Just Because it's Monday

Our study breaks often involve food and watching some terrible made-for-tv movie.  Last week was no exception.  I think Michael turned to BET and we started watching "Juwanna Mann", a movie about a disgruntled NBA star who disguises himself and plays for the WNBA... it was surprisingly captivating but that may be attributed to the fried state of our brains.  But with cuteness such as, "I want a guy who will send me flowers just because it's Wednesday" and a feel-good ending, you just had to smile.

After a long, exhausting, stressful, emotional (welcome to tenth week of spring quarter), albeit wonderful weekend I woke up to some fresh, pink tulips-- I guess because it's Monday.

"We got nothing figured out, When it was hard to take, This is what I thought about" --Taylor Swift

"The West Wing"

"An artist's job is to captivate you for however long as we've asked for your attention. If we stumble into truth, we got lucky, and I don't get to decide what truth is..." --Tabatha Fortis

The Edge of Glory

I know posts have been sparse once again.. :/
But enjoy this cover of Gaga's new song. It is amazing.

The Ides of March and Its Madness

The swift arrival of March was accompanied by a glimmer of longer and warmer days, flowers, vibrant sunsets and the dreaded finals week.  The end of winter quarter always seems to drag on a bit longer than the rest, as does the end of the season.  Finals this quarter were stressful and oddly intense, but we all managed to get to the other side, greeted by the promise of spring break.

Mom decided it was time to get out of the bay for a few days as all of us really needed to step back and relax.  She spearheaded the effort and found a cabin to rent in Tahoe.  So much for a ‘bikinis and beach bags required’ spring break; we packed up snow boots, chains and emergency supplies.

It has been years since we went to the snow and it was Huck’s first time.  The bay was looking at rain for a week straight so the mountains (and thus the Wongs) were prepared for multiple feet of snow.  Soon enough we found ourselves lodged inside a snow-covered cabin.  Huck loved the snow at first sight and found it to be the most novel of treasures.  The immense amount of powder kindly lent itself to a bumbling yellow lab who leapt into and dug out of it—over and over and over again.  The powder was also great for skiing and boarding.  Mom and I went out and enjoyed the soft coating of snow as it protected our bums from any hard falls.

Dad and I played a lot of pool in the cabin with a tired dog at our heels and fresh cookies in the oven.  We even got mom to join in on a few games.

I distinctly remember waking up in the warm, fluffy covers, watching the snow fall outside.  The trees were covered perfectly, like icing on a gingerbread town.  The fireplace was humming softly in the corner and Huck was curled up nearby.  I couldn’t help the smile on my face (it makes me smile even now) as I thought about the perfectly picturesque scene.

I was lucky enough to see all of my friends back home, too, even though we all have different school schedules.  The visits seemed sadly brief, long enough, however, knowing that summer is just around the corner.

The whirlwind spring break is nearing a close as I look out the window of this 747 and see the mountains of central California, some of the higher ones just kissed by the snow.  We should be landing shortly and I will be on my way back to school.  Classes start tomorrow for what looks to be a great quarter.  If it is anything like this spring break, I will be more than happy.

“I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow, and each road leads you to where you want to go” –Rascal Flatts 

Photo Journey

This article and first video are definitely worth a look:
New Yorker’s mysterious photo quest ends in Paris

Tied with a Bow

After a particularly difficult and frustrating night, waking up to a text like this can change your day:
"check outside your door down to the right...a mocha for you.  Might be cold at this point though".

The smallest gestures can make the most significant impact, so thank you.

"All the phones have rung and rung, They're off the hook-- all but one, And all the mail stacked up inside, Up on the floor-- a mile high" --Angels and Airwaves

The Unexpected

The rain was drizzling just lightly enough to feel like a mist-- it was barely stinging when it hit my face.  I was holding my umbrella and my hood was down.

I felt like going for a walk when Mike was heading home so I asked if I could come with him.  When he told me it was raining, I told him that's what rain boots and umbrellas are for.  I didn't know why but I just wanted to talk and walk for a bit, kind of like those nights in Rome.

When we stepped out of the elevator I instinctively reached for the straps on the umbrella and suddenly stopped myself.  Anyone who knows me knows that I loathe rain-- I just find it terribly inconvenient and significantly less breathtaking than the sun setting on a warm day.  But tonight, I stand (albeit slightly) corrected.  The rain was absolutely gorgeous and, for once, I didn't care if my hair became a mess and my makeup ran halfway down my face.

I hope that everyone can take a walk with good company some night, stare at the (very, very light) rain (let's face it, this would be a bit challenging if it was pouring and nasty outside) and decide to simply put their umbrellas down.

"There's something about the way the street looks when it's just rained, There's a glow off the pavement..., And I don't know how it gets better than this, You take my hand and drag me headfirst, Fearless" --Taylor Swift