the heart of life

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2008-11-25T22:05:00.000-08:00

Everyone is constrained by the line. Thoughtless acts. =]

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2008-10-20T12:15:00.001-07:00

They Wordle'd the library.

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2008-09-18T16:57:00.000-07:00

Smart car convertible

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2008-09-13T10:59:00.000-07:00

Cute sign on Leavenworth by Filbert

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2008-09-12T13:19:00.000-07:00

Fillmore & Post

2008-09-02T17:23:00.001-07:00

It's sad to think that we give up on human decency because "if we don't, someone else will ..."

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2008-08-18T19:13:00.000-07:00

Memo to self.

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2008-08-08T10:49:00.000-07:00

I really like the pattern.

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2008-08-06T11:08:00.000-07:00

I liked the styling of this pack. Design?

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2008-08-01T08:41:00.000-07:00

Cool things in the foyer.

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2008-07-29T16:48:00.000-07:00

This is Pretzel.

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2008-06-13T15:58:00.001-07:00

Awkward.

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2008-06-12T17:49:00.001-07:00

Almost the end me the year.

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2008-05-27T19:51:00.001-07:00

Spotted in the faculty parking lot.

movin' on yet again

2008-05-27T01:12:00.000-07:00

No time to figure out the nuances of the crazy adorable layout ... so maybe I'll just switch back. However, I've decided that I've had enough of putting my life in all different sorts of places, so I've consolidated as much blogging as I possibly could into one new, easy-to-remember site. Here it is:

http://lifeofamy.wordpress.com/

Blogger, you've been good to me, but it just feels like it's about time to move on. :) I need to be able to change and expand and explore. Well, perhaps you get my drift. Anyway, this site will be staying to house my mobile blogging adventures. I have to give blogger props for that feature. It's really easy to make mobile blogging happen.

Until the next scintillating photo or insight, ciao!

gli azzurri

2008-05-05T18:58:00.000-07:00

For the most part, I believe they are tone deaf. They shouldn't quit their day jobs ...

mi manca roma

2008-04-30T13:24:00.000-07:00

Rome at Night

By IAN FISHER

Published: April 20, 2008

At night, the city is lit like a theater, and in the warmer months, it should be enjoyed like one.

I wish I were back there, but I figure, in time, I will be.

wow

2008-04-30T13:20:00.000-07:00

From Auschwitz, a Torah as Strong as Its Spirit

By JAMES BARRON

Published: April 30, 2008

A Torah that survived the fetid barracks of Auschwitz will be rededicated at an interfaith ceremony on Wednesday.

100!

2008-04-29T13:23:00.001-07:00

Wow, this is my 100th post. I'm kind of impressed. So, here it is, photos from yesterday. It was at hot as summer, beautiful and bright. We went to the beach. Here's the short story.

Learning to take self-portraits

So tranquil looking ... just don't get sunburned

I never get tired of looking up the coast

Pelicans!

There you have it. Don't you wish you were here? :)

le sigh

2008-04-28T03:57:00.000-07:00

Shortest, cutest date ever.

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2008-04-12T12:02:00.001-07:00

Another admit day.

keys to accessorizing

2008-03-30T23:03:00.000-07:00

- color
- texture
- print
- shine

Thank you Clinton! (I love What Not To Wear.)

FW:

2008-03-24T11:10:00.000-07:00

I have a big head and little arms!

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2008-03-23T15:47:00.001-07:00

Pig of dreams.

song of the moment

2008-03-17T02:40:00.000-07:00

Right now, I'm finishing up reading for my exam. And I can't get enough of this song.

Jesca Hoop - Seed Of Wonder

I think she sounds a bit like Fiona Apple on this track, but she's got a really unique vibe. I cannot recommend this song highly enough, but take care to listen to the lyrics. Definitely not a brainless kind of song.

reminiscent

2008-03-14T01:32:00.000-07:00

I was browsing through public transportation information, and I came across San Francisco's F-Market & Wharves, which I've ridden a few times. One of the most memorable was when I was young. I remember riding this particular model of streetcar with my dad. When we were riding, a man on the streetcar threw his briefcase out of the streetcar. He then proceeded to jump out. I suppose he was late. It was the most peculiar sight, as you can't jump out of most streetcars to begin with! Such is the beauty of a vintage streetcar. At least I think it was this one ... I suppose that's what I remember, and that the streetcar had to have been shaped like a boat. And seeing as a boat-shaped streetcar really would not fit on the streets of San Francisco ... well, you get the idea.

crazy delicious

2008-03-13T05:21:00.000-07:00

... I'm still procrastinating.

when pokemon and politics collide

2008-03-12T22:03:00.000-07:00

Possibly one of the funniest things I've seen all night. Go look. I promise it's worth it. More when I'm not freaking out due to stress. Give me a week or so.

2008-03-09T01:30:00.000-08:00

I don't know why I love this video so much.

Anyway, this week looks to be stressful. I hope to jam through the rest of the projects I have to do. In a week, there are also final exams, so it's almost over! Holy crap!

