Pod 6

I have not updated my account in months, and today feels like as good a day as any to resume. I am no longer in Boone. That is a huge change. I am taking a break from pursuing my degree in order to work on my own stuff. In April I am going to start at the Aveda Institute in order to get my esthetician license. I am excited to pursue something more hands on and creative. So I am back at my parents home in Concord. Truthfully, I thought I would hate it a lot more than I do. Mom and dad are very laid back, and I still have my own space.(not quite as much of it though) Right now I am working a lot, in order to pay for Aveda. I like earning money for a change. I am so used to living off of loan refunds and whatever mom and dad could send me. It is nice to be financially independent.(somewhat) I am getting back in touch with some old friends, and in return who I am. For whatever reason I was really losing myself the last few semesters at App. I absolutely want to finish a BA in Art History, but I am going to do it at my own pace, allowing me to pursue all the other things I am interested in. In the spirit of self improvement, here is the ever changing list of books I am determined to read for the new year.

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man - Joyce
Portrait of a Lady - James
Beowulf - Seamus Heaney translation (re read)
30,000 Years of Art - I just bought it and am reading through it slowly, it is huge! This may take all year.
Franny and Zooey - Salinger
Living Buddha, Living Christ - Hanh
The Portable Dorothy Parker - Parker/ Penguin Books
Mason and Dixon - Pynchon
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead - Stoppard
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell - Clarke
Tales of Hoffman - Hoffman/Penguin Books
The Satanic Verses:A Novel - Rushdie

I am going home this weekend, back to Concord. Jordan needs to go shopping, and I just need to see my family. I am dreading the heat. I have stayed in the comfortable area of Boone nearly all summer, and to be dropped back into the depths of hell like this won't be fun. But all in all, I am really ready to see my Concord people again. I have missed my grandparents quite a lot. It will be really nice to see them. Apart from that, I think I want to experience some of Charlotte's new found cultural scene. I am not really sure when all of that stuff crept up down there, but I am just interested to see what exactly a "scene" amounts to in the Queen city. Maybe I will go see a show or some art galleries. With the history of my whirlwind trips back home, however, I probably won't have a chance to do much of anything but visit and shop. Not that I am complaining. Lately I have found myself in a bit of a Bjork bent. I have always loved Bjork. Something about her music, no matter the tone, makes me feel instantly happy. To close, I need and must have this necklace. It is one of the most amazingly beautiful things I have ever seen! The artist actually crochets the metal, creating these great bold, yet incredibly delicate disigns.http://www.arielledepinto.com/16.html

When I was young, I was like the crazy love child of Dianna Ross and David Bowie. I sang and danced and performed everywhere I went. I would perform on table tops at the light and water building while my father was trying to pay a bill. I loved having people watch me have fun. If that makes sense to anyone. There is a group of pictures of me, taken by my uncle, and I am striking a different pose in each one. I loved music to the point of distraction, even back then. At a very young age, I would memorize all the lyrics and tonal changes of my favorite songs. I was happy then, and I guess this summer has been about getting back to what makes me happy. A few weeks ago at Portifino's I ended up doing Karaoke to Criminal by Fiona Apple. I got so in to it, and everyone got excited and into the whole thing. It was sooo much fun. It is just so nice to share some energy with a group of people. There is just something so therapeutic about singing with other people or in front of other people. There is such a universal power in music, and sharing it with strangers and friends is just one of the coolest things in the world. I have also been wanting to start some sort of band with my sister and a few other musicians. I would love to do classics from the 20th century. Stuff like the Andrews Sisters, Etta James, Jazz and Motown. Just great stuff from the 20's through to the 70's. Jordan and I have always loved singing together, and there is such close vocal harmony between family members, something you can never recreate with other singing partners. So I guess, my creative juices are flowing into a performing direction. It is always a little scary, but when you just have fun with it, it can be the most exhilarating feeling in the world. There is a lot more to say about this summer of soul searching, and how very strongly music has effected it. However, there are some revelations that you must manually transcribe. The feeling of putting pen to paper and letting the thoughts pour out of you; of your hand getting tired as your mind gets less frantic; that feeling is beyond words. Suffice it to say that with the help of my family, Joanna Newsom, Sufjan Stevens, Linda Ronstadt, Chan Marshall, Cat Stevens and many others, I am getting well again. I am back to a place that I need to be in, and the journey here has taught me some invaluable lessons.

