Currently listening...

This month is an album I've heard a few tracks from but I was able to listen to the whole thing in the last week and just can't get enough of it. It's an older album. Jedi Mind Tricks - Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell. Here is the track list:

1. Intro
2. Put em in the Grave
3. Suicide
4. Uncommon Valor: A Vietnam Story
5. A Blood Red Path
6. When All Light Dies
7. Serenity in Murder
8. Pariah Demise (Interlude)
9. Heavy Metal Kings
10. Shadow Business
11. Triumph and Agony (Interlude)
12. Razorblade Salvation
13. Outlive the War
14. Gutta Music
15. Temples of Ice (Interlude)
16. Black Winter Day

Some tracks feature guest artists and those ones (especially track 4) definitely add another element to the album. Anyway, loving it right now.

All Science

I was thinking about retaking Calculus this semester (I got a C+) but when I went to my Cell Biology lecture yesterday and the professor said, "This is a very difficult course. You will need to spend a lot of time reviewing the information presented in this course" I decided that I should concentrate on the three science classes I'm already committed to. That's Organic Chemistry I, O Chem Lab I and Cell Biology. I know it's only the first week so I'm sure in two weeks I'll feel like I'm busier than I want to be, but so far it's not too bad! I work about 7 hours every day instead of 8 and the walking/traxing to campus and my classes has been enjoyable, minus the train ride this morning. I swear it was 100 degrees on the train and I could not stop sweating...worst trax ride of my life! Thank goodness it only lasted 10 minutes.

It feels good to be back in science classes and on campus again! :)

JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes 2010

September 2, 2010 will be the nine year anniversary of my diagnosis with diabetes. Today I participated in the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes for the first time. A friend of mine has a daughter who is also a Type I diabetic and she was diagnosed nine years ago as well. A mutual friend of ours told me she was doing the walk and I decided that maybe I should give it a shot. I raised $160 in donations from family members and co-workers. I would like to thank all those who gave so generously.



The walk was held at Wheeler Farm and we got there pretty early so that we would have time to get our t-shirts and find the rest of our team. For raising $100, I got this t-shirt:





The girl who's team we were on designed these t-shirts so that our team would match:



The walk was a lot of fun and I'm glad that I did it. After we walked there were treats and games and a rock wall and the kids (and some of the adults) played while we ate the lunch provided by the sponsors. All in all I have to say I'm a little disappointed in myself for not participating sooner and fully plan on doing it whenever I am able to from now on.

motivation

i just started working out again (yesterday) after taking about three months off. it was pretty hard yesterday but a little easier today so i'm hoping i will continue to find the motivation i had through the spring. this time around i'm thinking i'm going to try and do a little more outside instead of being confined to my apartment using the same workout dvds over and over. i hate running but i'm going to try working up to it. starting with walking, of course :)

my downstairs neighbor

every time i check email on my phone, several wireless networks pop up, and one in particular has a very strong signal. since i started school this semester, and all of my classes were online, i decided that i should find out whoever this network belonged to, and get in on it so that it would benefit me with having the internet at home and the owner with a reduction in cost. i heard my downstairs neighbor come home one evening so i walked down and knocked on his door. i asked if he was the owner of the wireless network _______ and he said yes so i asked if he wanted to split it. he told me that he would have to find the password and that he was on his way to class at the moment, but would get back to me soon. i waited a few days. then i waited a couple more. after a week had passed, i saw him on the porch and asked once again. he told me that since his roommate had moved out, he had gotten stuck with a huge internet bill (the first one including installation, etc, etc) and so qwest had cut service for now. then he said as soon as he got things figured out, he would let me know. after that day, he disappeared. this was about two months ago. then a couple of weeks ago i was talking to the across-the-hall neighbors, and they said that they thought he must've just deserted the apartment because nobody had seen him in weeks (months, really) but that there had been no for rent sign up yet. i figured they must be right and resigned myself to setting up my own internet (which is now currently being done through my phone). today i started doing laundry and as i came out of the laundry room to head back upstairs, lo and behold, the downstairs neighbor's car is parked outside. it just leaves me scratching my head and going, huh??

Currently listening...

1. ATB - Summer Rain
2. Roger Sanchez - Lost (Pornocult 6am remix)
3. Chris Lake - Change (Club remix)
4. Morgan Page - Only Human
5. Lal Meri - Bad Things (Morgan Page Dirty remix)
6. Poni Hoax - Carrie Ann
7. Tall Paul - Common Ground
8. Tiesto - Everything
9. Armin Van Buuren - Zocalo
10. Deadmau5 - Not Exactly

Most of these songs came from Pandora this month. Most are artists that I listen to (and love) but these are new songs. The only new artist I found is Poni Hoax. I heard Carrie Ann on my Pandora and had to find it to listen to again.

The other one I can't get out of my head is Everything. This is on Tiesto's Elements of Life album.

