pretty paper.

...lots of it. and some fancy rick rack, a few tags, stamps to say "happy birthday" and wow. all six of the the wonderful women (other than katie, who got hers last weekend)in my life with January or February birthdays...cards done! and on the off chance that one of you might actually see this blog post and feel slighted because your card is very similar to five others, please know that I planned out the paper and rick rack color combination to suit you. and of course the messages on the inside are all very personal. not to mention that I pored over my stamp idea books for hours and hours before I finally settled on this paper (basic grey stella ruby - I love the vintage dress patterns, flowers and colors) and this design. so - cutting paper and ribbons, with maybe just a little stamping is my new favorite way to make cards. good thing - I have LOTS of paper ♥

in other news - I'm going to be doing some serious (for me anyway) business travel in February. check out the sidebar. and I ordered a blackberry today. an attempt to stay connected with my team while I'm wandering near and far. promising myself that this time around will be better and I will not allow myself to check the messages on a saturday afternoon "just to check in". no...work belongs at work. and the rest of my life still needs me.

the month of January has just flown by. I'm really thankful for that extra day in February. I need it to catch up.

oh, and check this out. yes, definitely thinking I need to join in.

make a wish.

1. make a wish 1, 2. making creme brulee, 3. make a wish 2, 4. make a wish 3

...ah yes, a very good time. and seeing these photos, feeling just a bit bad (even "no regrets" me!) that I might've pouted when she refused to pose for a "real" birthday picture.

hope all your wishes come true!

the funniest line from the day goes to sara "mom, where's the blowtorch?" I mean really, how many times can you fit a line like that into normal conversation?

k.

...1987 to 2008. 21 years. only child to older sister. always our first daughter. learning together. accomplishments to celebrate. a beautiful woman you've become. so much laughter. and love. happy birthday!

looking forward to celebrating later today. yummy soup and biscotti for lunch (thank you sara!). pizza and salad for dinner (thank you marc!). and creme brulee for dessert (thank you sara again!)... guess celebrating=good food in this family! plus a movie and maybe a visit next door to see baby brooke and mommy holly. fun times. very blessed. and grateful.

Music-Happiness

Lately, I’ve been music-happy, what with my brand-spankin’-new iPod (of the “Classic” variety) and all of the coolness that it embodies. It is beautiful and silver and shiny and colorful and it actually works. And it can house 80 gigabytes of whatever media form I want to put on it. (Still tackling the video download thing, but I’ll get there—eventually.)

And here, in honor of my currently purple iPod (do you really think I wouldn’t buy something to protect my most valuable possession, and I am most definitely not exaggerating? My iPod and my glasses are my most prizes possessions.), I give you a shuffle. Prepare to have your mind blown away!

“With a Little Help from My Friends” by The Beatles. A new addition. After seeing Across the Universe (and if you haven’t it’s out of DVD the first Tuesday in February, whenever that is), I really enjoyed comparing the originals with the movie’s adaptations. I know it’s probably sinful to say this, but I like Joe Anderson’s and Jim Sturgess’s version better. But this is also pretty darn good.

“Oh Yoko” by John Lennon. Okay, the music gods are definitely trying to make me feel guilty for just giving the shaft to John, Paul, Ringo, and George. Regardless, this is a pretty great song, and probably because of its repetitiveness, not despite that.

“Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite” by Eddie Izzard. Okay, this is definitely a sign. Honestly, I do prefer the original over this, although this is just seems to me a wonderfully insane song that played at an equally wonderfully insane part of Across the Universe. Right after it got pretty trippy.

“Into Dust” by Ashtar Command. I really love Chris Holmes. He’s produced some Joshua Radin tracks, but he also has a really nice voice (soft like Radin’s) and Ashtar Command is his “side project.” But this nine-minute-plus song played on The OC in really what is one of the most significant moments of the show. I won’t rant on about stuff that probably nobody else but me remembers, but I’ll just say that it was the moment when Ryan finally understood that it in fact was not his destiny to save Marissa. It was the end of their story—his moment of closure. And what a wonderful way to mark it with this great cover of the Mazzy Star track. (Edited to add: God, I do talk about these people as if I knew them. And the sad part is that I kind of wish I knew them. I mean, don’t we all want a Seth Cohen in our life to add unnecessary humor to a tragic situation? Or a Ryan Atwood over whom we can quietly brood in true Atwood fashion? Or a Kirsten Cohen who will offer perspective in the most troubling of situations? Or a Marissa Cooper with whom we can compare our lives and be thankful that we don’t have it that bad? Or even a Julie Cooper, because don’t we all wish we were that awesome?! I know I’m not the only one, whatever you may think.)

