the bijong diaries

2010-04-25T23:19:00.002-04:00

perhaps have been ignoring the blog. have been distracted with a variety of things, work, life, love, etc.

a few recent notes.

went to a few shows recently. a week apart.
the first, short, good, young.
the second, epic and lovely.
putting me back in a show mindset.

i love the rain. took a walk in the rain by myself last night. mid-evening. under partial tree cover. sans music. fifty five degrees. it was as perfect last night as it has ever been.

short drives with great music and good conversation. cure-all. always have been. always will be.

sometimes, sleeping on a friend's couch or spare bed or floor is perfection.

there is nothing wrong with taking a nap at a party. help close it out later.

good line tonight. be happy in the moment. you don't know how many moments you will have that you can compare this one to, so make the best of it.

2010-02-11T20:35:00.003-05:00

relishing in the peace and quiet of the evening.

quick hits.
thanks to the random dudes that helped me push my car out of the snow last night.
grateful for new and exciting work.
clinks to feeling special on occasion.

happy thursday all.

2010-01-16T23:26:00.000-05:00

obviously.

English form of the Old French name Amée meaning "beloved"

2010-01-05T21:29:00.002-05:00

it sometimes takes so very little to make me so very happy. yes, i have hit the upswing on my semi-bipolar view on life.

snowfall has been relentless. watching the snow collect on my windowsill. staring at the sky, the flakes silhouetted against the streetlamp. standing in the middle of a sea of pavement, breathing the cold, fresh winter air into my lungs. listening to everyone complain with a smirk on my face. fantastical. oh, what seasonality of life does to me.

refreshed musical territory. going to give the m. ward a rest, but i can't say the same for the strokes.

rediscovery of karaoke. i know, funny. that one is for you, pl.

happy new year all.

2010-01-03T11:04:00.001-05:00

sigh. i've said it before, i will say it again. i love postsecret sundays.

2009-12-28T22:58:00.000-05:00

the first time, it happened too fast

the second time, i thought it would last

we all like it a little different...

2009-12-24T14:22:00.002-05:00

as i sit here on christmas eve, fresh pack of smokes, writing process documents, and wrapping up some year end work details, i think ahead to 2010.

maybe three days ago, i was dreading the new year, mostly due to the fact that i am always so unsure of the decisions that i make and the consequences of those decisions. some recent conversations related to work and life, some musical interludes, and maybe a cocktail or two have given me a bit of renewed hope for the new year.

no resolutions for me, i will just continue to work super hard, have more fun, continue to live in the moment, and enjoy those around me. maybe i can have a bit of an impact on the lives of a few others.

let's tip back the jameson and see how long this lasts. happy holidays to all.

lyrics

2009-12-21T21:48:00.002-05:00

i will take a break from ranting and instead, treat all of you to a brief interlude of some beautiful, haunting song lyrics that have played their way through my mind tonight.

i have been very into song lyrics over the course of the past six or so days, and have very little people to share them with. plus, linsey is giving me the "i don't care about the fucking song lyrics and what they do to you" look. this band isn't one i need to discuss with my sister anyway, and i can't get the verse out of my head tonight. from the engine driver by the decemberists ---> here is the song on youtube, complete with weird german slideshow.

I'm a money lender
I have fortunes upon fortunes
Take my hand for tender
I am tortured, ever tortured

i feel that the song in general is about missed opportunities in life and love.

this lyric set, i just picture the guy on a park bench, the woman he thought loved him the way he loved her standing next to him, hands slipping apart, tears in her eyes as she says "i can't do this." he is devastated that it happened to him again. all he wants is to be all-consumed.

2009-12-20T20:20:00.002-05:00

mild loneliness, mad attention-craving, going overboard when it doesn't matter, going underboard when it should have counted, fucking stomach butterflies, all wrapped up music and ribbon. the highlights involved karaoke, snow angels, and heavy metal [that would be the 1981 canadian classic, not the genre].

sorry those out there in bijongdiariesreadershipland. don't worry about calling internationally. no stairs in my future or anything.

2009-12-14T22:03:00.003-05:00

the self-consciousness associated with playing out the same scenario twenty seven times in my head just kills me sometimes.

i think i need a hobby, for distraction.

thirty

2009-12-09T20:11:00.002-05:00

three or four days shy of turning thirty. although this has been a hella fucked up year, at least half of my lived hours as a 29 y/o were pretty fantastic. here is a recap:
1. new friends of the female variety - i can always count on you to stay out with me when i should have gone home hours ago. also, we never go after the same guy in the room. you may have a lot to learn about the art of the beard or the importance of an amii-approved playlist, but that is how friendships grow.
2. time spent with the kids - i have spent a LOT of time with my sister's kids this year, mostly because i live with them, but they are hilarious. jonas, you need to stop calling people on my phone. penelope, you need to stop letting everyone know that i am your favorite. we'll work on it next year.
3. growth in the social scene - it doesn't just mean i am a better drinker.
4. deep conversation - whether it be love, loss, frustration, or sadness, i have been a better shoulder. go ahead, put me to the test. and, if you don't agree, trust me, i am way better than i used to be.

i have a lot to look forward to in the next year. burgeoning friendships, a deeper understanding of my needs and wants, a challenging career. i plan to not let the turmoil take hold so much. i plan to enjoy my life for what it is, and not what i wish it was, at least on occasion. i plan to build my lacking emotional intelligence. i plan to take advice on occasion instead of just giving it. and, of course, ridiculousness, as always, and probably some stuff i will regret.

2009-11-20T21:47:00.003-05:00

a full week of hardcore professional self-assessment, of course, leaves me the weekend for hardcore personal self-assessment.
eleven months of this new life that i got myself into. am i happier? in many, many respects, yes, but a lot of that just ties to the fact that i love what i do and the people i work with. personally, i have seen very little growth. maybe i am more outgoing, maybe i am more willing to try things out of my general comfort zone, maybe i don't feel like i am betraying some bullshit ideal i have of myself by conversing with someone who has never been to a thrift store. but, still playing the comedienne, still trying to hard to impress others, still putting all of my eggs in glorified baskets that exist only in my mind.
i want to grow up. but, i also want to put on social costume and pretend my name is samantha.
someone talk some sense into me, on a grand scale. let me know something will click for me soon, and then hold me until i fall asleep.