So today was hot. On the plus side, it didn't rain. I am unbelievably tired of rain. It is one of the very few downsides of living in Boone. So it is July, and Harry Potter madness is about to descend. Next Wendnesday OOTP movie comes out. Then the 21st is the big day. It is the end all of all days for Harry Potter fans. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows comes out, the final book in the series. I have to work that day, so I will not get to start reading until about 4. I am so excited, and more than a little sad. It will be the end of all the fun. I am also scared all of my favorite characters are going to die. I am such a dork for Harry Potter, but I am not ashamed. I declare it loudly to the heavens. Well onto other matters. I am growing my hair out a bit. In the interim I have to keep it all back in bobby pins to avoid looking completely unfortunate. I wish growing ones hair out was easy as cutting it off. Hair is really just the most amazing accessory. Therefore, one should be able to change ones hair as easily as one would change accessories. If only. I am trying to grow my hair into an angled bob. Speaking of bobs, I have been itching to throw another dinner party. I believe this theme will be a 20's/Great Gatsby dinner. We will have champagne, Monopoly, era appropriate music and whatever food was popular pre-depression. I guess I will have to do a little research on that note. I have kind of been inspired by "A Moveable Feast" and since I can't afford to go to Paris, I guess this dinner party will have to do.

At last I have a job. It is so nice to have something productive to do with my day. It also makes me feel much less guilty about my beer and wine purchases. I can totally cover that with tip money. I am working at Blimpie, which is within easy walking distance of my apartment. So far so good. I get to work with really nice people, basically the hours I want and it is the low pressure, high activity kind of thing my mind needs right now. I have basically had way too much alone time this summer. In my downtime, I have been reading, drawing, writing, and googleing my life away. Right now I am working my way through "A Movable Feast" by Hemingway. I am something of a Hemingway virgin, and this is a good first fling. I am still not completely convinced by his style, but reading about his life and social circles in 1920's Paris is very fun. Musically I have been listening to a lot of female vocalist lately. Feist, Cat Power, Linda Ronstadt, Mamma Cass etc. There is definitely a voice type that I particularly like, and these ladies seem to have it. Other than that, I have been trying to find good versions of prewar classics. I have never really liked Big Band, but the stuff right before that is GREAT! So if anyone has any recommendations, comment away.

So I think I am ready for the new semester to begin. I guess that makes me some kind of nerd, but there it is. I think I am really just ready to make my academic come back. I really have to get perfect grades from now on. I am super excited about the Mythology class I am taking. I have loved mythology since my Muppet Babies days. I also think it will hold me in good stead with my Art History concentration. On the art front, I finally broke down and bought some colored pencils and a sketch pad. I am still basically the worst artist of all time, but have decided it would still be worth while to let off some creative steam. In other news, since my new found freedom to buy spirituous drinks, I have been on a bit of a beer exploration. I love beer, genuinely. So I have been trying out new breweries and comparing ales and lagers. It has been tasty and fun. But I should probably moderate this new found hobby before I acquire a not so attractive female beer belly. I have finally found a candidate to support. I am completely behind Ron Paul. He is basically my dream candidate. He is a libertarian who runs as a Republican so that he actually gets on the ballots. He voted against the War and the Patriot Act, and is genuinely for small government. I just hope he can somehow garner the Republican nomination. He is an underdog right now, but he seems to be gaining quite the internet following. Check him out! http://www.ronpaul2008.com/

So I am officially 21. It feels good, I'm not going to lie. I had a blast with my friends up here in Boone, and soon I am going home to Concord to celebrate with my family and old-school friends. So more about birthday eve festivities. We had dinner at Dos Amigos, and then came back to my place for some chillaxin. At 12, we headed for Blowing Rock to get our booze on. I believe I did my duty along those lines. Note to the wise, Car Bombs of any Celtic variety will get you tanked in the most delightful way. I just had so much fun with great people. Life is incredibly good right now. I am peaceful and content. I am in the state of mind where I am really just overjoyed to be alive.

