No. 162 (technically 164): Woa-oh Black Betty

So...
I'm feeling AWFUL. Sickness is not awesome, especially when you don't have an extraordinary amount of Dayquil like I'm used to. I'm surviving though.
This morning I was delighted to find that my automatic timer on my coffee machine works and when I woke up I had coffee made. I was also delighted to find that after I sent her a desperate e-mail, Hilary was awesome and is letting me have until Monday to finish the Degas paper. Now it can actually be as good as I want it to be. I have all these notes but my head is so stuffy I can't think of how to put them down well. Pretty sure I have a sinus infection. It's very frustrating. But I have two pages and it shouldn't be too bad finishing this thing.

I finally got myself together to do the songs. So here they are.
First day of my internship is today. Pray it goes well.

1. Black Betty/ Ram Jam: You'll recognize this from the scene in Blow where Johnny Depp is walking through the airport in the white leisure suit. It's a great scene and an even better song, since I think a group of people and I recently decided that after Penelope Cruz gets pregnant, the movie is pretty much not worth watching since it just depresses the crap out of you. Anyway-- it's a good song.
2. Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games// Of Montreal: This band has been around for so long. I've heard so many of their songs without realizing it was them. I really love the line "Let's pretend we don't exist/ Let's pretend we're in Antarctica". It's a fun song.
3. Lil' King Kong// Simple Kid: From that car commercial (I want to say it's for a Scion or something) where everything gets animated as the car drives by. The very commercial makes me happy anyway, but this song is GREAT. and a lot of fun.
4. Ganja Babe// Michael Franti: In honor of Weeds starting again. Oh Nancy.
5. Consoler of the Lonely// The Raconteurs: Because I cannot stop listening to this song.
6. I'm Gonna DJ// R.E.M.: Such an amazing song. But it's been stuck in my head all morning b/c John had it as his away message. Oh DJs.
7. Passing By// Zero 7: It's just a great song. Very chill. Her voice is incredible. And I have a lot of good memories attached to this particular number.

Anyway-- That's that.
Cheers,
H.

No. 153: London Calling

okay-- so i haven't blogged, i didn't put the songs up (though i do have them written down) because i left the journal with them written down at home. BUT:

I am in London. I got here on Sunday and will be here until June 7th. It is excellent.
Update is that it's cold but I brought more clothes than a person should, so I think I'll be alright. It's expensive but I'm spending (mostly) wisely, getting gifts for people out of the way and budgeting for food, etc. London is amazing. The accents are great, the cars are amazing (I saw at least 30 Porches today), and the art I've been studying is INCREDIBLE. I got to see the original Degas, Two Dancers on a Stage and it almost made me cry. I've decided to write my course paper on Degas. Apparently he was kind of horrible, so this should be an interesting paper. Plus the Courtauld is a beautiful gallery.

Tomorrow we're going to about 5 different museums and then the Championships Manchester vs. Chelsea are tomorrow, so London is going to be NUTS. I've very excited. Sam's birthday is on June 1st and we're already making adventure plans.
Ursula, my "aunt", is meeting Natalie and I for dinner on Friday night and then Daddy comes on the 27th. Then Artie should be done with finals by then and he'll come to chill as well. It's going to be quite a trip. Natalie and I have plans for a day venture to Brighton Beach this weekend on Saturday. I think Sam and Kathryn are going to Paris. Monday we're all having Danish waffles for dinner at this place that does all you can eat for 5 quid.

This country is insane.
And now I'm going to bed b/c it's 1 something here.

I miss home. But London is lovely.

H.

No. 94: Introspection (A rather long one)

Hullo from CO.

It's gorgeous out here. Sort of a gray day, but the sun seeping through the clouds is giving everything a bluey tint. It's nice. Woke up late this morning, sat on the couch and read the Bible and had a lovely breakfast of toast and coffee and mango. Continued my reading through Neither Here Nor There by Bill Bryson, which is hysterical. Computed for a bit and battled melancholy by watching three back episodes of How I Met Your Mother. Forgot how much I love Allison Hannigan.

It's the third day of the New Year. Kind of weird actually. This is the first time in a series of years wherein the change over has any kind of significance for me. A good amount of that has to do with Face, but a lot of it also has to do with me. Last year was really horrific, actually, and I'm ready to have it behind me.

I've also decided that I need to leave the Hop. It's not just a preference or logistics thing now. It's almost a necessity. I don't think I can stay in Baltimore and retain my mental, spiritual and physical health for much longer. So, call it an escape, but sometimes it's wisdom and not fear that makes you run. That, wisdom, I mean, is another goal for this year, since most of the past one has been dictated to by fright.

The following will be vague, I know, but a door was firmly closed for me the other night. This, I believe, will be for the best. And while God can do anything He wants to (so this may not last FOREVER) it is an absolute for now. In many cases, I think this will be healthy for me. For a lot of people.

