Reading Fish.

Okay. I read. I read a lot, actually. 

I am about to embark on a journey of reading every classic I can get my hands on. This does not mean I will not be reading other more modern books in between and during.. because everyone knows I love a good memoir perhaps written by someone in/fresh out of rehab? O_0

And as you can see, I am beginning with Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (sorry, I dont know how to so that "e" with the two dots above it.) Why am I starting with this book of all books? Well for two reasons. 1) I saw it in Barnes and Noble, thought it had a cool cover and just decided to buy it. 2) Because Bella reads it over and over again in the Twilight series and I feel somewhat like Bella at times. 

So, why not. I actually had no idea this book had so much criticism surrounding it. The first thirty or so pages of the book are not actually the story, but explanations, introductions, and the like by many people including her sister, Charlotte (author of the first published Jane Eyre.) I also did not know that this book was written so long ago. 1847 to be exact. Emily wrote it right before she died at the age of 30 in 1850, sadly and ironically, from a cold she caught at her brother, Branwell's funeral. People died so young back then. Shout out to modern medicine.

But I digress (I've always wanted to say that.) Here I am, on the brink of Christmas break and I am ready to dive in to what has been called a coarse, pagan, demented, insanely-written, topsy turvy, most confusing novel of all time. I'm so ready.

Here's what I've read so far this year (actually since the beginning of summer, I can't really remember what read before that) and I recommend ALL of them to you. Except one.

1. Paper Towns by John Green

2. A Million Little Pieces by James Frey

3. The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall

4. Crank by Ellen Hopkins

5. Dry by Augusten Burroughs

6. Dress Your Family In Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris

7. Go Ask Alice by (Anonymous, actually.)

8. Twilight by Stephanie Meyers

9. New Moon by Stephanie Meyers

10. Eclipse by Stephanie Meyes

11. Apples by Richard Milward

12. Indecision by I don't care because it was an awful book. (Maybe I will like it later in life.)

13. Sellevision by Augusten Burroughs

14. Magical Thinking by Augusten Burroughs

15. Pieces by Stephen Chbosky

16. Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer

17. Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger

18. The Little Prince by Antoine Saint Exupery

19. It's Kind Of A Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

20. The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time by Mark Haddon

and I will be adding to the list soon with what is waiting to be read on my shelves right now:

22. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

23. An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

24. Looking for Alaska by John Green

25. Harry: A History by Melissa Anelli

Also, Hillary just pointed something out to me. The Almost/Aaron Gillespie's band covered the song "The Little Drummer Boy" and Aaron is the drummer for Underoath. How cool is that?

Anyway, got any books to suggest, please do.

How 'bout it?

A Holiday/Christmas/Winter Wonderful Time Mix?

Sounds like a good idea to me.

1. Do You Hear What I Hear by Copeland

2. Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing by Sufjan Stevens

3. Christmas/Sarajevo 12/24 by Trans-Siberian Orchestra

4. A Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives

5. Little Saint Nick by The Beach Boys

6. My Only Wish (This Year) by Britney Spears

7. Christmas Windows by Youth Group

8. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town by Perry Como

9. Silver Bells by Johnny Mathis

10. Little Drummer Boy by The Almost

11. Wonderful Christmastime by Paul McCartney

12. Silent Night by House of Heroes

13. Carol Of The Bells by August Burns Red

15. Christmas In Dixie by Alabama

16. O Come O Come Emmanuel by Shane and Shane

17. Sing We Now Of Christmas by Barlow Girl

18. All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey

19. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus by John Mellencamp

20. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas by Judy Garland

21. Here Comes Santa Claus by Gene Autry

22. Baby, It's Cold Outside by Dean Martin and Doris Day

23. White Christmas by Bing Crosby

24. Carol Of The Bells by The Bird and The Bee

25. Hard Candy Christmas by Dolly Parton

26. Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) by Death Cab For Cutie

27. Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms and The Anita Kerr Singer

28. 12 Days Of Christmas by The Andrews Sister

29. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays by *NSYNC

30. The Christmas Song by The Nat King Cole Trio

31. Carol Of The Bells by Thrice

Obviously, I love Carol Of The Bells. I have like 9 versions of it. O_O

ALRIGHT. Get to downloadin' or whatever it is that you do. Just listen.

