My life this weekend...

Real Talk

First of all, I'd like to preface today's post with the fact that I have just had an unusually potent shot of espresso. So much so, in fact, that I'm realizing that maybe my coffee addiction will take a little bit of hiatus. Don't worry, I'm not changing my blog name to "tea leaves" or something - that would be dumb. I am, however, going out with a bang - the drink I had today is called a dirty chai, or a chai bomb, whichever you prefer...chai latte + espresso = magic! This weekend I saw the funniest coffee concept ever: The Michael Jackson. It's a mocha that you can specify pre- or post-thriller. (pre-thriller is dark chocolate, post-thriller is white chocolate, if you catch my drift....too soon??) So I'm pretty high on caffeine and life - which is good - only tomorrow I have class, I'm losing an hour "springing forward," and saving all the fun homework for the morning. It's gonna be fantastic.

On a completely different and uncharacteristically personal note, my life has taken some very drastic and unexpected and providential turns over the last few months. And I'm gonna share (I know, I know...first poetry, and now THIS?!?) Well, it's all Jesus. And I'm pretty sure my messy, irreverent, rebellious heart is being changed every day because of Him. It's blessings pouring out. It's my heart breaking all over the place. It's finding in Jesus not a crutch, but a WHOLE HOSPITAL. It's answers to prayer - tangible PROOF that God is real and working in our messed up world. It's loving people and myself through the hard stuff. It's handing over my future and my dreams. It's doing my homework and not living out a blind faith. It's realizing I just can't have it all together all the time. It's being loved by the perfect lover. It's radical and I know I don't deserve it. The list goes on. In short, my world is being rocked. So here's my hope for you with Easter coming up...find out for yourself what Jesus is all about. Check into it. I'm not talking about religion or church or rule books or even "Christians." I'm talking about the savior and lover of your soul. I know, intense, right?My church is doing a sweet service in downtown Stockton on Easter Sunday. Come! Or, if you know me, get coffee (or tea) with me. You can look up directions to the Easter service at realitystockton.com. And that's my real talk for the day.

Look! Books and Movies and Music aren't all I talk about! Ha! But don't worry, I still have some suggestions for weekending: FRISBEE GOLF. It's the best. And easy. You only need a frisbee and something to throw it at. It's sunny outside and this requires a skill level near zero to have fun. (Higher if you want to win, of course). Do it, son.

Cheesy Romance Novel of the Month Club: You know you want to be a member. How to join? Read Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. Even the cover art is cheesy!! LOVE IT.

Okay, now I seriously need to get sleep so I can go to rehearsal tomorrow/ace my classes.

Lots of Love,

Caitlin

I'm a poet, didn't know it...

My poetry class is interesting. And sometimes I even write things that are good! So, I'm going to do that thing that bugs me about bloggers in general and post some of it. BUT...I swear it's not emo, or even necessarily about me, so that's the saving grace.

:]

ghosts at the door

took my white dress

buried it in the ground

where ghosts lie think

pressing around

weeping trees

misty white hands

draggin’ me down

takin’ the livin’

right outta my chest

his last name

all that’s left

a jaw clenching sound

evidence of a naïve don’t-give-a-damn attitude

work yourself up

sharpen your wings

your rhymes have the smack of money

today resembles life

drunk with energy

streams of curses

bleeding and burning with thirst

but blood is strength

that little truth

we practice as innocents

makes us beautiful

ends mourning

sends hell’s eyes into heaven

gilded with bodies of archangels

tuning in

if everyone had a TV

right there in the middle of their chest

where you could see

what they were thinking

in Technicolor

i’d stand all day

watching yours

a window into your soul

the red room

soft like velvet

mean as hot coals

full of whispers

that know your soul

and pierce the ankles

of the gods

no windows, doors

the walls speak in tongues

the floors know your name

hell has no flame

in our own backyard

a series of bloomings 


a series of shootings


the Watering Can Man 


the Prime Minister of the picket fence


quells a lawn protest


met with brute force


and Round-up


the last insurgents 


torturously uprooted


200,000 more are ready to stand


the President 


of the plastic flamingos


turns to
 enriched uranium


gun battles between hose


and dandilion


3,000 troops are ready to retaliate


with a naval excercise


in the fountain


the creepers


bullthistle


yellow foxtail


and wooly cupgrass


bleed white


admitting defeat


and the birds rejoice


picking at the seeds


carnage strewn into


a compost of courage


they take to the air


and only the last tufts of dandilion can be seen

drifting through the air like smoke


give me a million sundays

take me for a sunday drive

through golden sunlight alive, unfurled

as it peeps through the valleys

of the ever approaching dusk

ride through the night

where all we see is the light

flying out the window bright as shooting stars

there's you and me and the back seat

the heat of the day fades

and with it, the weight of the wild life

left behind in clouds of dust

the lusts of this world, the lies, the sadness

are nowhere to be seen

as long as it's just us

on a sunday drive.

