Belushi the Parakeet: A little picture story.

Belushi was adopted on August 13th 2013, at an age of 8 to 12 weeks old.  His name was picked almost instantly, in honor of John Belushi  (would you expect anything different?)

This is his first picture taken at the pet shop. He is nibbling on the towel, a reflection of the kind of goofball he started out as, and hopefully will forever be. 

After I brought him home, I thought he would hate me. He kept staring at me like I was the devil, but in a couple of days, he realized that I am not going anywhere and is suffering from "Stockholm Syndrome" or has just decided to accept me in his life. 

It has been an interesting addition to the animal-family having a bird in the house, trying to teach him how to talk, not poop in his food or water bowl, and learning about his personality while not getting bit is a real fun experience.

He was the small bird of a group of many birds, almost bought two parakeets that day, but decided against that idea because I have read in the books that "they bond better with a human and have a better chance of talking if you purchase just one". Needless to say, he seems to be doing just fine adjusting. He gets sessions out of his cage to play in the bathroom (the smallest room in the house) and he seems to enjoy that  very much. He loves listening to the dog snort on the other side of the door, and sits and is completely intrigued by pug sounds, they have this conversation almost every day. 

Belushi is a REAL character, he BEGS for the radio, and dances to a lot of really tacky music. (Ke$ha, Taylor Swift, Robin Thicke, Justin Timberlake). Particularly "Mirrors" by Justin Timberlake, and "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke. Which is ironic, I love every kind of music...he loves anything with a beat or has some kind of repeatitive groove-worthy sound. It sure makes the music more enjoyable watching a bird tweet and bob up and down and dance to music. Every time I get my video camera out, he stops...but I caught him in action one day.

We are also ladder training right now. The current cage I have does not have room for a ladder, but I got him one t play with in "cage out" time (in the bathroom until he gets a playground after i am done cleaning out my room). He seems to love marching across the ladder..and going up the side rung of it.

He is bonding to me. Makes a point to greet me when I come home from work and I spend a lot of time with him and hes learning not to "bite the hand that feeds him" as much.  His first "out of cage experience" he bit VERY hard. Ive learned to toughen up and ignore the behavior and he has bitten me less and less and learning to relax on my shoulder and on my finger because I am not planning on going anywhere anytime soon. 

He loves clowning around, a lot. He can hang upside down like a bat.  That was one of the ways he got my attention when I picked him out. As Jim Belushi's described his brother John (and since I am a huge fan of his) Jim said he was "Piss ass funny!" I immediately thought of that description when watching him play around, and now that he is home he still likes to hang upside down like a bat.

He is conceited. Just this evening, he stood up in the mirror, got real close..and kissed his reflection twice. 

I know not all keets talk, but I am trying to get him to talk, We have a ritual whenever I walk in the room I say "Hi Belushi! Hi im Belushi!" and I kiss at him off and on. The other day he mimicked a kissing sound, so maybe..we might have a talker on our hands.

Overall, things are going great. I look forward to learning more about taking care of him and watching him grow into a sweet, smart, inquisitive little bird full of funny little loving surprises. I love this little guy so much.

Of Monsters of Men/Of Mice and Men

I am exciting to be taking on the project of "the close connections between the music of 'Of Monsters of Men' and the book 'Of Mice and Men'"

If any of you other bloggers have advice or insight to share, I start the book today. 

The first page was relatively slow but I have a feeling it will pick up into a fascinating tale given the description on the back of the book.

Because I am sick of people asking....

What are you going to school for?
People moan and groan bout my decision to go (I know, everyone elses parental units and siblings encourage college, but my background is very different in that area).
They live within the firm belief that I am simply going to school to skip out on a 40 hour a week job.
Little do they realize, that I have to eventually leave school and try to plan ahead further than that.

Anyways. To start..im very facinated in journalism. In fact, so much I  would love at this point to land a job writing for a living, Ive always had a connection with people and believe that media culture and proper advertising is a key to changing the world in a positive way.

With that said, a job in writing would be perfect. Its not the most practical choice seeing as its not incredibly easy to just land a random job as a writer, but ive many other media related options as well.

Social media manager would be another example of a great job to land, also known as a creative manager. On salaries.com creative managers can make about 75 grand a year.

