The lost art of spontaneity

A few days ago, I sent a message to 20 or so of my friends and simply asked if anyone would like to get dinner. I got only got 4 responses from people saying they were busy or had prior commitments. This really shouldn't surprise me. We live in a planned out, "know what you're doing for every minute of the next three weeks" kind of world. Don't get me wrong, this is not a blog about how angry I am at those people for having other stuff to do. In fact, I am probably worse at being spontaneous than most people. If it's not in my planner, highlighted with the appropriate color I may not be able to do it. Even if it's not written down I at least need a thought that it might happen in order to plan it into my day accordingly.

This really gets me in to trouble. I get upset with people if they bail on plans we have. Or if someone didn't have the same thought about when we would hang out I mentally freak out a little bit and have a hard time adjusting my schedule. I think this is a really bad habit I have developed. I want to be good and just dropping the not-so-important daily tasks to spend time with people I love or leaving chunks of time open in my day so I can be spontaneous.

This is going to take a lot of conscious effort on my part. In fact, I think I'll make it a New Years resolution of sorts. I'll really have to work hard at it. But if you're reading this - feel free to help me to work on it! Go ahead, call me for coffee.

One Word: Finals

I've officially done everything possible to avoid studying more for finals, which are THIS WEEK. Panic is beginning to set in, but not quickly enough to stop me from writing this blog.

To procrastinate so far I have:
Found a fantastic coffee shop in Tucson that sells clover press coffee, which reminds me of Vancouver, which makes me exceedingly happy.
Watched all 3 Christmas songs on YouTube that Jason Mraz has up. This one is my favorite.
Made pumpkin banana bread - which taught me that more bananas are not always better.
Done laundry: yes I even did that.
Watched SNL on Hulu (I'm now obsessed with The Mellow Show)
Checked my e-mail at least 264 times.

Now, this was the final step so I really should get on to studying now...
Until I return enjoy this picture of my Christmas festivities (setting up the tree with my roommates and homemade eggnog!) thus far:

It's (almost) that time of year again...

Yes. Get excited. My annual e-mail Christmas countdown will start on December 1st. You get a fun little e-mail with the days left until Christmas, some seasonal trivia, and cool links. So if you would like to get these little gems in your inbox for 26 days, comment with your e-mail address!

Drizzle, Fall and Cousins

As I explained in my last post, I went to New Jersey to visit my fantastic cousin who goes to Princeton Theological Seminary. It was a refreshing trip filled with talking, sleeping, walking in the rain, enjoying the leaves, eating and thinking. I'll give you some pictures to explain.

And that is why I had a simply lovely time :)

poetry

I'm sitting across the country from where I usually am, in fact I am in Small World Coffee in Princeton, NJ. Sigh. I love traveling.

My super fantastic cousin gave me a birthday card/present yesterday (he knows me well, even though it's months after my birthday I definitely appreciate a present). In the card he wrote part of the poem The Golden Journey to Smarkland.

Pause for a second - I have to tell you - I don't usually like poetry. I wish I loved poetry, but in all honesty, most of the time I just. don't. get. it. This is really frustrating for me. It's so beautiful and expressing such emotion and I just miss all of that because my brain is not wired to really understand the nuances of writing.

On that note I will now say, I love the poem he wrote in my card. It expresses a how I feel a lot of the time, particularly when I travel. So here it is:

THE GOLDEN JOURNEY TO SAMARKAND

We are the Pilgrims, master; we shall go
Always a little further: it may be
Beyond that last blue mountain barred with snow,
Across that angry or that glimmering sea,

White on a throne or guarded in a cave
There lives a prophet who can understand
Why men were born: but surely we are brave,
Who take the Golden Road to Samarkand.

Sweet to ride forth at evening from the wells
When shadows pass gigantic on the sand,
And softly through the silence beat the bells
Along the Golden Road to Samarkand.

We travel not for trafficking alone;
By hotter winds our fiery hearts are fanned:
For lust of knowing what should not be known
We make the Golden Journey to Samarkand.

-James Elroy Flecker

Seriously, November?