And then ... D.C. and Boston! My new carrot at the end of the stick, besides yarn that I made my roommate hide. That's a whole 'nother subject. Really wondering whether I should just combine this blog and my knitting blog. Separating my life is horribly difficult, I think. That, and am I really that interesting? Then again, perhaps this one is just lots of inspiration and cool tidbits. Chi sa? (Who knows?)

you were the music, and you were my love

2008-03-05T23:59:00.000-08:00

I've been romping around broadway.com, and I've stumbled upon a number of lovely videos that I want to archive. For myself and for others, naturally.

Songwriters Hall of Fame Honors Sheik & Sater:
1 of 7: John Gallagher, Jr. - "All That's Known"
2 of 7: Lauren Pritchard, John Gallagher, Jr. & Duncan Sheik - "Mr. Chess"
3 of 7: Lauren Pritchard with John Gallagher, Jr. - "The Dark I Know Well"
4 of 7: John Gallagher, Jr & Lauren Pritchard - "Left Behind"
5 of 7: ?
6 of 7: ?
7 of 7: ?

I find it interesting that after leaving the show, JG gets to perform his character's funeral song in a mini-concert. Oh, and do watch "Mr. Chess" as it's interesting to hear others besides DS take on the material. Also, as they post the last three videos, I hope to add them to this little archive. I'm a nut. I know it. Here's more proof.

Modern Love: Spending Valentine's Day with the Cast of Spring Awakening
1 of 4: Romance
2 of 4: Firsts
3 of 4: Dos and Don'ts
4 of 4: Love on Broadway

And!
Rent is closing on June 1! That makes me sad, but watching Anthony Rapp narrate the last commercial and give some commentary makes me sadder.

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2008-03-03T11:57:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday, Dr. Seuss!

identity crisis?

2008-02-27T15:01:00.000-08:00

Surfing the internet while attempting to study leads to all sorts of gems, and today, it happens to be Stuff White People Like. Don't get me wrong. Or, perhaps, if you're that shallow, do, but I am almost assured now that I am a white person. Heaven help us all.

I promise more birthday details later, although, alas, there were no photos taken. However, Lambrusco was imbibed, and it was good. :)

another year older

2008-02-26T01:32:00.001-08:00

HOME...SWEET HOME
Originally uploaded by xeviharo

Happy Birthday to me ... I'm officially 22. I've been in college for almost 4 years. I have amazing friends and family. I'm so blessed. What more could I ask for. I'm as ... happy as a ladybug in a daisy? Perhaps I need a more accurate description. I'll write it after the day is through.

be still my broadway-loving heart

2008-02-20T23:11:00.000-08:00

John Gallagher, Jr. & Jonathan Groff. I'm a total fangirl right now. A fangirl who needs to compose herself. Okay ... I'm okay.

newsflash!

2008-02-19T00:33:00.000-08:00

Castro is stepping down! I suppose I should have seen this coming ... so he's not dead after all!

My favorite quote from the Reuters article:
"Castro, 81, said in a statement to the country that he would not seek a new presidential term when the National Assembly meets on Feb. 24."

... I don't think there have been true elections in Cuba since Castro came to power. Oh well ... now we just get to deal with his brother, Raul, who is 76 to Fidel's 81. Wonder where he might be in 5 years? It's the last communist stronghold in the Western Hemisphere, but I've got to say, it's just not going to be the same without Fidel.

love you more than anyone

2008-02-06T22:21:00.001-08:00

Henna on back
Originally uploaded by greedus2

There are times when I doubt my purpose. I wonder why I'm in my major, why I'm here at UCSD, what I want out of life. And then it smacks me in the face. Multiple times in one day. I'm running into my friends everywhere, in the most unexpected ways.

First, in the library, catching up with a friend who I haven't been able to spend time with as much this year as the last. Next, a friend called me with concerns about another friend. I later got in contact with the concernee, and she got to share with me what was going on in her life. Follow that up with Bible Study, where I was proud of the study that resulted. I feel like the study leaders have learned a lot, and we're finally reaching the potential I felt we could. We're progressing, and I couldn't be happier. Finally, tonight, I left study late, after some rousing conversation and ran into a friend. She looked stoic at first, but it was more than I could have ever guessed ...

My friends are brave and strong. They are amazing and beautiful. I love them so much, and I am so blessed to have them in my life. I only hope I could be a fraction as inspirational to them as they are to me.

A little cliche, I know, but considering that I've been under a lot of stress this week, it has been a wonderful day.

attention

2008-02-06T17:55:00.001-08:00

The Gaze
Originally uploaded by Anna Pagnacco

I'm working on a project that focuses on the details of the everyday world. Right now, I'm having trouble focusing. Ironic, isn't it. I think I'm taking to finding photos on Flickr that suit my blogging moods. This is more fun. Beats being boring.

So I'm sitting in the library, and I have done some work, but right now, I've hit a rough spot. I'm not sure where to go, or what to right, so I've got to just analyze my data and step away. I might go to study tonight and see what we're up to, then I can go home and finish my analysis. This process is long. I knew I should have given myself more time. Hey ... at least it's still the day before the project is due. :)

ready or not ...

2008-02-05T16:56:00.001-08:00

Wallflower
Originally uploaded by Dappers

This is how I feel right now ... well, sort of. Bright, but ready to smash my head against the wall.

Let's put it this way. "Winter quarter needs to shove off and die."