“The Pageant of the Bizarre” by Zero 7. You know, I really am a click-happy music fan, and this, as well as so many other songs currently occupying my iTunes Library, are products of that habit. This song is as well, but at least it serves a purpose and contributes to my mega-OC playlist, which really does need revising. Still, it’s a decent song.

“The End of the Road” by Boyz II Men. It’s on The OC playlist, so don’t go assuming I listen to artists that put a “z” where there should be an “s” or “II” where there should be a “to.”

“All You Need Is Love” by The Beatles. This is like how you put my mom’s iPod on shuffle and 75 out of 100 times a Billy Joel song will come up. When you have the room to put it on your iPod, you put it on. And I’ll say it again (despite my prediction that 8 other Beatles songs will pop up after this and/or my DVD of Across the Universe will mysteriously not work), but I prefer this song when it plays in Across the Universe. But that’s merely a product of the moment when it plays, as well as Dana Fuch’s catchy “love is all you need”s throughout the middle of the song. Okay, the song’s about to end and it’s…

“Get What You Need” by Jet. Jet is one of those bands that makes catchy really loud, but really catchy songs. Still, watching Kate Winslet do a weird jig-thing in The Holiday is seriously cringe-inducing. Sad.

“Girl” by The Beatles. What is this?! Agh. On the bright side, at least it’s The Beatles that occupy a lot of my iPod and not Fall Out Boy or some other equally terrible band that fill the iPods of some of my peers.

“Loose Lips” by Kimya Dawson. Dawson, a member of The Moldy Peaches, an indie/alt-folk group (I think I read a description similar to that somewhere, but if it’s not accurate, whoops!), is features heavily on the soundtrack for Juno, which, by the way is AMAZING, and I feel sad that it probably won’t win Best Picture or Best Actress at the Oscars, even though it totally should. Ellen Page is amazing in the title role, and the movie as a whole is the best that I've probably ever seen. Diablo Cody, the screenwriter (and also a fellow blogger), is my hero. I hope one day I can write a script as charming, funny, and generally awesome as Juno. Anyway, back to this song, it’s basically a lot rambling, as the title implies. And also some extra Bush-trashing.

“Boy’s Gone” by Jason Mraz. Again, a product of having 80 gigs of free space to occupy. Still, I have to credit Jason Mraz for his style—he blends hip-hop, acoustic beats, and radio-friendly pop to create his own sound. He also provides great commentary on the many VH1 nostalgic programs.

“Evil” by Interpol. Interpol must be pretty freaking amazing if The OC and Friends both felt they were awesome enough to be featured on their shows. If they’re good enough for the geniuses behind those shows, they’re more than good enough for me.

“Make This Go on Forever” by Snow Patrol. You know, I really like Snow Patrol. I think lead singer Gary Lightbody has a really incredible voice and the rhythms and lyrics are really just so memorable that a random Snow Patrol song will occasionally pop right into your head even if you haven’t heard it in a long time. And that’s a real feat.

“Cliquot” by Beirut. I really love Zach Condon’s voice. It sounds sort of foreign to me, so it’s a bit surprising that he’s from Santa Fe. Still, he’s managed to really impress me with “Postcards from Italy,” “A Sunday Smile,” and “The Penalty,” the last two of which are featured on his latest album, The Flying Club Cup.

“The Magic Number” by Blind Melon. Of “No Rain” fame (you know, the 90s hit with the bee girl video?), Blind Melon takes on School House Rock. And I have to say this is just so less annoyingly catchy than those songs were—but I guess that’s how you get kids to remember to “unpack [their] adjectives,” or remember the Preamble to the Constitution (and how many of you are trying to recite it right now?). I was actually first introduced to School House Rock in the fifth grade. And I remember not being able to sleep because that dumb adjective song was stuck in my head. I think I cried that night.

