My move to Oregon and all the things that happened in between.

As many of you know, I moved to Portland about a month ago. I figured since I mainly only update while I am in Portland, I will try to make a frequent habit of it. The 3 weeks leading up to the big move consisted of lots and lots of packing, much needed time with friends and getting all the loving from my hubby. In case you were wondering we are doing the long distance thing again. It has been a month so far and hasn’t been the easiest transition. 

Anyways, I spent much time with some girlfriends including my other half Jill. Jill happened to have a major life event that had her move back to Texas two days before I moved. It was bittersweet because I know she will be happy back in Texas but I miss her dearly. Jill and I grew very close the short time we knew each other. I mean seriously, she is like the other half to me. You know those necklaces that are broken up hearts that say best friends forever. Well I considered her my BFF necklace. I chat with her almost daily about TV, movies, Leo and our transitions into the new lives. Jill time is missed oh so much but I am glad we are both in positive places and only see great things coming her way.

On top of Jill, I got to see so many of my dear friends. You all know who you are and know that I miss you all so much. It has been kinda lonely since I can’t call up anyone and hang out. I pretty much have my cousins, parents and dog. Which I do not mind but I wish I could go to Cheba Hut with my biffz, see a movie with Taylor, get endless amounts of coffee with Kristine, eat pancakes with Zeli or go to Disneyland with Randee. It is sad at times but I know they are happy for me deep down inside. 

Oh and my dear friends Sarah and Richard had their beautiful baby girl named Neve. I was so glad to see that precious baby. She is going to be a wonderful mother and I am so happy for her. It brings a tear to my eye because I know how much this girl will love her endlessly. Congrats for the million time. I love your family so much!

Now onto my husband....

Tim is the greatest man on earth. I don’t know how I got so lucky but I am not even going to question it. Haha. I miss him each day. I have probably cried at least 3 times a week because he is my best friends. Life is very hard without him. I guess I thought long distance would be easy since we did it before but it is not. Our one year anniversary is coming up and he is going to be up here in 8 days! These 8 days will be hard but I know our time together will be that much more meaningful. Point blank, I love this man and can’t imagine my world without him.

Soooo....now the move. My dad flew down here to drive with me. We managed to do it all one shot. No overnights and only pit stops for bathroom breaks/food. My dad is a great road trip partner because he can always keep the conversation going and because I love him so much. We got home about 3 am and crashed. I got all my unpacking done for the most part within the first few days, got my license and scored a job at the Oregon Humane Society(!!!!).

So here I am sitting the the Sniff cafe waiting for Ali to finish his bath. I think back to all the good times in San Diego and miss elements of it but I am really happy here. My life is going to be a roller coaster for a while but I am ready for my new adventure and couldn't be more excited/scared. :)

Ryan Adams

As many of you know, Ryan Adams is my favorite musician. I decided a well overdue post was needed to express my love for his music, writing and art. I have been listening to Ryan Adams for many years now but I would say within the past 6 years I have grown even closer to his music. Mr. Adams is an inspiration to my daily life and helps me get through the emotional roller coaster we all call life. Ryan initially started out in an Alt Country band called Whiskeytown and got huge recognition. Whiskeytown had a huge following and really boost started his career. There have been rumors of a possible reunion to which its neither been denied or confirmed. Ryan channels a lot of his motivation from his prior substance abuse and of course love. His albums clearly show what state of mind he was in when he wrote them. I would say my favorite album would be Easy Tiger. This album does not have one bad song in my opinion. I remember listening this this album dozens of times throughout the year of 2008 which was right around the time my husband and I started dating. Ryan Adams did help me get through the long distance relationship I had with Tim. Also when I was going through an intense depression phase I listened to Love Is Hell endlessly. That album can be utterly depressing as it refers to his addictions he struggled with and overcame. It comes across so raw but yet delicate. Along with a handful of solo albums, Ryan also started working with The Cardinals and released 5 albums with them. The Cardinals helped produce some of his more popular albums such as Jacksonville City Nights and Cold Roses. He eventually left The Cardinals in 2009 due to Meniere's disease which is an internal ear disorder that can cause permanent deafness. There has been rumors of a possible reunion but it has never been confirmed. After splitting from The Cardinals he took some time to himself, got married, moved to LA, got a cat and eventually started his own record label in LA. Ryan started up PAX AM and opened a studio in a house on Sunset Blvd. I have yet to see it but Tim stumbled upon it a month ago and I was so jealous! After starting PAX AM Ryan confirmed he was working on a new album. In 2011, Ryan released a new album called Ashes & Fire and also announced he would go on a solo acoustic tour. I was lucky enough to catch him twice on his tour and he looks healthier than ever.  This year he released a 15 vinyl set of his European tour and made a very limited amount. I managed to get one and was so happy! They actually crashed both sites when it went on sale so they had to reschedule the sale date. Ryan is still in the studio pretty much everyday of the week(I know this because I am constantly on his Twitter....creepy, I know). Below I have included his discography and a few notes about my favorite songs on each album, these are listed in chronological order.

