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Hello?

What have you been up to?

The Year of the Ox.

OMG, Elena - I am sooo overwhelmed...

This week, the Chinese are celebrating the year of the Ox. And guess what!

Ox

1901, 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009.

My goals (one of them is the diploma) this year is something I never thought I'd achieve anytime soon.
(but here I am trying to accomplish it. Everyone is sooo excited for me, maybe because of fear or something, I'm scared to get all my hopes up - you know, while I'm still in progress)
I am aiming High. *taking a deep breath*

I wasn't even thinking about any of these and here they are... Wow...

I am frightened and stooked at the same time.

Odd Weather

Heart-shaped rock

This was a lucky shot...

Last week, while most parts of the country were (and still are) freezing, California had such lovely weather.

- naked people soaking of the rays (Baker Beach is part nude beach)
- girls sun bathing
- kids having fun
- adults and kids splashing

But of course, like always, I wasn't ready for soaking up the sun. Argh... I have the tendency to put everything in one (ex: beach and shopping in one).

Pan-me -a -cake.

Some mornings
I just crave
the good stuff.

Like today
after a 2,5 hour
session in the
surf and turf.

I make my 'cakes
glutein free to
make it a bit less
sinful.
Then I add a bit of
banana,
frozen berries
and finally
maple syrup.

Yum yum
you should
have 'sum.

- E

A long weekend.

With us,
it is all about food.


All the time. Food.


And sun.
Always a lot of sun fun.
Fun in the sun.


After wearing
ugly work gear
for the whole week
it was time for
me to go normal.
That is stripes.


A lot of Miss Marple:
Murder At The Vicarage
4.30 From Paddington
Body In The Library
I love Jane Marple.


A lot of reading,
dreaming
and
loving.

That is pretty much it.
My weekend.
And yeah
my boi is there too.
But he does his thing.
And that includes
mostly some
boy toys
and games.
Blah.
Enough about that.

- E

A's Biscuits

Yesterday, I made some biscuits, Southern Style. It was the right consistency, it was light and soft. But then the taste was just horrendous... Made me very sad.


Today, I thought I should try it again...

Tada...

Nothing like KFC's biscuit, but almost there =))) Not as buttery (what would happen I wonder if I add some more butter...?)

It's edible.

Divine

On the day of the Inauguration we went out for a bit after watching the ceremony from 6ish in the morning till 3ish in the afternoon. (then the Inauguration Balls later in the evening)

As our way of celebrating, we went to Cafe Tartine and had a latte and some goodies =).

Peanut brittle - by far the best I've had. I tried munching it in one sitting, but could not hack it, too sweet. Wish you were here to help me with it =)

Lol! If you're not into peanut brittle. Then I'll share you my oh soooo heavenly chocolate cake =))). It was perfect, the best I've had. This one was not too sweet. Although, I don't like too much icing on my cake, that's just me. Very thin layer of it on the top would do justice.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

So the other night (before the inauguration), I was craving for this - Root Beer Freeze. Just like root beer float but this one is like ice cream. Sooo good...
Horrible when I crave for something because I'd drive wherever it is. Sometimes an hour a way just to satisfy my craving; Foster's Freeze was all the way to Berkeley, 20 mins drive, not bad.

President Barack H. Obama

Finally! Overwhelming day - indescribable. So excited!

yey.

I have finally found a job.
Here actually:



The equivalent of Starbucks in Australia.
But actually I do not care so much
as the only thing I keep thinking about is
what I shall do with my first pay check.
Here is my plan:

1. pay rent
2. Borders for a good say five hours
3. run to Body Shop and buy all those things
I have wanted for all this time
4. put my money on a sweet pair of high waisted shorts

And finally go to a cake shop to get something dreamy
for my sweet belly.

- E

Fun fun fun.

I found this remarkably
fun thing at Sandra's.

It takes your old favourite
photos and creates something new.
A polaroid!

So much fun as now my Polaroid cam cam
can take a bit of a rest.
(The film is sooo expensive and I am unemployed.)



- E

Slumdog Millionaire

"The story of Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India's "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika, the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show's questions. Intrigued by Jamal's story, the jaded Police Inspector begins to wonder what a young man with no apparent desire for riches is really doing on this game show? When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the Inspector and sixty million viewers are about to find out..."

Breathe in and breathe out. Breathe.

After two weeks
of not working,
not studying
I am starting
to feel a bit
panicky.

So I am getting
back on my yoga
practice.

My only aim
being connecting
with the universe
and myself.
Controlling my anxiety
and all those screaming
thoughts in my head.

This all with my feet
tied sternly
behind my neck.

It shall be grand.




Gosia Janik
- E

Read ASAP =)

SYDNEY (AFP) – An Australian state is offering internationally what it calls "the best job in the world" -- earning a top salary for lazing around a beautiful tropical island for six months.

The job pays 150,000 Australian dollars (105,000 US dollars) and includes free airfares from the winner's home country to Hamilton Island on the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland's state government announced on Tuesday.

In return, the "island caretaker" will be expected to stroll the white sands, snorkel the reef, take care of "a few minor tasks" -- and report to a global audience via weekly blogs, photo diaries and video updates.

The successful applicant, who will stay rent-free in a three-bedroom beach home complete with plunge pool and golf buggy, must be a good swimmer, excellent communicator and be able to speak and write English.

