Holla holla holla SNAP!!!

I cannot quite explain my intense, savage, overwhelming, catastrophic love for Kansas.

hello city!

as i waist the last half hour of my bostonian stay, i find myself with absolutely nothing to do. so, because i have 6 hours and 11 minutes to think, read, and write on my way home, i figure right now i will post something to keep my blog from becoming obsolete. which it basically is anyway, but let's not go into that, shall we?
First of all, I highly recommend Boston. It's an awesome place. I'm very much enamored of fire escapes and alleys, especially when combined. This is probably why I like Iain's window so much, as it has a view of both these elements. Yesterday in my lonely wanderings around New England Conservatory of Music, (NEC)i found my very favorite fire escape. It's on the side of the YMCA, and I think I would go to NEC just so I could look at that fire escape every day. I also walked down Public Alley No. 810, and I managed to escape the muggers.
Anyway, Boston is a beautiful place. I love being on spring break. I also love the fact that when I get home, I still have 4 days of break to be crazy with my buddies. I am such an awesome travel planner. I think I'll do it for a living someday when I fail at music.
So I think blogs are dumb. I don't know why I have this.
OOH! Iain and I stayed up all night in shifts waiting for Radiohead tickets to go on sale, and we got them! I'm very happy. He did most of the awake part, but that's because he had work he had to do. But I'm a happy person.
That's more than anyone needs and wants to know about my life. Goodbye. Enjoy yourselves.

For those of you who aren't on Facebook...

Happy March! It's so beautiful to be in Ojai in springtime.

Here are pictures of my two most prized possessions.





My Pernambuco tree, c/o Peter.













My viola. That's Abby's violin with it. See if you can figure out which one's which.










I love you guys. Eat pizza.

wow, i forgot about this thing...

Hm. I just remembered about this as I was practicing.
Which, by the way, is all I do these days.
Life according to Sheila:
Get up, eat, school, eat, practice, school, go home, practice, eat, practice, sleep. Start again. Not too enthralling. I hang out with people occasionally. Right now we're on break all week long, which rocks because you get to cut out the getting up and school part of that schedule and add in some more hanging out with people. And going to art museums. And maybe some beach if the weather clears up. And a whole lot of practicing.
Which reminds me: I'm throwing together a recital for hopefully the weekend of may 16th. I'm trying to get the church right now for may 18th in the afternoon. Hoping really hard... Anyway, you're all welcome to come to that, but I'm also seriously doubting anyone will. Except maybe Michelle?? (please!) I'll be playing Bach second Suite, (Prelude, Sarabande, and Gigue), Brahms Viola Sonata #2 in Eb major, Sibelius Rhondo, Bruch Romanze for the Viola, and Walton Viola concerto movements I and II. I'll probably throw in a few things here and there, but that's all I have planned right now. It'll be pretty cool. I have a LOT of work to do, though. Pretty much, if anyone's interested in a good time, a big party, some (hopefully) beautiful music, and lots of good friends, they should come here for that weekend. It'll rock.
Hmmm. What else? I'm wearing socks. Be proud, y'all.
Smoothies are great, Rabic is cool. My name is Sheila, and I think you rule.
The End. Happy Dead Leaders of our Country Week!

Beachy Christmas!

All you chickens rotting away in W. WA will appreciate this photographic evidence that I DID in fact spend my Christmas Eve at Zuma Beach with my friend Peter and his family. Oh yeah... It was so much fun. I'm currently wearing shorts and a tshirt. I love California.
Merry Christmas to everyone.
(From left: Twyla, John, Noah, Andrew, Bingie, Peter, Sheila, Rabic. Rest of both our families were there being anti-camera/taking the pictures.)

thanksgiving!

i love thanksgiving. what better way to spend the day then cooking all day, cleaning, and eating? i think that thanksgiving is God's gift to housewives.
in other news, life's crazy. i keep forgetting i have a blog, hence the complete lack of sheila's presence on this thing.
highlight of the week? (other thank thanksgiving, of course, for which i have sat down for a total of about 65 minutes, and that was for dinner... cooking from 1030 until 430 with a few moments spent changing car headlights with deirdre.) that highlight would have to be seeing wicked live in hollywood on tuesday. that was AWESOME. if anyone ever gets the chance to see that musical live anywhere, do so. it is so worth whatever you pay. i went with a bunch of people from school. lots of fun. we went into this awesome vintage clothes store on hollywood blvd., in which we had a contest to see who could put together the best outfit. i don't think anyone officially won, but it was still a blast. i also walked along looking at all the stars in the sidewalk. there were ones for debbie reynolds, queen, alfred hitchcock, etc. very cool. anyway, that was definitely fun. i have been off school all week, also, which is really really nice. and iain has been home since last saturday, and bingy has been hanging at the homestead since yesterday, so we're all together. i love my family.
anyway, enjoy y'all y'all's thanksgiving, and stay warm and toasty in these freezing chills, and bite yourselves for me.

okay, okay...

i could say something about the my life being busy busy busy, but awesome. about school being nice, and that i like public school. i could say something cheesy about loving everyone and life being a pizza pie. but instead, i'm going to say one thing.
in rainbows is amazing.
go hug trees.
love,
sheila

first day of school!

