Succumb

I have finally given in.

I am now the owner of a digital camera.

Here is a picture of the camera I will have in a few short days:

I'm sort of in shock.

What did I just do?

It better be worth the investment...that's all i have to say.

What am I talking about???

It is too late/early to think clearly.

Song...a pretty cool ditty.

Ottoman
by: Vampire Weekend

Ottoman couch, how handsome your furniture
Lovelier now, but dressed for a funeral
Begging you to sit for a portrait on the wall
To hang in the dark of some parliamentary hall

Elegant clothes, you want to be seen with her
Under your tweeds you sweat like a teenager
Begging you to sit for a portrait on the wall
To hang in the dark of some parliamentary hall

Today is for you
They laid it out for you
For you
There will be six bells a-ringing and white women singing for you
But this feels so unnatural to Peter Gabriel, too

All of the cards and all of the time it took
Soon it's all lines of red in a leather book
Begging you to wait for a minute by the door
Your creeping feet where they've never been before

Today is for you
They laid it out for you
For you
There will be six bells a-ringing and white women singing for you
But this feels so unnatural Peter Gabriel, too

***I hope I don't regret my camera purchase. :S***

Old Scars

Hello everyone!

So, this is another "serious" blog. I apologize that there will be no quirkiness in this post... well, maybe there will be. But--yeah. The old rules still apply. If you don't want to read it, wait til next week, and something light and airy will be posted. :)

This week has been an interesting one for me. A TON of awesome things happened this week. I got to have another Medium-a-thon with my friend Andrew...and I was the winner of his beta fish naming contest. :)

 This is a victory montage I made for Andrew's fish, Motley Chromatic III. :)

 
I also went to a Cab Calloway Orchestra Concert this week, and it was AMAZING! I LOVE LOVE LOVE big band music. :) And they played Jazz, which was totally cool. :)

However, also this week, I realized something. I have yet to fully be "over" my last relationship.

I think I need to clarify.

I am over "him" 100%. So done. Praise the Lord it's over.

However, I still suffer from the after-effects of a bad relationship gone worse. I have the battle scars to prove it too. I guess I never really realized that I was in an emotionally abusive relationship. I already had the WORST self esteem of all time, so it wasn't really surprising to hear someone say what I was already thinking. I had already been engaged and broken the engagement off by the time "he" and I were together. I invested 3 years into that relationship... and 5 years later, I still hurt from the old wounds.

I feel broken still. After all this time. How could "he" have done that to me??? I guess I'll never know. What I do know, is that I am better for being AWAY from him and the drama. Our relationship was unhealthy. I was in love and he was...bored I guess. How anyone could be bored for 3 years and stick with someone is beyond me. I suppose I was convenient and comfortable. I was chatting with a cousin of mine tonight, and this quote came up between us:

"The bottom line is that you can never really get over someone that you were that involved with. It's like trying to cut your finger off. It doesn't just break off your hand. It's messy and gross, and you will always carry the scars. The best way to get over things is to adapt and grow from the experience. Some hurts are deeper than others, but if you realize that the finger is never going to grow back... you can start to move on."

Sort of a morbid analogy, I admit. However, it's true. Three years is a long time to invest in something. I blinded myself to "his" faults--aka insulting me endlessly, and cheating on me--because I didn't want to see that he was a jerk. I was comfortable too, and didn't want to cut the ties there. I'm glad that he cheated...otherwise I would still be miserable, and he would still be using me.

Relationships are scary to me right now. I want one, but I'm scared to get hurt and that I would hurt them. I am a mess when it comes to relationships, and I would hate to hurt someone that I cared about. Although I have rarely been the one that "hurt" any of my exes.

lol. I'm a silly girl--too many emotions and thoughts. I need to just be done. O.o

Maybe I just need to take the plunge and see where it takes me. Life is rarely predictable, and I am always looking for a guy that can surprise me. :) I guess I'll just have to wait and see what life brings.

Okay. Lyrics for today. This is an AMAZING song. I totally love it.


In The Morning
By: Junior Boys

Too young (x4)
Too young, Oh (x4)

Girl the night's not over (Oh, too young)
We're not getting older
They can chase forever
'Cause in the morning there's a million names to choose from
You don't care just take one
Leave a place to rest on
Because you're too young

Yeah you're too young
Oh you're too young
You're too young

Too young, Oh (x4)
Too young, Uh (x4)

There goes another million,
Just wrap it up we own it
This night's a skill we hone it
And in the morning would you tell me that it's over?
You think that you'd do better
To stick with someone older
Because we're too young

Oh, too young (x4)

Too young
Yeah, we're too young in the morning.
We're too young
We're too young in the morning.

