a sweet collection

exercising my sweet tooth

i call it "secret hippie"

arts and cetaceans

Merry Whalemas!

OH, BLOG.

we meet again. 

not that i mind, of course. 

sadly, i don't have much to report these days. but then again that's sort of the point of this rambling excuse for a communication device. and so, i'll share some plans instead. 

i'm currently on break from school (a delightfully long one at that) and i've been using some of my free time to put the pieces of my life together. don't get me wrong, i haven't spent nearly enough time being constructive. most of it has been spent watching The Amazing Race or some zombie movie or other. but every once in awhile i remember that life is short, and the majority of it should be spent in even semi-constructive ways. 

so i've started painting again. which is nice, because it comes with a free (and necessary) boost of stress relief. i'm still no Van Gogh, but progress is progress. most recently i started working on a mural. well, a mock up for a mural. i don't have the spare change for such an enormous canvas, just to waste it on a random assortment of "maybe"s -- so i'm working on a smaller scale version. 

i'm crossing my fingers that it turns out half as exciting as it is in my head, but we'll just have to see. it's sort of an homage to the whales, and maybe some anti-whaling propaganda... but my brain isn't there just yet. 

other than that, still not much to report. i've registered for classes next trimester. (insert enormous sigh of relief here) hopefully it will be an incredibly productive one, because i've got quite the full plate: more French, chemistry of atoms and molecules, science of archaeology (+ lab), microeconomics, and history of Europe 1438-1778. i'm wait-listed for history of ancient Egypt, and a seminar on multi-multiculturalism -- but either way i'm looking at 5 classes next trimester and i'm hoping that my brain is ready for it. (WAKE UP BRAIN WAKE UP)

hopefully, if i stock-pile my classes for the next few trimesters, i'll be done a bit sooner. (good for everyone) and start studying for my LSATS and/or filling out applications for grad school. 

ah, the paradox. 

and so, i've completely filled my holiday from school rant with... talking about school. excellent. 

let's talk about anything else. 

i think now that my brain has had some time to cool down since leaving greenpeace, i'm tentatively considering creating a student activist group at school. key word tentatively. i have an awful lot to deal with already, and i don't know how prepared i am to go down that road again. 

nothing against the environment, of course. but i sometimes forget that passion needs boundaries. and that people need to sleep, eat, and light some candles every once in awhile. especially when you're working for an organization that doesn't seem to care half as much as you do. (not anti-gp, really. just a difference of opinion in some areas that's a little hard to overlook when their environmental activism is your 9-5.)  

regardless, i still need to be more involved for my buddies the whales and the polar bears. 

and i need to start taking better care of myself. because my body is my temple and blah blah blah. so my meanderings in constructibility have left me with a three part plan to a better me.

step 1: my HEALTH. (because dead people are less effective.)

being a vegan is awesome. being vegan makes me feel good, wholesome, and not at all like a rapist and murderer. those are nice feelings. my body giving up on itself and plain refusing to work... is not one of those nice feelings. i'm sure my body's breakdown wasn't 100% diet related, but it sure as hell was a catalyst, and i have to start seriously considering my nutrition. a lot of this HEALTH related plan has to do with supporting my body through relaxation and exercise. (and by exercise i obviously don't mean cardio.) and so, i've pledged to myself that i will plan my meals for the week ahead, stock up on groceries, and not live out of hotels. also, i'm waking up to yoga and/or pilates four days a week, and some weight lifting TBD when i can handle it. 

step 2: is school, and that's kind of a duh. i need to seriously concentrate this trimester because 5 classes in a trimester will kick my ass if i let it. this balancing act needs to be circus quality, because i don't have the time or energy to bullshit around with things and/or people that don't matter.    

 

step 3: my buddies the whales and the polar bears. (etc) because that's why i'm doing any of this, after all. so it wouldn't make sense not to include them here. putting them at number 3 on the list almost makes my skin crawl, but then i have to remind myself that that's how i got into this mess in the first place. i will put myself first because i want the best for my environment, and i can't give back to it if i can't take care of myself. 

in the meantime, i'm thinking of making a short film, or a photobook -- but i haven't really gotten there yet. the whole "put my life in order" business took up a little time. 

and so -- DECEMBER 1st seems like a pretty exceptional starting point, and i would really like to be able to return to this post in a year and be satisfied with my progress. 

see you then, bloggy mcbloggosphere!

starting my christmas list early this year...

