Daily Dose of Pink

I have class in a couple of hours...

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:49:00 GMT

So I guess I'll start telling stories of our trip.

In the Netherlands, we stayed in a town called Haarlem, forty minutes outside of Amsterdam. But we mostly visited Amsterdam. The Netherlands, or Holland, is just a very tolerant place. Everything is tolerated and legalized. We even walked through the Red Light District, where the ladies stand in windows. They each have a clean room to do business in, and they are very safe. They have an emergency button for if anything gets out of hand. And there is free childcare, instituted by the queen mother. But also, if they retire due to STDs, then they get subsidized housing and childcare and different jobs. It's just a job. That was contrasted to the Anne Frank House, where we went that morning. That was a different experience. They had videos of Otto Frank, and Anne's old friends recounting their experiences. It was not fake. They didn't recreate the furniture or anything, so it's pretty sparse. And you do see how small it is. And they have the old pages of course. That was my favorite thing in the Netherlands, mostly because it was something with feeling. And I didn't really feel anything anywhere else in that city. I liked the rounded architecture also. I thought that it would be a different feeling if I were there with the girls. Amena would love it.

The next city was Bacharach, Germany. That was such a cute town. It has a population of 1000. And it's walled. Our hotel was actually built into one of the tower walls. And it's a vineyard town, so we had a walking tour with a local guide, Herr Jung. He was the most adorable old man. He took us through all these narrow passages, and he told us the stories of his younger days. He really got us talking about the war. He was only 14. And he remembers seeing an American plane go down, and seeing an American die, and feeling like he was being a traitor for being sorry that this American had died. And his brother is still missing. They never found him. So he had us all crying and then he took us to the local musician's shop and asked him to play for us. and he played "What a Wonderful World." Oh, God, we were all in tears, and then he had us sing "Oh, What a Wonderful Morning." Oh, he was just so fantastic. Probably my favorite local guide, but that's hard to say. I'll have to post a picture so you understand how wonderful he was. We also visited a castle in St. Goar, which had all these underground tunnels that were really dark, narrow, and short. And we got to walk through some of them. It was like a team-building exercise. We were all leading each other through. It was a lot of fun. I guess I should say something about the hotel in Bacharach.

Most of the hotels we stayed in were family run. And the rooms were mostly different. So, this hotel was run by Kurt, and his Filipino wife, Fatima. She was so cute! She did every room in a different color theme. And she ran dinner and breakfast. When we left, she said that we were her "vit-a-mins" (short "i"). She was my favorite hotel lady. I loved that town and hotel. And we had a view of the castle and the Rhine from our room.

Now, I have class in a while. I'm already cold. And it's September. Oh, geez. I need protein. So, poultry for dinner. I have my audition too, and I can already feel a scratchy throat. Just sneezes so far. Hopefully, I can hold off the coughs. Or avoid them entirely. Oh, please, hold them off.

And, to my dissapointment, most of the networks do not stream in the UK. So, I don't know how I'll waste my time at 4 in the afternoon before pubbing starts at 9 and homework at 7. Oh, well.

Love and miss you.

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 16:33:48 GMT

I am back!

On the computer on a regular basis, that is! Email me! Lj me. Facebook me. I miss you all! I love you!

Oh dang...

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:48:05 GMT

I gotta pack!

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 02:14:10 GMT

I'm leaving Redlands tomorrow...
and I haven't packed.

I am leaving the country in a week and a day.

It's like it wasn't coming soon enough all that time.

And now it's coming up really fast.

I will devote my time next week to packing and to meeting with people.

But please forgive me if I don't make it to see you. I really have to pack and get everything together.

One more tour tomorrow, and I am out of here.

Deep breaths.

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:57:20 GMT

HAPPY BIRTHDAY APRIL!!!!!!!!!!!!<3

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:48:33 GMT

I just bought a lot of music, but in albums, some songs. It was liberating. I always accumulate this list of music I want, but never buy. So I bought:

The Last 5 Years by Jason Robert Brown
The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace by Karl Jenkins
and wait for it...
S Club by S Club 7. Don't judge me! It was only $6, and some serious throwback.

So, I'm going to listen to my music. And relax, and enjoy the last week in this house. I'm really going to miss it.

Ahhh, music.

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:03:30 GMT

The power went out for 23 hours and 55 minutes. I slept at school last night to not be alone where there were no lights. I was a little disappointed, but I'm glad the power's back. And tomorrow I have to replace the battery in my mom's car. So many power problems.

