Goodbye to You(tah) :D

I feel another list coming on....

It's been a while.

Things I must do in the next 12 days...

1. Figure out where I am going to store my stuff over the summer.
2. Get rid of some unnecessary stuff so that it is easier to store.
3. Pack
4. Keep helping plan the California trip...
5. Taxes???
6. Clean out my desk...(currently full of everything I don't really have a place for, or that I am too lazy to put away)
7. Mail a package back home full of things that most definitely will not fit in my suitcase
8. FINALS...boo.
9. Hang out with Shannon before she gets married in July...
10. Get a Mango Peach Topper from Jamba Juice because I won't have it all summer.
11. Study beer info so Kris will make me a server soon! (for my job back home)
12. Go to the Tracy Aviary to look at birds for Bio. (ugghhh!)


I'm sure there are more things I'll have to do, but that's all I can think of for now.


Toodles,
LC

Tell me you're in love; I'm the only one; Go on and lie to me

^Jon McLaughlin put it pretty perfectly^

How many times do we really want to hear the truth?

Okay.

There are definitely times when we want the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. (For example, in the case of which way the nearest gas station is when your gas gauge is on E, whether or not you need vaccinations before traveling to Ghana, or who ate the last piece of your pie)

BUT.

How often do we want someone to tell us what we want to hear, even if it means letting them get away with a little white lie? Do you really want to hear it when: you find out there is no way you can get an A in that class, the person who picked your apple didn't wash his hands, Channing Tatum is bisexual, or that one person that usually makes you forget all the other junk says, "we need to talk."

Well...do you?

you make me happyyyy...

Dearest Sunshine,

So glad you are back.

Why don't you stay a while?

It's so lonely when you are gone...



Love, LC

Carolina

A while ago, one of those "forward-esque" notes on facebook/emails/copy and paste type things circulated about posting 25 random things about yourself. I never did it before, but the thought just came to me to do it, over time, one fact at a time. So here goes:

Random Fact about Laura #1:

I am, and always will be, an Oregon girl.

(anyone who knows me well, knows how proud I am of that fact, and how much I love the trees, the rain, the lack of sales tax, and the tie-dye.)

BUT, I must say that I have significant amounts of California blood (from my mother) and Southern roots, (Charleston, South Carolina from my grandmother).


I need the beach, the pouring rain, and southern barbeque. Is that too much to ask for?


*Note: the title of this post is the title of my favorite Matt Wertz song. Check it out.

Now Let Us Rejoice!

I will admit, there were many times when I was growing up that my mom would take me to General Conference for the Saturday sessions and I would either fall asleep or be completely bored. I did not really appreciate conference and love it as I do now, until I was probably 15 or 16.

Regardless, I have thoroughly enjoyed it this weekend. I love feeling uplifted by the words of the leaders of my church. I'm a big fan of quotes; here are a couple of my thoughts from this weekend:

"Reverence is profound respect mingled with love." -Henry B. Eyring

"Our Father's Plan is big enough for all his children." -Quentin L. Cook

"Even when we give up on ourselves, God never gives up on us."-Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"Divine compassion is never absent." -Jeffrey R. Holland

It was exactly like I needed this weekend. What a blessing.

After all, we're only human.

DiScLaImEr: This could, quite possibly, turn into a very "woe-is-me-sounding" post. It was not intended to be such, nor was it directed at any one person. It is just a collection of thoughts, on the subject of heartbreak; reflections drawn from my experiences with love.

I have been in a very thoughtful mood the past few weeks.

I have a confession: I don't think I've ever had my heart broken.

This does NOT mean that I have never experienced heartache, but it has always been a gradual process.

It was the inevitable realization that: he just doesn't want you back.

It's usually something that I knew all along, no big surprise. Maybe that is why it's never actually broken my heart. Broken implies something sudden, and shocking. That has never been the case.

Needless to say, feeling this way has taught me a lot about myself and how I cope with emotional turmoil and stress. It has made me realize that, even though I may feel weak, I can be tough; at least, tough enough.

Lucky for me, my brain does this really cool thing: it's called optimism. I have this weird way of finding the positive in all the crap that happens, and for that I feel so blessed. It has gotten me through some pretty rough days, allowing me to feel gratitude for all that I do have, rather than sorrow for what I have lost (or never had).

Today, I am grateful for friends and for that kind of love in my life; because I honestly believe, that love is all you need.

Did I mention that I'm happy for them, (all of them)?

I honestly am. No sarcasm here.

