3.31.2009

"…because watching her face as she recites the movie playing in the background is infinitely better than watching the movie itself."


"

i love her…

…and those split second fissures where she offers half-understood secrets. the hotel room, seventeen floors above any waking life, two hours to sunrise city traffic. i kissed her tears, silent and small, not to condemn and remove them, but to show i find them precious.

"

"

i love her…

…and the art she makes. her style is a harsh mix; gradeschool idealism with darkerside symbolism. checkers and flatlines, vitals and halos. childlike, disturbing. for my birthday she gave me one of her pieces. it was my favourite gift.

"

"

i love her…

…and when we kiss, it still feels the same as the first time, the magnetism, that pull, the way my stomach drops clear out, down to the floor, and she catches me, my breath, and with both hands holds me from falling harder.

"

i love her…

…because when i bring over a $50 bottle of vodka in the shape of a crystal skull, she knows to laugh. but i love her more because then she puts it in her freezer next to the chicken fingers and takes pictures.

"

visit http://iloveherellipsis.tumblr.com/ to find a million more beautiful odes from one magical poet to her divine subject of affection.

3.30.2009

"That's so sixteen-year-old boy with a cheesy mustache..."

For the past two weeks in my Adolescent Literature course, we've coordinated to have guest speakers (our group asked my mom to speak for our topic and she was brilliantly articulate) present on "adolescents at risk" topics (such as homelessness, abuse, substance abuse, eating disorders, suicide, etc.). One of the presenters tonight showed us the following clips:










I'm sure you get the topic by now and you can check out more here:
http://www.thinkb4youspeak.com/

3.27.2009

Jai Ho


Kaizen: Sooo I am totally impressed with myself because I learned the dance that the actors from "Slumdog Millionaire" perform to "Jai Ho"! It's so much fun and it doesn't look the greatest coming from me but I'm happy that I just took the initiative to do it! If a physical activity isn't fun, then it's not for me; but this was totally fun and worth my time!!! :)

Here's a link to the dance performed during the credits on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nOVggxZPL0&feature=related

And here's the video I used to learn it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7AuQKFlhXI&feature=related

And finally, the Pussycat Dolls' version (because yay it's in English and I can understand the words): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrVlBrooxcM

Poetry? Dead?

Not as long as I'm not!

This headline on msn.com caught my eye: "End of the line for poetry?"
Here's the article, if you're interested: http://www.newsweek.com/id/191012?GT1=43002

I searched the web and aha! These people would like to disagree: "Poetry still alive, relevant to youth" at http://media.www.tcudailyskiff.com/media/storage/paper792/news/2008/04/23/Opinion/Poetry.Still.Alive.Relevant.To.Youth-3342226.shtml

And here's a treat, proof that poetry is well and alive and glowing and unafraid:

Peddler

by Sandra McPherson

The man vending needles at our door
Was lucky to greet you.
He looked poor but you acted needle-poor
Where I’d have said, I don’t need ...

He sells needles to prick your heart
And they’ll take small bites
Out of my finger in a layer of skin
Where my feelings are thin.

The old thread knitting together his many wools
Might last another trudge
To our porch: he came last year but I
Refused and barely looked him in the eye.

I’ve lost how many needles since then?
Besides he is mute
And would see how dumb we are to buy
Three hundred needles for relief.

But he supplied us to the end of life.
I’ll give away some.
And you might never use these points
That push through cloth, cut to be made one.

More "Lost" love:

[Terry O'Quinn/John Locke]

Check out this neat-o photo gallery of our favorite "Lost" characters before they ever even came to the island...

[Josh Holloway/Sawyer/LaFleur]


[Evangelline Lilly/Kate]


[Naveen Andrews/Sayid]


Ah, "Lost"...

I love "Lost". Last night's episode was pretty good (not the best, but still good, especially since Siyad is such a great character). Anyhow, here's a way cute photo shoot with Matthew Fox and Evangeline Lilly (I know a lot of people don't care for it but I love Jack & Kate as a couple)...





Check it at entertainmentweekly.com

Where the Wild Things Are



One of the best children books ever--now they're making a movie about it! Oh please oh please oh please do it right...

