the ULtimate end to a day...

i'm so proud of my 

best bud!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

more details to come...

tag.

i've been tagged by a dear friend! here are the instructions on the tag:

"go to your documents folder (or wherever you store your photos) and go to your 6th picture folder, then go to the 6th picture in that folder and post it on your blog. tell a story about it."

this pic was taken on my birthday in 2008 outside of mr. chopsticks in denton (funny how we can remember specifics for certain things).  i had just had lunch with my very best friend at my favorite little italian dive, and he had just given me my birthday present:  an ipod shuffle that we immediately named cuthbert the weepod.  since i tend to document everything in photos, i snapped a picture from inside my school bag (notice the post-it flags) while waiting in the car for another friend to arrive for another birthday celebration.  


that's that.  


tag fulfilled.

the post never created...

i wrote this days ago while sitting in a library, waiting on my next class to begin.

yesterday was a debacle.  i went to vote in the primary for an upcoming local election.

i always vote.  early.  i'm the perfect voting citizen; i show up early, current voter registration card in hand, with a smile on my face.  i'm always polite to the poll workers, even when they can't seem to figure out the computer.

i've voted in every election--local, state, and national--since i turned eighteen.  i've braved horrifically long lines, freezing temperatures, snow, and really rude people to exercise my civic duty and make my voice heard.  my voting experiences have always been good.  until now.

for nine years, my early voting location has been the same.  yesterday, i crawl out of bed, grab my registration card, brave the cold, and head to the polls.

but they weren't there.

being a responsible voter, i called the number on my registration card, discovered that the location had been moved, and drove to it.  i knew as soon as i heard the new location that voting was not going to be fun.

upon pulling into the parking lot, i saw two rather disheartening things:  sleazy politicians out to shake hands and kiss babies in a desperate attempt for some last minute additions to their constituencies, and something even worse:  geese.

i am terrified of geese.  they're shifty and untrustworthy.  the new polling location, a charming stone building next to an idyllic pond, was teeming with them.

after parking and making sure that the coast was clear, i hopped out and ran inside.  i was greeted by a friendly older woman who could not get my card to scan and required the help of three other poll workers.  eventually, it worked and i was asked the question i dread and consider a violation of my civil liberties:  which party primary do you want to vote in?

if our votes are supposed to be private, why do i, a true independent, have to publically declare allegiance to a party, have that announced allegiance go into the official record, and have my clean, beautiful card stamped?

i don't wish to be the member of any party.  i enjoy the autonomy of being an independent voter and thinker.  when i vote, there's no pressure to tow the party line.  instead, the pressure is to choose the candidate that best suits the job, regardless of the party they are affiliated with.

so why, then, must i be put into a box and stamped "rep" or "dem"?  why does my county/state need to "know" my political affiliations?  why is it okay to ask someone voting in a primary who they're voting for, but not okay during the general election?  what's the difference between the two?

that was the beginning.  it went downhill from there.  i successfully cast my vote, walked out the door, and attempted to shrug off the box i'd just been forced into.  i rounded the corner to my car and was struck dumb by what i found:  a gaggle of geese had surrounded my vehicle.

they stood there, necks outstretched, chests puffed up, feathers ruffled, making the most horrific sound i'd ever heard, taunting me.  i couldn't.  i just couldn't.  

so i stood there.  paralyzed.  waiting.  thinking that surely they would grow bored and waddle away.  but no.

our standoff continued for several minutes.  i stood, wishing i could take the whole experience back, wishing i wasn't a good voter who had left her cell phone in the car according to polling rules.  i was helpless against what i consider to be a vicious enemy.

finally, a car pulled up right next the mine and the gentleman who got out shooed them away.  the rabid geese, plan then foiled, shuffled away.

i got in the car as quickly as i could and locked the doors.

i needed to relieve some stress, so i headed to the place where my creativity is always sparked:  the grocery store.

some look at grocery shopping as a dull, meaningless chore.  i don't.  i look at it as exciting.  a challenge to create and explore.

while there figuring our what to make for dinner, i decided to see if they could order a sodium free variety of a brand they carry.  my dad is on an uber-low sodium diet, and finding packaged food for him is a bit of a challenge, so to find out that my local grocery store might be able to carry this product filled me with glee.

this grocery store is always a happy place.the employees are nice, helpful, and funny.  but this was a different kind of day.

i asked my question and, without a word, was handed a customer survey.  i filled it out and started to hand it back when the woman behind the counter snatched it from my hands, turned around, went into the office, and began eating cheetos.

i left.  disgruntled and confused.

when i got home, i collapsed in a heap.

why do i even try?!

music...

