Miscellaneous updates..

So what's new in my life? Well, nothing major, but I recently started working on my personal statement, as the UC deadline is in a month. Probably should had started earlier, but my busy schedule hasn't allowed me to (wow, did that make me sound important or what?;) 

What else..? Oh, I've been trying to figure out something fun to wear for Halloween and now have a mental picture of the entire outfit, something that will make my last minute shopping tomorrow a whole lot harder. I usually live by the words; Know what you want and Go for it! But in cases like this, knowing what you want usually leads to great disappointment as you realize that everything you would ever even consider to wear, is already sold out. I just love all the Halloween stores here, they have costumes for everything! It's amazing! You can actually go to a party dressed as a taco! How awesome is that?! That you can be whoever you want in this city, is especially true on Halloween, even if it means an animal, a cartoon figure, or a dish! Haha! I'm Loving It!

From one thing to another, my dearest material companion just recently decided to end our half-decade-long relationship... yeah, I'm talking about my camera. It's totally dead and won't respond to any form of CPR, believe me, I've tried it all! I'm mentioning this in hope that Santa might take this into consideration as he goes through this years "naughty and nice" list;) I've been REALLY good this year! 

RIP Olympus... I know I will, at least for the next eight hours;)

Comeback!

After a week and a half in bed I'm finally back on track! I've been in school all day and it's been great, got a couple of very satisfactory midterm results back, and that surely contributed to the overall school experience of the day:) 

Fall is starting to move in over southern California, the days are still warm and pleasant but the mornings are getting rougher and rougher. I love the weather here (everyone who knows me are well aware of my low cold tolerance level;), but I miss the seasons that we take for granted, and sometimes curse over, in Sweden. Sure, I can live without the unpredictable weather that often makes one walk an entire day in wet shoes, but I miss all the colors.. Fall doesn't just sneak up on you to invisibly escape a month or two later, you can see it, feel it, and even smell it. I actually started thinking about this the other day as I overheard a conversation on the bus. Two girls were arguing over the status of the current season, one girl started by embracing the mild nature of Californian winter, the other one responded by giving a seasonal lecture on how fall stretches all through October. I found this interesting because, to be honest, I've never really given it much thought. I've always relied on nature and the environment to establish seasonal transitions, in Sweden fall is real, here it's more of a manmade concept that exists because it's "suppose" to. Hmm... fascinating as I think about it...

Well, enough of my philosophical nonsense, I have an important date with the best TV-series ever, "raising the bar". Don't know if it's aired in Sweden yet, but when it is, I encourage everyone to watch it! Just a word of warning; It's addictive!

Another day in bed

I can't believe I've never watched movies "on demand" before! I actually didn't even know that Time Warner had such a function, for FREE! Yeah, that's right!  It's not every day you run in to something that doesn't include a hidden fee somewhere (well, I do pay for cable, but still!).  I've been watching movies all day, and for those of you who are as uneducated in this subject as me; I can pause, rewind, and forward the movie whenever I want!! Amazing! I'm thrilled! I even have an entire channel with just horror movies, ha! This morning, when I pitied myself the most, I decided that I deserved to watch something really good and went beyond this luxury to the best invention ever; Pay Per View! I ordered "Sex and the City"- the movie.  I'd heard so many good things about it and my expectations were huge. My review; well, it was good, but I'm not totally sold on it.  In my opinion it was alright, but I expected more. More of what, I don't know, just more of something.

I'm gonna walk across the street to buy some candy now, and when I get back... more movies!

Ciao! 

From head flu to complete body knockout..

I'm in bed, coughing my brains out... Shit, can't remember the last time I was this sick. Times like this, I wish I was in Sweden, at my parents house, occupying the couch covered in tons of blankets, eating, chocolate-tipped, orange ice-cream sticks, and watching, the never ending, days of our lives-reruns:) Instead, I'm studying for my Sociology midterm as well as finishing up a paper for the same class (both due tomorrow).  At least, I managed to drag my ass over to Smart & Final where I bought a 6 pack of vegetable soup, that way I don't have to worry about cooking today.  I spoke to Filippa this morning, she was so sweet and told me she wished she didn't have class all day, or she would had cooked me soup and taken care of me, Awwwwwww! I'm truly blessed to have such good friends who's always there for me, friends are always important but they come to play a different role now that I'm so far away from my family.

Friends and family, here and in Sweden; I love you all! 

Love Is In The Air...♥

I managed to roll out of bed and get ready to attend a wedding today, despite the horrible cold I've been struggling with lately.  Two of Filippa's best friends got married, it was a short ceremony but nevertheless, very beautiful. Afterwards, the whole group drove down to the beach to shoot some pictures and watch the sunset. I know I complain a lot sometimes over the financial difficulties that forces me to spend, close to, every free day (and afternoon for that matter) at work, but watching the sun set over the pacific horizon truly makes it all worth it! Going there today just reminded me of why I love living here! The day ended with a delicious dinner at a persian restaurant in Westwood where I ate WAY too much! But it was sooo good! Apparently, eating was not the only thing I did too much of, judging on my articulative difficulties at the moment I probably talked a tidy bit too much as well;) 

Well, I should probably go to sleep now, or I'll never wake up in time for work tomorrow..

