hope does not disappoint

Chaos by Mute Math

2011-08-28T17:25:00.000-07:00

My life in chaos

Oh, to be a child again

I think I'd like a nice ranch style house on the edge of suburbia. Just close enough to benefit from the amenities the suburb has to offer, yet far enough away that I can't count the stars at night.

Independence Day 2011

2011-07-04T22:19:00.000-07:00

A rainy 4th of July makes for a memorable evening with neighbors/friends

Newport Beach, CA

2011-06-25T21:24:00.000-07:00

02-25-11

So little and always sleeping.

06-25-11

I'm a big boy. Nom nom, my hand is so tasty

A beautiful day shared with family.

plug

2011-02-06T22:02:00.001-08:00

I've decided writing about other people is more interesting than writing about myself.

http://supposedlycelebs.blogspot.com/

the end

2011-01-20T16:12:00.000-08:00

My mom recently asked me why I hadn't posted in awhile. It's because I have decided to, either temporarily or permanently (only time will tell), retire from HDND.

After almost four years, it just feels like it is time to close this chapter and begin a new one.

My online commitments remain At Books End, Socialitelife, and @ccrollins.

Later.

Feliz Navidad

2010-12-25T09:11:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to all! I feel very blessed and will be thanking Baby Jesus for the wonderful year.

Even though Jesus is the reason for the season, I still love the gift exchange component. My neighbors have been exchanging gifts and I have enjoyed watching the exchange. Per my observations, here are the best Christmas gifts:
to a child
Silly bands - the silly plastic/rubber bands shaped liked animals/characters/items/words/etc. that fit oddly around your wrist and serve no real purpose.

to an adult
Scharffen Berger Chocolate - bars of the fabulous dark chocolate bars whose purpose is to be delicious.

I am looking forward to seeing several of you in the next couple days. I am very happy I got to see some of you very recently. And I am excited to discuss a new book with a few of you in January.

obsessions

2010-12-19T22:28:00.000-08:00

Knott's Merry Farm, Lena arrives, roadtrip to San Diego, Tawny and Jonathan get married, reunions galore, delicious food, and endless laughter.

i know you know

2010-12-15T22:03:00.000-08:00

ps I have a final tomorrow night. I have spent the last few days immersed in Psych episodes, and as a result forgot that my normal tradition is to watch The Princess Bride during this time. Fortunately, my tradition was not broken for I have just started season four of Psych which is the season Pierre Despereaux is introduced. Cary Elwes portrays Despereaux <3

Thank you subconscious for keeping my tradition alive.

oh no

2010-12-15T20:50:00.000-08:00

Let's have some fun reading!

I'm feeling good about the next few months and want to start doing more things I enjoy. I would also much enjoy doing those things with people I enjoy :)

youuuuuuuuuu, doing that thing you dooooooo

2010-12-08T22:07:00.000-08:00

Today marked my final in-class day of Photography 10. For my final project I had to create a composition of 6 photos that depict a single item/idea/theme/etc. This was a highly stressful project for all, I spent many long evenings in the darkroom with classmates sharing anxieties and admiring each others work.

For my final project, I wanted to capture Main Street America, the new and the old. Since my days at Berkeley I have been fascinated by downtowns and especially how large suburbs (*cough*RanchoCucamonga*Cough*) will incorporate small town ideas into their design plans in an effort to offer the comfort of a small town in the conveience of an established suburb.

The photos mounted on white boards were taken at Victoria Gardens, the mall in Rancho Cucamonga that five or six years ago was a large empty lot. The few of you who have expereinced this built environment might have noticed that it is an outdoor mall designed to mimic an historic main street. The center photo depicts the many signs that decorate the streets, including the sign for Zweck's Jewelry and Squirt! which were added for the purpose of making the mall look like a legit main street. For all I know Zweck's is a completely fabricated place.

The photos mounted on the black boards were taken in Downtown Orange and reflect an historic mainstreet that is still in use today. The center store front (according to my sources, including an image on display in the store), Watson's Drug and Soda, was used in a diner scene for the movie That Thing You Do! Something I love about mainstreets and old downtowns is how they throwback to a different era. The first half of the 20th century is a fascinating time and I often wish I could jump in a time machine and experience it firsthand. So much innovation and growth that is coupled with this intense fear and anxiety.

I am sad that my future exploration of film photography looks bleak. However, a closet in my house did just open up...maybe I can see my dream of an in-house darkroom come to life. One of the great things about this class (aside from having my image displayed in a museum) is being able to trade photos with classmates. I've acquired some nice work from my peers. I also have aquired quite the collection of my own work; I used about 185 sheets of photo paper this semester, my walls have quickly filled up.

To conclude this post, I'm so excited for the future Mrs. Gordin! Did you know you are one of the few people I have dedicated an entire post to? It's because I think you are awesome and I'm so happy for you!

misery

2010-11-29T15:23:00.000-08:00

The last photo was my beadspread and an image from the Berkeley Marina which NO ONE recognized...this is evidence that y'all should visit the marina again soon and appreciate its beauty.

I feel like I hit a wall this semester and I'd like nothing more than to fast forward to December 16th so I can be happy again. On the bright side, I did make it into the student art exhibition

and this weekend I have an appointment to take Christmas photos for a family. Photography has been the best part of this semester and next semester I am not able to take a photography class :( boohoo

two is better than one

2010-11-17T20:36:00.000-08:00

Time to experiment with different techniques of developing!

This is my attempt at the double exposure.

Wow, Cindy! How is it done?

Well, friend, it takes two negatives getting cozy on top of each other in the enlarger. Add some light, do some dodging and burning, and toss that baby into the developer. There are other methods of double exposure; for example, double exposing film while it is still in the camera, but I prefer this method as a beginner.

So, who knows what the two images are of?

mean

2010-11-15T21:30:00.000-08:00

I don't agree with the statement that "sticks and stones may broke my bones, but words will never hurt me."

Words do hurt.

The absence of words can be painful too.

Somedays I feel like I'm being kicked while I'm already down.

I do believe that it's good to acknowledge the highs that counter the lows. I made it as an "honorable mention" in the student winter show. Judging was today, it was nice to see my name on the list for the "novice" category regardless of the position.

WSE10: Winter Student Show
November 29 - December 4, 2010
Artist's reception: December 1, 12:30-1:30pm

And so begins a long week of stress, anxiety, and tears balanced with smiles.

who let the dogs out?

2010-11-12T23:02:00.000-08:00

This is Jack.

He is one of those dogs that looks cute regardless of what he is doing.

I don't want to be a dog lady, two dog posts in a row makes me feel weird. Don't judge me, I just like things that make me smile :)

Jack belongs to one of my neighbors. One of these nights I may just sneak him into my purse and carry him home with me.

Lucy

2010-11-05T21:19:00.000-07:00

i think that dog fondness is a contagious virus. i acknowledge slai as the germ spreader.

here is the current dog that makes me gush with gushiness.

This is Lucy, Melly is the proud owner of this fur ball. Doesn't she look so happy? And don't you just want to cuddle your computer and pretend it is her?

Now, read about Melly and the CRaZe in the newspaper, here.

the right stuff

2010-11-03T23:11:00.000-07:00

no words, just pee in my pants

dreams DO come true

ordinary day

2010-11-01T22:56:00.000-07:00

Highlights from today: succulent samples arriving (see above) and receiving a new ULINE catalog (it is green!)

Lowlights from today: writing a quote for work (this will likely drag on the rest of the week), having a horrible day in the photo lab, and not eating dinner yet again because my work and school schedule do not always leave room for that.

The Giants won the World Series, though, so that's nice. Saints win the Superbowl and Giants win the World Series, 2010 is a good year for professional teams I like.

It's a pretty good year for me too. I have work to complain about, a hobby to keep me busy and striving for better, and my clothes are not as tight. Thank you, God.

invisible

2010-10-31T22:51:00.000-07:00

I just realized that my senior year of college is untagged on facebook on account of my fb break that coincided with that year. :(

enchanted

2010-10-29T19:50:00.000-07:00

I was enchanted to meet you...

Enchanted

2010-10-24T15:03:00.000-07:00

SPEAK NOW COMES OUT AT MIDNIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Woohoo!!!

There shall be a midnight party at my house tonight :)

I have officially devoured 6 of the new tracks via various leaks and I am so excited to hear the rest.

Here are two more for you. Enchanted and The Story of Us.

Tswift has been the thing in my life that I can count on for comfort right now during this hectic and stressful time. I can still remember that trip to San Diego for Christmas Conference when Molly and her sister first introduced me to Miss Swift. Thanks Momllr :)

p.s. Socialitelife got a makeover, and it looks fabulous! Check out my recent post.

drive me CRaZy

2010-10-22T20:11:00.000-07:00

i've mentioned my beloved friend Melly a few times on the blog. she is one of my Crimson loves. we share an affinity for tswift, bsb, and other awesome things.

well, she is currently preoccupied with a new project and thus our time together is limited for now. BUT i wanted to share it with you to spread the love and excitement.

Melly and a couple classmates at ULV placed in the top ten for some Honda CR-Z advertising/marketing contest and now they are working their butts off promoting and driving the new hybrid-sports car. they have a blog and a twitter. show my friend some support :) i think they get scored based on popularity on such social networks.

also, the car is awesome. Melly took me cruising last weekend in the "rural" country roads behind our house and it felt like we were in a car commercial.

ps check out the cute boy in her group...i really want to watch Wonderfalls now.

famous

2010-10-20T21:11:00.000-07:00

First step, student display case.
Next step, student art show...

you belong with me

2010-10-18T21:35:00.000-07:00

Today I read an article on yahoo! regarding the Speak Now album (read it here) and I am so ridiculously excited I can't contain the emotion.

I'm not gonna talk about any of her new songs today, though. However, if you haven't heard the newest (as of the writing of this post) release, Back to December, you should check it out. It's a new Taylor Swift perspective, and I like it.

You Belong With Me, I believe, is a universal T-swizzle song because everyone can relate to crushing on someone out of reach. Whether it be because the crush is seeing someone else or because the crush is not reciprocating the feelings, we've all wanted to make that crush see that "you belong with me."

This got me thinking about crushes and how they generally result in a crushing of the heart. Why do we subject ourselves to that? Why do we open our hearts to the possibility of a fantasy when so often those dreams never come true?

It's the rush, the excitement, the mystery of not knowing that is both frightening and exhilarating.

What if he DOES like me? What if it DOES happen? What if this IS the right person for me?

Sometimes one side realizes sooner than the other, and that is when you must wait patiently. You sit quietly knowing that you belong together but waiting for him to recognize it.

shout it out

2010-10-14T21:25:00.000-07:00

I went over to my neighbor's house to take another roll of film; unfortunately, the photos did not turn out so well. I probably should have paid more attention to the light meter but I was so distracted by the adorable Grace and her brothers. It's a good thing the first roll had so many winners (the above is from the first roll).

