Of Many Things...

 Good evening fellow October people, 

 It is presently evening and I sit alone in our apartment, typing away. The dreamy music of Timbre serenading my thoughts. I just got done taking a bath and reading some bits from a book I recently discovered and got ahold of "Turkish Delights and Treasure Hunts". It has now gained a foothold into my favorite books of all time because it is filled with imagination and creative ideas of recipes and activities to do from classic children's novels. For example, "Enjoy a Dark and Stormy Night", "Mr. Tumnus's Toasty Tea", "Make a Borrower's House", and many other tantalizing past times. I am feeling warm and rather content even though I have quite a bit of random homework to complete by the end of the night. Nothing that sipping a cup of tea and eating some cinnamon-y biscuits (made by Bailey) can't make 10 times better.


Last night I went to a small group Halloween Party(from our Theatre Bible Study), and it was lovely. We dressed up in costume, I was Nancy Drew (complete with a magnifying glass made of tinfoil), we carved pumpkins (mine turned into a grotesque Picasso), and in general had fall festivities. It was a great evening. Today was a get er' done day but I love the feel of getting my life somewhat in order. Nothin' wrong with that.


I should probably scha-doodle now, but I wanted to write a quick post just for kicks.


XOXO, Flo


Oh, and I found this DIY project, how to make an old school book strap and I am very tempted to give this a go.



http://www.designsponge.com/2011/09/diy-project-old-school-book-strap.html
 

My Apartment Smells Like Thanksgiving

Golly wallace. I am so thankful for weekends. You wanna know why? Today I read Hamlet in a coffee shop, got groceries, took a walk in the crisp fall air, talked to my sister, took a nap, drew a picture, studied lines, made stuffing for dinner, and then made apple crisp while listening to "Rhapsody in Blue". I don't think a Saturday gets much better than that. 


And yesterday I really felt like I was making progress in Laramie Project rehearsals and I had a success moment when I made the director and SM cry with one of my monologues. It probably sounds kind of silly, but I love to touch people in such a way that they cry. I think that is a beautiful thing. So, although I have a ton of work still to do with this play, this show is going to be an emotional powerhouse and I am honored to be able to put it on. And a great thing is that I get to put it on with many fellow believers in our Maker. I think that is pretty darn cool that in a public school theatre department there are 6 of us at least in this production that believe in the same God. That is something to be grateful for.


Emily also had a lovely talk session last night until 2 in the morning and gosh I love that girl. Yes, I have been very blessed this semester.


Tonight, I will continue to work on my lines, maybe watch a movie (really a novelty now that I'm at school), eat apple crisp, and take a bath. I'm really into that bath-taking-thing now. But I wish you a magical Saturday evening. Go find some fairies in the woods and make friends with them.


Love, Flo.

Lavender Baths and Emily Dickinson

My hair smells like lavender, because I just took a bath with lavender foaming bath suds. It was a beautiful night as I was cast in another show, "The Laramie Project" which is a series of powerful interviews of townsfolk, regarding the murder of a young gay man and it is a show that speaks strongly against hate crimes. So I was on the high of getting in that. In addition, Emily and I had a delightful little quiet time with our Maker tonight. And then the bath to top it all off. And reading Emily Dickinson in the warmth of the tub. It was heaven. 

I am one happy little camper.

Of good things...

It is Sunday morning. And I am a very happy little girl. I just got in my first mainstage production at UMD and am in Tom Isbell's show, "Target Behavior". The show is a new script written by a student that is witty, gritty, funny, and heart-wrenching all in one and I play a character named Gracie who is schizophrenic, quirky, and LOVES cats. It will be a fun role, and I am so thankful. And to work with Tom Isbell in a show is really a dream come true. 

And I have had a couple modern dance classes now, and if there is anything besides great acting that gives me goosebumps, it is modern dance. It is just so very human, rhythmic, and powerful. And it feels so natural and right to me. I'll also have to ask my instructor for the names of some of the songs she uses, because it is a mixture of drum music and other such things.


This morning I woke up early, had a cup of coffee, and listened to Sufjan. It was good. 


I should probably go now to attempt to get something done. 