Natti-natt!

A beautiful day

After I finished my history midterm yesterday (an exam I've been really stressed out about), me and Filippa decided to  catch a well deserved movie in Century City. I was really curious about Brad Pitt's personification of a dumb gym instructor and suggested "Burn After Reading". Apparently, I experienced a strike of temporary amnesia just as I walked up to the ticket booth, I got the titles mixed up and bought 2 tickets to see "Body of Lies". This little mistake showed not to be so bad after all, as we were found the movie both entertaining and fascinating. I can strongly recommend it! 

I had class this morning and then I spent the afternoon reading on Border's patio on 3rd Street. How do you better spend a beautiful day than with a freshly brewed cup of black and some good reading? It was so nice it almost made me forget the stubborn cold that is currently combating my immune defence. 

Time to rest my cough drop-toxicated body... Zzzzzzzz....

Emelie in the middle.. Get it?

Got the result from my midterm in Comparative Politics today, ACED IT!  The extreme level of "no-life"-life I've experienced lately finally paid off, feels awesome! 

Because I'm worth it, right mom?;) 

Work, Goodbye, and Public Warning!

The day started with a venti coffee and the big blue 1 to Venice circle, from where I walked the remaining distance to work.  It was a super-slow day, didn't sell much but cleaned plenty (the place was practically shining when I left!).  I know I mentioned my inability to make favorable 50/50 decisions.. well, I experienced something weird today, something that I do come across every once in a while, but again, it's very uncommon.. I think there's a term for it.. luck? Yeah, that's it! Luck! 

Yesterday, as I was fighting through my shift at Starfishiiie, something started to smell funny. At first I thought it was a customer until I located the source, the radio/CD-player. The smell was that of burned rubber... hmmm, can't possibly be a good sign. I turned it off and the smell went away.. Today I decided to give it a shot anyway (the boredom-factor is high without music AND customers) and guess what, it DIDN'T catch fire, and the building was still intact when I left:). Maybe I don't have such bad luck after all;).

Before I forget it, I would like to make an announcement in form of a Warning;

Do not spend your money on Metromint-cherrymint water! I made that exact mistake today, and it was a horrible experience that I wouldn't wish on even my worst enemy... Even though the name itself kind of gives it away (cherry+mint=nasty flavor-collision?) I got curious, went against my gut-feeling, and bought it, tasted it, and strongly disliked it!  I cannot stress it enough; if you care about your health, do not drink this water! I'm surprised it's FDA approved, and that's judged on taste alone!!! Ewwwwwww...!

After work I met up with Daniel, Dawid, and a friend of theirs, Sanne.  

Daniel is a very dear friend of mine from back home, and he's spent 3 months here in LA dancing.  We went on gift-hunt for his better half, and combined it with some interesting live-performances at Venice beach (Mecca of Crazy People). I wish we would had been able to spend more time together though, he's flying back to Sweden tomorrow. 

"Leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again" 

Bye bye, I'll miss you!!

Home sweet home..

Just got back home from a study session with my classmates Bryn and Rui.  I'm now an expert on pre-columbian civilizations, or at least a little more knowledgeable than I was 4 hours ago;).  I managed to get on the wrong bus on my way there, due to pure laziness! It's so typically me, it wasn't like I didn't know where I was going, I was simply too lazy to check the bus route to make sure it didn't make a turn off the main road before reaching my stop. Well, It did... of course... always happens, I'm the worst when it comes to 50/50 shots.  Bryn and Rui came to pick me up so I wouldn't have to go through the hassle of finding a better bus, very nice of 'em!  I knew I had to do something to make up for my late and assisted arrival, so I brought food and drinks.. it worked, everyone was happy and my little mishap was soon forgotten:)  

It's now 10:36, if I add 9 hours that gives me 7:36 am in Sweden... too early to call mom? Yeah, probably.. 

Yay!

I had my second midterm this morning and is now excited to have 2 whole days off! I can't even begin to describe how great it feels knowing that I can sleep in tomorrow, without any obligations all day, can't even remember the last time that happened... !  For those of you who doesn't know; I usually work in a boutique in Marina del rey whenever I'm not in school (Starfish, corner of Washington and Pacific- you should stop by if you're in the area- I'll give you a discount;).

Another good thing happened today too, but in order to describe the extent of my relief I need to provide some background information;

I'm taking an American History class this semester, this is not my major, nor is it a requirement for my transfer, but an elective.  This means that I don't have to take this class but I choose to because I find the subject interesting.  Unfortunately the interesting-part doesn't just apply to the subject in matter, but also my professor.  His character just doesn't make sense to me as I find him extremely offensive and sort of disrespectful, but in a strange way that makes me really uncomfortable being in his class.  This is really annoying since I don't "have" to be in that class, I actually tried to drop it but it was too late to get a refund (and with the sky-high out-of-state tuition, ignoring this fact is not an option).  