The highlight of the visit was when little miss Grace offered to pay my student debt. She ran upstairs and retrieved all her money and said "Here, you can pay off your debt with this." Love that girl.

me myself and i

2010-10-11T21:19:00.000-07:00

filters and contrast

tonight i received a text from a friend living in Georgia: "Hey were u on tv?"

as it would happen, tonight another episode of Don't Forget the Lyrics was on that Melly, Kim and I watched the filming of. tonight's episode featured us up on stage with some of the other people from the audience singing and dancing to Nelly's, hot in herre.

these days all i do is work, go to school, research, study, and feel overwhelmed. it takes me the weekends to recover only to go back into it. i miss sleep, studios, getting things done on time, feeling rested and csi marathons.

2010-10-10T22:36:00.000-07:00

Dear Dad,

Please stop commenting on where women like it. I don't care if mom likes it on the exercise bike, eventhough you prefer it on the desk.

Thank you,

C

or forever hold your peace

2010-10-10T00:24:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I wish I was better, stronger, faster, smarter, prettier, skinnier, nicer, funnier...but I am who God made me, and that's good enough for me.

speak now

2010-10-04T22:55:00.000-07:00

I haven't had Taylor Swift up in quite some time. Here is a new one :)

I haven't quite formulated my own opinion on it, but I love the message of speaking up to stop a friend, or former friend, from making a huge mistake.

I don't encourage wedding crashing, but I can honestly say I've been to a wedding for a friend and I wish I had said what I was thinking (what many friends were thinking). I know what you are thinking, "Cindy, not speak her mind no matter how it might hurt someones feelings? NONSENSE!!!" But it's true, sometimes I am just as quiet as the rest of you. Needless to say, that marriage has now ended in divorce. I guess sometimes people have to learn the difficult and painful way.

Even if you've never been to a wedding where this is true, I am sure you can relate to not being up front and honest with a friend.

here it goes again

2010-10-03T22:45:00.000-07:00

Remember how I once said 2010 was going to go down as one of the most epic years of my life? Well, I stand by that statement.

Ok Go concert = amazing!!! And before the concert I had a pretty epic day. In fact, I said to myself, "There is no way this day could get any better." How truly wrong I was.

2010-10-02T21:50:00.000-07:00

Just so you all know, my dad is getting pretty bigheaded about his constant presence on my blog. I know I haven't posted one regarding him in a while and this is why.

Did I mention I got a Tamagotchi the last time I was in SF? Well for about three weeks that was the most exciting thing in my life.
Cindy: Let's just admit it, mine is the cutest.
Mom: yeah, Kimm my guess is that if your child looked like your Tamagotchi, dad wouldn't watch it.
Kimm: :(
Mom: it's ok, he won't watch mine either.
Kimm: Did you just call us ugly?

Note: my dad does not like ugly babies and has told us that if our kids are ugly he will not watch them.

Q: Who is your favorite Disney Princess and why?

Cindy: who is your favorite Disney princess?
Ktb: Ariel, because she sings.
Cindy: what do you mean because she sings? The princesses from our generation all sing.

A: Belle. She is smart and able to look past the surface to see what's on the inside. Her, Jasmin, Mulan, and Nala all are pretty solid females. I will never understand the general love for Ariel amongst friends my age.

I want the re-release of Beauty and the Beast.

waiting for my rocket to come

2010-09-29T21:32:00.000-07:00

Wonderful evening in the dark room. After a disappointing Monday, today was rush rush rush. I believe I have this little girl to thank for it.

In other news, I am still swampped. Still working a [temporary] full time paid job here. Socialitelife is going well. School is good, Spanish=boring and Photography=loves it. SPC is kicking my butt though, if you have any resources on Nigerian Agriculture or tips on how to have better research results I am all ears. I feel like everything I find is not really want I want. I just am waiting for that magical moment in researching where I hit the jackpot.

Waiting For This by HANSON

2010-09-19T17:00:00.000-07:00

I have decided to cease posting until everyone has listened to Hanson and agrees that they have talent.
Waiting For This by HANSON

Also I have an insane schedule right now. Working Temporarily full-time, student full-time, and two part-time internships. So peace out until my schedule opens. Follow me on twitter for updates: twitter.com/ccrollins

penny and me

2010-09-19T02:01:00.000-07:00

I believe that 2010 will go down as most epic year to date.

Also, the year that my dreams formed in 1997 came true.

Sufjan Stevens is hands down the best show I've seen, but Hanson is number 2. I LOVE these guys. Backstreet can't even compare, that is how serious I am.

Here is a video from the acoustic set at the LA show (I went to the SD show)

like we used to

2010-09-15T21:15:00.000-07:00

Today I visited this lovely cafe in the Cuc, thank you Stephers for the recommendation.

Photos for you.

Saturday is the Hanson concert. Meet one of the opening acts.

Katie assures me that we will be front row. I will try my best to keep cool, I'll remind myself that Hanson is married and that should be an effective way to keep me from getting excited.

2010-09-13T12:22:00.001-07:00

Innocent

2010-09-13T12:17:00.000-07:00

41 Days until Speak Now is officially available.

Last night Taylor Swift performed a new song titled Innocentat the VMAs, and it reminded me that it's not just her music that I love, it's her that I love, too. She is one of those gems in Hollywood who isn't caught up in the partying and drama, she keeps things classy and avoids gossip. Last year when Kanye West made an error in judgement and stormed the stage during her acceptance speech for Best Female Video, Taylor remained mostly quiet about the incident. Kayne almost immediately took to his blog to post an explanation and pseudo-apology. While Taylor was making her rounds on the TV talk shows, she confessed that Kanye had never once tried to contact her and apologize. Of course, Kanye had to call then even though that's really something he should have done first. Apologizing on your personal blog that the person you hurt probably doesn't read is not really an apology.

Anyways, over the last year Kanye has played the "woo is me" card more times than is necessary, and although I understand he is trying to clear his name for a mistake that he appears to regret, he has gone about it in a very wrong way. Most recently taking to Twitter to tell Taylor he wrote a song for her to sing. A) Why would Taylor want to sing your song when she is very capable of writing, performing, and outselling yours. B) Using Twitter in that way is so middle school, it's like he wants people to dislike Taylor when she does not accept his selfish offer. Right?! I mean that may or may not have been his intentions, but that offer over twitter is just pathetic. Kanye really needs to learn how to communicate with people in a non-public manner.

Kanye would need someone as famous and loved as Taylor to help save his image because he really just only succeeds in making himself look worse. Or, he could just sing a song about douche bags and everyone will be like "That's GENIUS!"

While Kanye has spent the last year growing up and calling attention to his troubles, Taylor has not used the incident to make people feel sorry for her or to increase sales of her music. Despite what some Kanye fans might ignorantly believe, Kanye West is not the best thing to happen to her career. Before his incident she had released two albums that went platinum and was accepting the award for Best Female Video, so clearly she didn't need Kanye to fuel her career. After finishing up her second (soldout) tour for Fearless, Taylor Swift spent the last year writing and recording her new album. Entitled, "Speak Now" Taylor describes this new album as being a compilation of the things she wished she had said when she had the chance, but didn't.

This is a song likely written about Kanye West, though not confirmed, the lyric "32 but still growing up," in addition to the video montage before seem to be good indications. It's like the classiest way of saying "I forgive you." Taylor takes the high road by saying that we all make mistakes and that's OK. No hard feelings.
Lyrics available at talylorswift.com/journal

And this?

I don't even know what to think. I mean, typically toasting is to praise...Kanye, I'm not going to praise you for being a scumbag.

every other time

2010-09-10T21:00:00.000-07:00

This is day-old news, but I already had a post yesterday so I decided to wait a day. It's better this way because it gives me time to grieve.

Rich Cronin (aka LFO frontman) passed away this week after a battle with leukemia.

As you all can probably imagine, as a lover of boy bands I did enjoy the poppy 90s style music that LFO contributed to this world. Summer Girls is the song that introduced me to Abercrombie and Fitch. Plus I practically worshipped Jennifer Love Hewitt (ex-girlfriend of Rich) as a young teen, so Girl on TV was an instant success in my mind.

In tribute to the loss of a boy band member, here is a single from their second album.

Jump then Fall

2010-09-09T22:09:00.000-07:00

I would like to begin by saying you're welcome to Erin and Molly. I feel like procrastinating and so I decided to edit some settings with you in mind.

And now,

one of my favorite songs by Taylor Swift, Jump then Fall, is where I shall begin my countdown to Speak Now (45 days). The song was released on the Fearless Platinum edition album and on the soundtrack to Valentine's Day. I originally planned on starting with a non-love song, but I choose to not take this song off repeat in the car (it's so good!) which basically means it is meant to be.

The lyrics basically explain it all. The song is about someone you care so much about that everything about them is perfect in your eyes. You can't focus when they are around and when they talk to you all you are thinking about is how you should be together. While your day dreams of the two of you unravel, you hold onto hope that he will tell you the feelings are mutual and these dreams can become reality.

As a hopeless romantic, I can appreciate the gushiness of this song and can relate to many of the lyrics. Despite my self proclamation of being a hopeless romantic, I typically avoid it because the pain of rejection is too much. For this reason, I am one to wait around for the guy to come forward, take the jump, then fall [in love with me].

Remember in elementary school when notes were passed to gauge interest?
Do you like me?
___yes ____no

And in middle school and high school when friends acted as mediators? Or maybe they'd drop your name in conversation with him to see his reaction, or ask his friends if he was interested in anyone.

Sometimes I wish I use those tactics today, I think they would help alleviate the pain of jumping into something that is not there.

I wonder if I will ever be fearless enough to do the jumping. I think I love this song so much because it motivates me to go for it.

Picture

2010-09-08T20:47:00.000-07:00

As requested by Jena, here are photos of two prints I made today.

There is definitely something satisfying about developing your own prints. Watching the image appear on the paper as it soaks in the developer is probably the most satisfying thing I'll feel all semester; although, that recent A on my Spanish test was pretty nice.

I have been thinking a lot lately, mostly because I sit for hours at work with no one to talk to but myself. It's sad, when I am around people I practically vomit words all over them like a fool because the lack of social interaction has heightened my social awkwardness. I apologize if I have expelled said vomit on you recently.

Forgive me, I have digressed. I have been thinking a lot lately and I have felt compelled to write posts regarding Taylor Swift songs I love and why I love them, as a countdown to her new album. This will not start today, but you should all be very excited because it will begin soon. In the meantime, enjoy this Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow song which inspired this post.