With that said, ive also heavily considered advertising as an solid career, and would love to land a job with a company doing something along that line. Anything to stretch my  creative flow.

I am looking into getting into WSUV's CMDC (Creative Media and Digital Culture) program. Its a technological point of view on many of those things ive already discussed.


Here is an example of the program offered at wsuv.

CMDC program overview: http://cas.vancouver.wsu.edu/cmdc

Website overviewing classes and more information:  http://www.dtc-wsuv.org/cmdc/

requirements meaning the  class and course lists: http://www.dtc-wsuv.org/cmdc/requirements.html

Some careers in the field that I am looking into: http://www.dtc-wsuv.org/cmdc/careers.html

So there, in case you wanted to know why I am wasting my life and will be paying off student loans for a wee bit of a while after I graduate in about 4 years...this is the future plan for me :)

collected math blurbs from math 089

This is called the PUBLISH SOMETHING IN YOUR DRAFTS BLOG.

So here we are, best blurbs from last spring (2013) math 089 class.

First day of school I am late.
I walk in, and this shorter version of Billy Mays is teaching the class talking about his life in Oregon. He looks at me and says "what is your name?"
I give my first and last name and say sorry.
He writes my name down on roll and says "thats alright".
Pauses, grins, and says to everyone "Okay..Class dismissed!"
we all laugh.

A little bit later, he has us ask him questions about his life. Robert is babbling on about the car (because it is a math escape as Joe pointed out) and I raise my hand and say: "favorite sports team?"
He says "OSU Beavers..." and gives a back story.
I say "ohh. this will never work"
He goes "what? did you say this will never work?"
I get a few chuckles and point out my jacket that he already noticed.
He says "well, at least i went to OSU unlike some of these hype fans over here...not to say any names...."
I hear a few oooooooooooo's.
we continued a big chat after class about sports, liking the mariners and how larry bird was (as he said) the only white guy that could jump!
He then gave me advice on how to approach Paul (who was unavailable) and told me i was bold/confident on my method of finding a brand new job.

That was day one. Day one of a very exciting term, a few dbs in the class, but our teacher is rather exciting and manages to make me want to be there everyday. I am writing this blog with one week away from the class ending, and im rather influenced this term to not just give up without pushing a little harder-despite my lack of ability to be able to easily do math or stay caught up.
I posted a series of funny moments on tumblr. The two day a week class has been consistant laughter- and there is no way I could doc it all but heres what I grabbed from my facebook and tumblr.

First or second week in April, we have a quiz. We are not allowed to use our smartphones, and I had left my calculator in the car.
I said I was going to go out and get it.
He had barely knew me and trusted me at that point so he reminded me of the rules about not leaving when you have your exams or quizzes (this later changed when he discovered that I am against the idea of cheating on anything).
I said..but..I need it for the quiz.
He kind of grins his bit of sarcasm at me.
I hand him my keys "well, can you go get it for me then?"
Joe tells me "No! im not going to go get it for you!"
I whisper to Pove: Hey..can I use your calculator?
Joe kind of grins and we take our quizzes.
I walk up and he reminds me that there is no sharing of tools during exams. He then says "you could have gotten a zero" he tells Poe "see that? she could have gotten you a zero!" (but he did not give us zeros)
I sheepishly grin and we..as often qued, kind of laugh.

Another if not the same quiz day, Joe says "so well do this and then do quizzes at 6"
I said: I thought all quizzes were at 530?
Him: no...those are exams. I....you guys never listen :sigh: I do quizzes at 530 so i dont have to wait for anyone while they take them.
Me:but..I was leaving to meet my sister for her birthday for dinner, shes turning 40..I have to go rub that in!
I sit there with a look on my face like "oh crap!" as i text my sister and tell her shes going to be late, while I continue to look at him off and on.
He looks over and laughs and says: Ohh! that face!!!
he then ques me to wish her a HB when I leave.
I said "oh sure..ill wish a total stranger happy birthday for you!"
hahahahaha.
4.29.13
Math observation 4.29.13

NOTHING gets past professor Joe.
I didn’t get the whole ‘fractions into linear equations’ thing…and without me saying it, he detected it.
Want to know what else he detected?
Me writing down a number not knowing how he got it. He then had me walk through it so I understood.
Damn…that is one observant professor lol. I’m lucky..sometimes I need that extra kick in the ass, he knows I rush through sh*t even when I don’t understand it. 
The answers are in his beard…..

