Wholly.

I now find myself down in The Whole, which is my school's music club in the basement of Coffman Union. It is surprisingly busy, and it was a bit tricky to find a table. But I was able to snag a little corner spot, where I can watch what's going on.

I'm somewhere in here.

The room is filled with the chattering of friends reuniting after a nice break, and more importantly and interestingly, there is a piano down here, and it is currently being played by a hipster who is well versed in jazz.


Which makes me a happy camper.


I just came rom my drawing 3 class, which I think will be interesting and challenging. I so want to develop a style that I love to do, yet pushes me to try and attain all the lovely art I see swimming up in my head. I guess if I had to choose one style of art that I wish I was good at, it would be concept art. I know I've told you that before, and it is one of my pipe dreams. Or maybe it doesn't have to be a pipe dream. I'm just making it into one.


I guess my fear is not knowing where to start, or what will help me reach my goal. I suppose drawing from life all the damn time would get me there eventually, but for some reason I'm always put off by that idea. I would really like to challenge myself, though. I'm just not a very self-motivated person, I guess. 


But, as I had hoped, I think my school load is going to help me out in this department this semester. My drawing class is going to push me, just because it's a drawing class and that's what they do. But I like that. My cultural studies and comparative lit. class, "The Rhetoric of Everyday Life," is asking me to do something every day for 100 days straight, and I can choose what that might be. I decided that I am going to do something I am comfortable enough with, and that is noticing and wondering about things. I bought myself a little notebook, and every day I am going to pick out one thing I notice, usually something very trivial and taken for granted, and describe it in such a way to make it seem more important. For example:


I turned around in my chair in the café today to see a piece of chalk, just laying at the base of a pillar, abandoned. What was it doing there? Who had last touched it? Is their DNA still clinging to it? Could I have it taken into a lab and somehow figure out who that person was? But then I wonder why I would ever wish to really know something like that.




That sort of business. Just letting my mind wander around topics that I bring into it. Or just being like, "I was walking through the Washington Ave. Bridge today, and happened to look down at all the rusty bits of bridge metal crumbling along the sides of the walkway. And I wondered to myself where and when the first piece of rust fell from that bridge. What was happening that day? Was I born yet?


That sort of stuff. It really makes you look at your surroundings and take them in more. That's all. One does not really need to look into it much more than that. I am not going to find the meaning of life by gazing at a pile of rust.


And maybe I'll just observe a person for a moment, and notice the way they wipe their nose, or whatever.


Does this sound like an alright idea?


Anyways, so I have lots of little things to think about and stuff. 




It's interesting, isn't it? The idea of trying to better oneself. I am a firm believer that I need to work on that, but also with the right motives. It's like losing weight, not just because you want to look good, but just because it's better for your body, and you'll have more energy and be able to be more lively and fun around those you love. It's looking beyond the vanity of it all. Of being a better artist, a faster walker, a classier dresser, a slimmer figure, a clearer speaker. It's got to be more than just vanity.


I have been turning this business over and over in my head as of late. About bettering myself, but not just for myself. I understand that this is an especially hard concept for those who do not believe in God. I say that, because, based on what I believe, in a word, I want to better myself for God. 


And there is a statement that can be taken a lot of different ways. But what I mean by it, is that I want to care for what He has given me; for my mind, body and spirit, so that I can bring more glory to Him, which is what I'm here for, yes? If I am sitting around all day, doing trivial things that have zero meaning, well, I'm not going to be making much of an effect anywhere, now am I? I won't be out meeting new people, discovering new things, thinking new thoughts, and creating new work. This could be described in a much more eloquent and theological way, I know. But all I am currently wishing to convey is that my mind is in a jumble of how to go about all this business with dissecting my own motives and plans of action, etc.


So, there. There's a ramble for you. Perhaps if you are going through a similar business we can have a chat,for there is nothing better than people coming together, admitting they have problems, and bouncing ideas off each other.


And sometimes, you have to be okay with finding answers more on your own. That's just the way it is.




Well, I leave you here in The Whole and I debate about my whole self. Ha. Who's funny. -.-




Audios.




Songs of the Week:


Half Asleep by School of Seven Bells


Paris Blue (Death to the THrone Remix) by Lykke  Li


My Understandings by Of Mice and Men


London Town by The Nocturnes

Gemütlichkeit.