San Francisco

2010-09-06T19:07:00.000-07:00

Thanks in part to Mary-Kate and Ashley, I grew up with an unrealistic idea that I would find love in every new city I visited. This is not true. What a sad time in my life when I realized all my ideas of love and life were built on fiction. So many family vacations ended in sadness, then there was Berkeley, Florence, New Orleans, Fontana...alas, fiction remains fiction in my life. Not all is lost, though, because I did fall in love with many places. And a place is much kinder to your heart than a person.

San Francisco
by Vanessa Carlton

I, I know what you did
Like a boy of summer gives his first kiss
Love, is dancing on my finger
He got to the heart of the matter and lingered
Now I'm walking with the living
I always liked Steinbeck and those old men whistling

We're back, we're back in San Francisco
We're back and you tell me I'm home

Talking in the Mission
Over coffee this is my utopia
Man, I'll be your lady
As the ocean rises, the sun is fading

We're back, we're back in San Francisco
We're back, we're back in San Francisco
We're back, we're back in San Francisco

And now I feel the ever after
Over red wine on the eve of summer
The buzz, the buzz of the city
As we settle in it's majesty
I, I know what you did
Like a boy of summer gives his first kiss

We're back, we're back in San Francisco
We're back and you tell me I'm home

You tell me I am home
You tell me I am home
You tell me I am home
Back in San Francisco

And I know what you did in San Francisco
I know what you did in San Francisco
San Francisco

mine

2010-09-01T22:11:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I think I should listen less to Taylor Swift because she sings so much about love, but then I remember that she is awesome.

Developed my first print today, Paul was the subject. We have both come so far.

A disadvantage to film, it's not digital. I have to post a photo from my phone camera of the actual photo.

Berkeley and San Francisco this weekend! So excited :)

I Walked

2010-08-29T20:01:00.000-07:00

Today I drove to Santa Monica with Jon and Kimm, I finally visited the Santa Monica Pier. It could not have been a more beautiful day.

We went because I had an interview for a research assistant position, and I didn't want to make the 70 mile drive alone. Also, the interview was walking distance from the Pier so it would be dumb to not take advantage of that.

Good news, I got the position. It's basically all online research so I can do it from any place I choose. It is with Strategic Policy Concepts, a consulting firm that provides public policy research and analysis. I don't really know how much I can say, but I will be a contributor to a work being published that will hopefully have some long term positive impacts. It is unpaid, but I think the expereince will be well worth it.

To conclude this post, here is new Sufjan.

average girl

2010-08-28T14:00:00.000-07:00

oh man, i am so silly sometimes.

but on a different note, here is the song currently stuck in my head

yet another Disney star who isn't satisfied with just acting. as much as i dislike the general manufactured sound of these musicians, this song is too catchy for me to not appreciate the bubble gummyness of it.

and here are the awesome new post-it pens i bought yesterday

the flags are polka dotted!!!

aside: i love the feel of combing my fingers through soft, healthy hair. that is the best thing about haircuts.

working

2010-08-25T21:46:00.000-07:00

five whole days of work in the last week, and at least two in the next week.
my fingertips are sliced up from spending too much time filing and packing lunches.

Waste Management

i went to the lab early to make some photograms in the darkroom.
today I developed my first roll of film.
the chemicals slightly burn my wounded fingers.

photogram 6

in Spanish, last week (first week of class) my teacher basically told me he wouldn't call on me anymore because more people need to volunteer.
this has never happened, i have never volunteered too much in any class i have ever taken, let alone a foreign language class.

grow up

2010-08-22T22:09:00.000-07:00

I feel like the moderator in a middle school girls fight. I don't know what your school was like, but out in the IE we throw it down when someone be disrespectin'! O-KAY!

True story, in middle school, this girl threatened to beat me up. Wait...actually more than one girl made a threat to "kick my ass." Fear not, for no ass of mine was harmed in middle school. Perhaps on a later date I will divulge the very unjuicy details as to why people desired to see my ass kicked. For now, I can truthfully attest to the fact that I did no intentional harm to these people and that it all was the result of their own insecurities, and at least one involved a one-sided (her-side, not mine) dispute over a guy.

Oh, I digress. Remembering the good 'ol days of growing up in 'da hood of R.C. just gets me remembering so many fond memories that I want to share with the world.

Today, as I listen to two friends vent to me about the other I am reminded of so many arguments and fights I got in the middle of when I was a pre-teen and young teen, and I can't help but wonder why some people never grew out of that phase.

On an episode of How I Met Your Mother, there is this rather hilarious discussion of how certain people fall back into weird patterns of adolescent behavior when he/she is in the company of friends from the past. I have seen this happen to me many times, and even now I kind of live this past existence now since I moved back to the I.E. It's weird, and most times I feel like I'm moving backwards instead of forward.

I have also seen it happen in some friends. Two friends in particular have this happen every time they get together. It is funny and sometimes painful to watch it unfold. The insecurities come to the surface and suddenly the friendship becomes this match of who is better. Of course, the two don't see that it is mutual and will instead discuss how sick they are of the pettiness of behavior in the other. I laugh inside and then sigh because I realize each has no idea. These two would make excellent subjects in a sociology study on friendship behavior.

Let's all just figure out how to move forward.

persuasion

2010-08-18T15:50:00.000-07:00

I picked up Persuasion this week to read while I was on campus waiting for class, and I was reminded of how much I love this book. I read it in part my senior year of high school, my first Jane Austen experience, and I had mixed feelings. Mostly, I was bored in the beginning and so hit up spark notes, then it got good so I went back to the book. Monday when I started reading there was none of this boring beginning, rather an eagerness to finish because I love the story so much I want to get to the end where everything is beautiful.

Melly has never read Persuasion, so I started to explain it to her, and then I decided that we better watch the movie so she can fully experience the story.

Of all the Austen characters, Anne Elliot is my favorite. Capt. Wentworth is no Mr. Darcy, but he's still pretty great.

Eck! The happily ever after is just moments away! My favorite :)

"You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope..." Why don't people write like this anymore?

ps I guest blogged at i ate everything, check it out

baby

2010-08-17T22:18:00.000-07:00

Today my sister got her first ultrasound pictures and now it seems a little more real that she is in fact with child, and thus that I will soon (next year) be an aunt.

In other news, today was my (second) first day of Spanish 1 and while chatting with classmates I realized it has been 7 years since I took Spanish in high school. More unbelievable is that it has been 4.5 years since my last Italian class! How can that be true? Someone, please, tell me my calculations are incorrect!

The highlight of the semester is that I'm taking a black and white film photography class. This has been my dream class for as long as I can remember. Fun fact, my mom took this class while pregnant with me. The exposure to chemicals while in the womb might explain some things.

It's On

2010-08-13T17:21:00.000-07:00

I went to Disney's Camp Rock the Musical last night, so goooooood!
I have said this before, and I will say it again, Chaffey High School drama is great.

This particular production is the result of Disney asking the Chaffey directors if they would host the pilot premiere, and tonight Disney Channel will be there filming for a segment on Disney 365.

I'm always impressed with how well these school productions are, there were a few problems in the beginning with mics and even one point where one of the actors goofed her lines, but overall it was very well done. I have been listening to Radio Disney a lot recently, namely because one Molly was listening to it while visiting, but as a result I've been hearing a lot of the Camp Rock 2 songs and I love them! I was a fan of the original Camp Rock, so I am also quite excited about the second movie premiere. Going to this play was really done to satiate my current thirst for knowledge regarding the sequel. And, it will just have to hold me over for the next few weeks.

Seriously, check out the pyrotechnics in this number!

I also love the hip hop infusion in this production. The break dancer especially added something nice and fresh to the show.

I might go again on Monday for the final show, I liked it that much I'm considering going again.

Here is my favorite song from the soundtrack (originally performed by Demi Lovato and Joe Jonas)

The guy who plays Shane Gray (Joe Jonas) graduted from Chaffey in 2004 and it is kind of weird to picture him as a Jonas Brother. The three guys who played the Jonas Brother chracters were so spot though, the mannerisms, the posture, everything, and so much it was creepy. At the end, when the cast was taking a bow, a little girl in the front started jumping up and down screaming ridiculously when those three guys took their bow. And afterwards my mom and I overheard a group of girls talking about how they wanted to get their autographs!

age ain't nothing but a number

2010-08-10T08:32:00.000-07:00

I feel old this week for many reasons, three of which being:
~Andrea turned 16. It seems like just yesterday she was driving me crazy with her bratty antics. Climbing on the counter tops and attempting to climb onto the top of the fridge while I was holding baby Audrey, calling her mom and telling her lies about me, and generally ignoring all instruction. And now she is 16!
~Dylan started kindergarten. How can he be old enough to start school?
~Audrey started middle school. What? But, just yesterday when Andrea was busy giving me grey hair Audrey was just a smiley little baby. And Dylan wasn't even born!

I feel like my kids are growing up too fast.

As a side note, if Andrea babysits Melanie's baby, I hope the baby gives Andrea back all she gave to us. It's pay back time! :P

mine

2010-08-04T22:14:00.000-07:00

misc.
-new Taylor Swift single is now available and I am currently listening to Mine on repeat.

-four days of temping it this week/weekend means money for my new food truck habit.
Related: If you find yourself in Ontario this weekend, you should visit me at the Mills.

-I've been having weird/vivid/memorable dreams this week. Mom says I should watch what I eat before bed, but I don't eat before bed...

-mom has now been officially introduced to Arrested Development and loves it. Just as I suspected.
Related: new dumbdumb video

-relevant question for the times: Where's the Love?
Reminder: Hanson show September 18 in SD and, just saying, some 11 year old dreams might come true.

peace out, yo!

eat it

2010-07-31T21:06:00.000-07:00

Today Angel and I had the most delicious day. No joke, pictures may induce drooling. If you don't believe me, here is the proof: Prepare to drool

just a girl

2010-07-29T11:52:00.000-07:00

I forgot to add somethings to yesterdays post.
First off, yesterday was someones birthday!

I would like to thank Stephers for the Carvel cake idea, and my mom for getting it.

Secondly, I am attempting to pick up a new hobby.

The Tale of Trevor Drift

2010-07-28T22:18:00.000-07:00

When I saw Glee in concert, I was introduced to The LXD.

Amazing act. If you haven't already, you should check out their series on hulu.

And here is something from my dad:
C (to mom): Inception was so good!
Dad: Inception? Wait, isn't that how babies are made?
C (shakes head): No, dad. That's conception. You should know that.

we didn't start the fire

2010-07-23T23:28:00.000-07:00

Another lovely day of unemployment spent doing time consuming "silly" things that would be near impossible with a full-time job.

