Haha. I don't have any kitchen appliances in my dorm room. It's too small for that.

Originally Posted by ElysiumFate

I hate when that happens. >.>

Yeah, pretty much. It starts to hurt my brain to think and so I just don't think and forget what I'm supposed to be doing.

It is slightly better now. There is a water purifier in the kitchen which is hooked up to the sink and the ice maker in the freezer, and all the showers have purifiers on the heads as well. The non-purified water is okay but still kinda stinks like dirt sometimes. Back in the heyday of stinkiness I'd actually avoid a shower for as long as possible because being stinky was better than stinking like dirt. :P

I had layers cut in during my last haircut, too, and that definitely makes it a lot harder. My "bangs" don't stay up in the twist as well as they did before, so I'm definitely not going to get them cut as short next time. I don't really have bangs, just face framing layers, but I don't know what to call them.

For sure. I would worry less about travelling if I didn't have to worry about the language barrier. Thankfully in most European countries anyway it isn't too hard to find people who speak English.

I hate it too! It made me almost not try again. xD My 2nd try ended up not being as long, but it worked.

Same here! I totally can relate to all of that.

That's good at least that it's at least a bit better than it used to be. And oh dear! That's kinda sad. But I would probably have done the same!

That's my same problem too! The 'bangs' but not bangs! They're long enough to tuck behind my ears but not long enough to go into my pony tail. They're just a tiny bit too short. They're the ones that love to hit me in the face when it's super windy. xD LOL. I totally know what you're talking about. My hair with the layers - right after I got it cut a few weeks before Spring Break (So Mid March) It's not normally this curly/poofy. Although at times it is - the guy who cut it, styled it a bit, with curlers, and whatnot. No hair spray, thankfully. (I have issues with hair spray. LOL - three words: High School Prom). xD

I've not been around Europe as much as I want to -I've been to Ireland, and then down to Australia as well, but other than that, I've not been out of the States. I do want to travel more though but I don't have the money to. Darned school eating up all my money! D:

cole; I could'nt survive with out a kettle! So you eat all your meals on campus?

There is an extremely annoying loud truck sitting outside my house and the vibrations from the engine are going straight through my head.

@Cloud: Oh, I know. My second (or sometimes third) reply is never as long when I have a post get deleted.

There was some town in my state that had water they could literally light on fire for awhile, so I guess what we had wasn't too bad.

Ohh, that's the best picture I've seen of you yet. Anyway, that kind of layered hair looks best when it's down, but like you said when you try to put it up the bangs don't work with you at all. I'm going to start leaving mine longer now that I know they do that.

I've been to the Bahamas but no other countries yet. I want to travel more in my life. I realized how much I loved it last year when I went to the Bahamas (which you do need a passport for). I think I'd basically just travel half the year if I could afford it.

I hate that! Hopefully they leave soon!

Elysium: Same here! It's like losing the first post when it was almost done just made you go "I can't make it as good as the first one, why try?"

Oh, gosh, that is bad! At least yours wasn't that bad.

Thanks, it only looked like that for a little while as I gave up and put it up in a ponytail and it squished the poofiness that was created by the curls. But it looked ok once I showered and it got back to it's usual poofiness when it dried. It's a bit more insane and out of control when it's it's usual self. Most of the time at least. Hair in general is just annoying most of the time. My roommate knew I had curly/wavy hair, but because I normally have it back, she always told me that she would just imagine me with straight hair.

Oh, that's awesome! I too want to travel more. I got bit by the travel bug bad when I went down to Australia a few summers ago. That was my first solo trip out of the country, and it really showed me that I could travel on my own, if I really did set my mind to it! I'm trying to get my parents to send me back down there as a Grad present next year - I need to figure out how to ask them in a way that doesn't seem so demanding.

Well, I went outside and there's no truck, but there's still an idling engine noise. Can't stand it.

@Cloud: That's exactly what it's like.

When I was younger I never used to let my hair down, so I don't know if anyone knew that my hair was curly in high school. I started letting it down when I started college and don't really put it up anymore unless there's wind or I need it out of my face (like test days). It usually stays in control if it's a nice day, but if I go anywhere with humidity it poofs out within two seconds and looks cruddy.

I don't know if I have the guts to travel alone quite yet, but I'd like to get there at some point in my life. I really want to take a tour across all of Europe. Well, at least as much of it as possible. I'd like to see my ancestral countries, but I really just want to see it all.

