Springtime nights

I had the best evening in the universe last night. Lately I’ve been trying my best to eat only vegetables and fresh foods, and I was shocked at how well I did yesterday (oatmeal, apple, peas and corn, and some dried cranberries), so for dinner my friend Chris and I decided it was a good day to make homemade potato chips and a really good salad, and cupcakes for dessert.

So, I picked him up from school and we swung by my apartment to get some supplies, then we walked to his place and then to the grocery story to buy some cheese for the salad and potatoes. It was beautiful last night - 75 degrees, sunny, just perfect. Texas often sucks when it comes to weather, but sometimes it’s really, really good. And those are the days that you spend outside.

And also, making food with friends is amazing and excellent. We invited J and My Roommate to come along, and so we had a feast outside - homemade potato chips and fries, salad with blue cheese and sunflower seeds, springtime cupcakes, and white wine. It’s something you can only do when the weather gets warm.

I don’t mean to rub it in to everyone who doesn’t live in a) Texas b) California c) Florida, or d) Southern Hemisphere, but as soon as the weather gets warm, get your friends and go have a picnic outside. I mean it. It’s amazing.

March 19, 2009 @ 10:22 am . Comments (4)

Health — Tags: bliss, relaxing, well-being

Adventure!

Yesterday J and I went to Mt. Bonnell which isn’t so much a mountain as a somewhat tall hill. It’s just down the Colorado River from the 360 Bridge, which is much better, in my opinion. Less annoying trashy people and more peace and quiet. Nevertheless, Mt. Bonnell was pretty nice, and it was the perfect day to be out (in the 70s, sunny, and just really nice in general).

I think you can see the 360 Bridge if you try. It’s a little arch on the righthand side.

The sun was pointing right at the camera but the river looks pretty.

The pretty sky and nice water may delude you into thinking I live somewhere nice, but let me assure you, Texas in general is really the suck.

AUGH WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE??? Man, I didn’t realize until now just how ugly my chin is.

We also went to First Night on New Year’s Eve just to see the parade. It was amazing! We were almost late for the start and then J’s camera ran out of batteries, but it all worked out because there was a pharmacy near by. We ended up getting a ton of pictures, which I’ll upload probably tomorrow or Monday (they’re on J’s computer).

Anyway, after Mt. Bonnell we ended up going to the Cheesecake Factory, despite the fact that it’s really … um … prom-y. You know, it’s the restaurant that everyone goes to for prom or formal events, or Valentine’s Day. We decided never to go again. The service was terrible, the food was just alright, and it was just not the best of places. Despite that, we had way too much fun, laughing and joking around. We ordered artichoke for an appetizer and split a pizza for dinner (because they always give way too much food - neither of us can ever finish a plate at any of these chain restaurants - and we didn’t even finish the pizza we shared either).

And they burned our pizza.

We went to his house for a few hours and then came to mine where we sat around and he watched a movie while I played Chrono Trigger on my DS. All in all, 2009 has been pretty swell so far. Let’s hope it continues to be as fun and relaxing as it has been.

January 3, 2009 @ 11:46 am . Comments (6)

Adventure — Tags: real life, relaxing

Yayyyy!

School is over! Done! Finished for the semester! Only one semester left forever! My life can go back to normal! I can write blog posts again! I can write, I can read, I can play DDR (it has been seriously forever - my muscles are all gone), I can (finally) play Half Life 2: Episode 2. I hate finals so much just because they’re so spread out - I’d much rather get them all over with, but at the university we have three dead days (plus the weekend) after classes are over, and then finals start, but finals are spread out over a week (including Saturday). So you could potentially have two finals, and one is on the first day of finals and the other is a week later. I suppose all that time is good for studying, but c’mon, we don’t seriously study. I mean, we do, but it’s like … goof off until a day or two before the final, but with that feeling of dread that you have a final coming up and should be studying. Two days before we sort of look at our notes over again or read a few chapters. Then the real studying starts just one day before the final exam.

So you can’t properly enjoy the time you have or study during it either. It sucks. But now that it’s over I seriously feel like I’m having a tough time settling down and just relaxing. That’s what happens when you’ve been working your brains out for an entire semester, harder than you’ve ever worked before. No, seriously. This is the busiest semester I’ve ever had. I don’t remember what it’s like to actually have free time. I’ve had some crummy semesters before, and I wouldn’t say this one tops it, but I would say that this is definitely the busiest. It’s been fun, though.

I was looking back, thinking about all that’s happened in my life, and I realized that high school feels like a dream now. It feels like it almost didn’t happen. So much has happened since high school that it’s hard to think back. I remember doing some really stupid stuff but beyond that … I dunno, it’s weird.

So, I think I’m going to maybe start Final Fantasy 8 again, or start Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines (best first-person shooter ever. Seriously. Play it.). Either way, I desperately need to just … chill for awhile.

Oh, and by the way, since the URL of my blog changed (from just lunsh.net to tasty.lunsh.net) you may have to subscribe to the feed again (not quite sure - someone let me know if you have to do this).

December 15, 2008 @ 12:05 pm . Comments (4)

General — Tags: relaxing, school, stress

Working hard

I caved - I totally bought a Power Plant which I blogged about here. I don’t have any seeds and I’m still trying to decide what to grow, but the side of the box claims I can grow things like peppers and soybeans. My original plan was something safe, like basil, but now I’m overwhelmed with possibilities!

This weekend was altogether amazingly good in general. I stayed away from the Internet, I actually had taken Friday off from work. My weekend consisted of pretty much a lot of writing, drawing, playing Okami, tons of reading, and staring off into space, which was NICE. I really needed it, trust me. I also went for cold, late-night walks with J, drank tons of tea and coffee, and spent lots of nice quality time with my parents. It was so relaxing, let me tell you, and now I feel completely and totally prepared for this coming week.

