tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103372481193505082024-03-13T04:26:18.802-07:00A Tale of Two ContinentsAshley and Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450163300660482812noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110337248119350508.post-51485398099726473772012-11-22T19:01:00.002-08:002012-11-22T19:01:32.586-08:00Hey guys.We're coming back.<br />
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Get excited.<br />
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And stay tuned (oh, the mystery however will you handle it).<br />
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Our sincerest apologies,<br />
Ashley and StephanieAshley and Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450163300660482812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110337248119350508.post-44714971750251335182012-05-08T14:24:00.003-07:002012-05-08T14:24:26.684-07:00Ashley goes America all over everyone's ass<br />
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Hey guys! That title has nothing to do with the blog post — I just couldn't think of anything and I've been watching a lot of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia SO DEAL WITH IT. Also, I expect that you will all forget about the fact
that I haven’t written a blog in two months and just keep reading as if nothing
had ever happened. Why haven’t I written in so long you ask? Well for starters if I had been
writing a blog would I have had time to do stuff like THIS:</div>
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I didn’t think so. Now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s
move on to what’s been going on up in my life. And since we all know how action
packed and sex-fueled my day-to-day is, let’s simply break the major events
down into a list:</div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->My first year at the University of Glasgow ended
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I saw the Avengers …</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2CQCrEHKWPQ/T6mMWEDwYXI/AAAAAAAAAsw/HxuiuiWHTR0/s1600/loki+and+carol.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2CQCrEHKWPQ/T6mMWEDwYXI/AAAAAAAAAsw/HxuiuiWHTR0/s400/loki+and+carol.tiff" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can't be the only person who saw the resemblance ...</td></tr>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I got a part-time job at a café by my house and
it sucks ass</div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->And uh, it’s not like a big deal or anything but
I have 400 Facebook friends now</div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I’ve read a lot of books that include The Rings
of Saturn (amazingly amazing) and The Road (which you should not read if you
have hope … about anything) </div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I’ve written a few more short stories, one of
which was read out in front of a live audience by a friend of a friend. It was
strange but good. Also, I don’t think I’ve ever stared at the ground so hard in
my life. </div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Other stuff</div>
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Also, I finished up that ancestry project I mentioned a
while back and found out some pretty interesting stuff. Now prepare yourselves
for this because you might need an extra pair of socks after the two that you
are wearing suddenly blow off. Turns out that every person, from every possible
branch of my family tree, has been horrendously poor. Like we’re talking
farmers, coal-miners, and farming coal-miners poor. And I know you’re probs
like, “But Ashley, you are so extravagant and good-smelling and you wear such
clothes that make lesser peoples think you a God. How could this possibly be?” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Truth is my <s>minions </s>friends, beneath
this exterior of grace and perfect bone structure lies a girl who, as a rapidly-growing
gangly pubescent who couldn’t afford to buy clothes, had to wear the same pair
of overalls for so long that I’m not even going to try and describe to you the
severity of the camel toe situation. My crotch barely made it out alive let’s
just put it that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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And with that, my first year as a Master of Fine Arts
student has ended. It’s been a really great/interesting nine months. I realy
thinq Ive grohn alot as a wryter. I’ve been to places I never thought I’d have
the money or opportunity to go to. And even though (to be honest) these last
couple months have been a little emotionally rough for me, this place just
seems like home now and I’m happy that I get to spend another year here. And
now that I have no more looming assignments, I promise to blog more because
let’s be honest, I missed you guys a lot. BUT ENOUGH OF THIS SERIOUS STUFF.
HEREARESOMEPICS:</div>
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This one day it got "hot" in Glasgow</div>
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Glasgow's Botanical Gardens</div>
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Oliver and his flat</div>
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Second hand book store <3</div>
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HOME</div>
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But I get so crampy when I try to learnnnn</div>
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Banksy and I </div>
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Yo Ho</div>
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The Gines</div>
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Shisha and tea, tea and shisha</div>
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Gina's 23rd</div>
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The absent-minded professor </div>
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:-})</div>
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Edinburgh Zoo</div>
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PANDA WATCH</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m5JcPcgus3I/T6l_HmWhQGI/AAAAAAAAArU/-u-Sqvu2OoM/s1600/DSC09334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m5JcPcgus3I/T6l_HmWhQGI/AAAAAAAAArU/-u-Sqvu2OoM/s640/DSC09334.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">"The Ways of the Panda: How we can use their mating habits as a guide to affect change in our own" ... By Gina Malara and Ashley Welling</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DG3EHh9bu8E/T6l_JPQl_-I/AAAAAAAAArc/R7Jw8GtP6tM/s1600/DSC09378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DG3EHh9bu8E/T6l_JPQl_-I/AAAAAAAAArc/R7Jw8GtP6tM/s640/DSC09378.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Edinburgh</div>
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FOUND IT</div>
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Pollok House</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xAFxQdNwUEo/T6l_RnaLT9I/AAAAAAAAAr8/5ZD5aljmVjs/s1600/DSC09466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xAFxQdNwUEo/T6l_RnaLT9I/AAAAAAAAAr8/5ZD5aljmVjs/s640/DSC09466.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Best author's photo of all time?</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z2eFimcto7Y/T6l_TjEz2YI/AAAAAAAAAsE/qftm5YN33Dc/s1600/DSC09474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z2eFimcto7Y/T6l_TjEz2YI/AAAAAAAAAsE/qftm5YN33Dc/s640/DSC09474.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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While my surroundings may appear to be calm and docile, mere moments after this was taken the clouds above unleashed a torrent of hail/rain/wind that would have made Thor cry as if a child of the female persuasion.</div>
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Helen and a Pollok cat</div>
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Leaving Pollok</div>
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Until next time my friends,</div>
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Ashley</div>
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<br />Ashley and Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450163300660482812noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110337248119350508.post-55414636545058938802012-03-14T10:28:00.002-07:002012-03-14T10:47:00.218-07:00Spring break and chirping birds.Hello our dear readers. Yes, I've missed you. Yes, I am drowning in guilt because of my lack of consistent blogging these days. No, I didn't buy you guys chocolate roses to say sorry.<br />
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In any case, this blog has been neglected, largely due to my increased lack of free time. I hope you guys had a good time reading through Ashley's last blog and lengthy assortment of pictures. While I haven't been anywhere as monumentally exciting as London, I have been at work far too early in the morning, I've fallen down a muddy hill in a white dress, I've attempted to climb a fence and completely failed, I've barely beaten Allie at "see who can swing higher", I've dreamt of playing Oregon Trail II, I began the epic re-watching of Scrubs, I've Googled pictures of Northern California because the whole homesick desperation bit has finally sunken in, my roommate has made me into a meme (picture below), I've learned that a large coffee at McDonald's could last for decades and never be empty, I've fulfilled my dreams of playing Oregon Trail II when I was recently back home for spring break, and I was in the Minneapolis airport at 5 am which was, in itself, a strange experience. It's been PRETTY exciting.<br />
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And now I am entering the final phase of spring semester. Pittsburgh went into extreme spring overhaul mode and it's now disgustingly gorgeous outside. There were actually birds chirping after the sun went down last night. It was AWESOME, and later annoying because chirping birds are only cute for the first half hour and they were chirping away like three hours past sunset. It's like it was April or some shit.<br />
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So, spring break. I arrived in California at 10pm last Saturday, but not before our plane felt like it was going to crash when it was going over Colorado or Arizona or Russia or wherever the hell we were. I, for the first time in the history of ever, silently squealed when our pilot announced our descent into Sacramento. Oh the places I'll drive to over spring break, I thought. I had planned out an excursion to Oregon, San Francisco, and everywhere in between. I never did end up going to either but I did make it to the in betweens and that was quite enough to satiate my driving thirst. It was mildly warm for the first couple days and so I went wild with my spring/summer checklist (wear dress, drive with windows down, turn up music, feel free, laugh at people in the southern hemisphere, take pictures with a respectable amount of lens flare). As much as I adore winter, I have missed summer a great deal. We had maybe two months of actual warmth last year in Northern California so I think that might be why I am so desperate for warmer weather.<br />
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So I completed my checklist and half before the last half of spring break. I deemed Wednesday as my "stay in pajamas and watch bad TV" day, Thursday as my "drive around nearby towns and take like 400 pictures lul sorry camera" day, Friday as my "hang out with Dad and drive up to Tahoe and take another 400 pictures really though I'm sorry camera okay" day, and the remainder of the weekend as my "hang out with Bub and eat all the things" day. Somewhere in between those days was half a century's worth of Oregon Trail and Mario Kart playing, but that's just a given.<br />
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So I will end this with a couple pictures. And by a couple pictures I mean just shy of 400. Sorry.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gtV_Ah0bUgE/T2DIGIAYGLI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/jxCBFPbgZHk/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-03-14+at+12.31.42+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gtV_Ah0bUgE/T2DIGIAYGLI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/jxCBFPbgZHk/s640/Screen+shot+2012-03-14+at+12.31.42+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>Aforementioned meme. And this actually happened.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zrh4CHFFJtE/T2DI_Uz35jI/AAAAAAAAAhY/SuIKLHUutUI/s1600/coloma15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zrh4CHFFJtE/T2DI_Uz35jI/AAAAAAAAAhY/SuIKLHUutUI/s640/coloma15.jpg" width="426" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I really want to know what park fees are. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EQR3RmAqifM/T2DJBx_uR5I/AAAAAAAAAhg/N7AXDW4ZJNc/s1600/coloma17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EQR3RmAqifM/T2DJBx_uR5I/AAAAAAAAAhg/N7AXDW4ZJNc/s640/coloma17.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> Because it reminded me of Parks and Recreation okay.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fGt2KCjryxw/T2DJFwalqjI/AAAAAAAAAho/wSCMFK2quxY/s1600/coloma25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fGt2KCjryxw/T2DJFwalqjI/AAAAAAAAAho/wSCMFK2quxY/s640/coloma25.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> Myself.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5V3RIf6c_XU/T2DJM9CbaAI/AAAAAAAAAhw/MJCGUbxn4yg/s1600/coloma38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5V3RIf6c_XU/T2DJM9CbaAI/AAAAAAAAAhw/MJCGUbxn4yg/s640/coloma38.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> "That's where they kept the bodies"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2iugeZaKTVw/T2DJQUwe3oI/AAAAAAAAAh4/gak5NhW2D0c/s1600/coloma27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2iugeZaKTVw/T2DJQUwe3oI/AAAAAAAAAh4/gak5NhW2D0c/s640/coloma27.jpg" width="426" /></a></div> Pretty green things and fences.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--mmDPPmp9Lk/T2DJTGPelyI/AAAAAAAAAiA/PmrwaO2jkdc/s1600/coloma44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--mmDPPmp9Lk/T2DJTGPelyI/AAAAAAAAAiA/PmrwaO2jkdc/s640/coloma44.jpg" width="426" /></a></div> You can't see it, but it said "Furniture and Useful Stuff". My kind of store.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UgNxZh8Y-3w/T2DJVcDLOrI/AAAAAAAAAiI/az6tuCulbhw/s1600/coloma52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UgNxZh8Y-3w/T2DJVcDLOrI/AAAAAAAAAiI/az6tuCulbhw/s640/coloma52.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I am occasionally good at photography and get awesome shots.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-94lu0J84HJ4/T2DLvsa4oiI/AAAAAAAAAi4/j5OKXRC80b8/s1600/IMG_1576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-94lu0J84HJ4/T2DLvsa4oiI/AAAAAAAAAi4/j5OKXRC80b8/s640/IMG_1576.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> The love of my life.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qs3r7mFefo8/T2DLv3nSbpI/AAAAAAAAAjA/Q-USyLBCOZo/s1600/IMG_1590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qs3r7mFefo8/T2DLv3nSbpI/AAAAAAAAAjA/Q-USyLBCOZo/s640/IMG_1590.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> The love of Ashley's life.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3VbtI8rmix0/T2DLwCOjhSI/AAAAAAAAAjI/erS7ikHaQMg/s1600/IMG_1649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3VbtI8rmix0/T2DLwCOjhSI/AAAAAAAAAjI/erS7ikHaQMg/s640/IMG_1649.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> We spent that night on Chat Roulette. It was also hat night. I had a plastic fireman's helmet<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UtdTBMha1IU/T2DLwvMDbDI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/maKc1kw3Oss/s1600/IMG_1650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UtdTBMha1IU/T2DLwvMDbDI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/maKc1kw3Oss/s640/IMG_1650.jpg" width="426" /></a></div> No explanation necessary.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GronQlwX-WY/T2DLzV87BpI/AAAAAAAAAjY/IO5LNF_JDGc/s1600/IMG_1701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GronQlwX-WY/T2DLzV87BpI/AAAAAAAAAjY/IO5LNF_JDGc/s640/IMG_1701.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The father and I in Tahoe.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W8z9HUSid_4/T2DTxHxWh7I/AAAAAAAAAjg/gJCxxTUXtXY/s1600/tahoe1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W8z9HUSid_4/T2DTxHxWh7I/AAAAAAAAAjg/gJCxxTUXtXY/s640/tahoe1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tL44Unh7j7I/T2DTy5B1ZnI/AAAAAAAAAjo/O8L2wnOf1UU/s1600/tahoe2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tL44Unh7j7I/T2DTy5B1ZnI/AAAAAAAAAjo/O8L2wnOf1UU/s640/tahoe2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> One out of a million different gorgeous mountains in Tahoe.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p0QZil7eLoQ/T2DT1KUgTCI/AAAAAAAAAjw/16aqhT2V2Vk/s1600/tahoe3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p0QZil7eLoQ/T2DT1KUgTCI/AAAAAAAAAjw/16aqhT2V2Vk/s640/tahoe3.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>Aforementioned mountain. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9x_ia-h3w00/T2DT31SldmI/AAAAAAAAAj4/6qFYCOTGhkY/s1600/tahoe4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9x_ia-h3w00/T2DT31SldmI/AAAAAAAAAj4/6qFYCOTGhkY/s640/tahoe4.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L2yJoWHuOHY/T2DT9QxbYqI/AAAAAAAAAkA/FBb9GxI_Ao4/s1600/tahoe10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L2yJoWHuOHY/T2DT9QxbYqI/AAAAAAAAAkA/FBb9GxI_Ao4/s640/tahoe10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> The view from our restaurant, which was technically in Nevada.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SYzfkN_R014/T2DT-seTWvI/AAAAAAAAAkI/jSrFMoqAScc/s1600/tahoe5+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SYzfkN_R014/T2DT-seTWvI/AAAAAAAAAkI/jSrFMoqAScc/s640/tahoe5+copy.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tHX8kXOLfko/T2DUAoc-ehI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/l_K7RD4v8bk/s1600/tahoe6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tHX8kXOLfko/T2DUAoc-ehI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/l_K7RD4v8bk/s640/tahoe6.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fm_0V1JLol0/T2DUB3ZPjPI/AAAAAAAAAkY/04gJSxPd5qo/s1600/tahoe7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fm_0V1JLol0/T2DUB3ZPjPI/AAAAAAAAAkY/04gJSxPd5qo/s640/tahoe7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eYpzNL8tFi0/T2DUGpDAR-I/AAAAAAAAAkg/IczhrujPbGQ/s1600/tahoe8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eYpzNL8tFi0/T2DUGpDAR-I/AAAAAAAAAkg/IczhrujPbGQ/s640/tahoe8.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2SkG9qtnCzk/T2DUI8GxHcI/AAAAAAAAAko/SvWSCmZ-IMQ/s1600/tahoe9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2SkG9qtnCzk/T2DUI8GxHcI/AAAAAAAAAko/SvWSCmZ-IMQ/s640/tahoe9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Apparently an alcoholic hermit used to live on this island and that was somehow awesome so they made a sign about it.<br />
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Until next month.<br />
Just kidding I won't wait so long next time. PROMISE.<br />
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P.S. We were awarded a Kreativ Blogger Award by one of our lovely readers, <a href="http://swinginglikearustygate.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Rusty</a>, so thank you! I'm not sure if we're supposed to also award someone so, uh, leave a comment.<br />
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P.P.S. I am intelligent and missed one of the rules of winning the award. We are supposed to list ten facts about ourselves so I'll accept that challenge and share 10 things about Ashley and I.<br />
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1. We used to have "leg wars" which entailed laying on opposite ends of the couch and sort-of-kicking each other with our legs.<br />
2. To keep cool from the scorching Sacramento sun, we would swim around our above ground pool and invent things.<br />
3. Our inventions usually had something to do with toilets (one of them being Toilet Genie 3000)<br />
4. When we were close enough in age to be at the same school, we would hang out on this one tree by the field and it was awesome.<br />
