The Things You Should Be Thinking About

When you're laying in bed trying to sleep but just can't or you're sitting in class and don't want to pay attention, or you just need something deep to think about, consider these for food for your thoughts:

In the movie "Back to the Future", when Lorraine AKA Marty's mom kisses Marty in the car (ew. Gross!) she immediately feels wrong about it and describes the feeling of kissing him as kissing her brother.  On the other hand, in the movie "17 Again", Maggie, the daughter of Mike, tries to kiss her young-again father and totally doesn't feel weird about anything that happens between them.  We must ask ourselves this question: which is right?  Which would be the most true-to-life, the most plausible, or the least yuck-inducing?  Think about it.

In the movie "Sky High", the children of the superheroes inherit talents similar to those of their parents (for example, Will Stronghold can fly and has super strength, and Layla can control plants, both of their powers being related to those of their parents).  On the other hand, in the movie "The Incredibles" all the Incredible children inherit talents or powers entirely UNrelated to those of their parents (Violet does her force field thing and goes invisible while her parents have super strength and stretch, Dash runs really fast, and Jack-Jack...well, none of us is really sure WHAT he does).  Anyway, why the difference?  Which is more realistic?  Which should be the "norm"?  What other movies can we compare this to?

These are the important kinds of thoughts you should be having frequently.

Absolute Insanity

Once again, I have fallen prey to the evils of procrastination, and as a result I am almost a basket case.  The first thing I procrastinated was my Senior Project.  This, on its own, wouldn't really be that big of a deal.  Sure, I almost had a breakdown when my PowerPoint wouldn't cooperate the night before it was due, and decided that it wasn't going to open, but after some minor tears and angry typing, it ended up working.  But when you combine this with everything else I've procrastinated, it makes for a fun-filled week of stressing out and wanting to die just so I don't have to deal with it (just kidding, I wouldn't drop out, but a nice mild concussion or something that would put me out of commission for, oh, a week, would be nice...still just kidding).  The biggest problem at the moment is this speech I have to memorize for a Debate tournament this Friday and Saturday.  I'm awful at the other event I'm doing, but I don't really care.  However, I know that I can kill my OD (Oratorical Declamation, what I prefer to think of as overdose in my head as the acronym suggests), and so I NEED to do a good job.  The only problem is that I didn't start memorizing until today, giving me exactly one more day to completely memorize it.  (2 pages in 12 point Times New Roman single spaced).  To quote my grandmother, "Life goes on" so hopefully it will, no matter how badly I do this weekend.  My advice to you would be to NOT procrastinate.  Ever.  Allow me to share this poem with you:
"Procrastination is a sin,
It brings great pain and sorrow.
But I can stop it anytime!
I think I'll start tomorrow."
I need to learn from this.  Procrastination ends now! (Aside from all the assignments I'm putting off so I can memorize the overdose).

My Personal Hell

I just escaped my personal Hell--writing a poem in imitation of Dante's Inferno, describing nine circles of Hell.  It was awful...but now it's over and it's fabulous!!!

Third Try's the Charm...Hopefully

Last week, I found out that if I donated blood I "could kill a baby" because of my runny nose, due not to a cold, which I said, but to the fact that I had just been outside.  So, okay, I got over that and decided I would try to donate again.  Well, I get another opportunity to donate blood today, and what do you know?  They say I'm denied and not allowed to donate...because apparently you can't for two weeks after you're deferred.  The you-could-kill-a-baby lady neglected to tell me you're deferred for two weeks.  She didn't give me a deferral card or even inform me of the rule that I can't donate for two weeks.  The fear of donating blood is still on the irrational fears list, folks.  And it doesn't look like it's gonna be off anytime in the very near future.  But the third time I attempt, surely it will work out...I hope.  Time to kick Irrational Fear's trash!

Irrational FEARS

As some of you may know, I have more than one irrational fear.  Well, no longer...I hope.  My goal for this year (the school year--the calendar year is nearing the end) is to overcome ALL of my irrational fears.  Except maybe clowns, because I'm just not sure how I would do that (my mom suggested a date with a clown, which made me gag...ew.)  The Irrational Fears to be overcome are:

My Worst Nightmare: The Wrist Statue

1. Fear of wrists
2. Fear of needles/shots/IVs
3. Fear of donating blood
4. Fear of clowns

Tomorrow, there's a blood drive at the school, which I am currently planning on participating in.  This is the first step in overcoming my fear of donating blood, second step in overcoming my fear of needles, etc (the first was getting an IV to put me out during the removal of my wisdom teeth).  Wish me luck, I'm definitely going to need it.  

Swan Dive Into the Rest of Your Life

Well, I'm getting ready to take the leap, the bound into my future, the leap into higher education and everything beyond.  This year is potentially the most pivotal in determining my future (as well as the futures of all those my age I know).  We're making decisions this year that can make or break us, help or hinder.  If you go to college her and not there, who's to say you won't meet someone different and marry them, and you may have chosen differently if you'd gone somewhere else?  It's an odd thought.  So is choosing a career.  Your  choices could make you millions or could leave you wishing you chose a different path...it's all just so much to handle, but I think I have a pretty good idea of where I'm going to school, what I'm going to choose to study, and how I will accomplish the ultimate goals I have in life.  There are a lot of unknowns, but I think I've prepared as best I can and I just have to go for it now.  Right now, I think this quote fits the situation, though I'm not entirely sure why: "All we have left is hope, because sanity and dignity are long gone"--Tyler Jean.  Just hope for the best and it will all hopefully turn out!

