Boji

It's been a while.

2011-10-19T12:51:00.001-07:00

I have been playing around a lot lately with my seriously superior iPhoto skills...

What if any of these were my room? I need a change.

2011-02-23T11:32:00.001-08:00

To my devoted 0 fans, this beautiful hand is back to the keyboard.
Now if only going back to my old room were as easy as going back to blogging.

Lightrail.

2010-02-04T21:50:00.000-08:00

Today on the lightrail:
Woman with a lot of Groceries: Hi, can I sit here?
Joanna: Yes.
Grocery Bag Woman: Thanks. I just got done shopping.
Joanna: Yes I can tell. Your bags smell like frozen pizza.
Grocery Bag Woman: Ha, Would you mind holding one?
Joanna: a pizza?
Grocery Bag Woman: No a bag.
Grocery bag woman proceeds to drop grocery bag of frozen pizza in Joanna's lap on top of her Latin homework. Joanna begins to shiver from the ice in her lap. Joanna smells like frozen pizza for the rest of the day and her pants remain wet for a few hours. She loves the lightrail mucho.
Note: The photo above has nothing to do with the lightrail.

Glass Families and Banana Fish.

2010-01-28T23:25:00.001-08:00

Ladies and gentlemen, one of my favorite writers of all time died today: J. D. Salinger. I don't know why, but there was something incredibly exciting about reading about the Glass family and knowing that the author who created them was still alive, hoveled away in his rural Cornish shell. Most of the works I read today are written by authors who have been dead for centuries, which is fine by me because I rather enjoy reading Ovid and Virgil. Still, I feel Salinger was a rare breed, and that I need to light candles and mourn his loss while wiping my tears with some pages from his Catcher in the Rye, or something dramatic like that.

Herman Melville

2009-12-20T11:24:00.000-08:00

"All men live enveloped in the whale-lines. All are born with halters round their necks; but it is only when caught in the swift, sudden turn of death, that mortals realize the silent, subtle, ever-present perils of life."
— Herman Melville

You can study too much.

2009-12-15T12:50:00.000-08:00

My eyes are burning two holes into the computer screen from staring at my microsoft word document for hours without end. So, I resorted to ffffound, where I found this picture, and a few minutes of visual relief. I highly suggest this website if any of my two readers ever feel like their eyes are about to rupture from their skull, leaving chasms where all the things that they have just studied can begin to spew out of. That's right, I ended my sentence with a preposition. chaos.

Martin De Thurah. Ya, yes it's human.

2009-12-14T11:22:00.000-08:00

Carpark North “Human”. video done by Martin De Thurah. I watched his short film "We Who Stayed Behind" and some of his other stuff this weekend and competely fell in love.

Oh Movie

2009-09-29T08:34:00.000-07:00

"The Greatest Dad in the World": Even though I believe that this position has already been filled by my own dad, this movie preview kills me. I might be doing my homework at the movie theatre tonight.

How to be Annoying: An Original Playwright

2009-09-19T11:03:00.000-07:00

Characters:
Joanna- early 20's, student/unemployed, enjoys morse code and skeleton buildings. Little Wayne: not really, but close look-alike, late 20's-ish, enjoys diamonds on his grillz and oversized basketball jerseys.

Setting:
Joanna sat on a metal bench widdeling away at her beloved sudoku puzzles while waiting for the light-rail to make its way to her stop. With her earbuds in tightly, she listened to the Lara Croft "Tombraider" soundtrack (Don't judge her.), and wondered whether she'd be cast as a super-hero or villain if someone were to make a x-men character out of her. In sum, she was content. Then immediately, DISTRACTION.
Act I.
Joanna (thinking to herself): What's that? Little Wayne? slothing his way over to my bench? No... wait, really? you're going to sit down next to me? {she looks around at the crowds of empty benches, again noting that they are empty.}
Oh duh, you're just gettin' a drink from the drinking fountain. no bid deal- wait. no. you passed the fountain. code-red. please, no. I just want to play my sudo-
Little Wayne (in soft breathy voice): I was wondering, you know when that trainbus is gettin' here?
Joanna: huh?
Little Wayne: When the next trainbus is commin'.
Joanna (removes earbuds): 5 minutes I think.