“No More Empty Words” by The Thrills. I really enjoy The Thrills, what with their Irish accents and upbeat sound. I really enjoyed their most recent album, Teenager, but I think “Big Sur,” off of So Much for the City, is probably my favorite song of theirs. It’s that OC factor.

“Pagan Angel and a Borrowed Car” by Iron & Wine. Man, I love Iron & Wine a bunch. Especially Sam Beam, he of the massive beard, and his airy, wispy voice. Perfect.

“Embryonic Journey” by Jefferson Airplane. You’d think I’d be a major dork for having Jefferson Airplane on my iPod, but seeing as how this was the final song played on the first television show that I loved (okay, obsessed over), it only seemed appropriate. It’s a really nice acoustic piece and really fitting for the final go-around in that wonderfully purple apartment. It must be a skill of mine to pick the shows with the best closing songs.

“Good Life” by Kanye West featuring T-Pain. I don’t care what you say. I love Kanye West. I love how he’s not some thug that raps about the most insignificant things. I love how he has creativity in his music. I love how he dresses. I love his innovation in his music videos. I love how he embraces and takes inspiration from other areas of music (he’s worked with Adam Levine from Maroon 5; he sampled Daft Punk on “Stronger”—that’s all I know of, but I’m sure there’s more examples of his diversity). I do, however, hate that I was too stubborn to take notice before.

“Little House of Savages” by The Walkmen. I only vividly remember The Walkmen playing on The OC because they did during the episode when one of my favorite songs plays, the EP version of Rachael Yamagata’s “Worn Me Down.” That ending sequence is wonderfully depressing.

“More than Fine” by Switchfoot. As poppy as this song is, I really do appreciate Switchfoot’s other, more mellow songs. The Beautiful Letdown was an album that, a few years ago, I played on repeat, and I still remember every single word for every single song. And you know what? I still enjoy it. Funny how the brain works.

“Heretics” by Andrew Bird. My favorite song of this past summer. This song has so many layers and sounds—it is constantly transforming. In the beginning it sounds orchestral, then Bird’s voice comes in, and the drums kick in, and there are some deep backup vocals, and then some light, airy vocals, and then everything kicks in at once. And then he comes back with some cheeky vocals, and some cool guitar riffs, and then the strings are emphasized more, and then everything kicks in again at once, and then Bird leaves us with some mellow vocals. And it’s all pure genius.

“Scarecrow” by Beck. Much in the same way that I appreciate Jason Mraz, I also appreciate Beck. His sound is really just so different and I really just enjoy it.

“Honey and the Moon” by Joseph Arthur. Wow, I love Joseph Arthur, and this song always leaves me nostalgic. As wonderful as the end of “The Pilot” episode of The OC is, it’s made ten times better by this song. This was before Josh had the brilliant Alex Patsavas to supervise music selections, but Josh isn’t too shabby himself. The boy has good taste.

“Honest Screw” by Patrick Park. I first discovered this song on YouTube, searching for Patrick Park music videos (of which there are none, but I can most definitely accept that he is just too brilliant for such things), and I stumbled on a video montage of Patrick Park on a tour set to this song. It’s a wonderful video and it makes me love Patrick Park more than I already do. It’s just such a wonderful song by my favorite artist and favorite lyricist. My love for this man really knows no bounds.

And I’m leaving it at that, because things have just gotten too good for them to keep up that way. Thanks for reading, and really give some of these songs a listen. Embrace click-happiness!

freeze frame.

...done! photoshop collage #2. this one was way way easier, so maybe photoshop is starting to click? and as I pulled it together, I couldn't help wondering how different my life might be if I'd documented it this well all along? I also thought about what was different this Friday from other Fridays (while I'm working):
::worked out with Rob - normally that's just a Sunday thing
::a bite of breakfast at home - lately it's been a granola bar at my desk
::only one in person meeting (which I didn't photo) - one of the things I love about the office is meeting with people face to face
::getting together with Steve, Lydia, Karen, Ron et al for the January b-day celebration. Rancho Grande. Good margaritas, ok food and very so-so service. but no group photo.
::up past 10 pm working on a photo collage

wow.

...Ali Edwards is amazing (that's not new news). Check out her latest project here.

thanks for your patience.