2009-07-20T23:33:00.002-04:00

nothing like an uberproductive monday to get you going. rejuvenation. or however you spell that.

revolution

2009-07-19T23:48:00.004-04:00

just feel like listening to some music tonight, when, as usual, i should be doing something else. sometimes, you run into a little lyrical equivalent of your life. tonight, courtesy the wood brothers, a glimpse into my current state of being.

and when i fall
i'm back again
just to slip on the same mistakes
and slide right back in.

ah, amii.

1. i think i have cured (?) myself from certain attachments, real or imagined, when a conversation resurfaces all emotions that i thought i was over.
2. i think i have reached a level of confidence and self-realization, when a fantastic single night that has to end turns all of the confidence i have built up back to self-doubt and insecurity.
3. i think i have finally reached a maintenance level, and too much topples down upon me.

three unrelated topics. one related theme. at least i know that i will be back again.

2009-07-09T21:43:00.002-04:00

are you calling to me? do i have to wait? is this the cough medicine talking?
seriously... throw me a line. give me a clue. let me know.
i can't wait for a new day, a new month, a new experience.

2009-07-06T21:57:00.002-04:00

i sense a long span of having nothing to look forward to. september, could you please arrive more quickly before i become a workaholic, or alcoholic, or both?

the kid is crying

2009-07-06T21:54:00.002-04:00

... in the next room. headphones are required to get work done tonight. blergh.

why sometimes do my sister's kids go right to bed, and some nights it is like the worst thing that has ever happened to them before? i can blame it on activity level for the day / sugar intake / scary dreams they think they might have / something, but...

maybe there is a little monster that lives in jonesy's closet that only comes out to scare him when i have to get work done. the little monster is silent if i have a night where i want to veg out on the patio and listen to music. the little monster is only awakened if she senses that the internet connection is in use and microsoft outlook is in full use.

ah, that makes so much more sense.

conversations

2009-07-06T21:37:00.002-04:00

have been on one end of a great number of amazing conversations recently.

i have never considered myself a great deep talker. more of a great conversationalist. i can keep the words flowing, mostly through leading questions and whatnot. i have always been amazing at striking up a conversation with a random person, or a casual friend, or a lifelong friend, and keeping it interesting. i think it comes with a combination of being friendly and trying to see what i can learn about someone before they consider me to be invading their territory.

those deep, deep conversations are few and far between. those conversations where you talk about where your life is going, or where it isn't going, maybe why you are in the current state that you are in and whether you want to leave it or not. i have had to pull a few of those out as of late. and i say pull those out in the nicest sense possible. these are the types of talks where you really have to work at it, think about the next sentence coming out of your mouth, only use humor when the situation is breaking over the edge of sadness to ensure that the conversation will continue to reach a resolution.

perhaps it is just one of those months, where people need you to lead them to make the decision they knew in their gut anyway. a reassuring voice, someone to help them talk through some things. ah, damn adulthood.

2009-06-21T22:31:00.002-04:00

yes, yes, lagging at my blogging responsibilities once again. shame shame, stand in the corner, swat on the hand.

i have had quite the few months, with a lot to do, people to see, places to visit, etc. etc. etc.

most importantly, my emotions have been pretty rollercoastery. obsession, failure, loss of interest, and others have been creeping into my life continually. and that was basically just one week ;) i am trying to get a handle on situations as they arise. or at least think logically a bit. wish me luck.

side note. i received two separate text messages from persons unknown this weekend, soliciting amii-time in a casual setting involving alcohol. i responded yes to both without knowing who i was meeting. hilarity. living on the edge, in an open social setting.

2009-05-21T21:35:00.003-04:00

i hate my life sometimes. just ask me if you want me to do MORE THAN I ALREADY AGREED TO DO. don't pull some fake play shit that was planned out in the car while i wasn't there. i can read through the rehearsed verbiage.

2009-05-10T19:53:00.002-04:00

another weekend come and gone, full of plans made and broken. i am always completely willing to talk myself in to and out of a variety of activities and obligations at a moments notice. i am a very good planner. i am terrible at follow through.

as i look at what needs to get done over the course of the next two weeks, i am perfectly happy to create a list of things to do. i worry that again, the morning i plan on leaving, i will be completing everything on the list. this procrastination has deep roots, far back to my childhood.

queue flashback music.

fifth grade. i hate fifth grade. i hate my school picture. i hate sitting across from kl. i hate the math group i am in. i hate my teacher. i hate that everyone else loves my teacher.
independent study. two per year since second grade. the only one completed prior to the night before the report was due? the first one. in second grade. who cares about the ozone layer anyway? i can still get a good grade. that is what they are grooming us for here. working under pressure.

end flashback.

ok, i may not have made the statement "that is what they are grooming us for here" when i was eleven. but as i look back, i feel like that.

train of thought again. start with breaking plans, end with pinpointed moment in childhood. this blog is getting out of hand. perhaps a restart?

welcome, may

2009-05-03T22:08:00.002-04:00

well, may is finally upon us. my windows are opened at night (until it drops to thirty again), the music has changed to something decidedly more upbeat, and summer plans are beginning to take shape. here are a few updates into my life...

i will bypass the obvious higlight of the summer, beard sitings.

my mother is to be married on july third. i am not a bridesmaid. i am fine with that. i am, however, the co-reception-host. in my backyard. with a keg. should be a blast. come if you like, i will be the lively one.

put-in-bay? have never gone. for reals. everyone is raving about it, i have a feeling it is not for me, but i have still semi-agreed on an outing with a large group of young, fun folks. we will see how that goes.

new/old bed. i have been sleeping in a twin bed for four full months as of yesterday. i finally said no more. although when i left lou, i told him he could keep the bed, i have since changed my mind. i want my gorgeous, lovely, ginormous bed back. so i am getting it back, this week, and will sleep well in my tiny, tiny bedroom.

cross country prep

2009-04-30T21:59:00.003-04:00

well, i am starting to get in the planning phase. three weeks from saturday, i will advance cross country to visit friends, both along the way and at the midpoint.

mostly, that means i am making lists. lists of what to bring (don't forget apples to snack on and an ipod charger), songs for the forthcoming WWAD 05292009 mix (the first sd mix of 2009, yay!), what things at work i need to push for someone else to do, and most importantly, the time schedule.