Little Wayne stares at Joanna as she puts her earbuds back in, attempts to ignore him and play sudoku for the next 45 seconds. He interrupts, Joanna counteracts, and they engage in the most riveting conversation ever known to mankind:

"What's that? Sudoku. No, I mean that big-ass scar on your arm. Oh, this one? YE-aah, that one. Right, it's a 'big-ass' scar. Why? I broke it. Why? gymnastics. Oh I see, I see, you wanna da be a cheerleader. No, I actually didn't make the team. OH DE-AAAAMN, you feel tougher now? No, why would that [not making the cheer team 10 years ago] make me feel tougher now? 'Cuz you got'a bad-ass scar."

Act II.
Little Wayne follows Joanna onto the the light-rail and insists on sitting next to her. She tries to end the conversation but Little Wayne resists. At this point, there are several people watching in amusement, or horror, depending on their individual take on public exposure.

"I'm gonna finish my sudoku now. Am I being all annoying and shi*? Yes. How you play that suu- dO-ku-o? You play it like any other puzzle. Ya, but dat's all numbers and shi*. Ok I'm turning my i-pod back on now. Yo, I gotta bad ass scar too. please don't show me, Cool. Ya but I do feel tougher cuz you know I jumped outta' a car on the freeway and shi*. That's unfortunate. I'll show you. No, don't. It's just right under my shirt stop trippin'. No seriously, don't show me. A'ight, right here, see? Ok that's not even a scar; that's a scab. Ye-aah, the dr.'s said it won't never be like my other skin again. Stop picking at it and put your shirt back down. I'm just always gon' have dis scar forever. Seriously it's just a scab. Like, it aint never gonna go away. That sucks, put your shirt back down. Oh, yo I got to take this {Cue Notorious B.I.G. ringtone}, it's my music agent."

Believable: Supper with the Pitts

2009-09-19T02:56:00.000-07:00

This is just how I've always imagined Brad Pitt in his leisure: a casual middle class family dinner complete with sloppy place mats, cafeteria lighting, and a rowdy toddler pawing at his string beans and mashed potatoes. Oh, and I especially enjoy the portable plastic fan in the background.

Me Too.

2009-09-09T08:12:00.000-07:00

People tell me this all the time... picture via fffffound.

On Epics: The Story Of Shalyce & Boji

2009-09-06T11:46:00.000-07:00

Shalyce and I met when we were in the first grade. She is two days older than me. We used to fight about whose dog was the stronger species during recess. I reasoned that naturally my dog was better because we saved sweet Sumi, as we named her, from Taiwan: My pet was international damnit! She had HUGE glasses, and I had to wear dresses to school as punishment for behaving badly at home.
"Why are you wearing a tie with your dress?"
"Umm, my mom made me."
(in reality, I liked the tie because I thought it gave my dress a real 'don't mess with me, I'm a CEO' type vibe.)

Then came band. She was best the drummer that Franklin ever had. After failing miserably with both the clarinet and the flute, I took up the French horn and never relinquished my position as 'first chair' once. editor's note: yes, I wore ties to school and played the french horn. Soon I was playing the "Star Spangled Banner" on my french horn with Shalyce on the snare drum every Wednesday for the school flag raising. I felt so cool. We wore red vests and black pants. We were so cool.

Shalyce and I went to different junior high schools, but later in highschool I found dear, sweet, blunt, amazingly musical Shalyce again. She was a huge germaphobe, and I blew my nose on my shirt if ever I couldn't find a tissue. Chanel and I would follow her after lunch to her fourth-hour class and throw ice at her. We played Hillary Duff and Fefe Dobson covers in her garage. (I actually just watched- the french horn doesn't have much place in a rock band.) She made a fake backstage pass once and snuck into Hillary Duff's dressing room, basically. She can quote you any "Even Stevens" episode that you want.