1. Canon EOS Rebel T2i EF-S 18-55mm IS Kit

oh, delicious dish. the Canon earns first place Christmas list ranking for 2 main reasons: a) it is obviously badass and takes some crazy great digital shots. and b) it was on the list last year, and probably the year before that. and before that. it is the susan lucci of Christmas gifts. please, someone, clinch that emmy for it. 

at the low low price of only $899.99 (before implied holiday savings) how could you not?

2. Fucking Insanely Awesome Wall Map

need i say more? i doubt it... but i totally will. this map has stolen my heart, as has much of the urbanoutfitters.com shopper's pornography. $140 might sound silly, but come on. look at it. 

3. most ridiculously expensive laptop in the world. (aka the murder machine) 

although this macbook pro will undoubtedly lead to my mugging and murder aboard the redline el, it's so cool that i don't really care. however, i suppose that if i could somehow feasibly afford such opulence, i probably wouldn't need to go to college. i'd probably just lay around naked in my villa all day, building forts out of stacks of hundreds and throwing rubies around like confetti. OR on the other side of the equation, i could take out a massive student loan to secure this diamond studded thief-magnet, thus forcing myself to graduate with a doctorate in finance to fulfill repayment. 

hm... i guess when you put it that way, i kind of have to buy it... 

Be Still, My Heart. 

The fully customizable, fully awesome, plato superbike from urbanoutfitters.com. 


le sigh. 


with the addition of the plato superbike to my transit collection, i could worry less about the effect of the apple murder machine on my life expectancy. i suppose you could call it a necessity... especially if you've seen the crowd i ride the train with. 


Cardboard Taxidermy? Absolutely!

vegan animal extortion at it's finest. mcfabulous, actually. again, from urban outfitters. i can't believe i actually want a life sized deer head in my house, but hey. i'm stylish like that. 




i really need to get off urbanoutfitters.com

or not, because ohmygodthisisspectacular. i am already in negotiations with my lil' sis (mon petit souer) to wreak havoc on the quiet streets of paris in these magic gojira suits. i'm thinking of putting together some sort of telethon so that average americans can become a part of our cross cultural alliance. 

when life gets you down...

go to target and put on funny hats. it's cheaper than lemonade, and hey, hats are neat.

well hi there.

 bonjour, tag, hola, etc: 

evidently, it has been quite some time since i last wrote about anything here, which is not to say that i've had nothing to write. on the contrary, i've been so busy living that i haven't had an extra moment to record any of it. ah, excuses, excuses.

a brief summation of my last, oh nine months or so, would be to say that... well, i have this whole new life that i'm enormously proud of, and i should probably record some bit of it here or there. 

unfortunately, i'm no longer a world-saving greenmachine eco-terrorist. my time spent with greenpeace was extraordinary, and i wouldn't change it for the world. i accomplished more with them than i ever dreamed possible on that first miserable day, and i learned so much about myself during the process that i simply sprouted off in another direction, hopefully for the better. 

thanks to my experiences with the greenmachine, i discovered not only my true passion for the environment, but also a deep passion for education and communication. anyone who can make a life of fighting in the streets for the planet deserves the upmost recognition and gratitude (remember that when you run into them, please!) but after some careful introspection, i discovered that i am not one of those chosen few.  quite simply, i feel like i could do more good for the planet and myself by utilizing a skill-set more directly inclined to me. and so, back to school i went. 

i'm now back at DePaul, working towards my degree in International Studies, and hoping to pursue law school when the time comes. ultimately, my desire to save everything from my air supply to polar bears still remains, but i am working towards creating that future in a different manner.  

cue: the life of the tortured philosophy student. with my bank account reaching new, exciting, and perilous lows, the change has been immense to say the least. i've been casually flirting with the idea of getting a job for awhile now, and eventually i daresay it will be a much more immediate problem, but some health problems (boo hiss boo) prevented me from doing so over the summer. quite honestly i'm a little afraid of a resurgence, so fiddle my days away i do.

