Not much new. Mercury went retrograde on the 17th, so needless to say, things have been pretty technologically nutty. For example, my replacement phone that I got three weeks ago decided to go berserk. However, my stubborn iTunes purchases finally decided to download.
Last Saturday, I began the search for a prom dress. Much like finding a college, it takes a lot of time and energy. Great...
This weekend, however, I have the added bonus of spending a quality Sunday with my lovely biffer and fellow Virgo, S.R.S. [name censored for privacy].
This week has gone by particularly slowly because there are only two weeks left until AP exams (May 3-14). Today, my math teacher announced that we were done learning for the year - a very welcome treat. Today, my AP French teacher also announced that we were kicking into high gear until the exam - not-so-welcome news. I'm only taking three AP exams this year (French, environmental science and English literature). Hopefully I can place out of some boring freshman level courses at DU in the fall!
One last update: my first (of many future pieces) DU apparel arrived today, a super-cozy sweatshirt. It's getting me super-pumped for September!!! All my friends are getting their respective college apparel - it's so spiritful (not a word)!
xxo, S
Friday, April 23, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
The right to sleep
For at least two years now, I have been actively arguing that teenagers are among the most sleep-deprived people on earth. This month in National Geographic, an article by D. T. Max backs up my suspicions.
Read for yourself at http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/05/sleep/max-text
Sweet dreams,
xxo, S
"The natural sleep rhythms of teenagers would call for a late morning wake-up—but there they are, starting high school at 8 a.m... Yet he or she has no choice."
Read for yourself at http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/05/sleep/max-text
Sweet dreams,
xxo, S
Friday, April 16, 2010
Day of Silence
April 16th (that's today!) is the DAY OF SILENCE. The Gay-Straight Alliance at my school will be participating, and encouraging others to participate, in "taking a vow of silence to bring attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment" in schools.
Visit http://www.dayofsilence.org/index.cfm for more information.
Simple actions like removing "that's so gay" from your repertoire show support for the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community. Diversity is one of the most beautiful parts of humanity and we should embrace equality and all differences in all people.
Visit http://www.dayofsilence.org/index.cfm for more information.Think about the voices you aren't hearing today.
xxo, S
Pretty in pink
There is this tree down the street with the most beautiful blossoms on it. I took a bunch of photos yesterday because the light was perfect and I just couldn't resist. I have no idea what the name of the tree is, but the flowers and super soft and fluffy; when the petals fall, the create this thick, pink blanket on the ground.
Signs of spring
Some lucky people have this great view
When all the flowers are out, they weigh down the branches
Someone help me name it please?
xxo, S
Thursday, April 15, 2010
College decision
I made the Great College Decision today - I will be attending the University of Denver, starting this fall!!!!
Thanks to everyone who helped me arrive at this decision. I can't wait to start!
Thanks to everyone who helped me arrive at this decision. I can't wait to start!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
♪ Listen to the music ♫
For all you music lovers out there, I thought I'd recommend some places to get great, new, free music. Most of it is underground, undiscovered, indie music; a lot of it is often really weird. So it's okay if you don't like it :)
Urban Outfitters doesn't just sell overpriced clothing, they've got free music!
iTunes always has free stuff, too.
Amazon is the white of free music - goes with everything!
Save to your computer and open in iTunes for easy compatibility.
Starbucks has their "pick of the week," available every Tuesday at your local *$.
Find a store here:
To leave you with one last link, here is Louis Armstrong's version of Edith Piaf's classic La Vie en Rose - super jazzy and lovable.
"And life will always be
La vie en rose"
La vie en rose"
xxo, S
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Horrible beginning, great ending
Have you ever felt completely out of place? And then something bad happens and you're like "Oh no, should I even be here," "What on earth did I get myself into?" Tonight that was me.
This evening, my grandmother and I ventured downtown to see a movie recommended to my by a friend as "great beginning, horrible ending." The Last Station is about Tolstoy and it only has two showtimes, 8 and 10 PM, at one theatre downtown. This was either gonna be a blast or a bust.
After a lovely dinner and quick stop in a thrift store (I had never been to one before), we settled down in the out-of-the-way theatre and prepared for an evening of twentieth century Russian literature.
The movie started off with a steamy, awkward, teenage sex scene in 1970......
Wait, um, that's not Tolstoy.
Had we gone in the wrong theatre? If so, then the rest of the audience had done the same. Nope. The theatre was playing the wrong movie entirely.
Oh good so I didn't make the mistake.
Still, I had come to see Tolstoy, not some high schoolers declare their puppy dog love for each other. Ten minutes later, a manager came in to tell us they had put the wrong movie on, (thanks, Sherlock, we didn't know) but would have the right one on shortly. I used the extra time to get to know the lovely couple sitting behind us (the wife's name was Stephanie too!) and to get some popcorn. Finally, they put the proper movie on.
And there's no sound.
Finally, finally, they get the film running, and it is spectacular! We even got a free ticket voucher which I might use; the theatre (which I won't name, I'm not that malevolent) seems to play interesting films... if it actually plays them. And really, it wasn't that inconvenient.