3.26.2009

My own versions:

**We should k i s s:
  • on a swingset
  • in the ocean
  • on a street corner at night
  • at a wedding
  • next to a monument
  • in the middle of the road
  • with our arms around each other
  • in a tree
  • like butterflies do
  • upside-down, Spider-Man style
  • like it'll be our last time...
*******



**I will:
  • feed the dog
  • keep the house dust- and dirt-free
  • make you homemade gifts for every holiday and birthday
You will:
  • clean the litter box
  • do the dishes
  • tell me you love me even when I upset you
*******

3.25.2009

Pass it on!

My Favorite Picture



My Favorite Poem {today}


I am not from here

I am not from here,
my hair smells of the wind
and is full of constellations,
and I move about this world
with a healthy disbelief.
And I approach my days and my work
with vaporous consequence
a touch that is translucent,
but can violate stone.

Jewel


My Favorite Item of Clothing

summer dresses


My Favorite Quote {today}

"The minute you choose to do what you really want to do, it's a different kind of life."

R. Buckminster Fuller


My Favorite Place(s)

1. My home

2. Anywhere I'm creating

3. Anywhere Chloe, Amy, or James is

4. Orlando (Disney, Universal, Ikea)


My Favorite Song {will always be:}

"Your Song" by Elton John

"...I hope ya don't mind,
I hope ya don't mind

That I put down in words

How wonderful life is

While you're in the world..."


Disney Princess

[not technically a princess]

Mulan

3.24.2009

Vignette

Ma took us out to dinner, my fiance and me. It was nice to be treated to a meal out; being in college doesn't allow much room for extras like going to restaurants or the movies.

Before she met up with us, Ma called to ask if she could spend the night--at my apartment. Weird, but how could I say no? She said she had to be in town early the next day anyway so it made perfect sense that she would stay the night instead of driving home just to drive right back up. Besides, it would be pretty rude and un-daughter-like to dismiss the idea. I was afraid of her judgement, though; would she think my home was too cluttered or too dirty or filled with all the wrong stuff? Would she dig through our fridge and our pantry and then criticize our eating habits? Would the guest bed be too hard or would the sheets smell funny or would the cat bother her at night?

That night, after dinner (and 20 ounces of Sangria), Ma asked me to drive back to the apartment. My stomach ached with butterflies the whole way there.

At the apartment, I typed up some homework and my fiance played some video games and Ma read before she announced that she was ready for bed. I made the guest room as comfortable as possible, bringing her extra pillows and my fiance's phone charger (because she forgot her own) and clean matching towels for a shower in the morning. She was both gracious and grateful; I wanted to do more for her but she insisted she was fine.

In the morning, she whispered "bye" to me and told me to look on my fridge for a hidden message. When I got up an hour later to take the puppy out, I remembered there was a message waiting for me in the kitchen. I searched the outside of the refrigerator for a post-it note or a piece of paper but there were only magnets. Then I saw it, in the bottom left-hand corner of the freezer door, some of the magnetic poetry arranged as "Hugs and kisses. You are my heart".

I guess she didn't judge me after all.

EverYthinG is worthy of Documentation


In a recent post, a blogger friend asked for suggestions for spring break activities. Here are some ideas I came up with for her and some more that I added just now and I want to try all of them myself asap!

Enjoy :)

Suggestions for stuff to do: create! Paint, explore your town/city, bike ride, people watch, meet up with friends every day, go to a karaoke bar, dress up, write your own movie reviews, make lesson plans or activities [for those of us who are or aspire to be teachers], de-clutter your home, go through old journals, re-read books from your childhood, record record record [favoring quote of the week is "Everything is worthy of documentation"], listen to music [both new and old and familiar and unfamiliar], journal, write a novel, write poetry, write music, make a movie, write up short-term and long-term goals, make a collage, sketch, draw cartoons, go to the library, take some time away from the computer and tv! :)

3.21.2009

Kaizen of the year, maybe...

[can't remember exactly where I found this pic but it looks like something done by yaelfran on Etsy]

I had forgotten how good it feels to help a stranger without being asked or prompted, but just because you feel like being kind. I think that's what Jesus was all about--serving others without expecting anything in return--and it's quite an exquisite feeling, just to be even a little bit closer to Him.