Greetings to all from the blustery town of Duluth! I'm am here to bring my sister back to school/hang out for a day, and it has turned out to be quite the pleasant experience, indeed. I am currently snuggled into the big couch I slept on last night, gazing out the window, through the front porch, and out over the distant Lake Superior. It's a gray day, but a bright gray day. Noopo is at the other end of said couch, reading Hector and the Search for Happiness, which is apparently quite whimsical.

Her lovely room mate Emily is perched on another couch across the room, also dinging away at her computer. I can hear the strains of a boisterous musical number ringing from the upstairs, where Carla's other sweet friend, Chelsea, whose house this is, is getting ready, along with Eric, a fine chap who is also taking refuge in this theatre house, as the campus apartments don't open for another few days, which is stupid. But hey, at least everyone is having fun.

I woke up today to people chatting in the dining room, fresh banana bread, courtesy of my sibling, and hot coffee, courtesy of Emily. We're all just lazing about, here in our very own Gemütlichkeit. Harnar taught me that word, and even though I can't pronounce it worth beans, I'm slowly learning what it means.


According to the always-correct Wikipedia (of course) a Gemütlichkeit is "a German abstract noun that has been adopted into English.^[1] Its closest equivalent is the word "coziness"; however, rather than merely describing a place that is compact, well-heated and nicely furnished (a cozy room, a cozy flat), Gemütlichkeit connotes the notion of belonging, social acceptance, cheerfulness, the absence of anything hectic and the opportunity to spend quality time." 


And that is absolutely what we've got going here. And it is wonderful. I think an afternoon trip to the antique store downtown, and a lunch at Perkins are also in order today.


And then the long drive home, by myself. Not so fun. But hey, I can listen to whatever I want the whole way down. Oh,yay.


Welp, whatever. School starts in a few days, I think I'm ready. I really don't have a lot to be stressed out about. I mean, I won't have to be ready for something like French again. HUZZAH.


Too exciting.


Well, I'm going to wrap it up here. Another one of their friends just showed up, so I'm guessing things will happen soon. 


Have yourselves I nice day, yo.






Songs of the Day:


Various Songs From Musicals I Don't Know by all sorts of people i also don't know.


Paris Blue (Death to the Throne Remix) by Lykke Li (again)

Bad, bad Leroy Brown.

Baddest man in the whole damn town.


This is what I heard resounding from my family room as I went downstairs to make tea a few minutes ago. 

No, not basically. Country really does suck.

Let me tell you about my day.


First of all, my day began by me shutting off my alarm to go back to sleep and resolve the vivid lucid dream I was having, which, surprisingly successful (as far as continuing the same dream goes). It was really grisly and awful in the end, though, and I woke up in a weird funk at 11:30 when Noopo walked in and told me to get ready for our photo session.


That's right, I mumbled to myself as I swung my legs over the side of the bed. We never took a family Christmas picture, so my mom's friend Diane was going to help us take it. She was over anyway, chatting with my mom downstairs like they do every week. I pulled apart my curtains, and to my pleasant surprise, it was lightly snowing, giving us the perfect backdrop for a marshland photo sesh. I pulled on my plaid and jeans, and tromped into the kitchen to make my customary egg on toast. 


I have been inclined to eat said meal for a good few months now, ever since I saw this wonderful rendition in Miyazaki's movie Laputa: Castle In the Sky

Am I right?! Yes. Delicious. All of the Ghibli film foods are mouth-watering.


Another thing that makes making eggs so attractive to me is in Steinbeck's book East of Eden, it describes how when one character is making eggs, that he watches "the edges flutter into a brown lace." That is exactly what eggs do. It is so delicious to watch. And eat.


We eventually arrange ourselves, and troop out into the marshland behind our house to make some photos in the new dusting of snow. A rather pleasant thing to wake up and do.


We later had lunch, and then Noopo and I went shopping for school supplies, groceries, and clothes. I bought my first pair of skinny jeans, I guess you could say. They're a rust red, which is why it was hard to pass them up. 


And then came the really fun part of our day. We went home, picked up dad, and Noopo, Dad, and I went out to give Dad his belated Christmas present. We took him to The Electric Fetus (which he's never been to before) to pick out a vinyl record, which he hasn't done in ages. I'll have you know that my dad was sort of the 70's equivalent of a hipster--not quite a hippy with all the peace, love and drugs, but the kinds of guy who loved Simon & Garfunkel, burned incense, had black light posters, and sold and played guitars. That kind of 70's guy.


