Day 13 - A picture from last summer

Wow, I am just breezin' through the end of the challenge...

Can I just say that happiness is laying in a field in Ireland? Oh yes yes yes it is! That is why I am wearing a hat, scarf and jacket in this "summer" picture...it was freezing! But I was perfectly content. This is not a manufactured, drunk, or forced smile on my face. This, my friends, is the smile of a wanderluster in the midst of traveling; which, I have realized is my ultimate passion/drug/obsession, or however you want to classify it. By the way, this picture was taken after a successful frolic session in the Irish pastures. ahhhhhh....

This is one of my favorite summer pictures EVER.

Day 12 - A black and white photo

This is an old pic of me and my friend Kendal. But I don't call her Kendal; instead, I call her "Zero." And she calls me "Zero," too. Zero Sr. and Zero Jr., to be exact. And that is what we are attempting to make with our hands.

Many people are confused by this nickname, assuming that we are insulting each other somehow. But I love this girl, and know this: "Zeros are better than Heroes," and MAYBE you should watch a little (horribly done, but horribly fun) film by the name of Earth Girls Are Easy to truly understand the name.

Yep, I'll leave it at that.

P.S. I just LOVE black and white photos!

Day 11 - Post one of the oldest pictures you have in your Picture folders

hahahaha!

Old sorority days...I think that explains A LOT. We're all annoyingly wearing the same green top because this is a Rush event. Sororities are notorious for: matching outfits, matching colors, even matching eye shadow! I'm only 19 in this picture, and pretty baby-ish. You gotta love looking at old photos because a plethora of old memories comes up!

***

Alright, alright....now let me show something more modern, please. I give you Robyn's new single off her second album in 2010 (she'll release 3, that saucy minx):

Robyn - Hang With Me official video from Robyn on Vimeo.

Day 10 - A picture that you took at one time that you love

^ Circa 2008 in Bodrum, Turkey. When I look at this picture, I think "happy place."

I know I may talk about Turkey too much here (like, I've talked your heads off), but when one is in love, they have to shout it from the rooftops! This picture takes me to a place where I can *siggggghhhh* in relief that the world is able to be, in fact, quite beautiful; thus, seeing such beauty reassures me somehow that everything is going to be alright.

It's one of those pictures that takes me there, and when I'm upset and feeling stuck or trapped, I need something to take me there.

***

With that said, I am halfway done with this photo challenge...yay! Here are my old photos (if you are curious) and what's to come:

The (Revised) Photo Challenge

Day 01 - A picture of yourself

Day 02 - A beach picture that you have taken

Day 03 - A picture of your street

Day 04 - A picture of where you went today

Day 05 - A picture from your morning

Day 06 - A picture that inspires you

Day 07 - Post a picture from a recent vacation

Day 08 - Post a picture from your commute

Day 09 - Take a picture today that showcases motion

Day 10 - A picture that you took at one time that you love

Day 11 - Post one of the oldest pictures you have in your Picture folders

Day 12 - A black and white photo

Day 13 - A picture from last summer

Day 14 - A picture taken with your cell phone

Day 15 - A picture that you edited

Day 16 - A picture of you more than 10 years ago

Day 17 - A picture of what you wore today

Day 18 - A picture of you and a best friend

Day 19 - A favorite picture of yours

Day 20 - Any picture that you want!

We interrupt this regularly scheduled program...

...to bring you photos from the Robyn concert!!!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Robyn's ALL HEARTS TOUR was one of the best concerts I have EVER EVER EVER gone to. It helped that I was literally right against the stage, and I got to hold her hand. teehee. It also helped that she is a fabulous singer (in all senses of the word) and knew how to work the crowd.

Robyn's little bird symbol on the drum got me excited!

Opening act. hehe.

Really weird opening act (there were 2). This one I called the "black-eyed peas wannnabes"

Rachel and me getting ready for Robyn!!

Here she is!!

She rocks.

And sings beautifully :)

And she has a sense of humor :D

...and I took a little snippet of Robyn singing "Dream On," but I can't figure out how to rotate it (haha) and the quality is poor because the crowd is SUPER loud. Just know that she sounded awesome, even if you can't tell in the video. Sorry that I am bouncing around like crazy while shooting it! I couldn't help it! I was dancing like a nerd at a Star Wars convention! Wait, erm...I am a nerd. :D

Day 09 - Take a picture today that showcases motion

So, I didn't take this today...sorry! But here it is:

It's a picture of the Del Mar Fair in San Diego. It is our county fair, and this picture takes me there: I can smell the fried goodness (or badness?), I can hear the crowd whizzing by, and I can feel the hot summer air as I squeeze in past the people to get to the rides.

Nothing too special, but it's a memory forever imprinted in this little snapshot.

P.S. I am seeing Robyn in concert tomorrow. I am beyond excited for this because Robyn hardly ever tours in the U.S.!!!!!!!! YAY yay YAY yay YAY!!

Day 08 - Post a picture from your commute

Heh heh.

So this is a picture from my commute yesterday. I was driving up with my friends Ryan and Colleen (pictured above) to see the musical "In the Heights."

