Ode to the Ampersand

"My dearsest Ampersand,

I admire gazing at your beautiful curves flawlessly adorning the top row of my keyboard. 

You adjoin my thoughts with poise and elegance." 

This a poem I wrote a long time ago. I just found it today. See, guys, I really love ampersands. I often browse Etsy for ampersand stuff. You know how women have that one thing that they claim to love, so then everyone gives them a variation of that item for every birthday/holiday? Well, I want to be that person you think of when you see an ampersand. I really love them.  I think this is stems from my interest in clean, neat typography. It's so pretty, guys. 

Sigh. Why couldn't I be interested in something legitimately fascinating, like... mitosis. 

(Thus begins my desperate attempt to convince you this is legit.)

It has an interesting history! 

It's.... versatile!

 

...want

Okay. I'm going to go now. I have successfully convinced myself I will be a boring old lady wearing crazy clothes, writing crazy blogs, and collecting conjunctions. 

Today is awesome because... it reached over 70 degress, we found a new coffee shop, and the Brewers game is on tv in Minnesota. :]

Vastness

I think I'm scared of vast, empty things. And being in them for extended periods of time.

Like, looking out into an ocean is as terrifying to me as it is fascinating.

One time, when I was a kid, we watched an IMAX movie about someone climbing Mt. Everest and it freaked me out so much. My parents (hi, Mom!) bought the soundtrack and would play it during dinner sometimes. I would get sad, but I couldn't tell them why, because I didn't really get it. But all I wanted to do was go to my room and definitely not listen to that soundtrack.

One time I cried during an episode of Sesame Street because something made me think of heaven. And heaven made me think of forever. And being somewhere forever freaked me out. So I cried.

Tonight we watched 127 Hours and I never ever want to watch it again.

I mean, it was very well done. But every time I thought about it, I would just start freaking myself out about everything. Life. Vastness.

It's not death. Death doesn't scare me.

I have this friend. I write him e-mails a lot late at night. Sometimes, they are very much not coherent. Sometimes they say things that spill out of my brain before I even get a chance to think about them. In some cases, this is a good thing - fresh thoughts. In some cases, this is a very bad thing. But, he is a good friend. He lets me think weird things and say things that make no sense. Sometimes, he even stops making fun of me. Also, he doesn't get afraid when he looks at an ocean. He's alright.*

This blog entry is my first thoughts, and I'm not sure if it will make any more sense in the morning. April might bring a few of these rambles, I hope you let me say a few things that make no sense.

In other news, I officially own a romper. After about a year and a half of trying on rompers that fit me ridiculously poorly, I found one that doesn't look half bad. I feel like this is a milestone of some sort!

The guy cut off his own arm. Like, okay. I'm going to not think about this movie anymore.

xx

*and by alright, I mean he's pretty much my best friend.

Wet Willy.

This is Cloud Cult, a band I am very much interested in as of late. I saw them live this week, and it was one of the best live performances from a band I've ever seen. Not only are they great live, but it's just an experience like none other. Besides the plethora of instruments (violin, guitar, cello, xylophone, french horn, keyboard, trombone, drums, trumpet, electric guitar, megaphone) they have two painters in the background who start off with a black canvass and paint during the whole concert on an easel that they're able to spin. After the concert they sell the paintings. They. Were. Gorgeous. and painted in just an hour. At a concert full of college kids, the paintings went for $500 each. 

They make you feel so much. I picked this song to post just so you are able to see the painter, and because the quality is good as well. 

Plus, the drummer never. stops. smiling. :]

-----------------

"I love James McAvoy."

"James McAvoy is delicious."

"Mr Tumnus, ahhh. Two thumbs up."

"James McAvoy is so dreamy, it's ridiculous."

"James McAvoy definitely is worthy of this list."

Guys. I was only talking about the fact that he is a good actor...

bahaha, who am I kidding. :]

-------------------

Diana askeed if I had any hair tips. If I had figured out the perfect solution to my hair problems, I would be as pushy a salesperson as political commercials become before elections. I. Wish. What I've found most effective for my thick thick curly thick uncontrollable hair is lots of layers, thinning, and pretty frequent hair cuts. Thinning does wonders. For out-of-the-shower curly days I use Aveda Be Curly or Tresemme Flawless Curls. Aveda, albeit expensive, is so worth it and so my favorite for everything. And I always have my straightener. 


It's super late and past my deadline for the day, so I'm going to say goodnight. I just got back from watching Free Willy, the movie of choice by the four guys I was hanging out with this evening. They stopped playing Wii because they wanted to watch Free Willy. I was confused, but I definitely didn't protest. 


