Quote of Thanksgiving.

Mom: "Oh no, we forgot to say a blessing over Thanksgiving dinner."

Grandpa: "Oh my God."

Uncle: "Well, dad just did."

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.

I'm reading it again.

And no one can stop me.

I'm not obsessed. Really.

Today I made the trek down to Orange County to visit with my grandparents for Thanksgiving.

I am very excited for this.

Tomorrow we are going to Balboa Island.

And all my poor holiday heart can think of is the ambrosia I will be eating on Thursday. . and Thursday night before bed. . and friday for breakfast, and then a snack, and then another snack, and a side dish, and dessert.

If you don't know ambrosia as more than a band, you should look it up.

Delicious.

Anyway, I got into my car this morning, and Sufjan Stevens Christmas was playing on my ipod already. I've gotten a little burned out on this album because it's been the only Christmas music I've allowed myself to listen to pre-Thanksgiving.

I started this pre-Thanksgiving binge about a month ago.

I realized that I hadn't listened to The Beatles for a good week or two, so I decided to put them on shuffle.

Then I decided to keep them on shuffle.

The whole trip.

Seven and a half hours.

It's was wonderful.

The only song that repeated was Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band. I attribute that to the fact that not only is it on SPLHCB, but it's also on Yellow Submarine. My poor shuffle didn't even know what it was doing to me.

This is what will get me in.

This is what I wrote in response to the first prompt for my personal statement. Basically the question was how did you decide on your major.

Everyone tell me that it is super good. It will make me feel less nervous.

"I did not choose Media Studies as my major. It chose me. I fought it hard for two years. As a high school student, I dreamt of being an artist, and showing the world beauty through my creative expression. I wanted nothing more than to live in a cardboard box held together with twine and decorated with glitter and acrylic paint.

My journey to accepting my fate started my first semester at Diablo Valley College. I enrolled in English 122—the basic English class every student has to take if they ever hope to transfer. There I found my voice and my love of writing. I discovered ways to convey my message not through paint and graphite, but words--beautiful words full of history and elegance. Here my fight began. My teacher would often use my papers as examples for other students, and talk to me after class about how I should pursue writing. I ignored this and reminded myself that I was an artist.

My next challenge came the following semester in my Philosophy class. Here I learned how to reason and persuade through words. I wrote over twenty papers for the class. Again, my teacher had nothing but praise. I was confused. My whole life I wanted to create, and while my art teachers treated me as nothing more than mediocre, my Philosophy and History teachers told me that I was something special, and that I needed to pursue writing and the study of human nature.

I met the teacher that finally changed my mind in the spring of 2009--just eleven months ago. John Hanecak walked into my speech class the first morning and asked those who were afraid of public speaking to raise their hand. I looked around, my hands folded in my lap, and realized that I was the only one without a hand raised high. He looked in my direction, smiled, and nodded. Over the next four and a half months, I thrived. Giving speeches came like breathing.

On my final day of class, I finished my last speech and walked up to my teacher to receive my grade. He was grinning from ear to ear and told me what an honor it was to have me in his class. He said I was one of the best speech students he had ever had. As I walked away with my grade in hand, I read the note he had written on my paper, "Consider speaking in any field you are in. You will make such an important impact, as you have done here".

Feeling that it was too late to change my major, I said goodbye to my friends and family, packed my belongings and moved to Southern California to attend Cal State Fullerton and pursue art. I lasted two weeks. I knew it was wrong. I moved back home, got my old job back, and began plans to study not art, but writing, and speaking, my passions.

As all humans, I was born with multiple talents, but now I know the one that shines brightest is my ability to communicate with others—for after all, what is art but conveying a message, and I am an artist."

Sorry.

I promise I haven't stopped blogging.

I just haven't been with my computer very much this weekend.

Okay, that was a lie.

College kid.

I applied.

*ring ring*

I will soon need to purchase a Christmas ringtone.

I need ideas.

Please help.

God Jul.

The Swedish Christmas Fair is nearly upon us.

December 5th.

It's one of my favorite days of the year.

I love a good hair day.

