InterWebs and I Aren't on Speaking Terms

InterWebs and I have not been talking lately...for whatever reason, the internet at my house isn't working. Which, let me tell you, during the summer time and freedom...isn't awesome.



Anyways, I graduated recently, and I have like twelve different post-graduation sentimental re-living memories  sorts of posts to post, as well as tons of pictures...but without internet access, I'm less than inspired.

Also, in case you were wondering, my dress is from modcloth. Also, I'm going to need you not to judge me for saying that. I've only ever been marginally fashionable one day in my life, so give me this one.

Hugs and kisses,
bRob


PS. Just kidding. I don't give out hugs or kisses.

Books

I have two goals for the summer: get in shape [maybe] and become literate again.

I swear I've forgotten how to read, but I'm the hugest bibliophile. My bookshelf is overflowing with books I have yet to read, and I've recently expanded my collection, which makes this girl's heart a bit happier.

Thanks in large part to my friend eTuck - I picked up these beauties from the library. I think she's pushing me to move outside that romantic/comedy brain-candy genre...mostly. 

*I haven't read any of the following books, unless otherwise noted, and cannot vouch for their content - questionable or otherwise.

I'm especially excited to read The Lemon Tree. 

This next chunk of book porn is from my university's book sale. For only five bucks you can fill up an entire bag full of books. I went a little nuts. Oddly enough - I didn't buy any engineering textbooks.  I guess it isn't that odd - I love engineering, but there's so much more to learn or read about.

Here's my bag'o'books:

I've read a couple of the big comedic memoir type books lately [you could probably guess which ones], and my biggest complaint is that, while hilarious, they are fairly shallow and somewhat trite. Kind of coffee-tableish, you know? 

Alan Alda's book, however, is vulnerable, honest, and witty - real and funny all mixed up. I enjoy his writing.

 My roommate took one look at this book and told me it's going to erotic.
Let us hope not.

 Full disclosure: I bought this book because it looks old. It'll look divine on my bookshelf. 

Books on Jerusalem and Costa Rica - one day.

 I think the book on archaeology looks really cheesy...

This book is incredible -  a "treated victorian novel" - it's an art project or something.

 I don't know what possessed me to buy this book - I have a feeling it's going to be a downer.

If I ever actually read it...

Full disclosure: I bought this book because of the little man on the front.

 I found a giant art history textbook. A giant win, in my book.
[haha pun intended]

What a lame note to end on - a German dictionary.

I hope you haven't found this post too incredibly boring, though I don't know what you were expecting out of a post titled "Books".

This post is coming to you from my living room, where I am wearing awful bandanna - patterned blue pajama shorts, a tie-dyed t-shirt, and a Wisconsin* sweatshirt with a giant oil stain on the back from that one time I tried to change my own oil**. In case you were wondering.

-bRob


* I have never been to Wisconsin.
** I did not succeed.

Here Comes the Sun

    Fall is coming so quickly, and I'm not ready for it. I feel like I haven't gotten my share of summer yet, since Germany doesn't exactly do summers to my liking - too chilly, too rainy. Autumn's my favorite season, but I want it to hold off for just a little longer this year...

Toni Frissel, 1940 via Tomboy Style

I am mad in love with this photo. I wish I were her...

Time to get back to my programming, I suppose. Do you know, Interwebs, what's worse than having two tests in one day? Bombing two tests in one day. And then having a lot more work waiting for you at home. And spending yet another cold night in the library. As my little broseph might say, first world problems.

Forging ahead!

-bRob

When We Were Young

Oh, those were the days.

When we were younger.

When it was 25 degrees warmer outside.

When we had cupcakes.

sunshine [and cupcake]

someone doesn't understand what "be candid" means...

 

ah, the lightheartedness of youth [with cupcake]

 Pictures from last week.

To be young again. 

But mostly to be warm again. 

I'm typing in wool socks and a zebra-striped snuggie.

