TGIF!

Ahh it's Friday!!! That means it's time for a new addition to my blog called 'Flashback Friday'. Basically every Friday I'm just going to take a nice drive down my lovely, tree-lined, Memory Lane and see what I can come up with :)

I'm flat on my back on my bed, too tired to move except for my fingers along the keyboard. I just started thinking about this one time I hung out with Jordan and we went to the store and bought stuff to make brownies. Then we went to block-buster and rented The Darjeeling limited. After that we went back to her house and ate delicious brownies with chocolate frosting and I almost spilled milk on her couch. Or maybe I did spill it. I don't remember. But let that be a lesson, never let me eat anywhere except for the table. I may seem grown-up enough at seventeen to handle the responsibility of eating on the couch or the floor for instance, but I'm not. I still make a mess. I'll beg and plead but stay strong, just tell me "no." and kindly re-direct me to my spot at the kitchen table, tying on my bib as you go. So anyways, spilled milk or not (which there's no use crying over. Sorry just a small joke) we watched the movie. It was a good movie. I was ignorant at the time that I had actually just seen my first indie flick. All I knew at the time was that I'd never seen any other movie quite like it. Fast-forward to now and indie films or foreign films pretty much dominate my dvd collection. Wow. I've come so far. Almost makes me smile to think of that silly, ignorant girl from a year ago that had never watched, let alone heard of 'Moliére' or 'I've Loved You So Long', or any other movie that wasn't playing at a local movie theater. Now of course I have to go into D.C. if I want to see a decent indie or foreign film. No art houses or cinema arts theaters in this area, that's for sure. Speaking of good movies, I'm so so so so excited to see "Where The Wild Things Are". It's going to be so spectacular. I haven't been this excited to see a movie since July when Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince finally came out. Ok well I'm feel slightly more energized now. I'm going to attempt to tackle some more español homework.

Have a splendid weekend loves.

Forget and not slow down

I did something good today. I also did something really hard today. I'm just gonna tell the story as I remember parts.

Ok so basically, I needed Pete (my swim coach. yes, I know I'm not swimming but he'll always be my coach) to sign a form that I was sending in to the league so that I could receive my Scholar-Athlete award for last school year. A coach's signature is required. Well I thought it'd be really tacky to just be like, "Oh, hey Pete, I know I quit swimming and haven't talked to you in about two months but, would you sign my scholar athlete form?" So I sent him an e-mail asking if I could stop by to just talk with him about my life and where I am with my swimming right now. I did mention that I needed him to sign the form. But I figured he wouldn't mind. He e-mailed me back right away and said that would be great. So off I went to "practice" this afternoon. I don't know why, but I purposely scheduled my meeting with Pete to be at 2:15. I guess I figured we'd finish around 2:45 and then people would've started arriving for practice so then I could see my friends. On the way there, I was excited to see Pete and everyone else, but I was afraid I might start crying. I always cry in my meetings with Pete. Ha. Do not ask me why. I have no idea. I guess I was also afraid that, oh I don't know, that maybe walking into the club I might become overpowered by the smell of chlorine and want to leap into the pool and start practice right then and there. So it was with mostly excitement and a little trepidation that I walked into the club. The first thing I noticed was that there was someone new at the front desk. Nina and the other grouchy ladies weren't anywhere in sight. I swiped my card and walked through the locker rooms onto the pool deck. I figured Pete was probably in his swim office. (The one on the pool deck) Sure enough he was in there. It was great seeing him and we had a good talk about swimming, and just college in general. I didn't even feel the urge to cry at all. So that was nice. We finished our meeting and I walked out into the main part of the club. Kendall was walking in, so I gave her a hug and we walked to the locker room together. It was strange because being in Pete's office, the pool deck, and the locker room, I honestly felt like no time had passed since I'd last been there. Anyways, I got to see Kate, Mandy, Hannah, Christina, Tori, Ben, well basically everyone. You get the idea. And it was really great seeing them. After a few minutes of visiting with them it was time to go. I stepped outside and my heart gave a little twinge. But it wasn't a twinge of regret, more like a twinge of nostalgia, of what used to be. I'd always known I would miss the people waaayy more than I would miss the swimming itself. I guess I didn't realize just how much I'd miss them, even Ben, until I saw them again. But it was good. Because as I climbed into the car, their was no regret for my decision. Only fond memories. And through all of that, I found some closure.