"We could stand for a century
Staring
With our heads cocked
In the broad daylight at this thing
Joy
Landlocked
In bodies that don't keep
Dumbstruck with the sweetness of being
Until we don't be told
Take this
Eat this..." - Joanna Newsom

So this summer has great promise, however, I need money, badly. I have been on the job hunt since the middle of April, and so far, nothing. It gets a little frustrating. However, there are still some options. I am really hoping for this coffee shop in Blowing Rock. Its the kind of job I can do easily, and everyone there seems really nice. Until I do get a job however, it is skinny living. I now wish I had saved some of the money I had over the course of the last year. But I just had to have all that makeup and other crap that I can't really remember. However, I do have my iPod to show for all of that. My birthday is quickly approaching. That is still exciting. Besides the party up here in Boone, on Saturday I am going to this cool Irish pub in Charlotte. They have $2 pints of Guinness and a live 80's cover band. That is the kind of thing that I have been waiting to do for ,well 21 years. This weekend I finally saw Rushmore. What a great movie. I was scared that it would be a little overrated, but it was one of the best movies I have ever scene. I guess my Wes Anderson list would go Rushmore, then The Royal Tenenbaums, then The Life Aquatic. But I think I need to see that last one again to make sure haha. Yeah, I was in the Shit.

So for something fun and different, I think I will make a list of my top 10 favorites. Songs, Movies, and Books. This should be fun, at least for me.
SONGS
10. Sympathy for the Devil - The Rolling Stones
9. Sitting on the Dock of the Bay - Ottis Redding
8. Sexx Laws - Beck
7. Peach, Plum, Pear - Joanna Newsom
6. A Good Man is Hard to Find - Sufjan Stevens
5. Hell Hound on my Trail - Robert Johnson
4. Redemption Song - Bob Marley
3. Chicago - Sufjan Stevens
2. Werewolf - Cat Power
1. Emily - Joanna Newsom
Note: Although the Beatles do not appear on this list, it is understood that they have dramatically impacted nearly every artist on this list.

MOVIES
10. Donnie Darko
9. Bringing up Baby
8. Chicago
7. Sixteen Candles
6. Aladdin
5. The 300
4. The Royal Tenebaums
3. The Incredibles
2. Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail
1. Sleepy Hollow

BOOKS
10. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling
9. The Alienist - Caleb Carr
8. Beowulf
7. The Once and Future King - T.H. White
6. The Horse and His Boy - C.S. Lewis
5. Hamlet - William Shakespeare
4. Mythology - Edith Hamilton
3. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling
2. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Tom Sawyer
1. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte

So yeah, that pretty much sums up my tastes. Songs is always the hardest. They are ever changing, although I am pretty sure Sitting on the Dock of the Bay will never leave the list. There is something about Redding's voice in that song, that simply translates the feel perfectly. It is my very favorite vocal performance, one that allows the listener to be truly exposed to a very raw emotion.

So today I discovered the best "getting ready in the morning" song: "Sympathy for the Devil". Of course I didn't discover that song, its a huge hit. However, I may have discovered how great it is for getting you ready for your day. Who would have know a song about Lucifer would put me in such a sunny mood? So far, summer is going super well. I do not have a job yet, but I am still optimistic about my options. It has been so nice to just do some things that I know are good for me. I am really hoping that a job will come along soon to occupy some of my time. I will get pretty bored other wise. This summer, I need to make it a mission to read some books I have been meaning to for a while. I need to get back to some of the classics. I need to read some Wilde, Hemingway, Sawyer, Faulkner. I also need to read some more short stories by Flannery O'Conner. I really love her style and I can relate to her Southern Gothic tone. Sometimes I think I admire the medium of short stories more than the novel. There is something more intimate and creative about them. I feel like as they spend a shorter amount of time on story, more comes out, so to speak. I am really itching to do something with my hands. Maybe I will try some minimalist art. Or even better, maybe I will take up turn tables. I have really been wanting one since I saw Emily's. I guess that is coveting, but I will ask forgiveness. All in all, Jordan, Lindsay, and I are having a blast, and I think we need to come up with a name for ourselves. We are quite the trio. I always feel the need to name things. If you have any ideas for the name of a trio of crazy people, holla!

