Slow Transition

So it has happened. I am falling for Tumblr. It is easily accessible, there is an Android application for my phone and I can follow all my friends who have them. This blogspot has been good to me so I will keep it for my movie listing purposes and maybe the occasional long rant but I am officially going to start using my new blog address...

www.justsimplytanya.tumblr.com

I'll see you on the other side :)

Phoenix

The Hollywood Bowl is an amazing venue to say the least. I unfortunately got caught with my "professional use" camera and had to check it into operations before the concert. (Big sad face). Thankfully, my friend Linda took some good pictures of the actual bowl. The lighting is eccentric and fun which matched Phoenix's vibe completely. The concert had me up and dancing with my man and I couldn't have asked for a better set list. This concert made me appreciate music for what it can do to the soul.

The lovely rainbow background for the song "Girlfriend" had Mike and I going crazy.

Beautiful Thomas Mars' silhouette

An up close and personal shot of Mike and I. Thank you Linda for all the great shots that I stole from you :)

Candidate for Graduation

After three schools, what will be five years and lots of money spent on tuition, books, paper, pens and gas... I am finally a "candidate for graduation!" I met with my advisor yesterday morning and after this semester I am four classes (11 units) away from walking! In a short eight months I will have two degrees and be off to some school for graduate work! I was so excited to hear the news, even though I knew I was graduating next year, but hearing it from my advisor made my whole day. I can't believe this long journey of undergraduate college work will be coming to an end soon.

I am so thrilled and ecstatic about the next chapter though! I am visiting Berkeley with my mom next Friday to check out the Social Welfare program they have to offer and get some insight on how to fund my two years of graduate work. I hope I like the city as much as everyone else does. I have heard it is a different universe up there but I am ready to take it on!

Have a wonderful Thursday and weekend! I know I will, especially since I am seeing Phoenix this Saturday at the Hollywood Bowl with two of my favorite people, oh and Chris. :)

We Will Never Forget

{image via here}

I was in eighth grade, getting ready for school. My uncle, who was in Chicago at the time, called us and told us to turn on the news. I didn't exactly know what was going on at the time but it looked bad. When the first tower fell I yelled to my mom and she was blow drying her hair and she came running into the living room.

Everyone knows exactly where they were when they either saw the images or heard about what had happened.

I remember not being able to sleep in my own room that night. I was alone and scared. I slept with my sister in her bed praying that no one would hurt my family that night. That terrorist attack did exactly what the name says. It put terror into the hearts and lives of families and individuals all over the country.

Nine years later, we still have photographic memories of that morning. My heart goes out to all those who lost their lives or had a family member, best friend or even acquaintance who died that day. Let's hope something that catastrophic will never happen on US soil again.

#87 Frankenstein (1931)

{image via here}

Up until last night, I thought "Frankenstein" was the monster. Why are costumes depicted around Halloween to be named Frankenstein when Frankenstein was the actual scientist who made the monster? I don't know but this movie is just a classic. Very short and basic but rich with a good story. I can see how this movie could have been drastic for it's time. A dead child, questioning God and suspense coming from the screen. I liked it a lot. Boris Karloff did an amazing job as the monster and now I know his correct character name :)

You've been warned...

Religion

{image via Linda}

#88 Easy Rider (1969)

{image via here}

I didn't get it. This movie was super boring to me. The only good aspect to this movie was the cinematography for its time and the wide angle shots of the landscapes and such. Still, how in the world is this above Pulp Fiction and Unforgiven?! The first disappointment on the AFI list. I am not discouraged though, Fargo is coming up and other great movies!

Overwhelmed with Excitement

Hi all! Things have been a little crazy this past week and a half but that comes naturally with the start of a new semester. First weeks are for testing the waters and getting used to making the drive to school and dealing with twenty thousand others trying to fit into four parking areas/structures (and that is no exaggeration). Other than the much anticipated first lectures and zoo on campus as early as 7:50am, school is great! My brother and boyfriend now attend CSUF so we are all kind of taking advantage of our breaks together and making good use of our time here. On campus, we have a "rec center" that is crazy cool. Tons of working out equipment from free weights, yoga studios, bench presses, treadmills to an indoor track! It has something to offer everyone. Josh, Mike and I have been a few times already and classes just started eight days ago. It's nice to be able to access something that is FREE (well it is included in our tuition).

Other than classes and the gym, I am a research assistant this semester. So far, I have helped one graduate student in getting her data all organized and systematic. I am assisting a professor who taught social psychology which is one of my favorite areas of psychology so all the research being done in the department right now is extremely interesting to me and to just be a small part of getting studies completed makes my day. I am so happy to help any one and I know I will truly learn a lot from this experience and what it is like to be a grad student since I will soon be one.

I forgot how much school and work simultaneously take up your life. It is only week two and my time spent with friends, family or free time has shrunk significantly. This next month will be heartbreaking because one of my friends, a marine, deploys to Afghanistan in a couple weeks and another is moving to Korea for a year! I guess with the more people gone, the more time there is to focus on school? Yes but I am going to miss them dearly.

All this change is happening quickly but I know in the blink of an eye it will be finals week and Christmas so I am going to try to make the best of this semester and soak up all the time I have left at CSUF because I really love that school. I can't believe I will be gone in less than a year. Regardless, I am overwhelmed with excitement of what is to come for the rest of this year.

I hope you all have a good rest of the week. Can you believe it is September tomorrow!?

#89 Patton (1970)

{True General George Patton}

{George Scott as Patton}

This film about "Old Blood and Guts" himself was quite the character builder. A long movie (three hours) filled with dialogue was bearable because Scott's acting was astonishing. No wonder he won the Oscar that year. I usually hate history but whenever the topic of World War II comes up I am immediately drawn to this fascinating time in the world. I had a good time watching this film and seeing the war in a different light. There was no Holocaust mentions, Hitler actors, or bombs over Berlin. This movie shed a light on what also went on during the war. Great film, one of my favorite war movies of all time.

New Hair

I love it! My hair stylist took a good five-six inches off and I got layers and bangs :) I am officially ready to start school! Goodbye Summer, hello books and part-time paychecks. I am so excited to spend this semester with "my boys" (Mike, Josh and Matt). CSUF will be even better than it already was.