It's that time of year again - the time when leaves change color, the temperature begins to fall back a few degrees, and all the lovely things that autumn brings arrive in full-swing. (That is, if you don't live in the Bay Area, where one can continue to buy flowers in beautiful fall colors all year long.)
It's also the time of year when high school seniors such as myself start to feel the pressure of college application deadlines looming ahead of us, and when those of us who are applying early decision begin to wonder if a November due-date isn't perhaps maybe just a teensy bit too soon?
So here's to the end of September: may it arrive soon enough that we can revel in October's loveliness, but not so soon that I only have a month left to fill out that Common Application.
I had the excellent luck of being unable to sleep at all last night - and I'm only being slightly sarcastic. Since I pulled an all-nighter, I was awake to see the sunrise, as well as the fog that was left over from last night's crazy heat-lightning and rain. It was gorgeous... I wandered around in my PJs (it was 6:00 AM, mind you) taking pictures while all of the early risers and gas company workers drove by in their trucks. I must have looked mildly insane, but it was worth it.
I only wish I could describe how the air smelled; it was that perfect after-rain freshness mixed with the smell of morning and dirt. That might not sound lovely, but it most definitely is. The absolute perfect way to start a day.
In other news, I've written a song! It's not the first, but since it's my newest I'm still pretty excited about it. I recorded it this morning, and even though it's just me and my guitar through a lousy computer microphone, I don't think it turned out half bad.
Greetings, and happy summer-time! I hope everyone has been enjoying themselves so far, and if you haven't, here's something that might brighten your day. If you do not find the below video moderately hilarious, I understand, and I do not judge you. I do ask, however, that you therefore apply that same compassion to me for finding it hilarious.
(Warning: It's not the most mature humor. In fact, this video is particularly immature. If you do not find such immature humor humorous, you will not want to watch this.)
Sorry for being MIA for a while! Things have been busy, and I've been lazy, but I plan on making more of an effort to post posts. (I'll write them if you read them - deal?)
So far, it's been one of those weeks. You know the kind where you keep having "one of those days," but every single day? The kind of week that gets you down for no particular reason, and then prevents you from being productive? It's been one of those... which, what with there being AP TESTS and FINALS and such, is not a very good thing.
(I did go to the aquarium on Saturday, though, and that was nice. I took lots of pictures)
Jellyfish are the best. Just so you know.
So to match the mood of the week and attempt to get an essay or two done, here's a newly discovered playlist:
So maybe listening to Mumford and Sons is depressing, or maybe Tuesdays are just awful; either way, today has kind of sucked. Which I know is a really eloquent and sophisticated way to describe it, but it's the truth, so it works for me.
In honor of the generally dissatisfactory day that has been April 17th, 2012, here's a song to compliment that special type of mood that can be best described as suckiness. Because it's not like this day is going to get any better, right?
I've been trying all day to find someone in the Bay Area who is able to go see this band (one of my current and all-time favorites) play at The Fillmore (tonight) with me, but so far I've been having no luck. My friend Ellie decided to let me know that the reason I'd been failing was because "Most people don't go to concerts on Monday nights," (to which I replied "Being most people sounds boring.")
I've still got a couple hours to go, so if you or someone you know wants to hear great live music, hit me up! But if not, you should still look NEEDTOBREATHE up on Spotify, or Youtube, or somewhere. Or you can just listen to some of my favorite songs by them below... whatever blows your skirt up.
1) March Madness. Or, more specifically, March Madness when it involves Cal Women's Basketball. This morning our team made it to round two of the NCAA tournament, AND I'M SUPER-PSYCHED, if not so psyched for us playing Notre Dame. Actually, I'm not at all psyched for that, after watching Notre Dame crush Liberty, and I'm betting the team isn't either considering that they stayed to watch it, too. Layshia Clarendon is my favorite player, and Eliza's up there as well (as is Brittany Boyd... Berkeley High represent!). But yeah. BASKETBALL! <3
2) Awesome mugs. I have a travel-mug which looks exactly like a camera lens, but I was drinking out of this one today, so it's awesomer. You can't quite tell, but she's holding a pie in her hands and talking to this other woman who's looking at the pie. That's basically me, since I'm always defending my go-to cupcake recipe to my mother... she likes to let me know that she doesn't approve of it, but I don't much care (hence the mug... funny, right?)
3) My new hair. It's shorter, and it makes me happy.
4) Bon Appetit. It's kind of the best magazine ever. I'd buy it just for the pictures, but it also is full of really amazing-sounding restaurants and amazing-sounding recipes. I know I'll probably never make any of them, but it's nice to know that they're there. (This is my favorite issue, since I love fried chicken, and southern food, and YUM. Disregard what I said before: I am going to make every single recipe in here. I swear.)
5) Photo-booths. There was a makeshift one at the dance on Friday, and it almost made it worth going to. I could have taken pictures all night...
6) This book. I'm not done yet! (But I've definitely added it to the long list of my favorites.) It's essentially the story of a relationship, but it is NOT a fluffy novel. This book will not be turned into a chick-flick because it is much too profound and intelligent for that. On Love doesn't just talk about the relationship between the protagonist and the woman he 'loves', but it also analyzes the psychology of it all. I can't even describe it properly: you just need to go out and read it. Right now. GO.
7) Old New-Favorite-Music. I'm not entirely sure that made any sense, but by it I meant music I am currently infatuated with that is not new. Gettit? I was already a huge Ella Fitzgerald fan, but I've only recently discovered how much I love Billie Holiday. And Duke Ellington. The Sinatra CD is new to me, too, so I count that as a discovery as well. GAH so much good music, I can't stand it.
8) Sucré. I've said before how much I love Elsie Larson's blog, but I love it even more now that she's introduced me to Stacy King's jealousy-inducing voice/lyricism/GAH-ness. Her voice is as gorgeous as she is, and I've been listening to When We Were Young on repeat for the past hour or so. Her entire album comes out in April, but you can buy the above-mentioned single on iTunes now. Or you can just listen to it on Youtube forever.
(P.S. The music video is really awesome, but it's not timed properly with the song... and it drives me nuts. But here it is anyway.)
9) This nail polish. Yeah... I can't help it. It's called Lincoln Park After Dark; how much cooler can it get?? And besides, everyone's favorite fairy-person from True Blood wears it. So there.
10) Blogging for homework. Best. Assignment. Ever.
I'M BACK! If you didn't notice I was gone, don't worry: I won't hold it against you. But now that finals and the seemingly endless college visits have come to a conclusion, I'm finally able to get back to the blog. And what better way to start up again than with Sinatra?
That's right... Sinatra. I mention him a lot, I know; this is his second time being featured on a Monday post, and it probably won't be his last (here's the first one, if you missed it). But during my week of tours and information sessions I acquired what is probably the awesomest CD known to humankind, and which I decided provided the perfect photo-op.
Yes sir/ma'am - Seduction: Sinatra Sings of Love. In other words, 22 heart-breaking-ly swoon-worthy Sinatra-sung love songs.
*Insert swoon here*
So here's a classic, just like Ol' Blue Eyes himself.
There is no doubt in my mind that this song is God-awful: just barely listening to the lyrics you can tell it's bad, and as soon as you actually pay attention to them... it's about ten times worse. But it's been stuck in my head since about 5 this afternoon, and I've already subjected most of the people who were on the track today to me wailing it at the top of my lungs, so I figured it might as well be the song of the day.
So I just totally, completely, absolutely love this song. That's my excuse. It's pretty amazing, and since this is the last day before school/work/life starts up again (sigh), I think we could all use some amazing.
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