This is the best thing I have ever seen.

http://www.thinkofthe.com/products/lunch_bag.php

Pick up yours today.

When a person is in fashion, all they do is right.

"Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society."

-Mark Twain

I'm going to look fabulous tomorrow.

I've already decided.

In the darkness of my night, in the brightness of my day.

I have a really great boyfriend.

Today I found out that tuition for school is going to go up 32% by next fall.

That's 32% I won't have.

I cried a little.

But he told me that it would be okay.

And I believe him.

Please oh please oh please oh please. . .

Does anyone else secretly hope that when they step out of the elevator they will have been transported to another world?

I hope that.

Every time.

They took some honey, from a tree, dressed it up and they called it me.

Does anyone else have those days when they eat one too many spoonfuls of creamed honey?

That is my day.

Right now.

Quote of the day

"I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them a great deal."

-Jane Austen

I might kiss you on the back of the neck, because it's Christmas time.

I have to respect this.

Christmas lights before Thanksgiving.

It's a bold move, but I like it.

He's a dedicated follower of fashion.

After work today I walked over to Peet's Coffee to get my daily fill of Winter Solstice, and wait for my boyfriend to get off of work.

I always sit at the bar so I can look out the window and people watch.

I saw this man, and without so much as a blink, grabbed my camera.

I think he thinks he was having a good day.

But I think he more just looks like a cross between these two people.

Remember, tip your waitresses.

I have lost all faith in the youth of America.

Today at work I had responsible, nice, pleasant young girls sit at one of my tables. They were about 14 or 15. . .give or take.

They each ordered a lemonade, which surprised me since it costs 3.25, but I rang it up. Then they each ordered an entree, not off the lunch menu, so it was pricey (as pricey as my glorified fast food restaurant can get), and to finish it off they split a chocolate soufflé.

Their bill was sixty dollars.

Now, I expected the tip they were going to leave me to not be so great. It was obviously what was going to happen.

I picked up their bill, and they asked for change.

Their change was four dollars.

I still had faith and thought, maybe they just want to figure out the tip after.

Nope.

No tip.

Zero.

They are old enough to know that is really rude.

And so, because of this, I am convinced that they will all grow up to be waitresses and realize the error of their ways. OR I'll run into them in a dark ally, and I will make sure they realize the error of their ways.

The end.

A family of trees wanted to be haunted

This is how I spent my weekend.

Taking pictures is makin' memories.

I've had an itch to do a photo story of my average day.

Maybe this will happen today.

Maybe not.

But I have an itch.

Guilt.

. . .I might have had a few bites of ice cream also. . .

Midnight Snack.

Terrible idea: barely eating anything all day so that when you get home at midnight, you can do nothing but stuff your face.

I stuffed mine with peas.

And a pear.

This will help my guilt in the morning.

Verse of the day.

I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.

-Isaiah 43:25

The Beatles.

Oh my goodness.

Unused Beatles album art up for auction.

I need money.

Fast.

Please. . . try and think outside the trending news box

I'm sure you've all heard Carrie Prejean's interview on Larry King.

I can't talk about it.

I'm actually trying not to think about it right now.

But, I really can't let go of the fact that when asked who her hero was, she responded with Sarah Palin.

I mean, I have nothing again Sarah Pailn whatsoever. She seems like a very nice person, and contrary to popular belief, she is not actually stupid. That notion is ridiculous. She is probably smarter than the whole city of Antioch combined.

Although, it is ridiculous that she is Carrie Prejean's hero.

Really Carrie? No one else? You couldn't think of anyone else? At all? No one?

Are you sure?

Here is a list of acceptable people you can call your "hero"

Martin Luther King Jr.

(or for reformed Christians, just plain ol' Martin Luther)

Mother Theresa

Winston Churchill

Anne Frank

Isaac Newton

Helen Keller

People who have served in war

Jesus

The Wright brothers

Teachers

Walt Disney

Larry King

. . . I could go on.

Saying that Sarah Palin is your hero, is like saying that your favorite car is a 2010 Prius.

There hasn't been enough time to test it out yet.

So Carrie, the next time you decide that you are really important, and that you should write a book. . . maybe you should go practice your bulimia.

