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.

Me In The Present.

Actually the past.

Here is me right now, more bored than. wood. 

And I tend to look pretty unkempt when I am this bored. Apologies.

THIS is what I do when I have nothing to entertain me but myself.

Story of my childhood.

It's All In Your Head.

I think I have had that title before.

If not, it looks oddly familiar then for no reason.

So today was a very good day indeed! 

Starting at the very first moment of the day, meaning somewhere around midnight last night (I stop looking at the clock at some point in time and then look again when it starts to get lighter in my room..) 

I was talking to my good friend Nora on iChat, then the phone, and next thing you know! I am a part of this weird, twisted, and very hilarious phone conversation. Not necessarily a conversation. More like a pointless secret three-way phone argument. It was so genius and I felt at least 13 again. The 13 year old version of me anyway, I wasn't as advanced as most middle schoolers are these days. Thank you Jesus. 

But this "girl" who Nora and I were kind of... sort...of.. lying to? And plotting against like bigger versions of Pinky and the Brain (Her being the Brain since my comments about how to pronounce Ukulele right and hairspray landed me at almost below Pinky level, even.) was first Nora's friend, and then was supposed to be mine. An easy going girl, you'd think, would be on the other line waiting for me to make her laugh and next thing you knew we would be messaging back and forth on myspace talking about deep things and which bear IS really best. No definitely not. I was simply me with a little bit of tired thrown in and she did not like it.

Nora fought with this girl, this Alaskan she-devil, if you will, mercilessly (about me, saying she needed to stop being so mean to me because I had done nothing, NOTHING, wrong! and the meanness was getting the point of being very annoying and incredibly stupid) until Nora had the idea to three-way whilst I sat there, on the other line, listening, secretly muted and undercover. Yes, I sat there and heard Nora talk to this Death Eater-like overly-giggley girl about me saying that I deserved another chance because what was happening was mind-bottlingly stupid. Me. I did. Sometimes I would let out a little giggle and then jerk my hand up to my mouth in horror that she heard me, but she couldn't! Oh the technological advances of our time..

Now, I can't say I feel bad for all this. The girl misunderstood me weeks ago in our very first random three-way conversation on the phone which I barely agreed to no thanks to my lack of sleep and then sudden need for an impulsive action. I was apparently too sarcastic with her, thinking the girl, being seventeen years old (supposedly) could handle it. I thought we were on the same page, as most people that I have come across thus far in life have been. So very wrong was I.

Apparently this girl took everything to heart, everything, which is a very bad thing, and ended up calling me about every bad name in "the book" and hoped that I died. DEATH. DEAD BROOKLYN. HAPPY ALASKAN SATAN. Okay, sorry. 

Speaking of sorry, I was! I told Nora exactly that only after I had lots of time to get over it and realizes it would probably be very good and/or amusing to give it another shot with this girl. Nora obviously somehow found friendship in her and I thought maybe I could too, at least while the girl wasn't under the influence of anything. Not naming names... Wow, I could really go for a diet COKE right now. Hmm...

But, in the end, all the girl did was make fun of me more, even after I had explained everything to Nora over the phone with a little really bad acting and weird analogies to explain the misunderstanding, WHILE SHE LISTENED. Like I had. Secretly. It was all so fake and still, what can ya do? It was the appropriate measures that needed to be taken to get any say in with this, this GIRL. She's obviously a life ruiner. She ruins lives. And so therefore, with no further apologies or hatred for that matter (even though there has definitely never been any), I declare that I am over and it do not wish for so hurtful a person to be in my life ever ever, cough, ever. In the worlds of the slut demon, "I have better things to do, like go to the bathroom."

Hmm, I wonder if she reads this. Just incase, Hi Caty. 

Don't want to be rude.

