Favorite Thing Thursday: Rediscovering Good Songs

Don’t know why I’ve had the urge to start a whole bunch of series on my blog, or even if I’ll have the stamina to actually keep up with them. But who cares? It’s my blog and I can do what I want to! (Gotta love being a dictator sometimes).

So, I think this “series” is self-explanatory. I want to share my most favorite-ist things in the whole entire world: things that make me smile, things that make my heart expand, things that paint the day a brighter color, and things that are totally awesome, dude.

First topic for Favorite Thing Thursday: Rediscovering Good Songs

This is the best scenario: I’m driving in my car (my favorite place to listen to music) and on the off-chance that I’m listening to the radio, a familiar tune comes on--one I had heard a few times in middle school, and thought it had a nice melody, but didn’t really connect with.

And then it hits me--right there in the car--as I listen to the lyrics and let them register (to my now more mature brain), I get it. I finally get it. Not because I didn’t understand the subject matter when I was 13. No, it’s more the fact that I have finally lived the subject matter. And so I see the song in a new, stingingly-fresh way.

It’s almost a transcending moment for me. That might sound a bit dramatic, but music has that kind of power in my life.

Examples of songs that I rediscovered and their effect:

1. “Heart of the Matter,” by Don Henley--taught me how to forgive.
2. “Linger,” by The Cranberries--pinpointed the feeling of loss and sadness I was feeling at the time.
3. “Doo Wop (That Thing),” by Lauryn Hill--warned me against the price of selling ones’ soul for superficiality.
4. “Overjoyed,” by Stevie Wonder--portrays that overwhelming feeling of love so well.
5. “You Learn,” by Alanis Morrisette--this song becomes SO MUCH BETTER once you’ve made a mistake in life you wish you could take back!
6. “Tracks of My Tears,” by Smokey Robinson--because everyone wears a facade around an old lover.
7. “Almost Doesn’t Count,” by Brandy--the best song I have ever heard about almost-lovers. There should be more songs about this.
8. “Turn Turn Turn,” by the Byrds--the song I always play when I need encouragement in life...knowing that there is a cycle to everything. I only found out in the last 2 years that they are verses from the Bible.
9. “Landslide,” by Fleetwood Mac--I always loved the melody, but I adored the song after I could really relate with the humble lyrics.
10. “Can’t Make You Love Me,” by Bonnie Rait--heart-wrenching, but therapeutic for those who know the feeling.

All these songs I had heard before and liked; however, when I heard them again in relatable moments, they all became favorites. And beyond that, they became milestones--times in my life where I needed expert advice, and somehow, someway, a song came through to explain it best to me in a moment of divine inspiration.

These songs are life-savers! Especially number one--I cried after I heard that song again, right at the most perfect time I could have heard it. Yes, there is God.

I’ll leave you with a good song that I rediscovered recently. A song about love lost, but also about accepting that loss, and being at peace with it. Train has made a re-emergence recently with ‘soul sisters’ and all of that nonsense, haha. But do you remember this song?

It’s been on repeat for me recently:

It’s just another one of my favorite things...

Kind of Brilliant

Just wanted to share. :D

MacBook Photo Monday (With the Morning Monster)

^

This is what the morning monster and I think of Mondays.

This, of course, can always be remedied with a cup of coffee.

Hope you don't have a "Case of the Mondays."

Dancing into the weekend...

I already posted about this song, but here is the video. I just love Robyn, I have to advertise on her behalf.

Lady GaGa is fun, but Robyn has a bit more substance. And the lyrics to "Dancing On My Own" are vulnerable and heart-aching.

I'm in the corner, watching you kiss her
I'm right over here, why can't you see me?
I'm givin' it my all, but I'm not the girl you're takin' home
I keep dancin' on my own

Robyn 'Dancing On My Own' (Official Video) from Robyn on Vimeo.

Happy Friday!

Cemiyet (Part Three): Jax, the Charmer

Cemiyet (n.)-- community (in Turkish).

Here is my third post, in a series, that highlights one of my bloggie friends--one that I want my other blog friends to know. Think of it as a meet and greet, virtually.

Jax, the Charmer

Have you met Jax? Well if not, that's a shame. She is, in fact, quite charming. Oh, you wanna know the reasons? Let me count the ways:

1. She's a "feeder." That is Jaxie's term for, "I'm going to plump you up full of such delicious food, you'll need to go on an intensive exercise plan afterward." Yep, pretty much. Her food blog is such a tease. She posts tantalizing pictures of her food creations, and all you can do is sit there and stare at it. It's just not fair.