A few years ago I walked into an internet cafe in Barcelona. I opened an email and read about Shalyce and Nick's wedding. I was sad because I wasn't there, but happy because I love Nick and Shalyce together. Nick has a dog named Moose, and Moose loves Shalyce.

It's Shalyce's birthday today and I imagine that she is going to want to play a never ending game of Settlers of Cataan. That is why I love her. Happy Birthday boo.

Buon Ferragosto!

2009-08-15T10:20:00.000-07:00

For all of my Italian friends and advocates, buon Ferragosto! I know Emily hates this picture, but I needed one of us in Italy in honor of this holiday.

China

2009-08-08T12:20:00.000-07:00

Note: the writing in the third picture (above) is in French. I believe I found the map of china at my new favorite site: strangemaps.wordpress.com. If I had an endless surplus of money, I would probably give up all responsible ambitions, pursue my love of maps, and become a cartographer, among one thousand other things.

Painting My Room... Again.

2009-08-03T10:33:00.000-07:00

Mock me if you will, but I have some of the sweetest dreams while sleeping beneath this not yet quite complete wall mural.

Dance Fail

2009-06-19T11:55:00.000-07:00

I have probably watched this about 30 times today, and it still seems just as funny as it was the first time.

Aerosol Arabic and Art I Like

2009-06-17T11:53:00.000-07:00

I love this.

Barcelona FC!

2009-05-28T10:47:00.000-07:00

picture from justcreativedesign.com.

Last night I watched the Barcelona FC vs Manchester United Match. It made me wish I was back in Europe watching soccer matches on a jumbo-tron somewhere in a crowded city centre, surrounded by people covered in face paint and team kits. Can you imagine what it would be like to be in South Africa for the 2010 World Cup? Wow.

I'm happy Barcelona won; I wish I could have been there watching in the stadium with all the other crazy fans.

(Ps, Ronaldo I still love you. xoxo.)

Writer's Block

2009-04-27T12:30:00.000-07:00

I am writing a paper on Akan funeral dirges. Normally a few videos from youtube can cure my writer's block; but alas, I am still currently 'blocked'. This blog isn't helping much either.

My Boyfriends in Argentina

2009-04-25T11:14:00.000-07:00

....had to play at this stadium rather ugly stadium in La Paz, Bolivia the other day. (Worldcup qualifying match: Argentina vs. Bolivia) There used to be a ban on playing at extremely high altitudes. Why? Because if we are not acclimated to high levels, our bodies are unable to process the thin air and therefore we take in much less oxygen. This is bad news for a soccer team. When Argentina played Bolivia in La Paz, they weren't used to being 12,000 ft above sea level and lost by 5 GOALS. You usually don't see stuff like that in soccer. Especially when Argentina is superior to everyone. basically.
Even my boyfriend Messi said "Es impossible." as he described his breathless 90 minute match. Why was the ban lifted? And also, I'm so over Maradona as Argentina's coach.

Above: My future husband Messi. xoxoxo.

They are normally more photogenic than this.

Font I Like:

2009-04-24T07:59:00.000-07:00

SOS. Getting distracted at school with typeface, NEED to study.

This is hilarious.

2009-04-16T08:34:00.000-07:00

Language Spotlight: Galician

2009-04-15T22:04:00.000-07:00

Patre Nostre in Galician. Galician: spoken in Spain. On that note, if anyone in Spain wants to hire me to come explore their country this summer, teach me their language, or lay by their beaches, I'm all about it. And not that I'm picky, but I'd prefer bilingual Basque/Spanish speakers.

"A fairly tense experience..."

