A New Era

Hey there,

Soo it's been pretty blank around here. Hmm. Life has been going this way and that. Nothing really new to report besides those scrapbook-able memories that ended up on Facebook, or elsewhere on the web. Truth be told, Blogger hasn't been serving me well these days. This is the first time I've opened up my netbook for anything besides watching Netflix, let alone blogging, in quite a while; most of my web time is on my phone now. The Android Blogger app isn't anything amazing, let me tell you that!

So I haven't been blogging. I took some time recently and read through my entire blog. Just like looking back  on the years or reading an old journal. . . It's easy to see yourself through a different lense, saying things like, "Ah so different back then!" or "I've learned so much since then!" and especially, "I'm such a different person!" I think it's time for me to move on from this blog. I'm in such a different stage right now. It could be because I'm not feeling good, but I don't even sound like the same person right now!  I've found a lot of my blogging experience to be very detailed and stressful, for lack of a better word. I wanted it perfect and it got demanding!I might post an update here occasionally, but I like to keep my options open

I've chosen to preserve this blog as is. I was thinking about maybe archiving it, changing the name and starting fresh but as I said before, Blogger is a hassle. . .If you want to see the kind of things that come from me and go onto the web, I'm on Tumblr, Facebook and I hate to admit it, but Instagram. Two out of three of these are mostly artistic, quiet (fairly private, i.e. no followers, not following) endeavors but that's where I am.

I'd like to thank the faithful! What a fun few years. . ."I'm such a different person; I've learned so much and it was so different back then!"  :)

Non-hypocritical advice

There is that moment, where you get the rug pulled from under you just as you think you have everything under control. I was trying to encourage someone the other day; she feels like she's falling behind in everything. I told her to run with all she had, then a little more. Keep pushing til it hurts, then push some more.

Then. . .

I realized who was I to be telling her this? I certainly don't feel like I have it all together. If I don't schedule things on a daily basis, they won't get done. This includes things like eating, exercising, piano, socializing. . . I don't have it all together. I feel like Alice in Wonderland, singing mournfully,  "I always give myself very good advice, but I very seldom follow it. . ."

I used to feel like I was great at giving advice, until I realized my advice didn't always work on my primary test subject: myself.  I felt like a. . . a. . . hypocrite. Gah. I hate that word. I didn't realize how much I hate that word until a chat with a friend turned into a major vent where I was confessing this flaw.

"You're not a hypocrite." Friend told me. "Advice isn't a set of rules to follow. Advice isn't always right. Advice is perspective. Your advice always means something."

Let me ponder this with you, Alice. If advice is perspective, then by giving ourselves advice, we are basically telling ourselves our own perspective, which is most likely the perspective of others that we've adapted into our view.

I've accepted that giving others advice that I've not used isn't wrong. It isn't hypocritical. It's just my view, sans judgement.

P.S. Please accept this post as presented. I am sick. I've forgotten what a blessing breathing through your nose is.

Long time no post

Hey guys!

Sorry to be pretty absent for a while. I actually considered deleting my blog, or doing one of those "Not posting anymore" posts. I haven't been blogging mostly because it's too much work. I feel like I need a picture, or need to have an event to post about, or something  funny. Also, I usually can't get to a computer everyday (large family dynamics). I decided that I just wouldn't stress it that much. I'm not going to *try* to do anything. I'm just going to post :)

This summer was so incredible. It was warm and lovely. I spent a lot of time napping in the sun, swimming in the lake, and eating unhealthy foods and milkshakes. I worked four days a week working at the tutoring center with friends. Work was light and after we got done we usually would play cards in the staff room. My best friend and I went out a lot after work was done, to the mall or the park or we'd take a few friends and go bowling. At the end of the summer though, I had to part with friends heading off to college. It's been so very bittersweet, seeing who will stay in my life. I got very close to a friend this summer who now has nothing to do with me. It was situational, but I'm glad I had those experiences.

I've been rather swamped lately. I wake up early and head to an elementary school where my sister helps teach violin in exchange for lessons. At about 8:30 we get to school and I work 4 hours in a row. It's mentally exhausting to teach/tutor a variety of subjects for hours, but honestly I wouldn't remember this much of any subject if I wasn't practicing every day. I love tutoring so much. It's so fulfilling. If it wasn't for that I'd probably get a different job that paid more. My goal is to buy a car (at this rate, bout 5 years :P).

Around home I try my utmost to exercise, clean and hang out with people. As opposed to making some coffee and taking a nap until dinner.

Well there's a quick catch-up! I'm going to start blogging from my phone and see how that works. Might make me post more? I'm committed to commitment! (think I've been watching too many political ads ... Did everyone remember to vote?!?) :)

Scenes of summer

 

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Sounders Game

In my absence from blogging, I'm sure that many of you have come back to my sad, lonely homepage. . . 

In wishing that I would post, or perhaps checking if I had, those of you who've missed me and wandered to my other pages MUST have seen that number 55 on my bucket list has been crossed off.

I went to a Sounders game!

My dear friend, Marian, (link up, here's her awesome blog :) http://all-that-is-gold.blogspot.com/)
noticed that I had this on my list and emailed me saying she had tickets, and I was invited! Not only was this the Sounders, but they were playing LA Galaxy, which currently has both David Beckham and Landon Donovan. Needless to say I was beside myself with excitement.

We went up to Seattle and traversed a 1/2 mile from the car to the stadium. It was hot! My phone said it was 91* F, but it felt hotter, we were all melting. We were escorted to the stadium by a sea of blue and green clad fans, all seeming hardcore and under the belief that this wasn't "just a game" (Never say that to a sports fan, any sport).

If you have never been to a soccer game, go to a Seattle Sounders FC home game. If you like sports, go to a Seattle Sounders FC home game. If you don't like sports, go to a Seattle Sounders FC home game. If you live in Washington, go to a Seattle Sounders FC home game. If you live in Minnesota, New Mexico or Michigan, go to a Seattle Sounders FC home game. 

So, these fans. . . The crowd was alive. A.L.I.V.E. There is no way I can think of to describe the energy of the crowd. And the loyalty. When LA came out, one by one, every team member, besides Donovan and Beckham, got booed. Every time the ball came anywhere *near* a goal for the home team, everyone (including me, it's contagious) would leap to their feet screaming and cheering. Every other person was chanting, screaming, cursing, booing - all very loudly. I think I counted like, 10 fight songs, it was insane.

Phone wallpaper, please don't laugh at Mr. Baldspot

We won ("we" didn't do anything, we just watched :P) 4-0. Every score was incredible, and I'm still swept away by the pure energy that filled the stadium. I can't wait to go to another game (there's actually a home game going on today, wish I was there). Thank you, Marian, for taking me and helping cross off #55! We need another get together soon! :D

*All the pics are from my phone, which usually turn out bigger and better on my blog. . . Hmm. . .