"They'll also have to talk to media from time to time about what they're doing so they can't be too shy and they'll have to love the sea, the sun, the outdoors," said acting state Premier Paul Lucas.

"The fact that they will be paid to explore the islands of the Great Barrier Reef, swim, snorkel and generally live the Queensland lifestyle makes this undoubtedly the best job in the world."

Lucas said the campaign was part of a drive to protect the state's 18 billion Australian dollar a year tourism industry during the tough economic climate caused by the global financial meltdown.

"Traditional tourism advertising just doesn't cut it sometimes and we are thinking outside the box by launching this campaign."

Queensland Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said some people might question whether it was risky to let an unknown person become an unofficial tourism spokesperson for the state.

"I think the biggest risk will be that the successful candidate won't want to go home at the end of the six months," she said.

"This is a legitimate job which is open to anyone and everyone."

Applications are open until February 22. Eleven shortlisted candidates will be flown to Hamilton Island in early May for the final selection process and the six month contract will commence on July 1.

Job-seekers can apply on .

1. Islandreefjob.com

Play it again Sam play it for my Saturday.

To me these two sound good
on this shark filled Saturday
with no swimming or surfing
but only walking, talking, hugging.



- E

More Music!

Flume by Bon Iver (pronounced like Bonne Hiver)

This guy is pretty awesome!
This album - For Emma Forever Ago - came about... while recuperating from some illness and the break of his band and from his girlfriend, he retreated into the woods of Wisconsin, and came up with these songs.
Check out his Bio =)

Ryan Adams (Wonderwall)

And yes... Chan Marshall (aka Cat Power) also sung/revived this song =)

Lyrics:


Today is gonna be the day
That they're gonna throw it back to you
By now you should've somehow
Realized what you gotta do
I don't believe that anybody
Feels the way I do about you now

Backbeat the word was on the street
That the fire in your heart is out
I'm sure you've heard it all before
But you never really had a doubt
I don't believe that anybody feels
The way I do about you now

And all the roads we have to walk along are winding
And all the lights that lead us there are blinding
There are many things that I would
Like to say to you
I don't know how

Because maybe
You're gonna be the one who saves me ?
And after all
You're my wonderwall

Today was gonna be the day?
But they'll never throw it back to you
By now you should've somehow
Realized what you're not to do
I don't believe that anybody
Feels the way I do
About you now

And all the roads that lead to you were winding
And all the lights that light the way are blinding
There are many things that I would like to say to you
I don't know how

I said maybe
You're gonna be the one who saves me ?
And after all
You're my wonderwall

I said maybe
You're gonna be the one who saves me ?
And after an
You're my wonderwall

Said maybe
You're gonna be the one that saves me
You're gonna be the one that saves me
You're gonna be the one that saves me

Bob's tail.

I do not know what it is
but there definetly is something
about me and this country.
Or me myself in this country.

Take today for instance.

I have been surfing for two
whole hours and decide that
I deserve a nap.
So I start napping away.

Suddenly I wake up to
the fact that I think I am
hearing someone
walking in the house.

Mind you this should
not be possible as I
have closed all the
doors except for the one
leading out to the garden.

So I calmly make my way
to the toilet to you know
do my thing.

When I return from my adventures
to take my place on our newly
bought sweet couch
I am only to notice
this stinking frieckin'
creature of a lizard
staring at me on the floor.

(I swear it was the size of my arm.)

And the only thing I can think of
is thank goodness I am a biologist
before I start screaming my lungs out.

I call good ol' Johno and the phone call
kind of goes like this:

what the -piip- is that -piip- -piip- -piip- aaarggh -piip-

And then he says:

settle down baby it is just a bobtail

Right.
I hang up and decide that
that thing can't stay.

So after thirty minutes the
lizard decides outdoors is better
than indoors with a super
stressed lady and her broom,
and leaves.

But I am still left with
a disgustingly large
pile of lizard shit on the floor.

And that is when I think that
this is it. There must be something
about me and this country.
Or me in this country.

- E

Edie Sedgwick

Three for the new year.

1. Read at least one book a month, makes 12 a year.



2. Learn how to play an instrument, saxophone most preferably.
(you gotta love freckly knees man)



3. Get as many waves and surf days in as possible!

And also just be happy,
as you roll along,
the path of life.
Or this stage.

Did you make any,
new years resolutions?

- E

Dogtown and the z-boyz.

We have found this place,
in the middle of the unknown
'burb. And it reminds me of
70s LA.
All sun, skateboards, boys,
beer and an empty pool.

I must tell you little Jonno
is happy as and I am too.
Sitting there,
taking photos
and getting my
knees all freckly.








With this I hope you a great
beginning to a fabulous
New Year!!!

- E

Gran Torino by Clint Eastwood

You've gotta see this movie!

I see a movie for its either eccentricity, coolness, and the storyline. This movie made me laugh and realized a things or two about life - like most movies I'm usually drawn into.

Awe

"One Year in 40 Seconds"

Planet Earth.

Lately, I've been so fascinated by "it" all - how beautiful everything is.

No words can ever describe what those sensations and feelings are, whenever I look at "it".

Or maybe because, I'm just In-Love [more and more each day].