Tell me your story

I had this thought the other day when I was walking home from campus: what makes the difference between a best friend or soulmate and a stranger? Of all the people that we encounter in some way, every day, what is it that pulls us to take another look and try a little bit harder to get to know some, but continue to walk right by others?

I don't believe that the word "soulmate" only applies to members of the opposite sex; it can be anyone that you can count on to walk with you, no matter what. Anyone that loves you for all that you are, even the part of you that is completely and irrevocably screwed up; the part that breaks down for no apparent reason or completely loses focus when they hear a really good song, or a beautiful acoustic guitar (that just happens to be attached to an almost-as-gorgeous musician). That is my definition of unconditional love; of Christlike love.

People always tell me that I "know everyone". It is true that almost anywhere I go, I see someone I know; but I really crave close, intimate relationships. I guess that is the "blue"in me coming out. (And yes, that was a Color Code reference).

So I guess, to anyone who is reading this, and is not already one of my friends (doubtful, I know): Tell me your story.

And, who knows, maybe we will become soulmates.

Zingers

Today I bought a package of chocolate Zingers from the vending machine.

I ate them as I walked home from my very unproductive session in the library. I don't really even like Zingers, but sometimes I buy them just because. Because they remind me of my mom, because we never had them when I was growing up, and sometimes I just crave the completely unhealthy mediocrity.

Here's the thing: There are three of them in one package. By the time I get to the third one, I am almost always sick of the spongy chocolate cake and over-processed cream; but, without fail, I always eat all three.

I wonder what this says about my personality; I bet someone psychologist-like could read into this. I wonder what they would say.

That was my dinner. Less than scrumptious.

each moment has got a lesson for the day

Life is interesting. Even when it is boring. How is it that so much can change and at the same time stay the same?

I've been doing a lot of just sitting and thinking lately. About life. About myself and what I want from this life. I think this summer will be the perfect time to do some serious soul searching. I have come to know myself better the past few years, months, days, but my mind can be quite a complex thing. I think about and analyze the aspects and goings-on of my life too much. I feel deeply. My natural tendency is to see the hidden meaning behind every word, gesture, blink of the eye; I try to keep that in check. Sometimes I daydream about "what if..." longer than I should.

Anyhow, I am excited for time this summer...to get to know Me a little bit better. (Even though I will definitely be working my tail off at my favorite little Italian restaurant).

This was kind of a random rambling of my thoughts...but sometimes rambling is good.

ps: camping was great. the hike was...an adventure, but it was fun and exciting and strenuous and i got to spend it with some of the greatest people alive. it doesn't get much better than that. also, s'mores never tasted so good :).

Hope.

I hope...
that I feel less sick tomorrow...
that I survive the 13 mile hike...(even if I don't feel less sick)
that it gets warmer here, and that it is warmer when we're camping...


that I can get to sleep tonight....yay for Nyquil.



-LC

Free at last!

I'm DONE!

I NEVER have to go back to my old job. We will call it "fast-food-chain-that-will-not-be-named." Because it is basically the Voldemort of the restaurant industry.

It feels so WONDERFUL!

It was like swallowing a pill, but it is over.

Today was a pretty average Monday. I was kind of in a daze the whole day. I don't think I've gotten enough sleep a single night this year.

That's depressing.

Maybe I should go to bed early tonight....

.....doubt it.


-LC

Things I miss...

Today I was spacing out in the middle of sacrament meeting and I was reminiscing, which was actually pretty entertaining.

Needless to say, it spurred yet another list. Here we go again.

-time to read for fun
-girls' camp
-holding hands
-MSN Messenger, back when it was cool
-platform flip flops, when I thought they were so in style
-cassette tapes
-oh, and WALKMANS
-sleepovers
-worksheets....easy homework from high school
-midnight trips to Sherm's
-one tree hill
-orange food nights
-having a bedtime
-being on a dance team
-high school...?


That's all for now...:)
-LC

Katie, you were right. This is addicting.

Happy thoughts for the day:

sunbathing, sunglasses, and swimsuits

2 hour lunch breaks

curls

DIVINE COMEDY

Ave. 123

Music from my childhood: Third Eye Blind, Barenaked Ladies, Matchbox Twenty, Everclear...etc.

Free candy

Ice cream cones

The beauty of a Saturday to come...

Mo-peds...(shh...don't tell mi padre ;) )

Lucky hands of cards

Good quotes

Friends:)

Dancing for the pure joy that it brings


-LC

Welcome, Spring! We have MISSED you!

I thought about writing a post....


BUT instead,



I decided to go out and enjoy the sunshine...