ok so maybe fiddle isn't the right word, but fiddle it is. too late now, i've already typed it, so i'll move along. 

 faddle? 

somewhat more recently, as in today, i finished my application to study abroad in PARIS this spring, so that's a little new and exciting and less perilous. the actual due date for it is October 15th, and the decision date isn't until November 15th, so i have a fair chunk of waiting-waiting-waiting ahead of me that i've marked my calender for. the program i've applied to is an intensive language study program that incorporates western European political studies and a cultural survey of the arts and society. the only real problem that i'm having is the recommendation letter conundrum. 

the problem: said study abroad program requires 2 yes 2 letters of recommendation from DePaul professors, one of whom must be a french professor.  and, since i've been here now for oh, 12 days or so, i'm finding the "ask a random professor of something-or-other" a little difficult. my political systems of the world instructor is a perfect fit on paper (junior professor of the political science department, international studies adviser, all around pretty-cool-in-that-just-been-in-your-class-four-times sort of way) but you know, i've been in his class 4 times. 

hopefully i'm just that memorable? 

and i get the feeling that this second letter is going to be even more hysterical.  "bonjour, professeur. je vais bien, merci. et vous? enchante! ... by-the-way-would-you-mind-taking-a-few-hours-out-of-your-day-to-blatantly-commend-my-apparent-mastery-of-the-french-tongue?" 

the plan: is to simply hand them my academic questionnaire and hope for the best. 

"yes, yes. i know we've met four times, but here is a brief history of my life, a list of all my future academic and professional goals, a few baby pictures and a video of me receiving the "future star!" award at brownie sleep away camp when i was six."  

how can this not go well? 

and so, TA DA: my life, circa fall 2010. handing out baby photos and biographies to near strangers and spending a lot of time on the el.

i'm sure there will be more later (Oh, God. i sincerely hope so.) and so until then, ciao, my friends. 

brynn

romancing the stones

today the lovely rachel and i went on a pilgrimage to the "magic rock store" (otherwise known as rosley's rocks and gems) and each brought home a bevy of magical minerals. i've never really experimented with anything like these before, but i am definitely open to the experience. most of the stones that i brought home i picked on feeling alone, and looked up some of the basic meanings when i got home. there is a pretty interesting connection between most of them, and i am excited and curious to see where this leads...

amazingly, it also happens to be a full moon tonight. according to one of the store regulars (raymond) i should put all of my stones (especially the moonstone) outside to recharge and cleanse them tonight. 

it certainly can't hurt to have a little good karma on your side, right?  

we shall see.   

moonstone 

Moonstone is considered the stone of new beginnings. Moonstone is most famous for balancing our emotional states. Therefore, it is one of the best stones for soothing emotional stress and anxiety. Moonstone helps cool, soothe and calm over-reactions to emotional and personal situations. It allows us greater flexibility and flow with life. Moonstone has been used for protection against the the perils of travel. It encourages a lust for life, a youthful attitude and helps us to become comfortable with life and its transitions.

Use moonstone to promote your intuitive and empathic nature. Use it also to encourage lucid dreaming, especially at the time of the full moon. It is the perfect stone for the Emotional Layer of the Aura. Moonstone is a great stone for meditation and helping with unconditional love. Since it heightens our understanding of nature and concerns for the environment, it is an essential stone for agriculturists and farmers alike. Moonstone encourages creativity, imagination, inspiration and awareness.

malachite

Malachite is a purveyor of steady pulsing electromagnetic energy. It is believed to be a strong protector of children. It is said to protect the wearer from accidents and protects travelers. Malachite has been used to aid success in business and protect against undesirable business associations. It is a stone of balance in relationships. It is used in amulets to protect against the evil eye. 

Malachite is a stone that should not be used for physical healing. Malachite has been called the "mirror of the soul". It is variable in its condition. It reaches the inner feelings of the person and reflects what is there, negative or positive. It is so beautiful that one would like to wear it in jewelry, but caution must be used when wearing Malachite. It will always reflect how you feel, if you feel negative don't wear Malachite. It reminds us that we have a dual nature and it is up to each person to know and rule his own person. To help get rid of nightmares, keep a piece of Malachite in your bedroom.

rose quartz

Rose Quartz emits a calming, cooling energy which can work on all chakras to gently remove negativity and to reinstate the loving, gentle forces of self love. Good to wear in a chaotic or crisis situation. It is the stone of gentle love bringing peace and calm to relationships. It can be used for spiritual attunement to the energy of love. It is a rejuvenating agent for both physical body and the emotions. It is an excellent energy for healing emotional wounds. An excellent stone to give to express friendship. 