2. She's British. They are natural charmers. At least, to foolish Americans, they are.

3. She's hospitable. I had the pleasure of meeting Jax last summer, because she gave me a place to stay in London during my lil' European adventure. How nice was that? She is the first blog friend I have ever met in person, and I ended up staying with her for a couple days! Sounds like a torrid love affair. Too bad Jax is taken (with a dude from New Zealand, I just can't compete).

4. She's hilarious. With a theatre background, jubilant jax is pure pleasure to be around. She tells jokes in a effortless manner, as if she were talking about the weather, but all the while she's nonchalantly pulling off a zinger. You gotta love someone who makes you laugh.

5. She has mesmerizing hair. This may come across as extremely lesbian, but her hair is the stuff of shampoo commercials! While walking around in London, I took a sneak grab of her long locks. I wasn't so sneaky. Like a moth to a flame..

Overall, this girl is a caring, thoughtful, creative lady. I respect her advice and encouragement, and I sympathize with her desire to live in different countries!! haha. Jet Setters fo' LIFE!

I'll end with a "moment" between Jax and I, told by the charmer, herself. I've shared this story before, but it's appropriate to share again:

Another adventure on the tube and then there we were, walking on the cobblestones up to Chez Gerard, one of my favourite bars for Long Island Iced Teas. We sat sipping our drinks and chatting for a long while and then, my favourite moment of the night, Ashley insisted on buying me another drink and the conversation with the bartender went as follows:

Me: Could I have the cocktail menu please?...Ooh, I'll have a Strawberry Daiquiri, please!

Ashley: And I'm buying her drink!...But we're not lesbians. But I am paying.

(Bartender cracks up and turns around to get ingredients for my drink)

Me: Great Ashley, now I look like a prostitute!

(Bartender comes back)

Ashley: She's not a prostitute, by the way.
(Bartender bursts into hysterics)

Ashley: ...But we did meet on the internet.

Here is Jax's food blog! Give it a go, just beware, you will salivate!!

Yay for Jax!

Erwin, you really are an inspiration.

Ahhhh...cannot. contain. my excitement. must share.

*catches breath*

Sorry. I just watched this excellent excellent excellent sermon on doing what you're created for, from Erwin McManus. If you have any time at all today, I encourage you to watch it.

Here is the link, scroll down the page to the video player, and watch the first video on the right side, titled "Maximize Your Strength."

I love this pastor because he is so very poetry-driven. There is an elegance to what he says and it totally inspires the writers' soul. From one writer to the next, enjoy :)

Refocused (With Help From the Fam)

I feel like my family has been supportive of this whole ‘going to another country for a year’ idea, but reluctantly. This has caused a bit of frustration; but through that, it has also allowed me to see the right perspective from the people I love the most.

I am still going to Turkey, despite some opposition, and that makes me stronger. My parents are seeing that yes, I really want to do this, and YES, they need to just support me.

I feel as though my overall overseas plan was a bit fuzzy before. I had a general idea of where I wanted to go: Istanbul, the most well know city, where I have family. As I’ve been laboring through this process, I’ve changed the choice of the city based on advice. Izmir is the place I will be going for, full speed ahead.

I realized that this was the right choice because when I told my family:

1. My mom couldn’t shut up about how much she loves Izmir and how everything, down to the shutters on the buildings, is beautiful. (she seriously talked about the shutters for five minutes. My mom is crazy).
2. My cousin Begum, who told me that coming to Istanbul would be an unwise choice (and we had some major debates on this), suddenly changed her tune when I mentioned Izmir. She said, “It’s safer, smaller, cleaner, and more people speak English.”
3. Which brings me to this point: There is a U.S. Air Force base right by it, so if all hell were to break loose, I’d flee to the base for assistance.
4. IT’S GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All of these factors have refocused my fuzzy plan, to make it a little sharper, defined and...within reach. I just needed a visit with the ‘Eye Doctor,’ a.k.a., God. Because God most definitely speaks through people. Isn’t it funny that everyone that resisted my plan before, is now supporting my choice of Izmir? GOD wants me to go to Izmir. Sneaky, sneaky plan, Big Guy!

The hard part is just listening. We think we know what we want, and God usually gives us those inner desires...but we need to do it on His terms.

The last person to convince has been my Dad. Although supportive of everything I do, I felt some resistance from him. He’d say, “Why don’t you apply to some places in San Diego? Maybe you’ll want to stay here, after all.”

No Dad, um, we’ve been over this.

Then he said a sincere thing, “Well, you’re my little girl, and you always will be. You just happen to have really big goals of going to live in another country, which is scary for any parent. But of course I will support any of your goals.”

