Merry Christmas!

Or Happy Christmas, for all you Brits. Lucky ducks.




May your Christmas leave you feeling warm and fuzzy.



See you in 2008....

a

Just a quickie. Maybe not the best title in these circumstances.

Considering that I am writing super quickly about two people I did NOT expect to get pregnant... well... doing so.

First up we have.......



LILY ALLEN.

Can you believe it? Now, I do not in any way consider this a celebrity gossip-prone blog, but this is just too good to pass up. Lily Allen?? The carefree, cheeky, talented 22-year old [drunkard]?? A mother? I'm not sure whether to be insanely jealous of the baby for having such a radical mama or sorry for the baby... Lily Allen is 22. The father is 37... They've been dating quite some time, you know. What to guess how long? Try September.

I know I shouldn't judge....blah blah blah. I just can't help it! Maybe it's my Catholic schooling. The whole sex=bad, you will go to hell and die thing getting drilled into your head over and over has perhaps has some odd side effects...of me being a condemning judging.... judge. Wow. What a poorly crafted sentence.

For the record, I do not believe that sex always =bad you will go to hell and die.
But at least Lily's an adult. Now I move on to the mother (OHHHHHH. PUN. WHAT NOW???) of all surprises.....


JAMIE LYNN SPEARS.

Dear God, what a messed-up family.
She is SIXTEEN! SIXTEEN! That'd be like me having a baby in a year! Sweet Jesus. The thought is making me quake in my boots.
And the father is her "long term boyfriend." How long-term can a boyfriend be if you are sixteen? "Oh yes.... we've been dating FOREVER. I was like... what.... 15?"

Get a marriage certificate ready. Psh. Yeah right.

So I was going to put a picture up of Lil' Spears (rapper name...?) but then I decided I don't want to desecrate my blog with that sort of tackiness. Icky.

So here, have a laugh instead.




Boise Public Library. They REALLY love reading.




peace!
a.


P.S. Midterms are currently sucking me into a black hole of historical figures and literary techniques. Don't expect me back until the weekend.

P.P.S. I'm going to NYC after Christmas. Suggestions of what to do/ where to shop [especially vintage!]/ where to eat would be greatly appreciated.

Whoa. Whoa.

So........ I liked this survey I filled out earlier, so I just added pictures! Enjoy. And a more creative post is coming later. Surveys are like the bread and butter of blogger, aren't they? I mean, if you can't think of anything good to write, you always have a good, trusty survey to fall back on. Actually, they're more like security blankets.

1. IF YOU COULD HAVE ANYTHING DELIVERED TO YOUR DOORSTEP EACH MORNING, WHAT WOULD IT BE?a letter, note, or a picture, handwritten, to inspire me. It could be pages or just a few words, I just relish inspiration.


SUPPOSE THAT RIGHT NOW YOU COULD BE AT YOUR FAVORITE VACATION SPOT, READING YOUR FAVORITE BOOK, LISTENING TO YOUR FAVORITE CD, & EATING YOUR FAVORITE FOOD. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CHOICES FOR THOSE 4 CATEGORIES, AND WHO, IF ANYONE, WOULD BE WITH YOU?where: Marie Antoinette’s country retreat (it looked unearthly in the film)
Reading: Harry Potter or To Kill A Mockingbird
Listening to: some acoustic mix (I don’t think Arctic Monkeys or the Beatles would fit the mood.)
Eating: pasta with red sauce
Person: I think I would like to be by myself.


This is one of my favorite scenes in the movie. While I loved the crazy candy tones of the movie, this scene was so refreshing and natural. It made me want a fuzzy, messy halo of light blonde hair like Kirsten Dunst! The natural greens, yellows and whites are so visually stunning. I think the boat scene, with her dragging her finger in the water as the setting sun glinted made me want to buy a one-way ticket. I love that quote, “If we assume man has been corrupted by an artificial civilization, what is the natural state? The state of nature, from which he has been removed? Imagine: Wandering up and down the forest, without industry, without speech, and without home…”







3. WHICH ANIMATED CHARACTER IS YOUR ALL-TIME FAVORITE?Mulan, or Pocahontas. A Disney character that kicks ass. Oh! Oh! Peter Pan! I was Peter Pan for a Disney dress up party. I made the hat and everything. Oh look! A picture! How’d that bugger get there??



My name is Puggy Peter Pan McPugster.

And HELL YES that is an American Girl in the background. I seriously need to get those things out of my room.







4. IF YOU HAD TO WRITE A BRIEF MESSAGE ON A DOLLAR BILL THAT MANY PEOPLE WOULD EVENTUALLY SEE AS THE CURRENCY CIRCULATES, WHAT MESSAGE WOULD YOU WRITE?be kind. Everyone fights their own battle.



[It says “revolution” at the bottom. That bothers me. Don’t the mail people realize that this postcard MEANS something??? They should have their “postsecret” radars handy and NOT COVER UP THE IMAGES!!! This is one of my favorites from this week’s Postsecret update.]5. YOU'VE BEEN ASKED TO CREATE A BRAND NEW ROAD SIGN THAT WILL BE PUT UP ON THE STREETS THROUGHOUT YOUR TOWN. PEOPLE IN YOUR TOWN WILL BE EXPECTED TO OBEY IT JUST AS THEY WOULD ANY OTHER ROAD SIGN. WHAT WILL YOUR NEW SIGN COMMAND DRIVERS TO DO?Don’t jeopardize others with your stupidity.


[Insert nerdy giggle. Complete with complimentary snort!]

