Whack Judges

Even though I really try to disconnect myself from what's going on in the media anymore, the Anna Nicole Smith fiasco was pretty inescapable. Mitch Albom summed up my opinions on that and here is an excerpt from his fantastic brain:

Not every profession is supposed to offer a TV version. Once upon a time, psychiatrists practiced in offices, not on a glitzy set. Financial advisors worked behind desks, not in front of cable news cameras. Courtrooms were for litigators and plaintiffs, not directors and producers.


And judges were austere.


Not auditioning.

For the entire article, go here.

So I have been on hiatus for awhile because college is busy, work is stupid, I sleep too much or too little and therefore I lead the most exciting life in the world. And now I run off for another five months!

Like Burning Man, Except For REAL!

Sabrina! This happened right near your house the other night. Was it the blue one or what?! Come on! Let me knowwww!

Police coax suicidal man from Junction City home

JUNCTION CITY - About 500 homes received automated calls telling them to stay inside late Sunday afternoon as police dealt with a suicidal man who claimed to have a shotgun and a high-powered rifle.

The man, at a residence on the 800 block of Maple Street, called police and made progressively threatening comments. The man at one point said he had poured gasoline on himself and was preparing to set himself on fire, police said.

Eugene's SWAT team and a negotiator were called in to assist, and talked to the suicidal man for more than three hours, Junction City police said. At one point, tear gas was deployed into the home, and a while later the man was persuaded to come out of the home without hurting himself.

Police later found a shotgun and a full gas can inside the house. The man was taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center for evaluation.

Residents within a quarter-mile of the incident received the emergency automated call advising them to stay inside and to discourage any visitors. A subsequent call alerted residents that they were free to come and go from their homes.

Well, Why Not?

Earlier this evening, I found myself insanely bored with sitting at home. My solution? Figure out a Laura Veirs song! Anyways, for anyone who knows me, you're probably pretty aware that I don't sing in front of people so this is insanely gutsy for me to post but whaaaaaat the hell ever.

It Is Happening!

I would just like to point out how weird it is that my brother is in middle school now. Eight and a half years ago, I remember the anxiety of switching schools while looking for a new house to live in with my parents and the general chaos of it all. Sam was just learning how to walk properly and within the blink of an eye, he's now having conversations with teachers that once had conversations with me.

What the hell?

Conforming In The Weirdest Way Possible

I must say that I feel somewhat obligated to write about everything that's been bugging me lately based solely on the fact that that's what my friends are doing! I'm not overly concerned about starting classes in a couple weeks and thankfully, I don't have to worry about moving into dorms, but even then, I'm still feeling rather apprehensive about this certain stage of life I'm in. It just seems that nearly everywhere I turn, there is someone casually preaching to me about the importance of adulthood, now that I'm 18, and I'm sitting here, waiting for that flashing-of-lights moment where suddenly it all makes sense. And suddenly, I'd be 100% responsible and 100% confident and indestructible but here I am... Nerve wracked and chewing on the sides of my fingers.

Anyways, it's become pretty apparent to me that most adults, even well into their thirties still have that indecisiveness and I'm not sure if I find that comforting or horrifying. I'm sitting here trying to comprehend the idea of permanently feeling this way and never having that aforementioned self-realization and the mere thought is completely mind-baffling. Sure, everyone's different and it's bad to generalize and perhaps I'm making this into far more of a situation than it really is, but time is flying and the bath-time-with-barbies feels like yesterday, so what's stopping this frame of mind from sticking around ten, twenty or thirty years from now?

On top of that, things at home have been rocky. I'm not about to spill this much of my guts into blogland, but with my dad being unemployed for the first time in twelve years and my brother being an adolescent asshole, it's been really uncomfortable even sitting in my room. Here is your opportunity to take advantage of me not wanting to be a hermit anymore! If anyone is willing to give me an excuse to get the hell out of my house, I'll gladly accept!

So there you have it. A once in every couple of months occurrence where I'm somewhat of a conformist! But don't get your hopes up with that "if I jump off a bridge, will you follow?" scenario. We all know I'd kvetch to the moon and back just getting there.

Jesus Was Everywhere

It seems that I came home from Tucson just in time! There is really nothing more comforting than turning on the news, after twelve hours spent in airports, only to hear about the airline terror levels skyrocketing.

Aside from that, Tucson was fun (and melty). I spent a lot of time doing the things I would normally do back at home: thrive in air conditioned goodness, complain about the weather anyways, relax with friends and set up rather entertaining photos involving a plastic Jesus figurine.




Jesus can be a mother, right? Anyways, Marianne drove us clear out to the La Encantada mall JUST for this photo! What a great person!
















Oh my! Sorry, lord.
















Then we drove to the Tucson Jewish Community Center. Jesus fit right in.











Jesus! Nice view!











One of my favorite parts had to have been driving around in Marianne's black, sporty, two-seater Mercedes. Jesus enjoyed it too, when he wasn't being held out of the window. (Insert some Michael-Jackson-holding-baby-out-of-window comment that's way overused anyways.)












Scott! Where are your manners?











Rory's holding Jesus up. Look! He's glowing!
















I'm not entirely sure what was going on in this photo...
























Okay, okay. Now that I've offended every person in the world, how about I post some random storm photos I managed to snap without my tripod?












Because I didn't have a tripod, these photos prove no justice to the insane storm that was going on. In Oregon, it's rare when you actually see lightening bolts touch the ground... I now give you permission to picture me with my camera, standing outside with these bolts of lightening webbing out across the entire sky. Yes, I was a tad bit disheveled.












Had I the proper equipment, there would be a gigantic bolt in this picture, rather than a lit up sky.

Speaking of lit up skies, I have now been hired on to the Passionflower team in downtown Eugene. I wonder if they hired me because I wear a flower in my hair? Regardless, gooooo florists!

And I'm spent.

My Macbook Is Better Than Yours

Slipping further into the "poor college student" stereotype, I finally have something to show for it. I love you, macbook pro. I want to spoon you, macbook pro.

For future reference, if any of you have a miscommunication problem (as in, having your student loans canceled) over scholarships vs. investments between the financial aid departments at your university of choice, be sure to ask me what to do. I'm becoming an expert with handling situations that are handled once every 50 years. This is so stupid.

It is almost August which means Tucson for a week! I was slightly apprehensive about planning a trip to the desert during the meltiest of months but since the weather here has been terribly inconsiderate (105 F?!!!), I'm starting to become less concerned about it. In fact, the only worry I have on my plate is getting the jesus action figure from Colin to take with me on my trip.


The "Jesus is Everywhere" photo project has begun.