5. One time she made me eat soap. She thinks I'm making that up. I'm not. It was horrible.<br />
6. Ashley has magical hands and gives really great massages. But she never gives me one because she's horrible.<br />
7. Before the hatred set in, I used to let her lay on my lap during road trips and stroke her hair. It actually fills me with rage just thinking about it.<br />
8. When she left for college (undergrad, that is) I was secretly sad about it and would call her for hours at a time.<br />
9. We did Bloody Mary once when we were little and it scared me for years.<br />
10. Ashley is majoring in creative writing and I in photography and neither of us really know what we're doing but, hell, we're doing it and it's made us pretty happy so far. And bless our parents, they're happy we're happy, despite the fact we're not engineering majors.<br />
<span id="goog_337744244"></span><span id="goog_337744245"></span>Ashley and Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450163300660482812noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110337248119350508.post-65179892351195688762012-02-19T14:00:00.001-08:002012-02-19T14:00:40.149-08:00London and The Black Keys<div class="MsoNormal">Hello readers. I have something very important to tell you.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8SbnoQjMZas/T0FwnFe6w2I/AAAAAAAAAhI/wL511y2nUqA/s1600/DSC07897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8SbnoQjMZas/T0FwnFe6w2I/AAAAAAAAAhI/wL511y2nUqA/s640/DSC07897.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now that that’s done, allow me to impart to you the details of how I arrived at the majestic wonderland that was the Black Keys concert. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It all started on a little thing called the overnight bus. Now if you are of the American persuasion I know what you’re thinking: “But Ashley, is not the bus station a place for crack dealings? Why doth would you choose to traverse in this manner?” WELL FEAR NOT DEAR FRIENDS — the Scottish public transportation system is a lot less um … rapey. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So Katie, Gina, and I climbed on board the sleeper bus and into our cots — I on the top, Katie in the middle, and Gina on the bottom. Soon after, I felt the sweet combination of claustrophobia/carsickness reaching new heights as I tried for a few hours to fall asleep. Six hours into our journey I did, and then two hours later it was time to get up.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">After arriving in merry ol’ London at the not-so-merry hour of 7 am, we took a taxi to our <s>shithole</s> hostel, checked in to our four-bed room (YES), and passed out. When we woke up we had a new roommate from Australia — a nice man named Blake. Blake didn’t come back that night. So we’re not sure what happened to Blake. But here are some pictures Gina took of Katie and I in the hostel:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3xKiP_HIc6g/T0FkT4dav3I/AAAAAAAAAZ4/oMUJ4BdrEkk/s1600/DSC08138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3xKiP_HIc6g/T0FkT4dav3I/AAAAAAAAAZ4/oMUJ4BdrEkk/s640/DSC08138.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AOkri2oIG60/T0Fkyjj3-QI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/yRAXX0gtO3k/s1600/DSC08134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AOkri2oIG60/T0Fkyjj3-QI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/yRAXX0gtO3k/s640/DSC08134.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X9zCtFmP7Ms/T0Fk1twbmHI/AAAAAAAAAaY/LVjF0hv7arc/s1600/DSC08139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X9zCtFmP7Ms/T0Fk1twbmHI/AAAAAAAAAaY/LVjF0hv7arc/s640/DSC08139.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B0T4ofNB_DM/T0Fk4ok4vcI/AAAAAAAAAag/6GpW9sYTaM0/s1600/DSC08140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B0T4ofNB_DM/T0Fk4ok4vcI/AAAAAAAAAag/6GpW9sYTaM0/s640/DSC08140.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x-_2fCZol1A/T0Fk6qoHFYI/AAAAAAAAAao/_V4h48CquRA/s1600/DSC08141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x-_2fCZol1A/T0Fk6qoHFYI/AAAAAAAAAao/_V4h48CquRA/s640/DSC08141.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
And yes, I am wearing 15 layers of clothes. What’s the story behind that? Well, the heater went out in our room and seeing as a few days prior Russia had seen fit to straight up blow a winter storm at continental Europe and the UK, it was cold as f**k. Like seriously, it was getting so bad that to keep our minds off of how cold we were we started coming up with movie ideas. One that I’m particularly proud of was, “Hostel 3: Three Americans Chicks Kill Everyone in Hostel After Suffering Hallucinations Brought on by Stage Five Hypothermia.” If anyone steals that idea I swear to God. Anyways, here are more pictures from our hostel:<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4sDB7x6irOU/T0FkwQcpJjI/AAAAAAAAAaI/Qub3CQxNCN4/s1600/DSC08127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4sDB7x6irOU/T0FkwQcpJjI/AAAAAAAAAaI/Qub3CQxNCN4/s640/DSC08127.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kqlYK-7v9VA/T0FkipswWFI/AAAAAAAAAaA/HM3AWjBHbJk/s1600/DSC08184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kqlYK-7v9VA/T0FkipswWFI/AAAAAAAAAaA/HM3AWjBHbJk/s640/DSC08184.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RurB3Ibh-hM/T0Fk9bKfuoI/AAAAAAAAAaw/Zgjx-fyYZ6Q/s1600/DSC08158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RurB3Ibh-hM/T0Fk9bKfuoI/AAAAAAAAAaw/Zgjx-fyYZ6Q/s640/DSC08158.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Vogue</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9VzCqN0z8EY/T0FlCQNY4XI/AAAAAAAAAa4/tSBOwGMjqjo/s1600/DSC08164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9VzCqN0z8EY/T0FlCQNY4XI/AAAAAAAAAa4/tSBOwGMjqjo/s640/DSC08164.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UmqD6fSr3Jw/T0FlDpL_uzI/AAAAAAAAAbA/F490YDuMMUU/s1600/DSC08165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UmqD6fSr3Jw/T0FlDpL_uzI/AAAAAAAAAbA/F490YDuMMUU/s640/DSC08165.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The little heater that couldn't</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2ALeOfLEGCY/T0FlF9N1viI/AAAAAAAAAbI/AnQjTEnPsbw/s1600/DSC08172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2ALeOfLEGCY/T0FlF9N1viI/AAAAAAAAAbI/AnQjTEnPsbw/s640/DSC08172.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z02Gz6UIESI/T0FlInP-eQI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/B4erkU2wdHE/s1600/DSC08184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z02Gz6UIESI/T0FlInP-eQI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/B4erkU2wdHE/s640/DSC08184.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">After that, seeing as we had a few hours till the concert, we decided to walk around town. We walked through Hyde Park and um … past Hyde Park and saw this stuff:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RJPIQ2-4K6M/T0FnIaEVoiI/AAAAAAAAAbY/DRPUIFpScq0/s1600/DSC07350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RJPIQ2-4K6M/T0FnIaEVoiI/AAAAAAAAAbY/DRPUIFpScq0/s640/DSC07350.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-44EXPNX6o1w/T0FnKPQZnxI/AAAAAAAAAbg/hijm6AXQ-f0/s1600/DSC07361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-44EXPNX6o1w/T0FnKPQZnxI/AAAAAAAAAbg/hijm6AXQ-f0/s640/DSC07361.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You don't want to see her when she's angry ... or giving a snowman a hand-job.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1tJZ97Tk1ZA/T0FnMHoYcNI/AAAAAAAAAbo/cCXnnB59GdY/s1600/DSC07365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="618" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1tJZ97Tk1ZA/T0FnMHoYcNI/AAAAAAAAAbo/cCXnnB59GdY/s640/DSC07365.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2zp9PLMYQeM/T0FnOLy9VcI/AAAAAAAAAbw/Neszu5AsXzA/s1600/DSC07380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2zp9PLMYQeM/T0FnOLy9VcI/AAAAAAAAAbw/Neszu5AsXzA/s640/DSC07380.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The SAY WHATTTT horse</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E4rCeCDGWF0/T0FnWK4TNhI/AAAAAAAAAb4/H8opbL6n7_M/s1600/DSC07413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E4rCeCDGWF0/T0FnWK4TNhI/AAAAAAAAAb4/H8opbL6n7_M/s640/DSC07413.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Where we went for lunch times. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2W1UsH4KRo/T0FnZ-mOp-I/AAAAAAAAAcA/vSppjqc5w6U/s1600/DSC07419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2W1UsH4KRo/T0FnZ-mOp-I/AAAAAAAAAcA/vSppjqc5w6U/s640/DSC07419.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AmMN47ovEFc/T0Fnc50-fnI/AAAAAAAAAcI/iM0bPJkDBaA/s1600/DSC07454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AmMN47ovEFc/T0Fnc50-fnI/AAAAAAAAAcI/iM0bPJkDBaA/s640/DSC07454.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Planning our next moves</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br />
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</o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">And then it was time for the most amazing concert of all time. I mean, they had a crepe stand for crap’s sake (I was going to say “for crepes sake” but I figured we’d lose like half our followers so I didn’t). It was at Alexandra Palace, which according to our cabbie was where they housed German prisoners of war in WWII … so that’s nice. Long story short it was just … it was just. Also, I took over 300 pictures that night. Oops. Here are some of them:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HPsBfZVfKBQ/T0FonBygq2I/AAAAAAAAAcQ/HAhwwEuji1g/s1600/DSC07501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HPsBfZVfKBQ/T0FonBygq2I/AAAAAAAAAcQ/HAhwwEuji1g/s640/DSC07501.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1cDEuQk4pkU/T0Fott1Qr_I/AAAAAAAAAcY/5E9oEHdyHOE/s1600/DSC07526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1cDEuQk4pkU/T0Fott1Qr_I/AAAAAAAAAcY/5E9oEHdyHOE/s640/DSC07526.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The opening band (amazing)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K97Nl-ugAr4/T0FovokeX2I/AAAAAAAAAcg/-OWwsx0l4Cw/s1600/DSC07588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K97Nl-ugAr4/T0FovokeX2I/AAAAAAAAAcg/-OWwsx0l4Cw/s640/DSC07588.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They'reeee herrreee</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CeJ5cSYVFDw/T0FozDzkwcI/AAAAAAAAAco/9sEOzg3C654/s1600/DSC07619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CeJ5cSYVFDw/T0FozDzkwcI/AAAAAAAAAco/9sEOzg3C654/s640/DSC07619.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">THE BLACK KEYS</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6MKDbzgPlsY/T0Fo04J1_UI/AAAAAAAAAcw/QPaJyhrPYso/s1600/DSC07644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6MKDbzgPlsY/T0Fo04J1_UI/AAAAAAAAAcw/QPaJyhrPYso/s640/DSC07644.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JPvxQS3Cr8g/T0Fo3OcWdXI/AAAAAAAAAc4/eeZYE1Uwieo/s1600/DSC07659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JPvxQS3Cr8g/T0Fo3OcWdXI/AAAAAAAAAc4/eeZYE1Uwieo/s640/DSC07659.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Patrick Carney, the love of my life</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0hYY1468dHc/T0Fra7KRt6I/AAAAAAAAAdo/A8MVOTLFpMA/s1600/DSC07763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0hYY1468dHc/T0Fra7KRt6I/AAAAAAAAAdo/A8MVOTLFpMA/s640/DSC07763.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Shadows</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sti4zg1kKjc/T0FsMVt455I/AAAAAAAAAeI/Pi9V_cY1YTE/s1600/DSC07821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sti4zg1kKjc/T0FsMVt455I/AAAAAAAAAeI/Pi9V_cY1YTE/s640/DSC07821.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8L7DUD9pKds/T0FrxQ1gmlI/AAAAAAAAAd4/amJ1pxwtp5E/s1600/DSC07823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8L7DUD9pKds/T0FrxQ1gmlI/AAAAAAAAAd4/amJ1pxwtp5E/s640/DSC07823.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EjuNNDiOoP4/T0Fo8GL4cbI/AAAAAAAAAdI/ehW0-E-buOU/s1600/DSC07783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EjuNNDiOoP4/T0Fo8GL4cbI/AAAAAAAAAdI/ehW0-E-buOU/s640/DSC07783.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CfJ40qRHinI/T0Fo-ghliOI/AAAAAAAAAdM/KA-bw1OYg2A/s1600/DSC07843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CfJ40qRHinI/T0Fo-ghliOI/AAAAAAAAAdM/KA-bw1OYg2A/s640/DSC07843.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Everlasting Light</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oe7dkec2SUk/T0FpApjL44I/AAAAAAAAAdY/WCCCSwJEM3o/s1600/DSC07845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oe7dkec2SUk/T0FpApjL44I/AAAAAAAAAdY/WCCCSwJEM3o/s640/DSC07845.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Worship</div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">After that we waited in the taxi line for an hour. It’s also important to note that it was blizzarding. After we made it back to the hostel, we climbed into our frozen, disease-laden sheets and passed the eff out. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The next two days were spent wandering around London. We went to Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Parliament (where I almost go stiff-armed by a guard who thought I was trying to sneak into the not-public entrance … which I totally wasn’t), Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, and The Globe Theatre (except the real Globe burned down in 1613 and they have since built a bridge over where it used to be. So they built a replica not too long ago in a different place. So we just toured a building of lies … for £10). Here are the pictures from those two days:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-voZp7OesQPg/T0FtTn-dKVI/AAAAAAAAAeY/pVl5VWoOndk/s1600/DSC07918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-voZp7OesQPg/T0FtTn-dKVI/AAAAAAAAAeY/pVl5VWoOndk/s640/DSC07918.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He was asking for it.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bA36Iod5ALs/T0FtX3GbSQI/AAAAAAAAAeg/llbdXbd_ceQ/s1600/DSC07937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bA36Iod5ALs/T0FtX3GbSQI/AAAAAAAAAeg/llbdXbd_ceQ/s640/DSC07937.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gina at the Palace</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b4bQtO_kVmk/T0FtaVzW0RI/AAAAAAAAAeo/q17q5JEkwio/s1600/DSC07956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b4bQtO_kVmk/T0FtaVzW0RI/AAAAAAAAAeo/q17q5JEkwio/s640/DSC07956.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Buckingham Palace</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fXXECdobCgc/T0FteBBKBrI/AAAAAAAAAew/Z9QWD0zggjc/s1600/DSC08006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fXXECdobCgc/T0FteBBKBrI/AAAAAAAAAew/Z9QWD0zggjc/s640/DSC08006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Winston Churchill and Parliament</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zyAw-WiVfhI/T0Ftf4dCLnI/AAAAAAAAAe4/s6e4ALTRFGI/s1600/DSC08016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zyAw-WiVfhI/T0Ftf4dCLnI/AAAAAAAAAe4/s6e4ALTRFGI/s640/DSC08016.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pz11lfkyDbU/T0Fth8Og_UI/AAAAAAAAAfA/I2sCQm7IUpw/s1600/DSC08020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pz11lfkyDbU/T0Fth8Og_UI/AAAAAAAAAfA/I2sCQm7IUpw/s640/DSC08020.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ben</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mrrmvkWfpU0/T0FtkVEhCTI/AAAAAAAAAfI/pZJQDmu4brM/s1600/DSC08051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mrrmvkWfpU0/T0FtkVEhCTI/AAAAAAAAAfI/pZJQDmu4brM/s640/DSC08051.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kxFM_sFDIpo/T0FtnE12stI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/HIT60Du9pUs/s1600/DSC08062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kxFM_sFDIpo/T0FtnE12stI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/HIT60Du9pUs/s640/DSC08062.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Westminster Abbey</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eS7foGQOzGg/T0FtpHWglJI/AAAAAAAAAfY/1K2exg6j_ME/s1600/DSC08069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eS7foGQOzGg/T0FtpHWglJI/AAAAAAAAAfY/1K2exg6j_ME/s640/DSC08069.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Someone we did not expect to see</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2mcPuRn_B9w/T0FtqaB320I/AAAAAAAAAfg/Vk_f6pgJdeM/s1600/DSC08075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2mcPuRn_B9w/T0FtqaB320I/AAAAAAAAAfg/Vk_f6pgJdeM/s640/DSC08075.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L0tCAW2xGS0/T0FtsZLzNjI/AAAAAAAAAfo/SL1sKuTW5Ag/s1600/DSC08082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L0tCAW2xGS0/T0FtsZLzNjI/AAAAAAAAAfo/SL1sKuTW5Ag/s640/DSC08082.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MChvcIjOjO8/T0Ftt1lcKsI/AAAAAAAAAfw/ci9eDCz4QDo/s1600/DSC08084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MChvcIjOjO8/T0Ftt1lcKsI/AAAAAAAAAfw/ci9eDCz4QDo/s640/DSC08084.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gina ruining mah landscapes part 1</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t61-yJsubmo/T0FtxmJSdII/AAAAAAAAAf4/5bisRV2ciiM/s1600/DSC08094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t61-yJsubmo/T0FtxmJSdII/AAAAAAAAAf4/5bisRV2ciiM/s640/DSC08094.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n5ebF0bHZZ8/T0FtzZo4KsI/AAAAAAAAAgA/qVRKsAsxZfw/s1600/DSC08111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n5ebF0bHZZ8/T0FtzZo4KsI/AAAAAAAAAgA/qVRKsAsxZfw/s640/DSC08111.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GivYGsww0mw/T0Ft1AvPptI/AAAAAAAAAgI/ck0k9b0sOLc/s1600/DSC08112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GivYGsww0mw/T0Ft1AvPptI/AAAAAAAAAgI/ck0k9b0sOLc/s640/DSC08112.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gina ruining mah landscapes part 2</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LRpI0CYQW48/T0Ft3KGbbTI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/ZLJeBwUSgjU/s1600/DSC08205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LRpI0CYQW48/T0Ft3KGbbTI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/ZLJeBwUSgjU/s640/DSC08205.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Author's photo</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8KCBl4GEO6g/T0Ft4180jvI/AAAAAAAAAgY/z9zuBLhMmZk/s1600/DSC08216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8KCBl4GEO6g/T0Ft4180jvI/AAAAAAAAAgY/z9zuBLhMmZk/s640/DSC08216.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Author's photo part 2</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M7uGWHXqmY0/T0Ft79Qhu7I/AAAAAAAAAgg/614fkWAtHqQ/s1600/DSC08231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M7uGWHXqmY0/T0Ft79Qhu7I/AAAAAAAAAgg/614fkWAtHqQ/s640/DSC08231.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">View from the Tower of London</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gtPONwginFc/T0Ft_JQybDI/AAAAAAAAAgo/m5z7PPVsmiI/s1600/DSC08269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gtPONwginFc/T0Ft_JQybDI/AAAAAAAAAgo/m5z7PPVsmiI/s640/DSC08269.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Someone else who was asking for it — this time in the Globe</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HJB0DWSBhUg/T0FuA9zD0MI/AAAAAAAAAgw/5hD1dYumCdU/s1600/DSC08273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HJB0DWSBhUg/T0FuA9zD0MI/AAAAAAAAAgw/5hD1dYumCdU/s640/DSC08273.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T0277td3sNA/T0FuDzSoOHI/AAAAAAAAAg4/0gkIp1L6GLI/s1600/DSC08279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T0277td3sNA/T0FuDzSoOHI/AAAAAAAAAg4/0gkIp1L6GLI/s640/DSC08279.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Globe of lies</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ytv8F8zFO_E/T0FuHUikraI/AAAAAAAAAhA/_AI8_bXi_ko/s1600/DSC08310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ytv8F8zFO_E/T0FuHUikraI/AAAAAAAAAhA/_AI8_bXi_ko/s640/DSC08310.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm going to be honest, I still ate it. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And then it was time to bid London a-dude and go back to home, sweet Glasgow. Except our bus ended up getting diverted off the freeway due to construction and we ended up taking a completely unnecessary three-hour tour (yes haha Gilligan jokes) of the English countryside. So our 8-hour car ride turned into 11. But whatever, we’re back. And I’ve missed you. Kind of. No I have.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now it's back to reading Gertrude Stein. Until next time dear friends,</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Ash</div>Ashley and Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450163300660482812noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110337248119350508.post-6135685031422818262012-02-14T23:09:00.000-08:002012-02-14T23:09:23.747-08:00I totally didn't forget about that blog I share my sister.I totally forgot about this blog that I share with my sister.<br />
