This is what I hoped Florence would look like...

"Show me how pretty the world is, you're brilliant when you try..."
- Matt Nathanson

Today was a good day. That gives me hope.

Thanks to my sister for this album...

It's a good one, for sure. Bouncy and beautiful. And there's a song called "Julie."

"I’m ready for fear, and love and everything between..."
- We Shot The Moon

PS: Devastating note, Harrison left The Morning Light. Julie informed me of this today. How will I marry him now? I think he's actually legal now. Sad.

Senza paura

(Fearless)

"I don't know why, but with you I dance in a storm in my best dress, fearless..."
- Taylor Swift

Say what you mean, say what you feel

"Even if your hands are shaking and your faith is broken, even if you eyes are closing, do it with a heart wide open..."
- John Mayer

This is the craziest adventure ever. There's no way around the fear. Everyday is something I didn't do the day before.

Julie, This Is For You...

Since I know you read this.

"If another genre were going to be emo, it would be country."
- Julie

I'm glad you're tolerating my obsession with Taylor Swift so well. And that you share my obsession with that one Carrie Underwood song.

This is the last of the post-it notes I have saved...

"I lost my place but I can's stop this story,
I'll find my way but until then I'm only spinning..."
- Jack's Mannequin

I love the story metaphor. Get ready to turn a page.

I immediately think of four boys...

I'll always defend them.

"It's just loyalty protecting royalty."
- You, Me, And Everyone We Know.

I'll always believe.

I am in love with this girl for reasons I can't explain...

This Taylor Swift song, called "The Best Day" is the most beautiful thing ever. And it's been perfect for me as I prepare to leave my mother, my best friend for the next fifteen weeks. The longest we've ever been apart.

"I know you were on my side even when I was wrong
and I love you for giving me your eyes
For staying back and watching me shine
and I didn't know if you knew so I'm taking this chance to say
that I had the best day with you today..."
- Taylor Swift

I love you Mommy. <3

Just like the oldest friendships and the oldest loves...

"This story's old, but not complete..."
- Valencia

The Resolution

"I'm alive and I don't need a witness to know that I survived,
I'm not looking for forgiveness. I just need light.
I need light in the dark as I search for the resolution..."
- Jack's Mannequin

Me: [Talking about Teach For America] It didn't scare me.
My Former Principal: I don't think anything can scare you.

Things I have been thinking about today. Making me smile.

Four years ago...

I was in high school. This album is what I wish it were like.

"You're a stranger I know well and not at all..."

"It was the best of times from broken homes and battle scars to where we are..."

"You'll go off, you'll forget, you'll grow out of hanging form the edges, breaking off the past. You'll know when to move on, you'll know when to take all the right chances, never looking back..."
(This is so true and so brilliant.)

"These are the fast times..."

- The Academy Is...

This is really, really late...

But I wanted to do a little end of the year thing. Just some of the albums I thought were awesome this year. And a few that I discovered late this year. Albums. Bands. Concerts. Movies.

2008 Albums Of The Year
1a. Fall Out Boy - Folie A Deux
1b. Valencia - We All Need A Reason To Believe
2. Jack's Mannequin - The Glass Passenger
3. Panic(!) At The Disco - Pretty. Odd.
4. John Mayer - Continuum (I know, but I just discovered it this year.)
5. High School Music 3: Senior Year Soundtrack (Seriously.)

2008 Best Discovery Of The Year
1. My Favorite Highway

2008 Best Concert Of The Year
1. Fall Out Boy - Northstar Bar
2. Mayday Parade - Warped Tour (Because we finally made it.)

2008 Movies Of The Year
1. High School Musical 3: Senior Year
2. Twilight
3. Nick And Norah's Infinite Playlist

2008 Biggest Musical Guilty Pleasure
1. Jonas Brothers

Band That's Going To Be Huge In '09
1. All Time Low will continue to take over the world.

Today I saw someone fall in love...

But love it never perfect. He's taken. She's smitten. He is too, but he's still taken. Somewhere down the road.

"Young love is ruthless, so learn to fly..."
- The Academy Is...

Okay, confession...

This isn't a lyrics. But it should be. Direct from another blog.

"Be like your iPod. Put your life on shuffle."
- Peter Pan

That's what happens on Monday, I suppose. A great adventure.

You've gotta swim...

"Swim for the music that saves you when you're not so sure you'll survive..."
- Jack's Mannequin

I love it when music comments on the power of music. Gives me reason to quote it like this.

"Yeah, you gotta swim. Don't let yourself sink, just follow the horizon I promise you it's not as far as you think."
- Jack's Mannequin

On the inside of my head, this has been a really crummy week. Song like this make it okay.

For Just Another Weekend...

"I'm still chasing my heart down 95..."
- Valencia

I had an awesome day in Providence today. Exit 6 to Exit 28 and Exit 21 to Exit 9 and back again. Julie to Catherine to Nasha and back again. Breakfast at eleven, Private Practice at noon, cupcakes at one. Perfection. No one talks with me like these two. They make me think.

Shane Henderson, you're too good...

"Sometimes, you gotta walk in the rain if you're dying to find what you're looking for..."
- Valencia

Who the hell knows what I'm looking for these days, but I hear it rains a lot in Florence.