Unexpected Freestyling

I'll admit, I used to play soccer. I was never the best, but I was fast and when pushed down I got right back up, sometimes even doing a backwards somersault to get momentum. There was a determination in me whenever I stepped onto the field that I'd never felt before. I recognized that same determination in Indi Cowie after reading the article, "A Soccer Phenom Puts the "I" in Team." Of course, Indi is this amazing 16 year old soccer freestyler who's been to Prague and Rome because she's just that good. "This 16-year-old nobody does things no other girl on the planet can do," she's basically the best and yet she still practices "90 minutes a day" perfecting something I would have stopped trying to reach long before. However, she's still unpopular, unnoticed and hated for her selfishness on the field. So the girl may not pass all that much. At least she's scoring goals! How could a coach complain about that? I'll admit, I'm in awe of her and a tiny bit jealous that I can't do a third of what she can, but that doesn't mean I hate her. How can you hate someone that good? Jealousy is a mean emotion, possessing so completely and driving out any other thought in a person until all they have to say is "we all hate you." A girl as talented as Indi should be appreciated as the "phenom" that she is. All I have to say is, YOU GO GIRL!

Clairvoyancy: Can You Predict Your Future?

Teenagers these days. While some may have an idea of what they hope to do in the future, most of us (yes, me included) are struggling to find something, something we love doing so we don't feel stuck for the rest of our lives. The teenagers from San Diego all seem to have a pretty solid view and anxiety towards the future, concerning what they want to do and where they want to be. I somewhat stand with the Undecided guy and the wanna-be Actress. I love the combination of acting and singing (not necessarily show tunes) but I know that the business of Entertainment is a tough business and I might never be stable with that job, so I lean towards undecided a lot of the time. I agreed with what Jana Tran (Photographer) was saying, "I don't think I'll ever be wealthy, but I think I will be financially stable." I can only hope to love what I do, and be paid a comfortable enough amount to do it.

Where I see myself in ten years is hopefully graduated from college, living in an apartment with a job to pay the bills, possibly on the verge of getting married maybe or at least dating someone. Career-wise, I know I'd love to be able to do something concerned with acting, singing, photography or even English, perhaps writing for a newspaper column or something. I'd like to think I have interesting things to say, things other people would be interested in reading about, but you never know. I think the most realistic of these would probably be writing or photography, since I could always work for my mom, helping her take pictures of people in her studio. Alas, no one can predict the future. I'll just see where life takes me.

Hamlet 2.1

So the beginning of this scene starts with Polonius and his manservant (I guess) Reynaldo. We kinda skipped this part, so we don't really know what happens. I guess it was unimportant, so on to the next. Anyway, Ophelia rushes in, talking fast and crazy-like, saying Hamlet rushed into her room and "with a look so piteous in purport as if he had been loosed out of hell to speak of horrors," he came before her. Polonius is astonished at his actions and Ophelia continues her story. Apparently, Hamlet grabbed her and just stared at her for some time, actually all strange like. Polonius becomes suspicious of his behavior and decides to tell the King that Hamlet has become "mad for [Ophelia's] love."

Quotes: "Mad for thy love?" "He falls to such perusal of my face as 'a would draw it." <-- indication of intense love!

Hamlet 1.3

Laertes, Ophelia's brother, is leaving to go back to school and as he walks and talks with his sister, he advises her on her relationship with Hamlet, basically telling her it is unwise to continue on with him, for his status is well above her own and she must not believe they are fit for each other. Polonius in turn gives Laertes random, general, paradoxical advice, as Mr. Hill calls the "ultimate Dad." For instance, he tells Laertes "Beware of entrance to a quarrel, but being in, Bear't that the'opposed may beware of thee." In "American" he's saying, "don't get in a fight, but if you do, kill the guy." He's basically giving backhanded advice, which doesn't really advise Laertes at all. He's kinda dumb that way. They all hug and kiss goodbye to Laertes and then Polonius turns on Ophelia and gives her the same advice Laertes gave, but in more of a commanding tone, yelling at her really, telling her to cut herself off from Hamlet, to protect her virtue, etc. etc. Polonius, you're dumb.

I remember this scene made me angry, most particularly at Laertes and Polonius. How dare they discourage Ophelia's love for Hamlet, trying to make her feel inferior and unworthy of him.

Overblooming Excitement

I really can't wait for Spring Break. These last few weeks have been killing me!!! Anyone else feeling the drag that is spring semester?

Happiness

Short, sweet and to the point.

Happiness
by Gunter Grass

An empty bus
hurtles through the starry night.
Perhaps the driver is singing
and is happy because he sings.

Babysitting (and Childhood) Fail

Upon the request of the five- and two-year olds I babysit, I discovered I could not recall more than two Disney Princess songs, one of which from the very recent Tangled. I am disgraced.

