Made You Laugh

Various pictures n' things I've found or taken that may or may not make you laugh...

Indeed.

Read closely...

Punctuation saves the day!

Kids are hardcore these days.

"Get your patchouli stink outta my store!" <-- if you know where that's from, you get brownie points (Donny, give other people a chance to answer!).

Found in my textbook for my Sexuality class. Made me bust out laughing :)

Life sucks for T-Rex...

Well actually, this is VERY true.

Common, you know this makes you laugh a little...admit it...

Poor dog doesn't have a choice in life.

Hope this brought a smile to your face...happy(ish) Tuesday!

I Surrender, White Flag Held High

It's an interesting thing when you become so frustrated by your station in life, it prompts you to make a big change.

Always a believer that I shouldn't keep banging my head against the wall of a dead-end street, I'm thinkin' maybe it's time to turn around and start walking the other way. Whether this means staying in San Diego, or venturing to a new city, I'm up for whoever responds first to my excessive applying. I'll let God, the universe, chance--heck--I'll even let the wind decide my fate. It's not up to me anymore!

All I know is, I can't keep banging my head only to gain another bruise. This is not how life is meant to be, I GOTS to follow my heart...if I don't start doing what I absolutely love, what God designed me for, then what the hell am I doing?

I refuse to regret not taking a chance.

So here we go, this should be an interesting ride the next few weeks/months. I'll make sure to fasten my freakin' seatbelt.

Favorite Thing Thursday

These are a few of my favorite thingggggs!

1. The Michael Jackson Cirque De Soleil Show

I was blown AWAY by this show. An adequate mix of dancing, acrobatics and well-placed lights kept me highly entertained and in awe. Fantastic! Also, if you're a big fan of MJ, this is a spectacular tribute to the late, grate moonwalker. J'adore!

2. Pie

***

Pie > Cake.

3. Pre-Parties

Pre-parties (in hotel rooms) are the most frivilous fun you will ever have :)

Oh Hey, Life!

I've been a busy girl these past two weeks. Interviews, research papers, tests, Turkish class and all of that life stuff has been getting in the way of posting regularly. Oh well! I suppose it's a good thing when life gets in the way of the internet.

Life has been looking up for me on the job front. I'm waiting to hear back on two positions I interviewed for, and what I'm finding is when you feel stuck in your job, you must find a way to make your own options! I might get chastised for this statement, but I hate when people say, "If you don't like your job, just quit!"

Noooooo...sorry that you're living in fantasy land, or that daddy supports your spontaneous decisions, but us bill-payers can't just up and quit. But, the key is to look for other options and jobs as if you've quit and your livelihood depends on it. I refuse to succumb to a feeling of being stuck. Currently, I'm smiling big as I un-stick myself and take back the control as the master of my own destiny...

Life is good. And life is damn busy! But the busy-ness also includes: going to Marie Callender's pie runs with the roomie, visiting other states, going to circus shows (more on this later), watching Lost religiously, and frequenting the indie movie theaters to watch My Week With Marilyn and A Dangerous Method. Oh, and reserarch papers. Those damned research papers!

Again, I'm smiling. What have you been up to? And what have you been smiling about?

Perfectly Acceptable Ashley

It's perfectly acceptable:

• to adore airports. But really. I love the hustle bustle of it all, I love dashing to my next flight when I have a short layover, I love the chick that speaks in different languages on the intercom and most importantly, I love the fact that I'm about to be transported through the freakin' air to a different place and time zone. HOW AWESOME IS THAT?!? So the next time you complain about airports, remember that once upon a time you would have had to take a boat for 30 days to get to a new country. And we're lucky little spoiled brats complaining about 5-hour layovers...give me a break!!!



• to get really, really excited when people teach me new things, like how to clean coals the proper way to smoke hookah, or learning the theory of gravataional constant.

• to conclude that driving in the rain while listening to Simon and Garfunkel is damn near transcendent.

• to succumb to the fact that a re-release of Titantic in movie theaters actually makes me giddy. Titantic in 3-D. Oh sweet Jesus, I must be 13 again.

There's Something About Austin

Ah, Austin...I already miss it. I love the down-home feel that Austin has to offer, where I can be sitting on a porch drinking beer while listening to live music--my perfect Saturday afternoon. Austin has just enough Southern charm without the Southern crazy (sorry, Southern states...but sometimes you're insane!). This is a city where I felt instantly at home, and I believe Austin and I will have to meet again someday...

