Past due.

I'm late in wishing you this, but Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Aaand...Happy New Year!

I'm not making any resolutions this year. I have hopes and dreams, but I think this year will bring enough big changes without me setting unrealistic expectations for myself. I am terribly excited to see what 2010 holds. At the very least (I hope!): the end of school stress, a graduation, a job, a move, and many new adventures. Let's get this thing started.

Since I received a point-and-shoot camera for Christmas, I will finally be putting pictures on this thing. And since it's been soooo long, I'll even punish myself by posting one of me sans makeup, on Christmas.

That'll teach me.

Current time-waster.

It's finals time! That means I'm doing anything but studying...today I scrubbed my bathroom and floors, did a couple loads of laundry, and glanced at my textbooks not a once.

I've also been playing Words With Friends, an excellent diversion. It makes me feel smarter than if I was just watching TV...it is, after all, a mental flexibility task (I have learned something this semester!).

So...if you have an iPhone, or Touch, you should download the app and start a game with me! My username is csturzen.

I suppose I should go crack a book now...

What to do...

So, kids. As I'm sure you've noticed, this thing is dying a slow and painful death. The combination of general business and a non-functional camera cord have led to a general blog-laziness.

That said, my job search is about to begin and I would rather not be so google-able. Since I'm already a terrible blogger, I think I might just bid this thing adieu...and perhaps start fresh when I begin life in a new city.

I'll keep you posted.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A fickle fan.

I'm a blog slacker, I'll admit. Sorry! Being in a school rotation + busy weekends + super early mornings (yaaay half marathon training) = no blog time.

But, I thought you might enjoy seeing what a big sports fan I am (ha).

Cheering for the Cowboys:

And the Sooners:

Yeah, I have no loyalty whatsoever.

The sounds of Autumn.

I'm digging this Tom Waits cover by Sarah Jarosz. And pretty much this whole ablum by her.

Something about leaves turning and pumpkin everything also reminds me how much I love folk and bluegrass...so enjoy!

(And in other news, I start a new rotation on Monday...public schools! I still haven't had my flu shot, so let's all say a prayer for me, yes?).



*I have to add that musicians like this one are part of the reason Nashville has made my list of possible future homes. I would love to be able to catch shows like this on even a semi-regular basis.

Fun with short hair.

I thought I would eventually regret chopping off my long hair. I am happy to say that I was terribly mistaken. It is so much fun to mess around with, and I never would have been able to do this with long hair:

My expression, on the other hand, would be courtesy of my strange personality.

And helloooo eyeliner. I'm still blaming Whip It.

Monday links.

A couple links I enjoyed today, while (not) writing an excruciatingly long pertinent history...

1. Freaky Fortnight. I am loving this series of posts at Slate. One of the Slate editors and his stay-at -home mom/writer wife are switching places for two weeks, and writing about it. I am finding it enlightening, and funny.

2. An opinion piece on the Prez's nobel prize hubbub. I love Barack (and I'm proud of much of what he's done), but I tend to agree with this fella.

3. And, perhaps the saddest news all day: Harvard's budget crunch has forced them to cut the plate of cookies from faculty meetings (they also cut hot breakfasts for students on weekday mornings). What is even more tragic? The New York Times covered this news in two separate articles.

Enjoy, my friends! And Happy Monday.

I have a problem.

It's October 4th. It's one of the first really cool days of the year (my heat even kicked on for a couple minutes!), and I have started holiday prep. And by holiday, I don't mean Halloween, or Thanksgiving.

I should really be from somewhere else, where it's okay to listen to Christmas music in October.

'Cause I'm doing it anyway. But don't fret, I still love a good pumpkin spice latte.

Whip It.

Saw it last night, and thoroughly enjoyed it.

And if you see me in more eyeliner than usual, I blame Drew Barrymore. How can she pull off so many looks?

Dramatic readings of celebrity tweets.

They really are ridiculous. Ridiculously funny.

Blogger fail.