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<i>So yeah. </i>To be fair, I have been impossibly busy with Adult Stuff (also see: Stuff That Makes Me Want To Shove My Head Through The Wall) and finding the time to sit down and type out stories in a vaguely humorous manner wasn't exactly high on my to-do list. But you've heard this all before and I know you guys are probably anti-excuse so let's just say I was mauled by a bear hungry for hipster flesh and I have been recovering in Urban Outfitters, neatly arranging the display case of plastic cameras. <br />
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So over the past few weeks I have written a handful of annoyed emails, I have read The Fault in Our Stars in a nearby library while I leaned against a cold window, I've had a couple religious experiences listening to Circle of Life at full volume, I've had a restaurant bill paid for because one of the waiters is in love with Allie, I've tackled a friend on the sidewalk at 3 am, I've drunkenly hid in a stranger's front yard in an impromptu game of hide and seek with Kayla, and I've swung inappropriately high on a swing set at night with Kayla whilst blasting Wake Me Up When September Ends. The 7th grader in me was very happy that night. <br />
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Other than that, this semester is going by painfully slowly. Not that I haven't had any going-to-remember-this-moment-for-the-rest-of-my-life experiences, but it's been rough. I am counting down the days until spring break when I fly back to California and disappear from the world entirely. At least there I don't have to answer the dreaded "why did you move from California to Pennsylvania ARE YOU INSANE" question that seems to be so popular. I'm this close to saying I'm from North Dakota just so people can stop piercing my Californian soul with their judgments. I have quite literally been lectured on why California is a happiness cornucopia. Like these are things that are happening to me. So at any given point in time you should assume that I am fighting the urge to punch the person asking me why I moved from "like, the best place on Earth man". <br />
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This blog is going to end now in a very abrupt and apathetic manner. <br />
It's not you, it's me. <br />
(I promise I'll write something interesting next time. This was an "I'm not dead. Just barely existing" post)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OzyZSBd-xSk/TztYia61jlI/AAAAAAAAAYw/sEc1QhyX_KU/s1600/_MG_9493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OzyZSBd-xSk/TztYia61jlI/AAAAAAAAAYw/sEc1QhyX_KU/s640/_MG_9493.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The ever lovely and multi-colored Kayla. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dsb1eWiOc6Y/TztYlCZEYpI/AAAAAAAAAY4/IZP7HAqi6LQ/s1600/IMG_1509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dsb1eWiOc6Y/TztYlCZEYpI/AAAAAAAAAY4/IZP7HAqi6LQ/s640/IMG_1509.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>My building during a snow storm. My phone didn't pick up the SNOW FUCKING EVERYWHERE part. But it was snowing ridiculously hard, trust me. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LCNFerKkd9w/TztYmEMlBEI/AAAAAAAAAZA/eFKT-kSbraA/s1600/IMG_1510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LCNFerKkd9w/TztYmEMlBEI/AAAAAAAAAZA/eFKT-kSbraA/s640/IMG_1510.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>More snow. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eH4CwhMtP-o/TztYnDXx1iI/AAAAAAAAAZI/9VckwpCi4d4/s1600/IMG_1520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eH4CwhMtP-o/TztYnDXx1iI/AAAAAAAAAZI/9VckwpCi4d4/s640/IMG_1520.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Snow and Allie. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1kOa_zCj0FY/TztYn3yIq7I/AAAAAAAAAZQ/1O5N3072wLU/s1600/IMG_1521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1kOa_zCj0FY/TztYn3yIq7I/AAAAAAAAAZQ/1O5N3072wLU/s640/IMG_1521.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>I mean, it was really pretty snow. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z6iPKFX8rGk/TztYoqpJq6I/AAAAAAAAAZY/cwGlND9795Q/s1600/IMG_1522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z6iPKFX8rGk/TztYoqpJq6I/AAAAAAAAAZY/cwGlND9795Q/s640/IMG_1522.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Like so pretty. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fTMtsdv6BpU/TztYo4B8hhI/AAAAAAAAAZg/1_jlihTIvlg/s1600/IMG_1524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fTMtsdv6BpU/TztYo4B8hhI/AAAAAAAAAZg/1_jlihTIvlg/s640/IMG_1524.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>"I'm pretty sure things have happened in this alley" <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-44gqrS0ZA1E/TztYphIzlKI/AAAAAAAAAZo/iLKkR56uTVs/s1600/IMG_1536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-44gqrS0ZA1E/TztYphIzlKI/AAAAAAAAAZo/iLKkR56uTVs/s640/IMG_1536.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Siena and Allie spying on people.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6L6PGw-BklA/TztYqD-yr6I/AAAAAAAAAZw/PgsONww_b9M/s1600/IMG_1540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6L6PGw-BklA/TztYqD-yr6I/AAAAAAAAAZw/PgsONww_b9M/s640/IMG_1540.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Someone gave Kayla a Justin Bieber valentine. I thought it was only fair to make myself a valentine.Ashley and Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450163300660482812noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110337248119350508.post-39308393238313220702012-01-27T07:45:00.000-08:002012-01-28T11:18:07.682-08:00Superpowers and The Family Welling<div class="MsoNormal">Well hello everyone. How doth thou? I doth great. Have you lost weight? (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Wingdings;"><--</span> that totally rhymed) But enough small talk. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As I was sitting here in my little swivel chair, gazing out upon the majestic majesty that is Glasgow’s weather, I said to myself, “self, what adventure should I regale them with this week? What tale of intrigue, lust, and nuclear explosions should I let them be privy to?" But alas, these last few weeks have been relatively slow on the Scottish nuclear meltdown front. And if it were action packed in that regard, I would have by now gained the ability to see through walls and shoot lightening bolts out of my eyes with the help of my new sunglasses that top scientists had handcrafted for me. They would be the kind of sunglasses that say, “Yeah I look awesome, but you’re about to get a lightening bolt in your ass.” See Figure 1.1 if confused. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span id="goog_1162134453"></span><span id="goog_1162134454"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qgohAxgD858/TyLCFRgIn2I/AAAAAAAAAYQ/x8vBOaMXj9k/s1600/blog+pic+1:27.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qgohAxgD858/TyLCFRgIn2I/AAAAAAAAAYQ/x8vBOaMXj9k/s640/blog+pic+1:27.tiff" width="540" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Figure 1.1</div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Basically that is my way of telling you that nothing major happened this last week. OR DID IT? No nothing did. But I am about to embark on a few journeys. One of them is to London, which is happening February 8 – 12. But Ashley Marie Antoinette Welling, why are you embarking on such a trip you ask? ooOOooO just to see THE GREATEST BAND OF ALL TIME (refer to very hipsta-esque photo below). </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gwbv19BYb0A/TyLDJu248qI/AAAAAAAAAYg/k__XxMr06OQ/s1600/IMG_0543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gwbv19BYb0A/TyLDJu248qI/AAAAAAAAAYg/k__XxMr06OQ/s400/IMG_0543.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">And I am excited beyond words. For instance, if I run out of undergarments to throw on stage, I have this suspicion I’m just going to start picking up and tossing things that are closest to me. And while they are going to be really confused when they notice large amounts of grass clumps lying about their feet, I’m sure they’ll understand it was done out of <s>obsession</s> love. This little trip will also mark the first time I have ever stayed in a hostel. I’ll be sure to keep you posted as to how many personal effects get “lost.” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">My second adventure is more personal, more spiritual, more … Pulitzer Prize-y if I may. Allow me to break it down one time. It’s a project for my editing and publication class and what I’ve decided to do is to play around with the idea of autobiography with an emphasis on ancestry. Yes you heard right, I’m going to venture back into the bowels of the Welling family archives and find out where these sons-a-bitches came from. I mean, they’re all from over here so it shouldn’t be too difficult. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll find out from which branch of the tree Stephanie got her stupidness — and in that respect, where I inherited my brilliant, sparkling personality. I might even explore my mom’s side — the _______’s. Why the omission you ask? I mean, it’s not that I don’t trust you, it’s just that I have this sneaking suspicion if I told the world my mom’s maiden name I’d suddenly be the proud owner of 15 new credit cards. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">On that note, I made another video. But this time, it’s with Katie and Gina — two fellow Americans that I met in the airport when I first arrived in this land I now call home. They live with me here in the international dorms and they’re pretty great and I talk about them a lot in the blog so I figured you should all meet them. ENJOY. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/35475469?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe><br />
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Oh and I got a new piercing. It's just on my ear so calm down. Get out your microscope:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_U2TVOAmmGQ/TyLDoy6nzzI/AAAAAAAAAYo/YuapafK8eJI/s1600/Photo+on+2012-01-27+at+05.40+%232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_U2TVOAmmGQ/TyLDoy6nzzI/AAAAAAAAAYo/YuapafK8eJI/s400/Photo+on+2012-01-27+at+05.40+%232.jpg" width="388" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just to clarify, I was not terrified when I took this picture. #awkwardselfportraits </div><br />
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Love,<br />
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Ash<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>Ashley and Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450163300660482812noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110337248119350508.post-66502419658829995762012-01-19T19:57:00.000-08:002012-01-19T19:57:27.897-08:00Acid, raves, snow, and Portlandia.To clarify, I have not been tripping on acid since I've been back in Pittsburgh. Okay, moving on.<br />
<br />
So I finally decided to write a post. Ashley has been dropping not-so-subtle hints over Facebook chat about writing one, so here I am. I probably should have written this when my stories were fresher in my mind, but this is the Internet and no one will be able to tell if I'm exaggerating the truth. I won't anyway, but it could happen.<br />
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So we'll tackle this story potluck (Buffet? Smorgasbord? Menagerie? Nah, potluck.) in accordance to the title. Get excited guys, you're about to hear a story about people on acid being afraid of my face.<br />
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I don't really recall how or why we ended up at our friend's house this one night, but we did and it was pretty okay for a while. It was the night before my good friend's birthday and we decided to take advantage of this totally superfluous night, as any true college student should do. So when we showed up we found ourselves in the midst of unfamiliar company, but they seemed nice enough. After a while I challenged everyone to a Mario Party 2 showdown and then proceeded to murder everyone with my 15 years of hard work and focus. We were meandering back upstairs while I reveled in my Superstar glory when we came across the calm before the acid-induced storm. There were two girls and three guys that had all dropped acid about an hour before and it was starting to kick in. One girl was holding an ice cube while pondering its very existence. Another was just laughing and taking pictures of fruit. And then they all decided to form a human couch in the bedroom adjacent to the kitchen. At that point, I was pretty tired and just wanted to go back to my dorm. So, while sitting on hold for a taxi and devouring an avocado ("What kind of sick people don't have SALT? They have have nutmeg and no fucking salt."), I heard the girls crack open the bedroom door and frantically ask my roommate, "IS SHE STILL HERE?". I didn't really pay much attention to it until my roommate asked if they were talking about me. I poked my head around the corner and heard a collective scream followed by a slamming of the bedroom door. <br />
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So, I did what any person would do in this situation and proceeded to scratch at the door and tell them they would all be made into salted pork by night's end. And then our taxi arrived and we all left. (Not before one of the guys emphatically stated that he needed to open the living room window to "let the outside in.")<br />
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Onto the rave. <br />
There was a rave happening in Southside (basically bar central in Pittsburgh) the night of my friend's actual birthday. Raves are not my thing, but she's young and starry-eyed and really wanted to see what it was like. So, we showed up fashionably early. Like, really early. There were a couple characters dancing to the Dubstep-kind-of-music that was playing, but that was about it. Deciding it was best to stick together, my roommate and I decided to find the bathroom. As we reached the door, a couple of guys stepped out, sniffed, shook their heads, and walked away. <br />
Needless to say, we found a different bathroom. It turned into that kind of bathroom later, but at the time it was pretty cocaine-less. Or whatever-less.<br />
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As for the rest of the night...I mean, what else would you expect from a rave. Lots of sniffing, too many people asking for dollar bills, lots of people with lit up gloves, the same kind of song being played over and over, all of that. A group of us ended up leaving early, leaving a couple people behind. I was, yes, a little high so I was pretty much constantly hugging someone. I like to hug people, what can I say. <br />
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The rest of that night was uneventful. There was pizza involved. And later sleep.<br />
<br />
Snow. There is snow. A lot of it. My friend Allie and I just walked several miles in it. But it's okay because we got free pad thai out of it. But I temporarily lost all feeling in my extremities and left my student ID in the restaurant, so I'm not sure if free pad thai really made up for that.<br />
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<br />
Portlandia. If you don't know what it is then we can't really be friends. Kayla (my roommate) and I have Portlandia dates. It's a beautiful thing. I just...I can't. It is something that must be experienced. Not unlike acid I suppose, but you probably shouldn't drop acid. You'll be obsessed with ice cubes and you'll think perfectly agreeable girls are terrifying demons. <br />
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<br />
ONTO THE PICTURES (which are, let's face it, mostly Instagram pictures)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rK33xIzct7s/TxjhFi4gdSI/AAAAAAAAAWA/cq1hvU1ml_E/s1600/winter1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rK33xIzct7s/TxjhFi4gdSI/AAAAAAAAAWA/cq1hvU1ml_E/s640/winter1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>The view from my window. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5zlIBK9vMe0/TxjiT-sILnI/AAAAAAAAAWI/nN2rzmxuQgs/s1600/IMG_1240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5zlIBK9vMe0/TxjiT-sILnI/AAAAAAAAAWI/nN2rzmxuQgs/s640/IMG_1240.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>This is a little out of order, but this is myself on New Year's. I believe Ashley already posted this picture, but it's okay because how often do you get to see me in a Ghostface mask? Exactly.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P5j0aeyW2Tc/TxjiUKNl4GI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/2qyWs5OPPHI/s1600/IMG_1256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P5j0aeyW2Tc/TxjiUKNl4GI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/2qyWs5OPPHI/s640/IMG_1256.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Waiting in the always exciting Sacramento airport for my departing flight back to Pittsburgh. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zDuHkcZYeh4/TxjiUrrxvQI/AAAAAAAAAWY/LMF4EMeMrfw/s1600/IMG_1261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zDuHkcZYeh4/TxjiUrrxvQI/AAAAAAAAAWY/LMF4EMeMrfw/s640/IMG_1261.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>In Georgia, on my way to Pittsburgh. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0RWIWLJ1Jtw/TxjiVsyH8YI/AAAAAAAAAWg/nR_KNvHUcpo/s1600/IMG_1272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0RWIWLJ1Jtw/TxjiVsyH8YI/AAAAAAAAAWg/nR_KNvHUcpo/s640/IMG_1272.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>Keeping it classy with our bag of wine. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XVkCHLKPCLc/TxjiWP686gI/AAAAAAAAAWo/tMVrhMgpHrA/s1600/IMG_1278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XVkCHLKPCLc/TxjiWP686gI/AAAAAAAAAWo/tMVrhMgpHrA/s640/IMG_1278.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>That girl, that one right there. This is from the acid night and she was the primary instigator in making me out to be the creature from the Black Lagoon.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PxAC90mo0Pg/TxjiWuu9QeI/AAAAAAAAAWw/dYRzdVzeN9Q/s1600/IMG_1294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PxAC90mo0Pg/TxjiWuu9QeI/AAAAAAAAAWw/dYRzdVzeN9Q/s640/IMG_1294.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Rave. People. Hipsters, rather. <br />
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2_FOaHBBQmI/TxjiWuNHfDI/AAAAAAAAAW4/l7qmmQz8NMI/s1600/IMG_1296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2_FOaHBBQmI/TxjiWuNHfDI/AAAAAAAAAW4/l7qmmQz8NMI/s640/IMG_1296.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> Lights on walls.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zAFyz4XPmkE/TxjiXfg9lmI/AAAAAAAAAXA/wBYAU5T9YH4/s1600/IMG_1298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zAFyz4XPmkE/TxjiXfg9lmI/AAAAAAAAAXA/wBYAU5T9YH4/s640/IMG_1298.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The night of the rave. I dyed my hair black. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nvZi3CXIHqU/TxjiX3NT8RI/AAAAAAAAAXI/RNrblx0KhYo/s1600/IMG_1329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nvZi3CXIHqU/TxjiX3NT8RI/AAAAAAAAAXI/RNrblx0KhYo/s640/IMG_1329.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> More pretty lights.<br />
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K0kgta3jS8A/TxjiYPY6BDI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/TbNnuBgt-j8/s1600/IMG_1332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K0kgta3jS8A/TxjiYPY6BDI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/TbNnuBgt-j8/s640/IMG_1332.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Oh yeah. This night was a story but I forgot to write it. Maybe next time. <br />
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PZ9orusH2fw/TxjiYZkb6xI/AAAAAAAAAXY/_0NG9Ks_Ezg/s1600/IMG_1341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PZ9orusH2fw/TxjiYZkb6xI/AAAAAAAAAXY/_0NG9Ks_Ezg/s640/IMG_1341.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>My friend with a decorative egg perched above her head. <br />
