Good Exhaustion

Being home has been a complete whirlwind! I've worked 30+ hours in a week and a half (I know its not much but getting up early and having responsibilities even after just a short break is hard!) I've gone to the beach with my grandparents and Fortner cousins for 2 days, gone to the So Pas Farmer's Market, seen 2 plays, reunited with friends and more family and made my first summer pie! It was tart because I made it with fresh berries, but it was still yummy! And...the top crust was inspired by the Martha Stewart Valentine's Day issue last year!

Today I also hung out with Becca, Niko and a surprise appearance by our old friend Ryan! It was a truly ideal summer day and I loved every minute of it.

It ended with Stitch and Pitch (the Dodger game where we knit!). This is my little panda friend that I'm making for my friend Amanda's birthday 3 days after mine...in one week!!!!!!

Even though I have not been this exhausted in at least 5-6 months, it feels so good to know that I have people to love (and therefore spend time with) and people who love me enough to spend time with me. I think this is the worthwhile exhaustion.

P.S.-I'm reading Sula by Toni Morrison, which is beautifully written, as always. Next up: An Abundance of Katherines by John Green and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (7) by J. K. Rowling. I am so excited to get to read soon...after all the newness of being home wears off! These are easily my 3 favorite authors of all time!

Smattering of thoughts...

I have 4 days to write about 8 more pages about tourism, plays and symbolist theatre. This is what I'm thinking about....

New favorite blogs:

blog.caseybrowndesigns.com

inthewabe.wordpress.com

jayandelle.blogspot.com

I made this little cupcake one day and had to fill it with toilet paper because I don't have any polyfil :( I want to make 4 more for all my friends!

I made this little cabley pouch in midst of reading plays and "doing homework"...
Domingo Faustino Sarmiento. El billete de 50 pesos. If you cover the eyes and the bald head, he looks a lot like R.D.V.
Possibly the statue that I am going to draw this weekend for my final project in my art class:
What I will be doing when I get home to Cali:

Movies to watch:

-La Vie en Rose

-Dead Man Walking

Crafts to make:

-make a dress

-embroider things

-finish little birdy mittens (i have made one!)

-tote bag with mexico fabric bought in 2002

Books to read:

-Tulsa-Toni Morrison

-Will Grayson, Will Grayson -John Green

-Harry Potters

-david sedaris

Ash Wednesday

This day has become a challenging one for me in the last couple of years. The first Ash Wednesday I spent away from home in New York was significantly traumatic. I saw people staring at my head, heard people from all directions asking me why my head was dirty and felt incredibly alone. I panicked and found consolation in my therapy appointment and explaining the ritual to my non-Catholic friends.

Last year I was a lot more comfortable with New York and myself, so it wasn't as terrible. This year it was the day that I left home for my Argentine Adventure.

All day I felt anxious and nervous--not because I was leaving and scared about what I was going to do, but because I had so many unfinished projects at home in CA. The amount of knitting and sewing I did in the last 24 hours was crazy. I finished my mom's purse (pictures to follow, once my mom takes them!), a little tooth fairy doll, the first part of my host mother's gift, and a hat for a friend. The ticking clock freaked me out because I still had so much to do in so little time: finish packing, go to the bank, church, lunch with mother, go to Abuelita's to deliver the tooth fairy and say goodbye, say goodbye to Grandma and start entering my dad's checks in the computer to make his tax filing easier.

Unfortunately the only task that I failed to do, was for the one person who supports (in more ways than one) my adventures the most, my dad. He's assured me to look forward and not look back or regret, but that's been slightly difficult for me.

Anyway, I'm in New York and so excited to be reunited with my NY family. I've missed this city, the smells, the weather, the people, and my school so much, that its been awesome being here already!

Here are some pictures of what I knitted this break...

Little Owl and bear made as samples for Abuelita's!
Pen and football made for my Nana and Papa's Birthdays.
The Tooth Fairy Doll! Also made as a sample for Abue's, the little pouch opens and you can put your tooth inside! The boy version has a skateboard that opens up!

I'm so excited for the next 3 days in NY and I can hardly wait for my porteña life to begin!

Famous Pens!

Look! My crocheted pens made their TV debut last night on Parks and Recreations "Galentine's Day". Pretty awesome that I made them (see January Happenings post) and that they didn't get cut from the show! You can watch the episode on Hulu.com if you missed it, the pens are literally in the first 20 seconds of the episode!