5.13.13
Had a big math exam today, thankful that professor Joe lets me listen to music while I take it. It eases the test anxiety and helps me stay focused. Even when my phone goes BUZZZZZZZZ all over the desk. He asks me if i can shut the buzz off..I said well, i have tried but I do not know how to stop the buzz, he says “nah, thats okay, no big deal” and let me get back to listening to the music. How awesome is that?
about ten minutes before we were bickering playfully over desk space because I sit in front, lmao.

He was telling this story about his sister getting him this OSU baseball shirt. He went on about how some guy asked him how he got ahold of the Beavers official baseball tee from last year.
He was all shocked and had found out his sister picked it up for like 3 bucks at goodwill.
Me: well..you know why she picked it up for 3 bucks at goodwill..right?
Joe: No?
Me: because its The Beavers!!
Joe: oh yeah? well..she found it next to the Ducks jersey that was only 2 bucks!


5.23-ish later. 13
He went missing for a day, is fine..but everyone threw a fucking baby fit about it because college students at junior colleges are no better then high school students.
It was quiet that day in class, everyone was whining before he got there and class started with an awkward silence.
So I broke the awkward silence on that first day back at class with this:
Me: Did you see that?
Joe: See what?
Me: my team (ducks) letting your team (Beavers) win like that.
Joe: Oh. WHAT. EVER! They won on their own, didn't need the ducks help.
Me: yeah...well, they were just generous. That first game was pretty tho.
Joe: til they came back and beat the Ducks two more times!


5.something later?. 13
me: ruberic
Joe: its not a ruberic, no its a schedule.
me: but the schedule says?
Joe: don't go by that part of the schedule.
Me: so whats the point of the schedule?
Joe: its for (this column)
me: i dont get it. It says this..so doesn't that mean?
we go on about it and i show him to prove that I was right about what it says.
He says: well my minor was a lawyer...so you'll never win, but you can bring it here anyways.


6.3.13

im doing my thang in algebra, we are getting a lecture on the latest math section. My rad professor Joe looks over while writing on the whiteboard and says “so how about those ducks?” I make a comment and we talk about it while he continues to teach and he (being a big beavers fan) says well the ducks still made it into the pac 12. I pause and say lastly: I feel like im watching a mariners game when I am watching them! (because they have done poorly lately and am a fan of both teams). He says: okay, alright..were trying to do math here! I say YOU BROUGHT IT UP!! We all kind of laugh.

Best class ever. Its so fun…So much sometimes I forget it is a night algebra course.

Another day we are chatting while he is writing on the board. One of them brought up the subject dyslexia. He keeps writing and lecturing a little as he writes but the conversation turns into dyslexia.
Me: well, I thought it was when they mix up the letters, not mix up letters with numbers and see them backwards.
Cara: Its both, its also when things look backwards and it throws off the ability to read all together.
As Joseph engages in conversation he spits out "Glad to see we can stay on the subject of math, guys~!!!"

Math observation 4.29.NOTHING gets past professor Joe.

I didn’t get the whole ‘fractions into linear equations’ thing…and without me saying it, he detected it based on my facial expressions or something?
Want to know what else he detected?
Me writing down a number not knowing how he got it. He then had me walk through it so I understood.
Damn…that is one observant professor lol. I’m lucky..sometimes I need that extra kick in the ass, he knows I rush through sh*t even when I don’t understand it. 
The answers are in his beard…..