tentative:
sat may 23: leave cleveland. perhaps stop in columbus to pick up partial way driving buddy. as yet undetermined. make it to somewhere in tennessee.
sun: down to la. be sure to stop at horrible truck stop or two. try a fast food restaurant that i have never heard of. take plenty of ridiculous pictures.
mon: to houston. spend the night at r's place. perhaps drop potential driving buddy at airport.
tue: to somewhere. maybe texas border. see how i am feeling.
wed: again, somewhere. let's see how far i can make it.
thu: sd at some point of the day. depending on the prior two days, maybe noon. maybe ten pm. bunk up at popsicle palace.
fri: most important day of entire trip. basically, all dreams of sd trip need to come true this evening. dream includes: best fist meeting ever. vivi staying out past eight. lb making it out to obs. peter d's? beach for sure. perhaps seeing a naked man on the beach. most importantly, ms. pl. oh man, watch out. let's get some fusion.
sat-sometime: hang in sd. leave when cashed on energy. this might be tue/wed. depending.
then....

drive back home. stop at arches for a night. skip kansas - that state sucks. obviously, not as well planned out, with the exception of the music plan.

weekend recap

2009-04-05T16:26:00.004-04:00

1. j comments that a midlife-crisis-mobile is a cadillac. she does not know that k, the other third of the conversation, drives a cadillac. i laugh hysterically for a full minute before clueing her in. wish i had a photo of j's face.
2. acl is pondering the 3d relief above lakewood hs's back doors. so entranced. who is he? what is he doing? she asks a random couple walking by. they don't know who he is, but he is planting a flower. his pose suggests otherwise. hmm. the entire time, k is laughing with incredible fervor. as acl decides to pull away and exit the parking lot, k points out the REALLY interesting sight causing all of the laughter. a bodybuilder. in a speedo. getting spray painted with tan. oh snap. instead of pulling out of the parking lot, that is a turnaround moment. k refuses acl permission to talk to the bodybuilder and his spray wench.
3. shadow. that is his name. sniff, sniff. awww, he rescued a dog. sniff, sniff. wow, he has a ton of energy. subtle hints to j awkwardly and perfectly work themselves into her conversation with him. thanks for the soco and lime, dude.
4. breakie was delicious, for the second weekend in a row. who knew that hot water was brought in a little metal can? sorry buddy.
5. worst. text message. ever. maybe. blergh. but it didn't ruin the night, how could it?

random notes:
awesome hair at mr. divot's.
foot cramp.
jimmy's #1 energy technique resulting in a crude comment.
fantastic juke at mcginty's.
guy at mcginty's claiming to his friends that, of course he played the toadies song. this was a lie. i played the toadies song. liar.
1 am peirogis. delicious.

sunday

2009-04-05T16:26:00.001-04:00

i love postsecret sundays.

positivity

2009-03-29T19:34:00.004-04:00

lately, i have noticed that a few of my friends seem to have a new outlook on life over the past year or two. maybe they are reaching a point in their lives where they need a change, and i just happen to be around to witness this need for once. or maybe i am a slightly more aware person now, and i am actually noticing the need for change.

it got me thinking about my life, and how i want to change it, and how i can do things to make those changes. i think that this is perhaps a very "me" type of year/quarter/some random time period. i want to make myself better for myself. which should always happen, but is not necessarily the case.

a couple of thoughts on change/growth:

1. i have decided that the most important thing in life is being happy. i know, pretty groundbreaking. i am a genius, figuring this thing out. i should get paid. but seriously, never really was concerned about the overall happy factor. was concerned more with having fun in the time being, not necessarily determining if my current actions, as amazing as they were at the time, would lead to long-term happiness. where does that come from?

2. i think i have a HUGE tendency to be pretty suspicious of others actions. i mean, a bad attitude about people's intentions in what they say, reading into what they are trying to do and then countering my actions as a precursor to their actions, if that makes any sense on screen as it does in my head. i need to STOP this (wow, two all caps in one paragraph). that is going to be tough.

ok, i realize that the last couple of posts have started to make this blog kind of diary-like. not my intention. sometimes i think that i get in a mode where i want to write, or more specifically, type. the clicking is therapy for my fingertips. and, nothing lately has been so hilarious and non-private that i want to post it. but, here are some upcoming events for you to stay tuned to:

my mother's wedding, july 3rd. oh man.
cross-country trip, pl, dcd, the couple, houston, etc. not to mention it is a solo driving event, just me and my computer (and mr. plague).
catering to a post-surgery j.
acl's complete guide to something. was just thinking that might be a fantastic post. just have to figure out the something. i'll get back to you.
morning bakery smell. nice.

well, another fantastic weekend, and plans for the coming weeks/life

2009-03-15T22:06:00.003-04:00

highlights:
finding a fantastic new dive bar, complete with terrible jukebox and trashy bartender that spent most of the time on the phone fighting with someone i assumed to be her old man.
met up with a chick i new in college, and she is just as cool, or cooler, than i remember. she was not bothered in the least with my continual conversation sidebars, which is a mark of excellence in my book.
realized that i make new friends, or at least new friends for the night, very easily. i have recently begun to think that i need some new friends, or at least some alternative friends, and have begun working VERY HARD at it. it is my current, top-priority item of change on my list.

lowlights:
again with the babysitting. saturday night and tonight. and this tuesday and wednesday. i sometimes like having the alone time to do nothing but manage my music collection and get some work done. but sometimes, and especially this weekend, it gets me thinking about being lonely. see item three above. i can't keep texting people in other parts of the world because i have no one to talk to about my hilarious sidebars with myself.
the **r situation. blerghity. i need to grow a pair.

upcoming:
well, you know what i am doing tuesday and wednesday, but here are some items on the horizon...
skee-ball league starts in two weeks. another opportunity to meet some new people, with very low expectations on my performance because i am joining the worst team in the league. AND half-price beers.
road-trip planning. i have a tentative route for the first leg. i am hoping to hit a few states i haven't been to yet to knock my list definitively over 40.
getting out of the music funk. i keep listening to the same things over and over. hit up some different folks for new recommendations. we will see how it turns out. i am pretty sure i am having issues with the music stagnation because i feel i need to make about a zillion changes in my life right now (which you may have guessed if you are one of millions or four people that read this blog).
reorganization and purging. i keep too much stuff because i thought it was hilarious at one point. looking at the stuff again and trying to remember why it was hilarious is slightly taxing. i would like to get to the point where, if need be, i could throw all the stuff i needed in my life in a bag and hit the road if the cops ever caught on to me.

my brother is sometimes clever

2009-03-01T17:01:00.003-05:00

once in awhile, teo is very, very clever. not often though.

linsey and amii, video-style

2009-03-01T17:00:00.001-05:00

we have agreed to create and publish various hilarious videos of our daily musings.

please stay posted. hopefully we will follow through.

the feast of the beard: the rules

2009-03-01T16:55:00.002-05:00

1. jimmy h, eight days into his beard growing, has agreed through signed contract to not shave for one month in total.
2. linsey and amii have agreed to scratch aforementioned facial growth as requested by mr. h.
3. the end of the beard will be marked with great celebration, including a thanksgiving style turkey and much wine and jack, where appropriate (linsey).
4. the shaving of the beard will commence after dinner, and much picture taking will document the occasion.
5. one hundred dollars will then exchange hands, per prior agreement.

