once in a [red] moon

Look! My sleep schedule is all messed up and I've been napping and unproductive as a result but I got to see THIS! Jess alerted me to the fact that an astronomical phenomena would be visible to both of us so I gladly set my alarm for 3 hours after my bedtime in order to see it. It was so cool! The moon was pretty small so it was a little hard to see (that might have been the sleepiness though) but it was awesome. I thought it would be bright red sooner but it was cool watching the little strip of white fade away. Eclipses are pretty cool! Did you see it??

PS- This is not my picture, my camera is broken and definitely not awesome enough to take pictures of the moon. Although, I did work really hard to find one that looked just like what I saw, so there's that.

good morning

My alarm clock is set for approximately 9 minutes before I have to walk out the door in the morning. There are four class session times at my language school and I have been plagued with the unfortunate horror of having the earliest class for months. If it were summer I would be so glad to be up and out the door during the cool of the morning, but when my bedroom temperature hasn't yet risen above 45 degrees it's a very pitiful start to my day.
It is all made possible by this section of my wardrobe. I blindly stumble out of bed and put on whatever things are in this pile of stuff and brush my teeth as I walk down the (45) stairs to the front door.


The good news is that when class is over by 10:30am I have my whole day in front of me and I'm already out of bed! My usual routine is to come home and eat breakfast, usually something involving yesterday's bread. Then I go change into my roof outfit (an exposition of the several outfit changes I make during the day is sure to come) and take my current reading assignment(s) up to the sunny wonderland that is my roof and read for several hours. I usually take breaks to bask with my eyes closed or peek over the wall and check out the construction next door (which would wake me up every morning even if I could sleep in) or watch my neighbors hang their laundry. After reading until I can't stand it anymore I descend and find ways to be productive in other areas of life, kinda.

I wish I were one of those people who wakes up at 6am every morning, regardless of the day's obligations. I enjoy being up early I just hate the waking up part. A lot. Ask any of my former or current roommates, they'll tell you. But the thing is, I hate waking up at 9am just as much as I hate waking up at 6am. Why don't I just change my routine? Ah, the mysteries of life.

toddlers make the best valentines

Happy Valentine's Day

I'm babysitting. I'm almost always babysitting on Valentine's Day, which is just fine with me. I'm good at babysitting and I love doing things I'm good at. I'm certainly better at babysitting than I am at dating, that's for sure.

I even got a flower and a wink, I'd say I came out ahead. Oh and I'm having (free) sushi tonight. Way ahead!

Babysitting is a funny thing, especially when you're old enough to be the parent of the kids you're watching. It's a pretty great deal. I just wrote "Scooby Doo" on a Magna-Doodle and my little friend hasn't stopped looking at it for over an hour. It almost sent him over the edge when I asked if he wanted to actually watch Scooby Doo. I am so beloved.

Boys are weird. I never understood the concept of playing with guys and cars. And they're all arranged in important ways but it just looks like a pile of dudes and robots but if someone (me) disturbs the order of the tiny universe it is made clear to the universe destroyer (me) that there is in fact a very delicate and specific arrangement for the guys and cars. Who knew? Good news there's a 3 year-old girl to sit on my lap and talk to about her new pink boots while I braid her hair.

Speaking of hair, my hair is officially long again. The definition of long is when I can reach it behind my back without tilting my head back, just so you know. It's almost at the length where I always want to put it in a ponytail but not quite. I always think I like my hair up and that ponytails are cute but whenever I see myself in the mirror (or worse- a photograph) I realize that I look gross with my hair back. Turns out that face-framing thing is legit. I kind of really love my hair here, which is a big surprise. I use a 2-in-1 shampoo and it is perfect for my hair. The bottle of clarifying super de-greasing shampoo that I used in America is still in the shower almost full. Even my hair loves it here and that means a lot.

mutual understanding and freedom from discord

This little wonder has caused about an hour of self-reflection ending with the inevitable submission to the truth of the matter. Moody and depressed. My roommates (current and former) are reading this and laughing out loud at this very moment, be sure. Accurate emotional assessment in 5 minutes or less via The Color Quiz. Take it. Post it.

Your Existing Situation

Works well in cooperation with others. Needs a personal life of mutual understanding and freedom from discord.

Your Stress Sources

Unfulfilled hopes have led to uncertainty and apprehension. Needs to feel secure and to avoid any further disappointment, and fears being passed over or losing standings and prestige. Doubts that things will be any better in the future and this negative attitude leads her to make exaggerated demands and to refuse to make reasonable compromises.

Your Restrained Characteristics

Able to achieve satisfaction through sexual activity but is inclined to be emotionally withdrawn, which prevents her from becoming deeply involved.

Egocentric and therefore quick to take offense. Sensitive and sentimental, but conceals this from all except those very close to him.

Feels that things stand in her way, that circumstances are forcing her to compromise and forgo some pleasures for the time being.

Your Desired Objective

Feels the existing circumstances are hostile and is exhausted by conflict and quarreling. Wishes to protect herself and hides her intentions to avoid exposing them to attack, so that they will be safer and easier to achieve. Careful to avoid stirring up any opposition which might endanger her plans.

Your Actual Problem

Disappointment at the non-fulfillment of her hopes and the fear that to formulate fresh goals will only lead to further setbacks have resulted in considerable anxiety. She tries to escape from this by withdrawing and protecting herself with an attitude of cautious reserve. Moody and depressed.

apparently i'm a crier

I cry every single time I watch this movie.

Every time! I NEVER cry during movies but this one makes me cry every time. The funny thing is that I don't watch it that often so I always forget and then inevitably I start weeping. I think I cry for a different reason every time too, sometimes because of the mom parts, sometimes the dying parts and sometimes the kid parts. Oh man and then when he says, "I'm staying. For good." It's pathetic.


I've been crying a lot in the last year or so. I started crying at the airport when I said goodbye and I haven't really stopped. I've cried more in the last year than probably the last 15 years of my life. I'm making up for lost time, I guess. It's good though, I feel normal. Except for the time I cried during an episode of 24. Only a little.