We go to school for eight hours a day. Eight class periods of lectures, tests, quizzes, projects, basically cramming as much knowledge as your brain can take. Needless to say, I think the average high school student's mind is mildly fried by the end of a full day of school. This is why I think that everyone should have a lunch period. If I took eight classes straight through the day, I'm not sure what I would do. My lunch period is what I look forward to in my day. It's a time when I can shut off my mind for 49 minutes, sit with my friends, and let my brain ease off of overdrive.
I'm going to preface the beginning of this story with the fact that I sit with three of my favorite people in the world during my lunch. They're the kind of friends I don't really have to worry about what I say when I'm around, because no matter how stupid it may be, we can all just laugh about it. Now, we may not have the most intellectual conversations in the world...but that doesn't meant that they're not the most entertaining in the world. We spent our entire lunch period today inserting the word "pancake" into movie titles, band names, etc. For example, Blink 182 becomes Blink 18pancake. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows becomes Harry Potter and the Deathly Pancakes. Sir Mix A Lot is Sir Mix A Pancake. I could go on and on.
When I told my Mom about this lunch conversation, she gave me that "you're a stupid teenager" face. We've all gotten it from our parents at one point or another. But honestly, I don't care that those 49 minutes consisted of possibly the most pointless conversation of my life. During this time, I did not have a stressful thought about my upcoming physics test. I didn't dwell on the fact that I haven't started studying for AP tests yet. All I did, was think of great movie titles that we could drizzle in butter and syrup. Everyone needs to have a time in their day when they can kick back, let go of their worries, and simply discuss The Girl With The Pancake Tattoo.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Hopping Down The Bunny Trail
Happy Easter to all! At the moment, I hope that you're scouring your house or backyard for hidden pastel eggs, or indulging in your basket full of chocolate, or sharing a wholesome brunch with people that you love. However, is it just me, or is Easter one of those holidays that I just forget about. There's nothing wrong with it, it's a perfectly lovely holiday. We get Friday off of school, I love treasure hunts, and I love brunch. So what is it that makes this holiday so forgettable to me?
I've pondered the memorability of this holiday several times, and I've come to one conclusion. There are just too many darn things I don't understand about the holiday! Obviously, Easter is quite the religious holiday. Coming from a religiously neutral family doesn't really help me in understanding the technical aspects as to what happened on this day that made it so special. I know that it starts with Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), where you feast and party and sin until the sun goes down. Then on Ash Wednesday, Lent begins, where you give up something you regularly indulge in. Then there's Good Friday, which who even knows what's happening on that day? Then on Easter Sunday, Lent is over and an over sized bunny invades your home and leaves eggs. Excuse me for being confused.
Now this brings me to my biggest confusion. The eggs. If it's an Easter Bunny that is leaving you these little treats...why the heck is he leaving you eggs? Am I the only one who's perplexed by this? Bunny's do not lay eggs. Where did they get these eggs? Were they stolen? Is the Easter bunny really a bandit, nabbing eggs from innocent birds' nests?
Don't get me wrong, I really do like Mardi Gras, and Good Friday, and Easter, and all that jazz; they're very enjoyable holidays. It's just that every year it seems they just sneak up on me. I'm always counting down to holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, however Easter just seems to go right under my nose every year. In order to cure this lapse in memory, I think it's about time I do some reading up on the true significance of Easter. We've all heard the Christmas stories told and retold since before we can remember. We know the tale of the first Thanksgiving by heart. Now I think it's the Easter Bunny's turn, it's time to learn about his origins and culture.
I've pondered the memorability of this holiday several times, and I've come to one conclusion. There are just too many darn things I don't understand about the holiday! Obviously, Easter is quite the religious holiday. Coming from a religiously neutral family doesn't really help me in understanding the technical aspects as to what happened on this day that made it so special. I know that it starts with Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), where you feast and party and sin until the sun goes down. Then on Ash Wednesday, Lent begins, where you give up something you regularly indulge in. Then there's Good Friday, which who even knows what's happening on that day? Then on Easter Sunday, Lent is over and an over sized bunny invades your home and leaves eggs. Excuse me for being confused.