The People I Love

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately, and it's brought me to several realizations/conclusions/other things.  One of the most important things that has come of all my thinking lately has been my love for the people I know and have as a part of my lovely life.  There are just some people that I can't live without, the friends I can call on a rainy day because I think it would be fun to go get wet, or call on a rainy day because I'm sad.  (A literal or figurative rainy day...)  They're the people that make me want to be a better person, to be kinder or more studious or a better friend or just plain better in any way.  There are a lot of these great friends in my life, but there are a few I've really had on my mind lately.  I'd just like to say thanks, I'm a better person for knowing you all and being able to spend time with you and hear what you have to say.  I just love all my friends more than I can say, I hope I stay loyal to the end, I'm working hard for that.

Musica Fantastica:

• You've Got a Friend by James Taylor
• You've Got a Friend in Me from Toy Story (one of the greatest movies of ALL TIME)

I Dreamt I Was Scarlett O'Hara Last Night

The title?  True story.  I really did dream I was Scarlett O'Hara last night, which was kind of weird.  Scratch that, it was totally weird and almost scary because she's just so mean.  But dreaming that I was Scarlett also made "Rhett"/Clark Gable be in my dream.  And trust me, he was totally nice and charming in my dream, not a total butthead like in Gone With the Wind. 

I've Officially Realized I'm A Freak

My new favorite book right now (I think) a textbook of essays.  About lots of different things, illustrating how writers use rhetoric to effectively persuade their audience to view the issue at hand from their perspective and be converted to their side.  Did you catch all that?  It's a book of essays that illustrate good use of your AP Language and Composition class.  I told a girl in one of my classes about how funny this one essay was (it was all about how English teachers are changeable--you write "It drove her bananas" and they tell you to revise it and so you end up giving this big long technical explanation of what precisely being "bananas" means, and if you had turned that explanation in the first time, the teacher would have said "Why didn't you just say 'It drove her bananas?'"...no, I guess you don't think it's funny either) and she just looked at me funny without talking for a few seconds, then went back to the math homework.  In English we had this project thing where we had to do all these examples and things using literature and this book about what literature means...anyway, I over thought every question and my assignment ended up being, well, I'm not going to say, but it was long.  My reward for getting the assignment done?  Annotating the two sonnets I used as examples in two of the questions.  I have officially reached the weirdo/freak status.  I annotated for fun.  I'm reading a books of essays for fun.  And annotating all those essays as I go...as if I'm going to write a paper about them, which I'm not...and yet I still do it.  I have to have highlighter and pen in hand when I read essays and poems and books, what has the world come to?  All this coming from the girl who couldn't even understand why it was important to read a little over a decade ago.  If you had told me this is what I would be doing for "fun" my senior year of high school when I was in first grade, seventh grade, even my freshman or sophomore or junior year I would've told you to go jump in a lake.  But don't worry, I'm still supercool.

Magical Places

Books are things with wings that take you all over the world, and to other worlds entirely.  They take you to places with unimaginable sights and unbearably beautiful landscapes.  They fly you over fields of countries you've never seen and bring you back to your very own bed moments later as you close their distinctive-smelling pages after staying up into the wee hours of the morning finishing a juicy chapter or a whole book.  Books are things with wings, like Hope, with feathers that perch in your soul, carrying your imagination away to unexpected heights and undiscovered corners. 

First Days

When you're on a block schedule at school, it means that you have two first days, your first A day and your first B day.  Today was my second first day, and it was just fine.  My first first day was also just fine.  (I generally like my classes and such, aside from the fact that the school doesn't have air conditioning so it's really hot).  I was a little worried that I wouldn't know anyone in my classes, that I wouldn't like my classes, you know the usual fears.  But this year has surprised me that I actually really do like most of my classes, I think I will have a lot of fun in them and enjoy myself.  I look forward to the rest of the school year (mostly) and I hope that when graduation rolls around I can look back on this as a positive experience.  So far that is looking good.

Last Day

Today is the last day of the last summer vacation I'll ever have.  Okay, so I guess there will be summer vacations in college and whatever, but this is the last REAL one, the last one while I'm in high school and whatnot, before I venture forth to the great unknown next year at this time.  It's kind of bittersweet.  I want high school to be over SO BAD, but I don't want the summer to end, it's just been so much fun, and I know there would be even more if it went on...but I suppose it will be that way in the school year as well.  Oh, it will be interesting to see how things pan out this year, where I decide to head to college next year, etc.  These are the final moments of childhood, fading away like words written with sidewalk chalk after the rain...it's the end, folks.  Enjoy the bright colors while you can.