I will write more later.


xoxo, Flo


song of the day: "Come Thou Fount" (Sufjan Stevens)

Góðan dag. Or good morning, in Icelandic. I slept like a very heavy and non-porous rock last night. More like a boulder than a volcanic rock. I have just been exhausted the past few days with move-in, audition preparation, and the many things to get done and people to see. However, my room here is very cozy (my overused but so useful word), we have a kitchen!, and there have been many lovely adventures like a picnic to Chester Bowl and an evening walk in the woods to the top of Bagley Hill with Emily. The whole realm of Duluth spread out before us like a placemat with the twinkling lights of the city as a main course and the stars overhead for dessert. We were a little creeped out for part of it and imagined bears or humans running out of the woodlands to attack us, but we were so obnoxiously loud that I don't think any animal or human had any desire to even attempt to run us over.

And today is the one last day of pre-school (not the school for little people and playdough) but actually before school prep. I still have to get ahold of books and dance supplies, practice my monologues, and pack up my backpack. Living with all theatre people, the intensity is absolutely overwhelming. There are lovely things like passionate enthusiasm and zest for people and life, but the anxiety which seems so common to people in the theatrical world can be a bit much. I long for a nice calm conversation. No panicking, no stressing for no good reason, and a good dose of common sense. I suppose I could be considered a typical intense theatre person as well, but living here makes me appreciate the happy non-theatre folk ever so much more. I'll have to seek out new faces this semester in order to keep sane. 

Hehe. And here is good ole' Ickle and Lardee. This picture gives me so much joy. The expression of Lardee's face is exactly how I feel today. But there are good things waiting around the bend. So now, I go to face the world with a determined glint in my eyes. You have yourselves a good day, ya hear?

p.s. I've actually been doing the artist's way the last couple of days, and if I can keep it up, I will be muy proud of myself.

Music of the Morning:

The Vince Guaraldi Trio (and linus and lucy just popped on and reminded me of an old classic peanuts computer game I used to play when I was a wee thing.)

 Probably my last post of the summer which I write listening to Sigur Ros "Samskeyti". A dark and gloomy day outside, but I must secretly admit that this is my favorite weather. Somewhat drippy, dark, and mysterious. The type of weather I want to wander in the woods with a trusty walking stick and talk to the trees. Hence the picture of the fox in the woods done by a new favorite artist of mine who I discovered from reading the British magazine "Oh Comely". His name is Ben Zen and his work is delicate, whimsical, and imaginative. The dog is napping on the brick in front of me and the smell of freshly mowed grass. Today I had a rather traumatic experience mowing grass in the form of killing a rather large toad. The poor toad was just minding his own happy business and here comes a human with a giant red machine to smash his hopes and dreams and turn him into a bloody carcass. I really felt horrible. Whenever possible I try to avoid hitting the hundreds of toads that mull about in our lawn, but unfortunately not today. I shall just hope that there is a toad heaven somewhere.


That reminds me of a quote I read recently by Mark Twain and I have to say I disagree with it. It states "Everything human is pathetic. The secret source of humor itself is not joy but sorrow. There is no humor in heaven." From what I have known and seen there most definitely is humor in joy and humor in Heaven. If you only think about the variety of laughs and chuckles in the world, it is quite obvious that God has a sense of humor and a very good one at that. I think in Heaven there will be angels chuckling all over the place and our Creator will have the biggest guffaw of all. It will resound around His Kingdom. And I know He must get quite a kick out of us humans at times. Especially when we are on laughing gas at the dentist. That must be quite a hoot. Those are just my thoughts.

This is my new favorite coffee shop located on cathedral hill in St. Paul where Heather and I are going to meet newly married Ellie today! Twill be lovely. The building kind of reminds me of one you would find in San Francisco which is the city I would someday love to visit or live.

I go now to eat soup on the gloomy beautiful day, and I leave you to your thoughts whatever they may be.

Peace and good music be with you.

*Flo

Frypan Apples

This recipe is one I made up some fallish day many moons ago. There is also a vegan option if you prefer to use vegan margarine in place of the butter.

Here it is.