I've been a negligent blogger lately. I know you don't want my excuses, but I will blame it on a lack of subject matter (life is a bit monotonous these days) and a broken camera cord.

I will tell you that it really feels like fall today. I lit a harvest candle, opened the windows, and had a very slow morning.

I'm also getting very excited about an upcoming trip to New Orleans. Did I tell you I'm going there? It's for a national SLP conference, and three of my classmates are coming with. I'm pretty jazzed.

And, since it's been requested, here's an okay-ish picture of my haircut, this morning:

That is all. Have a lovely Monday!

This stuff is magic.

And really expensive.

The weather is getting cool, and my skin is getting dry. Enter Hope In a Jar, which saves me every autumn/winter.

I started covering my face with this stuff at night (I'm currently scraping every last bit out of the bottom of the jar), and my face hasn't felt this smooth in years. Consequently, my makeup looks about a million times better than before.

I highly, highly recommend this stuff (but hate that a replacement of my jar will set me back $38). So worth it.

A preview.

This is my last superficial post for a while, I promise.

But tomorrow's the day. I'm parting with my long hair.

Today I underpinned it when I got home to try and determine if it's something I can live with. This was the result:

I think I can live with that, right? Right.

It will be fun, a new adventure. This is what I tell myself to get psyched up for big life changes. How a new haircut falls into that category, I do not know. But somehow it does.

Looking grownup.

This is a tad embarrassing to admit at 23 years of age, but I'm finally learning how to apply makeup. Here's a tutorial I plan to try in the near future:

Who knew youtube would be so helpful in so many ways?

Another addition to looking a tad more grownup (I do have to find a job soon, after all), I'm planning on whacking off my long hair. Eeeek.

I haven't seen this much hair spray since 1996.

Let me tell you a story. I bought a dress a little while ago. Here is a picture:

See how it's vintage-y modern? And the cute model has a couple pincurls in her hair?

Due to my ongoing insomnia issues, last night at about 2am, I decided to try to find a tutorial to teach me how to do my hair in a 40s style. Did you know there are whole youtube channels that just teach you how to do retro hairstyles? Amazing!

Oh friends. I wish I could show you my first attempt at doing a victory roll style updo. Hilarious (but my camera cord isn't working). I'm calling it a defeat roll.

But, on a gloomy day inside, what else is a girl to do but try again? Since my hair already had tons of body from being curled and styled (and hair sprayed to death) I decided to go another round with the 40s hairstyles.

Here is the product (with some red lipstick!):

And the back:

It's still a hot mess, but better (in some ways) than my first attempt. I have to say, I was surprised by how fun it was to actually do something with my hair. I think I'm going to try it for real (not sitting around in my sweats) one day this week.

Not exactly an every day style, but you won't judge me, right?

This is where I'm going.

I have begun the process of trying to figure out where I'll be going when I graduate grad school in 8 months (yay!), and it has been overwhelming, but oh so exciting.

While reading a couple crafty blogs tonight, I found my future home: Port Townsend, WA. I'm in love.

I'm sure my mother won't be a fan of the distance, so let's say that I'd be open to an east coast equivalent, I suppose, if it had scenery, rustic charm, and was near (but not too near) a metropolis.

Also, Autumn is beginning her arrival. It's getting me in the mood to create. I see some embroidery in my future.

picture

There is turkey in my fridge.

Which can only mean one thing...a carnivore is coming to visit!

Former-roomie and runner extraordinaire Sarah decided to grace me with her presence tomorrow.

I'm thrilled.

Pictures of our fun times to come...

Four eyes.

Happy about a new pair of glasses.

(Thanks Mom & Dad!)

Krista Tippet on wrestling with biblical texts.