For real. October flew by. I don't even know where it went. Yesterday I was still living the life, starting clinical at 8, thinking Halloween was weeks off. Halloween flew by, without candy for trick-or-treaters and now, Thanksgiving is weeks off and I'm buying Christmas stuff at Target.

I've been working on being present. I have a hard time only focusing on the future, or the past. Most of my thoughts revolve around what I need to do, what I did yesterday, what I should be doing. It's okay and even good for me to think about those things, but I'm also trying to focus on the here and now. So this is my way of doing all of that at 10 p.m. on a Thursday night:

A few things to look back on for October: I passed a really hard test, I dressed up by wearing my snuggie on Halloween, I went to U2 in concert, I visited my parents, and had clinical in the ICU and Emergency Department.

Things to look forward to in November: A psych test, going to Princeton, NJ to visit my cousin and sister, Thanksgiving, and the official start of the Christmas season.

For now, I'm going to embrace the warm weather, freshly cleaned sheets, my pineapple cilantro candle and the fact that I have a roof over my head and food in my belly.

And because I love adding random pictures, one of my roommates and I on Halloween.

The Right to be Ridiculous is One that I Hold Dear

Well, this past week I went to see U2 in concert. It was truly epic. The title of my blog is one of my favorite lines from Crazy Tonight, off their new CD No Line on The Horizon.

Besides playing incredible music and putting on a great show for 2 hours Bono did several other cool things, like recognize and sing for Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese President who has been under house arrest since her election in 1990. He also made a plug for One. I have a theory that one big reason he is still famous is becuase he does something with his fame. He believes he can make a difference and is trying to do so to positively impact our world. That is something I really respect and why I will continue to support U2 by paying for expensive concert tickets and cds.

Distractions

Here is what I do while I should be studying:

~ Blogstalk Kimberly Jarman
~ Find fun stuff on Etsy like this cute necklace, these acorn earrings, and this adorable card.
~ And Yoga poses with my roommates

It's back

By "it" I mean school. I know, you're thinking of course it's back, you've been in it for 5 weeks. But, for the first time this week nursing school has again reared it's ugly head. 2 papers, 2 tests, 2 weeks + reading & quizzes and the normal stuff. C'est la vie.

On the positive side of this I'm learning about balance. I realized at certain points in life it's okay to not have a perfectly balanced life. Different aspects of your life will have more priority for specific periods of time. Right now, obviously, school is priority. I spent a significant amount of my time reading about psych disorders and studying EKG rhythms rather than volunteering or making dinner with friends. This is definitely not how I'd like my life to be but it's what is necessary for life right now. So essentially the unbalance is balance. Eventually, my life will change and so will the balance, but for now I'm working on accepting it.

Art Class

I'm very proud of myself right now. And this is why:


I went to a free drawing class at the The Drawing Studio, this amazing little place in downtown Tucson. We went from 4:30 to 9 and by the end I learned so much. A former professor from the UA started the studio years ago, and now they offer classes all over on anything from drawing to sculpture work. Our class started with drawing from our mind (i.e. a cat - which was awful) then moved on to drawing the form and adding value (aka shading). Then we got a motivational speech about how drawing helps you see your world more fully. By the end I was so into it. I loved it. Can't wait to do more!

MIA

Over the last several weeks of moving home from Vancouver, spending several days with my parents, moving into my new house in Tucson and starting my senior year of college my blogging habits have declined. And for that, I apologize. To all 3 of you that read the blog. Although, you may not have noticed. But anyways, I'm sorry.

I want to rehash some lessons I learned over the summer:
1) I enjoy alone time and independence. I'm still extroverted but not being accountable to anyone else is kind of nice.
2) I love coffee. Seriously. After 20 different coffee shops in Vancouver I definitely confirmed this.
3) I love meeting new people. I enjoy getting to know people I am similar to and those I am different from. Either way, it's great.
4) I am still interested in research as a career! woo!
5) I really really love the Northwest. I don't mind rain (when I am prepared for it). I love the cooler weather and the vibe of it.

