My eyes feel like cottonballs, I just ate 2 banana flavored Laffy Taffys, and I hate dilutions.

wow. my last two posts were so..... me. haha. I don't even have the energy to write these days.

Currently Reading Magnificent Obsession By Lloyd C. Douglas see related

Untitled

Well, now. It has been a long time. So much has happened since my last post I dare not attempt to catch up, but shall jump right into the present.

I have been congested for a long, long, time. Yes, that information is pertinent because it disturbs me greatly. It wouldn't if my job didn't depend so deeply upon my airways being clear. Speaking of my job, I realized something the other day.

-Backround - I went back to work during Christmas break to make a few bucks before diving back into the cave-life of study and the mire of unemployment. I play the guitar and sing at a sandwich shop, in case you weren't aware. I love it. But I was unaware as to how much I loved it until this past week.

 One day, I geared up for work: had my music stand, my guitar, my capo, my music, my tuner, everything all ready. As I walked from the car towards the door of the restaurant, I saw that a young man was already playing. In a hoodie no less! His dishonor of the station of eclectic starving musicians by adorning himself in such an ambiguous garment left distaste in my mouth. I suppose, in my mind, I was rather hard on the poor chap, but that is far beside the point. When I came around the corner, I felt my heart sink in disappointment. I won't be able to play today. It surprised me with its depth. I asked one of the assistant managers what had happened, and received a quick and sincere apology for a schedule foul-up. However, I left feeling...mmm..."dejected" is a bit too far in the wrong direction....disheartened. My heart had anticipated being up there singing and strumming away. I realized I loved the factor of unpredictability in performing. I choose what to play song by song.

Sometimes, a customer will come into the store and I will feel a song inside me that would fit them perfectly; so I play it. I play my old songs of the '40's and '50's for the elderly that come in and receive faraway smiles as they remember hearing "The Way You Look Tonight" sung 50 years ago. I love never knowing what my voice can do. I also love knowing what my little throat-bird is capable of. It's a grand feeling.

I love finding the right song for the right moment. It is always at these times when I can sing my heart out best.

As some of you may know, this semester was my first at the University of Detroit-Mercy. The transfer from OCC to this university was an interesting one. Since I am a pre-med Biology major, I decided I needed some spice in my campus life so as not to turn into one of those Chem or Bio Club.....frea....I mean students who spend even their summers burning off their eyebrows undergoing experimentation of plasma membranes. At least, I wanted to have an outlet for my artist's heart in the midst of my science/math curriculum. I applied for a position as an editor for the school's student art magazine: [sic]. [sic] is an annual publication which features student photography, prose, poetry, short stories, plays, and even academic essays if proven interesting. I find the distraction quite invigorating.

God is so good to me. A friend of mine said to me today, "God does such wonderful things for me. He blesses me so specifically, I often wonder if He spends time on anyone else." When I first heard it, thoughts came to my head that were certainly less than wholesome. I told myself that I didn't feel quite so wholly blessed as all that and that someone was being a bit melodramatic. But God is that magnificently good to me, and to all of us. Small things, compared to starvation in Kenya and civil war in Darfur. Getting paid to do something I love, editing -something I've always wanted to do, and my two fish I saved from my semester long lab experiment who are yet to be named. He overlooks my extreme lack of gratefulness and rewards me simply for being His child.

Well, this was my last weekend of complete freedom. Back to the slavery of school on Monday. I am trying to commit to a better semester - improving my time management, among other things.

Currently Listening A Man Can Change His Stars By Mourning September see related

Muchas cosas

Well, guys, not that you don't allready know this, but, caffiene really IS a college student's best friend. Duh. I try not to depend on it too much because it's SO blasted unhealthy. Today, on the way to school, Kris and I stopped at a gas station (yeah, I AM a fan of gas station coffee! what are you gonna do about it!) and got some coffee, because it's Monday, and we knew we would need it. She got her usual coffee and doctored it up to unimaginable individuality (for a drink that is), and I, got a delicious white chocolate frappacino, the remainder of which I cleverly mixed with some Starbucks house blend at the school cafe. Yes, yes. How clever of me.

