I finished Siddartha a few nights ago. It was pretty good, I guess.
I was in Barnes and Noble a few days ago and bought The Picture of Dorian Gray. I had a copy last year that I was half way through, but I lost it in Portland when I went there for orientation. Jeez, that seems like so long ago. Either way, I'm rereading it from the beginning, and it's still as amazing as I remember it. It's really brilliant.
I've been practicing the ukulele but I'm not getting any better. I don't really mind, I kinda just enjoy the feeling of it. I'm trying to learn Beirut's "The Penalty". The lyrics to that song really got to me for some reason. Here they are:
Like an ancient day and I'm on trial
Let them seize the way, this once was an island
And I could not stay for I believed them
Left for the lights always in season
Impassable night in a crowd of homesick
Fully grown children, you'll leave the lights
Your family may not wait, Sir, keep on breathing
Our parents rue the day, they find us kneeling
Let them think what they may, for they've good reason
Left for the lights always in season
It's strange but, the lyrics were actually a huge factor in why I chose to go through with Australia. Oh, if I haven't told you already, I applied to study abroad in Australia a few days ago. I've got to turn in transcripts and send in some passport photos and I'll be set. I was really debating about going, only because I feel like I've been moving too much. It's one thing to travel, but I always end up staying in one place long enough for it to just begin to feel like home and then leave. It really fucks with my emotions...I can't figure out why I feel like I must constantly be in motion. I've always thought that my life has been full of bad timing, but it's not. There's no such thing as bad timing, it's just the choices I make.
Anyways, I applied and it's almost set in stone. I know it is going to be an absolutely unforgettable and life changing experience, but I'm sad for some reason. Sad that I'm going to Australia for four months? I sound crazy.
I guess I can't question my decisions...it's funny though, to think of when I was in middle school and how my goals have changed. Back then, I envisioned myself going to school in Southern California, meeting the man of my dreams, and becoming a teacher. haha, it's kind of funny that I only gave up that dream a few years ago. Now I don't really have a plan. I'll probably graduate and then do...something. I guess I'm not really that worried about it....awesome =)
Zach Condon is so sexy, it's kind of unbelievable.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Summer So Far
Devlin, Ryan, and I decided to road trip down to California from Portland. The first night we ended up pulling over on the side of some random highway and setting up camp somewhere in the very north eastern tip of California. Wherever we were was very far away from everything else and it was pitch black outside. We set up our tents with the help of some flashlights.
I can honestly say that I have never seen more stars in the sky in my entire life. The milky way has never looked so jaw-droppingly beautiful and I saw more shooting stars in that night than I have watching for them during scheduled meteor showers. I felt like I was looking at a sky that must have resembled what the ancient Greeks used to look at. Devlin just so happened to be reading Emerson's "Nature" and the opening paragraph aligned so well with what was happening it was almost freaky. I decided to include the passage he read even though I'm sure it will not have the same impact on you as it did at the moment.
"But if a man would be alone, let him look at the stars. The rays that come from those heavenly worlds, will separate between him and what he touches. One might think the atmosphere was made transparent with this design, to give man, in the heavenly bodies, the perpetual presence of the sublime. Seen in the streets of cities, how great they are! If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore; and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God which had been shown! But every night come out these envoys of beauty, and light the universe with their admonishing smile.
The stars awaken a certain reverence, because though always present, they are inaccessible; but all natural objects make a kindred impression, when the mind is open to their influence. Nature never wears a mean appearance. Neither does the wisest man extort her secret, and lose his curiosity by finding out all her perfection. Nature never became a toy to a wise spirit. The flowers, the animals, the mountains, reflected the wisdom of his best hour, as much as they had delighted the simplicity of his childhood".
I've always thought Emerson was overrated, but it turns out he's not. The next morning I woke up and got out of my tent to discover that we had slept in a field of little white flowers. Could it get any dreamier? I don't think so.
The next night we found some hot springs somewhere around the Twin Lakes and met a really awesome couple from Alaska. They were both musicians and had moved up there for one of those Teach For America programs. They lived in a little village of about 300 people and the woman told me that when a whale was caught and dragged into shore, all the women would help to butcher it and share the meat. That night we slept again in some random place, but there was more light pollution so it wasn't as epic. The man was a musician by the name of Joe Cocker and it turns out I had heard of him before.