6.5-ish.13
Me: I walk in and say Im not doing so good. going to fail this test..then what will I do. ill be stuck working at this job forever and ill never graduate. :sigh:

Joe: Holly, you always do this. You panic "im going to fail im going to fail" and then you are fine. You get like Bs and B+s on tests!
me: Luck! just..dumb luck!

a6.5.13

Crackin up in math. Many blurbs today to post! Here goes.
Robert shouts during the quiz: is it yo nos? (Y/O x/undefined)
Joe: no, stop cheating!
Robert: repeats himself and says Y over O and x over...
Joe: throws inanimate object at Robert.
Me: giggles..what did you throw at him?
Joe: a knife….. 
We all laughed.

algebra storytime 6.5.13 II

6.5.13

Me: so next chapter just as hard?
Professor Joe: if you make it hard…its just..steps to graphing numbers.
Me: no, but..they’re all steps to graphing numbers!
Joe: exactly.
Me: that’s like saying ‘hey..go climb mt Everest!’ When you weigh 500 pounds.
Joe: noo..that’s lie saying ‘go climb mt Everest  when you climb mt hood, mt ?, mt rainier… working up to it!
Me: eeeeeehhhhhh…. 

algebra storytime 6.5.13 III

Math.
Me: so just make up any random story problem for the make up quiz?
Joe: uhhhhh..not really…
Me: (uses story problem method) If the ducks score a run in the bottom of the 9th inning against the :pause:
Joe: if the beavers score a run against the ducks. I think their done for the season btw….
Girl in back: yeah…the ducks are done.
Me: noooooo… I refuse to believe. I guess i ll just keep watching the Mariners, who do stink (even tho I love them).
Joe: hey! They won yesterday.
Me: I know! I was so excited.
…….. thinking…….Haha. See how easily distractions occur-eth? 

Joe: (as he passes back papers) Andy?! you have ALWAYS wrote Andrew. You threw me off.
Andrew: hehe, sorry. I wondered if I should have written Andrew.
Me: now now wait a minute. you said in the beginning your name was Joseph..and now we call you Joe.
Joe: Noooo, I never said my name was Joseph, but it is in the syllabus.
Me: yeah, exactly!
Joe: but I didnt say my name was JOSEPH JOSEPH JOSEPH and then write Joe on the paper at the last minute to throw everyone off.
Andrew: laughs a little
hahahahaha.

I got annoyed at the girl that sits behind me.
All quarter she kept making comments about "how easy" something is, how so much further past certain points she is, how she doesn't need these classes..while asking questions the same as everyone else.
Whenever I asked questions she would make comments saying "Its not that hard!" or "Come on" or "this is so easy, duh!" or something of the sort that would piss me off.
Finally on about week 8 out of 10..I had had enough.
She made the comment when I asked a question about teh final with Joe.
She kept making noises and said it quietly giving me a hard time.
Finally I outburst and said 'EXCUSE ME?'
The whole room got quiet for a second, she didnt say a word back........Joe looked over and said "alright, thats enough.."
I later emailed and apologized about it.
He told me its alright.

I think he understood that I had enough commentary from the peanut gallery behind me.

6.5.13

next story from math (might be the last..but probably not, suck it up).
Poe and I were exchanging post it notes, I gave her a few techniques on how to memorize things using sharpies and post it notes, so shes trying out my method, hopefully it works for her like it did for me.
I say to her and Joe: I cant ever find big blue post it notes anywhere. Just orange and pink (which I do not like much) and yellow.
Joe: I have big blue post it notes!
Me: WHERE. Where can you buy them?
Joe: I get them for free in the supply closet.
Me: can we trade some? ill give you yellow, pink and orange for blue.
Joe: No.
Me: cannnn I buy some from you?
Joe: I am pretty sure that is illegal….
Me: hey, its only illegal if you get caught! you probably think im a big time criminal for saying that…..
Joe: nah!

6.12.13
Me: uhh, I wrote out an equation but I do not know how to solve it. (had to write 3 for a make up when I messed up a quiz)
Joe: so just write the original equation and change the number 3 times.
Me: but..I want to write my own.
Joe: but I don't have time for you to write out stories (he says as he grins). 

around same time:
Me: so if you get an F on a test..and put it into this, how much would this be for a grade?
Joe: well that would depend if its a 3 percent F or an 59 percent F.
Me: oh okay.
Class rolls on, we do our final exam (before the final) that I was so worried about and this girl walks up.
Since I sat in front I had the duty of eavesdropping on occasion.
This one girl that barely speaks English walks up and says "so we just make up a grade on our homework instead of you checking the answers?"
Joe says: yeah. like an honor. do you know what honor means?
She says no
he says: I am trusting you, trust... do you know what trust means?
I look up and say quietly to Joe: do you know what "I dont remember" means? do you know what "i dont recall what I did on my homework" means?
Joe says: Now..is that a 59 percent F or an 3 percent F?
I kind of laugh!


