Happy birthday, babe.

J's birthday went well yesterday.

The cake was absolutely delicious. It really turned out a lot better than I had anticipated.

Here is the recipe that I promised:

Chocolate-Chocolate Cake

- 1 package Devil's Food cake mix

- 1 package instant chocolate pudding mix

- 1 cup sour cream

- 3/4 cup vegetable oil

- 4 eggs

- 3/4 cup warm water

- 2 cups (1 bag) of miniature chocolate chips

Combine powdered cake and pudding mixes with sour cream, water, vegetable oil, and beaten eggs in a large bowl.

Gradually stir in chocolate chips and gently pour batter into a well greased cake pan (this will make about 12 cups). Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes, or until top is springy and a knife or toothpick inserted comes out clean. If you are going to add icing, allow the cake to cool in the pan for at least 2 hours before transferring it. The longer you let it cool, the better.

I iced James' cake with buttercream icing. O-M-G.

Here are some outtakes from the other day.

It's not even 7:00 a.m.

Oh, I try hard to not be grouchy in the mornings, I really do, but I know that lately I have been far from chipper.

I can't help it. My mood is set within the few minutes immediately following my awakening. Achieving a good mood means there should be minimal light and sound. When sweet J wakes me in the morning, this is never the case... almost every light is already on, the TV in the bedroom is on, the TV in the living room is on, and J has already pumped in his first cup of coffee. I know that I have it easy, I mean I'm not the one working 66+ hours a week in the freezing cold, and for that I am grateful. While J just hopped in his car and headed to work, I turned off all the lights, lit a candle, made another cup of coffee, and am loading a bowl.

I have a lot to do today because tomorrow is James' birthday! I wish he didn't have to work. :( I am hoping that the cake pan that I ordered will come in the mail today. His cake is going to be fucking badass... you just wait and see.

James and I went to the park when he got off work yesterday. We finally found the disc golf course that we've been searching for. J played 9 holes. I decided to skip the disc golf and take pictures instead. :) I'll post some later on.

The light.

I'm sitting on the couch - Bentley sleeping on my right, Lily and Luke sleeping on my left - trying to focus on anything but this killer headache. I'm pretty sure that I need to go get my eyes checked. I've never had problems with my eyes before, but now I'm sensitive to light. This sucks.

I need to get up and take my 365. And wash the dishes. And shower. And call the community college.

fucks.

I'm sitting in complete silence, smoking a cigarette.

I want to make something beautiful.

Here are some crazy light photos I took the other night. :)

Oh, it's winter still?

I'm going to start blogging regularly again. I want to do it for numerous different reasons, but mostly to remember how quickly things are changing. I mean, in one year I have lived in 4 different states. That still blows my mind a little. Majority of the people in my life have never, and will never, live outside the state of Texas.

I'm not sure if anyone reads this, but I'm thinking of switching to blogspot soon. I guess I will post a link once I create an account.

I'm watching this badass live Radiohead performance of In Rainbows on TV. J and I already watched it a few nights ago together... and I believe that I've watched it about 3 times since then. It's fucking awesome.

It's early still and I need to go to the gym. I'm feeling so sluggish lately. I blame SAD (seasonal affective disorder). It snowed all night long. There is about 3 inches of fresh powder on the ground, the icicles have returned, and the sidewalk is iced over. And to think that silly me was even THINKING about getting to wear a short sleeved shirt. ha. Well played winter, well played.

EDIT: officially switched to blogspot.

History.

Original Post Date: 03-19-10

I miss Austin, Texas so very much. I miss the apartment. Hanging out with Katy and Sara; smoking pot and drinking on our balcony. We had fun. I remember my past by different milestones. Many of them happened right there in that apartment with Katy and Sara. So many things went on between all of us while we lived there... but never anything too out of control, no. Nothing that some talking, 1/2 ounce of Solo's green, and some beers couldn't fix. We were there for each other.

Between the 3 of us, we had some very different schedules. I remember coming up the stairs one night and hearing laughter coming from our balcony. It was Sara. I shouted, "aaaayyy!" And Sara replied with, "mee-shell is home!". I was just coming home from teaching some dance classes across town. I pushed the door of my room open as I passed through the kitchen and tossed my bag inside, grabbed a cigarette, and walked though the living room to go out to the balcony. When I approached the door I heard lots of barking coming from the other side... more barking than what could come out of Bentley (my dog) and Tootsie (Sara's dog). I automatically assumed that our friends, Brad & Chelle, were over with their dog, Sensi. When I opened the door I was greeted by an unknown white dog, an unknown black dog, Sara, and a guy that I had yet to meet. I knew Sara had company over, but I wasn't expecting it to be someone I didn't know. I suddenly felt naked, wearing a leotard, tights, and some hot bottoms, in front of this guy. I pet all the dogs and was told by the still unfamiliar male that their names were Lily and Luke. Lily is the black one and Luke is the white one, he said. Sara then introduced me to James, a guy that she and Katy were discussing the previous night when we were all in the car. I didn't know him. Something about Sara knew him from Lamar, but hadn't seen him in a while. I don't know. We shake hands and I take a seat and light my cigarette.