Because, for all the difficulty in getting the film started, I thoroughly enjoyed The Last Station. I learned a lot about Tolstoy, his life, himself as a person, and his "Tolstoyan movement." Plus, with an all-star cast of Christopher Plummer, Helen Mirren, Paul Giamatti, and James McAvoy, written and directed by Michael Hoffman, how could you go wrong? I'm glad that, despite some "technical difficulties," I got to see this beautifully dramatic film.
Shall I now go read War and Peace?
xxo, S
This evening, my grandmother and I ventured downtown to see a movie recommended to my by a friend as "great beginning, horrible ending." The Last Station is about Tolstoy and it only has two showtimes, 8 and 10 PM, at one theatre downtown. This was either gonna be a blast or a bust.
Plummer & Mirren and Condon & McAvoy explore the parallels of love in The Last Station
After a lovely dinner and quick stop in a thrift store (I had never been to one before), we settled down in the out-of-the-way theatre and prepared for an evening of twentieth century Russian literature.
The movie started off with a steamy, awkward, teenage sex scene in 1970......
Wait, um, that's not Tolstoy.
Had we gone in the wrong theatre? If so, then the rest of the audience had done the same. Nope. The theatre was playing the wrong movie entirely.
Oh good so I didn't make the mistake.
Still, I had come to see Tolstoy, not some high schoolers declare their puppy dog love for each other. Ten minutes later, a manager came in to tell us they had put the wrong movie on, (thanks, Sherlock, we didn't know) but would have the right one on shortly. I used the extra time to get to know the lovely couple sitting behind us (the wife's name was Stephanie too!) and to get some popcorn. Finally, they put the proper movie on.
And there's no sound.
Christopher Plummer as Leo Tolstoy, who draws the conclusion that all world religions have the same principle: love
Finally, finally, they get the film running, and it is spectacular! We even got a free ticket voucher which I might use; the theatre (which I won't name, I'm not that malevolent) seems to play interesting films... if it actually plays them. And really, it wasn't that inconvenient.
Because, for all the difficulty in getting the film started, I thoroughly enjoyed The Last Station. I learned a lot about Tolstoy, his life, himself as a person, and his "Tolstoyan movement." Plus, with an all-star cast of Christopher Plummer, Helen Mirren, Paul Giamatti, and James McAvoy, written and directed by Michael Hoffman, how could you go wrong? I'm glad that, despite some "technical difficulties," I got to see this beautifully dramatic film.
Shall I now go read War and Peace?
xxo, S
Saturday, April 10, 2010
The most threatening customer ever
That must be me. Allow me to explain...
Today I went to the Barnes and Noble on 86th Street; a fairly normal place to go since I like to read books, and apparently so do a lot of other people. However, I was not greeted by the usual "New Releases" sign. Instead, an intimidating, authoritarian, uniformed black man stared me - and the three other people who entered the store with me - down.
Well, this is a new way to "greet" customers.
After being thoroughly freaked out, I assumed it was just security to make sure no one stole anything from the store. I then proceded down the institutional escalator (the store is downstairs, adding to the institutional, literally-underground feel) and looked around for the poetry section. While I was meandering around the store, I found myself being watched by another security guard; this time, a tall, hulking, bald white man sporting a handgun and beat-you-up stick. The poetry section turned out to be towards the back of the store where yet antoher security guard stood.
Now, there may have been a bomb threat there today. Okay, that's normal, we are in New York so we have to take precautions. Except that my friend who frequents this Barnes and Noble told me she's had the same experience there - every time she goes in.
So... what, did I look like I was coming into the store to 1: stab the cashier with my oh-so-threatening high heels, 2: ignite the books into a raging fire which would 3: explode the building and all the terrifying bookworms inside? Yeah, sure.
Honestly, I did not like being watched as I perused the works of Frost, Chaucer, Steinbeck and Cummings. And if I had to guess, I'd say that the manga geeks felt the same; so, probably, did the history buffs, the mystery nerds, even the causual reader. Moms with little kids in the children's section must've felt pretty concerned, too.
Like, what the hell, Barnes and Noble?! What up with the random - and unneccessarily scary - security? Are you afraid all the poetry lovers are gonna steal all the anthologies?
OR are you trying to employ more of New York's fine law enforcement team? Then in that case, bravo, B&N, way to do your part during budget-cut time. I'm sure burly, police academy graduates feel uber-manly "guarding" books all day. "So, what are you doing in the force now?" "Oh, I watch skinny nerds read books for six hours." "Wow, you must be so tough!" Yeah, I'm sure that's exactly how it goes.
All I'm trying to say is, why the need for so much security in a bookstore? One or two guys at the exit where the don't-steal-books-alarm is makes sense. It's scary having people stare at you while you're trying to find the latest Stephenie Meyer book (as if you don't feel judged enough)! If terrorists aren't coming into B&N, then I really don't see a need for such security measures. A word to the bookstore chain: your bad business tactic is gonna lose you customers.
xxo, S
Today I went to the Barnes and Noble on 86th Street; a fairly normal place to go since I like to read books, and apparently so do a lot of other people. However, I was not greeted by the usual "New Releases" sign. Instead, an intimidating, authoritarian, uniformed black man stared me - and the three other people who entered the store with me - down.
