Spring Break '13

I have a track record when it comes to spring breaks, and it usually includes a lot of tears and angsting and not a lot of fun. This year I got all that out early, and even though our plans to get to the beach fell through, I am still determined to enjoy a nice break. With the exception of a few days in January, I really haven't had a break from work since Europe, so I'm going to take full advantage of my free time.

Work to Get Done:
-Thank You cards for Dance Marathon
-Finish "The Hidden Hand"
-Get all my VP1 paperwork caught up
-Practice Guitar

Required Fun (because even when it's leisure, I need a list):
-Finish "Pride and Prejudice"
-Finish watching Monkey Business (our internet blows in the apartment, so netflix can be super frustrating)
-Enjoy some Chuck Palahniuk (I only read one of his books every few months, because I never want there to be a time when I've run out. Publishing an "Invisible Monsters: Remix" was kind of lame, because now I have to wait that much longer for him to write something new.)
-Commit to watching Downton Abbey
-Zumba with mom


So there won't be much sunshine, but I will get to catch up with my family. Since I never know what I'm doing next, I never know if it will be the last time I consider it to be my home-- so I try to make it count while I am here.

I believe in making time for the little things.

Fictional Characters I Want to Marry: Novel Edition

It's trending on twitter now, and I love a good list. So here are my top 5 favorite characters from books that I wouldn't hate spending the rest of my life with:

1. Miles, from Looking for Alaska- my absolute favorite book, and such an adorable character. He's such a genuine individual just searching for an identity and purpose, and his unconditional love for Alaska is perfect to me, because he understands that she's a moody bitch but loves her anyway. He isn't confused about her faults, just thinks that she's worth it (but also without allowing her to stomp all over him, which would also be lame).

2. Gale, in Hunger Games- I realize he's dark, but I love that. He provides without being overbearing, and expects Katniss to have her shit together, while still helping her pick up the slack. Peeta is fine, but Gale is realistic and makes changes. I love a good revolutionary.

3. Sydney Carton- Practically created selfless love. I realize that if I'm following the story, I can't be happily married to him, but disregarding the facts- I love that man. I'm a sucker for reformed men. And once more, a revolutionary.

4. Westley, in Princess Bride- Obviously I'm in the mood for that this week, so no explanation needed. Just come love me, please.

5. Jay Gatsby- Again, I realize that if we're basing it off the story it doesn't look good for our future, but he's just so fun, not to mention, he stays so consistently in love with Daisy. I think his determination is sexy, and the fact that he makes so much of himself (instead of sitting around whining about how unfair life is) makes him totally marriageable. Also, I kind of just want to live in the 20s.

And, as an added bonus, 4 Characters Twitter Thinks I Should Love, but I Don't:

1. Edward Cullen. I just don't get the appeal- but that argument has already been beat to death. Don't tell me what to do, don't squash my identity, and I can't handle how implicit everything has to be. I get it, she's your personal brand of heroin. We're all very impressed.

2. Christian Grey. I will not be marrying anyone that makes me cower. I'm far too sassy for that nonsense. Sex preferences aside, money aside, even how attractive he's supposed to be- his inability to let Anastasia have her own life is clingy and obnoxious. His determination to intimidate her into doing what he wants is creepy.

3. Harry Potter. I'm all about the adventure, and don't get me wrong- I love the boy who lived- but I never saw him as a romantic character or anything but a hero. He doesn't have time for ladies, and he was lamest when he was trying to figure out that awkward dating phase. I guess I wouldn't abhor being married to Harry Potter, I just think it would ruin how I see him.

4. Any Nicholas Sparks Character- Again, I just don't get it. Too much drama, too many explicitly stated monologues. There are definitely redeeming moments, and I think the selfless love is precious, but they all rely on the woman being kind of pathetic and un-whole by herself.



I might do one from tv/movies tonight, as I'm guessing that will be so much easier. It's hard to just think of books I've read on the spot, especially when the characters usually aren't implicitly a romantic lead. Once I finish Pride and Prejudice I can finally decide on Mr. Darcy, who I should have an opinion on but never committed to making one. Hopefully before spring break, because this is getting ridiculous.

The Princess Bride

“Cynics are simply thwarted romantics.” 

“Her heart was a secret garden and the walls were very high.” 

"And with that, she dared the bravest thing she'd ever done; she looked right into his eyes.” 


In a romantic mood today. Hoping to find time to go back and read this. 

Woah, moody.

I've been in a serious funk this week. I go back and forth between feeling pretty accomplished and productive (yesterday was a fantastic craft win), and then I just get really moody and introspective, which is less fun to be around.

I need to make a new playlist on spotify. At some point, I'm just going to have to make amends with the fact that my emotions are incredibly impressionable, and there is just music I can't listen to, people I can't be around, and pictures I can't dwell on without getting crabby.

Also, sleep. That's been not much of a thing this week. Probably wouldn't hurt to get back to that, start working out again, take my medicine like a normal person. I've grown in that I can now usually predict why I'm so moody, but I'm still not always mature enough to just suck it up and do what I need to do to fix it.

My go-to song when I'm in a funk (not because it helps, just because it seems like a song worth moping to):

Rawr.

I believe in working out your funks. I just apparently don't believe in doing it now.

TBT, Europe Style

I'm really just feeling how NOT in Europe I am this semester, and I'm struggling with the idea that it's been almost a year. But my favorite comparison:


This is me, sitting in the Newark airport being terrified to get on the plane. Pre-ANYTHING, I always feel like this is my "before life got awesome" picture.



And then this, which is not a very flattering picture of me, but it's the moment I realized how comfortable I was with everything. We found this underground comedy club in the middle of London, and it was perfect. British comedy, drinks, and totally authentic and un-tourist-ified. They basically just slammed Americans the whole time, but that just made it feel even more real. At the end of the trip, this is my "after I grew up" picture.


So here's to finding $7,000 and getting me back there.

Can't Stop Laughing...

At these ridiculous goat videos. I think this one is my favorite, though.

Dance Marthon, 2013

I am not a huge fan of dancing, and even less of a fan of being forced to spend a long period of time with a lot of people I don't know. Generally anything that has a morale team I stray away from. But my roommate was the director, and I wanted to experience it at least once, even if I was sure I would hate my life during it.

WRONG.

I had the most incredible experience. The first 5 hours were the hardest for me- I wasn't into the experience, and as much as I tried to be open to it, I hated learning the group dances. But at some point, I turned into 7th  grade, extroverted, super peppy and involved Paige.

I didn't know she still existed. She's been hiding under thick eyeliner and self declared angst for so long, I thought I'd killed her completely. But there I was, dancing around with my sisters and complete strangers, trying to keep everyone's spirits up the last 3 hours.



I was also SO proud of my sisters, who were so involved with the event- not only did we have the most representation of participants, but we had sisters coming to visit every hour to bring us snacks and hold up signs and leave notes. Zetas are not known for being incredibly outgoing, and its a big deal when they leave their comfort zone (ie, the section) to support their sisters. It really meant a lot. Even Deeg, who hates almost any positive social gathering, came to see Becca and I!




We ended up raisiong over 37,000 for pediatric aids, which is AWESOME for such a small campus. Even after we were done at midnight, I couldn't fall asleep because I was just so jazzed up about everything. In the end, I have Becca to thank for the experience, because without her I never would have put myself out there, and I'm SO glad I did.

I believe in dancing for a cure.