...goodness knows mine is running thin. learning photoshop is one of the harder things I've attempted in the past few years. but I had a small success tonight. my very first "real" photo collage. many layers and photos sized to frames and frames sized to photos and if I understood when to use which I'd feel better! I'm practicing to make my freeze frame layout - planning 16 photos (one for every hour I'm awake tomorrow). I started this "trial run" practice tuesday - so three full evenings before this small success! I selected these photos randomly from my January 2008 folder. and I'm my worst critic (or at least I hope I am because I'd hate to meet a worse critic than me) but I think this is VERY COOL!

in other (non photoshop-related) news - I had a wonderful lunch with Lynn today...plans for Paris are still on - May 2009? it won't be the official 50th celebration for Sue or Roxanna, but to my thinking, that just means we'll have another reason to gather for some good girlfriend time next year.

and monkey sock #1 is only kitchener stitches (8 total) from being done - pics to come (promise!) progress deterred when I broke one of the #1 double-pointed needles in hilton head. huge kudos to David for finding super glue to try to mend it...

finally - again in the "thanks for your patience" vein - I've had a tough time getting back into my blogging routine since work/school started THREE weeks ago. can't believe it's been that long. but I think it's coming....slowly..... of course I'll be the mother of a 21 year old on Sunday. who knows!

a quick hello.

...from hilton head island. we are having a wonderful visit with sue & david. plenty of yummy food, wine, and just plain talking. this is us after saturday lunch at red fish.
and us after saturday dinner at charley's crab.

sue and I took an early morning walk today - very cold, but felt good to get out. this is a view of the water (hopefully a better view coming at brunch in a few minutes ... yes, more eating!)

beautiful gladiolas in our room (thank you david!)

love the friendship I have with sue. it's easy - and even when it's months between visits, we pick right up where we left off. and love being able to share it with sara. hope for both my girls that they get to experience a friendship like this!

what's next.

...paper adventure week 3. I thought right off about twenty ten. 2010. the year I'm planning retire. the year I'll start the next phase of my life. And I'd originally planned to use the numbers 2 0 1 0, but when I found this photo (from last summer, when I was regularly buying flowers :-), the image seemed to beg for words. so I spelled it out instead. Like last week, the photoshop lesson was a big part of it. a layer of words and a layer of a much-faded image. the journaling is on the back (again!) and I realized many of my next's are about learning (photography, yoga, cooking) and I love how that ties back to "blossoming" (from week 2) and the flowers...

(click the image to read the journaling)

the double bind.

given the weather (see the cool snow shots below), it was a very good turnout! kay's house is charming and emily is a terrific photographer (I'm very jealous of her beautiful new nikon but she uses it well!)

of those who'd read the book, we were split about 50/50 for figuring out the ending. I was intrigued to learn that Chris Bohjalian (the author) had worked at COTS (BEDS, haha) and a client (Bob "Soupy" Campbell) had arrived with a packet of photos. Those were the ones used in the book. And this was the first book Bohjalian had written where he knew the ending before he wrote the book. His website has a discussion board with some very interesting posts. Intersting reading. Fun discussion. Great meeting - thank you Kay!

snow.

...snow, snow, snow. I think 99.9% of the people who read my blog don't see it very often. because they're my family. and they live in georgia or florida. so it's big news to get white stuff that sticks. I drove home in heavy flurries today and it was surreal. And much prettier to look at from my deck.

or my front door.


and if this happened more often I would definitely need to learn how to take pictures of it. I'm really hoping there are still flakes tomorrow - when it's light, because I am so wanting to get a live photo of a real, six-sided snowflake!

no updates to the upcoming - we're still having bookclub tonight (which I'm secretly VERY glad about since I loved the book, can't wait to talk about it...and I'm not driving!) more later - promised post to those who aren't venturing out in the weather!

oops!

...so it's been a while since I updated the sidebar. check it out - done! a few new daily blogs and participating (seems I quite the joiner right now). and then I did the upcoming. and realized bookclub is this week, as in only three days to read the book. yikes! guess that's how I'm spending my free time today (and likely tomorrow and tuesday, too!) the good news is that it's supposed to be good. will report back....

souvenir, commit, walk...create.

