Hanging out you'all.

I don't know what this means. I wanted to say ya'll but make sure it didn't sound like I was really saying ya'll. I'm a little bit stupid.

So I'm just hanging out here, we're waiting for my cousins so we can be on our way to GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN!!! I know, you're jealous. You'll just have to control yourself. Sorry. Actually, though, seriously, Grand Rapids is cool and fun. I think. I've never been there in winter time. Though I'm sure it's "cool" in the temperature sense of the word.

Speaking of temperature, oh man, was it a bee-yootiful day! I don't mean to sound all arrogant about how much winter I can handle (even though I mostly hate it), but seriously, 35 degrees felt like summer time outside. I actually heard a lady in all seriousness refer to today as a nice, spring day. It is February 6th, and 35. And yes, in Chicago, and probably in a lot of places, that feels like a nice, spring day when it's been about 60 degrees colder than that with wind chill.

Haha, so it's now like a week and a half later. And there's snow on the ground again. : ( I'm only posting this boring post to give my loyal readers something to read. Haha...more later?

Feeling crafty

And not crafty in a what-new-way-can-I-find-to-embezzle-money type of way either.

With my "sabbatical" from school, I've been "worried" about finding ways to productively spend my time. Really, there's plenty to keep me occupied, for years even (for example, cleaning my room? anyone?) The house is getting refinanced, and the I-make-sure-your-house-isn't-a-dump guy is coming sometime next week, so we have to clean, clean, clean like Cinderelly's friendly mice friends--in other words, super fast. I've had the best intentions of becoming the regular (or at least semi-regular) cook in the house for years. I have literally a hundred Italian lessons waiting on my computer to be taken (I've already taken ten, so...I'm not entirely unrealistic). I also have like six brush up math books stacked beside my bed just waiting for me to crack them open so I can raise my entrance grade for college math (ugh).

BUT. None of that is fun. I feel like a child saying that, but really it's what I'm thinking, so why not just be honest? Actually though, some of that is fun (Italian lessons?). And like for the house, we're halfway through redoing the downstairs bathroom as far as our budget will take us, which is oddly fun.
I've never been very good at it, but I've always like DIY home type of projects--building furniture, painting stuff, and the rest. After my dad did all the demo work, I did all the aesthetics like spackle and paint.
It's kind of sad though how the nice new paint sort of exaggerates how ugly the old stuff is. Yuck. Plus I apparently did a poor job of taping that spot.

Back to my original topic. So I like to pretend I'm good at crafts. I have like a bajillion little things I've made around my room--an ugly old basket I weaved for girl scouts, some ugly old pieces of pottery I painted at girls' birthday parties--stuff like that. I love going to craft stores, love buying things from craft stores, but can I really be crafty? I don't know. I do love love love to scrapbook, as I've mentioned earlier, and I would say, with caution, that I think I'm a fairly decent scrapbooker.

But that's the only affirmed even partial skill that I possess. I've done tiny little cross stitches (like the kind with thirteen stitches), and sewn scarves (it can be done--the little triangle ones for your head!), and painted a still-in-commission key rack that, while it mismatches the decor, I dare say is quite cute. So I know I at least have the potential, and that maybe what I'm lacking is patience and discipline.

But really, I have like craft store ADD. One minute I'm trying to learn how to stamp extra-nicely, and the next I'm trying to hook rugs. For example, I went to Michael's today. Did I waste my money on scrapbooking stuff, which is at least a semi good investment since I'm actually good at it? No. Guess what I did. I bought a set of knitting needles and some yarn. What kind of needles? How should I know? Is the yarn suitable? You aren't asking me, are you?

This is what's funny about the needles and yarn. I don't know how to knit. Several people have tried in vain to teach me, much to their dismay and consternation. I fail miserably. However, the other day, I was bored (people aren't kidding about idle hands and the like--I get into all kinds of trouble) and some channel I subscribe to on YouTube (it's official; I'm a geek) posted some knitting how-to videos. I see three, and think, yeah, I could definitely do that. Never mind that I've tried. I suppose I've got to admire my optimism and perseverance, or whatever.