All of the "I statements" in that above list really indicate that I was very "me focused" this summer. Which, I think was okay for those few months. Now that I'm back in school it's not as okay for me - but I'm okay with it and ready to get back in the swing of things and move on with life.This was in Gastown, a really cool area of Vancouver.

My last night in Van - with a great group of girls I met.

My last cup of coffee :(

Where The Wild Things Are

I was admittedly a little skeptical when I first heard that a movie was being made of one of my favorite childhood books. It could have been very poorly done or very stupid. But, now that I have seen the trailer I am beyond excited for October 16th.

quote

I just noticed a sticker that has been stuck to the side of my shelf for who knows how long. I kind of like it...it says:

"I have learned that to be with those I like is enough"

It has begun

...that new "stage of life" where you have married friends.

That is my best friend and her husband during their first dance. Their day was perfect. I bustled, I toasted, I smiled, a danced. I was so blessed and honored to be her maid of honor on the most important day of her life.

This was the first of many weddings I'll attend, over the next year especially. While it's all very exciting and I'm immensely happy for all of them, its weird. Life moves on. We move into new places, new jobs, new relationships. All the while trying to figure out where we fit. What we're doing. Even with the ultimate purpose of serving God, we still have to figure out what the heck we're doing and how to do that best.

Like I've said before, I've only got a year left of "fake life" also known as college. And after that its on to bigger and better things. While I'm excited for it all, I can only hope that I end up in community that I love as much, surrounded by people I love the most. Until then I've got to embrace my life now and while it changes around me, or rather as I change with the rest of the world.

Victoria

I spent about 6 hours on Saturday in transit (3 buses to get to the ferry, a 1.5 hour ferry ride and then several bus rides on the island) to get to Vancouver Island, specifically Butchart Gardens and Victoria. It was a gorgeous day for travel - warm, sunny...you get the idea.

The gardens are incredible! A huge area with different types of gardens in different sections. The tickets are a bit pricey, so only go if you have awhile to spend there. and pack your own lunch because the food in the park is way overpriced. seriously...$6 for gelato. ridiculous.

Another 40 minute bus ride to Victoria was next on the agenda. I didn't know where to go at this point, so I rode the bus until it stopped at the last place and got off...I ended up in the right place. Right in front of Parliment. Victoria is very touristy and very beautiful. It has a lot of British influence which is really visible. I spent a lot of time walking in by the water and in various shops. If you get a chance to go head into Rogers Chocolates for a caramel winter apple truffle. it was a-ma-zing. I tried a little hippie coffee store and relaxed. I also splurged and ate at The Empress for dinner. All in all, I wish I could have been with a travel buddy and stayed overnight to have a chance to do a few more things. Guess I'll have to go back :)

Since a picture is worth 1,000 words I leave you with these...

my lost skill: checking the weather

Living in Arizona I realized that I lost a very important skill I once had. Checking the weather report for the day.

Who needs to check the weather when you know that 99.8% of the time it will be sunny, hardly any clouds, and hot? Bottom line: you don't check the weather.

But pretty much any other place in the world requires this skill (considering you have internet, TV, etc.) For example, today I woke up and it's a good thing I checked the forecast or I wouldn't have known to bring my umbrella. And then today when I got home today I checked the weather for this weekend to see if it would be sunny enough to run around in the park.

Thank goodness remembering how to check the weather is like riding a bike - once you learn its a skill you don't forget :)

PianOrquestra

So every year I guess Vancouver hosts a Jazz Festival for 10 days. It's at locations all over Van and many of them are free!

Today I got to see a fantastic group called PianOrquestra play at the Jazz Festival. It's a group of 5 people playing one piano. It's incredible!

home

I spent the last couple days in Seattle. Which i love.

Seriously, I've fantasized about Seattle for the last two years. I kind of expected to be disappointed after building it up in my mind so much. I was far from it. What's not to love about kayaks for rent, African Dance classes, the Space needle, community gardens, non-profit coffee shops, sun (at least while I was there) and good food? While I sat in bed Saturday night I just reflected on the day and noted how I really felt home in Seattle.