...or how I spent my saturday morning. first up, the 4x6 create 08 entry for week 2 of the paper adventure. I got off to a slow start with this one. I think a lot about what I want to impart, share, etc. with Katie and Sara. but I don't really think about it from the aspect of memories I want them to have of me. and then I re-read the inscription from Katie in the beautiful Principles of Uncertainty she gave me for Christmas:

for my mom,
who is always
blossoming with her
own joie de vivre,
in no uncertain terms.
and who makes others
wish they could be so lucky -
until they finally realize
they can.

and I decided that's it - my souvenir - my joie de vivre. and I remembered this photo of katie and me from her 2007 spring break - playing around with the continuous shoot feature on my then-new camera. 3 hours of photoshop later I have a black and white with words. I did the journaling on a favorite sheet of basic grey patterned paper and glued it to the back of the photo. I completely love this format of a photo with pretty paper on the back!

next up, my first attempt with playing cards, the format I've decided to use for a 2008 art journal with emily falconbridge. prompt #1 - commit. the idea for the "i*" on the front and journaling my list of commitments on the back came early. but I found the paper with "joie de vivre" just this morning. and it seemed fitting to continue the theme. here's the front & back. I need to figure out how to take the photos! and get some "creamy white" acrylic for the card backs. I only used a very very tiny bit of yellow in my white paint, and it still looks like egg yolk (yuck!)

then a 4-mile walk with Sara to the park. she educated me on the writers strike and the various formats of TV shows. and I learned that my favorite shows are dramedies (gilmore girls, greys on a good week) or process dramas (house, monk). cool.

and I finished the creative storm with a good start on my pinecone press kit. lots of diamond glaze out to dry. should be able to finish before the class tomorrow at 2.

happy friday.

...first the fill-ins:

1. My favorite photo of 2007 was a tie between this one, this one and this one.
2. I'm most tempted by a book store, especially if there's a coffee shop nearby.
3. Today I want(ed) to get my work back under control (and I did - except for one last to-do that can certainly wait til next week - yeah!)
4. The last thing I took a picture of was my bulletin board at work (see below).
5. You and I have memories ... good ones I hope!
6. The most recent movie I’ve seen that I really enjoyed was Juno - and that's also the most recent movie I've seen period - it was great!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to r-e-l-a-x-i-n-g (wine, tv, not much else), tomorrow my plans include finishing the paper adventure and my pinecone press kit and a walk in the park with Sara and Sunday, I want to sleep in til 6 am!

and now the rest of the post.

From an online chat with Katie around 9pm last night (I'm sure she was shocked that I was still online at that "late" hour!)
k: what are you doing
m: making thumbtacks to match my new calendar
k: haha, that sounds like you
(m: i think i'm flattered)
right - I didn't actually send that last message, but that's what I thought!

because yes, I did think that the mish-mash of t-pins, push pins and stampin up tacks was ... tacky on my bulletin board. come on, of course you thought the same thing, didn't you, when I posted this photo?

so...

1. thumbtack step 1, 2. thumbtack step 2, 3. thumbtack step 3, 4. thumbtack done

and now this:

back into it.

...the routines of school, work, "normal" life for us. and feeling good about walking in the mornings (9.5 miles so far in 2008), fab leftovers for dinner (tacos and meatloaf), time to blog on a "work night", no unread emails in my work inbox (I know, it's hard to see in the photo, but trust me, it's true...and it only took me three days!), four entries in my gratitude book, and an inspired start to this week's paper adventure (details later). 2008 is still looking good...

one last project.

...my office calendar for 2008. actually finished last night, but I was too tired to photo it then! there are 1" binder rings to hold the months together. I plan to display three months at once - or maybe for january, just two - I always like to see last month, this month and next month at a glance.

so today is back to work, back to school. and I guess we're as ready as we could be...

balance.

create 08, week 1 done! I had a lot of different ideas about how to tackle this first prompt. and looking through magazines last night, settled on a word collage. more of my favorite cutting and pasting.

the journaling on the back of the card reads:

to me, balance is about spending the right amount of time on the right things. Over time, those right things and the amounts of time will change. And maybe the secret to balance is recognizing those changes as they happen (even anticipating them?) and adjusting. I was working out with Rob this morning, doing squats on a balance ball. He complimented my balance. And I replied "it's all about finding a point on which to focus." I'm learning...

the end.

yes - it's done. journal your christmas 2007. and I know this is cheesy, but this project has really changed me. from understanding and appreciating the special traditions that make up our holiday. to realizing that I can create...maybe not every day, but definitely most. a special thank you to my family for allowing me the time and the mess to participate.

friday fill-in (on a friday).