It’s nice that I have such a good family with such a good heart, who support my semi-outlandish desires. Although I’m doing my life “my way,” it’s not completely my way. One should always seek wise counsel when making a huge decision. This produces the best decision and outcome possible. Thanks family! ♥

Big Ashley Style

Hmm...haven't posted much this week. Oops.

But, one proud moment from tonight that I wanted to share:

I sucessfully rapped all of "Gettin Jiggy Wit It" by Will Smith at a karaoke bar to a cheering crowd. I know this isn't exactly a difficult rap song, but...I am white. Nuff said.

So I am proud of myself. haha. For being a rapper! Hells yeah!

Weekend Adventures!

Saw Iron Man 2 over the weekend. My thoughts? It was kick-ass, bad-ass, or any other type of ass you can think of. It wasn't quite as good as the first movie, plot wise; however, the winning element of the movie was Robert Downey Jr., of course. His quick-witted cocky comments are always a delight to watch, and no other actor could pull off that kind of charming narcissism better than him. You should go watch it for a little dose of joy. Plus, the race track scene is intensely fun (this scene also makes me want to visit Monaco, BADLY). I give the movie: ★ ★ ★

In other news this weekend:

I drank a little too much Friday night. Oops. It's been awhile, and Blackberry Stoli is so covertly strong, I didn't know what hit me...which leads to Saturday, the hangover day. I didn't want to venture outside, but I promised a kid at my work that I would go to his baseball game. How horrible would I be for not showing up?

After dragging myself there and seeing this smile:

...any trace of headache melted away. Apparently he had been telling his parents all week that I was coming, since he was so excited. This is why I love kids.

And then Sunday, I CLEANED THE HOUSE LIKE A MAD WOMAN!!! For mom. of course. You know when you get in those cleaning moods? I was like a cleaning tornado! I literally cleaned the house. It sparkles, thankyouverymuch.

Anyway, that's the recap of my weekend. How was your weekend?

This is what I get...

...for being a caffeine addict. Drinking an iced latte around 6pm=Ashley is stilllllll awake at 12:30 am, even though she has to be up at 6am. Lovely.

Anyway, while I'm up, might as well share mini-news: I am going to Detroit for two weeks in the summer to visit my aunt! yay! I really like Michigan, as far as un-Californian states go (haha), and it's nice to just get away. In case you're wondering, she lives in St. Clair Shores, a suburb right outside of Detroit.

I expect it to be sweltering hot and full of mosquitos, but I'm ready.

Alright, I must force myself to go to sleep now!!

Night :/

You May Say That I'm a Dreamer

I guess I shouldn't have presented that "news" as news in my last post...it's more of a final decision.

First of all, I did hear back about the internship in Turkey for the summer. They asked me to pick from some obscure cities in Turkey, so I turned it down. But not just for that reason.

My "news" is that I have made the decision to pursue going to Turkey for a year, and I'm going to pursue it wholeheartedly.

If you couldn't tell, I gave up this idea a couple months ago. I was thinking about continuing my life, here in San Diego. However, as I started searching for temporary summer jobs in Turkey, that enormous desire to just go, just fly away to my motherland (hehe) came back to me.

To get the full experience, I know a year is what's needed. And I want that full experience. And I know that I will fully regret it if I don't try for this. Obviously, God has etched this idea on my heart. It's something I've wanted to do since childhood--from the first time I can remember visiting Turkey, and realizing in my 7-year-old brain that I wasn't just a visitor. Turkey has always been a part of me, and I part of it.

What is discouraging, and is bringing me down a bit, is that my family is still concerned about how I am going to do this and being very vocal about it. I don't mean to completely glamorize Turkey: there are criminals, Americans often get ripped off and Turkish men seem to have the idea that American women are easy. Hmmm...could that have anything to do with Hollywood?

My family is only looking out for me, but I am being perceived as pretty naive, like I'm going to fall for all the traps set out before me. I am the baby of the family, the youngest cousin on both sides of my parents, and I've always been treated as the baby. I am, of course, arguing the timeless complaint of every youngest child ever born: "You tell me not to go, so I don't fail...but I'm telling you that I want to have the room to fail."

Anyway, there is a lot to research in all of this. But I just wanted to let you all know that I have to go for this. There is a chance that this won't come to fruition. But I need to try, and put my all in it.

"There is no destiny worth pursuing that doesn't face huge obstacles." --Erwin McManus

P.S. I'm not just looking for jobs in Istanbul, I'm also looking in Izmir (my mom's favorite Turkish city)--right by the Greek Isles, and beautiful!