Whiskeytown

Faithless Street:

"Midway Park" I love the guitar in this song so much!!

"Black Arrow, Bleeding Heart" No specific reason as to why I like this song, I just do.

Strangers Almanac;

"Everything I Do" The imperfections in this song make it so beautiful.

"Losering" It doesn't say much which can make a song so much more than overly complicated lyrically songs.

Pneumonia:

"Sit & Listen to the Rain" I love his voice in comparison to the music. The simplicity in this song makes me feel so peaceful.

"Mirror, Mirror" This song makes me kind of laugh, it just has a silly aspect to it.

Solo albums

Heartbreaker:

"Come Pick Me Up" I have to admit, not my favorite song. It is a huge song by him though, a must listen!

"Oh My Sweet Carolina" A song I just feel so passionate about. This song is the best off this album hands down.

Gold:

"New York, New York" Ryan got massive recognition for this song because he shot the music video right before 9/11. It is a true homage to a city he loves so much.

"Harder Now That It's Over" This song is so sad but beautiful. If you are going through a break up, you probably shouldn't listen to this song.

Demolition:

I have to be honest, this is one of the Ryan Adams albums I don't care for so I don't really know what to recommend when it comes to the songs.

"Nuclear" because its the single off this album

Rock N Roll:

"So Alive" This is one of those song where I sing out loud in my car. Amazing chorus!

"Anybody Want To Take Me Home" A slightly sad song but I feel like the upbeat music makes up for it. Another fun song to sing in your car!

Love Is Hell:

"This House Is Not For Sale" I was hoping he would play this live and he did once. Tim and I love this song and vocally he kills it.

"Wonderwall" This is the cover of Oasis's Wonderwall and Noel Gallagher said it was the best cover he has heard. He also got nominated for a Grammy because of this song. Its so haunting but amazing.

"Hotel Chelsea Nights" This song is very powerful and you can tell it has references to his drug addiction.

29:

"Elizabeth, You Were Born To Play The Part" This song is about his close friend having a miscarriage and it shows his compassion and sympathy toward the situation.

Easy Tiger:

This seems so ridiculous but EVERY song on this album. This is one of those albums you must listen to start to finish because it is that amazing to me. It is probably my second favorite album of all time. Trust me, listen to it and you will see.

Ashes & Fire:

"Lucky Now" The single from this album. It has a strong message and the acoustic guitar and minimal music makes it that much more powerful.

"Dirty Rain" I love the lyrics in this song and is a great opening track.

Ryan Adams and The Cardinals

Cold Roses:

Disc One

"Magnolia Mountain" I don't this I can really express how much I love this song. It pulls out so many emotions for me and it is simply beautiful.

"Sweet Illusions" I love love love this song. I sing along to it and it makes me feel sadly happy. I can't really explain it.

Disc Two

"Let It Ride" I think musically this is an amazing song. The guitar, drums, lyrics...everything.

"If I Am A Stranger" This is another popular song by his and I see why. Its so great on so many levels.

Jacksonville City Nights:

"The End" Another song dedicated to a city close to his heart. This is one of my favorite songs by him.

"Dear John" This is a collaboration with Norah Jones. It is terribly sad as it is about a widow who is trying to live her life without her spouse. Still incredibly fantastic across the board.

Follow The Lights:

"Dear John" & "If I Am A Stranger" an EP with a handful of songs and this consist of these two great songs...again.

Cardinology:

"Fix It" This song is simple but I feel like Ryan comes across to aggressive in the right ways.

"Cobwebs" It is another simple one but the message of the song is what I connect with.

That is Ryan Adams discography. I did leave out a few bootlegs and bonus albums. Overall he has released 13 albums but I have around 20 including the bootlegs and bonus albums. Okay, so I think you get the picture by now. I love Ryan Adams and I plan on growing as a person along with his music. I hope everyone will listen to him and appreciate the music he has produced and that gives you an understanding of what he loves to do. Alright, my fingers are tired and I have killed about 50% of this laptops battery. Thats my post dedicated to Ryan Adams and maybe one day he will see this and not think I am some crazy stalker.

