Mind was on holiday...

it's taking some adjustment being back in the real world. we returned from our Costa Rican adventures monday afternoon. i'm in love with the jungle. we started out from Alajuela, driving north in our stylie red bego. spent two nights and one full day admiring Volcan Arenal. we ziplined, hiked to a waterfall, and visited fancy schmancy hot springs (with water slides- heaven!). our next destination was Jaco, to purchase a surf board. spent the night in Playa Estrellita Oeste- a lovely little deserted beach. next on the agenda- Parque Nacional de Manuel Antonio. spotted three of the four costa rican species of monkeys, a sloth, and a dead cayman. this was also the only spot that was protected enough for snorkeling- things are a bit murky on the pacific side during the rainy season. the rest of the trip was spent in dominical, traipsing around to the local beaches (Playa Dominicalito, Hermosa, & Uvita). i took a surf lesson and caught some sweet "waves" (by which, i mean white water). we ATV'ed, rode horses, ate Tico food, visited more waterfalls, chilled by the pool, drank Imperial... the wedding itself was the highlight of the trip. it sprinkled and then down poured, but the mother-of-the-bride came prepared with white umbrellas for all the guests. the reception was spent mostly in darkness, due to a local power outage. i can't imagine a more perfect and romantic wedding.
everywhere we traveled, there were 'must sale' signs- land, houses, hotels... if only money grew on trees. i can picture myself in a casita, serving cocktails to guests and making them breakfast, spending the afternoons in the water. a bit premature to retire before i've even finished my degree.

Tico times!

It's an open road will we soon see the end
It's an open book, a story to tell the band

There is hardly a method you know

I'm a storm faced cloud, hanging in dystrophy
I'm a cold, base clown laughing at enemies
It's a rough wild world could you please chaperone
It's a mind field trip, oh leave it the fuck alone
-TV on the Radio

All the faults of the world...

i logged on today to find a plethora of half-finished posts which blogger lovingly saves for my own private perusal. the number of months that have passed is a bit ridiculous, so this is only a partial update.
most importantly, gabe arrived (just over two weeks ago!) and he's absolutely beautiful. e & m are settling into home with lots of family around to help ease the transition. i can't wait to meet him.
the house has been quiet this week and i've fallen into a bit of a funk. i'm blaming the gloomy weather- quite the anomaly for early summer in the 505. i love the chill and the clouds, but it makes me lazy and contemplative. my fourth year is officially over. i'm losing a classmate and friend, which keeps the hope alive that some day i might have three extra letters to tag-along after my name. it also reminds me of so many other transitions- how we master the art of entwining our lives with the lives of others and eventually have to disentangle. i'm missing my family and missing home.
on a happier note, the garden is shaping up quite nicely. i've been eating salad twice a day- the lettuce and kale are going crazy! counting down the days until we have fresh tomatoes.
recent obsessions: soy yogurt with fresh fruit, In Treatment, costa rica travel websites, Gang Gang Dance

Winston, I'm sorry. There's no word from Washington.
You can see all the faults of the world outside your window.
"Clementine's gone off to bed. Sir, I'll see you in the morning."
Winston I'm sorry, I don't know where Franklin's gone.
On the evening radio, with his hand to God, he said, "I knew it all along." Then when he and I talked, he said, "Tell me what you think of the world, would you now?"

It's important that we meet now, there isn't enough to go home. "I beg your pardon if you woke up feeling sorry," I said.
"There isn't enough to go now." I saw you smile with your people when you got off board. Oh, we're in a puzzle now.
-Bound Stems

co-habitation

i should be packing, but my apartment is cold and i've been spending as much time as possible away from it. i'm slowly unloading un-necessities on craigslist and making a substantial goodwill pile. my kitties have been quite lonely- i hope they adjust quickly to their new casa.

we completed our seventh day of boarding last weekend, and i'm feeling slightly more competent. at this point, i can comfortably place a large chunk of my initial failure on poorly sized boots (not that i'm completely writing off my difficulties with coordination or fear of speed...). almost three sizes too big, they made controlling the board a wee bit difficult.

tonight, we trek to santa fe for a non-snow adventure. tapes 'n tapes are playing at the brewery, and i m ecstatic!

au contraire, mon frere

Christmas was full of cookies and Eden, as my pictures will reflect.

From Christmas 2008

From Christmas 2008

i got to catch up with the Plano crew and ran into some random friendly faces at the Londoner. Fro yo with Maggie and Jeffypop, wine drinking and shopping with Carlotta, rock band and cranium with the boys...
Less family drama than usual, although my Nana called me a contrary fart and gave me the silent treatment on more than one occasion... Understandably, she's having a hard time deciding about the move. She's ridiculously attached to her belongings and i think they may win out over safety and family. It's a good reminder to myself that getting wrapped up in consumerism has very real consequences.

i'm all sorts of bruised up from our first day of snowboarding (and have an ironically consequential knot on my head from bumping into a cabinet while searching for ibuprofen and arnica). here's hoping for less falls and a better grasp of toe edge turns...

A broken branch I'd be, if you weren't grown to me

Christmas is less than a week away, and i still haven't mustered up any holiday spirit... last minute shopping and the extremely long drive are filling me with dread rather than tidings of good cheer. regardless, i am ready to be at home. my favorite thing about this time of year is cooking with mi madre. although i'm slowly building up my own private arsenal, her kitchen is (by far) better equipped for massive amounts of baking (the highlight being her fabulous new convection oven... *le sigh*).
my apartment is clean for the first time since the comps crunch began. even though the remainder of my list got put on hold for the day, it feels remarkably calming for all the clutter to be temporarily in order.

I guess they'll read everything about you.
Though the press might shoot me down I'm still true.
I sell my book for free. That's what you do to me.

Oh, you are my family tree.
Be good to me
Take care of me.
-Ben Kweller

i want my mtv

this website might lead to my academic downfall...
MTV Music
every video ever (or at least every one that i can think of and care to see again)

edit: have i told you lately how much i heart christopher walken? i've never been happier- easy access to a high quality copy of weapon of choice- i'm gonna learn the whole routine.

si se puede

after a week spent crying tears of loss, it felt good to cry for hope and joy last night. for the first time in my somewhat brief career as a voter, my voice was heard and my state, with our five little electoral votes, added to the victory. i hope i can keep my cynicism on the back burner for awhile- it feels good to believe.