Keeping in mind these famous words, spoken by a certain alternafolk bard named Beck, I have decided to write about writing. Yes, what a fabulous exercise in bull shittery. This summer, one of my many goals is to really pick up my pace with regards to my writing. I have several things in the planning stages, and really need to commit some time to them. My first project is a collection of short stories involving my home town. For the most part they will be pseudo histories. There are all these great little stories that people seem to know snippets about. I want to take those stories and fictionalize them into something great that will reflect the true spirit of Concord, the way I see it. I started this collection last summer, and have made a little headway. However, I really need to plan out a concise structure and do some more research into my topics. My other idea has not seen it's beginning yet. I want to write a Southern Gothic novel about my mother's family. There is soooo much there. I will not fictionalize that one, at least I will try not to. That is definitely the kind of story where fact is stranger than fiction could ever be. I have thought it would be best to simply base all the characters and stories off of the real events, so that there will be a minimal of hard feelings. The reason that this one seems more important now than ever, is the recent passing of my grandmother. I feel like her story, and that of her daughters/ my aunts and mother need to be told. I am not a fan of sugarcoating. There will be bad and good, just like the actual story. I feel that a project like this could be seen as exploitative, but as I have very little hope of ever having anything published, I think my reasons are true. I want this story to be heard. It is such a rich one, and I think one that more people can relate to that would care to admit it. The project I have made the most progress on is simply poetry. Poetry is my first love, and it is the real therapeutic form for me. I started writing poetry in second grade and I never really stopped. ( although in 3ed grade it took a sidestep to lyric writing, don't ask)My problem with poetry is that I refuse to use accepted forms. I hate the idea that poetry should aspire to some sort of pattern. Poetry for me is the celebration of language, and language is best when it has been used and abused by it's speakers. Language is a tool, and as such, I refuse to bend my own thoughts to it's limitations. When I was younger, I wanted to become a linguist. The idea of words, of language is the most fascinating and romantic one in the world. I will leave you with these words to ponder: "Someone keeps sayin' I'm insane to complain about a shotgun wedding and a stain on my shirt. Don't believe everything that you breathe; you get a parking violation and a maggot on your sleeve." - Beck

So, for me, summer is officially here. Classes are over, and my grades are horrible, but at least it is done with! I have already had a bit of summer fun at a super chill cookout last night. What I am really looking forward to is Cinco de Mayo. It is really Tequila's day in the sun. Some fun facts about my favorite liquor: It isn't actually tequila unless it comes from one of five Mexican states that produce the stuff from the blue agave plant. The best tequila is made 100% from this plant, while lesser drinks may have fillers. A common misconception is that really expensive tequila is supposed to contain a worm. In reality, a worm found on the plant is an indicator of a diseased plant, and would only be used in sub par product. A final fact, tequila is delicious. So now that I have convinced you all that I am a complete lush, I will take a moment to discuss my summer music forecast. French music is where it is at. Emily introduced me to some great artists: Francois Hardy and France Gall. Also check out stuff by Brigitte Bardot and Enzo Enzo. When summer comes around, I get in the mood for some Bob Marley. There is no other music quite so summer appropriate. Other stuff I am listening to right now: Beck,(primarily Odelay and Midnight Vultures)Old School Mariah Carey,Iron and Wine, Calexico, M.I.A. Arular, Bjork, Feist, Cat Power, and obviously some Of Montreal. Looks like there are going to be some good releases this summer as well. The White Stripes has a new album out, as does Kelly Clarkson. Sly and the Family Stone: The Collection is coming out very soon. If you want some good old fashioned funk for your summer nights, there is really nothing better than The Family. I am probably most excited about Bjork's newest effort, Volta. I hope it is great. She is really one of the best artists for me. So goodbye for now. Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars!

Last night/early this morning, was a lot of fun. I stayed out till dawn, and drank way too much, in a good way. It's good to reconnect with the Irish. It was, after all, Reading Day Eve. It is the magical night when elves dance about and all students deny that their is any studying or paper writing to be done. Well it was fun to live it up for a few hours. What is so great about this summer, is that I will not have to say goodbye to all that many friends. Most of my people are staying in Boone this summer. My summer has really already kind of started. I do not have a tremendous amount of work and studying to do, so the only thing on my plate is job hunting. Oh yes, the joys of prostituting oneself to a brand new metaphorical pimp. Why can't I invent something cool, and live of my residuals? Well, the grindstone awaits. I am going to a cookout on Saturday. I feel like it will be the official beginning of summer. It will be time to start living it up full time. I have been working on my summer music list. I am slowly revamping my iPod to reflect the new and subtle vibes that summer will bring. I love summer music. Summer is the time that I allow myself to listen to my guilty pleasure music. Good thing for me, Kelly Clarkson has some new stuff out. I take that back. Kelly Clarkson is not a guilty pleasure, I admit willingly that I love to belt out her songs as loudly as I possibly can while on a leisurely drive. It is important to have fun with music, especially when the sun is shining. Oh and I guess, if you are homeless and reading this, California really would be a good place to be. Great year round weather, lot's of richers, and the only natural disasters to fear are wildfires, mudslides and earthquakes. Go west, young drifter.

I have been going mildly insane over the last few days. I am dealing with the consequences of being a lazy ass all year. My grades SUCK, My money situation is less than stellar, and I haven't seen a gym in months. The insanity is coming from my refusal to continue in this strain. In a little over a month, I will be 21, a completely official adult. Society will no longer smile with nostalgia at the likes of me, and I am unwilling to be some Reality Bites wanna be before I even graduate. So I have my work cut out for me this summer. I have to grow into myself, which makes not even a little sense. UGH. At least turning 21 will give me ONE less thing to worry about. I will no longer have to endure awkward, trying to be subtle, beer/Jack Daniels runs. That will be undeniably nice. The weather here in Boone has turned quite warm. Its still nice, but I don't want it to get any hotter, although I know it will. The subject of this entry has a fairly dull back story, but I will give it to you anyway. Upon riding the Pop 105 back to me casa, I saw this resplendent cloud. It was the fullest, fluffiest, whitest cloud in the sky. It made me think of a rather strange Family Guy quote. I thought to myself, that cloud insists upon itself. It insists that it is there, that you look upon it and admit its excellence. Arrogant bastard. However, it did its job, as a cloud. It fluffed. It made me ponder life, which is something I am positively tired of doing this week. However, it did put me in a positive mood, which was much needed. So yeah, I am now willing to take on this summer, with more than a little tequila as back up. Margaritas for everyone. Now that's a campaign slogan I can get behind.

How great is life right now? Classes are almost over, my first summer in Boone is beginning, and my 21st birthday is quickly approaching. I am ready for a great time. May is one of my favorite times of year. After the dull cold winter months, May is just enough warmth and sunshine for me. By the time of my birthday, June 8th, I have had enough heat and am ready for fall again. Hopefully being in Boone will let me escape the worst of North Carolina's heat and humidity. I am really looking forward to morning hikes and cool, firefly lit evenings. Although fall is and has always been my favorite season, summer evenings do hold some of my most precious memories. It is the best time for being outdoors with the people you love. Summer evenings are a time when nature feels kind and merciful. There is none of the scorching noon glare, or the harsh winter chill. The environment is finally working with us. I want to read and relax this summer. I also want to learn some life lessons. Not the hard kind, I have had quite enough of those lately. I feel like these kinds of life lessons are best learned with a chilled margarita in one hand and a juicy peach in the other. They are best learned on lawn chairs, or calf high in a chilly stream. They are best learned with some sunscreen and mosquito repellent. They are best delivered by a great book, or a friends voice. This is the picture of the summer I dream about! I think, after a somewhat complicated year, I am quite ready for it.