The night continues with the three of us drinking Shiner's, smoking cigarettes, telling stories, laughing, and smoking pot. Katy arrived home at some point and joined us. Upon them seeing one another, I learned that Katy knows him as well. As we sit and pass the steam roller around I find myself thinking that this guy is intriguing. He was definitely very intelligent. I liked that. It was late, 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning when we finally decided to bring the night to a close. We exchanged our goodbyes and James left with his two dogs in tow. Sara, Katy, and I chilled out for a little longer and I inquired about James' age. Sara informed me that he was 25. As I crawled in to bed I wondered if 19 was too young for him.

My, my mouth a confessional cannon.

Original Post Date: 03-18-10

Bleh.

I haven't updated in forever.

Things are going well in Nebraska. Almost all of the snow has melted now and most of the grass is dead. The trees are still lacking leaves, and the sky is always a bluish grey. I must admit that I miss the beauty of North Carolina... the trees with leaves that were every shade of red, green, orange, and yellow that you could imagine, the mountains, cotton fields, and the hills. North Carolina is a beautiful state.

This dreary weather here just makes me want to stay inside all day. I was under the impression that the snow was gone... but we are expecting it Friday. :/ GREAT. I'm ready for tank tops, dresses, and skirts! I feel like the Michelin Man with all of the clothes I have to wear daily. J and I started going to the gym again like we did in Florida. It feels good to be fit again. I'm curling 15's these days... look out!

I will leave you with these album suggestions:

1. Thao Nguyen - Like The Linen

2. Thao With The Get Down Stay Down - We Brave Bee Stings & All

3. Gorillaz - Plastic Beach

I'm for real about that last one too... it's badass.

The answer to the question above is change.

Original Post Date: 01-20-10

It is the only correct answer.

Things in Nebraska are going well. I adore the new house. I had a meeting with a local art gallery owner yesterday, and much to my surprise my work got accepted to the gallery! If you need me, I'll be floating around on cloud 9 for the next few days. :)

I'm stuck at the house for an indefinite amount of time today, waiting for UPS to deliver a package. BORED. I guess I will use the time to take a really badass picture for my 365 project. For now I am smoking cigarettes, reading The Unbearable Lightness of Being, and knitting away diligently at the scarf I promised James. Yea, I just taught myself how to knit last week. I use to think, "Knitting? No, thanks. I'll be 80 one day and want to do that." I now believe otherwise. Possessing the skills to create something that is entirely yours is pretty badass. Now, you aren't going to catch me knitting ridiculous things. No sir. For now I'm just sticking to scarves... because, well, scarves are wonderful. Especially when you have recently moved to some form of an arctic glaciation that otherwise has been foreign to you. Yup, my Texan bones are freezing. All. The. Time.

Had a conference call last night with the guys about our Europe trip in November of this year. I'm pretty excited. Dublin, London, Paris, and Amsterdam. HELL YEA.

Fuck this UPS package that isn't even mine. gah. I just want to go to the gym.

new house, new house, new house!

Original Post Date: 12-19-09

I've been so bored ever since we got to Nebraska... so you would think that I would've updated this by now. wrong. I don't feel like I have anything interesting to say, and before now I probably didn't, but now I do! We've been living in this bunk ass hotel (with the babies) for 3 weeks and it's beginning to get the best of me. We only have to stay here for 3 more nights and then we get to move into our new house! :D FINALLY. It's very small, but quaint. The best part? It has a basement. Basements interest me because in Texas we have attics. That you store shit in. And cannot live in. Basements > Attics. On the main floor there is the living room, a small bedroom, and the kitchen. In the basement is the master bedroom, washer & dryer, and the bathroom. The house was built in the 1900's, but our landlord, Marilyn, just re-did the whole thing and it's fucking awesome. She painted everything and put all new cabinetry and appliances in the kitchen, new tile and carpet, and even a new shower and toilet. SCORE.

Last night, we went and picked out our furniture and bed to be delivered on Tuesday. I cannot wait.

Adjusting to the snow has been a trip. At first I was so unbelievably cold all of the time, but now my body has adapted well and it's not so bad. It's still really strange though... scraping ice and snow off my windshield, wearing layers and layers of clothing all the time, knowing that when we move into the house we will have to shovel snow. WEIRD. I wasn't aware that you are required to shovel the snow off your sidewalk and driveway or else you will get a citation. WTF?! bunk.

My car was actually snowed in one day here.

It was stupid.

I'm getting fucking distracted my the Redi Set Go infomercial. FUCK.

whatevs.