Now this brings me to my biggest confusion. The eggs. If it's an Easter Bunny that is leaving you these little treats...why the heck is he leaving you eggs? Am I the only one who's perplexed by this? Bunny's do not lay eggs. Where did they get these eggs? Were they stolen? Is the Easter bunny really a bandit, nabbing eggs from innocent birds' nests?
Don't get me wrong, I really do like Mardi Gras, and Good Friday, and Easter, and all that jazz; they're very enjoyable holidays. It's just that every year it seems they just sneak up on me. I'm always counting down to holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, however Easter just seems to go right under my nose every year. In order to cure this lapse in memory, I think it's about time I do some reading up on the true significance of Easter. We've all heard the Christmas stories told and retold since before we can remember. We know the tale of the first Thanksgiving by heart. Now I think it's the Easter Bunny's turn, it's time to learn about his origins and culture.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
You Can Pick Your Friends, But You Can't Pick Your Family
Everyone who knows me knows that I'm pretty big on family. Being honest, my parents and sisters are some of my best friends. We're one of those families that eats dinner together every night, we tell each other about our days, spend weekends going to restaurants and movies together, etc. Usually when I tell friends about how much I love my family, they look upon it with envy. However, there is another element to family that they don't take into account. Extended family.
It's Easter weekend, so naturally, a lot of my friends' families are getting together. So all day Thursday, all I heard was how much my friends love their cousins. They tell me that their cousins are some of their best friends, they love spending time with them, their aunts are like second mothers to them, they can't believe their extended family lives so far away. Unfortunately, my extended family isn't quite as close.
I realize that every family - no exceptions - have that crazy uncle, or eccentric grandma, or something of the sort. Everyone has their family drama they have to deal with. However, my extended family happens to have a lot of that kind of drama. Luckily, my parents, sisters, and I try to stay out of it as much as we can. But regardless of what we may want to think, they are our family. They're our flesh and blood, however hard that may be to accept. Dealing with family drama is never fun or easy. For the most part, in my case, it's just embarrassing and extremely disappointing. However, at some point, I realized that I just have to accept that it is what it is. You can pick your friends, but you cannot pick your family, as hard as you may try.
In times of family drama, I try to keep in mind how much I adore other aspects of my family. I shove thoughts of scandal and heartache out of my head, and replace it with good times we've had, and the better times that will come in the future. Sometimes it can be difficult not to roll your eyes at family dinners when your crazy aunt goes on a rant about subjects far passed everyone's comfort zone. But you just have to accept that everyone has their own brand of family crazy, and that is the rule, not the exception.
It's Easter weekend, so naturally, a lot of my friends' families are getting together. So all day Thursday, all I heard was how much my friends love their cousins. They tell me that their cousins are some of their best friends, they love spending time with them, their aunts are like second mothers to them, they can't believe their extended family lives so far away. Unfortunately, my extended family isn't quite as close.
I realize that every family - no exceptions - have that crazy uncle, or eccentric grandma, or something of the sort. Everyone has their family drama they have to deal with. However, my extended family happens to have a lot of that kind of drama. Luckily, my parents, sisters, and I try to stay out of it as much as we can. But regardless of what we may want to think, they are our family. They're our flesh and blood, however hard that may be to accept. Dealing with family drama is never fun or easy. For the most part, in my case, it's just embarrassing and extremely disappointing. However, at some point, I realized that I just have to accept that it is what it is. You can pick your friends, but you cannot pick your family, as hard as you may try.
In times of family drama, I try to keep in mind how much I adore other aspects of my family. I shove thoughts of scandal and heartache out of my head, and replace it with good times we've had, and the better times that will come in the future. Sometimes it can be difficult not to roll your eyes at family dinners when your crazy aunt goes on a rant about subjects far passed everyone's comfort zone. But you just have to accept that everyone has their own brand of family crazy, and that is the rule, not the exception.
Friday, March 30, 2012
The Friday Of All Fridays
Hello! As most of you hopefully know, it is once again the beautiful day of the week: Friday. However, I myself just realized. It was Friday a few minutes ago. Usually I wouldn't forget such an important fact, but I am currently in the midst of the amazing week that is spring break. And with that, I begin my list of thoughts.