So, even though he's not really the kind of guy to show a lot of outward emotion, you could tell he was excited, especially when he saw how big the place was, and how many records there were to sort through. We spent at least 45 minutes sifting through vinyls, CDs and DVDs, and finally settled on a James Taylor record, a Beach Boys record, a Bill Cosby record, and a Jim Croce CD. My dad repeatedly asked me if I'd heard of Jim Croce, and when I told him that no, I hadn't, he was astounded. Well, Dad, have you heard of Bon Iver? Iron & Wine? The Decemberists? These will be the Jim Croces when my kids are in college. Anyway, after much incredulous shaking of the head, he excitedly chose the CD, and declared himself finished. It was nice, because the used vinyls at the Fetus are between $2-5 usually, so we left with a good armful, and a box of incense. 


We drove over to Dinkytown to eat at Annie's Parlour, to the great excitement of all. After battling the credit card parking meter, we dashed through the blistering cold wind, and were eventually seated in the middle of the cozy Parlour, ordering burgers and malts. I had my favorite--the grilled cheese sandwich with three different kinds of cheese and three pieces of bread. Carla had a veggie burger, Dad a California burger, and we split a basket of their delicious fries. Dad and I also indulged in a hot fudge Oreo malt, which was to die for. 


We downed our meal happily, then tromped back into the cold, and went over to my apartment to say hello, then made our way home. 


On our way back, I asked Dad which record he wanted to put on first. He said he was excited for all of them, but particularly anxious to put on that Jim Croce CD...even though it wasn't a vinyl. I told him he could do whatever he wanted to do. So once we pulled in and went inside, he went straight downstairs and stuck that CD in. My mom came down, smiling, and mentioned that he should boogy around, or something. Which, to my great surprise, he did. And she joined him. My parents bounced around the family room, just like their old square dancing days in Kansas, until mom stepped on the dog and he got offended.They resigned to sitting down and tapping their feet and reminiscing about the song that was playing, Operator.  I felt slightly left out, since I didn't recognize anything yet, and felt that they were kind of having a happy moment, so I excused myself and went to make that tea.  




I came up here for a while, and then heard the Michael Graves teapot screaming its readiness. I rushed down to turn the burner off, and that's when I heard the strains of "Bad, bad Leroy Brown..." drifting up from the family room. I knew that song, at least. I could hear them being all happy down there, so I have resigned myself to sitting at my desk, smelling my lovely new plumeria-scented candle burn, watching the steam from my tea roll up into my desk lampshade, and listening to this song over and over and over. My mom came in a few minutes ago to ask me some question about something or other, and reinforced the idea that she thought Jim Croce's songs were timeless, and appealed to a wide range of people. Which I'm sure they do. I still don't really know who that guy is, though. 


But I guess I do know who Leroy Brown is. So there you have it.


Well, I'm going to see what everyone else is up to. It's a good night. I think my mom is making homemade Chex Mix, because I can smell something buttery in the oven. Mmmmmm.


But is also a sad night, since Noopo has to go back to Duluth tomorrow morning. But the good news is, I'm going up with her to spend the night! So that'll be funskees.


Alright. Audios. :)




Songs of the Day:


Paris Blue (Death to the Throne Remix) by Lykke Li


Wilderness by Active Child


If I had a Heart by Fever Ray


and




Bad, Bad Leroy Brown by that Jim Croce guy

The story of a quiet day.

[here is the Adventures in Introversion post I promised. Sorry 
it's only half-finished]

Today was one of those days. One of those days where all the little things feel evident.


It was one of those days where I woke up feeling responsible for many things, but they slowly disappeared over times, for legit and not-so-legit reasons.


Like, how I woke up at 11, leapt out of bed, and dashed over to my desk to review the to-do list of the things I wrote down the night before. I need to go deposit checks in the bank and mail out stuff and go do...blahblahblah. All that garble filling my head, making me unsure of where to start and how much time I need to leave for things, and all that. Ever get those days? Swim Brain. That's probably what the condition is called. Because that's what it feels like.