6. IF YOU WERE LEFT ALONE FOR ONE HOUR WITH NOTHING MORE THAN A PEN AND A NOTEPAD, WHAT WOULD YOU BE INCLINED TO DRAW OR WRITE DURING THOSE 60 MINUTES?I would definitely write about my current thoughts and feelings, I would describe the scenery, and I would probably make a list of some sort. I would try to put all the crazy thoughts in my head onto the paper.

7. IF YOU COULD WITNESS ANYTHING AT ALL IN SUPER-SLOW MOTION, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO SEE?rain.

8. SUPPOSE YOU'RE AT A PARTY WHERE YOU MEET AN ALERT & ASTUTE 100-YEAR-OLD PERSON. SINCE EVERYONE WANTS TO TALK TO THIS PERSON, YOU ONLY HAVE TIME TO ASK ONE QUESTION. WHAT WOULD YOU ASK?Is it worth it?

9. IN ONE SENTENCE, WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE SECRET TO LIFE?Never lose yourself, trust in your own strength, but don’t be afraid to be vulnerable, and enjoy life.

10. IF SOMEONE WERE LOOKING FOR YOU IN A BOOKSTORE, IN WHAT SECTION WOULD THEY BE MOST LIKELY TO FIND YOU?art, fiction. Borders is one of my favorite places in the world. My heart swells when I walk in those doors. I feel so comfortable. I could sit for hours among the shelves, on the floor, just flipping through book, relishing the words and pictures.

11. OVER THE LAST 200 YEARS OR SO, THE WORLD HAS ADVANCED AND CHANGED IN MANY WAYS. NONETHELESS, CAN YOU THINK OF AT LEAST ONE ASPECT OF LIFE THAT HAS REMAINED VIRTUALLY UNCHANGED THROUGHOUT THE LAST 2 CENTURIES?emotion.



See, look. Even the man in a vest and jacket is laughing.
When I answered the question, I meant it to be deep and thought-provoking. But this picture was just too good to pass up.

12. RANK THE 4 SEASONS IN ORDER FROM YOUR FAVE TO LEAST FAVE:fall, summer, spring, winter

13. IN YOUR OWN NOT-SO-HUMBLE OPINION, WHAT IS YOUR MOST LIKEABLE QUALITY?I can make people laugh, I have a good head on my shoulders.

14. WHAT MONTH OF THE YEAR DOES YOUR NOSE ANTICIPATE MOST? WHY?summer. It doesn’t run from the cold or allergies.

15. WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU USED TO LOVE TO DO BUT HAVE OUTGROWN OR GOTTEN TIRED OF?I honestly can’t think of anything. Maybe knitting. But I’m planning on starting up again. Gotta get started on that Ravenclaw scarf!

16. IF YOU WERE A FISH, WHAT BAIT WOULD SOMEONE USE TO CATCH YOU VERY QUICKLY?a substantial thought.

17. IF YOU WERE A TREE, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR FAVORITE MONTH OF THE YEAR?Summer. I’m at my greenest, everything’s in full bloom.

18. WHAT IS ONE EVENT THAT MANY PEOPLE CONSIDER ENTERTAINING THAT YOU PERSONALLY WOULD HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME SITTING THROUGH FROM THE BEGINNING TO END?I really do not like parties that much. I’m a bit socially awkward around people who are not in my honors classes…. The last fun party I went to involved a lot of Guitar Hero and my fellow nerds.

19. IF YOU WERE A CONTESTANT ON A TRIVIA-STYLE GAME SHOW, WHAT CATEGORY WOULD YOU MOST WANT TO SEE DISPLAYED WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO THE MILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION?geography… general history… useless trivia!20. WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU ENJOY DOING THAT WOULD PROBABLY SURPRISE MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY KNOW YOU WELL?I love to exercise, though I never do.




My preferred method of exercise. Fo’ real. And one! And two! Kick! GOOD! You got it! Keep going! Whooo!!!!

Actually, I like swimming and yoga and other crunchy granola forms.21. WHAT CREATURE, MORE THAN ANY OTHER, WOULD HAVE YOU SCARED STIFF IF IT WERE LOOSE IN YOUR HOME?a mouse or other rodent. I’m 100% fine with spiders, bugs, even snakes… but I HATE MICE.

I’m not going to include a picture with this one. I’m sure you can imagine why.

22. IF YOU COULD GREATLY ENHANCE ANY ONE OF YOUR 5 SENSES, WHICH ONE WOULD YOU CHOOSE?sight… or hearing.

23. IF YOU COULD TAKE ONE ETHNIC CUSTOM THAT IS POPULAR IN ANOTHER COUNTRY & POPULARIZE IT IN YOUR OWN CULTURE, WHICH WOULD YOU PICK?respect for elders!



Grandpa Earl and Grandma Marge!
*Disclaimer: Not my grandparents.

24. WHEN YOU MEET SOMEONE FOR THE FIRST TIME, WHAT PARTICULAR FACET ABOUT THEM ARE YOU MOST INTERESTED IN LEARNING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE?I like to know if I can hold a conversation with them.

25. IF YOU CAME INTO ENOUGH MONEY THAT YOU NEVER HAD TO WORK ANOTHER DAY IN YOUR LIFE, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD TYPICALLY DO TO STAY BUSY OR KEEP YOUR MIND OCCUPIED?I would buy a cottage somewhere. Then I would travel the world and write.

26. IF ANY PARTICULAR MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE COULD HAVE LASTED 5 MINUTES LONGER, WHAT MOMENT WOULD YOU HAVE WANTED IT TO HAVE BEEN?Standing on the rocks outside the lighthouse at Peggy’s Cove in Nova Scotia, just breathing in the salty earth, looking out on the vast ocean, thinking about how small I felt, yet how connected to earth and to the past, to those who had stood there before me.




