After the Storm

Hey everyone! I can't believe it's been a week since the last time I posted... so much has happened! I got to hang out with my neighbor again, and then I spent another day at my brother's house, chilling with my sister and sister-in-law at their pool :). Then that evening I went to play ultimate Frisbee with some friends, hung out at McDonald's afterward, and picked up a graduation gift from a really good friend. After being dropped off back at my car, I went back to my brother's house to spend the night, and then realized I didn't have my graduation gift with me, so I checked the car, had my sister check the car, had my earlier ride check HIS car, another friend and his mom checked the parking lot where I'd been parked, and then after a very restless night my sister-in-law and I checked the parking lot ourselves and couldn't find the gift anywhere. The theory is that I left if on top of my car--in fact, I'm pretty certain that's what I did. But it's long gone now :/. After scouring the parking lot for a long time, I went back to my brother's house and took a shower, then grabbed all my crap and drove home, where I talked with my dad for a while then took a short nap. When I woke up I had to get ready for a party a couple hours away, a party for all of the NC students going to the college I'm headed to in the fall. Attending that was fun, though I'm not really one for making small talk with strangers.

That night, at about midnight, my mom and I hit walmart to buy me a bicycle. Then the next day, I had a job as an extra again--this time for a show called Homeland, starring Claire Danes. I was a 'girl on bike', hence the midnight bike run. It was an okay experience... but nothing as amazing as The Hunger Games. It's a paying job, though, and my new bike rocks, so I'm glad I did it :). So yeah, I've been really busy the last several days, and haven't been home much at all. Today I'm going whitewater rafting with my sister, and tomorrow she, my dad, and I all leave for Georgia... so it looks like I'm going to be busy for a while yet. But I know that eventually this insanity will calm down, and I'll be able to breathe, and all I have to do until then is not panic! A long while back, our area experienced a HORRIBLE storm... there were tornadoes nearby and severe thunderstorms and wind. Then, it just stopped... and the next day I took this picture:

 

I love this picture, because to me it means, when things are rough, 'this too shall pass'... there may always be a calm before the storm, but there's always a calm after one too--it's just the way life works out, depending how you choose to look at it. This storm isn't over yet, but when it is I'm sure the sun will shine and the flowers will smile up at it :). Anyway, now I'm rambling... just wanted to say I love you guys, and I'm sorry for not reading and commenting on your blogs. I hope to catch up more soon! :/. Thanks so much to Lia and Raisa for commenting on my last post, even though it wasn't much of one and I've been an unfaithful blogger. I really appreciate it :). Until next time,

Happy Monday! (Photo)

(click the photo for better quality)

Just linking up with Allie's Happy Monday Photo Challenge! The theme this week is green :). I took this picture at a beach-side pool on vacation a bit ago. While my family slept in the sun for hours, I sat beside a bush with a camera aimed at a bright spot waiting for lizards to sun (and several did!). I was stiff afterward, but I think it was worth it :).



Also, huge thanks to Meghan for following! Hope you enjoy my blog :).

Zebras, Giraffes, and... Rhino-seros? (a Trip to the Zoo in Pictures)

The trip to the Zoo really started the night before, when my sister called at ten pm and asked if I wanted to hit the zoo in the morning. I'd been outta my head because of family crap, and was eager to get outside and enjoy the pretty weather and see my sister some more, so off to the zoo I went :). The funniest part was her reading a sign, not a minute after we entered…
"Zebras, Giraffes, and 'Rhino-seros'… I wonder why they put only that one in Spanish"
*I walk back to sign and stand there*
"how exactly do YOU spell rhinoceros?"
*she comes back over*
"you're kidding me… hahahaha, that's ENGLISH!"
"yeah, it is…"
She then said "maybe I shouldn't be the one holding the map…" xD lol. Gotta love my sister! We saw lots of animals, and though my camera is difficult to work with, I did manage to get some pretty pictures. Nothing spectacular, but you can usually tell what I'm taking a picture of (and one of them I actually really love). I'll stop boring you with words now, though ;). See for yourself!






























































Well, I'm too lazy to post any more, and I'm sure your eyes are worn out from all of those xD. My favorite is the flower shot, with three, and with a vertical orientation. Those flowers were just so beautiful! Anyway, I hope to do a post with more substance soon. Thank you all so much for the congratulations! I'm excited :D. Until next time,

Life is Sweet!

I'm once again joining up with the Life is Sweet meme over at Shilah, a monthly post of ten things that are making your life sweet! Things definitely aren't perfect right now, but there are always things to be grateful for, and focusing on them is a great exercise for a positive mindset :)

Here they are, ten things that are sweetening up my little corner of the universe:

1. I'm in the process of scheduling an interview for the academic society I keep blathering about, and I'm nervous and psyched!


2. The other day, I over drafted on my bank account, but my mom was there for me while I bawled like a baby and helped me move some funds from a different account, and got me back in the black right before midnight (at which point I would have been hit with some serious over drafting fees). I was completely freaking, and am now going to not spend money, but I'm really fortunate that she was there for me and my accounts are in order again.


