Swifter

Talking to a wise friend tonight reminded me of my dusty aspirations. I think its time I wiped them off and brought them out, remembering in the meanwhile that this is life. Its happening right now. What do I want that to consist of? What happened to creativity, an optimistic spirit, or self-motivation? Lets stop making plans and start making things happen. Timidity is for life in greyscale. I want to experience vibrance and color.

I pray for a present-minded heart. & for believing in making things possible again.

To Read:

I just read about two amazing women: Dervla Murphy and Isabella Bird. From different centuries, both traveled the world to places that were deemed too dangerous for such female independence. They have written about their travels and I am dying to read their books.

First of the "must-read" list:

Bird's A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains (1879)

and

Murphy's Full Tilt: Ireland to India With a Bicycle (1965)

Dervla Murphy

Ms. Bird

Reminiscing

Daisy May Erlewine

I just adore her music, lyrics, and sound.

Come on empty, at a bad time
Oh wont you, stand by my side
And I need someone, to let in the light
Someone to grab hold

And hold on tight

And I feel ok when I'm looking inside
But there's still something sucking me dry
And I need someone I can talk to
Someone to tell me straight and true

How can I make it right?
Be like the sun, born to shine
In a world full of sorrow and pain
How can I renew again?

And I tell ya about the damage done
Nobody thought to think before the axe was swung
And I know I've done my share of taking for granted something that was there

And I'll tell you something
I sure am scared
Of that big ol' nothing
Looming out there
And I need something that I can hold
Something sacred, and something old

http://www.earthworkmusic.com/daisyMay/

Leslie Caron

my weekend plans:

1. THIS

2. Rosie Thomas Show

3. Hang out with VAL who is in town from Chicago.

Movies I Need to See.

Focus Feature Films:

1. A SERIOUS MAN
2. 9
3. TAKING WOODSTOCK
4. THIRST

5. AWAY WE GO

6. THE LIMITS OF CONTROL
7. SIN NOMBRE
8. CORALINE
9. MILK
10. BURN AFTER READING
11. HAMLET 2
12. MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY
13. IN BRUGES
14. ATONEMENT
15. RESERVATION ROAD
16. LUST, CAUTION
17. EASTERN PROMISES
18. EVENING
19. TALK TO ME
20. CATCH A FIRE
21. BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
22. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
23. THE CONSTANT GARDENER
24. BROKEN FLOWERS
25. MOTORCYCLE DIARIES
26. ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
27. 21 GRAMS
28. LOST IN TRANSLATION
29. SWIMMING POOL
30. THE PIANIST
31. FAR FROM HEAVEN

If I had a Y chromosome I would rock this.

Boys note: this jacket is hot.

Its almost a hoodie, but its not - its a leather jacket.

Perforated leather jacket.

Broken Promises (a rant)

"I am disappointed beyond words that the State of Michigan cannot keep its
commitment to you."

Says GVSU's president Haus in a "personalized" email to me around lunchtime today. The one year I receive my $2000 for taking all those MEAP tests in middle & high school is gone. Why? - because Michigan legislature thinks that it is a good idea to cut one of the only good ideas our state has had in the past several years. In her last state of the state address, Governor Jenny brags about how the state is helping students.

"All [high school students] are eligible for a $4,000 Michigan Promise
scholarship that puts a college degree within the reach of every student. ...
That’s progress."

Apparently we are taking steps backward on the path of progress. Didn't Jenny threaten higher institutions of learning about raising their tuition? That they were responsible to meet the needs of hurting families in this time of economic crisis?

"First, as we accelerate our push to get more kids to college, we cannot have
them priced out of the market by tuition increases. I am asking Michigan’s
universities and community colleges to freeze tuition for the next academic
year. No tuition hikes during this year of economic crisis."

What of the states responsibility to students? Supposedly "education and training" is the second most important assets of Michigan's "battle plan" toward a better economy. Well, legislature is doing a great job on that one - cutting university funding, cutting student's already earned and PROMISED scholarships, and allowing back-door ways for universities to raise tuition (adding "fees" to every credit hour, wtf Grand Valley?).

As of today, I immediately owe GV a $2000 check. I am covering my state's ass while continuing to pay them taxes, which they can irresponsibly budget and allocate to other area's to satisfy our whiney baby boomers.

Yusuf Islam

or Steven Demetre Georgiou
or Cat Stevens

This song brightens my rainy days.