-LC

lyrics for life

"sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same." -the fray

"music is the reason why I know time still exists." -elisa

"did i make it that easy to walk right in and out of my life?" -a fine frenzy

"you and me...always between the lines." -sara bareilles

"nothing tastes as sweet as what I can't have" -teddy geiger

I have decided to go home for the summer, rather than staying here and going to school and working. It took about two months of sincerely searching for answers, several failed job opportunities, and a bucket or two of sweat and tears trying to solidify my plan to stay. I guess that is my answer, I was going against the grain and it just wasn't working.

I AM excited to go home and spend time with my family, and have a break from school. I feel at peace with the decision, and somewhat relieved. But for the first time in my life, it's harder to go home than it is to leave. Maybe that is because for the first time, somewhere else feels
like home, too.

Reasons to be excited to go home:
-summer in the best state in the country
-hanging out with my mom all summer
-spending time with a certain ten-year-old boy with whom I share an immediate blood line :)
-moolah...$$$ (at a job that I like!)
-ice cream...huge scoop for 75 cents at the local grocery store...:)


It will be hard to leave and know that there is so much I will miss by not being with these people I have grown so used to seeing every day. It's only 4 months though, right?

I hate goodbyes. They are almost always bittersweet. Someone better call me over the summer, that's all I have to say :)

My name is Laura, and I'm a compulsive list-maker.

Current Favorites:

-music: ella fitzgerald
-movie: serendipity
-weather: breezy sunshine
-dance: american rumba
-book: the book thief...i'm almost done, finally!
-color: red
-friend: my mom
-language: french, even though I speak about ten words
-feeling: being barefoot
-spot on campus: spiral staircase in the JFSB
-food: dark chocolate
-line from a song: "you held your breath, and the door for me" --thank you alanis morissette
-quote: "live simply so that others may simply live"--ghandi


-lc

-DiScLaImEr-

1. The first 20 or so posts are completely unrelated to the later ones; they are just random thoughts.

2. I kind of stink at this whole blogging thing.

3. There is a very good chance that it will be another year before I post anything again.

4. I went the whole year without eating meat (as mentioned in a previous post, at the 7 month mark).

That's all.

-LC

I should be sleeping...

So I know that I only ever write on this about twice a year. I guess tonight is just one of those nights. It's 12:42 and I should be in bed, but for some reason I don't want to sleep yet. I will regret this in the morning, I'm sure. Such is the life of a college student.
I don't have anything particularly insightful to say tonight, especially not anything political or "treehugger-ish," except for the fact that I received a package from my mother today with a bar of organic,
fair trade,
spearmint,
dark chocolate....

Heaven. That is how I feel about chocolate.

That was random.

My roommates call me a hippie. I guess I'm okay with that. Regardless of what others think, I am NOT a raving liberal. If anything, I have slightly liberal undertones on a few, select subjects. I do believe that it is possible to be somewhat of a treehugger and still have conservative values.

I recycle and like to buy organic but that doesn't mean I'm pro-choice or against our right to bear arms.

I think I am going to continue re-interpreting what this blog is about. I think it is kind of a jumbled mess of odds and ends, not really about anything in particular. I guess that kind of mirrors my personality; I'm a bit of a "Jane" of all trades. Moderately good at a bunch of different things, but not truly AMAZING at anything.

So I guess that's it for tonight. I'm going to finish some much-procrastinated Spanish homework. Good night.

-LC

They paved paradise to put up a parking lot...

New favorite "Green" song:

Big Yellow Taxi

originally by Joni Mitchell, but I really like the Counting Crows version with Vanessa Carlton.

I'm torn between two favorite lines:

don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you got til it's gone...they paved paradise to put up a parking lot.

and

hey farmer, farmer put away that DDT. I don't mind spots on my apples, leave me the birds and the bees...please.

Anyway...someday I'm going to write a song as political and green as that. I know I haven't written in a while, but I have new goals for the coming school year (my first year in an apartment, with a kitchen!!):

1). Go to the farmers market as often as I can.
2). EAT healthy...aka..real food...fruit...vegetables...whole grains...homemade stuff:)
3). Continue to be a vegetarian....(going on 7 months!)
4). Eat breakfast!!!!!!!
5). Buy Local, organic and fair trade as much as I can!
6). Go to the International Cinema really often.
7). Become a really good cook.
8). Make my own stuff
9). Be creative and recycle.

I'm excited for this next year...it's going to be a blast.

-LC

Earth Day

Earth Day is April 22nd! Act "greener" than you normally would!

-LC