On a Personal Note...

Beatles Song. "In My Life."  PLEASE Listen to it. It's perfect and I love it so much.

It's about how a person loves certain people and things but as life moves and these people and things move into the past, a person begins to love what they have in the present even more. It doesn't mean that they don't love what they had, but they know they more fervently love their current life.

There have been boyfriends that I loved, but I would never go back to. There are lifestyles that I had and think back fondly on, but wouldn't be happy with now. I know that as my affections move from one thing to another, I will someday have the people and things that I was always meant to have. I hope I can live a life that allows me to think back affectionately on what I used to have, but love the present time so much more. What a life that would be. Listen to the song, people. and love it.


All these places had their moments

With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life, I've loved them all.

But of all these friends and lovers
There is not one compares with you.
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new.

Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life, I love you more.

The Decemberists: SLC Twilight Concert Series

On Friday I went to see The Decemberists in SLC. It was fantastic. First of all: it was a free concert, part of the SLC Twilight Concert Series. Second of all: it was outside on a beautiful night. Third of all: It was crazy.

I think my favorite part was the people watching. There were loud people, fun people, fat people, drunk people, stoned people, drunk and stoned people, hilarious people, mean people, Bob Marley people, vintage people, people wearing coonskin hats? nerdy people, sweaty people. So many people. And weed. So much weed. There was this crazy girl in front of us that kept spanking strangers. I felt like I would not have looked vintage/hippy enough even had I gone to this thing wearing my grandmother's prom dress and no bra.  The music was great. My friends were fun. It was a good night. 

Had a thing for the guitarist in the opening band.  (Typhoon was the band)

The Decemberists

Thanks to my friend, Lyle for the rad photo :) 

Here is the concert summed up in a lovely little YouTube. Forgive the poor camera work. I had been on my feet for hours and had been breathing in second hand smoke for even longer. It does things to your perception.

New Girl.

"I'll pick that up laterrrrr..."  

Booyah.

Today I picked a lock on a door with a credit card and it saved me a lot of trouble. I'm totally proud of myself. I understand that, generally speaking, using the term "boo-yah" or "holla" in any context is usually a horrible idea. But, HOLLLAAA! I may have done a celebratory dance similar to Fergie's Boom Boom Pow. You try to copy my swagga.    

On a more cultured note, I'm fond of this song by The Shins: 

 

Word g-money.  

To Each Their Own.

This commercial makes me laugh. I can't decide if my favorite part is when he's telling the fox to get in the back seat or when she feeds the baby birds in his beard. Hoorah for dancing to your own beat.

It makes me think of one of my favorite films, Stranger than Fiction. Seen it? You should. Will Ferrell plays an IRS agent and Maggie Gyllenhaal owns a bakery.

ps. I feel like every time the sun comes up, I have another chance to learn something new and interesting about myself and today I learned this: I suck at Dance Dance Revolution.  

"Adventure Is Out There!"

I'm sleeping at my parents house tonight. My dog just came and woke me up in the guest room and told me she needed to go outside. So I'm waiting up for her return.

This is my dog eating a waffle. Irrelevant. I just like the picture. 

Today was a beautiful day. I bet it's because I left my blinds open last night. I must have some of that moonlight magic. For the rest of this post I just ask of you, my readers, one thing: Please listen to this song while you read. I promise it will do you good. Promise. 

First, I was serenaded at work by a small visitor at my window. 

 

Later, our company closed early because the executives rented a theater so we could all go see Harry Potter.

Maria loves themed social outings. 

I went to go see the UP house again. This time I went to go see how well they secure the premise. I am determined to go up there with a bean bag chair and my computer and watch the movie on the porch some night. 

"I was hiding under your porch because I love you."

"Are you in need of any assistance today sir?"

Then I took a walk with my sister and we found someone eavesdropping on us.

Finally, I took a very bubbly bubble bath.

No complaints. 

Traffic School.

I got pulled over yesterday. I didn't realize I was speeding until after I saw the cop car. For some reason every time I encounter a police officer, I have to think about dead puppies to keep from busting up into uncontrollable laughter. It's odd. Some girls cry. I think this would probably be a more appropriate reaction.

