STELLA!!!!!!!

I've spent the better half of this week wet or in the basement.
Today I met both of my neighbors. They were all in our basement when the sirens went off. I like how they finally felt the need to say hello when their lives are in danger. Aren't storms nice...? But really, they were sweet. There is actually one girl who is only living in one of the houses for the summer but we got along so great and she is wonderful! I have a feeling that we will be hanging out a bit in the coming months!

I want a dog. I miss mine so much it isn't even funny.
I have decided that I still need to wait. I don't have the time for loving on a puppy the way it needs-or the discipline. Though, I want one so completely and ridiculously bad.

I have also decided this. When the time comes when I have the time for a dog...it will be a border collie. BUT...they chase things, cars-this could be a serious complication Maybe if I married a race car driver...they could just play out back on the track and live in the country and he would never get hit...maybe not. I also really want a boxer. SO GREAT! But there are cuter dogs. I love beagles with all of my heart...but every time I look at one I think of Daisy. I don't want to call my future dog by the wrong name of my dead dog...that's awful. I really like the Labrador Retriever, Beagle mix. SOOO much energy though...and probably a lot of barking and chewing. All of the dogs I want start with the letter B. That has nothing to do with my love of dogs.
I have decided on a name though. I have had this name for my future dog for years. STELLA. How great is that? Think about it...you holler at dogs a lot right? IT's also a cute name. It's not a foofoo name or a name name, so I think it fits. I just hope I don't have a boy...he'll have a lot of issues through life because I am not changing the name to suite the sex of this dog. Tough. I like the name.

I will not have a Komondor. I feel it is cruel to have a dog look like that. It's not natural.

I am watching the news and I SWEAR a newscaster on CSPAN just called someone a 'fat cat'. hahahaha, I really think he did! HHAHAHAHA. I need a nap. This shouldn't be that hilarious and I shouldn't express laughing through typing like this, it's weird.

Swing batter batter swiiiiing!

Today's Agenda Looking Back:

9:50 Awake to a crazy thunderstorm.
10:20 Shower-"ARE THOSE THE SIRENS? ....#@*^!!"
10:22 Quickly dress while dripping wet.
10:30 Sitting in the basement eating an apple and bagel-still wet.
10:35 Decide this is ridiculous so I go grab my computer to finish some work while I sit there.
10:40 Can't stand being wet anymore so I leave to go dress myself-despite the hail.
11:15 'Ooh, I see sunlight. No biggie'. I make pasta salad.
11:25 'Still sunlight. I finish the deviled eggs I boiled last night.
11:45 My mom calls to make sure I'm not dead and tells me she's proud that I am now domesticated.
12:00 Put the brisket in.
12:30 Quick run to the store to fix a craving for bbq chips. Yumm.
1:00 No one shows for the bbq-yet.
1:50 Still no one. 'Why did you put 1-6? Dumb.'
1:54 Leave to drop something off at work.
2:02 Decide I am really lucky to live two blocks from work.
2:30 One friend arrives.
2:33 Three more friends arrive.
3:35 One more friend arrives.
4:15 And another friend arrives.
4:15-6 Good times were had.
6:10-7 Great talk with a dear friend. Great talk. Love her.
7-8:40 Decided I needed to finish some work.

