The woman in the video is my beautiful aunt Brenda (my dad’s sister, looking pretty good for a woman getting chemo treatments) and my second cousin (my cousin Brian’s ‘little’ baby) Erik. The dog is not related to me. I love this.

adammurphy:

apanoply:

libraries:

justgo:

“A ship in harbor is safe, but that’s not why ships are built.”

kristenfromkansas:

so, im in the middle of writing a personal statement, and it’s…well, it’s not going well. i’m kind of having a breakdown about it. i am a decent writer, but personal statements are just a completely different ball game. i have my idea, and i’m happy with it, but the words and paragraphs just look so…lame. le sigh.

if it weren’t for andrea, i probably would have given up by now. but she is amazing and provides me encouragement like this (via g-chat):

the other route you could go is just use the words of michelle tanner, “but i’m a fun girl.” true, brief and with all of the people writing in cliches and run-on sentences, i think they’re in need of some fun.

please send love. i need it.

I need to get myself some interesting life experiences. I think everything I’ve ever done is such a cliche. If I had to read my own personal statement (that I haven’t written but can only assume I’d write), I’d gag.

thedailywhat:

A wild Joseph Rutherford Walker appears.

[reddit.]

Guuuuuuuuuuuuh.

My favorite show is back for the final season. Not only is it my favorite show because it is so awesome, it is my favorite show because it brings my friends together. Friends, Tacos and Lost, it will not get better than that.

/cheesy

Yesterday I had to pause outside of the Starbucks on Chicago near State.

There’s a small table in the front that sits next to a large window. I sat at that table in August 2008 and frantically filled out my application for the first floor apartment of my dreams at 2009 N. California Avenue. I remember feeling nervous, shaky, hoping I could get the “dream apartment” I toured that afternoon.

During that trip to Chicago (and definitely after) I was scared out of my mind, terrified by the thought of moving. I had decided to quit my job, get rid of my belongings, and move to a huge city without any money. There were times when I wanted to stay in Lawrence, assuming that if I moved to Chicago “the worst” would happen. There were times in Chicago I was sure I had made the wrong decision.

But for those 45 minutes in that Starbucks, I wasn’t scared. I was excited for my future, excited that I had found the perfect apartment. I knew that it was meant to be, that I was supposed to have that perfect apartment and I’d find the perfect job and have the perfect life to match. I saw it as a sign. A sign.

I got the apartment. It was far from perfect. My job and my life weren’t perfect either. But, God, I have no regrets.

I don’t know where this is going. But I stood outside that Starbucks yesterday and wished I believed in myself more. I mean, I do believe in myself. Sometimes. But it took me seeing that dream apartment to convince myself (and that was only temporary) that my decision was the right one. I need to figure out how to pull the trigger without that “sign” and still believe that I can have a happy ending.

thedailywhat:

Helping Haiti: Graphic designer Matt Needle still has a bunch of his gorgeous “Modern Hitchcock” prints available for purchase and has decided to donate 50% of the proceeds to help the people of Haiti.

A complete set of 6 costs $195. Individual prints are $42.

E-mail Matt for more info.

[yayeveryday.]

Hitchcock for Haiti? FUUUUUUUUUUUUUuu……right up my alley. Damn.

Yesterday at the market, one of our new volunteers (Linda) talked to me for an hour about being on a gluten-free diet. Her husband has been on a very strict gluten-free diet for two years. His energy has increased so much and the headaches and stomachaches he was so used to are just gone. He lost nine pounds in the first two weeks.

I’m seriously considering switching to a gluten-free diet. I have been so low energy for my whole life and it has gotten worse in the past few years. I have regular headaches and my stomach is always hurting. I don’t think I have celiac disease (my friend/roommate in college had it and I know that whatever I have is not as serious as celiac disease) but I do think that switching to a gluten-free diet would be worth a shot.

Most of the foods I already eat are gluten-free. I eat wheat pasta and wheat bread so I’d have to get rid of that. Linda suggested switching to rice noodles but didn’t have a good bread substitute. I wouldn’t be able to drink beer and I’d have to be careful about the types of liquor I consume— the good news is that Seagram’s 7 is gluten free. Many candies are not gluten free as they’re often dusted with flour. I’d have to be extra careful while going out to eat, which I think is the biggest factor. I’d also have to be careful about preparing my lunch in the mornings before I leave for work.

I’m thinking that I may switch on February 1st. I want to make sure I have a grasp of all of the gluten-free safe foods and what foods/ingredients to avoid. I also want to make sure I have an arsenal of recipes, etc. before I switch over. But I’m strongly considering it. Has anyone had an experience or any knowledge of a gluten-free diet?

Today I made my grandma’s spaghetti and totally. Effed. It. Up. A waste of an hour and a half and $10-15. Last time I made it, I messed up the pasta which was an easy fix. This time the biggest part was burned and just tasted like crap.

I thought I was getting better (now that I’m more attentive when I cook) but the last few things I’ve made have been bad and this was a complete disaster. It’s just discouraging. That’s all I have to say about it.

Anyway, spaghetti try #2— D+.