And yes, oh yes, I blogged two different photos in the span of five minutes. What can I say? I'm ignoring my studies and trolling Flickr.

bright

2008-02-05T16:54:00.001-08:00

lil monks
Originally uploaded by Sukanto Debnath

I love this photo, and I thought I would share it with whoever reads this blog ... I'm guessing that's not many people, but this is mostly for myself, anyway.

lightning struck

2008-02-05T10:21:00.001-08:00

I hate that I perform well under pressure. Although, perhaps not, as I get by by the seat of my pants and I'm never sure why. I love my ideas in desperation, but perhaps I can incite desperation in advance. Yeah ... that would be nice. Anyway, not much time to type, just to say I'm not dead. Will write more later in the week.

Oh, and Happy Super Tuesday!

coming to terms

2008-02-04T04:01:00.000-08:00

I'm stubborn, and I don't like change. I know it's inevitable, but I just like to dig in my heels and resist like mad. I guess I think it's easier to hold on to all of my bad habits and little lies to myself, rather than just giving it all up. I want to hold on to who I think I am, rather than embrace the person I could become. Or at least I think that's what's going on. My inner monologue has always been a bit confused.

Anyway, I'm just writing to spark some sort of creative process. I've got a paper due in seven hours, and while it's short, like most things, I want it to be good. This week is going to be hard, and I guess that's why I'm thinking there's no better time for change than now. What better time than when I'm stressed out within an inch of my life. Maybe change will help remedy all of the pressure that I'm feeling, both physically and mentally. Winter is my own personal hell. Time to make it work.

The List:
- Machiavelli Paper due 2/4
- Politics of Immigration Midterm 2/6
- Cognitive Ethnography Photo Project due 2/7
- Cognitive Ethnography Overdue Project ASAP

he's following me!

2008-02-03T22:41:00.000-08:00

Oh, Pachelbel ...

Oh, and if you dig Rob and all of his craziness, find more of him at his website. :)

a blast from the past

2008-02-03T00:57:00.000-08:00

Think of it as an early, kitschy present for Super Tuesday.

with the band

2008-02-02T13:38:00.000-08:00

Adorable meme nabbed from fingersandtoes!

First you need a wikipedia random article . The article title is your band name.

Second, go here. The last four words of the last quotation on the page is your debut album title.

Thirdly, go here. The third picture on the page is your album cover.

Then you put it all together and post it on your blog!

Photo copyright Valarun. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/valarun/)

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2008-01-23T12:02:00.001-08:00

Love it!

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2008-01-15T10:45:00.001-08:00

You know it's bad when the line for the bus looks like this and two full buses have passed you by.

the road before us

2008-01-15T02:42:00.000-08:00

This is a pattern ... me, on my floor, procrastinating on something I want to do and know that I can indeed do. I'm just ... stuck. I wonder whether I put myself into this situation, this was inevitable, or both. No matter. It's now the problem of digging myself out of this hole and not consuming an entire package of Saltines. I have forgotten how salty these things really are. I feel that if I were a snail or a slug, I would shrivel right up/implode just at the sight. Whoo!

Anyway, I suppose not much has changed since last year. Yes, I'm getting older, and perhaps I have some better idea of where I'm going, but the future still looms, yet it is a distant fantasy. It's like the side view mirrors of the car. Objects are closer than they appear. So here I am, laptop in lap, really, typing away toward my future. The road is endless, but but I'm in need of a rest stop, and I'm not sure where that next exit will take me. At least, I think, I have over a year to figure this out. I really think that this whole double-major thing is a procrastination tactic. Story of my life, eh? At least I cop to it.

this anticipation

2007-12-31T18:57:00.000-08:00

As 2007 comes to a close, I'm not sure what to say. This year has been amazing. It's been full of challenges, joys, and sorrows. I can only hope that 2008 exceeds this. See you in the new year, with better entries, crazier adventures, and more love.

XOXO

what do you mean 'christmas'?!

2007-12-27T18:06:00.000-08:00

Hi all, and a very Merry (Late) Christmas. This month is definitely a little tired, and I'm not sure what to say ... it's been a great year, and perhaps, when I'm more articulate, I'll be able to write what I want to say.

2007-12-16T18:07:00.001-08:00

This cruise was brought to you by Trader Sam's Cannibal Cafe, where we're always looking for new ways to serve you.

a tribute to things that never were

2007-12-12T03:42:00.001-08:00

This song is amazingly haunting. Enjoy.

let's never stop falling in love

2007-12-09T20:40:00.000-08:00

The world won't stop changing, and I can't blame it. I'd rather have it keep moving and keep going, and yeah, I don't want to stop. I desperately wish I could still be in Rome, but if I were, my life would have changed in such different ways. I wouldn't have gotten a job, I wouldn't have gone to New York, I wouldn't have lived with Kimi, and I certainly wouldn't be the same person. All of the challenges that life has put before me have been worth the struggle. Everything I am is a product of who I was. Everything I will become is all part of who I am now. Life is like a game of Jenga -- you keep building upwards with what you've already got and you pray for balance.

2007-11-20T15:40:00.001-08:00

I'm back to having no idea of what I want from life.

2007-11-19T10:45:00.001-08:00

I balk, because this major has made me work harder than I ever thought I would. I will say it though. Thus far, it has been worth it.

whoa ...