8:50 'ERICA ERICA ERICA!!'
'YEAH??'
'OOOOOOoooooOOOOOH BAT BAT BAT-THERE IS A BAT DOWN HERE!!'
'...ha. seriously?'
At this point after the humor left, I decided I should help my roommate. So I
grab a jacket zipped it up-hood included-and set out downstairs.
'There is a bat in the study!'
'For real?' -instantly a bat flies out of the study and into the living room.
'Ohhh. There is!'
'Should we call the landlord?'
'Uh-yes. Maybe, I don't know. I know a friend who might know what to do.'
So I text him-however the minute I sent it I felt bad 1-He's in rehearsal
2-He has to pay for his texts 3-Why would he know how to wrangle a bat
4-I felt like it was a lame damsel in distress text-not intentional.
'Ok. Lets call Will'.
After calling our landlord we decide to grab a shower curtain, open the front door, and yell a lot while pushing him out. After a lot of screaming and some ever so pointless sweet talk-It was still flying in circles like a broken record. Finally we reached the front door and it had landed on the floor next to the french doors leading into a bedroom. We open the door-which I'm sure looked much like an awful horror flick when there is someone with an ax behind the door and the audience knows but the character opens it anyway-and in one swift choreographedlike motion my roommate grabs the shower curtain and I, looking like an insane eskimo in 90 degree weather, grab a chair to prop open the door. At last-the bat sees the door. It attempted at least six times before it found the courage to fly through. I kept thinking to myself at this point that I should either rub my fingers together (heard that worked) or cheer it on like a cheerleader. Figuring I would look more like a drunken idiot I instead decided it would be best to stand there and think about all the other places bats could live in my house. I came up with 23 significant places where a bat would make a happy little home.

Date: Meredith Palmer

Two things:

The last song for dance recital tonight was 'white and nerdy'. I was backstage so I couldn't really watch it, but I did see that the girls all dressed as nerds (way cute)...but then the dance started and it was hip-hop..."Wait", I thought, "I don't get it-whaaaa-huh?-Oh my gosh!", lightbulb goes off, "Ridin Dirty'-Holy Cow!". I then began to laugh hysterically and had to exit the wing. To completely understand this you have to understand the innerworkings of one of the most wonderful ladies in my life who I love dearly and who has taught me almost everything I know in dance-but sometimes...ha. She just didn't get it this time. Way funny.

Two: facebook now has a gwam test. I'm rusty. It's addictive. The thing is, it totally depends on the words you're given. Sometimes within thirty seconds you'll have words like 'happened Jimmy Tommy United States zesty examine painstakingly didn't carnation dilemma"...that's not a good example-but larger words as opposed to 'he she it them there let am I". So it's not exactly accurate in my book. However, I'm proud of my 86. It used to be in the hundreds when we were required to practice every day in school. I hated it then but now...it's fun. This is literally turning into a game for me. I've blocked out everything in the past ten minutes of my life, striving to do better than the test before and if I did worse...wrath on myself. I pictured myself as a cast member apart of 'The Office'. How fun it would be to have a gwam typing competition and how intense it could be and how absolutely amazing it would be. The prize could be like-a date with Meredith or something like that...but I wouldn't want a date with Meredith-so never mind. Scratch that idea.

I almost bought an L.L. Bean tote today but I didn't. I decided that however great it would be to have my name on a canvas bag-the excitement of that wouldn't last very long and probably wouldn't be worth it in the long run.

Barbecue on Monday. Can't wait. It will be a small intimate group-but that is almost even better and I am way excited for pasta salad.

Those are my thoughts for the day.

Sequence & Milk

I hate Hairspray. Not the actual product, oh no, I live for that. The musical. I don't know why, I just can't really stand it. If I'm ever offered the chance to audition for it, sure I will, but overall, I just don't know if I would be able to handle all the...uppitness of it. Anyway, that's not the point of the story.

I'm positive that my neighbors think I'm crazy. My windows are usually always opened. It's something I can't really help, I like the sunlight, but it's not a smart thing to do. Long story short, I was rocking out to Hairspray this morning while getting ready. Why...? No clue. Off moment in my life maybe. I feel that my neighbors next door think I'm nuts. I suppose it's my fault for leaving the windows open while my room looks out over the windows next door. Oh well.

I saw a milk commercial today with cows racing. Here's how it goes: The female cows are so jazzed about racing each other to the finish line, it's pretty much all they talk about, then-out of no where, sidetracked: by dandelions. This is my life.