1. flower clown

2009-01-02T09:43:00.001-05:00

scene: tommy's restaurant
found gem: flyer for flower clown, a man that comes by every thursday night to make balloons for children of various shapes and sizes. closer inspection of the flyer and you realize that some of the balloons are, in fact, shaped very peculiarly.
interview: our waitress seems to be oblivious to the fact that this is the least bit creepy. apparently, he really enjoys himself with all the kids. apparently, he takes an annual trip to thailand, of all places, to make balloon-evening-wear. apparently, he is the sparkle in everyone's day. this children's entertainer was so amazing, the people at the next table needed to INTERRUPT ("I don't mean to interrupt...") our conversation to speak of his numerous virtues.
conclusion: i have become an expert in laughter-stifling.

10. ronnie

2008-12-31T13:35:00.000-05:00

poor, poor ronnie... he lost his job. he has a broken L3. he has a baby on the living room floor. he has a pregnant pit bull. the old lady is always working at the repo agency (on the paperwork, but she could handle herself in the field). on top of it all, he has random people walking around the outside of his apartment building taking pictures. too bad they have to be somewhere in thirty minutes, or he could talk a little longer.

15. i thought it was prince, but it was really karaoke / 12. D's high school/early college soundtrack / 13. smoking in the bar

2008-12-30T08:05:00.001-05:00

well, sissie's bar was jam packed and we decided we needed a more divey vibe, so we head off to my dad's old bar for what i assume would be bad country music and old men.

to my surprise, the bar has become suddenly well-lit since the last time i went in, and the average age must be around 33. there is a dj, playing hits from the aforementioned era, and to my surprise, people are smoking. everywhere. into little sucrets/altoids tins.** the younger than average bar patron next to D lights up, and the miniscule bartender tells him "Don't Be Stupid." as he is severely drunk, a what-repeat conversation goes on for a few rounds, until D steps in and tells him what the bartender said.

back to the music. after a poison song, the dj calls out a request from someone for a prince song. i am jamming along to kiss, until we realize that this is not in fact a prince song, but someone doing prince karaoke-style. unbelievable. he had the perfect falsetto and hit everything. the guy with the bloodied, broken up face even enjoyed it.

**side note, i talked to sissie about this very experience, and she informed me that bars are fined for smoking based on the number of ashtrays are in the bar. altoids container ^= ashtray. ta-da!

11. ATM Rap / 9. Do You Know Where McDonalds is?

2008-12-29T11:09:00.002-05:00

D tells A a story from long ago - he learned that the choice for McDonalds placement is based on the economic status of a community. This seems to be very interesting information, until we run into some economically challenged folks on the non-economically challenged street and they ask us where the nearest McDonalds is. plate'o'shrimp moment. stifled laughter ensues.

New McDonald's Commercial* (names have been changed):

Jamie and Bug at the ATM
Put the card in to make amends
Get twenty dolla', sumptin to eat
Shuffle my feet to Mickey D's

Jamie, played by a african-american-lisa-bonet-type. she has a neat afro. mass appeal.
Bug, played by white-hipster-ryan-gosling-with-a-beard-type. wearing a trendy sport jacket.
start location: ATM in a neighborhood with grafitti. but the nice, pretty kind of grafitti that could have been placed there by the local art school kids.
end location: where else?

*many thanks to D for his awesome impromptu rap creation.

last minute to columbus

2008-11-18T21:37:00.005-05:00

friday night was spent driving to columbus for an emergency trip to columbus. the emergency? leslie withdrawal. the cure? stupid, pointless fun. highlights of the 24 hour mini-trip:

1. funk/motown band - although the band was FANTASTIC, the five dollar cover was well-spent because it afforded me one straight hour of people-watching. oh boy, the people. i have never considered myself "fashionable," or "really, really, ridiculously good-looking," but five minutes in a dublin bar changed all of that. not only did i see a man dressed in a shirt buttoned-down to his belly-button with a fake fur coat and a fake tan, but countless 50-ish women in clothes meant for a 20-year old. a 20-year old from 1988. on her way to a hair-metal concert. jeesh.

2. funk/motown band 2 - overheard in the ladies room: "i mean, i was married for 24 years! and now i am divorced! i should have been divorced 20 years ago!" this may not have been as funny if it were not for two things - the woman said this exact sentence to everyone that walked into the ladies room, and leslie's mental signals to me not to laugh.

3. pho for breakie - a fix was needed.

4. rufus - leslie's dog is adorable. i had not seen him since he was a pupster, and he was in love with me to boot.

5. King of Kong - great, great movie. mostly because brian kuh was the best henchman i have seen since Philip "Showy" Showalter Hench.

senior picture

2008-11-10T20:54:00.003-05:00

matt didn't choose this one, but i stole the proof because i loved it so! now it is online tee hee!

the birthdays

2008-11-10T19:22:00.004-05:00

the kids had a collective birthday party this year, which makes sense because they are both young and their birthdays are less than two weeks apart.

penelope would not smoosh her hand or face into her cake. i hope she does not become high maintenance.

jonas had a blast hanging with all of the other kids. it is not often that there are a bunch of kids under five gathered together at linsey's house (good reason - space issues) and he was in his glory.

halloween

2008-11-05T21:48:00.003-05:00

halloween has come and gone. although i was looking forward to handing out candy at my house, i was slightly pleased to have the opportunity to take the kids trick or treating with my sister. i can only imagine what it would have been like if she was by herself, as jonas was an absolute madman. at every house, he insisted on having a five minute conversation either with a dog, the person handing out candy, or the various pumpkins and halloween decorations near the front porch. highlights of the evening:

1. at one house, jonas (dressed as a dragon) was instructed that if he roared as a dragon, he would recieve an additional piece of candy. after he roared, and received the aforementioned candy, he proceeded to roar for more candy as all of the adults laughed.

