Including such hits as...

Fixing my camera with the skandijs approach to technology! Just in time for my trip! Which I had been all bummed about not having a camera on! Sweetness.

Question: How's Today?

Oh, I don't know... maybe just a little bit perfect!!!! seriously, basically the perfect day. It is divine smelling and feeling outside. I just cleaned the house, and now I think I'm going to hijack a bike and go for a ride. I already rode over to the sandpiper after a shower to meet Carley for lunch, which was a delight. What other greatnesses might the day hold in store?!

Also, I'm leaving town so friggin soon that I can't even believe it, where has the time gone- This friday night I'm outie, so catch me if you can before then, much like the ginger bread man, only I didn't say that in a smarmy way that should make you want to eat me to my death should you catch me. Is that what happens to ginger bread man? Doesn't a fox eat him?
hmm,

xoxoxo

a

Little pockets of happy

I say, the same way a bunch of little things can mess your day up, minor annoyances and so on- it sure is nice when the day is filled with little touches of awesome to make the day sparkle-
three such examples from one recent day:

Lilacs blooming all over the dang where! I don't know if I've been gone from Juneau usually at this point of the summer, I know that's been true for the last two years actually- but all over town right now, there are huge blooming patches of beautiful flowers that smell divine! One of my favorite bits of West Virginia spring is that smell, and now out of nowhere it comes to Juneau to say what's up!

Hearing the Bells playing that song on the hour before they chime out the time. This has long been something that just makes my tail wag, I don't think I'll ever get tired of it. I especially like hearing twelve o clock on my way to work, because it's a nice way to go into the store, and there are the most bell rings!

Sunshine in the tops of trees. This is another West Virginia thing because of the type of tree- as much as I love living in this here rain forest, the coniferous trees that abound are not the sort to lend themselves to the kind of sunshine in trees effect that I grew up with (They have their own, and it's great too!) but the other day, walking home downtown I saw such a nice batch of trees up on 6th street all swaying and sunny, and it was wonderful.

So, all of those things in a row in one day was pretty great, although methinks that the days have been filled with such things lately, and I am a pretty happy camper overall. knock knock on wood when things get too good? There's no such thing as too good! Speaking of all this West Virginia Nostalgia I bring up, I'm going home soon to visit and I'm so excited! I leave town on the 5th, with a week in California, and then back to the east coast. I will try to throw some pictures up here.

For now, off to put together a costume for belly dancing tomorrow night downtown. How exciting.

A little piece of Heaven

Is wanting to take a nap, and being able to. And I think that's what I'm going to do, right. now.


*It's been a good morning so far, I went to a production meeting for a movie I'm helping with next week, I went to Donna's for breakfast, and went driving all around the valley, ending up at the shrine- now the only question is what to do this evening, the symphony is an option, and I thought something else really good, although now I'm blanking... either way, nap first*

The Pelican Board Walk Boogie

Wow. ... Double Wow. I'm aware that it has been a rather lengthy amount of time since I blogged, but if anything was ever worth blogging about, it is most certainly the 10th annual Board Walk Boogie. The only problem is, it's terribly hard to do it justice with words. And as the theme this year was "ten years of debauchery" you might imagine that some of the photos taken might be internet inappropriate. Simply put, it was *the* best weekend. I kept saying "I should go, I've never been, I'm gonna go." And because all my neighbors were going they thought I was for real, and so then I had to. The boat ride over there on Thursday on the alan marine charter was so lovely, totally already worth it, and the ferry ride back on Monday was even more exquisite than that (plus with way more debauchery). The weather was fan-tastic! all weekend! And Pelican does not disappoint in the least for natural beauty or friendly people. Speaking of that sunny weather, writing this back at home in Juneau right now, I do have to say that it was a weekend of super super high highpoints, and some low lowpoints, basically the only low point was getting hellishly sunburned. All my skin is peeling off right now, and I went to the doctor yesterday because my left tonsil is jutting out of my throat (in a painful kind of way), additionally I may have somehow lost the ability to eat food since everything that goes down feels like it has demon razor barbs on it, But enough with the complaining! It was all worth it! That's what you get for suppressing your immune system and not sleeping all weekend! So, highlights:
Thursday: Arriving in pelican was a total trip, I'd heard it was a party town but I didn't realize that people walk around with open drinks the entire time! I had a bowl of clam chowder to eat at the cafe once we threw our backpacks in the bunk house, and it was pretty much the best thing I've ever had. It was totally what you wanted as the night was getting started, and even funnier, I thought it was a salmon soup when I got it, because I guess I avoid clams with out thinking about it that much, and it turns out that clam chowder is the good stuff.



