Currently Watching: Snatch

1. My very own website.
2. My very own news article.
3. My very own ninja biscuit cartoon. Ok, it's not mine, it's Edward Monkton's, but I had to keep the "my very own" theme going. I heart Edward Monkton.

Currently Playing: David Gray

White Ladder

I should know better than to drive around at night listening to David Gray...

My life will be going through some crazy-big changes in the near future. On the one hand, I'm so excited to see what's in store for me as I move to yet another new place and attempt to carve out my niche in the "real" world. This is what I've been working toward for the past 18 years. It's that pesky other hand that's been getting to me lately, though; the one clutching a jumble of daydreams and harsh realities and mixed blessings.

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From: silver lining
by David Gray

take this silver lining
keep it in your own sweet head
shine it when the night is burning red
shine it in the twilight
shine it on the cold cold ground
shine it till these walls come tumbling down

know that the light don't sleep
step into the silence
take it in your own two hands and scatter it like diamonds all across these lands
blaze it in the morning
wear it like an iron skin
only things worth living for
innocence and magic-
amen
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Currently Playing: Iron & Wine, Calexico

In the Reins

Good things:
1. Friends driving down to visit. Hugs to my Jerilyno.
2. Beautiful sunny days. Mad props to God.
3. Awesome musical collaborations by Calexico and Iron & Wine. A 1950's gentle chuck on the chin to Pat.

Not-so-good things:
1. Temporary semi-deafness. Stupid ears.
2. Knowing that I will be leaving behind a whole bunch of amazing people when I move. It's been bumming me out lately. A lot.

~sigh~
*************************************************

He Lays in the Reins
by Calexico / Iron & Wine

One more drink tonight, let your gray stallion rest
Where he lays in the reins
From all of the speed and the strength he gave

One more kiss tonight from some tall stable girl
She's like grace from the earth
When you're all tuckered out and tame

One more tired thing, a gray moon on the rise
When your want from the day
Makes you to curse in your sleep at night

With one more gift to bring, we may well find you
Laid like your steed in his reins
Tangled too tight and too long to fight

Currently Reading: Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

by Gregory Maguire

Spring Break is over. Boo. I got back last night from my latest jaunt to Europe (every time I see the word "jaunt" I picture someone skipping...and that's not what it means at all. Why is this?). Good times! It was a much more laid back trip than usual, which was very nice. I got to see my fabulous sister (which was pretty much the point) in Kingston (just outside of London - where she goes to school) and we spent lots of girly sister time together. I like to call it Haley and Kristen's WEEK OF FUN! (Friends, anyone?)

The short(end) list of things we saw and/or did includes: a tour of Kingston's town center complete with shoe shopping (much too expensive) and Kronenberg Blanc beers (mmmmm). Saw Ice Age 2 and Failure to Launch at the Odeon theater (and no, Pat, they were not dubbed...). We toured Camden, sat and pondered the meaning of life in the Mark Rothko room of the Tate Modern Art museum, fruitlessly tried to find affordable tickets to see the Lion King broadway production (I saw it in London three years ago - spectacular), elbowed through the crowds in Covent Garden, bought scones and dreamed of buying baby grand pianos at Harrods, and "flew" on the London Eye.
Tuesday through Thursday we were in Amsterdam. We stayed with my friend Niels who was kind enough to be our native guide. We wandered through the Van Gogh museum, the Heineken museum (Niels' 5th time - but hey, you get 3 free beers as you go through the museum - he can't complain too much), Dam Square and the Leidseplein, shoe shopped on the Kalverstraat (poor Niels), took a canal tour, walked through the Red Light District, saw V for Vendetta with Dutch subtitles. We met up with my friend Alissa and her husband Demis (he's a Dutchie) one night and we all conned Haley into singing karaoke. Our flight back to London was delayed a bit, so we spent some quality time in Schippol airport where Haley and I shared a very questionable pickle & cheese sandwich.
After my 8 1/2 hour flight home (wedged in the middle seat all the while), standing in endless lines in customs, finding my car, and driving two hours home to Augusta, I was pretty much spent. I think I've managed to avoid the reverse jet lag so far. It was back to classes today. I went to dinner at Carrabba's with Kathy and Alissa. Kinship was great tonight - we sat outside around Will and Sarah's crackling fire pit. Now I smell like wood smoke and Italian food. Makes me want to go camping. And eat more Italian food.