Yellow.

I've discovered that over the course of the last year or so, my favorite color has changed from green to yellow... so I looked up some facts about yellow. Enjoy.

YELLOW
Wisdom - Intellect - Enthusiasm - Joy - Optimism

Keywords
Clarity, perception, understanding, cheerfulness, expansiveness, motivation, leadership, learning, communication, creativity, curiosity productivity, health, blessing, enlightenment, intellect, stimulating, busy, bright, rich, sacred, solar magic.

Spiritually
Personal power, strength, sense of self worth, transformation, courage and laughter

Physically
Stomach, pancreas and liver
***********************************************************************
It is nearing the end of my first year of being a Berkeley resident, and I am happy to say that life couldn't be better. I had my tarot read today and it really got me thinking about things... and if you were there you'd know HOW this connects to the color yellow, but you'll just have to take my word for it. :)

I am going to cosmetology school, and am just about halfway through at this point, which means in January 2010 I will graduate, and shortly thereafter I will PASS my State Board Test and get my license. Speaking it into existence NOW so it will happen THEN.

I've had my job at the Bancroft Hotel since November of 2008, meaning I've been there for almost a year as well - hopefully I get a raise soon, haha. I can't believe I've been working over-nights for that long... it makes regular jobs seem a million miles away. I love that I've kept the same job for so long though, it's been awhile since I've had something for more than 2-3 months. It just works so well with my school schedule that I can't give it up. I still wish I could NOT work and just go to school, but since that's not an option, this job works nicely.

Also, since I moved to Berkeley I spend more time in San Francisco... and because of that I was able to spend time with Jenna, and get to know her very well... We met through several mutual friends and have been seeing each other since late February/early March?? (Officially since the end of May) I always forget, because I feel like we've been together for so long. We know each other so well and have so much in common that it's insane! I have never felt so in tune with another person before, it scares and excites me all in the same moment. Never have I known such true passion for someone, and not the immature kind I had the first time I was in love - no this... this is a very adult feeling. I know that she and I are meant to be together... for however long this is meant to last. I'd like to think that we'll be together for a very long time, and she has expressed the same feeling. It's good to finally be in a healthy, stable relationship. One where both parties know that they want to be with each other. I'm getting over a lot of my past relationship issues because of Jenna... she amazes me with her understanding of how things should be in a relationship, I didn't know people our age could be so mature. It's made me grow up in a sort of way that I didn't know I needed to, but it makes me feel like a more functional part of a relationship. I love that she helped me do that without changing who I am one single bit. <3

Amazingly enough, too, I am in the best living situation I've ever been in in my entire life. Living with one of my best friends, and two who are becoming very close friends to me. I couldn't ask for more. Everyone picks up after themselves, so our condo always looks amazing. We all cook dinner for each other in turns... we just honestly all love to take care of each other that much. We have a "family night out" that we just started, where we all go out to the city one night a week and just have a great time together. There are family movie nights, drinking games, and all sorts of other bonding experiences... we all just have such a great time together and have this open communication in the house where we ALL talk about everything - even what bothers us about each other, that way we can all be on the same page and make sure that everyone is happy and healthy and doing ok.

Never did I think that in one year living in this amazing town that I would be working a steady job, going to school for a career I'm going to love, have a roof over my head that I pay for, food in my stomach that I pay for, zero need for a car, an AMAZING girlfriend that I'm madly in love with and is crazy about me, and wonderful friends surrounding me. Life is just so full of luck, love and prosperity that I can't contain myself.

Thank you, Kim & Machine for taking me in for my first 5 1/2-6 months in town, and letting me be your couch guy. I hope the fact that I cleaned up after myself and make sure there was snacky-foods in the house all the time made up for my taking up most of the living room with my crap :) You two are the reason I am doing so well these days, and there is never any way that I will ever be able to repay you. I love you more than you two will ever realize and appreciate what you've done for me more than you will ever know. <3

