Terrible pancakes, paintings and good music.

Well, I've been [officially] snowed in for two days. But keep in mind that I was sick all weekend, so technically... I've been a hermit since Saturday afternoon, minus a stretch at work on Tuesday. School's canceled again for today, but I'm going to try and get to work this afternoon. Wish me luck! I don't want to get stranded again!!

Anyway, being home alone, I decided to make the most of it. I started off by making myself blueberry cheesecake pancakes. It sounds like heaven, and it LOOKED like heaven. It was gross. I took one bite and spit it out, and then I threw it all away. 

In my defense, I didn't make it from scratch. I had a mix leftover from this summer, and I figured this would be as good a time as any to try it out. FailFailFAIL.

Luckily, my friend "Smeather Freelman" asked me to make her a painting for her dorm room wall that was empty. 

"You should paint a picture for me while you're home. My roommate and i rearranged our room and we have a wall with nothing on it. Have any canvases sittin around?? I'll pay you for it. ;) Black, brown, burgundy-ish/maroon... "

Ha- thanks for the description.

Well anyway, I painted her this anchor-like thing because she's obsessed with anchors. I should have left the "chain" off of it.. I think it's too bright. And it's not very... realistic. I'd like to htink that it looks better in person, but quite frankly, I am not an artist. 

She's going to like it, though. I will make her like it.

         

After that, I cleaned my entire house and did laundry. I feel so accomplished! I also finished Burn by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy. It was excellent, much like their other books. AND, I started The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. I'm so excited! Like I said in an earlier post, the movies were superb and I'm sure the books will be more so.

I also watched The Chaos Theory, which is one of my favorite movies. You should all go watch it! I also watched When in Rome and started a ton of other movies on my free-trial of Netflix! (not to mention an assortment of 15 tv episodes)

Like I said... I've been snowed in. I have had an entire week without classes.

Moving right along, in another post, I talked about how I listened to Mumford & Sons in excess and it kinda put me in a not-so-happy mood. (This is only because their lyrics are insanely powerful and their music is rather mellow... and I take things way too seriously.) ANYWAY, I have found some "happy" music. Enjoy!

Cheers!

I've got snow up my nose and a harp on my back.

Really, I do. Or rather, I did.

Happy winter!

I missed the snow over Christmas, so despite my initial irritation with the snowfall on the first day of classes, it was kinda nice. 

Right outside of my door is this bush-like thing. It actually looked pretty today. 

Then I went out to my car, and I noticed the leaves. Something about having a decent camera on this phone is making me notice things more, and I think it's a good thing. I get a little happy every time I see something worth taking a picture of.

I went to my evening class after a two-hour break, and the trees looked like this:

It was still kinda exciting to be walking around in the snow on campus, since the sidewalks were close to vacant. That's a rare occurrence, but I guess since it's at night there are less people. (It also meant that I wouldn't get any weird looks for freezing my bum off trying to take a picture with gloves on.)

When I got back to my car and realized that I didn't have an ice-scraper, I was more irritated with the weather than I was pleased. 

Anyway, my first class of the day was Music for Healing. The topic can be controversial, but the essence of the class is to study the emotional/physical/etc. connection that people have to music and how we can channel that connection in a positive way to possibly allow for healing, whether it be spiritual, emotional, or other. I'm really excited about it, since I love music, anyway, but also because it'll give me a chance to branch out a little bit, learn a new clef, and play for people on hospice. This is right up my alley. Yay!

I got out of class this evening and tuned the harp. Just so you know, it's much more difficult than tuning a violin. Hands down. Anyway, I messed around with it for a little while and kinda learned how to play a very simple version of "Amazing Grace." I just played by ear, but hopefully it's the same general concept for class, so that I'm not screwing myself over in advance.. Haha.

Oh, and last night I painted this picture frame thing that I got at work. All of the edges were smashed-ish and the paint was chipping. (It's a fairly typical black frame from Walmart, I think.) They were just going to throw it away, but I thought that maybe I could do something with it-- so, I painted it! I like it, I think.

Okay, it's been a good day. I am happy for the new beginning that the semester is sure to bring. 