"True biblical faith expands and deepens as it incorporates mistakes, questions, catastrophes, and changes of mind and heart. Like Moses who "quarreled with God" Jacob embodies the intense interplay of devotion and struggle at the heart of Jewish tradition. I've come to find in Jacob's story a model for grappling honestly and productively with sacred text itself. It is true of the entire Bible - and perhaps of any sacred text for its believers - that if you sit with these bare-bones stories, pick over them, retell them, they begin to grow - take on nuance and possibility - before your eyes. One layer of meaning is lifted and another reveals itself. You sense that the text would respond to every conceivable question. In other words, if I stick with these texts - if I wrestle with them and insist on a blessing - a blessing will come. The only limitation is my time, my powers of imaginative concentration, and my capacity to listen to the interpretations of others."

I can't tell you how much I am enjoying her book, Speaking of Faith.

And she's got me wondering if in a couple of decades, or when I'm retired, I might go to divinity school, just for fun.

Defying Gravity.

Hi friends. Remember when I wanted you to watch Pushing Daisies because it is the best show ever ever, and you didn't, and it got cancelled? Well, I'm still in mourning, and seriously lacking some decent television programming.

Buuut, there is a little bit of potential in a show called Defying Gravity...or at least I think there is. One would think that I would be so traumatized by astronomy that I couldn't bear a show about astronauts, but it's more like Grey's Anatomy than Star Trek, I swear. (Not that I've ever seen Star Trek...). Here's a little peek:

Of course my judgment might be a bit biased by the presence of this fella, who I love:

Anyway, the first three episodes are free downloads on iTunes (that's how I found it), or all 5 are on abc.com. And it comes on Sunday nights. And I would like to keep watching it. So at least set your TiVo for me, yes? Thanks.

Early success.

I am attempting to grow some basil.

It should say something about my "gardening" skills that I am seeing this progress as a huge success on my part:

I also just made some super healthy super easy lentil vegetable soup. You should try it!

So, so funny.

While trying to sort through the disaster that is currently my inbox, I came to this video, sent to me by my friend Sarah.

It never fails to make me laugh.

Soup, and belief.

I went to see Julie & Julia with my parents, and I am inspired to cook more...I'm planning on starting with one new recipe a week.

This week: tomato basil soup from scratch, while listening to This I Believe essays. If you haven't checked them out...you should. They are incredibly varied and inspiring.

I'll share some favorites later.

Modern art.

Modern art is not normally my thing.  It's the section of a museum that I breeze past on my way to what I consider more significant (or at least identifiable) works of art.  

On my trip to D.C. I spent a little time in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and while looking for a restroom, I ended up on the modern art floor.  

One piece I came to was in it's own (rather dark) room, with a cushy bench, which after a long day of walking was it's entire appeal for me.

But as I sat on the bench, watching the changing lights bring out new and different parts of the giant canvas, I became a believer.  I sat there for over 20 minutes, just soaking it in.  I wish I could describe what I felt, but I think the artist is much more eloquent than I am.  This is taken from the description plaque:

"The installation unfolds as a kind of silent performance that envokes Hockney's experience of designing sets and costumes for operas even as he lost his hearing.  In the absence of sound, pure visual experience compensates and suggests a different narrative to every viewer. ..To sit in this installation through the entire cycle of light shifts is to take time for what Hockney called the "pleasure of looking" that leads us to understand "how beautiful the world is."

{Snails Space with Vari-Lites, "Painting as Performance", by David Hockney}

Instead of words...

The following are some pictures of my latest adventure..

More to come..

Ingrid + Jason

I love them separately, but together?!  Too amazing.

You and I:

(I was more concerned with sound quality than video, obviously).

Ingrid's coming to Dallas in September. On a Tuesday night..who does that? 

I might have to go anyway...

Randoms

This picture made me happy about being alive. 

Jillian is an idiot for choosing Ed (thank goodness Reid came to save her from that mistake!).  But here's hoping that Kiptyn is the next Bachelor, yes? **I was hopeful when I wrote this, while watching the show. Sad choices, Jillian. Ed's a tool.**

I started taking prenatal vitamins, since word on the street is that they can thicken your hair.  I'll keep you posted on that one.  (And I would love any advice on getting some thicker tresses!)

Training for the half marathon starts in a few short weeks. And I've been a lazy bum this summer, since it's approximately 1,000 degrees outside. Eek.