I had a doctor's appointment today, and even though I've had a persistent issue for months, the doctor found noting. I even asked him to test for diabetes. I was so upset that he came up with nothing. He had a theory which I am being treated for, but it is just annoying. I mean, first of all, he looked like Henry from Ugly Betty, and he kind of was like him, spouting off these crap facts. Well, I guess he's a doctor. He must know random shit like some of my loved ones. But seriously, Henry. And he helped me zero.

I'm watching this documentary on boy anorexics from Britain. It's hard to believe how I can very well understand them and their struggle. I never thought I would be part of that group. And I was, and I am happy I'm no longer struggling as much, but I was weighed today. And it was healthy. And I didn't cringe. So there are always steps in the right direction.

Palm Springs was great. I was happy to be with family, and Amena coached me through sushi. Thanks sister.

OK, well that is an update.

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 05:17:39 GMT

I don't like being a third wheel, not being heard when I am talking because people are whispering to each other. It's like facilitating a place for them to be together. It gets annoying.

I am in Dr.K's house. It's so nice and does not smell like pot. I did not know what that smell was for the longest time, but then somebody said it was weed, and now I can sort of recognize it. But somebody is smoking it constantly in our dorm, and I live on the third floor. It reeks.

I am so ready for a pedicure and palm Springs. YAY!

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:25:53 GMT

My boss is not here today, so I have time to post. I'm watching Dr.K's house again tomorrow until the 27th. I'm so glad! I love watching that house. We bought our tickets yesterday, so I am officially leaving on August 30th. And I intend to see everyone before I leave, whether it's at the beach or at home or at Starbucks. April, will you be home before then? Palm Springs is this weekend, and I am so excited to be with my original girls, my family. It will be so much fun. The holiday weekend involved a lot of driving, but I got a little of family, a little of the Kings, and a little of Erik, so it worked out. And the fireworks were really good this year. So, this week I will not allow these financial worries to overtake me. I will enjoy myself, and know that in the end, it will all work out.

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 06:52:06 GMT

I am back in my summer dorm room. And I am finally on my computer again. The keys feel familiar and smooth and I'm pretty late for me. I am actually happy to be going home this weekend, although I am sure nothing is happening.

I have been very upset with home lately, except for Amena. I'm just upset with my parents and worried about this serious financial situation. I hate coming home to negative energy to mess that isn't worth cleaning because by tomorrow, it will be there again. I'm just tired of it. And no Lewii this 4th. No Kings either. Hopefully, my sisters come out and do something. I don't know.

I'm tired and I am going to bed. Good night.

Emily, have a fun trip. I will miss you.

I'm so excited for...

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 05:22:23 GMT

EUROPE!

Not only will we be studying there, but Erik's parents offered to send us on a 3-week tour of Europe, that starts in Amsterdam, and ends in Paris. And I just feel so grateful. They wanted us to be able to see other parts of Europe while we're not in school so we wouldn't be stressed about it.

Oh my gosh! I am so lucky, and excited.

Now I just have to work my butt off to earn money for the rest of the trip.

Other news: I had a lot of fun at Vahid's and it made me realize how much I missed that group which inspired me to get on that Mads Reunion project. So, I hope that comes together. I really had a lot of fun.

My car is in bad shape. Like $2500 worth of bad shape. I'm now driving my mom's car as my parents scramble to fix it. What's disappointing is that none of the repairs had to with maintenance really. They're all things that just happen, which is frustrating, because I do take care of my car, besides the dents. Grr. Ugh. I get so frustrated with that kind of stuff.

Anyways, I'm not going to let anything get in the way of Europe. Nope, not one bit. I will enjoy myself and deal with lots of other things later.

Oh, and I got Rainbows for like $27, which I bought before the Europe tour and the car stuff came up. I love them!

It's Sunday afternoon

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:49:54 GMT

I'm not doing much. I went to church today. It was Trinity Episcopal here in Redlands. I sat with Jeff's, my choir director's, family. It was nice, and I suppose I will join their choir soon. It felt good to be in that setting, in that atmosphere. Afterward, I hung out here in my room, watching "House" and "Ugly Betty" until Dr. Killpatrick asked me to come over and learn what I need to house-sit. It was awesome. They don't have pets. They have a pool. They'll be gone for three weeks, and pretty much all I have to do is water five plants, and pick up the dead leaves. It is going to be awesome. I am still watching "Ugly Betty." And concepting dinner for the week, so I know what to buy. I'm thinking AM in the PM for one night.

I gave my first tours this week, and I think I'm doing well. I was happy to see Emily and Steven this week. I hope I make it back home soon to see Emma. I need that. I love my friends and I miss them.

I am going to meander away just an hour more before going grocery shopping.