Bruises

I have to learn how to do a cartwheel, which is a little scary, because I've tried learning about a million times before, but now I really do have to figure out how to do it.  I have a BEAUTIFUL bruise on the side of my knee from my attempts (it's been a while since I've had one as nice as this).  I'm having a blast learning, it's just harder than you'd expect.  I was listening to some music this morning as I sorted laundry, and Bruises by Chairlift (mentioned on Musica Fantastica Trios) came on...and I realized that it's the perfect song for me learning how to cartwheel!  I hope I will learn now that I have a theme song. 

There are Worse Things

This relates back to my last post, the one about my Dream Ballet nightmares.  Waiting in the counseling center line to change my schedule is worse than any Dream Ballet nightmare.  And hour and a half in line, five minutes talking to my counselor, and I was out. Oh, and I would have been out an hour sooner, but they let the football players in before the rest of us, even though they hadn't waited in line for any length of time.  Ticked.  My, I sound cheerful in all of these last few posts.  Don't worry.  I'll be back to my old Zen self as soon as I eat something deep-fried.  I promise that next time I won't be morbid.

Should I be Frightened?

I have to do this dream ballet thing, starting tomorrow, and I'm a little afraid of what that will bring.  I've had dreams about it...and they haven't been the most fabulous dreams, you know.  Most of the time I fail at the little dancing I'm required to do (I mean have you seen me walk?).  Or something else goes wrong.  Whatever, I'll do my best to pretend I'm a fairy-dancer who never falls and is so grace-sorry-I-just-tripped-ful.

Those Little Piles of Yogurt on the Drip Trays Drive me NUTS

There are all these people who just don't know how to clean up after themselves.  Scratch that, there are so many people who don't know how to not make messes in the first place.  I just don't understand, but whatever.  It makes me giggle inside when people pull the lever for the "fro yo" and don't expect it to come out fast and end up spilling it everywhere because they move their cup and don't stop the machine.  I think it's pretty hilarious when they turn and say "I'm so sorry.  I'm the one who did that" to me while I'm standing at the register.  Because it's not like I just watched it happen or anything.  I just giggle inside and clean it up later.  But it does get a little old when 10 or 13 people do it in one night, I have to rinse the rag and change the rinsing water an entirely ridiculous amount.  Funny, funny people. 

Not Really Feeling The Zen

So my current background on my blog is the yoga lady meditating and looking clam and like she's embraced Zen and everything.  I'm not really feeling that so much right now.  Once upon a time I embraced Zen and was chill with everything and was a totally Zen person.  Now I'm not such a Zen person.  I should probably just go back to bed...even though I didn't get up until 2 today.  Embrace Zen.  Except when you don't want to, and then scream into a pillow and hope you feel more Zen tomorrow. 

Schedules

I'm pretty sure my school counselor hates me.  See, I'm one of those seniors that has, um, no required classes left to do (okay, okay, so I have math, English, and a half year of Gov) and a ton of periods to fill, with no real talents (not in choir, not in band, not in orchestra...) and no really huge interests (not a great artist, not really into ceramics, not really into creative writing, etc...), so I have a difficult schedule to put together.  It would seem easy, but then, of course, it's not, just because I thought it would be.  I've ended up with two classes on the same day that are basically the exact same thing...twice in one day.  You see my problem?  Yeah.  So I'm pretty sure my school counselor hates me, I just sent her my 4th email about scheduling.  That's not to mention the 2 others I've sent about receiving credit for the online class I took over the summer.  We're really good friends now.

Musica Fantastica (Trois)

When I was at the dentist on Monday, I had to get my teeth cleaned and a cavity filled (only the third one I've had in my life, and the first in my adult teeth...cavities are one of my worst fears EVER), so Merushka made a playlist for me on her iPod so I could listen to it during the nastiness.  Most of these songs are from that playlist:

• Heavenly by Harry Connick Jr.--this is one of the most adorable songs ever, it has such a great story going on in it!
• A Nightengale Sang in Berkeley Square as sung by Harry Connick Jr.--I find myself really liking this style lately
• everything I've heard this week by Mel Tormé--he was nicknamed the "Velvet Fog" because his voice was so beautiful and smooth, gotta love it
• Far Away by Ingrid Michaelson--it's such a cute song, and has a sweet beginning especially
• Fairytale by Sara Bareilles--so fun and sarcastic and fabulous
• Tribute to Famous People by Pomplamoose (album)--very interesting, I'm not entirely sure how much I like this, but it is entertaining to listen to
• Up the Ladder to the Roof as sung by Sherie Rene Scott--I love it!  I can't precisely explain why, I just do.
• Sleeping to Dream by Jason Mraz--you can hardly get more romantic than this guy
• Everything You Do by He is We--the line "a little pathetic with a dash of ooey gooey so romantic".  I was really feeling exactly like these lyrics put it (and I still sort of am).
• Meteor Shower by Owl City--just feeling a little pathetic (ditto above) and stupid
• All Star by Smash Mouth--I heard it said that "this is basically the song of our generation" and I kind of have to agree.
• Bruises by Chairlift--this song is a good spinning song, but not as good as "the" spinning song, White Sky by Vampire Weekend

Right now I find myself loving smooth jazz and mellow music, as well as anything good to dance around to.  Honestly, I don't know how I would survive without music in my life.