Elysium: That's so strange! Could it be a hovering chopper, or something like that? (I've a helicopter pilot for a brother, so my mind randomly jumps to choppers. xD)

I used to love my hair down more when I was younger than I do now. Although it could be that now my hair seems to have more of a mind of it's own. And also with signing, it helps to have your hair out of your face and back, so I just automatically put it up (It also helps too when riding - as I used to ride horses a lot as a kid - from 11 to 19, so I know that's part of always putting it up as well. Humidity does horrible things to hair and makes it not look good at all.

I kind of just threw myself out there, with traveling solo - and went for it. I did have a friend who I was staying with down there, so the flights were the only solo part of my trip. But once you do it, and manage it, it's such a great confidence booster! That would be so cool! Why must there be so many cool places in the world, and not enough money to manage to get over there to see them all? It's not fair!

Yeah, I've thought perhaps it was a chopper possibly, but I also don't see that. I live next to a humongous plot of farmland and they do crop dust over there with a helicopter this time of year but I think it's a tad too early. They must be over on the next street or something. I kinda hope they don't crop dust actually, because whatever is in that crap made me sick for a few days last spring.

My hair is always in my face, but I just kinda deal with it. I look better with my hair down imo. It's cool you used to ride horses. I've never ridden one outside of a state fair or something. Lol, I have these pictures from last year in the Bahamas and they show perfectly what humidity does to my hair.

SPOILERX

and 30 minutes later:

Mmmm, I can't wait to start doing that stuff. I think when I graduate from college I'm going to have to do some sort of trip. And I dunno, we should all just be able to do what we want when we want without worrying about money, lol.

That's strange then - mysterious sound! And that's not good! :( Hopefully they don't do it this year!

I miss riding more, I've not ridden in a few years and I miss it so much. From my first ever (and only) horse show [years ago]

I may need to ban myself from any site I have that has photos - I'm a bit of a photoholic and I have a lot of photos, everywhere. xD LOL! I love sharing pics.

At least you're used to it. You're pretty by the way, but yeah - poofiness! And hardness to try to control it. Last semester, the first two weeks of term, it was hot and crazy humid here. And my hair was like "Not liking this one bit!" xD But hey, with hot weather, my hair does dry faster than it does up north.

How much longer do you have till you're done with college?

Sheiit.

More hot pictures of Ely.

This is so my day.

@Cloud: It drives me nuts because I just think it's my ears sometimes. But I think it's that I'm sensitive to that kind of sound.

Yeah, I really would like if they didn't. I think everyone in my neighborhood would because it's disgusting.

Nah, the pictures make the conversation more interesting. It's nice to find people who aren't afraid of photographs of themselves. You look like such a cowgirl there I'd think you were from around here.

Thank you. ^.^ Sounds like we both need to find some miracle hair stuff that keeps the humidity at bay. It's days like that one that I want to chop all my hair off and resign myself to a dude-cut.

I'm not entirely sure. I need to go talk to a counselor. It's somewhere between 2-3 semesters.

@Cole: Do you have Ely senses that tingled the second I posted that?

Elysium: Sounds can be annoying sometimes. I know I'm sensitive to sounds too, so I can relate there.

Is there anyone you can talk to about it, to see if they can't do it because of how it affects everyone around them?

Alright, I'll try not to over do it - I'm holding myself back. Funny thing is though, I'm not a huge fan of pictures of me. XD I just have a lot from people (or myself - which I handle better as I have more control over what they look like - the pictures) have taken. Haha, back up North it is a big horse area. Not so much where I am now, sadly. :(

You're welcome! Haha, oh, yeah! Either that, or just learn to always throw it back when the humidity acts up and pray that it doesn't drive me crazy even then. Although something to help with the frizz that won't make my body not like me as I don't handle many products like that well, and isn't too expensive, would be lovely. I've tried short hair before - I can manage it, but my hair is even more uncontrollable when it's short. xD LOL!

Oh, you're getting close! What is your major if you don't mind me asking? :)

@Cloud: When I was a kid I thought that I was going crazy because I could always hear sounds no one else could.

Mmm, not really. This little town doesn't do crud unless we complain to the state news and they publicize the heck out of it. Might have to tip them off this year if it's like it was last year.

Yeah, pictures of me from other people tend to look crappy, but we're all our worst critics. That first picture I posted is one of my favorite pics of me.

I've heard that Southern California and Northern California should pretty much be two different states because of how different they are culturally, etc.

Blech, I have to be super careful with hair products because they make my scalp go bonkers if they've got too much fragrance or too many unnatural chemicals in them. I spend a lot of money on hair shit because the natural products cost a lot more but don't mess up my scalp.

It's a combo if liberal arts and psychology. I didn't really know what I wanted to do for a long time.

---------- Post added 05-04-2014 at 02:49 PM ----------

I'm going to go shower so I'll be back in a little while.