My minimal time there revealed that it is full of lovely people, breath-taking views, and exciting possibilities. I was a little, okay a lot, depressed to have to leave what I grew to love in about two days.

Going back to school for a year is going to be a little rough. I know it's where I am in life and I need to be in that part of my life, but at least I have WA to look forward to now.

picture documentation

Thought I'd add a few more pictures from my time here...check my fbook page if you want to see more...

This is from Third Beach in Stanley Park...
This is a view from the walk along the Seawall in Stanley Park


This is from walk I took on the UBC campus. It's a truly lovely campus


And here is a picture of a near perfect Saturday morning. This was taken in Calhouns...a cute cafe I found.

inspiration

I'm feeling inspired currently. Granted it's 1:00 am and I should be out like a light right now, especially since I've been waking up a tad bit late for the last several mornings, but I can't sleep, so here I am.

I spent a great night out with some girls tonight. I got all you can eat sushi at this great place downtown where we sat in a boat! okay - the boat isn't in the water, but it's boat shaped and its awesome. (I had "I'm on a boat" running through my head the whole time...) It's also a korean barbeque so we just had a little grill built right into our table. very cool. After dinner we headed over to a friend's house and had cake, played Napolean Dynamite pictionary (i'll explain later) and i tried to show them what pizookie is (minor fail...i'll put up pictures later)

Anyhow, i've been feeling a little blah the last several days and that is what I needed to get out of my funk. We laughed so hard we cried (Tuscan, Tucson misunderstandings, thinking pizookie was literally pizza and cookie...etc) and just hung out. I love that I've been here for 3 weeks, known these girls for 2 weeks and am already feeling so comfortable.

I guess that is why i'm an extrovert - i spend time with people and am re-energized. that could also be the two desserts I ate :)

I've spent the last little bit looking up things to do this weekend! More Vancouver adventures in store hopefully! so this will hopefully lead to more exciting posts and pictures.

i'm in love

I was referred to this place for a delicious cinnamon roll, so I went this morning and oh boy, was it delicious. $5 for a cup of coffee and a plate of goodness, some great 90s tunes, a good book and interesting people watching made for a lovely Sunday morning here in Vancouver.

Yesterday I went on a hike - to Black Mountain. It was tough. And due to fog we had NO view - see picture below - but I enjoyed getting to meet new people and straining my body. I'm a bit sore today - but it makes me feel like I accomplished something, so it's all good.

all the women who are independent...

throw your hands up at meeee

okay - so this Beyonce song has been running through my head all day...as annoying as it is, it's because I realized that's part of what I'm learning while I'm here.

Granted, I've done a fair amount in my life. I'm not what you'd call a "homebody." I've traveled, gone away from home for college. I'm generally pretty independent. But this summer is the first time I've been totally on my own. I went to a new church, by myself, for the first time this past Sunday. I got dinner, by myself, yesterday...I'm exploring a whole new city, pretty much on my own.

I observe a lot of different things when I'm on my own. I notice how people treat you when I don't have someone to fall back on, I people watch more. I think a lot more about the world in general, now they may not be deep thoughts, but I still think more.

Now that I've realized this I get to think more about it over the next 2.5 months I'm here...

my love hate relationship with public transportation

There are definitely pros and cons to the bus.

Pros: it's cheaper. You can do stuff while you go places. You don't have to drive - which for me is a big one, I hate driving.

Cons: bus drivers aren't super nice (they tell you something and get annoyed when you don't hear them) The seats aren't comfortable. The stop-and-start action of the bus could make one nauseous. And if you don't know exactly where you're going you have to pay very close attention to where you're going so you don't get off 5 blocks too early and end up wandering up and down a street looking like an idiot.

All-in-all it's not too terrible...Maybe I'll get some good stories out of it :)

And here is a picture of the beach I went to today:

Vancouver: Part 1

I made it! After a few tears, a 2.5 hour plane ride, 30 min taxi trip and dragging a suitcase through a cobblestone street I found my new home for the next 11 weeks.

So far I have learned that there are more coffee shops here than I'll probably have time for, the sushi here is great, and the city is very big, and only 2 bags full of stuff won't totally fill a room. Getting a tour was a little overwhelming just because I saw a lot and was told a lot of information, but it was good.