-bRob

Hiking for Frou-Frous

Today Menzel, Katie, Vanka and I went to the mountains. I was pleasantly surprised by how gorgeous it all was. A mix of precious cottages and elegant, rustic homes dotted the rolling hills as we drove by. Well, that and tobacco fields.

Fortunately for us, Vanka had a bangin' mix to listen to on the way up, and so many of the songs reminded me of high school (where I met these girls!).

We all sang this song in unison on the way up.

I think this was one of those songs that will always distinctly remind me of high school...

Also, we sang Hey There, Delilah, word-for-word, but that is kind of embarrassing and this isn't myspace so I'll refrain from posting it here.

This park is super nice - the bathrooms were borderline fancy, and the trails were lovely. Menzel kindly reminded me that this park is for frou-frou hiking.

In the parking lot - Menzel, Katie, Vanka, Me

Notice that the Elizabeths chose to dress up for this excursion.

This is becaues you NEVER know whom you might meet on the trail.

Katie and I decided that we would probably not meet our future husbands on the trail so we were ok dressing like hobos.

Vance pretends to be a mermaid.

Did you know that's how mermaids pose?

Drinking the waterfall.

First and foremost, that topknot.

Secondly, this girl has a crazy cool collection of floral sunglasses. 

I love them.

Katie and Elizabeth decide to be adventurous and lounge in the waterfall. 

This picture took no effort at all.

Also, Menzel and I decided we were fine not getting wet. 

I thought I should take this picture because they look like a boy band (I think Katie's trying to be thug).

These girls have been best friends since kindergarten.

Isn't that incredible??

Tiny dressing stalls with no doors.

Maybe this park isn't as fancy as I thought.

We made our way to the lake and took approximately fifty minutes to wade through the chilly water.

I love swimming in lakes. They have so much texture and are way more exciting than pools.

I haven't swum in a lake in over five years, I think, and so I decided to live it up and act like the most obnoxious kid you know.

And so begins a series of ridiculous water shots:

We're trying to be sea monsters but Katie doesn't understand.

Cheesin'. Menzel looks horrified.

Fierce sea monsters.

Do you remember that game where person A picks a color and person B tries to guess the color? And every time person B gets it wrong, person A dunks them?

Fun fun game - keeps me entertained for hours.


Bless her heart, Katie had a rough time of it though.
While we were waiting for her to guess the color Fuchsia, she guessed Paisley, which is not in fact a color.
I think she almost drowned that round... 

Candid.

After drying off, we decided to end the day with delicious s'mores. 

Katie and Menzel, of course, saved the day and took care of the fire.

Vanka prepared our marshmallow skewers.

I ate the marshmallows.

It's all about teamwork.

The Elizabeths - pretty ladies!

While Katie and Menzel made their final bathroom run before the drive back, Vanka and I decided to move the car and hide it behind some trees to confuse them.

Luckily I remembered to use my camera and capture the confusion as they looked for the car.

HAHAHA oh bless their hearts. 

"Where dem ladies be?"

Gig's up, they see us.

The four of us (+ Carissa and Mary) before our high school graduation a bazillion years ago.

The times, they are a changin'...

PS - sorry I went a little picnik crazy =)

-bRob

Conversations between B and Cows

I went on a walk today. I went on a jog, but then my mom's dog seemed really antsy, so I decided to take him out for a little stroll after my run/jog.

And the sky was nice and dark and grey, just how I like it, and there was a slightly ominous breeze blowing about..

Walking and grey skies are perfect for contemplating and thinking and pondering and dreaming.

Grey skies
Side note: Germany Other side note: Are we impressed by my Picnik skills?

So the ugly terrible beast and I went out on a walk. I hate taking him anywhere...a) because I genuinely don't like the creature, b) because he is the world's worst dog to walk. He chases after cars, he trots too quickly to walk, his trot is too slow to run, if you try and run with him - he ends up running right under your feet - you might just fall.

Oh, that dog.

