Now that she's back in the atmosphere...

Well, I'm back. And boy, what a trip...

It was an adventure. I relaxed. I ran around. Had some nice late night talks curled up at the kitchen table with a mug of tea. Had some crazy days spent hurrying here and there, never staying in the same place for more than a couple hours. I hung out with old friends, feeling like family. I met crazy awesome new people. I spent about 50 hours of my life on a train and am now pretty familiar with Amtrak...there and back I had a lay over in Chicago, and so was privileged to roam around the beautiful Windy City with 3 amazing dudes.

I left with little expectations, hoping to maybe just quiet my soul, listen to God, and visit my friends...and if God happened to nudge me in any direction, that would be awesome too.
I returned with a lot to think about.
While I was there opportunities arose. Internships came up. Chances to shadow at salons. As well as missions opportunities.

And ever since I got back a feeling has been growing in me...something that's always been there that now is spreading. I've never really been able to describe it, and it's frustrating. But the other night I was having a conversation with one of my best friends. One of those conversations that fall under the "If I don't get out of here soon I'll be stuck here for the rest of my life, that I don't know what I'm doing with anyways" category...I'm sure you have those all the time...

We talked about jobs. We talked about monotonous life. We talked about restlessness...We talked about senioritis.


Finally I tried to put this feeling that I had into words and it came out like this:

"...Do you ever get that feeling like...let's see if I can describe it - 

like, you were made for something more? That growing up, finishing school and getting a job and routine just wasn't what was intended for you? That you were created, not for something mundane and monotonous, but for something truly breathtaking and extraordinary? Cause...that seems to be how I feel. And like that desire for the extraordinary is trying to claw it's way out...like it's suffocating at the thought of never getting to see the sun...or maybe I just have to much of an imagination...?"

So...yep. That's where I'm at right now...perhaps this was a nudge in a direction...guess we'll see. 

The Bean*

*(I have now seen The Bean, one of Chicago's great works of modern architecture I am told...but secretly I'm pretty sure it's an idol to the Americans love of coffee...see for yourself. ;) )

This is my Therapy

"And you're kept in an open cage, So you're free to leave or stay.Sometimes you get confused, Like there's a hint I am trying to give you."

"talking bird" by Death  Cab For Cutie

Poorly drawn picture...by me.

I believe I've mentioned before about how much I love road trips, and have joked about having a touch of gypsy blood in me. I've expressed my restlessness of being in one place for too long (even though I always come back home.) I've talked about my longing for adventure and how I've made due by trekking through the rain and creating crazy story plots inside my head. 
And so...I find myself yet again feeling those stirring desires in my heart to go on an adventure and travel far far away...
I thought about it for a while, weighed my options, bounced thoughts and opinions off of close friends, prayed, and drank more than my outrageously large quota of coffee. 


The fact is, I still have no job. Let me reword that. I have no stationary job. No salon to call 'home', and not because there's a lack of salons or opportunities. When the Velvet Touch and I parted ways, somewhere in me, I felt peace. It was an odd and unexpected thing to feel upon losing a job. 
An opportunity for a stylist position in another salon arose, and I pursued it, but something about it just didn't feel right. It's hard to explain, but I couldn't shake it. Nothing came from this pursued position. But here's the beauty of it. My job doesn't have to be stationary! I can take it with me wherever I go...which means I can travel :) 


And so, after some deliberation, I have decided to go on my adventure. Finally. 
I have nothing that's holding me here. I have no salon to report to. No major responsibilities to look after. No relationships tying me down. So, I ask myself, why not? 


I've got a lot on my mind, and I'm a curious soul. Travel is a therapy to me. Staring out a window, watching the world pass by at blurring speeds, my mind seems to process things clearly. And so, I've purchased a train ticket, and next Sunday I begin my journey. To where? The Midwest. Kansas City, Missouri. Why? Because I have good friends out there (They're in the middle of an adoption, check them out and see how you can help contribute HERE!), and they belong to a church that I've been wanting to visit.


And so, I'm running away. Because I can. 