I took this trip to visit my old high school buddy, the vivacious Andy. We spent a lot of time talking about why the Mediterranean diet is fantastic, having debates about spirituality as it pertains to energies and discussing why "kitschy" is the word of the day. I love him!

BBQ is fantastic in Texas. I devoured the pulled pork sandwich pictured above.

Queso anyone? What's even better is it had guacamole in the center...yummmm.

The Capitol building, gorgeous inside! Andy's grandfather helped create the gorgeous floor tiles above.

I think that Texas has a thing for stars, hmmm...

The two pictures above: random antiques found in the store Uncommon Objects.

It truly is a gorgeous city!

Look closely: I spy a woman holding her dog's paw (can I get a collective awww?) and a sweet couple dancing in the background.

Art, art, and more art...all around the buildings and on every wall. ♥

I have a ton more pictures, but I think this small representation of Austin will suffice. I'm in love (the same kind of love I have for Ireland and Turkey), and this is a place I would consider moving to!

Until we meet again, Austin, stay charming...

San Antonio!

Hey ya'll.

Back from Texas and feeling miiiiighty fine. I needed that trip. I so needed that trip. It's funny how the tiniest bit of traveling eases my soul and makes my heart truly smile.

I went to two cities: San Antonio and Austin. Sorting through the pics, I realized that I took about 10 times more photos in Austin. So, here's my first dinky post on San Antonio. I'm not sure it will give you an accurate view of the city, but it may give you a lil' taste:

I love the elegance of the regal columns on Southern homes.

I'll say it: Texas makes the best horchata I have ever had.

Kolaches anyone? Apparently a food brought over from Czech immigrants filled with fruit and cheese (cooked in a roll). Of course, they've been Texified and you can get them filled with eggs, meat, chorizo and the like. Yummy yum yum!

I went to this "fast food" BBQ place, but it really didn't seem fast foody at all. Texas sure knows how to cook their meat to perfection, which I appreciated to the last bite. Oh, and I also had a healthy dose of Sweet Tea at this establishment. Or, maybe that's not-so-healthy...

Take me to the moon!

I loved Andy's Mexican bingo artwork, and ended up buying the luna picture from a street vendor.

...So, there you have a small taste of San Antonio. I should have taken more pictures of the factories-turned-shopping centers. I found San Antonio to have a calm family feel to it: efficient highways, gated neighborhoods, good food and a cute quaintness.

My next post will be a HEFTY one as I have too many pictures of Austin...but until then, hope you enjoyed this lil' post!

Favorite Thing Thursday

These are a few of my favorite things:

1. Healthy Shakes

Recipe:

Place frozen berries (used in place of ice) on the bottom. Add one banana. Add any other fruit you can gather up (apples, oranges, pears work well). Stuff up to the top with kale or spinach (spinach is sweeter than one would think, and blends well with fruit). Fill halfway with water, blend, and enjoy!

2. Themed Calendars

My coworkers left me a surprise. I was mighty happy!

3. Zebra Blankets

Given to me by my roommate on Christmas. I love me some animal print!

...And now I am off to engage in my most favorite of activities for 4 days: traveling! It's off to Texas with me! See ya on the flip side.

Into 2012 She Rides, Sword in Tow

Hello 2012.

What a great sounding year. Something about it already seems special. It has a nice ring to it, easily dancing off of the tongue into the air, lively and full of spunk.

The years prior to this broke me a little here and there. I expect 2012 to do the same in its own way. I appreciate every break I've encountered, for its given me a strong heart. This heart has been strengthened through depression (2011), hearing about my dad having cancer (2006), illnesses (2008), detours (2011), feeling stagnant (2009) and heartache (do I have to pick a year?).

We've all been broken.

I think God prefers it this way. To break means that we have tried for something grand. We've jumped off cliffs, we've attempted flight, we aimed for stars and swam against the current. We are warriors of time and space, gaining experience with each battle, valiant and proud of our scars and lost limbs. To break means that we have not stayed tucked away in cabinets where no one can drop us, hurt us or shatter us. We've put it out on the line. We're not fearless, but we're also not fearful.

I used to cower in that cabinet. But now I am a broken warrior. To live is to break, and then to be made stronger.

So, hey, 2012, whadaya got for me this year?

I'm ready.

"I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.

Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're Doing Something.

So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.

Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it.

Make your mistakes, next year and forever."

--Neil Gaiman