XX

I keep reading female humor books.

Blogging has been a real thorn in my side lately. I think its due to the fact that I have been reading some amazing books by hilarious women. First it started with Jenny Lawson who had a very unconventional life and had many hilarious stories from her childhood up to adulthood. I did a review on this book and honestly it inspired me to start blogging again. After Mrs. Lawsons book  I moved onto Tina Fey's Bossypants. For everyone who has read this boom they know how funny and inspiring it is. I pretty much worship Tina Fey for so many reasons so this book was like taking a peek into her life. I have a handful of friends who love her and love this book equally as much. After Bossypants I moved onto a collection of essays by Sara Barron called People Are Unappealing (including me). This book was probably the best one I have read as far as humor goes. I normally do not laugh out loud when it comes to film or books but I cracked up reading this book. One part actually had me in tears. I highly recommend that book to everyone, men and women across the board. Lastly, I finished Mindy Kaling's book Why Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? and enjoyed that one as well. She is a clever and uplifting writer. She has a lot of good advice for women in that book and made me really value my friendships I have.

So after reading 4 books by amazing women it is obviously intimidating to try and be funny or even entertaining whether its writing, blogging or even talking to people. I try to take inspiration and advice from these books to motivate me. I havent been doing much with my life and reading lifes curveballs makes me feel like I can do better things with myself.

Back in Stumptown!

Oh geez, I have been a terrible blogger in the past month. I have been slacking off with my entire life for the past 6 months so it's no surprise my BB blog suffered as well. I am officially apologizing to those invisible people who may care. Moving on, I am once again visiting the good old NW. My parents are going to Puerto Rico and need a puppysitter. I was of course more than happy to do it. Luckily, my parents get home early so I will be able to spend a few days chilling with them and going about in the city. My parents are letting me use their car but I am so nervous about it. My mom just bought a brand new Audi and there is no way I am getting anywhere near that steering wheel but my dad has a Chevy Cruze so that will be my ride. It's still intimidating driving a new car that has all these gadgets and such. Maybe its  because I am driving a car that was made in 1998 and you really only have to mess with 4 things. This was just a brief update to let my blog feel the love and to get the ball rolling on this business.

For those of you who may read, if you want me to write about a topic please let me know. I suck with coming up with ideas so it'd be a great help!

Drunken mess

I figured since I rarely get drunk it might be fun to try and remember the embarrassing moments that go along with being intoxicated. Please do not judge me, actually please do.

I remember the first time I got drunk I was 15. I was a late bloomer when it came to drinking. My cousin who lived with us told me to ask a friend to buy us some alcohol. Which was stupid since my parents keep lots of liquor on hand. Anyways, I knew this guy from a friend's girlfriend's uncle's step dad's neighbors' babysitter......or something ridiculous like that. First of all, any guy who is 22 and hooking up a 15 year old with drinks needs to reevaluate their life. The dude showed up with a variety of alcohol and since I did not know my limits I just drank, drank, drank and drank. Eventually it hit me and I was like "HEY EVERYONE! I AM DRUNK!". I don't think I said that though. I ended up drunk dialing a bunch of people. Oh and here comes the kind of sad part. I was pretty much going to be raped that night by that douche. Luckily my step brother came in and told the guy to piss off. My older brother came home and I cried the whole night. I felt like a horrible person and when my parents found out I felt even worse. From that point I had random buzz nights but never drunk nights. I have always been paranoid since the near foreign P entering my delicate V uninvited incident.

The next really drunk night I remember was in Oregon. I bought two bottles of vodka and drank a lot of it. I am kind of in love with vodka and sprite since my brother-in-law introduced me. I was actually calm and collected except I don't remember anything besides getting the spins and throwing up in a forever 21 bag. I woke up and my dad was cleaning up my puke. Dad, if you are reading this I LOVE YOU! New year's eve was a fun one. We went to this place called Bar Pink and if you take me there be prepared for me to say sneaky tiki 500 times. I enjoyed quite a few drinks and felt really good. Apparently I tried to make out with one of our friends but she was taller than me so I just kept kissing her chin. Yeah, that is still embarrassing. By far the worst was this past valentines day, OH GAWD. This night included other elements besides just alcohol. I was dancing and felt fine but then BAM! it hit me and it hit me hard. I couldn't focus and 10 minutes felt like an hour. I ended up getting tired and sitting on the floor. I had to get out of there because I didn't want to get everyone kicked out. I got home and Tim bought me rolled tacos which I wanted to eat but I felt like I couldn't move. Also, it was like 11 by the time we got home. Needless to say, I don't take drinking easily because I am tiny and it doesn't take much to get me trashed. If you do want to make fun of me just take me out with my brother-in-law. He will get me drunk without breaking a sweat.