It's Kind Of A Funny Story

I just finished reading this last night!

First of all, I had no idea what was in for when I started reading this book.

And I hardly know what to say about it now! SO I'm just going to tell you to head to Barnes and Noble and pick it up. Yes, it is in the young adult fiction section (or something to that effect), but it is not, by any means, childish.

Give this and Ned V. a chance.

GO! NOW.

Directions.

Where am I taking this blog?

In all kinds of new directions.

But more focused ones.

I've pondered long and often about what I wanted to use to blog specifically for, and I have finally decided. First, I tried to think about things I like, things I know about, things that I could know more about, things that are legitimate, things that are important to me, things that are important to everyone. I want to talk about music, books, and movies. Everyone listens to music or has music in their lives somehow, and everyone watches or at least knows about movies. People, seriously, if you don't read (or don't know how...) please change that a.s.a.p. Certainly there is someone around you who can help with this unfortunate situation, if need be.

I have expounded on these many a time before, but now I am going to concentrate only on these for a while. However, this is not entirely set in stone, I'm just trying it out for now.

What kinds of music and what will I do with it? Just talk about it, relate it to a style, critique it, connect with it and connect others to it. I will make playlists, top 5 lists, any lists! I will go in depth about artists, who sounds like who, who is here and now, who is to come, and who really just needs to go. I feel pretty confident that I can accurately do this and do it good. Yes, I could have said 'well' but the impact of my improper word usage gave the right effect. 

Also, books! I read often, and with passion. I love when people recommend books and I'm pretty open to any kind of genre. I will be staying more or less away from the mystery novels that my grandmother reads, unless someone really realllyyyy thinks I need to read it. Personally, I miss Reading Rainbow, and I would like to make that happen again, here and now. There is a YouTube Channel devoted to this very thing, and I plan to take part in video responses there as well. (I might just post them here, actually.)

And finally, movies. New, old, weird, romantic, scary, disney, nickelodeon, indie, musicals, documentaries, Wes Anderson, Wes Craven, rated G and rated R (in most cases). I watch a lot of movies, and feel like all the time devoted to such a thing requires a bit of acknowledgement afterwards. I have a busy brain and a great multitude of thoughts and thought-trains when it comes to movies, and I just feel the need to share them with the world. And those who read this blog, mostly.

So, why am I being so broad. Why was it so hard to think of this? Well, I honestly thought of it right away, but I felt like I could never been good at writing about those things whatsoever. But then I really starting thinking about it, giving it some good quality "lets think about things before we go to sleep" time. And it all just kind of came together. I definitely decided that I'm staying away from celebrity gossip and probably won't deliver a profound blog about fashion or anything pertaining to it. 

But music...books...movies. They all flow into each other, one spilling into the next, never-ending. A book is made into a movie in which there is a soundtrack and the music could have been inspired previously by another book or movie and then people buy the soundtrack or download the song and listen to it while they write they own books and screenplays for films. Truthfully, there's hardly a way for one to exist without the other anymore. Or at least be great. I feel a quote coming on.

"Some are born great. Some achieve great. And some have greatness thrust upon them." -Channing Tatum in "She's The Man". I know, I know, lame quote. But it just came to me, I had to let it out!

Seriously, though. I will take each song I hear, movie I see, and book I read and taste it, feel it, get to know it as best as I can. And then share what I've discovered. And yes, I will be rather opinionated. This is a blog and definitely more than entitled to than HERE of all places.

So, here I am world. My new direction is exciting, fresh, undiscovered. I outstretch my arms and run at full speed. 

All I Have To Do Is Run My Mouth Off.