Thursday night we tore it up pretty hard. Boni and I got our dance on in a big way, but how could we not when there were so many good bands already going at it?! It was a joyful evening of going back and forth between the brown bar and rosies for dancing and drinking with board walk air in between. I saw this laying on the couch at rosie's: Jeremy Kane style glorious.


Then before I knew it, this was the view outside, it was getting light out and it was going on 6am, so it was time to hit the hay and close out the first night.


Friday morning, even though myself and all my bunk mates had brought far too much food, and two (2!) camp stoves between us, we all went to the cafe for breakfast. It is a decision I did not regret, as they made the best plate of corned beef hash I have ever had. Through out the weekend the cafe turned out to be a delight for many reasons though, as there was always music going on, and it's a friendly gathering place to be greeted by a crowd of people and get a cup of coffee should you be hung over or just getting up. We were directly across from it because we stayed in the old bunk house. Here was my favorite dog in pelican, a sweet little gremlin who lived at the cafe.

I went walking down on the docks later on friday, and after a lovely day of wandering around boats, watching float planes from the beach, listening to different jams going on around town, all with a brewsky or twosky in hand it proved itself to be again a very pleasant day. I worked the merchandise table for an hour I think on friday, which was the only commitment I had all weekend, how weird! at sunset boni and I walked up to the dump, I know, that girl is so romantic.. ha. It was really gorgeous up there though, you gain height and you can look back down on town, here are some shots of us being hobos up there.

As you might have guessed, friday's evening activities included music, dancing, drinking, and debauchery. I would like to think I perfected some subtle techniques of mooning on friday night, to a certain degree of hilarity. At least, they made me laugh. They were based on a solid foundation of deadpan, and were designed to make individuals wonder whether I was aware that my pants were down. Again, in either case, whether they succeeded or not, it kept me and boni entertained for hours. I guess the nudity and laughs are what stood out for this evening, it was another great success for tearing it up. This is me, alex, and meredith outside the room at the end o night.

Saturday: was terrific, although it was the day I sustained the lobstering of a life time. I was asleep in my nest on the floor when Boni climbed in through our open window to wake me up to go kayaking before the winds kicked up. I obliged in a hurry and after grabbing a cup of coffee, we were getting the kayaks off the boat in no time. Speaking of that boat, Capt. Rusty, and The lovely Stacy as seen below