I can't wait to explore more of the city. Expect pictures hopefully in the next week or so.

The Couv

Well, it's official. I leave in 5 days to spend my summer in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Rock on.

Here are suggestions people have given me for things to do:

• Smoke weed (thank you Starbucks barista)
• Make friends with the naked people on the "clothing optional" beach ON CAMPUS at the University of British Columbia (again, thank you Starbucks barista)
• Visit Stanley Park
• Go to the beaches
• Visit the plethora of cute, independent coffee shops that populate every corner (can we say perfection?)
• Go to Seattle for a weekend (which I definitely plan on doing)

I have also found a few things of my own I want to do. AND Coldplay and The Fray are coming in concert while I am there.

Lets just hope I make friends to do these things with :)

awkward

Check out this link I found on MSNBC this morning to Awkward Family Photos.

It made my day and it's not even 9:00 a.m. yet!

Love you, Mom.

Thanks for thinking I'm funny. Thanks for making me backpack 29 miles. Thanks for raising me. You're the best!

29 little things

I stole this idea from a link I found on a random blog and I love it! Since I love lists I thought I would copy this for my own blog.

What better to brighten my day than to think of 29 little things I love.

1) Getting flowers for no reason
2) A really good mix song (Jay-Z/Coldplay Viva La Hova is my most recent favorite)
3) Shavasana at yoga (we get a 10 minute time at the end to just lay down - it's fantastic)
4) When you walk outside of a building and the temperature is just what you needed (i.e. if it was cold inside it's warm out, if it was too hot inside it's cold out)
5) Brownies
6) Raspberry iced tea
7) Getting home after a long day
8) a card in the mail
9) frozen grapes
10) Georgia font
11) Finding a movie that is perfect for your mood
12) Starting a good book
13) Realizing that you can go to bed early
14) wearing flip-flops
15) freshly painted toe nails
16) A fun night out
17) when my favorite song comes on pandora
18) Fudgesicles
19) seeing old men wearing loafers
20) getting a magazine to read
21) Finishing a bottle of water
22) Listening to a song that reminds me how much I love someone
23) fresh-out-of-the-oven muffins
24) getting concert tickets in the mail
25) doing something that someone else appreciates
26) Thinking of the perfect gift to get someone for their birthday
27) Press-n-seal. that stuff is fantastic
28) Warm towels out of the dryer
29) Overhearing people's funny conversations

Bluegrass in Benson

Last Friday I went to a bluegrass festival in Benson, AZ to watch some of my friends play. It was awesome.

We were the youngest people there by 20 years and were stared at as we walked in. I think the old people there thought we were out to cause trouble or something. There were so many interesting people there! I just wanted to walk around and take pictures of people, but I also didn't want to be that creepy, so I decided not to.

Here are some pictures that I did take:

the girls: Dorian Wells

This group of gentlemen had just finished on a 30 city tour of Holland. huh
The group we went with :)

Dear Kix

Dear Kix,

I know that when I was little and my mom bought all my groceries your "kid tested, mother approved" slogan really worked. However, I've grown up. I'm in college now. I buy my own cereal and that ad campaign doesn't entice me to buy your cereal anymore. Cereal that is unhealthy appeals to me, I no longer want cereal that is "mother approved."

Bottom line, Kix, you should get a new slogan. Something about how the delicious little balls of fluffy cereal taste great, something catchy, maybe rhyming even. Then I'll buy your cereal again.

Sincerely,
Angela

a recomendation for IHOP

I love IHOP. Their funny face pancakes cannot be beat. They have pretty good hashbrowns too. I've have great memories from many Late Night Snacks there. (Late Night Snack is a tradition for IV where we go to IHOP at 9 on Tuesdays)

So this evening, I was just driving to ihop i was like...oh man, an iced coffee sounds great especially since it was about 95 degrees outside and it's still warm after dark...but they don't have any at IHOP. UNTIL I walked up and saw a sign like a beacon from heaven advertising their new iced coffee in mocha, vanilla and original. I ordered one and was sorely disappointed.

