thunderous sunbeams

Currently Playing:
Help!
By The Beatles

so what's new with me? hmm... how about some things i've noticed lately:

• i love watching birds flying while i'm listening to music, driving in my car. they always seem to be flying along with what i'm hearing, and our movement is somehow coordinated.


• music is amazing amazing amazing perfection. sometime soon, do this: pick out some music you already think you love. turn it on. listen. then imagine a world in which it didn't exist. imagine that you'd never heard anything like it. then return to the music and its incredible perfect existence. it just might blow your mind.


• creativity and cognition suffer under long-term stress. last week, i was experiencing a reawakening of sorts. it was really something. i hope i can get back there again soon.


• there was a real reason i was in Soma. i've kinda been overwhelmed with these urges to dance lately. i don't know how many people must think i'm nuts, seeing me move my arms in strange, stunted ways while trapped in the car.


• imaginary therapy groups are a hilarious idea.


• finding a balance between fulfilling your own needs and fulfilling the needs of others is a difficult process for anyone who values selflessness, but it's something we all must do.


• the capacity of the individual for change and growth is stunning.


• there are a lot of people in my life who probably have no real idea just how much i admire them. maybe i should try to let them know, but i'm never quite sure how they'd react.

update, part dos

my midterm went great. like, waaaay better than i expected...not to jinx myself or anything. thanks for the luck, m.v.

also, after much careful review of my memories, i've remembered that the meal at Oasis was saturday late-afternoon, between the Honors Day thing and going to rob's. i know you all care so much. : D

owen's sitting on my desk and sniffing my arm right now. it tickles.

time for some celebratory macaroni and cheese!

would you miss me

Currently Playing:
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
By Wilco

if i had died this morning?

...because i almost did, thanks to an oversized white pickup truck coming from across the intersection and turning left directly at my driver-side door.

waiting for the 7

the bus stops here are full of people looking to the left,
and the crewcuts in their SUVs will always have the right.
but though they enjoy their silver spoons, we still hold the knife
to cut a noose of yellow ribbon and choke their wicked theft.

i've had a great weekend

Currently Playing:
Picaresque
By The Decemberists

..and i just thought i would let you all know. friday afternoon, i hung out over at the house on campus-duval with ethan, andy, and chris, while they worked on recording guitar for golden bear, and it was really nice to be there with them. friday night, i attended a dinner party hosted by the wonderful kathryn arnold and marc cucco. the food, the company, the wine, the music, and the discussion were all fantastic. thank you's to marc for inviting me.

saturday night, julie and dave DeAngelis joined me in attendance at the Decemberists show at emo's. the show was incredible, like one of the best i've ever been to. the songs and instrumentation were highly varied and always entertaining. the combo of organ, rhodes, accordion, violin, electric and acoustic guitar (including a big pretty fireglo rickenbacker), 12-strings, bells, upright and electric bass, melodica, banjo, male and female vocals, electric mandolin, and who knows what else sounded soooo good. i would definitely recommend seeing them live. ethan, thanks for recommending them to me so strongly.

today, i've gotten a lot of schoolwork done: made progress on a group project and completed my optics homework with jakub and tina. next up: writing up a journal on an in-class debate from last week. and right now, somebody's playing chopsticks on the piano outside of the presidential lobby of the union, or whatever this study room is called, and it's putting me in a cheerful mood.

throughout the weekend, i've had a lot of fun conversations with friends (old and new) through AIM or myspace or whatever, and that's been really nice too. you all made me feel very loved this weekend, so thanks, even if you never see this. oh yeah, and mom made lamb chops saturday night, and they were great.

so, how was your weekend?

to the best friend i could ever ask for

Currently Playing:
Past Masters Vol.2
By The Beatles

A vastly incomplete, photo-historical tribute to my wonderful friendship with Julie Bauer:


Band Banquet, May(?) 1998


Pops Concert, February 2000


Pre-UIL Concert, April(?) 2000


moving fun, May 2001


party fun, February 2005


more party fun with leslie and angela, February 2005

Thank you for all the ways you've made my life happier and more meaningful. This spring marks nine years since we started to get to know each other, and we've never really been apart since. That's amazing. I feel so lucky to have always had a friend that understands me so well. And over the years, we've changed and grown, but I feel closer to you than ever, which makes our friendship truly remarkable. Here's ninety-nine more! I love you, chica.