Today was an interesting day...I've been thinking a lot about our experience here, life, and the different situations and things that we are exposed to whether willingly or no. I watched the village today. My roommate hadn't seen it before-can you believe it?! I still remember seeing this in the theatres late at night with my mom and we were just gushing over it all the way home and the issues that it raises in it. Basically the plot is about a group of people that were in counseling because they had all lost someone close to them either through murder, accidents, or what have you. One of them had an idea of creating a village in the middle of a "game preserve" that would manage to keep the rest of the world out and using their logic-all the pain and suffering that came with it. Despite their best efforts they realize that they cannot escape the pains of life as they lose different town members due to sickness/lack of technology and supplies etc. In the end they finally tell the blind daughter of the leader their secret and send her to get medicine to save her fiance who has been stabbed by a mentally ill member of the community. It's pretty much my favorite love story of all time as she braves the woods and "those we don't speak of" to get to the outer wall of the preserve and find help/medicine.
...but that's not what I'm really thinking of now. I'm thinking of this idea of trying to escape the pains of life and the inevitability that they will find you anyway despite your best efforts of avoiding them. I guess it's on my mind today because one of my best friends is going through a very huge trial...a heart breaking trial. It's one of those things that just breaks your heart the moment you hear it...and you wonder what you can say. The worst is realizing that there's nothing you can say. What do you say when you don't understand what someone is going through, but you love them and you feel the heartache of the situation. It just brings it back home to me- the pain and suffering that we subject ourselves to by living, and yet somehow it's still worth it in the end.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Breakfast of Champions
Life is as fun and exciting as you make it. It's amazing really to think of how much of how we experience life is in our own hands... but we're lazy. We don't want to think that our crappy outlook on life is our fault cause that would mean we would have to change something, do something different which, it's true, takes time and energy. But I dunno....I think it's exciting to think that you can change your life or at least how you feel about it to anything you want-you don't have to be all rainbows and sunshine all the time but you can at least begin to appreciate and notice lil nuances that maybe others around you are failing to see.
Take this morning for example: it's Friday! which always feels like a celebration or a mini birthday party to me. If anyone has been around me long enough they know that i'm not a HUGE breakfast person-cold cereal (maybe chocolate chip pancakes) is about as much as I can handle. I just don't like b-fast foods really....restaurants like Ihop or Denny's are kinda wasted on me. So I decided I was gonna have a lil party for breakfast cause it's Friday!!! yup, the breakfast of champions:
oreos and milk.
Hey, I got my calcium intake-prolly more than i would have if i had had cereal, and I feel fantastic! 8)
Life is good.
Take this morning for example: it's Friday! which always feels like a celebration or a mini birthday party to me. If anyone has been around me long enough they know that i'm not a HUGE breakfast person-cold cereal (maybe chocolate chip pancakes) is about as much as I can handle. I just don't like b-fast foods really....restaurants like Ihop or Denny's are kinda wasted on me. So I decided I was gonna have a lil party for breakfast cause it's Friday!!! yup, the breakfast of champions:
oreos and milk.
Hey, I got my calcium intake-prolly more than i would have if i had had cereal, and I feel fantastic! 8)
Life is good.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
psycho shower scene
So I was finishing up my shower when I felt somewhere deep down in the core of my being something falling off of the side of our tub. Now, you must know that with three girls sharing the same shower there is no doubt a plethera of products because all know girls need (not want, but NEED): shampoo, conditioner, razor/shaving creme(if you're feeling ritzy), body wash, and a loofa-see below for an example if you're not sure what that is boys:
So with three girls and no real shelf space in the shower we get pretty creative when it comes to storage space (basically the entire rim of the bathtub and corners are used. So anywho, i'm finishing up and out of nowhere something hits my left ankle right around the ankle bone/ which i'm not sure if this is a funny bone but it had a similar effect,i couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry. So I look down at the offending bottle mentally sending it to shampoo hades and then I look at my leg. No way did that bottle do that to my leg! I mean...I seriously had to stand there wondering if I had somehow had that before and just not noticed it? but oh no, it was from that bottle...at this point i was more impressed than mad, i mean..seriously, i don't even know how the bottle would have to hit me to do that. Now that i've talked it up and you're on the edge of your seats wondering what happened?! It just made this long scrape across my ankle-didn't bleed but it's all red and puffy and this ugly bump that I'm pretty sure wasn't there before...