2. penelope, not doing much real trick or treating, was only pushed up the driveway in her stroller when there were no stairs involved. an older woman handed her a king sized chocolate bar emblazoned with a "Jesus Loves You" sticker. auntie amii, the person-who-should-never-have-children that she is, did not take the candy bar away from her. five minutes later, linsey grabs the chocolate away from her, and examines the corner of the bar, missing, paper and all, with little penelope's face covered in chocolate.

3. the weather. in my life, i have been through snowy halloweens, freezing rain, bitter wind, etc. never have i ever walked outside for two hours on the last day of october with no jacket on (stuffed under my costume or over my clothes). ever. it was absolutely gorgeous, and having all of the candy-hander-outers sitting outside created a completely new experience.

orientation

2008-10-19T23:08:00.005-04:00

well, i am about to start a new job tomorrow. i am very excited to get back to work after my ten month hiatus. it will be nice to be around some new people, and everyone that i have interacted with at the new company seems to be extremely high-energy, which is perfect. i already feel welcome, through phone calls, emails, and facebook interaction from my new coworkers. it is a little strange, i am feeling no apprehension or nervousness. is this adulthood, or something else...? in most respects, my confidence in life wavers back and forth from very little to way too much, and this is the first time embarking on a new venture, career-wise, that maybe i am at the too much mark. it is strange to not be worried about the new job, but worried about my lack of worry at the new job. i will just have to play it by ear, i suppose. guess it will all start with tomorrow's orientation...

luh-luh-luh-luh-lopester

2008-10-01T22:59:00.003-04:00

lins and the kiddies dropped by my place today to check up on me and gossip. snapped a few pics (18 of penelope, 6 of jonas - i am trying to convince myself that he just poses for pictures better, and i am not playing favorites), and have decided that the new nickname lins gave to penelope is more fun than even peen-uh-lope. although, isn't a nickname supposed to be a shorter version of your original name?

anyway, don't they grow up fast? i know it is a cliche, but i can't help it...

fall

2008-10-01T14:53:00.004-04:00

although it has technically been fall for over ten days, this was the first full twenty four hour period of full-fledged fall. rainy, overcast, chilly, just lovely. i can't wait for leaf-changing and a long drive on a clear sunny day.

looking forward to fall fest this weekend, so i can pick out a pumpkin and drink some cider. jealous?

veep debates

2008-10-01T14:53:00.001-04:00

i sure hope sarah palin is wearing purple.

Keller Williams, the WMD'S, Nelson Ledges 08/17

2008-09-21T12:12:00.003-04:00

show was announced recently, apparently a show scheduled for dayton was moved north. when we saw keller as part of the gratefulfest two weeks ago, we got the lowdown -- two sets with the wmds on a wednesday night in september. it was a given.

headed up to garrettsville with lou for the show, about five miles from where i went to college. got there at about five for an eight show, set up the tent, met up with mr. johnson and hmfc. walked over to the stage, wandering about where no more than twenty wannabe hipsters. this was looking good. as sissie showed up, i could count all of the people there for the show using piano keys.

the show started at eight on the dot. lins and i lingered about ten feet from the stage for about three minutes, we lurched forward at the first sign of someone stepping in front of our invisible horizontal. that is where we stayed for the first hour and a half, the first set. took a bluegrass acoustic sideline for about four songs. a brilliant set. mr. stage-hand gave me the setlist for the first set, which varies only slightly from what was actually played.

looked behind us, about two hundred or so kids now. sat up by the stage for the set break. second set started and it was truly amazing. keller was hilarious, cracking the band up, and gibb droll was on fire. another hour and a half, including the encore.

highlights below:

kiwi and the apricot, first set. i love this beautiful love song.

bob rules, with a high time center piece, first set. instead of the normal dream sequence for the price is right backstage, keller decides to take the 84 corvette with the t-tops for a ride down the 5, rockets off into space, runs into a tie-dyed space pod that held none other than jerry garcia, and jam it out before getting back to bob.

brave captain, first set.

keller called it poser bluegrass, i loved the four song piece featuring mandolin, banjo, and porta pottie, first set.

pepper, second set. a true crowd sing-a-long to that song from my youth.

gallivanting, second set. a jazzy song to learn your keys by. keller did a few riffs from other songs to keep it going for a bit. my favorite is the G, the "people's key."

once in a lifetime, second set. you've got me going with any talking heads song, for all of those that wish to serenade me.

breathe -> temple -> breathe, encore. the song breathe is just beautiful with a band, but the true highlight was the nepalese temple balls. although i know nothing about hash, i do love that song...

Movie Review: The Karate Kid, Part II

2008-09-16T18:15:00.002-04:00

well, this movie has it all.

daniel-son and mr. miyagi take a trip to okinawa. in the 1986 movie, we are treated to the following:

mr. miyagi's father sees his son for the first time in a zillion years
mr. miyagi falls in love again with his former flame
daniel falls in love with some other chick (what about elisabeth shue?)
mr. miyagi's father dies
the karate kid dances to 1950's american music
mr. miyagi's former-best-friend-turned-sworn-enemy-for-life appears, creating a central movie theme (the true meaning of courage)
mr. miyagi's former-best-friend-turned-sworn-enemy-for-life finally understands the true meaning of courage, and thus makes up with mr. miyagi
the karate kid wins an ice-breaking contest
and, of course, the karate kid wins a big fight at the end of the movie.

although i am leaving out the knife-fights, the importance of dance in a young girl's dreams, tea ceremonies, etc. etc. etc., this movie was truly worthy of its spot on AMC - American Movies Classic, right beside tonight's classic, Two Weeks Notice.

decompression

2008-09-05T23:56:00.002-04:00

well, i have been back in the great old U-S-of-A for ten days now. along with the requisite family drama, i have been filling my days back with ridiculous nonsense, including cleaning the bathtub and impromptu welcome back parties. it will work, for now, but i am feeling the feeling coming on. all the renewed newness will fade in about a week or so, and i will really start to hit a wall.
best vacation evs. for the following reasons.
-could travel the city by myself for a bit, forcing myself to become accustomed
-being touristy when necessary, and sometimes when unnecessary
-olympics wasting a ton of my time (love that adorable little aussie diver! had enough of stephanie rice)
-all of the "endless meaningless stupid fun" with my bff
hope the wall isn't too hard this time.