2009-04-09T08:44:00.000-07:00

And the caption reads: "Sitting in a 3.8 metre sea kayak
and watching a four-metre great white approach you is
a fairly tense experience."
Interesting. I would say that having tea with your in laws for the first time is a fairly tense experience; but having a near death/ Jonas- in-the-whale experience is most definitely much more than something of a tense nature.

I'm all about it.

2009-04-08T02:01:00.001-07:00

Dan Funderburgh

2009-03-07T08:46:00.000-08:00

xoxo. danfunderburgh

New Pepsi Signage... ya not so much.

2009-02-06T07:49:00.000-08:00

Weird, these two trademarks look oddly similar to eachother. Now, I'm not trying to discredit Obama's campaign by any means. No one could argue that it was anything but brilliant- the fonts, logos, etc, despite their political ideologies. However, I AM terribly indifferent towards Pepsi's new signage. I know it's been out for a while now, but I hate it. I don't even drink Pepsi, but if I did, I would stop. Hey Pepsi, it worked for a presidential campaign, but sometimes people just want to drink soda and not feel all political about it. Plus this reincarnated logo just looks ugly on a pop can.

Everything sounds better in Latin.

2009-01-19T11:30:00.000-08:00

Or roughly translated, Omnia dicta fortiora si dicta Latina. Why does everyone think Latin is a dead language? There is a google in Latin, a wikipedia in Latin: vicipaedia, and further, it is even the declared language of Vatican City. The NYT even did an article last year noting the growing popularity of Latin classes in middle schools. It has been used in movies far too lame to mention on this blog, (Into the Blue- vomit), as well as some movies that are more than mentionable- Boondock Saints and Tombstone, and even our friend Harry Potter spouts off the occasional Latin here and there.

I Want One!

2009-01-16T09:03:00.000-08:00

The prevailing Mongolian style of life is pastoral nomadism- and this little baby nomad, holding this little baby goat/lamb/or whatever, is about the cutest thing I've ever seen.

Robert Saviano

2009-01-14T13:55:00.000-08:00

I apologize about the graphic book cover, but I have long wanted to read Robert Saviano's true story about his experience with one of Italy's largest crime syndicates, Comorra. The book became a worldwide bestseller a little while ago, but Saviano has been living under police protection for the past 2 years. Only a few months ago, a Naples area mafia vowed he would be dead by Christmas. He is still alive, but says "I don`t regret having written this book but I do not love it, because it has taken away my freedom."
How could I not want to read this book? I went to Barnes & Noble to buy Gomorra, but when I asked a worker to help me find it, she looked at me like I was an alien. Am I the only one who has heard of this book? I'm confused.

Alert: Here's What We're Googling

2009-01-13T10:41:00.001-08:00

The fourth most searched query on the internet today is a "New Kids on the Block Cruise." I repeat: The fourth most googled topic in America today is a NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK CRUISE. I confess, I'm incredibly curious as to how such a cruise would pan out, and I can't say that I would turn down the opportunity to find out if it ever came my way. In any case, I love seeing what people are googling sometimes. A while ago, the second most searched item was an invisibility cloak. Actually, that one turns up more than one would expect.

It's kind of interesting how google can track trends by what people search for. They can now even predict future hot zones for possible flu break outs. They call it, "Flu Trends", and if you're interested, you can read more about it here, or at least just check out what America is googling- it always makes me laugh.

Unrelated: I like this kitchen, and it kind of reminds me of Keighley.

The India Vogue Debacle

2009-01-12T09:06:00.000-08:00

The controversy: 16 page editorial spread in Vogue India

The argument: The editorial spread was “not just tacky but downright distasteful” ... denounced as an “example of vulgarity.”

The rebuttal: “fashion is no longer a rich man’s privilege. Anyone can carry it off and make it look beautiful.”

Closing thoughts: Humanity and Common Sense VS. Team Vogue

Humanity and Common Sense: "There’s nothing “fun or funny” about putting a poor person in a mud hut in clothing designed by Alexander McQueen...", "There are farmer suicides here, for God’s sake..." (referring to thousands of Indian farmers who have killed themselves in the last decade because of debt.)

