blog. I want to document the days where I feel on top of the world, and the days where I barely move. Because even though those days are drastically different... I have the same amount of strength...It's just about when I feel it. 

Back To Nashville

This is my favorite song today. I usually have a new favorite every two days or so. But this one has stuck for a while, and I'd love to share it!

Starting Line

Hello! I'm MacKenzie, and you've either been told to read this by yours truly, or you've stumbled upon it...or you're looking for something completely different. Doesn't matter to me..I'm just glad you're here! I was inspired by my best friend to start this blog (she writes on simply-found@blogspot.com) and I think it will be a great adventure. I guess the first post is always the hardest...but I find myself so excited to start! Shall I dive in?

Top 21:
1. I'm saying 21 facts about myself because I'm 21 years of age.
2. My favorite movie is Free Willy. That's not a joke, and someday I'll explain.
3. My relationship with my mother is one where I drunk dial her and sing Don't Stop Believing and she wakes up with my hangover. She's my best friend.
4. I love to play the 'If' game. I ask my friends, teachers, coworkers questions like 'If you could watch any movie for the rest of your life which would it be?' (Free Willy) or 'If you could travel to any country, but you had to go to the poorest part, where would you go? (Ireland... so much Guinness!) It's an amazing conversation starter, and you learn so much about the people you share your every day life with.
5. I live for rainy days that end in sunshine.
6. I'm a student, and I cannot wait until I can say I graduated. I don't know when that will be...but holy moly. I'm pumped.
7. I want to live in New York, Chicago, California, Maine, Oregon, and Minnesota..... all at the same time. Can someone make that happen?
8. Part of the reason I'm starting this blog is because I tend to lose focus on the really important things in life. I worry. I scare myself. I think negative thoughts that cloud my mind, and I'm sick of it. I want to write down the good, the bad, the ugly, and then move on. Life is too short to think about the yesterday's.
9. I love to look at bridges, hate driving over them.
10. Nutella doesn't suck.
11. I've lived in Minnesota my whole life, and I love it. The winters are c.o.l.d, and the summers are h.o.t. I wouldn't have it any other way.
12. All my life I've dreamed of taking epic adventures to far away lands, and I'm making a pact in this blog to talk about those adventures because if I talk about them...they will come true!!!
13. Harry Potter taught me how to be a good friend.
14. If I could have any job, I would be a writer.
15. I don't want a love worthy of ten thousand admirers, just one.
16. If you haven't seen the movies Hocus Pocus, The Paper Brigade, and/or Brink.... you need to reevaluate your choices thus far in life...
17. My favorite villain is Captain Hook, or as I call him... Captain Sassy.
18. I think the word ugly is a cop out that people use as a shield. It has no meaning.
19. Home is the nicest word there is. --Laura Ingalls Wilder
20. Friday Night Lights is the greatest television series. Next to The West Wing and Gilmore Girls.
21. The cure to the blues is dancing alone in your room with the lights off, preferably partially naked.

I hope you'll continue to check up on this blog. I hope to write about my adventures, my fears, and the days where I feel strong and inspired.