27. IF A MOVIE WERE BEING MADE ABOUT YOUR LIFE, AND YOU COULD CHOOSE ANY ACTOR TO PLAY YOU IN THE FILM, WHOM WOULD YOU CHOOSE?Natalie Portman or Kirsten Dunst

28. IF YOU WERE TO DIE TOMORROW, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT PEOPLE TO REMEMBER YOU FOR MOST OF ALL?I lived as best as I knew how.

29. IF YOU COULD INSTANTLY FREE YOUR MIND FOREVER OF SOMETHING THAT CAUSES YOU STRESS IN LIFE, WHAT WORRY WOULD YOU GET RID OF?grades!!!

30. IF YOU HAD TO RENAME THE STREET YOU LIVE ON, WHAT WOULD YOU NAME IT?Diagon Alley!


31. IF YOU COULD HAVE BEEN THE REAL-LIFE OWNER OF ANY TV OR MOVIE ANIMAL, WHICH ONE WOULD YOU CHOOSE?Lassie! No. I don’t know.

32. WHAT IS ONE THING YOU THOROUGHLY ENJOY THAT A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WOULD PROBABLY CONSIDER TRITE & BORING AT BEST?Art history! And instrumental music, particularly classical, and tribal. Weird, I know.

33. WHAT PARTICULAR FACIAL FEATURE OF YOURS DO YOU PERSONALLY ADMIRE MOST?
My eyes.

34. LIST THE 5 THINGS THAT MAKE YOU HAPPIEST IN LIFE:family.
Beauty of nature.
Books.
Writing.
Accomplishing something.

35. IF YOU COULD RECIEVE FREE, UNLIMITED AIRLINE FLIGHTS FROM YOUR NEAREST AIRPORT TO ANY ONE DESTINATION IN THE WORLD, TO WHAT PLACE WOULD YOU BE FREQUENTLY FLYING?I would fly to Ireland, then TAKE A BOAT to England, then TAKE A BOAT to the mainland, then BACKPACK across Europe. That way I could see it all.

36. IF YOU HAD TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT WOULD TAKE THE PLACE OF A WEDDING BAND TO SERVE AS AN OBJECT OF UNION & COMMITMENT FOR MARRIAGE, WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE?I think rings are perfect. Though perhaps a bit easy to lose.

37. SUPPOSE THAT INCOME TAXES STILL HAD TO BE PAID, BUT INSTEAD OF GOING TO THE GOVERNMENT, YOUR MONEY WOULD GO TO ANY ONE CAUSE OR CHARITY OF YOUR CHOICE. WHERE WOULD YOU WANT YOURS TO GO?Poverty, world hunger. UNICEF, or something like that.

38. IF YOU COULD ELIMINATE ONE GENRE OF MUSIC, WHAT WOULD IT BE?rap, screamo.

39. IF YOU COULD BECOME FULLY ENLIGHTENED INSTANTLY ON ANY ONE SUBJECT, WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE?I would like to have the insight of an artist, either a painter or a writer.

From A Mad Girl’s Love Song by Sylvia Plath: “>"The stars go waltzing out in blue and red/
And arbitary blackness gallops in:/
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.”

I want to be able to write that. Or something LIKE that. If I wrote THAT I’m pretty sure it would constitute as plagiarism… and would result in my ass getting thrown in the slammer.


Plus, I included some questions from the survey I didn’t have the attention span to finish, but I really wanted to answer. And now instead of doing my science fair project, I’m doing this!

1. Name three things you have with you at all times.
I am a Chapstick addict. There, I said it. I’ve been researching CA (Chapsticks Anonymous… DUH) and I’m going to think about how I need to look inside myself to fix this problem. I can’t even go a couple of hours without thinking my lips are going to split open from complete lack of moisture.
So that’s one. Two is probably a pen and piece of paper, even just a scrap, in case I think of a sentence or simile I like, or a phrase, or anything. What can I say, I have a writer’s mind. Third would probably be a bobby pin. I CAN NOT STAND when my hair sticks to my forehead. I go insane.
2. Would you rather wake up after surgery and have Barbara Streisand’s nose or Dolly Parton’s breasts?
Bab’s nose. Big noses interest me. I’d rather have an interesting, unique, feature like that then sacks of flour glued to my chest. At least I’d be different.
3. What’s the last book you finished?
I’m answering this question as a shameless plug for Into the Wild. Shit, that book was incredible. It really moved me, it made me think. I myself tend to be idealistic, and so was this young man, and it shows how sometimes ideals just can’t be. I highly suggest it!!!!!!!! Note all the exclamation points. It takes a lot for me to use THAT many exclamation points. Serrrriously, folks. 1,2,3, yeah. But THAT many? You know I mean it. Or I was struck by a case of Parkinson’s and hit the key one too many times. That was mean. Oops.
WHOA. So my sister is watching Cory In the House (what do you mean, lame? How about GREATEST SHOW EVER KNOWN TO MAN KIND!!!!!1 PS MILEY CYRUS IS MY HERO!!!!!!!11) Here’s hoping you got the sarcasm. And intentional typing errors. But anyway, I THOUGHT I SAW CONOR OBERST. AS IN BRIGHT EYES. AND I THOUGHT, “WHAT IS CONOR OBERST DOING ON DISNEY CHANNEL??????????????????????????”

But don’t worry. It wasn’t him. Moving on.

4. What fictional character is most like you?
I know a lot of people say this, but I am a lot like Hermione Granger. Except not as anal-retentive. But hey, she got Ron. I’ll go so far as to be anal-retentive if it means nabbing Ron Weasley. I am also an AWFUL lot like Love Bukowski of the Princples of Love novels. I sometimes think she’s my Boston-dwelling alter ego, i.e. who I want to be.