Last show of the summer...most likely ;)

I went out to Saltair on Saturday for the first time since my birthday last year (2009) to see Deadmau5, which is who I saw the last time I was there. This time around, however, was a much better, more memorable experience. We went there and back in style in a HUGE Excursion limo. It was nice to not have to drive (of course, I don't usually drive anyway, but you know what I mean) and a limo is always a good thing ;) The stage was set up outside and it was absolutely INCREDIBLE. The music, the lights, the show and fireworks, everything was amazing and definitely in the top three shows I've ever seen. Wow!!

The two shows I had planned on for this summer were Kaskade and Deadmau5 and now that they're over, I am telling myself that I need to buckle down and finish summer semester strong and get ready for school in the fall (which I've decided may very well kill me). I made the trek out to Saltair for an unbelievable show, and now I'm done for the summer...except for the possibility of a Thursday night Twilight Concert Series. Because of the hordes of people, I'm still not sure about those.

this calculus thing

is giving me a LOT more trouble than the first semester. apparently, i have forgotten everything i learned. i may have to take this one over in the fall :(
fucking word problems...

kaskade...again!

This past Friday I saw Kaskade for the sixth time in my life and I have to say that he just keeps getting better and better. Granted, this show was at a MUCH better venue (The Depot) than the last show (at Harryo's) but all things equal, he played a better show this time around. His remix of Benny Benassi's Satisfaction blended with his own Be Still was absolutely astounding. You can download his set (including that track) from the Electric Daisy Carnival here.

Currently listening...

1. A Fine Frenzy - Almost Lover
2. A Fine Frenzy - Near to You
3. Smooth Stan - Night Landings
4. Kate Vigo - The Way You Are
5. Kaskade - I Feel Like
6. Kaskade - Dynasty
7. Sunlounger feat. Zara - Lost (Club Mix)
8. Iio - Is It Love
9. DJ Encore - Point Of No Return
10. Kaskade - Stars Align

A Fine Frenzy was introduced to me a few years ago by a friend. He played Almost Lover for me. Then a few weeks ago, Pandora played Near to You and it got me listening to her again.

Night Landings was on Tiesto's Club Life podcast a few weeks ago and it took me a few listens to get the track title so I also listened to it a couple of times and really dug it.

The Way You Are is fun. I really like this one but don't know anything else from Kate Vigo.

Kaskade. I can always listen to Kaskade. I will be seeing him next week (July 9) at the Depot and it should be an amazing show, like usual. Especially because this venue is WAY better than Harryo's.

Currently listening...

1. Pretty Lights - Finally Moving
2. Pretty Lights - Hot Like Sauce
3. September - Cry For You (Spencer & Hill remix)
4. Rob Dougan - Clubbed to Death (Kurayimo V)
5. Rob Dougan - Furious Angels
6. Morgan Page feat. Jan Burton - Traces Remain
7. Radiohead - High and Dry
8. Radiohead - Fake Plastic Trees
9. Radiohead - Stree Spirit (Fade Out)
10. Pearl Jam - Elderly Woman Behind a Counter in a Small Town

Still loving Pretty Lights; he is so talented and I love all of his different stuff.

Clubbed to Death came on my iTunes one day and I listened to it three times. It's downtempo and has a good beat.

Radiohead is always a good choice; these represent some of my favorites.

School Starts and AZ

Well, school starts in a week. This summer I am taking 13 hours and am a little bit nervous. I have not had a full-time semester since spring 2004 and I ended up withdrawing from all of those classes so...it's been a while, to say the least. I will still be working close to full-time so it's going to be quite an adjustment but I am really excited about it. I am looking forward to reading and studying and learning and MOVING FORWARD towards my Chemistry degree.

My fall course load is at 12 hours currently and I don't think I will add to it. Science and math classes abound but I have to get through these to move on to the next series. I am so grateful that I work at a place (and have a boss) that is flexible with my school and helps me out when I need it.

S___ and her boyfriend and I went to Arizona to visit my sister and my babies towards the end of April. My nephew is almost five and my niece is almost three so although they're not babies anymore, since I don't get to see them very often, I still think of them as my babies. My niece absolutely LOVED me! She loves me more than Grammie :) I painted her fingernails and toenails for the first time ever and I'm pretty sure that sealed the deal. Every morning we (the aunties and the kiddies and mom) would watch their "shows" and talk. It was a lot of fun to catch up with my sister.

We had a great time hanging out with everyone and stopped in Vegas on the way back. We ate at the Rainforest Cafe and saw the lions at the MGM. We went to the M&M and Coca-Cola factories and saw the fountains at the Bellagio and walked along the Grand Canal. Then we went to the New York New York to get M___ some pizza and played some penny slots. All in all it was a great five hours, even if it did delay our trip (obviously). I got back to SL at 4:30 a.m. and had to work that day but am still glad we stayed as long as we did to see/do everything.

Currently listening...

This month (April) is the most recent Pretty Lights album that I downloaded (Disc 1):

Filling Up the City Skies

1. Change Is Gonna Come
2. The Time Has Come
3. My Other Love
4. Cold Feeling
5. Solamente
6. Fill Your Eyes
7. Something's Wrong
8. Evening Sun
9. Double Love
10. Pop Quiz
11. At Last I Am Free
12. Make You Feel
13. Summer's Gone
14. Maybe Tomorrow

I am loving him more and more. This one is a little mellower than Passing By Behind Your Eyes, but equally wonderful.

