The marine blue astro van

The marine blue Astrovan. Astro van? Astro-van.

?

Anyway, I loved it. I remember a blue one and a brown one.  Yes, brown. My mom says she was mortified. But I didn't think anything of it.   

I remember I loved the compartments by the windows. They were huge; you could put anything you wanted in those things. And forget about it and then find it months later. They were interesting to me. I don't really know why. 

Man, those astrovans were so. big. Getting into the car was exciting for me. Driving anywhere was always an adventure.

LIFE

This is what I'm hoping the future life of Morgan LaRee Anderson entails:

children, husband, and all that fantastic business

sailing

scuba diving

gardening

cross-country skiing

music

photography

road trips, Sunday drives

painting/sketching

writing

laughter

love

trips to the opera, symphony, and ballet

reading

dictionaries

fishing

hiking

trees

blankets

traveling

cooking

learning

home renovating projects

taking up anything that looks fun or interesting

What fun, huh?

Funny funny

I found this song on a friend's blog and I love it. And the lyrics make me love it even more. It's called Night Vision Binoculars by Passenger.

I see you nearly everyday.
I see you, but you don't see me.
I wish I had something clever to say.
And I wish I had something better I could be.

We touched hands by the coffee machine the other day.
I know you've forgotten already,
But I'm gonna take that moment to the grave.
To the grave.

Cuz I just wanna walk you home.
I just wanna walk you home.
Oh, yea.

I see you nearly every night.
I see you when you're down in your house.
With my night vision binoculars
I creep quiet as a mouse.

And I get jealous when I see you stroking his hair.
But it's okay, I tell myself 'cause I know
It's only I'm not there.
I'm not there.

Cuz I just wanna walk you home.
I just wanna walk you home.
Well I just need some time alone.
I just need some time alone.

I'm the boy who watches the phone.
I'm the boy who eats lunch on his own.
I'm the boy with the monotone.
I'm the boy who still lives at home.

I'm the boy with the ironed shirt.
I'm the boy who watches you work.
I know where you keep your skirts.
I know where your secrets lurk.

I'm the boy that's calling your house.
I'm the boy that's freaking you out.
With my thermal flask of tea.
Up there in your neighbor's tree.

I'm the boy that's crossing borders.
I'm the boy with social disorders.
I'm the boy with restraining orders.
I'm the boy, yeah.

Cuz I just wanna walk you home.
I just wanna walk you home.
And I know that's it not right to creep.
But I just wanna watch you sleep alone.

Cuz I just wanna walk you home.
I just wanna walk you home.

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/p/passenger/#share

good day good day

So it's a Saturday. I'm upstairs in the wilk doing chemistry homework and trying not to hum too loudly as I listen to classical music (which is doing a great job at drowning out the taylor swift playing downstairs). And for some reason I'm thinking it's a great day. hm. why? , i asked myself. I suppose it's nice to finally be on top of homework for a change. yes, it is nice. it feels pretty good. the end.

PS aren't grandmothers fantastic?

Good songs

Before it's too late, download these free songs on iTunes: Marathon by Tennis is my favorite; My Body by Young the Giant's good too, as is La Complicidad by Cultura Profetica.

Yay, free music!

M Town

When I make a city, or commission one, or own one, or whatever, there are a few key things I will do. No streets becoming streets. It is not ok that a road is called Pacific on one side of town and Taylor on the other. Nor is it alright for Main to come to a dead-end and then continue to the left as Main and to the right as, say Herald. No. Main should dead-end, and then you can turn left or right onto Herald.

If I decide to use numbers for streets, it will be in a real grid, none of this squiggly business. Or those addresses that can't be gotten to by whichever up-and-down or side-to-side roads the driver fancies. And all the streets will be numbers. ALL OF THEM! Then a poor soul will not get lost looking for 7th north in between 620 N and State and wondering if he's gone too far, not far enough, or if State is, in fact, 7th north.

Tonight, it took me almost 2 hours to get somewhere from where I returned in 20 minutes. Now, I will admit, I am bad at directions. But I wouldn't have to be good at them if every street would just be what and where it was supposed to be.

So, do not fear, for someday, I will overcome the world, demolish every city, and redesign all roads so that no direction illiterate person like me will ever ever suffer ever ever again.

Katie Brandeburg

This is my cousin. Beautiful, huh? Well, her music is fantastic. I don't think she has a CD, just has been performing at gigs here and there. But listen to her. She was actually trained in musical theater and classical in high school. I remember she used to sing Phantom of the Opera for us. And then she switched over to folk. She's great at it, no?

http://www.myspace.com/katiebrandeburgmusic/music

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Katie-Brandeburg/16108381225?v=app_2392950137

I wish I could say the blood that gave her talent supplied it to me as well, but alas, it did not.

