I <3 my iPod

I do! I really REALLY do!!!

Seriously though . . . I'm very happy with my investment in that clever little electronic device. Not only do I have my music collection with me (all of it once I finish transferring it all) but podcasts and videos too. A few of you who know me can understand how giddy this makes me. Once I get through this last box of cds I'll post the chain questionnaire that Pat "broke". I'm curious to see how random it turns out.

A word of warning though . . . if you're reading this and you're planning on buying one . . . start putting the music onto your computer NOW. It takes a while.

cozy in January

I've been very (happily, for the most part) occupied lately. I might get into that more in a later post. However, for the time being . . . this is too darn cute. Check out what else they have over at knitty.

not again! (lol)

I thought this year my hands might not look like they had been through a shredder. No such luck. You see, for the last few years I had been working at a store where I handled all of the Christmas décor. Christmas wreaths and garland are hell on the hands when you’re dealing with 100s. But I’m not working there anymore, so I figured it wouldn’t be so bad. A manicure might even look ok, right? Ha! This year it was the files that did it. I’m working on this project right now that requires a lot of filing. Not paper, but smoothing the edges on pieces of silver. The pieces are small enough though that every once and a while the steel file slips and goes right across my knuckles.

Oh well, I can get away with injured hands at the holiday parties . . . I’m an artist! It's amazing what that little phrase lets us get away with when it comes to fashion. ;)

after the rain

This is going to be one of those thoughtful, introspective, maybe even stream of consciousness type of entries.

I love the rain, and even thunderstorms for the matter. It’s something about the ways it pushes everyone inside; how it urges you into cozy nooks, warm fires, deep porches, and favorite pages. And all the while the earth is being fed, the leaves brightened, and the paths and pavements swept clean. It’s the transition before clearing of sky that reveals all in a fresh clarity.

Some people talk about the “rain” periods of their lives as the difficult or sorrowful times in their lives. As for myself, it’s the times before the rain that are the worst. There’s the buildup, the open wounds, the weight of it all. Then comes the period where worst is removed, and areas are cleaned and cleared. What we’re met with then is a clear sky, air that fills the lungs instead of choking them, and earth that is ready to be used again.

Whatever the breaking point, I’ve found myself staring up at a clear sky once again. Only, I didn’t realize that’s what it was until after I’d spoken to an old friend. Whether he’s a muse or an oracle in my life I’m not certain, but I do know that the crossing of our paths always coincides with the writing of music. I love that the mysteries of friendships have the most wonderful and unexpected effects. It’s beautiful. I wasn’t sure that I really wanted the make the phone call. And if this was to be like any other time I’d just get his voicemail, but I took the chance. I’m glad that I did, and now I have a new song to remind me of who I was, who I am, and who I can be.

It’s easy to get caught up in the day to day that happens. All the while you’re waiting, hoping that what you’re dreaming of is going to happen, but still you can forget that this is temporary. It may be dangerous to live in dreams constantly, but it can be hell to live without remembering them. What I do now, what I sacrifice now is for what I know will come in its own time.

Certain people come in and out of lives reminding us of who we are and what truly brings us joy. In gentle ways our focus is redirected, our distractions forgotten. They often have no idea of their intervention. A smile, a conversation, a word, or even a memory will be the catalyst, and we are that to someone else.

Bella is sleeping in her little bed next to my Christmas tree, and I think I’ll find my way into my own.

I received an e-mail from a friend of mine today about an old friend of ours who was almost killed because of an act of pure rage. After headed home from a recording session, he was nearly beaten to death after a minor traffic accident. The other driver was arrested, and one of the reports can be found here. Johnny is one of the most skilled and gifted guitarists I know, and we hope that after this he will be able to play again. Right now, we're praying that he just pulls through. His cousin is a dear friend of mine, and was highly instrumental (no pun intended) in my start into songwriting. There was something almost magic about those guys. Johnny, Steven, and the rest of the family are all in my prayers.

Whether you were a fan of Burlap to Cashmere, Johnny, Steve, or not, please keep them all in you thoughts and prayers. Thanks.

cast of characters

sorry Jaymi, but I'm really bored and the laundry isn't done yet. Oh, and I'm putting off the crochet sample I'm supposed to have for class tomorrow. :) plus, talking (or calling anyone) is out of the question, as my voice is shredded at the moment. I hope this is only a 24hour bug.

ladies first . . . .

"Jenna" - as in Jenna Rink, Jennifer Garner's character in 13 Going On 30. Not because they look alike (well, maybe a little), but because that's pretty much who she is. Love her for it.

"Lorelai" - scary as it may be, that's what the conversations are like between me and her. Just one of the reasons we love the show. She's one of my best friends!

"Andie" - (How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days) she looks more like Jennifer G. (Affleck?), but this is about characters . . . she can hang with the guys like the best of them, they all fall in love with her, she's always there for her girlfriends, and she's always having a great time.