Team Vogue: “We weren’t trying to make a political statement or save the world.”

Some personal thoughts on Team Vogue's closing argument, We weren’t trying to make a political statement or save the world: No duh.
***excerpts from this NYTimes article here.

My Non-Resolutions

2009-01-08T09:58:00.001-08:00

I don't make New Year's resolutions mainly because I can never keep them, and I can't think of a more horrid way to start a new year than to start it by failing at something from the get go. But this is not to say that I don't have long term goals, or that I don't look back on 2008 and make a mental note of things I would have done differently, ie: hanging a mosquito net above my bed in Africa. Anyway, here is a visual representation of my non-resolutions, completely unrelated to 2009.

Learn how to cook something- salad doesn't count.

Happy Birthdays...

2008-12-20T09:55:00.000-08:00

Today is the birthday of two of my dear friends: Emily and Summer. Happy birthday, love you both.
Also, the 17th was the birthday of two of my other dear friends: Niki, as well as Shalyce and Nick's new baby boy Rilus. I love you both too.

Some Favorite Things: part 2

2008-12-19T10:13:00.000-08:00

The world, globes, maps and globe lamps.

These earrings: mainly so I could give them to Niki for her birthday.
I think she'd really like them.

Traveling, pocket journals, foreign currency that looks like monopoly money.

Charles Dickens, Barnes and Nobles with two floors.

Eastern things: an indiansummer blogspot

Skeleton keys or spare keys

Origami

My family. miss you Brett. xoxoxo.

Oh Germany

2008-12-17T09:52:00.000-08:00

I could watch this all day.

Also, what's up with my banner? Will someone please help me (cough: shalyce.)

No Sleep + Studying =

2008-12-16T00:51:00.000-08:00

Finals are driving me completely crazy.

I Love You, but...

2008-12-12T01:29:00.000-08:00

Well said. Alex Holder and Ross Neil: a collection of "I love you buts..."
First found on: SwissMiss

Please...

2008-12-10T16:59:00.000-08:00

...stop honking at bikers. It startles them. Then they crash.

Corpse Bride Piano Duet

2008-12-03T11:11:00.000-08:00

...performed solo.

A New Jo

2008-11-29T10:39:00.000-08:00

I always love finding people with the same name as me. Usually I come across "Joanne"s or "Jo Anna"s, but rarely do I discover just "Joanna"s. So here we go:

Joanna Newsom: Outstanding musician- plays the harp, sings, and writes. Recently, my friend Landry sent me this picture saying, "Jo, I think someone's stalking you and secretly painted your picture." Really, it is just a beautiful painting of Ms. Joanna Newsom done by Etsy artist theblackapple. I don't really etsy much, so I'm not sure if I cited her properly, but the picture was really good, and if it wasn't sold out already, I might have even purchased a copy for myself. Though perhaps that is slightly narcissistic of me.

The Best Part of Panda Express

2008-11-25T23:21:00.000-08:00

...is the fortune cookie.

Uzbekistan Rolls Deep

2008-11-24T10:02:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures of a few metro stations around the globe. I saved my favorite station for last. The picture above is the entrance of The Porte Dauphine station in Paris.

Stockholm, T-Centralen Station

Tashkent, Mustaqilik Maidoni Station

Out of these three, I've only been to the metro station in Paris. But maybe someday, if I'm terribly lucky, I will meander over to Sweden and Uzbekistan as well.
Postscript: Yes, Summer Holm, I have a blog. GUILTY. whatever.

I Normally Feel Like This

2008-10-08T01:00:00.000-07:00

Sike. I'm UNEMPLOYED.