1. This year, I'd like to walk 600 miles (3.5 done so far...and those 30 in September will really add to the total!)
2. The future is what I daydream about most (is this really lame? doesn't everyone daydream about the future?)
3. My desk is a mess (and I must get it cleaned up tomorrow so I can enjoy Sunday).
4. I would like to have more sunshine in my life.
5. I love to have lots of flowers around the house (but of course I don't - this is just a wish).
6. Sara's smiling and mail from Katie always makes me smile.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to butternut squash risotto (thank you Sara and The Barefoot Contessa), tomorrow my plans include finishing up projects so I can clean up my desk and Sunday, I want to get a printer setup for Sara's computer and work out with Rob!

gratitude.

...my word for 2008. wasn't even a hard choice, except for deciding between gratitude and grateful. I have a stamp that says grateful but I think I like the noun better. I probably won't discriminate much between the two. One of the good things about being 40-something is that stuff like that - it just doesn't matter. Glass half full - Liz cancelled lunch (she's sick, ugh...) - and that gave me time to finish the journal. Honestly, probably a good thing I had this much focused time. Took several more hours just to stamp the week numbers, glue to the pages, put the book back together, tie on the ribbons. and admire the finished product. for just a few seconds before I started the entry for week 1. My journal is a page per week. no set markings for an entry per day. figure I'll just focus on a week at a time. so - 52 pages to fill up with bits and pieces of my life for which I'm grateful. should be easy. and for that I consider myself very lucky. grateful.

What was up with that?

It is around this time of year—that is, in the very beginning—when we reflect upon the previous twelve months and wonder if it could get any worse. Oh, well, not especially, but, really, 2007 was a bad, bad year. [Note: The following will sugarcoat nothing.] Sure, it picked up a little in the end, but that cannot undo the terrible, terrible first five months of the past year.

So, let us all take a trip down memory lane. In true, gloomy fashion.

It is January. I return from a wondrous winter break only to get bombarded with the most boring book known to man: the Odyssey. Actually, excuse me Homer, it is an “epic poem.” Poem, schmoem. It was downright terrible. I repeatedly daydreamed in that lit class about things like sweatshirts, televised tennis matches, and wood coasters. Because it was just. That. Boring.

It is February. On top of totally getting the shaft from Varsity tennis, I later discover that JV tennis is really, really hard when you play first singles. Frequent biology tests begin. At 9 o’clock on the 22nd I sit down for the final time to watch a new episode of my beloved. Sixty minutes later I am bawling. Like a baby. “It’s over! It’s over!” This continues for several minutes. I am crying so hard I can hardly breathe. I return to the basement to wallow in my tears and… finish my biology project? Are you kidding me? In this time of distress? On a happier note, I discover Patrick Park’s “Life is a Song,” which I will later decide will be played at my funeral. (Listen to it, please.) At the end of the month, I still have not won a darn tennis match. In fact, I have not won a tennis match in a very long time.

It is March. Biology gets increasingly worse (read: suckier). More of this crap continues.

It is April. I have a wonderful time in Chi-town, only to return home to several hours of (you guessed it!) biology homework. I am beginning to wonder just what the heck is wrong with this biology teacher? As biology tests begin to occur every Monday (not even kidding), I wear down the nerves in my fingers. I experience one night in which I study for at least 12 hours, in the same chair. I do not move. By the end of the night (morning now) I have a strange sensation in one of my left fingers due to heavy-duty pencil wear.

It is May. Even after taking the biology final early in May, I discover that this crap still does not end. I have to dissect a rat? Are you really serious? Of course, I do not touch it, but I still feel disgusting at the end of the day. Major yuck! In happier news, school does finally end, but I can hardly enjoy it, as I am suffering from a bad cold, which (fortunately) does enable me to discover the wonder of House. Gilmore Girls ends, and, although I am not an avid viewer, I appreciate it through the digital disc, and I am terribly sad. What do I watch now?