So her in CA, we start school nice 'n' early. Especially me. I start school early in that I started August 21st, and in that school itself starts at 6:35 for me. 0 period PE. what's not to love?
On happier notes, the first day wasn't too bad, considering. I only felt stupid when I was waiting for PE to start. After that I was fiiine.
And when I have a picture of my newest most awesome possession, after my viola, I'll post it. Until then, I have some sleep to do.
Because I didn't sleep last night. And I got up at 5:45. Ooh, yeah. This'll be a looong year.
Lots of love to you all. I'm not going to be a freak just because I go to public school. Or any more of a freak than I already was... So stop worrying, because I'll be fine, the same Sheila you know and love. Or at least some of you love.
Have fun. Stay cool. Hug a tree.

Gold Coast Music Festival = Da Bomb, yo.

What an awesome week. It'd take me forever to tell you all about it, (as I learned today with Michelle) so I think I'll give you a few highlights. But some of them aren't g rated, so I'll leave those ones out. Let's see.

øGetting up at 6:30 daily
øPlaying quartettes. Who doesn't love chamber music?
øListening to Radiohead on my iPod on the way home. Classical music gets a little bit exhausting after a while.
øPutting entire pieces of watermelon in my mouth at one time for about half the camp.
øProving that it is, in fact, possible to eat a graham cracker upside down.
øLaughing. By gosh, we did a lot of that.
øDrinking water sans hands. And getting it out of the igloo with our noses. Except I think only Abby could do that one.
øThe concerts
øGustav
øDaniel's little sister jumping on him and yelling in Russian/Enlgish.
øWashing my hair in the sink with foamy soap on Friday.
øWinning Super Smash Bro's or whatever that was.
øAbsolutely stinking at pool.
øPlaying the viola. Oh, and getting viola jokes thrown at me by Niv. And making fun of cellos to Peter. And making fun of violins in general, and 'being cool' because I'm a violist. And telling everyone the violin joke.

Speaking of which, I think it's great, and everyone should know it. I learned it at viola sectional.
Why are all viola jokes so short? So violinists can remember them.

And now I'm really sad, because it's over and I'm starting school next week. I'll have pictures eventually that I might consider putting up here.

Oh, and the Pernambuco tree was too cool. I want one of those so desperately... Hey, I don't think any of you guys got me a birthday present. It's not too late, y'know.
In the words of someone truly awesome, *hint hint*

Me 'n' my Big Sis

Me and Lorenna (sans wisdom teeth with chipmunk face)







I'm going to have some fun pictures one of these days, (probably Sunday) so I'll post those then. Until then, however, y'all is gonna have to be satisfied with some major Bernhoft good looks.
Hahahaha. Thatwasajoke.


I'm also starting music camp on Sunday. It's a day thing. I get to leave home before 7 every day from Monday to Friday. Booyah! But it should be really fun. I'm playing a Beethoven and a Mozart quartett and three string orchestra pieces. It should be pretty fun, I think. I'm just praying I won't get tendonitis again... That would probably be the end of my world. So y'alls can join me if'n you want to.

Oh, and for Sean's benifit, please check out my newest link. I love being mean to my friends...

A year???????

In 20 seconds Lorna and I will have lived her for a year! Wow. Amazing.
Has it really been that long? Gosh.
Hm. Well, I'm actually really glad I moved here. I mean, I don't know. I love my old house, my friends, and Blessed Sacrament, but I just love it here so much. Bing's all gung-ho to move to Washington as soon as she can. I really hope I can stay here for the rest of my life. If I can't live in Italy, that is.
Anyway, congrats, Lorna, on making it this far. You rock my world, Keis.
So I think the quote of the day is probably "Shoes are proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
Then again, there's the beer alternative to that, which is always another good option.
But, Lorna, that quote was for you. You and your five inch blue polka dotted shoes..................................
ok, enough dots.
Have a good Sunday. Live life like lice lick limp lips.
No idea where that came from.

Lorna is without wisdom teeth.

Lorna is Seventeen.

Land of Magic

Disneyland.
Yesterday at the crack of dawn (5:30), Deirdre and Bing and I drove off to Anaheim. We met Sean and Andrew D. at 8 ish. It was my first time ever at the Land of Disney.
My favorite rides were the Mountains: Space, Splash, and Thunder. Oh, and It's a Small World, of course. (haha) We took some pretty crazy pictures, walked a LOT, rode a lot of rides, (not Nemo, though. the wait was about 3 hours. No fast passes.) The pictures of Splash Mountain were cool. And waiting in line watching everyone else go down was really funny, too. Food at Disneyland is way too expensive, in case anyone was wondering. But we had a really good time. We left at 9:29, found food and drove home, getting back at about 12:15. It was really only a two hour drive, we just took a really long time looking for food.
Anyway, if anyone ever goes to Disneyland, call me up and make sure I can't go with you.
All you need is love. And trees. And loving trees.
(I did not learn that at Disneyland, by the way, but at home right here in Ojai.)