Festival of Colors (Holi)

2008-10-03T14:12:00.001-07:00

Class: World Religions
Subject: Festival of Colors
Student: Joanna Christine
Class Participation: "I've been to that! I've been to that!"
Professor: "Oh wonderful, tell us about it."
Joanna Christine: "It was fun; people threw paint in my face and months later I was still scrubbing the chemical saturated dye out of my scalp. Oh, and I felt really exotic." (see above)

Attention Jim & Pam Fans

2008-09-29T09:56:00.000-07:00

If you like The Office, then you might also enjoy this:

Penmanship 101

2008-09-27T14:39:00.000-07:00

I took a handwriting analysis online, obviously. It was really hard using a track pad instead of a mouse, (or maybe I just have room for some serious improvement) but even still it was some what interesting. I guess my signatures say that I am a.) too afraid to use my own name,
b.) obsessed with Charles Darnay, a fictional character in A Tale of Two Cities and c.) an introvert who is rather shy in social settings.... In summary, no surprises really.

Auf Wiedersehen Emily and Jonathan

2008-09-26T11:55:00.000-07:00

Emily and Jonathan are going back to Germany today. I stole this picture from Emily's blog and wrote the informal way to say goodbye in German, which is actually spelled: "tschüs", but sounds like "chusse", I think. Anyway, goodbye Emily (and Jonathan); we will miss you.
Postscript: Say hello to my favorite place for me.
xoxo,
jo

My Favorite Ligature

2008-09-22T13:54:00.000-07:00

The evolution of the ampersand (or "and sign"): the letters of the Latin word et (definition: and) fusing together as early as the first century A.D. see above, E +T = ampersand.

picture found here.

Shirts by Design by Humans.

picture found here.

How exciting, a blog about my favorite ligature, the ampersand. (that's also the name of the blog and I promise it isn't as boring as it sounds.)

Germany, I Miss You.

2008-09-21T22:39:00.001-07:00

xoxo Deutschland. (photo found here.)

Comic Sans: It's Never Ok.

2008-09-18T15:55:00.000-07:00

I fully support this movement- the ban comic sans movement, that is. I don't necessarily hate the font comic sans, I just think it is incredibly ugly (and by ugly I mean repulsive). In the 7th grade, one of my teachers insisted on typing EVERYTHING in comic sans, claiming that this font was the best because it was the most creative. Quite honestly, there is nothing creative about it- unless of course, you collect beanie babies or fast food coupons. Let's take a look at a few reasons why you should never use this awful font.

Reason #1: A Hardees fast food (similar to Arbys, but not. (?)) customer appreciation survey written in, of course, comic sans = It is a fast food favorite.

Reason #2: Interesting, a fun bus tour to Yosemite = It is vile, and bad for tourism. Would you want to ride on this bus? Neither would I.

Reason #3: The Declaration of Independence OFFENSIVELY written in comic sans = It makes everything look stupid.

Reason #4: Authentic Indian cuisine... probably not so authentic = It is bad for the digestive track and will probably give you shingles.

Reason #5: A very fine award certificate = It will cause addictions and alcoholism.

Reason #6: A pro-life campaign advertisement crafted in Wisconsin = If you use comic sans, you are probably from Wisconsin, will probably have a horrible spring break, and will probably never be taken seriously on any of your political opinions. (Honestly WHAT were they thinking with this one?)

The bottom line is, when you use comic sans, you are only hurting the people you care about most. Additionally, if comic sans were a person, he would probably be a pedophile, and live in his parent's basement at age 42. Is this really the message you want to send to your friends and family? Let's hope not.

Typophyle Film Festival 4

2008-09-14T20:04:00.000-07:00

This makes me smile/cry every single time I watch it.

Treasures

2008-09-13T14:40:00.000-07:00

I am not married or engaged, and I don't have a boyfriend; but, it's comforting to know that some day when I do get married, things like this really do exist:

At first glance I thought that only the groom was on his cell phone; but, upon further examination it would appear that the bride is on an important business call as well. Aside from cell phones and modern technology, wedding star has also considered those couples with a love for all terrain vehicles- quads, four wheelers, or whatever you call them, and diet pepsi.

Happy Birthday Shalycee!