Melly, Kimm, and I went to the filming of Don't Forget the Lyrics. We arrived at 7:30am for the 9:15am call time, and there were people there who camped out the night before. Crazy, right? Well, I suppose they had good reason since they, like myself and the majority of the audience, was there for Backstreet Boys. Those lovely four were contestants for a celebrity charity week. Overall the day was magnificent!
Host Mark McGrath was delightful to watch as he jammed along and flirted with the audience during contestant performances, my friend's little sister even received a mimed serenade and kiss on the hand. We had great seats, though we weren't on the stage, we were seated in front of the stage so contestants looked toward us rather than us having to stare at their backsides which was the case for those in on stage seating. We were in the second row. I sat closer to the Backstreet Boys than I do my pastor at church on Sundays, and my church isn't that big. Oh, and how marvelous these men are. So entertaining, so funny, so wonderful to listen to sing. I will never see them this close in concert, and yet I got to see them sing (albeit not their songs) for free!!!

We weren't allowed phones or cameras, but the bsb entourage posted some pictures so I took the liberty of giving you a visual estimate as to what the setting was.

This next picture was basically taken from the opposite side of the studio. We were in the seating adjacent (to the right) of the individuals in the foreground.

As an adult of 24 years I'd say I held my composure fairly well, though the 11 year old inside me wanted to burst forth and trample the guys when they came out, I restrained myself and didn't do anything that would elicit a throwing out of the studio. Yes, great day indeed. And I got to shake/high five Mark McGrath's hand because after each show completed he walked out the studio at the front of the stage right past us.

Like the day couldn't get any better, shortly after getting home Melly and I got together with some neighbors to play volleyball and hang out. I seriously can't describe to you how much I love this neighborhood and the people. One of my favorite moments of the night...

After almost two hours of play, Melly takes the serve. The ball is up, but to far to the left and it slams into the plastic rod holding up that side of the net.
*SNAP!*
Net down.
Melly, her parents and 2 brothers, myself and Michael, Holly, and John (whose house we are at) are all playing. We rush over joking about how it finally snapped after so many scares and teasingly blaming the break on each other.
Determination: tape is needed to put these two halves back together.
John goes inside the house to grab some tape to try and tape the rod back together. Someone (I think Melly's dad) jokingly says "ok, let's get out of here quick" and we laugh. Then myself and some others seriously discuss hiding and suddenly the 8 of us are crouched out of side on the side of the house giggling and waiting.

John comes out with wife Diva, and Holly's parents: "oh, they are all gone"
Melly's mom is shushing us but we are snickering like little kids hiding from our parents. Diva comes over to the side of the house with a stick and we jump at her with a roar. Diva jumps up and laughter ensues for quite some time afterwards.

slide

2010-07-22T00:49:00.000-07:00

Thoughts from a Christian seeking more

Have you ever visited a new place or met a new person and immediately you know that this is going to be the start of a great relationship?

For about a year I have been on the search for a young adult group. My own church has a college-group that I haven't felt connected to. I told myself it was because the group was comprised of so many younger adults and what I needed was a more age-appropriate group. It also vaguely resembled cliques of high school youth group past and I am just not interested in revisiting that. Since my church has nothing along the lines of post-college adult groups I decided maybe it was time to look elsewhere for that community. What I have discovered is that many churches have college groups and adult groups, but few have groups specific to reaching the post-college group of individuals who are in the mid-late 20's and looking for a small community of like-minded peers.

I don't want a youth group. I don't want a large group of people coming together once a week to worship and pray; what I need is a community. I need a few people in my life who I can grow and learn with each week as we go through scripture and enjoy each others company. Furthermore, I don't want some teacher to water down scripture in an attempt to make it relevant. Scripture is relevant without using pop-icons as examples and when you put Britney Spears into a Bible story I can't take it seriously. Maybe that is effective to some and praise God that your methods bring people closer to God, but I don't need that.

I keep thinking, maybe I am being to rough a judge. Maybe these groups aren't so bad, perhaps I need to stop setting my standards so high. There is also probably a lesson I can learn about being patient. However, I keep waiting for that click to happen, for the switch to flip and for everything to just fit together and feel like it is meant to be. I don't want to settle for something that doesn't get me excited. But it doesn't come.

I won't say I haven't expereinced that at all this year because I have. When Angel and I started meeting weekly for study it was very much what I was looking for. It continues to be something great; however, Angel and I are but two people and though we have a beyond awesome time together, we still would like to see our group grow or to have a second slightly larger group that we can connect with in our city.

As bad as it might be, my favorite church times were in college at Regeneration, and more specifically when Todd was teaching. I would settle for a large group atmosphere if the teacher dissected the word the way the leaders at Regen did because when they skip stories or focus on the same 20 stories I feel like I am being lied to. There is so much to be learned from and yet so many teacehrs jsut stick to the basics. Furthermore, I don't want someone to teach something without ever quoting the Bible. How can you call yourself a Biblical teacher if you give an entire sermon without once reading from the Bible?

My search continues...

till we see the shore

2010-07-21T12:12:00.000-07:00

Thanks friends for all the help...I'm still working on my letter so if you offered your services and I haven't taken advantage yet, don't think it's because I don't want it. I do want it, I just first need to get my stuff together :)

So here is todays read for y'all, the LEAST educated cities in America. I think some of you will find this list especially interesting/depressing.

More of you will find the counter list, the MOST educated cities in America, exciting and something worth being proud about. Lucky you, maybe I should move in with one of you...

help

2010-07-19T15:34:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,
I need some serious help with writing a cover letter. Any tips and or templates you specifically find useful? I want to send my resume and cover letter to television audience companies and television networks for intern/page positions. This means I could also use some help with my resume. Any and all help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Cinr

time

2010-07-12T10:17:00.000-07:00

I'm in SD for the week, and it is cloudy. Sweet! I've seen better weather in December during Christmas conference, but it's still beautiful.

So I wanted to take some time to share with y'all my newest Chrome love...Awesome Screenshot. It is like something right out of my dreams, because I do dream of ways that Google can make Chrome even better. Seriously, if you guys use Chrome you should check out the extensions because they have some great time wasters up there.

And here is a lovely cupcake I ate this weekend.

More delicious cupcake pictures on my other blog, here.

move on

2010-07-09T07:31:00.000-07:00

I can't remember where I heard this, but recently I heard someone (a church leader of some sort) respond to a statement asked by a member of his church. Now, my ability to recollect accurate memories is rather lacking, but this is how it sounded to me (and so, what I believe God was speaking to me):
member: I've been waiting for God to tell me what to do, so I can make a decision of what to do with my life. I am just tired of not hearing anything from him, what should I do?
leader: I don't understand your problem, before you came to speak to me did you ask God if you should and wait for a response?
member: Well, no.
leader: Well then why don't you stop doing nothing and start doing something. Make a move and see what happens. God has given us the means to do so much and yet we sit and wait expecting him to tell yes how to move. If you don't ask him to lead you in every decision, then why are you making this decision any different?

God leads us in paths of righteouness, if we consider Him in our decision making and go at it with pure intentions then He will not let us down. We often expect some loud audible voice and wait around for it all the while missing out on incredible opportunites He has available to us if we would just go.

community

2010-07-08T18:28:00.000-07:00

I have been getting texts from friends about seeing me on the Community All-nighter (it's already on for my friends on the other side of the rockies).

Look what I found!

And in case the video is removed I took some screen shots.

Seriously, a lot of the stuff in the promo is totally improvised/outtakes. The audience getting up to leave was not at all rehearsed or expected. I can't stop smiling :)

Summer Thing

2010-07-08T11:19:00.000-07:00

Matthew 7:3-5
3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

I have often found myself trying to understand inconsistencies in behavior or beliefs. Last week, when Eclipse came out, I read a status in my newsfeed: "A midnight showing of a vampire/werewolf love story? Im sorry... how exactly is that good for your spirit?" Well, why is it your business? I went to the midnight showing of The Last Airbender last week, is that a sin? Should I feel guilty for it? I don't see why I should, I don't see how the experience was sinful nor do I understand why you feel compelled to cast guilt on people for seeing a movie.

This same person was at WalMart at 3am on Black Friday (when a fight broke out between overzealous shoppers) to take advantage of shopping deals for his/her children. How, friend, is that good for your spirit? This poses the question, why Christians are jerks online. This passive judgy judge stuff is rather annoying.

I have been to many midnight movie showings, many of which were for movies that some Christians would consider to be bad for the spirit (because Harry Potter is obviously a sin, the Bible says so). Yet, to my knowledge, my spirit was in no way negatively affected by said actions. Did my spirit grow? That is undetermined, though I would say that Harry Potter (and many non-Christian movies) have themes and messages that can be very applicable to faith. In fact, I am unintentionally challenged often as a result of watching something or reading something that is not a product of the church. I believe that is normal, and I believe that as long as someones intentions are pure than God can speak to them no matter if they are watching a movie about Vampires, reading the Bible, or listening to a non-believer speak about something unrelated to faith.

Furthermore, if you have no actual knowledge on the matter (ie if you have never read Harry Potter, Twilight, or other "blasphemous" materials you are slamming) then I don't think you should even attempt to pretend like you know what they are about or how they will affect someones spirit.

There are so many other inconsistencies I don't understand. I have no problem getting along with people who might have differing views or opinions as long as their views or opinions are consistent. I can respect people's convictions when the convictions they preach are the same convictions that control their lives.

However, when you say one thing is wrong yet judge someone for doing the thing while you are also guilty of it, I can't respect that. I read this interesting blogpost by a pro-choicer who posed the question: If abortion is wrong, is In Vitro fertilization wrong, too? The blog opened the forum for discussion in the comment section, and I found it interesting to hear the many different opinions. Many people repeated that "the Church teaches that both are wrong," something I was not familiar with (I have never heard a preacher address the topic of In Vitro). It also got me thinking, if, in the case that I was unable to naturally get pregnant, would I consider In-Vitro as an acceptable alternative? Haven't I always dreamed of being pregnant, of having a child that I created with someone else?

Anyways, I kind of went all over in this one...I guess I just wish that people would look at the whole picture first. The picture is big, your perspective shouldn't be so narrow.

love my lips

2010-07-07T18:17:00.000-07:00

This was written 4/2/09 and never posted. Not sure why, but it reminds me of some friends so I will post it now.

my life would be so boring if not for friends who make me smile:
friend: "so any new guys in your life? come on, you work at a college there has got to be plenty of students you can chase after. they're not that much younger than us. maybe i just say that cause i'm a pedophile. or wait, a molester? i don't know, which is better?"