Regrets to inform you of

The small stone tablet

Was written with God's very own finger.

Falling around it are the leaves,

The green of the soft earth,

The last rays of a dying day. 


Then the hills alight, on fire.


They are sprinkled with holy tears

In the last of the light.


Cry for the loved

Cry for the unnamed

Cry for the the unknown.


I see the faces of my own


The cost of sleeping and waking up

Hidden in the rows and rows -


Where a century's worth of mistakes


Are found and lost.


Here lies the quintessence of man.

spell check love song

oh…my love for you

is not a qwerty

but a lyustag;8&!!1

unexpectocated

and irriversandescent -

it fills me with the beating

heartynesscopation

and the togetheresque

song of our souls.

Song of the Day: Fleet Foxes!! White Winter Hymnal is fantastic. Also, the pandora station is PERFECT studying-for-midterms music. Plus, they're from Seattle. Basically ups their coolness factor BIG TIME. Also, I'm recently obsessed with this website: http://www.blogotheque.net/Fleet-Foxes,4532. Check out their take away shows!!

Weekend Plans: Disneylanding! And going to Reality LA. Pretty rad church - you should check it out. http://www.realityla.com/

I go to Reality Stockton. I've only been going for a little bit, but totally love it already. Who's excited for spring break? ME.

Lots of Love and Internal Rhyme!

Caitlin

Further Proof Miley Cyrus should just go Climb a Mountain and Leave Us Alone

I already have this general distrust of any "role-model" Disney stars, but I think that of all of them Miley Cyrus is my least favorite. And it's completely justified. And it's distrust verging on disgust, to be absolutely clear. Besides turning preteens into screaming crazies at her sold-out concerts, (and I know I'm not the first to say this) but she's like an obnoxious train wreck-to-be that keeps yelling, "Look at me! I'm a train wreck!" So I know it seems funny that of all subjects to write about I'm choosing Miley Cyrus, but I think that the more people who realize that there is nothing "role-model"-ish about her, the happier I will be. And I think my happiness is relatively important.

Also, though, I read a lovely selection from Fay Weldon's "Letters to Alice on First Reading Jane Austen" this week where Weldon tells her niece that she has turned to television for her "window into the world" and as a result, "will know more, but understand less...have more information, but less wisdom." I like it. Nice job, Fay...And then, I was immediately half-scared to death in remembering my own younger sister proclaiming Pride and Prejudice as boring, (unless in the Kiera Knightly kind of version). AH! This was said while watching an episode of Hannah Montana. NOOOO!

Really? Really?

"I want to thank God! Helllllooooooo!"

Ugh.

Role Models should wear clothes.

Lots of Love and Venting,

Caitlin

Higher Learning

So my return to my lovely residence on campus was greeted promptly with the smell of marajuana coming from who-knows-where. Super. And quite confusing, seeing as I thought my staff and I were the only people living in the building so far. Before fingers started pointing though, I soon found that the god-awful smell is coming from a friendly (though that is still questionable) skunk that has taken up residence somewhere between my building and our neighbors. I swear that if it doesn't take a hike I will have a few choice words for our little furry friend. Just sayin'. I am glad that no one on staff was lighting up - that would be a little compromising as a RA.

It is good to be back at school, though, because it means higher learning of the less illicit type. Here's a few fun things to check out that are also surprisingly educational:

http://tvtropes.org/ - Ok, this website immediately had me thinking. It explains the various figures of speech and where they come from, specifically their origins and uses in both film and television. Just go in an select the "Random Item" link and it's like an instant conversation topic.

http://www.theintellectualdevotional.com/blog/ - Based on the New York Times best-selling book series, this blog has all kinds of random articles designed to "complete your education" filling in the areas your General Ed. courses most likely glossed over. I like it because it's far from dry. In fact, the books are especially interesting because they feature NY Times articles covering American History, Food for Thought, Health, History, Literature, Modern Culture, Music, Philosophy, Religion, Science, and Visual Arts. I bought the book for my mom for Mother's Day and I like it so much, I want to steal it back.

http://www.iliketotallyloveit.com/ - Everyone needs more semi - useless gadgets to, like, totally love.