Well after this whole curious drama occurred that left me on a high feeling quite like a mischievous child again (am I THAT boring? Eff.), I got a phone call from my friend Courtney Marie Watson. I love that girl. No really. Heidi Klum could do nothing in her foreign pregnant powers to separate us. YOU ARE AOUT. Wow, I didn't even mean to put the 'a' there that time. I just happened. (TTWS)

Anyway, the conversation had to end in my attempting at giving back a little bit of the great advice she has always given me. I tried, but probably failed in doing so with a shaky voice from walking around in a very hot living room and trying to get it all out as my brain thought of it without pausing for a breath. I think I even quoted movies and tried to imagine what a therapist would say. But then I just admitted to her that I knew she actually just wanted to have someone vent with her rather than have a couch session, heart-to-heart, "let's figure out what is wrong with you", finding-your-inner-self type of thing. Sorry, thats just way to Everly Clode for me.

Is there even an appropriate end to inside jokes? Please, someone tell me.

Then, following this, sometime around 5:30, I went to sleep. Only to have strange, yet very normal dreams-turned-nightmares until I awoke with sigh-type yawn into the screen of my phone which I was holding way too close to my face (even though it was about noon) and seeing a couple unread texts. Then the phones rings. 

"Hello Alisha!"

"Do you wanna go to San Diego?"

*very loudly laughter* "What??"

"I just wanna get outta here..."

*mumbling* "You mean like.. right now right now or like later like.. not now.. but today.." 

"Like in an hour?"

So then I tell her that I need to consult my money-giver, my grandmother (since I am currently unemployed and STILL A KID OKAY, DON'T GUILT TRIP ME.) and that I would get back to her as soon as my gramma got back from the post office/rite aid/wherever the heck she was.

Then I hung up with her and called my good buddy Ben. I think because he called me in the first place but I was still very very sleepy and only remember suddenly laughing at him a lot on the phone for no real reason: he bought a backpack that he thought was funny because it says "EF" on it, but then I has to sadly inform him that "EF" was for EF Tours, which two of my best friends have been on and another is on right now; he bought me a scarf; he bought himself a SILVER vest and at some point almost exploded upon discovering that it was reversible; him pretending to talk like a girl; him yelling at a fake nephew(?); me saying we could never have kids because when he would raise his voice while punishing them, I would start to laugh uncontrollably lowering the intensity of the moment; a lot of really weird things we always end up talking about. e.g. "DAAAAALLLEEE!!"

THEN! Alisha shows up at my front door and I still don't know if I can go yet! How the time passes by. So I get off the phone with Ben, and hurry to the front door to let Alisha in to see the shock on her face to see that I am in my "Wagner and CO" sweater and happy halloween shorts. :|

So I hurriedly get ready and BAM! We are off to San Diego at a surprisingly late hour of the day (3:30?) But San Diego was good to us. We had money and the curse didn't get us this time. Curse: You have money and can't find ANYTHING to buy. It can also happen to the average bystander, but instead you have no money and see more than enough things to make you materially depressed by the end of the day and a friend has to buy you Coldstone to make you feel better. Not that... that's... happened to me.. or anything. Uh.

And we have a wonderful day and enjoy weather that doesn't melt the flesh off your face or scream when you accidently sit on the seatbelt! However, I am very aware now that parking garage air is in fact NOT AIR. DO NOT BREATHE IT. I think I almost died in attemps to shut my lungs off walking back to the car. Hot milk. 

Wow, I haven't said that in a long time. And you know, its all thanks to a little someone who STOLE IT FROM ME! LAUREN TUCKER! And then made all of her friends start saying it and then like half the freaking school! Then everytime I heard it, I had this sudden gag-reflex. Its like hearing someone quote quagmire from Family Guy---"Giggety Giggety!" If you know me, you probably know I hate that!

Good.

And so now, hours later with lots of new clothes and a little mac makeup, I am sleepy and happy. Probably because I had some Nilla Wafers and those bad boys know how to brighten a day! Even if it is 4 in the morning when you eat them...

And now, I am off to sleep. I have a very important photoshoot scheduled for today and I don't need bloodshot eyes and an unfocused brain! Maybe too late, but that is a risk I am willing to take. 

More news tomorrow! Later today? Sunday? I need sleep.