So I'm obsessed. Bear Grylls is my favorite man alive. If you haven't watched Man vs. Wild on Discovery, you have to. Bear is this survival expert who strands himself in crazy, god forsaken, spots of earth, and shows us all how to survive the worst. It is like primal art in the making. It is so raw and testosterone driven. I am just smitten. If he were always with me, I would have a slightly better chance of surviving anything.(I am sure he would simply have to leave me behind very early on in the trek) On top of all his very practical skills, he is not bad on the eyes at all. Add a dreamy accent, and you have literally the perfect man: Bear Grylls. He has done it all, Everest, biting the head off of snakes, pissed on his own shirt to provide coolness from the desert heat. What I most love about his show is that is gives me a much needed dose of common sense. After watching I do feel a bit less loopy. This show simply amazes me every time I watch. So besides my T.V obsessions, I had a very fun weekend. I went to a fun party, hung out with all the coolest people in my life, met some new fun people, and got some fun books. On top of all that I watched Labyrinth for the first time! What a weird yet wonderful movie. Anything David Bowie is in is super cool by me. Just remember, if you are ever in the Labyrinth, make sure you have Bear Grylls with you!

SO Easter has come and gone. I only got one thing of peeps. Peeps are my all time favorite anything! They are soo delicious and yummy, and squishy, but in the best possible way. We didn't go to church, but that was no surprise. Concord didn't feel the way it has in the past. I guess I am really beginning to belong more to Boone than to home. I don't know if that is sad or good. I did have some fun however. I saw Katie and Blades of Glory. Jordan and I went to South Park, and there are some beautiful shoes to be had out there. Urban Outfitters had a ton of owl stuff, and I actually picked up a pair of little owl earrings. I also got some fun table books. While we were lounging in the Joseph Beth, I read an article in this feminist magazine titled Bitch. I am not really a hardcore feminist, but I figured it might have some interesting articles. Well, I was right. There was this article about female comic heroes, and how they are almost always either crippled, de-powered, or killed in these horrifyingly tortuous ways. (i.e. powerdrills, cut up and stuffed in a freezer etc.) It was an interesting contrast to the ways that most white, male superheroes die gloriously in battle, or simply don't age or die. I am far from being a loyal comic reader, however, I do love my classics, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman. I mainly just watch movies, but as a child, I would keep up with them in nearly every form of media available. I can remember wishing that one of the females would be a little more victorious. It would be nice if Batgirl didn't have to wait for Robin to come and save her, or if Supergirl actually acted like she was empowered by a yellow sun. It's not just women though. Our folk lore, weather it be comics or fairy tales needs to begin to reflect the diversity and progress that has exists in our society. Rant over. I am ready for classes to be over. Summer is going to be amazing, and I can't wait for it. Oh, and I have an unbearable urge to play old school video games! With classes over, perhaps I can finally get good at dig dug!

So Jordan and I are starting a Creamo band named the Screaming Texans.( Creamo is a new wave of music that Jordan and I created:Country Screamo) I think the only things Jordan and I can handle are vocals and light percussion work. We need a rhythm guitarist, a bassist, a full out drummer, and someone who can scream with a southern drawl. I would also love a fiddle and or DoBro player! So yeah, send in those demo tapes. In other news, my dad had minor surgery today. He is fine, but he is going to be out of work for about 3 weeks. Since my mom is also out of work these days, it should be quite the adventure. Lets just say that I am glad I will be up here for most of the next month. Easter is this Sunday. Although we probably won't be going to church, I will be celebrating with Easter lunch at my cousins house. It all makes me nostalgic for the days of egg hunts and full out Easter Sunday regalia. I had the hat, purse, white patent leather Mary Jane's, frilly pastel concoctions, and frilly socks. It was always a lot of fun, and it seemed to never rain on Easter Sundays back then. Easter always makes me wonder weather or not I should be more involved in church. Then some pastor somewhere says something insanely un- Christ like, and I remember why I avoid it. I know as well as anyone, that the vast majority of true Christians are kind, caring, open minded individuals. However, our organized front is,and has been, void of that kind of sincerity. The church in the United States spends nearly all of it's time monitoring sex in some way. Abstinence only in schools, no gay marriage, HIV is somehow deserved by those that the church deems deviant. I think Christ had other things in mind when he set up his church on earth. You know, maybe helping some poor people, curing the sick, offering comfort to the spiritually and emotionally broken. All that seems to fall to the wayside of the Modern Church's agenda. I am proud to follow Christ and his teachings, the problem is that no where do I see those teachings reflected in organized religion today. AGH! Enough ranting. Enjoy Easter everyone. Celebrate what it truly means to you, weather that is the Resurrection of Christ, the dawning of Spring, or the miracle of Fertility.( you know, eggs and shit)

