Here's To What's Left

Welcome to my day today. I have been sitting here in my leggings and oversized t-shirt with my bed head hair and relieved eyes from no contacts doing my homework, which I dreaded doing all break. So now I'm doing it. Except for now, obviously. For two hours I have been listening to an interview I had done awhile ago with my neighbor and typing it up . . . it's glorious work. The interview had some good things to say, however, so it hasn't been all tedious. And, I worked on my Art History study guide for my final this week which wasn't tedious either. I actually learned (gasp, right?) some very, very interesting things, and it reminds me how much I really do love just sitting and studying.

I keep wondering if I'm dreading school tomorrow because I'm conditioned to be that way or because I love sleeping in oh, so much. Either way, tomorrow's Thursday and then the weekend which allows me to do more of my procrastinated work. The Christmas break has been magnificent, I can't lie, and I'll truly miss it as I always do. It's hard to go back to the grime, but the grime means a little change and only 5 months until summer.

*I'll write about my break another time . . . as you can see, there's still much more to do. Until next time. (:

Strandbeest- Theo Jansen

This is absolutely amazing to me. How he gets them to work, I still don't understand, but the fact that they do work blows my mind. Theo Jansen is so inventive, creative, and unique in his thinking- it's inspiring.

I had to look this up for Art History and answer the question is this a sculpture. I'm interested- what are some opinions? If you want to comment below or simply email me- that would be really cool!

sidneybrocious@hotmail.com

Joy To The World

It snowed this weekend, and I can honestly say I am happy about it. I even don't mind the coldness very much (and that's saying something. . . Sometimes I get so cold the goosebumps hurt) because it means I get to whip out my tights and dresses and sweaters and pea coats- oh, how I love pea coats- and I get to read books and drink hot chocolate with toast. Mmmmm (:

Also, front runner opened on Saturday, and so my mother and I decided to spend our morning trying it out. It was so great!! It felt like I was back in Chicago riding the train- nostalgia, really.

Anyhow, my weekend was a good one. I hope your weekends were too. Off to another week of school and work; just one more before the blessed Christmas Break!

Take a good look at that photo. . . It made me laugh so hard tears came out of my eyes. Seriously. Christmas time makes me so happy, sometimes I just want to yell out, "Joy to the world!!!!" but really.

Youth- Daughter

Featherstone- The Paper Kites

Either Way- Beta Radio

Music is indeed enjoyable. 

To Get There

Sometimes, I really, really want to be . . . . 

But last night, as I was driving home, I didn't want to be there. I was content with where I was or where I am now. I live in a beautiful place, with beautiful people who love me, care about me, and support me- even when I'm dumb and don't listen because let's be honest, I rarely listen. Life is beautiful, and American Fork still needs to provide more experiences for my life to evolve into the future.

 Eventually, I'll get to where I want to go, but right now I have to get there. And that's right here.

Simply Good

Today was a good day- I thought I'd just let you know.
I didn't think that I was going to say that earlier today during school, as I was trying not to fall asleep.
For some reason going to bed at 7 o'clock last night didn't re-energize me this morning, and during french, I legitimately thought I was going to fall out of my desk, face first, and faint of exhaustion.
I'll let you in on a detail: I didn't!! Yay for that, right?

Let me tell you what made today good. It's nothing special, really, but I feel it good to share.

First, Seminary. Seminary is just good- it has a simple spirit if invited in, and the day really does go better when I'm receptive and teachable. Today, the lesson really taught me a lot about myself and gave me a head on what I needed my attitude to be for the day.

Second, a little bit the same as the first. . . I was asked to share a New Testiment story about one of the miracles of Jesus in an upcoming seminary assembly. Today was the first meeting, and even though the way I am to present the story isn't my cup of tea or in anyway my area of expertise (my creative writing skills really lack), it will be good. Sometimes it's time to be stretched, and, I guess, this is one of the ways that my Father wants to stretch me. It'll take time and preparation and prayer and thought and trust, but I know I'll come out a better person. It will give me ground in an area that at the moment I'm struggling with, and it gave me direction to go- something to focus on. I guess, ultimately, the meeting today taught me that there's a plan out there in the big scheme of things, and I play my part in it. This is a small part, but a part nonetheless, and it's going to teach and develop me in a way that I know I'll come to thank later. 

Third, my homework was easy today, and that's saying something because math was on the agenda. I got my homework done in a matter of an hour and a half, and that feels good. It leaves me time to do the things I want. Just a little tender mercy, I guess.

Fourth, Pandora is just a great, great thing. Specifically, the acoustic guitar station on Pandora is wonderful, and I've been listening to it for the past little while. So calm, so peaceful, so good. 

Today, the simple things made me happy, And, as I think about it, the simple things are always what make me feel happy. So, just a little advice from me if you want it, go do something simple- listen to a good song, read an article or short story that makes you happy, change your attitude just a little to be positive (and for me, the best way to do that is read my scriptures), simplify your day as much as you can to lighten your mind. It works- and it is good. It feels oh, so good!

Macklemore

Sydney Thompson- a friend (:- showed me Macklemore this past weekend. I honestly really love him. Except for maybe Thrift Shop. . . However, the one below is probably my favorite.

Apologies for the colorful language and touchy subject- he has a deeper meaning.

In Light of the Holiday

 Thanksgiving is such a grand holiday, so I better start out by saying that I'm grateful for it. . . And food. (: I am so, so, so very grateful for food because believe it or not, I'd die with out it. But seriously. My family and I, along with our family friend Sydney Thompson, went to my Aunt Julie's house. Julie, honestly, is the best cook I know. My mom, on the other hand, is the best pie maker I know. My mouth is just watering from thinking about her pecan pie- so good! It was also good to spend the day with family, so I'm just going to say I'm grateful for them too. Who else would I have crazy dance parties with? Which, those dance parties, I'm grateful for because they burn the tons of calories I intake (I love food, remember?). . . I should probably still run, which I need to do. . . Anyway! This Thanksgiving was such a good one, as it always is.

 At about 9, my neighbor Kimberly called me asking if I'd be her partner in Black Friday shopping- she was leaving at 11:30.
"Oh, sure," I told her.
By 11, I had finished watching Inception and was so tired. I laid in my bed trying not to fall asleep; waiting for 11:30. I don't know how I woke up to it, but when Kimberly texted me that she was outside, I woke up, got my shoes on, and headed out the door. Nonetheless, I was so out of it (The next day, I was trying to remember some of the things I told Kimberly, and I couldn't. Um, yeah, hoping it wasn't too embarrassing). Anyway, the only place Kimberly wanted to go was Jo-Ann's, but when we got there, not a single car was in the parking lot.
"I thought it opened at midnight," Kimberly said.
Searching her phone, we found that it actually opened at 6am the next morning or I guess that morning. . . . A little put out, and kind of humored, we decided we would try Kohl's. After getting there and seeing the enormous, snaked line and the police control, we decided that Black Friday wasn't worth it, and we headed home. Despite, our slightly failed attempt to take on rare deals, I got a great night's sleep that night. (:

In light of the Thanksgiving Break, it's been absolutely fantastic. I've done nothing but read this book, and let me tell you- it's amazing! So, please, to whomever is reading this, read it!!

I hope everybody had a great Thanksgiving, and is continuing to have an equally great Thanksgiving Break; I officially welcome us all to the most wonderful time of the year. And Christmas music. (: