Monday, March 29, 2010

Gotta get back to her somehow

"American Honey" by Lady Antebellum
oh how I love this song!!


My poor roommates might be going crazy as this is the only song I play
lately, but I can't get enough of this song! and the lyrics!

Trailbreaker Marathon

Some photos from the weekend..

Just another day in training for M!

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Alumni Love

I love my school. And I love this video. And I love that my friend Kyle is goofy enough to make this a school-wide success, among many of his other entertaining videos. Thank you alumni for supporting our education, We Are Marquette! And check out the Spanish O'Donnells on youtube for more "hits."

Thursday, March 25, 2010

"Growing up in Paris, we clap our hands like this..."


I downloaded Phoenix's "Live in Sydney" album today free from their website!

I was only familiar with their "1901" song, which has been featured on a lot of commercials lately (Yay Phoenix!) but I absolutely love the rest of the CD!


Check it out for yourself - it's free!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Depends on Who You Ask

John Mayer has been one of my favorites since 7th grade. I finally saw him in concert last month and I now understand why girls start crying hysterically at their favorite concerts. ...I mean, I didn't shed a tear, but I get it now on a respectable level. Despite his lack of filter, he is extremely talented and this blog entry only makes me love him more...

Depends on Who You Ask.

I’m not sure if it’s a function of advancing age or just the times we’re living in, but it’s almost impossible for me to find complete external validation in any one thought, desire, instinct or vision anymore.

Who do you want to be exactly like? Is there anybody in this world who’s laid down a template for your dreams and goals that you’d copy and paste over your own life’s story? Maybe you want to go to a music college as I did when I decided to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston. Start asking some alums whether it’s worth it and you’ll get two distinct answers. One half of the control group will tell you it’s not worth it, that you might as well just start a band and hit the road. The other half will tell you that it was the flash point for their music career and that without it they’d be nowhere. The answer depends on the experience had by each person you talk to. Maybe the “Nos” spent their semesters curled up in a ball fighting with their boyfriend or girlfriend on the phone and never applied themselves to making the most of the time there. You’ll never find the answer you want, just information with which to build your own idea and chart your own course.

Take your favorite artist, the one you look up to and see as the perfect specimen of talent, values, output, whatever the case may be - and someone else has a reason why they’re not worth even a passing glance. Is “Bob Dylan: Don’t Look Back” the documentary of a genius iconoclast or was he a self absorbed pseudo-intellectual bully? It depends on who you ask. Is Jay-Z the reigning king of hip hop or is he “all business” now? It depends on who you ask. I bring up both names because if you ask me, I put them at the top of my list of people who can do very little if no wrong at all, but it won’t take long to read someone’s opposing point of view. If you’re not sure of what you love, that means you can be talked out of it, and that’s a slippery slope.

Is your boyfriend cute? Was Hurt Locker the best movie of the year? Are you going to go out in those shoes? Should you take the promotion and move to Boston? Did I wear “Hammer” pants on stage in Houston or is Rick Owens a visionary clothing designer?

It all depends on who you ask.

Which is a pretty great reason to stop asking all together. Nobody’s life template will ever lay evenly over yours. And in those times when they clash completely, you have to walk alone, with confidence that you’re creating your own template, made out of your own instincts and your own dreams and your own goals. And if you do it long enough, maybe someone someday will look to yours as the life to model theirs after. Of course, some people won’t agree with them. It will all depend on who they ask."


check out his full blog here http://jhnmyr.tumblr.com/

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Proverbs 14:23

"All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty."

I like to think that we're all a work in progress - every aspect of our beings are in a constant state of evolution. From relationships and careers, to our own hearts and inner faith. But it's important to not use that as our crutch. Situations and emotions change on a daily basis, and even though it's a "work in progress," are we really working? What are we doing to better ourselves and push this evolution along?

Within the past year or so I've come to know what it means to live as a Christian. I discovered it, I fell in love with it, and then it became a work in progress. Here I am, months later, still in the same seat I was before. Of course there is the ebb and flow of life, the ebb and flow of our progress, but the weakening state of my faith was not a result of that. I've forgotten that being a "work in progress" actually requires work.

This introduction to the Christian life also brought on many new and amazing friends that hold me accountable, that share their faith with me. When they ask how I'm doing, this "work in progress" became my automated response. Well, I got kicked in the face today when I passed out my typical response, and they opened my eyes to the lack of work that I was putting towards my progression. I was speaking the words and I wasn't backing it up. I wasn't including it in my new relationships, I wasn't making it a part of my daily life, a concept I recently learned that I needed.

My happiest moments, my happiest week in my life took place in a Navajo nation in the middle of nowhere, New Mexico. My faith had never been so strong, and I had never experienced a richer version of life.

Now as I am back in my own world as a 21 year old trying to enjoy my senior year in college, I am learning that this Christian life is pretty fricken hard.

I have a goal in mind and I haven't put the work in, continuing to be frustrated with the results.

Though the conversation was painful, I am so grateful to have those people in my life to hold me accountable, to wake me up, and to bring me back to my faith. And I am even more thankful for such a gracious God that never leaves, no matter how often I ignore Him.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

A self-guided tour.

Today the campus was empty because of spring break. I got off work early but I was without running shoes, my laptop and my TV. So with such beautiful St. Patty's day weather, I decided to take my just-purchased-Puma's for a walk...
I saw so much of Milwaukee that I had never seen before. There are so many hidden little gems, and it only added to my mini Milwaukee/Marquette bucket list.
I saw the city from a totally new perspective, and there was such a feeling of content independence as I walked around all day by myself. I felt like I was somehow checking things off my bucket list with each step. My Puma's are amazing, and they walked me into all of my favorite places, new and old. I even ran into my sister on the street in time for some Irish celebration!
All of the exploring created one of my favorite days in a long time...

Monday, March 15, 2010

"Whose man is this!?"

Last night my family and I attended the annual ALS Ball, a black tie charity event for Lou Gehrig's disease. It is an amazing event complete with dinner, an auction, and of course dancing, in support of research for the cause and cure of ALS.

Each year my grandparents and aunts and uncles all come together to support our friends that are struggling with this disease, and it usually provides for a fairly emotional evening. There weren't as many of us this year, but as usual, once the serious business was over we had way too much fun.

There is always a band that plays everything from Earth, Wind & Fire to Michael Jackson - the perfect dancing music! I love that despite the seriousness of the cause and the fanciness of the event, people are getting down and dirty on the dance floor. The men were even called on stage for a dancing contest to determine who had the best butt...my boyfriend won. It was entertaining, to say the least!

Reflecting back on the night, our hearts are filled and our legs and feet are sore. I'd say it was a success!

For more info on ALS and last night's event, check out http://www.beatals.org/

Thursday, March 11, 2010

100 Things to do in Milwaukee

With graduation now two months away and a very uncertain future ahead, my friends and I have been compiling a list of things we want to do in Milwaukee before/if we leave. I've been living in the area my entire life and attending college downtown for the past 4 years, and I still feel like I have a lot to discover in the city.

So it was a wonderful surprise when I came across this article online...
  1. Cheer on the Brewers at Miller Park ...
  2. ... and be sure to tailgate before the game
  3. Check out the lights and live music at the Domes
  4. Explore Milwaukee's spy bar, The Safe House
  5. Pull up a boat to a slip at Barnacle Bud's or Water Buffalo
  6. Eat (and request a song) at Organ Piper Pizza
  7. Wind your way along Grant Park's Seven Bridges Trail
  8. Get up early and watch soccer at the Highbury Pub
  9. Climb Holy Hill in Hubertus
  10. Close Wolski's and get a bumper sticker to prove it
  11. Bike the Oak Leaf Trail as far as you can muster
  12. Buy a wax Samson at the Milwaukee County Zoo and tell the kids about the famous gorilla
  13. Visit the Milwaukee County Historical Society, where scenes from "Public Enemies" were filmed
  14. Commiserate with the butterflies at the Milwaukee Public Museum
  15. Buy a brat at the Usinger's store
  16. Take the Lakefront, Sprecher and MillerCoors brewery tours in one day
  17. Experience Jim's Time Out, the Downtown "towny" bar
  18. Enjoy family-friendly live music at Bayshore Town Center
  19. Marvel at the beauty of the Milwaukee Art Museum
  20. Take a Milwaukee Ghosts tour and learn local haunted history
  21. Smell the flowers at Boerner Botanical Gardens
  22. Find the Streetza Pizza truck and buy a late-night slice
  23. Skate a few laps on the Olympic Oval at the Pettit National Ice Center
  24. Eat a corned beef sandwich at Jake's Delicatessen
  25. Shop for vintage clothes on Brady Street
  26. Take a booze cruise
  27. Catch the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra on Monday nights at Alterra on the Lake
  28. Buy farm-fresh produce all winter long at the State Fair Park's winter farmers market
  29. Fall in love over a Tiki Love Bowl at At Random
  30. Have a drink in The Yard at the Iron Horse Hotel
  31. Eat like a king at 4th Base
  32. Tour Palermo's Pizza in the Menomonee Valley
  33. Interact with nature at the Schlitz Audubon Center
  34. Make a difference at the Volunteer Center
  35. Pet the animals at the Wisconsin Humane Society
  36. Tour the Pabst Mansion
  37. See an indie band at the Cactus Club
  38. Cheer like a maniac with the Bucks' "Squad 6"
  39. Experience intimate theater at Boulevard Theatre
  40. Bowl a few lines on America's oldest lanes at Holler House
  41. Tour the Harley-Davidson Museum
  42. Crack up at ComedySportz
  43. Say "Ayy" to the Bronze Fonz
  44. Sunbathe at Bradford Beach or South Shore Beach
  45. Swim in the Brown Deer Pond
  46. Wander around the Bong Recreation Area
  47. Marvel at the Mars Cheese Castle
  48. Eat a bowl of Real Chili
  49. See an Admirals game
  50. Sled down the North Avenue hill
  51. Watch kids playing soccer at Uihlein Park
  52. Visit the Beulah Brinton House in Bay View
  53. Star gaze at UWM's Planetarium on Friday night for $1
  54. Stroll back in time on the Streets of Old Milwaukee at the Milwaukee Public Museum
  55. Step back in time at the Wisconsin Automotive Museum in Hartford
  56. Bask in the beauty of the Basilica of St. Josaphat on 6th & Lincoln
  57. Buy a kite at Gift of Wings and fly it at the lakefront
  58. Join the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center
  59. Get saucy at a Brew City Burlesque show
  60. Find the city's Frank Lloyd Wright architecture
  61. Visit the North Point Lighthouse
  62. Take the kids to the Betty Brinn Museum
  63. Hike the Hank Aaron State Trail
  64. Visit the birthplace of the American League (now a Downtown parking lot)
  65. Hop aboard the Lake Express ferry
  66. Grab a meal at Friday's Front Row Grill to enjoy Miller Park in winter
  67. Experience a real Milwaukee Friday night fish fry at Lakefront Brewery's Palm Garden
  68. Rent a kayak and take a ride down the Milwaukee River
  69. Enjoy a beer in a smoke-free Von Trier (or have a smoke out on the patio)
  70. Eat a butter burger at Kopp's
  71. Have breakfast at the Plaza Hotel on Cass Street
  72. Order a Brainbuster at Bryant's
  73. Find Milwaukee's smallest park, Kaszube's Park, on Jones Island
  74. Rock out at Verge -- the Lakefront rock fest
  75. Get a doughnut at the National Bakery & Deli
  76. Watch people play lawn bowling at Lake Park
  77. Take a picture at the intersection of "Keefe" and "Richards"
  78. Ride the mechanical chili pepper at La Perla (or have a margarita on the roof)
  79. See the statues in Doctor's Park
  80. Bowl with tiny balls at Koz's Mini Bowl
  81. Shop for a vintage LP at Bull's Eye Records
  82. Sing along at Lucille's Rockin' Pianos
  83. Take a Milwaukee Food Tour
  84. Tour St. Joan of Arc Chapel on Marquette's campus
  85. Find Gertie the Duck along Wisconsin Avenue Downtown
  86. Admire the Carl von Marr collection at the Museum of Wisconsin Art in West Bend
  87. Get hot ham and rolls on a Sunday morning
  88. Tour the city's longest thoroughfare, 27th Street
  89. Enjoy outdoor movies in summer at Discovery World, Pere Marquette Park, Miller Park and State Fair
  90. Buy locally produced food at Outpost Natural Foods
  91. See if the security guard at the Midwest Airlines Center is real
  92. Take a photo of the boat house on Cambridge & Hampshire
  93. Quickly order a drink at the world's shortest happy hour at The Nomad World Pub
  94. Window shop the boutiques and the mod furniture at Rubin's in the Historic Third Ward
  95. Grab a dog from "the hot dog guy" on Water & Wisconsin
  96. Tour Growing Power, Milwaukee's urban farm
  97. Tour Bolzano Meats in Riverwest
  98. Eat thin crust pizza at Zaffiro's
  99. Cheer on the all-girl roller derby, the Brew City Bruisers
  100. Sample Great Lakes Distillery's Milwaukee-made spirits
How much of this have You done?! I'm so excited about all of them! We're adding a few to the list we already have, which is growing rapidly.
Can't wait to get exploring, yay spring!

see the full article at http://onmilwaukee.com/visitors/

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Big Fish

For my Disciplines of Movement class tomorrow, I have to perform an interpretation of a dream.

First of all, I am a second semester senior and I needed two simple credits to complete my semester requirements and graduate. I was told that this was a yoga/dance class. That was a true statement, but I thought the emphasis was more on yoga - I thought it would be great in addition to my triathlon training. I didn't realize that mixing yoga with dance would lead to...interpretive dance.

Now, I love dancing. I've talked about my love for dancing. But being evaluated on interpretive dance makes me extremely uncomfortable and awkward. I've always had a love for ballet, but anyone that knows me can vouch that I am not exactly graceful. After our first individual performance, my teacher even commented that I tried to put a comedic spin on my work.
No humor was intended.
No one clapped for me.
I was all clammy and sweaty, and my heart was beating through my butt. I was feeling abnormally self-conscious.
And no one even clapped! ...hilarious, yet extremely traumatizing.

Thankfully, I've moved on from that anxiety, and either my class has accepted my "comedic" dancing, or I've improved. So tomorrow, we're dancing our dreams. Dreams that are significant and a mystery to us.

So what is my dance, you ask?
I dream a lot. I love dreaming. But I'll have to save that for another post. I have a reoccurring dream that I come outside of my house and see my family down on the pier by the lake. It's a nice day out so I go to join them. When I reach them, I notice that the water is filled with fish. Not just regular little sunfish or bluegills, but ginormous fish. Fat and long and just HUGE! I'm horrified, and no one seems to understand. There are tons of them! I rarely remember the ending, but one time I actually fell in.

Imagine this in the form of interpretive dance.
I guess my teacher was right...my dancing is comedic, or just bizarre.
What are your reoccurring dreams? What would you dance?
Anyway, wish me luck! More importantly, wish me applause!



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