this is awesome

this is not

It's been a while...

Name: Angela Jo Swope
Single or Taken: oh so single
Eye color: hazel
Shoe size: 11
Height: 5'9"
What are you wearing right now? Pajama pants and my What If shirt
Righty or lefty: righty

FAVORITE
Kind of pants: pajama
Animal: I really miss my dog. But I super heart ducks.
Month: definitely October
Juice: grape
Favorite cartoon: The Jetsons...unless Daria counts

HAVE YOU EVER:
Bungee Jumped? No, but I'd sky dive
Made yourself throw-up? no
Loved someone so much it made you cry? I hate this question
Been in a physical fight? only with family members
Been on a plane: I love flying...for less than 6 hours at a time
Came close to dying: I came close to being shot and put in an african jail! (ha! me too!)
Been in a hot tub: yes
Fallen asleep in school: yes
Broken someone's heart: doubtful
Cried when someone died: usually not until several months later
Fell off your chair: yeah, like, daily
Sat by the phone all night waiting for someone to call: duh
Saved IM conversations: totally
Been cheated on: nope. one of the perks associated with not really dating (agreed)

Do You:
Believe in love at first sight? no
Believe long distance relationships work: how would I know?
Like school: at the moment, yes
Question yourself: constantly
Who was the last person that called you? David
Who makes you smile the most: a 3 year old
Who knows you the best?: totally Cate
Get along with your family: most of them

Final Questions:
What are you doing this weekend? Annual retreat - speakers, picnics, games, frisbee
What car/truck do you wish to have: a renault 4
Have a lava lamp: currently, no. formerly, oh yeah
How many remote controls are in your house? 0
Are you double jointed? not possible. no such thing.
When you last showered? 6am
Scary or Funny Movies: funny
Rootbeer or Dr.Pepper: ooh, I would welcome either
Summer or winter: tough call. i love winter but there's just something about summer...and vice versa
Diamond or pearl: diamond
Sprite or 7up: 7up but only really when I'm sick
Coffee or tea: Coffee!!
In person or on the phone: I hate the phone

Yesterday Did You:
Talk to someone you like: yes
Buy something: yes, stuff to make tea treats
Talked to an ex: ha, yeah kinda

Last person who:
Slept in your bed: my roommate all day today after she puked in hers
Saw/heard you cry: ugh, like, everyone
Made you cry? Jesus, duh
Went to the movies with: Kate in Nairobi
Said "I Love You": Crissa before she left!
Ever been in a fight with your pet: totally. I think I'm in one right now actually...
Been to Canada: yes
Been to Europe: yes
Been to Mexico: yes

Random:
Do you have a crush on someone right now: totally, i hate my life
What book are you reading now: The Divine Conspiracy and Principle Centered Leadership
Future kids names: I really like "E" names
Do you sleep with a stuffed animal: no
What's under your bed: backpacks
Favorite sports to watch: baseball, basketball, the Packers, swimming, sometimes golf
Favorite Locations: hammocks
Tattoos or piercings: my ears are pierced but I don't wear earrings, and i have a tattoo on the back of my neck
What are you most scared of right now? never getting caught up
Who do you really hate? i don't "really hate" anyone.
Do you have a job? YES! woo! I haven't started yet though.
Have you ever liked someone you didn't have a chance with: duh, of course
Song that's stuck in your head right now? Peter and the Wolf
Have you ever been on radio? yeah I answered a question right

More Random
What color is your underwear right now? striped
What are the first things you notice about the opposite sex? smile? i don't know.
Are you too shy to ask someone out? it's not because i'm too shy
Hugs or kisses: neither, leave me alone. jkjk...kinda
Dogs or cats?: dogs
Favorite Flower?: daisies, hydrangeas, tulips
Have you ever fired a gun? no, yikes
How many pillows do you sleep with? 2, but one always ends up on the floor
Do you think (any of) your ex(s) miss you? hopefully not

an off day

Overwhelmed. I have homework of several varieties and all of it requires actual thought and time commitment. It's raining and I just got a whole pile of new music and I want to make a playlist of the Jose Gonzales and Iron & Wine and lay on my bed but instead i have to like...read...and write...a LOT. I went to school early today to get some studying done and try to get caught up but it ended in disaster. I had a meeting this morning which started with a cup of very strong Kenyan coffee...and then a refill...and then a HUGE mug of smuggled in Starbucks was brought right to me. I mean, how was I supposed to turn it down? It even had the perfect amount of milk already added...it was just for me! All of a sudden I realized that a whole lot of caffeine was pumping through my veins and I hadn't eaten and I started shaking and got all dizzy...yowza. When I got home I turned on music and did arty stuff for almost an hour and refused to think about my to-do list...which was relaxing until it was time to tackle my to-do list. I'm tempted to post it here so you can ask me how it's going but I don't really want to talk about it anymore.

Oh and also, I'm covered in bruises. I fell down the stairs, whacked my head on a piece of wood, and dropped my basket of food from the top shelf directly onto my face in the last 24 hours. The only thing keeping me from taking 14 Tylenol PMs and sleeping until the end of the month is that I get to watch 24 on Wednesday. Oh and also because I only have like 10 Tylenol PMs left and I have to save all of them for the plane ride home next year.

should i be worried?

Crissa brought me some new music and when I finished uploading it, this is what I saw. Should I be worried? Does the last 6 mean the 666 part doesn't count?

i don't want to talk about it

sad

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.

surprisingly delicious

I would like everyone to know that French's Alfredo Sauce mix is by far superior to any other Alfredo Sauce mix I've tried while living overseas. It definitely beats out Knorr and McCormick. In fact, it definitely beats out several restaurant Alfredo disasters I've experienced in the past. I'm thinking about starting a specific website devoted to things like food substitution product reviews, bootleg movie tips and websites with cheap overseas shipping. I'll keep you posted.

Christmas in Germany

Choosing a blogable number of pictures from my trip to Germany was the hardest thing I've done in a long time. I had such a blast! It was so providential that I was able to get out of Africa for Christmas and I'm so thankful. First, we got Ryanair tickets for super cheap, then the director of our school said we could stay with her family, then she decided to come with us and give us a (free!) 3-day guided tour of Bavaria. Merry Christmas Angie! These pictures are totally out of order, but here was our itinerary:

7pm- Depart
12am- Arrive in Frankfurt
5am- Arrive in Schienfeld

Day 2
Sleep In, Breakfast
Train to Nurnburg
Castle, Christmas Market, Dinner, Starbucks

Day 3
Rotenburg
Ludwig's Castles
Dinner in Austria

Day 4
Drive to Salzburg, Christmas Market, that famous street, lots of coffee
Drive to Munich, Christmas Market, Starbucks

Day 5
Christmas Eve!
Eat
Church
Eat
Presents

Day 6
Christmas!
Eat
Church
Eat
Family Reunion!

Day 7
Drive to Frankfurt
Leave!

town hall and christmas market in munich

singing "silent night" around the town christmas tree by candlelight

christmas tree with real candles

family music time. this was before my cello lesson.

view from the castle

so beautiful

horse wash in austria

the worst christmas light display ever

woo!

sausage by the meter

seriously. so exciting. almost cried.

this is what christmas is supposed to look like

Best Albums of 2007

I'm seriously going to do a better job of posting on both blogs. Hopefully you use RSS so you don't even really notice that I don't post that often. Anyway. I am babysitting for the whole entire weekend for Mr. Doesn'tknowhispossessivepronouns (ex. "Me ride me bike?") and Mr. Anotomicallycuriousdinosaur (read: playing T-Rex with squeezing claws that gravitate toward my butt), but (pun!) the good news is that there is a rocket-fast wifi connection so I'm downloading like crazy. Remember Limewire?! I'm so entranced. It's just like college. I feel a little (a lot) out of the loop and out of touch with my home culture so I decided to download a few of Time Magazine's Top 10 Albums of 2007 and Top 10 Songs of 2007. I haven't really listened to a lot of it yet but I'm excited to see what the big deal with Amy Winehouse is and obviously I can't wait to dive into the new Radiohead.

I've got a busy week ahead of me. Three days of doing everything Christmasy I've been planning before leaving for Germany on Thursday and then off to the land of snow and Starbucks (I hope I hope!). Tonight is baking, tomorrow is the gingerbread house party, Tuesday is watching The Nativity with some friends, Wednesday is the (inevitable) Secret Santa party with the group and Thursday morning is Christmas breakfast with my roommates. How's that for cramming an entire holiday season into 5 days!?

happy weekend

These two websites have consumed all of my free time. I thought I should share, just in case you had some free time laying around getting moldy.

Slate Magazine's "The Complete Bushisms"
My favorites are when he makes fun of the blind guy and the most interesting thing about George Washington

The Daily Show Video Library
Every Daily Show since Jon Stewart took over in 1996, sorted by date and segment, searchable by names, subjects and keywords. I'm working my way backwards from today. I'm at October 16, 2007.

Enjoy.

Warning: Graphic Content

Seriously. It's going to be gross, people.

So I stubbed my toe a while back and I looked down and this is what I saw, except with LOTS more blood.

I looked down and realized what had happened and thought, "Whoa...the boys are going to think this is so cool." Then I really realized what had happened and started to panic and yelled, "Hey somebody, my toenail fell off!"

This is about a week later after many soakings and things calmed down a bit. The nail was still connected under there somewhere. I waited for a long time for it to fall off on it's own but eventually I just hacked it off with scissors stolen from the BFD.

much better...kinda

stacy was right!

4 things about me.

Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. vegetable chopper
2. child watcher
3. desk sitter
4. coffee maker

Four places I have lived:
1. with my mom
2. with my dad
3. with my friends
4. north africa

Four places I have been on vacation:
1. the sahara
2. spain
3. nairobi
4. schaumburg, illinois

Four of my favorite foods:
1. popcorn with m&m's
2. things you wrap up
3. cheesy things you eat with a fork
4. sushi

Four friends that I think will respond first:
1. cate?
2. holly?
3. joanna?
4. someone?

well hello, new favorite

paper cloud

finally luggage tags get witty

I saw a picture of these luggage tags (which are clearly from knockknock.biz) on boingboing the other day and can't stop laughing about them. I'm thinking about printing them out and making them for myself.

Flowchart: Medieval sexual desicionmaking

Okay I'm sure this is borderline inappropriate but I thought it was awesome. Are there flowcharts for deciding what movie to watch?

Rock the Vote

First of all, I'm pretty sure I've used that title before. Anyway. I saw these links on BoingBoing today and thought it was really interesting. First, this site has a chart of the presidential canidates (who knew there were so many?!) and their stance on some hot issues.


This site has used the previous chart to build an online quiz to help you determine which candidate best lines up with your opinions. It's pretty interesting and fairly accurate. The problem is that the chart doesn't account for nuances in strategy and opinion which come into play in the quiz. Nonetheless, really interesting.

My top picks (not surprisingly) were Obama and Kucinich and it's pretty clear that I will NOT be voting for Tancredo.