Been listening to more Great Lake Swimmers recently. It's very nice, melancholy music – it suits me. I like the hauntingly poetic and beautiful things in life. I think that that preference is sometimes mistaken for adolescent angst or some other stupid, stereotyped outlook. . . it's not that at all.

I feel like discussing my life on a grander scale. I've always had some idea of what I wanted to do with my life. It's not really all that hard, is it? Life boils down into simple choices, and the details fall into place in accordance with your personality. But I wonder, can a person really know what is going to make them happy? If that were true, it seems there'd be more happy people. I think perhaps there's an element of blind luck to it. And, of course, people are dynamic – their identities and personalities are malleable. I'm sure that that has something to do with happiness crises. However it happens, I hope I don't end up like that. I want to study something I'll always be interested in. I want to marry someone whom I'd still love decades later, and who'd still love me back. I want to live somewhere I will always be happy to come home to. I'm not worried that I won't have these things. . . more just. . . slightly, slightly concerned.

One Quarter to Go

Well, the quarter is over. Five sets of ten tiring weeks down, one to go. I admit that the time flies by. . . just very, very unpleasantly. I think I'd compare it to a piece of tape being ripped off my skin: it comes off fast and that's a good thing, but why on earth did I put it on myself in the first place? Ah well, it's almost completely off now: just one last bitter rip to go. Haha... aaand then off to a four-year college. Great.

Oh my poor brain; it's tired and sick and wants to go to bed. Shall we let it? I think so. Well. . . I didn't want to make this post so short, but I'm afraid if I stay here I'll just stare at my computer screen trying half-heartedly to get my head back up on its feet.

'Night

Ah Goodness – Best Weekend Ever

So, last weekend I got to go down to Portland and spend some time with my best friend on her birthday. I hadn't seen her since summer, so I was very, very excited. It was such an amazing visit; swinging, walking, playing games, going to the arcade, reading books... I'm sure I've forgotten some things, but it was a very full weekend. Whatever we were doing was bound to be wonderful though, even if it was just sitting and relaxing or feeling bored.

That weekend went by much too quickly and now life is back to being more... ugh... normal. Perhaps I'm feeling a bit more dissatisfied with it because I've got a test in my health class tomorrow, but I still really miss my friend.

On a secondary – yet still important – note, I visited Willamette University on Monday and got to tour the campus and sit in on an art history class – fun! I was really impressed with the college and so I'm definitely considering going there.

On another note, I may be working over the summer at a summer camp. That'd be fun. Of course, the work would be difficult... having to play capture the flag with kids and go with them on horseback rides on forested hills and things like that... absolute murder... but still, I'll just force myself to deal with those issues.

Oh Wow, No Posts Since October?! Lazy Blogger...

Ohh, it's been far too long since I've posted anything. I looked at the comments of my last post and the little Cora girl was exasperated at my laziness in November... hehe, whoopsy.

Alright, first on the agenda, I've been accepted to my second choice college! That is a huge relief and I'm sooo very excited about it. It's Willamette University, the oldest university in the West according to them. I think the founding date was 1840 or something like that... anyway, very very exciting.

Next, I saw Jonathan Kingham live! Not just live, but at my favorite little, local coffee shop... well, actually, there's only one local coffee shop if you don't count Starbucks, (which I don't). Anyway, he was absolutely amazing: his freestyling, stories, humor, and good folksy-ish R&B-ish music all made for a great show. There was a keyboard player with him and I can't, for the life of me, remember his name... hmm, no.... definitely not coming to me, but he was an amazing musician too -- and definitely not a bad songwriter.