6.15.13 
toward the end of class, Poe and I were hanging around after getting help on the days lesson.
Me, I kept apologizing up and down about asking for help.
Joe said: its okay, do not apologize.
I just wasn't grasping the concept.
I started to get frustrated, and feel guilty for bothering him about the subject.
He said sternly: (paraphrasing) we keep going these rounds, you apologize..I say its okay, you apologize I say its okay. No, stop, don't. This is taking up time, you need help and I am here to help you, do not apologize anymore, I am here to help.
I pause and look and say okay. 
Poe asks him a question and he says "can I yell at you for something now?" and we both kinda laughed. 
He has tried to break me ten fold about feeling bad about asking for help, or raising my hand in class when I feel like the person a few people back is acting bitchy/bothered by my delaying of the lesson.
It was a good feeling, definitely a beneficial stern moment.
The day before, I had happened to give him a hard time about wanting to become a principal. We had stated that he is too much of a pushover and he said "oh no, I can get mad when I need to and throw it down, but shut it off just as quickly..people say 'were you just mad?'." Where he was not volotial, he had a bit of assertiveness in his voice and I can see that side of him and why he would make an excellent principal. 

Him and I were bickering one day about an assignment. He had stated what my reaction would be based on one assignment. He starts to try the higher pitched whine and it ends up sounding borderline neanderthawl like..and I shout "I DONT SOUND LIKE THAT!!" he grins and pauses and looks at the class and says
"Does anyone want to take a vote?" everyone cracks up and he goes on and says that his wife does that to him a lot.
I said "you are TERRIBLE!"
he chuckles and says "I know I know!!"



Those were a lot of funny notes that have happened. I did not include a lot of the good stuff, a lot of the help with test anxiety. I did not include (tho you probably would guess) what a natural pain in the ass I am. The extra help he always provided to us in need. Him telling me that I am intuned but that I have to get better at taking notes. 

Media attack and Belushi corner ...from chiliconholly.

A short blog today for you... from Belushi's corner, and a big totally separate disappointment in the media I have found.

BELUSHI CORNER

My new blog-section on John Belushi. Ive been very inspired by him, so I think this will be a semi regular occurrence.

This week, I am slightly hooked to "The Blues Brothers". I am an obsessed John Belushi fan and this is my favorite of his for this week. I ordered a copy of the blu ray / dvd/ digital copy edition from amazon. If you are feeling like listening to the soundtrack (featuring Aretha Franklin, Blues brothers and Ray Charles to name a few legends) here that is.

Here is the full soundtrack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3IyPFPni80

If funny and cute scenes is what you seek, here is rawhide.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5N35kQAPv0


While we are on the subject of Belushi, working on a big term paper on him right now makes me want to heavily consider a tattoo to maintain his legacy if I can ace this paper (self reward as the psychologists would say!). Here are a few links to John Belushi tattoos. Some great, some awful, and maybe looking more into it while provide you with some fascinating stories.

mediocre and simple silhouette

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ilax/5841456321/


from 1941. Doesnt look much like Belushi but has a short and interesting nice back story.

http://tattoosreviews.net/john-belushi-portrait-tattoo/tattoos-pictures


Incredible and detailed, from Blues Brothers.

http://www.tattootree.com/whats-new/article/tattoo-of-the-day135


decent-ish. from Blues Brothers.

http://xahdoom.deviantart.com/art/john-belushi-blues-brothers-270994074


Cute blog about Belushi and Steven Speiberg

http://blog.sfgate.com/dailydish/2011/12/02/john-belushi-kept-steven-spielberg-up-at-night/

NEXT TIME, ill go over my first sight of the Cheateau Marmot in person.


IN OTHER NEWS....