Well, I pulled on a cozy hoodie and trundled downstairs to the kitchen, where I attempted to construct poached eggs for my breakfast/lunch. I'd seen them made by Mrs. Biros, and decided I'd give it a try.


Long story short--poached eggs take skills and wizardry to make.


Eventually, after one egg was completely and hopelessly destroyed by me just cracking it into the pan because I figured it magically kept itself together in hot water (not true), I utilized the great aid out our day, google, to help me in poaching my breakfast. It was quite silly, really, and I once again felt a little ashamed as I wondered to myself how people learned things before Google. That's such a selfish and condescending thing to wonder, I think. But give me a little grace, here. I am a child of the Technological Age. I'm clueless.


Anyways, eventually two poached-esque eggs were extracted from my doings, and I consumed them with pride. And a little malice, too, I must say, because of how one of my gracious family members insulted my cooking endeavors only minutes before I sat down. My mom then tells me not to worry about going to the bank today, since it's technically a holiday. I guess since New Year's Day came on a Sunday this year, no one felt that was fair enough, so they got Monday off. That's nice.


I consumed my culinary creation while sitting under a little gray cloud of grumpiness, and eventually made my way back to my dump of a bedroom, only to ignore the mess and continue reading the 3rd book in The Hunger Games trilogy. 


I'm bad with books. Once I'm started on a good story, or worse, a good series, that's it. I'm incapacitated. Good for nothing. Dead to the world until I finish. 


And that was me basically all day.


But not really.


Because even though it didn't look like I got anything done except read an entire book, I stopped multiple times and did something that I haven't made really any time for as of late.


Think.


Like, really think about things. Analyze things. Really sit back in the quiet and just voice my thoughts out loud. I thought about a lot of things today.


I thought about time, and how it slips away, sure, but how it can be harvested, so to speak. 


I thought about how Harnar was right, and that I am like Samwise Gamgee sometimes.


I thought about how I was going to do laundry today, but whatever.


I thought about the books I was reading, and how exhausted the story was, even though it was fantastic.


I thought about people I love, and how I've probably lied to each one of them at least once. And how that is probably underestimating myself.


I thought about how I was going to try and convince myself into believing various things.


And then I thought about how something like faith doesn't need convincing, because it's beyond that.


I thought about how I'm only 21, and my hands are starting to feel  less dexterous due to overuse of tedious movement. And i a


I philosophized over what it means to give up all your life and motives to the purpose you are here for. And I wondered what my purpose was.


I thought that my purpose was probably not to eat as many Ferrero Rochers as I did today.


I pulled out my Bible at one point, and randomly flipped to Mark 3:6, hoping for instant inspiration. but it turned out to be a verse about the Pharisees deciding to kill Jesus, and I decided that wasn't really what I was supposed to take away today. I poked about in the Psalms, instead.


I thought about how it was after two in the afternoon, and I was still in my pajama pants, and how much I hate it when I do that.


I thought about how I'm on one of the least self-motivated people I know, and how it's really baffling to know how to change that.


I thought about my irrational fear of faces appearing when I'm alone or something, as they do in the movies when the camera swings around and someone is suddenly there. It's obnoxious and unmerited, and I'm trying to reign in my stupid imagination. It's a fear I don't talk about much, because I feel a little crazy admitting it. 


And I think about what I want to do with the beautiful leather journal I received for Christmas, because it's so pretty, and I can't use it for just anything. Or maybe I can.


Eventually, I go back to my book, and my dad comes in to ask if I want soup for lunch. I change into jeans and mosey down to the kitchen, retrieve my bowl of soup and some crackers, and go sit downstairs to watch How It's Made on Netflix. I learn about fire extinguishers, doughnuts, and frozen waffles, and then decide that I don't want to learn more right now. 


My dad invites me to come to the dog park with him and Linus, and I pull myself out of my soup-filled introverted stupor and decide that it'll be nice to spend time with the both of them, and that fresh air will do me some good.


Introverted. Yes. This was an introverted day. I don't get those very often. Take note.


The snowy park is glowing in the late afternoon sun, and the minute I step out of the van, I am glad to be there. It greatly improves my mood, which actually wasn't bad at all. It was just kind of flat. We tromp about with the other owners and dogs for perhaps an hour, I don't know. 


