It's like you hit me with lightening

Music inspiration for the week: 

Starry Eyed by Ellie Goulding (Jakwob Remix)

This last week has been mind blowing. Mind blowing! We celebrated Tim's 25th birthday, then Ross' 25th birthday, I moved out of the Jungle Gym and into a new house, went camping with Ross and Geoff in the north of Phuket, Tommy made it to Thailand with his friend, Kenny, we hit up beaches, went to big Buddha, met up with Tim, Jason, and their friends who are also visiting, and have been having a grand ol' time ever since. 

Here's the photo recap: 

 Korean BBQ dinner for Tim's 25th

(Photo ruined or made more hilarious by Jason's face - up to you!)

 There's a nice one!

Then, for Ross and Tim's 25th birthday party, we had a party that was 'Only Food' themed. 'Only food' meant that people had to make costumes out of food or food packaging for the party. The results were amazing. 

A friend of mine was asking - "Are people really going to dress up or is this going to be one of those parties with a ridiculous theme where I end up dressed up by myself, looking stupid". 

I responded, "Whoa, whoa, whoa - let me stop you right there. I'm just going to say that, historically, people tend to go all out for our parties. (Reference the 'Anything but clothes' or 'LSD Extravaganza' parties) So, I'm just going to tell you right now that if you don't dress up, you will feel peer pressured to leave until you can find an outfit." 

Just sayin'. Up to you.

Here's the birthday boy! Ross Robinson with a pizza necklace....sickkkkk. (sick disgusting, not sick braaa.)

Jill dressed up as a Thai beer - Chang.

Little firecracker, Geoff.

Poncho-leaf-dress-man and Tim. More often than not, you do get food in banana leaves. Fact.

(Yes, Tim did make these pants out of Top Ramen noodle packets. Complete with a draw string!)

Bob the Mentos Man. He did punt Mentos at one point during the night also.

I didn't know someone had invited Picasso to the party. Chris, straight up, painted his corn flakes box himself!

 
We danced the night away for the last time in our house. That's right, after a year of living in Thailand in the same house, although it has been good to us and tolerant despite the shenanigans, January marked a moving month for the family. I ended up moving into a bungalow on the mountainside overlooking Phuket. It was cool doing the whole house hunting thing and realizing that I'm going to be here for a little while longer. I had all sorts of ideas about where I wanted to live, but when I walked in to the mountain house, I immediately felt at home. It is also kind of cool because this is the first place that I have moved into that has been mine - my little place...to do with what I wish. No parents helping out with rent, no roomies - just me. I felt kind of adult-like and generally psyched. 

 (Blue lights are being strung all around this place now.)

Hallway. Check.

Walk in closet with mondo amount of clothing that still needs to be put away.

You literally have to drive directly up a mountain to find it, but it feels right. So, that was the beginning of the weekend - moving, birthdays, and getting settled. Sunday night, with school canceled for 'Teacher's Day' on Monday, Ross, Geoff, and I headed up to this beach in northern Phuket to camp and chill. It is really unbelievably beautiful and peaceful up there and since we camped at Ao Nang a year ago, it felt right to do it again.

Just like the night sky from Ao Nang. Stars twinkling away.

Not only were the stars bright and beautiful, but right next to the beach is Phuket International Airport and if you lie on the beach, you can watch planes taking off and landing as though they are right next to you. It is pretty neat. I didn't take these night pictures, but they coincidentally reveal what I was experiencing. 

To conclude this monumental and mind blowing week, Tommy made it to Thailand!

Tommy, myself, and Kenny

It is amazing having him here - I am utterly overjoyed. I moved from Flagstaff a year ago - out of The Nook - the funky, homey, and dilapidated house that I shared with Tommy, but despite the time - it is like nothing has changed. 

So, this last week has been magic. I feel really happy and thankful for all of the people I have in my life. Around Christmas time I was seeing photos of friends having reunions back home and I wasn't getting a chance to talk to my family too much, so I was feeling a little lonely. It's funny though - the way life works here - when I start getting a little bit lonely or down, something remarkable happens. A year is a long time, but it can pass in the blink of an eye - so far in 2012, I'm having my mind blown by life, trying to get a grip on this roller coaster, standing starry eyed, vulnerable, and welcoming to the endless possibilities.