What you will need:

% Apple

% Cinnamon

% Sugar

% Tbsp.of butter

% Fry pan

% Spatula

% Peeler

% Cutting board

% Knife

1. Peel apple and slice into thin slices on cutting board

2. Place tbsp. of butter in frypan on medium heat until it becomes melty and sizzles

3. Add apple to fry pan, and sprinkle generous amounts of sugar and cinnamon on top.

4. Turn apple with spatula until cinnamon sugar gets gooey and apple becomes tender.

5. Enjoy! Can be topped with a tad of powered sugar for an elegant presentation.

While cooking, I recommend listening to some Miyazaki soundtracks to add to the general coziness.

Charm and the 1940s

 There is almost nothing I like more than a good story. And a good story that is true is even better. This memoir written by an 80 year old Iowa woman about a summer she spent working in Tiffany (the jewelry store) is the epitome of charm and quaint nostalgia. Written in the 1940s lingo complete with "Ohmygosh's" dotting every page and the simple pleasures of being a poor girl living in New York City, the book is one to read again and again.


One adorable quote from the book's conclusion is "Wouldn't it be fun to have hat stores on every corner like Starbucks and to call a friend: 'Let's meet for lunch and try on hats'?" Darling, stylish, and simple, the book is a warm story told by an intelligent and very passionate little old lady. 


Well, I will now proceed about my day. Probably wearing my hat.


Love, Flo

Bow-Quee

My face is turning into a sappy and mischievous grin as I am about to reveal a little tidbit of my childhood with you. It is somewhat embarrassing, but as this blog is quite private, I just feel like writing about my blanket pal who has been with me through thick and thin.


You may be wondering, where is this post coming from. You haven't written on your blog for months, and now you come on here to write about your security blanket. Gettin' a bit soft in the head are we Flo? I was actually inspired to write this post from a book I picked up from the withdrawn section of the library where they sell books for cheap. Called "Creature Comforts" is is a black and white picture book full of quirky memoirs and photos of people (of any age) and their special "Creature Comforts". As my face just started grinning and I felt a bit teary as I related to these little stories. I thought I'd relate mine.


When I was a baby and toddler, my comfort of choice was a cloth dolly named New Doll. She was soft and mushy and pliable and had the most appealing cloth textures. I remember her hair was yellow yarn and her clothes were made of a thin silky rose-studded fabric. Always fascinated with fabrics and kinesthetics I was obsessed with her dress and would run it through my fingers constantly. With time, New Doll became old and worn, and her name slowly morphed into Old Doll. No less loved because of her tattered-appearance. 


Although Old Doll and I were still good pals, I turned, when I was three or four to the blanket that had kept me company in the bottom of my crib from when I was a baby. A gift from my Grandma from Missouri, the quilt was hand-sewn and had bears sleeping under a cherry tree on one side and bows on the other. Hemmed by a yellow border, the quilt soon became my new treasured companion and I her greatest admirer. She developed a personality and even a language. I would bunch up one corner of her into a type of ghost-like face, she would float around and say "Hi-eeee" in a high pitched and mischievous squeak. I thought it was the funniest thing. Her name was and remains to this day, Bow-Quee, and for short, Bow, and I love her dearly. Her texture, her smell, and her unceasing comfort whenever the trials of being a sensitive child grew too much for me have been endless. Even into elementary school I often contemplated taking Bow with me in my backpack to school or taking her with me to sleepovers (as she always slept in the crook of my right arm at night). Slowly, I grew confidence in my abilities to survive without Bow and her home became under my pillow, where it exists to this day.


Bow came with me to college. First semester she was stuffed in the back of my closet. Second semester she emerged in a desperate crying fit of homesickness. And she stayed hidden in my college dorm bed for the rest of the year. But I am completely unashamed of that fact. So, to those of you who have a "Creature Comfort" bunched in the back of your closet, there is no need to be ashamed. I would rather admit my love for my blanky than be addicted to a drug, addicted to drink, or addicted to bad relationships. My blanky is my innocent addiction. And I will love her always. 


To my Bow, "Hi-eee", and I will never toss you in the washing machine like any old quilt. You will always be my special hand-washable, heart-warming, friend.


~Have a good night,
Love, Flo

Ministry of Silly Walks

John Cleese. You should hire me for your next production of "The Ministry of Silly Walks". Except, I'm not sure if you're dead or not. But if you're alive. I would be quite perfect right now. Because my walk is rather silly due to a silly afternoon.

