The long journey home...

KING STATION:

SEATTLE, MORNING, 3AM:

36 hour journeys home makes for mucho photo fodder. Also, I'll hug anyone who gets the pop-culture reference in this post. :D

Sleeeep.

So I pulled my first (and hopefully last) all-nighter of the semester. It wasn't that difficult. I went on a taco-bell run around 11:30, and then Hannah came over at around 1. We studied until around 5:20, took a power nap until 6, and then studied another hour. I took a shower and we headed to breakfast and got some brain-grub. I kicked that IPE final's ass.

The two questions I wrote mini-essays on were :

1. Discuss the following two strategies of economic development: import-substitution and export-oriented industrialization.

2.  What is a social business? Discuss the potential benefits and challenges facing “social businesses”, using the example of Grameen Danone. Do you think social business provides an efficient alternative to foreign aid? 

Yeaaaah. We killed it. And everything is multiplied when you are sleep-deprived. It is the strangest sensation. Like normally I would never notice that really annoying person who sniffs ever 5 seconds throughout the whole test, but today, I almost killed her.

Wanna know what is killing me? This fricken snow and this cold. I'm going to die die die die die when I get back to GF!!!!! But it is a darn tootin' good thing that these girls had me around to be the bad ass who cleans the snow off of cars with her bare hands (wearing flip-flops) and to release the windshield-wipers from their icy prison using only her keys. My friends are all wimps from California and Oregon. It is a wonder I didn't have to pump their gas too! (which I did do earlier  in the week.)

Deck the Hall Ball... life as I know it....of

I still can't get over how much this concert rocked my life. Here are a few pictures that my friend Madeline took. I couldn't take my big camera, because I didn't want it to get damaged in the process of moshing. I got a few good cell phone photos, so I have beautiful backgrounds on my cellie. Also, the last picture is of Ben Gibbard, lead singer/songwriter for Death Cab for Cutie. He is probably one of the most brilliant men on the planet if you ask me.

The whole thing has really made me reconsider everything. What do I really want to do with my life? What is my purpose? Where do I want to be in a year?

I'm obviously not going to be on stage somewhere, but music is such a huge part of my life, and something I have a really big interest and knowledge base in. Maybe I want to do something in the music business.

I don't know. Just thoughts. And I've been inspired to pick up my guitar again, which I haven't done for a while. Valerie and I made some sweet music last night while we were jamming. I need new strings for my fabulous guitar, however.

I'm also trying to write some papers and I've been obsessively listening to Death Cab and the Cold War Kids. It is a pretty good time. Less than one week. Less than one week. I'm excited to see my family. I'm dreading leaving the beautiful, rainy, pacific northwest and going back to dreary, cold, snowy, nightmare Great Falls. My home is here now, and it feel weird to be leaving. I'm not sure what I'll be doing for the summer. Like I said, I have a lot of thoughts in my head.

Well, to part, I'll leave the video for Cath... by Death Cab for Cutie.

Deck the Hall Ball

Most epic night of my life, it really got me thinking about life, and especially my own future:

1.) Aqueduct: Fun, funk, Seattle-based electro pop. I dig it, especially the song that talks about "don't ever ask me where I'm from."

2.) Shiny Toy Guns: Great electro with a great mosh pit. I adore the drummer, a great musician who obviously loves what he does and who looks like a more electro version of Jack White. (watch the drummer in the posted video.)

3.) Cold War Kids: Hadn't listened to them extensively, however, they are an amazing group who really know how to tell a story with their music. They have gained one new fan.

4.) Death Cab For Cutie: One of my top 5 favorite bands. It was a dream come true to see them in person. Lead singer, Ben Gibbard has lost at least 20 pounds and was approaching sickly-looking, but the set was amazing. I officially fell in love with Ben after reading an essay he wrote this summer that summed up my complete emotional range right now.

5.) The Killers: Hot damn can these Las Vegas natives put on a show. They were full of energy, frontman Brandon Flowers moved about 110 mph the whole set, and it was the sexiest performance I've ever seen! The whole thing was topped off when the drummer donned an I heart Seattle tee-shirt and absolutely hammed it up.

Shiny Toy Guns - House of Spooks

I have to get down to business tomorrow when it comes to homework. I have 2 papers to finish, a presentation to work out, and 2 finals to study for. If I can finish a paper, and start the 2nd tomorrow, finish the 2nd and work out the presentation on Friday, and study for IPE on Saturday, that leaves all of Sunday to devote to my French final which is not looking good as of right now.

I also checked out some Kerouac from the library. I'm reading a collection of his writings from his youth as well as On The Road. I was inspired to read it by Ben Gibbard, and I'm really enjoying it so far.