Elysium: I have always been more sensitive to noise than most people around me, so there were times that I would hear things that others really couldn't. I stopped mentioning it after awhile as no one seemed to believe me whenever I'd tell them.

That sounds crummy! Maybe if it is the same find a way to let the state news know and tell them that something needs to be done or something.

I don't think I saw the first one you posted, but there are some that I've taken that I absolutely love, like this self portrait I took quite a few years ago. :)

Oh, I can speak from experience that that is ABSOLUTELY true, it isn't just culture - but just atmosphere, how people are, drive, freeways, just live in general is different - so much so, between Northern California and Southern California. And honestly, I prefer Northern Cali much better. And I'll probably be trying to find a job up north when I'm done with school down here because I actually want to live somewhere where there is more seasons than just summer and spring/summer. xD With barely any rain or weather. xD And when it drops below 70 down here, people freak and say it's freezing and any amount of rain, tiny bits of it, freak people out. It's kinda sad.

I use the Herbal Essence shampoo and conditioner, as thankfully that doesn't drive my scalp too crazy, and I recently started using the dye and whatnot free stuff (which I love the smell of), and that seems to be working just fine. Thankfully. I just am super cautious with introducing new products because my body is so temperamental at times, I never know what'll make it be like "Mmmm, no. Don't bring that near me. Ever again."

That's cool! :) I didn't know what I wanted to do for awhile, and I changed majors - and that added on 5 or so more years onto what I had already done. I'm just so over school and the stress that it brings. Thank goodness I only have to get through the last two weeks, and then another two semesters, and I'm done. Unless I decide to go to grad school. xD

Your hearing is probably more sensitive than mine, but I can definitely hear more than others around me. People will try to talk about me from 20 yards away in a whisper and I'm always just like: "NOT a great place to plan my Christmas present, guys."

Yeah, they have a place where you can send in tips, so if it happens again I'll consider doing it. Last year was the first time that whatever they used was so disgusting, so we didn't complain.

I was just talking about the first non frizzy hair picture. ^.^ That picture you showed me is definitely awesome. Very artistic.

Lol, we get a lot of southern California transplants in Colorado and they can't drive for one, and for two if the weather drops below 70, like you said, they're walking around in parkas. All of the native Coloradans and mid west transplants just kinda look at them like: "Pussy," and then walk off comfortably in their flip flops and shorts.

I started using the new sulfate free Loreal stuff for curly hair and it is so good. It smells great and leaves my hair so shiny. <3 I use some expensive Biolage stuff for my shampoo, though. I don't like to let the Loreal touch my scalp because I've no idea what it'd do.

Yeah, I always knew what I wanted to do (writing, editing, artistic stuff) but my father was seriously against it. So, I was just left shit out of luck not knowing what I wanted. At this point I realized I'm almost 22. I'm going to spend my life doing this. I'm NOT going to be miserable, so I'll be doing what I want.

Haha, ruining surprises there! Like "Go a bit farther from me, if you wanna plan anything secret!"

That's nice, at least you can tip them off there. Hopefully it isn't as bad as it was last year though. *crosses her fingers*

Ah, got ya! Ok! :) And thanks! :) I have had people not fully believe me when I Tell them that that pic is a self-portrait. Haha! It is! :P

That is exactly how they are here, and I just stand and kinda laugh to myself. They know nothing of cold. And I am from the same state as them - just from up north. A lot of people don't drive because driving down here is INSANE! Like totally and absolutely insane!

I'll have to look into that and see if it helps me at all. Better be safe than sorry when it comes to things like that. For sure! I'm picky with shampoos and I found the Herbal Essences shampoos and conditioners awhile back and fell in love.

You should do whatever it is that you want to do and know that you'll like. I'm turning 26 in 6 months and I've been in college now since I was 18 (I turned 18 my senior year because of when my birthday was... yeah, this is all just getting so old... And draining.

Haha, indeed. And I like good surprises so I always have to yell it before they admit what they're up to.

It doesn't look like a self-portrait. :) I've got quite a few pics of me on facebook that don't really look like self portraits either...because I try NOT to make them look that way. I mean, more power to the selfie, but at least take quality selfies.

I don't think I'd want to drive in L.A. or anywhere near there. I went to Hollywood, etc., when I was a wee kiddo and I remember we took all the tourist buses because nobody wanted to brave that shit.

My family is originally from Iowa, but I'm Colorado born and raised. Sometimes we go back to Iowa in the winter for a funeral or something and that's when I realize that I know nothing of the cold.

