songs and books

these songs have been stuck in my head this week:




Also, if you are a young single adult woman, I highly recommend you read this book:

I read it in two days because I thought it was hilarious! I typically read to and from work, so I was laughing shamelessly on the trains yesterday. And she values marriage and family and being true to herself, all of which are very important to me, also! Read it.

Books as of late

One perk from being graduated is the opportunity to read for fun. It's nice to be able to read on the metro. I have a list a mile long, so it's a about time I got to it!
I'm reading a book right now called The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin.  This woman set goals to be happier for a year.  She wasn't necessarily unhappy before, but she realized that she wasn't as happy as she could be. This is a perfect time for me to be reading this book since I, too, am working on not worrying about the little things and finding happiness where I am at in life.  I recommend finding your own methods of finding happiness, ones that fit to you, but reading this book is good inspiration. What I love about it is the fact that she is trying to "Be Gretchen."  I'm just trying to "Be Michelle," no matter what. Not "What-other-people-want Michelle" or "People-pleaser Michelle." Just Michelle. My mom read it and sent it to me, so we have a new mantra of just doing what makes us happy. Because why not?

I also read The Perks of Being a Wallflower, since I saw the movie first (totally against my beliefs of reading before movie, but whatever). The book is very sad, but well-written.  Some of my friends read it in high school and I was thinking "why the heck did they let kids read this in high school?" just because it's a little intense and so think about that before you pass it along to your child.

I also read How the Garcia Girls Lost their Accents, by Julia Alvarez.  I also just read In the Time of the Butterflies, by the same author, which was one of my recent favorite books.  Garcia Girls wasn't too bad, either. If you're in to Central/South American history, look these ones up.

If you want to discuss any of these books or if you are in need of any suggestions, I am here and ready for ya!
Go read something today :)

geekin'

I just wanted to say that I worked on a 205-year-old book yesterday and every time I walk out of my internship, I have old book all over my skirts (dust, debris, etc.).  I'm geeking out with this internship.  I like the feel of the old books and the smell in the stacks of old books.  Tomorrow, I might have time to hit up the Dickens' collection.   Sometimes I'm the only one in the stacks for an hour or so.  So it's just me and the books.
On a similar note, here are some things that I found that describe my current life situation:

(I'm reading 3 books at the moment...)

(last night...)

chills

Sometimes when I feel safe and that someone is taking care of me, I get a tingling in the back of my neck and head that feels like a mixture between getting shocked and someone warming-up my neck nerves.  It is one of my favorite feelings.  I can't really explain it other than that I am unconditionally happy when I feel it.  It usually happens someone plays with my hair or reads aloud to me, which is a rare occasion and so this is a rare feeling.
The past couple of days, I have had it happen to me a couple of times.  Once, when I was reading Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and it reminded me of my years in the south.  Those were good days filled with clay, cricks, bare feet and space.  Not to mention trips to Chic-Fil-A :)

Great book--I recommend it!
 

The second time happened just a few minutes ago, while I was working on an assignment in a computer lab.  #1: I felt like a Freshman, again, because I haven't been in this computer lab since I was a Freshman.  I've been getting these moments as I draw closer and closer to graduation. Even though I will be a college graduate, I feel like I will back to square one.  Starting fresh.  New adventures.
#2: I heard an African woman's voice.  The attendant here at the computer lab is African, or at least I think by hearing her accent.  I instantly went back to London 2.5 years ago.  A girl from back home got back from study abroad there and so during Winter semester I saw her pictures pop up on my FB feed.  Yesterday, we were talking about it, so I decided to go through my pictures (for the upteenth time).  So London was in the back of my mind, anyways.  The reason she made me think about London was because of my LDS ward that I attended while I was there.  It was mostly Nigerian immigrants, so I was a minority in my ward. Which I loved.  That was the greatest experience.  They were the greatest people.
I was talking with my friend, Brooke, the other day and we were talking about the importance of friendship and service within the ward.  I kept thinking about that ward and how they were the perfect example of this concept.  Even though they were the ones struggling to make ends meet, they were the ones who made food for us once a month.  (and it was gooodd foooodd that we ate on the tube ride back because we couldn't wait)  And they hugged each other and knew everyone by name and made us feel so welcomed.  And the singing.  It was like a Southern Baptist choir and everyone sang like they meant it.  And I loved that.
So you can understand why I would get the chills every time I hear an African voice with London in the back of my mind.

pict courtesy of Laura

sunset on our way back to the Centre from Church 

samples of the food we would get from the members and munch on the way home