Well, this is a new way to "greet" customers.
After being thoroughly freaked out, I assumed it was just security to make sure no one stole anything from the store. I then proceded down the institutional escalator (the store is downstairs, adding to the institutional, literally-underground feel) and looked around for the poetry section. While I was meandering around the store, I found myself being watched by another security guard; this time, a tall, hulking, bald white man sporting a handgun and beat-you-up stick. The poetry section turned out to be towards the back of the store where yet antoher security guard stood.
A proper greeting
So... what, did I look like I was coming into the store to 1: stab the cashier with my oh-so-threatening high heels, 2: ignite the books into a raging fire which would 3: explode the building and all the terrifying bookworms inside? Yeah, sure.
Honestly, I did not like being watched as I perused the works of Frost, Chaucer, Steinbeck and Cummings. And if I had to guess, I'd say that the manga geeks felt the same; so, probably, did the history buffs, the mystery nerds, even the causual reader. Moms with little kids in the children's section must've felt pretty concerned, too.
Like, what the hell, Barnes and Noble?! What up with the random - and unneccessarily scary - security? Are you afraid all the poetry lovers are gonna steal all the anthologies?
OR are you trying to employ more of New York's fine law enforcement team? Then in that case, bravo, B&N, way to do your part during budget-cut time. I'm sure burly, police academy graduates feel uber-manly "guarding" books all day. "So, what are you doing in the force now?" "Oh, I watch skinny nerds read books for six hours." "Wow, you must be so tough!" Yeah, I'm sure that's exactly how it goes.
Helping policemen become more manly one book at a time
xxo, S
Friday, April 9, 2010
Second spring supper stroll
(Can you tell I like alliterations?)
Took another walk in the warm sunset today and made an unpleasantly surprising discovery: a new, super ugly notice board put up in front of my beloved Starbucks! Completely outrageous!
Now, you can't even sit on the wall, a major meeting spot for kids in town. How do you think it looks?
xxo, S
Took another walk in the warm sunset today and made an unpleasantly surprising discovery: a new, super ugly notice board put up in front of my beloved Starbucks! Completely outrageous!
Now, you can't even sit on the wall, a major meeting spot for kids in town. How do you think it looks?
xxo, S
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Spring supper stroll
Last night, my best friend and I went for an after-dinner (supper) stroll. I took a few pictures, but it was hard to capture the exact feeling of sunset on an early spring day. Everything is still blooming here - so lively!
Magnolia tree in bloom
Perfect red-and-pink sunset with a skeletal black tree outlined against the sky.
Hope you're having a good morning.
xxo, S
Work hard, play hard
Normally my school has three shows: a fall drama, a winter musical, and a spring musical for the middle school. This year, however, as a tribute to Joe Raposo, my school is doing a fourth show. It's called "Just Sing!" and it's about students who are supposed to go to my school - cute idea.
I thought I was done with costumes for the year. But I'm not. Actually, it's kind of annoying because both high school and middle school students are in the cast, so we've got these midget middle schoolers running around messing up our order. Thankfully, the show is next weekend so all this silliness will finally be over.
On another note, it is 88 degrees today! In April! I'm enjoying the hot sun in my tan from the Keys last week... maybe I'll get even more tan ;-) Even though I had to do more Costume work today, I was truly rewarded with perfect spring weather.
On Monday I bought a notebook so I can write (or doodle or pass notes... I mean take notes) wherever I am. It's not the most beautiful nb... but it's pretty awesome. It's orange and completely, 100%, environmentally friendly. Plus, I picked up some f-ah-ncy pens to write with: my favourites, Uni-Ball and Le Pen.
My pens and I are going out to soak up some early spring sun.
xxo, S
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
College acceptances
As it may or may not be apparent, I am off to college in the fall and I've just finished hearing back from all the schools I applied to. The results are:
Accepted
-University of Denver
-University of San Diego
Accepted for spring 2011
-American University
Waitlisted
-University of Miami
-University of Richmond
Rejected
-University of Maryland, College Park
-Cambridge University
-University of St Andrew's
Anyway, I am SO EXCITED to be accepted to the wonderful DU and USD!
Accepted
-University of Denver
-University of San Diego
Accepted for spring 2011
-American University
Waitlisted
-University of Miami
-University of Richmond
Rejected
-University of Maryland, College Park
-Cambridge University
-University of St Andrew's
Anyway, I am SO EXCITED to be accepted to the wonderful DU and USD!
My decision about which school to attend is due on May 1... so we'll see what I decide. It's thrilling to know that in just a few short months, I will be in an entirely new city with people I haven't even met yet. Scary for some, maybe, but I'm excited and can't wait!
xxo, S
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