So I have been thinking about how to earn extra money to go to Germany next year. Its kind of a big goal of mine since I started taking German classes. I would go there for my last semester of German so I would fulfill a requirement of mine, and y'know get to be in Europe! That's be pretty awesome. So yeah, I was polishing my combat boots (in the vintage clothing post)and wondered, "What could I do for some more extra money? I plan to have a job at a place I already work, hopefully get a job at the Renaissance Faire I used to work at, and work on a Christmas tree farm if I can get the job but what is something I can do for just a bit more? When I'm the city and stuff, what could I do? I can busk but I haven't played guitar in ages, no one really watches street theater from what I've noticed, and it hit me, it was as though the smell of the polish opened my brain! I would polish shoes1 I actually really like doing it, its simple work, its humbling, its calming, and depending on where I set up the stand(and by stand I mean two chairs and a box) I could make an alright amount of money.
So now I'm in the question of How much should I charge? A dollar? Or just a quarter? Should I advertise why I am doing this or just keep it to myself? Would it be alright to accept donations? Its a lot to think about. Tell me what you think please!

True Blood

So yesterday I gave blood. I was happy to do it, it was for a great cause, and I hope everyone who is able to, will at some point in their life, do it. The people who "stick ya" are really awesome too. The man who took my blood was funny, charismatic, talkative, and all around nice.
Sadly, before all this happened my friends decided to tell me horror stories of needles being jammed into veins and how the sadistic doctors would dig the needles into their arms. If you can't guess I got a little nervous.
The last time I gave blood I was calm and happy. But it was probably because I was with a group of good friends who made an effort to keep me calm. We were the only ones who were in the office as well. This time was a bit different. There were so many people coming to give blood, and the doctor's were on edge along with everyone else.
This is only made my anxiety worse. Luckily I got through the whole process in less than 30 minutes. They did a fantastic job. I did not. At the station where you eat cookies and stuff I looked at my fig newton, excited to have one since I had not in quite a while, and then told my friend I was going to pass out and then I put my head down. A few seconds later I woke up to about 5 people shouting, "Molly! Molly! Molly! Molly! Molly! Molly! Molly!" Quite a way to wake up.
So here is what I want to say to you. Don't be nervous, be calm. Its safe, fun, and not painful at all. The people do everything to make you feel comfortable and safe and love what they do. Its an awesome experience and I hope you do donate. Also, for even more motivation, here is post-past-out Molly.

doodles

So I drew this during one of my classes. I doodle little things every now and then but never anything this involved. Its not perfect but I'm pretty proud of it. Not because its beautiful or explains my feelings on "New World Colonizations" or anything but because its really cute.
I drew this when it was an absolutely awful day that was cold, rainy, and just gross. I was sad, tired, and ready for bed, but here I was bored, cold, and wet, desperately waiting for 4:20 to roll around and get me out.
Not that I don't enjoy the class, I've learned a lot. I have a different idea about the world around me, how things are produced, and I am much more knowledgeable about globalism than when I first started the course.
I just, get tired of watching my prof pace around the world making jokes half the class doesn't care to understand. I also hate that the class is strictly based off lecture. I feel as though to truly learn a concept as detailed as globalization, we need to have discussions, papers, and actual debates on the matter. It will help us learn, make people who don't want to pay attention learn, and be a better experience for all of us.
But maybe that's just me, I'm not sure. All I know is that doodling helped me pay attention. I was listening but my hands were in motion, making it impossible for me to go to sleep or drift off into day dreams. I know a lot of people do it but I wonder if they know that's why they do it. What do you guys think?