This photo gives me a whole new view on the supposed perfection of the Disney Princess. Each finds love with a handsome/rich/amazing Prince, which is lame and predictable, they're all beautiful, all nice, all smart, etc. etc. However, this picture depicts a D.P that isn't conforming to every little girl's fantasy. They like to let loose and be silly sometimes, and that makes everyone feel better. I appreciate the face Cinderella is making, one of my personal favorites. (I'm not really sure why Alice is in the picture, but hey more power to her! Not everyone has to be a princess!)

Novel Memories

1865 - Lewis Carroll wrote the epic children's novel, Alice in Wonderland. While Carroll's story may not be my favorite, John Tenniel's illustrations are comical and well done. The 1867 illustrations of Alice In Wonderland are creeepy. Thanks a lot, Arthur Rackham.

1898 - I remember reading, and then seeing movie versions of, Madeline. The one I recall first is when Madeline gets kidnapped and forced into child labor in a lace shop. Not a very child-like storyline, but it was memorable.

1900 - L. Frank Baum. In case you didn't know, he wrote The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Illustrations - top notch. Story - funny and timeless.

1910 - Been a long time since I've heard of/seen/read Goodnight Moon!

Love You Forever. My mom used to read that book to me. Good memories.

CHICKA CHICKA BOOM BOOM - 'nuff said.

Independent bookstore for children??? I wish I had known about this when I was younger. I basically would be living there. I'm going to start an independent bookstore for teens and young adults with built in barista (NOT Starbucks). Yeah, sounds good to me.

To Thine Own Self Be True

(Warning: title has nothing whatsoever to do with post other than it is a quote from the same play)

So Act 1.1 of Hamlet was pretty interesting. Marcellus, Horatio and Bernardo encounter the ghost of the lately dead King Hamlet. Spooky, right? However, he does not say anything, just reaching out his hand a lot, which frankly makes it even creepier. Horatio's convinced he will only speak to Hamlet, his still living son. Why does he think this? All he did was walk towards him with widened eyes and held out hands. Also, why does the king vanish whenever the rooster crows? Is this bird somehow connected with the "other world."

You Cheeky Little Blighter

Sounds british doesn't it? Oh it is such fun to adopt an accent, even if it be on my blog and you can't hear it :) Sorry if I've been absent my dear readers (all 8 of you) but I've not been feeling at all well lately and have been bedridden these past few days. I also tried to stay away from the computer for some reason I now cannot recall.

I purchased two books this weekend, both by acclaimed authoress Dame Agatha Christie. The first one, And Then There Were None, I'd already read but it was such a magnificent read and it was in sixth grade I was obliged to finish it for my awesome English teacher, Mr. Bray. So I feel that if I can't remember who committed the crimes, it doesn't count as rereading....okay maybe it does. Fine, I won't count it on my page count :P. The other novel was Death On the Nile which was only $5.98 despite it being a hardcover. I thought it a very good deal, and a very good read as I only just finished it not ten minutes ago!

So they go a little like this:

And Then There Were None (also known as Ten Little Indians) is a murder mystery about ten strangers all summoned to Indian Island off the coast of England. They're summoned either by a Mr. Owen, a mysterious millionaire who just purchased the mansion on the island, or Mrs. Owen, his wife, for various reasons. There are three women and seven men overall. Turns out, Mr. and Mrs. Owen don't exist and they were invited there by a homicidal maniac with a penchant for justice. See, each of the guests are supposed to have had a hand in a past murder, but are untouchable by law for various reasons. The murderer sees it as due justice to kill each of these people, following a nursery rhyme called the Ten Little Indians.

Ten Little Indians going out to dine;

One went and choked his little self and then there were nine.

Nine Little Indian Boys sat up very late;

One overslept himself and then there were eight.

Eight Little Indian Boys traveling to Devon;

One got left behind and then there were seven.

Seven Little Indian boys playing with a hive;

A bumblebee stung one and then there were five.

Five Little Indian boys going in for law;

One got in chancery and then there were four.

Four Little Indian boys going out to sea;

A red herring swallowed one and then there were three.

Three Little Indian boys walking to the zoo;

A big bear hugged one and then there were two.

Two Little Indian boys playing with a gun;

One shot the other and then there was one.

One little Indian boy left all alone;

He went and hanged himself

…and then there were none.

So the ten people are killed by an unseen murderer, starting with the first choking on his drink after dinner, the last hanging herself in her bedroom. What they find out before, though, is that since they are all alone on the island, the murderer is among them! The really creepy part is that at the beginning there are ten indian figurines on the dining room table and one vanishes each time someone is murdered...needless to say it is thrilling and I love it. A must read!

Death On the Nile is about a wealthy American-born, England-raised socialite who steals her best friend's future husband and goes on Egyptian cruise for her honeymoon. Her jilted friend follows them constantly, and one night, Linnet (the man-stealer) ends up dead, shot through the head. Obviously, it was the jilted best friend, but when she produces an airtight alibi, no one is safe from suspicion. Hercule Poirot, Christie's famous detective, just happens to be on the boat, and does some major sleuthing. Will he catch the culprit? Read to find out!!!!