were really too good to me, and were sweet dears every time I was on the boat, letting me take a kayak and feeding me spaghetti dinners. It was a nice place to visit. So, the kayaking was supremely wonderful, super calm waters, beautifully sunny skies. The wind never did kick up, and we had a great paddle. It was my first time in a kayak with the pedals and the rudder, and once I got used to it, I really liked that, way more efficient! Sadly I don't have any pics of this, I didn't bring my camera, but I will hopefully get some from the other girls later. We went out to an island aways from the beach, and along the way we saw jellies and fishies in the clear waters, and as we approached where we stopped, saw a pack of sea lions who were being very social. One of them, (my boyfriend) followed us to the other end of the island and stayed around while we were sunbathing, and got really close when linda and I took a splash in the cold water. We brought stuff for mimosas out with us, and lay naked on the rocks, it was pretty much the perfect way to start the morning. That went on for some time, and it was hard to leave our little paradise. It was of course worth it to go back, always for the awesome bands! Here's one of my favorite shots
Nate and Ike from The Wilders, Nate on the flying leap and Ike on the Stand up Bass. Nate helpfully told the crowd that he didn't know the song they were doing so he would dance instead.
Saturday was an excellent afternoon for sipping a bloody mary and listening to the the tunes, purveying the goods, and wandering around in the sun shine. We made the mistake of decking ourselves out in bras and skirts only, and thusly my pale upper alaskan body got bizurned!
This is boni getting ready to shoot the cans while we were playing carnival games.
So most of Saturday went this way, and again as you might have guessed Saturday's evening activities as planned were much in the same vein as the rest of the week, and I actually had pretty grandiose schemes for tearing it up, but then tragedy struck when I went to lay down for a preparatory nap. It was all good until boni woke me up to start the night, we went down towards the bars and as we did I noticed I was pretty shivery from my burn. Not surprising as I was Crayola red at this point, but that was the beginning of the end. Boni won the limbo, and Saturday night is the evening with the naked run and all the other contests, but I found myself down and out by the fire outside Rosies. I just declined steadily as sweet friends brought me water, and finally boni noticed my collapse and procured us a golf cart ride home down the board walk, by a sweet sweet man named Toby. (Who I never got to see and thank again.) Then Miz Parker took the best care of me and put me to bed in the bunk house, stealing matt's sleeping bag and making a far better and warmer nest for me in the floor, getting me out of the shower, and spooning me until I finally quit shivering and passed out. I will spare the gross details, but I had my glorious low moments of puking and crawling around in the dirt of pelican. It was truly awful, the worst case of sun poisoning that I can remember.

A true documentary, this is me in all my grossness. Sunday morning boni came in to check on me, and then went home early with her boat people. I slept in some more, and made a gentle day of it. I sipped a lot of water, and lived the life of shade and long sleeves, there was still plenty of good music, and... the dirty song writing contest! I had the privilege of being part of some super secret shit, and as a consequence also now have the privilege of knowing the dance from "Thriller" michael jackson stylie. The contest was super funny, good works from lots of clever minds, I didn't realize it was also a "slit yer wrist" songwriting contest as well, and so lots of sad clever too. I especially liked some of those, as well as 'gloryhole', and then finally Collette burned the house down with "Necrophilia" done to the tune of thriller, which had this whole awesome bit at the end that included a ton of dancing zombies, which I was one of. I should note that sadly my camera stopped working on Saturday night, and so I don't have any photographic evidence of any of this, but again I hope to get pictures from others. Then sometime after that little event, while having a lovely mellow evening by the far outside rosies again, something in me rallied, and I found myself back on the dance floors, and back between bars for Sunday night, and thank god because The Wilders did it up right at the brown bar, and The Gallus Bros. never stopped at rosies! I was moving a little slower to be sure, but I kept going until about 7am on Sunday before calling it quits and heading back to the bunk house. It was a really good night, and a really good morning.
Monday: Geez, still going! monday I packed, I made it to the ferry with some coffee, I did it quickly to get it over with, and I got on the ferry with no problems! *I tried to buy a ticket home at the last minute when I was still in juneau, but they were sold out! I took my chances by going to pelican anyway, and had the providence of meeting Glen, who took care of me like a real sweetheart, and let me use an extra ticket of someone who was supposed to go with him but didn't* I forgot that they have have powerful heat lamps on the solarium's of the ferry, what a glorious day! I did a little bit of laying down on the deck near the lamps, pretty much heaven, much like the rest of the weekend. And then, the next thing I knew, them dat blasted crazy musicians were going at it again on the deck with the music, and people were smoking and drinking white russians, and setting up picnics, and so of course I had to get up and get back to dancing. They played ALL the way home! Which I didn't realize we had a slow ferry and so we didn't get home til 11pm. It was just soo wonderful and encapsulated everything I love about this kind of music, and the kind of people who play it. I felt like I got a second or third lease on the weekend, and had a fantastic trip all the back. A highlight was a gorgeously beautiful indescribable (*though someone must have a pic!) sunset, watching from the boat, and dancing with devin to wagon wheel, it was pretty much the perfect way to end the weekend.
In the end, I came home a zombie, but a very happy zombie. And quite a few people made it to the "only the strong survive" gathering at the Alaskan that night. And quite a few people were at the Alaskan on Tuesday night to finally put it to bed.... what I can say, it's hard to let go. Here are a few last random pics from earlier in the week.
I love you, Pelican.
xo
a