Aw! Look at her! So cute and frizzy-haired and bookish. I find myself to be more of a “Books 5-7” Hermione, however. This picture was just too cute to pass up.

5. What’s your favorite painting?


P.S. I will write about this painting more later.

6. If you could have any kind of hair in the world, what kind would you have?
I kind of answered this earlier. Marie Antoinette’s country home hair.




Another favorite scene from Marie Antoinette. I WANT THOSE PASTRIES.



My [not so] Great Idea:

My Spanish teacher was talking about Europe today, and it just piqued my NEED to go. Since I am obviously not able to phone up my butler and private jet and fly on over this afternoon, I am going a pretend trip. Perhaps it is my need to write and make up stories, but I am going to pretend to go to Europe, and write a fake diary sort of thing. Ok, this sounded less insane and daydream-y in my head. So, dear reader(s), I need your help! Where should I go? What cities, what countries?

Giggle. This is going to be fun. Oh! Oh! I encourage YOU to take your own fake trips, as well. Hell, why not get into it? Wear a beret for a day where your imaginary self is in Paris. Ride a bike when you really SHOULD be in Amsterdam. Each some snitzel (spelling wrong, I am sure.) when in Munich! I'm going to be stuck inside this long, boring Northeast winter. Might as well make it interesting.


peace out!
anna

Because Emma commanded.

And you do what Emma say. Hear?



So I was working on a lame post. Shocker, shocker. I know. I'll give you a few seconds to pick yourself up off the floor, rehinge your jaw, that sort of thing.



Are we good now? Tres bien. (Note: I take Spanish. This and a 'orrible pronunciation of Bonjour and Au Revoir is about the extent of my French.)

As I was working on this post, and supposed to be working on about 5 projects for school, I came across Emma's (of alarmclockcatastrophe.blogspot.com. I'd say check it out, but chances are you already have.) post of a SURVEY. Who doesn't love a good survey? I most certainly love them. But then I saw that she said to fill it out. And, frankly, who am I to refuse such a blatant request? I'm not God, for one. So the answer is I am NOBODY to refuse. So I didn't. Here you go.



1. What’s your favorite children’s book? Easy answer would be Arry Pottah. But I don't think this qualifies as a children's book, it is too mindblowing and complex. I'm going to go with the first book I learned how to read. I think it was called Teddy Bear's Big Adventure. But basically, I was a smart little cookie. I had my mom read it to me over and over again, until I had it totally memorized, then one day I said MOM I CAN READ and I pulled the book out and mulled over the words, pausing just enough at each to be convincing. Then my mom went around going ANNA CAN READ and I was quite the celebrity at 3 year old preschool. I know, I know. Crafty even at age 3! But then a month-ish later I read a book for real. I think it was some serious foreshadowing of my future nerd-dom that I started reading before some people (cough my sister cough) are potty trained.



2. What’s your favorite type of cake? ICE CREAM CAKE. Ohhhhhhhh MY god. You have not LIVED until you've had Dairy Queen's ice cream cake. I get it every single birthday. It blows real cake out of the metaphorical WATER. I swear, they inject it with some sort of nicotine or something. It's ADDICTING.



Oh. ANIMATION. BAM. Vanilla ice cream, then this DECADENT layer of fudge, then this crunchy stuff, then chocolate.. There's something almost disturbingly sensual about this though, isn't there? It honestly makes me grimace.



3. What is the last song you listened to? "Can't Believe a Single Word" by VHS or Beta. Listen to it, it's the catchiest damn song, it should be illegal. This song could melt even my chem teacher's heart.



4. Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, find line 4.Write down what it says- "While the beryllium-10 is a good proxy for sunspot numbers for some of the..." Ahhhh. A little light reading is so good for the soul. Either I am a genius in Good Will Hunting fashion and absorb this kind of thing for fun like a freakin' sponge.....OR they are for my science fair project and I got all the necessary research from the 2 page preface that even my dog might be able to comprehend.... Either/or. Take your pick.



5. What are your 3 best qualities? My body. My body....and my body.
That's right, I am nothing more than a unbelievably hot body for men to ogle over. Oh yes.

OBVIOUSLY I am joking. What would a person like that be doing updating their BLOG on a FRIDAY night??? My body is rather average. Save my height. 5'10". I'm pretty much shaped like a ruler and a pear's love child. TMI? Ok, moving on.

My three best qualities are.... 1) I'm smart. I'm going to use that to get out of this stifling town. It doesn't even qualify as a small town, so it's not like a Star's Hollow. It's just a boring town. 2) I'm outspoken. I think this is a good quality, but probably about 50% of the people in my classes do not find this good. I might get annoying. At least I'm never boring. 3) I'm loyal. Pretty fiercly. Example: I liked this girl well enough until I found out she is practically in love with my best friend's boyfriend, and my best friend is pretty worried about it, though she pretends not to be. Now I see the girl and I practically want to claw her eyes out. If she does do anything, believe me, I WILL. Ok, maybe not quite. As high school drama-y as this sounds, and I usually make fun of the "popular" girls in my grade who worry about that kind of thing... but this is SUPPOSED to represent that I am loyal. I'm like Lassie. Except my hair's not as soft and silky. And I couldn't run that fast even if an army of preps was chasing me.

6. Do you think you're a kind person? I'm a bit rough around the edges, but when it comes down to it, I am kind. I have a really big heart, which I think sometimes gets in the way of things. I sometimes get all ultra-humanitarian and want to help everybody who was ever hurting.

7. What color is your toothbrush? How should I know? It's in my mouth 98% of the time I hold it. As for the other 2%? Oh, the intrigue......