On that note, I've been listening to a lot of Glen Phillips music lately. Ahh, most people I know just don't understand how amazing he is. Live and let live I suppose... and let them hum along to Lady Gaga songs. Anyway, I seriously encourage listening to him. You can go to his website: http://www.glenphillips.com/Glen_Phillips/Glen_Phillips.html
There you can get a free sample of his music in exchange for your email address... definitely worth it. You can also listen to most of his albums:
Abulum, his first solo album... a wide range of themes and styles, but it strikes me, overall, as a very poignant album
Live at Largo... yup, it's a live album, which is nice because Glen Phillips gives a highly polished solo acoustic show -- very fitting for his music.
Mr. Lemons... it has the best name, and the softest, tenderest songs -- lots of intimate acoustic guitar, which is beneficial to Mr. Phillips's (I read this in an Amazon review a long time ago and its such a perfect phrase) honey-dipped voice.
Unlucky Seven... I think this one is songs that didn't make it onto another album. Regardless, it's still really good -- a bit heavier than his other albums tend to be.
Secrets of the New Explorers... very adventuresome, electronic-ish music.
Little Bunny Foo Foo... is not easily explained... at least, not effectively.
Anyway, all very amazing music. Listen to Glen Phillips, listen to Toad the Wet Sprocket, listen to WPA.

Let's see, what else...

Aaaalmost halfway through the quarter. College is very draining, I want it to be summer. I suppose I'll survive until then; must just keep drinking tea and smoking my pipe and try to write in my blog more often.

Well, now I've gone and made myself sleepy, and the Harry Potter movie I was watching is only about two thirds of the way through... dang it... AND I have art history to study.

Until next time then... toodles.

Ruskie Illustrators

I think I should try to make my blog more natural. Towards that end, this post will be on Russian Illustrators.

So, lately, as I've researched art, I've been focusing more on illustrators. It turns out that Russians have a unique, pleasant, and refreshingly simple style when it comes to illustrations. They tend to color sizable areas in a single, well-chosen color that often contrasts nicely with those around it. Also, they are very liberal with their outlines; I find that very alluring. Together, these things make for a delightful, fantasy-esque style. Of course, they can't be stereotyped. Russian illustrators are as original and creative as any, (except the English who had the Pre-Raphaelites AND Rackham among a host of others).

The picture below is by Bilibin. I think his work is a wonderful representation of that Russian style. This picture is an illustration for a folk tale about the witch, Baba Yaga, and Vasilisa the Beautiful. I especially like the house's chicken legs. I wish I knew the story. If I did I'd tell you. Now, though, I don't have the time to find out, and I'll probably be lazy and forget later.

Skool Dayz

Two weeks down and a mere eight to go. Classes have been pretty exciting and fun so far. English has been lots of trips to the library for lectures. Art history has been all I could hope for; amazingly fun. Last week we had a jeopardy game, in which our class split into teams AND the team I was on one it! Yay! We got some year-old candy. Science has been terribly, empirically, scientifically boring but I have been enjoying parts of it. We've gotten to core trees which turned out to be amazingly fun, and I've been studying with a business major, ROTC prospect named Taylor, which has been very diverting. Anyway, lots to do but I'm enjoying this lovely fall quarter.

The Way Boating Should Be

Last Sunday my brother and I took a kayak trip up a narrow stretch of Lake Mayfield. It was one of those precious, rare trips that is absolutely perfect in every respect. The sky was covered by a layer of fluffy grey cloud through which the sun could only cast a dull, soft light. The air was barely warm and every so often a chill would blow across the lake, which was oddly refreshing. As for the lake itself, the region where we went was confined by forests and cliffs where the water passage was narrow and deep and still.

Chris, my brother, was nervous. He hasn't often been in a kayak and he was afraid the wakes from the motorboats would prove.... difficult.... to pass through. Ironically, the first wake we hit was the worst for him. I hit it first, it was fairly large, but, really now, that's what makes wakes so much fun. Anyway, I got through it with no trouble. Somehow though, Chris failed to clear it and ended up.... in it. He didn't capsize but was fairly thoroughly soaked. A fact he reminded me of throughout the rest of the trip.

Unlike Chris, my low point occurred on land. I had gotten out at a spot where a short steep climb put me on the edge of a pretty cool landslide. I climbed up a little ways and found myself brushing through nettles, which hurt and itched for quite a while after.

Now, specifically for Mrs. Jones, my most devoted and encouraging reader: You must come with me sometime. Despite the risks, I cannot think of anything more fun than going on a kayak trip with you. We can even take a thermos of tea along and have a tea party on the water.