So, as usual, I was craving a good dose of adventure, but I rather meant to just take a different route to Bixby's Cafe. Well, that turned into an all afternoon excursion due to getting lost. I walked in a full circle around the streets of hilly Duluth neighborhoods. Passing houses that looked like fairy-tale mansions, seeing a scampering deer in front of me, and passing an area that had 3 cathedrals in one block. It was beautiful. But... I had on my thrift store boots, which as you can see from the image above, I am rather miffed at. For, they gave me blisters the size of quarters. I decided to wear them to get used to them for they are my character boots for Moth, but unfortunately, they had not been previously tested. And, after walking miles in them, surprise surprise my walk started to turn into a strut, then a half limp, then kind of a skating step. But at that point I reached Bixby's finally! I found my way and I felt like Robin Hood or some conquerer like Alexander the Great. Except all I conquered were quaint neighborhoods of Duluth. But I will not let that burst my balloon of pride! I felt powerful. And celebrated by having a bagel and coffee. Then I set off again to school, where I am now. And I am sure I got some funny looks due to my ungainly swagger. Heehee. So that is why Mr. Cleese should hire me.

Well, I might give my lines a good once-over before heading in. I wish you all coziness and cheer tonight. And wish me luck in my jaunt home tonight. Should be quite interesting with said boots. Hah! 

~With sincerity and poise,

Flo

S.O.S. = Lost in book. Do not send help.

What a weird thing it really is to be so lost in words on paper that you lose consciousness of an outside world. Because of school I really had no time to get this stuck in a book-world, but now that I have time I have been getting increasingly fond of novels as each day progresses. And I have to admit my silly infatuation with fairy tales. I always feel like somewhat of a dork for liking simple childish fairy tales. But I can't help it. And by simple childish fairy tales I mean those based mostly off of the Grimms Brothers. Not Twilight or anything of the sort which I consider to be grime on the good name of fantasy novels. But, lovely ones such as The Chronicles of Narnia or those by Robin Mckinley and the authoress I just discovered, Shannon Hale.


The truly good fairy tales are those that draw you in and make your own life feel more complete. Fairy-tales that make your own life feel empty and meaningless are not good ones at all. 


In "The Goose Girl", the fairy tale I just read, by Shannon Hale, I identified strongly with the heroine who was a princess who often felt socially inadequate, but through her friendship with geese, her horse friend Faladar (with whom she could speak), and her conversations with the wind, she was empowered and at the end of the novel, she found herself. Simply written but very poetic, it was one that drew me in like I used to be drawn into books. It felt so good to live in that book realm again. To be magnetically connected to a book like when I was a child. I think there really is magic in the pull of a good story. Which is why I love acting so much. 


I feel kind of like a little nerd right now. And that is a funny word "nerd". But, I hope you will pardon me. I think I might go take a walk with my book and find a nice bench or something outside to start my next culprit, which is the seventh Harry Potter in preparation for the movie that comes out in July.


NERDY Carla strikes again. But, the thing is, "The Artist's Way" is teaching me to like what I like and not give a whit what others say about it. So I don't care if you give me a little eyebrow lift of condescension. You can just sip your coffee and watch the news. I am going to read a fantasy novel. That's right.


Hehee. Okay. Have yourselves a sunshiney Saturday. 


And I will leave you with a video which feels exceedingly appropriate right now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuRuwR2JSXI

I'm readin' a book man.


~Flo

The Start of Summer

Haha. I don't think this blog post bodes well, because I start it while a little child cries miserably at the table across from me. 


But it is now officially summer as I write this. And for two more weeks I will abide in Duluth, and then home to my family, my dog, my friends, and my Minneapolis. I think I will probably cry for joy when I get home. Not that being in Duluth has not been beautiful and absolutely wonderful. It really has, but now that Emily has left, the loneliness is starting to creep in. 


