| Happy official Christmas decorating day! |
[Nov. 25th, 2006|06:00 pm] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | home | ] |
| [ | Tude |
| |  accomplished | ] |
| [ | Tune |
| | Peanuts Christmas -- Christmastime is Here | ] |
Ok, it was actually OFFICIAL yesterday, but seeing as I had to work, this is a little late getting out. I put up my tiny tree in my apartment, and strung little lights around the entire perimeter of my giant one-room home. Tomorrow, dad is coming over to help me hang my giant outdoor lights around the house, and maybe put up the 6 foot tall blow-up light-up polar bear. It's all a matter of enough outlets.
I love this time of year. And every year, even though it's so hard to wait for this official day while the rest of the commercialized world tries to shove it in our faces in October, I am always so grateful I did wait, because I can appreciate this small moment in time that much more. So I've got the Christmas tunes rolling, the cider candles burning, and the twinklies glowing. And I'm happy.
My Thanksgiving was lovely, full of food and family and passing out at 7:30pm on Gabby's dog bed. I hope yours was equally as stupendous. I also hope that everyone has a family as precious and loving as mine.
P.S. My sweet Sassy visited me last weekend and it was one of the most glorious weekends ever. Thank you to her for all she does for me. |
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| (no subject) |
[Nov. 15th, 2006|09:16 pm] |
| [ | Tude |
| |  complacent | ] |
| [ | Tune |
| | Nickel Creek | ] |
I'll be the other hand that always holds the line connected in between your sweet heart and mine
I'm strung out on that wire. |
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| MOVING! |
[Oct. 31st, 2006|08:05 pm] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | work | ] |
| [ | Tude |
| |  full | ] |
| [ | Tune |
| | Holly Brook | ] |
Friends!
After six glorious/chaotic months living back under my parents' roof, I'm leaving the nest yet again. As of November 1st, I will be the tenant of 314 E. Clifton Street, Tampa FL. If anyone from Tampa read this, I would tell them that it is in the neighborhood of Seminole Heights. For out-of-town visitors, just know that it is an amazing place. I'm ready to be living on my own again. Although I do wish Sassy was my roomie. And Joobie.
Happy Halloween, friends. I am wearing my most splendid DIY Little Miss Sunshine costume and it couldn't be sweeter. My boss took all of us to the Olive Garden in our costumes.
I miss you all dreadfully. Can't wait to be in Charlotte next weekend for Kene's and Duht's wedding! |
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| Vision Man repost! |
[Oct. 19th, 2006|04:54 pm] |
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I wrote this entry almost two years ago but I think about it all the time. I was talking about this film ("Vision Man: An Eskimo Hunter") the other night and decided to find the entry and repost it. It is about an ethnographic film lent to me by Dr. Donato. We watched it in class, then I watched it many times at home before having to return it, and it never left my mind. I am also adding some stills I took of my TV while watching it. So here begins the repost: This film is about one man, Utuniarsuak Avike, and his reflections on his life and the changing world around him in Thule, Greenland. This northwest section of Greenland is the most northern living community on Earth. The average temperature in the summer is near freezing. The word “Thule” is also a noun used to describe an extreme point in something, both literally and figuratively (like “He’s reached the thule of happiness.”). In the film, Avike speaks directly into the camera and shares his stream of thoughts with the filmmaker. There was some argument in class that the words spoken by Avike were too poetic to not be staged. I was surprised to hear this comment from other anthropology majors, who should know that we cannot put a Western-defined concept of speech on a culture we know little about. The hunters of Thule, living a life filled with years of solitude, are more than capable of spontaneously creating something with words that we expect only from a well-planned and edited script. These words are incredible. I know from good sources that these are the pure, unedited, and unscripted words from an 87-year-old hunter from Thule, Greenland. They have been translated from Inuit, and I have spent the last two hours transcribing them to share with whomever has the desire to read them. It might be a bit harder without the visual stimulation, but I guarantee that there is so much to be gained from something so simple. Please enjoy, and PLEASE let me know if you have any questions or comments. |
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| Mike! |
[Oct. 8th, 2006|09:50 am] |
| [ | Tude |
| |  sleepy | ] |
If you ever make it here, let me say one more time: Thank you for an incredible day. I'm very glad you're in my life. :) |
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| Congrats |
[Oct. 4th, 2006|05:42 pm] |
| [ | Tude |
| | headache | ] |
| [ | Tune |
| | Tom Waits | ] |
A congratulations is in order for my dear Megan. She has worked so hard to attain her goals and they have been rewarded at last. Megan will leave on November 6th with the Peace Corps for Namibia to assist for two years in AIDS education efforts currently under way there. I couldn't be more proud/excited/scared for her right now. And thank heavens I'll have one last chance to eat Vietnamese and drink coffee with her.