Bucket List

At my uncle's memorial my friend and I took his little..."Hey guys, I'm dead program" (or whatever you call that thingy you get in memorials where there is a brief bio on their life and pictures) and wrote a bucket list. I never really thought about it until then. I guess what hit my friend and I was that we were both 19 years old and thought we need to live! Or keep on living because honestly, the two of us have had some pretty wacky adventures.
We started with somewhat mundane things the adults around us suggested, "sleep in a launder mat", "wake up in the morning feeling like p-diddy", "wake up in a bathtub", "wake up in another state", a lot of stuff that they did and I may either be very thankful or regretful having done them, but hey, they're on the list now. But then I started thinking about bigger goals in my life, some stuff that I have wanted to do since I could drink out a grown-up cup. I started thinking about all the things I want to do before I die. Here are just a few:
1. Graduate College
Not many people in my family have done it and I would like to so I can y'know get a good job and stuff.
2. Go to Europe for the summer
Its happening. I have always wanted it to, I have always tried to and when I went to the Netherlands last year I became forever hooked, and I have to go back. (Need to say "hi" to that awesome Irish pub owner who gave me my first beer free)
3. Go to California
Never have been there, I guess its like the Mecca for the youngin's nowadays. I want to go, experience the absolutly different culture, see my old English teacher, and maybe learn to surf. Also I have an adorable little car that can definitely make the trip, my old "widdle troopa" Trucky could never of dreamed of surviving the trek so now I kinda have to, right?
4. Interview a person from each of my little journeys
Why not make something out of it! If I could I could bind it into a book, sell it as a traveler's guide with some of my own advice and have an absolute blast doing it! Maybe it will be this blog, that's a thought...
5. Help in Haiti
The people there are nothing short of inspiring. The culture is steeped in mystery and beauty and after the hurricane the people, despite the absolute lack of aid have begun rebuilding with nothing to help. In, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/15/opinion/15mon3.html this link, the writer describes how the people of Haiti have just started all over again.
Well, time to listen to Dr. D I'm sure I'll continue this in another post!
6. Fall in love
Why not?
7.Get married
I guess I should
8. Go to Russia
Its steeped in history that many people don't know or are afraid of knowing here in the West. I feel like its something that I should really see for myself a part of the East that is still mystified.
9.Go to every continent and have a blast while doing it.
I think traveling is very important. Its how a person can see the world, understand other people, and change themselves for the better. So I want to be able to meet cool people (or penguins in Antarctica) and see if I can help them out along the way.
10. Adopt a child
Its important. Its a wonderful opportunity to show another person love that no one else can give them. The work towards adopting a child is long, hard, and full of red tape but I don't think I would be any more proud of myself and them when I see them graduate high school, get married, or have a kid of their own. I think it would be the best thing I could ever do.
11. Meet Obama
I want to know why he does what he does. I want to know if he is happy, scared, mad, or everything at once. I want to know what he really wants out of his time in office and what he is hoping to do realistically.
12. Climb a mountain
I think it would be the best thing I could do for my body, my heart, and my soul. The nature and wildlife on the mountain is worth the trek itself. The training would help me become more in shape and I would always remember it fondly.
13.Write a novel
There is something so cool to me about having my name on a book. It seems impossible but I think I can do it. Anyone want to be my publisher?
14. Be in a protest/riot that changes the world for the better
Where the hell is my generations sit-ins, marches on Washington, and mustard gas? There have been so many opportunities, the war, the discussion in Pittsburgh about Democracy (there are other forms of government) but kids just aren't into it. Common guys! We have civilian journalism, the internet is your place of expression! Stop writing shitty poetry about some chick named Missy and do something! I know I will.
15. go sky-diving
You only live once. I think I'll do this when I'm like 60.
16. Go back to Bermuda
Its a beautiful paradise in the middle of the ocean, just waiting for you to touch its cave walls, gaze upon its pink sand, and feel the springy grass beneath your toes as you try to catch the wild chickens. Its awesome, I want to go back,
17. Go to Mecca
So much has happened there, so many lives have been touched there, just those facts are enough to make me want to go. I am not Muslim but I understand its importance and I think everyone should go to Mecca, not because its a happening spot for Muslims but because I think the West would understand Islam a lot more if they did.
18. Go to Cuba
Its this place they say I can never go, so I got to go. There is so much there we in the U.S. have no clue about, artists, authors, singers, culture, totally unknown to me. Gotta see it.
19. Save a forest
I believe trees are not given enough credit. They are beautiful, sustain millions of other parts of life in just one tree, and have given the world so much. We should cut them down for cattle or corn, we should respect them, and let what pops out from under them (possibly the cure for cancer could come out of some person wildcrafting). I want to help out by protesting, lobbying, or hanging out in a tree for a year.
20. Kiss a dolphin
There awesome, smart, adorable animals and I want to kiss one like.Y'know, like you do in Orlando when you pay enough money to hang out with them.
21. Start a no-kill animal shelter
When I retire, I want a HUGE farm where I can just take animals to either be cleaned up, happy, and eventually adopted, or where they life out the rest of their days happy and with plenty of space. Though I think that shelters are wonderful and necessary, I want them to have an alternative, me. If they feel as though a pet deserves a 2nd or 3rd chance, I want to be able to give it to them. Also, buy a pound puppy! Their way cuter than any silly pedigree poodle!
22. Hug a gorilla
They're so huge and scary but cute at the same time! I just wanna give one a huge hug!
23. Hug a koala
They are adorable and sleepy, and hang out eating eucalyptus all day. Those are the kind of animals I want to hang out with, and y'know, cuddle.
24. Raise money for something
Not just anything, but a great idea, or to fix a problem, something that can help change lives. I know I can never be a rich philanthropist so I hope when you guys see me playing guitar on the streets you'll throw some money in to help me out.
25. Go streaking
Never did it, always wanted to.
26. Finish my bucket list with Lisa
Its a long story
27. Buy and farm an organic farm
I live on a farm, its beautiful. Its big, there is always something cool happening, and I want to share it with my family once I make one. I would love it if we could also grow our own food and have enough surplus to sell it at a farmer's market or give to our friends. Hopefully I'll get a green thumb along the way.

grocery bags

My mother has a LOT of cloth grocery bags and I think that's great. Good for a million uses, better than plastic bags in a landfill for a hundreds of years, but cloth grocery bags are surprisingly expensive. Just yesterday my mother bought a grocery bag for three dollars and then I saw this idea for a grocery bag out of a t shirt on http://www.generation-t.com/category/t-shirt-projects/ which made me think, "Hey I have a lot of t shirts that could never wear", and I decided to give them a new use. The project is very easy, cheap, and you can use them for years.

what a few scraps can do

One day while organizing all of my sewing....things....I stumbled upon a bunch of little scraps from previous projects and wondered what I could do with them. Quickly I realized I could use a pin cushion when I wasn't using my mother's sewing...things..... and this was the end result, a little pin cushion blob. It was extremely easy to make, just sew patches together until you want to stuff it, stuff it with some sort of foam, (I used some from an old shoulder pad I cut out from one of my jackets) and sew it up and tada! home for you needles, pins, and other sharp, pointy things

boots!

So yeah, for those of you who don't know me, I'm a bit thrifty. I also have wanted a pair of army boots for awhile and either couldn't afford them or convince anyone to get them for me. Earlier this week, I was walking through my local Salvation Army and what to my wandering eyes did appear? Why a practically new pair of army boots, only a dollar fifty, oh dear! Sorry, that was a lot of rhyming. But I thought I should show you guys the gems of my thrift store plundering. That day I also got a stylish boat captain's jacket, a brand new clutch, still had the tag and everything, and a nice pair of gym shoes. Someday I'll dust off my two coach bags I got for under five dollars and my Vera Wang dress for 75 cents. Now go forth and root through thrift store racks for awesome stuff!!!