1. I tend to jumble what day it is while on vacation.
2. I spend all winter telling myself that I don't care that I'm as pale as pale can be, but then when I gt tan, I begin to seriously question that mentality.
3. Pillow Pets are so much comfier than they're given credit for, I sleep on my Tigger pillow pet just about every night.
4. The restaurant Earl of Sandwich needs to be brought to the Midwest - I had their BBQ ham and pineapple Hawaiian sandwich tonight, and I'm salivating just at the thought of it.
5. Anything that has to do with natural disasters scares me way more than mythical thrills like goblins or ghouls - tornadoes, fires, earthquakes, etc.
6. Soft pretzels and ice cream make the best meals when at a theme park.
7. One of my very best friends who moved away and I haven't seen in over a year is going to be in the same city as me tomorrow, yet I'm still not going to get to see her due to extremely bad timing.
8. People with two different eye colors absolutely fascinate me, but I've only encountered two in my lifetime - the second encounter being today.
9. I saw my second shooting star a few days ago.
10. Life is butiful and I really wish I realized that more often.
1. I tend to jumble what day it is while on vacation.
2. I spend all winter telling myself that I don't care that I'm as pale as pale can be, but then when I gt tan, I begin to seriously question that mentality.
3. Pillow Pets are so much comfier than they're given credit for, I sleep on my Tigger pillow pet just about every night.
4. The restaurant Earl of Sandwich needs to be brought to the Midwest - I had their BBQ ham and pineapple Hawaiian sandwich tonight, and I'm salivating just at the thought of it.
5. Anything that has to do with natural disasters scares me way more than mythical thrills like goblins or ghouls - tornadoes, fires, earthquakes, etc.
6. Soft pretzels and ice cream make the best meals when at a theme park.
7. One of my very best friends who moved away and I haven't seen in over a year is going to be in the same city as me tomorrow, yet I'm still not going to get to see her due to extremely bad timing.
8. People with two different eye colors absolutely fascinate me, but I've only encountered two in my lifetime - the second encounter being today.
9. I saw my second shooting star a few days ago.
10. Life is butiful and I really wish I realized that more often.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Friday Facts
Yes, I am aware that my posts have been few and far between lately. I'd like to say it's because I've been particularly busy, but in truth, I've just had too many thoughts. I have all of these different ideas for blog posts, and I can never choose which to expand on first. So in order to alleviate myself from this overload of thoughts, I've decided it would be a good idea to every Friday, make a list of at least twenty random things that are running through my mind. That way, it'll all just be out there, and hopefully you'll find it somewhat entertaining as well.
So here goes...
1. I think this is the first year I've really appreciated Spring weather.
2. www.rainymood.com is fantastic. I put it on as well as music for background noise, and the result is amazing.
3. I feel like I accomplish WAY more in a day when I wake up early than when I sleep in.
4. My life is slowly beginning to revolve around choices of the future, and that's scaring me.
5. I'm part of the .5% of my school who did NOT see The Hunger Games midnight premier, but I get to see it today, so I'm still excited!
6. I find rainy weather to be generally inspiring.
7. The song "Red Solo Cup" is everything that is wrong with our country.
8. The song "Call Me Maybe" is everything that is right with our country (not really, but it is catchy).
9. The new Footloose movie was good, but nothing in comparison to the original.
10. Shrek and The Parent Trap have some of the best movie soundtracks in all history.
11. Lately I've been plagued with nightmares every night.
12. I live for random acts of kindness.
13. I don't know if I've ever been as shocked at a piece of clothing until I saw a sweatshirt that featured a picture of a giraffe and next to it were the words: "Moo, I'm a goat."
14. On really clear nights, when I look up at the starts, I sometimes feel like I'm in a planetarium, and these are the only times I get the true sense that the Earth is round and spinning.
15. I've taken exponentially less pictures this year than I have any other.
16. I love having painted nails but I hate painting them.
17. This time last year, I was in Italy touring the Colosseum.
18. There are a select few songs that the instant I hear them, my whole body just becomes calm and happy. This list includes "Beyond The Sea" by Frank Sinatra, "Hallelujah" by Rufus Wainwright, "Club 33 Music Loop Part 4", "Drops of Jupiter" by Train, among others.