My parents are coming to visit in the very near future...what to do with them? Help me out, people. This place isn't exactly bursting with options.

photo

Pure joy.

The semester is over in a little over a week!  Huzzah!

The sad part?  Parting with my super sweet adult client.  This week she has been showering me with presents that she's made.  When I told her I'm all set now that she's given me so much jewelry, she reminded me we still have one more session!  Adorable, yes? Here are my new bracelets and earrings (can you tell what I told her my favorite color is?):

{we're all going to ignore my I'm-still-in-my scrubs grossness, okay?}

And these are crappy PhotoBooth pictures because I have misplaced my camera cord.  Never fear, I'm off to acquire one this weekend, right after my totally pointless Astronomy final.

I am so so so ready for three weeks of visiting friends and family, sleeping in, and all the pleasure reading I want.  It will be bliss, pure joy.

I feel ya.

I love PostSecret, if only because there's usually at least one I can totally, totally relate to. 

My summer love.

Dear So You Think You Can Dance, 

You make my life complete, and are so much more fun than studying.

And we get a fall season, too?!  You're too good to me.

Love,

Christie

P.S. Watch one of my favorite dances so far:

Hope.

"To love anyone is to hope in him always.  From the moment at which we begin to judge anyone, to limit our confidence in him, from the moment at which we identify [pigeon-hole] him, and so reduce him to that, we cease to love him, and he ceases to be able to become better.  We must dare to love in a world that does not know how to love."

  - French priest

During a great reorganization of my apartment, I uncovered some old journals, and found this gem inside one.  I know it means infinitely more to me now than it did at 18, when I jotted it down.

(And my, how very enlightening it is to find - and read - old journals).

photo

More things making me crazy happy...

1. Dreams of moving to a big city.

2. There are only 18 more days left in summer term, and then we start full-time clinic. Amen.

3. The homemade scones I baked at 12:30 last night while watching Newsies (yes, I truly am that lame).

4. The new Harry Potter movie comes out this week (yes again on the lameness).

5. Having a functional dishwasher again. 

Anything making you particularly happy today?

image

In love with a sociopath.

I have a confession to make.  I watched all of Dexter: Season One in the past 5 days. (In my defense, it's only 12 episodes...although that doesn't seem to make it sound better). 

The show is genius.  Michael C. Hall is genius.  And I think I'm in love.  When he was the homosexual funeral director in Six Feet Under - nothing.  As a sociopathic serial killer - I can't get enough.

It's okay, you can judge me.  But don't knock it until you try it.

My favorite so far.

From Regina's new album.

My brother Mark would probably tell me it's music you could slit your wrists to, but whatever, apparently that's what I like.

So enjoy, if that's your thing.

Things making me crazy happy today.

I'm hoping to make this a weekly feature, because I complain way way way more than I should, and want that to stop, pronto.

1. Regina Spektor's new album. Can't tell you how much I love her.

2. Memories of a night at a Wild West show. Oh, Oklahoma, you certainly know how to keep it interesting.

3. So You Think You Can Dance is tonight, and I feel okay enough of my knowledge for my test tomorrow (eek!) to actually stop and watch it. Huzzah!

4. The wavy flag bracelet my adult client made for me, so I'll have a little bling for the 4th of July.  She's great, no?

5. Knowing that after a difficult test comes happy hour. Glorious.

I hope you lovelies are having a fantastic week!

Summer school.

Week one has been a stressful, draining time.  So, some words I've been living in:

"We confess you to be the God who calls,

who wills,

who summons,

who has concrete intentions

for your creation,

and addresses human agents who do your will.

We imagine ourselves called by you...

Yet a strange lot:

called but cowardly, 

obedient but self-indulgent, 

devoted to you, but otherwise preoccupied.

In our strange mix an answering and refusing,

We give thanks for your call.

We pray this day, 

for ourselves, fresh vision;

for our friends, great courage,

for those who search for you

in places more dangerous than ours,

deep freedom.