On why my friend doesn't like a guy: "the other reason why i don't like him is because he drives a Kia!"

conversation from a few weeks back:
annabelle: "i kill you!"
cc: "why you keep saying that?"
annabelle: "it's a joke! isn't it funny?"
cc: "No, 'your face' is a joke, 'i kill you' is a threat."
annabelle: "Hahaha...'your face.'"
...
cc: "yesterday i went to the zoo and this little boy kept saying 'i kill you,' it must be a New Orleans thing."
annabelle: "Hahaha...'your face.'"

And then there was this post I wrote right before leaving New Orleans.
I'm so ashamed. The whole time I've been in New Orleans I've been thinking about California. I think a part of me will think of my time in New Orleans as a rebound fling, it is maybe something I needed for personal growth and healing (which I do think happened) but from the beginning there was never any promise of longevity. That is not to say that sometime in the future New Orleans and I might have a second chance, but for now I am sad to say that it is time for me to leave. I think I've missed out on truly enjoying the city because 80% of the time I've been here I've spent thinking about my first love, California, so I do hope that I can come back.
I NEVER WANTED TO BE A CALIFORNIA GIRL, but I can't escape it any longer. I read an article that talks about how there is an increase in native population in California.
"Today, more than 70 percent of teens and young adults were born in California, up from barely half in 1990...Not only are Californians more likely to be born in the state, but those who are born here are less likely to move out of state, the researchers found. In fact, while half of adults 25 and older nationwide still reside in the state of their birth, more than two-thirds of California natives do."
I give my friends from Texas grief because the majority are very "Texas proud" but I think I understand the love they have for their home state. In the past year I've also seen many different sides of Texas and it's not so bad (imho: California still trumps it in coolness).

I am glad I am back in California, but I do miss New Orleans...

day by day

2010-07-07T12:40:00.000-07:00

I was going through old posts, doing some Summer blog cleaning, and I was taken aback by how much this blog has changed. More so, how much I have changed. And I am not sure whether this is for the good or not.

I think I will spend the afternoon reading my first year of posts because I had some interesting/challenging things I talked about. Am I so shallow now?

Independence Day

2010-07-04T21:43:00.001-07:00

This holiday weekend I am working at Ontario Mills Outlet Mall and I am so glad I do not work here regularly. It would be so dangerous. J. Crew Outlet, Ann Taylor Outlet, a giant H&M store, Gap Outlet, Levi's Outlet and so much more! I don't remember loving the mall this much when I was younger.
This is some of what this weekend at the mall has resulted in:

These two fabulous coats were on sale, and I couldn't say no. Both originally priced at $34.95, they were each only $10. Only a person with self control would say no to that!

I can't wait until it's cold :)

donde esta la bibliateca?

2010-07-01T22:22:00.000-07:00

I love Community :)

And here are even more reasons why I love the show, and the actors. Read about my adventures with Joel Mchale and Ken Jeong <3 http://exploringthefoodworld.blogspot.com/2010/07/community.html

In other news, it's not too late to join the book club I am doing with Amanda Esq. and company. Here is the website, we start reading book number two next week.

this is us

2010-06-28T21:34:00.000-07:00

The Backstreet Boys concert was so wonderful. It is amazing how easily the 12 year old girl inside me comes out. I was standing there excited, and then the boys walked out and I about lost it. I didn't cry though or anything, I just screamed emphatically and jumped up and down. I also sang along to EVERY song. The party in the back row was awesome. Well, minus maybe my one friend who was drunk.
Q: Who gets drunk at a BSB concert?
A: My friend, that's who.

So here is me and my non drunk friend Melly with our excited to see Backstreet Boys smile.

How wonderful it is to have a fellow fan as a neighbor. I'm thinking of a Backstreet Boys Around the World game night, it could be a ridiculously fun night and all those friends who now regret not making the concert could join us and be pre-teens again.

And, here is an unrelated picture of my brother Mike's dinner tonight.

If you are thinking "surely that peanut butter jar is photo bombing this odd pepperoni and bread sandwich," you are wrong. Between the bread and the pepperoni is a sticky layer of peanut butter. What's more is that according to my brother it is "so good. It's like...wow. And if you add some cooler ranch chips, now that's amore"

The Call

2010-06-24T12:54:00.000-07:00

Remember how I dramatically complained about my lack of friends and my inability to see BSB on Saturday? Well let it be known today that God hears melodramatic blog cries and answers your prayers.

On a related note, I love my high school friends :) I didn't even have to beg, I just told them the show was happening and they were like "count me in!"

i wanna be a billionaire

2010-06-24T01:55:00.000-07:00

For all those interested in the previously mentioned book club, here is where you should go http://ccrollins.blogspot.com/2010/06/prince-and-other-general-info.html

In other news, I did finally get a job. I work in a warehouse, packaging, labelling, and testing products. It's a temp job and it could end as early as Friday, but it could last longer. Or, I could just be replaced somewhere else when it ends. Either way, it's good to have a job. Adjusting to the lack of TV time has been difficult. I didn't get to watch Pretty Little Liars this week (gasp!)! And the hours kind of hurt, but I'm not complaining. I am very grateful for anything right now.

tumblr

2010-06-21T13:29:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking to myself: "Self, what more can you do to waste time online?"

I have been looking for social networking/marketing sites. Well after stumbleupon, I have now taken on a tumblr account.

Who uses tumblr and what are your thoughts?

i want it that way

2010-06-20T11:52:00.000-07:00

Saturday there is a Backstreet Boys concert in Universal City. I really want to go but why don't I have friends who love me enough to go? A four pack of tickets is only $40 (+ticketmonster fees), that's pretty cheap and yet I don't have four friends out here who would want to go
Damn, I like don't even have four friends out here. All my friends are fictional characters from the television...

I hate my life.

And here is a moment of musical history.

The Prince

2010-06-16T13:00:00.000-07:00

You all should join the coolest summer book club. Amanda Esq. has written a lovely post with some great reasons why you should join us, so check it out here.

I'm excited because Machavelli wrote the book to Lorenzo de' Medici and the Medici family is basically my favorite family from European history. You know how much I love me some Italians. :)

JOIN US!

i can't get enough

2010-06-13T23:03:00.001-07:00

So much going on this weekend. World Cup group matches, NBA Championship game 5, the Tony Awards, pride parades, True Blood season 3 and Khloe and Kourtney take Miami season 2 premieres, and so much more (at least those are the things buzzing on Twitter). If you are like me, you probably spent a ridiculous amount of time glued to the TV (or computer screen, if you don't have a TV) this weekend.

I think my allegiance is pretty obvious, but for the record, I am going green in the NBA (duh!) and in the World Cup I am going USA and Italia (again, duh!). My methods of choosing a team have always been rather superficial, but that's fine with me. Seriously though, Australia, what happened to you?

So, in other news. Remember how much I love twitter?
Also, remember a couple months ago when I posted some old pictures and reminisced? Specifically think of this:

Well last week I discovered @rcschwartzman on twitter (funny thing about twitter is that you find celebrities via other celebrities, in this case Hanson and Rooney were collaborating, and Hanson tweeted about it).
So, today I tweeted
ccrollins http://bit.ly/9DBtZC its been far too long since I indulged in @rcschwartzman & the guys of Rooney

and some time later I was on twitter and found this:

rcschwartzman @ccrollins Why is that? Well, it's good to have you back on the team

Joy in my heart <3

VH1 TV Shows | Music Videos | Celebrity Photos | News & Gossip

In other news, Amanda Esq (as oppose to Amanda) and I are starting a summer book club. The first book we will discuss is The Prince by Machiavelli. We will read the text by June 23 and plan a time to discuss it after that. We will discuss over skype or some other form of technology since there is a great distance between us. I bring this up because YOU are all welcome to join us. Just let me know and we can coordinate a time to converse about "the bible of realpolitik."

all i wanna do is have some fun

2010-06-11T00:06:00.000-07:00

Today we took Changwook to Hollywood. He has been here for over 9 months and in that time he has been to Arizona more times than me, has been to Vegas twice, has visited San Francisco, Sacramento, Joshua Tree, Berkeley, and then some, but today we finally took him to Hollywood.

I don't know if it's just because I've been to Hollywood more times than I can remember, but I suddenly can't understand why it's so attractive to tourists. I love it, don't get me wrong, I just feel like it requires multiple visits over a long period of time, and each visit must capture a different aspect of the city (shopping, studios, street crazies, music, performances, etc.) in order for it to really live up to the high standards set upon it.

Today we did Hollywood and Highland stuff: Grauman's Chinese Theatre, three blocks of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the Hollywood and Highland Center. Pretty mellow, the weather was great, and the crowds weren't too bad.

While walking along Hollywood Blvd, Kimm and I found out Sally Hansen is giving out free manicures. Naturally, we went to get our free manis.

Overall, day well spent.

gangster folk rap battle

2010-06-07T12:36:00.000-07:00

I finally posted on the Flight of the Conchords show from May 30, read it here.

Spent Saturday in Santa Maria with Amanda where we attended the Elk's Rodeo. Rodeos really are a lot of fun, but sitting in the sun for so long really takes a lot out of me.

Sunday was my parents 27 wedding anniversary. The family spent it at Six Flags Magic Mountain celebrating mother's day (we are behind on the holidays). I love Magic Mountain. If you have not had the pleasure of attending this park, and if you like roller coasters, you need to get your butt down to Valencia.

Here are some of the quotable moments that made yesterdays family outing memorable.
Mom: it's the last time we'll all be together
Mike: Richard's leaving us.
Richard: I'm getting ported
Cindy: you are getting ported?
Richard: yeah, I think that's why

Jon: Cindy, you know how burro in Spanish means donkey?
Cindy: yeah
Jon: and ito means little when added to the end of a word
Cindy: yes
Jon: so when you order a burrito, you are ordering a little donkey

Mike: what does Beijing mean in Chinese
Dad: little people

And, in the spirit of belittling women...
Cindy (to Mike): How come I have more fat on my upper arms than you, but less on my lower arms?
Dad: Women are supposed to have more fat on their upper arms
Cindy: Why? What is the evolutionary advantage of that?
Mike: It's where your cooking muscles are
Cindy: Then why do I have more fat and not muscle?
Mike: Because you aren't cooking enough!

somebody to love

2010-06-03T16:10:00.000-07:00

Re-watching season one of Glee as I clean my room and get ready for my fun weekend ahead with Amanda in Santa Maria. Than Six Flags Magic Mountain with the whole family on Sunday, I hope it makes for some great quotes.

Look friends, I have my name published on a website.

Also, the second Twitter post I've done has my name attributed to it. See here.

gossip

2010-06-01T21:08:00.000-07:00

Today was day one of my new "job" and here is the result.

I hope everyone had a lovely long weekend. Mine was filled with friends, family, Nintendo, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Flight of the Conchords.

