Have you any idea why a raven is like a writing desk? ♥

I truly loved this movie. After hearing mixed reviews, I became worried. I've been anticipating the release of the movie for almost a year. How could you not? It has JD as the Mad Hatter! I'm a huge, HUGE fan of Johnny Depp and will forever jump at the chance to see him in a crazy, off-the-wall, and twisted role. After seeing the movie, I can say there really is no veracity to the negative reviews I had heard. The movie was intriguing, enchanting, magical, funny (in a bizarre sort of way), imaginative (of course, it's Tim Burton!), compelling, and dark. It was wonderful. And Depp had me smiling the whole movie. Loved the Queen with her abnormally large head too. I'm so glad I saw the movie in IMAX 3D. It's always a great experience. Like Avatar, seeing it on the big screen is a must.

There's beauty in the breakdown.

Things I learned during my spring break.

1. The Bakery House in Bryn Mawr is to die for. Their sweets are heavenly. Cakes are delish and they sell by the slice, which is perfect for me. I will be making the 30+ minute drive, by way of a not-so-great part of Philly, quite often. Side Note: I had some serious issues driving there and at one point, stopped in the middle of an intersection when the light wasn't (apparently) intended for me. A truck behind me started honking at me vehemently and continued to do so at every light thereafter. Even when I was supposed to be stopping. If that wasn't frustrating enough, at one light, he actually pulled up alongside me, creating his own lane, on the sidewalk and started yelling at me through my window. He told me, actually demanded that I roll down my window. I shook my head NO; I'm not stupid. Then, he started yelling obscenities at me. F- this, open the f-ing window, etc. etc. Definitely a scary moment for me. Bryn Marw is a really nice town, but leading up to it, it is not. It was the gh-etto! A guy I work with told me a way to avoid the "bad parts" of Lancaster Ave. What. A. Relief.

2. There really are beautiful parts of New Jersey. I don't care what everyone says, they do exist. I went exploring during my break in search of the sister stores of my favorite consignment store on South St. and in Bryn Mawr. They truly are the best I've ever been to. Greene Lane consignment has 4 stores and they are all fantastic. The owner has extremely strict criteria for accepting clothes. According to her website, she is reluctant to accept Target and Gap is considered low-end. Needless to say, I have come across some amazing designer pieces like Carolina Herrera, Dana Buchman, Anna Sui, and Diane von Furstenberg, and all for a minuscule fraction of the original cost. Still haven't bought any of those pieces, but one day. Still, I love that I can buy what I normally couldn't at these stores. Her newest store in located in Princeton, New Jersey. I was completely unaware of the fact that this was Princeton, as in the location of Princeton University, until I got there. What a wonderful town! A true "college town" dripping with history and charm. I loved it, and would love to live some place like that, at some point in my life. The university was beautiful and the campus reminded me of the Harvard campus (another wonderful place). It's definitely a town I plan to visit again. My GPS took me through a more scenic route- through winding roads, along the side of a mountain. Through trees and back country roads. And although, I initially criticized her (that puts it mildly) for taking me the "long" way, where the speed limit was only 40 mph, I eventually welcomed the opportunity to see such beautiful parts of New Jersey.

3. I need to keep a roll of quarters in my car. Everywhere I went during my break required that I pay for meter parking. When visiting small towns, or the city for that matter, parking lots are obsolete.

4. The rims of my poor car's wheels are receiving such a beating since I moved here. And oddly enough, it's not from parallel parking. My wheels gets scrapped by the curbs when I'm pulling forward, behind a car, for street parking.

5. When I lived in Florida, weather in the 60's was considered cold. Now, anything above the lower 50's is considered mild and feels wonderful. Leading to outdoor furniture being brought out, eating outside, and a wardrobe change to shorts and flip flops. Last week, weather was in the 50's and 60's and even got up to 70. I find myself pushing my down coats to the back of my closet and walking outside free of the weight of a heavy coat.

Shut your eyes and think of somewhere.

I ordered this shirt. The moment I saw it, it reminded me of one of my favorite detectives, Mr. Hercule Poirot. He's such a funny, brilliant little man. I remember reading Agatha Christie's books in high school. Stories of him and Miss. Marple.

Side Note: The creator of the website where I found this shirt said whenever he grows a moustache he either looks like a gentleman or a criminal. Hence, the title.

Shades of grey.

Changes.

I remember hating turtleneck sweaters. Now, I love them.

I remember refusing to wear the color navy blue. No matter how much my mom tried to get me to wear it, I wouldn't. I don't know what I associated the color navy with, but whatever it was, it wasn't good. Navy blue was "bad." Now, I can't get enough of it. I wear it all the time. That, and grey. And black, always. I think I'm truly turning into a "northerner."

For over 20 years of my life, there is no food I disliked more than tomatoes. I wouldn't eat them. I picked them out of everything. About 2 years ago, I woke up one morning and decided I liked tomatoes. And now, one of my favorite snacks is slices of tomatoes with mayo, salt and pepper. I love them on my sandwiches and burgers especially. Still can't stomach the really slimy and mushy ones, but they are no longer on my "foods I won't eat" list.

I stopped drinking soda after undergrad. The transition to no soda wasn't gradual. The less I drank, the more I realized I could live without it. And without it, I feel, I'm healthier. I've read, a soda a day can result in a 15 pound weight gain over a period of a year. Although, I am sure this is not true for everyone...

I try to eat yogurt a couple times a week. I never used to.

I don't like coffee. I can't seem to acquire a taste for it. But, I do like McDonald's iced coffee. Not sure why. And I love Java Monster's, Mocha Loca and Mean Bean. I also have my Starbucks drinks I can't live without, Chai Latte and White Chocolate Mocha. Perhaps (it seems) I'm slowly acquiring a taste for coffee.

...I still don't like wine (some things haven't changed).

The restless heart, the Promised Land. A subtle kiss that no one sees.

My spring break officially begins tonight at 8:41 pm. Although, over the next week, I still will be working (is it really a break then?). And, I'm sick. Sicker than I have been in a long time. I knew it was coming. I get sick when I'm stressed. My immune system is down, and inevitably, I get the dreaded cold. The unfortunate thing about the "common cold" is, there is not much you can do to get rid of it. I'm taking a number of things to try to lessen the symptoms and shorten the duration-- but regardless, I'm forced to passively wait for it to run its course. Hoping it doesn't overstay its welcome, infringing on my much anticipated spring break. I'm well aware that my spring break will not be nearly long enough to accommodate all the things I need and want to get done. The amount of school work I have would require a month, not a mere 7 days. I miss the days when a spring break was just that, a break. But not for me. I have a killer Grad Statistics midterm to work on, along with reading a number of thesis-related articles and an IRB application to write up. Realistically, all these things won't get done, unless I forego sleep completely. It would be nice if I could do some fun things like:

- See Alice in Wonderland

- Go to Picasso Exhibit at the Phila Museum of Art

- Visit Bryn Mawr

- Find a local scrapbooking store...because I haven't yet.

- Sleep in. (I did once, not enough)

- Go to the Reading Terminal Market in Philly

- Celebrate St. Patty's Day!

...we'll see how much of my list I actually accomplish. Something I haven't done since I moved here is scrapbook. For me, scrapbooking was my source of escape. My therapy. I've only completed one project since my move- a canvas for my mom for Christmas (I haven't posted pictures yet because I may submit it). This summer will be a great time for me to scrapbook. Of course, if I can find the time between work and my thesis (and possibly an internship). I'm determined to at least work on my (very patient) friend Smash's wedding album....she will be celebrating her 2nd anniversary this summer! Did I mention how very patient she is?