You know, I think sometimes that people really underestimate how hard it is to be a university student. I think a lot of people look at all the partying and stuff that goes on and thinks that we just goof off, but that can’t be farther than the truth for a lot of people. Of course, it all really depends on your major, and I KNOW computer science at my school is worse than almost every other major, but still - colleges and universities are tough. If you don’t work while going to school, relish it - you don’t know what it’s like to have to work and go to school at the same time.

So it’s the little things - you take what you can get, right? You have to take a little bit of time for yourself every once in awhile or you’ll go insane.

Also, as a note, Nanowrimo is coming up in a few days. Any fellow Nano’ers?

October 29, 2008 @ 9:01 am . Comments (6)

General — Tags: computer science, nanowrimo, relaxing, school, writing

Relaxing Friday

It’s been a really long semester so far, and I’ve been starting to get really drained because I don’t have time for warmth, relaxation, and happiness. It took yesterday, getting to the point where I just broke down, for me to finally force myself to take it easy for awhile.

So I’m going to spend this weekend resting, drinking tea, and relaxing my mind. I’ll also be getting my creativity back, taking my time on projects and assignments, and taking lots of breaks for coffee and sweets. I’m also staying away from my phone, and also my computer - maybe possibly I’ll check my email but mostly I’m going to be gone.

Have a great weekend everyone!

October 24, 2008 @ 6:25 pm . Comments (4)

General — Tags: living, real life, relaxing, well-being

Too much to do

It’s been very busy the past few days. I’ve had projects, two tests this week, one test next week, and some difficult homework due. But it hasn’t been all work - we’ve made sure to relax a lot, mostly by going downtown three times in three days, twice to Whole Foods for lunch (which I am currently addicted to).

It’s also been annoyingly hot. The picture looks muggy and it is. I know it’s boring to talk about the weather, but this is so ridiculous - it starts off at 60F in the mornings, just chilly enough that I grab a sweater and feel fine. By two o’clock in the afternoon, it’s 90F. How the HECK does it go up 30F in just a few hours? It’s really getting on my nerves because I’m sick of my summer wardrobe and I’m sick of the drastic temperature change. I’m also sick of being sweaty and hot and I’m sick of air conditioning.

So, as you can see, it’s just been a typical past few days except slightly busier. I’m tired - I really need to get a good night’s sleep but I can’t, for some reason or another. One night it’s this, the next night it’s that. I’m really looking forward to Wednesday because that’s the first day I get to actually sleep in til eight.

And it’s a little unnerving knowing that it’s only going to get busier from here. I don’t like to whine about this, but I take 17 hours of classes a week and I work 18 hours. It gets to be too much at times, especially with projects and midterms. I might have to end up taking a day off this week just to catch up, and that makes me feel miserable.

But still, at least the sun is shining and in a few months I’ll be completely done with all this. I just need to find some time to relax and I’ll be okay.

What do you do when you’re stressed out and busy?

October 6, 2008 @ 9:09 pm . Comments (2)

General — Tags: Health, relaxing

A barber

I realized today that I’ve become an impromptu barber - the only one in town who bikes to your house at 9 o’clock in the evening to give you a trim. I slice, I dice! I even do sideburns!

It’s a really happy thought - a really good feeling to be biking around the city at night. Despite it being 91F at 10 at night, it’s still a gorgeous night. Stars shining, beautiful city noises, the feeling that takes your breath away. It’s the whole freedom thing - definitely not overrated.

Tomorrow J and I are going to the art museum. This is something I’ve been looking forward to for a month. I love looking at the art in museums - I feel like you’ve got to go more than once or even twice to get the full effect of all the art. You’ve got to go slowly to absorb it all, too. It’s inspiring and I hope to discover things for my own art.

Then starts the big move-in. I hope to take a lot of pictures so I’ll have a bunch to post. I’m nervous, but excited. We’ll see how it goes.

July 31, 2008 @ 10:22 pm . Comments (1)

General — Tags: apartment, real life, relaxing

Rest

Thank you everyone for your birthday wishes. I had a really, really good birthday. There was actually no liquor involved - I’m probably one of the few who celebrated my 21st birthday alcohol-free. Instead there was lots of video games and cream puffs for dessert, and J even spent part of the weekend. It was all-in-all a great birthday, even though I’ve spent WAY too much time playing Mass Effect now. I can’t help it - it’s an amazing game.

Those who know me know I’m a huge gamer and honestly I’m shocked at how far this technology has come. I’ve played Oblivion and seen Crysis (and want to play Crysis) and I LOVE Team Fortress 2. But when I fired up Mass Effect all I could think was, these graphics are AMAZING. I’m rarely overwhelmed by graphics, but Mass Effect overwhelmed me. It’s gorgeous.

As you can see, my summer is lazy. I’m glad for it - I can use a break for sure before classes start up again. It’s weird how you don’t realize just how much you’re craving “me-time” until you actually get it. I’ve been so busy this year so far, but I felt like everything was normal. Now that I have time to play video games, I’m going crazy with them. I feel like my brain just needs a huge rest, and video games are perfect.

Those who know me also know that I’m not a big fan of movies or TV. I rarely watch movies and I never watch TV. Video games and books ARE my TV/movies. They’re my “sit around and do nothing for long stretches of time” methods. They’re my brain-resting activities. And I’m feeling much more relaxed with them.

What do you do to rest your brain? What sorts of things do you watch or do?

July 26, 2008 @ 7:58 pm . Comments (3)

General, Technology — Tags: real life, relaxing, video games