And we walked and came across a herd of cows. And since I had nothing better to do, I decided to tell Toby [the beast] about the cows in German.

"Toby, die sind Kuehe! Verstehst du das? Nein, du verstehest nicht. Du kannst kein Deutsch."

Toby, they are cows! Do you understand that? No, you don't understand. You don't speak German.

Then I decided to speak to the cows. I had to yell at them, since they were across the field, but I didn't mind yelling from the middle of the road, because there wasn't really anyone else around.

"Hallo Kuehe! Wie geht es dir? Stehst du in Ruehe?"

Hello, cows. How's it going? Do you stand in peace? [grammar error - I did not use the plural to address the plural cows]

And THEN, I came up with my very first German rhyme.

"Die Kuehe stehen in Ruehe!"

The cows stand in peace.

If I ever write a German nursery rhyme...

Good heavens.

I need to go to Germany already.

Oh, by the way, it ended up pouring on our way back. He and I were soaked all the way through. I wanted to run home, but Toby kept chasing cars. I was too busy pulling him away from the road to run.

Oh, that dog.

PS. I can't wait for my summer freckles to come in. I never hated them, exactly, but now I'm really starting to dig 'em.

Winter Face

Some freckles. Cute hat. But only some freckles.

Summer Face

All those freckles. Bad hair situation. But precious precious freckles.

You know, if my freckles all converged, I would be very very tan. 

-bRob

Officially Official Summer Plans

InterWebs -
    I left you a little teaser a few days ago about my summer plans.


I'll go ahead and explain now that everything has come together. I was originally scheduled to go to Germany for my third Co-op rotation this summer. However, for a while, when things looked iffy, I went ahead and applied for a research position at the amazing University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez (where, as I hinted here, our dean attended and taught for a little while) as sort of a fall-back.


I found out a week ago that I had been selected for my number one research project in Puerto Rico...and then realized that this was going to be a VERY tough decision.


However, when I called to follow up with my co-op, it turns out that everything had gone according to plan, I would be working with my original team members, and they were definitely planning on my going. I realized that I could not in good conscience bail on this group that has done so much for me!


I would be lying if I didn't tell you I am not more than a little bit heartbroken and disappointed about missing out on Puerto Rico. It would have been beautiful - living at the beach, playing in the sun, chillaxing with other students, and I would have loved to get some hands-on research experience with a renowned professor. However, I have been praying and praying and pestering God about this opportunity, and yesterday the Lord put this verse on my mind:


 Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'... 
-Matthew 5:37


While, contextually speaking, this verse is focused on swearing (by earth or by heaven or what have you), it speaks to the importance of one's word. My group was already under the impression that I was going to Deutschland, and I want my yes to mean yes. I hate the idea of going against my word and acting in a manner that is not glorifying to Him, and of course I would hate to poorly represent my school. I truly believe that your word and integrity are sometimes the only things you've got, and they're so precious.


SO. This summer will be spent in MUNICH. And, though it came with a significant opportunity cost...I am STOKED.


Plus - I just found out one of my favorite coworkers, a sweet girl a bit older than I am, is going to be in Germany too!


And also, I'll get to hang out with this chica again! I haven't seen her in 4 years!

ok sooooo it's not a great photo. But that's my exchange partner from high school, Lena.

And I will be travelling through Europe and seeing awesome things...

Munich

Schwaldorf

Schwaldorf

Rottenburg

Rottenburg? Bin nicht sicher...

Stuttgart?

These are from my first trip to Germany about four years ago.

You can bet your sweet bippy that I will be investing in a new, non-junktastic camera for this adventure, and I will probably update my blog all. the. time.

And maybe I'll finally be able to find a beer that I don't think is the most disgusting thing in the world...

(...this picture was from four years ago. Let's just leave it at that. A person can do a lot of growing [into her ears/face] in four years.)

-bRob

PS - I just noticed that this post has an exclamation point overload. My! ba!d!!!!!