Decade things: Songs I will love forever

Instead of making a list of songs that influenced me or blah blah blah, I have decided to tell you about songs from the last decade that I will love until I croak. Most of these songs are "bad." Good thing we're not snobby.

"Lady Marmalade" by Christina Aguilera, Pink, Lil' Kim, and Mya. How freaking sing-alongable!

"Hey Ya" by Outkast. It was so exciting when I figured out the correct number of "All Right"s to sing.

"Mr. Brightside" by The Killers. I don't care what you say. It reminds me of trips to Canada.

"Single Ladies" by Beyonce. No, I'm not influenced by the moment. Even if this song weren't connected to memories of Norwegian bus stops and trendsetting by STH and I, it would still be magnificent.

"Yeah" by Usher, Lil Jon, and Ludacris. There was a tiny "Yeah"-shaped hole in my heart, and this song completed it.

"Crazy in Love" by Beyonce and Jay-Z. In addition to the booty-shaking it inspires, I really really really like to say, "Yes sir I'm cut from a different cloth / my texture/ is the best fur / chinchilla."

"Maria Maria" by Santana and that guy. I think they're describing me. I am Maria. I'm growing up in Spanish Harlem, living the life just like a movie star.

"Who Let the Dogs Out" by Baja Men. It's funny every! single! time!

2009: The Special Times (Part 2)

May: Ski to Sea!



June: Moving to Jackson Hole and having constant adventures. (Pictured: JENGA!!!! Not pictured: Bear sightings, creek floats, dodgeball, barbecue, etc.)



August: Hiking the Teton Crest with boyfriend, a.k.a. Motivational Hiker.



September: BL Camping Trip.



September: Vaux's Swifts and visit from the boyfriend.



October: Boyfriend's return to the magnificent PNW and Scaryaoke!



November: Loving my job all the time. (Not pictured.) Loving West Seattle all the time. (Not pictured.) Thanksgiving! (Pictured.)


December: I don't have ANY pictures from December, but boyf and I went to Winthrop! We also had a lovely Christmas. I ate a lot of Chex Mix, which is the proper way to celebrate the birth of Christ.

Two thousand nine, I like you a lot.

2009: The Special Times (Part 1)

OMG, the year is almost over! It's time to reflect! (Thanks for the inspiration, Drara.)

Favorite Moments, In Chronological Order Because I'm Too Indecisive to Choose Favorites:

January: Celebrating our new president with silly, silly Europeans and silly, silly Americans in silly, silly Norway.



January - March: Giving Americans bad names based on rowdy bus behavior in Trondheim, Norway.



February... or March: Learning to snowboard and do choreographed dances in Are, Sweden.




March: Boyfriend surprising me with a visit! Driving back to Wyoming with him! Cross-country skiing to hot springs!



April: Choose Your Favorite Decade birthday party!



April, May, June: Un/underemployment in Puyallup (including Alpacapalooza):


Are you ready for the second half of 2009? No. You can't be. It's too exciting.

Winthrop tripthrop

Hamble and I are moseying over to Winthrop this weekend. You know what we're going to do there?

Disco dance.

You know what else?

Cross-country ski.

But mostly the former. (Click it! CLICK THAT LINK!)

Safeway trip

Today, I bought Life cereal instead of instant oatmeal. IAMVERYUNPREDICTABLE!

How your brilliance can increase my magnificence

You guys, you guys, you guys. You know how I get tuition waived at all public Washington colleges? I've decided to take advantage of it.

WHAT CLASS SHOULD I TAKE NEXT QUARTER?

I've looked into extra endorsements, and they don't seem like the best fit right now. But I can still go for professional growth! Or personal growth! Or bicep growth! I don't even know!

Non-credit classes like "Chop Like a Chef" and "Pacific Northwest Wines" won't be free for me, but how about math? Or Psychology? Or something else?

Give me ideas asap as possible.

Your new favorite website

Should I wear galoshes tomorrow? Or maybe flippy-floppies? Let's see what President Obama would do.


Scarf it is, Mr. President. Scarf it is.