Vida Bella--Ketchup in My World

I can't even express the relief that I feel now that my Junior year is *just about* over. In many respects, it was one crazy blur of Chemistry, Shakespeare, Speech, Violin, Teaching, and other such busy business.

I haven't really had any time for creativity. I did make a 1940s style dress over Christmas break, which I managed to forget to get any pictures of over the winter....and there is no way that I am putting on a wool 3/4 sleeve dress at this time of year, retro as it is. However, other than that, I was singularly uninspired this past year. 

I watched Season 2 of "Sherlock"...'twas awesome. (Episodes 2 and 3, I did not see Episode 1, due to...content. Why, writers? Why?)

I am very excited to be going up to the DFW area to participate in the Republican State Convention! I will be a page, and the whole experience is shaping up to be very enjoyable  for my politics-loving self...and crossed fingers, I may even get to meet Rick Santorum.

I have recently discovered that, while physically exhausting, baking is a very rewarding pasttime. I also enjoy ironing. (Of course, that may have something to do with the fact that one of my favorite TV shows is available online, and ironing is a good way to justify taking the time to view it...)

I am currently beginning planning what will be my "graduation ceremony," a senior recital. Trying to figure out what to play...definitely some challenging pieces, Bach, Mendelssohn...but I'm also hoping to collaborate with people and throw and little Gershwin and swing in there (Anyone reading this...any suggestions? What swing era/ jazz/blues songs do you think would sound good on the violin?)

My birthday is one week away...hard to believe that I will be another year older so soon. Good thing I like roadtrips, because that's what I'll be doing! I'll just have to remember to bring my Alison Krauss along. ;)

Well, to end this post, I was going around my computer, looking at all the silly photos and memes I have saved...and found this. Random, but true. I <3 Texas. 

Cheerio! 

Olivia

Singing in the Rain. (I Wish.)

I wanted, I needed, I felt compelled to post on here right now. I feel that an update is needed, just so that you don't feel like I give up so fast.

You: that Olivia, she can't stick with anything for long, way too distracted. Tsk, tsk.
Me: SQUIRREL!

Anywho.

So here is what I've been up to to date. Well, that's just something I say. Here's what I can remember.

• School started on Monday. On the one hand I'm excited, on the other hand, I'm very nervous. I REFUSE to feel overwhelmed. I can grit my teeth and do this. With the help of God. I think that I'll love all that I'm doing that is speech-related...Chemistry, not so much. On my bucket list is to make an "A" in a difficult class. Maybe this will be it.

• I'm very happy that our governor, Rick Perry, is running for President. This country needs a little of what he embodies: strength, conviction and a good, hearty dose of Texas cowboy. 

• South Texas is almost literally cracking under this heat. With temperatures uniformly in the triple digits and no significant rain since the beginning of time, you just KNOW that that green grass was painted.

• On that note, my imagination is so vivid, and my thinking so wishful, every now-and-again...I can almost feel fall. Ah.

• I am considering how plausible it is for me to get all my homework done by the weekend so that I can sew myself one of the Sense and Sensibility Patterns swing dresses. That would be fun...to wear. 

•  I just completed my latest mission: to find vintage-style shoes. Target, of all places had a wonderful pair, not too 'spensive and very 30's/40's. I am smiling right now.

Well, that's all I can think of right now to post, so I will take my leave for tonight. Rest assured, I have some wonderful (IMHO) ideas for posts that revolve around 1940s-vintage greatness, so I'll try to have those up as soon as I do that Chemistry stuff.

I got a really nice compliment from a friend (you know who you are if you indeed see this) lately on this blog. I feel inspired to post. Thanks so much to everyone who I know either from Lucie Land or real life who has seen this and told me...it makes my day every time. :)

Adios,

Olivia

Actually, I saw one of the weather reporters down here do this once. I think we'd all be doing it if it rained again.

"I'm singing in the rain
Just singing in the rain
What a glorious feelin'
I'm happy again
I'm laughing at clouds
So dark up above
The sun's in my heart
And I'm ready for love..."



Feelin' Forties

I'm one of those slightly wacky people who do one, some, or all of the following:

watches old movies
listens to The Andrews Sisters (and other '40s music)
listens to old radio plays
is not afraid of corny-ness
loves the color red on its own merit, and also because that's the color they painted their nails back then.
paints *her* nails red
knows the names of all the old movie stars, and most of their relationships with each other
picks clothes based on the era she feels like. Generally, this spans 1930's-1950's.

Consider yourself warned.

Right now, I'm just sitting here listening to a 1945 broadcast of Jack Benny, and am in a mood that I describe as "feelin' forties." Since it's the end of the day, I already painted my nails red, and there's not really much of a point in dressing to fit the mood...or watching a movie to fit the mood...or in writing a book to fit the mood. So a post attempting to describe this feeling is going to have to do.

Feelin' Forties is...

Feelin' forties is the sensation when you realize that the golden age of not only Hollywood, but the whole idea of classy-ness, is practically dead. It's a sort of hopelessness, and is worsened by gazing at pictures of the ordinary people going about their ordinary lives. With style and dignity. 

Feelin' forties intensifies the feeling that I've felt on a regular basis since I was 8 years old and obsessed with the Revolutionary War--the feeling that I was most definitely born in the wrong century. Or decade. But whatever.

Feelin' forties is when I am inspired to sew. Because I am a poor teenager who cannot afford to fill her closet with $80 vintage items off of Etsy, size 2 (which is way too small, just so you know). So I must content myself with finding some time to sew my own. Good thing I have a love/hate relationship with that ol' sewing machine.

Feelin' forties is the momentary determination to reform the world back to the days of 'do your bit' and home front thrifty-ness. (Preferably without the war.)

Forgive my running on and on. It's late on a Saturday night, and I don't have any more intelligent thoughts running through my head.


Feelin' Forties,
Olivia