But anyhow, I bought the yarn and needles, and thankfully got my wits about me before I actually started to cast on (I know what that means! YouTube told me! I'm like a guy who says he's a doctor from watching ER and House...), and have decided that since sledding at my cousin's house is probably out (it's like 35 under with wind chill), I'll turn it into an everyone-watch-me-learn-to-knit party. Maybe this time will be the charmed one.

So now, if I was unsure before, never fear, business is here!

• Learn to knit
• Scrapbook some
• Keep on Italian
• Get on math
• READ. I'm a dork...
• Clean (blech)
• START WORK ON FEB. 2ND!!! YAY!
• Some intense Bible study (funny that when I finally have the time it's harder to do sometimes)
• Cook some more, organize my recipes--this makes me feel all virtuous and Mistress of the house-ish, organizing recipes...

I know no one else cares about my list, but I just had to get it out and have done with it. And have it permanently embedded in cyberspace for all earthly time so that I actually do the things on it.

And I just said "have done with it," so pardon this digression. I've been saying that a lot, and it's because I have this clip thing in my head of someone saying it, and it's driving me crazy trying to remember where it's from. It's all so vague. This guy is like "Why don't you just something something something and have done with it!" I can't tell who the guy is, what his voice sounds like, what he's telling this person to do--anything. I can just sort of hear the expression and inflection in the voice. He kind of spits the phrase out, emphasizing "have done." And he's British maybe?. I think saying "have done with it," instead of "be done with it," is a vaguely British thing. OH OH OH! I think I know now! He's not British at all! It's Jonah Hill's six year old kid skit on SNL! I'm ridiculous. Look it up, by the way, it's super funny. Oh wait. No. i just watched it. It's not there. Bother and fiddlesticks. It's driving me INSANE that I can't remember what it is! Arg. I'll update this when I figure it out, if ever...

My neuroticisms exposed...

Anything...blah...

So, is it ridiculous that I am up right now? It's ridiculous.

I like to pretend it's still jet lag, but that sounds pretentious and dumb. It is partially jet lag, but it's also the fact that I'm sick, took a benadryl, and gave in to sweet, sweet sleep at 2 in the afternoon, after having awakened not until eleven.

So it's nearly five am, and I've been reading (Clayburn series by Deborah Raney--check them out, they're good), and watching Christmas movies off my DVR (don't get too excited--no good classics, just junky Lifetime originals--huzzah!), and looking at Facebook pictures of everyone else's holidays, and checking up on blogs. By the way, I'm impressed at your keeping up, Joyous. Would that I would continue to be so faithful.

Anyhow, blogging is difficult when, in December, sunshine and seventies are calling your name outside a window that showcases downtown LA and leaks in marching music from the Rose Parade marchers in the Dodgers' parking lot. Some noisy neighbors, those Dodgers. In a good way, though.

Just saying, California is nice. Oh, is it nice. And I missed an earthquake by a day! I left Wednesday, earthquake on Thursday. SoCal was just so sad to see me go, it just couldn't contain its grief. It was shudder-y type sobs for my absence. Funny joke.

I think I'm going to make this an all-nighter (an all-nighter?! after 21?! I never thought I'd see the sunrise again! I feel so old sometimes...). It's to that point where there's just no way you're going to get a satisfying sleep. Like if I went to bed now, I'd either 1. make myself arise at 8 and be a wreck for the rest of the day or 2. sleep in until 1 in the afternoon, feel like a pig for the rest of the afternoon, and then repeat the sleeplessness cycle all over again. And number two isn't an option because I have to get my brother to physical therapy at 11:30. Hence, all-nighter. How bad can it be?

It can be bad. I haven't done this since I was like...16. It's scary to me that that was kind of a long time ago. It feels weird that I can't still say I'm sixteen. Of course, that may just be because it's five in the morning. But I've always had this weird fixation with disbelief at my real age. Not like I'm in denial, like I hate that I'm this "aged," but just a stoner-like (not that I would know anything about stoner-like anything) "whoa, dude, seriously, how can I be old enough to drive?" I'm kind of moronic sometimes.