Some Recommendations for You

You know I like to give you recommendations. Because what I love you will love. Of course. So, here are a few I haven't mentioned. I tried to think of ones you may not have heard of.

MUSIC click on song for link:

Duffy. She has this raspy voice. Very sexy. Some songs I suggest: I'm Scared, Distant Dreamer, Warwick Avenue. While we're on sexy raspy voices, here are a few more: Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow by Amy Winehouse, John Legend, So Slow and Little Lies by Ari Hest

Coffeehouse songs: I'm Alright by Madeleine Peyroux, Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop by Landon Pigg, Blue Glasses by Smokey & Miho(fantastic, huh??), Now I Feel Better by Ayo, Wished You Were Here by Hayley Sales, Over the Rainbow by Melody Gardot, Taylor the Latte Boy by Kristin Chenoweth

Great covers: Coldplay's Yellow by Jem (piano at 3:09 is so beautiful), Coldplay's Scientist by Katelyn Epperly (her voice!), John Legend's Everybody Knows by Alex Lambert, and of course, you've probably heard Tom Petty's Free Fallin' by John Mayer.

Life is Great: Honey Tree by Mostar Diving Club, Never Forget You by The Noisettes, Cupcake by Nellie McKay (click on second song listed. I just love the transition at 0:50), Bruises by Chairlift, Night Vision Binoculars by Passenger (hilarious, listen to the lyrics), Gotta Have You by The Weepies

Simply love: Come Out of the Shade by The Perishers; Flightless Bird, American Mouth by Iron & Wine; Cold Water by Damien Rice (greatest when heard at end of to-be-listed-below movie, I Am David); I Dare You by Ali Milner; Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter by Herman's Hermits; A Fine Frenzy; Moon River by Audrey Hepburn; Full Moon by Black Ghosts; French Navy by Camera Obscura; Here Come Those Eyes and When Did You Fall in Love With Me by Chris Rice; So Deep in Love by Joel Auge

BOOKS:

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows: delightful, charming. LOVED it. Simply enchanting. Nice light read that is just fabulous

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak: Pretty sure I've already recommended it, but really, it's amazing

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: this is what you're supposed to be like and what a family should be like. And it's amazing.

MOVIES:

I Am David: LOVE. Love love

The Man Who Knew Too Little: featuring Bill Murray, this movie is hilarious. Pretty sure I could quote the whole thing

Disney's The Sword in the Stone and Robin Hood: very funny, very clever. If it's been awhile, watch them; you'll be surprised how enjoyable they can be for adults

So it would have been easiest to make another grooveshark playlist, but too late. Give these all a try! Really, they're quite fantastic!

Comfort Books

So you know how people have comfort foods? Ice cream, cheetos, popcorn... Well I have comfort books.

I remember when I was younger, I used to get so upset at my little brother. Ty, Ty. He was perfectly adorable, and a perfectly ordinary younger brother. Meaning we were always fighting. I remember that after I got mad at him, I'd storm into my room, scribble some angry sentences in my journal, and read a book. It always soothed me. It still does.

When I'm stressed about life, I read about someone else's for awhile and forget about my own. When I feel life seems dull, I read about one that isn't. (though, life is never dull.)

My comfort books are as follows:

Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling: I grew up on these books. The characters are old friends of mine, their stories sweet, familiar pathways I've wandered down many times. Imagine an old lane that you walked down throughout the entirety of your childhood, from the time you were 10 to 18. Nothing bad ever happened on that lane, only good. Better than good; you felt elated with contentment every time you walked it. Now, if you had the chance to teleport there when you got stressed, wouldn't you? Luckily for me, teleportation isn't necessary, for all of that is in a book, rather than a hometown lane. Not to say I wouldn't enjoy teleporting.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: This book, I could read it over and over. I love the stories, I love the writing, I love the characters, and I love what I learn. This book reminds me what is important in life. I don't need all I think I need and don't need to be all I think I need to be. And that is a great comfort. Not to mention that I get lost in the pages, in their lives, within seconds.

I read it every Christmas.

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine: I think every preteen girl needs to read this book. When I get frustrated with my love life (aka lack of), this is the book I pick up. I LOVED it when I was younger. Such a sweet little romance

So next time you are stressed, sad, or lonely, pick up a book. I promise it will pick you up faster than anything else.