The rules: list 50 records you can listen to start to finish and why. They don't have to be your favorite or in any particular order.

1. Cake - Fashion Nugget the why is easy--i f-ing love cake.  it was hard to pick just one album to include.
2. Adele - 19  one word:  brilliant.
3. Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill  reminds me of middle school--i still know every word.
4. Ali Farka Toure - In the Heart of the Moon  absolutely beautiful music.  i grade to it all the time.
5. Amos Lee - Amos Lee  see "why" for number 1.
6. Anna Nalick - Wreck of the Day  brilliant songwriter.
7. Asa - Asa  political music at its best.
8. Barenaked Ladies - Stunt  reminds me of the fun times i had in high school theatre.
9. Ben Folds - Way to Normal  hands down one of the best artists ever--and a really great concert to go to!
10. Better than Ezra - Greatest Hits  they make me happy.  enough said.
11. Brad Paisley - 5th Gear  see "why" for number 1.
12. Camille - Le Fil  she's the french bjork--the music is interesting and fun.
13. Ceu - Ceu  because i wish i spoke portuguese fluently.
14. Chico Science and Nação Zumbi - De Lama Ao Caos  i was exposed to this group my first semester of college.  it was new and fascinating.  i still love it.
15. Damien Rice - O  wow.  just wow.
16. Eli Young Band - Level  i'm totally this band's groupie. see "why" for number 1.
17. Flobots - Fight With Tools  this album got me through a tumultuous first semester of teaching.  it contains hope.
18. The Fratellis - Costello Music  british punk.  need i say more?
19. Goldfinger - Stomping Ground  more than any of the other artists/songs that remind me of him, this album defines my relationship with my best bud.
20. Green Day - Warning  five words:  i wanna be the minority.
21. Hank Williams - The Complete Hank Williams  this is where i come from.  what i grew up listening to.

22.  Jack Johnson - Brushfire Fairytales  absolutely fabulous songwriter. see "why" for number 1.
23.  Jason Mraz - Mr. A-Z  it's fun.  he's great. 
24. Jimi Hendrix - Blues  because there are few things better than hendrix's "red house".
25. Joss Stone - The Soul Sessions  this album reminds me of sitting for hours on end in the eesat building on campus reading and studying.

26. Kate Nash - Made of Bricks  a delightful brit with a potty mouth. 

27. The Kinks - Village Green Preservation Society  i love it.  isn't that enough?

28. Live - Throwing Copper  reminds me of my sister.

29. Macaco - Ingravito  i long to be spicy and latin.

30. Maroon 5 - Songs About Jane  makes me remember the good times my best bud and i had while living together.

31. Massive Attack - Mezzanine  makes me focus--another grading fave.

32. MC Solaar - Chaptire 7  french rap.  what more is there to say?

33. Melody Gardot - Worrisome Heart  the best contemporary jazz i've heard in a while.

34. Muddy Waters - The Best of Muddy Waters  there is no blues without muddy waters.

35. Muse - Black Holes and Revelations  a new favorite.  it just rocks.

36. Nikka Costa - Can'tneverdidnothing  fun.

37. Orishas - El Kilo  cute latin boys rapping.

38. Otis Redding - The Very Best of Otis Redding  i don't know what i would do without otis.

39. Panjabi MC - Beware  panjabi rap.  AWESOME!

40. Patsy Cline - The Patsy Cline Collection  reminds me of being a little kid and cleaning the house with mom on saturday mornings.