Oh, and insert ridiculously childish comment about Megan being a whore right about here. I love her. |
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| And so it goes |
[Sep. 22nd, 2006|04:07 pm] |
| [ | Tude |
| |  nostalgic | ] |
| [ | Tune |
| | Kate Rusby | ] |
How much do I miss singing?? You know, singing that's not alone, along with my Ipod. I miss choir camp, CYO, Camerata, Oklahoma! ... God I think I even miss Rent ... a capella Indigo Girls, Castaldi's, studio classes, Sondheim revues, korean karaoke. I have been so lucky in the past to have so many outlets to perform, in whatever capacity it may be. And I miss it all. But mostly I miss Karen, Jonathan, Jeff, and Justin -- will my voice ever blend with anyone's as well as it does with your voices? And I would give up all my whistle-fingers for the chance to drive "way out in the country... five miles out of the city limit we're singing with your hand upon my knee" with my dear sweet best friend, Amanda.
I know, as we grow up, many of us feel this way. It never leaves you. |
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| I wax and wane. |
[Sep. 20th, 2006|11:17 pm] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | bed | ] |
| [ | Tude |
| | accomplished | ] |
| [ | Tune |
| | Agents of Good Roots | ] |
I've been having the wildest stream of thoughts and feelings lately. I feel like I'm outwardly observing the interaction between my self and my environment. I'm realizing that while both affect eachother, they are completely independent from one another in fundamental ways. This realization has given me the freedom to accept myself as an unconventional being that will not be forced to fit nicely into anything. There are things I like fitting nicely into: compact cars, a pint of Guinness, someone's arms. Sometimes I don't like fitting, though, and I think I'm ok with that. Sometimes I'm not cozy, not comfortable, and it just adds perspective. Sometimes I cry out of fear or frustration, but at other times I throw my arms back and thank God for giving me a most complicated brain.
I love you goodbye. |
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| Jeff Corwin plug |
[Sep. 17th, 2006|12:29 am] |
| [ | Tude |
| | sleepy | ] |
| [ | Tune |
| | Who else? Jeff Corwin! Just kiddin, it's Joan Baez. | ] |
I have a friend named Jeff Corwin, and although he's never wrestled with beasts in the wild, he is an OK guy. I'm taking a moment to direct both of my viewers to his website. Please ignore the ridiculosity of the majority of his site -- namely his recent obsession with his newly created sport of "HallBall". The jewel of his site is his music page. I decided to mention it after not being able to get "Wooden Jail" out of my head. This week I even put this song on one of my invaluable mixed CD's that I gave to a friend. All I can say is well done, Jeff Corwin. You've come a long way since our days of drinking sweet tea and whiskey's, and following Simon and Garfunkel guitar tabs on my computer. You're a good sport, and I miss you terribly.
Jeff Corwin Dot Com
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| Last Night's Fun #2 |
[Aug. 27th, 2006|11:07 am] |
| [ | Tude |
| |  quixotic | ] |
| [ | Tune |
| | Belle and Sebastian | ] |
I couldn't get any of my [3] friends (my father included) to go with me last night to Rasher Tierney's to hear Third Man Out, so I just went by myself, and I don't think I could have made a better decision. It allowed me to navigate my whole evening how I wanted to. I had met and played with two out of the three band members (Don and Mike) at the session on Thursday, and they put on a great show here. Trina, a whistler, was the third member. She was wonderful and plays on a whistle that I recently acquired and haven't been able to get used to, so she gave me her number and she'd like to help me with it! How awesome is that!? I also got to talk to the guys a little more after the show, and Don emailed me this morning thanking me again for coming.. They're such awesome people, and they're so very supportive of my whistling efforts. They are exactly what I've been needing, and I couldn't be more grateful.
In other news, Hurricane Ernesto just changed its path and it's headed for Tampa in a couple days. This is a common occurence, where it looks like it's heading right for us, and then knock on wood or whatever, but it veers off at the very last second, spares Tampa -- which will at this point be completely sold out of plywood and bottled water -- and hits some unsuspecting little town that was nowhere near the originally mapped route of the storm. My family is in active mode, stocking up on stuff and whatnot, but I can't get into that mindset while there are sunny skies today. They're definitely the ants and I'm the grasshopper. Or is it the other way around?? Dammit.
We're having a cookout tonight at Lettuce Lake Park for Stand Up For Kids. I'm bringing the Boca Burgs. And my beastly boxer. It should be a glorious time. |
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| Last Night's Fun |
[Aug. 25th, 2006|09:29 am] |
| [ | Tude |
| | high | ] |
| [ | Tune |
| | Kate Rusby | ] |
I got to play in my first session last night and it was awesome!! I met some other musicians at Geoff's house, the tinwhistle player I met at Four Green Fields. The other guys were so nice and extremely talented, and everyone was so patient with my tempos since I'm just learning. Dang they play fast. Holy hell. But I'll get the hang of it. The other guys, Don and Mike, played Irish flute and guitar, respectively, and Geoff's kids came out of hiding to play a couple tunes on their fiddles. They're just 9 and 12 and they did great. So it was so incredibly fun and I can't wait until next week! Did I mention the man has Guinness on TAP at his house? Ahh, the ceol agus craic was wonderful :D
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| Wow. |
[Aug. 16th, 2006|02:26 pm] |
some of the people i work with come across as totally fascinating beings to me. i don't really know why, other than that they're really old. people this old should be long retired. senility has set in and it's amazing.
on the other hand, life is beautiful from the perspective of my new tattoo. freakin amazing. |
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| (no subject) |
[Aug. 8th, 2006|08:37 pm] |
where the HELL are all the fun people!!!!!?