8. Who was your first TV crush? No one made my heart swell quite to the size it swelled after first beholding Jim Halpert.



Oh, Johnny K. (Note to self: Slap myself if I ever again refer to him as "Johnny K...) Stop being so cute. I want to squeeze you in a great big bear hug. Come with me, love, and we can play a practical joke on Dwight and eat grilled cheese on the Dunder Mifflin roof afterward, watching Kevin light fireworks..... Sigh. I am slightly shamed to admit that I went a little fan-girl when I saw a huge version of that picture in the window of my local Gap. Some actually squealing may have been involved. Ok, I admitted it... I'm just going to go quietly crawl into a hole now...

Most of my crushes are movie crushes, but not Jim!

9. If you had to choose one celebrity couple to hang out with for the holidays, who would it be? I think Kirsten Dunst and Zooey Deschanel should go lesbian and become a couple JUST so I could hang out with them. We could all be one big happy family (since I would be their adopted sister, of COURSE) and do awesome things. And I could become awesome like them.






Hey sis(es)!!! Let's go to a concert in the Village and you can braid my hair! (Pics nabbed from Plain Jayne).



I officially have the attention span of a goldfish. I'm bored. Dammit, Emma, how do you post those impossibly long posts????????

That post was so lame, I think I'm going to cry. I'm just not in the mood.






anna.

I wish I would've thought of this!

I really want to participate in this. Every Saturday after Thanksgiving, when the papers always have an article about Black Friday, I feel like throwing up. It's such a bitter and disgusting reflection of our CONSUME CONSUME CONSUME culture. People trample each other to get the last phone/video game/ laptop/other stupid "What was wrong with your other one??" device! That's ridiculous! I really wanted to spread this message, because I think we, as a people, need to learn not to be so greedy and consumptive. I challenge you to NOT BUY ANYTHING (except perhaps a book or a movie ticket [as long as it's a good movie], something that will actually stimulate your mind) on Black Friday. Let's learn how to live with what we have, instead of always needing MORE.


peace out.
anna.

Lyke, hi, guys!

I would apologize, but considering I am not a blogging supaaaastarrrr, I think that would be a bit presumptuous. But volleyball (can you say 2nd ranked in the state?) and band (ehhhh... not so much) are as done as ponchos (oh MAN, can you say BURN? Or not...), and I now have gobs of free time. Why do something artsy or productive when I can WRITE about how I SHOULD be doing something artsy and productive on my BLOG????

So, fall's almost over. Bummer. Every year, I picture myself all cozy with knee socks and boots and vintage dresses on a hayride or picking apples, perhaps writing in my journal in a pumpkin patch. But alas, fall is always over before it has a chance to begin, and I find myself in jeans and my Chucks spiking balls in a gym that is either freezing or approximately the temperature of hell/ playing mallets on a football sideline.

I'm going somewhere with this, I swear. Wait, actually, I'm not. Change of subject:

I am butt-crazy in love with Urban Outfitters. Yes, I'm sorry, I am going to be lame and unoriginal and post pictures of pretty clothes with somewhere-south-of-witty captions.




I'm not sure why this bag thrills me so. The words are probably meant just to be quirky. There are so many people we have never met, will never meet. This intrigues and frightens me, knowing that I might never get to meet the one person who could save me.
Oh boy. Debbie Downer much?




I love how this tree looks like a doodle I or anyone else could've done with pen in a notebook margin. But it's beautiful.




I am actually ordering the triumphant beret tonight! I am ecstatic, as these sort of things do not usually happen to me. Rarely do I fall in love with an item online and find myself in possession of me.

What's with my pompous tone tonight? I'm even bothering myself...



Hot damn. These shoes are everything good with this world. Urm... stratch that. I'm pretty sure leather might piss off a person or two... But they are gorgeous. They are the fall boots I dream of wearing with fall-toned clothes and cable knit over the knee socks. And holy hell, THEY HAVE MY SIZE!!!! This is amazing, this is incredible, this is..... 500 DOLLARS????????????????????????????????????????????? Yes, they are beautiful, but 500 buckeroos??? I can't even get $20 together to subscribe to Alternative Press!!!!






I will wear this dress and be cooler than...... anyone.... ever..... even cooler than Barack Obama. That's right, I said it.







This looks comfy enough to sleep in. Kurt Cobain grunge chic, anyone? A moment of silence. Ok, now go not wash your hair.



And I'm ordering these gloves, too! The hobo glove angels are smiling down on me. (They didn't they you about them in Sunday school, did they? Well, see, at Catholic school, you learn these things.)






In case I didn't want to be a make [believe] not war flower child of the 60's enough already, Urban Outfitters had to present me with these rad hair accessories and make my longing even more potent.










Blue, yellow, AND purple tights????? Is it even legal to be that cool?


Shameless plug Part Uno:

POSTSECRET.COM

Every Sunday, I visit that inspiring and heartwrenching website for new postcards. Basically, people decorate a postcard and send in their secrets. Sometimes the secrets relate to me, and they make me feel connected to other humans. Sometimes the secrets are so beyond anything I have to deal with, and I feel thankful for what I have. Either way, this website inspires.

This one in particular moves me, because I so agree. I hate dating sites. Where's the magic in getting scientifically matched up with your perfect mate? Isn't the idea of love that it depends on fate? That if you left the house a minute later, you might not have met that person? Don't we all want a great love story?





This is just a beautiful piece of language.



Old people make my heart hurt, they are so adorable, and I respect them so much. They have seen much, lived so many moments, they know so much.


Shameless plug part Dos:

Patrick Park.

This man's music is what makes me believe the world hasn't lost all emotion, or heart, or truth, or beauty.