My favorite part was the location. We're up in the woods, away from any buildings or manmade structures besides the chain link fence and few picnic tables. The fresh snow still looks pretty, and since we are up on a hill, I can see the sun slowly sneak over the distant forested hills as it gets ready for an early bedtime. The light shoots straight through the trees, all golden and rosy, and I watch as the dogs play, their coats rippling with movement, and the clouds of their breath turned into gold by the low sun behind them. Perhaps I am bias, but Linus looks extra stunning, there in the snowy woods, where a wolfish thing like him seems to belong. This is my smiliest part of the day.


After the park, we head home, and Dad and I indulge in big mugs of hot chocolate and a rousing game of Battleship. Well, it was't really that exciting, but it was quite fun. And Mastermind. We played that, too. There is nothing like playing games inside on a cold winter day.


Eventually, I retreat back to my room again, read some more, organize my iTunes, think about cleaning, and eventually just give up and go to visit Noopo, who has just come back from shopping with my mom. I am shortly enlisted by my mother to be in charge  making good southern-style hash browns to go with our steak dinner. I must say, I can make some pretty decent hash browns.


I move about the warm kitchen with my mom, cutting up potatoes and white cheddar cheese. Linus is laying in his favorite corner, and I deftly throw him a small hunk of some hard German cheese I can't pronounce, but I particularly like. He doesn't get a lot of people food, so this is very exciting.


Dinner is delicious--steak, stir-friend vegetables, my potatoes with their white cheddar and dill, and champagne salad, which is one of my favorite foods in the world. I can't even describe it to you.




[And this is where I left off. I don't think much else even happened. More reading, an upset stomach from the eggs I made, I think, etc. And I finished those books. Than had to come down from Good-Series-high. Ah, well. Tralala]

Songs of the Week:


Still Alive by Mt. Eden (my Hunger Games theme song, fyi)


City Lights by Motionless in White (tanks, Whoosh)


Let Go by Mt. Eden


My Understandings by Of Mice and Men


Prodigy: Omen by Mt Eden


When You Can't Sleep At Night by Of Mice and Men


Silence by Sarah McLachlan (Remix)by Mt. Eden.


Good For Me by ABOVE and BEYOND


Can't Sleep (ATB Remix) by ABOVE and BEYOND


Hide and Seek Remix  by Mt. Eden (So much Mt. Eden!)

Post-Yuletide.

Well, I haven't obviously been on here for a while.  actually started a post the other night, but haven't posted it yet, since I was t a rather dark and introspective mood, and wasn't sure that you all wanted to really hear about that. So it's not like I haven't tried.


I was mulling over our winter break so far with my sister today. It has not really gone as we had planned, but surprisingly, for idealists such as us, that hasn't been upsetting. I know I've said this a bunch of times, but lack of snow really does something for the Christmas spirit, so I just kind of let that slide this year, since I couldn't do anything about the weather. And I'm okay with that. In fact, it'll make going back into the school routine easier.


Anyways, I'm not sure what you all wish to hear form me right now. I'm afraid my life hasn't been very interesting as of late. I mean, I've enjoyed it, but most of my activities have been very introverted. Reading, drawing, cleaning, writing letters, all that stuff I don't really make time for while at school. I think everyone needs that sometimes.


I guess one thing that's been weighing on me is the condition of my hands. It's a rather miserable feeling knowing that a crucial part of your body is slowly deteriorating. Morbid, sure. But some days that's how it feels. I had a gig the other night, so my body is always a little worse for wear the day after (aka hand/wrist tension and major blisters. ow.)But the carpal business has kept itself to a dull throb most days, but some days it's unbearable. So I'm trying to avoid lots of repetitive motions, such as computer work. Just short increments.


You know, I think I will put up that half-written post. Because it really documents my Adventures in Introversion, if you will. (high-five if you know what I'm referencing).


Yeah. I'll do that. mind you, It's not finished, but just use your imagination. It's not too hard ;)


Oi. As I sat here at my desk, I suddenly noticed something white creeping across my keyboard, and it spooked me for a second. Then I realized it was the smoke form the tea light that just burnt itself out. Nice.




Oh! And my sibling lent me a wonderful book this week that really really feels like where I'm at in life right now--Searching For God Know's What  by Donald Miller. Who, as you may know, is one of my favorite authors of all time. I'll let you know how that pans out.


Audios, then.