Wed, 28 May 2008 19:12:52 GMT

I was going through my email inbox, and about 62 of the 77 emails are all lj comments. I know they are stored here, and I will rarely look at them in my emails, but I don't want to erase them. I have a folder for the particularly special ones, but lately they all have been very nice. I guess they're all going in the folder for rainy days.

I am at work, not doing anything. I have done the tour route three times, and I pretty much have it down. Now I just need tour takers. I have to move in the next couple of days, across the quad. I have so mmuch work to do outside of this office. I will probably leave early again today, not making as much money as I hoped, but oh well.

I need to go. I hope the rest of the summer is not as boring as it is this week.

Fri, 23 May 2008 06:12:45 GMT

I just watched the "Grey's" season finale. I am so happy!

Tue, 20 May 2008 05:11:49 GMT

I'm a bit sleepy.

I had a very nice weekend. Beach on Friday with Erik, Kodel, and Hom. Kodel is staying in a house up the street from his parents and grandparents, basically on his own. It's really cool. The water was freezing, but once the shock wore off, the rest of the day was great. Oh! And we had Stone Fire. I love that place. There's nothing like that in Redlands. I miss that restaurant.

Saturday was hot. And it was the Chapel Singers Reunion, which was really emotional, but hot.

Sunday was hot too. And Disneyland was very hot, but it was a lot of fun, until I got drenched on Splash around 7pm. It was still very good.

This update is just about things I did. I felt a lot, but I can't really put everything into words. I love Erik. I really do, and I know you all hear that a lot. I won't elaborate. We had fun listening to Sex on the Brain together. Now he feels like he can use his man-ness as an excuse. Oh, well. He actually liked it. Hopefully we can use it for the better.

I love you all.

Thu, 08 May 2008 20:48:22 GMT

Yesterday was beautiful and much needed. I love you girls, and I'm sorry we couldn't stay. and I promise never again will I text you before noon Em.

Pandora

Tue, 06 May 2008 04:42:33 GMT

Maybe I'm way behind, but Erik just introduced me to Pandora.com, an online radio site. You type in an artist you like and it comes up with a station that has music like the artist you put in and of course, the artist you asked for. For instance, I wanted to listen to a Missy Higgins song because I haven't really heard her before, and it played me a couple of her songs. this way, I can decide whether or not it is worth it to buy her music, which it is. It's really great.

May term is fine. I had a good weekend. And a nice early morning surprise this morning. Tonight, Eddie, David and I met up with a few friends at a friend's house to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with dinner. We all helped to cook quesadillas. Eddie did most of the cooking at the stove. But we all did prep work. I actually looked nice tonight. I tried very hard to. I wore a new dress and put on makeup and everything. I know it was a bit much, but I was determined. David was nice enough to compliment me. And I felt good about that.

I am so tired though. It will be an early evening tonight. I know I'm lame. But whatever.

Fri, 02 May 2008 06:00:45 GMT

Erik was having a crisis and I drove down to see him right away, but his phone is lost and dead, his computer crashed, and he has a major paper due in the morning. So what did I do? I was a total creeper, and searched every floor of the library for him, I parked across from his room and saw that he wasn't in there through the open window. I checked the biology building, and then I followed the RA of his hall into the hall to find him in the computer room of Newcomb Hall. I even used the computer in the bathroom stall to email him and tell him I was there!

What prompted me to do this? Today in Romantic music, we watched "Fidelio," Beethoven's one and only opera. Leonore disguises herself as Fidelio, a prison guard who gets taken under the wing of the head jailer, so that she can free her wrongfully imprisoned husband, Florestan. She is in disguise for two years! And the jailer's daughter falls in love with Fidelio, and they "get married." It never gets consummated, just because that would be a whole new complication. So the day of the wedding, is the day Fidelio has to help the jailer kill Florestan. The jailer, by the way, is really nice, and has to take orders from the evil colonel Don Pizarro. In the end, Leonore gets the colonel arrested and has Florestan and all the wrongfully imprisoned freed. The only people left unhappy are the jailer's daughter and the colonel. So, to my quick action, with regard to Erik? Maybe, I figured that is she could disguise herself for two years as a man, I could drive to see Erik and be comforting for a few hours? Yeah, not the same thing, I realize, but I will fancy myself as devoted as Leonore. That opera was really good, by the way.

And at this point, I realize that I woke up at 6:15 and worked out until 7:30. I'm pretty tired. It's hard to find motivation to do anything during May term. I usually have a bit of reading a night, from 30-60 pages. And then after that, I'm free. So, I have been wasting my time watching lots of online tv. Yeah, I know, quite a waste. But it's so hard to have motivation, when I'm only taking one class, and it is done by 11:30 each day. I mean, that's a lot of time to waste. I should do something productive. I should.