As we seek to answer your call, may we be haunted

by your large purposes,

We pray in the name of the utterly called Jesus. Amen."

- Walter Brueggeman

I have also spent a little relaxation time listening to Krista Tippet (who I have written about previously). I love her.  And her voice is possibly the most soothing thing I've ever heard. 

She recently did an interview about the history of torture, along with it's long-term effects socially and politcally. It was enlightening, so if that's your kind of thing, you should give it a listen!

My picks.

Okay, I'll be honest. I've been watching the Bachelorette, thanks to my cousin Natalie, who got me hooked. 

And just in case you are watching also, I thought I would post the guys that Jillian is crazy if she kicks off the show: 

Reid: don't believe this terrible picture (okay, you have to imagine him. Blogger's being a pain). 

He's a cutie. And normal (in this group, that's incredible). I'm a fan.

Jake: I like him. 

She told him he's "too perfect." Um, seriously? 

He's better than this fella (David):

he has serious anger management problems. 

And will probably never get another date, in his entire life.

But back to the winners: 

Kiptyn: the best of the best. 

I think I'm in love.

Okay, friends, those are my picks. Are you watching? 

Who do you like?!

And another note: I broke my precious Macbook and am working with a majorly cracked screen, so if I post less, that's why.

I will probably be purchasing a new one in the near future. 

"It's easy to laugh, 

It's easy to hate, 

It takes guts to be gentle and kind."

Pandora took me on a little journey to The Smiths today, and Steven Morrissey left me with this lovely reminder. 

Weekend visit!

I was lucky enough to spend Memorial Day weekend with this lady. 

She made me wake up at 6:45 on a Saturday and run 4ish miles. 

I was re-thinking the invitation. 

{I kid, I kid. She probably just doesn't want to wait an extra hour for me at the finish line at our half marathon}

After the run, we went to the beach, and I got going on my David Sedaris reading.

The verdict: I love him. I can't wait to dig into every other book he's written.

Now I'm off to nurse my wicked sunburn.

Celebrations!

I forgot to tell you about the fun that was The End of First Year. 

Sushi, Red Pin bowling, Murphy's Piano Bar (where 2nd years, and professors, were). Good times were had by all.

The next night was a baseball game with this fella:

{this might be my favorite picture ever}

and his lovely wife: 

These pictures make me really happy. 

More good times to come, I'll keep you posted.

Oh, friends.

The best thing about summer (in my opinion) begins tonight. 

So You Think You Can Dance? Season 5. 

I know what I'm doing tonight (after some quality time with my Astronomy textbook)!

Happiness.

I am happy. 

I have three weeks with no school. 

I am finished with a crazy difficult year. 

And I am feeling a bit like this: 

A late night in the library.

But Route 44 sized (Diet) Cherry Limeades from Sonic make everything better.

(Ignore the grossness. It's finals time, people.) 

Only 11 days until...

The end of first year. 

Until then, I'm in the library. 

See you on the other side.

Weekend o' fun.

This was probably the best weekend I've had in quite some time. 

First: Thirsty Thursday, with some speech friends. Amazing.

Friday was spent doing a little reading, and taking an outrageously long nap. 

Saturday evening was the Norman Music Festival: 

And my down time was spent curled up with this lovely read: 

This book is hilarious.  I chose it over another more serious training book (which I will probably order later) because it was by far the most entertaining (which may not have been a very intelligent decision).  So far I've learned that I need to be decked out in synthetic fibers, head to toe.  Awesome. 

Also, you will notice that I'm labeling posts, so that I can go back and see where I am with my individual goals later. Yay.

The thing about goals.

I actually feel like I need to meet them.

Thus, I have registered for a half marathon. 

The Walt Disney World Half Marathon - January 9, 2010. 

This is going to be me: 

I've got some time. Thank goodness. 

And my super cool friend Sarah is joining me.  I'm excited!

Any other takers?  It's going to be fun! (If I'm not dead somewhere around mile 9).