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DVnxjprhwc4/TxjiZPotdDI/AAAAAAAAAXg/7tJkPOQjyxg/s1600/IMG_1356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DVnxjprhwc4/TxjiZPotdDI/AAAAAAAAAXg/7tJkPOQjyxg/s640/IMG_1356.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>A couple nights ago I temporarily lost control of my life because I discovered Party Down. <br />
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q2U61Vom8mI/TxjiZrQ27XI/AAAAAAAAAXo/6_3XzB_ph4E/s1600/IMG_1361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q2U61Vom8mI/TxjiZrQ27XI/AAAAAAAAAXo/6_3XzB_ph4E/s640/IMG_1361.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The rest of these are from tonight. It just....it was a very cold night. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uWqd1OOnsiI/TxjiaI_2fSI/AAAAAAAAAXw/LNeLvpn3f9E/s1600/IMG_1362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uWqd1OOnsiI/TxjiaI_2fSI/AAAAAAAAAXw/LNeLvpn3f9E/s640/IMG_1362.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vUd1ckprC-A/TxjiaU_YrwI/AAAAAAAAAX4/plG6CACMoxg/s1600/IMG_1363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vUd1ckprC-A/TxjiaU_YrwI/AAAAAAAAAX4/plG6CACMoxg/s640/IMG_1363.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iHMVZJK8-TU/Txjia0rRIoI/AAAAAAAAAYA/rryqbKlcOrk/s1600/IMG_1364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iHMVZJK8-TU/Txjia0rRIoI/AAAAAAAAAYA/rryqbKlcOrk/s640/IMG_1364.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<i>Fin.</i>Ashley and Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450163300660482812noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110337248119350508.post-47832665080035540492012-01-09T04:44:00.000-08:002012-01-09T15:47:44.698-08:00A Tale of Incompetence<div class="MsoNormal">So I’ve been back in Glasgow for a few days dear followers and even though I was only gone for three weeks, I’ve forgotten a few vital things. Example 1: When I went to the little coffee shop by my flat yesterday morning, I ordered coffee with cream and the man looked up at me as if I had just told him I would be paying with strands of my own hair. He then said, “you just like, want it in a wee cup on the side?” And I was like, “Um yeah that’s cool.” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now, for my American followers you are probs saying to yourself, “Ashley, I just don’t see what the problem is here.” However, for our readers from the UK, Australia, Canada, Russia, Brazil, Argentina, Belgium, India, and the one person from Kazakhstan (I bet you thought I wasn’t going to mention you BUT I DID), you are probably thinking, “BITCH YOU CRAZY BITCH.” Confused? Well when I got a cup of black coffee with a paper cup on the side filled to the top with whipped cream, I was too. And then I realized, OH WAIT this isn’t America where cream means milk — it means whipped cream. Why did I just talk about whipped cream for 200 words? That’s none of your god damned business. And since that's really the only example I have of forgetting things, we'll move on. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Speaking of being not so intelligent, today is the first day of the new semester and of course I had homework and reading that I could have had done over Christmas break. But did I you ask? Nay. I obviously chose to do more important things like beat Stephanie’s ass at Rainbow Road/Mario Kart and eat more sugar than any human being should consume in one lifetime. So I had to do it all over the last three days. And it actually wasn’t so bad except for the part where I had to read over 100 pages of poetry that made absolutely no sense. I was going to quote it, but I’m afraid of doing that so I’m just going to say that I’m sorry, but repeating the same word for twenty lines does not a poem make. Especially when it’s a word you made up. That’s all I’m going to say. And just you watch, everyone in my class is going to LOVE it. That’s usually how these things work out. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But for now, I must bid you farewell as I prepare to head out on my adventures of the scholastic nature. But just know that when Stephanie posts in a few days, she has some great stories. Like, they involve people on acid thinking she's Hannibal Lecter. I'm just saying it's probably going to be better than a story about cream. But that's just me. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And now, for some random pictures from over break I found on my phone:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DaVqrkN8S-Q/TwrdBVH8jUI/AAAAAAAAAVI/-7HvUag7z2E/s1600/IMG_0492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DaVqrkN8S-Q/TwrdBVH8jUI/AAAAAAAAAVI/-7HvUag7z2E/s640/IMG_0492.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I took this right before I went home. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's the view from the coffee shop where I got bitch slapped emotionally by the barista. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PxOhZx-3F3s/TwrdV35dI2I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/dN6RvrI37Yk/s1600/IMG_0504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PxOhZx-3F3s/TwrdV35dI2I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/dN6RvrI37Yk/s640/IMG_0504.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">An excellent angle of Stephanie Welling taken immediately after picking her up from the airport.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZkBiuhSAWfc/Twrdg1_UJNI/AAAAAAAAAVY/fItELhcqnqk/s1600/IMG_0517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZkBiuhSAWfc/Twrdg1_UJNI/AAAAAAAAAVY/fItELhcqnqk/s640/IMG_0517.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Stephanie at my friend's house on New Years Eve. She's shy. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7t5M4-ZuY_Q/Twrdq3Q4FoI/AAAAAAAAAVg/jbphhFuA-qU/s1600/IMG_0520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7t5M4-ZuY_Q/Twrdq3Q4FoI/AAAAAAAAAVg/jbphhFuA-qU/s640/IMG_0520.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dropping bitch duck (Steph) off at the desolate airport. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-idBKMQ6BwBc/Twrd0WH-6LI/AAAAAAAAAVo/Uq4cXdP8DzY/s1600/IMG_0523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-idBKMQ6BwBc/Twrd0WH-6LI/AAAAAAAAAVo/Uq4cXdP8DzY/s640/IMG_0523.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Right before my flight to Glasgow, I found this massive rabbit sculpture that Stephanie and I dubbed, "The Great Cow of Sacramento International." My father later informed me that this work of art cost the city upwards of a million dollars to install. That'a boy Sacramento, that'a boy. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PZVnppgjZ1Q/Twrd8WbxDKI/AAAAAAAAAVw/0vyTBYtvP9M/s1600/IMG_0525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PZVnppgjZ1Q/Twrd8WbxDKI/AAAAAAAAAVw/0vyTBYtvP9M/s640/IMG_0525.jpg" width="534" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not even half of my reading (for one class) this semester. NOT EVEN AFRAID</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Until next time,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ashley</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L_Zl2pjug0s/Twrec6WAP7I/AAAAAAAAAV4/ASFYC775AZ4/s1600/DSC06327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L_Zl2pjug0s/Twrec6WAP7I/AAAAAAAAAV4/ASFYC775AZ4/s640/DSC06327.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At the Glasgow Christmas market. No seriously</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Ashley and Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450163300660482812noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110337248119350508.post-25211541606979594432012-01-03T01:30:00.000-08:002012-01-03T01:32:42.537-08:00Almost Famous?So in case you have been living under a rock (or you’ve just been carrying on with other, more important responsibilities), you will know that Stephanie and I have won something. Now, we’re not saying it’s of equal or greater importance than that of the Nobel Peace Prize … but we’re not saying it’s not. That’s right, we won a blog contest and victory has been sweet.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">How is our 12-hour-old fame treating us you ask? Not well folks, not well. I went to Starbucks today and I was practically mobbed. And by that I mean I think someone looked at me. And by someone I mean the cashier who said I “forgot my change” but I knew what she meant, I knew. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">To further explain the new circumstances in which we find ourselves, we made a short video that you may watch below. And once again, a big thank you to <a href="http://www.abeerfortheshower.com/" target="_blank">Bryan and Brandon</a> for giving us a shout out when we don’t deserve it in the slightest — and a big welcome to our new followers. Welcome to the motherfucking family. </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R82oUrxw5Ss/TwLKR8jLlZI/AAAAAAAAAVA/ixynA3RaiY4/s1600/blog+pic+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R82oUrxw5Ss/TwLKR8jLlZI/AAAAAAAAAVA/ixynA3RaiY4/s640/blog+pic+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How Stephanie and I celebrated our win. Also, a nuclear explosion. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Love,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ashley & Stephanie </div>Ashley and Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450163300660482812noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110337248119350508.post-14721906724935047962011-12-27T20:08:00.000-08:002012-01-01T20:44:42.876-08:00A Welling ChristmasTO: The World<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">FROM: The Welling sisters<br />
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<b>Ashley </b> <b>Stephanie</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R8A49kRVQk8/TvqXTtUTq2I/AAAAAAAAAUg/HqNWapDCgxw/s1600/blog+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R8A49kRVQk8/TvqXTtUTq2I/AAAAAAAAAUg/HqNWapDCgxw/s400/blog+5.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YP_o_-lDYoQ/TvqXXkc5_pI/AAAAAAAAAUo/vzKk-LN9vtE/s1600/Scan+113590008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YP_o_-lDYoQ/TvqXXkc5_pI/AAAAAAAAAUo/vzKk-LN9vtE/s400/Scan+113590008.jpg" width="287" /></a><br />
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Well the holidays are drawing to a close dear friends and I (Ashley) would like to take a step back and reflect on my time back in the ol’ U.S. of A. To start, I think it would surprise even the most exaggerating of exaggerators how many times I’ve been asked to do a Scottish accent. And I might not mind quite as much if I could actually do one but I absolutely cannot. What comes out of my mouth is some amalgamation of German, Cockney, and West Indian. Don’t ask how I amalgamated all of those, only our Lord and Savior knows the answer to that one. And even he might not know.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The second favorite question is “Why would you want to live in Scotland?” to which I reply, “Because I was deported.” People generally don’t ask any questions after that. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And seeing <s>my cats</s> all my friends has been really great. Everyone’s been saying I’ve lost weight, which I’ve responded to by eating three times my body weight over the last two weeks. First world problems. Oh and I’ve given everyone their Christmas presents which largely consisted of whiskey and whiskey flavored condoms — I think the customs officers at JFK assumed I was both a massive slut and alcoholic with an affinity for miniature whiskey bottles. But truthfully they probably deduced something worse about my character just from the way I looked after travelling for 20 hours, having every flight delayed, sleeping on the airplane, sleeping on the airplane and having half my body drooping out into the aisle giving every passenger free reign to rub their bodies against my hair, being woken up every five minutes by my row-mate who apparently had the world’s most efficient digestive system, sprinting through the New York airport with only twenty minutes to get to my connecting flight, actually making my connecting flight to Sacramento, and so on. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But it was all worth it. Seeing Stephanie’s crap lousy face, watching endless hours of Family Guy, The Office, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and … *gasp* … writing fiction, has been amazing. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And seeing as I probably will not return for another six months, I’m trying to soak it all in — and “soaking it all in” in Placerville takes like six hours. So I’m over it. Just kidding. But seriously, I am getting excited to go back to Scotland on the 5<sup>th</sup> and my little family away from family over there. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So followers, have fun ringing in 2012/the end-of-the-world year … God knows I will, and in Berkeley no less. Also, in celebration of the holiday season, we went through twenty-four years worth of photos and picked out the best of the often awkward Welling family pictures. There are some new ones in there too. And then, read on for Stephanie’s little holiday message and know that I accept NO responsibility for how terrible her writing is as she is on copious amounts of post-op pain medication at present. Enjoy!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Until next time, </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mVYN7vYHWcw/TvqMh1lX-5I/AAAAAAAAATo/PZ-Nllb15cA/s1600/blog+23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mVYN7vYHWcw/TvqMh1lX-5I/AAAAAAAAATo/PZ-Nllb15cA/s400/blog+23.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Edwardian Script ITC'; font-size: 20pt;">Ashley<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Edwardian Script ITC'; font-size: 20pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal">Now let the <strike>awkwardness</strike> cuteness BEGIN:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Edwardian Script ITC'; font-size: 20pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mDyELv8rsDM/TvqL8GQAcwI/AAAAAAAAASw/cJtLa12Nv30/s1600/blog+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mDyELv8rsDM/TvqL8GQAcwI/AAAAAAAAASw/cJtLa12Nv30/s640/blog+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Me and Mama. Making Christmas cookies like a boss since 1987.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1okF0AtLoc/TvqMBCV1k9I/AAAAAAAAAS4/r3WQYHLcZXE/s1600/blog+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1okF0AtLoc/TvqMBCV1k9I/AAAAAAAAAS4/r3WQYHLcZXE/s640/blog+4.jpg" width="462" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brick red carpet and my Christmas swag</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZhxOaq1Sw48/TvqMG7PBtyI/AAAAAAAAATA/P58kevVRFQY/s1600/blog+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="438" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZhxOaq1Sw48/TvqMG7PBtyI/AAAAAAAAATA/P58kevVRFQY/s640/blog+9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm not entirely sure if I was about to throw up or help her blow out her candles. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">See Stephanie in the upper right. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VR3hAPdNylc/TvqMM4RPJwI/AAAAAAAAATI/pjoz-9_xKFU/s1600/blog+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VR3hAPdNylc/TvqMM4RPJwI/AAAAAAAAATI/pjoz-9_xKFU/s640/blog+10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Halloween '92. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UVwhwPCgWv4/TvqMRvol6jI/AAAAAAAAATQ/OTdPPob8YoM/s1600/blog+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UVwhwPCgWv4/TvqMRvol6jI/AAAAAAAAATQ/OTdPPob8YoM/s640/blog+14.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Christmas '92. Also, Stephanie stabbing her doll's eyeball out. (see also: early signs of insanity)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8P-rKnkYafs/TvqMXbYjCzI/AAAAAAAAATY/IxKtItk5ME8/s1600/blog+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8P-rKnkYafs/TvqMXbYjCzI/AAAAAAAAATY/IxKtItk5ME8/s640/blog+17.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Halloween again. Also, Ashley high at the age of five.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--uAchDkooOs/TvqMbGo3nZI/AAAAAAAAATg/KmV6vZu91pY/s1600/blog+18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--uAchDkooOs/TvqMbGo3nZI/AAAAAAAAATg/KmV6vZu91pY/s640/blog+18.jpg" width="462" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The humans from whence we came. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3ugRKBYHTS4/TvqTVchwMEI/AAAAAAAAAT0/E5LqHmkkETY/s1600/DSC07130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3ugRKBYHTS4/TvqTVchwMEI/AAAAAAAAAT0/E5LqHmkkETY/s640/DSC07130.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Christmas '11</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wnzsZM-2tag/TvqTbIF7rNI/AAAAAAAAAT8/NAqSMniMaRc/s1600/DSC07258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wnzsZM-2tag/TvqTbIF7rNI/AAAAAAAAAT8/NAqSMniMaRc/s640/DSC07258.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ewwwwwwwww</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J5_cwP6h5ks/TvqTfhtFJ5I/AAAAAAAAAUE/d3LySYix-x4/s1600/DSC07264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J5_cwP6h5ks/TvqTfhtFJ5I/AAAAAAAAAUE/d3LySYix-x4/s640/DSC07264.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Baking</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MMA4qN8sUUc/TvqTkRA0dTI/AAAAAAAAAUM/RBWRJa0HGz0/s1600/DSC07265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MMA4qN8sUUc/TvqTkRA0dTI/AAAAAAAAAUM/RBWRJa0HGz0/s640/DSC07265.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HisBVtU3_pI/TvqToU8iZZI/AAAAAAAAAUU/0uM42cW304w/s1600/DSC07274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HisBVtU3_pI/TvqToU8iZZI/AAAAAAAAAUU/0uM42cW304w/s640/DSC07274.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Edwardian Script ITC'; font-size: 20pt;">The End ... of Ashley's post </span></div><br />
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Stephanie's Christmas break in bullet point form because Stephanie is not completely mentally present at the moment -<br />
<ul><li>After many hours, two cups of ginger ale, a brief but wondrous interaction with a man in the Phoenix airport that involved him offering to tape my Macbook charger into the outlet because it kept falling out (see also: true love), an Auntie Anne's Cinnamon-butter pretzel, and the familiar feeling of embarrassment as I descended the escalator in my home airport towards my sister who was yelling out a How The Grinch Stole Christmas reference ("Betty! Hiiii!")</li>
<li>Getting up three hours later the next morning for my mother's graduation from grad school.</li>
<li>Socializing with extended family. </li>
<li>Correction: not answering a single question about the fact that I just moved across the country for college. I'm still bitter about that.</li>
<li>Driving around to record stores with some old friends.</li>
<li>Returning to my old habit of not doing anything with my life. And also copious hours of Mario Kart. And maybe a couple Arnold Palmer's.</li>
<li>Okay like 30 Arnold Palmers. They're rare in Pittsburgh, okay?</li>
<li>Realizing how much I missed driving around aimlessly by driving around aimlessly.</li>
<li>Chipotle.</li>
<li>And, finally, surgery. It was this morning and it hurt a little but when they gave me the anesthesia I apparently said "woooooo" and immediately exited consciousness. </li>
