Head over heels over the moon in an aeroplane over the sea

I don't think I have ever been head over heels, over the moon, crazy in love with anyone or anything. Sure, I love a lot of things (and people, some of whom I've never met and will probably never meet, some of whom aren't even real - i.e. Special Agent Seeley Booth on Bones). But my robot programming lacks the passion and the severity of emotion required to be in-love love with anything. Still, I have always been curious about love, with the songs people sing about it and they way they describe it. Here is what I've learned from my adventures in l-o-v-e so far...

*Love at first sound. I heard Radiohead for the first time in high school, when the radio club played "Karma Police" one day before the morning announcements. This was the first time a song ever stopped me in my tracks. To this day, Radiohead is still my favorite band and there isn't a song I don't like. This is the instantaneous, everlasting kind of love, like with a best friend or soul mate, someone who just "gets you."

*The Neutral Milk Hotel phenomenon. When I first heard Neutral Milk Hotel (the song "In the Aeroplane over the sea"), I thought it was ok, but the singer's voice kind of grated on me a little. Still, I was interested enough to listen to it again later. And oddly enough, the more I listened to it, the more I liked it. This is the kind of love that grows on you, slow and steady.

*Love at first taste. See Yogen Früz (the most delicious and umlaut-laden frozen yogurt ever) and the peanut butter-Nutella-banana sundae I had at Gate House. A little is awesomely delicious, but too much of it can be bad for you.

*Unrequited love. Been there, done that, moved on. Requited love is so much better.

*Reel love. As seen in the movies or on TV. Hyperbolic and unrealistic and at times completely illogical. As in, I have a mental list of hot, famous dudes I want to marry, but only in theory, not for serious.

*Real love. A.K.A. true love. It can have its ups and downs but is always authentic. I think this is what people mean when they refer to their "better half," like when two people bring out the best in each other and treat each other with kindness and respect.

Lyric of the moment: "What a beautiful face I have found in this place that is circling all round' the sun. And when we meet on a cloud I'll be laughing out loud, I'll be laughing with everyone I see. Can't believe how strange it is to be anything at all..."

A penny saved (me from a smash up)

During my run yesterday morning, I almost ran into some dude on a bike. If I hadn't stopped to pick up a penny from the ground I would have gotten to the intersection a few seconds sooner and collided with him. Some people think pennies are useless, but not me.

When I told Jeremy that story, he said he used to throw pennies away and I was all like "Seriously?! You literally threw money away? Please tell me you don't do that anymore because you can't live here if you're going to throw money away." I was kidding of course, but only a little.

I know I am a spazz about money. But to me, money is for saving. No joke, checking my savings account balance makes me feel instantly calm and happy. To me, money means freedom and security and independence. I think money should be spent wisely on the things and experiences that I find most important. And I try to live below my means and save as much as I can. Then hopefully I'll have the freedom and security to do what I want with my life.

But I still want to go to the Galapagos so bad. Jeopardy had this contest where you could win a trip to the Galapagos, but of course I didn't win. And if Alex Trebek isn't going to send me, I'll have to find some other way to get there. I could afford the trip, but I wish I had someone else to go with (who could also afford the trip).

Sigh. I'm afraid I am becomming a bit obsessive about this Galapagos thing. But I just thought if not now, when? Of all the things I want to do, that's probably at the top of the list (well, going to space is at the top of the list, but I totally can't afford that).

Lyric of the moment: "I’m never gonna give you up.No I’m never ever gonna stop...I’m never ever gonna quit. 'Cause quittin just ain't my shit..." (because mmm...cake)

I know that I'm older but I don't know if it's for worse or for better

I want to go to the Galapagos so much it hurts.

And I want to go to space.

Last night I had a dream where I was at some sort of academy in space. And some punks with guns tried to mug me but I said I was going to the gym and didn't have any money on me, and that mugging isn't nice and they should find a better hobby. Since this was a dream, that actually worked and they started laughing and left me alone. Then I went into this space bar and a boy I used to know from college was there, because apparently we had gone to the space academy together. And then I woke up and was more than a little disappointed to not be in space.

And then I thought about the boy from college and realized that I knew him when I was 18 and I'm now 28, so it has been 10 whole years. I wish that I was 10 years better in addition to 10 years older, but I don't think that's true.

Jeremy said my goals are unrealistic. Which is true. But all the best things are unrealistic.

Lyric of the moment: "Back when I was younger I was someone you'd've liked..."