Just a picture from our crazy volunteer party at the coffeehouse.. Fantastic party, Tarts and Vicars 2004. Though some refused to dress up, my housemates and I went all out. This is me biting Andy. Obviously.

These Innocent Eyes - A Song of War
my words are mine, please respect that
Here we stand
Not a moment too soon
Here is my past
On a silver spoon

Why are we here, love?
What made you come?
The lamps are burning low tonight
I can't stay long

This is my invitation
My sympathy
This is my confession
My final plea

You walked down that road
Without the burden of me
You shuffled past that sunlit willow
Where you used to kiss me

You followed those stars and stripes
'Bout as far as I could see
War called out
And you turned from me

This is my invitation
My sympathy
This is my confession
What about me?

You got on that train
And touched my face as I cried
And you whispered to me
"Baby, this has to be good bye.
If you're not behind the fight
Then you're not behind me
If you stand against this war
You can't stand beside me."

This is my invitation
My sympathy
This is my resurrection
Don't worry about me

I stood outside
In the pouring rain
My heart was left in pieces
But this strength still remains
"No blood for oil
How many more will die?"
Was the sign I held up
As the train passed by

This is my invitation
My sympathy
This is my determination
You don't need to stand by me

When will it be over?
When will you see?
This time war is not the answer
When will you believe me?

Now here we are
That look in your eyes
Tells me now your heart is broken
You've seen so many die
You killed for your country
Those with innocent eyes
Not so much different
From these, my eyes

This is my invitation
My sympathy
See what this war has done
To the eyes in front of me?

See what this war has done
To you and to me?

So as I do this time of year I asked that question. You know the one. Here were a few of my responses. Not nearly as many as usual this year.
Leave your answers in the comments to this entry or on my IM if you want me to add you to the list :) Thanks you crazy cats!

If you could be anywhere with anyone right now, where would you be and who would you be with?
"im going to take a few liberties here. i would go back to this summer to one of our really crazy fun party nights with all the FURSCA kids, just one last time."
"In London drinking tea with my girlfriend"
"I would be in Russia, drinking tea with Alexei Yagudin, the way-hot Russian figure-skater :-)"
"I would be walking down the streets of New York City with my boyfriend on a peaceful winter night. And all of the Christmas lights would up and twinkling, and we would be able to hear families singing Christmas carols. But it wouldn't be present day. It would be in the 1940's." "i have no idea where i'd want to be. i don't know where i would go, and i don't know what i would do there. my head's a blur and i keep spinning from place to place."
"Paris, Karen. Paris for sure."
"i would definitely be with my sister waking up at our usual 2am on christmas morning to come downstairs and snuggle in blankets as we watch movies until the rest of the fam wakes up :-) haha if you can't guess who this is...its your drinking buddy :-) "
"Somewhere in the snow.. It's quiet and I'm with the man I love. No one's around and we're drinking hot cocoa and laughing as the snow sticks to our eyelashes."
"First, the big brother in me says I want to be in a wonderful beautiful land with my sisters safe and happy, smiling their wonderful smiles.
Secondly, if we're talking romantic.. Place: a cool breeze, not enough for lots of clothing just to want to snuggle up with someone. I want to hear the animals and water. I want to see greenary and crystal blue water. I want to see a beautiful blue sky with lucious clouds. I want to be in a huge house filled with those I love dear. I want to be in a huge bedroom with a blazing fire. I want to be in a king size bed with silk sheets cuddled up with a wonderful female with my face covered in her intoxicating hair. I want music in the background that will change to whichever volume and song I want at a thought. I want the lighting to be done by the moon, sun, or fire. I want her legs wrapped around mine with my arms wrapped around her. "
"with you having a guinness listening to some irish punk, possibly at patrick o ryans. And money would not be a concern :-P"
"colonel mustard, in the study with the candle stick"

