Shunshine shandwitch

So it's finally sunny outside!!
And I'm stuck inside at the library's computer lab so I can get good grades on my finals this quarter.

Be proud.

It's rather difficult to sit inside though. The sunshine is just teasing me though the window. All warm and glowy.

Damnit.

Steps.

Summer shoes.

New shoes. Probably one of the greatest things EVER. 

Seriously they make my life so much better. 

Whenever I get new shoes all I can think about is where they'll travel. Where they'll take me. What adventures we'll have.  These Chaco's are expected to take me to New Orleans this summer. I'm fairly stoked. I wonder where else we'll go.... 

I know some of you are probably thinking I'm a total loon for being so excited about new shoes, but I just take that to mean you've never really thought it through. They go wherever you go. They take your feet there safely. Over hard pavement, dusty roads, broken glass and soft grass.

They deserve a little respect.

Oh Canada.

I've decided I love Vancouver.

I wish I could live there.
But it's one of the most expensive cities in the WORLD!
But it's easy to see why.

FINALLY!

On Thursday of this week my Mom and sister will be traveling from Denver, Colorado to Bellingham, Washington to see me! I'm so excited, especially since I didn't get to see them as much as I would have liked over spring break.  So i'm busy trying to plan where to take them.

I think we'll probably go to Canada. I'm thinking the Vancouver Aquarium would be sweet, since they have Beluga whales.
On saturday i want to take them to:

• The Farmers Market
• Taco Lobo
• Man Pies
• MY HOUSE FOR NEXT YEAR! 
• The boardwalk/ Woods Coffee if it's nice out 

So cross your fingers for warm and sunny weather!

Happiness is a warm..

With the last few posts I've noticed a tone of sadness, ache and allover melancholy. My next thought was, "I should do a happy post!"
But it's hard to do a post about happiness, when you're not happy.
That's not to say I'm depressed. that's not it. I'm just... not happy.
Maybe it's the lack of sunshine.
Maybe it's the stress from school.
Maybe it's because I miss my family and boyfriend more then anything right now.

So I decided to list the things that make me feel happy.

1) A good book
2) Cuddling with Alexander
3) debating with my Dad
4) A warm cup of hot chocolate
5) A fire in the fireplace on a cold night
6) a funny conversation with good friends
7) Organic mint Chocolate chip ice cream
8) Getting a letter
9) Random texts from people important to me
10) Finding $$ in my coat pockets
11) clean sheets
12) A long hot shower
13) fuzzy socks
14) Batman. anything Batman.
15) My white Fencing hoodie
16) My pony
17) flowers (specifically dragon-snaps or sunflowers)
18) a juicy orange or even better! Raspberries! (Organic of course)
19) A good pen to write letters with
20) My Happy Clam playlist on my iPhone

It's not nearly a full list, but it's a good start. In fact i think i'll enact #4, 11, 12,13, 15 and 20 when I get back to the apartment tonight.

Oh and Mustache's... they make me happy too... 

Gypsy Soul

Colder Weather  < -- Click This

This song means so much to me.
For many reasons.
I feel like I was born for leaving. To travel. To change my surroundings.
I'm a runner.
Somedays I hate myself for it. Really, deeply regret the fact that I have a need to move my life.
I wonder if I'm just afraid to let myself be happy.
But them I'm always called back.

So for now I just sing this song as loud as I can. And decide to focus on the good in my life.

"It's a shame about the weather. But I know soon we'll be together. And I can't wait 'til then."

Alexander and I. <3

Incoming.

Today was one of those days.
You can taste the tension on the sea air. Like an extra salt.
The massive earthquake that devastated Japan today really hit home for me when Bellingham was put on tsunami advisory. Knowing that we wouldn't actually see any damaging effects here in the Ham, I had to turn my concern else where.

Saki, was a girl that stayed with me last year at WWU. She's from just outside of Tokyo. Getting to know her was highlight of my college career. I hope with everything I am that her, and her family are safe.


Left to right: Meghann, Saki and Me.
On Saki's last weekend we went to Boulevard Park and enjoyed each others company in the sunshine.

My thoughts and prayers go out to those subject to the tragedy occouring in Japan. 

Grief...