Just look at this picture of him:




I think I am in love with this man's soul.
Listen to "Life Is A Song." The lyrics changed my life.

Shameless plug part tres:

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE.




Words can not describe how incredible this film is. The look of it is absolutely, insanely gorgeous (bleeding strawberries in "Strawberry Fields Forever", anyone?) and I have founda new love in Jim Sturgess. His voice is so unique. I must say, one of my favorite scenes is "Revolution." I think it's because it's almost creepy how the lyrics fit the scene so perfectly, and it's like he COULD be talking to her, but he just happens to be singing. You seriously MUST see this movie, it inspires me.

Shameless plug part cuatro:

The Other Boleyn Girl.




I only began this book yesterday, and already I am sucked in. READ IT. It's 600-something pages, but it goes really quickly, I can't put it down. Honestly, I love it. And they're making a movie out of it with.... JIM STURGESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He plays George Boleyn, Anne and Mary's brother. I can't not wait. The movie better do the book justice.



Alright, I think that's enough for today. Even with no life, I still have homework.

she's standing in the ashes at the end of the world, four winds blowing through her hair.


ay en en ay!

It's electric!

Hello. My name is Anna and I am addicted to finding a pair of ELECTRIC BLUE SUEDE BOOTS. I need your help. If anyone comes across some, LET ME KNOW. Here, I even made a pretty little picture to aid in your search, because that's how I spend the last day of summer vacation.




I read about them in The Principles of Love series (haven't read it? GO!!!!) and ever since, I've lusted after these unattainable boots that don't seem to exist. It's so sad. Why must the publishing world tease me so? All I do is support them, buy their goddamn books. And how do they repay me? By publishing an already incredible book, but adding ELECTRIC BLUE SUEDE BOOTS to tantalize me. As in, "Hahahaha. You will NEVER attain these boots, suckaaaa."

On to my next point. I haven't knit in like 2 years, when I stopped working on the scarf I had been making my Grandpa for Christmas... a scarf I've told myself 5 CHRISTMASES NOW that I will finally finish and give to him. But I haven't touched it in a while. BUT, during the height of Harry Potter mania back in July, I came across these:


I had to put a thumbnail up because otherwise you wouldn't be able to see the whole picture and I wouldn't want that to happen.

HOUSE SCARVES!!!!!!! When I saw them, I said, "I HAVE to have one!" The order of the pictures (for the casual Harry Potter fans among us, which, come to think of it, probably includes exactly 0% of the blogging world) is GRYFFINDOR!!!, GRYFFINDOR!!!! (I always feel the need to yell GRYFFINDOR in this great growl of a voice, like the Sorting Hat in the first movie), Slytherin (BOOOOOOO!!!), Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Ravenclaw, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Hufflepuff. This picture got me all excited about knitting (yes, you read that correctly), and I really think I'll crack down and get this done, unlike the scarf I was making before. How sad and wrong is that that I am excited about making a scarf for myself but I take 5 plus years to make one for my grandpa? Oh well, sorry, Pop-Pop.

I think I would make a Ravenclaw one because:
1) I've always thought I would be in Ravenclaw.
2) When I take those sorting tests online, I usually end up being put in Ravenclaw.
3) The gray and blue go with my black peacoat REALLY well.

So I think I'm going to knit the Ravenclaw one that the guy is wearing, but make it a bit thicker. It gets COLD at my bus stop. I'm actually excited about it! Ha.

I'm going to take a sorting quiz......

*5 minutes later*

Ha! What did I tell you?

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Which Hogwarts house will you be sorted into?

Alrighty, next order of biznass.

THIS BOOK:




Now, as a disclaimer, I AM NOT EMO. I do not consider myself emo and non of my friends and acquaintances would consider me emo. But this book looked to good to pass up. And let me say, it was REALLY, REALLY good. It was written by two editors of Alternative Press which is a favorite magazine of mine, and, admittedly is a popular magazine with emo kids. But anyway, the writers use to book to slightly make fun of the emo culture while slightly glorifying it. There's a chapter on fashion, eating habits, film, music, literature, ideology, adulthood, and the internet. Obviously it's not going to up my IQ or anything, but it's a really fun read. I suggest it for the times you don't feel like diving into Kerouac or Austen.

I had to post this picture, because it is really cool. I took this picture of myself, and my friend Lily desaturated it. Isn't it like the coolest thing EVER. Lily's a computer whiz. She knows every inch of Photoshop.




Haaa note the crucifix on the wall. My mom likes me to have it there...
I figure it's safe to post, you can't really see my face.




Listen to: "The Artist" by The Hush Sound.

You painted me in pastels, colors that don't tell of any boldness. Because that's the way you'd love to see me, so delicate, so weak, so little purpose."

A.

Wax on, wax off.

The brilliant Chelsea inspired me to post. Now, I am a bit short on time, considering how school starts in a week and a day (it's a Pennsylvania thing... starting before Labor Day...), and I am sludging through the hell that is Jane Eyre. Why do the Honors kids get all the sucky books? B-track gets all the good stuff. WEll, I take that back, I really enjoyed Animal Farm.

So what this is all LEADING too is that I am just copying and pasting a blog entry I made on myspace. Don't hit me, I feel bad. But a post is better than no post at all, right? Or do I just have such a big ego that I think people enjoy my posts? I need to shut up. Here, read:

Oh right. A few things: I changed my friends' names to just the first initial, just because I don't think they'd want their names plastered all over my blog, which they don't even.... know... about. And i snatched pretty pictures of Warped Tour from other people, just because I didn't take any and reading is always better with pictures.

Ok, now. HERE, READ:


Shot at 2007-08-21

This is going to be really sporadic and just whatever tidbit pops into my head.

