Colorful

And when I see you, I really see you upside down.
But my brain knows better
It picks you up and turns you around.
Turns you around.

If you feel discouraged
When there’s a lack of color here
Please don’t worry, lover
It’s really bursting at the seams!

Death Cab for Cutie ~ Lack of Color

The Perfect Weekend

Helya came to visit last weekend and was my first official house guest since we've finally gotten settled. We had a wonderful, girly weekend. Finally someone to talk about boys with, someone to go shopping with, and someone who enjoys chick flicks as much as I do! Helya is a friend for life, and I don't know what I would do without her.

After a late (10:30pm), and wild (two drinks) night out Friday we had to wake up early to go pick up my car that we left downtown - only to find out that I got a ticket anyway!! ROOAR! Since we were up, we went to Starbucks for breakfast and saw Craig T. Nelson, aka, "Coach"!! I couldn't believe there was a celebrity in our little starbucks, but he was a completely normal guy doing normal things like getting coffee at 9am. How cool though!!!!?? (this is what he really looked like - balding and glasses and regular dad clothes). Why am I so excited about this???

We went on a bikeride downtown and Helya found her balance and did quite well! Except for the time she almost crashed into a parked car. Exercise AND entertainment - can't beat that! We went to Gus's for lunch, shopping, and to see the new Kate Hudson/Dane Cook movie..oh my gosh it was soo funny and so ridiculous. It was the type of movie that makes you embarassed for the old people in the theatre. Go see it! Without your mom!

Other than that, we spent a lot of (glorious) time on the couch cuddling up with Bali's, Grey's, ANTM, and a few eps of Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill. HEAVEN! Absolute Heaven!

Thanks for coming Helya. It was the best weekend ever and I can't wait to see you again!

Beauty + Brains = <3

Today at work, I was reading C&E News (Chemical and Engineering News) magazine and there was an interesting article about a blog called The Beauty Brains that helps women untangle cosmetic myths. Apparently the site was developed by a group of women cosmetic scientists who wanted to answer beauty questions from a scientific perspective. Their goal is, "to help you cut through the confusing, misleading and sometimes false information that the beauty companies bombard you with."

Yes, that's a potato.

Another woman with a non-traditional science career (also noted in C&EN) describes her blog The Bird's Brain as "The world according to a hula hooping, TKD black-belt wearing, radio show producing physiologist with aspirations of science journalism". Her goal is to bring science to the masses in fun, engaging ways.

YAY! These women are much more awesome than Sarah Palin.

John Mayer

Earlier this summer, my mom and I went to our second John Mayer concert in Marysville. We were going to see him at the Mid-State fair, but decided the expensive (and bad) seats weren't worth it, so I drove up to Sacramento where we had AMAZING seats.

We got a couple of ice cold beers which warmed up immediately under the hot summer sun. But, the heat didn't stop us from having a great time. We also bought matching John Mayer t-shirts (which I tried finding online to show you because they are so damn cute, but couldn't find them anywhere) so I'll have to take a picture of me wearing it. I LOVE it. I wear it all the time - thanks mom!!

The opening act was Brett Dennen, which in our opinion was much more entertaining than the lackluster Colbie Caillat. Although, I do applaud her for matching her dress with the set design, which was only slightly more interesting than watching her flirt with her guitarist boyfriend the entire time.

John Mayer was even better this time than when we saw him a few years ago. His newly shaved head was hot, and he's learned to simmer down the awkward facial contortions. He played one of my favorite JM songs of all time, "Wheel", which absolutely made my heart melt. We were a bit disapointed that he didn't play "Stop this Train", but overall he did a great job of mixing in the old with the new. It really doesn't matter what song he sings, he's very talented and nice to look at, so we were happy either way. My mom knew neary every lyric to every song, which I found very impressive and awesome! As long as JM keeps making music, we're going to keep attending his shows!

I took a few videos of the show, but I have to get them from my mom's camera when I go back to Montana. Unfortunatly I used up the memory card and battery during my filmmaking and only had a chance to snap a few photos.

We even got a few with John Mayer himself!!

PolyTiks

Samba!

We went to this new restaurant in downtown Madison tonight called SAMBA! It's a brazillian grill where instead of a menu, you're invited to gorge on a monstrous salad bar, featuring salad (of course), the best garlic mashed potatoes on the planet, grilled veggies (pretty much every kind you can think of), potato salad, rice salad, bread, cheese, curry, parmesan rolls, bean medley, and on and on and on and on, the options are endless. The main course was delivered by beefy men carrying even beefier swords. We were instructed to put a wooden club with the green (for GO!) side up and BAM! the meat-men appeared at the table immediately like moths to a flame. They each proudly carried their sword swathed with either chicken, duck, pork tenderloin, lamb, steak sirloin, flank stank, beef tenderloin, or sausage, and each swordsman would carve off a big juicy flab of heaven right onto your plate. I tried lamb for the first time and LOVED it. It's the perfect place to try new kinds of meat because you can ask for as little or as much as you want.

Anyway, dinner was pretty damn awesome and the ambiance wasn't so bad either - besides the fact that I was dining with my boss and hired consultant whom I find revolting (at times). I managed to have a pleasant time, and enjoyed the live music, the decor, the awesomely flamboyant waiter, and of course my hazelnut Gelato.

Oh yeah, and the fact that it was FREE!

Ok, so being away on business isn't THAT bad.

xoxo

Back in Madison

I made it to Madison. We're going out for dinner soon - hopefully not German food. YUCK.

Work all week - should be interesting and tiring, but at least I will have evenings to myself. I'm planning on going shopping for a dress to wear to the wedding next weekend.

Anyway, just thought I'd let everyone know that I made it safely! Adios!

A Poem

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,

There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is a society where none intrudes,

By the deep sea, and music in its roar.

I love not man the less, but nature more.

- George Gordon, Lord Byron, Childe Harold's Pilgrimage

Slow Going

I officially get the internet on Sunday, September 14th. Hopefully I get cable starting this Saturday, but I am not going to hold my breath. I have spent more cell phone minutes on the phone with Charter than with my mom this month, and I usually talk to my mom a LOT. In fact, she is probably wondering why I haven't had much time to chat lately - well, Mom, it's because I'm always on the phone with god damn Charter. I wish I could live without tv and internet - which I have for over a month now - but Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill are calling my name, LOUDLY, and I simply cannot go another week without the very latest in high school drama.

My life is pretty much insane right now. I am flying back to Madison on Monday (which is a WHOLE different story) and coming home Friday, then driving to Stockton for a wedding on Saturday and staying the night. We are still spending evenings unpacking boxes, moving furniture around, and trying to get to the point where we can finally come home from work and lay down in front of the tv for 5 minutes. I can't remember what that even feels like.

The good news is we managed to get half month's rent off from last month's debacle, which means we've only had to pay $2200 for two month's rent, which is a pretty damn good deal!! FINALLY something good is happening. Other than that, our condo is going to be so freaking awesome when it's completed. You MUST come visit and see for yourself.

I am still promising to post pictures but I am waiting until the rooms are decorated. John Mayer and Labor Day will probably happen while I'm in Madison - trust me - I haven't forgotten!