In particular I have had a great weekend in Nintendo. I now have all 8 badges in Pokemon Leaf Green, I feel very much like a pokemaster. My brothers have had a very strange influence in my life. Additionally, Mike, Changwook and I worked on beating Super Mario Bros. Wii. Some of us are very dedicated to the game, case in point:
Mike's phone rings
Mike: hold on, pause the game
answers phone
Mike: (in whispered voice) Hey, I'm playing a video game right now, I can't talk...I can't talk...Yeah...just send me a text...ok...bye.
Mom: Who was that?
Mike: Christine
Mom: You blew off your girlfriend for a video game?
Mike: What, we're almost finished. It's the final world.
Mom: So, she's your girlfriend! You don't pick a game over your girlfriend.
Mike: But Changwook and I are playing. I picked Changwook over her.
Cindy: Bros before hoes. Bros before hoes.

And some of us are significantly less talented at the game.
Mike and Changwook both died leaving me to beat a level.
I died too.
Mike: Gosh, Cindy! You were supposed to beat it for us.
Cindy: It's not my fault! I'm a woman!
Mike: Oh, you're right. We shouldn't have left it for you to do.
Mom: Cindy! Don't use that as an excuse!
Cindy: But mom, it's true, ask Michael.

You remember, my brothers like jokes made at the expense of women. So, now I can use that to my advantage and they are never again allowed to get made at me because I have a built in excuse.

Chase McCloud

2010-05-28T13:53:00.000-07:00

In honor of it being FF on twitter, I wanted to share with y'all @chasemccloud.

I know this isn't twitter, and I know most of you think you are too cool for Twitter, but I would like to humble you for a moment and inform you that in fact, you are not cool enough for twitter. There, I said it. Woah, that felt good. Something about the way honesty is so painful really connects with me.

Anyways, you know I jest. It's not that you aren't cool enough for Twitter, it's just that I am sure your old person brain is telling you that you are too old for Twitter. That's not true, I mean my mom's on Twitter and none of you are older than my mom. Or maybe you think that for some reason the entire world doesn't want to know what you are doing minute by minute. Well, that is true. And that is why only annoying people post more tweets than there are hours in the day, and you don't have to follow them. The truth is, I do want to hear about what you are doing and since we can't all be near, Twitter is a great way to share life with your friends far away.

Phew, that felt good too. By now most of you have stopped reading. For those few devoted readers, I make a recommendation. Visit chasemccloud.com and enjoy the musical offerings it brings.
I met Chase when I was in New Orleans. He was on my church's worship team, and FYI music really is a big deal in NOLA. I had the pleasure of seeing him perform with his band at the House of Blues in New Orleans. So good you guys, so good.

He is really a great musician, and a great guy. He also has this weird affinity for Twilight (which I can appreciate), but all you Twi-haters (I'm going to copyright that) don't hold that against him. It gives him and his wife something more to bond over.

Seriously though, he is a great soulful rock performer. If you don't believe me, just listen for yourselves.

Here is a video I found on youtube of the 2008 HOB show I attended. The sound is kind of bad, I merely include it for my own memories. You should go here for the good stuff.

happy birthday to me!

2010-05-25T08:25:00.000-07:00

Had a great birthday, thanks friends for all the messages.
Remember how I said I want to try something new? Well, mostly I have decided to be more productive with my wasted time. I applied for an unpaid internship with a celebrity gossip blog I read, socialitelife.com, and I will soon begin. It's going to feel good to use my internet stalking skills in a productive manner. And, I'll be doing what I love :)

Anyways, isn't this the cutest thing EVER involving Sally and Linus?

Mom did a very good job.

And now for some quotes from mia famiglia
Cindy: Where do you get money?
Kimm: People owe me. It's the end of the year, I start collecting.

Have I mentioned that my dad got a new phone?
Cindy: I want to see your phone. I want to see which keyboard is bigger.
Dad: Mine. Mine is better in all ways. Isn't that obvious?
Cindy: why?
Dad: because it is.

Now he can facebook stalk wherever he is. This has resulted in a great deal of fb talking. Kimm recently said something funny, and my dad's response was laughter followed by "like, like. Where is the like link?"

And dad recently found out what a cougar is.
Dad: I couldn't understand why anyone would be cougaring around?

Jump!

2010-05-22T00:57:00.000-07:00

Dear Gleeks,
Please click here to see photos and read about the Glee Concert.
Sincerely,
Overjoyed Gleek

In other news, let me show you my Friday, May 21, 2010 to-do list:
1) sleep in like a bum with no life, until 9am
2) do some cleaning, like wash my bedding
3) flood the laundry room
4) get ready for Glee concert
5) go to Universal City for concert
6) complain about how everyone has run into someone famous at City Walk but you
7) small talk with Lisa Rinna while waiting in line for the women's restroom at Gibson (technically, not City Walk)
8) enjoy the Glee live in concert experience
9) receive text from Tawny announcing that her and JKizz are engaged!
10) blog about the day
11) happily fall into dream world

A Whole New World

2010-05-19T21:50:00.001-07:00

I'm thinking of doing something this summer. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Meanwhile, look at this:

I want to go on that magic carpet ride. High school productions are sure getting high tech. And for more, read my other blog.

And look how cute Pika (Odie) is

Dylan and I played with him today. Dylan says: "Man, he's a feisty little dog!" Watching Dylan play with him may be my new favorite thing. But a close second is listening to Dylan sing Replay by Iyaz.

it's on

2010-05-16T22:05:00.000-07:00

I'm watching The Princess Bride. Yes, I have finals tomorrow. What a lovely tradition this is. I came upstairs to study and was distracted by something online and somehow was left yearning for the Princess Bride. I don't even know how it happened, probably my subconscious told me I needed to watch the movie on account of my subconscious knowing about my finals tomorrow.

In addition to not studying for finals by watching my favorite movie, I am also procrastinating by thinking big picture. I have some new goals. In an effort to feel greater satisfaction with my life, I want to:

1) Love God. Duh, right? But I feel I've been taking him for granted. Pushing him to the back shelf because I know he'll always be there, and just go about with my regular day to day stuff without Him. I might start going on silent walks to clear my head of the world and have some time in nature to focus on Him.

2) Dress differently. You know the sayings, "dress to impress" and "dress for the job you want," well in this current season of unemployment I have realized an overall need to re-style. I want a more grown up look. I consider Chuck Charles and Temperance Brennan my new style influences. This dress goal will also involve accessorizing because I don't want to be so plain.

3) Stop hesitating. I keep putting off for tomorrow things I am capable of doing now. I need to shelf the fear because it's not really getting me anywhere, and just go for it.

4) Just dance. I need to be more active, and I think signing up for a dance class might be fun. I use to take dance lessons, and I realized recently that I miss it. However, realizing that paying for a class might not be possible, I need to figure out an alternative option for this. Learning the HSM choreography?

5) Read. Although I am very great at watching stories unfold, I have less patience to read them and that's a shame because reading a story is always so much more exciting and rewarding. Books are way better than movie versions of books. So, a book a week. This goal will especially require some discipline, and maybe some help. Book club, anyone? Skype book club?

6) Write. Holly and I keep talking about writing but right now we have only thrown around tons of ideas. We don't actually have anything in print, so we really need to get on top of that.

Ok, back to the dizzying intellect of a Sicilian.

i was made for loving you

2010-05-13T17:00:00.000-07:00

Look who walked into Holly's work a few months back

If you don't know who it is, use the title of the blog as a hint.

On a side note, are other people having problems with youtube's newest makeover? Videos now take a long time to load that didn't use to. I feel like an old person when I complain about things changing, but that's probably because I am appraoching old age. 11 days until I am 24 years old, that's mid-twenties territory. How do you, my already old friends, deal with it?

about you now

2010-05-12T14:48:00.000-07:00

me right now = :D

Today was my last day of class, for the semester. I woke up late, only had time to wash my face and throw on jeans before I left to get to campus, and then I end up leaving class after 20 minutes because I have finished everything.
So I spent the morning at Mel and Jon's house cleaning, then met Vanessa at Victoria Gardens (VG) for lunch at Chipotle.
You guys know how I have a love for TV and I especially have a love for Disney and Nickelodeon shows? I am not ashamed.
Anyways, so today my life was like a dream come true for a tween. Vanessa and I were browsing the racks at American Eagle when I overhear three girls whispering and staring at a customer. I pass it off as immaturity until I overhear "I think that's totally him, do you think that's him?" My interest is sparked and I think, "who is him?" My first guess is that it is Angus T. Jones, the half man on Two and a Half Men because I know he is from the area. However, as I sneakily go over to the belt rack to get a better view I realize that it is Nathan Kress from iCarly.
gasp!
I go back to the rack where the girls are, I nod and say, "It's totally him!" They giddily scurry over to him to confirm it and to get a photograph and autograph.
I go to Vanessa who is oblivious to what is happening and I ask her if she watches iCarly, and tell her that's Freddie from iCarly. Guess who didn't bring her camera? Me! Guess who did bring her camera and suggested we take a picture with him? Vanessa.
Yay us!

He was there with his mom and they were both so nice. His mom waited patiently as suddenly everyone wants a picture and autograph, and he spends time chatting with his fans. It was really nice. And so today I realized how close I am to LA. I love it :)