So yes, they were both fabulous. Read.Read.Read.Read.Read them.

A Very Potter Post

I swear, after posting this you are going to think I am the nerdiest person you've ever read about. But that doesn't matter because I feel this is funny enough to be shared. If it's not, life goes on.

So there's this thing called Youtube, right? That newfangled, teenage website where the most random videos in the world are posted, so that everyone may have a delicious taste of random humor every now and then.
As usual, I must get to the point. Some many months ago I found a series of videos chronicling a play that a group of Harry Potter fans put on in Ann Arbor (I think). It's called a Very Potter Musical and is broken into 2 Acts, the ensuing hilarity spawning over 20 scenes. They wrote original scripts, borrowing various events from the seven HP books and wrote original, humorous songs. It's fan-made, but it's also a parody, poking fun at several characters from the series. My favorite part is that the character Draco Malfoy is played by a girl, and is flawlessly, ridiculously hilarious. She rolls about the stage, taunting Harry Potter and his "lolly-gagging ginger and his stupid mudblood girlfriend." He constantly talks of his father, Pigfarts (the wizardry school on Mars), and how he "wants Hermione Granger!....*quiet voice* and a rocketship."

Needless to say, it's hilarious. Even if you don't appreciate HP, you will find it wildly entertaining. I hope...

Fairy-Tale Logic Alluding...?

One quick question: doesn't this poem remind you of Harry Potter? (Line 11)

Fairy-Tale Logic


Fairy-tales are full of impossible tasks;
Gather the chin hairs of a man-eating goat,
Or cross a sulphuric lake in a leaky boat,
Select the prince from a row of identical masks,
Tiptoe up to a dragon where it basks
And snatch its bone; count dust specks, mote by mote,
Or learn the phone directory by rote.
Always it's impossible what someone asks-

You have to fight magic with magic. You have to believe
That you have something impossible up your sleeve,
The language of snakes, perhaps, an invisible cloak,
An army of ants at your beck, or a lethal joke,
The will to do whatever must be done:
Marry a monster. Hand over your firstborn son.

A.E. Stallings

Dejected and Disappointed

Have you ever been waiting for something, building it up in your head, and then when it finally arrives, you're let down because it wasn't as good/fun/exciting/whatever as you imagined it? Of course you've experienced this! Otherwise your life is a) totally exciting and your reality is better than your dreams in which case I will shun you forever out of jealousy or b) nothing ever happens to you, so you have nothing worth living for, and even if something did happen to you it would always be above expectations because you have no expectations to begin with. If (b) is your problem I feel a mixture of pity and jealousy, but mostly pity. No offense.
My hopes were dashed to smithereens when I finished Pride and Prejudice around the tenth time and decided I should read something else by Jane Austen, convinced it would be as good (certainly not better, for what could be better than the family Bennet and the dour Mr. Darcy?!?! Blasphemous!) as my dear, dear P&P. When I was at Barnes and Noble recently I picked up I Am Number Four, which I finished in a day, not due to it's greatness rather due to the anxiousness to know what happens at the end. To be frank, I feel like I could have written that book, in fact, a better book because it sounded like a lovestruck fourteen year old reading out loud from her diary. Although it was an interesting topic, the sentences were short, choppy and not very eloquent. In fact, the movie was better than the book. Moving on. I also picked up Jane Austen's Emma when I visited B&N, convinced I would be pleased because, come on it's Jane Austen. Plus the back said it was her best novel (lies) so I figured it should be good.
I feel as if it's almost my fault I didn't like it. Okay scratch that. I didn't not like it, it was just boring. Plus I kept thinking "I'd rather be re-reading Lizzy and Darcy's love story, it's much more interesting." Honestly, I haven't even gotten past the first volume. The description of Emma leads me to believe that she's lacking in the "brain department" and the description of her father depresses me because I know he will not be participating in witty sarcasm. In other words, Emma is NOT Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Woodhouse is NOT Mr. Bennet. I miss them. To sum it all up P&P > any other Jane Austen Novel (esp. Emma and S&S). No offense, JA. Love you!

3.1 Diction Excercise!

Annabel Lee by Edgar Allen Poe

(a)
love
child
beams
dreams
stars
beautiful
sepulchre
tomb
darling

(b)
elevation: medium diction (it sounds elevated, but Poe doesn't use many difficult words)
connotation: literal (there's not a lot of representation/symbols/etc. he loved her, she died, the end).
sound: musical (dreaminess, swaying on the sea)
concreteness: concrete (he says what happens. see connotation)

(c)
The dreamy mourning of Edgar Allen Poe's "Annabel Lee" underscores the narrator's longing for his deceased love and the violence of his heartache.