But, I filled my Saturday with lovely things and today have a rehearsal, so it's not like I will be completely alone. Yesterday I took a jaunt to the Lake and found a little wooden bench where I sat, soaking in the sun, listening to the waves lap against the shore, and soaking in some sunshine. It was in the low 80s, sunny, and utterly beautiful. While sitting there, I also started "The Artist's Way" program and because of all this time I have on my hands now, am determined to stick to. I CAN do it! I then proceeded to sit on the cliff-side rocks and admire the light reflecting off the water. Twas' the perfect summer day. In the evening I did some more Artist's Way, read through my script, and watched part of the Princess and the Frog. Being alone and doing all these lovely things was great, but I think the true joy of doing them lies in sharing them with others. We are not meant to live alone. God said this to Adam at the beginning of all things and it still rings true. "And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone." We were created to take delight in fellow human beings. Not to selfishly go about our days by ourselves. But, as I am left to my own devices these next two weeks, I really have no choice but to be alone. And I will try to be as useful as I can be in that time. This blog post is kind of boring, so I apologize. It's kind of a word barf for me right now.


Ach! But I truly can't wait to frolic with my sister and dog at home once again! And cook and clean and bike and adventure. And I will leave you with the song of the day which is "Blue Skies" by Maxine Sullivan.


~With sincerity,
Flo

Foolery.

I have now realized that it is not good to let your sibling onto your computer.

Blog = hijacked. :)

Duluth: City of Windblown Humans

This morning I was starting to experience dropsy again. The kind of dropsy where you fall asleep... everywhere. So I decided I needed to escape my castle abode. No matter how cozy it is. And it is rather too cozy. So I pulled on my sweater and headed out the door and walked down towards the Lake of Shining Waters, took a left and ended up here. At Dunn Bros. A great study spot I discovered. I am eating a blueberry muffin and quite content in fact. 

Today I have no school and I shall have no school until Tuesday. You have no idea how freakishly happy this made me. And I am celebrating big by reading books. I finished "Tale of Despereaux" which was quaint and cute, but a bit too morally for my liking. I don't like it when an author is trying to teach me things. I like to figure things out myself. Note to authors everywhere= don't dumb your audience or we will dumb you down. Sorry, didn't mean that to sound threatening or anything. But, I read all last night, sipped chai tea, and wore my gigantic green wool sweater which Heather and I decided is our sister exchange sweater. Nothing quite so comforting as a bulky big sweater. 

Duluth has been major sweater weather lately. I am wearing a sweater right now to think of it. Duluth is also the city of windblown humans. Note to prissy ladies everywhere: "do not, I repeat, do not get yourself a perfect new 'do' and then take a trip to Duluth. You will regret it forever when the wind takes a blow at your pompadour and you are blown to Calcutta (or something)." If you don't watch yourself here, you will be blown into the lake. Seriously.

But I have come to love this town. True, it has it's dark and unattractive side as does any town, but there is a lot of beauty and friendly people here as well. And I feel so much more free here now than when I was cooped up in a dorm room all year. That is one thing I've learned about myself. I am really very much like Eowyn from the good ole' "Lord of the Rings". Aragorn - "What do you fear my lady?" Éowyn - "A cage. To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them and all chance of valor has gone beyond recall or desire." I have come to realize that what I fear most is to be caged up. To not be free. To feel like I haven't done anything of worth all my life. I crave adventure more than a girl really should. 

But, living in my house I feel happy and free. And right now, unstressed and sipping coffee, I feel like a bumblebee. Not really. That just rhymes so I just felt like sounding a bit cheesy.

Have yourselves a sunshiney day folks.

Song of the Day:

"Breakfast at Tiffany's"

The Artful Homework Dodger

Yes sir. I am indeed dodging my homework with a pointless posting of projects that I am going to accomplish this summer. I will probably add to this list as the fancy takes me.

1.Make Vintage Suitcase Coffee Table (It is so magical that you can even store things within!)

Design*Sponge » Blog Archive » diy project: ashley’s vintage-suitcase coffee table

2. Clear out my closet and room of unused clothes and junk, donate unused items to charity, and make clever projects out of some of the junk. Ideas: 

~Use T-shirt book   

~Turn unused sweaters and shirts into pillow covers

~Using old jars make moroccan lanterns  Design*Sponge » Blog Archive » diy project: katie’s glass-jar moroccan lanterns   

3. Write something significant: be it a collection of monologues, a short story, etc.

4. Take experimental pictures

5. Cook some funky recipes : Soups, quiches, casseroles, veggie dishes, etc. (check out recipe books from library and copy recipes... compile into my college cookbook)