August's Beginning, A Dear Friend's Birthday, and Some Secret Surprises

The beginning of August is both a good thing and a bad thing.  See, because it's August, that means school is starting in less than a month, which is completely depressing (maybe a little good, but only a little), but it also means that Merushka is in town this week, and Tyz had a birthday two days ago.  (Happy Birthday, Dear!)

Speaking of Tyz's birthday, I had a great surprise for her.  See, she didn't know that Merushka was coming to town.  (We've tried to get her down here for YEARS for one of our birthdays, but it's never worked out).  So we made a plan to surprise her, we met up with her at a restaurant for lunch and had Merushka waiting in one of the booths already (she was Tom Cruisin') to surprise her.  The funny thing was that she didn't realize who it was until she was about 2 feet away from the table.  Priceless.

Another great surprise we pulled off was by Tyz, Emily, and myself.  We made a book (a beautiful picture book with a great story) for our friend KevKev, and read it out loud at Tyz's birthday party.  It was truly a glorious thing, and made everyone happy.  (It still needs to be finished, a few of the pages got lost, but nevertheless it was the greatest present ever).

The final surprise was a surprise even to me.  Three of my friends got a picture of this guy who Tyz sort of liked last school year and got him to sign it, then framed it and gave it to her for her birthday.  Good job, guys, I take my hat off to you.

Tom Cruisin'

A few days ago, I was walking across a parking lot in a shopping mall place and wearing nifty aviator sunglasses with my hair flaring out behind me when my dear friend said something to the effect of "I feel like we're in that movie" (we'd been talking about the movie "Knight and Day" earlier) and I said, "Yeah, like we're Tom Cruise and" but I didn't finish my statement (I was going to say "and Cameron Diaz") because I got distracted (I think) by a window display, plus, I sort of left off the "d" in and, so it sounded like I said "Yeah, like we're Tom Cruisin'" which started this whole thing about when you're doing cool things or pulling off secret missions (which we sort of were) that you're Tom Cruisin' like Tom in "Knight and Day".  So, think of Tom if ever you're on a super secret spy mission or if you're in a cool situation people watching in aviator sunglasses or something, it's to your benefit.

Financial Literacy Has Been Conquered

Well...almost.  I am taking financial literacy online so I don't have to sit through a class that bores me to tears, and I'm ALMOST DONE!!!  Today, I took the Quarter One Final, and I finished all of Quarter Two, except for a test review assignment for THE BIG TEST (the FINAL final) and the FINAL final itself.  I'm feeling pretty good about this, I've accomplished quite a lot today...all that's left to do now is finish summer reading...and then I'm free.  Oh, wait, no I'm not.  Then school starts.  I'm going to need a lot of Sherlock and ice cream to get me through Senior year, I think.

I also discovered today that I am psychic, pretty much. 

It's 12:40 am and I can't bring myself to go to bed...

I'm pretty sure this is not a good thing.  I'm blogging right now.  I'm staring at my computer, I can't turn on anything with sound or I might wake someone or something, the rest of the house is dark, I really should be sleeping, I should've gone to bed WAY sooner than when I will, but I was watching Sherlock, and therefore could not turn in any earlier.  Here's the thing: I have now seen the first episode twice, the second once...and I have yet to see the third.  It's gonna happen, and soon!  Because I can't wait that long to see it...plus I have to return the DVDs to the library....where did that train of thought go?  Not really sure...I don't think it's in my pocket...oh, LOOK, there it is, it's SLEEPING.  UPSTAIRS.  IN MY ROOM.  That's where the rest of me should be...well, night all.

Diiiiiiiiirty Turtle

Several Dirty Turtle Cupcakes

(The person who this is for: you know who you are.  I love these, and they have been weaving in and out of my thoughts tonight.  PS you're sweet)

Musica Fantastica (Dos)

So here's s'more music that's pretty darn fabulous.  Explanations may...or may not be given.  Enjoy!

• Hey Love--Jason Mraz, it's just fabulous, and adorable, and romantic...what else do you need?  Maybe a box of chocolates on the side.

• You and I Both--Jason Mraz, it's a cute song, and have you SEEN the music video?  Wonderfully random.  You can watch it here

• If I Die Young--The Band Perry, for a song about a funeral, it's pretty good.

• Hello--Martin Solveig, it's super fabuloso, I just like it.

• White Sky--Vampire Weekend, it's the spinny song, need I say more?  No, I didn't think so. :)

SHERLOCK

Love me some British men.

SHERLOCK AND JOHN...MMM

Love me some crime solvin'.

Love me some Sherlock Fever.

Love me some BBC miniseries.

Embrace it, watch it, adore it, fall for it.  (Seriously.  Watch Sherlock...I don't even know how to say how much it will improve your life.  And if you really love me you'll watch Horatio Hornblower, too.  And we'll have a British movie marathon.  For REALSIES).

The Moment I've Been Waiting For Since...FOREVER

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 is soon to come out in theaters near you!