"I never thought I'd be driving through the country just to drive

With only music and the clothes that I woke up in

I never thought I'd need all this time alone it goes to show

I had so much yet I had need for nothing

But you

This is just therapy

Let's call it what it is

(Not what we were)

With a death-grip on this life always transitioning

This is just therapy

Cause you won't take my calls

and that makes God the only one who's left here listening to me

Letting it all sink in

It's good to feel a sting now and again

I hope it's one less woeful thing there is to fight through

Forgetting it all begin

Fresh paper and nice expensive pen

The past can not subtract a thing from what I might do

For you

Unless that's what I let it do

Loneliness and solitude are two things not to get confused

Cause I spend my solitude with you

I gather all the questions of the things I just can't get straight

And I answer them the way I guess you'd do

Cause this is my therapy

Cause you're the only one that's listening to me

This is my therapy

Let's call it what it is not what we were

With a death-grip on this life that's in transition

This is my therapy

Cause you won't hear me out

and that makes God the only one who's left here listening"

I tend to sing this when I start to get restless and need a road trip...so, on a pretty regular basis.

pretty little thieves....

One of my favorite artists, Jon Foreman, performs my new favorite song in the old country style.

Visitor Rebuilt Goes Acoustic

Thursday, December 2, 2010.

Cornerstone Christian School held a benefit concert to raise support for the Senior Class Trip this coming spring. Paint the Shore, Lost Radio, Visitor Rebuilt and a couple others graced us with their presence and good music. I went to support the my very talented friends and my brother who is a senior at CCS.

Leave it to James to find not only a Santa hat, but a plethora of other floppy-eared hats as well.

Fan Posters...

**********

The bassist - Harrison - wasn't present as he had his own concert at UConn to attend, so the guys went acoustic. It sounded amazing! And when they've got their own full length album I would love it if they had some of their acoustic stuff on there. :)

*************

There was a strange rabbit that showed up and hung out on stage with the guys for a while. I don't know if I've ever seen anything creepier.

I have a video of the guys playing while the bunny sat there creepily, but my computer and my phone are just not cooperating with each other and it won't load, I'll keep trying.

*************

Afterwords, Nathan, Jimmy, and James were playing around(they secretly are creed...?)



Of course as soon as I start recording they decide to stop.

Don't Worry, 'Bout A Thing...

This past week I had a service day and decided to try something other than the regular blow dry, or curls. What did we do? Dreads. Yes, you read that right, dreads, as in dreadlocks, like Bob Marley...but not as gross. After about 3 hours of teasing and twisting and teasing and waxing and teasing and waxing some more, my head was covered in teeny-tiny little dreadlocks. I only left them in for a day for fear of them deciding to become a permanent fixture upon my head. People asked me why I wasn't going to keep them in, "they totally fit you!" I was told through out the day. "You're a chameleon," one of my teachers told me. "You've had so many different styles on your head and you've rocked them all, you seem to be able to make anything work."

Well, why didn't I keep them? As my teacher said, I'm a "chameleon", I change my hair way too much style and color wise to hold onto dreads. I'm just not ready for that kind of commitment!(!!!!) That, and the only way to get rid of them(once they've been on your head for a while and have 'matured' - yes dreads go through a time of maturity - is to shave your head, and that is the last thing I want to do to my poor head of thick locks.)

Anyways, I think I got the dreadlock fever out of my system...for now...
And now I shall share with you my great joy and love of this fantastic and unique style in pictures:

This was just after I took out box braids...they were my 'almost - dreads'

This amazes me!

Trippy Hippies

If you know me, then you know that along with my love of pirates I also have a love and fascination with hippies and gypsies. I can try to explain, but I really don't know if I can, why this is so cool to me.

Let's start with road trips.
I love them. Since I was in the womb we would be making long trips to see family, starting out in CT and ending in PA, VA, OH, or NY.
Most of the time it was Pennsylvania we were heading for,[photo sent to me by Bella, was hanging on the wall of a little joint called "the cosmic omelet]

a little town located deep in the woods, in the middle of nowhere, called Wellsboro where we'd meet up with my mom's family who also came from miles around to hang out in this cool, round house in a clearing. We'd have huge family dinners while, like, 20 grand kids ran around in the clearing and in the woods, with 'swords and guns', swimming in the lake and camping out in Hillscreek state park, or taking a walk up the dirt road to...well, nowhere imparticular.