I hope you all have great weekends! <3

Crazy, crazy night.

Last night was absolutely insane! We were chilling in the lounge, doing a little homework, watching Barbara Walters’s most interesting people of 2008. (10. Will Smith; 9. Michael Phelps; 8. Miley Cyrus; 7. Tina Fey; 6. Rush Limbaugh; 5. Thomas Beatie; 4. Frank Legella; 3. Sarah Palin; 2. Tom Cruise; 1. Barack Obama.) My floormate's roomie D comes in crying because she was having intense stomach pain. She had called a nurse at the hospital who recommended she come in, and she was just crying because she didn't know how to get there, and she didn't want to bug us, and I felt so horrible for her. So T, R, and I pack her into T's car and take her down to Allenmore. She got all checked in and settled, and she told us we should go and she'd call when she needed a ride. So I left her my David Sedaris book to keep her entertained and we came back to UPS. We watched P.S. I Love You and cried. Talked about death and cried. Cried a bit more. Just had a big cry fest. Then T went to bed and R and I stayed up to wait for D's call. At some point we both fell asleep in our chairs. We spent the whole night that way. We texted D at one point around 4, and she said they were doing a C.T. scan and she would be there for a couple more hours. So R and I went back to sleep. 7 in the morning rolled around and we texted her again. D walks in from her room, she had taken a cab home around 6:30 and was feeling much better because they had given her pain pills for the inflamed lymph nodes in her stomach!!!! I didn't even know that could happen!

I even got up for class and STAYED AWAKE through both classes. I would deem today a good day just based on that.

Tonight is mistletoast, so I'm going to go ice skating and have mucho funzo. I'm off. Love you all <3

mind-set...

I've figured out why I'm not as intense as the others on the crew team:

I have the mindset of a canoer. I want to go out on the water and paddle around, see the scenery, stay in shape, maybe catch a fish or two. I have no interest in bulking up on muscle or being religious about the sport. I'm really only in it for the water. I have a hard time being competitive in a sport that is only sort of a team sport, and definately not a contact sport.

They have the mindset of rowers. They want to win. They want to get in shape to win. They want to practice to win. They want to be the biggest, buffest, baddest team on this side of the rockies. They are in it for the competition. They are incredibly, almost disturbingly filled with competitive spirit.

I think I need to talk to my coach, because I'd feel bad if I bring the team down, but I love being out on the water. :(

Greenhouse...?

When I stepped outside this morning, it smelled like Bundi Gardens. It made me miss GF a little. And as I walked to geomythology past the forest in the middle of campus, the sun was shining through the mist in the trees, and I think I'll miss here even more when I'm there.

This time last year...

I remember this time last year: miserably suffering through high school, wondering if I was making the right choice by frantically submitting applications to everywhere but In State schools, thinking that UM would be a much easier choice, losing that last bit of caring about school.

And now here I am: a year later and loving life! I made the right choice. I didn't choose the path of least resistance. And I don't know if I've ever been happier. I love my classes. I love my friends. I love this city and this whole area. In high school it starts to feel like you'll never ever graduate. But now that I'm in college, time is flying by and soon I'll be home for Christmas. (1 and 1/2 weeks of class, reading period, and a week of finals to be exact.) I'm excited to see my family, my nichole, my shannon, my BFF Harlee! But I'll be excited to come back too.

The world is a small place! My friend Br

ittany from Oregon, who I went to camp with oh so many years ago, and who is still a good friend of mine (and who just so happens to know my roommate!) is probably on the same train back to Great Falls as I am! Quel coincidence!

Alright. Here is a photo from years past to keep the nostalgia going!

Pictures of me!

Here are a few pictures. I'm just hanging out at the FLAC house with Enrique and Ricardo; eating stuffing, watching movies, and playing Super Smash Brothers. I did all of my laundry and picked up my shoes and a few other things today... although my room is not spotless. But here are a few pictures from last weekend. They are all girls from my floor and myself!

Black Friday...

It is now the third day of my break, and I have yet to accomplish anything other than my Geomythology presentation. Yesterday was Turkey 

Day, and I went to celebrate with my roomie. We drove down to the peninsula to her Grandma's house in Mason county, kind of near Port Angeles. Her grandma lives out in the country (sort of). It was a beautiful drive and a beautiful area. I got to meet Maddie's mom, dad, brother, puppy, 6 cousins, 3 aunts, 2 uncles, and grandma. The food was delicious, and I was happy to not be alone on Thanksgiving. I even got to drive back to Tacoma. I volunteered to do it, because Maddie had another 3-4 hour drive ahead of her back to Eugene. I drove on the FREEWAY! In TRAFFIC! It was nice to get behind the wheel. It was yet another example of when knowing how to drive a stick comes in handy.

