The Best Deceptions & Great Connections.

All it takes to make the world spin 'round is a few great friends. Recently, I found myself in a car packed to the gills like sardines. The sardines were, of course, some of my closest friends. Sure, it was dead winter when I had a startling realization with the dead trees, snow on the ground, and frozen streets and dreams staring at me directly in the face.

My friends and I sat in the car and unanimously decided to roll the windows down, in below freezing weather, nonetheless. We sang and sang and sang. Our favorite songs, about lovers, friendships, etc. & etc. I then appreciated what it means to have a shining moment. My week is full of lab reports and Friedel-Crafts reactions, fibroblastins and RAS-Gene mapping. In other words, my week is almost always dreary. But this moment... in which my friends and I sang to high heaven, dancing at random Asians in the car beside us, was life-altering. It made me realize that moments like that were what make life important. Moments where I make a fool of myself signing at the top of my lungs are what bring happiness into my life. Where I go doesn't even matter.

It's outlandish events like singing in the car or dancing in the streets on the way to my friend's apartment that get me through each day; laughing and learning with every breath I take.

In memory of this moment, I dedicate the song 'The Best Deceptions' by Dashboard Confessional to my closest friends.

Summer List.

I always think of things that I want to try, or get accomplished, over summer break. Well, I decided to publish the list here so that it may stick.

1. Learn to play my guitar. That I own. But don't know how to play.

2. Read some old classic books.

3. Finish an art project or two.

4. Cook.

5. Maybe finish a book or screenplay of some sort.

6. Learn from some life experiences.

7. More to come?

Lifelong Friends.

Very recently, I've been playing phone tag with a very dear friend, my best friend. We both have busy schedules that, of course, conflict. I literally just got off the phone with her and had ten minutes of catch-up. I'm so glad we have this relationship where we go two weeks barely talking and then WHAM: ten minutes and it's like we never parted. Love you, Jacki :)

Blog shout-out: Jacki and her friends over at the University of Indianapolis just started a blog about their adventures during the 40 days of lent. Instead of giving something up completely, they decided to partake in a random act of kindness each day. 40DAYSOFKINDNESS.

Playlist of the Week.

1. Skeletons - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

2. Fall Hard - Shout Out Louds

3. She Moves In Her Own Way - The Kooks

4. What Light - Wilco

Lackluster.

Writer's block. When my axons don't fire. When my fingers lay motionless on the keyboard. When there seems to be little inspiration in my life.

Ah, but there is behind the surface. Music, books, thoughts, ideas, events scratch me every waking moment of my life. I just don't notice it. So this post is dedicated to the small things that have opened my eyes a little wider over the past few weeks, not including the wonderment of my friends. They deserve a post all their own that I will surely post on some idle Tuesday.

Fantastic Mr. Fox:

Easily on my personal Top 10 list of 2009 films. It was passionate, simple, funny, and everything a film should be. It also boasted a great voice cast (Jason Schwartzman, Meryl Streep, George Clooney, etc.), great director (Wes Anderson shout-out!), and, well, heart.

My favorite line was when Mrs. Fox says to offspring Ash Fox, "We're different. We all are. Him especially. But there's something kind of fantastic about that isn't there?"

Sums up my life.

"Under The Milky Way" by Sia:

I have always liked her, but I would have never known this song if it wasn't for the beauty of televeision. Thank you, Lincoln car commercial.

Six Feet Under:

I'm only on episode 3, but I can already tell you that I wish I caught this gem while it was still on Showtime. I come home yearning to know what happens at the Fisher & Sons funeral parlor. In three words, I am addicted. It's a thought-provoking dramedy with Michael C. Hall and Lauren Ambrose. Could I ask for more?

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius:

I got this book for Christmas, and have devoured it since. I've been meaning to post about it, but I haven't found the proper way. I have no words to describe it. It's truly what the title says. Barnes & Noble it.