Insta-who? Insta-YOU!

^^^ Instagr.am picture of my cat. He likes taps.^^^

So for the longest time, I just couldn't get behind the whole instagr.am fad. I didn't understand what made it so much greater than other photos - and as an avid photographer, I didn't understand why I would use my phone's camera instead of my Nikon - fairly professional Nikon - DSLR. But... with the release of instagr.am for Android [yup, I'm an Android user - not proud of it, just a poor university student who would rather spend money on food than an iPhone]... I caved... now my wayfarer glasses, and devilishly good sense of style - I totally did the whole hoodie under army-style jackets before you did, and I made my own infinity scarf from fair-trade Indian cotton... the last part was a lie... but I did make my own infinity scarf - have been sutured by the grainy, bordered photographs of my cats into a cumulative hipster facade and now I can't decide which I like more: instagr.am or Pinterest?! Must waste time a little longer in order to discover... 

Ah-yep-uhh...

I'm having to remind myself that this is true today. As you all should know, I'm currently in limbo between my frosh year and second year of university - and between  [I guess you'd call it] my "old" school, and my new school. Before I left my old school, I was so excited to start at my new one. I'm still excited - for the academics, new city, living close to my family, etc. etc. - but today I'm mostly nervous. I'm a fairly friendly person, some have said I'm very friendly, but I'm still terrified of the thought of having to make new friends - again! I guess in a way I feel like I don't need to make new friends, because I have enough right now. I have all my high school friends, and then all the glorious people I met during frosh, and now I have to add more people to that? That's a whole lot of people to stay in touch with, and keep track of! I suppose I'm worried that I might start unconsciously replacing people... as awful as that sounds. Although I know that no one can replace the friends I already have - they're all pretty much fabulous.

Currently, however, I'm looking at a lonely summer. What with half my friends in my hometown, and the other half scattered across the country - but mostly in the most very eastern part of it, and none here on this [quite possibly deserted] island, I'm feeling just a little sorry for my usually very social self. I might start quilting with cat hair. I'm not exactly sure how that would work, but I saw a book about felting with cat hair once, and have become quite intrigued by the concept.

Can I also just quickly mention how l-l-lame it is to miss people a stupid amount when you know they are 99.96 percent sure not even having a second thought about you. Feeling just a tad more sorry for myself? Maybe... but just a tad. I will finish feeling sorry for myself this evening, and be back with regularly scheduled programming a.s.a.p. - I'm feeling like a lonely summer is going to be a very positive thing for my bloggity blog. Back on the blogging train, as it were! I guess the only possibly helpful thing I have to say today is that if you feel like you need to feel sorry for yourself, you might as well do it in full force for a short period of time, rather than wallow in it, then head up, eyes forward, and future bound - I hear it's exciting there.

Home...ish

So I've been home for all of eight hours and I'm already missing my other home... as most of you probably don't know because I never update my blog - mostly because I've decided napping takes priority over all other activities - I have been accepted to UBC, a university much closer to home, with many more academic options for me. While this is all excellent, and I'm so excited to be close to home, and be able to get exactly the right degree, I still had to leave Nova Scotia, the place that I have learned to call home for the past eight months. It's quite odd, really. I've noticed we students all whine and snivel about wanting to go home throughout the semester, then as soon as we actually get home, we whine and snivel about missing our friends, and how boring home is. I'm currently not really in a not wanting to be at school or not wanting to be at home mood. I'm in a sort of middle ground where really I'm just sad to be leaving the place and the people that created the magnificent memories [alliteration - eh, eh]. I keep telling people that I'm nervous about meeting people and making new friends at my new school... but I think in a way I'm most nervous about making new friends, and possibly losing the memories, and the special bond I made with so many wonderful people this past year... it certainly is confusing when "home" refers to more than one place - even more confusing is when it could refer to more than two places!

My God, Am I Growing Up?