I started reading the Harry Potter books when I was in first grade (age 6) and have been a devoted fan ever since (note: the books are far superior to the movies).  When I was in second grade, the first Harry Potter movie came out, and then all the others...then the seventh book finally came out, which was like closing the chapter on the larger part of my childhood.  BUT, the seventh movie still had to come out, and I'm still a Harry Potter fan.  So basically, I'm super-psyched.  July 15th is the day I've been waiting for FOREVER...well, ever since the book came out.

So...how do you feel about Harry Potter? :)

Summer=Workouts

I went to this workout class at the park this morning with all these people I know...and it sort of hurt...and my legs are sore...and I sweated (sweat? sweated? sweeted?) like a MAN.  (I would say like a pig, but pigs don't actually have sweat glands, so that doesn't really make sense).  Oh, it was a little harder than I expected, and I think that it will hurt tomorrow...but I FEEL GOOD!!!  Hooray for workouts and stuff like that.

17

SURPRISE! I'm older now than I was the last time I posted something.  (I guess this is true all the time, I get older everyday, but this is a landmark).  So it was my birthday on Friday.  I mentioned the first official Friday Breakfast in my last post, and the second one was...on my BIRTHDAY!!!  It was a total party, plus we had superdelicious syrup for our waffles.  So now I'm officially seventeen years old, and I'm trying to figure out something I can do this year to make seventeen a great year, some goal I can accomplish or something so that this is a very memorable year.  (My mom said that my friend's mom got married at 17 and that's something I could do to make it memorable...she was just kidding, but I said I'd pass since I'm still in high school and stuff like that.)  I think I'm just rambling, but that's what happens anytime I put a pencil to paper or fingers to keyboard.  Gotta love summer!  This will be the last of what I say for now: so many great things happened in my last week of being sixteen, and I have even more hopes for the year of seventeen.  Yay!

PS if I was a wizard, I would have graduated this year.  I'm still waiting for my letter.

The Official Start of Summer

Summer officially starts for the rest of the world on the 21st of June, but it officially started for me approximately 2 days ago.  I had epic times all the last week of school, didn't eat dinner with my family for almost a whole week, and partied like...well, take your pick of "like a rockstar" or "like it's the end of the world".  I guess partying like it's the end of the world should really happen in 2012, because that's what the song says, so I'll go with I partied like a rockstar.  ANYWAYS...I partied.  And then I had a delicious breakfast on Friday of Swedish Pancakes, and then I partied again.  And again.  And then I slept for a while, but now this is just getting boring and redundant.  On Friday I also went to lunch with my good pal Kate, and had a yummylicious sandwich and read some pretty hilarious signs in the sandwich place.  Basically, I had a most fabulous time all week and all parties and got a few minor sunburns, then had even more good times.  This week has been filled with good food, good friends, good memories and EVEN BETTER awkward pictures (the one from the park, the one from the treehouse...among others.)  One of the best weeks I've had in a while, aside from one sort of depressing point.  Four and 7/8 stars out of 5. 

Musica Fantastica

• Party Like a Rockstar (kind of, not really, just the one line)
• 2012 (for the end of the world line...otherwise it's just okay)
• anything by Ingrid Michaelson (my love for it was reignited this week at Friday Breakfast)
• Friday by Rebecca Black (it is now tradition to listen to it at Friday Breakfast)

In Need of a Ladies Night

Have you ever had one of those days when all you want to do tomorrow is have a ladies night?  And then you realize that you have to work tomorrow (which is a good thing, you suppose, because that means that you can party it up the last day of school).  So then you want to have a ladies day, but your friends (at least some of them) already have plans tomorrow.  Then, you suddenly find yourself hearing a Justin Beiber commercial in the background, and you want to watch Never Say Never tomorrow with all your girlfriends because you all secretly want to see it.  Then you realize that the one friend who admits that they want to see it is one of those that already has plans.  Peachy.  So then you think to yourself that you'll call up a friend from somewhere else...then you realize that this is the weekend when they open up their cabin, so that plan is down the drain, too.  And then you just feel depressed and realize that there's probably nothing you can do about it, and you'll end up not having a ladies night forever, and the friends who call ladies nights ladies nights are all training for epic races, so they can't do anything, either...and then you just want to go to sleep for three days straight and not do anything but lay around and watch British movies?  Yeah.  I'm kind of having one of those days.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

It's all going to be over tomorrow.  All the studying and essay writing and multiple choice question answering.  The APUSH test is tomorrow...and I can't wait for it to be over!  And then there's the light: a dance party or other activity to create a fun-filled evening with my friends.  And lunch after the test.  Food is always something I look forward to, in case you ever wondered. 

Some People

Have you ever noticed that there are some people who everything they say (or do or write or whatever) is always profound and meaningful and just plain awesome and blows whatever you do or say or write out of the water, leaving it to dry out on some desolate sandy beach like a starfish?  I just read something a girl I know wrote and BANG! there my writing went.  I can see it on that beach out in the Pacific somewhere, drying up, crumbling away and fading from memory like a dream remembered a year too late. 

