To Splurge, or to Splurge More?

Along with my moral dilemna of chopping my hair or not (today I'm on the 'totally-doing-it' side, but who knows what will happen next time I brush my hair-- less than 24 hours to decide!), my latest problem is figuring out what kind of camera to upgrade to. I love my little Canon A75 to death. It is my most treasured gift, perfectly wrapped and presented to me Christmas 2004 by the most amazing friends I'll ever have.

Sadly, at 3.2 megapixels, it's a little behind in times now. I will always, always keep it on hand as my back-up (and probably even go-to early on for quick shots I need to know how to do fast), but the time has come, the walrus said, to talk of other things. Namely, do I go for the latest and greatest A series Canon, the A590, which is basically the 2008 upgrade of my little A75, or should I forsee my photography passion growing in the next year and splurge right on up to the Rebel XT (oh, the Rebel...)?

Seeing as there is a price difference of $300 between the two, this is no easy decision. What I need is to get my hands on someone's Rebel to play with for awhile, and then figure it out.

Pro/Con list to follow.

To Cut? Or not to cut?

Yes, that is the question.

And before you all think I'm going emo on you, I'm referring to the ridiculousness I call my hair. I know that if I go ahead and cut it, I'll never have it long again. Part of me just wants to keep holding out for just that reason. Then the other part of me that can't do anything with my own hair is screaming at me to chop it off so I don't have to worry about it. That part was darn well winning for awhile. Then two other parts, we'll call them Jen and Justin, convinced me last Thursday to keep it long. I was convinced... until today. And now we're back to the beginning.

What I really want is to cut it about midway down my back. That way it's not a shock to just have it all gone, and if I want to go shorter I'm already half there. But I feel like it would be such a waste to have grown my hair this long and then not donate it. I blame this conflict on my mom for raising me not to waste anything.

So I have until Thursday to decide. I guess right now I'm leaning toward keeping it long and layering, thus giving me more time to get used to the idea of chopping it all off next time. Or, I'm going to end up being selfish and cutting around 4 inches off to get what I want. Sheez.

I Went to the American Idol Concert and All I Got Was This Lime Green T-Shirt

Kidding! I also got some pretty great pictures, if I do say so myself. Also, if any of you were wondering, sneaking a camera into the Sports Arena? Cake. Walk.

:: Panaramic view 10 minutes before the concert started::

:: Top 5-10 perform a song mid-concert::

:: Half-time picture::

:: A lovely guy offered to take this picture for us::

::Representing $105 worth of merchandise::

::Jason Castro, with his weird red shoes::

:: Little David and the piano came up out of the floor-- that was pretty sick::

::Awww, I like this little guy::

::But I think I like this guy more::

:: Working the crowd::

::All of their humility really impresses me, but I think what especially got me was when Big David brought out this little video camera he'd just bought so he could capture the audience's reaction. I really like that he acts like a normal guy who just happened to be thrust into stardom, and shows it by nerding out on the crowd like that::

:: The last song ::

And for more pics, here's the flickr link: http://flickr.com/photos/18312815@N00/tags/theonewiththeamericanidols/

Also, now that I have them pu, here are the links for the rest of the fair pictures, NOT-couch-burning-beach-bonfire night, and Mikey's birthday:

http://flickr.com/photos/18312815@N00/tags/theonewiththefair/

http://flickr.com/photos/18312815@N00/tags/theonewiththenotbonfire/

http://flickr.com/photos/18312815@N00/tags/theonewheremikeyturns24/

Sea World, anyone?

Well, I'm over at Ryan's house now, and was about to set into updating the ol' blog (much to talk about, AI concert, Fourth of July, etc.), but looks like we're going to do an impromptu trip to Sea World instead. At 9:15pm.

I love San Diego. :)

Another Quote From Yesterday...

"When she grows up, she wants to be just like me."

~Justin Aubrey, July 2008, in reference to his dad's comment on how easily and amusingly we fight with each other.

Only Support Staff Will Laugh At This Joke...

"Screw you, fate. I do what I want!" ~ Brian Reames, July 2008

Aw, I get to see David Cook tonight

American Idol concert tonight, peeps. I'm a bit excited, I have to admit, even though I'm not much of a concert fan as a general rule. I think it's from following the trials and joys of the final seven in their last weeks of the show, the only episodes of American Idol I've ever watched. I love how humble they all are, not these big ego-centric rock stars. And since tonight's only the second show of the tour, we'll hopefully get them before they get too tainted by the glitz and glamor.

Pictures to come! (Fingers crossed!)

On an unrelated note, anyone have a suggestion for smuggling a camera into the sports arena? Are we going to be Disneyland searched (just a quick look through the bag and a walk through the detector) or is it not smart for me to just pocket the camera?

Goodbye, Jeremy!