So I just had a moment of utter maturity. I was thinking to myself about someone I know and how they're currently working towards something. I must disclaim that this is not my favourite person in the world. But I realized that I honestly hope they accomplish everything they want to; because I realized: it doesn't make me any less successful if someone else is successful. It just gives you company in success land. And why would you pee on someone else's dreams? That's just rude. As someone who has recently had to get accepted to her second post-secondary institution after the first one just wasn't the right fit, I know how absolutely terrifying it is to put your future in the hands of an admissions board. I know it's that time of year when acceptance letters start getting distributed [by those places that don't have rolling admissions] so good luck to all that are hoping for that letter starting "Congratulations! We are pleased to offer you admissions at...", and for those of you working towards other things, good luck in those endeavours too! Let's all just support each other - unless they're competing for your spot; in that case: let the best wo/man win.

Also, just a quick side note on acceptance letters: does it bother anyone else that in Legally Blonde they make a scene out of her getting a 179 on her LSATS, but don't show her getting her acceptance letter to Harvard? I feel like that's a special moment... ah well. "Elle Woods. Welcome to Harvard".

Relating

I know I never blog anymore. And I always say that I'm going to get back into it - and I do mean to try, but I never have anything remotely interesting to say. Only that I've been studying. Or hanging out with friends. Honestly not a very exciting existence these days. Well, sometimes it's pretty exciting, but those are things we can't exactly share with the whole world, now, are they?

Anyway, I am eagerly awaiting Marina and the Diamond's new album Electra Heart and in my eagerness, stumbled across this acoustic version of her song "Lies". And oh my God, I love the lyrics! It's just that little bit of special when you can actual relate to a song. I like it. But you aren't going to see me posting the lyrics as my Facebook status any time soon - you can count on that. So while you're waiting [forever] for me to share my feelings through the lyrics of others, enjoy this lovely song!

I Heart...

Loving this series of "I Heart" graphics by Jaco Haasbroek.

Home

So home is an entirely weird concept for me now. I've been "home" twice since going away to school, but neither time has felt like I'm home at all. Maybe it's because I only moved to this new home right after I graduated, and have only "lived" here for a real total of two months. It's sort of a sucky feeling, though, to get all excited to go home from school for break, and then realize that really, school is home. [And when I say "school is home" I mean the town in which I go to school, my room in my house at school, etc. Yes, I'm good at school, but no, I don't live in the

Musica

So I'm just nerding out a bit this evening, and thought I'd share my nerd with you! I don't know if you guys know this, but I am the weirdo in a family of BMus's [I'm working towards a degree in anthropology/archaeology/primatology - I haven't quite decided on a specialty yet!], but music has always been a seriously important part of my life. More than anything else, I would say.

Anyway, as with any person - I'm sure - I have certain songs that make me all tingly inside; my favourite songs, you might say. Even if you aren't musician, I still think that listening to music like this is seriously important. So take some time when you have some time, and just sit. And listen. And enjoy!

Julie-o by Mark Summers - my momma practices this all the time, and as much as I critique her intonation, I still love to hear her do what she loves, playing her instrument. It's also a fabulous song!

http://youtu.be/DObjvcWvfwk

Alleluia by Eric Whitacre - as a singer I have to say that Eric Whitacre is possibly one of my favourite things in the world. I've never quite found anyone else who can make music sound full like this guy can. (My sister is probably cringing in her seat at my terrible, non-music perspective writing on this!)

http://youtu.be/qy6uIe8sg60

Symphony No. 4 by David Maslanka - there is a part in this that reminds me of little angry dwarves or trolls running off to battle with their axes. You'll know where I'm talking about. This is my happy song. It makes me happy when I yam saaad. It's worth the 30 minutes of your time.

http://youtu.be/A2xcMoQ6ML4

Ocean by John Butler [and perhaps his trio?] - this is a very recent addition to my list of "guuuhhh" songs. I'm not sure it's a favourite quite yet, but it's on it's way there... methinks... I played classical guitar for 2 years [and let me tell you, I actually practiced! Ask my mum - that's not something I do regularly], and I can't ever imagine my fingers moving this fast. In my life. Ever.

http://youtu.be/6VAkOhXIsI0

 

Aeroplanes (or "airplanes", for those of you who didn't learn spelling from Harry Potter)

So I don't know if you know this, but I've recently become an expert flier. Not because I fly planes, but because I fly on planes. Go figure.

