once again

This evening I was intrigued, as I often am, by the paling light of sunset. In my otherwise dimly, fluorescent lit room, objects seem to come to life in a way they otherwise would not. It is my favorite time to be in my room. While enjoying those quickly fading moments, I was enraptured in the desire to capture the images with my camera. Above is the scene, and later I will post some of the images I got. Quite beautiful, that light.

PLUS

I found out today that I am actually MUCH more Irish than Swedish. Like almost half compared to 1/16. Who knew?!

highlights

Countdown to school began a week ago when I realized that this would be my last week of break. Now I have less than a week until the semester begins. In the meantime, I am enjoying myself by spending time with people I like (one of my favorite things to do).

Last Friday I got lunch at Rutabegorz (see my link), one of my favorite places to eat, with Blythe. They have fresh, generally healthy food, and great atmosphere. Blythe was adventurous and got a pita pizza with blue cheese and cranberries. What a great thing to be willing to try something new! I admire that. After eating we hung around fullerton, going to a British grocer I really like to browse, and a stairway Blythe showed me that had REALLY great colors and a view.















After adventuring with Blythe I went to Henry's and made my way home. While I was driving I became very intrigued by the road at night, as I generally do. It is just so nice in the evening!



On Saturday I saw some of the girls that were in my cabin when I was a leader at high school camp this summer. I really like hanging out with them. They always have good stories, great ideas, and are generally beautiful and fun company. We ate Pizza, TIM TAM SLAMMED, and saw 27 Dresses. Pretty good night. Here I am looking scary with a few of them:




So that is my life.
Peace be with you.
Remember to look at the sky sometimes. It's amazing.

Title Title Title Title Title Title Title Title

World Market seems to increase my desire to live in a place of my own (i.e. not the dorms). So much of the store has an aesthetic that I feel like captures what I enjoy. Being that I don't have anywhere to put the plates, lanterns, candelabras, or throws, I spent an excessive amount of time perusing before settling in the paper goods where I might have some use for the things they sell.

I love writing notes, and LOVE well designed note cards, so I decided to invest in these cards:



I didn't know until I got them home and opened them that the inside of the envelope is striped! So good!

Also, I got these really cute invitations.



I don't have any events planned yet, but next time I want to invite 8 people over for something (tim tam slam?) I will be ready!

Before going there I spent some time reading and writing, so my creative heart is being filled quite nicely.

It's All Happening

Almost Famous is playing on my TV in French with English subtitles. I have seen it that many times.

This weekend was fairly wonderful.

First of all, for as much time as I don't spend in my room, I have always enjoyed the tree just outside, especially as the sun is setting. Trees, power-lines and sunsets are some of my favorite things, and they combine themselves in the views from my desk.



Also, this weekend I went to San Diego to visit my lovely friend Carrie, and go on a hike with her and another friend, Campbell. Torrey Pines, near La Jolla, was our destination, and a BEAUTIFUL one. It was about 70 degrees at 10 AM. They are both really great. Carrie was SUCH a wonderful hostess, and shared Uncle Eddies Vegan cookies (the BEST), tea, Amelie, and her company.



Later in the weekend I hung out with Elijah. We went to Disneyland (yea Annual Pass!) and road the train around the whole park (it's really fun), went on Pirates (my favorite), and ate ice cream on Main Street (always). Then we decided to go find snow. AAAMAZING. We stayed in LA county but still got to see some seriously beautiful snowscapes, make snow angels, and FREEZE our hands making snow balls.



Look at the SKY!



If you look REALLY closely in the middle left of the picture you can see downtown LA. It's SO close; meaning I should be going up there regularly.



A few embarrassing things about the trip:

1) Driving on the mountain road is NOT my forte. I quickly resigned the wheel.

2) I saw a deer and said,

"A DEER!"

When it moved I said,

"It's REAL!!"
Elijah informed me that most deer in the mountains are real.

3) I saw a squirrel and said,

"Skunk!" That one was not my fault. . I only saw a glimpse of the tail in a shadow.


Yes, I am from the city, but I also love the mountains. Camping is a must. ASAP.

Instant Gratification

It's a problem in our culture.

Example A

I put my old High School flute for sale on Craig's List about 7 minutes ago.

I checked my mail about 1.5 minutes ago just in case.

Today Sandra and I went to Farmer's Market in LA off Fairfax. It was strange to be back next to where I worked last semester. We got some Coffee Bean and strolled through the area. After seeing all there is (to which Sandra commented, "Aren't there supposed to be vegetables at farmer's markets?") I got a vegetarian pita (Sandra laughed at my predictability) and we chatted about what we were like in high school. I will save you the gory details, but mention that my story had lots of spikes involved with fashion.

It was a very nice day.

i do not have a sixth sense

Two very strange and somewhat disturbing things happened to me yesterday that I feel are worth mentioning. FYI: I'm saving the best for last.


First.

Tossing my bag onto my bed in the morning, I caused, either from my bag or my bed, a spider to run across my sheets.
And can I just say that this was not your little innocent smush-it-real-quick-and-no-harm-done kind of spider. I'm fairly certain that it actually stopped at one point only to glare at me and show its fangs as if saying,

"Go ahead, try to get me. I'll turn you into Spiderwoman and you will never live accepted in the mortal world again."

Wanting not to be plagued by the distress of being a mutant, I screamed to myself a couple times while capturing it under a mug (thanks Jon!) so I could set it free (I am actually more afraid of dead animals than live ones).


Speaking of dead things.


Second.

After archiving the spider incident in my sketchbook, I left to go to the store. On the way to my car I was stopped by a van. A man asked me where building 33 is. Because I go to a University I don't know the numbers of buildings, only catchy abbreviations and names of honoraries (i.e. "the SUB" and "Crowell Hall"). Figuring I could understand where he was going by what he was doing there I asked,

"What are you going for?"

Common enough a question for his common response.

"I'm delivering a dead body."

NOPE. I am not kidding, and I did not make this up. Those were his words. He was delivering a body to the science building.

Being fatigued from being sick, freaked out from the thought of a dead body feet away from me, and generally confused, I gave some really awful directions and went on my way. A dead spider concerned me enough.


Just a day in my life.


P.S. I dreamt there was a spider in my bed last night. I washed my sheets again today.

Rain City

These are from this summer in Texas but are quite reminiscent of my day today in LA. The rain has been coming down since this morning when I thought, "When is the rain coming down?"

Early this afternoon I went to the fashion district in south LA with my roommate Nicole to look for fabric. We didn't get too far in the rain and instead went to meet our friend Oliver who works as a designer for a clothing company close by. We got to see his showroom and his desk where he does not have a guitar on the wall.

Tonight I watched Sarah make orange juice, which I simply had to blog about (she suggested I should). Then we talked while she made art, and I considered a project I am working on- making a polaroid holder to hang from my rearview. Joy!

Enjoy the rain. Enjoy the leaves glued to the glistening pavement, signs reading "Heavy Rain/Slippery Roads/ Slow Down,"and blurry scenes from windows. Also, please stay safe.