Words of Advice

1. Don't talk about IQs.  It makes people fall over. (I speak from experience)
2. Staying up until 1:35 finishing homework and then not getting to bed until 2 am makes for an interesting day.
3. Staring at a wall for and hour and a half can be quite interesting, depending on the amount of sleep you've had. (yes, I did do this today)
4. If you ask someone why they're blushing and they're not blushing, they start blushing as soon as you ask.

Musica Fantastica:

• Oh Darling by Plugin Stereo

I think I'm still pretty tired...therefore this may not make any sense at all. 

History Homework

At the beginning of the school year, back in, say, September, my friend, Natalie, and I had a joke about our history class.  It was AP US History, or APUSH for short.  During early morning cross country practice, (while we were changing after practice, to be specific) we would talk about if we did the homework the night before or not.  Then Natalie would say, "Riley, you're going to have to push me into APUSH," and I would say, "No, Natalie, you're going to have to push me into APUSH."  It's nerdy, I know.  Then, the year went on, I switched schools, blah blah blah, and now we're to APUSH review.  This is the time when we AP students go back over everything we learned this year.  EVERYTHING.  We had the first review to do over Spring Break.  Not so much fun.  And now we have two days to do the second review (it's even longer than the first one).  That's going to be even more not-so-much-fun.  And it just gets better and better, we review, review, REVIEW, REVIEW for all of April, then take the AP test and wait....and wait....and wait....until our scores arrive sometime in July.  Not really my favorite thing, you know?

HOWEVER: there is an upside, I suppose.  We will be watching movies and documentaries and things all about history for all of May, after the AP test.  Oh, how I look forward to the day AFTER the AP test, when it won't weigh on my mind any longer.  It's getting heavier and heavier and HEAVIER!!!

My history class also received instructions on things we are and aren't allowed to do in the month of April, according to Mr. Harris.  Here are a few rules:

• No getting sick
• No skipping class
• No dates, except for Prom
• Only 15 minutes per meal

I guess what I'm trying to say here is this: somebody please push me into APUSH, or I won't be going at all until after the first week of May.  

I'm Supposed to WHAT?

So in my creative writing class, we're doing writing month or whatever it's called all through April.  Every day, everyone is supposed to write part of their poetry book, flash fiction book, short story collection, novel, etc.  This "everyone,"of course, includes me.  Quite honestly, though, I have no idea what to write about.  Anything I write is always too cheesy, too wordy, too fantastical, too something, you know?  But it's my grade, so I have to do it every day in April.  Not that I don't want to, I just don't exactly know how to.  So...GET THOSE CREATIVE JUICES FLOWING!!! 

Suggestions for ways to make creative juices or creative pie or creative cookies are much appreciated. 

Spring Break

I don't think I need to say anymore about this title. 

It's spring break, the sun is shining, the daffodils are still alive (so am I) and I get to see my lovely sister next week.  This is going to be good.  I think I'm going to like not having school every day for a week...but I do have to study for an AP test.  My teacher also gave us "rules" that we have to follow during the month we will be studying our little hearts out.  They include but are not limited to:

• 15 minutes per meal
• No getting sick
• No dates except for Prom

For now, though, I have a happy spring break to look forward to, which will be (hopefully) filled with sunshine.

Today

I had some epic happenings today.  First, I was reading this book that I write random stuff in and I was making fun of one of the pages in it when I realized that I wrote it EXACTLY two years ago today.  Then, I got to hear certain specimens of the male gender display their rather magnificent musical talents.  Next, I got to eat Chex Mix, which makes a good day even better.  The sun is shining today.  ACTUALLY shining, not wussy-shining, but letting me feel the heat and realize that I need sunscreen.  The daffodils in my yard smell pretty awesome, and...

I had to stop writing this post at about 5:20 because I was on the phone...

I GOT A JOB!!! (A real one, like I work a cash register and everything.) Oh.  And I interviewed for it at 6 and started work at 7.  YES!

A wonderful finish to a wonderful day.

Adventure Clothing

If you know me at all, chances are you've heard of my adventure boots.  My adventure boots are these red boots with cool patterns and ribbons that tie on the sides.  They are the article of "adventure clothing" that I speak of most frequently, but they are not the only piece of adventure attire I have.  I have adventure socks, too (not only do I go on adventures in them, but every time they're in the laundry they try to go on adventures by getting dropped, lost, etc.) 

Well. 

I got a new adventure thing today.  It's this dress.  One of my friends said she wanted an adventure dress a while back, and the idea of having one has been stewing in the back of my mind ever since.  Today when I got home, my mom said that she had something for me.  It was a dress that is yellow with little blue polkadots on it that is now going to be my adventure dress, I think.  It just seems like the perfect thing to wear on an adventure, I can't explain why, it just does. 