2007-11-17T23:34:00.000-08:00

Timothy Daniel is just unbelievably talented. The way he sings the word "California" strikes me with Wonderment every time. (That's his newest album, if you didn't get the point. It's amazing. :) Check it out!

Watch live video from timothydaniel on Justin.tv

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2007-11-17T01:39:00.001-08:00

Please note that I cracked 4 eggs. There were twins!

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2007-11-16T13:01:00.001-08:00

"In five minutes, I can prove to you that God created the heavens and the earth, and that Jesus Christ can save your soul."

There are the kind of people who make me almost embarrassed to be Christian.

even

2007-11-15T12:01:00.000-08:00

Life is complex. We have our interests, and others have theirs. Sometimes, they work in harmony, and sometimes they conflict like nobody's business. I wonder if I make poor judgments about my own interests as they pertain to others. I'm overzealous, and I don't think things through. It's a fault, really.

I am dealing with far too much right now. All I really want is an even playing field, but all I see right now is an uphill climb.

full stop

2007-11-15T07:17:00.000-08:00

It's official. I have no desire to be awake this early in the morning. I know I should take the time to be productive, seeing as I've got to haul myself onto a few buses, and I might as well use the time wisely, but all I'd like to do is procrastinate. It's only the tiniest bit ironic. Time is just flying by. Today, Thursday, I've got to finish a lab and study for a quiz (with exam on Monday). I also ought to at least draft up part of a paper for Tuesday. I need to do laundry. I need to pack for Thanksgiving. Frankly, I will give thanks when Tuesday is over, because that means that I can breathe again. I guess I will go to work on Monday afternoon, seeing as I'd like to grovel for Wednesday off to go home early. I have no idea what will happen, but it's getting late, and I need to shove myself out of the house before I'm late. It's a situation that's happened far too ofrwn.

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2007-11-07T12:04:00.001-08:00

If you rush, you can get a surprising amount me things done. Like getting a Jamba juice and a pretzel in time to catch your bus.

the little things!

2007-10-29T23:37:00.000-07:00

Whoa ... I won this contest over at I AM FUEL, YOU ARE FRIENDS (which is a rockin' music blog, by the way), and I'm getting a copy of the soundtrack for the new Bob Dylan biopic, I'm Not There. Excuse the linking and all, but essentially, I won myself a CD of Dylan covers, and I'm thrilled. Dude ... I never win anything ... right?

Along with that, bare: the album is releasing tomorrow! (See previous posts.) Thrilled yet again. :) It's all well and good ... except I have no idea how much it costs.

And, to top it all off, I'm trying to work on a draft of a paper, to review tomorrow and to turn in on Thursday. I also have a test. So I'm going to see the professor. And I have to plan Bible Study, and I want to check up with people, and I need to study, and, Christ, it feels like there's just no time in the day for all the things I need to do.

Halloween's on Wednesday and I'm leading Bible Study. I have a test and a paper due the next day, so all work and no play makes Amy a dull girl ... but perhaps a smidge more successful. Wish me luck!

now and then

2007-10-29T01:48:00.000-07:00

Last year, I was in Barcelona, hanging out with Irene.

This year, I was cooped up in San Diego, hoping to God that we weren't going to burn.

Needless to say, I'm very much alive, but due to the fire, we canceled an entire week of class. We're now behind, and it was both a relief and a stress. Now, I've got a ton of stuff due this coming week, so it's just go-go-go for me. Can't win 'em all.

Oh, and if that weren't depressing enough, "American kids, dumber than dirt"?

I really do need to make more time for blogging. :) I enjoy it so.

flashback

2007-10-18T17:36:00.000-07:00

San Giovanni in Laterano (St. John the Lateran)

Almost a year ago, I wrote this in my LJ:

All right, so I've been a slack at posting. We still don't have internet at the residence, so I'm using the internet at the study center. Talk about a pain in the butt. To that end, if you call me on Skype, I'll get it on my cell phone? So call away people, but let's keep it short, because my phone credits always run out fast.

Okay, so life has been crazy. Not too much drama, I suppose, but I have found that I tend toward one roommate more than the other. It's natural, I know, and this situation pales in comparison to freshman year at UCSD, so really, I feel like I'm doing well. I haven't been sleeping well, though, and everything that makes me stress out gives me a nervous stomach and I can't eat. Gah, I just need to get over these nerves. Right in the middle of my stay. Honestly!

That brings me to another thing. We have passed the halfway point. It's hard to believe that we have less than two months left, and it's equally hard to believe that over two months have passed. It's more surreal than anything else, and I'll miss Rome when I come home, but I don't think it's the love of my life. It's just not quite me, but hey, I'm working on it. There are days when I wish the world around me would stop ... but that's not going to happen anytime soon.

Anyway, midterms were this week. I had two yesterday, and there's one more tomorrow night. Then it's off to the soup kitchen. Thursday morning, I have a group oral exam in Italian, and then I'm done.