I found out today that they have a weakness. so I'm warning you don't get their iced coffee - unless you enjoy watered-down, too sweet, weak coffee.

I felt like I needed to blog about this to save anyone who was thinking about ordering an iced coffee from IHOP from wasting $2.26

i miss freshmen year

I miss freshmen year for a few reasons.

The reason I miss it today is because I was reminded about how much I miss ten o'clock class. Our class started late today so I got to push snooze a few times. I read some news online while I ate a leisurely breakfast. Actually did my hair. It was fantastic.

I have to admit, I would be much lazier, but it's nice once in awhile.

Here's to you, Mr. Spandex Shorts Yoga Guy

Have you seen the budweiser commercials that solute real men of genius? That's where i got my blog title from.

So i see Mr. Spandex Shorts Yoga Guy every so often at my $4 yoga class. He comes to class fully clothed. A regular pair of shorts, a normal t-shirt. Then, about 3 minutes before class, after the sticky mat is set up, he sneaks into the bathroom and emerges almost naked. He sits back on his mat and begins the deep breathing. Class starts and every so often as a twist my torso up to the ceiling Mr. Spandex catches my eye and I get very distracted. Not because he's attractive, at all, or because he has an excellent reverse warrior, simply because he is the only one in class that is that exposed.

I don't really get the spandex shorts appeal for yoga. Do they make you feel more limber? Do you enjoy the feeling of sweat dripping down your armpits onto your mat?

If you are out there Mr. Spandex Shorts, let me know. I am very curious.

why I am like Bilbo Baggins

I'm in on page 108 of The Hobbit by Tolkien. it's one of my goals to read more classic novels this year, and in my mind, this is a classic. In reading these novels I didn't really expect to come upon stories that teach me lessons about myself. At about page 28 in The Hobbit I came upon a part of the story where I realized that I am like Bilbo Baggins.

Bilbo is going about his normal life when Gandalf stops by, awhile later his house is invaded with a party of dwarves. Very important dwarves. Thorin, the most important dwarf, starts the serious part of this very odd gathering by explaining their journey and says, "We shall soon before the break of day start on our long journey, a journey from which some of us, or perhaps all of us...may never return..."

This is Bilbo's response...

"Poor Bilbo couldn't bear it any longer. At may never return he began to feel a shriek coming up inside, and very soon it burst out like the whistle of an engine coming out of a tunnel....Gandalf struck a blue light on the end of his magic staff, and in its fireword glare the poor little hobbit could be seen kneeling on the hearthrug, shaking like a jelly that was melting. Then he fell lat on the floor, and kept on calling out "struck by lightning, struck by lightning!" over and over again..."

they have to put him, in this state, in the other room. Gandalf says, "an excitable little fellow...gets funny queer fits, but he is one of the best, one of the best - as fierce as a dragon in a pinch." and the dwarves continue on with their meeting.

Eventually Bilbo revives a bit and "after a while and a drink he crept nervously to the door of the parlour...then Mr. Baggins turn the handle and went it. The Took side had won."

This Took side that Tolkien writes is Bilbo's adventurous side of his family (you see, hobbits are not adventurous at all but Bilbo had an adventurous relative and that side of his family has always been a bit crazy. yet, until this moment Bilbo had led a quiet life...)

I see a remarkable similarity between this story and my story on an almost daily basis in my relationship with God. God puts me in this place, like Gandalf puts Bilbo in the situation, because He knows the potential I have, the same way Gandalf knows the potential Bilbo has. I think Gandalf knows perfectly well that Bilbo is capable and wants to do it...yet in the midst of this Bilbo has this complete freak out.

How often have I done this with God?

God calls me to this huge, incredible, hard, amazing journey EVERY DAY and nearly every day I spaz out and turn into a blob that quivers and mumbles and melts like jelly. I let out this shrieks of fear and have to be struck by lightning and put in a quiet room until I realize that I do want to be a part of something bigger. I do have this innate desire to greater things. Journeys that are bigger than my everyday comfortable life of eating and sleeping and sitting around. I'm called to fight goblins and find powerful rings and impact those around me.