Song of the Day: "First Song" - Andrew Bird is so awesome. He is a musical master of violin, whistling, guitar, mandolin, and glockenspiel. He's kinda got the indie, folk rock thing going on - which to me always seems to be the perfect back-to-school genre.

Back to School Bonanza

I am always ready to learn although I do not always like being taught. - Winston Churchill

So true...and yet, I love going back to school. After a long summer away from friends and the pursuit of knowledge (nerd alert) nothing makes me more excited than gearing up for college: round 3. Also, though, the shopaholic in me is in rare form, because nothing is more fun than back to school shopping. Nothing. It may be my unhealthy obsession with art supplies or maybe just the thought of a fresh start - but knowing I'll be moving in this weekend is the best feeling in the world. Hello, long, hot shower! And extra closet space!

In the meantime, I've stumbled upon a few websites that definitely appeal to the back-to-school shopper. Check it -

www.modcloth.com - Not only does this site have some of the cutest vintage, Urban Outfitter-esque dresses but the accessories are reasonably priced and quirky.

www.unique-vintage.com - I'm having a love affair with all those flowery, 50's inspired dresses - and this apron. Maybe I'd cook more if I got to wear this. Or maybe not. Also, one of the flapper dresses for Thoroughly Modern Millie came from this website!

www.lifeanddeathclothing.com - Men! I actually found this site while going through expense reports (not so fun) in the Music Circus Costume Shop. But I love that you can choose clothing based on your lifestyle: action sportswear, contemporary menswear, sophisticated urban, nightlife, graphics, and fight show (whatever that is...) Although this website may be contributing to the hipster epidemic, I don't care. A sense of style is always a plus in my book.

www.wakeupfrankie.com - My friend Jenna showed me this site. Though, admittedly, some of the room decor looks like it was designed with Lisa Frank in mind, there are some really fun, if pricey, collections (Shabby Chic Summer Breeze - definitely my favorite). And, there's always the "Men at Work" shower curtain....

www.lulus.com - Back to school clothes! The selection of vintage clothing is impressive. And there are cute belts at great prices too.

Well, I'd love to give a more well rounded, less shopping-frenzied post, but time can not allow - work, work, work! Come see Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at Music Circus this week though if you get the chance. I think it's my favorite so far this season.

Lots of Love and Happy New School Year,

Caitlin

P.S.

This website is keeping me entertained:

http://boingboing.net/

and for the more morbid, non-PETA internet browser:

http://crappytaxidermy.com/ - Am I the only one who thinks of The Man Who Knew Too Much?

I'm Keeping My Day Job...

I don't really understand the game of golf - or, better put, I am so terrible at the game of golf, that I clearly don't understand what I'm doing or how to get that little ball more than two feet from my tee. Being stubborn as I tend to be, I recently decided to regularly get dolled up in my golfing gear - which may just include an argyle sweater and plaid shorts or something stereotypical like that - and head out to the golfing range and try to be half decent. I figure that somebody should get my discretionary spending money AND get a laugh out of the deal as well. Also, it drives me a little crazy to have clubs and still be so terrible. So hello, world of golf - I don't know how long I'll be staying, but at least I'm stopping for more than a minute on the golf channel when I'm channel surfing. That's really saying something.

Dear Sushi Lovers: Don't Whine, just dine at Sushi Hook at 807 Howe Avenue. 50% off rolls! What more could you want? I mean, I'm paying to work at Music Circus - so let's be real - the cash flow is close to zero. But, when I have to have my sushi fix I'm definitely coming here. Maybe if I'm tired after a round of golf. I don't know, do people get tired after that? 

Also, I'd like to draw your attention to the link to the right, Sac Coffee. This blogger has seriously reviewed coffee shops all over the Sacramento Area and lets you know just where to find a good cup of joe. So basically, it's a caffeine addict's bible (ahem...like myself). 

Weekend Plans: Second Saturday is coming this weekend from 6 to 10pm! This Saturday, check out all the art galleries staying open late and the cool local entertainment. Try starting on the corner of 18th and L or check out this map for some cool galleries. For more information about this weekend, the Sacramento News & Review is publishing maps and more (out this Thursday).

Graham-A-Rama: Graham Sobelman and his trio host a weekly cabaret featuring local talent at the Geery Theatre on L Street. Tickets are only $15 and the show is on Sunday at 7:00 and 9:00. Mara Davi (currently starring at Millie in Thoroughly Modern Millie at Music Circus) will be performing in two weeks! 

Lots of Love and Staying Under Par,

Caitlin