anywho....
so yeah i could have just said a bottle hit me in the shower, but wasn't the above story much more entertaining?
don't answer that ;)
So with three girls and no real shelf space in the shower we get pretty creative when it comes to storage space (basically the entire rim of the bathtub and corners are used. So anywho, i'm finishing up and out of nowhere something hits my left ankle right around the ankle bone/ which i'm not sure if this is a funny bone but it had a similar effect,i couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry. So I look down at the offending bottle mentally sending it to shampoo hades and then I look at my leg. No way did that bottle do that to my leg! I mean...I seriously had to stand there wondering if I had somehow had that before and just not noticed it? but oh no, it was from that bottle...at this point i was more impressed than mad, i mean..seriously, i don't even know how the bottle would have to hit me to do that. Now that i've talked it up and you're on the edge of your seats wondering what happened?! It just made this long scrape across my ankle-didn't bleed but it's all red and puffy and this ugly bump that I'm pretty sure wasn't there before...
anywho....
so yeah i could have just said a bottle hit me in the shower, but wasn't the above story much more entertaining?
don't answer that ;)
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
musing away
So I was reading for my music theory class tomorrow and I thought Schoenberg made an interesting point in one of his essays:
"Whether one calls oneself conservative or revolutionary, whether one composes in a conventional or progressive manner, whether one tries to imitate old styles or is destined to express new ideas-whether one is a good composer or not- one must be convinced of the infallibility of one's own fantasy and one must believe in one's own inspiration."
That's so true in any facet of your life-not justs composing, but with any idea or chance or goal that you have. If you don't believe in yourself why would anyone else? Plus, when you are confident and believe in yourself ideas flow better and you have a much more positive and efficient energy with whatever you are doing.
"Whether one calls oneself conservative or revolutionary, whether one composes in a conventional or progressive manner, whether one tries to imitate old styles or is destined to express new ideas-whether one is a good composer or not- one must be convinced of the infallibility of one's own fantasy and one must believe in one's own inspiration."
That's so true in any facet of your life-not justs composing, but with any idea or chance or goal that you have. If you don't believe in yourself why would anyone else? Plus, when you are confident and believe in yourself ideas flow better and you have a much more positive and efficient energy with whatever you are doing.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
"I'm thinkin'......I'm thinkin'....."
What is it about high places that makes one stop, sit back, and think? I mean...if you're hiking up to some look-out point you don't get there and stand for a minute and think-cool-and move on. You sit down and just look out over everything but you instantly start thinking and become introspective and muse...why is that? is it because we are removed from our usual/regular view or perceptions of the world and so we also feel like we can think about things in a fresh new way too or see problems etc. in new ways? I mean...prophets in the bible would always go up into a mountain to commune with God and I don't think it's a coincidence, there's something to be said for it.
I dunno...but I like it and I think that everyone should have a place where they can go (ok, fine i guess you don't have to have a physical place to go if you're cool enough to do it on your own mentally) but still, it's nice to have a place where you can go that is almost like a little time out from the hussle and bussle of the world, a place where you can just think and have a breather. Maybe it's just the introvert in me coming out (apparently we recharge by being alone) but I still think it's important to introduce new views and perspectives into our lives that force us to see things from a different angle than normal-it's healthy.
so....um....
go find yourself a think-mountain.
8)
p.s. I just noticed on my map that someone from rostov was checking my blog but I don't know who you are! leave a comment and say hi!!!!
I dunno...but I like it and I think that everyone should have a place where they can go (ok, fine i guess you don't have to have a physical place to go if you're cool enough to do it on your own mentally) but still, it's nice to have a place where you can go that is almost like a little time out from the hussle and bussle of the world, a place where you can just think and have a breather. Maybe it's just the introvert in me coming out (apparently we recharge by being alone) but I still think it's important to introduce new views and perspectives into our lives that force us to see things from a different angle than normal-it's healthy.
so....um....
go find yourself a think-mountain.
8)
p.s. I just noticed on my map that someone from rostov was checking my blog but I don't know who you are! leave a comment and say hi!!!!