Songs of the Week:


We Bought a Zoo Soundtrack by Jónsi (YAY!)


Love You All by Cloud Cult (you can never fail to feel warm and fuzzy inside after listening to this one)


High Priestess (CFCF Remix) by Active Child

Not Missouriable.

Well, this is a new experience for me--blogging while on the road. I'm using my dad's iPhone, which is a strange and frequently uncomfortable device, but handy,nonetheless.

Currently, we are just outside of Kirksville,MO, driving driving driving down to my grandma's house in central Missouri. It's marvelous, let me tell you, to not have anything to do but sit here, listen to my favorite Sufjan Stevens albums, watch the vast countryside roll on by and the glowing disc of the sun slowly edge it's way towards its bed behind the horizon.

So here I will leave you, in the middle of America. It's trips like this that help you understand why historical people deemed this country so massive and beautiful. Because it really it. It just goes on forever. And there is something to be said for golden brown fields and flaming orange sunsets that reach as far as the eye can see.

Audios.

Songs of the Moment: (all courtesy of Sufjan Stevens)

O God, Where Are You Now? (In Pickeral Lake? Pigeon? Marquette? Mackinaw?)

To Be Alone With You

The Dress Looks Nice On You

Seven Swans

Sister

Detroit, Lift Up Your Weary Head! (Rebuild! Restore! Reconsider!)

Holland

Redford (For Yia-Yia and Pappou)

A Good Man Is Hard To Find


Lots to listen to while watching an entire sunset, yo.

Today. According to my dog.

Linus decided to try his paw at blogging, so here is how his day went:

Me and my Hevver. In this picture I am being a Good Dog.

Rrrr, I woke up way early with the Mama an' I went Outside and piddled in My Yard. The Mama put My Harness and My Leash on me and we walked down My Road onto My Paths. I saw a bird and a leaf and a Jogger. We came back to My House and I ate breakfast in My Bowl while the Mama drank hot stink-liquid and ate a bowl of crunch with white water. I ran around in My Yard and lay on My Grass. There is not much White Cold Tasty on the ground for me to eat.


Then the Daddy got up and he patted me and talked to me in Good Dog Voice. I am a Good Dog.


I lay a lot in My Front Doorway Stoop.


Later My Sisters came out of the rooms that smell like them. Carrah gave me a nice snuggle. I don't remember where Herrer went. She and the Daddy went away in Big Car Ride for a long time.


I slept in My Front Doorway Stoop for a long time.


Then Carrah went away in Small Car Ride.


I slept in My Front Doorway Stoop for a long time. It is cold there, and it smells like me.


Later, Herrer came home, and I walked around her in Food Room when she made food up on the high tables. I asked nice with my nose if I could eat cheese food, but she said no and that she does not feed Beg Ers. That does not make sense. I am a Linus. 


I lay around My House for a while.


Later, I was in My Yard when Herrer came out. I found a Very Important Piece of Stick, and I made her chase me for it. I am so fast! 


Then Carrah came out with Clicky Picture Box I Do Not Like, and clicked it at us. I ran and ran, because I am fast. Then everyone cornered me in My Yard, and tackled me to the ground in a cuddle pile. Then the Daddy pointed the Clicky Picture Box I Do Not Like at me and Herrer and Carrah on the ground. I kissed everyone because I am a Good Dog.


Then the Daddy took me to DOG PARK!


I ran and played in DOG PARK! with my friends. I make new friends every day. I love friends. We run in the woods. Sometimes I steal things from the other peoples at the park, but then they catch me. I took some Dark Glass Eye Covers from a lady one day. She and the Daddy chased me and got them from me. Sometimes I am not so fast.


But today I was fast, and I explored the woods real good.


Then the Daddy took me home and I lay in My Front Doorway Stoop while Herrer cleaned My Feet. I do not like to have My Feet cleaned with towels. But I am okay when I am fed Treats.




My House smells really nice because the Mama made Real Good Smell People Food. The Mama smelled like she was busy, so I lay in other rooms.


Then the Herrer put me outside. I made My Brownies with My Bottom in My Yard. Then the Daddy let me inside.


Then the Old People Who Smell Different came to My Door. They just walked right in. The Daddy held My Dog Necklace while I talked really loud to tell the Old People Who Smell Different that they should not just walk into My House and not let me sniff them. I feel better when I sniff.


