a new obsession

spring break: part two

the last half of my week was split between Auburn and Birmingham.

Probably my favorite moment of all of spring break was on wednesday night, in Auburn, when my roommates and I watched Away We Go. This movie is so brilliantly wonderful. Within thirty seconds after the ending, I knew it had made the list of my top five favorite movies. Normally, I have to think about and sleep on a movie before I can even begin to articulate an opinion about it, but this case was different. A witty script, hilarious John Kransinski moments, and a soundtrack comprised of Alexi Murdoch songs all contributed to my instant love for this movie. Really, I think I could go on about it forever. It's so deep, too... I just love it. Watch it. But not with your parents.

At home, I made several successful shopping trips yielding new sandals, an Easter dress, tennis equipment, and the sending off of my Dad's old 35mm camera for cleaning and repairing. In four weeks, I will have it back, and film photography will officially be a new hobby. I'm counting the days. I also crafted up a storm, got some sun in my backyard, and enjoyed my parents' incredible cooking.

I think Spring Break is my favorite. Summer and Christmas are filled with working. Thanksgiving is for traveling and family obligations and preparation for finals. On Spring Break, there are no commitments, no rules, no school. Just good food, good books, and fun times. I love all breaks from school equally, but for different reasons. Spring Break is my "I don't care because I don't have any responsibilities and I can sleep all the time, read for fun, and choose the people I hang out with" break.

this year = success.

spring break: part one

Saturday through Wednesday was spent in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with thirty-ish friends in two cute little beach cottages.

Day One

can be summed up as this:

driving. driving. driving. misery.

driving. bathroom break. driving. lunch.

driving. driving. five pounds of peanut m&ms.

arrival!

excitement.

all remaining energy spent on excitement.

sleep.

Days Two and Three

were somewhat cloudy, a little chilly, but still warm enough to go on the beach for a few hours. There was a lot of frisbee and longboarding and bocce ball. A lot of sandwiches. A lot of blue bell ice cream... two ideal spring break days.

Day Four

was cold and cloudy and awful. We stayed in our sleeping bags in our eno hammocks all day, reading and trying to stay warm. I read a huge chunk of my book The Know-It-All by A.J. Jacobs. The day ended with dinner at River City Cafe.

Day Five

was the day we left. Therefore, it was another day filled with driving and sleeping and reading. After ten hours on the road, it felt so wonderful to walk back into our apartment. Katie and I decided that it was the most we had ever looked forward to being home.

Throughout all of this (and the rest of the week, really) I was listening to the sweet, sweet sounds of The XX, Mumford & Sons, and Florence + The Machine. I associate almost every album I own with a specific time in my life, and these three will definitely remind me of sb10.

spring break sneak peek

I've been away.
driving and relaxing and reading and crafting..

It's been so nice. updates and pictures soon - consider this a preview of things to come.

marvelous mondays

Disclaimer: This is the only semester in my entire life in which I have felt this way. In fact, it will probably be the only few months of my life that I do feel how I feel.

I love Mondays.

Yes, you heard me. I'm not crazy. Here's why:

I only go to two classes, and I'm done at 10:00. I walk home, freshen up, then run errands (groceries, gas, etc). I come home and eat lunch, then if I'm tired, I take a nap. If I'm not tired, I do homework or clean or watch a movie. I eat dinner then go to my favorite coffee shop for the rest of the night to study. It's so scheduled. So productive. So relaxing and methodical. It's the only day of my week that I can count on to accomplish things or knock out an entire to do list. Mondays are my day.

This Monday has been particularly wonderful:

1. It's a sunny 72 degrees outside. I laid in my eno on our front porch while finishing up my Child Development reading, and it was so delightful. I love this weather.

2. Strawberries are in season! I bought a box at the grocery store this morning and just enjoyed a bowl of them. Fresh fruit is so great.

3. New jeans! Until Sunday, you can bring in any old pairs of jeans to Gap and get 30% off of a new pair. They're using the old denim to create eco-friendly insulation for houses. You'd better believe I took advantage of that deal! I am now the owner of a new pair of dark wash skinnies.

4. Paper productivity. I love writing for fun - blog posts, journaling... but when it comes to being forced to write about something that I have zero interest in (example: vampire literature), then there is much gnashing of teeth and pulling of hair before I actually sit down and start typing. However, tonight, I wrote a third of my Lit 2 paper - and I'm planning on writing a little more before the night is over. Productivity? check.

"indistinguishable from magic"

One of my favorite movies of 2009 was Richard Kelly's The Box. Now, if you consider yourself to be the average American movie-goer, you will not like this movie. If you enjoy deep, well thought out, creative but strange movies with a little Twilight Zone twist, you will love this movie.

Proof:

first viewing: with a few of my fellow cinema lovers who appreciate deep, well thought out movies. we all loved it.

second viewing: with a close friend who didn't understand it and thought it was ridiculous.

third viewing: with a large group of people at my apartment. a few of the original viewers, lots of newbies - less than half of which enjoyed it

fourth viewing: with my family. they hated it. this is a perfect example of how I am the odd one out in my family as far as movies and music and all other things pertaining to personal taste.

Reasons I love it: The whole movie has a glow to it. The way it was filmed gives it an almost dream-like quality to emphasize the 1970s setting. I think it's beautiful. The score was written by Win Butler and Régine Chassagne of Arcade Fire, and Owen Pallett (need I say more?), and I appreciated the underlying themes and ideas of moral depravity and altruism. (This must be the psychology nerd in me). It's an extremely thought provoking film that I will love no matter how many people proclaim it to be strange.

apricot

This short film is everything I love about movies and film rolled into one ten minute piece. So while I'm packing to go home for the weekend, you should sit down, clear your mind, and enjoy this: