Back in the Ice Box

Way up North, where the air is cold
I'm back at SLU for the second semester, doin' what I'm told :).
Studio art, Chinese and News From The Bottom Up today. Being the first day, not much was done aside from reviewing syllabi, though Wednesday I have two quizzes. It's splendid being back into the swing of things, but frostbite warnings and fighting for a bike in the gym isn't as great. What have you been up to?

How Inconvenient!

Ever since I upgraded to Firefox 4 Beta in favor of Internet Explorer, the cookies andbrowser cache for Blogger has refused tp work for me. I'm typing this as I pedal om a stationary bike in my steaming living room, but it's nagging me to not be able to properly update! I can't figure out how to adjust the settings on the new Firefox. Any suggestions?

Well, ever since mu brother graciously shared his Netflix account information, I have officially become a sedentary bed slug. Eugh! Haha I LOVE catching up on favorite television shows and movies at last, but this is bad business, it's going to be a major distraction at school D:. I also went out to the movies the other night to see "Black Swan". If you're put off by sexuality, the movie would probably make you umcomfortable, otherwise it's an incredible psychological thriller. I love the way it was filmed because you in the main character Nina's perspective. I was constantly questioning what was real and basically squealed when it was over. If Natalie Portman doesn't recieve an Oscar nomination, that will be absurd!!

Alright, gonna keep biking. I hope I can make a REAL post soon. Have a lovely evening otherwise
Listening: "Beverly Hills" by Weezer

Cookin' up Conflict

My German exchange sister from last year sent a Christmas package for me! It arrived today filled with splendid surprises: Lindt chocolate truffles, ornate dangling earrings, a notebook and special ink pens that the students of Germany use in schools! It was really sweet of her to think of me. People underestimate the power of the long-forgotten post, whether it's a gift or written scribbles on an index card.


I'm here at home, still trying to occupy myself during this interminable break. I still have 3 weeks and I'm beginning to resent this town. My parents and their belligerence has prevented me from going out with my friends tonight, and some thieving scum at my former high school stole my phone Monday! I was there in the art room painting, minding my own business, and then it was gone!! We searched like mad, top to bottom through the clutter of that class room. I didn't want to assume that it was stolen, but after checking the phone activity online, the random downloads indicated that this was the case :(.
Due to the utter misfortune and reckless naïveté that encompasses my life, my phone has been deactivated for eternity. Nevertheless, my sister graciously gave me one of her old ones to reactivate. It's just irritating though, would you agree? I never felt angry or panicked, simply baffled and disappointed. I don't know why someone would feel compelled to steal another's phone, or anything, and apparently I can't even feel comfortable with my own belongings in a high school class room.
It's not that I doubt the human nature, just the nature of the jackass kids in this town.


To combat boredom, I've been channeling my inner bohemian artist with those forementioned painting supplies that I bought following Christmas! I used this picture of my friend and I with New Year's (it's honestly sparkling grape juice--we thought we would be witty :P) and threw together a mixed-media mini-portrait.

Voila! I painted on newspaper clippings of words that allude to rebellion, partying and the pitfalls of excessive drinking, but I emphasized the phrase pure theatrics to indicate that this picture isn't us, just a satirical act :). The little words that drift off the canvas are 2011s; I have titled this Happy New Year.

Hope you're all keeping busy and chipper!
Watching: Top Chef All-Stars (loveloveLOVE)

On the right foot

“New Year's eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights.”
-- Hamilton Wright Mabie, via thinkexist
FYI, Archer Farms at Target makes a delicious peach sparkling juice :) Comme d'habitude, I dressed in clothes unsuitable for the weather outdoors, slipped on my favorite pumps, had a wonderful night and ate 2010 into oblivion-- hellooo 2011! I was at my friend's house and she swears that her neighbors hate her, so a few minutes after midnight we ran around the front of her house hollering and banging pans. However, I think her neighbors were pretty plastered so it was all just in the festive spirit :). What did you do to celebrate the New Year?
I didn't get to sleep until at least 2:30, then at 9 my parents picked me up and we drove 2 1/2 hours south to visit my dad's aunt and uncle. So it has already been a decently scheduled year!

On a random note~
My sister-in-law sent me a care package once and it had colored foam sheets, and taking a cue from an example craft, I constructed a few monsters. Hahaha they're utterly ridiculous though I am finding great amusement in exercising my imagination.

I also began thinking, we all have a monster inside us-- a creature manifestation of ourselves. I think there's an actual term for this but I can't put my finger on it. And my monster? Well, it would be yellow, fat, swathed in draping scarves, with an iPod in one hand and a tea cup in the other, ready to initiate a dance party at any moment. What about yours?! :D

Even though I didn't have much to say, I felt compelled to post on this New Year's Day. And, it's my bicentennial post! Haha, it's about time. I would like to thank you, who reads my nuances whether they make sense or not. Despite that I believe this winter break from college is beginning to drag, I really am loving the spare time to bum around the blog-o-sphere. Blogging is such a great destressor and a lot of fun.

SO MUCH LOVE! Cheers,
nicole :).