“follow the course of the road, for awhile…”

2008-08-20T02:20:00.003-04:00

we picked up the rental car in downtown melbourne and pl graciously offered to take the first shift of driving on the other side of the road. after about fifteen minutes of getting used to the car, she started it precariously. we had not even left the car park when she almost hit the left side of the parking garage. i would give her about three inches clearance from the passenger rear view mirror.
after our initial trip through the city, we made our way to our first destination: bridge street for some shopping. we managed to park and get some excellent discounts on a few shirts.
leaving bridge, i took the second leg of the drive. our navigation device, named either miss daisy or tart, depending on the time of the trip, directed us to the highway. it was smooth sailing from then on (mostly). difficulties: 1. hitting the windshield wipers instead of the turn signal, 2. driving too close to the left side of the road, and 3. cops, which pulled us over on the second day for speeding.
the great ocean drive was gorgeous, and we had blast under the time constraints. i would give the food a D-, as we had not only little to choose from, but the service was terrible. accommodations get a C+, which would have been better if it weren’t for the grody tea kettle and lack of included breakie. views get an A, and weather a B (it was hella-windy).

dichotomy of art

2008-08-14T10:00:00.002-04:00

i have no knowledge of art. i like to look at things, i like to study things, but i have no real knowledge of the beauty of art. i have visited both the art gallery of new south wales and the museum of contemporary art so far here in sydney. they left me with two very distinct impressions.

agnsw - i have seen far, far better art than this.

mca - i am far, far below artistic intelligence to appreciate this.

although i had no gutteral reaction to the paintings, sculptures, and mixed pieces at the agnsw, i had nothing but gutteral reaction to everything at the mca. which makes me think it was much better. although i do not quite know how someone gets the idea to hang a taxidermied horse from the ceiling, it definitely made me feel something. sadness, sickness, something. the room with hammocks, jimi hendrix, and loud music. the wall of photographs of the history of communism in sydney. the room filled with metal poles, basket-weave snakes, and the smell of eucalyptus. all evoked a feeling within. and all the 19th-century landscapes from britain and australia combined could not do that.

off to melbourne, and the great ocean drive

2008-08-14T09:45:00.003-04:00

we are headed to melbourne tomorrow. i shall once again board a plane, albeit no connections and only a two hour flight. pl and i are going with a friend of hers i have yet to meet. we will be attending a viewing of the musical Wicked, which comes highly recommended from both my mother (who has seen it twice) and my sister. i borrowed the book from pl and read it my first week here, it was pretty entertaining.
after the weekend in melbourne, we will rent a car and take the great ocean drive. i have one major fear about this trip, namely driving on the other side of the road. i am nervous, but in the back of my mind i feel i will be a natural. we will be sure to get the full insurance.
the great ocean drive should be highly romantic, which would be good if i was taking the trip with a handsome man. however, i will be taking the trip with my best friend, so i feel that hilarity will ensue for the most part. i am most looking forward to the sunset at the twelve apostles, which is supposed to be a fantastic sight.
when we get back, we will have less than a week before i leave, and with pl off of work, we will have plenty of time to do lots of sight-seeing together. i have specifically avoided the chinese gardens so we can go for tea, as well as even an up-close glimpse of the opera house. i hope i can convince her to go to the royal gardens again...

a day at the zoo

2008-08-14T09:12:00.005-04:00

so, spent tuesday at the beautiful taronga zoo. i would put it above the san diego zoo (i know, most think it is the bestest ever, i am not in agreement) in terms of animal space but not variety of animals, and below the cleveland metroparks zoo in terms of animal space, but on par in variety. although there was no mr. bear ancestry, there was a tiger, which i have never seen at the zoo before.

the only thing i have to say about australian animals, you are not into me at all. the kangaroos wouldn't even blink from their mid-day naps. the platypus hid from me, even though i searched the waters for a full five minutes. and the dingo, i believe i saw him yawn.

side note on dingoes, they are basically dogs. i believe if i would have thrown a stick, the dingo would have chased it down and returned it to me, tail wagging. i have no idea how he could have eaten a baby. oh, poor meryl streep.

i did feel a bit silly walking around the zoo by myself all day, followed by schoolchildren in their matching outfits and mothers with their baby carriages (prams out here, of course). the occasional old couple walked by, giving me a sad, sad look that basically said, this poor girl, all alone at the zoo. as i posed with various bronze statues and attempted to take pictures of myself, i could feel the pity of others. a young couple with a child offered at one point to take a picture of me and a crocodile bronze, and afterward, i felt a bit foolish. "this is mostly for my nephew, he he," i laughed nervously. i believe they were rolling their eyes behind their sunglasses. oh well, i never have made a very good first impression.

inanimate objects as an art form

2008-08-11T03:29:00.006-04:00

one of the things that i love, love, love in australia is the numerous amount of statues and fountains that i come around.

they are lovely works of art, honorariums to the past leaders and government officials of a country, welcome peices to visitors from afar, and, of course, photo opportunities.

here are a few for your amusement and enjoyment.

ciggies down under, part ii

2008-08-11T03:26:00.002-04:00

grabbed a second pack of dunhills, they were the only available in the ciggie machine at the club (i know, a ciggie machine!).

benson and hedges (or, bitches and hoes, as i learned from an old friend) - ok, is this a cheat? i know they sell b&h in the us, but not in a 25-pack, rite? well, i think it counts, as i have never even tried before. not bad. ranking two out of three from the brands i have tried so far.

is it sad that i am already dreading my attempt at quitting when i get back to the states? i suppose i can always read past posts of ciggie glory on the blog. have to give it a go, tho.

spelling and pronunciation

2008-08-11T03:19:00.002-04:00

curb = kerb. tire = tyre. debut pronounced as "de-boo." where oh where did the bifurcation occur?

i love noticing the small differences in the english language between two countries. arugula is known as rocket here, which i have decided is a much, much more fun name. a rutabaga is known as a swede, which i would never have known if it not for a dinner at a friend of pl's. i always thought a swede was shorthand for a person from sweden.

spent my first day at home, barely ventured out but to grab some groceries and pick up shoes from the cobbler. i spent the day tidying up, doing laundry, and marvelling over the tiny language differences in olympic coverage*.

