Wednesday, December 31, 2008

-9

Books I've been reading

The rather lamely titled Gemma Doyle Trilogy, by Libba Bray, which consists of

  1. A Great and Terrible Beauty
  2. Rebel Angels
  3. The Sweet Far Thing

Despite their athor's inability to come up with suitably engaging titles, these books, with their combination of period class, strong herione(s), and adequate fantasy, have managed to assauge the monotony of my work. If you've finished the so over it Twilight series without becoming catatonic, I recommend picking at least the first book up and seeing how you do. If you find you can't live without vampires and wanton anti-feminism, so sorry to have wasted your time. If you're looking for self-help or life-altering prose, well, I'll direct you towards Ayn Rand and then you'll be sorry you asked.

Music I listen to: A non-comprehensive look at what's on my Shuffle when I'm exercising

  1. What We Came Here For, Damone (great for that last mile, which is why I listed it first?)
  2. Green Light, John Legent feat. Andre 3000 (great for dancing...while running. Uhm, yes.)
  3. I'm Free (Heaven Helps the Man), Kenny Loggins
  4. The Bitch Is Back, Elton John
  5. Flathead, The Fratellis
  6. Anyway You Want It, Journey
  7. Amigo Vulnerable, Enrique Iglesias (great for practicing your espaƱol!)
  8. She Loves You, the Beatles
  9. Philadelphia Freedom, Elton John (he's just so darn upbeat!)
  10. In The Clouds, Under The Influence of Giants
  11. Smokin', Boston
  12. Don't Fight It, Kenny Loggins feat. Steve Perry
  13. We Didn't Start The Fire, Billy Joel (great for practicing your memorization skills!)
  14. I Don't Feel Like Dancin', Scissor Sisters (yes I do)
  15. Legs Remix, ZZ Top
  16. Call Me, Blondie

In my personal opinon, there should be more 16-item lists.

Songs I've been listening to on repeat

  1. Wire to Wire, Razorlight (you're just going to have to youtube it, they've disabled embedding for this particular gem)

Websites I waste my time on (ooh, bullets!)

Obviously, I'm in need of some new time-sucks. Well, for the next few days.

-9

I'm back at school for the remainder of the week, and not necessarily sad about it. Of course, being back does require me to sit behind a desk for 8 hours a day, but I'm not complaining - honestly. I get a little bored, I get a little lonely (my last two shifts the only person I've seen is the mail man) but I also get paid...and these people are going to pay me to sit and constantly refresh my facebook? Uhm, okay.

My off time, though, is wonderful. I've been to the mall twice, out eating with friends twice, to Wal-Mart 3 times, to a casino, and to a vintage store. I've made new friends, and run into lovely current ones back from their weathered trips. I've spent late nights playing ping pong and talking until my thoughts run dry, and gone miles on my residence's new treadmill. I've finished a novel and begun a new one, and have drank countless glasses of holiday flavoured tea.

Oh Springfield, you spoil me.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

-12


I spent my weekend galavanting around in shorts and tank tops.
How weird.

Friday, December 26, 2008

-14

In the spirit of the season, a couple more of my favorites:

Thankful, by Josh Groban



and All I Want For Christmas is You, by Mariah Carey (my favorite by her, which I suppose tells how much I care for her music...)





I hope your holidays found you in good spirits, and that you got everything you wanted. I got time with my family, a backpack, a polaroid camera, and a lot of long underwear. =)

In exactly two weeks time I'll be leaving on a jet plane.

This, to me, is cause for celebration!
Nevertheless, I'm growing nervous.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

-16

Make sure you tell your family that you love them--whoever they may be, however you've come across them. In celebration of the season, I'm adding in my favorite Christmas song for your enjoyment. The Little Drummer Boy always has a way of making me tear up...I'm such a sap, ha. I suppose it's the idea of having nothing but yourself to give, and giving it anyway. Regardless, make yourself some hot cocoa, dim the lights, cuddle up with someone special, and celebrate the gift of life you share together. Happy holidays, whatever your preference.




Monday, December 22, 2008

-18









I love coming home.

It was a pleasant enough drive, despite the frosty weather. Three and a half hours can get a little stale after a while, but with the right music and the right mindset it goes by surprisingly fast. The mountains surrounding my little town were covered in frost, and the hazy sky seemed to melt into the trees. I had to force myself from stopping in some stranger's drive way to take pictures, but my restraint only lasted so long; I stopped further down the road and walked back along the highway.