Mondays are insane! Today, we left the house at 7:13am, dropped Ken of at OCC(Oakland Community College), then Kris dropped me off at UofD (the esteemed University of Detroit Mercy *ahem* applause may be given at any time), then Kris goes on to Wayne State downtown.

Yesterday I played the piano for the wedding of a family friend. A very dear one. It was held out of doors at this very ritzy golf course. The gazebo was right up against a lake. Beautiful. It was so weird being behind the wedding party on the gazebo. I couldn't see any of the people who were supposed to be signaling me. Unfortunately, the keyboard keys kept sticking so I had to do some MAJOR improvisation that I didn't know I had in me. Also, whenever I play in front of people, my fingers start to tremble and sweat. That happens no matter what I do. But, anyway, I think it went ok. Actually no, I think it went terribly, but that's just my personal opinion. The only other person who agreed with me was my characteristically frank mother: "Yes, Kaylan. It was horrible," were her exact words. I'm not even kidding. But, she later clarified that by saying that she knew what the pieces sounded like practiced, so that was why. It's not my fault I had to improv! I purposely chose pieces that wouldn't be well known. So, I asked several people what they thought and got more positive feedback. I like constructive criticism, I can deal with that.

Thanks Dan for letting me borrow your keyboard! If I hadn't I would have had to play the guitar, and I don't even want to think  about how that would have gone.

You know how people say "You learn something everyday?" Most days, I can't tell what that one thing was. Especially when I'm not in school (which is never now). I LOVE IT (!) when I can identify exactly what "the something" was! And that happened to me today!

In other news, I ran 3 miles last monday. A record high for Kaylan Frances. Yes, yes, I know you workout buffs. That's not exactly marathon calibur, but it was great for me. I was so pumped afterward, I was dizzy. I was happy because I ran pretty much everyday this summer (even in Mexico), started out at a pitifully low distance and worked it up. I run every summer, but I think I'll keep it up this winter too. I like feeling healthy.

This is getting more random by the paragraph(I was going to say second, but paragraph sounded more unique. woa! that caffeine is settin' in! yes......), but last week, I finally got some new music. I love ordering stuff online. It makes me feel so self-efficient. Plus, there's that lovely feeling you get when you recieve a package in the mail with your name on it. I can't possibly be the only one who loves when that happens.

U of M football is looking better every Saturday. Wow do I love this aspect of the season. The Tigers are out of the champ race, but they won yesterday! Gotta give 'em props. I love my cats.

and.......drumroll please.......the Heroes season premiere is tonight! dadadada! yeah. Of course I'll probably be watching it in the basement of the student union rather than the comforts of my own home, but that's another story.

Woa, almost time to let you go. But wait! Spriritual update. I've been learning how to keep God with me through everyday life. I know it sounds rather normal, but it's easy to forget Him. I've been endeavoring to literally feel His presence every moment of the day. It's not as easy as it sounds. Try it tomorrow. The busier you get the harder it is. Just because you pray, doesn't mean you're actually remembering Him either. It's the spirit behind the prayer that means you're actually acknowledging Him. It's easy to make prayer a ritual. I try NEVER to do that. How offensive that must be to Him. Boy to I love you.

Currently Listening Celtic Woman By Celtic Woman see related

You have GOT to be kidding me.

Currently Watching Dil Chahta Hai see related

Last Night

My last night in Mexico:

    .....a taxi to the Zocalo, the center of the city. Night. A time when everyone and their Tia Maribel is out and about. Blankets and tables of vendors line the stone streets. I smile at a guy who sold me my favorite Mayan artwork earlier today. Unfortunately, zillions of jueros, foreigners, are out as well. I guess I could be called a juero, but I don't really feel like one anymore. This was my third time to Mexico. It's like revisiting an old friend you don't get to see very often.

......last purchase: a necklace of cowri shells. an essential in the Kaylan wardrobe

 ......last drink: first a little shot of esspresso con panna (espresso with creme), then a cappacino frappe both from, of course, Italian Coffee. A sort of Mexican Starbucks. Not quite as good, but definitely cheaper. nicer service too.......My fuel for a late packing night and probably some finishing touches on some publishing work.

......last moments: sipping coffee with Kris and Laurel on a stone wall in front of Santo Domingo, one the largest, oldest, and most beautiful churches in town.

Buenas Noches a Mexico