Warning: I'm about to pat my own back for an entire post.

I decided at the beginning of the summer that this would finally be the summer I did all the things I've intended to for a long time. Try new things, learn guitar, cook more, read more, etc...

I've had this sticky note on my computer for the past month or so, reminding myself of the things I want to do.

summer goals:
-eat healthier
-read more
-find a way to enjoy working out
-take more pictures
-make a movie
-write a short script
-learn guitar

What I've noticed, as I'm trying to do these things, is that I'm doing lots of new things...boating, camping, playing frisbee, learning to longboard. And I'm loving it. I love feeling like I've accomplished something, even if I haven't. I love feeling like I can conquer challenges and become somehow more than I am.

If that makes any sense. Which it probably doesn't.

My point is (if I have own) that I'm awesome. And summer is great. And sometimes, changing your life is really as easy as deciding to do just that.

Love love love this song. And Matt Nathanson. And since his new album just came out this past week (on repeat in my car), I thought I'd post a video. Only there are no videos for the new stuff. So this is kind of old. But still awesome.

I am just in a melancholy mood lately.

Also, I can't type that word [melancholy] without thinking of Smashing Pumpkins. And sixth grade. (Which is when I bought that album...Melancholy and the Infinite Sadness.) And dances at the community center. And the feeling you have when you're young that the world is full of possibilities, and that absolutely anything could happen.

And that's a happy thought. So you see, me being melancholy is sort of good and bad.

Today, I finally succeeded in my goal for several weeks now: to get up at 8 and go for a run before work.

Now, you might be saying to yourself - 'what's so hard about that? I get up at 6:30 every morning and run five miles, make a protein shake, go to the orphanage and read to the kids all before going to work.' And if you're saying that yourself as you read this...we probably aren't friends. But congratulations.

When you're a grad student, your schedule gets a little funny. And summer break exacerbates the problem. I find myself staying up until 2 or 3 in the morning, struggling to get out of bed at 9.

Well not today. Today, I got up at 8. I went for a run. A longer one than usual. (and then gave myself a pat on the back) I was so awake and fast moving when I got home that I had time to make oatmeal for breakfast instead of my usual cold cereal. But the productivity doesn't stop there. After work I went to the library, grabbed lunch, laid out for a bit in the backyard, read some, did laundry and some bleaching I've been meaning to do (I'll post about that later) and tidied my room a little bit. And now it's 4 and I'm wondering what to do with myself for the rest of the day.

Maybe a bike ride? Maybe a trip to Home Depot for some wood for a project I want to do. Who knows. The world (or rather, the greater Salt Lake area) is my oyster today.

I listen to this song quite a bit. Sort of all the time.

I had this tenth grade history teacher who taught us about harmonic convergence. Technically, it's some new age astrology thing about planets aligning or something. But the way he used it is the way I always have...that harmonic convergence occurs when the universe throws several of the same things at you at once. A little more than coincidence and a little less than fate or something.

I wish I could think of a good example...but I just can't. Maybe something like 'when it rains it pours.'

Anyway...my harmonic convergence of the week is that no matter when I'm in the car lately, "Single Ladies" comes on. I've heard it maybe 10 times in the past week or so. It's ridiculous. And it gets in my head.

But I have to admit, the universe has me pegged right now.

About two years ago a friend of mine turned me on to Parachute. I was living in NYC at the time, and I listened to their first album on repeat on the bus for a few weeks. (When I fall, I fall hard.)

Cut to now, living in SLC, and Parachute has a new album out. And....they're coming to SLC later this month. I could not really be more excited.

This is the first single off the new album, and I love it.

My mom tried to show me where they keep the towels. My parents kept all my shampoo and conditioner in the shower. And my mostly empty face wash.

It is so green there. So, so green.



Sarah came up from DC to visit. As usual, we did not take a single picture together. I was reminded how nice it is to be around someone who understands you so completely.

Seriously? So green.

We ate at (almost) all my favorite places: Seasons 52, Iron Hill Brewery, Classic Diner, Rita's, Panera, Christopher's, Riverstone...I can't even remember, but I basically ate out for most of my meals. But when I didn't....

HOME. COOKED. FOOD.

My dad ate this sandwich that was basically an entire crab, fried, between bread.



Sarah and I wandered around West Chester and visited my favorite thrift shop.

I spent almost enough time with Angela. See above re: someone who completely understands you.

TRADER JOES.

Did I mention it's very pretty there? It is.


I played the piano. And brought my guitar back to SLC. Maybe soon I'll learn to play it.

I visited my grandmother and she let me stay for an hour. And she was wise. Bopcha on love: "You have to find someone who's a good balance for you...someone who can mess up and it doesn't bother you as much as if someone else did it."

My parents watched Tangled, and when Sarah and I watched it later my dad kept popping in to tell us his favorite parts. (He liked the chameleon, and the horse that acted like a dog.)

Hours and hours spent with Rachel catching up. I'm a big fan of that girl (and the boyfriend that I finally got to meet!).

And one more just because...