Oh my.

I can't believe how much we young people pack our lives.

Communication Breakdown.

Life would just move so much more smoothly if everyone was better at communication. Lately I've been running out like a madwoman, frustratedly trying to figure out scheduling, study plans; trying to figure out what all these people want from me...

whew.

My life's really not that bad, but complaining is an art.

Cozy.

The carnage of last night's supper lies splayed on our countertop, a minimalist Christmas tree like a sentinel in the corner. We are young, and manifestations of our brilliant ideas and obsessions litter this space, awaiting completion.

Ah, three whole days of sleeping in, drinking coffee by the fire and watching the first season of Six Feet Under. I'm so very thankful for this break, even though I'm going broke and I'll soon have to face another whirlwind of a quarter. At this point I'm trying not to think about it.

Fait Accompli!!!

Wooo! I made it through Christmas at work! Now I get to enjoy ten lazy days off being cozy in my awesome new bomber hat that Jordan got me...

http://madbomber.com/madbomber/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=81

The picture doesn't do it justice, but this hat is amazing. The rabbit fur feels so nice on my face, and it muffles out noise (as in, on the bus when I'm trying to read).

Tonight was the big extended family Christmas celebration, which is always just a bundle of hugs, compliments, cookies, meat, meat, meat, and Bob and Augie's guitar playing. My dad and I accompanied them on some carols around the tree (oh so picturesque, I know).

half the fun of it

Christmas is a holiday of secrets. Everyone is talking behind each others' backs and sneaking bags into the house.... It's been so hard for me to keep gifts secret from people:

somebody: "I think I'll buy myself a _______."
me: "No! You shouldn't..."
somebody: "Why?"
me: "Well...because.........[insert sly response to distract victim]."

Tired.

First of all, why you people gotta be so mean? -in reference to someone you probably don't know.

I'm really having fun with the whole Christmas thing, as I've said before. I'm getting Corban figure skates. He's going to start lessons in January. Jordan's getting everyone bomber hats from www.madbomber.com, which is going to be amazing. I'm also going to baking lots of Pulla, which is a butter and egg-packed Finnish cardamom bread.

We're pulling through at work, but the snow slowed us down a bit this week and probably will again after Sunday. I'm praying with all my might to Quetzalcoatl for help. A blood sacrifice will be needed soon.

Christmas madness is almost over though, and then it's on to Valentine's Day!!

Snow day.

Today I attempted to actually brush my teeth for the recommended two minutes--it's absolutely impossible. No human being is capable of completing said deed.

I also got to watch my neighbor's adorable kids for a couple of hours. They are 11, 7, 5 and 18 months old, and we had an awesome time making snowflakes and playing blocks and helicopter. The 18-month-old had lots to say, his favorite being (in reference to an animal of some sort) "He nose!", "He tail!", "He eye!", etc. He also told me his hair was real and pink. hm.

Strange Conditions

Within the past few months, I've been told by more than one doctor or healthcare figure that "I've never seen a case like this before..." Instantly, of course, I begin to run through all the ramifications of that phrase in mind. That could either be very bad or very good.

Finally...

it's snowing!!! We're going to get our tree tomorrow out past Glacier. Now we just have to make the ornaments. I'm stoked for Christmas this year--I'm really getting into it.

Lost a thought and gained another.

My Anthropology class has corrupted me. I dream about ancient hominids, and have words like Zinjanthropus boisei and Homo floresiensis running through my head all day. This last quarter has definitely been the most interesting for me to date, I'm definitely grateful for my awesome professors.

Bahhhh

Blogspot deleted my post yesterday. I will smite the internet.

Mbleggghhhh D:

I dislike being sick >__<

...and working too much. It's okay. The only reason I don't like working a lot is getting up in the morning. It's laaame.

On a lighter note, school ends this week, and I'm definitely ready to get more sleep.

Talking to Myself...

I feel a little lost and alone in my tiny cyberbubble here. Also, I'm sick, and I found out that I'm not very good at gargling. I swallowed a lot of salt water just now. sigh. I'm lucky, though. This is only my second bout of sickness this season. I guess maybe I am taking better care of myself. Kudos to me! Speaking of which, I just dropped a class from Winter quarter, and it's going to be a huge relief. For my independent studies, I need 30 hours of work study/research per credit. That won't be hard for the independent study in chocolatiering, but I'm also setting up a co-op Early Childhood Education study. I already tutor Spanish, but this will mean I actually have to structure it and present my work. I also want to do some site visits and maybe start volunteering at A Step Ahead Bilingual Learning Center. That would be pretty rad.

I watched Happiness the other day. Great movie, and very well done, but so messed up. Or at least it presents you with the kind of subjects no one really wants to think about. Bart's quitting at Blockbuster, so we'll probably lose some momentum on our movie watching, but that just means more reading!

