Saturday, May 23, 2009

So a lot has happened as of late, but the thing is- I don't want to blog about it all. Instead I would much rather compile a list of things I want to do this summer. Lists are easy and calm me. I love lists. Also, if I make a list of summer goals then they will be out in the universe and they might actually happen.

1. Paint at least 20 oil paintings

2. Paint at least 20 watercolor paintings

3. Draw at least 20 portraits

4. Write/Illustrate a children's book

5. Do that stinkin' Kanye/Michael/Joaquin cartoon!


6. Go on walks

7. Get into a masters or academic program for the fall

8. Pay off my debts

9. Go to the grand canyon


10. Get my niece Lucy to say "Laura"

11. Read at least 15 books (not including the Chronicles of Narnia-that's just cheating)


12. Get some clips for the cars soft-top rear window

13. Go on at least one date.

14. Keep my journal going!

15. Don't let my plants die
So that's all I can think of! Some of them are silly, but that's okay.

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Shrimp, family, cows, veggies, friends, cake, chicken, professors, beans, kafka, potatoes, fruit = gumbo.

It's strange. I just feel so happy, in a sad knowing sort of way, that I could cry! My chest, err I'm a Mormon- my bosom, is brimming with a weight, a happy weight! You see, I am back in Buena Vista, VA- the lovely town I went to college in. I missed it so much and it was hard to leave it last year, but I feel like I have grown up so much in this last year in St. George, UT.
This year has been strange. I feel like I have done so much, and yet so little.

I went on my first foreign trip- Europe.
I am officially graduating.
I'm deciding what sort of 1st career path to head in.
I have made a new group of friends in Utah, and they're wonderful.
I've repeated the same romantic sort of mistake I made when I was 18.
My father has undergone a lot of health problems from stroking to practically croaking.
My mom was laid off and and then hired, but looking for more.
My sister came home from Au Pairing in Holland.
My niece Lucy is growing up and starting to talk.
I watched more TV than i would ever like to fully contemplate or figure out.
I hiked some, but not enough.
I ran some, but not enough.
I hated southern Utah, I love southern Utah.
I found out I am severely allergic to Zofran, a anti-nausea medicine that thousands of people get at the hospital and are never allergic too. I got some nasty hives.
I lost 15 pounds.
I became blonde.
I came to love astronomy.
I did not create enough.
I ate too many cookies.

So I am back at college, getting ready to walk this Saturday. It is so strange and surreal being back here. It's like I never left. It's like I was just here last week or I was just gone for the summer. I've talked to and visited with friends and mentors. I've heard stories about people from my past, stories that change my present in a way.
It's weird, I'm only 22, soon to be 23, but I feel like I'm at a place where I can look back and see the different phases of my life so far and evaluate and learn from them.
I wish in my childhood and adolescence I would have known that being mean to people does not make you friends. I wish had focused on learning as opposed to grades alone.
I wish I was more rational and thoughtful when making decisions during my years at SVU.

If wishes were fishes I would have salmon or fish sticks because they're my favorite.

I apologize for this muddy mess of a blog. I have so many thoughts flushing through my mind right now and I haven't organized them properly.

It's just so strange being here and getting some closure. When I first arrived I felt like, "oh no! I miss this place and now I might hate southern Utah because I love VA!" Luckily I have transitioned to a more sane thought process. I loved and love Virginia, but I love southern Utah too. SVU was fun and it made me who I am, but it's done and time to move on. I'm okay with that. I do plan to stay in touch with several people from college, there's no reason I shouldn't. I have so many blessings and I can't wait to explore life and see what happens! Life is hard and long, but it is also so short and wonderful!

Talk about blogumbo!

Laura

PS. I don't know how to pronounce my own name.

Friday, April 3, 2009

I TOLD YOU SO!!!

Recently I was telling some friends about a chicken who had it's head cut off and then lived for a couple years afterwards- headless. Those friends (let's call one of my friends Hayley C. No, H. Coombs.) didn't believe me. Well HC, here's a clip from the chicken documentary I told you about! Suck on that!

