am I the only one wearing shorts?

"am I the only one wearing shorts?": said the mc at a recent concert I went to...it was cold and raining

jen took me to see Daws, She & Him, and Band of Horses this weekend in Bend, OR for my birthday. it was fan-friken-tastic. there was ice cream to be eaten, fireworks to be seen, $100 to be accidentally drawn out of the ATM (the $100 button was so darn close to the other amount button), and so much more. I've said before and I'll say again that lighting really is the cherry on top of the sundae at any show and whoever conducted the lighting for the Band of Horses set did a mighty fine job. as for my actual b-day...meh. not so great. but that was to be expected. birthdays seem to be always be crummy (more so when it's your 21st and you're straight edge...so no 21 run for me).



cover of Yo La Tengo's Sugarcube

retrospective

retrospective: of or relating to retrospection, based on memory

I finally got all my film developed from Ecuador and in doing so was able to further digest my experience. At the time, Ecuador seemed mad with mayhem and yet simultaneously serene. To me, Ecuador was the smell of baking bread from city street panaderias and burning trash from the countryside, the taste of mote pite and cooked bananas, the touch of polyester and gritty dish soap, the sound of car alarms, chickens, and the whistling jingle of Tele Amazonas, the sight of purple lightening right above your head and crowed park plazas filled with Chola women wearing brightly colored skirts, old men in hats, tiny little nuns shuffling about, and even smaller children eating cones of ice cream.  I recognize now that I am indeed wholeheartedly thankful for the invaluable experiences and skills I acquired while abroad.  But as amazing as the experience was, I've since then realized that I should have listened to my mother.  She knew then and I know now that it probably wasn't the right time for me to go abroad, nor the right place.  I had an amazing experience, but could have gotten more out of it if I had waited. and by that I mean, you have to be in a certain mindset for this kind of experience and if I had it to over again I would have waited until I was in that mindset.  I mentioned this to my mom the other day and all she did was smile and say, "I could have told you this. As we drove to the airport the only thing you had to say in a groggy tone was that you didn't really want to leave." For the first time I experience real homesickness and above everything returned with a renewed respect for the U S of A and a feverish determination to be more aware and considerate of my surroundings.  Keep these words in mind as you look through my pictures... http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2039940&id=1026587862&l=0d5f8eb523

update 8/3/2010: I think I have since made amends with my host family (us having a falling out and all)...I shared the above pictures with them and got a pleasant e-mail in return.  I also realized that I've learned the hard way that you have to be careful what you blog about...for better of for worse.

working stiff

working stiff: slang term for a member of the working class

I'm beyond grateful to have a job again. Although 4 and a half months doesn't seem like that long to be unemployed, it felt like an eternity to me...an eternity of twiddling my thumbs. So now I work at Albertson's Grocery as a Cashier and Customer Service Clerk. I'll also start an internship at the Idaho State Historical Society's Research Library and Archives come June 15th! All in all, I know one thing's for sure, I will always be a working stiff.

knuckle sandwich

knuckle sandwich: slang term for a punch

Trent agreed to let me punch him tomorrow (don't even ask why). i'm excited! i've never punched anyone before, except for once during a step aerobics class...but that was an accident. i swear.

so I took the initiative to look up how to punch someone online and came across this super cool video.

update 7/29/10- I should have fucking punched him when I had the chance.

camaraderie

camaraderie: the quality of affording easy familiarity and sociability

While walking to the grocery store I ran into an old high school teacher of mine.  I was just trucking along when I see a man on the roof of his house and he kindly shouts to me, "beautiful day for a walk." I lower my head and kind of grumble back, but then look a little closer and realize it's Mr. O’Neil!!!! my favorite ADD gun-toting-liberal Social Science teacher from high school.  So I stop and we chat and catch up on life and the whole moment is just wonderful.  Oh boy, how I love that crazy man. It's just so easy for me to make comrades out of the most eccentric people.

On an unrelated note, I got my ears pierced for the third time, mainly because I was bored.  Also, should it concern me that my mom calls me and the dog by the same name?

written 4/25/2010

proprietor

proprietor: a person who has the legal right or exclusive title to something, owner

I am now the proud proprietor of a new car! in-full, paid-off, I own a 2004 Toyota Corolla. Honestly though, I thought buying a car would be more daunting. Instead, the whole process was purrty darn easy. My new car has only had one previous owner, low miles, and a meticulous service record. I feel like I am renting it...it's strange, going from not the most glamorous of cars to a nice (R.I.P. Betty the Boat), bright, and shiny, newish one. Nevertheless, I named it Snowhite and together we will go many miles.

written 4/25/2010