Hellogoodbye.

So, tonight was my last night working at the restaurant (Antigua Guatemala) as I head back to James Madison University in four short days. It's hard to believe I'm leaving and feels as though I just walked in the door and asked for a job.I knew the restaurant would help hold my spanish over until next semester, but I had know idea how much the people there, who now feel like family to me, would help me to learn and grow. From picking up Guatemalan slang& learning how to make fried plantains, to experience what it feels like to be part of a huge hispanic, restaurant owning family, these people have changed my life. The Hispanic culture is a friendly, loving, family oriented phenomenon that takes your breath away when you're surrounded by the cell phone, internet, and appearance focus of American culture. Mishelle told me the other day, "You're white with a little Hispanic in you, because you're different, you know? You're friendly." I've never been more proud. I cannot wait to go back to the restaurant, despite the horrors of cleaning the mens bathroom and the hard-working mentality of a hispanic small business. The culture of the restaurant is intriguing, heart warming, and feels like home. I also can't wait for the chapter of life that I'm slipping back into as I move my new indie-themed decor into a small suite with some of my best friends=) Life is bittersweet &brimming with surprise endings.

Bearer of Bad News

Today, I am grateful that I never watch the news.
Now I am going to use this as a platform to rant.
The news. My question is, whose idea was it? Who was sitting there and thought, wow, what a great idea it would be to take all of the bad things that happen in the world and put it on TV? I get the whole vietnam exposure of reality, whatever sells and entertains....but should that really entertain us?? Teenage boy dies in car accident, local apartment complex devastated by fire, child with autism's bike is stolen, drunk driver kills four twenty year olds. All stories I've heard in the last two days from the kitchen, as my mother reads to the background noise of the world's tragedy. It's horrible, really, if you think about it. Taking all of the crappy things that happen to people and broadcasting it for everyone, replaying their pain on every news channel and talk show. That these things even entertain us, or are appealing to watch is bizarre. Ergo, I have decided to never fall into the habit of watching the news every morning. Although it helps to brighten my political ignorance and local oblivion, the news simply leaves me feeling sad and angry that so many horrible things are happening to so many people. You may argue that not watching it is just ignoring the problems of a radically corrupt world. Which is valid and I don't really have a rebuttal. I just hate the news.

The Little Things in Life

So today has been a superb day. I worked only HALF AN HOUR today, which is a little thing that made me happy. There are some other factors that have made today extra spectacular.

• The discovery of a new obsession- Green Tea Frappucino from Starbucks. It looks and sounds absolutely revolting, and no one would ever think to order it, but it is marvelous.
• The purchase of a new Phillies Hat, getting ready to go back to Virginia reppin my boys.
• A pink sippy cup bought for two dollars to drink my milk from in my dorm room. I spill a lot.
• ANOTHER AC Moore Trip (my other recent obsession) and $25 worth of arts and crafts
• An afternoon free of work and full of painting& glue gunning
• Learning how to play mad world on the piano

andd there ya go. My happiness triggers of the day. =)