</ul>Also being wheeled around everywhere. I felt like a god. Bow down to the fact that if I stood up I'd probably pass out, ye minions.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-esP0Cw8_p5s/TvqDk1JWoOI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/Th6KypABkxI/s1600/xmas2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-esP0Cw8_p5s/TvqDk1JWoOI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/Th6KypABkxI/s640/xmas2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Ashley with our beautiful circa-1998 hand-made ornaments. Mine is on the left, obviously.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-05LMiwYIMNA/TvqDor98GWI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/7vJWg_aUlCM/s1600/xmas7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-05LMiwYIMNA/TvqDor98GWI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/7vJWg_aUlCM/s640/xmas7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f739Ld6-2H4/TvqDsvPhkWI/AAAAAAAAARE/iSUu2BdnvwQ/s1600/xmas8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f739Ld6-2H4/TvqDsvPhkWI/AAAAAAAAARE/iSUu2BdnvwQ/s640/xmas8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IqsX5gx1VJA/TvqDww6dj9I/AAAAAAAAARM/ZuikVISrb9E/s1600/xmas3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IqsX5gx1VJA/TvqDww6dj9I/AAAAAAAAARM/ZuikVISrb9E/s640/xmas3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Ashley and Bub. I guess Bub fears colorful lights on trees. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q2g3mT6miqw/TvqD24GYUMI/AAAAAAAAARU/tMRgS0F0yMg/s1600/xmas9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q2g3mT6miqw/TvqD24GYUMI/AAAAAAAAARU/tMRgS0F0yMg/s640/xmas9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>"It looks cool" <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wB7PuXR02TA/TvqD6mpyzLI/AAAAAAAAARc/BQB8EfLgSsM/s1600/xmas12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wB7PuXR02TA/TvqD6mpyzLI/AAAAAAAAARc/BQB8EfLgSsM/s640/xmas12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>No explanation necessary. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wPOrfutFjD0/TvqEATNPpsI/AAAAAAAAARk/eRtQnjuqqjM/s1600/xmas15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wPOrfutFjD0/TvqEATNPpsI/AAAAAAAAARk/eRtQnjuqqjM/s640/xmas15.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>My gifts to Ashley. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NXDZi0GFZeA/TvqEDteoBaI/AAAAAAAAARs/qvlnH50SkNM/s1600/xmas16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NXDZi0GFZeA/TvqEDteoBaI/AAAAAAAAARs/qvlnH50SkNM/s640/xmas16.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VsKCVllkMuA/TvqEI4aQcWI/AAAAAAAAAR0/Gj5VHoyuxE4/s1600/xmas18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VsKCVllkMuA/TvqEI4aQcWI/AAAAAAAAAR0/Gj5VHoyuxE4/s640/xmas18.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p6eJJCknpkQ/TvqEOybSqoI/AAAAAAAAAR8/1i0inKD_d4k/s1600/xmas19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p6eJJCknpkQ/TvqEOybSqoI/AAAAAAAAAR8/1i0inKD_d4k/s640/xmas19.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> Proof of my Mario Kart addiction. Also Bub.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G9aLcs1zORg/TvqETGH0S1I/AAAAAAAAASE/O5Eo-J3tCg8/s1600/xmas21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G9aLcs1zORg/TvqETGH0S1I/AAAAAAAAASE/O5Eo-J3tCg8/s640/xmas21.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>Bub with Scottish whiskey. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IhPILnQXp-8/TvqEZ4-PdnI/AAAAAAAAASM/nyN0F5tcHck/s1600/xmas20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IhPILnQXp-8/TvqEZ4-PdnI/AAAAAAAAASM/nyN0F5tcHck/s640/xmas20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a8CyM9IjSQU/TvqEj8Njk1I/AAAAAAAAASU/chgM2ETVYpE/s1600/IMG_1196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a8CyM9IjSQU/TvqEj8Njk1I/AAAAAAAAASU/chgM2ETVYpE/s640/IMG_1196.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Cue brief Instagram spam of this morning. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_zjNPn7O8kY/TvqEvVkLNOI/AAAAAAAAASc/zVlB9HkkOmA/s1600/IMG_1199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_zjNPn7O8kY/TvqEvVkLNOI/AAAAAAAAASc/zVlB9HkkOmA/s640/IMG_1199.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QUfrGq72b8I/TvqE49FqokI/AAAAAAAAASk/SAizQyOYJIU/s1600/IMG_1202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QUfrGq72b8I/TvqE49FqokI/AAAAAAAAASk/SAizQyOYJIU/s640/IMG_1202.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> I don't really remember taking this picture.Ashley and Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450163300660482812noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110337248119350508.post-45943551589233804902011-12-22T16:17:00.000-08:002011-12-22T17:00:54.312-08:00The Missing Link ... bitchFollowers, friends, and bottom bitches, Stephanie and I are taking a break from our regularly scheduled blogging to bring you A BOOK REVIEW TO END ALL BOOK REVIEWS. Which is actually kind of unfortunate because I like reading book reviews … but I digress.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">The book: The Missing Link. The authors: <a href="http://www.abeerfortheshower.com/" target="_blank">Bryan and Brandon</a>. The book: Awesome. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RgzzryxWq98/TvPHE9530BI/AAAAAAAAAQo/Z3VUtf1sLRo/s1600/CoverFinal.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RgzzryxWq98/TvPHE9530BI/AAAAAAAAAQo/Z3VUtf1sLRo/s400/CoverFinal.png" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">A modern day Lewis Carroll-ish tale of Brent, an IT man disillusioned with his life and job, and his adventures with Mickey, his office’s security guard, as they try to rescue the world and Brent’s girlfriend Molly from the complete collapse of the Internet. With an imagination that would make Dr. Seuss quiver and comedic metaphors that ring more true then … um … something that rings the truth, Bryan and Brandon have really outdone themselves with this one. You’re right there with Molly as she fights off porn sites and scammers, and ingests penis enlargement and weight loss pills. You’re right there with the Downriver Boys (the only group seemingly unaffected by the online apocalypse) as they bear witness to the meltdown of the technologically dependent world above. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">BUT I WILL TELL YOU NO MORE … because read you must. How doth one partake in the reading of said masterwork? <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Missing-Link-ebook/dp/B006NUAQNC/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324303226&sr=1-1" target="_blank">HERE</a> <-- Click on that OR SO HELP US GAWD<br />
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And you know what followers, after reading said book, it got us thinking here at A Tale of Two Continents about just how our world/Placerville would be affected by the complete and utter disintegration of the world wide web. Our consensus? It wouldn't affect us one god damn bit. Now, for any of you privy to the location of our little hometown away from home, you are aware that about 75% of its residents are not all together learned on the existence of the internet. Indeed, the new-fangled "satellite internet" did not make its debut until about last year, thus leaving us little Placerville-ites with dial-up and an approximately 45 minute wait time between the initial click and the final loading of any particular web page. But we still appreciate where you're going with the book guys, we really do. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now to explain the video below. You see dear followers, Bryan and Brandon issued a challenge to the world. They proclaimed, “PROMOTE OUR BOOK SLAVE AND WE’LL FEATURE YOUR BLOG ON OUR BLOG” — except they didn’t say it like that at all. And our response was, to quote the late, great Winston Churchill, “BRING IT BITCH.” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So we dedicate this blog post to them, our friends, and wish them the best of luck with their self-publishing endeavors. And in celebration of their new literary feat, we made them this little video which you can find the link to below because Youtube was being a poopy face tomato nose and wouldn't let us use Selena Gomez songs without her permission and, as we all know, permission is for squares. So we used Vimeo instead ... ENJOY: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/34097169" target="_blank">The Missing Link Video link <-- AWWW YEAH </a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Also, I ask that you forgive Stephanie her blasphemies Bryan and Brandon, all the good chromosomes went to me … she can’t help it.</span></div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lF7-ASWupL0/TvO9gob_S6I/AAAAAAAAAQQ/HJSC0Y6SLus/s1600/video+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lF7-ASWupL0/TvO9gob_S6I/AAAAAAAAAQQ/HJSC0Y6SLus/s640/video+.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just a little taste ^ ... and in case you're wondering, my shirt says, "Jesus is my bro, bro," but due to Stephanie's cinematographic genius, she cut it off. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Love love,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ashley and Stephanie </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jr04S9LiBVk/TvO7ss4wfbI/AAAAAAAAAQI/OodUISK0c3s/s1600/Photo+on+2011-12-20+at+14.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jr04S9LiBVk/TvO7ss4wfbI/AAAAAAAAAQI/OodUISK0c3s/s400/Photo+on+2011-12-20+at+14.48.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">P.S. I think we found the gremlin that ate your ethernet cords ... and in NO WAY is that an iPod charger. And in NO WAY is that our 20 lb cat BUB. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6hDW9HvkiJg/TvO_NIo5FII/AAAAAAAAAQc/eM6KQM6L8dY/s1600/IMG_0508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6hDW9HvkiJg/TvO_NIo5FII/AAAAAAAAAQc/eM6KQM6L8dY/s400/IMG_0508.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Ashley and Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450163300660482812noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110337248119350508.post-58159187148070060982011-12-16T12:50:00.000-08:002011-12-16T12:55:01.168-08:00Until January, Pittsburgh.Like Ashley, I am returning home to California And, like Ashley, I will be positively delirious with exhaustion and jet lag and I'm probably going to think goats with top hats are trying to explain string theory to me halfway through my flight home. I <i>did </i>have a final at the wonderful hour of 8:45 am, but did my alarm clock care? No. I woke up at 10:30 screaming bloody murder and trying to convince myself I was still dreaming because there is no way you can be 2 hours late for a final and still take it. I sprinted to my classroom and flung open the door dramatically and my panicked eyes found my teacher, expecting him to tell me I was too late (events may be dramatized for effect). Instead, he handed me the final and told me to finish it in the library. <br />
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So I took the final and I think I did pretty well. That's that story.<br />
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And then our mother's graduation from grad school is tomorrow morning at the crisp hour that is 8 am. And then I have surgery on Monday. It's not a big deal. Really.<br />
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I am going home. I am sitting at my gate, a perfectly timed hour before we board. I have a Subway foot-long on my right and my charging phone on my right (as to deter the sit-right-next-to-you-even-though-there-are-like-five-thousand-empty-seats person) and I could not be more excited to be back in California. <br />
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Ashley is currently home, for those who were wondering. She lost her luggage and one of her layovers was in Reykjavik, Iceland. Since I'm pretty sure none of our readers know this: I am absolutely in love with Iceland and I don't think it's fair that <i>Ashley </i>got to be the first person in our family to be in that wonderful country and not <i>me</i>. It's not like I discovered Iceland, but it's like I did.<br />
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I have a layover in Phoenix. I've never been to Phoenix so I am quite excited to see what their airport has to offer. Everyone is like LOL IT'LL BE SO HOT BRING SHORTS because apparently the Phoenix airport has no roof and/or stable indoor temperatures and the elements will be blowing amok and I will be sweating profusely and wishing I had brought shorts to change into. I don't understand why people think this way.<br />
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In any case, I believe Ashley wants to make a video as her next blog post and she requires my master technical skills and by master technical skills I mean she needs to use my camera because her camera doesn't take video and mine does. So, expect that to happen within the next week or so. I will probably be in it so you all get to see how utterly dull I am when a camera lens is pointed at my face. It'll be fun.<br />
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And now I must devour my sub. It's been waiting patiently for me and I cannot deny it any longer. Farewell, Pittsburgh. I'll see you in January.Ashley and Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450163300660482812noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110337248119350508.post-62927539188628134992011-12-12T18:25:00.000-08:002011-12-14T01:53:03.121-08:00Goodbye to Scotland ... for three weeks<div class="MsoNormal">So I’m making the 8000-mile journey back to Californ-eye-ay in three days and as per usual, I’m avoiding packing as if it were … um … any other adult obligation. In case it isn’t already obvious, I have a phobia of adult responsibilities similar to the fear that some experience when they are in the presence of a bear, a shark, or a bearshark. Take your pick.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Sure I’ve looked at my suitcase a few times. I’ve even gone so far as to look at my suitcase and my closet in rapid succession — but as far as moving anything from said closet to said suitcase is concerned … nah, none of that. And plus, I think it’s going to feel a little strange going home. I believe this will be due in part to a few things: 1) jet lag times a thousand 2) trying to maintain calm while I once again switching sides of the road 3) getting used to Stephanie’s stupid face again 4) Getting used to Stephanie’s Grand-Theft-Auto-esque driving style again 5) having the ability to watch 15 hours of Family Guy and The Office at my leisure 6) Being able to cuddle with BUB at my leisure 7) trying to overcome jet lag by sleeping in a twin bed I’ve had since I was 2 because the queen size bed I’ve had since I was 13 flew off my dad’s truck when I was 22 and trying to move back home, thus lodging itself under a semi-truck on Interstate 5 … never to be heard from again. Also, I think it’s just going to be strange being back at my house, for a few reasons. Sometimes the problems you left at home are still there … waiting for you to walk through the door so they can punch you in the crap lousy face. Also, not being around the people I’ve been in the presence of for a solid three months will be weird. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And of course there will be inquires in regards to my time here — some of them will most likely be how Scotland is different than the states, what I’ve learned since I’ve been here, how hot the men are, etc. So let me try to sum it all up:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Dail chuach am bainne ghobhar, suath ri d’ aghaidh, ’s chan eil mac rìgh air an domhan nach bi nad dhèidh. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In Scottish Gaelic that means: With violets and goats’ milk anoint your face, and every king’s son in the world will be after you. That’s it. That’s all I’ve learned about Scotland and that is what I’ll tell everyone. Dump a crap ton of goat’s milk and petals on your head and every guy will want to tap. Makes sense. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So my friends and foes, wish me a safe 18 hour journey and know that the next time you shall hear from me I will be back in my cozy little twin bed with the broken springs, all curled up in my mountain of blankets while my sole source of heat (a small and shitty space heater) tries its damndest to heat up my half-underground, -723456732 degree (Fahrenheit) room. I can’t promise you anything about the quality of the blog as I believe hysteria is the third stage of hypothermia … but don’t quote me. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">And here are some photos I took within the last week:</div><div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-exwvZmqrOYE/TuahNRsmC2I/AAAAAAAAAM8/lUsVPObYPb4/s1600/DSC06448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-exwvZmqrOYE/TuahNRsmC2I/AAAAAAAAAM8/lUsVPObYPb4/s640/DSC06448.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Let's be honest ... they usually are </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EINRJ4c6Ph0/TuahpB6ozfI/AAAAAAAAANE/4NJz7nJycUE/s1600/DSC06447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EINRJ4c6Ph0/TuahpB6ozfI/AAAAAAAAANE/4NJz7nJycUE/s640/DSC06447.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">On the way to Stirling ... *cue Enya</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sV6-dl8FJWM/Tuah-qQ_OgI/AAAAAAAAANM/mgPRWGL89CQ/s1600/DSC06451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sV6-dl8FJWM/Tuah-qQ_OgI/AAAAAAAAANM/mgPRWGL89CQ/s640/DSC06451.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">A cafe in Stirling </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-21n-qRx5aw8/TuaiMkYyEdI/AAAAAAAAANU/LgU-7fPb8pI/s1600/DSC06453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-21n-qRx5aw8/TuaiMkYyEdI/AAAAAAAAANU/LgU-7fPb8pI/s640/DSC06453.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mean streets</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think we all know of whom I'm referring to in this one ...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KVSIWtgJ3HE/Tuaik7ENGII/AAAAAAAAANk/ZQQ8fTu2whA/s1600/DSC06465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KVSIWtgJ3HE/Tuaik7ENGII/AAAAAAAAANk/ZQQ8fTu2whA/s640/DSC06465.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I mean, that's just funny</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TAwfg4hyfzA/TuaizRK47lI/AAAAAAAAANs/PuBr5nZzeGs/s1600/DSC06466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TAwfg4hyfzA/TuaizRK47lI/AAAAAAAAANs/PuBr5nZzeGs/s640/DSC06466.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The castle was like, directly to the right ... I think we got it</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HWg38XyqiNM/TuajGdLXksI/AAAAAAAAAN8/SdncAQPdeZE/s1600/DSC06500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HWg38XyqiNM/TuajGdLXksI/AAAAAAAAAN8/SdncAQPdeZE/s640/DSC06500.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My friend Kasie from California came to visit moi</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_AAkY2-W7F4/TuajTXubyuI/AAAAAAAAAOE/b2w70mRUmuE/s1600/DSC06505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_AAkY2-W7F4/TuajTXubyuI/AAAAAAAAAOE/b2w70mRUmuE/s640/DSC06505.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I almost did it ... almost</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pretty</div><br />
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</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yes please</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_zeIsmqA4y4/Tuaj6ecrRBI/AAAAAAAAAOc/xcFKuKeWaJ8/s1600/DSC06538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_zeIsmqA4y4/Tuaj6ecrRBI/AAAAAAAAAOc/xcFKuKeWaJ8/s640/DSC06538.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Yes please, part 2</div><br />
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</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks Stirling </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oFLzQzsc9uc/TuakMxe0skI/AAAAAAAAAOs/NRpkpB6XoYQ/s1600/DSC06551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oFLzQzsc9uc/TuakMxe0skI/AAAAAAAAAOs/NRpkpB6XoYQ/s640/DSC06551.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fun fact, William Wallace stayed here when he backpacked through Europe</div><br />