Happy Wednesday!

"I will fall upon her suddenly and destroy her virginity."
-Yigenek, Kitabi Dada Gorgud

Somehow, at least three times in my life, I've unintentionally wandered into cat shows. I think maybe the cat is my spirit animal....

I have many good things to read. For my humanities class, I'll be reading Bobo and the Catfish, an epic word sequence poem by Frank Stanford; part of the Silmarillion, The Battle of Kosovo, parts of the Secret History of the Mongols, Woman of Steel, Another Account of the Queen of Sheba (from the Ethiopian epic The Glory of the Kings), part of Dante's Inferno, part of El Cid, the Nibeleunga-somethin or other, part of Gilgamesh, and some other stuff. I know what I'm doing this weekend.

I'm also performing this weekend! For Friday's Art Walk downtown, the Mahala dancers are doing three shows at 7:00, 7:30 and 8:00 in the Crown Plaza building between the Sandalwood Salon and the Lucky Monkey (across from Taco Lobo). It should be pretty fun, as should the rest of the Art Walk, which features performance art and other local arts.

And...I get to go to Mt. Baker this Sunday! I'm going with my family to get a Christmas tree for the apartment...though I have no idea how to decorate it yet since neither Bart, Jordan or I have any decorations. We'll figure something out I'm sure. Hurray for Christmas! ahhh! I love it.

Friday.

I took the day off of work today, and I'm sitting an my pajamas eating crepes with herbed brie. I'm a happy Aries right now.

Tomorrow is Gretchen's annual Lord of the Rings marathon! I can't wait!

Almost there.

Last night the bus smelled like pumpkin pie. I had been at work earlier, trying to persevere but having a hard time. I'm counting the hours until school is over and I can live at the chocolate shop and go home to nothing but food and books.

The Of Montreal show on Wednesday was nothing short of amazing:
Enter four golden Buddhas carrying the Ark of the Covenant, followed by five androgynous, heavily costumed men. Buddhas start to dance around and music begins...

That was just the beginning. They had tons of props, mostly homemade, backup dancers, a rotating stage, and a screen in the background showing psychedelic subliminal images. At one point they hung the lead singer and later brought him back out in a coffin, covered him in red paint and whipped cream, and proceeded to spray him and the entire audience with feathers from a leaf blower. Needless to say, much fun was had.


Their shows are always different, always ridiculous.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V

I'm

tired.

Microcosms of an Undercurrent.

His heart thuds a dhol beat when they exchange looks,
eyes sweeping in demure parallel; they both lower glances.

In a small place like this, terrible instances occur.
Introverts subtly assert themselves,
explosive phrases whisper.

Heroes Now and Then.

I'm sitting in my apartment, writing this and listening to Akron instead of doing my homework. Once I finish these last few assignments the rest of the quarter will be easy...I just have to actually finish them....

The apartment is cold, all clothes and winter sunshine littering the floor. The light always seems to shine brighter in the winter, such a simple pleasure. I had my 10 ounces of coffee this morning (I'm monitoring it, I'm pretty sensitive to coffee. Once I drank too much and worked 25 hours at the chocolate shop---I never told my boss.)

I'm reading The Book of Dede Korkut (Dada Gorgud) for my Humanities class, and some of their cultural expressions just tickle me pink. The Dede Korkut is the epic of the Oghuz Turks (supposedly the original Turks). The Inner Oghuz live in a tribal Western Mongolian society under various Khanates, and their lives are centered around horses and subsistence farming. Just a few interesting expressions in the book:

• When mourning, the Oghuz tore their cheeks and "wept bloody tears"
• The Oghuz society is quite egalitarian. In the story of Bamsi Beyrek, Beyrek must first beat his betrothed in a horserace, an archery competition and a wrestling match before she will consent to marry him. I thought this part was pretty funny:
• (During Beyrek's wrestling match with his betrothed) "'If I am beaten by this girl, they will talk my head off and say awful things to my face in the land of the Inner Oghuz.' He gathered his strenth and finally threw the girl. He took off her shirt and caught her by the breast while she struggled to free herself. Then Beyrek took the girl by her narrow waist and threw her down again, making her fall flat on her back. The girl said, 'Young man, I am Banu Chickek, the daughter of Bay Bichen.' Beyrek kissed the girl three time and bit her once. Then, putting the golden ring from his own finger on the girl's finger, he said: 'May your wedding be a happy one, oh, daughter of a khan. Let this be a sign of our engagement.'" Wow.
  

C'est la vie.

I feel alone but not lonely.
I feel cynical.
I'm not sure why, but this attitude has been persisting for the whole week. It confounds me to no end. I think my stress is trying to make me believe things that aren't true.