He came over to my window and asked me if I was in a hurry to get somewhere and immediately a number of not-classy and mostly nonsensical excuses came to mind. I have to pee like right now? Pretty Little Liars is on in 15 minutes? I just ate an entire bag of Flamin' Hot Cheetos? I'm going into labor? (Yes, it did cross my mind. No, I'm not pregnant)  I wrestled with it for a half second and then just told him the truth: that I was going home for the day. This police officer was in a pretty good mood. I must have helped him reach his quota or something. He seemed so nice in fact, that I thought there was maybe a chance I could laugh my way out of the consequences for going 15 over. Fail. I have to pay 60 bucks to attend traffic school for three hours. Dang.  

Listen to this song: http://grooveshark.com/#/s/You+Are+My+Home/1zzHDM?src=5  It's good medicine.

Now, I am going to bed. I'm very sleepy. I'm leaving my blinds open because the moon is right outside my window and seems exceptionally beautiful tonight, which also makes me think of this: http://grooveshark.com/#/s/You+Are+The+Moon/efI9?src=5

Buenas noches mis amigitos.  

AKA Amelia Bedelia.

So, this guy in my ward asked me to take care of his plants while he's out of town. I have no idea why he asked me. I must look like the plant-sitter type. I have a bad record when it comes to keeping things alive (just ask my cousins about their rabbit, Snowball, Summer of 94'ish, may he rest in peace) so here's to hoping his cucumbers make it to next week....

Did you ever read the Amelia Bedelia books? My mom used to read them to my sisters and I all the time. The basic outline is that she's a nanny of sorts and her boss leaves the house each day with a list of things she needs to do while they are out. She always misunderstands the list and does it all wrong. I think I might secretly be Amelia Bedelia.  Well, I better go check on the plants.  Goodnight! 

The little socks are my favorite part of this. 

THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak

It's excellent. 

This post is for my own benefit more than anything. I want to remember what stood out to me about this book.  It's set in Nazi Germany about a family that harbors a Jewish man in their basement. The author personifies words to make readers realize their force. I feel like I'm in AP English again. Anyway, from the book: 

Yes, the Fuhrer decided that he would rule the world with words. "I will never fire a gun," he devised. "I will not have to"....he planted them day and night, and cultivated them. He watched them grow, until eventually, great forests of words had risen throughout Germany...it was a nation of farmed thoughts.

Do you know how important words are? Do you know how powerful they are?  Do you realize how much good your words can do? Do you realize how much pain your words can cause?  Be careful with your words. When I think about how valuable they are, I use them differently. This book made me cry.

Captivated.

There are few bands that consistently captivate me. The Hush Sound is one of them. I listen to their music while I'm at work and I'm always surprised at how I find myself intrigued with one of their songs. This causes me to listen to it on repeat for hours. Literally.  I think it's the intricate lyrics. I like poetry and words and such.

If you are listening with a casual ear, you will almost always miss the underlying meaning of one of their songs. But if you take the time to tune in and really listen, you will find that they are actually really incredible poets. I like people that intentionally exercise freedom of thought in order to effectively utilize their freedom of speech. I'm much better at writing what I'm thinking than actually saying it.     

I am your thought but the water is amnesia
my name is on the tip of your tongue
My image is slipping
but your memory is gripping it
this is my breath in your lungs  


Echo, my voice is an echo
of places I don't know
and stories I've been told 

Echo. We all are connected
a lighthouse, a voyage
for history's sake,
will you please take notice? 

- The Hush Sound  

Another Tad of Inspiration.

Three things:

A) "Don't be afraid to go where you've never gone and do what you've never done, because both are necessary to have what you've never had and be who you've never been."

B) Also, today I was using half of my brain to think about my task at hand and the other half to think about foods that sound like they would be disgusting, but are actually super delicious. I get bored at work.  

Chicken Fingers, Tootsie Rolls, Sour Cream, Pickles, Pumpkin Pie, Sauerkraut, Brownies, Creme Cheese, Honey Mustard 

Can anyone think of anything else?

C) Finally: I am in the process of backing up the videos I've taken on my camera. I threw together some of my favorites. So watch for two minutes worth of things that were obviously worth filming.  Most of them involve Maria, ye be warned.

Dating is Awkward.

"Dating is pressure and tension. What is a date, really, but a job interview that lasts all night?"

I went on a date tonight and the guy kept telling me how refreshing it was to have a conversation with an intelligent woman and how he was impressed that I used words like "acclimate". Then we walked to the car and I accidentally sat on my box of Mexican leftovers I'd left sitting in the passenger seat. The evening ended with, "do I have sour cream on my butt?"  True story. Dating...what a fiasco.