Goose Geese Peace

You can't be suspicious of a tree, or accuse a bird or squirrel of subversion or challenge the ideology of a violet.
-Hal Borland
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Goodmorning blackbirds! It's a beautiful day today, though a bit chilly at 5C. I can hear the birds singing through the windows, and I'm watching them fly over the lake as I write.

I haven't updated in a while, so here's what's been happening.

I've handed in a final paper for my Modern and Contemporary art history class. I procrastinated (surprise surprise) and wrote it the night before and finished it a few hours before it was due. (So, it didn't go to well, though I'm not too concerned).

It was wonderful to walk to campus again; there were lots of birds. I handed in my registration form for an art course I'm taking in Venice also, but I'm slightly concerned that it didn't go through. It's making me very nervous. This whole international travel thing is rather stressful...there is so much to do! I can't help but think things must have been simpler a few decades ago. On the walk home I saw a crow with food in it's mouth being chased by a seagull. They were making a huge racket (well, the seagull was, anyway) and swooping and diving. The seagull would make these epic dives at the poor crow. I wonder which bird rightfully owned the food...

I also got a blackberry so I can stay in contact through email when overseas. It is very expensive, but my parents insisted. I swear, sometimes I feel like we have a skewed inverse relationship, like when I go shopping with my Mom and she's the one insisting on buying more clothes while I'm saying "no, this is too expensive" or "we can't buy both of these". But it's really nice.


As you can see, it's red (we call it a raspberry haha), and it's case is a nice off-white. New technology is so exciting! Except when I realize I'm incompetent and get frustrated because I can't figure out how to turn it on.

I was also out at my parent's house for a few days. It was great to see all my babies again. My puppy, Tazzie, always makes me smile. He is so happy whenever I come through the door, and he is always doing something adorable (like piling all of his toys up into a massive heap...there are about sixty). And my parrot always greets me with an ear-piercing scream, which is actually quite charming if you're used to it. And all of the cats...they have the be the most beautiful in the world. My fat cat Carlton has gained weight, we think, but he's still as gracefull, moody, and German as usual. And then there is the outdoor birds. I realize that I need nature to make me happy. There's nothing better than sitting on the back porch in the early morning sun with a cup of tea, or with a sketchbook, and listening to the birds. It offers just a little bit of peace. In a world so dependent on technology I need to get away sometimes. I was playing with my puppy in the backyard, accompanied by two of the cats (who are best friends), and I heard the sound of geese. I looked up, and saw a flock of twenty or so fly right over my head in the direction of the lake. For the next ten minutes about five groups of them flew over me towards the lake. It was so beautiful. I don't know if it was the light, or the lake, but the evening was incredibly reminiscent of The Great Gatsby.

I have had some altercations with my Mother. She can be so shallow sometimes, and stubborn. Like me, I suppose. But how am I supposed to tell her...who cares if you can smile in passport photos! What does it matter that my photo looks bad! I don't need it redone! It's for a stupid international student card that no one is going to see! And you don't have to complain to everyone you meet that day about the stupid people at the camera shop, and make excuses for why my photo doesn't live up to your standard of beauty. There are more important things! And then my Father freaks out because I have to wait till Monday to get proof of university health insurance..."you have to go back right now to the university and settle this" blah blah blah "because I'm leaving on Monday and I won't be able to handle this" -insert nervous breakdown here- "because you'll put it off and put if off just like you did with the health insurance". God! Way to have faith in me.

And now I'm trying to regain a sense of calm, which is difficult because of all the travel stuff, plus exams, plus a general sense of anxiety over art and life.
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Daily Tea Quote

Tea is drunk to forget the din of the world.
~T'ien Yiheng

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Tea of the Day

Tetley Tranquil- Fennel Passionflower


A calming blend of fennel and passionflower, with soft hints of lemon balm, lavender, rose petals and orange blossom. To relax and restore you.

From me: This has a really unique taste. I don't know what else to say.
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Bye bye for now.
P.S I love Buddy Holly.