"Gordon" - I'm naming her after my favorite character from one of my favorite movies because I have to her on this list, but I can't think of a single female character she's like. I'll see if we can think of something tomorrow.

and now for the boys . . .

"Chandler" - hey, he's admitted that he is Chandler. This explains itself on so many levels, and I've known him forever . . . .

"Joey" - ok, I havn't seen this guy in a while, but it sealed the deal when the words "how you doin'?" came out of his mouth. He even looks like him. Ten bucks says "Jenna" almost fell out of her chair reading this. ;)

"Keane" - short for Will Keane, Richard Gere's character in Autumn In New York. Smooth, charming, underneath a heart of gold, and trouble . . . . all trouble.

"Will" - except that he was straight, he was Will and I was Grace. When it dawned on both of us it was somewhat alarming. I even had the red hair! I miss him . . .

"Leopold" - if he (the actual character, not the guy) had actually stuck around anyway . . . far too handsome and proper, this guy is lovely but doesn't seem to fit . . .

so these are just a few . . . hope you enjoyed the read ;)

oh, and if anyone knows a real "Ronon", then that's a blind date you can set me up on. Or a "Major Shepard".

why?

So should I just wear heels every day? All the times I've worn them, and never, not once, have I had and injury. However, while wearing "sneakers" I've rolled or twisted both of my ankles. Not at the same time of course, but still. What gives? Stumbed wearing heels, yes (bad sidewalks), but never an injury.

Will & Grace is on and I miss my "Will". We'd both be laughing about my sore ankle right now on his really uncomfortable (but strangely stylish) couch. **ouch**

musically speaking

I was thinking about music again, and the things my brilliant teacher tried to impart to me while she was still alive. It seems like half of singing is finding out how certain things should feel. The way you breathe, the way a sound resonates inside, the openness of the throat, the stance, the alignment of posture. After a time, all of this becomes second nature, almost effortless. Instead of straining for a note, the feeling of that sound compensates for a bad acoustic environment. Or even a day when what you’re accustomed to hearing just isn’t the same.

Keeping in time, on tempo, in the right verse, and working the mood of the crowd is enough without worrying if you’re staying on pitch. Some of the “coolest” rock stars even figured it out. Why suffer from being hoarse and off-key, when some simple vocal training means that your gigs turn out better and you can do more of them without straining the voice? Oh, and the screams turn out louder too.

Thinking about it all makes me look forward to time for training and practice again. I know that I’m out of shape vocally when it takes longer to bounce back from all long night out or a sore throat.

Now if I could just stop pronouncing those Italian songs in French.

ooouuuuuuwwwww . . .

Who needs the gym when you have the studio to give your muscles hell? I had a thorough round with the rolling mill yesterday and my arms having been reminding me all day. Feel the burn, baby.

There's an Opening tonight for some seniors in the Fabric department tonight. There are six of them, and the show looks like it'll be really great. There's a knitted igloo for crying out loud! It'll at least be interesting.

One of the two professors of the Fabric Design department is retiring. We're really going to miss Ed, but he's been here forever and wants to spend more time with his wife. It's sad that he's leaving, but sweet that he's going to do some things that he's been putting off.

Switchfoot is playing tomorrow night at the 40watt and I'm going! As if that wasn't exciting enough, my friend Patrick is coming in from Augusta for the show as well. I haven’t seen him in ages! (years?) It's going to be a blast.

spooky

He's baaAack . . .

My ex-boyfriend has recently decided to pick up communication again. The passive-aggressive kind of course, but a form regardless. It's funny in a sad sort of way. He even thought he could lie again. Silly boy. The "female CIA" has many members and the best agents know to watch each other's backs. Try as he might, he was not successful in retrieving my number.

Is it coincidence that one of my best friends looks like Jennifer Garner? hmmmm . . . ;)

small acts of kindness

Sometimes it's the little things that make a difference. Here is a way that we can help victims of rape. Another way to do what we can.

I really meant to write sooner . . . I did.

I really hate to say this, but Kyan (and whoever said it first) was right . . . a bedroom that’s a disaster is an indication that life is a disaster. Now, being an art student tends to mean that one’s living quarters will be in a state of grand chaos from time to time. Fine. But I can’t take this for extended periods of time anymore. It’s just eerie how much more smoothly things seem to go when my laundry is clean and the floor is vacuumed. It’s not that I was a slob, there was just always a lot of clutter. Just don’t look at the studio. ; )

Elizabethtown is clever, and wonderful in a not over the top sort of way. We laughed through the movie, and it wasn’t because it was crude, crass, moronic, or ridiculous. You know those moments that we’ve all had versions of at some point? The ones that you look back and laugh at? It’s full of those.

I’m still not budging on the dating issue. Life is flexible, but I need to see these commitments through as much for myself as for those people who will one day be a part of my future.

quick note

all is well (enough), lots of new stuff (so stay tuned, so to speak), Elizabethtown is awesome, gay men keep asking me out (yeah, it's odd/funny?) . . . oh, and it's homecoming this weekend.