... at the end of the movie I found out 90% of the reason they wanted to watch it was for "Will You Be There?" by Michael Jackson. This was the only part of the movie no one was allowed to talk. So, I leave you with this question, "Will you be there?!"


 Tomorrow, lovlies! xx

FAVE.

First of all, I loved all of your happy song suggestions. It reminded me of awesome wonderful stuff like Coconut Records, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Ellie Golding, Beatles, Dashboard, and Mika, and oh my gosh "Roll to Me" I never even knew the name of that song! And then you introduced me to some to stuff like Dispatch and a Decemberists song I had never heard. I listened to all of the songs during my break today.

So. Today I'm just making this a bit of a "Favorite Things" blog. These aren't necessarily my most favorite things in the world, they're just things I use quite often and do love so very much. You know how you try all sorts of makeup or hair junk or clothes or whatever, but then you find the right stuff and just absolutely can't live without it? Yeah. This kind of stuff. Here it is!

Teva Sandals

I'm about to buy my third pair of these guys. The past two summers at camp, I wore these all. summer. I've walked miles and miles and miles in them, and my feet never ever ever get sore. I'd say 80% of the girls of staff wear these. And their families. They. Are. The. Most. Comfortable. Flip Flops. And you can usually get them for under $20!! Oh, goodness. They are just... fantastic. I try them on every time I go shoe shopping, just because.

M.A.C. Concealer

I am so far from being a make-up expert, but I love this stuff. It covers everything. 

Covergirl Line Exact

Okay. Pencil liner always made me look like a dying raccoon by the end of the day. Liquid liner was harder to apply on my bottom lid than it was to stay in the lines when I was two. So, some time in high school I bought this stuff. SO fantastic. It's liquid, so it stays all day... but it's like a marker pen, so it's way easier to control. I've pretty much been a salesperson for this stuff since Junior year.

Somoa Cookies

Okay. I went through three boxes this Girl Scout season. This isn't that bad, I feel. But seriously. Favorite. Cookie. Ever.

Raisinetes

... speaking of comfort food. These are it. Bad days? Broken heart? Feelin' down? Bad Weather? Pimple? Can't decide what to wear? Nothing a Raisinet can't fix! Okay, so I took that too literally my freshman year of college. Honestly, it's probably the weight I gained.

Neutrogena Hand Cream

I have tried every lotion and its mother on my hands. Even the stinky stuff dermatologists recommend. They get so very awful during winter. Cracky bleedy awful. But this lotion makes hands softer than a baby's bottom. I feel like this is the universal phrase to compare soft things by, so I'm using it! I have about three bottles on this stuff. One for my purse, one for my backpack, and one for my dorm. People will complement you on your soft hands, I promise!

Lastly,  James McAvoy

Just Kidding. But Really.

xx

Time!

I have no time for you, bloggeh!

Since I compare my life to Gilmore Girls on a daily basis, I will share with you what I came across today.

Recently I watched this episode, where Loreli opens a present from her parents. The present being Wolfgirl, a painting.

Today we had to research a few artists in Graphic Design, and one was Kiki Smith. I google imaged Kiki Smith and saw it. Wolfgirl.

Oh goodness. The poor, unfortunate child. Anyway, I pretty much laughed out loud when I recognized it. I now fully understand another Gilmore Girl reference. One more down, 4378461 to go! Someday I'm going to watch all the seasons again, pause when there's a reference I don't understand, and look it up. This would be a time consuming process.

Now I have a question. Can you be in love with a feeling, or do you simply become addicted to feelings? Can you both be in love with and be addicted to something?

These are the seemingly irrelevant questions that flood my brain all too often.

You guys should also name a song you're into right now. One that makes you happy. I'm all for new happy songs! 

More tomorrow! xx

Le Spieling Peter

Someone come with me to Disneyland. Please.

Sometimes I feel like I'm Drew Barrymore pretending to be a high school student only to write an article on it. Except art school is my high school. And my future is the article I'm writing. Sometimes I feel like I'm an outsider being let in on the ins and outs of being an art major. I mean, I'm learning pretty well. But it still seems fake. I'm mostly just talking about sculpture here. I know what to say, and I know what will make Todd extremely excited in an artsy sort of way. But when we critique pieces and just say what it reminds us of, I'm not going to lie... it gets silly. Today I compared someone's sculpture to a leg of chicken. And this is acceptable, because it's art. I also compared one to pokeballs attacking a pokemon. In all honesty, it really looked like it. This isn't completely just the nerd in me. (After I said it, a boy responded, "That's what I was thinking, too! Secretly." We had a nerdlike moment.) Anyway, between comparing something to a leg of chicken and using a blow drier to dry my sham-wow full of charcoal*, I had another one of those, "Art major, Allyson? Really?" moments. Computers. I like computer art.