2008-09-06T12:34:00.000-07:00

Today is a good day.

Love in Milano

2008-09-05T12:24:00.000-07:00

If anyone wanted a birthday present idea... well, I would love this necklace. Then I can remember my family all day long every day.

Look Closely

2008-09-04T20:43:00.000-07:00

Proof that not all graffiti is bad.

Have You Seen Me?

2008-08-31T21:42:00.000-07:00

Not anymore! My i-pod is officially missing. We've had a long 4 year relationship, and I can't imagine having to replace it. SOS. Where are you?
******
Edit: My i-pod was recovered at approximately 10 am, this morning.

Happy Saturday

2008-08-30T13:21:00.001-07:00

Too great to keep to myself

2008-08-17T16:35:00.000-07:00

Please enjoy an excerpt from one of my recent g-chat conversations:

Anonymous:Do you ever use the computers in the public library?
Me: um no... i think i have once. are you on one right now? make sure to sneeze all over your hands and then smear it on the keyboard.

Also, this guy is simply outstanding...

For those of you who like shopping:

2008-08-15T00:09:00.000-07:00

Apparently this is just like a mini mall...

What software did he use to produce this advertisement gem? I must have it.

My new favorite

2008-08-12T22:34:00.000-07:00

is Matthew Curry. I found him via the chalkboard blog and immediately fell in love (the platonic kind...) with his awesome illustrations and creative layering. More of his work, if anyone cares, can be found from his design studio here.

On a more bizarre note, has anyone heard of the stiletto race in Moscow? Wow, these girls are crazy, and maybe, my new heroes. They inspire me- even more so than the women from the Cuban volleyball team.

They Called Me "Madame"

2008-07-27T12:19:00.000-07:00

Yes that's right everyone: I brought "peace" to Africa- well, kind of (see end of footage). People always ask me if I'd go back again, despite everything that happened. Answer: yes.

Adam!

2008-02-20T16:27:00.000-08:00

Out of respect and admiration for my dearest cousin Jenna Toronto Rammell, I have decided to treat my fan base of approximately three readers, to a brand new post!  Actually, today is a very special day as it is the birthday of my brother, Adam Toronto.  I would like to just bore everyone for a moment with a favorite memory from my childhood with Adam.

Precocious, indigenous, and utterly abstract,  Adam and I used to collect a farrago of trash assortments.  No really- migrating from one room to another, we would crawl to each trash can in our house and hoard away several different treasures from each basket.  Then, without really knowing why, we would tuck our newly gathered waste into our shirts, handling them the way a hen handles her baby chicks, and begin our sojourn to Jesse's room.  On our hands and knees, careful to not let any of our waste spill out, we would ritualistically chant, "Litter bugs, litter bugs, litter bugs...".  Like insects on all fours, we would somehow fester our way into his room.  A look of anger would fill his eyes just as quickly as surges of excitement and sheer trepidation would wield through our veins.  Knowing that we were about to get our lives handed to us never stopped us from throwing our troves of filthy oddities at him while simultaneously crooning our anthem, "Litter bugs, litter bugs...".  Instead of standing up and running away like any other self-respecting criminal would do, we refused to surrender our insect like characteristics, and would try to escape the fury of Jesse (approximately 16 times my size and 8 times Adam's) by squirming away as quickly as our elbows could drag us.  It did not take long for Jesse to catch up with us but, for fear of sounding too morose, I will let the reader contrive their own ending from here.  Keep in mind, Adam and I usually practiced this ordinance at least twice a week.
I love you Adam. I wish it was still okay for people to throw trash at other people- maybe for us it still is. Next time we are in New York City together, we should give it a go. New Yorkers wouldn't notice a difference anyway. Happy Birthday.
P.s. I realize this is a decade or two overdue, but sorry Jesse?

2007-12-25T12:38:00.001-08:00

Things I Never Knew

2007-08-06T10:29:00.001-07:00

Until my life turns into something terribly thrilling, I will do what I do best- list off dull useless facts.