Brian and I spoke for a long time the other night, about the majority of the last year and how it affected each of us as people, and how we're both ready for a change. I'm so glad he's in my life. I don't know who I'd make it, sometimes. God has placed so many incredible people in my life, but you know those who you'd want there forever, and Brian is certainly one of them. Also Tess, who I miss more than I can say. Being away from my sister is awful. Blech.

Now, despite the decidedly negative tint I've shaded last year in, I know I shouldn't consider it all a complete wash. There is, after all, the following to consider:

• I have met some truly wonderful people, including, though not limited to: Mike and The Posse, Geof, Carma's people, The Spaniards.
  
• Seen some amazing things: Rain storms in sunlight, first snows, mountains, great shows, beautiful art.
  
• Heard some great stuff: the new Radiohead, cello sonatas, poetry.
  
• Created: collages, cooking, writing, developed my poetry, sketched, photography.
  
• Loved: music, people (in a varying degree of ways), food, places (most recently, Pittsburgh)
• Discovered: Elizabeth Bishop, DeVotchKa, dried mango slices, how to quickly and successfully remove the yummy bits from pomegranates, I don't like chocolate, Mike Giant and Obey artwork.
  
• Developed: my style, my writing, minor psychosis (which is only sort of a good thing, but makes me more interesting), relationships (Brian, Greg, Tess, Kathryn).
  
• Forgiven: some I've had grudges and hard feelings against, myself (somewhat).

So there's that.

This will be a good few days of calm and rest. I'm hoping for some restoration, as well.
Away for a while, but I'll see you soon.

H.

No. 77: The day is like us, she thinks; it hasn't decided what to become

Fell asleep listening to the Gladiator soundtrack because it's incredible.
Woke up early to study and having finished, cut on the Pride & Prejudice soundtrack, which is also incredible, but sad.
Come to think of it, they're both sort of sad. But I wanted to hear something beautiful without words. Too many words going on lately.

I miss home. I've only been gone three days, but I miss home. And being warm. Because despite how hard and how much we punch the "up" button on the thermostat, it remains a frigid 69. I feel like I haven't been warm in three days. Blech.

I have two tests today: art history and spanish. I'm actually kind of nervous about the art history one. Spanish I think will be okay. And if it's not, I'm not really sure I care. It kind of sucks that I think I'm getting a low B, instead of the A I've been trying for, but oh well. You do the best you can. And I can speak it generally well enough. My comprehension level is a lot higher than my speaking, which is the problem. Comes from translating all the Latin in school and not writing in it.

Downloading Hot Fuzz to watch tonight after I get back from class. For once, I don't have to work Thursday or Friday. I plan on a lot of sleep, catching up on my reading for finals, and watching movies. I see a lot of soup in my future, as well.

I miss B, Tess and Mum a lot right now. It gets harder as break gets closer. But ah well.
I need long johns, I think. It is just TOO cold.

H.

Occasionally, Untitled = Gem

(I am of course referring to Interpol.)


And thus closed my week.
Last night Red and Nibs went out and I read art history, spoke with Matthew (it went fine, was friendly and probably won't happen again for a long while), and then went to bed, listening to Broken Social Scene (the soundtrack from Half Nelson) and Thurston Moore.

Thursday with Mike was a really good time. I was shocked at the tastiness of vegetarian "chicken" Parmesan. Surprisingly yummy. Frolic in Guilford tulip park, being barked at by Joey, the Australian shepherd. Then dance party. Fun times for all.

Yesterday was lazy. I had coffee with Heather and Rosa, which was so encouraging. I'm massively blessed by them, I can't even say. They've been at the "loving Jesus at a college that doesn't" thing a lot longer than I, and it's just nice to have friends who are older and women.

Today I had training for the Book Festival which is on the 28-30th and you should all come. Sat in North Park of Mt. Vernon for about an hour and read, then came back. Red and I had lunch at Carma's which was ever so nice. Then I went and watched the martial arts demo and read some more. Tolstoy's short story "Happy Ever After" is actually thus far pretty good, although I told Mike today that I get the terrible feeling that sometimes he's trying to be funny. Came back and took a nap that was way too long and am now behind on my Art History reading. If I don't get the African History book from Mimi tomorrow I'm basically screwed, since it's two long boring chapters. Oi. But at least I'll be done for the week with art history.

I'm (almost embarrassingly) excited for Tuesday and the Girl Talk show. Dan Deacon will also be there, and I'm praying he plays both Wham City and Lion with a Shark's Head. Also, Silence Like the Wind... b/c the video from Pitchfork is amazing and I want to recreate it.

I have to start writing something worthwhile. Soon. Tomorrow. (?)
Tomorrow is church @ 11-12, reading, Film society meeting @ 4, reading, dinner @ 7 for Nib's b-day. Then sleep, b/c Monday is absurd. Father wants to have dinner. Maybe.

Silence like the wind over takes me.... ooo oo-oo oooo.

H.