Let me just say that it was SO. MUCH. FUN. I can't WAIT to go back next year. NOT going back is not an option.

Ok, first Mr. F picked me up at K-Mart. Then we got K, and it was off to Philly. There was a lot of traffic close to Philly, and we started looking around into the other cars, and we started guessing, "Oh yeah, THEY'RE going to warped tour!" Signs including a car stuffed full of teenagers, boys with emo hair, and parents looking sullen with kids in sunglasses in the back seat. So K made a sign that said, "Honk for Warped '07." We got 4 honks. It was pretty awesome.

We got into Camden which is, keep in mind, is one of the most crime ridden cities in the country. But we just followed the signs to the waterfront and found a parking lot. As soon as we got out, we could hear music on the wind, and all these people were walking toward the Tweeter Center, and I just got this weird feeling of unity. Like, "We're all here for the music, for one purpose, for one beautiful thing." By the time we got there, it was around 12. The first band we wanted to see, Cute Is What We Aim For, went on at 12:30. Not a problem, except that M had to pick her ticket up at the box office….so we had to wait 40-ish minutes…and ended up missing CIWWAF. We could hear a bit of them, though. But it was really fun watching the people in the line. Some of the girls were dressed ridiculously…jeans, ripped leggings, black, whatever. It was SO HOT AND HUMID OUT. This one group of people walked by: the girls were wearing flip flops, denim miniskirts, and t-shirts, while the guys were wearing Hollister polos with popped collars…. L and I were just like, "Wtf? This isn't the mall….." But some girls looked freakin' cool! Hippie dresses, messy blonde buns with bright folded bandanas as headbands, sunglasses, and kickass sneakers. I wish I had a stellar dress like that……

We finally got in, and I could FINALLY open my water. I was SO THIRSTY, and I'd barely been outside. We walked around really quick, just seeing where everything was, and we saw that we had indeed missed CIWWAF. I was bummed, but whatever. We just walked around, saw what was going on before Circa Survive went out. There were really cute stands with really cheap stuff... for example: a stand that sold these stellar tote bags with cute appliqués, amazing bandanas in an array of bright colors, 2 for 5 bucks, and merch booth upon merch booth. I got a peace button for a dollar at a vegan/vegetarian stand, and a TWLOHA shirt with "Love Is the Movement" on it for $15. It's so incredible.

Circa Survive were good, I'd never listened to them, but they were good. The lead singer was a little crazy, but it fit. Nothing super spectacular to report about that show. Oh yeah. I got semi-pushed into a mini mosh pit, but I freaked out and scrambled out. As soon as people started leaving, we pushed up to the front and we second row, but then we decided we really needed water and stuff. So we got water, and by that time, L asked if we just wanted to walk around. I was kind of passive about seeing The Starting Line, but now I wish I had spoken up and said that I wanted to see them, but whatever. I REALLY wanted to hear "Best Of Me" live, so when we headed back to the stage (Coheed and Cambria was up next) towards the end of TSL's set, I walked fast, praying that they would be playing "Best Of Me." And they DID! I got there like 30 seconds in, I was so excited, I was singing along, I recorded it on my phone. It was truly beautiful. Kenny Vasoli's voice never ceases to amaze me. He can actually SING. Novel idea.

Then we pushed toward the front again for Coheed and Cambria. That was all fine and dandy, until me and M started looking around, and all we could see was really tall, big, scary, hairy, MEN. Not boys, but these 30 year old MEN. And we looked at each other and I said, "This is going to get ROUGH. I have to get out of here." So M was a champ and followed me out. We got some water. Then, on their second song, we were watching from the very back, and out of the crowd stumbles K. It was a weird coincidence that we were the FIRST people she saw after coming out of the crowd. She was wheezing and kind of gasping for breath, and looked a bit roughed up. So, me and M helped her over to the Monster drink truck thing, and sat her down in the shade and gave her something to drink. (We should be nurses. Or hydration facilitators!) So we watched the show from the side, and at the end, out comes L, totally happy and smiling. It made me go, "Oh, L!"

By this time, I remembered, "Oh no! I forgot to check when All Time Low was playing!" So I checked the huge schedule, and I. HAD. MISSED. THEM. I WAS SOOOOOOOOOOOOO PISSED. Ask any of the three who were with me. I wouldn't stop griping for an hour.

Then I think we got some water and walked around (are you seeing a pattern here?).

THEN IT WAS TIME FOR PARAMORE. I was being really spastic and was freaking out that we wouldn't get to the stage in time. But we did, and I'm not going to lie, I was really, really excited, especially to hear Hayley live, because I hear she is incredible. And she IS! They opened with "Misery Business," everyone in the audience screamed every word. That's what I noticed with Paramore, the fans aren't casual, they know every word to every song. A crowd surfer fell on M. I had to throw them off. But next was "Emergency," then, one of my favorites, "For A Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic." Someone threw a tampon at Hayley, and she caught it and threw it back saying, "Here, sir, I'll think you'll need this later today." Ha. It was funny, I guess. Next came "Born For This", and I was really into the song but then M tapped my shoulder and pointed at people behind us, and I saw this guy handing this girl this glittering ring, and I didn't really understand what was going on, but then I turned around and saw them hugging and people were cheering and clapping. I then realized that they had just gotten engaged, so I started cheering too, and it was so incredible, combined with the music and atmosphere that I almost started crying. All of this while pushing crowd surfers over my head. Next was "Crushcrushcrush," and then finishing was "Pressure." A half hour was way too short. I wanted more! My favorite concert of the day.

I was so filthy at this point, but I didn't care. It was just part of the experience. You're smashed up next to sweaty people, so you're not sure if the sweat on you is theirs or yours, and it's just…. I don't know. It's fun in a kind of sick way. Now it sounds totally disgusting, but like I said, it was just part of the experience.