I wanna go on a trip. 

I want to leave here even for just a day or two and drive with adventurous intentions.

I want it to be a multitude of us, all with the same goal. Even if that goal is unbeknownst to us.

I would watch the world from inside like a 2 a.m. chinatown bus passenger. 

I would take pictures of all the everything's and nothing's so we may remember it all.

Also, that book up there is Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer. I am about to start reading it again, its that good. I just feel like I didn't get everything out of it that I should have the first time around. 

When I'm done, I'm definitely planning to contribute to the WeMissReadingRainbow channel on YouTube and make my own book review. :)

Seared in the Fire of Something New.

I haven't blogged with quite as much passion as I used to in recent fortnights. My reasons for this are vague and unimportant. The fact of the matter is that I don't wish to waste time in stating all of these reasons when I could very well speak plainly and move beyond. 

Also, I did indeed see the film "The Duchess" tonight, and Keira Knightly does tend to get into my head, at which point my words are more hers than mine. This happens all the time, so stop your thinking that this is any extraordinary occurrence. Excuse me while I make myself sound stupid again...

Alrighty. So here's the deal, comrades. I have to write a blog for my Yearbook Midterm. Not just any blog, a blog about something I ACTUALLY LIKE. Not that I am entirely lacking in the hobbies and interests department... It's quite the opposite. I love so many things, and hardly have a focus to speak of. I don't do just any one thing all the time, and much less do it to perfection or excellence. I do all kinds of things so how am I to pick? Well, eff. Let's just say it's going to take a lot of blog hopping and scribbling in my new molesk--- HOLY CRAP.

I definitely forgot to mention that I just started Moleskine #2. This is a monumental occasion in my life... and I'm already on page 15 or something, bro. I filled up a multitude of pages whilst interviewing Erin McDermott tonight at dinner (for my profile pages in the yearbook.) I'm hoping to get at least one finished per year, each starting sometime in October. I finished the first one only a couple weeks early and that's probably only because there were a few times I had to tear a page or two out.. Sshhh. 

Hmm.. maybe I could blog about moleskines? Or.. something.. like keeping a journal? But that might be ever so slightly redundant. Journaling about journaling? But it's so much more than that. I don't know, this required much contemplation. All of which I definitely cannot do tonight since I am well on my way to one of those headaches you get from staring at a computer screen for too long AND I still have to read more Midnight Sun. 

P.S. for anyone reading this: Thank you. I love you. Goodnight.

I WANT A NEW CAMERA!

So, this is an announcement. Not a rant, I have no time. (but a rant COULD be coming your way shortly.)

I want a new camera. I am going to be putting my old on eBay quite soon and I will post that link here and pretty much everywhere else I can think of. And in that time I will be feeling up many a camera to see which one is for me.  

END.

Fast Times We're In.

Where have all my days gone?

I have to be honest, I do secretly know where they go. And I let them slip away like they do, it's all me. My fault. I could very well use them to my advantage, but it's almost as if I don't know how.

I'm behind in some school work, I fell. But I am GETTING BACK UP. Because that IS something I know how to do now. I proved it to myself this summer. 

Watch out everyone, smart Brooklyn is back in town. She never left, she was just hiding.

Wish me luck with this week, it's gonna be a rough one.

Apologies.

I have been masterfully neglecting this blog here, and I take no pride in that whatsoever.

Just so we're all clear.

Last night, my choir and I had our second performance of the school year and a rather un-air-conditioned but kind and loving church. The audience was amazing, let me tell ya. And I hear they really only get better from this point on (seeing as WE only get better, too.) I absolutely despise preparing for a concert, but in the middle of one, I would like to be nowhere else that on the stage singing alongside all the bedazzled ladies in red and heels. Somehow, we are able to minister to each church in a way we didn't even see coming. And they minister to us by making the crazy-good food that they do so we can revive ourselves after a concert. We... would probably die. Or something close to it. 