Mu-SIC!
Dock Walking.
The Best Gang Ever.
Jeff Leff, AKA Bone-y Marone-y, who generously gave me a pair of bones to start my career.
The Beach.
Me, Meredith, Our Banana.
Tara and I are all teeth.

skys o blue.

what it is

I seriously think that February is far from the coolest month in the year. Fa-arr! but this isn't going to be a rant about it being a bad month or anything, I was just thinking that I haven't checked in for a long time, and how lame I'm doing it now.
So, I just slept in for quite a while, and that was awesome.. haven't gotten to recently which brings me to my next point. I have only 4 classes this semester, and I'm only working one day a week, and yet somehow I feel like I have less hours in the day then ever.. how does that work! I need a life coach and a time turner. This is also not meant to be whining or depressing, I'm just seriously baffled.
I still catch myself thinking all the time, " lucky bastard, my life is good." so, I guess that makes me pretty fortunate... still, I also find myself whining to myself about school and and being angsty and indecisive as I come closer to dealing with the large majority of my friends that will be graduating this semester, and then I will be faced with another mass exodus of people from Juneau...
I guess time and tide will decide... whatever i do i guess.

So, basically just going to school and working and enjoying the life. Boring on paper but enjoyable to live... and it's probably more interesting than that, I just don't feel very articulate today, or elaborative, but I thought I should blog. maybe ill do better later.
ok. .... ok. I'm going to go shower and do homework now, and then check out juneaus finest high school dramatic talent in les mis.

xo

-a

two pics from home

Three ridge top walkers lit by the sun.

Nothing makes me happier than a clean damp cookie in a towel.

Happy January Day

I'm back and all brand new, that's correct- I'm writing from the airport again. This fine morning, (I can't tell how fine it'll be since it's still dark out) finds me in Columbus International enjoying the Fuh-ree internet connection, Did you hear that SEA-TAC?! and waiting to board the planes that will carry me west back to Juneau.

I've got lots to say, but don't I always? If people would only listen! The time at home flew by as always, and I can't believe it's time to go back, it's 2008, and classes start on Monday. I enjoyed my home time a lot, so that's good. And I'm actually excited for the next semester, though antsy nervous as always, so that's good too. I'm taking less credits so I can focus on being a good student and understanding my math homework, which equates to only 4 classes! Weird. I have Proofs with Blitz, which should be fun. Calc 2 with Seater, should get exciting (or scary). History with Noon, which should be awe-some, and Residential Wiring with a teacher I don't know. All in all it looks like a good schedule and as always I have high hopes for becoming a more perfect being in this new year. I guess we'll just have to wait and see if I make good on any of my goals.

I'm trying to stop cursing, and am semi successful so far. It's funny because when I do slip up I do the 12 year old reaction of grabbing my mouth as if to get the word back before I get punished. The difficulty I'm encountering though makes me realize it's a good thing to get in hand now... maybe my potty mouthed siblings add to the problem. ;)

I have lots of pictures of being home that I may post di-rectly. The hollow was lovely as always and for January it was SO balmy at times! I was walking around in a tank top, quite a contrast to the slush I'm returning to now.... I cut my hair recently, and it's been so long since it was short, I forgot how much fun it is to have it light and taking care of itself.

"I'm not there" came to Charleston of all places, and I'm missing it by leaving today! Oh the agony. I guess I'll just have to wait til it comes out on dvd.. as I already was... so to have it so close, stings!