I don't know what God has in store for my swimming in college. I'm just trying to stay open to whatever. I wish it was as easy to do as it is to say.

Trash the Dress Photo shoot!

For those of you who have never heard of brides "Trashing the Dress" just google it. I'm too tired to explain what it is . . . BUT here are a few of my favorite pictures from my TtD shoot with Em :)

Enjoy! (Hopefully)

Keep Your Eyes Peeled!

Hey there, I have awesome news! Two exciting things will be happening in the near future! Firstly I will be posting an entry with a couple of shots from Em's trash the dress photo shoot! I'll write about that later :) another exciting event is a new blog to keep an eye out for! It will be called 'The Pudge Chronicles' and it will give a glimpse into the inner workings of the mind of my 6 year old sister. It may be scary, or hilarious, or both at the same time. You'll just never know. She will be writing, as dictated to me so you can rest assured, this blog will be 100% unadulterated sass! Can't wait to get started!

Anyways, have a lovely day! I'm off to study as I'm now up to my ears in Spanish vocab flash cards.

A rant of exhaustion. p.s. it's been a while . . .

I was hoping that if I just started typing, inspiration would strike and I'd finally have something to say. I should have quite a lot, I mean, my last post was what, June yeah? Pathetic. So many things have happened since then and I can't find two seconds to talk about it? Maybe I just need to think of something completely useless to blather on about right now . . . Um, well actually I was quite ready to talk about Saosin's new album. Jake burned a copy for me today. Except there's a mosquito somewhere in my room so now I'm too creeped out to really offer a decent album review. Ok so I know what you're thinking, "How can she be typing this if she's so distracted by the mosquito?" But I'll have you know I'm slapping random body parts every other second or so in the hopes that I may squish it if it has indeed decided to suck my blood. Also, I realize that were I to give an album review it wouldn't actually inform you of much because I don't have any actual experience as a music critic. Ok well, now that my original topic is trashed I guess I'll talk about something else. But see now the inspiration is gone. I don't know what to write. I'm too tired to be sarcastic or witty, and I'm just not feeling the serious side of myself right now. (It does in fact exist by the way.) To be honest I feel completely lazy and lethargic. I think the lethargy stems from my poor diet though. I'm trying to not be a fat ex-swimmer. But it's difficult. I don't think people quite understand just how gigantic my sweet tooth is. Some people hate soda. I envy them that. I haven't met a soft-drink I didn't like. With the exception of Mountain Dew of course. Vile, repulsive stuff. Hang on a moment, I just had a brilliant idea. This is what I will do: I will ask my mother to stop buying coke, cream soda, root beer, sprite, pepsi, grape soda, orange soda, and birch beer, and buy only mountain dew instead. I'll have no option but to stop drinking soda as I refuse to let that cursed liquid touch my lips for even an instant. Perfect. I will also take up pilates I believe. Except I don't actually know how to do pilates. But I'll learn! Anything to keep from . . . running *shivers*. Wow, amazing how a rant about mosquitos, soda, and pilates can lift me from my state of lethargy to an absolutely energized mood. Perfect timing since I need sleep . . . let this be a lesson kids. No blogging before bed.

Goodnight! <3

Some MUCH needed encouragement . . .

I really really love Natalie Grant. Like a lot. I love her songs and this morning I was reading my Bible and praying and just crying because I was so overwhelmed with life in general, and then the song " In Better Hands" came on the radio. Just listening to the lyrics helped me so much. So I figured I'd post them here :)

"In Better Hands"

It's hard to stand
On shifting sand
It's hard to shine
In the shadows of the night
You can't be free
If you don't reach for help
And you can't love
If you don't love yourself
But there is hope when my faith runs out...
Cuz I'm in better hands now

It's like the sun is shining
When the rain is pourin' down
It's like my soul is flying
Though my feet are on the ground
So take this heart of mine
There's no doubt
I'm in better hands now

I am strong
All because of you
I stand in awe of
Every mountain that you move
I am changed
Yesterday is gone
I am safe
From this moment on...
And there's no fear when the night comes 'round
I'm in better hands now


It's like the sun is shining
When the rain is pourin' down
It's like my soul is flying
Though my feet are on the ground
It's like the world is silent
Though I know it isn't true
It's like the breath of Jesus
Is right here in this room
So take this heart of mine
There's no doubt

You can't be saved
If you're not reaching out for help

Clap your hands, say "yeah".