I watched Something Wicked This Way Comes last night. It was quite interesting and good with a fabulously cheezy ending! I also watched A Little Princess... which made me cry at several points. I really like that movie.

Today's agenda basically includes cleaning my room and doing my laundry. Lord knows I need to!!! I'll just pop in a

 movie and listen/watch while I pick up. I'm going to have some baked eggs for breakfast. With a bit of toast I think. I considered going black friday shopping and I might. We'll see. I figured that if I go later today or if I go tomorrow, a lot of the stuff I want will be gone (aka: tv on dvd for 13 dollars instead 40 at Target). And the lack of merchandise will curb my desire to spend!

Oh! Back to Geomythology presentation! Dad! I used some of the pictures from your blog for it! I needed Montana pictures because it is about Native American myths of Montana. Mom! I also used a picture of yours on my conclusion slide.

Well... I'm going to go take some Motrin because my throat really really hurts. I love you all and I'll talk to you later!

Skipper

I skipped 6am weightlifing. I just feel so shitty. My throat hurts and my nose is runny and I can't breathe and I can't stop coughing. Basically, it is just a bad day to be me. I didn't get up because I felt so gross, and I knew I wouldn't actually want to lift. And now I'm up, with 12 hours of sleep under my belt and I feel even worse than before.

And to top it all off I'm going through serious withdrawal from my computer. :(
And UPS says all of the tracking information isn't available: STILL!
But I did get crafty yesterday (and I mean scissors, papercutter, xyron, and double stick tape: THE WORKS!) which was really quite nice... because I haven't been crafty in quite a while. I decorated Nana and Grandpa's letter envelope. Envelope art is my new favorite. I'm going to go to the bookstore and look for some other craftiness today... although I'll probably just rip off ideas because I can't justify paying that much to myself. HAHA!

Alright. I'm going to go get dressed and actually get some breakfast for once. I sincerely hope today is pancake day. <3

UPDATE: They did have pancakes. I had 2. They were delicious. :D And I got the envelope from mum. Thanks for the mail! And Kirsten, thanks for the Magazine!

Update...

I forgot one thing on my Christmas list!

• Green plastic covering for my computer! (see it here!)

I also like the pink and the orange and even (gasp) the light blue. :DSo here I am, unable to sit in the lounge and do homework, and fighting with my computer to get connected to the internet. Because of this, I am in the computer lab of our building. The network blocks me if I leave the computer connected to the internet for too long. It did the same thing with my laptop so I just took the easy way out and came up here.

I'm listening to Tarzan of the Apes. I'm headed to erg at 3:30. I finished my French homework already. I'm trying to determine if I have communications homework.

I saw The Dark Knight last night. It was very very good. I enjoyed it thoroughly; so thoroughly in fact, I sat on the brink of peeing myself for about the last hour!

I'm going to go take a quick nap and get something delicious to drink such as a glass of ice water or perhaps some tea...

I love you all <3

ice cream time!

Here are a couple of pictures from the Coldstone excursion I went on with my floor on Thursday. I got a bowl of really really delicious Tart and Tangy Yogurt flavored ice cream. It tasted just like fromage blanc. It was a very difficult choice between that and Dark Chocolate Peppermint. 

I was supposed to go work parking at the UW today, but there were 1 too few spots in cars, I've already worked a game, and to top it all off, I'm sick. So here I am, sitting in the lounge, watching movies. I've already gotten through Phantom of the Opera and now I'm onto the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. 

I have to run to the UPS store. I'll probably take my bicycle. I ordered my new screen repair, so I have to ship it in.

Here is a little quote from Hitchhiker's Guide "Arthur no more knew his destiny than a tealeaf knows the history of the east India company."

Love you all. later.

christmas...

Kirsten has asked me multiple times what I might like for Christmas, so I thought I'd put a few things here on my blog.

• Movies. Movies of all kinds. This is the gift that just keeps on giving. Mom generally has pretty good taste in what kinds of movies I like.
• TV Shows on DVD. (Any season of House, Xfiles, or any other show I like. Or season 2 and on of the Dead Zone.)
• Books. Same as above. Mom has great taste.
• DDR. For PS2. I like all of them. There are a lot to choose from (Max, Extreme, Extreme 2, Supernova, Supernova 2, X) and I'm not picky, but if I got this, I would really really really like 2 mats. It is just way more fun with a friend. :D

Alright. Well now that I feel very weird and greedy, I have to make the observation that showering in the morning is just infinitely colder than showering any other time of day. After researching this in various locations, showering at night is warm and comfy; showering in the morning is cold and unhappy. I schedule in 21 minutes, I'm hoping to take comm 102, comm 200, psyc 273a, and french 250. Who knows.