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</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">George's Square in City Centre. They get supes into Christmas. And for the last god damn time, </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">NO THAT IS NOT THE LONDON EYE ... Jesus H</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SvnvTcpfdLA/TuakrP0Gf8I/AAAAAAAAAO8/JwOOsHmwbzc/s1600/DSC06556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SvnvTcpfdLA/TuakrP0Gf8I/AAAAAAAAAO8/JwOOsHmwbzc/s640/DSC06556.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fun Fact pt 2: They sold Disneyland balloons at George's Square. Don't ask questions. Because I honestly don't know.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2T6lfOySFrw/Tuak8xPN9xI/AAAAAAAAAPE/bZ54LD0aO3s/s1600/DSC06578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2T6lfOySFrw/Tuak8xPN9xI/AAAAAAAAAPE/bZ54LD0aO3s/s640/DSC06578.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Maturity is the name of da game</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bplu9gWItIg/TualOK19EfI/AAAAAAAAAPM/WcIEpGqzWL8/s1600/DSC06582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bplu9gWItIg/TualOK19EfI/AAAAAAAAAPM/WcIEpGqzWL8/s640/DSC06582.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On the ferris wheel with the bitches. I look like I'm about to sneeze. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ee0ps0s6cOI/TuallT2W_TI/AAAAAAAAAPU/9pIQ79fph58/s1600/DSC06588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ee0ps0s6cOI/TuallT2W_TI/AAAAAAAAAPU/9pIQ79fph58/s640/DSC06588.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fun Fact pt. 3: Kasie got asked by a elderly, drunken Scottish woman if anyone had ever milked her due to the bovine nature of her hat. Which, ironically, someone has. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-moMPBcm_JC4/TuamB5XIv9I/AAAAAAAAAPc/qoOKf70i2jA/s1600/DSC06641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-moMPBcm_JC4/TuamB5XIv9I/AAAAAAAAAPc/qoOKf70i2jA/s640/DSC06641.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">George's Square contd. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b6355RsIORc/TuamffApT8I/AAAAAAAAAPk/QWAMpThNqzo/s1600/DSC06644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b6355RsIORc/TuamffApT8I/AAAAAAAAAPk/QWAMpThNqzo/s640/DSC06644.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fun Fact pt 4: I did not fall once while ice skating ... weird. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i_w8r9zUQrc/TuamwXvX_PI/AAAAAAAAAPs/2spRzPCJ5GM/s1600/DSC06688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i_w8r9zUQrc/TuamwXvX_PI/AAAAAAAAAPs/2spRzPCJ5GM/s640/DSC06688.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Leaving the Christmas festivities</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oriS1tr3zBE/TuaoQFhcZTI/AAAAAAAAAP0/iVqYmFWCWuk/s1600/DSC06710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oriS1tr3zBE/TuaoQFhcZTI/AAAAAAAAAP0/iVqYmFWCWuk/s640/DSC06710.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Queen Street rail station.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-niWcWcH87fg/Tuai5F0cJuI/AAAAAAAAAN0/DXzhdqRjp0I/s1600/DSC06498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-niWcWcH87fg/Tuai5F0cJuI/AAAAAAAAAN0/DXzhdqRjp0I/s320/DSC06498.JPG" width="216" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Cheers!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Blackletter'; font-size: 18pt;">Ashley<o:p></o:p></span></div>Ashley and Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450163300660482812noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110337248119350508.post-86404007668304749302011-12-04T17:47:00.000-08:002011-12-04T17:47:24.167-08:00And on the 4th day of Christmas...Actually, it's not <i>quite </i>that time of December. I'm jump-starting it all because it goes along with the theme of "my life is stressful and it happens to coincide with the season of cheer because it's ironic and irony is humorous as shit." And on the fourth day, someone bullshit overlord of the universe created finals week because he/she wants us to be sad. <br />
<br />
So, unlike my genetic counterpart, I am not equipped with beautiful photos illustrating my adventures throughout Pittsburgh, even though I have actually done some things and they were exciting. And for this, I blame the fact that my favorite camera, the beautiful Canon Ae-1, is broken. It's been missing a crucial piece that keeps the body light-tight ever since I moved to Pennsylvania. I believe it went missing somewhere over Arizona or Arkansas, one of the A's. And, as a general rule, I don't take my DSLR out very much due to my extreme paranoia that it will be 1) lost 2) stolen 3) lost and then stolen 4) lost and then mauled by a bear and then stolen 5) stolen and then returned and then mutilated by a blood-thirsty pterodactyl whose only purpose in life is to ruin a camera that I spent half a year saving up for and then stolen by someone who has a thing for cameras torn apart by extinct, flying reptilians. It could happen.<br />
<br />
So, I usually take my circa-1976 film camera with me on my adventures throughout life because goddamn can that camera take a beating. It's like 99% metal, 1% metal-ier metal. It used to be my third arm. I would take it to school, to the grocery store, to the doctor, everywhere. I don't have very much proof of these outings because I am dumb and never had the camera on the right setting so most of those pictures are either completely over-exposed or under-exposed. But those moments happened and they lived on that fragile, opaque negative and they made me look like a photographer. <br />
<br />
Now I am a photographer who doesn't take pictures except when required to do so. <br />
<br />
Anyways, let us move on to something joyful and exciting.<br />
<br />
Thanksgiving happened. Like Ashley, I wasn't able to fly home for the occasion so I spent the week at my friend Allie's parents' house in Greensburg, PA (the only thing I've really taken any pictures of). Greensburg, like our hometown, is full of a whole lot of nothing to do. But we made the most of it. We drove around and walked aimlessly through their mall and learned how to say "mistletoe" in German and we tried to do donuts in her Suzuki SUV in the hookah bar parking lot and we sang whatever came on the radio in the Panera parking lot, waiting for her younger sister to get off work. All in all, it was nice. <br />
<br />
And last night, we adventured about the Cathedral of Learning and pranked some people working on a project that required a buzz saw and then hid in the bathroom and tried to get on the roof but eventually gave up and left.<br />
<br />
So things have happened, I just don't have proof of the exciting bits.<br />
I think that's what I've been trying to say.<br />
In any case, here are some pictures I took on my phone of my time in Greensburg.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yyu1ZXg8YTs/TtwVib42ydI/AAAAAAAAAKs/IaqnCQ9N2EE/s1600/IMG_1003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yyu1ZXg8YTs/TtwVib42ydI/AAAAAAAAAKs/IaqnCQ9N2EE/s640/IMG_1003.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The drive to Greensburg. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T4TbfE7-Y28/TtwVi2Fi-xI/AAAAAAAAAK0/jFPAIz8GpZA/s1600/IMG_1005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T4TbfE7-Y28/TtwVi2Fi-xI/AAAAAAAAAK0/jFPAIz8GpZA/s640/IMG_1005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The truly amazing view from their living room window. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qge5YHlEmqw/TtwVjFAS_GI/AAAAAAAAAK8/lxv5QlCjcYs/s1600/IMG_1007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qge5YHlEmqw/TtwVjFAS_GI/AAAAAAAAAK8/lxv5QlCjcYs/s640/IMG_1007.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> Allie taking a picture of her cat.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lHbhmHwHeiY/TtwVjYoTdtI/AAAAAAAAALE/9oWdU9kjHxk/s1600/IMG_1011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lHbhmHwHeiY/TtwVjYoTdtI/AAAAAAAAALE/9oWdU9kjHxk/s640/IMG_1011.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Me waking up in Allie's bed because Allie is a lovely individual who gladly slept on the couch. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JIpJTGqITrE/TtwVj7EXcWI/AAAAAAAAALM/8TZDVoXhpl8/s1600/IMG_1021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JIpJTGqITrE/TtwVj7EXcWI/AAAAAAAAALM/8TZDVoXhpl8/s640/IMG_1021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Midnight soup of champions.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YEhrLknmv28/TtwVkJs6kUI/AAAAAAAAALU/EcOdvcGT1Iw/s1600/IMG_1029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YEhrLknmv28/TtwVkJs6kUI/AAAAAAAAALU/EcOdvcGT1Iw/s640/IMG_1029.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Allie's evil cat, Luca. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B7cD6nQcAA4/TtwVkgIQThI/AAAAAAAAALc/_n3quTBENhM/s1600/IMG_1031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B7cD6nQcAA4/TtwVkgIQThI/AAAAAAAAALc/_n3quTBENhM/s640/IMG_1031.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Allie. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7QEI5zbCQZE/TtwVlGrISyI/AAAAAAAAALk/0HpuJ-cx704/s1600/IMG_1033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7QEI5zbCQZE/TtwVlGrISyI/AAAAAAAAALk/0HpuJ-cx704/s640/IMG_1033.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Amazing view from living room part II. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-viKBa57wk98/TtwVlx0M-pI/AAAAAAAAALs/mNetFIphxPs/s1600/IMG_1035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-viKBa57wk98/TtwVlx0M-pI/AAAAAAAAALs/mNetFIphxPs/s640/IMG_1035.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Allie and her cat part II. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-22XHJ3NLtcU/TtwVmBavfQI/AAAAAAAAAL0/iK-tpA7b12M/s1600/IMG_1037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-22XHJ3NLtcU/TtwVmBavfQI/AAAAAAAAAL0/iK-tpA7b12M/s640/IMG_1037.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Stairs. Coffee cup. Unidentified black object. Maybe boots. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8XlXGaawJVI/TtwVmhMS8tI/AAAAAAAAAMA/H6qwS76oymc/s1600/IMG_1050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8XlXGaawJVI/TtwVmhMS8tI/AAAAAAAAAMA/H6qwS76oymc/s640/IMG_1050.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Amazing view part III, but from a different perspective. <br />
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And a couple pictures I actually did take on the elusive DSLR.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ITNQ8zbtY68/Ttwh5mpYtpI/AAAAAAAAAMc/2RqkyJviPT8/s1600/forblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ITNQ8zbtY68/Ttwh5mpYtpI/AAAAAAAAAMc/2RqkyJviPT8/s640/forblog.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dIyla_lYIBw/Ttwh9WMCa8I/AAAAAAAAAMk/BmmuiGZ4W5M/s1600/forblog3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dIyla_lYIBw/Ttwh9WMCa8I/AAAAAAAAAMk/BmmuiGZ4W5M/s640/forblog3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bKPS_IKPqxU/Ttwh_5q-o2I/AAAAAAAAAMs/pnv4gUjMPyc/s1600/forblog4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bKPS_IKPqxU/Ttwh_5q-o2I/AAAAAAAAAMs/pnv4gUjMPyc/s640/forblog4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rq8-CoK-T0U/TtwiB5THYoI/AAAAAAAAAM0/76pP8hseG3g/s1600/forblog5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rq8-CoK-T0U/TtwiB5THYoI/AAAAAAAAAM0/76pP8hseG3g/s640/forblog5.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
Until next time,<br />
StephanieAshley and Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450163300660482812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110337248119350508.post-5196130782200675552011-11-25T17:52:00.000-08:002011-11-25T18:15:39.046-08:00"Thanks?" — A Thanksgiving Carol<div class="MsoNormal">Hello all. Now that we’ve awoken from our tryptophan comas it’s time to once again enter the dark, mysterious world of corruption, sex, and explosions that I like to call my life. Except this blog is about Thanksgiving so there will be none of that at all. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Let’s go back a few days to the preparation. As my job was the mashed potatoes and yams I thought, “That is going to be no problem whatsoever.” Now, what I didn’t take into consideration was that in Glasgow, it takes at least twenty minutes to walk anywhere and potatoes/yams for 10 people = 5 million pounds. Maybe billion. But I digress.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As I was shopping for ingredients with my recipes in hand, I looked from the American measurements on my paper (cups, ounces, what have you) to the UK ones on the containers (grams, kilograms, what the fuck do these mean). As I stood there for the next twenty minutes trying to crawl back into the dark/angsty corner of my mind that stores high school memories, I attempted to recall just what exactly the conversion was from grams to ounces. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I never figured it out so I just bought ten of everything. On an unrelated note, if anyways needs 9 ¾ bottles of lemon juice I might know where you can get some. Oh and by the way, the best thing about grocery shopping the day before Thanksgiving in Scotland is that it’s not the day before Thanksgiving in Scotland. If that makes sense. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Finally the day arrived and my friend Gina and I were off to Alex’s, a friend who so graciously let us cook at his house. With our turkey wrapped in a garbage bag and my potato and yam mountain shoved into a suitcase, we successfully made the trip and started cooking that bitch. Oh and we named him (the turkey) Keith because it is the ugliest name in the English language and it made us feel better about ripping out his insides and carving into his body. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">All in all the cooking process went well. I was left in charge of Keith when Gina had to leave to go to class and he didn’t explode. The mashed potatoes turned out great except for the moment that the cream boiled over the pot in a fiery inferno of whiteness. I had to make a store run about halfway through and got in line behind a woman who had cut out every coupon in the world ever made. And I learned that yams turn into bullets when you cut them in half … just try cutting one and see what happens. Yam bullets. That’s what’s going to happen. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Overall, my friends (American and nae American <-- that means not) made this first Thanksgiving without family awesome. Keith was successfully destroyed as were our waistlines, and after the meal we revisited the meaning of Thanksgiving and listed what we were thankful for. I told the non-Americans that Thanksgiving was a celebration of the day we came together as brethren, as pilgrims and Indians together as one. And then afterwards we slaughtered them and took all their land. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I will now end the storytelling portion of this blog with a list … a list of what I am thankful for. Get ready, cuz it’s a SHIT TON:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ol><li>Family (except Stephanie)</li>
<li>Friends (except for the ones that ask for money. Except no one asks me for money because I live in a consistently impoverished state)</li>
<li> <span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;">My new home in Glasgow (except for the fact that the sun comes up at 9 and is gone by 3. The North man, the North)</span> </li>
<li><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;">Ice cream</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;">More ice cream</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;">Coffee</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;">Coffee ice cream</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px;">Our new blog friends <a href="http://www.abeerfortheshower.com/">Bryan and Brandon</a>. It’s blogs like yours that make my day go from a 6 to a 6 ½</span></li>
<li>My books/my writings</li>
<li>Ron Fucking Swanson</li>
</ol>NOW LET THE PHOTOS BEGIN:<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xbSAeG2qUPM/TtBDqpWSwfI/AAAAAAAAAIk/crGnrLQHvmM/s1600/DSC06002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xbSAeG2qUPM/TtBDqpWSwfI/AAAAAAAAAIk/crGnrLQHvmM/s640/DSC06002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Meet Keith </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OqbJ2WtYYKo/TtBDrVl4GjI/AAAAAAAAAIo/ExyTv-7n7ro/s1600/DSC06007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OqbJ2WtYYKo/TtBDrVl4GjI/AAAAAAAAAIo/ExyTv-7n7ro/s640/DSC06007.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Meet one half of the 10 billion potatoes I had to carry 500 miles </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kmdTVdyP7A4/TtBDr42nsDI/AAAAAAAAAIw/zxTUle6RduE/s1600/DSC06025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kmdTVdyP7A4/TtBDr42nsDI/AAAAAAAAAIw/zxTUle6RduE/s640/DSC06025.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">AWWWW YEAHHH </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uk5vIWj0FV0/TtBDsdby19I/AAAAAAAAAI4/WmLi5mn0QII/s1600/DSC06032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uk5vIWj0FV0/TtBDsdby19I/AAAAAAAAAI4/WmLi5mn0QII/s640/DSC06032.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">MEET GINA</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IelZhDend4A/TtBDtHEPcHI/AAAAAAAAAJA/gc-wmZtAVj0/s1600/DSC06035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="494" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IelZhDend4A/TtBDtHEPcHI/AAAAAAAAAJA/gc-wmZtAVj0/s640/DSC06035.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">MEET KATIE</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WS_J2zbIaMw/TtBDt8HI91I/AAAAAAAAAJI/KFWx08yQsAk/s1600/DSC06052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WS_J2zbIaMw/TtBDt8HI91I/AAAAAAAAAJI/KFWx08yQsAk/s640/DSC06052.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Now watch carefully ...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T5dEhV_eUv4/TtBDug0Xu3I/AAAAAAAAAJQ/wlhfHJ2XEFA/s1600/DSC06054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T5dEhV_eUv4/TtBDug0Xu3I/AAAAAAAAAJQ/wlhfHJ2XEFA/s640/DSC06054.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Because this my friends </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C6oVWoZx1x4/TtBDvUbeFzI/AAAAAAAAAJY/PqF4KGxDb74/s1600/DSC06056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C6oVWoZx1x4/TtBDvUbeFzI/AAAAAAAAAJY/PqF4KGxDb74/s640/DSC06056.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Is how children are conceived </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l8WskDy4OD8/TtBDwKjHfMI/AAAAAAAAAJg/7MJD_gtYze0/s1600/DSC06084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l8WskDy4OD8/TtBDwKjHfMI/AAAAAAAAAJg/7MJD_gtYze0/s640/DSC06084.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Fuzzy picture of me part 1</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GfCAXI17UnQ/TtBDw7TEglI/AAAAAAAAAJo/an4-GS9jNic/s1600/DSC06093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GfCAXI17UnQ/TtBDw7TEglI/AAAAAAAAAJo/an4-GS9jNic/s640/DSC06093.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Fuzz part 2</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Thank you for your service Keith </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kbBf4hqmgy8/TtBDx-aO2OI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/HzyvuT2z0wo/s1600/DSC06130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kbBf4hqmgy8/TtBDx-aO2OI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/HzyvuT2z0wo/s640/DSC06130.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Helen and the Gines</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p6pD1_8ihQo/TtBDzTnSzII/AAAAAAAAAKI/5__OQG9WHdU/s1600/DSC06155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p6pD1_8ihQo/TtBDzTnSzII/AAAAAAAAAKI/5__OQG9WHdU/s640/DSC06155.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Alex and Gina showing everyone how her belt cannot be broken</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fRWKgiWE1eM/TtBDzykKzgI/AAAAAAAAAKM/JNqwlZC1gQw/s1600/DSC06163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fRWKgiWE1eM/TtBDzykKzgI/AAAAAAAAAKM/JNqwlZC1gQw/s640/DSC06163.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Alex and Gina after her belt broke</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rs7pGs1l1CA/TtBD0aGX6uI/AAAAAAAAAKY/C37-pvoHzp0/s1600/DSC06204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rs7pGs1l1CA/TtBD0aGX6uI/AAAAAAAAAKY/C37-pvoHzp0/s640/DSC06204.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My people</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yo8OYaWOOxQ/TtBD1v-xE9I/AAAAAAAAAKg/nlacGAnaOeA/s1600/DSC06245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yo8OYaWOOxQ/TtBD1v-xE9I/AAAAAAAAAKg/nlacGAnaOeA/s640/DSC06245.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oliver stabbing Keith in the back. Sorry buddy but if the Lord our God didn't want this </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">to happen to you he shouldn't have named you Keith </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">On that note … goodbye Thanksgiving. Hello Kwanza. Oh and Stephanie and I will be reunited in two weeks. Get ready for more mystery and explosions THAN YOU HAVE EVER SEEN. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e0wk_Jw43m4/TtBDyYgTSBI/AAAAAAAAAKA/UtCKD8lfT_k/s1600/DSC06138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e0wk_Jw43m4/TtBDyYgTSBI/AAAAAAAAAKA/UtCKD8lfT_k/s400/DSC06138.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Love,</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Handwriting - Dakota'; font-size: 16pt;">Ash-uh-lee<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Ashley and Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450163300660482812noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110337248119350508.post-49759239394917669762011-11-20T23:13:00.000-08:002011-11-20T23:13:08.314-08:00Welcome Reddit readers, you are the 1 cent.Do you....do you see what I did there. It's a TOPICAL joke. (Those advertisements you see on the side of the page? That's coffee money right there.) And we really did earn one cent from you lovely people. Oh wait, the only comment we received on Reddit was "I find the blog content narcissistic, boring and uninsightful" and then this lovely creature linked us to The Oatmeal, claiming "this is funny". And guys, the similarities between this blog and The Oatmeal are astounding. We don't own our own domain, Mathew Inman does. We don't draw what we want to say, Mathew Inman does. We update each other on the happenings in our lives and hope it entertains our readers too, Mathew Inman does not. Well pour me out and call me buttermilk, Mr. Inman should sue us for all we're worth (which is, let's face it, not much).<br />