So ... the exciting part! Thursday evening, I depart for Barcelona! I'm staying for three nights with Irene, then on Sunday evening I depart for Budapest. In Budapest, I'm staying through until November 2, then it's off to Berlin for the last leg, then back home to Rome on the 5th. At ... oooh ... 7 in the morning. That will suck. Other than that, I'm relieved to have a break from Rome, as lovely as it is. I'm just so stressed right now, and I feel like I'm doing all right, but I just want to push myself harder, and I feel like I'm at the point of breaking. I know I can't break, and I know I just have to hold on and breathe, but there are those moments when I feel like I'm suffocating. Those moments pass, though, and I'm just back to being me.

Life is crazy. End of story.

looking forward

2007-10-18T00:50:00.000-07:00

- bare: the album (buy it here on October 30)

- being done with the first round of papers/exams
- pie night with my bible study
- ballroom dance on sunday

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2007-10-14T12:29:00.001-07:00

Autumn in La Jolla

awake and alive

2007-10-13T10:28:00.000-07:00

From this summer, we went out for sangria ... and lollipops, apparently.

So, what have I been up to besides diggin' on that new Andy Samberg/Adam Levine track? I've been in school, that's what. Between work, school, and extracurriculars, I feel like I barely have any time, and for that time, I save my knitting. That said, my classes are pretty challenging, but I can handle them. This quarter (10 weeks, baby!) brings me Distributed Cognition, Neurology/Neuroanatomy, Intro to Int'l Relations, and Nationalism & Ethnic Conflict. A pretty full plate, with some papers, some tests, and a pinch of stress. Hopefully, I can continue to be productive and kick some ass with this stuff, but I guess I'll have to see.

Today, I've got a speed reading & comprehension class back at school. I'm hoping it will improve my skills for that grad school push a year or so from now. By no means will I be able to read all the material in grad school, but the more I can fit in and the more I can understand, the better my chances of success are. Apparently, yes, I am preparing myself for success, or so says my sister.

As for plans for this blog, I'm hoping to put together some thematic mixes ... especially for holidays, but seeing as that is a long way off, I have time to plan. I also have time to eat a good breakfast this morning. What a thought! I suppose I had better jump on that.

pick-me-up

2007-10-09T09:31:00.000-07:00

Butter-pecan thighs, anyone?

endings, start again

2007-09-27T16:16:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a bit of a rest at home right now, but tonight, it's back off to school for me. I already had one class today, and this makes two. Not too bad for one day, but it's more mind-boggling than anything else that school had begun anew. I know, for the people on the semester system, school is in full swing, and midterms are fast approaching. However, for the quarter system, school is inching forward, but in 10 weeks, things go quickly. It's scary, really.

On a less stressful note, I was in New York City this weekend. Here's just a snapshot of what went on.

For the rest of the photos, go over to my flickr.

More on this later, and observations about a cultural no-man's land. Because I'm too worried about getting to class on time.

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2007-09-22T03:53:00.001-07:00

Saturday morning in New York.

2007-09-18T11:51:00.001-07:00

A license plate reading AZNJEDI just drove by. Well, I was amused.

dear god

2007-09-17T23:45:00.000-07:00

Less than a week 'til departure and my nerves are shot to hell. I don't think I'll be able to eat on the plane if I'm this nervous this early in the game. Pray for me.

ouch

2007-09-15T16:34:00.000-07:00

I managed to give myself the worst blisters yesterday. Now I have to take it easy on my feet, so they'll be up to a New York adventure in a week. Oh, man, I could have seen this coming a mile away, eh?

curious and curiouser

2007-09-14T22:19:00.000-07:00

Do Norms Reduce Torture? (Working Paper)

Trying to figure out what I'm going to do in terms of grad school search when I'm in New York.

Perhaps more to be added later.

emptiness

2007-09-13T13:34:00.000-07:00

Right now, I'm at work, and I feel ... rather void. I can't pinpoint the seat of my distress, but there's just this overwhelming sensation that something is missing. If I knew what it was, I don't think this would be a problem, but here I am ... wondering.

Things are just changing so fast. I think change makes me uneasy. I get into these funks every now and then, after all, and it's usually when something big has happened. We're moving stuff around at the office, so jobs are being redistributed, and I guess I'm just feeling left out. I'm the only student right now. Alas.

Bright spot: I'm going to NYC in two weeks. Master's shopping, yarn, and musical theatre. How could I resist? I really need to do some research, but hopefully I'll figure it out. Who knows? After a rushed double major and five years of school, I could be a crazy person, but I can't see myself in the real world -- not yet. In time, perhaps.

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2007-09-12T18:00:00.000-07:00

And a ... boat.

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2007-09-12T17:59:00.001-07:00

Shoes!

confessional

2007-09-09T03:04:00.000-07:00

I am terrified of growing up.

I am 21, and I still don't know what I want to do with my life.

I am a self-diagnosed commitment-phobic.

I wear my heart on my sleeve ... sometimes with less than ideal results.

I barely cry anymore, but when I was in grammar school, it was second nature.

I want to travel the world.

I love my family more than anything, but when my parents are around, my sister and I fight like nobody's business.

I don't read my textbooks during the year, but when summer comes around, I read like crazy.

I still can't get over my perfectionist tendencies after all these years.

I have a thyroid condition, and I hate taking pills three times a day.

I tend to bottle things up inside because I don't think anyone else will get it.