Okaaayyy. So. Listen up people, I've an announcement to make. I realize that very few people actually waste their lives away reading this blog. However, for some of the poor schmucks that do, I thought it would be best to implement a new strategy as far as comments go and it works like this: If it just so happens that you read a post and are stirred enough to leave a comment, DO NOT leave the comment on my blog. I won't see it. It will disappear. I don't know what the problem is exactly with my blog and why the comments don't show up, but there you have it. Instead please please please still leave a comment for me! Just comment me via a facebook wall post (or message if you prefer) instead. If you're not my friend on facebook then I would have one of two questions for you. If I know you then my question would be, "Why the heck aren't we friends on facebook??" and if I don't know you then my question would be, "Why the heck are you reading my blog??" I mean, I realize I have a natural tendency towards the midly entertaining on a reasonably frequent basis but really? It's not that great. Just look at the fact that my most recent post was the first one in a month. Pathetic. Ok I fear that if I go on I will veer completely off topic. If I haven't already, that is. So I'll just remind everyone one last time:

If you do have a comment leave it on my facebook wall or message me. Don't leave the comment on here. Neither of us will have the pleasure of seeing it show up . . .

Ok that's all for now lovelys.

Doughnuts! And other rambling thoughts . . .

Ok so my absolute favorite thing to eat for breakfast besides cereal, bagels, and bacon, is DOUGHNUTS! Every Friday morning after swim practice I go to shoppers and buy a dozen colossal doughnuts.

 At first it was reasonable enough because there's 8 people in my family so it makes sense. I would eat two at the most. Well now I have 3 family members who have decided not to eat doughnuts due to my sister's upcoming wedding in July, and 3 family members who have decided they "just don't like doughnuts anymore . . ." This leaves my mom and I to eat the doughnuts, and you'd think since there's only two of us we'd stop buying a dozen doughnuts. Oh no, instead we just have contests to see who can eat more. (I'm winning with 7 right now.) And if you thinks that's amazing check out this doughnut tower!

Anyways . . . so yeah doughnuts just make me so happy that I just felt the need to share that with you :)

On to something else . . . DISNEY CHANNEL ORIGINAL MOVIES! I'm talking about the good movies. Not the sorry excuse for a disney channel movie that they have now. I mean, back in the day, Disney channel movies taught valuable life lessons about things like failure, and pain, and dealt with issues like racism. Now they all run the same, common, (and STUPID) thread. Boy/Girl isn't cool. Has two best friends (why are they always in THREES??????) Usually is two boys/ one girl or two girls/ one boy. Wants to be popular/ be the boyfriend/girlfriend of the cool, popular, jock/cheerleader. One of the best friends is secretly in love with them. They don't know it. Boy or Girl ends up doing something stupid in a quest for popularity. Alienates best friends. Spends the rest of the movie trying to make amends and in the process figures out that 1) being yourself if better than trying to be what you're not and being "popular" is relative and 2) FINALLY realizes the reason his or her best friend has been drooling like a baby through the whole movie is because his or her best friend is secretly in love with them. Cue credits. 

WHAT THE HECK!!!! I mean, I'm not saying these aren't valuable things to learn. Because really, yeah, you shouldn't CARE what everyone thinks of you. But that lesson has been taught. And learned. Move on please! 

I have to go read a billion pages of history now, but keep an eye out for my list of the best Disney Channel movies of all time.

I'm sorry professor moncada, this may or may not be grammatically correct.

Blah! That's how I feel right now. I'm a loser typing on a laptop running on reserve battery but I can't go to sleep because my sister is home from school on Easter break and since I have an adopted brother and sister there's a shortage of beds which means . . . I have to share. I'm sorry, I love my sister but I hate sharing my bed. It's extremely comfortable because the mattress is relatively new. I'm also more than comfortable admitting I'm a cover hog. But because I give fair warning, you are not allowed to complain about that come morning (*cough* Em *cough*)

SOOOOOOOOOO since sleep seems to be eluding me I'm just going to tell you about a recent dream I had. I was standing in the middle of a fountain in Central Park, although I'm pretty sure this particular fountain does not exist . . .