This is all over the place, maybe because I'm sleepy and waiting to board. I'm feeling a tad scattery anyway... I'll leave it for now, then maybe come right back at you when you're least expecting it! tales from home later and a report of the new semester soon.


xoxo

a

Merry Christmas From Sea-tac

That's right. Merry Christmas from the Seattle Airport, where Kirsa and I now find ourselves about 5ish hours into our monster long layover. (It's probably only like 20 hours)- However, we are feeling the first waves of serious delirium, as my hand shakingness has reached Harry Carry status, and everything seems seriously hysterical. My cell phone is dying but I can't find an outlet, and we are in the market for a good place to have a little lay down. We have dined already, perused a Hudson News, and are very thankful for the 7 dollar 24 hour internet connection, and my handy lap top computer. It is actually not too bad at all thus far, we just made the mistake of staying up all night on Christmas Eve, and so we are (or at least I am) super super super duper tired. Like a dog. That is tired. Very tired.
Corin is flying solo, somewhere in Dallas now I think, but the benefit of his flight is that he will end up with mom and pops in Columbus *tonight*. I ain't complaining, I'm very very happy and excited t o be going home, I'm just a red hot wreck right now. So merry wishes and holly jollies from yours truly, more to follow soon.
xo
-a



PS. Travel on Xmas is TOTALLY not any slower than any other day, there are just a lot of crazies, and a lot of christmas attire.

What's going on?

1) Currently in rehearsals for The Eight: Reindeer Monologues- The next show on the second stage, a delightful adult Christmas comedy, directed by yours truly.

2) Classes winding down, with a pretty good idea of exactly what's expected of me in the next few weeks, which should make the doing all the easier, but somehow, it's still oh so easy to slip into paralysis, like I'm doing right now with a paper that I've put off for far too long


And I have a head ache, but I'm happy, and tomorrow is thanksgiving, so have a happy one where ever and who ever you are. I hope mine is good, it kind of has a lot to live up to based on previous juneau years.


Oh, and if anyone wants to sponsor me going home for christmas this year, that would be great.

more soon.
xo
alicia

In Lieu of Words

Me Presenting the Glacier, where I had gone to be alone with the thoughts of DY/DX in my head. Cramming the Calculus and then putting it in perspective with natural splendor is an enjoyable activity.



Oh you, Clouds.



Corin is just brimming with this brim.




Pretty Prom Princess is feeling a little bashful. This was a serious contender as a head shot.



Nuff Said.


If anyone knows anything about golf I would be more than happy to receive advice on my atrocious swing.
Oh, How I adore her.


I guess this was actually chock full of words. But I've got more for you yet. Later.
xo

This post got stuck in the space time continuum

This post was from Wednesday, and then when I got on here today, Blogger told me it decided to leave this guy waiting on Wednesday, and give me the option of publishing it someday in the future. Since it had been languishing for days, im giving it the go ahead, but be aware that this is from the 17th.

It's so beautiful here again today. Sunny, good smelling, awesome.

I for the first time this semester skipped class when I wasn't forced to. I made the call that I could miss it to catch up on 1.5 hours of sleep, and when I woke up to Sly and the family Stone on kirsa's alarm clock, it was so obvious that it was worth it.

Then Adrienne did also skip class to go get thai food lunch with me, and it was delicious!

I sat on a rock in the middle of the court yard at school for a few hours and got sun and did homework, wrapped in a fleece blanket, and that was great too!

I'm wearing shorts over leggings today, and I love it! I think if more people dressed like dancers from Chorus Line every day, they would all feel energized and happy. The ability to bust a move in style at any moment right now is definitely enhancing my day. So, expect more Juneau.

The moral of this story is some times it pays to sleep in, get thai food, and sit in the sun in a blanket dressed a little differently.

Lessons learned: 1) Don't skip class except very occasionally, because those days will be awe-awesome. 2)Wear shorts over leggings all the time. 3) Bring Two fleece blankets to school tomorrow. 4) listen to bob dylan in the learning center when you're writing a mid term english paper, because it tunes out the background distractions and annoyances, and it's really good.