In one hour I-70 will be mine. Nothing but the road, my ipod, and me. I can't wait. Something about driving by myself is just absolutely soothing. If gas prices weren't so high I would drive around like I used to. It's something that I miss a lot these days. Sidenote: Dance recital is this weekend. SO exciting. There are very few things that I love more than dance recitals...well, I take that back; there are many things that I love more, but there are few things that are as equal to my love of dance recitals. Does that make sense??? Hope so. Not looking forward to: stage moms. I hate nothing more in this world than stage moms. That is the truth. There is nothing equally as bad as stage mothers. Honest.

I'm off. Here I come I-70.

My blogs have become consistently worse and worse as well as more and more like a teenage diary. Something exciting needs to happen. Like dandelions. I need more dandelions in my life.

"Count-Up"

Cleaning stinks. I'm taking a break.

I haven't done this in a while.
Latest 15 on itunes Shuffle:

1)Talk of the town - Kate Walsh
2)Lump Sum - Bon Iver
3)Demons - Guster
4)Slow Hands - Antics
5)Lonely - Yael Naim
6)Here At The Right Time - Josh Ritter
7)Feather Moon - Vienna Teng
8)If I Ever - Alli Rogers
9)On a Freezing Chicago Street - Margot & the Nuclear So & So's
10)Glory Sweet Glory - Margo May
11)What If You? - Joshua Radin
12)Track 4 of "Wonder What's Next" - Cheville
13)Save Your Day - Jose Gonzalez
14)The Infinite Pet - Spoon
15)I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You - Colin Hay

Snuggle Up

So I was scouting around online today looking for throw pillows (bizarre past time? well...I enjoy it) Anyway, I found this at target.

...honestly I don't even know what to write about it. I just found it completely hilarious. That's all I really have to say about that.

It's sad really, lately I don't have anything to write about except for a huge body cuddle pillow...and I can't even write about that.

Two fun facts about my life right now:
1) I laid outside today for two hours...I'm a bit burnt.
2) Potterybarn furniture is something I hold in high regard. It's pretty, but I'll never be able to afford it...and if I could, I don't think I'd spend that much money on things like that anyway. Pointless. Pointless but pretty.

All that you can bare

I hate being so melodramatic, but sometimes you just can't help it.
It's just been one of those weeks.

Today my paper/bibliography kept printing in Wingdings. I don't know why, but it just did. I spent multiple dollars re-printing at the library. People thought I was crazy, I was cussing the printer out, shaking out of the combination of anger, sleep deprivation, and a coffee high, and I was literally in full flegged tears-red face and all because of the whole situation.

A good friend of mine gave me a cd today: Audioslave. I was skeptical about it because I don't really listen to rock a lot...but there are a few songs on there that I am in love with-I was surprised with myself. It's their second cd "Out of Exile"...#3 "Be yourself"-in love with. It's funny because it kind of applies to my life right now, so I like it for more than just the 'tunes'...ha. But really...wow-and the guitar solo-itune it. .99 well spent.

I have an excuse to dress up and be pretty tomorrow night and I'm very much looking forward to it. I need that excuse to be really dressy tomorrow...I think it will make me smile pretty big-as awful and materialistic as that is.

...I want to play my violin.

I never thought I'd say this, but go listen to Audioslave.

70 Sheets of College Ruled Paper

Today I had a four year old pee on me. That was exciting.
I wish I would have performed for a theater thing tonight, I really wish I would have done it. I signed up to perform, but didn't do it because I didn't feel prepared enough. The stress of things is starting to eat away at me and I just didn't have the devotion to really sit down and nit pick and work with my piece the way I would want to. I was going to sing, and it's the first time I would sing for anyone in the department and I just wanted to be satisfied with myself before I would sing for others (esp in the dept). However, in reality I was prepared enough to do it...but there was just that doubt. I really wish I would have. It's not like me to not just do something like this, it's not and it weirds me out that I freaked...maybe it's the stress and the personal things going on. Oh well, I'll do it next time.
I shouldn't have anymore children pee on me for a while, today was the last day for one of my jobs-schools out for the summer. I received some pretty sweet gifts though-it's great being a teacher! Love it. Bath and Body Works-homemade baked goods from a GREAT caterer...what a great day.
I really like wine bottles. Looking around my room, I have a lot of wine bottles...ok three. None of them are mine though, they're just cool looking ones I've picked up from friends and out of the garbage. They make for great vases.
I'm putting off a big paper. I have half of it done...it's just going over that hill to finish it. I don't want to. I've cleaned my room set out my clothes for tomorrow, worked out (again), read, had some devo/quiet time (MUCH needed-still need more), and now I'm blogging. I'm using this as more of a diary/journal type deal today...that's weird. I try not to do that...Oh well. I blame...nothing, I blame nothing. I'm just going to go with it.

