So for a few years now I have been listening to This American Life on NPR’s free weekly podcast. It is “that show by those hipster know-it-alls who talk about how fascinating ordinary people are” to quote the O.C. I don’t actually watch the O.C. but on NPR I heard them discussing how This American Life made it on to this fictional TV show. Anywho, this is a show that is so fascinating because it reveals what is true about me and about us as humans. They do shows about everyday minutiae that you would never think would make for interesting radio. For instance they did a show about superintendents, you know the guys who manage your building? One of my favorite shows was a show all about testosterone, don’t ask me why, I think it just brought to light something that you would never ordinarily think about. Another show that I loved was a show about Guantanamo Bay and things that you never knew you wanted to know.

There is also a television series on Showtime which is even more fascinating because I don’t have to imagine what things look like, what the places they visit look like. (although there is something to be said for getting to use my imagination as an adult) The show last night was incredible, they filmed an Iraqi 20 something, that lives in America and travels around the Midwest and the South asking people why they voted for the war in Iraq. I was so surprised by the answers people gave. I am shocked that many people in this country live in such ignorance. I would encourage anyone seeking truth, seeking beauty in life and in human kind to give this show a chance either on the radio or on TV.

umm I don’t even know what to say.

There is something to be said for the movie that can hold your attention despite the curious lack of anything actually happening. This has to be one of my favorite genres because it allows the audience to really get to know the characters and know their motivations and their idiosyncrasies.  Any movie can have a great plotbut the delivery, if wrong, can ruin the entire movie.  Since I LOVE people and figuring out why they do what they do, this is the ideal form of art to me even though the characters are fictional, they are relateable and I often see parts of myself in the struggling heroes. 

The following are a list of my favorites. 

1. Kicking and Screaming (Noah Baumbach dir./writer)- 5 guys graduate college and spend the entire length of the movie trying to determine what to do next and where they went wrong.
2. Before Sunrise (Richard Linklater dir/writer)-2 twenty somethings meet on a train in Europe and decide to get off the train and explore Vienna discussing philosophy and falling in love.
3. Before Sunset (Richard Linklater dir/writer)-Sequal to Before Sunrise, this time the two meet up again 10 years later and determine that not much has changed and they are still thinking of one another.
4. Waking Life (Richard Linklater dir/writer)-Brilliantly animated story involving a young man in a dream meeting different people and discussing the meaning of life. 
5. Dazed and Confused (guess?–Richard Linklater dir/writer)-This one follows kids graduating from high school, great one-liners, excellent soundtrack and an all around good time.

Holy crap this rollercoaster was an adventure.  I am surprised i didn’t barf all over the place.  Check it out next time you are at Magic Mountain in CA.

My husband and I went for breakfast in one of our most favorite spots on Sunday; Carpinteria, Ca! It is a small town about 15 min south of Santa Barbara, towards LA. We normally frequent Esau’s or Cajun Kitchen but have recently come to love this little vegan/organic cafe called Chamomile Cafe. The food is great, very healthy. The pancakes come with homemade granola sprinkled on top and the oatmeal is great. This sunday i had the breakfast Quesadilla, so the BOMB! I can’t even describe how great the salsa was that came with it. What a fantastic invention, a quesadilla for breakfast!? The quesadilla itself was just scrambled egg and cheese but came with avocado, black beans and, as i mentioned already, amazing salsa. My husband Eric had the pancakes with this syrup that is to die for, we had a side of turkey sausage (brilliant!) and a potato pancake.

So my only complaint is the owner. She is so snarky and micromanages the staff so badly that it really ruins the experience. My suggestion would be to sit outside, that way you don’t have to hear her bitch at her staff and listen to her inability to provide her customers with service. Definately go for breakfast, and maybe even lunch and then go for a walk along the beach you will thank me later.

So i started watching this series called Weeds a few years ago and i am so stinking addicted. The only problem: i don’t get Showtime. So i started downloading episodes on iTunes, and i couldn’t stop. The plot is this; nice suburban homemaker Nancy (played by Mary Louise Parker) and her 2 boys Shane and Silas are saddened to find that after the death of Judah (Nancy’s husband) the money is gone, they are in debt and the future looks grim. Nancy decides to get a job selling weed to the suburbanites and support her family on drug money. You see her go from feeling bad to embracing her new THUG lifestyle and actually become quite a good saleswoman. This show is not for the faint of heart, it is inappropriate in every way possible; from the inappropriate uncle to the poor parenting to the underage sex. But i tell you this, if you have a sense of humor about life, if you can enjoy the demented and if you know that NO ONE in this world has it figured out then you will enjoy this show. I am about to finish Season 3 and grow sadder by the day that there is no next season to quench my thirst for Weed.

Okay back to the original purpose of this blog…. culture according to Amber. So the new band i have been into is called Vampire Weekend, and despite what their name would suggest they are not so goth. I would say they are a cross between the police, new wave with some celtic thrown in for fun. Check them out right away…A punk

I was going to write a post to tell everyone to stop worrying about me. . . that i’m fine. But then i started thinking about it and I’m not really that fine. I don’t really know what to say other than I have no idea what to do about my brother situation. Eric is not talking to him either right now, not by choice but because my brother won’t communicate with us. It’s like he totally cut us out. He is going through some really hard stuff right now and for whatever reason wants to do it alone and I am trying to understand but i just end up hurt and miserable. ACK! I hate being a complainer.

Okay on a happier note: my other brother, Christian, turned 12 today! I was in 11th grade when he was born, I remember getting out of school early because my mom went into labor and then Dustin and I just wandered around the hospital all day since we didn’t want to hang out with mom and watch her go through that much pain. When Christian finally arrived, it was very surreal. . . and has been ever since. Because i don’t have kids (and don’t plan to) he is my surrogate child and i brag about him as if he were mine. He’s so stinkin’ smart, I just love the little creep.

Today i started posting pictures onto my facebook account, old pictures and saw all those faces that i miss. My brother, my friends in Omaha, my sister, my friends from college. I never get to tell those people how much they meant to me or how much i love them, so if you are one of the afore mentioned people, please know you are loved.
To Erin, thanks for making me feel so special and that even though you have a gazillion friends I always felt like i was the bestest. I loved being part of your engagement, wedding and birth of Elias. I am so blessed to call you my friend.
To Jess, you are my sister so love me or hate me we are blood for life. thanks for giving me the courage to know that everything will be alright with my brother. thanks for letting me be part of your life and your wedding and i love you so much.
To Leigh, We have lived in the same state for 3 years now and i still never see you. thank you for going after your dreams and helping me realize it is possible. You have been such a blessing in my life.
To Kristyn, You are my sweet pea! I love spending time with you and pretending that Ani Difranco lives in the back of my car. I have so much fun with you, thank you for being my conscience when i need one and for alway being there when i need you. I was so honored to be in your wedding and to have you as my maid of honor. You are so loved.

To Dustin, please call me. . . i love you. I am so sad that we don’t talk right now, so sad. I miss you everyday. You are my rock and i am starting to crumble without you to hold me up. I love you.

To All, I am missing everyone a lot right now. I think it’s that time of year, 7 years since my baby sister went to heaven. It seems like yesterday. I love each of you and I know someday soon I’ll come see you, or you could come to Santa Barbara. . . it’s kinda magical here. Peas out!

Lunch at Whale Tail Deli today always good and the outdoor seating is awesome. You get to look out over the whole of Arcada plaza. I usually go there for Breakfast (great burritos) but they have a decent lunch menu too, burgers, fries, grilled sandwiches and the staff is awesome! On Anapamu near Wells Fargo Bank