19. Wearing a pearl necklace makes me feel instantly classier.
20. No matter how long my sister visits from college, it never seems like it's long enough.
Phew! That was a lot of thoughts, and man do I feel better. I hope that they may have spurred on a few thoughts of your own.
3. I feel like I accomplish WAY more in a day when I wake up early than when I sleep in.
4. My life is slowly beginning to revolve around choices of the future, and that's scaring me.
5. I'm part of the .5% of my school who did NOT see The Hunger Games midnight premier, but I get to see it today, so I'm still excited!
6. I find rainy weather to be generally inspiring.
7. The song "Red Solo Cup" is everything that is wrong with our country.
8. The song "Call Me Maybe" is everything that is right with our country (not really, but it is catchy).
9. The new Footloose movie was good, but nothing in comparison to the original.
10. Shrek and The Parent Trap have some of the best movie soundtracks in all history.
11. Lately I've been plagued with nightmares every night.
12. I live for random acts of kindness.
13. I don't know if I've ever been as shocked at a piece of clothing until I saw a sweatshirt that featured a picture of a giraffe and next to it were the words: "Moo, I'm a goat."
14. On really clear nights, when I look up at the starts, I sometimes feel like I'm in a planetarium, and these are the only times I get the true sense that the Earth is round and spinning.
15. I've taken exponentially less pictures this year than I have any other.
16. I love having painted nails but I hate painting them.
17. This time last year, I was in Italy touring the Colosseum.
18. There are a select few songs that the instant I hear them, my whole body just becomes calm and happy. This list includes "Beyond The Sea" by Frank Sinatra, "Hallelujah" by Rufus Wainwright, "Club 33 Music Loop Part 4", "Drops of Jupiter" by Train, among others.
19. Wearing a pearl necklace makes me feel instantly classier.
20. No matter how long my sister visits from college, it never seems like it's long enough.
Phew! That was a lot of thoughts, and man do I feel better. I hope that they may have spurred on a few thoughts of your own.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
A Penny For Your Thoughts?
Thus begins a very random compilation of thoughts that have been passing through my head through the past twenty four hours...
1. RIP Richard Sherman - the absolutely incredible composer of some of the biggest classics of all time (Mary Poppins music, "It's A Small World", etc.) died at 86 years old. So many big celebrities have passed on throughout the past year, I don't think I've been so sad about any of them as I am about Mr. Sherman.
2. When girls scream "THANK GOD I'M NOT PREGNANT!" in my high school bathroom, it makes me sad for my generation.
3. Home made brownies straight out of the oven topped with ice cream are utterly delicious.
4. Who is Joseph Kony, and what is his deal?
5. I get to see my sister for the first time since Christmas break in a couple of days, and I couldn't be more excited.
6. I will never understand the world's attraction to Nutella.
7. My generation is so competitive, it makes anxiety rise in my throat every time I think about the future.
8. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo book series is addicting.
9. I'm really enjoying my little sister's recent obsession with Tom Cruise. Who knew he was in so many good movies?
10. I'm getting increasingly excited for the Hunger Games movie, and I'm extremely disappointed I won't be able to attend the midnight premier.
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1. RIP Richard Sherman - the absolutely incredible composer of some of the biggest classics of all time (Mary Poppins music, "It's A Small World", etc.) died at 86 years old. So many big celebrities have passed on throughout the past year, I don't think I've been so sad about any of them as I am about Mr. Sherman.
2. When girls scream "THANK GOD I'M NOT PREGNANT!" in my high school bathroom, it makes me sad for my generation.
3. Home made brownies straight out of the oven topped with ice cream are utterly delicious.
4. Who is Joseph Kony, and what is his deal?
5. I get to see my sister for the first time since Christmas break in a couple of days, and I couldn't be more excited.
6. I will never understand the world's attraction to Nutella.
7. My generation is so competitive, it makes anxiety rise in my throat every time I think about the future.
8. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo book series is addicting.
