Boooooooooks!

I've yet to pack. Rachel is here (the coffee shop) right now and when we go to my house later, I'll do laundry and begin the dreaded packing process. The hardest part about packing is deciding which books to take. I feel like there should be a fair amount of Russian literature (maybe like 2 or 3 small-ish books) and maybe a couple of other random ones. I bought a book of short stories written by Chekhov for my birthday so I'll bring that. I might even get really inspired and decide to bring the Dickens book I've been putting off for forever. The only bad thing is that most of my books are still at my mom's house. Boo. Oh well. I'm excited to read again. It'll be nice.

Who care's that it's Valentine's Day!? I'M GOING TO RUSSIA!

Don't get me wrong, I don't hate Valentine's Day like you'd think a single woman should. In fact, I'd almost go so far as to say that I like it (gasp!). Why do I like it? I think it's because it's something fun to celebrate and get excited about in the middle of winter. St. Patty's is also good for this (although in a more "adult" way). Either way, I'm not hating today, especially because I'm one day closer to leaving for Russia.

Amanda, one half of the duo I'll be staying with in Russia, said that it's in the double digit negatives there right now. Hot damn, that's cold. I need to go to Old Navy and Goodwill tomorrow to buy some sweaters or something that'll keep me warm. I'm really, really getting excited! AH! I'm also really excited to see my friend in Chicago. Instead of going out and spending a lot of money, we're making dinner. I don't know what he's thinking, but I'm rooting for Italian. If anybody has any good, easy Italian recipes, let me know!

I guess that's it. Happy Valentine's Day, and don't be a jackass to the ones you love! :)

Healthy-ish

I'm trying to get healthy. Please note the word trying. In trying to get healthy, I'm also trying to be a vegetarian. I knew it was going to be hard, but I am here to tell you that it is both more and less difficult than I thought it would be. I realize that's a contradiction, but it's true. It's not difficult for me to avoid meat because you can buy all sorts of vegetarian things anywhere you go. The thing is that I miss the texture of meat..like, I miss chewing it. It's so weird. I've sort of decided to be more of a pescetarian because of this reason. I mean, economically, vegetarianism is working out well, so I'll only get fish and seafood when I go out to eat (which I realize is a little more expensive, but I might as well treat myself, right?). I'm also trying to do less caffeine because we were talking about the risk factors of osteoporosis in biology the other day, and drinking too much alcohol or caffeine heighten the risk of having it. So, less caffeine for me. You will find that this change in diet will make me a less than nice/happy person. Bear with me, friends.

Also, the dreams I've been having have not stopped. You know in "Eternal Sunshine on the Spotless Mind" how Jim Carey gets rid of Kate Winslet? Yeah, if that were a real thing right now, I'd save every penny to have it done. Yet, in these dreams, I am a willing captive. I was listening to some music today and randomly picked a song of Rufus Wainwright's new album. He put three Shakespearean sonnets to music, and of course, I accidentally picked the one that is most similar to how I feel.

SONNET 43

When most I wink, then do mine eyes best see,
For all the day they view things unrespected;
But when I sleep, in dreams they look on thee,
And darkly bright are bright in dark directed.
Then thou, whose shadow shadows doth make bright,
How would thy shadow's form form happy show
To the clear day with thy much clearer light,
When to unseeing eyes thy shade shines so!
How would, I say, mine eyes be blessed made
By looking on thee in the living day,
When in dead night thy fair imperfect shade
Through heavy sleep on sightless eyes doth stay!
   All days are nights to see till I see thee,
   And nights bright days when dreams do show thee me.

Okay, so you know how I hate it when people comment on facebook about how cold it is? Well, I'm just going to say this: I haven't been warm in days. There, that's all.

I can't believe that I'm going to Russia next week. Seriously, this time next week, I'll be two hours into my thirteen hour trip. So far, I am most excited about visiting Dostoevsky's apartment. That's not to say that I'm not excited in general, but I mean, I will be in the apartment of the author of my favorite book. Pretty awesome. Visiting with Matt and Amanda, two of my all-time favorite people, will also be so great.