I miss my friends.

for the record

2007-09-07T16:50:00.000-07:00

Cool Things:
Ikea Hacker
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Blog Ideas:
The "i" Generation
Signatures (Things Noticed)
Life, Upcoming
Grad School Search
Book Club
Autumn Approaches
Travel

a year gone

2007-09-04T00:18:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that it has already been a year since I studied abroad in Rome (a Roma). Thinking about it brings back all those feelings, the growing up I faced, all on my own. There was nobody else to guide me, to take me step by step to the finish line. I was on my own. I feel that, in those four months I spent in Europe, I grew up more than I had in the past 20 or so years of my existence. It was time. Nobody else had stopped me before, from getting where I needed to be -- I just wasn't ready yet. Europe was a test, and I think I passed. I slept in a tunnel in Venice, rode on the back of a moped in Rome, explored Florence alone, froze my tail off in Budapest, and experienced snow in Berlin. I got a tasted for wanderlust, and now I can't just give that up. I don't want to stop moving now. I want to see the world, and I will. (It's just going to take a while to earn enough money. Ew.)

I just sent SMS's to friends abroad. I think it's the least I can do. I mean, after all, I was a lonely kid in Italy. (I often ate alone and rarely went out. Blame it on my unwillingness to compromise myself or risk wearing heels on Italian cobblestones.) I mean, every country must be experienced its own way, but every now and then, it's nice to know that someone from home loves you and is thinking about you. When abroad, I don't think I expected the world, but the little things, the sweet things (like gelato! ;)) were what stuck out in my mind. Things fade, but the knowledge that someone cares for you stays with you.

In essence, I don't actually know what I'm trying to say, but maybe it's this: show love wherever and whenever; don't let distance and time hold you back.

the turning of the tides

2007-09-02T10:09:00.000-07:00

It's September. More symbolically, it's Labor Day Weekend in the states, which signifies a change. For many, it's time to go back to school, to return to the daily grind from three glorious months of summer vacation. It's time to reunite with friends, perhaps to slip back into the most familiar rhythm.

For me, school has yet to start. We don't begin until late in this fall month, and that blessing allows me to travel just a little bit more. I've already been home this summer, and I traveled to Orlando, FL for the LCMS National Youth Gathering way back at the end of July/beginning of August. It seems far away now, just as the rest of the summer does. I am looking forward to my NYC excursion right before school starts. Yarn hopping and musical theatre. How does one resist! I know I can't.

Still, after that, school starts. School brings us back, but every year we're changing, every year the young get younger, and the old get older. At least that's how I see about it. I'm going to be in my fourth year of college. This makes me old! Oh my. Thing is, I don't know if I ever saw this coming. In some ways, I still feel like that poor little naive freshman who just left her parents for the first time in 18 years. In 18 years, I hadn't moved too far. In just 3 or 4 more I've grown stronger in so many ways. I've got life experiences under my belt, and I've tested myself and taken on leadership. I still feel lost, though. I suppose it's good that I don't know where I'm headed, but every now and then, I just want to know. We'll see where this year takes me. Hopefully, it's to a place where I can continue to learn, and by that, I don't just mean university. :)

Multimedia message

2007-08-28T10:12:00.001-07:00

Blowin' in the wind.

Multimedia message

2007-08-24T10:34:00.001-07:00

Somehow, this just fits.

Multimedia message

2007-08-18T16:56:00.001-07:00

Balboa Park

Multimedia message

2007-08-18T13:05:00.001-07:00

God is a verb.

Multimedia message

2007-08-17T14:40:00.001-07:00

Guess who?

it's aliiiiiive!

2007-08-04T14:45:00.001-07:00

Okay, well, I am, I think. It was a long July, and now that it's August, I am shocked that this summer has slipped by me so quickly. People are coming back, and things are changing. I'm still figuring out who I am, and I'm still trying to give my faith the upper hand. In a world where we are called to be faithful, we are constantly tempted to be simply of this world, rather than above it. That doesn't mean that we are, or that we don't fall, but that does mean that we strive to live as Christ lived, to live in him, with others, in this world of God's creation. We are called to follow Christ. We know where we are going. We have hope.

losing my touch

2007-07-14T01:37:00.000-07:00

There goes the sporadic blogging. I chalk it up to a pressing work week. Sometimes I feel like I'm wanted there, and other times I feel like I'm just a burden. I'm sticking with it, but sometimes, work is enough to make me go a little bonkers. It happens, I suppose.

I'm tired. And Kimi is here. Last night, I had my last night in the queen bed ... all to myself. Now I must share. I'm okay with this, but it's just not the same, I'm thinking. Oh well. Now is the time to be with family, no matter how diseased they may be. Or something like that.

Oh yeah. I went to the doctor on Monday. Definitely a thyroid problem. Yay me. Perhaps I'll be able to follow up this time, and we can come to a conclusion. I've been cut down an hour a day at work, too. it's not a big deal, but I'm rambling now, and I think it's time to hit the sack. Not that it'll do anything for my thyroid. Meh.

it took you long enough

2007-07-04T22:35:00.000-07:00

Well, I must apologize. I kept promising myself a blog entry, but it never emerged from my fingertips. I started a few, I think, but they just didn't materialize. I haven't blogged since school ended. For the record, I didn't fail any classes, but I know I could have done better. In face, for the record, too, I'm considering changing my major. It's not settled yet. On Monday, I'm taking the day off, and I'll be sorting out a few things, including a little bit of medical weirdness and the whole let's-go-talk-to-an-advisor-and-figure-this-out thing. That was a lot of hyphens.