*********************************************************



Yellow is full of creative and intellectual energy. Yellow symbolizes wisdom. Yellow means joy and happiness. Like the energy of a bright sunny day, yellow brings clarity and awareness. The shade of yellow determines its effect: Yellow-green can mean deceit, and creates a disoriented feeling. Orange-yellow imparts a sense of establishment. Clean light yellow clears the mind, making it active and alert. Wear yellow to present a cheery, uplifting effect. Use it around your office to help keep a clear your mind, and improve memory and decision making. Yellow is the color associated with the Solar Plexus Chakra. This chakra deals with identity. (www.crystal-cure.com)

updates!

oh wow. So much has happened in such a short period of time. Let's see if I can summarize:

Jenna went to Spain and had an adventure. She saw bulls running in Pamplona, wore lots of white & red bandanas, saw bullfights and lots of great architecture & scenery. She had the best popsicle of her life and was very homesick (aka she missed ME ^_^).

While she was gone, I went to school and work and slept very little. I also participated in a Burlesque Fashion Show, the pictures can be seen on both my Facebook and Myspace. There are links to both through my status updates on the sidebar of my blog. I also changed my eating habits, I'm mostly eating raw fruits & veggies now, with the occasional dairy product... but far less than before. Portion control is no longer difficult as my stomach is very small.

Since she got back we've been nearly inseparable. Last night she went home and when I woke up she was calling me, telling me she was outside. I went out to find her and a lovely bouquet of carnations (my favorite!!) and we spent most of the day hanging out with my roommates and other random friends. Right now she is asleep in my roommate's bed, and I drove her car to work... which means I'll get home in 10 minutes in the morning = more sleep for me. AND Badger is coming over in the morning to cuddle with us! <3 I am so excited!

Also - side note: Jewell called me the other day, and she is getting really good at swimming. I know I'm going to freak out the first time I actually see it happen, but I am very glad that she knows how now, one less thing to worry about, since we live near LOTS of water.

I haven't seen her in like a week or so cause I've been exhausted from school and such... hopefully while Jenna is in Colorado this upcoming week I can spend some time with my lil girl. I will probably have her spend the night on Saturday, at least.

back to the summary:
The last 2 Mondays (not today), I went to lunch with Jenna's mom (Diana) and it was actually really fun and not awkward at all like I expected it to be. This past Monday we even went to a movie after we ate. We saw "Up" and it was sooo cute! Diana is a sweetheart and I love that we get along, I think it means a lot to Jenna. <3

School has been crazy. I can't even summarize everything properly... but I will try. Junior class sounded like it would be a lot harder than it is turning out to be. We haven't learned that much since Freshman class, mostly just going over things a 2nd & 3rd time, pounding it into our brains that THIS is how you do things the right way. We're learning salon services from Tania (our teacher), and that's a plus. I know how to do peekaboo highlights, paneling, haircuts to complement those and also several new updos and variations on them, it's amazing! (to see some, visit my tumblr! I will be updating it with the hair that I'm doing more often than I update on here, I'm sure.) I also learned finger waves this past week, I hope I get better at them. They look AMAZING, but I have yet to do them successfully on a real person. I've got it down on doll heads.

Also, we now have theory EVERY morning with Rogers, she is a beast but damn! does she know how to teach. We are just about finished with Chemistry, all we have left is the test and everyone's presentations. After that, it's on to Anatomy... and I'm kinda nervous. It's been hard at times to get back in the swing of doing homework and actually THINKING about things, sucks that I wasn't in school for 7 years, I unlearned how to BE in school. *Sigh*

Well, I'm at work and it's time to do some more Chemistry homework for the final and maybe take a lil catnap before housekeeping gets here at 6 am :)

irony.

I love how as soon as I said I wanted to start blogging more my computer at home breaks.

I will try to update a little more often than I have been though. It's been over a month. I'm sorry, I know I fail Erin.

lol

happiness.

I got 2 new roommates this weekend because the awful roommate Ashley and I had before moved out! So, Ray and Kaitlyn moved in, and so far it's been amazing! We all just hang out, clean up after ourselves and take care of each other :) There is so much love and happiness in the condo that I think I might explode. Our living room actually looks like people live here now instead of just a tv and couch. We have lovely prints of Audrey Hepburn, James Dean, and Marilyn Monroe up and a big plush red couch that is so comfortable I wanted to fall asleep on it immediately!