*Going to bed. And yes, I have to share it still *shudder* I will finish this later. Hey! Don't get so mad! It's what writer's call a cliffhanger albeit mine is a horrendous example*

Stranger than fiction . . . Is that really what it means??

I hate writing under someone else's terms and conditions. That's why I'll never be a published author. My editor would be calling me day and night saying "Where's the book? Your contract has the book coming out in (enter date here)!" It's certainly not because I don't have enough good ideas. Oh I definitely do. For instance, my first book would be a love story about a woman named Maclene Macaroni (Mac for short) torn between the two men in her life, (Sauce Marinera and Cheese Velveeta.) Mac would of course, in the end choose Cheese Velveeta, because in her shallow form of thinking, Mac and Cheese sounds better together than Mac and Sauce. The next book would focus on the jilted Sauce Marinera. He has vowed to never love another noodle, er, woman again. But then Penne comes into his life, changing his outlook on life and love . . .

Erm . . . Ok so maybe not. Fiction has never been my strongsuit. But honestly, I think real life is stranger than fiction most days . . .

But you know, speaking of writing . . . the English language is wonderful and complex, and when translated into other languages can have disasterous meanings as seen in the next examples:

• Coors put its slogan, "Turn it loose," into Spanish, where it was read as "Suffer from diarrhea".

• Scandinavian vacuum manufacturer Electrolux used the following in an American campaign: Nothing sucks like an Electrolux.

• In Chinese, the Kentucky Fried Chicken slogan "finger-lickin' good" came out as "eat your fingers off".

• The American slogan for Salem cigarettes, "Salem-Feeling Free", was translated into the Japanese market as "When smoking Salem, you will feel so refreshed that your mind seems to be free and empty".

• When Gerber started selling baby food in Africa, they used the same packaging as in the US, with the beautiful Caucasian baby on the label. Later they learned that in Africa, companies routinely put pictures on the label of what's inside, since most people can't read English.

• Colgate introduced a toothpaste in France called Cue, the name of a notorious porno magazine.

• In Italy, a campaign for Schweppes Tonic Water translated the name into "Schweppes Toilet Water".

• Pepsi's "Come alive with the Pepsi Generation" translated into "Pepsi brings your ancestors back from the grave", in Chinese.

• Frank Perdue's chicken slogan, "it takes a strong man to make a tender chicken" was translated into Spanish as "it takes an aroused man to make a chicken affectionate".

• When Parker Pen marketed a ball-point pen in Mexico, its ads were supposed to have read, "it won't leak in your pocket and embarrass you". Instead, the company thought that the word "embarazar" (to impregnate) meant to embarrass, so the ad read: "It won't leak in your pocket and make you pregnant".

• The Coca-Cola name in China was first read as "Ke-kou-ke-la", meaning "Bite the wax tadpole" or "female horse stuffed with wax", depending on the dialect. Coke then researched 40,000 characters to find a phonetic equivalent "ko-kou-ko-le", translating into "happiness in the mouth".

kudos to Fridayfun.com for digging those up :)

Hi my name is . . .

If you're reading this it's probably for the exact same reason that I'm writing this: B-O-R-E-D-O-M. I'm not one for lengthy introductions and if you are reading this blog it probably means that you know me fairly well so there's no reason to tell you who I am. But just in case some poor schmuck stumbled upon this by happenstance, I will introduce myself briefly before rambling on about whatever the heck I feel like. My name is Isa. It rhymes with Lisa. My real name is Elisabeth but no one calls me that except my mother when I have exasperated her beyond belief . . .

Now that you know my name, it's really not necessary to tell you anything else about myself at this point in time because either:

1) You were under the impression that you were reading your friend Bob's blog. In which case you can now stop reading.

2) You already know me in which case all the details about myself would provide for extremely tedious reading.

My mother is now calling for me. She's calling me Elisabeth. I don't know what I've done but I have a feeling it's going to involve house cleaning . . .

This post was shorter than I planned but maybe I'm just being merciful to the person who still has not realized that Bob's url is one letter different than mine . . .