I don't care what month it is...it is summer.

Yesssss. While driving around the oh so glam La Mirada/Fullerton/Whittier area today it became apparent to me.

It. Is. Summer.

Like, windows down, music volume up, sunglasses on, cool beverage in hand, beach hopping, forehead sweating, blissful SUMMER. I'm loving every second, especially since its almost February, and it should be no where near 85 degrees, but eh...whaddiya do?

I'll tell ya whatcha do, you go to the beach. Tomorrow. With me :)

Time to bust out the happy tunes and swimsuits. Whatev calendar, you can't keep summer away.

Back in the 90639, hah

Well, I knew this day would come eventually, I just didn't realize how far away it would feel once it got here.
I am sitting at my desk, looking out the window as sunshine streams through the palm trees and warms my cheeks. I look over and already see a stack of textbooks, papers and lists.
All I can seem to do is lay on my couch, drink diet coke and listen to The Killers.

Spring semester has officially begun.

I love it here, as soon as I got back it felt comfortable and easy. And I'm way excited for my courses this term. 3 studio classes, one of which is a photo class which I have been itching to get back into, I love it. I will have 2 PE classes and 2 lecture courses as well. It's gonna be a great couple of months.
Already reunited with my pals and slept in my bed. I'm home.
Now, its time to procrastinate. Hello school in 2009, let's be friends.

THE Plan....Update!

So apparently, I'm not as unmotivated as I thought I would be when starting Christmas break, I just needed a list! Perfect. Here is my updated plan, of what I did and unfortunately didn't complete

1. Read a life-changing book
--Started two, didn't finish either, life has not changed yet. I'll keep you posted.
2. Paint a tree and other lovely things on my wall
--Sadly, I didn't get around to it before I left, but it would've been marvelous.
3. Discover my favorite kind of tea
--Some crazy gypsy tea that Danae had, Coconut Chai...those gypsy's know what they're doin
4. Knit, a lot
--Two scarves, not a lot, but its a start
5. Learn Italian (for real this time)
--Crap.
6. Do some crafty things with clothing or accessories
--Tricked out one of my purses and bought some pretty things
7. Listen to TONS of excellent music, and discover some new tunes
--Yes and yes.
8. Go on hikes
--Oops...it's colder than I thought it would be in January.
9. Find the best nail polish, and then buy 5 bottles
--Ruby Red. I only bought one though, I realized I wouldn't ever want 5 of the same color, frivolous.
10. Find a movie that makes me cry
--Birds of America. Rent it, love it.
11. Work out
--Eh...ish.
12. Teach Lawson some tricks
--He now semi-sings and dances with me when prompted/lovingly forced.
13. Read poetry and determine my favorite poet
--Haven't discovered my favorite yet, but I'm getting closer
14. T.P. someone's house/car...I'm only 19 for a few more months, I've just gotta.
--No one would come with me and immature vandalism is NOT fun by yourself.
15. Make smore's by the fire
--Just marshmallows, but still
16. Get my darkroom up and running, make some sweet prints
--Not up and running, no prints, just dozens of rats infesting it....yumm.
17. Paint some pottery
--Nope.
18. Develop a daily Bible reading time, and actually stick with it
--Sporadic, but stick-esque
19. Drink a lot of coffee, and try to like it black
--Drank a lot of coffee, will never and can never like it black. Dramatic, but true
20. Make the most of the time I have by actually completing or attempting these things.
--Yes.

Now it's time to enjoy my last week of mindlessness, stock up, pack up and head back down south. Bye Oregon, it's been charming as always, see you in the spring.

Music Love Time

So, recently I have been enjoying some new tunes, as well as dusting off old ones.
Mostly indie and folk, a little electronica and a bit o' bluesy stuff.
If you love discovering new musical treasures, as I do, I thought you might enjoy some suggestions.
So here's my newest bit of musical fun:

1. Shove It - Santogold
2. Telescope Eyes - Eisley
3. Mercy - Duffy
4. 5 Years Time - Noah and the Whale
5. Why Do I Keep Counting? - The Killers
6. Great DJ -The Ting Tings
7. Rise - Azure Ray
8. Not Half Right - Heatmiser
9. This Is Your Life - The Killers (Day & Age...new album, GET it)
10. The Lion's Mane - Trevor Hall (This Is Blue...also new, Love it)
11. Moulin Rouge (Oh What a World, is also excellent) - Rufus Wainright
12. How He Loves - John Mark McMillan
13. 16, Maybe Less - Iron & Wine and Calexico
14. The General Specific - Band of Horses
15. Congratulations - Blue October
16. Champagne Supernova - Oasis
17. Wicker Chair - Kings of Leon
18. Rich Girls - The Virgins
19. Round Here - Counting Crows
20. True Love Will Find You in the End - Beck

Go. Listen. Enjoy. Please. Thanks.

To Washington, to Oregon, and to Washington again...

Aww man, you've gotta love winter road trips in the Pacific Northwest. You never know what you're gonna get...well except weather silliness, of course.
The lovely Brooke and I embarked on our adventure, to see Danae at school in Seattle, on Thursday afternoon. We were making crazy good time until, about an hour into Washington, there were huge cones blocking the freeway including a giant hummer and army men with their arms crossed looking quite unhappy and blocking the road! The freeway and entire city had been severely flooded closing the I-5 for 20 miles; not a happy sight, for us or them. We then had to reluctantly turn around and drive a ways back to crash with a friend in Portland and pray for the floods to dry up.

Which they luckily DID and we made it to Seattle after way too many hours on the freeway. The weekend was then filled with coffee shop hopping, street strolling, store snooping, goodies finding, Gossip Girling, giggling, car drumming and picture taking. A typical best friend weekend if you ask me. Wonderful. Here are some lovelies for you to look at if you so desire.

THE Plan.

So, since everyone has officially started school and work again, and the holidays are over. I am here...still, wandering aimlessly.
I decided to make a list of things to do/accomplish so I don't go crazy these next few weeks.

1. Read a life-changing book
2. Paint a tree and other lovely things on my wall
3. Discover my favorite kind of tea
4. Knit, a lot
5. Learn Italian (for real this time)
6. Do some crafty things with clothing or accessories
7. Listen to TONS of excellent music, and discover some new tunes
8. Go on hikes
9. Find the best nail polish, and then buy 5 bottles
10. Find a movie that makes me cry
11. Work out
12. Teach Lawson some tricks
13. Read poetry and determine my favorite poet
14. T.P. someone's house/car...I'm only 19 for a few more months, I've just gotta.
15. Make smore's by the fire
16. Get my darkroom up and running, make some sweet prints
17. Paint some pottery
18. Develop a daily Bible reading time, and actually stick with it
19. Drink a lot of coffee, and try to like it black
20. Make the most of the time I have by actually completing or attempting these things.

Readyyyyy? Go.

At a loss for entertainment? Check Craigslist.

While looking through Craigslist job listings, I found possibly the most hilarious listing ever. Please humor me, and enjoy it as well...
____________________________________________________________________

SUPER HEROES WANTED

The Super League of Super Persons is recruiting a crime fighting force of NEW super heroes. Please respond with your super power and super alias (your superhero name.)
If you own a super suit please send a picture.

____________________________________________________________________

SO awesome. I think I'm gonna write back, I just haven't thought of a good enough super alias yet.

Hmm...

"Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops.
Let the rain sing you a lullaby." Langston Hughes

There's nothing quite like rain. I was sitting on my couch today, drinking tea and listening to Torrey Conference make ups (that I swiftly mailed off today with crossed fingers to reach school in time), and I just love the way it feels. Rain casts a strange gloom over everything it touches. Sometimes its a happy gloom though, kind of a brooding, thought provoking gloom that puts you in a pensive state of mind. That's how the rain decided to be today, thoughtful.

No thoughts in particular, just clustered thoughts and reminiscence of past dreams and aspirations I've had. I thought about how I used to want to be a marine biologist when I was little because I had a strange love for dolphins and other slippery looking animals. But then when I learned I would have to cut them up to know how to help them, that dream faded a bit. I also thought about how I played the clarinet for about 2 months in junior high. The only reason I did was because when I asked the band teacher if I could play the drums, she suggested I play the clarinet first and then could "work my way up" to drums...yeah, because that makes sense, she was just clarinet-happy. I thought about how I got knitting needles and yarn for Christmas and it's really bothering me that I still haven't put them to use yet. I thought about how my toes are almost always cold. I thought about how I painted my walls electric blue in 8th grade for no apparent reason, I also painted the ceiling with clouds...that are still there.

I hope this Christmas break will entail much more thinking than the last. With lots of time to do it, and much more tea to drink, I'd say its a safe bet.