You are such an Ice Queen

I was talking with a friend yesterday, after we unstuck her car from the snow, and she said "I love snow when it is pretty and only in the backyard of my suburb home."  Now, I can get behind the conditional love for snow.  Love it for two-hour delays, cancelled classes, snowball fights, and the white sheen it puts on the city for the first day it falls.  But sometimes, like now, when you've been walking on ice for the past week with no ice-free future in sight, it blows.

However, yesterday I saw two sights that made me happy.  As I was slipping and sliding to my landlord's front door, the bf spotted this lovely piece of artwork in his front yard.

It's a face with a little fort/castle pathway in the back.  Cute.  But I almost died trying to get a picture.  It looks better in person (but at least my Blackberry has a flash).  Poor dude's gonna die once the snow melts.  If that ever happens.

Okay, while the dude is cute, the next one is shady.  It was right next to an empty rape van.  At least I found it in the daylight....

"Urban-chic" photo.  Read: hipster.
I hope whoever dropped that is okay.  When I see kids items, like shoes, just chilling on the ground, I always worry for the little gals and girls of West Philly.  Because it's West Philly and its not kid friendly.

On another note, today I've been listening to The Tallest Man on Earth.  If you like relaxing folk-type music, you will love this dude.  Their album Shallow Grave has been on repeat all day, it is fantastic.  (Liz, blog about this soon...your opinion is better than mine!  Album is on dropbox.)

I'm off to the gym to run 2 whole miles and keep up with my goal of losing 30 lbs. by the end of May.  10 lbs down, 20 more to go!!

2011 and so much has happened

I haven't blogged since October.
Yes, I know.
You didn't miss me!

Mostly, I haven't blogged because there's no direction for this space. My roomie Liz has a wonderful blog, Dance to the Radio, dedicated mostly to music, some to fashion.  And she does a wonderful job because that's her jawn.  But what's my jawn?  One of my other friends had a hard time getting me a Christmas gift, just because my interests are super specific, and they usually change with the position of the moon.

And I definitely don't want to talk about my life.  Okay, of course I do, doesn't everyone?  But...  A.) gossip mill.  B.)  dramz.  C.) if none of the above, dull at best.  I could talk about my cat and her idiosyncrasies, but I'm not ready to be labeled as an old cat lady yet.

So, I guess I need suggestions on topics.  Or something.  Direction on what to do here and in my life would be much appreciated.  Especially since I am apparently not a Gemini anymore.

2010 was a year.  I believe that's what 365 consecutive days are called.  I finished college, started grad school, went further in debt, moved, was single, then was not, went to Florida, celebrated holidays and birthdays, and generally trudged through the year.

Okay, that was a really bad reflection.

For now, let me share some goals for 2011, I'm done with 2010.  That is ancient history.
1.  Find a "real" job.
Finding a real job requires effort and showers.  Don't know if I'm up for it yet.  I keep applying and taking personality tests and aptitude tests.  But the going is slow.  Especially since I lack direction on a career and a location.  Sense a theme?

2.  Lose 30 lbs by the end of May, 50 by September.
People hate this.  They think it is unhealthy and whatnot.  Some people don't want to hear about it at all. Like my life isn't supposed to be like The Biggest Loser. REAL people don't weigh that much.  Anyway, I don't hate this goal yet, but talk to me in a week when my legs don't work anymore and all I want is a hot, steaming bowl of delicious macaroni and cheese with a side of black forest cake loaded with vanilla ice cream.  If my arms aren't so sore that I can't lift the fork to my face.

3.  Finish grad school...
...without punching someone in the face or failing a class due to lack of interest.

4.  Finish Landmark curriculum.
I took a great class called Landmark that basically gave me the tools to handle life and make it work.  Despite the teasing by most friends, I found it really helpful and am continuing the education so that I can live with direction and power.  So that's on the list...

5.  Write a novel/screenplay in a month.
This is going to happen in February or April.  I'm so excited.  No showers necessary.

6.  Learn Espanol.
Enough to get by in Tijuana.

Goals, goals, goals.  This year, the score is going to be Universe: 1,297,283 Me: 6

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get through this crazy professor's boring ass economics class.  Then I have a date at an Irish Pub with an Irish bartendar.  I really wish alcohol was zero calories.

Mumford and Sons

Music is awesome. You can hit pause, play, skip, and repeat whenever you want. Oh, if only all of life was like that.

My best friend Pogo downloads all my music. He is my music guru, my music muse if you will. Every couple of months or so, he throws about five albums my way he thinks I'll like. Since I spend the majority of my time at class or work (this week 46 hours of work, 19 hours of class, 5-ish hours of homework) I can only handle so much at a time, and I sure as heck don't have time to filter through all the crap by myself.

Currently I am about halfway through listening to the "Sigh No More" album by Mumford and Sons. I really, really, really like it. After a few passive listenings, I needed to actually listen to it. So I'm sitting here at 3:01 a.m. after work listening to the album and reading the lyrics. Beautiful. Heartfelt. Awesome.

And because of my current relationship status, which is as usual complicated (to say the least), the lyrics are even more meaningful.

Love that will not betray you, dismay or enslave you,
It will set you free
Be more like the man you were made to be.
There is a design,
An alignment to cry,
At my heart you see,
The beauty of love as it was made to be

Not saying that I was or am in love. But, I have been thinking a lot lately about the distinct lack of truly loving relationships in my life. I mean, I'm in college, people are flaky, and with no significant other or strong family relationships - I'm pretty much just existing. Don't get me wrong, I feel very blessed to have five "best" friends. But...something is lacking. Maybe I need a hobby or I need to volunteer somewhere. I don't know, but I'll figure it out.

ANYWAY. It's my new jam.

Moving on, chatroulette? Have you heard of this?!?! It's crazy! My friends at work get drunk and go on this site that randomly connects you to other people via a webcam session. You can hit "next" at any time and connect to a new person. Apparently it's mostly men, some penises, some pedophiles, boobs, creeps, drunks, and druggies. But, it has endless possibilities for idle or drunk people. I don't think I could handle it alone, but in a group it might be a lot of fun.

I'm going to leave you with this. Lady Gaga's Poker Face, done as an ice skating routine = awesome.

Here's to a good week. Slainte.