m e a d o w l a r k

hmmm….

I feel like I should write a post, because I REALLY enjoy it when people in this family post. Although I am not so much in a writing mood… It’s me a dog and an old cat. Bill’s in LA, Laura lonely at college )o: Please, PLEASE pray for connection for her and for her to grow through this difficult and lonely time. She is just so awesome and beautiful I want her to find that out for herself.

anyway….. since I don’t feel like writing I do have this very cool pic that was taken by a kindred spirit of mine on a recent little trip we took, (a trip that was a blast). This is the REAL Black Pearl, of Movie Fame. As you can see it is a little ’stuck’ right now. You can see it is behind barbed wire, for protection I suppose… It is in the water. It is waiting for Documents to leave the Country it is stuck in, (it was down there for filming and is STILL ’stuck’ there… Mexico) anyway… It’s kinda cool, it’s a real picture of the real thing. I hope some body out there appreciates it! I have not even seen the most recent movie yet! @#$%%$#

Very much like Uncle Chuck my address has also changed. My living address and my email address. This last tuesday my parents and I drove over the pass with my whole room fitting in two cars, and we arrived at Oregon State University. College life is obviously much different than my life at home. There are no curfews, more people, not many rules, and you live on your own. The food is much worse, although I have found a few places that I really enjoy. West Hall has the best dining area, which of course is no where near my Dorm Building but its only about a ten or fifteen minute walk, which is not bad for a grilled panini. Oh the walking… it never ends, nobody drives, you walk everywhere. Which could mean miles and miles a day, and that usually is what it means. Its not bad, keeps me (or is getting me) in shape. It’s hard to get used to being here, I’m homesick and still not very adjusted, but I am making friends and I guess right now I just feel like I am at a summer camp. I hope life gets busier once classes start that way there won’t be so much free time. If you would like to contact me I’d greatly appreciate it.

my mailing adress is now:

Laura Chiaravalle

Oregon State University

1660 McNary Complex

Corvallis, OR 97331-1407

and my new email adress is:

chiaravl@onid.orst.edu

that .edu means that i’m actually a college student! that is crazy!

New addresses always signal change, hopefully change for the better. Kristen’s posting reminds me of our first home in Kewaunee, and how exciting a new address can be.
Changing an email address rarely translates into that same swirl of emotion as changing a hard address, unless your new email ends in “.edu”, as mine now does.
My new address, cwpedl07@smumn.edu, represents my first foray back into academia since Renee’ and I met at NVC a LONG time ago. (Reagan was still in office)
I wouldn’t classify it as a mid-life crisis, such as a Corvette or a motorcycle, just one of those “things that I want to do before I quit walking this Earth” type of goals.
I have found that it comes with costs, some smaller than others. I’ve had to abandon my goal of biking 2000 miles this year. (It doesn’t seem all that important) Hopefully at this stage of life, the bigger costs will not be all that significant; balance of schedule, lost sleep, etc.
There will be no immediate benefit at work by having a degree, although I am hoping that it will better prepare Renee’ and me for a transition back to the coast someday. If all goes as planned (it never seems to) I will graduate from St. Mary’s University the same year that Travis graduates from High School. (I’m really looking forward to that grad party!)
So if you’re ever bored, or in the neighborhood feel free to drop by my address. I’m sure that I can use the encouragement, and more importantly any tips, especially from my nieces and nephews, that will help me survive my college years, and prepare me for life after school.
Now, about that motorcycle….