41. Poe - Haunted  cool artist.  cool album.

42. Queen - The A-Z of Queen  because its freddy mercury and no one could rock an argyle bodysuit quite like him.

43. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magic  reminds me of my sister.

44. Red Violin Soundtrack  great music from a great film.

45. Slumdog Millionaire Soundtrack  because it's great.

46. Sam Cooke - Portrait of a Legend  what album list would be complete without sam cooke?

47. Stevie Wonder - Number 1s  see "why" for number 1.

48. Train - Save Me, San Francisco  see "why" for number 1.

49. Willie Nelson - Texas in My Soul  because there are few things on earth as good as willie nelson singing blue eyes crying in the rain.

50. Ximena Sarinana - Mediocre  she's awesome.

Honorable mentions:

Taxi Amarillo - Taxi Amarillo 

Zap Mama - A Ma Zone

Zac Brown Band - The Foundation

The Wombats - A Guide to Love, Loss, and Desperation

Ella Fitzgerald - The Complete Ella Fitzgerald Songbook

snow and inspiration.

it's snowing.  

i love snow.  it reminds me of so many good things.  there's something transcendent about it.  ethereal.  

snow is quiet and calm, floating to the ground softly where it changes the look of the earth.

it reminds me of home.  of being in the presence of those who love me.  of comfort.  of warmth.  of being loved.

so even though it's snowing and lovely outside, i'm uninspired.  i can't seem to make myself write.   nothing is riding on my ability to pen my thoughts, but i want to put my thoughts down.  

i hope that when i go home today to sit quietly by the fire and watch the snow inspiration will strike.  i hope.  snow, please don't fail me.

one of my favorite songs expresses my feelings about snow better than i ever could--not the lyrics, but the music.  it, in a few short minutes, demonstrates everything that snow is: quiet, soft, calm, peaceful, joyful.

give it a listen.

"snow" - amie miriello

remember--it's not the lyrics.  it's the music.

nods and noms.

2010 oscar nominations came out today.  overall, they are as expected.  here's the list, including who i would love to see win (in green) and who i predict will win (in blue):

best picture:

avatar
hurt locker
inglourious basterds
precious
up in the sir
up
invictus
blind side
district 9
an education
a serious man


best director
james cameron - avatar
kathryn bigelow - the hurt locker
quentin tarantino - inglourious basterds
lee daniels - precious
jason reitman - up in the air

best actor in a leading role:
jeff bridges in crazy heart (win)
george clooney in up in the air
colin firth in a single man
morgan freeman in invictus
jeremy renner in the hurt locker


best actor in a supporting role:
matt damon in invictus
woody harrelson in the messenger
christopher plummer in the last station
stanley tucci in the lovely bones
christoph waltz in inglourious basterds (win)

best actress in a leading role:
sandra bullock in the blind side
helen mirren in the last station
carey mulligan in an education
gabourey sidibe in precious
meryl streep in julie & julia


best actress in a supporting role:
penelope cruz in nine
vera farmiga in up in the air
maggie gyllenhaal in crazy heart
anna kendrick in up in the air
monique in precious

best animated feature film of the year:
coraline
fantastic mr. fox
the princess and the frog
the secret of kells
up


achievement in art direction:
avatar (win)
the imaginarium of doctor parnassus
nine
sherlock holmes
the young victoria

achievement in cinematography:
avatar
harry potter and the half-blood prince
the hurt locker
inglourious basterds
the white ribbon

achievement in visual effects:
avatar 
district 9
star trek


best original screenplay:
the hurt locker
inglourious basterds (win)
the messenger
a serious man
up


best original score:
avatar
fantastic mr. fox
the hurt locker
sherlock holmes
up


i guess i'll just have to keep my fingers crossed until 3/7!

firsts.

today is a first.  

the semester started.  the first day.  

first days are hard.  they go be very fast, yet very slowly.  they leave you feeling content, anxious, exhilarated, exhausted.

but i guess all firsts do that.  think back to the first time you drove by yourself.  or the first time you lived alone.  or your first day of high school.  or college.

while today isn't the first time i've taught, i'm still left feeling all of those things.  

firsts are hard.  

no matter how many times you've had them.