We finally made it to Yosemite where we met up with Marc, Kevin, and Mike. The drive into Yosemite was ridiculous, we couldn't have chose a better time to go. The snow was still melting so we kept passing half frozen lakes and sparkling rocks. When we made it into the valley the waterfalls were so powerful from all the just melted snow. Yosemite honestly feels unreal, it's so beautiful it doesn't even seem tangible. That explains why there's so many goddamn tourists too, there was no escaping them.
While in Yosemite I jumped into 35 degree rivers everyday because it was really the only way of staying clean, haha. I used to have a crazy phobia of cold water, but I think I've conquered it and that makes me happy.
Also, while in Yosemite, I got a call from Moz Buddha Lounge to set up an interview for the day after I got back. I had the interview, got hired, and started training two days later. After finishing my four training days, I went to Maui with my family for the week of 4th of July. I got back and worked pretty much everyday for two weeks. This is my first week where I only have 3 days, and so I finally have time to write.
This summer has been so crazy busy it's almost irritating. I haven't really had time to accomplish any of my original summer goals =(. I have yet to finish a single book, I only know like 4 chords on the uke, and I haven't exercised once yet.
The good news is that Michael just moved to Ventura so I have my old room back and, more importantly, my old bed with my old comforter. Finally feels like home again. It's been awhile.
Home is a really intense concept for me. I used to think that home is wherever all your shit is. I kinda still think that.
I can honestly say that I have never seen more stars in the sky in my entire life. The milky way has never looked so jaw-droppingly beautiful and I saw more shooting stars in that night than I have watching for them during scheduled meteor showers. I felt like I was looking at a sky that must have resembled what the ancient Greeks used to look at. Devlin just so happened to be reading Emerson's "Nature" and the opening paragraph aligned so well with what was happening it was almost freaky. I decided to include the passage he read even though I'm sure it will not have the same impact on you as it did at the moment.
"But if a man would be alone, let him look at the stars. The rays that come from those heavenly worlds, will separate between him and what he touches. One might think the atmosphere was made transparent with this design, to give man, in the heavenly bodies, the perpetual presence of the sublime. Seen in the streets of cities, how great they are! If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore; and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God which had been shown! But every night come out these envoys of beauty, and light the universe with their admonishing smile.
The stars awaken a certain reverence, because though always present, they are inaccessible; but all natural objects make a kindred impression, when the mind is open to their influence. Nature never wears a mean appearance. Neither does the wisest man extort her secret, and lose his curiosity by finding out all her perfection. Nature never became a toy to a wise spirit. The flowers, the animals, the mountains, reflected the wisdom of his best hour, as much as they had delighted the simplicity of his childhood".
I've always thought Emerson was overrated, but it turns out he's not. The next morning I woke up and got out of my tent to discover that we had slept in a field of little white flowers. Could it get any dreamier? I don't think so.
The next night we found some hot springs somewhere around the Twin Lakes and met a really awesome couple from Alaska. They were both musicians and had moved up there for one of those Teach For America programs. They lived in a little village of about 300 people and the woman told me that when a whale was caught and dragged into shore, all the women would help to butcher it and share the meat. That night we slept again in some random place, but there was more light pollution so it wasn't as epic. The man was a musician by the name of Joe Cocker and it turns out I had heard of him before.
We finally made it to Yosemite where we met up with Marc, Kevin, and Mike. The drive into Yosemite was ridiculous, we couldn't have chose a better time to go. The snow was still melting so we kept passing half frozen lakes and sparkling rocks. When we made it into the valley the waterfalls were so powerful from all the just melted snow. Yosemite honestly feels unreal, it's so beautiful it doesn't even seem tangible. That explains why there's so many goddamn tourists too, there was no escaping them.
While in Yosemite I jumped into 35 degree rivers everyday because it was really the only way of staying clean, haha. I used to have a crazy phobia of cold water, but I think I've conquered it and that makes me happy.
Also, while in Yosemite, I got a call from Moz Buddha Lounge to set up an interview for the day after I got back. I had the interview, got hired, and started training two days later. After finishing my four training days, I went to Maui with my family for the week of 4th of July. I got back and worked pretty much everyday for two weeks. This is my first week where I only have 3 days, and so I finally have time to write.
This summer has been so crazy busy it's almost irritating. I haven't really had time to accomplish any of my original summer goals =(. I have yet to finish a single book, I only know like 4 chords on the uke, and I haven't exercised once yet.
The good news is that Michael just moved to Ventura so I have my old room back and, more importantly, my old bed with my old comforter. Finally feels like home again. It's been awhile.
Home is a really intense concept for me. I used to think that home is wherever all your shit is. I kinda still think that.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)