Alright. I'm off. <3

the promised photo...

It has been so long...

It has been a good 5 or 6 days since I last posted. I don't have much to say really......It is too early for me to be up once again, but here I am, just returned from weightlifting. Coach wasn't there, but I was. Unlike Friday when I couldn't drag my sorry ass out of bed.

I was going to add a picture of my new haircut, buttttt, Blogger uploader wasn't working! I'll add it and some other pictures later. Mom was appalled that I cut it myself, but I personally am enjoying it. I simply made it less mullet-y at the back, layered a bit, and gave myself some shorter, layered fringe. It looks cute straight or curly, with or without glasses, and guess what! It will grow back.

I skyped with Mariska last night. That was super fun! I miss her a lot, but I'm glad to see that she shares the same sentiments about Great Falls as I do. She too misses a few select people, but can't imagine being there anymore after realizing and experiencing life out here.

I'm headed back to bed for 2 or 3 hours. I need more sleep. I stayed up slightly later than anticipated with Mariska. Haha. I love you all, and I'll post pictures later! <3

To Margaret

I do believe I'm this cyclopod. And you are this fish. And this will happen someday. Hahahaha.

Too Early.

I've just stumbled back to my room after standing in the freezing cold for about 10 minutes because I locked myself out of my building. Before that I sleepwalked my way through 6AM practice. But, the good news is, I don't have to do another workout today.

The rain and the cold and the colour of the light reminded me strangely of airport dropoffs in early morning Great Falls. I guess GF and Tacoma have more in common than just me.

I'm calling Apple today, after I wake up again. Hopefully they'll fix my screen. If not, I'll be buying a new one and installing it myself because Apple's charges are ridiculous. My PC is up and running, connected to the internet and everything.

I hope everyone has a good Day. <3

Crazy days.

My life is so busy right now. I'm digging it, but still.

Halloween was good.

Thanksgiving is soon.

I miss my family

but I love Tacoma.

And Dad, please send me that email! Thank you.

Creeeewww!

Here are a few more crew photos. These were taken last Friday. On Fridays we dress up in our brightest craziest clothes. Good times, good times! This morning I'm doing my French homework, and after class today I'm probably going to go Erg a 6K so I have something to measure my progress off of. We'll see though. It might wait until later this week. Love you all! <3

the team.

This is my team. I'm towards the left. My coach is the one in the hat on the right.

post-regatta

So here I am. Laying in my bed. Nearly dead. But my regatta went very very well. I had a ton of fun and I really gave it my all. I'm probably going to go to sleep soon, my friends are going to an "animal party," which is basically an early halloween party where you dress up as your favorite animal. I would have gone, but I am exhausted. Here are a few pictures: my AMAZING new lights, the bruises on my foot which are even worse now, and some envelope art! I love you all! <3

Clean Room.

Here are a few before and after shots of my room last Saturday. The befores are on the top, the afters on the bottom!

Thanks for the lovely package Mom and Kirsten! The cookies are delicious, and I already have the lights up! THey look amazing. I'll post pictures later!

Fleet Foxes

My trip to Seattle was absolutely fabulous! We got there yesterday a little after noon, hiked up the hill to Seattle U, and met up with Mariska and Emily! It was really really really ridiculously amazing to see them. We caught up, told each other about our respective adventure over some Vietnamese noodle soup at Pho, and then wandered through the neighborhood on the way back to SU to see their rooms. At SU, of course, we ran into my arch nemesis William, and our mutual hate was apparent. It seems like Ishka and Em are having a great time, and hopefully, they'll get to come visit me next month.

After that, we headed to Andy's house (a beautiful house, a great family, they were so kind to us!) to put our stuff away and then off to the Fleet Foxes concert. We had these insane nosebleed seats so we looked down on the band, but I didn't mind, they were dirt cheap and the sound was great! Amazingly enough, their intricate 5 part harmonies carried through BETTER on stage than on the album. They are magnificent musicians! I bought a shirt, and then we headed to an all night diner, where I had my first pancakes in THREE MONTHS! Good God how I miss pancakes!!!!!!

Today, after leaving Andy's house, we spent the early afternoon downtown. Hannah got her eyebrows waxed, we did a bit of shopping. I got a great day-glo green hoody, because I was forced to throw away my blue hoodie because the zipper broke. We got back to the school a little after 4. It was a spectacular weekend!

I got a few good shots, a few group shots, and one really cute shot of Mariska by accident! I will post the before and afters of the room cleaning later!<3