COME ON, TAMPA.
I'm just sayin. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jul. 28th, 2006|09:57 pm] |
| [ | Tude |
| | inspired | ] |
| [ | Tune |
| | The Cottars | ] |
This is the only place I know of where you can see a rainbow every single day, but can never admire it without telephone wires blocking your view.
This is my favorite softer world strip ever.
 |
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| (no subject) |
[Jul. 16th, 2006|01:15 pm] |
| [ | Tude |
| | content | ] |
| [ | Tune |
| | Cat Stevens | ] |
I must clarify for the record that I DO have friends here: they are the Barghoudians, being my sister and brother-in-law. While they are technically family, they are also the peeps I do some of the fun things in my life with, namely seeing movies, eating Thai food, and nearly turning tricks for bubble tea together. These are my favorite activities and I should be counting the blessings of having such beautiful people to share them with.
I also have made a friend at work (Heather) and at the place I volunteer (Shea). I'm totally content with this small social network, and am loving this strange period of self-reflection. Sometimes I feel like I'm getting too comfortable with the lazy lifestyle that the majority of Floridians have adapted to and I am not taking care of the things I need to. Plus this freakin hot weather puts a damper on my feelings of physical well-being. Heat wears me out. Can't wait till winter.
So, with beautiful things looming in the future, I just go to work, come home, and feast my eyes on that damned horizon, so palpable yet frustratingly just out of reach.
In the meantime, Gabby and I will go to the beach. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jun. 25th, 2006|09:21 pm] |
We left at dusk -- at least, I trusted dusk existed underneath the rain-soaked clouds overhead. Today would have no purpose if we didn't watch the sun set during the thunderstorm. The storm had calmed to a drizzle by the time Gabby and I stepped onto the beach. The place was deserted: forsaken by its fairweather friends. The silence of such a place is indescribable. The quiet ebb of the undisturbed surf echoed everywhere. The falloff point was so defined that the bottom was surely infinite. The sand patterns created by the rise and fall of two tides were interrupted by two trails of footprints -- a set of two, a set of four. As Gabby leapt off in search of more excitement, I followed the edge of the water as tiny fish swam alongside me in perfect sync with my pace. I wanted to join them, but when I placed my feet in their home, I was burned by water unnaturally hot. The power plant not too far from where I stood heated up this water to desirable degrees in the winter, and unbearable degrees tonight. Fifty feet from where I stood, someone else enjoyed the spa-like conditions: it could be a dolphin, or a shark, but I no longer pretend to know. I no longer push my limits to learn. I just leave it to its lark. As Gabby chases birds in a kind of game where they are the only ones aware of their vertical dimension of defense, I wait for the sky to break and the sun to keep its end of the deal. And I must praise God for the beauty that followed. At the last moment, the sun broke through and shone two distinct and powerful rays overhead. A center lane of golden yellow amidst the pinkish purplish glow on the water, on the sky. Mirror images of the same perfection. Then, we went home.
If nothing else, I'm so very grateful to live in an opportune location for such nights. |
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| And update? |
[Jun. 14th, 2006|03:05 pm] |
| [ | Tude |
| |  anxious | ] |
| [ | Tune |
| | Ben Folds | ] |
My official Dear Abby name is Friendless in Florida. But I'm cool with that. Friendless by no means equates to lonely, bored, or purposeless. And I really like my mom.
The job is the most monotonous that I have ever taken on, but the money will come in handy --whenever it is that I start receiving that. We only get paid once a month!
I'm narrowing down graduate schools and even though I've been saying this for a long time, I'm truly getting somewhere! It really is a tedious experience because I can't just apply everywhere considering that applications are $70 + for each program. So I have to narrow down to programs that: a) fit my interests and seem like I would really be happy in; and b) would actually accept me and possibly be even impressed by me. While some of the Ivy Leagues look amazing, I know that they'll laugh at my GRE score and the withdrawals on my 2001 transcript. It's bullshit, but reality. So I will ultimately apply to between 5 and 8 schools. This job's sole purpose is to fund those ridiculous app. fees.
I'm going to Charlotte tomorrow!! I'm incredibly excited to see my friends. This trip has been a long time coming and it's nice that it's taking place in the summer when everyone is around to be enjoyed!!! I couldn't be happier about this. Gabby, of course, is coming with me. Thank God her Aunt Kene and Uncle Duht and Cousin Moo love her almost as much as I do. And my mom is accompanying me for 7/8 of the drive -- I will be dropping her off in Charleston to spend the week with Penny, my Godmother.
Tonight I have training for a volunteer organization that I'm getting involved in. It's called Stand Up For Kids and from what I've done so far, I feel really good about this. Since it is run by mostly younger people, I feel like it's something that I can actively participate in getting up and running. And its cause is vital to making positive changes in the country.
Until next time! |
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