(I'm sorry. Is that offensive? Am I allowed to say that?)

Verse of the day.

"I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind."

-Isaiah 42:6-7a

Veterans Day 11-11-09

Thank You

Stay in bed, float upstream.

For the past two Wednesdays I have been attending a spinning class at my gym.

It is terrible, and it makes you want to die, but then after, you feel so great about yourself and you get it in your head to go again next week.

I imagine it's a little bit like how mothers choose to have more children, and go through the labor process again.

My body said no today. It overslept. I took this as a sign that I should just stick to my regular elliptical exercising.

I don't know where I'll get my weekly dose of R&B songs now, but I suppose I'll manage.

We have a winner.

I was actually quite mistaken.

The winner of the movie quote game in the blog post below is my good friend Jani.

She has decided to forgo her Christmas cookies, and has asked to participate in Swedish drinking songs instead.

I will gladly bestow her prize upon her in closer to Baby Jesus birth, when drinking songs are more appropriate.

Note: I have no idea who the man in that photo is, but I do know that he is Swedish, drinking, and perhaps even singing about drunk Santa.

Verse of the day.

For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, "Fear not, I am the one who helps you." -Isaiah 41:13

Prior to this summer, my very best friend, Maria and I had been reading the same passage in the Bible every night. This kinda ended for me when school ended, because all structure in my life also ended. With winter approaching and school beginning again in a few months (and I should just be reading my Bible in general anyway) we are starting back reading together.

I could not be more excited.

If anyone would like to join us, tonight was Isaiah 41. . . if you couldn't tell.

Say, lend me a coat.

My family turned on our heater for the first time this season.

Madeline came bounding down the stairs and declared that it smelled like Christmas.

I whole heartedly agree.

It's that time of year. . . when the world celebrates Christmas too early.

"Oh I completely understand! It's not anything you did. It's like a magic that happens when the stars and your closet are aligned. I feel like the days when your outfit is outstanding are the days that it doesn't look like you are trying to be vain"

-Maria Hilton

I have always reserved this red shirt for after thanksgiving. It's a very Christmas worthy top, and I am a bit of a nazi when it comes to how holidays should be celebrated--I am the expert after all.

But I have fallen a great fall.

Not only did I wear my red shirt far too much in advance, but I have also listened to Christmas music. . . all day.

*Sigh*

"I must stop Christmas from coming. . . but how?"

(plate of Christmas cookies to the first person who can tell me what movie the above quote is from)

I wish I had exciting things to say on here.

But I really don't.

Nothing of great importance has gone on.

Tomorrow after work I might go make cupcakes.

That is of great importance I suppose.

So many decisions.

To apply to UC Berkeley or to not apply to UC Berkeley. . . that is the question.

Bob&Sally

So one thing that I haven't talked about yet is how thankful I am for my grandparents putting up with me and my madness the past week and a half.

They were so kind to, first, invite me to stay with them, and secondly, get ready for me to come, and thirdly, not get mad at me when I freaked out this week.

They were prepared for me to live with them for the next two years, and I would be lying if I didn't say that I'm going to miss all of the times I would have had with them while I was studying at Fullerton.

My grandparents have had a definite impact on me as a person.

If it wasn't for my grandpa, I would have no idea how to shuffle cards, I would never have read The Bobbsey Twins by the Seashore, and I would not have so many great memories of him reading Tom and Jerry and Tweety Bird Golden Books to me when I was a little girl (voices and all).

If it wasn't for my grandma, I probably wouldn't have a knack for sewing, I wouldn't be half as funny (since all the funny genes in my family obviously come from her), I wouldn't know who Little Audrey was, and watching that made me love old music like The Andrews Sisters etc.

I would never have flown kites at the beach.

I would never know to say "phooey" after getting ocean water in my mouth.

I wouldn't find myself calling stores or sexual preferences by different names, such as "WallaceMart" or "Lebanese".

I wouldn't have half the appreciation for small dogs that I do,

and I would never ever have had the pleasure of eating the best ambrosia that was ever made.

I love my grandparents.