In random, Fourth of July/Independence Day news, the 92nd Annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest went on, and the winner was Joey Chestnut. (Does it blow anyone else's mind that there is an International Federation of Competitive Eating?) It makes me worry about the state of he world ... just a little bit. I mean, I am thoroughly entertained, but a little nagging part of me wonders how much of that food that these folks consume could feed others. Just a thought.

Additionally, in more intriguing and possibly infuriation news (that is admittedly a little old), Scooter Libby's sentence was commuted. We can only hope that this is the end of the road. I have the bare bones of this case, but beyond that, I don't feel like I can pass strong judgment. However, I feel like he seriously put lives in danger, and because of that, he got a punishment that the court thought was suitable for his crime. President Bush did not think so. This I have a hard time comprehending.

Otherwise, not much to report on the Amy-front, other than that I have been working around 80% at my office so far this summer. It's fun, and, though I don't think it's the kind of job I see myself in full-time in the future, it's worthwhile experience, and I appreciate all of my co-workers. In the fall, I'll be working a lot less, as I'll have bigger fish to fry (namely, trying to graduate in 1+ years.)

I'll try to keep updating. Oh, and I read Schindler's List. So good! I highly recommend it.

the way were once were

2007-06-13T19:30:00.000-07:00

I'm discovering that, though I thought I was over it, I continue to have unabashedly "fangirl"-esque moments. I thought I was over this, but I guess that I'm wrong. Oh well. Every now and then I'm allowed to be crazy, amidst all this trying to be mature. Heck, I'm 21. Maturity might have to wait.

totally f****d

2007-06-13T02:03:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: please do not watch this video if you are offended by strong language.

On to the video. This song is just ... well, watch it. I'd say that's how I've been feeling lately, albeit for different reasons.

In an appropriate addendum to this post, Mark Morford of the SFGate/the Chronicle has written a piece on the word f**k. Appropriate, indeed.

good music for all seasons

2007-06-12T15:06:00.000-07:00

Timothy Daniel's new CD, Wonderment, is shipping now! I can't wait.

Right now, I just can't get enough of Spring Awakening. It seriously gives me chills.

where's my heart

2007-06-12T13:44:00.000-07:00

It's days like these when I wonder if I have the heart, the drive, or the stamina to finish this out. To succeed. To not just be "so close and yet so far." (Sorry Frankie Valli!) I want to be in the home stretch, but I'm scared. Just needed to put this idea somewhere. Maybe it'll light that desperate flame.

big props for spring awakening

2007-06-11T14:55:00.000-07:00

Spring Awakening won 8 Tony Awards.

This is an amazing cast. Check them out! Seriously!

tony talk

2007-06-10T17:02:00.000-07:00

I should have better things to do, but I'm watching the Tonys. I caught the lead-up, but I have to wait for the rest because I'm on PDT tape delay. Bother.

Spring Awakening and Coast of Utopia took home the greatest amount of Tonys for musical and play, respectively. The show took a risk this year by having no host, but the only thing that could have made it better is Hugh Jackman. I love that guy. I also love the cast of Spring Awakening. They're a huge inspiration, and they deserved all the accolades they received. They probably deserved even more, too, particularly because theirs is a group effort with an amazing ensemble. This only solidifies my desire/need to go to NYC, stat.

First, however, I need to finish this paper that plagues me so. See what I mean about the doom?

doom? sure!

2007-06-09T20:20:00.000-07:00

Quick update: I need to finish this paper; I am obsessed with Spring Awakening; I need to study; I want to go to New York; I am considering a grad school in Political Science/International Relations; I want to move to NYC; I am excited for this summer; I need to stop doing this and get back to what I need to do.

I have a thing for impending doom. I have no better words.

Ohhh ... but my roommates are teaching me how to ride a bike! (No, I don't really know how yet, but I'm getting the hang of it. Next up, driving a car! I can't do that either.)

hopefully, this is just an isolated incident

2007-06-07T17:56:00.000-07:00

Today, I'm taking a break from my unwritten paper. (I procrastinated far too much.) I just wanted to mention this one little thing. Questionably intelligent people. In this case, I find it funny. I mean, it's history after all. My "Crisis Areas in World Politics" class once discussed the value of history. It's indispensable, but it's also often misconstrued as justification for genocide. History is much touchier than we give it credit for.

We had our last class meeting on Tuesday, for that particular class, and I find that notable because a bunch of us got up and personally went up to shake our professor's hand. He's an amazing guy, and his stories most definitely need to be heard -- especially now.

On a lighter note, check out overheardinnewyork.com. The other sites just don't do it for me, but this one is downright hilarious.

i don't remember growing older

2007-06-05T01:45:00.001-07:00

It's the strangest thing, realizing that I'm 3 years out of high school. Even stranger that it's been 7 years since I was in middle/grammar school. That's a third of my lifetime away. I faintly remember think that it would be unfathomable to be in college, to be doing something with my life, yet, now, I feel as lost as I felt then. Some things change, and some things don't, I suppose.

