the rise of the pprl.

i didn't want to have to do this.  but i'm being forced.  by peer pressure.  ish.

because of peer pressure (ish), i am now using peer pressure to make my mamacita start using her blog again.  if you go to the peer pressure ring leader's blog, you will find a similar post.

we are ganging up on you, mommy, so you start using your blog again.  you know you want to.  so we are helping you.  through peer pressure and ultimatums.  in the nicest possible way.

the pprl's (peer pressure ring leader) blogs stop on friday.  luckily, i have been very kind, and have given you a week before mine have to stop.  so hurry up and make some bloggies, because i have finally become a professional and have some posts stored up for the next couple of weeks.  and i really want to use them!  but i have to do what the pprl says.

aren't you proud of your daughters?  hahahahaha

hiking friends

a song introduced to me by itunes, surprisingly.

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when i was still new to texas, i got invited hiking.  i was so nervous, because i barely knew these kids, and it was hot out, and all sort of other reasons that i can't remember.

it was probably 90 or 100 degrees out.  and surprisingly, i wasn't the one who was dying.  noe, the one from hawaii was dying (surprise, surprise!).  so we went for a shortish hike and then swam in the river.

and it was the beginning of ruthie's and my hiking friendship.  last week we did a 14.5 miler!  it was fantastic, and horrible, all at the same time!

ruthie's husband, ruthie, and noe

all of texas's trails look the same.  i have no sense of direction in this place.

don't let those nice little flowers fool you.  it was no fresh spring day.  it was boiling, boiling, heatstroke summer.

modern day georgia

i have listened to a few of her songs, for a while, but just recently realized how many albums she has out...

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sometimes i like to pretend to be georgia.  but with a camera instead of a paintbrush.
her flowers are fantastic.

i probably shouldn't show you her paintings, because they might make my photos look bad!


anyways.
my christmas cactus just bloomed a couple days ago.  it has bloomed every year since my mama gave it to me.  this year it's a little late (it usually blooms in november) and the flowers are completely different.  usually they are bright coral.  this year they are a pale, pale salmon.

when i was getting my camera out so i could be georgia, i dropped it and used my cat-like reflexes (which i have acquired since living with oni - i think she's sharing her powers with me.  she must like me.)  to catch it.  and this is the photo that was the result:

for some reason, it had a nice feeling to it.  so i thought i would keep it.  and display my personal chaos.


and now for the real, on purpose ones:

look how pale!

see-through petals

i like the little hot pink bits at the center

i guess mine aren't quite as close-up as georgia's, but you have to admit, they're not bad!

sisters are mostly good at helping you

my sissy sometimes helps me with important things, like bloggie technique.

me:  since i'm supposed to be studying, blog inspiration struck
pj:  naturally.  i saw today's.
me:  you did?! so what do you think?  should i be more dreamy?  dreamier?  more dreamier?
pj:  i like what you do.  it's very you.  strangely cat lady.  particularly when you talk about major grammatical mistakes, when you never capitalize anything.
me:  huh.  so, keep it light on the feelers?
pj:  maybe you can talk about how you feel about major league baseball.  or carnations.
me:  hahahaha
pj:  you don't have to tell the world all your innermost secrets.  some people do because they're natural sharers.
me:  i see....

thus, a major self discovery has been made!  i am not a 'natural sharer.'  i am mysterious and interesting.  and cat lady-ish....

and not even a normal cat lady.  but one with a crazy, chemically imbalanced (or something) cat...!

i want to be dreamy. in blog form, that is.

i've been reading a few blogs lately.  and i want to be like them.
not them, them, but i want my blog to be like theirs.
dreamy pictures, dreamy writing, dreamy feelings.
and i don't know how.
the pictures, the writing, anything.

i just know how to procrastinate when i should be studying.

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dreamy food
dreamy baby
dreamy feel

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here is my attempt at dreamy study procrastination photography:

i've just realized the trick is talking about feelings.  they all talk about their feelings.  and, well, i'm not as romantic as all that, i guess.  

feelings are for talks with moms over lunch, or a london fog and a latte on the couch.  feelings are for drives with dads when you talk about what you want to be when you grow up.  feelings are for sisters when they don't let you move in with them to save a few dollars because they would rather get along with you (and not have their apartment trashed - however innocently and unintentionally - while they are away).  feelings are for snuggles with boyfriends who make you watch western movies that you are pretty sure you hate, but then end up enjoying. 

feelings don't feel comfortable on the internet.

but maybe they should?

and anyway, feelings are not romantic.  are they?  

i don't even know why i said that.  but it reminded me of a time when i was young and naive, and i thought that i was in love with rash displays of romance.  but when a neighbor i had coffee with once started bringing me [ugly] flowers, and mixed cd's, and leaving notes on my bike, i changed my mind.  maybe weirdo neighbor is the one who ruined feelings on the internet for me.

maybe along with my 100 blogs in a year, i can work on being more feel-y, too.  and not to get too big headed with my goals, but maybe i could try my "year in pictures" goal again, too.  remember?  i think i made it about a month last time...  it's hard when you're busy.  but i think it's like working out.  it's just something you have to make time for.