3.20.2009

What's better?

Seriously, what's better than a good book and a cozy nook?

Mmmhmm. Exactly.





3.19.2009

The optimist sees the donut...


So, I feel like the biggest idiot in the whole world because I got scammed at work today by some dude using an invalid travellers' check (worth two hundred stinking dollars). Amazingly, James walked into the store just a few minutes after it happened so he helped me calm down ('cause I knew something was suspicious and I shouldn't have fallen for this guy's scam) and that was good because I was feeling pretty scared and shitty.

ANYHOW! I was having a SUPERB today before that, so as the optimist, I am focusing on the donut, if you will, and not the hole (for that is precisely what the pessimist would see instead):
  • At the store, I actually used a coupon that I cut out (I usually just cut them out and forget to use them)
  • Sharing my breakfast with Jelly Bean and watching an episode of "Jeopardy!"
  • On the way in to work, I decided I'd turn the radio to a classic rock station today; but when I got there, Karah already had the radio tuned to a rock station!
  • I woke up early, even before my alarm went off; my mind was racing and ready for me to get up and start doing stuff
  • I finished reading The Giver by Lois Lowry--and loved it!
  • I was able to get most of my Adolescent Lit homework done
  • The Bum wrote to me on facebook--which means she's home!!! :)
  • Straightened hair + pink-n-black-with-hints-of-skulls outfit = cute punk look
Like Chloe learning from her sunburn, I'm going to learn from this experience. And I'll never ever ever let someone scam me like that again.

3.13.2009

AT WAR WITH THE LOVE OF MY LIFE


Oh, my. I am IN LOVE with this new Sean Kingston/Lil Wayne song called "I'm at War".

Here's a link to the regular version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erP35TQJhAM&feature=related

And here's a link to a "cuter"/had me laughing on the floor for quite a while version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xJdj_jKDFg&feature=related


Peace, yo! :)

Oh, it is love

Kaizen: Putting James before myself by giving him extra time and love tonight

3.10.2009

I love you like Ellen loves Portia



This artist is pretty sweet; check 'er out!

*******

Kaizen: Put my heart and soul into my Speak alternative book report; it's really beautiful and I can't wait to post pictures of it (but I had to turn it in today so I can't yet)! :)

3.09.2009

Glamour's 70 Years of American Style Icons

I found this adorable photo shoot/article online that features current stars representing famous American icons. Here's the link: http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-look/womens-history-month/staticslideshowglamour.aspx?cp-documentid=18279904&imageindex=1

Plus, some of my favorites:

Hayden Panettiere as Amelia Earhart


Emma Roberts as Audrey Hepburn


America Ferrera as Dolores Huerta (I didn't know about Dolores before this article but she was a "fierce advocate for migrant farmers" and "cofounded, with César Chávez, what became the United Farm Workers of America")


Alicia Keys as Michelle Obama


Alexis Bledel as Rosie the Riveter

3.06.2009

Oops!


I haven't Kaizened in so long! That's bad! So! Today's Kaizen(s):
  • ...that I remembered to Kaizen! Maybe if I make it a point to make Kaizen goals every day, I will remember...
  • ...listened as my poor co-worker vented about her frustrating evening (even though I should've been doing homework); I've gotta get my priorities straight. The people in my life are more important than working and school. Right now, my priorities are school -> work -> people -- and that is just WRONG. So here I have my NEW and IMPROVED and PICKLED priorities: spending time with/caring for people I love/care about -> my own well-being (taking time to journal and sketch and create and read) -> school/homework -> work. Ugh. Serious, so little time, so much to do [i'd like to spend my days with you]...

3.04.2009

Speak


*sigh*

I hope you have read Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson; if you haven't you need to. The narrator is quirky and humorous and relatable--and she'll also break your heart. Imagine James' surprise when a little more than half-way through the book I burst into tears and sob uncontrollably and he asks me what's wrong and I cannot speak I am crying so hard so all I can do is hold up the book to try to make him understand. It made me so angry that other people--especially the people who were supposed to be her friends and even her own parents--couldn't see her silence as a cry for help. Also, I'd like to be a teacher like Mr. Freeman. :)

Yeah, it'll break your heart
but it'll plant a new seed in there, too.