Natalie Writes

A fairly nomadic college student's way of dramatizing normal things

ecclesiastes three October 27, 2009

Filed under: . — nataliewrites @ 10:11 pm

(my take.)


There is a time for everything,

And a season for every activity under heaven.

A time for hair dye and a time for roots

A time for having your own car and a time for walking

A time for classes and a time for work

A time for friends and a time for solitude

A time for losing weight and a time for enjoying PF Changs at all times

A time for classic cinema and a time for B-movie horror flicks

A time for prosperity and a time for poverty

A time for opinions and a time for silence

A time for stress and a time for….sleep….

goodnight.


 

lyrical genius October 25, 2009

Filed under: busy nothings — nataliewrites @ 3:08 pm

You’re not the first thing in my life I’ve loved and lost
Yeah I’ve thought worse things that I might be less inclined to merely just shrug off

I’ve been convincing myself that I’m worthwhile
Cause I’m worth what I’ll convince myself to be

I met the devil and I stared her in the eyes
Her hair had scales like silver serpents
I a statue, stood there mesmerized

I took the fire escape and made it out alive
Yeah I still burn from time to time but I’ve a healing hand against my side

(If You Want To) by Relient K

I fell in love and I wanted to say it was you
I wanted to say it was you

If you believe me
We can stand the test of time like no one else
If you believe me
It means you have to disbelieve yourself

If You Believe Me by Relient K

What has love in store for me?

Considering where I’ve been, I’m not sure I want to see.

Because I’ve held it in my hand, as simple as a grain of sand

I let it slip from my fingers lost forever and…

So what does love have in store for me? Will it bring me to my knees?

Show me how a mystic sees?

Because there’s so little I understand, from universe to grain of sand

And how she slipped from my fingers, lost forever and…

Lost Forever by Guggenheim Grotto

Truth I know why I am drawn to you

You are fire in my arms

I could get burned and still I play with you

You are fire in my arms

I am a man in a wooden barrell

I’m a girl on a spinning wheel

And you are the draw along the column

You were the girl with the cards

Who could deal me a heart, or blow me away

Girl With The Cards by Guggenheim Grotto

and for kicks…

Who would have ever knew
That we would ever be more than friends
We´re real worldwide breakin all the rules
She like a song played again and again

That girl like somethin off a poster
That girl is a gun they say
That girl is a gun to my holster
She´s runnin through my mind all day ay

Shawty´s like a melody in my head
That I can´t keep out

Replay by IYAZ

 

Recent One Liners October 8, 2009

Filed under: film — nataliewrites @ 10:46 pm

1. Michael Clayton

This film was brilliant, but sadly I think a little over my head.

2. Assassination of Jesse James: By The Coward Robert Ford

Beautifully shot: This surprisingly tense tale is perfected by the performances of Pitt and Affleck.

3. Californication (Seasons 1 and 2)

The subject matter is sexual and most times vulgar, but I promise you the relationship between Hank and his daughter is the most redemptive thing on television.

4. Pride And Prejudice

Overall, I think I actually liked it.

5. Carrie

Disappointing in it’s ability to scare and in it’s terrible take on religion, this movie was just weird.

 

first cooking video!!! October 5, 2009

Filed under: . — nataliewrites @ 12:10 pm

My version of Spanish rice. CHECK IT!


http://www.youtube.com/misscollegecooking

 

abstinence, “the ring thing” October 2, 2009

Filed under: busy nothings — nataliewrites @ 4:16 pm

abstinence: n.  The act or practice of refraining from indulging an appetite or desire, especially for alcoholic drink or sexual intercourse.

So. Here’s my schpeel on abstinence (specifically abstinence from sex). I committed myself to abstain when I was 13 before I even really knew what it meant. I went to a True Love Waits conference. Signed a card. Prayed a prayer. And took a sigh of relief thinking, “Well at least I don’t have to worry about that for a while.”

Truth is: I didn’t. I never had a problem, even through high school, with “abstaining.” I got my first kiss when I was 15 and after that I didn’t have a boyfriend until I was in college so I guess I didn’t really see the point. I never had a problem telling guys “no,” but usually I didn’t get into situations where I’d have to. I think I’m blessed. Lord knows what I would’ve done had I any desire to do these sort of things. I remember how proud my dad was when I asked him to get me a promise ring for my 16th birthday. Even then I thought, “Doesn’t every Christian do this? I thought it was assumed by parents that they’re kids wouldn’t be having sex.”