Anyway, I thought I'd share these hilarious Oatmeal comics about planes, because in only 35 more days (and 40 after my last cross-country flight), I get to do it all again! [Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy travelling, and I am stoked to do it, because that means in 35 days I get to be back with my parents again!].

 

The middle seat situation actually happened on my last flight! Best day ever.

I concur.

This is the reason I'm glad that I'm short.

 

Dear you guys...

An homage to my beloved friends back in my hometown. It was great to see you all [on Skype] on New Years!!! Maybe next year I'll be there in person!

So long 2011, you've been swell!

WOW! I can't believe it's been a year since this day a year ago... And at the same time it feels like it's been a million years since then. I think that 2011 has definitely been a year of change for me - the most change my 18 years has ever seen!

I graduated high school, adopted my two baby kitties who I love so so much, got my first real job; I moved across the province with my parents, then moved across the country to go to my first year of university [which, I would like to point out] I have half-completed with major awesomeness]. I've made some really ballin' new friends, learned way more than my brain can retain for any amount of time, and picked up a goofy accent [according to my parents, who keep trying to get me to say "bar" and "car"].

I have to say that 2011 is a special year for me. So many hugely wonderful things have happened in the last 365 days!

 

 

No... seriously...

A question:

How do you let someone know that you are there to listen, and to support them - particularly if they won't let you?

Having posed that question something comes to mind:

They don't want to open up to you.

Having thought of this, there is another question to be posed:

How close is your friendship? Really. 

And if I can answer that question with "well it's been said that we're very close", then it's cause for worry.

Keeping things inside won't help them, and no one should have to go through things alone. That's why we have friends.

Because really you just want to make sure they're happy. That's all. No hidden agendas, no secret plans for conquest, no plotting in dark rooms after midnight. You're just worried is all.

Because honestly they make your life a whole lot brighter than it would be without them. And you want their life to be bright too.

So you smile a little, and laugh a lot, and make sure they get home okay - so they know that you care. Because for some reason, you have this unshakeable, unexplainable trust for them. And you honest to God, really, actually, truly... care.

 

New Years GOALS

Hey everyone! So it's that time of year again - the end of the year, in fact. So I don't know about y'all, but I've never been one for making resolutions. I know that lots of people make them, and never keep them, but I'm don't even make the resolutions. I guess that way I don't neglect any?

I think that this year I'm going to make a blanket resolution, though. It's pretty obvious, and maybe everyone makes this one subconsciously, well, I would expect everyone to, but I'm making it out loud so it's extra real, and extra important.

This coming year, 2012, I am going to live my life to the fullest I can live it! At the top of the list of ways to live my life to its fullest? Planning a trip to Paris with my roommate! We'll get there, Em, we'll get there, even if we have to sell our kidneys. Just kidding, I like my kidneys... the only catch is that if I go to Paris [her dream city] with her, she has to accompany me to South America [my dream!]. Rough life, right?

