Perfect Jumping Off Point

Things I want to begin doing more of:

-baking
-cooking
-gardening
-writing
-organizing
-photography

I sort of want to start a new blog to record these new ventures. What do you think? Worth it?

Strawberry Bubble Gum

I know there are a lot of things about Michigan right now that aren't great. I know that, economically, it has had bad times and really bad times. But then I think about the amazing experience I had growing up in the Southwestern part of the lower peninsula and I remember that Michigan is pretty darn great.

Today, one of my coworkers said something about the joy of fresh fruit. Right away, I was thinking about the summers I spent working at the farm stand. I thought of the strawberries I ate fresh from the field, still warm from the sun. I thought of our trips down the road to the blueberry farm, tying coffee cans around our waists, and picking many pounds of berries to take home. I thought of the long drives out on the roads that passed by more vineyards, orchards, and road side stands than I can count.

Yes, Michigan is pretty awesome.

I remember being able to ride my bike all over town, visiting the library, visiting the park. I loved hanging out at that park with friends, swinging until our legs hurt (or someone broke a bone) in the dark, drinking in summer air. I remember the video scavenger hunts, the hanging out, the movie marathons. The friendships I made growing up, the amazing adventures we had, groups we were in and championships we worked our asses off for, were all so spectacular that I often can't really explain them to people who don't understand.

Michigan people know, though.

Mmmm Michigan. Pure and simple. Amazing. I love you.

Walk With Me, Susie Lee

Okay, so I just watched this video, which made me very happy because I:

a) love flash mobs
b) totally love The Sound of Music.

Watch and enjoy.

CLRG and I went to the thrift store today, after eating lunch at a local Chinese restaurant. I got some great things. I am very pleased. We also found a few sweet shirts for me (even though we were looking for stuff for him), also. On our way home, we walked down a street so I could see if a Catholic church I thought I saw a sign for was there. It was! I went inside for a minute and it is very nice and pretty. I was glad to find one even closer to my house than the one I had thought was closest, if that makes any sense.

OH! The new room is so close to be done, I can pretty much taste it. Not really, but you know what I mean. It has been primed and they put some plywood down to level the floor and I think they are painting right now. AND! The carpet is totally in the house. Things are progressing quickly now, and I am very happy.

Sweet Like Candy to My Soul

Today, I am grateful for:

-beautiful houses
-kitten paws
-cuddling
-books
-my family

And it Came to Me Then/That Every Plan is a Tiny Prayer to Father Time

Today, I am grateful for:

-sleepy cat eyes
-friendly people
-vision
-surprise texts from CLRG
-good books (like The Happiness Project!)

Bright Smile, Dark Eyes

The other day, K and I went exploring in the Homewood Cemetery, not far from our respective homes. It was very warm and sunny, but we were generally shaded and the exercise did us good. It was interesting to see some of the famous Pittsburgh names there. The Fricks, the Mellons, the Heinzes. You know- the big wigs. When I got home, I realized that I had gotten some sun on my shoulders, and it hurt. It's better today.

Earlier, I realized that I haven't updated in a little while because I don't have much to say that isn't the same thing every time. Basically, when I am not at work or hanging out with K or with CLRG, I am job searching and watching television in the living room. I try to apply to a few each day, but it is getting discouraging. Very, very discouraging. *sigh*

I am excited for the coming week. We (CLRG) and I have many things to attend: we are going to a graduation party for TP on Sunday, we have CLRG's company picnic on Wednesday, a trip to Kennywood with his parents on Thursday, and a Punchline show on Saturday. And then it's the Fourth! I don't know what we're doing for that, but I am excited just the same.

Because the World is Round...