As human beings our time spent on Earth is supplemented by forging of meaningful relationships. It doesn't matter if they are with people, the environment or most importantly (in my opinion) pets.
Furry family members enrich our lives in so many ways it can be traumatizing to see them go. Sometimes it's for the best though. And coming to terms with that can help us mourn and move on.
     This weekend, one of my dear friends lost her longtime beloved cat, Sugar. It was heartrentching to know her pain in losing her friend. I know people say "Oh it's just a cat" but mabye they've never experenced the real love a pet can provide you with. I understand how she's feeling. I lost my dog Boomer last spring, and I still struggle with the saddness of her passing. I hate not having her run to the door barking and wiggling with happiness because I came home from college for a few days. I miss her trying to shover her head under your hands so that you would scratch her ears. Most of all I miss how she would look up at me with pure and total love in her eyes.

This poem has always helped me with the loss of a pet. I know it's specificially about horses, but the concept is appliciable for any animal.



Two Blankets. Faithful old friend.
This horse tought me so much as a child




Boomer. <3 I miss her so much.



                                     "Don't cry for the horses,                                      
That life has set free
A million white horses,
Forever to be"

"Don't cry for the horses,
Now in God's hands
As they dance and they prance
To a heavenly land"

"They were ours as a gift,
But never to keep
As they close their eyes,
Forever to sleep"

"Their spirits unbound,
On silver wings they fly,
A million white horses,
Against the blue sky"

"Look up into heaven,
You'll see them above
The horses we lost,
The horses we loved"

"Manes and tails flowing,
They gallop through time
They were never yours,
They were never mine"

"Don't cry for the horses"
They will be back someday
When our time has come,
They will show us the way"

"On silver wings they will lift us,
To the warmth of the sun
When our life is over,
And eternity has begun"

"We will jump the sun,
And dance over the moon
A ballet of horses and riders,
On the winds to a heavenly tune"

"Do you hear that soft nicker?
Close to your ear?
Don't cry for the horses,
Love the ones that are here"

"Don't cry for the horses,
Lift up your sad eyes
Can't you see them,
As they fly by?"

"A million white horses,
Free from hunger and pain
Their spirits set free,
Until we ride again"

Better Late then Never

I know I haven't been a faithful blogger as of late, but I've just been so busy with school that it fell out of my scope to be honest. But thankfully that direct focus has paid off and my grades are great! A lot has changed though...

• I've fulfilled my goal of increasing my daily water intake. I feel Great!
• My other goal of keeping my room cleaner on a more regular basis has also been completed, its really nice to go to sleep and wake up to a clean room.
• I've also started buying local and organic. I can truly feel a difference fueling my body with a better source.  

In all.. I'm just happier. I like feeling this way. There are little moments every day I just have that happy feeling. I relish them.

Even sitting in the library trying to teach myself Environmental Policy I feel the moment coming on. I had to document it.

Thank you Philip for the use of his Mac.

Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it.

- Groucho Marx

Lack of Color

                                                                                                      

Leaf. Lopez Island WA.

I don't see a lack of color.
Only something from a simpler perspective.
Something for those of us who see things a little differently.

Ask anyone to explain my photo and you'll get a different answer.Different than yours, and mine, even though I snapped the photograph. Does that make them incorrect?
Not at all.

In fact the only right answer is apparent to only the Individual.

So why is it that when asked to give opinions and reflections on require materials, say in class, we're considered 'wrong' more often then not? What is it about my answer that doesn't agree with your personal answer that makes me wrong? Thanks to the power associated with you being the professor and I the student, all I can do is accept your judgement and try again. I wish it weren't so. At least tell me why I'm considered
incorrect.



Flakes

It snowed last night. By midnight there was atleast 6 inches of powder out there. So of course we had to go play in the ally.

I felt like a kid again.
This morning it was all gone. The snow had turned to rain and washed it all away even before the sun rose. As I lay in bed at watched the rain fall all I could think about was how quickly life changes. Good or Bad. The only constant is change. I need to learn to welcome it in my life, stop fighting it. Nothing good can come of resisting. It's a difficult task but one I feel I can accomplish.
R.I.P. Snow Bitch. You're snowy presence will be missed.

Why are you Here Now?

Walking on the first day of school I stopped momentarily to pull a damned rock out of my new Toms shoes only to find I was standing right over my favorite brick on the entire campus.
Why, out of the millions of bricks on campus is this one my favorite you ask? What could be so special about something so simple?
Because, it makes me think.
Really gets my brain moving.
It's something that inspires, refreshes, revitalizes and comforts all at the same time.

Just a simple brick. Right?

This year is going to be one of (hopefully) changes for the better. This is my inspiration. Whenever I lose sight of the end point I just have to as myself...
"Why are you here now"