I'll explain everything later . . .

top five

Here's being honest: I'm a little spent (see entry below) and looking for ways to keep myself occupied other than TV, kleenex, or junk food. So here are some top 5 lists (if you're that bored or curious).

favorite movies that I've watched so many times I've lost track on the count:
1. High Fidelity (ha! irony, no?)
2. Under the Tuscan Sun
3. Pirates of the Caribbean
4. Serendipity
5. Hackers

cities I've been to:
1. Amsterdam
2. Washington, D.C.
3. Haarlem
4. Nashville
5. Iron Town (ok, it was a village, but being in the mountains of Jamaica was just cool)

things I value in my friends:
1. character
2. kindness
3. loyalty
4. sense of humor
5. honesty

things I find attractive in a guy (what I tend to notice physically):
1. eyes (they say alot)
2. smile
3. hair
4. hygene (I'm NOT kidding)
5. height

things that don't bother me in a guy:
1. body type (unless he's over-muscled - that's just gross)
2. hair style (as of recently that even includes dreads, oddly enough)
3. skin color
4. tatoos
5. facial hair

foods:
1. pizza (it gets its own)
2. Japanese
3. Italian
4. Mexican
5. Southern Soul

things that scare me really REALLY bad:
1. the wedding prep scenes from My Big Fat Greek Wedding (and my family isn't Greek or mostly women)
2. escalators (the ones at Hartsfield and Phillips Arena. Ruth can tell you all about it.)
3. snakes
4. heights
5. tests

Kaylee died this afternoon. I'm having a hard time talking about it right now, but I know that some of you would want to know. We're not sure how she got so sick so quickly, but she was a wonderful pet. It's hard right now.

-Meredith

public service note

Due to the volume of e-mails that my little brother and his friends are sending about (and to me apparently) I'm posting this link.

http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/

If it seems too good to be true . . . that's right, it probably IS. I've been sending this particular link to all the e-mails on the forwards, but posting here couldn't hurt.

AOL & Microsoft are not going to send you a check, ok? :)

it didn't rain, but we flooded

Sometime around 4:30 this morning my cat woke me up wanting who knows what. That's not unusual for her. However, in my semi-concious state I noticed that my door was closed, but the lights were on out in the hall. Slightly unusual at that hour, but whatever. Then more lights came on. Next thing I know, mother is telling me that the basement is flooded because the new water heater that was installed yesterday was defective. So we spent the next few hours downstairs moving stuff and using the shop vacs to suck water out of the basement and carpeting in the den. We got most of it up, and there's a shiny new de-humidifier sitting downstairs helping us out.

That was the monday morning adventure this week.

It seems like I'm crying all the time now. For a while nothing made me cry, and it almost scared me. I'd want to, but it was like I was so numb that I couldn't. I had been pushing away everything that was hurting me for so long that I just couldn't express anything anymore. It was awful, and also happened to be around a couple of the most difficult, painful years I've known thus far. Anyone who met me in the year after I move back got to know me during the worst couple of years or so of my life. Only they probably didn't know that because there were things that I just couldn't talk about. The fact that some of the friends are still around says alot about who they are.

So now, I'm a basket case when Extreme Makeover: Home Edition comes on, when the girls get together like we used to, or when I admit that I'm just a little bit overwhelmed.

On the other hand, emotional releases tend to mean that I'm much more relaxed and happy the majority of the time. Which I have been. I just still have alot going on right now, and alot of things to take care of.

(quote)

"This life is not about what one can do to make his or her bank account larger, or even beating yourself over the head for having a privileged life. It is, however, about making a difference in the lives of those who do not have hope. I have been blessed with a life of abundance, and it is now my job to go out and share that abundance with those who do not have it." -Bethany Ruth Brown

So you're where you are for a reason. You shouldn't fight it, but be thankful for it, and watchful of how it can benefit others as well.

Just a thought.

live & learn

I did it. Well, almost.

As of tomorrow (or the following day) I will have read all of the currently published Harry Potter novels. Yes, all of them. Some of my friends reading this might be ready to start lecturing about all sorts of dangers. However, having READ the books . . . the Left Behind series is more dangerous. Seriously. Sorry, hate to break it to you, but it's true. Harry has some decent morals, aside from some typical adolescent issues. But honestly, I remember youth group, and we weren't much better. Remember the giant frog and the pastor's toilet? (well, ok . . . IN) We even had the fireworks! Patrick should remember this, I think he actually did it. I distinctly remember chasing the frog around the grounds with half the team.

The whole uproar in the Christian community a while back over these books seems to be a pattern of late. Everyone gets all freaked out over a STUPID argument, gets all distracted, and goes on a witch hunt. (yes that was intentional) The point is, Tolkien and Lewis had people running around doing "magic" in their stories and no one seems to have a problem with it.

I got caught up in the whole thing as well a few years back. But then again, I was also caught up in a certain organization that was a LITTLE over the top about some things. The books are not for everyone, but they're not a threat.

Now, go be nice to your neighbor . . . NOW. :)