College didn’t change much. The couple boyfriends I’ve had have been very clear with where I stand on the subject.  I’ve gotten into lots of conversations just because of my True Love Waits ring. What I’ve been surprised to find, is that even at a Christian school, abstinence is not a given. In fact, even though it’s against contract at my school, Biolan couples perhaps convinced that their significant other is “the one” give their virginity away much easier than I thought. Now I don’t know if this is due to rationalization or simply the belief that sex doesn’t matter; abstinence is a joke.

Another matter is sex during engagement. This is one thing I can understand. If you know who you’re going to spend the rest of your life with and you’ve got a ring on your finger, I can imagine it being much more difficult to remain chaste. Now that friends of mine are getting engaged and married, I think about this more often and I preach about it more often. I know I’m not in their position, but I remind them why they’re saving it in the first place.

It’s hard to have this conversation with non Christians, because they just can’t understand why. Well, let me give it a shot. I’ll begin with the secular reasons:

1. No STDS or anything of that kind

2. No teen pregnancies

3. No worrying about teen pregnancies (unbelievable peace)

4. No adding sex to relationships that aren’t ready for it

5. No extra reason for staying with a significant other

6. No one night stands, and the crappy feeling you get the morning after

7. You can’t take it back!

Now the spiritual reasons:

1. Well, I made the committment and that means something to me

2. The Bible says so! Of course, it is a forgiveable sin for Christian’s just like everything else, but I think it has a lot more emotional consequences than most.

3. You keep your heart and your mind pure. If you’re never tempted or you never experience something like sex, it’s much harder to struggle with lust or obsession.

4. You are able to give your entire spiritual being to your spouse.

5. It is a beautiful representation of the bride and the church, to be a virgin on your wedding day and to be able to look your spouse in the eye and say, “I have been saving myself for you my whole life and I give this to you as a gift. There is no one else I would share this part of myself with.”

 

Cookbook Part 2 September 29, 2009

Filed under: cooking — nataliewrites @ 6:28 pm

Salmon Fettuccine with Lemon

2 Tb Olive Oil
3 tsp Fresh Garlic, minced
1/3 C Sun Dried Tomatoes (rehydrated)
Juice and Jest of 2 small lemons
¼ C Cold butter, cut
2 Tb chopped fresh parsley
1 Tb chopped oregano
(Smoked Salmon from package)
½ lb fettucini
3 Tb toasted pine nuts
Parmesan Cheese

Saute garlic in olive oil. Add tomatoes and lemon juice. Heat for one minute. Add cold butter, lemon zest, parsley, and oregano. Stir until butter is melted. Remove from heat. Fold in salmon. Pour over pasta. THIS IS AMAZING!


Pierogies (Polish style)

1 package (or however many servings) Frozen Pierogies (Potato with Cheese is my favorite)
Mushrooms
1 white onion

Cook pierogies according to “Sautee” instructions on the box. Add sliced onions and mushrooms. Good to serve with Polish sausage (kielbasa) as well.

Veggie Quesadilla

Flour tortilla
LF Mexican Blend shredded cheese
½ Med. Zuccini, sliced
Black olives
Ortega Mild (or whatever) Taco Sauce

Well, you know how to make a quesadilla, I hope. Just make sure to sautee the zuccini before you add it! Oh, and put the taco sauce in the actual quesadilla so it gets warmed with the cheese. Mmmm.

Hank Dip
(Thanks to Hank and Erin Tomlin)

1 box cream cheese
1 can Hormel No-bean chili (for lower fat make it Turkey chili)
1 bag shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 400. In rectangular oven pan, coat bottom with cream cheese. Top with full can of chili. Top with thick layer of cheese. Bake in oven for 10 minutes. Good with anything—chips, bread, crackers, you name it!

 

and the sea will tell September 24, 2009

Filed under: busy nothings — nataliewrites @ 9:35 pm

i love surprises. and getting surprised by a person is the best.

what i mean to say is; getting surprised when a person isn’t who you expect them to be.

I often make a trip down to the hottub when I work a day shift because I feel like I get to reward myself. Almost every time I’ve gone, I’ve been the only one in there. I can’t complain. There’s always the awkward, “Well should we introduce ourselves? Do we talk or just face opposite corners?” So tonight, yet again, when I arrive I’m alone. I don’t even bother with the other half of the cover. I’m there for probably about ten minutes, maybe less, and I hear someone come through the gate. A male voice says, “Hey there.” It’s too dark to tell if he’s even coming to the hottub. A good minute later I’m startled by the voice again but this time behind the hottub. “Do you mind if I join you?”