Monday, February 8, 2010
Headaches
So I normally don't struggle with headaches too often but when I do they can get pretty annoying-harder and harder to ignore and push to the background, especially if i need to be doing academic stuff etc. Interestingly enough if I do have a headache it is made way worse by night time driving-sensitivity to light as it were. Even if I don't have a headache but am driving for long periods of time at night I will most likely end up with one before the drive is over. So I was curious about different headaches and causes etc so I figure, maybe most people don't know the different kinds either so let me oblige you:
Tension headaches
Tension headaches, the most common type, feel like a constant ache or pressure around the head, especially at the temples or back of the head and neck. Not as severe as migraines, they are not usually accompanied by nausea and vomiting, and they rarely stop someone from continuing their regular activities. Over-the-counter treatments, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen (Tylenol), are usually sufficient to treat tension headaches, which experts believe may be caused by contraction of neck and scalp muscles (including in response to stress), and possibly changes in brain chemicals.
Cluster headaches
Cluster headaches, which affect men more often than women, are recurring headaches that occur in groups or cycles. The headaches appear suddenly and are characterized by severe, debilitating pain on one side of the head often accompanied by a watery eye and nasal congestion or a runny nose on the same side of the face. During an attack, sufferers are often restless and unable to get comfortable and not likely to lay down the way someone with a migraine usually does. The cause of cluster headaches is unknown, but they may have some genetic component. There is no cure, but medications can reduce the frequency and duration of attacks.
Sinus headaches
When a sinus becomes inflamed, usually through an infection, it can cause pain. It usually comes with a fever, and can—if necessary—be diagnosed by MRI or CT scan (which can both detect changes in fluid levels), or by the presence of pus viewed through a fiber-optic scope. Headaches due to sinus infection can be treated with antibiotics, as well as antihistamines or decongestants.
Rebound headaches
Overuse of painkillers for headaches can, ironically, lead to rebound headaches. Culprits include over-the-counter medications like aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), as well as prescription drugs.
"Most of the patients we see in a headache center with daily headache have medication-overuse, or rebound, headaches," says Stewart Tepper, MD, director of research at the Center for Headache and Pain at the Cleveland Clinic Neurological Institute.
"They are on a merry-go-round and they can't get off," says Dr. Tepper. "They keep taking more medicine, they keep having more headaches, and so the patient becomes more and more desperate. That's when they end up coming to headache specialists to kind of reset the whole system."
One theory is that too much medication can cause the brain to shift into an excited state, triggering more headaches. Another is that the headaches are a symptom of withdrawal as the level of medicine drops in the bloodstream.
Migraine headaches
Migraine headaches come from a neurological disorder that can run in families and are defined by certain criteria.
•At least five previous episodes of headaches
•Lasting between four hours and 72 hours
•Having at least two out of four of these features: one-sided pain, throbbing pain, moderate-to-severe pain, and pain that interferes with, is worsened by, or prohibits routine activity
•Having at least one associated feature: nausea and/or vomiting, or, if those are not present, then sensitivity to light and sound
An oncoming migraine attack may, for some, be foreshadowed by an aura, which can include visual distortions (such as wavy lines or blind spots) or numbness of a hand. It's estimated, though, that only 15% to 20% of migraineurs experience this.
So as it turns out I think I tend to get mild migraines-I never am sick or vomit by any means and they're really not THAT frequent, but if I don't treat a tension headache it can quickly grow to migraine status. Most of the time its the throbbing pain on either front side of my head and sensitivity to light is a DEFINITE yes and sometimes sound.
on that note....off to sleep this off 8)
what headaches do ya'll get?
Tension headaches
Tension headaches, the most common type, feel like a constant ache or pressure around the head, especially at the temples or back of the head and neck. Not as severe as migraines, they are not usually accompanied by nausea and vomiting, and they rarely stop someone from continuing their regular activities. Over-the-counter treatments, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen (Tylenol), are usually sufficient to treat tension headaches, which experts believe may be caused by contraction of neck and scalp muscles (including in response to stress), and possibly changes in brain chemicals.
Cluster headaches
Cluster headaches, which affect men more often than women, are recurring headaches that occur in groups or cycles. The headaches appear suddenly and are characterized by severe, debilitating pain on one side of the head often accompanied by a watery eye and nasal congestion or a runny nose on the same side of the face. During an attack, sufferers are often restless and unable to get comfortable and not likely to lay down the way someone with a migraine usually does. The cause of cluster headaches is unknown, but they may have some genetic component. There is no cure, but medications can reduce the frequency and duration of attacks.