Also, last night I shared with the world my feelings of the movie Eagle Eye: AHHHHHHHHHHHHH SOO AMAZING, I CAN'T EVEN LIKE BEGIN TO TELL YOU LIKE HOW I FREAKING FEEEEEEEEL SHIIIAAAAAAAAAAAA MAKES ME WANNA DANCE AND THE WHOLE JUST THING ITS LIKE JESUS AND CUPCAKES AND ALL THE GOOD THINGS IN THE WHOLE IN A TWO HOUR MOVIE, I COULD MAYBE DIE HAPPY FROM THIS POINT ON. OKAY, THATS FALSE, BUT I JUST AHHHHHHHHHHH HAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA WWWOOW.

yep. I feel a lot of things, as you can see. After seeing the movie with Marybeth and some of her friends, I dubbed this movie as the best movie I had ever seen ("Which is saying a lot."- Liz) and I still stand by that (until shia makes a better movie, perhaps. But even then, I told Timmy that my face would melt completely off if there was a ever a movie better than this one. Hopefully I will be strong enough...) So last night, when we were eating after the concert, I told Liz about how great it was, and we decided to go see it.  She could tell how excited I was, and started freaking out because I rarely get that excited about... anything. Hahaha

And well, next thing you know, the credits are rolling and Liz is standing in her seat looking around for anyone, ANYONE who feels the same way she did about it (shock, awe, wonder, amazement, all things) and she found none! Everyone was just like "Blehh, let's get Arby's." Well, they missed out on the intensity in ten cities. I assure you, its... amazing. 

AND. What are the odds that I would see the best movie and read the best book ALL IN THE SAME NIGHT. Yeah.. I don't know either. But they are some crazy odds. Here is the best book. It looks childish.. because its a children's book. Hahaha but really, you won't know until you know.

Oh, What is Man.

That you are mindful of him, Oh God.

Well, it's like this. Once you're in choir, there really is no point in attempting to get any other song but a choir song stuck in your head. I am currently editing a music video for my youtube account that me and my roommates made, so I'm lucky enough at the moment to have that one stuck in my head for the time being. But tomorrow, I will no doubt wake up singing "Eeeevery time I feeel the spirit moooving in my heart, I will praaaayy..."

Not that that's a bad thing. Probably the best way to start a day. Much better than hearing a man's voice narrate your life...THAT was a weird morning. "And then she realized that 9:44 was the perfect time to get up. And up she got." Hmm, probably best not to really get into that.

I. WANT. TO. TAKE. PICTURES. I need a new lens. Why haven't I purchased one yet? I spend my money on many other superfluous items when I get in my materialistic moods (yes, unacceptable indeed), but not a lens, a beautiful Canon-crafted lens with which to capture moment after moment of my life. A rather lovely life, if I do say so myself. I enjoy it and I want to remember it, incase my life becomes exceedingly dull from any given point on. I talked to quite a few people I know that are photography masters/beasts/machines around here at CBU and they've guided me towards multiple options of purchasing the lens I need, now I just need some money...

Also, I have to be honest. When people follow me on Twitter, I feel kind of special. Like random people actually want to know what I do with my day. Hmmph. However, I do NOT feel special when I am unable to tweet from my phone. I just don't understand. There simple steps to be able to do this, why doesn't it work for me? So every time I tell twitter what I'm up to, it has to be me sitting at my desk AT my computer, for pete's sake. Sweet baby james. 

Here's another thing. I haven't been sick in the LONGEST TIME! Okay, not that I want to be sick, but I've forgotten how it's felt and...that's strange to me. Maybe I am a little off at this time of the morning and wish to really be sick in the near future, I kind of..... MISS it. Wow, I really need some sleep. 

I leave you with this--- God is very faithful and just. Two of the countless ways He is the greatest of all greats, to say the very most incomplete least. He proves Himself to be everything He says He is every morning I open my eyes yet again. Maybe that's why I wake up singing.