On monday he told the class that we are having our midterm next week and he announced some really unfair conditions for taking the exam.  Since there are so many time consuming parts that needs to be completed (one 3 pg. essay, 4 id-questions and 30 multiple choice- in 1 hour and 20 minutes) the students that doesn't have another class after can finish up the exam on a different location! Hello? What about those of us who can't stay due to a packed schedule??? 

I asked him about it, and to make a long story short; he gave me a really hard time in class because of it.  

I was sure that he would give me bad grades on my previous essays, that he promised to hand back to us today, due to our little dispute on monday. Surprise, surprise, he gave me A's on both of them! Happy day! 

:-)

Midterms...

Pol Sci2 midterm; check✓ One more to go and then I'm done for this week, nice!  Well, I still have a huge, really nasty history exam to look forward to next week, something that probably will keep me busy day and night until then, oh well, one thing at a time. 

Nothing is the way it's suppose to be this time of the year; school-wise it feels like mid-December, fueling of of coffee and redbull's cramping through the last week of finals.  Weather-wise; OMG, I'm melting, it's so hot!  Being this busy in this weather seriously affects my daily functionality as a human being! I feel so totally out of it!  Speaking of which, about 3 weeks ago I managed to fall as I ran to catch the bus to school.  I fell on my ass, really hard! I know, it sounds funny(and I'm sure it looked that way too), but I can assure you that I wasn't laughing at the time, AT ALL! It hurt like hell, and I could barely walk for days.  

As a good student, and a 09 applicant to UCLA, I thought I should better my chances of getting accepted by completing some community service.  My ass-pain greatly lowered my ability to participate so I was very grateful when my dear friend Mikey offered me some kick-ass painkillers!  I've never taken vicodin before, and I made the huge mistake of taking two at once... NOT to recommend!  I don't think I've ever felt so sick in my entire life, it was awful! Couldn't walk straight (at all!), emptied my stomach next to the promenade before I passed out in a public restroom for about 30 minutes! Crazy!!! 

Ok, Filippa just called, she's picking me up in 5 min to go study! So long!

Books, coffee... and more coffee..

Just taking a break from a study-filled day as I'm sitting at a coffee shop in Westwood, accompanied by my close friend, and amateur-psychologist, Filippa.  

My brain is about to break into a billion pieces due to information overload, but I fight out the battle knowing that after my midterm  tomorrow I can finally breath out... 

at least for a couple of hours until it's time to prepare for my next big exam on wednesday.....;)

Filippa prescribed me a large cup of the best black beverage ever, and the rush is finally starting to kick in! Thank god for coffee!

Back to the books! 

Drommen om Hollywood

Ja, hur ar det egentligen att bo har i anglarnas stad? 

Jo, det ar sant som dom sager; dagarna praglas av langbil-resor som vanligtvis startar med en lyxig latte (garna i farten da man inte vill slosa dyrbar shoppingtid, oh, glomde nastan; light me whippen, man vill ju inte rulta till sig) for att sedan fortsatta till nagon av de glamourosa shopping distrikten dar man latt spenderar bade tid o stalar.  

Da kvallens outfit ar kirrad sitter det fint med en latt lunch (med betoning pa latt, vill ju inte riskera att forstora alkoholsinnet infor kvallen).  Matt o belaten ikladd solbrillor som tacker halva nyllet vandrar jag med latta steg genom palm alle'n som tar mig tillbaka till mitt oversizade fordon.  Nasta destinition... STRANDEN! Jovisst, man maste ju passa pa att underhalla brannan nu nar man har nagra timmar till overs.  

Manga timmar (och harspray flaskor) senare sa ar vi antligen pa vag, snart ska vi forenas med Hollywood eliten o slass om VIP platser i kon till party-huvudstadens trendigaste inneklubbar. Kandis-mingel har blivit en del av vardagen da var o varannan manniska i den har stan ar ett stenkast fran sitt stora genombrott! Shit, tank vilken dromvarld man lever i!

Om drommen ar att spendera alla sina CSN pengar pa tva veckor, skaffa "ovarderliga kontakter" som garna erbjuder sin hjalp (i utbyte mot din "ovarderliga vanskap"), och att bli redlost full o forevigad pa film for att senare bli skrattad at under TMZ's han-sandningar, da ar det nog ratt vag att ga!  

Hollywood ar drommarnas stad i mojligheternas land, ingen tvekan om det.  De individer som utgor stadens befolkning kan delas in i tva mycket distinkta kategorier; de som ar villiga att jobba for att uppna malet sitt, och free-riders' som tror att allt kommer gratis.  

Bra och trovardiga kontakter har aldrig skadat nagons karriar, men det kan bara ta en sa langt, i slutanden ar det upp till talang och en javla massa hart arbete.  

Ingenting kommer gratis, inte ens i Hollywood!