By 2011. *Edited*

So there's this blog I read, and the girl who writes it made 25 goals she wanted to meet by the time she was 25. I thought it was rad, and want some goals of my own. 

So, my friends, here are 25 things I intend to accomplish before I turn 25 in 2011. (Some of them are a given, but what can I say, I like crossing things off lists)

1. Graduate from grad school. 

2. Find a job (preferably one that I like). 

3. Successfully knit something. Anything. (This consistently shows up on every goal list I write, but never gets accomplished because my anal retentive side doesn't let me live with the inevitable mistakes). 

4. Move out of Oklahoma...preferably to D.C.  

5. Run a half marathon.  (This one is going to take some serious effort). 

6. Learn to hem my own pants. 

7. A trip abroad. (I'm not picky - Peru, Cambodia, Prague reunion, I don't care). I'm so antsy, I might even settle for a decent trip to Canada.  I've been in one place for far too long.

8. Find a hummus recipe I actually like. 

9. Stop drinking soda. Or at least limit it a great deal (one per week, perhaps?).

10. Have my own real live Christmas tree, with my own ornaments on it. 

11. Get arms like Michelle Obama's.  

12. Drink more water. Which will hopefully help with #9.

13. Go apple picking. 

14. Wear more dresses. This will require number 4 to take place first, as the winds here are a little too risky for much dress-wearing.

15. Floss my teeth (most) every night. 

16. Finish a NY Times crossword puzzle.  Probably a Monday edition.  And definitely in pencil.

17. Eat one meal a week that is a total freebie, calorie-wise (a.k.a. learn to relax, a little).

18. Be more genuinely kind, and loving. Again, some serious work needed.

19. Read three David Sedaris books.  Can you believe I haven't read any? I know, I know, it's criminal.

20. Act more like a 20-something and less like a 90-year-old grandmother. 

21. Get my wisdom teeth out (apparently it's a bigger ordeal after 25). 

22. See more live music. Actually, seeing any live music would be more than I do at present.

23. Watch less TV. (I would say no TV, but I actually want to accomplish these things...).

24. Give more compliments.

25. Spend 10 minutes a day in quiet contemplation (baby steps here, people). 

So there you have it.  And lest you think I'm going to post this and forget all about it, I am currently printing it out and taping it to my bathroom mirror, so that's not an option.  I might even laminate it while I'm meeting my other laminating needs tomorrow.  So there.

*No one noticed that I forgot a number 24. I just added one, because I really can count, I promise.

Whatever you call senioritis in grad school...

I've got it.  Really bad. 

My tests are over until finals, but I still have mucho work to do on three projects, and then studying for finals, of course.  But my intense motivation that I have had nearly the whole semester seems to have left me a little prematurely.  Perhaps it's the beautiful weather, or maybe the fact that I can't spend another hour in the library without going insane.  Who knows. 

Alas, this slackerish-ness has spread to the blog as well.  Nothing exciting has happened, I can assure you.  

But here's what made me happy today: 

Great book.  Great family. Too adorable for words. 

And, in case you need to waste some of your own time...I've been spending some quality procrastination time on this blog.  I'll admit, I read the whole thing the other day.  They just seem super fun.  And make me even more certain that I would like to live in D.C. for a spell. 

Defiled, and I don't even mind.

Throughout my life, including my undergraduate work, I was not a fan of marking up my books. For one thing, I usually spent an ungodly amount of money on the thing (if it was a textbook), but also...there was just something I loved about a book without any markings, totally perfect, like new. 

If I ever did feel the need to highlight (only with a yellow highlighter), there was always a moment before the first mark was made in the book, when I knew it would be defiled forever...and I would pause, before marking whatever it was I found to be THAT important. 

Yeah. These days, anal retentive Christie seems to have bid adieu.  I laughed today as I turned to a page in my neuroanatomy book and found this: 

And in my Motor Speech Disorders book, more of the same:

These books are the ones I will be living with (literally, eating and maybe even sleeping with) until my Tuesday midterm.  I'm in hermit mode.