****keep 'em coming guys! :)*****

After six hours in the library...
You've caught me in the midst of the last week of class. Pure stroke of luck, I promise you. I just spent 6 hours in the library writing a research paper, preparing a hand out for class and putting together a 10 minute presentation that I have to give.. oh.. tomorrow. And no, before all you parental types out there give me that "procrastinators never win" bullshit, I did not know it was due tomorrow. Me, like everyone else in the class thought it was due the 15th, the day of our final, but alas, I guess we were all mistaken. Starko's currently on my shit list, much as I like him.
If the fact that I just spent six sadly focused, painful hours in a library doesn't clue you into the stress I've been going through this week, check out my blog last year around this time and get out a laugh or two. Oh yeah, my bloggy here turned one over thanksgiving! hooray! happy birthday blog! one year and still going strong. You've been listening to me rant and be the drama queen you know and love for a year now. Thanks for being that one place I can just go off on everything under the sun. :) Yay.
It's eerily foggy out right now and I'm just dying to go out and walk in it. Get soaked up by it. It's really romantic and mysterious. I love the fog. It reminds me of old Hercule Poirot movies I used to watch on PBS with my mom when I was a little girl. Fog just has that power of grasping your attention, making the edges of the world fuzzy, making you unclear as to what is real... and what is not.
i've happened upon something that struck me yesterday... it's funny to look back sometimes...the places you planned to be, the path you intended to take. especially if it's the farthest from the path you ended up following. the friends you thought you'd always have, the people you planned on sharing certain moments with... it's rather depressing if you let it be. but if you are honestly happy with who you've become, it's simply a truth; an admittance. and you move on with a nostalgic smile. because life is as it should be.. even if not at all what you planned.
Being home for Thanksgiving was really nice. Even though I didn't get any work done, it was worth it. I got to see my sister and brother, spend time with them, fool around, poke fun at each other. I even went shopping with Kath on black friday with all the other crazies. Our giggles still flow when we're together and her insight still astounds me. Can't wait until Christmas break so I can spend even more time laughing and having a good time together. Paul came over and watched some of the backpacking video with us. It was fun to look back. What a great trip that was. I really miss that connection with nature. Like I always do this time of year. *sigh* ahh mountains, backpacks, no cell phone, computer or class.. just me and my loved ones outside, high above it all. :)
I have this new voicemail that asks people to leave their favorite winter memory and kath reminded me of the time she, Paul and I went sledding and got into a snowball fight that I lost horribly in.. haha. I kicked some ass in a recent snowball fight! just this past week there was a beautiful nighttime snowfall that covered Albion. Jessica insisted we go out and make snow angels. We bundled up and went outside. Jill joined us too and the large flakes stuck to our eyelashes and the snow glowed and glistened in the dim orange lights. Sounds of people playing echoed softly through the trees as the snow fell. We made a snowman, made angels, and even got into a snowball fight when Dan appeared on the scene. It was a beautiful night. One of those I haven't seen in a while in Albion. So many people came outside in front of the dorms to frolic and play together. People dropped work, put off sleeping just so they could spend time outside together. It's one of those things that makes you feel warm inside. Like the Polar Express. It was the spirit of Christmas. "It's not a matter of seeing. Sometimes the most real things in this world are the things we can't see."
You know.. I could describe to you the essence of Donkey basketball. But it wouldn't do it justice. Little donkeys with rubber shoes and common sensed adults struggling to get them to move or even get on them to shoot a ball.. it's all too much. I can barely type without falling into hysterics.
Dansville is an amazing place. The silence, the darkness, the feeling. A place that someone I care about deeply calls home. A place they come alive in. And it made my heart warm to be there. And meet two adorable mismatched dogs; Tyson and Riley. :) Two peas in a pod... two peas in a pod.
So the volunteer party at the coffeehouse is coming up this Thursday. Wow, last year that night.. I went to Kalamazoo and came back in time to enjoy the party (and open the house at 3am). Like I said, strange to look back. I'm confident this party is going to be one for the record books though. I seriously can't wait. :)
"Did my heart love till now, for swear it's sight, for I never saw true beauty till this night...3 years ago on our fair Track.. lol" oh Ben Lusis, you silly goose. :) miss you and our high school group like whoah!
I sang at open mic night last Friday. i got over the fear and just did it. it was an open mic night for peace. My first song I ever wrote. I let it go, acapella. And the reactions.. crazy. I got hugs from people who have hardly said two words to me. Or people I thought always hated me. Amber told me that I inspire her. It was a strange feeling. Much like getting that email from an online distributor who wants to collaborate with me to see my photography I have posted on my art site.. specific images he really liked. I just can't wrap my brain around it.. I'll post the song sometime soon....
Hope everyone's smiling.. and hangin in there.. keep your heads in the clouds and feet far off the ground ;).
Don't you ever shiver?