Ultimately I am called to a journey from which I may never return. It will not be comfortable and I will often think that I wish I were back in my comfortable little hobbit hole. I will be hungry, tired, cold, scared...but the journey is bigger, the mission is more important. Just like Bilbo, my Took side will win me over, God will sigh and say that I am queer but he knows I can be as fierce as a dragon in a pinch. And I will open the door and start my journey.

wordle

I found this like to wordle.net and was thoroughly entertained for most of one of my classes. Be careful, this is kind of addicting :)

Ducks in a row

I love this expression. Getting your ducks in a row. It's ridiculous to think about. What if you don't have ducks? And even if you had ducks I feel like they would be difficult to get in a row. Unless it's a mom duck with her baby ducks, in which case it happens naturally, so you wouldn't have to do anything to get the ducks in a row.

Anyways...I'm trying to get my ducks in a row for this weekend and it's a little challenging considering I've got about 20 to organize....

Things I would rather do today...

...than write my paper.
1) Go to Barnes and Noble and wander around the store for several hours. Maybe buy a book
2) Take said book to some cute coffee shop and read it for another several hours
3) Sit in the sun at a park with a friend
4) Watch a movie, like Out of Africa
5) Make cards
6) Bake Peanut Butter Jelly Cookies
7) Organize something, vacuum, clean
8) pretty much ANYTHING else but write my paper for the rest of the day...

just call me Annie Oakley

I spent most of last week in Texas.
I learned to shoot a gun...at least this Colt Pistol and a 22 rifle
I ate lots of food...homemade mac and cheese at every meal! Chocolate pie! Freshly shelled pecans! oh my
I slept in
I watched some movies (Henry Poole Is Here for one...I recommend it)
I saw an old friend, he showed us around his news studio and got to watch a live taping of the local news! which is very cool
I saw lots of oil rigs, spent lots of time in the car, saw some cows.
It was a very satisfying spring break.

New Music, part 2

A couple weeks ago I went to the Eric Hutchinson concert at The Rock, in Tucson. We met him and took a picture (as you can see, obviously)

Let me just say, he puts on a great concert! His rendition of R Kelly's Ignition and My Girl may be one of my new favorites.

New Music

Eric Hutchinson is God's gift to my iPod. I'm quite infatuated with his music.

Check it out.

childhood

I really like talking about my childhood. Probably 65% of my conversations have at least something related to my past mentioned.

For example, today at lunch my friends and I started talking about discipline. Whether or not spanking is ok, grounding, timeouts...you get the idea. Now, I was never grounded. Thank goodness. Although I definitely think that would have been a really effective punishment for me.

Also, we had a very animated discussion about childhood TV shows. For example, Wishbone. Who the heck came up with that idea? a little dog, that transports himself into classic literature and becomes a part of that. Do you remember the Rip van Winkle episode? Wishbone had a beard and interacted with humans. Such a weird show. I also loved Recess, Dark Wing Duck, Reading Rainbow (c'mon, who doesn't love LaVar Burton?).

Bottom line, I love talking about my childhood; my memories, the ugly years, the laughter. In my mind, it was all good.

2009

So, I finally thought of some new years goals. I have some serious, some not so serious. And if I write them down I'm way more likely to actually work on them. Here are a few I want to get done:

Visit at least 3 new states (Maine, New Jersey, Washington). Be a better friend. Actually knit on a regular basis (i just finished my first scarf that I started...oh, a year ago). Memorize more. Keep up my GPA. Have fun in my last "fake year" of life. Do something memorable this summer. Give good presents. Love people. See my sister. Run in a relay marathon with my family. Keep doing yoga. Read 6 "spiritual" books or self-help type books. Make a scrapbook of my old family pictures. 

Now, I realize some of these are not good goals, they're not measurable, they're not specific enough. But, I'll figure out how to do them as this year goes along. I've got some more, but don't want to put them online. 

What goals do you have?

more Arizona!

here are a few pictures I took in the Grand Canyon and Sedona. I'm embracing Arizona :)