1.)In warm weather, 6th president of the United States John Quincy Adams customarily went skinny-dipping in the Potomac River before dawn.

2.)A human will die of sleep deprivation before they die of starvation. We can survive about 5 full days with absolutely no rest before we die; whereas, our bodies will take several weeks to starve to death.

3.)There are 7 NEW wonders of the world: "Christ the Redeemer" statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Colosseum in Rome, India's Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, Jordan's ancient city of Petra, the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru, and the ancient Maya city of Chichén Itzá in Mexico.
I have only been to 3 out of these 7: The Colosseum, the Great Wall, and the ancient city of Petra. I am just dying to go to Machu Picchu, and Chichén Itzá. I want to Travel to just about every corner of this earth before I die.

I found these pictures of Shalyce and Nick- It made me smile to think about them when they first met. Nick was outstanding, he hung out with us, became friends with all of us, and was genuinely involved in all of our lives. These pics were taken last summer at the X-Men 3 opening night, where he waited in line with us for hours before the doors opened. I love Shalyce and Nick. Love them.

Happy Birthday Jenna!

2007-06-14T09:04:00.000-07:00

Today is my dear cousin Jenna's Birthday. Jenna is very special to me. Growing up it seemed that our families were always traveling, so we hardly got to see each other. One year though, I remember celebrating her birthday with her in Egypt, or maybe it was Jordan? I do not quite remember; but, I do remember she had a cookie monster cake. I love you and miss you Jenna!

This day is also very special indeed because it is also the day that the Continental Congress adopted our flag. Since 1777, June 14th has been celebrated as "Flag Day". Here are some things I found online, if you feel like being patriotic, which I think you always should. (distinctgifts.com, dollbox.com)

Jenna also shares a birthday with Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of the controversial novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin. Another birthday of note, though not nearly as important as Jenna's or Harriet's, is that of Donald Trump's. But who really cares?

Goodbye Lenin.

2007-06-13T10:36:00.000-07:00

Right now, these are a few of favorite things:
in my ears: Jenny Lewis!

Her album she made with the watson twins is fantastic.

Ingrid Michaelson- Grey's Anatomy, season finale, dramatic music. Thank you Ingrid.

"Girls and Boys" is her new album. love it.

moving on to movies: Goodbye Lenin! So good, a must see for anyone who likes Berlin. Keep in mind, it's completely in German. Don't become too attached to the leading actor because he will soon be my future boyfriend.

Writing: This journal. It just looks exciting. I mean really.

mateoilasco.com. go to this site if you like journals. you won't regret it.

Reading: Edgar Allen Poe, "Annabel Lee". Just a favorite of mine.

"But our love it was stronger by far than the love
Of those who were older than we-
Of many far wiser than we-
And neither the angels in heaven above,
Nor the demons down under the sea,
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee."

Word of the day: Fulminate

2007-06-12T12:05:00.000-07:00

Fathers Day!! is coming up as Leah has mentioned in her blog. I wanted to make my dad a delicious father's day breakfast. French toast kabobs?

I decided that my bed is in serious need of a makeover, and I reeeeeally love these bedspreads. Usually at work, I stalk every interior design website I can possibly think of. I find some outstanding stuff. These are my favorite sites, (other than engadget of course.) decor8.blogspot.com, dominomag.com, desiretoinspire.blogspot.com, ikea.com, and stumbleupon.com.

Also, please note that today June 12th, is the same day that Anne Frank received her diary. To be continued.

Jenna.jenna.jenna.

2007-05-03T12:33:00.000-07:00

I am bored at work; but, this is nothing new. I love my cousin Jenna- as she has graciously offered me an outlet, this website, to suspend my complete state of comatose, even if only for a brief second. I want her dog. and her h.a.i.r. Even more so, I want to know how to use this site in an effort to vanquish the dominion of my unabridged stupidity. help.