I use the anti-dandruff stuff for my scalp from Biolage. It keeps my scalp happy, but their conditioners suck so that's why I use Loreal conditioners. Best conditioners I've ever found. The sulfate free ones anyway.

*nods* I would like to be an editor for books, magazines...ANYTHING text...except manuals unless I had to. The degree I'm going for is fine for it because technically they don't even care if you have a college degree for editing positions so long as you're good.

I'm not a huge surprise person myself, but I can take a good surprise every now and then.

Yeah, I'm not a fan of the mirror selfies, if you're going to use a mirror, at least use it to see the phone/camera/whatever you're using to see yourself, and that way you don't get the phone/camera in the picture but yet get a picture that is pretty good - sometimes. It takes a lot of practice to perfect the selfie.

Don't. It's terrifying. I'm glad that I live at the north end of the valley so not really too far into the major cities or whatnot. So that helps some but it's not really fun. I can understand taking the busses -- it's not fun driving. And I say that as a passenger as I don't drive myself. Even if I did drive, I would leave my car back up at home as I wouldn't even want to drive down here. INSANITY!

For sure! I know that I'm a weakling when it comes to cold, but compared to SoCal born and raised people, I'm more set off with cold than they are. I'm in skirts, tank tops/short sleeved shirts, and flip flops on days when it's in the low 70's when they're all bundled up, and 'freezing'.

It really takes a lot of work to find a combination of shampoo/conditioner that works right for you, for sure!

Oh, I didn't know that they don't require a college degree for editing! I'm not actually sure what I want to do with my degree when I'm done. But I still have time to figure that out. I'll wait and see. :)

I don't like bad surprises, but who does?

I hate bathroom selfies. They're the worst. The only time I take a mirror selfie is if I want to show someone my whole outfit/body. I can't do that any other way.

I think some other foreign countries are worse with the driving, though. Have you ever seen the roundabout in France next to the Arc de Triomphe? My lord. >.> No lane markers and it's four lanes.

*shakes head* Weaklings.

Yeah, the research I've done says that it doesn't, but I'm sure having a degree helps. I'm not going to quit until I do get a degree. I may go to grad school later if I decide I want to do something more.

I hate bathroom selfies too. But sometimes I get bored and play around with using the mirror to see myself on my phone screen so I can get a decent one at the right angle, but that's the only reason. I won't even do it for outfits, because well... I don't wear anything worth sharing, or I just have someone else take the pic away from the bathroom. xD

That sounds scary! O.o No thank you!

Haha, I totally agree! XD They are! But given the fact that it's almost always warm/hot, and rarely cold, I can understand why, but that doesn't make them any less of a weakling. :P I've a friend in New Hampshire and we always joke that I'm a weaking to the cold because compared to them, we have such mild winters.

Mmm yeah! Degrees do help with jobs. Which is the only reason I've just not given up on school, and kept going for that darned end goal.

I think I've taken two mirror selfies in my life. Usually I don't care to share what I'm wearing, either. I did it once with a prom dress and there was another that I don't remember. I update facebook pictures about three times a year.

Then there's places in Asian countries where people just drive the wrong way on their equivalent of our interstate. XP

Indeed. One time when I was in Iowa I got all impressed because I left soda in the car over night and it froze solid by morning. Never happened where I live.

I've got an A.A. so that helps some, but I want the Bachelor's. I'm too close to quit no matter how much school drives me wonky.

I think I've only taken one in my life - but it was for a challenge with a friend, and it was the only way to get what I was trying to get accomplished done. So yeah. Haha, I do it quite often - I'm a bit of a photoholic. It's kinda bad. All my friends tease me - and my camera goes with me most of the time.

That sounds even more scary!! O.o No thanks!

That would impress me too!

It took me 7 years to get my AA, and then 8 (if I manage to pass the last 9 classes (plus the four that I am taking up and finishing this semester) that I am taking next year to get my BA, which means I'll graduate with my BA when I'm 26 1/2 - so like 4 years later than most people do... Because I'm the one who takes 8 years to get a degree that should have only taken me 4. xDD

I'd take my camera with me everywhere but it's a bit too heavy. I kinda would like to have a smaller point and shoot camera, but I chose the one I have because of the amount of zoom it's got and the high resolution pics it takes.

I honestly think that most people take more than four years to bet a Bachelor's. At least most of the people in my circle have.

Mine is pretty heavy too. But I still keep it with me most of the time - although there are times that I just go for my phone, that takes decent photos.

True, but who takes 8 years on a Bachelors? Me apparently xD

My phone doesn't take the best of pictures so if I want pictures I have to carry around the camera. I'm too cheap to upgrade to a smartphone that would take better pics.

Hey, at least you kept at it. Most people would have given up by now.