Sinus headaches
When a sinus becomes inflamed, usually through an infection, it can cause pain. It usually comes with a fever, and can—if necessary—be diagnosed by MRI or CT scan (which can both detect changes in fluid levels), or by the presence of pus viewed through a fiber-optic scope. Headaches due to sinus infection can be treated with antibiotics, as well as antihistamines or decongestants.
Rebound headaches
Overuse of painkillers for headaches can, ironically, lead to rebound headaches. Culprits include over-the-counter medications like aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), as well as prescription drugs.
"Most of the patients we see in a headache center with daily headache have medication-overuse, or rebound, headaches," says Stewart Tepper, MD, director of research at the Center for Headache and Pain at the Cleveland Clinic Neurological Institute.
"They are on a merry-go-round and they can't get off," says Dr. Tepper. "They keep taking more medicine, they keep having more headaches, and so the patient becomes more and more desperate. That's when they end up coming to headache specialists to kind of reset the whole system."
One theory is that too much medication can cause the brain to shift into an excited state, triggering more headaches. Another is that the headaches are a symptom of withdrawal as the level of medicine drops in the bloodstream.
Migraine headaches
Migraine headaches come from a neurological disorder that can run in families and are defined by certain criteria.
•At least five previous episodes of headaches
•Lasting between four hours and 72 hours
•Having at least two out of four of these features: one-sided pain, throbbing pain, moderate-to-severe pain, and pain that interferes with, is worsened by, or prohibits routine activity
•Having at least one associated feature: nausea and/or vomiting, or, if those are not present, then sensitivity to light and sound
An oncoming migraine attack may, for some, be foreshadowed by an aura, which can include visual distortions (such as wavy lines or blind spots) or numbness of a hand. It's estimated, though, that only 15% to 20% of migraineurs experience this.
So as it turns out I think I tend to get mild migraines-I never am sick or vomit by any means and they're really not THAT frequent, but if I don't treat a tension headache it can quickly grow to migraine status. Most of the time its the throbbing pain on either front side of my head and sensitivity to light is a DEFINITE yes and sometimes sound.
on that note....off to sleep this off 8)
what headaches do ya'll get?
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
What is life? A frenzy.
Another week come and gone. It's getting pretty ridiculous...and I thought time on the mish went fast. Despite feeling a lil under the weather the past 24 hours it's been a good 24 hours thanks again to Code-pretty much my bright light.
So i was reading "Life's a Dream" a spanish baroque play written by Calderon. There were some really beautiful parts that just flowed. For those who arent' familiar with the play, it's about this prince who is locked up in a tower since birth because his father, the king, read in the stars that he would end up being a terrible tyrant and wanted to avoid it, and as always, his locking him up in the tower later turned him into the tyrant he was trying to avoid. Anywho, they keep taking him in and out of the tower with different drugs causing him to sleeep telling him that he's dreaming etc. so by the end he doesnt' know what's real-if he's dreaming or not. anywho, the part i liked:
Clothold says to Sigismund (the captive prince): "for even in dreams it pays to do what's right."
Sigismund: "This is true; so we must repress this savage character, this fury, this ambition, just in case we dream again. And that will happen sooner or later, for we live in such an exceptional world that living is no more than dreaming; and experience teaches me that he who lives dreams what he is until waking. The king dreams that he's king, and he lives under this deception commanding, planning, and governing; and his acclaim, which he receives on loan, is scribbled in the wind and turned to ashes by death. What grave misfortune! To think that anyone should wish to govern knowing that he will awaken in the sleep of death! The rich man dreams of more riches, which only bring him more worries; the poor man dreams that he suffers in misery and poverty; the man who improves his lot dreams; the man who toils and petitions dreams; the man who insults and offends dreams; And in this world, in short, everyone dreams what he is although no one realizes it. I dream that I'm here, weighed down by these chains, and I've dreamt that I found myself in more flattering circumstances; What is life? A frenzy. What is life? A vain hope, a shadow, a fiction. The greatest good is fleeting, for all life is a dream and even dreams are but dreams."
isnt' that good stuff?? I mean slightly emo-yes, but so good!
off to dream....or is it to live? haha now i'm all confused ;)
So i was reading "Life's a Dream" a spanish baroque play written by Calderon. There were some really beautiful parts that just flowed. For those who arent' familiar with the play, it's about this prince who is locked up in a tower since birth because his father, the king, read in the stars that he would end up being a terrible tyrant and wanted to avoid it, and as always, his locking him up in the tower later turned him into the tyrant he was trying to avoid. Anywho, they keep taking him in and out of the tower with different drugs causing him to sleeep telling him that he's dreaming etc. so by the end he doesnt' know what's real-if he's dreaming or not. anywho, the part i liked:
Clothold says to Sigismund (the captive prince): "for even in dreams it pays to do what's right."