6. Read good plays

7. Work through the "Artist's Way Program" and actually do it

There is more, but I am going to wait for my brain to awaken before I add more. Today is one of those fall asleep in a little ball days. Why am I so darn sleepy? I need to wake up. Maybe I will plod outside for a bit because it is golden and sunny, and then attempt more homework. Uffdah! Oh, but I am excited for Friday though, because, Friday I do not have Public Speeking class, which means, I will spend the whole day cleaning up our little maids quarters, maybe bakings some muffins, doing massive amounts of dishes, laundry, and will take a walk down to the park to read my book, and then rehearsal in the evening. It will be a good day. But onto the present. Off I go to attempt some waking up. Goodbye comrades.

Song of the moment: Apache by Danger Beach

Of Popping Food

This is probably one of the most random blog postings I will make. But I am tired. And I feel like dedicating a post to the food that has predominated my diet for the past many a year. And that food is the marvelous corn that pops when you stick it over hot coals. I suppose one could say that is somewhat metaphorical, because wouldn't it be nice, when you walked over the hot coals of life, to pop with joy, instead of wilt like an old piece of spinach. But, I am not going to get philosophical. I am simply going to say. I love popcorn. That's it. And the book by Tomie DePaola by that name is brilliantly simple. This Monday, celebrate popcorn by grabbing yourself a big heapin' bowlful. 

Okay, Have yourself a jolly little day. Love, Flo.

"Thinking outrageously I write in courier..."

Well, this picture is almost to a T my new abode. It has been a delightful last couple of days in my castle. On Monday night Emily and I made dinner in our new place, feeling like the perfect little homemakers, I ran outside and picked dandelions, and we dolled up the table. After dinner with our other two housemates, we headed off to Grandma's for dessert where I had tiramisu and I felt like a little french girl. Emily and I then went on a little hike where we looked at old houses as the sun set and a paper moon came out to grace the sky. It was beautiful and magical. Back in our castle we had chai tea and watched part of Amelie. That movie never ceases to grab me with how much I relate to the main character of Amelie. If I was a movie, I think I would be Amelie. The combination of the bouncy and beautiful accordian/piano music, the warm colors, the emphasis on simple pleasures and joy, and the pure childlikeness create such a connection between me and this film.

In honor of Amelie, I think I shall narrate myself like in the film.

Carla likes:

Carla likes tearing paper into tiny shreds

Carla likes the smell of coffee on a chilly spring morning

Carla likes making people laugh with silly and random comments

Carla likes surprising people 

Carla likes when bananas have the perfect tinge of green

Carla likes people who care passionately about something and are well-versed in that something

Carla likes accordians

Carla likes when her nose develops freckles

Carla likes seeing families laughing as they share their inside jokes

Carla likes to imagine herself as a sailor

Carla likes cuddling up with a good book for hours and losing oneself in a story

Carla like people who don't give a whit what others think of them

Carla likes staying in old hotels and pretending she is Sherlock Holmes while solving imaginary cases

Carla likes blowing milk bubbles

Carla likes the sound of waterfalls

Carla likes warm cozy muffins

Carla will continue this some other time perhaps.

As for now, I should go finish typing up my speech on C.S. Lewis which I am giving today and finish sipping my coffee. I gotta skeedaddle. So goodbye.

Song of Day: "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song"

I think I will bake cookies tonight.

I Capture the Castle

Haha. Well, unlike Cassandra in "I Capture the Castle" I do not write this sitting in the kitchen sink. Rather, I write this sitting in the sunshine shining in from the windows in one of the academic buildings of UMD. It is rather early, 8:15, and I sit sipping coffee. I decided to walk Emily to her class today so that she wouldn't get lost, but although that meant early rising, it also means I have time to write and read. Which are the most delightful of morning activities.


