i said brrr, its cold in here...

Ok, so maybe its not really that cold just yet, but today I was nearly giddy when I discovered the first tree whose leaves were begining their slow but artistic metomorphosis from green to gold to orange to red. I'm told that once the temperature drops to a certain point, all the trees begin this transformation, almost like a chain reaction. I'm lucky because my apartment is situated on the sixth and top floor of my building, so most of my view consists of a vast forrest, sharing the space of course with the high rise buildings in the distance. Its disorienting at times being surrounded by trees. I'm so used to living in the desert where you can see for miles and the largest tree is a palm tree (not much of a view obstructor). I can't wait for the morning to come when I can stand out on my balcony (with hot cocoa in hand of course) and just stare in awe at the colors before me. I'll probably also be staring at my breath as it condenses instantaneously before me.

Its amazing how quickly the weather can change from oppressive humidity (August) to biting cold and rain (October). The forecast says rain for the next week. I can tell you with full confidence that its rained here more times since I moved here than it rains in an entire year in LA. On the bright side, I bought a fabulous pair of galoshes that are bright and cheery. They remind me of VanLin's yellow umbrella how they just seem to offset the any threataning mood brought on by rainclouds. My goal for this winter is to not let the weather keep me from going out or seeing the city, because it would be all to easy to curl up on my couch in Uggs and a sweater for the next four months, hibernating like my California ursine representative would have me do.

Well there is one thing that hasn't changed between LA and DC... the drivers here are just as awful, rain or shine.

music makes my world go round

I have a new computer and recently its been giving me a lot of shit.

You would think that a new computer would be a fresh slate, free of bugs and hiccups, but its not. Maybe I'm just technologically handicapped. Anyway, along with spontaneously shutting down, forgetting my settings, and whining at me in the form of high pitched beeping, it also only gave me half of my music back when I downloaded itunes again. Its hard to believe I've gone three months with less than half of my music collection available to me. Honestly, I didn't even realize the extent to which my music had been depleted. I only knew that many of the songs on my running playlist (DLed from my last computer) no longer came up on this one. The worst part was, most of my cds were back at home, so reuploading them was out of the question. What does one do when the music that defines who you are is no longer available? When you can no longer remember what it was you lost? Its almost like knowing you have some stellar memories but you just just cannot recall what they were. Theres just an unexplained hole.

Well, finally I took some action and did a little detective work. Thanks to my amazing dad, it turns out I have backups of my old computer on my new hardrive. Multiple backups. It wasn't easy, but after some sleuthing, I finally found that unnammed and inconspicuous file that housed a treasure chest of long lost music. I was overjoyed, ecstatic! There will always be something about my music that never ceases to move me, physically and emotionally. Much of it really does have a memory or five attached to it. Some of it is just so beautiful that every time I hear it I stop whatever I'm doing to listen. Some of it defines my outlook on life, like a religion or a mantra. Lots of it just makes me smile. Tonight, I spent the entire evening blasting tunes from my computer to fill up the living room and my head while I studied, cooked, stretched, and studied some more. Despite the studying, it really was a lovely night. I'm pretty sure it had to do with finally having the soundtrack to my life back.

not forgetting

Some say new technology is taking the intimacy out of our interpersonal relationships, but as a transplant to what feels at times like a different civilization, I would beg to differ. Today I came to the realization that if it weren't for that obnoxious list of ways in which I can call/stalk/keep in touch with people, I wouldn't have been able to adjust to my new life as easily as I have.



I haven't really given myself much time to look backwards. With everything school lays on my growing plate I stay pretty busy. But every once and a while, something will remind me of home. A faint whiff of my past will drift across my nostrils and if I stop for a minute I can actually recall the scent of the ocean. And in a second it all comes back to me. I am suddenly sitting on my favorite extension of sandy beach from which you can see the pacific stretch out to malibu on my right and long beach to my left. Behind me are people roaming the sidewalks selling love and music and medicinal marujana. But I digress... (see, even now I censor myself).



I can't let myself dwell on these thoughts too long. There is too much to do in the present (technically, I should be studying for tomorrows exam). I don't want to forget these wonderful memories, but I do feel as if there is so much other information to learn that I should be prudent with my reliving of them. Luckly, one thing I insist on making time for is staying connected with all those I love on the west coast. Thats where I am happy to pay homage to the gods of communication. So thank you for my cell phone so that I may get weekly updates on love lives, successes, hardships or even just to discuss the best outfit to wear out on a friday night. Thank you for Facebook, so that I may get photos that bring a grin and a chuckle to my face in the middle of the library. Thanks to gchat for allowing me hear about the escapades of my roommates and friends. Many thanks to the airplanes that brought my friends and family out here to keep me company for a few days. Thanks even to the postmen who deliver handwritten letters telling me I'm still missed. School is challenging, and bereft of time for socializing, though I'm trying my best. But having that connection to home no matter how disconnected I really am from it, is so worth it.