One thing to know about Colleen: she can fall asleep anywhere.

One thing to know about me: I will take pictures of you when you fall asleep anywhere. This brings joy to my life, and I'm not sure why, other than that I have a very weird sense of humor. But here's the deal--if you fall asleep in a public place, why shouldn't I be able to take your picture and post it on the internet? Yes, I'm a tinge bit evil.

***

In other unrelated news, I made a Pimm's cup beverage a couple days ago. I had to share this so Jax could be proud of me. Let me give some background: Pimm's is a delicious drink that Jackie introduced me to when I met her in London. I fell in love instantly. Here is the recipe I found, although I'm sure there are a lot of variations:

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup Pimm's No. 1
• 2 cups ginger ale, chilled
• 1 1/3 cups sparkling water, chilled
• 4 lemon slices
• 1 medium cucumber, halved lengthwise and cut into 4 spears

Preparation

Fill 4 tall (12-ounce) glasses with ice cubes.

Pour 3 tablespoons Pimm's into each glass. Pour 1/2 cup ginger ale and 1/3 cup sparkling water into each glass; stir to combine. Garnish each serving with 1 lemon slice and 1 cucumber spear. Serve immediately.

***

Lastly, I wanted to talk about the insaneness that was Inception. This movie was just WOW. How do I explain it? It's frustrating...but in a good way. It is a never-ending labyrinth of mysteries and hypotheses, all tested and re-tested in your mind to try to figure out that darn ending! Oh the ending!!!!

Go see it and tell me what you think. This movie still haunts me a little, and I'll give it: ★★★½

Take off a half for the frustration of it all!! One star is definitely in there because it's Leo and Joseph Gordon Levitt in one movie. Oh yeah!!

Day 07 - Post a picture from a recent vacation

Hey now! How convenient that I just got back from a vacation yesterday! Now that's recent...do I win an award for most recent, Krystal? Hmmm?

And this is the picture I am most proud of. If you don't know what Hitsville USA is, well, first I will shake my head at you. Then I'll tell you, cause you NEED to know! This, my friends, is where all the MOTOWN artists recorded. This means that I stepped into the same building that Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes and Smokey Robinson all sang in. I skipped past the couch that Marvin used to sleep on. I got a good up-close look at the "Beat It" jacket. I touched the piano in the main studio that Stevie Wonder used to play! Ahhhhhhh!!!

THIS WAS MY HEAVEN!!

And a story the tour guide told: One young man who was friends with Barry Gordy's niece asked if he could audition as a recording artist. Barry (the Motown founder) told the young man," Well, we have enough artisits, but what else can ya do?"

The young man said," I can make your floors look nicer." And so he became a janitor. The young man did such a good job, Barry soon promoted him to personal assistant.

One time, at a nightclub promotion for Motown, a singer was late to go on. Barry, knowing that his young personal assistant could sing quite well and had proven himself, told him, "Marvin, get on stage."

And thus, Marvin Gaye's career began. You gotta love that :)

Let me end with some more pics of Michigan:

Shelby the highly pampered dog.

Lake St. Clair...of course I was SURROUNDED by lakes!

HELL YEAH.

My aunt's kitty, Ravenheart.

The Grand Canyon from the plane.

LOVE THESE FLOWERS!!

My aunt and I. Nothing outta the ordinary, y'know.

An old family friend, "Earl the Pearl."

Drinking Canadian beer, eh.

Best looking river I have ever seen.

You shouldn't be smiling, I'm going to EAT YOU!

Love the trees in Michigan :)

Phew! Pictures galore!! Now I must catch up on your blogs!!!

Michiganders are...

...SO AMERICAN.

I'll explain later when I post again (in about a week).

Also, I am missing the HELL outta my San Diego weather. 97 degrees outside with humidity? No thank you, Michigan, NO THANK YOU!!!!

Day 06 - A picture that inspires you

This picture is from a river in Paris. Rive Droite or Rive Gauche? I can't remember, but it matters not. What I do remember is dreamily gazing at this masterpiece and contemplating life and the pursuit of...living (because life is not all about happiness, but is about embracing both ups and downs).

This picture doesn't inspire me because of the exact place. Paris is superb; however, I am more inspired by traveling, seeing new things and being a part of the world. Traveling is when I feel most alive!

I love this picture and pictures like it because it instantly inspires me to get out of my own little corner of the earth and explore other little corners...and nooks...and crannies.

***

Speaking of traveling, I am leaving for Michigan tomorrow to visit family. I will be gone for two weeks and I'm not sure how much I'll get to post, if at all. So, just to clarify, I'm not dead! Just away for a little while!!

XOXO, Ash

Day 05 - A picture from your morning

I've shown this little guy before, but he's just perfect for this day:

It's my morning monster!!! It's everything I feel in the morning all wrapped into one monster: grumpy, in need of coffee and like I could bite people's heads off! haha. I'm not that bad, but I do hate the morning. I also cherish the dude because one of my best friends Rachel made it for me...yes, MADE it. She's bad ass with crafty things.

He's probably the only good thing about my morning; that, and coffee :)