Sigismund: "This is true; so we must repress this savage character, this fury, this ambition, just in case we dream again. And that will happen sooner or later, for we live in such an exceptional world that living is no more than dreaming; and experience teaches me that he who lives dreams what he is until waking. The king dreams that he's king, and he lives under this deception commanding, planning, and governing; and his acclaim, which he receives on loan, is scribbled in the wind and turned to ashes by death. What grave misfortune! To think that anyone should wish to govern knowing that he will awaken in the sleep of death! The rich man dreams of more riches, which only bring him more worries; the poor man dreams that he suffers in misery and poverty; the man who improves his lot dreams; the man who toils and petitions dreams; the man who insults and offends dreams; And in this world, in short, everyone dreams what he is although no one realizes it. I dream that I'm here, weighed down by these chains, and I've dreamt that I found myself in more flattering circumstances; What is life? A frenzy. What is life? A vain hope, a shadow, a fiction. The greatest good is fleeting, for all life is a dream and even dreams are but dreams."
isnt' that good stuff?? I mean slightly emo-yes, but so good!
off to dream....or is it to live? haha now i'm all confused ;)
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
eurika! (not the castle)
So I figured I'd catch up on some pics from this semester so far:
So this is what I came home to when I got back from xmas break and a note and chocolates waiting in my room-yeah, I pretty much have the best bf ever.
us at the aquarium in SLC
yup, I touched that.
us at the game with our sweet seats thanks to Nate
Lefleur's favorite
So this is what I came home to when I got back from xmas break and a note and chocolates waiting in my room-yeah, I pretty much have the best bf ever.
us at the aquarium in SLC
yup, I touched that.
us at the game with our sweet seats thanks to Nate
Lefleur's favorite
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
lost? yep I am ;)
Well my head is still realing from tonight...wow. Mike pretty much had it dead on-impressive, my hat's off to you sir. Umm...so our lil lost party was pretty good. Steve and his roommie came over and brought chips/dip, m&ms, and Lefleur's favorite rootbeer totally legite with darma initiative labels on the bottles. I would include a pic but my computer isn't recognizing my camera's memory card which is only majorly frustrating me. But yea, I was soo happy that there were two episodes cause one hour would not have slaked my thirst. I was only annoyed with the whole having to watch yet another gut-renching sad goodbye between sawyer and juliet-i mean...why make us go through it all over again-what was the point of that?
As usual Hurley had some great liners and of course rather than answering some things we are immersed in a hundred new questions and mysteries-i tell ya 3/4 of Lost's audience is now simply watching just to get some closure. And what about the fake john actually being the smoke monster huh?! way out of left field right?!
good stuff all around. Well pics to be posted at a later date i guess...technology 8397294872398744 whitney: 1 (that time i turned off the computer, yeah...i showed it)
As usual Hurley had some great liners and of course rather than answering some things we are immersed in a hundred new questions and mysteries-i tell ya 3/4 of Lost's audience is now simply watching just to get some closure. And what about the fake john actually being the smoke monster huh?! way out of left field right?!
good stuff all around. Well pics to be posted at a later date i guess...technology 8397294872398744 whitney: 1 (that time i turned off the computer, yeah...i showed it)
So it begins...
Yup, tonight eight o'clock the final season of Lost is kicking off. I'm so excited and so curious as to how they're going to explain everything and to see how magically everyone wasn't killed by a hydrogen bomb going off inches away from them otherwise this is gonna be a really short season.
The things that I really wanna know are...what the heck happened/is going on with Claire-and does her son really matter cause that psychic way back in the day was really adament about him and that she needed to raise him otherwise bad things would happen etc. The smoke monster-of course, um...what else...will kate actually end up with anyone-i'm starting to think she doesn't deserve to. what was the deal with jack's dad showing up randomly. what is the island REALLY/what's the big deal with it and who is going to live/or come back from the dead-anything is possible.
oh so good!
amas day
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