Next we can move to cars.
I like cars. They're fun to drive, they get you places, they get you away from places, they present you with a cozy place to hang out with your friends for an hour or so on your way to the beach and back, and most of them have a stereo to blast music with. Since I was little I've always admired the way classic cars look. Now, I can't tell you what on earth is under the hood and all the hoosie-what's-its that make it work, but I appreciate the way they look...
Someday, I want this to be my car.



[This photo belongs to
mPascalj's photostream (2,321) ]

And sure, why not, I'll live at the beach on the weekends. Totally fine with that ;) Yup, a classy VW camper van. I'll drive across the country, and stop along the way to visit relatives and their showers...perhaps I'll be a traveling hairdresser? ;) But in all seriousness, I do dream of someday traveling europe and doing hair for something. Whether it be avant garde fashion shows, or theatre groups or whatever.

Then we get to music, cause you can't live your life and not have music.
Music makes me happy, pretty much no matter what genre it is. Variety is probably the best one word to sum it all up in. Classic to contemporary, acoustic to metal, trippy to worship....yeah. But as much as I love some of the more contemporary bands that I grew up with, I have a special place in my heart for some not-so-contemporary bands that I grew up listening to, courtesy of mi papa.
Bands like The Beatles, Eric Clapton, Don McLean, Simon and Garfunkel...and along came ACDC, Queen, Thin Lizzy, Guns and Roses...you get the picture. I definitely inherited my love of music(and the benefits of liking a large variety) from my dad. The only time I can crank the volume and rock out, is either when I'm home/driving alone, or with him. He's pretty awesome that way. One of the permanent fixtures in my van is going to be an acoustic guitar - maybe I can hook up an amp or something in the van and I can bring my electric too. But what fun would it be to have a big van, some rocking tunes, and an instrument or two and be all by yourself? So, somewhere along the way I'll have to convince my friends to come along with me sometimes :)

Yup. So that's a little bit about me and my fascination for *trippy hippie life. Emily Michael, gypsypiratehippiechick.

*DISCLAIMER - As far as the Trippy factor goes, I so do not endorse drug use. The only drugs I encourage are COFFEE, life, music, and creativity, four of God's greatest gifts to man. I've got a good enough imagination to go through life and enjoy it to the wackiest, and fullest extent without shoving crap up my nose and stabbing needles in my arms. Thanks very much.

"the algebra had a devil for a sidekick eeeeeeeeee..." Wait...what did you say?

While I was doing hair on Sunday - for my very first paying client ;), we kinda make it a "party" - there was a discussion on misunderstandings.

Have you ever been in the car with someone, both singing along with the song flowing through the speakers, when you sing one thing and they sing another? You both look at each other and maybe an eyebrow is raised and confused looks are shared.

"What did you say?" they ask. "You've stolen my horse." you reply, "Why? what did you say?" "You're rollin' the course...." they say. *silent pause* You both laugh and continue singing. Eventually one of you looks up the real lyrics and another good laugh is shared over how very wrong you both were.

Well, we were all curious about misunderstood lyrics and actually found a good web site - http://www.kistthisguy.com - with maybe the top 20+ misunderstood lyrics, along with what they're supposed to be. Caveat: this is a slightly sketchy sight, hilarious yes, but a little sketch. but I think you'll enjoy what you find. Some of my top favorites were:

Bohemian Rhapsody:

The algebra has a devil for a sidekick eeeeeeeeee....

Real Lyric
Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me...

Losing My Religion - REM

Let's pee in the corner, Let's pee in the spotlight.

Real Lyric
That's me in the corner, That's me in the spotlight.

To late to apologize - one republic

It's too late to order fries

Real Lyric

It's too late to 'pologize

Summersong - The Decemberists

My girl, linen and curls, lips all parted like a fraggle unfurled.

