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Runnunculas!

Yet another flower that sounds like a Harry Potter spell. Can you imagine waving and pointing a wand while shouting "Runnuncula!"?

Anyway, Runnunculas are one of my favorite types of flowers. Naturally, when I saw them at Trader Jose's, I snatched them up and ran... to the cashier.

I used to hate flowers in vases because I thought, "What's the point? They're just going to die!" Then I realized that they'll die in their natural habitats as well. I also realized that having fresh flowers in one's room is very nice. They are little reminders that the world (or parts of it) is quite beautiful.

___

I've attached some pictures (from my lovely little cell phone) of the runnunculas I bought.

I'm going to ride away, or, for my bike-loving friends

Do you ever have those days where you just want to ride away? It's tempting to think that I could just ride away on my little bike with flowers in a basket and leave all of my troubles behind.

I think this Swede thought so, too.

Picture via: Purple Area, "Snygga Blickfang" (which means "pretty, eye catching pictures" basically).

Things that are free

I need to save money. No, you don't understand. I really need to save up some money. With the Gilbert hike and the Oxford conference coming up, I need to get as much into my already anemic bank account as possible.

Here's the catch: I love buying things. I.e: salads at New Frontiers, flats, blouses, candles, etc. Well, au revoir, to those!

From now until, well, probably sometime next year, it's hello cheapness! Hello deals! And, better than that, hello free things!

Some things that are free or very nearly free:

Going on a walk

Reading (probably for M.A test) outside in the sun (with lots of sunscreen, of course)

Blue flax seeds and soil

Naps with Kamilla (I never said free= productive)

Bike rides (must start up again!)

Making Swedish pancakes for roommates (not free, but very cheap)

and, of course,

p

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Alles Gute zum Geburtstag! (Happy birthday, mom!)

Happy birthday to the woman who:

• ran inside the trailer and shut the door when she thought she saw a bear, leaving Catherine and I outside by the campfire.


• Makes me Swedish pancakes almost whenever I request them


• Takes silly pictures of herself hiding behind the flowers Cat and I sent her


• Is the animal whisperer


• Is the neighborhood mom


• Dutifully made me three southern belle dresses and tracked down a shop that sold hoop skirts


• Learned how to do everything Dad did


• Fell through the ceiling from the attic attempting to do previous point


• can simultaneously hug me and crack my back


• who joyfully comes in from working outside, scratches on her arms, saying "Look what the bougainvilleas did to me!"


• loves me more than anyone!

Happy birthday, mom!

(p.s- Catherine took this picture of mom in Boise a couple of years ago. It doesn't express her "look at what the bougainvilleas" joyfullness, but I like it nonetheless!)

Oxford

"I don't give a ----- about an Oxford comma," but I do care about the "4th Fear, Horror, and Terror Conference" in Oxford, UK because my proposal got accepted. That is to say, I might be going to Oxford a bit before September 12. This means:

1. I'm not going to Ireland (where I originally thought the conference was to be held, for some reason...)

2. I need to start saving money A.S.A.P

3. I really should graduate this May... (so I don't have to worry about the conference and more M.A studying.)

4. My mom is bursting with pride even though I told her my paper proposal was accepted. They could very well read my paper (to be submitted in August) and wish they had never accepted me...

5. I need to talk to Dr. Marchbanks about my Daniel Deronda paper *after* the M.A exam.

For those of you who care, which is, naturally, all of you: I wrote my paper about the nature of fear in Daniel Deronda, specifically in Gwendolen Harleth. Essentially, she needs her crippling, hysterical thoughts and reactions and even real, physical danger in order to make her a better, less ego-centric person. Without fear, she'd continue to be an arrogant, shallow person. (That's a summary of 16 pages.)

Um, God save the Queen?

No. Right now I need:

Keep Calm and Carry On!

What a charming nose you have!