Currently listening...

1. Tiesto and Sneaky Sound System - I Will Be Here (Wolfgang Gartner remix)
2. Kaskade - Move For Me (Dave Darrell remix)
3. Tiesto - Bright Morningstar
4. Nelly Furtado - All Good Things Come to an End (Kaskade remix)
5. Kings of Tomorrow - Finally (acoustic)
6. Sia - I Go to Sleep
7. Bonobo - Black Sands
8. Bonobo - All in Forms
9. Bonobo feat. Andreya Triana - Eyesdown
10. Bonobo feat. Andreya Triana - Stay the Same

I Will Be Here is my favorite song right now. I heard this one driving to Vegas (a friend had put music on my phone) and just wanted to hear it over and over. The collaboration is a good starting point, but the remix makes it much better. I even got over the way she says "here" and almost like it now.

Songs 2-5 were also on the Vegas playlist and while all familiar, the new sounds are well worth listening to.

A friend sent me the latest Bonobo album - Black Sands and the last few songs listed are all from that album. The ones listed are my favorite from it; Black Sands is probably my favorite on the album. I'm used to Bonobo without vocals but really enjoyed the vocalist in these ones.

Update #4

Here is my annual update:

-still working for the Utah State Bar
-have my own apartment about half a block from where I work and it is AWESOME...I love living by myself!
-G___ took me to Vegas for my annual 24th birthday bash (26th birthday). I had never been before and we had the most amazing time. Definitely my best birthday yet!
-my diabetes is under control (yay)
-I am finding more and more great music to listen to all the time
-I am back in school again at the U
-still doing the long distance thing with K___ in Kansas. I went to visit him just after Christmas and got to go to a Jayhawk basketball game and had SOOOO much fun!
-Z___ is almost as tall as I am and when she passes me, I will be the shortest member of my family...and she's only 12!!

I think that's about it!

Currently listening...

1. Samantha Jones - Rise
2. Oceanlab - Come Home (Michael Cassette remix)
3. Solarstone feat. Jes - Like a Waterfall
4. Kaskade - In This Life (Cabin Crew remix)
5. Karen Overton - Your Loving Arms (Damien Heck remix)
6. Armin Van Buuren feat. Jaren - Unforgivable
7. Armin Van Buuren feat. Jacqueline Govaert - Never Say Never
8. The Dining Rooms - Fluxus
9. Oceanlab - Breaking Ties (Martin Roth remix)
10. Oceanlab - I Am What I Am

Just a list this time...perhaps I'll find time to write more about the songs later but I just don't have it in me today.

what happened to winter?

This is the mildest winter in my recent (and pretty much total) memory. We haven't had many storms, and when we do, we usually get rain instead of snow...at least down in the valley. But even still, there hasn't been as much snow as there usually is in the mountains and the temperatures are above average. Why can't we get in on the storms that dumped on the rest of the country back in December and the one that's supposed to hit the East coast tonight? That's our snow!!

I want it to snow and snow and snow all through January and February and then let spring in around my birthday. I don't care how cold it gets, as long as there is snow to go with it. I JUST WANT SOME SNOW!

Currently listening...

1. George Acosta feat. Fisher - True Love
2. Freemasons feat. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Heartbreak (Make Me a Dancer)
3. Emiliana Torrini - Jungle Drum
4. Armin Van Buuren feat. Audrey Gallagher - Hold On To Me
5. ATB - Made Of Glass
6. Filterfunk - S.O.S. (Message in a Bottle) [Hi_Tack remix]
7. Late Night Alumni - Another Chance(Kaskade's Homage to Roger Remix)
8. Roger Sanchez - Another Chance
9. Roger Sanchez feat. Lisa Pure - Lost
10. Kaskade - Sorry (Dirty South remix)

My friend posted True Love on my Facebook page tonight and said I would love it. And she was right, I do love it! There's a lot of different elements to this song and it has a lot of depth. Also, her voice is beautiful (duh).

My BEST friend posted Heartbreak on my Facebook page last week because she knows I love Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and she loves the Freemasons. Put them together and WOW. It is one of my favorite Freemason songs (probably second to Here Comes the Rain Again).

The lyrics are what caught my attention in Hold On To Me. They're just so positive and seem to create a better outlook for me.

Yet another friend sent me Jungle Drum and said that it made him think of me when he heard it. It's a quirky song but it definitely gets stuck in my head. I listened to some of her other stuff and it's not bad, but too slow for what I was in the mood for that day.

Both versions of Another Chance are great. I really love the original but found the Kaskade remix to be a nice change.

the best chai tea

The Park Cafe has the BEST chai tea I have ever had. It is super delicious and I'm pretty sure they make it with cream, but I don't know if I really want to know that so I haven't asked. Start out with a full, steaming mug of chai and then when it gets towards the bottom, I get a refill of coffee and the chai gives it just enough sweetness. Mmmmmmm!

It's the Future!

We made it to the future. 2010 is here and soon we'll all be wearing silver jump suits and have flying cars. G___ has been saying it for years and now it's finally here!