Express Yourself

I went shopping yesterday for professional looking clothes since, come this fall, I will be going to a place of business every day rather than class. No more rolling out of bed 10 minutes before Music History starts. Blast!

I think I did pretty well. I did not exceed my budgeted amount and got some wardrobe essentials:

1. Editor Pant in Black
2. Editor Pant in Brown
3. Essential Shirt in Sky Blue
4. Stretch Fitted Shirt in Classic White
5. High Heels in CUTE!

Patrick didn't buy anything, although he did look around at some sparkley things.

In other news, I've been researching my last name, "Brant", which turns out to mean "One who dwells on a farm that has been cleared by fire". Uh...ok... After reading this I was curious to learn what the origins of "Burzlaff" were, and found that it is actually two words: "Bohr" meaning "fighter", and "slav" meaning "fame". So, "Burzlaff" = "Famous Fighter".

And then I thought, if Burzlaff is so aggressive, maybe he's the one that set fire to my farm.

Memory

I don't remember things.

Like, you'd think with all the traveling I've done and how much I've cherished every moment of the touring life that I would remember more of it. For example, if someone asked me if I'd ever been to Palm Desert, CA, I would say no. But if you reminded me that not only did I perform a concert there, but also stayed with family friends that own a home there, I would remember. Vaguely.

I don't remember conversations, either. 9 times out of 10 I'll stop in the middle of a story and say, "Wait, have I told you this already?" And usually the 10th time the person will stop me and say that they've already heard whatever I'm saying. Twice.

Often times Patrick will say something and I'll be genuinely surprised: "really?" I'll say, only to hear, "Paige, I've told you that like 3 times." I'd give an example of this...but I can't remember any.

So, in an effort to improve my memory, Patrick purchased the game "Memory": Spiderman & Friends Edition! We play it every night and try to match Spiderman, Ironman, Captain America, Storm, and all the other all-stars. I'm sure my nephews would L-O-V-E it, but for me it's a mental workout. Often I will turn over a piece that I have JUST turned over during my last turn. What?? Why can't I remember where the Hulk is?? I'm getting better, though. Last night we tied.

Popsicles and Yo-Yo

I've never known so much about my sisters' daily lives.

I used to think that blogging was a glorified diary, and that all who posted must have been pretty self-absorbed to think that people would be interested in reading their every thought. As it turns out, when you live far away from the people that you love these things are a quick and easy (and hilarious) way to check in. So, seeing as I'm moving to California in 7 or so weeks, I thought I'd join the club.

In the weeks that are leading up to my own California Adventure I'm spending my time collecting names, generating lists, hunting down keys, counting dorm rooms, sending nasty emails to facilities, and managing a staff of 10 as Luther's Summer Housing Coordinator. Besides that I've been doing everything summer-y that I can think of, like eating popsicles (only $1 a box!), getting a public library card, going to the pool ($3 a visit...is a summer pass worth it? hmm....), learning flute (yes, that's summer-y), playing sand volleyball, going to Bible study, taking walks, and taking private golf lessons from 2007 US Open Winner Patrick Burzlaff.

I'm fortunate enough to have 3 of my best friends here for the summer, and now that we don't have classes eating up our time we're able to do things like lay on the floor in the CFA listening to Yo-Yo Ma playing Bach's cello suites until the SPO cops kick us out (it was the mean one this time, although he surprisingly wasn't as mean on this particular occasion...it was probably Yo-Yo that did the trick).

Basically I'm just trying to live my last 7 weeks in Iowa (for X number of years, anyway) to the fullest. And you can now read all about it, and on into the California Adventure. I'm not surprised by this, actually...I'm self-absorbed anyway.