The Old People Who Smell Different went into the Food Room with everyone. I was put in My Yard. I did not want to be in My Yard. But Herrer gave me a Really Yum Yum Bone Treat, and I was a Good Dog.


But I got bored later, and I banged on all the windows with My Paws and yelled that My Family should let me in because I am bored and want to eat the People Food. Finally they did.But I did not get to eat People Food.


Later, My Family and The Old People Who Smell Different went into the Noisy Room to be noisy. The Mama sat at the Big Noisy Touch Box, and everyone else shook and banged Loud Toys. I tried to come in, but it was very weird. I do not like Loud Toys. Everyone made long sounds with their mouths. I do that sometimes. I am good at My Howl.


Then everyone went to the Food Room and ate Food-I-Have-Not-Tried. But the Daddy gave me My Treats. They were good.


Then the Old People Who Smell Different went away. That was okay. I lay in My Front Doorway Stoop for a long time. Then I was let into My Yard, because I had not done anything with My Bottom for a while, and it needed to be emptied. The Daddy and Hevver and the Mama sat and looked at the Noisy Box. Sometimes I look at the Noisy Box. It does not make sense.


I made sure all the corners of My Yard were safe, and sniffed the air because I have a Good Nose. I smelled Car Rides and leaves and Other Animals I Don't Know.


Then Hevver lured me in really sneaky with a Chicken Strip, and the Mama put me in my bed. I ate the rest of My Chicken Strip, even though I usually save it for the morning.


I like my day.


-Linus




(In case you didn't catch what people activities were really going on---my grandparents came over for dinner, and we sang Christmas carols down in the music room where the piano is, and play various percussion instruments and jingle bells.)

Winter afternoon.

Greetings, again. I am slightly less scattered, but still quite happy and all that.

hello.

Here I am now in my kitchen, listening to Gregorian Christmas music and Sufjan's Christmas album as Carla bakes apple cheddar bread. I am holding my face directly over my mug of tea, letting the steam collect on my skin, and then pulling my head away, which makes my face get all cold. And so I do it again, of course.

bloop.

Other tasty things have been consumed as I have sat here.

Homemade mac n' cheese.

lots of cookies

and a clementine, I think.

Oh, and check out the winter bouquet I picked yesterday. I took the most pleasant of walks by myself. I just needed to get out on my lonesome and chase the sun over to its setting point. And on my journey to follow the sun to my favorite marshland, I decided that even though the world around me was very brown, that the browns were actually very lovely in themselves, and the shapes and varieties were too pretty to pass up. And so, as I strolled through the silent wooded paths, I examined plant after plant to find the most notable dried up specimens that wouldn't shed everywhere.

And even though this picture is meh, you get the picture. the bouquet really is lovely in its own right.

And I made the derpy vase thing. Be proud. 

If you take a look at all those pictures, note at the osition of the sunlight. It's almost parallel to my face, which is ridiculous, because those were taken around 2 in the afternoon. Two in the afternoon! The days are so short! Yesterday was the winter equinox, so I guess we'll be gaining daylight, but ever so slowly.

Welp, I should be off to get a few things done. My grandparents are coming over tonight for their annual Christmas Eve-Eve or whatever dinner. I woke up this morning to the smell of roast in the crock-pot, which is one of my favorite things about coming home. Maybe I'll write a list in my next post about all the things I miss about home. 




But as for now, have a lovely evening. Time to go clean the bathroom.






Songs of the Afternoon:


Sail by Awolnation


Christmas Time is Here by Vince Guaraldi Trio


Love You All by Cloud Cult


Holy Holy Holy  by Sufjan Stevens

Chez moi.

Well, I'm home.


I'M HOME I'M HOME I'M HOME.


FINALLY.


School is over. 


And I never, EVER have to do French...AGAIN.


And we get our Lucie back in a week. EEEEEEEEE.


Amongst other stellar things.




So, yes. Here I am, sitting on a messy bed in a room filled with bags of clothes and things, waiting to be organized. Meh. Oh well. At least I get my own room again!


I have come to love rooming with people, but there's nothing like having your ol' bedroom to yourself to just be a mess in. I'll clean it today, though, and make it beautiful.


Aaaaand, it is potentially going to start snowing in the next half hour! FINALLY!