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I don't have an "in contrast to all of this" statement ready for you. It's still cooking in the metaphorical oven. I am currently sitting in bed, sipping on some leftover coffee, and dreaming of breakfast potatoes. I don't know what it is about those potatoes but they are the simple carb of the gods. In fact, I recall roommate #2 (otherwise known as Kayla) and I tried to pull an all-nighter a while back and we were at one point, amidst our sleepy stupor, just shouting out words. Pretty sure "POTATO, 7:30" was emitted right before we both passed out. (Breakfast starts at 7:30 here because they hate us and want us to be sad.)<br />
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Would you guys hate me terribly if I filled the rest of this post with pictures? Pictures with captions? It is nearly 2 am and my face has to be awake in a few hours for class. The brain. It is not present. I guess you can call this post UNINSIGHTFUL and BORING. <br />
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Just kidding I'm not bitter.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CepWrFJssHI/Tsn2slC2c7I/AAAAAAAAAHM/B_qq7WDqdys/s1600/IMG_0914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CepWrFJssHI/Tsn2slC2c7I/AAAAAAAAAHM/B_qq7WDqdys/s640/IMG_0914.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> I started this mirror conversation. RIP the best mirror interaction ever.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qo9499gYIVk/Tsn2tJsFlQI/AAAAAAAAAHU/M5iIAQOOaj4/s1600/IMG_0928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qo9499gYIVk/Tsn2tJsFlQI/AAAAAAAAAHU/M5iIAQOOaj4/s640/IMG_0928.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> sumtimez i take picz of fog<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lc4wVZ9vHXk/Tsn2tZAai7I/AAAAAAAAAHc/FfblnYcpgDY/s1600/IMG_0935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lc4wVZ9vHXk/Tsn2tZAai7I/AAAAAAAAAHc/FfblnYcpgDY/s640/IMG_0935.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> You don't know shit about my cat.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sb_P7WVjSDY/Tsn2ti-fnPI/AAAAAAAAAHk/-PGgN57kgeI/s1600/IMG_0938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sb_P7WVjSDY/Tsn2ti-fnPI/AAAAAAAAAHk/-PGgN57kgeI/s640/IMG_0938.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> This was sitting outside my building. Still is. Doesn't look quite so good now.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-svVcxDGjy2Q/Tsn2uao9JMI/AAAAAAAAAHs/FKxvSpjMN2c/s1600/IMG_0942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-svVcxDGjy2Q/Tsn2uao9JMI/AAAAAAAAAHs/FKxvSpjMN2c/s640/IMG_0942.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> This is taped to a bathroom door in the Art & Design Center.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BEMtE2EALGI/Tsn2uhyTzwI/AAAAAAAAAH0/Qp5JfLmkpOQ/s1600/IMG_0948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BEMtE2EALGI/Tsn2uhyTzwI/AAAAAAAAAH0/Qp5JfLmkpOQ/s640/IMG_0948.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> Pennsylvania has pretty great leaves.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KVzTLognJRc/Tsn2vJ1k_AI/AAAAAAAAAH8/dBuJmvc9ZYA/s1600/IMG_0956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KVzTLognJRc/Tsn2vJ1k_AI/AAAAAAAAAH8/dBuJmvc9ZYA/s640/IMG_0956.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> Aforementioned leaves. Also foot.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vCGzynoEJww/Tsn2vXj-VKI/AAAAAAAAAIE/2bknqCThl08/s1600/IMG_0963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vCGzynoEJww/Tsn2vXj-VKI/AAAAAAAAAIE/2bknqCThl08/s640/IMG_0963.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> The kitchen on my floor. It has a really great skylight.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GmQj4c9XBXE/Tsn2vm6rlTI/AAAAAAAAAIM/MxEhOunHj5w/s1600/IMG_0976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GmQj4c9XBXE/Tsn2vm6rlTI/AAAAAAAAAIM/MxEhOunHj5w/s640/IMG_0976.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> A show I went to. I've literally never seen more hipsters in my entire life.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u72umouCieE/Tsn2wPu1-BI/AAAAAAAAAIU/RL9Wni9uwGw/s1600/IMG_0980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u72umouCieE/Tsn2wPu1-BI/AAAAAAAAAIU/RL9Wni9uwGw/s640/IMG_0980.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> Myself in the aforementioned show's basement bathroom. We're just...we're not going to talk about the amount of health code violations that were in this bathroom.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JXM5WfxI9og/Tsn2wTsH8BI/AAAAAAAAAIc/OpfgV47XzhQ/s1600/IMG_0986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JXM5WfxI9og/Tsn2wTsH8BI/AAAAAAAAAIc/OpfgV47XzhQ/s640/IMG_0986.JPG" width="640" /></a>Roommate #2 took this of me. Yeah so. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v0TIAy8Ctms/Tsn0UC_54mI/AAAAAAAAAG8/yLnm_xCNmmA/s1600/forkatie2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v0TIAy8Ctms/Tsn0UC_54mI/AAAAAAAAAG8/yLnm_xCNmmA/s640/forkatie2.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Proof that I am indeed a photography major and not a iPhone-toting-Instagram-using idiot oh wait. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OxJQXOgDSHs/Tsn0YzB_WfI/AAAAAAAAAHE/ALgezAy1LjQ/s1600/katiekid44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OxJQXOgDSHs/Tsn0YzB_WfI/AAAAAAAAAHE/ALgezAy1LjQ/s640/katiekid44.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>More proof. Feet. Bench. Wet. Wet bench. Ashley and Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450163300660482812noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110337248119350508.post-83962916887159747322011-11-10T10:42:00.000-08:002011-11-10T10:42:21.019-08:00Stephanie said I look like a hipstaAlso, this is not technically cheating because it is not a thing comprised of words (RIGHT STEPH??). This was the picture I sent Stephanie to show her my new shoes and she said I looked hipster. That whore bitch. Also, my bed is unmade. Get over it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyki1AK7Fa4/Trwaki0VH5I/AAAAAAAAAG0/GZ7eoJzN_V8/s1600/Photo+on+2011-11-10+at+07.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyki1AK7Fa4/Trwaki0VH5I/AAAAAAAAAG0/GZ7eoJzN_V8/s640/Photo+on+2011-11-10+at+07.25.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Ashley and Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450163300660482812noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110337248119350508.post-40052896099341715832011-11-08T04:33:00.000-08:002011-11-08T04:35:27.395-08:00Wallace, Fawkes and Wao<div class="MsoNormal">It’s me again home dogs. And this time, it’s for … wait for it … CLASS. Yes you heard right, this blog post is for homework. Never thought I’d see the day. We are experimenting with writing through different media. So what I’m going to do is post some shit on here and then post some shit on the flicker and BOOM. Master’s course complete. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Jayy kayyy I still have like a year and a half left. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So let me fill you in on the happenings. Glasgow’s great but it’s fucking cold. Like, it’s 0 degrees. And I know that’s in Celsius so my American compadres won’t understand what I’m talking about but I think that the number “0” universally translates to, “fuck, that’s really cold.” Oh and also, the sun goes down at like 4 pm — and that’s only going to get worse from what I hear. Except when I started complaining about that to my new Icelandic friend Bobo, he told me to suck my shit up. I guess Iceland get’s it worse. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Oh and my writing is going really great. There were a few weeks there when I felt like I should take the little piece of Ashley that wanted to be a writer and walk it out the far reaches of a desolate field, duct tape it to a stick of dynamite, and then manically laugh from afar as I watched it incinerate, its ashes going their separate ways into the night sky. But now I’m ok. I read The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao and wrote a short story based on its style. It was well-received by my experimentation professor who said he thought it could be the start of something fascinating. So I’m PUMPED. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Also I’ve been doing some travelling around with Katie and Gina. We went to Stirling which is just a short 45 minute train ride north (don’t quote me on “north” … it could have been east for all I know. But I’m pretty sure it’s north). And it was pretty great even though BBC said that the sun would be shining down upon the small Scottish town yet when we arrived it was … GASP … raining. BUT THAT DID NOT DETER US. We went to Stirling Castle and took a tour. We got to see the room in the castle where Mary Queen of Scots was crowned at nine months old. Gina sung Phantom of the Opera songs in the empty chapel because she has the voice of an angel of Jesus. And we got to see the William Wallace monument and I may or may not have screamed exactly what you would expect any Mel Gibson loving person would scream at the William Wallace monument \m/ So all in all a pretty great day. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">OH and also it was Guy Fawkes Day a couple days ago. For my American friends, it was V for Vendetta Day — and it was great. A group of friends and I went to the Glasgow Green which was basically just a giant mud lawn. And there were fireworks and carnivals rides and 9283743 people and the absence of any form of warmth and fireworks. It was amazing. Just like the fourth of July except cold as balls. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;">Now for the weekly round of pictures:<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1ZIqzRkNnlI/TrkdO8YlhrI/AAAAAAAAAFM/YBtVsTAXW2o/s1600/DSC05586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1ZIqzRkNnlI/TrkdO8YlhrI/AAAAAAAAAFM/YBtVsTAXW2o/s640/DSC05586.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stirling Castle ooOOoooO<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a7_WV6-sfxQ/TrkdcCB-O_I/AAAAAAAAAFU/pzUzk85l1NI/s1600/DSC05589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a7_WV6-sfxQ/TrkdcCB-O_I/AAAAAAAAAFU/pzUzk85l1NI/s640/DSC05589.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The backside of Katie</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-erIa-dqdZXg/TrkdkSrthpI/AAAAAAAAAFc/KRHCnDSDroI/s1600/DSC05623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-erIa-dqdZXg/TrkdkSrthpI/AAAAAAAAAFc/KRHCnDSDroI/s640/DSC05623.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sexual side of Gina</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ojJyK2OF5t0/TrkdrzO-OII/AAAAAAAAAFk/0pmND_a_0ic/s1600/DSC05653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ojJyK2OF5t0/TrkdrzO-OII/AAAAAAAAAFk/0pmND_a_0ic/s1600/DSC05653.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The slightly doll-faced side of me</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3z_Ek1HXEVY/Trkd1E0lPTI/AAAAAAAAAFs/H4bBn8BhuAQ/s1600/DSC05683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3z_Ek1HXEVY/Trkd1E0lPTI/AAAAAAAAAFs/H4bBn8BhuAQ/s640/DSC05683.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Castle stairs </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fuEj5VXFAZM/Trkd9R2PSEI/AAAAAAAAAF0/7UHL7Tkk-10/s1600/DSC05491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fuEj5VXFAZM/Trkd9R2PSEI/AAAAAAAAAF0/7UHL7Tkk-10/s640/DSC05491.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Castle & Toilets ... a deadly combination</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rbg7HF0lOHs/TrkeFY1cGvI/AAAAAAAAAF8/g9R2trLwQdw/s1600/DSC05523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rbg7HF0lOHs/TrkeFY1cGvI/AAAAAAAAAF8/g9R2trLwQdw/s640/DSC05523.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stirling Cemetery </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iyBsvRAU7Ks/TrkeZD-ZTJI/AAAAAAAAAGM/ZF9d7RDzPcI/s1600/DSC05830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iyBsvRAU7Ks/TrkeZD-ZTJI/AAAAAAAAAGM/ZF9d7RDzPcI/s640/DSC05830.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't know what that was, all I know my future front lawn is going to look exactly like it</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SUMKQy0pFvk/Trkeen58z0I/AAAAAAAAAGU/u7eRLyvZw5U/s1600/DSC05760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SUMKQy0pFvk/Trkeen58z0I/AAAAAAAAAGU/u7eRLyvZw5U/s640/DSC05760.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gina's seat of power</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XgIqCMM7Qf4/Trker1e-sJI/AAAAAAAAAGc/ntVW3igE5Gg/s1600/DSC05881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XgIqCMM7Qf4/Trker1e-sJI/AAAAAAAAAGc/ntVW3igE5Gg/s640/DSC05881.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guy Fawkes Day. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-owMDkxzeqss/TrkeyXXXugI/AAAAAAAAAGk/o7tgMXR4uNM/s1600/DSC05893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-owMDkxzeqss/TrkeyXXXugI/AAAAAAAAAGk/o7tgMXR4uNM/s640/DSC05893.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My friend Alex and Helen's ghost. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JSGXv5SWtQE/Trke4wLcndI/AAAAAAAAAGs/iN0PTqlXf70/s1600/DSC05960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JSGXv5SWtQE/Trke4wLcndI/AAAAAAAAAGs/iN0PTqlXf70/s640/DSC05960.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am resisting all urges to quote Katy Perry </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;">That's all for me bitches. See you next time.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Dor6Mgucgc/TrkeKuVazpI/AAAAAAAAAGE/veoJnqU631s/s1600/DSC05530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Dor6Mgucgc/TrkeKuVazpI/AAAAAAAAAGE/veoJnqU631s/s400/DSC05530.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Cracked; font-size: 20pt;">-Asher lee<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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</span>Ashley and Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450163300660482812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110337248119350508.post-33742454707472063072011-11-07T13:17:00.000-08:002011-11-07T13:17:28.359-08:00This isn't cheating because it's not technically a thing comprised of words<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/KAidvb-r9ZY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>I've mentioned YouTube before. This is something I threw together last night in my weak attempts at avoiding life responsibilities.<br />
<br />
So, enjoy it. And things.Ashley and Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450163300660482812noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110337248119350508.post-22977631379281839882011-11-05T16:14:00.000-07:002011-11-05T16:14:17.127-07:00Pittsburgh Things and Reasons WhyHey.<br />
Hey there.<br />
<br />
If there's anything YouTube has taught me, it's that a long-form apology after [insert extended period of time here] is the last thing anyone wants to hear. So, I could say that I've been scaling mountains with Sean Connery in Tibet or practicing for my debut at the Metropolitan Opera only to be swayed by a mysterious man in a mask or that I've been....doing a lot of homework, working a lot of shifts, and eating a lot of questionable cod fish. Sadly, there is no Phantom or former James Bond in my life at the moment, so the latter is the truth. <br />
<br />
College.<br />
Who knew it'd be so demanding? Oh wait, everyone knows.<br />
<br />
Speaking of food, for the past half hour I have been sitting in an individual study room in the library, half-paying attention to It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia while I absentmindedly ate some fries. I have been in a haze all day, wandering from place to place with no real purpose in my step. I've caught myself staring off into space and forgetting my belongings when I set them down. Some call it fatigue. I call it fatigue-also-zero-caffeine-and-like-a-hangover-from-last-night-it's-7-pm-how-do-I-still-have-this. I remember Explosions in the Sky and talk of time travel and a spotting of a wonderfully bright shooting star. I remember cuddling with everyone on the roof as we protected ourselves from the below 30 weather blowing at our backs. I remember texting a friend of mine "like a Russian warming helmet" and then I think we danced to some MGMT. And then I remember waking up because the light from the fog was so bright (I've yet to figure that one out) and realizing that Hannah had stolen the comforter and all I had was a thin cotton sheet to huddle underneath. And when I walked downstairs I wished I had my camera with me because of the way the light hit the window and the blanket drooping from it. I eventually ended up at work at our athletic center and directed people towards the swim meet and watched the most recent Parks and Recreation (if you've seen it, HOW GREAT WAS THAT EPISODE?)<br />
<br />
And now I'm here, writing this in a half-daze in my school's cafe. <br />
<br />
Other things I have failed to write about -<br />
- My adventures outside Pittsburgh. The Pennsylvanian countryside is really quite beautiful. <br />
- Zombie Fest<br />
- Halloween adventures which mainly consisted of us summoning ghosts in the administrative building (which is, coincidentally, a very old, very Gothic mansion)<br />
- A personal self-discovery: when Stephanie tries to stay up all night, Stephanie finds out she cannot stay up all night<br />
- That's all I remember<br />
<br />
These are Pittsburgh things. I suppose.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C1yyBS7GKTY/TrXDDBRrcpI/AAAAAAAAAEg/mIHFLIvjLQU/s1600/zombie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="368" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C1yyBS7GKTY/TrXDDBRrcpI/AAAAAAAAAEg/mIHFLIvjLQU/s640/zombie.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