So, I will tell you about yesterday and my move into my new abode. We drove up to the house, which is an old brick castle-looking house with a tower. The day was sunny and green and resembled Ireland and mom and I walked up to the house for my meeting with Cathy, the maintenance lady. She was a super cute gray-haired woman with one of those perpetually surprised expressions and a very energetic and flustered but sweet personality. I will be taking pictures soon and maybe posting them here, but the house is a dream. Beautiful woods floors, big tiled bathrooms, hidden doors, multiple staircases with you find after wandering the house, a beautiful kitchen, and a charming living room complete with an electric fireplace. Emily and I set up our bedroom which is a tiny little room, technically the maid's quarters of the house, which has a little door leading to the balcony outside. One of the 3rd floor residents, Henry, a hippy-esque fellow, gave us a jade plant which we named Agias Agamemnon. I still, however, cannot grow accustomed to the fact that I will be living in that fairy-tale-like house for the next month. It seems very unreal. I want to be sure to "capture" the castle and not miss out on the novelty of our stay there. To truly experience the house and this summer month in Duluth is what I would like to do.


I brought my castle-reading books with me which include "The Tale of Desperoux", "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie", and "Brideshead Revisited". Sitting on the balcony and reading one of these I think will be one of my pastimes. I also want to make sure to write letters, and also to take walks along the Lake Superior boardwalk. I don't want to miss out on anything. I also just found out that my first read through doesn't start until tomorrow evening, so I have this evening to make dinner with Emily and maybe take a walk or something lovely like that. I am so dang thankful. Okee. Well, I guess I will end this post now.


P.S. I really like this book art.


Love, Carmen


(Today's Music: The CDs of Beirut and Annes of Green Gables)

Of Big Fat Aardvarks. Or B.F.A.s.

This little child is sitting at home on her green carpet, in a knubby green sweater, and feeling wonderfully chipper. I have had one heck of a good last couple of days and I am still sitting on the moon with my fishing pole. Hmmmm, where to start.


To begin, I found out that I received all A's in my classes this semester which was a beauteous thing to behold. Second, I am signed up to take both Modern Dance and Jazz Dance next semester. Third, I was accepted into University of Minnesota Duluth's B.F.A. Acting Track. Fourth, I was reunited with my family and poofy puppy. And finally, I will be staying for May and June in a charming little house in Duluth that has a little stained glass window, and electric fireplace, a garden out back, and is within walking distance to campus. I am just a spoiled little girl. And I am going to bask in my spoiled-ness for a while. I really don't think God minds me basking in the joyful things He has given me. I think He simply appreciates my thanking Him and realizing where all these blessings are coming from. Not from my own merit or work, but rather from his providence and care for me. To have a Father that caring and committed to his children is one heck of a great thing.


So, as I bask in these things, I will attempt to be posting more blog updates, potentially pictures of my two month Duluth house, updates on playing Moth in "Love's Labour's Lost", and any quotes, pictures, videos, etc. that I come across.


"Great is Thy Faithfulness".


And song of the day is "Grown Ocean" by Fleet Foxes.


Pssst... Do you like my new blog title. I do. It feels more fitting. I think it is also fitting as I am in the stage of my life where the story is starting and the curtain is rising.


Love, Carmen

Happy May Day

On this day back in 1884. Nope, I lied. On this day back in the late 1990s, Boopie and I used to put together little baskets filled with cookies and tulips and daffodils, and deliver them to our neighbors' doorsteps. And run away, giggling like maniacs.


I miss those days. And I miss the days of having the free brain space to think to do little things like that. Now that I'm in college, I kind of have to force my brain to take a breather in order to think of pointless things to do. It's like my brain refuses to do anything if it is utterly unrelated to school. 


But, only 2 more weeks of school, and then home for a weekend, and then back to Duluth for a month of Duluth summer, complete with a class in Public Speaking and the role of a witty page boy Stage 2's production of "Love's Labour's Lost". I really am very excited for this summer as I think it will combine many good things. I will be able to taste a bit of Duluth summers and be in a play at the same time, will be able to go home to be with the family and my Squishy the malamute, and will be able to go to Sugar Lake with Grandma and Grandma. I really am so very blessed and just forget to recognize that fact.


I also just realized that I have not blogged in eons, and I thought it would be helpful for my brain to release a bit of it's clogging on some sort of written medium. So here it is.


Ooohhh! I forgot to tell you. This week, I went to this random lecture on "Hiking the Inca Trail" which, as most random excursions turn out to be, was the highlight of my week. The lady talking very closely resembled Katherine Hepburn, was very engaging, and wore a 100% baby alpaca fur sweater. She was a nifty adventurous woman, let me tell you. It sounded so exciting as she described the steep trek and at the end her tour of Machu Picchu which is one of the 7 wonders of the world. Just walking amidst all that history would make my bones tingle with happiness.