It is June. The best month of the year. I depart for three weeks. You will really love how I turn this story around, though. At the end of the three weeks, I am so sad. I have had a wonderful time, but I wish that I would have taken up the offer of going for six weeks. I feel deep, deep regret.

It is July. Sleeping hurts (yes, sleeping) on account of my new exercise routine that has left me sore in every part of the body. Worse, I have to begin my ridiculously boring summer reading books. How to Read Literature Like a Professor comes first. That’s boring—I don’t care what I previously said. Next is King Leopold’s Ghost, which is also boring, but the most interesting of all three.

It is August. After returning home from a sunny week in Florida, I have to start dumb Jane Eyre. Aside from being the most boring, pointless, ridiculously dull novels I have ever read (and I read every stupid page), it is also the longest. Needlessly longest at that. I only get one day to myself, no worries at all, before school starts. Except that I am worrying about school, so really, I have no carefree day.

It is September. I wonder what the heck is up with sophomore year. This stuff is easy. Except that I forget how to do math. Nevertheless, I am praising myself for signing up for regular chemistry. Gossip Girl, Chuck, and America’s Next Top Model begin. Unfortunately, I am not able to keep up with their weekly episodes. (See how I twist good things into bad things?)

It is October. I am really getting buried under a huge pile of depressing books. The Bell Jar to The Lord of the Flies to The Catcher in the Rye. What the heck is up, man? I do however rediscover the wonder of House in all of its multi-season glory.

It is November. I celebrate my birthday, but the reading continues. Now it is Brave New World, although it is the best book of the semester. Thanksgiving comes around. Everything rocks hard (foodwise).

It is December. I begin to watch The OC daily, and I fall in love all over again (although I have never really fallen out of love). I dig into Voltaire with Candide. Saleisha wins America's Next Top Model? Are you seriously kidding me? Come on, Tyra! I have mostly rediscovered my inner math geek, but the gloom of finals and my failing iPod still worries me. Finals roll around. Not surprisingly (but at the time, very much unsettling), the lit final is the worst. Because who really remembers stuff from that long ago? Christmas break rolls around, as does Christmas and New Year’s Eve. All is well, and I have also rediscovered the pure genius that is Gilmore Girls. I also see quite possibly my favorite movie, Juno. However, all of the festiveness of the holiday season is mercilessly sucked out when I discover that Mischa Barton, my fave, despite her sometimes wooden acting, has been arrested for DUI, drug possession, and some other stuff. Why? Why?!

And so this is why 2007 was a bad, bad year. Don’t worry, I’m not crazy or incredibly depressed—I told you that I would not sugarcoat (although I may have charred or burned or whatever is the opposite of sugarcoat). But that is where all of this changes. I can now turn it around (like I so sneakily did previously) and say that it can only get better. 2008 has to rock in some way or another, although it’s not getting off to too great of a start. Eight hours of drivers ed for four straight days?! Are you kidding me?! Oh, here I go again.

Happy 2008, everyone. Here’s hoping that it rocks hard for you, and also that 2007 didn’t totally mess up your life story.

lovely ladies.

...I was fortunate to spend the day with several lovely ladies. sara. katie. karen. holly and brooke. only have photos to document two of them, but I enjoyed every one. I'm lucky to spend most days with a(t least a) moment or two of sara, but the others are treats for their infrequency (or new-ness). hoping to make all of them more "common" this year.

mary & karen, bistro vg

mary & brooke

create 08.

...what I'm calling my creative attempts. Not really liking the rhyme thing, but oh well, I wanted to get the year in there and I like "oh-eight" much better than "two thousand eight". This is the cover of my paper adventure mini-book. Had much fun creating it yesterday with Katie.

and I started assembling my gratitude journal. Need to get it finished today since we're already three days into the year! I'm using a 5x5 chipboard book from stampin up. and acrylic paint for the cover. never painted before and really appreciated Katie's help at Blicks to select the paints, the colors, the brushes. and scraps of my favorite anna griffin and basic grey papers in addition to the creamy cardstock that was already in the book. plus a few stamps and punchouts. and ribbons. so that's the vision as of 7:00 a.m.
(me painting!)

so far, I'm feeling really inspired about 2008 - seems like a year filled with possibilities for very good things. and I finished the brooke booties. and created my first photo in photoshop. and worked out yesterday.

happy new year.

live well. laugh often. love much.