This heady reminiscence would not be complete without photos, so, naturally, those have gone up on my flickr account. I have photos that span from senior year of high school to now. If I wanted to, I suppose they could even go back further. In these "old" photos, I see myself three years back, and I see a girl who had no idea what the future held for her. I could never have imagined then what I would be like now, and I'm glad that I never could. The journey wouldn't have been as challenging, interesting, or enlightening, and I know there would always have been something I would have wanted to change. There will always be those nitpicky things about my past that I wish I could go back and fix ... but that's my past, after all.

I remember vaguely when that photo was taken. We slept over at my friend's house the night of prom, and we laid the dresses out on the bed because we didn't want to wrinkle them. The picture is actually a recreation, because someone slept in the bed. However, that photo holds good memories for me. I sometimes wonder how people from high school turned out, how much we've grown, changed, and morphed into the people we are today. I probably wouldn't have predicted how we've turned out. I don't even know the people some of my friends have become.

I suppose that makes it interesting, that we're going to try to have dinner for the half-week or so that I'm back home. I'm trying to catch up with people through journals, but I know that I'm not very much in touch nowadays. I suppose that when I see them, I'll know. I hope we'll bring back the good memories and make some new ones. I hope that this time, maybe, we stay in touch so that we can see each other grow.

random talk for a tuesday evening

2007-05-22T23:39:00.000-07:00

That's it. I have to stop missing class. This is getting downright silly.

And you know what else is downright silly? There's a new pill out there, and its intention is to end periods. I just don't think that's natural! Sure, being a girl is a pain in a butt, but there are some things out there which I just don't think should be messed with that much. This is one of them.

I know, I can't believe I'm putting this after menstrual talk, but Apolo Anton Ohno won Dancing with the Stars, Season 4! I think he most definitely deserves it, and I know that it makes me entire family happy. See what happens when my family votes? Good things, people, good things.

Another unbelievable thing: this academic quarter is coming to an end. It's mind-blowing that it's 8th week, but I just want it to go faster. I don't want to say goodbye, but I'm tired of this already. I wish I could do well and we could just be through, because it's frustrating. My classes aren't bad or anything, but there's so much I'd rather do, I guess. On a class related note, my Poli Sci professor was feeling bad today and had to sit down. We were all worried about him, so we called the paramedics. It seemed like he was doing better afterwards, but he gave us a scare. The man is the product of history. Someone once told me that he's like Forrest Gump. He's seen everything: the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Holocaust, Communist China, Communist Russia, Imperial Japan. It's crazy. He's living history.

One of these days, I wonder what legacy I'll leave. I hope it's a good one. I hope people stick around and care. I hope I leave the world better than I came into it.

finding the one?

2007-05-16T00:36:00.000-07:00

A friend and I were having a conversation about our attempts to find "the one." Not "the two," not "the three," but "the ONE." This, of course, followed stories of our various attempts (amusing, surprising, and downright mortifying), all in the hopes of finding someone who fits each of our criteria.

She mentioned a few categories of men, including "'object of my worldly lust' or 'that guy I kind of like' or 'he's kind of endearing' or 'oh my dear God I want you in multiple ways'." This got me thinking, what have the men in my life amounted to?

Oh, let's see, I wasn't properly kissed until I was 20, and even that, I would say, was questionable, because, although he was charming, he was an Italian man of indeterminate age who took me up to the Gianicolo (the Roman version of makeout mountain) and promptly proceeded to flirt and lay one on me. I had no idea what was up. I was naive enough to think it wasn't even a date! Bad choices. Luckily, that all ended there. In short, don't talk to random Italians on the street and don't take a ride on the back of their motorini.

The other rather inappropriate physical contact was at a Roman salsa club. A large, possibly Cuban, man started dancing with me. He was harmless at first, albeit a bit weird. He would try to have me put my hands on his face. This should have hinted me to run away. No, I kept dancing. That only made him think I was into him, apparently, because I kept turning away when I thought he was trying to kiss me, and eventually, he licked me! From collarbone to ear. Can you say "gross!"? Right after that dance, I ran to my friend and begged him to hide me. I need to start screening my dance partners.

Somehow, Rome brought out the flirt in me. Other than that, a guy I semi-asked-out turned out to be gay. He's a great guy, but I worry that every guy I like, even a little, will be gay. This worries me. Somehow, I don't think it's going to be a HUGE problem, because I have mostly Bible Study friends, but you never know. Other men, men I can't have, can be downright charming. And this, this perhaps, is where I get into trouble.

So, returning to the idea of "the one," I'm far from finding him. I figure he's out there somewhere, and until then, I'll have to be satisfied with wildly entertaining and embarrassing stories from my past. I think that what's most evident here is my bad choices. I need to work on those.

altar boyz!

2007-05-11T19:17:00.000-07:00

I couldn't NOT post this video of "Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan ... Abraham (he's Jewish)!"

You'll just have to watch it to see why:

I know I've been posting a lot of videos lately, but I'm having fun with it. I'm sharing stuff that I love, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. A note about this video is that I got to see this particular cast (the original cast) Off-Broadway in May of 2005. They are excellent, and this video showcases that. I mean ... I certainly can't dance like that, much less sing while I dance. It's impressive and funny, all at the same time.