Disgusted by THIS story. False, true, whatever it may be it is disgusting. I see no humor in contaminating food. I know the rant about the "starving children in Africa" has been overplayed on "not wasting food", but this is both malicious and immature. So much, I refuse to provide it with a link. in a nutshell, there is an internet sensation swirling about a "taco licker" where an employee in an obvious taco-bell employee outfit has been seen in an image as licking a stack of unmade taco shells.
Kind of reminds me of a local fucktard who I attended school with who was fined (and I believe jailed) for spitting in a cops cheeseburger. This happened at a local burger chain and turned many people away from it since the incident locally.
As a youngest of 4 siblings, teasing is always a joy. Being short enough to run around and make trouble and comments well through my teens has been part of life and even cracking malicious jokes about spitting in eachothers food is a part of the whole sibling and friend rivalry thing. Posting an internet image that could cause a chain reaction to shut down a business and not thinking of consequences of your actions, is simply foolish.
I am not perfect. I will never forget the time I smoked pot and was shamed by my Mother for breaking the "no drug no alcohol" house policy. Personally, I have made some bad decisions in life that I have had to pay for. I only hope that this guy learns that practicing good integrity and growing up is what life is suppose to turn into and is embarrassed for his actions.

chiliconholly media attack and findings news of the week.

Algebra teacher is safe and sound, I will be making an appearance there tonight. Would I ever have guessed id enjoy a math class and much more, be thankful for it when it has been out for a couple of weeks? Never in a million years. This term ends soon unfortunately.

I can't get enough of this guy lately. His name is Matt Berry. I heard him the first time doing "Squiggleman" on Portlandia. While those around me battle with physical and mental illness, addiction, and others I heard this song and was completely moved by it. It is from his Witchhazel album, and called "Take my hand" here it is for your auditory pleasures.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCijk4qmu7I


Im opting to set up a guppy tank after payday next week. I am impressed with the amount of guppies that there are, and how gorgeous they are as well. Heres a short not so great image from petco I took and posted to instagram.
http://instagram.com/p/ZxXwxoknaD/

heres a noteworthy instagram guppy site (really, amazing fish)

http://instagram.com/guppies/

here is information on breeding them if you are interested. According to an associate at petco, they breed like rabbits. I will be giving away a lot of fish this year. These people have posted "I feel fine" by the Beatles in the background to have an extra reason to click this link,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU65mQHVkHE


also if youre about to be touched by a cute, fake animal story check out this touching story about an critter and a horse.
sam clemens blog

http://samuelclemons.blogspot.com/2011/03/harriet.html

Dead zone.

Lately, bustling through my second term of college, im learning more about my own personality but the biggest mystery that ive yet to find is inspiration. There are times where I am so moved or inspired by something...that I feel the need to be cloned. Other times, I could not be inspired if someone lit a firecracker underneath my borrowed seat.
Inspiration in creativity, me time. Inspiration in makin this the best damn research paper I have ever written. Things I want in life, things I strive for..but part of me is dead. We need zombie-chiliconholly, I need to come back from the dead.
I have learned that dopamine seems to be a receptor to that good feeling that says "I just experienced something amazing!" but dopamine is a stubborn hormone- it only releases in small amounts unless it is a brand new experience.
It is usually if I have or can make time for things, there is no inspiration, a dead zone of thought process. Coffee used to help, it no longer does. Internet searching used to help, now it just absorbs me. Its a simple matter of "am i feeling it. or am i not?" Is that my old brain just getting dusty and riddled with cob webs? or am I just getting stubborn as I get older?
Also, as much as I love college, I feel like it pissed all over my writing career. The formality is down a little better, but I need to find an elective that gives me interesting topics to write about.
Once upon a time, there was too much to write about. In the past 6 months to a year, it has been a royal struggle to write about anything other then whats happening right now, right in Vansterdam that immediately effects me and my life.

Dead zones.

1. Work- I am here too much. When time allows me to be creative or write something rad because all the work is done for the day and it is a long shift, I do not feel it at all. 
2. When my laptop is in front of me- which is ironic seeing that I need it in front of me to post on a blog or write a review on yelp or do SOMETHING to save myself.
3. settle down time- when ive had that post-work shower and im ready to roll.
4. when everyone is sleeping- as in, the time i can have uninterrupted writing time..
5. when I have zero to little homework.
6. Basically any spare time I have, my mind is simply dead with nothing creative or useful these days.
7. unexpected power naps- the older I get, the more i wake up wondering how i nodded off in the first place.