Hoo-ray for today!!!


xo

-a

Sunshine Sunday

Wow, where does the weekend go? I spent Saturday sleeping in, til about five thirty evening time, and you know what? I deserved it! I needed it! I'd been waiting for it! and I am now seriously much more myself, because I was stupid last weekend and didn't get a ton of sleep, so I was running a serious debt. So I slept alot yesterday, missed most of the beautiful day regrettably. Looked at some calculus, and then went to say good bye to brad and josh, who are just a few drops in the wave of people who are moving away from juneau, ALL AT THE SAME TIME! I'm going to do a creepy pictorial tribute once everyone is gone. That was a very nice time, then we went (We = kirsa and I, who were actually strangely matching in attire last night, in a very nice way if I looked at all as good as she did) anyway, we went to Jaded to farewell the writers of the fabulous YEAST NA-TION! who left today back to more eastern climes. They were such a pair of nice, sweet people, it was really a treat to have them in town so long. Anyway, lots of theatre cronies were there, as well as salsa music and my bruzzer, so we stayed there for quite a time, until going to docs to eat and go home. It was a very nice night, and maybe I'll say more someday when I have the time, but have I EVEN mentioned that I have a calc test tomorrow, and it's sunny outside, and I'm outie, immediately!

xo

Stealing Glasses: Success

Jesse's Thick Frames definitely look best on him.

Mark definitely gets points for rocking Harry potter frames and doing it well.

But I think I probably like these frames best of all. The thick top gives me the strong brow I never had.

Really , Wednesday? Seriously...Wow!

In that way I mean, the things the day is giving me, not the day itself, or rather- I'm addressing the day by name, not the fact that it IS the day itself.

So, early this morning the sun came up, I was lying in bed. And then later, getting ready for my communication class, I was rummaging in the garage, and would you believe that I felt a very painful pain in my foot, left, heel region. The sort of feeling that my mother would describe as "extreme discomfort". Well,folks, I picked up said foot to examine, and there I found a flat faced tack, embedded quite flush with the flesh in the foot. GROSS! I started to pull it out, which was hard to get a grip of, but the pain was terrible, worse even then the initial stab-a-doo. So, I steeled myself, gave the washing machine a firm grasp, and YANKED! out it came, no worries, off to the rest of the day.


Classes fine, Wednesdays are my days to catch up on homework- I did some reading/writing out on the boardwalk again, my new favorite spot! There are no yahoos being too noisy or annoying, but there is a beautiful lake, and lovely tree, and fresh air. And in my mind, the friendly Grammar Bear who lumbers by to give some friendly advice and shoot claw shaped commas into my paper.

Speaking of Papers, I should be writing one, RIGHT NOW! Why is it easy to write here and not there? Perchance dear reader because you don't tell me that my writing style is overly wordy, stylistically awkward, overly full of information, but technically grammatically correct. (I put more effort into grammar when it's homework) If you should get the urge to tell me however, feel FREE!!

Ok, so id better get back to it, but all in all, i am a happy enough camper-Rooney! Superbly duper even.

Plus, you know what? Every G.D.M.F I know wants to open a bakery, or a bike repair shop, or an organic something, or jc. crimminy people! Expect a rant on this, SOOON!

ok, ciao ciao for now!
xo

And then it was Wednesday

And I thought, wow... I'm already half way through the week. Thank Goodness. It hasn't been a bad one, but not doing alot of homework on the weekend, and in fact doing zero tends to make your first half of the week a little more busy-intensive-y. Word. So, I did in fact see the aforementioned charming Barcelona on Saturday night. They were G.O.O.D!!! I realized as I was headed to the show, that I did not have any idea about the quality of the music, just the brief encounter with the people, and I left with a tee shirt and a cd and a pin, because they were Fantastic. I'd describe it as a mix of Coldplay- Keane-ish sounding jams, with a heavy taste of Travis mixed in, but with a little more fist pumping beat driving it. Right up my alley. Good live performers, and their onstage banter had me seagulling it up. We hung out with them a bit downtown later that evening, and they are some really delightful individuals. In a sentence, Check Barcelona out! (they are the Barcelona from Seattle, apparently there is another band with same name. And the new album is called Absolutes. (www.myspace.com/wearebarcelona)

Shew, ok, shoutouts and plugging accomplished, I'm pretty much just trying to keep enough homework going that I can make it to another weekend and get ahead a little bit. We're working on Derivatives in Calculus right now, and they are the bomb diggy bomb bomb! I'm seriously loving calc so much this semester it's ridiculous. Just wait til it burns me, and then maybe I'll be singing a different tune, but the subject matter is suh-weet. As for other classes, well, wood working will be enjoyable tonight I'm sure, and acting is great, (if a little rough on the tongue muscles), but I'll save my rant about comm and english for another day.

