Photo week

My life right now revolves around work and photography, it's kinda great.

I had a photoshoot on Sunday night that resulted in this:

Yesterday, Sara and I had an awesome black-eye shoot:

Saturday, a group of us photo-geeks are going to Preston Castle to shoot in the old, gothic towers.

And Sunday we're doing a night shoot in an old abandoned shack I found.

I love this week. It feels like my camera's glued to my hand. :)

Re-discovered Essay

Irish writer and poet Oscar Wilde once wrote, “One’s real life is often the life that one does not lead.” As I make enormous decisions in terms of which major, degree and career to pursue, this quote caused me to pause. Am I truly following my heart? Am I leading the life I can call my own?

One of my greatest fears is to find myself trapped, enslaved in an existence I regret. I’ll admit that I am terrified of reaching 50 and being disappointed in myself; dismayed by the people I didn’t meet, by the places I didn’t go, and by the problems I could have solved, but didn’t.

I believe the world can be a daunting and overwhelming place, and it is easy to want to take the “easy” route, choose a safe career and live a sheltered life. And yet, by looking at some of the great people of our time, the immense value in following your heart is exemplified. Take Madame Curie, the influential physicist and chemist who, despite social norms against women in science, discovered two elements, created the theory of radioactivity, and won two Nobel Prizes - the only woman to ever do so. Her discoveries were revolutionizing and continue to impact science today. I am emboldened to continue on my quest for my “real life”; a life in which I follow my passions and dreams, a life in which I can be an advocate for change, a life in which I make a difference.

Extrapersonal memories

The night air is cool and refreshing after another simmering day. The sprinklers patter on the sidewalk; a sound reminiscent of rain, seemingly so long ago. A solitary cricket keeps me company tonight, his rhythmic chirping lulls my mind into quiet thought.

I've watched a lot of movies these past few weeks. From classics like Annie Hall and The Blues Brothers, to comedies like Due Date and No Strings Attached. I've smiled at the dry humor of Rushmore, been inspired to try wine-tasting after Sideways, and wrote a letter after the French film Beautiful Lies. There's something exciting about movies, even the slower paced ones; they're a window into someone's mind, someone's life, someone's feelings...someone's eyes.

The ancient Roman historian Livy once wrote that, "the study of history is the best medicine for a sick mind, for in history you have a record of the infinite variety of human experiences plainly set out for all to see; and in that record you can find yourself and your country both examples and warnings; fine things to take as models , base things rotten through and through , to avoid." While films are not historical events, I find them similarly fascinating in learning and living vicariously through others, something our society thrives upon.

American pop culture is a testament to the lives we wish we led. Fashion is guided by celebrities' wardrobes, slang is derived from TEEN magazine, cliques are formed by which TV shows we watch (try Bones vs. Family Guy), and Katy Perry describes how summer should feel.

I watch movies and can't help but wonder, 'would I have done that? What would I have said? That's something I could try...', etc. I watch a scene unfold and suddenly I have a new memory. Not a personal memory, this is true, but a theoretical cause and effect have definitely been noted. This leads me to wonder, what are the effects of extrapersonal experiences on a an individual's psyche? How do your observations affect you?

UCSD

There's a facebook page (it's not really a "page", it's more like "world" with literally thousands of mini-pages) for UCSD transfer students and I've spent the last hour or so getting more and more excited.

I've networked with other IR-sociology majors who are stressing about the same things, hoping for the same goals, nervous about similar obstacles, and flipping out about our amazing opportunities. It's so cool to know I'm not the only one thinking what I'm thinking. It's so exciting finding out about the best cafes, top wi-fi hubs, favorite hang-out spots, and best places to access free printers. I can't wait to be there. I'm beyond excited.

The energy is going to keep me floating for dayyyyyyyyys.

Ringside Doctor

There should be a movie made about this man. It would be brilliant.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/05/sports/when-bell-sounds-surgeon-answers-ringside-calling.html?_r=1&hp

Slowly, but surely

I'm becoming a health nut.

My grocery list: tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, berries, tuna, corn, probiotic yogurt, soymilk, pineapples, whole-grain blueberry waffles, cold cereal, a coconut, fresh fruit juice, beer, cheese, and black beans.

My morning: Jefferson Airplane, a towel by the pool, and a million crunches, reverse curls, push-ups, planks and roll-ups. I'm already super sore.

Good morning, beautiful day.

There is a post in my mind that refuses to be put into words. Emotions too difficult to collect and compose. There comes a point where translation from psyche to the written word is impossible.