Live zones.

1. Driving on the highway (i am against texting or writing and driving, all i do is eat & drive!)
2. when im swamped with homework-nothing says guilt like recreational blogging when you have 30 math problems or a quarter of your paper to complete that are due by that next day or two.
3. when im in a restaurant, a shopping mall, or in a zone where im obligated to be polite and put my phone or writing tablet down.
4. Weekends with my family (see number 3)
5. hanging out with a friend (example 3 again)
6. ANYTIME I cannot be "alive" I feel inspiration to in fact be very much alive in thought and writing or creativity.
7. Pinterest-when you I am sitting there posting reasons to feel alive, I very much feel alive until I shut my laptop.

advice? help? whatever you think I should do, I miss that part of me, the idealistic one. The one with the crazy ideas and can always provide a good time. The recycled artist, the super writer.
           

Adventures in and out of the coop.

So today I was out giving my ducks and chickens their daily grain and lettuce before work. I enter the pen in my bright yellow scrubs..and everything occurs in a normal routine as has happened the past 3 years. My two craigslist ducks I adopted from battle ground are housed on one side..and my 'feed store' chickens are on the other.  As I go to finish and leave for work, my drake (male Duck, Diego) decides even though he can't fly..that he will attempt to fly the coop as I open the gate.  They are confined, but with enough open space to roam because there are many wild hawks.
I tell 'Ego' no, and to stay inside the coop and he of course being a duck..wants to come out.
I extend my arms to pick him up and he resists.
I walk back over the gate...and he spreads his wings to fly again .
We repeat the last two steps again before I insist to pick him up.
I pick him up and carry him outside of the gate and meander down the hill with him clutched in my arms.
After getting a taste of the real world...he squirms back over to go back to the coop where he knows its safe and sound...that there are no dogs, planes, hawks and his little lady duck.
It kind of reminds me of life.....
I remembered that post high school feeling almost 10 years ago of wanting a job..wanting life to happen and I couldn't seem to escape the gate around me. I always have/do seek danger. I still do to this day...no intent to harm, but seeking adventure because routine grows old fast.
I remembered driving was the greatest (it still is somedays)but employment..tho necesscary...gets old fast. The world is a scary place...even for those that look for the adrenaline all of the time like myself.
Once I left the coop of life...lost innocence and became part of a new routine, it became just that..another routine.
Change is inevitabe...and sometimes, it fucking sucks. Sometimes...its great, positive..but we always have a sense of safety in our own coops.
I left for work that day...planning this blog out. Planning never really goes well..but it makes me remember as I drag my feet in another day of paradise, how I wish somedays to just steer clear from it. That change occurs, routine gets boring..but we always have someone who loves us to help carry us through those times of feeling 'cooped up'.

Cant get enough of this classic lately!

Watch "POCO - CRAZY LOVE [w/ lyrics]" on YouTube

Its 2 am and....

I'm sitting down resting, working on math homework. Already having to be up at 6am, The monkey-cat comes running over. Takes it upon himself to get in the way of the book and clearly his needs are more important then mine :)

Paranoia.

Sometimes...I just have to let go of the paranoia. The fear that everyones going to leave me in life. Its been about a year, maybe two that things went from a downhill slide...to an uphill slope. Going from finding friends that are major bad influences, and hanging with people not because I was drawn to their troubles...but to respect and get to know people from kindness. I have to realize that people don't say things to hurt or harm anymore..that real people are not like those fake ones. Realizing that not everyone around is bsing you...and realizing who is, and to give everyone else the benefit of the doubt until you know them. Its hard...to get that mindset, get out of the mindset that everyone is 'to good to be true' and realize that some people...are just good. I have a false belief that everyone is just trying to escape me..that total abandonment is in my future with my friends. Simply because of that large cluster of people that have done so.
I have to be positive...I have to feed myself new omens. I have to not expect everyone to walk away so they don't.

Cupids.