I think a healthier way of making a change in your new year is to set goals, instead of making set things that you are going to do. My main goal is to have a successful second term of school, and boost each of my grades one point higher than they were this past semester (ex. my B in Global History pre-1500 will be an A- at least in Global History post-1500). My second goal is to finally get my passport [yes, I'm a super procrastinator and just haven't done it yet!]. I feel like once I get that, I'll feel more motivated to actually get my act together to start planning trips to all the places I want to be! Of course, to do any travelling, I'll need to complete my third goal: getting another great job for this summer! I'd love my old job at the affordable housing organization that I had this past summer, but if that's not available I'm willing to do new things! Another goal of mine is to dress like a lady. In other words, I'm going to stop wearing sweatpants out of the house, and hoodies every single day. I've already begun! I got two cute tops, and two new pairs of pants yesterday! I'm on a roll!!! My last goal is to [again] finally start exercising [more than once and a while yoga and walking up the hill to meal hall]. I'm sure my roommate will motivate me to go to the gym with her - her puppy eyes are terrible, but it might be the only time we get to spend together this term, what with her starting up practicing piano [she had tendonitis this last term] and her crazy busy schedule!

What are your goals for 2012?

 

 

To Do... Nothing

I recently learned how to nap. It's a very nice thing to be able to do, and very closely related to another one of my favourite pastimes is doing nothing. I feel like way more people need to learn how to do nothing. It will greatly improve your life. You will be able to fly for long periods of time without getting outrageously bored, you won't get attitude [like my normally very sweet roommate] when you're bored, you just... won't get bored. So my tip to all for this day that is today: learn how to do nothing. Or if you already know how... practice doing nothing.

Marcel the Shell With Shoes On #1 and #2

http://youtu.be/VF9-sEbqDvU

http://youtu.be/Ta9K22D0o5Q

Gift Ideas for Men Who Already Have a Motorcycle

For Him...

A set of 4 sterling silver cocktail picks (Tiffany & Co.) for only $305?! A steal, I tell you.

Every fashionable, modern day golfer has one. A sterling golf tee (Tiffany & Co. $125)

A beautiful pair of sterling silver ice tongs (Tiffany & Co. $600) for the warm heated, but chilly fingered giftee.

Disclaimer: I confess to actually being truly, madly, deeply in love with Tiffany's. And yes, I do have the movie poster for Breakfast at Tiffany's on my wall. This is all just one giant joke. But if anyone feels the urge to get me some overpriced cocktail picks, I wouldn't object.

Les chatons de Bouygues Telecom...

Oh ho ho, oui oui.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0H2PIcspvU&feature=player_embedded#!

Things I Have Learned...

So there are a few things that I have learned over the last couple months, my first months of university, and I am going to share them with you now. So get stoked. Free, unsolicited advice - the best kind. A lot of this advice is based from things I've learned at university, but I feel like it applies to a lot of places, and situations.

1. Don't take home for granted. Tell your parents you love them often, tell your friends you love them often, snuggle your pets as often as you can, and enjoy the peace and quiet of home before you move to the land of paper-thin walls, and neighbours that like to think they are nocturnal.

2. Accept change. Allow yourself to discover who you are. Don't make a plan, and follow it like it's the only option. You'll find new things that you like, and new things you want to pursue.

3. Be a grown up about things. If there is something you don't like, and it bothers you, confront it. Unless it's a whole lot bigger than you... then bring reinforcements.

4. Like what you like! I really am over people telling me what I should like. You're not soooo smart because you like indie things. Get over yourself. I know we go over this on a  regular basis. But just do what you want to do. You're you for a reason, and if you don't like who you are... well, let's face it, you're probably not being yourself.

5. Don't tie yourself down too soon. Be flexible where friends are concerned.

6. Get out there! Studying is important, but so is having a social life. Unless you have a History midterm that's worth too much of your mark to not study for all weekend. That's okay. You're forgiven for an antisocial, sweatpants weekend.

7. Have a good time. And make sure the good time is you're idea of a good time. If you don't like to party, don't party! If you don't know if you like to party, try it and judge that. If you don't like studying... well... don't go to university... or learn how to make it bearable, and fast.

8. Make sure you have something that cheers you up no matter what. I like to talk to my friends and family, or do yoga when I'm upset. I do familiar things when I'm feeling homesick, and sometimes just going for a walk + rant really does help.