if you only knew...

After a long day at classes, I would really enjoy a nice long nap. I have been up for a long while because I spent the night at Alex's house last night with Ben Stamp. We shared a great time last night just hanging out and drinking together. It was then, that we officially decided that we are going to be living with each other next semester. Regardless if we get a house to buy or if we just rent: Alex, Ben, Daniel, and I will all be in a house together. I am excited.

But, back to the nap. I am extremely tired but find it hard to fall asleep. My favorite type of naps are shared in Little Rock while lying in cold, yet extremely comfortable sheets, wearing my brand new PJ's that I got out of my own dresser door, while listening to a muffled TV in the background, and curled up next to Cody. It is during these kind of naps where deep sleep finds us a peaceful dream.

That is what I need right now.

AND, yes, I am fully aware of how this picture makes my hands look remarkably similar to a baby doll's. So save yourself the comments, ;] Ha!

-Marko

home is where your heart is

Coming home from Conway is always a difficult task for me to accomplish because I have no car and must always rely on other people. This, obviously, gets tremendously frustrating after several encounters of miscommunication or faulty assumptions of kindness.

 So, when my mom asked if there was anyway for me to make it home on Friday night for Miles' extremely important game against his previous high school, the high school from which I graduated, in Cabot, I was in a pickle. I knew some people were returning home to Little Rock, but was unable to reach them before they made it back already. With a cry for help, I extended my voice through facebook.

"MARK NEEDS A RIDE BACK TO NLR TO SEE HIS BROTHERS BBALL GAME!"

For the most part, I had no answer and was completely devastated because for once I actually wanted to see Miles' game. My crestfallen thoughts were swirling around in a circle much like the water in a toilet bowl, and some how I was looking down at it all in disappointment.  However, these feelings did not last long because Katie England came to my rescue. She offered to take me home, and while in town she could do some much needed laundry in exchange for ten dollars in gas money. "Dealio," I said. We left after five minutes. 

The car ride was fun because I got to touch base with her about her break. We were classmates in our first semester in college and attended the same high school. Time flew by and the next thing I know, we were at the drive way of my house.

HOME SWEET HOME

It was only recently that I have decided to rekindle my unconditional love of my family and actually be able to express it. I guess that's just part of growing up. I was excited to see my dad, and I could tell it was mutual because as I walked in the door he was taking freshly made cinnamon raisin cookies out of the oven, just for me. We shared these cookies over milk and the headed to Miles' game, two hours early like always. My parents like to be the first one's there and the last one's to leave. Its hilarious.

The game itself was a good one: Miles played amazing and so did his team. They definitely shut down North Little Rock early. It was enlightening to see Miles' so grown up. If there could be one thing that I learned from my Brazil trip, it was that I missed Miles. We were practically best friends growing up, but in high school I tried to separate myself from him, and it worked. We grew apart, sadly. But now, I want to be his best friend again. I want to laugh with him and be simultaneously  goofy and weird. I sense that Miles feels the same way, so we are headed on the right path again. 

Because I went to Miles' game, I missed Cody's second show at the new bar Off Center. Yet, he and I both know that this game was more than a game, it was quality time spent with my family. This is exactly why I decided to stay home in my own bed and wake up to his phone call. [I can always pretend.]

NEW DAY

Today I have a lot to do! With my new semester filled with time consuming classes, I cannot afford to be behind. Like the retched Harmony, I have already begun brainstorming for my three drawing I have to complete in advanced figure and experimental drawing class. Here's what I have got so far:

- minimal composition

- materials: ink, white out pen, pencil, and sharpie

The rest, I can't let you know about! I don't want the internet world prying into my creative processes. I will update, soon enough, with a picture perhaps.

-Marko

so it goes.

Battling the cold, no car and a crowd of hungry lesbians, I managed to make it out to the opening of a new bar downtown called Off Center. The place is based of the ideas proposed by the extraordinary musical talent of Buddy Habig, a friend of Cody's who recently passed away before Christmas. The idea was simple: provide a piano bar for entertainment. Despite the terrible loss, the bar was opened with beautiful and energetic music that is only the result of  Cody Belew. Watching him perform is one of my favorite things to do; he truly is entertainment. There was quite a crowd, too - over 300 people joined in on the fun. If it had not been for Emily Wright, I would have never been able to see my bluebird sing. 

Shortly after the show was over, we headed back to Cody's to get some rest. My first day of classes were today and I had an eight o'clock class. He managed to get me on campus ten minutes before my class, but I had a slight problem. URSA, my internet scheduler, was not working so I had no idea where my class was located. I knew, however, that it was in Mashburn. I thought my building was located at the center of campus, so I ran to the student center and hoped that across from it was my building. Of course, it wasn't. So, I made a frantic run around the buildings in search for Mashburn. And then it hit me - Mashburn is right across from my dorm. 

So, like an idiot I raced back across campus to where I practically started. I went up stairs because I was only following the signs that said, Pyschology department second floor. Nothing, no classes at all. Shit again, all over a pillow case. Finally, I found the classroom on the first floor, the very class I passed going up the stairs. I sat in for three minutes before we were dismissed. What a wonderful way to start the semester.

 I am an official loser.

- Marko

back to basics

I'm home. 

It took almost 20 hours of traveling because of overlays and such to get there, but I did. It was such an amazing trip. I learned to gain appreciation for the things I have in life: family, friends and love ones. Seriously, I can not be more sure that these things are above all the most important. This feeling was manifested into pure happiness when I stepped into baggage claim and saw a very special someone sitting on the chair waiting on me. I couldn't believe it. I was there, back in the place I belong. 

My Christmas was a difficult one, my New Years was easier to handle than I thought, and coming home was gratifyingly beautiful.

- Marko

sing for me again

Sing for me a song to bring me home.

k? thanks.

-Marko

not my favorite

The other day, I was emailed by a friend of a friend who told me that I was featured on a style blog. The site is called vainstyle.com and features all sorts of fun bits of information. Despite some crude comments it was really cool to be on the web page, dispite the look being far from one of my stylish looks.

Here take a look,

oh by the way - its still raining in Rio. I saw Jesus today only because the clouds parted for a short time. We were lucky. I wish we could have seen the view that is so famous, however, the focus was on Jesus, not the view. Maybe this is a sign.

I have a botton that belongs to somebody. I need to get home in order to give it back. I took it away for a long time, and it misses home.

-Marko

the water was cold

Today I woke up to the sound of an alarm clock, hoping to be suprized by the brilliant rays of sun that was yesterday, but, to my luck and everyone else´s who are visiting Rio de Janeiro, there was none.

It is cloudy, windy and sprinkling rain over the beautiful view of my hotel window of the Copacabana port. Why does it have to be like this today? Hmmph. Wait let me rewind some things that have happened since the last entry. Since then, I have had Christmas, gone to the beach and had new years. From December 25, until now, I have not had the internet because we were at an appartment in Guaraja that was unable to reach the wonderful world of the internet.

Not much has changed though, I still miss everyone deeply and will miss even more my days spent with my best friend. Which, on this trip, we have discovered why we are even friends. Once over dinner we were sharing laughter when Camila asked me why were such good pals. We had never really thought about it before, and we didn´t have a clear distinctive answer until one restless night at the beach appartment. We think about the same subject all the time. This subject will remain only to those close to me, so if you want to know just ask. Its odd, I thought I was alone in thinking these things, yet there is Camila right under my nose. Best friends forever, no doubt.

After jumping my seven waves on the Brazilian shore, I am positive that this year will be a good one. I am ready to stay commited to my wishes and resolutions. Are you?

I need my button fixed.

-Marko