3. PROM being completely awesome! (posted on it, but it's gone for now)


4. I'm only 1 month and two weeks away from graduation!!!!


5. [Lauren] got into the great high school she wanted!!! I know, it isn't my life, but the news really brought me joy for her :D. WAY TO GO LAUREN! :D.


6. I had therapy on Wednesday, which was long overdue... she gave me some great tips about how to avoid conflicts with my mom without being a doormat, and helped me to realize that constantly supporting my mom and emotionally carrying her on my shoulders(even when I think she's wrong) is doing me more harm than good. She also helped me to feel better about college, which is great :).


7. My dad and I are getting along fairly well. Civil. Couple days ago I had to run around and get blood drawn and a CT scan, which meant hanging around the city for hours, and he was still willing to take me. Then he got me a mocha frappe, which was nice, and we hung out at a local park for two hours in between the two cups of Kool-Aid and contrast dye I had to drink. He was on his laptop, and I was reading, but we did talk all about Celebrity Apprentice and other things, and the weather was beautiful in the park, so it was kind of surreal. For a day full of doctors and pain, it was pretty great :). I love being outside :).


8. My converse (did I mention them last time?). I am just so completely in love with my shoes. They're so durable and awesome and comfortable and PERFECT. I'm so glad I decided to splurge and get them for myself!
   
   And Peanut likes them too!xD lol
   


9. My trashy rock radio station :D. Haha, they're having a 'M.I.L.F' contest: 'Mom's I'd like to ,uh, feel good about knowing' as the commercial says. ANYWAY, despite some of the crap that winds up there sometimes, that station really does the have the best music ever. I woke up this morning to I Will Not Bow (jeesh, now I'm hearing BB everywhere! :D lol), and got to hear Avenged Sevenfold and Red Hot Chili Peppers… it introduced me to Cage the Elephant, and plays some of my favorites like Flyleaf and Linkin Park. Just a solid station overall (oh, and plays a surprising amount of Christian rock-which I think is awesome of them, because they just play great music, regardless, you know? Skillet and Flyleaf and I think I heard TFK once!). AAAHHH, THEY JUST STARTED PLAYING SHAKE ME DOWN! DAS MAH JAMM!!!


10. The weather starting toward amazing-it's insanely bipolar, with storms and coldness followed by temperatures in the 80's, but I am so ready for 'real' spring it is maddening. What tastes of it I've had have been so wonderful it's cruel! I snagged a couple pictures of the first flowers I saw several weeks ago, and here they are now:

And, as you may or may not have noticed, I've decided to go ahead and put up my spring look (I meant to do it ages ago, but then the weather went wacko and I was thinking about waiting for my new signature, but I know I'll get that soon enough and really want to set it up! Click on over and tell me what you think? And if you don't like it as much as the old one, say so-I'm game for anything :). So, what's making YOUR life sweet right now? If you can't think of anything, try making a list-like I said at the top, it's a great exercise :). Well, I've gotta run-talk to you all later! :D

Music That Moved Me + Comments + a Photo

Just a couple tracks that I needed to hear the other day, and wound up playing on the way home. Thoughtful, softer songs. I was mostly listening to Cage the Elephant, Coldplay, and Dashboard Confessional, plus random ones that I wanted to hear, BUT I'll limit myself to... 4 songs, and what they mean to me.

"In my life, I have seen,
People walk into the sea,
Just to find memories,
Plagued by constant misery,
Their eyes cast down,
Fixed upon the ground,
Their eyes cast down

I'll keep my eyes fixed on the sun"

To me, this song is about pulling through the toughest of times, and not living in the past, but looking toward a brighter future... even on a cloudy day, I'll keep my eyes fixed on the sun. The video tells its own special story, and is pretty powerful. If you don't have time to watch, at least listen-it's a great song.



"Just because I'm losing
Doesn't mean I'm lost...

Just because I'm hurting
Doesn't mean I'm hurt...

You might be a big fish
In a little pond
Doesn't mean you've won
'Cause along may come
A bigger one

And you'll be lost"

Beautiful song, and well named. To me it is about being hurt, and feeling lost, and being looked down upon by someone who doesn't understand. It isn't angry, but quietly defiant in a patient way. It explains itself better than any words I could ever string together:




"Vindicated
I am selfish
I am wrong
I am right
I swear I'm right
Swear I knew it all along
And I am flawed
But I am cleaning up so well
I am seeing in me now
The things you swore you saw yourself"

Vindicate:
-to afford justification for; justify
-to claim for oneself or another

Vindicated. Justified. Claimed. Being flawed, but loved anyway... a beautifully confusing way to be.




"Here in this crowd I'm feeling all alone
Turn me around and point me back to home
I'm getting lost more every day
And I can't tear myself away...

Life on the moon couldn't be any stranger
Life on the moon wouldn't feel this far away
The life that I knew, it's through
And I'm gonna need you more than ever
I'm alone in this crowded room
It's like life on the moon"

A feeling I've had in the past, and my fear for the near future...



And a bonus song, for those of you who, like me, could stare out the window for days...