Lately, I have been waxing envious of those who can speak French fluently. It is the language I have committed to for Grad School. I love French, but I am not the best at picking up languages. However, lately I hear French everywhere, spoken well, and it gives me something to aspire to. French is the language of philosophical, intellectual, and artistic snobbery. What's not to love? The real reason I like French is that it simply sounds cool. I mean honestly, there aren't many languages that allow you to sound that with it. Also, I think French will be tremendously useful in my Art History pursuits. So I guess, next semester, I get back into the drudgery of learning French. I may still answer the teacher in Spanish. On a different note, I am going to try my hand at fashion design this summer. I want to make a few of those cute jumper things. I want to make them with great fabric and kitschy buttons. My sister may actually end up "making" them, but I am going to really try. haha Last Saturday, I had a great day just chilling with Jordan and Lindsay in Blowing Rock. The weather was great, the food was better, and I did a little shopping. There is a store down there called Sister Act which has absolutely some of the greatest clothes and shoes. The shoes ahhh! They were amazing. That night I watched Marie Antoinette for the second time, and that just made me lust after shoes again. I did manage to buy 3 adorable headbands, an iPod case, and some great smelling Lemon Grass/ Cedar bath products. I guess I will end with Marie Antoinette. Not only does that movie make me want shoes, it kind of makes me want to become a Hat person. I think I could totally bring that back. Oh and the monocle. Those have spent too long waiting in the wings. Oh well. Although her much maligned highness never actually said it, qu'ils mangent de la brioche!

Here is a cool survey I stole from Lindsay.




MOUTHOLOGY
Q. What is your salad dressing of choice?
A: ranch

Q. What is your favorite fast food restaurant?
A: Bojangles

Q. What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?
A: Palace Cafe in NOLA
Q. On average, what size tip do you leave at a restaurant?
A: 15% at least

Q. What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick off of?
A: Ben and Jerry's Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream

Q. What are your pizza toppings of choice?
A: cheese, and not extra

Q. What do you like to put on your toast?
A: really well made Apple Butter

Q. What is your favorite type of gum?
A: Big League Chew

TECHNOLOGY

Q. Number of contacts in your cell phone?
A: haha probably like 24, I am soo not connected

Q. Number of contacts in your email address book?
A: like 10

Q. What is your wallpaper on your computer?
A: A shot of unbelievable masculine beauty from 300

Q. How many televisions are in your house?
A: only 2, but they are in the same room

BIOLOGY

Q. Are you right-handed or left-handed?
A: right-handed

Q. Do you like your smile?
A:um, it could be a good deal whiter, and the teeth are kind of small

Q. What's your best feature?
A: I like my eyes and my mouth

Q. Have you ever had any broken bones?
A: no, I was a very cautious kid

Q. Which of your five senses do you think is keenest?
A: sight

Q. When was the last time you had a cavity?
A: I think I was a Sophmore in High School

Q. What is the heaviest item you lifted last?
A: box for Model UN

Q. Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
A: I have passed out a few times, but just for like natural reasons

BULL[SHIT]OLOGY

Q. If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?
A: I can't imagine why you would

Q. Is love real?
A: yes,it is everything good in life, even if it is not the Hallmark kind

Q. If you could change your first name, what would you change it to?
A: My favorite name right now is a boys name,but I would go for Finn anyway