Burnin' the candle at both ends.

Two jobs.

Could I handle it?

Maybe I should take up knitting. . .

I have a little too much down time at the moment.

I haven't showered.

It's 2 o'clock.

On the other hand, this water and carrot afternoon snack is delightful to my stomach.

I don't actually want to have your babies, even though they would be beautiful.

I hit the jackpot.

The Jason Castro jackpot.

The day my family came down to drop me off at school, he put on a free concert at The Grove in Beverly Hills (wait, that's Beverly Hills, right?)

Then the day I dropped out of school (approximately 7 days later) he had another concert in Beverly Hills.

So I see my time here in southern California merely as a groupie experience.

A little souvenir for my time

I got this for fun today.

I'm going to see how long I can get my children to believe that I attended CSFU

Or that I grew up in the 70s.

Either would suffice.

Go to school and be a college kid

I failed.

But only for a little bit.

I'm over my twenties.

I can't sleep.

I just started attending Cal State Fullerton, and I've already discovered that I can't be a crafts major. It wasn't at all what I expected.

Let's just say there are a lot of butch girls, baggy pants, and steal toed shoes involved.

But I love writing and public speaking.

God has given me a weird desire to get up in front of people and talk.

I wish I had good things to say.

I think I'm going to go back home.

Work this semester.

Take classes at DVC in the spring to prepare me for my new major, communications.

Then transfer to SFSU in the Fall of '10.

It would only put me a semester behind.

And I would save money in the long run because I would only have to pay for 3 semesters.

Also, I would have a degree that could get me a job after I graduate.

Thoughts?

I should probably also add that I miss northern California more than anything. I'm not even including people.

I just miss the whole thing.

The mountains (specifically Mt. Diablo, just as you are driving toward Walnut Creek from Lafayette. Every time I see that I ask God how he could make something so beautiful), I miss my favorite part of the world (the thousands of trees at that one point before the Caldecott tunnel, and you feel like you are just being whisked away in a sea of green), I miss the smogless skies, I miss the winter ( I know it hasn't happened yet, but I know I'll miss it if I stay) I miss the semi-trafficless freeways (I used to think there was a lot of traffic, silly me), I miss brunettes, and I miss real boobs (I know that sounds weird, but come stay here awhile and you'll know what I mean).

I suppose I miss the people too.

I miss Liv, Mel and Will.

I miss our dance parties and forcing them to watch classic cartoons on Boomerang

I miss Liv getting so big

Mel saying the most interesting and unsettling things

And Will being able to name every single engine and caboose from Thomas the Tank Engine.

I miss Britt and Nate and them letting me stay at their house when I felt I was using to much gas to get home.

I miss complaining about my mom and dad with Britt.

I miss Nate's hugs (because he gives really good hugs).

I also miss their fridge which always had string cheese.

I miss my little sister, and the fact that I can't make sure she doesn't have an awkward stage.

Those braces are going to go back on at some point.

She will need help.

I miss my mom, and no matter how late I would be out the night before, she would always be there in the morning with her tea and a book, and we would talk about random things.

I never really even knew that she was upset that I was out so late.

Until she told me. . today.

I miss how caring my dad is, and how he would do anything at the drop of a hat if you just asked him (and I'm sorry I took advantage of your kindness so often)

I miss getting texted random "?" from him, and having no idea what it meant.

I miss him getting so excited when I'd be home and he'd actually get to see me for a minute or two.

I miss how he can tell the history of every band from 1960-1980.

I wish I remembered more of what he said so I could sound smart at parties.

I miss friends.

I miss Pac Bay iced tea.

I miss Mitchell Mathers.

(say that 10 times fast)

I miss the free tea and goldfish at Scott's.

Sometimes that was my dinner.

I guess I just miss it.

I miss it.

I miss my home.

Oh dear.

I think I'm quitting.

It's been a rough day.

I was just reading my Bible, and I had something written in the margin next to Ephesians.

"The same grace that grows me is the same grace that raised Christ from the dead."

That really encouraged me. I love finding things in the margins.

Also, Ephesians 2:12-14

"Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is out peace who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility."

Food for thought.