And if you're still reading, and looking for something else to listen to, check out my new youtube channel. Because I just got an account it is kind of empty so far, but I'm gonna work on it :). Which songs listed above did you like?

In response to your wonderful comments...

Shaynie, thank you SO MUCH for your prayers(and the hug)! Things are still crazy, but I'm trying not to lose it. And yes, it was quite a scare... I still don't know what actually IS wrong, which is frustrating, but the doctor is experimenting with prescriptions to see what helps.

Amanda, you don't like reptiles? Haha, my mom LOVES alligators... once they're made into boots and purses, that is :D. Personally, I'm a lizard lover; partly because they make such wonderful models, and partly because I have two pet leopard geckos :). And since I haven't much more time here, I'm going to comment on your posts in my post... which is weird, but whatever. LOVED Julianne Hough's and Crystal Bowersox's dresses, and actually didn't like Natasha Bedingfield's... it just seemed a bit too much, with her hair and then the contrast between the top and the bottom of the dress. I thought Jewel's was very sweet and flattering (it wasn't amazing or particularly memorable, but it seems like many women do NOT know how to dress when pregnant, and I thought this look was just perfect). I also liked Janelle Monae and Nicki Minaj (she's crazy, but it was just so HER XD Not saying anyone SHOULD wear that, but she totally pulls it off IMO). Bieber looked like he was drowning in his suit. Anddd.... Miley looked decent. I'll stop now :). I can't wait to hear what's up with you!

Max-I'm an east coast girl, but I do hope to see the west coast soon, and I'll definitely keep In & Out in mind! A HEALTHY burger sounds like guilt free paradise... sigh. I'm glad the trip went well and you're all back safe and sound! I can definitely relate when it comes to missing photo ops... it used to drive me crazy, but this post helped me to not get too frustrated. I actually did manage to get one decent snow shot this past winter... found it:

I think it turned out pretty good, but no picture I could take would have shown what the snow looked like that morning... every snowflake sparkled like glitter, and it was almost hard to look at it was so blindingly beautiful.

Anyway, for anyone who actually read this monster of a post, thank you. For reading, and commenting, and sticking with me even when I'm just not able to be here... I love you guys :). Also, thanks to Ashley and Jan (of the amazing Creative Instigation-seriously people, check it out) for following! I hope you enjoy what you find here :). Until next time,

´¨)
¸.·´¸.·*´¨)*´¨)
(¸.·´¸.·*´¨) *
(¸.· Elizabeth *´¨)
¸.·´ ¸.·*´¨) *
(¸.·´*

Random Lizard Picture

The Past Two Weeks in 14 Pictures

Where to start? I haven't posted in… wow, two weeks? Since the last time I posted, my lap-top was confiscated, my grandfather stayed with us (for two weeks), I've spent two days at one college, spent several days working on the application to another college (including essays… arg), gotten my scores from the latest SAT (THEY WENT UP! W00T), wore two different Halloween costumes

[Black Widow(red hourglass, all black outfit down to the boots, super pale makeup),

and Green Bean(wore a green shirt and green scrub pants which were the SAME SHADE of green-lucky!-sprayed my hair green, green bling, and my name-tag said:

Bean)], had a rice krispies treat

(the first one within my memory), ate a LOT of comfort food (grilled cheese, pizza, cookies, brownies, and other bits of heaven), saw a sign with an error while stuck in traffic,

listened to '80's hits(We Built This City, baby!), babysat our new puppy,

got the most amazing piece of mail in history (a letter and poem from someone I love-most amazing gift I've received), laughed, cried, had a complete meltdown(I had three in one day, actually), and screamed with joy. The leaves have changed colors,

the air became cold,

my father bought some mums,

and a few surviving hanging flowers are still smiling at the sky.

These past weeks have been one psycho senior year rollercoaster of death, and I'm BEAT. I haven't had time to write a post (though I have been commenting on other's blogs more, so yay for that), but I wanted to let you guys know that I'm not dead and that I will be posting regularly asap. I'm just moving way too fast right now...

I've been offered tours of labs for tissue engineering (if you know what I'm talking about, YES ISN'T AMAZING?!?!?! If not, they grow working organs, and it IS amazing!) by my brother, who knows people. And my brother also offered to fly me to a college which offered me a free ride, including tuition and housing, which is out of state and I thought I wouldn't be able to visit. LOL, I was just flipping through my note book trying to find my Physics notes and saw this to do list:

Yeah, it was late at night and I was talking to myself... lol. But I've gotten a lot DONE this past week, including transcript requests and sending my SAT score reports to different schools, and on this very day I bought myself a lovely new watch! :D

I'm sorry for abandoning you, my faithful followers, but with my limited internet access I haven't had much choice in the matter. Thanks for bearing with me,


--
"But you see, it's not me, it's not my family.
In your head, in your head they are fighting,
With their tanks and their bombs,
And their bombs and their guns.
In your head, in your head, they are crying..."


´¨)
¸.·´¸.·*´¨)*´¨)
(¸.·´¸.·*´¨) *
(¸.· Elizabeth *´¨)
¸.·´ ¸.·*´¨) *
(¸.·´*