Things are starting to come together, like they always do. We get discouraged sometimes because things take longer than we expected, but J and I always pull through.

Stoned.

Original Post Date: 11-15-06

I never really like to update my blog unless I'm stoned. It is then, that it suddenly becomes the most fitting activity to occupy my whirling thoughts. J & I have recently decided that we are moving to Nebraska. soon. in 13 days. I imagine that an average person would be in a frenzy right now -frantically packing their house, making hotel arrangements, labeling boxes- but not me. We packed the entire house in FL in 2 days. We lived there for eight months. We have only lived here in NC for three. Packing this place should be no problem... I hope.

J got a new job in Hastings, NE; he starts on the 30th of this month. Here are three reasons that I am excited to move to Hastings:

1. It is the birthplace of Kool-Aid. KOOL-AID! fuck yes. They have Kool-Aid festivals. Imagine all that Kool-Aid! I bet that that even have special flavors that you can only get in NE. Similar to how you can get ALL the Blue Bell flavors of ice cream in TX, but only a select few elsewhere. Ok. Done with the Kool-Aid rant.
2. Hastings, NE was voted Yahoo's 2007 Greenest City in America. THIS. IS. A. HUGE. DEAL. I am a recycling nut. I have never lived in a city that picks up my recycling. I always have to bring it to the center myself. But, if this place was the greenest city in America... I better be getting my recycling picked up.
3. IT SNOWS. CONSTANTLY. I am from Texas. I have never seen snow. ever. in my whole life. Now, in 13 days, I will be LIVING in a winter wonderland. WHOA.

I am really excited. Sure, I always worry about small things whenever we venture to a new place, but the excitement always overpowers the worry. I'm ready for something new. I'm ready for it to just be me and J again. and the babies. (dogs) J & I affectionitely refer to the dogs as 'the babies.' Their names are Lily, Luke, and Bentley.

They are my current worry. We will be staying in a hotel for at least a couple of weeks until we get a house. This time we have deiced that we're going to hold out on getting a house until we can get one with a fence for the dogs. They need it. It will be more cost efficient for us to pay to board the dogs instead of paying for them to stay at the hotel with us. blah. I know they will be fine.

J & I are very excited to see how they react to the snow. Earlier I was online shopping for some snow boots, something that I know nothing about. Lily was keeping me company on the couch; her gaze drifting from the screen to my face as if she were saying, "Buy ME something, Mom." I told J that I was shopping for snow boots and that Lily told me she needed some snow boots too... for her paws. J's response was, "Oh, really?." I then went on to say that ALL of the dogs would need boots, their little paws would be so cold, and they would be so cute! Cuteness aside, I really am worried about their paws. I quickly pulled up a picture of dog snow boots and showed J. He smiled and said, "We'll get them boots sweetheart." I was pleased. I continued my online search. And then it hit me. The image of myself knelt down at the door 5 times a day, with 12 tiny boots. TWELVE BOOTS. OMG. Why was this a good idea again?

I am so excited for our new adventure.

Check It:

Original Post Date: 11-06-09

second post of the day. whoa.

I'm fucking stoned.

Cute Bentley is curled up at my feet snoring like a little gremlin. I love him.

I feel like I've been sitting here forever; getting lost in the interwebs. Surely it hasn't been that long though? Fuck.

I need to shower and go to sleep. This is when I have the dilemma of: do I go to sleep now and shower in the morning? or shower now and crash after that? All the while, knowing that the first option will most likely yield in me waking up too late to shower, and then I'll be FUCKED. I know what I should do... but it's not what I want to do.

I guess I will smoke a cigarette and then decide.

goodnight.

Good News:

Original Post Date: 11-06-09

• I booked my first shoot! It's tomorrow morning for a cute little family of 5. :D I'm super excited.

• I also booked another shoot for the end of the month. It's for a family of 4 wanting family portraits, Christmas pictures, and 1st birthday pictures for their baby girl.

• We finally got some green. I swear that being high sparks my creativity.

I'll post some pictures tomorrow after I'm done editing. My shoot is like an hour away from here, so I plan on posting up at the nearest Starbucks and editing photos while drinking pumpkin spice lattes. mmmmm.

Until tomorrow...

Desires.

Original Post Date: 10-10-09

• take a trip to Ingles to stock up on beer.
• give Bentley a haricut.

• fuck.
• obtain some delicious marijuana (okay, this could possibly happen... I am waiting on a phone call).
• hang out with Katy.
• fuck.

But, Michelle... whatever shall you do instead, you ask? Go smoke cigarettes on the porch until James is ready to go eat Mexican food.

LE SIGH.

Things I Want To Do Soon:

Original Post Date 09-29-09

• find somewhere to take some really awesome shots.
• book a shoot involving people
• sell my prints
• choreograph something crazy cool
• learn how to knit cute little scarves, so that when my arms cannot be around the necks of those that I love, I will know that they are still warm.