Rose Quartz represents love, beauty, peacefulness, forgiving, lovingness, self-love and emotional balance! It is a soft, gentle, soothing stone that warms the heart center. Its value as a nurturing friend cannot be overstated. Neither can it's soothing influence. Helps diffuse negative stimuli and uncomfortable memories. Helps us discover the ability to love ourselves and makes us more open to other people. It is of particular value in helping us to forgive ourselves, hastening self-acceptance. Helps us realize that all change is important, even difficult change. Stimulates love and tender appreciation of all things.

apache tear

These stones are said to bring good luck to those possessing them. Black obsidian is a powerful Meditation stone. The purpose of this gemstone is to bring to light that which is hidden from the conscious mind. It dissolves suppressed negative patterns and purifies them. It can create a somewhat radical behavior change as new positive attitudes replace old, negative, egocentric patterns. The Apache tears are also said to balance the emotional nature and protect one from being taken advantage of. It can be carried as an amulet to stimulate success in business endeavors. The apache tear eases and releases pain, loss, sadness, anger, to help heal and go on with life. It also reflects ones personal shortcomings such that they can come to the conscious to be dealt with, then let go of. The most well know of the different colors is Apache Tears a black obsidian. Obsidian can help protect against the negativity of others and has a grounding influence helping one to stay focused in the moment. It can also help to stimulate analytical capabilities and precision, and can help promote a forgiving attitude and release of grievances.

selenite 

Said to be the "Stone of Mental Clarity," Selenite is thought to be a bringer of light. 

Associated with the Greek Goddess Selene, Selenite contains feminine energy and is often used to connect and commune with the Divine.  Some use it for angelic or spirit guide connection, or aid in interacting with the Ancients.

Often referred to as "scanners," Selenite is said to have the ability to scan the body for disease or malfunction, pinpointing what areas may need attention.  The stone itself is also thought to have the ability to clear etheric blockages so one can gain knowledge on how to move forward toward a cure.  It is thought to have been a healing tool in Atlantis. Selenite can be used for scrying into both the past, present and future.  Past life regressions are assisted with the use of these crystals.  They are also said to be good for dream recall. 

It is long thought that Selenite helps in procuring long-lasting relationships, ensuring fidelity and furthering commitments.  It can help reconcile differences by going to the root of any issue. 

sodalite

This blue mineral helps one to stimulate communications and psychic abilities. 

This stone is most recognized for healing, meditation and wisdom. This a good stone for general communication for self and writing. It is used for expressing logic and ideas due to its connection with the Throat Chakra. It is also known to enhance community relationships. Considered a stone that is still evolving, sodalite can strongly affect changes in your attitude about yourself. It helps you be more objective and less critical about ways of dealing with existence. It is a stone associated with studying. This stone should be worn or carried around as a touch stone for a long period of time in order to reap its full benefits.

amethyst 

The stone of spirituality and dream recall. Used for contentment and meditation. Provides common sense and flexibility in decisions. Strengthens and enhances psychic abilities, imagery and mind quieting. Wear when sleeping or when awake to reduce anger, impatience, and nightmares. Amethyst contains the grounding color of red with the energy of blue, which is expanding, spacious and flow of peace. This stone can show us how to let go and trust; surrender so that you may see beyond the cycle that consumes your attention; give it all up, so that you can receive more; and bow, that you may become a part of the greater whole. Amethyst is considered a Master Healing stone.

garnet 

Round cuts represent love and helps the aspirant to strive for improvement in moral conduct. Opens intuition and psychic abilities. Used for astral travel. Also allows one to speak the truth by unblocking the heart and throat. Grounding stone used for overcoming a lack of love in any situation.