For your enjoyment here are some pictures of me drinking/being drunk.

New year's eve. That's me on the right.

A couple weekends ago. Not drunk but buzzed.

I don't think I am drunk in this picture but I look like it.

Movie review--Like Crazy

***WARNING! SPOILER ALERT***

This morning I finally watched the romantic drama Like Crazy. I like to consider myself a cinema buff but I don't really know all the specifics regarding film. I can tell a good movie from a bad one pretty easily. In this case, Like Crazy is a really good movie. It was very powerful for the rawness that relationships have. Regardless of what relationships you have there are always the ups and the downs and this film really captures that. If you have ever dealt with long distance relationships, you will relate even more to this film. I can say from dating long distance it is very difficult and it hurts. Ultimately if you try and keep the love fully embraced you can make it work out. Seeing everything they went through brought back some sad moments reminding me of the trials I went through. Obviously my circumstances were not as extreme but I could relate to what these young lovers dealt with. Love is a big obstacle and is very difficult to capture but I believe Drake Doremus did a job well done.

Like Crazy follows two young people falling in love with each other and learning how to compromise their patience at times. The movie is about Jacob (Anton Yelchin) and Anna (Felicity Jones) who meet while studying in college. Anna pursues Jacob to which a loving relationship blooms and spans over a year. Anna is from England and her visa is coming to an end, she defies the deadline to spend an extra couple months with Jacob. Once she tries to return to the states she is denied due to the violation of her visa. Jacob and Anna then have to deal with the option of dating long distance. After an unspecified amount of time then call off the relationship. Jacob begins dating a girl named Sam (Jennifer Lawrence) and seems to have moved on until he receives a call from Anna one night. She confesses that she cannot move on with her life because of her undenying love for him. From there on out they try to battle customs to get her in the states, Anna and Jacob must decide if their relationship is worth the distance and trials.

Anton and Felicity have a naturally chemistry on set and read off each other so well. The movie was mostly improvised dialogue and it make so much sense knowing that is how the true emotions are between two people. The physical interactions are so delicate making the viewer feel like its 100% real love and hardships. Pain is an element of relationships and love which is played out so beautifully by those two talented actors. The movie does leave on a bit of an unsettling note and leave it up to the viewer to decide how the fate of these two lovers plays out. Drake Doremus did a great job with setting up every scene and really grasping the intense moments one has with their lover. The best moments are the silent but long gazes they give each other. It is so powerful and moving knowing that one look can mean so much more than 3 words.

I highly recommend watching this film but I warn you that it is not lighthearted and will be a bit emotional at times. It is truly a great film and worth a watch.

Fantasy football craze!!!!!!

My fantasy football league has completed its draft and I figured I should express my love for football. I was raised on football and hated it as a kid but once I hit my teen years I was obsessed. Naturally I followed in my father's footsteps and became a dedicated fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers. In case any of you don't know who they are here is all you need to know. They have 6 Superbowl rings and no other team does. You get hated on a lot when you are a Steelers fan based on the fact that they are so good(or because some people think our QB is a rapist). Regardless of the hate I stand by the GOLD and black.

Anyways....3 years ago my best friend (aka biffz) got me into his fantasy league. I went into this with no idea as to what I was doing but with some coaching I got the hang of it. You pick players and they put up points for you based on what they played in the game....easy enough, right? Well not so much, FF is a lot of strategic moves and changes. You have to always be up to date on your players status and know about your opponents team as well. After my first year I came in 3rd place which made me sad but proud at the same time. I really thought I was going end up at the bottom and my team would suck a bag of dicks. The awesome thing about FF is you never know what will happen. One week your team will be a trainwreck and the next its a dream team. Fast forward to 2011 and I'm back in the draft again. I felt confident but not super thrilled. Somehow the football gods blessed me with the amazing duo of Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. They took it home for me and I won! Out of all these dudes the one girl took it and I was ready to brag! It was a great year and I loved kicking ass.

Now the new fantasy season is upon us and I'm indifferent to my team(I attached a picture for reference). I made some risky picks but no risk no reward. I just hope these fellas step it up and play great games not just for me but all the people who drafted them.

To all those fantasy players out there, good luck and thank God football is back!