So to sum things up:
1 pair red adventure boots
1 pair striped adventure socks
1 pair adventure shoes (different than adventure boots)
AND
1 yellow adventure dress

Whipped Cream

Once upon a time last year there was a girl, we'll call her Jane, and her friend, who we will call Jean.  Jane was supposed to go dog-sitting for her mom's friend, and invited Jean to come along.  Upon the arrival of the two girls at the house where they would be dog-sitting for two days, they, of course, checked the fridge to just see what sort of food was there.  In that refrigerator was a can of whipped cream.  Jane pulled it out, looking at it with a calculating eye.  Jean said, "Yeah, it's whipped cream."  Then, Jane got the look.  You know, the one that means there's no stopping her.  She uncapped the can, turned it upside down and lifted it above her head.  She tipped her face back and opened her mouth to do a routine whipped cream shot.  As her mouth filled with the fluffy substance, Jean said, "That is so disgusting!  What are you doing?"  She said it with such disgust that it made Jane start to laugh, not the best thing when your mouth is full of whipped cream.  When she finally stopped choking, she demanded to know why Jean had thought it was so weird.  "It's just so gross, why would anyone ever do that?"  What does this mean?  Jean had never seen or participated in a whipped cream shot.  How sad, how sad.  To this day, Jean thinks it is disgusting and refuses to ever try it.  She has no idea what she's missing. 

The Four Seasons

Apparently, I have missed something somewhere in my education.  I was under the impression that there are four separate seasons, and each is allowed to run its course without being interrupted by any of the other seasons.  But, apparently, this rule has changed, and all the seasons can glom together and make a big mess and winter basically wins over everyone else.  NOT FAIR.  Step aside, Winter, it's Spring's turn.  You'll have your chance to make everyone freeze in a while.  See, it goes like this: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall.  But Winter is under the impression that it goes Winter, Winter, Winter, Even Colder Winter.  Maybe it's not my education that is lacking, maybe it's Winter's education.  Or maybe Winter's manners.  What I'm trying to say here is that snow is completely fine...when it's supposed to be cold and snowy outside.  March is when it's not supposed to be cold.  It's only supposed to be a little chilly, not snowing.  I understand if there are some who disagree, but if I ruled the world, this is how the seasons would be:

Winter: the first snow comes the day after Thanksgiving or somewhere close to that, not in October.

Spring:  temperatures go up a little on January 12, snow is melting by January 31, and is GONE within a week of February 14, and stuff starts growing by March 1. 

Summer: it gets very warm outside in the middle of June and then continues on as normal summer until the beginning of September sometime when it starts cooling off and changes smoothly into...

Fall:  It lasts until it snows around Thanksgiving and is full of really crunchy leaves to step on. 

Those who disagree may submit suggestions for improvement, but all are left to my discretion.  You will be notified if your ideas are accepted and duly recognized. 

Shoes

If I could, I would not wear shoes ever, but since I do have to wear shoes, I make the most of them.  I love pretty shoes, especially high heels, and I love my running shoes almost as much.  A few days ago, I found three pairs of beautiful stilettos, one pair of silver, one of gold, and one of yellow.  I was at a yard sale and was oh-so-tempted to buy a pair, but I couldn't decide which.  It was freezing, and I didn't want to take off my boots to try them on, so I was in a pickle.  Then, the unthinkable happened, and they dropped the price from whatever it was before to WAY cheaper.  So I picked up all three pairs of shoes stat and ran to pay for them.  The first thing I pulled out of my pocket to pay with was a $1 bill, and as I reached into my pocket to get out more, the lady said it was enough and wouldn't take anymore.  So I got these three pairs of absolutely fabulous shoes for $1.  It turned out that the yellow pair was just a shade on the big side and the gold ones were a little funky, so I really only absolutely adore the silver pair, but still.  $1.  I'd say that's a bargain if I ever got one.

Summer

I'm totally psyched for summer.  Why?  I can't fully explain.  I just LOVE summer.  The sun is shining, I don't have to go to school, it's warm at night, and there are so many possibilities!  Take last summer, for instance: I partied it up (kind of) with my friend and her family and all our other friends and their families, I went to my other friend's cabin with her whole extended family for three days, got lost multiple times doing various things (running, driving, etc) and had the greatest time ever overall.  Summer is magical.  No, really, it is.  And it's warm and bright and fabulous.  Maybe I'm the only one who loves summer this much, but I highly doubt it.  Summer...only three months away, but it could kill me to wait.
Musica Fantastica:
Fireflies by Owl City--Fireflies just reminds me of summer, I can't explain why it just does.  Kind of the same way some people associate the smell of books with a library, but different.
You are my Sunshine--this makes me think of the Fourth of July, which is part of summer!

Rain

Once last year I went running in the rain.  Barefoot.  Another time last year I walked around in the rain with three awesome people for about and hour and half and jumped in this HUGE puddle. It was very wet, but enjoyable.  Basically, what I'm trying to say is that rain is pretty much the most awesome thing EVER.  Besides yellow, that is.  When it rains, there are rainbows.  When it rains, there is a lovely smell.  When it rains, there are droplets all over the flowers.  When it rains...it's really fun to run barefoot.  Try it sometime, I don't think you'll regret it.  You should also listen to quality music while you run.  Musica fantastica:

Blame it on the Rain by He is We--I just really like this song for a lot of reasons, and it talks about rain.  As I said before, rain is almost as cool as yellow. 

