Desert Island

In honor of a crazy interview I had recently, I think we should play Desert Island.

So, here's how it works (I'm sure you know!):

If you were stranded on a deserted island, and you could only have a handful of things with you, what would you bring? You can have 3 books, 3 movies, and 3 CDs. This is a tech-savvy island, which allows you to play movies & music I guess, but it's just how the game works, so deal! =)

I'll start with my list according to how I answered my interview questions (although we didn't talk music, so I'm making that list now):

Books

The Bible

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Chronicles of Narnia (they make a version that's all seven books in one)

Movies

Pride & Prejudice (starring Keira Knightly)

The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (although now that I've had a chance to think about it, I'd trade this one for the newer live-action Peter Pan starring Jeremy Sumpter and Jason Isaacs. Sorry Mr. Lucas.)

CDs

Plans by Death Cab for Cutie

Amy Seeley (I'd compile call it life, the trees are glad you're back, & eight belles onto one disc. Thanks iTunes!)

         ...and I'd have to flip a coin between 

Continuum by John Mayer and Mmhmm by Relient K

Okay, now it's your turn. Feel free to comment on my nerdiness - I have no problem admitting how goofy I am. But I want to know your answers too!

Have fun!

On the Lighter Side...

(Eagle Creek - July 31, 2008)

I have been rediscovering an old love recently: Hiking.

It's been a much-needed reminder that God knows what He's doing. And that He does great work. So I don't really have that much to worry about. In that, I rest.

This is the Score

I wish I had taken my camera with me yesterday, but the venue didn't allow cameras, and I didn't want to leave mine in the car, so I went without. Sadly. But then, I would just be torturing you with random pictures of people in a car. 

The three-hour + drive to Bend, OR was well worth it though, let me tell you. For my birthday, my brother Colin bought tickets for us and two friends to go down to the Death Cab for Cutie/The Decemberists show at the amphitheater. It was a great birthday present, even though I had to wait 2 months after my birthday to have it. Good things come to those who wait, right? 

Anyway, we got there halfway through the Decemberists' set, which was unfortunate, because I had never seen them live before, and it also meant that we missed the first band, Mates of State. I had really been looking forward to seeing them live. :( Moving on though, we were there in plenty of time for the real reason we had gone. And it's an understatement to say that I was not disappointed with Death Cab's show. After seeing them twice now, and having seen a few of my other favorite bands live, Death Cab is by far my favorite band to see live. Their performance quality is amazing, their songs sound just as good, if not better than on their studio albums, and they just seem like really down-to-earth guys. Totally professional, too.

Even though they just released a new album (Narrow Stairs - which is fantastic, by the way), and they played quite a few of the new songs, they also played all of my favorites from their earlier albums, and some that I hadn't heard before (I'm still missing their earliest material). 

Basically, it was a great show, I had fun with my brother and our friends, and I would do it again every few weeks if I could.

Also, on the way home, Colin was playing this amazing album that I hadn't heard before. He told me that it was Chris Walla's solo album. So, if you're a fan of Death Cab, or even if you aren't, you should check out Chris Walla's Field Manual. (Chris is the guitarist/keyboardist/additional vocals guy in Death Cab.)

Alright, time to go watch a movie with the family, so that's it for now!

Plans

No matter how much planning you might do for something, it will never turn out exactly the way you expect it. This is not always a bad thing, contrary to popular belief.

Speaking of Plans, I'm on my way out soon for the Death Cab for Cutie show. I am so excited, but definitely more wound up right now than I should be. Everyone is running late, as usual. I don't know why this should be an issue for me, because I am almost always late. But since I have to be ready and waiting for everyone else to show up here, it makes me nervous. Hence the blogging. I'm ready, for once, and just sitting around.

This post has nothing to do with productivity, but I keep laughing whenever I look at my Office quotes desk calendar, so I think I'll share the quote of the day with you.

"Productivity is important, but how can I be productive if I have this one little thing in my brain that I cannot get out? And that one little thing is a soft pretzel. So I'm just going to have my soft pretzel and I'll get to work, and I'm going to be super-productive. Look out for me!" -Michael Scott, The Office

I actually understand what his logic is here, which is funny, because Michael Scott is NOT a logical person. I often find myself wanting to be productive, but feeling completely distracted by something else, and I think, "okay, if I can get this other thing out of the way, then I can take care of the things that I really need to be working on."

I have no clue if that even makes sense, but that's just the way it is. 

No Sunlight

Everything is so serious in my life these days, and that bugs me. I mean, I'm twenty-two. I should be having more fun than I am! 

That isn't to say that I never have fun, it just seems like I spend so much time acting like an "adult" that I kind of forget that I'm not that old. I love laughing, but I definitely feel like I don't do enough of it. There isn't always enough to laugh about.

I'm not being cynical, just honest. I think what I might really need is more sun. Trapped up here in the Pacific Northwest is starting to have a really draining effect on this Southern California/Arizona-raised girl. That's not to say that there aren't some things I like about living here. I just relish every second I get to spend in other warmer, drier, happier climates. And those moments are few and far between it seems. 

Fresno, CA in one week for the cousin's wedding. Now that, I am looking forward to! Family and SUN. It doesn't get much better.