My mother wasn't waiting for me to arrive, which is good -- she would have been worried at my hour-long delay. I think she would have been glad to know that plenty others were worrying on her behalf, though. No less than five cars slowed to make sure I hadn't broken down, and I just smiled and waved my camera at them. No, thanks. Yes, thanks, I'm fine. It's all so beautiful, don't you agree?

Home....where else can you go and be regarded as "that so-and-so girl, her mom married what's-his-name, he's related to Martha? Martha, she was in your class, and had that brother who married the ugly one?" In a small town everybody knows everybody, and that's the truth. It's something you don't realize you've missed until you're back and it makes you smile and you nod your head. Home is a place where you can cross your town in a mile, and leave your car unlocked, and wave at people driving by because they wave back.

I love coming home; it's like awakening from a coma. It's the same place you left when you lost consciousness, with the same people and the same trees, but everything's a little different -- the puppies are quickly becoming dogs, the leaves have lost their green. Your town is growing up without you, and suddenly you're less apt to take your days there for granted.








Tuesday, December 16, 2008

-24




(win me)





Thursday, December 11, 2008

-29

I really have no idea what I want to do with my life.

Isn’t that awesome?!

…no, not really.

“Art” is the suggestion I get from most people. If they wouldn’t mind recommending an ACTUAL JOB maybe I would take them a little more seriously. But, mostly, it’s just, “I don’t know, but you should be an artist!” Gag.
My most recent decision regarding my future was to major in both art AND psychology, so I could become an art therapist, perhaps? However, on further exploration into the field I’ve decided that I don’t really give a fuck about psychology. Really. But I’m probably going to declare it anyway so I’m not encumbered when I get back to the states and have to register for classes. What a mess.

In an interesting turn of events, my drawing teacher told me Wednesday that I should be studying art in New York or Chicago (which I’ve considered, but MSU is freeee) and that if I decide to be an art major he would get in contact with his friends and see if there’s anything they can do for me. Suddenly, art school has become a lot more intriguing. I’ll probably start researching art schools again after next semester, so thank you MSU ahead of time for making study abroad so affordable for me. I’ll never forget you, until I’m having a much better time in an art institute.

Or maybe I’ll switch my major to a science and spend another year in school. I’ve always liked science, and I’ve always liked stickin’ it to the man. Fuck you, art gods, I’m going to squander my talent by living with chimps.

Hey, it could happen.


In the mean time I'll just gloat about the fact that next semester I'll be living in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, which is, I've been informed, the most affluent part of London. I see they're having a cashmere sale on the 19th. Pity I won't be in town quite yet.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

-30

Dear Santa,

I hope things are going well for you this year. I know I’ve been having a rough time, but don’t hold it against me. For instance, some kids in my class have been telling me you’re not real! I think they’re just jealous of the special relationship we have. They said that my parents are responsible for the gifts I get, but we both know that’s baloney—you’re the ultimate gift giver! They ask me how it’s possible that one man can know whether every kid on earth has been good or bad, and find it in his good conscience to reward one kid over another, and I tell them all they have to do is believe. I mean, I have faith in you and keep getting presents, so I must be right! Besides, there are tons of books and movies about your adventures—everyone knows the story of Rudolph!—and these aren’t stories that can just be made up. I have to admit, though, I never quite know how to answer when my friends ask me how you get your reindeer to fly…my answer is always something lame, like “Santa works in mysterious ways.” I know magic only works in the movies, but for you, I’ll make an exception. Anyway, I don’t let it get to me; the numbers are reassuring. I mean, 91 percent of whites believed in Santa as a child and 72 percent of minorities did…maybe they just got lost along the way. That many people can’t be WRONG, can they?

Can they?

Love, Kins
(PS, I want a gecko for Christmas, but I don’t want it to die when I forget to feed it. And I want world peace. And one of those pens that can write upside down and underwater, like the astronauts use. I lost my last one.)



Monday, December 8, 2008

-32

I'm fantasy shopping; it's my favorite way to waste time. But this is fantasy shopping for a good reason! So this is part 1 of probably 12,455 of items I need (need...haha) for London:



Lots and lots of layering neutrals. Camis, cardigans, sweet skirts, and pants please.

A back pack for constant on-the-go travel! I'm loving the leather look--so chic.




HOLGAROID!! I'm sorry...but I really need an instant-film type camera. I've been on a real experimental photography kick lately, and I would love to be able to snap a photo and mail it right off. It doesn't get much more personal than that.




Oyster card. To affordably ride the tube. Essential.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

-33

kind
insecure
narcissistic
sarcastic
1337
easygoing
...yuletide?

(I'm also partial to "philanthropic" "concise" and "opportunistic" but they didn't really fit my theme...)