We also smudged the condo with sage bound in red string to bring some happiness into it and cleanse the bad vibes left from the previous roommate. We've all placed something of ourselves around the common areas of the house too, and all of our stuff matches, it's really crazy but fantastic!

Also, I'm starting Junior class at school tomorrow, which means working on the salon floor a few days a week. I'm a jumble of excited/nervous. I mean, I know I've been doing hair for 6+ years and I know what I'm doing and I've learned a lot more in the last year, especially in the last 2 months... so I should be okay... but I just can't help feeling a little anxiety. I'm definitely going to start blogging a little more I think. I want to keep better track of things I'm up to. and posting more pictures, for sure. (Erin, you'll have something to read after you blog! :D)

I'm really enjoying life right now, it's getting better every day. I can't wait for what's to come :)

news/week 8

That's right. It's official. :) Jenna and I are a unit.

I don't think I've been happy to be "hooked to a scallywag" in a long time, but when she asked me to be her girlfriend last night, all I could say was yes. Even though I'm pretty scared of commitment, I am willing to put myself out there with her, she is a great person and I am very lucky to have her in my life.

Also - ERIN, from this screen shot, you can see that I raped your facebook right after I confirmed details for Jenna and I. hahahaha I love you girl!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In other news, this is week 8 of school, doing hair styling including wet sets, updos, braiding and the like. My last week of Freshman class with Sofia. I'm going to miss her after this. When me and the 4 girls I started with move up, we're getting a new teacher, who is totally new to the school. I hope he/she is nice like Sofia... she makes learning fun :)

week 6/week 7

week 6 was all about makeup, facials, and hair removal.

So now I can do eyebrow waxing, eyebrow arching, 5 different kinds of facials (depending on skin type), and makeup application for all sorts of occasions... not that I couldn't apply makeup before, I just learned how to do corrective makeup so everything looks even and the face looks nice and oval and all that jazz.

I'm proud of me so far. I've made it to school ALMOST every day (with a few days for hooping here and there and only ONE day of playing hookie) while still going to work overnights 4 or 5 nights a week and STILL having some semblance of a social life.

I'm really enjoying school, the girls that I started with are really into it and seem serious about being cosmetologists, and being GOOD ones. The guys that started 2 weeks after us are kinda ridiculous and the girls that started 2 weeks ago are various stages of not-that-into-it-and-will-probably-drop-out.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
week 7 was haircutting. I was super excited for this. My teacher had nothing but compliments for me this entire week. I got a 90% on the written and "perfect" on all the cuts according to Sofia.

Nothing beats beauty school. I love life.

My Mercury's in Retrograde.

Thursday, May 7th, 2009 -- The winds of change are blowing, yet it's still difficult for you to set a course because you're not fully decided on your destination. Mercury's retrograde turn in your 9th House of Faraway Places indicates that you'll need to reconsider where you are going several times over the coming weeks. Think about your upcoming journey, but don't book your ticket yet unless you have no other choice. In the meantime, research all your options so you can make the best possible choice.



************************************************************************************

My mercury's in retrograde
My mercury's in retrograde
Merc-merc-mercury's in retrograde
My mercury's in retrograde

Mercury, mercu-mercury's in
Mercury, merc-merc-mercury's in
Mercury, mercu-mercury's in
Mercury's in retrograde

This is not the time, the time to start a new love
This is not the time, the time to sign a lease
Try not to worry about what's forgotten
Try not to worry about what's been missed

Scars on my shins and scars on my knuckles
Today I woke up in a basketball court
John Joe's in Sydney and he ain't returning
I'm sitting in Soho trying to stay drunk

In any bar in the world
From Silver lake to Williamsburg
You could pick another stranger
And fall in love

Mercury, mercu-mercury's in
Mercury's in retrograde
Mercury, mercu-mercury's in
Mercury's in retrograde

This is not the time, the tie to start a new love
This is not the time, the time to sign a lease
Try not to worry about what's forgotten
Try not to worry about what's been missed

Bleeding gums and veins protruding
You're starting to hate all of your clothes
The Mayor's in LA and she ain't returning
I'm sleeping with people I don't even like