Hokay.

Sometimes I have days where I feel dizzy. all. day. Today was one of those days. I've tried everything. I think it's just something I have to deal with. Someone told me it might have something to do with weak adrenal glands. Well, hokay. Great, hormones. Way to get all weak on me. I thought you an I were good.

Guys, I had some fun on Google Maps today with my new address in Chicago. Then I did this:

What a company. That's all I have to say. I really like Starbucks, but I mean... can you believe a company can be something like this and still thrive? Coffee. Coffee drives the routine of our society. I mean, I don't really have an opinion on that, I just think it's such an interesting thing that the coffee industry is able to sell $4 lattes. Some people say it's sad, but I kind of think it's brilliant. No matter how much people complain, we all do it. What a business. With all that said, I won't lie. This got me excited. Say what you will!

Let me leave you with a little bit of adorable that is Spieling Peter Pan.

Sorry for this blah of a blog. I already know what I'm doing for tomorrows, though! Off to read about your days!

* It's technically a chamois cloth, but it's french so you say it like "sham wah." This is too hard for me to say without sounding like I'm completely faking the accent, so I call it a shamwow. But really, that's where the name Sham Wow came from. It's pretty much the exact same cloth. Fun fact o' the day for you.

Notsome Days.

" I will give you this, my love, and I will not bargain or barter any longer. I will love you, as sure as He has loved me. I will discover what I can discover and though you remain a mystery, save God's own knowledge, what I disclose of you I will keep in the warmest chamber of my heart, the very chamber where God has stowed Himself in me. And I will do this to my death, and to death it may bring me. I will love you like God, because of God, mighted by the power of God. I will stop expecting your love, demanding you love, trading for your love, gaming for your love. I will simply love. I am giving myself to you, and tomorrow I will do it again. I suppose the clock itself will wear thin its time before I am ended at this altar of dying and dying again. God risked Himself on me. I will risk myself on you. And together, we will learn to love, and perhaps then, and only then, understand this gravity that drew Him, unto us." 

-Donald Miller

(Recently I've rediscovered my love for this man and how he is able communicate his thoughts on paper in such a way that helps everything make a little more sense. Reading his stuff gives you a lot of fistpump moments.)

Sometimes, you are given days that make you appreciate the good days even more. These days are also known as Bad Days. I woke up this morning exhausted, a few things quickly transpired that put me in an awful mood, and I just trudged through the day until I could come back and take a nap.

However, a number of good things kept happening on this day I had already determined as "bad." I think it was God's way of poking me with a fluffy stick and saying, "Hey, you, with the great life. Stop trudgin'' around. Look at all the fantastic things I have given you today. Here, have some coffee and smile, woman."

Also, great friends are absolutely awesome to have. They remind you that the thoughts you have that put you down are not always stupid. They remind you that just because other people may think the doubts/insecurities/worries/questions you are having might be stupid or insignificant, doesn't mean they are. They remind you that you don't just have to "deal with it." No, it's not stupid. No, if you think it's an issue, you don't just have to "deal with it." People are different.

People need to respect the fact that people think/comprehend/feel differently. And sometimes, you need to take a step back and humble yourself to be able to understand how to better communicate what you are trying to get across to that person. And sometimes, that means doing things differently than what you personally think is the right way. This is really hard. This is like taking everything you have learned in your life to come to the conclusion you have come to, and setting it aside for a second in order to love the way another needs you to love.

So, my day is looking up. I can't shake this nasty headache, though.

UConn just won the NCAA tournament. This makes me happy. In 6th (7th?) grade I filled out my first bracket, sent UConn to win it, and they did. Just for me, I'm sure of it. Anyway, my friend Jeff and I were the class winners, so we both won something from the vending machine. I think I tell this to everyone every single March Madness, because I am so proud of it, but my slogan in 6th grade was, "U CONN DOOO IT!" I know, I know. It's pretty much more clever than anything you have heard in your life. Ever since then I have claimed the right to proclaim I am "good" at filling out brackets. To keep this true, I haven't filled out out for a few years now. :]

Hope you learned to love your Monday.

Ps: Remember how I accidentally got on the PETA e-mailing list and have come to enjoy the hilarity that fills my inbox on a weekly basis? Ah, yes. Well, have you ever considered yourself the cutest vegetarian alive? Well you're in luck, because there is now a contest for you! *facepalm*

Pps: Emily, I'm talkin' to you. Win this thing, gurrl.