Real Lyric
My girl, linen and curls, lips parting like a flag all unfurled

Dancing Queen - ABBA

See that girl, watch her scream, kicking the dancing queen
Real Lyric
See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the dancing queen

Oh Canada - the national anthem

Oh Canada, we stand on cars and freeze...
Real Lyric
Oh Canada, we stand on guard for thee...

anyways, these were just a few that gave us all a good chuckle. :D

You won't relent until you have it all

This post is really me reflecting to myself. It has a point, but may come about in a round-a-bout way because that's how my mind works, the dots may not even connect. There's alot of stuff going on up there.

But on my mind today was the day I received the revelation of love.

I've grown up in a christian home. I had no problem with Christianity, but not alot of understanding either. I accepted Christ as a small child not for fear of eternal separation of God, but for fear of where I'd end up. I continued to go to church with my family, not to worship or listen to what people had to say, but because there were snacks in Sunday school and after it was over I could play with my friends. As I got older some things became clearer and I started listening to the sermons, but nothing was alive to me. I could see that there was something there, something that lit up my parents and some of our friends but I just didn't understand.

Early on in the decade my father took a trip with a few friends from church to a place out in Kansas City, MO called IHOP (the International House Of Prayer). He returned excited and refreshed and brought music with him. That was the year we were introduced to Misty Edwards, Julie Meyers, as well as many other artists who live out there. And like he does with most of his music, he played it obnoxiously loud, the kind of loud where your ear-drums explode and and start gushing blood from exposure - probably where I got my love of loud music - but there was no appreciation for this new material.

As you know, I love music.

"As has been established previously, I like music. I can't live without the means of listening to it, whether it be by playing an instrument, listening to a CD, spacing to my friends jamming, or (if I'm desperate, or alone :) singing. Music is a very powerful thing. What you listen to subtly influences your thinking, behavior, world view, the way you view relationships, whether you're apathetic or empathetic towards certain things. There is something in music that literally permeates your soul. " - http://coloring-theworld.blogspot.com/2009/12/confessions-of-closet-addict.html

Somehow I did end up listening to one of these new cd's at a tolerable and understandable level of volume, and just like that, something grabbed me. They sang these beautiful words with such passion and truthfulness that I couldn't help feeling something. I felt it, but still didn't understand it. A year or so went by and another trip was made to Kansas City, this time by my mother and her friends. By now contemporary christian music had made it's way into the house, though my parents were a little hesitant of what I was listening to - funny to think of them back then, they're over it now and actually enjoy some of the stuff that I bring home :) Mom brought each of us back a little something - I got The Beautiful Let Down cd(by switchfoot), and again I saw the excitement and rejuvenation awakened in my parents.

Another year or so went by and my parents sat me down. It was my turn now. There is a conference we want to take you to. Onething 2005.

This conference is named after Psalm 27:4 ~ One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.

We left early on a 5am flight out of Bradley. We were joined by three of my dad's friends and their eldest kids. We got there, checked in to the hotel, and went right over to the conference. It was a long day. The worship was raw and loud, and I could feel the bass in my body. That first night Mike Bickle spoke on the end times, now that topic woke me up. Imagine this little 13 year old listening to a man talk about Revelation, and Jesus' return and all that will happen. I was pretty freaked, but intrigued. This was real. Again I could see the passion with which these people lived.

The conference continued and things changed in me. I was being drawn in, woken up. I heard the leaders talk about fasting, praying, worship. About being closer to God and getting to know his heart. I started to realize that that was where I wanted to be. The second to last day of the conference is one that I'll never forget, the day I found my breaking point.

The speaker spoke on God's love for us, of the reason he created us and the lengths he went through to get us back. Misty got onstage after that and started to sing one of her (then) new songs. I can't really describe it. My soul was full with the revelation that He loved me. ME! Tears were shed, bonds were made, understanding came, longing, aching, and yearning for more started and has never stopped.

Love.

Love is what was missing, what I wasn't getting. It was love that gave these people their passion and zeal, their drive. The sense that I wasn't my own, that I had been bought with a price. Graphted into a family and position where I did not deserve to be.

Music.