This stone symbolizes faith, love, devotion and trust. Garnet is most famous for balancing our emotional states. Therefore, garnet is one of the best stones for soothing emotional stress and balancing out anger that is held in and not expressed. 

Garnet is a stone of passion. It is given as a gift of love's attraction, a gift of estranged love or a gift of quick return.

Garnet is a good stone to have around for emotional drama, traumatic crisis or when you feel backed into a corner with no way out. Garnet will show you the way out. It is the perfect stone for clearing the Emotional Layer of the Aura. Utilize its strong support energy. Anyone dealing with depression, should always carry a piece of garnet with them as it encourages feelings of joy, hope and will power. Its fiery color drives away fatigue and stimulates the imagination.

agate 

Agates are grounding stones. Agates are one of the oldest good luck stones. They help obtain a better physical/emotional balance. They work to raise consciousness. Builds self-confidence. Agate enables the person wearing it to choose their friends carefully. Used to avert from lighting and stormy weather (physically and metaphysically), agate brings prosperity. It is a protector of children. This stone helps us to have patience, and allows for inner peace. Use agate as a gazing tool for divination and meditation. Agate balances emotions and brings insight to any situation.

aquamarine 

This stone has the calming, soothing energy of the sea. This is the stone of courage. Tranquilizing, uplifting, openness, innocence, lightheartedness, creativity, communication, self-awareness, confidence, purpose. Throat, Spleen, Heart Chakra. Used for protection on journeys, especially those who travel on water. Affects etheric and mental levels. Helps stabilize and harmonize unsettled surroundings. Helps reduce fears. Has an affinity with sensitive and mystical people. Increases creativity and sharpens intuition. Excellent stone for meditation. Helps one attune to nature. Quiets the mind and reduces stress. Helps bring about a tolerance toward others. Recommended as a purifier of the throat and helps sore throats. Clears blocked communication and aids the user in verbal expression. This stone allows us to find our individually and be ourselves. It is helpful to those who wear it, in regards to finding love, promoting fidelity and smoothing out differences between others.

emerald 

Emerald is a symbol of love and good fortune. This stone is used for abundance, growth, peace, harmony, patience, love, fidelity and honesty. It used against negative energy and has been used in many forms of divination. Most effective on the Heart Chakra perhaps because it access desires held deep within. Emerald provides inspiration and helps those in need of balance, healing, and infinite patience. Lifts depression, helps with insomnia, knowingness of the heart and peaceful dreams. Helps the wearer gain physical, emotional, and mental equilibrium. The pale, clear, green Emeralds are valuable in meditative work, as well as healing. It works best when combined with a Diamond or worn alone. It gives wisdom from the mental plane, so that the possessor is motivated to give love and wisdom to others. Do not wear an Emerald constantly. It should only be worn when the wearer feels the need to have it near. They were used to strengthen memory, to aid in eloquence, and to reveal the truth or falsity of a lover's oaths.

quartz

Quartz can bring the energy of the stars into the soul. Traditionally, the natural quartz crystal was said to both harmonize and align human energies, thoughts, consciousness, emotions - with the energies of the universe and to make these greater energies available to humanity. The natural tendency of quartz is for harmony, and is recognized as a Stone of Power. Stimulates brain function & power, aids clarity of mind. Dispels negativity in ones energy field and environment, aligns all chakras, a very powerful healer.

The natural tendency for quartz is for harmony. Quartz can both draw and send energy therefore it is effective for sending/receiving guidance. Quartz is used for transformation in healing and in all levels of change. 

black tourmaline

A powerful, electromagnetic, striated gem. Strengthens body and spirit (and meridians), transmutes lower frequency thought/energy to a higher frequency of light and brings light/spirit into the physical. Radiates light protection for wearer.

Black Does not absorb negative energy. It repels it. It is suggested to carry this stone when you feel surrounded by negativity. A valuable stone for crises and for periods of extreme stress. Helps you defend against debilitating diseases. Strongly suggested for persons with weakened immune systems. 

peridot

This gemstone emits a warm friendly energy; works on both the heart and solar plexus chakras; acts to provide a shield of protection around the body; to help prevent outside influences from affecting alignment and balance. Helps one to find happiness within ones self, over coming anger and jealousy.

a peaceful mind