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:03:00 GMT

I suppose I will post quickly.

I am home from the South. New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Vicksburg (MS), Jackson (MS), Memphis (TN), Birmingham (AL), Mobile (AL), and back to New Orleans.

What a trip. Great at times, and not so great at times. Tiring, as well. But I slept more on this tour than the ones in high school. But I sang way more on this tour than any other tour. So it evens out. I have class today in a hour.

Made new friends, reconnected with older ones, blah blah blah.

Had an emotional breakdown, requirement for a choir tour, and realized a little bit about myself. Blah blah blah.

OK, going to get ready for class. More later, and pictures on Facebook, and Myspace to come.

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 05:06:21 GMT

I am sitting in my room alone on a Friday night. I should be studying for my bio final, but at this point, I don't really think there's anything I can do for myself in that area. I spent a long time reviewing the other day and I don't have a clear mind to study right now. I'm sure the best thing for me to do would be to sleep early and get breakfast in the morning. Saturday finals are so stupid! And I had my ear-training final today. I passed my sight singing so I just have to wait for my dictation final grade. And I had my chem final also. I have a 4.0 in the class without the final, but the final was an awful standardized multiple choice test covering the entire year of general chemistry. The curve is really low. Like 40/70 or something like that for an A. At this point, I really don't care. I don't feel like I did very well, but I can't imagine that my grade would suffer tremendously because of it. She was an awesome professor, but she's moving, so we made her a card. Anyways, I had a good counseling session today, and I was able to clear my mind before the dictation final, which was a relief. Now, I can take on bio tomorrow morning, and go home. Then I will come back Sunday, pack, sing a concert, and get on a plane to New Orleans! This is going to be a fun tour, I hope. OK, well, I will meander on the internet some more or watch House until bedtime. Love you all.

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 04:54:14 GMT

So, I'm writing this short paper on how I celebrate goddess spirituality in my life. And this is how I do it. I read your posts and they bring me joy for the most part. even if we're upset, there is a connection and it feels amazing to be in a communal setting together, and the love transcend the internet or something classy like that. And I see the goddess in all of you. I love you. You inspire me to be a better woman, a better person. I hope to convey that to my religion professor.

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 07:44:52 GMT

I went into the counseling center to be diagnosed for test anxiety so I could take my dictation final alone. OK, we didn't even scratch the surface on tests, because she asked about my history and family and stuff. You all know me and all that stuff. And that's taken years to accumulate.

I think she was a little overwhelmed at how well I could articulate why I am the way I am. And I have you lovely ladies to thank, because I have been inspired to truly examine myself because all of you were able to be introspective and articulate your personalities. I'm not sure that makes sense. It made sense to Emily earlier. I am so excited to see you tomorrow, Em!

My week sucked, and it sucked basically all the way to the end. There was just a lot of work to do. I mean, next week is the last week of classes, and Finals week follows. So, of course, it's a hectic time. I am so happy for this weekend to catch up on being a human being. I love you all.

Note: Ritz crackers and leftover Coke do not combine to make a good midnight snack.

Love <3

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 06:56:34 GMT

I'm not sure that I have anything significant to say.

I just feel the need to communicate with you in some way so I am lj-ing. I always feel this fullness when I read your posts. I feel that I am back with the people that I love to be around. I understand you and try to be near you in this very superficial, unhelpful way, but I do get a connection. The next two and a half weeks will be awful, and then I will be on tour and May Term will begin, as will my summer jobs.

I am glad to be productive this summer, and I hope everything turns out well. Wish me luck for the next few weeks.

I love you.

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 06:12:29 GMT

OK, loooooong week.

I just felt like the week would never end. Fancy Rainbow Day was fun, and it was also our five year anniversary that day, but that doesn't really matter. I actually had a pretty bad day, thinking about giving up music and questioning my motives, career, and education. But that is mostly resolved now.

I worked out three times this week. I felt good about myself.

I went up to Apple Valley with my two friends to stay at one of their houses. I needed to get away, but not go home. And we're back now. So yeah.

Oh, and by the way, when I start talking about Erik too much ever, please tell me to stop. Apparently he never talks about me. Whatever. Don't worry. We're fine. We just haven't really talked at all this week. It's been too busy for both of us, more for him, but whatever. At least, he has been focusing his stress away from me, and playing a sport. That's better.

I'm in a weird funk. I can't explain it. I've been in it for awhile. Forgive me.

I love you.

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 05:26:20 GMT

I miss girls. Yeah. That's all.

Love you girls.