The only photographic evidence I have of my current Pittsburgh activities. I am the second from the right, for those of you who are not familiar with my facial structure.Ashley and Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450163300660482812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110337248119350508.post-71651306934130438782011-10-20T14:12:00.000-07:002011-10-21T08:51:30.322-07:00Now back to regularly scheduled blogging<div class="MsoNormal">Omgod you guys — I haven’t blogged in a while. SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED. I went to Edinburgh and saw where JK Rowling first starting writing Harry Potter. I went to Loch Lomond to go hiking up to a castle that ended up being a super disappointing size. I read 29034983275 books. I played Grand Theft Auto drunk (and kicked ASS I might add). And turned 24. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Yes you heard right. Ashley Josiah Marie Tenochtitlan Welling is 24. And it was a glorious day. I just woke up that morning and knew everything there was to know about everything in the world. Very similar to the moment when I crossed the stage at graduation … very similar. My friends (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Wingdings;"><--</span> I KNOW RIGHT??) took me shopping in city centre before going out to dinner and eating a cake that had enough calories to sustain the entire Mongolian nation for a good 27 years. Naturally it was gone in two days. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Since then I’ve read Everything is Illuminated (awesome), The Book of Night Women (awesome/morbidly depressing), An Elemental Thing ( … eh), The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (awesome), and now … Things are Happening (TBA). Also I’ve had my first piece of fiction workshopped (<-- Word says that’s not a word but I don’t believe that for a second … I mean, “Facebooking” is now considered a verb so I think the grammar gods will forgive me on this one). Anyways, that was a good time. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now mind you, I’ve been edited before. I was a journalism major at Pepperdine for crap’s sake. But this is a whole new bag of beans — this is like, personal and shit. So needless to say I was a little nervous. After scanning it for errors the 28394<sup>th</sup> time, I timidly clicked the ‘submit’ button on the workshop form and watched as my little baby entered the cruel, cruel world of cyberspace. Of course, after I submitted it I noticed like three typos straight away but I mean whatever. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But all in all the whole class seemed to like it. It’s about a man slipping into insanity so how could they not right? Writers eat that shit UP. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now let’s cut to random photographs.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fatskc2MpSw/TqCLbKhocOI/AAAAAAAAADY/gpz9p0ewJFc/s1600/DSC04404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fatskc2MpSw/TqCLbKhocOI/AAAAAAAAADY/gpz9p0ewJFc/s640/DSC04404.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Edinburgh ^<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TzKuShgtJGQ/TqCLm4Uz-DI/AAAAAAAAADg/THM409vC99E/s1600/DSC04422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TzKuShgtJGQ/TqCLm4Uz-DI/AAAAAAAAADg/THM409vC99E/s640/DSC04422.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Bad ass picture of Adam Smith ... the creator of capitalism/the devil<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QTMPO8h_f10/TqCLutfnA9I/AAAAAAAAADo/5Z4Z0B5BEJA/s1600/DSC04448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="467" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QTMPO8h_f10/TqCLutfnA9I/AAAAAAAAADo/5Z4Z0B5BEJA/s640/DSC04448.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Self explanatory ^</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R1FQ44vYUe0/TqCL34F0HoI/AAAAAAAAADw/t_gYoghNAn4/s1600/DSC04499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="539" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R1FQ44vYUe0/TqCL34F0HoI/AAAAAAAAADw/t_gYoghNAn4/s640/DSC04499.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Self explanatory pt. 2 ^</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j8yqM3-ZWA8/TqCMA2YyR-I/AAAAAAAAAD4/46x1YCxc_A8/s1600/DSC04549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j8yqM3-ZWA8/TqCMA2YyR-I/AAAAAAAAAD4/46x1YCxc_A8/s640/DSC04549.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Slags means sluts guys, that's what it means. </div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pYcW0BrOBqY/TqCMTVQANdI/AAAAAAAAAEA/kVjSKtfK5pc/s1600/DSC04664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pYcW0BrOBqY/TqCMTVQANdI/AAAAAAAAAEA/kVjSKtfK5pc/s640/DSC04664.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">PROOF. So none you sons a bitches thinks I'm lying ^</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OJYi9XvUasI/TqCMhIiEa7I/AAAAAAAAAEI/597u1gipvzw/s1600/DSC04717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OJYi9XvUasI/TqCMhIiEa7I/AAAAAAAAAEI/597u1gipvzw/s640/DSC04717.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">PROOF pt. 2</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8GGntm0LWbE/TqCMrDl9unI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/jKFSyNuQU9M/s1600/IMG_0414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8GGntm0LWbE/TqCMrDl9unI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/jKFSyNuQU9M/s640/IMG_0414.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The two best movies of all time ever</div><br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Oh and by the by, I just got over a cold I’ve had for like two weeks. And besides that love affair I had in 5<sup>th</sup> grade, that was the best two weeks of my life.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Just kidding. I didn’t have a love affair in 5<sup>th</sup> grade. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">LOVEEEE,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Brush Script MT Italic';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 27px;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Brush Script MT Italic';"><span style="font-family: 'Edwardian Script ITC'; font-size: 20pt;">Ashley<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Brush Script MT Italic';"> </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ml1a4TzXS8M/TqCM4Jk6AXI/AAAAAAAAAEY/UDwfk_6EyEA/s1600/DSC04569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ml1a4TzXS8M/TqCM4Jk6AXI/AAAAAAAAAEY/UDwfk_6EyEA/s320/DSC04569.JPG" width="262" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Ashley and Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450163300660482812noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110337248119350508.post-84935163216291567162011-09-27T08:17:00.000-07:002011-09-27T08:17:02.095-07:00Please stand by.Stephanie is experiencing some difficulties and her writing will be delayed.<br />
<br />
We apologize for the inconvenience.<br />
<br />
In the mean time, enjoy the muffins and tea we've left out in hopes that you will not stake her with your fury.<br />
<br />
Back to your regularly scheduled posting when Stephanie's immune system is not totally failing her.<br />
<br />
Good day.Ashley and Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450163300660482812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110337248119350508.post-79359944404717360322011-09-20T13:43:00.000-07:002011-09-20T13:54:45.131-07:00Ashley's 18th First Day of School<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hello friends, here are some pictures I took this week:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MAjUzZaoSdo/TnjyVLZ78WI/AAAAAAAAADE/ytZrFS3P7L4/s1600/DSC04315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MAjUzZaoSdo/TnjyVLZ78WI/AAAAAAAAADE/ytZrFS3P7L4/s640/DSC04315.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dZwA-XDSti0/TnjzCIKgMMI/AAAAAAAAADI/0aRxLhno8vk/s1600/DSC04325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dZwA-XDSti0/TnjzCIKgMMI/AAAAAAAAADI/0aRxLhno8vk/s640/DSC04325.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BN80IziDU0g/TnjzKquCd5I/AAAAAAAAADM/Knd9hAMaWvc/s1600/DSC04341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BN80IziDU0g/TnjzKquCd5I/AAAAAAAAADM/Knd9hAMaWvc/s640/DSC04341.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So anyways, I liked your last blog post Steph, I miss yo ass too. I already miss home and it’s only been a couple weeks. But with school starting yesterday I don’t think I’ll be having very much time to sit around thinking about how badly I want to go to Apple Hill during Halloween-time and shove my face into a trough of apple pie. There is nothing sexual about that statement — I just really like Apple Hill. For those of you who do not know of the vacuum of holiday greatness that is Apple Hill I will briefly explain. IT’S SO GREAT BECAUSE THERE ARE GREAT PUMPKIN FARMS AND APPLE FARMS AND CRAFT FAIR FARMS AND EVERYTHING IS APPLE OR PUMPKIN AND IT’S GREAT. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now allow me to tell you about my first day of school. It was ALMOST as great as Apple Hill. Before my first class I spent approximately one hour trying to figure out how to print in the library. But now I know how to print in the library like no one’s fucking business so it worked out. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The first class I had was a workshop where basically we all read and critique each other’s work. It also happens to be my earliest class — it starts at 2 p.m. …</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jx9oO1OKAvc/Tnj4hcU1ANI/AAAAAAAAADQ/4bVFCi_eotg/s1600/backpain-1292835351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jx9oO1OKAvc/Tnj4hcU1ANI/AAAAAAAAADQ/4bVFCi_eotg/s320/backpain-1292835351.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br />
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</o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">And it was pretty great. We had already been sent two of our classmates’ stories to read for the first week and they simultaneously made me feel better and worse about my writing. And I won’t say who’s made me feel which way because that would just be rude and, as you know, I always put other people’s feelings above my own … </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Afterwards I went to the cafeteria with my course-friend Helen (who has a very posh British accent which may or may not make me feel inferior) and my other course friend Alex (who has an American accent which may or may not once again make me feel superior) and we talked about our upcoming Craft and Experimentation class. It was then that I realized I was completely unprepared for said class, as I had not seen that I was to read an entire novel before attending said first day of said class. They both reassured me that he would probably not condemn me just yet seeing as it was the first day — but I was not convinced. I mean, I knew he was Jamaican so I was prejudicially hoping that he would be laid back and um … “influenced” by certain outside chemicals … but I couldn’t be sure. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Turns out he wasn’t pissed or baked so it all worked out for everybody. He explained to us upon our arrival that since he did not tell us directly that we had to read the book, we would put it off until the next week (Ashley 1, University of Glasgow 0). As he took the rest of the class to explain to us what we would be doing (experimenting with language), I fell more and more in love with the degree I had chosen. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Example of experimentation: we learned about a writing movement called OUPIO that basically ties one hand behind the writer’s back while they write. Some examples of the example: writer is not allowed to use the letter “i” in any part of the story, writer has to replace all nouns with the seventh word after it in the dictionary, writer has to translate a foreign language poem into their native language using words that rhyme with the foreign words (supposing they do not know the foreign language), etc. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">ANYWAYS, that was my day. This may easily be the best two years of my life. I will leave you with the experiment I had to do in class. I’ll let you guess which one of the OUPIO variations I chose … Just a warning though, OUPIO often sounds like nonsense. SO ENJOY. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The embrios trembled in a large bed,</div><div class="MsoNormal">While the festival of the roses went slow,</div><div class="MsoNormal">They tortured their mother during the day,</div><div class="MsoNormal">In the cinema they solidified the friendships they’ll know.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Their palace and mother were divorced, </div><div class="MsoNormal">As they cruised in the angry odor of destruction,</div><div class="MsoNormal">And travelled through the dirty embrio,</div><div class="MsoNormal">At the cinema, they came to a truce of obstruction.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But oy, during their passage a mountain with a director,</div><div class="MsoNormal">It was large, hot and completely cold,</div><div class="MsoNormal">It was dormant and huge and as fore mentioned,</div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s land was white and its cadavers were sold.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">They trembled at night in the humid bed,</div><div class="MsoNormal">Located in the electrical components,</div><div class="MsoNormal">But their method of heroism was divided in their dreams,</div><div class="MsoNormal">As they embarked on the festival of roses.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">They argued in the middle on the external,</div><div class="MsoNormal">They paralleled over the body and the brawl,</div><div class="MsoNormal">While they were sick over her soul,</div><div class="MsoNormal">They went fast and they went slow,</div><div class="MsoNormal">Whoever had the energy to see what they saw. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Oh and I got stung by a bee today. Right in the hand. It hurt. Much like you would expect.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Love,</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Matura MT Script Capitals'; font-size: 20pt;">Ashley<o:p></o:p></span></div>Ashley and Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450163300660482812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110337248119350508.post-25857637302971046882011-09-17T21:34:00.000-07:002011-09-17T21:53:42.106-07:00Finding California in Pennsylvania.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uvE9FhZdRVQ/TnV0TcxW5iI/AAAAAAAAADA/ObYfQiMrqQk/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uvE9FhZdRVQ/TnV0TcxW5iI/AAAAAAAAADA/ObYfQiMrqQk/s640/14.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>(Disclaimer: this is one of those vaguely serious posts. You may skip if you want to wait for what Ashley has to say in her usual, somewhat amusing manner. Somewhat.)<br />
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And by my title, I don't mean I'm finding a million California license plates or a Starbucks every couple yards or anything like that. (And I've yet to find a single item embroidered with Ed Hardy, although that's more of a Southern California thing.)<br />
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What I mean is that there are these little things that I keep noticing that remind me of home. And that's what I need to find. For someone who lives in her own nostalgia, finding little things that remind me of my California days is what keeps me happy. And it's not even that these things I am finding are specific to home. They're simple things, like a field of three leaf clovers (oh, the quest for that elusive four leaf clover) or the smell of a campfire or the way the sun hits the earth so that it reminds me of how my early summer days used to bleed into each other. There is constantly this smell of flowers and it reminds me of how I used to think flowers were butterflies and butterflies were flowers. There are mornings that are soaked in rain and I lie in bed with tired eyes and listen how it softly patters against our windows. Lazy California mornings. I miss them, but they're not so far away. Pennsylvania has presented me with hidden attics and overgrown staircases and creaky floors in the morning when everything is quiet and the faint smell of cigarette smoke that sometimes rises up through our window shades and rain that brings out everything that I love. <br />
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There are things that I'm missing. <br />
I miss getting coffee with Ashley.<br />
I miss how you could step outside and practically feel the weight of the world be lifted off your shoulders. <br />
I miss driving around with no intention and yet with every intention in the world.<br />
Quiet mornings and loud nights.<br />
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I'm determined to find those things here. I cannot replace the people, but I'm finding new ones. Getting to know a whole new batch of people is an exhausting but thrilling task.<br />
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And I don't know if I'll stay here for a while or if I'll journey elsewhere after I graduate. I don't know if this is the place for me or if I've yet to find a place I can be happy in for a while. I talk about Iceland a lot, but I can imagine myself in somewhere like Oregon or Washington or maybe even New Zealand or England (adventurous, I am). I dream of landscapes dotted with tiny buildings and full of early morning fog. Back home we're surrounded by a whole lot of nothing, and it's something I've come to appreciate. I think living in a large city would kill the part of me that craves long drives in warm cars. You either walk or you let someone bus you around. I suppose there's a romantic quality about it, but I'm happiest when I'm driving somewhere. My earliest memories are of driving. I remember things in flashes of colors and rain streaked stoplights. I don't have that here, but I think there are other things that are keeping me content.<br />
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Anyways, my point is that I'm acclimating to this place.<br />
And that's good because I'm happy.<br />
<br />
One point for Pennsylvania.Ashley and Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450163300660482812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110337248119350508.post-9498657290576092212011-09-12T11:21:00.000-07:002011-09-12T15:38:35.665-07:00The Anniversary of the Worst Day of My Life<div class="MsoNormal">So Hurricane-fucking-Katia is right outside my window right now and tomorrow is Stephanie’s birthday … so I just figured BIRTHDAY/HURRICANE/WHATEVER-I’M-JUST-BORED-AND-WANT-TO-WRITE-SOMETHING BLOG. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So let’s go back in time, a simpler time when Stephanie was just a wee (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Wingdings;"><--</span> hey steph, that’s how they say “little” over here … WEIRD RIGHT) annoying sack of skin. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I will now give everyone a brief history of our childhood. When our maternal parent was pregnant with the little demon seed, I was like, “HEY BITCH YOU BETTER HAVE A GIRL ‘CAUSE I WANTS TO PLAY WITH THAT BITCH.” Just kidding, I didn’t talk like that when I was three … I wasn’t that sophisticated. And then nine months later, there she was — a little raisin in the sun. When I saw her I remember thinking “Now just how in the hell am I supposed to play with that?” To which my mom replied, “ASHLEY STOP SQUEEZING HER NECK.” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Upon taking her home, I told my parents I wanted to play with her every second of every day and I will always remember the words that came out of my mother’s wise mouth, “Yeah that’ll fade in about a week.” She was of course wrong. After I realized all she could do was drool and sit there like a meatloaf I was over it in about three hours. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And our relationship only blossomed from there. From our endless hours spent wrapping ourselves up in sleeping bags so we could play giant leech and giant slug, annihilating her at Mario Party, forcing her to act out my screenplays, beating her ass whenever possible/mom was out shopping, her beating my ass right back, watching The Nightmare Before Christmas 10 billion times, watching her put on a ballet tutu and moonboots every day for a year, dressing up like a witch while she dressed up like a ballerina for four consecutive Halloweens, to just being better than her at everything ever. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Yeah it’s been a pretty great twenty-year relationship — and this is the new chapter. Congratulations Stephanie, you’re a twenty-something now. Welcome to the worst ten years of your life. Seriously though you thought the last twenty were bad … SAY HELLO TO HELL. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Nah just kidding you’re going to do great. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Happy Birthday little one. I made you a video.<br />
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And a picture. You're welcome.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Desdemona; font-size: 18pt;">Ashley<o:p></o:p></span></b></div></div>Ashley and Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450163300660482812noreply@blogger.com2