This time he is closer to the dim light of the hottub and I make out a much older gentleman than I had expected. He’s stumbling, and I’m still not sure if it was because of his age or his state of inebriation. He’s silent again while he struggles with the decision of where to set his drink and place the ash tray. As soon as his feet hit the water he lets out a long groan, “Ohhh this is why I’m here. I need this. I need this bad.” I laugh awkwardly. It’s forced, but he can’t tell. Once he’s settled he offers his hand: “I’m Duane. I live in 3206. And I’m gonna be honest with you; I’m here for my back.” I shake his hand, still laughing awkwardly, “I’m Natalie. Uhh yeah it’s not so bad.” By the state of his slur I’d say he has been steadly drinking all day, but he seemed hardly aware of this himself.

Well, there I was a 21 year old not bad looking girl stuck in this hottub with an old drunk that didn’t seem too shy. At that point I was thinking, “Okay, well I’ve been here ten minutes, it’s perfectly reasonable if I leave.” Followed by: “I am so glad I wore my one piece.” And before I have the chance to come to a conclusion in my head, Duane begins sighing again.

“I’m just glad I don’t have to worry about back pain for awhile,” I said. He found this amusing. “Well, when you’re a boat man for as long as I’ve been you almost get used to it.” Now this is too much. A drunken sailor in my hottub. I suppose he found that I was receptive enough for him to give a little background. “I am indeed Captain Duane Taylor. I sail boats and I have for a long time. I complain about my back and waiting by the phone, but I absolutely love it and — Oh do you mind if I smoke?”

I tell him I don’t mind and that I actually find it very interesting that he’s a captain. He begins to look me in the eye occasionally now. He’s warming up to me. He probably can’t even believe I was still there. And now he tells me about a famous murder mystery that he was involved in. Apparently, the basis for the (after researching on imdb) made for TV film, “And the Sea Will Tell” in 1991. That story could be a blog entry in itself. Anyhow, he finishes and I’m fascinated. He shies away a bit and apologizes for the morbid topic of conversation and gives me the opportunity to leave. Again, I’m faced with the choice: should I stay or should I go? I realize now that he isn’t a creep, or at least too much of a creep. I casually say, “You know I bet you have a lot of good boat stories. How ’bout a happy one this time?”

This was music to his ears. “Well ain’t my life bad! I’m sitting here in a hottub relaxing with a pretty young girl that asks, ‘Do you have anymore stories?’” After a couple more, all interesting stories about the sea. I heard about his life. Captain Duane Taylor has been a captain since he was 18, after he had already sailed around the world twice. There are 190 countries recognized by the United Nations, about 170 of those have a coastline: He’s been to all of them. Born in LA, spent 30 years in Hawaii, and the last 20 years in San Diego. If you’ve heard of the Star of India the huge old ship at port in Downtown San Diego: His boat is the second oldest ship in San Diego next to that. He spends most of his time sailing for charity races in the area. And when he’s not sailing he lives, across the hall from me no less, in an apartment with his 90 year old invalid mother who until recently also lived on a boat.

Ha. And I could’ve just made up a lame excuse to leave. He would’ve understood. I could’ve said I didn’t like the smoke or it had gotten too hot. Not only did I get to forget about my lonely situation for awhile, but I think he did too. A pleasant surprise.

Oh and I googled him:

“The boat was to be used to carry marijuana from Thailand. At one point, Brocklebank told the hired captain, Duane Taylor, that there were people in his organization who would kill Taylor if he screwed up.

Taylor sailed the boat to Honolulu in April 1983, where he was met by Gaglia, who told him to continue to Tahiti and await further instructions. Before Taylor departed, however, the boat was boarded by police, who found a small amount of marijuana and firearms. The entire crew, including Taylor, was arrested. While the charges were pending, Taylor told Gaglia to retrieve the Tiare before it, too, was seized. The yacht was sailed by another captain to Mexico and then to the Cayman Islands, where it was sold. “

That’s one story I didn’t get the chance to hear tonight…

 

butt tattoo part 2 September 24, 2009

Filed under: busy nothings — nataliewrites @ 3:27 pm

the thought has occurred to me yet again…and now i have money…hmmm

vote yes or no

 

awkward family portraits! September 22, 2009

Filed under: busy nothings — nataliewrites @ 7:01 pm
 

san diego nights September 21, 2009

Filed under: busy nothings — nataliewrites @ 10:28 pm

another night after work, trying to fall asleep with a glass of wine and a crossword. trying to think of things to fill my day with tomorrow (no work for the next two days.) trying to think about what i’ll do with my next paycheck, at least the part that won’t be going towards my credit card.

i think about what my life will look like in 2 years…ten years?

i think about what my sister is doing

i try to plan for very specific occurrences that will most likely never happen

i consider doing something more productive, but decide i’m just too tired. i did work today after all….