I know I know...another California blog. I guess when a trip provides you with more experience then hanging around your hometown can...its bound to touch your heart 4 to 5 months and the entire lifetime later :).
There's a spot in North Hollywood..off of Victory boulevard. Its sacred. Not just because my Grandmother lived there..or because its in my family history, but its sacred because when you eat one of these hot dogs...they crunch. When you have the chili on them, your mouth will water. There is nothing in the world like a Cupids dog. We ordered an embarassingly large amount of them on my last day and kept them frozen on the way home to enjoy for a while. Also for our relatives and friends who have either never tried them...didn't grasp its importance..or just missed them dearly.
We had a lucky break in 2009. It had probably been 15 to 20 years since I tried the lucky flavor...and I had my ex tote and pack some back when he was down there with a friend of his.
Ill never forget the look on my Moms face. Usually not the most enthusiastic of people....her whole face lit up. Tho we had plans for dinner that night (corned beef and cabbage..it was St Patricks day) she politely said 'alright...I just want to eat one now!' Everyone laughed. My idea brought her joy... and that made me feel unusually good at the time :)
Cupids has been there for years...it used to be a free standing building, now they tore it down and 0put it in a shopping complex.
I got into a long discussions with both the Clerks who were telling me how awful the price of living was there.
It was a hot and sunny day....and tho I could not wait to see my dogs, it was a little somber going home after such an adventurous journey for those 2 weeks.
If you are EVER in SoCal in the area of North Hollywood..stop by for a dog.in the name of those who are so far away they cannot just stop and get one whenever.
I know...this blog sounded like it took a "Grass is always greener" kind of turn. Maybe it did...you can take my advice, or miss out on the best hot dog you have ever had. Your choice ;)
Update in 2015: This location is no longer here, but there is an original location off of Vanowen in Canoga Park you can still visit.

College-eve.

As I lay here, tissues all around me..vics vaporub by my laptop and rubbed all over me and the bottom of my feet (hey, it works)

Paul McCartney and the wings "let em in" playing as I type, and my copy of "Catcher in the Rye" by JD Salinger laying in front of me..

I realize, this is not quite how i pictured the evening of the night  before I start school to go.

Yesterday, I had the chills for part of the day. Everytime I catch a cold, I run a slight fever. Suddenly everyone at my house fell sick on Friday. We all had something different,  but we all mostly had something.

Im rushing through a math book, wondering why I cannot seem to  get ahead.

Are things EVER what I expect? no. but thats the beauty of life. Not this cold, not the snot..but irony. Irony can be gorgeous...if we knew what life was, we would never be surprised.

Tomorrow ill run into a busy classroom with my pockets stuffed full of jacked tissues, half used by my journey there...half hopefully not even scathed. Luckily, its a fairly highly functioning cold, but mind you..I am up at 6 AM and its almost 1:30...and im still not asleep.

Too busy watching tv, listening to music now, and now..doing the thing that my purpose-driven self is doing whereas to why I am going to school in the first place.

Writing!

:sniff, sniff:
 I can wish this cold away, but id rather wish to pass all my classes on this first and very challenging quarter of college.
So here goes! Good luck, fellow students.

My list of must see movies (will add more later on)

These are movies that ive seen talked about dozens of times, or  that f riends have hounded me to see (or,,,my own interests as well) here it goes in no order.    

1. Man on the moon: story of Andy Kaufman.
 2. One flew over the cucus nest.
3. V for Vendetta  
4. Gone with the wind
5. precious
6. Blues brothers (the first one)
7. Neighbors (with John Belushi)
8. Eat, Pray, Love
9. Extremely loud, and Incredibly close
10. The Great outdoors (with Dan Akroid and John Candy)
11. Silver linings playbook (with Bradley Cooper)

\\list from friends.
1. death becomes her
2. fifth element (seen, but its b een a long time)
3.remember the titans
4. true lies
5.the devil wears prada
6.morning  glory
7. raiders of the lost ark
8.bridesmaids
9. whats your number (those were from jeff, he also included the bf club which ive seen and love)
10. The New guy (submitted by Shayla)
11. White Oleander
12. Clerks
13.memoirs of a  geisha
14. Gone in 60 seconds
15. Buffy
16. Donnie Darko
(heidis list for me, also included corky romano, now and then, which ive seen and also enjoy!)
17.Lincoln (the vampire one)
18.the hobbit
19. Lord of the rings
20. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (all from Alisa)


PLEASE, if you have anything to add...feel free to add it :)