Cheers!

Awake my soul: you were made to meet your maker.

You did not think when you sent me to the brink, the brink
You desired my attention but denied my affections, affections
But tell me now where was my fault, in loving you with my whole heart.
- Mumford & Sons, "White Blank Page"

Last night sucked. Let's just say that. 

But, I did spend time with a few good friends, and that was nice; plus, I found a dart in the dryer from our nerf war last night. It was a fun discovery.

Anyway, I left early and was just shaking with frustration and anger over the "it" I keep referring to of last semester. I've been quite okay, these last few months, but every couple of weeks, or so, I just get mad and hurt all over again. Last night was one of those times. 

So... I went home, lit a candle, called Elena, talked to Carolyn, listened to good music and painted.

Now, I'm not a good artist/painter/creator/whatever, but I just got my paints out and started doing... something, and it turned into this:

This is how it works
You're young until you're not
You love until you don't
You try until you can't
You laugh until you cry
You cry until you laugh
And everyone must breathe
Until their dying breath

No, this is how it works
You peer inside yourself
You take the things you like
And try to love the things you took
And then you take that love you made
And stick it into some
Someone else's heart
Pumping someone else's blood
And walking arm in arm
You hope it don't get harmed
But even if it does
You'll just do it all again

- Regina Spektor, "On the Radio"

That's about all I can say.

Cheers.

I had a great time with my family. Here are a few pictures... :)

I LOVE THE real MAPLE SYRUP. Not fake Jamima crap. Yuck.

He's a cutie. His boy scout skills made the pancakes!

Dangerous.

Dad's painting!

I Hop, You hop...

Ma' daddy.

Thought it was cute..

Handmade clay dominos from the early 1900s. We visited a good friend of mine in assisted living.

My dad playin' the piano at the nursing home! I miss that.

My adorable baby is going home with my parents. Yay!

Rootbeer floats to end the visit.  :(

I love family! I will miss them. I can't wait until next month!!!

Cheers. 

And these are a few of my favorite things!

I am finally at peace with where I am living. As most of you know, I have had a bad run of the roommates, and I was "in transit" for almost six months. It was awful.

Now that I live alone, I get to focus on me! I leave when I want to, I go to bed as early as I want to, and I don't have to worry about anyone else! As self-absorbed as I probably sound right now, this is a really big deal, given the last few months. I am so happy here! I have many people to thank for where I am at now. 

So, I thought maybe it'd be fun to post a few pictures from around my place. Pardon the clarity, as I was using my cell phone.. :)

 As I mentioned before, I have taken up painting!

I love to make pottery! I have a great friend named Kara, and this is kinda "our thing." This specific bowl I made while in her company. :)  

The mirror was my grandma's. She's my inspiration; I have her to thank for my passion.

I love Kenya, and I love coffee! Elena's gonna let me use her coffee grinder so I can finally drink this! I brought some back from Africa a few years ago and it was wonderful, so when a friend went back to Nairobi last year I paid her to bring me some more! Unfortunately, I haven't had a coffee grinder. Thanks, Lena! I will share. :)

I'd like you to meet my frogs. 

Clearly, I like music! The guitar I mess around on, but I don't actually know how to play. The other two are violins. One is electric and the other is acoustic. 

The newest addition to my musical family: the organ! Someone was getting rid of it, and I got it for very, very cheap. How could I pass this up?!

I love things that smell good. This candle smells like cider and it is my favorite. Elena recently discovered it, so our houses are going to smell the same. I love candles, but not as much as her. Behind the candle are my lovely parents and siblings. 

Did I mention I like candles? I also love flea markets. That's where I bought these candles for $5. My house was put together by thrift stores and flea markets, mostly, and I like it that way. The painting thing behind it is an example of my painting frenzy. I don't really like it that much, but I kinda liked how it looked in the frame.

I love owls! There is no reason why. This is my makeup bag, but I hope to get more decorative things. If you like owls, check out this website that my friend Megan introduced me to: Owl jewelry!

So, today, I am very grateful for where I live. It smells good.

Cheers.