So K came over on Friday afternoon and assisted me in straightening my hair and then gave the ends a little trim. I hadn't had it cut since... December 2008. Seriously. Anyway, it needed it. I'm just always wary of having people cut it who don't understand my hair. I bet I could find someone around here who would know, but for now I am content to have K help. Anyway, I took a shower this afternoon to wash it and get it back to normal and when I got out, I was actually startled by how short it looks. It touches my shoulders, but I was surprised. We didn't cut that much off, though. I think I'm just crazy. Maybe. Probably.

CLRG and I had a delightful day yesterday. We went out in the morning to get his car washed and buy car detailing supplies and then went to Ritter's Diner in... Bloomfield(?). I did some homework and laundry during the day and later on, we drove to Wheeling, West Virginia to watch the Wheeling Nailers and the Johnstown Chiefs play hockey. It was a good time and a fun day. :o)

Let's Take a Ride to the Seaside

Well, Oldface and Bananne left today. They were supposed to fly out around 5:30 this evening but were delayed and ended up boarding at like 8:30. Kind of ridiculous, but what can you do? We had an excellent visit. On Wednesday, they arrived and we walked to my new apartment and then to the Factory and then we went out to dinner with KBrew, which was a ton of fun. On Thursday, I had to work so we didn't do too much during the day. I got some packing done while Bananne did schoolwork and then we went to dinner in the evening. On Friiiiiiiday, we went to the Pittsburgh Zoo! It was a grand time. That is where the photograph above was taken. We took many a picture and saw some cute animals. In the evening, we went to dinner with Buddy and Elle and then went to the Cage for some good, old-fashioned libation. We took even more pictures there, mostly silly, and called pretty much everyone we know. Graaaaand times. This morning, I took them to Pamela's to experience the wonder of the strawberry hotcakes and then took them to the airport in the afternoon. I'm so glad they came. I really, really am. I wish that my Wifers had been here, too, but I know I'll see her soon (in Cleveland, mayhaps).

In other news, Elle and I move in one week! Buddy's parents came today and packed all of her stuff into their car(s). Our living room looks strange without furniture. Thankfully, Elle and I have boxes staged down there, in sections. You know, my room stuff, hers, kitchen, living room, storage room. We should be ready come Saturday morning. We'll go get the UHaul and start the process. We have to get the couch from CLRG's place and have to also move his stuff to HatNick's. Should be fun times. I'm hoping that the potential for thunderstorms that Elle read about for Saturday diminishes... I also wish that my parents or grandparents or sister could be here to help me move. I feel kind of sad when everyone's family comes and mine does not. I know it is not logical for them to come, that traveling that far just to do that is silly, but it would be nice to see them.

Elle asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday this evening. I hadn't realized how quickly it is approaching! 10 days from now, I'll be 24. Crazy, right? Right. Yikes.

Remember Singing the Whole Way Home/About an Indian Summer So Long Ago

I feel like it is necessary to pinch myself sometimes. I am living such a lovely life (and, apparently, an alliterative one) here in the Burgh. I have good friends, a marvelous boyfriend, a cute apartment (come August), a job (yes, it sucks, but it's a job) and am generally happy. One of my coworkers came up to me the other day and said that he had been talking with his therapist and they decided he needed to ask me how it was possible for me to be so cheery at work all of the time. It's a good question, and the answer is obvious: I don't really have anything to be down about. I don't think it's necessary to let stupid customers or little annoying, pointless things bother me. For the first time, I really feel like I know what I am doing. I know where I'm going and I have future thoughts and plans. I'm comfortable with the way I'm turning out. It's a big step for me, one that should be acknowledged, because I'm second-guessing myself less and less and am not as concerned what others think of me as I have been in the past. It's a good feeling. :oD

The countdown to Idaho is down to three days. Yesterday, CLRG and I went to the Waterfront to find him some new shoes. We also went to the bookstore to get some reading material for the plane and such. I purchased two books. He did, too. Hip, hip hooray!! Now I just have to pack. Hahahahahahahahahahahaha.

Hockey tonight. Game 3. GO PENS.