Since then music has really been a comunicator and reminder of this great love. Actually the reason for this post started out as a single line from a song stuck in my head, but I couldn't remember the song that it came from. And, as it happened, as I kept trying to think of what song it was I thought of pretty much everything I just posted - there you go, my round-a-bout brain :) I finally found the song. As I Go Down, by Relient K. Here's the line that was stuck in my head plus whatever :) :

"Any control I thought I had just slips right through my hands, While my ever-present conscience shakes its head and reprimands me, Reprimands me. Then and there I confess. I'll blame all this on my selfishness. Yet you love me, And that consumes me, And I'll stand up again And do so willingly. You give me hope, and hope it gives me life, You touch my heavy heart, and when you do you make it light. As I exhale I hear your voice And I answer you, though I hardly make a noise. And from my lips the words I choose to say Seem pathetic, but it's fallen man's praise. Because I love you, Oh God, I love you! And life is now worth living If only because of you, And when they say that I'm dead and gone It won't be further from the truth. When I go down I lift my eyes to you. I won't look very far Cause you'll be there With open arms To lift me up again. To lift me up again." - When I Go Down, Relient K

"I can finally see, that you're right there beside me. I am not my own, for I have been made new. Please don't let me go, I desperately need you!" - Meteor Shower, Owl City

Confessions of a Closet-Addict

As has been established previously, I like music. I can't live without the means of listening to it, whether it be by playing an instrument, listening to a CD, spacing to my friends jamming, or (if I'm desperate, or alone :) singing.

Music is a very powerful thing. What you listen to subtly influences your thinking, behavior, world view, the way you view relationships, whether you're apathetic or empathetic towards certain things. There is something in music that literally permeates your soul. So I ask you, what is it that you are really listening to? Stop for a minute. What song are you chilling to? What are the lyrics saying? One of my favorite things to do is to go through songs and dissect lyrics, see what the message is that they're trying to convey, what the writers may have been thinking or feeling when they wrote the song.

Well, on to the confession part.
I like a lot of music, and a lot of artists. My musical taste is quite the variety. But...
Over the years my liking of some artists have come and gone, and there are only about two, maybe three, that I keep up with now.

1. Relient K
2. Switchfoot

With both of these artists I have followed each of them since they first began their musical careers. I own all of their albums, know the words to all their songs, and have always wanted to meet them in person. My fan-hood is nothing compared to one of my friends who will remain nameless - unless you wanna name him - who constantly expresses his love for Jon Foreman, while I keep that love inside and silent...because, let's face it, it's less creepy that way. So I was exceedingly happy when I got Forget and Not Slow Down - Relient K for my birthday back in October, and Hello Hurricane - Switchfoot for Christmas. As far as seriousness is concerned, Switchfoot is your better bet, while RK is more of on upbeat, catchy, toe-tapping kinda group. Nevertheless, I love them both.

But since Hello Hurricane is my newestly(yes, newestly - I do indeed make up words and use them in public, someday I shall do a post on all the words that Shakespeare made up that are used in the English language today, but I digress) acquired album I thought I would share one of my 12 new favorite switchfoot songs. The lyrics alone are pretty amazing, but when the music is added, something in your skin shivers.

Sing It Out

I'm on the run, I'm on the ropes this time

where is my song?

I've lost the song of my soul tonight

sing it out, sing it out, take what is left of me and make it a melody, sing it out, sing out loud, I can't find the words to sing , you be my remedy. My song, My song, I'll sing with what's left of me

where is the sun? feel like a ghost this time

where have you gone? I need your breath in my lungs tonight

sing it out, I'm holding on, I'm holding on to you

My world is wrong, my world is a lie that's come true

and I fall in love with the ones that run me through

when all along all I need is you

sing it out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlqQUtOcJVo&feature=PlayList&p=15FA8F921E879C8D&index=19

I celebrate the day.

I'd like to share one of my favorite Christmas songs with you. It's not a traditional song at all, and it's done by a not so traditional band, but the lyrics are just really amazing. Just close your eyes and really listen, it's pretty cool.

I Celebrate The Day - Relient K - Let It Snow Baby...Let It Reindeer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AcTxNr_Xx8&feature=PlayList&p=6FA3B26BED9B2484&index=17