PS. Happy almost birthday, Deirdre!

PS again: Check out the new link on my sidebar: Yuri Bashmet = my favorite person ever.

Home!

I'm home now. I had a marvelous time chilling in Washington. Highlights?

*ULTIMATE FRISBEE!
*Teaching great CA swing moves to my friends.
*Exchanging funeral stories with Madeline, Hannah, and Claire.
*Insult wars with Snick
*Michelle's poetry
*Singing great Christian songs with people at YFL.
*Deep and meaningful conversations.
*Saying crap around Rose.
*Going to Old Navy

It was a great time, anyway. I'm glad I'm home now, though, because I really missed my viola especially because I've only been free of tendonitis since about a week before I left. I get to clean and cook now, too. That makes me happy. Anyway, I love everyone, and I hope you all enjoy the rain pouring down on Washington. I'm just going to go outside and enjoy the breezy sunshine and maybe swim. Sorry, guys. I couldn't resist it.

Oh, I almost forgot.
"Speaking of liposuction..."

Happy July?

Yeah, I know it's a day late. But I didn't realize how much I love July until today.
I got up at 8:48, showered, ate, did something for mom and then walked up to the pool to get my shoes. I had to walk some letters to the post office. On my way up, I thought, "Gee, it's a little warm today." I looked at the thermometer. 82º at 9:30. "Hmmm. It's already a bit too warm and it's not even 10." (My ideal heat is about 79º) Anyway, I walked in to town, came home, did stuff, went babysitting. We went to the pool over in town, from which we got to walk home. I got home at about 3:45 or something, and went out and looked at the thermometer again. 100º. Ouch. Not even the hottest part of the day. Right now it's 6:24 and 97º. Geezo.
So go ahead, guys. Complain about the cold and rain. I'm going to sit here and wish for a big bottle of ice dumped down my back. And I'm just hoping it won't be 100 degrees when I come to visit. Oh no.

(Editors Note: At 10 or 11 it was still 70 out. All these temperatures were taken in the shade, also.)

I miss Iain

I had to write a poem for poetry class. It was pretty awesome in some sense. If I knew where Deirdre's was, I'd post hers.
Iain left today for Spain. I'm really sad now.
I broke my phone a week ago, so don't expect me to return your phone calls if you did call me. Hot tub+Margie drowning+forgotten phone in back pocket+my awesome natural saving instincts=death to phone. But I hated it anyway, so I'm kinda happy I get a new one.
I opened a bank account today. Finally, and again. The first time they decided to just close it.
I learned my social security number today. It's... hahaha! That was a joke.
Endless Summer by Siria is totally da bomb. Techno music is, by definition, the best thing ever.
Orange, friends, is the best color ever.
I like Modest Mouse.
I'm done writing random things.
Sing, ladies. It's good for you.

Death

My Grandma, Irene Viola Bernhoft, died at 9:25 last night.
Please pray for her soul. Also pray for Grandpa Otto, because he's 92 and he's been out of his mind for a year or so now. And pray for my Dad, Uncle Frank, and Auntie Ruthie. This is going to be really hard on them all. Grandma was an amazing person, and we all loved her so much. So please pray for her.
Thank you.
Love,
Sheila

Her funeral is on Monday, so we're all flying out tomorrow for it. I've never been to the funeral of someone I really loved. I just wanted you all to know that we are sincerely grateful for all your prayers. Thank you so much, guys. I'm praying for all of you too.

Froggie went a-courting

Sheila went a-Washingtoning... or will have, by the end of July. Not sure what the exact dates are yet, but it'll probably be the 10th to the 17th of July. So that'll mean I'll be up for YFL, Emma's birthday, and probably a few other things. Rabs'll be coming with me, so get ready for some minor Bernhoft invasion.
That's about all of my life that's worth yakking about. Why is it that yak means so many things? ("Yaks Milk! If you pick the hairs out, it's really quite nutritious.") I didn't do anything fun this weekend, because all my friends and Deirdre were gone. So I just made money, chilled with Iain and Tristan, cooked, cleaned, did nothing, and messed around in the pool. Mom's friend, Christine, is coming in from England today. I think they already left to pick her up from the airport. And Deirdre and Frannie get home today, so I'll have some friends back, at least. Yay!
Well, stay cool, and no one die until (at least) the end of July. I'm such a poet.
Besame Mucho!

King snakes and death

"Sheila, is that a real snake?"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!!"

What would you do if you were just sitting on your patio and a king snake basically ate you? I hate snakes. There are few things I really hate about California, but snakes, freaky insects, (especially crickets-ugh!), coyotes, and ticks are actually at the top of the list. Lots of hate in my life for those things.
My hate for them equals my love for all you.

PS. Happy 50th post!
PS2. Go onto everyone's random questions. They're pretty awesome a lot of times.