We will miss you!
Have an excellent time in Benin/Be-i!
Tell us how to pronounce where you are so we don't sound like idiots when we tell others!
Sorry we didn't go to Ikea for delish hot dogs!

Picture of the Day Update

But first! Shout out to Ryan for knowing what Spring Awakening is, but most importantly, appreciating it as I do!

And now, the pictures:

Mikey Birthday

NOT-Couch Burning Beach Bonfire Night

Jeremy Party

CTRG Day at the Fair '08

Lime Green Knives!

I'm Tired. Just Let Me Go To Bed!

(Setting: It's 10:59pm. I have to be up early tomorrow. I was just about to go to bed. And then I got my second wind. Blast. Just ten minutes too late.)

Random Thursdayness:

Current favorite music: Spring Awakening soundtrack. Wow, those are some good songs for a really bad musical! (Bad as in inappropriate for children, not bad as in poorly done - I'm sure the show is excellent.)

Currently watching: Don't Quit Your Night Job vides on youtube and How I Met Your Mother, Season Three.

Newest Ambition: Go to New York. Buy tickets for Don't Quit Your Night Job. And maybe Spring Awakening.

Last Thing I Ate: Chips and Salsa

Current Thought: Hope everyone got their free tacos today! Thanks, Jack, for giving me a free 99 cent mid-day meal!

Why Gambling Is Wrong

Darn that Neil Hoffman and his stupid bets. Now I owe him $3.

Busy, busy, busy

It's been a busy, busy week:

Friday night: Watched Sandlot with Brian and Katelyn (she'd never seen it, is that crazy or what?!)
Saturday: Alicia's grad party and first Star Wars movie night of the summer (that's where the couch picture took place). Participants included Brian and Katelyn, Aaron/Metro, Jeremy/Ping, Jenny/Waterbug, Jenny's boyfriend whose camp name is Stetson and whose real name I totally just blanked on (sorry!), Alicia/Hurricane, and Ryan (Ryan, we need to make a camp name for you). It was good fun all around, and a great group of people to watch a classic like Star Wars with. We talked through the whole movie, tried out sound effects, and offered up fun making-of Star Wars facts that we happened to know. Definitely need to have round two in a few weeks.
Sunday: Father's Day! Got my dad season one of the Andy Griffith Show, which is the first gift I've ever gotten that I genuinely believed he would love when he opened it (my dad's hard to buy for). And success! He said as soon as the race was over he was going to pop that baby in the DVD player. I followed my sister around with the camera while she was freaking out getting ready for camp. That was fun. She did finally stop for three seconds to pose with her Lightning McQueen watch, her proof that she is in fact a member of the Cars club at camp. After that, Jeremy and I went to Aaron's to watch the American vs. Barbados World Cup qualifier. We scored in the first minute, and I have a new favorite player on the American team: Brian Ching. He got a hat trick in this game, but that's not why I love him. It's because he was always smiling out on the field. I like optimism out on the field. Don't worry, Philipp Lahm- you're still my favorite international soccer stud.
Monday: Got my Pampered Chef order from Heather's party a few weeks ago. A food chopper that has already delighted me by cutting eggs, broccoli, and almonds with just two twists each, and my amazing lime green knife set! Pictures to come for sure. Left Youth Venture at 7:15 because no kids were there anymore. Apparently we're supposed to stay open until 9pm now, but Neil told neither David or me, so we decided it wasn't true. And left early anyway.
Tuesday: The greatest discovery of the week! The new La Mesa library, just blocks from our apartment, has finally opened its doors, and it is everything I hoped for and more. If anybody out there had seen the old library, you would agree that it was quite awful. No windows, tiny space, and all the tables were crammed together in the center of the room. It was horrible. But this new place! Jenna and I went around seven on Tuesday night to check it out and it is a-mazing. High ceilings, windows all over the place, great little comfy chairs, tables along the perimeter and near the windows, brand new bookshelves (I think we all know how much I love those new bookshelves), and outlets all over the place. I know where I'm spending my free time this summer.
Wednesday: Pretty chill day at work. Got home, reheated some leftovers from dinner the night before, and packed off for the library. Totally got the table in the corner facing the street and monopolized it for two hours. Found a new great musical song called On My Way. Now stuck in my head.

I think this weekend will be a little quieter, but watch out for next weekend! Disneyland, couch-burning-beach-bonfire night, Ryan's graduation and birthday-- it's going to be nuts!

Quote of the Day

"And as I'm going along, I carry with me, promises that can't go wrong, as I travel on my way..."

~ On My Way lyrics from the musical Violet

Holy Sunburn, Batman!

Look outside! Just look at it!

I'd been stuck inside all day, in my below freezing air conditioned office, and when I finally broke out to make a run to WAMU, I was hit in the face with summer. And it rocked.

HELLO, SUMMER!
I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU!
I'M SO EXCITED I'M TYPING IN OBNOXIOUS CAPITAL LETTERS!

June 15, 2008: The Watch