*great job in the 4 x 100 relay, us men's swim team!

ciggies down under

2008-08-06T02:16:00.002-04:00

first pack - peter jackson. i imagine they are named for the director for all he has done for tourism for filming in new zealand. got a 4mg pack, which i am assuming translates to ultra lights based on the taste. no better than marlboro, no worse than camel.

second pack - dunhill, blue pack. i have had on at least one occasion before, but much better than marbie lights, not as good as the glorious parliament lights.

more to come, including discount brands!

rain and pictures

2008-08-06T02:07:00.006-04:00

well, the day started like any other rainy day, with procrastination. i woke up, headed to the store for a phone card and an orange, made a few calls to the fam to check in, and promptly watched the morning fluff news for an hour. after dressing, and changing my mind five times about what to do for the day, i decided to follow the original plan and head over to hyde park.

took the train, landed at martin place after one stop, and walked over to the park. as soon as i stepped across the street to the park, the rain that had cleared decided to return. and i forgot the umbrella that pl specifically showed me this morning. oh well, took a few pics of the glorious fountain, and decided to check out st. mary's cathedral.

after taking a few pics, started to walk outside as the mass began. simultaneously, the rain began to pour, so i decided to have a seat and listen to the ceremony.

after the mass, became a tourist and started with the pictures. too many of them. stopped and bought a tshirt to commemorate citysurf08, and got a free hat and bag! ran into a radio station, and got a free pair of armbands (sponsered by gatorade!) - can now check a gift for my brother off the list tee hee!

other things, lots of pics, quick and late indian lunch, head back.

abroad

2008-08-04T20:18:00.002-04:00

after a long, long, long day and a half of travel, i have arrived in sydney with absolutely no jet lag and plenty to do. the bank holiday granted me with an extra day with dj po-po, and we spent it walking, lunching, perusing gorgeous parks, and mostly laughing. i heard my first australian fc, and it was worth the wait.

some things to note about the trip so far:
my most favorite thing to do has been to surprise my lovely friend by letting her know australian things exist in ohio, as well, including lamingtons (although we call them coconut cakes), gloria jeans coffee, and evergreens by the beach.
ciggies come in a 30-pack
"cheers" is the cordial thank-you
penguins do exist outside of icy regions
waiters, even on this continent, continue to just love me

in addition, i have ridden in almost all types of transport available to me thus far, including bus, shuttle, train, taxi, car, and ferry. i have not yet experienced the monorail, but the trip is young.

off to the beach, to find some postcards, lunch, coffee (another post on coffee, i promise).

second home

2008-07-25T00:25:00.003-04:00

it was everything i hoped for. with the exception of no chirashi. and i only ate at fusion twice, so if you took the under in the pool, you win a fist bump (unless you are rb, then you get a high five).

here is the music mix, for those lucky friends. see you on my birthday.

the CMB 07 2008 mix

1. Sexx Laws,
Beck
Midnite Vultures
2. Run Like Hell,
DJ Z-Trip and DJ P
Uneasy Listening Volume I
3. Ripple [Live],
Grateful Dead
Fillmore East, NYC, April 1971
4. Isn't It Time,
The Babys
Anthology
5. The Weight,
The Band
The Band: Greatest Hits
6. Expectations,
Belle and Sebastian
Juno Soundtrack
7. Falling,
Ben Kweller
Sha Sha
8. Da Funk,
Daft Punk
Homework
9. Low,
Flo Rida [Featuring T-Pain]
Mail on Sunday
10. 3's and 7's,
Queens of the Stone Age
Era Vulgaris
11. On the Run [Live],
Phish
Darck Side of the Moon
12. The Way I Feel,
Remy Shand
The Way I Feel
13. The Way You Are,
Milky
DJ Po-Po, Let's Go Streaking
14. In the Waiting Line,
Zero 7
Garden State Soundtrack
15. Gate Crashers Suck [Live],
Keller Williams
Stage: Right [Disc 2]

weekend on and around the CMB

2008-07-16T13:29:00.003-04:00

this weekend, i will once again be making the trip to san diego to visit my grand, grand friends. i was happy to be moving away from san diego when it happened, but i miss some awesome friends more than anything. don't really have that many super awesome friends back home, mostly i wrote all of them off for lack of wit or attention or something like that. miss linsey and hannah b are always there for me, and i love hanging with my fam, but nothing is as fun as drinking fance pints, playing pictionary on napkins/coasters, and hanging with my friends in san diego.
highlights for the coming weekend? again, the fance pints, but at a new bar i am dying to try out based solely on a logo and beer list, the f.i.s.t. meeting that will inevitably happen (i am waiting to cheers random people and events), some shopping, beaching it, maybe (hopefully) a boat ride?, and whatever else comes my way.
if only ms. pl herself were there... we could end up friday with peter d's and ob and workout equipment that looks like feminine products... ah, the good old days.

all good

2008-07-14T17:36:00.005-04:00

along with all other happenings in july, my first of two trips in this month took place this past weekend with a trip to the all good music festival at marvin's mountaintop. three days of camping, music, and chicanery was exactly what i needed after the busy start to the month.

lou, mr. bear, and i made the three and a half hour trek to masontown, west virginia and met up, quite easily, with mr. johnson and h-mf-c himself. usually, at a festival so large, it is pretty difficult to find the campsite that your friends saved for you, but, as luck might have it, we got sent in the back way and ran smack into the duo. unfortunately, they had already set up their tents, my favorite part of any camping experience. we planned on sleeping in the back of the vedge, so we were ready for music and relaxation.

the first night, and by far the highlight of my weekend, started with mr. phil lesh and friends. although, as i texted to mr. barefoot, no eyes of the world, my ripple virginity was taken and it was far more beautiful than others lost. other great elements of the weekend included keller playing with the wmds, tea leaf green, and derek trucks and susan tedeschi's soul stew review.

by far, the worst part of the weekend, killer hills to climb to the music and back to the campsite. my calves are killing me, but i had a great time.

forth with july

2008-07-14T17:19:00.005-04:00

july is always, always, always a hella-busy month in my family. we start out on the third with a night-party at my cousin's house; then the fourth, with a family reunion and fireworks. this year, we finished the long weekend off with a party on the fifth at my sis' house to celebrate the thirtieth birthday of my future brother in law.

even though this is the first summer that i have lived back in cleveland for a long time, i usually make it home for the fourth. i love my grandma, and love to see her and the rest of the family at the reunion. on top of it all, july is always a great time to make a cross-country trek, so there was always reason to come home.

i love the parties, and i love the reunion, but my fave part of the weekend this year was the fireworks. for the first time in both of their lives, jonas and penelope got to see the fireworks, and they both loved them. pretty crazy. i try to imagine what fireworks feel like to a little kid. a huge, sparkling, here-and-gone light-tastic phenomenon in the sky. jonas simply said, "i love green!" or whatever color happened to be splashed across the sky above. what surprised me the most was penelope. she just sat and stared in awe.