So. There you have it for a time. Until we meet again. but it looks like i might be getting back in the blogging habit.

Some images and captured souls

The jess Rehfield in question, oh so fair.






Any night gets better with Sara,




I love him because he hates me, and sometimes he beats me, it's cool though..







Levi: One of Alaska's greatest treasures,





And sometimes you have to get dead face for a night on the town. Noble, yeah?

Blue Sky Saturday

It is SO beautiful today, Glory be! there's nothing nicer than waking up on a Saturday and hearing Kirsa and Corin murmuring in the living room, all the windows open, cool breezes blowing in, sun drenched everything... ahh weekend, you are so sweet today.

Last night I went to Zen, where I'd never gone before and had dinner with kirsa, johanna, and our dear friend, Miss J Rehfield, in honor of the fact that we needed to hang out with her, and she's moving to Fairbanks soon. It was a true delight, the food was quite good, we had a delicious bottle of chardonnay, it was a pleasure all around with a lot of laugh time. Which was awesome. Corin stopped by, and we went to check out a bluegrass band up from Canada, who were playing at the Alaskan. They were super nice. Kirsa had to split to go fill in for a radio show at KTOO, we stayed bar bound. I was dancing to a beautiful melody when i realized partway through that they were singing about West Virginia, which was quite the little heartwarmer, great song, great sentiment, it even shouted out Honey Suckle! All good things. I probably had too much to drink, probably slapped a few too many people (in a funny way), but it was a very good night. I enjoyed myself much, and it was what I wanted after a longish week. The laughter was the perfect antidote to earlier tension in the day that really was dogging me, so... good. It was also a fittting celebration to getting our first Calc tests back, and I got a .... 82! not an (A) I know, but I was more than happy with it, and I'll aim to get an A on the next one. No really I was very nervous to get it back, so I was seriously pleased, though I think our dear teacher was a bit generous with the class, however it was our first test of the year, so whatev.
Speaking of Teachers, and school, allow me to make the following brief outburst:

A NOTE ON TEACHING, BY ALICIA SKYE HUGHES SKANDIJS

When teaching, it is important to maintain control of your class, classroom, and students, this focus and healthy learning environment will enable optimal information retained. The following should be discouraged, texting during class, talking to other students at full voice over the teachers, taking phone calls in the middle of class, and cutting up silently for the benefit of other students- Is that so fecking difficult to maintain? I say this because I love all of my classes this semester, but I can not tell you how much I do not love the majority of the students in my classes, they are straight up ignorant y'all, for the most part. It kills me... and though I haven't taught in an academic setting, i have taught for multiple years, and I feel there are some common principles between the two, and I really wish some teachers would start cracking some skulls..... alright, that's good enough for now.

So, Hopefully I can join flag football late this sunday, I didn't realize they already were off to a start. Tonight I have a few too many plans, so we'll see which actually emerges as the real one. I met a charming band, Barcelona, last night, and they're playing tonight, so I'm going to try to keep the weekend of music going. I'll check back in again sometime I hope.

xo

-a

In August, In West Virginia

There is much skin to be shed, at an astonishing rate, daily. There is much sweat to be sweated off. There are warnings from officials on days like today not to do anything taxing, as the temp. mixed with the humidity makes it feel like it is 107 degrees outside. (Fahrenheit, of course)
It is lush and green and lovely outside, I love the way the forest smells here. And so, here I sit, about to brave the outdoors again maybe, or to try and convince people to go swimming, How is it August already? Oh! the time flies. Preparations must be made to transport three young scholars (ha!) back north to their chosen university, how it will shake out in the end is any ones guess.

It is good to be home.