I mean, it won't be much, but at least it won't be be totally brown out there for Christmas. I hope. As long as stuff doesn't melt between now and Sunday...


Yeah.




Sorry I'm so scattered right now. I promise I'll sit down and write out several nice posts in the near future. I am just so happy to be here. 




I need to go shower now, which I am not looking forward to. My hair is like a giant dread today. Bleh. Time for some yankin' and rippin'.




But I do get to use the jasmine soap I got for my birthday. I decided to save it for when school was totally done.




Happy reward time!




Songs of the Morning:


Have a Holly Jolly Christmas (because the song is also not sure if we'll have snow on Christmas....it makes me feel better.) 

Grood morning, Dinkytown.

Well, here I am again in my favorite coffee shop! But this time, it's 9:20 in the morning, which is the earliest I've ever dragged myself here. Not that 9:20 is really that early, but in the scope of plopping oneself down at a tiny table to enjoy a latte and study French, it is.


I walked here this morning, which was very pleasant. I watched the sun come up from my kitchen window today as I fed the cat, which was nice, since the past few mornings have been cloudy enough that once I do get up, I don't see the sun for most of the day. So to see that orange orb peek over the rooftops was a welcome sight.


I noticed, as I walked through the neighborhoods into Dinkytown today that the reason morning is so extra magical is that I don't hear anybody talking. I didn't hear a single word until I opened the door to the coffee shop. The only voices outside were those of the birds, hopping around in the bushes and sitting in clumps on telephone wire to chat over breakfast, or whatever. 


It's interesting when you walk through the city how many smells you encounter in just a few blocks. The stairwell in the back of out apartment building is interesting like that, too. Every time I open that door it smells like something different--fried chicken, second-hand smoke, or cookies. Or just weird stairwell.


The neighborhood went from virtually scent-less park, to smelly rail yard. I walked across the footbridge over the tracks, and noticed as the oily smell of industry slid into my nose, making everything smell greasy and musty. And, to top it all off, after I left the bridge, I walked past a row of female ginkgo trees, which dropped their stinky fruit in the late fall, leaving it to rot on the sidewalks. Bleh.


then my world got virtually scentless again as I made my way into Dinkytown. I peered into shops as I strolled past, and tried to find the hours posted for the bookstore, but to no avail. Kafé 421's entry was dark and closed, but in walking past, I could see three chefs working furiously at something back in the kitchen.


The coffee shop itself is very busy. I didn't think it'd be this crowded in the morning, but it does only make sense. Especially since it's finals week, and everyone has the same idea--go somewhere and hunker down.


I actually have a little over eight hours to burn today. That's a lot. I probably won't be going back to the apartment, either, and if I do, it'd only be for a little bit. They have the water turned off until 5:30 so that repairs can be made on some plumbing stuff. I figured it'd be best if I didn't hang around, then. You never know when nature will sneak up on you.


So here I am. I strolled into the shop through the squeaky front door that opens the wrong way (Commercial doors are supposed to swing outward--standard building code. But this one is old.)and plunked my gear down at one of the little tables in the middle of the room. I don't like sitting in the middle of everyone, but I don't really have a choice today. Whatever. The barista is very cheery this morning, and handled the long line of us with ease. People are chatting and typing and doing all sorta of things around me, giving the shop its familiar hum. 


I don't feel any guilt today about sitting here and blogging for a good long stint. I'm really not that worried about the exam tonight--it's not worth a ton of my grade, and I'm taking the course pass/fail, since it was so hard, so I'm pretty darn sure I'll be fine. 


So we'll see how long I can hold out in one place today studying. I'll probably be here for an hour or two, then eventually mosey over to West Bank to retrieve my last art projects (YAY), and maybe run around to a few other places. 


Ah. A kid from my freshman drawing class came in. See, even though I'm perched at a table in the middle of things, I have a clear view of the counter and everyone who comes in. So it's nice for the spy in me.


Well, I'm not sure what else to tell you/what else you'd care to hear right now, So I'm going to just revert into studying and reading things and whatever.


This old guy also just shuffled in to claim the table next to me, and is throwing his jacket and mitten everywhere. Ooook.




Have a good one, y'all. I'll probably check in again later.




Songs of the morning:


Oh God, Where Are You Now?... by Sufjan Stevens.