9. I'm really enjoying my little sister's recent obsession with Tom Cruise. Who knew he was in so many good movies?
10. I'm getting increasingly excited for the Hunger Games movie, and I'm extremely disappointed I won't be able to attend the midnight premier.
.JPG)
Sunday, March 4, 2012
All Good Things Must Come To An End
*Phew*...that was me finally being able to take a breath. For the last week, it feels like it's been constantly go, go, go. Not in a bad way, this week has actually been fantastically enjoyable, but I am ready to take a break.
This afternoon my school put on its last of six performances of the musical "Hello Dolly!". Don't get too excited, I wasn't a singer or a dancer in this production. If you know anything about me, then you could probably guess that I took part in playing clarinet in the pit orchestra.
My school goes all out for musicals. The costumes, lighting, set, props, everything is top notch. Not only that, but the pure amount of talent that goes into the singing and dancing never ceases to amaze me. However this doesn't come without any work. These high schoolers have been working long hours every day, five days a week, sometimes more, since December to put on this production. As for the pit band, we had only been rehearsing since late January. Blood, sweat and tears go into creating an unforgettable show. Then, all this week, it's been late night dress rehearsals, all leading up to the big weekend of the shows. Four days, six shows, and not a moment to spare.
During yesterday's matinee performance, when the cast was taking their bows and the audience was emitting its thunderous applause, I saw something that really captured how special this moment is. The boy who plays Horace - a senior for whom it was his last show - had a red face with tears welling up in his eyes. That honestly just made my heart want to melt. When you put so much effort - your heart and soul - into creating somethings so spectacular, and it's over, it's such a feeling of sadness mixed with pride. Even though I'm only a junior, I had just the tiniest twinge of the same feeling of sadness that the entire show was over. Never again would I sway to the beat of "Put On Your Sunday Clothes". Never again would I grin as my band director played the Louis Armstrong part in "Hello Dolly!" It's over.
Luckily, whenever that twinge of sadness comes creeping into my thoughts, I can overcome them with the memory of a great show. The thought that I contributed - however slightly - to putting on a show that brought an large audience a great amount of joy and entertainment. That thought makes ever hour of rehearsing and every note on my clarinet worth it. Today we "Put On Our Sunday Clothes" with a great amount of "Elegance" and said "Hello Dolly!" for the last time.
This afternoon my school put on its last of six performances of the musical "Hello Dolly!". Don't get too excited, I wasn't a singer or a dancer in this production. If you know anything about me, then you could probably guess that I took part in playing clarinet in the pit orchestra.
My school goes all out for musicals. The costumes, lighting, set, props, everything is top notch. Not only that, but the pure amount of talent that goes into the singing and dancing never ceases to amaze me. However this doesn't come without any work. These high schoolers have been working long hours every day, five days a week, sometimes more, since December to put on this production. As for the pit band, we had only been rehearsing since late January. Blood, sweat and tears go into creating an unforgettable show. Then, all this week, it's been late night dress rehearsals, all leading up to the big weekend of the shows. Four days, six shows, and not a moment to spare.
During yesterday's matinee performance, when the cast was taking their bows and the audience was emitting its thunderous applause, I saw something that really captured how special this moment is. The boy who plays Horace - a senior for whom it was his last show - had a red face with tears welling up in his eyes. That honestly just made my heart want to melt. When you put so much effort - your heart and soul - into creating somethings so spectacular, and it's over, it's such a feeling of sadness mixed with pride. Even though I'm only a junior, I had just the tiniest twinge of the same feeling of sadness that the entire show was over. Never again would I sway to the beat of "Put On Your Sunday Clothes". Never again would I grin as my band director played the Louis Armstrong part in "Hello Dolly!" It's over.
Luckily, whenever that twinge of sadness comes creeping into my thoughts, I can overcome them with the memory of a great show. The thought that I contributed - however slightly - to putting on a show that brought an large audience a great amount of joy and entertainment. That thought makes ever hour of rehearsing and every note on my clarinet worth it. Today we "Put On Our Sunday Clothes" with a great amount of "Elegance" and said "Hello Dolly!" for the last time.
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