Q. What color do you think looks best on you?
A: green

Q. Have you ever swallowed a non-food item by mistake?
A: yes

Q. Have you ever saved someone's life?
A: no, not that I know of

Q. Has someone ever saved yours?
A: my dad saved me from drowning once

DAREOLOGY

Q. Would you walk naked for a half mile down a public street for $100,000?
A: um that sounds pretty fair honestly

Q. Would you kiss a member of the same sex for $100?
A: yep,I mean just a kiss, sure

Q. Would you allow one of your little fingers to be cut off for $200,000?
A: no
Q. Would you pose naked in a magazine for $250,000?
A: hey, as long as I didn't have to see it haha

Q. Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000?
A: yeah, that sounds reasonable

Q. Would you, without fear of punishment, take a human life for $1,000,000?
A: no, because I would not be able to live with myself

Q. Would you give up watching television for a year for $25,000?
A: probably not honestly, thats kind of sad

DUMBOLOGY

Q: What is in your left pocket?
A. no pockets in these slacks

Q: Is Napoleon Dynamite actually a good movie?
A: Heck yeah it is

Q: Do you have hardwood or carpet in your house?
A: carpet

Q: Do you sit or stand in the shower?
A: that is a weird question I stand in the shower
Q: Could you live with roommates?
A: I have done it almost my entire life, so lets hope so

Q: How many pairs of flip flops do you own?
A: 1, seriously that is it

Q: Where were you born?
A: Concord, NC

Q: Last time you had a run-in with the cops?
A: last weekend actually, but I was totally safe from them
Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?
A: I would love to just be a student of life forever, and maybe pass some knowledge along

Q: Who is number 1 on your top 8?
A: is this Myspace? I don't have 8 or 1 for that matter

LASTOLOGY

Q: Friend you talked to?
A: Jordan

Q: Last person you called?
A: some number I don't know

Q: Person you hugged?
A: Jen I think

FAVORITOLOGY

Q: Number?
A: it changes between 7 and 8

Q: Color?
A: green

Q: Season?
A: fall

CURRENTOLOGY

Q: Mood?
A: aoo tired, but pretty optimistic

Q: Listening to?
A: the obnoxiously loud central heating and air in my apartment

Q: Watching?
A: nothing

Q: Worrying about?
A: nothing actually!

RANDOMOLOGY

Q: First place you went this morning?
A: my computer

Q: What can you not wait to do?
A: um, I am in the mood to read a good book and chill

Q: What's the last movie you saw?
A: little miss sunshine

Q: Do you smile often?
A: I try

Q: Are you a friendly person?
A: I think I am generally pleasant to people I actually meet face to face, but random strangers can really piss me off a lot
Q: Kissed someone on your top friends?
A: I don't know what this means

Q: Been arrested?
A: in a past life I guess

Q: Kissed someone you didn't like?
A: no, that is such a Judas move hahah
Q: You like someone?
A: not particularily

Q: Held a snake?
A: yep

Q: Been suspended from school?
A: haha no

Q: Been fired from a job?
A: laid off, but not really fired

Q: Sang karaoke?
A: yep

Q: Done something you told yourself you wouldn't?
A: yes too often

Q: Laughed until you started crying?
A: yeah

Q: Caught a snowflake on your tongue?
A: yeah, snow used to be such a novelty

Q: Kissed in the rain?
A: no

Q: Sang in the shower?
A: almost everyday

Q: Sat on a roof top?
A: I think so

Q: Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on?
A: no, that would piss me off sooo bad

Q: Shaved your head?
A: nope

Q: Had/have a gym membership?
A: no

Q: Made a girlfriend/boyfriend cry?
A: no, I don;t think so

Q: Shot a gun?
A: YES!!!

Q: Donated Blood?
A: nope, giving blood makes me literally pass out

Q: Had your heart broken?
A: probably

Q: Broken someone's heart?
A: I honestly hope not

Q: Now that the survey's done what are you going to do?
A: change my clothes