SB1070

2010-05-08T19:31:00.000-07:00

Much of my family lives in Arizona and politically my family covers the left, the right, and somewhere outside the sphere of left and right. Now Californians have been giving there $0.02 about Arizona's SB1070, but I thought it'd be nice to share some point of views from people who are actually from Arizona.
Matt Colton I would like to go on record as an Arizonan- sadly in the minority- who is disgusted and appalled by SB1070, our infamous immigration law.They say it's not rascist but they'll never ask me to prove that I was born in america.
Douglas F. Colton I wouldn't bet on it.How do They know you are not an "iceback",(illegal Canandian)?You haff papers?
Lauren Miller ^heh hehe hehe, thats pretty funny, Doug.
Holly Colton Seeders I don't think that you are in the minority on this one Matt - haven't you read Lauren's rages against it? I think that the icebacks are the true threat - they blend in, start infiltrating our culture. Before you know it we'll all be saying "Ay" all the time and watching hockey.
Lauren Miller I love Colton humor......
Holly Colton Seeders Lauren, glad you like it ay.
Lauren Miller I think its funny that you write "ay" like a pirate, instead of "eh"....I picture hockey players in pirate hats drinking molson ......
Holly Colton Seeders Lol, I guess I am spelling it wrong. Yeah, that is what I kind of picture too.
Jenny Miller Hello Matt, Have you read the law? It's only 17 pages and has already had some of the wording revised. You won't have to show papers because you have a valid driver's license. I read a letter to the editor in our local paper from n Irish lady who was stopped for a traffic violation and did have to show her papers. I don't think anyone has to worry ... See moreif they obey the laws while driving and/or have proper identification. Of course, there will be a few exceptions, law enforcers are human, but most of them aren't bigots, they're not all white, so it can work both ways. Above all, with the budget cuts, at least our enforcement agencies are spread so thin they don't have time for witch hunts. It is a law that people in the US should be here legally. Why is it wrong to enforce that? Also in our paper (Tucson is liberal), there was a surprising article about a sweep in the Southeast that netted almost 600 illegal immigrants with previous convictions IN THE US (they were natives of 60 different countries). They had been arrested and allowed to go free when the law states they should have been deported. Most have been now. 22 may be prosecuted because some judges did the right thing by deporting them after their first conviction, but they returned. Some of these were previously convicted of murder, sex crimes, assault, and fraud but had been released without being turned over to immigration authorities for removal, as the law provides. By some est. there are as many as 1 m. criminal aliens in the US. "...the law underscores the Obama administration's emphasis on deporting immigrants who break the law." The AZ law, which I hope all commenters have read with open minds, isn't perfect, but it's a start and a work in progress. Some people may have their civil liberties violated, but then, aren't mine whenever I travel and have to go through security at airports, taking my shoes off, occasionally having my purse or carry on checked, right after 9/11 even my luggage, and being 'wanded' in front of numerous strangers? We all have to sacrifice some freedoms at times because of the behaviors of others. The article I refer to was in the AZ Daily Star May 1. I think this bill is a necessary start since until now little action has been taken.
Karla Rollins One concern about this law that I have is that it will discourage those here illegally from reporting crimes, for fear that the responding authorities will ask for proof of legal residence. This may encourage others to prey on illegals because they will be less likely to report crimes against them. I think something should be done to address the illegal immigration issue, but I don't think it should be to declare 'open season' on these people by other criminals
Lauren Miller ^Such a thoughtful and true point Karla-this really is going to erode what little trust there was between the Latino community and law enforcement, but to my mother-in-laws point, something must be done, so its a bit of a catch 22. I agree we must do something-my children's education is being compromised by the large amount the state is required to... See more spend on ELL,and crime is out of control. However, 1070 simply does not do enough to protect legitimate and legal Latino's from the abuse of MOSTLY white law enforcement. I am happy they've re-worded some of it, I think thats a good start, but the bottom line is it leaves a whole population of legit Americans feeling disenfranhised and singled out for their race, which is WRONG no matter how you slice it. Why is no one talking about going after businesses in an aggressive, criminal way for hiring illegal labor? Go after the hand that feeds the problem!

The questions I have:
-When does enforcing a Federal Law become illegal?
-How is the Immigration Department going to be able to handle the theoretical increase in cases and responsibility?
-What is a better, more feasible and cost effective way that we can handle the problem of illegal immigration? (How can we make Mexico a more hospitable place so that citizen's desire to stay there?)
-Why do people protest or boycott without thinking about the real repercussions? When you boycott industires that employee service workers (ex. sports teams), you are effectively bringing greater harm to illegal immigrants since they are more likely to have service jobs.

And, if you want to be really smart read the bill, it is available here. It's not long, only 17 pages, nothing you can't handle.

I'm on vacation

2010-05-07T20:14:00.000-07:00

My life feels like a continual vacation, but it's like a vacation that lasts too long. You liked it in the beginning, but now you are anxious to get back to life and work. I know I shouldn't complain, and I try not to, but not having a job is not only turning my brain to mush, it is also making me reflect on my life and Conan strongly advises against that.
One more week of class, then a week of finals, and then I will really have NOTHING to do. School has provided me with something to do other than twiddle my thumbs, and soon it will be over. WHAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!! Maybe I'll take an unnecessary summer school class, but those don't start until late June so I'm still left with over a month of nothing.

Help me! Provide me with some challenge that will get me away from Netflix instant queue and out into the great big world.

In other news, I am currently in Glendale, AZ at my grandparents house. Look what I found on my Mema's laptop:

And look at this picture of my adorable little cousin, Ash, with my dad:

Seriously, the Rollins traits are dominant in these two. Ash looks like he could be my dad's son.

Unsuspecting Sunday Afternoon

2010-05-03T13:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was another unsuspecting Sunday of my life.
Picture this: Cindy sitting at a table in the church cafe in between early and late service, coloring with Hannah. The picture is of the ocean, Hannah has just asked me to finish her sea horse. I take out my phone to check the time because I have to be two places at once during second service and neither requires me to be in the cafe.
My phone reads: 1 new text message
I open the message
From: Angel
So my friend just informed me that she got 3 free tickets to see conan tonite in vegas. Do u wanna be the 3rd person? I'm leaving at 3pm and would be getting back around 2/3am.

Jaw drops. Hannah asks me what it says and I read it aloud to reassure myself that I read it correctly the first time.

Second service flies by, the two activities I have end up being perfectly spaced to allow me to do both. After church I run some errands, scramble to finish my accounting term project and at a little after 3pm Angel and I are once again on our way to Las Vegas.

For more on that, check out my other blog here. I working to set some parameters on my blog, the entertainment/food blog is here.
You are currently reading the blog where I get to ramble on about things in my life. Like how today, after three hours of sleep, I walk into my 8am class late and am informed by the instructor that we have an exam this morning. Oh snaps!!! Totally forgot about that. It's alright though, I did great. Thank God that I find filing enjoyable and easy.

exhale...too much excitement for one day. Now it's time for some school work to get my happy high down to an acceptable level of apathy.

family portrait

2010-05-01T13:42:00.000-07:00

thank you for the love, family.

Mom: I hate bringing the dogs inside
(dad points his pinky finger at cindy)
Mom: Cindy, bring the dogs inside.
Cindy: That's not fair, everyone knows I hate the dogs.
Dad: So, we hate you but we let you in sometimes.
Mom: We do not. Cindy, when you post this on your blog please make sure to include the part where I disagree with dad.

unwell

2010-04-30T01:57:00.000-07:00

My Albi is unwell and I must stay up with him like a mother tending to an ill child. It's all my fault. I should leave the internet exploration to the experts. Thankfully I know someone awake at 1am who can walk me through this tragedy.

As I sit in my family's media center (the hallway where the printer and internet router live) I find myself very grateful for the nap I took yesterday. Always good to count the small blessings. I am also thankful that I have not been driven to rage and not once have I thought of throwing my computer. It's always best for me to get hit when I am high, that way the fall seems more manageable because I'm in a pleasant mode when it strikes. So, thank you Bones for supplying me with the glee necessary to cope with a potential computer disaster.

Speaking of Bones, I think I have set a new record in show obsession. I would be ashamed, but looking back on the last two weeks I realize I have actually completed a lot of social and school stuff, so I'm not embarrassed.

I am also not embarrassed to admit to purchasing a ticket to see Hanson in September or for conspiring amongst friends to see Backstreet Boys in June. You know, I suspect none of you would attend either of said concerts with me and that makes me a little sad.

family moment 04/24/10

2010-04-24T17:14:00.001-07:00

Jon never purposely smiles with his teeth showing. Actually, he rarely even allows himself to be photographed. So imagine my surprise when not only does he allow me to take his picture, but I capture a moment where he is smiling with teeth and he actually likes the photo. Likes the photo enough to change his fb picture.
I do think it is important to note the context, why was he smiling so much?
Jon: A woman hits a man with her car, who is at fault? The man, for letting his wife out of the kitchen. HAHAHAHA!

Jon learned that joke from Michael.
comments about Jon's picture:
Michael Rollins Jon, you have changed.
I am slightly proud of you. You are really smiling. No more fake smile like Dad.
Yesterday at 16:33.
Jonathan P. Rollins Nice picture Jon. Sorry my fake smiles aren't good enough for you Mike.
10 Hours ago
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
jon: I know you're crazy. You want to know how I know? Because you're a woman!
mom: Wow, I just don't understand why you are single.
jon: Oh, that's mean mom.
mom: You know what michael, I mean jon-
jon: You don't even know who I am!
mom: I have two misogynistic sons, what do you expect? I get you confused. Although I should know you are Jon because you are buffer.

buffer reference:
Michael Rollins --> Jon Rollins "Dang!! Your brother looks just like you. I'm not even kidding. What the heck, dude."
-my roommate
"No he doesn't. We don't look that similar."
-me
"Yes you do. He's just got more hair on his face. Yeah, he's just a buffer version of you."
-my roommate

noooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooOOOOOOO!!!!!! Why does this... always happen to me?!?!?!?!?!

Comments:
Jon Rollins Haha, this is funny. 4 hours ago.
Karla Rollins I wonder if Jon's friends say you look like a scrawnier version of him..... 2 hours ago.
Michael Rollins :( 2 hours ago.

Poor little Michael.

start of something new

2010-04-22T12:23:00.000-07:00

Trying something new...I want more discussion happening on my blogs. Less of me and more of us in dialogue.

So, tell me your thoughts on Glee here.

gotta catch 'em all

2010-04-20T21:08:00.001-07:00

On Sunday I went to watch JJ play baseball on his pee-wee team. I think little kids playing organized sports is way more fun than watching the professionals. Little kids lying on the field singing while some of their teammates fight eachother for the ball, so amazing to watch.

Today, I received a phone call from an unknown number, but I recognized the area code as local so I answered. After some time of silence on the other end, I finally hear this little voice I recognize. JJ called me to invite me to his karate class. Gah! So adorable.

I have decided that little kids practicing taekwon do is even more enjoyable than watching them play baseball. I'm actually really impressed with the students in the class, for 4-5 year olds they have some impressive listening skills. Though they aren't quite coordinated enough to do jumping jacks and their push ups are hysterical, they still rocked it.
Afterwards JJ took Jessica and I to the store to get some ice cream. Then he played Pokemon on my gameboy.

Overall, day well spent.

holy holy holy

2010-04-19T21:08:00.000-07:00

"95% of you will not be eaten by lions!" -Jaeson Ma
Last night Angel and I went to Kingdom Come II in LA. It was so great. For those of you who have heard Jaeson Ma speak (he has spoken at Interpraise), you know that he is a great speaker who is not afraid to be honest and direct. Also, he has a fire for God that is contagious.
Do you ever feel like something is missing but you aren't sure what until you find it? Or, you don't realize something is missing until you find it? Last night I realized that something was missing in my life. I've been so stagnant and complacent in my walk without even realizing, but last night when I was standing in the sancutary surrounded by hundreds of young adults worshipping, I felt a joy and I'd been missing. I love the church that I'm at, but I've always felt something was missing for me there, and last night I found it. I think maybe I miss UiC and ADX too much, but also I have been seriously missing great Christian community. It has been so long though that I started thinking maybe it wasn't soemthing I needed anymore. Maybe I've reached the point where I don't need the solid community. HAHAHAHA! As if that ever becomes less important. I'm such a fool.