(Repeat)

Time to Breathe

WOO HOO!!!

So, I just finished a HUGE event at work, and I FINALLY have time to breathe...even if it's only for a couple of days. :) Work has been HORRENDOUSLY hectic, and I feel like I've been doing the job of 3 people. Sorry to all of you that have felt neglected lately. I literally did not have time or energy to do anything but school and work. :S Well, I could have made the time. Who am I kidding. There are 24 hours in a day, and I was working about 10... and then 4-6 for homework (finals)... so next time, I'll just hang out with people at 1:00 in the morning. ;)

Okay. So, blog. I need to do this really quickly before getting back to homework. Yes. I said homework. I have back to back 9 week classes, so although last week I had finals, this week I am starting all new classes. No rest for the wicked... or at least that's what they say.

No really. I'm ready to blog. The topic of today's post is NUTRITION. :)

I LOVE FOOD!

No, really. I can testify to all of you that I love food. Today I had a tri-tip beef sandwich that was AMAZING!

I wanted to take a bath in a tub of that meat... so succulent and it just melted in your mouth... *drool*

So, yeah. It's not a secret that I love food. BUT, today is not about food. It's about nutrition.

What is the difference, you ask? Well, food is fuel for our bodies. You know...Like gassing up your car. You can use a low grade gas, and still run your car, but you get better performance and better mileage if you use a quality grade gasoline.

The GRADE. It's the quality of food that we put in our bodies that makes ALL the difference. Highly processed foods, for instance, are actually pretty bad for you. Most fast food places just pump your food with all kinds of fats and oils... and some people love it. I am no exception. I'm not going to sit here and lie to all of you--telling you that I don't eat an occasional hamburger, because I do. What I want to talk to all of you about is increasing the quality of your food to increase the quality of your life!!!

I know someone (who will remain nameless) that will only eat 3 things. Noodles (plain), white bread, and chicken breast--pan seared or baked. First of all... HOW BORING! This person is MISSING OUT ON LIFE! Food should be enjoyable, not bland! Second... and more importantly--how unhealthy! I know that we are a country of obesity and gluttony, but malnutrition is also a HUGE problem in the states! We allow our children to be picky and to eat only the things they want to eat. I'm sorry, but if I was only allowed t eat what I wanted to eat when I was small--I would only have eaten cookies and potato chips. That is no way to live!!!

When we were growing up, we had a rule--you had to eat at leat ONE BITE of everything that was on the plate. NO MATTER WHAT. My parents would sit there and wait with us to make sure that we followed the rules. If we tried to cheat (i.e.: the following story) we would pay.

An example of "paying"...

I was probably 5 or 6, and my mom had made some sort of meal, and the vegetable was peas. I HATED peas, and didn't want to eat ANY. So, I thought I would be smart and take the peas I had (probably 2 tablespoons worth) and hide them in my brother's milk. BIG MISTAKE. Apparently you can't hide green peas in a glass of white milk :S Anywho, of course my mom saw and made me not only DRINK the milk, but EAT all of the peas as well.

This may sound harsh to some of you coddling mothers that give your children everything they could ever want, but as I look back, I am grateful for it. Beside the fact that we were poorer than church mice--and therefore couldn't afford to waste food, it taught me that I am able to surprise myself with what tastes good to me. I like all kinds of food, and I am always willing to try something new.

That's what I believe nutrition is all about. The good Lord didn't provide us with all this yummy goodness just to restrict ourselves to one type of food. Healthy, natural variety is what we should ALL be shooting for. Never cooked with jicama? There are SO many awesome recipes online that are DELICIOUS! Want to experiment with herbs? Fresh basil is a great compliment to a green salad, or dill is GREAT on a grilled turkey breast.

We have so many options now days, and we are rarely affected by seasons anymore. You can find basically ANYTHING all year.

