Gaga

I think we all know much I adore Lady Gaga.

And honestly,

I think we all love her.

See?

Asian Gaga:

UCB A Cappella Group doing Poker Face

British Gaga:

London-based A Capella group The Magnets doing Poker Face

Beatbox Gaga:

DIY-natural talent duo covering Bad Romance

Acoustic Gaga:

The British next-big-thing Pixie Lott covering Poker Face

Not sure why I blog about Lady Gaga when I could write about more interesting/uplifting/enlightening things I occupy my time with (Sundance Film Festival, EDP, Willa Cather's My Antonia, Obama's State of the Union, Joan Didion and other wonderful essayists/writers, etc...)

I may have focused all my former passion for music in general and invested it in Lady Gaga.

Is that sad?

On Happiness

There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy. By being happy, we sow anonymous benefits upon the world, which remain unknown even to ourselves, or when they are disclosed, surprise nobody so much as the benefactor.

Robert Louis Stevenson, "An Apology for Idlers"

The Vastness of Cyberspace

It's brain-numbing to think about HOW MUCH there is out there on the internet!

Here are some fun things I've looked at recently.

Enjoy!

Valuable--ahem, "Valuable"-- tips on surviving the world.

I'd buy these. Future Gaga collector's items.

Mythbusters-- BYU style!

Don't have much in your fridge? As clueless in the kitchen as I am? You've got more resources than you think! Check off what you do have, then read through possible recipes: cook by numbers!

I'm already disappointed that James Franco isn't nerdy enough to be Allen Ginsberg. These clips from Howl are preparing me to be disappointed... anybody else worried too?

PLUS:

Apolo Ohno definitely makes speed skating more interesting to watch.

So does Stephen Colbert.

PS! I can't wait for summer. Only... too many months away.

How cute is this!

Tethered

You know when you just can't get yourself to go to sleep because you're dreading so much the idea of waking up?

Which just makes waking up harder because you're tired since you didn't get as much sleep as you could have?

Thank god for a long weekend.

Hopefully I can stay out of my head.

Or get way into my head and do some lucid dreaming.

Something about being up really late makes me feel like I'm floating....

2009: A Year in Review/ 2010: Resolutions

TOP 10 THINGS THAT DEFINED MY LIFE THIS YEAR.

1) seijinshiki.

it's basically just your 20th birthday. [feb 20.]

but it's a big deal because it means you're officially an Adult.

so in Japan, I can vote, drink and smoke.

perfect.

2) new roommates!

i moved into a new place with amazing roommates! [sept.]

kaitlin is so fun and craftsy.

sara is the best baker i know. seriously. and she is so sweet.

brynn is so easy to talk to and is super insightful.

and none of them care that i perpetually leave our place is disarray. what a perfect setup.

3) this boy.

i've pretty much seen him every day since we started seeing each other [march.]

(well, except for when i'm out of the country.)

and i like it.

4) cooking

and cooking forreals!

5) my family moved to Japan.

I got to go out there twice this year.

total of about 5 weeks.

it's wonderful.

6) reunited!

pica's practically my sister and we rekindled our real-life friendship after several years on hiatus.

she's great.

7) an elephant phase.

seriously.

they're adorable.

always smiling.

8) the Writing Center

i work there!

as a writing tutor!

and i love it!

check out our podcast:

9) blogging.

and here I am.

10) gamelan

yep, still doing it!

we had a great concert [dec.]

(photo forthcoming)

10.5) lady gaga.

what an artist.

My 10 New Year's Resolutions:

1) learn how to use photoshop

2) start scrapbooking

3) take more pictures

4) blog regularly

5) write in journal regularly (for what I won't say on my blog)

6) read more literature outside of school

7) read scriptures and ensign more

8) attend temple regularly/more often

9) learn japanese

10) finish school!

the future is always so exciting. thanks for being last year's future, 2009.