Mike was real and alive. Mike was a bad-a rooster.
In case the video wasn't enough, here's the website!
http://www.miketheheadlesschicken.org/story.php
Oh yeah, and the documentary is wonderful! Buy it! I want it for my birthday!http://www.miketheheadlesschicken.org/story.php

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

More for Hayley

Do I have a lesbian crush on Hayley? It's possible. Or I'm just a creeper. Anyway, here's a PHOTO recap of things Hayley has missed since she cut out Facebook for Lent.
SISTERSISTER!
LIKE A BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER
MA AND PA
THE FAM
THE KIDS
SMITH ATTACK!
WHO'S WHO?
IN MY DREAM IT WOULD BE BRAD WITH ME AND ANGELINA.
MOM BELLA AND DAD EDWARD.
GUY LOVE. ALEX AND DAN.
GRANOLA FACE
LAURA TOPLESS.

Monday, March 16, 2009

For Hayley and I.

A while ago Hayley and I were wondering about the lyrics to that oh so wonderful song by Toto, "Africa."
Well here they are! Make sure to play the song while you read the lyrics, it's better that way. Then make sure to watch the video!
Toto
"Africa"
I hear the drums echoing tonight
But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation
Shes coming in 12:30 flight
The moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation
I stopped an old man along the way
Hoping to find some long forgotten words or ancient melodies
He turned to me as if to say, hurry boy, its waiting there for you

Chorus:
Its gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
Theres nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had

The wild dogs cry out in the night
As they grow restless longing for some solitary company
I know that I must do whats right
Sure as kilimanjaro rises like olympus above the serengeti
I seek to cure whats deep inside, frightened of this thing that Ive become

Chorus
(instrumental break)

Hurry boy, shes waiting there for you

Its gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
Theres nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in africa, I bless the rains down in africa
I bless the rains down in africa, I bless the rains down in africa
I bless the rains down in africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had






And for fun, here are some other wonderful videos!



This last one wouldn't let me embed it, so just go to the link!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1A_uSEjTIQ
I love Spike Jonze!

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Blonde viewing pleasures.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdt6wcK1cSQ&NR=1



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x59jxJhPagk
I've loved this song for years!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95AEzyWZX8I
I love Dolly!

Blonde Bombshell.

I used to be naturally blonde as a child.
My hair has undergone two big natural changes throughout my life:
Platinum blonde to brunette, and in the 6th grade I permed my hair-after that it just stayed curly. I never permed it again, because I never had to. It is weird and wonderful.
Though I was once blonde, I am a brunette in my heart. I have always loved being brunette and other than my stint as a red-head (which I loved!), and a few chunks of blonde here and there, I will always be a brunette.
So why am I now blonde? Yes, I am now blonde.
I suppose it all started 2 years ago in Virginia. My roommates bought several blonde barbie wigs and I tried one on. I liked it.
More recently I've decided to grow my hair out, the only problem is that I've dyed my hair so much that it's completely uneven and patchy- err, well, it was. So i decided that I had to cut it all off eventually and start from scratch.
(Wahh, I guess I'm not in a flowery writing mood, because I just want to get to the point! I'm blonde, my hair is blonde. Haha, sorry about that. Talk about anticlimactic.)
Here is how I became a blonde:
1. "Before" picture. I wasn't really grumpy, you're just supposed to look ugo in "before" pictures.
2. Bleach! Round one.
It Burns!!!!Wah!3. Dry and fluff!4. Accidentally smack lip on the sink and watch it swell.
5. Bleach! Round two.
6. Fluff!
7. Separate8. Color

9.It's done! Here it is wet!10. Dry!Later on I curled it and I must say, it was uber cute! I was in total shock about the whole thing all day! It was a bit tough to adjust, I just didn't look like myself, but now I'm feeling better about it and even liking it! Secretly (though now publicly) I have some sort of Helen of Troy complex in my mind with this new hair. I feel as if men will die for me and fawn after me! Hopefully. Because let's face it, I could use a date.
-Laura