So, here is my challenge. Go and EXPLORE. Create one meal using something you have never cooked with before. I PROMISE it will be worth it! :)

Okay. Now for the song of the day. This is a recent favorite... :) I just like the whole feel to the song. :)

Set You Free
by: The Black Keys

You hold on to love that's gone
Run a mile to see him smile
But you don't know he's door to door
Playin' you for the fool

(CHORUS:)
Let him go, walk out the door
And come to me, I'm gonna set you free

Now you know, there you go
Back to him, he's gonna do you in
Tear you down and run you 'round
Treat you wrong and then he's gone

(CHORUS)

You hold on to love that's gone
Run a mile to see him smile
But you don't know he's door to door
Playin' you for the fool

(CHORUS)

I'll set you free (x4)

Duets

NOT my family... but a great picture. :)



Some of you may know this--I sing. It's something of a passion for me. My dad taught us all how to sing, and I intend to pass the lessons right on long to my kids.


Being in a musical family has it's challenges--someone always has to be the 'lead' singer, and that causes hurt feeling sometimes. However, I think that having the experience of growing up around music and always having someone singing SOMETHING in the home made me a better person. It's made me a "people" person as well. Singing shares with a very special part of you with an audience. I know that when I sing, I can show the most beautiful parts of myself to the people around me. Is it any wonder that we have shows like "American Idol" around? Singing lifts us up where we belong... all we need is love. Oh, I mean singing. lol. (what movie??? the love part...anyway.)


When I was in Hawaii I sang a lot more than I do here. I think it's because I like to sing with my dad, and he's in Hawaii. Singing with my dad feels like how I imagine trying to play basketball with Michael Jordan would feel. You know that he is AMAZINGLY and INCREDIBLY talented, but he just wants to play the game--just like you. :)

The most interesting thing to me is how my little brother has developed over the years. He used to hate singing. He never really felt like he was included when we practiced. But now, he is so AWESOME! The wonders of what young people learn on missions never ceases to amaze me. He is so talented. All my brothers are. Adam, I think, could sing us all under the table if he wanted to, and Josh is good at EVERYTHING.

It's so awesome to think that it all came from my mom and dad, sitting with us and teaching us to sing scales. We would sing "I wish I were a fish" and hymnals ALL the time. I would get so sick of it, but we sounded good in the end. I think that's where I got my mania for practice. Practice makes better! ;)

Anyway--duets.Aside from being an AMAZING movie (if you haven't watched it before--it is well worth the time and money to purchase or rent a copy and watch. I HIGHLY recommend it) I love me a good duet. I was reading my friend Latu's blog, and she mentioned her time in Hawaii. I got to sing a beautiful duet with her called "Another's Burden." I love singing duets. It gives you the chance to harmonize with and complement two voices. Good times. :)

Of course, I do like me a good accapella group as well--but I was watching an exerpt of the movie "Duets" and I found two of my favorite clips. If you know anything about the movie, you'll know that it is about competitive karaoke singing. The first link is not a duet but it is a GREAT example of sharing a piece of yourself with an audience. The second one is a duet. AMAZING! :)

Clip 1

Clip 2

The first song--an accapella version of Lynard Skynard's "Free Bird" is so beautiful. It's sort of a sad part of the movie, but I love it. The second version is also today's song lyrics. :)

WATCH THEM!!!

It's awesome, and well worth the time. And now for lyrics. :)

Try A Little Tenderness
As performed by: Paul Giamatti & Andre Braugher (Vocals: Arnold McCuller)

(Verse 1)
Ohhh she may be weary
Young girls, they do get weary
Wearing that same old shaggy dress
[Yeaaaaahhh]
But when she gets weary
[She gets weary]
Try a little tenderness
[Tenderness, Yeaaaaah]

(Verse 2)
You know she's waiting
Just anticipating
The things that she'll never [never ever]
Never ever possess
While she's there waiting
[Ooohhh she's waiting]
Try a little tenderness
That's all you gotta do

(Verse 3)
It's not, just setimental, no (x3)
[No, No, No]
She has her grief & cares
[Yeaaaaahhh]
But the soft word, [soft words]
They are spoke so gentle
Makes it easier, [easier]
Easier to bear

(Verse 4)
Ohhhh now, you wont regret it [nooo, noooo]
Young girls, they don't forget it
Love is their only happiness
[Yeaaaah, Yeaaaah, Yeaaaah]
But it's all so easy [Ohh so easy]
All you got to do is
Try a little tenderness
[Try a little tenderness]

[Chorus]
You got to squeeze her
Don't tease her
Never leave her
Got to (x6)
Try a little tenderness
Hey! Hey! (x4)
Yeah! Yeah (x4)
Hey! Hey!
It's all you gotta do now

[Repeat Verse 4]