Chiodos was up next. During Paramore, L and K inched forward, so me and M lost them, and then after the show, they ran up to the railing. Beforehand K said something along the lines of, "Chiodos is going to be crazy." So I sneaked backed a little, dragging M with me, because I think she was kind of scared, too. But then she wanted to go in farther to find L and K and I really, really didn't, and then Craig came out, and to that crowd, CRAIG IS GOD, and they started going apeshit, and I freaked out (again) and just ran out. I felt so bad for leaving M, but I just freaked out. So I went to the shade behind the AT&T tent where I knew Mr. F (Mr. F is L's dad) was and just sat there to watch Chiodos. Let me just say that Mr. F is pretty freakin' cool. He was moving his head to the music, it was very un-dad-like. The only two songs I heard Craig announce were "There's No Penguins In Alaska" and "Teeth The Size Of Piano Keys." I didn't really like them, to be honest. Just not my type of music.

Shot at 2007-08-21

By that time it was 6:00, and Hawthorne Heights didn't start until 7:00, so we got water, and went to the booths. I got a Paramore shirt, M got a Boys Like Girls Shirt, L got the Boys Like Girls album, and K got a BLG patch. Here was the conversation:

K: "How much are the patches?"

Guy: "You get one if you buy the album."

K: "I already have the album."

Guy: Sighs. Tosses K patch.

It was funnier there, alright?

On the way to Hawthorne Heights, we stopped at the TRUTH tent, and they were giving away the last t-shirt they had, to whoever could name a Bruce Springsteen song. Obviously, the guy handing out the shirts knew that many of the emo music-snob types there wouldn't be able to name one. Immediately, I started screaming, "BORN TO RUN!!!" at the top of my lungs. K and L were screaming and pointing at me, but the guy TOTALLY didn't hear/see me. He asked one girl, and she answered wrong, and he was like, "AGHHHH! Can NO ONE name a Springsteen song???" All the while I am SCREAMING. Finally, some girl answers, "Born In the USA," and got the shirt. I was pretty pissed.

We got to Hawthorne Heights, and by that time we were all really tired, so we sat the hill. Especially K, she was a bit beat up from Chiodos. They opened with "Saying Sorry," which is the only song I know, and to be honest, they really weren't that great live. Then they played some song about "I'm outside your window." I don't know. We were going to leave at 7:15 so we could get back across the place for the RJA, but at 7:10 we all looked at each other and we like, "Do you want to just go?" So we did.

As we walked back, I realized that most of the booths were either down or being taken down. So I was like, "Oh, crap, I should get M [my other friend M, who wasn't there and had asked me to get her a shirt] that shirt." So I went back to the BLG booth, and they didn't have the shirt that I had asked for earlier and they had told me to come back for. So I had to pick out a different shirt, but I knew M would love it, probably more than the one I had almost gotten her.

Right before the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus came on, the wind was blowing the backdrop a bit, and I could see this guy backstage with long hair. I was totally giddy from the whole day, so I just started screaming, "It's Ronnie! It's Ronnie!" over and over. Then they came out. I can't remember all the songs they played, but I remember:

[False Pretense]

[Damn Regret]

[Atrophy]

During all the concerts people had thrown water bottles and condom balloons and stuff. But during the RJA, I was ducking flip-flops and SNEAKERS. Seriously. Don't you NEED those later….? But I caught a water bottle and looked around and asked, "Should I throw it?" to L, K, and M. L was like, "Be rebellious, Anna!!!" So I bend my arm back to throw and I feel my hand whack someone in the face. Hard. I turn around and this guy has is glasses off and was rubbing the size of his nose, laughing. I FELT SOOOOOO BAD/ STUPID. But I just started laughing and apologizing, because it was so goddamn funny.

And then they played, "Face Down," which was really incredible. They got to play for 10 more minutes, because they won the Energizer thing. So Ronnie picked up a guitar for "Your Guardian Angel." Hands and lighters in the air, everyone! He said it was about a girl name Laura Somethingahubber. "She's out there somewhere," he added sadly. I bet she dumped him flat on his ass. Then some idiots started yelling, "'Free Bird!' 'Free Bird!'" As you can imagine, they did NOT, in fact, play "Free Bird." They chose "The Grim Goodbye" instead. K was giddy.

Then it was time to go home. I was sad to leave, the day had been absolutely incredible. On the way out, we passed Amber Pacific playing. We were too tired to watch them. We also passed tons of buses. It was kind of cool wondering which bands were in them.

By this time, we had cooled off a little, and we started to get kind of hungry, so we stopped at McDonald's outside Philly. Me and K were in the bathroom and saw ourselves in the mirror and noticed that we were really sunburned. It sucked. But we were talking about that and all the sudden this lady in there starting telling us about this new product that was bug spray AND sunscreen. We were just like, "Uhhh… thanks!!" Then we got milkshakes. My vanilla tasted like strawberry and K's strawberry tasted like L and M's chocolate. We figured that someone had been too lazy to clean out the machine in between milkshakes. It was funny at the time. That's how a lot of things are though.

The car ride home was fun. I got home late. That's about it.

Amazing, amazing, amazing day. Honestly, one of the best of my life.

Shot at 2007-08-21
How fabulous is this beret? And I never use the word fabulous, so you know it must be pretty incredible. The sequins just make the fabulousness over the moon. I desperately want a beret for fall, I think this one is a bit more my speed:


Shot at 2007-08-21
It looks so soft, and I wannnnnt it.

Urban Outfitters has the best hair stuff.

Listen: "You're Not Alone"- Sasoin

a.