On another note, I know it's slightly past new years, but I'm still in the new years-y type mood. My NY was nice, but the party was partially outside, and I was cold, and old, and tired, so things felt slightly lacklustre and anti-climactic. And I was away from home. So now I feel like being all new years-ish and stating my intentions for the year.

Numero Uno: more quality time with me and the Lord. I'm such an unmitigated jerk about Him and me sometimes. He deserves super much more than I tend to give.

Secondly, ugh, exercise. Put those fancy MTV yoga/pilates DVDs to good use, get out the old running shoes (which are already out b/c I brought them to California), and just general health promotion. For example, I've decided I may only have one regular size, regular soda a week. I can't quit cold turkey--I've tried.

I also am trying to get up a level or two on my math placements. It would shave quite a bit of time and money off my schooling. So I'll be working on jolly numbers this semester that I have off.

And speaking of the semester off, I have great intentions for it. I plan on being more consistent with my Italian lessons, doing some scrapbooking, reading some good books, exercising more, reading my Bible more in depth, finishing my dad-blamed novel once and for all, and one of the most important things right now, helping out better around the house. My mom gave me a list, and I feel like it'll be more pleasant to do them because she wants them to get done, rather than because I'm made to. I'm stupid, but I, against my own better judgment, resent being told that I have to do things. Isn't that the nature of us all, friends? Anyhow.

I've only killed about twenty minutes writing this, hopefully you haven't killed as much reading it. But I'm going to go find some stuff to do before I fall asleep and ruin everything. Good morning, all!

Happy Christmas (School is Over)

Take that, John Lennon. If only you were so smart. At least school being over is realistic...

Anyhow.

I just finished school yesterday! Hooray! I'm pondering all the possibilities of what I can do with my time before I leave for vacation. Today I've decided I will devote to laundry and scrapbooking.

Yes, scrapbooking. No, I am not an old lady--at least not in the traditional sense of the title--or a SAHM with toddlers biting at my ankles. I am 21, and I like to think I have at least an ounce or so of coolness (and it just dripped out of me once I said "coolness"). Cool kids can scrapbook too.

It's my way of pretending I'm creative. I am most certainly not a rational/logical thinker--I'm much more inclined to creativity--but I have like nothing to show for it. Scrapbooking is the stuff I have to show for it.

Anyhow, I would stay and chat more, but I am for real excited to get cracking. I haven't worked on scrapbook stuff since like last summer, I've been so busy. Toodles, friends!

The Ever Useful Ellipsis...

So I'm waiting for my obligatory holiday mix cd to burn, and decided to check things out here, you know, the whole excitement part of it has not quite worn off yet. But so I was looking at my little archive-y list of posts, and I realized... I used an ellipsis... in every title.

And I wonder, is that going to be my thing, or is that really annoying. I'm leaning towards the obnoxious side. It drives me crazy when people have things. For example, I read one blog the other day where the lady numbered every point she was writing about. 1. I went to the store today. 2. I really like spinach. And so on.

But now that I've started the ellipsis thing, even if subconsciously ("believe me, sir, it was most unconsciously done," I just watched that the other day and now I'm word-vomiting P & P everywhere), can I stop? I would like to stop, but then it's going to bug me that my first five--make that six--posts had an ellipsis in the title. Oh, how obsessive compulsive tendencies plague my existence.

On the plus side, my cd is almost done burning, then I must run off to meeting. I'm kind of weirdly excited because I get to wear these crazy socks I got in Madison over the summer--they're really high, and they look warm, so we shall see! Until next time, viewers, readers, whatever you are.

So this is christmas...

The holidays have arrived. Officially. Because I say so.

Every year I get crankier and crankier about how early we prepare for Christmas--music and decorations up before Thanksgiving, parties before the first week of December is even over. Actually, every year I get crankier and crankier about everything. Ha. But it is in winter that I am at my most cranky. I'm not a fan of winter in general, all the snow, and the bad weather, and the snow...it's something the Lord and I are working on. He made the season after all, why should I hate it? But really, I do. He wouldn't want me to lie either. I like to see winter in pictures, touch it and catch it on my tongue maybe once a year. Do I like to walk around in it? Slosh through it in my supposedly-but-not-really-water-proof boots? Skid around on it in my traction-challenged motor vehicles? No. No, I do not.

