Rainy Tuesday Afternoon.

Dear Arizona,

I’m sitting in SIZIZIS, a little coffee shop downtown that I’ve been to before in times of research and work. The little lettuce-plate held a delicious almond croissant and that mug you see is full of a “Hail Mary” which is just a dirty chai with some foam and cinnamon on top. Or, at least, I think it’s cinnamon? It could be nutmeg. I asked Cora to sniff it out for me and she doesn’t know either. That’s alright. It’s still good.
I haven’t kept in touch since before Valentine’s Day, which I apologize for. Valentine’s Day, itself, was really nice. I woke up early and worked out (more on this in a bit!) and made some dorm-cooked stew. Then, I spent the day with my girls, having a mini-indoor picnic and chatting like the little kittens we are. After dinner the gang got together; the boys showed up looking dapper in bowties and we danced and pretended to be acrobats. It was all sweet and good fun, and I liked the fact that no one in our group was being really cynical about the day. For me, it’s not a day I’ll take too seriously, whether positively or negatively. I used it as a day to wear my pink-striped skirt, to smell especially sweet and fruity, to treat myself to some potato and kidney bean with a roasted red pepper and tomato bisque stew, and then to have ten dates by the end of the night. Ten dates being my amazing gang of people, of course.
Other than that, the rest of the week was really great. I had an exceptional Wednesday, which included a delicious Thai food dinner and then five-rhythms. As per usual, fine rhythms gave me the space to simultaneously have alone-time to think while being in a giant group of dancing people. Think: giant room of moving bodies, all letting go of mental stress with physical activity. So good. And! As I mentioned before, and I am coming back to it now, I have been working out a lot lately. It’s been really wonderful and I’m getting into a great routine. Unfortunately, my asthma makes it nearly impossible to go on a good run outside, so it’s all indoor gym work. But, it’s still exercise and I’m still improving. One of the things I’ve begun to do again is weight lift, which I haven’t done consecutively in many months. I’ve also started going into the “core/stretch room” which has medicine balls and giant work-out balls, as well as mats to stretch out on. I never realized how beneficial and relaxing a really good stretch is after running a few miles. I think that at some point in the future I will make a follow-me-through-my-day post, and I’ll also write a bit more on my progress with working out. (I know not all of my Arizona readers may have much interest, but my dad is my number one man and I’m sure he’d be thrilled to hear about my gym improvements. At least, uh, I like to think so…) Another exciting thing about working out is that Cosima has been doing it with me, which I mentioned before. And now Cora and Sydney are going to start. It’s fun having my group of ladies come along, as I always worked out by myself. Plus, as unbelievably amazing as it is to have them to communicate with at any time to alleviate stress verbally, it’s nice that we are doing it physically and being healthy. I love that and I love them!
In more news than the news told before:

• I am actually applying to jobs now. I’m pretty behind on my initial hopes for job hunting, but my plan is to change that and begin working.
• It’s week seven (ALREADY. HDJFHSDKHFKJ) and my book is… slowly coming along. This semester I’m focusing on communication and ways we use music as such. I’ve been looking into movies and video games- even commercials- and how the creators use music /soundtracks to further their product. For instance, let’s look at one of my favorite movie series.


The music in this really makes it powerful and compelling. Another example is the 2011 trailer for the new movie The Hunger Games. The Hunger Games book trilogy is another favorite of mine and when I saw the trailer it actually made me cry. Of course, part of that reasoning is because I know what happens and it looks beautiful, but the music really pushed me. It triggered the emotional parts of my brain (which I discussed in the first quarter’s chapter of my project) which caused me to feel certain things.
(to watch that trailer: http://youtu.be/RNxb28j5C1w )
So, while it’s coming along slowly I’m really happy how it’s turning out to blend with both the previous topic and how it will easily flow into next quarter’s topic of history and propaganda.

• Somehow, lately, I’ve been slacking in the creations of visual arts while still doing a lot? I guess, what I mean is that I haven’t been painting a lot lately or doing any visual pieces, but I’ve been planning a lot of projects and doing some different kind of work.  For example, as you can see on the right, I collected a large glass bottle that I’m currently melting wax around. Once I finish dripping this candle I’m going to continue to fill it with broken sea-shells. I also plan to add other colors of wax and then eventually use it as a bottle for dried flowers once spring hits. Other projects include finishing my paintings I’ve started and then beginning other ones that have been rattling around in my brain for a while. (I’m thinking an Audrey Kawasaki inspired Marie Antoinette. Eh? Eh?) And, maybe starting tonight, I’m going to begin a project with my friends that involve decorating my white bookshelf. I may take pictures of that process and blog about it, but either way I’ll post the before and after shots!
• The sketch show is going to happen week ten, I believe. Next week’s rehearsal we’re all supposed to be off-book and I’m confident in that. I doubt it would be recorded, but hopefully there will at least be pictures. Actually, I just asked Cora if she would, and she said yes so as long as we remember then there will be some photos of the experience. And after that happens I will write about it and the characters that I played. I, personally, think all of the sketches are funny and I’m really honored to be apart of the experience. Especially considering they were all written by students in Gen Friends and then preformed by us, so it’s super cool to be apart of that and apart of the whole process.
• Friday is Sydney’s birthday and a few shows. We’re going to get a bit fancy for it, and somehow the universe allowed me a super sweet coincidence! I was downtown with Cora last Monday, which is when we do our little errands and have some one-on-one girl time. Anyway, we were walking to her bank when we saw a shop with tons of “Close-out Sale!” signs. Sooo, we went in and it was this little hole in the wall I had never been to before full of super cute vintage items. Cora and I, of course, decided to browse, and I’m happy we did. There were pairs of vintage heels for $3! Super cute ones, too. And as I was trying on this pair that fit snug as a bug the Phantogram song I’ve been listening to repeatedly came on. (I call that a sign…?) So, now I have a cute, moderately-heeled pair of vintage shoes and I’m excited to wear them for Syd’s birthday celebrations. (Of course, as I learned from both proms, I’ll be bringing an extra pair of shoes along with me for the night. I don’t think she’ll mind that my feet go back to being punky in my Doc’s after midnight. I’m like Cinderella, Oly style. How appropriate.)

I think that might be all for now, AZ. Cora just left and my Hail Mary has gone cold. I’m going to do some more research and work, and then look for the font I want to use for my next tattoo. (Second edition to my leg! Literature Leg!) I think it my have stopped raining, but I can’t really tell because the window I’m sitting next to is quite fogged. I hope the weather is beautiful, AZ. I can imagine that Spring is quickly approaching and I’m a little jealous. I never go a day without feeling lucky and appreciative to be here, nor do I ever think it’s anything but beautiful. However, I do miss my sunshine days and my warm breezes. Among many, many other things you hold. I send my love, 24/7. Someone out there go get something yummy from D. Bros and enjoy it for me.

xox, E.
ps. A picture from this weekend, out on Zachary’s canoe! It was GORGEOUS. (Making a silly face, as per usual.)