I've decided that in times of stress I do unusual things. Last year I decided I was finally ready for a tattoo that I'd been wanting for years...So I did it. Tuesday I decided I finally wanted to pierce my nose. So after Gilmore Girls, my roommate and I went to pierce my nose-then I went to the library to study. I'm happy about it. I told my parents today...that was awkward. They just wanted to know how much it cost. Oh parents. Love them.

A few of my best friends are leaving for Africa soon. Their hearts are in Africa and for these children...I can't even express how much I love them and their passion for this. I wish I had the courage to go do something so fantastic. Sometimes I wish God would call me for great missions and adventures like that...but then I think...seriously? The life that is before you is so great and fantastic that there are no limits. He might call you for drastically different things than the person standing next to you, but that does not mean in any way shape or form that your mission is of less importance or less grand than theirs. If it is called by Him...then it is so...beautiful and glorious.

...I need to write my paper.

Etta James rocks my socks

I started to paint again.
However...this was weeks ago. I haven't picked up a brush since.
A pen is something of a foreign object to me as well these days.

I like rap. I said it. Today for the first time in a long while, I listened to the radio. Some song about an elevator came on...I freaked out, cranked my volume, upped that bass, dropped the windows, and rocked it out like a rock star. Probably the greatest feeling I've had in a long time...Until the SUV next to me looked at me like I was a bright pink Poodle.

I feel that society tells us to believe many things that we shouldn't. Among them (there are MANY-I could rant about society for hours) are simple cliche or 'corny' little things. These simple 'corny' things that show us how delightful life can be. I have flowers in my room. Today I have flowers in my room. When the windows were open and the bleakest amount of sunlight bleed through the curtains it created this beautiful little picture. I found delight in this. Very simple, but literally, it shaped the mood for the rest of my day.

I want a dog. Our neighbors have a dog and we have been offered to walk him if we desire. I desire. I desire very badly.

Bach's Double Concerto in D Minor for two Violins will forever and always be a favorite of mine.

The little boy I nanny for today asked me again when the girl with the glasses was coming back. I guess he didn't understand our conversation that we had last (see previous blogs for story).

I found a job for this summer. I'm so so so thrilled and feel really blessed about it. On top of that, it's something that I've really really thought about doing as a professional career.
However, I still can't really see myself doing anything but opening a dance studio...we'll see. We all know how my life throws curve balls.

The show is over. So fantastic to be back on stage. Words cannot express the love I have. After closing night my dad asked me "Do you feel at home up there?". "I do dad, I really do"..."I can tell babe, I can tell".
I can't tell you how much that means to me. Gosh I love him.

Sonnet of the Night

Soneto De La Noche

When I die I want your hands upon my eyes.
I want the light and the wheat of your beloved hands to pass the freshness over me one more time.
I want to feel the gentleness that changed my destiny.
I want you live while I wait for you asleep.
I want your ears to still hear the wind.
I want you to smell the scent of the sea we both loved and to continue walking on the sand we both walked on.
I want all that I love to keep on living and you whom I loved and sang above all things to keep flowering in full bloom so that you can touch all that my love provides you so that my shawdo may pass through your hair; So that all may know the reason for my song.

Beautiful.
It's been weeks...and this song still feeds parts of my soul. Listen to it. Take it in. Meddle in it. Ponder it. Do whatever...I just ask that if not this piece of poetry, you find something that brings light into your world.