In any part of the world
From Silver Lake to Williamsburg
You can pick another stranger
And fall in love

Mercury, mercu-mercury's in
Mercury's in retrograde
Mercury, mercu-mercury's in
Mercury's in retrograde

Mercury, mercu-mercury's in
Mercury's in retrograde
Mercury, mercu-mercury's in
Mercury's in retrograde

When I saw you last night I wanted to say
Run away with me, away from the cynics
That this could be the start of something truly real
But all that I could say was 'Hey'
Was 'Hey', was 'Hey', was 'Hey'

Mercury, mercu-mercury's in
Mercury's in retrograde
Mercury, mercu-mercury's in
Mercury's in retrograde

Mercury, mercu-mercury's in
Mercury's in retrograde
Mercury, mercu-mercury's in
Mercury's in retrograde
Mercury's in retrograde

My mercury's in retrograde
My mercury's in retrograde
Merc-merc-mercury's in retrograde
My mercury's in retrograde

weeks 4 & 5:

week 4 was pretty nice, we just went back over everything we learned in color, and on Saturday I put my knowledge to the test!

<<< this is what I did

I also weaved blonde highlights into a classmate's hair to strip out some color, then we added a mixture of sand + red modifier all over and she got this nice mulberry color with red highlights :) I think I did a pretty damn good job!

So all in all, we ended our 2 weeks of color and I got a B!

Week 5: is facials, manicures, pedicures and acrylics. there may be more involved but I will find out after I get to school later! Only a week of each subject for the next month until I move to Junior class on June 2nd!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On a side note: Jewell is graduating from Kindergarten on June 12th, I'm really starting to feel old, even though I know I shouldn't.

And! Jenna (aka Thumper) wrote a song for me this week... it's the cutest thing ever! and you can find it here. The song title is "She's". It made me cry a little, even though Jenna and I aren't too emotionally involved as of yet. I've never had a song written for me before, so it was a little overwhelming. Especially since Jenna is so freaking cute and the song is just so simple and pure and written from the heart. :) She makes me smile.

also, I'm moving again in a few weeks! Only 2 blocks from my current place. I'll be saving around $250 after I move, and I can totally use that extra money for getting to & from school... it's a lot more expensive to get to the city every day than I thought it would be. Yikes. I'm very glad I have Casio & Sura nearby to be my new roommates :)

But in a few months I will be getting a housing allowance from Ben I believe. He is getting into the military and we're still legally married so I get the benefits that come with being a military wife, lol. Jewell and I will get medical & dental benefits and a housing allowance PLUS I can cut back on my hours at work if I have to work at all (depending on the cost of wherever I'm living) and I can probably get Jewell back under the same roof with me!!! If this happens, life will be complete. <3

week 3:

color.

I OFFICIALLY LOVE IT! I totally get the difference between bleach, tint, and toner, the difference between color and tonality and why you do certain processes and in what order you should do them. I feel smart again. haha

horoscope for the 23rd

Lasting between one and four days, duty, responsibility and scheduling are emphasized now. You may have to make changes or adjustments in schedule, but you should find yourself being adaptable and flexible. You may also be concerned about health and the need for rest.

For a period that lasts usually about two days either side of exact time 14:51 you may find that someone could be trying to set you up, possibly even forcing you to act against your own will. Beware being susceptible to others' scheming and plotting. Avoid any questionable, shady or illegal action. Health may suffer through low physical energy. Rest as much as you can to avoid illness, particularly infections. You may become involved in a secret love affair or secret business plans during this time.

For a period that lasts usually about a day either side of exact time 15:45 you will either be the victim of someone's dishonest and devious conduct, or, you may instigate deceitful manipulation upon others. Arguments could lead to critical difficulties and ego conflicts within relationships. Increased pressure and frenetic activity could soon lead to raw and frazzled nerves.

A bit before noon about 09:38 experimentation and improvisation should work well now. Allow for many possibilities, put few restrictions on projects. A short while later around 10:24 you could experience some minor tensions in relations with your partner and should try to be more accepting of their point of view. After a short while at 10:29 career-related movements and business meetings should go well. Publicity at this time is good for your reputation.