And last night, it was all windy and cold and rainy and I cuddled up with popcorn and watched a fantastic film called "The Devil's Backbone". A Spanish ghost story directed by the director of "Pan's Labyrinth" it was beautifully creepy, sad, and even quite gory. But as usual, Guillermo Del Toro filmed it beautifully.


Right now I am sitting in the Engineering Building for no particular reason except for change of scenery and as I look out this little window there is a little patch of prairie in between the buildings. It has waving grasses and is very picturesque.


Anyhoo. I am attempting to be quite productive at the moment and it is really backfiring. So I should probably get back to it.


Nice talking with you.


And here is a nice picture of flying kites on a hill. That is where I would like to be presently.

I wish you happy sleep. Until later, chow.

Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego go-go-go-go-go?

Why hello. I actually just wrote a full blog post about time and killing time only to accidentally delete it. Somewhat ironic I have to say as that time was wasted in the making of the blog post. Irony! Oh boy. 

So, I guess I'll just start afresh. Well, you may be wondering why a Carmen Sandiego is lurking in a corner of this post. Well, I will inform you. My new nickname at school is Carmen (a mix of Carla and Weideman) and some of the theatre folk often burst into "Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego" in my vicinity. Thus, I will perhaps be using this nickname in the postings of my blog. Now you understand the logic.

Well, instead of bemoaning time, I am going to attempt a different tactic and write what I am going to do with the time that I am given. I spend too much time moaning and not enough time delighting in time. (so many "times" in that sentence)

That being said, here is a list of what I am going to do with my time over Spring Break:

~Read "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie"

~Go thrifting at Goodwill Outlet and out to eat at Indian food place with my sis

~Take long walks with the dog

~Make mom a beautiful Birthday cake and take Dad out to eat at Cafe latte and the conservatory

~Do silly little craft projects (t-shirt cutting up and pin-making)

~Get together with my chichi and hemma buddies

~Read books with mom in the addition

~Have a piano lesson with mom

~Watch Chocolat and Fantastic Mr. Fox with the sis

And, I will add on to this list more as I think of things.

ok. that's all.

Love, Carmen

Check

Snow adventure. Check!


Ravines, conquered. Icy inclines, mastered.Moon, breathtaking. Me, happy. Yes sir, it was a good night.

An environmental studies girl from my floor invited me to go with the RSOP group on a snowshoe trip tonight (until it became too slushy and turned into a hiking trip). So, it was just me, her, and 3 graduate student guides, clomping along in the beautiful outdoors. Stopping to listen to silence and the sound of gushing water. Gazing at cliffs and big pine trees and examining the waxing moon. Nothing like some nature to bring peace.


That's why I want to get to know lots of different types of people. The lovely ones I was with tonight were the practical wisdom and take life slow and easy type. They just simply were and didn't rush through life. They just enjoyed moment by moment and saw the beauty around them. They took time to listen.


...Silence..........

Post the First

FRESH.... hot off the grill.


Fresh Starts!


What, you might ask are fresh starts? Well, they are not a variety of beets or asparagus. They are simply a bit of newness. 


And, I realized that I never really wanted to post in my old blog, because it was full of last semester's gunk. And I just needed to start afresh with my approach to blogging. I'm not going to get all philosophical or moany with this one. I will merely tell about life, occurences, joys, discoveries as they are. 


I am just going to use this blog to have a bit of fun. Because fun is a great thing, and something I rarely allow myself to partake in. I tell myself it is not useful. But the thing is, when I have had a bit of good ole' enjoyment, I am able to really dig into what needs to be done with more relish and zest (pardon the food analogies).


So... that being said, I will try to at least somewhat weekly post.






Challenges for this week:


~Get out in the snow (snowshoeing perhaps?)


~People watch... witness some good ole funniness


~Find out what gets me angry. I realized that I have not had a good steam for a while and I think it would be very releasing and beneficial to figure out what pushes my buttons


~Make time for my Creator


~Hug a big fluffy malamute (I am seeing my Linus Sherman this weekend!)... not really a challenge.








Alright. Fresh starts steaming on a plate!