The sun stained the clouds with all sorts of silly colors, right after the rain.

I saw it happen when I rode the SkyTrain.

The past two weeks went by so fast. Debbie was away on her mission trip, so I had the room to myself, and I didn't have to live under her repressive rules. But she's coming back tonight. And I'm trying to convince myself that I'm glad my sister is coming back.

I went to a Priscilla Ahn concert last weekend!! I loved EVERY minute of it. It was held downtown in Vancouver in a small place called The Media Club. The minute I walked in, I was in love. It's literally a lounge, with wall couches, lots of different rugs on the ground for people to sit on, candles everywhere, and a bar in the back. I was the second person in line, so when the doors opened, I happily skipped my way toward the best place to sit. Not only did I get to watch one of my favorite artists with the best view, but I also got to order a drink at a bar for the first time. I felt very cool. It was the beginning of a beautiful night of music.

After the opening band (they were OK), Priscilla came up shyly and started the show! When she finished her first song, I don't Think So, she took out her iPhone and put it towards the microphone. The phone told us in a rather awkward, robot-like voice (which was also the voice of her keyboardist) why Priscilla was using her iPhone to talk to us. I uploaded a video of her doing this on facebook, if you want to see. Anway--she had laryngitis that night. According to Wikipedia, laryngitis "is an inflammation of the larynx. It causes hoarse voice or the complete loss of the voice because of irritation to the vocal folds (vocal cords)." So she had to cancel her show the night before, but thankfully the doctors gave her steroids--that way she could perform the night of the show I went to. (There's also another video of her showing off about how fun it is to be on steroids). Of course, she didn't use the phone for the whole show--she told a few cute stories in her quiet, timid voice.

**i apologize for the bad photos. it was really dark so i couldn't get very good shots. but i hope you can sort of make out the general atmosphere of the place.

this is what it looked like before

people came in and sat on the floor

the bar

people sittin' on the floor.

doesn't it look like such a cozy lounge?

(though i'm sure the people on the floor

weren't very comfortable during the

three hours. I was comfy though,

on my couch with cushions :P )

the opening band

Even with her voice gone, she was great! She's sounds amazing live, and she looks amazing live too, although I wasn't a real fan of what she wore that night... After the concert, I was standing in line for the merch-table and someone really pretty walked through the line, right in front of me. It took me two seconds to realize it was Priscilla! I was freaking out like an idiot.

love her. not her outfit though.

I was in line to buy one of her homemade magazines called Homemade, which is really just some paper with some of her thoughts, stapled together to make a "magazine". Despite how silly it was, I wanted it because I wanted to read her writing. Right when I was about to tell the guy I wanted to buy one, this pushy, stupid, mean, rude girl slid quickly in before me and bought one of the magazines. I'm thinking "ok ok, Rachel--you'll get your turn. chill out, we're all in this line." But I was really upset to find out that the mean girl took the last copy of the magazine. I must've looked super sad because the guy selling the merchandise offered to give me the display copy. I think I had a smile back on my face when he gave it to me. And then my friend and I wandered the streets of Vancouver after the show. Lalalalala <3

the end.

ps.

we bought a new car,

my poor piano is sitting in the garage,

i've been observing my thoughts in the process of falling asleep,

my belongings are potentially ruined because my school apts were flooded,

and my family and I are going to the ever so famous Whistler Mountain next week.

look. all the lines got longer. (say that 20 times)

After weeks of endless events, plans, greetings with people, outtings, and dinners, life has simmered down a little. Which, as most of you probably know, is something I really don't mind. Our church youth group has been preparing for their mission trip--I'm not going, but Debbie is, so while she's away for training, I've finally been able to fully indulge myself in all sorts of stuff. Lately I've been pondering over the beautiful madness that is Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude. I'm just about finished, but gosh...it's like a color swirl--I can't explain what it's about without having to include everything that happens. Even the back of the book doesn't do a good job describing everything that the novel is about. But I liked one line from the the back of the book-- it's about "life against the green pressure of nature itself" (Paul West).

some thoughts

I guess back in Philly, being a PK wasn't exactly my biggest concern and now that I'm here, I'm starting to catch a lot of little things that I say or small things that I do that may seem questionable to others. I was slightly alarmed several times in the past few weeks when I was out with friends...As a result, this initiated a kind of urgency for me to start polishing up my act. Of course, a majority of what I'm concerned about may seem insignificant to most people, but now I've come to realize how it's really the subtle actions, not the obvious ones, that end up constructing the image that people have of you. no?

I just finished watching Vicky Cristina Barcelona. It was directed by Woody Allen, so of course I loved it. If you're into artsy lifestyles but deep down in your core you know how silly the world is and you want to laugh at serious situations, especially if they can be portrayed within a peculiar and ridiculous lens, then you'll appreciate this one. Watch it.

Now the HOUSE! I promised I would talk about the house. The house is still in chaos. The house is still in need of cleaning. Our house is always in need to organization. But, nevertheless! I will talk about the house.

I don't hate the house-- but I'm not fond of the house.

It has two flights of stairs. One, from the garage/entrance to the actual living room. The other, from the living room to the actual bedrooms. After having lived in an apartment, I didn't have to deal with stairs. And now that I'm here, I realized how much I secretly hate stairs.

The living room and dining room are quite large. But that's just about the only thing I like about the house. The bedrooms feel small. In general, the house is definitely bigger than our old home, but then in a peculiar sort of way, it's not. Or maybe we're not using our space efficiently. i don't know.

This one will fascinate you: we have a vacuum system built within the walls of our house. No, I'm not joking. I think most Canadian homes are built this way. It's called central vacuum system, or something like that. It's CRAZY. You're probably confused (it blew my mind when I figured this out), so let me visually explain.

In different parts of the house, there are these "vacuum outlet" things.

You take this snakelike tube

and plug it into the "outlet" like so:

and then it sucks everything up! It's really weird, and I've been trying to decide if it's more convenient than a regular vacuum cleaner is, but it's a tough opinion to make. You have to admit though, it's pretty darn fascinating.

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I've been trying to take pictures of all the mountains I pass when we drive around, but my camera will never do justice. Despite how hot it was the past week, the weather finally cooled down. Maybe too much--my toes are cold and I'm wearing sweatpants right now!

this is what everyday driving looks like

this is everyday driving too. in sepia form. yea.

Just so you know, it's blueberry season. And I've been very much occupied with eating blueberries, packing blueberries, and receiving more boxes of blueberries from church members of all shapes and sizes.

blueberries! packed and ready to freeze!

just so you can get a clear perspective

of the massive amount of blueberries i must eat

And I keep forgetting to take pictures of the SkyTrain, but I took a picture of the rails. The SkyTrain is a little like the subway--only it's better, and cleaner, and more efficient, and not underground, and faster, and quieter, and prettier, and cooler, and cheaper, and smoother, and more convenient, and funner, and did I already mention, cheaper?

I have a secret passion for riding SkyTrains. Well--not anymore, now that I've told you ;)

the end.