Jaeson's current ministry is reaching the entertainment industry, and last nights message was Transforming Media. This is something that has been on my heart for a long time, so to actually hear someone speak about it, and to hear testimonies from people in the industry was so encouraging. Hollywood is a jungle that needs to be reached, just like other places, and so often we criticize the media without actively trying to transform it for the better.
I think I'm still processing the message and what it means to me and what I will do to join the revival taking place in Hollywood right now.

To close, here is something I wrote down last night during Jaeson's discussion on Be Originals- Not copies: "Don't ruin yourself when God already made you beautiful and perfect."

food food food.

2010-04-16T22:23:00.000-07:00

This week southern California Chick-fil-A's gave out free menu items from 2-5pm. Monday was fries, Tuesday was chicken strips, Wednesday was yogurt parfaits, Thursday was nuggets, and Friday was brownies.
My family has this system where we hit up all three Chick-fil-A's in our area for the free goods. It sounds kind of like we are taking advantage, but we always buy items too so we end up spending a good amount of money, just not as much as if we were paying for all the free stuff too.
Thursday I hit up the first Chick-fil-A with Audrey. She get's out of school early on Thursday, so after her math homework was finished we went for some free food.

She refused to allow me to take her picture proclaiming "I don't know what you'll do with the picture! I don't want these pictures showing up on facebook." Girl is 11 years old and not even on facebook. She's so silly.

upside down

2010-04-13T11:17:00.000-07:00

Since I posted so much last week, I gave you a break over the weekend. See, I care about you. Ok, the break was mostly due to me being in Vegas having a blast, but I did think of how much we all need a break from me and how last weekend was a great opportunity for that.
Hooly had a show at Meatheads in Vegas, her first headliner in Vegas so it was pretty exciting. Josie and I drove out Saturday morning, hit up Chinatown for lunch, 99 Ranch for snacks, and Gold Coast Casino for some afternoon Bingo.
The Video Poker bar was pretty small and off the strip, but it is totally awesome to see her grow as a comic.
After the show, Josie, Holly and I headed back to Bally's (where we were staying free thanks to a wonderful friend of a friend) to park the car. We then headed across the street to the Bellagio to party at The Bank.
Our budget for the weekend was $40, and we ended up spending $47, so we were close. Split gas, Chinatown food, Bingo (accompanied with free drinks), and Hooly's comedy show were the big costs. I've now been to Vegas on many different occasions and I have explored many of the free/cheaper options it has, and I'm a fan. Though, I will say that when I have a job and a disposable income I would like to splurge on tickets to Jersey Boys, Love, or O. Sadly, due to the tight budget of this last trip I was unable to stop at Raising Cane's even though Meatheads is right next door to it. Que triste :(

On a different note: Glee returns tonight!!!

come sail away

2010-04-09T22:05:00.000-07:00

Jessica (bff) and I have been discussing traveling and have made a very important decision. We want to go on a cruise. We've decided we want to go on a cruise to Alaska next year. A kind of quarter century bday celebration. Who's in?
I have wanted to go on a cruise with friends for awhile because it'd be so fun, and since cruises are inclusive there is less planning meaning greater relaxation involved. Alaska is beautiful (so I've heard from Lena and Stephers), and both Jessica and I have wanted to visit it for a long time.
I've done a very brief survey of Alaska cruises and it looks like $1200 +/- $100 is the current cost. Saving $125 a month from now-October would be $750. November-December save $50 (holiday lean times) would bring the total to $900 by the end of January. February-departure (May or June) save $125/month and you got the ticket and some spending money.
Of course, your saving may look different, but you get the idea. So, any takers? We're getting old and some of you will be starting your careers after next year so this could be one of our last opportunities for a ladies cruise...and none of you are getting married anytime soon so I'm running out of reasons to run into you ;)

Lastly, I'd like you to all know that I am deeply saddened that I missed out on the fab BSB Cruise. Sold Out before I even had a chance...

Every Time I close My Eyes

2010-04-08T10:34:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a filing class this semester and I'm loving it. Not only is it easy, but it is also really fun. I mean I seriously love filing things and organizing stuff. If you look in my room it may not be obvious, but I really do. I just purchased some CD envelope filiers with tabs and a CD storage box and filed my photo CDs. Oh, it is beautiful to gaze upon the order that is.
Well, before I could properly file some CDs, I had to view the contents and label appropriately. The upside to this rather laborious process was that I stumbled upon some forgotten images. Below you will some of said images.

Crazy Berkeley squirrel in front of Giannini.

Mostly I just look at these next two pictures and think, "man, we look so young."
Devo Retreat at Berryessa. I believe this is the trip Cousin It fell in love.

Rooney on Lower Sproul and Stephers and I meet Robert Schwartzman!!!

And these next two I think, "They were so little!"
JJ at 9 months

Dylan at 1

*tear*Those boys are growing up so fast. They are now so big and have such unique and distinct personalities, it's hard to remember when they were babies and everything was new and exciting. Peek a boo is no longer good enough for them, they require greater forms of entertainment today. Like Nerf guns, Light Sabers, and toy cars.

Too much nostalgia for today. I'll save some for later posts.

The Ellen Show

2010-04-07T13:52:00.000-07:00

Two in one day! I know, the majority of you won't read this because you are too busy to read all my posts. This is partially my fault because I post a lot since, let's face it, my blogs are all I have right now to keep me busy. But if that's the case, it is really your lose not mine.
Sooooooooo...remember how I use to do extra work? Well, the other day my mom was flipping through the TV guide and she noticed a show I had worked on on some network called Wealth TV. Unfortunately, the episode had just ended, but it was on again today so we set the DVR and watched it. Ummmmmm.....so here is the second half of the show. I found it on youtube. See if you can spot the Cindy

And let me let you in on a little secret. I have envisioned the day that I am a guest on the Ellen Degeneres Show and she surprises me with this clip.

business time

2010-04-07T10:19:00.000-07:00

I had another blog all written and ready to post, but more important announcements are to be made.
No, I did not get a job, but thanks for being optimistic. And you know, keep praying that I'll get something in the form of a steady income soon.

The exciting news is that I did get tickets to Flight of the Conchords for May 30! Presale started today at 10am for the LA and Berkeley shows in late May, so I was all over ticketmaster at that time. Angel and I are so in love with Brett and Jermaine, most car rides consist of non-stop FOTC and Glee. We've been talking about how we really wish they'd tour again out here and BOOM! Yesterday they announce via Twitter: fotc Last year we had some unforgettable shows in california that everyone forgot. so we're playing again in LA and Berkeley
Gasp! So immediately I begin stalking Angel who is at work and we decide to go for the cheapest tickets available since I am unemployed and she is tapped out from Glee tickets. Glee is May 21, so we'll be having a very busy second half of May. Dreams do come true, and just in time for my 24!
On a related note, can I just say that one of the reasons I love twitter is because of the above announcement, and the below link posted by NPH yesterday morning.
ActuallyNPH Fans of Dr. Horrible, feast your eyes on: http://www.doctoroctoroc.com/8-bit-dr-horrible/watch.html Brilliant. Muu haa haaa haaaa haaaa!

It is a great place to gain important info in a timely manner.

whip appeal

2010-04-05T17:36:00.000-07:00

I went through my facebook wall newsfeed to delete some unnecessary gibberish like all the "recent activity" crap. Does anyone know how to NOT get those? I hate it and I've tried adjusting my settings but it is fruitless.
Well once I got started I couldn't stop until I was finished. That is right, I went to the end of my wall newsfeed. It's like a drug. It was therapeutic (deleting posts from people I don't talk to and who I am no longer "friends" with) and it also allowed me to relive some great friend moments on my wall...

Stephanie Lai Cinderface here's a funny story for ya. So I FINALLY watched HSM3 today, and because you told me the ending, I knew that Troy picks Cal, but not till the very end. However as I was watching I kept seeing this golden bear flash across the screen, and I thought either this copy was a janky product of Asia OR subliminal m...essaging OR I am going crazy. It was not until the end that I realized I was wearing my 2007 cal football shirt, and it was reflecting onto my computer screen.

take home message: being away from Berkeley has really diminished my intelligence quotient. true story.
05 June 2009 at 19:44

Susan Eldridge I put on HSM3 on my itunes to help me clean...instead it's only fueled my procrastination! We NEED to have a HSM marathon when I see you next :-)
11 February 2009 at 20:17

^I actually have yet to have a HSM marathon, 1-3, in one day. Just saying, so you know when you get back to CA...

Susan Eldridge You recieved an index card in the mail today. It reads:
Dear Cindy,
I miss you. Will you come back? I'm 4 now. We tried to drive to LA but the car broke. Mommy took me to the library.
Love, A N N A
14 June 2007 at 18:27

Susan Eldridge Thanks! ps you're sleeping with your glasses on again :-)
19 May 2007 at 00:49

And this is why I will always think of Spring 2007 as the worst semester ever:

Amanda Johnson Hi Love! Long time no talk, how are you doing? I miss you very much, the hole in my heart where you belong feels very big right now..=(
22 April 2007 at 11:42
Amanda Johnson ciao bella!!! I'm in Rome right now and have been thinking of you nonstop, I hope still have confidence in our long distance although it will be a no distance soon enough! Miss you tons!!
12 May 2007 at 01:06

And the very first status update (remember when you didn't have a status update, back in the days when facebook wasn't so overwhelming...)
Cindy Rollins [is] so busy, she love it!
19 September 2006 at 12:19

I misspelled my first update. How sad.
And the second update:
Cindy Rollins [is] so busy, she loves it
19 September 2006 at 18:17

Do you also remember when the status updates were Cindy Rollins is...
I miss the is.

least complicated

2010-04-05T12:45:00.000-07:00

Do you all miss the music of the 90s as much as I do? No, I'm not just thinking about Backstreet Boys and Hanson (and by the way, stop judging me!). I keep telling myself I'm going to make an awesome women of the 90s mix CD, but I have yet to create it. When I do I guarantee it'll have some Selena, Brandy, Monica, Spice Girls, Fiona Apple, Alanis Morisette, Meredith Brooks, and even some Indigo Girls because for some reason those are the female artists that right now define the 90s for me.
No joke, in the fourth grade my two female teachers had us sing the Indigo Girls for holiday performances so that we weren't supporting a religion. I believe we performed Least Complicated and Power of Two. After that, my friends and I thought the Indigo Girls were so cool... so, it's fun to confess a dirty secret from my past.

And here is a treat for you