winter summerland.

day 7 & 8.

Yesterday was sort of just one big snow day. Woke up to find most of our donuts gone. But I still got a good donut for breakfast. We ran out to Walgreens & Odd Lots to try to find a sled to go sledding but no such luck !

We didn't really go out until last night and ended up at Bargo's. A sports bar with great mini corn dogs, but shitty rum & cokes. While there, something reminded Katie of a scene from The Hangover so we decided to go buy the movie & watch it.

By time I finally figured out how to get the ps3 to work in the ridiculous theater setup my father has, most of us were asleep.

The snow seemed to have cleared up today (at least coming from they sky) and the roads were better. Went to Skyline with Jess, KT, Mollie, & Jook. delicious cheese coneys. It was quite delightful.

Went to david's bridal for katie to try on some dresses. A lot of big poofy dresses. They lady was really trying to sell us a dress and I brought up the point that kt and I could come back one year from now and it would still be a little bit early to get a dress!

Took mollie home & prepared for chappy's and dinner was good. Now I'm tired and ready to head back west. Into the sunshine and out of the cold. In the mean time, enjoy this picture of my back yard. It's cold out there.

z

she's so...

days 5 & 6.

well yesterday was my day 5. And we drove from washington dc to dayton oh. For me it seemed quick. Even though it was a longer journey than I remember. There was a crazy ridiculous snow storm while we were in PA, which caused the roads to be out of control covered in slushly snowy- mush. A real safe driving condition.

We stopped at a Roy Rogers in Cumberland MD where I met the nicest fast food staff ever. There was Tom, who took our order and read it back perfectly. He was a middle aged man, maybe late thirties, blue eyes and he let me take a picture of him! (which is sure to be shown later)

Also the manager (who's name I didn't catch unfortunately) who was engaged and wanted to just run off to an island and elope but her entire family has other plans for her.

And then the old gentleman who sat at the booth behind us. The manager gave us directions to get back on the freeway, and then the old man came up a bit later and corrected her saying that we want to be sure to be in the right lane! Then he expressed his wish to win the lottery and move to Florida. He likes it there because one time he played in the Disney World band for two weeks.

I finally made it back to Ohio and into Dayton where I got to see some of my awesome girlfriends. Spent an evening intimately getting to know each other over a game of Kings. Today was full of running errands and CHIK FIL A! Bills donuts, tacos, bitching, and an amazing night over all.

It's funny how I expect (naively) that things will be the same... and they never are. Things are always different.. Or maybe its that I expect them to be different... and its that they are always the same that let's me down .

I had a great night with some old friends that never got my justification. Dusty bottoms, my roommate was in town, and it's always a blast hanging out with him, no matter where in the USA.

And of course my girls again. Who need no introduction. Katie who freaked out over Tripp (the dog) chewing up the carpet.. (It's okay! we're blowing this popsicle stand) Mollie, who according to wes is "Mollie Bullshit" ( which I don't understand) And Brooke (WHO I PROMISE I WILL SEND A GORGEOUS CUSTOM DESIGNED NECKLACE TO!)

Another INTENSE round of Kings Cup and I think people ended up knowing more about me again than I do about them.

Oh people and their powerful knowledge.

But I just continue on that same path I was. I want to be happy. I long and deserve to be happy. So I choose the things and the people that make me happy. And when it is not making me happy.. it will be ignored.

Pain will follow bad thoughts as certain as happiness will follow good ones.

z

*currently listening to: The Beatles- Abbey Road - I want you (she's so heavy)

Failed

So I ALREADY failed. I am such a failure. Just for the record, I did in fact keep my resolution from last year all year long. I made a resolution to quit biting my nails and I did so and I no longer bite my nails! :)

But EVEN THOUGH I missed one day for this year's resolution I will still keep at it.

day 4

Today was my younger brother, Anthony's 18th birthday. Also it was my grandfather's funeral. He was a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, so it was a military service. Yesterday was the viewing which was nice, but strange. I couldn't look at him. I hadn't seen him really since 2007 at my older brother, William's wedding.

Today 3 limousines picked us up from my aunt's house and took us to Arlington National Cemetary. Military funerals are quite surreal... It was very quiet and eerie. Very patriotic and it made me feel very proud of my grandfather.

There was a funeral service in the chapel, where a military chaplain led the service. My grandfather was moved inside for the service and then very quietly and precisely he was carried back outside by the honor guard and put onto the limbers and caissons pulled by horses. From there, the honor guard led the horse-drawn carriage to the grave site.

I chose to walk with my father, aunt, uncles and brothers as opposed to riding in the limos from the chapel to the grave site.. I figured, I could bare a mile & a half walk in the biting cold in heels to honor my grandfather. I also wanted to capture some pictures of the service, the horse drawn carriage carrying my grandfather's casket, and the honor guard.

Once we reached the grave site, there were a few words said by the military chaplain, followed by the three volley salute by some service members. Then was TAPS by the lone bugler while they gave the final salute. It was all very intense and surreal.

The honor guard folded the flag that draped my grandfather's coffin so tightly and precisely and then the chaplain presented it to my father and thanked him for my grandfather's service. That pretty much concluded the service and we all headed back to the limos.

I kept thinking to myself how much this was like a movie. And then all I could think of was that saying that goes "art imitates life imitates art."

I did capture some pictures by the way. I hope that they all turned out well. I will find out later this week when I take my film to get developed..

Even though I was never really close with him, he was always very good to me. Annual Christmas & birthday gifts. And then when he got older, my parents told him to NOT GO OUT christmas shopping anymore... he didn't listen for a while, but I take it he took the hint as last year as I simply got checks from both him & my great-grandmother.

He also sent me a check as a congratulatory gift for my graduating from film school. I wrote him a thank you note in February which I found in late October. I had never sent it. So I brought it with me, and put it in his pocket. It's never too late right ? My aunt laughed when she saw I had a return address on it. And I replied "I'd shit my pants if I saw that in my mailbox" as if it had been "returned to sender."

But my grandfather has forever to read it. He is in the sky again, where he belonged. Flying high.

z

a rare find

I guess I have a little bit of time left to do this.

day 2

Today (a saturday) was a decent day. I was dreadfully tired for most of it. Makes sense having only 3 hours of sleep or so. I was awoken by my nephew who now (at 18 months) makes lots of noises, but none of them seem to be actual complete words.. A

Anyways I felt like I should get up. Even though the temptations of the warm cincinnati bengals snuggie said otherwise!

Main highlight of the day: Christmas with the family.

Lowlight of the day: idk what the point was in sending out wishlists- people generally ignore them and get whatever they please. I still like the gifts, but wishlists only encourage expectations and then expectations were not met. (except for the bengal's jersey, which is awesome)

another highlight: departed silver spring for vienna, virginia. I got to go through my great-grandmother's jewelry box and pick whatever I please. I feel like I picked the best out of the weird broaches and clip on earrings, (which I assure you I can put on good ol hooks) and I also ended up going home with the whole jewelry box in itself. It's not the best looking jewelry box, but it is an heirloom!

mainly I just wanted to talk about the jewelry so here are some pictures to follow up. and with that goodnight!

z

here are some of the pieces in the box up close that i especially love:

lulu mae taylor
my birthstone:
gorgeous:

might be my favorite brooch/earring set:

beautiful yellow rose set:

from toledo spain:love these ones as well <3 :
look like easter eggs:

twenty ten

So TECHNICALLY .. I still have an hour to be successful. What you might ask ?

Well I was thinking I would keep a record of 2010. Right here. Write here. 365 days.

Today I have to say:

day 1

I flew from LA to DC.. and it's cold.

fin.

z