And Christmas, while it helps slightly, mostly makes me even crankier. All the fake cheer, ugly decorations, blech. Just the outright cheesiness of it all makes me want to be aloof and mean just to balance things out. I just hate that everyone thinks it has to be Christmas to be nice to each other. See? At the heart of my grouchiness is really love for all that is good and holy. If we were all nice and lovey to each other every day of the year, in a quiet, humble way, we wouldn't feel the need to spew all this "grown-up Christmas wish" crap at each other every December.

And really, that's what gets me. That even though we paste sappy grins on our faces and hold hands like the old Coke commercials, all that good will to men isn't really genuine anyway. We aren't even sincerely nice and lovey to each other at Christmas. In December, people still gesture in not so nice ways when they're cut off. People still cut in line at the McDonald's double drive-thru (not bitter, I promise haha). People are still kind of mean. And for goodness sake, what about that guy that died in Walmart on black Friday? How Christmas spirit was that?

Now I know for all this craziness, there's plenty of happy stories going around too. It's not that I'm such a huge pessimist. I just dislike that there's such a fakey sanction on December that you have to pretend to be all loving and kind, even when you're not. Let people be who they are and that's the end of it. Mean people aren't going to cease being mean just because it's Christmas. Let's not make believe they will.

BUT... but.

As much as I'm not a huge Christmas fan, I can set aside my opinions and appreciate the holiday when I deem it appropriate. The week or two before Christmas is when I deem it appropriate. It's getting to be just that time. For example, just yesterday I busted out my Christmas playlist on iTunes. Yes, I have a Christmas playlist. I like Christmas music for two weeks out of the year. The two before Christmas day, and wouldn't you know, that day is today. I stop after the 25th.

There are some other things I like about Christmas. Tasteful decorations, spritz cookies, White Elephant on Christmas Eve even though I've missed it since 2005. In general, I'm not as much of a scrooge as I let on. I'm just a little more private about my enjoyment of the holiday. I enjoy it, but I don't OMG LOOOOVE it like a lot of people do. That being said, I wish you all very happy holidays, Christmas included. And now, I bid thee, good night.

Oh, Chi-city...

Who doesn't know about Chicago's, and thus Illinois', penchant for corruption? Vote early, vote often and the whole bit. I'm at work, watching children and watching internet news, and what is the first story to pop up? Rod Blagojevich has been arrested! Hahah... I mean, er, what a shock...

Apparently he tried to sell Obama's old Senate seat. : ) Good one, Rod. What a great idea. He also refused to help Tribune Co. with some crazy deal involving Wrigley Field unless they fired people who wrote bad stuff about him in the Trib. : ) The FBI tapped all his phone lines and stuff, and uncovered a majorly huge bunch of corruption. Would it be unnecessary for me to say, I saw this coming a mile away? I suppose so, so I won't say it.

I don't know anything about politics, and my gut feelings are not famous for being right, but once in a while, I guess about stuff. When I heard Rod Blagojevich's name and saw his face, I decided then and there I didn't like him. I could be all psychic-y and say this was why, that I knew he was bad news, but really I just thought he looked and sounded smarmy--well, smarmier than most politicians. So even if I didn't have a reason for not liking him--now I do! Haha. This is not a very Christ-like attitude, so... I really do feel sorry for him that he's been outed in such a big way, but really, you reap what you sow...so...sorry Rod. Sorry you were so greedy. Join the ranks of all the other corrupt Illinois elected officials. You're in...infamous company?

Whatever. Chicago will always be my favorite city ever, in spite of its corruption. Or maybe because of it? It does give the city a certain amount of color it wouldn't have otherwise. The corruption seems kind of like a legacy that tells of its scrappy beginnings. I liken Chicago to a little orphan child who realized it would have to do some dirty work to make it in the world, one who became a saavy little street urchin. Now, it's just a slightly older, wiser street urchin, who has gotten his hands on some nice duds. Ha. I'm too harsh. Chicago really is a great place, in spite of its failings. The city of Big Shoulders may have a bit of a rotten side, but it's still my favorite.