rebeginnings

2008-07-14T17:18:00.002-04:00

i know, i know, i gave up on posting for awhile. so did some other people. but i am following in their footsteps, renewed with fresh internet access and free time, and here they come... new posts.

furniture, even

2008-02-12T15:31:00.000-05:00

here it is, a furnished apartment...

i can't believe i finally got around to it. and that quilt on my bed? a hand-made (no sewing machine!) gift from my grandma for christmas!

best. gift. evs.

i love the holidays

2007-12-04T18:05:00.001-05:00

this time of year makes me so happy, what with the snow (again!), decorating the tree (see below), wrapping gifts, making cookies, all that jazz. here i am, enjoying the season.

long time, no see

2007-12-04T17:57:00.001-05:00

well, i have been away from the blog for a bit. i have had a crazy, life changing, confusing, lonely, happy month, if that makes any sense at all. give me another month and we can talk about it.

but the great news, i am an auntie once again! my fertile sister gave birth to my new niece Penelope Jo Hanks, the most surprisiest birth of the whole bunch of pregnant chicks I know. I say surprisiest since everyone in the family, except mom, was pretty sure she was going to have a boy. the babes, born Nov 17th, is healthy and happy in her new pink onesies with a massive head of hair. here is a pic for all of you, i am not the best at taking a bunch of pics tho, so this is the best I have...

I don't want to slight my adorable nephew, who has been very helpful to his mommy and new sister. here is your shoutout, mr. jonas!!!

this just in!!! great news!!!

2007-10-24T20:41:00.000-04:00

http://www.kellerwilliams.net/news.full.htm

UPDATE: Keller delivers to Australia!!! Not personally, but you get the idea...

hilarious youtubage

2007-10-24T20:31:00.000-04:00

i was searching some keller skits, and got this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN66e8TQyoM

these kids are brilliant. and mountainlarious.

be safe, sd

2007-10-22T20:47:00.000-04:00

hope you are all safe with the fire blazing on every news channel.
let me know...

mr. bear says hello

2007-10-15T21:49:00.001-04:00

a shout-out from bear.

best pic evs

2007-10-15T21:34:00.001-04:00

going through my various pictures saved on the computer, organizing them into folders, etc., and ran across this gem... (courtesy pl)

man, do i look short.

new haircut

2007-09-28T19:49:00.000-04:00

rate it.

new glasses

2007-09-27T20:28:00.000-04:00

i am home for about a day and decide to waste some time, have some fun, and go crazy by going with my sister to get jonas his first pair of glasses. we thought he might have a lazy eye or something, because he tends to look a little crosseyed at times, but it turns out he is farsighted. the little guy focuses too hard on objects close to him so his eye goes crossed. i am glad i finally know the difference between nearsighted and farsighted. even as a non-glasses-wearer, you would think i would know the difference after 27+ years.

side note. pediatric optometrists (is that what they are called?) must have pretty hard jobs.

anyway, fitting a less than two year old for glasses was an experience, i will tell you. and not for the reason you think, jonas is really well behaved and was very good for the optician. but choosing the pair of glasses that will be in all of the pictures of this kid for his most adorable years is a daunting task.

do you go retro and get the black rims for the punk look?

do you get something small that will fade into his face?

do the round frames make him look too much like little harry potter?

etc. etc. etc. anyway, here is a look at the cutest future engineer out there…

Bijong Mix

2007-08-30T12:49:00.000-04:00

1. In A Big Country – Keller Williams
Album: Spun
2. I Gotta Move – Ben Kweller
Album: Ben Kweller
3. The Idiot Kings – Soul Coughing
Album: Irresistible Bliss
4. Good to Be On The Road Back Home – Cornershop Featuring Paula Frazer
Album: When I Was Born for the Seventh Time
5. Food & Creative Love (Live) – Rusted Root
Album: Rusted Root Live [Disc 2]
6. Looking At The World From The Bottom Of A Well – Mike Doughty
Album: Looking At The World From The Bottom Of A Well
7. Long Way To Go (Live) – Railroad Earth
Album: Eko
8. Crosseyed and Painless – Talking Heads
Album: Sand in the Vaseline [Disc 1]
9. Will You Return – The Avett Brothers
Album: Emotionalism
10. 300 MPH Torrential Outpour Blues - White Stripes
Album: Icky Thump
11. Life, In A Nutshell (Live) – Barenaked Ladies
Album: Rock Spectacle
12. Gallivanting – Keller Williams
Album: Laugh
13. Luckiest Man – The Wood Brothers
Album: Ways Not To Lose
14. Diablo Rojo – Rodrigo y Gabriela
Album: Rodrigo y Gabriela
15. O.K., Alright – The Whigs
Album: Give ‘Em All A Big Fat Lip
16. V Neck Sweater – The Greyboy Allstars
Album: What Happened to Television?

maxie dog

2007-08-29T01:17:00.000-04:00

my family and friends in cleveland know how excited i am to see them. they are equally excited to see me, if history tells me anything. one time i came home and surprised my nephew by getting him from his crib instead of his mother after his nap. he was so happy to see me that he banged his head into his crib and gave himself a fat lip. see picture as proof.

one of those family members that i sometimes neglect, but am always so happy to see, is my dad's/brother's dog maxie. she is a great dog, if somewhat hyperactive. when i walk in the room, she gets so excited that she can't contain herself. she jumps on me and grabs my arm with her mouth in this cute little hug-manner. she is just so incredibly happy to have a new face around to play catch with or lounge with or just sit on the front porch with.

my dad had three kids, but maxie was always his favorite. every time i look at her, i miss my dad a little bit more. she would sleep with him every night (unless i was in town, and then she preferred the company of women). she would follow him everywhere. she would be excited when he walked in the door every day after work, not just after a six-month hiatus as was the case with me. he would take her everywhere with him, to his cabin in pennsylvania, swimming at the lake, playing in the snow.

i recently inherited my dad's old digital camera, and downloaded all of his pictures onto my computer. of all of the great memories, trips to san diego to visit me, trips to florida with my sister and brother, the birth of my nephew, weekends in pennsylvania in the winter with the four-wheeler and my brother, there are more pictures of that dog than of anything.

which is why i can't wait to see her. adding to the collection is only appropriate.