I did have a little bit of a scare yesterday, though. I lost my wallet somewhere in downtown SB and I was freaking out. Luckily, the restaurant I went to found it. Ugh...it was really scary, I'll tell you that. There's not too much to talk about. Sorry for being boring. :)

:)

Isn't it so weird how one week can be so terrible and then when the clock strikes midnight on the new week, everything is new and (sometimes) better? That's how the last two weeks have seemed to me. Last week was bad. Scratch that....last week was terrible. I had not only one, but TWO awful dreams, there was a snow day (which may have been the highlight), I worked a twelve hour shift on Saturday...blah..it was just bad. This week, however, is already it's exact opposite. Monday started by my sleeping in til a heinous hour, then going on a date (which was fantastic!), then class. Tuesday started off slow and less than thrilling, but I've warmed up to it, especially since two of my friends from high school are staying over tonight and I got the news that my visa to Russia will be here tomorrow! I'm so excited!

Oh yeah, I should mention Russia. So, I'm going to Russia next week to visit friends who teach in St. Petersburg. I'm excited, and yet, I'm nervous. I've been on a plane multiple times, but never so far. Total flight time is 13 hours. Insane. However, it'll be completely worth it. And I'll take a TON of photos. A LITERAL TON. :) For those of you that have been to Russia (Katie), tell me some of the must-see sights.

Music!!!!1

Adele came out with a new album. Hot damn, it's good. Her voice is like smoky caramel, so decadent and heady. One of my favorite things about her is that she writes her own music. Nobody, especially women singers, writes their own stuff these days. It's so refreshing.

Follow the link, friends, and listen. Listen especially to "Rolling In The Deep" as it is a personal favorite.

Loves.

*Sigh* (yeah, I'm being "that" person)

Do you ever want to write what's really on your heart, but are afraid of someone in particular reading it and at the same time, you want them to read it? That's where I am right now.

I want to write about a man that I loved (love?). The first one that I ever loved, in fact. He had no idea how much I loved him, still doesn't. We don't even talk anymore, which is probably the best and worst part. I had a dream about him the other day. In my dream, I was attending Mass with my old college roommates and he was there with his new girlfriend. It was heartbreakingly awkward and painful. I woke up and even now, I haven't been able to shake it. More than I miss him, I miss his friendship and the feeling of being with someone who really knows me and "gets" me. Call me crazy, but I'm so ready to not have to date anymore to find all of that.

This song is kinda how I feel about it all---> Antony and the Johnsons "Ghost"

Work it on out, baby.

I need to start working out. For some stupid reason, I really want to become a runner. No marathons or anything like that, but I'd like to experience the "runner's high." Not only would I become more healthy (physically and mentally), but I would have a higher chance of achieving Goal Number 9. All I know is that something in my life needs to change and this is the most easily remedied.

Okay, so all of that I need help picking out music for a work out mix. So far I have: Bloc Party, Florence + The Machine, The White Stripes, Beyonce, and a few other random people. Here's some criteria:
1) Must be fast paced, obviously.
2) Not a must-have, but I like deep, meaningful lyrics.
3) The more angry it is, the better.

I think that's it. Also, does anyone have advice on working out? I mean, I know how to do it and all that, but I mean, just give me whatever advice you can. :)

Big, fat gay men. Yesssssss

It's snowing. A lot. Big deal.

I miss having the internet at my house. I miss it a whooooole lot. Without it, I tend to be supremely bored and do things like watch Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince two and half times...in a row. To be fair, I also did the pile of dishes that had accumilated and some laundry.

I spent a lot of time wishing for things, too. The top of my wish list is a very large gay man to love and squeeze. We'd hold hands and skip (not too much because we'd both be out of breath very quickly), go to gay bars, and then cry when we're too drunk to function. I mean, is that too much to ask? Someone please find me this beast man.