dear vermillion, i have missed you...

wow -- once again, it has been some time since i last posted anything here. in my defense, things have been pretty crazy around here for the last month. i have been settling into my new apartment, which is amazing and quiet. i have also been working for state farm -- a continuation of my summer internship -- and have been attempting to prepare for classes and get back into a routine.

this has been a summer of change for me, and i have a feeling this year will be a major growing period for me as well. it IS my senior year of college, after all. :) BUT -- that is a completely different and much more complex topic.

on a more exciting note (at least for me), i forgot how much i love vermillion. this town has so many unique and wonderful things to offer. on saturday morning, a few friends and i walked in nikki's fund 5k. the event was planned to raise suicide awareness and raise funds to assist students at my university who are in crisis with depression and are considering suicide. the damage this horrible phenomenon has done and the impact the event has on this community did not hit me until the balloon release took place. during this time, i saw the pain on the faces of those impacted as well as hope for the future. the strong sense of purpose and community at that event was undeniable.

on a less somber note, vermillion has some of the coolest shops and businesses. so many times i have taken these for granted. on friday, e and i went to a few thrift stores in town. i spent quite a bit of money on our excursion, but my finds were amazing! at one thrift store right outside of town, i bought a little table for my living room for $3 and an amazing blue and white vintage set of dishes for $20. total steals!! at another thrift store, i found some unique jewelry -- an owl brooch, a beautiful cross pendant which i nailed to the doorpost of my apartment entrance, a peaceful dove necklace from 1974, and a pendant with a cute little bird. i was so excited about my purchases. we also have a great guatemalan fair trade store called "sharing the dream." all proceeds go to artisans in guatemala. i do not usually feel too guilty about purchasing items here simply because my money is going to a good cause. however, i did not expect to walk out with three items -- a beautiful blue and white purse, an embroidered tunic, and earrings. i am hoping to post photos soon!

saturday morning also "reintroduced" me to jones food center and mr. smith's. oh, how i love thee!! mr. smith's is a bakery/cafe/catering/etc business. the bread and sandwiches are absolutely mind-blowing. so much so that oprah named it the home to america's greatest bread a few years ago. my friends and i ate breakfast there after the 5k, and it was glorious. i also love love love the fact that jones has rows (yes, plural) of organic food. since being back in south dakota, i have missed the variety of food available in illinois stores.

well... i suppose i have rambled enough for one night. this must be what occurs when one does not blog for ages. hopefully, this will not be the case anymore.

good night, dears.