Rainbow by Oh Land--Rainbows come after rain.  Need I say more?

Yellow

To end all arguments that have ever and will ever take place on the subject, I will say this: yellow is the best color.  Ever.  And it always will be...in my not-so-humble opinion. 
Yellow. 
Just say it to yourself.  Taste it, feel it, love it.  It makes people happy, it's the color of the sun and daffodils, the color of rubber ducks and baby chicks, lemons and bananas. 
Yellow.
It has so much to offer to the world.
Yellow.
There are also some pretty fabulous songs about yellow.  Two of my favorite songs are about yellow, which brings me to my newest thought: musica fantastica.  This is the first in what I hope will be a series discussing a few key fabulous pieces of music. 

Yellow by Coldplay--It's all about everything being yellow and being called yellow.  Plus, it talks about the stars, which are almost as good as yellow.

Yellow Shirt by The Icarus Account--Again, it's all about yellow, it talks about the stars, it mentions the sun, it talks about summer.  Quite honestly, I like this one more than Coldplay's Yellow.  Sorry, Coldplay, it's just the truth. 

Calculators

Yesterday, I added a new application to my calculator...actually, it was my sister's calculator because mine is not new enough to add apps to.  Anyway, I added this application so that I could pass my math test.  I figured out how to use the app in about 30 seconds, and was then filled with utter joy!  I might actually end up with a decent math grade because of my dear (sister's) calculator, which I have now fondly named Cal Q. Lator. 

Here's the thing about calculators:  I love them, I really do.  The only problem is the subject they're tied to.  Get what I'm saying?  It's not that I hate math, I just dislike it.  Luckily, calculators have a few redeeming qualities, which include but are not limited to:

• Cool apps like the one that saved my life today on my test
• The ability to aid with lesser troubles brought on by "the subject" (math)
• Typing capabilities.  Note passing in math is so much fun, right?

So here's to calculators, those little computers that help us delve so far into the realms of math.  Thanks, my dear Cal Q. Lator, for getting me through that test.

Harira

This paragraph is entirely dedicated to my love for Moroccan food.  Harira, a traditional Moroccan dish that I have been privileged to eat several times over the past year, is pretty much the best soup ever to grace the world with it's deliciousness.  At least, that's my opinion of it (so far I haven't met anyone who disagrees--my friend who is one of the pickiest eaters I know tried it last night and LOVED it).  Another Moroccan dish that I adore is beef and prunes.  It didn't sound very tasty to me at first, but then I tried it...and fell in love.  (Note: beef and prunes is very rich, the prunes are very sweet--almost too sweet--but when paired with the beef...fantastic.)  Seven-vegetable couscous is also quite delicious.  I've only had this once, so I can't say too much about it, except that it was delicious when I did eat it, and I would eat it again if I could.  One of my goals in life is now to go to Morocco and eat massive amounts of Moroccan food.  If I could convey how yum-o-rama these dishes are in writing, I would, but, because I can't, you should just go eat some.  Now. 

Clichés

Don't you love clichés?  I do.  I think they're hilarious and...and...just so...cliché.  dictionary.com says that cliché means "a much used expression that has lost its freshness and descriptive power".  But here's the thing, the rub, if you will, is there anything that isn't cliché?  For example, I trip on flat ground ALL THE TIME, and quite honestly, I'm pretty sure being clumsy is cliché.  I can't even walk without becoming part of the never ending world of clichés.  And then there are those who are in love.  They tell you their beautiful "original" story of how they fell in love with "the one"...and it's a story we've all heard the basic model of before, the names and places are all that are different. (This is only a slight exaggeration). Basically, there's no originality in the world.  We are forever cursed to be the most clichéd age because our ancestors already took all the good stories and ours are merely spin offs.  (But good spin offs, unlike some television shows...)

I had a conversation all about clichés not too long ago.  It ended with me being confused and trying to think of a clever way to sum everything about clichés up, and completely failing.  Our conversation was pretty much what this says--we can't be "original" and break out of the cliché mold, we are stuck in a never-ending cliché spiral that makes all things that are already cliché even more cliché.  To quote a song that says exactly what I'm thinking, "it's all been done, it's all been done, it's all been done before" (It's All Been Done by the Barenaked Ladies) Is this confusing to you?  Me too.  To quote another song, "la la la whatever la la la it doesn't matter" (Tonight Tonight by Hot Chelle Rae).  There is no point to thinking about this, so it's time to go wallow in my nutella-less existence.  Or find some chocolate.  That's so cliché, eating chocolate to comfort myself.  And it's so cliché that I even care.  Oh, well.  Epic fail at not being cliché, utter success at having nutella and cheese on my mind all day...again.

PS If you can use cliché more times in a sentence than I can...you win the title of Cliché Master. 

The Meaning of Life

I've noticed that life means a lot of things to different people.  This is the meaning of life to me at this moment: nutella, cheese, good music, laughter, smiling, going on adventures...basically, it's whatever I want it to be or you want it to be.  This sounds really cheesy, but life means cheese today, so it's all good, right?  Right?