Ca-razy

I worked last week, for the first time in 2 months...wow, it was weird. It was weird to be working again (although it's over now). It was weird to work my old hours (7am-3:30pm...Ick). And it was very weird to be there when the upstairs desk called into the basement I was working in at the old UCLA hospital, to tell us that Michael Jackson just died across the street and the police were blocking all traffic on that section of Westwood Blvd.

So weird in fact, I would call it surreal.

Michael Jackson is dead people!

I really didn't believe this when they said it in the stuffy little room I had spent the whole day counting stuff in. I still didn't believe it when they announced it on the radio as we drove past the hospital where the crowed was quickly forming, it was just not REAL.



Not because I was a huge fan mind you, I don't own a single Jackson album. But, because he was so ingrained into our culture...I didn't believe he would die. He was otherworldly, like some kind of elf. This was supported of course by the plastic surgeries, the privet Neverland Ranch, and the secret parties with boys more than half his age. He became some kind of enigma, you only saw him in little peeks and glimpses, so it was like he wasn't really there. He was there less lately, in the last few years, so it was even weirder that he popped up with a new tour and album only to keel over and die.

It seems sad, he seemed sad. Last night I caught the last part of "Living with Michael Jackson" and he seemed uncomfortable. Frustrated that the media didn't understand him, he kept trying to defend the parties and sleepovers. It must have really sucked to have been all warped by an abusive father and then have to be responsible for life in a world you never knew. I know most people think this was just the cover story, so he had an explanation for abusing children himself. But I'm not so sure he did, he seemed to be a big kid that didn't understand.

No matter what you thought of him, he changed the face of music, popular culture, and the way we dance. Life would not be the same without his influence.

Tari Pendet dari Bali Indonesia

Really large post, update, recap & faves.

(Photo, design by my boyfriend!)





So I have kinda ignored some of the things I said I was going to post about, and just kinda put up whatever was shiny. Oops! So the good thing about that is I have a big post with all kinds of things to talk about! Yey! More exclamation points!!!

Jeeze, where do i start?

I have to apologise for never writing about Austin, I don't know how it slipped my mind. I Yelped about it...but then never got the time to say anything here. I know, I suck.
I have a damn blog for Christs sakes, what else does one blog about if not a vacation? Well, to tell the truth, I have had a bit of a time getting myself to sit at the computer and do many creative things...I have been a little down. So it really helps to post about super positive things, that are really brief. Then I don't have to sit here as often, I sit here and look for a job...then I don't get any calls for the ones I applied for...Then I get sad and want to get stoned and watch Dexter....It's a damn vicious cycle I tell ya.

But I have worked on a lot of little things lately, and have cleaned and organized further, and am really feeling better about the way things are going. I have a weeks worth of work next week at UCLA, so that'll help. It's just the lack of operating funds that gets me down.

Let's talk about the fun stuff! I have pictures of lots of the stuff we have been up to, so let's start there:

Austin was beautiful!
this was taken at "Redbud" park, a stop on the way to our friends house from the airport. I hadn't seen such nature in a long time.


All the food was amazing, this a epic Veggie burger I had at Freddies our first night there. I still dream about it....


The next day we did a quick walk around the French Legation.


And then later went swimming at this natural swimming hole, Hamilton Pool. It was amazing, there is definitely nothing like this in L.A.!


We had to hike this awesome trail down to get there, this is on the way back up. It was breathtaking.



More wonderful food! Fried Avocado Tacos at Torchy's. I still dream about these too...


AND THESE!
I loved these deep friend cookie balls, rolled in like, cookie crumbs...with chopped almonds and coconut stuff, it was so so good!

We hung out in the yard a lot, our friend was really pregnant. So, we left the house mostly to eat and get quick looks at the city. It wasn't really a trip for tourism, we went to see our friends. I still have photos I could upload to the Flickr...wow I have been a slacker!


We mostly drank, smoked(except for the mom-to-be, I hope you got that Lone Star Amber! It was all worth it, you have a beautiful baby.) and shot the shit in the backyard. It was wonderful, I was so relaxed!




It was my sister Lesley's birthday on the 11th, I made her a card.


And a pair of earrings.

That all went into a box with a lotion, some chocolate lambs (from Easter...I forgot), some hand salve, and a book of happiness quotes. She, our dad and I went to lunch. It was nice, we have all been anti everything, so no pictures from lunch.

My amazing boyfriend has started making shirts with his own brilliant spin on the Obama, Hope design:

I love it, post a comment or email me if you are interested. Rates vary depending on style, I will have more info in the coming days.

♣ I have re listed 2 pairs of the vintage Levi's I am selling and also added a vintage 1960's blue "wiggle"dress with a very smart matching bolero jacket. All of that: Here.


I made CAKE! From a mix, I know. But who cares? It was good, made better by the apples that came from my Indo dance teachers tree.




It turned out damn good, I was so pleased. I know these photos suck, I was so tired by then...I gave up and ate cake.


Today was the best day! I have that job next week, and will be working from 7am till 3:30pm and will be waking at 5:30am to get there in time. This is quite a shock to the system cause, well, I've been a slacker lately. I have completely gone back to the nocturnal ways I was years ago and now normally stay up till 3am. So today (and all weekend) I am getting up at 5:30 and doing stuff!

Today we went to the beach and meditated, and wrote, and filmed stock footage, and had a really nice morning. It was so quiet, and peaceful, I did some yoga, I felt at ease and focused when I got home!

Although this has left me very tired since about 3 this afternoon, so I am going to bid you goodnight. I can't stand to sit at the desk any longer. Have a happy weekend!

~Sydney

Happy birthday Igor Stravinsky

I just had to share the wonderful image that greeted the world via google today. You know, in
case you didn't see it!

I know, this makes me sound like a huge dork. And normally I just enjoy the varied designs that google comes up with for special occasions, but this time I had to say something. This is beautiful! What a fantastic design! I love it!

I am a bit biased, being a dancer I of course had a love affair with ballet; it's a pretty common fascination for girls....


(Photo)


Even if you are 20 and dancing in community college....*Ahem*, glad THAT's over.


Orginal design for Firebird costume (Photo)


So a lovely night was had by The Man and I as we enjoyed apple cake and Stravinsky music found in an awesome blog post here.

Grilled Cheese!

Because you have to make dinner fun.

:)

How strange

"How strange is the lot of us mortals! Each of us is here for a brief sojourn; for what purpose he knows not, though he senses it. But without deeper reflection one knows from daily life that one exists for other people."


-Albert Einstein

Jaipong Daun Pulus Keser Bojong