I Can't Feel a Thing Without You by My Side

Today was beautiful. And, yes, I know that it isn't over yet and I still think it's beautiful, but whatever. It was one of those days that shouldn't end because it's so good. I went to bed at a reasonable time last night, slept eight hours and got up for my internship. When it was lunch time, the other intern and I were told that it might be an hour before we could get back in because the archivists each had plans for lunch that would take longer than a standard lunch break. I had packed a sandwich and some things in my purse before leaving home, so I took my stuff and ventured down to the Riverfront Trail to sit on a bench near the Allegheny and soak in the sunshine. I read my book and took my time eating. It was sooooo nice. After lunch, I went back to the museum and found the other intern sitting in the lobby. He said they weren't back yet, so we explored the museum a little bit before going back to work. When I got home, I finished reading my book while listening to some quiet, classical music with the windows of my bedroom open and the sun streaming in. Perfect? Maybe so.

I usually try to read a lot during the summer, because I can't afford the time to do pleasure reading during the school year. I'm doing pretty well so far. I finally finished Emma and have since completed two other books. I'm excited. I think I will probably end up going to the library or raiding CLRG's collection of Vonnegut when I've read through the stuff I have on my shelves here in the Burgh. It's a good feeling.

CLRG and I are going to Idaho so soon! 16 days!! Holy crap. I need to figure out what things I am taking. I don't want to take a lot, you know. I also need to plan the things we will do. I think I keep writing about this. Maybe? I don't know. In any case, here are some things we will probably do:

-go to Yellowstone
-go to the MOI
-take Pookie out for a drink
-hang out with the fam
-visit Tautphaus Park Zoo?
-hang out with MOI friends

Nothing spectacular, really. I just want everyone to be happy and have fun. We'll see how it goes.

So Glide Away on Soapy Heels

Oh, baby, is it ever crunch time. I have a million things due next week and neither the time nor the motivation to do the work. It'll happen, of course. It always does. *sigh*

In happier news, Elle and I looked at an apartment on Monday evening and we absolutely fell in love with it. It's adorable. The top two floors of a house. There is a full bathroom, eat-in kitchen, living room and small extra room on the 2nd floor and then two bedrooms and another full bathroom on the 3rd floor. It's relatively affordable for the neighborhood in which we live and compared to the places we've seen ads for online. We're going back to see it this evening when Elle is out of work and CLRG is coming with us (you know, to ask manly questions and be all official and whatnot) and I am going to take my camera. Elle took photos on Monday, but we were so excited, that we were distracted and she only got like 5 or something. Haha. Would it be bad to just jump on this one without really looking elsewhere? I don't want it to slip away. It's basically perfect.

Push Me Till I Have to Fly

So, confession: I don't like sleeping alone. I've been having sleepover and naptimes with CLRG so frequently since we started dating that I can't remember what it's like to sleep by myself. In fact, I am at home now and I want to go to bed, but I am kind of dreading it. This is a problem, right? I don't know. I also don't actually care because it makes me happy and he makes me happy and this is the way I like it.

Anywaaaaaaaaaay... I have an interview for a summer internship in the morning at The Warhol. I am pretty excited about it. Manders did her museum internship there in the fall and had a really good experience. I am psyched to have the opportunity to do it in the summer and then be able to do a different museum internship in the fall. I'm hoping to do it at the Soldiers and Sailors Museum because my interest in the Civil War has been peaked lately. We'll see how it goes. I think that my friend C would also do his there and we could hang. It would be suuuuuper fun. Wish me luck. I hope it works out!!

Maybe I should get into bed with a book and hope that I can sleep. Yes? Maybe so.

If This Was the Cold War, We Could Keep Each Other Warm

Sometimes I feel like I am doing things all wrong, but then I remember that I am happy and I like the way things are going and I am going to be happy in the long run and it's all okay. Does that make sense?

I believe I found this picture on snippet & ink not long ago. I think it's adorable. It makes me smile. Yep, yep, yep.