Photograph

I want more opportunities like this to use my camera

I Hate Phoenix, Let Me Count the Ways

It's still reaching 94 degrees in NOVEMBER!

The only natural green is too dangerous to touch, it's a desert wasteland

We don't have an interesting accent

There is no culture

The state's claim to fame is a big hole in the ground

Chain stores dominate

It's so hot that pieces of cars start to melt

Southwest decorations abound

People still think the city is a ghost town with saloons and tumbleweeds

It keeps growing and growing full of old people

The sports teams almost always seem to disappoint

Writing is like a carousel

My position title at NextStudent tells me, "It's official. You're a writer."

I don't buy it. For me... writing is like a carousel ride of words. I go round and round and up and down with unsatisfying progress. The ride is fun while I'm on it, but when I get off and look back at my journey I am unimpressed with the outcome. There's no end to the process. The ride keeps going, round and round.

Like horses always do, the ride continues to draw me back day after day. But for now, I'm okay with that.

flummery

According to my word of the day from dictionary.com:

flummery \FLUHM-uh-ree\, noun:

1. A name given to various sweet dishes made with milk, eggs, flour, etc.
2. Empty compliment; unsubstantial talk or writing; mumbo jumbo; nonsense

I like the sound, I like the meaning.

$156 is a lot of money

After a long weekend of Bat Mitzvahcation my boyfriend and I decided to unwind at one of our favorite places Turf Paradise Racetrack. We walked in right before the second to last race and I immediately made my way to the warm up circle like I always do. I have been going to the horse races for years and I never bet, because I just enjoy the thrill of watching the horses race.

However, I always make my picks. After a few minutes of looking over the horses for Race 8, I picked horse 4 and horse 6. My boyfriend told me immediately that without looking at the odds I had picked the two favorites. He made a $20 quinella bet for horse 4 and horse 6 to come in first and second in no particular order. Horse 4 and horse 6 led the entire race and won. Much to our surprise our $20 bet turned into $156! We weren't so lucky on the next race, but man that's a lot of money.

It hurts

Listening to President Bush speak is the most painful thing to witness... worse even than seeing suffering puppies and starving children in Africa.

It's Good to be Me

I never thought I'd say this, but for the first time in my life, I'm happy living in Phoenix (with the exception of the unbearable heat). I have the best job I could ever ask for as a copywriter at NextStudent, where I get to write to my heart's content about anything that interests college students and use my composition skills to help former and current college students like myself have a better understanding of their student loans (something I wish I would have known about a long time ago).

I'm finally on my way to financial independence. My townhouse is absolutely perfect, except for the fact that I am still forced to be separated from my one true love, Jakey.



And I still get to live near all the people that matter the most to me.

After my trip to Europe I am beginning to truly develop my sense of self and feel like I have purpose and direction. Whereas a few months ago, all the major elements in my life were up in the air, the dust has settled and I am living relatively care free.

Wow, does this mean I'm turning into an optimist? Blasphemy. It'll never happen!